Part 28 (1/2)
The boys had expected some such answer as this, so they were not greatly surprised. They were introduced to the storekeeper by Tom Dillon, who then asked if Abe Blower had been alone.
”No, he had two others with him--strangers to me,” answered d.i.c.k Logan.
”Was one of the strangers an elderly man and the other a young fellow like ourselves?” asked Roger.
”Yes, a tall, thin man. The young feller called him Haskers, I think.”
”What name did the young man go by?” asked Dave.
”Morse, I think--or something like that.”
”Morr?” put in Phil.
”Yes, I reckon that was it. Then you know 'em?” questioned the storekeeper, with interest.
”Yes, we know them, and we'd like to meet them,” answered Roger, dryly.
”Well, I dunno where they went--Abe didn't say an' it wasn't my business to question 'em,” returned d.i.c.k Logan. ”Looked to me like the elderly gent was some kind o' a school sharp.”
”He used to be,” answered Dave. ”And we all were under him.”
”Oh, I see. Well, I dunno where they went, 'ceptin' they struck out along the Billy Rodman trail,” said the storekeeper.
”Abe took his regular outfit, I reckon,” remarked Tom Dillon.
”Sure--he never goes up in the mountains without it, Tom; you know that.”
”And the three were alone?”
”I didn't see n.o.body else.”
”Can you put us up for the night, d.i.c.k?”
”I can if the young fellers will sleep in one room. I got a little room fer you an' a big one I can put three cots in.”
”That will do for us,” answered Roger. ”We have been out in such places as this before,” he added, with a faint smile.
”We ain't got no bathrooms, nor electric elevators,” returned d.i.c.k Logan, with a chuckle. ”But we kin give you clean beds an' blankets, and good grub.”
”You don't have to tell me that, d.i.c.k,” put in Tom Dillon. He turned to the others. ”It's all right, boys; just make yourselves at home. We'll get a good night's rest here, and follow Abe and the others fust thing in the mornin'.”
The room the boys occupied was on the second story, at the corner of the building. Under the side window was a driveway leading back to the stables attached to the establishment. The apartment had two cots already in it and a third was speedily forthcoming, being put in place by a negro man-of-all-work.
”Well, that long ride to-day certainly made me tired,” remarked Phil, as he started to undress. ”I could sleep standing up, as the saying goes.”
”I'm tired myself,” answered Roger.
”Wonder how the folks are making out in the Park,” came from Dave. ”I hope they have better accommodations than this,” and he glanced around at the bare walls and bare floor.
”Oh, Yellowstone Park has some fine hotels,” declared Roger. ”I read all about them in one of the tourists' guides. They have just erected a new one that they say is a dandy.”