"THREE GROANS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT"
Great was the delight of first classmen at the privilege of theatre
liberty, a rare privilege for midshipmen; and loud and deep were the
indignant murmurs of midshipmen other than first classmen to whom this
privilege was not accorded.
"There's no reason, no reasonable reason why the second and third
classmen should not go," protested Third Classman Blunt at supper. "I'm
in favor of the whole third class going in a body; we'll show the
authorities what we think of the commandant's ridiculous treatment----"
"Mr. Blunt, you are called to order," rang out the sharp, dictatorial
voice of Cadet Lieutenant Drake, sitting at the head of the table. "You
are inciting mutiny and speaking disrespectfully of your superior
officers."
Harry Blunt was plainly cowed and subsided for a time; but later said in
a low tone to a classmate sitting on his right: "I'm going out anyway;
it won't be the first time I have gone over the wall."
"You'd be recognized at the theatre and spotted, and you'd be missed at
taps inspection; you had better not try it," was the reply.
"I guess you're right," grumbled Harry, "but I've a pretty good trick up
my sleeve, and I may work it."
Later, when the first classmen were all gone and the corridors were
deserted, Third Classman Blunt might have been seen to slip into room
number 23, the divisional officers' room. And in a few minutes he came
out looking perplexed and worried.
The Colonial Theatre was a gay sight that Saturday night. All of society
Annapolis was present, the ladies beautifully gowned, and the men in
correct evening dress. Annapolis prides itself on being as strict in
such matters as Newport. Interspersed throughout the audience were to be
seen many navy uniforms; and well toward the front and centre, in seats
reserved for them, were seated as fine a body of young men as had ever
been brought together, the senior class of midshipmen.
It seemed more like a friendly party than an ordinary audience, for
everybody knew everybody else, and before the curtain rose there were
innumerable greetings and much pleasant talk.
But to the "costume de rigeur" so faithfully observed by the
Annapolitans, there was one exception. In a back seat of a box, on the
right of the stage (a public box where seats were sold separately) sat a
man dressed in defiance of social custom. He was simply clothed in a
sack coat, and trousers of dark material. He wore a heavy moustache and
full pointed beard. However, he didn't seem to know anybody and none
appeared to notice him or worry over his unconventional attire.
Penfield had an appreciative audience that night. Never had anything so
fine been given at Annapolis, and enthusiastic delight was repeatedly
expressed.
At twenty minutes before ten the bearded man in the box suddenly left
and once outside of the theatre he started at a dead run toward the
Academy grounds. A convenient negro made twenty-five cents by boosting
him over the wall. The bearded man rushed on the Chesapeake Bay side of
the Armory and Bancroft Hall, ran over the terrace, and bolted into the
open window of room 23. The five minutes' warning bugle was soon heard,
to be followed by the call for taps. And in Bancroft Hall was to be
heard the measured tread of the midshipmen on duty making the ten
o'clock inspection of rooms.
Hardly had this ceased when the bearded man emerged from Bancroft Hall
by the same way he had entered it. He was off on a bound and ran through
the grounds unobserved. The wall presented no difficulty to him, and he
was soon back in his seat in the theatre box.
"What luck," he said to himself, with great satisfaction. "I got out in
the first place, got back again, was in my bed at taps inspection, and
now I'm back here and have missed only a little of the play. And nobody
saw me or knows anything about it."
The play proceeded. At a little before eleven, near the end, while some
scenery was being changed, the manager of the theatre stepped out on the
stage and called:
"Is Midshipman Stonewell present?"
"I am he," replied Stonewell, rising in his seat.
"I'm sorry, but the superintendent of the Naval Academy has just
telephoned me to have Midshipman Stonewell send in all midshipmen on the
run." Before Stonewell had a chance to reply or give an order, and
before the look of dismay and disappointment had disappeared from his
classmates' faces, everybody in the theatre was startled by a loud cry
in harsh, strident tones of:
"Midshipmen and everybody else, attention!"
An intense breathless stillness followed. Everybody looked to the
direction from where the cry had come. There, in the front of the right
hand box, stood a tall athletic looking man. Now a brown slouch hat was
pulled down on his forehead; his face was covered with a dark beard. He
wore a sack coat buttoned tightly over his chest.
By this penetrating voice everybody's attention was attracted. An
expectant hush fell upon the audience. Every eye was upon the bearded
stranger.
From the lips of the interrupter came a defiant call of:
"Three groans for the superintendent of the Naval Academy and the
commandant. Oh--oh--oh."
Without a moment's hesitation came ringing orders from Stonewell:
"First classmen, rise! March out on the double. Form in two ranks
outside."
There was no hesitation or delay in obeying Stonewell's order. Swiftly
they ran out of the theatre and halted on the walk outside. And almost
immediately they were put in motion by Stonewell's order of "First
classmen, forward, double time-march," and away they sped. Soon
fire-bells were heard ringing and the siren in the Academy grounds was
emitting long, terrifying blasts.
"Something's afire in the Naval Academy, Bob," cried Stonewell; "hurry."
The first classmen dashed to the Maryland Avenue gate and here were met
by streams of lower class midshipmen, starting to drag out the different
hose reels. The first classmen immediately assumed charge of their
various commands. The fire proved to be in the carpen-ter's shop, and
in a very few minutes it was put out.
After the midshipmen were back in their quarters the one topic of
conversation was the startling event in the theatre.
The next morning was Sunday. Shortly after ten o'clock, when the
commandant had finished his inspection of rooms, Cadet Lieutenant Drake
appeared at the door of Midshipman Blunt's room and said: "Blunt, report
to the commandant's office immediately."
Harry Blunt clutched the table as if for support, and with pallid face
and in trembling tones he asked: "What does he want me for?"
"You'll know when he tells you," and Robert walked out. It was not with
his usual debonair manner that Harry Blunt entered the commandant's
presence. In fact it was a very scared youth who confronted Commander
Dalton. Fear and apprehension were plainly depicted in his face.
"Mr. Blunt," commenced the commandant, "your father, mother and sister
are to dine at my house to-day, and I want you to come too. Your father
tells me he hasn't seen much of you of late; you are not on the first
conduct grade, are you? If you are not I'll dispense with the regulation
and grant you special permission to dine with an officer to-day."
Harry Blunt suddenly sat down on a chair behind him. He was momentarily
speechless.
"Sit down, Mr. Blunt," smiled the commandant. Then Harry stood up.
"Wa-wa-was that all you wanted to see me for?" he stammered.
"Yes; we dine at half-past one."
"Thank you, captain; I'll be delighted to dine with you and be with my
father. This is awfully kind of you, captain. Oh, thank you; yes,
indeed, I'll be there--I don't believe I've ever called on you, captain,
but--"
"Well, well, Mr. Blunt," interrupted the commandant, "what is the matter
with you? At first when you came into my office you seemed to be bereft
of speech, and all of a sudden you talk with such a rush that you can't
stop yourself. Perhaps you thought I was going to talk about something
else," and Commander Dalton glanced keenly at Harry.
"Be at my house by half-past one," repeated the commandant, dismissing
Harry, and the latter left. He took several deep breaths when out of the
commandant's office.
"By George," he said, almost aloud, in tones of great relief, "I feared
I was up against it. I was never so scared in all my life."