et around the corners of his mouth played a slight, greenish
pallor. The testimony of the cadets had not been looked for to
be very important. Now, however, the president of the court regretted
that he had not excluded from the room all of three cadet witnesses
except the one under examination.

Cadet Gray was next called. He was able to testify only that,
while at the blackboard, Mr. Dunstan had stood on one side of
Cadet Prescott and the present witness on the other side. Mr.
Gray was strongly of the belief that, had Prescott been slyly
using a written crib, he (Gray) would have noted the fact. Mr.
Gray had not been a witness to the handkerchief-loaning incident
before formation of sections.

"Cadet Dodge!"

Dodge rose and came forward with a distinct swagger. He was plainly
conscious of the cadet corporal's chevrons on his sleeve, and
plainly regarded himself as a superior type of cadet. He was
sworn and questioned about the handkerchief-borrowing incident.

He admitted the borrowing of the handkerchief to wipe a smear
of dirt from the back of his hand. As to the condition of the
handkerchief at the time of its return, Mr. Dodge stated his present
belief that the handkerchief was very loosely rolled up.

Then Lieutenant Topham took the witness over.

"Would the handkerchief, when you handed it back, have held this
slip of paper?" questioned Mr. Topham, holding up the slip that
had brought about all of Prescott's present trouble.

"It might have, sir, had the paper been crumpled as well."

"Did you hand the handkerchief back with a paper inside of it?"

"Not according to any knowledge of mine, sir."

"Was there a paper in the handkerchief, Mr. Dodge, when Mr. Prescott
passed his handkerchief to you?"

"To the best of my belief, sir, there was not."

"Now, pay particular heed, if you please Mr. Dodge," requested
Lieutenant Topham, fixing his gaze keenly on the witness. Dodge
tried not to look apprehensive. "Did you have any paper in your
hand while you had Mr. Prescott's handkerchief in your own possession?"

"No, sir," replied Dodge with emphasis.

"Did you, knowingly, pass the handkerchief back to the accused
cadet with any paper inside of it, or touching it in any way?"

"No, sir!"

Lieutenant Topham continued for some seconds to regard Mr. Dodge
in silence. The witness began to lose some of his swagger. Then,
abruptly, as though firing a pistol, Lieutenant Topham shot out
the questi