n longer at the Military Academy than the other members
of the class?"

"Do you mean," pursued Dick relentlessly, "that you want to be
elected president of the present second class, Haynes?"

"Why, I think it would be a nice little courtesy from the class,"
admitted the turnback. "You see, Prescott, you've held the honor
now for two years."

Dick smiled, looking straight into the eyes of his visitor, but
he made no other answer.

"Now, what do you think about it, Prescott?" insisted the turnback.

"I don't like to tell you, Haynes."

"But I wish you would."

"You'd be offended."

"No; I would---See here not trying to be offensive with me, are you?"

"Certainly not."

"Oh, that's all right then. Go ahead and tell me what you think."

"I was a good deal astonished," went on Prescott, "when back in
plebe days, the other fellows chose me for their president. I
wasn't expecting it, and I didn't know what to make of it. But
the fellows of the class gave me that great honor. I stand ready
to step down from the honor at any time when the class feels that
it would like another president."

"I'd like the honor, Prescott. But, of course, I didn't know
that you held to it so earnestly. If you don't want to give it
up, of course I'll go slow in asking you to do so. But I thought
that both you and the class would appreciate having as president
a man who has been longer at the Military Academy than any of
the others."

"If I were to resign the presidency," replied Prescott bluntly,
"I don't believe you'd stand a ghost of a show of getting it."

Cadet Haynes sprang to his feet, cheeks crimson, his eyes flashing.

"Why not?" he insisted.

"Steady, now," urged Dick. "Don't take offence where none is
meant, Haynes. The class would want its president to be one who
has been with the class all along, and who knows all its traditions.
Now, in experience, you're a first classman, and you've all the
First-class traditions. Now, if the class were dissatisfied with
me, and wanted a new president, I'm pretty certain the fellows
would choose someone who had been in our class from the start.
Now with you a turnback-----"

Haynes's flush deepened, and he took a step forward, his fists
clenching.

"Prescott, do you use that word offensively?"

"No," replied Dick quietly. "Do you intend your question or manner
to be offensive?"

"Not unless you're trying to start it," sniffed the other cadet.

"I'll tell you wh