Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days/Chapter 21
CHAPTER XXI
THE FANCY DRESS BALL
"Well, Dick," remarked Paul Drew, one afternoon, as he and his roommate came in from drill, "I see you're on the ball committee."
"What ball, and what committee?"
"The fancy dress ball, if I have to go into all the details. You know the academy has one every year, and it's a swell affair, let me tell you. Lights, gay music, pretty girls"
"Especially pretty girls," said Dick with a smile. "But what committee am I on?"
"Arrangements. Didn't you see the list posted in the mess hall? I don't envy you. There will be lots to do."
"Suppose you take pity on my ignorance, and go a little more into details."
Whereupon Paul did, describing the affair at length. It was to take place, as usual, in February, and this time would be held on Washington's birthday.
"Maybe we won't have fun!" exclaimed Paul. "There'll be all sorts of costumes, and the decorations will be immense. You'll have to help with them."
"Then I'd better get busy," declared Dick. "I must see who's chairman of my committee, and report for work. What character are you going to portray, Paul?"
"I think I shall go as a Colonial officer. I always did like a powdered wig."
"Talcum powder, instead of gun powder," retorted Dick. "That's the calibre of such tin soldiers as you."
"Halt!" called Paul, as Dick prepared to run away. "As punishment I'll not introduce you to a certain pretty girl I know, who is coming to the dance."
"Then I'll surrender and beg your pardon!" cried Dick.
"What part will you play?" asked Paul. "You'd look swell dressed as an Indian."
"I think I'll take the part of a cannon swab, and then I'll not have to bother about a suit. But more of that later. I'm going to see what I have to do."
Dick found out from the chairman of his committee that there was plenty of work to prepare for the fête, and he did his share. One day he had to go to a nearby town to purchase some of the decorations.
It was two days before the fancy dress ball was to take place, and, having made his purchases, Dick prepared to return to the Academy. As he was about to board a trolley car, which ran near Kentfield, he heard a voice calling:
"How are you, Dick Hamilton?"
He turned, to see a tall well-built lad, of about his own age, who was smiling at him in a friendly fashion. At first he did not recognize the youth.
"You don't know me, I see," went on the other. "I once had the pleasure of interviewing you about a gold brick game"
"Why, Larry Dexter! How are you?" cried Dick, turning aside from the car, and holding out his hand to the other. "I did not get a good look at you, or I would have known you at once. What good wind blows you here? Can't you stay and come over to our Academy? Where have you been? How is the newspaper business?"
"My, you'd do for a reporter yourself?" exclaimed Larry Dexter, with a smile. "I'm glad you haven't forgotten me though. Have you been swindled lately? I'd like a good story. The one I came down here after didn't pan out."
Those of you who have read my books in the "Newspaper Series" will at once recognize the lad who greeted Dick. He was Lawrence Dexter, a reporter on the New York Leader, and, as related in the volume called "Dick Hamilton's Fortune," he had met our hero when the latter had narrowly escaped being swindled by a sharper in the metropolis. Larry, as all his friends called him, had managed to get a good "story" from the experience of Dick, who was on a visit to New York, with a number of boy friends. The incident is mentioned in the third volume of the Newspaper Series, "Larry Dexter's Great Search," where the young reporter does some detective work.
After Dick had given Larry the story of the attempted swindle, the young reporter took the millionaire's son to the newspaper office, and showed him something of how a great daily is published. The two lads had struck up quite a friendship, and they had pleasant memories of each other.
"What are you doing here?" asked Dick, as they walked up the street with his newspaper acquaintance.
"Oh, I came here on a peculiar robbery yarn, but it turned out to be an ordinary affair, and not worth much of a story. I sent in the account by wire, and, as a reward for my past valuable services to the paper. I have been given a couple of days' leave of absence. You see, the managing-editor thinks quite highly of me," and Larry made a mock bow.
"Then you're just in time," said Dick.
