Dave Darrins Fourth Year at Annapolis | Page 6

Midshipman Dalzell.
"Above all, Dan, I've never Frenched it over the wall. I don't take any disciplinary chances that can possibly shut me off from the career that Belle and I have planned. Belle Meade, Danny boy, would be the first to scold me if she knew that I had Frenched it over the wall in order to meet her."
"Well, Miss Preston doesn't know but what I had regular leave tonight," Danny replied.
"Miss Preston?" repeated Dave his interest taking a new tack. "I don't believe I know her."
"I guess you don't," Dan replied. "She's new in Annapolis. Visiting her uncle and aunt, you know. And her mother's with her."
"Are your intentions serious in this, Danny?" Darrin went on.
"Blessed if I know," Dalzell answered candidly. "She's a mighty fine girl, is May Preston. I don't suppose I'll ever be lucky enough to win the regard of such a really fine girl."
"Then you aren't engaged?"
"Hang it, man! This evening is only the second time that I've met Miss Preston."
"And you've risked your commission to meet a girl for the second time?" Dave demanded almost unbelievingly.
"I haven't risked it much," Dan answered. "I'm in safe, now, and ready to face any discipline officer."
"But wouldn't this matter wait until November, when you're pretty sure to have the privilege of town leave again?" pressed Midshipman Darrin.
"By November a girl like Miss Preston might be married to some one else," retorted Dan Dalzell.
"It was a fool risk to take, Dan!"
"If you look at it that way."
"Will you promise me not to take the risk again, Danny boy?"
"No."
"It's a serious affair, then, so far as you are concerned," grinned Dave, though in the dark Dan could not see his face. "For your sake, Danny, I hope Miss Preston is as much interested in you as you certainly are in her."
"Are you going to lecture me?"
"Not tonight, Dan."
"Then I'm going to get in between sheets. It's chilly here in the room."
"Duck!" whispered Dave with sudden energy.
Footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor. It was a noise like a discipline officer.
Three doors above that of the room occupied by our midshipman friends were opened, one after the other. Then a hand rested on the knob of the door to Dave and Dan's room. The door was opened, and the rays of a pocket electric light flashed into the room.
Dan lay on one side, an arm thrown out of bed, his breathing regular but a trifle loud. Dave Darrin had again found recourse to a snore.
In an instant the door closed. Any discipline officer ought to be satisfied with what this one had seen.
"Safe!" chuckled Dalzell.
"An awfully close squeak," whispered Dave across the intervening room.
"What if he had started his rounds ten minutes earlier?"
"He didn't, though," replied Dan contentedly.
Now another set of footsteps passed hurriedly along the "deck" outside.
"What's that?" questioned a voice sharply. "You say that you saw some one entering a room from the upper end of the terrace?"
"Oh, by George," groaned Dan Dalzell, now beginning to shiver in earnest. "Some meddling marine sentry has gone and whispered tales."
"Keep a stiff upper lip," Dave whispered hoarsely, encouragingly. "If the officer returns don't give yourself away by your shaking."
"But if he asks me?"
"If you're asked a direct question," sighed Dave mournfully, "you'll have to give a truthful answer."
"And take my medicine!"
"Of course."
That annoying discipline officer was now on his way back, opening doors once more. Moreover, the two very wide-awake midshipmen could hear him asking questions in the rooms further along the "deck."
"He's questioning each man," whispered Dave.
"Of course," nodded Dan gloomily.
"It'll be our turn soon."
"D-D-Dave!"
"What?"
"I---I'm feeling ill---or I'm going to."
"Don't have cold feet, old fellow. Take your dose like a man---if you have to."
"D-Dave, I wonder if I couldn't have a real sickness? Couldn't it be something so you'll have to jump up and help me to hospital? Couldn't I have---a---a fit?"
"A midshipman subject to fits would be ordered before a medical board, and then dropped from the brigade," Dave replied thoughtfully. "No; that wouldn't do."
That meddling discipline officer was getting closer and closer. Dave and Dan could hear him asking questions in each room that he visited. And there are no "white lies" possible to a midshipman. When questioned he must answer truthfully. If the officers over him catch him in a lie they will bring him up before a court-martial, and his dismissal from the service will follow. If the officers don't catch him in a lie, but his brother midshipmen do, they won't report him, but they'll ostracize him and force him to resign. A youngster with the untruthful habit can find no happiness at the Naval Academy.
"He---he's in the next room now," whispered Dan across the few feet of space.
"Yes," returned Dave Darrin despairingly, "and I can't think of a single, blessed way of