Lower middle, I reckon, said Ned. Thats what we expect.
Too bad you cant make upper. Thats mine. Weve got a corking bunch of fellows this year. Well, see you later. Try for Mr. Barretts table when you go down. Thats the best. Maybe theyll put you there if you bluff it out. You understand. So long, fellows.
Proudtree withdrew with considerable dignity in view of his bulk, waving a benedictory hand ere the door closed behind him. Ned shook his head. Sort of a fresh hombre, he said.
Oh, he only meant to be friendly, I reckon, said Laurie. You understand.
Ned laughed. Ill bet theyve got a wonderful football team here if he plays on it! By the way, maybe wed better settle which of us is to be the football star. I suppose they begin to practise pretty soon. Ill be the goat, if you like; though you had better luck with that book you bought in Chicago. I couldnt make head or tail of it. I never saw so many rules for playing one game in my life!
It was sort of difficult, agreed Laurie. I dare say, though, that you pick up the rules quick enough when you start to play. If you dont really mind, I think youd better go in for football, and Ill do the baseball stunt. Ive played it more than you have, you know, even if Im no wonder.
All right! Ned sighed. Well get a bottle of arnica to-morrow. Nothing like being prepared. How about going to see Mr. Whats-his-name before supper about courses?
Might as well, and have it over with. Id like to know whether were going to make the lower middle.
Dont see what else we can make. They cant stick us in the junior class. Wheres my coat? For the love of lemons, Laurie, cant you find anything else to sit on? Gosh, look at the wrinkles!
Those arent wrinkles; theyre just creases. Come on!
Half an hour later they closed the door of Mr. Cornishs study on the floor below, in a chastened mood. Each carried a little buff card whereon the instructor had tabulated an amazing number and variety of study periods. Back in Number 16, Ned cast himself into a chair, thrust his legs forth, and gazed disconsolately at the card.
I dont see where a fellow finds time for anything but work here, he complained. Sixteen, eighteen, twenty-one hours a week! What do you know about that?
Well, dont be so proud of it. Ive got the same, havent I? I wonder how many hours he thinks there are in a day?
I tell you what I think, said Ned, after a moments thought. I think he got it into his head that were very ambitious and want to graduate next spring!
Maybe thats it, agreed Laurie, gravely. Shall we go back and tell him hes wrong?
N-no, lets not. He seemed a well-meaning old codger, and I wouldnt want to hurt his feelings if he has any. Lets go down and see what theyve got for supper.
Neds blandishments failed with the waitress, and they were established at a table presided over by a tall and very thin gentleman, whose name, as they learned presently, was Mr. Brock. There were four tables in the room, each accommodating ten boys and a member of the faculty. Diagonally across the dining-hall, the twins descried the ample Mr. Proudtree. Another table was in charge of a pleasant-faced woman who proved to be the school matron, Mrs. Wyman. Mr. Cornish, the hall master, and Mr. Barrett sat at the heads of the remaining boards.
The room was very attractive, with a fine big stone fireplace at the farther end, and broad windows on two sides. The food proved plain, but it was served in generous quantities; and notwithstanding that the twins were a bit self-conscious, they managed a very satisfactory meal.
Their fellow-students seemed to be a very decent lot. Their ages appeared to average about sixteen, and they had the clean, healthy look of boys who spent much of their time outdoors. At the table at which the twins sat, four of the boys were evidently seniors, and one was as evidently a junior. The latter looked hardly more than thirteen, though he was in reality a year older than that, and had the features and expression of a cherub. The twins concluded that he was a new boy and felt a little sorry for him. He looked much too young and innocent to face the world alone.
No one made any special effort to engage either Ned or Laurie in conversation, perhaps because the returning youths had so much to talk about among themselves. Mr. Brock ate his supper in silence, save when one of the older boys addressed him, and had a far-away and abstracted air. Laurie saw him sweeten his tea three times, and then frown in annoyance when he finally tasted it.
The boy who had guessed their awful secret at luncheon sat at the next table, and more than once Ned caught him looking across with a half-bewildered, half-frightened expression that somehow managed to convey the intelligence that, in spite of temptation, he had kept the faith. Ned finally rewarded him with a significant wink, and the youth retired in confusion behind the milk-pitcher.
