They all got pretty well acquainted with Tom Moran that day. And he really was a fine young fellow. Although his book learning might not be extensive, he had traveled much and was one of those fortunate persons who remember, and can talk of, what they have seen.
Tom Moran was going back with the girls the next day, for the vacation was close upon its end. At first he was not decided what he should do after getting little Celia from Mrs. Hogan. But Tavia and Dorothy fixed that.
“Tom,” said Mr. Travers, when the party returned from the woodchuck bake, “I’ve been talking with my partners and we want you to settle down here in Dalton and work for us.”
“I don’t know, Mr. Travers,” said the young man, undecidedly. “You see, I had some words with Simpson——”
“Oh, you won’t be under Simpson—and we won’t put a mechanic like you to driving an ox-team, either. There is a better job than that here for you,” and Mr. Travers talked seriously with the red-haired youth for an hour.
“The trouble with you is, you have never settled down. You haven’t had an anchor. Now, Celia can’t travel about with you, and she’s got to be your care for some years to come.”
“I know. If I can get her away from that Hogan woman. I may have trouble there—if the foundling asylum folk let Mrs. Hogan adopt her.”
“If you want help in that matter, you trust to Major Dale, Dorothy’s father. He’ll see you through, Tom. And so will your friends here in Dalton. We want you to come back here and go to work.”
Thus it was arranged. Tom, the next day, appeared at the railroad station in a neat suit and with a new grip in his hand. The grip was practically empty, he told Dorothy; but he proposed to get it filled up with nice clothes for Celia if he could get the child away from her taskmistress at once.
The White boys and Abe Perriton and Bob Niles traveled back to college in the Firebird, so Dorothy and Tavia said good-bye to them before they left Dalton. Bob Niles tried to get Tavia off by herself to talk on the last evening they were together; but Tavia was suddenly very strict with him.