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Dave Darrin's Fourth Year at Annapolis, a fiction by H. Irving Hancock |
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Chapter 19. Midshipman Darrin Has The Floor |
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_ CHAPTER XIX. MIDSHIPMAN DARRIN HAS THE FLOOR But Dave did not speak at first. Advancing only a short distance into the hall he stood with arms folded, his face well-nigh expressionless. For a moment the class president glanced at Darrin, then at the assemblage. "Gentlemen," announced the class president, "you have heard the motion, that Mr. Clairy be sent to Coventry for all time to come. The motion has been duly seconded. Remarks are in order." "Mr. President!" It was Dave who had spoken. All eyes were turned in his direction at once. "Mr. Darrin," announced the chair. "Mr. President, and classmates, I, for one, shall vote against the motion." An angry clamor rose, followed by calls of, "Question! Put the motion!" "Do any of you know," Darrin continued, "why Mr. Clairy is not here this evening?" "He's afraid to come!" "Did any of you note that Mr. Clairy was not at supper?" "The hound hadn't any appetite," jeered Fenwick angrily. "You have observed, of course, that Mr. Clairy was not here at the meeting?" "He didn't dare come!" cried several voices. "If you have any explanation to make, Mr. Darrin, let us have it," urged the chair. "Mr. President and classmates," Midshipman Darrin continued, "all along I have felt that there must be some explanation to match Mr. Clairy's most extraordinary conduct. I now offer you the explanation. The officer in charge sent for me, to impart some information that I am requested to repeat before this meeting." "Go on!" cried several curious voices when Dave paused for a moment. "Fellows, I hate to tell you the news, and you will all be extremely sorry to hear it. You will be glad, however, that you did not pass the motion now before the class. Mr. President, I have to report, at the request of the officer in charge, the facts in Mr. Clairy's case. "From the peculiar nature of the case both the superintendent and the commandant of midshipmen were convinced that there was something radically wrong with Mr. Clairy." "Humph! I should say so!" uttered Penwick, with emphasis. "Mr. Clairy was not at our mess at supper," resumed Dave Darrin, "for the very simple reason that he had been taken to hospital. There he was examined by three surgeons, assisted by an outside specialist. Mr. President and classmates, I know you will all feel heartily sorry for Clairy when I inform you that he has been pronounced insane." Dave ceased speaking, and an awed silence prevailed. It was the chair who first recovered his poise. "Clairy insane!" cried the class president. "Gentlemen, now we comprehend what, before, it was impossible to understand." In the face of this sudden blow to a classmate all the midshipmen sat for a few minutes more as if stunned. Then they began to glance about at each other. "I think this event must convince us, sir," Darrin's voice broke in, "that we young men don't know everything, and that we should learn to wait for facts before we judge swiftly." "Mr. President!" It was Gosman, on his feet. In a husky voice that midshipman begged the consent of his seconders for his withdrawing the motion he had offered sending Midshipman Clairy to Coventry. In a twinkling that motion had been withdrawn. "Will Mr. Darrin, state, if able, how serious Clairy's insanity is believed to be?" inquired the chair. "It is serious enough to ruin all his chances in the Navy," Dave answered, "though the surgeons believe that, after Clairy has been taken by his friends to some asylum, his cure can eventually be brought about." The feeling in the room was too heavy for more discussion. A motion to adjourn was offered and carried, after which the first classmen hurried from the room. Of course no demerits were imposed as a result of the crazy reports ordered by Midshipman Clairy on that memorable night. Three days later the unfortunate young man's father arrived and had his son conveyed from Annapolis. It may interest the reader to know that, two years later, the ex-midshipman fully recovered his reason, and is now successfully engaged in business. Spring now rapidly turned into early summer. The baseball squad had been at work for some time. Both Darrin and Dalzell had been urged to join. "Let's go into the nine, if we can make it---and we ought to," urged Dan. "You go ahead, Danny boy, if you're so inclined," replied Dave. "Aren't you going in?" "I have decided not to." "You're a great patriot for the Naval Academy, Davy." "I'm looking out for myself, I'll admit. I want to graduate as high in my class as I can, Danny. Yet I'd sacrifice my own desires if the Naval Academy needed me on the nine. However, I'm not needed. There