CHAPTER XXVI
COMMANDER DALTON BECOMES ANGRY
"This matter isn't settled yet, sir," continued Stonewell. "A manaccused has a right to offer a defense: I insist on that right. First, Iam not guilty. I shall have no trouble in proving my innocence. I shallleave your office for a few minutes and will return with the proof ofthat innocence. And as I have been charged with scandalous acts in thepresence of everybody here in your office, I have to request that theyall remain until I return and that no further action be taken until I amback."
"Just a moment, Mr. Stonewell," called out the commandant, but theformer, paying no attention to this order, hurriedly left the office.
Commander Dalton looked undecided. "I don't understand this at all. Mr.Stonewell should not have left at this time."
"I think you had better let him go, Dalton; he is entitled to present adefense if he has one," observed Captain Blunt.
"Of course, but he had the opportunity right here; Blunt, do you wish toquestion your son?"
"After Mr. Stonewell returns I would like a chance to talk privatelywith Harry and with Mr. Drake."
"Father," started Harry Blunt, appealingly, "I will admit that----"
"Keep quiet, will you?" interrupted his father fiercely. "Dalton, Idon't want my boy to say a word. Look at him; he is entirely unstrung,and in his condition I fear he may be tempted to untruth. Bad as thingsare, I must save him from that if I can."
"Father," pleaded Harry, imploringly, "let me speak--I deny that----"
"Harry, don't say a word. There is no hurry about this; Dalton, have youany objection to my having a private talk now with my son?"
"None at all, Captain Blunt. Take him into this rear office."
When the captain passed Robert on his way to the rear office, he said tohim sadly: "Mr. Drake, don't hesitate to tell the facts; you haveproved you will not tell an untruth, that you will resign sooner than doso. But don't spoil your whole career by trying to defend one sounworthy as my son has proved to be. And if you have any notion, asimplied by Mr. Stonewell's words, that you are under obligations to me,I assure you there is no such debt; and even if you feel that there isone, I freely absolve you from it. Come, Mr. Drake, have you seen Harryin that disguise? Was he the one guilty of that shameful insult to thesuperintendent and commandant? Did you detect a person in that disguisein the act of stealing an examination last night? These are now myquestions, Mr. Drake, not the commandant's; I beg of you to answer themfrankly."
"Thank you, Captain Blunt," replied Robert, huskily; "but I haveresigned, and I request to be excused from answering questions." CaptainBlunt passed out of the room with his son. Commander Beckwith nowexcused himself for a few minutes, and there remained in the room onlyRobert, Grice and the commandant. The latter busied himself writing,with never a glance at Robert. Old Grice rolled his eyes, fearfullyapprehending some disaster to himself.
All the midshipmen were out of the building, and absolute stillness,save for the mournful tick-tock of the clock, reigned in Bancroft Hall.Outside the rain came down steadily, and Robert Drake felt burdened witha hopeless sadness. He now fully realized that his silence would in noway help or save Stonewell or Harry Blunt; that its only result would behis own dismissal; and yet there was not in his mind any tinge of regretthat he had refused to disclose what he knew. Better to go out andcommence over again than to stay in by taking part in the disgrace ofStonewell and Captain Blunt's son. In regard to Stonewell, Robert's mindwas in a state of disordered confusion. Stonewell's manner and bearingwere at utter variance with the idea of guilt; as much so as had beenhis previous character. And it was inconceivable that anythingimaginable could have induced him to steal an examination. And so thelong minutes passed with Robert's mind going through a bewildered maze.
Commander Beckwith was the first to return, saying as he came in thedoor: "I have been with the officer-in-charge; but I see Mr. Stonewellis returning; he'll be here in a moment."
"Come in the office, please," called out the commandant, to CaptainBlunt, and when the latter returned accompanied by Harry, he lookedabout as bewildered and perplexed as he did before he left.
When Stonewell left the commandant's office it was at a dead run.Outside of Bancroft Hall he gave no heed to the "Keep-off-the-grass"signs; he plunged over the lawn toward Maryland Avenue gate at more thanfootball speed. Just outside the gate was a public automobile. He jumpedinto it crying: "Conduit Street. Rush for your life; I'll double yourfare."
When Stonewell returned to the commandant's office, he was followed byanother young man in midshipman's uniform. And strange to say the youngman's coat had five golden stripes on his sleeve--strange because thereis but one cadet commander at a time at the Naval Academy.
"Captain, this is my brother, Frank Stonewell," said Stonewell simply.
"Your brother, Frank Stonewell!" ejaculated Commander Dalton, in tonesof stupefied amazement, "Your brother, Frank Stonewell!" he repeated inthe same manner. He looked at Stonewell and then at his brother Frankand was speechless.
"Oh, Stone!" cried Robert Drake, with joy radiating his face. "Oh,Stone, how could I have doubted you?"
"Mr. Drake, I don't blame you for mistaking Mr. Frank Stonewell for hisbrother; if that is what you did," finally said the commandant; for thelikeness of the two brothers was marvelous, and the resemblance evenextended to the tones of their voices. They were of the same height andbuild. Frank Stonewell had the same expression, the same features as hadhis brother. Seeing them together one could detect a difference, butapart one would certainly be taken for the other.
"I was in Washington last night, sir. I spent the night at the house ofmy congressman, Mr. Blake. We were talking together between ten andeleven o'clock. You will have no trouble in ascertaining whether or notthis statement is correct. My brother was in Annapolis at that time. Hehas been here for some weeks, living in Conduit Street. I have not toldhim why he was wanted here nor have we talked about what may havehappened last night. Perhaps he may imagine. Whatever he may have done,I believe you may accept his statement as truthful."
