"Those four youngsters didn't need any help," laughed Belle.

"Which was the most surprised crowd--the 'bad' Western outfit or the
police department?" chuckled Dave.

Readers of our "WEST POINT SERIES" will find the "Wild West" scene fully
narrated in "DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT."

"Isn't it outrageous," demanded Dave, "that the West Point and the
Annapolis leave of absence should be so arranged that midshipmen and
cadets who are old, old friends never get a chance to meet each other on
furlough!"

"I don't suppose," replied Belle, "that it often happens that one little
city often has the honor of furnishing, at the same time, two midshipmen
for Annapolis and two cadets for West Point."

"Very likely not," nodded Dave. "But it seems too bad, just the same.
What wouldn't I give to see Tom or Harry? Or Greg or Dick? And now that
I'm here Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes are but just barely gone."

"Yes; they have been but four days gone," assented Belle. "It does seem
too bad that you and your West Point chums couldn't have been one day
together."

"I haven't seen a blessed one of the good old four since I left for
Annapolis, more than two years ago," muttered Dave complainingly. "What
wouldn't I give--just to see what they look like in these days?"

"Well, what would you give?" demanded Belle, rising and hesitating.