THE TEAM LEFT THE ROADWAY, AND THE NEXT INSTANT HAD 
 CRASHED THROUGH A FRAIL RAIL-FENCE. Page 24.
 
 H>ar>e porter Series 
 
 DAVE PORTER AND 
 HIS DOUBLE 
 
 OR 
 
 THE DISAPPEAKANCE OF THE 
 BASSWOOD FORTUNE 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWARD STRATEMEYER 
 
 Author of " Dave Porter at Oak Hall," " The Old Glory Series. 
 
 " Colonial Series," " Pan-American Series," 
 
 "Soldiers of Fortune Series," etc. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER S. ROGERS 
 
 BOSTON 
 LOTHKOP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
 
 Published, August, 1916 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1916, 
 BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD Co. 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Norwood press 
 
 BERWICK & SMITH CO. 
 
 NORWOOD, MASS. 
 17. S. A.
 
 SRLE 
 .URL 
 
 51409LZ 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 " DAVE PORTER AND His DOUBLE " is a com- 
 plete story in itself, but forms the twelfth volume 
 in a line issued under the general title of " Dave 
 Porter Series." 
 
 This series was begun some years ago by the 
 publication of " Dave Porter at Oak Hall," in 
 which my young readers were introduced to a 
 wide-awake American lad at a typical American 
 boarding-school. 
 
 The publication of this volume was followed 
 by " Dave Porter in the South Seas," to which 
 portion of our globe the lad journeyed to clear 
 up a question concerning his parentage. Next 
 came " Dave Porter's Return to School," telling 
 of additional happenings at Oak Hall; " Dave 
 Porter in the Far North," where he went on a 
 second journey looking for his father; " Dave Por- 
 ter and His Classmates," in which our young hero 
 showed what he could do under most trying cir- 
 cumstances; "Dave Porter at Star Ranch," in 
 which he took part in many strenuous adventures 
 in the Wild West ; " Dave Porter and His 
 Rivals," in which the youth outwitted some of his
 
 PREFACE 
 
 old-time enemies ; " Dave Porter on Cave Island," 
 giving the details of a remarkable sea voyage and 
 strange doings ashore; "Dave Porter and the 
 Runaways," in which the boy taught some of his 
 school chums a much-needed lesson; " Dave Por- 
 ter in the Gold Fields," whither he went in search 
 of a lost mine; and finally " Dave Porter at Bear 
 Camp," which was located in the Adirondack 
 Mountains, and where we last left him. 
 
 In the present volume we find our hero in a 
 new field of activity. Having graduated from 
 school, he has taken up the study of civil engineer- 
 ing, and while engaged in that calling in Texas he 
 becomes mixed up in most unusual happenings, 
 the particulars of which are given in the pages 
 that follow. 
 
 Once more I wish to thank my young readers, 
 and many of their parents, for all the kind things 
 they have said regarding my stories. I trust that 
 the reading of the present book will not only 
 please but also profit the young folks. 
 
 EDWARD STRATEMEYER. 
 March I, 1916.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I OFF FOR A SLEIGH-RIDE i 
 
 II SOMETHING OF THE PAST .... 13 
 
 III THE TEAM THAT RAN AWAY ... 22 
 
 IV WARD PORTON AGAIN ..... 32 
 V WHAT ASA DICKLEY HAD TO SAY . . 42 
 
 VI MORE TROUBLE 53 
 
 VII FACE TO FACE 63 
 
 VIII THE BASSWOOD FORTUNE .... 72 
 
 IX SOMETHING ABOUT MINIATURES . . 82 
 
 X THE BIG SLEIGHING-PARTY ... 93 
 
 XI HELD BY THE BLIZZARD 104 
 
 XII TIM CRAPSEY'S PLOT 114 
 
 XIII WHAT WASHINGTON BONES HAD TO 
 
 TELL 124 
 
 XIV MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY . . .133 
 XV THE RETURN TO CRUMVILLE . . .143 
 
 XVI How THE MINIATURES DISAPPEARED . 153 
 
 XVII A VAIN SEARCH . . . . . . . 163 
 
 XVIII THE CIVIL ENGINEERING EXAMINATION 173 
 
 XIX OFF FOR TEXAS 181 
 
 XX IN NEW YORK CITY 191
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 XXI 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 DAVE IN WASHINGTON . . . . . 201 
 
 IN TEXAS AT LAST . . . . .. . 211 
 
 AT THE ENGINEERING CAMP .. ,., . 221 
 A MIDNIGHT ALARM . . , ; >., . 230 
 THE MEXICAN RAIDERS . . : . . 239 
 THE CHASE ON THE BRIDGE ... ; . . 249 
 ACROSS THE Rio GRANDE . . -., . 259 
 A STRANGE DISCOVERY . . ,. ,. . 269 
 THE CAPTURE ....... 278 
 
 THE FORTUNE RECOVERED CON- 
 CLUSION . 288
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 THE TEAM LEFT THE ROADWAY, AND THE NEXT IN- 
 STANT HAD CRASHED THROUGH A FRAIL RAIL- 
 WAY FENCE (Page 24) Frontispiece 
 
 FACING 
 PAGE 
 
 HE SEIZED PORTON'S UPRAISED ARM AND BACKED 
 
 THE FELLOW AGAINST A TREE 7<D 
 
 FROM UNDER THE SNOW AND THE ROBES CRAWLED 
 
 THE BOYS AND THE GIRLS IO2 
 
 SLOWLY THE TRAIN PUFFED IN, AND PROVED TO BE 
 A FREIGHT 136 
 
 THE YOUNG PEOPLE PLAYED GAMES, SANG, AND 
 
 DANCED TO THEIR HEARTS* CONTENT . . .170 
 
 THE NEXT INSTANT HE WAS DASHING INTO THE 
 
 STREET 2O2 
 
 " HERE WE ARE AT THE CAMP ! " ANNOUNCED THE 
 
 GUIDE 226 
 
 " HOLD TIGHT, ROGER! I'LL HELP YOU," RETURNED 
 DAVE, QUICKLY 256
 
 DAVE PORTER AND HIS 
 DOUBLE 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 OFF FOR A SLEIGH-RIDE 
 
 "WHAT is the matter, Dave? You look 
 rather mystified." 
 
 " I am mystified, Laura," replied Dave Porter. 
 " I have a letter here that I can't understand at 
 all." 
 
 " Whom is it from? " questioned Laura Porter, 
 as she came closer to her brother, who was en- 
 sconced in the largest easy-chair the Wadsworth 
 library contained. 
 
 " It's from a shopkeeper in Coburntown, Mr. 
 Weeks, the shoe-dealer. He wants to know which 
 pair of shoes I have decided to keep, and asks me 
 kindly to return the pair I don't want." 
 
 "Well, what of that, Dave?" continued his 
 sister, as the youth paused with a wrinkle on his 
 forehead. " Can't you make up your mind which 
 pair of shoes you want to keep? "
 
 2 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " I certainly can not, seeing that I haven't had 
 any shoes from Wecks's store," returned Dave, 
 with a faint smile. " I haven't been in his place 
 for nearly a year, and the last time I was there I 
 bought a pair of rubbers and paid for them." 
 
 " Oh, then the letter must be meant for some- 
 body else, Dave. Mr. Weeks has got his custom- 
 ers mixed." 
 
 " Perhaps so. But in the letter he speaks of 
 the two pairs of shoes I took away with me. That 
 looks as if somebody had gotten two pairs of shoes 
 in my name." 
 
 " Well, as we are going out sleighing this aft- 
 ernoon, why don't you drive to Coburntown and 
 drop into his shop and explain matters?" sug- 
 gested the sister. 
 
 " I guess that would be best, Laura." Dave 
 folded up the letter and placed it in his pocket. 
 " How soon will you be ready? " 
 
 " Inside of quarter of an hour." 
 
 " And how about Jessie? " 
 
 " She was almost ready when I came down- 
 stairs." 
 
 " Good ! Then we can get an early start and 
 have a good long ride besides stopping at 
 Coburntown, where I suppose you and Jessie can 
 do a little shopping while I am at Wecks's store." 
 
 "That will be fine, Dave! I would like to 
 match some ribbon, and the only place I can do it
 
 OFF FOR A SLEIGH-RIDE 3 
 
 is in the French Shop in Coburntown; " and thus 
 speaking Laura Porter hurried out of the room to 
 get ready for the sleigh-ride. 
 
 Dave had proposed the ride just before lunch, 
 and the young people living at the Wadsworth 
 mansion had telephoned over to the Basswood 
 home, asking if Ben Basswood would accompany 
 them. 
 
 " Sure I'll go be glad to ! " Dave's former 
 school chum had answered over the wire. " I 
 haven't a thing to do this afternoon, and a first 
 sleigh-ride of the season will tickle me to death." 
 
 " Oh, I don't want it to kill you, Ben," Dave 
 had answered gaily. " Just the same, you be 
 ready for us when we come over;" and to this 
 Ben had agreed. 
 
 Although it was still early in the winter, there 
 had been a heavy fall of snow two days before 
 and now the roads in and around Crumville were 
 in excellent condition for sleighing. The musical 
 sound of sleigh-bells could be heard in all direc- 
 tions, and this had made Dave anxious to get out 
 on the road, even though he had to spend most of 
 his time indoors studying, as we shall learn later. 
 
 Dave had already given orders to the hostler 
 connected with the Wadsworth estate, and now 
 this man brought to the front of the mansion a 
 fine, big sleigh drawn by a pair of sleek-looking, 
 high-stepping steeds. The sleigh was well pro-
 
 4 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 vided with heavy robes to protect its occupants 
 from the cold. 
 
 "Oh, Dave, I'm so glad to go sleighing!" 
 burst out Jessie Wadsworth, as she came bound- 
 ing down the broad stairway of the mansion to 
 meet him. " Isn't it just glorious weather? " 
 
 " It sure is," he answered, as he gave her a 
 warm glance. To Dave, Jessie was the most 
 beautiful girl in the world, and just now, clad 
 as she was in her dainty sealskin coat and her 
 jaunty sealskin hat, she looked more bewitching 
 to him than ever. 
 
 "Going for a ride, eh?" came from Dave's 
 uncle, Dunston Porter, who had just finished a 
 belated lunch. " Well, have a good time, and 
 don't let that pair of grays run away with you. 
 John was telling me they are feeling quite mettle- 
 some lately. I guess they don't get exercise 
 enough." 
 
 " Oh, don't worry, Uncle Dunston. I'm sure I 
 can manage them," answered Dave. 
 
 " Sure you can I " returned his uncle, heartily. 
 " Too bad you couldn't have asked an old fellow 
 like me to go along," he continued, making a wry 
 face. 
 
 " Why, you can come along if you want to. 
 Can't he, Dave?" burst out Jessie. "We'd be 
 very glad to have you." 
 
 " He's only fooling, Jessie," answered Dave.
 
 OFF FOR A SLEIGH-RIDE 5 
 
 " You couldn't hire Uncle Dunston to go sleigh- 
 ing to-day. I saw him cleaning up his shotgun 
 right after breakfast. And I'll wager he has just 
 come in from hunting and expects to go out again 
 this afternoon. How about it, Uncle am I 
 right?" 
 
 " You've got me, Davy," answered the man, 
 with a grin. " You see, I can't get over my old 
 habit of going hunting when I get the chance. 
 And now that this snow is on the ground, it's 
 just fine for tracking rabbits." 
 
 " Did you get any this morning? " 
 
 " A few. I didn't go very far. This after- 
 noon I am going deeper into the woods, and I 
 guarantee to bring back enough to make the big- 
 gest rabbit pot-pie to-morrow you ever saw;" 
 and, thus speaking, the uncle hastened away. 
 
 He had spent many years of his life roaming 
 the world in quest of game both big and little, 
 and now, though of late years he had done his 
 best to settle down, it was still impossible for him 
 to give up his hunting habit entirely. 
 
 Laura soon appeared ready for the ride. 
 Dave had already donned his heavy overcoat, fur 
 cap, and his driving-gloves. He assisted the 
 girls into the sleigh and saw to it that they were 
 well tucked in with robes. 
 
 " Have a good time and don't stay out too 
 late," were the farewell words of Mrs. Wads-
 
 6 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 worth, who had come to the door to see them 
 off. 
 
 " Well, you know we don't expect to be back to 
 dinner this evening," answered Dave. " We can 
 get something to eat at Coburntown, or some 
 other place, and then drive back in the moon- 
 light." 
 
 " Very well, but don't make it too late," an- 
 swered the lady of the mansion. And then Dave 
 took up the reins, chirped to the team, and away 
 the sleigh started out of the Wadsworth grounds 
 and down the highway leading to the Basswood 
 home. 
 
 Ben was on the lookout for them, and by the 
 time Dave had drawn up beside the horse-block 
 he was outside to meet them. 
 
 " Good afternoon, everybody," he said gaily, 
 lifting his cap. " This is just fine of you to take 
 me along." 
 
 " Let Ben come in back here with me," said 
 Laura, " and that will give Jessie a chance to sit 
 in front. I know she always likes to be up 
 ahead," and Laura smiled knowingly. 
 
 "Suits me," answered Ben, quickly; and then 
 assisted Jessie to make the change, which, how- 
 ever, the miss did not undertake without blushing, 
 for it may as well be admitted here Jessie thought 
 as much of Dave as he did of her. 
 
 " Oh, Dave, do you think the grays will behave
 
 OFF FOR A SLEIGH-RIDE 7 
 
 themselves to-day? " asked the girl, partly to con- 
 ceal her embarrassment. 
 
 " I'm going to make them behave," he an- 
 swered, sturdily. 
 
 " I don't believe they have been out of the 
 stable for several days. You know we don't use 
 the horses nearly as much as we used to, before 
 we got the automobile." 
 
 " I'll watch them." Dave looked behind him. 
 "All right back there?" 
 
 " Yes," answered his sister. " But please 
 don't drive too fast." 
 
 " I don't believe sleighing will seem too fast 
 after the riding we have been doing in the auto," 
 answered the brother. He took up the reins 
 again, and once more the turnout sped along the 
 highway. 
 
 They made a turn, passed along the main street 
 of Crumville, and also passed the large Wads- 
 worth jewelry works, and then took to a road lead- 
 ing to Coburntown, some miles distant. The air 
 was cold but clear, with the bright sunshine spar- 
 kling on the snow, and all of the young people were 
 in the best of humor. 
 
 " Say, Dave, how would you like to be back at 
 Oak Hall?" cried Ben, while the sleigh sped 
 along. ' Wouldn't we have the dandy time snow- 
 balling each other, and snowballing old Horse- 
 hair?"
 
 8 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " So we would, Ben," answered Dave, his eyes 
 gleaming. " We sure did have some good times 
 at that school." 
 
 " How are you and Roger getting along with 
 your civil engineering course? " 
 
 "All right, I think. Mr. Ramsdell says he is 
 greatly pleased with our work." 
 
 " That's fine. I almost wish I had taken up 
 civil engineering myself. But dad wants me to 
 go into real estate with him. He thinks there is 
 a big chance in that line these days, when Crum- 
 ville is just beginning to wake up." 
 
 " Hasn't your dad got a big rival in Aaron 
 Poole?" 
 
 " Oh, no ! Poole isn't in it any more when it 
 comes to big deals. You see, he was so close and 
 miserly in all his business affairs that a great many 
 people became afraid of him." 
 
 " What has become of Nat Poole? " questioned 
 Laura. " Did he go back to Oak Hall? " 
 
 " For a short while only. When his folks found 
 out that he had failed to graduate they were 
 awfully angry. Mr. Poole claimed that it was the 
 fault of the school and so he took Nat away and 
 told him he would have to go to work. I think 
 Nat is working in some store, although where, I 
 don't know." 
 
 " I don't think it's in Crumville or we should 
 have seen him," said Dave.
 
 OFF FOR A SLEIGH-RIDE 9 
 
 " I never want to meet that boy again," pouted 
 Jessie. " I'll never get over how meanly he 
 acted toward us." 
 
 " It's not so much Nat's fault as it is his bring- 
 ing up," remarked Ben. " His father never 
 treated him half decently. But I hope Nat makes 
 a man of himself in spite of the way he used to 
 treat us," went on the youth generously. 
 
 " By the way, Ben, didn't you say your father 
 had gone away?" queried Dave, a few minutes 
 later. 
 
 " Yes, he has gone to Chicago on very impor- 
 tant business. It seems an old friend of his 
 a Mr. Enos, who was once his partner in an art 
 store died, and now the lawyers want to see my 
 father about settling up the Enos estate." 
 
 "An art store?" queried Dave. "I never 
 knew that your father had been in any such busi- 
 ness." 
 
 " It was years ago before my folks came to 
 Crumville. You see, my father and this Mr. 
 Enos had been chums from early boyhood. My 
 father says that Mr. Enos was a very peculiar sort 
 of man, who was all wrapped up in pictures and 
 painting. He got my father to advance a thou- 
 sand dollars he had saved up, and on that money 
 the two opened an art store. But they couldn't 
 make a go of it, and so they gave it up, and while 
 Mr. Enos went West my father came here."
 
 io DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Maybe the dead man left your father some 
 money," suggested Laura. 
 
 " That is what my mother said to dad. But 
 he thinks not. He thinks it is more than likely 
 Mr. Enos died in debt and left his affairs all tan- 
 gled up, and that the lawyers want my father to 
 help straighten them out." 
 
 " I'd like to be able to paint," said Jessie, with 
 a sigh. " I think some of those little water-colors 
 are just too lovely for anything." 
 
 " Why don't you take it up ? There must be 
 some teacher in Crumville," returned Dave. 
 
 " Let's both do it ! " cried Laura. " I used to 
 paint a little before father and I did so much 
 traveling. I would like to take it up again. It 
 would be very interesting." 
 
 While the young folks were talking, the pair 
 of mettlesome grays had been speeding over the 
 snow of the road at a good rate of speed. Dave, 
 however, had them well in hand, so that there was 
 little danger of their running away. 
 
 " We'll be to Benson Crossroads soon, Dave," 
 remarked Ben a while later, after they had passed 
 over a long hill lined on either side with tidy farms. 
 " Which road are you going to take through 
 Hacklebury or around Conover's Hill? " 
 
 " I haven't made up my mind," answered Dave. 
 He looked at Jessie. " Have you any prefer- 
 ence?"
 
 OFF FOR A SLEIGH-RIDE 11 
 
 " Oh, let us go up around Conover's Hill ! " 
 cried Jessie. " That is always such a splendid 
 ride. There is so much of an outlook." 
 
 " Yes, let us go by way of the hill by all means," 
 added Laura. " It isn't very nice through 
 Hacklebury, past all those woolen mills." 
 
 " All right, the Conover road it is," answered 
 Dave; and forward they went once more as fast 
 as ever. 
 
 They soon passed the Crossroads, and then 
 took the long, winding road that led around one 
 side of the hill just mentioned. Here travel since 
 the snow had fallen had evidently been heavy, for 
 the roadway was packed down until it was almost 
 as smooth as glass. Over this surface the spirited 
 grays dashed at an increased rate of speed. 
 
 " Some team, believe me ! " was Ben's com- 
 ment. " Mr. Wadsworth ought to put them on a 
 race-course." 
 
 " Papa does not believe in racing," answered 
 Jessie. " But he always did like to have a horse 
 that had some go in him." 
 
 " Hark ! " cried Laura, a moment later. 
 "What is that sound?" 
 
 " It's an auto coming," announced Ben, look- 
 ing behind them. " A big touring-car, and who- 
 ever is in it seems to be in a tremendous hurry." 
 
 " I wish they wouldn't cut out their muffler," 
 was Dave's comment, as he saw the grays pick
 
 up their ears. " They have no right to run with 
 the muffler open." 
 
 As the touring-car came closer those in the 
 sleigh who were able to look back saw that it was 
 running at a great rate of speed and swaying from 
 side to side of the roadway. It contained four 
 young men, out, evidently, for a gloriously good 
 time. Dave did not dare look back to see what 
 was coming. The grays had their ears laid well 
 back and their whole manner showed that they 
 were growing more nervous every instant. 
 
 " Hi! Stop that noise! " yelled Ben, jumping 
 up and shaking his hand at the oncoming auto- 
 mobile. But those in the car paid no attention to 
 him. The fellow at the wheel put on a fresh 
 burst of speed, and with a wild rush and a roar 
 the touring-car shot past the sleigh and the fright- 
 ened horses, and in a few seconds more disap- 
 peared around a turn of the road. 
 
 As might have been expected, the coming and 
 going of the big machine, with its unearthly 
 roar, was too much for the mettlesome grays. 
 Both reared up wildly on their hind legs, backing 
 the sleigh off to one side of the roadway. 
 
 " Whoa there ! Whoa ! " cried Dave, and did 
 his best to keep the team in hand. But they 
 proved too much for him, and in an instant more 
 they came down on all fours and started to run 
 away.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 SOMETHING OF THE PAST 
 
 " THE horses are running away I " 
 
 "Oh, we'll be killed!" 
 
 Such were the cries from the two girls as the 
 mettlesome grays tore along the country high- 
 way at a speed that seemed marvelous. 
 
 "Dave, can I help you?" asked Ben, anx- 
 iously. 
 
 " I don't think so," answered the young driver 
 between his set teeth. " I guess I can bring them 
 down. Anyway, I can try." 
 
 " What shall we do? " wailed Jessie. 
 
 " Don't do anything sit still," ordered Dave. 
 He was afraid that Jessie in her excitement might 
 fling herself from the flying sleigh. 
 
 On and on bounded the frightened team. Each 
 of the grays now had his bit in his teeth, and it 
 looked as if it would be impossible for Dave to 
 obtain control of the pair. And, worst of all, 
 they were now approaching a turn, with the hill on 
 one side of the roadway and a gully on the other. 
 
 " Better keep them as far as possible away from 
 the gully," suggested Ben. 
 
 13
 
 14 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " That is what I'm trying to do," returned 
 Dave, setting his teeth grimly. 
 
 Dave Porter was a resolute youth, always do- 
 ing his best to accomplish whatever he set out to 
 do. Had it been otherwise, it is not likely that 
 he would have occupied the position in which we 
 found him at the opening of our story. 
 
 When a very small youth Dave had been found 
 wandering along the railroad tracks near Crum- 
 ville. He could tell little about himself or how 
 he had come in that position; and kind people 
 had taken him in and later on had placed him in 
 the local poorhouse. From that institution he 
 had been taken by an old college professor, named 
 Caspar Potts, who at that time had been farming 
 for his health. 
 
 In Crumville, the main industry was the Wads- 
 worth jewelry works, owned by Mr. Oliver Wads- 
 worth, who resided, with his wife and his daugh- 
 ter Jessie, in the finest mansion of that district. 
 One day the Wadsworth automobile caught fire, 
 and Jessie was in danger of being burned to death, 
 when Dave came to her rescue. This led Mr. 
 Wadsworth to ask about the boy and about Mr. 
 Potts. And when it was learned that the latter 
 was one of the jewelry manufacturer's former 
 college professors, Mr. Wadsworth insisted upon 
 it that Caspar Potts come and live with him, and 
 bring Dave along.
 
 SOMETHING OF THE PAST 15 
 
 " That boy deserves a good education," had 
 been Oliver Wadsworth's comment, after several 
 interviews with Dave, and as a consequence the 
 youth had been sent off to a first-class boarding- 
 school, as related in the first volume of this series, 
 entitled " Dave Porter at Oak Hall." 
 
 At the school Dave had made a host of friends, 
 including Roger Morr, the son of a United States 
 senator, and Phil Lawrence, the son of a rich 
 shipowner. 
 
 Ben Basswood, the son of a Crumville real 
 estate dealer and a lad who had been friendly 
 with Dave for several years, also went to Oak 
 Hall, and thus he and Dave became closer chums 
 than ever. 
 
 The great thing that troubled Dave in those 
 days was the question of his parentage. Some of 
 the mean boys in the school occasionally referred 
 to him as " that poorhouse nobody," and this 
 brought on several severe quarrels and even a 
 fist fight or two. 
 
 " I'm not going to be a nobody," said the youth 
 to himself; and when he received certain informa- 
 tion from an old sailor he eagerly went on a quest 
 after his father, as told of in " Dave Porter in 
 the South Seas." There he managed to locate 
 his uncle, Dunston Porter, and learned much con- 
 cerning his father, David Breslow Porter, and 
 also his sister Laura.
 
 16 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Coming back from the South Seas, Dave re- 
 turned to school, and then took a trip to the Far 
 North, whither his father had gone before him. 
 There he had many adventures, as already related 
 in another volume. 
 
 Glad to know that he had found, not only so 
 many kind friends, but also several rich relatives, 
 Dave went back again to Oak Hall. His class- 
 mates were more than glad to see him, but others 
 were jealous of his success in life, and several of 
 his enemies, including a certain Link Merwell, 
 did all they could to annoy him. The annoy- 
 ances went from bad to worse, and in the end one 
 boy named Jasniff ran away from school, and the 
 other, Merwell, was expelled. 
 
 Dave's sister Laura had a friend, Belle Endi- 
 cott, who lived in the Far West, and through this 
 young lady Dave and his chums and also Laura 
 and Jessie received an invitation to spend some 
 time at the Endicott place, known as Star Ranch. 
 While in the West Dave once more fell in with 
 Link Merwell, and this young man, as before, 
 tried to make trouble, but was exposed. 
 
 " I hope I have seen the last of Merwell," said 
 Dave to himself, on returning once again to Oak 
 Hall. But this was not to be, for Merwell be- 
 came a student at a rival academy, and once more 
 he and some others did all they could to make 
 life miserable for our hero.
 
 SOMETHING OF THE PAST 17 
 
 When the Christmas holidays came around 
 Dave went back to Crumville, where he and his 
 folks resided with the Wadsworths, who had 
 taken such a liking to the youth that they did not 
 wish to have him live elsewhere. Directly after 
 Christmas came a thrilling robbery of the jewelry 
 works, and Dave and his chums discovered that 
 the crime had been committed by Merwell and his 
 crony, Jasniff. After a long sea voyage to Cave 
 Island, one of the evil-doers was captured, but 
 the other, Link Merwell, managed to make his 
 escape. 
 
 During Dave's next term at school there was 
 much trouble with one of the teachers, who was 
 harsh and unsympathetic, and as a result some of 
 the boys ran away. It was Dave who went after 
 them and who, in spite of a fearful flood, man- 
 aged to bring them back and make them face the 
 music. Then came the graduation exercises at 
 Oak Hall, Dave receiving high honors. 
 
 Our hero had promised Roger Morr that he 
 would pay the senator's son a visit. During this 
 time Dave heard of a gold mine belonging to 
 Mrs. Morr which had been lost because of a land- 
 slide. All the boys went out West in an endeavor 
 to relocate this claim. Their adventures were 
 both numerous and hazardous, and once more 
 Dave fell in with Link Merwell. But all went 
 well with our young friends, and they had a glori-
 
 i8 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 ous time visiting Yellowstone Park and other 
 points of interest. 
 
 " Now you fellows have got to come on a little 
 trip with me," Phil Lawrence had said after he, 
 Dave and Roger, with the others, had returned 
 again to the East. There was a small steamer be- 
 longing to Mr. Lawrence that was tied up at 
 Philadelphia getting ready for a trip to Portland, 
 Maine. The voyage up the Atlantic coast had 
 been productive of several unlooked-for results. 
 On the way those on the boat had discovered an- 
 other vessel in flames. This was a craft being 
 used by a company of moving-picture actors, and 
 some of the latter in their panic had leaped over- 
 board. Our young friends, as well as some of 
 the sailors on their ship, had gone to the rescue; 
 and among others had picked up a young man, 
 Ward Porton by name. Much to the surprise of 
 Roger Morr and Phil Lawrence, Ward Porton 
 had looked a good deal like Dave. Not only that, 
 but many of his manners, outwardly, were similar 
 to those of our hero. 
 
 Following the trip up the coast, it had been de- 
 cided by the Wadsworths and the Basswoods to 
 spend part of the summer in the Adirondacks, at 
 a spot known as Mirror Lake. Thither all of the 
 young people and some of the older ones went to 
 enjoy themselves greatly and to meet with a num- 
 ber of strange happenings, all of which have been
 
 SOMETHING OF THE PAST 19 
 
 related in detail in the volume preceding this, en- 
 titled " Dave Porter at Bear Camp." 
 
 The boys fell in with a wild sort of creature 
 whom they at first supposed to be a crazy uncle of 
 Nat Poole, the son of a miserly money lender of 
 Crumville. Later, however, the man was found 
 to be a missing uncle of Phil Lawrence, for whom 
 the Lawrence family had been seeking for a long 
 time. 
 
 Although Dave Porter did not know it at the 
 time, the moving-picture company to which Ward 
 Porton belonged had also numbered among its 
 members Dave's former school enemy, Link Mer- 
 well. From Link, Ward Porton, who was the 
 good-for-nothing nephew of a Burlington lum- 
 ber dealer, had learned the particulars concerning 
 Dave's childhood and how he had been placed in 
 the Crumville poorhouse and listed as of unknown 
 parentage. 
 
 This had caused Porton to concoct a clever 
 scheme, and to Mr. Porter he announced himself 
 as the real Dave Porter, stating that our hero was 
 really and truly the nobody that years before 
 everybody had thought him. 
 
 This announcement had come like a thunder- 
 bolt to poor Dave, and for the time being he knew 
 not what to do or say. The others, too, especially 
 his sister Laura and his dear friend, Jessie, were 
 almost equally affected. But they clung to him,
 
 20 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 refusing to believe the story that Ward Porton 
 was circulating. 
 
 " You take it from me this is some scheme 
 gotten up by Link Merwell and this other fel- 
 low," declared one of Dave's chums. And on 
 the strength of this declaration the youth took it 
 upon himself to do some clever investigating. 
 From one of the moving-picture actresses Dave 
 learned much concerning Ward Porton's past, and 
 then, in company with some of his chums, he jour- 
 neyed to Burlington, where he met Mr. Obadiah 
 Jones, the uncle of Porton, and asked the lumber 
 dealer if Ward were his real nephew or not. 
 
 " ,Yes, he is my real nephew the son of my 
 youngest sister, who married a good-for-nothing 
 army man," replied Obadiah Jones; and then gave 
 many particulars. He stated that his sister's 
 name had been Clarice Jones Porton, and that 
 years before she had married a certain Lieutenant 
 Porton of the United States Army, an officer who 
 had been discharged because of irregularities in 
 his accounts. He further stated that the mother 
 of the young man was dead, and what had become 
 of the worthless father he did not know further 
 than that it had been stated he had joined some 
 revolutionists in Mexico. 
 
 Dave had gotten Mr. Jones to sign a paper 
 stating the exact truth concerning Ward Porton, 
 and with this duly witnessed had returned to Bear
 
 SOMETHING OF THE PAST 21 
 
 Camp. All present were glad to know that the 
 cloud hanging over his name had been cleared 
 away. His sister Laura and her friend Jessie 
 hugged him over and over again in their delight. 
 
 Then came news that Link Merwell had been 
 captured, and later on this misguided young man 
 was sent to prison for his share in the crime at 
 the jewelry works. A hunt was instituted for 
 Ward Porton, but he had taken time by the fore- 
 lock and disappeared. 
 
 " I don't believe Ward Porton will ever bother 
 you again, Dave," said Roger one day. But the 
 surmise of the senator's son proved incorrect, as 
 we shall see. Ward Porton was to show him- 
 self and make more trouble than he had ever 
 made before.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 THE TEAM THAT RAN AWAY 
 
 " OH, Dave, the gully ! " cried his sister Laura. 
 " If we go into that we'll all be killed 1 " 
 
 " Please keep quiet, Laura," flung back her 
 brother in a low, tense voice. " These horses are 
 scared enough as it is." 
 
 Dave was doing his best to bring the spirited 
 grays out of their mad gallop. But they had not 
 been out of the stable for the best part of a week, 
 and this, combined with the scare from the roar 
 of the automobile, had so gotten on their nerves 
 that to calm them seemed next to impossible. On 
 and on they flew over the packed snow of the 
 hard road, the sleigh bouncing from side to side 
 as it passed over the bumps in the highway. 
 
 Jessie was deadly pale and had all she could do 
 to keep from shrieking with fright. But when 
 she heard Dave address his sister in the above 
 words, she shut her teeth hard, resolved to remain 
 silent, no matter what the cost. Ben was wor- 
 ried as well as scared the more so because he 
 realized there was practically nothing he could do 
 to aid Dave in subduing the runaways. The youth
 
 THE TEAM THAT RAN AWAY 23 
 
 on the front seat had braced both feet on the 
 dashboard of the sleigh, and was pulling back on 
 the reins with all the strength of his vigorous 
 muscles. 
 
 Thus fully a quarter of a mile was covered 
 a stretch of the hill road which fortunately was 
 comparatively straight. But then there loomed 
 up ahead a sharp turn, leading down to the 
 straight road through the valley below. 
 
 " Dave the turn I " gasped Ben, unable to 
 keep himself from speaking. 
 
 11 1 see it. I'll do what I can," cried the young 
 driver ; and then pulled on the reins more strongly, 
 if possible, than before. 
 
 Closer and closer to the dreaded turn in the 
 road the sleigh approached, and as it drew nearer 
 the girls huddled in their seats almost too terror- 
 stricken to move. Ben sprang up, totally un- 
 conscious of doing so. 
 
 "Can you make it, Dave, do you think?" 
 gasped the real estate man's son, when the turn 
 was less than a hundred feet away. 
 
 " I don't think I'll try," was the unexpected 
 answer. " Hold fast, everybody I We're going 
 through the fence ! " 
 
 The turn in the road led to the left, and as they 
 approached it Dave relaxed his hold on the left 
 rein and pulled with might and main on the right. 
 This brought the team around just a trifle, but
 
 I 
 
 24 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 it was enough to keep them from attempting to 
 follow the road something which would un- 
 doubtedly have caused the slewing around of the 
 sleigh and probably its overturning. As it was, 
 the team left the roadway, and the next instant 
 had crashed through a frail rail- fence and was 
 floundering along in the deep snow of a ploughed- 
 up and sloping field beyond. 
 
 " Whoa there ! " cried Dave, soothingly. 
 "Whoa, Jerry! Whoa, Bill!" And thus he 
 continued to talk to the team while the sleigh 
 bumped along through the deep snow and over 
 the uneven ground. 
 
 Running away on the smooth surface of the 
 highway had been one thing; keeping up such a 
 gait over a ploughed field and in snow almost a 
 foot deep was quite another. Soon the fiery grays 
 broke from their mad gallop into a trot, and a 
 minute later Dave had no trouble in bringing 
 them to a halt. There they stood in the snow and 
 the furrows of the field, snorting, and emitting 
 clouds of steam from their nostrils. 
 
 " Hold 'em, Dave, while I get out and go to 
 their heads ! " cried Ben, and an instant later was 
 out in the snow and had hold of the steeds. Each 
 of the horses was trembling a little, but the run 
 seemed to have done neither of them any harm. 
 
 " Oh, Dave ! Dave ! " gasped Jessie. She 
 tried to go on, but could not.
 
 THE TEAM THAT RAN AWAY 25 
 
 " Oh, how thankful I am that you did not at- 
 tempt to go around that corner!" came from 
 Laura. " If you had tried that we would have 
 been upset and maybe all killed! " and she shud- 
 dered. 
 
 " It was just the right thing to do, Dave," was 
 Ben's comment. " But I don't know that I 
 would have thought of it. You are a quick 
 thinker, and I guess we have you to thank for 
 saving our lives." 
 
 " Well, we've broken down somebody's fence," 
 returned Dave, not knowing what else to say. 
 " We'll have to fix that, I suppose." 
 
 " Huh ! What's a broken fence to saving one's 
 neck!" snorted Ben. "Besides, we only busted 
 a couple of rails, and they are not worth a great 
 deal." 
 
 " Dave, do you think it will be safe to ride be- 
 hind that team any more? " questioned Laura. 
 
 " I'm going to do it," he answered promptly. 
 " No team of horses is going to get the better 
 of me!" 
 
 " I think, now that they have had this run, 
 they'll tame down a little," said Ben. " Besides 
 that, the rest of the road to Coburntown is al- 
 most straight and flat." 
 
 " Yes, and as soon as we get on a straight road 
 I'll give them all the running they want," an- 
 swered Dave. " I'll guarantee that by the time
 
 26 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 we reach town they'll be just as meek as any one 
 would want them." 
 
 With Ben still at their heads the team was 
 turned around and led to the roadway once more. 
 There the horses were tied to a tree near by, and 
 then Dave and Ben spent a little time in repairing 
 the damage done to the fence. 
 
 " I wish we could find out who those fellows in 
 the auto were," said Ben, when they were once 
 again on the way. " They ought to be fined for 
 speeding." 
 
 " I doubt if we'll be able to locate them," an- 
 swered Dave. And he was right they never 
 saw or heard of the reckless automobilists again. 
 
 As has been mentioned, beyond the hill the road 
 to Coburntown was almost straight and level. 
 And here for over two miles Dave allowed the 
 grays to go along at a good gait, although keep- 
 ing his eyes on them continually, so that they 
 might not get beyond control. As a consequence 
 of this additional burst of speed, when they came 
 in sight of the town for which they were bound, 
 the grays were quite docile and willing to behave 
 themselves properly. 
 
 " Now if you say so, I'll take you girls around 
 to the French Shop," suggested Dave, " and then 
 Ben and I can clrive around to Mr. Wecks's shoe- 
 store." 
 
 This was agreeable to Laura and Jessie, and in
 
 THE TEAM THAT RAN AWAY 27 
 
 a few minutes the girls were left at the door of 
 the establishment where Laura had said she 
 wished to match some ribbon. Then the two boys 
 started for the shoe-dealer's shop. Dave had al- 
 ready acquainted Ben with the particulars of his 
 errand to the place. 
 
 " What are you going to do if Weeks says you 
 really had the shoes? " questioned the son of the 
 real estate dealer, when they were on the way to 
 the shoe store. 
 
 " But how can he say that when I haven't been 
 near the place, Ben? " returned Dave. 
 
 " I don't know. But I do know that people 
 have sometimes had things charged to them at the 
 stores which other people got." 
 
 "Humph! Well, I sha'n't pay for any shoes 
 that I did not get," answered our hero, simply. 
 
 Mr. Wecks's establishment was at the far end of 
 the main street of Coburntown; so the lads had 
 half a dozen blocks to cover before they reached 
 the place. 
 
 " Hello, it's closed ! " exclaimed Ben, as they 
 came in sight of the store; and he nodded in the 
 direction of the show window, the curtain of 
 which was drawn down. The curtain on the door 
 was also down, and on the glass was pasted a sheet 
 of note paper. 
 
 " Some sort of notice. I'll see what it is," an- 
 swered Dave, and, throwing the reins to Ben, he
 
 28 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 left the sleigh. Soon he was reading what was 
 written on the sheet of paper: 
 
 Closed on account of death in the family. 
 
 WILLIAM WECKS. 
 
 " Somebody dead. That's too bad I " mused 
 Dave. "I wonder who it can be?" and then 
 he passed into a barber shop next door to find out. 
 
 " It's Mr. Wecks's father a very old man 
 who lived back in the country from here," ex- 
 plained the barber. " Mr. Weeks went up there 
 last night, and he doesn't expect to come back un- 
 til after the funeral, which will probably be day 
 after to-morrow." 
 
 "I don't suppose his clerk is around?" ques- 
 tioned Dave. 
 
 " No. The funeral gave him a holiday, and 
 he was glad of it. He's out of town, too; " and 
 having thus expressed himself, the barber turned 
 to wait upon a customer who had just come in, and 
 Dave returned to the sleigh. 
 
 " If that's the case, you'll have to let the mat- 
 ter rest until the next time you come to Coburn- 
 town, or else you'll have to write to Mr. Weeks," 
 said Ben. 
 
 " I'll be coming over again before very long," 
 answered Dave. " But, just the same, I'd like to 
 have this matter settled." 
 
 While Dave was speaking to his chum a man
 
 THE TEAM THAT RAN AWAY 29 
 
 passed him on the sidewalk, looking at him rather 
 fixedly. This man was Mr. Asa Dickley, the pro- 
 prietor of the largest gentlemen's furnishing 
 establishment of which Coburntown boasted. 
 Our hero knew the man fairly well, having pur- 
 chased a number of things at his place from time 
 to time, and so he nodded pleasantly. Mr. Asa 
 Dickley nodded in return, but with a rather sour 
 expression on his face. Then he glanced at Ben, 
 and at the handsome sleigh and still more stylish 
 team of horses, and passed on muttering some- 
 thing to himself. 
 
 " Mr. Dickley didn't look very happy," was 
 Dave's comment, as he and Ben entered the sleigh. 
 
 " I don't think he likes my father very much," 
 answered the son of the real estate dealer. " He 
 wanted to get a piece of property here very cheap, 
 and my father found another customer for the 
 place at five hundred dollars more." 
 
 " I see, Ben. Just the same, why should he 
 give me such a hard look? Of course, I haven't 
 been in his place of business for a good while. 
 But he can't expect me to buy all my furnishing 
 goods from him." 
 
 " Well, you know how it is, Dave when you 
 buy some things from some storekeepers they 
 think they are entitled to your whole trade. 
 However, I shouldn't let the matter worry me." 
 
 " Not much I I've got other things to think
 
 30 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 about. Don't forget that I expect next month to 
 take that examination in civil engineering. 
 That's what is on my mind just now." 
 
 " Oh, you'll pass, don't worry, Dave. Just 
 think of what a brilliant showing you made at Oak 
 Hall." 
 
 " True. But my studies in civil engineering 
 have been a good deal harder than anything I 
 tackled at school. If it wasn't for Mr. Ramsdell, 
 the old civil engineer who is coaching Roger and 
 me, I don't know how I would possibly have 
 gotten along." 
 
 "If you pass the examination, what will you do 
 next?" 
 
 " Roger and I will go out on some constructive 
 work and thus get a taste of real engineering. 
 Mr. Ramsdell thinks he can get us positions with 
 the Mentor Construction Company of Philadel- 
 phia, who are now doing a good deal of work in 
 Texas laying out railroads and building 
 bridges." 
 
 " In Texas ? Say ! that's quite a distance from 
 here." 
 
 " So it is, Ben. But it is not as far as I expect 
 to get some day. If I ever make anything of civil 
 engineering I hope some day to be able to do some 
 great work in other parts of the world maybe 
 in Mexico or South America." 
 
 " Say, that will be great 1 " cried Ben, enthusi-
 
 THE TEAM THAT RAN AWAY 31 
 
 astically. " You'll have a fine chance to see the 
 world. You must take after your uncle, Dave. 
 He was always a great fellow to travel. Think 
 of how you located him years ago away down on 
 that island in the South Seas! " 
 
 " It sure was a great trip ! And some day I'd 
 like to take it over again. But just now I've got 
 to put in all my time on this civil engineering 
 proposition. I think I'll be lucky if I pass and 
 get that chance to go to Texas."
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 WARD PORTON AGAIN 
 
 A QUARTER of an hour later the girls had fin- 
 ished their shopping and rejoined the boys. Then 
 it was decided that the party should go on to Clay- 
 ton, six miles farther. They were told that the 
 road was in excellent condition, and this proved 
 to be a fact, so that the sleighing was thoroughly 
 enjoyed. 
 
 It was growing dark when they drove down the 
 main street of Clayton, and, although a bit early, 
 all agreed to Dave's suggestion that they get din- 
 ner at the leading restaurant a place at which 
 they had stopped a number of times and which 
 they knew to be first-class. 
 
 " What a pity Roger couldn't come along," 
 said Jessie to Dave just before sitting down to 
 the sumptuous meal which the boys had ordered. 
 " I know he would have enjoyed this very much." 
 
