d,"
growled Henckley, rubbing the spot where Douglass had struck him.

"Pay up like a man?" sneered Jordan. "Well, this affair has one
small, good side to it. You've got me run out of the cadet corps,
but-----"

"Out of the cadet corps?" screamed Henckley. "Then what becomes
of what you owe me?"

"That's something you'll have to settle to your own satisfaction,"
jeered the dismayed cadet. "I can offer you no help."

Jordan turned on his heel, starting to walk away, when Mr. Henckley
leaped after him, seizing him by the arm.

"See here-----" began the money shark hoarsely.

"Let go of my arm," warned Jordan in a rage, "or I'll hit you
harder than Douglass did."

As the money lender shrank back out of Jordan's reach, the cadet
strode off swiftly.

Mr. Jordan was in his bed when the subdivision inspector went
through the rooms that night.

At morning roll call, however, Jordan did not answer.

An investigation showed that he had gone. All his uniforms and
other equipment he had left behind, from which it was judged that
Jordan had, in some way, managed to get hold of an outfit of civilian
attire.

Jordan had deserted, with a heart full of hate for Dick Prescott,
with whom the deserter swore to be "even" before the academic year
was out.

CHAPTER XV

THE CLASS MEETING "SIZZLES"

That Sunday, save Greg, none of the cadets addressed Prescott.

Anstey, however, thought up a new way of getting around the "silence."
As he passed Dick, the Virginian winked very broadly. Other cadets
were quick to catch the idea. Wherever Dick went that Sunday he was
greeted with winks.

Monday Dick was in a fever of excitement. For once he fared badly
in his marks won in the section rooms.

When evening came around every member of the first class, save
Prescott, hurried off to class meeting. For the first time in
many months, Greg attended.

As the cadets began to gather, excitement ran high. The room
was full of suppressed noise until President Douglass rapped sharply
for order.

Then, instantly all became as still as a church.

"Will Mr. Fullerton please take the chair?" asked the class president.
"The present presiding officer wishes the privileges of the floor."

Amid more intense silence Fullerton went forward to the chair, while
Douglass stepped softly down to the floor.

"Mr. Chairman," called Douglass.

"Mr. Douglass has the floor."

Douglass was already on his feet, of course. He plun