MIDSHIPMAN FARLEY'S ABOUT-FACE
The gloom that now hung over Dave Darrin was the thickest, the
blackest that he had ever encountered in his short life.
He was fully convinced, of course, that his troubles were the
work of some determined and unscrupulous enemy or enemies.
Yet he was equally convinced that he was not likely to catch the
plotter against his happiness. He and Dan had already done all
that seemed to be in their power.
On the Saturday afternoon following the tobacco incident the first
ray came to light up the gloom--though it did not take away any
of awesome demerits that had piled up against him.
Dave and Dan were standing chatting in a group of about a score of
fourth class men when Farley and Page stepped briskly in their
direction.
Dave glanced at the pair in some astonishment, for it was weeks
since he had been on speaking terms with either of them, and now
both looked as though about to address him.
"One moment gentlemen, all, if you please," called out Midshipman
Farley. "Let no one leave just now. I have something to say
that I wish to make as public as possible."
Then, turning toward the astonished Darrin, Mr. Farley continued:
"Darrin, I got into a bad scrape once, and I accused you of carrying
the information that resulted in several others and myself being
detected. I was positive in my charge. I now wish to make you the
most public apology that is possible. I know now that you did not
in any way betray myself and my companions."
"I am glad you have come to this conclusion," Dave Darrin replied.
"It is not exactly a conclusion," replied Farley frankly. "It is
a discovery."
"How did you find it out, Farley?" asked Dan Dalzell, speaking to
that midshipman for the first time in many weeks.
"I have the word of the watchman who caught us. That is old Grierson,
and there isn't a more honest old fellow in the yard."
"Did you ask Grierson, Farley?" questioned another midshipman
gravely.
"No; for that would be to pile on another offense," replied Farley
readily. "I am well enough aware that a midshipman has no right
to go to a watchman about a matter in which the watchman has reported
him. But a civilian is under no such restrictions. As some of
you fellows know, my cousin, Sloan, was here at the Academy yesterday.
Now, Ben Sloan is a newspaper man, and a fellow of an inquiring
disposition. I told Ben something about the scrape I had been
in, and Ben soon afterward hunted up Grierson. Grierson told
Ben the whole truth about it. It seems that Grierson did not
have any information from anyone. He saw our crowd go over the
fence the night we Frenched it. But Grierson was too far away
to catch any of us, or recognize us. So he made no alarm, but
just waited and prowled until we came back. He heard the noise
we made trying to get up over the wall from the outside, and ran
down to that part of the wall. He didn't make any noise, and
stood in the shrubbery until we had all dropped over. Then he
stepped out, looked us over quickly and demanded our names. He
had us ragged cold, so there was nothing to do but give him our
names. Now, there's the whole story fellows, and I'm mighty glad
I've got at the truth of it."
"So am I," muttered Dan dryly.
"Darrin, you haven't said whether you accept my apology," Farley
continued insistently. "I'm mighty sorry for the whole thing,
and I'm glad you thrashed me as you did when we met. I richly
deserved that for my hot-headedness."
For just a moment Dave Darrin couldn't speak, but he held out his
hand.
"Thank you, old fellow," cried Farley, grasping it. "From now
on I hope we shall trust each other and be friends always."
Farley had been a good deal spoiled at home, and had a hasty,
impetuous temper. His career at Annapolis, however, was doing much
to make a man of him in short time.
Several of the other midshipmen spoke, expressing their pleasure
that the whole thing was cleared up, and that Dave had proved
to be above suspicion.
"And now I'm off to find the other fellows who were with me that
night," continued Farley. "I've told Page, already, but I've
got to find Scully and Oates, Henkel and Brimmer and put them
straight also."
Five minutes later Farley was explaining to Midshipman Henkel.
"Well, you are the softy!" said Henkel, in a sneering tone.
"Why?" demanded Farley stiffly.
"To fall for a frame-up like that."
"Do you mean that my cousin lied to me?"
"No; but Grierson certainly did."
"Old man Grierson is no liar," retorted Farley. "He is one of
most trusted employes in the yard. He has caught many a midshipman,
but Grierson is such a square old brick that the midshipmen of two
generations love him."
"You're too easy for this rough world," jeered Midshipman Henkel.
"Perhaps I am," retorted Farley. "But I'm going through it decently,
anyway."
