Tony's but once, and
Dan not at all.

The Saturday after Christmas was an anxious one for nearly all
of the midshipmen. Only a few availed themselves of any privilege
of going into Annapolis this Saturday afternoon. Most of the
young men remained in their rooms at Bancroft Hall, anxiously
going over the work in which they were soon to take their semi-annual
examinations.

Especially was this true of the fourth class men in the "wooden"
or lowest sections. Most of these men knew that, if they succeeded
in staying on at all, it would be by a very small margin indeed.
Even the men in the "savvy sections," with the highest marks
of their class, were eager to come out as well as possible in
the dreaded semi-ans.

Dave and Dan both had secured permission to go into Annapolis.

"We'll want to clear out the cobwebs by a brisk walk, anyway,"
declared Darrin.

They did not intend to go townward, however, until rather late
in the afternoon.

Dan, when he could stand the grind no longer picked up his cap.
Dave wanted to put in least fifteen minutes more over his book.

"I've got to get out in the air," Dalzell muttered.

"Going to town?" Dave asked.

"Yes. Coming along?"

"I've got a little more in logarithms to clean up," murmured Darrin,
looking wistfully at two pages in one of his text-books on mathematics.
"Will it do as well, Danny boy, if I follow in fifteen or twenty
minutes?"

"Yes; you'll probably find me on Main Street, though you can look
in at Wiegard's on the way."

Wiegard's is the famous confectionery shop where cadets go for
candy, for ices or soda fountain drinks. If upper class men and
young ladies are plentiful in Wiegard's, however, prudent fourth
class men keep right on without stopping.

Dan left Bancroft Hall quite certain that his chum would not be
along for at least an hour.

At the gate Dan made his report of liberty, then kept on up Maryland
Avenue.

As he turned into State Circle he slowed up a trifle, glancing
in through the door at Wiegard's.

"Too many upper class men in there for me," decided Dan, so turning
he made his was way through the State Capitol grounds, and on into
Main Street.

Here he strolled more slowly, passing, here and there, a member
of his class, though none with whom he was particularly intimate.

"I'm thirsty," decided Dalzell. "I don't believe I want any of
the hot drinks. There's Tony's. I'll drop in and get a bottle
of soda lemonade."

Tony