E-text prepared by Jim Ludwig
The High School Boys' Training Hike
or
Making Themselves "Hard as Nails"
By H. Irving Hancock
CHAPTERS
I. Mr. Titmouse Doesn't Know Dick
II. The Deed of a Hero
III. The Peddler and the Lawyer's Half
IV. Peddler Hinman's Next Appearance
V. Dave Does Some Good Work
VI. The No-Breakfast Plan
VII. Making the Tramps Squirm
VIII. When the Peddler Was "Frisked"
IX. Dick Imitates a Tame Indian
X. Reuben Hinman Proves His Mettle
XI. Tom Idealizes Working Clothes
XII. Trouble With the Rah-Rah-Rahs
XIII. A Snub and the Quick Retort
XIV. Dick & Co Make an Apple "Pie"
XV. Making Port in a Storm
XVI. Home, Hospital and Almshouse
XVII. Two Kinds of Hobo
XVIII. Dick Prescott, Knight Errant
XIX. "I'll Fight Him for This Man!"
XX. In the Milksop Class?
XXI. The Revenge Talk at Miller's
XXII. Under the Sting of the Lash
XXIII. Timmy, the Gentleman, at Home
XXIV. Conclusion
"We thought ten dollars would be about right," Dick Prescott announced.
"Per week?" inquired Mr. Titmouse, as though he doubted his hearing.
"Oh, dear, no! For the month of August, sir."
Mr. Newbegin Titmouse surveyed his young caller through half-closedeyelids.
"Ten dollars for the use of that fine wagon for a whole month?"cried Mr. Titmouse in astonishment. "Absurd!"
"Very likely I am looking at it from the wrong point of view,"admitted Prescott, who fingered a ten dollar bill and was slowlysmoothing it out so that Mr. Titmouse might see it.
"That wagon was put together especially for the purpose," Mr.Titmouse resumed. "It has seats that run lengthwise, and eightsmall cupboards and lockers under the seats. There is a placeto secure the cook stove at the rear end of the wagon, and thestove rests on zinc. Though the wagon is light enough for onehorse to draw it, it will hold all that several people could requirefor camping or for leading a regular gipsy life. There is a specialawning that covers the wagon when needed, so that on a rainy dayyou can travel without using umbrellas or getting wet. You cancook equally well on the stove whether in camp or on the road.There are not many vehicles in which you can cook a full mealwhen traveling from one point to another."
"Nor is it every stewpan or kettle that would refrain from slippingoff the stove when driving the wagon over rough roads," laughedDick good-humoredly.
"Well—-er—-of course, one has to choose decent roads when touringwith a wagon of that sort," admitted the owner.
"Then you don't think ten dollars a fair price?" Dick Prescottinquired thoughtfully.
"For a month's use of the wagon? I do not," replied Mr. Newbegin
Titmouse with emphasis.
"And so you decline our offer of ten dollars?" Prescott asked,looking still more thoughtful.
"I certainly do," replied Mr. Titmouse.
Then the owner of the wagon began to descant glowingly upon themany advantages of going on a road hike aided by the service thatsuch a specially constructed wagon would give. In fact, Mr. Titmousedwelt so enthusiastically upon the value of his wagon that Dickshrewdly told himself:
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