"We can mope, and have five minutes to spare," objected Reade.

"Let's run, just the same!" urged d.i.c.k Prescott.

The three chums broke into a run that brought them swiftly to the station, red faced, laughing and happy.

"Oh, what a difference since the morning!" sang d.i.c.k blithely.

"Say, just think! West Point really for mine!"

"Bosh!" grunted Darrin happily. "I'm going to Annapolis!"

Then, as by a common impulse d.i.c.k and Dave seized Tom Reade by either hand.

"Tom," uttered d.i.c.k huskily, "we owe you for a lot of the nerve and confidence that carried us through to-day!"

"Tom Reade," declared Darrin. tremulously, "you're the best and most dependable fellow on earth!"

"Shut up, both of you," growled Reade, in a tone of disgust.

"You're getting as prosy as that Congressman---and that's the most insulting thing I can think of to say to either of you."

The train seemed fairly to fly home. It was keeping pace with the happy spirits of the young men, who, at last, came to realize that the great good news was actually true.

Neither d.i.c.k nor Dave could think of walking home from the station.

They broke into a run. By and by they discovered that Tom Reade was, no longer with them.

"Now isn't that just like old Tom?" laughed Darrin, when he discovered that their friend was missing. "Well, anyway, I can't wait.

Here's where our roads branch, d.i.c.k, old fellow. And say! Aren't we the lucky simpletons? Good night, old chum!"

d.i.c.k fairly raced into the bookstore conducted by his parents.

He almost upset a customer who was leaving with a package under his arm.

"Dad!" whispered d.i.c.k, leaning briefly over the counter and laying a hand on Mr. Prescott's shoulder. "I pa.s.sed and won! I'm going to West Point!"

A look of intense happiness wreathed his father's face and tears glistened in his eyes. But d.i.c.k raced on into the back room, where he found his mother.

"All the luck in the land is mine, mother!" he whispered, bending over and kissing her. "I won out! I go to West Point when the month of March comes!"

Mrs. Prescott was upon her feet, her arms around her boy. She didn't say much, but she didn't need to. After a moment d.i.c.k disengaged himself.

"Mother, Laura Bentley will be glad to know this news. She's at the ball of the senior cla.s.s to-night, but I'll see if I can get her father on the 'phone, and tell him the news for her."

But presently it was Laura's own sweet voice that answered over the wire.

"You?" demanded d.i.c.k. "Why, I thought you'd be at the ball!"

"Did you think I could be happy all the evening, wondering how you were coming on with your great wish?" asked Laura quietly.

"Say, oh, d.i.c.k! How did you come out?"

CHAPTER XXI

Gridley Seniors Whoop It Up

"Oh, so many, so many congratulations, d.i.c.k!" came the response to Prescott's eagerly imparted information.

"And so you missed the dance just because you could sympathize with some one else's worry?" demanded d.i.c.k. "But say! The evening is still young, as dances go. Couldn't you get dressed in a little while? Then we could both go and celebrate my good luck."

"I'm dressed," came the demure answer.

"What? Oh---well, now, that's nice of you-----"

"I have been expecting this good news," laughed Laura. "And so I've been dressed all evening, on the chance."

"And you'll go to the cla.s.s ball if I come around quickly?"

"It would be mean of you not to come and take me, d.i.c.k!"

"I'll have to change," declared d.i.c.k. "But that never takes a boy long. Won't I be around to your house in short order, though!"

d.i.c.k rang off and started to bound upstairs, but a new ting-ling sounded on the 'phone bell.

"Here's another party been trying to get you," announced central.

"Go ahead."

"Hullo, d.i.c.k," sounded a low, pleased voice. "I hope you've called up Laura."

"Just rang off, Dave."

"Then you know that the girls didn't go to the cla.s.s ball to-night, but just dressed and waited on the chance of hearing from us.

I'm on the jump to dress, but I'll meet you there, d.i.c.k."

d.i.c.k took only time to explain the change in his night's plans to his parents. Then he bounded off upstairs, but soon came down again, looking a bit dandyish in his best, and very happy into the bargain.

When d.i.c.k arrived at Dr. Bentley's home an automobile stood in front of the house. d.i.c.k recognized it, however, as the doctor's machine with the doctor's man at the lever.

The instant that Prescott put his finger on the bell b.u.t.ton Laura herself opened the door. She was radiant of face and exquisite in ball costume as she threw open the door and stood framed there, the light behind her.

"Oh, I'm so glad, d.i.c.k, so glad!" came her ready greeting. "Come in. I'm all ready but the wrap, but father and mother wish to be among the first to congratulate you."

In the doctor's office stood Dr. and Mrs. Bentley. They greeted d.i.c.k cordially and expressed delight over his success.

"But this is only the first ditch taken, you know," spoke Prescott soberly, though in military phrase. "I have my chance now; that is all. I have more than four years of hard fight facing me before I am sure that the Army can be my career."

"You'll make it, Prescott, just as you've made everything you've gone after at High School," replied Dr. Bentley heartily. "But, now that we've congratulated you, we mustn't keep you an instant longer from your cla.s.smates. I had just come in with my car, and Laura told me, so I directed my man to wait. He'll take you both along the road in short order. Good night, my boy!"

Laura brought her wrap, holding it out to d.i.c.k.