"So you went and rubbed down Darrin's ruffled fur as gently as you
could," continued Henkel.
"I went to him and apologized--the only thing a man could do under
the circumstances."
"And now I suppose some of the fellows are trying to build up an
altar to Darrin as the class idol?"
"I don't know. I hope so, for I'm convinced that Dave Darrin is as
decent a fellow as ever signed papers at Annapolis."
"Go on out and buy some incense to burn before Darrin," laughed
Henkel harshly.
Perhaps Mr. Henkel might not have been as flippant had he known
that, all the time, Farley was studying him intently.
"So, in spite of all explanations, you still have no use for Darrin?"
asked Midshipman Farley.
"I have just as much use for him as I have for any other big sneak,"
retorted Mr. Henkel. "He betrayed us to the watchman, and I don't
care what explanations are offered to show that he didn't."
"And you won't be friendly with Darrin?" insisted Farley.
"I?" asked Henkel scornfully. "Not for an instant!
"Well, I hardly believe that Darrin will care much," replied Mr.
Farley, turning on his heel and walking out of the room.
"It's a mighty good thing that Darrin is going to be dropped out
of Annapolis," growled Henkel to himself. "He's altogether too
slick in playing a dirty trick on people and then swinging them
around so that they'll fawn upon him. When Farley first came
here he was a fellow of spirit. But he's been going bad for some
time, and now he's come out straight and clean for grease-mark!"
Saturday afternoon proved a dull time for Dave Darrin. The heavy
pile of demerits opposite his name prevented his getting leave
even to stroll out into the town of Annapolis. Dan could have
gone, but would not leave his chum.
Sunday morning there was chapel, but Dave, usually attentive,
heard hardly a word of the discourse. Sunday afternoon he turned
doggedly to his books. Dan, who was getting along better, and
who just now, stood three sections higher than Dave in math.,
went visiting among the members of his class.
Sunday evening all the cadets were again busy at their studies
until 9.30. As early as the regulations allowed Dave turned down
his bed, undressed and got into it, feeling utterly "blue."
"It's no use," he told himself, as he lay awake, thinking, thinking,
thinking. "Some one has it in for me, of course. But Dan and I
together can't find out who the rascal is. He may try nothing
against me again, for weeks, but sooner or later he'll turn another
demerit trick against me. Before January I shall be home again,
looking for some sort of job."
Before eight o'clock the following morning the class, after muster,
broke into sections which marched away to recitation in math.
Dan Dalzell was now section leader of one group. Dave marched in
the ranks of a much lower section.
This morning the section with which Dave marched was one man short.
Not until the members had taken their seats, or places at the
blackboards, did Darrin give heed enough to note that it was Farley
who was absent.
The section leader, however, had reported that Mr. Farley was
absent by permission of the head of the Department of Mathematics,
"for purposes of study." Unusual as this excuse was the instructor
had accepted it without making any inquiry.
If Farley was in his room for purposes of study, then what kind
of "study" could it be?
For at that precise moment, Midshipman Farley was standing close
to a tiny crack between the edge of his room door and the jamb.
He was "peeking" out attentively.
Curiously enough Midshipman Page, Farley's roommate, had also
been excused from attending section work. At this moment Mr.
Page sat tilted back in his chair, with his feet resting across
the corner of the study table.
A most unmilitary pose for Mr. Page, to be sure. Yet what need
was there to fear report with roommate Farley thus industriously
standing by the door?
So Mr. Page hummed softly to himself and stared out of the window.
Midshipman Farley remained by the door until he was becoming decidedly
wearied of his occupation, and Page had several times shifted his feet.
Then, all of a sudden, Midshipman Farley turned with a low, sharp hiss.
"It?" whispered Midshipman Page, rising swiftly.
"Yes," nodded Farley.
Midshipman Page walked swiftly out of the room, though his heels
did not make as much noise as usual.
Just after Page had left the room Midshipman Farley stole along
the corridor, halting before a door.
There he paused, as though on duty. It was not long before his
erect attitude was accounted for, for Lieutenant Nettleson, the
officer in charge, came down into the corridor, followed by the
cadet officer of the day.
Just a little way behind them walked Midshipman Page.
Farley stood quickly at attention, saluting the officer in charge,
who returned the salute.