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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee0a1a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #55764 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55764) diff --git a/old/55764-0.txt b/old/55764-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 334a232..0000000 --- a/old/55764-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8913 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Dave Porter's Great Search, by Edward Stratemeyer - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Dave Porter's Great Search - The Perils of a Young Civil Engineer - -Author: Edward Stratemeyer - -Illustrator: Walter S. Rogers - -Release Date: October 17, 2017 [EBook #55764] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER'S GREAT SEARCH *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, David Edwards and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - -[Illustration: THE LONG HORSEBACK RIDE OF THE MORNING HAD WHETTED THEIR -APPETITES.—_Page 125._] - - Dave Porter Series - - - - - DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH - OR - THE PERILS OF A YOUNG CIVIL ENGINEER - - - BY - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - Author of “Dave Porter at Oak Hall,” “The Old Glory Series,” “Colonial - Series,” “Pan-American Series,” etc. - - _ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER S. ROGERS_ - -[Illustration] - - BOSTON - LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. - - - - - Published, August, 1917 - - - Copyright, 1917 - BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. - - _All rights reserved_ - - DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH - - - Norwood Press - BERWICK & SMITH CO. - NORWOOD, MASS. - U. S. A. - - - - - PREFACE - - -“Dave Porter’s Great Search” is a complete story in itself, but forms -the thirteenth volume in a line issued under the general title of “Dave -Porter Series.” - -As my old readers know, this series was begun some years ago by the -publication of “Dave Porter at Oak Hall,” in which my readers were -introduced to a wideawake, American boy at an up-to-date American -boarding-school. This was followed by “Dave Porter in the South Seas,” -where our hero had gone to find his father, and then by “Dave Porter’s -Return to School.” After that we had “Dave Porter in the Far North,” -where the lad went on a second journey looking for his parent; “Dave -Porter and His Classmates,” in which our hero was put to a most unusual -test; and then by “Dave Porter at Star Ranch,” in which he took part in -many strenuous adventures. - -From the Wild West Dave returned again to school, as related in “Dave -Porter and His Rivals.” Then he took a sea voyage, as told of in “Dave -Porter on Cave Island,” and later still taught some of his school chums -a much-needed lesson, the particulars of which are given in “Dave Porter -and the Runaways.” - -The lad had imagined his strenuous adventures were now at an end, but -this was not to be. He heard of a lost mine, and, with his chums, went -in search of it, as related in “Dave Porter in the Gold Fields.” Coming -back, he put in some fine times in the Adirondack Mountains, as related -in “Dave Porter at Bear Camp.” - -By this time the lad had graduated from school, and he now took up the -study of civil engineering. There was another lad who looked exactly -like Dave, and this person caused our hero much trouble, as told of in -“Dave Porter and His Double,” where we last met him. - -In the present volume Dave is still pursuing his calling of civil -engineering. He is at work in the mountains when he comes face to face -with one of his old-time enemies. Later still word comes to the youth -that his dearest girl friend, Jessie Wadsworth, and his sister Laura -have disappeared from home. One surprise is followed by another, and the -young civil engineer is confronted by many perils. - -Once again I thank my young readers for the interest they have shown in -the various volumes I have written for them. I trust that the reading of -this book will benefit them all. - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER. - - _May 1, 1917._ - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I IN THE MOUNTAINS 1 - - II SOMETHING ABOUT THE PAST 12 - - III A SURPRISE OF THE ROAD 22 - - IV WHAT PHIL’S LETTER TOLD 34 - - V NICK JASNIFF’S VISIT 45 - - VI NEWS FROM HOME 58 - - VII THE FIGHT ON THE TRAIL 68 - - VIII WHAT WAS MISSING 77 - - IX DAVE AT ORELLA 88 - - X WHAT THE GIRLS HAD TO TELL 98 - - XI THE OAK HALL CHUMS 109 - - XII ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP 120 - - XIII TO THE RESCUE OF SHADOW 130 - - XIV SOMETHING ABOUT BEARS 142 - - XV THE TRAIL TO NOWHERE 152 - - XVI WAITING FOR LETTERS 162 - - XVII BAD NEWS 172 - - XVIII ON THE WAY EAST 183 - - XIX THE DEMAND FOR MONEY 192 - - XX BEGINNING THE GREAT SEARCH 202 - - XXI STUCK ON THE ROAD 212 - - XXII THE FIRST CLUE 221 - - XXIII WHAT THE LITTLE GIRLS KNEW 230 - - XXIV ANOTHER CLUE 238 - - XXV WHAT HORSEHAIR HAD TO TELL 247 - - XXVI THE MOUNTAIN ROAD 257 - - XXVII TO THE RESCUE 267 - - XXVIII PRISONERS 277 - - XXIX TRYING TO ESCAPE 286 - - XXX THE ROUND-UP—CONCLUSION 296 - - - - - DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH - - - - - CHAPTER I - IN THE MOUNTAINS - - -“What do you think of that sky, Dave?” - -“It looks to me as if we were in for a storm, Roger,” answered Dave -Porter, a trace of anxiety crossing his usually pleasant features. - -“Perhaps it is only wind,” vouchsafed Roger Morr, after he brought his -horse to a standstill so that he might scan the distant horizon -minutely. “You know they do have some terrible wind storms out here in -Montana.” - -“Oh, yes. I remember the big winds we had when we were out at Star -Ranch,” answered Dave. “Don’t you remember once we thought we were in -for a regular tornado?” - -“I surely do remember. Say, Dave, those were certainly great days on the -ranch, weren’t they?” - -“Now that we’ve moved up here to Montana I hope some day to get the -chance to run out to the ranch,” continued Dave. “I would like very much -to meet Belle Endicott and her folks.” - -“I’ll wager you’ll find Phil Lawrence sneaking out this way some day,” -laughed Roger. - -“Can you blame him, Roger? Belle is an awfully nice girl.” - -“Of course I shouldn’t blame him, any more than I’d blame myself -for—for——” - -“Than you would blame yourself for sneaking off to Crumville to see my -sister,” laughed Dave. - -“Humph! I guess you wouldn’t mind being back in Crumville this moment, -calling on Jessie Wadsworth.” - -“I don’t deny it. But say, let us get on our way. Those black clouds are -coming up altogether too rapidly to suit me.” - -“How many miles do you suppose we are from the camp?” - -“Six or eight at least. You know we followed this trail for a long time -before we stopped to have lunch.” - -“If that new branch of the M. C. & D. Railroad comes through this way it -will certainly follow a picturesque route,” declared Roger. - -“That will suit the summer tourists, even if it doesn’t cut any ice with -the natives. But come on, we had better not waste any more time. Before -you know it it will be dark and that storm will be upon us.” - -The two young civil engineers were high up on a trail among the -mountains of Montana. Far below them stretched a rugged valley, -containing more rocks than grazing lands. Off to the southward could be -seen a small stream which some time before had been shimmering in the -sunlight, but which now was almost lost in the sudden gloom that was -overspreading the sky. - -“What a difference between the scenery here and that along the Rio -Grande,” remarked Roger, as the two chums made their way along the -narrow trail leading to the camp of the Mentor Construction Company. - -“I’m glad of the change, Roger. I was getting tired of the marsh land -along that river, and I was also mighty tired of those greasers.” - -“Not to say anything about the raids the Mexicans made on us,” laughed -the chum. “Say, we came pretty close to having some hot times once or -twice, didn’t we?” - -“I hope, Roger, we are able to make as good a showing up here on this -railroad work as we did on that Catalco Bridge. That certainly was a -superb piece of engineering.” - -Dave was silent for a few minutes while the horses trotted along the -stony trail. Then, pleased by a passing thought, his face and eyes lit -up with enthusiasm. - -“Wouldn’t it be grand, Roger, if some day you and I could put through -some big engineering feat all on our own hook?” he cried. “Think of our -putting up some big bridge, or building some big tunnel, or some fine -skyscraper, or something like that!” - -“I don’t see why we shouldn’t be able to do it some day. The men who are -at the head of the Mentor Construction Company had to start as we are -doing—at the foot of the ladder. What one man has done, some other -fellow ought to be able to do after him.” - -“Right you are! But ride slow now. If you’ll remember, the trail is -rather dangerous just ahead of us.” - -The admonition that had been given was not necessary, for both young men -knew only too well the danger which lay ahead of them. At this point the -trail became exceedingly narrow and wound in and out around a cliff -which towered at least a hundred feet above their heads. In some spots -the trail was less than a yard wide, and on the outer edge the rough -rocks sloped downward at an angle of forty-five degrees. - -“If a fellow slipped down there I wonder where he would land,” murmured -Roger, as he held back his steed so as to give his companion a chance to -pick his way with care. - -“If you went over there you’d probably tumble down several hundred -feet,” answered Dave. “And if you did that, you and your horse would -most likely be killed. You be careful and keep your horse as close to -the cliff as possible.” - -At one point in the trail where it would have been utterly impossible to -pass another person, the young civil engineers stopped to give a long, -loud whistle, to announce to any one coming in the opposite direction -that they were approaching. No whistle or call came in return, so they -took it for granted that the trail was clear and proceeded again on -their way. - -By the time the vicinity of the cliff had been left behind, more than -three quarters of the sky was overcast. Far off in the distance they -could hear a murmur which gradually increased. - -“It’s the wind coming up between the mountains,” announced Dave. And he -was right. Soon the murmur had increased to a strange humming, and then, -in a moment more, the wind came rushing down upon them with a violence -that was anything but comfortable. - -“Come on! Don’t linger here!” shouted Dave, as he urged his horse -forward. “We’ll soon be out on the regular road.” - -A quarter of a mile farther brought them to another turn in the trail, -and in a minute more they went down a long slope and then came out on a -broad trail running to a number of mines and ranches in that part of -Montana. Here for over a mile riding was much easier, and the chums made -good progress in the direction of the construction camp at which they -were making their headquarters. - -“Do you think we can make it before the rain comes?” questioned Roger, -as they dashed along. - -“No such luck. Here comes the rain now,” answered Dave. - -As he spoke, both of the young civil engineers felt the first drops of -the on-coming storm. Then the rain became a steady downpour which -threatened every minute to turn into a deluge. - -Fortunately for the two young men, they were not hampered by any of -their civil-engineering outfit. They had been asked that morning by Mr. -Ralph Obray, the manager of the construction gang, to ride up the trail -and make sure that certain marks had been left there by the surveyors -for the railroad. The work done by the railroad had been merely of a -preliminary nature, but this preliminary work, crude as it was, was to -be used as a basis for the more accurate survey by the engineers of the -construction company. - -“I don’t think we can make camp in such a downpour as this,” gasped -Roger, after another half-mile had been covered. - -“Maybe you’re right,” responded Dave. “It certainly is coming down to -beat the band! But what are we going to do? I don’t believe in standing -still and getting ourselves drenched to the skin.” - -“We ought to be able to find some sort of shelter near by. Come on, let -us take a look around.” - -Both did this, sheltering their eyes from the rain with their hands. In -such a downpour the scenery on all sides was practically obliterated. - -“Can’t make out a thing,” remarked Roger in disgust. “I suppose we’ve -got to go on and take what comes. By the time we reach camp we’ll feel -like a couple of drowned rats.” - -“Never mind. We’ll have a chance to change our clothing, anyway,” -responded Dave lightly. “And we won’t have to take a bath or get under -the shower.” - -“Take a bath or get under the shower!” repeated Roger. “Wow! If I had a -chance to do that I wouldn’t know myself,” he added with a grin. For -neither of the chums had seen anything like a bathtub or a shower for -several months. When they took a bath it was usually in a small stream -that flowed not far from where the construction camp was located. - -Forward the young civil engineers went once again, the rain beating -furiously in their faces as they proceeded. The downpour was so severe -that presently they came to where a hollow on the road was completely -filled with muddy water. - -“Stop, or you may get stuck!” cried Dave, as he brought his horse to a -halt. “I think we had better try to go around this pool.” - -“Come on this way,” returned his chum quickly, and turned off to the -left. - -And right here it was that the two young civil engineers made a big -mistake. Had they turned to the right they would soon have come out on -the road at a point where it would have been perfectly safe to proceed. -But the turn to the left led them downward, and almost before they knew -it they found themselves between the rocks and on the edge of a thick -woods. - -“Hello! where have we landed now?” queried Dave. “I don’t believe we can -get back to the road from here.” - -“Oh, come on, let us skirt the woods,” urged Roger. “We are bound to get -back to the road sooner or later.” - -Somewhat against his better judgment, Dave allowed his chum to take the -lead, and on they went through the rain and increasing darkness. The -first rush of wind had now somewhat subsided, but in its place they -could hear the low rumble of distant thunder. Then a sudden flash of -lightning lit the scene. - -“Say, I don’t like this!” cried Roger, as the thunder became louder and -several more flashes of lightning flared over the surroundings. - -“Watch for the next flash, Roger, and maybe you can see the road,” -suggested Dave. - -Both young civil engineers did as had been suggested, but, though they -waited not only for the next flash of light but also for the two -following, they were unable to see more than the rocks and trees in -their immediate vicinity. - -“I’m afraid we’re lost down here,” said Dave at last. “And if that’s the -case, the only thing we can do is to ride back to where we came from.” - -“Oh, let us go ahead a little farther. Maybe the road is at the edge of -the woods yonder.” - -“If we only knew of some miner’s camp or some ranch-house around here, -we might get shelter, Roger. I don’t much like the idea of riding in -such a storm as this is getting to be.” - -“True for you! But I don’t think there is any kind of shelter such as -you mention within a mile or two of this place. I didn’t see anything -that looked like a house or a cabin when we came up the trail.” - -Once more Roger went ahead, and with increased unwillingness Dave -followed him, all the while thinking that it would be better to retrace -their steps to the point where they had found the roadway covered with -water. - -“We might have skirted that pool somehow,” thought Dave. “Now we don’t -know where we’ll land.” - -The two riders found a slight rise ahead of them, and this encouraged -Roger into believing that the roadway was not far distant. Less than a -hundred yards further on, however, they came to a sudden halt. - -“Well, I’ll be blessed!” - -“I think we’ll have to turn back now, Roger.” - -“I suppose so. Isn’t it too bad?” - -Without warning of any kind they had suddenly come to a spot where the -jagged rocks arose in front of them several feet higher than their -horses’ heads. Off to the left flowed a swift mountain torrent, bordered -on one side by a low, irregular cliff and on the other by the jagged -rocks and the tall forest. The rain was now coming down as steadily as -ever, while the thunder and lightning constantly increased in violence. -The sky was entirely overcast, so that when there was no lightning it -was almost totally dark at the edge of the forest. - -“Maybe if we could get across that stream we might climb up to the -roadway,” suggested Roger, who hated to think of going back. “Anyway, -let us take a good look the next time it lightens.” - -Roger had scarcely spoken when there came a tremendous crash of thunder -so close at hand that it made both of the young civil engineers start. -The horses too were badly frightened, and both gave wild plunges one -into the other. As a consequence, a moment later Dave found himself -unseated and thrown to the ground, and an instant later Roger landed -almost on top of him. - -“Hi! Stop the horses!” gasped Dave, when he could speak. - -To this Roger made no response for the reason that he had come down on -the rocks with such force that he was all but stunned. Dave attempted to -struggle to his feet and catch the plunging animals, but before he could -do so the two horses had bolted away in the semi-darkness, leaving their -former riders to their fate. - - - - - CHAPTER II - SOMETHING ABOUT THE PAST - - -“We’re in a pickle now, and no mistake!” panted Roger. - -“Let us try to catch the horses before they get too far away,” came from -Dave. “We don’t want the fun of tramping back to camp on foot.” - -“Not to say anything about losing two valuable animals.” - -“I hope you didn’t break any bones,” continued Dave, as he saw his chum -feeling of his knee and his elbow. - -“Oh, I guess I didn’t get anything more than a good shaking up. And you -didn’t escape entirely, either. See, your hand is bleeding.” - -“Oh, it’s only a scrape. Come on;” and thus speaking Dave ran off in the -direction the runaway horses had taken, and his chum followed. - -To my old readers Dave Porter will need no special introduction. For the -benefit of others, however, let me state that when a small boy he had -been found wandering alongside the railroad tracks in Crumville. As -nobody claimed him he had been put in the local poorhouse, and, later -on, bound out to a broken-down college professor, Caspar Potts, who at -that time was farming for his health. - -In an elegant mansion on the outskirts of Crumville, lived Mr. Oliver -Wadsworth, a wealthy jewelry manufacturer, with his wife and his -daughter Jessie. One day the gasoline tank of an automobile took fire, -and Jessie was in danger of being burned to death when Dave came to her -rescue. As a consequence of this Mr. Wadsworth became interested in the -boy, and decided that he should be given the benefits of a good -education and had sent him to a first-class boarding school, as related -in the first volume of this series, entitled “Dave Porter at Oak Hall.” -With Dave went Ben Basswood, his one boy friend in the town. - -At Oak Hall Dave made a number of close friends, including Roger Morr, -the son of a well-known United States Senator; Phil Lawrence, the -offspring of a rich ship-owner; “Shadow” Hamilton, who loved to tell -stories; and Buster Beggs, who was as fat as he was jolly. - -In those days the principal thing that troubled Dave was the question of -his parentage. To solve the mystery of his identity he took a long sea -voyage, as related in “Dave Porter in the South Seas,” where he met his -uncle, Dunston Porter, and learned much concerning his father, David -Breslow Porter, and also his sister Laura, who were at that time -traveling in Europe. - -On his return to school, and during the time that our hero spent in -trying to locate his father and his sister, as related in succeeding -volumes of this series, Dave made many new friends. But there were some -lads who were jealous of the boy’s success, and two of them, Nick -Jasniff and Link Merwell, did what they could to get our hero into -trouble. The plot against Dave, however, was exposed, and in sheer -fright Nick Jasniff ran away and went to Europe while Merwell went out -West to a ranch owned by his father. - -Dave’s sister Laura had an intimate friend, Belle Endicott, who lived on -Star Ranch in Montana, and through this friendship all of the boys and -girls were invited out to the ranch. There, to his surprise, Dave fell -in once more with Link Merwell and finally exposed that young rascal so -that Link thought it would be to his advantage to disappear. - -“You’ll have to keep your eyes open for those wretches,” was Roger’s -comment at the time. - -“They’ll get the better of you if they possibly can, Dave,” Phil -Lawrence had added. - -“I’ll watch them,” the youth had answered. - -When the Christmas holidays arrived Dave went back to Crumville, where -he and his folks resided with the Wadsworths. Directly after Christmas -came a startling robbery of the Wadsworth jewelry works, and Dave and -his chums by some clever work discovered that the crime had been -committed by Merwell and Jasniff. After a sea voyage to Cave Island, -Jasniff was captured and sent to jail, but Merwell at the last minute -managed to make his escape. - -The trip to Cave Island was followed by another to the great West, where -Dave aided Roger Morr in locating a gold mine which had been lost -through a landslide. - -After this our hero went up to Bear Camp in the Adirondack Mountains, -where he had a glorious time with all of his chums and also the girls. -At that time Dave fell in with a young man named Ward Porton, who was -almost our hero’s double in appearance. Porton proved to be an -unscrupulous person, and caused our hero not a little trouble, he trying -at one time to palm himself off as the real Dave Porter. This scheme, -however, was exposed, and then Porton lost no time in disappearing. - -Our hero had now graduated from Oak Hall, and he and Roger Morr had -taken up the profession of civil engineering. In the midst of his -studies Dave was startled by the news of the disappearance of some -valuable miniatures which had been willed to his old friends, the -Basswoods. It was discovered that Ward Porton was in this plot, and -later on this evildoer, along with his disreputable father, was brought -to justice. - -As soon as their first examination in civil engineering had been passed, -Dave and Roger had succeeded in obtaining through their instructor -positions with the Mentor Construction Company, a large concern -operating many branches throughout the United States and in foreign -countries. They were assigned to a gang operating in Texas, building a -railroad bridge near the Rio Grande. This construction camp was under -the general management of Mr. Ralph Obray, assisted by a number of -others, including a middle-aged man named Frank Andrews, who had -speedily become a warm friend of the young civil engineers. - -The work had proved absorbing from the start to Dave, and it must be -said that the senator’s son was almost equally interested. Both kept up -their studies every day and kept their eyes and ears wide open, and -consequently made rapid progress. On more than one occasion Mr. Obray -had given them encouraging words and shown his satisfaction, and Frank -Andrews was enthusiastic. - -“You fellows keep on the way you have started, and some day you’ll be at -the top of the ladder,” was the way Andrews expressed himself. - -The two young civil engineers had remained at work on the Catalco Bridge -for nearly a year. Then the task had been turned over to another gang, -and the Obray outfit, as it was commonly called, had been sent up from -Texas into Montana, to take up the work of roadbed and bridge -construction for the M. C. & D. Railroad. - -This railroad was simply a feeder of one of the main lines, yet it was -thought that in time it would become a highly important branch. The work -to be undertaken was unusually difficult, and it was an open secret that -several construction companies had refused even to give figures on it. - -“We’ve got our work cut out for us up here,” had been Frank Andrews’ -remark to Mr. Obray, after the pair had gone over the situation -carefully. - -“Right you are, Andrews,” the manager of the construction gang had -answered. “It looks all right on paper, but we are going to have a good -many difficulties which can’t be put down in black and white.” - -“What we’ve got to guard against, to my way of thinking, is landslides,” -the assistant had answered. - -Since beginning work for the Mentor Construction Company, Dave and Roger -had had two opportunities for returning to the East. They had come by -the way of Washington, where Senator Morr and his wife were now -residing, and had also stopped off at Philadelphia to visit Phil -Lawrence. Then they had made their way to Crumville, there to put in a -most delightful time with Dave’s folks and the Wadsworths. As my old -readers are aware, to Dave there was no girl in the world quite so sweet -and lovable as Jessie Wadsworth, while it was noticed that Roger and -Dave’s sister Laura were together whenever occasion permitted. - -The two young civil engineers had been in Montana now for about three -weeks, and during that time they had gone on numerous errands to places -ten and even twenty miles away. On arrival they had hoped to visit Star -Ranch, but had learned that this place was nearly a hundred miles off. -They had looked at some of the local mines with much interest, and had -likewise visited several ranches. - -“We’ll get to know this whole district like a book before we get through -with it,” had been Roger’s comment. - -“Maybe,” Dave had answered. “Just the same, if I were you I wouldn’t go -too far away from the regular trails without a pocket compass. Getting -lost among these mountains might prove very serious.” - -The two young civil engineers had started off on their errand that -morning in high spirits, due not alone to the fact that both were -feeling in the best of health and were doing well in their chosen -profession, but also to the fact that the day before they had received a -number of letters from home, including a warm epistle to Dave from -Jessie and an equally tender missive from Laura to Roger. - -At their end the two girls had written each in the confidence of the -other, so that the two chums did not hesitate to talk over the contents -of both letters between them. - -“Oh, we’ve got the brightest prospects in the world before us!” Dave had -cried when they had set out, and in the exuberance of his spirits he had -thrown his cap high up in the air. - -But the prospect at this particular minute did not seem to be so bright. -The rain was coming down steadily, accompanied by sharp crashes of -thunder and vivid flashes of lightning, and the two youths had all they -could do to keep their feet as they sped along in the direction the -runaway horses had taken. - -“This is the worst ever!” groaned Roger, as both presently came to a -halt with the rocks on one side of them and the forest on the other. “I -can’t see anything of those horses, can you?” - -Dave did not for the moment reply. He was waiting for the next flash of -lightning, and when it came he strained his eyes in an effort to locate -the vanished steeds. The effort, however, was a vain one. - -“They’re gone, that’s sure,” he announced gloomily. “If the storm didn’t -make so much noise we might be able to hear them clattering over the -rocks; but between the wind and the thunder that’s impossible.” - -“They had to come this way, for it’s the only way. Let us go on a little -farther.” - -As there was nothing else to do, Dave followed his chum along the edge -of the forest and at last the pair reached the spot where they had left -the road. Here the pool of water had become much larger and deeper. - -“We don’t seem to be getting anywhere,” grumbled the senator’s son, as -they came again to a halt. “Just look at this! It’s a miniature lake!” - -“We’ll have to get around it somehow, Roger,” was the reply. “Let us try -the other side this time.” - -“But what about the horses?” - -“If they came up here on the roadway I’ve an idea they started straight -for camp. They wouldn’t know where else to go.” - -Not caring to stand still in such a downpour, the two started to skirt -the pond, going in the opposite direction to that which they had before -taken. They had to clamber over a number of rough rocks and through some -brushwood heavily laden with water, so that by the time they reached the -other side they were as wet as if they had taken an involuntary bath. - -“Well, there’s one consolation,” announced Roger grimly. “We couldn’t -get any wetter if we tried.” - -“Come on. Let us leg it for camp as fast as we can,” returned Dave. -“It’s pretty cold out here, drenched like this.” - -“Wait a minute! I think I saw something!” cried the senator’s son -suddenly. “Look!” - -He pointed off to one side of the roadway, and both waited until another -flash of lightning lit up the scene. - -“The horses!” - -They were right. There, not over a hundred yards away, stood the two -runaway steeds, partly sheltered by several big trees. Their heads had -been down, but now they suddenly came up as if in fresh alarm. - -“Do you think we can catch them, Dave?” gasped the senator’s son. - -“We’ve got to do it, Roger,” was the reply. “But be careful, or