Dave Darrin on Mediterranean Service | Page 3

the momentum of a steam roller,

rushed up the aisle.
Dalzell reached out a hand to grip Mr. Green Hat by the collar. All too
promptly a heavy fist smote Dan in the chest, knocking him back into
the arms of Dave Darrin. Dave himself could not act quickly enough to
avenge the blow that had been dealt his chum, because Dan's body
blocked the way.
Four or five British soldiers at the rear of the little theatre tried to
intercept Mr. Green Hat as he dashed up the aisle. Three of the "Messrs.
Atkins" went to the floor, under the seats, while the others were
brushed aside, and Mr. Green Hat reached the street.
"Stop that thief!" roared the young man in the gray suit. "He has robbed
me!"
By this time Dalzell was again on his feet and out in the aisle. He
sprinted for the street, followed closely by Dave Darrin. The young
man in the gray suit, his face pallid, plunged after the young naval
officers.
"You're an American, aren't you?" called Dave, over his shoulder.
"Yes," answered he of the gray suit, "and in official life at Washington,
too. That scoundrel has robbed me of something of value to the United
States government."
That was enough for Darrin and Dalzell. Though the charge might
prove to be false, it was enough to cancel Dave's scruples against
fighting.
Out into the street ahead of them ran a waiter, who had taken no part in
the scrimmage, waving his arms and shouting:
"Esta dirección!" ("This way!")
"Sigue andando!" ("Keep right on!") roared Danny Grin, darting down
the street at a hard pace.

But a moment later both naval officers, followed by the young man in
gray and the waiter, came to a halt, for, directly ahead of them, on the
well-lighted street, suddenly appeared a patrol detachment of the
British provost guard.
"Did you stop the fellow who ran this way, sir?" hailed Ensign Darrin,
as he recognized the uniform of the British infantry officer in command
of the detachment.
"We didn't see any man running this way," replied the British lieutenant,
smartly returning the salute that Ensign Darrin had given him.
"Didn't see any fellow running?" repeated three Americans, in tones of
bewilderment.
"We were chasing a thief, sir," Darrin continued, "and this waiter told
us that the fugitive ran this way."
"I--I thought he did," stammered the waiter in Spanish, though it was
now plain that he understood English.
In deep disgust and with dawning suspicion, Dave Darrin glared at the
waiter until that fellow changed color and trembled slightly. Dave was
now certain that the waiter, probably by previous arrangement, had
shielded the escape of Mr. Green Hat.
Turning to the English officer, Dave quickly recounted what had
happened. At the same time he introduced himself and Dan as
American naval officers, and both tendered their cards.
"And you, sir? Who are you, and what did you lose?" inquired the
British officer, turning to the young man in the gray suit.
"May I answer that question to an officer of my own country?"
appealed the young man in the gray suit.
"Yes," assented the British officer, after keenly regarding the stranger
who claimed to have been robbed.

"Will you step a few yards down the street with me?" urged the
unknown American, addressing Dave.
"Certainly," Darrin nodded, for he saw insistent appeal in the stranger's
gaze.
"Mr. Darrin," began the stranger, using the name he had heard Dave
announce in the introductions to the Britisher, "do you really belong to
the American Navy?"
"I do, indeed," Darrin answered. "I am attached to the battleship
'Hudson,' now lying in this harbor."
"Then I will introduce myself," continued the young man in the gray
suit. "My name is George Cushing. Do you recognize the meaning of
this?"
"This" proved to be a small gold badge, revealed by Cushing as he
turned back the lapel of his coat. It was a badge worn by men belonging
to a special branch of the secret service of the American Department of
State. The members of this special service are usually found, if found at
all, on duty in foreign countries.
"I know the badge, Mr. Cushing," nodded Dave Darrin. "Now, what
have you to tell me?"
"That big man with the green hat must have started that fight with the
waiters in the theatre to cover his intended attack on me," Cushing
replied. "At the moment of knocking me down, he snatched from my
coat pocket and made off with a most important document."
"Then you almost deserved to lose it, sir," replied Darrin sternly, "as a
punishment for wasting your time in such a place as that theatre."
"I must see the American admiral as soon as possible," urged Cushing,
ignoring