pe, by hard study at the
last to pull through on a saving margin in marks.

These desperate ones do not take part in the afternoon pleasures,
for these midshipmen, with furrowed brows, straining eyes, feverish
skin and dogged determination, spend their afternoons and evenings
in one final assault on their text-books in the hope of pulling
through.

Dave Darrin was not one of the honor men of his class, but he
was "savvy" just the same. Dan Dalzell was a few notches lower
in the class standing, but Dan was as sure of graduation as was
his chum.

"One thing goes for me, this week," announced Dan, just before
the chums hustled out to dinner formation on Monday.

"What's that?" Dave wanted to know. "No girls; no tender promenades!"
grumbled Midshipman Dalzell.

"Poor old chap," muttered Dave sympathetically.

"Oh, that's all right for you," grunted Dan. "You have one of
the 'only' girls, and so you're safe."

"There are more 'only' girls than you've any idea of, Dan Dalzell,"
Dave retorted with spirit. "The average American girl is a mighty
fine, sweet, wholesome proposition."

"I'll grant that," nodded Dan, with a knowing air. "But I've
made an important discovery concerning the really fine girls."

"Produce the discovery," begged Darrin. "The really fine girl,"
announced Dan, in a hollow voice, "prefers some other fellow to me."

"Well, I guess that'll be a fine idea for you to nurse---until
after graduation," reflected Darrin aloud. "I'm not going to
seek to undeceive you, Danny boy."

So Dave went off to meet Belle and her mother, while Dan Dalzell
hunted up another first classman who also believed that the girls
didn't particularly esteem him. That other fellow was Midshipman
Jetson.

"Mrs. Davis is giving a lawn party this afternoon," announced
Dave, after he had lifted his cap in greeting of Mrs. Meade and
her daughter. "I have an invitation from Mrs. Davis to escort
you both over to her house. Of course, if you find the tea and
chatter a bit dull over there, we can go somewhere else presently."

"I never find anything dull that is a part of the life here,"
returned Belle, little enthusiast for the Navy. "It will suit
you, mother?"

"Anything at all will suit me," declared Mrs. Meade amiably.
"David, just find me some place where I can drop into an armchair
and have some other middle-aged woman like myself to talk with.
Then you young people need pay no further heed to me. Examination