THE CLASS TAKES FINAL ACTION
By the time the corps of cadets was seated at breakfast, in the
great mess hall, the following morning, the news began to circulate
rapidly.
It was discussed in low tones at every table save that at which the
silence against Prescott prevailed.
The silence by this time had ceased to be literal, except so far
as it applied to Dick. Other cadets at his table talked among
themselves, though never to Prescott. Greg, being Dick's roommate,
was the sole cadet exempted from this rule.
But the men at Prescott's table restrained their curiosity until
the two battalions had marched back to barracks and had been dismissed.
After the dismissal of the companies Dick and Greg strolled along
slowly. Wherever they passed backs were turned to them, though
this would not have happened to Holmes had he been alone.
Though the news was discussed, no class action was taken. This
must not be done until Durville's fate had overtaken him. Otherwise,
the Military Academy authorities might take such action as defiant
and visit a more severe penalty upon Cadet Durville.
For five days Durville remained in close arrest. This meant, to
the initiated, that the Superintendent had taken up the matter with
the War Department at Washington.
On the sixth day Durville was once more sent for by the commandant
of cadets. His sentence was handed out to him. On account of
an academic reputation of high grade, and a hitherto good-conduct
report, Mr. Durville was not dropped from the corps. Had the
offender, before leaving West Point in "cits.," gone to the cadet
guard house and made any false report concerning his absence,
nothing could have saved him from dismissal for making a false
official report. All things being taken into consideration, Cadet
Durville was "let off" with loss of privileges up to the time
of semi-annual examinations, with, in addition, the walking of
punishment tours every Saturday afternoon during the same period.
Now the gathering wrath broke loose upon Dick. A class meeting
was called, that neither Prescott nor Holmes could attend with
propriety.
Durville, as a matter of policy, did not attend, but there were
not wanting first classmen who looked upon Durville as a sacrifice,
and who were fully capable of presenting his side of the case at
the meeting.
Upon Anstey, as on a former occasion, fell the task of making
Prescott's side clear.
The class meeting had not been in session many minutes when Dick's
accusers had made it rather plain that Mr. Prescott, following
his previous course with Jordan, had revenged himself also on
Durville, who had taken an active part in securing the imposition
of the silence.
Anstey took the floor in a fiery defence. He brought forth the
statement that Prescott had not made any attempt to pry into the
goings or comings of the unlucky Durville. The Virginian declared
that Prescott had happened to be abroad in time to "catch" Mr.
Durville, simply because Prescott had started for the office of
the officer in charge with an official paper that he had been
tardy about turning in.
Though Anstey dwelt upon this side of the case with consummate
oratory, the defence was regarded as "too transparent." Anstey's
good faith was not questioned, but Prescott's was.
In the turmoil the office of class 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 Douglass was presently elected class 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 class meeting adjourned, and upon Greg Holmes, who was informed
by Anstey, fell the task of carrying the decision to Dick.
"I expected it, Holmesy," was Dick'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 Dick gloomily.
"Now what do you mean?"
But Dick 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 Dick'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
class is wild, just now, but on misinformation. Fight it out!
Enemies of yours have brought you to this pass. Don't run away!
All your friends are with you as much as ever they were."
Dick 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 Dick'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 Dick, 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 Dick 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."
"Bosh!" roared Cadet Holmes in a great rage. "The resignation
is written, signed, and---it sticks!" returned Dick Prescott
with quiet emphasis.