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diff --git a/old/12806.txt b/old/12806.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1a60227 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12806.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7226 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Prescott's Third Year at West Point +by H. Irving Hancock + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dick Prescott's Third Year at West Point + Standing Firm for Flag and Honor + +Author: H. Irving Hancock + +Release Date: July 3, 2004 [EBook #12806] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT *** + + + + +Produced by Jim Ludwig + + + + +DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT +or +Standing Firm for Flag and Honor + + +By H. Irving Hancock + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTERS + I. On Furlough in the Old Home Town + II. Brass Meets Gold + III. Dick & Co. Again + IV. What About Mr. Cameron? + V. Along a "Dangerous" Road + VI. The Surprise the Lawyer Had in Store + VII. Prescott Lays a Powder Trail + VIII. A Father's Just Wrath Strikes + IX. Back to the Good, Gray Life + X. The Scheme of the Turnback + XI. Brayton Makes a Big Appeal + XII. In the Battle Against Lehigh + XIII. When the Cheers Broke Loose + XIV. For Auld Lang Syne + XV. Heroes and a Sneak + XVI. Roll-Call Gives the Alarm + XVII. Mr. Cadet Slowpoke +XVIII. The Enemies Have an Understanding + XIX. The Traitor of the Riding Hall + XX. In Cadet Hospital + XXI. The Man Moving in a Dark Room + XXII. The Row in the Riding Detachment +XXIII. The Degree of "Coventry" + XXIV. Conclusion + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ON FURLOUGH IN THE OLD HOME TOWN + + +"My son, Richard. He is home on his furlough from the Military +Academy at West Point." + +Words would fail in describing motherly pride with which Mrs. +Prescott introduced her son to Mrs. Davidson, wife of the new +pastor. + +"I am very glad to meet you, Mr. Prescott," said Mrs. Davidson, +looking up, for up she had to glance in order to see the face of +this tall, distinguished-looking cadet. + +Dick Prescott's return bow was made with the utmost grace, yet +without affectation. His natty straw hat he held in his right +hand, close to his breast. + +Mrs. Davidson was a sensible and motherly woman, who wished to +give this young man the pleasantest greeting, but she was plainly +at a loss to know what to say. Like many excellent and ordinarily +well-informed American people, she had not the haziest notions +of West Point. + +"You are learning to be a soldier, of course?" she asked. + +"Yes, Mrs. Davidson," replied Dick gravely. Neither in his face +nor in his tone was there any hint of the weariness with which +he had so often, of late, heard this aimless question repeated. + +"And when you are through with your course there," pursued Mrs. +Davidson, "do you enlist in the Army? Or may you, if you prefer, +become a sailor in our--er--Navy?" + +"Oh, I fear, Mrs. Davidson, that you don't understand," smiled +Mrs. Prescott proudly. My son is now going through a very rigorous +four years' course at the Military Academy. It is a course that +is superior, in most respects to a college training, but that +it is devoted to turning out commissioned officers for the Army. +When Richard graduates, in two years more, he will be commissioned +by the President as a second lieutenant in the Army." + +"Oh, I understood you to say that you were training to become +a soldier, Mr. Prescott," cried Mrs. Davidson in some confusion. +"I did not understand that you would become an officer." + +"An officer who is not also a good soldier is a most unfortunate +and useless fellow under the colors," laughed Dick lightly. + +"But it is so much more honorable to be an officer than to be +a mere soldier!" cried the pastor's wife. + +"We do not think so in the army, Mrs. Davidson," Dick answered +more responsibility, to be sure, but we feel that the honor falls +alike on men of all grades of position who are privileged to wear +their country's uniform." + +"But don't the officers look down on the common soldiers?" asked +Mrs. Davidson curiously. + +"If an officer does, then surely he has chosen the wrong career +in life, madam," the cadet replied seriously. "We are not taught +at West Point that an officer should 'look down' upon an enlisted +man. There is a gulf of discipline, but none of manhood, between +the enlisted man and his officer. And it frequently happens that +the officer who is a graduate from West Point is called upon to +welcome, as a brother officer, a man who has just been promoted from +the ranks." + +Mrs. Davidson looked puzzled, as, indeed, she was. But she suddenly +remembered something that made her feel more at ease. + +"Why, I saw an officer and some soldiers on a train, the other +day," she cried. "The officer had at least eight or ten soldiers +with him, under his command. I remember what a fine-looking young +man he was. He had what looked like two V's on his sleeve, and +I remember that they were yellow. What kind of an officer is +the man who wears the two yellow V's?" + +"A non-commissioned officer, Mrs. Davidson; a corporal of cavalry." + +"Was he higher that you'll be when you graduate from West Point?" + +"No; a corporal is an enlisted man, a step above the private soldier. +The sergeant is also an enlisted man, and above the corporal. +Above the sergeant comes the second lieutenant, who is the lowest-ranking +commissioned officer." + +"Oh, I am sure I never could understand it all," sighed Mrs. Davidson. +"Why don't they have just plain soldiers and captains, and put +the captains in a different color of uniform? Then ordinary people +could comprehend something about the Army. But in describing that +young soldier's uniform, I forgot something, Mr. Prescott. That +young soldier, or officer, or whatever he was, beside the two +yellow V's, had a white stripe near the hem of his cuff." + +"Just one white stripe?" queried Dick. + +"Just one, I am sure." + +"Then that one white stripe would show that the corporal, before +entering the cavalry, had served one complete enlistment in the +infantry." + +"Oh, this is simply incomprehensible!" cried the new pastor's wife +in comical dismay. "I am certain that I could never learn to know +all these things." + +"It is a little confusing at first," smiled Dick's mother with +another show of pride. "But I think I am beginning to understand +quite a lot of it." + +Mrs. Davidson went out of the bookstore conducted by Dick's parents +in the little city of Gridley. Dick sighed a bit wearily. + +"Why don't Americans take a little more pains to understand things +American?" he asked his mother, with a comical smile. "People +who would be ashamed not to know something about St. Peter's, +at Rome, or the London Tower, are not quite sure what the purpose +of the United States Military Academy is." + +Yet, though some people annoyed him with their foolish questions, +he was heartily glad to be back, for the summer, in the dear old +home town. So was his chum, Greg Holmes, also a West Point cadet, +and, like Prescott, a member of the new second class at the United +States Military Academy. Both young men had now been in Gridley +for forty-eight hours. They had met a host old-time friends, +including nearly all of the High School students of former days. + +Readers of "_Dick Prescott's First Year at West Point_" and of "_Dick +Prescott's Second Year at West Point_," are familiar with the careers +of the two chums, Prescott and Holmes, at the United States Military +Academy. The same readers are also familiar with the life at +West Point of Bert Dodge, a former Gridley boy, but who had been +appointed a cadet from another part of the state. Our old readers +are aware of the fact that Dodge had been forced out of the Military +Academy for dishonorable conduct; that it was the cadets, not +the authorities, who had compelled his departure, and that Dodge +resigned and left before the close of his second year. + +Readers of these volumes of the _High School Boys' Series_ know +all about Bert Dodge in the course of his career at Gridley High +School. Dodge, back in the old days in Gridley, had been a persistent +enemy of Dick & Co., as Prescott and his five chums had always +been called in the High School. Of those five chums Greg, as +is well known, was Dick's comrade at West Point. Dave Darrin +and Dan Dalzell were now midshipmen at the United States Naval +Academy at Annapolis. Their adventures while learning to be United +States Navel officers, are fully set forth in The Annapolis Series. +Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton had chosen to go West, where they +became civil engineers engaged in railway construction through +the wild parts of the country, as fully set forth in the _Young +Engineers' Series_. + +Just after Mrs. Davidson left the bookstore there were no customers +left, so Dick had a few moments in which to chat with his mother. + +"What has become of the fellow Dodge?" asked the young West Pointer. + +"Oh, haven't I told you?" asked his mother. A shade of annoyance +crossed her face, for she well knew that it was Dodge who, while +at West Point, had nearly succeeded in having her son dismissed +from the Service on a charge of which Dodge, not Dick, was guilty. + +"No, mother; and I haven't thought to ask." + +"Bert Dodge is here in Gridley at present. The Dodge family are +occupying their old home here for a part of the summer." + +"Do people here understand that Dodge had to resign from West Point +in order to escape a court-martial that would have bounced him out +of the Military Academy?" Dick inquired. + +"No; very few know it. I have mentioned Dodge's disgrace to only +one person beside your father." + +"You told Laura Bentley?" + +"Yes, Dick. She had a right to know. Laura has always been your +loyal friend. When she reached West Point, last winter, expecting +to go to a cadet hop with you, she remained at West Point until +you had been tried by court-martial and acquitted on that unjust +charge. Laura had a right to know the whole story." + +"She surely had," nodded Dick. + +"As to Gridley people in general," went on Mrs. Prescott, "I have +not felt it necessary to say anything, and folks generally believe +that Bert Dodge resigned from the corps of cadets simply because +he did not find Army life to his liking." + +"He wouldn't have found it to his liking had he chosen not to +resign," smiled Prescott darkly. + +"Are you going to say anything about Dodge while you are home?" +inquired his mother, glancing up quickly. + +"Not a word, if I can avoid it," replied Dick. "I hate tale-bearers." + +At this moment the postman came in, blowing his whistle and rapidly +sorting out a pile of letters, which he dropped on the counter. + +"There are probably a lot here for me, mother," smiled Dick. "Shall +I separate then from the business mail?" + +"If you will, my boy." + +Some dozen of the envelopes proved to be addressed to young Prescott. +Of these two were letters frown West Point classmates. Three +were from old friends in Gridley, sending him congratulations +and expressing the hope of meeting him during his furlough. The +remainder of the letters were mainly invitations of a social nature. + +"Odd!" grinned the young soldier. When I was merely a High School +boy I could go a whole month without receiving anything resembling +a social invitation. Now I am receiving them at the rate of a +score a day." + +"Well, a West Point cadet is some one socially, is he not?" smiled +Mrs. Prescott. + +"I suppose so," nodded Dick. "The truth is, a cadet has so much +social attention paid to him that it is a wonder more of the fellows +are not spoiled." + +"Are you going to accept any social invitations while you are home?" +asked his mother. + +"That depends," Dick answered. "If invitations come from people +who were glad to see me when I was a High School boy here, then +I shall try to accept. But I don't care much about meeting who +didn't care about meeting me two years ago. Here is a note from +Miss Clara Deane, mother. She trusts that Greg and I can make +it convenient to call at her home next Saturday afternoon, and +meet some of her friends. When I attended Gridley Miss Deane +used to look down on me because I was a poor man's son. I believe +her set referred to me as a 'mucker.' At least, the fellows of +her set did. So I shall send Miss Deane a brief note of regret." + +Dick continued to examine his mail while carrying on a running +fire of talk with his proud and happy mother. + +"Oh, here is a very nice note from Susie Sharp," he murmured, +opening another epistle. "She is having quite a few friends at +the house this afternoon, and she begs that Greg and I will be +present. Miss Sharp was a very nice girl in the old days, although +she and I never happened to be very particular friends. Now, I +want to have all the time I can for my real friends of the old days." + +"Miss Sharp would be very proud to entertain two men from West +Point," suggested his mother. + +"That's just the reason," Dick answered. "Miss Sharp invites +us not because she was ever much a friend of ours, but simply +because she is anxious to entertain two cadets. She probably +reasons that it may give distinction to her afternoon tea, or +whatever the affair is." + +"Then you are not going?" asked Mrs. Prescott. + +"I hardly think so. Not unless Greg wishes it." + +The next envelope that Dick picked up was addressed in Laura Bentley's +handwriting. Dick read for a moment, then announced: + +"I have changed my mind. I shall go to call on Miss Sharp. Laura +urges me to, saying that Miss Sharp has been very kind to her in +the last year. If Laura wishes it, I'll go to call on any one." + +At this moment Greg Holmes, tall, muscular, erect and looking +as though he had just come from the tailor's iron, stepped cheerily +into the store. + +"Morning, old ramrod," hailed the other cadet. "I know you don't +mind that kind of talk, Mrs. Prescott. It's our term of affection +for Dick at West Point. Going through your invitations, are you? +Aren't they the bore, though. Especially as we had very few +invitations when we were High School boys in this same old town." + +"You received one from Susie: Sharp, of course?" + +"Yes," Greg assented. "And I'm going---not!" + +"You are going---yes!" Dick retorted. + +"Oh!" nodded Greg. "Am I entitled to any explanation?" + +"Laura wishes it." + +"That's a whole platoon of reasons boiled down into one file-closer," +grinned Greg. "Yes; I am going to visit Miss Sharp this afternoon." + +"Have you heard that Bert Dodge is in town at present?" + +"No!" muttered Greg. Then added tersely: "The b.j.(fresh) rascal! +I wonder what folks here think of a sneak who was forced to resign +by a cadet committee on honor?" + +"Folks here don't know that Dodge was forced out of the Academy." + +"Thank you for telling me," nodded Greg. "Then I shall know how +to keep my mouth shut. Laura will be a Miss Sharp's this afternoon, +of course?" + +"Naturally. And Belle Meade, also." + +"Then," proposed Greg, "suppose we 'phone the girls and ask if +we may call this afternoon and escort them to Miss Sharp's. We +must do something to show that we appreciate their loyalty in +remaining at West Point last winter until your name was cleared +of disgrace." + +"Yes; we'll 'phone them," nodded Dick. + +On both days, so far, that he had been home, Dick had called at +Dr. Bentley's to see Laura. In fact, that was the only calling +he had done, though he had met scores of friends on the street. + +Both young ladies were pleased to accept the proffered escort. + +"By the way," proposed Greg, "what are you going to do this morning?" + +"Going out for a walk, for one thing," replied Dick. "I've talked +to mother until she must have ear-ache on both sides, and feel +tired of having me home." + +"What do you saw if we trot around and extract handshakes from +some of the follows we used to pack schoolbooks with?" hinted +Holmes. "For instance, Ennerton is down at the bank, in a new +job. Foss is advertising manager in Curlham & Peck's department +store. I know he'll be glad to see us if we don't take up too +much of his employer's time. Then Ted Sanders-----" + +And so Greg continued to enumerate a lot of the old Gridley High +School boys of whose present doings he had gotten track. Dick +and Greg left the bookstore and started on the rounds to hunt up +the best remembered of their old schoolmates. + +And a pleasant morning they had of it. Thought the sun poured +down its heat over the little city, these two cadets, who had +drilled for two summers on the blistering plain and the dusty +roads at West Point, did not notice the warmth of the day. + +In the afternoon, in good season, Dick called for Laura, waiting +there until Belle Meade arrived under the escort of Greg. + +"These West Pointers make the most correct and attentive escorts +imaginable," laughed Belle. "But there's just one disadvantage +connected with them." + +"I hadn't noticed it," smiled Laura. + +"Why, when Greg walks beside me, and holds my parasol, I feel +as though I were in the street with my parasol tied to the Methodist +steeple. Where's your rice powder, Laura? I'm sure the sun has +made a sight of my nose and neck." + +Laughing merrily, the young people set off for Miss Sharp's. +The home was a comfortable one, with attractive grounds, for the +elder Sharp was a well-to-do merchant. Some three score of young +people were present, and of these nearly two thirds had belonged +to the High School student body in the old High School days of +Dick and Greg. Naturally, the young ladies outnumbered the young +men by more than four to one. + +"Oh, I am delighted that you two have come," cried Susie, moving +forward to greet her cadet visitors. This was wholly true, for +Miss Sharp had planned the affair solely in order to have the +distinction of entertaining the young West Pointers. Had Dick +and Greg remained away, Susie, without doubt, would have been +both disappointed and humiliated. + +Through the connecting drawing rooms Dick and Greg moved with +a grace and lack of consciousness greatly in contrast with their +semi-awkwardness in their earlier High School days. Many pleasant +acquaintances were renewed here. + +Suddenly, Susie, catching a glimpse of the front walk, hastened +out into the hallway. Then she came in, smiling eagerly, a well-dressed, +pompous-looking young man at her side. + +"Mr. Prescott! Mr. Holmes!" called Susie. "Here is an old comrade +whom you both may be surprised to meet!" + +Dick and Greg turned, and indeed, they were astonished. For the +latest arrival was Bert Dodge! + +"Howdy, fellows!" called Dodge carelessly, though inwardly he was +quaking with alarm. How would these two decent cadets treat the +fellow who had been kicked out of West Point for dishonorable acts? + +Prescott bowed, but did not speak. Greg's line of conduct was +identical with his chum's. + +Bert turned white, at first, with mortification. Then a red flush +set in at his neck, extending to his face and temples. But Dodge +possessed "brass," if not honor, so he decided to face it out. + +Turning to a young woman standing nearby, Bert spoke to her, and +they laughed and chatted. From her, Bert passed through the room +nodding here, chatting there. + +Dick and Greg, after the first look of amazement, followed by their +cold bows, had turned to the old friends with whom they had been +chatting. + +In the course of a few minutes Bert Dodge had got along close to +the two cadets. + +"How are you, Prescott?" called Bert. "How is good old West Point? +And you, Holmes---how are you?" + +Dodge held out his hand with all the effrontery of which he was +capable. + +Turning, Dick gave the sneak only a cold, steady look. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BRASS MEETS GOLD + + +Neither Dick nor Greg took the trouble to answer the greeting. +Dodge's outstretched hand both cadets affected not to see. + +As it happened, few of the others present noted this brief little +scene. + +A natural break in the crowd left Dick alone for the moment, with +Holmes standing not far away and looking coldly in the direction +of the ex-cadet, yet not appearing to see him at all. + +"Well, what's the matter?" hissed Dodge in an undertone that the +other guests did not hear. "Are you going to make a fool of +yourself, Prescott?" + +"You'd better execute a right-about face and make double-time +away from here," replied Dick in a freezing undertone. "Otherwise +I don't believe the guests will fail to observe how West Pointers +regard a convicted sneak." + +"Are you going to open your mouth and do a lot of talking?" whispered +Dodge menacingly. "Or are you going to keep your tongue behind +your teeth?" + +"I can't undertake to lower myself by making any promises to a +sneak," retorted Dick, still in an undertone. "But I warn you +that any further conversation I have with you will be carried +on in ordinary conversational tones. And if you undertake to +remain, we shall be obliged to inform our hostess that we regret +our inability to stay any longer." + +Conscious that others were probably looking their way, Bert Dodge +tried to make his face as expressionless as possible. + +"See here, Prescott-----" the fellow began coaxingly. + +But Dick turned and walked away. Greg, very stiff and straight, +moved at his friend's side. + +Afraid of what others might notice, Dodge passed on. He presently +reached a door leading into the hallway. Here he remained briefly. +Then, when he believed himself to be unobserved, he slipped out, took +his hat and got away. + +A few minutes later, as Dick and Greg passed the door of a little +reception room, Susie Sharp called them in quietly. They found +her there alone. + +"Oh, Mr. Prescott! Mr. Holmes! Have I made any mistake, I thought +it would be a pleasant surprise to you both if I had Mr. Dodge here +to meet you, as you all three were classmates at West Point. But I +should have remembered that in the old High School days you two and +Mr. Dodge were not the best of friends." + +There was an agitated catch in Susie's voice. Their young hostess +was worried by the thought that she had invited jarring elements +to meet. + +"Why, to be candid, I don't believe Dodge ever admired either Greg +or myself very much, replied Cadet Prescott evenly. + +"But did I make a fearful mistake?" pleaded Susie. + +"One cannot make a mistake who aims at the pleasure of others," +Dick answered smilingly. + +Somewhat reassured, Susie asked her cadet guests to return with +her to the drawing rooms. There they joined a little group, and +were chatting when a girl's voice reached them from a few feet +away. The girl who was speaking did not realize that her tones +carried as far as the ears of Dick and Greg as she explained to +two other young women: + +"Mr. Dodge said he resigned from the Military Academy because +he could not stand the crowd there." + +"I guess that's true," muttered Dick inwardly. "The crowd couldn't +stand Dodge, either." + +But Sam Foss made the conversation general by calling: + +"How about that, Dick! I always thought West Point was a very +select place. Bessie Frost says Dodge left West Point because +he thought the fellows there rather below his grade socially." + +"Perhaps they are," nodded Dick gravely, but in even tones. "I +have heard it stated that about sixty per cent. of the cadets +are the sons of wage-earners. Indeed, one of the cadets whom +I most respect has not attempted to conceal the fact that, until +he graduates and begins to draw officer's pay, his mother will +have to continue to support herself at the washtub. That young +man is now in the first class, and I can tell you that we are +all mighty anxious to see that man graduate and find himself where +he can look after a noble mother who has the misfortune to be +unusually poor in purse." + +"Then as an American, I'm proud of West Point, if it has fellows +with no more false shame than that," cried Foss heartily. + +"Why, I always thought West Point a very swell place, extremely +so," murmured Bessie Frost. "In fact--pardon me, won't you---I +have always heard that the young men at West Point are very much +puffed up and very exclusive." + +Dick laughed good-humoredly. + +"Of course, Miss Frost, the cadet is expected to learn how to +become a gentleman as well as an officer. Yet why should any +of us feel unduly conceited? We are privileged to secure one +of the best educations to be obtained in the world, but we obtain +it at public expense. Not only our education, but all our living +expenses are paid for out of the nation's treasury, and that money +is contributed by all tax-payers alike. If we of the cadet corps +should get any notion that we belong to a superior race of beings, +to whom would we owe it all? Are the cadets not indebted for +their opportunities to all the citizens of the United States?" + +"Did Bert Dodge have any especial trouble at West Point?" asked +another girl. + +"Mr. Dodge did not make us his confidants," evaded Dick coolly. + +"What do you say, Mr. Holmes?" persisted the same girl. + +"About the same that Dick does," replied Greg. "You see, there are +several hundred cadets at West Point, and Dick and I were not in +the same section with Dodge." + +"Was he one of the capable students there?" + +"Why, he was in a much higher section than either Dick or myself," +admitted Greg truthfully; but he did not think it necessary to +explain the trickery and cribbing by which Dodge had secured the +appearance of higher scholarship. + +At this point the tact and good sense of Miss Susie Sharp caused +her to use her opportunities as hostess to break up the group and +to start some new lines of conversation. + +But Susie was uneasy, and presently she found a chance to whisper +to Laura Bentley: + +"Tell me, dear---what lies back of the fact that Mr. Dodge does +not seem to be on good terms with Mr. Prescott and Mr. Holmes?" + +"Did Bert Dodge know that Dick and Greg were to be here!" asked +Miss Bentley. + +"No; I wanted it to be a surprise on both sides." + +"It must have been, my dear," smiled Laura "The fact is that Dick +and Greg are not on friendly terms with Mr. Dodge." + +"Oh!" murmured Susie, moving away. "I am glad that it was no +worse." + +A large tent had been erected on one of the lawns. To this tent, +later in the afternoon, Miss Sharp invited her guests. Here a +collation had been served, with pretty accessories, by a caterer, +and several waiters stood about to serve. + +When the guests returned to the house they discovered that the rugs +had been removed, and that an orchestra was now at hand to furnish +music for dancing. Given music and a smooth floor, young people do +not mind exertion on a hot June afternoon. Dancing was at once in +full swing. Nor did the young people leave until after six o'clock. + +Greg escorted Belle Meade home, Dick walking with Laura. The two +cadet chums met on Main Street a little later. They stood near a +corner, chatting, when Bert Dodge came unexpectedly around the +corner. + +He saw the two cadets, changed color, then halted. + +Neither Dick nor Greg checked their conversation, nor let it be +known that they were aware of the ex-cadet's presence. + +But Dodge, after looking at the chums sourly for a moment, stepped +squarely in front of them. + +"See here, you fellows-----" he began, his voice sounding thickly. + +"Have you the impudence to address us," asked Prescott coolly. + +"Don't talk to me about impudence!" snarled Dodge. "What did +you two say about me, after I left this afternoon?" + +"Oh, I assure you we didn't discuss you any more than was necessary," +replied Dick frigidly. + +"What did you say?" insisted Dodge. + +"We couldn't say much about you," Greg broke in icily. "You know, +you're hardly a fit subject for conversation." + +"See here, you two fellows," warned Bert angrily, "you want to +be mighty careful what you say about me! Do you understand? +A single unfriendly word, that does any injury to my reputation, +and I'll take it out of you." + +Prescott would not go to the length of sneering. He allowed an +amused twinkle to show in his eyes. + +"On your way, Dodge that's the best course for you," advised Greg +coldly. "We're not interested in your threats of fight, and you +ought to know better, too, after some of the thumpings you've had." + +"Fight?" jeered Dodge harshly. "You fellows seem to think you're +still in cadet barracks, and that all you have to do is to call +me out, and that my only recourse is to put up an argument before +a class scrap committee. But you fellows aren't at West Point +just now, and cadet committees don't run things here. You're +back in civilization, where we have laws and regular courts. +Now, if I find that you fellows are saying a single word against +me I'll have you both arrested for criminal libel. I'll have +you put through the courts, too, and sent to jail. Then, when +you get out of jail, you can find out what your high and mighty +West Point friends think of that!" + +Dodge finished with a harsh, sneering laugh, then turned on his +heel. + +"The cheap skate!" muttered Greg, looking after the retreating +fellow. "Humph! I'd like to see him make any trouble for us!" + +"He may try it," muttered Prescott, gazing thoughtfully after +their ancient enemy. + +"How?" demanded Greg. "We don't think him worth talking about +among decent people, so we'll give him not the slightest chance +to make any trouble." + +"We won't give Dodge any real cause, of course," nodded Dick gravely. +"But a scoundrel like Dodge doesn't need real cause. That young +man has altogether more spending money than is good for his morals. +Why, with his money, Greg, Dodge would know how to find people, +apparently respectable, who would be willing to accept a price for +perjuring themselves." + +"Humph!" uttered Greg. + +"If Dodge could get such testimony, and his perjurers would stick +to their yarns," continued Dick, "then the young scoundrel might +be actually able to carry out his threats." + +"He wouldn't dare!" + +"If it were anything high-minded and dangerous, Dodge wouldn't +dare," admitted Dick. "But minds like his will dare a good deal +to put through anything scoundrelly against people who try to +be decent." