We were going to some
time ago, but we couldn't make up our minds to it. Now we are glad Nan
and Bert heard what we said. I'm going to tell you all about it."
"You children had better run into the house," said Mr. Bobbsey to Nan
and Bert, who stood near by.
"Oh, let them stay," said the ranch foreman. "It isn't anything they
shouldn't hear, and it may be a lesson to them. To go to the very
bottom, Mr. Bobbsey, Dayton isn't our name at all."
"What is, then?" asked Mr. Bobbsey.
"Hickson," was the unexpected answer. "We are Bill and Charley
Hickson. We took the name of Dayton when we ran away from home, as
that was our mother's name before she was married. And we have been
called Bill and Charley Dayton ever since. But Hickson is our real
name."
Bert and Nan looked at one another. They felt that they were on the
edge of a strange secret.
"Bill and Charley Hickson!" exclaimed Nan.
"Oh, is your father's name Hiram?" Bert asked excitedly.
"Hiram? Of course it is!" cried Bill. "Hiram Hickson is the name of
our father!"
"Hurray!" shouted Bert.
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