Dick Prescotts's Fourth Year at West Point Part 16

In the turmoil the office of cla.s.s president was declared vacant.

Anstey was nominated for the office just made vacant, but, with cold politeness, he refused what, at any other time, would have been a high honor.

Cadet Dougla.s.s was presently elected cla.s.s president.

Then further action was taken with regard to Cadet Richard Prescott.

Without further debate a motion was carried that Prescott be sent to Coventry for good and all.

The cla.s.s meeting adjourned, and upon Greg Holmes, who was informed by Anstey, fell the task of carrying the decision to d.i.c.k.

"I expected it, Holmesy," was d.i.c.k's quiet reply.

"Buck up, anyway, old ramrod," begged Greg. "This terrible mess will all be straightened out before graduation."

"Not in time to do me any good," replied d.i.c.k gloomily.

"Now what do you mean?"

But d.i.c.k closed his jaws firmly.

Greg knew better than to press his questioning further, just then.

He contented himself with crossing the room, resting both hands on d.i.c.k's shoulders.

"Now, old ramrod, just remember this: Into every life a good deal of trouble comes. It is up to each fellow, in his own case, to show how much of a man he is. The fellow who lies down, or runs away, isn't a man. The fellow who fights his trouble out to a grim finish, is a man every inch of his five or six feet! The cla.s.s is wild, just now, but on misinformation. Fight it out!

Enemies of yours have brought you to this pa.s.s. Don't run away!

All your friends are with you as much as ever they were."

d.i.c.k was a good deal affected.

"Believe me, Greg, whatever I decide on doing won't be in the line of running away. Whatever I decide upon will be what I finally believe to be for the best good of the service."

"Humph!" muttered Greg, looking wonderingly at his chum.

In the closing period of the next forenoon d.i.c.k's section did not recite. Greg's did. So Prescott was left alone in the room with his books.

Despite himself, Greg was so worried, during that recitation, that he "fessed cold"---that is, he secured a mark but a very little above zero.

As soon as the returning section was dismissed Cadet Holmes, his heart beating fast, hurried to his room.

There sat d.i.c.k, at the study table, as Greg had left him. But Prescott had pushed his textbooks aside. Before him rested only a sheet of paper. With pen in hand Prescott wrote something at the bottom just as Holmes entered the room. Then d.i.c.k looked up with a half cheery face.

"I've done it, Greg," he announced simply, in a hard, dry voice.

"Done it?" echoed Cadet Holmes. "What?"

"I have written my resignation as a member of the corps of cadets, United States Military Academy."

"Bos.h.!.+" roared Cadet Holmes in a great rage. "The resignation is written, signed, and---it sticks!" returned d.i.c.k Prescott with quiet emphasis.

CHAPTER X

LIEUTENANT DENTON'S STRAIGHT TALK

"Let me have that paper!" demanded Greg, darting forward.

There was fire in Cadet Holmes's eyes and purpose in his heart as he reached forward to s.n.a.t.c.h the sheet from the desk.

Yet d.i.c.k Prescott stepped before him, thrusting him quietly aside with a manner that was not to be overridden.

"Don't touch it, Greg!" he ordered in a low voice that was none the less compelling.

"But you shan't send that resignation in!" quivered Greg.

"My dear boy, you know very well that I shall!"

"Have you no thought for me?" Cadet Holmes demanded.

"My going may put you in a blue streak for a week, old fellow, but it will put me in a blue streak for a lifetime. Yet there's no other way for me. What's the use of being an ostracized officer in the service? With you, Greg, old chum, it is different. You will, after a little, be very happy in the Army."

"Happy in the---nothing!" exploded Greg. "I told you, weeks ago, that if you quit the service, I would do the same thing."

"But you won't," urged d.i.c.k. "In these weeks you have had time to reflect and turn sensible."

"Do you suppose I care to go on, old chum, if you don't?"

"Yes," answered d.i.c.k quietly. "And if the case were reversed, and you were resigning, I should go on just the same and stick in the service. Why, Greg, if we both went on into the Army, and under the happiest conditions, we wouldn't be together, anyway.

You might be in one regiment, down in Florida, and I in another out in the Philippines. When I was serving in Cuba, you'd be in Alaska. Don't be foolish, Greg. I've got to leave, but there's no earthly reason why you should. Your resigning would be mistaken loyalty to me, and would cast no rebuke or regret over the cadet corps or the Army. The fellows who are going to stick would simply feel that one weak-kneed chap had dropped by the wayside. They'd merely march on and forget you."

"There goes the first call for dinner formation," cried Holmes, wheeling and beginning his hasty preparations.

"That's better," laughed d.i.c.k, as he shoved his resignation into the drawer of the table.

Then d.i.c.k, too, made his hurried preparations. Second call found them ready to watch the forming of A company. At the command d.i.c.k gave his own company order:

"Fours right! Forward---march!"

Away went A company, at the head of the corps, the whole long line giving forth the rhythmic sound of marching feet.

No outsider could have guessed that the young senior cadet captain was utterly discredited by the majority of his cla.s.s, and that he was about to drop hopelessly out of this stirring life.

On the return from dinner d.i.c.k went at once to his room.

"What are you going to do?" demanded Greg impatiently, as Prescott seated himself at the study table.

"I am going to address an envelope to hold the sheet of paper of which you so much disapprove."