However, "blue"
as all three felt, none of them hung back when half-past eleven arrived.
They descended to the dining room, where they refreshed themselves
heartily.
The meal over, there was just about enough time left for them to walk
comfortably to the Navy Department.
They had walked a couple of blocks of the way when Hal suddenly felt the
stamped letter in his pocket. He drew it out, and glanced hurriedly
down the avenue.
"I don't see a letter-box ahead, fellows, but I saw one, half-way down
the block, at the last corner we passed. You two keep right on. I'll
join you."
Presently Jack and Eph halted in their walk to look back.
"Where is Hal?" demanded Somers.
"He can't have lost us," muttered Jack.
"Oh, I guess he has simply taken a short cut to meet us ahead on the
way."
Yet, though they continued to look for their comrade until they had
neared the State, War and Navy Building, Hal Hastings had not again
appeared in sight.
"Say, but this is fearfully careless of good old Hal," muttered Jack
Benson, uneasily, as he glanced at his watch. "We've no time to go back
to look for him, either, for we've barely time to reach the Secretary's
office.
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