The Marines Have Landed

kept his own counsel as to his movements when away from home. Even his sister Ursula was not taken into his confidence. In the mea

ert and Tommy Turner and many of Gordon's cl

under the train shed. "It will be fearfully strange down there with none of the

d. "I expect to be leaving t

Ursula approached them at that moment, and Dick gave a w

ould have much preferred to say his adieus to Ursula with no others present. Strange he never before realized what a beautiful girl she had

h in hand ready to give the starting signal to the engineer. The po

sp than he knew, and though he nearly crushed the bones, she never gave the l

she threw her arms around him. "Don't

iously gruff tone, and in a moment more Gordon mounted the steps where f

at the top of his lungs, and with that rousing cry ringing

was engaged with some business paper

pt your work for a lit

ed Mr. Comstock, laying aside the documen

you are going to New Yo

siness there fo

ht go along with yo

or a moment, wondering what was behind the

Mr. Comstock. "Want to spend a we

you what it is until we get on the train. It's a matter I have been thinking over

to his work; "pack up and be ready to leave in

and thank you,"

ng look the boy gave the familiar scene before him, as if bidding it a silent last "good-night." For Dic

had ever known him, and both she and his sister Ursula were

ke you on for a visit with Cousin Ella?" Although Dick had not said that this was his object in going away, it was a natural i

s, and while his father finished reading the morning paper, Dick spent his time in looking out

to do," he began, "but I can't

folding his paper and smiling at the boy beside

ved, "I'd finish my course there at

is four years at

ime I was twenty-one years old I would, if successful at either institu

, still unable to comprehend where

States Marine Corps?" asked Dick af

every good American who has his country's welfare at heart should be, I might add, though perhaps I know a little more about them than a vast majority. Were it not for the marines our firm would have lost thousands of dollars some years ago when the revolutionists started burning up the sugar mil

slowly and haltingly, "I've made up my mind to become a Marine Officer, and if

going to the Naval Academy this year, and I understand that all marine officers are appointe

hem enlist and go up from the ranks. They win their shoulder straps on their own merit. That's what I expect to do if you will

ed and when he began speaking he reached out a

I suspected you were grieving over your disappointment at my inability to send you to the Naval School or possibly over the depa

sed a moment and

lity of permitting you to become an ordinary enlisted man with that uncertainty of ever gaining your point--I imagine it is a more or less uncertain proposition. Besides, Dick, you are pretty young to be allowed to start out on such a hard life. The career of an enlisted man is not a bed of roses--full of trials and temptations of all kinds. At West Point or Annapolis you will be given kind treatment

en to think of that, or she would have made me wait a few days before going to Cousin Ella's, where she believes I have gone. You know, Dad, that for years I've been able to blow a bugle and handle the drumsticks better

ion to the rank of corporal and sergeant. I've been talking with Tommy's uncle, and he was kind enough to have me meet an officer of Marines stationed at the Navy Yard back home, who recently came from recruiting duty. That officer, Lieutenant Stanton is his name, told me that the Corps is filled up just now, and all enlisting stopped, so that my only chance to get

musics." On board ship the sailor man who blows the trumpet is called a "bugler

ch he ever had made in his life, and as he watched his fathe

st might be the very worst step he possibly could take, for he knew the process of reasoning by which this purposeful, upri

tle time to think this over. It is a little sudden

both. He saw that the lad was bent upon carrying out his project; that the boy had given it careful t

ment did the father doubt that his son if gi

g station to-day on our arrival?" asked Mr. Comst

York the government sends me to

ortable hotel. To-morrow I will go to the Commandant of the Marine Corps with you, armed with a letter of introduction, and we will talk it over with him. In this way I shall have a muc

thusiasm. "You are just the finest Dad in the world! And what is best of all about your pla

will be heart-broken at first, and probably will accuse me of being an unworthy parent; so, my boy, it is

t need to tell you that

luckily making good connections for Washington, and t

the Capitol building; the tall white shaft of Washington Monument, the imposing architecture of the State, War and N

s was in a near-by office building. The original structure built for the Navy was even then getting too small for the business of its many bureaus. The build

ence of officers or men in the dress of their calling. This seemed very odd to the boy, as he always pictured

see so few uniforms in t

ed to do so.[#] Our nation is so democratic that they believe it makes them appear conspicuous. Furthermore, in uniform they are often discriminated against, particularly in the ca

when off duty and outside their ship or station. Enlisted men were also permitted to wear civilian clothing w

hing a fellow can wear. I'll be mighty prou

usually given every consideration, or at least the officers are, and particularly in Germany, where militarism is the first word in culture. The United States,

of men in uniform bac

he frequent visits of the men-of-war in our harbor. So we at home are familiar with the different branches

wherein the headquarters of the Marine

e some marines now; are

ss buttons down the front and yellow and red chevrons on the arms, trousers adorned with bright red stripes and blue caps surmounted by the Co

nk it's the best looking outfit I have ever seen, but, Dad, yo

knowledge of their uniforms, D

r the Spanish War, and he has always kept his uniforms. He believes that some day he may need them again

k and Richard were whisked up several stories in an elevator and found themsel

hey entered and inquired their business

, and I will see if the Gener

eared into an adjoining room. A few moments late

gentleman standing behind the desk when they entered. He too was in civilian

rd to the General and then to

preliminary steps. I understand that you are not recruiting just at present, but we

or a moment, "but your son, I fear, is too old; the ages for this class of enlistment are fr

and I was hoping that you might enlist him to-day. My son's object in going into the Corps is to work for a co

om graduates of the Naval Academy or from the ranks. There have been times

nds that his advancement depends entirely on his own merit, and he has taken

few, and picked for their exceptionally good records and ability, and that he serv

d Richard, speaking

, and after graduation come into the Corps?" asked

to get the appointmen

nt things connected with the life of an enli

I believe I c

ps is 'Semper Fidelis--Always Faithful,' and to be a true marine you must bear that motto i

ned to Dic

e oath of allegiance. In your son's case, I believe he knows what he wants, and he is the kind of young man we wish to get. Were he compelled to wait according to our usual custom he would be past the age limit, consequently I wil

e on a street car bound for the barracks, where the School for Musics was located. Arriving there they soon found themselves in the pre

said, and calling an orderly directed him to escort Dick to the exa

re. On many occasions the Corps has acted independently and also with the Army, which is provided for in the statutes. Being attached to the Navy and operating

on, one even more thorough than usual, and after Dick h

an youth I have ever examined. He is so clean limbed a

attendant orderly, returned to th

having glanced at the slip of paper the orderly handed him; "you are

was Dick's lac

geant Major. "Sergeant Major, this young man is to be enlis

ck took the solemn oath of allegiance to his country, which so few young men seriously consi