It was not a big town, being off the railroad lines, which were a mile or so to one side, but it looked prosperous and was doubtless the center of the rural trade activities for some miles around. It being now about the noon hour, the car stopped before a modest hotel for a noonday lunch. There were two larger hostelries on the main street, but from motives of prudent economy the boys preferred the less expensive taverns. "Yes, we will have dinner ready in a few minutes," remarked a comfortable looking woman who seemed to be in charge of the tiny office. "Make yourselves at home. Why, are you lads from Lannington?" This after reading the register. "That is our home town, madam," replied Phil. "Do you know the place?" "Well, I should say I did!" The woman smiled. "I was raised there. Been off here ever since I married." "Lannington is where we live," remarked Worth, after inscribing his name on the register with a flourish. "We're on a vacation trip, ma'am." "It might be that you knew our folks when you lived there," was Dave's contributing remark, for he saw that she was reading their names and smiling more broadly than before. "Why, yes, I do know some of them. I knew Dr. Way, and there was his friend Lawyer Dilworth, and the MacLesters. I feel as if I knew you all right now." And she offered her plump hand, which was cordially shaken as the boys explained more about their folks, then added: "My name now is Ewing. I'm known as the Widow Ewing round here. My husband has been dead three years or so. Before that, in Lannington, I was a McKnight. One of my brothers runs a garage there. Know him?" "Well, rather! Hey, Phil? We got this car mainly through his aid. McKnight & Wilder--they're some punkins when it comes to automobiles!" After this all was plain sailing for the boys. Mrs. Ewing insisted that they should remain until the morrow. "Won't cost you much. We'll cut the regular bill in half, for you're home folks, aren't you?" And it may be said that she had her way. The Big Six was put in the hotel garage and the boys were made comfortable in two adjoining rooms; and in the morning even Phil was astonished at the exceedingly small bill which they had to pay. He could only thank the comely widow, who laughed it off with: "If you boys are simply on a vacation trip, you're bound to spend more than you think you will. I'd gladly keep you for nothing, but times are hard and I have to make some charge." Cautious inquiries by Phil resulted in learning that there had been, and still might be further on an old inn of the pre-railroad days. But it was off the main road, in the roughest, heaviest wooded section, somewhere about eight or ten miles off to the east. That region, it appeared, was poor, swampy, and so inferior to other land lying all about that hardly anyone lived there, even though in the midst of a thickly settled country.