"You'll need no money here, Mr. Geroldstone. Cadets are allowed no spending money outside of the so-called confectionery allowance, and that is charged to you from your pay."
"But I'm a big candy eater," urged Geroldstone, with a grin.
"No argument, if you please, sir!" rapped the treasurer rather sharply. "Turn over all your money and remember that you are on honor in the matter."
Mr. Geroldstone received a receipt for nine hundred and sixty-two dollars, plus a few small coins. As he turned away he muttered to one of his predecessors:
"Say, ain't that a good deal like a hold up?"
"Remember, young gentlemen, all the money you have," admonished the treasurer, as the line started to move again.
Thus commanded, the candidates went through all their pockets while standing awaiting their own turns.
Dick and Greg had so well calculated their traveling expenses that each turned in about twenty dollars above the required one hundred dollars.
This little transaction completed, the orderly turned and marched them back at once to the hospital.
By this time some of the candidates had sufficiently overcome their nervousness to realize how raw and chilly this first day of March was. All of the candidates wore overcoats, though the outer garments worn by some of the young men, especially those who had journeyed hither from Southern States, were not of a weight to meet the March demands at hilly West Point, which lies exposed to the icy northern blasts down the Hudson River.