or four days," was Dr. Haynes' parting injunction.

"I can't spare the time from my business," groaned the old man.

"You'll have to, this time, Reuben, as the means of being ready
to do more business. So be good about it. You have two fine
lads taking care of you to-night."

"I know that, Doctor."

It was five o'clock in the morning when Dick and Dave drove into
the main street of Fenton. Yet they found an automobile in the
road, and Dr. Warren, a very young man, hailed them.

"Drive right along, boys. I'll show you the way to the house,"
called the Fenton physician.

It was a very small and very plain little house of five rooms
into which Reuben was carried, but it was a very neatly kept little
house.

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