DAN STEERS ON THE ROCKS AGAIN
Just entering Wiegard's were Midshipman Dalzell and a very pretty
young woman.
Dan had not caught sight of his approaching friends.
"Why, that fellow told me he was going to see if he couldn't be
the mascot for a winning score to-day," Dave exclaimed.
"But he didn't say that the score was to be won in a ball game,
did he?" Belle queried demurely.
"Now I think of it, he didn't mention ball," Darrin admitted.
"But I thought it was the game down on the Academy athletic field."
"No; it was very different kind of game," Belle smiled. "Dave,
you'll find that Dan is incurable. He's going to keep on trying
with women until-----"
"Until he lands one?" questioned Dave.
"No; until one lands him. Dave, I wonder if it would be too terribly
prying if we were to turn into Wiegard's too?"
"I don't see any reason why it should be," Darrin answered. "Mr.
Wiegard conducts a public confectioner's place. It's the approved
place for any midshipman to take a young lady for ice cream.
Do you feel that you'd like some ice cream?"
"No," Belle replied honestly. "But I'd like to get a closer look
at Dan's latest."
So Dave led his sweetheart into Wiegard's. In order to get a
seat at a table it was necessary to pass the table at which Dan
and his handsome friend were seated. As Dalzell's back was toward
the door he did not espy his friends until they were about to pass.
"Why, hello, Darry!" cried Dan, rising eagerly, though his cheeks
flushed a bit. "How do you do, Miss Meade? Miss Henshaw, may
I present my friends? Miss Meade and Mr. Darrin."
The introduction was pleasantly acknowledged all around. Miss
Henshaw proved wholly well-bred and at ease.
"Won't you join us here?" asked Dalzell, trying hard to conceal
the fact that he didn't want any third and fourth parties.
"I know you'll excuse us," answered Dave, bowing, "and I feel
certain that I am running counter to Miss Meade's wishes. But
I have so little opportunity to talk to her that I'm going to
beg you to excuse us. I'm going to be selfish and entice Miss
Meade away to the furthest corner."
That other table was so far away that Dave and Belle could converse
in low tones without the least danger of being overheard. There
were, at that time, no other patrons in the place.
"Well, Belle, what do you think of the lady, now that you've seen
her?"
"You've named her," replied Belle quietly. "Dan's new friend
is beyond any doubt a lady."
"Then Dan is safe, at last."
"I'm not so sure of that," Belle answered.
"But, if she's really a lady, she must be safe company for Dan."
Belle smiled queerly before she responded:
"I'm afraid Dan is in for a tremendous disappointment."
"In the lady's character?" pressed Darrin.
"Oh, indeed, no."
"Wait and see."
"But I'd rather know now."
"I'll tell you what I mean before you say good-bye this afternoon,"
Belle promised.
"By Jove, but I am afraid that is going to be too late," murmured
Midshipman Darrin. "Unless I'm greatly misled as to the meaning
of the light that has suddenly come into Danny's eyes, he's proposing
to her now!"
"Oh!" gasped Belle, and the small spoonful of cream that was passing
down her throat threatened to strangle her.
"Dave, how old do you think Miss Henshaw is?" asked Miss Meade,
as soon as she could trust herself to speak.
"Twenty, I suppose."
"You don't know much about women's ages, then, do you?" smiled
Belle.
"I don't suppose I've any business to know."
"Miss Henshaw is a good many years older than Dan."
"She doesn't look it," urged Dave.
"But she is. Trust another woman to know!"
"There, by Jove!" whispered Dave. "It has started. Danny is
running under the wire! I can tell by his face that he has just
started to propose."
"Poor boy! He'll have an awful fall!" muttered Belle.
"Why do you say that? But, say! You're right, Belle. Dan's
face has turned positively ghastly. He looks worse than he could
if he'd just failed to graduate."
"Naturally," murmured Belle. "Poor boy, I'm sorry for him."
"But what's the matter?"
"Did you notice Miss Henshaw's jewelry?"
"Not particularly. I can see, from here, that she's wearing a
small diamond in each ear."
"Dave, didn't you see the flat gold band that she wears on the
third finger of her left hand?" Belle demanded in a whisper.
"No," confessed Midshipman Darrin innocently. "But what has that
to do with---"
"Her wedding ring," Belle broke in. "Dan has gotten her title
twisted. She's Mrs. Henshaw."
"Whew! But what, in that case, is she doing strolling around
with a midshipman? That's no proper business for a married woman,"
protested Dave Darrin.
"Haven't you called on or escorted any married women since you've
been at Annapolis?" demanded Belle bluntly.
"Yes; certainly," nodded Dave. "But, in every instance they were
wives of Naval officers, and such women looked upon midshipmen
as mere little boys."
"Isn't there an Admiral Henshaw in the Navy?" inquired Belle.
"Certainly."
"That's Mrs. Henshaw," Belle continued.
"How do you know?"
"I don't, but I'm certain, just the same. Now, Dan has met Mrs.
Henshaw somewhere down at the Naval Academy. He heard her name
and got it twisted into Miss Henshaw. It's his own blundering
fault, no doubt. But Admiral Henshaw's young and pretty wife
is not to be blamed for allowing a boyish midshipman to stroll
with her as her escort."
"Whew!" whistled Dave Darrin under his breath. "So Dan has been
running it blind again? Oh, Belle, it's a shame! I'm heartily
sorry that we've been here to witness the poor old chap's Waterloo."
"So am I," admitted Belle. "But the harm that has been done is
due to Dan's own blindness. He should learn to read ordinary
signs as he runs."
