.

When Dick arrived at Dr. Bentley's home an automobile stood in
front of the house. Dick recognized it, however, as the doctor's
machine with the doctor's man at the lever.

The instant that Prescott put his finger on the bell button Laura
herself opened the door. She was radiant of face and exquisite
in ball costume as she threw open the door and stood framed there,
the light behind her.

"Oh, I'm so glad, Dick, so glad!" came her ready greeting. "Come
in. I'm all ready but the wrap, but father and mother wish to
be among the first to congratulate you."

In the doctor's office stood Dr. and Mrs. Bentley. They greeted
Dick cordially and expressed delight over his success.

"But this is only the first ditch taken, you know," spoke Prescott
soberly, though in military phrase. "I have my chance now; that
is all. I have more than four years of hard fight facing me
before I am sure that the Army can be my career."

"You'll make it, Prescott, just as you've made everything you've
gone after at High School," replied Dr. Bentley heartily. "But,
now that we've congratulated you, we mustn't keep you an instant
longer from your classmates. I had just come in with my car,
and Laura told me, so I directed my man to wait. He'll take you
both along the road in short order. Good night, my boy!"

Laura brought her wrap, holding it out to Dick.

"If you're to be a gallant Army officer," she teased, "you must
learn to do this sort of thing gracefully."

Blushing, Dick did his best. Then the young people went out.
Dick helped his companion into the car, then seated himself beside
her.

"We're going to pick up Dave and Belle," Laura explained, as the
car moved swiftly away. "Then we'll all go in together."

One fellow had beaten them to the class ball, and that fellow
was Tom Reade. How he ever did it no one will be able to guess,
but Tom flew home, got into his best, and had reached the ball
before these young people appeared on the scene.

The happy young candidates-elect went with their companions to
the cloak room. Then, Laura on Dick's arm, and Belle clinging
to Dave, the two couples entered the ballroom. The strains of
a waltz were floating out. Abruptly the music ceased in the
middle of the air, for Reade, standing beside the director, had
motioned him to cease playing.

"Classmates and friends!" bellowed Reade, "it is my proud opportunity
to-night to be able to be the first to announce to you s