Dick Prescotts's Fourth Year at West Point / Or, Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps

aper!" demanded Gre

nd purpose in his heart as he reached f

, thrusting him quietly aside with a

rdered in a low voice that w

d that resignation

ou know very we

ght for me?" Cade

a lifetime. Yet there's no other way for me. What's the use of being an ostracized officer in the ser

"I told you, weeks ago, that if you quit

n these weeks you have had time

are to go on, old c

nyway. You might be in one regiment, down in Florida, and I in another out in the Philippines. When I was serving in Cuba, you'd be in Alaska. Don't be foolish, Greg. I've got to leave, but there's no earthly reason why you should. Your resigning

r formation," cried Holmes, wheeling

, as he shoved his resignatio

d call found them ready to watch the forming of A co

ht! Forwar

e corps, the whole long line giving fo

tain was utterly discredited by the majority of his class, and

dinner Dick went

ded Greg impatiently, as Prescott

ope to hold the sheet of paper

d Anstey, and called the Virginian so that both could stand in the pla

tones, Greg confided

n do, suh," answered the sou

h, just what I reckon

in his

t lose him,"

o? Can we beg Prescott to stay, and face the cold shoulder

mfort out of you, Anstey

omes in. Holmesy, don't think I'm not suffering, suh. It'l

t think we can

himself. If I were a much older man, Holmesy, with much more experience in the Army, I re

nd Dick preparing books and papers to

th that resignation of

I rely on you, old fellow, not to do anything to it. It woul

othing chang

ht it all ove

formation sounded,

full minute and a half ahead of

ning the drawer and slipping the env

ouse. Cadet Holmes, in section ranks, marched into the quadrangle

ck knocked on the door

charge, who proved to be none o

ficer, as Prescott, saluting, advanced to the of

me to ask for s

it, Mr. P

do not know whether I should take it to the adjutant's of

company paper work, Mr. Presc

is kind of paper I have ne

d of pape

quietly. Lieutenant Denton looked

Then a slight smile

You wish more time for your studies, and so you

ation, sir, from t

ton looked utt

Prescott. If you are

esume I have no right

't you s

pointed to a ch

ing off his fatigue cap, he dropped in

cadet. We may be able to talk as friends--real friends. I trust so. May I feel at liberty to ask

e, s

t I don't wish

and I appreciate your sympathy and friendship. But I am

tion you, M

care t

y place as a tactical officer of the Military Academy. If you are sure, however, that you do not find me intrusive, and if you would like to talk this matte

ful for every sign of interest that you may show in me. It is something of

e officer abruptly,

ou? You needn't ans

sir," Dic

Now, I'm not going to step over the line by asking you whether those reports were the basis of

ch a cadet could not, with propriety, discuss class a

another question, as a friend only, and in no official way. Of course, in a friendly matter you may sui

whateve

t you wholly satisfi

ow how to answer

g that you wouldn't re

replied Dick with

u have done anything to discredit the s

not,

convinced that your class has done you an injustice which i

uld restore me at once to their favor

hem any information for which a cl

s,

r. Jordan for being outside the guard lines, I had myself that night assigned you to official duty near the g

s,

a class committee, to explain how you happened to be out there at the right time to

d have felt so bo

accidentally encountered a certain cadet returning in "cit." clothes. As his company commander, you surely felt bound to report him for so flagrant a breach of discipline. Yet, if your class did not fully understand

ieutenant Denton was a clea

uch a suspicion against a cadet officer would

iendly hand on the cadet's arm, "you feel that you have been, throughout, a

inion of mysel

o throw up your career in the Army, and waste some twenty thousand dollars of

m to go on into the Army, and be an ostracized officer, I should be of no value to myself or t

t you. But if justice should triumph, later, you would be restored to your full usefulness, and to the full enjoyment of your caree

s,

lier religious instruction, also. Prescott, do you or do you not believe that there

I believe

t, though you feel your course has been honorable, you cannot wait for j

he had never heard any of them, save the chaplain, discuss matters of Christian faith. Yet he kn

predicament in a somewhat diffe

have you, or I am mistaken in you. Why not buck up, and make up your mind to go through your hard rub here firm in the conviction that this is only a passing cloud that is certain to be dispelled? Wh

you give me your letter, with

e letter, M

y. You may see wh

an open fire that was burning low. He

feeling that the in

ite or send in any other letter of resignation until you have first talked it over with me. And I want you to remember that a soldier should be a man of faith as well as of

fraid I shan't be asked fo

is anything you wish to ask me

ir; tha

head, and was standing rigidly at attention.

m very glad that you came to see me

officer's acknowledging salut

good old Greg to pump the detai

at his chum, "an officer like Lieutenant Dento

ainly ca

tinued Holmes. "But when I'm an officer I'm going t