the Navy. In a fraction of a second Ensign
Eph had straightened up, while his face was solemn enough for an Indian
chief's countenance.

"I have just been straightening out that little matter," explained Mr.
Sanders. "I have talked with the police, and have described Hastings.
The police are in deep chagrin over their blunder. Mr. Hastings is now
at liberty and on his way here."

At a motion from Mr. Sanders the two young officers seated themselves.
The Secretary turned to his desk to sign some papers.

From Eph, suddenly, came a suppressed, explosive sound. Jack seated
beside him on a sofa gave Somers an indignant elbow jab. The Secretary
glanced up, then resumed his writing.

A minute later there came from Eph the sound of another smothered
explosion. The picture of Hal Hastings's indignant astonishment had
once more been conjured up before young Somers's face. Poor Eph was
red in the face with all the effort of keeping back his laughter.

"I fear you must have caught some cold, standing watch on the gunboat's
bridge," said the Secretary, sympathetically.

That sobered Somers in an instant. The notion that he--he a sea-dog
accustomed to stand watch in all weathers, could catch cold through
exposure of the kind just mentioned made Eph feel a sense of ghastly
humiliation.

Five minutes later Ensign Hal Hastings was shown into the office. The
Secretary of the Navy greeted him kindly, though with a twinkle in
his eyes.

"The paper that caused my trouble was one that was taken from Mr.
Benson when he couldn't help himself," Hal explained. "For some reason,
the military authorities never discovered that Millard had that paper
about him. It was enough to save him from arrest an hour ago."

"And Millard is still at large," nodded Mr. Sanders. "It's a matter
for the military authorities and the Secret Service, I imagine. I don't
see how the Navy can be drawn into it. However, I am going to ask you
young gentlemen to retain your special appointments a little longer. I
may yet have considerable need of you in this affair. You are stopping
at the Arlington? Perhaps, for this afternoon, you would enjoy going
over to the United Service Club, where you are likely to meet a good
many Army and Navy officers. I will send some one along with you who
will see to it that you have ten-day cards at the club."

At any other time this all would have meant to Jack Benson that he was
still an officer in the Navy.