 " No doubt of it, Jessie," answered Dave, who 
 well knew what a fondness for his sister the sena- 
 tor's son possessed. " But, as you know, Roger 
 had to go home on a business matter for his father. 
 Senator Morr is very busy in Washington these 
 
 32
 
 WARD PORTON AGAIN 33 
 
 days, so Roger has to take care of quite a few 
 matters at home." 
 
 " Isn't it queer that he doesn't want to follow 
 in the footsteps of his father and take up poli- 
 tics? " went on the girl. 
 
 " Senator Morr didn't want him to do it. And, 
 besides, Roger has no taste that way. He loves 
 civil engineering just as much as I do." 
 
 " It's a wonder you and he didn't persuade 
 Phil Lawrence to take it up, too, Dave." 
 
 "Oh, Phil couldn't do that. You know his 
 father's shipping interests are very large, and Mr. 
 Lawrence wants Phil to take hold with him and 
 Phil likes that sort of thing. He is planning 
 right now to take several trips on his father's 
 ships this summer." 
 
 " When does that examination of yours come 
 off, Dave?" 
 
 " About the middle of next month." 
 
 " And if you really pass, are you going to work 
 away down in Texas?" continued the girl, anx- 
 iously. 
 
 " If I can get the position, and if Roger is 
 willing to go along." 
 
 "I don't like to have you go so far away;" 
 and Jessie pouted a little. 
 
 " Well, it can't be helped. If I want to be a 
 civil engineer I've got to take an opening where I 
 can get it. Besides, Mr. Ramsdell thinks it will
 
 34 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 be the best kind of training for Roger and me. 
 He knows the men at the head of the Mentor 
 Company, and will get them to give us every op- 
 portunity to advance ourselves. That, you know, 
 will mean a great deal." 
 
 " Oh, but Texas, Dave ! Why, that is thou- 
 sands of miles away I " 
 
 " Not so very many thousands, Jessie," he an- 
 swered with a little smile. " The mails run regu- 
 larly, and I trust you will not forget how to write 
 letters. Besides that, I don't expect to stay in 
 Texas forever." 
 
 " Yes, but when you come back from Texas, 
 you'll be going off to some other far-away place 
 South America, or Africa, or the North Pole, or 
 somewhere," and Jessie pouted again. 
 
 " Oh, say, let up ! I'm not going to South 
 Africa, or to the North Pole either. Of course, 
 I may go to Mexico or South America, or to the 
 Far West. But that won't be so very soon. It 
 will be after I have had considerable experience in 
 civil engineering, and when I am older than I am 
 now. And you know what sometimes happens to 
 a fellow when he gets older? " 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " He gets married." 
 
 " Oh, indeed 1 '" Jessie blushed a little. " And 
 then I suppose he goes off and leaves his wife be- 
 hind and forgets all about her."
 
 WARD PORTON AGAIN 35 
 
 "Does he? Not so as you can notice it 1 He 
 takes his wife with him that is, provided she 
 will go." 
 
 " Oh, the idea ! " and now, as Dave looked her 
 steadily in the eyes, Jessie blushed more than ever. 
 
 Where this conversation would have ended it is 
 impossible to say, but at that moment Laura in- 
 terrupted the pair, followed by Ben; and then the 
 talk became general as the four sat down to din- 
 ner. 
 
 The horses had been put up in a stable con- 
 nected with the restaurant, and after the meal it 
 was Dave who went out to get them and bring 
 them around to the front of the place. He was 
 just driving to the street when his glance fell upon 
 a person standing in the glare of an electric light. 
 The person had his face turned full toward our 
 hero, so that Dave got a good look at him. 
 
 " Ward Porton ! " cried the youth in astonish- 
 ment. " How in the world did that fellow get 
 here, and what is he doing? " 
 
 Like a flash the memory of the past came over 
 Dave how Ward Porton had tried to pass him- 
 self off as the real Dave Porter and thus relegate 
 Dave himself back to the ranks of the " nobodies." 
 
 Dave was crossing the sidewalk at the time, but 
 as soon as he had the team and the sleigh in the 
 street he jumped out and made his way towards 
 the other youth.
 
 36 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " I think I'll interview him and see what he has 
 to say for himself," murmured Dave to himself. 
 " Maybe I'll have him arrested." 
 
 Ward Porton had been staring at our hero all 
 the while he was turning into the street and get- 
 ting out of the sleigh. But now, as he saw Dave 
 approaching, he started to walk away. 
 
 " Stop, Porton ! I want to talk to you," called 
 out our hero. " Stop ! " 
 
 " I don't want to see you," returned the other 
 youth, hastily. " You let me alone ; " and then, 
 as Dave came closer, he suddenly broke into a 
 run down the street. Dave was taken by surprise, 
 but only for a moment. Then he, too, com- 
 menced to run, doing his best to catch the fellow 
 ahead. 
 
 But Ward Porton was evidently scared. He 
 looked back, and, seeing Dave running, in- 
 creased his speed, and then shot around a corner 
 and into an alleyway. When Dave reached the 
 corner he was nowhere in sight. 
 
 " He certainly was scared," was Dave's mental 
 comment, as he looked up and down the side street 
 and even glanced into the alleyway. " I wonder 
 where he went and if it would do any good to look 
 any further for him? " 
 
 Dave spent fully five minutes in that vicinity, 
 but without being able to discover Ward Porton's 
 hiding-place. Then, knowing that the others
 
 WARD PORTON AGAIN 37 
 
 would be wondering what had become of him, and 
 being also afraid that the grays might run away 
 again, he returned to where he had left the sleigh 
 standing. 
 
 "Hello! Where did you go?" called out 
 Ben, who had just emerged from the restaurant. 
 
 "What do you think? I just saw that rascal, 
 Ward Porton ! " burst out Dave. 
 
 "Porton! You don't mean it? Where is 
 he?" 
 
 " He was standing under that light when I 
 drove out from the stable. I ran to speak to 
 him, and then he took to his legs and scooted 
 around yonder corner. I went after him, but by 
 the time I got on the side street he was out of 
 sight." 
 
 " Is that so ! It's too bad you couldn't catch 
 him, Dave. I suppose you would have liked to 
 talk to him." 
 
 " That's right, Ben. And maybe I might have 
 had him arrested, although now that he has been 
 exposed, and now that Link Merwell is in jail, 
 I don't suppose it would have done much good." 
 
 " It's queer he should show himself so close to 
 Crumville. One would think that he would want 
 to put all the distance possible between himself 
 and your folks." 
 
 " That's true, Ben. Maybe he is up to some 
 more of his tricks."
 
 38 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 The girls were on the lookout for the boys, and 
 now, having bundled up well, they came from the 
 restaurant, and all got into the sleigh once more. 
 Then they turned back in the direction of Crum- 
 ville, this time, however, taking a route which did 
 not go near Conover's Hill. 
 
 " Oh, Dave 1 were you sure it was that Ward 
 Porton? " questioned his sister, when he had told 
 her and Jessie about the appearance of the former 
 moving-picture actor. 
 
 " I was positive. Besides, if it wasn't Porton, 
 why would he run away? " 
 
 " I sincerely hope he doesn't try to do you any 
 harm, Dave," said Jessie, and gave a little shiver. 
 " I was hoping we had seen the last of that horrid 
 young man." 
 
 " Why, Jessie I You wouldn't call him horrid, 
 would you, when he looks so very much like 
 Dave ? " asked Ben, mischievously. 
 
 " He doesn't look very much like Dave," re- 
 turned the girl, quickly. " And he doesn't act in 
 the least like him," she added loyally. 
 
 " It's mighty queer to have a double that way," 
 was the comment of the real estate man's son. 
 " I don't know that I should like to have some- 
 body else looking like me." 
 
 " If you couldn't help it, you'd have to put up 
 with it," returned Dave, briefly. And then he
 
 WARD PORTON AGAIN 39 
 
 changed the subject, which, as the others could 
 plainly see, was distasteful to him. 
 
 As they left Clayton the moon came up over a 
 patch of woods, flooding the snowy roadway with 
 subdued light. In spite of what had happened, 
 all of the young folks were in good spirits, and 
 they were soon laughing and chatting gaily. Ben 
 started to sing one of the old Oak Hall favorites, 
 and Dave and the girls joined in. The grays 
 were now behaving themselves, and trotted along 
 as steadily as could be desired. 
 
 When the sleighing-party reached Crumville 
 they left Ben Basswood at his door, and then went 
 on to the Wadsworth mansion. 
 
 "Did you have a fine ride?" inquired Mrs. 
 Wadsworth, when the young folks bustled into the 
 house. 
 
 " Oh, it was splendid, Mamma ! " cried her 
 daughter. " Coming back in the moonlight was 
 just the nicest ever! " 
 
 "Did those grays behave themselves?" ques- 
 tioned Mr. Wadsworth, who was present. 
 " John said they acted rather frisky when he 
 brought them out." 
 
 " Oh, they were pretty frisky at first," returned 
 Dave. " But I finally managed to get them to 
 calm down," he added. The matter had been 
 discussed by the young folks, and it had been de-
 
 40 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 cided not to say anything about the runaway unless 
 it was necessary. 
 
 On the following morning Dave had to apply 
 himself diligently to his studies. Since leaving 
 Oak Hall he had been attending a civil engineer- 
 ing class in the city with Roger, and had, in addi- 
 tion, been taking private tutoring from a Mr. 
 Ramsdell, a retired civil engineer of considerable 
 reputation, who, in years gone by, had been a 
 college friend of Dave's father. Dave was ex- 
 ceedingly anxious to make as good a showing as 
 possible at the coming examinations. 
 
 " Here are several letters for you, David," 
 said 6ld Mr. Potts to him late that afternoon, as 
 he entered the boy's study with the mail. " You 
 seem to be the lucky one," the retired professor 
 continued, with a smile. " All I've got is a bill." 
 
 " Maybe there is a bill here for me, Professor," 
 returned Dave gaily, as he took the missives 
 handed out. 
 
 Dave glanced at the envelopes. By the hand- 
 writings he knew that one letter was from Phil 
 Lawrence and another from Shadow Hamilton, 
 one of his old Oak Hall chums, and a fellow who 
 loved to tell stories. The third communication 
 was postmarked Coburntown, and in a corner of 
 the envelope had the imprint of Asa Dickley. 
 
 " Hello ! I wonder what Mr. Dickley wants 
 of me," Dave mused, as he turned the letter over.
 
 WARD PORTON AGAIN 41 
 
 Then he remembered how sour the store-keeper 
 had appeared when they had met the day before. 
 " Maybe he wants to know why I haven't bought 
 anything from him lately." 
 
 Dave tore open the communication which was 
 written on one of Asa Dickley's letterheads. The 
 letter ran as follows : 
 
 " MR. DAVID PORTER. 
 "DEAR SIR: 
 
 " I thought when I saw you in Coburntown to- 
 day that you would come in and see me ; but you 
 did not. Will you kindly let me know why you 
 do not settle up as promised? When I let you 
 have the goods, you said you would settle up by 
 the end of the week without fail. Unless you 
 come in and settle up inside of the next week I 
 shall have to call the attention of your father to 
 what you owe me. 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 " ASA DICKLEY."
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 WHAT ASA DICKLEY HAD TO SAY 
 
 DAVE read the letter received from Mr. Asa 
 Dickley with much interest. He went over it 
 twice, and as he did so the second time his mind 
 reverted to the communication received the morn- 
 ing before from Mr. Weeks. 
 
 " What in the world does Mr. Dickley mean by 
 writing to me in this fashion?" he mused. "I 
 haven't had anything from him in a long while, 
 and I don't owe him a cent. It certainly is a 
 mighty strange proceeding, to say the least." 
 
 Then like a flash another thought came into his 
 mind was Ward Porton connected in any way 
 with this affair? 
 
 " Somebody must have gotten some things in 
 my name from Mr. Dickley, and he must have 
 gotten those shoes from Mr. Weeks, too. If the 
 party went there in person and said he was Dave 
 Porter, I don't think it could have been any one 
 but Ward Porton, because, so far as I know, he's 
 the only fellow that resembles me." 
 
 Our hero was so much worried that he gave 
 scant attention to the letters received from Phil 
 
 42
 
 WHAT ASA DICKLEY HAD TO SAY 43 
 
 Lawrence and Shadow Hamilton, even though 
 those communications contained many matters of 
 interest. He was looking at the Dickley com- 
 munication for a third time when his sister en- 
 tered. 
 
 "Well, Dave, no more bad news I hope?" 
 said Laura, with a smile. 
 
 " It is bad news," he returned. " Just read 
 that; " and he turned the letter over to her. 
 
 " If you owe Mr. Dickley any money you ought 
 to pay him," said the sister, after perusing the 
 epistle. " I don't think father would like it if 
 he knew you were running into debt," and she 
 gazed anxiously at Dave. f 
 
 " Laura ! You ought to know me better than 
 that," he answered somewhat shortly. " I never 
 run any bills unless I am able to pay them. But 
 this is something different. It is in the same line 
 with the one I got from Mr. Weeks. I didn't get 
 his shoes, and I haven't gotten anything from Mr. 
 Dickley for a long time, and nothing at all that 
 I haven't paid for." 
 
 " Oh, Dave ! do you mean it? " and now Laura's 
 face took on a look of worry. " Why, some- 
 body must be playing a trick on you ! " 
 
 " If he is, it's a mighty mean trick, Laura. But 
 I think it is more than a trick. I think it is a 
 swindle." 
 
 "Swindle?"
 
 44 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Exactly. And what is more, do you know 
 who I think is guilty? " 
 
 "Why, who could be guilty?" The sister 
 paused for a moment to look at her brother. 
 " Oh, Dave ! could it be that awful Ward Por- 
 ton?" 
 
 " That's the fellow I fasten on. Didn't we meet 
 him in Clayton? And that's only six miles from 
 Coburntown. More than likely that rascal has 
 been hanging around here, and maybe getting a 
 whole lot of things in my name." Dave began to 
 pace the floor. " It's a shame ! If I could get 
 hold of him I think I would have him locked up." 
 
 " What are you going to do about this letter? " 
 
 " I'm going to go to Coburntown the first 
 chance I get and tell Mr. Dickley, and also Mr. 
 Weeks, the truth. I want to find out whether the 
 party who got those things procured them in per- 
 son or on some written order. If he got them on 
 a written order, somebody must have forged my 
 
 name." 
 
 " Hadn't you better tell father or Uncle Dun- 
 ston about this? " 
 
 " Not just yet, Laura. It will be time enough 
 to worry them after I have seen Mr. Weeks and 
 Mr. Dickley. Perhaps I can settle the matter 
 myself." 
 
 Dave was so upset that it was hard for him to 
 buckle down to his studies; and he was glad that
 
 WHAT ASA DICKLEY HAD TO SAY 45 
 
 evening when an interruption came in the shape of 
 the arrival of his old school chum and fellow en- 
 gineering student, Roger Morr. 
 
 " Back again ! And right side up with care ! " 
 announced the senator's son, as he came in and 
 shook hands. " My 1 but I've had a busy time 
 since I've been away! " he replied in answer to a 
 question of Dave's. " I had to settle up one or 
 two things for father, and then I had to go on 
 half a dozen different errands for mother, and 
 then see to it that I got those new text books that 
 Mr. Ramsdell spoke about. I got two copies of 
 each, Dave, and here are those that are coming to 
 you," and he passed over three small volumes. 
 " And that isn't all. I just met Ben Basswood 
 at the depot where he was sending a telegram to 
 his father, who is in Chicago. Ben had some won- 
 derful news to tell." 
 
 "What was that?" asked Laura and Jessie 
 simultaneously. 
 
 " He didn't give me any of the particulars, but 
 it seems an old friend of theirs died out in Chi- 
 cago recently, and Mr. Basswood was sent for by 
 some lawyers to help settle the estate." 
 
 " Yes, we know that much," broke in Dave. 
 " But what's the new news? " 
 
 "Why, it seems this man, Enos, died quite 
 wealthy, and he left almost his entire estate to Mr. 
 Basswood."
 
 46 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Is that so ! " cried Dave. " That sure is 
 fine! I don't know of anybody who deserves 
 money more than do the Basswoods," and his face 
 lit up with genuine pleasure. 
 
 " It will be nice for Ben," said Jessie, " and 
 even nicer for Mrs. Basswood. Mamma says 
 there was a time when they were quite poor, and 
 Mrs. Basswood had to do all her own work. 
 Now they'll be able to take it easy." 
 
 " Oh, they are far from poor," returned Dave. 
 " They've been living on ' Easy Street,' as the say- 
 ing goes, for a number of years. Just the same, 
 it will be a fine thing for them to get this fortune." 
 
 " There was one thing about the news that Ben 
 didn't understand," continued Roger. " His 
 father telegraphed that the estate was a decidedly 
 curious one, and that was why the lawyers wanted 
 him to come to Chicago immediately. He added 
 that Mr. Enos had proved to be a very eccentric 
 individual." 
 
 " Maybe he was as eccentric as that man in 
 Rhode Island I once read about," said Dave, with 
 a grin. " When he died he left an estate consist- 
 ing of about twelve thousand ducks. This estate 
 went to two worthless nephews, who knew noth- 
 ing at all about their uncle's business. And, as 
 somebody said, the two nephews very soon made 
 * ducks and drakes ' of the whole fortune." 
 
 " Oh, what a story ! " cried Jessie, laughing.
 
 WHAT ASA DICKLEY HAD TO SAY 47 
 
 " Twelve thousand ducks ! What ever would a 
 person do with them? " 
 
 " Why, some duck farms are very profitable," 
 returned Roger. 
 
 " You don't suppose this Mr. Enos left such a 
 fortune as that to Mr. Basswood?" queried 
 Laura. 
 
 " I'm sure I don't know what the fortune con- 
 sists of. And neither did Ben. He was tremen- 
 dously curious to know. And he said his mother 
 could hardly wait until Mr. Basswood sent addi- 
 tional information," replied Roger. 
 
 " Ben told me that this Mr. Enos was once a 
 partner of his father in business, the two running 
 an art store together. Enos was very much in- 
 terested in art; so it's possible the fortune he left 
 may have something to do with that," added Dave. 
 
 As my old readers know, Roger Morr had al- 
 ways thought a great deal of Laura; and of late 
 his liking for her had greatly increased. On her 
 part, Dave's sister had always considered the sen- 
 ator's son a very promising young man. Conse- 
 quently, it can well be imagined that the four 
 young people spent a most enjoyable time that 
 evening in the mansion. The girls played on the 
 piano and all sang, and then some rugs were 
 pushed aside, a phonograph was brought into ac- 
 tion, and they danced a number of the latest steps, 
 with the older folks looking on.
 
 48 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Roger was to remain over for several days at 
 Crumville, and early the next morning Dave asked 
 his chum if he would accompany him on a hasty 
 trip to Coburntown. He had already acquainted 
 Roger with the trouble he was having with the 
 shoe-dealer and the man who sold men's furnish- 
 ings. 
 
 " We can take a horse and cutter and be back 
 before lunch," said Dave. 
 
 " I'll be glad to go," answered the senator's 
 son. " I haven't had a ride in a cutter this win- 
 ter." 
 
 They were soon on the way, Dave this time 
 driving a black horse that could not only cover the 
 ground well, but was thoroughly reliable. By ten 
 o'clock they found themselves in Coburntown, and 
 made their way to the establishment run by Asa 
 Dickley. The proprietor of the store was busy 
 with a customer at the time, and a clerk came for- 
 ward to wait on the new arrivals. 
 
 " I wish to speak to Mr. Dickley," said Dave; 
 and he and Roger waited until the man was at 
 leisure. Mr. Dickley looked anything but pleas- 
 ant as he walked up to our hero. 
 
 " I got a very strange letter from you, Mr. 
 Dickley. I can't understand it at all," began 
 Dave. 
 
 " And I can't understand why you treat me the 
 way you do," blurted out the shopkeeper. " You
 
 WHAT ASA DICKLEY HAD TO SAY 49 
 
 promised to come in here and settle up over a 
 week ago." 
 
 " Mr. Dickley, I think there is a big mistake 
 somewhere," said Dave, as calmly as he could. 
 " I don't owe you any money, and I can't under- 
 stand why you should write me such a letter as 
 this," and he brought forth the communication he 
 had received. 
 
 "You don't owe me any money!" ejaculated 
 Asa Dickley. " I just guess you do I You owe 
 me twenty-six dollars." 
 
 "Twenty-six dollars!" repeated Dave. 
 "What is that for?" 
 
 "For? You know as well as I do! Didn't 
 you come in here and get a fedora hat, some shirts 
 and collars and neckties, and a pair of fur-lined 
 gloves, and a lot of underwear? The whole bill 
 came to just twenty-six dollars." 
 
 "And when was this stuff purchased?" went 
 on Dave. 
 
 "When was it purchased? See here, Porter, 
 what sort of torn-foolery is this?" cried Asa 
 Dickley. " You know as well as I do when you 
 got the things. I wouldn't be so harsh with you, 
 only you promised me faithfully that you would 
 come in and settle up long before this." 
 
 " Mr. Dickley, I haven't had any goods from 
 you for a long, long time and what I have had 
 I have paid for," answered Dave, doing his best
 
 50 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 to keep his temper, because he knew the store- 
 keeper must be laboring under a mistake. " As 
 a matter of fact, I haven't been in your store for 
 several months." 
 
 "Whatl" ejaculated the storekeeper. "Do 
 you mean to deny that you bought those goods 
 from me, young man? " 
 
 " I certainly do deny it. As I said before, I 
 haven't been in this store for several months." 
 
 At this plain declaration made by Dave, Mr. 
 Asa Dickley grew fairly purple. He leaned over 
 his counter and shook his clenched fist in Dave's 
 face. 
 
 " So that is the way you are going to try to 
 swindle me out of my money, is it, Dave Por- 
 ter? " he cried. " Well, let me tell you, it won't 
 work. You came here and got those goods from 
 me, and either you'll pay for them or I'll sue 
 your father for the amount. Why, it's prepos- 
 terous ! " The storekeeper turned to his clerk, 
 who was gazing on the scene in open-mouthed 
 wonder. " Here a customer comes in and buys a 
 lot of goods and I am good-hearted enough to 
 trust him to the amount, twenty-six dollars, and 
 then he comes here and declares to my face that 
 he never had the things and he won't pay for 
 them. Now what do you think of that, Hib- 
 bins?" 
 
 " I think it's pretty raw," responded the clerk.
 
 WHAT ASA DICKLEY HAD TO SAY 51 
 
 " Weren't you in the shop when I let Porter 
 have some of those goods? " 
 
 " I certainly was," answered Hibbins. " Of 
 course, I was in the rear, sorting out those new 
 goods that had come in, so I didn't see just what 
 you let him have; but I certainly know he got 
 some things." 
 
 " Mr. Dickley, now listen to me for a minute," 
 said Dave in a tone of voice that arrested the 
 man's attention in spite of his irascibility. " Look 
 at me closely. Didn't the fellow who got those 
 things from you look somewhat different from 
 me?" 
 
 Dave faced the storekeeper with unflinching 
 eyes, and Asa Dickley was compelled to look the 
 youth over carefully. As he did this the positive 
 expression on his face gradually changed to one 
 of doubt. 
 
 " Why, I er Of course, he looked like 
 you," he stammered. " Of course you can 
 change your looks a little; but that don't count 
 with me. Besides, didn't you give me your name 
 as Dave Porter, and ask me if I didn't remember 
 you?" 
 
 " The fellow who got those goods may have 
 done all that, Mr. Dickley. But that fellow was 
 not I. I may be mistaken, but I think it was a 
 young man who resembles me, and who some time 
 ago made a great deal of trouble for me."
 
 52 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Humph ! That's a fishy kind of story, Por- 
 ter. If there is such a person he must look very 
 much like you." 
 
 " He does. In fact, some people declare they 
 can hardly tell us apart." 
 
 " What's the name of that fellow? " 
 
 " Ward Porton." 
 
 " Does he live around here? " 
 
 " I don't know where he is living just at pres- 
 ent. But I saw him day before yesterday in Clay- 
 ton. I tried to stop him, but he ran away from 
 me." 
 
 The storekeeper gazed at Dave for a moment 
 in silence, and then pursed up his lips and shook 
 his head decidedly. 
 
 " That is too much of a fish story for me to 
 swallow," he said harshly. " You'll either have 
 to bring that young man here and prove that he 
 got the goods, or else you'll have to pay for them 
 yourself."
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 MORE TROUBLE 
 
 DAVE and Roger spent the best part of half an 
 hour in Asa Dickley's store, and during that time 
 our hero and his chum gave the particulars of 
 how they had become acquainted with Ward Por- 
 ton, and how the young moving-picture actor had 
 tried to pass himself off as the real Dave Porter, 
 and how he had been exposed and had disap- 
 peared. 
 
 " Well, if what you say is true I've been 
 swindled," declared the storekeeper finally. " I'd 
 like to get my hands on that young man." 
 
 " You wouldn't like it any better than I would," 
 returned Dave, grimly. " You see, I don't know 
 how far this thing extends. Mr. Weeks has been 
 after me to pay for some shoes that I never got." 
 
 " Say, that moving-picture actor must be a 
 lulu ! " declared the storekeeper's clerk, slangily. 
 " If you don't watch out, Porter, he'll get you 
 into all kinds of hot water." 
 
 " I think the best you can do, Dave, is to notify 
 the storekeepers you do business with to be on 
 
 S3
 
 54 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 the lookout for Porton," suggested Roger. 
 ' Then, if he shows up again, they can have him 
 held until you arrive." 
 
 " I'll certainly have to do something," an- 
 swered Dave. 
 
 " Then I suppose you don't want to settle that 
 bill?" came from Asa Dickley, wistfully. 
 
 " No, sir. And I don't think you ought to 
 expect it." 
 
 " Well, I don't know. The fellow who got 
 those goods said he was Dave Porter," vouch- 
 safed the storekeeper doggedly. 
 
 From Asa Dickley's establishment Dave, ac- 
 companied by his chum, drove around to the store 
 kept by Mr. Weeks. He found the curtains still 
 down, but the shoe-dealer had just come in, and 
 was at his desk writing letters. 
 
 " And you mean to say you didn't get those 
 shoes?" questioned Mr. Weeks with interest, 
 after Dave had explained the situation. " That's 
 mighty curious. I never had a thing like that 
 happen before." He knew our hero well, and 
 trusted Dave implicitly. " I shouldn't have sent 
 that letter only I had a chance to sell a pair of 
 shoes that size, and I thought if you had made 
 your selection I could sell the pair you didn't 
 want to the other fellow." 
 
 Once again the two boys had to tell all about 
 Ward Porton and what that young rascal was
 
 MORE TROUBLE 55 
 
 supposed to be doing. As they proceeded Mr. 
 Wecks's face took on a look of added intelligence. 
 
 "Exactly! Exactly! That fits in with what 
 I thought when that fellow went off with the 
 shoes," he declared finally. " I said to myself, 
 * Somehow Dave Porter looks different to-day. 
 He must have had a spell of sickness or some- 
 thing.' That other chap was a bit thinner and 
 paler than you are." 
 
 " He's a regular cigarette fiend, and that is, I 
 think, what makes him look pale," put in Roger. 
 And then he added quickly : " Do you remember 
 was he smoking?" 
 
 " Yes, he was. He threw a cigarette stub away 
 while he was trying on the shoes, and then lit an- 
 other cigarette when he was going out. I thought 
 at the time that he was probably smoking more 
 than was good for him." 
 
 " I don't smoke at all, and never have done 
 so," said Dave. He turned to his chum. " I 
 think the fact that the fellow who got the shoes 
 was smoking is additional proof that it was Por- 
 ton." 
 
 " I haven't the slightest idea that it was any- 
 body else," answered the senator's son. 
 
 Mr. Weeks promised to keep on the lookout 
 for Ward Porton, in case that individual showed 
 himself again, and then Dave and Roger left. 
 
 " I'm going into all the stores where I do busi-
 
 56 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 ness and tell the folks to be on the watch for Ward 
 Porton," said our hero. 
 
 " A good idea, Dave. But see here I How 
 are they going to tell him from you?" and the 
 senator's son chuckled. " You may come along 
 some day and they may hold you, thinking you are 
 Porton." 
 
 " I thought of that, Roger, and I'll leave each 
 of them my signature on a card. I know that 
 Ward Porton doesn't write as I do." 
 
 This idea was followed out, the boys spending 
 the best part of an hour in going around Coburn- 
 town. Then they drove back to Crumville, and 
 there Dave visited some other establishments with 
 which he was in the habit of doing business. 
 
 All the storekeepers were much interested in 
 what he had to tell, and all readily agreed to have 
 Ward Porton detained if he should show himself. 
 At each place Dave left his signature, so that there 
 might be no further mistake regarding his iden- 
 tity. 
 
 After that several days passed quietly. Both 
 Dave and Roger were applying themselves to 
 their studies, and as a consequence saw little of 
 Ben except in the evenings, when all the young 
 folks would get together for more or less of a 
 good time. 
 
 " Any more news about that fortune in Chi-
 
 MORE TROUBLE 57 
 
 cago? " asked Dave, one evening of the Basswood 
 lad. 
 
 " Not very much," answered Ben. " Father 
 telegraphed that he was hunting for some things 
 that belonged to Mr. Enos. He said that as soon 
 as he found them he would tell us all about it." 
 
 " That certainly is a strange state of affairs." 
 
 "Strange? I should say it was!" cried the 
 other. " Mother and I are just dying to know 
 what it all means. One thing is certain Mr. 
 Enos did not leave his fortune in stocks or bonds 
 or real estate, or anything like that." 
 
 On the following day came additional trouble 
 for Dave in the shape of a communication from 
 a hotel-keeper in Coburntown. He stated that 
 he had heard through Asa Dickley that Dave was 
 having trouble with a party who was impersonat- 
 ing him, and added that a person calling himself 
 Dave Porter was owing him a bill of fifteen dol- 
 lars for five days' board. 
 
 "Isn't this the limit?" cried Dave, as he 
 showed the letter to his father and his Uncle 
 Dunston. 
 
 " No use in talking, Dave, we'll have to get 
 after that rascal," announced the father. " If 
 we don't, there is no telling how far he'll carry this 
 thing. I think I'll put the authorities on his 
 track."
 
 58 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Two days after that, and while Dave was con- 
 tinuing his studies as diligently as ever, came word 
 over the telephone from Clayton. 
 
 "Is this you, Dave Porter?" came over the 
 wire. 
 
 " Yes," answered our hero. " Who are you? " 
 
 " This is Nat Poole talking. I am up here in 
 Clayton in the First National Bank. You 
 know my father got me a job here last week." 
 
 " No, I didn't know it, Nat. But I'm glad to 
 hear you have something to do, and I hope you'll 
 make a success of it," returned Dave promptly. 
 
 " I called you up to find out if you were in 
 Clayton," continued the son of the money lender. 
 " I wanted to make sure of it." 
 
 " Well, I'm not. I'm right here at home, 
 Nat." 
 
 " Then, in that case, I want to tell you that 
 the fellow who looks like you is here." 
 
 " Where do you mean in the bank? " 
 
 " Well, he came in here to get a five-dollar bill 
 changed. I happened to see him as he was go- 
 ing out and I called to him, thinking it was you. 
 When I called he seemed to get scared, and he 
 got out in a hurry. Then I happened to think 
 about that fellow who looked like you, and I made 
 up my mind I'd call you up." 
 
 "How long ago since he was in the bank?" 
 questioned Dave, eagerly.
 
 MORE TROUBLE 59 
 
 " Not more than ten minutes ago. I tried to 
 get you sooner but the wire was busy." 
 
 " You haven't any idea where he went? " 
 
 " No, except that he started down the side street 
 next to the bank, which, as maybe you know, runs 
 towards the river." 
 
 " All right, Nat. Thank you very much for 
 what you've told me. I want to locate that fellow 
 if I possibly can. He is a swindler, and if you 
 clap eyes on him again have him arrested," added 
 Dave; and this Nat Poole promised to do. 
 
 The news over the wire excited Dave not a lit- 
 tle. Of the men of the household, only old Pro- 
 fessor Potts was in, and he, of course, could not 
 assist in the matter. Dave at once sought out 
 Mrs. Wadsworth and told her of what he had 
 heard. 
 
 " I think I'll drive to Clayton and see if I can 
 locate Porton," he added. " Roger says he will 
 go with me." 
 
 " Do as you think best, Dave," answered the 
 lady of the house. " But do keep out of trouble I 
 This Ward Porton may prove to be a dangerous 
 character if you attempt to corner him." 
 
 " I think Roger and I can manage him, if only 
 we can find him," returned the youth. 
 
 Once more the black horse and the cutter were 
 brought into service, and the two youths made the 
 best possible time on the snowy highway that
 
 60 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 led through Coburntown to Clayton. Arriving 
 there, they called at the bank and interviewed 
 Nat Poole. 
 
 " If what you say about Porton is true he cer- 
 tainly must be a bad one almost as bad as Mer- 
 well and Jasniff," was the comment of the money 
 lender's son. " I certainly hope you spot him and 
 bring him to book. That's the way he went the 
 last I saw of him,'* he added, pointing down the 
 side street. 
 
 Dave and Roger drove down the street looking 
 to the right and the left for a possible sight of 
 Ward Porton. But their search was doomed to 
 disappointment for the moving-picture actor was 
 nowhere to be seen. 
 
 " It's a good deal like looking for a needle in a 
 haystack," was the comment of the senator's son, 
 after a full hour had been spent in the hunt. 
 
 They had left the sleigh and had walked 
 around a number of mills and tenement houses 
 which were situated in that locality. 
 
 " I've got an idea," said Dave, as several chil- 
 dren approached them. " I'm going to ask the 
 youngsters if they've seen a young man who looks 
 like me." 
 
 The first boys and girls to whom the subject 
 was broached shook their heads and declared they 
 had seen nobody that resembled Dave. Then 
 our hero and his chum passed on to other children,
 
 MORE TROUBLE 61 
 
 and finally to some men working around a newly- 
 constructed tenement. 
 
 " Why sure ! I saw a young feller wot looked 
 like you," said a youth who was piling up some 
 lumber. " He ast me fer a match. Say 1 he 
 looked like he could have been your twin," he 
 added in wonder; and then continued suddenly: 
 " Maybe youse is playin' a trick on me, and it was 
 youse got the match? " 
 
 " No, I never met you before," answered Dave, 
 quickly. " When did you meet the other fellow, 
 and where? I am very anxious to locate him." 
 
 " It was down on de bridge, about an hour ago. 
 I was comin' dis way, and he was goin' de udder 
 way." 
 
 " Was he smoking a cigarette? " asked Roger. 
 
 " He had one o' de coffin-nails in his hand and 
 he lit up after I given him de match." 
 
 " Did he say anything? " questioned our hero. 
 
 The carpenter's helper scratched his head for 
 a moment. " Sure he did ! He ast me if it was 
 putty good walkin' to Bixter. I told him * putty 
 fair,' and den he went on and I came here." 
 
 " Then he must have gone on to Bixter ! " cried 
 Roger. " How far is that from here? " 
 
 " About two miles and a half," answered Dave. 
 He turned to the carpenter's helper. " Much 
 obliged to you." 
 
 " Dat's all right. Say ! but dat guy certainly
 
 62 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 looks like you," the carpenter's helper added, 
 with a grin. 
 
 " Come, we'll follow him," said Dave to his 
 chum, and led the way on the run to where the 
 horse was tied. 
 
 Soon they were in the cutter once more. Dave 
 urged the black along at his best speed, and over 
 the bridge they flew, and then along the road lead- 
 ing to the village of Bixter.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 FACE TO FACE 
 
 " IF you catch Porton, Dave, what will you do 
 turn him over to the authorities? " 
 
 "Yes, Roger." 
 
 " Is Bixter much of a place? " 
 
 " Oh, no. There are but two stores and two 
 churches and not over thirty or forty houses." 
 
 " Then you may have some trouble in finding 
 an officer. Probably the village doesn't boast of 
 anything more than a constable and a Justice of 
 the Peace." 
 
 " I am not worrying about that yet, Roger," re- 
 turned our hero, grimly. " We have got to catch 
 Porton first." 
 
 " Oh, I know that. But if he started for Bix- 
 ter on foot we ought to be able to locate him. A 
 stranger can't go through such a small place with- 
 out somebody's noticing it." 
 
 On and on trotted the horse, past many well- 
 kept farms, and then through a small patch of 
 timber land. Beyond the woods they crossed a 
 frozen creek, and then made a turn to the north- 
 ward. A short distance beyond they came in sight 
 
 63
 
 64 
 
 of the first houses that went to make up the vil- 
 lage of Bixter. 
 
 " Well, we've not seen anything of him yet," 
 remarked the senator's son, as they slowed up and 
 looked ahead and to both sides of the village 
 street. 
 
 " No, and I don't understand it," returned 
 Dave. " From what that carpenter's helper said, 
 I thought we should overtake him before we got 
 to Bixter. Either he must have left this road, 
 or else he must be some walker." 
 
 " I don't see where he could have gone if he 
 left the road, Dave. All we passed were lanes 
 leading to the farms, and a path through that 
 wood. It isn't likely he would take to the woods 
 in this cold weather not unless he was going 
 hunting, and that chap back in Clayton didn't say 
 anything about his carrying a gun." 
 
 With the horse in a walk, they passed down 
 the village street and back again. As they did 
 this they kept their eyes wide open, peering into 
 the various yards and lanes that presented them- 
 selves. 
 
 " I'm afraid it's no use unless he" is in one of 
 these houses or in one of the stores," was Roger's 
 comment. 
 
 " I'll ask at the stores," returned Dave. 
 
 The inquiries he and his chum made were 
 productive of no results so far as locating Ward
 
 FACE TO FACE 65 
 
 Porton was concerned. No one had seen or 
 heard of the former moving picture actor. 
 
 " All the strangers we've seen to-day was a 
 cigar drummer," said one of the shopkeepers. 
 " And he was a fat man and about forty years 
 old." The other storekeeper had had no 
 strangers in his place. 
 
 Hardly knowing what to do next, Dave and 
 Roger returned to the cutter. 
 
 " Maybe he went farther than this," suggested 
 Roger. " We might go on a mile or two and take 
 a look." 
 
 Now that they had come so far, Dave thought 
 this a good idea, and so they passed on for a dis- 
 tance of nearly two miles beyond Bixter. Here 
 the sleighing became poor, there being but few 
 farmhouses in that vicinity. 
 
 " It's no use," said Dave, finally. " We'll go 
 back to Bixter, take another look around, and 
 then return to Clayton and home." 
 
 When they arrived once more at the village 
 Dave suggested that he and his chum separate. 
 
 " There are a number of these lanes that lead 
 to some back roads," said Dave. " Perhaps if 
 we tramp around on foot and ask some of the coun- 
 try folks living around here we may get on the 
 track of the fellow we are after." 
 
 The senator's son was willing, and he was soon 
 walking down a lane leading to the right while
 
 66 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Dave went off to the left. Presently Dave came 
 to a barn where a farmer was mending some 
 broken harness. 
 
 "Hello! Back again, are you?" cried the 
 farmer, as he looked at Dave curiously. " What 
 brought you ? Why didn't you stop when I called 
 to you before? " 
 
 " I guess you're just the man I want to see," 
 cried Dave, quickly. And then, as the farmer 
 looked at him in increasing wonder, he added: 
 " Did a young man who looks very much like me 
 go past here to-day? " 
 
 "Look like you?" queried the farmer. 
 " Why, it was you, wasn't it? " 
 
 " No. It must have been a fellow who re- 
 sembles me very closely. I am trying to catch 
 him." 
 
 " Well, I swan! " murmured the farmer, look- 
 ing at Dave critically. " That other feller 
 looked as much like you as could be. Wot is he 
 your twin brother?" 
 
 " I am thankful to say he is no relative of mine. 
 He is a swindler, and that is why I would like to 
 catch him. He has been getting goods in my 
 name. If he went past here perhaps you can tell 
 me where he has gone? " 
 
 " He walked past here less than fifteen minutes 
 ago. He went down that lane, which is a short 
 cut to the road to Barnett."
 
 FACE TO FACE 67 
 
 " Barnett ! " cried our hero. " That's the rail- 
 road station up this way, isn't it?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Then he must be heading for a railroad 
 train!" exclaimed Dave, quickly. "How far is 
 it from here? " 
 
 " Barnett is three miles by the road, but it's 
 less than a mile and a quarter by that short cu' 
 through Gerry's Woods." 
 
 " Then I'll go after him by that short cut," an- 
 swered Dave. He thought for a moment. To 
 hunt up Roger and get him to go along might take 
 too long. He looked at the farmer. " Would 
 you like to go with me ? I'll make it worth your 
 while," he continued. 
 
 " Sorry, but I can't do it," was the reply. 
 " I've got to meet the man who buys my milk 
 down town in about fifteen minutes. He's a very 
 particular customer, and if I should fail him he 
 might get mad. So I can't go." 
 
 " All right, I'll go after him alone," answered 
 our hero; and then continued: " If you are go- 
 ing down town, and you chance to see a friend of 
 mine with my black horse and cutter, will you 
 kindly tell him where I have gone? " 
 
 " Sure, I will ; " and with this promise from 
 the farmer Dave started on a swift walk along 
 the short cut to Barnett which the other had 
 pointed out.
 
 68 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Fortunately for the youth, to keep his feet 
 warm while riding he had donned a heavy pair of 
 rubbers, so that walking through the rather deep 
 snow of the path leading through the back farms 
 and through Gerry's Woods was not as uncom- 
 fortable as it might otherwise have been. To be 
 sure, he occasionally found himself floundering in 
 snow that was over his shoetops, but when this 
 happened he simply smiled grimly and made the 
 best of it. When at Oak Hall he had often taken 
 part in track athletics, cross-country running, and 
 occasionally in a game of hare and hounds, and 
 consequently his wind was good and he made 
 rapid progress without becoming too much ex- 
 hausted. 
 
 He was in the depth of the woods when, at a 
 turn in the path, he saw a figure ahead of him. 
 The individual wore a heavy overcoat and had a 
 cap pulled well down over his ears and the back 
 of his head. 
 
 " I may be mistaken, but that looks as if it 
 might be Porton," said Dave to himself. " How- 
 ever, I'll soon know; " and he increased his speed 
 so that he might catch up to the other walker. 
 
 As the ground was covered with snow our hero 
 made but slight noise while he advanced, and as 
 a consequence he drew quite close to the other in- 
 dividual before the latter was aware of his pres- 
 ence.
 
 FACE TO FACE 69 
 
 " Hi there ! " called out Dave, when he was 
 but a few feet behind. The fellow had stopped 
 and turned around, and a single glance showed 
 our hero that it was the youth he was seeking. 
 
 " Dave Porter ! " muttered Ward Porton, as 
 he recognized our hero. His manner showed that 
 he was much astonished, as well as chagrined, at 
 this unexpected meeting. 
 
 " You didn't expect to meet me out here, did 
 you?" remarked Dave, sharply, as he came up 
 alongside the former moving-picture actor. 
 
 " Why I er I can't can't say that 
 I did," returned Porton, lamely. 
 
 " You've been acting in a fine way, haven't you, 
 Porton? " went on Dave, angrily. 
 
 "Huh! What have I done?" Porton's 
 gaze was shifty. He did not dare to look our 
 hero in the eyes. 
 
 " You know well enough what you've done, 
 Porton buying a whole lot of goods in my 
 
 name." 
 
 "What are you talking about? I didn't do 
 any such thing ! " was the blustering reply. The 
 former moving-picture actor was recovering from 
 his surprise. 
 
 " I can prove that you did ; and I'm going to 
 hold you responsible for it," answered Dave, 
 calmly. 
 
 " Look here, Porter, I don't want any such
 
 70 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 talk from you ! " and now Ward Porton doubled 
 up his fists and stuck out his chin. " I've stood 
 all I am going to stand from you. I want you to 
 leave me alone." 
 
