ROBERT FINALLY ANSWERS
"What is it, sir?" demanded the commandant, sternly, of Midshipman
Bligh.
The latter hesitated for a moment, as if uncertain how best to express
himself.
"I--I--have heard that some--that some civilian clothing and a false
beard were found in Mr. Blunt's room this morning--I learned Mr. Blunt
was in your office--and a little while ago I saw Mr. Frank Stonewell
come into the building with his brother. I have thought that perhaps Mr.
Blunt is charged with having used that disguise last night; is that so,
sir?"
"It is; what do you know about the affair, sir?" returned the
commandant, looking fixedly at Bligh, while Frank Stonewell regarded him
with friendly approval in his expressive face.
"Mr. Blunt is not guilty, sir. I was in possession last night of the
things found this morning in his room."
"And did you accompany Mr. Frank Stonewell in an attempt to steal the
examination last night, sir?"
"I am guilty of having made that attempt, sir."
"Mr. Blunt is also charged with being the person who proposed the three
groans for the superintendent and commandant. Were you guilty of that,
too, sir?"
"I was, sir."
When Bligh said this Captain Blunt was undoubtedly the happiest person
in the room; he seemed to relax from the strain and tension he had been
on for the past hour; and it is likely that a more crestfallen young man
than Robert Drake would have been hard to find. Relieved as the latter
was, he felt abjectly foolish. He had made a most needless sacrifice; he
had jumped to conclusions and had been entirely wrong.
The commandant was silent for a few moments, apparently lost in thought.
He finally remarked: "Mr. Bligh, do you know that this confession of
yours will cause your dismissal from the Naval Academy?"
"Yes, sir," replied Bligh, simply.
"I suppose that you do this to save Mr. Blunt; was this your reason?"
"That was only an incidental cause, sir; the real reason was I wanted to
do one decent thing at the Naval Academy. I have done so many things
that I am not proud of; and I want to justify Frank Stonewell's belief
that there is some good in me. I have had a hard time here, sir. I
commenced wrong, and I have been punished severely--for months not one
single midshipman at the Academy has spoken a friendly word to me. Then
some weeks ago I met Frank Stonewell, and somehow I opened up my heart
to him--I was in a bad way at that time; but he made me feel I was not
hopelessly bad; it is hard lines, sir, to be made an outcast, a pariah,
by one's classmates."
"I see," remarked the commandant, a bit unbelieving and skeptical;
"apparently Mr. Frank Stonewell stirred up the good that was in you and
the direct stirring up resulted in your shameful act of last night. I
sincerely hope Mr. Frank Stonewell will not try to stir up any more good
at the Naval Academy. But, Mr. Bligh, you at least seem disposed to
tell the truth. I wish to get to the bottom of this whole affair. Tell
me how you got hold of Mr. Blunt's disguise. Did he know of it?"
"No, sir. My room is next to the divisional officer's office, on the
ground floor. Late one night, months ago, while I was getting a glass of
water, I observed Mr. Blunt enter that office. Two hours later I saw Mr.
Blunt, in disguise, come over the terrace and soon I saw him leave the
office. I didn't understand it at first, but suddenly it flashed over me
that Mr. Blunt kept civilian clothes somewhere in his divisional
officer's office. Then I knew it was Mr. Blunt in disguise, and not a
civilian, who had left and entered that office by the window. So later I
took a wax impression and had a key made for the door of that office; I
went in one night and found on top of the wardrobe (it is a regular
midshipman's wardrobe) the coat, hat and false beard,--well, that's
about all, sir. I used them several times besides the twice you know
of."
"That's enough, quite enough to dismiss you from the Naval Academy. I am
glad indeed finally to have arrived at the facts. The one thing I cannot
understand is that after these shameful acts you should talk such
twaddle about wanting to prove there is some good in you. Faugh! There's
no good in a cheat, and your attempt to steal that examination was
caused by a desire to cheat. You can't convince me there's anything
particularly good in you by what you have done in the last twenty-four
hours."
