with nervous fingers. His eyes lit up when he found that it came
from Annapolis. The message read:

_"Dear old Dick!
You're the straightest fellow on earth! We
know. Don't let anybody get your goat!_"

_"Darrin And Dalzell,
Third Class,
U.S. Naval Academy."_

"Dear old Gridley chums!" murmured the cadet, the moisture coming
to his eyes. "Yes, they should know me, if anyone does. Those
who know me best are all flocking to offer comfort. Then---hang
it!---I don't need any. When a fellow's friends all believe in
him, what more is there to ask? But I wonder how the news reached
Annapolis? I know---Belle has telegraphed Dave. She knew he'd
stand by me."

It was a very cheery Prescott to whom Anstey and Holmes returned.
Anstey could remain but an instant, but that instant was enough
to cheer the Virginian, the change in Prescott was so great.

In the few moments left before taps sounded, Greg told his chum
all he could of the hop, and of the resolute conduct of Laura
and Belle in refusing absolutely to be downcast.

"Have you sent any word home?" asked Greg.

"To my father and mother? Not a word! Nor shall I, until this
nightmare is all over," breathed Dick fervently.

"Laura wanted to know," Holmes explained. "Of course Mrs. Bentley
had to send some word to her husband, to account for their longer
absence, but she cautioned Dr. Bentley not to let a word escape."

To himself, as he reached up to extinguish the light, Greg muttered:

"I believe that unhanged scoundrel, Dodge, will see to it that
word reaches Gridley!"

In this conjecture Holmes must have been correct, for, the next
forenoon, there came a telegram, full of agony, from Prescott's
mother, imploring further particulars at once. Mrs. Prescott's
dispatch mentioned a "rumor."

"That's Dodge's dirty work," growled Holmes. "So that fastens
the guilt of this whole thing upon him---the dirty dog!"

Yet how to fasten any guilt upon Dodge? Or how force from him
any admission that would aid to free Cadet Prescott from the awful
charge against him that had now been made official?

That Sunday, Greg, besides paying a long visit in the hotel parlor,
and seeing to the dispatch of Dick's answer to his mother, also
called, under permission, at the home of Lieutenant Topham, of
the tactical department. Prescott had decided to ask that officer
to act as his counsel at the court-martial.

Prescott's case looked simple enough. Nor did the judg