 " Porton, you can bluster all you please, but 
 it won't do you any good," answered Dave, and 
 his voice had a more positive ring to it than be- 
 fore. " You thought you could play this trick 
 on me and get away with it, but I am going to 
 show you it can't be done. I am going to hand 
 you over to the authorities and see that you go 
 to jail." 
 
 "If you think you can do that, Porter, you've 
 got another guess coming. You clear out and let 
 me alone or I'll make it hot for you; " and Ward 
 Porton shook his fist in Dave's face. 
 
 The manner of the young man who had been 
 obtaining goods in Dave's name was so aggressive 
 that many a youth would have been intimidated 
 and inclined to withdraw. But that was not our 
 hero's way. He was righteously indignant, not 
 only because of what the rascal before him had 
 done, but also because of his present threat. 
 Without more ado he seized hold of Porton's up- 
 raised arm and backed the fellow against a tree. 
 
 " Now, you just listen to me," he said sternly. 
 " Your bluff and bluster won't do you any good. 
 I am going to hand you over to the authorities, 
 and that is all there is to it. You've got to be-
 
 HE SEIZED PORTON'S UPRAISED ARM AND BACKED THE FELLOW 
 AGAINST A TREE. Page 70.
 
 FACE TO FACE 71 
 
 have yourself and stop threatening me, or I'll 
 give you something that you won't want." 
 
 " You imp, you ! Let go of me ! " roared Por- 
 ton, and, bringing around his disengaged hand, 
 he struck Dave a glancing blow on the chin. 
 
 If anything more was needed to arouse our 
 hero's just ire, this blow proved more than suf- 
 ficient. As much anger as he had ever felt in his 
 life surged up in Dave's heart. He drew back, 
 letting go his hold and the next instant his fist 
 shot out and landed straight on Ward Porton's 
 nose. 
 
 "Ouch!" spluttered the former moving-pic- 
 ture actor, and not without reason, for the sting- 
 ing blow our hero had delivered not only hurt ex- 
 ceedingly, but also caused the blood to flow. 
 
 " Now will you behave yourself and come with 
 me, or do you want some more ? " demanded 
 Dave. 
 
 " I'll fix you for that! Just wait! " bellowed 
 Porton; and then he made a savage rush at our 
 hero. 
 
 The next instant they were locked in each 
 other's arms and swaying from side to side, each 
 doing his utmost to gain the mastery.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 THE BASSWOOD FORTUNE 
 
 OVER and over in the snow of the woods rolled 
 Dave and Porton, first one being on top and then 
 the other. Each was encumbered by his heavy 
 overcoat and his gloves, so that to send in a de- 
 cisive blow was practically impossible. 
 
 [The former moving-picture actor fought des- 
 perately, for he had no desire to go to jail, and 
 he realized that Dave meant to send him to such 
 a place if he could possibly accomplish it. 
 
 Dave, on his part, was angered through and 
 through, not only because of what Porton had 
 done at the stores, but also because of the way 
 the former moving-picture actor had threatened 
 him. 
 
 The encounter had occurred at a spot where 
 the trees were somewhat scattered and where 
 rocks were numerous. As the two continued 
 their struggle they sent the loose snow flying in 
 all directions and often struck on some of the 
 rocks. 
 
 At last Dave managed to get his opponent by 
 the throat, and he forced Porton's head backward 
 
 72
 
 THE BASSWOOD FORTUNE 73 
 
 against a large stone. In the meantime, however, 
 the rascal managed to double up one of his legs, 
 and he gave Dave a shove in the stomach which 
 sent him rolling over on his side. 
 
 " Now I'll fix you ! " panted Porton, and, re- 
 leasing his right hand, he picked up a loose stone 
 which their scuffle had exposed to view. The 
 next instant he brought the stone up, hitting our 
 hero on the side of the head. It was a furious 
 blow, and for the moment Dave was stunned. 
 He let go of the other's throat, and as he did this 
 Ward Porton arose to his feet. 
 
 " Now I guess you'll let me alone ! " he snarled; 
 and aimed a vicious kick at Dave's head. But 
 the youth, even though somewhat bewildered, had 
 sense enough left to dodge, and the blow landed 
 on his shoulder. 
 
 Then Porton turned and dashed wildly along 
 the woods path leading in the direction of Barnett. 
 
 It took our hero several seconds to collect him- 
 self sufficiently to arise. His ear was ringing 
 from the contact with the stone, which fortunately 
 had been a smooth one, and his shoulder also 
 ached, even though the kick had been delivered 
 through the padding of his overcoat. 
 
 He gazed along the path, and was just in time 
 to see Porton disappearing around a bend. 
 
 If Dave had been thoroughly angry before, he 
 was now even more so; and, shaking his head to
 
 74 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 clear his brain, he started on a run after the fugi- 
 tive. He reached the turn in the path to see 
 Porton emerging from the woods and taking to 
 the highway leading to the railroad depot. 
 
 " He must be running to catch a train," thought 
 our hero. " And if that is so I'll have to hustle 
 or he'll get away." 
 
 By the time Dave gained the highway leading 
 to Barnett, Ward Porton had reached the vicinity 
 of the first of the houses in the village. Here he 
 paused to glance back, and, seeing his pursuer, 
 shook his fist at Dave. Then he went on about 
 fifty yards farther, suddenly turning into a lane 
 between two of the houses. 
 
 " He's afraid to go to the depot for fear I'll 
 get after him before a train comes in," thought 
 Dave. " Well, I'll catch him anyway, unless he 
 takes to the woods." 
 
 What Dave had surmised was correct. Ward 
 Porton had thought to get on a train that would 
 stop at Barnett inside of the next ten minutes. 
 Now, however, he realized that to go to the depot 
 and hang around until the cars took their depar- 
 ture would probably mean capture. 
 
 11 Confound the luck ! How did he manage to 
 get on my trail so quickly? " muttered the former 
 moving-picture actor to himself. " Now I'll have 
 to lay low and do my best to sneak off to some 
 other place. I wish it wasn't so cold. When I
 
 THE BASSWOOD FORTUNE 75 
 
 stop running I'll be half frozen. But, anyway, 
 I had the satisfaction of giving him one in the 
 ear with that rock and another in the shoulder 
 with my foot," and he smiled grimly, as he placed 
 his handkerchief to his bleeding nose. 
 
 By the time Dave reached the lane between the 
 houses, Porton was nowhere in sight. There 
 were a number of footprints in the snow, and fol- 
 lowing these Dave passed a barn and some cow- 
 sheds. From this point a single pair of foot- 
 prints led over a short field into the very woods 
 where the encounter had taken place. 
 
 " He's going to hide in the woods, sure 
 enough," reasoned our hero. " Or else maybe 
 he'll try to get back to Clayton, or Bixter." 
 
 " Hi! What's going on here? " cried a voice 
 from the cow-shed, and a man showed himself, 
 followed by two well-grown boys. 
 
 " I'm after a fellow who just ran across that 
 field into the woods," explained Dave, quickly. 
 " He's a thief. I want to catch him and have 
 him locked up." 
 
 "Oh, sayl I thought I saw somebody," ex- 
 claimed one of the boys. " I thought it might 
 be Tom Jones goin' huntin'." 
 
 In as few words as possible Dave explained the 
 situation to the farmer and his two sons, and 
 they readily agreed to accompany him into the 
 woods.
 
 76 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " But you'll have a big job trying to locate that 
 chap in those woods," was the farmer's comment. 
 " The growth back here is very thick, and my boys 
 have been lost in it more than once." 
 
 "Huh! we always found our way out again," 
 grumbled the older of the sons, who did not like 
 this statement on his parent's part. 
 
 " Yes, Billy, but the woods are mighty thick," 
 returned his brother. " If that feller don't look 
 out he may get lost and get froze to death to- 
 night, unless he knows enough to make a fire." 
 
 It was easy enough to follow the footprints to 
 the edge of the woods. But once there, the 
 brushwood and rocks were so thick that to fol- 
 low the marks one would have had to have the 
 eyes of an expert trailer. Dave and the farmer, 
 with the two boys, searched around for the best 
 part of a quarter of an hour, but without suc- 
 cess. 
 
 " He's slipped you, I guess," remarked the 
 farmer, shaking his head. " I thought he 
 would." 
 
 " Are there any trails running through the 
 woods in this vicinity? " 
 
 " The only trail I know of is the one running 
 to Bixter. There is a woods road used by the 
 lumbermen, but that is on the other side of the 
 railroad tracks." 
 
 The struggle with Ward Porton, followed by
 
 THE BASSWOOD FORTUNE 77 
 
 the run, had put Dave into quite a perspiration, 
 and in the depth of the woods he found it ex- 
 jceedingly cold. 
 
 " I'll have to keep on the move or I may get a 
 chill," he told the others, after another look 
 around. " I guess we had better give it up." 
 
 " Coin' to offer any reward for capturin' that 
 feller?" questioned the older of the two boys, 
 when the four were on their way back to the cow- 
 shed. 
 
 " Yes, I'll give a reward," answered our hero, 
 promptly. "If any of you can catch him and 
 have him held by the authorities I'll give you ten 
 dollars." 
 
 "Wow! Me for the ten dollars! " cried the 
 youth. " But say ! how'll I know that feller if I 
 do find him? " he questioned suddenly. 
 
 " That's right, Billy, you won't want to hold 
 the wrong man," put in the father, with a grin. 
 " If you did that, you might get into hot water," 
 and he chuckled. 
 
 " It will be easy to recognize him," answered 
 Dave. " Just take a good look at me. Well, 
 unfortunately, that other fellow resembles me very 
 closely. In fact, that's the reason I want to catch 
 him. That's how he got those goods I said he 
 had stolen. It's virtually stealing to get goods 
 in such an underhand manner." 
 
 " All right, I'll know the feller if he looks like
 
 78 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 you," said Billy. He turned to his younger 
 brother. " Say, Paul, what do you say if we go 
 into the woods later on and lay low for that fel- 
 ler? Maybe he'll come out this way after he 
 thinks the way is clear." 
 
 " Sure, I'll go with you," declared Paul. " If 
 we look around very carefully we may be able to 
 pick up his tracks somewhere." 
 
 It must be admitted that Dave felt much crest- 
 fallen when he bade good-bye to the farmer and 
 his sons, after having left them his name and ad- 
 dress. 
 
 The farmer had offered to drive him back to 
 Bixter, but our hero had stated that he would 
 rather walk and take the short cut through the 
 woods. When he arrived at the village he found 
 Roger wondering what had become of him. 
 
 "Well, did you catch Porton?" queried the 
 senator's son. 
 
 " I did and I didn't," answered Dave, with a 
 grim sort of smile. And he related the particu- 
 lars of what had occurred. 
 
 " Great hambones, Dave I you certainly have 
 had an experience ! " was Roger's comment. 
 "Let me look at that ear. I declare! it's quite 
 swollen. I hope it didn't hurt anything inside," 
 he added anxiously. 
 
 " It rings and aches a little, Roger ; but I don't 
 think it is seriously hurt."
 
 THE BASSWOOD FORTUNE 79 
 
 " How about your shoulder? " 
 
 " That feels a little sore, but that's all. I'll 
 soon get over it." 
 
 " And to think you got so close to capturing 
 him and then he got away 1 " was the sad comment 
 of the senator's son. " It does beat all how slip- 
 pery some of those rascals are." 
 
 " I'm living in hope that those farmer boys 
 will locate Porton," said Dave. " I promised 
 them a reward of ten dollars if they did so. 
 That's a lot of money for lads living around 
 here." 
 
 Now that he had rejoined Roger, and had got- 
 ten partly over the effects of his encounter with 
 Porton, Dave was rather loath to give up the 
 hunt. They managed to find a store where the 
 proprietor occasionally furnished lunches, and 
 there procured some sandwiches and hot choco- 
 late. Then they drove to Barnett by the regular 
 highway, and there took another look around for 
 the missing evil-doer. 
 
 " The boys have gone down to the woods to 
 look for him," announced the farmer when Dave 
 called on him once more. " If they learn any- 
 thing I'll let you know." 
 
 That evening found Dave and Roger back in 
 Crumville, where, of course, they had to relate 
 the details of what had happened. 
 
 " Oh, Dave, you must be more careful I " cried
 
 8o DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Jessie, after he had told of the encounter in the 
 woods. " That wicked fellow might kill you ! " and 
 she shuddered. 
 
 4 Yes indeed, you ought to be careful," said 
 Laura. " Why, he seems to be almost as bad as 
 Merwell and Jasniff were ! " 
 
 " So he is, Laura. And if I ever get the chance 
 I'll put him where they are in prison," an- 
 swered the brother grimly. 
 
 As was to be expected, Dave was quite worked 
 up over what had occurred, and that night he did 
 not sleep very well. Both his father and his sis- 
 ter insisted that he go to a physician and have his 
 ear examined. 
 
 " No damage done, so far as I can see," said 
 the doctor. " But you had better bathe it with 
 witch-hazel and keep it warm for a day or two." 
 
 The next day Dave settled down to his studies 
 as well as he was able. He hoped that word 
 might come in that Ward Porton had been cap- 
 tured, but in this he was disappointed. 
 
 " I think he'll steer clear of this neighborhood, 
 for a while at least," was Mr. Porter's comment. 
 
 " That's just my idea," added Dave's Uncle 
 Dunston. " He must know that a great many 
 swindled storekeepers and other people are on the 
 watch for him." 
 
 Dave had not seen Ben Basswood for several 
 days. On the following evening the son of the
 
 THE BASSWOOD FORTUNE 81 
 
 real estate dealer came hurrying over to the Wads- 
 worth mansion. 
 
 " We've got news about that Mr. Enos's 
 estate ! " cried Ben, as soon as he met Dave and 
 Roger. " It's the queerest thing you ever heard 
 of. Mother doesn't know what to make of it, 
 and I don't know what to make of it, either." 
 
 " Well, I hope it's a valuable estate if it is 
 coming to your father," said the senator's son. 
 
 " I don't know whether it is valuable or not, 
 and neither does father. He says in his telegram 
 it is certainly worth several thousand dollars, and 
 he doesn't know but that it may be worth a hun- 
 dred thousand dollars or more." 
 
 " A hundred thousand dollars ! " cried Laura, 
 who had come in to hear what Ben had to tell. 
 " Oh, Ben, that certainly is a fortune ! " 
 
 " Well, what does it consist of? " queried Dave. 
 " If it may be worth all the way from two or three 
 thousand dollars to a hundred thousand or more, 
 it must be mining stocks or something like that." 
 
 " No, it isn't in stocks or bonds or anything like 
 that." 
 
 " Then what in the world does the estate con- 
 sist of? " questioned our hero. 
 
 " Miniatures," answered Ben Basswood, sim- 
 ply.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 SOMETHING ABOUT MINIATURES 
 
 " MINIATURES?" came from all of Ben Bass- 
 wood's listeners in a chorus. 
 
 " Do you mean those little paintings that are 
 sometimes so valuable? " continued Laura. 
 
 "That's it," answered Ben. "I don't know 
 much about miniatures myself, but as soon as 
 mother and I heard about this queer fortune of 
 ours she asked the minister. You know he is 
 quite interested in art, and he told her that most 
 of these little miniatures, which are about the 
 size of a silver dollar or a small saucer, are usually 
 painted on ivory. Of course, some of them are 
 not so valuable, but others, especially those painted 
 by celebrated artists, are worth thousands of dol- 
 lars." 
 
 " And how many of these miniatures are there, 
 Ben?" asked Roger, with increased curiosity. 
 
 " Father didn't know exactly, but said they 
 would number at least fifty, and maybe seventy- 
 five." 
 
 " I suppose they are paintings of celebrated in- 
 82
 
 SOMETHING ABOUT MINIATURES 83 
 
 dividuals kings, queens, and like that?" was 
 Dave's comment. 
 
 " No, these miniatures, so father stated, are 
 made up almost entirely of the great fighters of 
 the world army and navy men, lieutenant-gen- 
 erals, admirals, and officers like that." 
 
 " Well, where in the world did this Mr. Enos 
 get money enough to buy such things?" asked 
 Jessie, who had followed Laura into the room. 
 
 " That's the queer part of it," answered the 
 real-estate dealer's son. " It seems, after Mr. 
 Enos and my father gave up business and sepa- 
 rated, Enos went South first to Texas and then 
 into Mexico. There he joined some men who 
 were opening up a gold mine. These men struck 
 it rich, and almost before he knew it Mr. Enos 
 was worth quite a lot of money. He had never 
 been very much of a business man being 
 wrapped up almost entirely in art and so he 
 did not know how to handle his money. He had 
 always had a liking for miniatures, so my father 
 stated, and he went in to gather this collection. 
 He didn't want any kings or queens or noted so- 
 ciety women, or anything like that, but he did want 
 every miniature ever painted of an army or a 
 navy fighter. Of course, my father doesn't know 
 all the particulars yet, but he has learned that Mr. 
 Enos put himself out a great deal to get hold of 
 certain miniatures, hunting for them all over Eu-
 
 84 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 rope and also in this country. He even went 
 down to South America to get miniatures of some 
 of their heroes, and also picked up several in 
 Mexico, and one or two in Texas." 
 
 " His hobby must certainly have had a strong 
 hold on him," was Dave's comment. " But still, 
 that sort of thing isn't unusual. I heard once of 
 a postage-stamp collector who went all over the 
 world collecting stamps, and finally gave up his 
 last dollar for a rare stamp when he actually 
 hadn't enough to eat. Of course, he was a mono- 
 maniac on the subject of stamp collecting." 
 
 " Well, my father has an idea that Mr. Enos 
 must have been a little queer over his miniature 
 collecting," returned Ben. " But even so, the 
 fact remains that he left his collection of minia- 
 tures behind him, and that they are now the prop- 
 erty of my father." 
 
 " And what is your father going to do with 
 them? " questioned Roger. 
 
 " He doesn't know yet. You see, the settling 
 of the estate is in a very mixed-up condition. He 
 is going to stay in Chicago for a week or so, and 
 then he'll probably bring the miniatures East with 
 him and have some art expert place a valuation 
 on them. After that I suppose he'll offer the 
 miniatures for sale to art galleries and rich col- 
 lectors." 
 
 This was about all Ben could tell concerning the
 
 SOMETHING ABOUT MINIATURES 85 
 
 fortune left to his parent. The young folks 
 talked the matter over for quite a while, and were 
 presently joined by the older people, including 
 Caspar Potts. 
 
 "Miniatures, eh?" said the genial old pro- 
 fessor, beaming mildly on Ben. " Very curious ! 
 Very curious indeed ! But some of them are won- 
 derful works of art, and bring very good prices. 
 I remember, when a young man, attending a sale 
 of art works, and a miniature of one of the Eng- 
 lish nobility was knocked down for a very large 
 sum, several thousand dollars if I remember 
 rightly." 
 
 " Well, it's very fine to get hold of a fortune, 
 no matter in what shape it is," observed Mr. 
 Wadsworth. " Just the same, Ben, I think your 
 father would prefer to have it in good stocks and 
 bonds," and he smiled faintly. 
 
 " No doubt of that, sir," was the prompt an- 
 swer. " But, as you say, miniatures are much 
 better than nothing. In fact, I'd rather take a 
 fortune in soft soap than not get it at all," and at 
 this remark there was a general laugh, 
 r " Oh, my gracious, Ben ! what would you do 
 } with a hundred thousand dollars' worth of soft 
 soap? " queried Laura, slyly. 
 
 " Oh, I'd go around and smooth down all my 
 friends and enemies with it," the boy returned, and 
 this caused another laugh.
 
 86 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Several more days passed, and during that time 
 Dave and Roger continued to devote themselves 
 to their studies. Mr. Ramsdell, the old civil 
 engineer, was on hand to tutor the two youths, 
 and he declared that they were making satisfac- 
 tory progress, and that he thought they would 
 pass the coming examinations without much trou- 
 ble. 
 
 " I wish I felt as confident about it as Mr. 
 Ramsdell does," observed our hero to his chum 
 one day. 
 
 " The same here, Dave," returned Roger. 
 " Every time I think of that examination I fairly 
 shake in my shoes. Passing at Oak Hall wasn't 
 a patch to passing as a civil engineer." 
 
 There had been another fall of snow, and now 
 sleighing was even better than before. Jessie 
 and Laura went out in company with their uncle, 
 and on their return both showed some excitement. 
 
 "Oh, Dave Roger what do you think!" 
 cried Laura. " I've got a letter from Belle Endi- 
 cott, and she is coming on from Star Ranch to 
 spend several weeks with me, and she is going to 
 bring along one of her old school chums, Cora 
 Dartmore. What do you think of that? Won't 
 it be fine?" 
 
 " It certainly will be, Laura," answered her 
 brother. " When do you expect them to ar- 
 rive?"
 
 SOMETHING ABOUT MINIATURES 87 
 
 "They are coming on immediately; so I sup- 
 pose they'll be here in a day or two if they are 
 following this letter." Laura looked inquiringly 
 at Dave. " What a pity Phil Lawrence isn't 
 here," she half whispered. 
 
 Both of them knew that during the visit of the 
 young folks to the Endicott ranch the shipowner's 
 son and Belle Endicott had become exceedingly 
 friendly. 
 
 " Well, I've invited Phil to come here," an- 
 swered Dave. " I guess all I've got to do is to 
 mention Belle to him and he'll be on the way with- 
 out delay." 
 
 " Then, by all means, send him word," re- 
 turned the sister. " Then we can make up a fine 
 little party, for we can pair Cora Dartmore off 
 with Ben." 
 
 A letter from Dave to Phil Lawrence was 
 dispatched that evening, and the next day came a 
 telegram from the shipowner's son stating that 
 he would come on that night. 
 
 " I knew the mention of Belle would fetch 
 Phil," remarked Dave to Roger, when they were 
 alone. " Phil certainly has got an eye on that 
 girl." 
 
 " Well, you can't blame him, Dave. Belle 
 Endicott is a splendid girl and comes from a 
 splendid family. I'll never forget how royally 
 they treated us when we were at Star Ranch."
 
 88 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Yes, we certainly did have one grand time, 
 in spite of what Link Merwell did to annoy us." 
 
 " Oh, drop Link Merwell I " Roger paused 
 for a moment and then went on : " Isn't it queer, 
 Dave, how just as soon as you get rid of one bad 
 egg like Merwell another bobs up like this Ward 
 Porton?" 
 
 " It is queer, Roger." Dave heaved a deep 
 sigh. " I wish I could get on the track of that 
 rascal." 
 
 " Haven't heard a thing, have you?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Well, you can be thankful that he hasn't been 
 around buying more goods in your name." 
 
 " Oh, I think I scared him pretty well when I 
 met him in the woods. He'll probably lay low 
 for a while at least until he thinks the field is 
 clear again. But I'd give a good deal if I never 
 saw or heard of him again," and Dave heaved 
 another sigh. 
 
 The next day the local paper came out with a 
 big article on the front page speaking about the 
 Basswood fortune. Mr. Basswood had returned 
 to town, and had been interviewed by a reporter, 
 and the sheet gave many of the particulars regard- 
 ing the wonderful miniatures left by Mr. Enos. 
 According to the paper they numbered sixty-eight 
 all told, and were worth from a hundred dollars 
 to five thousand dollars apiece. It was said that
 
 SOMETHING ABOUT MINIATURES 89 
 
 they had been placed in a safe deposit vault, be- 
 ing packed in several plush-lined cases. 
 
 The paper went on to state that Mr. Basswood 
 thought something of bringing them to Crum- 
 ville, where they might be judged by a committee 
 of experts in order to ascertain their real value. 
 The real-estate dealer was spoken of as a man 
 well-known in the community, and the article con- 
 cluded by stating that all the good people of 
 Crumville and vicinity would undoubtedly con- 
 gratulate him on his good fortune. 
 
 " They certainly piled it on a little thick," was 
 Dave's comment, after he and Roger had read 
 the article. " Just the same, I agree with the 
 paper the Basswoods richly deserve the for- 
 tune that has come to them." Dave had not for- 
 gotten those days, now long gone by, when he 
 had been a boy just out of the poorhouse living 
 with Caspar Potts, and how Ben Basswood had 
 been his one young friend during those trying 
 times. 
 
 As luck would have it, all the young visitors 
 bound for the Wadsworth mansion reached 
 Crumville on the same train. Of course, the 
 others went down to the depot to meet them, and 
 there was a grand jollification lasting several 
 minutes. 
 
 " My, Belle, how you have grown ! " declared 
 Laura, after the numerous kisses and handshakes
 
 90 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 had come to an end. " Isn't she growing tall, 
 Dave?" 
 
 " She certainly is," returned the brother. And 
 what they said was true Belle Endicott was now 
 tall and willowy, and exceedingly pretty to look 
 at, so much so in fact, that Phil Lawrence could 
 hardly take his eyes from her. 
 
 " It was mighty good of your folks to invite 
 me down," said the shipowner's son, when the 
 whole crowd was making its way over to where 
 the Wadsworth automobile and sleigh were stand- 
 ing. " I appreciate it, I assure you." 
 
 " Oh, my ! you don't suppose we could leave 
 you out, Phil, with Belle here," returned Dave, 
 as he gave his chum a nudge in the ribs. 
 
 " Good for you, Dave I " Phil blushed a lit- 
 tle, and then winked one eye. " How are mat- 
 ters going between you and Jessie? " 
 
 " Very well." 
 
 " Glad to hear it. And I suppose Roger has 
 that same old eagle eye of his on your sister 
 Laura?" 
 
 " Well, you don't find him talking very much 
 to anybody else when Laura is around," was 
 Dave's dry comment. 
 
 "Oh, we had a perfectly splendid journey!" 
 cried Belle Endicott. " And wasn't it the strang- 
 est thing that we should run into Phil at the
 
 SOMETHING ABOUT MINIATURES 91 
 
 junction where we had to change cars to get 
 here?" 
 
 " Must be some sort of mutual attraction," 
 cried Laura, mischievously. And then to hide 
 any possible confusion she added quickly to Cora 
 Dartmore: " I hope you enjoyed the trip also." 
 
 " Yes, I had a splendid time," answered the 
 newcomer, a girl not quite so tall as Belle but al- 
 most equally good-looking. " You see, this is 
 my first trip to the East. Oh, I know I am going 
 to have a perfectly lovely time ! " she added en- 
 thusiastically. 
 
 The young folks piled into the sleigh and auto- 
 mobile, and in a very short time arrived at the 
 Wadsworth mansion. Here Mrs. Wadsworth 
 was ready to receive the visitors, and her gracious 
 manner made them feel at home immediately. 
 
 Phil, as was his custom, insisted on rooming 
 with Roger and Dave, while Belle Endicott and 
 her chum were made comfortable in a room next 
 to those occupied by Jessie and Laura. 
 
 " I don't know what I'm going to do with you 
 boys," said Mrs. Wadsworth, laughingly. " You 
 always bunk in as thick as fleas." 
 
 " We got used to that at Oak Hall," returned 
 Dave. " Besides that, the room is a large one 
 with two single beds in it, and we can easily put 
 in a cot ; " and so it was settled.
 
 92 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " My, but I'm mighty glad to be with you two 
 fellows again ! " declared the shipowner's son, 
 when the youths were left to themselves. " It 
 seems like a touch of old times." 
 
 " So it does," returned Roger, smiling broadly. 
 
 " From now on I suppose we won't be able to 
 get together as much as we used to," said Dave; 
 " so while we are together let us make the most 
 of it." 
 
 " So say we all of us ! " cried Phil and Roger, 
 gaily.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 THE BIG SLEIGHING-PARTY 
 
 OF course, even with so many visitors to enter- 
 tain, Dave and Roger could not neglect their 
 studies ; so it was arranged that every day the pair 
 should apply themselves diligently to their books 
 and to what their tutor had to say from eight 
 o'clock until twelve. Then lunch would be had 
 and the young folks could start out to enjoy them- 
 selves in one way or another. 
 
 On one occasion the three boys went hunting 
 with Dunston Porter in the woods back of Crum- 
 ville. They had a most delightful time, and 
 brought back quite a bagful of rabbits, as well as 
 several squirrels, and also a plump partridge, the 
 bird being brought down by Dave. 
 
 " And it was a fine shot, Davy," remarked his 
 Uncle Dunston in speaking about the partridge. 
 " As fine a shot on the wing as I ever saw." 
 
 Crumville boasted of a good-sized pond; and 
 from this the snow had been cleared, giving the 
 young folks an opportunity for skating, which 
 every one of them enjoyed to the utmost. They 
 also attended a concert given in the church one 
 
 93
 
 94 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 evening, and even went to a moving-picture show 
 which had recently been opened in the town. 
 
 The moving pictures interested the two girls 
 from the Far West more than anything else, for, 
 so far, they had had little opportunity to take in 
 such a form of entertainment. 
 
 During those days Dave was continually on the 
 watch for some information concerning Ward 
 Porton, but no word of any kind came in, and he 
 finally concluded that the rascal had left that vic- 
 inity. 
 
 " Most likely he thought things were growing 
 too hot for him," was Phil's comment, when the 
 boys talked the matter over. " He probably real- 
 ized that if he continued to go to the stores and 
 get goods the way he did he would be caught 
 sooner or later." 
 
 Ben Basswood often went out with the others, 
 pairing off, as had been expected by Laura, with 
 Cora Dartmore. This left Belle Endicott more 
 or less in Phil's care, for which the shipowner's 
 son was grateful. 
 
 " Yes, my father has brought the Enos minia- 
 tures here," answered Ben, one day, in reply to a 
 question from Dave. " He had them in a safe 
 deposit vault first, but he concluded that they 
 would probably be just as safe at our place. You 
 know, he has a big safe of his own in which he 
 keeps all his real estate documents." Mr. Bass-
 
 THE BIG SLEIGHING-PARTY 95 
 
 wood's office was in a wing of his house, and all 
 the boys had visited it and knew that it contained 
 a massive steel affair about five feet square and 
 probably four feet deep. 
 
 " They ought to be safe there, Ben," returned 
 Dave. " I don't see what a thief could do with 
 miniatures, and I don't believe your father's of- 
 fice is liable to catch fire." 
 
 " And that safe must be fire-proof," put in 
 Roger. 
 
 " I think it is fire-proof," returned the real 
 estate dealer's son. " And I guess you are right 
 about thieves they would rather steal money 
 or jewelry or silverware, or something like that, 
 every time." 
 
 Used to a life in the open air, and to riding and 
 driving, the sleighing in and around Crumville 
 proved to be a constant delight to Belle and Cora. 
 As a consequence, it was arranged by the boys that 
 the whole crowd should go out in a large sleigh, 
 to be procured from the local livery stable and to 
 be drawn by four reliable horses. 
 
 " We'll put a lot of straw in the bottom of the 
 sleigh and make it a sort of straw-ride," declared 
 Dave. 
 
 " And just to think ! it will be moonlight ! " 
 cried his sister. " Won't that be the finest ever 1 " 
 
 " It certainly will be! " came from Jessie, her 
 eyes beaming. But then she turned suddenly to
 
 96 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Dave, her face clouding a little. " Who is go- 
 ing to drive you ? " 
 
 " No, we're going to have a regular man from 
 the livery stable," he answered. And then as his 
 sister turned away, he added in a low tone: " I 
 didn't want to spend my time on the horses I 
 wanted to spend it on you." 
 
 " Oh, Dave! " murmured the girl, and blushed. 
 Then she gave him a look that meant a great deal. 
 
 The sleighing-party was to start off about two 
 o'clock the next afternoon, and did not expect to 
 return to Crumville until well towards midnight. 
 They were to go to the town of Lament, about 
 seventeen miles away. A new restaurant had 
 been opened in this town, in connection with the 
 hotel, and Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth had stopped 
 there for a meal and had pronounced it excellent, 
 the food being of first-class quality and an orches- 
 tra being present to liven matters up. Ben had 
 thought at first that he could not accompany the 
 others, his father having been taken sick; but as 
 Mr. Basswood's illness was not of a serious na- 
 ture, Mrs. Basswood, knowing how disappointed 
 the youth would be, urged that he go along any- 
 how. 
 
 " Your father is resting quite comfortably," she 
 told Ben ; " and the doctor says he will be around 
 again inside of a week, so you may as well take in 
 this sleighride while you have the chance."
 
 THE BIG SLEIGHING-PARTY 97 
 
 " But there are those miniatures, mother," 
 returned Ben. " Wasn't father going to let Mr. 
 Wadsworth see them?" 
 
 " Mr. Wadsworth is going to have several art 
 critics at his home in a day or two, and then your 
 father is to let all of them examine the minia- 
 tures carefully to see if he can get an idea of what 
 they are worth. But you need not bother your 
 head about that. If Mr. Wadsworth sends word 
 that the critics have arrived at his house I'll take 
 care of the matter." And so this was arranged, 
 and Ben went off to prepare for the sleigh-ride. 
 
 At the appointed hour, the big sleigh came dash- 
 ing up to the door of the Wadsworth mansion. 
 All of the young folks, including Ben, were on 
 hand and ready for the trip, each bundled up well 
 for protection against the cold. The sun had 
 been shining in the morning, but towards noon it 
 had gone under a heavy bank of clouds. 
 
 " Looks a little to me like more snow," ob- 
 served Dunston Porter, who was present to see 
 them depart. " I shouldn't be surprised to see 
 you coming back in the midst of another fall." 
 
 " Oh, Uncle Dunston, don't say that ! " cried 
 Laura. " We want the moon to shine this even- 
 ing." 
 
 " Well, it will shine, Laura," returned the 
 uncle, with a wink of the eye. " It always does 
 shine, even when we don't see it," and then he
 
 98 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 dodged when she laughingly picked up a chunk 
 of snow and threw it at him. 
 
 Into the big sleigh piled the girls, and the boys 
 quickly followed. All the back seats had been 
 removed, and they nestled down in the thick straw 
 and covered themselves with numerous robes. 
 
 " Look out that you don't jounce off when you 
 go over a bump," cried Dunston Porter to Phil 
 and Belle, who sat at the back of the turnout. 
 
 " Oh, we'll hold on, don't worry! " cried Phil. 
 
 " I'm used to hanging on," came from the west- 
 ern girl, quickly. " Riding in this sleigh won't be 
 half as bad as hanging on to the back of a half- 
 broken broncho." 
 
 " J guess that's right, too," answered Dave's 
 uncle. " Just the same, you take care. I don't 
 want you young folks to have any accidents on this 
 trip." 
 
 " I trust you all have a good time," came 
 benevolently from old Caspar Potts, as he gazed 
 at them and rubbed his hands. " My, my ! how 
 I used to enjoy sleighing when I was a young man ! 
 And how many years ago that seems ! " he added 
 with a little sigh. 
 
 " Don't stay any later than midnight," warned 
 Mrs. Wadsworth. 
 
 " We'll be back by that time unless something 
 unusual turns up," returned Dave. He turned to
 
 THE BIG SLEIGHING-PARTY 99 
 
 the others in the sleigh. " Everybody fixed and 
 ready?" 
 
 " All ready ! " came back the answering cry. 
 
 " Then we're off." Dave turned to the driver, 
 a middle-aged colored man. " Let her go, 
 Wash." 
 
 " Yassir," responded Washington Bones, with 
 a grin. " Giddap ! " he called to his horses. 
 And with a crack of the whip and a grand flourish 
 the turnout left the front of the Wadsworth man- 
 sion and whirled out on to the broad highway lead- 
 ing to Lamont. 
 
 The four horses were used to working together, 
 and they trotted along in fine style, causing many 
 a passer-by to stop and gaze at the team and the 
 gay load of young people in admiration. The 
 horses were well equipped with bells, and each 
 of the youths had provided himself with a good- 
 sized horn, so that noise was not lacking as they 
 dashed along past the stores and houses of Crum- 
 ville. Then they came out on the Lamont road, 
 where the sleighing was almost perfect. 
 
 " I hope we don't have any such adventure as 
 we had at Conover's Hill," remarked Jessie to 
 Dave while they were spinning on their way. 
 
 " I don't think these livery stable horses will 
 run away," he returned. " They are used every 
 day, and that makes them less frisky than our
 
 ioo DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 horses, which sometimes are in the stable for a 
 week. Besides that, Wash Bones is one of the 
 most careful drivers around here. If he does 
 anything, he'll let the team hold back on him 
 rather than urge them to do their best." 
 
 On and on flew the sleigh, the young folks chat- 
 ting gaily and occasionally bursting out into a 
 verse of song. 
 
 "Let's give 'em our old Oak Hall song!" 
 cried Dave, presently. 
 
 " That's it 1 " came eagerly from his two chums, 
 and a moment later they started up the old school 
 song, which was sung to the tune of Auld Lang 
 Syne, the girls joining in: 
 
 " Oak Hall we never shall forget, 
 
 No matter where we roam; 
 It is the very best of schools, 
 
 To us it's just like home! 
 Then give three cheers, and let them ring 
 
 Throughout this world so wide, 
 To let the people know that we 
 
 Elect to here abide ! " 
 
 " Say, that takes me back to the old days at 
 Oak Hall," remarked Roger, when the singing 
 had come to an end. " My, but those were the 
 great days 1 " 
 
 " I don't believe we'll ever see any better, 
 Roger," answered Dave.
 
 THE BIG SLEIGHING-PARTY 101 
 
 The sleighing party had still three miles to go 
 when suddenly Laura uttered a cry. 
 
 " It's snowing ! " 
 
 "So it is!" burst out Belle. "What a 
 shame ! " 
 
 " Maybe it won't amount to much," said Ben. 
 " It often snows just a little, you know." 
 
 The first flakes to fall were large, and dropped 
 down lazily from the sky. But soon it grew 
 darker, and in a short time the snow was coming 
 down so thickly that it almost blotted out the 
 landscape on all sides. 
 
 "Some fall this!" exclaimed Phil. "Looks 
 now as if it were going to be a re'gular storm." 
 
 " O dear ! and I wanted it to be moonlight to- 
 night ! " wailed Laura. 
 
 Dave was peering around and looking anx- 
 iously at the heavy, leaden sky. 
 
 " If this is going to be a heavy storm, maybe 
 it might be as well for us to turn back," he an- 
 nounced. 
 
 " Turn back? " came from several of the 
 others. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " What for, Dave? " questioned Phil. " I don't 
 think a little snow is going to hurt us. Maybe it 
 will help to keep us warm," he added with a grin. 
 
 " We don't want to get snowed in, Phil." 
 
 " Oh, let's go on ! " interposed Roger. " Even
 
 102 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 if it does keep on snowing it won't get very heavy 
 in the next couple of hours. We can hurry up 
 with our dinner at Lamont and be home again 
 before it gets very deep." 
 
 " All right, I'm willing if the rest are," re- 
 turned Dave, who did not wish to throw " cold 
 water " on their sport. " Lamont it is ! Go 
 ahead, Wash, we want to get there just as soon 
 as possible." 
 
 On they plunged, the snow coming down thicker 
 and thicker every minute. Then, just as the out- 
 skirts of the town were gained, they heard a curi- 
 ous humming sound. 
 
 "Oh, Dave! What is that?" queried Jessie. 
 
 " It's the wind coming up," he answered. 
 " Listen! "- 
 
 All did so and noted that the humming sound 
 was increasing. Then the wind came tearing 
 through the woods and down the highway with 
 great force, sending the snow in driving sheets into 
 their faces. 
 
 " My gracious, this looks as if it were going to 
 be a blizzard! " gasped Phil, who had started up 
 to see what the sound meant. " We had better 
 get under some kind of cover just as soon as pos- 
 sible." 
 
 " We'll be up to dat hotel in anudder minute," 
 bawled Washington Bones, to make himself heard
 
 FROM UNDER THE SNOW AND THE ROBES CRAWLED THK BOYS AND 
 
 THK GIRLS Page 103.
 
 THE BIG SLEIGHING-PARTY 103 
 
 above the sudden fury of the elements. "Say! 
 dis suah is some snowsto'm ! " he added. 
 
 Again he cracked his whip, and once more the 
 four horses ploughed along as well as they were 
 able. They had to face both the wind and the 
 snow, and these combined made progress slow. 
 By the time the party came into sight of the hotel 
 with the restaurant attached, the wind was blow- 
 ing almost a gale, and the snow seemed to be com- 
 ing down in driving chunks. 
 
 " Drive us around to the side porch," ordered 
 Dave. " It will be a little more sheltered there." 
 
 " Yassir," came from the colored driver; and 
 soon they had come to a halt at the spot men- 
 tioned. From under the snow and robes crawled 
 the boys and the girls and lost no time in running 
 into the hotel. Then the colored man drove the 
 turnout down to the stables. 
 
 " My I did you ever see such a storm 1 " was 
 Roger's comment. " And how quickly it came 
 up!" 
 
 " If it isn't a blizzard, it is next door to it," 
 returned Dave. And then he added quickly: " It 
 looks to me as if we were going to be snow- 
 bound!"
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 HELD BY THE BLIZZARD 
 
 " SNOWBOUND I " The cry came from several 
 of the party. 
 
 '* Yes, snowbound, if this heavy fall continues," 
 answered Dave. " Just see how the chunks of 
 snow are coming down, and how the wind is driv- 
 ing them along." 
 
 It was certainly an interesting sight, and all the 
 young people watched it for some time before they 
 took off their wraps and prepared to sit down to 
 the meal, which had been ordered over the tele- 
 phone before leaving Crumville. 
 
 " My, just listen to the wind ! " was Phil's com- 
 ment. " You'd think it was a regular nor'- 
 wester." 
 
 " If it keeps on it certainly will be a blizzard," 
 put in Roger. " In one way we can be glad we 
 are under shelter, even though we are a good many 
 miles from home." 
 
 " Yes. And snow or no snow, I move that we 
 sit down to dinner," continued Phil. " We can't 
 go back while it is snowing and blowing like this, 
 
 104
 
 HELD BY THE BLIZZARD 105 
 
 so we might as well make the best of our stay 
 here." 
 
 After having ordered a meal for the colored 
 man, which was served in another part of the 
 hotel, Dave joined his friends in the restaurant. 
 A special table had been placed in a cozy corner, 
 and that was decorated with a large bouquet of 
 hothouse flowers, with a smaller bouquet at each 
 plate. 
 
 " Oh, how lovely! " burst out Jessie, when she 
 saw the flowers. 
 
 " You folks in the East certainly know how to 
 spread yourselves," was Cora Dartmore's com- 
 ment. " Just look at those beautiful flowers and 
 then at the fierce snowstorm outside." 
 
 41 Oh, let us forget the storm ! " cried Laura. 
 " It will be time enough to think about that when 
 we have to start for home." 
 
 " That's the truth 1 " answered her brother, 
 gaily. " Everybody fall to and do as much dam- 
 age to the bill-of-fare as possible ; " and this re- 
 mark caused a general smile. 
 
 Then the first course was served and soon all of 
 the party were eating and chatting with the great- 
 est of satisfaction. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the blizzard for such it 
 really was continued to increase in violence. 
 The wind tore along through the woods and 
 down the streets of the town, bringing with it first
 
 106 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 the heavy chunks of snow and then some hard 
 particles not unlike salt in appearance. The fine 
 snow seemed to creep in everywhere, and, driven 
 by the wind, formed drifts which kept increasing 
 in size steadily. 
 
 After the first course of raw oysters, came some 
 cream of celery soup with relishes, and then some 
 roast turkey with cranberry sauce and vegetables. 
 After that the young folks had various kinds of 
 dessert with hot chocolate, and then nuts with 
 raisins. 
 
 " What a grand dinner ! " remarked Belle, when 
 they were finishing. " Dave, you certainly know 
 how to order the good things." 
 
 " Oh, I had Roger and Phil to help me on that," 
 returned our hero. " Trust them to order up the 
 good things to eat." 
 
 " And trust Dave to help us get away with 
 them," sang out the senator's son, gaily. 
 
 " There is only one time when those fellows 
 can't eat," retorted Dave. " That is when they 
 are asleep." 
 
 At a small table not far away from where the 
 young people were seated, sat an elderly man and 
 a lady. 
 
