"Confidence deserves to be paid in the same coin, Greg," warned
his chum. "Did you leave any girl---back in Gridley---or elsewhere."

"Dick, old ramrod," replied Cadet Holmes, frankly, as he finished
drawing on his glove, "I'm unpledged, and, to the best of my belief,
I'm wholly heart free."

"Look out that you keep so for two or three years more, then,"
laughed Dick, and Holmes, nodding lightly, strode away.

Despite the hop, there were some visitors in camp that evening.
Dick was presently invited over to join a group that was entertaining
three college boys who had dropped off at West Point for two or
three days.

Greg spent an hour or so at the hop. He was introduced to Miss
Wilton, a pretty, black-eyed little girl, and danced one number
with her. He presently secured another partner. But too many
of the cadets were "stagging it" that night. There were not feminine
partners enough to go around.

"My cue is to cut out, I guess," mused Greg, finding himself near
the entrance to the ballroom.

Once outside, Greg drew off his gloves, thrusting them in under
the breast of his gray uniform coat. He wasn't quite decided
whether to go back to Cullum later. But at present he wanted
to stroll in the dark and to think.

"I reckon I'll take Dick's line of philosophy, and cut girls a