H. Irving Hancock

“ The very youthful lieutenant smartly returned their salutes, half smiled, then turned, in search of the officer in charge.
"Scoot! Skip! Let's escape!" whispered Dan hoarsely, and all five midshipmen were speedily out in the open.
"Now, did you fellows really see—-it—-or did I have a delusion that I saw you all salute when I did?"
"I saw it," rejoined Farley, "and I claim it, if no one else wants it."
"The service is going to the dogs," growled Page, "when they give away a lieutenant's uniform with a pound of tea!"
"What ails you fellows?" rebuked Dave Darrin. ”

“ Dan replied. "But let us put it another way, Dave. All along you've been working yourself up into better form, because you knew that, otherwise, it was very doubtful whether the Navy could beat the Army on the gridiron. So you had worked yourself up to where you played a better game than ever Dick Prescott thought of doing. Then you hear that poor Dick is in Coventry, and therefore not on the team. You haven't got the great Army man to beat, and, just for that reason, you slack up on your efforts." ”

“ He did not finish, just then, for he knew that Midshipman Dalzell could be very stubborn at times.
"I'll have a light in a jiffy," whispered Dan "I brought back a candle with me."
"You won't use it—-not in here," retorted Dave. "The dark is light enough for you. Hustle into your pajamas."
Perhaps Midshipman Dalzell did not make all the speed that his roommate desired, but at last Dan was safely rid of his uniform, underclothing and shoes, and stood arrayed in pajamas.
"Now, I'll hide this doughface over night," whispered Darrin, going toward Dalzell's bed. ”

“ He attended merely for the purpose of looking on, save when he danced with Belle Meade.
On the following evening, after another tiresome day spent in boring the Board of Visitors, came the evening promenade, a solemnly joyous and very dressy affair.
Then came that memorable graduation morning, when so many dozens of young midshipmen, since famous in the Navy, received their diplomas.
Early the young men turned out.
"It seems queer to be turning out without arms, doesn't it?" grumbled
Dan Dalzell. ”

“ Kellogg.
"It will be wiser and braver, my man," broke in Lieutenant Jack quietly, "not to waste any needless thought on matters of violence. It will be better for us all if every man here goes to his death quietly and with a heart and head free from malice."
"You're right, sir," admitted Kellogg. "And I wish to say, sir, that I never served under braver officers."
"There won't be divers sent after us—-at least, within the time that we're going to be alive," spoke Midshipman Farley soberly. "In the first place, Chesapeake Bay is a big place, and no Naval officer would know where to locate us." ”

“ It was not until the train had started away from Philadelphia that Dave and Dan were all but mobbed by way of congratulation. Wolgast, Jetson, Farley, Page and others also came in for their share of good words.
"And to think, Darry, that you can never play on the Navy eleven again!" groaned a second classman.
"You'll have some one else in my place," laughed Dave.
"The Navy never before had a football player like you, and we'll never have one again," insisted the same man. "Dalzell's kind come once in about every five years, but your kind, Darry, never come back—-in the Navy!" ”

“ On the other side of this shrubbery sat Mrs. and Miss Atterly, engaged in conversation.
"Why do you prefer to sit in this out-of-the-way place, Catharine?" her mother inquired, just as the young people came up.
"I want to get away from two rather goodlooking but very ordinary girls that Mr. Dalzell wants to present to me, mamma," she replied.
"If they are midshipmen's friends are they too ordinary to know?" inquired Mrs. Atterly.
"Mamma, if I am going to interest Mr. Dalzell, I don't want other girls stepping in at every other moment. I don't want to know his girl friends." ”

“ Belle demanded, looking horrified.
"Dan—-a flirt!" chuckled Dave. "I shall have to tell that to some of the fellows; it will amuse them. No; I wouldn't call Dan a flirt. He's anything but that. Dan will either remain a bachelor until he's past forty, or else some day he'll marry suddenly after having known the girl at least twenty-four hours. Dan hasn't much judgment where girls are concerned."
"He appears to be able to tell a pretty girl when he sees one," argued Belle Meade, turning again to survey Dan's companion. ”

“ Darrin, to use such language for the purpose of intimidating a midshipman in the performance of his duty," returned Midshipman Clairy, looking back steadily into Dave's eyes.
"An offense? Fighting is another, under a strict interpretation of the rules," Dave replied coldly.
"And I do not intend to fight you," replied Clairy, still speaking smoothly.
"Perhaps I should know better than to challenge you," replied Midshipman Darrin. "The spirit of the brigade prohibits my fighting any one who is not a gentleman." ”

