There was quite a crush in the refreshment room, and, in spite of the fact that he was a member of the arrangement committee, Dick had some difficulty in getting an ice for Miss Hanford. As he struggled through the crush of gay dancers with it he tripped, and, to save himself, involuntarily threw his hands forward. The ice slipped from the plate, and went splashing full against the back of a cadet dressed in an elaborate Colonial uniform, with a white satin coat. The highly-colored ice made a big, blotchy stain on the garment. The cadet whirled like a flash. It was Dutton. "Who did that?" he cried, as he saw a little puddle forming at his feet, where the fast melting ice lay. "I did," answered Dick promptly. "It was an accident, Captain Dutton." "An accident?" There was a sneer in the other's tone. "An accident," retorted Dick, as he turned away. "Here! Where are you going?" cried Dutton. Several turned to stare at him, for his manner toward Dick was most insulting. "I am going after another ice for Miss Hanford," said the young millionaire quickly. "Wait a minute!" ordered Dutton, in the voice he used on parade. "Not now," drawled Dick. "Wait until I get another ice." "You wait, I say!" spluttered Dutton. "It's too hot," replied Dick, for he could not help but notice the insulting tones. "I'll see you later. I'm sorry about the accident." "That was no accident," declared Dutton. "You did that on purpose, and I--I want----" But Dick passed on. He saw Miss Hanford looking at him from among the fringe of spectators, and, as he walked back to the refreshment room, he noticed that Dutton had one of the mess-hall attendants wiping off as much as possible of the stain from the white satin coat. CHAPTER XXII THE CHALLENGE When Dick secured another ice, and took it to Miss Hanford, he found her sitting in a quiet corner. She was rather pale, and did not seem to care much for the ice which he had had such trouble in securing. "I'm not quite so warm now," she said, in explanation. "It was very kind of you to get this for me. Do you--do you think Captain Dutton will be very angry at you?" She seemed anxious. "I don't see why he should be," replied Dick. "It was an accident. I could not help tripping." "After you went back the second time, he talked loudly about you having done it on purpose, and he said he was going to demand satisfaction," went on the girl. "Will he?" "Well, he can demand it, I suppose," said Dick slowly, "but I don't know what I can do, except to say I'm sorry, and offer to pay for his coat." "Do you--do you think he will do anything--anything desperate?" asked Miss Hanford, and she looked at Dick sharply. "Of course not," he replied. "But if we are going to dance, would you mind if we began now? I think this is my two-step."