As was to be expected, the other two were so wedded to their idols that it was not an easy task to tear them away; and at times Rob had to insist on their accompanying himself and Tubby to other parts of the inclosure.
Andy never tired of watching the quaint scenes in the Zone, where the tides of humanity from all over the world ebbed and flowed through all the hours of the day and evening. He dearly loved to just imagine himself in far-distant lands, close in touch with these brown or yellow people. And the resolution to become a world traveler when he grew to manhood seized hold of Andy with renewed vigor.
As for Hiram, he could not be blamed for haunting that section where his heart found the greatest charm of the entire Exposition. Here he pored over the various ingenious inventions fashioned in the clever brains of the foremost among the nation’s talented men and women, from Edison down to the most humble.
And Hiram, having already reaped the fruits of his first venture in this fascinating field of human endeavor, naturally looked forward to the time when perhaps his name, too, might be linked with those for which he felt such reverence.
When Tubby’s uncle returned he was well satisfied to go East alone and leave his nephew in such good hands.
During the remainder of their stay in San Francisco the boys never once caught a glimpse of Jared Applegate. If he still remained in the City he made it a point to religiously avoid meeting any of his former school companions.
Rob had determined that he might let the crabbed old farmer and his wife know they had met Jared while on the Coast, so as to ease their minds, if they had not heard from their bad son for a long while, though he decided he would say nothing about the deplorable circumstances under which the meeting had taken place.
“I never liked the old farmer and his wife,” Rob had said to the others, when they were discussing the matter their last evening at the Fair, sitting at their ease, disposing of some ice cream, and watching the throng pass by. “But I suppose they have feelings like the rest of us, and in their own way, care for their boy. It would only give them a new stab to be told that Jared was as bad as ever, and do no good; so I hope none of you will whisper anything about that little episode.”
Being true scouts, and with malice toward none, the others readily agreed to do as Rob asked. They could easily afford to forget that unpleasant adventure, since things had turned out so wonderfully well for them.
“And to think that this is our last night at the Exposition,” said Tubby, with a vein of despondency in his voice. “I tell you I’m awfully sorry, much as I want to see the folks at home again. I’ll never, never forget all I’ve seen out here, let me tell you; for even if half of the civilized world is at war and killing each other off by tens of thousands each day, you’d never know it in this beautiful land of peace and plenty.”