“ The Army cheermaster did his duty, but did it half dejectedly, the cadets following with rolling volumes of noise intended to mask sinking hearts. When it came the Navy's turn to yell, the midshipmen risked the safety of their windpipes. The Naval Academy Band was playing with unwonted joy.
"Fellows, nothing on earth will save us but a touchdown and a kick," called Douglass desperately, when he got his West Point men aside. "That will tie the score. It's our best chance to-day." ”

“ Dave went on gravely. "Unless you're on the best of terms with a young lady, don't attempt to call on her without having learned that your purpose will be agreeable to her. And so Miss Preston, while receiving your calls, has been engaged to some one else?"
Dan nodded, adding, "She might have given me some hint, I should think."
"I don't know about that," Darrin answered thoughtfully. "Another good view of it would be that a young lady's private affairs are her own property. Didn't she ever mention the lucky fellow to you?"
"It seems that she did," Dalzell assented. ”

“ At his side was the very youthful looking one in the lieutenant's uniform.
"The O.C. is decoying the stranger away to turn him over to the watchmen without violence," guessed Midshipman Farley.
Three officers were approaching. These the five midshipmen turned and saluted. In another moment all of the five save Dave Darrin received a sharp jolt. For the O.C. had halted and was introducing the three Navy officers to the youthful one.
"This is Lieutenant Benson, the submarine expert of whom you have heard so much," said the O.C., loudly enough for the amazed middies to hear. ”

“ As Dave shot forward, Jetson, too, smashed over the line, blocking the halfback who got in his way.
Straight over the line charged Dave Darrin, and laid the ball down.
Now the athletic field resounded with excited yells. Annapolis had seen "a new one," and it caught the popular fancy like lightning.
Back the pigskin was carried, and placed for the kick.
"You take it, Darry," called Wolgast. "You've earned it!"
"Take it yourself, Wolly," replied Dave Darrin. "This is your strong point." ”

“ In the laugh that followed many a gray-clad cadet joined simply because he could not help himself.
"If we don't break at some point it's all ours to-day," Wolgast was informing the players nearest him. "I've never seen Darry so wildly capable as he is right now. The demon of victory seems to have seized him."
Dave's limp had vanished. He was ready for work—-aching for it. Wolgast worked his left flank once more, and the Army was sorely pressed.
"Brace up, Army!" was the word passing again among the West Point men. Douglass, captain of the Army team, was scolding under his breath. ”

“ It's good news."
"Great!" seconded Midshipman Page with enthusiasm.
"I tell you, fellows," spoke Dave solemnly, "it takes all the joy out of the Army-Navy game."
"Since when did winning kill joy?" demanded Farley aghast. "Why, with Prescott and Holmes out of it the Navy will get a fit of crowing that will last until after Christmas!"
"It makes the victory too cheap," contended Darrin.
"A victory is a victory," quoth Midshipman Page, "and the only fellow who can feel cheap about it is the fellow who doesn't win. Cheer up, Davy. ”

“ Lieutenant Adams had not in the least enjoyed ordering Dan to place himself on report. The officer had simply done his duty. To the average civilian it may seem that Dan Dalzell had done nothing very wrong in taking a walk when he found the purpose of his call frustrated; but discipline, when it imposes certain restrictions on a man, cannot allow the man himself to be the judge of whether he may break the restrictions. If the man himself is to be the judge then discipline ceases to exist.
"So I've got to stick myself on pap, and accept a liberal handful of demerits, all on account of a girl?" ”

“ You're the only star on our team, Dave, that isn't up to the mark. If we lose to the Army, this year, Prescott or no Prescott, it will be your fault, Dave Darrin. You're not one of our weak spots, really but you're not as strong as you ought to be and can be if you'll only brace. ”

“ Page and Fenwick openly challenged Clairy to fight. He replied, in each case, with a cool, smiling refusal.
"We've got to hold that class meeting!" growled Farley.
"Why?" inquired Dave. "The class can't do anything more to Clairy than has already been done. His refusals to fight will send him to Coventry as securely as could action by all four of the classes. No fellow here can refuse to fight, unless he couples with his refusal an offer to submit the case to his own class for action. No one, henceforth, will have a word to say to Clairy." ”