Dave Darrins Fourth Year at Annapolis | Page 6

"So did I," sighed Dan.
"And now you've gone and met your fate?"
"I'm not so sure about that," Dalzell retorted moodily.

"Do you mean that you don't stand any real show in front of the pair of
bright eyes that have made you strike your colors?"
"I'm afraid I don't."
"Dan, is the game worth the candle," argued Darrin.
"You're mightily interested in Belle Meade, aren't you?"
"Yes; but that's different, Danny boy."
"How is it different, I'd like to know?"
"Well, in the first place, there's no guesswork in my case. Belle and I
are engaged, and we feel perfectly sure each of the other. I'm so sure of
Belle that I dream about her only in my leisure moments. I don't ever
let her face come between myself and the pages of a textbook. I am
here at the Naval Academy working for a future that Belle is to share
with me when the time comes, and so, in justice to her, I don't let the
thought of her get between myself and the duties that will lead to the
career she is to share with me."
"Humph!" commented Midshipman Dalzell.
"Above all, Dan, I've never Frenched it over the wall. I don't take any
disciplinary chances that can possibly shut me off from the career that
Belle and I have planned. Belle Meade, Danny boy, would be the first
to scold me if she knew that I had Frenched it over the wall in order to
meet her."
"Well, Miss Preston doesn't know but what I had regular leave tonight,"
Danny replied.
"Miss Preston?" repeated Dave his interest taking a new tack. "I don't
believe I know her."
"I guess you don't," Dan replied. "She's new in Annapolis. Visiting her
uncle and aunt, you know. And her mother's with her."

"Are your intentions serious in this, Danny?" Darrin went on.
"Blessed if I know," Dalzell answered candidly. "She's a mighty fine
girl, is May Preston. I don't suppose I'll ever be lucky enough to win
the regard of such a really fine girl."
"Then you aren't engaged?"
"Hang it, man! This evening is only the second time that I've met Miss
Preston."
"And you've risked your commission to meet a girl for the second
time?" Dave demanded almost unbelievingly.
"I haven't risked it much," Dan answered. "I'm in safe, now, and ready
to face any discipline officer."
"But wouldn't this matter wait until November, when you're pretty sure
to have the privilege of town leave again?" pressed Midshipman
Darrin.
"By November a girl like Miss Preston might be married to some one
else," retorted Dan Dalzell.
"It was a fool risk to take, Dan!"
"If you look at it that way."
"Will you promise me not to take the risk again, Danny boy?"
"No."
"It's a serious affair, then, so far as you are concerned," grinned Dave,
though in the dark Dan could not see his face. "For your sake, Danny, I
hope Miss Preston is as much interested in you as you certainly are in
her."
"Are you going to lecture me?"

"Not tonight, Dan."
"Then I'm going to get in between sheets. It's chilly here in the room."
"Duck!" whispered Dave with sudden energy.
Footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor. It was a noise like
a discipline officer.
Three doors above that of the room occupied by our midshipman
friends were opened, one after the other. Then a hand rested on the
knob of the door to Dave and Dan's room. The door was opened, and
the rays of a pocket electric light flashed into the room.
Dan lay on one side, an arm thrown out of bed, his breathing regular
but a trifle loud. Dave Darrin had again found recourse to a snore.
In an instant the door closed. Any discipline officer ought to be
satisfied with what this one had seen.
"Safe!" chuckled Dalzell.
"An awfully close squeak," whispered Dave across the intervening
room.
"What if he had started his rounds ten minutes earlier?"
"He didn't, though," replied Dan contentedly.
Now another set of footsteps passed hurriedly along the "deck" outside.
"What's that?" questioned a voice sharply. "You say that you saw some
one entering a room from the upper end of the terrace?"
"Oh, by George," groaned Dan Dalzell, now beginning to shiver in
earnest. "Some meddling marine sentry has gone and whispered tales."
"Keep a stiff upper lip," Dave whispered hoarsely, encouragingly. "If
the officer returns don't give yourself away by your shaking."

"But if he asks me?"
"If you're asked a direct question," sighed Dave mournfully, "you'll
have to give a truthful answer."
"And take my medicine!"
"Of course."
That annoying discipline officer was now on his way back, opening
doors once more. Moreover, the two very wide-awake midshipmen
could hear