An Annapolis First Classman
CHAPTER XXVII
ROBERT FINALLY ANSWERS
"What is it, sir?" demanded the commandant, sternly, of MidshipmanBligh.
The latter hesitated for a moment, as if uncertain how best to expresshimself.
"I--I--have heard that some--that some civilian clothing and a falsebeard were found in Mr. Blunt's room this morning--I learned Mr. Bluntwas in your office--and a little while ago I saw Mr. Frank Stonewellcome into the building with his brother. I have thought that perhaps Mr.Blunt is charged with having used that disguise last night; is that so,sir?"
"It is; what do you know about the affair, sir?" returned thecommandant, looking fixedly at Bligh, while Frank Stonewell regarded himwith friendly approval in his expressive face.
"Mr. Blunt is not guilty, sir. I was in possession last night of thethings found this morning in his room."
"And did you accompany Mr. Frank Stonewell in an attempt to steal theexamination last night, sir?"
"I am guilty of having made that attempt, sir."
"Mr. Blunt is also charged with being the person who proposed the threegroans for the superintendent and commandant. Were you guilty of that,too, sir?"
"I was, sir."
When Bligh said this Captain Blunt was undoubtedly the happiest personin the room; he seemed to relax from the strain and tension he had beenon for the past hour; and it is likely that a more crestfallen young manthan Robert Drake would have been hard to find. Relieved as the latterwas, he felt abjectly foolish. He had made a most needless sacrifice; hehad jumped to conclusions and had been entirely wrong.
The commandant was silent for a few moments, apparently lost in thought.He finally remarked: "Mr. Bligh, do you know that this confession ofyours will cause your dismissal from the Naval Academy?"
"Yes, sir," replied Bligh, simply.
"I suppose that you do this to save Mr. Blunt; was this your reason?"
"That was only an incidental cause, sir; the real reason was I wanted todo one decent thing at the Naval Academy. I have done so many thingsthat I am not proud of; and I want to justify Frank Stonewell's beliefthat there is some good in me. I have had a hard time here, sir. Icommenced wrong, and I have been punished severely--for months not onesingle midshipman at the Academy has spoken a friendly word to me. Thensome weeks ago I met Frank Stonewell, and somehow I opened up my heartto him--I was in a bad way at that time; but he made me feel I was nothopelessly bad; it is hard lines, sir, to be made an outcast, a pariah,by one's classmates."
"I see," remarked the commandant, a bit unbelieving and skeptical;"apparently Mr. Frank Stonewell stirred up the good that was in you andthe direct stirring up resulted in your shameful act of last night. Isincerely hope Mr. Frank Stonewell will not try to stir up any more goodat the Naval Academy. But, Mr. Bligh, you at least seem disposed totell the truth. I wish to get to the bottom of this whole affair. Tellme how you got hold of Mr. Blunt's disguise. Did he know of it?"
"No, sir. My room is next to the divisional officer's office, on theground floor. Late one night, months ago, while I was getting a glass ofwater, I observed Mr. Blunt enter that office. Two hours later I saw Mr.Blunt, in disguise, come over the terrace and soon I saw him leave theoffice. I didn't understand it at first, but suddenly it flashed over methat Mr. Blunt kept civilian clothes somewhere in his divisionalofficer's office. Then I knew it was Mr. Blunt in disguise, and not acivilian, who had left and entered that office by the window. So later Itook a wax impression and had a key made for the door of that office; Iwent in one night and found on top of the wardrobe (it is a regularmidshipman's wardrobe) the coat, hat and false beard,--well, that'sabout all, sir. I used them several times besides the twice you knowof."
"That's enough, quite enough to dismiss you from the Naval Academy. I amglad indeed finally to have arrived at the facts. The one thing I cannotunderstand is that after these shameful acts you should talk suchtwaddle about wanting to prove there is some good in you. Faugh! There'sno good in a cheat, and your attempt to steal that examination wascaused by a desire to cheat. You can't convince me there's anythingparticularly good in you by what you have done in the last twenty-fourhours."
