CHAPTER V
SAMMY SCENTS A MYSTERY
For several minutes after the local train had got under way, the boys were inclined to be less noisy and boisterous than usual. They kept thinking over the parting from their parents.
All their previous trips had been short, seldom taking them more than a few hours' journey from home. But this trip marked an epoch in their lives. They were to travel not dozens of miles but thousands. They would be three days and more on the train, and when they finally reached their journey's end they would be as far away from Fairview as though they were in Europe. It almost took their breath away when they thought of it.
But before the train had gone ten miles they were in their usual spirits and all stirred up by the prospect of what lay before them.
"Just think of it," sighed Sammy, happily, "three whole days of railroad riding!"
"And nothing to do but to eat and sleep and look at things out of the window," added Bob.
"And the best of it is that most of the time we'll be on a splendid big train and not on such a rattlety-bang as this," put in George, looking around with some disdain at the shabby little car.
"They say there's everything on those flyers," said Frank in an awed voice. "Libraries and shower baths and barber shops and typewriters and a whole lot of things besides."
"And then the eats!" gloated Sammy, hugging himself gleefully. "Just like a big hotel with everything you can think of to eat and as much dessert and pie and ice cream as you want."