they’ll -get away as sure as fate. Here, you approach them from the right and -I’ll go around to the left. And don’t let them get past you, no matter -what happens.” - - - - - CHAPTER III - A SURPRISE OF THE ROAD - - -Fortunately for the two chums, the flash of lightning which had revealed -the two horses to them was followed by something of a lull in the storm -and this served to keep the steeds from stampeding again. - -“Be careful, Roger,” cautioned Dave, as they separated to do as our hero -had advised. - -“Do you want me to take my own horse or the one which happens to be -nearest to me?” questioned the senator’s son. - -“Take the nearest, by all means—and be sure to hold on tight!” - -In the darkness, and with the rain still coming down steadily, the two -approached closer and closer to the horses. One animal gave a low snort, -but whether of fear or recognition of his master could not be -ascertained. - -“I guess we’ve got them, all right enough,” sang out Roger, as he made a -dash to cover the dozen feet that separated him from the nearest steed. - -Dave was a few steps farther away from the other horse. At that instant -came another clap of thunder, followed almost instantly by the -lightning. Then came a crash in the forest, showing that a tree close by -had been struck. - -The nervous horses wheeled around and reared up. Then one started in one -direction and the other in another. - -“Grab him, Roger! Don’t let him get away!” yelled Dave, and made a wild -leap for the animal nearest him. He caught the loose rein, and an -instant later had a firm hold on the steed. The horse did considerable -prancing, but the youth, who some seasons before had tamed a bronco at -Star Ranch, was not daunted. He brought the animal to a standstill, and -then, seeing that it was his own mount, leaped lightly into the saddle. - -“Now behave yourself, old boy,” he said soothingly, patting the animal -on the neck. “You’re all right. Take it easy.” - -In the meanwhile, Roger was having an exciting experience with his own -horse. The animal had tried to back away from him, and had gotten a hind -leg fast between two trees. Now he began to kick out wildly, hitting one -of the trees several resounding blows. - -“Whoa there! Whoa!” cried the senator’s son; but his horse continued to -kick out until, with a wrench, he got the other foot free. Then he began -to prance around once more, showing every evidence of wanting to run -away. - -“Wait! I’ll hold him while you get into the saddle!” cried Dave, riding -up. And then he placed himself directly in front of Roger’s mount. - -Taking advantage of this opportunity, the senator’s son made a leap and -got safely into the saddle; and then the two runaway horses settled down -to behaving themselves decently. - -“This was luck, all right,” remarked Dave, when the brief excitement was -over. - -“Right you are,” was the ready reply. “I didn’t fancy walking back to -the camp.” - -“Nor losing two such valuable horses,” added our hero. “If they had -failed to return perhaps Mr. Obray would have made us pay for them, and -that would make a big hole in our salaries.” - -Making sure that the horses should not get away from them again, the two -young civil engineers rode back to the road, and then with caution -picked their way along on the right-hand side of some ever-increasing -ponds of water. This was slow and dangerous work, the horses slipping -and sliding among the wet rocks and loose stones, and more than once -getting into mud and water up to their knees. But at last that peril was -left behind, and once again the youths found themselves on comparatively -solid ground and headed in the direction of the construction camp. - -“We’ll sure have a story to tell when we get back,” remarked Roger, as -they rode along side by side. - -“Yes. But we’ll want to change our togs before we start to tell it,” -returned Dave grimly. “I feel as if I had jumped overboard with all my -clothing on.” - -“It looks to me as if the storm was passing away,” continued the -senator’s son, gazing up at the sky. - -“Oh, more than likely it will stop raining as soon as we get back, -Roger. It would be just our luck.” - -It was true that the storm was passing, and they were still some -distance from the construction camp when the rain practically ceased. A -portion of the clouds rolled away, making the sky much clearer. - -“I’ll bet the sun comes out as brightly as ever before it sets,” -ventured Roger. “Hang it all! why couldn’t we have found some shelter -during this awful downpour? Then we wouldn’t have got wet to the skin.” - -“Never mind, Roger. There is no use in crying over spilt milk. Don’t -forget how thankful we are that we got our horses back.” - -The chums were still out of sight of the construction camp when they -heard a clatter of hoofs on the stony roadway ahead of them. In a minute -more a figure, clad in a semi-cowboy outfit, came galloping toward them. - -“Hello! who can that be?” cried Roger. - -“Maybe it’s one of our men coming out to look for us,” answered Dave. -“Perhaps Mr. Obray or Frank Andrews got worried when it began to blow so -and lighten so hard.” - -The two young civil engineers slackened their pace, expecting that the -newcomer would halt as soon as he saw them. They drew up to one side of -the road, and were somewhat surprised to see the person on horseback go -by without paying any attention to them. He was a fellow about their own -age and had his head bent down over his horse’s neck as if he was in -deep thought. - -Both of the young civil engineers stared at the rider as if he were a -ghost. Neither of them said a word, but they both looked after the -passer-by as if they could not believe the evidence of their senses. - -“Dave, did you see him?” came at last in an excited tone from Roger. - -“I certainly did, Roger!” - -“It was Nick Jasniff!” - -“So it was!” - -“But how in the world did he get here?” - -“I don’t know. I thought he was in prison!” - -“So he was—we saw him sentenced ourselves, after we caught him on Cave -Island.” - -“And his sentence can’t be up yet. The time is too short.” - -“Maybe he broke jail or got out sooner on account of good behavior. You -know they give prisoners some time off if they behave themselves well.” - -“You don’t think we could be mistaken?” - -“I don’t think so. If that fellow was not Nick Jasniff, it was his -double.” - -“Oh, don’t say anything about doubles!” cried Dave quickly. “I had all I -want of that sort of thing with Ward Porton. I’m quite sure that fellow -was Nick Jasniff himself. He had that same hang-dog, slouching way about -him he had when he went to Oak Hall.” - -“But what can he be doing out here in Montana?” - -“I don’t know,—unless he may have thought that some of the Merwells were -still out here. He, of course, must know about Mr. Merwell disposing of -the Three X Ranch.” - -“You don’t suppose he came out here to see us, do you?” - -“To see us? Not on your life! Why should he want to see us? He knows -well enough that we have no use for him.” - -“But maybe he wants to get square with us. You know he threatened us in -all sorts of ways after we had him arrested. And you know what an awful -wicked fellow he is, Dave. Didn’t he try once in the Oak Hall gym to -brain you with an Indian club?” - -“Yes; I remember that only too well, Roger. Just the same, I don’t think -a fellow like Jasniff would come away out here to square accounts with -us. It’s more likely he came out here to get away from the people who -know him. Maybe he thought he could start life over again in a place -like this, where nobody knew him.” - -“Humph! possibly you’re right. But if that’s the case, I don’t want him -to come around where I am. I have no use for a jailbird,” grumbled the -senator’s son. - -The youths had resumed their journey, and a few minutes later they came -into sight of the construction camp. This consisted of a rudely-built -office, backed up by a score or more of smaller buildings used as -bunk-houses. At the end of a row was a large, low building in which was -located the kitchen and also the mess hall, or “Palace of Eats,” as some -of the engineers had christened it. Still further away was a small shed -for horses, with a corral attached. - -“Hello! I was wondering what had become of you two chaps,” cried Frank -Andrews, as they rode up to the building wherein they and the assistant -and some others had their quarters. “Some let-down you got caught in.” - -“I should say so!” cried Roger. “We came within an ace of being -drowned.” - -“Be thankful that you weren’t struck by lightning,” returned the older -engineer, with a twinkle in his eyes. “I suppose you’ll want to get some -dry duds on before you make any report about those marks.” - -“The marks are all there, just as Mr. Obray expected they would be,” -answered Dave. “I’ve got a list of them here in my notebook.” - -“By the way, Mr. Andrews, was there a stranger here a little while ago—a -fellow about our age?” questioned Roger. - -“There was somebody here. I don’t know who it was,” answered the -assistant. “He was over at the main office, talking to Mr. Obray.” - -“And you don’t know who he was?” - -“No.” Frank Andrews gazed at the two chums questioningly. “Anything -wrong about him?” - -“That is what we want to find out,” answered the senator’s son. “We -thought we knew him; and if so he isn’t the kind of fellow that any one -would want around here.” - -“Why, how is that?” questioned Frank Andrews. And thereupon, in a few -brief words, Roger and Dave told about Nick Jasniff and his doings. - -“You’re right! We don’t want any jailbirds around this camp!” cried the -assistant. “When you go up to the office you had better tell Mr. Obray -about this.” - -Dave and Roger were glad enough to get under shelter. They lost no time -in taking a good rub-down and in changing their apparel. Then they -hurried over to the office of the construction camp, where they found -the manager and several of his assistants going over various papers and -blue-prints. - -“Got back, eh?” said Mr. Obray, with a smile. “You certainly didn’t have -a very nice day for the trip.” - -“Oh, well, it’s all in the day’s work, Mr. Obray,” answered Dave -lightly. - -“And we had one advantage coming back,” put in Roger. “We didn’t suffer -the least bit from dust;” and at this sally a smile lit up the features -of all present. They liked Dave and Roger very much, and the fact that -Dave’s chum was the son of a United States Senator added something to -the importance of both of the young men. - -Getting out his notebook, Dave lost no time in turning in his report, -which was supplemented by what Roger had to say. Then the two young -civil engineers were asked a number of questions, to which they replied -as clearly as possible. - -“I guess that’s about all,” said Mr. Obray finally. “I think that makes -it pretty clear. Don’t you, Mr. Chase?” he continued, turning to one of -the other men present. - -“I think so,” answered Mr. Chase. “But we’ll still have to make an -investigation up there at Number Six. I’m not satisfied about the -formation of that rock. I think we’re due for a lot of trouble.” - -“Well, we’ll meet it as it comes—there is no use in anticipating it,” -answered Ralph Obray briefly. - -He was a man who was never daunted, no matter how great the obstacles -that confronted him. It was his clear-headedness that had won more than -one engineering victory for the Mentor Construction Company when all the -other engineers had given up a task as impossible. - -“Mr. Obray, we would like to ask you a few questions in private if you -don’t mind,” said Dave in a low voice, when he saw the other civil -engineers turn away to consult a map that hung on one of the office -walls. - -“All right, Porter. Come right in here,” answered the manager, and led -the way to a corner, where he had a small private office. - -“I wish to ask you about a fellow we met on the road just before we got -back to camp about half an hour ago,” explained our hero. “He was a -fellow about our own age. He was on horseback, and I thought he might -have been here.” - -“There was a fellow here, and he left less than an hour ago,” answered -the manager. “I should think he was about your age, or maybe a year or -two older.” - -“Was he a tall, lanky sort of fellow with a rather slouchy air about -him?” questioned Roger. - -“Yes, that description would fit him pretty well.” - -“And did he have a squint in one eye?” questioned Dave suddenly, -remembering a peculiarity about Nick Jasniff which he had almost -forgotten. - -“Yes, there certainly was something the matter with one of his eyes. The -upper lid seemed to droop considerably.” - -“Might I ask what that fellow was doing here?” - -“He came here looking for a job. He said he was working on one of the -ranches in this vicinity but that he preferred to work for us and learn -civil engineering if we would give him a chance. I told him we were -pretty well filled up as far as our engineering corps was concerned, but -said he might call some other time. You see, Barry and Lundstrom are -thinking of leaving, and if they do we might have a chance for one or -two outsiders, provided they were of the right sort.” - -“Well, if this fellow is the person we think he is, he isn’t any one you -would care to have around here, Mr. Obray,” cried Roger. - -“And why not?” demanded the manager of the construction camp. - -“Because if he is the fellow we think he is, he is a thief and a -jailbird!” - - - - - CHAPTER IV - WHAT PHIL’S LETTER TOLD - - -Mr. Ralph Obray was much surprised at the statement made by Roger, and -his face showed it. - -“That is a pretty strong statement to make against anybody,” he said -slowly. “Perhaps you had better explain.” - -“I can do that easily enough,” returned the senator’s son. “And Dave -here can tell you even more than I can.” - -“By the way,” broke in Dave, “may I ask if the fellow left any name?” - -“Oh, yes.” The manager of the construction camp glanced at a slip of -paper lying on his desk. “Jasper Nicholas.” - -“Jasper Nicholas!” cried Roger. “What do you know about that?” - -“It sounds a good deal like Nicholas Jasniff turned around,” answered -our hero. He looked at the manager. “The fellow we have in mind was -named Nicholas Jasniff,” he explained. - -“Tell me what you know about the fellow,” returned Mr. Obray shortly. - -Thereupon the two chums related how they had been schoolmates with Nick -Jasniff and Link Merwell at Oak Hall and how Jasniff had one day -attacked Dave in the gymnasium with an Indian club and how the fellow -had run away. Then they told of the robbery of the Wadsworth jewelry -works, and of how Jasniff and Merwell had been followed to Cave Island -and captured. - -“At the last minute Merwell got away,” continued Dave, “but the -authorities hung on to Jasniff and he was tried and sent to prison for a -long term of years. How he got out I don’t know.” - -“That is certainly an interesting story,” said Mr. Obray. “But if that -fellow Jasniff is in prison he can’t be the fellow that called here.” - -“But look at the similarity in names!” broke in Roger. “Oh, I am sure he -is the same fellow.” - -“If he is, we won’t want him around here even if he has a right to his -liberty,” declared the manager. “Our men are all honest—or at least we -think they are—and we can not take chances with a man who has been -convicted of a crime. Of course, such a fellow has a right to do his -best to get along in the world; but he had better go to some place where -nobody knows him.” - -“Don’t you think we had better try to find out whether Jasniff has -really served his full term and been properly discharged from prison?” -remarked Dave. “If he is a fugitive we ought to capture him and send him -back to the authorities.” - -“You are right there, Porter. It might be a good idea for you to send a -message to the East to find out about this.” - -“Where do you think I ought to send for information?” - -“Do you know where he was placed in prison?” - -“Oh, yes.” - -“Then I would send directly to the prison authorities.” - -“Let us send a telegram!” cried Roger. “A letter would be too slow. I’ll -stand half the expense.” - -“All right, I’ll go you!” responded our hero quickly. “If Nick Jasniff -got out of prison on the sly, he ought to be returned to the place.” - -“Maybe if he did get out, and we captured him, we might get a reward, -Dave.” - -“That is true, too—provided a reward has been offered.” - -“You seem to be pretty sure that this fellow who called here is the man -you are after,” remarked Mr. Obray. “Don’t you think you may be -mistaken? In that storm, and with the fellow galloping past you on -horseback all hunched up to keep from getting wet, you may have made a -mistake.” - -At this remark the face of the senator’s son became clouded. - -“It might be so, Dave. To tell the truth, we didn’t get a very good look -at him. And yet I think it was Nick Jasniff.” - -“I’m almost certain of it, Roger. I’ll never forget that face of his. I -studied it pretty well when he was up for trial and we testified against -him.” - -“You might wait until he comes here again,” suggested the manager. - -“Yes. But then we wouldn’t have the information we want,” declared Dave. -“I’d rather pay out my money on that telegram and learn the truth. Then, -if Jasniff was wanted by the authorities, we could make a prisoner of -him right then and there.” - -“That is true.” - -The matter was discussed for several minutes longer, and then the two -chums walked back to their quarters. Here they talked the matter over -between themselves. - -“We can’t send a telegram to-night; the office closes at six o’clock,” -declared Dave. “We can write it out, however, and send it the first -chance we get in the morning. I think Mr. Obray will let you or me ride -down to the telegraph office with it.” The nearest station from which a -telegram could be sent was quite a distance away, and a telephone line -between the two points, while it was being erected, was not yet in -operation. - -Of course Frank Andrews wished to know what had taken place, and the -youths told him. He shook his head sadly. - -“It’s too bad! Especially with a young fellow,” he declared. “That term -in prison will hang over him like a cloud all the rest of his life. -Kind-hearted people may talk all they please and do all they possibly -can—the fact remains that if a man has once been in prison, unless he -can prove that he was innocent, very few people will care to have -anything to do with him.” - -“If Jasniff were a different kind of fellow I’d have a different feeling -for him,” said Dave; and his face showed his earnestness. “If he had -been led into crime by others it would be a different story. But so far -as I can remember, he was always hot-tempered, vicious, and bound to -have his own way. He was the leader in that robbery—not Merwell. And -when he was captured he acted in anything but a penitent mood. On that -account I can’t get up much sympathy for him.” - -“He doesn’t deserve any sympathy!” cried Roger. “Why, every time I think -of how he grabbed up that Indian club in the Oak Hall gymnasium and did -his best to brain you with it, it makes my blood run cold!” - -“He certainly must have been a pretty wicked boy to attempt anything -like that,” was Frank Andrews’ comment. “It’s bad enough for schoolboys -to fight with their fists; but that at least is a fair way to do.” - -The two chums were tired out from their strenuous adventures of the day, -and were glad to retire early. During the night the storm cleared away -entirely, and in the morning the sun shown as brightly as ever. - -“If you don’t mind, Dave, I’ll take that telegram down to the office,” -said Roger, while the pair were dressing. “I’m expecting a box that -father said he was sending, and I can ask for that at the same time.” - -“All right, Roger. But you had better wait until the mail gets in. There -may be some other message we’ll want to send.” - -The mail was brought in while the youths were at breakfast, and was -distributed immediately after that repast was over. - -“Hello, here’s a letter from Phil!” cried our hero, as he noticed the -postmark “Philadelphia.” - -“I’ve got the box from dad,” returned the senator’s son, “so I won’t -have to ask about that at the express office.” - -“I knew it!” exclaimed Dave, who had ripped the letter open and was -scanning its contents. “Phil is coming out here to pay a visit to Star -Ranch; and he says he may bring Shadow Hamilton with him. Isn’t that the -best ever?” - -“So it is, Dave! But it’s no more than I expected—at least so far as -Phil is concerned. I knew he couldn’t remain away from Belle Endicott -very long,” and the senator’s son winked suggestively. - -“Here’s a lot of news about the other fellows, Luke Watson, Polly Vane, -and Jim Murphy. Polly has gone into business with an uncle of his, and -Jim Murphy has a well-paying position up at Yale.” - -“I’m glad to hear it. Polly Vane was one of the finest fellows that ever -lived, even if he was somewhat girlish. And as for Jim Murphy—there was -never a better monitor around Oak Hall.” - -Dave had turned over to the last sheet of the six-page communication -Phil Lawrence had sent. Here the letter proper came to an end, but there -was a postscript added in lead pencil. This ran as follows: - - “You will be interested to know that some time ago Nick Jasniff’s - case was brought up before the Board of Pardons by a Committee on - Prison Reform. The men and women composing the committee made a - strong plea for Jasniff because of his age, and I understand they - made a very favorable impression on the Pardon Board. If Jasniff is - pardoned, he will be getting out without having served even half of - his sentence. I wish I had been there to tell the Board what sort of - a fellow he is.” - -“Here’s the milk in the cocoanut, Roger!” cried Dave, and read aloud -what Phil had written. - -“Humph, so that’s the truth of it,” murmured the senator’s son. “More -than likely that committee worked on the feelings of the Pardoning Board -so that they gave Jasniff his liberty. Well, if that’s the case, there -won’t be any need for sending that telegram.” - -“You’re right. If he was pardoned, that ends it, and he has as much -right to his liberty as we have to ours. Just the same, I think they -made a mistake. When he was tried, I am sure the judge, on account of -his age, gave him as short a sentence as he deemed best.” - -“I’m sure of that too, Dave! Why, one of the lawyers told me that if -Jasniff had been ten years older he would have gotten twice as long a -sentence.” - -“I think I had better go to Mr. Obray with this news,” said Dave. “You -can tell Andrews if you want to.” - -Our hero found the manager of the construction camp just preparing to go -out with several of his assistant engineers. Explaining the situation, -Dave allowed Mr. Obray to read the postscript of Phil’s letter. - -“Looks as if you were right after all, and the fellow who was here had -been pardoned,” was Ralph Obray’s comment. “In that case, you can’t do -anything about having him held. Just the same, if he is that sort I -won’t want him around.” - -“If he comes again, may we see him to make sure that he is really this -Nick Jasniff?” - -“Certainly, Porter. If you are anywhere near, I’ll hold the man at the -office, or wherever we happen to be, and send for you and Morr.” - -Dave and Roger were now working under the directions of Frank Andrews. -In the gang were two others—a young man named Larry Bond, and an elderly -engineer named Hixon. All had become well acquainted and were good -friends. Hixon was from the West and had spent many years of his life on -the cattle ranges and in the gold fields. - -“I was a prospector for six years,” he once declared. “But, believe me, -it didn’t pay. Sometimes I struck it pretty rich; but then would come -long dry spells when I wouldn’t get a thing. All told, I didn’t do as -well, year in and year out, as I am now doing at regular wages.” - -Andrews’ gang, as it was termed, had some work to do at Section Five of -the proposed line, the work, of course, being preliminary to that which -was to be made on the erection of the bridges to be built. This was in a -decidedly rocky part of the territory, and the young civil engineers and -the others had no easy time of it making their survey. - -“Some different from sitting in your room at Oak Hall working out a -problem in geometry, eh?” remarked Dave to Roger, after a particularly -hard climb over the rocks. - -“I should say so,” panted the senator’s son. - -“You look out that that chain doesn’t get away from you,” cried Dave, -pointing to the long coiled-up steel measure which the other was -carrying at his belt. The real civil engineer’s, or surveyor’s, chain is -largely a thing of the past, the steel measure having taken its place. - -Frank Andrews and the others were at a distance and young Bond was -wigwagging his signals across a deep cut in the hills. Now Dave prepared -to signal in return, at the same time holding up his leveling-rod as -required. Roger attempted to climb around on the rough rocks, and then -suddenly uttered a cry of dismay. - -“What’s the matter?” asked Dave. - -“That measure! I just started to fasten it tighter to my belt when it -slipped out of my hands. There it goes—sliding down the rocks out -there,” and the senator’s son pointed to a spot at least fifty feet -below them. - -While Dave was still signaling and moving his leveling-rod farther along -as desired, Roger began to scramble down the rocks in the direction -where the steel measure had fallen. He was gone for fully ten minutes -when suddenly Dave heard a yell. - -“What’s the matter, Roger?” he called, dropping the leveling-rod and the -signal flag he held. - -“It’s a snake—and a big one, too!” screamed the senator’s son. “Oh, -Dave, come here and help me! My leg is caught between the rocks, and -it’s a rattlesnake!” - - - - - CHAPTER V - NICK JASNIFF’S VISIT - - -The announcement that Roger had his leg caught between the rocks and -that a rattlesnake was about to attack him filled Dave with alarm. - -“Oh, Roger, are you sure it’s a rattlesnake?” - -“Yes! Yes! Come down and help me! Quick!” - -“I will. Can’t you hit him with a rock or something?” - -“I will if I can. But hurry up—and bring that axe or something with -you!” - -When leveling parties, as they are officially called, go out, one man -often carries an axe with which to clear away any obstructions which may -prevent a clear sight. On this occasion Roger had been carrying the axe, -as well as the chain, and the implement now lay close to where our hero -stood. - -Grabbing up the axe, Dave lost no time in scrambling down the rocks. As -he did this he heard a stone strike on some rocks below and knew that -Roger was throwing at the snake. - -“Oh, Dave! Help!” yelled the senator’s son, “He’s getting ready to -strike!” - -With one wild leap Dave came down to within a few feet of where his chum -stood between two rocks which reached up to his waist. One leg was fast -between the rocks, and while the unfortunate youth was endeavoring -wildly to extricate himself from his predicament, he was shying one -loose stone after another at a snake that was coiled up in something of -a hollow less than a dozen feet away. The hollow was so situated that -exit from it could only be had in the direction occupied by the young -civil engineer. - -As Dave approached he saw that it was indeed a rattlesnake that his chum -had disturbed. The reptile was at least five feet in length and of -corresponding thickness, and was now coiled up as if ready to strike. - -It was a moment which called for immediate action, and without stopping -to think Dave raised the axe and sent it whirling forward toward the -snake. His aim fell short, but this shortness proved to be thoroughly -effective. The handle of the axe came down with a thud on the rocks, -sending the blade flashing in a semicircle. The sharpened bit of steel -caught the snake in the very center of its folds, inflicting several -deep cuts. - -Instantly the reptile’s attention was taken from Roger. It whirled -around swiftly in search of the enemy that had struck it and whipped -angrily at the axe. - -“Oh, Dave! can’t you shoot him?” gasped Roger. “I dropped my pistol when -I came down over the rocks.” - -In that wild territory it was the custom of every one of the engineering -gang to carry firearms. Dave had a small automatic pistol in his hip -pocket, and this he now brought into play. - -Crack! Crack! Crack! went the weapon three times in rapid succession. -The first shot did not take effect, but the second and third hit the -mark, and the rattlesnake twisted and turned in its death agony. Then, -placing the pistol back in his pocket, our hero raised up a stone almost -as large as his head and with it put the reptile out of its misery. - -“Oh, Dave, is he—is he dead?” panted Roger. His face had gone white, and -his whole attitude showed how unstrung he was. - -“He’s as dead as a door-nail, Roger,” was the answer, after Dave had -made a brief inspection of the remains. “He’ll never bother you or -anybody else again.” - -“I felt sure he was going to bite me!” went on the senator’s son with a -shudder. - -“You certainly had a close shave, and I don’t wonder that it scared you, -Roger. Think of facing a snake like that and not being able to run -away!” - -“He was down in this very hollow where my leg is first. Then he glided -over to the other hollow and began to rattle and coil up to strike. If -you hadn’t come down as you did, he would have struck me sure;” and the -senator’s son shivered again. - -“I think we had better wipe off that axe-handle, and the blade, too,” -remarked Dave. “He may have gotten some of his poison on it.” - -“Yes, wipe it off very carefully,” answered Roger. “But first of all -I’ve got to get my foot loose. It does beat all how I got stuck.” - -“You didn’t hurt your leg or your foot, did