CHAPTER IX
ROBERT GETS BAD NEWS
"Stone," said Robert Drake one Saturday in March, "let's call on theBlunts this afternoon. Captain Blunt is home on leave; his ship, the'New Orleans,' arrived in New York last month. He's a splendid man."
Stonewell laughed. "Come along," he replied, "and perhaps I'll have achance to see Mrs. Blunt; she's such a pleasant woman; and then there'sthat scamp of a son of hers; perhaps he may be at home. I haven't seenmuch of him since the football season ended. I never see him nowadays ifhe sees me first. Mark my words, Bob, Harry Blunt is up to somemischief, and he'll be getting into a lot of trouble before long. Everytime I pass him he looks conscious. By the way, Bob, whom have you askedto present the flag to your company? You expect to win it, of course."
"Come along, Stone, and quit your fooling. You know I'll be glad to seeCaptain Blunt, and nowadays I don't need an excuse to call on Helen.She is always pleasant and cordial. I hope her brother won't get intoany trouble, but I've an idea he's taking lots of liberties with theregulations. I imagine there are not many of the six hundred andsixty-five that he's not broken. I hope it won't come my way to have toreport him for anything; I wish he were in some other company than thefirst."
Half an hour later they were admitted into the Blunt home, and werereceived as old friends.
"How are you, Mr. Drake?" exclaimed Captain Blunt, shaking Robert's handheartily. "And here is Mr. Stonewell, glad to see you; I can't believeit's nearly four years ago since I took you out on the 'Constellation.'Then you were subdued plebes, and now what a transformation! Here Mr.Stonewell is cadet commander, and I'm not surprised. And, Drake, hereyou are a cadet lieutenant, and I'm told my son Harry is in yourcompany. How is he doing?"
"Very well, captain. He stands fairly well in his class and is verywell liked. He did wonders in football."
"So I've heard, but I want to know whether he runs against theregulations or not, that is, if he has been reported for any seriousoffenses; for instance, to-day is Saturday and he can't come out toAnnapolis on liberty, which means he is not on the first conduct grade.Now what's he been doing? That's what I want to know, and you can tellme because you're his company commander."
"Nothing at all that I can recollect now, sir, or for you to beconcerned about. He has probably been reported for not being turned outat reveille inspection, or late at formation. A few such reports woulddeprive him of Saturday liberty in Annapolis. I'm sure no seriousreports have been made against Harry. Had there been I should haveremembered them."
"And then of course you would speak of them to his family."
"No, sir, I should not wish to."
"Come, Robert," interposed Helen Blunt, "let father talk with Mr.Stonewell. Mr. Stonewell is so solemn and he knows so much that he willjust suit father. Come into the dining-room."
As they walked away Helen said: "Robert, I'm bothered to death aboutHarry and I want you to help me. That brother of mine is going to getinto trouble, trouble bad enough to get him dismissed, and that would bea terrible misfortune for us."
"I don't think there's any danger of that, Helen. Harry is all right;he's just a little careless, that's all."
"Well, Mr. Robert," retorted Helen scornfully, "would you think Harrywas only a little careless if you knew he was up-stairs this instant? Hecomes out in town regularly when he has no right to, and some time hewill be caught. And he will be reported for something much worse thantaking French leave--he will be reported for something that will dismisshim." And pretty Helen was indignant and much concerned over herbrother's recklessness.
"Now, Robert Drake," she continued, "you've just got to help me."
"I wish I could, Helen; I might intimidate Harry, that's about all Icould do. I couldn't appeal to him with any success, I've tried that;he would tell me to mind my own business. Harry doesn't take preachingpatiently. Now another thing, Helen; he is in my company. If you hear Iever report him for anything I want you to believe I had to do it andthat I hated to."
"I'll know that beforehand, Robert," replied Helen gently. "But Harry isvery good about such things; he never talks at home about troubles withother midshipmen. But now he is up-stairs, and he dare not come down,for father would surely see him. Now can't you and Mr. Stonewell startto go soon and ask father to walk to the Academy grounds with you? IfHarry doesn't leave the house soon he will be absent from supperformation, and then he'll have to tell why, and his being out in townwould be found out."
"I can't treat your father that way, Helen; it wouldn't be right at all;but I must go myself now."
As Robert went into the next room to take his leave, he was in a stateof great discomfort. Helen Blunt had thoughtlessly put him into a veryuncomfortable position. From her point of view she felt justified inusing any means to get her father from the house. But Robert felt hecould not be a party to a deception practised upon Captain Blunt, and hewas particularly uneasy as to how Helen would take his refusal. Hefeared that to her his attitude would appear priggish. But his mind wassoon eased in that respect, for Helen said in a low voice: "I shouldn'thave asked you to do that, Robert; that wasn't nice of me. I didn'tthink, but I'm so worried about Harry."
"I'm going to walk to the yard with you," suddenly said Captain Blunt."I'm going to see the commandant for a few minutes, and if you don'tmind walking with an old fellow like me we'll go together."
Robert was much relieved, and all three soon left the house.
Half an hour later supper formation occurred, and Robert was relieved tosee Third Classman Blunt in his customary place in ranks. Toward thatyoung man he now experienced a sentiment of irritation, even ofindignation. He knew that Harry had been taking unauthorized leave, or"Frenching," as it is called, one of the most serious offenses amidshipman can commit, and evidently had been jeopardizing his place asa midshipman. To do this regularly in the face of his family'sprotestations seemed to Robert to be utterly callous.
