f Gridley?" demanded Cadet Holmes
astonished.

"That very chap," Prescott admitted. "When Spooner went home,
after 'fessing out' here, Bert Dodge, who hadn't appeared, was
ordered by wire to report at once, or have his name stricken out.
Bert's physician wired the War Department that the young fellow
was ill, though the illness would not delay him more than a few
days. So Bert was given a brief grace. Well, sir, I've just learned
that Dodge reported at the adjutant's office this morning. He got
by the surgeons bounding, and to-morrow he sits down at his
'writs.' (written examinations) in the Academic Building."

"I wonder if that fellow will pass," cried Greg wonderingly.

"Oh, I rather think he'll make it easily," replied Dick, seating
himself at his own desk. "Bert wasn't a fool at his studies. He spent
more than three years at Gridley High School, and since then has
had a school year and a half at one of the finest prep. schools in
the country. Oh, I guess he'll get through all right."

"So we've got to have him here for a comrade!" sighed Greg
disgustedly, as he picked up his text-book on English.

CHAPTER V

CANDIDATE DODGE IS CRITICAL

Both cadets had studied for ten minutes perhaps, when a knock
sounded at their door.

The very unusualness of this caused both youngsters to look
around, then at each other.

Had it been any cadet officer making an inspection--as was likely
to happen at any minute of the waking day--he would have come
straight into the room. And any other cadet, after knocking, would
have followed this by opening the door and stepping inside.

Rap-rap! sounded again.

"Oh, come in," called Dick.

The door opened. Bert Dodge, dressed in the height of the
prevailing fashion, looked inside.

"May I come in?" he called, in what was meant for a cordial,
friend-from-home voice.

"Oh, yes, come in," sighed Dick wearily.

"That's not quite the welcome I might have expected from you
two," muttered Bert, as he opened the door and stepped into the
room. "Fellows, you're at West Point now," proceeded Bert Dodge
pompously, "and this is a place where social points count
tremendously, as I guess you've found out by this time. Now, you
two may be all right, and I guess you are," admitted Bert
condescendingly, "but you're just the sons of commoners, while my
father is a wealthy man, a banker and a leader in society. So I
guess you can quickly understand that I'm going to cut a good deal