send Miss Deane a brief note of regret."

Dick continued to examine his mail while carrying on a running
fire of talk with his proud and happy mother.

"Oh, here is a very nice note from Susie Sharp," he murmured,
opening another epistle. "She is having quite a few friends at
the house this afternoon, and she begs that Greg and I will be
present. Miss Sharp was a very nice girl in the old days, although
she and I never happened to be very particular friends. Now, I
want to have all the time I can for my real friends of the old days."

"Miss Sharp would be very proud to entertain two men from West
Point," suggested his mother.

"That's just the reason," Dick answered. "Miss Sharp invites
us not because she was ever much a friend of ours, but simply
because she is anxious to entertain two cadets. She probably
reasons that it may give distinction to her afternoon tea, or
whatever the affair is."

"Then you are not going?" asked Mrs. Prescott.

"I hardly think so. Not unless Greg wishes it."

The next envelope that Dick picked up was addressed in Laura Bentley's
handwriting. Dick read for a moment, then announced:

"I have changed my mind. I shall go to call on Miss Sharp. Laura
urges me to, saying that Miss Sharp has been very kind to her in
the last year. If Laura wishes it, I'll go to call on any one."

At this moment Greg Holmes, tall, muscular, erect and looking
as though he had just come from the tailor's iron, stepped cheerily
into the store.

"Morning, old ramrod," hailed the other cadet. "I know you don't
mind that kind of talk, Mrs. Prescott. It's our term of affection
for Dick at West Point. Going through your invitations, are you?
Aren't they the bore, though. Especially as we had very few
invitations when we were High School boys in this same old town."

"You received one from Susie: Sharp, of course?"

"Yes," Greg assented. "And I'm going---not!"

"You are going---yes!" Dick retorted.

"Oh!" nodded Greg. "Am I entitled to any explanation?"

"Laura wishes it."

"That's a whole platoon of reasons boiled down into one file-closer,"
grinned Greg. "Yes; I am going to visit Miss Sharp this afternoon."

"Have you heard that Bert Dodge is in town at present?"

"No!" muttered Greg. Then added tersely: "The b.j.(fresh) rascal!
I wonder what folks here think of a sneak who was forced to resign
by a cadet committee on honor?"

"Folks here don't know that Dodge was forced out of th