"A big secret?"

"Stop that!"

"Well, I'll tell you, Dave. By and by there are going to be,
in this state, two appointments to cadetships at West Point.
Our Congressman will have one appointment. Senator Alden will
have the other. Now, in this state, appointments to West Point
are almost always thrown open to competitive examination. All
the fellows who want to go to West Point get together, at the
call, and are examined. The fellow who comes off best is passed
on to West Point to try his luck."

"And you think you can prove that you're the brightest fellow
in the district?" laughed Dave good-humoredly.

"There are to be two chances, and I think I can prove that I'm
one of the two brightest to apply. And Dave!"

"Well?"

"Why don't you go in to prove that you're the other brightest
fellow. Just think! West Point! And the Army for a life career!"

"I think I'd rather scheme to go to the Naval Academy, and become
an officer of the Navy," returned Dave slowly. "The big battleships
appeal to me more than does the saddle of the cavalryman."

"Go to Indianapolis?" muttered Dick, in near-disgust. "Well,