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +DICK & CO. AGAIN + + +"Hey, there, you galoot! You thin, long-drawn-out seven feet of +tin soldier!" + +After having been home a week, Dick Prescott flushed as he wheeled +about to meet this jeering greeting. + +In another instant every trace of his wrath had vanished. + +"Tom Reade!" hailed Dick in great delight, turning and rushing +at his old High School chum. "And good little Harry Hazelton!" + +It was, indeed, the young engineer pair, Reade and Hazelton, old-time +members of Dick & Co., the great High School crowd of Gridley. +Reade and Hazelton, after finishing at the High School, had gone +out to Colorado to serve under the engineer in charge of a great +piece of railway construction work. The adventures of Tom and +Harry, in the wild spots of the West, are fully set forth in the +volumes of the _Young Engineers Series_. + +"The last fellow I expected to meet in Gridley!" cried Dick, +overflowing with delight as he stuck out both hands at once and +grasped theirs. + +"Well, we are, aren't we?" demanded Reade. + +"You are---what?" + +"The last fellows you've met in Gridley. But where's Greg?" + +"If he's out of bed," grinned Prescott, "he's in cit. clothes." + +"Carrying a rifle and marching the lock-step---the route-step, +I mean---has dulled your brain," growled Tom Reade. "Is Greg +in Gridley?" + +"What scoundrel is taking my name in vein?" demanded Holmes, coming +upon the trio. + +Then there were hearty greetings, all over again. But in the +end Reade looked Greg over from head to foot. + +"Do they make you sleep on a stretcher at West Point?" Tom wanted +to know. "Or what do they do, to pull a pair of galoots out to +the length that you two have attained." + +"It's the physical training and the military drills," explained +Prescott, laughing. "But my! You fellows look like the Indian's +head on a copper cent!" + +Tom and Harry were, indeed, highly bronzed by the hot southwestern +sun. Harry, in fact, was well on the way to being black, so burned +had he become by his last few months of work. + +"I hope, if you fellows are ever allowed to go forth into the Army, +you'll get your first station down in Arizona," teased Tom. + +"I don't," retorted Greg, "if it will make us look like you two." + +"Oh, it won't," broke in Harry mockingly. "You see, we have to +work down in Arizona. But you fellows wouldn't. We've seen some +thing of the soldiery down in that part of the world, and they're +the laziest crowd you ever saw. Why, the Army officers in Arizona +sleep all day and grumble about the heat all night. They have tame +Apaches to do their work for them. Oh, no, you wouldn't suffer +down in Arizona!" + +"But how do you fellows come to be home at this time?" asked Dick. + +"Homesick!" sighed Tom. "The fellows in our engineer corps are +entitled to some leave. So Harry and I waited until we had enough +leave piled up, and then we started back for Gridley." + +"Well, it's hot on this corner," muttered Greg, "and there's an +ice cream place down the block, where the electric fans are going. +Let's make a raid on the place. Do you fellows remember when +we were happy if we could buy a ten-cent plate and then get by +ourselves with six spoons to dip into the ice cream? Come on! +Let's get good and square for those days." + +"Yes; it is hot here on this corner," assented Dick. + +"Hot?" demanded Reade impatiently. + +"Humph! Harry and I were just regretting that we hadn't worn our +top coats today. We came to Gridley to cool off, and this old +town seems like a heaven of coolness after the baked-brown alkali +deserts of Arizona." + +"Double orders for each one of us," explained Harry, after the +quartette of one time High School chums had seated themselves under +a buzzing fan. + +Now, the chums of old days had time to look each other over more +closely. + +Tom and Harry were taller than in the old High School days, but +they had not quite reached the height of Dick and Greg. Both +of the young civil engineers, besides being heavily bronzed, were +thin and sinewy looking. Thin as they were, both looked the pictures +of health. Though Tom and Harry did not "advertise" their tailors +as well as did the two West Point cadets, nevertheless the pair +of young civil engineers looked prosperous. They had the general +air of being the kind of young men who are destined to succeed +splendidly in life. + +Before the ice cream---the first double order, that is---reached +the table, all of the young men were plunged into stories of their +adventures during the last two years. Readers of these two series +are familiar with the adventures that the young men discussed. + +"You've been getting a heap more excitement out of life, you two," +Prescott admitted frankly. "Still, from my point of view, I +wouldn't swap with you." + +"Just as bughouse on West Point and the Army as ever, are you?" +quizzed Hazelton. + +"Just as much, and always will be," Dick nodded, beaming. + +"I can't share your enthusiasm," laughed Hazelton. "We've seen +the Army in the West, and they're a lazy, little-account lot." + +Instead of getting angry, however, Dick and Greg laughed outright. + +"I wish we had you at West Point for forty-eight hours, right +in barracks and Academic Building," declared Greg, his eyes dancing. +"Whew! But you'd be able to view real world from a new angle!" + +"Oh, maybe at West Point," nodded Hazelton teasingly. "But afterwards, +in the Army, it's just one dream of indolence." + +"Well, what do the Army officers actually do, out your ways" +challenged Greg. + +"Why, they---well, they-----" + +"You don't know a blessed thing about it, do you?" dared Greg. +"I thought not. You see, we do know something about what Army +officers do with their time. That's what we're learning at West +Point." + +"Don't let's fight," pleaded Tom pathetically. "Fellows, we may +never meet again. Before another year rolls around Hazelton and +I may have been scalped and burned by the Apaches, and you fellows +may have died at West Point, from nervous prostration brought +on by overeating and lack of exercise. So let's be good friends +during the little time that we may have together." + +"When you get time," put in Dick dryly, "you might as well tell +us when you reached Gridley." + +"After ten o'clock last night," supplied Harry. "Of course, we +had to go home first. But this morning we set out to find you. +We knew, of course, that any place would be likelier than your homes, +so we tried Main Street first." + +"Many folks were glad to see you?" asked Tom. + +"Too many," sighed Dick. "That remark doesn't apply to any old +friends, but there are a good many who always turned up their +noses at us in the old days. Now, just because we're cadets, +and because half-baked Army officers are supposed to be somebody +in the social world, Greg and I are getting so much social mail +that we fear we shall have to hire a secretary for the summer." + +"Nobody will bother _us_, I guess," grimaced Tom. "Most people +here probably think that, because we're engineers, we run locomotives. +That's what the word 'engineer' suggests to ignoramuses. Now, +the man who runs a locomotive should properly be called an +engine-tender, or engineman, while it's the fellow who surveys and +bosses the building of a railroad that is the engineer. You get a +smattering of engineering work at West Point, don't you?" + +"We've been at math. and drawing, so far," Dick explained. "That +all leads up to the engineering instruction that we shall have to +take up in September." + +"Oh, I dare say you'll get a very fair smattering of engineering," +assented Tom. "It's nothing like the real practice that we get, +though, out in the field with the survey and construction parties. +I guess you fellows, after your grind in the High School, found +West Point math. pretty easy, didn't you?" + +Dick laughed merrily before he answered. + +"Tom, the math. that a fellow gets in High School would take up +about three months at West Point. How are you on math., now?" + +"Oh, not so fearfully rotten," replied Reade complacently. "Harry +and I have had to dig up a lot of new math. since we've taken +on with an engineering corps in the field. Harry, trot up some +of the kind of mathematics that we have to use." + +"Wait a moment," put in Dick. "Greg, sketch out an easy one from +the math. problems we have to dig into at West Point. Give 'em +something light from conic sections first." + +Cadet Holmes sketched out, on the back of an envelope, the +demonstration of a short problem. + +Tom and Harry looked on laughingly, at first. Then their eyes began +to open. + +"Do you really have to dig up that sort of stuff at West Point," +demanded Reade. + +"Yes," nodded Dick. "And now I'll show you another easy one, +belonging to descriptive geometry." + +The two young engineers looked on and listened for a few moments. + +"Stop!" commanded Hazelton, at last. "My head is beginning to +buzz!" + +"If that's the sort of gibberish you have to learn, I'm more than +ever glad that I didn't go to West Point," proclaimed Reade. + +The old-time chums had eaten their fill of ice cream some time +before, but they still sat about the table, chatting gayly. + +"There's one thing you never really told us about in your letters," +muttered Tom. "You wrote us that Bert Dodge had resigned from +the Military Academy, but you didn't tell us why. Now, that fellow, +Dodge, never gave up anything good that he didn't have to give +up. Was he kicked out of the Academy?" + +"That story isn't known in Gridley," replied Prescott, lowering +his voice. "Dodge tells people that he left because he didn't +like the crowd or the life there. We haven't changed the story +any since our return. We'll tell you fellows, for we never used +to have any secrets from you in the old days. But you mustn't +pass the yarn around." + +"No," grimaced Greg. "You mustn't tell the story around. Dodge +has threatened to have us imprisoned for life, for criminal libel, +if we allow his secret to reach profane ears." + +"Just why did Dodge leave West Point?" asked Reade. + +"He was invited to," replied Prescott, "by a class committee on +honor." + +"I thought it was something like that," grunted Reade. + +Then, in low tones that could not be overheard by other patrons +of the ice cream place, Dick Prescott told the story of Dodge's +cribbing at West Point, and of the way that Bert nearly succeeded +in palming his guilt off on to Prescott. + +"I'd believe every word of that yarn, even if a plumb stranger +told it to me," declared Hazelton. "It has all the earmarks +of truth. It's a complete story of just what Bert Dodge would +do in one form or another, in any walk of life." + +"But you fellows won't repeat insisted Dick. + +"And thereby have us consigned to prison cells for the balance of +our unworthy lives?" mocked Greg. + +"You know us better than to think that we'd blab," retorted Tom +half indignantly. + +"You had a right to know, though," Prescott went on. + +"Dick & Co. always were a close corporation," laughed Hazelton. +"And I hope the time will never come when we can't tell our secrets +to each other." + +"I am sorry you fellows have so short a leave," murmured Dick. + +"Why, What would you want us to do!" queried Tom. + +"Greg and I would be tickled to death if you were going to be +here all summer," Dick answered. "In the first place, just for +the sake of having your company. In the next place, we'd think +it great if you could go back to West Point with us when our furlough +is over. If you could be there, over a Saturday and a Sunday, +we'd have time to show you a lot about the life there. You'd +feel acquainted from the start, for lots of the fellows of our +class have heard about you. You'd get a great reception." + +"Gridley must seem dull, after your life in the West," mused Cadet +Holmes. + +"Oh, I don't believe there's any place where you get excitement +all the time," declared Tom. "And there's no place so dull that +it doesn't have a little excitement once in a while." + +Bang! bang! bang! sounded several sharp explosions of firearms +out in the street. + +"There's some, right now!" muttered Greg, jumping up. "Come along!" + +Bang! bang! bang! + +As they ran forward toward the door of the ice cream place the +young men saw people fleeing in frantic haste along Main Street. + +Five or six of these fugitives darted into the ice cream place. +As they did so, Chief of Police Simmons backed into the same +doorway. He had his revolver in his right hand, while he called +back over his shoulder to the owner of the store: + +"Granby, telephone the station for my reserves. The Indians and +cowboys of the Wild West Show are on a rampage, and shooting up +Gridley. Tell Sergeant Cluny, from me, to bring the reserves +on the run!" + +Bang! bang! bang! + +Up the street came a picturesque, dangerous looking group. Three +men in cowboy hats, flannel shirts and "chaps," with revolver +holsters dangling from their belts, and each with a pair of automatic +revolvers in his hands, came along. Just behind this trio were +two indians, painted and wearing gaudy blankets. The Indian were +armed like the cowboys. It was evident that all the members of +the wild band were partially intoxicated. + +Bang! bang! bang! + +"Get back into the store, you young men!" ordered Chief Simmons +crisply. "These heathen are pie-eyed and they'll shoot you up +quicker than a flash!" + +"Who, That lot of freaks?" demanded Tom contemptuously. "Dick! +Greg! Indians are the specialty of the Army. You go after the +redskins, while Harry and I tame these bad men!" + +Like a flash, ere Chief Simmons could interfere, the four young +men were off. Straight up to the "raiders" dashed the former +High School boys. + +One of the Indians wheeled, firing a fusillade just over Prescott's +head. + +"Oh, stop that noise!" ordered Dick dryly. + +Before the Indian could guess it, Prescott had leaped in, had +grabbed the redskin by a famous old Gridley football tackle and +had sent the rampaging Indian to the ground Greg, equally reckless, +floored the other Indian and sat on his chest. + +Tom Reade made a bolt for the fiercest-looking cowboy. + +"Stop spoiling the pure air on a hot day, and give me those guns!" +commanded Reade, going straight at the fellow. + +The big cowboy wheeled, aiming both weapons at Reade. + +"Get back!" ordered the shooter. "If ye don't I'll pump ye full +of hole-makers! I'm bad! I'm a wolf, and this is my day to howl. +I'm a wolf---d'ye catch that, partners?" + +"Then back to the menagerie for yours!" muttered Reade dryly. +"And first of all fork those guns over. You're making the air +smell of sulphur." + +"Get back! I'm bad, I tell ye!" + +"You, bad; you cheap Piute from Rhode Island!" sniffed Tom +contemptuously. + +Reaching forward, quick as a flash, Reade twisted a revolver from +the fellow's left hand. + +"Now, pass me the other," continued Tom. "If you don't I'll wring +that wooden head of yours from your neck! I'm coming, now!" + +Having tossed the captured revolver in the street behind him, +Reade made a sudden leap at the "bad wolf." + +"Hold on!" cried the fellow sheepishly. "Don't get excited. +Here it is; take it!" + +Seeing how readily their companion had surrendered, the other +two headed Hazelton's demand for their weapons. + +From the doorway Chief Simmons had looked on at this brief, bloodless +battle like one dazed. + +From up and down Main street at respectful distances, crowds of +Gridleyites gazed in stupefied wonder. + +"Come on out, Chief, and talk to these naughty boys!" called Tom +good-humoredly. "They didn't mean to be troublesome, but Fourth +of July had got into their blood." + +The police reserves came running up now. First of all, the revolvers +of the five wild ones were gathered up. Then the officers turned +to the prisoners that had been captured by the West Point cadets +and the Young Engineers. + +"These fellows are only medicine-show cowboys," Tom explained, +with a grin, to the chief of police. "I know the real kind---and +these sorry specimens are not it. Probably these fellows have +never been west of Ohio." + +"You're an Indian, I'm pretty sure," said Cadet Prescott to the +painted redskin whom he now held by one arm. "But you're a tame +Indian. What part of Maine do you come from?" + +"Yes, I'm an Indian," grinned Dick's captive "I own a farm on the +east end of Long Island." + +"Humph! You've been through the pubic schools, too?" demanded +Dick. + +"Yes, sir." + +Greg's Indian was quite as docile. The police now had the weapons +of all the party, except one automatic weapon that Greg was examining. +"Yah!" grinned Holmes. "This gun is loaded with blank cartridges. +I guess all the others were, too." + +The guess was a wholly correct one. + +By this time the Main Street crowd, wholly over its fright, was +crowding about the police and their captives. + +"Say, this seems like old times!" called Sam Foss, laughingly. +"Dick & Co. right in the thick the excitement." + +"There hasn't been any," grinned Prescott. + +At this instant a new actor arrived on the scene. Wild Charlie, +the Indian medicine "doctor," immaculate in black frock suit and +patent leather shoes, with a handsome sombrero spread over the +glistening black hair that hung down over his shoulders, rushed up. + +"Let these people go, Chief," begged the picturesque quack doctor. +"I'll pay for any damage they've done." + +Chief Simmons looked the long-haired "doctor" over with a broad grin. + +"You're Wild Charlie, are you?" demanded the chief. + +"Yes, partner." + +"What part of Vermont do you come from! Or is Germany your hailing +place, Wild Charlie?" + +"Don't josh me too hard, Chief," pleaded the medicine fakir "Will +you let my people go, if I settle?" + +"These terrors," retorted Chief Simmons, "are about due for thirty +days for disturbing the peace." + +"But that would bust my summer season, Chief," pleaded "Wild Charlie." + +"Oh, don't run these innocents in, Chief," urged Tom Reade. "They +aren't really bad, and they admitted it as soon as we told 'em so. +These people are not dangerous---only a bit nervous." + +"See here, Wild Charlie," grinned the chief of police, "I don't +want to do anything to make you wilder. I'll let these human +picture books go on condition that you take your show at once +and clear on out of town." + +"I may just as well go," sighed the long-haired one. "This job +has ruined my business here. And say, Chief, won't you break the +guns and knock the cartridges out, and then let me have the guns, +too? They cost a lot of money!" + +But on this point Chief Simmons was firm. + +"No, sirree! You can take your infant terrors and load them on +the first train away from here. But the revolvers are confiscated, +Wild Charlie, and they'll stay here. You can try to recover the +revolvers by a civil suit, if you want to risk it in court. Otherwise, +make your get-away as fast as you can. I'll admit that your outfit +had the josh on me, and had me tickling the wire for the reserves. +But just now the town holds two West Point cadets, and two young +engineers from the real West, which makes Gridley no place to turn +a vaudeville powder-play loose in." + +"Wild Charlie" and his band fled as fast as they could, for the +crowd was jeering loudly and talking of taking all six to the +nearest horse-trough for a ducking. + +"Is that the best the old town can do for excitement in these +days?" laughed Reade, as soon as our young friends had separated +themselves from the laughing crowd and had started on a stroll. + +"Why, that little episode was doing well enough for any town," +smiled Dick. "A laugh is better than a fight, any day." + +"Queer text for a soldier to preach from," grinned Hazelton. + +"Not a bit," Dick retorted. "The soldier, above all men, hates +a fight, for the soldier knows he's the only one that's likely +to get hurt." + +"Oho!" + +"Yes; and moreover," broke in Greg, "armies aren't organized, +in the first place, for fighting, but for preserving peace." + +"Just as railroads are built to keep people from traveling," jeered +Reade. + +"If we don't look out the greatest excitement that we'll find today +will be starting a fight among ourselves," warned Harry dryly. + +"Rot!" scoffed Tom. "The old chums of Dick & Co. couldn't fight +each other, any more that they can avoid joshing each other." + +Though none of the chums guessed it, excitement enough for two +of them, possible, was brewing in another part of Gridley at that +moment. + +Bert Dodge was talking almost in whispers with a young fellow +named Fessenden, who had discharged from the bank in which Bert's +father was vice president. + +"You do my trick---put it through for me, Fessenden---and I'll +do my best with my father to get you back in the bank," Bert promised. + +"Even if I fail in that, I'll pay you well, in addition to the +money I've just given you." + +"Oh, it won't be a hard job to put through," nodded young Fessenden, +understandingly. "I can find two fellows who have nerve enough, +and who will go into court and swear to anything I want them to." + +"That's the talk!" glowed young Dodge. "You will testify that +Dick Prescott was talking with you, and that he told innumerable +lies to blacken my name that he libeled me!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WHAT ABOUT MR. CAMERON? + + +One place that Dick Prescott made it a point to visit early in his +furlough was the office of the morning "Blade," for which paper, in +his old High School days, the cadet had worked as a local reporter +"on space." + +A "space writer" is one who is paid so much per column for all +matter of his that is published in the paper. + +Had it not been for the "Blade" Dick Prescott would not have been +as well supplied with pocket money as he had been during his High +School days. + +Everyone about the "Blade" office, in the old days, had expected +that Prescott, at the end of his High School course, would join +the "Blade" staff as a "regular." But Dick had had his own plans +about West Point, although he had kept his intentions a secret +from nearly every one but his chums. + +Early one bright June afternoon Dick strolled into the "Blade" +office. + +"Why, hullo, my boy!" cried Editor Pollock, jumping up out of +his chair and coming forward, hand outstretched. Bradley, the +news editor, and Len Spencer, the "star" reporter, now growing +comically fat, rushed forward to meet the cadet. + +"Sit down, Dick, and let's hear all about West Point," urged Mr. +Pollock, placing a chair beside his own, while the other members +of the staff crowded about. "What sort of a place is West Point, +and how do you like it there?" + +Dick smilingly gave them a lively account of life at the United +States Military Academy. + +"I hope you're keeping track of all this, Len," nodded the editor +to Reporter Spencer. "Tell us plenty more, too Dick. We want +to give you and Holmes at least a bully two-column write-up." + +Dick's cheery look suddenly changed to one of mild alarm. + +"Do you want to do me a big favor, Mr. Pollock?" + +"Anything up to a page, my boy, and you know it," replied the +editor heartily. "We still regard you as one of the 'Blade' family." + +"The favor I'm going to ask, Mr. Pollock, is that you don't give +Greg and myself a write-up." + +The editor looked so hurt that Prescott made haste to add, earnestly: + +"Please don't misunderstand me, Mr. Pollock. But you simply cannot +imagine the trouble that a fine write-up in a home paper may make +for a cadet. If I were a plebe, now, the upper classman would +get hold of the write-up, somehow, and they'd make me read it aloud, +at least a hundred times, while upper classmen stood about +and congratulated me on being such a fine fellow as the paper +described. As Greg and I are now second classman, we couldn't +be hazed in quite that way. But the other fellows would find +some other way of using that home-paper write-up as a club for +pounding us every now and then. Mr. Pollock, believe me, cadet +is mighty lucky whose home paper doesn't say anything about him." + +"What is the matter?" asked the editor gravely. "Are the other +cadets jealous?" + +"No; it isn't that," Prescott answered. "That sort of thing is +done, at West Point, to keep from getting the 'big head.' Probably +your memory goes back easily to the Spanish War days. You will +remember that Mr. Hobson, of the Navy, sank the Merrimac in the +harbor at Santiago, so that the Spanish ships, when they got out, +had to come out in single file. Mr. Hobson has a younger brother +then at the Military Academy. Well, the story still runs at West +Point that Military Cadet Hobson was forced to read aloud all +the best things about his brother in the Navy that the other cadets +could find in the newspapers. Besides that, Cadet Hobson, so +we are told today, had to 'sail' chips on a tub of water, at the +same time bombarding the chips with pebbles and cheering for his +brother. At West Point it doesn't pay a cadet to be famous, even +in the light of reflected glory. Now, that is why I beg you, not +to give Greg and myself the write-up that you propose." + +"All right, then," sighed the editor. + +"On the other hand, Mr. Pollock, I'll tell you all manner of lively +and printable facts about West Point, if you won't mention Greg +or myself or even mention the fact that Gridley has any cadets at +the Military Academy." + +"That will have to answer," nodded Mr. Pollock. "But we wanted to +do something big for you, Dick." + +"And you'll be doing something very big for us, if you don't mention +us at all," smiled Prescott. + +So the "Blade" had a good deal of interesting reading about West +Point the next morning. Many Gridleyites were not satisfied because +neither Prescott nor Holmes was mentioned in connection with the +Military Academy. + +The second time that Mr. Pollock met his former reporter was on +the street. + +"I've been kicking myself, Dick, because I forgot something the +other day," declared the editor. "I have one of the nicest, gentlest +little trotting mares in this part of the state, and a very +comfortable light buggy with top and side curtains. I hardly +ever use the rig in hot weather. Now, won't you often have use +for a horse and buggy while you're at home? If so, just ring up +Getchel's Livery at any time, day or night, and tell 'em to hitch +up against your coming. Will you?" + +Dick tried hard to find words in which to thank Mr. Pollock for +the generous offer. + +First of all, Prescott took Holmes out driving, one forenoon, to +"try out" the mare. The little animal proved speedy but tractable---a +wholly safe driving horse. + +"I'm not a betting man," quoth Greg, "but I'll lay a wager that +I can guess who gets the next drive behind this horse. + +"Post your wager," laughed Dick gayly. + +"Lau-----" + +"Wrong! My mother gets the next drive." + +And so she did, that same afternoon. But the following afternoon +Prescott, after a good deal of attention to his personal appearance, +walked to Getchel's and drove away from there behind the mare. +The next stop was at the house of Dr. Bentley. + +Yet, when Cadet Prescott caught his first glimpse of the broad, +cool veranda of the doctor's house, the young man felt a sudden +throb of the heart. + +Another young man---he looked to be somewhat under thirty---was +seated in a big rocker, close to Laura. Both young people were +laughing gayly before Miss Bentley caught sight of Dick. + +"You're occupied, I see," called Prescott lightly, though the +tone cost him an effort. + +"Come right up, Dick," called Laura, so the cadet leaped from +the buggy, hitching the horse. The he turned into the broad walk +and gained the veranda, where he was presented to Mr. Cameron. + +Mr. Cameron greeted the cadet pleasantly, yet didn't seem overjoyed +at his presence. Nor did Mr. Cameron seem in the least inclined to +take himself away. + +Usually most self-possessed, Dick Prescott fidgeted a trifle, +and felt uncomfortable now. He wondered if good taste did not call +for him to take himself away after a brief conversation. It was +Laura who finally came to the rescue. + +"Dick," she laughed, "there's something on your mind. I'm afraid +I shall have to help you out. Did you come to ask me to go driving?" + +"Yes," Dick nodded. "But of course I realize that some other time +will be better." + +"Oh, don't let me spoil fun," begged Mr. Cameron, half rising, +as though hoping to be asked to seat himself again. + +"Mr. Cameron," Miss Bentley replied sweetly, rising also as her +caller completed the act of getting upon his feet, "I know you +will excuse me now, rude as it seems in me to ask it. But Mr. +Prescott's time in Gridley is very limited, and we are all anxious +to see as much of him as possible." + +"Say no more, Miss Bentley," begged Mr. Cameron, forcing a genial +smile. "Mr. Prescott, I congratulate you on having such a good +champion. Good afternoon, Laura. Good afternoon, Mr. Prescott; +I am very glad indeed to have had the pleasure of meeting you." + +"I am most happy to have met you, sir; if it were not for my own +great good fortune, and my natural selfishness, I would feel most +regretful over being the means of distracting Miss Bentley's +attention." + +Laura, as soon as she had extended her hand to Mr. Cameron, had +run inside to get her hat. By the time that Mr. Cameron had reached +the front gate Laura came out again, adjusting a wonderfully becoming +bit of headgear. + +"I am almost ashamed of myself for having spoiled another's call," +Prescott told her. + +"Oh, don't mind about Mr. Cameron," laughed Laura lightly. "He +has plenty opportunity, if he enjoys it, to call at other seasons +of the year." + +"Oh! Does he?" muttered Dick. He began to feel a most unwarrantable +dislike for Mr. Cameron. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ALONG A "DANGEROUS" ROAD + + +"Oh, yes," smiled Laura. "Mr. Cameron is a frequent visitor." + +This information had the effect of making Prescott almost feel +that he would enjoy kicking that other young man. + +"You are old friends, then?" he asked lightly, as he tucked the +thin carriage robe about Laura, then picked up the lines. + +"No; quite recent acquaintances. We met about four months ago, +I think it was." + +Though she spoke with apparent indifference, Prescott covertly +caught sight of a slight flush rising to the girl's face. + +"After all," muttered Dick inwardly, "why not? Laura isn't a +schoolgirl any longer, and it certainly most be difficult for +any young man who has the chance to call to keep away from her!" + +So Cadet Prescott tried to persuade himself that it was all very +natural for Mr. Cameron to call and for Laura to be glad to see +Mr. Cameron. Dick even tried to feel glad that Laura was receiving +attentions---but the effort ended in secret failure. + +Then Dick, as he drove along, tried to tell himself that he didn't +care, and that he hadn't any right to care---but in this also he +fell short of success with himself. + +So he fell silent, without intending to. Laura, on her part, +tried to make up for his silence by chatting pleasantly, but after +a while she, too, found herself out of words. + +Then, for a mile, they drove along almost in complete silence. +Yet Cadet Prescott found plenty of chance to eye her covertly. +What he saw was a beautiful girl, so sweet and wholesome looking +that he had hard work, indeed, to keep ardent words from rushing +to his lips. + +"She grows sweeter and finer all the time," he muttered to himself. +"Why shouldn't men be eager to call, often and long?" + +At last the mare stumbled slightly, and Prescott jerked the animal +so quickly and almost savagely on the lines that Miss Bentley +looked at him with something of a start. + +"Dick," spoke Laura at last, turning and looking him frankly, +sweetly in the eyes, "have I done anything to offend you?" + +"You, Laura?" + +"I wondered," she continued. "You have been so very silent." + +"I am afraid I was thinking," muttered Dick. "And that's a very +rude thing to do when it makes one seem to ignore the lady who +is with him," he added, forcing a smile. "I beg your pardon, +Laura, ten times over." + +"Oh, I don't mind your being abstracted," she answered simply, +"so long as I am not the cause of it." + +"You-----" + +Dick checked himself quickly. + +He had been right on the point of admitting that she had been +the cause of his abstraction, and such a statement as that would +have called for an abundance of further explanation. + +So he forced himself into a peal of laughter that sounded nearly +natural. + +"If I were to tell you what a ridiculous thing I was thinking about, +Laura!" he chuckled. + +Then his West Point training against all forms of deceit led him +to wondering, at once, whether Mr. Cameron could truthfully be +defined as "a ridiculous thing." + +"Tell me," smiled the girl patiently. + +"Not I," defied Prescott gayly. "Then you would find me more +ridiculous than the thing about which I was thinking." + +"Oh!" she replied, and the cadet fancied that his companion spoke +in a tone of more or less hurt. + +But, at least, Dick could look straight into her face now, as they +talked, and every instant he realized more and more keenly how +lovely Miss Bentley was growing to be. + +They were driving down sweet-scented country lanes now. The whole +scene fitted romance. The cadet remembered Flirtation Walk, at +West Point, and it struck him that there was danger, at the present +moment, of Flirtation Drive. + +"I wonder what the dear girl is thinking about at this present +moment?" pondered Dick. + +"I wonder what it was that made him so abstracted, and then so +suddenly merry?" was the thought in Miss Bentley's mind. + +"That was a very pretty road we came through before we turned into +this one," commented Dick at a hazard. + +"I didn't notice it," replied Laura. "Where are we now? Oh, +yes! I know the locality now." + +"You have driven out here before---with Mr. Cameron?" + +The words were out ere Cadet Prescott could recall them. He felt +indescribably angry with himself. In the first place, the question +he had asked was really none of his business. In the second place, +his inquiry, under the circumstances, was a rude one. + +"Mr. Cameron was in the party," Laura replied readily. "There +was quite a number of us; it was a 'bus ride one May afternoon. +We came out to gather wild flowers." + +"If I had the right," flamed up within the cadet, "I'd soon make +Mr. Cameron my business, or else I'd be some of his. But it wouldn't +be fair. I'm not through West Point yet, and I may never be. +Until my future is fairly assured I'm not going to ask the sweetest +girl on earth to commit her future to my hands. Even if I felt +that I could, a cadet is forbidden to marry and a two years' engagement +is a fearfully long one to ask of a girl. And a girl like Laura +has a chance to meet hundreds of more satisfactory fellows than I +in two years." + +It required all the young soldier's will power to keep silent +on the one subject uppermost in his mind. And even Dick realized +that some very trivial circumstance was likely to unseat his firm +resolve. + +What he was trying to act up to was his sense of fairness. Hard +as it was under the circumstances, he was more anxious to be fair +to this girl than to any other living being. + +"I mustn't spoil her afternoon, just because my own mind is so +dizzy!" he thought reproachfully. + +So, a moment later, he became merrier than ever---on the surface. + +It was Laura's turn to take a covert look at his face. She wondered, +for she felt that Prescott's assumed gayety had an almost feverish +note. + +"How much further are you going to drive?" she asked presently. + +"The only pleasure I recognize in the matter, Laura, is yours. +So I am wholly at your command." + +He tried to answer lightly and gallantly, yet felt, an instant +later, that his words had had a strained sound. + +The same thought had struck the girl. + +Yet, instead of asking him to turn the horse's head about, Laura +ventured: + +"Gridley must be pleasant, as your home town, yet I fancy you are +already looking forward to getting back to your ideals at West Point?" + +"Is she tired of having me around?" wondered Cadet Prescott, wincing +within, as though he had been stabbed. + +"I'm keener for West Point, every day, Laura," he answered quietly. +"Yet, even in the case of such a grand old place as the Military +Academy, it is worth while to get away once in a while. If it +were not for this long furlough, midway in the four years' course, +many of us might go mad with the incessant grind." + +"Oh, you poor Dick!" cried Laura Bentley, in quick, genuine sympathy. +"Yes; I think I can quite understand what you say." + +And then a new light came into her eyes, as she added, very softly: + +"We in Gridley, who hope for you with your own intensity of longings, +must take every pains to make this furlough of yours restful enough +and full enough of happiness to send you back to West Point with +redoubled strength for the grind." + +"The same Laura as of yesterday!" cried Dick with sincere enthusiasm. +"Always wondering how to make life a little sweeter for others!" + +"Thank you," she half bowed quietly. "Yes; I want to see your +strength proven among strong men." + +Again she looked frankly into Prescott's eyes, and he, at the +same moment, into hers. His pulses were bounding. What was to +become, now, of his resolution to hold back the surging words for +at least two more years? + +Yet resolutely he stifled the feelings that surged within him. +He was a boy, though the training at West Point was swiftly making +him over into a man. + +"I may lose her," groaned Cadet Prescott. "I may have lost her +already---if I ever had any chance. But a soldier has at least +his honor to think of, and no honorable man can ask a woman to +give herself to him, and to wait for years, when he isn't reasonably +certain he is going to be able to meet the responsibility that +he seeks." + +Never had Prescott been more earnest, more serious, nor more attentive +than during the remainder of that drive. Yet he studiously refrained +from giving the girl any hint of the thoughts that were surging +within him. + +Was he foolish? + +Dick felt, anyway, that he was not, for he was waging a mighty fight +to stand by his best sense of honor. