for complete vindication before the corps.

Never had Dick known such relief at being dismissed from riding
drill. The detachment formed under Haskins' orders, and marched
up the road from riding hall, across the street to the Academic
Building, and then, with Corporal Haskins still at the head, turned
in at the east sally-port.

But here, right at the entrance to the port, stood Chaplain Montgomery.

"Corporal Haskins," called the chaplain, as he returned the cadet
officer's smart salute, "will you excuse Mr. Prescott that I may
speak with him?

"Mr. Prescott, fall out!" came Haskins' command.

With a feeling of horror and anguish Dick fell out, saluting Chaplain
Montgomery, for the chaplain, though an ordained minister of the
church, was also, by virtue of his post of chaplain, a captain
of the United States Army.

On moved the detachment, the feet of the cadets moving at a rhythmic
beat as these perfect young soldiers moved on across the barracks
area.

And all Chaplain Montgomery had to say to Cadet Prescott was to
tell him in which bound file of a magazine at the Y.M.C.A. could
be found an article about which Dick had asked the churchman a
fortnight before.

Dick returned thanks, though he meant no disrespect to the kindly
chaplain. Then, saluting, he hurried on after the detachment.

But more than a fatal minute had been lost at the sally-port,
and now the detachment was dismissed. The men had been in their
rooms for at least forty-five seconds.

"No use to go to Dodge now!" thought Dick despondently. "Whether
he knows that I saw that cuff or not, he has removed it and has
it safely hidden by this time. Oh, if Chaplain Montgomery could
have been a hundred yards further away at that moment!"

It was no use to lament. Dick concluded to wait and bide his
time. The chance might yet come to catch Bert Dodge red handed.

"Though, if he suspects that I saw his exposed cuff, he'll take
pains that there is not further chance!" decided Cadet Prescott.

After that he went to his room, where he told Greg what he had
discovered.

"It's suspicious---mightily so," declared Holmes. "But it isn't
proof---not yet!"

Nevertheless, Greg, once he had heard, could not get the matter
out of his mind either!

CHAPTER XXI

PITCHING FOR THE ARMY NINE

"Dick, old fellow, this is going to be a Gridley day for us!
It will carry us back to the good old High School days!"

Cadet Greg Holmes was radiant