"Gone? Why, Allen, what do you mean?"
"I am going to leave home this afternoon, Chet."
"You are fooling," remarked the younger brother.
"Never more serious in my life, Chet."
"And you are going——" Chet hesitated.
"Direct to San Francisco to hunt up tidings of Uncle Barnaby."
Of course, Chet was taken completely back by Allen's announcement.
"To San Francisco!" he ejaculated.
"Yes, Chet. I feel that it is my duty to discover what has become of uncle, if possible, at once."
"I know, but it's such a journey——"