Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz: Fighting with the U.S. Navy in Mexico

ing, Danny boy?" asked Dave Darr

Dalzell. "The first thing I want is a hot bath,

. "I wanted an hour's

ave the first hot bath, and be as long about it as I please. Then I'll get into pajamas

about quitting yo

ith you," Dan promptly assured his chum. "So l

omise," laughed Darrin. "On the wh

I'm going to change my mind and go out with you. I

on't want to go o

out; I want that bath and I'm tired. Ye

l and have your bath, I'll go out and pay my very slight respects to Broadway. Doubtless, b

ou really d

hap! So long! Back

hat connected their tw

in stepped into

y hat and stepped to his room door. In another half minute he

ailored. Yet, save for his erect, military carriage, there was nothing to distinguish him from the tho

w on that gaily lighted main thoroughfare of New York was int

e east side of Broadway,

to them, profitable round of New York's night sights. Human harpies, in the form of "confidence men"--swindlers on the lookout for prey--glanced but once at the young naval ensign, then

e restaurants came the sounds of music and

assing the corner of a side street quieter than the

ick, and throwing his shoulders back, Darrin s

s strikingly pretty, Dave did not note that fact in the first glance. He saw, however, that she was well dr

ppearance of the gentleman was

young woman's in

cow

n thrown at me," the youn

plied the girl, more calmly, though bitterness rang in her tone. "

air of one who knows himself to be victor. "In fact

poke the girl,

the dust," insisted the annoyer, "and, remember,

e young woman. "And now our interview is over. I am go

stepped forward, holding out his hand, as though to sei

attempt to follow me," warned the young

their quarrel that neither had noti

n went white, "Make your appeal,"

ed to take the g

dam?" inquired Darrin, a

wheeled upon Darrin, his

ng you can possibly do will be to make yourself scar

earer to the young woman, wh

d quietly b

talk with you," Darrin suggested, "y

ler than himself, broader of shoulder and deeper of chest. He had the same confidence of athletic poise that

assurance. Plainly, there was some good reason why he did

rning, "may I have the pleasure o

l a taxi---" she

b turned the corner of Broadway

the cab stopped at the curb, Dave turned his back upon the torment

rt," asked Darrin, "or may I offer my ser

strous brown eyes vanishing as she favored her unknown defender with a smile. "I

dered the unknown man

and ente

in's right fist landed heavily on the face of t

rove as fast as he could down the side street, making the round of the block, then hea

llow was on his feet like a flash. Ignoring Darrin, he

hold of the fellow, and swinging him

of that taxicab," cried

n the next corner. "You won't learn the number. I

ly give me the number of that taxicab. Find that girl I must, and as early as possible. Tho

turned as though to

i's number," insi

Dave return

that numb

ng and glancing contemptuously

mber out of you!" cam

ould, for I see a policeman coming up the street. He would be bound to arrest both of us.

rief struggle, took place in the stranger'

shall not get off so easily," muttered the o

ter him. By the time the naval ensign reached the corner of that great artery of hum

I shall know him," laughed Darrin. "My first blow put

d his walk, turning

bly in his pajamas, was reading a late edition of the evening

ic," smiled Darrin, and told

hed the scoundrel,

't for the shame of treating a woman in such high-handed fashion as th

ded Dalzell, with one of the grins that had made him famous. "Humph! If he finds you after ten o`clock to

ot satisfied with the one blow that I had the pleasure of giving him. I'd like to me

ver meet him again?"

" Dave returned. "I must get int

ing good night to his chum. Then he retired to his own

in the pages of the "Grammar School Boys Series." All our readers are familiar with the careers in sport and adventure that were achieved by those splendid Gridley boys, Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Greg Holmes, Dan Dalzel

ths after that the six were separated. The further fortunes of Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes are then found in the "West Point Series," while the careers

e upon them when they have become commissioned officers in the Navy. They are now seen at the outset of thei

see much of active naval service, though as y

nd former followers, styling themselves the "Constitutionalists" had taken to the field in rebellion against the proclaimed authority of the dictator, Huerta. The two factions had long fought fiercely, and between the two warri

, and now these European governments looked askance at the Washington gove

f the United States, the Washington government had moved slowly, expressing i

er Americans demanded a policy of active intervention in Mexico to end the uncertainty and the misery cau

will once more turn to the fo

om. It continued to ring until Darrin rose, took down the receiver, and

ed from the bathroom. "Come, now, s

ust one bare foot out

a-going order, sir?"

aye,

ll, until I have been through

m the bathroom came the sounds of a

presently, through the closed bathroom door.

young naval officers left their rooms, each carrying a suit case. To the top of ea

asted, glancing, in the mean

ng naval officers, bent on joining their ship, ste

ace. Sailors, marines and off

ped; heavy drays carried these pieces of steel; monster cranes hoisted them aboard ships lying at the docks or standing shored up in the dry docks. There was noi

e boys crossed the great yard a cruiser was being

oyers. A naval collier was being coaled. A Navy launch was in sight and comin

great nation, yet that might was not at all in pro

t to be in a place like this,

ent increasing, he turned to a marine who stood at a

!" Dave

, the marine recognized these young men in civilian attire as naval officers. Promptly his

ct me to the `Long Isla

stepping closer, led the way

marine, a minute later, pointing. "Shall I

ssary, thank you,

he strong, proud lines of the dreadnought on which they were to serve, their staunch young hearts swelled with pride. And there, over the battleship's stern

tened on in silence. Up the gang-plank they strode. At a word from the officer on deck, two young sailors, s

g. Bringing their heels together, standing erect, they faced the Stars and Stripes, flying at the stern, bringing th

zell approached the

and I report having c

d his own arrival

as he extended his right hand to each, in turn. "I ho

new ensigns. Dave and Dan followed the messengers through a corridor that led past the ward-room. The messenge

nger, in the precise tones of the service, wh

ning rooms," laughed Dave, when he reali

glance rested lovingly on the breech of a huge gu

ilantly. "I shall have an emblem and a consta

polished top of a desk, over

ace, screening the room from outside view. At one side, in the cabin,

ning his suit case, he took out the trousers and blouse of the blue undress uniform. Into this he change

his sword at his side. An anxious head-to-foot glance

d to Dan's do

me in, ol

tate of mind if you don

ng the finishing touches

who already held a card of his own. Adding Dan's to that, En

!" Dave

stepping forward and giv

d for a messe

aye,

the messenger a

l compliments of Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell, and sta

aye,

ger returned, stating that the c

his desk in his office as the two young ensigns stepped through the door

xtending his hand, which Dave prom

Then, to the marine orderly who stood just within the

liked the looks of the ship," Dalzell complai

ged Darrin, rebukingly. "Th

e communicative, talking pleasantly with them for fully a minute and a half after the young men had introduce

"you will be in Lieutenant Trent's division. Find Mr. Trent on the quarter deck and report to him. Mr.

zell had thoroughly liked the appearance of Trent in their brief meeting, an

e port side of the ship, Cantor'

d before a curtaine

?" called a

ng Ensign Darrin to Li

rrin, wait just an instant won'

good

r the hail ca

inside,

not believe his eyes when he found himself faced by the man who had annoyed the young woman on the n