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ce has to go home, perhaps hopelessly crippled for life---and a cadet injured in the line of duty has no retired pay." "Why is that?" asked another of the ladies. "I do not know, replied Captain Albutt simply, unless it is because Congress has always been too busy to think of the simple act of justice of providing proper retired pay for a cadet who is injured for life." "Has Mr. Prescott been injured so that he'll have to leave the Army?" "I don't know. But, if you'll excuse me, ladies, I am going over to the hospital now and find out." CHAPTER XX THE CADET HOSPITAL Cadet Prescott lay on one of the operating tables at cadet hospital. Without a murmur he submitted to the examination. At times the work of the medical officer's hurt a good deal, but this was evidenced only by a firmer pressing together of the young soldiers lips. At last they paused. "Are you through, gentlemen?" Dick asked, looking steadily at the two medical officers. "Yes," answered Captain Goodwin, the senior surgeon. "May I properly ask what you find?" "We are not yet quite sure," replied the senior surgeon. "None of the bones of the spine are broken. There has, of course, been a severe wrenching there. Whether your injury is going to continue into a serious or permanent injury we cannot yet say. A good deal will depend upon the grit with which you face things." "I am a soldier," replied Dick doggedly. "Even if I am not much longer to be one." "We will now have you removed to your cot. We are not going to place you in a cast as yet, anyway. It is possible that, after a few days, you may be able to walk fairly well." "In that case, captain, is it then likely that I shall be able to return to duty?" "Yes; the quicker things mend, and the sooner you are able to walk without help, the greater will be your chance of pulling through this injury and remaining in the service." "Then I'd like to try walking back to barracks right now," smiled Cadet Prescott, wistfully. "You are not to think of it, Mr. Prescott! You must not even attempt to put a foot out of bed until we give you permission. If you take the slightest risk of further injury to your back you are likely to settle your case for good and all, so far as the Army is concerned." "I told you I was a soldier, sir," Dick replied promptly. "For that reason I shall obey orders." "Good! That's the way to talk, Mr. Prescott," replied the sen
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