ne of Dick Prescott's first tasks was to go proudly to Dr. Bentley,
to state that he had had the wonderful good fortune to win Laura's
heart, and to ask whether her father had any objection.

"Objection, Dick?" beamed the good old physician. "Why, lad, for
years I've been hoping---yes, praying that you and Laura would
have this good fortune. Wherever you may be stationed in the world,
you'll let our daughter come back to us once in a while, I hope."

Dick solemnly promised, whereat Dr. Bentley smiled.

"That's all nonsense, Dick," laughed Laura's father. "I know,
in my own heart, that you're going to be as good a son to mother
and me as you have been to your own parents. God bless you both!"

A new lot of High School boys Dick and Greg found in Gridley,
but the new crop seemed to be fully as promising as any that Dick
and Greg could remember in their own old High School days when
Dick & Co. had flourished.

A fortnight, altogether, Dick and Greg enjoyed in the good old home
town, hallowed to them by so many memories.

Then one morning each received a bulky official envelope bearing
the imprint of the War Department at Washington.

How their eyes glistened, then moistened, as each young West Point
grad. drew out of the envelope the parchment on which was written
his commission as a second lieutenant of United States infantry.

More, their request had been granted. They had been assigned
to the same regiment---the forty-fourth.

Their instructions called for them to start within forty-eight
hours, and to wire acknowledgment of orders to Washington.

The Forty-fourth United States Infantry was at that time in the far
West, in a country that at times teemed with adventure for Uncle
Sam's soldiers.

Here we must take leave of Lieutenant Dick Prescott and of Lieutenant
Greg Holmes, United States Army, for their cadet days are over
and gone.

Readers, however, who wish to meet these sterling young Americans
again, and who would also like to renew acquaintance with two
former members of Dick & Co., Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton, will
be able to do so in Volume Number Five of the _Young Engineers'
Series_, entitled: "_The Young Engineers On The Gulf_."

In this very interesting volume the young engineers and the young
Army officers will be found to have some very startling adventures
together.

Readers will also be able to learn more of the careers of Dick
Prescott and Greg Holmes, as Army officers, in the