The father of the youth had played his cards so well in the metropolis that he had gotten to be a man of wealth and a politician of influence, and it had been the dream of the mother’s life to see her boy an admiral before she died.
An only son, Barney had gone it a trifle rapid for a youngster, and was sent to the Naval School for training. As he passed his examinations he had the courage, when a full-fledged cadet, to write to his father of certain unpaid debts left behind in New York, and they were promptly settled by the parent, but with an admonition that not a dollar more should be received from the Breslin bank account until he had graduated, and if he failed to do this he had better ship before the mast, and not show up again under the parental roof tree.
Now, Barney was fond of a game of chance, and when he could find a congenial spirit to play with, he often indulged in gambling, generally to his sorrow, for he soon had several I. O. U.’s for various amounts.
It was supposed that Scott Clemmons helped Barney Breslin in his studies, for the former was bright and stood splendidly in his classes.
In return it was hinted that Barney did many little favors for Clemmons, mostly of a menial nature, however.
The inspector always found Clemmons’ wardrobe and half of the room neat as a pin, while Barney was often “spotted” for disorder.
Cadets generally “size up” a man very correctly, and they decided that when examination day came and Barney’s displacement was taken, his tonnage in knowledge would fall short, even though aided by Scott Clemmons.
In other words, Barney could never “bone” hard enough to step across the threshold into the third class.
“He’ll bilge, certain,” was the general way of putting Barney’s prospects by his fellow cadets.
It may, therefore, be inferred that Barney Breslin was as unpopular as his roommate, Scott Clemmons, was popular, for the latter was looked upon as a “good fellow all round,” though a trifle too haughty, perhaps.