“Well, young man, what is it?”

“I thought it barely possible,” continued Tom coolly, “that I might be able to offer you a hint or two worth while.”

“Worth whose while?” demanded Heathcote Drayne, suspiciously.

“Yours.  Has your son come here to compete for either the West Point or Annapolis cadetship?”

“What if he has?”

“Then has Phin his certificates of good character with him?” demanded Tom, his blue eyes steely and cold as he looked straight and significantly at the elder Drayne.

“Confound your impudence, Reade!  What do you mean?”

“Just this,” continued Tom readily.  “Only boys of good character are eligible for West Point or Annapolis.  Now, the fact is, your son was expelled from Gridley High School for a dishonorable action.  Are you content to have your son try for a cadetship, with that record hanging over his head and enveloping his chances?”

“Who’ll know anything about that record if you don’t blab?” demanded Mr. Drayne.

“Why, your son would have to state where he had attended school, and furnish certificates of good character from his teachers,” ran on Reade.  “Now, honestly, do you think that Dr. Thornton, of Gridley High School, would furnish a certificate on which Congressman Spokes could appoint your boy to West Point or Annapolis?  Because, if you think so,” wound up Reade, “go ahead and put Phin in the running, to be sure.”

With that Tom marched off back to his chums.

“What have you been up to?” asked Dick curiously.

“I’m manager for you two half-witted fellows, ain’t I?” queried Reade.

“What have you been saying to Mr. Drayne?” asked Dave.

“Just watch father and son, and see how they seem to be enjoying their talk,” chuckled Tom.  “There, what do you see now?  I thought it would end like that.”

This was the first time it had occurred to the elder Drayne that his son’s character would be inquired into.  In fact, Mr. Drayne had had half an idea that the United States Military Academy was a place that made a specialty of reforming wild boys and making useful citizens of them.

CHAPTER XX

When the Great News Was Given Out

At just nine o’clock Congressman Spokes came on to the platform followed by two other men.

One of these latter was a town official, who, in a very few words, introduced the Member of Congress.

Congressman Spokes now addressed the young men upon the vocations they were seeking to enter.  He explained that neither the Military nor the Naval Academy offered an inducement to boys fond only of their ease and good times.

“At either school,” warned the Congressman “you will find ahead of you years of the hardest work and the strictest discipline.  No boy whose character is not good can hope to enter these schools of the nation.  It is not worth any boy’s while to enter unless he stands ready to sacrifice everything, his own ideas and prejudices included, to the service of his country and his flag.”