you?” - -“I scraped my shin a little, but that doesn’t count.” - -An inspection was made, and finally Dave had to bend down and unlace -Roger’s shoe before the limb could be gotten out of the space between -the two rocks. Then the footwear was recovered, and the senator’s son -put it on once more. In the meanwhile, Dave took up the axe rather -gingerly and also tied a bit of string to the tail of the lifeless -rattlesnake. - -“We’ll take it back to the camp to show the others,” announced our hero. -“They wouldn’t believe our story unless we were able to show the snake. -Besides that, we can keep the rattles if we want to. Some people prize -them quite highly as trophies.” - -The axe was wiped off with care, and then, after Roger had recovered his -pistol and also the steel measure he had dropped, the pair scrambled up -the rocks to where Dave had left his flag and the leveling-rod. He waved -the flag in the air as a signal, and presently an answering signal came -back from the other members of the leveling gang, who had been wondering -what had become of the two assistants. - -“Say, you fellows have got to attend to business during working hours!” -cried Frank Andrews, when they met. “If you want to——Great catfish! -where did you get that snake?” and he broke off short to gaze in wonder -at the rattlesnake tied to the string that Roger exhibited. - -“You have to break off business when you get an unexpected caller like -that,” replied Dave dryly. - -“Do you mean to say that rattler attacked you?” questioned Larry Bond -quickly. - -“He started to attack Roger.” - -“And Dave threw the axe at him and then shot him,” explained the -senator’s son. - -“Some rattler! that’s what he is!” was the comment of John Hixon. “If he -struck for you he certainly meant business;” and he examined the remains -of the rattlesnake with much interest. - -“We thought we heard several shots, but we were not sure,” remarked -Frank Andrews. - -“I guess you didn’t hear them very well because we were in something of -a hollow,” answered Dave; and then he and Roger gave the particulars of -what had occurred. - -“You can be mighty lucky that you weren’t struck,” declared Hixon -emphatically. “When I was out in the gold mines in the northern part of -this state I knew a man who was struck twice by a rattler, and he came -about as close to dying as any man I ever saw.” - -The adventure had so unnerved Roger that Frank Andrews excused him for -the rest of the day, and he went back to the construction camp, taking -the remains of the rattlesnake with him. Here the story about the -reptile soon spread; and that evening all the men connected with the -camp came in to view the rattlesnake. - -“I’m very thankful that you got out of this as luckily as you did,” -remarked Mr. Obray to Roger. Then he told all of his men that they must -be very careful when they went among the rocks and through the bushes. -“Because, you know,” he explained, “where there is one rattlesnake there -may be more. I was told by those who made the first survey for the -railroad that they saw no snakes of any kind in this vicinity. -Evidently, however, there was one snake that they missed.” - -“And I hope he’s the only one,” put in Frank Andrews. - -The snake scare was the main topic of conversation for several days, and -it is safe to say that no one went anywhere without having his eyes wide -open for a possible appearance of some reptile. But no more -snakes—rattlers or otherwise—put in an appearance. - -Phil had written that he would come out to Montana in about a week and -would stop at the construction camp before going to the Endicott place. -Dave and Roger, of course, looked forward to the visit with much -pleasure. - -“We’ll have to ask for a day off just to show Phil around,” said Dave. - -“That’s so. And among other points of interest we can show him the spot -where you killed the rattler,” answered his chum, with a grim smile. - -“Yes, we can do that.” - -“I hope Shadow Hamilton comes with him. I could even stand it to hear -some of Shadow’s oldest chestnuts of stories,” went on Roger. “It would -seem like old times at Oak Hall.” - -“Let us trust that Shadow has a new batch of stories to tell,” responded -Dave. “We haven’t seen him in such a while he has had plenty of time to -gather in a new crop.” - -Several days went by, and the young civil engineers were kept so busy -that they had little time to think about the coming of Phil Lawrence and -Shadow Hamilton. Once or twice they thought of Nick Jasniff and asked -Mr. Obray if that individual had shown himself. - -“Not yet,” was the manager’s reply. “Maybe he got wind that you were -here and that is keeping him away.” - -On the afternoon of the fourth day following the killing of the -rattlesnake, Dave and Roger were hard at work in Section Five when one -of the general utility men around the camp came riding up on horseback -and leading another steed by the halter. - -“Mr. Obray sent me for you,” he announced to the chums. “You are to take -these two horses and ride down to the office as fast as you can. Some -young man is there that you wanted to see—the fellow who came here some -days ago looking for a job.” - -“It must be Nick Jasniff!” exclaimed Dave, and lost no time in leaping -into the saddle. He was followed by Roger; and both hurried off along -the trail leading to the construction camp. - -“Let us sneak up to the office by the back way and listen to what Nick -Jasniff has to say,” suggested Dave while they were on the way. - -This suited Roger, and coming into view of the camp they left the horses -at the shed and hurried along past the bunk-houses to the rear of the -office. Here a window was wide open, and, looking through this, they saw -Mr. Obray at a desk, and sitting near him was his visitor, hat in hand. - -“There is no mistake about him. It’s Nick Jasniff,” whispered the -senator’s son. - -He was right, it was indeed the former bully of Oak Hall, the rascal who -had been sent to prison for the robbery of Mr. Wadsworth’s jewelry -works. Jasniff was talking very earnestly to the manager of the -construction camp. - -“Yes, I am working over at the Double Eight Ranch,” Jasniff was saying. -“I’ve been there now for quite a while, but I don’t like it very much. -You see, I’ve been used to office life, and working around the -construction of skyscrapers, and things like that. I had a pretty good -job out in San Francisco and another one in Seattle. I would much rather -work for a concern like yours than to stick to cow-punching.” - -“How long have you been at Double Eight Ranch?” questioned Mr. Obray. He -was doing what he could to put in time until Dave and Roger might -arrive. - -“Been there nearly three months.” - -“And did you come directly from San Francisco or Seattle?” - -“Oh—I—er—came from Seattle,” responded Nick Jasniff hesitatingly. “I -was—er—out of work for about six weeks.” - -“And how long did you work in Seattle?” - -“A little over a year. I would have stayed there longer, only the firm -that employed me went out of business,” continued the fellow who had -been in prison glibly. - -“Ever been in the East—in New York or Philadelphia?” - -“No, sir. I never got any farther East than Chicago.” - -At this reply from Jasniff Dave poked Roger in the side and both looked -at each other knowingly. - -“He’s the same Jasniff,” whispered the senator’s son. “He always did -have a smooth tongue.” - -“Yes. And that smooth tongue of his got him into more than one -difficulty,” responded our hero. - -The pair remained silent for a minute or two longer listening to the -questions put by Ralph Obray and the answers made by Nick Jasniff. -Finally the questions became so personal that the fellow who had been in -prison commenced to grow suspicious. - -“Well, will you have an opening for me or not?” he demanded at last, -arising to his feet. - -At that moment Dave and Roger glided around the side of the office and -tiptoed in through the doorway. They came up directly behind Nick -Jasniff before he was aware of their presence. - -“Here is the fellow if you want to talk to him,” said Mr. Obray quickly; -and thereupon the visitor turned around, to stare in amazement at Dave -and Roger. - -“W—w—what——” stammered Nick Jasniff, and was unable to go on. - -“You didn’t expect to see us, did you, Jasniff?” declared Dave coolly. - -“You were lucky to get out of prison so quickly,” put in Roger. - -“I—I—don’t know you,” faltered Nick Jasniff, and now his face grew -purple while the heavy beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. - -“You don’t know us, eh?” cried Dave. “Well, we know you well enough!” - -“Even if you are traveling under the assumed name of Jasper Nicholas,” -added Roger slyly. - -“See here! I don’t know what you fellows are talking about!” cried Nick -Jasniff, straightening up. “Is this some game or not?” - -“It is a game—on your part,” answered Dave, quickly. - -“I don’t know what you mean.” - -“Oh, come, Jasniff, what’s the use of talking like this? We know your -game thoroughly!” burst out Roger. “We have found out all about you, and -Mr. Obray here knows about you, too. He just sent for us to identify -you.” - -At this announcement Nick Jasniff wheeled around to confront the -manager. - -“Is that true? Did you send for these fellows to come to identify me?” - -“I did.” Mr. Obray’s face took on a stern look. “They had told me all -about you.” - -“They didn’t have any right to do that!” blustered the fellow who had -been in prison. - -“Yes, they did. In fact, it was their duty to do so. We are all honest -men in this camp, and we have no use for fellows like you. I wanted to -make sure that there was no mistake. Now I am sure, and you can get -out—and stay out.” - -“I think that Board of Pardons was very foolish to pardon you,” Roger -could not help remarking. “They should have let you stay in prison to -the end of your term.” - -At this remark Nick Jasniff looked for a moment blankly at the senator’s -son. - -“Now, see here, you——” - -“Oh, we know all about how you were pardoned,” went on Roger. “It was a -big mistake. But now that they have let you go, I suppose you have as -much right to earn your living as anybody.” - -“But we don’t want you around where we are,” added Dave. - -“Huh, I’m not taking orders from you,” blustered Nick Jasniff. - -“No, but you are taking orders from me,” interposed Mr. Obray sternly. -“As I said before, I want you to leave this place. I don’t want you to -come here again—understand that;” and he arose to his feet to signify -that the interview was at an end. - -“All right—I’ll go. But I won’t forget that you had me come over here on -a fool’s errand,” grumbled Nick Jasniff. And then, as he reached the -doorway and passed outside, he turned around and shook his fist at Dave -and Roger. “Just you wait! Some day I’ll get square with you for this!” -he cried angrily. - -Then he ran swiftly toward the horse he had been riding, leaped into the -saddle and rode away. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - NEWS FROM HOME - - -“He’s mad clean through, that’s certain,” remarked Roger, as he and Dave -hurried out of the office to watch Nick Jasniff gallop away down the -road leading from the construction camp. - -“Yes. And I’ve no doubt but he’ll do his best to make trouble for us,” -replied Dave seriously. “It’s too bad! I thought we were done with that -fellow forever.” - -“Do you suppose he really has a job at the Double Eight Ranch?” queried -the senator’s son, after a pause, during which they noted Jasniff’s -disappearance around a bend of the trail. - -“He must be working somewhere. Or else somebody has supplied him with -funds. He can’t live on nothing.” - -“Perhaps he got his funds as he got those stolen jewels, Dave.” - -“That might be true too. They say very few men reform after they have -once been in prison.” - -“Let us ask some of the others about this Double Eight Ranch.” - -This suggestion was considered a good one, and during the next few days -they made a number of inquiries concerning the ranch in question, and -learned that it was a large place located in a fertile valley about -twenty miles away. It was owned by a syndicate of Western capitalists -and was under the management of a man named James Dackley. The ranch -employed about a dozen experienced cowboys and an equal number of -assistants. - -“If Nick Jasniff works there it must be simply as an assistant, since he -knows little about a cowboy’s duties,” was Dave’s comment. - -“Yes. And if he is only an assistant he can’t be paid very much money. -No wonder he wanted to join our crowd. I suppose he thought he could -earn two or three times as much.” - -“Well, Roger, you can’t blame him for wanting to earn money,” returned -Dave briefly. “Now that he has paid the penalty of his crime, as the -laws puts it, he has as much right to go where he pleases, and work at -what he pleases, as anybody.” - -“Oh, I’m not begrudging him a chance to earn his living,” cried the -senator’s son quickly. “I hope he reforms and gets along well in life. I -only want him to keep away from where I am. I think I’ve got a right to -pick my company, and I don’t propose to pick such fellows as Jasniff.” - -Sunday passed, and then Dave received another letter from Phil Lawrence -stating that the ship-owner’s son had been delayed, but that he would -surely come West in the near future, and that not only Shadow Hamilton -but also Ben Basswood had promised to make the trip with him. Concerning -Ben, Phil wrote as follows: - - “You must know how grateful the Basswoods are to you and Roger for - recovering those thousands of dollars’ worth of miniatures down - there on the Border. I think they feel pretty wealthy now, having - been offered a fine price for some of the little paintings. So it - was an easy matter for Ben to get permission to join Shadow and me - when the trip was proposed. Ben is wild, thinking what a good time - he is going to have, for, as you know, he has never had the chance - of getting around that we have had.” - -“This is better than ever!” cried Roger, when he read the communication. -“Talk about old times at Oak Hall! We will tear things wide open when -they arrive.” - -“We’ll have to attend to our work, Roger. You know we are here to learn -all about surveying and civil engineering. Our play days are very -largely at an end.” - -“Oh, I think Mr. Obray and Frank Andrews will let us cut loose a -little—after they understand matters,” pleaded the senator’s son. - -The same mail had brought the young men letters from Jessie and Laura -and also an interesting communication from Dave’s Uncle Dunston. The two -girls had been on a trip to New York with Mrs. Wadsworth, and had much -to tell about their sightseeing in and around the metropolis. Both said -they wished Dave and Roger had been with them. - -“Too bad! But we are a long way from old New York,” sighed Roger. “My, -what a grand old time we could have had, visiting Bronx Park, Coney -Island, and a lot of other places!” - -“Yes. And we might have taken an auto trip or two,” added Dave, his face -brightening. - -“And think of being with the girls, Dave!” broke in Roger wistfully. “It -seems a terribly long time since we saw them, doesn’t it?” - -“It sure does,” answered Dave. He gave something of a sigh. “Well, it -can’t be helped. If we want to make something of ourselves in this -world, we’ve got to buckle down and take the bitter with the sweet. I -guess it’s just as hard on the girls. They won’t want to go out in -company with any of the other fellows.” - -“And we know what we are working for—and that is one comfort,” added the -senator’s son. - -In his communication to his nephew Dunston Porter spoke about having -bought some stock in the Mentor Construction Company, and having gotten -Mr. Wadsworth to make the same kind of investment. Between them the two -had put up twenty thousand dollars. - -“That sure is something worth while!” cried Roger. “It ought to help -your chance with the concern.” - -“Well, if it helps my chance, it’s got to help your chance, too, Roger.” - -“I never thought of the company as an investment,” went on the senator’s -son. “I think when I write to my father I’ll speak to him about it, and -tell him of what your uncle and Mr. Wadsworth have done. Maybe my father -will buy a like share.” - -“That would be fine, Roger. Then both of us could feel as if we had a -real personal interest in the concern we were working for. Of course, -it’s only a small amount in comparison with what the construction -company really has invested in this business. But every little helps.” - -“Yes. And it will prove to those higher up that we have some interest -beyond just earning our salaries.” - -Another part of Dunston Porter’s letter referred to the clearing up of a -tract of land on the outskirts of Crumville which belonged jointly to -the Porters, Mr. Wadsworth and an estate which was represented by Mr. -Basswood. The real estate dealer had said that now would be a good time -in which to lay out streets through the tract and sell off the plots for -building. There were several new factories being erected down along the -railroad tracks, and the workingmen employed in these concerns would -want homes. - - “The tract has not been used for a number of years,” wrote Dunston - Porter; “and during the past six summers a band of gypsies has been - making its encampment there. We had quite some trouble getting the - gypsies to evacuate, and a couple of them became so ugly that we had - to threaten them with arrest. But they have gone at last, and we - have told them that they cannot come back. We expect to lay out the - streets and the plots of ground immediately, and then Mr. Basswood - is going to get ready and hold a big auction sale of the various - parcels. All of us hope to make quite some money by the - transaction.” - -“Hurrah for the auction sale of building lots!” cried Dave. “I hope they -make a barrel of money. Wouldn’t it be fun to be there and see the -various plots sold off?” - -“I went to a sale like that in our home town years ago,” returned Roger. -“They had a big tent put up and furnished refreshments, and a small -brass band played selections. The auctioneer was a very gifted talker, -and he made a wonderful address to the assemblage, telling them of all -the advantages to be had by buying the lots. Then the agents got busy -and the lots sold off like hot cakes, some for cash and some on the -instalment plan. At that time there wasn’t a building of any kind on the -land; but less than a year later there were half a dozen rows of houses -and half that number of barns and garages, and now that end of the town -is quite thriving.” - -“I’m sure Crumville is bound to grow,” returned Dave. “Just look at what -it was when I was a small boy and what it is to-day! We have three or -four times as many people and stores, and we have a new railroad station -with a good many more trains, and two moving picture theaters, two new -schools, another church, and several new factories. And not only that, -the business men have become so wideawake that they are gathering in the -trade for miles around—trade that used to go to other towns.” - -“Well, I hope it does grow, Dave. That will make it so much better for -your folks and the Wadsworths, and also the Basswoods.” - -On the morning following this conversation Dave was preparing to go out -with the others when one of the clerks from the office came to him with -the information that Mr. Obray wanted to see him at once. He found the -manager of the construction camp deep in some papers strewn over his -desk. - -“Porter, would you like to go on a special errand for me over to -Orella?” the manager asked abruptly. “I’ve got some important papers -that I wish delivered, and I want to see to it that they are placed in -the hands of just the right party.” - -“Why, yes, Mr. Obray, I’ll be glad to do whatever you want me to,” -answered Dave quickly. “It’s quite a trip though, so I’ve heard,” he -added with a smile. - -“I know that, Porter. But the trail is a good one all the way; and if -you follow the signboards you can’t go astray. You can take a good -horse, and you had better take something to eat along, too. If you start -inside of the next hour, you ought to be able to get back before dark. -Of course, if you have any difficulty in finding the right party, you -can stay in Orella all night and come back to-morrow.” - -“Oh, I think I can make the trip in one day, provided I don’t have to -lose too much time in the mining camp. I’ll be ready inside of fifteen -or twenty minutes.” - -“Then go ahead, and when you’re ready I’ll give you the papers and also -tell you who they are to be delivered to.” - -When Dave rejoined his chum he told Roger about the proposed trip. - -“You’re in luck, Dave!” cried the senator’s son. “That will make a dandy -outing. I wish I was going along.” - -“I thought at first of asking Mr. Obray to let you go,” answered Dave. -“But then I got to thinking about the time we would want off when Phil -and the others came, and I didn’t want to crowd things too much.” - -“Oh, no, I’m glad you didn’t,” was the hasty response. “I don’t want to -have the manager thinking we are loafing on the job.” - -Dave ran over to the kitchen and there had Jeff, the cook, put him up a -substantial lunch. Then he dressed himself for the long, hard ride -through the mountains, and a little later presented himself again at the -office. - -“Here are the papers,” said Ralph Obray, handing over a large and fat -legal-looking envelope. “I want you to deliver them to Mr. Raymond -Carson or, if Mr. Carson is not there, to either his wife or his -brother-in-law, Mr. Fred Jamison. If you deliver this to the wife or the -brother-in-law, tell them that the papers are very valuable and that -they must not be given to anyone but Mr. Carson.” - -“Yes, sir,” replied the young civil engineer. And to make sure of the -names he put them down in the notebook he carried. “I suppose I had -better get a receipt for them,” he added. - -“Yes, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do that, Porter, although I know I -can take your word for it. I have watched you ever since you came to -work for our company, and that is why I am trusting you in the present -instance.” - -“You can rely on me to do my best, Mr. Obray,” answered our hero. And -then with pardonable pride he drew from his pocket the letter he had -received from his uncle. “I guess this will prove to you how much I am -interested in the Mentor Construction Company,” and thereupon he showed -the manager the paragraph pertaining to the purchase of stock in the -concern by the Porters and Mr. Wadsworth. - -“That certainly is evidence!” cried Ralph Obray heartily. “I am glad to -know your people take such a substantial interest in this company. I -might as well tell you, my folks have an interest in it, too. But now -you had better be on your way, because it’s a long trip to Orella and I -won’t feel entirely satisfied until I know those papers are in the hands -of Mr. Carson or those other people.” - -“I’ll get them there just as soon as I can make it,” answered Dave. - -And a few minutes later he was on his way, never dreaming of the strange -adventure in store for him. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - THE FIGHT ON THE TRAIL - - -The road to Orella was in the opposite direction to that taken by Dave -and Roger on the day they had encountered the heavy storm. As Mr. Obray -had said, the trail was well marked, so that the young civil engineer -had little trouble in following it. - -“But you are going to have some rough riding, Dave,” remarked Roger, -when he came forward to see his chum depart. “They tell me there is one -spot on the trail where riding is as dangerous as it is on any trail in -Montana.” - -“Well, Sport is a good horse, and I intend to be careful,” answered our -hero; and then, with a wave of his hand, he galloped away and was soon -out of sight of the construction camp. - -Our hero felt in the best of humor, for the day promised to be a fine -one and a ride on horseback through the mountains was just to his -liking. He could not help but whistle gayly to himself as he sped -forward; and thus the first three miles of his journey were covered in a -comparatively short space of time. - -Beyond these three miles the trail roughened for another mile or two, -and here the young civil engineer had to pick his way among the rocks -and loose stones with care. In some places where the trail was of dirt, -the brushwood grew thickly, so that it often brushed his legs and the -sides of his steed as they passed. This, of course, was merely the foot -trail to Orella, a sort of short cut. The main trail for teams wound -along farther down in the valley and was fully fifteen miles longer. - -As Dave pursued his journey, many thoughts came to his mind, both about -his work and concerning those left at home in Crumville. The beautiful -face of Jessie, with her bewitching eyes, was continually before him; -and once or twice he took from his pocket the last letter he had -received from her, to read over some of the lines she had penned. - -“She wants me to make good as a civil engineer, and I’m going to do it,” -he murmured to himself. - -Shortly after leaving the construction camp he had passed several miners -who were prospecting in that vicinity, but now he seemed to be alone on -the trail, and the only sound that broke the stillness was the -occasional cry of a wild bird and the hoofbeats of his horse as the -sturdy animal moved ahead. - -Having mounted to the top of an unusually hard rise, Dave brought Sport -to a halt to rest, and also to take a look at his surroundings. On one -side of him were the jagged rocks leading still further upward, while on -the other was the broad valley, clothed in green and with a shimmering -river flowing through its center. Far away he could see some animals -grazing, and took them to be mountain goats, although at such a distance -it was hard to make sure. - -“A fellow certainly could have some great times out here hunting in the -proper season,” he told himself. “I’d like to go out myself for a few -days, especially if I could get some old hunter for a guide.” - -Having rested for about five minutes, Dave moved forward again, and soon -found himself on the dangerous part of the trail mentioned by Roger. The -youth had heard this spoken of before, and he reined in his steed and -moved forward with caution. - -“You be careful, old boy,” he said, patting his horse on the neck. -“Neither of us wants to take a tumble down yonder rocks. If we did, it -might be good-bye to both of us.” - -Evidently Sport understood the situation quite as well as did the young -civil engineer, for he kept as close to the inner side of the path as -possible, and picked every step carefully, and thus they moved onward -until the very worst of the trail had been left behind. There was, -however, still some bad places, the trail widening out in some spots -only to narrow worse than ever in others. - -“Hi there! Don’t you ride me down!” cried an unexpected voice, as Dave -came around one of the narrow bends of the trail. And the next instant -the youth found himself face to face with Nick Jasniff. - -The fellow who had been in prison was on foot, and carried a bundle -strapped over one shoulder. He was so close that he had to leap to one -side for fear of being trampled under foot, and this filled him with -anger even before he recognized who was on horseback. - -“Nick Jasniff!” exclaimed Dave, and for the instant knew not what more -to say. - -“So it’s you, Porter, is it?” snarled the former bully of Oak Hall. -“What are you doing on this trail?” - -“That is none of your business, Jasniff,” answered Dave coldly. - -“See here! You needn’t put on any lordly airs with me!” growled the -fellow who in the past had caused our hero so much trouble. “Thought you -were playing a fine game on me, didn’t you—having that construction camp -manager make a fool of me?” And now Jasniff came closer and caught -Dave’s horse by the bridle. - -“You keep your hands off my horse, Jasniff,” ordered Dave. “You let go -of him this instant!” - -“I’ll let go when I please.” - -“No, you won’t! You’ll let go now!” And so speaking, Dave leaned over in -the saddle to push the fellow away. - -It was not a very wise thing to do, and Dave should have known better. -The instant he made the movement, Jasniff, who was tall and powerful, -caught him by the arm, and the next instant had hauled him from the -saddle. The scuffle which resulted from this alarmed the horse, and the -steed trotted away some distance up the trail. - -“I guess I’ve got you now where I want you, Porter!” cried Jasniff, the -squinting eye squinting worse than ever as he scowled at our hero. “I’ve -got a big account to settle with you.” - -Dave realized that he was in for it and that Nick Jasniff would hesitate -at nothing to accomplish his purpose. Our hero remembered well the -dastardly attack made on him by the rascal at the Oak Hall gymnasium -with an Indian club. - -Jasniff struck out with his left fist, and at the same time put his -right hand back as if to draw some weapon. Dave dodged the blow intended -for his face, and then struck out swiftly, hitting Jasniff in the cheek. -Then several blows were exchanged in quick succession, Dave being hit in -the chest and shoulder and Jasniff receiving several in the chest and -one on the nose which sent him staggering several feet. Then the bully -rushed forward and clinched, and both circled around and around on the -narrow trail, each trying to get the advantage of the other. - -“I’ll fix you! Just wait and see!” panted Jasniff, as he did his best to -get a strangle hold on our hero. - -Dave did not answer, for he realized that in an encounter with such a -tall and powerful fellow as Jasniff he must make the best use of his -breath as well as his muscles. - -He slipped from the clutch Jasniff was trying to get on him, and caught -the fellow by the waist. Then Jasniff went down with Dave on top of him, -and both rolled over and over among the rocks and into some bushes which -chanced to have sprung up in that vicinity. - -“You le—le—let up!” gasped Jasniff presently, when he found Dave had him -by the throat. - -“I’ll let up when I’m through with you—not before,” answered Dave -pantingly. - -The struggle continued, and Jasniff arose partly to a sitting position -only to have his head banged backward on the rocks. Then, however, he -managed to get one leg doubled up and he sent his foot into Dave’s -stomach in such a way that our hero was for the moment deprived of his -breath. Both clinched again and rolled over until they were close to the -edge of the rocks. - -“Now I’ve got you!” cried the bully; and just as Dave managed to hit him -another blow in the nose, one which made the blood spurt, Jasniff tore -himself free and an instant later pushed Dave down over the rocks. - -Even then our hero might have saved himself, as he had his left foot -planted in what he thought a safe place, and he might have caught -Jasniff by the leg. But the foot gave way most unexpectedly, and in a -trice Dave found himself rolling over and over down a rocky slope. He -clutched out wildly, and managed to catch hold of several bushes. But -these came out by the roots, and then he slid downward once more, at -last reaching a little cliff over which he plunged sideways, to land -with a crash in some bushes and stunted trees some distance below. - -The rolling and the drop over the cliff had all but stunned the young -civil engineer, and for fully five minutes he lay among the bushes -hardly realizing where he was or what had happened. Then, when he -finally arose to his feet, he found that his left shoulder hurt him not -a little, and that his left ankle felt equally painful and was quite -lame. - -“That certainly was some tumble,” he groaned to himself. “I suppose I -can be thankful I wasn’t killed.” - -[Illustration: DAVE FOUND HIMSELF ROLLING OVER AND OVER DOWN A ROCKY -SLOPE.