"I have no hope of convincing you of anything, sir, except that I andnot Midshipman Blunt am guilty of the offenses charged to him. If I havedone that, sir, I am entirely satisfied. I admit that my intention wasto cheat, but the purpose was to pass the examination, not to passhigher than some rival. It was pretty bad, but not so bad as for amidshipman who is satisfactory to cheat for the purpose of gettinghigher rank. Now as for my purpose in coming before you--I don't know ofany way you could have proved, without my own voluntary confession, thatI and not Mr. Blunt was guilty. Cadet Commander Stonewell has spurnedme. Mr. Blunt has repeatedly treated me with contempt. This resultedfrom my own unfortunate start here; I don't say it wasn't my fault, butI do say that I have been given no chance to retrieve myself. Every onehere seemed to be against me--this was a new experience to me, sir.Every day was full of bitterness and unhappiness. I could not feel I wasso entirely worthless! The groans I proposed were a bubbling over ofthis bitterness; it was not personal to either the superintendent oryourself. At a time when I was ready to do anything vile Mr. FrankStonewell got hold of me and he has made a different man of me, at leastin my own feelings. I have a self-respect now that I had been withoutfor months. In spite of last night's act, I submit, sir, that thisvoluntary statement should show you I am not entirely bad; and what ismore important to me, I believe it will prove to Mr. Frank Stonewellthat I am on the square."
"What is your purpose in telling me all of this stuff, Mr. Bligh?"
"Sir, I want to get a fresh grip on myself; I hope to live aself-respecting life, to make an honorable place for myself in civillife. Can't you see, sir, that I don't want the stigma, the disgrace ofdishonorable expulsion from here just as I commence civil life? Sir, Irequest to be allowed to resign instead of being dismissed. I want achance, sir; I've done mean things here, but even if it is the lastmoment, I've repented; I've done what I could to clear Mr. Blunt."
"There's something in what you say, Mr. Bligh. I deprecate your wrongactions, but I acknowledge you have shown the proper spirit thismorning. Now write out a statement of just what your actions have been,and append to it your resignation. I will endorse this, giving youcredit for your proper act of this morning. Whether you will be allowedto resign or be dismissed will be decided by the superintendent. Iregret you have had such a hard time here; I should be pleased to learnthat from now on you will live a good life. That will do, sir."
Bligh left the room.
"Not altogether bad, is he, captain?" remarked Frank Stonewell, noddingapprovingly at the captain. "I knew he would come up like a man when thetime came."
"I'll have nothing to say to you, sir; I consider your ideas of rightand wrong have but a shadowy boundary between them. I'll not detain youin my office any longer," snapped Commander Dalton.
"Good-day, sir," and with an easy, friendly smile for all FrankStonewell left.
The commandant drew a long breath. "Now, Mr. Blunt," he said, "you arecleared of the worst charges that have been made against you; I desireyou to make a frank statement of your connection with that disguise."
"Captain, I owned it; the disguise is mine. You know, sir, thatmidshipmen do lots of things that are not discovered; if a fellow wouldcheat or do anything dishonorable, none of his classmates would speak tohim; but if he were to 'French' as I have done, he would not lose caste.There are many offenses here of a military nature that a midshipmanmight commit which would be severely punished by the authorities if hewere detected, and yet at which most midshipmen would smile. Well, sir,I have never cheated nor done anything dishonorable; but I did have thisdisguise and 'Frenched' out in Annapolis several times with it on. I didnot propose the three groans that night at the theatre and I was notout of this building last night after seven o'clock."
"Captain Blunt," resumed the commandant, "I don't mind saying that I ammore reli
eved than it is possible to express. Now, Mr. Blunt, did younever fear detection? I am rather interested in this matter."
"Yes, sir. Captain, do you remember the Sunday morning you invited me todine with you?"
"I do, indeed. I recall that at first you were tongue-tied and actedqueerly; then you gushed out words that didn't have much sense. That wasthe next day after the three groans were proposed at the theatre. Iremember it well."
"The night before, sir, Saturday night, I went after my disguiseintending to use it, and it was missing. When you called me up I wasscared; I thought I was found out. Evidently Mr. Bligh had taken it, butI didn't know or imagine he had."
"Who did you imagine had taken the things?"
"I just couldn't imagine, except that some servant might have stolen thedisguise, and then thought better of it and put it back. But no troublecame to me about it, so I didn't worry."
"When you heard about the man in the theatre proposing the three groans,didn't you recognize from his description that it was somebody with yourdisguise on?"
"Why, no, sir. People said it was some cit. I never gave particularthought to that affair."
