ROBERT GETS BAD NEWS
"Stone," said Robert Drake one Saturday in March, "let's call on the
Blunts this afternoon. Captain Blunt is home on leave; his ship, the
'New Orleans,' arrived in New York last month. He's a splendid man."
Stonewell laughed. "Come along," he replied, "and perhaps I'll have a
chance to see Mrs. Blunt; she's such a pleasant woman; and then there's
that scamp of a son of hers; perhaps he may be at home. I haven't seen
much of him since the football season ended. I never see him nowadays if
he sees me first. Mark my words, Bob, Harry Blunt is up to some
mischief, and he'll be getting into a lot of trouble before long. Every
time I pass him he looks conscious. By the way, Bob, whom have you asked
to present the flag to your company? You expect to win it, of course."
"Come along, Stone, and quit your fooling. You know I'll be glad to see
Captain Blunt, and nowadays I don't need an excuse to call on Helen.
She is always pleasant and cordial. I hope her brother won't get into
any trouble, but I've an idea he's taking lots of liberties with the
regulations. I imagine there are not many of the six hundred and
sixty-five that he's not broken. I hope it won't come my way to have to
report him for anything; I wish he were in some other company than the
first."
Half an hour later they were admitted into the Blunt home, and were
received as old friends.
"How are you, Mr. Drake?" exclaimed Captain Blunt, shaking Robert's hand
heartily. "And here is Mr. Stonewell, glad to see you; I can't believe
it's nearly four years ago since I took you out on the 'Constellation.'
Then you were subdued plebes, and now what a transformation! Here Mr.
Stonewell is cadet commander, and I'm not surprised. And, Drake, here
you are a cadet lieutenant, and I'm told my son Harry is in your
company. How is he doing?"
"Very well, captain. He stands fairly well in his class and is very
well liked. He did wonders in football."
"So I've heard, but I want to know whether he runs against the
regulations or not, that is, if he has been reported for any serious
offenses; for instance, to-day is Saturday and he can't come out to
Annapolis on liberty, which means he is not on the first conduct grade.
Now what's he been doing? That's what I want to know, and you can tell
me because you're his company commander."
"Nothing at all that I can recollect now, sir, or for you to be
concerned about. He has probably been reported for not being turned out
at reveille inspection, or late at formation. A few such reports would
deprive him of Saturday liberty in Annapolis. I'm sure no serious
reports have been made against Harry. Had there been I should have
remembered them."
"And then of course you would speak of them to his family."
"No, sir, I should not wish to."
"Come, Robert," interposed Helen Blunt, "let father talk with Mr.
Stonewell. Mr. Stonewell is so solemn and he knows so much that he will
just suit father. Come into the dining-room."
As they walked away Helen said: "Robert, I'm bothered to death about
Harry and I want you to help me. That brother of mine is going to get
into trouble, trouble bad enough to get him dismissed, and that would be
a terrible misfortune for us."
"I don't think there's any danger of that, Helen. Harry is all right;
he's just a little careless, that's all."
"Well, Mr. Robert," retorted Helen scornfully, "would you think Harry
was only a little careless if you knew he was up-stairs this instant? He
comes out in town regularly when he has no right to, and some time he
will be caught. And he will be reported for something much worse than
taking French leave--he will be reported for something that will dismiss
him." And pretty Helen was indignant and much concerned over her
brother's recklessness.
"Now, Robert Drake," she continued, "you've just got to help me."
"I wish I could, Helen; I might intimidate Harry, that's about all I
could do. I couldn't appeal to him with any success, I've tried that;
he would tell me to mind my own business. Harry doesn't take preaching
patiently. Now another thing, Helen; he is in my company. If you hear I
ever report him for anything I want you to believe I had to do it and
that I hated to."
"I'll know that beforehand, Robert," replied Helen gently. "But Harry is
very good about such things; he never talks at home about troubles with
other midshipmen. But now he is up-stairs, and he dare not come down,
for father would surely see him. Now can't you and Mr. Stonewell start
to go soon and ask father to walk to the Academy grounds with you? If
Harry doesn't leave the house soon he will be absent from supper
formation, and then he'll have to tell why, and his being out in town
would be found out."
"I can't treat your father that way, Helen; it wouldn't be right at all;
but I must go myself now."
As Robert went into the next room to take his leave, he was in a state
of great discomfort. Helen Blunt had thoughtlessly put him into a very
uncomfortable position. From her point of view she felt justified in
using any means to get her father from the house. But Robert felt he
could not be a party to a deception practised upon Captain Blunt, and he
was particularly uneasy as to how Helen would take his refusal. He
feared that to her his attitude would appear priggish. But his mind was
soon eased in that respect, for Helen said in a low voice: "I shouldn't
have asked you to do that, Robert; that wasn't nice of me. I didn't
think, but I'm so worried about Harry."
"I'm going to walk to the yard with you," suddenly said Captain Blunt.
"I'm going to see the commandant for a few minutes, and if you don't
mind walking with an old fellow like me we'll go together."
Robert was much relieved, and all three soon left the house.
Half an hour later supper formation occurred, and Robert was relieved to
see Third Classman Blunt in his customary place in ranks. Toward that
young man he now experienced a sentiment of irritation, even of
indignation. He knew that Harry had been taking unauthorized leave, or
"Frenching," as it is called, one of the most serious offenses a
midshipman can commit, and evidently had been jeopardizing his place as
a midshipman. To do this regularly in the face of his family's
protestations seemed to Robert to be utterly callous.
