e aware of the ex-cadet's presence.

But Dodge, after looking at the chums sourly for a moment, stepped
squarely in front of them.

"See here, you fellows-----" he began, his voice sounding thickly.

"Have you the impudence to address us," asked Prescott coolly.

"Don't talk to me about impudence!" snarled Dodge. "What did
you two say about me, after I left this afternoon?"

"Oh, I assure you we didn't discuss you any more than was necessary,"
replied Dick frigidly.

"What did you say?" insisted Dodge.

"We couldn't say much about you," Greg broke in icily. "You know,
you're hardly a fit subject for conversation."

"See here, you two fellows," warned Bert angrily, "you want to
be mighty careful what you say about me! Do you understand?
A single unfriendly word, that does any injury to my reputation,
and I'll take it out of you."

Prescott would not go to the length of sneering. He allowed an
amused twinkle to show in his eyes.

"On your way, Dodge that's the best course for you," advised Greg
coldly. "We're not interested in your threats of fight, and you
ought to know better, too, after some of the thumpings you've had."

"Fight?" jeered Dodge harshly. "You fellows seem to think you're
still in cadet barracks, and that all you have to do is to call
me out, and that my only recourse is to put up an argument before
a class scrap committee. But you fellows aren't at West Point
just now, and cadet committees don't run things here. You're
back in civilization, where we have laws and regular courts.
Now, if I find that you fellows are saying a single word against
me I'll have you both arrested for criminal libel. I'll have
you put through the courts, too, and sent to jail. Then, when
you get out of jail, you can find out what your high and mighty
West Point friends think of that!"

Dodge finished with a harsh, sneering laugh, then turned on his
heel.

"The cheap skate!" muttered Greg, looking after the retreating
fellow. "Humph! I'd like to see him make any trouble for us!"

"He may try it," muttered Prescott, gazing thoughtfully after
their ancient enemy.

"How?" demanded Greg. "We don't think him worth talking about
among decent people, so we'll give him not the slightest chance
to make any trouble."

"We won't give Dodge any real cause, of course," nodded Dick gravely.
"But a scoundrel like Dodge doesn't need real cause. That young
man has altogether more spending money than is good for