Dave Darrin on Mediterranean Service | Page 3

suit. "He has robbed me!"
By this time Dalzell was again on his feet and out in the aisle. He sprinted for the street, followed closely by Dave Darrin. The young man in the gray suit, his face pallid, plunged after the young naval officers.
"You're an American, aren't you?" called Dave, over his shoulder.
"Yes," answered he of the gray suit, "and in official life at Washington, too. That scoundrel has robbed me of something of value to the United States government."
That was enough for Darrin and Dalzell. Though the charge might prove to be false, it was enough to cancel Dave's scruples against fighting.
Out into the street ahead of them ran a waiter, who had taken no part in the scrimmage, waving his arms and shouting:
"Esta dirección!" ("This way!")
"Sigue andando!" ("Keep right on!") roared Danny Grin, darting down the street at a hard pace.
But a moment later both naval officers, followed by the young man in gray and the waiter, came to a halt, for, directly ahead of them, on the well-lighted street, suddenly appeared a patrol detachment of the British provost guard.
"Did you stop the fellow who ran this way, sir?" hailed Ensign Darrin, as he recognized the uniform of the British infantry officer in command of the detachment.
"We didn't see any man running this way," replied the British lieutenant, smartly returning the salute that Ensign Darrin had given him.
"Didn't see any fellow running?" repeated three Americans, in tones of bewilderment.
"We were chasing a thief, sir," Darrin continued, "and this waiter told us that the fugitive ran this way."
"I--I thought he did," stammered the waiter in Spanish, though it was now plain that he understood English.
In deep disgust and with dawning suspicion, Dave Darrin glared at the waiter until that fellow changed color and trembled slightly. Dave was now certain that the waiter, probably by previous arrangement, had shielded the escape of Mr. Green Hat.
Turning to the English officer, Dave quickly recounted what had happened. At the same time he introduced himself and Dan as American naval officers, and both tendered their cards.
"And you, sir? Who are you, and what did you lose?" inquired the British officer, turning to the young man in the gray suit.
"May I answer that question to an officer of my own country?" appealed the young man in the gray suit.
"Yes," assented the British officer, after keenly regarding the stranger who claimed to have been robbed.
"Will you step a few yards down the street with me?" urged the unknown American, addressing Dave.
"Certainly," Darrin nodded, for he saw insistent appeal in the stranger's gaze.
"Mr. Darrin," began the stranger, using the name he had heard Dave announce in the introductions to the Britisher, "do you really belong to the American Navy?"
"I do, indeed," Darrin answered. "I am attached to the battleship 'Hudson,' now lying in this harbor."
"Then I will introduce myself," continued the young man in the gray suit. "My name is George Cushing. Do you recognize the meaning of this?"
"This" proved to be a small gold badge, revealed by Cushing as he turned back the lapel of his coat. It was a badge worn by men belonging to a special branch of the secret service of the American Department of State. The members of this special service are usually found, if found at all, on duty in foreign countries.
"I know the badge, Mr. Cushing," nodded Dave Darrin. "Now, what have you to tell me?"
"That big man with the green hat must have started that fight with the waiters in the theatre to cover his intended attack on me," Cushing replied. "At the moment of knocking me down, he snatched from my coat pocket and made off with a most important document."
"Then you almost deserved to lose it, sir," replied Darrin sternly, "as a punishment for wasting your time in such a place as that theatre."
"I must see the American admiral as soon as possible," urged Cushing, ignoring Darrin's reproof. "But first of all, I must ask you to pass me safely by that provost guard, or I might be detained at a time when I cannot afford to lose a single instant. You will vouch for me, won't you, Mr. Darrin? Here are my formal credentials," continued Cushing, producing and unfolding a wallet that contained properly sealed and signed credentials from the American Department of State.
"The paper that was stolen from you did not in any way relate to the defenses and fortifications here at Gibraltar, did it?" Dave asked.
"Not in the least," Cushing replied promptly.
"You give me your word of honor for that?" Dave asked bluntly.
"Do you believe I'd waste my time on such rubbish as that?" demanded Cushing, scornfully. "Why, every civilized government on earth possesses accurate plans of the fortifications at Gibraltar! I give you my word of honor, Mr. Darrin, that the paper