“It is a dandy place!” murmured Jerry softly.
The boys found Proctor Thornton to be a rather stern-looking gentleman, who seemed to be on the alert and with an air as if he were constantly saying, or thinking:
“Now it doesn’t make any difference how innocent you look, I know you have either been up to some mischief or are going to make some. I won’t accept any excuses. I know boys and you can’t deceive me.”
“But maybe he’s all right for all that,” said Bob to his chums, as they came away after registering.
“He doesn’t _look_ very promising,” declared Ned.
“But I guess we can make out as well as the rest of the boys,” came from Jerry.
Professor Snodgrass had left them in Mr. Thornton’s office, the scientist stating he had some work to prepare for the morrow, and would see the boys in the morning. The proctor had gone out to look for Mrs. Eastman, who was the matron in charge of the dormitory where the boys would sleep. Mr. Thornton wanted her to take Ned, Bob and Jerry to their rooms, and the discussion about him took place during his absence.
“This way, if you please, young gentlemen,” he called a little later. “You will be assigned to classes to-morrow.”
Mrs. Eastman proved to be a motherly-looking woman, and the boys took a liking to her at once.
“New students, eh?” she remarked pleasantly.
“Just arrived, after an all day try at getting here,” said Jerry.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “Have you had supper?”
They told her of the professor’s hospitality.
“Here are your rooms,” she informed them, as she stopped in a corridor on the second floor. “You’ll find the rules on cards tacked to each door. The rooms connect.”
Thus exclaimed Ned, Bob and Jerry as they were ushered into their new quarters. The rooms, though small, were tastefully furnished, and our heroes had materials in their trunks to decorate them as college rooms should be decorated, according to the accepted usage.
Mrs. Eastman had hurried away, after promising to have the boys’ baggage brought from their automobile by one of the porters, and while waiting for their trunks the trio walked through the three connecting rooms, making their selection. Jerry took the middle apartment, with Bob on the left and Ned on the right.
As the porter left, having deposited the trunks, Jerry saw a door on the opposite side of the corridor open, and a lad’s head was thrust out. His room was well lighted, and two other students could be seen in with him. He looked curiously across at the newcomers.