THE FANCY DRESS BALL
"Well, Dick," remarked Paul Drew, one afternoon, as he and his roommate
came in from drill, "I see you're on the ball committee."
"What ball, and what committee?"
"The fancy dress ball, if I have to go into all the details. You know
the academy has one every year, and it's a swell affair, let me tell
you. Lights, gay music, pretty girls----"
"Especially pretty girls," said Dick with a smile. "But what committee
am I on?"
"Arrangements. Didn't you see the list posted in the mess hall? I don't
envy you. There will be lots to do."
"Suppose you take pity on my ignorance, and go a little more into
details."
Whereupon Paul did, describing the affair at length. It was to take
place, as usual, in February, and this time would be held on
Washington's birthday.
"Maybe we won't have fun!" exclaimed Paul. "There'll be all sorts of
costumes, and the decorations will be immense. You'll have to help with
them."
"Then I'd better get busy," declared Dick. "I must see who's chairman of
my committee, and report for work. What character are you going to
portray, Paul?"
"I think I shall go as a Colonial officer. I always did like a powdered
wig."
"Talcum powder, instead of gun powder," retorted Dick. "That's the
calibre of such tin soldiers as you."
"Halt!" called Paul, as Dick prepared to run away. "As punishment I'll
not introduce you to a certain pretty girl I know, who is coming to the
dance."
"Then I'll surrender and beg your pardon!" cried Dick.
"What part will you play?" asked Paul. "You'd look swell dressed as an
Indian."
"I think I'll take the part of a cannon swab, and then I'll not have to
bother about a suit. But more of that later. I'm going to see what I
have to do."
Dick found out from the chairman of his committee that there was plenty
of work to prepare for the fete, and he did his share. One day he had to
go to a nearby town to purchase some of the decorations.
It was two days before the fancy dress ball was to take place, and,
having made his purchases, Dick prepared to return to the Academy. As
he was about to board a trolley car, which ran near Kentfield, he heard
a voice calling:
"How are you, Dick Hamilton?"
He turned, to see a tall, well-built lad, of about his own age, who was
smiling at him in a friendly fashion. At first he did not recognize the
youth.
"You don't know me, I see," went on the other. "I once had the pleasure
of interviewing you about a gold brick game----"
"Why, Larry Dexter! How are you?" cried Dick, turning aside from the
car, and holding out his hand to the other. "I did not get a good look
at you, or I would have known you at once. What good wind blows you
here? Can't you stay and come over to our Academy? Where have you been?
How is the newspaper business?"
"My, you'd do for a reporter yourself!" exclaimed Larry Dexter, with a
smile. "I'm glad you haven't forgotten me though. Have you been swindled
lately? I'd like a good story. The one I came down here after didn't pan
out."
Those of you who have read my books in the "Newspaper Series" will at
once recognize the lad who greeted Dick. He was Lawrence Dexter, a
reporter on the New York _Leader_, and, as related in the volume called
"Dick Hamilton's Fortune," he had met our hero when the latter had
narrowly escaped being swindled by a sharper in the metropolis. Larry,
as all his friends called him, had managed to get a good "story" from
the experience of Dick, who was on a visit to New York, with a number
of boy friends. The incident is mentioned in the third volume of the
Newspaper Series, "Larry Dexter's Great Search," where the young
reporter does some detective work.
After Dick had given Larry the story of the attempted swindle, the young
reporter took the millionaire's son to the newspaper office, and showed
him something of how a great daily is published. The two lads had struck
up quite a friendship, and they had pleasant memories of each other.
"What are you doing here?" asked Dick, as they walked up the street with
his newspaper acquaintance.
"Oh, I came here on a peculiar robbery yarn, but it turned out to be an
ordinary affair, and not worth much of a story. I sent in the account by
wire, and, as a reward for my past valuable services to the paper, I
have been given a couple of days' leave of absence. You see, the
managing editor thinks quite highly of me," and Larry made a mock bow.
"Then you're just in time," said Dick.
"How so?"
