human
Well! Well! exclaimed Jerry, as he shook hands lingeringly with Alice.
gpt
How did you get here?
human
Going to enlist?
gpt
Maybe they're going to join the girls' motor corps,
human
No, we just came on a visit,
gpt
To see us?
human
Of course! was the mischievous answer.
gpt
We got lonesome back in Cresville, with all the nice boys gone, and so we got Andy to bring us down here.
human
And if we believe that, I suppose you'll tell us another, laughed Jerry.
gpt
Seriously now, how did you happen to come, and how long are you going to stay? Fellows, we'll have to get furloughs and take the girls around. Not that there's much to see down here, but we'll do our best,
human
Cease! Cease! commanded Ned, holding up his hand like a traffic officer in front of Jerry.
gpt
Let's hear how they happened to come.
human
Oh, that is soon told, remarked Alice.
gpt
Mollie's aunt lives not far from here.
human
And she invited Mollie down on a visit, added Helen.
gpt
And Mollie was good enough to ask us, so we all came together. We reached there yesterday, and, knowing you boys were at camp here, we decided to come out to see you, which we have done.
human
And for which we are duly grateful, added Jerry.
gpt
But what about Andy Rush? I never was more surprised in my life when I heard his usual flow of language. How did he happen to be with you?
human
That was just an accident, a coincidence, or whatever you want to call it, said Mollie, with a laugh.
gpt
When Andy heard we were coming down this way he asked if he couldn't come with us. He says he is going to enlist. He isn't going to wait to be drafted. He said he'd sort of look after us on our way down.
human
But it's been the other way about! laughed Alice.
gpt
We've had to watch him all the while. He was always hopping about, talking to strangers, and every time the train stopped at a station longer than a minute he'd get off, and we'd be in a fix for fear he'd be left. But he's here, thank goodness!
human
Going to enlist! cried Ned.
gpt
Why, he's too _small_.
human
That's what they told him back in Cresville when he tried it, remarked Alice.
gpt
But we must give Andy credit for being a determined little chap. He's sixteen, and he says lots of boys of sixteen have gone in, and he's going. He said if the recruiting officer at home wouldn't take him one here at camp might. So he came with us, and I believe he's going to ask you boys to use your influence to get him into the army.
human
A heap of influence we have! laughed Ned.
gpt
Privates--with Jerry just made corporal.
human
Well, Andy was very nice to us on the way down, said Helen,
gpt
We will! promised Jerry.
human
And now tell us about yourselves, and how all the folks are at home. Oh, but it's great to see you again!
gpt
What are you girls going to do this evening?
human
Oh, just sit around, I suppose,
gpt
No, you're not! cried Jerry.
human
There's a dance in town--a really nice place--and we've been wishing for some girls to come along to help us out. It's under the auspices of the local Y. W. C. A. And if we can get off----
gpt
Oh, we'll get off all right!
human
If worst comes to worst, we'll have the professor ask the colonel on our behalf. The prof seems to pull a pretty good stroke with the C. O. So a dance it is to be!