The Marines Have Landed

see your black eye?" and Ursula Comstock looked with mingled pity and consternat

. "Everyone in town will see it to-night when you deliver your oration. I do th

's going to mortify Mother fearfully that her 'handsome son' is so badly banged up, but necessity knows no law, in war anyway. Now be a good sister

a a little later, after first aid h

as been needing for a long time, that's all," answered Dick, bending over a basin of hot

and herself there were few secrets, and a more devoted br

n had little tussles, but nothing that amounted to a great deal. You know he's a dandy athlete and I couldn't afford, half of the time, to have trouble with him. He is just cranky enough to have re

dumb animals. I often heard from the other fellows of his tricks in that line

well tell me now, for I shall get it sooner or later. What did he

d Dick, "but I do guess I'm a sight. Dad won't care;

d tell me at once what occurred, fully and finally, I

at her brother in such an energetic manner that he feared it might land in any

poor, emaciated cat ran frantically across the road towards them and climbed a small tree just in time to escape the lathering jaws of a closely pursuing bulldog. Percy Doyle, the red-haired owner of the dog, not s

dignation he called upon Doyle to defend himself. Then there followed a royal combat, for these two lads wer

n, but the victor had by n

r his eye and the grime of battle washed from his face by his gentle nurs

ng and get a bath and clean up properly before Mother comes home. She has gone to the station to meet Father. You have no t

ome and paint you up like an Indian," s

n proved so successful that no one other than his fond and adoring mother discovered the deception. Her searching eye

and if so half of the audience will have h

ride and approbation in his eyes was enough t

r he was reading when his son entered, now began

n to-night's

st in it--that is aside from the announcements of the

Kenyon while in Washington and try to get him to give you that appointment to the Naval Academy we al

?" asked Dick in one breath, his

ould not give it to you; and he would not tell me at the time who was to be the

He gulped once or twice before he finally mustered up courage to reach out his hand for the paper, and the tears blinded

ula, rising quietly, walked to her brother and placed an affec

s the exams, and then possibly you will get

ick dolefully, and then more bravely, "neit

know?" now inquir

my best friends;--it's Gordon G

ging the peachy contour of her cheek, "Gordon Graham!

y, "but his father does want him to

in the matter," said Dick's father, "and unfortunately I am not wealthy, and have always kept out of politics. Consequently, my boy, you may blame your father for

ends it seemed something more than the average boyish ebullition. At any rate, Dick was a thoughtful lad and had expended his best efforts in the preparation of his oration. During its composition he h

stock" being an actor in the stirring events that some day indubitably would occur, he saw h

nd the two boys walked home together

Gordon on his good fortune, "but I'm not churlish about the matter, and I gu

d, and you know, Dick, I never was anxious for it. If it was not for frustrating my father's wishes, I should alm

ble your pride in that manner. That wouldn't be helping me and you'd only

ck; only I do wish we both were going. It is beastly to thin

answered Dick, "and suppose we make the best of them. What do

or we may get some bass or black-fish, and we will make a day of it

se Dick immediately

propose for me now that the An

counted on the Naval Academy more than you did, I might say; for, Dick, things have not been going well in the

hts, for the first time realized how wo

asked with a world of solicit

s I can recoup my recent losses I shall be unable even to allow your sister to finish her ar

s hand visibly shook as he pas

of recovering something from the wreck, but it looks dark. Also while there, beside seein

t along all right, and between us we will fasten on something I can turn my hand to. I have had a m

o strike out for yourself for a good while yet. I even thought another year at Bankley, taking the post-graduate course, would be the be

Bankley," said Dick wi

my son, and if you intend to go to Black Ledge to-morrow mor

night" and slowly climbed

s father's shoulders of some of the burden by shifting for himself, but ju