"Great guns, did you look inside?" he demanded. "There are a million boys in there already."
"Cheer up," soothed Tom. "Most of 'em want to go to West Point."
Tom fairly forced his chums inside. The boys already there, some three-score, at least, turned to regard the newcomers curiously.
"The rest of you may as well go home," announced Tom laughingly.
"My friends have a first mortgage on the jobs you're after."
Presently, more fellows came in. Then some more, and still more.
"Let's go down and stand by the door, where we can get more air," urged Darrin.
"Yes," agreed Tom. "And we'll throw out any of the rest that may have a nerve to try to step in here."
Hardly had they taken their stand by the door when the three chums received a shock.
For the next arrivals were Phin Drayne, and his father, Heathcote
Drayne.
Phin was now in attendance at the Wilburville Academy, and his father had come down, the evening before, to urge his son to try for West Point.