"How so?"
"Why, you can spend a few days with me. There's going to be a big masked ball at the military academy where I attend, and perhaps you'd like to see it.'
"I think I would, if the military authorities will admit a mere civilian."
"I'm sure they will. Come along back with me. I'll introduce you to Colonel Masterly, and you can bunk in with Drew and me. Paul Drew is my roommate—a fine fellow."
"Oh, I'm afraid Til put you out."
"You couldn't do that, Larry. Come on. We'll have some fun."
So Larry Dexter accompanied Dick back to the Academy, where he was speedily made welcome by Colonel Masterly and members of the latter's staff.
"We would be very glad to have you remain and witness some evolutions of the cadets, a day or so after the ball," invited the colonel. "They will possibly interest you."
"I should be glad to," replied Larry, "but I can't stay long enough. It is very kind of you to invite me to the ball."
Possibly Colonel Masterly had a purpose in seconding Dick's invitation to this affair. The head of the military school was not averse to a little free advertising for the Academy, and he thought perhaps Larry might "write up" an account of the ball. Which, as a matter of fact, Larry did, and a fine account it was.
The reporter, though Dick invited him to don a costume, thought it better not to, and, when the night of the gay affair came, Larry was in sober black, forming a strange contrast to the lads in gay uniforms. The dresses of the young ladies and the uniforms or costumes of the cadets, with the hundreds of electric lights, the gay streamers and flags festooned about the gymnasium, made the apartment a brilliant picture. The Academy cadet band struck up a lively march, and the dancers paraded around the room, two by two. Dick was not in this, as he had not yet made the acquaintance of any of the girls, and after ascertaining that Larry Dexter was in a position where he could see well, our hero retired rather disconsolately to a secluded corner. He saw Paul Drew dancing with a very pretty girl, and was just beginning to envy him, when his roommate walked up, and introduced her to Dick.
"Allow me to present my friend, Dick Hamilton," said Paul with a low bow. "Mr. Hamilton—Miss Fordice. Dick is a better dancer than I am," added Paul.
It was plainly a hint to Dick, who at once took advantage of it, and asked:
"May I have the honor?"
"If it pleases you, sir," replied the girl, with a mischievous smile, and an old-fashioned courtesy.
Dick led her into a two-step, and they were soon whirling about. But Dick was not selfish, and he knew better than to keep Paul's partner away from him for long, so, making some excuse, he led Miss Fordice back to his roommate.
"I'll introduce you to some other girls, after this dance, Hamilton," Paul called back to him.
Dick noticed that a tall, dark girl, who was standing near one of the pillars, started at the sound of his name. A moment later she advanced toward him, appeared to hesitate,and then came forward.
"Excuse me," she said, "but are you Dick Hamilton?"
"I am," said our hero, secretly delighted at the chance of talking to the girl.
"I thought I heard Mr. Drew call you that. You must think it dreadfully forward of me to speak to you without an introduction"
"Nothing of the sort," said Dick promptly.
"But I know friends of yours," went on the girl. "I am Miss Mabel Hanford, and I know Birdy Lee, who lives in your town—I mean in the place where you come from. She and I used to be great chums. We went to school together."
"Indeed," said Dick. "Birdy Lee and I are well acquainted."
"So she said when I wrote to her, telling her I was coming to this ball. She suggested that I might meet you, and when I heard your name mentioned, I couldn't help speaking."
"I am glad you did," said Dick, smiling.
"Won't you come over and let me introduce you to my mother?" went on Miss Hanford. "I feel as if I had known you a long time, for Birdy often spoke of you in her letters to me."
"I am glad she did," said Dick, gallantly.
Mrs. Hanford greeted him kindly, evidently approving of her daughter's action.
"May I have the next dance?" asked Dick of the daughter.
"Yes," said Miss Hanford, blushing a little. "But I hope you don't think I spoke to you just to have you dance with me "
"Not at all," Dick hastened to say.
