An Annapolis First Classman Part 28

demanded the commandant in a stern tone.

"I was sitting in my room when my brother John bolted in and pulled me out in a rush. He gave me no time to change."

"Where did you get that uniform?"

"Oh, it's John's. He has come out frequently to see me and brought it over one day. It's much more comfortable to sit about in than that bobtailed stiff jacket mids.h.i.+pmen wear."

"Humph! Two mids.h.i.+pmen were seen stealing an examination last night. One was recognized to be your brother. What have you to say to that, sir?"

"Do you believe that, sir?"

"I believe it to such an extent that I told him he would be dismissed from the Naval Academy for scandalous crimes. I accused him also of lying and of being a shameless hypocrite."

"I think you have an apology to make, captain, if that is your t.i.tle,"

remarked Frank Stonewell, in great good nature. "John was in Was.h.i.+ngton last night. And John isn't that kind of a fellow; evidently you don't know him."

"Well, if your brother didn't do it, then you did."

"You may find some trouble in proving that."

"Mr. Drake, was this the man you saw last night?" shouted the commandant angrily to Robert.

Before he had finished his question, Stonewell said quickly to his brother, in a low imperative tone: "Acknowledge it, Frank. Don't force Drake either to refuse to answer or to tell on you."

"I was the man, I acknowledge it," quickly interposed Frank Stonewell.

"You are a brother to be proud of, aren't you?" announced the commandant scornfully. "In your brother's absence, donning his uniform, you committed a despicable act, trusting if caught that his uniform and the marked resemblance you bear to him would throw the blame and shame on him."

"Not at all, captain," replied Frank Stonewell, in an easy manner as one talking socially with a friend; and it was a sharp contrast to the deference and crisp military replies of the others. "Not at all; you mistake the purpose of my wearing his uniform. It was to permit me to be about the grounds and buildings at night; as a civilian the watchmen would have fired me out; but rigged up in this way I would never be questioned. And as for throwing blame or shame on him; before he came for me this morning I knew I might have been seen and mistaken for him.

No blame could come to him because I have been ready to acknowledge the facts."

"You are brazen, sir; you have done a shameful deed, you have disgraced your brother. But I am glad to know that the shame I thought was his belongs to you. I am indeed relieved to know he is guiltless. I pity him for the burden of disgrace in having such a brother."

"Pardon me, captain. This is something of an academic question. What may be shameful for John or any other mids.h.i.+pman is not necessarily so to a civilian owing no allegiance to your Naval Academy. I have never lied or cheated, I have never broken a promise--I have never done a dishonorable act. I admit having engaged in some quiet larks at college, and other places--this is one of them, that's all."

"You are a burglar; you could be sent to prison."

"Oh, I think not, captain; I think you'd have hard work to convince any jury of that."

The commandant was furious; Frank Stonewell was cool and entirely self-possessed and not at all intimidated. None of the others present attempted to say a word. Robert Drake listened with absorbing interest.

A great load had been lifted from him, and in spite of his own unfortunate position great happiness had suddenly come to him in the knowledge that John Stonewell's character was as clean and true as he had always believed it to be.

"If you have cleared your brother, Mr. Frank Stonewell, there is one person you cannot clear, and that is the contemptible mids.h.i.+pman who was with you," vehemently exclaimed the commandant.

Frank Stonewell was silent.

"Do you deny, sir, that a mids.h.i.+pman accompanied you last night?"

"I will answer only such questions as concern myself," replied Frank decidedly.

"I know your companion, sir, and I'll show him to you." And turning abruptly toward Harry Blunt he exclaimed, "Come over here, and let Mr.

Frank Stonewell look at you."

As Frank looked up into Harry Blunt's face, he said coolly enough, "Who are you?"

"Who is he?" almost shouted Commander Dalton. "Do you mean to say you don't know who he is?"

"I never saw him before in my life. What has he to do with this matter?"

"He's Harry, the Harry you spoke to last night."

"Harry? Harry who? I never spoke to him in my life."

"He's the Harry of the false beard, the Harry who proposed three groans for the superintendent and commandant, the Harry who accompanied you last night, for whom you tried to steal an examination."

"Oh, I think not. I don't know who this chap is; he was not with me last night; I never saw him before. Look here, captain, I hope you navigate better than you investigate," rejoined Frank Stonewell, in a disgusted tone; "if you don't I fear you will b.u.mp into every rock that is hanging about loose."

"Mr. Stonewell," said Commander Dalton to the cadet commander, "you told me your brother would speak the truth. Now, Mr. Frank Stonewell," he continued, "your companion was a mids.h.i.+pman disguised in this beard and with this coat and hat on. He was recognized by this colored man who had seen Mr. Harry Blunt at one time remove this disguise. There is every reason to believe that Mr. Drake had previously seen Mr. Blunt in this disguise. Mr. Drake evidently believed he saw your brother last night, and also Mr. Blunt, but he has refused to answer about either, for which he will be dismissed. I will add that this disguise was found in Mr. Blunt's room. Now, what have you to say about this matter?"

Frank, with all the appearance of keen interest, listened to the commandant. "I would say that Drake is a bully good chap," he burst out enthusiastically, "a fellow to tie to; this must be a queer place if you fire such a fellow for standing by a chum. John has told me that Drake was the very best fellow who ever lived," he ran on. "I guess he's all right," and Frank looked over at Robert and gave him a friendly nod.

The commandant looked the rage he felt and no doubt would have liked to inflict the punishment of double irons upon this insolent, effervescent trifler. He darted an extinguis.h.i.+ng glance upon him and turned toward Captain Blunt and said:

"Captain Blunt, I can get nothing from this man. Do you wish to ask him any questions?"

"I do indeed, Dalton. Mr. Stonewell, Mr. Blunt is my son. He stands accused of having attempted, while in your company, and while in this disguise, to steal an examination. My son admits that the disguise is his property, and has been for months; but he most solemnly a.s.sures me he was not with you last night, that he was not out of this building after seven o'clock. For this offense, of which you say he is guiltless, he stands recommended to be dismissed. Now I call upon you to state who was the man that was with you."

"Your son was not with me; I shall make no further statement than that."

"Do you mean that you would allow an innocent person to be punished?"

"I mean I will tell the truth. I never saw your son to my knowledge till I entered this office. If after my statement the authorities dismiss him the fault is theirs, not mine. I should regret to see this done, but I shall not try to find somebody to take his place."

"But how do you account for my son being recognized as the person with you?"

Frank Stonewell seized the hat and beard and quickly hooked the latter over his ears. He then suddenly a.s.sumed a bent-over position and leaning over toward Grice said: "Did you ever see me before?"

"Fer goodness' sake, suh, I does berlieve yo' wuz de young gemman in dose whiskers."

Tossing the hat and beard to one side Frank Stonewell laughed and said: "It was the beard and hat that were recognized, not your son, sir."

Hardly had he spoken when the door of the commandant's office opened, and a mids.h.i.+pman entered unannounced.

"What is it, sir? Why do you enter my office without permission?"

inquired the commandant.

"I think I'm needed in this investigation, sir," replied the mids.h.i.+pman, a tall, broad-shouldered young man, athletic of build, of rather pleasant features, and with stern resolution written in his face.

"I am Mids.h.i.+pman Bligh of the fourth cla.s.s."