H. Irving Hancock

“ Why, a cadet who, for any reason, finds himself unable to attend a hop, after he has invited a young lady, may arrange with anyone of his comrades to call for the young lady in his place."
"What if she should decline the unknown substitute who reported to fill the task?" teased Belle.
"It would betray her unfamiliarity with West Point," replied Greg, with more spirit than Belle had expected from this once very quiet young man. "Miss Meade, we look upon a our comrades here as gentlemen. We regard the man whom we may send in our place as being more worthy than ourselves. ”

“ But at 8.15, to the second, Furlong and Dunstan tapped on the Prescott-Holmes door, and, as they did so. Anstey turned at the head of the stairs. Punctuality is one of the cardinal virtues of the soldier; to be a half minute late is a grave breach of etiquette; to be five minutes late amounts almost to a crime.
"Now, Holmesy, we want light," insisted Furlong.
"At first blush," returned Greg, "some of you may not like the job. It is nothing more nor less than a visit to Dodge's room, while he and Blayton are absent at the hop." ”

“ In the few minutes that had elapsed, Anstey had done much. In the room were a dozen yearlings who were known to be among Dick's best friends. All shock his hand, assuring him that nothing could shake their faith in him. It was comforting, but that was all.
"You see, old ramrod," muttered Greg, when the callers had left, "there are enough who believe in you. Now, you've got to justify that faith by hammering this charge into nothingness. Someone has committed a crime—-a moral crime anyway. In my own mind Dodge is the criminal but I'm not yet prepared to prove it." ”

“ It seemed to Prescott like an age ere he could master his voice.
"I never saw that paper, sir, before you asked me to pick it up!"
"But it dropped from under your handkerchief, Mr. Prescott. Can you account for that?"
"I cannot, sir."
Captain Abbott looked thoughtfully, seriously, at Cadet Richard Prescott. The instructor had always liked this young man, and had deemed him worthy of all trust. Yet what did this evidence show?
In the meantime the cadets sat staring the tops of their desks, or the covers of their books. The gaze of each man was stony; so were his feelings. ”

“ But there was an even higher purpose in Prescott's mind at the same time. The corps of cadets loathes a cribber as it does any other kind of cheat or liar. It is justly regarded as a moral crime for any cadet, knowing another to be a sneak, stand by and silently allow that sneak to graduate into the brotherhood of the Army.
"Dodge, you cur, every minute, now, is bringing you nearer your own merited disgrace," muttered Dick savagely. "As soon as this detachment is dismissed at barracks I'll denounce you before all the fellows. I'll insist that you expose that cuff—-and you'll have to do it!" ”

“ But Greg, ignoring him, turned to his chum.
"Dick, old ramrod, as you're the aggrieved one, I don't suppose you can exactly act as class president in this case. But you can designate some other member of the class to act in your place."
"Then I'll name Mr. Anstey," replied Dick. "I believe he will be satisfactory to everyone."
"Not to me!" snapped Bert Dodge, his uneasy gaze roving from one face to another. "The class president can't name his own substitute."
"Silence!" commanded Brayton, turning on his roommate. "Of course the class president can delegate his duties, temporarily, to another." ”

“ Ball two! Strike two! Strike three! Out!"
It was over, and Lehigh, covered with chagrin, gave up the contest, while a pandemonium of Army cheers went loose. Two to one!
"Prescott, I guess you're our pitcher here-after" called Maitland hoarsely. "And you, Holmesy, for shortstop!"
Dick Prescott found himself the center of a swift rush of cadets. Then he was hoisted aloft, and rushed off the field in triumph and glory, while the corps yell rang out for him. Over in the gym. Prescott was forced to hold an impromptu reception. Greg got much of the ovation. ”

“ But now, as the call sounded, every member of three classes stepped from his tent looking as though he had just stepped from an hour spent in the hands of a valet.
Not one showed the least flaw in personal neatness. Moreover, the tents which these cadets had just quitted were in absolute order and wholly clean. At West Point no excuse whatever is accepted for untidiness of person or quarters.
With military snap and briskness the battalion was formed. Then at brisk command, the battalion turned to the left in column of fours, marching down the hot, sun-blazed road to cadet mess. ”