When the meal was over the twins went outside and, following the example set by others, made themselves comfortable on the grass beyond the walk. Near by, two older boys were conversing earnestly, and Ned and Laurie, having exhausted their own subjects of conversation, found themselves listening.
Weve got to do it, the larger of the two was saying. Daves going to call a meeting of the school for Friday evening, and Mr. Wells is going to talk to them. Ill talk too. Maybe youd better, Frank. You can tell them a funny story and get them feeling generous.
Nothing doing, Joe. Leave me out of it. I never could talk from a platform. Anyway, its the fellows duty to provide money. If they dont, they wont have a team. They understand that or they will when you tell them. Theres another thing, though, Joe, that weve got to have besides money, and thats material. Weve got to get more fellows out.
I know. Ill tell them that, too. Im going to put a notice up in School Hall in the morning. Mr. Cummins says there are eight new fellows entering the middle classes this year. Maybe some of them are football-players.
Bound to be. Did you see the twins?
No, but Billy Emerson was telling me about them. What do they look like?
Not bad. Rather light-weight, though, and sort of slow. Theyre from Arizona or somewhere out that way, I think. You cant tell them apart, Joe.
Think theyre football stuff?
Search me. Might be. Theyre light, though. Here comes Kewpie. Gosh, hes fatter than ever! Hi, Kewpie! Come over here!
It was Proudtree who answered the hail, descended the steps, and approached. Hello, Joe! Hello, Frank! Well, here we are again, eh? Great to be back, isnt it? Have a good summer, Joe?
Fine! You?
Corking! I was on Dads yacht all through August. Saw the races and everything. Bully eats, too. You understand.
Yes, Joe Stevenson replied, and I understand why youre about twenty pounds overweight, Kewpie! You ought to be kicked around the yard, you fat loafer. Thought you wanted to play center this fall.
Im going to! Listen, Joe, Im only fourteen pounds over and Ill drop that in no time. Honest, I will. You see! Besides, it isnt all fat, either. A lot of its good, hard muscle.
Yes, it is! I can see you getting muscle lying around on your fathers yacht! Im off you, Kewpie. You havent acted square. You knew mighty well that you were supposed to keep yourself fit this summer, and now look at you! Youre a big fat lump!
Yes, it is! I can see you getting muscle lying around on your fathers yacht! Im off you, Kewpie. You havent acted square. You knew mighty well that you were supposed to keep yourself fit this summer, and now look at you! Youre a big fat lump!
Aw, say, Joe! Listen, will you? Proudtrees gaze wandered in search of inspiration and fell on the twins. His face lighted. Hello, you chaps! he said. Then he leaned over and spoke to Joe. Say, have you met the Turner brothers, Joe? One of ems a swell player. Played out in North Dakota or somewhere.
Which one? asked Joe, surreptitiously eying the twins. Why, the I forget: they look so much alike, you know. I think its the one this way. Or maybe its the other. Anyway, Ill fetch them over, eh?
All right, Kewpie.
Kewpie started away, paused, and spoke again. Theyre theyre awfully modest chaps, Joe. Youd think from hearing them talk that they didnt know much about the game, but dont you be fooled. Thats just their way. You understand.
Oh, sure, Kewpie! And when the latter had gone on his errand Joe smiled and, lowering his voice, said to Frank Brattle: Kewpies trying to put something over. I wonder what.
Proudtree tells me one of you fellows plays football, said Joe, a minute later, when introductions had been performed and Ned and Laurie had seated themselves. We need good players this fall. Of course, I hope youll both come out.
Neds the football chap, said Laurie. Baseballs my line.
I dont know began Ned, but Laurie pinched him warningly, and he gulped and, to Kewpies evident relief, made a fresh start. Im not much of a player, he said modestly, but Im willing to have a try at it.
Kewpie darted an I-told-you-so glance at Joe and Frank.
Where do you come from, Turner? Joe asked politely.
Santa Lucia, California. I was in the high school there two years. Everythings quite quite different here. Ned spoke hurriedly, as though anxious to switch the conversation from football, and Laurie smiled in wicked enjoyment. The climates different, you know, Ned went on desperately, and the country and and everything.
I suppose so, said Frank Brattle. Whats your position, Turner?
Position?
Yes; I mean, where did you play? Behind the line, I suppose, or maybe end.