"Because my card is nearly filled now," she went on.
"I hope I may find room to put my name down in several places."
"You may look. I think the next waltz is open."
"It seems to be the only one," said Dick, ruefully.
A little later he and the girl were sailing about the room to the strains of a dreamy waltz. Dick was a fine dancer. Miss Hanford was his equal, and the two made a pleasing appearance on the big ballroom floor.
"Where were you?" asked Paul, as Dick came walking up to him after the young millionaire had taken his partner back to her mother. "I was looking for you to introduce a girl to you."
"I managed to meet one myself."
"Who?"
"Miss Mabel Hanford."
Paul whistled.
"What's the matter?" asked Dick. "Isn't she all right?"
"I should say so! Every fellow here is anxious to dance with her, but Dutton seems to monopolize her. He seems to think he's engaged to her."
"I don't believe he has any right to think that," spoke Dick warmly. "She's a very nice girl. I wish I had met her earlier in the evening." The band was playing another waltz.
"So do lots of other fellows, I guess. But you're doing pretty well. There goes Dutton with her now," continued Paul.
Dick looked on, with envious eyes. Though Dutton and Miss Hanford were waltzing about, she did not seem at ease. Her face was flushed, and Dutton looked angry. When the dance came to an end he left her abruptly.
Dick strolled over, casually, though his heart was beating faster than usual.
"You look warm," he said to the girl.
"Yes, the room is very close," she replied, and she fanned her face with a filmy lace handkerchief.
"Perhaps you would like an ice."
"Indeed I should."
"I'll get you one," promised Dick. Then, waxing bold, he looked at her program.
"What are you looking for?" she asked with a laugh. "To see what sort of ice I prefer? It's not there, but I'll take orange, if you can get one."
"I was looking to see, if by any good fortune you had another vacant place on your card."
"I'll make one for you," she said with a smile, as she crossed out a name. "Tantrell can look for another partner," she added.
"Who may Tantrell be?" asked Dick, as he put his name in place of the erased one.
"My cousin. He brought me here, but he doesn't care much for dancing. I know he'll be glad to have you relieve him."
"Not half so glad as I am," retorted Dick quickly. "Now I'll get you the ice."
As he walked away he saw Dutton eyeing him angrily.
"Probably he doesn't like me to be talking to her," thought Dick.
There was quite a crush in the refreshment room, and, in spite of the fact that he was a member of the arrangement committee, Dick had some difficulty in getting an ice for Miss Hanford. As he struggled through the crush of gay dancers with it he tripped, and, to save himself, involuntarily threw his hands forward. The ice slipped from the plate, and went splashing full against the back of a cadet dressed in an elaborate Colonial uniform, with a white satin coat. The highly-colored ice made a big, blotchy stain on the garment.
The cadet whirled like a flash. It was Dutton.
"Who did that?" he cried, as he saw a little puddle forming at his feet, where the fast melting ice lay.
"I did," answered Dick promptly. "It was an accident, Captain Dutton."
"An accident?" There was a sneer in the other's tone.
"An accident," retorted Dick, as he turned away.
"Here! Where are you going?" cried Button. Several turned to stare at him, for his manner toward Dick was most insulting.
"I am going after another ice for Miss Hanford," said the young millionaire quickly.
"Wait a minute!" ordered Dutton, in the voice he used on parade.
"Not now," drawled Dick. "Wait until I get another ice."
"You wait, I say!" spluttered Dutton.
"It's too hot," replied Dick, for he could not help but notice the insulting tones. "I'll see you later. I'm sorry about the accident.'
"That was no accident," declared Dutton. "You did that on purpose, and I—I want"
But Dick passed on. He saw Miss Hanford looking at him from among the fringe of spectators, and, as he walked back to the refreshment room, he noticed that Dutton had one of the messhall attendants wiping off as much as possible of the stain from the white satin coat.