ROBERT RESIGNS
"Didn't I tole yo' so, suh? That other man was Mistah Harry Blunt, suh;
didn't yo' hear Mistah Stonewell call him Harry, suh? An' suppose dis
ole niggah had done tole the commandan' that Mistah Stonewell, the
fines' gemman in the 'Cademy, and Mistah Harry Blunt, the son of Capt'in
Blunt, were stealin' zamnations, what would have happened ter ole Grice?
He'd been 'cused of lyin', yo' knows dat, Mistah Drake. I known fer
seberal months dat Mistah Harry Blunt been goin' about town in
cibilians' close, but I ben feared to tole any one. Ain't I right,
Mistah Drake? We done catched 'em, suh, an' yo' is evidence that ole
Grice done tole de truf."
With horror in his heart, and almost unmanned by the situation which had
so suddenly burst upon him, Robert was speechless. He was confused,
entirely confounded. That one of these unprincipled midshipmen was
Harry Blunt did not surprise Robert; he was quite ready to believe
anything of that young man. But it brought him into an intensely
disagreeable position. He knew he would be called upon for evidence, and
to give testimony that would cover all of the Blunt family with
ignominious disgrace--that family who had rescued his own father and
mother from absolute want, which had put his father in a
self-respecting, self-supporting position. "I had rather bilge than do
it," thought our cadet lieutenant. Wild bitterness toward Harry Blunt
filled his mind. And yet these feelings sank to small dimensions
compared to those concerning Stonewell. Faith in everything seemed to be
lost with faith and trust lost in this old friend. And combined with
this was a feeling of inexpressible amazement, amazement made up of many
different things.
Robert was astonished that any reason could have existed which would
have induced Stonewell to join Harry Blunt in such an enterprise. In a
helpless, uncertain way, Robert imagined that Blunt had some hold over
Stonewell, and even this was hard to believe. "But how else can I
account for it?" he asked himself. "I never would have believed anybody,
or any number of people had they told me they had seen Stone do
this--but it was Stone--in his uniform with his five stripes on his
sleeve."
Had Robert known of a conversation between the two intruders after they
had dashed out of the building, he would have been still more amazed.
"It's too bad, Stonewell," said the one; "you did it all for me--no man
ever did so much for me as you have. But I'm afraid you were recognized;
I wish you hadn't had on that uniform and had some disguise. I'm awfully
sorry I got you into this."
"Don't feel that way, Harry; I suggested it," replied the other. "I hope
I was not recognized. But if I were, I will have to stand for it. Did
you see anybody in the room?"
"No," answered Harry; "my one hope is that whoever it was didn't see
you; nobody would have known me. Good-night; I'll be around to Conduit
Street to-morrow afternoon and will tell you of any talk I may hear."
Now that old Grice's mind was easy in regard to himself he was much
concerned about Robert.
"Doan yo' feel bad, Mistah Drake. The commerdan' will think yo' is a
smart young gemman when yo' report this; he won' think yo' had nuffin'
to do with it yo'self. I'ze gwine ter tell him I couldn't hev detected
the gemmen ef it hadn't been fer yo', an' he'll give yo' Mistah
Stonewell's five stripes, suah as yo' is bawn, he will, suh."
Grice rolled his eyes in ecstasy. He imagined he too would receive
praise and reward for what he had done, and now he was quite happy.
"Shut up," cried Robert, annoyed beyond endurance at his rambling. And
without another word, or so much as a glance at Grice, he slowly walked
away and returned to his room. He feared yet hoped he might find
Stonewell there. "If I could only see Stone," he thought, "I'd surely
learn some excuse for him. But why did he do this? Why did he pretend to
go to Washington? Why should he engage in such an affair with Harry
Blunt?" Countless other questions crowded themselves into Robert's
mind, but to not one could he find a suitable answer.
He found his room empty, nor was there any evidence that Stonewell had
been there. Robert paced restlessly up and down the room in troubled
thought, and as the minutes dragged on he grew more and more hopeless.
"Well, I'm done for, as well as Stone and Harry Blunt. I suppose Grice
will report this matter, and I'll be called up; I'll have to give my
evidence against Stone and Blunt or else be bilged myself. Well, I'll
bilge. I can't help what Stone has done; I could never be happy if my
evidence were to dismiss him. As for that Blunt, who got him into
this--well, he's the son of Captain Blunt, and Helen's brother. I never
could convince them I was not an ungrateful cur. No, Stone and I will
both bilge together; but I wonder if Stone isn't now in Blunt's
room----" and Robert stopped short.
It was now after midnight, and all the midshipmen were back from having
escorted their partners to their homes. Robert looked out in the
corridor and saw that the midshipman in charge of the floor had left his
desk.
"The men on duty are turned in; I'll go to Blunt's room and see if Stone
is there."
Robert darted through the corridor. Turning a corner near where Harry
Blunt's room was he saw that young man just entering it. Robert jumped
in after him.
"Where is Stonewell?" he savagely demanded.
When Blunt saw who his midnight visitor was he was visibly startled.
"Why--why--how should I know?" he stammered.