 , " There is Doctor Renwick and his wife," said 
 Laura, when the meal was finished. " They must 
 have been sleighing, too. I am going to speak to 
 them." For Dr. Renwick came from Crumville,
 
 HELD BY THE BLIZZARD 107 
 
 and had often attended the Porter family, as well 
 as the Wadsworths. 
 
 " We are staying here for a few days," said 
 Mrs. Renwick to Dave's sister, after they had 
 shaken hands. " You see, the proprietor of this 
 hotel and restaurant is my cousin." 
 
 " Oh, I didn't know that," said Laura. " They 
 certainly have a very nice place here, and the din- 
 ner we had was just too lovely for anything." 
 
 " Are you folks calculating to drive back to 
 Crumville now?" questioned Dr. Renwick. 
 
 " That was our expectation," replied Dave, 
 who had followed his sister; " but it looks pretty 
 fierce outside, doesn't it?" 
 
 " I should say so, Porter. Just listen to that 
 wind, and see how it is driving the snow! I 
 shouldn't like to face it for any great distance." 
 
 The others came up, and all the strangers were 
 introduced to the doctor and his wife, and then 
 the entire party left the restaurant and entered 
 the parlor of the hotel, from the windows of 
 which they could watch the storm. 
 
 "It certainly is fierce!" remarked Phil, as 
 they gazed at the furious onslaught of the ele- 
 ments. 
 
 The wind was blowing as hard as ever, rattling 
 the windows and sending the snow against the 
 panes as if it were so much hail. It was impos- 
 sible to see across the street, and, although La-
 
 io8 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 mont boasted of a limited electric light service, 
 all the lights upon the street corners were out. 
 
 " This storm is going to break down a lot of 
 the wires," announced Roger. 
 
 " What do you think about our trying to get 
 back to Crumville? " questioned Dave. 
 
 " To tell the truth, Dave, I don't see how we 
 are going to make it. You don't want to face 
 that wind, do you? And going back we'd have 
 to head into it nearly all the way." 
 
 " I think I'll go outside and have a talk with 
 the driver," answered our hero, and went out 
 accompanied by Roger and Ben. 
 
 " I'd like to get home on account of my father's 
 being sick," announced the real estate dealer's 
 son. " Otherwise I would just as lief stay here 
 until to-morrow." 
 
 " That's all right enough for us boys," put in 
 Roger, " but how about the girls? " 
 
 " We can leave them in Mrs. Renwick's care 
 if we have to," announced Dave. " Laura and 
 Jessie know her very well, and I am sure she'll 
 be only too glad to play the chaperon. She's a 
 very nice lady, and the doctor is a very fine man." 
 
 They found that Washington Bones had had 
 his supper and had returned to the stable to feed 
 his horses. When they questioned the colored 
 man about getting back to Crumville he shrugged 
 his shoulders and shook his head.
 
 HELD BY THE BLIZZARD 109 
 
 " Might try it if you say so," he said; " but it 
 ain't gwine to be no easy job, boss, and we may 
 git stuck somewheres so as you cain't git to not 
 even a house. Then we might all be froze to 
 death." 
 
 " What do you think it is, Wash, a blizzard? " 
 questioned Roger. 
 
 " Dat's jest what dis is, boss. And my opin- 
 ion is it's gwine to be a heap sight wo'se before it 
 gits bettah," added the driver. 
 
 " I guess you're right there," answered Dave. 
 " And that's one reason I think we ought to try 
 to get back to Crumville. But just the same, I'd 
 hate to get stuck somewhere along the road, as he 
 says. We boys might be able to get out of it 
 along with Wash, but we couldn't expect the girls 
 to do any tramping in such deep snow and in such 
 a wind." 
 
 There was an old-fashioned covered walk from 
 the hotel to the stables, so that the boys in going 
 from one place to the other had not had to expose 
 themselves to the elements. Now, to get an idea 
 of how bad the storm was, Dave walked out as far 
 as the street, followed by his chums. 
 
 " Great Caesar's ghost ! " puffed the senator's 
 son, as they stood where they could get the full 
 benefit of the storm. " This is frightful, Dave ! 
 Why, it would be nothing short of suicide to try 
 to -go anywhere! "
 
 i io DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " I I guess we h-had better g-go in 
 and telephone that we c-c-can't come ! " panted 
 Ben; and then lost no time in returning to the 
 stable, followed by the others. 
 
 They had been outside less than five minutes, 
 yet the fury of the blizzard had nearly taken 
 their breath away. 
 
 " We won't attempt it, Wash ; so you can make 
 arrangements to stay here to-night," announced 
 Dave. He turned to his chums. " Come on 
 back to the hotel, and we will do what telephoning 
 is necessary." 
 
 They returned to the parlor, and there the 
 situation was explained to the girls and to Dr. 
 Renwick and his wife. 
 
 " Oh, you mustn't think of trying to get back 
 to-night! " cried the doctor's wife, quickly. 
 " There are plenty of vacant rooms here, and I'll 
 see to it that my cousin gives you good accommo- 
 dations." 
 
 " And will you look after the young ladies, Mrs. 
 Renwick?" questioned Dave. 
 
 " I certainly will, Dave," she answered gra- 
 ciously. " Don't let that worry you in the least. 
 I'll be glad to take charge of such a nice family," 
 and she smiled sweetly at all the girls. 
 
 u We are going to telephone to Crumville and 
 let the folks.know how matters stand," announced
 
 HELD BY THE BLIZZARD in 
 
 Ben ; and then he and Dave hurried to where there 
 was a telephone booth. 
 
 Here, however, they met with no success so far 
 as getting into communication with their folks at 
 Crumville was concerned. It took a long time to 
 get Central, and then it was announced that the 
 storm had taken down all the wires running to 
 Crumville and beyond. One wire that was down 
 was still connected, but, try their best, neither of 
 the boys was able to understand anything of what 
 was said over it. Then this line snapped; and 
 that ended all efforts to send any messages. 
 
 " I wish they knew we were safe," said Dave. 
 " Now that they don't know it they may worry, 
 thinking we are snowed in somewhere along the 
 road." 
 
 " Well, we've got to make the best of it," an- 
 swered Ben. " I did hope to speak to mother, 
 to ask her how father was, and to let her know 
 that we were all right." 
 
 " It looks to me, Ben, as if this blizzard might 
 last for several days or a week." 
 
 " So it does. But sometimes these storms clear 
 away almost as rapidly as they come." 
 
 The two youths returned to the others and an- 
 nounced the failure of their effort to get into com- 
 munication with Crumville. This was dishearten- 
 ing to Laura and Jessie, but as it could not be
 
 ii2 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 helped the girls said they would make the best 
 of it. Then Laura and Dave went off with the 
 doctor and his wife, to obtain accommodations 
 for the whole party. 
 
 It was learned that Dr. Renwick had a fine 
 apartment on the second floor, and that there were 
 two rooms adjoining which were vacant. These 
 were turned over to the four girls. The boys 
 were accommodated with two rooms on the floor 
 above. 
 
 " Not quite as good as they might be," observed 
 Dave, when he and his chums inspected their 
 rooms, which were directly under the roof of the 
 country hotel. " But they are much better than 
 nothing, and, as the sailors say, * any port in a 
 storm.' " 
 
 " Oh, this is plenty good enough," returned 
 Phil. " But I am glad the girls are on the floor 
 below. Those rooms are much better than these." 
 
 As the boys had no baggage, there was nothing 
 for them to arrange in the rooms which had been 
 assigned to them, so after a hasty look around 
 they started to go downstairs again, to rejoin the 
 girls in the parlor. As the boys passed the room 
 next to the one which Dave and Ben had elected 
 to occupy, the door of the apartment was opened 
 on a crack. Then, as the youths left the corridor 
 to descend the stairs, the door was opened a little 
 wider, and a young man peered out cautiously.
 
 HELD BY THE BLIZZARD 113 
 
 " Well, what do you know about that I " mut- 
 tered the young man to himself, after the four 
 chums had disappeared. " Right here at this 
 hotel, and going to occupy the room next to the 
 one I've got! Could you beat it? " 
 
 The young man was Ward Porton.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 TIM CRAPSEY'S PLOT 
 
 "WHO are you talking to, Port?" questioned 
 a man who was resting on the bed in the room 
 which Ward Porton occupied. 
 
 " Didn't I tell you not to call me by that name, 
 Crapsey?" returned the former moving-picture 
 actor, as he closed the door softly and locked it. 
 
 "What's the difference when we're alone?" 
 grumbled the man called Crapsey, as he shifted 
 himself and rubbed his eyes. 
 
 " It may make a whole lot of difference," an- 
 swered Porton. " I've just made a big discov- 
 ery." 
 
 " A discovery? " The man sat up on the edge 
 of the bed. " Discovered how to git hold of some 
 money, I hope. We need it." 
 
 " You remember my telling you about that fel- 
 low who looks like me the fellow named Dave 
 Porter?" went on the former moving-picture 
 actor. " Well, he's here in this hotel. And he 
 and three of his chums have the rooms next to this 
 
 one." 
 
 114
 
 TIM CRAPSEY'S PLOT 115 
 
 " You don't mean it? " and now Tim Crapsey 
 showed his interest. " Did they see you? " 
 
 " Not much ! And I don't intend that they 
 shall," was the decided reply. 
 
 " Did you know the other fellows? " 
 
 " Yes, they are the regular bunch Porter travels 
 with. I've got to keep out of sight of all of them. 
 From what they said they are evidently snowbound 
 here on account of this blizzard, so there is no 
 telling how long they will stay," added the former 
 moving-picture actor in disgust. " Confound the 
 luck! I suppose I'll have to stay in this room a 
 prisoner and let you get my meals for me." 
 
 " This fellow's being here may not be such a 
 bad thing for you," remarked Tim Crapsey. 
 " Maybe you can impersonate him and touch the 
 hotel clerk for a loan of ten or twenty dollars." 
 
 " I am not going to run too many risks not 
 with so many of those fellows on hand. If I had 
 only Porter to deal with it might be different," re- 
 turned Ward Porton. " Just the same, I'm going 
 to keep my eyes open, and if I can get the best 
 of him in any way you can bet your boots I'll 
 do it." 
 
 In the meanwhile Dave and his chums had re- 
 joined the girls and Dr. Renwick and his wife in 
 the parlor of the hotel, and there all made them- 
 selves as much at home as possible. There was 
 jquite a gathering of snowbound people, and a good
 
 ii6 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 deal of the talk was on the question of how long 
 the blizzard might last. 
 
 " Some of the people here are going to try to 
 get over to Pepsico," said one man. " That is 
 only a mile and a quarter from here, and they are 
 hoping to get the train that goes through that 
 place about one o'clock in the morning." 
 
 " The train may be snowbound, too," returned 
 another; " and if it is those folks will have their 
 hard tramp to Pepsico for nothing." 
 
 Outside it was still snowing and blowing as 
 furiously as ever. All the street lights were out, 
 and so were the electric lights in the hotel, so that 
 the hostelry had to depend on its old-time lamps 
 for its illumination. But the lamps had been dis- 
 carded only the year before so it was an easy mat- 
 ter to bring them into use again. 
 
 Not to keep the good doctor and his wife up 
 too long, Laura told Mrs. Renwick that they 
 would retire whenever she felt like it. About 
 half past ten good-nights were said and the girls 
 went upstairs with the lady, followed presently by 
 the doctor. The boys remained below to take an- 
 other peep out at the storm. 
 
 " It's a regular old-fashioned blizzard," an- 
 nounced Dave. 
 
 " And no telling how long we'll be stalled here," 
 added Roger. "Quite an adventure, isn't it?" 
 and he smiled faintly.
 
 TIM CRAPSEY'S PLOT 117 
 
 " Well, we can be thankful that we weren't 
 caught somewhere along the road," broke in Phil. 
 
 " That's it! " came from Ben. " Why, if we 
 had been caught in some out-of-the-way place, we 
 might be frozen to death trying to find some 
 shelter." 
 
 The two rooms which the chums occupied on 
 the third floor of the hotel were connected, and 
 before they went to bed the youths all drifted 
 into the one which was to be occupied by Dave and 
 Ben, for here it was slightly warmer than in the 
 other room, and the lamp gave a better light. It 
 seemed good to be together like this, especially on 
 a night when the elements were raging so furiously 
 outside. The former school chums talked of 
 many things of days at Oak Hall, of bitter 
 rivalries on the diamond, the gridiron, and on the 
 boating course, and of the various friends and ene- 
 mies they had made. 
 
 " The only one of our enemies who seems to 
 have made a man of himself is Gus Plum," re- 
 marked Dave. " He has settled down to business 
 and I understand he is doing very well." 
 
 " Well, Nat Poole is doing fairly well," re- 
 turned Ben. " I understand his father owns stock 
 in that bank, so they'll probably boost Nat along 
 as rapidly as his capabilities will permit." 
 
 " Nat was never the enemy that Plum and Jas- 
 niff and Merwell were! " cried Phil. " He was
 
 ii8 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 one of the weak-minded kind who thought it was 
 smart to follow the others in their doings." 
 
 " This storm is going to interfere with our 
 studies, Dave," announced Roger. " Not but 
 what I'm willing enough to take a few days' rest," 
 he added with a grin. 
 
 " We'll have to make up for it somehow, 
 Roger," returned our hero. " We've got to 
 pass that examination with flying colors." 
 
 " I'm afraid this storm will interfere with the 
 art critics who were to look at those miniatures," 
 put in Ben. " Oh, dear 1 I wish we knew just 
 what those little paintings were worth." 
 
 " I hope they prove to be worth at least a hun- 
 dred thousand dollars," said Phil. " That will 
 be a nice sum of money for you folks, Ben." 
 
 " Right you are ! " answered the son of the real 
 estate dealer. 
 
 The youths were tremendously interested in 
 the miniatures, and a discussion of them ensued 
 which lasted the best part of half an hour. Ben 
 described some of the pictures as well as he was 
 able, and told of how they were packed, and of 
 how they had been placed in the Basswood safe, 
 waiting for the critics that Mr. Wadsworth had 
 promised to bring from the city to his home to in- 
 spect them. 
 
 " Well, I suppose we might as well turn in,"
 
 TIM CRAPSEY'S PLOT 119 
 
 said Roger, presently, as he gave a yawn. " I 
 must confess I'm tired." 
 
 " Come ahead, I'm willing," announced 'Phil; 
 and then he and the senator's son retired to the 
 next room. 
 
 " O pshaw! what do you suppose I did?" ex- 
 claimed Dave to Ben, while the pair were undress- 
 ing. " I left my overcoat and my cap on the rack 
 in the lower hallway. I should have brought them 
 up here." 
 
 " I did the same thing," answered his chum. 
 " I guess they'll be safe enough. All the folks 
 in this hotel seem to be pretty nice people." 
 
 " I don't suppose there are any blizzard pictures 
 among those miniatures, Ben? " observed Dave, 
 with a laugh just before turning in. 
 
 " There is a picture of one army officer in a big, 
 shaggy uniform which looks as if it might be worn 
 because of cold weather," answered Ben; and then, 
 as the miniatures were very close to his heart, the 
 youth began to talk about them again. 
 
 This discussion lasted for another quarter of 
 an hour, after which the chums retired and were 
 soon deep in the land of slumber. 
 
 Although none of our friends knew it, every 
 word of their conversation had been listened to 
 eagerly by Ward Porton and the man with him. 
 They had noted carefully all that had been said
 
 120 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 about the Basswood fortune, and about the minia- 
 tures having been placed in the real estate dealer's 
 safe awaiting inspection by the critics who were 
 to visit Mr. Wadsworth at his mansion. Both 
 had noted also what Dave had said about leaving 
 his overcoat and his cap on the rack on the lower 
 floor of the hotel. 
 
 " A hundred thousand dollars' worth of minia- 
 tures I " murmured Tim Crapsey, after the sounds 
 in the adjoining room had ceased. " Say, that's 
 some fortune, sure enough 1 " 
 
 " But pictures I Humph, what good are 
 they? " returned Ward Porton, in disgust. " I'd 
 rather have my fortune in something a little more 
 usable." 
 
 " Oh, pictures are not so bad, and miniatures 
 can be handled very easily," answered Tim Crap- 
 sey. His small eyes began to twinkle. " Jest 
 you let me git my hands on 'em, and I'll show you 
 wot I kin do. I know a fence in New York who'll 
 take pictures jest as quick as anything else." 
 
 " And what would he do with them after he 
 got them? " questioned Ward Porton curiously. 
 
 " Oh, he'd ship 'em 'round to different places 
 after he got 'em doctored up, and git rid of 'em 
 somehow to art dealers and collectors. Of course, 
 he might not be able to git full value for 'em; but 
 if they're worth a hundred thousand dollars he 
 might git ten or twenty thousand, and that ain't
 
 TIM CRAPSEY'S PLOT 121 
 
 bad, is it?" and Tim Crapsey looked at Ward 
 Porton suggestively. 
 
 " Easy enough to talk, but how are you going to 
 get your hands on those miniatures?" demanded 
 the former moving-picture actor, speaking, how- 
 ever, in a low tone, so that none of those in the 
 next room might hear him. 
 
 " I jest got an idee," croaked Tim Crapsey. 
 He was a man who consumed a large amount of 
 liquor, and his voice showed it. " Didn't you hear 
 wot that chap said about leaving his coat and hat 
 downstairs? If you could fool them shopkeepers 
 the way you did, then, if you had that feller's hat 
 and coat, and maybe fixed up a bit to look like that 
 photograph you had of him, you might be able to 
 go to the Basswood house and fool the folks 
 there." 
 
 " I don't quite understand? " 
 
 " I mean this way : We could go to Crumville 
 and you could watch your chance, and when the 
 coast was clear you could git a rig and drive over 
 to the Basswood house and go in quite excited like 
 and tell 'em that this Mr. Wadsworth was a-want- 
 in' to see them miniatures right away, that a 
 very celebrated art critic had called on him, but 
 couldn't stay long. Wanted to ketch a train and 
 all that. You could tell 'em that Mr. Wadsworth 
 had sent you to git the miniatures, and that he had 
 said that he would return 'em jest as soon as the
 
 122 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 critic had looked 'em over. Do you ketch the 
 idee? " and Tim Crapsey looked narrowly at his 
 companion. 
 
 " It might work, although I'd be running a big 
 risk," said Ward Porton, slowly. Yet his eyes 
 gleamed in satisfaction over the thought. " But 
 you forgot one thing, Tim: We are snowbound 
 here, and we can't get away any quicker than they 
 can." 
 
 11 That's where you're mistaken, Port I mean 
 Mr. Jones," Crapsey checked himself hastily. " I 
 heard some folks downstairs talkin' about going 
 over to Pepsico to ketch the one o'clock train. 
 That goes through Crumville, and if we could 
 ketch it we'd be in that town long before mornin'. 
 We could fix up some story about the others bein' 
 left behind here, and Dave Porter comin' home 
 alone. They can't send any telephone message, 
 for the wires are down, and I don't know of any 
 telegraph office here where they could send a mes- 
 sage that way." 
 
 " If we were going to try it we'd have to hustle," 
 announced Ward Porton. " And it's a fierce risk, 
 let me tell you that, first, trying to get to the 
 railroad station, and then trying to bluff Mr. and 
 Mrs. Basswood into thinking I am Dave Porter. 
 You must remember that since I got those things 
 in Porter's name at those stores, the whole crowd 
 are on their guard."
 
 TIM CRAPSEY'S PLOT 123 
 
 " Well, you can't gain anything in this world 
 without takin' chances," retorted Tim Crapsey. 
 " If I looked like that feller I'd take the chance 
 in a minute. Why, jest see what we could make 
 out of it I If you can git your hands on those 
 miniatures, I'll take care of the rest of it and we 
 can split fifty-fifty on what we git out of the deal." 
 
 Ward Porton mused for a moment while Tim 
 Crapsey eyed him closely. Then the former mov- 
 ing-picture actor leaped softly to his feet. 
 
 " I'll do it, Tim ! " he cried in a low voice. 
 " Come ahead let us get out of this hotel just 
 as soon as possible. And on the way downstairs 
 I'll see if I can't lift that cap and overcoat."
 
 [CHAPTER XIII 
 
 WHAT WASHINGTON BONES HAD TO TELL 
 
 DAVE was the first of the four chums to awaken 
 in the morning. He glanced toward the window, 
 to find it covered with frost and snow, thus leaving 
 the room almost dark. The wind was still blow- 
 ing furiously, and the room was quite cold. With- 
 out disturbing Ben our hero looked at his watch 
 and found that it was almost eight o'clock. He 
 leaped up and commenced to dress. 
 
 "Hello! getting up already?" came sleepily 
 from his roommate, as Ben stretched himself and 
 rubbed his eyes. " It must be pretty early." 
 
 " That's where you're mistaken, Ben," was 
 Dave's answer. " In a few minutes more it will 
 be eight o'clock." 
 
 " You don't say so ! How dark it is ! But I 
 suppose it's the frost on the window makes that," 
 went on the real estate dealer's son, as he, too, 
 got up. "Phew! but it's some cold, isn't it?" 
 and he started to dress without delay. 
 
 The noise the two boys made in moving around 
 the room aroused the others, and soon they too 
 
 were getting up. 
 
 124
 
 WHAT BONES HAD TO TELL 125 
 
 "Wow! Talk about Greenland's Icy Moun- 
 tains I " commented Phil, with a shiver. " How'd 
 you like to go outside, Roger, just as you are, and 
 have a snowball fight? " 
 
 " Nothing doing! " retorted the senator's son, 
 who was getting into his clothing just as rapidly as 
 possible. " Say, fellows, but this surely is some 
 snowstorm ! " he continued, as he walked to the 
 window and scraped some frost from a pane of 
 glass so that he could catch a glimpse of what was 
 outside. " It's still snowing to beat the band ! " 
 he announced. 
 
 " And listen to the wind ! " broke in Ben. 
 " Why, sometimes it fairly rocks the building ! " 
 
 " Doesn't look much as if we were going to get 
 back to-day," said Dave. " I suppose the roads 
 are practically impassable." 
 
 11 They must be if it snowed all night," an- 
 swered Ben. " Let us go down and take a look 
 around." 
 
 " I wonder if the girls are up yet? " questioned 
 Roger. 
 
 " It won't make much difference whether they 
 are or not," returned Dave. " If we can't get 
 away from here they may as well sleep as long as 
 they please. There certainly isn't much to do in 
 this small hotel." 
 
 The youths were soon washed and dressed, and 
 then all trooped below. They passed the rooms
 
 i 2 6 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 occupied by the girls and by Dr. Renwick and his 
 wife, but heard no sounds coming from within. 
 
 " They are taking advantage of the storm to 
 have a good rest," commented Phil. He gave a 
 yawn. " I almost wish I had remained in bed 
 myself. We won't have a thing to do here." 
 
 " I noticed a bowling alley next door, Phil," an- 
 nounced Roger. u If we can't do anything else 
 to-day we can bowl a few games. That will be 
 fine exercise." 
 
 " Do the girls know about bowling? " ques- 
 tioned Ben. 
 
 " Not very much," answered Dave. " Laura 
 has bowled a few games, I believe. But it will be 
 fun to teach them, if we don't find anything better 
 to do." 
 
 The boys walked through the small lobby of 
 the hotel and into the smoking room. Here sev- 
 eral men were congregated, all talking about the 
 storm and the prospects of getting away. 
 
 " The snow is nearly two feet deep on the 
 level," said one man; "but the wind has carried 
 it in all directions so that while the road is almost 
 bare in some spots there are drifts six and eight 
 feet high in others." 
 
 " Looks as if we were snowed In good and 
 proper," returned another man. " I wanted to 
 get to one of those stores across the way, and I
 
 WHAT BONES HAD TO TELL 127 
 
 had about all I could do to make it. In one place 
 I got into snow up to my waist, and it was all I 
 could do to get out of it." 
 
 " Doesn't look like much of a chance to get 
 away from here," observed Roger. 
 
 " We are booked to stay right where we are," 
 declared Phil; " so we might as well make the best 
 of it." 
 
 " Let us go out to the barn and see what Wash 
 Bones has to say," suggested Dave. " He has 
 probably been watching the storm and knows just 
 how things are on the road." 
 
 " All right," returned Ben. " But I am going 
 to put on my cap and overcoat before I go. It 
 must be pretty cold out there even though they 
 do keep the doors shut." 
 
 " Yes, I'll get my cap and overcoat, too," said 
 Dave. Phil and Roger had taken their things up 
 to the third floor the night before, and now had 
 their overcoats over their arms. 
 
 The large rack in the hallway of the hotel was 
 well filled with garments of various kinds, so that 
 Ben had to make quite a search before he found 
 his own things. In the meantime, Dave was also 
 hunting, but without success. 
 
 11 That's mighty queer," remarked the latter. 
 " I don't seem to see my cap or my overcoat any- 
 where."
 
 128 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Oh, it must be there, Dave," cried his chum. 
 " Just take another look. Maybe the overcoat 
 has gotten folded under another." 
 
 Both youths made a thorough search, which 
 lasted so long that Phil and Roger came into the 
 hallway to ascertain what was keeping them. 
 
 " Dave can't find his overcoat or his cap," ex- 
 plained Ben. " We've hunted everywhere for 
 them." 
 
 " Didn't you take them up-stairs last night?" 
 questioned Phil. 
 
 " No, I left them on this rack. And Ben left 
 his things here, too," replied Dave. " I can't 
 understand it at all; " and he looked worried. 
 
 " Maybe Laura saw them and took them up- 
 stairs, thinking they wouldn't be safe here," sug- 
 gested Roger. 
 
 " I hardly think that, Roger. However, as the 
 coat and cap are not here, maybe I'd better ask 
 her." 
 
 Another search for the missing things followed, 
 Dave looking through the parlor and the other 
 rooms on the ground floor of the hotel, and even 
 peeping into the restaurant, where a number of 
 folks were at breakfast. Then he went upstairs 
 and knocked softly on the door of the room which 
 Laura and Jessie were occupying. 
 
 " Who is it? " asked his sister, in a somewhat 
 sleepy tone of voice.
 
 WHAT BONES HAD TO TELL 129 
 
 " It's I, Laura," answered her brother. " I 
 want to know if you brought my cap and overcoat 
 upstairs last night." 
 
 " Why, no, Dave, I didn't touch them. What 
 is the matter can't you find them? " 
 
 " No, and I've hunted high and low," he re- 
 turned. " I don't suppose any of the other girls 
 or the doctor touched them ? " 
 
 " I am quite sure they did not." Laura came 
 to the door and peeped out at him. " Are you 
 boys all up already? " 
 
 " Yes, we went down-stairs a little while ago. 
 We were going out to the barn, and that's why I 
 wanted my overcoat and cap. They seem to be 
 gone, and I don't know what to make of it; " and 
 now Dave's face showed increased anxiety. 
 
 "What's the trouble?" came from Jessie, and 
 then Laura closed the door again. Dave heard 
 some conversation between all of the girls, and 
 then between Laura and Mrs. Renwick. Then 
 his sister came to the door once more. 
 
 '* None of us touched your cap or overcoat, 
 Dave," she said. " Isn't it queer? Do you sup- 
 pose they have been stolen? " 
 
 " I hope not, Laura. I'm going down and see 
 the hotel proprietor about it." 
 
 The proprietor of the hostelry was not on hand, 
 but his son, a young fellow of about Dave's age, 
 was behind the desk, and he listened with interest
 
 130 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 to what our hero had to say. Then he, too, insti- 
 tuted a search for the missing things. 
 
 " I can't understand this any more than you 
 can," he announced, after this additional search 
 had proved a failure. " I didn't know we had 
 any thieves around here. Are you sure you left 
 the coat and cap on this rack? " 
 
 ' Yes, I am positive," announced Dave. 
 
 " I saw him do it, when I placed my own things 
 on the same rack," declared Ben. 
 
 " But you found your coat and cap all right? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " It's mighty queer," declared the young clerk, 
 shaking his head. " I guess I'd better tell my 
 father about this." 
 
 The hotel proprietor was called, and he at once 
 instituted a number of inquiries concerning the 
 missing things. But all these proved of no avail. 
 No one had taken Dave's wearing apparel, and 
 none of the hired help had seen any one else take 
 the things or wear them. 
 
 " You should have taken your things up to your 
 room last night," declared the hotel proprietor, 
 during the course of the search. " It's a bad idea 
 to leave things on a rack like this, with so many 
 strangers coming and going all the time." 
 
 He agreed to lend Dave a coat and a hat, and, 
 donning these, the youth walked through the little
 
 WHAT BONES HAD TO TELL 131 
 
 shelter leading to the stables, accompanied by his 
 chums. 
 
 " If those things are not recovered I think you 
 can hold the hotel man responsible," remarked 
 Roger. 
 
 " Just what I think," put in Ben. " That over- 
 coat was a pretty nice one, Dave ; and the cap was 
 a peach." 
 
 " I'll see what can be done, in case the things 
 don't turn up," returned our hero. 
 
 They found Washington Bones down among 
 the stablemen, taking care of his horses. 
 
 " Well, Wash, what are the prospects for get- 
 ting away this morning? " questioned Roger. 
 
 " Ain't no prospects, so far as I kin see," de- 
 clared the colored driver. " This suah am one 
 terrible sto'm. I neber seen the like befo' aroun' 
 heah." 
 
 " Then you don't think we're going to get back 
 to Crumville to-day? " questioned Ben. 
 
 " No-sir. Why, if we was to try it we'd suah 
 git stuck befo' we got out ob dis town. Some ob 
 de drifts is right to de top of de fust story ob de 
 houses." Washington Bones looked question- 
 ingly at Dave. " How did you like your trip out- 
 side las' night?" he queried. "Must ha' been 
 some walkin', t'rough sech deep snow." 
 
 "My trip outside?" questioned Dave, with a
 
 i 3 2 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 puzzled look. " What do you mean, Wash? I 
 didn't go out last night." 
 
 " You didn't! " exclaimed the colored driver in 
 wonder. " Didn't I see you leavin' de hotel las' 
 night 'bout half pas' 'levin or a little later? " 
 
 " You certainly did not. I was in bed and 
 sound asleep by half past eleven," answered Dave. 
 
 " Well now, don't dat beat all ! " cried the 
 colored man, his eyes rolling in wonder. " I went 
 outside jest to take a las' look aroun' befo' turn- 
 ing in, and I seen a young fellow and a man leavin' 
 de hotel. Dey come right pas' where a lantern 
 was hung up on the porch, and when dat light 
 struck on de young fellow's face I thought suah 
 as you're bo'n it was you. Why, he looked like 
 you, and he had on de same kind of cap and over- 
 coat dat you was a-wearin' yeste'day. I see 
 you've got on something different to-day." 
 
 " A fellow who looked like me and who had on 
 my cap and my overcoat I " ejaculated Dave. He 
 turned to his chums. " What do you make of 
 that?" 
 
 " Maybe it was Ward Porton ! " cried Roger. 
 
 " If it was, he must have run away and taken 
 Dave's cap and overcoat with him," added Ben.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY 
 
 As my readers doubtless surmise, it was Ward 
 Porton who had made off with Dave's overcoat 
 and cap. 
 
 Leaving the room which they occupied on the 
 third floor locked, the young moving-picture actor 
 and his disreputable companion had stolen down 
 the two flights of stairs leading to the lower hall- 
 way. Fortunately for them, no one had been 
 present, and it had been comparatively easy for 
 Porton to find Dave's things and put them on. 
 Tim Crapsey already wore his own overcoat and 
 hat. 
 
 " We might as well provide ourselves with rub- 
 bers while we are at it," remarked Crapsey, as 
 his gaze fell upon a number of such footwear rest- 
 ing near the rack, and thereupon each donned 
 a pair of rubbers that fitted him. 
 
 Thus equipped they had stolen out of the hotel 
 through a side hallway without any one in the 
 building being aware of their departure. 
 
 " We're going to have a fight of it to get to 
 133
 
 134 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 the railroad station," muttered Ward Porton, as 
 the fury of the storm struck both of them. 
 
 " It's lucky I know the way," croaked Tim 
 Crapsey. And then, as they passed over the 
 porch in the light of the lantern by which Wash- 
 ington Bones had seen Porton, the man went on : 
 " Say, what's the matter with us stoppin' at some 
 drinkin' place and gittin' a little liquor? " 
 
 " Not now," interposed his companion, hastily. 
 " We want to make our get-away without being 
 seen if we possibly can." 
 
 " Oh, nobody will know us," grumbled Crapsey, 
 who had a great fondness for liquor, " and the 
 stuff may prove a life-saver if we git stuck some 
 place in the snow." 
 
 The realization that they might become snow- 
 bound on the way to Pepsico made Porton pause, 
 and in the end he agreed to visit a drinking place 
 several blocks away, which, by the light shining 
 dimly through the window, they could see was still 
 open. 
 
 " But now look here, Tim, you're not going to 
 overdo it," said the former moving-picture actor, 
 warningly. " If we are going to pull this stunt 
 off you are going to keep perfectly sober. It's 
 one drink and no more ! " 
 
 " But I'm goin' to git a flask to take along," 
 pleaded the man. 
 
 " You can do that. But I give you fair warn-
 
 MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY 135 
 
 ing that you've got to go slow in using the stuff. 
 Otherwise we are going to part company. In 
 such a game as we are trying to put ov^er, a man 
 has got to have his wits about him." 
 
 Having procured a drink, and also a package 
 of cigarettes and a flask of liquor, the two set 
 off through the storm for the railroad station, a 
 mile and a quarter away. It was a hard and tire- 
 some journey, and more than once they had to 
 stop to rest and figure out where they were. 
 Twice Tim Crapsey insisted upon it that he must 
 have a " bracer " from the flask. 
 
 " I'm froze through and through," he declared. 
 
 " Well, I'm half frozen myself," retorted 
 Ward Porton, and when he saw the man drinking 
 he could not resist the temptation to take some of 
 the liquor himself. 
 
 " We'll be in a fine pickle if we get to Pepsico 
 and then find that the train isn't coming through," 
 remarked the former moving-picture actor, when 
 about three-quarters of the journey had been cov- 
 ered and they were resting in the shelter of a 
 roadside barn. 
 
 " That's a chance we've got to take," returned 
 his companion. " But I don't think the train will 
 be stormbound. Most of the tracks through here 
 are on an embankment, and the wind would keep 
 them pretty clear." 
 
 It was after one o'clock when the pair finally
 
 136 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 gained the little railroad station at Pepsico. They 
 found over a dozen men and several women pres- 
 ent, all resting in the tiny waiting-room, trusting 
 that the train would soon put in an appearance. 
 
 " The wires are down so they can't tell exactly 
 where the train is," said one of the men, in reply to 
 a question from Porton. " They are hoping, 
 though, that it isn't many miles away." 
 
 From time to time one of the would-be pas- 
 sengers would go out on the tracks to look and 
 listen, and at last one of these announced that a 
 train was on the way. 
 
 " But I can't tell whether it's a passenger train 
 or a freight," he said. 
 
 " Let's git on it even if it's a freight," said Tim 
 Crapsey to Ward Porton. " She'll take us to 
 Crumville jest as well." 
 
 " All right, provided we can get aboard." 
 
 Slowly the train puffed in and proved to be a 
 freight. On the rear, however, was a passenger 
 car, hooked on at the last station. 
 
 u The regular passenger train is stalled in the 
 cut beyond Breckford," announced the conductor 
 of the freight, " and there's no telling when she'll 
 get out. If you folks want to risk getting 
 through, get aboard;" and at this invitation all 
 those waiting at the station lost no time in board- 
 ing the mixed train. Then, with a great deal of 
 puffing and blowing, the locomotive moved slowly
 
 SLOWLY THE TRAIN PUFFED IN, AND PROVED TO BE A FREIGHT. 
 Page 136.
 
 MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY 137 
 
 away from Pepsico, dragging the long line of cars, 
 some full and some empty, behind it. 
 
 Long before Crumville was reached it became 
 a question as to whether the train would get 
 through or not. The snow was coming down as 
 thickly as ever, and the wind whistled with in- 
 creased violence. 
 
 " I don't believe we'll get much farther than 
 Crumville," announced the conductor, when he 
 came through to collect tickets. " We should 
 have passed at least two trains coming the other 
 way. But nothing has come along, and that 
 would seem to show that the line is blocked ahead 
 of us." 
 
 As a matter of fact, the mixed train did not 
 get even as far as Dave's home town. Running 
 was all right so long as the tracks were up on the 
 embankment, but as soon as they reached the level 
 of the surrounding country the snow became so 
 deep that several times the train had to be backed 
 up so that a fresh start might be made. Then, 
 when they came to a cut not over three feet deep, 
 just on the outskirts of the town, the engineer 
 found it utterly impossible to get any farther. 
 
 " We'll have to have a snow-plough to get us 
 out," he declared, " or otherwise we'll have to 
 remain here until the storm clears away." 
 
 By listening to the conversation of some of the 
 people in the car, Porton and Crapsey learned that
 
 138 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 it was only a short distance to the town, and they 
 followed several men and a woman when they left 
 the train to finish the journey on foot. 
 
 " I know where we are now," said Porton, pres- 
 ently, as he and his companion struck a well-de- 
 fined road leading past the Wadsworth jewelry 
 works. " We'll be right in Crumville in a little 
 while more." 
 
 Ward Porton knew very well that he must not 
 show himself in Crumville any more than was 
 necessary. Consequently, as soon as they came 
 within sight of the town proper, he suggested that 
 they look around for some place where they might 
 remain until daybreak. 
 
 " Right you are," answered Tim Crapsey. 
 And a little later, coming to a large barn, they 
 tried the door, and, finding it unlocked, entered 
 and proceeded to make themselves comfortable in 
 some hay, using several horse blankets for cover- 
 ings. 
 
 Here both of them, being thoroughly ex- 
 hausted, fell sound asleep and did not awaken until 
 it was daylight. 
 
 " Now we've got to lay our plans with great 
 care," announced Ward Porton. " We can't 
 go at this in any haphazard way. -Even though 
 it may prove comparatively easy to get our hands 
 on those miniatures, it will be another story to get 
 away with them in such a storm as this, with the
 
 MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY 139 
 
 railroad and every other means of communica- 
 tion tied up." 
 
 : ' This storm is jest the thing that's goin' to 
 help us," answered Crapsey. " With all the tele- 
 graph and telephone wires down the authorities 
 won't be able to send out any alarm. And with 
 the snow so deep, if we git any kind of a start at 
 all it will be next to impossible for 'em to follow 
 us up." 
 
 A discussion of ways and means followed that 
 lasted the. best part of an hour. Then, with 
 money provided by Porton, and with many an 
 admonition that he must not for the present drink 
 another drop, Tim Crapsey was allowed to depart 
 for Crumville. 
 
 " And you be very careful of how you go at 
 things," warned Porton. 
 
 Tim Crapsey had a delicate mission to perform. 
 First of all he was to size up matters around the 
 homes of the Wadsworths and the Basswoods, 
 and then he was to do what he could to hire a 
 cutter and a fast horse at the local livery stable. 
 This done, he was to procure something to eat 
 both for himself and for his companion. 
 
 As time went by Ward Porton, on the alert for 
 the possible appearance of the owner of the barn, 
 became more and more anxious, and twice he went 
 out in the roadway to see if his companion was 
 anywhere in sight.
 
 i 4 o DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " It would be just like him to go off and get full 
 of liquor," muttered the young man, with a scowl. 
 " I really ought to part company with him. But 
 when he is perfectly sober he certainly is a slick 
 one," he continued meditatively. 
 
 To pass the time the young man made a 
 thorough search of the overcoat which he had 
 stolen from Dave. He had already discovered a 
 fine pair of gloves and had worn them. Now, 
 in an inner pocket, he located a card-case contain- 
 ing half a dozen addresses, some postage stamps, 
 and some of Dave's visiting cards. There were 
 also two cards which had been blank, and on each 
 of these, written in Dave's bold hand, was the 
 following : 
 
 Signature of 
 
 David Porter, 
 
 Crumville. 
 
 " Hello! what's this? " mused the former mov- 
 ing-picture actor, as he gazed at the written cards. 
 Then suddenly his face brightened. " Oh, I see ! 
 It's one of those cards that I heard about the 
 kind he has been distributing among the store- 
 keepers in an effort to catch me. Say, one of 
 these may come in handy when I go for those 
 miniatures ! " he continued. 
 
 At last he heard a noise outside, and looking in 
 that direction saw Tim Crapsey approaching in a
 
 MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY 141 
 
 somewhat dilapidated cutter, drawn, however, by 
 a powerful-looking bay horse. 
 
 " Had a fierce time gittin' this horse," an- 
 nounced the man, as he came to a halt beside the 
 barn. " The livery stable man didn't want to let 
 him go out, and I had to tell him a long yarn about 
 somebody bein' sick and my havin' to git a doc- 
 tor. And I had to offer him double price, too 1 " 
 and at his own ruse the man chuckled hoarsely. 
 
 He had brought with him some sandwiches and 
 doughnuts, and also a bottle of hot coffee, and on 
 these both made a somewhat limited breakfast, 
 the man washing the meal down with another 
 drink from his flask. 
 
 " I kept my word I didn't drink a drop when 
 I was in town," he croaked. " But say, this is 
 mighty dry work ! " 
 
 " You keep a clear head on your shoulders, 
 Tim," warned Porton. " Some day, drink is go- 
 ing to land you in jail or in the grave." 
 
 "Not much!" snorted the man. "I know 
 when to stop." But Porton knew that this was 
 not true. 
 
 Another conference was held, and Crapsey told 
 of having taken a look around, both at the Wads- 
 worth place and the Basswood home. 
 
 " There is no one at the Basswood place but 
 Mr. and Mrs. Basswood; and I understand the 
 man is sick in bed," he said. " All the telephone
 
 I 4 2 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 wires are out of commission, but to make sure 
 that the Basswoods couldn't telephone I cut the 
 wire that runs into his real estate office and I 
 also cut the wire up at the Wadsworth house." 
 
 " Good for you, Tim ! " returned Ward Por- 
 ton, and then he told of having found the two 
 cards, each containing Dave's signature. 
 
 " That's fine ! " cried the man. " That ought 
 to help you a great deal when you ask for the 
 miniatures." 
 
 " I hope it does," answered Ward Porton, 
 thoughtfully. " Now let us go ; the sooner we 
 get at this affair the better." And then both left 
 the barn, entered the cutter, and drove rather 
 slowly in the direction of the Basswood home.
 
 CHAPTER XVi 
 
 THE RETURN TO CRUMVILLE 
 
 " IF Ward Porton got my cap and overcoat he 
 must have been staying at this hotel," said Dave, 
 after the announcement made by Ben. " Let us 
 interview the proprietor without delay." 
 
 He and his chums hurried back into the hotel 
 and there met not only the proprietor but also his 
 
 son. 
 
 u 
 
 See here, have you anybody staying here who 
 looks like me?" demanded our hero of both of 
 them. 
 
 " Sure, we've got a fellow who looks like you," 
 declared the hotel-keeper's son before his father 
 could speak. " It's a Mr. Jones. He has a 
 room up on the third floor. He's here with an 
 older man named Brown." 
 
 " I wish you would take me up to their room ! " 
 cried Dave, quickly. 
 
 " Why! what's the matter now? " 
 
 " I want to find out whether that fellow is still 
 here. If he is I want him placed under arrest." 
 And then Dave related a few of the particulars 
 concerning Ward Porton and his doings. 
 
 143
 
 144 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " That certainly is a queer story," remarked 
 the hotel proprietor. " I'll go upstairs with 
 you." 
 
 He led the way, followed by Dave and his 
 chums. The youths were much astonished to see 
 him halt at the door next to their own. 
 
 " They don't seem to be there, or otherwise they 
 are sleeping pretty soundly," remarked the hotel 
 proprietor, after he had knocked on the door 
 several times. 
 