—_Page 74._] - -He had rolled a distance of fifty yards, and the top of the little cliff -was six or eight feet above his head. From where he stood he could not -see that portion of the trail where the encounter had occurred, and -consequently he knew not what had become of Nick Jasniff. - -“I hope he rolled down, too,” murmured Dave to himself. But after he had -taken a good look around he concluded that Jasniff had remained up on -the trail. - -The only thing to do was to climb up to the trail and try to find out -what had become of Jasniff and the horse. - -“It would be just like Jasniff to take Sport and ride off with him,” -thought Dave dismally. “What a fool I was not to give him a knock-out -blow when I had him down on the rocks! If I had given him that I could -have made him a prisoner before he had a chance to regain his senses. -Now he’s got the best of it, and there is no telling what he’s up to.” - -More anxious to know what had become of his horse than over Jasniff’s -welfare, Dave moved around to one end of the cliff and then began to -scramble up the rocks. This was by no means easy, and more than once he -had to stop to catch his breath and nurse his hurt shoulder and his lame -ankle. Up above him he could now see the trail, but neither Jasniff nor -the horse was in sight. - -At last Dave had the satisfaction of drawing himself up over the rocks -bordering the edge of the trail, and here, feeling rather weak, he sat -down to regain his strength. He listened intently, but scarcely a sound -broke the silence of the mountains. Evidently Nick Jasniff had taken -time by the forelock and made good his departure. - -“If he took that horse, what am I to do?” mused Dave bitterly. “To foot -it all the way to Orella, and especially with this lame ankle, is almost -out of the question.” - -Thinking of Orella put Dave in mind of his mission, and he quickly -thrust his hand into his pocket to see if the envelope Mr. Obray had -given him to deliver was safe. - -The next instant his heart almost stopped beating. The envelope was -gone! - -Frantically he searched one pocket after another; and then he made -another discovery equally dismaying. Not only was the envelope the -construction camp manager had given him missing, but likewise the -letters he had received from Jessie and his Uncle Dunston, and also his -pocketbook which had contained upward of forty dollars. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - WHAT WAS MISSING - - -“Gone!” - -This was the one word which burst from Dave’s lips as he searched one -pocket after another in rapid succession. Then he arose to his feet, to -hurry up and down the trail in the vicinity where the encounter with -Jasniff had occurred. But though he looked everywhere, not a trace of -the documents, the letters, or his pocketbook could be found. - -An examination showed that his coat was torn in several places and that -the side of one of the pockets had likewise been rent. But whether this -damage had been caused by the fight or when he had rolled down over the -rocks, he could not determine. - -“I guess I got pretty well mussed up in the fight, and the fall down the -rocks finished the job,” he muttered to himself. - -He was much disheartened, and felt bitter against Nick Jasniff. Whether -the rascal had picked up the articles lost and made off with them was, -however, a question. - -“If I lost them up here on the trail he probably took them,” Dave -reasoned. “But if they fell out of my pockets when I rolled down the -rocks and over the cliff, they must be scattered somewhere between here -and the place where I landed in the bushes.” - -Dave felt much perplexed, not knowing whether it would be better to try -to find Jasniff or to make a search in the vicinity where he had had the -fall. - -“I suppose it would be sheer nonsense to try to follow Jasniff on foot -if he went off on my horse,” the young civil engineer reasoned. “I might -as well take a look down below and make sure that I didn’t drop those -things when I fell.” - -With his hurt shoulder and lame ankle, it was almost as much of a task -to get down the rocks as it had been to climb up. As well as he was -able, he took the same course he had followed in the fall, and he kept -his eyes wide open for the things he had lost. But five minutes of -slipping and sliding brought him to the top of the little cliff without -seeing anything but dirt, rocks, and bushes. Then he had to make a wide -detour to get to the bottom of the cliff. - -“I suppose it’s a wild-goose chase, and I’ll have my work for my pains,” -he grumbled. “Oh, rats! Why did I have to fall in with Jasniff on this -trip? I wish that fellow was at the North Pole or down among the -Hottentots, or somewhere where he couldn’t bother me!” - -Dave began to search around in the vicinity of the spot where he had -fallen. He was almost ready to give up in despair when his eye caught -sight of a white-looking object some distance below. Eagerly he climbed -down to the place where the object lay, and the next moment set up a cry -of joy. - -“Hurrah! Here are Mr. Obray’s documents!” he exclaimed. “I hope they are -all right.” - -A hasty inspection convinced him that the legal-looking envelope and its -contents were intact. Having inspected them carefully, he placed the -packet inside of his shirt. - -“I won’t take any more chances with it,” he told himself. “Somebody will -have to rip my clothing off to get that envelope away.” - -With the envelope safe in his possession once more, Dave felt -exceedingly light-hearted. But the letter from Jessie, as well as the -communication from Uncle Dunston, and the pocketbook with the forty odd -dollars in it, were still missing, and he spent some time looking for -those things. - -“It doesn’t matter so much about the letters, even though I hate to part -with the one from Jessie,” he reasoned. “But I’d like to set my eyes on -that pocketbook with the forty-two or forty-three dollars it held.” - -But our hero’s success had come to an end with the finding of the -envelope to be delivered at Orella; and although he searched around for -a quarter of an hour longer, nothing of any value came to sight. Then, -with a deep sigh, he pulled himself up once more to the trail, and set -off on a hunt for his horse. - -“Jasniff was headed in the opposite direction, and maybe he didn’t go -after Sport,” Dave argued to himself. “Anyhow, I’ve got to go that way, -even if I have to journey on foot.” - -Painfully our hero limped along, for the climbing up and down on the -rocks had done the lame ankle no good. He had had to loosen his shoe, -for the ankle had swollen not a little. - -“If I could only bathe it it wouldn’t be so bad,” he thought. - -But there was no water at hand, and the small quantity he carried in a -flask for drinking purposes was too precious to be used on the injured -limb. - -He had covered several yards when his lame ankle gave him such a twinge -that he had to sit down to give it a rest. - -“I don’t know what I’m going to do if I can’t find that horse,” he -thought bitterly. - -He was sitting and nursing the hurt ankle and looking over the landscape -in the valley below him, when something on one of the bushes less than -fifty feet away caught his eye. - -“I wonder what that can be,” he mused. “It doesn’t look like a bird’s -nest. It looks more like an old shoe. I wonder——Can it be my -pocketbook?” - -The last thought was so electrifying that Dave leaped to his feet, and, -regardless of the painful ankle, walked over to the edge of the trail. -Here he could see the object quite plainly, and he lost no time in -crawling down to the bushes and obtaining it. - -It was indeed his pocketbook, but wide open and empty. Even the few -cards and slips of paper it had contained were missing. - -“This proves one thing,” he reasoned bitterly. “Jasniff picked that -pocketbook up where we had the fight, and he came this way while he was -emptying it, then he threw it away.” - -Dave was also sure of another thing. The pocketbook and the two letters -had been in the same pocket, and he felt certain that Nick Jasniff had -also confiscated the two communications. - -“Now the question is, if he came this way, did he get Sport?” Dave -mused. “If he did, then it’s good-bye to the letters, the money and the -horse.” - -Placing the empty wallet in his pocket, Dave sat down and rested his -lame ankle. He counted the loose change in his trousers’ pocket and -found he had eighty-five cents. Then he limped on once more around -another bend in the trail. - -Here a sight filled him with satisfaction. At this point the rocks came -to an end and there was a fairly good bit of pasture-land, and here -stood Sport, feeding away as if nothing out of the ordinary had -happened. - -“Good old Sport!” cried Dave, going up to the animal and patting him -affectionately. “I’m mighty glad you didn’t run any farther, and doubly -glad Nick Jasniff didn’t get you. Now, old boy, we’ll be on our way and -try to make up for lost time;” and in a moment more our hero was in the -saddle and galloping off in the direction of Orella. - -Dave surmised that Nick Jasniff had come in that direction looking for -the horse, but without finding Sport. At the same time, the rascal had -rifled the pocketbook and then thrown it in the bushes. Then, thinking -the horse had gone a much greater distance, Jasniff had retraced his -steps and continued on his way in the direction of the construction -camp. - -“But he can’t be bound for the camp, for Mr. Obray warned him to keep -away,” thought our hero. “It must be that he is headed either for some -of the mining camps or ranches, or the railroad station.” - -Our hero felt that it would be next to useless for him to go to the -Double Eight Ranch, where Nick Jasniff was employed, and accuse him of -the theft. The fellow would probably deny everything—even the meeting on -the road. And as there had been no witnesses to the transaction, there -the case would have to rest. - -“Just the same, when I get the chance, I’ll let the manager of the -Double Eight Ranch know what sort of fellow Jasniff is,” Dave said to -himself. “Maybe that crowd over there won’t want a prison bird around -any more than we wanted him at the construction camp.” - -Our hero had been right in regard to finding the pocketbook and letters. -After Dave had disappeared over the edge of the cliff below the trail, -Nick Jasniff had looked around to find his hat, which had fallen off in -the struggle. As he picked this up he had noticed the pocketbook and the -two letters. - -“Maybe there’s something in that pocketbook worth keeping,” he had -muttered to himself, as he tried to stop the flow of blood from his -bruised nose. “And I guess I’m entitled to anything I can get from Dave -Porter. I hope he broke every bone in his body by that fall.” - -He waited for a minute to see if Dave would reappear, and then hurried -along the trail, thinking he could find and mount our hero’s horse. He -quickly transferred the forty-three dollars he found in the wallet to -his own pocket, and then threw the pocketbook away in the spot where -Dave picked it up. - -“I guess it’s no use to look any farther,” Jasniff had muttered to -himself on failing to locate the horse. “Gee! I’m glad I struck this -forty-three dollars! That amount with the thirty I had before will see -me a long distance on my way.” - -And thereupon he had hurried back past the spot where the encounter had -taken place, and then along the trail to where there was a fork—one -branch leading down to the construction camp, and the other off in the -direction of some mines and the nearest railroad station. - -Although our hero did not know it, Jasniff had had another quarrel -earlier in the day. A miner operating near the Double Eight Ranch had -the night before fallen in with several of the men employed by the -Mentor Construction Company, and from them had learned the particulars -concerning the fellow who had gotten out of prison. - -This news had been carried to James Dackley, the manager of the Double -Eight, and Dackley, who was naturally a hot-headed man, had become -furious over the thought of being so deceived by Jasniff. - -“I only took him on because I thought he was a tenderfoot and was hard -up for a job,” Dackley had growled. “He told such a straight story that -I swallowed it, hook, line, and sinker. I don’t want such a fellow -around here any more than they want him over to the railroad camp. Just -have Nolan send him to me, and I’ll soon send him about his business.” - -Thereupon Nick Jasniff had been summoned from the bunk-house to the main -building on the Double Eight Ranch and been closely questioned by James -Dackley. He had denied everything, but the ranch manager had refused -almost to listen to him. - -“I’m going to investigate this,” said Dackley, “and if the story is -true, the sooner you get out the better I’ll be pleased.” - -Nick Jasniff had well understood that the truth would come out in the -near future; and knowing how passionate James Dackley could become on -occasion, he had lost no time in packing his few belongings and asking -for his pay. This had been given to him, and he had thereupon set out on -his journey toward the railroad station on foot—Dackley refusing to give -him the loan of a horse. - -Nick Jasniff had come to the conclusion that it would be best for him to -quit the neighborhood. He had thirty dollars in his pocket, and this -added to the forty-three taken from Dave’s pocketbook made quite a sum. - -“There’s no use of my staying here in the West,” he reasoned. “There are -far more chances in the East for a fellow like me. Maybe I’ll find some -of the fellows I used to know out there, and we can pull off some stunts -worth while.” - -With several miles placed between him and the place where he had had the -encounter with Dave, Nick Jasniff sat down to rest and at the same time -look over the letters he had picked up. There was a cynical sneer on his -face as he read the communication from Jessie to Dave. - -“It’s enough to make a fellow sick to think such a rich girl as that -should take to a fellow like Dave Porter,” he murmured to himself. -“Wouldn’t I like to put a spoke in that fellow’s wheel! I wonder if I -couldn’t do something to come between Porter and the Wadsworths? I owe -old man Wadsworth something for sending me to prison.” - -Then Nick Jasniff turned to the letter written by Dunston Porter. The -beginning of this did not interest him greatly, but he read with -interest what Dave’s uncle had written concerning the gypsies who had -camped out on the outskirts of Crumville. - -“Got into a row with a couple of gypsies, eh?” he mused. “I reckon -that’s something worth remembering. Maybe those fellows wouldn’t mind -joining me in some kind of a game against the Wadsworths. Maybe we could -put one over and make a lot of money out of it. Anyway, it’s something -worth thinking about;” and thereupon Nick Jasniff grew very thoughtful -as he proceeded on his way to the railroad station. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - DAVE AT ORELLA - - -It was two o’clock in the afternoon when Dave rode into Orella. This was -a typical mining town of Montana, containing but a single street with -stores, the majority of which were but one story in height. Back of this -street were probably half a hundred cabins standing at all sorts of -angles toward the landscape; and beyond these were the mines. - -Just previous to entering the town Dave had stopped at a wayside spring -and there washed up. Before that he had brushed himself off as well as -he was able, so that when he entered the place the only evidences he -carried of the encounter with Nick Jasniff were some scratches on the -back of his hand and a small swelling on his left cheek. - -The first person he met directed him to the offices of the Orella Mining -Company, of which Mr. Raymond Carson was the general manager. - -“Is Mr. Carson in?” he questioned of the clerk who came forward to -interview him. - -“He is,” was the answer. “Who shall I say wants to see him?” - -“My name is Porter, and I was sent here to see him by Mr. Obray of the -Mentor Construction Company.” - -“Oh, then I guess you can go right in,” returned the clerk, and showed -the way to a private office in the rear of the building. - -Here Mr. Raymond Carson sat at his desk writing out some telegrams. Dave -quickly introduced himself and brought forth the legal-looking envelope -which had been intrusted to him. The manager of the mining company tore -it open and looked over the contents with care. - -“Very good—just what I was waiting for,” he announced. “You can tell Mr. -Obray I am much obliged for his promptness.” - -“Would you mind giving me a receipt for the papers?” questioned the -young civil engineer. - -“Not at all.” The mining company manager called in one of the clerks. -“Here, take down a receipt,” and he dictated what he wished to say. - -Dave at first thought he might tell of how close he had come to losing -the documents, but then considered that it might not be wise to mention -the occurrence. The receipt was written out and signed and passed over. - -“How are matters coming along over at your camp?” questioned Mr. Raymond -Carson with a smile. - -“Oh, we are doing very well, everything considered,” was Dave’s reply. -“We are having a little trouble on account of some of the rocks in -Section Six. They are afraid of a landslide. We’ve got to build two -bridges there, and our engineers are going to have their own troubles -getting the proper foundations.” - -“Yes, that’s a great section for landslides. I was out there mining -once, and we had some of the worst cave-ins I ever heard about.” - -“There is practically no mining around there now,” ventured Dave. - -“No. The returns were not sufficient to warrant operations. Some time, -however, I think somebody will open up a vein there that will be worth -while.” - -A few words more passed concerning the work of the construction company, -and then Dave prepared to leave. Just as he was about to step out of the -office, however, he turned. - -“By the way, Mr. Carson, may I ask if there was a young fellow about my -own age here during the past week or two looking for a job—a fellow who -said his name was Jasper Nicholas?” - -“A young fellow about your age named Nicholas?” mused the mine manager. -“Let me see. Did he have a cast in one eye?” - -“The fellow I mean squints a good deal with one of his eyes. He is -rather tall and lanky.” - -“Yes, he was here. He wanted a job in the mines. Said he didn’t think he -was cut out for office work. But somehow or other I didn’t like his -looks. Is he a friend of yours?” - -“He is not!” declared Dave quickly. “In fact, he is just the opposite. -And what is more, he is a thief and has served a term in prison.” - -“You don’t say!” exclaimed the mine manager. “Are you sure of this?” - -“Positive, sir. His real name is Nicholas Jasniff. Some years ago he and -another fellow stole some valuable jewels from a jewelry works. I aided -in capturing him and sending him to prison.” - -“Humph! If that’s the case I am glad I didn’t hire him. As I said -before, I didn’t like his looks at all, and out here we go about as much -on looks as we do on anything.” - -“He came to our camp, but Mr. Obray soon sent him about his business,” -said Dave. - -After talking the matter over for a few minutes longer, but without -mentioning the attack on the trail, Dave rode away. At the end of the -street he stopped at a general store, which contained a drug department, -and while giving his horse a chance to feed, there obtained some -liniment with which he rubbed his lame shoulder and his hurt ankle. -Then, having obtained a bottle of lemon-soda with which to quench his -thirst, and help along his supper when he should stop to eat it, our -hero set off on the return to the construction camp. - -By the time Dave reached the spot where the encounter with Jasniff had -occurred, it was growing somewhat dark on the trail. Over to the -westward the mountains were much taller than those where the trail ran, -and the deep shadows were creeping upward from the valley below. Soon -the orb of day sank out of sight, and then the darkness increased. - -So far on the return Dave had met but two men—old prospectors who had -paid scant attention to him as he passed. He had stopped at a convenient -point to eat what remained of the lunch he had brought along, washing it -down with the lemon-soda. Presently he came to a fork in the trail, and -by a signboard placed there knew that he was now less than four miles -from the construction camp. - -The hard ride had tired the young civil engineer greatly, and he was -glad enough to let Sport move forward on a walk. The horse, too, had -found the journey a hard one, and was well content to progress at a -reduced rate of speed. - -The narrow portion of the footway having been left behind, horse and -rider came out into something of a hollow on the mountainside. Here and -there were a number of loose rocks and also quite a growth of scrub -timber. Dave was just passing through the densest of the timber when an -overhanging branch caught his hat and sent it to the ground. - -“Whoa there, Sport!” he cried, and bringing his horse to a halt, he -leaped down to recover the hat. - -Dave had just picked up the head covering when he heard a low sound -coming from some bushes close at hand. It was not unlike the cry of a -cat, and the youth was instantly on the alert. He remembered only too -well how, when he had been at Star Ranch, a wildcat, commonly called in -that section a bobcat, had gotten among the horses belonging to himself -and his chums and caused no end of trouble. - -The cry was followed by several seconds of intense silence, and then -came the unmistakable snarl of a bobcat, followed instantly by a leap on -the part of Sport. - -“Whoa there!” cried Dave, and was just in time to catch the horse by the -bridle. Then Sport veered around and kicked out viciously at the -brushwood. - -The bobcat was there, and evidently had no chance to retreat farther, -the bushes being backed up by a number of high rocks. With a snarl, it -leaped out into the open directly beside the horse and Dave. Then, as -the horse switched around again and let fly with his hind hoofs, the -bobcat made a flying leap past Dave, landing in the branches of a nearby -tree. - -“Whoa there, Sport!” cried the youth, and now lost no time in leaping -into the saddle. In the meanwhile the bobcat sprang from one limb of the -tree to another and disappeared behind some dense foliage. - -Had our hero had a rifle or a shotgun, he might have gone on a hunt for -the beast. But he carried only his small automatic, and he did not -consider this a particularly good weapon with which to stir up the -bobcat. He went on his way, and now Sport set off on a gallop, evidently -glad to leave such a dangerous vicinity behind. Although horses are much -larger, bobcats are such vicious animals that no horses care to confront -them. - -“I sure am having my fill of adventures to-day,” mused Dave grimly. -“First Nick Jasniff, and now that bobcat! I’ll have to tell the others -about the cat, and maybe we can organize a hunt and lay the beast low. -The men won’t want to face a bobcat while at work any more than they -would care to face that rattlesnake I shot.” - -It was not long after this when the lights of the construction camp came -into view, and soon Dave was riding down among the buildings. Roger was -on the watch, and came forward to greet him. - -“Had a safe trip, I see!” called out the senator’s son. “Good enough!” - -“I had a safe trip in one way if not in another,” announced Dave. “Two -things didn’t suit me at all. I met Nick Jasniff, and then I also met a -bobcat.” - -“You don’t say!” ejaculated Roger. “Tell me about it.” - -“I want to report to Mr. Obray first, Roger. If you want to go along you -can.” - -Dave found the construction camp manager at the doorway of the cabin he -occupied, reading a newspaper which was several days old. He, as well as -Roger, listened with keen interest to what our hero had to relate. - -“And so that rascal took your forty-odd dollars, did he?” exclaimed -Ralph Obray, when Dave was telling the story. “He certainly is a bad -egg.” - -“I’m mighty glad he didn’t get away with your papers, Mr. Obray,” -answered our hero soberly. “Of course, I don’t know how valuable they -were, but I presume they were worth a good deal more than the contents -of my pocketbook.” - -“You are right there, Porter. The documents would be hard to duplicate. -And I’m mighty glad they are safe in Mr. Carson’s hands and that we have -the receipt for them. Now, in regard to your losing your money: If we -can’t get it back from this fellow Jasniff, I’ll see what the company -can do toward reimbursing you.” - -“Oh, I sha’n’t expect that, Mr. Obray!” cried the youth. “It was no -concern of yours that I was robbed.” - -“I don’t know about that. If you hadn’t taken that trip for us, this -Jasniff might not have gotten the chance to take your money. In one way, -I think it is up to the company to make the loss good; and I’ll put it -up to the home office in my next report.” - -“You certainly ought to let the people at Double Eight Ranch know what -sort Jasniff is!” cried Roger. - -“Of course, I can’t prove that he took the money,” returned Dave. “There -were no witnesses to what occurred, and I suppose he would claim that -his word was as good as mine.” - -“But we know it isn’t!” burst out the senator’s son indignantly. “He’s a -rascal, and I intend that everybody around here shall know it!” - -“You certainly had your share of happenings,” was Mr. Obray’s comment. -“It was bad enough to have the fight with Jasniff without running afoul -of that wildcat. You ought to have brought him down with your pistol, as -you did that rattlesnake,” and he smiled broadly. - -“I didn’t get a chance for a shot,” explained Dave. “I had to grab the -horse for fear he would run away and leave me to walk to the camp. And -besides, the wildcat moved about as quickly as I can tell about it.” - -“Maybe we can form a party and round the wildcat up,” put in Roger -eagerly. - -“I was thinking of that, Roger.” - -Of course Dave had to tell Frank Andrews about the encounter with -Jasniff and also about meeting the wildcat. Several others were present -when the story was retold, and soon nearly everybody in the camp was -aware of what had taken place. - -“I certainly hope you get your money back,” remarked Larry Bond. -“Gracious! I wouldn’t like to lose forty-odd dollars out of my pay! I -couldn’t afford it.” - -“We’ll have to round up that bobcat some day,” said old John Hixon. “If -we manage to kill him off, it will discourage others from coming to this -neighborhood.” - -“Well, any time you say so, I’ll go out with you to try to lay the -bobcat low,” answered Dave. - - - - - CHAPTER X - WHAT THE GIRLS HAD TO TELL - - -Two days later Dave was hard at work with the others on the mountainside -when a gang of six cowboys rode up. They were curious to know some -particulars concerning the new railroad spur which was to be put through -in that vicinity, and stopped to watch proceedings and to ask a number -of questions. - -“What ranch do you hail from, boys?” questioned Frank Andrews of the -leader of the crowd, a tall, leathery-looking man of about forty. - -“We’re from the Double Eight outfit,” was the answer, as the fellow -pulled a sheet from a book of papers he carried, filled it with some -loose tobacco from a pouch, and proceeded to roll himself a cigarette. - -“The Double Eight, eh?” exclaimed the civil engineer. “That is -interesting. I think one of my young men here would like to ask you a -few questions, if you wouldn’t mind.” - -“All right, pard, shoot away,” answered the cowboy calmly, as he began -to puff at