te us that Bert Dodge had resigned from
the Military Academy, but you didn't tell us why. Now, that fellow,
Dodge, never gave up anything good that he didn't have to give
up. Was he kicked out of the Academy?"

"That story isn't known in Gridley," replied Prescott, lowering
his voice. "Dodge tells people that he left because he didn't
like the crowd or the life there. We haven't changed the story
any since our return. We'll tell you fellows, for we never used
to have any secrets from you in the old days. But you mustn't
pass the yarn around."

"No," grimaced Greg. "You mustn't tell the story around. Dodge
has threatened to have us imprisoned for life, for criminal libel,
if we allow his secret to reach profane ears."

"Just why did Dodge leave West Point?" asked Reade.

"He was invited to," replied Prescott, "by a class committee on
honor."

"I thought it was something like that," grunted Reade.

Then, in low tones that could not be overheard by other patrons
of the ice cream place, Dick Prescott told the story of Dodge's
cribbing at West Point, and of the way that Bert nearly succeeded
in palming his guilt off on to Prescott.

"I'd believe every word of that yarn, even if a plumb stranger
told it to me," declared Hazelton. "It has all the earmarks
of truth. It's a complete story of just what Bert Dodge would
do in one form or another, in any walk of life."

"But you fellows won't repeat insisted Dick.

"And thereby have us consigned to prison cells for the balance of
our unworthy lives?" mocked Greg.

"You know us better than to think that we'd blab," retorted Tom
half indignantly.

"You had a right to know, though," Prescott went on.

"Dick & Co. always were a close corporation," laughed Hazelton.
"And I hope the time will never come when we can't tell our secrets
to each other."

"I am sorry you fellows have so short a leave," murmured Dick.

"Why, What would you want us to do!" queried Tom.

"Greg and I would be tickled to death if you were going to be
here all summer," Dick answered. "In the first place, just for
the sake of having your company. In the next place, we'd think
it great if you could go back to West Point with us when our furlough
is over. If you could be there, over a Saturday and a Sunday,
we'd have time to show you a lot about the life there. You'd
feel acquainted from the start, for lots of the fellows of our
class have heard about you. You'd get a great receptio