"You hound, you----" cried Robert. "Tell me where Stonewell is! Do you
hear me? Tell me where Stonewell is!" And Robert seized him by both
arms.
"I--I don't know--I haven't seen him for some time," faltered Harry
Blunt, with a white face, in which fear was but too plainly depicted.
From the overhead transom light from a corridor lamp streamed in, and on
the table in the room were three burning candles.
Robert looked suspiciously at Harry. In the latter's arms was a bundle
of clothing. Robert suddenly grabbed this and opened it up. It was
composed of a dark sack coat, out of which two articles fell to the
floor. Robert picked them up and instantly recognized them. One was a
brown slouch hat and the other a false beard. In an agony of bitterness
and hate Robert completely lost control of himself. He grabbed Harry and
shook him violently and then dashed him against the wall.
"You contemptible cur," he cried. "For the last time, will you tell me
where Stonewell is?"
"I don't know," sullenly replied Harry.
"Do you expect to see him again to-night?"
"I do not."
Robert looked at him utterly without belief.
"Drake," implored Harry, "if you report me for this you will bilge me;
you know how that will affect my people; I suppose it is your duty to
report me, but if you do only one thing can happen to me. I will be
dismissed; you know that as well as I do."
Robert looked at him with contempt, and left the room.
The long night passed slowly, but it brought no sleep or rest to the
overwrought nerves of Robert. He went to bed and tossed about in an
agony.
"Oh, that Stonewell would only come," was Robert's thought, repeated
countless times. But Stonewell did not come. The moonlight faded away;
the silence was broken only by the striking of bells and the monotonous
call of sentries. The first gleam of dawn found Robert still wide awake,
hopeless and dejected. Mechanically he prepared his room and himself for
Sunday inspection. Finally reveille was sounded, the gun thundered and
Bancroft Hall burst into life. Later came breakfast formation and
Robert, against his inclination, had to mix with the other midshipmen.
"What's the matter, Bob?" inquired Peters, with friendly concern;
"you're not looking well."
"Oh, I'm all right," impatiently answered Robert. Then came breakfast,
which seemed interminable. Robert sat at his table's head longing for
the order "rise." Food would have choked him; he gulped down a cup of
coffee, and sat idly drumming the table.
After breakfast Glassfell came up to him. "Look here, Bob, what's
bothering you?" he asked with real solicitude. "You're not yourself this
morning, old chap. What's the trouble?"
"Have you seen Stonewell?" abruptly asked Robert.
"By jingo!" exclaimed Glassfell. "Last night I could have sworn I saw
Stonewell pass me. I was on Main Street, and a midshipman with some
stripes, and I thought a good many, passed me in a great hurry and
turned into Conduit Street. It was dark and yet at the time I had no
thought but that it was Stonewell. 'Hello, Stone!' I called out; 'I
thought you were in Washington;' but the fellow paid no attention to me.
He seemed to be in a hurry, almost running. Then I concluded I must have
been mistaken, because I knew Stone was in Washington, and it was pretty
dark. The thing bothered me a bit for the time, but I must have been
mistaken. I had taken my partner home from the Armory and was on my way
back. It was about half-past eleven, I think. But why do you ask me
about Stone? He won't be back from Washington until ten this morning."
"If you see him tell him I'm looking for him," and Robert turned away.
He now wanted to be by himself. He went in one of the wing corridors and
looked out of the window, hardly replying to different salutations of
midshipmen who passed him. Outside it was raining, one of those
tenacious rains that seem determined to last throughout the day.
Overhead were spread heavy dark forbidding clouds; the day was gloomy
and hopeless, but not nearly so much so as felt this midshipman.
After a while one stroke of the bell told Robert it was half-past eight,
and soon he saw the commandant's tall form, wrapped up in a great rubber
coat, come down the walk. Some time later he saw two figures emerge from
the trees that line the main walk; one he recognized as that of
Commander Beckwith, the head of the Department of Mathematics, the
other, of low figure and shambling walk, he instantly recognized as that
of old Grice. With throbbing heart, Robert watched them until they
disappeared into the commandant's office; then the cadet lieutenant
went to his room.
It was evident to him that Grice had told his story to Commander
Beckwith and the latter was now talking with the commandant about it.
Robert waited for the summons he knew was coming, to appear before the
commandant. Thoughts came surging through his brain. Sooner than testify
against Stonewell he would accept dismissal. And likewise, in spite of
his bitter dislike toward Harry Blunt, before he would bring disgrace
upon the dear friends who had done so much for him, he would accept
dismissal. Robert, with a steady mind, without hesitation, determined on
this stand. He now knew his last moment of inaction had arrived. Not
that he had any hope or expectation of saving either Stonewell or Blunt,
but that he should be the means of their disgrace and dismissal was an
unbearable thought. It were far better to bilge.
Steps were heard in the corridor and Farnum appeared at his door.
"Hello, Bob," he said, "the commandant wants to see you right away. He's
in his office."
"All right, Farnum, I'll start in a moment." And then taking a sheet of
official paper, and hurriedly heading it, he wrote:
"I hereby tender my resignation as a midshipman in the naval service."
This he signed, and with it in his hand he walked down the corridor, and
was soon standing before the commandant.