"I have no hope of convincing you of anything, sir, except that I and
not Midshipman Blunt am guilty of the offenses charged to him. If I have
done that, sir, I am entirely satisfied. I admit that my intention was
to cheat, but the purpose was to pass the examination, not to pass
higher than some rival. It was pretty bad, but not so bad as for a
midshipman who is satisfactory to cheat for the purpose of getting
higher rank. Now as for my purpose in coming before you--I don't know of
any way you could have proved, without my own voluntary confession, that
I and not Mr. Blunt was guilty. Cadet Commander Stonewell has spurned
me. Mr. Blunt has repeatedly treated me with contempt. This resulted
from my own unfortunate start here; I don't say it wasn't my fault, but
I do say that I have been given no chance to retrieve myself. Every one
here seemed to be against me--this was a new experience to me, sir.
Every day was full of bitterness and unhappiness. I could not feel I was
so entirely worthless! The groans I proposed were a bubbling over of
this bitterness; it was not personal to either the superintendent or
yourself. At a time when I was ready to do anything vile Mr. Frank
Stonewell got hold of me and he has made a different man of me, at least
in my own feelings. I have a self-respect now that I had been without
for months. In spite of last night's act, I submit, sir, that this
voluntary statement should show you I am not entirely bad; and what is
more important to me, I believe it will prove to Mr. Frank Stonewell
that I am on the square."
"What is your purpose in telling me all of this stuff, Mr. Bligh?"
"Sir, I want to get a fresh grip on myself; I hope to live a
self-respecting life, to make an honorable place for myself in civil
life. Can't you see, sir, that I don't want the stigma, the disgrace of
dishonorable expulsion from here just as I commence civil life? Sir, I
request to be allowed to resign instead of being dismissed. I want a
chance, sir; I've done mean things here, but even if it is the last
moment, I've repented; I've done what I could to clear Mr. Blunt."
"There's something in what you say, Mr. Bligh. I deprecate your wrong
actions, but I acknowledge you have shown the proper spirit this
morning. Now write out a statement of just what your actions have been,
and append to it your resignation. I will endorse this, giving you
credit for your proper act of this morning. Whether you will be allowed
to resign or be dismissed will be decided by the superintendent. I
regret you have had such a hard time here; I should be pleased to learn
that from now on you will live a good life. That will do, sir."
Bligh left the room.
"Not altogether bad, is he, captain?" remarked Frank Stonewell, nodding
approvingly at the captain. "I knew he would come up like a man when the
time came."
"I'll have nothing to say to you, sir; I consider your ideas of right
and wrong have but a shadowy boundary between them. I'll not detain you
in my office any longer," snapped Commander Dalton.
"Good-day, sir," and with an easy, friendly smile for all Frank
Stonewell left.
The commandant drew a long breath. "Now, Mr. Blunt," he said, "you are
cleared of the worst charges that have been made against you; I desire
you to make a frank statement of your connection with that disguise."
"Captain, I owned it; the disguise is mine. You know, sir, that
midshipmen do lots of things that are not discovered; if a fellow would
cheat or do anything dishonorable, none of his classmates would speak to
him; but if he were to 'French' as I have done, he would not lose caste.
There are many offenses here of a military nature that a midshipman
might commit which would be severely punished by the authorities if he
were detected, and yet at which most midshipmen would smile. Well, sir,
I have never cheated nor done anything dishonorable; but I did have this
disguise and 'Frenched' out in Annapolis several times with it on. I did
not propose the three groans that night at the theatre and I was not
out of this building last night after seven o'clock."
"Captain Blunt," resumed the commandant, "I don't mind saying that I am
more relieved than it is possible to express. Now, Mr. Blunt, did you
never fear detection? I am rather interested in this matter."
"Yes, sir. Captain, do you remember the Sunday morning you invited me to
dine with you?"
"I do, indeed. I recall that at first you were tongue-tied and acted
queerly; then you gushed out words that didn't have much sense. That was
the next day after the three groans were proposed at the theatre. I
remember it well."
"The night before, sir, Saturday night, I went after my disguise
intending to use it, and it was missing. When you called me up I was
scared; I thought I was found out. Evidently Mr. Bligh had taken it, but
I didn't know or imagine he had."
"Who did you imagine had taken the things?"
"I just couldn't imagine, except that some servant might have stolen the
disguise, and then thought better of it and put it back. But no trouble
came to me about it, so I didn't worry."
"When you heard about the man in the theatre proposing the three groans,
didn't you recognize from his description that it was somebody with your
disguise on?"
"Why, no, sir. People said it was some cit. I never gave particular
thought to that affair."
