Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz

Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz, by H. Irving Hancock
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Title: Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz
Author: H. Irving Hancock
Release Date: June 29, 2004 [eBook #12776]
Language: English
Character set encoding: US-ASCII
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ***
E-text prepared by Jim Ludwig

DAVE DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ
Fighting with the U.S. Navy in Mexico
by
H. IRVING HANCOCK

CONTENTS

CHAPTERS
I. Ready for Fight or Frolic II. At the Mercy of a Bully III. The Junior Worm Turns IV. The Ward-Room Hears Real News V. Watching and Waiting--Behind the Guns VI. First to Invade Mexico VII. Dave Darrin to the Rescue VIII. Disobedience of Orders IX. Cantor Finds His Chance X. Dave is Stung to the Quick XI. A Brother Officer's Whisper XII. The Man of the Evil Eye XIII. "After the Rascal!" XIV. A "Find" of a Bad Kind XV. Ready for Vera Cruz XVI. In the Thick of the Snipping XVII. Mexicans Become Suddenly Meek XVIII. In the House of Surprises XIX. A Traitor in the Service XX. The Skirmish at the Diligencia XXI. A Rescue and a "Facer" XXII. Playing Birdman in War XXIII. The Dash for the Traitor XXIV. Conclusion

CHAPTER I
READY FOR FIGHT OR FROLIC
"Do you care to go out this evening, Danny boy?" asked Dave Darrin, stepping into his chum's room.
"I'm too excited and too tired," confessed Ensign Dalzell. "The first thing I want is a hot bath, the second, pajamas, and the third, a long sleep."
"Too bad," sighed Dave. "I wanted an hour's stroll along Broadway."
"Don't let my indolence keep you in," urged Dalzell. "If you're going out, then I can have the first hot bath, and be as long about it as I please. Then I'll get into pajamas and ready for bed. By that time you'll be in and we can say `good night' to each other."
"I feel a bit mean about quitting you," Dave murmured.
"And I feel a whole lot meaner not to go out with you," Dan promptly assured his chum. "So let's compromise; you go out and I'll stay in."
"That sounds like a very odd compromise," laughed Darrin. "On the whole, Dan, I believe I won't go out."
"If that's the way you feel," argued Dalzell, "then I'm going to change my mind and go out with you. I won't be the means of keeping you from your stroll."
"But you really don't want to go out," Dave objected.
"Candidly, I don't care much about going out; I want that bath and I'm tired. Yet in the good old cause of friendship---"
"Friendship doesn't enter in, here," Dave interposed. "Danny boy, you stay here in the hotel and have your bath, I'll go out and pay my very slight respects to Broadway. Doubtless, by the time you're in pajamas, I'll be back, and with all my longing for wandering satisfied."
"Then, if you really don't mind---"
"Not at all, old chap! So long! Back in a little while."
Through the bathroom that connected their two rooms at the Allsordia Hotel, Dave Darrin stepped into his own apartment.
Having donned coat and top-coat, Darrin picked up his new derby hat and stepped to his room door. In another half minute he was going down on the elevator. Then he stepped into the street.
Dave Darrin was young, healthy, happy, reasonably good-looking. His top-coat and gray suit were well tailored. Yet, save for his erect, military carriage, there was nothing to distinguish him from the thousands of average well-dressed young men who thronged Broadway after dark on this evening in late March.
For perhaps fifteen blocks he strolled uptown. All that he saw on that gaily lighted main thoroughfare of New York was interesting. It was the same old evening crowd, on pleasure bent.
Then, crossing over to the east side of Broadway, Dave sauntered slowly back.
Laughing girls eyed the young naval officer as he passed. Drivers of taxicabs looked the young man over speculatively, as though wondering whether he might be inveigled into going on a, to them, profitable round of New York's night sights. Human harpies, in the form of "confidence men"---swindlers on the lookout for prey---glanced but once at the young naval ensign, then looked away. Dave Darrin's erect carriage, his clear steady eyes, his broad shoulders and evident physical mastery of himself made these swindlers hesitate at the thought of tackling him.
Through the occasionally opened doors of the restaurants came the sounds of music and laughter, but Dave felt no desire to enter.
He was several blocks on his homeward way, and was passing the corner of a side street quieter than the others, when he