A VERDICT AND A HOP
Then followed days full of suspense for many besides the accused
cadet.
Prescott went mechanically at his studies, with a dogged determination
to get high markings in everything.
Yet over mathematics more than anything, he pored. He fought
out his problems in the section room grimly, bent on showing that
he could win high marks without the aid of "cribs."
He was still in arrest, and must remain so until the finding of
the court-martial---whatever it was---had been duly considered
at Washington and returned with the President's indorsement.
All this time Dick's mother and three faithful Gridley friends
remained at the West Point Hotel. Dick could not go to them;
they could not come to him, but notes might pass. Prescott received
these epistles daily, and briefly but appreciatively answered
them.
Then he went back furiously to his studies.
Grit could do him little good, except in his studies, if he were
fated to remain at West Point. Grit could not help him in the
settling of his fate. Either the court-martial had found him
guilty, or had found him innocent, and all the courage in the
world would not alter the verdict.
In the section room in mathematics, Captain Abbott did not show this
cadet any disfavor or the opposite. The instructor's manner and
tone with Prescott were the same as with all the other cadets.
When going to formations some of the cadets rather openly avoided
Prescott. This cut like a knife. But evidently they believed
him probably guilty, and they were entitled to their opinions.
He must possess himself with patience for a few days; there was
nothing else to do.
So the week rolled around again to Saturday. Now here were two
afternoons when the young cadet might have gone to his mother
and friends at the hotel, had he not been in arrest. There was
to be a hop that night, but he could not "drag" the girl who had
been so staunch and sweet.
On this Saturday, when he need not study much, Dick found himself
in a dull rage with his helplessness. The day was bright, clear,
cold and sunny, but the young cadet's soul was dark and moody.
Would this suspense never end?
Dinner was to him merely another phase of duty. He had no real
appetite; he would have preferred to sit brooding at his study
table.
The meal over, the battalion marched back, halting, still in formation,
at the north side of barracks near the sally-port.
The cadet captain in command of the battalion read some unimportant
notices. Dick did not even hear them. He knew his fate was not
to come to him through this channel.
While the reading was going on the Adjutant of the Military Academy
came through the sally-port leisurely, as soon as he saw that
the men were still in ranks.
Dick did not see the Adjutant, either. If he had, he might hardly
have heeded the presence of that Army officer, the personal
representative of the superintendent.
But, just as the cadet captain let fall the hand in which he had
held the notices the adjutant called out crisply:
"Don't dismiss, Captain! Hold the companies!"
Between two of the companies stepped the adjutant, then walked
to the front of center. Drawing, a paper from his overcoat, the
adjutant began to read. It was a "special order."
Even to this Prescott listened only with unhearing ears---at first.
Then, though he betrayed no more audible interest than did any
of the other men in gray, Dick Prescott found his head swimming.
This special order referred to his own case. It was a report of
the findings, these findings having been duly approved.
Cadet Richard Prescott's head began to whirl. The bright day
seemed darkening before his dimmed vision, until he heard,
unmistakably, the one word:
"Acquitted!"
What followed was a further order releasing him from arrest and
restoring him to the usual cadet privileges.
"That is all, Captain," added the adjutant, folding the order
and returning it to his overcoat. "Dismiss the companies when
ready."
"Dismiss the companies!" came from the cadet battalion commander.
The separate commands of the various company commanders rang out.
Ranks were broken---and friends in gray crowded about the yearling.
Then the corps yell was called for and given, with his name added.
Some of the cadets slipped in through the sally-port, sooner than
join in the demonstration.
"Thank you all---it's jolly good of you!" cried Prescott huskily.
As soon as these comrades in arms would let him, he broke through
and made for his room.
"Hooray!" yelled Greg, turning loose.
And Cadet Anstey thrust his head into the room long enough to add:
"Hooray!"
But Dick, half stripped above the waist, was at the washstand,
making a thorough toilet, though a hurried one.
Greg waited, his eyes shining.
"It's mighty good of you all," cried Dick, as he was pulling on
his cadet overcoat. "I wish I could stop and talk about it---but
there a duties that can't be hurried fast enough."
"Give my regards," called Holmes jovially after Prescott.
Crossing the barracks area, Dick strode into cadet guard-house,
nimbly mounting the stairs to the second floor. Here he stood
in the office of the O.C.
Saluting, he carefully phrased his request for leave to visit
friends at the hotel.
This being granted, Dick went down the stairs at the greatest
speed consistent with military dignity under the circumstances.
Out through the north sally-port and along the road running between
officers' quarters and parade ground he hurried.
By the time he had walked to the hotel he had cooled off his first
excitement somewhat.
He signed in the cadet register, then laid down his card.
"To Mrs. Prescott, please."
As ebony-visaged "front" vanished from the office, Dick turned
and walked to the ladies' entrance, passing thence into the parlor.
Dick's mother was found at the dining table. So were her Gridley
friends. All were finishing a light meal without appetite when
the card was laid by Mrs. Prescott's plate.
"My boy, Dick---here?" she cried brokenly rising as quickly as
she could.
Mrs. Prescott passed quickly from the dining room, though her
friends were close at her heels. So they all rushed in upon the
solitary young cadet standing inside the parlor by a window.
As he heard them coming, Dick wheeled about. There was a tear
in his eye, which deceived them.
Halting, a few feet away, these eager ones stared at him.
Dick tried to greet them in words, but he couldn't at first.
It was Laura who found her voice first.
"Dick! Tell us in a word!"
But Belle Meade gave Miss Bentley a somewhat vigorous push forward.
"Use your eyes, Laura!" rebuked Belle vigorously. "In the first
place, Mr. Prescott is here. That means he's here by permission
or right. In the second place, you ninny---he still has the uniform
on!"
"That's right," laughed Dick. "Yes, mother, and friends, the
court-martial's finding was wholly favorable to me."
"Humph!" demanded Belle scornfully. "Why shouldn't it be? Wouldn't
you expect thirteen old West Point graduates to know as much as
four women from the country?"
Belle's hearty nonsense put an end to all tension.
Mrs. Prescott met and embraced her son. The others crowded about,
offering congratulations.
That night Dick and Greg "dragged" the Gridley girls to the cadet
hop at Cullum, and Anstey was a favored one on the hop cards of
both girls. Mrs. Prescott and Mrs. Bentley looked on from the
gallery.
"It's the jolliest hop I've been to," declared Dick with enthusiasm.
"Humph!" muttered Holmes. "Of course it is. You old boner, you've
never been but to three hops!
"I understand," teased Belle, "that you're much more of a veteran,
Mr. Holmes, than your chum is."
Cadet Dodge "missed" that hop.