Just then another man came in, suffering from a cut on the arm, and the doctor had to attend to him. Bob went off, promising to be on hand at eight o'clock in the morning. The talk in the next room had ceased and the youth felt certain that the three men had left the building. While he was in the hallway he approached the door and peeped through the key-hole. The room was empty of occupants. "Who rents that room next to the doctor's office?" he asked of the negro, whom he met again in the lower hallway. "Mr. Morgan Fitzsimmons," was the answer. "Is there a man named Ruff in the building?" "No, sah." "Or a man named Soapy Gannon?" "No, sah." "You don't know them at all?" "No, sah," and again the negro went on his way and Bob left the building. The boy had nothing to do that evening, and after getting a room for the night at the so-styled hotel, another flimsy two-story affair, and stabling for Darling, he obtained supper and then strolled around. "Bob!" came the cry, as he was sauntering down the main street, and the next instant he felt his hand grasped by Josiah Socket, whose tanned face beamed with pleasure. "How do you do, Mr. Socket?" exclaimed the boy. "Glad to see you. Where have you been and how are you making it?" "We are located over to Dishpan Falls," said Josiah Socket, naming a locality which afterwards became known as Felville. "Doing putty good too." "And how are all the folks?" "Very well. How are you folks doin'?" "Very well indeed, that is, so far as gold digging is concerned. But Mark is sick." And Bob gave some particulars. "I am sorry to hear that," said Josiah Socket. "Hope he pulls through all right. I came here to buy supplies. They are awful high up our way." "You'll find 'em high here too." "Yes, so I've learned. But we've got to eat, so I'll make the best of it," added Josiah Socket, with a sigh. He then related some of the particulars of what he and his family were doing, and he and Bob walked around the settlement, taking in the sights. Bob wanted to see more of Ruff, Gannon, and Fitzsimmons, but could not find them. "I steer clear o' gambling," said Josiah Socket. "What I find in the way of gold I'm going to keep--outside of what I have to pay for provisions." "A man is a fool to gamble," answered Bob. "But more than a quarter of them do it--and they drink too." He and Josiah Socket slept together that night and parted early in the morning. Then Bob went around for the doctor, and he and the medical man set off for the gulch. CHAPTER XXVII THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MAYBE DIXON When the doctor arrived at Mark's side he found the youth in a fever. He at once set to work and administered some medicine, and remained at the sufferer's side part of the night and an hour in the morning. "I feel quite sure he will get well," he said, when he was ready to leave. "But should he have a turn for the worse you had better come for me again."