his cigarette. - -Frank Andrews lost no time in summoning Dave, who was some distance up -the trail, and told our hero where the cowboy hailed from. - -“I believe you have a fellow staying with you who calls himself Jasper -Nicholas,” began Dave. - -“We did have a feller with that handle down to our outfit,” responded -the cowboy. “But he got fired some days ago.” - -“Fired!” cried Dave and Roger simultaneously. - -“That’s the size on it, son. He got kind o’ fresh with the boss, and Jim -wouldn’t stand for it nohow. I don’t know exactly wot the rumpus was -about, but that feller didn’t lose no time vamoosin’.” - -“I wish you would tell me some of the particulars about him,” went on -Dave. “Then I’ll tell you something that may interest you.” - -“I ain’t got much to tell, ’cause I didn’t like the feller, and -consequently didn’t have much to do with him. Fact is, he wasn’t in -cahoots with nobody around the ranch. He had a hang-dog way about him -none of us cottoned to.” - -“But I wish you would tell me what you do know,” insisted our hero. - -Thereupon the cowboy, who said his name was Pete Sine, told how Nick -Jasniff had come to the Double Eight Ranch some weeks before with a -hard-luck story and had been given a job as an all-around handy man. - -“But he wasn’t handy at all,” announced Pete Sine. “Fact is, he was the -most unhandy critter I ’most ever met up with. But he told such a -pitiful story, the boss and some of the fellers felt sorry for him, so -they all done the best they knowed how for him—that is at the start. But -he soon showed the yellow streak that was in him, and then, as I said -before, the boss got wise to him and fired him. Now what do you know -about him?” - -Dave, aided by Roger, gave many of the particulars concerning Nick -Jasniff’s past doings, and our hero related the details of the fight on -the road, and how he had lost the contents of his pocketbook. - -“Snortin’ buffaloes!” ejaculated Pete Sine, giving his thigh a -resounding slap with his hand. “I knew it! I sized that feller up from -the very start. I warned Jim Dackley about him, but Jim was too -tender-hearted to see it—that is at first. Now when did this happen?” -went on the cowboy. And after Dave had mentioned the day, he continued: -“That was the very day the boss fired him!” - -“And have you any idea where he went to?” questioned our hero quickly. - -“Not exactly, son. But Fred Gurney, one of our gang who ain’t here just -now, got it from the agent over to the railroad depot that the feller -took the seven-thirty train that night for Chicago.” - -“He must have left Montana for good!” cried Roger. “Dave, I’m afraid you -can whistle your forty-odd dollars good-bye.” - -“So it would seem, Roger. It’s too bad! But I’m mighty glad Nick Jasniff -has cleared out. I’d hate to think he was around here. He would be sure -to try to do us some harm.” - -“You might send on to Chicago and have him arrested on his arrival -there,” suggested Frank Andrews. “That is, if he hasn’t gotten there -already.” - -“I don’t think it would be worth bothering about,” answered Dave. “It -would make a lot of trouble all around; and maybe I would have to go on -to Chicago to identify him, and then stay around and push the charge -against him. I’d rather let him go and pocket my loss.” - -“Maybe you’ll meet up with him some day,” suggested Pete Sine. “And if -you do——Well, I know what I’d do to him,” and he tapped his pistol -suggestively. - -The other cowboys had listened with interest to the talk, and every one -of them intimated that he had distrusted Nick Jasniff from the start. -Evidently the fellow who had been in prison had not created a favorable -impression, even though his hard-luck story had brought him some -sympathy. - -After this occurrence matters moved along quietly for a few days. On -Sunday, there being no work to do, old John Hixon and several of the -other men went out to look for the bobcat Dave had met on the trail. But -though they spent several hours in beating around through the brushwood -and the scrub timber, they failed to find the animal. - -“Guess he got strayed away from his regular haunts, and then went back,” -was Hixon’s comment. “Wild animals do that once in a while. I remember -years ago an old hunter told me about a she bear he had met here in -Montana. Some time later another hunter, a friend of his’n, told about -meetin’ the same bear over in Wyoming. Then, less than a month later, -this old hunter I first mentioned met the same bear and killed her. He -always wondered how it was that bear got so far away from home and then -got back again.” - -On Monday morning came more letters from home, and also communications -from Phil Lawrence, Ben Basswood and Shadow Hamilton. The letters from -Crumville were, as usual, two communications from Laura and Jessie; and -in each of these the girls mentioned the fact that Dave’s Uncle Dunston, -as well as Mr. Wadsworth and Mr. Basswood, had had more trouble with the -gypsies who had formerly occupied the vacant land on the outskirts of -the town. - - “Uncle Dunston says the gypsies were very forward,” wrote Laura. - “They said all kinds of mean things and made several threats. One of - the old women, who is called Mother Domoza, came here to the house - and frightened Jessie and me very much. The folks were away at the - time, and I don’t know what we would have done had it not been for - dear old Mr. Potts. He was in the library, where, as you know, he - spends most of his time, and when he heard the old gypsy denouncing - us he came out with his cane in his hand and actually drove her - away.” - -“Good for Professor Potts!” cried Dave, when Roger read this portion of -the letter to him. “I’m glad he sent the old hag about her business.” - -The letter from Jessie also contained some references to the gypsies, -but had evidently been mailed previous to the trouble with Mother -Domoza. Jessie said she was glad that the vacant ground was to be cut up -into town lots and built upon, and she sincerely trusted that none of -the gypsies would ever come to camp near Crumville again. - - “Some of them used to come around and tell fortunes,” wrote Jessie. - “But I don’t need to have my fortune told, Dave. I know exactly what - it is going to be, and I would not have it changed for the world!” - -And this part of the letter Dave did not show to Roger; but he read it -over many times with great satisfaction. - -But all thoughts of the gypsies and of what they might do were forgotten -by our hero and Roger when they came to peruse the letters sent by Phil, -Ben and Shadow. - -“Hurrah! They are on their way at last!” cried Dave, his face beaming -with satisfaction. “Ben writes that they were to start within -forty-eight hours after this letter was sent.” - -“And that is just what Shadow and Phil say, too,” announced the -senator’s son. “That being so, they ought to arrive here within the next -two days.” - -“Right you are, Roger! Oh, say! when they come, won’t we have the best -time ever?” exclaimed Dave. - -And then, in the exuberance of their spirits, both youths caught hold of -each other and did an impromptu war-dance. - -“Hello! hello! What’s going on here?” cried Frank Andrews, coming up at -that moment. “Have you fellows joined the Hopi Indians?” - -“Our three chums are on the way—we expect them here inside of the next -two days!” announced Dave. - -“Is that so? I don’t wonder you’re so happy. As I understand it, you -fellows were all very close chums.” - -“The closest ever!” answered Roger. And then suddenly his face clouded a -little. “But oh, Mr. Andrews, what are we going to do with them when -they get here? We’ll have to make some sort of arrangements for them.” - -“I reckon we can make room one way or another,” answered the older civil -engineer. “You know Barry and Lundstrom have left and that gives us two -vacant bunks, and we can easily fix up an extra cot here if we want to.” - -“Then that’s what we’ll do, if you won’t mind,” announced Dave. - -He and Roger had already spoken about the matter to Ralph Obray, and the -general manager had given them permission to entertain their chums at -the camp for several days if the visitors wished to stay that long. It -was, of course, understood that their meals should be paid for, since a -report of all expenditures had to be made to the head office. - -“I think you fellows have earned a little vacation,” said the manager to -the chums. “You have both worked very hard. And I have not forgotten, -Porter, how you carried those documents to Orella for me and what a -fight you had to get them there in safety.” - -“But understand, Mr. Obray, we don’t expect to be paid for the time we -take off,” interposed Roger. “At least I don’t expect to be paid for -it.” - -“And that is just the way I feel about it,” added Dave. - -“You young fellows leave that to me,” answered the construction company -manager smilingly. “I’ll take care of that. I can remember when I was a -young fellow and had my friends come to see me. You go on and show your -chums all the sights, and have the best time possible, and then, when -they are gone, I’ll expect you to work so much the harder to make up for -it. I think you see what I mean.” - -“And we’ll do it—take my word on it!” answered Dave heartily. - -“Indeed we will!” echoed Roger. - -During the next two days the chums were so anxious awaiting the coming -of the others that they could hardly attend to their work. They saw to -it that quarters were made in readiness for the three who were expected -and that Jeff, the cook, would have room for them at one of the -dining-tables. - -Then, on the morning of the third day, when a telegram came in from the -railroad station stating that Phil and the others would arrive by noon, -Dave and Roger, taking a lunch along, set off on horseback, leading -three other horses behind them, to meet the expected visitors. - -The ride to the railroad station occurred without mishap, though it was -no easy matter to make the three riderless horses follow them at certain -points where the trail was rough. But the two chums reached the station -with almost an hour to spare. - -“And it wasn’t no use for you fellers to hurry,” announced the station -master, when he found out what had brought them. “That train is -generally from one hour to three hours late.” - -“Great Scott! have we got to wait around here three hours?” groaned the -senator’s son. - -“We might have known the train would be late,” observed Dave. “They -usually are on this line.” - -Presently the station master went in to receive a telegram. When he came -out he announced that the train would be there in less than two hours -unless something occurred in the meanwhile to cause a further delay. - -The chums put in the time as best they could; but it was slow work, and -they consulted their watches every few minutes. At last, however, the -time came to a close, and soon they heard a long, low whistle. - -“Here she comes!” cried Dave, his heart giving a leap. - -“Let’s give them a cheer as soon as we see them,” suggested the -senator’s son. - -And then the long train rolled into sight around a bend of the mountains -and soon came to a standstill at the little station. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - THE OAK HALL CHUMS - - -“There they are!” - -“This way, boys! Oak Hall to the front!” - -A vestibule door to one of the cars had been opened and a porter had -come down the steps carrying three suit-cases. He was followed by three -young men, who waved their hands gayly at Dave and Roger. - -“Here at last!” sang out Phil Lawrence, as he rushed forward to catch -our hero with one hand and the senator’s son with the other. - -“Some city you fellows have here,” criticized Ben Basswood, with a broad -grin, as he waited for his turn to “pump handle” his friends. - -“Say!” burst out the third new arrival, as he too came forward. “Calling -a little, dinky station like this a city puts me in mind of a story. -Once some travelers journeyed to the interior of Africa, and——” - -“Hello! What do you know about that?” sang out Dave gayly. “Shadow has -started to tell a story before he even says ‘how-do-you-do’!” - -“Why, Shadow!” remonstrated Roger in an apparently injured tone of -voice. “We heard that you had given up telling stories entirely.” - -“Smoked herring! Who told you such a yarn as that?” burst out Phil. - -“I don’t intend to give up telling stories,” announced Shadow Hamilton -calmly. “I’ve got a brand new lot; haven’t I, fellows? I bet Dave and -Roger never heard that one about the coal.” - -“What about the coal, Shadow?” demanded Roger, shaking hands. - -“Don’t ask him,” groaned Ben. “He’s told that story twenty-six times -since we left home.” - -“You’re a base prevaricator, Ben Basswood!” roared the former -story-teller of Oak Hall. “I told that story just twice—once to you and -once to that drummer from Chicago. And he said he had never heard it -before, and that proves it’s a new story, because drummers hear -everything.” - -“Well, that story has one advantage,” was Phil’s comment. “It’s short.” - -“All right then, Shadow; let’s hear it. And then tell us all about -yourself,” said Dave quickly. - -“It isn’t quite as much of a story as it’s a conundrum,” began Shadow -Hamilton. “Once a small boy who was very inquisitive went to his aunt in -the country and helped her hunt for eggs. Then he said he would like to -go down into the cellar. ‘Why do you want to go in the cellar, Freddy?’ -asked the aunt. ‘I want to go down to look at the egg coal,’ announced -the little boy. ‘And then I want to see what kind of chickens lay it.’” -And at this little joke both Dave and Roger had to smile. - -No other passengers had left the cars at this station, and now the long -train rumbled once more on its way. The station master had gone off to -look after some messages, so the former chums of Oak Hall were left -entirely to themselves. - -“It’s a touch of old times to get together again, isn’t it?” cried Dave -gayly, as he placed one arm over Phil’s shoulder and the other arm -around Ben. “You can’t imagine how glad I am to see all of you.” - -“I am sure the feeling is mutual, Dave,” answered Phil. “I’ve missed you -fellows dreadfully since we separated.” - -“I sometimes wish we were all back at Oak Hall again,” sighed Ben. “My, -what good times we did have!” - -“I guess you’ll be glad enough to reach Star Ranch, Phil,” went on Dave, -giving the ship-owner’s son a nudge in the ribs. “Probably Belle -Endicott will be waiting for you with open arms.” - -“Sour grapes, Dave. I know where you’d like to be,” retorted Phil, his -face reddening. “You’d like to be in Crumville with Jessie Wadsworth—and -Roger would like to be in the same place, with your sister.” - -“Have you fellows had your lunch?” questioned Roger, to change the -subject. - -“Yes. When we found out that the train was going to be late, we went -into the dining-car as soon as it opened,” answered Ben. “How about -you?” - -“We brought something along and ate it while we were waiting for you,” -said the senator’s son. “Come on, it’s quite a trip to the construction -camp. We came over on horseback, and we brought three horses for you -fellows.” - -“Good enough!” cried Shadow. “But what are we going to do with our -suit-cases?” - -“You’ll have to tie those on somehow,” announced Dave. “We brought -plenty of straps along.” - -As the five chums got ready for the trip to the construction camp, Dave -and Roger were told of many things that had happened to the others -during the past few weeks. In return they told about themselves and the -encounter with Nick Jasniff. - -“A mighty bad egg, that Jasniff,” was Phil’s comment. - -“The worst ever,” added Shadow. - -“Mr. Dunston Porter and the girls didn’t tell you half of the story -about those gypsies,” said Ben. “Those fellows tried to make all sorts -of trouble for us. They tried to prove that they had a right to camp on -that land, and my father and your uncle had to threaten them with the -law before they went away. Since that time several of the gypsies have -been in town, and they have made a number of threats to get square. That -old hag, Mother Domoza, is particularly wrathful. She insists that she -got the right to camp there as long as she pleased from some party who -used to own a part of the land.” - -“Where are the gypsies hanging out now?” questioned Dave. - -“Somebody told me they were camping on the edge of Coburntown.” - -“You don’t say! That’s the place where I had so much trouble with the -storekeepers on account of Ward Porton’s buying so many things in my -name.” - -“If I were living in Coburntown, I’d keep my eyes open for those -gypsies,” declared Ben. “I wouldn’t trust any of them any farther than I -could see them. Ever since they camped on the outskirts of Crumville -folks have suspected them of raiding hencoops and of other petty -thieving. They never caught them at it, so they couldn’t prove it. But -my father was sure in his own mind that they were guilty.” - -“Yes, and I remember a year or so ago some of the gypsy women came -around our place to tell fortunes,” added Dave. “They went into the -kitchen to tell the fortunes of the cook and the up-stairs girl, and two -days later the folks found that two silver spoons and a gold -butter-knife were missing. We made some inquiries, but we never got any -satisfaction.” - -“Looking for stuff like that is like looking for a needle in a -haystack,” was Phil’s comment. - -“Oh, say! Speaking of a needle in a haystack puts me in mind of a -story,” burst out Shadow. - -“What! another?” groaned Roger in mock dismay; and all of the others -present held up their hands as if in horror. - -“This is just a little one,” pleaded the former story-teller of Oak -Hall. “A man once heard a lady speak about trying to find the needle in -the haystack. ‘Say, madam,’ said the man, very earnestly, ‘a needle in a -haystack wouldn’t be no good to nobody. If one of the animals got it in -his throat, it would ’most kill ’im.’” - -“Wow!” - -“Does anybody see the point?” questioned Roger. - -“What do you mean—the point of the needle?” demanded Dave. - -“If you had the eye you could see better,” suggested Ben. - -“I don’t care, it’s a pretty good joke,” protested the story-teller. - -“Hurrah! Shadow is stuck on the needle joke!” announced Dave. “Anyhow, -it would seem so.” - -“Jumping tadpoles!” ejaculated Roger. “Boys, did you catch that?” - -“Catch what?” asked Phil innocently. - -“Phil wasn’t born a tailor, so maybe he never knew what it was to _seam -sew_ anything.” - -“Whoop! I’ll pummel you for that!” roared the ship-owner’s son, and made -a sweep at Dave with his suit-case. - -But the latter dodged, and the suit-case landed with a bang on Shadow’s -shoulder, sending the story-teller to the ground. - -“Say, Phil Lawrence, you be careful!” cried the prostrate youth, as he -scrambled up. “What do you think I am—a punching-bag?” - -“Ten thousand pardons, Shadow, and then some!” cried the ship-owner’s -son contritely. “I was aiming to put Dave in the hospital, that’s all.” - -“Come on and get busy and let us be off to the camp,” broke in Roger. -“We’ll have plenty of time for horse-play later. We want to show you -fellows a whole lot of things.” - -Dave insisted upon carrying one of the suit-cases, while Roger took -another. Soon all of the hand-baggage was securely fastened to the -saddles of the horses, and then the boys started on the journey to the -construction camp. They took their time, and numerous were the questions -asked and answered on the way. - -“Yes, I’m doing first class in business with dad,” announced Phil. “We -are going to buy an interest in another line of ships, and dad says that -in another year he will put me at the head of our New York offices. Then -I’ll be a little nearer to Crumville than I was before.” - -“I’m glad to hear of your success, Phil,” said Dave. “I don’t know of -any fellow who deserves it more than you do.” - -“Sometimes I wish I had taken up civil engineering, just to be near you -and Roger,” went on the ship-owner’s son wistfully. “But then, I reckon -I wasn’t cut out for that sort of thing. I love the work I am at very -much.” - -“I suppose some day, Phil, you’ll be settling down with Belle Endicott,” -went on our hero in a low tone of voice, so that the others could not -hear. - -“I don’t know about that, Dave,” was the thoughtful answer. “Belle is a -splendid girl, and I know she thinks a good deal of me. But her father -is a very rich man, and she has a host of young fellows tagging after -her. There is one man out in Denver, who is almost old enough to be her -father, who has asked Mr. Endicott for her hand in marriage.” - -“But Belle doesn’t want him, does she?” - -“I don’t think so. But she teases me about him a good deal, and I must -confess I don’t like it. That’s one reason why I am going out to Star -Ranch.” - -“Well, you fix it up, Phil—I know you can do it,” answered Dave -emphatically. “You know Jessie and Laura are writing to Belle -continually; and I know for a fact that Belle thinks more of you than -she does of anybody else.” - -“I hope what you say is true, Dave,” answered the ship-owner’s son -wistfully. - -Naturally a bright and energetic youth with no hesitation when it came -to business matters, Phil was woefully shy now that matters between -himself and the girl at Star Ranch had reached a crisis. - -In their letters Dave and Roger had told their chums much about the -Mentor Construction Company and what it proposed to do in that section -of Montana. They had also written some details concerning the camp and -the persons to be met there, so that when the party came in sight of the -place the visitors felt fairly well at home. They were met by Frank -Andrews, who was speedily introduced to them, and were then taken to the -offices. - -“I’m very glad to meet all of you,” said Mr. Obray, shaking hands at the -introduction. “Porter and Morr have told me all about you; and I’ve told -them to do what they can to make you feel at home during your stay. -There is only one thing I would like to caution you about,” went on the -manager, who occasionally liked to have his little joke. “Don’t under -any circumstances carry away any of our important engineering secrets -and give them to our rivals.” - -“You can trust us on that point,” answered Phil readily. “All we expect -to carry away from here is the recollection of a grand good time.” - -“Oh, say! That puts me in mind of a story,” burst out Shadow -enthusiastically. “Once a man——” - -“Oh, Shadow!” remonstrated Roger. - -“I hardly think Mr. Obray has time to listen to a story,” reminded Dave. - -“Sure, I’ve got time to listen if the story isn’t a long one,” broke in -the manager. - -“Well—er—it—er—isn’t so very much of a story,” answered Shadow lamely. -“It’s about a fellow who told his friends how he had been hunting -ostriches in Mexico.” - -“Ostriches in Mexico!” repeated Mr. Obray doubtfully. - -“Yes. A man told his friends that he had been hunting ostriches in -Mexico with great success. His friends swallowed the story for several -days, and then began to make an investigation. Then they went to the man -and said: ‘See here. You said you had been hunting ostriches in Mexico. -There are no ostriches there.’ ‘I know it,’ said the man calmly. ‘I -killed them all.’” And at this story the manager laughed heartily. Then -he dismissed the crowd, for he had much work ahead. - -“A nice man to work for,” was Ben’s comment, when the visitors were -being shown to their quarters in the bunk-houses. - -“As nice a man as ever lived, Ben,” answered Dave. “Roger and I couldn’t -have struck it better.” - -“I know I’m going to enjoy myself here,” announced Shadow. “All of your -gang seem so pleasant.” - -“And I want to learn something about civil engineering,” announced Ben. -“Maybe some day I’ll take it up myself.” - - - - - CHAPTER XII - ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP - - -The next morning all of the former Oak Hall chums were up by sunrise. As -Dave had said, they wanted to make the most of their time. - -“It’s a beautiful location,” was Phil’s comment, as he stood out on the -edge of the camp and surveyed the surroundings. - -On one side were the tall mountains and on the other the broad valley, -with the little winding river shimmering like a thread of silver in the -sunlight. - -“Nice place to erect a bungalow,” added Ben. - -“What are you thinking of, Ben—erecting bungalows and selling off town -lots?” queried Roger slyly. - -“Oh, I didn’t get as far as that,” laughed the son of the Crumville real -estate dealer. “Just the same, after your railroad gets into operation -somebody might start a summer colony here.” - -The visitors were shown around the camp, and at the ringing of the -breakfast bell were led by Roger and Dave into the building where the -meals were served. And there all did full justice to the cooking of Jeff -and his assistant. - -The youths had talked the matter over the evening before, and it had -been decided to take an all-day trip on horseback along the line of the -proposed railroad. - -“We’ll show you just what we are trying to do,” Roger had said. “Then -you’ll get some idea of what laying out a new railroad in a country like -this means.” - -“I wish I could have gone down to the Rio Grande when Ben went down,” -remarked Phil. “I would like to have seen that new Catalco Bridge your -company put up there.” - -“It certainly was a fine bit of engineering work!” cried Ben. He turned -to Dave. “You don’t expect to put up any bridge like that here, do you?” - -“Not just like that, Ben. Here we are going to put up fifteen or twenty -bridges. None of them, however, will be nearly as long as the Catalco -Bridge. But some of them will be considerably higher. In one place we -expect to erect a bridge three hundred feet long which, at one point, -will be over four hundred feet high.” - -A substantial lunch had been packed up for them by the cook, and with -this stowed safely away in some saddlebags, the five youths set out from -the construction camp, Dave, with Phil at his side, leading the way, and -the others following closely. - -Every one felt in tiptop spirits, and consequently the talk was of the -liveliest kind, with many a joke and hearty laugh. Shadow Hamilton was -allowed full sway, and told a story whenever the least opportunity -presented itself. - -“Some mountains around here, and no mistake,” observed Phil, after they -had climbed to the top of one stretch of the winding trail and there -come to a halt to rest the horses. - -“That climb would be a pretty hard one for an auto,” observed Ben. “It’s -worse than some of the climbs we had to take when we were making that -tour through the Adirondacks to Bear Camp.” - -“Oh, say! Speaking of climbing a hill in an auto puts me in mind of a -story!” burst out Shadow eagerly. “A man got a new automobile of which -he was very proud, and took out one of his friends, a rather nervous -individual, to show him what the auto could do. They rode quite a -distance, and then the man started to go up a steep hill. He had a -terrible time reaching the top, the auto almost refusing to make it. But -at last, when he did get up, he turned to his friend and said: ‘Some -hill, eh? But we took it just the same.’ To this the nervous man -answered: ‘I was afraid you wouldn’t make it. If I hadn’t put on the -hand-brake good and hard, you would have slipped back sure.’” And at -this little joke the others smiled. - -Having rested, the party proceeded on the way once more, and Dave and -Roger pointed out what had been done toward surveying the new line and -where the bridges and culverts were to be constructed; and they even -drew little diagrams on a pad Dave carried, to show how some of the -bridges were going to be erected. - -“It certainly is a great business,” was Phil’s comment. “I should think -it would be pretty hard to learn.” - -“It is hard, Phil. But we are bound to do it,” answered Dave. “We are -going to learn all about surveying and draughtsmanship, and in the -meantime we are brushing up on geometry and trigonometry, and half a -dozen other things that pertain to civil engineering. We’ve got a great -many things to learn yet, before we’ll be able to tackle a job on our -own hook,” he added, with a little smile. - -From time to time the youths talked about the days spent at Oak Hall and -of what had become of numerous schoolfellows. The visitors discussed the -doings of Nick Jasniff in that vicinity, and they wondered what that -rascal would do next. - -“Like the proverbial bad penny, he’ll be sure to turn up again sooner or -later,” was Phil’s comment. - -“I’m afraid you’re right,” sighed Dave. - -Thinking that they might possibly spot a bobcat or some other wild -animal, Dave had brought a double-barreled shotgun along, and Roger -carried old Hixon’s rifle. The others were armed with small automatic -pistols, purchased especially to be carried on the trip to Star Ranch. - -“But I don’t suppose we’ll sight anything worth shooting now we’re -armed,” remarked our hero. “That’s the way it usually is.” - -Noon found the chums in the very heart of the mountains. They had been -told by Hixon where they could find a fine camping-spot close to a -spring of pure, cold water; and there they tethered their horses and -proceeded to make themselves at home. They had brought along some coffee -and a pot to make it in, and presently they started a small fire for -that purpose. - -“A fellow could certainly camp out here and have a dandy time,” remarked -Ben, when the odor of the coffee permeated the camp. “There must be -plenty of game somewhere in these mountains and plenty of fish in the -streams.” - -“Yes, the streams are full of fish,” answered Roger. “But about the -game, I am not so sure. There are plenty of birds and other small -things, but big game, like deer, bear, and mountain lions are growing -scarcer and scarcer every year, so Hixon says. He thinks that every time -a gun is fired it drives the big game farther and farther back from the -trails.” - -The youths brought out their lunch from the saddlebags, and when the -coffee was ready they sat down to enjoy their midday repast. The long -horseback ride of the morning had whetted their appetites, and with -little to do, they took their time over the meal. - -“Let’s take a walk around this neighborhood before we continue the -ride,” said Roger, when they were repacking their things. “I’m a bit -tired of sitting in the saddle, and had just as lief do some walking.” - -Seeing to it that their horses could not get away, the five youths -started to climb up the rocks to where the summit of the mountain along -which they had been traveling would afford a better view of their -surroundings. It was hard work, and they frequently had to help each -other along. - -“Be careful, Shadow, or you may get a nasty tumble,” cautioned Dave, -just before the summit was gained. - -“Don’t worry about me, Dave,” panted the former story-teller of Oak -Hall. “I know enough to hang on when I’m climbing in a place like this. -I’m not like the fellow in the story who let go to spit on his hands.” - -From the summit of the mountain they could see for many miles in every -direction, and here Ben, who had brought along a pocket camera, insisted -upon taking a number of views—two with the others seated on several of -the nearby rocks. Then Dave made Ben pose and took two more pictures. - -“It’s too bad we can’t take a picture of Ben shooting a bear or a -wildcat,” remarked Roger. “That would be a great one to take home and -show the folks.” - -“I’d rather have a picture of you and Dave building one of those big -bridges you spoke about,” answered the other youth. “Then we could have -a couple of copies framed and shipped to Jessie and Laura;” and at this -dig Ben had to dodge, for both Dave and Roger picked up bits of rock to -shy at him. - -“Let’s walk across the summit of this mountain and see what it looks -like on the other side,” suggested Shadow. “I suppose we’ve got time -enough, haven’t we?” - -“We’ve got all the time there is, Shadow,” answered Dave. “It won’t make -any difference how late it is when we get back to camp.” - -One after another they trudged along through the underbrush and among -the loose stones on the mountain summit, which was a hundred yards or -more in diameter. In some places they had to pick their way with care, -for there were numerous cracks and hollows. - -“A fellow doesn’t want to go down into one of those cracks,” remarked -Phil, after leaping over an opening which was several feet wide and -probably fifteen or twenty feet in depth. - -“He’d get a nasty tumble if he did,” answered Roger. - -“And he’d have a fine time of it getting out if he chanced to be alone!” -broke in our hero. - -With the sun shining brightly and not a cloud obscuring the sky, the -five chums presently reached the other side of the mountain. Looking -down, they saw a heavy wilderness of trees sloping gently down to the -hollow below them and then up on the side of the mountain beyond. - -“Isn’t that perfectly grand!” murmured Ben. “Just think of the thousands -upon thousands of feet of timber in that patch!” - -“Yes. And think of all the masts for ships!” added Phil, with a little -laugh. - -“And flagpoles!” exclaimed Dave. “I guess there would be enough -flagpoles in that patch to plant a pole in front of every schoolhouse in -the United States.” - -“Well, every schoolhouse ought to have a flagpole, and ought to have Old -Glory on it, too!” cried Roger. “My father says that people generally -don’t make half enough display of our flag.” - -The youths walked along the edge of the summit for quite a distance, -looking off to the northward and southward. Then, after Ben had taken a -few more pictures, they started back for where they had left the horses. - -“Come on, let’s have a race!” cried Ben suddenly. “First fellow to reach -the horses wins the prize!” - -“And what’s the prize?” queried Phil. - -“Won’t tell it to you till you win it!” broke in Dave. - -With merry shouts, all of the chums started on a run for where they -supposed the horses had been left. They soon found themselves in the -midst of the underbrush and many loose rocks, around which they had to -make their way. Some thought the horses were in one direction and some -another, and as a consequence they soon became separated, although still -within calling distance. - -“Hi! Be careful that you don’t go down in some hole and break a leg,” -cautioned Dave. - -“That’s right!” sang out Roger, who was some distance off. “Some of -these rocks are mighty treacherous.” - -Forward went the crowd, and in about ten minutes Dave and Roger found -themselves in sight of the former camping spot. Phil and Ben were also -coming on from around some rocks on the left, and each of the crowd put -on an extra burst of speed to reach the horses first. - -“I win!” cried Roger, as he caught hold of one of the saddles. - -At the same moment, Phil touched another of the animals, and a few -seconds later Dave and Ben did the same. - -“Pretty close race for all of us!” cried Ben; and then, of a sudden, he -looked around. “Where is Shadow?” - -The four who had reached the horses looked back toward the brushwood and -the rocks around which they had made their way. They waited for several -seconds, expecting each instant that the former story-teller of Oak Hall -would show himself. But Shadow failed to appear. - -“Hello, Shadow! Hello! Where are you?” sang out Dave, at the top of his -lungs. - -No answer came to this call, and one after another the others also -summoned their missing chum. They listened intently, but not a sound of -any kind broke the quietness of the mountain top. - -“Something has happened to him, that’s sure,” remarked Roger, his face -growing grave. - -“I guess we had better go back and look for him,” announced Dave. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - TO THE RESCUE OF SHADOW - - -“Who saw Shadow last? Does anybody know?” questioned Dave, as the whole -crowd looked at each other in perplexity. - -“He was close to me when we started the race,” answered Phil. “But I -soon got ahead of him and turned to one side of some big rocks while he -went to the other side.” - -“And didn’t you see him after that?” - -“No. But I heard him call to some of the others.” - -“I think he was close behind me during the first half of the race,” -broke in Roger. “But after that I drew away from him.” - -“We’ll go back to where we started from and keep calling his name,” said -our hero. “He’ll be bound to hear us if he is anywhere around.” - -“Perhaps he went down into one of those openings between some of the -rocks and was knocked unconscious,” suggested Ben. “Such a thing could -easily happen.” - -“Oh, I hope he isn’t seriously hurt!” cried the senator’s son. - -Very soberly the four youths climbed back to the summit of the mountain, -and then began to retrace their steps toward the other side. They kept -calling Shadow’s name continually, but no answer came back. - -“Over yonder is the worst opening I had to jump over,” remarked Roger, -when they were near the center of the summit. - -“Let us look at it, right away,” returned our hero quickly. - -All hurried to the place Roger had mentioned. It was an opening between -some rough rocks, and was all of a hundred feet long and two to eight -feet in width. How deep it was they could not surmise, for the walls -curved from one side to the other, so that the bottom of the opening was -out of sight. - -“Looks to me as if it might be the entrance to some cave,” announced -Ben, as all came to a halt on the brink of the opening. “Listen!” - -The crowd did so, and at the bottom of the opening they heard a faint -splashing of water as it poured over the rocks. - -“Must be an underground stream down there,” remarked Phil. - -“Perhaps it’s the same stream that furnishes water to the spring at our -camp,” suggested Dave. He sent up a shout. “Hello, Shadow! Are you down -there?” - -“Help! Help!” came in a low voice from below. - -“He’s down there, as sure as fate!” exclaimed Roger. - -“Are you hurt?” shouted Phil. - -“I’m pretty well scraped up, that’s all. But the rocks down here are all -smooth and wet, and I can’t climb up—try my best.” - -“You are in no danger just at present, are you?” questioned Dave -quickly. - -“I don’t think so—unless you fellows roll down some stones on me.” - -“We’ll be careful about that,” answered Ben; and lost no time in pushing -back a number of stones which lay close to the brink of the opening. - -“We’ll have to get a rope or something with which to haul him up,” said -Phil. “Dave, did we bring anything of that sort along?” - -“Yes, I’ve got a good strong lariat tied to my saddle,” answered our -hero. “Frank Andrews advised taking it along; for when you are traveling -among the mountains you can never tell when you’ll need such a rope. -I’ll go back and get it.” - -“Maybe you’d better bring a few straps along, too, Dave,” put in Roger. -“Then, if Shadow can’t haul himself up, he can tie himself fast and we -can pull him up.” - -“Good idea, Roger. I’ll do it.” - -Dave was soon on his way, and in less than twenty minutes he was back to -the spot, carrying the lariat he had mentioned and also a number of -straps taken from the outfit. The lariat was of rawhide, and more than -once had been tested by the civil engineers for its strength. It had -been purchased by Andrews from a cowboy in Texas, after the latter had -given a very fine exhibition of lassoing steers with it. - -“We’re sending down the end of a lariat with some straps,” called down -Dave. “Let us know as soon as it is low enough.” - -“All right,” answered Shadow, but somewhat feebly, for the tumble had -evidently knocked the breath out of him. - -Tying the loose straps to the end of the rope, and weighting the whole -down with a stone, Dave lowered the lariat carefully over the edge of -the opening. It slipped through his hands readily, and soon the end -disappeared from sight over a bulge of the wall below. All of the others -watched the rope as it disappeared into the opening. They waited for -some cry from Shadow, stating that he had hold of the other end, but -none came. - -“Maybe it caught somewhere on the way down,” suggested Ben. - -“Well, here’s the end of it anyway,” announced Dave. “And the other end -must be free for I can still feel the weight of the straps and the -stone.” - -“Hello, down there!” shouted Roger. “Can you see the rope?” - -“Yes,” answered Shadow. “Please let it down about two feet farther.” - -“I can’t do that just now. I’m at the end of the rope,” answered Dave. -“Just wait a few minutes, and we’ll fix you up.” - -“We’ll have to tie something to it,” said Roger. “Too bad we didn’t keep -one or two of those straps up here.” - -“Let’s get a stout sapling and tie that to the lariat,” said Phil. “That -will be even stronger than the straps.” - -On the edge of the summit they had noticed a number of saplings growing, -and in a few minutes they had one of these uprooted. It was ten or -twelve feet in height, and plenty strong enough for the purpose -intended. It was tied fast by the roots, and then they lowered it into -the opening, all taking hold of the other end, so that it might not slip -from them. - -“All right, I’ve got the rope now,” announced Shadow, a few seconds -later. “Just hold it as it is.” - -“Do you think you can haul yourself up, Shadow?” asked Dave. “Or do you -want us to do the hauling?” - -“I guess you had better do it if you can,” answered the youth below. -“That tumble made me kind of weak and shaky.” - -“Then strap yourself good and tight,” answered Roger. “See to it that -the lariat won’t slip from the straps, either.” - -It was almost dark at the bottom of the hollow into which Shadow had -tumbled. He was in water up to his ankles. But this the unfortunate -youth did not mind, for the stream had enabled him to bathe his hurts -and obtain a refreshing drink. Now he lost no time in fastening one of -the large straps around his waist, and to this he attached the lariat by -a firm knot. Then, to make assurance doubly sure, he tied another of the -straps to the rope and around his left wrist. - -“Now I’m ready!” he shouted to those above. “But do be careful and don’t -send any rocks or dirt down on my head!” His hat had fallen off and into -the stream, but he had recovered it, and was now using it as a -protection for his head. - -“We’ll be as careful as we can,” announced Dave. “If anything goes -wrong, shout out at once.” - -It had been decided that Dave and Roger should haul up on the sapling -and the lariat; and while they were doing this, Ben and Phil were to -hold fast to them in order to prevent any of the party from going over -the brink. - -Soon the sapling came out of the opening, and then the lariat came up -inch by inch. - -“Are you all right, Shadow?” demanded our hero, when about half of the -rope had been pulled up. - -“All right, so far,” was the gasped-out answer. “For gracious’ sake, -don’t let me drop!” - -“Don’t worry,” answered Roger. And then he added to Ben: “Just carry the -sapling back and stick it between those rocks, then we’ll be sure that -the rope can’t slip.” - -As Shadow even though thin, was tall and weighed all of one hundred and -thirty pounds, it was no easy matter to haul him up out of the opening, -especially as the lariat had to slip over several bends of the rocks. -Once there came a hitch, and it looked as if the lariat with its burden -would come no farther. But Shadow managed to brace himself and climb up -a few feet and loosen the rope, and then the remainder of the haul was -easy. Soon he came into sight, and in a few seconds more those above -helped him over the brink of the opening and to a place of safety. - -“Thank heaven, I’m out of that!” he panted, as he sat down on a nearby -rock to rest. “I owe you fellows a good deal for hauling me out of that -hole.” - -“Don’t mention it, Shadow,” answered Dave readily. - -“We’d do a good deal more for you than that,” added Roger. - -“Indeed we would!” came simultaneously from the others. - -“After this I’m going to be careful of how I run and jump,” answered -Shadow. - -“How did you come to go down?” questioned Phil. - -“That was the funniest thing you ever heard about,” was the quick reply. -“Just as I came into sight of this opening, I felt one of my shoes -getting loose. I bent down to feel of it, and the next instant I -stumbled over something and rolled right down into the hole. Of course, -I tried to save myself, but it was of no use, and down I went quicker -than you can think. I struck the rocks on one side of the opening, and -then on the other side, and hit some bushes and dirt. Then, the next -thing I knew, I went ker-splash! into a big pool of water.” - -“And that pool of water saved you from breaking your neck,” broke in -Ben. - -“More than likely. I got up out of the pool in a hurry, and then I -walked several yards to where the stream of water wasn’t nearly so deep. -Then I set up a yell, and kept at it for nearly a quarter of an hour. I -had just about given up thinking you would ever find me, when I heard -you yelling.” - -“As soon as you’ve rested, we’ll help you back to our camping place,” -announced Dave. “Then we can start up the fire again and you can dry -yourself;” for he saw that Shadow was soaking wet from his back down. - -“I’m thankful this adventure has ended so well,” was Phil’s comment. -“What would we have done if anything had happened to you?” - -“As it was, enough did happen,” answered Shadow ruefully. Then, of a -sudden, his face broke into a smile. “Say, when I was down there I -thought of a dandy story! One day two men went to clean a well——” - -This was as far as the former story-teller of Oak Hall got with his -narrative. The others gazed at him for a moment in wonder, and then all -broke out into a uproarious fit of laughter. - -“Can you beat it!” gasped Phil. - -“I guess Shadow would tell stories if he was going to his own funeral!” -came from Roger. - -“You’ve certainly got your nerve with you, Shadow,” announced Dave. - -“I suppose you thought of the story while you were tumbling down into -the opening,” suggested Ben. - -“No, I didn’t think of it just then,” answered the story-teller -innocently. “It came to me while I was waiting for you fellows to get -the rope.” - -“Never mind the story now,” said Dave. “If you are rested, let us get -back to the camp and start up that fire. We don’t want you to catch -cold.” For on the summit of the mountain there was a keen, cool breeze. - -They were soon on the way, Dave on one side of Shadow to support him and -Roger on the other. Phil and Ben ran ahead, and by the time the youth -who had taken the tumble arrived, more wood had been placed on the -campfire, and it was blazing up merrily, sending out considerable -warmth. - -“That’s an adventure we didn’t count on,” remarked Phil, while Shadow -was drying out his clothing in front of the blaze. - -“Well, something is bound to happen when we get together,” answered -Roger. “It always does.” - -“After this we had better keep our eyes peeled for all sorts of danger,” -said Dave. “We don’t want anything bad to happen to our visitors during -their stay.” - -Half an hour was spent in the camp, and by that time Shadow’s wet -clothing had dried out sufficiently to be worn again. The former -story-teller of Oak Hall had been allowed to tell several of his best -yarns, and now seemed to be in as good a humor as ever. His hands and -his shins had been scraped by his fall, but to these little hurts he -gave scant attention. - -“I came out on this trip with Phil just to see what rough life was -like,” he announced. “If something hadn’t happened to me I surely would -have been disappointed.” - -“You’ll see enough of rough life before you get home again, Shadow,” -said Phil. “Just you wait till you get to Star Ranch. I’ll have some of -the cowboys there put you through a regular course of sprouts.” - -Just before the party got ready to break camp, Ben wandered off to get -several more pictures. He went farther than he had originally intended, -the various scenes before his eyes proving decidedly fascinating. He -took a view of some rocks, and then gazed for a long time across to a -hill some distance away. Then he returned quickly to where he had left -the others. - -“Say, fellows, I’ve discovered some game!” he cried. - -“Game?” queried Dave. “What kind?” - -“I don’t know exactly what they were,” answered the youth from -Crumville. “They looked though to be a good deal like a couple of bears. -They are off in that direction,” and he pointed with his hand. - -“Say, let’s go after them, no matter what they are!” exclaimed Phil. -“I’d like to get a shot at something before we return to the -construction camp.” - -“I’m willing,” announced Dave. - -“Shall we go on horseback or on foot?” questioned Shadow. “For myself, -I’d rather ride than walk.” - -“Oh, we’ll go on horseback,” answered Roger. “There is no use of our -coming back to this place. Come on—let us get after that game right now! -Ben, you show the way.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - SOMETHING ABOUT BEARS - - -The campfire was stamped out with care, so that there would be no danger -of a conflagration in the forest so close at hand, and then the five -lively chums leaped into the saddle once more and started off in the -direction in which Ben had said he had seen the game. - -“What made you think they were a couple of bears?” questioned Dave, as -they rode along as rapidly as the roughness of the trail permitted. - -“They looked as much like bears as they looked like anything,” answered -his chum. “Of course, they were quite a distance away, and I may have -been mistaken. But anyway, they were some sort of animals, and quite -large.” - -“Were they standing still?” - -“No. They appeared and disappeared among the rocks and bushes. That’s -the reason I couldn’t make out exactly what they were.” - -“Perhaps they were deer,” suggested Phil. - -“I think they were too chunky for deer—and even for goats. Besides that, -they didn’t leap from one rock to another as deer and goats do.” - -“Could they have been bobcats?” - -“No. They were larger than that.” - -The chums soon had to leave the regular trail, and then found themselves -in a section of the mountainside sparingly covered with bushes and an -occasional tree. The rocks were exceedingly rough, and in many places -they had to come to a halt to figure out how best to proceed. - -“Say, we don’t want to get lost!” remarked Phil. - -“I don’t think we’ll do that, Phil,” answered Dave. “Roger and I know -the lay of the mountains pretty well around here. And besides, I brought -my pocket compass along. Just at present we are northeast of the -construction camp.” - -They could not go in a direct line to where Ben had noticed the game, -and it therefore took them the best part of an hour to reach the -vicinity. - -“Now I guess we had better be on the watch,” announced Dave, and unslung -the shotgun he carried, while Roger did the same with the rifle. Seeing -this, the others looked to their automatic pistols, to make certain that -the weapons were ready for instant use. - -For fully half an hour the five chums rode up and down along the side of -the hill and had Ben point out to them just where he had seen the two -animals. - -“It looks to me as if they had cleared out,” said Phil in a disgusted -tone of voice. “And if they have, we have had a pretty nasty ride for -our pains.” - -“Oh, don’t let’s give up yet!” pleaded Shadow. “I want to get a shot at -something—even if it’s nothing more than a squirrel.” - -“If you don’t watch out, you may have an elephant crashing down on you,” -laughed Phil. - -“Humph, I suppose you don’t care whether we bring down any game or not!” -retorted Shadow. “You put me in mind of a fellow who went hunting. He -came back at night, and his friends asked him if the hunting was good. -‘Sure, it was good!’ he declared. ‘I hunted all day long, and not a bit -of game came anywhere near me to disturb my fun!’” - -“One thing is certain,” broke in Dave. “You’ve got to be quieter if you -expect to find any game at all. You don’t suppose a bear is going to -come out on the rocks just to listen to stories.” - -“That’s right! He couldn’t bear to do it!” cried Roger gayly. - -“My, my, but that’s a bare-faced joke!” cried Phil; and then there was a -general laugh over the little puns. - -After that the youths became silent, and the only sound that broke the -stillness was the clatter of the horses as they passed over the rocks -between the brushwood. Thus another half hour passed, and still nothing -in the way of game was brought to view. - -“I guess we’ll have to give it up and continue our trip,” said Roger at -last. - -To this the others agreed, and then all started off in another direction -to hit the regular trail where it wound off towards the railroad -station. - -“I think we can make a sort of semicircle,” said Dave. “And if we don’t -lose too much time we’ll be able to get back to the construction camp by -seven or eight o’clock.” - -All were disappointed that they had not seen any game, and the others -began to poke fun at Ben, stating that his eyesight must have deceived -him. - -“It didn’t deceive me at all,” insisted the son of the Crumville real -estate dealer. “I know I saw them as plain as day. But what the animals -were, I can’t say.” - -“Oh, well, never mind!” cried Phil gayly. “If we can’t bring down any -game, we can have a good time anyway. Let’s have a song.” - -“All right, boys. Everybody go to it!” cried Dave. “Oak Hall forever!” -And then all present began to sing, to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, a -song they had sung ever since they had first gone to Oak Hall. - - “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!” - -They sang it exceeding well, Dave and Roger in their tenor voices, Phil -and Ben filling in with their baritone, and the long and lanky Shadow -adding his bass voice, which every day seemed to be growing deeper. -Then, after the verse was finished, at a signal from Roger, all let up -the old school cry: - - “Baseball! - Football! - Oak Hall - Has the call! - Biff! Boom! Bang! Whoop!” - -“Oh, my! wouldn’t it be grand if we were all going back to school -to-morrow?” burst out Phil. - -“Oh, those good old baseball days!” cried Ben. - -“And the skating and snowballing!” burst out Shadow. - -“And the football!” added Dave. “Don’t you remember how we used to make -Rockville Academy bite the dust?” - -“And all those funny initiations in the Gee Eyes!” came from Roger. - -“I think if I could do it, I’d like to go back to my first days there, -even if I had to stand Gus Plum’s insolence,” said Dave, his eyes -glistening. - -“Yes. But we wouldn’t stand for such fellows as Merwell and Jasniff,” -added Roger quickly. - -“Oh, let’s forget all those bullies!” broke out Phil. “If we should——” - -Phil did not finish, for Dave had suddenly put up his hand as a warning -to be silent. Now our hero motioned his chums behind some of the rocks -and brushwood beside the trail. Then he pointed to a large, flat rock a -distance farther on. - -“A bear!” gasped Shadow. - -“Two of them!” burst out Ben, in a low tone. And then he added quickly: -“I’ll bet they are the two animals I saw when I was taking those -pictures!” - -“Perhaps so, Ben,” answered Dave in a whisper; “although we are a pretty -good distance from where you spotted them. However, that doesn’t matter -just now. The question is—what are we going to do?” - -“Shoot ’em!” came promptly from all of the others in a breath. - -Evidently the horses had either scented or sighted the bears, for they -showed great uneasiness. The bears, however, did not seem to be aware of -the presence of their enemies. Both were bending down on the rocks, as -if examining something intently. - -“They are eating something,” said Roger, a moment later. “See how -eagerly they are lapping it up.” - -“Maybe it’s some wild honey,” suggested Phil. “I understand bears are -all crazy about anything that is sweet.” - -The shipowner’s son was right. The bears had come upon the remains of a -“bee tree” which had been blown down by the recent high winds. A section -of the tree containing a large portion of the honey had struck the -rocks, and the honey had spread in every direction. Now the two animals -were frantically lapping up the sweet stuff, each trying to get his fill -before the other got it away from him. - -“I guess Roger and I had better fire first,” said Dave. “I’ll take the -bear on the left, and you, Roger, take the one on the right. Then, as -soon as we have fired, you other fellows can let drive for all you are -worth with your automatics while we are reloading. Then, if the bears -are not dead by that time, we’ll try our best to give them another dose -of lead.” - -So it was arranged, and a moment later the crowd of five dismounted and -tied their horses to some trees. Then they crept forward, keeping as -much as possible behind the rocks, so that the feeding bears might not -see them. - -Ordinarily the bears would have been on the alert, and their quick sense -of smell would have made it impossible for the youths to get within -shooting distance. But now both animals were so absorbed in lapping up -the honey spread around on the rocks, that they paid absolutely no -attention to anything else. It is also possible that the smell of the -honey was so strong that it helped to hide every other odor. - -“Now then, fellows, are you ready?” whispered Dave, when they had gained -a point behind the rocks which was not over a hundred and fifty feet -from the bears. - -“All ready!” was the whispered return. - -It must be confessed that some of the youths were nervous. Shadow’s hand -shook as he started to level his automatic pistol. Had he been called on -to face a bear all alone, it is quite likely that he would have been -struck with what is known among hunters as “buck fever,” and would have -been totally unable to do anything. - -Bang! crack! went the shotgun and the rifle. And almost immediately came -the crack! crack! crack! of the three automatic pistols. - -Then, as the bears whirled around and started to run, Dave fired again, -and so did Roger, and the others continued to discharge their small -firearms as rapidly as possible. - -Dave’s first shot had been a most effective one, taking one of the bears -directly in an ear and an eye. This had been followed up by the second -shot, and also several shots from the pistols, and presently the animal -raised up on his hind legs and then came down with a crash, to roll over -and over among the rocks and brushwood. - -“He’s done for, I think!” cried our hero with much satisfaction. - -“Don’t be too sure,” remonstrated Ben, who was close behind. “He may be -playing ’possum.” - -In the meantime, the other bear had leaped out of sight behind some of -the rocks. Now, as Dave stopped to reload the double-barreled shotgun, -the others went on, intent, if possible, on bringing the second beast -low. That he had been hit, there was no doubt, for he had squealed with -pain and flapped one forepaw madly in the air. - -The youths with the pistols were the first to again catch sight of the -second bear. He stood at bay between a number of large rocks, and -snarled viciously as soon as he caught sight of them. He arose on his -hind legs and made a movement as if to leap directly toward them. - -“Shoot! Shoot!” yelled Roger, and discharged his rifle once more. But -the shot whistled harmlessly over the bear’s head. Then the other youths -took aim with their pistols, hitting bruin on the shoulder and in the -thigh. - -These wounds were not dangerous, but they maddened the beast very much; -and, with a roar of rage, the bear suddenly leaped from between the -rocks and made directly for the crowd of young hunters. