Reuben Hinman was put to bed and made as comfortable as possible.

“Are there any relatives to take care of this man?” Dick asked.

“There are relatives,” replied Dr. Warren, with an odd smile, “but I guess we won’t ask any of them to care for Reuben.  There are a couple of good women among the neighbors, and I’ll call them to come over here soon.”

It was after six in the morning when Dr. Warren left the peddler, with two motherly looking women to take care of him.

Dr. Warren, after some conversation with the boys, returned to his home.

“As this is where we’re going to meet Tom and the other fellows,” said Dick, “I propose that we see if we can find a restaurant and have something to eat.  Then we’ll try to hire a couple of beds and leave a call for noon.  I’m both hungry and fagged out.”

They found the restaurant without difficulty, and also succeeded in hiring two cots in an upstairs room over the restaurant.

“Reuben Hinman is becoming a good deal of a puzzle to me,” murmured Dave Darrin, as the chums ate their breakfast.

“He’s almost a man of mystery,” agreed Dick, “though not quite, except to us.  I imagine that these Fenton people know all about our peddler friend.”

“Both doctors seemed to know a lot about the old man,” remarked Dave thoughtfully.  “Yet it was strange; neither of them would really tell us anything definite about Mr. Hinman.”

“If doctors told all they know about people.” smiled Dick, “I believe that life would become exciting for a while, but before long there would be fewer doctors in the world than there are now.”

At just twelve o’clock Dick and Dave were called.  They sprang up, somewhat drowsy, yet on the whole greatly refreshed.  After washing they dressed and went forth in search of their camp outfit and friends.

CHAPTER XI

TOM IDEALIZES WORKING CLOTHES

After the reunion at Fenton the high school boys enjoyed many days of “hiking” and of all-around good times, yet nothing happened in that interval that requires especial chronicling.

Nor in that time did Dick & Co. hear any more of Reuben Hinman, as they were now some distance from Fenton.

“We’ll make Ashbury to-night,” Dick announced one morning.  “We’ll go about two miles past the town, halt there for two or three days’ rest, and then—–­back to good old Gridley for ours.”

“Gridley’s all right.  Fine old town,” Tom declared.  “But as for me, I wish we didn’t have to go back there for another two months, instead of feeling that we have to be there in a fortnight from now.”

“This has been a great hike,” Dick agreed, “and a fortnight of life of a kind that has had nothing but joy in it.  Yet we’ve the years ahead to think of, haven’t we?”

“What has that got to do with going back to Gridley?” demanded Danny Grin.