After supper he accosted Harry and said: "Blunt, you've been Frenching,and you've got to stop it. If you keep it up you will surely be caughtand will stand a good chance of being dismissed. You ought to have someregard for your family, and personally I don't mind saying I'd hate tobe placed in a position where I'd have to report you."
"Drake," replied Harry, "are you advising me as a friend or speaking tome officially as my company commander?"
"As a friend, I hope."
"Well, then," rejoined Harry in a short, snappy way, "as a friend willyou kindly mind your own business?" and the young man started away,whistling as he went, but was instantly stopped by a sharp militaryorder of "Halt." Robert stood before him with flashing eyes, and inmenacing tones said: "I'll not address you again as a friend, Mr.Blunt; you will please to realize that when I speak to you hereafter itwill be your company commander who is talking. And you'll do no morewhistling in my face. That will do, sir. About face, march off."
Harry Blunt had a new sensation; he was actually intimidated. He reallyliked Robert as much as a third classman ever likes a cadet officer, andin his heart was sorry he had provoked Robert's displeasure. "But Drakeis a good chap," he later said to himself; "he'll come around allright."
From here Robert went to his room. "Hello, Bob," greeted Stonewell;"there's a letter for you." Stonewell was busy writing and after a fewmoments he looked up, and suddenly cried out: "Why, Bob, what's thematter; no bad news from home, I hope?"
Robert, with the letter clutched in his hand, and with a quivering chin,looked the picture of woe. He had evidently received some news that madehim very unhappy.
"What's the matter, old chap?" inquired Stonewell anxiously; "somethinghas happened; what is it?" and the comforting kindness of his tone wentstraight to Robert's heart.
"Stone," he said, "this is a letter from father; a month ago the railwaycompany that employed him was reorganized and he lost his position. Hehas been half sick ever since, and it's impossible for him to getemployment. He hadn't intended to tell me, but he felt he ought to. Youknow mother h
as been an invalid for years. Stone, I've got to resign,there's no other way out of it. Mother and father are sick, and no moneyis coming in. I've got to go home to take care of them."
Stonewell regarded him with his eyes full of sympathy. "I'm dreadfullysorry, Bob," he said; "I'm sure your father will get employment. Butdon't talk of resigning; you might find it very difficult to secureemployment for yourself; you're too near graduation to resign, and afteryou graduate you will be in a position to help your father financially,if he needs it. It would distress him terribly if he thought for amoment you contemplated leaving the naval service. I'm going out for awhile, Bob; now don't you feel so badly; I'm sure matters will rightthemselves."
Stonewell left and Robert paced up and down the room with blurred eyesand a sad heart. The condition of his father and mother, ill and withoutresources, filled him with agony. He longed to relieve them from theirtroubles and anxieties; he dreaded the unfriendliness and coldness dealtto people without means, and thinking of the mental torture his fatherwas in overwhelmed him with grief.
Stonewell went out into the city of Annapolis, direct to where theBlunts lived. Here he asked to see Captain Blunt and was soon closetedwith that gentleman.
"Captain," he commenced, "you knew my roommate's father, didn't you, Mr.Drake? I believe he was graduated from Annapolis shortly after youwere."
"Yes, indeed, he was a fine fellow, too; he had a splendid record in thenavy, and it was a great pity he resigned. What about him, Mr.Stonewell?"
"Well, sir, Bob, my roommate, is in great trouble about his father andmother, and as you and Mrs. Blunt are real friends of his I thought I'dtalk to you about it. Of course Bob doesn't know I'm with you. Hisfather has lost his position and has no income, and Bob thinks he oughtto resign to go to Chicago. He feels his duty is to be with his fatherand mother. It would be such a pity for him to resign so near hisgraduation. I thought perhaps you might send for him and influence himmore than I could. I'm sure he'll listen to you."
"By jingo, Stonewell," exploded Captain Blunt, "I'm detached from myship and ordered to duty as secretary of the Light House Board, and onlyto-day received a letter asking me to recommend somebody, preferably onefamiliar with marine matters, to be chief clerk to the board. Drake'sfather would be just the man. He will get living pay and it's a lifeposition. Let me have Mr. Drake's address; I'll write to him to-night."
Upon his return to Bancroft Hall Stonewell found Robert quiet andcomposed, but determined. "I've got to do it, Stone," said Roberthanding his roommate an ominously official-looking paper. In it he hadformally tendered his resignation as a midshipman. "It's a lifetimedisappointment," he continued, "but I've got to go home to my people.They need me. Now I feel you're going to argue with me and I beg you notto attempt to dissuade me; nothing you or anybody could say would changemy determination. I feel terribly about it and you would only make mefeel the worse. Please don't, Stone. I must do my duty to my father andmother."
"I shall not attempt to dissuade you, Bob; I know exactly how you feel.But I'm going to ask you to do something for me. I feel as if it wouldbreak my heart if you were to resign. Now I'm going to ask you to let melend you fifty dollars. You can send this to your father, and if he isin immediate need of money this will help out for a few days. And I wantyou to promise me you will delay your resignation for one week. Surelyyou can do this for me, and I have strong hopes that in a week's timeyou will feel there is no need in Chicago that would compel yourresignation."
"That's awfully good of you, Stone, but can you spare the fifty dollars?I feel I ought to leave immediately, but if I could send father somemoney I might wait a week. The idea of resigning is like death to myhopes."
"Of course I can; you know I've plenty of money," replied Stonewell,jumping up enthusiastically. "I know something good is going to happen,Bob, and don't you worry; you're not going to resign."
Stonewell's happiness was infectious and Robert's heart seemed lightenedfrom a heavy load. Stonewell had gained his point and he did not choosethat Robert should learn from him what Captain Blunt had in his mind forRobert's father.