tt.

Crossing the barracks area, Dick strode into cadet guard-house,
nimbly mounting the stairs to the second floor. Here he stood
in the office of the O.C.

Saluting, he carefully phrased his request for leave to visit
friends at the hotel.

This being granted, Dick went down the stairs at the greatest
speed consistent with military dignity under the circumstances.

Out through the north sally-port and along the road running between
officers' quarters and parade ground he hurried.

By the time he had walked to the hotel he had cooled off his first
excitement somewhat.

He signed in the cadet register, then laid down his card.

"To Mrs. Prescott, please."

As ebony-visaged "front" vanished from the office, Dick turned
and walked to the ladies' entrance, passing thence into the parlor.

Dick's mother was found at the dining table. So were her Gridley
friends. All were finishing a light meal without appetite when
the card was laid by Mrs. Prescott's plate.

"My boy, Dick---here?" she cried brokenly rising as quickly as
she could.

Mrs. Prescott passed quickly from the dining room, though her
friends were close at her heels. So they all rushed in upon the
solitary young cadet standing inside the parlor by a window.

As he heard them coming, Dick wheeled about. There was a tear
in his eye, which deceived them.

Halting, a few feet away, these eager ones stared at him.

Dick tried to greet them in words, but he couldn't at first.

It was Laura who found her voice first.

"Dick! Tell us in a word!"

But Belle Meade gave Miss Bentley a somewhat vigorous push forward.

"Use your eyes, Laura!" rebuked Belle vigorously. "In the first
place, Mr. Prescott is here. That means he's here by permission
or right. In the second place, you ninny---he still has the uniform
on!"

"That's right," laughed Dick. "Yes, mother, and friends, the
court-martial's finding was wholly favorable to me."

"Humph!" demanded Belle scornfully. "Why shouldn't it be? Wouldn't
you expect thirteen old West Point graduates to know as much as
four women from the country?"

Belle's hearty nonsense put an end to all tension.

Mrs. Prescott met and embraced her son. The others crowded about,
offering congratulations.

That night Dick and Greg "dragged" the Gridley girls to the cadet
hop at Cullum, and Anstey was a favored one on the hop cards of
both girls. Mrs. Prescott and Mrs. Bentley looked on from the
gallery.

"