No wonder Dan Dalzell's face had gone gray and ashy. For the
time being he was feeling keenly. He had been so sure of "Miss"
Henshaw's being a splendid woman---as, indeed, she was---that
he decided on this, their third meeting, to try his luck with
a sailor's impetuous wooing. In other words, he had plumply asked
the admiral's wife to marry him;
"Why, you silly boy!" remonstrated Mrs. Henshaw, glancing up at
him with a dismayed look. "I don't know your exact age, Mr. Dalzell,
but I think it probable that I am at least ten years older than---"
"I don't care," Dan maintained bravely.
"Besides, what would the admiral say?"
"Is he your father or your brother?" Dan inquired.
"My husband!"
Then it was that Midshipman Dalzell's face had gone so suddenly
gray. He fairly gasped and felt as though he were choking.
"Mr. Dalzell," spoke Mrs. Henshaw, earnestly, "let us both forget
that you ever spoke such unfortunate words. Let us forget it
all, and let it pass as though nothing had happened at all. I
will confess that, two or three times, I thought you addressed
me as 'miss.' I believed it to be only a slip of the tongue.
I didn't dream that you didn't know. Even if I were a single
woman I wouldn't think of encouraging you for a moment, for I
am much---much---too old for you. And now, let us immediately
forget it all, Mr. Dalzell. Shall we continue our stroll?"
Somehow the dazed midshipman managed to reply gracefully, and
to follow his fair companion from Wiegard's.
"Poor Dan!" sighed Dave. "I'll wager that's the worst crusher
that Dalzell ever had. But how do you read so much at a glance,
Belle?"
"By keeping my eyes moderately well opened," that young woman
answered simply.
"I wonder where poor Dan's adventures in search of a wife are
going to end up?" mused Darrin.
"He'd better accept the course that you outlined for him a little
while ago," half smiled Belle. "Dan's very best course will be
to devote his thoughts wholly to his profession for a few years,
and wait until the right woman comes along and chooses him for
herself. You may tell Dan, from me, some time, if it won't hurt
his feelings, that I think his only safe course is to shut his
eyes and let the woman do the choosing."
"I must be a most remarkably fine fellow myself," remarked Midshipman
Darrin modestly.
"Why do you think that?"
"Why, a girl with eyes as sharp as yours, Belle, would never have
accepted me if there had been a visible flaw on me anywhere."
"There are no very pronounced flaws except those that I can remedy
when I take charge of you, Dave," replied Belle with what might
have been disconcerting candor.
"Then I'm lucky in at least one thing," laughed Darrin good-humoredly.
"When my turn comes I shall be made over by a most capable young
woman. Then I shall be all but flawless."
"Or else I shall take a bride's privilege," smiled Belle demurely,
"and go back to mother."
"You'll have plenty of time for that," teased Dave. "A Naval
officer's time is spent largely at sea, and he can't take his
wife with him."
"Don't remind me of that too often," begged Belle, a plaintive
note in her voice. "Your being at sea so much is the only flaw
that I see in the future. And, as neither of us will be rich,
I can't follow you around the world much of the time."
When Midshipman Dave Darrin reentered his quarters late that afternoon
be found Dan Dalzell sitting back in a chair, his hands thrust
deep into his pockets. His whole attitude was one of most unmilitary
dejection.
"Dave, I've run the ship aground again," Dan confessed ruefully.
"I know you have, Danny," Darrin replied sympathetically.
Dan Dalzell bounded to his feet.
"What?" he gasped. "Is the story going the rounds?"
"It can't be."
"Then did you hear what we were saying this afternoon in Wiegard's?"
"No; we were too far away for that. But I judged that you had
succeeded in making Mrs. Henshaw feel very uncomfortable for a
few moments."
"Then you knew she was a married woman, Dave?"
"No; but Belle did."
"How, I---wonder?"
"She saw the wedding ring on Mrs. Henshaw's left hand."
Dan Dalzell looked the picture of amazement. Then he whistled
in consternation.
"By the great Dewey!" he groaned hoarsely. "I never thought of
that!"
"No; but you should have done so."
"Dave, I'm the biggest chump in the world. Will you do me a supreme
favor---kick me?"
"That would be too rough, Dan. But, if you can stand it, Belle
offered me some good advice for you in your affairs with women."
"Thank her for me, when you get a chance, but I don't need it,"
replied Dan bitterly. "I'm through with trying to find a sweetheart,
or any candidate to become Mrs. Dalzell."
"But you'd better listen to the advice," Dave insisted, and repeated
what Belle had said.
"By Jove, Dave, but you're lucky to be engaged to a sensible girl
like Belle! I wish there was another like her in the world."
"Why?"
"If there were another like Belle I'd be sorely tempted to try my \
luck for the fourth time."
"Dan Dalzell!" cried Dave sternly. "You're not safe without a
guardian! You'll do it again, between now and graduation."
"You can watch me, if you want, then; but I'll fool you," smiled
Dan. "But say, Dave!"
"Well?"
"You don't suppose Belle will say anything about this back in
Gridley, do you? By Jove, if she does I'd feel-----
"You'll feel something else," warned Dave snappily, "if you don't
at once assure me that you know Belle too well to think that she'd
make light of your misfortunes."
"But sometimes girls tell one another some things-----"
"Belle Meade doesn't," interrupted Dave so briskly that Dalzell,
after a glance, agreed:
"You're right there, David, little giant. I've known Belle ever
since we were kids at the Central Grammar School. If Belle ever
got into any trouble through too free use of her tongue, then I
never heard anything about it."
"Dan, do you want a fine suggestion about the employment of the
rest of your liberty time while we're at Annapolis?"
"Yes."
"You remember Barnes's General History, that we used to have in
Grammar school?"
"Yes."
"Devote your liberty time to reading the book through again."