“ Ellis fell over sideways, his feet thudding.
"Up with you, sir," admonished Dick. "You are still so full of egotism that it sways you like the walking beam of a steamboat. Up with you, mister, and up you stay until there is no ballast of conceit left in you."
Crab-crab-crab! Mr. Briggs continued to move sidewise and backward over the tent flooring.
Mr. Ellis was growing frightfully red in the face. But Prescott, from the remembrance of his own plebe days, knew to a dot how long a healthy plebe could keep that inverted position without serious injury. ”

“ Dodge!" called Captain Hall. "Don't bump it, sir. Settle down and ride steadily."
Then, an instant later, just as Dodge was beginning to feel secure:
"Gallop!"
Dodge's wild mount gave a snort, then bolted.
"Whoa, you unruly beast!" roared Dodge. Behind him rode the detachment, grimly merry, though with not a flicker of a smile showing.
Bert's horse pulled away, and bolted, with Dodge tugging at the bridle.
Greg, riding behind him, endeavored to bridge the gap.
"Steady, Mr. Holmes!" shouted the cavalry instructor. "You may set the pace until Mr. Dodge regains control of his mount." ”

“ But it was the regulation that a cadet must go to court, whether as witness or accused, in full-dress uniform.
"I'm going to do my best for you today, Mr. Prescott," declared
Lieutenant Topham, as they walked through the area together.
Into the Academic Building counsel and accused stepped, and on to the great trial room in which so many cadets had met their gloomy fates.
At the long table sat, in full-dress uniform, and with their swords on, the thirteen Army officers of varying ranks who composed the court. ”

“ And how many girls fall in love with the uniform, thinking all the while that it's the fellow in the uniform? How many cadets and girls recover from the delusion only in after years when it's too late. I tell you, Greg, when a fellow gets into this cadet life, I think the practice of going too often to a hop may be dangerous for cadets and girls alike!
"I'll get cold feet if I listen to you long," laughed yearling Holmes grimly. "I wonder if I'd better pull these gloves off and stay where I am?"
"I didn't have any idea of seeking to persuade you," Dick replied. ”

“ One cloudy Friday afternoon Cadet Corporal Haskins marched a yearling detachment down to the riding hall. Captain Hall, their instructor, was already in saddle. He turned to receive the report of Haskins after the detachment had been halted at the edge of the tan-bark.
"Stand to horse!" ordered Captain Hall.
The men of the detachments sprang over, each leading out his mount for the afternoon.
"Prepare to mount!"
Instantly each young man stood with one foot in stirrup, one hand at the animal's mane, and one at saddle. ”

“ Brayton had slipped into his bathrobe and was now crossing the room with blankets on one arm.
"Chase 'em out, Bray; don't hang any blankets for them to run a light behind," begged Dodge.
"I'm afraid I'd better," murmured Brayton, as he stood on a chair and reached up to put the blankets in place. Didn't you hear the announcement that this is a committee of honor? The class has a right to send one to any man, and Prescott, the class president, is here. There, those blankets will hold and shut in all light. Turn on the gas, Holmesy, if you will." ”

“ Such is the spirit of the cadet corps. Any comrade and brother must be wholly above suspicion where his honor is concerned.
Had Dick been really guilty he would have been the meanest thing in cadet barracks.
At a little before nine o'clock Lieutenant Topham called. To Cadet Prescott it seemed grimly absurd that he must now go forth in holiday attire of cadet full-dress uniform, white lisle gloves and all—-to stand before the court of officers who were to decide whether he was morally fit to remain and associate with the other cadets. ”

“ See what you can do," advised Furlong.
Dick went through a few irregular gymnastics.
"There's one good thing about old ramrod," declared Greg, in a grinning undertone. "He's always ready, every minute of the time!"
Sharply, quickly, now, the combatants were brought face to face.
At the call of time, Dennison sailed in; Dick leaped forward. Dennison was amused, more than half contemptuous over the easiness of the work that he thought had come to him. But he felt in honor bound to make the thing short. In the first place, he had to avenge Dodge. ”

“ Anstey.
"That sounds rather horrible!" shuddered Laura.
"Does it?" asked Dick dryly. "We're being trained here for fighting men."
"But what do they fight about?" inquired Belle.
"Well, one man, who probably will never be thought of highly again," replied Anstey, "spoke slightingly of a girl at the hop last night. The cadet who heard him didn't even know the girl, but he called the cadet a 'dog' for speaking that way of a woman." ”

