“I gave B—— as my address, Miss Virgene, and I’ll tell you a secret, if you and Sam will keep it.”
“A girl never tells a secret,” said Virgene archly, while Sam responded:
“Ef I telled what I know’d there would be a hundred fights up in town; but I keeps my mouth shet, I does.”
“Well, I’ll tell you that this is an order for me to report for examination at the United States Naval Academy, to be examined for an appointment to a cadetship in the navy,” said Mark, with pardonable pride, as he handed over his orders to Virgene.
There was a note enclosed, which read:
“My Young Friend: I hereby redeem my promise and forward the necessary papers for your cadetship. I shall regard you as my protégé, and watch your career with the greatest of interest, for I have no doubt of your ability to go through.
“If you need aid—a loan, consider it, for you are self-confessedly poor—do not hesitate to call upon me, as I shall be more than pleased to respond. You can repay it at your leisure.
“Yours faithfully,
The Secretary.”
The other letter bore the flag of Commodore Lucien upon envelope and paper head, and was as follows:
“My Dear Young Friend: I saw the Secretary to-day, and he told me the President was pleased to appoint you to a cadetship-at-large, and that your papers would be forwarded immediately.