Andy at Yale Part 15

He caught Andy's hand in a firm pressure with a mighty slap, and hauled him inside.

"Fellows, here's my roommate!" went on Dunk. "Andy Blair. I hope you'll like him as well as I do. Blair, these are some luckless freshmen like ourselves. Take 'em in the order of their beauty--Bob Hunter--never hit the bull's eye in his life; Ted Wilson--just Ted, mostly; Thad Warburton--no end of a swell, and money to burn! Shake!"

They shook in turn, looking into each other's eyes with that quick appraising glance that means so much. Andy liked all three. He hoped they would like him.

"So this is your hangout, eh, Dunk?" asked Ted, when the little formality of introduction was over.

"Yes, Andy had this picked out and kindly agreed to share it with me."

"I sure was glad to!" said Andy, heartily.

"Some swell little joint," commented Thad Warburton, looking around.

"Wait until we get her fixed up," advised Dunk. "Then we'll have something to show you! I haven't decided on a bed yet," he added to d.i.c.k. "Pick out the one you want."

"I'm not particular. They all look alike to me."

"Yes, they're just the same. Fed your face yet?"

"No, but I'm hungry. Thought I'd wait for you."

"Say, where is your eating joint?" asked Thad.

"I haven't picked out one yet," answered Andy. "I was thinking of going to the Hall----"

"Oh, that's no fun!" cried Bob. "Come with us. We have a swell place.

Run by one of our Andover crowd. Good grub and a nice bunch of fellows."

"I'm willing," agreed Andy.

"We could try it for a while," a.s.sented Dunk, "and if we didn't like it we could switch to the University Hall. What do you say, Andy?"

"I'm with you. The sooner the quicker. I'm starved."

"All right, then, we'll let the room go until after grub. I was going to stick up a few of my things, but they can wait. Get your trunk, Andy?"

"Did it come? I gave a man the check."

"Not yet. Sounds like it now."

There was a b.u.mping and thumping out in the corridor, and an expressman came in with Andy's baggage. It was stowed away in a corner and then the five lads prepared to set out for the "eating joint."

"It's around on York street, not far from Morey's," volunteered Thad.

"Oh, yes, Morey's!" exclaimed Andy. "I've heard lots about that joint. I wish we could get in there."

"No freshman need apply," quoted Dunk, with a laugh. "That's for our betters. We'll get there some day."

"Oh, I say----" began Ted, as they were about to go out. He looked at Andy rather queerly.

"What is it?" asked our hero, with a frank laugh. "Am I togged up wrong?"

"Your--er--derby," said Bob, obviously not liking to mention it.

"Oh, yes, that's right!" chimed in Dunk. "Hope you don't mind, Andy, but a cap or a crusher would be in better form."

Andy noticed that the others had on soft hats.

"Sure," he said. "I was going to get one. I had a soft hat at Milton, but it's all initialed, and covered with dates from down there. I don't suppose that would go here."

"Hardly," agreed Dunk. "I've got an odd one, though. Stick it on until you get yours," and he hauled a soft hat from under a pile of things on his dresser.

Andy hung up his offending derby and clapped the other on the back of his head. Then the five sallied forth, locking the door behind them.

Their feet echoed on the stone flagging of the open courtyard as they headed out on the campus. Past Dwight Hall, the home of the Young Men's Christian a.s.sociation, they went, out into High street and through Library to York. The thoroughfares were thronged with many students now, for it was the hour for supper.

Calls, cries, hails, gibes, comments and appeals were bandied back and forth. For it was the beginning of the term, and many of the new lads had not yet found themselves or their places. It was all pleasurable excitement and antic.i.p.ation.

Huddled close together, talking rapidly of many things they had seen, or hoped to see--of the things they had done or expected to do, Andy, Dunk, and their chums walked on to the eating place. Dunk informed Andy, in a whisper, that his three friends had been at Phillips Academy, in Andover, with him.

"Over here!"

"This way!"

"Lots of room!"

"Shove in, Hunter!"

"There's Wilson!"

"Dunk Chamber, too! Oh, you, Dunk!"

"Oh! Thad Warburton, give us your eye!"

It was a call to health, and several lads arose holding aloft foaming mugs of beer. For a moment Andy's heart failed him. He did not drink, and he did not intend to, yet he realized that to refuse might be very embarra.s.sing. Yet he resolved on this course.

There were more good-natured cries, and healths proposed, and then Andy and his companions found room at the table. Dunk introduced Andy to several lads.

"Oh, you, Dunk, your eyes on us!"

Several lads called to him, holding aloft their steins. Dunk hesitated a moment and then, with a quick glance at Andy, let his gla.s.s be filled.

Rising, he gave the pledge and drank.

Andy felt a tug at his heart strings. He was not a crank, nor a stickler for forms or reforms, yet he had made up his mind never to touch intoxicants. And it gave him a shock to find his roommate taking the stuff.

"Well, he's his own master," thought Andy. "It's up to him!"

And then, amid that gay scene--not at all riotous--there came to Andy the memory of a half-forgotten lesson.