e to cheer up
his chum, but found there was no need for it.

Then the superintendent's adjutant dropped in on his way home
from the day in the office at headquarters. Having talked with
Captain Goodwin, the adjutant agreed that there was no need, for
a few days, to notify Prescott's parents and cause them uneasiness.

"We'll hope, Mr. Prescott," smiled the adjutant, "that you'll
be well able to sit up and send them the first word of the affair
in your own hand, coupled with the information that you're out of
all danger."

Had it not been for his natural courage, Cadet Prescott would
have been a very restless and "blue" young man. He knew, as well
as did anyone else, that the chances of his complete recovery
to sound enough condition for future Army service were wholly
in the balance. But Captain Goodwin had impressed upon him that
good spirits would have a lot to do with his chances. So strong
was his will that Prescott was actually almost light-hearted when
it came around time to eat his evening meal of "thin slops."

Over in cadet barracks interest ran at full height. Greg had to
receive scores of cadets who dropped in to inquire for the best word.

One of the last of these to come was Cadet Haynes.

Greg received him rather frigidly, though with no open breach of
courtesy.

"It's too bad," began Haynes.

"Of course it is," nodded Holmes.

"Prescott has very little chance of remaining in the corps, I suppose?"

"The surgeons don't quite say that," rejoined Greg.

"Oh, the rainmakers (doctors) are always cagey about giving real
information until a man's dead," declared the turnback sagely.

"They seem to believe that Prescott has an excellent chance,"
insisted Greg.

"No bones broken?"

"Not a one."

"What is the trouble, then?"

"The rainmakers can't say exactly. They're waiting and watching."

"Humph! That sounds pretty bad for their patient."

"They say that if Prescott is able to walk soon, then his return
to duty ought to be rather speedy."

"I'd like to believe the rainmakers," grunted Haynes.

"Would you?" inquired Greg very coolly.

"Of course."

"What is your particular interest in my roommate?" demanded Cadet
Holmes.

He looked straight into the other's eyes. "Why, Prescott is one
of the best and most popular fellows in the class. I've always
liked him immensely, and-----"

"Humph!" broke in Cadet Holmes, using the turnback's own favorite
word.

To just what this s