"Mr. Blunt, you as a third classman have already received one hundred
and forty-seven demerits--I have looked up your record. As a third
classman you may receive in the year two hundred and fifty demerits
without being unsatisfactory in conduct. For having civilian clothes in
possession you will receive fifty demerits, and for having been absent
from academic limits, fifty more. That leaves you only three to run on,
but the end of the year is at hand and you should be able to do it.
Further, I shall recommend that you be deprived of your September leave.
I am sorry, Captain Blunt," he continued, "to punish your son so
severely, but if this had occurred while you were commandant I don't
believe you would have been more lenient."
"His actions merit dismissal, Dalton; you have been more than merciful,"
replied Captain Blunt grimly. "But at the same time I am glad that my
son is not guilty of dishonorable acts, and also that he is not to be
dismissed. But, Harry, clear up one more thing. How did those things
happen to be found in your room?"
"Last night, father, I got to worrying about that disguise and at about
midnight I went to the office and got them. I intended to take them out
in town to-day. Just as I got into my room Mr. Drake came in and asked
where Mr. Stonewell was, and saw the coat, hat and beard. Drake looked
wild; I guess he didn't have much sleep last----"
"That's enough, Harry; you're getting a bit too loquacious," interrupted
the young man's father.
During all of this talk Stonewell and Robert were both silent and yet
rapt listeners. Not one word had they exchanged, but at times Stonewell
regarded Robert with an expression of deep affection, full of concern.
And Robert was so full of self-disgust and shame that he dared not look
either his roommate or Captain Blunt in the face. He felt that his own
action had been simply ridiculous; that instead of heroism he had been
guilty of foolishness.
"Now, Dalton," remarked Captain Blunt, and his face assumed a look of
intense earnestness and feeling, "everything has come out well for Mr.
Stonewell and for my son. I hope you will pardon me for speaking for Mr.
Drake. I realize, of course, his offense; and I know that for this
offense you will be justified in inflicting any punishment up to
dismissal. I am of course aware of your duties as commandant, of the
imperative necessity that discipline must be maintained. And I agree
that he has committed a most serious offense. But, Dalton," and here
Captain Blunt's voice, rugged veteran though he was, broke with emotion,
and in husky tones he continued, "Dalton, Mr. Drake's offense arose from
sentiments that do credit to his heart--his idea was to spare me from
sorrow--and he could not force himself to testify against his roommate.
Dalton, is this not a case for mercy? He not only tried to save my boy
for my sake, but three years ago he saved my own life. Dalton--I make a
personal plea for mercy."
Commander Dalton's eyes were shining very bright. He looked at Robert
with an expression that caused him to feel that at least his judge was
sympathetic.
"Mr. Drake," he began, "if a midshipman persists in disobedience to the
commandant's orders, if he persists in refusing to answer the
commandant's questions, he must be dismissed; no other action is
possible. You have been asked certain questions which you have not yet
answered; and by now you have had plenty of time to decide your answers.
I will repeat my questions. Did you last night detect Cadet Commander
Stonewell in an attempt to steal an examination?"
"Sir?" gasped Robert, a flood of joy surging through him.
"Did you, Mr. Drake?"
"I thought I did, sir, but I was mistaken; I know now it was his
brother, Frank Stonewell," stammered Robert, realizing the purport of
the commandant's question, yet hardly able to answer through sheer
happiness.
"Did you, Mr. Drake, detect Mr. Harry Blunt in an attempt to steal an
examination last night?"
"I thought I did, sir, but I was mistaken. I know now it was Midshipman
Bligh whom I saw."
Commander Dalton smiled happily. "I think this disposes of Mr. Drake's
case," he remarked. "Now, Mr. Blunt, my advice to you is to walk a chalk
mark the rest of your time here. Mr. Stonewell, I am sure you will
forgive my words. I was mistaken, of course, and was under great
feeling. You can hardly be happier over the final outcome than I am. I
will turn your brother's case over to you to handle; he is beyond me. I
can but say I envy you the friend you possess. Evidently Mr. Drake would
sacrifice his career rather than contribute to his friend's disgrace.
And yet he could not lie, even to save that friend. Gentlemen, we've had
a hard morning, and deep feelings have been stirred. I think this is
all. Captain Blunt, are you ready to leave?"