 " I guess you had better unlock the door," sug- 
 gested Dave. " I rather think you will find the 
 room empty." 
 
 A key was secured from one of the maids and 
 the door was opened. The proprietor gave one 
 look into the apartment. 
 
 " Gone! " he exclaimed. " Say! do you think 
 they have run away? " 
 
 " That's just exactly what I do think," an- 
 swered Dave. " And that fellow who looks like 
 me most likely took my cap and overcoat." 
 
 " And you say his name is Porton? He signed 
 our register as William Jones." 
 
 " Here's his hat and coat," announced Phil, 
 opening the door to a closet. " Pretty poor 
 clothing he left you in return for yours, Dave," 
 continued the shipowner's son, after an inspection. 
 
 The hotel proprietor was very wrathy, declar-
 
 THE RETURN TO CRUMVILLE 145 
 
 ing that Porton and his companion owed him for 
 three days' board. 
 
 " They're swindlers, that's what they are 1 " he 
 cried. " Just wait till I land on them 1 I'll put 
 them in jail sure I " 
 
 " I'd willingly give you that board money just 
 to get my hands on Ward Porton," announced 
 Dave. He turned to his chums. " This sure is 
 the limit ! First he goes to the stores and gets a 
 lot of things in my name and then he steals my 
 hat and overcoat right from under my nose ! " 
 
 " Yes, and that isn't the worst of it," declared 
 Roger. " There is no telling where he has gone ; 
 and even if you knew, in this awful storm it would 
 be next to impossible to follow him." 
 
 All went below, and there they continued to dis- 
 cuss the situation. In the midst of the talk the 
 girls came down, accompanied by Dr. Renwick 
 and his wife. 
 
 " Oh, Dave ! you don't mean to tell me that 
 that horrid Ward Porton has been at more of his 
 tricks ! " cried Laura. 
 
 " Isn't it perfectly dreadful ! " put in Jessie. 
 " And to think he was right in this hotel with us 
 and we never knew it ! " 
 
 " That's what makes me so angry," announced 
 Dave. " If only I had clapped my eyes on him ! " 
 he added regretfully.
 
 *i 4 6 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Well, there's no use of crying over spilt 
 milk," declared Roger. " He is gone, and so 
 are Dave's overcoat and his cap, and that is all 
 there is to it." 
 
 " Speaking of milk puts me in mind of break- 
 fast," put in Phil. " Now that the others are 
 downstairs don't you think we had better have 
 something to eat? " 
 
 All were agreeable, and soon they were seated 
 at a large table in the dining room, in company 
 with the doctor and Mrs. Renwick. Here, while 
 eating their breakfast, they discussed the situation 
 from every possible standpoint, but without ar- 
 riving at any satisfactory conclusion. 
 
 " Porton must have seen us when we came up 
 to the rooms," said Dave to his chums. " He 
 probably heard me speak about leaving my cap 
 and overcoat downstairs, and he just took a fiend- 
 ish delight in walking off with them and leaving 
 his old duds behind. Oh, he certainly is a 
 peach! " 
 
 Had there been the slightest let-up in the bliz- 
 zard, Dave and his chums would have gone out on 
 a hunt around the town for Porton and his un- 
 known companion. But with the wind blowing 
 almost a hurricane, and the snow coming down as 
 thickly as ever, Dr. Renwick told them that they 
 had better remain indoors. 
 
 " It isn't likely that they stayed anywhere
 
 THE RETURN TO CRUMVILLE 147 
 
 around here, fearing detection," said the phy- 
 sician. " They probably put a good distance be- 
 tween themselves and this hotel. And to go out 
 in such a storm as this might make some of you 
 sick." 
 
 " Oh, well, what of that? We have a doctor 
 handy," answered Dave, whimsically. " Just the 
 same, I guess we had better remain where we 
 are," he added, with a deep sigh. 
 
 It was not until the following morning that the 
 wind died down and the snow ceased to fall. In 
 the meantime, the young folks did what they could 
 to entertain themselves, the girls playing on the 
 piano in the hotel parlor, and the boys later on tak- 
 ing them to the bowling alleys next door and initi- 
 ating them into the mysteries of the game. Dave 
 was a good bowler and so was Roger, each be- 
 ing able occasionally to make a score of two hun- 
 dred. But Ben and Phil could not do much bet- 
 ter than one hundred, while none of the girls 
 got over eighty. 
 
 " Now that the snow has stopped falling, I sup- 
 pose we had better try to get back to Crumville," 
 said Laura to her brother. 
 
 " Yes, we ought to get back," put in Jessie. 
 " I suppose our folks are dreadfully worried about 
 
 us." 
 
 " It was too bad that you couldn't send some 
 sort of word," came from Belle. " If you could
 
 i 4 8 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 only do that we could stay here until the roads 
 were well broken." 
 
 " In the West we don't pretend to go out in 
 such a storm," remarked Cora Dartmore. " But, 
 of course, our distances are greater, and we have 
 so few landmarks that it is an easy thing to get 
 lost." 
 
 " I don't think we are going to get away from 
 here in any great hurry," replied Dave. " It is 
 true the snow has stopped coming down and the 
 sun is breaking through the clouds ; but I am quite 
 sure the drifts on the road between here and 
 Crumville are much higher than we can manage, 
 even with the powerful horses we have. We'll 
 have to wait until the roads are more or less 
 broken." 
 
 Our hero was right about not getting away. 
 They went down to the stables and interviewed 
 Washington Bones and several of the other driv- 
 ers present, and all agreed that it would not be 
 possible to get very far beyond the town limits. 
 This news made the young folks chafe consider- 
 ably, but there was nothing to be done ; so for an- 
 other day they had to content themselves as best 
 they could. During that time the boys did their 
 best to send some message to Crumville, but with- 
 out success, for all of the telephone and telegraph 
 wires were still down and nothing had been done 
 to mend them.
 
 THE RETURN TO CRUMVILLE 149 
 
 The next morning, however, things looked a 
 little brighter. The weather continued to im- 
 prove, and several horse teams, as well as an ox 
 team, came through on the road from the direc- 
 tion of Crumville. 
 
 " The road ain't none too good so far as I 
 could see," announced one of the drivers to Dave. 
 " But if you take your time and watch where 
 you're going, maybe you can get through." 
 
 " Oh, let us try it anyway ! " cried Laura, who 
 was present. " If we find we can't make it we 
 can come back here, or else stop at some other 
 place along the way." 
 
 It was finally agreed that they should make the 
 effort, and they started about ten o'clock. The 
 sun was shining with dazzling brilliancy on the 
 snow, and with no wind blowing it was consider- 
 ably warmer than it had been on the journey to 
 Lamont. All of the young folks were in good 
 humor, Dave for the time being dismissing from 
 his mind the trouble occasioned by the loss of his 
 cap and overcoat. 
 
 As they drove away from the town they could 
 see the effects of the great wind. In some spots 
 the road was almost bare of snow, while in others 
 there were drifts ten and twelve feet in height. 
 To drive through such drifts was, of course, im- 
 possible ; so they had to make long detours through 
 the surrounding fields. At such places the horses,
 
 150 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 of course, had to be driven with extra care, for 
 no one wanted the sleigh to land in some hole or 
 be overturned. Occasionally, when the turnout 
 was on a dangerous slant, the girls would shriek 
 and the boys would hold their breath; but each 
 time Washington Bones was equal to the occa- 
 sion and brought them through safely. 
 
 By noon they had covered five miles, and then 
 they stopped to rest at a village where all pro- 
 cured a good hot dinner. Then they went for- 
 ward once again, this time through a long patch 
 of timber. 
 
 " If we gits through dat, we'll be all right," 
 declared the colored driver. 
 
 The snow lay deep in the woods, but the horses 
 proved equal to the occasion, and at last the tim- 
 ber was left behind and they came out on a ridge 
 road where the snow was only a few inches in 
 depth. Here they were able to make fairly good 
 time, so that three o'clock found them almost 
 within sight of the outskirts of Crumville. 
 
 " We're going to make it easily," declared Ben. 
 But he proved to be mistaken, for a little distance 
 farther on they ran again into the deep snow and 
 had to pass around one drift after another, finally 
 going clear across several fields to another high- 
 way. As a result it was well after dark before 
 they gained the road leading past the Wadsworth 
 jewelry works.
 
 THE RETURN TO CRUMVILLE 151 
 
 " Well, this looks like home, anyway," declared 
 Dave to Jessie, as he nodded in the direction of 
 her father's establishment. 
 
 " Yes, and I'm glad of it," returned the girl. 
 " Gracious ! it seems to me that we have been on 
 the road for a week 1 " 
 
 " We can be thankful that we got through so 
 easily, Jessie. Wash is certainly some driver." 
 
 On account of another big drift they had to 
 pass to still another road, and this brought them 
 finally to the street leading past the Basswood 
 home. 
 
 " If it's all the same to you folks, I'll get off at 
 my place," announced Ben. " I suppose my 
 father and mother are worrying about me." 
 
 " Go ahead, Ben," returned Dave. And then 
 he added quickly: " I trust you find your father 
 is better." 
 
 With a flourish Washington Bones drew up the 
 panting horses in front of the Basswood place. 
 Just as Ben leaped from the sleigh the front door 
 of the house opened and Mrs. Basswood ap- 
 peared. 
 
 "Ben! Ben! is that you?" cried the youth's 
 parent, quickly. 
 
 " Yes, Mother," he answered cheerily. " Don't 
 worry. I am all right." 
 
 Forgetful that she had on only thin shoes, and 
 no covering over her head or shoulders, Mrs.
 
 152 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Basswood ran directly down to the big sleigh. 
 She glanced over the occupants and her eyes fas- 
 tened instantly on Dave. 
 
 " Dave, have you been with Ben since you went 
 away? " she queried. " You haven't been to our 
 house? " 
 
 1 Why certainly I haven't been here, Mrs. Bass- 
 wood," he returned promptly. 
 
 ' Then it's true ! It's true ! " she wailed, 
 wringing her hands. 
 
 "What's true, Mother?" demanded the son. 
 
 " The miniatures ! They're gone ! They 
 have been stolen! That young man who looks 
 like Dave was here and took them away 1 "
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 HOW THE MINIATURES DISAPPEARED 
 
 "THE miniatures are gone?" came from Ben 
 Basswood in astonishment. 
 
 ' Yes, Ben, gone ! " and the mother wrung her 
 hands in despair. 
 
 " Do you mean to say Ward Porton dared to 
 come here and impersonate me and get them?" 
 cried Dave. 
 
 " It must have been that fellow, Dave. He 
 looked exactly like you. That is why I just asked 
 you if you had been to our house." 
 
 " I have been with Ben and the others since 
 we went on our sleigh-ride," said our hero. 
 " This is terrible ! How did it happen? " 
 
 " Come into the house and I'll tell you all about 
 it," answered Mrs. Basswood. Her face was 
 drawn with anxiety, and all could see that she was 
 suffering keenly. 
 
 "And how is father? " questioned Ben, as the 
 party trooped up the piazza steps and into the 
 house. 
 
 " He isn't so well, Ben, as he was before you 
 153
 
 154 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 went away. Oh, dear ! and to think how easily I 
 was duped ! " 
 
 Dave had told Washington Bones to wait for 
 them, and, entering the parlor of the Basswood 
 home, the others listened to what the lady of the 
 house had to tell. 
 
 ' Your father had just had another bad turn, 
 and the nurse and I were doing what we could 
 for him when the door-bell rang," she began. " I 
 went downstairs, and there stood somebody that 
 I thought was Dave. I asked him into the house 
 and he at once wanted to know how Mr. Bass- 
 wood was getting along." 
 
 " When was this? " questioned Ben. 
 
 " This was two days ago, and just about noon 
 time." 
 
 " Two days ago ! " repeated Roger. " Then 
 Porton must have come here right after leaving 
 the hotel in Lament. How ever did he get 
 here?" 
 
 " Maybe he took that train that got through 
 from Pepsico," answered Phil. " You remember 
 we heard that quite a few people made that train." 
 
 " Let us hear about the miniatures," broke in 
 Ben, impatiently. 
 
 " Well, he came in, as I said, and asked about 
 Mr. Basswood's health. Then he told me that he 
 was in a great hurry that a certain famous art 
 critic had called on Mr. Wadsworth, and, having
 
 HOW THE MINIATURES DISAPPEARED 155 
 
 heard about the Enos miniatures, was very anx- 
 ious to see them. He told me that the art critic 
 had thought of coming over with v him, but Mr. 
 Wadsworth had said that it might disturb Mr. 
 Basswood too much to have the miniatures ex- 
 amined in our house. The art critic did not want 
 to become snowbound in Crumville, so he was 
 only going to stay until the four o'clock afternoon 
 train. The young man said Mr. Wadsworth 
 wanted to know if we would allow him to take 
 the miniatures over to the Wadsworth house, and 
 that he would bring them back safely, either that 
 evening or the next morning." 
 
 "Oh, Mother! didn't you suspect it might be 
 a trick? " questioned Ben, anxiously. " You 
 knew how this Ward Porton has been imperson- 
 ating Dave." 
 
 " Yes, yes, Ben, I know," answered Mrs. Bass- 
 wood, again wringing her hands. " And I should 
 have been more careful. But you know I was 
 very much upset on account of the bad turn your 
 father had had. Then, too, the young man threw 
 me off my guard by asking me if I had one of 
 those cards which Dave had distributed among the 
 storekeepers the one with his autograph on it. 
 
 " I said ' no,' " but told him I was very well ac- 
 quainted with his handwriting. Then he said he 
 would write out a card for me, adding, with a 
 laugh, that he wanted me to be sure he was really
 
 156 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Dave. He drew a blank card out of his pocket 
 and turned to a table to write on it and then 
 handed it to me. Here is the card now; " and, 
 going to the mantelpiece, the lady of the house 
 produced it. 
 
 " One of the cards that I left in the overcoat 
 that was stolen ! " exclaimed Dave. " He didn't 
 write this at all, Mrs. Basswood. That rascal 
 stole my overcoat and some of these cards were in 
 it. He simply pretended to write on it." 
 
 " Well, I was sure it was your handwriting, 
 and that made me feel easy about the fellow being 
 you." 
 
 " But you knew I was with Ben and the others 
 on the sleigh-ride," broke in Dave. 
 
 " Oh, I forgot to state that when he came in he 
 explained that you were all stormbound at the 
 hotel in Lamont and that, as the telephone and 
 telegraph wires were all down, he had managed 
 to get to Pepsico and reach Crumville on a freight 
 train, doing this so that we and the Wadsworths 
 would not worry, thinking the sleighing-party had 
 been lost somewhere on the road in this awful 
 blizzard." 
 
 "And then you gave him the miniatures?" 
 questioned Ben. 
 
 " I did. Oh, Ben, I know now how very fool- 
 ish it was! But I was so upset! At first I 
 thought to ask your father about it; but I was
 
 HOW THE MINIATURES DISAPPEARED 157 
 
 afraid that to disturb him would make him feel 
 worse, and I knew he was bad enough already. 
 Then, too, I knew that Mr. Wadsworth was ex- 
 pecting some art critics to look at the miniatures, 
 so I concluded it must be all right. I have al- 
 ways known the combination of your father's safe, 
 so it was an easy matter for me to open it and 
 get the miniatures out. I told the young man to 
 be careful of them, and he told me not to worry 
 that the miniatures would be perfectly safe, 
 and that Mr. Wadsworth had promised to get 
 the critic to set a fair value on each of them." 
 
 " Was this Ward Porton alone? " asked Laura. 
 The girls, of course, had listened with as much in- 
 terest as the boys to what the lady of the house 
 had to relate. 
 
 " No, he came in a cutter driven by a man who 
 was so bundled up because of the cold that I could 
 not make out who he was. As soon as I gave him 
 the cases containing the miniatures the young man 
 hurried off in the cutter, stating that the sooner 
 the critic had a chance to see the paintings the 
 better." 
 
 " And what happened next? " questioned Dave, 
 as Mrs. Basswood paused in her recital. 
 
 " I went back to assist a nurse who had come in, 
 and all that night we had our hands full with my 
 husband. We had to call in the doctor, and he 
 was really not out of danger until noon of the next
 
 158 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 day. I had wanted to tell him about sending the 
 miniatures over to the Wadsworth house, but he 
 was in no condition to be told anything, so I kept 
 silent." 
 
 " But didn't you get worried when noon came 
 and the supposed Dave didn't return with them? " 
 questioned the son. 
 
 ' Yes, as soon as the doctor said that your 
 father was out of danger I began to worry over 
 the miniatures. I waited until the middle of the 
 afternoon, and then, although it was snowing and 
 blowing something awful, I hailed a passing man 
 old Joe Patterson and asked him if he would 
 go on an errand to the Wadsworth house. He 
 said he would try to make it for a dollar, and so I 
 wrote a short note to Mrs. Wadsworth, knowing 
 that she must be at home even though her husband 
 and Dave might be away. 
 
 " Old Patterson delivered this message, and 
 Mrs. Wadsworth sent back word that she had not 
 seen anything of Dave since he had gone away on 
 the sleigh-ride, nor had she seen anything of the 
 miniatures. She added that her husband had 
 gone to the jewelry works, but that she would send 
 one of the hired men after him at once and ac- 
 quaint him with the situation." 
 
 " What did you do then? " went on Ben. 
 
 " I really didn't know what to do. Your father 
 was so ill that the nurse and I had to give him
 
 HOW THE MINIATURES DISAPPEARED 159 
 
 every attention. I was waiting for the doctor to 
 come again, but he could not get here on account 
 of the snow-drifts. Mr. Wadsworth put in an 
 appearance about two hours later, and then I told 
 him just what I have told you. He declared at 
 once that it must be a trick, stating that Dave had 
 not been near the house since going away with all 
 of you young folks. Mr. Wadsworth was quite 
 put out, and wanted to know how it was that I had 
 not been able to detect the deception." * 
 
 "Well, I must say " commenced Ben, and 
 then stopped short, for he could see how his 
 mother was suffering. 
 
 " Oh, yes, Ben, I know what you were going to 
 say," she broke in quickly. " Having known 
 Dave so many years I should have discovered the 
 deception. But, as I said before, I was terribly 
 worked up over your father's condition. Then, 
 too, the young man came in bundled up in an over- 
 coat and a cap that looked exactly like those Dave 
 
 wears." 
 
 " They were mine. That fellow stole them 
 from me," interrupted our hero, bitterly. 
 
 " Not only that, but he had a tippet placed over 
 his head and around his neck, and he spoke in a 
 very hoarse voice, stating that he had caught a 
 terrible cold while on the sleigh-ride and while 
 coming back to Crumville on the freight train. 
 He spoke about Mr. Basswood's real estate busi-
 
 160 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 ness, and about Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth and 
 Jessie, and so many other things that we are famil- 
 iar with, that I was completely deceived. Then, 
 too, his turning over that written card to me also 
 threw me off my guard. But I know I was very 
 foolish, very foolish indeed ! " and Mrs. Bass- 
 wood's lips trembled and she wrung her hands 
 once again. 
 
 " What did Mr. Wadsworth do ? " questioned 
 Dave, in the midst of rather an awkward pause. 
 He agreed with Ben that Mrs. Basswood should 
 have recognized Ward Porton as an imposter, but 
 he did not want to say anything that might add to 
 the lady's misery. 
 
 " He said he would set the authorities at work 
 and see if he could not find Porton and his confed- 
 erate. I was so bewildered that I well, I 
 might as well admit it I told him that I couldn't 
 understand how I had been deceived, and that 
 maybe Dave had gotten the miniatures after all." 
 
 " Oh, Mrs. Basswood, you didn't really mean 
 that! " cried our hero. 
 
 " I was so bewildered I didn't know what I 
 meant, Dave. That young man did look so very 
 much like you. That's the reason, when you folks 
 drove up to the house, I ran out to ask if you had 
 really been here or not." 
 
 " Have you heard anything of this Ward Por- 
 ton since? " asked Roger.
 
 HOW THE MINIATURES DISAPPEARED 161 
 
 " I haven't heard anything. Whether Mr. 
 Wadsworth has learned anything or not I do not 
 know, for he has not been here and the storm has 
 been so awful, with all the telephone wires down, 
 that I could not send for news." 
 
 " Does father know about this now ? " ques- 
 tioned Ben. 
 
 " No, Ben, I have not had the courage to tell 
 him," answered the mother. " I told the doctor, 
 and he advised that I say nothing for the pres- 
 ent." 
 
 " I don't think I'd tell him," said Dave. " I 
 think the best thing we can do is to try to follow 
 Porton and this fellow with him and get back the 
 miniatures. Then it will be time enough to tell 
 Mr. Basswood about the affair." 
 
 As soon as they had entered the parlor the lady 
 of the house had shut the door, so that none of 
 the conversation might reach the sick chamber 
 overhead. In reply to numerous questions Mrs. 
 Basswood gave all the details as to how the ras- 
 cally Porton had been able to gain possession of 
 the miniatures. 
 
 " I think I'll hurry up and get home," declared 
 Dave, presently. " I want to hear what Mr. 
 Wadsworth has to say; and also find out what 
 he and my folks have done towards getting on the 
 track of Porton and his confederate." 
 
 "That's the talk! " exclaimed Roger. " Say!
 
 162 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 but this is the worst yet, isn't it? " He turned to 
 the lady of the house. " I am awfully sorry for 
 you, Mrs. Basswood." 
 
 " I guess we are all sorry," broke in our hero, 
 quickly. 
 
 " Oh, I hope they catch that Porton and put him 
 in prison ! " cried Jessie. 
 
 " That is where he belongs," answered Dave, 
 soberly.
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 A VAIN SEARCH 
 
 To find out what Mr. Wadsworth, as well as 
 Dave's father and his uncle, had done, Ben ac- 
 companied the other young folks to the jewelry 
 manufacturer's mansion. They found that Mr. 
 Wadsworth had gone to business, but the other 
 men were present and were much interested in 
 what Dave and his chums had to relate. 
 
 " We've done all we could to get the authori- 
 ties on the trail of Ward Porton," announced 
 Dave's father; " but we have been much hindered 
 on account of this awful blizzard. The telegraph 
 and telephone wires are down in all directions, so 
 it has been practically impossible to send word any 
 great distance." 
 
 " With such a storm it may be possible that Por- 
 ton and his confederate are still in Crumville," 
 suggested Roger. 
 
 " I hardly think that," said Dunston Porter. 
 " More than likely they did everything they could 
 to put distance between themselves and this town 
 after they got their hands on the miniatures." 
 
 " I suppose you know we found out that Por- 
 163
 
 1 64 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 ton's confederate managed to get a horse and cut- 
 ter from Bryson's livery stable," said Dave's 
 father. 
 
 " No, we didn't know that! " cried Ben. 
 
 " Well, it's true. The confederate, who gave 
 his name as Frank Carson, said he wanted the 
 turnout to go for a doctor. He said he had been 
 sent by Mr. Jamison, the minister. Of course, it 
 was all a trick and Mr. Jamison knew absolutely 
 nothing about it." 
 
 " Did they return the horse and cutter? " 
 
 " They did not. And Bryson is mourning the 
 loss of a good horse. The cutter he says did not 
 amount to so much. He would not have let the 
 animal go out, only the fellow begged so hard, 
 stating that it was practically a case of life or death 
 and he offered to pay double money for the 
 horse's use." 
 
 "Were they seen at all?" questioned Ben. 
 
 "Oh, yes I A number of people who were 
 stormbound saw them pass down the street and 
 stop at your house. Then others saw the cutter 
 turn in the direction of Hacklebury." 
 
 "Of course you tried to follow?" queried 
 Dave. 
 
 " I did that," answered Dunston Porter. " It 
 was tough work getting through as far as the mill 
 town. But I managed it, and made all sorts of 
 inquiries. Two people had seen the cutter pass
 
 A VAIN SEARCH 165 
 
 the mills, but no one could give me any definite in- 
 formation as to which way it headed after that. 
 You see, it was growing dark by that time, and the 
 snow was coming down so thickly that it was next 
 to impossible to see any great distance in any direc- 
 tion." 
 
 " Well, we know they went as far as Hackle- 
 bury, and that's something," returned Phil hope- 
 fully. 
 
 " Yes, but it isn't much," came in a rather hope- 
 less tone from Ben. " I'm afraid they've got 
 away and we'll never see them again, or the minia- 
 tures either." 
 
 " Oh, don't say that, Ben ! " cried Laura, sym- 
 pathetically. " Pictures, you know, are not like 
 money. Porton and that rascal with him will have 
 no easy time disposing of the miniatures." 
 
 " I'll tell you what they may do 1 " burst out 
 Jessie, suddenly. " They may go to some big city 
 and then send you word that they will return the 
 miniatures provided you will pay them a certain 
 amount of money for so doing." 
 
 " Say! I believe that's just what they will do ! " 
 cried Dave. " Jessie, I think you've struck the 
 nail right on the head I " and he looked at the girl 
 admiringly. 
 
 "I hope they do that if we don't catch 
 them," returned Ben. " If those miniatures are 
 worth anything like a hundred thousand dollars, I
 
 166 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 guess my dad would be glad enough to give five 
 or ten thousand dollars to get them back." 
 
 " I wouldn't give up the hunt yet, Ben," urged 
 Roger. " Just as soon as this awful storm is 
 over I'd let the authorities in all the big cities, as 
 well as the little ones, know about the theft, and 
 then they can be on the watch for Porton and his 
 confederate. By the way, I wonder who the con- 
 federate can be." 
 
 " I'm sure I haven't the least idea," answered 
 the real estate dealer's son. 
 
 With the disappearance of the Basswood for- 
 tune in their minds, neither the young folks nor 
 the grown folks could talk about much else. 
 Laura and Jessie told the latter's mother how they 
 had fallen in with Dr. Renwick and his wife, and 
 how the pair had looked after the girls during their 
 stay at the Lament Hotel. 
 
 " It was nice of Mrs. Renwick to do that," said 
 the lady of the mansion; " but it is no more than 
 I would expect from her. She is a very estimable 
 woman." 
 
 It was rather hard for Dave and Roger to settle 
 down to their studies on the following morning, 
 but there was nothing they could do to help along 
 the search for those who had taken the miniatures, 
 and, as both youths were anxious to make up for 
 lost time, they applied themselves as diligently as 
 possible.
 
 A VAIN SEARCH 167 
 
 Mr. Ramsdell had been away, but the tutor 
 came back that afternoon, and the two students 
 put in a full day over their books, leaving Laura, 
 Jessie and Phil to look after the visitors from the 
 West. 
 
 The blizzard had now ceased entirely, and by 
 the end of the week all the roads in the vicinity of 
 Crumville were fairly well broken and some of the 
 telegraph and telephone lines had been repaired. 
 The newspapers came in from the larger cities, 
 and it was found that the blizzard had covered a 
 wide area of the country, extending practically 
 from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic sea- 
 board. 
 
 " It's given Ward Porton and his confederate a 
 dandy chance to get away," was Roger's comment. 
 
 " You're right, Roger," answered Dave. 
 " And so far it would seem that they have left no 
 trace behind them." 
 
 From Ben it was learned that Mr. Basswood 
 was slowly improving in health. He had asked 
 about the miniatures, and the art critics who were 
 to have visited Crumville on the invitation of Mr. 
 Wadsworth. 
 
 " We couldn't keep the news from him any 
 longer," said Ben. " When he asked about the 
 pictures my mother broke down and had to con- 
 fess that she had let Porton take them, thinking he 
 was Dave. Of course, father was very much
 
 168 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 disturbed, and the doctor had to pay an extra visit 
 and give him something to keep him quiet. I 
 told him that all of us were doing everything we 
 possibly could to get on the track of the thieves, 
 and now he is resting in the hope that sooner or 
 later the miniatures will be recovered." 
 
 The loss of the miniatures had taken a good 
 deal of the fun out of Ben, and when the young 
 folks stopping at the Wadsworth mansion went 
 out sleighing again, and for some fun skating, he 
 begged to be excused. 
 
 " I wouldn't take the loss too hard, Ben," said 
 Dave, quietly. " Remember, if the worse comes 
 to the worst, you are just as well off as you were 
 before you heard of this Enos fortune." 
 
 " That is true, Dave. But it makes me mad to 
 think that we had such a fortune as that right in 
 our hands and then let it get away from us." 
 
 " I suppose your mother feels dreadfully about 
 it?" 
 
 " She certainly does, Dave. Why, she isn't 
 herself at all. Sometimes I think that her worry- 
 ing will bring on a regular fit of sickness. She, of 
 course, thinks that it is entirely her fault that the 
 miniatures are gone." 
 
 1 You'll have to do all you can to cheer her 
 up." 
 
 " Oh, I'm doing that 1 And I do what I can to 
 cheer up my father too. Just the same, I'm
 
 A VAIN SEARCH 169 
 
 mighty blue myself at times; " and the real estate 
 dealer's son heaved a deep sigh. 
 
 At last came the day when Belle and Cora must 
 return to their homes in the West. On the eve- 
 ning before, Jessie and Laura gave a little party 
 in their honor, which was attended by over a score 
 of the boys and girls of Crumville. The young 
 people played games, sang, and danced to their 
 hearts' content, and Mrs. Wadsworth saw to it 
 that ample refreshments were served to all. 
 
 " Oh, I've had a perfectly lovely time 1 " de- 
 clared Belle, when she and the others were on their 
 way to the depot. 
 
 " And so have I had a lovely time," added Cora 
 Dartmore. " But I'm so sorry your friend lost 
 that fortune," she added. Ben had said good-bye 
 over the telephone, the wire of which was once 
 more in working order. 
 
 " If you ever do hear of those miniatures you 
 must let us know," went on Belle. 
 
 " We'll be sure to do that," answered Laura. 
 And then the train came in, and, with a final hand- 
 shake all around, and with several kisses ex- 
 changed between the girls, Belle and Cora climbed 
 on board, Dave and Phil assisting them with their 
 suitcases. 
 
 " I'm sorry I'm not going with you," cried the 
 shipowner's son, " But I've promised Dave and 
 Roger to stay a few days longer."
 
 170 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Be sure to send us a letter as soon as you get 
 back home," cried Jessie. 
 
 And then the train rolled out of the station and 
 the visitors from the West were gone. 
 
 On the night before Phil took his departure the 
 three chums had what they called a " talk-fest " 
 in Dave's room. They spoke about many things 
 of how they had first gone to Oak Hall, and of 
 various adventures that had occurred since that 
 time. 
 
 " The Oak Hall boys are becoming scattered," 
 said Phil. " I don't suppose they'll ever all get 
 together again." 
 
 " Oh, we'll have to meet at some future gradu- 
 ation exercises at the Hall!" cried Dave. "I 
 can't think of letting such fellows as Shadow 
 Hamilton, Buster Beggs, and Sam Day drop." 
 
 " Right you are ! " came from Roger. " If I 
 can get there at all you can count on my going back 
 to Oak Hall whenever there are any commence- 
 ment exercises." 
 
 " I half wish I was going into this civil engi- 
 neering business with you two fellows," continued 
 Phil. " But I'm afraid I'm not cut out for that 
 sort of thing. I love the sea and everything con- 
 nected with ships." 
 
 "That shows you're a chip of the old block," 
 announced Dave, clapping his chum on the shoul- 
 der. " You take after your father, Phil, and I
 
 THB YOUNG PEOPLE PLAYED GAMES, SANG, AND DANCED TO THEIK 
 
 HEARTS' CONTENT. Page 169.
 
 A VAIN SEARCH 171 
 
 don't think you could do better than to follow him 
 in his shipping business." 
 
 " If I do follow him in that business, I tell you 
 what you've got to do," announced the shipowner's 
 son. " Some time you've both got to take a nice 
 big cruise with me." 
 
 " That would suit me down to the shoe-tips," 
 returned Roger. 
 
 " It would be fine, Phil," answered Dave. 
 " But just at present, Roger and I have got to bone 
 to beat the band if we want to pass that examina- 
 tion. You must remember that being away from 
 home on account of that blizzard put us behind 
 quite a good deal." 
 
 " Well, you won't have me to worry you after 
 to-night," grinned the chum. " Starting to-mor- 
 row morning you and Roger can put in twenty- 
 four hours a day over your studies, as far as I 
 am concerned." 
 
 " Wow ! Listen to that ! He's as considerate 
 as old Job Haskers used to be," exclaimed the 
 senator's son. And then, picking up a pillow, he 
 shied it at Phil's head. 
 
 Another pillow was sent at Roger in return; and 
 in a moment a so-called " Oak Hall pillow fight " 
 was in full progress in the room, pillows, blankets, 
 books, and various other objects flying in all di- 
 rections. Then Phil got Roger down on one of 
 the beds and was promptly hauled off by Dave,
 
 172 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 and in a moment more the three youths were roll- 
 ing over and over on the floor. 
 
 Suddenly there sounded a knock on the door. 
 
 "Hello I Who is that?" cried Dave; and at 
 once the three youths scrambled to their feet, re- 
 adjusting their clothing as they did so. 
 
 " Oh, Dave, such a noise 1 " came from his 
 sister. " What in the world are you doing in 
 there?" 
 
 " We are only bidding Phil good-bye," an- 
 swered the brother, sweetly.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 THE CIVIL ENGINEERING EXAMINATION 
 
 As the days went by, and Dave and Roger con- 
 tinued to prepare themselves for the examination 
 which was rapidly approaching, the authorities did 
 all they could to locate Ward Porton and his con- 
 federate. Diligent inquiries were made concern- 
 ing the identity of the man who had occupied the 
 room at Lament with the former moving-picture 
 actor, and it was. finally discovered that he was 
 Tim Crapsey, a fellow already wanted by the 
 police for several crimes. 
 
 " It's queer that a fellow like Porton should 
 throw in his fortunes with a man like Crapsey," 
 was Roger's comment. " From all accounts Crap- 
 sey is a thoroughly good-for-nothing fellow with a 
 great liking for strong drink." 
 
 " That shows Porton's real disposition, Roger," 
 answered Dave. " If he were any kind of a 
 clean-minded or decent fellow he wouldn't want to 
 put up with such a vile fellow as this Tim Crapsey 
 is represented by the police to be." 
 
 " If Crapsey is already known to the police they 
 ought to be able to locate him sooner or later." 
 
 173
 
 174 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Those slick criminals have a way all their own 
 for keeping out of sight of the police." Dave 
 paused for a moment. " Do you know I've been 
 thinking of something. Maybe this fellow, Crap- 
 sey, simply used Porton as a tool." 
 
 " I don't quite understand, Dave." 
 
 " Why, in this way : when they heard about the 
 miniatures, and Crapsey heard how much Porton 
 looked like me, and how intimate I and the Wads- 
 worths were with the Basswoods, it may have been 
 Crapsey who concocted the scheme for getting 
 possession of the miniatures. And if he did that, 
 it is more than likely that he will be the one to 
 dispose of the pictures or send in an offer to return 
 them for a certain amount." 
 
 " You mean and cut Ward Porton out of the 
 deal?" questioned the senator's son, quickly. 
 
 " He may not cut Porton out entirely. But the 
 chances are that he'll let Porton have as little of 
 the returns as possible. A professional criminal 
 like this Crapsey isn't going to let an amateur like 
 Porton in on the ground floor if he can help it." 
 
 " Maybe he'll do Porton out of it entirely. 
 Wouldn't that make the moving-picture actor 
 mad ! " and Roger grinned over the thought. 
 
 " It is no more than Porton would deserve," 
 answered our hero. " Just the same, I hope the 
 authorities capture them both and return the minia- 
 tures to Mr. Basswood."
 
 CIVIL ENGINEERING EXAMINATION 175 
 
 Two days before the time when Dave and 
 Roger were to undergo the much talked-of exami- 
 nation in civil engineering, there came news from 
 a country town fifteen miles beyond Hacklebury. 
 A livery stableman there sent in word that he was 
 boarding a horse which he thought might be the 
 one stolen from Mr. Bryson. The Crumville 
 liveryman at once notified Ben and the local police, 
 and the boy and an officer accompanied him to 
 Centertown. Mr. Bryson at once recognized the 
 horse as his own, and wanted to know how the 
 Centertown liveryman had become possessed of 
 the animal. 
 
 " He was left here by a man I think was this 
 Tim Crapsey the paper spoke about," announced 
 the livery stable keeper. " He said he was on the 
 road to the next town, but that the storm was too 
 much for him, and that he wanted to leave the 
 animal with me for a few days or a week. He 
 said he was rather short of cash and asked me to 
 lend him ten dollars, which, of course, I did, as I 
 thought the horse was ample security," went on the 
 livery stableman, bitterly. 
 
 !t Was the fellow alone ? " was the question 
 which Ben put. 
 
 " He came in alone, but I think after he left 
 the stable he was joined by another fellow down 
 on the corner." 
 
 The Centertown livery-stable keeper had not
 
 1 76 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 noticed where Crapsey and his companion had 
 gone, but thought they had made their way to the 
 railroad station. It was learned that a train 
 bound for New York City had left Centertown 
 about an hour later. All came to the conclusion 
 that Ward Porton and Tim Crapsey had taken 
 this. The train had been stalled some hours along 
 the road, but had finally reached the Grand Cen- 
 tral Terminal of the metropolis. 
 
 "Well, this proves one thing that Porton 
 and Crapsey got as far as New York City with the 
 miniatures," said Dave, when he heard the news. 
 
 " Yes, and New York is such a large place, with 
 so many people in it, that it will be almost impos- 
 sible for the authorities to trace them there." 
 
 " That's it, Roger especially when you re- 
 member that this happened some time ago, so that 
 by now the thieves may be in Chicago, San Fran- 
 cisco, or in London, Paris, or some other far-away 
 place." 
 
 At last came the time when Dave and Roger 
 were to go in for the examination which meant so 
 much to them. They had worked hard, and Mr. 
 Ramsdell had assisted them in every way pos- 
 sible ; yet both were rather doubtful over the out- 
 come of the affair. 
 
 " It isn't going to be like the examinations at 
 Oak Hall," said our hero. " Mr. Ramsdell ad- 
 mitted that it would be stiff from the word go."
 
 CIVIL ENGINEERING EXAMINATION 177 
 
 " I know that," answered the senator's son. 
 " It seems that several years ago they were a little 
 lax, and, as a consequence, some fellows slipped 
 through that had no right to pass. Now they 
 have jacked the examiners up, so that the test is 
 likely to be fierce." 
 
 " Oh, Dave ! what are you going to do if you 
 don't pass?" cried Jessie, when he was ready to 
 leave home. 
 
 " If I don't pass now, Jessie, I'll simply go at 
 my studies again and keep at them until I do pass," 
 he answered. 
 
 The examination which was held in the city was 
 divided into two parts, one taking place from ten 
 to twelve in the morning, and the other from two 
 to five in the afternoon. There were about thirty 
 students present, and as far as possible each was 
 separated from any friends he might have on 
 hand, so that Dave sat on one side of the hall in 
 which the examination occurred and the senator's 
 son sat on the other. 
 
 "Well, how did you make out?" questioned 
 Roger of Dave, when the two went out for their 
 midday lunch. 
 
 " I don't know exactly, Roger," was the reply. 
 " I think, however, that I answered at least sev- 
 enty per cent, of the questions correctly. How 
 about yourself? " 
 
 " Well, I'm hoping that I got seventy per cent.
 
 1 78 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 of them right," returned the senator's son. " But 
 maybe I didn't get above fifty or sixty per cent." 
 
 The afternoon questions seemed to be much 
 harder than those of the morning. The students 
 were given until five o'clock to pass in their after- 
 noon papers, and never did Dave and Roger work 
 harder than they did during the final hour. One 
 question in particular bothered our hero a great 
 deal. But at almost the last minute the answer to 
 it came like an inspiration, and he dashed it down. 
 This question proved a poser for the senator's 
 son, and he passed in his paper without attempting 
 to put down a solution. 
 
 Following that examination, Dave returned to 
 Crumville. Roger journeyed to Washington, 
 where his folks were staying at a leading hotel, 
 Congress being in session and Senator Morr oc- 
 cupying his place in the Senate. 
 
 There was a week of anxious waiting, and then 
 one day Dave received an official-looking envelope 
 which made his heart beat rapidly. 
 
 " What is it, Dave ? " cried his sister, when she 
 saw him with the letter in his hand. " Is it your 
 civil engineering report? " 
 
 " I think it is, Laura," he answered. 
 
 " Oh, Dave, how I hope you've passed 1 " 
 
 11 So do I," put in Jessie. 
 
 Dave could not give an answer to this, because, 
 for the moment, his heart seemed to be in his
 
 CIVIL ENGINEERING EXAMINATION 179 
 
 throat. Passing to the desk in the library, he slit 
 open the envelope and took out the sheet which it 
 contained. A single glance at it, and he gave a 
 shout of triumph. 
 
 " I've passed ! " he cried. " Hurrah ! " 
 
 "Oh, good!" came simultaneously from his 
 sister and Jessie. And then they crowded closer 
 to look at the sheet of paper. 
 
 " Does it say what percentage you got? " con- 
 tinued his sister. 
 
 " Why, as near as I can make out, I've got a 
 standing of ninety-two per cent.," he announced, 
 with pardonable pride. " Isn't that fine? " 
 
 " It's the finest ever, Dave ! " said his sister, 
 fondly, as she threw her arms around his neck. 
 
 " Oh, Dave, it's just glorious ! " exclaimed 
 Jessie, her eyes beaming. And when he caught 
 her and held her tight for a moment she offered 
 no resistance. " Oh, won't your father and your 
 uncle be proud when they hear of this ! " 
 
 " I'm going to tell them right now! " he cried, 
 and ran off to spread the good news. 
 
 " My boy, I'm proud of you," said his father. 
 " Proud of you ! " and he clapped Dave affec- 
 tionately on the shoulder. 
 
 " I didn't expect anything different from our 
 Davy," put in Uncle Dunston. " I knew he'd 
 pass. Well, now you've passed, I wish you every 
 success in the profession you have chosen."
 
 i8o DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Oh, I'm not a full-fledged civil engineer yet, 
 Uncle Dunston," broke in Dave, quickly. " I've 
 got a whole lot to learn yet. Remember this is 
 only my first examination. I've got to study a 
 whole lot more and have a whole lot of practice, 
 too, before I can graduate as a real civil engineer." 
 
 Dave lost no time in sending a telegram to 
 Roger. In return, a few hours later came word 
 from the senator's son that he, too, had passed. 
 
 " Hurrah I " cried Dave, once more, and then 
 could not resist the temptation to grab Jessie about 
 the waist and start on a mad dance through the 
 library, the hallway, the dining-room, and the 
 living room of the mansion. Mrs. Wadsworth 
 looked on and smiled indulgently. 
 
 " I suppose your heart is as light as a feather 
 now, Dave," she said, when the impromptu whirl 
 came to an end. 
 
 " Indeed it is, Mrs. Wadsworth," he answered. 
 "Passing that examination has lifted a tre- 
 mendous weight from my shoulders." 
 
 Of course Mr. Ramsdell was greatly pleased to 
 think that both of his pupils had passed. 
 
 " Now I can write to my friends of the Mentor 
 Construction Company and see if they can give 
 Dave and Roger an opening," he said. " They 
 promised it to me some time ago in case the boys 
 passed." And he set about sending off a letter 
 without delay.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 OFF FOR TEXAS 
 
 " GLORIOUS news ! " 
 
 " Oh, Dave ! have you heard from Mr. Rams- 
 dell?" cried his sister Laura. 
 
 " Yes, here is a letter. And it enclosed an- 
 other from the Mentor Construction Company. 
 They are going to give me an opening with that 
 portion of the concern that is now operating in 
 Texas, building railroad bridges." 
 
 " Oh, Dave ! then you will really have to go 
 away down there ? " burst out Jessie, her face 
 falling a trifle. " It's a dreadfully long way 
 off!" 
 
