"Judging from his appearance," suggested Tom Reade, "Rip is walking
all the way to the Land of Sweet Tempers. Probably he's doing
it on a wager, and is just beginning to realize what a long road
lies ahead of him. I wonder if he'll, arrive at his destination
during his lifetime?"

Fred's shoes, usually so highly polished, were already thick with
dust. His collar, ordinarily stiff and immaculate, was sadly
wilted and wrinkled. His whole air was one of mingled dejection
and rage.

"I wonder what can have happened to him?" asked Susie curiously.

"I think his conscience may be chasing him," smiled Dick.

What really had happened was that Squire Ripley had been present
when his son had made a very disrespectful answer to a white-haired
man, one of the guests at the Lakeview House where the Ripleys
were stopping.

In a great rage the lawyer had decided to send his son home for
that act of gross disrespect to the aged.

To make the punishment more complete, Mr. Ripley had ordered his
son to make the long journey on foot over the hills to the railway
station. Only enough money had been handed the young man to buy
his railway ticket home. The dress suit case had been added
in order to make his progress more difficult.

"A young man who cannot treat the aged with proper respect must