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SURPRISE THE LAWYER HAD IN STORE + + +The days went by swiftly, merrily. + +Dick continued to see all that was possible of Laura Bentley, +without seeming to try to monopolize her time. + +As for careless, good-humored, nearly heart-free Greg, that young +man divided his time almost impartially among several very pretty +girls. Cadet Holmes had no thought of arousing baseless hopes in +any young woman's mind. He simply had not yet reached the age when +he was likely to be tied closely by any girl's bright-hued ribbons. + +Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton were much with the young West Pointers. +Had Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell been able to be home from Annapolis +at this time, the cup of joy would have been full for all the old +chums of Dick & Co. But that was not to be. + +Even Reade and Hazelton were home only on limited leave, for they +were still very young engineers, who could not sacrifice much +time away from their work lest they lose the ground already gained. + +So just after the Fourth of July, Tom and Harry left, on a morning +train, the two young West Pointers going to the station to see +them off with many a handshake, many a yearning wish for the two +dear old chums of former days. + +"The blamed old town will seem a bit empty, won't it?" demanded +Greg, as the cadet pair strolled back from the railway station. + +"What'll it be in after years," sighed Dick, "with you up at some +fort on the Great Lakes, say, with me in Boston, Tom and Harry +somewhere out West, with Dave on the European station and Dan, +perhaps, on the China station? Oh, well, chums who want to stick +together through life should go in for jobs in the same factory!" + +"I suppose we'll get more used to being apart, as the years roll +on," muttered Greg. "But I know it would be mighty jolly, this +summer, if all the fellows of Dick & Co. could be here in Gridley." + +"There's Bert Dodge," whispered Prescott. + +"It was hardly worth the trouble to tell me anything about him," +retorted Holmes, not taking the trouble to look at their ancient +enemy. + +"But what a scowl the fellow is wearing," smiled Dick, half in +amusement. + +"Scowling is his highest pleasure in life," returned Greg. + +"He looked at me," continued Dick, as though he had discovered +some new reason for hating me." + +"If he knew how little thought you gave to him he wouldn't really +take the trouble to hate you. Dodge has far more reason to dislike +himself. Where are you heading now?" + +"Home and to the store," replied Dick. "I just saw the postman +leaving. Come along." + +As Dick and his chum entered, both his father and mother were +behind the counter. + +"Dr. Davidson and his wife are in the back room," announced Mrs. +Prescott. "They would like to see you, Dick." + +"Oh, your new pastor and his wife? Will you excuse me, and wait +for me a few minutes, Greg?" asked Dick. + +Holmes, nodding, picked up a magazine and seated himself. It +was twenty minutes ere Dick came out from that back room. Then +the chums started out for another stroll. + +"Where are you going now?" asked Greg, suddenly, realizing that +his chum was walking at an almost spurting gait. + +"In looking over my mail," replied Dick grimly, "I found a letter +from Lawyer Griffin." + +"What does he want, You don't owe any money, here or anywhere else." + +"Griffin wrote me that he wanted to see me about a case that has +been placed in his hands," replied Prescott quietly. + +Greg started, then changed color. + +"Dick," he demanded, "do you know what the lawyer's business is +about?" + +"The lawyer's letter doesn't state any more than I have told you." + +"Dick, that hound Dodge must be up to some trick!" + +"I imagine that's the answer," replied Cadet Prescott quietly. + +"And you're going to see the lawyer?" + +"Yes." + +"Humph!" muttered Greg. "I know what I'd do. I'd make the lawyer +come to see me." + +"But I prefer going to his office." + +"Right away?" + +"As soon as I can get there." + +"And you want me with you?" + +"Most decidedly, Greg. I don't care to go into the lawyer's office +without a competent witness." + +"Then I'm yours, old fellow." + +"I know that, Greg." + +Despite himself Holmes began to feel decidedly uneasy. + +"What on earth can Dodge be up to?" muttered Greg. "He threatened +a libel prosecution one day last month. Can it be that he has +found people who can be bribed to perjure themselves, and that he +is going to make his hint good?" + +"It half looks that way," assented Dick. + +"Then may a plague seize the cur!" cried Greg, vehemently. "Why, +if the fellow can buy other people into making out a case of libel +against you-----" + +"I might be convicted, and that conviction would cut short my Army +career," replied Prescott as quietly as ever. + +Greg stopped short in his walk, staring aghast at his chum. + +"Why, can Dodge be scoundrel enough for that?" he gasped. + +"The best way to judge a man, like a horse, is by the record of +his past performances," responded Prescott as quietly as ever. + +"So that unutterable cur, since he couldn't remain in the Army, +is determined that you shan't, either! Dick, old ramrod, I'm +shaking all over with indignation and contempt, and you're as +cool as an old colonel going under fire again for the thousandth +time!" + +"If there's any real danger I guess I'd better remain cool," spoke +Prescott slowly, though there was a flash of fire in his eyes. + +"There's Bert Dodge again!" quivered Holmes, glancing along the +street. "Hurry up! Let's meet him. Just on general principles +one of us ought to thrash him, and I most joyously volunteer." + +"Don't you do anything of the sort," begged Dick quickly. "We +don't want to make any matter worse. Here's the building where +Griffin has his offices. Come; we'll go up and see him." + +The two West Pointers were soon in the lawyer's office. Mr. Griffin +was disengaged, and saw the young men at once. This attorney was +rather a new-comer in Gridley. Dick and Greg met him for the first +time. Prescott rather liked the man's appearance. + +"Do you want the whole affair discussed before your friend, Mr. +Prescott?" demanded Griffin. + +"By all means, sir," Dick responded. + +"Very good, then," replied the lawyer, who was still engaged in +studying the faces of both cadets. + +Then, while the two West Pointers sat before him, their faces +impassive, Mr. Griffin continued. + +"When I was retained on this case I was asked to put the whole +matter before the Grand Jury at its next sitting. It is so very +unusual, however, to have criminal cases against West Point men +that I insisted with my clients that I would not take a decisive +step, Mr. Prescott, until I had first seen you." + +"Thank you, sir," nodded Cadet Prescott. + +"In brief then," went on the lawyer, "Mr. Dodge and his son Bert +have placed a good deal of sworn evidence in my hands, and they +have instructed me, Prescott, to procure your indictment on a +charge of uttering criminally libelous statements against Bert +Dodge!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +PRESCOTT LAYS A POWDER TRAIL + + +Greg Holmes turned very white for an instant. + +Then a flush rose to his face. He leaped to his feet, his hands +clenched. + +"This is an infamous, outrageous, lying-----" + +"Thank you, Greg," Prescott broke in coolly. "But will you let +me question Mr. Griffin?" + +"Yes," subsided Greg, sinking back into his chair. "I don't know +that I could say any more. It would be merely a change in the words." + +Cadet Prescott turned back to the lawyer. + +"Mr. Griffin, will you tell me why you sent for me?" + +"Because," replied the man of law, "I have some knowledge of the +average West Point material. Frankly, I couldn't wholly credit +this charge against you. I wanted to see you and have a talk +with you, and I so informed the elder Dodge. Unless you can satisfy +me that this is a ridiculous case, or a wholly malicious prosecution, +then I shall feel obliged, as a lawyer, to take up the charges +with the district attorney, after which we shall proceed in the +usual way. But, first of all, I want to have a talk with you." + +"That is very fair, sir," replied Dick. + +"And I want to be fair," replied the lawyer with emphasis. "I +want to make sure that I am not taking part in a case needlessly +malicious, and one which, pushed to a needless conclusion, might +rob the Army of a valuable future officer." + +"I appreciate your courtesy and fairness, and I, thank you, sir," +Dick acknowledged. + +"Now, Mr. Prescott, do you mind telling me, in a general way, +at least, just what you have said to others about young Dodge +since you have been home on your furlough?" + +"I would rather, sir, tell you something else instead," replied +Cadet Prescott, with the ghost of a smile. "You have some affidavits, +Mr. Griffin---or, at least, you have some witnesses, and they +have very likely furnished you with affidavits. The names of +your witnesses, or of your most important witnesses, are Fessenden, +Bettrick and Deevers. Fessenden was a bank clerk, discharged +from the bank by the elder Dodge. Bettrick is a truck-driver, +and Deevers is---well, I understand he has no more important +occupation than lounging about drinking places." + +"I am sorry that you know the names of my witnesses," replied +Lawyer Griffin gravely. "I am beginning to be impressed with +the idea that you know their names so readily because you recall +having said something in their presence or hearing against young +Dodge." + +"That is hardly likely," replied Dick, smiling coolly, "because +I do not believe that I know either of the three young men by +sight." + +"Then why," demanded the attorney, eyeing the young West Pointer +keenly, "do you know so much about their occupations or lack of +occupation? And why do you know that they are all young men?" + +"I will tell you," replied Dick. "In the first place, you know +Dr. Carter, do you not?" + +"Yes." + +"He is a reputable physician, isn't he?" + +"I believe Dr. Carter to be a very honorable man." + +"Do you know Dr. Davidson?" + +"I understand that he is one of the new pastors in town," admitted +the lawyer. + +"You imagine he would make a creditable witness, don't you?" + +"Jurors generally accept the testimony of a clergyman at its face +value," replied Attorney Griffin. + +"Down in one of the tenements of Gridley," pursued Prescott, rising +and leaning one elbow upon the corner of the top of the lawyer's +roll-top desk, "is a young man named Peters. He is a mill hand +who has been away from his work for weeks on account of illness. +Dr. Carter has been attending him, probably without charging +much if any fee. Last night Peters had a small boy rush out and +telephone in haste for Dr. Carter. As it happened, the physician +was at his office, and answered quickly. After Dr. Carter had +been in Peters's room, perhaps a minute, the physician hurried +out into the street, stopping the first man whom he met. That +man happened to be Dr. Davidson. The two men returned to Peters's +room. Now, all three of them listened." + +Lawyer Griffin was eyeing Prescott curiously. + +"Yesterday afternoon," continued Dick, changing the subject with +seeming abruptness, "Fessenden, Bettrick and Deevers were all here, +and signed affidavits before a clerk of yours, who is a notary public." + +"Proceed," requested Mr. Griffin, without either denying or admitting +the truth of Dick's statement. + +"Since he lost his bank position," Dick went on, "Fessenden has +been compelled to live in a wretched room next to that occupied +by the sick man Peters. Two nights ago, as you will remember, +there was a heavy rain. Now, the roof leaked at that tenement +house, and the dripping water washed away some of the plaster +covering the none-too-thick partition between the room of Fessenden +and the room of Peters. So our sick man heard much of the conversation +between Fessenden and the fellow's confederates. Now Peters, +the physician and the clergyman are all willing to swear to the +statement that Bert Dodge hired Fessenden, Bettrick and Deevers +to testify against me. Young Dodge, according to the overheard +conversation, met and drilled all three in their parts. That +was before the three came here yesterday afternoon, with the Dodges, +and supplied you with the affidavits that you now hold. For this +service, Dodge is believed to have paid each young loafer the +sum of twenty dollars, with a promise of eighty more apiece after +they had told their tales in court. That, Mr. Griffin, is the +other side of the story. Bert Dodge has deliberately hired three +men to swear falsely against me." + +As he finished Dick dropped carelessly back into the chair. He +appeared wholly cool. Not so Greg Holmes, whose face, during this +recital, had been a study. Now Greg was upon his feet in a flash. + +"How long have you known this, old ramrod?" he demanded. + +"Dr. Davidson told me this, in the back room at the store, just +before we came here," Prescott replied. + +"And you never told me---didn't even give me a hint?" cried Holmes +reproachfully. + +"Why, I thought I'd tell Mr. Griffin first," answered Dick. + +"I have seldom heard anything that interested me more," admitted +the lawyer. "Yet, why didn't you bring Dr. Davidson and Dr. Carter +here with you?" + +"One good reason," replied Dick bluntly, "was that I didn't know +anything about you, Mr. Griffin. I am glad to say that I have +found you most fair minded. But, not knowing you, I wanted to +see you and judge for myself whether there was any chance that +you were in league with my enemies. Had I made up my mind that +you were anywhere nearly as bad as young Dodge, I would have let +this matter get as far as the courts, when I would have overwhelmed +you all with charges of perjury, and would have proved my charges +at least against Bert Dodge and his three tools." + +"Mr. Prescott, of course I don't mean to throw any doubt over the +truth of what you have just told me. At the same time, as counsel +for the Dodges, I shall have to satisfy myself on these particulars. + +"Do you know Dr. Carter's voice well?" asked Prescott. + +"Very well." + +"Then kindly allow me to use your telephone." + +Pulling the desk instrument toward him, and hailing central, Dick +called for "33 Main." + +"Hello, is Dr. Carter in," called Dick after a moment. "This +is Prescott. Do you recognize my voice? Very good, sir; will +you now talk with Lawyer Griffin, who is beside me, and tell him +what you heard last night in the room of one Peters? Here is +Dr. Cater waiting for you Mr. Griffin." + +Lawyer and physician talked together for some minutes, the attorney's +excitement increasing. Greg, in the meantime, was executing a +silent jig over near the door of the room. + +"Now, you can call up Dr. Davidson," suggested Cadet Prescott. + +"I don't need to," replied the lawyer. "Dr. Carter has substantiated +all that you told me, and has informed me that Dr. Davidson is +ready to be called upon for the same information. Instead, I +shall call upon some one else." + +An instant later the attorney called up another number. + +"Hello," he said presently. "Connect me with Mr. Dodge. Hello, +is that you, Mr. Dodge? Can you reach your son readily? Oh, +he is there at the bank with you, is he? This is Mr. Griffin. +I shall expect you both at my office within five minutes. Yes; +about the Prescott matter. No; I can't tell you over the 'phone. +Both of you come here. Goodbye!" + +As though to wind up the conversation abruptly, Lawyer Griffin +rang off and hung the receiver on its hook. + +"Now, we'll wait and here the other side," remarked the lawyer +grimly. + +"If the other side dares make its voice heard!" laughed Cadet +Dick Prescott. + +There being now no need of silence, Greg Holmes relieved himself +of some noisy enthusiasm. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A FATHER'S JUST WRATH STRIKES + + +A very few minutes later a knock sounded at the door. + +Then Bert Dodge entered very abruptly, his tongue starting with +the turning off the knob. + +"Well, have you seen the mucker Prescott?" called Bert airily. +"Was he scared to-----" + +Here Bert caught sight of the two West Pointers and stopped short, +while his father entered behind him. + +"No," broke in Holmes, dryly, "Prescott wasn't even scared silly." + +"Oh, you shut up, you two!" growled Bert. "Mr. Griffin, what +are these pieces of airy nothing doing here?" + +"That advice about preserving silence will very well apply to +you, also, Mr. Bert Dodge," rejoined the lawyer. "Take a seat +in the background, please. I want to talk with your father." + +"What's the matters" demanded Bert, not taking a seat, but advancing +and leaning against the top of the lawyer's desk. "Has this fellow +won you over with a lot of his smooth talk?" + +"Mr. Griffin I warned you that Prescott is a most accomplished liar." + +Instead of flaring up at this insult, Dick merely turned to exchange +amused smiles with Holmes. + +At this moment the attorney was paying no heed to Bert, but was +placing a chair courteously for the elder Dodge. + +"Now, Mr. Dodge," began the lawyer, speaking rapidly and paying +heed only to the father, "I am very glad that I insisted on seeing +Mr. Prescott before going further in the case that you placed +with me. I expected only a denial. I have, instead, been astounded. +Now, listen, sir, while I tell you the all but incredible story." + +Thereupon Lawyer Griffin launched into a swift narration of the +story told by Dick Prescott and Dr. Carter. + +As soon as Bert Dodge began to get wind of what it was all about, +his face became ghastly. + +"Stop right here, Griffin!" commanded Bert. "This is all a tissue +of lies that have been sprung upon you." + +"Silence, young man!" commanded the lawyer sternly. "This talk +is between your father and myself. As for you, young man, remember +to what you have sworn, and bear in mind that the upshot of it +all for you may yet be a term of years in the penitentiary." + +As the lawyer went on talking there could not be a moment's suspicion +that the elder Dodge had been concerned in the plot of perjury. +Mr. Dodge had been guilty only of believing his son and of sharing +the latter's feigned indignation. + +"Now, Dr. Carter has confirmed all of this over the 'phone, and +he assured me that Dr. Davidson stood ready to add his testimony," +wound up Lawyer Griffin. "Mr. Dodge, what is to be done?" + +"Why," stammered Bert's father, "we---we shall have to drop the +whole case." + +"What?" raged Bert, his face going purple with anger. "Drop the +case on any such stacked-up mess of lies? Father, are you losing +all the nerve you ever had?" + +"Young man," broke in Lawyer Griffin severely, "you do not appear +to have the slightest idea of values. I do not for a moment imagine +that your father will go any further in this matter. If he does, +it will be necessary for him to get another attorney." + +"Why!" challenged Bert, glaring at the lawyer. + +"Because the outcome of this case, if it reached court, would +be your indictment for conspiracy and the subornation of perjury. +The latter is one of the most heinous crimes known to the law." + +"But I tell you this is all a tissue of lies trumped up against +me!" stormed young Dodge. + +While this conversation was going on Dick and Greg remained silent +in their seats. They had no need to talk. They were enjoying it +all too much just as it was going. + +"Do you expect, Dodge, that a court and a jury would take your +unsupported word against the testimony of two such men as Dr. +Carter and the Rev. Mr. Davidson? Do you imagine, for a moment, +that Fessenden and your other tools wouldn't become utterly frightened +and confess to everything against you? Do you imagine that anything +you could do or say would save you, Dodge, from going to the +penitentiary for ten or fifteen years?" + +The attorney's cool, incisive manner brought Bert Dodge to his +senses. + +A deathly fear assailed him. His knees began to shake. + +"The case is too well fixed against me," he replied hoarsely. +"Ye---es, I guess you had better drop it all." + +The elder Dodge now sprang to his feet. + +"Drop it, you young scoundrel?" he yelled at his son. "Why did +you ever drag me into any such infamous piece of business? I went +into this believing that you told me the truth." + +"I---I did, sir," stammered Bert. + +"Bah, you are a perjurer, you young villain!" raged his father. +"Griffin, this matter cannot go a step further. You will destroy +those miserable affidavits before my eyes!" + +"I am sorry, Mr. Dodge," replied the lawyer, "but I am not at +liberty to do that." + +"You can't destroy the affidavits?" howled Bert, his voice breaking. +"Why not! Aren't you our lawyer?" + +"I am even more an officer of the court than I am anyone's attorney," +replied Mr. Griffin gravely. "A lawyer has no right to conceal +a crime when he knows one has been committed not even to save his +own clients." + +"Wh---what do you propose to do, Griffins?" demanded the elder +Dodge, shaking. + +"Why, I hope to save your worthless son from prosecution, Mr. +Dodge," returned the lawyer. "But a crime has been committed, +in that your son procured others to swear to false affidavits +True, the affidavits have not yet been presented in court, and +on that I base my hope that the matter will not have to go further. +But I feel in honor bound to submit the facts to the district +attorney, and to be governed by his instructions." + +"You are going to try to send me to jail?" gasped Dodge, clutching +at the ledge of a bookcase to save himself from falling. + +"I am going to try to persuade the district attorney to let the +matter drop," replied Griffin. "It will be the district attorney's +decision that will govern the matter." + +"Then what are you doing fooling around here, governor?" screamed +Bert hoarsely. "Don't you see that it's your job to hurry to the +district attorney as fast as you can go? Use your money, your +political influence---" + +In his extreme terror young Dodge seemed to forget that he was +providing amusement for his enemies. + +But Mr. Dodge cut in quickly. Advancing a step or two, he brought +his uplifted stick down sharply, once, across his son's shoulders. + +With a snarl Bert wheeled, crouching as though to spring upon +his father. + +Prescott and Holmes jumped up, prepared to step in. But the banker +was not cowed by the evil look in his son's face. + +"Begone, you young villain!" quivered the old man. "Get out of +my sight. Never let me see you again. Don't dare to go to what +was once your home, or I'll have you thrown out. I disown you! +You are no blood of mine!" + +"I guess you forget," sneered Bert cunningly that you are responsible +for me, and that you will have to pay my bills." + +"Not a penny of them," retorted the banker sternly. "It is you +who forget that you reached the age of twenty-one just three days +ago. You are your own master, sir---and your own provider! Now, +go---and never again let any of your family hear from the scoundrel +who has disgraced us all." + +Vainly Bert opened his mouth, trying to speak. The words would +not come. His father again advancing threateningly, Bert edged +towards the door. + +"This looks like your fun, as it is your work, Dick Prescott!" +snarled the wretch. "Wait! If it takes me ten years I'll make +you suffer for this!" + +Crash! Mr. Dodge had again raised his cane to strike the young +man. But Bert had pulled open the door, closing it after him +as he fled, and only the plate-glass panel stopped the fall of +the cane. + +"I'll pay for the damage done to your door Griffin," promised +the banker. + +"Don't worry about that, sir," nodded the attorney. + +"I feel that we've been here long enough, gentlemen," broke in +Cadet Prescott, as he and Greg rose. "Mr. Dodge, I can't begin +to tell you how sorry I am that this scene was necessary." + +"I feel sure of your sympathy. Prescott, and of yours, too, Holmes. +Thank you both," replied the banker. "You are both fine, manly +young fellows. I wish I had been favored with a son like either +of you. Now, I have no son!" + +Dick and Greg got away as unobtrusively as they could. + +Bert Dodge did try to go home to see his Mother, but, by his father's +orders, he was put out of the house by two men servants. + +Immediately after that Bert vanished from Gridley. At first he +tried the effect of writing whining, penitent, begging letters home. +Receiving no replies, Bert finally drifted off into the space of +the wide world. + +Later on in the course of these chronicles he may reappear. + +Lawyer Griffin consulted with the district attorney, and it was +decided not to make perjury cases out of the affair. Fessenden, +Bettrick and Deevers, however, were all three warned and the district +attorney filed away the lying affidavits, in case a use for them +should ever come up. + +By degrees the story of Bert Dodge's latest infamy leaked out. +The news, however, did not come through any word spread by either +of our young West Pointers. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BACK TO THE GOOD, GRAY LIFE + + +A Glorious summer it was for the two second classman on furlough! + +Yet, like all other things, good and otherwise, it had to come +to an end. + +One morning near the end of August, Dick and Greg, attended by +a numerous concourse of friends, went to the railway station. + +The proud parents were there, of course, and so were the parents +of Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell, the latter happy in the knowledge +that their boys would soon be home for the brief September leave +from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. + +"Why, you haven't seen Dave since you youngsters all left home, +have you, Dick?" asked Mr. Darrin. + +"No, sir. Greg and I hoped to, this last summer, when the Army +baseball nine went down to Annapolis and defeated the Navy nine," +Dick replied. "But both Greg and I found ourselves so hard pressed +in our academic work that we didn't dare go, but remained behind +and boned hard at our studies." + +"You don't forget the fact that the Army nine did defeat the Navy +nine, do you?" laughed Dan's father. + +"No, sir; of course not," smiled Dick. "The Army and Navy teams +exist mainly for the purpose of beating each other. I am glad +to say that the Army manages to win more than its share of games." + +"That's because the West Point boys average a little older than +the Annapolis boys," broke in Mrs. Dalzell pleasantly, though +warmly. Even she, as the mother of a midshipman, felt her share +in the rivalry between the nation's two great service schools. + +"You will bring Laura and Belle up to some of the hops this winter, +I hope, Mrs. Bentley," Dick begged. + +"Oh, she's pledged to take us to West Point, and to Annapolis," +broke in Belle Meade, smiling. "You don't think we are going +to lose the hops at either Academy while we have friends there, +do you?" + +"I should hope not," Dick replied earnestly. Five minutes before +train time Leonard Cameron appeared. He greeted the two cadets +with great cordiality. + +"I couldn't help coming to see you off, Prescott," Cameron found +chance to say in an undertone. "Laura is so deeply interested +in your success that I, too, am longing to hear every possible +good word as to your future career. Laura couldn't be more interested +in you if she were truly your sister." + +That was the sting that made Dick's going away bitter. Cameron's +manner was so easy and assured that Dick saw the crumbling of one +of his more than half built castles in Spain. + +The train carried the two cadets away. The parents of both young +men had seen to it that the cadets went away in a parlor car. +Dick and Greg, after leaving Gridley behind, swung their chairs +around so that, while they looked out of the window, their heads +were close together. + +"Cameron had a nerve to show up, didn't hey" demanded Greg indignantly. + +"I don't know," Dick replied very quietly. "He tried to be very +kind and cordial." + +"Shucks!" uttered Greg, disgustedly. "Doesn't he know that Laura +Bentley is your girl, and that he's only a b.j. hanger-on there?" + +"I'm afraid Laura herself doesn't know that she's my girl," sighed +Dick. + +Cadet Holmes swung about so that he could gaze straight into his +comrade's face. + +"Dick, didn't you tell her?" demanded Greg aghast. + +"You have to do something more than tell a girl," smiled Prescott +patiently, though wearily. "You have to ask her." + +"Well, thunder and bomb-shells, didn't you?" + +"I didn't, Greg." + +"Oh, pardon me, old ramrod. I don't mean to pry into your affairs-----" + +"I know you don't." + +"-----but I thought you were deeply interested in Laura Bentley." + +"I think I am, Greg. In fact, I'm sure I am." + +"Then why-----" + +"Greg, I'm not yet sure of my place in life. I'm not going to ask +any girl to tie her future up in my plans until I feel that I have +a fair start in life." + +"Army officer's pay is enough for any sensible girl." + +"I'm not an Army officer yet." + +"Oh, rot! You're going to be! You're half way through West Point +now. You're past the harder half, and you stand well enough in +your class. You're sure to graduate and get into the Army." + +"Greg, within ten days of getting back to West Point I may be +injured in some cavalry, or other drill, and become useless for +life. A cadet hurt even in the line of duty gets no pension, +no retired pay. If he is a wreck, he is merely shipped home for +his folks to take care of him. When I graduate, and get my commission +in the Army, it will be different. Then I'll have a salary +guaranteed me for life; if I am injured, and become useless in +the Army, I still have retired pay enough to take care of a family. +If I am killed my wife could draw nearly pension enough to support +her. All these things belong to the Army officer and his wife. +But the cadet has nothing coming to him if he fails, for any reason, +to get through." + +"Well, cadets don't marry," observed Greg. "They're forbidden +to. But a cadet can have things understood with his girl. Then, +if he fails to make the Army, or to get something else suitable +in life, he can release the girl if she wants to be released." + +"But if a girl considers herself as good as engaged to a cadet +she lets other good chances go by, and the cadet may never be +able to make good," objected Dick. + +"It's good of you to be so thoughtful for that fellow Cameron," +jibed Greg. + +"I'm not thoughtful for him, but for Laura," retorted Prescott +staunchly. + +"Confound it," growled Greg to himself, "Dick is such a stickler +for the girl's rights that he is likely to break her heart. Hanged +if I don't try to set Laura straight myself, when I see her! +No; I won't either, though. Dick would never forgive me if I +butted into his own dearest affairs." + +"I know, Greg," Prescott pursued presently, "that some of the +fellows do become engaged to, girls while still at the Military +Academy. But becoming engaged to marry a girl is a mighty serious +thing." + +"Then I'm in for it," muttered Holmes soberly. "I'm engaged to +the third girl." + +"What?" gasped his chum incredulously. "You engaged to three +girls?" + +"Oh, only one at a time," Greg assured his comrade. "The first +two girls, each in turn, asked to be released, after we'd been +engaged for a while. So, now, I'm engaged to my third girl." + +Holmes spoke seriously, and with evident truth. Dick leaned back, +staring curiously at his chum, though he did not ask the latest +girl's name. + +"At least, I was