nt loose. Two to one!

"Prescott, I guess you're our pitcher here-after" called Maitland
hoarsely. "And you, Holmesy, for shortstop!"

Dick Prescott found himself the center of a swift rush of cadets.
Then he was hoisted aloft, and rushed off the field in triumph
and glory, while the corps yell rang out for him. Over in the
gym. Prescott was forced to hold an impromptu reception. Greg
got much of the ovation.

Captain Verbeck, the head coach, came up to grasp Dick's hand.

"Prescott, I don't understand how you ever got by us. But Maitland
wants you for our star pitcher after this, and you'll have to
be. It was the greatest Army game, from the box, that I've seen
in many a year."

"Say, you fellows," greeted Anstey, breaking into their room after
the chums had returned to barracks, "you two had better go over
today, and the men who are to drag the spooniest femmes tonight
are all plotting to write you down on the dance cards of their
femmes."

"That's the best reason in the world for keeping away from Cullum,
then," laughed Dick.

"But I mean it seriously," protested Anstey.

"So do I," replied Dick

"I'm really a committee of one, sent here by some of tonight's
draggers," protested the Virginian.

"Tell them of your non-success, then, do," urged Dick. "For I'm
not going to Cullum tonight. Are you, Greg?"

"Ye-es," returned Holmes promptly. Then, suddenly, he paused
in his moving about the room.

He now stood looking at his left hand, on which appeared a small
smear of black.

"No!" suddenly uttered Greg. "I'm not going. I've changed my
mind---and for the best reasons possible."

"Now, what on earth has made you so excited?" demanded Anstey
wonderingly.

CHAPTER XXII

GREG'S SECRET AND ANOTHER'S

"Are you going to the hop tonight?" asked Holmes, looking up with
gleaming eyes from the smear on the back of his hand.

"No," admitted Anstey.

"Can you keep a secret?

"Yes, suh; suhtinly."

"Then come here at 8.15 to-night."

"What are you talking-----"

"I'm not talking, _now_," retorted Greg with a resolute tone in
his voice. "Like a wise man, I'm going to do some thinking first.
But you call around this evening. It'll be worth your while."

Anstey looked and felt highly mystified. It must be something
both sudden and important to make Greg change his mind so swiftly.
For Cadet Holmes, who, in his home town, had not been exactly
noted for gallantries to the other se