"You're speaking for yourself only?"
"That's it," assented the turnback.
"Why don't you want me for class president?"
Cadet Haynes looked a trifle disconcerted, but it was always Dick's way to go openly and directly to the point in any matter.
"Why, perhaps I don't know just how to put it," replied Haynes. "But see here, Prescott, wouldn't it be better for any class—-say the second class, for instance—-to have a man as president who has been longer at the Military Academy than the other members of the class?"
"Do you mean," pursued Dick relentlessly, "that you want to be elected president of the present second class, Haynes?"
"Why, I think it would be a nice little courtesy from the class," admitted the turnback. "You see, Prescott, you've held the honor now for two years."
Dick smiled, looking straight into the eyes of his visitor, but he made no other answer.
"Now, what do you think about it, Prescott?" insisted the turnback.
"I don't like to tell you, Haynes."