have of comedy here at West
Point!"

And, as Belle knew that she wasn't and couldn't be Dick's sweetheart,
she had not hesitated to sign herself, "Lovingly, Belle."

Dick passed each note in turn to Anstey.

"Your town suhtinly raises real girls!" was the southerner's quiet
comment.

Dick felt like a new being. He was pacing the floor now, but
in no unpleasant agitation.

"Did you impress the girls with the knowledge that I begged them
to go to the hop tonight?" asked Prescott, stopping short and
eyeing Greg.

"Did you think I'd forget half of my errand, old ramrod?" demanded
Holmes indignantly "I delivered your full request, backed by all
that I could add. At first Mrs. Bentley and Laura were shocked at
the very idea. But Belle broke in with: 'If we didn't go, it would
look as if we were in mourning for some one. We're not. We're just
simply sorry that a poor idea of a farce keeps dear old Dick from
being with us tonight. If we don't go, Dick Prescott will be more
unhappy about it than anyone else in the wide world.'"

"Miss Meade suhtinly doesn't need spectacles," murmured Anstey.
"She can see straight!"

"So," continued Greg, "I'm going to drag Laura tonight, and Anstey
is going to do the same for Belle."

"And we'll suhtinly see to it that they have, outside of ourselves,
of course, the handsomest men in the corps to dance with!" exclaimed
Anstey. "If any fine and handsome fellow even tries to get out of
it, I'll call him out and fight him stiff, suh!"

"I'm glad you have persuaded the girls to go," nodded Dick cheerily.
"That will give me a happier evening than anything else could
do just now."

"What will you do this evening, Dick?" asked Greg.

"I? Oh, I'll be busy---and contented at the same time. Tell that
to Laura and Belle, please."

Yet it was with a sense of weariness that Dick turned out for
supper formation. There were more pleasant greetings as he moved
to his place in ranks, and that made him feel better for the moment.
At his table at cadet mess he was amiably and cheerily included
in all the merry conversation that flew around.

Then back to quarters Dick went, and soon saw Greg and Anstey,
looking their spooniest in their full-dress uniforms, depart on
the mission of dragging.

Prescott hardly sighed as he moved over to the study table. He
read over a score of times the notes the girls had sent him.

Then came an orderly, who handed in a telegram. Dick opened this