Brief description:
Fred "Fearnot" Durham is adventurous young man who can clearly fend from himself in difficult situations. He's brother Phil, an identical twin is a plebe at West Point and badly set upon by upperclassmen. Fred and Phil arrange an exchange of places to give Phil a break and Fred and opportunity to build respect for his twin.....
On Wednesday. when Phil Durham returned to West Point, he found Fred in full uniforin down at the station waiting for him. There were other cadets there who were looking for friends. As he stepped off the car Fred rushed at him and the two shook hands like old friends who had been separated a long time. The cadets looked at them and noticed the very marked resemblance to each other. One of them stepped up to Fred and asked, in half whisper:
'"Who‘s your friend, Durham?”
“He is my twin brother.“
“Well. I don't think l ever saw two men look more alike.“
“Yes; we have had a lot of fun tooling people," and with that he ran his arm through Phil’s and they walked off together. They went up to the hotel. where Phil registered under the name of Frederick Durham.
They went up to a room. where they quickly exchanged suits. and Phil was once more in his uniform. "What kind of a time have you had, Fred?" Phil asked him.
"l‘ve had a grand time. old man. But it is too long a story for me to tell you now. There have been more than a score of attempts made to haze me.“
"Great Scott! I was afraid of that, Fred. But how did you come out?"
"Beat them every time, and l'm blessed if I believe any of them could be hired to try it again. l’ve written the whole thing out for your guidance, to save you from being caught in a trap. You are good at boxing yourself; understand fencing, and all about the ammonia guns, and the little rubber stench.”
“Great Scott! Do you mean to say you used those things?“
"Yes. And I had the fun of knocking' out fifteen of them at one time, and I tell you, the skunk created a sensation. They were the sickest crowd you ever saw. You’ll find the whole story in manuscript in the inner pocket of your coat; so if you get caught it will be your own fault.”
"All right; I'll study it carefully. I‘m sorry, though, you were placed in such a fix.....
On Wednesday. when Phil Durham returned to West Point, he found Fred in full uniforin down at the station waiting for him. There were other cadets there who were looking for friends. As he stepped off the car Fred rushed at him and the two shook hands like old friends who had been separated a long time. The cadets looked at them and noticed the very marked resemblance to each other. One of them stepped up to Fred and asked, in half whisper:
'"Who‘s your friend, Durham?”
“He is my twin brother.“
“Well. I don't think l ever saw two men look more alike.“
“Yes; we have had a lot of fun tooling people," and with that he ran his arm through Phil’s and they walked off together. They went up to the hotel. where Phil registered under the name of Frederick Durham.
They went up to a room. where they quickly exchanged suits. and Phil was once more in his uniform. "What kind of a time have you had, Fred?" Phil asked him.
"l‘ve had a grand time. old man. But it is too long a story for me to tell you now. There have been more than a score of attempts made to haze me.“
"Great Scott! I was afraid of that, Fred. But how did you come out?"
"Beat them every time, and l'm blessed if I believe any of them could be hired to try it again. l’ve written the whole thing out for your guidance, to save you from being caught in a trap. You are good at boxing yourself; understand fencing, and all about the ammonia guns, and the little rubber stench.”
“Great Scott! Do you mean to say you used those things?“
"Yes. And I had the fun of knocking' out fifteen of them at one time, and I tell you, the skunk created a sensation. They were the sickest crowd you ever saw. You’ll find the whole story in manuscript in the inner pocket of your coat; so if you get caught it will be your own fault.”
"All right; I'll study it carefully. I‘m sorry, though, you were placed in such a fix.....
Publication
Work and Win Magazine, April 23, 1915