Jed, hearing the door to the stock room open, shouted "Come in" from his seat at the workbench in the inner room.

When his summons was obeyed he looked up to see a khaki-clad figure advancing with extended hand.
"Why, hello, Major!" he exclaimed.

"I'm real glad to-- Eh, 'tain't Major Grover, is it?
Who-- Why, Leander Babbitt! Well, well, well!" Young Babbitt was straight and square-shouldered and brown.
Military training and life at Camp Devens had wrought the miracle in his case which it works in so many.

Jed found it hard to recognize the stoop-shouldered son of the hardware dealer in the spruce young soldier before him.

When he complimented Leander upon the improvement the latter disclaimed any credit.
"Thank the drill master second and yourself first, Jed," he said.
"They'll make a man of a fellow up there at Ayer if he'll give 'em half a chance.