“No, we passed him on Maryland Avenue; he was in a bookstore looking at some magazines.”
“All right, let’s go and fix him. I’m out for fun to-night.”
Fifteen or twenty minutes later three young men entered the capitol grounds. One was in midshipman uniform, one was stylishly dressed, wore spectacles, mustache and goatee. The third was of a class that swarms into Annapolis at certain times of the year, in other words a candidate.
“That’s the fellow,” said the young man in uniform to the candidate; “he’s on the bench over there; there are two of them. I want you to play the joke on the one nearest this end; do you see who I mean?”
“Yes, sir, I’ve seen him before; he’s number one man in the second class, sir.”
“That’s right. Now you know just what to say and what to do?”
“Indeed I do, sir, and I promise you I’ll do my part in the joke.”
“All right, it’s just a joke; he played one on me and I want to get even with him. He’ll laugh over it just as much as you do, but if you do it right I’ll be the best friend you ever had at the Naval Academy after you get in. What is your name?”
“Frank Chappell, sir. I’ll play this joke well, depend upon me, sir.”
“All right, go ahead; we’ll be with you in a few minutes and join in the laugh and I’ll explain I was running you; that will make it all right with the man you play the joke on.”