"Not on a small-fry paper, anyway" replied Prescott. "Why, Bradley is news editor, and has been in the business for years. He gets about thirty dollars a week. I don't believe Pollock, who has charge of the paper, gets more than forty-five. That isn't return enough for a man who is putting in his whole life at the business." "Thirty dollars has the sound of pretty large money," mused Dave. "As for forty-five, if that's what Mr. Pollock gets, look at the comfort he lives in at his club; and he's a real estate owner, too." "Yes," Dick admitted. "But that's because Pollock follows two callings. He's an editor and a dealer in real estate. As for me, I'd rather put all my energies into one line of work." "Then you believe you're going to earn more money than Pollock does?" questioned Dave, rather wonderingly. "If I pick out a career for income," Dick responded, "I do intend to go in for larger returns. But I may go into another calling where the pay doesn't so much matter." "Such as what?" "Dave, old fellow, can you keep a secret?" "Bosh! You know I can." "A big secret?" "Stop that!" "Well, I'll tell you, Dave. By and by there are going to be, in this state, two appointments to cadetships at West Point. Our Congressman will have one appointment. Senator Alden will have the other. Now, in this state, appointments to West Point are almost always thrown open to competitive examination. All the fellows who want to go to West Point get together, at the call, and are examined. The fellow who comes off best is passed on to West Point to try his luck." "And you think you can prove that you're the brightest fellow in the district?" laughed Dave good-humoredly. "There are to be two chances, and I think I can prove that I'm one of the two brightest to apply. And Dave!" "Well?" "Why don't you go in to prove that you're the other brightest fellow. Just think! West Point! And the Army for a life career!" "I think I'd rather scheme to go to the Naval Academy, and become an officer of the Navy," returned Dave slowly. "The big battleships appeal to me more than does the saddle of the cavalryman." "Go to Indianapolis?" muttered Dick, in near-disgust. "Well, I suppose that will do well enough for a fellow who can't get to West Point." "Now, see here," protested Dave good-humoredly, though warmly, "you quit talking about Indianapolis. That's a favorite trick with fellows who are cracked on West Point. You know, as well as I do, that the Naval Academy is at Annapolis. There's a vacancy ahead for Annapolis, too." "Oho! You've been thinking of that?" demanded Dick, again looking into his chum's eyes. "Yes." "Yes; if I can come out best in a competitive examination of the boys of this district." "Two secrets, then---yours and mine," grinned Prescott. "However, it'll be easier for you." "Why?" "There aren't so many fellows eager to go to the Naval Academy. It doesn't draw as hard as the Army does."