not smoke; they had take
seats in this compartment because they wished to be alone.

"You asked me to let you know when we got near Annapolis, gentlemen,"
announced the conductor, a cheery-faced young man, thrusting his
head in. "There is the town right ahead of you."

"You said that you go by the hotel, I think?" Dave asked.

"I'll stop and call the hotel," replied the conductor. "We'll
be there in less than two minutes."

It was a quaint, old-fashioned, very pretty southern town that
the car now entered.

"I'll bet they're a thousand years behind the times here," sighed
Dalzell, as they gazed about them.

"Not at the Naval Academy, anyway," retorted Dave Darrin.

"Oh, of course not," Dan made haste to agree.

The car passed an imposing-looking brick building that housed
the post-office, then sped along past the handsome, dignified
old residence of the Governor of Maryland. Up on a hill at their
left the State Capitol stood out. Then the car bell clanged,
and the car stopped.

"Maryland Hotel!" called the conductor.

Dave and Dan caught up their suit cases and descended from the
car. At their right, the found the steps leading to the porch
of the roomy old hotel. In another moment they were in the office,
registering.

"You want a room together, gentlemen?" asked the clerk.

"Surely," retorted Dan. "My friend is always afraid when the
gas is turned off. My presence quiets him."

"Pardon me, gentlemen, but are you on your way to the Naval Academy?"
queried the clerk.

"Yes," nodded Dave quietly.

"Then you will want a room with bath, of course. You'll have
to strip before the medical examiners tomorrow.

"A room with bath, of course," assented Dan. "I never have stopped
at a hotel without a bathroom."

Dan didn't mention that this was the first time he had ever stopped
at a hotel in his short life.

"Front!" called the clerk.

A small black boy in knee trousers came forward, picked up their
suit cases and led the way to the next floor.

"My! I wonder who else is expected," muttered Dalzell, as the
two young travelers found themselves in their room after the boy
had left them.

It was an enormous room, and the three beds in it did not crowd
the apartment in the least. All the furniture was of a massive
and old-fashioned pattern.

A few minutes later, with face and hands washed--clean collars,
clothes neatly brushed, the two clear-eyed, manly-looking young
fellows returned to th