Dave Darrin on Mediterranean Service or, With Dan Dalzell on European Duty , livre ebook

Pub One Info - Irving Hancock Harrie

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85 pages

English

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GREEN HAT, THE TROUBLE-STARTER Dan, whispered Dave Darrin, Ensign, United States Navy, to his chum and brother officer, do you see that fellow with the green Alpine hat and the green vest? Yes, nodded Dan Dalzell. Watch him. Why? He's a powerful brute, and it looks as though he's spoiling for a fight. You are not going to oblige him, are you? asked Dalzell in a whisper, betraying surprise. Nothing like it, Darrin responded disgustedly. Danny Grin, don't you credit me with more sense than that? Do you imagine I'd engage in a fight in a place like this? Then why are you interested in what the fellow might do? demanded Ensign Dan. Because I think there is going to be a lively time here. That fellow under the Alpine hat is equal to at least four of these spindling Spanish waiters. There is going to be trouble within four minutes, or I'm a poor guesser. Just let Mr. Green Hat start something, chuckled Ensign Dalzell in an undertone. "There are plenty of stalwart British soldiers here, and 'Tommy Atkins' never has been known to be averse to a good fair fight

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Historical fiction

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	23 octobre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819902584
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0100€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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CHAPTER I
GREEN HAT, THE TROUBLE-STARTER "Dan," whispered DaveDarrin, Ensign, United States Navy, to his chum and brotherofficer, "do you see that fellow with the green Alpine hat and thegreen vest?" "Yes," nodded Dan Dalzell. "Watch him." "Why?" "He's apowerful brute, and it looks as though he's spoiling for a fight.""You are not going to oblige him, are you?" asked Dalzell in awhisper, betraying surprise. "Nothing like it," Darrin respondeddisgustedly. "Danny Grin, don't you credit me with more sense thanthat? Do you imagine I'd engage in a fight in a place like this?""Then why are you interested in what the fellow might do?" demandedEnsign Dan. "Because I think there is going to be a lively timehere. That fellow under the Alpine hat is equal to at least four ofthese spindling Spanish waiters. There is going to be troublewithin four minutes, or I'm a poor guesser." "Just let Mr. GreenHat start something," chuckled Ensign Dalzell in an undertone."There are plenty of stalwart British soldiers here, and 'TommyAtkins' never has been known to be averse to a good fair fight. Thesoldiers will wipe up the floor with him. Then there is the provostguard, patrolling the streets of Gibraltar. If Mr. Green Hat growstoo noisy the provost guard will gather him in." "And might alsogather us in, if the provost officer thought us intelligentwitnesses," muttered Darrin. "That would be all right, too,"grinned Dan. "There is bound to be a British army officer incommand of the provost guard. As soon as we handed him cardsshowing us to be American naval officers he'd raise his cap to us,and that would be the end of it." "I don't like to be present atrows in a place of this kind," Ensign Darrin insisted. "Then we'dbetter be going," proposed Ensign Dalzell.
The place was Gibraltar, and the time nine o'clockin the evening. The two friends were seated well back in one of theseveral Spanish vaudeville theatres that flourish more or less inthe city on the Great Rock, even in such times as this period ofthe great European War.
The theatre was not a low place, or it would nothave been permitted to exist in Gibraltar, which, even in peacetimes, is under the strictest military rule, made much more strictat the beginning of the great war. The performance was an ordinaryone and rather dull. At the moment three Spanish women occupied thestage, going rather hopelessly through the steps of an aimlessdance, while three musicians ground out the music for the dancers.The next number, as announced on a card that hung at one side ofthe stage, was to be a pantomime.
One particularly unpleasant feature only was to benoted in the place. Wines and liquors were served to those whochose to order them, Spanish waiters passing up and down the aislesin search of custom.
Mr. Green Hat, to the knowledge of Ensigns Darrinand Dalzell, had been a much too frequent customer. He was nowarguing with two waiters about an alleged mistake in the changingof the money he had handed one of them. From angry remonstrance Mr.Green Hat was now resorting to abusive language. "I'd like toimplant a wallop under that rowdy's chin," muttered Dan Dalzell, ashe started to rise. "Don't try it," warned Ensign Dave, as he, too,rose.
Just then the lightning struck; the storm broke.
With an angry bellow, Mr. Green Hat leaped to hisfeet, knocking down one of the waiters. Four others rushed to thespot. The five promptly assailed Mr. Green Hat, and were swiftlyreinforced by the one who had been floored.
But the stalwart, active brawler proved to be toomuch for the combined force of the waiters. As if they had been somany reeds, Mr. Green Hat brushed them aside with his fists. "Grabthe bloomin' rotter and throw 'im h'out!" bellowed a "TommyAtkins," as the British soldier is collectively known.
A new note, in a decidedly American tone of protest,rose above the uproar. "How dare you? What do you mean, fellow?"demanded a young man in a gray traveling suit, glaring up from thefloor, to which he, an unoffending occupant of an aisle seat, hadsuddenly been hurled.
It was too much for Dan Dalzell, who promptlyattempted to seize Mr. Green Hat as that individual, with themomentum of a steam roller, rushed up the aisle.
