Then came a hurried skeltering, for the first, second and third classmen were entitled to leave during the month of September. CHAPTER XII BACK IN THE HOME TOWN Back in the old, well-known streets of their home town, Gridley! Dave and Dan, enjoying every minute of their month's leave, had already greeted their parents, and had told them much of their life as midshipmen. What hurt was the fact that the skipper of the "Princess Irene" had already told the marine reporters in New York the thrilling story of how Dave and Dan had nearly come to their own deaths rescuing Midshipman Hallam. Everyone in Gridley, it seemed, had read that newspaper story. Darrin and Dalzell, before they had been home twelve hours, were weary of hearing their praises sung. "There go two of the smartest, finest boys that old Gridley ever turned out," citizens would say, pointing after Dave and Dan. "They're midshipmen at Annapolis; going to be officers of the Navy one of these days." "But what's the matter with Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes? They're at West Point." "Oh, they're all right, too, of course. But Darrin and Dalzell----" It was the old circumstance of being "the lions of the minute" and of being on the spot. On the first morning of his arrival home Dave Darrin went frankly and openly to call on his old schoolgirl sweetheart, Belle Meade. Dan, having no particular associations with the gentler sex, took a stroll around town to meet any old friends who might care to see him again. Dave was shown into the parlor at the Meade home. Soon after Belle came swiftly in, her face beaming with delight. "Oh, but you're not in uniform!" was her first disappointed comment. "No," smiled Dave. "I'm allowed every possible chance, for one month, to forget every detail of the big grind which for a short time I've left behind." "But you're the same old Dave," cried Belle, "only bigger and manlier. And that magnificent work you and Dan did in jumping over-bo----" "Stop!" begged Dave. "You're a friend of mine, aren't you! Then don't add to the pain that has been already inflicted on me. If I had had the newspapers in mind I wouldn't have the nerve to---- But please let's not talk about it anymore." Then the two young people seated themselves and spent a delightful hour in talking over all that had befallen them both since they had last met. Belle, too, through Laura Bentley, had some much later news of the old chums, Dick and Greg, now cadets at West Point. This news, however, will be found in full in "DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT." "What are your plans for this afternoon?" Belle asked at last. "That's what I want your help in making," Dave answered. "Can you get hold of Dan?" "No trouble about that. But keeping hold of him may be more difficult," laughed Dave. "I was going to propose that you get Dan, call here and then we'll all go over to Laura Bentley's. I know she'll be anxious to see us."