“ He wasn't quite decided whether to go back to Cullum later. But at present he wanted to stroll in the dark and to think.
"I reckon I'll take Dick's line of philosophy, and cut girls a good deal," decided Greg. "Yet, at West Point in the summer, it's either girls or mischief. Mischief, if carried too far, gets a fellow bounced out of the Academy, while girls—-I wonder which is safer?"
Still guessing, Cadet Holmes wandered a good way from Cullum Hall, and was not again seen that night on the polished dancing floor. ”

“ And you're still wearing the uniform that Uncle Sam gave you, aren't you?
"Vindication, Greg, means something more that a court-martial verdict of acquittal."
"What more do you want?"
"Greg, the verdicts of all the courts-martial sitting between here and Manila wouldn't make some of the men of this corps believe that I innocent."
"G'wan!" retorted Cadet Holmes impatiently.
"I see it, Greg, old chum, if you don't."
"You're morbid, old ramrod!"
"Greg, you know the cheery greeting, in passing, that one man here often gives another when he likes and trusts that man. ”

“ Dick inquired.
"Yes; you were a manly boy in Gridley, but you are an actual man, now, and I am certain that the change has been made more quickly here than would have happened in any other life."
"One thing I can understand," pursued Laura. "The life here is one that is full of purpose. It must be. It takes purpose and downright hard work to change two young men as you and Greg have been changed."
By this time the little party was close to the west, or road side of the encampment.
"Isn't that Bert Dodge over there?" asked Laura, after gazing rather intently at a somewhat distant cadet. ”

“ CHAPTER III GREG DEBATES BETWEEN GIRLS AND MISCHIEF "Considering that you are the noble class president, who had just made us feel so ashamed over our thoughts of hazing," muttered Mr. Furlong, "I must say, Prescott, that I don't look upon you as any tyro at hazing."
"This case was very different," Dick answered quietly. "This plebe, Briggs, was caught in a very rank piece of b.j.-ety. We couldn't let his offence go by. We hazed him for a straight cause, not merely for being a plebe. What I object to is annoying plebes simply because they are green men." ”

“ As the fall hops came on Greg went to about three out of every four.
"A fellow can bone until his brain is nothing but a mess of bone dust," he complained. "Dick, old chum, you'd better go to hops, too."
Dick went to only one, in October. He stagged it, whereas Greg often dragged. But Prescott saw no girl there who looked enough like Laura Bentley to interest him. His standing in class interested him far more than hops at which a certain Gridley girl could not be present.
Laura had written him that she and Belle might be at a hop early in December. ”

“ So Anstey withdrew his look of suspicion from the five cadets. No cadet may ever lie; not even to a comrade in the corps. Any cadet who utters a lie, and is detected in it, is ostracized as being unfit for the company of gentlemen. So, when Dick's prompt denial came, Anstey believed, as he was obliged to do. ”

“ Holmes assented.
"Now, here at West Point, with this nearly male-convent life, a fellow often gets so blamed lonesome that almost any girl looks fine to him, Greg. First thing he knows, a cadet, being a natural gallant, anyway, goes so far in being spoons with some girl that he has to act like a gentleman, then, and declare intentions. A fellow can't show a nice girl a whole lot of spoony attentions, and then back off, letting the girl discover that he has been only fooling all summer. You've heard, Greg, of plenty of cadets who have engaged themselves while here at the Academy." ”

“ Then Dick, with the air of a judge, yet with a mocking pretence of gentleness and leniency sounding; in his voice, turned back to Plebe Briggs.
"Mr. Briggs, you will now proceed to relieve your animal spirits by some spirited animal conduct. The animal that you will represent will be the crab. Down on your face, mister!"
Flat on the floor lay Mr. Briggs. The yearlings outside, at the tent doorway, scenting something coming, peered in eagerly.
"Now, spread out your arms and legs, mister, just as any good crab should do. Raise your body from the floor. Not too much; about six inches will do. ”

“ The flap across the way was thrown open hospitably as Greg entered, followed by Cadet Prescott.
"Where's old Mason and Dixon?" demanded Furlong, alluding to the fact that Anstey was a Virginian.
"He has turned in for a big sleep," Greg informed their hosts.
"Great!" chuckled Furlong. "Let's peep in and throw a bucket of water over him. He'll wake up and think the tent is leaking."
"Don't you dare!" warned Dick, but he said it with a grin that robbed his rebuke of offence. "Old Mace (short for 'Mason and Dixon') has been tired out ever since being on guard the first night in camp. ”