Dalzell reached out a hand to grip Mr. Green Hat bythe collar. All too promptly a heavy fist smote Dan in the chest,knocking him back into the arms of Dave Darrin. Dave himself couldnot act quickly enough to avenge the blow that had been dealt hischum, because Dan's body blocked the way.
Four or five British soldiers at the rear of thelittle theatre tried to intercept Mr. Green Hat as he dashed up theaisle. Three of the "Messrs. Atkins" went to the floor, under theseats, while the others were brushed aside, and Mr. Green Hatreached the street. "Stop that thief!" roared the young man in thegray suit. "He has robbed me!"
By this time Dalzell was again on his feet and outin the aisle. He sprinted for the street, followed closely by DaveDarrin. The young man in the gray suit, his face pallid, plungedafter the young naval officers. "You're an American, aren't you?"called Dave, over his shoulder. "Yes," answered he of the graysuit, "and in official life at Washington, too. That scoundrel hasrobbed me of something of value to the United Statesgovernment."
That was enough for Darrin and Dalzell. Though thecharge might prove to be false, it was enough to cancel Dave'sscruples against fighting.
Out into the street ahead of them ran a waiter, whohad taken no part in the scrimmage, waving his arms and shouting:" Esta dirección! " ("This way!") " Sigue andando! "("Keep right on!") roared Danny Grin, darting down the street at ahard pace.
But a moment later both naval officers, followed bythe young man in gray and the waiter, came to a halt, for, directlyahead of them, on the well-lighted street, suddenly appeared apatrol detachment of the British provost guard. "Did you stop thefellow who ran this way, sir?" hailed Ensign Darrin, as herecognized the uniform of the British infantry officer in commandof the detachment. "We didn't see any man running this way,"replied the British lieutenant, smartly returning the salute thatEnsign Darrin had given him. "Didn't see any fellowrunning?" repeated three Americans, in tones of bewilderment. "Wewere chasing a thief, sir," Darrin continued, "and this waiter toldus that the fugitive ran this way." "I – I thought he did,"stammered the waiter in Spanish, though it was now plain that heunderstood English.
In deep disgust and with dawning suspicion, DaveDarrin glared at the waiter until that fellow changed color andtrembled slightly. Dave was now certain that the waiter, probablyby previous arrangement, had shielded the escape of Mr. GreenHat.
Turning to the English officer, Dave quicklyrecounted what had happened. At the same time he introduced himselfand Dan as American naval officers, and both tendered their cards."And you, sir? Who are you, and what did you lose?" inquired theBritish officer, turning to the young man in the gray suit. "May Ianswer that question to an officer of my own country?" appealed theyoung man in the gray suit. "Yes," assented the British officer,after keenly regarding the stranger who claimed to have beenrobbed. "Will you step a few yards down the street with me?" urgedthe unknown American, addressing Dave. "Certainly," Darrin nodded,for he saw insistent appeal in the stranger's gaze. "Mr. Darrin,"began the stranger, using the name he had heard Dave announce inthe introductions to the Britisher, "do you really belong to theAmerican Navy?" "I do, indeed," Darrin answered. "I am attached tothe battleship 'Hudson,' now lying in this harbor." "Then I willintroduce myself," continued the young man in the gray suit. "Myname is George Cushing. Do you recognize the meaning of this?""This" proved to be a small gold badge, revealed by Cushing as heturned back the lapel of his coat. It was a badge worn by menbelonging to a special branch of the secret service of the AmericanDepartment of State. The members of this special service areusually found, if found at all, on duty in foreign countries. "Iknow the badge, Mr. Cushing," nodded Dave Darrin. "Now, what haveyou to tell me?" "That big man with the green hat must have startedthat fight with the waiters in the theatre to cover his intendedattack on me," Cushing replied. "At the moment of knocking me down,he snatched from my coat pocket and made off with a most importantdocument." "Then you almost deserved to lose it, sir," repliedDarrin sternly, "as a punishment for wasting your time in such aplace as that theatre." "I must see the American admiral as soon aspossible," urged Cushing, ignoring Darrin's reproof. "But first ofall, I must ask you to pass me safely by that provost guard, or Imight be detained at a time when I cannot afford to lose a singleinstant. You will vouch for me, won't you, Mr. Darrin? Here are myformal credentials," continued Cushing, producing and unfolding awallet that contained properly sealed and signed credentials fromthe American Department of State. "The paper that was stolen fromyou did not in any way relate to the defenses and fortificationshere at Gibraltar, did it?" Dave asked. "Not in the least," Cushingreplied promptly. "You give me your word of honor for that?" Daveasked bluntly. "Do you believe I'd waste my time on such rubbish asthat?" demanded Cushing, scornfully. "Why, every civilizedgovernment on earth possesses accurate plans of the fortificationsat Gibraltar! I give you my word of honor, Mr. Darrin, that thepaper stolen from me did not in any way relate to the Gibraltarfortifications." "Then I'll do my best to get you by the provostguard," Ensign Darrin promised, turning to lead the way back."Sir," Dave announced to Lieutenant Abercrombie, commanding theprovost guard detachment, "I beg to report, on what I regard as thebest of authority, that there is no reason why my countryman, Mr.Cushing, should be detained by you." "The