THE SURPRISE THE LAWYER HAD IN STORE
The days went by swiftly, merrily.
Dick continued to see all that was possible of Laura Bentley,
without seeming to try to monopolize her time.
As for careless, good-humored, nearly heart-free Greg, that young
man divided his time almost impartially among several very pretty
girls. Cadet Holmes had no thought of arousing baseless hopes in
any young woman's mind. He simply had not yet reached the age when
he was likely to be tied closely by any girl's bright-hued ribbons.
Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton were much with the young West Pointers.
Had Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell been able to be home from Annapolis
at this time, the cup of joy would have been full for all the old
chums of Dick & Co. But that was not to be.
Even Reade and Hazelton were home only on limited leave, for they
were still very young engineers, who could not sacrifice much
time away from their work lest they lose the ground already gained.
So just after the Fourth of July, Tom and Harry left, on a morning
train, the two young West Pointers going to the station to see
them off with many a handshake, many a yearning wish for the two
dear old chums of former days.
"The blamed old town will seem a bit empty, won't it?" demanded
Greg, as the cadet pair strolled back from the railway station.
"What'll it be in after years," sighed Dick, "with you up at some
fort on the Great Lakes, say, with me in Boston, Tom and Harry
somewhere out West, with Dave on the European station and Dan,
perhaps, on the China station? Oh, well, chums who want to stick
together through life should go in for jobs in the same factory!"
"I suppose we'll get more used to being apart, as the years roll
on," muttered Greg. "But I know it would be mighty jolly, this
summer, if all the fellows of Dick & Co. could be here in Gridley."
"There's Bert Dodge," whispered Prescott.
"It was hardly worth the trouble to tell me anything about him,"
retorted Holmes, not taking the trouble to look at their ancient
enemy.
"But what a scowl the fellow is wearing," smiled Dick, half in
amusement.
"Scowling is his highest pleasure in life," returned Greg.
"He looked at me," continued Dick, as though he had discovered
some new reason for hating me."
"If he knew how little thought you gave to him he wouldn't really
take the trouble to hate you. Dodge has far more reason to dislike
himself. Where are you heading now?"
"Home and to the store," replied Dick. "I just saw the postman
leaving. Come along."
As Dick and his chum entered, both his father and mother were
behind the counter.
"Dr. Davidson and his wife are in the back room," announced Mrs.
Prescott. "They would like to see you, Dick."
"Oh, your new pastor and his wife? Will you excuse me, and wait
for me a few minutes, Greg?" asked Dick.
Holmes, nodding, picked up a magazine and seated himself. It
was twenty minutes ere Dick came out from that back room. Then
the chums started out for another stroll.
"Where are you going now?" asked Greg, suddenly, realizing that
his chum was walking at an almost spurting gait.
"In looking over my mail," replied Dick grimly, "I found a letter
from Lawyer Griffin."
"What does he want, You don't owe any money, here or anywhere else."
"Griffin wrote me that he wanted to see me about a case that has
been placed in his hands," replied Prescott quietly.
Greg started, then changed color.
"Dick," he demanded, "do you know what the lawyer's business is
about?"
"The lawyer's letter doesn't state any more than I have told you."
"Dick, that hound Dodge must be up to some trick!"
"I imagine that's the answer," replied Cadet Prescott quietly.
"And you're going to see the lawyer?"
"Yes."
"Humph!" muttered Greg. "I know what I'd do. I'd make the lawyer
come to see me."
"But I prefer going to his office."
"Right away?"
"As soon as I can get there."
"And you want me with you?"
"Most decidedly, Greg. I don't care to go into the lawyer's office
without a competent witness."
"Then I'm yours, old fellow."
"I know that, Greg."
Despite himself Holmes began to feel decidedly uneasy.
"What on earth can Dodge be up to?" muttered Greg. "He threatened
a libel prosecution one day last month. Can it be that he has
found people who can be bribed to perjure themselves, and that he
is going to make his hint good?"
"It half looks that way," assented Dick.
"Then may a plague seize the cur!" cried Greg, vehemently. "Why,
if the fellow can buy other people into making out a case of libel
against you-----"
"I might be convicted, and that conviction would cut short my Army
career," replied Prescott as quietly as ever.
Greg stopped short in his walk, staring aghast at his chum.
"Why, can Dodge be scoundrel enough for that?" he gasped.
"The best way to judge a man, like a horse, is by the record of
his past performances," responded Prescott as quietly as ever.
"So that unutterable cur, since he couldn't remain in the Army,
is determined that you shan't, either! Dick, old ramrod, I'm
shaking all over with indignation and contempt, and you're as
cool as an old colonel going under fire again for the thousandth
time!"
"If there's any real danger I guess I'd better remain cool," spoke
Prescott slowly, though there was a flash of fire in his eyes.
"There's Bert Dodge again!" quivered Holmes, glancing along the
street. "Hurry up! Let's meet him. Just on general principles
one of us ought to thrash him, and I most joyously volunteer."
"Don't you do anything of the sort," begged Dick quickly. "We
don't want to make any matter worse. Here's the building where
Griffin has his offices. Come; we'll go up and see him."
The two West Pointers were soon in the lawyer's office. Mr. Griffin
was disengaged, and saw the young men at once. This attorney was
rather a new-comer in Gridley. Dick and Greg met him for the first
time. Prescott rather liked the man's appearance.
"Do you want the whole affair discussed before your friend, Mr.
Prescott?" demanded Griffin.
"By all means, sir," Dick responded.
"Very good, then," replied the lawyer, who was still engaged in
studying the faces of both cadets.
Then, while the two West Pointers sat before him, their faces
impassive, Mr. Griffin continued.
"When I was retained on this case I was asked to put the whole
matter before the Grand Jury at its next sitting. It is so very
unusual, however, to have criminal cases against West Point men
that I insisted with my clients that I would not take a decisive
step, Mr. Prescott, until I had first seen you."
"Thank you, sir," nodded Cadet Prescott.
"In brief then," went on the lawyer, "Mr. Dodge and his son Bert
have placed a good deal of sworn evidence in my hands, and they
have instructed me, Prescott, to procure your indictment on a
charge of uttering criminally libelous statements against Bert
Dodge!"