“We’d like some breakfast and—and—some decent clothes too,” put in Fenn.
“We’ll see to that,” replied Mr. Weldon. “Come along with me.”
He took the boys to his house, first sending a messenger to telephone to Darewell that the boys were safe and would shortly be home. The chums were soon eating a hearty meal, and then were fitted out in garments, which, if they did not fit them well, being collected from several houses that contained lads about of their age, were a welcome relief from the overalls and jumpers.
“I never knew how much depended on shoes before,” said Fenn, as he gazed at those loaned him.
“I can feel those thistles yet,” observed Frank.
“Now I s’pose you boys’ll want t’ git home,” observed Mr. Weldon when breakfast was finished. “I’ll be glad t’ advance ye th’ money for your tickets.”
“We’ll be much obliged if you will,” spoke Bart. “If you want references you can telephone to any one in Darewell.”
“Them circulars is reference enough,” was the answer, as he waved one containing a description of the boys. Their relatives had sent them broadcast after the balloon had broken loose and no word had been received from the chums by the following morning.
It was not long before the four were on a train, speeding home. They were so full of talk over their recent experiences that it was hard to say where one began and the other left off.
“One thing we’ve got to do the minute we get back,” said Bart.