Miss Sharp's.
The home was a comfortable one, with attractive grounds, for the
elder Sharp was a well-to-do merchant. Some three score of young
people were present, and of these nearly two thirds had belonged
to the High School student body in the old High School days of
Dick and Greg. Naturally, the young ladies outnumbered the young
men by more than four to one.

"Oh, I am delighted that you two have come," cried Susie, moving
forward to greet her cadet visitors. This was wholly true, for
Miss Sharp had planned the affair solely in order to have the
distinction of entertaining the young West Pointers. Had Dick
and Greg remained away, Susie, without doubt, would have been
both disappointed and humiliated.

Through the connecting drawing rooms Dick and Greg moved with
a grace and lack of consciousness greatly in contrast with their
semi-awkwardness in their earlier High School days. Many pleasant
acquaintances were renewed here.

Suddenly, Susie, catching a glimpse of the front walk, hastened
out into the hallway. Then she came in, smiling eagerly, a well-dressed,
pompous-looking young man at her side.

"Mr. Prescott! Mr. Holmes!" called Susie. "Here is an old comrade
whom you both may be surprised to meet!"

Dick and Greg turned, and indeed, they were astonished. For the
latest arrival was Bert Dodge!

"Howdy, fellows!" called Dodge carelessly, though inwardly he was
quaking with alarm. How would these two decent cadets treat the
fellow who had been kicked out of West Point for dishonorable acts?

Prescott bowed, but did not speak. Greg's line of conduct was
identical with his chum's.

Bert turned white, at first, with mortification. Then a red flush
set in at his neck, extending to his face and temples. But Dodge
possessed "brass," if not honor, so he decided to face it out.

Turning to a young woman standing nearby, Bert spoke to her, and
they laughed and chatted. From her, Bert passed through the room
nodding here, chatting there.

Dick and Greg, after the first look of amazement, followed by their
cold bows, had turned to the old friends with whom they had been
chatting.

In the course of a few minutes Bert Dodge had got along close to
the two cadets.

"How are you, Prescott?" called Bert. "How is good old West Point?
And you, Holmes---how are you?"

Dodge held out his hand with all the effrontery of which he was
capable.

Turning, Dick gave the sneak only a cold, steady look.