hat afternoon.

On the one o'clock train from New York came Mrs. Bentley, Laura
and Belle. They entered the bus at the station, and were driven
up, across the plain, to the hotel.

After dinner, the girls waited in pleasant expectancy for Dick
and Greg to send up their cards.

Greg's card came up, alone.

Anstey was back in quarters with Dick.

CHAPTER XIV

FRIENDS WHO STAND BY

"Well?" cried Dick, darting up, his eyes shining wildly when Greg
finally threw open the door.

"Oh, bosh!" cried Greg jubilantly. "Do you think those girls
are going to believe anything against you?"

"What did they say?" demanded Dick eagerly.

"Well, of course they were dazed," continued Greg. "In fact,
Mrs. Bentley was the first to speak. What she said was one word,
'Preposterous!'"

"There's a woman aftah my own heart, suh," murmured Anstey.

"Belle got her voice next," continued Greg. "What she said was:
"'You're wrong, Mrs. Bentley. It isn't even preposterous.'"

"Miss Meade surely delighted me, the first time I ever saw her,"
murmured Anstey.

"Laura looked down to hide a few tears," continued Greg. "But
she brushed them away and looked up smiling. 'I'm sorry, sorry,
sorry for Dick's temporary annoyance,' was what Laura said. 'But
of course I know such deceit would be impossible in him, so I
shall stay here until I know that the Military Academy authorities
and the whole world realize how absurd such a suspicion must be.'"

"She's going to remain here?" faltered Dick.

"All three of 'em are. They couldn't be driven off the reservation
by a file of infantry, just now. But both of the girls insisted on
sending you a note. Which will you have first?"

"Don't trifle with me, Greg," begged Prescott.

Anstey rose to go.

"Don't take yourself off, Anstey old fellow. Just pardon me while
I read my notes."

Dick read Laura's note through, thrilling with the absolute faith
that it breathed:

"Dear Dick: Don't be uneasy about us, and don't worry about yourself,
either. I couldn't express what I think about the charges, without
having a man's license of speech! But you know all that I would
write you. Just keep up the good old Gridley grit and smile for
a few days. We are going to be here to attend that court-martial,
and to give you courage from the gallery---but I don't believe
you need a bit. Faithfully, Laura."

Belle's note was much shorter. It ran:

"Dear Dick: What stupid ideas they