"Will you please tell me, sir, what you are doing in that uniform?"demanded the commandant in a stern tone.
"I was sitting in my room when my brother John bolted in and pulled meout 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 itover one day. It's much more comfortable to sit about in than thatbobtailed stiff jacket midshipmen wear."
"Humph! Two midshipmen were seen stealing an examination last night. Onewas 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 dismissedfrom the Naval Academy for scandalous crimes. I accused him also oflying and of being a shameless hypocrite."
"I think you have an apology to make, captain, if that is your title,"remarked Frank Stonewell, in great good nature. "John was in Washingtonlast night. And John isn't that kind of a fellow; evidently you don'tknow 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 commandantangrily to Robert.
Before he had finished his question, Stonewell said quickly to hisbrother, in a low imperative tone: "Acknowledge it, Frank. Don't forceDrake 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 commandantscornfully. "In your brother's absence, donning his uniform, youcommitted a despicable act, trusting if caught that his uniform and themarked resemblance you bear to him would throw the blame and shame onhim."
"Not at all, captain," replied Frank Stonewell, in an easy manner as onetalking socially with a friend; and it was a sharp contrast to thedeferen
ce and crisp military replies of the others. "Not at all; youmistake the purpose of my wearing his uniform. It was to permit me to beabout the grounds and buildings at night; as a civilian the watchmenwould have fired me out; but rigged up in this way I would never bequestioned. And as for throwing blame or shame on him; before he camefor 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 thefacts."
"You are brazen, sir; you have done a shameful deed, you have disgracedyour brother. But I am glad to know that the shame I thought was hisbelongs to you. I am indeed relieved to know he is guiltless. I pityhim for the burden of disgrace in having such a brother."
"Pardon me, captain. This is something of an academic question. What maybe shameful for John or any other midshipman is not necessarily so to acivilian owing no allegiance to your Naval Academy. I have never lied orcheated, I have never broken a promise--I have never done a dishonorableact. I admit having engaged in some quiet larks at college, and otherplaces--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 anyjury of that."
The commandant was furious; Frank Stonewell was cool and entirelyself-possessed and not at all intimidated. None of the others presentattempted to say a word. Robert Drake listened with absorbing interest.A great load had been lifted from him, and in spite of his ownunfortunate position great happiness had suddenly come to him in theknowledge that John Stonewell's character was as clean and true as hehad always believed it to be.
"If you have cleared your brother, Mr. Frank Stonewell, there is oneperson you cannot clear, and that is the contemptible midshipman who waswith you," vehemently exclaimed the commandant.
Frank Stonewell was silent.
"Do you deny, sir, that a midshipman accompanied you last night?"
"I will answer only such questions as concern myself," replied Frankdecidedly.
"I know your companion, sir, and I'll show him to you." And turningabruptly 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, "Whoare you?"
"Who is he?" almost shouted Commander Dalton. "Do you mean to say youdon'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 groansfor the superintendent and commandant, the Harry who accompanied youlast 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 lastnight; I never saw him before. Look here, captain, I hope you navigatebetter than you investigate," rejoined Frank Stonewell, in a disgustedtone; "if you don't I fear you will bump into every rock that is hangingabout loose."
"Mr. Stonewell," said Commander Dalton to the cadet commander, "you toldme your brother would speak the truth. Now, Mr. Frank Stonewell," hecontinued, "your companion was a midshipman disguised in this beard andwith this coat and hat on. He was recognized by this colored man who hadseen Mr. Harry Blunt at one time remove this disguise. There is everyreason to believe that Mr. Drake had previously seen Mr. Blunt in thisdisguise. Mr. Drake evidently believed he saw your brother last night,and also Mr. Blunt, but he has refused to answer about either, forwhich he will be dismissed. I will add that this disguise was found inMr. Blunt's room. Now, what have you to say about this matter?"
Frank, with all the appearance of keen interest, listened to thecommandant. "I would say that Drake is a bully good chap," he burst outenthusiastically, "a fellow to tie to; this must be a queer place if youfire such a fellow for standing by a chum. John has told me that Drakewas the very best fellow who ever lived," he ran on. "I guess he's allright," 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 toinflict the punishment of double irons upon this insolent, effervescenttrifler. He darted an extinguishing glance upon him and turned towardCaptain Blunt and said:
"Captain Blunt, I can get nothing from this man. Do you wish to ask himany questions?"
"I do indeed, Dalton. Mr. Stonewell, Mr. Blunt is my son. He standsaccused of having attempted, while in your company, and while in thisdisguise, to steal an examination. My son admits that the disguise ishis property, and has been for months; but he most solemnly assures mehe was not with you last night, that he was not out of this buildingafter 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 whowas 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 tillI entered this office. If after my statement the authorities dismiss himthe fault is theirs, not mine. I should regret to see this done, but Ishall not try to find somebody to take his place."
"But how do you account for my son being recognized as the person withyou?"
Frank Stonewell seized the hat and beard and quickly hooked the latterover his ears. He then suddenly assumed a bent-over position and leaningover toward Grice said: "Did you ever see me before?"
"Fer goodness' sake, suh, I does berlieve yo' wuz de young gemman indose 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 midshipman 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 midshipman,a tall, broad-shouldered young man, athletic of build, of ratherpleasant features, and with stern resolution written in his face.
"I am Midshipman Bligh of the fourth class."