f all, I want to have a talk with you."

"That is very fair, sir," replied Dick.

"And I want to be fair," replied the lawyer with emphasis. "I
want to make sure that I am not taking part in a case needlessly
malicious, and one which, pushed to a needless conclusion, might
rob the Army of a valuable future officer."

"I appreciate your courtesy and fairness, and I, thank you, sir,"
Dick acknowledged.

"Now, Mr. Prescott, do you mind telling me, in a general way,
at least, just what you have said to others about young Dodge
since you have been home on your furlough?"

"I would rather, sir, tell you something else instead," replied
Cadet Prescott, with the ghost of a smile. "You have some affidavits,
Mr. Griffin---or, at least, you have some witnesses, and they
have very likely furnished you with affidavits. The names of
your witnesses, or of your most important witnesses, are Fessenden,
Bettrick and Deevers. Fessenden was a bank clerk, discharged
from the bank by the elder Dodge. Bettrick is a truck-driver,
and Deevers is---well, I understand he has no more important
occupation than lounging about drinking places."

"I am sorry that you know the names of my witnesses," replied
Lawyer Griffin gravely. "I am beginning to be impressed with
the idea that you know their names so readily because you recall
having said something in their presence or hearing against young
Dodge."

"That is hardly likely," replied Dick, smiling coolly, "because
I do not believe that I know either of the three young men by
sight."

"Then why," demanded the attorney, eyeing the young West Pointer
keenly, "do you know so much about their occupations or lack of
occupation? And why do you know that they are all young men?"

"I will tell you," replied Dick. "In the first place, you know
Dr. Carter, do you not?"

"Yes."

"He is a reputable physician, isn't he?"

"I believe Dr. Carter to be a very honorable man."

"Do you know Dr. Davidson?"

"I understand that he is one of the new pastors in town," admitted
the lawyer.

"You imagine he would make a creditable witness, don't you?"

"Jurors generally accept the testimony of a clergyman at its face
value," replied Attorney Griffin.

"Down in one of the tenements of Gridley," pursued Prescott, rising
and leaning one elbow upon the corner of the top of the lawyer's
roll-top desk, "is a young man named Peters. He is a mill hand
who has been away from his work for weeks on acc