TRIPPING WITH THE TUCKER TWINS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 5
II. EARNING A LIVING 24
III. A TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT 38
IV. WHAT ZEBEDEE SAID 48
V. A TRIP TO CHARLESTON 64
VI. THROUGH THE GRILLE 82
VII. THE ABANDONED HOTEL 98
VIII. TUCKER TACT 111
IX. CHURCHYARDS 124
X. THE HEAVENLY VISION 143
XI. THE GUITAR 161
XII. MORAL COURAGE 172
XIII. ENGAGING BOARD 189
XIV. THE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 206
XV. WHO WON THE BET? 215
XVI. LETTERS 231
XVII. MISS ARABELLA 244
XVIII. A CHANCE FOR LOUIS 261
XIX. A RED, RED ROSE 280
XX. MORE LETTERS 287
XXI. THE SUMMING UP 300

Tripping with the Tucker Twins

CHAPTER I

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

After our boarding-school burned on that memorable night in March, it
seemed foolish to start to school again so late in the season; at least
it seemed so to the Tucker twins and me. Their father and mine were
rather inclined to think we had better enter some institute of learning
in Richmond or take extra classes, do something besides loaf; but we
earnestly pleaded to be let off for the rest of the year, and they
succumbed to our entreaties.

My ankle gave me a good deal of trouble. You remember, no doubt, how I
sprained it getting out of the second-story window when the false alarm
of fire rang, the afternoon before the real _bona fide_ fire. Dee's
first aid to the injured was all very well for the time being, but when
we arrived in Richmond a surgeon had to be called to attend to it, and
the ankle was put in plaster.

"A sprain can be much more serious than a break," the surgeon said
solemnly as he looked at the much swollen foot and ankle. "I shall have
to take an X-ray of this to be sure no bones are broken, and then, young
lady, you will have to be quiet for some days, how many I can't yet
tell."

Never having been disabled in my life, I had no idea how irksome it
could become. On no account to put your foot to the ground and to feel
perfectly well is about as hard a job as could be given me, an active
country girl. Father came up from Milton and heartily agreed with the
surgeon in charge.

"I have set a carload of broken legs in my time and bandaged a wagonful
of ankles, and I am sure I have had less trouble from the legs than the
ankles. It is because, as a rule, a sprain is not treated seriously
enough. Now, honey, you have got to sit still and take it."

I sat still all right, although it nearly killed me to do it. Not even
crutches were allowed for a week for fear I might be tempted to bear my
weight on the offending member.

The Tuckers, father and twins, were goodness itself to me. I was afraid
to express a wish, because no matter how preposterous it was they would
immediately rush off and try to get whatever silly thing I had in a
careless moment expressed a desire for. For instance, one day Dum came
in enthusiastic over a new drugstore drink she had discovered:

"Vanilla ice cream with fresh pineapple mixed up with it, orange syrup
and lots of bubbly soda! The best mess you ever sucked through a straw!"

"Ummm-ummm! Sounds good to me! When I can trust this old limb of Satan I
am going to make straight for that drugstore and drink three of them."

Mr. Tucker had just arrived from the newspaper office where he labored
many hours a day. He must have been tired sometimes, but he never looked
it and never complained of work. Eternal youth seemed to belong to him,
and undying energy.

"Good? I think it sounds awful!" he exclaimed. "You girls must astonish
your poor little insides with the impossible mixtures you put in 'em."

"I think it sounds fine, and I am surely going to have three of them
just as soon as I can toddle."

Mr. Tucker laughed and left the room, and I wearily resumed a not very
interesting book I was reading while Dum followed her father. I read on,
hoping to come to something better.

TRIPPING WITH THE TUCKER TWINS