The spirited air came to them with a new meaning that had never been plain before.
Dick felt the tears in his eyes.

Foolish, o course, but he couldn't help it! And choky Dave furtively wished that he dared reach for his handkerchief with all those hundreds of eyes turned on him.
As the music came to an end the High School boys filled their lungs for a mighty cheer.

Quick as a flash, however, the leader of the orchestra tapped his baton, then swung it once more, and the instruments leaped on into: "_Columbia, the gem of the ocean_!" That was for the Navy, of course, and one didn't have to keep quiet, either.

Words of the song, and cheers, mingled with the musicians' strains.
And then it wound up in a cheer and a mad rush of yelling that must have been heard for a mile.
An impromptu reception and hand shaking followed, but to Dick and Dave, and their partners, it had more the look of a mob.
It was a joyous and big-hearted mob, though, and in time it quieted down.

After a very long interruption the dancing started again, and Dick and Dave were able to whirl away with their partners.
As the next dance after that, started there was a sudden halt by many of the couples, and soon a roar of laughter ascended.
For the orchestra had chosen, as the air, "The Girl I Left Behind Me." This air will always be associated with the United Service---the Army and Navy.