CHAPTER XXI
Gridley Seniors Whoop It Up
"Oh, so many, so many congratulations, Dick!" came the responseto Prescott's eagerly imparted information.
"And so you missed the dance just because you could sympathizewith some one else's worry?" demanded Dick. "But say! The eveningis still young, as dances go. Couldn't you get dressed in a littlewhile? Then we could both go and celebrate my good luck."
"I'm dressed," came the demure answer.
"What? Oh---well, now, that's nice of you-----"
"I have been expecting this good news," laughed Laura. "And soI've been dressed all evening, on the chance."
"And you'll go to the class ball if I come around quickly?"
"It would be mean of you not to come and take me, Dick!"
"I'll have to change," declared Dick. "But that never takes aboy long. Won't I be around to your house in short order, though!"
Dick rang off and started to bound upstairs, but a new ting-lingsounded on the 'phone bell.
"Here's another party been trying to get you," announced central."Go ahead."
"Hullo, Dick," sounded a low, pleased voice. "I hope you've calledup Laura."
"Just rang off, Dave."
"Then you know that the girls didn't go to the class ball to-night,but just dressed and waited on the chance of hearing from us.I'm on the jump to dress, but I'll meet you there, Dick."
Dick took only time to explain the change in his night's plansto his parents. Then he bounded off upstairs, but soon came downagain, looking a bit dandyish in his best, and very happy intothe bargain.
When Dick arrived at Dr. Bentley's home an automobile stood infront of the house. Dick recognized it, however, as the doctor'smachine with the doctor's man at the lever.
The instant that Prescott put his finger on the bell button Lauraherself opened the door. She was radiant of face and exquisitein ball costume as she threw open the door and stood framed there,the light behind her.
"Oh, I'm so glad, Dick, so glad!" came her ready greeting. "Comein. I'm all ready but the wrap, but father and mother wish tobe among the first to congratulate you."
In the doctor's office stood Dr. and Mrs. Bentley. They greetedDick cordially and expressed delight over his success.
"But this is only the first ditch taken, you know," spoke Prescottsoberly, though in military phrase. "I have my chance now; thatis all. I have more than four years of hard fight facing mebefore I am sure that the Army can be my career."
"You'll make it, Prescott, just as you've made everything you'vegone after at High School," replied Dr. Bentley heartily. "But,now that we've congratulated you, we mustn't keep you an instantlonger from your classmates. I had just come in with my car,and Laura told me, so I directed my man to wait. He'll take youboth along the road in short order. Good night, my boy!"
Laura brought her wrap, holding it out to Dick.
"If you're to be a gallant Army officer," she teased, "you mustlearn to do this sort of thing gracefully."
Blushing, Dick did his best. Then the young people went out.Dick helped his companion into the car, then seated himself besideher.
"We're going to pick up Dave and Belle," Laura explained, as thecar moved swiftly away. "Then we'll all go in together."
One fellow had beaten them to the class ball, and that fellowwas Tom Reade. How he ever did it no one will be able to guess,but Tom flew home, got into his best, and had reached the ballbefore these young people appeared on the scene.
The happy young candidates-elect went with their companions tothe cloak room. Then, Laura on Dick's arm, and Belle clingingto Dave, the two couples entered the ballroom. The strains ofa waltz were floating out. Abruptly the music ceased in themiddle of the air, for Reade, standing beside the director, hadmotioned him to cease playing.
"Classmates and friends!" bellowed Reade, "it is my proud opportunityto-night to be able to be the first to announce to you some wonderfulgood news. To-day Dick Prescott, of ours, defeated all othercompetitors, and has secured the appointment from this districtto the United States Military Academy!"
"Wow! Whoop!" That announcement had them all going. There wasone tremendous, increasing din of noise. But Tom, jumping upand down, waving both arms and scowling fiercely, finally securedsilence.
"Who's doing this announcing?" he demanded. "Who's master ofceremonies, if I am not. You just wait---all of you! I'll giveyou the cue when to turn the noise-works loose. As I just stated,it's Dick for West Point, but or, and---it's Dave Darrin for Annapolisat the same time. Yes, Dave is going to represent this districtat Annapolis!"
The musicians were on their feet by this time. All with a rushthe sweet, proud strains rang out:
_"My country, 'tis of thee,Sweet land of liberty,Of thee I sing!"_
Instantly all stood at attention, the young men all over the hailholding themselves with especial erectness. Not a voice was hearduntil the good old refrain was through. To the two happy chums"America" had a newer, stronger meaning. The spirited air cameto them with a new meaning that had never been plain before.
Dick felt the tears in his eyes. Foolish, o course, buthe couldn't help it! And choky Dave furtively wished that hedared reach for his handkerchief with all those hundreds of eyesturned on him.
As the music came to an end the High School boys filled theirlungs for a mighty cheer. Quick as a flash, however, the leaderof the orchestra tapped his baton, then swung it once more, andthe instruments leaped on into:
"_Columbia, the gem of the ocean_!"
That was for the Navy, of course, and one didn't have to keepquiet, either. Words of the song, and cheers, mingled with themusicians' strains.
And then it wound up in a cheer and a mad rush of yelling thatmust have been heard for a mile.
An impromptu reception and hand shaking followed, but to Dickand Dave, and their partners, it had more the look of a mob.
It was a joyous and big-hearted mob, though, and in time it quieteddown. After a very long interruption the dancing started again,and Dick and Dave were able to whirl away with their partners.
As the next dance after that, started there was a sudden haltby many of the couples, and soon a roar of laughter ascended.For the orchestra had chosen, as the air, "The Girl I Left BehindMe."
This air will always be associated with the United Service---theArmy and Navy. It is a rollicking, jolly, spirited old tune,as it needs must be for "The Girl I Left Behind Me" is the tunethat is played when the country's defenders, in war time, aremarching away for the front, after just having said the last goodbyeto mother, sister and sweetheart.
Just now, however, the old air had none of the tragic connectedwith it. It was all in the spirit of fun. Laura, blushing furiously,and Belle striving to appear wholly unconscious, but strivingtoo hard, lent all the more merriment to the moment.
"It's that confounded old idiot, Tom Reade," muttered Dave tohis partner. "I wonder how many more such tricks he knows!"
Presently came "The Army Lancers," and that brought out a rightroyal good cheer. Two numbers after that, came "A Life on theOcean Wave," and more cheers.
It was after three in the morning when the gay affair broke up.But who cared for that? Class balls come but once a year.
Right after "Home, Sweet Home," which wound up the ball, the orchestraadded a number, "The Star Spangled Banner."
Both Dick and Dave reached home pretty thoroughly tired out, afterhaving seen their girl friends home. Neither boy rose much beforenoon the day following.
Dick and Dave remained enrolled at High School until the ChristmasHolidays, then dropped out, having ended the term.
Each boy had other studies with which he wished to busyhimself---studies that would have a direct bearing on the stiffentrance examinations at West Point and Annapolis. The rest oftheir time, until they reported at their respective NationalAcademies, they intended to devote to these other studies to makedoubly sure of their success.
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Dick's notification from the Secretary of War arrived on Christmasmorning.
"The grandest Christmas present. I ever had!" muttered Dick,gazing at the single sheet, the words on which were couched instiff official language.
Dave Darrin fumed a good deal, for it was nearly a month laterbefore he received his notification from the Secretary of theNavy. It came at last, however, and Darrin knew what postponedhappiness means.