 " Well, it's what I expected," he answered. 
 " A fellow can't expect to become a civil engineer 
 and work in his own backyard," and he grinned 
 a trifle. " This letter from Mr. Ramsdell states 
 that Roger will be given an opening also." 
 
 " With you, of course ? " queried Laura. 
 
 " He doesn't state that. But he knew we 
 wanted to stick together, so I suppose it's all 
 
 right." 
 
 181
 
 182 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 "When do you have to start?" questioned 
 Jessie. 
 
 " Just as soon as we can get ready according 
 to Mr. Ramsdell's letter. He says he is also 
 sending word to Roger." 
 
 As was to be expected, the tidings quite excited 
 our hero. Now that he had passed the pre- 
 liminary examination and was to go out for actual 
 field practice, he felt that he was really and truly 
 on his way to becoming a civil engineer. It was 
 the first step towards the realization of a dream 
 that had been his for some time. 
 
 Dave's father and his uncle, as well as Mr. and 
 Mrs. Wadsworth, were greatly interested in the 
 news. 
 
 " There is one thing about it, Dave," said 
 his parent; " I have made a number of inquiries, 
 and have learned that the Mentor Construction 
 Company is one of the largest and finest in this 
 country. They employ a number of first-class 
 engineers; so it is likely that you will receive the 
 very best of instruction, and I sincerely hope that 
 you will make the best of your opportunities." 
 
 " I am going to do my level best, Dad," he re- 
 turned earnestly. " I think I'm a mighty lucky 
 boy," he added, with a smile. 
 
 " I think you owe Mr. Ramsdell a good deal," 
 said his Uncle Dunston. " Of course, we have
 
 OFF FOR TEXAS 183 
 
 paid him for his services, but that isn't every- 
 thing." 
 
 " I know it," Dave returned; " and I'm either 
 going to thank him in person or else send him the 
 nicest letter that I can write." 
 
 Now that he was really going to leave home, 
 Mrs. Wadsworth, as well as Laura and Jessie, 
 took it upon their shoulders to see that Dave 
 should be properly taken care of so far as wearing 
 apparel went. 
 
 " But oh, Dave ! it's awful to think of your go- 
 ing so far away ! " said Jessie, one day, when the 
 two were alone in the library. " The house will 
 be dreadfully lonely after you are gone." 
 
 " It won't be much different from when I was 
 at Oak Hall, Jessie," he answered. 
 
 " Oh, yes, it will be, Dave. Texas is a long 
 way off. And my father says the construction 
 work that the Mentor Company is doing is close 
 to the Mexican border. What if you should have 
 trouble with some of those awful Mexican 
 bandits?" and the girl shuddered. 
 
 " I don't expect any trouble of that kind. 
 Practically all the fighting that has been going 
 on has been on Mexican soil on the other side of 
 the Rio Grande. As I understand it, the nearest 
 point that the Mentor Construction Company 
 reaches to Mexico is some miles from the border."
 
 184 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Well, that's close enough with so much fight- 
 ing going on," Jessie pouted. " I don't want any 
 of those awful Mexican revolutionists to fire at 
 you." 
 
 " Don't worry, Jessie," Dave answered ; and 
 then caught her by both hands and drew her closer. 
 " You're going to write to me regularly, aren't 
 you?" he continued, earnestly. 
 
 " Of course, Dave ! And don't you forget to 
 answer every letter," she replied quickly. 
 
 "Oh, I'll do that, never fear!" 
 
 " And do you really think you are going to en- 
 joy becoming a civil engineer? " 
 
 " I'm positive of it, Jessie. The more I see 
 of the profession, the more I am in love with it. 
 It's a wonderful thing. Just think of being able 
 to plan out a great big bridge across a broad river, 
 or some wonderful dam, or a tall sky-scraper, or 
 an elevated railroad, or a tunnel under a gigantic 
 mountain, or a tube under some river, or " 
 
 " Oh, my gracious me, Dave ! are you going 
 to do all those wonderful things?" gasped the 
 girl, her eyes opening widely. 
 
 " I don't expect I'll ever have the chance to do 
 all those things, Jessie; but I'm going to try my 
 best to do some of them. Of course, you must re- 
 member that at the present time civil engineering 
 is divided into a great many branches. Now, for 
 instance, I didn't mention anything about mining
 
 OFF FOR TEXAS 185 
 
 engineering, and that's a wonderful profession in 
 itself." 
 
 " Oh, Dave ! it's wonderful simply wonder- 
 ful! " cried the girl. " And you are going to be 
 a wonderful man I know it! " and she looked 
 earnestly into his eyes. 
 
 " If I ever do get to be a wonderful man, it's 
 going to be on your account, Jessie," he returned 
 in a low voice. " You have been my inspiration. 
 Don't forget that; " and he drew her closer than 
 before. 
 
 "Oh, Dave!" 
 
 " It's true, Jessie. And I only hope that I'll 
 make good and that too before I am very much 
 older. Then I think you already know what I 
 am going to do? " 
 
 " What? " she whispered, and dropped her 
 eyes. 
 
 " I am going to ask your folks for your hand 
 in marriage," he continued firmly, reading his an- 
 swer in her face. 
 
 Word had come in from Roger that he too was 
 getting ready to go to Texas, and that both of 
 the youths were to work together, as had been 
 anticipated. As the senator's son was in Wash- 
 ington, it was arranged that Dave was to join him 
 in the Capitol City, and then the two were to 
 journey to Texas. 
 
 Ben had heard about Dave's proposed depar-
 
 186 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 ture for the South, and he came over several times 
 to see his former Oak Hall chum before the lat- 
 ter left home. 
 
 "Any news regarding the miniatures?" ques- 
 tioned Dave, during the last of these visits. 
 
 " Not much," answered the real estate deal- 
 er's son. " The police thought they had one or 
 two clues, but they have all turned out to be false. 
 They arrested one fellow in Pittsburgh, thinking 
 he was Tim Crapsey, but he turned out to be some- 
 body else." 
 
 " Then they haven't any word at all about 
 Ward Porton?" 
 
 " No, that rascal seems to have disappeared 
 from the face of the earth." 
 
 " How is your father getting along, Ben? " 
 
 " He isn't doing so welf, Dave. This loss of 
 the miniatures was a terrible blow to him. You 
 see, the real estate business lately has not been 
 quite as good as it might be. My father went 
 into several pretty heavy investments, and he 
 needed a little more money to help him through. 
 So when he got word about this fortune in pic- 
 tures, he at once thought that he could sell some of 
 the miniatures and use the proceeds in his real 
 estate deals. Now that end of the business is 
 at a standstill." 
 
 " Is your father actually suffering for the want 
 of some cash?" asked our hero, quickly. "If
 
 OFF FOR TEXAS 187 
 
 he is, I think my father or my Uncle Dunston can 
 help him out." 
 
 " Your father has already promised to assist 
 him, and so has Mr. Wadsworth, Dave. But that 
 isn't the thing. You know my father is an in- 
 dependent sort of man, and it worries him to think 
 that he can't stand entirely on his own feet in his 
 real estate transactions. Of course, if he were 
 well enough to be around I suppose he could ad- 
 just matters without any special assistance. But 
 it's hard lines when things go wrong and you are 
 flat on your back in bed." 
 
 " Yes, I can understand that. And it must 
 worry your mother, too." 
 
 " Oh, it does ! Ma isn't the same woman. 
 She is awfully pale and quite thin. The doctor 
 told her not to worry so, or she'd be down on 
 her back, too." 
 
 " Well, you'll have to do what you can to cheer 
 up both of them." Dave drew a long breath. 
 " I do wish somebody would catch those two ras- 
 cals, not only on your account but on my account 
 also. I'd like to settle matters with Porton, for 
 having impersonated me at those stores, and for 
 taking my cap and overcoat." 
 
 " We've offered a reward of five thousand dol- 
 lars for the return of the miniatures, and another 
 thousand each for the capture of the thieves," 
 announced Ben. " That ought to be a strong in-
 
 i88 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 ducement for the detectives to do all they possibly 
 
 can." 
 
 " We thought you might possibly get an offer 
 from Porton or Crapsey, or both of them, to re- 
 turn the miniatures for a certain amount," went 
 on Dave. " But you say no such offer has come 
 in?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Would your father consider it if it did come 
 in?" 
 
 " I don't know what he would do, Dave. Of 
 course, he'd hate to give up money to a thief; 
 but, just the same, he'd hate it worse if he never 
 got the miniatures back." 
 
 At last came the time for Dave to leave home. 
 His trunk had been packed and shipped on ahead. 
 There was still considerable snow on the ground; 
 so he was taken to the depot in the big Wads- 
 worth sleigh, the girls and his father accompany- 
 ing him. 
 
 " Good-bye, Davy, my boy! " cried his Uncle 
 Dunston, when he was ready to leave the house. 
 " Now I expect you to give a good account of 
 yourself while with that construction company." 
 
 " I'll do what I can," he answered. 
 
 " And do keep away from the Mexicans," 
 added Mrs. Wadsworth with a sigh. 
 
 " You trust David to do the right thing," came 
 from old Caspar Potts, his mellow eyes beaming
 
 OFF FOR TEXAS 189 
 
 brightly. " David is all right. He's my boy, 
 and I'm proud of him," and he nodded his head 
 over and over again. 
 
 For the girls, the drive to the depot was all too 
 short. Laura had so many things to say to her 
 brother that she hardly knew what to speak of 
 first. As for poor Jessie, she felt so bad she could 
 scarcely speak, and when she looked at Dave there 
 were unbidden tears in her eyes. 
 
 " Now don't look at it that way," David whis- 
 pered, when he caught sight of the tears. " I'll 
 be back again before a great while." 
 
 " Oh, Dave, I I ca can't help it," she 
 murmured. "I I think so so much 
 of of you ! " and then, for the moment, she 
 hid her face on his shoulder. 
 
 Mr. Porter had a few words of advice to give, 
 and he had hardly finished when the train rolled 
 into the station. Then Dave shook hands with 
 his father, and kissed each of the girls, and 
 climbed on board. 
 
 " Good-bye, my son 1 " called Mr. Porter. 
 
 " Good-bye, Dad ! Take care of yourself 
 while I'm gone," he shouted back. " Good-bye, 
 Laura ! Good-bye, Jessie ! " 
 
 " Good-bye, Dave! " returned the sister, wav- 
 ing her hand. 
 
 Jessie tried to speak but could not, and so she 
 too waved a farewell.
 
 190 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Then the train rolled from the Crumvllle sta- 
 tion, slowly gathering speed, and finally disap- 
 pearing in the distance. 
 
 At last our hero was off to become a full-fledged 
 civil engineer.
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 IN NEW YORK CITY 
 
 " DAVE PORTER ! " 
 
 " Buster Beggs! " cried our hero, his face light- 
 ing up. " Where in the world did you come 
 from?" 
 
 " Just got off the accommodation coming the 
 other way," announced Joseph Beggs, otherwise 
 known as Buster, a fat youth who had long been 
 one of Dave's Oak Hall classmates. 
 
 "Are you alone?" questioned our hero. He 
 had just stepped from the local train to change to 
 the express for New York City; and he had fairly 
 run into Buster, who was standing on the platform 
 flanked by several suitcases. 
 
 " No, I'm not alone," answered the fat youth. 
 " Shadow Hamilton and Luke Watson are with 
 
 me." 
 
 "You don't say so!" and our "hero's face 
 showed his pleasure. " Are you bound for New 
 York?" he questioned quickly. 
 
 " Yes, we are going to take the express." 
 " Fine ! I am going there myself." 
 191
 
 192 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Got a seat in the parlor car? " 
 
 " Yes. Number twelve, car two." 
 
 " Isn't that wonderful ! We have eleven, thir- 
 teen and fourteen!" answered Buster Beggs. 
 
 " Hello there, Dave Porter ! " shouted another 
 youth, as he stepped out of the waiting-room of 
 the depot. "How are you anyway?" and he 
 came up, swinging a banjo-case from his right 
 hand to his left so that he might shake hands. 
 Luke Watson had always been one of the favorite 
 musicians at Oak Hall, playing the banjo and the 
 guitar very nicely, and singing well. 
 
 " Mighty glad to see you, Luke ! " cried Dave, 
 and wrung the extended hand with such vigor that 
 the former musician of Oak Hall winced. Then 
 Dave looked over the other's shoulder and saw a 
 third lad approaching a youth who was as thin 
 as he was tall. " How is our little boy, Shadow, 
 to-day?" he continued, as Maurice Hamilton 
 came closer. 
 
 " Great Scott ! Am I blind or is it really Dave 
 Porter?" burst out Shadow Hamilton. 
 
 " No, you're not blind, Shadow, and it's really 
 yours truly," laughed Dave. And then as an- 
 other handshake followed he continued: " What 
 are you going down to New York City for ? To 
 pick up some new stories?" 
 
 "Pick up stories?" queried the former story
 
 IN NEW YORK CITY 193 
 
 teller of Oak Hall, in perplexity. " I don't have 
 to pick them up. I have " 
 
 " About fourteen million stories in pickle," 
 broke in Buster Beggs. 
 
 " Fourteen niillion ! " snorted Luke Watson. 
 " You had better say about fourteen I Shadow 
 tells the same stories over and over again." 
 
 " Say, that puts me in mind of a story! " cried 
 the youth mentioned, his face lighting up. 
 " Once on a time there was a " 
 
 " Oh, my, Shadow ! are you going to start right 
 away?" demanded Dave, with a broad grin on 
 his face. " Can't you give a fellow a chance to 
 catch his breath? This is a great surprise 
 meeting you three on my way to the city. And 
 to think we are going to be together in one of 
 the parlor cars, too ! " 
 
 " Oh, you can't lose the Oak Hall boys ! " cried 
 Buster. " Say, let me tell you something," he 
 went on. " Luke has written a song about Oafc 
 Hall that is about the finest thing I ever heard." 
 
 " It ought to be if it mentions us," answered 
 Dave, with a boldness that took away much of the 
 conceit. 
 
 " Say, you haven't let me tell that story I " in- 
 terrupted Shadow, with a disconcerted look on his 
 thin face. " Now, as I was saying, there was 
 once a "
 
 194 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 "Not now, Shadow!" 
 
 " You can tell it on the way to New York! " 
 
 " Provided the conductor will give you written 
 permission." 
 
 " Not much ! " returned the would-be story- 
 teller. " If I can't tell that story now, I'm go- 
 ing to be mum forever." He suddenly looked at 
 Dave. " What is taking you to New York? " he 
 inquired. 
 
 " I'm on my way to Texas," answered Dave, 
 and then told his former classmates of how he and 
 Roger had passed the preliminary examination as 
 civil engineers and of how they were now going 
 to take up field work in the Lone Star State. 
 
 " Say, that's great ! " exclaimed Buster, in ad- 
 miration. " I wish I was going to do something 
 like that." 
 
 " So do I," added Luke, while Shadow nodded 
 in assent. 
 
 The other lads had many questions to ask, and 
 in return told Dave much about themselves. In 
 the midst of the conversation the express train for 
 the metropolis rolled in and the four youths lost 
 no time in clambering aboard. They found their 
 seats with ease, and quickly settled themselves. 
 
 " That's a fierce loss that the Basswoods sus- 
 tained," remarked Luke. " I read all about it in 
 the newspapers. That fellow, Ward Porton, 
 must be a peach."
 
 IN NEW YORK CITY 195 
 
 " I should say he was a lemon so far as Dave 
 was concerned," said Buster, with a slow wink of 
 his eye. 
 
 " Speaking of peaches puts me in mind of an- 
 other story," cried Shadow. " A man had a tree 
 in his garden and " 
 
 " Oh, Shadow, why this infliction 1 " 
 
 '' Have we really got to listen? " 
 
 " How much will you pay us if we keep still 
 until you have finished? " 
 
 ' Yes, you've got to listen, and I won't pay you 
 a cent for it, either," retorted the would-be story- 
 teller. " This is a short one. A man had a 
 fruit-tree in his garden, and he told a friend of 
 his that he got three kinds of fruit from it. His 
 friend didn't believe it, so he told his friend: 
 4 Why, it was dead easy. I went out in the gar- 
 den to pick an apple. I picked one, and then I 
 picked a pair. One was no good, but another was 
 a peach.' ' 
 
 " Wow ! listen to that ! " 
 
 u Shadow must have had a peach of a time get- 
 ting up that story," commented Luke, evidently 
 feeling himself justified. 
 
 " Good thing there are not a pair of them," 
 came from Dave. 
 
 " Such stories are the fruits of idleness," was 
 added by Buster, solemnly. 
 
 " Oh, don't you poke fun at that joke," re-
 
 i 9 6 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 torted Shadow. " It's a good deal better than any 
 you could get up." 
 
 Dave learned that Luke Watson's folks were 
 now living in New York City, and that Luke had 
 invited Buster and Shadow to spend a week with 
 him. 
 
 " It's too bad you can't stop off, at least for a 
 day or two," said Luke to Dave. " It would suit 
 me down to the ground to have you join us." 
 
 "And I'd like first-rate to do it, Luke," an- 
 swered our hero. " But I promised to be in 
 Washington by to-morrow, and that means that 
 I've got to take the midnight train from New 
 York City." 
 
 " Well, we'll get down to New York by three 
 o'clock this afternoon. That will give us nine 
 hours in which to have a good time. You've got 
 to come up to our house for dinner," continued 
 Luke; and so it was arranged. 
 
 " I was wondering what I would do with my- 
 self this evening," said our hero. " I don't mind 
 going around the city in the daylight, but after it 
 is dark it is rather hard for a stranger to put in 
 his time, unless he wants to go to some kind of 
 show." 
 
 " We might all go to a moving-picture show 
 after dinner," suggested Buster. " I'll blow you 
 to front seats," he added generously. 
 
 " You'll have to make it a seat farther back
 
 IN NEW YORK CITY 197 
 
 than that for me," put in Shadow. " A front 
 seat at a moving-picture show is no good," and 
 at this there was a general snicker. 
 
 " We'll see about the show after we have had 
 dinner," said Luke. 
 
 The time on the train was spent in talk about 
 Oak Hall and their numerous classmates, many of 
 them now well scattered throughout the States. 
 
 " Polly Vane has gone into business, so I hear," 
 announced Luke. " He's in real estate, and in 
 spite of the fact that he's a regular dude they tell 
 me he is doing very well." 
 
 " Well, Polly ought to do well," answered 
 Dave, who had not forgotten that the student who 
 acted so very girlishly had at graduation stood as 
 high in his percentage as our hero himself had 
 done. 
 
 " And they say Chip Macklin is doing pretty 
 well, too," put in Buster, referring to a small lad 
 who had once been a toady to Gus Plum, the Hall 
 bully. 
 
 " Well, Plum is doing well," returned Dave. 
 " I'm glad he reformed. Evidently there was 
 much better stuff in him than there was in Jasniff 
 and Merwell." 
 
 " Oh, Jasniff and Merwell were thoroughly bad 
 eggs," announced Luke. " I'll never forget, 
 Dave, how Jasniff once tried to brain you with an 
 Indian club."
 
 i 9 8 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Say, speaking about bad eggs, puts me in mind 
 of another story," cried Shadow. " A lady went 
 into a store and asked the store-keeper's clerk 
 how much the eggs were. The clerk Now 
 don't interrupt me, because this isn't a very long 
 story," pleaded the would-be story teller. " The 
 clerk was only a small boy, and he hadn't been in 
 the business very long, so he told the lady, * The 
 really fresh eggs are fifty cents, and the almost 
 fresh eggs are forty cents, and those that ain't 
 so fresh are thirty-five cents, and the rotten eggs 
 are thirty cents.' ' 
 
 " Oh, Shadow 1 what a story! " 
 " Haven't you got any fresher than that? " 
 1 You can't make anybody believe any such 
 yarn as that." 
 
 ' That story is absolutely true," returned the 
 story teller, soberly. "If you don't believe it, 
 you come down to the town of Necopopec, Maine, 
 and on the principal street of the town I'll show 
 you the town pump where that boy used to get a 
 drink three times a day," and at this sally there 
 was a general laugh. 
 
 At last the train rolled into the Grand Central 
 Terminal at Forty-Second Street, New York City, 
 and, alighting, the lads made their way through 
 the spacious depot to the crowded thoroughfare 
 beyond. Here taxicabs were numerous, and the 
 youths piled into one, leaving the driver to look
 
 IN NEW YORK CITY 199 
 
 after their suit-cases. -Dave's trunk had been 
 checked through to Washington. 
 
 Luke's family lived in the vicinity of Central 
 Park, and it did not take the chums long to reach 
 the home. Here they were greeted by Mrs. Wat- 
 son, Luke's father being away on business. Then 
 Luke took the lads up to his own room, where all 
 proceeded to make themselves at home. 
 
 At a little after five Mr. Watson came in to 
 greet them, and about an hour later all sat down 
 to a sumptuous dinner, to which it is needless to 
 say each of the boys applied himself diligently. 
 
 " I see by the papers that they are showing a 
 very fine war spectacle at one of the photo-play 
 houses," announced Luke. " How would you 
 fellows like to go and see it?" 
 
 This was agreeable to all, and a little later the 
 chums left the Watson house to go to the theater, 
 which was about ten blocks farther downtown. 
 
 " If we get there by half-past seven, we can 
 take in the first show of the evening," announced 
 Luke. " That will give us a chance to do some 
 other things before it is time for Dave to catch 
 his train." 
 
 The war spectacle proved very entertaining to 
 all the youths, and they were rather sorry when 
 it came to an end. Then Buster proposed that 
 they walk down the Great White Way, as a cer- 
 tain portion of Broadway has been designated.
 
 200 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 The boys had been walking for the best part of 
 half an hour, taking in various sights, including 
 the wonderfully illuminated signs, when suddenly, 
 as they passed through a rather dense crowd, 
 Shadow plucked Dave by the arm. 
 
 "What is it?" questioned our hero, quickly, 
 for he saw that the former story-teller of Oak 
 Hall was much excited. 
 
 " That fellow we just passed, Dave I " cried 
 Shadow. 
 
 "What of him?" 
 
 " Why, he looked just like you I " 
 
 " You don't mean it ! " gasped Dave, and came 
 to a sudden halt. " If he looked like me it must 
 have been Ward Porton! "
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 DAVE IN WASHINGTON 
 
 "WARD PORTON!" exclaimed the other 
 youths in a chorus. 
 
 " Let us go after him," went on Dave. 
 " Shadow, which way did he go ? " 
 
 " Come on, I'll show you," answered the story- 
 teller, and led the way through the crowd as well 
 as he could. 
 
 As already mentioned, the crowd at this par- 
 ticular spot on the Great White Way was dense, 
 and the chums had all they could do to force their 
 way along, often elbowing people in a way that 
 was far from polite. Presently they gained a 
 street corner where the pedestrians were being 
 held up by the traffic flowing the other way. 
 
 " There he is ! " exclaimed Shadow, suddenly, 
 pointing with his hand. 
 
 Looking in the direction indicated, Dave saw 
 a well-known form. It was indeed Ward Porton, 
 still wearing the cap and overcoat he had stolen 
 from our hero. 
 
 " Hi there, Porton! Stop! " cried Dave, and 
 made a dash for the rascal. 
 
 201
 
 202 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 As his hand fell on Porton's arm the other 
 swung around in a startled way. Then, as he 
 caught sight of Dave and his friends, he gave a 
 sudden duck and crowded in between several ladies 
 standing in front of him. The next instant he 
 was dashing out into the street in the midst of a 
 perfect maze of automobiles and wagons. 
 
 " I'm going after him ! " cried Dave to his 
 chums, and did his best to follow. But an auto- 
 mobile got in his way, and then a large express 
 wagon, and before our hero could get around 
 these, Porton had gained the opposite sidewalk 
 and was darting through the crowd with great 
 rapidity, paying scant attention to those he met 
 and hurling one little girl off her feet and into 
 the gutter. 
 
 "Stopl What's the matter here?" cried a 
 voice to Dave ; and the next moment a policeman 
 came up beside him. 
 
 " That fellow ahead ! I want to catch him I " 
 burst out our hero. " He's a thief! " 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 " There he goes, straight into the crowd I " an- 
 swered Dave, and then hurried on once more, 
 with his chums trailing behind him. 
 
 The chase so suddenly taken up did not, how- 
 ever, prove long. By the time Dave and his 
 friends reached the next corner of the crowded 
 thoroughfare Ward Porton had disappeared once
 
 THE NEXT INSTANT HE WAS DASHING OUT INTO THE STREET. 
 
 Page 202.
 
 DAVE IN WASHINGTON 203 
 
 more and none of the youths could tell what di- 
 rection he had taken. 
 
 " I don't know what you're going to do, Dave," 
 said Luke, sympathetically. " He may have gone 
 ahead and then again he may have turned to the 
 right or to the left." 
 
 " I don't believe you'll be able to locate him in 
 such a crowd as this," put in Buster. " What a 
 shame that you weren't able to get your hands on 
 him!" 
 
 " I did have one hand on him, but he slipped 
 away like a greased pig," announced Dave, dole- 
 fully. 
 
 " Say, speaking about greased pigs puts me in 
 mind of a story," put in Shadow. " Once there 
 were two boys " and then, as his chums gave 
 him a sudden cold look, he continued : " Oh, 
 pshaw! what's the use of trying to tell a story just 
 now. I know Dave would rather find this fellow 
 Porton." 
 
 " You're right there, Shadow ! " answered our 
 hero, quickly. " I'd rather get my hands on him 
 than listen to a thousand stories." 
 
 Dave was unwilling to let the chase end there; 
 so he and his friends spent the remainder of the 
 evening walking up and down Broadway, and 
 traversing several blocks of the side streets in 
 the vicinity where Ward Porton had disappeared. 
 But it was all of no avail. The rascal had made
 
 204 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 good his escape. Then all walked around to the 
 nearest police station, and told the authorities of 
 the affair, so that the detectives of the city might 
 be on the watch for the criminal. 
 
 His chums insisted upon seeing Dave off on his 
 journey to Washington, and before going to the 
 Pennsylvania Railroad Station on Seventh Avenue 
 the youths treated themselves to a lunch. Dur- 
 ing the meal Shadow was allowed to tell several 
 of his best stories, and Luke was called on to hum 
 over the song he had composed in honor of their 
 days at Oak Hall. 
 
 " That's a fine song, Luke, and you ought to 
 have it published," declared Dave, heartily. " I 
 believe every lad who ever went to Oak Hall 
 would want a copy of it." 
 
 It may be mentioned here that later on Luke 
 Watson did have the composition brought out by 
 a metropolitan music publisher. He dedicated it 
 to the senior class of which he had been a mem- 
 ber, and the song sold very well. 
 
 Dave had already secured his berth on the train, 
 so that when his friends left him he lost no time 
 in retiring. But the novelty of the journey, and 
 his thoughts concerning Ward Porton, kept him 
 awake for some time. Finally, however, he went 
 sound asleep and did not awaken until some time 
 after the Capitol City was reached. 
 
 Senator Morr and his family were staying at
 
 DAVE IN WASHINGTON 205 
 
 the New Willard Hotel in Washington, and Dave 
 soon found a street car that passed the door of 
 that place. When he entered the hotel, he found 
 Roger in the lobby waiting for him. 
 
 " I thought you'd come right up," cried the 
 senator's son. " I told the folks I'd meet you. 
 Of course, you haven't had any breakfast? The 
 folks will be down in a little while and then we'll 
 all go to breakfast together." 
 
 Roger was much interested to learn that Dave 
 had met three of their old chums, and wanted to 
 know all that had been said and done. The fact 
 that our hero had also seen Ward Porton was a 
 surprise. 
 
 " What a shame you didn't capture him, Dave ! 
 Maybe you might have got on the track of that 
 Basswood fortune." 
 
 " Just what I was thinking, Roger. I did my 
 best, but you know what a New York crowd is. 
 Porton slipped through it and disappeared almost 
 like magic." 
 
 Senator Morr and his wife greeted Dave 
 warmly. The four had breakfast in a private 
 dining-room, and during the course of the meal the 
 senator had much to say regarding the departure 
 of his son and Dave for Texas. 
 
 " I know one or two of the men connected with 
 the Mentor Construction Company," said the 
 senator. " They are very fine fellows, and I think
 
 206 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 they will see to it that you are treated rightly." 
 
 " Dad, of course, has some influence with 
 them," broke in Roger, " being a senator, you 
 know." 
 
 " I don't use my influence that way, Roger," 
 answered the father, shortly. " You must not ex- 
 pect special favors because I happen to be a 
 United States senator. I expect you to make your 
 way on your own merit." 
 
 " And that's what I'm going to do," answered 
 the son, promptly. 
 
 " I do hope both of you boys keep out of trou- 
 ble," said Mrs. Morr. " You are going close to 
 the border of Mexico, and there has been fighting 
 going on along that border for many months." 
 
 " We are not going down there to get into any 
 fights," answered Dave. " We are going down 
 there to attend strictly to business. If the Mexi- 
 cans will only leave us alone, we'll leave them 
 alone." 
 
 Dave and Roger had at first thought to go to 
 Texas by the way of New Orleans and Houston, 
 but after some thought they decided to take the 
 journey by the way of St. Louis, Kansas City and 
 San Antonio. Their train was to leave on the 
 following morning, so that the two youths had a 
 whole day practically to themselves. 
 
 " Now I am in Washington I'd like to take a 
 look around," said Dave.
 
 DAVE IN WASHINGTON 207 
 
 " I knew you'd like to do that, so I got every- 
 thing ready beforehand," announced his chum. 
 " We'll spend to-day in sightseeing." 
 
 They visited the Capitol and the White House, 
 and numerous other buildings, and almost before 
 they were aware it was evening. Then Mrs. 
 Morr insisted upon it that her son retire early, 
 knowing what a hard journey was before him. 
 
 The senator's son had received word that the 
 Mentor Construction Company had opened a tem- 
 porary office at San Antonio, and the two youths 
 were to report there before proceeding farther. 
 The engineering corps to which they had been 
 assigned was on the point of moving from one 
 place to another, and they were to get definite in- 
 structions at San Antonio regarding their further 
 movements. 
 
 " Well, good-bye and good luck to you ! " said 
 the senator, who came down to the depot with 
 them to see them off. 
 
 " Good-bye, Dad," answered Roger, shaking 
 hands warmly. Dave, too, shook hands with his 
 chum's father. 
 
 Then, in a moment more, the two youths were 
 off on their long journey to Texas. 
 
 " This kind of traveling is rather different from 
 what the pioneers put up with," remarked Roger, 
 as the two settled themselves in their comfortable 
 seats, they having a whole section of the sleeper
 
 208 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 to themselves. " Think of what it must have been 
 to travel thousands of miles in a boomer wagon 
 behind a team of mules or oxen! " 
 
 " Yes, Roger, and think of being on the look- 
 out constantly for unfriendly Indians and wild 
 beasts," added Dave. " I'll tell you, when you 
 come to consider the luxuries we enjoy these days 
 we have much to be thankful for." 
 
 The day's run was a pleasant one, and the 
 youths enjoyed it greatly. They spent the time in 
 chatting about the prospects and in gazing at the 
 swiftly-moving panorama to be seen from the car 
 window. 
 
 " It's a pity we have to sleep when there is so 
 much to see," was Dave's comment, as, after hav- 
 ing passed through Cincinnati, it grew time to re- 
 tire. " I'd like very much to see what this section 
 of the country looks like." 
 
 The following morning found them crossing 
 the Mississippi River. They passed through St. 
 Louis, and then the train headed for Kansas City, 
 where they were to change for Fort Worth and 
 San Antonio. 
 
 The train for San Antonio proved to be much 
 less crowded than the other had been. As before, 
 the youths had a section to themselves, and none 
 of the sections near them was occupied. But 
 when, on the following day, the train stopped at a 
 way station several passengers got aboard, includ-
 
 DAVE IN WASHINGTON 209 
 
 ing a man who took the section opposite to that 
 occupied by our friends. 
 
 This man was a tall, heavy-set and red-faced in- 
 dividual, having reddish hair and a heavy reddish 
 mustache. He looked the youths over rather 
 coldly, and then, throwing himself down in his 
 seat, proceeded to read a newspaper. 
 
 " Doesn't look like a very friendly fellow," 
 whispered Roger to Dave. " I was hoping we 
 might meet somebody who would warm up a little 
 and tell us something about this part of the coun- 
 try." 
 
 ' You've got to go slow in making friends out 
 in a strange place like this," answered Dave. 
 
 " Oh, I don't know about that, Dave," was the 
 quick reply. " My father tells me that folks in 
 the West and Southwest are usually very friendly. 
 We found them so on our way to Star Ranch." 
 
 The boys continued to talk of the prospects 
 ahead, and during the conversation the Mentor 
 Construction Company was mentioned several 
 times. Then Dave noticed that the burly man 
 opposite had dropped his newspaper and was look- 
 ing at them curiously. Finally the man arose and 
 stepped across the aisle. 
 
 " Did I hear you young fellows speaking about 
 the Mentor Construction Company?" he asked, 
 not unpleasantly. 
 
 " You did," answered Dave.
 
 210 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Are you connected with that concern? " went 
 on the man. 
 
 " We are going to work for them," answered 
 Roger. " We have just been appointed to the 
 engineering department." 
 
 " You don't say ! " cried the man in surprise. 
 " I'm with that company myself. My name is 
 William Jarvey. What is yours?" 
 
 The boys told him, and all shook hands. Then, 
 as Roger crossed over to sit down beside Dave, 
 the man sank down in the seat opposite.
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 IN TEXAS AT LAST 
 
 " So you are going to join our engineering de- 
 partment, eh? " queried William Jarvey. " Do 
 you know anybody in that department? " 
 
 " We don't know any one down here," an- 
 swered Dave. " We are utter strangers. We 
 obtained our positions through a Mr. Ramsdell, 
 who was our tutor." 
 
 " Oh, I see." The man had been looking 
 rather sharply at Dave. " May I ask where you 
 come from? " 
 
 " We come from New England. I live in a 
 town called Crumville. My friend here is the 
 son of United States Senator Morr." 
 
 " Oh, indeed!" William Jarvey showed in- 
 creased interest. " The son of a United States 
 senator, eh? Well, that ought to help you a 
 great deal. The Mentor Construction Company 
 often has to ask the government for favors, you 
 know," and he laughed lightly. 
 
 " I'm not going to trade on the fact that my 
 father is a United States senator," remarked 
 
 211
 
 212 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Roger, somewhat shortly. " I am going to make 
 my own way." 
 
 " And I guess you will. You look like a pretty 
 bright young man," returned William Jarvey, 
 hastily. 
 
 " Are you a civil engineer? " questioned Dave. 
 
 " Oh, no ! No such luck for me. I am con- 
 nected with the bookkeeping and the blue-print 
 department. I wish I were a first-class civil 
 engineer. I might be earning a much larger 
 salary; " and the man drew down his mouth as he 
 spoke. Evidently he was a fellow who was not at 
 all satisfied with his position in life. 
 
 " We are to report to a Mr. Perry Watson at 
 San Antonio," explained Roger. " He is to tell 
 us where to go and what to do." 
 
 "Perry Watson, eh?" and the man scowled 
 and showed his teeth in an unpleasant manner. 
 
 " What's the matter don't you like Mr. Wat- 
 son? " asked Dave. 
 
 " Not much. Very few of the men do. He's 
 terribly sharp on watching everything a man 
 does." 
 
 " I sincerely hope we don't have any trouble 
 with him," was Roger's comment. " We'd like to 
 start right, you know." 
 
 " Well, you'll have to watch yourselves pretty 
 closely," announced William Jarvey. 
 
 The talk then became general, and the burly
 
 IN TEXAS AT LAST 213 
 
 man told the youths much about the work being 
 done by the Mentor Construction Company. It 
 seemed that there were four gangs in the field, two 
 operating south of San Antonio, and the others 
 to the westward. 
 
 " It's more than likely you'll be sent to the 
 west," he said. " I think the gangs in the south 
 have all the helpers they need. I am going west 
 myself; so if you are sent that way perhaps we'll 
 see more of each other." 
 
 " Perhaps," answered Dave. He was not par- 
 ticularly elated over the thought, for there was 
 something about William Jarvey which did not 
 appeal to him. The man was evidently very over- 
 bearing and had an exceedingly good opinion of 
 himself. 
 
 " I'm going back to have a smoke," said the 
 man, presently. " Will you come and join me? " 
 
 " Thank you, but neither of us smokes," an- 
 swered Roger. 
 
 " What! not even cigarettes? " 
 
 " No," returned Dave. 
 
 " Humph ! I don't see how you can resist. I 
 would feel utterly lost without a cigar. Well, 
 I'll see you later." And thus speaking Wiliam 
 Jarvey took himself off. 
 
 " I sincerely trust the rest of the men we meet 
 will be of a better sort than that fellow," re- 
 marked Roger. " I don't like his make-up at all."
 
 214 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " I agree with you, Roger," answered Dave. 
 " He looks like a chap who would be very dicta- 
 torial if he had the chance one of the kind who 
 loves to ride over those under him." 
 
 " I can't get over the way he kept looking at 
 you, Dave. He acted as if he had met you be- 
 fore and was trying to place you." 
 
 u I noticed he did look at me pretty closely a 
 number of times," answered our hero. " But I 
 took it that he was only trying to size me up. 
 You know some strangers have that habit." 
 
 " Well, he didn't look at me that way," con- 
 tinued the senator's son. " I believe he was do- 
 ing his best to try to place you." 
 
 " I wish I had asked him where he was from. 
 Maybe that might have given us some sort of 
 clue to his identity." 
 
 " Let's ask him if we get the chance." 
 
 On the journey to San Antonio they had an op- 
 portunity to speak to William Jarvey a number of 
 times, and once they sat at the same table with 
 him in the dining-car. When asked where he 
 came from, he replied rather evasively that he 
 had lived for a great number of years in the 
 Northwest, but that he had left that section of the 
 country to try his fortunes in Mexico. 
 
 " I was interested in the mines down there, and 
 then I got mixed up in one of their revolutions and 
 got shot in the leg," he added. " That was
 
 IN TEXAS AT LAST 215 
 
 enough for me ; so I crossed the Rio Grande into 
 Texas, and by luck got the position I am now hold- 
 ing with the Mentor Company." 
 
 " Are the Mexican revolutionists interfering at 
 all with the work of the construction company 
 near the border? " questioned Dave. 
 
 " Not very much. One gang, that was work- 
 ing on one of the railroad bridges not many miles 
 from the Rio Grande, had a little run-in with some 
 raiders who came across the river to steal cattle. 
 They helped the ranchmen drive the raiders away, 
 and in the fight one fellow was shot through the 
 shoulder." 
 
 " Well, that was trouble enough ! " cried Roger. 
 " It's more than I'd like to see." 
 
 " That's right," returned Dave. " We didn't 
 come down to fight the Mexicans. We came 
 down to become civil engineers." 
 
 " Oh, I don't think you'll run into any fighting," 
 answered William Jarvey. " But, of course, a 
 good many of those greasers are very treacherous 
 and there is no telling what they will do. They 
 shoot down and rob anybody they meet in their 
 own country, and then, when there is nothing in 
 sight on that side of the river, they watch their 
 chance and come over on this side. Of course, 
 United States soldiers are on the lookout for 
 them ; so they don't dare to make their raids very 
 public."
 
 216 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 It developed that William Jarvey had been sent 
 up to Denison on business for the construction 
 company. He carried with him a heavy valise, 
 and also a large roll of blue-prints. 
 
 " I should have been back to San Antonio yes- 
 terday," he exclaimed. " But I was delayed in 
 Denison. I suppose Perry Watson will be as mad 
 as a hornet when I get back because I didn't make 
 it as quick as he expected. He expects an awful 
 lot from those working under him." 
 
 To this neither of the youths replied. They 
 had noticed that William Jarvey smoked a great 
 deal and that his breath smelled strongly of liquor, 
 and they concluded that he was not a man who 
 would be likely to kill himself with overwork. 
 
 " From what Jarvey has told us of Mr. Wat- 
 son I am inclined to think the superintendent is a 
 hustling sort of fellow," remarked Dave, when 
 he and Roger were left alone. " And, being that 
 kind of man, he probably can't stand for a fellow 
 who wants to loaf around and drink and smoke." 
 
 " I guess you've sized it up about right, Dave," 
 answered the senator's son. " In these days the 
 watchword seems to be ' keep moving ' ; and a fel- 
 low has got to ' get there ' if he wants to hold 
 down his job." 
 
 At last the train rolled into the city of San 
 Antonio. Before this place was reached William 
 Jarvey had met a number of other men who had
 
 IN TEXAS AT LAST 217 
 
 boarded the train at a station some miles away; 
 and he was so interested in what the newcomers 
 had to tell him that he seemed to forget com- 
 pletely the presence of Dave and Roger. 
 
 " And I'd just as lief he would forget us," said 
 our hero to his chum. " I'd rather go to Mr. 
 Watson alone than have that man introduce us." 
 
 " Exactly the way I feel about it," returned 
 the senator's son. " Come on, let's see if we 
 can't slip away from him through the crowd." 
 This they did easily, and soon found themselves 
 walking along one of the quaint streets of San 
 Antonio bound for the building in which the Men- 
 tor Construction Company had its temporary of- 
 fices. 
 
 Contrary to what William Jarvey had told 
 them, they found Mr. Perry Watson a very pleas- 
 ant man with whom to deal. There was little of 
 nonsense about him, and he lost no time in find- 
 ing out who the youths were and for what they 
 had come. But his manner was courteous, and 
 he made both Dave and Roger feel thoroughly at 
 home. 
 
 " I know Mr. Ramsdell very well. He's a fine 
 fellow," said the superintendent of the construc- 
 tion company. " I had a personal letter from 
 him in regard to you, and I'm going to put you 
 out under one of the best men we have down here 
 in Texas, Mr. Ralph Obray, who is now working
 
 2i8 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 on the construction of the new Catalco bridge to 
 the west of this place. He is expecting some new 
 helpers, and he asked me to send him the two best 
 fellows I could find, so I am going to send you," 
 and Mr. Watson smiled slightly. 
 
 " Thank you very much, Mr. Watson," an- 
 swered Dave. 
 
 " Oh, you don't have to thank me, Porter," re- 
 turned the superintendent, quickly. " You just 
 go out and make good. That is all this company 
 asks of any one it employs." 
 
 " When do you want us to start, Mr. Watson? " 
 questioned Roger. 
 
 " You can suit yourselves about that, although 
 the sooner you report to Mr. Obray the better I 
 think he'll be pleased." 
 
 The superintendent walked to a back door of 
 his office and called to some one without. 
 
 " I'll turn you over to one of our clerks and he 
 will give you all the details regarding your posi- 
 tions," he explained. 
 
 The clerk proved to be a young man only a few 
 years older than Dave and Roger, and the youths 
 took to him at once. He explained in detail 
 where they were to go and what the construction 
 camp located near the new Catalco bridge con- 
 sisted of, and also told them what their work 
 would probably be for the first few months. 
 
 " Of course, you've got to start at the bottom
 
 IN TEXAS AT LAST 219 
 
 of the ladder," he explained. " But you'll find 
 Mr. Obray a splendid man to be under, and you'll 
 probably learn more under him than you would 
 under any of our other head engineers." 
 
 " In that case I'm mighty glad Mr. Watson as- 
 signed us to Mr. Obray's gang," answered Dave. 
 
 It was arranged that Dave and his chum should 
 start westward early the following morning. 
 This would give them a part of an afternoon and 
 an evening in San Antonio in which to look around 
 and take in the sights of that quaint town. 
 
 During the conversation with Mr. Watson and 
 the clerk, Dave had been rather surprised because 
 William Jarvey had not shown himself, because on 
 the train he had said he was behindhand; and they 
 had naturally supposed he would come to the of- 
 fices without delay. Just as they were preparing 
 to leave they heard an angry discussion going on 
 in Mr. Watson's private office, and they heard 
 the voices of the superintendent and the man they 
 had met on the train. 
 