"Mr. Blunt, you as a third classman have already received one hundredand forty-seven demerits--I have looked up your record. As a thirdclassman you may receive in the year two hundred and fifty demeritswithout being unsatisfactory in conduct. For having civilian clothes inpossession you will receive fifty demerits, and for having been absentfrom academic limits, fifty more. That leaves you only three to run on,but the end of the year is at hand and you should be able to do it.Further, I shall recommend that you be deprived of your September leave.I am sorry, Captain Blunt," he continued, "to punish your son soseverely, but if this had occurred while you were commandant I don'tbelieve you would have been more lenient."
"His actions merit dismissal, Dalton; you have been more than merciful,"replied Captain Blunt grimly. "But at the same time I am glad that myson is not guilty of dishonorable acts, and also that he is not to bedismissed. But, Harry, clear up one more thing. How did those thingshappen to be found in your room?"
"Last night, father, I got to worrying about that disguise and at aboutmidnight I went to the office and got them. I intended to take them outin town to-day. Just as I got into my room Mr. Drake came in and askedwhere Mr. Stonewell was, and saw the coat, hat and beard. Drake lookedwild; I guess he didn't have much sleep last----"
"That's enough, Harry; you're getting a bit too loquacious," interruptedthe young man's father.
During all of this talk Stonewell and Robert were both silent and yetrapt listeners. Not one word had they exchanged, but at times Stonewellregarded Robert with an expression of deep affection, full of concern.And Robert was so full of self-disgust and shame that he dared not lookeither his roommate or Captain Blunt in the face. He felt that his ownaction had been simply ridiculous; that instead of heroism he had beenguilty of foolishness.
"Now, Dalton," remarked Captain Blunt, and his face assumed a look ofintense earnestness and feeling, "everything has come out well for Mr.Stonewell and for my son. I hope you will pardon me for speaking for Mr.Drake. I realize, of course, his offense; and I know that for thisoffense you will be justified in inflicting any punishment up todismissal. I am of course aware of your duties as commandant, of theimperative necessity that discipline must be maintained. And I agreethat he has committed a most serious offense. But, Dalton," and hereCaptain Blunt's voice, rugged veteran though he was, broke with emotion,and in husky tones he continued, "Dalton, Mr. Drake's offense arose fromsentiments that do credit to his heart--his idea was to spare me fromsorrow--and he could not force himself to testify against his roommate.Dalton, is this not a case for mercy? He not only tried to save my boyfor my sake, but three years ago he saved my own life. Dalton--I make apersonal plea for mercy."
Commander Dalton's eyes were shining very bright. He looked at Robertwith an expression that caused him to feel that at least his judge wassympathetic.
"Mr. Drake," he began, "if a midshipman persists in disobedience to thecommandant's orders, if he persists in refusing to answer thecommandant's questions, he must be dismissed; no other action ispossible. You have been asked certain questions which you have not yetanswered; and by now you have had plenty of time to decide your answers.I will repeat my questions. Did you last night detect Cadet CommanderStonewell in an attempt to steal an examination?"
"Sir?" gasped Robert, a flood of joy surging through him.
"Did you, Mr. Drake?"
"I thought I did, sir, but I was mistaken; I know now it was hisbrother, Frank Stonewell," stammered Robert, realizing the purport ofthe commandant's question, yet hardly able to answer through sheerhappiness.
"Did you, Mr. Drake, detect Mr. Harry Blunt in an attempt to steal anexamination last night?"
"I thought I did, sir, but I was mistaken. I know now it was MidshipmanBligh whom I saw."
Commander Dalton smiled happily. "I think this disposes of Mr. Drake'scase," he remarked. "Now, Mr. Blunt, my advice to you is to walk a chalkmark the rest of your time here. Mr. Stonewell, I am sure you willforgive my words. I was mistaken, of course, and was under greatfeeling. You can hardly be happier over the final outcome than I am. Iwill turn your brother's case over to you to handle; he is beyond me. Ican but say I envy you the friend you possess. Evidently Mr. Drake wouldsacrifice his career rather than contribute to his friend's disgrace.And yet he could not lie, even to save that friend. Gentlemen, we've hada hard morning, and deep feelings have been stirred. I think this isall. Captain Blunt, are you ready to leave?"