Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz | Page 7

in an even voice.
For an instant the lieutenant frowned deeply. Then his face cleared. His
glance became almost friendly as he continued:
"Darrin, I think it probable that you will have a chance to repair your

bad work of last night."
"Sir?"
"Last night you told me that you had noted the number of the taxicab in
which the young woman escaped me."
"I did, sir."
"Perhaps you still remember that number. Indeed, I am sure that you
must."
"I do remember the number, sir."
"What was it?" asked Cantor, eagerly.
"That number, sir, so far as I am concerned," Ensign Darrin answered,
tranquilly, "is a woman's secret."
"It is a secret which I have a right to know," Lieutenant Cantor went on
pressingly.
"The number, sir, I would not dream of giving you without the
permission of the young woman herself," Darrin answered, slowly. "As
I do not even know her name, it is unlikely that I shall be able to secure
that permission."
"Darrin, it is my right to receive an answer to my question," insisted
Cantor, his eyes glittering coldly.
"You will have to find out from some one other than myself, then," was
Dave's calm answer.
"Darrin, you force me to tell you more than I really ought to tell. I am
going to marry that young woman!"
"Is the young woman aware of your intentions, sir?" Dave demanded,
quietly.

"Yes! Darrin, I tell you, I am going to marry that young woman, and it
is most imperative that I should see her as early as possible. Give me
the number of that taxicab, and I can find the driver and learn where he
took her. Now, what are you smiling at, Darrin?"
"It struck me, sir, that you should already know the address of a young
woman whom you are engaged to marry."
Lieutenant Cantor repressed an exclamation of impatience and bit his
lips.
"Of course I know her home address," he deigned to reply, "but she is
not a New Yorker. Her home is at a considerable distance, and I do not
know where to find her in New York. Give me that taxicab number and
I shall be able to secure shore leave. By this evening I shall have found
her."
"You do not expect me to wish you luck in a matter like this, sir?"
Ensign Darrin inquired.
"I expect you to give me the number of that taxicab, and at once,"
replied Cantor. He did not raise his voice, but there was compelling
fury in his tone.
"I have already declined to do that, sir," Dave insisted.
"Darrin, do you realize that I am your superior?" demanded the
lieutenant.
"I am aware, sir, that you are my superior officer," Darrin answered,
with strong emphasis on the word "officer."
"And you refuse to please me in a trifling matter?"
"Pardon me, sir, but from the little that I saw and heard, I cannot
believe that your discovery of her address would be regarded by the
young woman as a trifling matter."
"Do you persist in refusing to tell me that taxicab number?" hissed

Lieutenant Cantor.
"Sir, as a gentleman, I must," Dave rejoined. For a full half minute
Lieutenant Cantor stared at his subordinate in speechless anger. Then,
when he could command his voice somewhat, he resumed:
"Oh, very good, you---you young---puppy!"
Another brief interval of silence, and the lieutenant continued, in a crisp,
official tone:
"Mr. Darrin, go to the division bulletin board and get an accurate copy
of the roster of the division. Also make a copy of our station bills. You
will then report to me on the quarter deck just before eight bells, noon."
"Aye, aye, sir! Any further orders?"
"None!"
Cantor stood there, an appealing look in his eyes, but Dave, saluting,
turned on his heel and went out.
"So that is the fellow who is to teach me the duties and the ideals of the
service," Dave Darrin reflected, disgustedly, as he stepped briskly
around to port. "A magnificent prospect ahead of me, if I must depend
upon the instructions and the official favor of a bully and a scoundrel
like Cantor! And he can make it hot for me, too, if he has a mind to do
so! Don't I know how easy that ought to be for him? I shall have,
indeed, a lot of pleasure in my service on this ship, with Cantor for my
division officer!"
Mindful of orders, Darrin's first act was to copy the division roster and
the station bills. These he took to his room, placing them in a drawer of
the desk, for future study. For the present, he wanted to get out into the
open air.
Though Ensign Dalzell had been directed to report on the quarter deck,
he