THE TROUBLE-MAKING FOP The story that Len Spencer wrote for the "Blade" was "worse" than the midshipmen had expected.

That is, the newspaper made them out to be heroes of some rare, solid-gold type.

To add to the trouble, the story, in a condensed form, was printed broadcast by the dailies all over the country.
"We can't hope to keep it quiet, Danny boy," groaned Dave when the two chums met the next morning.
"No," sighed Dan.

"The most we can hope for is to be allowed to live it down." "And I'm much afraid that we've got to stand for a lot more of gush this afternoon," continued Darrin.
"At the reception?
Oh, yes! I wish we could desert the town and get away somewhere to hide." The affair for the afternoon was a reception for which Laura Bentley had sent out hurried invitations to a lot of the former High School boys and girls of Gridley.

Though Laura was more especially interested in the U.
S.Military Academy at West Point--because Dick Prescott was there--yet she did not show undue partiality to the Army.
"I'm sorry Laura didn't wait a fortnight," Dan continued.
"Oh, well, she doesn't understand," Dave urged.
"You're going, of course ?" "I surely am.