 " I gave you strict orders to come right back, 
 Jarvey," they heard Mr. Watson say. " You 
 knew we were waiting for those blue-prints." 
 
 " I was delayed," growled William Jarvey in 
 return. " You see, there were some things about 
 the prints " 
 
 " I don't want any excuses," broke in Mr. Wat- 
 son. " The blue-prints were all right and were
 
 220 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 waiting for you. You took a day off simply to go 
 and have a good time. Now I want to warn you 
 for the last time. If such a thing happens again 
 I'll discharge you."
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 AT THE ENGINEERING CAMP 
 
 " I CAN understand now why that man Jarvey 
 spoke against Mr. Watson," remarked Dave, as 
 he and his chum walked along the main street of 
 San Antonio. " Mr. Watson evidently has no use 
 for a fellow who doesn't attend to business." 
 
 " I think he's all right, Dave," returned Roger. 
 " Of course, he's business clean through. But that 
 is what you've got to expect from a man who holds 
 such a position." 
 
 " Exactly, Roger. The fellow who takes his 
 own time and does things about as he pleases has 
 no place in the modern business world." 
 
 The two youths had received full instructions 
 regarding what they were to do. They were to 
 take a train westward early in the morning for a 
 small place known as Molona, situated but a short 
 distance from the Rio Grande. There they were 
 to report to Mr. Ralph Obray. Mr. Watson had 
 asked them regarding what they had brought along 
 in the way of baggage, and on being questioned 
 had advised them to purchase several other things 
 before starting for the engineering camp. 
 
 221
 
 222 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 u This is certainly an odd sort of place quite 
 different from a New England town," was Dave's 
 comment, as he and his chum went from one shop 
 to another in San Antonio in quest of the things 
 they wished to buy. 
 
 " Seems to me that it has quite a Mexican flavor 
 to it," remarked Roger. " Just see all the big 
 hats and the fringed trousers." 
 
 Now that they had come so far the chums were 
 eager to get to the camp, and they could scarcely 
 wait until the following morning. They found a 
 comfortable hotel, had an early breakfast, and by 
 seven o'clock were on their way westward. 
 
 " Now we are almost on the border," remarked 
 Roger, as they stopped at a place called Del Rio. 
 He was studying a railroad map. " At the next 
 place, called Viaduct, we will be on the Rio 
 Grande, with Mexico just across from us." 
 
 " It isn't such a very grand river after all," re- 
 marked Dave, when they came in sight of the 
 stream. " It looks more like a great big over- 
 grown creek to me." 
 
 " You can't compare these rivers with the Hud- 
 son or the St. Lawrence, Dave. But I suppose 
 at certain seasons of the year this river gets to be 
 pretty big." 
 
 Soon their train rolled into Molona and the 
 youths alighted. The station was a primitive af-
 
 223 
 
 fair, consisting of a small platform and a building 
 not over ten feet square. 
 
 Word had been sent ahead that they were com- 
 ing, and among the several Texans and Mexicans 
 who had gathered to watch the train come in, 
 they found a middle-aged man on a burro with two 
 other burros standing behind. 
 
 " Are you the young fellows for the Mentor 
 camp?" he questioned, as Dave and Roger ap- 
 proached him. 
 
 " We are," returned our hero, quickly. " Did 
 you come for us? " 
 
 " I did. Mr. Watson sent a wire that you were 
 coming, so the boss sent me here to get you, think- 
 ing you wouldn't know the way. Porter and 
 Morr, I believe but which is which? " 
 
 " I am Dave Porter," answered Dave, " and 
 this is my chum, Roger Morr." 
 
 " Glad to know you. My name is Frank An- 
 drews. I am from Scranton, Pennsylvania. I 
 suppose you can ride?" 
 
 " Oh, yes," answered Roger. " We did more 
 or less riding when we were out on Star Ranch." 
 
 " Good enough ! Some of the young fellows 
 who come out here can't ride at all, and they have 
 some trouble getting around, believe me ! This, 
 you know, is the country of magnificent distances," 
 and Frank Andrews laughed.
 
 224 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 "How many have you in the camp here?" 
 questioned Dave, after he and Roger had mounted 
 the two waiting burros and were riding off be- 
 side the man from the engineering camp. 
 
 " There are twenty of us in the engineering 
 gang, and I think they have about seventy to 
 eighty men in the construction camp, with forty 
 or fifty more on the way. You see, they have been 
 bothered a great deal for hired help lately on ac- 
 count of the trouble with the Mexican bandits and 
 revolutionists. Lots of men are afraid to come 
 down here to work for fear some bandits will 
 make a raid across the border and shoot them 
 down." 
 
 " Have you had any trouble lately? " ques- 
 tioned Roger, quickly. 
 
 " We had trouble about two weeks ago. A 
 couple of dirty Mexicans came into camp and were 
 caught trying to steal away that night with some 
 of our belongings. One of the fellows got a 
 crack on the head with a club, and the other we 
 think was shot in the side. But both of them 
 got away in the darkness." 
 
 " That's interesting, to say the least," remarked 
 Dave, drily. " I guess we've got to sleep with 
 our eyes open, as the saying is." 
 
 " You've certainly got to watch yourself while 
 you're down here," answered Frank Andrews. 
 " There is more talk about trouble than anything
 
 AT THE ENGINEERING CAMP 225 
 
 else, but the talk gets on some of the men's nerves, 
 and we have had one civil engineer and two help- 
 ers leave us just on that account. They said they 
 would prefer to work somewhere in the United 
 States where they wouldn't be worried thinking 
 the greasers might attack them." 
 
 As the party rode along they had to cross a 
 bridge which was comparatively new, and their 
 guide explained that this structure was one 
 erected by the Mentor Company. Then they 
 went over a slight rise, and finally came into view 
 of a long row of one-story buildings with several 
 rows of adobe houses behind them. 
 
 " Here we are at the camp ! " announced the 
 guide. " The engineering gang lives and does 
 business in these houses here, and those huts at 
 the back are used by the construction gangs." 
 
 It was all so new and novel to Dave and Roger 
 that they were intensely interested. With their 
 guide they rode up to the main building and dis- 
 mounted. In a moment more they found them- 
 selves inside and confronted by Mr. Ralph Obray, 
 the head of the camp. 
 
 " Glad to see you," he said, shaking hands after 
 they had introduced themselves. " We are rather 
 short of helpers just now; so you'll find plenty to 
 do. I understand Mr. Ramsdell has given you a 
 first-class recommendation. I hope that you'll be 
 able to live up to it," and he smiled faintly.
 
 226 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " I'm going to do what I can, Mr. Obray," 
 answered Dave. 
 
 " And so am I," added Roger. 
 
 Frank Andrews had already told them that a 
 man with a wagon would be sent down to the sta- 
 tion for their trunks and suitcases, all of which 
 had been left in charge of the station-master. 
 The youths were taken to one of the buildings not 
 far from the office, and there assigned to a room 
 containing two cots. 
 
 " Of course, this isn't the Biltmore Hotel or the 
 Waldorf Astoria," remarked Frank Andrews, 
 with a grin. " If you stay out here you'll have 
 to learn to rough it." 
 
 " We know something about roughing it al- 
 ready," answered Dave. " If the other fellows 
 can stand it I guess we can." 
 
 " You won't find it so bad when you get used to 
 it," answered the man. " Of course, it's pretty 
 hot during the day, but the nights are quite com- 
 fortable. We've got a first-class colored cook, 
 so you won't find yourselves cut short on meals." 
 
 " That's good news," answered the senator's 
 son. " I always thought that a good meal cov- 
 ered a multitude of sins," and at this misquotation 
 Frank Andrews laughed heartily. 
 
 The man had already been despatched to get 
 the baggage, and after it arrived Dave and Roger 
 proceeded to make themselves at home, each don-
 
 'HERE WE ARS AT THE CAMP! " ANNOUNCED THE GUIDE. Page 225.
 
 AT THE ENGINEERING CAMP 227 
 
 ning such clothing as they saw the others of the 
 engineering corps wearing. 
 
 " It's good-bye to boiled shirts and stiff collars," 
 said Roger, " and I'm not sorry for it." 
 
 " Nor am I," returned Dave. " I'll feel much 
 more like working in this comfortable outfit." 
 
 Almost before they knew it, it was noon, and 
 presently they saw a number of men, some of them 
 quite young, coming in to dinner. Through 
 Frank Andrews they were introduced to all the 
 others, and then placed at one of the tables in the 
 mess hall where a helper of Jeff, the cook, served 
 them with a meal which, if not exactly elegant, 
 was certainly well-cooked and substantial. 
 
 " I want you two young men to stay around the 
 offices for the rest of this week," announced Mr. 
 Obray to them after the meal. " That will give 
 you a chance to familiarize yourselves with what 
 we are doing in the way of constructions in this 
 vicinity. Then next week you can go out with the 
 gang and begin your regular field practice." 
 
 The youths soon found that practical work in 
 the office was quite different from the theoretical 
 work done under Mr. Ramsdell. Still their tutor 
 had instructed them faithfully, so that they soon 
 " caught on," as Roger remarked. 
 
 When they did not understand a thing they did 
 not hesitate to ask questions, and they found the 
 other persons present very willing to explain and
 
 228 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 to help them. There was a spirit of comradeship 
 throughout the whole camp that was as comforting 
 as it was beneficial. 
 
 " It isn't everybody for himself here," ex- 
 plained Frank Andrews. " It is one for all. 
 You are expected to do all you can for the other 
 fellow, and in return it's understood that he will 
 do all he can for you." 
 
 " It's a fine method," answered Dave; " and I 
 don't wonder that the Mentor Construction Com- 
 pany is making such a success of its undertakings." 
 
 One day our hero asked Frank Andrews if he 
 knew William Jarvey. At the question the man 
 drew down the corners of his mouth and shook 
 his head in disgust. 
 
 " Yes, I know Bill," he answered. " He's over 
 in the offices at San Antonio mostly, but he occa- 
 sionally comes out here on business for Mr. Wat- 
 son. I must say I don't like him very much, and 
 I don't think the other men do either. He's a 
 fellow who likes to drink now and then, and I 
 understand he often gambles. That is, when he 
 has the money. He's usually strapped long be- 
 fore pay-day comes around." 
 
 " I thought he might be that sort of fellow," 
 answered Dave. 
 
 " He got into a row with Mr. Watson while 
 we were at San Antonio," put in Roger, and re- 
 lated a few of the particulars.
 
 AT THE ENGINEERING CAMP 229 
 
 " If Bill doesn't look out he'll lose his job, and 
 it will be too bad," answered Frank Andrews, 
 " because he won't be likely to get another such 
 easy berth in a hurry. He gets good money for 
 what little he does. He hired with the company 
 as a first-class bookkeeper, but I understand he is 
 only ordinary when it comes to handling big 
 masses of figures." 
 
 " Well, I didn't like him when I met him, and 
 I'd be just as well satisfied if we didn't meet 
 again," said Dave. 
 
 But Dave's wish was not to be gratified. He 
 was to meet William Jarvey in the future, and 
 that meeting was to bring with it a great surprise.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 A MIDNIGHT ALARM 
 
 " WELL, Dave, we have been in this camp just 
 a month to-day. How do you think you like it? " 
 
 " I like it first-rate, Roger in fact, better 
 than I first thought I would. All the engineers 
 and assistants are so kind and helpful." 
 
 " That's what they are," returned the sena- 
 tor's son. " And I think we are getting along 
 famously. Do you know, I am actually in love 
 with the construction of this new Catalco bridge. 
 I think it's going to be a dandy when it's com- 
 pleted." 
 
 " Not only a dandy, Roger, but, unless I miss 
 my guess, it will be a monument to the skill and 
 ingenuity of the Mentor Construction Company. 
 I've been reading up on all kinds of bridges, and 
 I think the construction of this particular bridge 
 goes ahead of most of them." 
 
 " One thing is sure Mr. Obray is very proud 
 of the way things are going. I heard from An- 
 drews that some of the other construction com- 
 panies thought we would never be able to build 
 this bridge the way it is going up." 
 
 230
 
 A MIDNIGHT ALARM 231 
 
 The talk between the two chums was held in 
 the evening after work for the day had come to 
 an end. Dave and Roger stood on an elevation 
 of ground surveying the unfinished bridge or 
 rather chain of bridges which spanned a river 
 and the marshland beyond. It had been a great 
 engineering feat to obtain the proper .foundations 
 for the bridge where it spanned the marshland, 
 and make them impervious to the floods which 
 came with great force during certain seasons of 
 the year. 
 
 The first week at the camp had been spent in 
 the offices, but all the other time had been put in 
 with the engineering gang that was superintending 
 the construction of the far end of the bridge, and 
 also the laying out of the railroad route through 
 the hills and cuts beyond. The work had proved 
 fascinating to the chums, and they were surprised 
 to see how quickly the time passed. 
 
 Dave and Roger had made a number of friends, 
 but none more agreeable than Frank Andrews. 
 Andrews occupied a room close to their own, and 
 often spent an evening with them. 
 
 About the end of the second week they had re- 
 ceived word concerning William Jarvey. The 
 bookkeeper in the offices at San Antonio had had a 
 violent quarrel with Mr. Watson and had been 
 discharged. He had gone off declaring that his 
 being treated thus was unjustifiable, and that he
 
 232 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 was going to bring the Mentor Construction Com- 
 pany to account for it. 
 
 " I guess he's nothing but a bag of wind," was 
 Roger's comment, on hearing this. " The com- 
 pany is probably much better off to have such a 
 chap among the missing." 
 
 " I don't see what he can do to hurt the com- 
 pany," had been Dave's answer. " He was prob- 
 ably discharged for good cause." 
 
 Although so far away from home, it must not 
 be supposed that Dave and Roger had forgotten 
 the folks left behind. They had sent numerous 
 letters telling of their various experiences and of 
 what they hoped to do in the future. In return 
 Roger had received one letter from his father and 
 another from his mother, and Dave had gotten 
 communications from his sister Laura and from 
 Jessie, and also a long letter from Ben. 
 
 Of these the letter received from Jessie was to 
 our hero the most important, and it must be con- 
 fessed that he read it a number of times. The girl 
 was greatly interested in all that he had told her 
 about his work, and she said she hoped he would 
 become a great civil engineer, and that she cer- 
 tainly trusted he would not have any trouble with 
 the Mexicans. 
 
 The letter from Ben Basswood had been rather 
 a disheartening communication. Ben wrote that 
 his father did not seem to regain his health as
 
 A MIDNIGHT ALARM 233 
 
 rapidly as the doctor had anticipated, and that 
 nothing new concerning Ward Porton or Tim 
 Crapsey had been uncovered. Ben added that he 
 had written to the authorities in New York City 
 concerning Porton and had received word back 
 that they had been unable to locate the former 
 moving-picture actor. 
 
 " I believe the loss of those miniatures has had 
 its full effect on Mr. Basswood," remarked Dave, 
 when speaking of the matter to his chum. " I 
 suppose it makes him feel blue, and that retards 
 his recovery." 
 
 " More than likely," answered Roger. " A 
 person can't very well throw off a heavy spell of 
 sickness when he is so depressed in spirits. It's 
 too bad! And I suppose Mrs. Basswood feels 
 dreadful to think she was the one to let the for- 
 tune slip out of their hands." 
 
 " No doubt of it, Roger. Of course, it's easy 
 enough to blame her, and I suppose a great many 
 of their neighbors do. But, just the same, place 
 yourself in her position worried half to death 
 over the sickness of her husband and you might 
 have done the same thing." 
 
 It was a warm evening and the chums took their 
 time in returning to the camp, knowing supper 
 would not be served until a little later. During 
 the day several shots had been heard at a great 
 distance to the southward, and some of the civil
 
 234 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 engineers had wondered if some sort of a scrim- 
 mage was taking place on the other side of the Rio 
 Grande. 
 
 " If a fight is in progress I hope it doesn't ex- 
 tend to this neighborhood," remarked one of the 
 engineers, in speaking of the matter. " We've 
 got troubles enough of our own getting this 
 bridge right without having the greasers in- 
 terfering with our work;" and he gave a grim 
 laugh. 
 
 When the chums arrived in camp they found 
 that the day's mail had come in. There was a 
 Washington newspaper for Roger containing an 
 address delivered in the Senate by Senator Morr, 
 and also a long letter for our hero from Ben. 
 
 "Well, here is news at last! " cried Dave, as 
 he scanned the communication. " Come on out 
 here, away from the crowd, Roger, and I'll read 
 it to you ; " and then he led the way to a corner and 
 acquainted his chum with the contents of the letter, 
 which was as follows : 
 
 " I know you will be interested to learn that we 
 have at last heard from that rascal, Tim Crapsey, 
 who, with Ward Porton, got the miniatures from 
 my mother. Crapsey sent a very badly written 
 letter to my father, stating that he and Porton 
 had parted company, but that he had the most of 
 the miniatures, in fact, all but six of them. 
 
 " Crapsey wrote that he was in the city of New 
 York, and had the miniatures in a safe place, and
 
 A MIDNIGHT ALARM 235 
 
 that he would return them to us for fifteen thou- 
 sand dollars. We were to insert a personal ad- 
 vertisement in one of the New York newspapers 
 if we were willing to accept his offer, and then he 
 would send us word how the exchange of money 
 for the miniatures could be made. 
 
 "Of course, as you know, my father is still sick. 
 He didn't have anything like fifteen thousand dol- 
 lars in cash to offer Crapsey, and besides that Mr. 
 Wadsworth and your Uncle Dunston thought it 
 was altogether too much money to offer a thief 
 like that. In fact, your uncle was of the opinion 
 that they should only try to lead Crapsey on, so 
 that they could capture him. But my father, 
 backed up by Mr. Wadsworth, at length agreed to 
 put up five thousand dollars in order to get the 
 miniatures back, and an advertisement was in- 
 serted in the newspapers to that effect. 
 
 " We waited two days for a reply, and then 
 came a scrawl on a bit of paper signed by Crap- 
 sey, stating that he was having trouble of another 
 kind and could not for the present keep on with 
 his negotiations. After that my father inserted 
 another advertisement asking for more informa- 
 tion, but up to the present time no additional word 
 has come in. 
 
 " My father does not know what to make of it. 
 Your folks and Mr. Wadsworth are of the opinion 
 that either Crapsey was trying to fool them and 
 got scared or else that the rascal has been caught 
 by the police for some other crime and is trying to 
 conceal his identity. They are divided on the 
 question as to whether to believe Crapsey when he 
 wrote that he and Porton had parted company
 
 236 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 they are half inclined to believe that Porton is still 
 with him, and that the whole scheme was framed 
 up by Porton." 
 
 " That is certainly interesting news," remarked 
 Roger, after both had perused the letter a second 
 time. " And it settles one thing and that is 
 that Tim Crapsey must have been in New .York 
 with Ward Porton at the time we saw the latter." 
 
 " Exactly, Roger. And it also proves beyond a 
 doubt that that pair were really the thieves. 
 Previous to this we only supposed such to be the 
 fact we really couldn't prove it." 
 
 " Oh, I was sure of it all along, Dave." 
 
 " So was I, Roger. But you know in a court 
 of law it is one thing to know a thing and another 
 to be able to prove it." 
 
 The two young civil engineers discussed the let- 
 ter all through the evening meal and even for 
 some time later. Then, however, Roger turned 
 to his newspaper, to read with care the address 
 that his father had delivered. Dave was also in- 
 terested in this. 
 
 " I'd like to be in the Senate some time when 
 your father was speaking," he remarked to his 
 chum. " It must be a great sight to see such a 
 body as that when it is in session." 
 
 " It is, Dave," answered his chum. " And peo- 
 ple come thousands of miles to see it." 
 
 Before retiring for the night Dave penned a let-
 
 A MIDNIGHT ALARM 237 
 
 ter to Ben, and also sent a letter to Jessie, and an- 
 other to his Uncle Dunston which was meant for 
 the entire household. Roger spent the time in a 
 communication to his mother, and also in a long 
 letter to Luke Watson. 
 
 The night proved to be unusually warm, for 
 the breeze which was usually stirring had died 
 down completely. Dave fell into a fitful doze, 
 from which he awoke about midnight to find his 
 mouth and throat quite parched. 
 
 " I guess I'd better get up and get a drink," he 
 told himself, " and then I may be able to sleep bet- 
 ter. Phew! but the thermometer has certainly 
 been going up the last few days." 
 
 He arose to his feet and walked out of the room 
 into the hallway of the building, where in one 
 corner there was a water-cooler. He had just 
 finished drinking a glass of water when a sound 
 from outside reached his ears. There was a 
 shout from a distance, followed almost instantly 
 by a rifle shot. 
 
 " Hello ! what can that mean? " he cried. 
 
 A moment later came more shouts, this time a 
 little closer to the camp. Then two more rifle 
 shots rang out sharply through the midnight air. 
 
 " Something is wrong, that's sure ! " exclaimed 
 the youth. Rushing back into the bedroom he 
 shook Roger vigorously. At the same time he 
 heard others getting up and calling to each other,
 
 238 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 wanting to know what the shouts and shots meant. 
 
 " What do you want, Dave? " asked the sena- 
 tor's son, sleepily. 
 
 " Get up, Roger ! " answered our hero, quickly. 
 " Hurry up ! there is something going on outside ! 
 I just heard a number of yells and several rifle 
 shots." 
 
 ' You don't mean it, Dave 1 " and now Roger 
 was on his feet with a bound. " Maybe it's the 
 greasers." 
 
 " I don't know what it is, Roger. But I guess 
 we had better slip into our clothing. Maybe 
 somebody is Listen ! " 
 
 Dave broke off short, and both strained their 
 ears to hear what was taking place outside. They 
 heard a confused shouting, followed by several 
 yells. And then came a volley of shots five or 
 six in number. 
 
 " It's an attack! That's what it is ! " cried the 
 senator's son. " I'll bet some of those Mexican 
 bandits are coming over here ! Oh, Dave ! what 
 do you suppose we had better do? " 
 
 " I don't know, except that we had better slip 
 on our clothing and get our pistols," answered 
 Dave. " This looks as if it might be serious." 
 
 " Up, boys ! Up ! " came the cry from some- 
 body outside. " Get your guns and your pistols ! 
 The Mexican raiders are coming this way ! "
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 THE MEXICAN RAIDERS 
 
 BY the time the two chums had hastily donned 
 their clothing and possessed themselves of the 
 pistols they had purchased in San Antonio on the 
 advice of Mr. Watson, the camp was in confusion 
 from end to end, with the various bosses shouting 
 orders and the men themselves wanting to know 
 what the trouble was and what they had better do. 
 
 "It's some of those confounded greasers!" 
 cried Frank Andrews, as he, too, arose and armed 
 himself. He had a repeating rifle, and it was 
 known to Dave and Roger that he was an excep- 
 tionally good shot. 
 
 Andrews led the way from the building, fol- 
 lowed by our hero and Roger and several others. 
 In the meantime, the distant shouting and shoot- 
 ing seemed to have moved farther westward, in 
 the direction where the new Catalco bridge was 
 being constructed. 
 
 " It can't be their intention to blow up the 
 bridge?" queried Roger. There had been talk 
 of this several times. 
 
 " No telling what those rascals are up to," an- 
 239
 
 2 4 o DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 swered Frank Andrews. " This may be only a 
 rumpus kicked up to cover a cattle raid or some- 
 thing like that." 
 
 In the midst of the excitement the telephone in 
 the main office began to ring and was answered by 
 one of the clerks. A few minutes later he came 
 rushing out to where Mr. Obray stood talking to 
 his assistant and the boss of the construction camp. 
 
 " Just got a telephone from the Tolman ranch," 
 announced the clerk. " Old man Tolman said 
 they had been raided and that half of the raiders 
 were coming this way. I tried to get some details 
 from him, but in the midst of the talk I was shut 
 off. I suppose somebody cut the wire." 
 
 " I thought that might be it," answered the head 
 of the engineering corps. 
 
 " We ought to help Tolman all we can," an- 
 nounced the boss of the construction camp. u He 
 promised to assist us in case we had any trouble, 
 and turn about is fair play." 
 
 " Right you are, Peterson, and any man who 
 wants to go out can do it." And word was passed 
 around to this effect. 
 
 Dave and Roger listened to this talk and what 
 followed with much interest. In less than five 
 minutes over thirty men from the construction 
 camp had signified their willingness to go after 
 the raiders, and these men were joined by Frank
 
 THE MEXICAN RAIDERS 241 
 
 Andrews and three other civil engineers, all well 
 armed and mounted. 
 
 " I'd like to join that crowd and go after those 
 Mexicans I " exclaimed Dave, his eyes sparkling. 
 
 u So would I ! " returned the senator's son, 
 quickly. " Those fellows can't be anything but 
 plain bandits and cattle thieves." 
 
 " Sure ! No regular revolutionists would come 
 over the border and act in this fashion." 
 
 " What do you say, Dave shall we go? " 
 
 " I'm willing." 
 
 " No, no ! You young fellows had better stay 
 in the camp," announced Ralph Obray, who over- 
 heard the talk. " Just remember that in a cer- 
 tain sense I am responsible for your safety while 
 you are under me." 
 
 " But those others are going," returned Dave, 
 somewhat reproachfully. 
 
 " So they are, Porter. But they are all older 
 than you, and most of them have had experience 
 in this sort of thing. I would rather that you 
 stayed here. Maybe if those raiders come this 
 way we'll have our hands full defending the 
 camp.'* 
 
 Dave and Roger realized that for the head of 
 the camp to express his desire in this instance was 
 equal practically to a command; so they at once 
 gave up the idea of following Frank Andrews and
 
 the others. The men rode off quickly, and were 
 soon lost to sight in the darkness of the night. 
 
 An hour of intense anxiety passed. During 
 that time those left in the camp heard an occa- 
 sional shot in the distance. Then several shots 
 seemed much closer. There followed some yell- 
 ing, and, then about five minutes later, came a 
 dull explosion. 
 
 " That's at the bridge I " exclaimed Dave. 
 " They must be trying to blow it up ! " 
 
 The dull explosion was followed by a sudden 
 rattle of rifle and pistol shots and more yelling. 
 Once or twice some men seemed to come quite 
 near to the construction camp, the hoof strokes 
 of the horses being distinctly heard. 
 
 All who remained in the camp were on the look- 
 out, and each man stood ready with his weapon to 
 do what he could to defend the place should the 
 occasion arise. But with the explosion and the 
 rattle of rifle and pistol shots that followed, the 
 conflict seemed to die down, and presently all be- 
 came utter silence; and thus two more hours 
 passed. 
 
 " Whoever they were, they seem to have left 
 this vicinity entirely," said Roger. 
 
 " I wish it was morning," put in another of the 
 young men present. The watching was beginning 
 to get on his nerves.
 
 THE MEXICAN RAIDERS 243 
 
 At last, just as the first streaks of dawn were be- 
 ginning to show in the eastern sky, a number of 
 horsemen were descried approaching from the 
 southward. All in the camp were instantly on 
 their guard, but it was soon seen that it was their 
 friends who were coming back. They came in 
 somewhat of a horseshoe formation, driving in 
 their midst four prisoners, one of them with his 
 arm done up in a sling and another with his head 
 bandaged. 
 
 " They've got somebody! " exclaimed Roger, as 
 the crowd came closer, " Four greasers ! " 
 
 " Three of them look like Mexicans, but the 
 other fellow looks like an American," returned 
 Dave, as the party came to a halt in front of the 
 camp buildings. 
 
 Those who had come in were at once surrounded 
 by the others, who wanted to know the particulars 
 of what had taken place. 
 
 " It was a band of about thirty greasers, and 
 with them were two or three Americans," an- 
 nounced Frank Andrews. " They went down to 
 old man Tolman's corral and tried to drive off 
 about two hundred head of cattle. They got 
 away from the ranch, and then part of the gang 
 came over this way in the vicinity of the new 
 bridge. We had two running fights with them, 
 and then they let the cattle go and started for the
 
 244 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Rio Grande. But before they went one of the 
 rascals set off a bomb near the end of the bridge 
 and blew up a corner of the foundation." 
 
 " Why in the world did they want to blow up 
 the bridge ? " demanded Mr. Obray. 
 
 " They weren't all Mexicans, Mr. Obray. Sev- 
 eral of them were Americans. We've got one of 
 the Americans right here. And do you know who 
 it is ? Jack Pankhurst 1 " 
 
 "What's that!" exclaimed the head of the 
 camp, and then he turned to the prisoners. One 
 man had his sombrero pulled well down over his 
 forehead, as if somewhat ashamed of himself. 
 
 " There he is," went on Frank Andrews, point- 
 ing to this individual. " That's Jack Pankhurst, 
 who was discharged for drinking and gambling 
 about two months ago." 
 
 Mr. Obray strode up to the prisoner and gave 
 him a tap under the chin, thus elevating his face. 
 
 " You're a fine specimen of humanity, Pank- 
 hurst I " he cried sternly. " A fine business for 
 you to be in joining Mexican outlaws and be- 
 coming a cattle rustler. What have you to say 
 for yourself? " 
 
 " I haven't anything to say," grumbled the 
 prisoner. " What's the use ? I was caught with 
 the goods, wasn't I? " he sneered. 
 
 " I'm ashamed to think an American would go 
 in with a bunch of Mexican bandits," said Mr.
 
 THE MEXICAN RAIDERS 245 
 
 Obray; and then gave directions that the prisoners 
 should be well bound so that there would be no 
 possibility of their escaping. 
 
 All listened with interest to the details of the 
 cattle raid so far as the men who had gone out 
 from the construction camp could relate. They 
 said that some of the fighting had been exceedingly 
 hot, and they were satisfied that a number of the 
 Mexicans, and also one of the Americans with 
 them, had been wounded. 
 
 They themselves had not escaped unscathed, 
 one man being hit in the shoulder and another in 
 the leg. Fortunately, however, neither of these 
 wounds proved serious. The camp doctor was 
 called in to attend them, after which he attended 
 the wounded prisoners. In the meantime, a mes- 
 sage was sent to the railroad station and to San 
 Antonio, to acquaint the authorities with what had 
 occurred. 
 
 " I was questioning Pankhurst on the way 
 here," said Frank Andrews to the head of the 
 camp. " He wouldn't admit it outright, but I am 
 strongly of the opinion that one of the other 
 Americans who was with him was Bill Jarvey." 
 
 "Jarveyl" muttered Mr. Obray. "Well, it 
 would be just like him to join a fellow like Pank- 
 hurst. They were quite chummy when they both 
 worked for the company." 
 
 " I've got another idea about this affair," went
 
 246 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 on Andrews. " Do you remember how they said 
 Jarvey vowed he would get square with the com- 
 pany for discharging him? I've got an idea that 
 it was his scheme to attempt to blow up the bridge, 
 and that he was the one who set off that bomb. 
 Their idea was to get the cattle to some safe place 
 first, and then ruin the bridge. More than likely 
 Jarvey and Pankhurst made a deal with the 
 greasers to that effect the Americans to help 
 with the cattle and the Mexicans to help destroy 
 our work." 
 
 " You may be right, Andrews," answered Ralph 
 Obray. " And if you are, it's a pity that you 
 didn't catch Jarvey." 
 
 Dave and Roger listened to this talk with inter- 
 est, and also joined in the general discussion of 
 those in the camp regarding the raid, and what 
 would be done with the prisoners. 
 
 " I suppose they will turn the prisoners over to 
 the United States authorities," was Dave's 
 opinion; and in this he was right. Some govern- 
 ment officers appeared by noon of the next day, 
 and after a lengthy talk with the head of the camp 
 and a number of others, the prisoners, including 
 Jack Pankhurst, were taken away. 
 
 " I wonder if old man Tolman got his cattle 
 back," remarked Roger. 
 
 " All but three of the animals," answered one 
 of the men present. " Those were trampled to
 
 THE MEXICAN RAIDERS 247 
 
 death during the raid. But three are nothing 
 alongside of two hundred." 
 
 The raid had caused so much excitement in the 
 camp that there was but little work done that day. 
 The boys went down with the others to inspect 
 the bridge, and look curiously at the hole which 
 had been torn in the corner of one of the founda- 
 tions by the bomb. 
 
 " That was certainly a mean piece of business," 
 was our hero's comment. " It didn't do anybody 
 a bit of good, and it's going to make a good deal 
 of work to repair the damage." 
 
 Several days passed, and the camp at last set- 
 tled back into its usual routine. Dave and Roger 
 worked as hard as ever, and both were much 
 pleased when Mr. Obray told them that they were 
 doing very well. 
 
 " I am going to write a letter to Mr. Rams- 
 dell," said the head of the camp, " and tell him 
 that I am well satisfied with his pupils," and he 
 smiled faintly. 
 
 A day or two later word came to the camp 
 which interested the chums as much as it did any- 
 body. It seemed that Jack Pankhurst had been 
 subjected to a " third degree " of questioning. 
 He had broken down completely and confessed 
 that the two other Americans in the raid with him 
 had been former employees of the Mentor Con- 
 struction Company one a fellow named Pack-
 
 248 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 ard Brown, and the other William Jarvey. 
 Pankhurst had also let fall the information that 
 Jarvey had once been an officer in the United 
 States Army, and that he was traveling under an 
 assumed name. 
 
 " A former officer of our army and acting in 
 that way I " exclaimed Dave, when he heard this 
 report. " I certainly do hope they'll catch him 
 and punish him as he deserves ! " 
 
 " My sentiments exactly ! " added Roger.
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 THE CHASE ON THE BRIDGE 
 
 "My, Dave! but it's hot!" 
 
 " I agree with you, Roger. This is the hottest 
 day we've struck yet. And such a hard day as 
 it's been too ! " and our hero paused to wipe the 
 perspiration from his brow. 
 
 " What do you say if we take a swim this eve- 
 ning?" went on the senator's son. "A plunge 
 into the river would feel good to me." 
 
 " I'm with you, Roger. Let us eat a light 
 supper and get down to the river before it grows 
 too dark." 
 
 Four weeks had passed since the events nar- 
 rated in the last chapter, and matters in and 
 around the construction camp had once more 
 quieted down. Work was being pushed forward 
 rapidly, and Dave and Roger were making excel- 
 lent progress in their chosen profession. They 
 had made a warm personal friend of Frank An- 
 drews, as well as a friend of Mr. Obray, and both 
 of these individuals gave them many instructions 
 during off hours which proved highly beneficial. 
 
 No more had been heard from the Mexican 
 249
 
 250 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 raiders, and it was hoped that those bandits had 
 departed for some other locality along the Rio 
 Grande. The prisoners taken during the raid 
 were still in jail, awaiting trial. 
 
 Down along the stream over which the new 
 Catalco bridge was being constructed there was a 
 favorite swimming place used by the civil engi- 
 neers and their assistants, the men and boys of the 
 construction gang using another spot farther down 
 the stream. 
 
 " I'll beat you getting in, Dave ! " cried Roger, 
 as the pair neared the bathing place that evening, 
 and he started to take off some of his clothes. 
 
 " Don't jump in too quickly, Roger," warned 
 our hero. " Remember you have just been eat- 
 ing and you are rather warm. Better take it easy 
 on the bank for a little while." 
 
 " I guess you're right," was the reply. " I 
 don't want to get a cramp or a chill, or anything 
 like that." 
 
 To reach the swimming spot, the chums had to 
 pass one end of the new bridge. As they drew 
 closer they saw somebody high up on the skeleton 
 structure gazing at them curiously. 
 
 " Hello ! who's that up there ? " remarked 
 Dave. 
 
 " I'm sure I don't know," answered Roger. " I 
 thought all our men were back in camp." 
 As they came still closer the individual on the
 
 THE CHASE ON THE BRIDGE 251 
 
 bridge turned to walk toward them. Suddenly, 
 however, he stopped short and tried his best to 
 hide himself behind some of the steel work. 
 
 "Say! that looks rather queer to me," re- 
 marked Dave. " He acts just as if he didn't want 
 us to see him." 
 
 " Just what I thought, Dave." The senator's 
 son gave a sudden start. " You don't suppose it's 
 one of those Mexican raiders, do you ? " 
 
 " I can't say anything about that. I'm going 
 up there to find out who he is. It seems to me he 
 is acting very suspiciously. Maybe he's trying 
 to plant some more bombs." 
 
 Dave turned back to a point where he could get 
 up on the bridge, and his chum followed. From 
 this point they could not see the person above them 
 nor could he see them. When they reached the 
 flooring of the big bridge they were less than two 
 hundred feet from where the unknown person 
 stood. He was leaning over the side of the struc- 
 ture, evidently trying to find out what had become 
 of them. 
 
 " Why, Dave, he he . looks like you I " 
 burst out the senator's son, as both hurried in the 
 direction of the unknown person. 
 
 "I do believe it's Ward Porton!" ejaculated 
 our hero. He began to quicken his pace. " Yes, 
 I'm almost sure it's Porton," he added, a few sec- 
 onds later.
 
 252 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " If it's Porton what in the world tempted him 
 to follow you to this place? " queried Roger. 
 
 " I don't know. But I do know that I'm going 
 to capture him if it is possible to do so," answered 
 Dave, with determination. 
 
 The two chums were still almost a hundred feet 
 from the other person when the latter glanced up 
 suddenly and discovered them. He looked them 
 full in the face for just an instant, and then turned 
 and began to run away towards the opposite end 
 of the long bridge. 
 
 " It's Porton, sure enough ! " burst out 
 Roger. 
 
 "Hi there, Porton! Stop!" cried Dave. 
 "Stop, I tell you!" 
 
 "You go on back!" yelled Ward Porton, in 
 an ugly voice. " Go on back, I tell you ! If you 
 don't it will be the worse for you ! " and he shook 
 his fist at the chums. 
 
 " You might as well stop," continued Dave, un- 
 daunted by the threat. " You can't get away 
 from us. If you try to jump off the unfinished end 
 of the bridge you'll break your neck." 
 
 " If you fellows don't go back I'll shoot," re- 
 turned the fellow who resembled Dave. " Stop 
 right where you are ! Don't dare to come a step 
 closer ! " 
 
 "Oh, Dave! do you suppose he is armed?" 
 questioned Roger, hastily and in a low tone.
 
 THE CHASE ON THE BRIDGE 253 
 
 " Maybe he is. But I am going to keep on 
 after him until he shows his pistol," was the rapid 
 reply. " You need not come if you don't want 
 to. I'm going to capture him and make him 
 give up the Basswood fortune." 
 
 " If you are going after him, so am I," re- 
 turned the senator's son, sturdily. " Maybe it 
 was only a bluff about shooting after all." 
 
 While running along the bridge Dave's eyes 
 fell on a short steel bar left there by one of the 
 workmen. He stopped just long enough to pick 
 the bar up, and then went after Porton with all the 
 speed at his command. 
 
 It was a perilous chase, for in many places the 
 flooring of the big bridge was still missing and 
 they had to leap from girder to girder of the 
 steel structure. 
 
 " Stop, I tell you ! " yelled Ward Porton once 
 more, when Dave was within ten yards of him. 
 And then he turned squarely around and our hero 
 and Roger saw the glint of a pistol as the rascal 
 pointed it toward them. 
 
 " He is armed ! " cried Roger, and now there 
 was a note of fear in his voice, and not without 
 reason. 
 
 " Get behind the steel work," ordered Dave, 
 and lost no time in dodging partly out of sight. 
 As he moved, however, he launched forth the steel 
 bar he had picked up.
 
 254 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 More by good luck than anything else the bar 
 sped true to its mark. It struck Ward Porton 
 in the forearm, the hand of which was holding the 
 pistol. In another instant the weapon was clat- 
 tering down through the steel work of the bridge 
 to the river far below. 
 
 " Hurrah, Dave! you've disarmed him! " cried 
 Roger. 
 
 For the instant Ward Porton seemed dazed by 
 the sudden turn of affairs. Evidently, however, 
 the blow from the steel bar had not hurt him 
 much, for, turning quickly, he continued his flight 
 along the bridge. Dave and Roger lost no time 
 in following him. 
 
 It was not long before the fugitive and those 
 behind him reached a section of the long bridge 
 which was far from completed. Here there was 
 practically no flooring, and Ward Porton had to 
 jump from one piece of steel work to another, 
 while Dave and Roger, of course, had to do the 
 same. Once those in the rear saw the rascal 
 ahead make a misstep and plunge downward. 
 But he saved himself, and, scrambling to his feet, 
 dashed forward as madly as before. 
 
 " Take care, Dave, it's dangerous here," 
 gasped Roger; and scarcely had he spoken when 
 he himself made a misstep and shot down below 
 the level of the bridge flooring. 
 
 Dave was several feet in advance, but turned
 
 THE CHASE ON THE BRIDGE 255 
 
 instantly when his chum let out a cry of alarm. 
 He saw Roger four or five feet below him, 
 clinging frantically to one of the stays of the 
 bridge. 
 
 " Hel help m me ! " panted the unfor- 
 tunate youth. 
 
 " Hold tight, Roger. I'll help you," returned 
 Dave, quickly. 
 
 The stay below was so small in diameter that all 
 Roger could do was to cling to it with both hands 
 and one leg. In this position he hung until Dave 
 let himself down several feet and managed to give 
 him a hand. Then with extreme caution both 
 worked their way back to the unfinished flooring 
 of the bridge. 
 
 " Oh my I I thought sure I was a goner I " 
 panted the senator's son, when he found himself 
 safe once more. He had turned white and he 
 was trembling from head to foot. 
 
 " I guess you had better not go any farther, 
 Roger," remarked Dave. " This certainly is 
 dangerous work." 
 
 " It's a wonder Porton doesn't fall," was the 
 other's comment, as they both watched the fleeing 
 rascal, who was leaping from girder to girder with 
 a recklessness that was truly amazing. 
 
 " He's scared stiff at the idea of being cap- 
 tured," was Dave's comment. " If it wasn't for 
 that, I don't believe he would take any such
 
 256 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 chance; " and in this surmise our hero was prob- 
 ably correct. 
 
 Dave hated to give up the chase, so he con- 
 tinued his way along the bridge, making sure, how- 
 ever, of every step and jump he took. Roger re- 
 mained where he was, too shaken up to proceed 
 farther when he knew that each step would prove 
 more hazardous than the last. 
 
 At last Ward Porton gained a point where one 
 of the foundations of the bridge rested on com- 
 paratively solid ground, with the river behind and 
 a wide stretch of marshland ahead. Here there 
 was a long ladder used by the workmen, and down 
 this the rascal went as fast as his feet could carry 
 him. By the time Dave reached the top of the 
 ladder, Porton was well on his way over the solid 
 ground. Soon the gathering darkness hid him 
 from view. 
 
 Knowing that it would be next to useless to at- 
 tempt to follow the rascal now that he had left 
 the vicinity of the bridge, Dave returned to where 
 he had left Roger. Then the pair started slowly 
 back to the end of the bridge from which they had 
 come. 
 
 " I can't understand what brought Ward Por- 
 ton here," remarked Roger, when the chums had 
 once more gained the swimming-place. " Do you 
 suppose he knew you were in this vicinity, Dave? " 
 
 " Possibly, Roger. But at the same time, I
 
 " HOLD TIGHT, ROGER ! 
 
 I'LL HELP YOU," RETURNED DAVE, QUICKLY. 
 
 Page 265.
 
 THE CHASE ON THE BRIDGE 257 
 
 don't think that would explain his presence here. 
 He wouldn't dare to impersonate me around this 
 camp. He'd be sure to be caught at it sooner or 
 later." 
 
 " Well, I don't understand it at all." 
 
 " Neither do I. I am sorry that we didn't 
 catch the rascal," returned Dave, soberly. 
 
 When they went back into camp they informed 
 Frank Andrews, and also Mr. Obray, of what had 
 occurred. These men had already heard some 
 of the particulars regarding Dave's double and 
 the disappearance of the Basswood fortune. 
 
