David Darrins Second Year at Annapolis | Page 2

All of the adventures of Dick and Greg are set forth in "THE WEST POINT SERIES."
The two remaining members of famous old Dick & Co., Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton, became civil engineers, and went West for their first taste of engineering work. Tom and Harry had some wonderful and startling adventures, as fully set forth in "THE YOUNG ENGINEERS' SERIES."
On this early June day when we again encounter Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell in their handsome Naval uniforms, all members of the first, second and third classes were due to be aboard one of the three great battleships that lay off the Yard at Annapolis at four p.m.
These three great battleships were the "Massachusetts," the "Iowa" and the "Indiana." These three huge, turreted fighting craft had their full crews aboard. Not one of the battleship commanders would allow a "jackie" ashore, except on business, through fear that many of the "wilder" ones might find the attractions on shore too alluring, and fail to return in time.
With the young midshipmen it was different. These young men were officially and actually gentlemen, and could be trusted.
Yet here, in the back room of this laundry, was one who was apparently not dependable.
This young midshipman's name was Pennington, and the fact was that he lay in deep stupor from the effects of smoking opium!
It had been a storekeeper, with a shop across the street, who had called the attention of Dave and his four comrades to the probable fate of another of their class.
"Chow Hop runs a laundry, but I have heard evil stories about a lot of young fools who flock to his back room and get a chance to 'hit' the opium pipe," the storekeeper had stated to Dave. "One of your men, or at least, one in a midshipman's uniform, went in there at eleven o'clock this forenoon, and he hasn't been out since. It is now nearly two o'clock and, I've been looking for some midshipmen to inform."
Such had been the storekeeper's careful statement. The merchants of Annapolis always have a kindly feeling toward these fine young midshipmen. The storekeeper's purpose was to enable them to help their comrade out.
So the five had entered the laundry. The proprietor, Chow Hop, had attempted to bar their way to the rear room.
But Dave had seized the yellow man and had flung him aside.
The reader already knows what they discovered, and how it affected these young men.
"Bring that copper-colored chink in here, if you'll be so good," directed Dave.
Dan and Hallam departed on the quest.
"You're wanted in there," proclaimed Dalzell, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.
"Me no sabby," replied Chow Hop, looking up briefly from his ironing board.
"Get in there--do you hear?" commanded Hallam, gripping the other's arm with all his force.
"You lemme go chop-chop (quickly), or you get alle samee hurt--you sabby?" scowled Chow Hop, using his free hand to raise a heavy flat-iron menacingly.
But Dan Dalzell jumped in, giving the Chinaman's wrist a wrench that caused him to drop the iron.
Then, without a bit of ceremony, Dan grasped the Oriental by the shoulders, wheeled him about, while he protested in guttural tones, and bluntly kicked the yellow-faced one through the door into the inner room.
At this summary proceeding both the Chinese helpers gripped their flat-irons firmly; and leaped forward to fight.
In an ugly temper the Chinaman is a bad man to oppose. But now this pair were faced by a pair of quietly smiling midshipmen who were also dangerous when angry.
"You two, get back," ordered Dalzell, advancing fearlessly upon the pair. "If you don't, we'll drag you out into the street and turn you over to the policemen. You 'sabby' that? You heathen are pretty likely to get into prison for this day's work!"
Scowling for a moment, then muttering savagely, the two helpers slunk back to their ironing boards.
Yet, while Dan turned to go into the rear room, Hallam stood just where he was, to keep an eye on two possible sources of swift trouble.
"Chow Hop," began Dave Damn sternly, as the proprietor made his flying appearance, "You've done a pretty mean piece of work here"--pointing to the unconscious midshipman in the berth. "Do you understand that you're pretty likely to go to prison for this?"
"Oh, that no maller," replied Chow, with a sullen grin. "Him plenty 'shipmen come here and smoke."
"You lie!" hissed Dave, grasping the heathen by the collar and shaking him until the latter's teeth rattled.
Then Dave gave him a brief rest, though he still retained his hold on the Chinaman's collar. But the yellow man began struggling again, and Dave repeated the shaking.
Chow Hop had kept his hands up inside his wide sleeves. Now Farley leaped forward as he shouted:
"Look out, Darry! He has a knife!"
Farley attempted to seize the Chinaman's wrist, for the purpose of