"I hope so myself," answered Jack. His heart had given a little jump on first receiving the news, thinking that possibly something had happened at home. He lost no time in opening the envelope, and while he did this Fred and the twins crowded around him.
The telegram was from Jack's father, and read as follows:
"Your Uncle Sam and I have volunteered for the army. We have both received commissions. Tell Fred of this and break the news gently to Mary and Martha. Uncle Tom will manage business and remain head of Liberty Loan Committee. Colonel Colby will tell you more.
"It's great news, Fred; especially for you and for me," answered Jack, whose eyes had traveled swiftly over the telegram.
Then he read the message aloud. Bob Nixon had retired, and Randy had closed the door after him.
"Well, what do you know about that!" ejaculated Fred. "My father in the army! Good for him!"
"And to think my father is going, too!" remarked the oldest of the Rover boys. "And he also has a commission." He looked at Andy and Randy and wanted to go on, but somehow could not.
"And they are going to make our father remain at home and take care of the business," remarked Randy soberly. "That's what I call tough luck!"
"It sure is!" declared his twin emphatically. "I'll wager he wanted to go to the front just as much as anybody."
"Why, of course he did," answered Jack readily.
"Uncle Tom is just as brave as anybody! We all know that!" burst out Fred. "It was only that somebody had to stay in New York and take care of The Rover Company."
"Of course our dad was never as much of a soldier as your fathers," continued Randy. "He never became an officer at Putnam Hall. Just the same, I'll wager he'd like to have a chance to put one over on the Huns."
By this time the other cadets had come from their various hiding places and were listening with much interest to what was being said.
"It certainly is great news!" declared Gif Garrison. "I wonder if my dad will want to go, too?" He knew that his parent and the older Rovers had been great chums.
"They leave us to break the news to Mary and Martha," said Fred. "That isn't going to be a very nice job. I'm afraid the poor girls will be all broke up."
"I can't see it that way," answered Jack. "They ought to feel proud to think our fathers are brave enough to volunteer."