Dave Darrins First Year at Annapolis | Page 5

saying the same thing about us," chuckled Dave
dryly.
"Let 'em, then. Who cares?" muttered Dalzell.
"Dan, my boy, I reckon you'll need to put the soft pedal on your critical
tendencies," warned Dave. "And, if you want my friendly opinion, I've
a big idea that you're going to talk your way into a lot of trouble here."
"Trouble?" grinned Dalzell. "Well, I'm used to it."
In truth Dan had been victor in many a hard-fought schoolboy
disagreement, as readers of the High School Boys Series are aware.
As the young men in question drew nearer they eyed Darrin and Dalzell
with a disapproval that was not wholly concealed. The truth was that
Dave and Dan were recognized as not being boys who had studied at
one of the Naval prep. schools in Annapolis. The assumption was,
therefore, that Dave and Dan had not been able to afford such a luxury.
"Good morning, gentlemen," was Dave's pleasant greeting. "You are
candidates, like ourselves, I take it?"
This fact being acknowledged, Dave introduced himself and his friend,
and soon some pleasant new acquaintances were being formed, for
Darrin had a way that always made him popular with strangers.
"Have you two got to go up before the June exams. here?" asked one of
the young men, who had introduced himself as Grigsby.
"Part of it," grinned Dan. "We've already gone through the primer tests
and the catechism, and that sort of thing; but we still have to go before
the barber and the toilet specialists and see whether our personal
appearance suits."
"You're lucky, then," replied Grigsby. "Our crowd all have to take the

academic exams."
"Cheer up," begged Dan. "Any baby can go past the academic exams.
Arithmetic is the hardest part. One funny chap on the Civil Service
Commission nearly got me by asking me how much two and two are,
but Darrin saved me, just in the nick of time, by holding up five fingers;
so I knew the answer right off."
Some of the candidates were already surveying Dan with a good deal of
amusement. They had heard much of the severe way upper classmen at
the Naval Academy have of taking all the freshness out of a new man,
and, like Dave, these other candidates scented plenty of trouble ahead
for cheerful, grinning Dan Dalzell.
"Gentlemen," broke in Dave quietly, "do you see the time on the clock
over on the academic building? It's nine-fourteen. What do you say if
we step promptly over to the administration building and plunge into
what's ahead of us?"
"Good enough," nodded one of the new acquaintances. "Suppose you
lead the way?"
So, with Dan by his side, Dave piloted the others over to the
administration building, just beyond the chapel.
As they stepped inside, and found themselves in a hallway, a marine
orderly confronted them.
"Candidates, gentlemen? Walk right upstairs. An orderly there will
direct you to the office of the superintendent's aide."
"Thank you," replied Dave, with a bow, and led the way upstairs.
Near the head of the stairs another marine, in spick-and-span uniform,
wearing white gloves and with a bayonet at his belt, called out quietly:
"Candidates? First two, step this way please."
He swung open a door. Dave and Dan stepped into an office where they

found a young-looking though slightly bald gentleman in uniform,
seated behind a flat-top desk.
"We have come to report, sir, according to our instructions," announced
Dave Darrin, happily.
"You are candidates, then?" asked Lieutenant-Commander Graham,
reaching for a pile of bound sheets.
"Yes, sir."
"Names?
"David Darrin and Daniel Dalzell, sir."
"Have you your papers, Mr. Darrin?"
"Yes, sir."
Dave drew an official-looking envelope from an inner pocket and
handed it to Lieutenant-Commander Graham.
These the Naval aide scanned closely, after which he looked up.
"You have your papers, Mr. Dalzell?"
"Yes," nodded Dan.
A more than perceptible frown flashed across the face of the officer.
"Mr. Dalzell, whenever you answer an officer you will say 'yes, sir,' or
'very good, sir.'"
Rather red in the face Dan handed over his envelope.
Mr. Graham examined these papers, too. Then, pulling a pile of blanks
before him, he filled out two, bearing the names of the young men, and
signed them, after which he handed one of the signed blanks to each.

"Mr. Darrin, you will inquire of the orderly downstairs your way to the
office of the commandant of midshipmen. You will then at once
present yourself before the commandant, handing him this paper."
"Yes, sir; thank you, sir," replied Dave, with a slight bow.
"Mr. Dalzell, stick close to your friend and you will find out what to
do."
"Yes, sir," murmured Dan, again reddening.
The orderly below directed the two young men how to proceed to the
main entrance of