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.