"
"No," agreed Dave. "Then you'll know you have a chance; but to-day
you can't be sure of that much."
Five minutes before train time the chums were astonished at seeing
another of the chums walk into the station. It was Tom Reade,
looking as jovial and contented as a youngster could possibly
look.
"Hullo, Tom!" came from Dick.
"Howdy, Tom, old man!" was Dave's greeting.
"Hullo, fellows!" from Reade.
"Where are you bound?" inquired Dick.
"Wilburville?"
"_What_?"
"Fact!" Reade assured them.
"Going to the exams.?" Dave demanded quickly.
"Yep."
"Why, you never said a word about thinking of West Point," exploded
Prescott.
"You were making fun of Annapolis only the other day!" asserted
Dave, just as though making fun of Annapolis were one of the capital
crimes.
"Hang West Point!" exploded Tom Reade.
"Oh! Then it's Annapolis you're after," grunted Darrin.
"Sink Annapolis!" exclaimed Reade.
"Then what on earth are you after?" demanded Dick.
"Have you any fool idea in your head, Tom, that you can take an
exam and stand a chance of getting Congressman Spokes's job away
from him?" Dave asked.
Tom threw himself into one of the seats, crossed his feet, thrust
his hands down in his ulster pockets, and surveyed the pair before
he answered:
"I'll tell you what ails you two. You have a notion that the
sun rises at West Point and sets at Annapolis. Now, I know a
heap better, and I haven't an eye on either place.
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