Dodge stiffly.

"Very well then. And now good-night." The plebe who had just
perjured himself turned from Prescott toward Anstey. He saw that
the Virginian did not believe him.

"Just a word, Mr. Dodge," put in Anstey. "As we are near the end of
the barracks year I will not ask for a new roommate. But when we come
back from the summer encampment I will see to it that my roommate
is some one else."

Bert Dodge paled, then flushed crimson. "Am I entitled to a reason
for that, Anstey?"

"Mister Anstey, if you please, now and always hereafter."

"Certainly, Mr. Anstey. May I ask your reason for desiring a new
roommate?"

"I think I need not give my reason, Mr. Dodge," and Anstey turned
his back.

Bert Dodge got out of the room somehow and made his way back
to the hospital ward through the back door. Dick Prescott never
learned what the "joke" was. But Dodge, back in the hospital bed,
muttered:

"An anonymous letter to the superintendent of the K.C. would
have fixed things and the papers would have been found! Queer
that Dick Prescott always comes out on top."

It occasionally happens that an unworthy cadet leaves West Point
without charges against him having been heard and passed on by
the authorities. Each class in the United States Military Academy
is censor of the honor of its own members. Let a cadet be found
out in a lie or other dishonorable act; and he is so avoided by his
comrades that he is glad to leave the Academy. It was this power
of his fellow cadets that made Dodge shiver as he lay sleepless in
the hospital ward.

Cadet Holmes returned to duty and was greeted hilariously by his
many friends. He was even envied, in disregard of the sad event
that had given him his leave.

"You fellows make me tired," grumbled Greg. "My trip has
convinced me that I'd sooner tote the water bucket at West Point
than own a steam yacht and an automobile anywhere else."

Greg's fellow plebes gave a yell of approval, and even some of the
upper class men nodded approvingly, if somewhat haughtily.

Hard work went on; for these were anxious days for the plebes.
Would some of them be dropped at the end of this first year? No
one felt certain of his merits, and all worked and studied to the
exclusion of most other thoughts. But at last came the general
review, then the information for which all waited was posted.

"I'm satisfied," sighed Dick, after reading the lists.

Greg's work, too, had been satisfactory, as ha