Dave Darrin

“ Dave Darrin, followed by a junior officer, went forward to another, still smaller room, where he gazed down with heaving breast at the forms of the seamen who had given up their lives under the Stars and Stripes in the gallant work of that night.
Over the face of each dead man lay a cloth. Each cloth was removed in turn by a sailor as Darrin passed along.
"A good fighting man and a great romp on shore," said Dave, looking down at the face of one man. "One of the best fellows we ever had on any ship I've ever served on," he said, glancing at another face. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Dave, I have a lease of life here amounting to fifty-four more demerits in this term. The fifty-fifth signs my ticket home!
"The next trick of this kind attempted," cried Dalzell, his face glowing with anger, "must sign, instead, the home ticket of the rascal who is at the bottom of all this!"
"But how?" demanded Dave blankly. "He has been entirely too slick to allow himself to be caught."
CHAPTER XIII MIDSHIPMAN FARLEY'S ABOUT-FACE The gloom that now hung over Dave Darrin was the thickest, the blackest that he had ever encountered in his short life. ”

“ Dave Darrin neatly fitted this at the top of the outlines of a figure under the bed clothing.
Under the full light the doughface looked ghostly. In a dimmer light it would do very well.
"Thank you a thousand times, fellows," trembled Dave Darrin. "Now hustle to your own quarters before the first stroke of taps sounds."
The two useful visitors were gone like a flash. Ere they had quite closed the door, Dave Darrin was removing his own uniform and hanging up trousers and blouse. Next off came the underclothing and on went pajamas. ”

“ The grime settled on his perspiring face and stuck there.
"Look out, sir, or you'll get covered with pitch from some of these barrels," Riley warned Dave, respectfully.
"One uniform spoiled is nothing," Dave answered with a smile.
"Do not be concerned about me."
Officer and men were suffering alike in that close atmosphere. By the time the watch was ended Dave Darrin was truly a pitchy, soiled, perspiration-soaked sight.
Danny Grin, who reported to relieve his chum, looked rough and ready enough in a suit of dungarees that he had drawn. ”

“ 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." ”

“ Yet outwardly, to others, Dave Darrin was patient. His surplus irritation he vented in extraordinary effort in the gymnasium, where he was making a remarkable record for himself.
But of course his worries were reflected in his studies and recitations. Dave was dropping steadily. He seemed soon destined to reach the "wooden section" in math. This "wooden section" is the section composed of the young men who stand lowest of all in a given study. The men of the "wooden section" are looked upon as being certain of dismissal when the semiannual examinations come along. ”

“ As for Dave Darrin and Dan, their life, since leaving the High School, and casting their lot with the Navy, has been fully told in the two preceding volumes of the present series, "DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT AKNAPOLIS" and "DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS."
"Well, I'll meet Dick and Greg this coming Thanksgiving, at any rate," predicted Midshipman Darrin. "You know what happens the Saturday after Thanksgiving on Franklin Field, don't you, Belle?"
"You young men of Annapolis and West Point play football, don't you!" asked Belle.
"Do we?" demanded Dave, his eyes aglow with enthusiasm. ”

“ When he called, Brimmer always remained until the warning call just before taps.
"It took you a long while to find out that Dave Darrin is white enough to shake hands with," laughed Farley, one day.
"As I remember, it took you quite a little while, also, to find it out," laughed Brimmer. "I admit that I am slow at forming my friendships. But there's no mistake about Darrin, when you get to know him. He's about the finest fellow in the class." ”

“ Before that assortment of blows Dave Darrin was forced to resort to footwork.
"Stand up and fight!" jeered Farley harshly as he wheeled and wheeled, still throwing out his hammer blows. "Don't play sneak on the field!" ”

“ Having just wronged all girls in his own estimation of them, Dan was now proceeding to do his own closest chum an injustice. For Dave Darrin was too thorough a gentleman to laugh over any unfortunate's discomfiture.
"What a lucky escape I had from getting better acquainted with that girl!" was Dalzell's next thought. "Why, with one as wholly deceitful as she is there can be no telling where it would all have ended. ”