 '* Too bad you didn't get him," said Frank An- 
 drews. " But you be careful how you run over 
 that unfinished bridge, unless you want to have a 
 nasty fall and either get killed or else crippled for 
 life." 
 
 Several days went by, including Sunday, and 
 nothing more was seen or heard of Ward Porton 
 although the lads made a thorough search for 
 him. Dave sent letters hjome and to Ben Bass- 
 wood, telling the folks in Crumville of what had 
 happened. 
 
 " A little greaser to see you, Dave," remarked 
 one of the civil engineers as Dave was coming 
 from an unusually difficult afternoon's work. 
 
 He walked to where his fellow worker had 
 pointed, and there saw a dirty, unkempt Mexican 
 lad standing with a letter in his hand. The com-
 
 258 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 munication was addressed to Dave, and, opening 
 it, he read the following : 
 
 " I have broken with Tim Crapsey and have 
 the Basswood miniatures here with me safely in 
 Mexico. If the Basswoods will pay me ten thou- 
 sand dollars in cash they can have the pictures 
 back. Otherwise I am going to destroy them. I 
 will give them two weeks in which to make good. 
 
 " As you are so close at hand, maybe you can 
 transact the business for Mr. Basswood. When 
 you are ready to open negotiations, send a letter 
 to the Bilassa camp, across the border, and I will 
 get it. 
 
 " WARD PORTON."
 
 CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE 
 
 DAVE read the note from Ward Porton with 
 intense interest, and then passed it over to Roger. 
 
 " What do you know about that ! " exclaimed 
 the senator's son, after he had perused the com- 
 munication. " Do you think Porton tells the 
 truth?" 
 
 " I don't know what to think, Roger. If he 
 does tell the truth, then it is quite likely that Tim 
 Crapsey was trying to play a double game so far 
 as the Basswoods were concerned." 
 
 " It's pretty clever on Porton's part," said 
 Roger, speculatively. " He knows it would be 
 very difficult for us to get hold of him while he is 
 in Mexico, with this revolution going on. And at 
 the same time he is close enough to keep in touch 
 with you, knowing that you can easily transact 
 this business for the Basswoods providing, of 
 course, that Mr. Basswood is willing." 
 
 Dave did not answer to this, for he was looking 
 around for the Mexican youth who had delivered 
 the note. But the boy had slipped away, and a 
 
 259
 
 search of the camp failed to reveal what had be- 
 come of him. 
 
 " I guess he was instructed to sneak away with- 
 out being seen," was our hero's comment. " Por- 
 ton knew that I wouldn't be in a position to answer 
 him at once, and he didn't want me to follow that 
 boy." 
 
 Dave read the note again, and then went off to 
 consult with Frank Andrews and Mr. Obray. 
 
 " It's too bad you didn't capture that little 
 greaser," observed the head of the civil engi- 
 neers. " We might have been able to get some 
 information from him. However, if he's gone 
 that's the end of it. I think the best thing you 
 can do, Porter, is to send a night message to this 
 Mr. Basswood, telling him how the note was re- 
 ceived and repeating it word for word. Then the 
 responsibility for what may follow will not rest on 
 your shoulders." 
 
 Our hero thought this good advice, and, aided 
 by his chum, he concocted what is familiarly known 
 as a Night Letter, to be sent by telegraph to Crum- 
 ville. 
 
 On the following day came a surprise for our 
 hero in the shape of a short message from Ben 
 Basswood which ran as follows : 
 
 " Yours regarding Porton received. Crapsey 
 makes another offer. Pair probably enemies 
 now. Will write or wire instructions later."
 
 ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE 261 
 
 " This is certainly getting interesting," re- 
 marked Dave, after having read the message. 
 He turned it over to Roger. " I guess Ben is 
 right Crapsey and Porton have fallen out and 
 each is claiming to have the miniatures." 
 
 " Well, one or the other must have them, 
 Dave." 
 
 " Perhaps they divided them, Roger. Thieves 
 often do that sort of thing, you know." 
 
 " Do you suppose Ward Porton is really around 
 that Bilassa camp in Mexico? " went on the sena- 
 tor's son. 
 
 " Probably he is hanging out somewhere in that 
 vicinity. I don't think he has joined General 
 Bilassa. He thinks too much of his own neck to 
 become a soldier in any revolution." 
 
 Having sent his message to the Basswoods and 
 received Ben's reply, there seemed nothing further 
 for our hero to do but to wait. He and Roger 
 were very busy helping to survey the route beyond 
 the new Catalco bridge, and in the fascination of 
 this occupation Ward Porton was, for the next 
 few days, almost forgotten. 
 
 " If the Basswoods expect you to do anything 
 regarding that note you got from Porton they had 
 better get busy before long," remarked Roger one 
 evening. " Otherwise Porton may do as he 
 threatened destroy the pictures." 
 
 " Oh, I don't believe he'd do anything of that
 
 262 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 sort, Roger," answered Dave. " What would be 
 the use? I think he would prefer to hide them 
 somewhere, thinking that some day he would be 
 able to make money out of them." 
 
 Four days after this came a bulky letter from 
 Ben Basswood which Dave and his chum read 
 eagerly. It was as follows : 
 
 " I write to let you know that Tim Crapsey has 
 been caught at last. He was traced to New York 
 and then to Newark, N. J., where the police found 
 him in a second-rate hotel. He had been drink- 
 ing, and confessed that he had had a row with 
 Ward Porton and that one night, when he was 
 under the influence of liquor, Porton had de- 
 camped, taking all but two of the miniatures with 
 him. The two miniatures had been sold to a 
 fence in New York City for one hundred dollars, 
 and the police think they can easily get them back. 
 With the hundred dollars Crapsey had evidently 
 gone on a spree, and it was during this that Por- 
 ton sneaked away with the other miniatures. 
 Crapsey had an idea that Porton was bound for 
 Boston, where he would take a steamer for Eu- 
 rope. But we know he was mistaken. 
 
 " The case being as it is, my father, as well as 
 your folks and Mr. Wadsworth, thinks that Por- 
 ton must have the pictures with him in Mexico. 
 That being the case, your Uncle Dunston says he 
 will come down to Texas at once to see you, and 
 I am to come with him. What will be done in 
 the matter I don't know, although my father 
 would much rather give up ten thousand dol-
 
 ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE 263 
 
 lars than have the miniatures destroyed. If you 
 receive any further word from Ward Pprton tell 
 him that I am coming down to negotiate with 
 him. You had better not mention your uncle's 
 name." 
 
 " Looks as if Porton told the truth after all," 
 announced Roger. " Probably he watched his 
 opportunity and the first chance he got he de- 
 camped and left Crapsey to take care of himself." 
 
 " Most likely, Roger. I don't believe there is 
 any honor among thieves." 
 
 Ben had not said how soon he and Dunston 
 Porter would arrive. But as they would prob- 
 ably follow the letter the two chums looked for 
 the pair on almost every train. But two days 
 passed, and neither put in an appearance. 
 
 " They must have been delayed by something," 
 was Dave's comment. 
 
 " Maybe they are trying to get that ten thou- 
 sand dollars together," suggested Roger. 
 
 " I don't believe my Uncle Dunston will offer 
 Porton any such money right away," returned our 
 hero. " He'll see first if he can't work it so as 
 to capture the rascal." 
 
 On the following morning Roger was sent 
 southward on an errand for Mr. Obray. When 
 he returned he was very much excited. 
 
 " Dave, I think I saw Ward Porton again ! " 
 he exclaimed, as he rushed up to our hero.
 
 264 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 " Where was that?" questioned Dave, quickly. 
 
 " Down on that road which leads to the Rio 
 Grande. There was a fellow talking to a ranch- 
 man I've met several times, a Texan named Law- 
 son. As soon as he saw me he took to his heels. 
 I questioned Lawson about him and he said the 
 fellow had come across the river at a point about a 
 quarter of a mile below here." 
 
 Dave listened to this explanation with interest, 
 and immediately sought out Mr. Obray. The up- 
 shot of the talk was that our hero was given per- 
 mission to leave the camp for the day, taking 
 Roger with him. 
 
 The two chums went off armed with their 
 pistols, not knowing what might happen. They 
 first walked to where Roger had met the ranch- 
 man, and there the senator's son pointed out the 
 direction that the young man who had run away 
 had taken. They followed this trail, and pres- 
 ently reached the roadway which ran in sight of 
 the river. There were comparatively few craft 
 on the stream, and none of these looked as if it 
 might be occupied by the young man they were 
 after. But presently they reached a small creek 
 flowing into the Rio Grande, and on this saw two 
 flat-bottomed rowboats. 
 
 "There he is now!" exclaimed Dave, sud- 
 denly, and pointed to the first of the rowboats,
 
 ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE 265 
 
 which was being sent down the creek in the direc- 
 tion of the river. 
 
 The sole occupant of the craft was the fellow at 
 the oars, and the two chums readily made out that 
 it was the former moving-picture actor. As 
 soon as he made certain of Porton's identity, Dave 
 pulled Roger down in the tall grass which bor- 
 dered the creek. 
 
 " There is no use in letting him see us," ex- 
 plained our hero. 
 
 " Do you suppose he is bound for the Mexican 
 shore ? " questioned the senator's son. 
 
 " More than likely, Roger." Dave looked 
 questioningly at his chum. " Are you game to fol- 
 low him? " he added. 
 
 11 What do you mean? " 
 
 " We might take that other rowboat and go 
 after him. I see it contains a pair of oars. 
 Either of us ought to be able to row as well as 
 Porton, and if we can catch him before he lands 
 maybe we'll be able to drive him back to the 
 United States side of the river." 
 
 " All right, I'll go you," responded Roger, 
 quickly. "Come ahead 1" and he started on a 
 run for the rowboat. 
 
 The craft was tied fast to two stakes, but it was 
 an easy matter for them to loosen the ropes. 
 This done, Dave took up the oars, shoved off,
 
 266 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 and started to row with all the strength at his com- 
 mand. 
 
 Evidently Ward Porton had not expected to be 
 followed, for he was rowing leisurely, allowing his 
 flat-bottomed boat to drift with the current. He 
 was much surprised when he saw the other boat 
 come on at a good rate of speed. 
 
 " Get back there ! " he yelled, when he recog- 
 nized the occupants of the second craft. " Get 
 back, I tell you, or I'll shoot 1 " 
 
 " If you do we'll do some shooting on our own 
 account, Porton 1 " called back Roger, and showed 
 his pistol. 
 
 The sight of the weapon evidently frightened 
 Porton greatly. Yet he did not cease rowing, and 
 now he headed directly for the Mexican shore. 
 
 The river at this point was broad and shallow 
 and contained numerous sand-bars. Almost be- 
 fore they knew it the craft containing our friends 
 ran up on one of the bars and stuck there. In 
 the meantime Ward Porton continued his efforts 
 to gain the shore. 
 
 "What's the matter, Dave?" cried Roger, 
 when he saw our hero stop rowing. 
 
 " We are aground," was the answer. " Here, 
 Roger, get to the stern of the boat with me, and 
 we'll see if we can't shove her off again." 
 
 With the two chums in the stern of the craft,
 
 ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE 267 
 
 the bow came up out of the sand-bar, and in a 
 few seconds more Dave, aided by the current of 
 the stream, managed to get the rowboat clear. 
 But all this had taken time, and now the two 
 chums saw that Ward Porton had beached his 
 boat and was running across the marshland be- 
 yond. 
 
 " I'm afraid he is going to get away," remarked 
 Roger, dolefully. 
 
 " Not much 1 " answered Dave. " Anyway, 
 I'm not going to give up yet," and he resumed his 
 rowing. 
 
 " Here, let me take a turn at that. You must 
 be getting a little tired," said Roger, and he in- 
 sisted that Dave allow him to do the rowing. 
 
 Soon they reached the Mexican shore, at a 
 point where there was a wide stretch of marshland 
 with not a building in sight. [They had gotten 
 several glimpses of Ward Porton making his way 
 through the tall grass. The trail was an easy 
 one to follow. 
 
 "Come on! We'll get him yet!" muttered 
 Dave, and started off on the run with Roger be- 
 hind him. 
 
 They had just reached an ill-kept highway 
 when they heard shouting in the distance. They 
 saw Ward Porton running wildly in the direc- 
 tion of a set of low buildings, evidently belonging 
 to some sort of ranch. As the former moving-
 
 268 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 picture actor disappeared, a band of Mexican 
 cavalry swept into view. 
 
 "Quick, Roger! Down in the grass!" cried 
 Dave. " We don't want those soldiers to see 
 us! They may be government troops, but they 
 look more like guerrillas like the rascals who 
 raided the Tolman ranch! " 
 
 " Right you are," answered the senator's son. 
 And then both lay low in the tall grass while the 
 Mexican guerrillas, for they were nothing else, 
 swept past them.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 A STRANGE DISCOVERY 
 
 As nearly as Dave and Roger could calculate, 
 there were about two hundred of the Mexican 
 guerrillas dirty and fierce-looking individuals, 
 led by an officer wearing an enormous hat and a 
 long, drooping mustache. 
 
 The entire crowd looked disreputable in the 
 extreme, and the youths could not help but shud- 
 der as they gazed at the cavalcade. 
 
 " My gracious, Dave ! do you call those rev- 
 olutionists ?" remarked Roger, after the last of 
 the horsemen had disappeared down the road- 
 way. 
 
 " They may be revolutionists, Roger. But to 
 my mind they look more like bandits than any- 
 thing else. Under the pretense of aiding Mexico 
 they probably steal whenever they get the chance." 
 
 " I'd hate awfully to fall into their clutches. 
 I think they'd rob a fellow of every dollar he 
 had." 
 
 " Well, never mind those Mexicans, Roger," 
 pursued Dave. " Come on, let us see if we can't 
 locate Ward Porton." 
 
 269
 
 270 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 u He went over into one of yonder buildings." 
 
 " I know it, and I've got an idea," answered 
 our hero. " Let us see if we can't sneak across 
 the roadway without being seen and then come 
 up to those buildings through the thick grass and 
 behind that chaparral. If we expose ourselves 
 Porton will, of course, keep out of our sight or 
 run away." 
 
 With extreme caution the two chums worked 
 their way through the tall grass to the edge of the 
 roadway. Then, watching their chance when no- 
 body seemed to be looking, they dashed to the 
 other side and into the grass again. Then they 
 began to work their way cautiously in the di- 
 rection of the group of buildings into which 
 the former moving-picture actor had disap- 
 peared. 
 
 The buildings belonged to a Mexican ranch; 
 but the place had evidently been the scene of a 
 fight at some time in the past, for one of the build- 
 ings was completely wrecked and several of the 
 others much battered. There were no horses, 
 cattle, pigs, or chickens anywhere in sight; and the 
 youths came to the conclusion that the ranch had 
 been abandoned by its owner. 
 
 " Probably some of those guerrillas came along 
 and cleaned him out," observed Dave, " and after 
 that he didn't think it would be worth while to 
 stay so long as the country was in a state of war."
 
 A STRANGE DISCOVERY 271 
 
 In a few minutes more Davg and his chum 
 gained the first of the buildings. Here they 
 paused to listen and to look around. 
 
 " You want to be on your guard, Roger," whis- 
 pered our hero. " Porton may be watching us 
 and he may have some of his friends here. For 
 all we know this may be his hang-out." 
 
 " I'll be on guard, don't fear," answered the 
 senator's son, and brought forth his pistol. 
 
 " Don't use that gun unless you have to," 
 warned Dave, who did not favor any shooting, 
 even in an extreme case like this. 
 
 " I'll not give a rascal like Porton the chance to 
 shoot me first," retorted Roger. " That fellow 
 ought to be in jail, and you know it." 
 
 To this our hero did not answer. He felt in 
 his pocket to make sure that his own weapon was 
 ready for use. 
 
 Not a sound from the other buildings had 
 reached them, nor did any one appear to be in 
 sight. 
 
 " Looks to me as if we were in sole possession, 
 now that those guerrillas have gone," announced 
 Roger. " Wow 1 I hope they don't come back, 
 at least not until we are safe on our side of the 
 Rio Grande," he added grimly. 
 
 " Come on, we'll take a look through the build- 
 ings," answered Dave. " Don't make any noise 
 if you can possibly help it."
 
 272 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Leaving the building which they had first 
 entered an abandoned stable they moved 
 through a broken-down cow-shed to a long, low 
 structure which had evidently been used by the 
 helpers on the ranch. This building was also de- 
 serted, and all that remained in it was some filthy 
 bedding alive with vermin. 
 
 " Come on, let us get out of here," remarked 
 Roger, as he looked with disfavor at the squalor 
 presented. " How can human beings live like 
 this, Dave ? " 
 
 " I don't know, Roger. This place ought to be 
 burned down it's the only way to get it clean," 
 Dave added, shaking his head in disgust over the 
 sight. 
 
 Less than fifty feet away was the corner of the 
 main building of the ranch. Peering out cau- 
 tiously, to make sure that no one was watching 
 them, the two chums hurried across the open space 
 and crouched down beneath a wide-open window. 
 Then Dave, pistol in hand, looked in through the 
 opening. 
 
 The room beyond was deserted, and a glance 
 around showed him that it contained little besides 
 some heavy pieces of furniture which the looters 
 had evidently been unable to remove. On a table 
 rested several empty liquor bottles, and also a 
 number of cigar and cigarette stubs. On the floor 
 were scattered newspapers and some playing cards.
 
 A STRANGE DISCOVERY 273 
 
 " The fellows who were here evidently got out 
 in a hurry," remarked Dave. 
 
 " Are you going to go in? " questioned Roger. 
 
 " I guess so. What do you think about it? " 
 
 " I'm with you, Dave. Now we have gone so 
 far, we might as well finish the job." 
 
 It was an easy matter for the two chums to climb 
 through the low window. Once in the room, they 
 advanced toward a doorway leading to an apart- 
 ment that opened on the patio of the ranch home 
 
 an open courtyard which had once boasted of a 
 well-kept flower garden, but which was now neg- 
 lected and overrun with weeds. 
 
 As Dave gazed out across the patio he saw a 
 movement in a room on the opposite side of the 
 ranch home. The face of a man had appeared 
 for a few seconds. Behind him was some one else 
 
 who, however, Dave could not make out. 
 
 " My gracious, Roger ! " gasped our hero in a 
 low voice. " Did you see that fellow? " 
 
 " I saw some one." 
 
 " It was William Jarvey ! " 
 
 " Jarvey ! Are you sure ? " 
 
 " I am certain of it. Now what do you think 
 of that!" 
 
 " I'm sure I don't know what to think, Dave. 
 Maybe he is making his headquarters here, the 
 same as Ward Porton." 
 
 " I am going to try to find out. Come on."
 
 274 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Our hero made a quick mental calculation as to 
 the ground plan of the ranch home, and then he 
 and Roger began to work their way from one 
 room to another, and then through a long, nar- 
 row hallway, until they reached the other side of 
 the building. Here they paused at the end of the 
 hallway to listen. 
 
 From a room close at hand came a murmur of 
 voices. By straining his ears Dave made out the 
 tones of William Jarvey. The former book- 
 keeper for the Mentor Construction Company was 
 evidently talking to another man, but what was 
 being said was not distinguishable. 
 
 " It's Jarvey all right enough," whispered 
 Dave. 
 
 " Yes. But that isn't Ward Porton with him," 
 returned Roger. 
 
 " I know it. It's some man." 
 
 Both continued to listen, and presently heard 
 William Jarvey give a sarcastic laugh. 
 
 " You've got another guess coming, Packard 
 Brown, if you think you are going to get that much 
 out of the deal!" he cried. "Remember, you 
 haven't done a thing to help us." 
 
 "That's all right, Bill Jarvey," retorted the 
 man called Packard Brown. " When we left the 
 U. S. A. and came over here it was understood 
 that we were to share and share alike in every- 
 thing."
 
 A STRANGE DISCOVERY 275 
 
 " Yes, but I didn't think this new thing was com- 
 ing up," growled Jarvey. " We were to share 
 equal on what we happened to get out of the greas- 
 ers. This is another thing entirely." 
 
 " I admit that. Just the same, I think I'm en- 
 titled to my share." 
 
 " Well, you help us all you can and you'll get a 
 nice little wad out of it, Brown." 
 
 What more was said on this subject did not 
 reach the ears of Dave and Roger, for just then 
 the latter pulled our hero by the sleeve. 
 
 " Somebody's coming ! " he whispered. 
 " Maybe it's Porton." 
 
 Dave did not answer. At the end of the semi- 
 dark hallway there was a closet which in years 
 gone by had been used for the storage of guns and 
 clothing. Into this closet the two youths went, 
 closing the door carefully after them. 
 
 " It's Porton all right enough," whispered 
 Dave, who a moment later was crouching low 
 and looking through a large keyhole devoid of a 
 key. " There he goes into the room where the 
 two men are." 
 
 ;< Then those two men must be in with him," re- 
 turned the senator's son. " Say, Dave, this is 
 certainly getting interesting! " 
 
 " It's going to make our job a pretty hard one," 
 answered our hero. " If Ward Porton was alone 
 we might be able to capture him. But I don't see
 
 how we are going to do it with Jarvey and that 
 man named Brown present." 
 
 " Maybe if we offer Jarvey and Brown a large 
 reward they will help us make Porton a prisoner," 
 suggested Roger. " More than likely Jarvey is 
 on his uppers and will do anything to get a little 
 cash." 
 
 The two youths came out into the semi-dark 
 hallway once more, and on tiptoes crept toward 
 the door of the room occupied by Ward Porton 
 and the two men. 
 
 " I went all around the buildings, and looked up 
 and down the roadway, but I couldn't see anything 
 of them," the former moving-picture actor was 
 saying. " I guess they got cold feet when they 
 saw those soldiers. Say, those greasers certainly 
 were a fierce-looking bunch! " 
 
 " I don't believe they were any of General 
 Bilassa's army," returned William Jarvey. 
 " They were probably some detachment out for 
 whatever they could lay their hands on," and he 
 chuckled coarsely. Evidently he considered that 
 such guerrilla warfare under certain circumstances 
 was perfectly justifiable. 
 
 Following. this there was some talk which neither 
 of those outside the door could catch. Then came 
 a rather loud exclamation from Ward Porton 
 which startled our friends more than anything else 
 that could have been said.
 
 A STRANGE DISCOVERY 277 
 
 "Well, now, look here, Dad! " cried the for- 
 mer moving-picture actor. " You let me run this 
 affair. I started it, and I know I can put it 
 through successfully." 
 
 "That's right, Jarvey!" broke in Packard 
 Brown. " Let your son go ahead and work this 
 deal out to suit himself. He seems to have made 
 a success of it so far getting the best of that 
 fellow Crapsey," and the speaker chuckled. 
 
 Dave and Roger looked at each other know- 
 ingly. Here indeed was a revelation. Evidently 
 Ward Porton was the son of the man they knew 
 as William Jarvey. 
 
 " My gracious ! I remember now ! " burst out 
 our hero in a low tone. " When we went to Bur- 
 lington to see that old man, Obadiah Jones, about 
 Ward don't you remember that he told us that 
 Ward was the son of a good-for-nothing lieutenant 
 in the army named Jarvey Porton? That man 
 Pankhurst who was captured declared that Jarvey 
 was living under an assumed name and had been 
 an officer in the army. It must be true, Roger. 
 This fellow is really Jarvey Porton, and he is 
 Ward Porton's father!"
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 THE CAPTURE 
 
 WHAT Dave said concerning the man he had 
 known as William Jarvey was true. He was in 
 reality Ward Porton's father, his full name be- 
 ing William Jarvey Porton. Years before, how- 
 ever, on entering the United States Army, he had 
 dropped the name William and been known only 
 as Jarvey Porton. Later, on being dismissed 
 from the army for irregularities in his accounts, 
 he had assumed the name of William Jarvey. 
 
 A lively discussion lasting several minutes, and 
 which our hero and Roger failed to catch, fol- 
 lowed the discovery of Jarvey Porton's identity. 
 Then the listeners heard the former lieutenant 
 say: 
 
 " Brown, I think you had better go outside and 
 watch to make sure that no one is coming to this 
 place." 
 
 " All right, just as you say," was the other 
 man's answer. Evidently he understood that this 
 was a hint that Jarvey Porton wished to speak to 
 his son in private. 
 
 As Packard Brown placed his hand on the door 
 278
 
 THE CAPTURE 279 
 
 leading to the semi-dark hallway Dave and Roger 
 lost no time in tiptoeing their way back to the 
 closet in which they had before hidden. From 
 this place they saw Brown leave the room and walk 
 outside. Then they returned to their position at 
 the door. 
 
 " Are you sure the cases are in a safe place, 
 Ward?" they heard Jarvey Porton ask anx- 
 iously. 
 
 " Sure of it, Dad. I hid them with great 
 
 care." 
 
 " Are you sure nobody saw you do it? " 
 
 " Not a soul." 
 
 " Where was the place ? " 
 
 " On a high knoll not far from where we have 
 been tying up the boats," answered Ward Por- 
 ton. " There are a number of big rocks there, 
 and I found a fine cache between them." 
 
 " It's rather dangerous to leave them around 
 that way," grumbled the man. " Maybe you 
 would have done better if you had brought them 
 over here." 
 
 " I thought there would be no use in carting 
 them back and forth," returned the son. " I 
 wanted to have them handy, in case the Bass- 
 woods met my demands." 
 
 " Well, we'll see what comes of it, Ward. I 
 hope we do get that money. I certainly need 
 some," and Jarvey Porton heaved something of
 
 280 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 a sigh. Evidently father and son were equally un- 
 scrupulous and took no pains to disguise that fact 
 from each other. 
 
 More talk followed, Ward telling something 
 of the way in which the miniatures had been ob- 
 tained and his father relating the particulars of 
 his troubles with the Mentor Construction Com- 
 pany. In the midst of the latter recital Dave 
 and Roger heard Packard Brown returning on 
 the run. 
 
 " Hi there ! " called out the man in evident 
 alarm. And then as the two chums hid in the 
 closet once more, he burst into the room occupied 
 by the Portons. " Those greasers are coming 
 back and they are heading for this place ! " he ex- 
 plained. 
 
 " In that case we had better get out," answered 
 Jarvey Porton, quickly. 
 
 " But you and Brown helped them in that raid, 
 Dad," interposed the son. " Why should you 
 get out?" 
 
 " We had a big quarrel after that raid, Ward," 
 explained the parent. " And now those greasers 
 have no use for us. We'll have to get out, and 
 in a hurry, too." 
 
 Shouting could now be heard at a distance, and 
 this was followed by a volley of shots which sur- 
 prised all the listeners. 
 
 " I'll tell you what it must be," said Jarvey
 
 THE CAPTURE 281 
 
 Porton, as he led the way from the deserted 
 ranch. " A detachment from the regular army 
 must be after General Bilassa's crowd. Maybe 
 they'll have a fight right here along the border I " 
 
 " I don't want to get mixed up in any fight I " 
 exclaimed Ward Porton. " Maybe we had bet- 
 ter get back to the United States side of the river." 
 
 " That's the talk ! " put in Packard Brown. 
 "Come on!" 
 
 All left the ranch and headed directly for the 
 river, at the point where Ward had left his flat- 
 bottomed rowboat. Dave and Roger followed 
 them, but did their best to keep out of sight in 
 the tall grass. 
 
 " Oh, Dave, I hope they do go over to the 
 other shore ! " exclaimed the senator's son. " It 
 will be so much easier to capture them." 
 
 " Exactly, Roger. And don't you remember 
 what Ward told his father that he had left the 
 miniature cases hidden on the other side? He 
 said they were on a high knoll not far from where 
 the boats had been tied up. We ought to be able 
 to find that cache." 
 
 By the time the two chums gained the shore of 
 the Rio Grande those ahead of them had already 
 entered Ward Porton's boat. Ward and Brown 
 each had an oar and rowed as rapidly as possible 
 to the other side of the stream. Jarvey Porton 
 sat in the stern of the craft, and looked back from
 
 282 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 time to time, trying to catch sight of the guerrillas 
 and the other Mexicans, who were still shouting 
 and firing at a distance. 
 
 " Hadn't you better hold back a bit, Dave, so 
 they don't see you? " questioned Roger, as he and 
 our hero managed to gain the rowboat they had 
 used, which, fortunately, had been placed some 
 distance away from the other craft. 
 
 " Good advice, Roger, if it wasn't for one thing. 
 I don't want to give them a chance to get out of 
 our sight. Let us tie our handkerchiefs over the 
 lower parts of our faces. Then they won't be 
 able to recognize us at least unless we get 
 pretty close." 
 
 With Dave's suggestion carried out, the chums 
 leaped into the rowboat, and, this done, each took 
 an oar. They pulled hard, and as a consequence 
 reached the mouth of the little creek on the United 
 States side in time to see those ahead just disem- 
 barking. 
 
 "Where do you suppose they are going?" 
 queried the senator's son. 
 
 " That remains to be found out," answered 
 Dave. " Duck now, so they won't see us." And 
 with a quick motion of the oar he possessed he 
 sent the flat-bottomed boat in among some tall 
 grass which bordered the creek at this point. 
 
 Ward Porton and those with him had tied up 
 their boat and were walking to the higher ground
 
 THE CAPTURE 283 
 
 away from the creek. Jarvey Porton paused to 
 look back along the creek and the bosom of the 
 river beyond. 
 
 " I don't see anything on the river just now," 
 he announced. 
 
 " Look ! Some one is coming from the other 
 way! " exclaimed his son, suddenly. 
 
 "Is that Lawson, the ranchman?" questioned 
 Packard Brown, anxiously. 
 
 " No, I don't think it is," answered Ward Por- 
 ton. " They seem to be strangers," he added, a 
 minute later. 
 
 Two men and a well-grown boy were approach- 
 ing. They came on slowly, as if looking for some 
 one. 
 
 " I'd like to know what those fellows want 
 around here," came from Jarvey Porton, as he 
 gave up looking along the river to inspect the 
 newcomers. 
 
 From their position in the tall grass bordering 
 the creek, Dave and Roger looked from the Por- 
 ton party to those who were approaching. Then, 
 of a sudden, our hero uttered a low exclamation 
 of surprise. 
 
 " Look who's here, Roger ! Ben Basswood 
 and my Uncle Dunston! And Mr. Andrews is 
 with them ! " 
 
 " Oh, Dave ! are you sure? " 
 
 " Of course I am I I would know my Uncle
 
 284 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 Dunston as far as I could see him. And you 
 ought to know Ben." 
 
 " My gracious, Dave, you're right ! This sure 
 is luck!" 
 
 " I know what I'm going to do," decided our 
 hero, quickly. " I'm going to send both of the 
 boats adrift. Then, no matter what happens, 
 those rascals won't have any easy time of it get- 
 ting back to Mexico." 
 
 In feverish haste Dave sent the flat-bottomed 
 boat out into the creek once more. Roger as- 
 sisted him, and a few strokes of the oars brought 
 the craft alongside of that which had been used 
 by the Porton party. Then the chums leaped 
 ashore, threw all the oars into the water, and 
 set both of the rowboats adrift. 
 
 "Hi there! What are you fellows up to?" 
 came suddenly from Packard Brown, who had 
 happened to look behind him. " See, Jarvey, 
 those two fellows have cast our boat adrift! " 
 
 "Who are they?" demanded Jarvey Por- 
 ton, and looked in some bewilderment at the two 
 figures approaching, each with a handkerchief 
 tied over the lower portion of the face. 
 
 "Uncle Dunston! Ben!" cried Dave at the 
 top of his lungs, and at the same time whipped 
 the handkerchief from his face. " Here are 
 Ward Porton and his father! We must capture 
 them!"
 
 THE CAPTURE 285 
 
 " Hurry up ! Don't let them get away ! " put 
 in Roger, as he, too, uncovered his face. 
 
 As he uttered the words Roger drew his pistol, 
 an action which was quickly followed by our 
 hero, for both understood that the criminals be- 
 fore them might prove desperate. 
 
 Of course Dunston Porton and Ben Basswood, 
 as well as Frank Andrews, were greatly aston- 
 ished by the calls from Dave and Roger. But 
 our hero's uncle, while out hunting in various 
 parts of the world, had been in many a tight cor- 
 ner, and thus learned the value of acting quickly. 
 He had with him his pistol, and almost instantly 
 he drew this weapon and came forward on the 
 run, with Ben and Frank Andrews at his heels. 
 
 "Stop! Stop! Don't shoot!" yelled Ward 
 Porton in alarm, as he found himself and his com- 
 panions surrounded by five others, three with 
 drawn pistols. 
 
 " We won't shoot, Porton, if you'll surrender," 
 answered Dave. 
 
 "Oh, Dave! has he got those miniatures?" 
 burst out Ben. 
 
 "He sure has, Ben!" 
 
 "Good!" 
 
 " I haven't got any miniatures," growled the 
 former moving-picture actor. 
 
 His father and Brown looked decidedly uncom- 
 fortable. Once the former army officer made a
 
 286 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 motion as if to draw his own weapon, but Dunston 
 Porter detected the movement and instantly or- 
 dered all of the party to throw up their hands. 
 
 " Oh, Dave ! are you sure he has those pic- 
 tures? " queried Ben, and his face showed his anx- 
 iety. 
 
 " I think so, Ben. However, we'll find out as 
 soon as we have made them prisoners." 
 
 " That's the talk! " put in Roger. He turned 
 to Dave's uncle. " Can't you bind them or some- 
 thing, so that they can't get away? " 
 
 " We'll disarm them," announced Frank An- 
 drews. " Jarvey and Brown are wanted for that 
 raid on old man Tolman's ranch and for using 
 that bomb on the bridge. We can prove through 
 Pankhurst that they were with the party." 
 
 " That man is Ward Porton's father," ex- 
 plained Dave to his uncle and Ben, while the evil- 
 doers were being searched and disarmed one after 
 another. 
 
 " Ward Porton's father, eh? Well, they seem 
 to be two of a kind," answered Ben. 
 
 With their weapons taken from them, the 
 prisoners could do nothing but submit. They 
 were questioned, but all refused to tell anything 
 about what they had done or intended to do. 
 
 " You'll never get anything out of me, and 
 you'll never get those miniatures back," growled
 
 THE CAPTURE 287 
 
 Ward Porton, as he gazed sourly at Ben and at 
 Dave. 
 
 " We'll see about that, Porton," answered our 
 hero. And then he requested his uncle and Frank 
 Andrews to keep an eye on the prisoners while 
 he, Roger and Ben set out for the knoll some 
 distance away from the creek. 
 
 " Ward Porton said he had hidden some cases 
 in a cache between some rocks on that knoll," ex- 
 plained our hero. " By cases I think he meant 
 those containing the miniatures." 
 
 " Oh, I hope he did ! " returned Ben, wist- 
 fully. ' To get those miniatures back means so 
 much to my folks ! "
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 THE FORTUNE RECOVERED CONCLUSION 
 
 As Dave, Roger, and Ben tramped through 
 the tall grass to where was located a knoll of con- 
 siderable size, the son of the Crumville real estate 
 dealer related how he and Dunston Porter had 
 arrived in the construction camp and how they had 
 gotten Frank Andrews to show them in what di- 
 rection our hero and the senator's son had gone. 
 
 " We knew you were after Porton, and we 
 hoped to catch sight of that rascal," went on 
 Ben, " but we didn't dream that we were going to 
 capture Ward and also those two men who are 
 wanted for that raid on the Tolman ranch. And 
 to think that one of the men is Ward's father! 
 He certainly must be a bad egg! " 
 
 " He is, Ben," answered Dave. " And Ward 
 is a chip of the old block." 
 
 The chums were soon ascending the knoll, con- 
 taining many rocks between which were dense 
 clumps of chaparral. Here they had to advance 
 with care so as not to turn an ankle or get their 
 clothing torn. 
 
 Dave had hoped that the search for the miss- 
 288
 
 THE FORTUNE RECOVERED 289 
 
 ing cases would be an easy one, but in that he was 
 disappointed. The three chums walked all 
 around the knoll several times without getting any- 
 thing in the way of a clue as to where Porton's 
 cache was located. 
 
 " It's a shame ! " burst out Roger at length. 
 "If we could only " He looked quickly at 
 Dave. " What do you see ? " 
 
 Our hero did not reply. Instead he hurried 
 forward several feet, and then gave a low cry. 
 
 " Porton has been here ! " he exclaimed, and 
 held up a half-burned cigarette. 
 
 It was not much of a clue, but it was some- 
 thing; and working on this all three of the youths 
 searched the vicinity diligently. They soon came 
 upon a somewhat flat rock, and all seized hold of 
 this to cast it to one side. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " came simultaneously from Dave 
 and Roger, as they saw a large opening under 
 where the stone had been placed. 
 
 Ben said nothing, but plunged his hand into the 
 opening, to draw from it an instant later one of 
 the cases that had contained the Enos miniatures. 
 The other cases quickly followed. 
 
 " Are the miniatures in them? " questioned the 
 senator's son. 
 
 " That's what I'm going to find out," answered 
 Ben. 
 
 The cases were fastened by several catches,
 
 but these were quickly unfastened and the lids 
 thrown open. 
 
 " Good! Good! " exclaimed Ben, and his face 
 showed his intense satisfaction. 
 
 There before the eyes of the youths were nearly 
 all of the wonderful collection of miniatures which 
 Mr. Basswood had inherited. Only two were 
 missing those which the thieves had sold in 
 New York. 
 
 " Oh, this is simply grand ! " cried Roger, en- 
 thusiastically. 
 
 " That's what it is," added Dave, and then 
 went on quickly: "We'll have to get these to 
 some safe place and then make sure that they'll 
 never be stolen again." 
 
 " Don't you worry about that, Dave. I won't 
 let them out of my sight until they are safe and 
 sound," declared the real estate dealer's son. 
 
 Locking up the cases once more, the three 
 youths carried them off the knoll and through the 
 chaparral to where they had left Dunston Porter 
 and the others. Of course, Dave's uncle was 
 much gratified to learn that the miniatures had 
 been recovered, and Frank Andrews was also 
 pleased. Jarvey Porton looked downcast, and 
 his son showed his deep disgust. . 
 
 " I was a fool not to take them over into 
 Mexico," remarked the former moving-picture 
 actor.
 
 THE FORTUNE RECOVERED 291 
 
 " Well, I told you that was what you should 
 have done," retorted his father. And then he 
 added in a low tone: "We might have pur- 
 chased our freedom with those miniatures." 
 
 While Dunston Porter and Frank Andrews 
 looked after the prisoners to see that they did not 
 get away, Dave and his chums took care of the 
 cases containing the precious miniatures, and thus 
 the whole party made its way to the engineering 
 and construction camp. There the Portons and 
 Packard Brown were handcuffed, and word was 
 sent to the authorities to take charge of them. 
 
 " And now I've got to send word home about 
 this good news ! " cried Ben, and lost no time in 
 getting off a long telegram to his folks, and ask- 
 ing them to inform Dave's father and the Wads- 
 worths by telephone of the success of the trip to 
 Texas. 
 
 " That message ought to do your father more 
 good than a dose of medicine," remarked Dave. 
 
 " It will, Dave," answered Ben, his face beam- 
 ing. " I know father will recover now that he has 
 nothing more to worry about." Ben was right. 
 The recovery of the fortune In miniatures did 
 much toward restoring the real estate dealer to his 
 former good health. 
 
 In the camp it was remarked by a number of 
 men how much Ward Porton resembled Dave. 
 But no one at that time dreamed that this re-
 
 292 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 semblance was shortly to come to an end. Yet 
 such was a fact. When being transferred from 
 Texas to the State in which his crimes had been 
 committed, Ward Porton attempted to make his 
 escape by leaping from a rapidly moving railroad 
 train. As a consequence he broke not only both 
 of his legs, but also his nose, and cut his right 
 cheek most frightfully. As a result, when he was 
 retaken he had to remain in the hospital for a long 
 time, and when he came out his face was much dis- 
 figured and he walked with a decided limp. 
 
 " It's too bad, but he brought it on himself," 
 was Dave's comment, when he heard of this. 
 
 " It's a good thing in one respect," was Roger's 
 reply. " With his nose broken and his cheek 
 disfigured and with such a limp, no one will ever 
 take Ward Porton for you again." 
 
 It may be mentioned here that when the proper 
 time came Ward Porton and Tim Crapsey were 
 brought to trial and each was given a long term 
 of imprisonment. Ward's father and the other 
 men who had participated in the attack on the 
 Tolman ranch and on the bridge and had been 
 captured were also severely punished. 
 
 The store-keepers and the hotel-keeper who 
 suffered through Ward Porton's misrepresenta- 
 tions could get nothing from the young culprit, 
 but they had the satisfaction of knowing that he
 
 THE FORTUNE RECOVERED 293 
 
 had now been put where it would be impossible 
 for him to dupe others. 
 
 Ben Basswood remained at the camp but a few 
 days, and then he and Dunston Porter started 
 northward. The miniatures had been boxed up 
 and shipped by express, insured for their full 
 value. It may be stated here that they ar- 
 rived safely at their destination. Those which 
 had been disposed of in New York City were re- 
 covered, and in the end Mr. Basswood disposed 
 of the entire collection to the museums in four of 
 our large cities for the sum of seventy-five thou- 
 sand dollars. With part of this money he went 
 into several heavy real estate deals, taking Ben 
 in with him, and father and son did very well. 
 
 " I think the getting back of those miniatures 
 was entirely your work, Dave," declared Roger, 
 one day. 
 
 " I don't know about that," answered our hero, 
 modestly. " I think you had a hand in it." 
 
 " I had a hand in catching Ward Porton, but 
 you were the one to spot that cache and locate the 
 Basswood fortune." 
 
 And now let me add a few words more and 
 then bring to an end this story of " Dave Porter 
 and His Double." 
 
 A number of years have passed since Dave
 
 294 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE 
 
 graduated from Oak Hall and took up the pro- 
 fession of a civil engineer. Both he and Roger 
 learned rapidly, and at the end of the required 
 time both passed their final examinations with 
 flying colors. They remained with the Mentor 
 Construction Company, journeying all over the 
 United States, and also going down into Mexico 
 and into Central and South Americas. They, of 
 course, met with numerous adventures, some of 
 which I may relate to you at a future time. They 
 returned to Crumville a number of times, and 
 during those visits Dave was more attentive to 
 Jessie than ever, while Roger spent nearly all his 
 time at Laura's side. 
 
 " They'll make a fine pair of married couples," 
 declared Dave's Uncle Dunston. 
 
 " Well, I hope they'll be happy," answered 
 Dave's father. " They certainly deserve to be." 
 
 "You are right. But I guess they had better 
 wait awhile yet." 
 
 "Of course. They are young, and Dave and 
 Roger want to get a good foothold in their 
 profession." 
 
 "Those boys have had some strenuous doings," 
 continued the uncle. " I wonder what will happen 
 next?" 
 
 " Something, that's certain," answered Dave's 
 father; and he was right, as will be related in my 
 next volume, to be entitled, " Dave Porter's Great
 
 THE FORTUNE RECOVERED 295 
 
 Search ; or, The Perils of a Young Civil Engineer." 
 In that book we will meet all our young friends 
 again, and learn the particulars of Jessie Wads- 
 worth's strange disappearance. 
 
 " Great days, those on the Rio Grande, 
 Dave ! " remarked Roger, one day, when the two 
 had been discussing what had taken place in the 
 past. 
 
 " Yes, Roger, they certainly were great days," 
 answered our hero. " No matter what exciting 
 times may come in the future, I'll never forget 
 how I helped to capture my double." 
 
 " And how we managed to become full-fledged 
 civil engineers, Dave." 
 
 " Yes, that was just as good as getting back the 
 Basswood miniatures, if not better," answered 
 Dave. 
 
 Here, at the height of his success in his chosen 
 profession, we will wish Dave Porter well, and 
 say good-bye. 
 
 THE END
 
 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 Box 951388 
 
 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. 
 
 SEP 16 2004 
 
 SEP 2 4 2004