retary of the Navy, which,
if remembered and observed, would be of great value to the graduate
at some time in the future.

The graduating exercises did not last long. To devote too much
time to them would be to increase the tension.

Later in the day the graduated midshipmen again appeared. They
were wearing their new coats now, several inches longer in the
tail, and denoting them as real officers in the Navy. A non-graduate
midshipman must salute one of these graduates whenever they meet.

In their room, to be occupied but one night more, Dave and Dan
finished dressing in their new uniforms at the same moment.

"Shake, Danny boy!" cried Dave Darrin, holding out his hand.
"How does it seem, at last, to know that you're really an officer
in the Navy?"

"Great!" gulped Dalzell. "And I don't mind admitting that, during
the last four years, I've had my doubts many a time that this great
day would ever come for we. But get your cap's and let's hustle
outside."

"Why this unseemly rush, Danny?"

"I want to round up a lot of under classmen and make them tire
their arms out saluting me."

"Your own arm will ache, too, then, Danny. You are obliged, as
of course you know, to return every salute."

"Hang it, yes! There's a pebble in every pickle dish, isn't there?"

"You're going to the graduation ball tonight, of course?"

"Oh, surely," nodded Dalzell. "After working as I've worked for
four years for the privilege, I'd be a fool to miss it. But I'll
sneak away early, after I've done a friend's duty by you and Belle.
No girls for me until I'm a captain in the Navy!"

The ball room was a scene of glory that night. Bright eyes shone
unwontedly, and many a heart fluttered. For Belle Meade was not
the only girl there who was betrothed to a midshipman. Any graduate
who chose might marry as soon as he pleased, but nearly all the
men of the class preferred to wait until they had put in their
two years at sea and had won their commissions as ensigns.

"This must be a night of unalloyed pleasure to you," murmured
Belle, as she and her young officer sweetheart sat out one dance.
"You can look back over a grand four years of life here."

"I don't know that I'd have the nerve to go through it all again,"
Darrin answered her honestly.

"You don't have to," Belle laughed happily. "You put in your
later boyhood here, and now your whole life of manhood is open
before you."

"I'll make the best use of that manho