“ There's a regulation against running lights in the rooms after taps."
"Do you worship the little blue-covered volume of regulations, Dave?"
Dan demanded with a laugh.
"No; but I don't propose to take any chances in my last year here. I don't intend to lose my commission in the Navy just because I can't control myself."
Dan sniffed, but he silently got his parts of uniform out from between the sheets and hung up the articles where they belonged, in this going by the sense of feeling.
Then, all in the dark as they were, Midshipman Dave Darrin seized his chum and roommate by the shoulders. ”

“ How thoughtful of Dave to send it to me!" Then her eyes fell on two figures around which a ring had been drawn in ink. They were Dave Darrin and a pretty girl. On the margin of the card had been scrawled in bold letters:
"Your affair of the heart will bear close watching if you still cherish!"
This was signed, contemptibly and untruthfully, "A Friend."
"Uh!" murmured Belle in hurt pride and loyalty. Then she said resolutely to herself: "I will pay no attention to this. An anonymous communication is always meant to hurt and to give a false impression." ”

“ Dave and his friends were the first men of the team to be dressed and ready to leave.
"Give our best regards to Davy Jones!" shouted one of the football men.
"If you go down to the bottom of Chesapeake Bay, and can't get up again, don't do anything to spoil the fishing," called another middy.
By this time Dave Darrin and his mates were outside and on their way to the basin.
Lieutenant Jack Benson was the only one of the "Dodger's" officers on view when the midshipmen arrived alongside. They passed aboard, saluting Benson, who returned their salutes without affectation. ”

“ Dave flushed. There was a momentary flash in his eyes. Dan, watching his chum covertly, was briefly certain that Darrin was going to balk. Perhaps he would even fight.
True hazing, however, does not aim at cruelty, but at teaching a new man to obey, no matter how absurd the order.
In another moment the grim lines around the corners of Dave's mouth softened to a grin.
"Wipe off that ha-ha look, mister!" warned Youngster Paulson. ”

“ M. le Comte de Surigny was a happy man when Dave visited him ashore on the day following the capture of the submarine. Surigny is now in Paris, the valued friend of a noted advocate, in whose offices he is studying law. An inheritance of comfortable proportions has since come to the Count, but he has determined upon a career of hard work. He is a strong, fine character in these days, and is proving, to the full, the manhood that Dave Darrin awakened in him. ”

“ The Navy line hit the Rustlers hard and tried to bump through. Dan Dalzell devoted every ounce of his strength and every turn of his energy to boosting Darrin through—and Dave himself was not idle. There was an instant of sullen, hard resistance. Then, somehow, Dave was shot through the opposing line. Like a deer he sped, Dan hanging to his flanks. It was up to the Rustlers' halfback now, and that bulky young midshipman leaped to the fray, cleverly barring the way.
At least, the Rustlers' halfback thought he had Darrin blocked. It is never wise to take too much for granted. ”

“ Seldom has a wish been more quickly gratified. For, just in the nick of time to avoid being reported, Midshipmen Darrin, Dalzell and Farley came into sight, falling into their respective places.
At that instant it was Midshipman Pennington's face, not Dave Darrin's, that was really worth studying. ”

“ The young man's heroism at Annapolis, under the most exacting conditions, will surprise no one who knows either Mr. Darrin or the splendid traditions that he helped establish among the youth of his home town. In the years to come we may look confidently forward to hearing the name of Darrin as one of the most famous among the newer generation of the United States Navy. David Darrin will always be a hero—because he cannot help it."
As Dave, his face flushing more hotly than ever, read through these lines he was conscious of the jeering gaze of the upper class men. ”

“ Dan Dalzell favored his callers with a nod, but remained seated, both hands thrust deep in his pockets.
"Get up on your feet, mister!" ordered one of the midshipmen, so sternly that Dan obeyed like a shot.
"Excuse me," he began hastily. "I didn't know you came here in an official capacity. I thought—"
"Silence, mister!" commanded another of the visitors. Dan subsided.
"What's your name, mister?" demanded the last speaker, as he favored
Dave with his next glance.
"Why, my name is Dave Darrin," replied that plebe pleasantly.
"Say 'sir,' mister, when you address an upper class man. ”

