The doctor arrived inside of an hour.  He made an examination and then reported that Rex was in for a bad case of intermittent fever.

“He may not be able to be moved for six weeks,” he added.

And Rex knew nothing of it, but began to toss in the delirium of his fever, living over again some of the bitter experiences of the past few hours.

CHAPTER XXII

 Searching for Rex

“What train did Rex say he would be back on, Roy?”

This was the question asked by Mrs. Pell at the breakfast table on the morning that Rex was trudging along the dusty road between New York and Philadelphia.

“He didn’t say,” replied Roy.  “He’ll surely be home by lunch, though.  Scott is going to West Chester with his mother at noon.”

Lunch hour arrived and still no Reginald.  But Mrs. Pell did not worry.  He had so many friends in Marley that there were plenty of places where he might have gone from the Bowmans’.

But when dinner time came and he had not yet appeared, the entire family began to speculate on the reasons for it.

“He’s probably at the Minturns,” said Sydney, when informed of the facts.  “Charlie may have persuaded him to stay over another night with him.”

“Rex should have sent us word then,” rejoined his mother.

Another day passed, and by this time Mrs. Pell began to grow seriously alarmed.

“You must go down to Marley the first thing in the morning, Roy,” she said.

And Roy went, repairing first to the Bowmans’.  He found Scott just about to take his mother out in his cart.

“What have you done with that brother of mine?” Roy began when greetings had been exchanged.

“And I’d like to know why that brother of yours doesn’t permit himself to be heard from,” returned Scott promptly.  “He didn’t show up Wednesday night nor send me any message explaining why he didn’t come.”

“Didn’t come?” echoed Roy.  “Do you mean to say that Rex hasn’t been here?”

“Of course he hasn’t, and I think it mighty shabby of him.”

“Why, that’s the queerest thing I ever heard of,” said Roy slowly.

“Why is it?”

“Because he started to come down here Wednesday afternoon by the 5:30 express.”

“He did?”

It was now Scott’s turn to look astonished.

“And you say he never got here?” went on Roy.

“Of course he didn’t.  You don’t suppose we have him smuggled away somewhere, do you?”

“Haven’t you any idea where your brother is?” here interrupted Mrs. Bowman.

“We were sure he was here, somewhere in Marley,” answered Roy.  “But he can’t be, if he didn’t come to you first.”

“What could have happened to the fellow?” said Scott, beginning to see that the matter was more serious than he had at first supposed.