CHAPTER XXIII.
A WEST POINTER'S LOVE AFFAIR With beating heart Dick Prescott presented himself at the hotel that evening, and sent up his card to Mrs.Bentley and the girls.
Greg was with his chum, of course, but Greg was not in a flutter.
He was to escort Belle Meade---an arrangement of chumship, for Belle wore the engagement ring of Dave Darrin, one of Greg's old High School chums.
For Dick, this was the night to which he had looked forward during four years.

To-night he felt sure of his career; he was to be graduated into the Army, with a position in life fine enough for Laura to grace with him.
It was on this night, that he had determined to find out whether her heart beat for him, or whether it had already been captured by young Mr.Cameron back in the home town.
"And very likely she wouldn't think of having either of us," smiled Dick to himself.

"It's easy enough for a girl to be a fellow's friend, but when it comes to selecting a husband she is quite likely to be more particular." It was just after dark as the two young couples sauntered away from the hotel on their way to Cullum Hall.
"You young men are now sure of your Army careers," remarked Belle, as the four strolled down the road.
"As absolutely sure as one can ever be of anything," Dick responded.
"Yes, I feel positive that I am now to be an officer in the Army." "While poor Dave has just started on a two-year cruise, and must then come back for another examination before he is sure of his commission," sighed Belle.
"The middies don't get a square deal," said Dick regretfully.
"When Darrin and Dalzell were graduated, the other day, they should have been commissioned as ensigns before they were ordered to sea.

Some day Congress and the people will see the injustice of it all, and the unfairness will be remedied." How could Prescott possibly know that his commission in the Army was not yet sure?
That same sandy-bearded, bespectacled and stoop-shouldered ex-cadet Jordan was even now eyeing Dick from a little distance.
"Humph! Prescott feels mighty big at this moment!" growled the young scoundrel.

"I wonder how he'll be feeling at midnight, down in cadet hospital, when the surgeons tell him he has no chance of ever being a sound man again?
Confound him! I could almost find it in my heart to kill the fellow, instead of merely maiming him.