Oh, yes, yes, behind the line. You see, I I
There arent many fellows can play half-back the way Ned can, said Laurie, gravely. He wont tell you so, but if you ever meet any one who saw him play against Weedon School last year
Shut up! begged Ned, almost tearfully.
Kewpie was grinning delightedly. Joe Stevenson viewed Ned with absolute affection. Half-back, eh? Well, we can use another good half, Turner, and I hope youre the fellow. I dont know whether Kewpie told you that Im captain this year, but I am, and Im going to try mighty hard to captain a winning team. You look a bit light, but I dare say youre fast, and, for my part, I like them that way. Besides, weve got Mason and Boessel if we want the heavy sort. Practice starts to-morrow at four, by the way. How about your brother? Glad to have him come out, too. Even if he hasnt played, he might learn the trick. And theres next year to think of, you know.
I think not, thanks, answered Laurie. One football star is enough in the family.
Well, if you change your mind, come on and have a try. Glad to have met you. See you to-morrow er Turner. I want to find Dave, Frank. Coming along?
The two older boys made off toward West Hall, and as soon as they were out of hearing Ned turned indignantly on Laurie.
Youre a nice one! he hissed. Look at the hole youve got me in! Half-back! Played against Weedon School! What did you want to talk that way for? Why, those fellows think I know football!
Cheer up, answered his brother, grinning. All youve got to do is bluff it through. Besides, Proudtree asked us not to let on we didnt know a football from a doughnut, and I had to say something! You acted as if you were tongue-tied!
Yes; thats so you started it! Ned turned belligerently around. Said it would be a favor to you He stopped, discovering that Proudtree had silently disappeared and that he was wasting his protests on the empty air. Huh! he resumed after a moment of surprise, its a good thing he did beat it! Look here, Laurie, Im in a beast of a mess. Yow know I cant face that captain chap to-morrow. Suppose he handed me a football and told me to kick it!
He wont. Ive watched football practice back home. Youll stand around in a circle
How the dickens can I stand in a circle? objected Ned.
And pass a football for a while. Then youll try starting, and maybe fall on the ball a few times, until youre nice and lame, and after that youll run around the track half a dozen times
Oh, shut up! You make me sick! I wont do it. Im through. Id look fine, wouldnt I? I guess not, partner!
Youve got to, Ned, replied Laurie calmly. You cant back down now. The honor of the Turners is at stake! Come on up and Ill read that rules book to you. Maybe some of itll seep in!
After a moment of indecision Ned arose and followed silently.
CHAPTER V IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTY
School began in earnest the next morning. Ned and Laurie were awakened from a deep slumber by the imperative clanging of a gong. There were hurried trips to the bath-room, and finally a descent to the recreation-room and morning prayers. Breakfast followed in the pleasant, sunlit dining-hall, and at half-past eight the twins went to their first class. There wasnt much real work performed that morning, however. Books were bought and, being again in possession of funds, Ned purchased lavishly of stationery and supplies. He had a veritable passion for patent binders, scratch-pads, blank-books, and pencils, and Laurie viewed the result of a half-hours mad career with unconcealed concern.
Youre all wrong, Ned, he said earnestly. We arent opening a stationery emporium. Besides, we cant begin to compete with the office. They buy at wholesale, and
Never mind the comedy. Youll be helping yourself to these things soon enough, and then you wont be so funny.
Thats the only way theyll ever get used up! Why, youve got enough truck there to last three years!
There was one interesting annual observance that morning that the twins witnessed inadvertently. At a little after eight the fellows began to assemble in front of School Hall. Ned and Laurie, joining the throng, supposed that it was merely awaiting the half-hour, until presently there appeared at the gate a solitary youth of some fourteen years, who came up the circling drive about as joyfully as a French Royalist approaching the guillotine. Deep silence prevailed until the embarrassed and unhappy youth had conquered half of the interminable distance. Then a loud Hep! was heard, and the throng broke into a measured refrain:
Hep! Hep! Hep! Hep!
This was in time to the boys dogged steps. A look of consternation came into his face and he faltered. Then, however, he set his jaw, looked straight ahead, and came on determinedly.
Hep! Hep!
Up the steps he passed, a disk of color in each cheek, looking neither to right nor left, and passed from sight. As he did so, the chorus changed to a good-humored laugh of approval. Ned made inquiry of a youth beside him.