Dick Prescotts Third Year at West Point | Page 6

Point was a very select
place. Bessie Frost says Dodge left West Point because he thought the
fellows there rather below his grade socially."
"Perhaps they are," nodded Dick gravely, but in even tones. "I have
heard it stated that about sixty per cent. of the cadets are the sons of
wage-earners. Indeed, one of the cadets whom I most respect has not
attempted to conceal the fact that, until he graduates and begins to draw
officer's pay, his mother will have to continue to support herself at the
washtub. That young man is now in the first class, and I can tell you
that we are all mighty anxious to see that man graduate and find
himself where he can look after a noble mother who has the misfortune
to be unusually poor in purse."
"Then as an American, I'm proud of West Point, if it has fellows with
no more false shame than that," cried Foss heartily.
"Why, I always thought West Point a very swell place, extremely so,"
murmured Bessie Frost. "In fact--pardon me, won't you---I have always
heard that the young men at West Point are very much puffed up and
very exclusive."
Dick laughed good-humoredly.
"Of course, Miss Frost, the cadet is expected to learn how to become a
gentleman as well as an officer. Yet why should any of us feel unduly
conceited? We are privileged to secure one of the best educations to be
obtained in the world, but we obtain it at public expense. Not only our
education, but all our living expenses are paid for out of the nation's
treasury, and that money is contributed by all tax-payers alike. If we of
the cadet corps should get any notion that we belong to a superior race
of beings, to whom would we owe it all? Are the cadets not indebted
for their opportunities to all the citizens of the United States?"

"Did Bert Dodge have any especial trouble at West Point?" asked
another girl.
"Mr. Dodge did not make us his confidants," evaded Dick coolly.
"What do you say, Mr. Holmes?" persisted the same girl.
"About the same that Dick does," replied Greg. "You see, there are
several hundred cadets at West Point, and Dick and I were not in the
same section with Dodge."
"Was he one of the capable students there?"
"Why, he was in a much higher section than either Dick or myself,"
admitted Greg truthfully; but he did not think it necessary to explain the
trickery and cribbing by which Dodge had secured the appearance of
higher scholarship.
At this point the tact and good sense of Miss Susie Sharp caused her to
use her opportunities as hostess to break up the group and to start some
new lines of conversation.
But Susie was uneasy, and presently she found a chance to whisper to
Laura Bentley:
"Tell me, dear---what lies back of the fact that Mr. Dodge does not
seem to be on good terms with Mr. Prescott and Mr. Holmes?"
"Did Bert Dodge know that Dick and Greg were to be here!" asked
Miss Bentley.
"No; I wanted it to be a surprise on both sides."
"It must have been, my dear," smiled Laura "The fact is that Dick and
Greg are not on friendly terms with Mr. Dodge."
"Oh!" murmured Susie, moving away. "I am glad that it was no worse."
A large tent had been erected on one of the lawns. To this tent, later in

the afternoon, Miss Sharp invited her guests. Here a collation had been
served, with pretty accessories, by a caterer, and several waiters stood
about to serve.
When the guests returned to the house they discovered that the rugs had
been removed, and that an orchestra was now at hand to furnish music
for dancing. Given music and a smooth floor, young people do not
mind exertion on a hot June afternoon. Dancing was at once in full
swing. Nor did the young people leave until after six o'clock.
Greg escorted Belle Meade home, Dick walking with Laura. The two
cadet chums met on Main Street a little later. They stood near a corner,
chatting, when Bert Dodge came unexpectedly around the corner.
He saw the two cadets, changed color, then halted.
Neither Dick nor Greg checked their conversation, nor let it be known
that they were 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