Four Afoot: Being the Adventures of the Big Four on the Highway. Barbour Ralph Henry

morning you stay up in the hay until I call you. My husband will be out in the field by seven and then you can come to the house and have some breakfast. Good night.”

      “Good night, ma’am,” they answered with full hearts and fuller mouths. “We’re awfully much obliged to you.”

      “Yes’m. You’ve saved our lives,” said Dan.

      Mrs. Hooper surveyed them smilingly from the door.

      “Well, it’s real nice to see you boys eat,” she said. “I just couldn’t bear to have you go tramping around so late without any supper. And William wouldn’t have wanted it either, only – if it hadn’t been for Abner Wade, you see.”

      “Yes’m!”

      “Good night, Mrs. Hooper!”

      “Thank you very much!”

      Then the door closed behind her, and they were left to the enjoyment of their supper. And when I say enjoyment I know what I’m talking about!

      “Say, fellows,” said Dan presently, when the edge of his appetite had been dulled by many slices of cold meat and bread and butter, “say, do you suppose we’re always going to eat in barns on this trip?”

      “Much I’d care if it was always as good as this,” answered Nelson, dividing the pie into four generous quarters with his knife. And the others agreed. When only crumbs remained on the tray they blew out the lantern, set the remains of the feast beside the door, and climbed up into the loft. There, burrowing luxuriously in the sweet-smelling hay, they fell asleep almost instantly.

      CHAPTER V

      DESCRIBES A SECOND ENCOUNTER WITH MR. WADE

      At a little after eight the next morning they were on their way again. Nine hours of sound, refreshing slumber had worked a change. Dan no longer held any grudge against the doctor, while Tom, cheered and comforted by the biggest kind of a breakfast, was once more his optimistic self. They had overwhelmed Mrs. Hooper with their gratitude, had made friends with Brutus, a benevolent and toothless setter, and had left the farmhouse with sentiments of regret. For, as Tom said, who could tell when they would again find such coffee and such corn muffins! Brutus had insisted upon accompanying them as far as the farm limits, and had parted from them with tears in his eyes; at least, we have Dan’s word for it. Nelson became philosophic.

      “It just shows,” he said vaguely, “that you can’t always tell at first what you’re up against. Some persons are like some dogs, their bark is worse than their bite.”

      “Sure,” agreed Dan. “Some persons haven’t any teeth.”

      It was the jolliest sort of a September morning. Once or twice they imagined they could catch glimpses of the ocean, sparkling and sun-flecked in the distance. Whether they actually saw it or not, they were constantly reminded of it by the fresh, salty breeze that caressed their faces.

      “Why can’t we go along the shore instead of here where we are?” asked Nelson.

      “That’s so,” cried Dan.

      Bob produced his map, and they sat on the top rail of a fence and studied it.

      “After we leave Samoset,” said Bob, “we can turn down here and go to Sisset. There must be a hotel there, and we can spend the night. Then – ”

      “Maybe we can find a barn,” suggested Tom.

      “Then in the morning we’ll go on to Seaville or some place along there.”

      “But, look here,” objected Dan; “we’re a heap nearer the north shore than we are the south.”

      “Yes, but what we want is the real ocean,” said Bob. “We can come home by the Sound shore.”

      “Just as you say,” answered Dan. “Meanwhile, let’s get to Samoset before dinner time.”

      They reached that town at a little after ten o’clock, and found it quite a lively place. There were two hotels, and although Tom held out awhile for a comfortable barn, they finally decided to go to the Fairview House and have dinner. After registering, they left their packs in the office, washed and spruced up, and went out to see the city. The main street was well lined with stores and well filled with vehicles.

      “This is the first thing we’ve struck,” declared Dan, “that looks like a town. Let’s buy something.”

      So they roamed from store to store, looking into every window, and speculating on the desirability of the articles shown. Tom bought a pound of peanut brittle which, on close examination, proved to be much older than supposed. Tom declared disgustedly that it wasn’t what it was cracked up to be, a pun that elicited only groans from his companions. Bob purchased six souvenir post cards, and insisted on returning to the hotel to address them. So the others accompanied him, and, while he retired to the writing room, sat themselves down on the top step in the sunlight and attacked Tom’s candy.

      “Nothing like candy,” Dan declared, “to give a fellow an appetite for dinner.”

      “That may be true of some candy,” answered Nelson, “but – ”

      “Hello!” cried Dan excitedly. “Look there!”

      The others followed the direction of his gaze, and saw a tired-looking sorrel horse coming up the street, drawing a battered buggy, in which sat a single occupant. The occupant was Mr. Abner Wade. The boys watched eagerly. Opposite the hotel Mr. Wade drew up to the sidewalk, jumped out, and tied the horse to a post. While doing so, he glanced across and saw them. A smile spread itself over his features, and he waved his hand.

      “Howdy do?” he called.

      “How are you, sir?” responded Dan cordially. Nelson and Tom glanced about at him in surprise. “A nice morning, Mr. Wade.”

      “Fine, fine!” agreed the farmer. “Well, you’re getting along, I see.”

      “Yes, sir, thank you. And, by the way, we’re much obliged for that tip you gave us. We called on Mr. Hooper, and spent the night there. We were certainly treated well, and we’re very much obliged to you, sir, for sending us there.”

      Mr. Wade looked surprised.

      “That so? Er – did you tell William I sent you?”

      “Yes, indeed, and he couldn’t do too much to us – I mean for us,” answered Dan gravely.

      “Humph!” muttered Mr. Wade doubtfully. “Speak of me, did he?”

      “Oh, yes, sir! Quite enthusiastically. And we fully agreed with everything he said,” replied Dan genially.

      Mr. Wade stared hard for a moment. Then:

      “Well, I must be getting on,” he said. “Good luck to you.”

      “Thank you, sir; the same to you. Hope you’ll have a pleasant trip home.”

      It is doubtful if Mr. Wade heard the latter part of the remark, for he was entering the grocery store in front of which he had hitched. Dan sprang up.

      “You fellows stay here,” he said softly, “and watch for him. Don’t let him out of your sight. I’ll be back in a minute.”

      He hurried down the street and around a corner on which hung a livery-stable sign. He was soon back.

      “Still there?” he asked.

      “Yes,” answered Nelson eagerly. “What are you going to do?”

      “I’m going to get even with the old codger,” answered Dan grimly, as he sat down again on the step.

      “Where’d you go?” asked Tom.

      “Livery stable. Borrowed a carriage wrench. There he comes!”

      Mr. Wade issued from the grocery, cast a glance toward his horse, and then turned up the street. They watched him until he had disappeared into the bank, half a block away. Then Dan arose and, followed by his companions, sauntered across the street. For a moment he glanced carelessly in the grocery-store window. Then, quite as carelessly,