"Why, you can spend a few days with me. There's going to be a big masked
ball at the military academy where I attend, and perhaps you'd like to
see it."
"I think I would, if the military authorities will admit a mere
civilian."
"I'm sure they will. Come along back with me. I'll introduce you to
Colonel Masterly, and you can bunk in with Drew and me. Paul Drew is my
roommate--a fine fellow."
"Oh, I'm afraid I'll put you out."
"You couldn't do that, Larry. Come on. We'll have some fun."
So Larry Dexter accompanied Dick back to the Academy, where he was
speedily made welcome by Colonel Masterly and members of the latter's
staff.
"We would be very glad to have you remain and witness some evolutions of
the cadets, a day or so after the ball," invited the colonel. "They will
possibly interest you."
"I should be glad to," replied Larry, "but I can't stay long enough. It
is very kind of you to invite me to the ball."
Possibly Colonel Masterly had a purpose in seconding Dick's invitation
to this affair. The head of the military school was not averse to a
little free advertising for the Academy, and he thought perhaps Larry
might "write up" an account of the ball. Which, as a matter of fact,
Larry did, and a fine account it was.
The reporter, though Dick invited him to don a costume, thought it
better not to, and, when the night of the gay affair came, Larry was in
sober black, forming a strange contrast to the lads in gay uniforms. The
dresses of the young ladies and the uniforms or costumes of the cadets,
with the hundreds of electric lights, the gay streamers and flags
festooned about the gymnasium, made the apartment a brilliant picture.
The Academy cadet band struck up a lively march, and the dancers paraded
around the room, two by two. Dick was not in this, as he had not yet
made the acquaintance of any of the girls, and after ascertaining that
Larry Dexter was in a position where he could see well, our hero retired
rather disconsolately to a secluded corner. He saw Paul Drew dancing
with a very pretty girl, and was just beginning to envy him, when his
roommate walked up, and introduced her to Dick.
"Allow me to present my friend, Dick Hamilton," said Paul with a low
bow. "Mr. Hamilton--Miss Fordice. Dick is a better dancer than I am,"
added Paul.
It was plainly a hint to Dick, who at once took advantage of it, and
asked:
"May I have the honor?"
"If it pleases you, sir," replied the girl, with a mischievous smile,
and an old-fashioned courtesy.
Dick led her into a two-step, and they were soon whirling about. But
Dick was not selfish, and he knew better than to keep Paul's partner
away from him for long, so, making some excuse, he led Miss Fordice back
to his roommate.
"I'll introduce you to some other girls, after this dance, Hamilton,"
Paul called back to him.
Dick noticed that a tall, dark girl, who was standing near one of the
pillars, started at the sound of his name. A moment later she advanced
toward him, appeared to hesitate, and then came forward.
"Excuse me," she said, "but are you Dick Hamilton?"
"I am," said our hero, secretly delighted at the chance of talking to
the girl.
"I thought I heard Mr. Drew call you that. You must think it dreadfully
forward of me to speak to you without an introduction----"
"Nothing of the sort," said Dick promptly.
"But I know friends of yours," went on the girl. "I am Miss Mabel
Hanford, and I know Birdy Lee, who lives in your town--I mean in the
place where you come from. She and I used to be great chums. We went to
school together."
"Indeed," said Dick. "Birdy Lee and I are well acquainted."
"So she said when I wrote to her, telling her I was coming to this ball.
She suggested that I might meet you, and when I heard your name
mentioned, I couldn't help speaking."
"I am glad you did," said Dick, smiling.
"Won't you come over and let me introduce you to my mother?" went on
Miss Hanford. "I feel as if I had known you a long time, for Birdy often
spoke of you in her letters to me."
"I am glad she did," said Dick, gallantly.
Mrs. Hanford greeted him kindly, evidently approving of her daughter's
action.
"May I have the next dance?" asked Dick of the daughter.
"Yes," said Miss Hanford, blushing a little. "But I hope you don't think
I spoke to you just to have you dance with me----"
"Not at all," Dick hastened to say.
