Dave Darrins First Year at Annapolis | Page 2

end of a beautiful June day in Maryland.
Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell had been appointed as midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. If they should succeed in passing the four years' course in the big government school at Annapolis, they would then be sent to sea for two years, as midshipmen, after which they would return to Annapolis for their final examinations. Passing these last examinations, they would then be commissioned as ensigns in the United States Navy, with the possibility of some day becoming full-fledged admirals.
Readers of our High School Boys Series have no need of further introduction to Dave and Dan.
These two young men will be remembered as former members of Dick & Co., six famous chums back in the lively little city of Gridley.
Dick Prescott, Greg Holmes, Dave Darrin, Dan Dalzell, Tom Reade and Harry Hazleton had composed the famous sextette who, in their day at Gridley High School, had been fast chums and leaders in all pertaining to High School athletics in their part of the state.
Following their High School days, however, the six chums had become somewhat widely scattered. Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes secured appointments to the United States Military Academy. Readers of our West Point Series are already familiar with the stirring doings and life of Dick and Greg at the fine old Army Academy on the Hudson. At the time this present narrative opens Dick and Greg had been nearly three months as plebe cadets, as told in the first volume of the West Point Series, under the title, "DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT."
Tom Reade and Harry Hazleton had gone from Gridley High School to the far West, where they had connected themselves with a firm of civil engineers engaged in railway construction. What befell Tom and Harry is told in "THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO," the first and very entertaining volume in the Young Engineers Series.
Readers of "THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM" recall how Dave Darrin won his appointment to the Naval Academy, as did Dick Prescott his chance for West Point, from the Congressman of the home district. Dalzell's appointment, on the other hand, came from one of the two United States Senators from that state.
And here Dave and Dan were, on a trolley car from Odenton, rapidly nearing Annapolis.
At the forward end of the car was a small compartment set apart for the use of smokers Dave and Dan did not smoke; they had take seats in this compartment because they wished to be alone.
"You asked me to let you know when we got near Annapolis, gentlemen," announced the conductor, a cheery-faced young man, thrusting his head in. "There is the town right ahead of you."
"You said that you go by the hotel, I think?" Dave asked.
"I'll stop and call the hotel," replied the conductor. "We'll be there in less than two minutes."
It was a quaint, old-fashioned, very pretty southern town that the car now entered.
"I'll bet they're a thousand years behind the times here," sighed Dalzell, as they gazed about them.
"Not at the Naval Academy, anyway," retorted Dave Darrin.
"Oh, of course not," Dan made haste to agree.
The car passed an imposing-looking brick building that housed the post-office, then sped along past the handsome, dignified old residence of the Governor of Maryland. Up on a hill at their left the State Capitol stood out. Then the car bell clanged, and the car stopped.
"Maryland Hotel!" called the conductor.
Dave and Dan caught up their suit cases and descended from the car. At their right, the found the steps leading to the porch of the roomy old hotel. In another moment they were in the office, registering.
"You want a room together, gentlemen?" asked the clerk.
"Surely," retorted Dan. "My friend is always afraid when the gas is turned off. My presence quiets him."
"Pardon me, gentlemen, but are you on your way to the Naval Academy?" queried the clerk.
"Yes," nodded Dave quietly.
"Then you will want a room with bath, of course. You'll have to strip before the medical examiners tomorrow.
"A room with bath, of course," assented Dan. "I never have stopped at a hotel without a bathroom."
Dan didn't mention that this was the first time he had ever stopped at a hotel in his short life.
"Front!" called the clerk.
A small black boy in knee trousers came forward, picked up their suit cases and led the way to the next floor.
"My! I wonder who else is expected," muttered Dalzell, as the two young travelers found themselves in their room after the boy had left them.
It was an enormous room, and the three beds in it did not crowd the apartment in the least. All the furniture was of a massive and old-fashioned pattern.
A few minutes later, with face and hands washed--clean collars, clothes neatly brushed, the two clear-eyed, manly-looking young