hips he owes to others
who were in the game at one time or other, and he needs currency, not
I.O.U.'s. Looks like a regular _com_bine, doesn't it?"

"You couldn't expect to win--everything there was in sight," said
Harris quietly.

Willett flushed again. He had slipped from the broad arm to the narrow
camp chair recently occupied by the doctor. Harris was displaying
unexpected resistance. Willett had been accustomed to speedier
surrender to his advances.

"It's more on that account than any other I hate to leave here with
these things hanging over me," he answered moodily. Then, by way of
expediting matters, "Time's mighty short--short as _I_ am--and
Watts says you have a stack of greenbacks in the safe."

Again silence a moment. Then Harris turned fully upon his visitor and
spoke deliberately.

"You ask me to do what I declared three years ago I never would do, and
that I have refused to do ever since--loan a man money with which to
gamble or pay gambling debts. I need this money, Willett, to send home.
I've been saving and sending home ever since I joined, but that's not
why I won't play--and don't drink."

"Oh, we know how virtuous you are!" began Willett, with something like
a sneer, but was checked with sudden, startling force. Harris almost
sprang from his chair.

"None of that, Willett!" he cried, his voice harsh with anger. "Your
ways and mine are wide apart, but I'll stand no sneering. You come to
me for help and you're going to get it, not because you scoff at my
views, but in spite of it; not for your sake, but that of the old
Academy. You and I are the only West Pointers at this post, bar the
dear old general. You and I are classmates, and I know you, and
_don't_ believe in you, but the money's yours for the asking. You
say you come to me as an old friend, and I have never had faith in your
friendship. I know how other men's and some women's names have suffered
at your hands, and I don't know what you may have done to mine,
but----" and now Harris was on his feet, standing over Willett--sitting
there gripping the frail arms of a canvas-covered straddle-box, and
looking up into the elder soldier's--the junior officer's--face in
amaze. Never before had Willett been so braved by man or woman--"But
your name shall be protected for just two reasons--and protected just
so long as you can show you're worth it. But--Willett, I'm not
preaching on drink or gambling now. There's another thing you've got to
st