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - THE TRAIL TO NOWHERE - - -“Look out there!” - -“He’s coming this way!” - -“Run for your lives!” - -These shouts were mingled with shots from several of the pistols, none -of which, however, took effect, for the sudden advance of the wounded -bear had disconcerted the aim of the young hunters. - -The youths scattered to the right and the left behind the rocks and -brushwood, and as the bear came lumbering forward, it looked as if for -the time being he would have the place entirely to himself. Then, -however, he caught sight of Roger and made a savage leap for the -senator’s son. - -Fortunately for the youth, the rifle he carried was a repeating weapon, -and now he let drive once more, sending a ball along bruin’s flank. But -this attack only served to increase the rage of the animal, and with a -ferocious snarl he sprang forward and made a pass at Roger with one of -his heavy paws. - -Had this blow landed as intended, it is more than likely the senator’s -son would have been felled and perhaps seriously hurt. But by a quick -backward spring, the young civil engineer dodged the attack. Then he -fired again, and this was followed almost simultaneously by discharges -from the pistols of Phil and Ben. But all the bullets flew harmlessly -over the beast’s head. - -“Run, Roger! Run!” yelled the shipowner’s son. “Run, or he’ll knock you -down sure and kill you!” - -Roger needed no such advice, because he already realized his peril. He -turned to retreat, but in his haste tripped over the uneven rocks and -went pitching headlong into some nearby brushwood. - -It was at this time, when the matter looked exceedingly serious, that -Dave came once more to the front. He had succeeded in reloading the -shotgun, and now, advancing rapidly, he took careful aim at the bear and -fired twice. - -The first discharge from the shotgun took the huge beast directly in the -neck, and as he made a leap forward, as if to cover the distance that -separated him from our hero, the second dose of shot landed in his -stomach. He let out a frightful roar of pain and rage, and then pitched -forward with a crash on a rock and rolled over and over down into a -nearby hollow. - -“Reload as fast as you can, fellows!” ordered Dave. “Don’t take any -chances. Neither of those beasts may be dead;” and he started at once to -look after his own weapon. - -Years before his Uncle Dunston, who, as my old readers know, was a -famous hunter, had impressed upon the youth the truth that an unloaded -weapon is a very useless affair. - -It must be admitted that Roger’s hand shook not a little while he was -looking to make sure that his rifle was in condition for further use. -Poor Shadow had gone white, and now sat on a flat rock, too weak in the -knees to stand up. - -“Maybe we had better give the bears some more shots before we go near -them,” suggested the former story-teller of Oak Hall, in a voice which -sounded strangely unnatural even to himself. - -“It wouldn’t do any harm to give them a few shots from the pistols,” -answered Dave. “Then we can all say we had a hand in laying them low.” -And thereupon those who possessed the smaller weapons proceeded to make -sure that the bears should never have a chance to fight again. - -“Dave, I’ve got to hand it to you for coming to my assistance,” said -Roger warmly, as soon as he had recovered from his scare. “Gracious! I -thought sure that bear was going to jump right on me!” - -[Illustration: DAVE TOOK CAREFUL AIM AT THE BEAR AND FIRED.—_Page 153._] - -“Dave is the head hunter of this crowd,” announced Phil. - -“He takes after his Uncle Dunston when it comes to shooting,” put in -Ben. “Both of them can hit the bull’s-eye without half trying.” - -“I—I—don’t think I want to do much hunting after this,” was Shadow’s -comment. “That is, hunting for big game. I wouldn’t mind going out after -rabbits and birds and things like that.” - -“Oh, you’ll get used to it after a while, Shadow,” answered Dave. “I -know how I felt when I faced my first big game. I had all I could do to -steady my nerves.” - -“Not such very big bears, when you come to look them over,” said Ben, -who was making a close inspection. - -“They certainly looked big enough when they stood up on their hind legs -and came for us,” answered Phil. “I guess a bear must shrink after he’s -dead;” and at this remark there was something of a laugh. Now that the -tension had been removed, some of the youths were inclined to be a bit -hysterical. - -“What are we going to do with the bears?” questioned Phil. - -“Can’t we save the skins and the heads?” asked Ben. - -“Yes, we can do that,” answered Dave. “I don’t believe the skins are -particularly good at this time of the year, but you fellows might draw -lots for them and take them home as trophies of the occasion.” - -On their numerous hunting trips Dave and Roger, as well as Phil, had -seen large game skinned and dressed on more than one occasion, and, -consequently, the task before them was not an altogether new one. In the -outfit they had brought along there was a hunting-knife, and also a good -sharp carving-knife, and with these tools, and the aid of the hatchet -they had brought along, they set to work to skin both of the bears and -cut each head from the rest of the body. It was no easy job, and took -much longer than they had anticipated. - -“As soon as we have finished we had better make for the construction -camp,” said Dave. - -“What are you going to do with the bear meat?” asked Roger. “It’s a -shame to leave it here.” - -“We can cut out some of the best of the steaks, Roger; and then we can -hang the rest of the meat up on the limbs of a tree. Then, if we want to -come back for it to-morrow, or any of the others at the camp want to -come and get it, why all right.” - -One of the saddle-bags was cleaned out, and in this they placed the very -choicest of the bear steaks. Then the heads and pelts were rolled up and -strapped into bundles. After that, by means of the lariat, they hoisted -one carcass after the other into the branches of the nearest tree and -there fastened them with straps. - -The horses were uneasy, evidently scenting the blood of the bears. They -did not seem to fancy the idea of carrying the pelts and steaks, and the -youths had all they could do to make the animals behave. But all the -young men were used to riding, and so, after a little prancing around, -they made the steeds steady themselves, and then the journey back to the -construction camp was begun. - -“I think it is quite a while since a bear was brought down in this -neighborhood,” said our hero, while they were riding along. “Old Hixon -told me he had been on their trail a number of times, but he could never -get close enough to get a shot.” - -It was already growing dark, and long before the construction camp came -into view, the sun sank over the tops of the mountains in the west and -the long shadows began to creep across the valley. - -“I hope you are sure of where you are going, Dave,” said Phil, as he -rode alongside of his chum. - -“I’m not so very sure of this trail, Phil,” was the slow answer. “You -see, this is a new bit of territory to Roger and me.” He turned to the -senator’s son. “What do you think of it?” - -“I hope we are on the right way,” was the ready reply. “I think inside -of another half hour we’ll strike the regular trail between the camp and -the railroad station.” - -Soon the shadows had reached the summit of the mountain behind them, and -then the darkness of night came on rapidly. As the trail was a most -uncertain one, they had to proceed slower and slower, for fear of -running into some danger which might lurk ahead. - -“It’s a pity one of us didn’t bring a flashlight along,” said Ben. “Then -we could make sure of what sort of footing was ahead.” They were passing -over some loose rocks at the time, and these occasionally made the -horses slip and slide. Once Phil’s animal went to his knees, and made a -great splurge and clatter regaining his footing. - -“This is certainly some lonely spot,” was Roger’s comment, after they -had gone forward another quarter of a mile. “There doesn’t seem to be a -cabin or a camp of any sort in sight.” - -“Listen! What’s that?” cried Shadow suddenly, and came close up beside -Dave. - -Far away in the woods they heard a peculiar sound. They listened -intently for several minutes, and then the sound was repeated. - -“I don’t think it’s anything more than a hoot owl or something of that -sort,” said our hero. - -“Just what I think,” answered Roger. “I’ve heard that cry several times -since I came to Montana. It’s a bird of some sort.” - -They had been going downward, but now the little trail they were -following led up over more loose rocks, and then into a thicket of -underbrush. Beyond this they came to the edge of the mountain forest. -Here Roger called a halt. - -“This doesn’t look very good to me,” declared the senator’s son. “The -trail is getting worse and worse, and now it seems to lead directly into -these big woods.” - -“We had better go slow about getting in among trees,” announced Phil. -“We might become hopelessly lost.” - -“Then what do you propose to do?” demanded Ben. “Go back?” - -“I’m sure I don’t know. I am willing to leave it to Dave and Roger. They -know a great deal more about this section of the country than we do.” - -“We don’t know much about this particular piece of ground we are on -right now,” answered the senator’s son. “I can’t remember that I was -ever in this vicinity before.” - -“Nor I,” added Dave. “Ever since we left the place where we had our -lunch this noon, the trail has been a strange one to me. Just the same, -I think we have been heading in the general direction of the -construction camp. For all we know, it may be right on the other side of -these big woods.” - -Dave brought out his pocket compass, and he and Roger inspected it -carefully by the light from a match. Then the two talked the matter over -for several minutes. - -“I’ll tell you what I think about it,” declared our hero finally. “I -think the best thing we can do is to skirt the woods instead of going -through them.” - -“I’m sure it would be safer,” added Phil. - -To skirt the edge of the forest, they had to leave the trail entirely -and pick their way as best they could among the rocks and brushwood. -Soon the horses hesitated about going forward, and then they had to -dismount and lead the animals. - -“If we can’t locate the camp after we get around the edge of the woods, -what are we going to do?” questioned Roger of our hero in a low voice, -so that the others who were coming on behind might not hear. - -“I’m sure I don’t know, Roger,” was the unsatisfactory reply. - -“We’ve got to do something, Dave. We can’t stay out here all night.” - -“Oh, yes, we can if we have to. If it becomes necessary to do so, we can -go into camp, light a fire, and broil some of those bear steaks.” - -“Yes, we could do that. And bear steaks wouldn’t be half bad, seeing how -hungry I am getting,” returned the senator’s son. “But just the same, -I’d rather get back to our camp to-night.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - WAITING FOR LETTERS - - -The five chums continued on their way around the edge of the forest. All -were in a sober frame of mind, for each realized that, for all they -knew, they might be hopelessly lost on the mountainside. Presently the -sharp decline came to an end, and then all of them leaped once more into -the saddle. - -“Look!” exclaimed Dave presently. “Am I right? Is that a light ahead?” - -All gazed in the direction he indicated, and presently made out a small -light which was swinging to and fro as it seemed to draw closer. - -“I believe that’s some one with a hand lantern!” cried Roger. “Maybe -it’s a man on horseback with a lantern to light his way.” - -The five chums noted in what direction the light was headed, and then -turned the horses toward the same point. Soon they came so close that -they could call to the other party, and they set up a shout. - -“Hello, Porter! Hello, Morr! Is that you?” came an answering hail. And -then the light seemed to come to a halt. - -“It must be one of the fellows from our camp!” exclaimed Dave. “And if -that is so, we can’t be very far from one of the regular trails.” - -He urged his steed forward with the others following, and soon they came -face to face with a man named Dan Morrison, who had charge of one of the -section gangs at the camp. To this individual our friends explained the -situation, and received the information that they were on a side trail -which, half a mile farther on, ran into the regular trail leading to the -construction camp. - -“This trail is one of several that leads to the railroad station,” -explained Dan Morrison. “It’s something of a short cut, but it isn’t -quite as good as any of the others. But I’m used to it, so I don’t mind -it, even in the darkness. I carry the lantern more for company than for -anything else.” - -Mr. Morrison was much surprised to hear about the shooting of the two -bears, but the youths did not wait to go into details, being anxious to -get back to the construction camp, where they hoped a good hot supper -would be awaiting them. - -“And if they haven’t got anything cooked for us, we’ll make Jeff broil -some of these bear steaks,” announced Dave. - -“They’ll certainly be something in the way of a novelty,” said Phil. -“Although, as a matter of fact, I never yet ate a bear steak that could -compare to a beefsteak. The meat is usually coarser and tougher.” - -It was not long after this when they discerned the welcome lights of the -construction camp in the distance. Then they set off on something of a -race, and rode into camp in great style. - -“Well, lads, what kind of a day did you have?” questioned Frank Andrews, -as he came out to greet them. - -“Fine!” - -“The best ever! We shot two bears.” - -“Shot two bears!” repeated Frank Andrews incredulously. “You can’t -string me that way. Why don’t you say you brought down half a dozen -elephants while you’re at it?” - -“We certainly did bring down two bears,” announced Roger with pardonable -pride. “And one of them might have killed me if it hadn’t been for -Dave.” - -“What’s this I hear about shooting two bears?” demanded another voice, -and Mr. Obray stepped into view from the semi-darkness. - -“It’s true, Mr. Obray,” answered Dave. “Just wait, and we’ll show you -the skins and the heads. We cut them both off to bring along. And we’ve -got some fine bear steaks in our saddle-bags too.” - -“And anybody who wants to, can go back and get the rest of the -carcasses,” added Roger. “We hung them up in a tree to protect them.” - -“It doesn’t seem possible!” exclaimed the construction camp manager. -“One bear would be something worth talking about. But two! Are you sure -you’re not fooling?” - -“It’s the plain truth,” answered Phil. - -“But I never want to go out to shoot any more bears,” vouchsafed Shadow. -“One bear hunt in a lifetime is enough for me.” - -The news soon spread throughout the construction camp that two bears had -been killed, and it was not long before every man in the place came up -to view what the hunting party had brought in. Old John Hixon seemed to -be particularly interested. - -“Pretty big critters—both of ’em,” was his comment. “Of course, I’ve -seen ’em bigger, but these fellows were large enough for anybody to -wrassle with.” - -Of course the youths had to tell their story in detail—not only about -the fight with the two bears, but also how Shadow had fallen into the -opening on the mountain summit and had been rescued. - -“You’ve certainly had a strenuous day of it,” was Ralph Obray’s comment. -“I’m glad to know that all of you got back in safety. After this I guess -I had better keep my eyes on you,” and he smiled faintly. - -“I hope we are in time for supper, Jeff!” cried Roger to the cook. “I’m -altogether too hungry to miss that.” - -“You all ain’t goin’ to miss nothin’,” answered the cook, with a -good-natured showing of his ivories. “Come right down to the dinin’-room -and git all you wants. If you wants me to broil some of dem dar bear -steaks, I’ll do it fo’ you.” - -“Well, I’m mighty glad we’re not going to miss anything in the way of -supper,” remarked Ben. - -“Oh, say, speaking about missing something puts me in mind of a story!” -burst out Shadow eagerly, as the chums made their way toward the -dining-room of the camp. “Once there was a miserly old man who was -inveigled into buying a ticket for a charity concert. He found it -impossible to get there on time, and so found the concert in full blast -when he arrived. ‘Say, what are they playing?’ he asked of an usher as -he came in. ‘Why, they just started the Twelfth Symphony,’ was the -reply. ‘You don’t say!’ groaned the miserly old man. ‘It’s too bad I’ve -missed so much of the concert, after paying for that ticket!’” - -It might go without saying that all of the youths enjoyed the repast -which Jeff and his assistant provided. At first they thought to have -some of the bear steaks; but then concluded to leave those until the -morning, when every man in the camp who cared to do so might have his -share of the meat. - -On the following morning all of the visitors, as well as Roger, were so -tired that they decided to remain in camp and take it easy. Dave, -however, after consulting with Mr. Obray, took two of the men with him -and went back to where the carcasses of the bears had been left, and -brought the meat back to camp. Here the steaks and the other portions -fit to cook were enjoyed by all, and served to put Dave and his chums on -better terms than ever with the others. - -Phil, Ben, and Shadow remained at the construction camp two days longer, -and during that time the chums went fishing, as well as riding, and -enjoyed every moment of the time. Ben was particularly pleased, and in -private confided to Dave and Roger that had he not promised to go on to -Star Ranch with Phil he would willingly have put in the rest of his -vacation with them. - -“Oh, you’ll like it at Star Ranch just as well as you like it here,” -announced Dave. “It’s a splendid place, and the Endicotts will be sure -to give you the time of your life.” - -The days passed all too quickly for all of the young men. Even Shadow -complained of the shortness of the time, he stating that he had not had -an opportunity to tell one half of his best stories. - -“Never mind, Shadow, you’ll have to come back some day and tell us the -rest of them,” said Roger consolingly. - -At last came the hour when the visitors had to depart, and Dave and -Roger saw them off at the railroad station. - -“Give our best regards to the Endicotts!” cried Dave, when the long -train rolled into the station and Phil and the others climbed on board. - -“And don’t forget to remember us to Sid Todd!” added Roger, mentioning -the foreman of Star Ranch, a man who had proved to be a good friend. - -“Don’t go after any more bears!” sang out Ben. - -“Oh, say, that puts me in mind of a story!” cried Shadow. “Once three -men went out to hunt, and——” But what the story was about, Dave and -Roger never heard, for the vestibule door to the car was closed, and in -a moment more the long train rumbled on its way. - -“A nice bunch, all right,” was Roger’s comment, as he and Dave turned -their horses back in the direction of the camp. - -“No better fellows anywhere, Roger. I’ll tell you, when we went to Oak -Hall we made some friends that are worth while.” - -“Right you are!” The senator’s son drew a deep breath. “Well, now that -they have gone, I suppose we have got to pitch into work again.” - -“Sure thing, Roger! It doesn’t do to be idle too long.” - -“Oh, I’m not complaining, Dave. I love my work too much.” - -“That’s exactly the way I feel about it. The more I see of civil -engineering, the deeper it grips me. I’m hoping some day we’ll be able -to get together and put over some piece of work that is really worth -while,” answered Dave earnestly. - -Two weeks slipped by without anything unusual happening. Their brief -vacation at an end, Dave and Roger plunged into their work with vigor, -just to show Mr. Obray and Frank Andrews that they appreciated all that -had been done for them. During that time the weather was far from fair, -and the young civil engineers were more than once drenched to the skin -while at work on the mountainside. Then the numerous storms brought on a -small landslide, and some of the results of what had been accomplished -were swept away. - -“That’s too bad!” cried Dave. - -“Oh, it’s all in the day’s work, Porter,” answered Frank Andrews -philosophically. “Mr. Obray is mighty thankful that none of our men was -caught in that landslide.” - -Two days after this the storms cleared away, and the sky became as -bright as ever. As soon as things had dried out a little, the -engineering gangs went forth once more, and Dave and Roger became as -busy as ever. They worked their full number of hours, as did the others, -and in addition spent one or two hours every evening over their -textbooks. Frank Andrews continued to aid them, and often explained -matters which puzzled them. - -The two youths had received letters from home on the day after their -former Oak Hall chums had left. But since that time no other -communications had arrived. - -“It’s queer we don’t get some more letters,” grumbled the senator’s son -one day. - -“Were you looking for a letter from your folks?” questioned Dave slyly. - -“You know well enough what I was looking for,” answered Roger, his face -growing a bit red. “You didn’t get any letter from Jessie, did you?” - -“Not since the day you got one from Laura, and the day that one came -from your mother.” - -“What do you make of it, Dave? They must have gotten our letters.” - -“Maybe not, Roger. Just the same, I think the girls would have written -even if they didn’t get our letters.” - -“Do you suppose anything has gone wrong?” - -“I don’t know what to suppose.” - -“Maybe we ought to send a telegram,” suggested the senator’s son, after -a pause. - -“Oh, there’s no use of scaring them with a telegram, Roger. Let us wait -a few days longer. We may get some letters to-morrow.” - -But the morrow passed, and so did several more days, including Sunday, -and still no letters were received from Crumville. Roger got a letter -from his folks in Washington, and Dave received a brief communication -from Phil, stating that he and the others had arrived safely at Star -Ranch. But all of these did not satisfy the young civil engineers. - -“Something must be wrong somewhere,” announced Dave at last. “I guess -after all, Roger, we had better send a telegram to Crumville and find -out what it means.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - BAD NEWS - - -On the following day the two young civil engineers were sent with the -rest of the gang under Frank Andrews to do some work located along the -line about half way to the railroad station. - -“That will give us a chance to send off a telegram,” said Dave to the -senator’s son. “We can ask Andrews to let us off an hour earlier than -usual and ride over to the station and get back to camp in time for -supper.” - -So it was arranged; and as soon as they quit work, the two young men -hurried off on a gallop so that they might reach the station before the -agent, who was also the telegraph operator, went away. - -“We want to send a telegram to the East,” announced Dave, as they -dismounted at the platform where the agent stood looking over some -express packages. - -“All right, I’ll be with you in a moment,” was the reply. “By the way, -you are from the construction camp, aren’t you? I just got a telegram -for one of the fellows over there.” - -“Who is it?” questioned Roger. - -“I forget the name. I’ll show it to you when we go inside. Maybe you -wouldn’t mind taking it over for the fellow.” - -“Certainly we’ll take it over,” declared Dave readily. - -When they passed into the office, the agent brought the telegram forth -from a little box on the wall, and gazed at it. - -“David Porter is the name,” he announced. - -“Why, that is for me!” cried our hero quickly. - -“You don’t say! Well, there you are. It’s paid for.” - -Hastily the young civil engineer tore open the flimsy yellow envelope -and gazed at the message inside. It read as follows: - - “Do you or Roger know anything about Jessie and Laura? Answer - immediately. - - “DAVID B. PORTER.” - -“What is it?” questioned the senator’s son eagerly; and without replying -our hero showed him the message. Then the two youths stared at each -other blankly. - -“What in the world——” began Dave. - -“Something has happened!” burst out his chum. “Dave, this looks bad to -me.” - -“They want to know if we know anything. That must mean that Jessie and -Laura are away from home, and they are without news about them.” - -“It certainly looks that way.” - -Each of the youths read the telegram again. But this threw no further -light on the mystery. - -“And to think we didn’t get any letters! That makes it look blacker than -ever,” murmured Roger. - -“I’m going to answer this at once and see if we can not get further -information!” exclaimed our hero. He turned to the station agent. “How -long do you expect to remain open?” - -“I generally shut down about seven o’clock, but to-night I expect to -stay open until the five-forty gets here, which will be about -seven-thirty.” - -“You haven’t got to go away, have you?” continued Dave. “The reason I -ask is that I want to send an important telegram off, and I’d like to -wait here for an answer for at least a couple of hours. Of course, I am -perfectly willing to pay you for your time.” - -“I haven’t anything very much to do to-night after I close up, and if -you want me to stay here I’ll do it,” announced the agent, who was not -averse to earning extra money. - -The two young civil engineers held a consultation, and soon after wrote -out a telegram, stating they had heard nothing since the receipt of the -last letters from home, the dates of which were given. They asked for -immediate additional information, stating they would wait at the -telegraph office for the same. - -“Nothing wrong, I hope?” ventured the station master, after the telegram -had been paid for and sent. - -“We don’t know yet. That is what we wish to find out,” answered Dave. -And then, to keep the man in good humor, he passed over a dollar and -told the agent to treat himself from a small case full of cigars which -were on sale in the depot. - -After that there was nothing for Dave and Roger to do but to wait. The -agent sat down to read some newspapers which had been thrown off the -last train that had passed through, and even offered some of the sheets -to them. But they were in no humor for reading. They walked outside, and -a short distance away, and there discussed the situation from every -possible angle. - -“If we don’t get any news, what shall we do?” queried the senator’s son. -“I’m so upset that I know I won’t be able to sleep a wink to-night.” - -“Upset doesn’t express it, Roger,” returned Dave soberly. “When I read -that telegram it seemed fairly to catch me by the throat. If anything -has happened to Jessie and Laura——” He could not finish. - -“Dave, do you suppose those gypsies——” - -“I was thinking of that, Roger. Such things have happened before. But -let us hope for the best.” - -Slowly the best part of two hours passed. Then the station master, -having looked through all the newspapers, came out of his office, -yawning and stretching himself. - -“How much longer would you fellows like me to stay?” he questioned. “You -know I open up here at six in the morning, and I live about a mile away -and have to hoof it.” - -“Oh, don’t go away yet,” pleaded Roger. “The message may come in at any -minute. They’ll be sure to send an answer as soon as they get what we -sent.” - -“Wait at least another half-hour,” added Dave. - -“All right;” and the agent went back into his office, to settle himself -in his chair for a nap. - -Ten minutes later the telegraph instrument began to click. The station -agent jumped up to take down the message. - -“Is it for me?” questioned Dave, eagerly, and the station master nodded. -Then the two youths remained silent, so that there might be no error in -taking down the communication that was coming in over the wire. - -“Here you are,” said the agent at last, handing over the slip upon which -he had been writing. “I’m afraid there is trouble of some kind.” - -Like the other message, this was from Dave’s father, and contained the -following: - - “Laura and Jessie left on visit to Boston four days ago. Thought - them safe. They did not arrive and no news received. Suspect - gypsies. Everybody upset. Mrs. Wadsworth prostrate. Will send any - news received.” - -Dave’s heart almost stopped beating when he read this second telegram, -and he could not trust himself to speak as he allowed his chum to peruse -the communication. - -“Oh, Dave, this is awful!” groaned the senator’s son. - -“So it is,” responded our hero bitterly. He read the message again. “I -wonder what we can do?” - -“I don’t see that we can do anything—being away out here.” - -“Then I’m not going to stay here—I’m going home,” announced Dave firmly. - -“What!” - -“Yes, Roger. I’m going home. Why, you don’t suppose I could stay here -and work with such a thing as this on my mind! This looks to me as if -Jessie and Laura had been abducted—or something of that sort.” - -“Well, if you go, Dave, I’ll go too!” cried the senator’s son. “If -anything has happened to Laura——” He did not finish, but his face showed -his concern. - -“Do you want to send any more telegrams?” questioned the station agent. -“If you don’t, I’ll lock up.” - -“I think I will,” answered Dave. “They’ll want to know whether this -telegram was received.” And then, after he and Roger had consulted for a -moment, they sent the following: - - “Second telegram received. Both too worried to remain. Will come - East as