back without either
letting the crib be seen, or else tucking the crib into the
handkerchief. So I had to do the latter thing. But that was as far
as I was guilty---on my honor, gentlemen!"

"Then you expect us to believe in the honor of a cadet who dishonors
himself by sneaking cribs into a section room?" demanded Anstey
with mild but withering sarcasm.

"Give me just one more chance, gentlemen!" faltered Dodge. "I
pledge you my word that, henceforth, I'll do everything that is
creditable and honorable, and nothing that isn't!"

"We have a somewhat different proposition for you, Mr. Dodge,"
observed the Virginian. "We want no more of your stripe. We
would degrade the entire Army, and the whole people of the United
States of America if we allow you to remain here. Tomorrow, at
an early hour, you will hand in your resignation as a cadet, to
take effect upon acceptance. If you fail, we will lay before
the superintendent and the commandant of cadets all the evidence
that we have against you, including your own confession. You
will then have to face a general court-martial and be dismissed
from the service in the deepest disgrace that can come to a cadet."

Bert Dodge sank to his knees, holding his clasped hands up before
him.

"Don't insist on that, gentlemen! Don't! Spare me the disgrace!
Spare my parents!

"Mr. Dodge," replied Anstey sternly, "honor is the watchword in
the United States Military Academy, and all through the Army.
We couldn't spare a dishonorable wretch like you, suh, without
sharing in your disgrace. And I have not told you all that we
require. As soon as you have gone to your home you will write
a letter to the superintendent, exonerating Mr. Prescott from
all suspicion in that fearful affair. You will admit that you
alone were guilty. According to custom, that letter will be read
before the battalion in special orders and the entire corps will
then know how fully Cadet Prescott is worthy of being one of us."

"Write that letter?" demanded Dodge, leaping to his feet, but
cowering. "Never! You are taking an unfair, unmanly, ungenerous
advantage of me! You shall never have any such letter from me!"

CHAPTER XXIV

CONCLUSION

Still patiently Anstey turned to Greg.

"Mr. Holmes, will you be kind enough to go to the room of Mr.
Packard of the first class, also Mr. Maitland, of the second class,
and present my very respectful compliments? Will you ask both
gentlemen i