After supper he accosted Harry and said: "Blunt, you've been Frenching,
and you've got to stop it. If you keep it up you will surely be caught
and will stand a good chance of being dismissed. You ought to have some
regard for your family, and personally I don't mind saying I'd hate to
be placed in a position where I'd have to report you."
"Drake," replied Harry, "are you advising me as a friend or speaking to
me officially as my company commander?"
"As a friend, I hope."
"Well, then," rejoined Harry in a short, snappy way, "as a friend will
you kindly mind your own business?" and the young man started away,
whistling as he went, but was instantly stopped by a sharp military
order of "Halt." Robert stood before him with flashing eyes, and in
menacing tones said: "I'll not address you again as a friend, Mr.
Blunt; you will please to realize that when I speak to you hereafter it
will be your company commander who is talking. And you'll do no more
whistling in my face. That will do, sir. About face, march off."
Harry Blunt had a new sensation; he was actually intimidated. He really
liked Robert as much as a third classman ever likes a cadet officer, and
in his heart was sorry he had provoked Robert's displeasure. "But Drake
is a good chap," he later said to himself; "he'll come around all
right."
From here Robert went to his room. "Hello, Bob," greeted Stonewell;
"there's a letter for you." Stonewell was busy writing and after a few
moments he looked up, and suddenly cried out: "Why, Bob, what's the
matter; no bad news from home, I hope?"
Robert, with the letter clutched in his hand, and with a quivering chin,
looked the picture of woe. He had evidently received some news that made
him very unhappy.
"What's the matter, old chap?" inquired Stonewell anxiously; "something
has happened; what is it?" and the comforting kindness of his tone went
straight to Robert's heart.
"Stone," he said, "this is a letter from father; a month ago the railway
company that employed him was reorganized and he lost his position. He
has been half sick ever since, and it's impossible for him to get
employment. He hadn't intended to tell me, but he felt he ought to. You
know mother has been an invalid for years. Stone, I've got to resign,
there's no other way out of it. Mother and father are sick, and no money
is coming in. I've got to go home to take care of them."
Stonewell regarded him with his eyes full of sympathy. "I'm dreadfully
sorry, Bob," he said; "I'm sure your father will get employment. But
don't talk of resigning; you might find it very difficult to secure
employment for yourself; you're too near graduation to resign, and after
you graduate you will be in a position to help your father financially,
if he needs it. It would distress him terribly if he thought for a
moment you contemplated leaving the naval service. I'm going out for a
while, Bob; now don't you feel so badly; I'm sure matters will right
themselves."
Stonewell left and Robert paced up and down the room with blurred eyes
and a sad heart. The condition of his father and mother, ill and without
resources, filled him with agony. He longed to relieve them from their
troubles and anxieties; he dreaded the unfriendliness and coldness dealt
to people without means, and thinking of the mental torture his father
was in overwhelmed him with grief.
Stonewell went out into the city of Annapolis, direct to where the
Blunts lived. Here he asked to see Captain Blunt and was soon closeted
with that gentleman.
"Captain," he commenced, "you knew my roommate's father, didn't you, Mr.
Drake? I believe he was graduated from Annapolis shortly after you
were."
"Yes, indeed, he was a fine fellow, too; he had a splendid record in the
navy, and it was a great pity he resigned. What about him, Mr.
Stonewell?"
"Well, sir, Bob, my roommate, is in great trouble about his father and
mother, and as you and Mrs. Blunt are real friends of his I thought I'd
talk to you about it. Of course Bob doesn't know I'm with you. His
father has lost his position and has no income, and Bob thinks he ought
to resign to go to Chicago. He feels his duty is to be with his father
and mother. It would be such a pity for him to resign so near his
graduation. I thought perhaps you might send for him and influence him
more than I could. I'm sure he'll listen to you."
"By jingo, Stonewell," exploded Captain Blunt, "I'm detached from my
ship and ordered to duty as secretary of the Light House Board, and only
to-day received a letter asking me to recommend somebody, preferably one
familiar with marine matters, to be chief clerk to the board. Drake's
father would be just the man. He will get living pay and it's a life
position. Let me have Mr. Drake's address; I'll write to him to-night."
Upon his return to Bancroft Hall Stonewell found Robert quiet and
composed, but determined. "I've got to do it, Stone," said Robert
handing his roommate an ominously official-looking paper. In it he had
formally tendered his resignation as a midshipman. "It's a lifetime
disappointment," he continued, "but I've got to go home to my people.
They need me. Now I feel you're going to argue with me and I beg you not
to attempt to dissuade me; nothing you or anybody could say would change
my determination. I feel terribly about it and you would only make me
feel the worse. Please don't, Stone. I must do my duty to my father and
mother."
"I shall not attempt to dissuade you, Bob; I know exactly how you feel.
But I'm going to ask you to do something for me. I feel as if it would
break my heart if you were to resign. Now I'm going to ask you to let me
lend you fifty dollars. You can send this to your father, and if he is
in immediate need of money this will help out for a few days. And I want
you to promise me you will delay your resignation for one week. Surely
you can do this for me, and I have strong hopes that in a week's time
you will feel there is no need in Chicago that would compel your
resignation."
"That's awfully good of you, Stone, but can you spare the fifty dollars?
I feel I ought to leave immediately, but if I could send father some
money I might wait a week. The idea of resigning is like death to my
hopes."
"Of course I can; you know I've plenty of money," replied Stonewell,
jumping up enthusiastically. "I know something good is going to happen,
Bob, and don't you worry; you're not going to resign."
Stonewell's happiness was infectious and Robert's heart seemed lightened
from a heavy load. Stonewell had gained his point and he did not choose
that Robert should learn from him what Captain Blunt had in his mind for
Robert's father.