The Turner Twins Part 2

"Well, they certainly _are_ twins!" Miss Tabitha laid down her work, brushed the front of her immaculate dress, and prepared to rise. "I suppose I had better go and meet them," she added.

"I don't see the necessity for it, my dear," the doctor protested.

"c.u.mmins may, I think, be relied on to deal even with-er-twins."

"Of course; but-still-California's such a long way-and they may feel strange-or lonesome-"

The doctor laughed gently. "Then by all means go, my dear. If you like, have them out here for a few minutes. If the resemblance between them is as striking as you seem to think, they must be worth seeing."

When Miss Tabitha had tripped into the house, the doctor dropped his paper, stretched luxuriously, and, with a sigh of protest, sat up. He was several years younger than his sister-which is to say, in the neighborhood of forty-seven. He was a smallish man, compactly built, with a pleasant countenance on which a carefully-trimmed Vand.y.k.e beard made up to an extent for the lack of hair above. He wore sh.e.l.l-rimmed gla.s.ses and was very near-sighted, a fact emphasized by his manner of thrusting his head forward to eke out the deficiencies of his lenses.

This trick was apparent a minute later when, following in the tripping footsteps of Miss Tabitha, the two boys emerged on the porch. They were amazingly alike, the doctor decided: same height, same breadth at hip and shoulder, same coloring, same leisurely, yet confident, ease of movement, same expression of lively curiosity twinkling through an almost depressingly respectful solemnity.

"These are the Turner boys," announced Miss Tabitha. "This is Edward and this is-" She halted to look doubtfully from one to the other. "Or-or perhaps _this_ is Edward and-Dear me!"

"I'm Edward, ma'am," said the boy in blue.

"Well, I don't see how you can ever be _certain_ of it!" sighed Miss Tabitha, doubtfully. "This is Doctor Hillman."

They shook hands, and in a moment the boys found themselves seated side by side and replying to the doctor's questions.

"You are entering with certificates from your high school princ.i.p.al, I believe, young gentlemen. What year were you?"

"Second, sir," answered Ned.

"And your home is in-"

"Santa Lucia, sir," replied Laurie.

"California," added Ned.

"Well, you're quite a ways from home. Did you make the trip alone?"

"Yes, sir. Dad was coming with us as far as Chicago, but something happened so he couldn't. We didn't have any trouble, though."

"Really? Well, I believe you have the distinction of residing farther away than any of your fellows here. I don't recall any one who lives as far away as California; do you, sister?"

Miss Tabitha looked doubtful and hesitated an instant before she replied, "George Watson comes from Wyoming, I think, John."

"So he does," a.s.sented the doctor, gravely; "but measured in a straight line, my dear, California is slightly farther than Wyoming."

"Is it?" asked Miss Tabitha, untroubled. "I never could remember where those western States are."

"You remember many more important things, however. My sister, boys, fancied that she detected a certain resemblance between you, and even surmised that you might be-er-twins. Doubtless she's mistaken."

"No, sir," answered Ned, more than a trace of surprise in his voice. "I mean, we are twins, sir."

"Why, now that's interesting! Looking closer-" the doctor leaned forward and craned his head-"I believe I detect a certain slight similarity myself!"

There was a perceptible twinkle behind the gla.s.ses and Laurie dared a laugh, in which the doctor and Ned joined, while Miss Tabitha murmured: "Well! I should think you _might_!"

"I hope you are both going to like the school," continued the doctor.

"Of course, you'll find our ways a little different, but we'll try to make you feel at home. You are the first representatives of your State who have attended our school, and I trust that both in conduct and industry you will bring honor to it. Mr. Cornish, your hall master, will advise you in all matters pertaining to your studies, Other questions may be taken to Mr. c.u.mmins, the school secretary, whom you have doubtless already met. But I want you always to feel at perfect liberty to come to me at any time on any matter at all. And," added the doctor, with a twinkle, "if we fail you, there is still my sister, who, I a.s.sure you, possesses more wisdom than all of us."

Miss Tabitha acknowledged the compliment with a little wry smile, and Ned and Laurie arose.

"Yes, sir," said the former.

"Thank you, sir," said Laurie.

"Luncheon is served at one in West Hall," continued the doctor. "That's the dormitory behind you there. Beginning with supper to-night, you will take your meals in your own hall, but only a few of the students have arrived as yet, and so only one dining-room is open. I'm very glad to have met you, young gentlemen. Mr. c.u.mmins will direct you to your room.

Good morning."

Five minutes later, the Turner twins set their suitcases down on the floor of Number 16 East Hall and looked about them. Number 16 was not palatial as to size, but it was big enough to hold comfortably the two single beds, the study-table, the two narrow chiffoniers, and the four chairs that made up its furnis.h.i.+ng. There was a generous-sized closet at each side of the door, and two windows set close together between the beds. Under the windows was a wide seat, lacking only pillows to make it inviting. From the cas.e.m.e.nts the boys looked over or through the topmost branches of the maples that lined Was.h.i.+ngton Street and followed Summit Street as it continued its ascent of the hill and presently leveled out between a thick wood on one side and an open field on the other.

"That must be the athletic field," said Laurie. "See the stand there?

And the goal-posts? How do you like it?"

"The field? Looks all right from here."

"I mean the whole outfit, you simp; the school and Doctor Hillman and Miss Frosty-Face and everything."

"Cut out calling names, Laurie. Miss Hillman's all right. So's the doctor. So's the school. I like it. Wonder when our trunks will get here."

"Half an hour ago you had a hunch you weren't going to like it," jeered Laurie. "Changed your mind, haven't you?"

"Yes, and I'm going to change more than my mind." Whereupon Ned opened his bag and selected a clean s.h.i.+rt. "What time is it?"

"What do you wear a watch for if you never look at it?" grumbled his brother. "It's ten to one, Lazy. I'm going to find a place to wash up. I choose this side of the room, Ned."

Ned studied the room a moment. "No, you don't," he challenged. "I'll take this side. I'm the oldest." "There isn't any difference, you chump.

One side's as good as the other."

"Then you won't mind taking the other," answered Ned, sweetly. "Run along and find the lavatory. I think it's at the head of the stairs.

Wonder why they put us up two flights."

"Guess they knew you were naturally lazy and needed the exercise."

Laurie dodged a pair of traveling slippers in a red-leather case and disappeared into the corridor.

Some ten minutes later they descended the stairway together and set out for West Hall. Laurie drew attention to the gymnasium building, but Ned, who had recovered his appet.i.te, only deigned it a glance. Two boys, luggage laden, evidently just arrived, came down the steps of School Hall as the twins pa.s.sed, and stared curiously.

"Guess they've never seen twins before in this part of the world,"

grumbled Laurie. "Those chaps nearly popped their eyes out!"

West Hall proved an exact duplicate of their own dormitory, and the dining-room occupied all the right end of it. There were about fifteen boys there, in age varying from fourteen to eighteen, and there was a perceptible pause in the business of eating when the newcomers entered.

A waitress conducted them to seats at a table already occupied by three other lads, and asked if they'd have milk or iced tea. Ned, as usual, answered for both.

"Iced tea, please, and lots of lemon."