I'd hate to belong to the Timmy Hinman crowd!" "As for me," sighed Tom comically, "I don't see any chance of my becoming a Timmy until I'm able to do it on money accumulated for myself." As Phin Drayne was still in Gridley High School, and had an overweening idea of himself as a football player, it is extremely likely that we shall hear of him again, for which reason, if for no other, we may as well dismiss him from these present pages.
A few more days of earnest hiking, followed by restful sleep in camp at night, brought Dick & Co., one fine afternoon toward the end of August, in sight of the spires of Gridley.
"There's the good old town!" called Dick, first to reach the rise of ground from which the view of Gridley was to be had.
"Good old town, indeed!" glowed Dave Darrin.
"Whoop!" shouted Tom Reade irrepressibly.

"Whoop! And then---whoop!" Dalzell, as he stood still for a few moments, gazing ahead, grinned broadly.
"He thinks his native town is a joke!" called Greg Holmes reproachfully.
"No," replied Dalzell, with a solemn shake of his head.

"I am the joke, and it's on Gridley for being my native town." "I'm glad to be back---when I get there," announced Hazy.

"I shall be glad, even if for nothing more than the chance to rest my feet." "Nonsense!" Dick retorted.

"You'll be out on Main Street, to-night, ready to tramp miles and miles, if anything amusing turns up." At the first shade by the roadside Dick &.