Part 30 (2/2)
”John Benson, U.S.N.”
Hal and Eph followed suit. Then they were led to their connecting rooms.
”We'll have luncheon at half-past eleven,” smiled Lieutenant Jack, as he dropped into an easy chair. ”In the service one never knows when his next meal is coming.”
”Good!” chuckled Hal, though there was a sad ring to his tone. ”Keep up as long as you can, old fellow, the fiction that we're still in the naval service.”
”Well, aren't we?” demanded Jack, stoutly.
”Surely,” a.s.sented Hal, meekly.
”Say,” demanded Eph, taking out notebook and pencil, ”what is an ensign's pay, anyway?”
”Seventeen hundred dollars a year,” replied Benson.
”I don't suppose the Navy Department will try to spring less than a day's pay on us,” hinted Eph. ”If that's right, then the government now owes me three hundred and sixty-five into seventeen hundred. Let me see--”
”Oh, cut it!” laughed Hal.
”What? My pay?” demanded Eph, ”Not much, sir! I want the only money I ever really earned.”
”One of us ought to drop Mr. Farnum a line,” hinted Jack, presently.
”Oh, well, let Hal do it,” offered Eph. ”He carries the only fountain pen in the crowd.”
Without a word Hastings crossed to a table on which were envelopes and paper, and began to write. Perhaps he welcomed something to occupy his mind; for, truth to tell, each of these submarine boys had a woefully ”blue” feeling. Though all were naval officers, still, at this moment, all realized that they would cease to be such as soon as they had received the thanks of the Secretary of the Navy. However, ”blue”
as all three felt, none of them hung back when half-past eleven arrived.
They descended to the dining room, where they refreshed themselves heartily.
The meal over, there was just about enough time left for them to walk comfortably to the Navy Department.
They had walked a couple of blocks of the way when Hal suddenly felt the stamped letter in his pocket. He drew it out, and glanced hurriedly down the avenue.
”I don't see a letter-box ahead, fellows, but I saw one, half-way down the block, at the last corner we pa.s.sed. You two keep right on. I'll join you.”
Presently Jack and Eph halted in their walk to look back.
”Where is Hal?” demanded Somers.
”He can't have lost us,” muttered Jack.
”Oh, I guess he has simply taken a short cut to meet us ahead on the way.”
Yet, though they continued to look for their comrade until they had neared the State, War and Navy Building, Hal Hastings had not again appeared in sight.
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