nded Greg indignantly.

"I don't know," Dick replied very quietly. "He tried to be very
kind and cordial."

"Shucks!" uttered Greg, disgustedly. "Doesn't he know that Laura
Bentley is your girl, and that he's only a b.j. hanger-on there?"

"I'm afraid Laura herself doesn't know that she's my girl," sighed
Dick.

Cadet Holmes swung about so that he could gaze straight into his
comrade's face.

"Dick, didn't you tell her?" demanded Greg aghast.

"You have to do something more than tell a girl," smiled Prescott
patiently, though wearily. "You have to ask her."

"Well, thunder and bomb-shells, didn't you?"

"I didn't, Greg."

"Oh, pardon me, old ramrod. I don't mean to pry into your affairs-----"

"I know you don't."

"-----but I thought you were deeply interested in Laura Bentley."

"I think I am, Greg. In fact, I'm sure I am."

"Then why-----"

"Greg, I'm not yet sure of my place in life. I'm not going to ask
any girl to tie her future up in my plans until I feel that I have
a fair start in life."

"Army officer's pay is enough for any sensible girl."

"I'm not an Army officer yet."

"Oh, rot! You're going to be! You're half way through West Point
now. You're past the harder half, and you stand well enough in
your class. You're sure to graduate and get into the Army."

"Greg, within ten days of getting back to West Point I may be
injured in some cavalry, or other drill, and become useless for
life. A cadet hurt even in the line of duty gets no pension,
no retired pay. If he is a wreck, he is merely shipped home for
his folks to take care of him. When I graduate, and get my commission
in the Army, it will be different. Then I'll have a salary
guaranteed me for life; if I am injured, and become useless in
the Army, I still have retired pay enough to take care of a family.
If I am killed my wife could draw nearly pension enough to support
her. All these things belong to the Army officer and his wife.
But the cadet has nothing coming to him if he fails, for any reason,
to get through."

"Well, cadets don't marry," observed Greg. "They're forbidden
to. But a cadet can have things understood with his girl. Then,
if he fails to make the Army, or to get something else suitable
in life, he can release the girl if she wants to be released."

"But if a girl considers herself as good as engaged to a cadet
she lets other good chances go by, and the cadet may never be
able to make good," o