engaged, at latest accounts," Greg went on, after +a few moments. "By the time I reach West Point, just as likely +as not, I'll get a letter asking me to consider the matter as past +history only." + +"Greg, Greg!" muttered Prescott, shaking his head gravely. "I'm +afraid you're not very constant. + +"I?" retorted Cadet Holmes indignantly. "Dick, you're harboring +the wrong idea. It's the girls who are not constant. Though +they were all nice little bits of femininity," Greg added +reminiscently in a tone of regret. + +Late in the afternoon the chums arrived in New York. After putting +up at a hotel they had time for dinner and a stroll. + +"Somehow, I don't feel very sporty tonight," sighed Cadet Holmes, +as they waited, at table, for the evening meal to be served. +"Yet, in a week, I suppose I'll be kicking myself. For tomorrow +we're due to get back into our gray habits and re-enter the military +convent life up the river." + +After a late supper and a short night's rest, the two young men +found themselves, the morning following, on a steamboat bound up +the Hudson River. + +"After all these weeks of good times," muttered Greg, "it doesn't +seem quite real." + +"It will, in a couple of hours," predicted Prescott, smiling. +"And, now that home is so far behind, I'm really delighted to +think that I'll soon be back in gray old barracks, donning the +same old gray uniform." + +"Oh, it will be all right. There are a lot of fellows that I'm +eager to see" Greg admitted. + +"Is the---er---er-----" + +"Out with it!" + +"Is Miss Number Three likely to be at the Point when we get there?" + +"I don't know," Holmes admitted. "I haven't heard from her in +four days. I hope she'll be there." + +All in due time the two cadets worked their way forward on the +boat. Now they encountered nearly a dozen other members of their +class, all returning. Yet none of the dozen were among their +warmest friends in class life. + +"Look, fellows!" cried Dick at last. "There's just a glimpse of +some of the high spots of West Point through the trees!" + +It was all well enough for the cadets to claim that the life at +West Point was a fearfully hard and dull grind, and that they +were little better than cadet slaves. As they picked out, one +after another, familiar glimpses of West Point, these young men +became mostly silent, though their eyes gleamed eagerly. They +loved the good old gray academy! They rejoiced to find themselves +so near, and going back! + +Then at last the boat touched at the pier. Some moments before +the gangplank was run aboard from the wharf everyone of the more +than dozen cadets had already leaped ashore. + +"Whoop!" yelled Greg, tossing his hat in the air. + +"Mr. Holmes!" growled Cadet Dennison with mock severity. "Report +yourself for unmilitary enthusiasm!" + +"Yes, sir," responded Greg meekly, saluting: his fellow classman. + +"Fall in!" yelled Dennison. + +"Where?" inquired Dick innocently. "In the Hudson? I decline, +sir, to obey an illegal order." + +Amid a good deal of laughter the returning cadets trudged across +the road, over the railroad tracks and on up the steep slope that +led to the administration building. + +Across the inner court of the administration building walked the +second classman briskly, and on up the stairs. There was no more +laughter. Even the talking was in most subdued tones, for these +young men were going back to duty---military duty at that! + +In one of the outer offices on the second floor the cadets left +their suit cases. + +Dick, being one of those in the lead, stepped into the adjutant's +room, brought his heels together, and in the position of the soldier, +saluted. + +"Sir, I report my return to duty at the Military Academy." + +"Very good, Mr. Prescott. Report to the special officer in charge +at the cadet guard house, and receive your assignment to your +room. The special officer in charge will give you any further +immediate orders that may be necessary." + +Again saluting, Prescott wheeled with military precision and left +the adjutant's office. As he was going out Dick was passed by +Greg coming in. + +For a moment Prescott waited outside until Greg had joined him. + +"It would be a howling mess if we didn't have a room together +this year, old ramrod, wouldn't it?" muttered Cadet Holmes as soon +as they were clear of the administration building. + +"Oh, that isn't one of our likely troubles," Dick answered. "We +asked for a room together, and second classmen generally have what +we want in that line." + +On reporting to the special officer in charge, the two chums found +that they had been given quarters together. Moreover, their room +was one of the best assigned to second classman, and looked out +over the plain and parade ground. + +"We ought to be jolly happy in here this year, old ramrod," predicted +Greg. "Especially as we haven't any fellow like Dodge in the class." + +"Nor in the whole Military Academy," rejoined Prescott. + +"I hope not," murmured Cadet Holmes thoughtfully. + +Boys at boarding school would have needed at least the rest of +the day to get themselves to rights. Trained to soldierly habits, +our two cadets had quickly dropped the furlough life. Citizen +clothes, in dress-suit cases, were deposited at the cadet store, +and the two cadets, back in "spooniest" white duck trousers and +gray fatigue blouses, were soon speeding along the roads that +led across the plain to where the other three classes were having +their last day of summer encampment. + +"Greetings, old ramrod!" called a low but pleasant voice, as First +Classman Brayton hurried up, grasping Dick's hand. Then Greg +came in for a hearty shake. Brayton, who had been a cadet corporal +when the two boys from Gridley were plebes, now wore the imposing +chevrons of a cadet captain. + +"My, but I'm glad to see you two idlers return to a fair measure +of work," laughed another voice, and Spurlock, whom Dick, as a +plebe, had thrashed, pushed his right hand into the ceremonies. +Spurlock, too, was a cadet captain. Other first classmen crowded +in for these returning furlough men were popular throughout the +upper classes. + +"May a wee, small voice make itself heard?" + +Dick and Greg half wheeled to meet another comer. Little Briggs, +a trifle less plump and correspondingly longer, stood before them, +grinning almost sheepishly. + +"Hullo, Briggsy!" cried Prescott, extending his hand, which the +third classman took with unusual warmth. + +"Being no longer a plebe, I enjoy the great pleasure able to address +an upper classman before I'm addressed," went on Briggs. + +"That's so, Briggsy," affirmed Greg. + +Before going off on their furlough both had been compelled to +regard Briggs as an unfortunate plebe, with whom it was desirable +to have as little to do as possible. Then it had been "Mr. Briggs"; +now it was "Briggsy"; that much had the round little fellow gained +by stepping up from the fourth class to the third. + +"Have you found any b.j. beasts among the new plebes, Briggsy!" +Dick wanted to know. + +"Plenty of 'em," responded Briggs with enthusiasm. + +"Any that were b.j.-er than Mr. Briggs?" inquired Greg. + +A shade annoyance crossed the new yearling's face. + +"I never was b.j., was I?" he murmured. + +"Think!" returned Dick dryly. "However, you're Briggs, now, with +all my heart---no longer 'mister.'" + +"We've had a busy, busy summer," murmured Briggs, "licking the +new beasts into shape." + +Greg laughed heartily at memory of some of the hazing stunts through +which he had once helped to rush Briggs. + +Furlong, Griffin and Dobbs, of the second class, hurried over to +greet Prescott and Holmes. + +"Where's Anstey?" Dick inquired. + +"Not back yet, I'm sure," replied Briggs. + +"Oh, well, he'll be back before the day's over," Dick went on +confidently. "That youth from Virginia is much too good a soldier +to fail to report on time." + +Soon after the instruction parties of the first, third and fourth +classes came marching back into camp. It seemed, indeed, like +old times, to see the fellows all rushing off to their tents to +clean up and change uniforms before the dinner call sounded. + +Then the call for dinner formation came. Dick and Greg fell in, +in their old company, and marched away at the old, swinging soldier +tread. + +Most of the afternoon the returned furlough men spent in their new +rooms. During that afternoon Anstey pounced in upon them. The +Virginian said little, as usual, but the length and fervor of the +handclasp that he gave Dick and Greg was enough. + +With evening came the color-line entertainment. Dick and Anstey +walked on the outskirts of the throng of visitors. + +Cadet Holmes, having discovered that the especial girl to whom +he was at present betrothed was not at West Point, played the +casual gallant for a fair cousin of Second Classman McDermott. + +The night went out in a blaze of color, illumination and fireworks +just before taps. In the morning the cadet battalion marched +back into barracks, and on the morning after that the daily grind +began in the grim old academic building. + +Cadets Prescott and Holmes were thus fairly started on their +third year at West Point. There was a tremendous grind ahead +of them, the very grind was becoming vastly easier, two years +of the hard life at West Point taught them how to study. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SCHEME OF THE TURNBACK + + +"I must be getting back to my room," murmured Anstey. "I haven't +had a demerit so far this year, and I don't want to begin." + +"If you must go, all right," replied Dick, though he added, with +undoubted heartiness: + +"Whether in or out of proper hours, Anstey, your visits are always +too short." + +"Thank you, old man," replied the Virginian gratefully. + +The time had worn along into October. During the first month +of academic work, neither Dick nor Greg had stood as high in their +class as they had wished. This is often the case with new second +classmen, who have just returned from all the allurements and +excitements of their furloughs. + +"Are you studying very hard, Anstey?" asked Greg, turning around, +as the Virginian entered the door. + +"Not very," drawled the Virginian. "I never did like haste and +rush. I'm satisfied if I get through. I did hope to stand high +enough to get into the cavalry, but now I think I'm going to be +pleased if I get the doughboy's white trousers stripe." + +The "doughboy" is an infantryman. + +"I think I'm going to find it all easy enough, now, after I once +get my gait. Thank goodness, we're past the daily math. grind." + +"We'll all find plenty of math. in its application to other studies," +sighed Prescott. "But what gets me is for an Army officer to +have to be roundly coached in philosophy, as regards sound and light." + +"And chemistry," groaned Greg, "with heat, mineralogy, geology +and electricity. And how the instructors can draw out on the +points that a fellow hasn't been able to get through his head!" + +"Don't!" begged the Virginian. "It makes my temples throb. I've +written mother, asking her to send me some headache powders. +Unless our third-year science instructors let up on us, I see +myself eating headache powders like candy." + +As Anstey turned the knob, and started to go out, another cadet, +about to enter, pushed door open and stepped inside. + +"Howdy fellows," was the greeting of the newcomer. + +"How do you do, Haynes?" asked Dick, though not over impressed +by the newcomer. + +Haynes was a former second classman, who, on account of illness +in the latter half of his third year, had been allowed to "turn +back" and join the new second class. + +It often happens that a "turnback" is not extremely popular with +the new class that he joins. Not less often does it happen that +the turnback wonders at the comparative lack of esteem shown him. +The reason, however, is very likely to be found in the fact that +the turnback considers himself a mile or so above the new class +members with whom circumstances have compelled him to cast his +lot. + +It was so in this instance. Haynes felt that he was, properly, +a first classman. True, the members of the first class, which +he had fallen behind, did not take that view of the case. + +"You fellows busy?" asked Haynes, as he took a seat across the +foot of Prescott's cot bed. + +"Oh, no more busy than cadets usually are," smiled Dick pleasantly. +"We are finding the new grind a hard one---that's all." + +"Now, there's nothing very hard about the first half of the year +in this class," replied Haynes knowingly. "I've been through +it you know." + +"You're lucky," rejoined Greg. "We haven't been through it---yet." + +Hayes, however, chose to regard what was meant as a slight hint. + +"Don't bone too hard at this first-term stuff, fellows," he went +on. "Save your energies for the second half of the academic year." + +"I wonder whether we shall have any energies left by that time," +replied Greg, opening one of his text-books in philosophy with +a force that made the cover bang against the desk. + +"Oh, go ahead and bone 'sound,' then, if you want," permitted +Mr. Haynes. "I'll talk to Prescott. Old ramrod, I haven't seen +you at any of the hops this year." + +"Haven't had a femme to drag," replied Dick, as he picked up a +sheet of notes and began to scan it. + +"Why don't you turn pirate, then, as I do," yawned Haynes, "and +get the fellows to write you down on the cards they're making +up for their femmes?" + +"I hadn't thought of that," replied Dick. "I don't believe, when +I have no femme to drag to the hops, that it would make me any +more popular with the fellows, either. A fellow who pirates at +all should drag a spoony femme pretty often himself." + +"Why," asked Hayes, opening his eyes rather wide, "are you boning +bootlick with any but officers?" + +"Boning bootlick" means to curry favor. Occasionally a cadet +who wants cadet honors resorts to "boning bootlick" with the tactical +officers stationed at the academy. + +"I'm not boning bootlick with cadets or with officers either," +retorted Dick rather crisply. + +"I've never had the delight of wearing chevrons, you know." + +Haynes flushed a trifle. The year before he had worn a sergeant's +chevrons. This year, for some reason, he did not have the chevrons. + +"Wearing chevrons isn't the only sign of bootlick," replied Haynes. + +"Is it one of them?" smiled Prescott good-humoredly. + +Again Haynes flushed. He had meant to take down this new member +of the second class, but found Prescott's tongue too ready. + +"I don't know," replied Haynes shortly. "I've never been one +of the authorities on bootlick." + +"Nor I, either," laughed Prescott quietly. "So we won't be able +to come to the point of any information on the subject, I'm afraid." + +Greg, with his back turned to the visitor as he bent over the +study desk, had been frowning for some time. Holmes wanted to +study; he knew how badly he needed the time. But Haynes showed +no sign of leaving the room. + +Suddenly, Holmes closed his book, perhaps with a trifle more noise +than was necessary. + +"What you going to do, Greg?" inquired his chum, as Cadet Holmes +rose stiffly, holding himself very erect in his natty gray uniform. + +"I believe I'll get out for a while," replied Greg. "I---I really +want to think a little while." + +"Oh, I'll go, if you say so," volunteered Cadet Haynes, though +without offering to rise. + +"Not necessary," replied Greg briefly, and stepped over to the +door, which he next closed---from the outside. + +"Your roommate cocky?" asked Haynes, with a short laugh. + +"Holmes!" inquired Dick. "One of the best fellows in the world." + +"Guess he didn't want visitors, then," grinned: Haynes. "He's +a chump to bone hard all the time. Really, Prescott, you don't +get any further with an excess of boning." + +"I always try to get as high in my class as I can," sighed Dick. +"True, that has never been extremely high yet. But a fellow +wants to be well up, so he can spare a few numbers, in case anything +happens, you know." + +"I'd just as soon be anywhere above the three fellows at the bottom +of the Glass," replied Haynes, stifling another yawn. + +"Well, I hope you at least attain to your ambitions in the matter," +replied Dick, regretfully eyeing two of his text-books that he +wanted to dig into in turn. There was not a heap of study time +left now, before the call came for supper formation. + +"My ambitions run along different lines," announced Haynes. + +"Along different lines than class standing?" inquired Dick. + +"Yes; if you mean the kind of class standing that comes from the +academic board," went on Haynes. + +"Why, I didn't know there was any other kind, except standing in +drill, and believe nearly all of the men here stand well in drill." + +"Oh, there are some other kinds," pursued Haynes. "Personal standing, +for instance?" + +"Thank heaven personal standing is rather easily reached here," +replied Dick. "All a fellow has to do is to be courteous and +honorable and his personal standing just about takes care of itself." + +"Oh, there are some other little matters in personal standing. +Take the class presidency, Prescott, for instance." + +"Yes?" queried Dick. "What about it?" + +"Well, you've been president of your class for two years." + +"Yes; thanks to the other fellows of the class." + +"Now, Prescott, do you intend to go right along keeping the presidency +of the class?" + +"Why, yes; if the fellows don't show me that they want a change." + +"Maybe they do," murmured Haynes. + +Dick wheeled and regarded the turnback rather sharply. + +"You must mean something by that, Haynes. What do you mean?" + +"Are you willing to resign, if the class wants someone else?" + +"Of course," replied Prescott, with a snap. + +"I'm glad to hear you say that," murmured Haynes. + +"See here, Haynes, have you been sent here by any faction in the +second class?" + +"No," admitted the turnback promptly. + +"Have you heard any considerable expression of opinion on the +subject of a new class president being desired." + +"No," admitted Haynes, coloring somewhat under the close scrutiny +of his comrade in the class and the corps. + +"You're speaking for yourself only?" + +"That's it," assented the turnback. + +"Why don't you want me for class president?" + +Cadet Haynes looked a trifle disconcerted, but it was always Dick's +way to go openly and directly to the point in any matter. + +"Why, perhaps I don't know just how to put it," replied Haynes. +"But see here, Prescott, wouldn't it be better for any class---say +the second class, for instance---to have a man as president who +has been longer at the Military Academy than the other members +of the class?" + +"Do you mean," pursued Dick relentlessly, "that you want to be +elected president of the present second class, Haynes?" + +"Why, I think it would be a nice little courtesy from the class," +admitted the turnback. "You see, Prescott, you've held the honor +now for two years." + +Dick smiled, looking straight into the eyes of his visitor, but +he made no other answer. + +"Now, what do you think about it, Prescott?" insisted the turnback. + +"I don't like to tell you, Haynes." + +"But I wish you would." + +"You'd be offended." + +"No; I would---See here not trying to be offensive with me, are you?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Oh, that's all right then. Go ahead and tell me what you think." + +"I was a good deal astonished," went on Prescott, "when back in +plebe days, the other fellows chose me for their president. I +wasn't expecting it, and I didn't know what to make of it. But +the fellows of the class gave me that great honor. I stand ready +to step down from the honor at any time when the class feels that +it would like another president." + +"I'd like the honor, Prescott. But, of course, I didn't know +that you held to it so earnestly. If you don't want to give it +up, of course I'll go slow in asking you to do so. But I thought +that both you and the class would appreciate having as president +a man who has been longer at the Military Academy than any of +the others." + +"If I were to resign the presidency," replied Prescott bluntly, +"I don't believe you'd stand a ghost of a show of getting it." + +Cadet Haynes sprang to his feet, cheeks crimson, his eyes flashing. + +"Why not?" he insisted. + +"Steady, now," urged Dick. "Don't take offence where none is +meant, Haynes. The class would want its president to be one who +has been with the class all along, and who knows all its traditions. +Now, in experience, you're a first classman, and you've all the +First-class traditions. Now, if the class were dissatisfied with +me, and wanted a new president, I'm pretty certain the fellows +would choose someone who had been in our class from the start. +Now with you a turnback-----" + +Haynes's flush deepened, and he took a step forward, his fists +clenching. + +"Prescott, do you use that word offensively?" + +"No," replied Dick quietly. "Do you intend your question or manner +to be offensive?" + +"Not unless you're trying to start it," sniffed the other cadet. + +"I'll tell you what I'll do, Haynes," proposed Dick pleasantly. +"I can see your point of view---from your side. I don't believe +it would be the view of the class. But, if you wish, I'll call +a class meeting and lay the whole proposition before them." + +"You mean that you'll try out class feeling by resigning and suggesting +me for your successor?" asked Haynes eagerly. + +"No; I'll state the substance of our conversation this afternoon, +and then you can say any thing you may have to say on the subject. +Then I will put it to the class whether they want me to resign so +that you can be elected in my place." + +Haynes turned several shades more red. + +"That would make a fool of me!" flashed the turnback. + +"It would be a statement of your own proposition, wouldn't it?" +asked Dick, with another smile. + +"Stop your laughing at me, you-----" + +"Careful!" warned Dick, but he threw a lot of emphasis into the +single word. + +"Prescott," choked the turnback, "you're trying to make my idea +and myself ridiculous!" + +"Haven't I stated your proposition fairly?" challenged Prescott. +"You think that, because you are a turnback, you have more right +than I to the class presidency. If that isn't your attitude, +then I shall be glad to apologize." + +"Oh, pshaw, there's no use in trying to make you see the matter +with my eyes," muttered Haynes in disgust. + +"I'm afraid not, Haynes. If the fellows don't want me as president +I would insist on resigning. But I am sure the class would rather +have almost anyone than a turnback. I hope, however, there is +no hard feeling?" + +Prescott held out his right hand frankly. + +"I hope there will be, as you say, no hard feeling," mumbled Haynes, +accepting the proffered hand weakly. + +Then the turnback left the room. Down the corridor, however, +he strode heavily, angrily, muttering to himself: + +"The conceited puppy!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +BRAYTON MAKES A BIG APPEAL + + +For a moment or two Dick stood looking out of his window, across +the far-stretching plain that included the parade ground and the +athletic field. + +In the near distance the football squad was finishing up its practice +in the last moments of daylight. Brayton was captain of the Army +eleven, and was a good deal discouraged. + +"Queer idea Haynes had!" muttered Dick to himself. + +Then he turned back to his desk and to the neglected chapter on +"Sound" in natural philosophy. + +Dick, however, was not fated to study much. + +First of all, back came Greg, opening the door and looking in +inquiringly. + +"Haynes has gone, I see," murmured Cadet Holmes. + +"Yes." + +"To stay away?" + +"I rather think so," nodded Cadet Prescott, without looking up from +the pages of his textbook. + +"Then there'll be some show for a poor, hard-working goat," muttered +Greg, closing the door behind him and falling into his chair. + +"The goat," at West Point, is one who is in the lowest section +or two of his class. Greg was not yet a "goat," this year, though +he lived in dread of becoming one. + +Hearing a yell from the plain beyond, however, Holmes went over +to the window and looked out. + +"Dick, old ramrod," exclaimed Cadet Holmes wistfully, "I wish +we stood well enough to be out on the football grill." + +"So do I," muttered Dick. "But what's the with the goat section +overtaking us at double time?" + +Greg sighed, then went back to his books. + +For fifteen or twenty minutes both young men read on, trying to +fasten something of natural philosophy in their minds. + +Now there came a quick knock, immediately after which the door +was flung open and Brayton marched in. + +"See here, you coldfeet," began the captain of the Army eleven +sternly, "what do you two mean by staying in here and boning dry +facts?" + +"Just to avoid being drowned in goat's milk," smiled Dick, turning +a page and looking up. + +Brayton, regardless of these heroic efforts to study, threw one +leg across the corner of the study table. + +"You two fellows came out, in the first work of the squad, and +did stunts that filled us all with hope," pursued Brayton severely. +"Then, suddenly, you failed to show up any more. And all this, +despite the fact that we have the poorest eleven the Army has +shown in six years." + +"Only men well up in their academic work are allowed to play on +the eleven, replied Dick. + +"You fellows are well enough up to make the team." + +"But we're nervous about our studies," rejoined Prescott. + +"Nervous about your studies!" cried Brayton sharply. "Yet not +a whit anxious for the honor of the Army that you hope to serve +in all your lives. Now, you fellows know, as well as any of us, +that we don't much mind being walked over by a crack college eleven. +But we want to beat the Navy, year in and year out. Why, fellows, +this year the Navy has one of the best elevens in its history. +All the signs are that the middies are going to walk roughshod +over us. And yet you two fellows, whom we need, are sulking in +quarters, poring over books---nervous about your studies!" + +Scorn rang in Brayton's heavy tones. + +"If I really thought you needed me-----" began Dick. + +"Of course, if you did actually need two duffers like-----" broke +in Cadet Holmes. + +"Need you!" retorted Brayton. "I'm almost ashamed to be sitting +here with two such cold-blooded duffers. But do you know why +I'm here? Because Lieutenant Carney, our coach, told me to come +here and actually beg you to turn out---if I had to beg. Now, +am I going to be submitted to that humiliation by two fellows +I've always liked and considered my friends?" + +"Is the football situation as bad as that?", asked Dick seriously. + +"Bad?" repeated Brayton gloomily. "Man, it's _rotten_! Today +is Thursday. Saturday we have to meet Lehigh. That's a team +we can usually beat. Lieutenant Carney is so blue that I believe +he'd like to compromise by giving Lehigh the game at a score of +twelve to nothing! And the Navy! Think of the fun of having +Annapolis strutting around with the Army scalp tied to an anchor!" + +"If you really mean what you've been saying," said Dick slowly, +"then we're going tomorrow afternoon. I'm taking the liberty +of speaking for Greg." + +"That's straight and correct," affirmed Holmes hastily. + +"But I'm not sure, Brayton, that you'll find us such bang-up material +as you appear to think." + +"Oh, bother that!" cried the Football captain jubilantly. "I +know what Lieutenant Carney can do with you. So, for the glory +the Army, then, you'll come out, after this, and stand by us for +the rest of the season?" + +"For the glory of the Army, if we have anything to do with it," +cried Dick heartily, "we'll 'fess' cold in every confounded study +on the third-year list. For the glory of the Army we'll consent +to being 'found' and kicked out of the service!" + +"Hear, hear!" came rousingly from Cadet Holmes. + +"Fellows---thank you!" gasped Brayton, grasping both their hands +and shaking them hard. "Lieutenant Carney will be delighted. +So will all the fellows. Mr. Carney has had a hard, up-hill time +of it as couch this year. But now---!" + +There could be no question that Brayton's joy was real. He was +a keen judge of football material, and he had been deeply chagrined +when Dick and Greg had withdrawn from the early training work of +the squad. + +"It has been fearful work trying get the interest up this year," +continued Brayton with a reminiscent sigh. "So many good man +have been dodging the squad! Even Haynes, who is the best we +have at left end, ducked this afternoon. Caesar's ghost may know +what Haynes was doing with his time---I don't. But I don't believe +he was boning." + +Prescott smiled quietly to himself as he recalled how Cadet Haynes +had been employing his leisure in this very room. + +"Well, I'm happy, and Lieutenant Carney will be," muttered Brayton, +turning to go. "A whole lot of us will feel easier." + +"Any idea where you'll try to play us?" asked Dick, as the captain +of the Army eleven rested his hand on the knob. + +"Not much; we'll find out during tomorrow afternoon's practice. +Be sharp on time, won't you?" + +"If we're able to walk," promised Dick. + +Just after Brayton had gone the orderly came through with mail. + +"You got something, eh?" asked Greg. + +"Yes; a letter from grand old Dave Darrin," cried Dick, as he +broke the seal of the envelope. + +"Let me know the news," begged Holmes. + +"Whoop! Dave is on the Navy football team. So is Dan Dalzell! +Both have gone in at the eleventh hour." + +"Great Scott!" breathed Greg, rising to his feet. "I wonder if +we're going to be placed on the line where we'll have to bump 'em +in the Army-Navy game?" + +"We may be, if we get on the line," uttered Prescott, as he finished +the epistle. "Here, Greg, read it for yourself. That will be +quicker than waiting for me to tell you the news from our old +chums." + +The next afternoon both Prescott and Holmes turned out on the +gridiron practice work. Both proved to be in fine form. Lieutenant +Carney, the Army coach, devoted most of his attention to them. + +After some preliminary work the Army eleven was lined up against +a "scrub" team of cadets. + +"Mr. Prescott, go to left end on the team," directed Coach Carney. +"Mr. Haynes, take the right end on scrub. Mr. Holmes, you will +be left tackle on the Army team for this bit of work. The captains +of both teams will now line their men up. Scrub will have the +ball and make the kick-off. Make all the play brisk and snappy. +Work for speed and strategy, not impact." + +With that, Lieutenant Carney ran over to the edge of the gridiron, +leaving another officer, of the coaching force, to officiate as +referee. + +The ball was placed in play. At the kick-off the ball came to +Greg, who passed it to Dick. The interference formed, backed +by Brayton. + +"Put it around their right end!" growled Brayton, the word passing +swiftly to Prescott. + +Haynes was darting in, blood in his eye, backed the whole right +flank of scrub. + +Greg and the rest of the available interference got swiftly and +squarely in the way of Haynes and the others. There was a scrimmage. +Out of it, somehow---none looking on could tell just how it was +done---Prescott emerged from the mix-up, darting swiftly to the +left and around. He had made twenty-five yards with the ball +Before he was nailed and downed. + +Lieutenant Carney looked, as he felt, delighted. The spectators, +all of them crazy for the Army's success, broke into yells of +joy. Dick had done the spectacular part of the trick, but he +could not have succeeded without the swift, intelligent help that +Holmes had given. Playing together, they had sprung one of the +clever ruses that both had perfected back in the old Gridley days. + +Haynes was furious. He was panting. There was an angry flash +in his eyes as both teams lined up for the snap-back. + +"That fellow has come out into the field just to spite me," snarled +Haynes to himself. + +At the signal, the ball was snapped back, and passed swiftly to +Dick. Haynes fairly leaped into the scrimmage, as though it were +deadly hand-to-hand conflict. But Dick and Greg, with the backing +of their comrades on the Army eleven, bore Haynes down to earth +in the mad stampede that passed over him. Fifteen yards more +were gained, and scrub's half-backs were feeling sore in body. + +"That man Prescott is a wonder," muttered Lieutenant Carney to +a brother officer of the Army. "Or else Holmes is. It's hard +to say which of the pair is doing the trick. I think both of +them are." + +"How on earth, Carney, did you come to overlook that pair until +now?" + +"I didn't overlook them," retorted the Army coach. "I had them +spotted when the training first began. But both dropped out on +the claim that they feared for their standing in academy work." + +"A pair like that," muttered Captain Courteney, "ought to be excused +for any kind of recitations during the football season. Jove! Look +at that---Prescott has made a touchdown" + +"Prescott carried the ball," amended Lieutenant Barney, "but Holmes +certainly had as much to do with the touchdown as Prescott did." + +"They're wonders!" cried Captain Courteney joyously. "And to +think that you didn't have that pair out last year." + +"Both refused even to think of going into training last year," +retorted the Army coach. "Both were keen on the bone. But, bone +or no bone, we've got to have them on the eleven the rest of this +season." + +By the time that the afternoon's practice was over fully fifty +Army officers were on the sides, watching the work, for word had +traveled by 'phone and the gathering had been a quick one. + +"Prescott! Holmes!" called Brayton sharply, after the practice +was over. "You'll play on the Army team tomorrow. Lieutenant +Carney says so. Prescott, yours is left end; Holmesy, you'll +expend your energies as left tackle. Haynes, you'll be in reserve, +as a sub." + +The message to Cadet Haynes was delivered without the suspicion +of a snub in it. Almost any other man in the battalion would +have accepted this wise decision without a murmur, delighted that +the Army had found a better man. + +Not so with Cadet Haynes. He turned cold all over. Not a word of +reply did he offer, but turned on his heal, digging his fingernails +into the palms of his hands. + +"Now, what do you think of that?" demanded Haynes to himself. +"Turned down for that fellow Prescott---that shifty dodger and +cheap bootlick! And I shook hands with you yesterday, Prescott! +I never will again! Confound you, you turned out in togs at this +late hour, just to put me out of the running!