Johnnys? repeated Laurie. Oh, Doctor Hillmans! I suppose so. Whats it like?
Oh, it isnt bad. The eats are pretty fair. Anyway, he sort of likes the fellows to go, and hes a good sort. Youll be introduced to the faculty and their wives, if they have any, and meet a lot of fellows whose names youll forget the next minute. Take my advice and sort of work in toward the dining-room. Last year, the harlequin ice-cream gave out before I could get to the table. Kewpie sighed. Tabby has bully cake, too, and Im off of cake. Isnt that rotten luck?
Awful! laughed Ned. You going over now?
Yes. Come on and Ill introduce you to some of the fellows you ought to know. Ill wash my dirty paws and meet you in two minutes.
The principals reception proved rather enjoyable. The eats were excellent and, under Kewpies guidance, the twins reached the long table in the dining-room well in advance of the crowd. As Laurie remarked afterward, it was worth the amount of trouble involved just to watch Kewpies mouth water as he gazed soulfully at the chocolate layer-cake. To his credit be it narrated that he manfully resisted it. Besides consuming much delectable food, the twins were impressively introduced by their guide to a number of their fellow-students, the introduction being prefaced in each case by a sort of biographical note, as: Theres Dan Whipple. The tall fellow with the trick collar, talking to Mrs. Wells. Rows stroke on the crew. Senior class president. Honor man last year. President of Attic, too. Good chap to know. Come on. In such manner they met at least a half-dozen school notables, most of whom were extremely affable to the new boys. Sometimes, to be sure, the twins had a suspicion that Kewpie was pretending a closer intimacy with a notable than in fact existed, but he always got away with it.
The only fly in the ointment of the evenings enjoyment occurred when Kewpie mischievously introduced them to Mrs. Pennington, the wife of the Greek and Latin instructor, and sneaked away. Mrs. Pennington was tall and extremely thin, and viewed the world through a pair of tortoise-shell spectacles. She had a high voice and what Ned termed a very Lake Superior manner, and, since she confined her conversation to the benefits to be derived from an earnest study of the Latin poets, philosophers, and historians, the twins were not happy. Fortunately, very little was demanded from them conversationally, Mrs. Pennington being quite competent to do all the talking. But, unfortunately, she gave them no chance to get away. Ned descried Kewpie grinning heartlessly from the doorway and rewarded him with a terrific and threatening scowl. Kewpie, however, waved blandly and faded into the night. Release came to them at last and they scurried away, neglecting, in their hurried departure, to say good night either to the doctor or Miss Tabitha, a breach of etiquette which probably passed unnoted by the hosts. Back in East Hall, the twins hammered loudly at Number 15, but Kewpie was either absent or discreet. At any rate, there was no response, and revenge had to be postponed.
To Lauries surprise, a notice on the bulletin-board in the corridor of School Hall the following morning announced that autumn baseball practice would begin that afternoon. He had supposed that his hour to offer himself on the altar of school patriotism would not arrive until the next spring; and later, when he strode down Walnut Street with Ned, in search of football togs for the latter, he broached the subject diplomatically.
Funny idea to have baseball practice this time of year, I think, he remarked carelessly. Not much good in it. A fellow would forget anything he learned by next April.
Didnt know they did, replied Ned, uninterestedly. Who told you that?
Oh, there was a notice on the board in School Hall. Dont believe many fellows go out in the fall.
Thought baseball was a spring and summer game. Still, I dare say you can play it just as well now. Seems to me Ive heard of having spring football practice, havent you?
I dare say. Crazy scheme, though, playing games out of season.
Ye-es. Ned went on thoughtfully a moment Then he shot a suspicious glance at his brother. You going out? he demanded.
N-no, I dont think so, answered Laurie, lightly. Theres that building we had the bet on the other day. We never did find out
Never you mind about that building, interrupted Ned, severely. Im on to you, partner. Youre trying to renege on baseball. Well, it doesnt go! Youre a baseball hero and youve got to get busy!
Aw, Ned, have a heart! Theres plenty of time
No, sir, by jiminy! You got me slaving for the dear old school, now you do your bit!
Yes, but it isnt fair to start the baseball season in September. You know it isnt.
Cut out the alibis! You can get some baseball togs right now. Good thing you spoke of it. Whatll you need?
All I need is kindness, wailed Laurie. Ned, I dont want to be a hero! I dont want to save the dear old school from defeat in the ninth inning! I I
Youre going to do as you agreed to, answered Ned, grimly. Remember that the honor of the Turners is at stake!
Laurie sighed deeply. Then, You speak of honor! Say no more. I yield, he declaimed dramatically.
You bet you do, answered Ned, unhesitatingly. You for the baseball field!
CHAPTER VII HIGH SCHOOL ACCEPTS DEFEAT
A week passed, and the twins began to feel like old residents. They had ceased being the Turner twins to acquaintances, although others still referred to them so, and their novelty had so far worn off that they could enter a classroom or walk side by side across the yard without being conscious of the rapt, almost incredulous stares of the beholders. To merely casual acquaintances they were known as Ned and Laurie; to a few friends they had become Nid and Nod. Kewpie was responsible for that. He had corrupted Ned into Nid, after which it was impossible for Laurie to be anything but Nod. Laurie had demurred for a time, demanding to be informed who Nod had been. Kewpie couldnt tell him, being of the hazy belief that Nid and Nod were brothers in some fairy story he had once read, but he earnestly assured Laurie that both had been most upright and wholly estimable persons. Anyhow, Lauries objections wouldnt have accomplished much, for others had been prompt to adopt the nicknames and all the protests in the world wouldnt have caused them to drop them. These others werent many in number, however: Kewpie and Thurman Kendrick and Lee Murdock and George Watson about made up the list of them at this time.
Kendrick was Kewpies room-mate, a smallish, black-haired, very earnest youth of sixteen, which age was also Kewpies. Thurman was familiarly known as Hop, although the twins never learned why. He was a candidate for quarter-back on the eleven and took his task very seriously. Lee Murdock was one of the baseball crowd, and Laurie had scraped acquaintance with him on the diamond during a practice game. The word scraped is used advisedly, for Laurie, in sliding to second base, had spiked much of the skin from Lees ankle. Of such incidents are friendships formed! Lee was two years older than Laurie, a big, rather raw-boned fellow with a mop of ash-colored hair and very bright blue eyes.
George Watson was sixteen, an upper middler, and, as Laurie frequently assured him, no fit associate for a respectable fellow. To the latter assertion George cheerfully agreed, adding that he always avoided such. He came from Wyoming and had brought with him a breeziness of manner that his acquaintances, rightly or wrongly, described as wild and woolly. Of the four, Kewpie and George were more often found in company with the twins.
George Watson was sixteen, an upper middler, and, as Laurie frequently assured him, no fit associate for a respectable fellow. To the latter assertion George cheerfully agreed, adding that he always avoided such. He came from Wyoming and had brought with him a breeziness of manner that his acquaintances, rightly or wrongly, described as wild and woolly. Of the four, Kewpie and George were more often found in company with the twins.
There had been four lessons in kicking on an open lot behind the grammar school, two short blocks away, and while Ned had not yet mastered the gentle art of hurtling a football through the air, Kewpie was enthusiastic about his pupils progress. Why, geewhillikins, Nid, he broke forth after the fourth session, youre a born kicker! Honest you are! Youve got a corking swing and a lot of drive. You youve got real form