Dave tried to, also, but he was more worried, and could not wholly banish his gloom.

Tom succeeded in making the meal drag along until about ten minutes of eight.  Then he led his friends from the restaurant and down the street to the town hall.

Here, though most of the young men were already on hand, there was nothing of boisterousness.  Some were quiet; others were glum.  All showed how much the result of the examinations meant to them.

But the time dragged fearfully.  It was twenty minutes of nine when Congressman Spokes appeared on the platform and rapped for order.  He did not have to rap twice.  In the stillness that followed the Congressman’s voice sounded thunderous.

“Young gentlemen, I now have the results from all the examiners, and the averages have been made up.  I am now able to announce my appointments to West Point and Annapolis.”

Mr. Spokes paused an instant.

“For West Point,” he announced, “My candidate will be-----Richard
Prescott, of Gridley.   The alternate will be-----”

But Dick Prescott didn’t catch a syllable of the alternate’s name, for his ears were buzzing.  But now, for the first time, Tom Reade was most unsympathetically silent.

“For Annapolis, my candidate will be-----David Darrin, of Gridley. 
The alternate-----”

Neither did Darrin hear the name of his alternate.  Dave’s head was reeling.  He was sure it was a dream.

“Pinch me, Tom,” he begged, in a hoarse whisper, and Reade complied—–­heartily.

“The young men who have won the appointments as candidates and alternates will please come to see me at once, in the anteroom,” continued Congressman Spokes, who, however, lingered to address a few words of tactful sympathy to the eager young Americans who had tried and lost.

“Come along, now, and let’s get this over with as quickly as possible,” grumbled Torn Reade.  “This Congressman bores me.”

“Bores you?” repeated Prescott, in a shocked voice.  “What on earth do you mean?”

“I don’t like his nerve,” asserted Reade.  “Here he is, giving out as if it were fresh, news that I announced two hours ago.”

Congressman Spokes was waiting in the anteroom to shake hands with the winners.  He congratulated the candidates most heartily, and cautioned the alternates that they also must be alert, as one or both of them might yet have a chance to pass on over the heads of the principal candidates.

Mr. Spokes then asked from each of the young men the name of his school principal, the address of his clergyman and of one business man.  These were references to whom Mr. Spokes would write at once in order to inform himself that the lucky ones were young men of excellent character.

Then the Congressman wished the young men all the luck in the world, and bade them good evening, after informing them that they would hear, presently, from the Secretary of War with full instructions for West Point, and from the Secretary of the Navy for Annapolis.