“ Darrin assured his questioner.
"Are the bonfires back in Annapolis all ready to be lighted to-night?" inquired Fields smilingly.
"They must be."
"What a lot of unnecessary labor," laughed the West Point man.
"Why?" challenged Dave.
"Because the Army is going to win again." That "again" caused Dave Darrin to wince. "We win almost every time, you know," Fields explained.
"Almost every time?" challenged Dan Dalzell, joining the pair. ”

“ Flushing modestly, but grinning, Dave did as asked—or directed.
"Mister," continued Midshipman Trotter impressively, "we find ourselves very close to being 'spoons on' you."
For a youngster to be "spoons on" a new fourth classman means for the former to treat the latter very nearly as though he were a human being.
"Now, you green dandelions may go," suggested Mr. Trotter, turning to the four "visiting" plebes.
As soon as this had come about Trotter turned to Dave Darrin.
"Mister, we humble representatives of the third class are going to show you the only sign of appreciation within our power. ”

“ Dave explained, "a man at laborious physical work uses up more air than a man who is keeping quiet. If the three officers are going to work hard in there then they've closed the door in order not to deprive us of air."
"We called them kids, at first," spoke Dan
Dalzell ruefully, "but they're a mighty fine lot of real men, those three acting Naval officers."
Dave Darrin rose and walked over to the engine room, opening the door and looking in. Hal and Eph were hard at work over the motor, while Lieutenant Jack Benson, with his hand in his pockets, stood watching their efforts. ”

“ Darrin's clenched right fist caught the fop on the temple, felling him to the ground.
"Go right on to Laura's, Belle," begged Dave quickly. "I'll be along soon."
Miss Meade walked rapidly ahead.
Ardmore was on his feet in an instant. Not wanting in a certain amount of animal courage, he rushed at Dave, only to be met with a blow in the mouth that floored him again. The fop's lip was cut and bleeding when he rose.
"You cur!" bellowed the fellow.
"The opinion of a person like you can't matter very much," Dave retorted coolly. ”

“ In the second volume, “Dave Darrin on Mediterranean Service,” is told what befell our young friends in their efforts to frustrate an international plot of possibly grave consequence to this country. The third volume, “Dave Darrin’s South American Cruise,” which our readers have lately read, deals with the adventures of the two young naval officers in foiling the outrageous plots of a South American ex-dictator, scheming to get back into power. And now, at last, we find Dave and Dan on the Asiatic Station. ”

“ Five midshipmen stood in the squalid, ill-odored back room of a Chinese laundry in the town of Annapolis.
There was a sixth midshipman present in the handsome blue uniform of the brigade; and it was upon this sixth one that the anger and disgust of the other five had centered.
He lay in a sleep too deep for stirring. On the still, foul air floated fumes that were new to those of his comrades who now gazed down on him.
"To think that one of our class could make such a beast of himself!" sighed Dave Darrin. ”

“ I'll make a point of reporting this to Trent as soon as we return."
And then Dave heard a voice just inside the door say, in Spanish:
"You ought to stop that sniper on the roof. He took two shots at me as I came up the street."
"What infernal work is going on here?" Ensign Dave Darrin asked himself, hoarsely. "I how that voice. I'd know it anywhere. ”

“ Dave did not answer.
"Why don't you tell me?" insisted Belle.
"If anything were in the wind, Belle, we'd rather not tell you and spoil your visit. And don't ask Dan anything about it."
"I think I know enough," went on Belle thoughtfully and sympathetically. "Poor Dan! He's one of the finest of fellows."
"There are no better made," retorted Dave promptly.
"If anything happens to Dan here, dear, I know you will feel just as unhappy about it as if it happened to yourself."
"Mighty close to it," nodded Darrin. ”