"Then you don't need tickets," said the agent. "Got my orders
this morning. No one in uniform has to pay. Go right through, and
ride first-class, if you like. You'll find plenty of officers
riding that way."

"That's fine!" said Dick. "It makes it seem as if we were really
of some use, doesn't it, Harry?"

"Yes," answered Harry. "But, Dick, I've been thinking of what you
said to Graves. What did you mean when you told him you knew more
about me than you did about him? Hasn't he lived here a long
time?"

"No, and there's a little mystery about him. Don't you know it?"

"Never heard of such a thing, Dick. You see, I haven't been here
so very long and he was in the patrol when I joined.",

"Oh, yes, so he was! Well, I'll tell you, then. You know he's
studying to be an engineer, at the Polytechnic. And he lives at a
boarding house, all by himself. Not a regular boarding house,
exactly. He boards with Mrs. Johnson, you know. Her husband died
a year or two ago, and didn't leave her very much money. He
hasn't any father or mother, but he always seems to have plenty of
money. And he can play all sorts of games, but he won't do them
up right. He says he doesn't care anything about cricket!"

"How old is he?"

"Sixteen, but he's awfully big and strong."