"Because my card is nearly filled now," she went on.
"I hope I may find room to put my name down in several places."
"You may look. I think the next waltz is open."
"It seems to be the only one," said Dick, ruefully.
A little later he and the girl were sailing about the room to the
strains of a dreamy waltz. Dick was a fine dancer, Miss Hanford was his
equal, and the two made a pleasing appearance on the big ballroom floor.
"Where were you?" asked Paul, as Dick came walking up to him after the
young millionaire had taken his partner back to her mother. "I was
looking for you to introduce a girl to you."
"I managed to meet one myself."
"Who?"
"Miss Mabel Hanford."
Paul whistled.
"What's the matter?" asked Dick. "Isn't she all right?"
"I should say so! Every fellow here is anxious to dance with her, but
Dutton seems to monopolize her. He seems to think he's engaged to her."
"I don't believe he has any right to think that," spoke Dick warmly.
"She's a very nice girl. I wish I had met her earlier in the evening."
The band was playing another waltz.
"So do lots of other fellows, I guess. But you're doing pretty well.
There goes Dutton with her now," continued Paul.
Dick looked on, with envious eyes. Though Dutton and Miss Hanford were
waltzing about, she did not seem at ease. Her face was flushed, and
Dutton looked angry. When the dance came to an end he left her abruptly.
Dick strolled over, casually, though his heart was beating faster than
usual.
"You look warm," he said to the girl.
"Yes, the room is very close," she replied, and she fanned her face with
a filmy lace handkerchief.
"Perhaps you would like an ice."
"Indeed I should."
"I'll get you one," promised Dick. Then, waxing bold, he looked at her
program.
"What are you looking for?" she asked with a laugh. "To see what sort of
ice I prefer? It's not there, but I'll take orange, if you can get one."
"I was looking to see, if by any good fortune you had another vacant
place on your card."
"I'll make one for you," she said with a smile, as she crossed out a
name. "Tantrell can look for another partner," she added.
"Who may Tantrell be?" asked Dick, as he put his name in place of the
erased one.
"My cousin. He brought me here, but he doesn't care much for dancing. I
know he'll be glad to have you relieve him."
"Not half so glad as I am," retorted Dick quickly. "Now I'll get you the
ice."
As he walked away he saw Dutton eyeing him angrily.
"Probably he doesn't like me to be talking to her," thought Dick.
There was quite a crush in the refreshment room, and, in spite of the
fact that he was a member of the arrangement committee, Dick had some
difficulty in getting an ice for Miss Hanford. As he struggled through
the crush of gay dancers with it he tripped, and, to save himself,
involuntarily threw his hands forward. The ice slipped from the plate,
and went splashing full against the back of a cadet dressed in an
elaborate Colonial uniform, with a white satin coat. The highly-colored
ice made a big, blotchy stain on the garment.
The cadet whirled like a flash. It was Dutton.
"Who did that?" he cried, as he saw a little puddle forming at his feet,
where the fast melting ice lay.
"I did," answered Dick promptly. "It was an accident, Captain Dutton."
"An accident?" There was a sneer in the other's tone.
"An accident," retorted Dick, as he turned away.
"Here! Where are you going?" cried Dutton. Several turned to stare at
him, for his manner toward Dick was most insulting.
"I am going after another ice for Miss Hanford," said the young
millionaire quickly.
"Wait a minute!" ordered Dutton, in the voice he used on parade.
"Not now," drawled Dick. "Wait until I get another ice."
"You wait, I say!" spluttered Dutton.
"It's too hot," replied Dick, for he could not help but notice the
insulting tones. "I'll see you later. I'm sorry about the accident."
"That was no accident," declared Dutton. "You did that on purpose, and
I--I want----"
But Dick passed on. He saw Miss Hanford looking at him from among the
fringe of spectators, and, as he walked back to the refreshment room, he
noticed that Dutton had one of the mess-hall attendants wiping off as
much as possible of the stain from the white satin coat.