deserve it all, and more!"

"I'm glad you see that, old Gridley!" murmured Cadet Dick
heartily. "Now, Greg, you won't write another letter of resignation,
will you?"

"Not if I die of homesickness and melancholy!" muttered Greg,
clenching his hands.

"Now, after letting you in for an awful verbal flogging," smiled
Dick curiously, "I'll let you into a secret. I wrote a letter of
resignation, too."

"When?" gasped Cadet Holmes amazed.

"Two days ago," confessed Dick. "I read it through six times before
sending it to the superintendent."

"You didn't--send it to the superintendent?" gasped Greg.

"No; because I also tore it to fine bits before sending it to
headquarters--and so the letter never reached the one to whom it
was addressed," laughed Cadet Prescott. "Now, look here, Greg.
Admit that you were a prize simpleton, just as I was. Let's start
anew--with a bang-up motto. This is it: 'A Gridley boy may die, but
resign--never!'"

Dick struck such a dramatic attitude that both poor young plebes
began to laugh heartily.