if we allow his secret to reach profane ears."

"Just why did Dodge leave West Point?" asked Reade.

"He was invited to," replied Prescott, "by a class committee on
honor."

"I thought it was something like that," grunted Reade.

Then, in low tones that could not be overheard by other patrons
of the ice cream place, Dick Prescott told the story of Dodge's
cribbing at West Point, and of the way that Bert nearly succeeded
in palming his guilt off on to Prescott.

"I'd believe every word of that yarn, even if a plumb stranger
told it to me," declared Hazelton. "It has all the earmarks
of truth. It's a complete story of just what Bert Dodge would
do in one form or another, in any walk of life."

"But you fellows won't repeat insisted Dick.

"And thereby have us consigned to prison cells for the balance of
our unworthy lives?" mocked Greg.

"You know us better than to think that we'd blab," retorted Tom
half indignantly.

"You had a right to know, though," Prescott went on.

"Dick & Co. always were a close corporation," laughed Hazelton.