You're not one of our weak spots, really but you're not as strong
as you ought to be and can be if you'll only brace."
"Brace!" quivered Dave. "Won't I, though?"
"Good! Just stick to that."
"Dan!" Darrin halted his chum before a store where dry goods and
notions were sold. "Let's go in here-----"
"What, for?" Midshipman Dalzell asked in astonishment.
"I want to make a purchase," replied Dave soberly. "Danny boy,
I'm going to buy you a hat pin---one at least ten inches long.
You're to slip it in, somewhere in your togs. When you catch
me lagging---practice or game---just jab that hat pin into me
as far as you can send it."
"Bosh!" retorted Dan impatiently. "Come along."
Dave submitted, in patient silence, to being led away from the
store. For some moments the chums strolled along together in
silence.
"Now, speaking of Miss Preston," began Dan, breaking the silence
at last, "she-----"
"Drop that! Get back to football, Danny---it's safer," warned
Dave Darrin.
"But-----"
"Hold on, I tell you! You had almost recovered, Danny, in the
short space of five minutes. Now, don't bring on a relapse by
opening up the old sore. I shall soon begin to believe it was
your heart that was involved, instead of your vanity."
"Oh, hang girls, then!" exploded Dan.
"Couldn't think of it," urged Dave gently. "That wouldn't be
chivalrous, and even a midshipman is required to be a gentleman
at all times.
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