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +IN THE BATTLE AGAINST LEHIGH + + +Before noon the next day Lehigh turned up---team, subs., howlers +and all, and as many as could crowded into the conveyances that +had been sent down to the railway station to meet the team and +coaches. + +The cadet corps, busy to a man with Saturday morning recitations, +did not see the arrival of the visiting team. But the Lehighs +and the afternoon's game were the only topics for talk at dinner +in the cadet mess hall. + +"They've sent over a race of giants," growled Brayton down the +length of the table at which he sat, while a poor little plebe +cadet, acting as "gunner," was serving the roast beef. "Sergeant +Brinkman, of the quartermaster's detachment, told me that the +weight of the team sprung the axles on two of the stoutest quartermaster +wagons. Every man that Lehigh sent over weighs a good part of +a ton. What do you think of that, Prescott?" + +"Glad enough to hear it," smiled Dick, nodding. "I believe it's +the light, lithe, spry fellows who stand the best show of getting +through the enemy's line." + +"If all our smaller men were like you, I'd believe it, too, muttered +Brayton. + +"But we haven't any more light men like you and Holmes, Prescott," +broke in Spurlock from the adjoining table. + +"I'm going to duck the team and quit playing," protested Dick, +"if Holmesy and I are to be twitted about being wonders." + +"But, honestly, Prescott" began Brayton, "you two are-----" + +"Average good Army men, I hope," interposed Dick. "Nothing more, +I hope. At least. I speak for myself. If Holmesy wants to star-----" + +"I'll call you out, ramrod, if you carry the joke too far!" warned +Greg. + +Seeing that both of the chums were in earned and didn't want to +hear their merits sung, the others near them desisted. But, at +many a table further removed, the whole trend of prediction was +that, with Prescott and Holmes now definitely on the eleven, the +Army stood its first chance of defeating Navy that year. + +The Navy! It is the whole hope of West Point to send Annapolis +down to defeat. The middies of the Navy on the other hand, can +smile at many and many a defeat, provided the Army trails behind +the Navy at the annual football game. + +As the cadets marched out of mess hall and back along the sidewalk +to barracks, those who allowed their gaze to stray ever so little +across the roadway in the direction of the administration building +noted that the holiday crowd had already begun to gather. + +There were girls down from Vassar for the afternoon, and from half +a dozen choice schools along the river. There were many out-of-town +visitors from every direction. + +We're going to three or four thousand people here to see the game," +murmured Greg to Dick, in the undertone that cadets know so well +how to use in ranks without being detected in conversing. + +"Think so?" inquired Prescott. + +"I'm sure of it." + +In the groups that were strolling up and down the roads leading +across the plain were young ladies whom many of the cadets wanted +badly to see and exchange greetings with. First of all, however, +Saturday afternoon inspection had to be gone through with. From +this, not even the members of the Army football squad were privileged +to be absent. + +When inspection was over many of the cadets hastened forth for brief +converse with popular fair ones. + +None of the football men, however, had time for this. As soon +as might be, they reported at the gymnasium, there to receive much +counsel from coach and captain. + +"Keep yourself in good shape, Haynes," called Dick, laughingly, +when, after getting into togs, he met the turnback similarly attired. + +"Going to funk?" asked Haynes rather disagreeably. + +"Not intentionally, anyway," Dick smiled back at the "sore" one. +"But I hear that we young Davids are going to be pitted against +Goliaths this afternoon. It may be just my luck to go down in one +of the scrimmages and get a furlough in hospital." + +"I hope so!" muttered Haynes, but he said it under his breath. + +Out over on the side lines officers and their families, and hordes +of visitors, were filing toward the seats. Across at the east +side of the gridiron, Lehigh's few hundred sympathizers were already +bunched, and were making up with noise for their smallness of +numbers. + +Among the Army "boosters" the uniforms of the officers brightened +the picture. + +From time to time squads or detachments of cadets arrived and +passed along to the seats reserved for them in the center. + +Below the cadets, the band was stationed, and was already playing +lively airs. + +Out ahead of the band stood a megaphone on a tripod. This was +to be used, later on, by the cheer-master, one of the cadets, +who must call for the yells or the songs that were to be given. +A rousing cheer ascended from the Lehigh seats when the visiting +college team trotted out on the field. Hearty, courteous applause +from the Army seats also greeted the visitors. The band played as +soon as the first Lehighs were seen coming on to the field. + +"Team fall in!" shouted Brayton, at last "Substitutes to the rear. +Forward!" + +Out of the gym. stepped these young champions of the Army. Across +the roadway they strode, then broke into a trot as they reached +the edge of the field. + +And now a mighty cheer arose. Yesterday, the Army's friends had +feared a defeat, but now word had gone the rounds that Prescott +and Holmes had made the team strong in its weakest spot, and that +a cyclonic game might be looked for. + +For the next few minutes the Army eleven indulged in practice +plays and kicks. During this period, the cheer-master cadets +and the corps of cadets were busied with the various Army yells +and songs that promised victory for the young soldiers. + +Nor were the Lehigh "boosters" anything like idle. Every time +an Army cheer ceased, the Lehigh sympathizers cheered their own +team. + +Then game was called, with kick-off for the Army. + +The ball was passed to Lehigh's right end, who, full of steam, +dashed on with it. + +Dick and Greg were foremost in the obstruction that met the Lehigh +runner. But the Lehigh man was well supported. Through Dick, +Greg and Ellerson dashed the runner, backed splendidly by his +interference. + +It took quarterback and one of the halfbacks of the Army to put +the runner down some eight yards further on. + +"Humph! I don't see that Prescott and Holmes are doing so much +for us," muttered Haynes to the sub. at his right, as both watched +from the side lines. + +"Look at what they have to stop," returned the other cadet. "Don't +be sore, Haynes; you couldn't do any better. + +"Humph!" grumbled the turnback. + +It soon developed, however, that Lehigh felt especially strong +on its right end. Hence, much of the work seemed to devolve upon +Dick and Greg. For twenty yarns down into Army territory that +ball was forced. Then, after a gain of only two more yards, Lehigh +was forced to surrender the ball. Army boosters stood up and +cheered loudly. + +"You've got a tough crowd to get by, Prescott," muttered Brayton. +"But look out for signals." + +As Brayton bent over to snap-back, Quarterback Boyle's cool voice +sounded: + +"Fourteen---eight---nine---three!" + +In another instant Boyle had made a running pass with the ball +to Greg, who passed it on to Dick Prescott. + +Now all the Army boosters were up in their seats, eager to see +how the much-lauded Prescott would serve with the pigskin. + +Ball clasped, head down, Dick settled for a run, his whole gaze +on the on-coming Lehigh right line. + +They met in a clash. Dick had planned how to slip out of the +impact, but the stronger Lehigh right end had both arms around +Prescott, and down went the Army left end. + +"Humph!" grunted Haynes, though his tone did not sound displeased + +"I hope that isn't a sample of Prescott's skill," muttered one +Army captain to another. + +"No matter how good a man he is, Prescott should have been in +the squad from the outset of the training," replied the other. + +Boyle was calling the signal. Breathlessly the larger part of +the spectators watched to see Dick redeem himself. + +But again he failed to make much of an advance with the ball. +After the second "down," with barely anything gained, Brayton +ordered Boyle to throw the ball over to the right of the Army +line. + +So, in the next dash, Prescott and Holmes had but little to do. +The Army lost the ball. + +Immediately it looked as though Ennis, captain of Lehigh, had +heard all about the new Army left end and left tackle, for Lehigh's +own sturdy right end came forward with the ball. Dick and Greg +both dashed furiously at him, but Greg was hurled aside by Lehigh's +interference. Dick, however, held Lehigh's right end dragged +the Army man for a yard; then others joined in the melee, and +the ball was down. + +Lehigh advanced some twenty yards before being compelled to give +up the ball. It became more and more plain that the visitors +intended forcing the fighting around the Army's left end. At +last, however, the Army balked the game, and returned to the attack, +trying to regain some of the lost Army territory. + +"They're going to pound us, Greg," whispered Dick in one of the +pauses of the game. "We were all right in the High School days, +but we're playing with tremendously bigger men now." + +Even Brayton began to question his judgment having taken these +two men so recently on the team. + +"If I had been able to train them from the first, they'd have +been all right," muttered the captain of the Army Eleven. + +To ease up on Prescott and Holmes, Brayton directed, as often +as possible, charges through the center, or right-end rushes. +But almost half of the time Lehigh seemed bent on bearing down +the Army's left end. The hard work was beginning to tell on both +Dick and Greg. + +Yet it was a long tine, after all, before Lehigh managed to score +a touchdown. When the time came, however, the visitors also made +their kick for goal, and the score was Lehigh, 6; Army, 0. +"Humph!" remarked Cadet Haynes, for the dozenth time. All his +fellow subs. had moved away from him. They were disappointed, +but they realized that Prescott and Holmes had entered the game +under brilliant promise, yet without training. + +Dutifully the cadet cheer-master kept at his work, but now the +responses came with less volume from the corps of cadets, who were +truly sitting on anxious seats. + +In the interval of rest, Lieutenant Carney talked anxiously with +Brayton. + +"Have we made a mistake in Prescott and Holmes?" asked the coach. + +"What do you think, sir!" asked Brayton. + +"If we had had that pair in training from the outset," replied +the Army officer, "I'm satisfied that they would have made a better +showing. Lehigh isn't a particularly strong team, but they have +one of the best right-end assaults that I've seen in some time. +It's really too bad that Prescott and Holmes, in their first game, +are put against such a strong, clever assault." + +"Well, we can't put Haynes in now, unless Prescott should be injured," +replied Brayton. + +"Haynes?" repeated the Army coach. "I'm glad he's not on your +line today. Training and all, Haynes isn't the man to match Prescott, +even without training." + +Haynes heard, and his face was convulsed with rage as he turned +swiftly away. + +"Queer how folks take so much stock in that fellow Prescott!" +muttered the turnback. "Why can't a man like Lieutenant Carney +see that Prescott is nothing but a dub, while Holmes is only a +dub's helper?" + +All through the Army seats it was beginning to be felt that the +late placing of Prescott and Holmes in the Army had probably been +an error. + +There were even many who rated Haynes higher than he deserved to be +rated, and who believed that the turnback might have done much to +save the day. + +As it was, the Army had about given up hope. Lehigh was stronger +than usual; that was all, except that the Army team appeared to +be weaker than in the year before. + +The band still played at appropriate moments; the corps of cadets +answered every signal for a yell, but Army spirits were drooping fast. + +"Greg," muttered Dick, with a rueful face, "you can wager that +we're being roasted by everyone out of earshot!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +WHEN THE CHEERS BROKE LOOSE + + +Fifteen minutes left to play. + +By this time even the most hopeful spectators had settled down +to the conviction that the Army was to lose the game. The most +sanguine hoped that the score would not exceed 6 to nothing. + +"We're done for on this trip!" muttered Lewis, the Army's right +guard. + +"No, we're not," retorted Dick, his eyes flashing. "We can't +lose; that's all there is to it!" + +"Who told you that," demanded Lewis. + +"That used to be our motto, our fighting principle on the old +Gridley High School team in the days when it never lost a game," +replied Prescott. + +"Hm!" returned Lewis. "I wish we had some more of your old Gridley +players on the team today, then." + +Then they scurried to their places, leaving Dick in wonder as to +whether Lewis' last remark had been intended for sarcasm. + +"Greg." whispered Dick, his pulses throbbing, "you see those fellows +on the Lehigh right flank?" + +They're the fellows we've got to down. We've got to down them, +if we get killed!" + +"That's the word!" gritted the Army left tackle. "Dick, I'd about +as soon be killed as let the Army be walked over!" + +This had all been whispered rapidly. + +The Army had just got the ball again, and was only ten yards over +into Lehigh territory. + +Now Boyle's signal was sounding: + +"Twelve---seven---six---three!" + +Dick straightened. Greg squirmed. Both knew that their chance +had come again. + +Making an oblique dash, Boyle himself passed the pigskin to Dick +Prescott. Then all of the Army line that could do so stiffened in +and surged behind Prescott and Holmes. + +Lehigh's bigger right end was making like a cyclone for Dick. The +Lehigh man was backed finely. + +Just as they were on the point of dashing together, Greg, as by +previous arrangement, gave Dick a prodigious shove, at the same +instant himself leaping forward. + +So quickly was the thing done that Lehigh's right end, ere he +realized it, had grappled with Greg---and Dick was around the +end, racing! + +With a muttered growl of rage Lehigh's man let Holmes go. For +a second or two, the college men were badly rattled. Greg, with +the agility of a squirrel, ducked low and got through, racing +with all his might after Prescott. + +Twenty-four yards were covered ere Prescott went down. When he +did so, Greg was standing back, saving himself that he might help +Dick the next time. + +Once more the ball was snapped back. This time some brilliant +faking was done. The whole of the first movement looked as though +the ball were to be pushed somewhere through the Army's right +flank, and Lehigh wheeled accordingly. But it was a left-end pass, +after all. Dick and Greg got through by a very slight variation +on their last ruse eighteen yards more gained! + +In an instant, now, those in the Army seats were wild with enthusiasm. +The band crashed out joyously, a dozen measures, while the cadets +sang one of their songs of jubilant brag. Then all was suddenly +still for the next bit of play. + +While the men of both teams were hurrying to the line-up, a signal +was noticed by hundreds that caused excited comment. + +Brayton made some slight signal to Prescott Both Dick and Greg +shook their heads sullenly. + +"Confound Brayton!" shivered Lieutenant Barney. "What does he mean +by that? He has signaled Prescott and Holmes asking them if they +can put one more by Lehigh, and they have refused. Ennis and all +the Lehighs have tumbled. Brayton-----" + +"Seven---two---nine---eight!" voiced Quarterback Boyle. + +Instantly Coach Carney's face cleared. It was an emergency signal, +not yet used in the game. As if unconsciously, all the men of +the Army eleven had turned toward right guard. + +The ball was snapped back. Boyle took three steps of a plunge +toward right guard, then suddenly dodged, passing the ball to +Greg, who swiftly passed it to Prescott---and the race was on. + +Lehigh's right end made a gallant dash to stop Dick. There was +a mix-up in an instant. All happened so swiftly that the spectators +were not certain how the thing had been done. + +But Dick Prescott, with Cadet Greg Holmes almost at his side, +was charging across the lower field, past one of the halfbacks, +and with only fullback really in their way. + +There was a tackle. But Dick was seen to come out of it, while +Greg rolled on the grass with the fullback. + +"_Touchdown!_" + +The air trembled with the vibration of that surging yell as Cadet +Prescott raced across Lehigh's goal line. + +"Humph!" ejaculated Haynes. But he, too, was on his feet, watching +the lively performance. + +Then the pigskin was carried back for the kick for goal, and the +goal was made. + +Lehigh was tied! After the early discouragements of the game that +seemed luck enough. + +Lieutenant Carney was the personal embodiment of joy as he recalled +the signal of Brayton and the sullen headshakes of Prescott and +Holmes. + +"That was a ratty and clever piece of acting, to throw the visitors +off their guard!" chuckled the Army coach. + +No time was lost in lining up again. Only seven minutes of playing +time were left. It seemed too short in which to do anything in +the faces of the Army players there glowed the light of determination. + +Within three minutes the ball was well down in Lehigh territory. +The college men fought grimly now. They were becoming rattled; +the Army players seemed more confident and more full of spirit +than at time in the day. + +Now there came another play. Again the Army's left wing was used. +There was a short, desperate scrimmage. The Army had gained four +yards, yet lost---what? + +For, out of that scrimmage came Dick and Greg, each limping enough +to be noticed. + +One of the Army "rainmakers" (doctors) even started out from the +side lines, but Brayton waive the medical officer back. + +"Is it a trick, this time, or real?" wondered Conch Carney, who +did not care to be caught napping again. + +"Five---nine---seven---two---eighteen!" + +The last numeral called for a fake kick. So well was the strategy +carried out that Lehigh was even trapped into spreading out a trifle. + +It was a left-end play again, however, and Dick and Greg, backed +by all the rest, fought to put it through. + +Lehigh's halfback caught Prescott this time---caught him fair +and full, and Prescott went down. + +Yet this had been intended. So well was it done that Greg, close +in, was away with the ball by the time that Prescott touched the +earth. + +There was a yell of dismay from the visitors. They started to +bear down Holmes, but all of the Army team had been prepared for +this move from the instant the last signal; had been called. +So it was the full force of the charging Army line that pushed +Cadet Holmes through and over the goal line. + +Over all the cheering that followed this manoeuvre came the call +for time at the end of the game's playing time. Yet, under the +rules, the kick for goal was tried. + +The kick failed---but who cared? The finishing score was: + +Army, 11; Lehigh, 6. + +Gone were all the doubts concerning Prescott and Holmes. Now +they were the most sensational players in the Army team. Justly +Brayton received his full share of credit both for taking on Prescott +and Holmes at the eleventh hour, and also for carrying out so +cleverly his own captain's part of the strategy that had won. +Lehigh's team went off the field dejected. The visitors had +counted on victory as theirs. There was a noticeable silence +among the Lehigh "boosters" as they clambered down from their +from their seats and strolled moodily away. + +Only one man had any adverse commend. That man was turnback Haynes, +and all he said was: + +"_Humph!_" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +FOR AULD LANG SYNE + + +After that Dick and Greg turned out every day for practice with +the team. + +Both Lieutenant Carney and Team Captain Brayton speedily learned +that they had made no mistake in getting Prescott and Holmes on +to the line. + +A number of smaller colleges were defeated, and with rattling +good scores. + +Dick and Greg seemed to improve with every game. + +True, Yale walked off with the honors, though the score, ten to +six, had been stubbornly contested throughout. + +Harvard was played to a tie that year; Princeton was beaten by +six to two, the two standing for a safety that Princeton forced +the Army to make. + +Lieutenant Carney was one of the happiest men on the station. +From having a team rather below the average, he had produced +an Army eleven that was destined to go down as famous in American +military life. + +As Thanksgiving drew near all interest centered in what was, after +all, to be the real game of the year---that between the Army and +the Navy, which is always played the Saturday after that holiday. + +Haynes, during the season's good work, had not been able wholly +to keep his tongue back of his teeth. He had made several disparaging +remarks. For of these remarks Lewis, of the Army eleven, chose +to take he turnback to account. + +Hot words followed, ending in a fight. Haynes, roundly beaten, +withdrew altogether from the eleven. + +"That fellow Prescott has wonderful luck, or he'd have had his +neck broken long ago, considering all the hard packs that he has +bumped into in the games," growled the turnback disgustedly to +himself. + +In fact, Haynes was forced to do a large share of his talking +with himself. He hadn't been "cut" by the other cadets, but he +had succeeded in making himself generally unpopular through his +too evident dislike of Prescott. + +"Funny, but that's the man who wanted me to resign the class presidency +so that he could run for it," laughed Dick to his chum. + +Dick had told Greg of that laughable interview, but it had gone +no further. Greg could be trusted not to talk too much. + +"Going over to Philadelphia to see the Navy anchored to a zero +score, Haynes?" asked Carter, of the second class. + +"Yes; I reckon I'm going over," replied Haynes. "But I'm not +so sure that we'll see the Navy sunk," replied the turnback. + +"I know you don't care much for Prescott," smiled Carter. "Yet +how can you be blind to the wonderful work that he and Holmes +are doing? Is it because Prescott is playing the position for +which you were cast?" + +"No, it isn't," retorted Haynes, his face red with passion "If +our team wants Prescott, let it have him. I don't care. But +I've a notion Prescott won't be strutting about with such lordly +airs-----" + +"Prescotts? Lordly airs?" broke in Cadet Carter, grinning broadly. +"Whew, but that would make a hit with the fellows! Why, Prescott +is anything but a lordly chap. He's one of the most modest fellows +in the corps. He had to be fairly dragged on to the eleven. He +believed it would be better off without him." + +"So it would, sure!" rasped the turnback. + +"Now, see here, Haynes, don't get so sore as to warp your own +judgment," expostulated Carter. + +"Well, you just wait and see how much we do to the Navy! Have +you heard about the Navy's new, lightning right end?" + +"Darrin, you mean?" + +"Yes," nodded Haynes. "A friend of mine, who saw Darrin play +the other day, writes me that Darrin is an armor-clad terror on +the grid iron. If he is, he'll pulverize Prescott, unless Brayton +shifts Prescott to some other position." + +"Pooh! I'm not afraid," laughed Carter, turning to walk away. +"Darrin, no doubt, is good, but he can't do anything to Prescott." + +Neither of the speakers was aware that Dave Darrin, midshipman, +United States Navy, was one of the oldest and dearest friends that +Dick Prescott had. + +Few at West Point knew that Darrin and Prescott had ever met. + +"Am I going over to Philadelphia to see the game?" muttered Haynes +to himself, as he strode away from the game. "I want to see Prescott +go up against the real star Darrin, and get his neck broken!" + +Anstey was one of the few at West Point who knew anything about +the friendship between Prescott, Holmes, Darrin and Dalzell. + +Dan Dalzell had also made the Annapolis eleven, playing right +tackle. That was bound to bring him into hard grip with Greg. + +"Anstey, I hope there's time for you to make the acquaintance +of Dave and Dan," Dick said earnestly while the Virginian was +visiting Greg and himself. "Dave and Dan are two of the real +fellows, if there are any left in the world. + +"They must be, old ramrod," replied the Virginian quietly, "if +they hold such place in your affections, and in old Holmesy's." + +Great was the rejoicing, on the eventful morning, when the two +"Army specials" pulled out from the station down by the river's +edge. + +The first section of the train pulled out ahead, carrying the +officers of the post, their families and closest friends. + +On the second longer section traveled the corps of cadets---with +the exception of a few of the young men who, under discipline, +were not allowed to take this trip. With the cadets went the +tactical officers and the coaching force. + +At Jersey City the first real stop was made. Then the journey +was resumed to Philadelphia. + +Franklin Field was crowded with somewhere between thirty and +thirty-five thousand people when the corps of cadets, headed by +the band, marched on to the field and thence to the seats reserved +for the band and the corps. + +The whole progress of the corps across the field was accompanied +by lusty cheering, by applause and by the mad waving of the gray, +black and gold Army pennants. Most of the spectators who carried +the Navy's blue and gold pennants so far forgot their partisanship +as to cheer and wave for the Army's young men. + +Hardly was the corps of cadets seated when another loud strain +of joyous music was heard. The brigade of midshipmen, from Annapolis, +behind the Naval Academy Band, was now entering the field. All +the cheering and all the other frantic signs of approval were +repeated, the corps of cadets from West Point lending heavy additional +volume to the rousing send-off. + +In the meantime rival football squads had been hustled off to +dressing quarters. + +As the Army squad made quick time to the dressing rooms, Dick +and Greg had their eyes on the alert for even the briefest glimpse +of any of the Navy eleven. It was two years and a half since Dick +and Greg had had even a glimpse of Dave or Dan. How the two West +Pointers yearned for even an instant's look at the chums of old days! + +But no such exchange of glimpses was possible at this time. The +Army players and substitutes got into their togs, then waited. + +"All ready?" called Brayton at last. "Then fall in and out on +to the field in double time!" + +Another wild outburst of cheering was let loose when the Army +eleven trotted in into view. The Military Academy Band began +playing. An instant later the Naval Academy Band fell in, playing +the same air by ear. + +The ball was turned loose, and after it went the players. The +practice work was brisk and warm. + +Hardly had the combined bands stopped playing when another great +yell broke loose. Young men in the blue and gold striped stockings +of the Navy were trotting on to the field. The Navy band turned +itself loose, followed in an instant by the Army band. + +The din was something bewildering. Those in the further seats +could not hear the music of the bands at all. + +Dick and Greg watched covertly as they saw the Navy team come +on at the other end of the field. Which was Dave, and which was +Dan? Hang it, how disguising these football suits were! + +Both teams went on with their practice. There came a moment when +the Army and Navy teams came closer to each other. + +Then the eager spectators saw something that was not on the programme. + +The chums of the old Gridley days had made each other out in the +same moment. There was a rush. In mid-field Dick Prescott and +Dave Darrin gripped hands as if they could never let go again. +Across their outstretched arms Greg and Dan found each other in a +right-hand clasp. + +So delighted were the old chums that they fairly hugged each other. + +Over it all, while the spectators gazed in silent wonder, came +the strains from the Army band, for the leader, more with a sense +of the fitting than from any knowledge of facts, waved his men +into the strains of "Auld Lang Syne." + +"Should auld acquaintance be forgot-----" + +The band was playing softly. As the spectators took up the fine +old words the band music died down. There came a rolling rattle +from the drum section of the Navy band, and then high over all +the voices rose the triumphant measures of "Columbia, the Gem +of the Ocean." + +That crowd forgot to cheer. It was a moment for song, as thousands, +catching the full spirit of the air, gave voice to--- + +"The Army and Navy forever!" + +Not a word, so far, had been spoken by any one of the chums. +They had not intended to bring about a scene like this, making +themselves the central figures in the great picture. But it was +too late to retreat. + +"It seems as though an age had gone by, Dave," spoke Cadet Prescott. + +"It surely does, Dick," returned Midshipman Darrin. + +"And we've got to beat you today, too," said Midshipman Dalzell +dolefully. + +"What? Beat the Army?" gasped Cadet Holmes. + +"The Navy is the only crowd that can really do it," admitted Dalzell. + +"Foes in sport today, Dave!" declared Prescott ardently. "But in +nothing else, ever!" + +"Never mind either the Army or the Navy, just for the minute," +begged Dave Darrin. "But it's great, isn't it, just to be in +the service at all?" + +Then, becoming suddenly aware that they had demoralized the practice +work of both elevens, cadets and midshipmen parted. + +"But do your best to beat me today, Dave!" begged Dick. + +"I surely will!" came back the retort. "And don't you falter +for the Army, Dick!" + +"Old friends, Prescott?" demanded Brayton as the two cadets ran +back to their own forces. + +"We four learned football together, on the same team," confessed Dick. + +"Is that man Darrin as big a wonder as we've heard?" queried Brayton. + +"Bigger, I'm afraid," returned Prescott. + +"He opposes you today. Can he get away with you?" + +"He may be able to batter me down. But I'll give him all the +trouble I can, Brayton. Darrin is for the Navy, but I'm equally +for the Army!" + +"It will be all right, as long as friendship doesn't break up your +work," warned Brayton. + +"That very friendship will make all four of us fight harder than +ever we did in our lives before," spoke Prescott seriously. + +At almost the very same moment Dave Darrin was saying about the +same thing to the captain of the Navy team. + +"Humph! Do those fellows think they're posing before a moving-picture +machine?" + +The one who uttered that remark was turnback Haynes. He had come +on to the field with a scowling face, and the scowl was likely +to deepen steadily. + +Anstey, from his seat, had been "all eyes" for the pair whom he +now knew to be the heard-about Darrin and Dalzell. + +All Anstey's further speculation was cut short. + +The Army and Navy elevens were lining up to start play. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +HEROES AND A SNEAK + + +Turnback Haynes watched the game closely, darkly. + +He wanted to note and to remember every play near the Army's left +end today. Should the Navy win the day's battle, then Cadets +Haynes felt sure he could make a large number of men in the second +class at the Military Academy believe that Prescott had allowed +his ancient friendship to stand in the way of an Army victory. + +"Great Caesar, I might even succeed in getting to be president +of the class yet!" muttered the turnback. "There they go again!" + +A second or two later the wild cheering began again. + +For the Army was charging with the ball, well down in Navy territory, +and Prescott, with the pigskin safely tucked, was using his most +wily tactics to get by Dave Darrin. + +And Dick succeeded, too, though only for eight yards, when Dave +had the satisfaction of helping to pull his old-time chum down +to the ground in the interests of the Navy. + +For a little while the ball had been over on Army ground. Now, +however, it was going steadily toward the Navy's goal line, and +the interest of the spectators was intense. + +The time of the game was more than half gone. Once the Navy had +been forced to carry the pig skin behind its own line, gaining +thus a fresh lease of life in the game. But, of course, the safety +scored two against the Navy. For a while afterward it had looked +as though that, would be the score for the game---two to nothing. + +"If Brayton uses Prescott just right, and doesn't call on them +too often, they'll get the ball over the Navy's goal line yet," +confided Lieutenant Carney to a brother officer who stood at his +side. + +"The Navy line-up is a great one this year," replied his comrade. +"For myself I'd be satisfied to see the score end as it stands---two +to nothing." + +"Without a touchdown on either side!" questioned Lieutenant Carney, +with a trace of scorn in his voice. "That wouldn't be real sport, +old fellow!" + +"I know; but it would be at least a safe finish for the Army," +responded the other. + +Just then Quarterback Boyle's voice was heard giving the signal: + +"Eight---seventeen---four!" + +Lieutenant Carney gave his friend's arm a slight nudge. + +By way of Greg the ball came to Dick, who, already in fleet motion, +was none the less ready for the pass. + +With the ball under his arm, Prescott started. Almost in an instant +Dave and Dan piled upon him, ere Greg could get in for effective +interference. + +Two more downs and the Navy had the ball. + +Now Darrin, with Dalzell's close elbow-touch throughout, started a +series of brilliant plays. To be sure, Dave didn't make all the +runs, but he made the larger part of them. + +Turnback Haynes's eyes began to snap. + +Dave Darrin was playing with fire in his eyes. + +Prescott was fighting back, doggedly, sullenly it almost seemed, +but Darrin was putting on his best streak of the day. Ere the Navy +was obliged to give up the ball once more it had crossed the line, +and was twelve yards down in Army territory. + +Nor did the Army succeed in getting the ball back over the center +line. Once more the Navy took the ball and began to work wonders +with it. Within fifteen yards of the Army goal line the middies +carried the ball, by easy stages. + +Dan Dalzell, for an instant, caught Greg's glance and sent him +a look of comical warning. + +Holmes stiffened, though he returned the look in all personal +friendliness. + +"Don't let Dave do it---whatever he'll be up to next," begged +Greg, in an appealing whisper. "Dick, I'll stay beside you---to +the death!" + +It was another right-end pass for the Navy, backed by a solid +charge. + +Worse, in the impact that followed Dave succeeded, somehow, in +outwitting even Prescott's stern vigilance. + +Dick Prescott gave vent to a gasp. He felt his heart thumping +as he wheeled, dashing after Dave. + +But Darrin was in his element now, neither to be stopped, nor +overtaken. Dodging with marvellous agility and craft three Army +men who sought to bar his way, Dave went pantingly over the Army +goal line---scoring a touchdown! + +What a fearful tumult ascended from the seats of the Navy's sympathizers +over on the stands! + +The Navy had proved itself, by scoring the only touchdown. + +Lieutenant Carney groaned inwardly. Two to five now---and the +Army coach saw no more hope of scoring for this day. + +Flushed, happy, the midshipmen ran back to form their line for +the try for goal. + +That kick missed fire. No matter! Five to two for the Navy, +anyhow! + +At the signal the Army and Navy lined up to fight out what was +left of time to play the game. + +Naval Academy band and the whole navel crowd were having the +jubilation all their own way. + +The midshipmen, having proved slight superiority over the Army, +could doubtless prevent more scoring in this game. + +In fact, the Navy captain had just passed this wood to the members +of his team: + +"Score, of course, if we can. But, above all, keep the Army from +scoring!" + +It was the Navy's turn to make the kick-off. This gave the Army +at least the chance of starting the running with the ball. + +Prescott and Holmes had shown as yet no signs of cave in. + +Every player on the Navy team looked to see this swift, tricky +army pair make the first effort of the new series. + +He carried it ten yards, too, ere he was obliged to go to the +ground with the pigskin under him. The next play was made at +the center of the Army line. + +What was the matter? wondered many of the Army watchers. Was +Brayton becoming dissatisfied with his left wing? + +"Humph!" rejoined Haynes sourly. + +But the third time that the ball was put in play it went swiftly +to Prescott. Instead of trying to make his way around the end, +Dick suddenly sped some what to the right. Darrin had gone in +the opposite direction, yet, thoroughly familiar with his old +chum's tricky ways of play, Dave had his eyes wide open. So he +wheeled, rushing at Prescott. But he bumped, instead, with Greg, +a fraction of a second before Dalzell could reach the spot and +take a hand. + +Then the whole Army line charged down on the endangered spot. +Dick was through, and the Navy men were having all they do. +In a twinkling Prescott had sped, on, now was he caught and downed +until he had the ball within twelve yards of the Navy's goal line. + +Right off the Army cheer-master was on the job. The corps yell +was raised with Prescott's name and Holmes's. + +Brayton looked flushed and happy. He hoped yet to show these +over-confident middies something. + +Again the line-up was made for the snapback. The midshipmen players +were now justifiably nervous, though they gave no sign of the fact. + +Again the signal was given. Holmes received the ball and started. +The whole Army line veered to the left. The Navy moved to mass +in support of Darrin and Dalzell. + +Yet, just as the Navy men thought they could stop Greg, it turned +out that Prescott carried the pigskin. + +Nor did Cadet Prescott lose any time at all in trying to buck the line. + +Ere the attention of the Navy had been drawn away from Holmes, +Prescott was off on a slanting line around the Navy's right end. + +Even Dave Darrin was properly fooled this time. Dick had only to +shake off a halfback and the fullback and he was over the goal line, +holding down the ball. + +Never before had Franklin Field heard a greater din than now arose. +The Army Band was now playing furiously, yet the musicians barely +heard themselves. The black, gold and gray pennants of the Army +were waving frantically over half the field. The noise of cheering +must have been heard a mile away. + +From the cadets themselves came some Army yell for which the +cheer-master had signaled, but no one heard what it was. + +The noise continued until the line-up had been effected for the +kick for goal. + +Brayton, flushed with delight, chose to make the kick himself. +The pigskin soared, describing a beautiful curve. Between the +goal posts it went, dropping back of the line. + +Gloom had fallen over the middies, who realized that but three +minutes time was left. + +Swiftly as could be, the line-up was made for the kick-off. It +was the Army's turn to start the ball, the Navy's to come back +with it, if possible, into Army territory. + +The Navy soon succeeded in getting the pigskin a trifle over the +middle line. But the time was too short in which to do anything +decisive. The Army was strictly on the defensive, taking no chances. +Time was called. + +The Army had won, eight to five! + +When it was all over the middies cheered the victors as lustily as +anyone, though sore hearts beat under the blue uniforms of Annapolis. + +West Points cadets, on the other hand, were wild with joy. + +Again and again they sent up the rousing corps yell for Prescott +and Holmes, with Brayton's name added. + +Turnback Haynes, finding no one to listen to him now, in anything +he might have to say against Prescott, turned to stare at the +heaving lines of gray. + +To himself, Haynes muttered curiously: + +"Humph!" + +That one word did not, however, do justice to Haynes's frame of mind. +He was wild with jealousy and hatred, but dared not show it. + +That fellow Prescott will have his head fearfully swelled and +be more unbearable than ever! growled Haynes to himself. Confound +him, he has no business at all in the Army! Why should he be? + +Then, after a pause, a cunning look crept slowly into the eyes +of the turnback, as he throbbed under his breath: + +If I can have anything to do with it, he wont be much longer in +the Army! + +For just a moment, ere the teams left the field, the old Gridley +chums had a chance to rush over to each other. + +"I was afraid of you, Dick," Dave confessed. "Not more than I was +of you, Dave, laughed Prescott." + +"Did you find the Army such easy stuff to use as a doormat, Dan?" +queried Greg dryly. + +"Oh, it--it--it was the fault of the new rules," retorted Midshipman +Dalzell, making a wry face. "You know, Greg, you never could play +much football. But the new rules favor the muff style of playing." + +Only a few more words could the quartette exchange. There was +time, however, for a few minutes of talk before the West Pointers +were obliged to leave for their train. + +Greg, sighed Dick, if we only had Dave and Dan playing on the same +team with us, such a game would be great! + +"Oh, well," murmured Greg, "whether Annapolis or West Point lugged +off the actual score, the service won, anyway. For the Army and +Navy are inseparable units of the service." + +It was a very orderly and dignified lot of cadets who filed aboard +the cadet section of the train to leave for home. Once the train +was well on its way out of Philadelphia, however, the pent-up +enthusiasm of the happy sons of the Army broke loose, nor did +the tactical officers with them make any effort to restrain the +merry enthusiasm. + +Some of the cadets went from car to car, in search of more excitement. + +Dick Prescott soon became so tired of hero-worship that he slipped +along through the rear car a few feet at a time until, at last, +unobserved, he managed to make his way out on to the rear platform. + +Unobserved, that is, by all save one. Turnback Haynes, who had +been watching Dick with a sort of wild fascination, noted Dick's +latest move. + +The train, which had been traveling at high speed, now slowed down +to some twenty-five miles an hour in order to pass over a river. + +While the attention of all the rest was turned toward the front +end of the car, Haynes, with lowered eyes and half-slinking manner, +made his way toward the rear of the car. + +Peering through the glass in the door, the turnback could make +out Cadet Prescott standing outside. Dick's back was toward the +door. + +A diabolical light flashed in Haynes's eyes for a moment. He +shook from head to foot, but, by a strong effort of will, he stayed +his quivering. + +One stealthy look over his shoulder Haynes took, then suddenly opened +the door, stepping outside. + +Cadet Prescott half turned. There was no time to do more, when +he felt himself seized in a strong clutch. + +There was hardly any struggle. It all seemed to be over in a +second or so. Cadet Prescott plunged headlong through the darkness +of the night into the dark river below! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +ROLL-CALL GIVES THE ALARM + + +For an instant Haynes leaned far out. + +Now his eyes were filed with a terror that overcame the wild fascination +of his wicked deed. + +His anger had died down in a flash. Turnback Haynes would have +given worlds to be able to recall the felonious deed he had just +committed. But it was too late. He had seen Prescott's flying +figure sink beneath the waters, which came up to within a few +feet of the railroad trestle. + +Haynes turned back with a sobbing groan. Then he cast a terrified +look into the car. + +Some of the fellows must have seen both of us come out here, he +quavered. They'll see only one of us come back. I'll have to +stand the whole fire of questions. Ugh! C-c-can I stand it without +breaking down and giving myself away? + +The train was over and off of the bridge by now. Warned by a +light burning between the rails, the engineer brought the train +to a standstill. + +His heart bounding with a cowards hope, turnback Haynes leaped +down to the roadbed. Breathlessly he rushed along the side of +the train. He succeeded in gaining the platform of the third +car ahead. + +Though his knees shook under him, the turnback swung up on to +the steps. In another moment, after noting that the cadets were +not looking particularly towards the door, Haynes turned the knob, +stepping inside and dropping, with feigned carelessness, into +an empty seat. + +"Hullo, Haynesy," was Lewis's easy greeting. Been up ahead? + +"Yes," lied the turnback. + +Anstey heard, though he did not pay much heed to the statement +at the time. + +There were many, of course, who asked for Dick. Greg had not +seen his chum for some time. In his own heart Holmes felt sure +that Dick, tired of being congratulated, had sought retirement---in +the baggage car, probably. So Greg had little to say, and did +not go in search of his chum. + +It was not, in fact, until the corps reached West Point, and roll-call +by companies was held, that the absence of Cadet Richard Prescott, +second class, was discovered. + +Then there was a good deal of curiosity among a few comrades, wild +excitement and useless speculation. + +An hour later, however, Greg's fevered imaginings were cut short +by word that was brought over to him from the cadet guard house. +Prescott had reported by wire. He had fallen from the rear +car of the train into a river. The telegram merely stated that +he had made his way to the nearest village, where a clergyman +had provided him with the funds needed for his return to West +Point. He would report at the earliest hour possible. + +From room to room in cadet barracks flew the news. + +"Now, how could a fellow be so careless as to fall off a moving +train?" demanded Lewis. + +"Old ramrod may have been shaken up a heap in the game," hinted +Anstey. "Prescott isn't the sort of chap to tell us every time +he feels a trifle dizzy or experiences a nervous twitch. He may +have felt badly, may have gone out on the platform for a whiff +of fresh air, and then may have felt so much worse that he fell." + +"Depend upon one thing," put in Brayton decisively. "Whatever +Prescott does there's some kind of good reason for." + +"It's enough, for to-night, declared Greg, to know that the royal +old fellow is safe, anyway. To-morrow, well have the story, if +there is any story worth having." + +Turnback Haynes received the news with mingled emotions. His +first sensation was one of relief at knowing that he was not actually +a murderer---one who had wickedly slain a fellow human being. + +It was not long, though, before Haynes became seized with absolute +fright over the thought that Prescott must have recognized him. + +"In that case, all I can do is to stick out for absolute +and repeated denial," shivered the turnback. "There's one great +thing about West Point, anyway---a cadets word simply has to be +taken, unless there is the most convincing proof to the contrary. +I guess Lewis will remember that I came in from the car ahead +or seemed to. But I wonder if anyone, officer or cadet, saw me +running along at the side of the train?" + +It was small wonder that Cadet Haynes failed to get any sleep +that night. All through the long hours to reveille the cadet +tossed and tumbled on his cot. Fortunately for him, his roommate +was too sound a sleeper to hear the tossing. + +Heavy-eyed, shuddering, Haynes rose in the morning. Through the +usual routine he went, and at last marched off to section recitation, +outwardly as jaunty as any other man in the corps, yet with dark +dread lurking in his soul. + +It was about noon when Prescott reported at the adjutant's office, +next going to the office of the commandant of cadets. + +By both officers Dick was congratulated on his fortunate escape +from death. Each officer asked him a few direct questions. Prescott +stated that he had remained over night with the village clergyman, +giving his wet, icy clothing a chance to dry. + +It was when asked how he came to fall from the rear platform of +the car that the cadet hesitated. + +"I thought I was thrown from the platform, sir," Dick replied +in each case. + +"Who was on the platform with you?" + +"No one, sir, an instant before." + +"Did you see any one come out of the car?" + +"No, sir." + +"Did you recognize any assailant?" + +"No-o, sir." + +"Have you any good reason to suspect any particular person?" + +"No _good_ reason, sir." + +"Could any one have come out of the car, unless it had been a +tactical officer, a cadet or a railway employee?" + +"No, sir." + +That was as far as the questioning went, for both the adjutant +and the commandant of cadets believed that Dick had been pitched +from the rear platform by some sudden movement of the car. No +other belief seemed sane enough to be considered. + +It was the commandant of cadets who suggested: + +"If you feel the slightest need of it, Mr. Prescott, you may go +at once to cadet hospital, and be examined by one of the surgeons. +We don't want you coming down with illness later, on account +of a neglected chill." + +"I am very certain I don't need a medical officers attention, +sir," replied Cadet Prescott, with just the trace of a smile. +"The Rev. Dr. Brown and his wife were about the most attentive +people I ever met. I was pretty cold, sir, when I reached their +house. But inside of five minutes they had me rolled up in warm +blankets and were dosing me with ginger tea. Afterwards they +gave me a hot supper. I slept like a top, sir, last night." + +"You feel fit then, Mr. Prescott, to return to full duty? asked +the K.C. + +"Wholly fit, sir." + +"Very good. Then I will so mark you. Go to your quarters, Mr. +Prescott, and wait until the next call, which will be the call +for dinner formation." + +Saluting the commandant, Prescott left the cadet guard house, +hastening to his own room. + +A few minutes later Cadet Holmes burst in upon his chum. + +To him Dick told the whole story of his striking the water, of +his swimming to shore, and of hurried trip through the cold night +to the nearest house. + +"And you're sure you were pushed?" questioned greg thoughtfully. + +"Either I was pushed, or it was all a horrid dream," replied Dick +fervently. + +"Then why didn't you so tell the K.C.?" + +"I answered the K.C. truthfully, Greg. I told him all that I really +know. I didn't feel called upon, and wasn't asked, to tell him +anything that I guessed." + +"What is your guess?" insisted Holmes, with the privilege of a +friend. + +"Greg, as far as I can be sure of anything without knowing it, +I am absolutely certain that a cadet came out of the car, behind +me, and that he pushed me off the platform." + +"A cadet?" demanded Greg, turning pale. To Holmes it seemed atrocious +to couple the word cadet with any act of dishonor. + +"Greg, as I plunged through the air, I succeeded in turning a trifle. +I am convinced, in my own mind, that I saw the gray cape overcoat +of a cadet I am also certain that I got a glimpse of his face. +The only limit to my certainty is that I wouldn't want to name +the man under oath." + +"Who was he?" demanded Holmes. + +Advancing, placing his lips against one of Greg's ears, Prescott +whispered the name: + +"Haynes! But you mustn't breathe this to a living soul! Remember, +I wouldn't dare swear to the truth of what I've hinted to you." + +Greg Holmes, wholly and utterly loyal to the cadet corps of which +he was himself an honored member, went even paler. He leaned +back against the wall, clenching his fists tightly. + +"Haynes?" he whispered. "I don't like the fellow, and I never +did. He's no friend of yours, either, Dick. But he wears the +staunch old cadet uniform and has had more than three years of +the West Point traditions. It seems impossible, Dick. Had anyone +else but you told me this, even against Haynes, I would have turned +on my heel and walked away." + +"I hope it isn't true---I hope it is all a hideous nightmare, +born of my dismay when I found myself going through space!" breathed +Dick fervently. + +"What are you going to do about this?" asked Greg huskily. + +"Nothing whatever." + +"You are not going to mention Haynes to anyone else?" + +"No, sirree! I shall keep my eyes open a bit when Haynes is around; +that is all." + +"I hope it isn't true---oh, I hope it isn't true," breathed Greg +fervently. "But I know you're no liar, Dick, and you're no dreamer +of dreams! Confound it, I almost wish you hadn't told me this. +But I asked you to." + +Greg's face was a queer ashen gray in color. + +At that moment the call for dinner formation sounded. + +"You're all ready, Dick, so hustle along. I've clean forgotten +to get myself ready. You hustle, and I'll try not to be late +in the formation." + +As Cadet Prescott hastened along through the lower corridor, he +came face to face with the turnback. + +Haynes stopped short, his jaw drooping. For just a second he +stiffened his arms as though to throw himself in an attitude of +defence. + +Halting, without speaking or raising a hand, Dick Prescott looked +squarely into the other man's eyes. + +Haynes turned ghastly pale, his jaw moving nervously as though +he would speak and could not. + +A smile of scorn flashed into Prescotts face. Haynes fairly writhed +beneath that contemptuous look. Then, still without a word or +a sound, Prescott passed on. + +"He did it!" muttered Dick to himself. + +Yet, with the certainty of the turnbacks guilt, Prescott did not +wish Haynes any personal harm. The only greatly perturbed thought +that ran through Dick's mind was: + +"That fellow is not fit for the Army. Must he be allowed to go +on and graduate?" + +Thrice during the dinner period Dick allowed his glance to rove +over to the turnback. Not once did he catch Haynes's eye, but +that young man was making only a pretence at eating. + +"If he really pushed me from the train," muttered Prescott to himself, +"I hope Haynes worries about it until he fesses cold in some study +and so has to leave the Military Academy. For he'll never be +fit to be an officer. He couldn't command other men with justice." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +MR. CADET SLOWPOKE + + +Despite the fact that he had been through the first half of the +year before, Haynes actually did go somewhat stale in some of the +studies. + +Some of the cadets who lived near enough were permitted to go home +at the Christmas holidays, and the turnback was among this number. + +Yet Haynes came back. In the January examinations he stood badly, +getting place rather near the foot of the second class. Yet he +pulled through and retained his place in the corps. + +Dick and Greg, who did not go home over the holidays, both did +fairly well in January. Each secured a number not far above the +bottom of the second third of the class. + +On Washington's Birthday, the cadets had a holiday after dinner. + +The day, however, was ten-fold joyous for Dick, because Mrs. Bentley, +Laura and Belle Meade were expected on the afternoon of that day, +the girls to attend the cadet hop at Cullum Hall in the evening. + +Dick and Greg, in their spooniest uniforms, were at the railway +station to meet the visitors. + +"Quick!" cried Mrs. Bentley, after the greetings were over. "There's +the stage, and its about to start. We'll all get seats in it." + +"If that is the programme, Mrs. Bentley," laughed Dick, "Greg +and I will have to overtake you, later on, on foot. Cadets are +not allowed to ride in the stage. + +"Can't you telephone for a carriage, then?" inquired Mrs. Bentley. + +"Certainly, and with pleasure, but cadets may not ride in a carriage, +either." + +"Oh, you poor cadets!" cried Mrs. Bentley. "To think of your +having to climb that steep road ahead. And its ever so long, too!" + +"You get in the stage, mother, and Belle and I will walk up the +road with Dick and Greg," proposed Laura Bentley. + +So the two cadets busied themselves with assisting Mrs. Bentley +into the stage, after which they returned to their fair friends. + +"Now, I have trouble in store for you two young men," declared +Belle Meade, frowning. "Why did you young men conspire to beat +the Navy at football?" + +"For the honor and glory of the Army," replied Dick, smiling. + +"To put humiliation over your old chums, Dave and Dan," flashed +Belle. "Laura and I were down at Annapolis, at a hop last month, +as you may have heard. Poor Dave hasn't yet recovered from the +blow of seeing the Navy lose that game to the Army!" + +"But I'll wager he didn't blame us," retorted Prescott, his eyes +twinkling. + +"He said that, if it hadn't been for you and Greg, the Navy would +have won the game," retorted Belle. + +"I hope that's true," declared Dick boldly. + +"Oh, you do, Mister Prescott? And why?" asked Belle. + +"Because I belong to the Army, and I want always to see the Army +win." + +"If West Point defeats Annapolis next Thanksgiving, and if its +because of you and Greg, then I'll never speak to either of you +again," asserted Belle. + +"Come along, Dick," laughed Laura. "Belle's positively dangerous +when she talks about the Navy!" + +"The Navy is the only real branch of the service," declared Belle, +with a toss of her head. "Everybody says so. The Army is merely +nothing---positive zero!" + +"Laughing good-humoredly, Greg piloted Belle up the long, winding +walk that leads to the West Point plain. Dick and Laura soon fell +in behind, at some distance, walking very slowly. + +"Did you have a tiresome trip here?" inquired Dick. + +"No; a very pleasant one," Laura replied. + +"I should think a long journey would be tedious to women traveling +without male escort," Dick went on. + +"We had escort as far as New York," Laura replied promptly. + +"Oh, you did?" inquired Prescott, feeling a swift sinking at heart. + +"Yes; Mr. Cameron had to make a flying trip to New York. He had +to come at about this time, so he put it off for three or four +days in order to travel through with us. Wasn't that nice of +him?" + +"Extremely nice of him," admitted the cadet rather huskily. "I---I +suppose he will return with you from New York." + +"We expect him to," Laura admitted. "But what a great game that +must have been, Dick! How I wish Belle and I had gone over to +Philadelphia to see it." + +"It was an exciting game, and a hard-fought one." + +Laura chatted on gayly, and at the same time displayed much enthusiasm +over the life at West Point. Yet Dick, though he strove to conceal +the fact, was low spirited over the attentions of Mr. Cameron. + +The two cadets had permission to visit at the hotel, so went into +the parlor until the girls joined them there. Later, as there +was no snow on the ground, a stroll about the post was proposed +and enjoyed. + +Dick made out Laura's card for the dance that night, while Greg +attended to Belle's. Many were the cadets who glared at Dick +and Greg for not having inscribed their names on the dance cards +of these two very "spoony femmes." (pretty girls.) + +After one of her dances with Dick, Belle asked him to lead her out +into the corridor, where the air was cooler. + +"Shall I go after your wrap?" asked Dick solicitously. + +"Goodness, no," replied Belle. "I'm not as sensitive as that." + +Then, abruptly changing the subject, Miss Meade asked: "What do +you think of Mr. Cameron?" + +"I saw very little of him," Dick replied. + +"But what do you think of him?" Belle insisted. + +"I think that, if he is Laura's friend, he must be a fine fellow," +Dick replied with enthusiasm. + +A slight shudder of disappointment passed over Belle. + +"Are you beginning to feel chilly, Belle?" asked Dick anxiously. + +"If I am, its nervously, not because I am really cold," replied +Miss Meade dryly. + +"Why did you ask me what I think of Mr. Cameron?" + +"Because I am interested in knowing," Belle answered. "Mr. Cameron +is with Laura a great deal these times." + +"Is he?" asked Dick, with another sinking at the heart. + +"Oh, yes," Belle replied. "Some folks in Gridley are nodding +their heads wisely, and pretending they can guess what is going +to happen before long. But I'm very certain that there is nothing +quite definite as yet. Indeed, I'm not quite sure that Laura +really knows her own mind as yet." + +Soon after that, Miss Meade requested to be conducted back into +the ballroom, to find Greg, who was to be her next partner. + +"Now, good gracious, I hope I've really given Cadet Slowpoke +a broad enough hint," thought Belle. "If he doesn't go ahead +and speak to Laura now, it'll be because he doesn't care. And +Leonard Cameron isn't a bad fellow, even if he does prefer the +yardstick to a sword!" + +As for Dick, his evening was spoiled. His sense of honor prevented +his "speaking" to Laura until he felt that his future in the Army +was assured. + +Yet spoiled as his evening was, Prescott did his best to make it +a bright occasion for Laura Bentley. + +The next morning, while the members of the cadet corps were grinding +at recitations, or boning over study desks in barracks, Mrs. Bentley +and the girls rode down the slope in the stage and boarded a train +for New York. + +Dick had not "spoken." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE ENEMIES HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING + + +After that February hop, Cadet Prescott appeared to give himself +over to one dominating ambition. + +That ambition was to secure higher standing in his class. + +He became a "bone," and tried so hard to delight his instructors +that he was suspected of boning bootlick with the Academic Board. + +For Prescott had dropped Laura out of his mind. + +That is to say, he had tried to do it, and Prescott was a young +man with a strong will. + +Belle's words, instead of spurring him on to do something that his +own peculiar sense of honor forbade, had killed his vague dream. + +After all, Dick reasoned, it was Laura's own good and greatest +happiness that must be considered. + +Leonard Cameron, a rising and prosperous young merchant in Gridley, +would doubtless be able to give Laura a much better place in the +world. + +In the matter of income, Cameron doubtless enjoyed three or four +times as much as the annual pay of a second lieutenant ($1,700) +amounts to. Besides, Cameron was not much in the way of risking +his life, while an Army officer may be killed at any time, even +in an ordinary riot. A lieutenants widow received only her pension +of a comparatively few dollars a month. + +"It would have been almost criminal for me to have thought of +tying Laura's future up to mine," Dick told himself savagely, +as he took a lonely stroll one March afternoon. "I'll have nothing +but my pay, if I do graduate. A fellow like Cameron can allow +his wife more for pin money than my whole years pay will come +to. Really, I've no right to marry any but a rich girl, who has +her own income. And, even if I fell in love with a rich girl, +I wouldn't have the nerve to propose to her. I'd feel like a +cheap fortune hunter." + +Having made up his mind to put Laura Bentley out of his inner +thoughts, Prescott did not write her as often as formerly. + +He wrote often enough, and pleasantly enough to preserve the +courtesies of life. Yet keen-witted Belle Meade was not long in +discovering, from what Laura thought were chance remarks, that +Dick was "dropping away" as a correspondent. + +So, too, Laura's letters were fewer and briefer. + +"Dick didn't really care for her, I guess," Belle decided, almost +vengefully. "Then the bigger idiot he is, for there aren't many +girls like Laura born in any one century! But Dick sees a good +many girls at West Point, and perhaps he has grown indifferent +to his old friends. There are a good many very 'swell' girls +who visit West Point, too. Horrors! I wonder if Dick and Greg +think that we are too countrified?" + +After the first few weeks, with his resolute nature triumphing +over anything that he set his mind to, Prescott found himself +thinking less about Cameron. It was practically a settled matter, +anyway, between Laura and Cameron, so Dick thought, and Cadet +Prescott had his greatly improved standing in his class to console +him for any losses in other directions. Yet Dick would not have +dared to confess, even to himself, how little class standing did +console him. + +So hard had been study in the last few weeks that Prescott had +all but forgotten the existence of turnback Haynes. They were +not in the same section in any of the studies, nor did the two +mingle at all in barracks life. Neither went to the hops now, +either. + +"Is Prescott afraid of me---or what?" wondered Haynes. "Perhaps +he hopes I have forgotten him, but I haven't. One thing is clear +he doesn't intend to do anything about that train incident, or +he'd have done it long ago. If he thinks I have forgotten my +dislike of him, he may be glad enough to have it just that way. +Bah, as if I could ever get over my dislike for a bootlick like +Prescott! I'd like to get him out of the Army for good! I wonder +if I can't, between now and June? I'd like my future in the Army +a whole lot better with Prescott out of it." + +So Haynes began taking to moody, lonely walks when he had any +time for such outlet to his evil, feelings. + +It is one of the strangest freaks of queer human nature that one +who has once done another an injury ever after hates the injured +one with an added intensity of hatred. + +Turnback Haynes was quite able to convince himself that Dick Prescott, +who avoided him, was really his worst enemy in the world. + +So, one Saturday afternoon, in early April, it chanced that Dick +and Cadet Haynes took to the same stretch of less-traveled road +over beyond engineers' quarters. + +Suddenly, going in opposite directions, they met face to face +at a sharp bend in the road. + +"Oh, you?" remarked Haynes, in a harsh, sneering voice. + +Prescott barely nodded coldly, and would have passed on, but Haynes +stepped fairly in his path. + +"Prescott," cried the turnback, "I don't like you!" + +"Then we are about even in our estimate of each other," responded +Dick indifferently. + +"Were you following me up, just now?" + +"Why, as I have a memory, I might more properly suppose that you +had been prowling on my trail," retorted Dick, eyeing his enemy +sternly. + +"Humph! What do you mean by that?" demanded Haynes bristling. + +"Do you deny, Haynes, that on the night when we were returning +from the Army-navy game you pushed me from the rear platform of +the train?" + +Cadet Prescott spoke without visible excitement, but gazed deeply +into the shifty, angry eyes of the other. + +Haynes swallowed hard. Then he replied gruffly: + +"No; I don't deny it." + +"Why did you do that, Haynes?" + +"I haven't admitted that I did do it." + +"You know that you did, though." + +"Humph!" + +"Why did you do it?" + +"I'll tell you, then," hissed the turnback. "It was because neither +West Point nor the Army is going to be big enough for both of us!" + +"When do you intend to resign?" demanded prescott coolly + +"Re-----" gasped Haynes "Resign? I?" + +Then you imagine that I am going to quit, or that you're going +to force me to do so? retorted Prescott. "Haynes, even up to +this hour I have hesitated to believe the half evidence of my +own eyes. I have tried to convince myself that no man who wears +the honored gray of West Point could do such a dastardly piece +of work. And you have as good as admitted it to me." + +"Well," sneered the turnback, what do you think you're going to +do about it?" + +"If I knew," glared Dick, "I wouldn't tell you until the time +came." + +"It will never come," laughed Haynes harshly. "That is, your +time of triumph over me will never come. What else may happen +it is yet a little too early to say." + +Cadet Prescott felt all the cold rage that was possible to him +surging up inside. + +"Haynes," he went on, "it may seem odd of me to ask a favor from +you." + +"Very odd, indeed!" sneered the turnback. + +"It is a very slight favor," continued Prescott, "and it is this: +Don't at any time venture to address me, except upon official +business." + +With that Prescott stepped resolutely around the cadet in his +path, and went forward at a stiff stride. + +Haynes remained for some moments where he was, gazing after Dick +with a curious, leering look. + +"Prescott is a coward---that's what he is!" muttered the turnback. +"If he weren't, I said enough to him just now to cause him to +leap at my throat. Humph! Anyone can beat a coward, and without +credit. Prescott, your days at the Military Academy are numbered! +You, an Army officer? Humph!" + +Though it would be hard to understand why, Haynes felt much better +after that brief interview. Perhaps it was because, all along, +he had feared Cadet Prescott. Now the turnback no longer feared +his enemy in the corps. + +How would the feud end? How could it end? + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE TRAITOR OF THE RIDING HALL + + +If Dick gave no further outward attention to Haynes, he was nevertheless +bothered about the fellow. + +"Haynes isn't fit to go through and become an officer; to be set +up over other men," Prescott told himself often. + +This slighting opinion was not on account of the personal dislike +that Prescott felt for the turnback. There were other cadets +at West Point whom Dick did not exactly like, yet he respected +the others, for they themselves respected the traditions of honor +and justice that are a part of West Point. + +With Haynes the trouble was that he was certain, sooner or later, +to prove a discredit to the best traditions of the Army. Such +a fellow was likely to prove a bully over enlisted men. Now, +the enlisted men of the Regular Army do not resent having a strict +officer set above them, but the officer must be a man whom they +can respect. Such an officer, who commands the respect and admiration +of the enlisted men under him, can lead them into the most dangerous +places. They will follow as a matter of course; but an unworthy +officer, one whom the enlisted men know to be unfit to command +them, will demoralize a company, a troop, a battery or a regiment +if he be given power enough. + +Every cadet and every officer of the Army is concerned with the +honor of that Army. If he knows that an unworthy man is obtaining +command, it worries the cadet or officer of honor. + +Had he been able to offer legal, convincing proof of Haynes's +dastardly conduct in pushing him off the train on the return from +the Army-Navy game, Prescott would have submitted that proof to +the authorities, or else to the members of the second class in +class meeting. + +"But Haynes would only lie out of it, of course," Dick concluded. +"As a cadet, his word would have to be accepted as being as good +as mine. So nothing would come of the charges." + +A class meeting, unlike a court-martial, might not stand out for +legal evidence, if the moral presumption of guilt were strong +enough; but Cadet Prescott would not dream of invoking class action +unless he had the most convincing proof to offer. + +Class action, when it is invoked at West Point, is often more +effective than even the work of a court-martial. If the class +calls upon a member to resign and return to civil life, he might +as well do so without delay. If he does not, he will be "sent +to Coventry" by every other cadet in the corps. If he has the +nerve to disregard this and graduate, he will go forth into the +Army only to meet a like fate at the hands of every officer in +the service. He will always be "cut" as long as he attempts to +wear the uniform. + +"Its a shame to let this fellow Haynes stay in the service," Dick +muttered. "And yet my hands are tied. With my lack of evidence +I can't drag him before either a legal or an informal court. +The only thing I can do is to let matters go on, trusting to the +fact that, sooner or later, Haynes will overstep the bounds less +cautiously, and that he'll find himself driven out of the uniform." + +On going to his quarters for a study period one afternoon further +along in April, Haynes found himself unable to concentrate his +mind on the lesson before him. He was alone, his roommate being +absent with a section at recitation. + +As he sat thus idle at the study table, Haynes toyed with a little +black pin. How the pin had come into his possession he did not +even recall. It was a pin of ordinary size, one of the kind much +used by milliners. + +Having nothing else to do, Haynes idly thrust the head of the +pin repeatedly in under the sole at the toe of his right boot. +Somewhat to his surprise the head went well in, then stopped +at last, fitting snugly and stiffly in place. + +"If I had a fellow sitting in front of me, what a startling jab +I could give him with the toe of my boot," grinned the turnback. + +Then, suddenly, there came a very queer look into his face. + +"Why, I reckon I could jab something else with a pin, beside the +flesh of another cadet," he muttered. + +Then, trembling slightly, the turnback bent down and carefully +extracted the pin. His next act was to fasten it very securely +on the inside of the front of his fatigue blouse, where the black +uniform braid prevented its being seen. + +Of late the second class cavalry drills had been in the open. +That day, however, it was raining heavily, and the order had +been passed for the squads to report at the riding hall. + +Soon after Haynes's roommate had returned from recitation the +signal sounded for the squad that was to report at the riding hall. + +Haynes rose, drawing on his uniform raincoat. + +"What's the matter with you, Haynesy?" inquired his roommate. + +"Why do you ask, Pierson?" + +"There was a very queer look on your face," replied Cadet Pierson. +I couldn't tell whether it were a diabolical look or merely a +sardonic grin." + +"I was just thinking of a story I heard told years ago," lied +Haynes glibly. + +"I don't believe I'd care to hear that story, then," returned +Pierson dryly. + +"I'm not going to tell it to you. 'Bye, old man. I'm off for +riding drill." + +Dick and Greg were in the same squad. Those who were going for +drill at this hour fell in at the command, of their squad marcher, +and strode away to the riding hall. + +Once inside, the cadets disposed of their uniform raincoats. The +squad marcher reported to Captain Albutt, who was their instructor +for the afternoon. + +"To horse!" came the crisp order. + +Each cadet stepped to his mount, untying the animal and standing by. + +Haynes's heart gave a quick jump when he saw that to Dick's lot +had fallen Satan, a fiery black, the worst tempered and most +treacherous horse in the lot. + +"My chance is coming sooner than I had thought for", quivered +the turnback. + +Dropping his handkerchief, Haynes bent over and quickly slipped +the black pin in at the toe of his right boot. + +"When we get into column of fours I have Prescott on my right, +muttered the turnback. He had straightened up again, in almost +no time, tucking the handkerchief again inside his blouse. His +act had attracted no attention. + +"Prepare to mount!" rang Captain Albutt's voice. + +Each cadet took hold of mane, bridle and saddle in the way prescribed +and stood with left foot in stirrup. + +"Mount!" + +Jauntily each man swung up, passing his right leg over his mounts +back, then settling easily into saddle. + +For the first few minutes the squad walked, trotted, cantered +and galloped around the tanbark in single file. Then their instructor, +riding always near the center of the floor, threw them into platoon +front at the west end of the hall. Now he gave them some general +instruction as to the nature of the evolutions they were to perform. +The next command came by bugle, and the platoon broke into column +of fours, moving forward at the trot, Captain Albutt riding at +the left flank near the head of the column. + +As the horses fell into column of fours Haynes saw his chance. +Nearly always, in this formation, some of the horses bump their +neighbors. Haynes, by a slight twist of the bridle, threw horse +over against Prescott's. The thing was so natural as to attract +no notice. + +Just as the horses touched flanks, however, Haynes, with his right +foot swiftly withdrawn from its stirrup-box, gave Satan a vicious +jab with the pin-point protruding from the toe of his boot. + +There was a wild snort. Satan seemed instantly bent on proving +the appropriateness of his name. + +Lowering his head, Satan kicked out viciously with his hind feet, +throwing the horses just behind into confusion. + +Almost in the same instant Satan bit the rump of a horse in front +of him. + +Then up reared Prescotts mount. + +Dick was a good horseman, but this move had caught him unawares. +A horse at a trot is not usually hard to manage, and Prescott had +not been on his guard against any such trick. + +By the time that Satan came down from his plunge Dick had a firm +seat and a strong hand on the bridle. But Satan was a tough-mouthed +animal. His unlooked-for antics had caused the horses just ahead +to swerve. + +Through the scattering four in front plunged Satan, fire in his +eyes, his nostrils quivering. + +Captain Albutt took the situation in at once. + +"Squad halt!" he roared. Be cool, Mr. Prescott! Bring your mount +down with tact, not brute force. + +Satan, having taken the bit between his teeth, went tearing around +the tan-bark, not in the least minding the tight hold that his +rider had on the bridle, or the way that the bit cut into his +mouth. Satan blamed his own rider for that sharp, stinging jab, +and he meant to unseat that rider. + +Dick kept perfectly cool, though he realized much of his own great +peril with this infuriated beast. + +Captain Albutt, watching closely, became anxious when he saw that +the cadet was failing in bringing down the temper of the infuriated +beast. + +Satan was more than furious; he was crafty. Master of many tricks, +and with a record for injuring many a rider in the past, the animal +dashed about the tan-bark, seeking some way of throwing his rider. + +His uneasiness increasing, Captain Albutt put spurs to his own +mount and went after Satan. + +"Steady, Mr. Prescott," admonished the cavalry officer, riding +close. I'll soon have a hand on your bridle, too. + +Yet every time that Captain Albutt rode close, Satan waited until +just the right instant, then swerved violently, snatching his +head away from the risk of capture. + +So villainous were these swerves that Dick had several narrow +escapes from being unhorsed. A man of less skill would have been. +At first the other members of the squad looked on only with +amused interest. When, however, they caught the grave look on the +captain's face, they began to comprehend how serious the situation was. + +Satan, finding other devices for throwing his rider to be useless, +soon resorted to the most wicked trick known to the equine mind. +He reared, intent on throwing himself over backward, crushing +his rider beneath him. + +Captain Albutt reached the spot at a gallop, just in the nick +of time. Standing in his stirrups, he caught one side of the +bridle just in time to pull the horse's head down. + +But, foiled in this attempt, Satan allowed his front feet to come +down. Close to the ground the brute lowered its head, kicking +up high with his hind heels. This, accompanied by a "worming" +motion, sent Prescott flying from his saddle. + +He made an unavoidable plunge over the animal's head. + +"Let go your bridle!" roared Captain Albutt. + +In the same instant the cavalry officer leaped from his own saddle. + +Over came Cadet Prescott, turning a somersault in the air. + +Albutt had jumped in order to catch the cadet. It all happened +so quickly, however, that the cavalry officer had chance only +to catch the cadets shoulders. Had it not been for that, Prescott +would have struck fully on his back. + +Having thrown its rider, Satan cantered off to the far end of +the riding hall, where he stood, snorting defiance. + +Captain Albutt allowed Prescott's head and shoulders to sink easily +to the tan-bark. + +"Are you badly hurt, Mr. Prescott?" inquired the officer. + +"The small of my back is paining me just a little sir, from the +wrench," replied Prescott coolly. "If it hadn't been for you, +sir, my neck would have been broken." + +"I think it would," replied the cavalry officer, smiling. "But +this is one of the things I am here for. Do you feel as if you +could rise, Mr. Prescott, with my help?" + +"I'd like to try, sir." + +Dick did try, but watchful Captain Albutt soon let him down again. + +"You may not be much hurt, Mr. Prescott, but I want one of the +medical officers to take the responsibility for saying so. Just +lie where you are until we get a medical officer here. Mr. Haynes, +pass your lines to the man at your left and run to the telephone. +Ask for a medical officer and two hospital corps men with a stretcher." + +The turnback leaped quickly to obey. This gave him the coveted +chance to get away by himself, where he could secretly remove +from his boot the little black pin that had been responsible for +this excitement. + +Surgeon and hospital men came on the run. The surgeon declined +to make an examination there, but directed his men to lift the +injured cadet to the stretcher and take him to the hospital. + +In the meantime some enlisted men had caught and quieted Satan, +leading him from the tanbark. + +"That brute never will be used again, if I have my way," muttered +Captain Albutt, loudly enough to be heard by most of the cadets of +the squad. + +Then the drill proceeded as though nothing had happened. + +"I fixed my man that time, and easily enough," growled Haynes to +himself. "He's out of the service, from now on. He can nurse +a weak back the rest of his days." + +When the drill was dismissed a party of three ladies, who had +seen the whole scene from one of the iron balconies, came down +to meet the cavalry officer. + +"Your conduct was just splendid, captain, cried one of the women, +her face glowing. But I feared you would be killed, or at least +badly hurt, when you put yourself in the way of that somersaulting +cadet. Why did you take such chances?" + +"In the first place," replied the cavalry officer quietly, "because +it was simple duty. There was another reason. If I am hurt, +in the line of duty, I have my retired pay, as an officer, to +live on. But a cadet who is hurt so badly that he cannot remain +in the service has to go home, perhaps hopelessly crippled for +life---and a cadet injured in the line of duty has no retired pay." + +"Why is that?" asked another of the ladies. + +"I do not know, replied Captain Albutt simply, unless it is because +Congress has always been too busy to think of the simple act of +justice of providing proper retired pay for a cadet who is injured +for life." + +"Has Mr. Prescott been injured so that he'll have to leave the Army?" + +"I don't know. But, if you'll excuse me, ladies, I am going over +to the hospital now and find out." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE CADET HOSPITAL + + +Cadet Prescott lay on one of the operating tables at cadet hospital. + +Without a murmur he submitted to the examination. At times the +work of the medical officer's hurt a good deal, but this was evidenced +only by a firmer pressing together of the young soldiers lips. + +At last they paused. + +"Are you through, gentlemen?" Dick asked, looking steadily at the +two medical officers. + +"Yes," answered Captain Goodwin, the senior surgeon. + +"May I properly ask what you find?" + +"We are not yet quite sure," replied the senior surgeon. "None +of the bones of the spine are broken. There has, of course, been +a severe wrenching there. Whether your injury is going to continue +into a serious or permanent injury we cannot yet say. A good deal +will depend upon the grit with which you face things." + +"I am a soldier," replied Dick doggedly. "Even if I am not much +longer to be one." + +"We will now have you removed to your cot. We are not going to +place you in a cast as yet, anyway. It is possible that, after +a few days, you may be able to walk fairly well." + +"In that case, captain, is it then likely that I shall be able to +return to duty?" + +"Yes; the quicker things mend, and the sooner you are able to +walk without help, the greater will be your chance of pulling +through this injury and remaining in the service." + +"Then I'd like to try walking back to barracks right now," smiled +Cadet Prescott, wistfully. + +"You are not to think of it, Mr. Prescott! You must not even +attempt to put a foot out of bed until we give you permission. +If you take the slightest risk of further injury to your back +you are likely to settle your case for good and all, so far as +the Army is concerned." + +"I told you I was a soldier, sir," Dick replied promptly. "For +that reason I shall obey orders." + +"Good! That's the way to talk, Mr. Prescott," replied the senior +medical officer heartily. "The better soldier you are, the better +your chances are of remaining in the Army." + +"There won't be any need, will there, captain, to send word to my +father and mother of this accident until it is better known how +serious it is?" coaxed Dick. + +"If you wish the news withheld for the present, I will direct +the adjutant to respect your wishes." + +"If you will be so good, sir," begged the hapless cadet. + +Hospital men were summoned and Dick was skillfully, tenderly transferred +to a cot in another room. The steward stood by and took his orders +silently from Captain Goodwin. + +Hardly had this much been accomplished when a hospital service man +entered, passing a card to Captain Goodwin. + +"Admit him," nodded the surgeon. + +In another minute Captain Albutt stepped into the room, going over to +the cot and resting one of his hands over the cadet's right hand. + +"How are you feeling?" asked Captain Albutt. + +"Fine, sir, thank you," replied Dick cheerily. + +"I'm glad your pluck is up. And I hear that you have a good chance." + +"I hope so, sir, with all my heart. The Army means everything +in life to me, sir. And Captain Albutt, I want to thank you for +your splendid conduct in risking your own life to save me." + +"Surely, Prescott," replied the captain quietly, "you know the +spirit of the service better than to thank a soldier for doing +his duty." + +Captain Albutt had called him simply "Prescott," dropping the +"mister," which officers are usually so careful to prefix to a +cadet's name when addressing him. This little circumstance, slight +as it was, cheered the cadet's heart. It was a tactful way of +dropping all difference in rank, and of admitting Prescott to +full-fledged fraternity in the Army. + +"I shall inquire after you every day, Prescott, and be delighted +when you can be admitted to the riding work again;" said the captain +in leaving. "And I think you need have no fear of seeing Satan +on the tan-bark again. If I have any influence, that beast will +never be assigned to a cadet's use after this." + +When Captain Albutt had gone Greg came in, on tiptoe. + +"Out the soft pedal, old chap," smiled Dick cheerily, as their +hands met. "I'm not a badly hurt man. The worst of this is that +it keeps me from recitations for a few days. If it weren't for that, +I'd enjoy lying here at my ease, with no need to bother about +reveille or taps." + +Greg's manner was light-hearted and easy. He had come to cheer up +his chum, but found there was no need for it. + +Then the superintendent's adjutant dropped in on his way home +from the day in the office at headquarters. Having talked with +Captain Goodwin, the adjutant agreed that there was no need, for +a few days, to notify Prescott's parents and cause them uneasiness. + +"We'll hope, Mr. Prescott," smiled the adjutant, "that you'll +be well able to sit up and send them the first word of the affair +in your own hand, coupled with the information that you're out of +all danger." + +Had it not been for his natural courage, Cadet Prescott would +have been a very restless and "blue" young man. He knew, as well +as did anyone else, that the chances of his complete recovery +to sound enough condition for future Army service were wholly +in the balance. But Captain Goodwin had impressed upon him that +good spirits would have a lot to do with his chances. So strong +was his will that Prescott was actually almost light-hearted when +it came around time to eat his evening meal of "thin slops." + +Over in cadet barracks interest ran at full height. Greg had to +receive scores of cadets who dropped in to inquire for the best word. + +One of the last of these to come was Cadet Haynes. + +Greg received him rather frigidly, though with no open breach of +courtesy. + +"It's too bad," began Haynes. + +"Of course it is," nodded Holmes. + +"Prescott has very little chance of remaining in the corps, I suppose?" + +"The surgeons don't quite say that," rejoined Greg. + +"Oh, the rainmakers (doctors) are always cagey about giving real +information until a man's dead," declared the turnback sagely. + +"They seem to believe that Prescott has an excellent chance," +insisted Greg. + +"No bones broken?" + +"Not a one." + +"What is the trouble, then?" + +"The rainmakers can't say exactly. They're waiting and watching." + +"Humph! That sounds pretty bad for their patient." + +"They say that if Prescott is able to walk soon, then his return +to duty ought to be rather speedy." + +"I'd like to believe the rainmakers," grunted Haynes. + +"Would you?" inquired Greg very coolly. + +"Of course." + +"What is your particular interest in my roommate?" demanded Cadet +Holmes. + +He looked straight into the other's eyes. "Why, Prescott is one +of the best and most popular fellows in the class. I've always +liked him immensely, and-----" + +"Humph!" broke in Cadet Holmes, using the turnback's own favorite +word. + +To just what this scene might have led it is impossible to say, +but just at that instant Anstey and two other second classmen came +into the room, and the turnback seized the opportunity to get away. + +Though Cadet Prescott was so cheerful over his injury he was in +a good deal of pain as the evening wore on. + +Every hour or so Goodwin or the other surgeon came in to see him. + +Though Prescott could hardly be expected to understand it, the +surgeons were pleased, on the whole, with the pain. Had there +been numbness, instead, the surgeons would have looked for paralysis. + +Later in the night Dick asked Captain Goodwin if he could not +administer some light opiate. + +"You are willing to be a soldier, I know, Mr. Prescott," replied +the surgeon. + +"Be sure of that, sir," replied the young man, Wincing. + +"Then try to bear the pain. It is the best indication with which +we have to deal. It is one of the most hopeful symptoms for which +we could look. Besides, your descriptions of the pain, and of +its locality, if you are accurate, will give us our best indication +of what to do for you." + +"Then I don't want any opiate, sir," replied Dick bluntly. "I +don't care whether I'm kept here a day or a year, or what I have +to suffer, only as long as I don't have to lose an active career +in the service!" + +"Good for you, my young soldier," beamed the surgeon, patting the +cadet's hand. "The superintendent telephoned over, a little while +ago, to ask how you were. I told him that your grit was the best +we had seen here in a long time." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"And the superintendent replied, dryly enough, that he expected +that from your general record. The superintendent sent you his +personal regards." + +"Thank you, sir, and the superintendent, too." + +"Oh, and a lot of others have been inquiring about you, too---the +K.C. and all of the professors and most of the instructors. And +at least a small regiment of cadets have tramped down as far as +the office door also. I've been saving the names of inquirers, +and will tell you the names in the morning. All except the names +of the cadets, that is. There was too big a mob of cadets for +us to attempt to keep the names." + +It was a painful, restless, feverish night for Prescott. He slept +a part of the time, though when he did his sleep was filled with +nightmares. + +The surgeons won his gratitude by their devotion to his interests. +The first half of the night Captain Goodwin was in at least every +hour. The latter half of the night it was Lieutenant Sadtler who +made the round. + +By permission Cadet Holmes came to the hospital office just after +breakfast. + +It was a gloomy face that poor Greg wore back to barracks with him. + +The surgeons had spoken hopefully, but--- + +"Brains always work better than brute force," Haynes told himself, +struggling hard to preserve his self-esteem. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE MAN MOVING IN A DARK ROOM + + +May came, and, with the gorgeous blossoms of that month, Dick +Prescott left the hospital. + +He was able to walk fairly well, and was returned to study and +recitations, though excused from all drills or any form of military +duty. + +Not quite all the old erectness of carriage was there, though +Dick hoped and prayed daily that it would return. + +He had been cautioned to take the best of care of himself. He +had been warned that he was still on probation, so far as his +physical condition was concerned. + +"A sudden bad wrench, and you might undo all that has been done +for you so far," was the surgeons' hint. + +So Prescott, though permitted to march with his sections to +recitations, and to fall in at the meal formations, was far from +feeling reassured as to his ability to remain in the service. + +He was to have a physical examination after the academic year +was finished, and other examinations, if needed, during the summer +encampment. + +And well enough the young man knew this meant that, if he was +found to be permanently disqualified in body, he would be dropped +from the cadet corps as soon as the decision was reached. + +"Do you know," muttered Greg vengefully, "Haynes had the cheek +to come here and ask after you?" + +"Did he?" inquired Dick. + +"Yes; he pretended to be sorry about your accident." + +"Perhaps he really was," returned Prescott. + +"What? After his trick in pushing you from the train?" + +"I hope he has lived to regret that," said Dick quietly. + +"You're not quite a lunatic, old ramrod, are you?" asked Greg +wonderingly. + +"Oh, I've heard of fellows being bad, and then afterward repenting," +murmured Dick. "Perhaps this has been the case with Haynes. +You see, Greg, lying there in hospital, day after day, I had time +to do a lot of thinking. Perhaps I learned to be just a trifle less +severe in judging other fellows." + +Anstey visited as often as he could. He and Greg did all they +could to coach Prescott over the hard work that he had missed. + +"There isn't going to be anything in the academic work to bother +you," promised Anstey. "You'll have lots of chance to pull through +in the general review." + +"It's only the physical side of the case that gives me any uneasiness," +replied Dick. "And I'm not worrying about that, either." + +"I should say not, suh!" replied the Virginian with emphasis. +"I had a chance to talk with Captain Goodwin, one day, without +being too fresh, and he told me, old ramrod, that your work in +athletics did a lot to save your back from faring worse. He said +you were built with unusual strength in the back, and that many +a hard tug in the football scrimmages had made you strong where +you most need to be strong now." + +"Now let's get back to work with our old ramrod, Anstey," cautioned +Greg. + +"Surely, suh, with all my heart," nodded Anstey. "But by day +after to-morrow he'll have caught up with us, and be coaching +us along for the general review." + +The hard work that Dick had done through March and in early April +now stood him in excellent stead. He had, really, only to make +sure of the work that he had missed while at hospital. As to +reviewing the earlier work of the second term, there was not the +slightest need. + +By the time that the general review was half through it was plain +enough that Dick Prescott's class standing was going to be better +than it had ever been before. In fact, he was slated to make +the middle of this class. + +"I'll be above the middle of the class next year, if the fates +allow me to remain on with the corps," Dick promised himself and +his friends. + +"Oh, you'll be in the Army, suh, until you're retired for age, +suh," predicted Anstey with great gravity. + +The latter part of May passed swiftly for the busy cadets. The +first class men were dreaming of their commissions in the more +real Army beyond West Point; the present third classmen were looking +forward with intense longing to the furlough that would begin +as soon as they had stepped over the line into the second class. +The new plebes were looking forward to summer encampment with +a mixture of longing and dread---the latter emotion on account of +the hazing that might come to them in the life under the khaki-colored +canvas. + +As the days slipped by, Prescott began to have more and more of +his old, firm step. He began to feel sure, too, that the surgeons +would have no more fault to find with his condition. + +"Why, I could ride a horse in fine shape to-day," declared Prescott, +on one of the last days in May. + +"Could you?" demanded Cadet Holmes quizzically. + +"Perhaps I had better amend that bit of brag," laughed Dick. "What +I meant was that I could ride as well, to-day, as I ever did." + +"Don't be in a hurry to try it, old ramrod," advised Greg with +a frown. "Be satisfied that you're doing well enough as it is. +Don't be in a hurry to joggle up a spine that has had about as +much as it could stand." + +"I'll bet you I ride in the exhibition riding before the Board +of Visitors," proposed Prescott earnestly. + +"I shall be mightily disappointed in your judgment if you attempt +it without first having received a positive order," retorted Greg. +"Don't be a chump, old ramrod." + +The exhibition before the Board of Visitors to which Dick had +referred is one of the annual features of West Point life. The +Board is appointed by the President of the United States. The +Board goes to West Point a few days before graduation and thoroughly +"inspects" the Academy and all its workings. The Board of Visitors +impressively attends graduation exercises. Afterwards the Board +writes its report on the Military Academy, and suggests anything +that occurs to the members as being an improvement on the way +things are being already conducted by Army officers who know their +business. + +One man in the second class was going badly to pieces in these +closing days of the academic year. That man was turnback Haynes. +His trouble was that he had allowed a private and senseless grudge +to get uppermost in his mind. He lived more for the gratification +of that grudge than he did for the realization of his own ambitions. + +"This confounded Prescott has escaped me, so far, though his last +experience was a narrow squeak. I've had two tries---and, by +the great blazes! the third time is said never to fail. He's +in such bad shape now that it won't take much of a push to put +him over the edge of physical condition. But how can I do it?" + +So much thought did the turnback give to this problem that he +fell further and further behind in general review. He was moving +rapidly toward the bottom of the class. + +Worse, he began to dream of his grudge by night. In his dreams +Haynes always reviewed his hopes of successful villainy, or else +found himself trying to put through some new bit of profound rascality. +Always the turnback awoke from such dreams to find himself in a +cold sweat. + +"I'll hit the right scheme---the real chance---yet!" the plotter +told himself, as he tossed restlessly at night, while his roommate, +Cadet Pierson, slept soundly the sleep of the just and decent. + +"Haynesy, what's the matter with you?" demanded Pierson one morning, +as he watched his roommate going toward the washstand. + +"What do you mean?" demanded Haynes, with the pallor of guilt +on his face for a moment. + +"Why, you always look so confoundedly ragged when you get up mornings. +You used to wake up looking fresh and rosy. Now, you look like the +ghost of an evil deed." + +"Huh!" growled Haynes, plunging his hands into the water. "I'm +all right." + +"I wish I could believe you!" muttered the puzzled Pierson under +his breath. + +"It's near time to get Prescott, if I'm going to," Haynes told +himself a dozen times a day. + +In fact, the matter preyed so constantly on his mind that the +turnback walked through each day in a perpetual though subdued state +of nervous fever. + +The next night Pierson awoke with a start. At first the cadet +couldn't understand why he should feel so creepy. He was a good +sleeper, and there had been no noise. + +Hadn't there, though? It came again. And now Cadet Pierson rubbed +his eyes and half rose on his cot, leaning his head on one hand. + +Now, with intense interest, he watched the proceedings of his +roommate, turnback Haynes, who was up and moving stealthily about +the room, every action being clearly revealed in the bright moonlight +that was streaming through the windows. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE ROW IN THE RIDING DETACHMENT + + +"Wow, what on earth is the fellow doing?" muttered the puzzled Pierson. + +Haynes had gone over to his fatigue blouse, the left front of +which he was examining very closely. + +Then the turnback began to mutter indistinctly. + +"Why, Haynesy is walking and talking in his sleep!" decided Pierson. +"Queer! I never knew him to do anything like that before. He must +have something on his mind." + +Pierson had read, somewhere, that it is never wise to disturb a +sleepwalker, there being a risk that the sleepwalker, if aroused +too suddenly, may suffer collapse from fright. + +"I wonder what on earth old Haynesy can have on his mind?" pondered +Pierson. "Oh, well, whatever it is, it is no business of mine." + +With that Pierson let his head return to his pillow. + +"That did the trick for Prescott---ha! ha!" muttered the turnback. + +"What on earth did the trick, and what trick was it?" muttered +watching Pierson, curious despite the admitted fact that it was +all none of his business. + +After a few moments more Haynes went back to his cot, pulled the +sheet and a single blanket up over him, and became quiet. + +"It wouldn't do any good to ask Haynesy anything about this," +decided Pierson. "He won't remember anything about it in the +morning." + +So Pierson went to sleep again. When he awoke in the morning he was +more than half inclined to believe that he had dreamed it all. + +The general reviews were drawing toward their close. In two studies +Haynes was making a poor showing, though he believed that he would +pass. + +Riding drills were being held daily now. Preparations were being +made for the stirring exhibition of cavalry work that was to be +shown before the Board of Visitors. + +On the afternoon of the day before the visitors were due, Greg +started up at the call for cavalry drill. + +So did Dick. + +"Where are you going?" challenged Cadet Holmes. + +"To cavalry drill," responded Cadet Prescott. + +"Who said you could?" + +"The K.C. for one; Captain Albutt for another." + +Greg looked, as he felt, aghast at the idea, but he managed to +blurt out: + +"What about the rainmakers?" + +"Captain Goodwin has examined me again." + +"Surely, he doesn't approve of your riding yet, Dick?" + +"He didn't say whether he did or not." + +"Then-----" + +"But he certified that I was fit to ride." + +"Dick, you didn't have to do this-----" + +"No; but I want to be restored to full duty. Captain Albutt has +informed me that the horse assigned to me will be a dependable, +tractable animal, and I shall be on my guard and use my head." + +"I don't like this," muttered Greg, as he fastened on his leggings. + +"I didn't suppose you would, so I didn't tell you anything about it." + +By the time that the second call sounded both young men were prepared, +and joined the stream of cadets pouring out of barracks. + +Other cadets than Greg expressed their astonishment when they saw +Prescott in the detachment. + +"Is this wise, old ramrod?" asked Anstey anxiously. + +"A soldier shouldn't play baby forever," returned Dick. "And +I have permission, or I wouldn't be here." + +"I don't like it," muttered Anstey. + +Furlong, Griffin and Dobbs all had something to say. + +Haynes didn't let a word escape him, but his eyes lighted with +evil joy. + +"Now, I can finish the job, I guess," throbbed the evil one. + +The detachment to which Prescott and some of his friends belonged +was formed and marched through one of the sally-ports. Just beyond, +a corporal and a squad of men from the Regular Army cavalry sat +in saddle. Each enlisted man held the bridle of another horse +than the one he rode. As the corporal dismounted his men, the +cadets, at the word from their marcher, moved forward and took +their mounts. At the command, the detachment rode forward, by +twos, at a walk, down the road that led to the cavalry drill ground +below the old South Gate. + +It was Greg who rode beside his chum. In the drill, later, when +in platoon front or column of fours, it would be Haynes who would +ride on Dick's left. + +The turnback had already made sure that his useful black pin was +securely fastened inside his fatigue blouse. + +Arrived at the drill ground, the cadets dismounted, standing by +their horses in a little group until Captain Albutt should ride +out of one of the cavalry stables and take command. + +Haynes, with a rapid throbbing of his pulses, bent forward and +down, pretending to examine his horse's nigh forefoot. + +As he did so, with an expertness gained of practice, Haynes slipped +the head of the black pin in under the front of the sole of his +right boot. Then he straightened up again, chatting with Pierson. + +"I say, Haynes," drawled Anstey, a few moments later, glancing +at the turnback's right foot, "that's a dangerous-looking thing +you have in your boot." + +"What's that?" demanded Haynes, losing color somewhat, yet pretending +to be surprised. + +"That long pin, sticking out of the front of your right boot," +continued Anstey, pointing. + +Haynes glanced down, saw the thing, and pretended to be greatly +astonished. + +"How did I get that thing in my shoe?" he cried. + +Then, with an appearance of indolent indifference that was rather +overdone, the turnback stooped low enough to extract the pin. +But his fingers trembled in the act, and half a dozen cadets noted +the fact. + +"That's a reckless bit of business, Haynes," continued Anstey in +a voice that did not appear to be accusing. + +"Reckless?" gasped Greg Holmes. "It's criminal!" + +"What do you mean?" demanded Haynes, straightening himself and +glaring coldly into Holmes's eyes. + +But Greg was one of the last fellows in the world to permit himself +to be "frozen." + +"I mean what I say, Haynes," he retorted plumply. "With that +thing in the toe of your boot something would be likely to happen +when some other horse's flank bumped you on the right. And, by +George, it's Prescott who rides at your right in platoon or column +of fours!" + +Greg shot a look full of keen suspicion at the turnback. + +"And it was Prescott who rode on your right the day he was thrown +from Satan!" flashed Greg, his face going white from the depth +of his sudden feeling. "Haynes, did you have that pin in the +toe of your boot the day that Prescott was thrown in the riding +hall?" + +"You-----" Haynes began, at white heat, clenching his free fist. + +"Answer me!" broke in Greg insistently. + +"I did not!" + +"I don't believe you!" shot back Cadet Holmes + +"Confound you, sir, do you mean to call me a liar?" hissed the +turnback. + +"Yes!" replied Greg promptly. + +Haynes dropped his bridle, stepping toward Greg Holmes, who, however, +neither flinched nor looked worried. + +"Hold my lines, Dobbs," urged Pierson, passing his bridle over +to a fellow classman. + +Then Pierson sprang in front of Greg, facing his roommate. + +"Softly, Haynes!" cried Pierson warningly. + +"What is this to you?" demanded the turnback hotly. + +"I am under the impression," replied Pierson, "that this is not +a personal matter so much as it is a class affair." + +But Haynes, feeling that he was almost cornered, became reckless +and desperate. + +"This is a personal matter, Pierson. Stand aside until I knock +that cur down." + +"From any other man in the detachment," spoke Greg bitterly, "I +would regard the use of that word an insult. Haynes, if you hit +me, I shall knock you clean into the Hudson River. But I will +not accept any challenge to fight until the class has passed on +this matter." + +"The class has nothing to do with it," insisted Haynes. + +"I think the class has," broke in Pierson. "When the time comes +I shall have considerable to say." + +"Then say it now!" commanded Haynes, glaring at his roommate. + +"I will," nodded Pierson. "The other night, Haynes, I was awakened +to find you walking about the room in your sleep. You also talked +in your sleep. At the time I could make nothing of it all. Now, +I think I understand." + +Then Cadet Pierson swiftly recounted what he had seen and what +he had heard that night in the room. + +"You were fingering something on the left front of your blouse, +and while doing so, you made the distinct remark that this was +what had done the trick for Prescott," charged Pierson. "I did +not see what it was that you were fingering, but the next day, +the first chance I got, I, too, examined the left front of your +blouse. I found a small, black pin fastened there. It has been +fastened there every time since when I have had a chance to look +at your fatigue blouse hanging on the wall." + +"I am not responsible for what I say when I'm sleepwalking," cried +Haynes in a rage. "And, besides, Pierson, you're lying." + +"I'll wager that not a man here believes I'm lying," retorted +Pierson coolly. + +"No, no! You're no liar, Pierson!" cried a dozen men at once. + +"Is there a black pin inside your blouse at this moment?" challenged +Greg. + +"None of your business," cried the turnback hoarsely. + +"I demand that you show up, or stand accused," insisted Cadet +Holmes. + +"I'll show up nothing, or take any orders from anyone who tries +to lie my good name away," retorted Haynes. "But at least two +of you will have to fight me mighty soon." + +"I won't fight you," retorted Greg bluntly, "until the class declares +you to be a man fit to fight with." + +"Nor I, either," rejoined Pierson decisively. "Stand aside, you +hound, and let me get at that cur behind you!" cried Haynes hoarsely. + +"Attention!" called the detachment marcher formally. "The instructor +for the day!" + +Captain Albutt rode out of the nearest cavalry stable, mounted on +his own pure white horse. + +At the order of the marcher each cadet fell back to the lines of his +own mount. + +When Captain Albutt reached the detachment he saw nothing to +indicate the disturbance that had just occurred. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE DECREE OF "COVENTRY" + + +"Prepare to mount! Mount!" + +Some preliminary commands of drill were executed. Then the serious +work of the hour began. + +Never had Captain Albutt commanded at a better bit of cavalry work +than was done this afternoon by members of the first and second +classes. + +The wheelings, the facings and all the manoeuvres at the different +gaits were executed with precision and dash. All the movements +in troop and squadron were carried out to perfection. + +To the instructor, it was plain that the most perfect esprit de +corps existed. The cadets were acting with a singleness and +devotedness of purpose which showed plainly that the perfect +trooper was the sole subject of thought in their minds. At least, +so the instructor thought, from the results obtained. + +Even Haynes's face was inexpressive as he rode. + +Greg was as jaunty as though he had not an unkind thought toward +anyone in the world. + +Cadet Prescott did not betray a sign of any thought save to do +his duty perfectly. + +Yet, every time that his horse was brought close to Haynes's, +Prescott had his eyes open for any foul play that might be attempted +by the turnback. + +"If the young men do as splendidly to-morrow before the Board +of Visitors," thought Captain Albutt, "I shall feel that my year +of work here has been a grand success. Jove, what a born trooper +everyone of these young fellows seems to be!" + +At last the drill was finished. In detachments, the young cadet +troopers returned to the road between the administration building +and the academic building. + +Here each detachment dismounted, surrendered its horses to a waiting +detail of enlisted cavalrymen, and then marched in to barracks. + +As soon as the young men had removed their riding leggings, and the +dust from their uniforms, most of them descended into the quadrangle. + +Haynes reached his room just an instant behind Pierson. + +"See here, Pierson, you cad, what did you-----" + +"Oh, shut up!" replied Pierson, with a weary sigh. + +"Don't you speak to me like that, sir!" cried Haynes warningly, +as he stepped over to where his roommate was busy with a clothes +brush. + +"I don't want to talk with you at all," retorted Pierson. + +"You'll talk to me a lot, or you'll answer with your fists!" + +"Fight with you? Bah!" growled the other man in disgust. + +"You cad, you deliberately li-----" + +But Pierson, having put his brush away, turned on his heel and +left the room. + +Haynes paused for an instant, his face white with a new dread. + +A cadet stands low, indeed, when another cadet will not resent +being called a liar by him. + +"This has kicked up an awful row against me, I guess," muttered +the turnback, as he hastily cleaned himself. "I must get down +into the quadrangle, mix with the fellows and set myself straight." + +Full of this purpose, for he was not lacking in a certain quality +of nerve and courage, Haynes went down to the quadrangle. + +"I am afraid a good deal of feeling was aroused this afternoon, +Furlong," began the turnback. + +Then he gulped, clenched his fists and lost color, for Cadet Furlong, +without a word, had turned on his heel and walked away. + +"Griffin, what does Fur-----" + +Cadet Griffin, too, turned on his heel, passing on. + +"Dobbs-----" + +It was Dobbs's turn to show his back and stroll away. + +"What the deuce has got into them all?" wondered Haynes, though +his heart sank, for, much as he wanted to ignore the meaning, +it was becoming plain to him. + +Another cadet was passing along the walk. To him Haynes turned +with an appealing face. + +"Lewis," began the turnback, "I am afraid I shall have to ask +you-----" + +Whatever it was, Lewis did not wait to hear. He looked at Haynes +as though he saw nothing there, and joined a little group of cadets +beyond. + +"Confound these puppies!" growled Haynes to himself. "They're all +fellows that I hazed when they were plebes, and they haven't +forgiven me. I see clearly enough that, if I am to have an +explanation, or get a chance to make one, I must do it through the +members of my old class." + +Some distance down the quadrangle stood Brayton and Spurlock, first +classmen and captains in the cadet battalion. + +"They're high-minded, decent fellows," said Haynes to himself. +"I will go to them and get this nasty business set straight." + +Past several groups of cadets stalked Haynes, affecting not to +see any of the fellows. But these cadets appeared equally indifferent +to being recognized. + +Brayton and Spurlock were talking in low tones when the turnback +approached them. + +"Brayton," began Haynes, "I want to ask you to do me a bit of +a favor." + +Brayton did not stop his conversation with Spurlock, nor did he +show any other sign of having heard the turnback. + +"Brayton! I beg your pardon!" + +But the first classman did not turn. + +"Spurlock," asked Haynes, in a thick voice, "are you in this tommy-rot +business, too?" + +Spurlock, however, seemed equally deaf. + +"Then see here, both of you-----" insisted Haynes, choking with +anger. + +The two first classmen turned their backs, walking slowly off. + +There was no chance to doubt the fate that had overtaken him. +Haynes had been "sent to Coventry." Henceforth, as long as he +remained in the corps of cadets, he was to be "cut." No other +cadet could or would speak to him, under the same penalty of also +being sent to Coventry. + +Henceforth the only speech that any cadet would have with him would +be a necessary communication on official business. Socially there +was no longer any Cadet Haynes at West Point. + +Once, two years before, Haynes had helped to put this punishment +on a plebe, who had soon after quitted the Academy. + +Then Haynes had thought that sending another to Coventry was, under +some circumstances, a fine proceeding. But now the like fate had +befallen him! + +"The fellows don't really mean it. They're excited now, but to-morrow +they'll be sorry and call the whole foolishness off," thought the +"cut" man, trying hard to swallow the obstinate lump that rose in +his throat. + +In the quadrangle, mostly in groups, were fully two hundred cadets. +But not one of these young men would address a word to the exposed +turnback. + +"There's one satisfaction, anyway," thought Haynes savagely, as +he walked blindly back toward the door of his own subdivision +in barracks, "I can take it all out on the plebes!" + +Just as he was going up the steps Haynes encountered a plebe coming +out. + +"Here, mister!" growled Haynes. "Swing around with you! At attention, +sir! What's your name, mister?" + +But the plebe did not even pause. He did not avert his head, but +he took no pains to look at Haynes, merely passing the turnback +and gaining the quadrangle below. + +Now the utter despair of his position came over Haynes. How suddenly +it had come! And even Haynes, with his four years at West Point, +could hardly realize how the Coventry had been pronounced and +carried out in so very few minutes after release from cavalry +drill. + +Tears of rage and humiliation in his eyes, Haynes stumbled to his +room. Once inside he shunned the window, but stumbled to his chair +at the study table, and sank down, his face buried in his arms. + +"Oh, I'll make somebody suffer for this!" he growled. + +Out in the quadrangle, now that the turnback was gone, the main +theme of conversation was the discovery and exposure of the afternoon. + +Pierson was requested to repeat his statement to a large group +of first and second classmen. + +"I don't believe a man could get a pin stuck into the toe of his +boot accidentally, in the way that Haynes had his pin arranged," +declared Brayton. "Has one of you fellows a pin to lend me?" + +A pin being passed, Brayton sat down on a convenient step and +tried to adjust the pin between the sole and the upper of the +toe of his boot. + +"I can force it in a little way," admitted Brayton, "but see how +the pin wobbles. It would fall out if I moved my foot hard. +Some of the rest of you try it." + +Other cadets repeated the experiment. + +"I'll tell you, fellows," said Spurlock at last; "a fellow couldn't +accidentally get a pin in that position, and hold it firm there. +But I know that, after repeated trying, and working to fit the +pin, I could finally get matters so that I could quickly fit a +pin that would hold in place and be effective." + +"Of course," nodded Lewis. "It can be done, but only by design." + +"And that was the very way that Prescott's horse was enraged, +so that old ramrod got his awful tumble!" exclaimed Greg bitterly. + +"You believe, now, that the whole thing was a dirty, deliberate +trick, don't you?" asked Spurlock of Prescott. + +"I am pretty sure it must have been," nodded Dick. + +"Then," declared Brayton, "the whole thing is something for you +second classmen to settle among yourselves. In the first place, +it is your own class affair. In the next place, we men of the +first class are practically out of the Military Academy already. +It will do the first class no good to take any action, because +we shall not be here to carry out any decree." + +"You can advise us, though," suggested Holmes. + +"And we'll do so gladly," nodded Brayton. "Then do we need to +hold a class meeting, and vote to make the Coventry permanent?" + +"Hardly, I should say," replied Brayton. "You've already started +the cut, and it can be continued without any regular action---unless +Haynes should have the cheek to try to brazen it out. If he does +insist on staying here at the Military Academy, you can easily take +up the matter during the summer encampment." + +"It would seem rather strange for me to call a class meeting, +when the whole affair concerns me," suggested Dick. + +"Oh, you don't need to call the meeting, old ramrod," advised +Spurlock. "A self-appointed committee of the class can call the +meeting. You can open the meeting, of course, Prescott, and then +you can call any other member of the class to take the chair." + +"I wonder if it will be necessary to drum the fellow out of the +class formally?" asked Anstey. + +"Only time can show you that," replied Brayton. "Better just wait +and see what action the fellow Haynes will take for himself. He +may have the sense to resign." + +Resign? That word was not in Haynes's own dictionary of conduct. +After his first few moments of despair, on gaining his room, +the turnback had risen from his chair, his face showing a courage +and resolution worthy of a better cause. + +"Those idiots may think they have 'got' me," he muttered, shaking +his fist toward the quadrangle. "One of these days they'll know +me better! I'll make life miserable for some of those pups yet!" + +Just before it was time for the call to dress parade Pierson came +hurrying into the room to hasten into his full-dress uniform. + +Haynes, already dressed with scrupulous care, looked curiously +at his roommate. But Pierson did not appear to see him. + +Haynes stepped over to the window, drumming listlessly on the +sill. At length he turned around. + +"Pierson," he asked, "have the fellows sent me to Coventry?" + +"You don't need to ask that," replied the other coldly. + +"Is it because of Prescott?" + +"Yes. And now, will you stop bothering me with the sound of your +voice?" + +"Pierson, you know, when a fellow is cut by the corps, his roommate +is not required to avoid conversation with the unlucky one." + +"I know that," replied Pierson coldly. "But I've had all I want +of you and from you. Except when it is absolutely necessary I +shall not answer or address you hereafter." + +"How long am I to stay in Coventry?" + +Pierson acted as though he did not bear. + +"Has formal action been taken, or is this just a flash of prejudice, +Pierson?" + +No answer. + +"Humph!" + +The call to form and march on to the parade ground was sounding. +Snatching up his rifle, Haynes stepped out and joined the others. + +Haynes did not receive even as much as a cold glance. + +"I'm less than a bit of mud to them!" thought the turnback bitterly. +"These fellows would step around a patch of mud, just to avoid +dirtying their shoes." + +It was a relief to hear the command to fall in. Haynes felt still +better when the battalion stepped away at its rhythmic step. +He did not have to look at any of his contemptuous comrades now, +nor did he need a word from them. + +Somehow, though in a daze, the turnback got through dress parade +without reproof from any of the watchful cadet officers. Then, +almost immediately after dress parade, came the hardest ordeal +of all. + +Once more, this time in fatigue uniform, the turnback had to fall +in at supper formation. With the rest he marched away to cadet +mess ball, found his place at table and occupied it. + +During the meal merry conversation ran riot around the tables. +Haynes was the only man among the gray-clad cadets who was left +absolutely alone. + +After supper, while Pierson lounged outside, Haynes went back +to his room. + +Pacing the floor in his deep misery and agitation, he took this +vow to himself: + +"I won't let myself be driven from the Military Academy! No +matter what these idiots try to do to me---no matter what indignities +they may heap upon me, I'll keep silent and fight my way through +the Military Academy! I will receive my commission, and go into +the Army. But that fellow Prescott shall never become an officer +in the Army, no matter what I have to risk to stop him!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CONCLUSION + + +For most of the young men at West Point the academic year now +came swiftly and joyously to an end. + +True, some score and a half of plebes were found deficient, and +sent back to their homes. + +The same thing happened to a few of the third classmen. + +All of the members of the first class succeeded in passing and +in graduating into the Army. + +The poor plebes who had failed had been mournfully departing, one +at a time. + +These unhappy, doleful young men felt strangely uncouth in the +citizens' clothes that they had regained from the cadet stores. + +Yet everyone of these plebes received many a handshake from the +upper classmen and a hearty good wish for success in life. + +More doleful still felt the dropped third classmen, who had been +at the Military Academy for two years, and who had thoroughly +expected to "get through" into the Army somehow. + +It was now a little before the time when cadets must hasten to +quarters to attire themselves for dress parade. + +Several score of cadets still lingered in the quadrangle when +Greg Holmes and Pierson suddenly appeared, heading straight for +one of the largest groups, in which Dick Prescott stood. + +"Heard any news lately?" asked Greg, a pleased twinkle in his eyes. + +"Nothing startling. We've been supplying new, dry handkerchiefs +to the poor, late plebes," answered Brayton. + +"Haven't heard about that fellow Haynes?" asked Greg. + +"Nothing," admitted Brayton. + +"Well, you see," exclaimed Pierson, "Haynes made up his mind to +disregard the grand cut. He determined to stick it out, anyway, +even for a whole year." + +"He'll have a sweet time of it, then," put in Spurlock dryly. +"I never heard of a fellow who got the general cut lasting a whole +year here before." + +"That was Haynes's decision, anyway," went on Pierson. "This +is no guess work. The fellow told me so himself." + +"I reckon, suh, maybe we'll be able to change his mind," drawled +Anstey. + +"No you won't," broke in Greg decisively. "Haynes got in bad +on the last two days of general review. Chemistry and Spanish +verbs threw him. So he was ordered up for a writ (written +examination) in both subjects. He fessed frozen on both of them. +He applied for a new examination in a fortnight, but the fact +that Haynes was already a turnback went against him." + +"He's `found,' eh?" questioned Brayton, smiling gleefully. + +"Dropped," nodded Pierson. + +"Fired!" added Greg, with a look of satisfaction. "There's no +getting around the truth of the old superstition, fellows!" + +The "old superstition" to which Holmes referred is one intensely +believed in the cadet corps. While there is nothing whatever to +prevent a sneak from being admitted to the United States Military +Academy, the cadets believe firmly that a dishonorable fellow is +bound to be caught, before he graduates, and that he will be +kicked promptly out of the service by one means or another. + +"Has the fellow gone yet?" inquired Spurlock. + +"He'll slip away while the rest of us are away at dress parade, +I guess," responded Pierson. "Haynes is in cit. clothes already, +and is just fussing around a bit." + +"He must feel fine!" muttered Brayton musingly. "I could almost +say `poor fellow.'" + +"So could I," agreed Prescott, with a good deal of feeling. "It +would break my heart to be compelled to leave the corps, except +at graduation, so I can imagine how any other fellow must feel." + +"Oh, well, he'd never be happy in the Army, anyway," replied Spurlock. +"Out in the Army the other officers can take care of a dishonorable +comrade even more effectively than we do." + +"What made Haynes fess out, I wonder?" pondered Brayton aloud. + +"Being sent to Coventry got on his nerves so that he couldn't pull +up enough at review and the writs," replied Pierson. "He wasn't +one of the bright men, anyway, in the section rooms." + +"By Jove, suh! There's the fellow now!" muttered Anstey. + +The others turned slightly to see Haynes, out of the gray uniform +that he had disgraced, wearing old cit. clothes and carrying a suit +case, step out and cross the quadrangle to the office of the K.C. + +A few minutes later, Haynes came out of the cadet guard house. +Knowing that he would never have the ordeal to face again, Haynes +summoned all his "brass" to the surface and stepped down the length +of the quadrangle. He passed many groups of curious cadets, none +of whom, however, sent a look or a word to him. + +Then on out through the east sally-port strode Haynes. On the +sidewalk beyond, he passed Captain Albutt. Haynes did not salute +the officer; he didn't have to. Even had Haynes saluted, Captain +Albutt could not have returned this military courtesy, for Haynes +was no longer a member of the American Military establishment. + +* * * * * * * + +On the afternoon of the day following the graduating exercises +came to a brilliant finish at Cullum Hall. Brayton, Spurlock +and their classmates were honorably through with West Point, their +new careers about to open before them. + +Cadet Dick Prescott came forth from the exercises, a look of radiant +happiness on his face. + +He had been ordered before a board of surgeons that morning. Just +as a formality he was to go before a medical board again in August. + +"But that's only a piece of red tape," Captain Goodwin had explained +to him. "By wonderful good luck, or rather, no doubt, thanks to +Captain Albutt's gallantry, your spine is now as sound as ever. +Come before us in August, but I can tell you now that the August +verdict will be O.K." + +"My, but you look like the favorite uncle of the candy kid!" muttered +Greg, as the two chums in gray strode along together. + +"Why shouldn't I?" retorted Dick. "My spine is all right, and +I'm to stay in the service. Then besides, Greg, old fellow, think +what we are now." + +"Well, what are we?" asked Greg. + +"First classmen! Only a year more, Greg, to the glorious old Army! +Think of it, boy! In blue, in a year, and wearing shoulder-straps!" + +"I wish we had just graduated, like Brayton, Spurlock and the rest," +muttered Greg. + +"You want to rush things, don't you, lad?" + +"But Dick, you see," murmured Holmes, "a cadet can't marry." + +"Oh, still harping on Miss Number Three?" laughed his chum. + +"Number---thr-----" stammered Greg. + +"You don't mean to say that it is all off with Miss Number Three?" + +"Oh, yes; months ago." + +"She broke the engagement?" + +"Yes," admitted Holmes. "But I don't care." + +"What's the present girl's number?" teased Dick. + +"Five," confessed Greg with desperate candor. "But this girl, +Dick, is worth all the others. And she'll stick. After all, it's +only a year, now, that she'll have to wait." + +At this point, however, we find Dick and Greg to be first classmen. +So their further adventures are necessarily reserved for the +next and concluding volume in this series, which will be published +under the title, "_Dick Prescott's Fourth Year At West Point; +Or, Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps_." All we need +to tell the reader is that this coming volume will contain the +most rousing story of all in the _West Point Series_. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Prescott's Third Year at West +Point, by H. 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