are several men on the nine who play ball better than I but don't let me keep you off the nine, Dan." "If you stay off I guess I will," replied Dalzell. "If the nine doesn't need you then it doesn't need me." "But I thought you wanted to play." "Not unless you and I could be the battery, David, little giant. I'd like to catch your pitching, but I don't want to stop any other fellow's pitching." So far the nine had gone on without them. Realizing how much Dan wanted to play with the Navy team in this, their last year, Dave changed his mind, and both joined. A very creditable showing was made after their entrance into the nine. That year the Navy captured more than half the games played, though the Navy was fated to lose to the Army by a score of four to three. This game is described in detail in "_Dick Prescott's Fourth Year At West Point_." With the approach of graduation time Dave's heart was gladdened by the arrival in Annapolis of Belle Meade and her mother, who stopped at the Maryland House. Dave saw them on the only days when it was possible---that is to say, on Saturdays and Sundays. He had many glimpses of his sweetheart, however, at other times, for Belle, filled with the fascination of Naval life, came often with her mother to watch the outdoor drills. When Dave saw her at such times, however, he was obliged to act as though he did not. Not by look or sign could he convey any intimation that he was doing anything but pay the strictest heed to duty. Then came the Saturday before examination. Dave Darrin, released after dinner, would gladly have hurried away from the Academy grounds to visit his sweetheart in town, but Belle willed it otherwise. "These are your last days here, Dave," whispered Belle, as she and her handsome midshipman strolled about. "If I'm to share your life with you, I may as well begin by sharing the Naval Academy with you to-day." "Shall we go over to the field and watch the ball game when it starts?" Darrin asked. "Not unless you very especially wish to," Miss Meade replied. "I'd rather have you to myself than to share your attention with a ball game." So, though Midshipman Dave was interested in the outcome of the game, he decided to wait for the score when it had been made. "Where's Dan to-day?" Belle inquired. "Over at the ball game." "Alone?" "No; the brigade is with him, or he's with the brigade," laughed Darrin. "Then he's not there with a girl?" "Oh, no; I think Danny's second experience has made him a bit skeptical about girls." "And how are you, on that point, Mr. Darrin?" teased Belle, gazing up at him mirthfully. "You know my sentiments, as to myself, Belle. As for Dan---well, I think it beyond doubt that he will do well to wait for several years before he allows himself to be interested in any girls." "Why?" "Well, because Danny's judgment is bad in that direction. And he's pretty sure to be beaten out by any determined rival. You see, when Danny gets interested in a girl, he doesn't really know whether he wants her. From a girl's point of view what do you think of that failing, Belle?" "I am afraid the girl is not likely to feel complimented." "So," pursued Dave, "while Danny is really interested in a girl, but is uneasily unable to make up his mind, the girl is pretty sure to grow tired of him and take up with the more positive rival." "Poor Dan is not likely to have a bride early in life," sighed Belle. "Oh, yes; one very excellent bride for a Naval officer to have." "What is that?" "His commission. Dan, if he keeps away from too interesting girls, will have some years in which to fit himself splendidly in his profession. By that time he'll be all the better equipped for taking care of a wife." "I wonder," pondered Belle, "what kind of wife Dan will finally choose." "He won't have anything to do with the choosing," laughed Darrin. "One of these days some woman will choose him, and then Dan will be anchored for life. It is even very likely that he'll imagine that he selected his wife from among womankind, but he won't have much to say about it." "You seem to think Dan is only half witted," Belle remarked. "Only where women are concerned, Belle. In everything else he's a most capable young American. He's going to be a fine Naval officer." In another hour Belle had changed her mind. She had seen all of the Academy grounds that she cared about for a while, and now proposed that they slip out through the Maryland Avenue gate for a walk through the shaded, sweet scented streets of Annapolis. As Darrin had town liberty the plan pleased him. Strolling slowly the young people at last neared State Circle. "I thought midshipmen didn't tell fibs," suddenly remarked Belle. "They're not supposed to," Dave replied. "But you said Dan was at the ball game." "Isn't he?" "Look there!" Belle exclaimed dramatically. _ |
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