impatiently. "Come along."

Dave submitted, in patient silence, to being led away from the
store. For some moments the chums strolled along together in
silence.

"Now, speaking of Miss Preston," began Dan, breaking the silence
at last, "she-----"

"Drop that! Get back to football, Danny---it's safer," warned
Dave Darrin.

"But-----"

"Hold on, I tell you! You had almost recovered, Danny, in the
short space of five minutes. Now, don't bring on a relapse by
opening up the old sore. I shall soon begin to believe it was
your heart that was involved, instead of your vanity."

"Oh, hang girls, then!" exploded Dan.

"Couldn't think of it," urged Dave gently. "That wouldn't be
chivalrous, and even a midshipman is required to be a gentleman
at all times. So-----"

"Good evening, gentlemen," spoke a pleasant voice. The midshipmen
glanced up, then promptly brought up their hands in salute to
an officer whom they would otherwise have passed without seeing.

That officer was Lieutenant Adams, discipline officer.

"Are you enjoying your stroll, Mr. Darrin?" asked Mr. Adams.

"Very much, sir; thank you."

"And you, Mr. Dalzell. But let me see---wasn't your liberty
for the purpose of paying a visit?"

"Yes, sir," Dan answered, coloring.

"And you are strolling, instead?"

"Yes, sir; the person on whom I went to call was not there."

"Then, Mr. Darrin, you should have returned to Bancroft Hall,
and reported your return."

"Yes, sir; I should have done that," Dan confessed in confusion.
"The truth is, sir, it hadn't occurred to me."

"Return at once, Mr. Dalzell, and place yourself on report for
strolling without permission."

"Yes, sir."

Both midshipmen saluted, then turned for the shortest cut to Maryland
Avenue, and thence to the gate at the end of that thoroughfare.

"Ragged!" muttered Dan. "And without the slightest intention of
doing anything improper."

"It was improper, though," Dave replied quickly, "and both you
and I should have thought of it in time."

"I really forgot."

"Forgot to think, you mean, Dan, and that's no good excuse in
bodies of men where discipline rules. Really, I should have gone
on report, too."

"But you had liberty to stroll in town."

"Yes; but I'm guilty in not remembering to remind you of your
plain duty."

Lieutenant Adams had not in the least enjoyed ordering Dan to
place himself on report. The officer had simply done his duty.
To the average civil