soon as possible. - - “DAVE AND ROGER.” - -Having listened to the operator sending the message off, the two young -civil engineers lost no time in leaping into the saddle and setting off -for the construction camp. They rode at as rapid a gait as possible, and -on that stony trail there was but little chance for conversation. - -“It must be the gypsies,” said Roger, when he had an opportunity to -speak. “I can’t think of anything else.” - -“The gypsies certainly promised to make trouble for them,” answered Dave -bitterly. “But to go so far as kidnapping——Why, Roger! that’s a terrible -crime in these days!” - -“I know it. But don’t you remember what they wrote about the gypsies—how -that Mother Domoza and the others were so very bitter because they had -to give up their camp on the outskirts of Crumville? More than likely -your Uncle Dunston, and Mr. Basswood, and Mr. Wadsworth, didn’t treat -them any too gently, and they resented it. Oh, it must be those gypsies -who have done this!” concluded the senator’s son. - -When they arrived at the construction camp, they found that most of the -men had gone to bed. But there was a light burning in the cabin occupied -by Ralph Obray and several of the others, and they discovered the -manager studying a blue-print and putting down a mass of figures on a -sheet of paper. - -“What do you want?” questioned the manager, as he noted their excited -appearance. “Have you struck more bears?” - -“No, Mr. Obray. It’s a good deal worse than that,” returned Dave, in a -tone of voice he tried to steady. “We’ve got bad news from home.” - -“You don’t say, Porter! What is it? I hope none of your relatives has -died.” - -“My sister is missing from home, and so is the daughter of the lady and -gentleman with whom my family live,” announced our hero. And then he and -Roger went into a number of particulars, to which the construction camp -manager listened with much interest. - -“That certainly is a strange state of affairs,” he declared. “But I -don’t see what you can do about it.” - -“I can’t stick here at work with my sister and Jessie Wadsworth -missing,” declared Dave boldly. “I’ve come to ask you to give me a leave -of absence. I want to take the very first train for home.” - -“But what can you do after you get there, Porter? If anything has really -gone wrong, you can rest assured that your folks and the others have -notified the authorities and are doing all they possibly can.” - -“That may be true, Mr. Obray,—more than likely it is true. Just the -same, unless I get word by to-morrow morning that they are found or that -some word has come from them, I want to go home and join in the search.” - -“And I want to go with him!” broke out Roger. - -“I might as well explain matters to you, Mr. Obray,” said Dave. “For a -number of years Jessie Wadsworth and myself have been very close -friends, and now we have an understanding——” - -“Oh, I see. That’s the way the wind blows, does it?” And the camp -manager smiled. - -“Yes, sir. And the same sort of thing holds good between Roger here and -my sister Laura. That’s the reason he wants to go with me.” - -“Oh!” The construction manager nodded his head knowingly. “I understand. -Well, I suppose if I were situated like that, I’d feel just as you do.” - -“Please understand we’re not going away to shirk work or anything like -that,” declared Roger. “You ought to know me well enough by this time, -Mr. Obray, to know that I am heart and soul in this thing of making a -first-class civil engineer of myself.” - -“And that’s just the way I feel about it, too,” affirmed Dave. - -“Oh, I understand. I have been very well satisfied so far with the -showing both of you have made. It has been very creditable. I know you -haven’t shirked anything.” - -“Of course, it’s too bad we have got to go right on top of having that -vacation when our friends came to visit us,” was Dave’s comment. - -“That is true, too, Porter. But some things can’t be helped. I take it -that you would rather know that your sister and that other young lady -were safe, and stick at work, than you would to lay off on account of -such an errand as this.” - -“You’re right there, Mr. Obray!” - -“I’d give all I’m worth this minute to know that Dave’s sister and -Jessie Wadsworth were all right!” burst out the senator’s son. - -“Well then, if you think you ought to go back home, you may do so,” -announced Ralph Obray. “But I sincerely hope that by the time you get -there this matter will have straightened itself out. And if that proves -to be true, I shall depend upon your coming back immediately.” - -“We’ll do it,” answered Dave readily. “We’ll come back the very first -thing after we find out that everything is all right.” And Roger -promised the same. - -It can easily be imagined that the two chums did not sleep much that -night. They spent the best part of an hour in packing some of their -belongings and in informing Frank Andrews of what had occurred. The head -of their gang was even more sympathetic than Mr. Obray had been, and -said he would do anything in his power to help them. - -“I suppose you would like to take the eight o’clock morning train East,” -he remarked. - -“That’s our idea,” answered Dave. - -“Then I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” went on Frank Andrews. “I’ll order up -an early breakfast for you, and I’ll have old Hixon ride over to the -station with you to bring back your horses.” - -And so the matter was arranged. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - ON THE WAY EAST - - -“Well, boys, I certainly wish you luck.” - -It was John Hixon who spoke, as he shook hands with Dave and Roger at -the railroad station on the following morning. - -As arranged, the party of three had had an early breakfast and had lost -no time in riding over to the railroad station. They had found the train -half an hour late, and Dave had lost no time in sending a telegram to -Crumville stating that he and Roger were on the way, and asking that if -there was anything of importance to communicate, to send them word -either at St. Paul or Chicago. - -The two youths had no accommodations on the train, which was made up of -sleeping-cars, an observation-car and a diner. They had made up their -minds that they would journey on the train even if they had to sit up in -a smoking compartment. But the cars proved to be less than -three-quarters filled, and they had but little trouble in obtaining a -section. Then they settled down as best they could for the long journey -to Chicago, where, of course, they would have to change for the train to -the East. They paid for their passage only as far as St. Paul, so that -they might leave the train at that city if a telegram was received -assuring them that everything was all right. - -“But I’m afraid we won’t have any such luck, Roger,” observed Dave, in -speaking of this possibility. - -“You can’t tell,” answered the senator’s son hopefully. “It’s just -possible that Laura and Jessie may have returned home and explained -their disappearance.” - -“They’d never stay away so long without sending some word, I’m certain -of that,” answered our hero emphatically. “They are not that kind of -girls.” - -“It certainly would seem so, Dave. But you must remember they may have -sent some kind of word, and it may not have been received. They may have -met some friends, sent a message, and gone off on an automobile tour or -a motor-boat voyage.” - -Dave shook his head. “It won’t do, Roger. I know Laura and Jessie too -well. They would want to make sure that the folks at home knew where -they were. And they would send us word too. Besides that, they wouldn’t -go off on any extended trip, such as you mention, unless they had -permission from my father and Mrs. Wadsworth.” - -All through the morning the two young civil engineers discussed the -situation from every possible angle, but without arriving at any -satisfactory conclusion. At noon they partook of lunch in the -dining-car, making this repast last as long as possible, “just to kill -time,” as Roger expressed it. - -“It’s going to be a long-winded trip,” sighed the senator’s son, after -they had finished their meal and had walked back to the end of the -observation car. - -“Well, we’ve got to make the best of it, Roger,” was Dave’s reply. -“Ordinarily such a trip as this would be fine. Think of what grand -scenery there is to look at!” and he pointed out with a sweep of his -hand. - -The long train rumbled onward hour after hour, and the two youths passed -the time as best they could, talking, looking at the scenery, and -reading the various papers and magazines contained in the car library. -At seven o’clock they had dinner, and then sat outside once again until -it grew so dark that nothing could be seen. - -“Well, we might as well go to bed,” remarked Dave finally. “Which berth -do you want, Roger—the upper or the lower?” - -“It is immaterial to me, Dave,” was the answer. “To tell the truth, I -don’t think I’m going to do much sleeping.” - -“We’ll toss up for it,” was the answer. And the toss of the coin gave -Dave the lower berth. - -It proved to be a long, wearisome night for both of them. Dave tumbled -and tossed on his pillow, trying in a hundred ways to account for the -mysterious disappearance of his sister and Jessie. Were they captives of -the gypsies? Or had some other dreadful fate overtaken them? Then, at a -sudden thought, Dave sat up in his berth so quickly that he hit his head -on the bottom of the berth above. - -“I wonder if it’s possible,” he murmured to himself. - -He had suddenly remembered how he had lost the two letters from home at -the time he had been robbed by Nick Jasniff of the contents of his -pocketbook. If Jasniff had read those letters he had learned much about -the trouble in Crumville with the gypsies, and he had also learned from -Jessie’s letter that she and Laura were contemplating a trip to Boston. - -“Jasniff is bitter against Mr. Wadsworth for having had him sent to -prison,” Dave reasoned; “and he is equally bitter against me and my -family for what I did in capturing him. He took a train for the East. -Can it be possible that he is mixed up in this affair?” - -This thought sent Dave off on a new chain of reasoning, and he became so -restless that, instead of trying to go to sleep, he pulled up the shade -of one of the windows, propped his pillow close against the glass, and -lay there thinking and looking out on the star-lit landscape. But at -last tired nature asserted itself, and he fell into a fitful doze, from -which he did not awaken until it was about time to get up. - -“I’ve got a new idea,” he announced to his chum, after the two had -washed and dressed and were on their way to the dining-car for -breakfast. And thereupon he related his suspicions against Jasniff. - -“It may be so,” mused the senator’s son. “It would be just like that -rascal to go in with those gypsies and try to do your folks and the -Wadsworths harm.” - -On the train the two young civil engineers met several very agreeable -people, but they were in no frame of mind to make friends just then. -Though they did their best to be pleasant, they were glad enough when -the train, after a stop at Minneapolis, finally rolled into the station -at St. Paul. Here, with only a few minutes to spare, they rushed out to -the telegraph office. There was a message for them, and Dave tore the -envelope open eagerly. One glance at the contents, and his face fell. - -“No news of importance,” he announced. “Come on. We’ll have to go on to -Chicago.” And then the journey to the great City of the Lakes was -renewed. - -At Chicago another message awaited them. This was a little longer than -the other had been, but gave them scant satisfaction, reading as -follows: - - “Strong suspicions against gypsies who have disappeared. Demand for - fifty thousand dollars. - - “DUNSTON PORTER.” - -“That settles one thing. The girls have been kidnapped,” remarked Roger. - -“Yes. And the kidnappers want fifty thousand dollars,” added Dave. He -drew a long breath. “Well, there’s one satisfaction about this, Roger. -We know the two girls must be alive.” - -“Yes, Dave. But think of them in the hands of those dirty gypsies!” - -“I can hardly bear to think of it, Roger. I wish I had those rascals by -the neck! I think I could willingly shake the life out of them!” - -“So could I! But come on, let us see if we can’t get on the next train -bound for Albany. There is no use of our going down to New York City.” - -The chums were fortunate in getting two upper berths on a train to leave -in less than an hour. The run to Albany would take less than twenty-four -hours, and there they would be able to change to a local train running -to Crumville. - -On the train a surprise awaited them. They ran into two of their old -school chums, Buster Beggs and Sam Day. Both of these lads were fat and -full of fun, and, having been close chums at school, had gone into -business together in the city. - -“We’re in the book and stationery line,” announced Buster Beggs, after a -cordial handshaking all around. “We’re doing fine, too. Aren’t we, Sam? -But say, I thought you fellows were learning to be civil engineers and -were away out West.” - -“We have been out West,” answered Dave. “But we are going home on a -special errand just now.” And then there was nothing to do but to -acquaint Buster and Sam with what had occurred. - -“You don’t mean it!” burst out Buster in excitement. “Why, that reads -like a regular old-fashioned novel!” - -“I thought kidnappings like that were a thing of the past,” was Sam -Day’s comment. “I certainly hope you round up those gypsies and rescue -the girls.” - -“We’ll do it or else know the reason why,” answered Roger determinedly. - -From Buster and Sam the two young civil engineers learned much -concerning a number of their other school chums. In return, they told a -great deal about themselves; and thus the hours passed a little more -quickly than they would otherwise have done. The four former Oak Hall -students dined together, and managed to make an exchange of berths with -some others on the train, so that they were all together in opposite -sections that night. - -“We’re certainly getting some touches of old times,” remarked Dave. -“First Phil, Ben, and Shadow, and now you two!” - -“I’ll tell you what—we ought to organize that Oak Hall club we once -talked about,” said Buster Beggs. “Then we could hold a reunion once a -year.” - -“It certainly would be fine,” answered Roger, his eyes lighting up with -pleasure. “We’ll have to remember that, Dave.” And to this our hero -nodded approval. - -Buster and Sam left the train at Utica, while the two young civil -engineers continued on their way to Albany. Here they had a wait of an -hour and a half, and during that time they purchased a couple of -newspapers. - -“Hello, here’s an account of the affair now!” cried Roger, pointing to -the top of one of the pages. - -There was an account nearly a column long, telling of how a search was -being instituted for the missing girls and how it was supposed that a -demand for money had been made upon Mr. Wadsworth and Mr. Porter. It was -added that neither of the gentlemen would affirm or deny the report. - -“That looks to me as if they were warned to keep quiet about the demand -for money,” announced Dave. - -“Possibly they were told that if they did not keep quiet something would -happen to the girls,” added Roger. He closed his teeth with a snap. “Oh, -I just wish I had my hands on those rascals!” - -“It’s maddening, isn’t it, Roger, to stand around here and not be able -to do anything?” groaned Dave. In his mind’s eye he could picture the -misery endured by Jessie and his sister while they were being held -captives. - -At last the train for Crumville came in, and they lost no time in -jumping on board. - -“Thank heaven, we are on the last leg of this journey!” breathed Roger, -as they settled down in a seat. - -“Right you are, Roger!” answered Dave. - -But then their faces grew exceedingly thoughtful. What dire news might -await them at their journey’s end? - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - THE DEMAND FOR MONEY - - -“Oh, what shall we do—what shall we do?” - -It was Mrs. Wadsworth who uttered the words. She sat in the luxuriously -furnished living room of the Wadsworth mansion, wringing her hands while -the tears stood on her cheeks. In front of her was the rich jewelry -manufacturer, pacing up and down and biting his lip in deep thought. - -“Don’t take it so hard, Alice, my dear,” said the husband in a husky -voice. “It’ll come out all right—I am sure it will.” - -“But, Oliver, I am so frightened! Think of those poor girls in the hands -of those awful gypsies—or somebody just as bad, or worse! It’s dreadful! -I can’t bear to think of it!” and Mrs. Wadsworth’s tears began to flow -afresh. - -In a corner of the library sat old Caspar Potts, white-haired and with -eyes that were no longer bright. The professor’s head was shaking from -side to side. - -“I wish Davy were here,” he quavered. “I’m sure that boy could do -something.” - -“He has telegraphed that he is on the way, along with Roger Morr,” said -Mr. Wadsworth. - -“Good! Good! He’ll do something—I know he will! Davy is a great boy!” -and the old professor nodded his head vigorously. Ever since he had -taken our hero from the poorhouse years before, Dave had been the very -apple of his eye. - -Oliver Wadsworth walked to a writing-table, and from one of the -compartments drew a much-rumpled sheet of paper, which had come to him -in a dirty envelope several days before. The envelope had been -post-marked, “Halwick,” the name of a town about thirty miles away. - -“What are you going to do about that demand for money?” questioned Mrs. -Wadsworth, as she watched her husband peruse the note—something he had -done a great number of times. - -“I don’t know,” he answered helplessly. “We have been given at least ten -days in which to raise it, so there is no great hurry about deciding the -question.” - -“Is Mr. Porter in favor of meeting the demand?” - -“He is like myself, he doesn’t know what to do. He and Dunston Porter -are both of the opinion that this demand for fifty thousand dollars may -be just the forerunner of other demands. They may want every cent all of -us are worth before they give the two girls up,” added the jewelry -manufacturer. - -“But, Oliver! if you don’t give them the money——” - -“I know, I know, Alice. We’ll have to fix it up somehow,” answered the -husband hastily. Then he sat down beside her and put his arm around her -shoulder. “Please don’t worry so. I am sure we’ll be able to fix this -matter up somehow sooner or later, and that the girls will come back -safely.” - -“Oh, I wish I could believe you!” burst out the distressed woman. And -then, unable to control herself longer, she burst into a passionate fit -of weeping, and betook herself away to her bedroom. - -From outside came the sound of an automobile rolling along the gravel -roadway, and looking from a window the manufacturer saw Dave’s father -alight, followed by Dunston Porter. Both showed signs of weariness, and -the look on the face of each betokened keen disappointment. - -“Any success?” demanded the jewelry manufacturer quickly, as the pair -entered the house. - -“Nothing worth speaking about,” answered Dunston Porter. “We hired -another detective and sent him off to Halwick.” - -“The authorities have no news whatever,” added Dave’s father. “They have -received telegrams from all the large cities within three hundred miles -of this place, and not a trace of the girls has come to light. They -claim that it’s the strangest disappearance on record.” - -“But this demand for money——” began Oliver Wadsworth. - -“Yes, they are trying to sift that out, too. But they don’t seem to be -able to get anywhere with it. They have advised that you continue to -keep quiet about it, and they said they would keep quiet, too. -Nevertheless, I think the news has leaked out somehow.” - -“Let me see that letter again,” said Dunston Porter, and perused the -communication as carefully as the jewelry manufacturer had done. It was -written in heavy lead pencil in evidently a disguised hand, and was as -follows: - - “The to girls Jessie Wadsworth and Laura Porter are safe in our - hands. We will take good care of them but you wil haf to pay the - price and do it inside of ten days or two weeks at longest. We mean - busines so no funy work. We want fifty thousand dollars from you Mr. - Wadsworth and from them Porters. Each of you can pay as much of the - amount as you plese. We want the money in cash and wil send you word - just were it is to be placed and at what time. If you fale us you - will be mighty sory for we mean busines. Dont make no mistak about - that. If you pay the money as we want the girls will be back home - safe inside of two days and not a hare of there head harmed. Now - take warning for we mean busines and wont stand for no nonsence.” - -“This was either written by a very illiterate person or else by somebody -who tried to make out he was such,” was Dunston Porter’s comment. - -“I think it is just such a letter as one of those young gypsies might -write,” answered Dave’s father. “Most of them have some education, but -not a great deal.” - -Both Mr. Wadsworth and Dave’s father had had a great deal of business to -attend to during the past few weeks, and Dunston Porter had been kept -busy assisting Mr. Basswood in turning the vacant land on the outskirts -of Crumville into building plots and offering them for sale. But since -the unexpected and mysterious disappearance of the two girls all -thoughts of business had been brushed aside. - -“Dave and Roger ought to be here almost any time now,” remarked Dunston -Porter. “But what good their coming on the scene is going to do, I can’t -surmise.” - -“You can’t blame them for wanting to come after receiving such news,” -remarked Mr. Wadsworth. “Dave, I know, thinks a great deal of his -sister, and you all know that he and Jessie think a great deal of each -other.” - -“Yes. And I know that Roger has his eye on Laura,” answered the girl’s -father. “And she thinks a great deal of the young man.” - -At that moment the telephone rang, and Dunston Porter went to answer it. -A telegram was telephoned to him. - -“Dave and Roger are now on their way from Albany,” he announced. “They -will be here in about an hour. I think I’ll run down to the depot in the -auto and meet them.” And so it was arranged. - -There were no passengers as eager as Dave and Roger to leave the train -when it rolled into the little station at Crumville. Dunston Porter was -on hand, and they gazed eagerly at his face to see if it bore any signs -of good news. - -“No, I’ve got nothing to cheer you with,” he announced, after shaking -hands and conducting them to the auto, into the tonneau of which they -pitched their suit-cases. “We haven’t the least idea where they are or -how they disappeared.” - -“But, Uncle Dunston, you must have some news!” pleaded Dave. - -“At least you can tell us how and when they left home and what was the -last word you had from them,” said Roger. - -“They made up their minds to go to Boston to visit Jessie’s aunt, Mrs. -Brightling, just about two weeks ago,” answered Dave’s uncle. “They -spent two or three days in getting ready; and then a week ago this -Wednesday they started on the trip, Mrs. Wadsworth and the chauffeur -taking them down to the depot. They carried one trunk, which was checked -through to Boston, and Laura had a suit-case, and both of the girls had -handbags. They had through tickets to Boston, and got on the train; and -that was the last we saw or heard of them. - -“We had expected to get a letter from Laura, and the Wadsworths expected -a letter from Jessie, stating that they had arrived safely. When no -letters came, Mrs. Wadsworth got nervous, and as a result she asked her -husband to send a telegram to find out what was wrong. - -“The telegram had just been sent when a telegram was received from Mrs. -Brightling, asking how it was that the girls had not come on as -expected. Then she telegraphed a little later that she had not seen them -nor heard from them. - -“A search was made at the depot in Boston, and the trunk was found just -as it had been checked from here. The suit-case the girls had kept with -them on the train.” - -“But didn’t they meet anybody on the train who knew them?” questioned -Dave. - -“No one that we have heard from up to the present time. We have been -making a number of inquiries, and, of course, expect to make more. You -see, the people they met on the train were going away from Crumville, so -that makes it difficult to follow them up. And besides that, so much -time was lost in the first place, that I suppose a good many people -would forget, even if they had seen them on the train.” - -“But didn’t they have parlor-car chairs?” questioned Dave. - -“No. The train had only one parlor car on it, and that was crowded. Mr. -Wadsworth had telegraphed for seats, but there had been some mix-up, and -as a consequence the girls had to put up with seats in one of the day -coaches. Mrs. Wadsworth told them they had better wait for another -train, but they laughed and said that they would rather go into one of -the day coaches than lose the time.” - -During this conversation Dunston Porter had started up the automobile -and was on the way to the Wadsworth mansion. In a few minutes more they -rolled up to the piazza, and there Dave’s father and Mr. Wadsworth came -out to greet them, followed by the trembling form of Professor Potts. - -It was a sorry home-coming for our hero, and Roger was equally affected. -They shook hands with those who were there to greet them, and for the -moment the emotions of all were so deep that nobody trusted himself to -speak. All went inside, and it was old Caspar Potts who broke the -silence. - -“If I were only a younger man!” he said in a trembling voice. “Davy, -it’s up to you to do something—you and your friend Roger.” - -“I’m going to do it if I possibly can, Professor,” answered the youth, -huskily. - -All sat down and the Crumville folks gave to the young civil engineers -all the particulars they had concerning the strange disappearance of the -two girls. - -“And are you quite sure it is the work of those gypsies?” queried Roger. - -“I don’t see who else would play such a dirty trick,” responded Mr. -Wadsworth. - -“Dave has another idea,” went on the senator’s son. - -“What is that?” asked Dunston Porter quickly, while the others looked up -questioningly. - -“I’ve been wondering if Nick Jasniff wasn’t connected with this affair,” -answered Dave. - -“Nick Jasniff!” exclaimed Oliver Wadsworth. “You mean the fellow I -helped to put in prison?” - -“Yes.” - -“What makes you think he could have had anything to do with it?” - -“I’ll tell you,” answered our hero. And thereupon he related how he and -Roger had first seen Nick Jasniff in the vicinity of the construction -camp, and how, later on, he had been instrumental in having Jasniff sent -away from the camp, and then how he had met the rascal on the road, had -a fight, and lost the two letters and the contents of his pocketbook. - -“I ought to have written about this, but I didn’t want to worry you -folks too much,” he concluded. - -“Dave, you may have struck the truth!” burst out Mr. Wadsworth -excitedly. “It would be just like that rascal to do such a thing as -this. And besides that, you must remember one thing—Jasniff was not -pardoned.” - -“Not pardoned!” burst out our hero and Roger simultaneously. - -“No, he was not pardoned,” answered the jewelry manufacturer. “His case -came up before the Board of Pardons, and after a hearing they -recommended a pardon for him to the governor. But before the governor -signed the order to let him go, Jasniff made his escape from the prison -and ran away. Then, of course, the recommendation for a pardon was torn -up and thrown in the waste-basket; so if the fellow is ever captured he -can go back to prison and serve his term over again.” - - - - - CHAPTER XX - BEGINNING THE GREAT SEARCH - - -“Well, what do you know about that!” cried Roger. - -“No wonder Nick Jasniff wanted to leave the vicinity of the construction -camp,” remarked Dave. “He must have reasoned that sooner or later we -would learn that he hadn’t been pardoned and was wanted at the prison.” - -“That must be it,” answered the senator’s son. - -“If this Nick Jasniff is interested in the affair, we want to know it,” -said Mr. Wadsworth. “I shall at once give the authorities the -particulars of Jasniff’s doings, so that they can go on the hunt for -him. They have his picture in the Rogues’ Gallery, and that can be -copied and circulated, so that the authorities in different cities, and -especially in this vicinity, can be on the lookout for him.” - -“But why weren’t the authorities on the lookout for him before?” -questioned our hero. - -“They were at first. But then they got word that Jasniff had sailed for -some port in South America, so they gave it up. Evidently the report was -a false one.” - -“Yes, and probably circulated by Nick Jasniff himself,” added Roger. - -“Of course you have been over to Coburntown, where the gypsies went -after they left here,” remarked Dave. - -“We have been all around that territory,” answered his Uncle Dunston. -“The gypsies have disappeared entirely, one report stating that they -were bound south. I had them stopped at a town about fifty miles away, -and those in the camp were closely questioned. They said that Mother -Domoza had been left behind on account of sickness, and that two -gypsies, one named Tony Bopeppo, and the other Carlos Vazala, had -remained with her to take care of her. They said the three were to go to -another gypsy camp some twenty or thirty miles away. But at that camp it -was said that they knew nothing about the old hag and her followers.” - -“Were the two gypsies, Bopeppo and Vazala, the two with whom you had -trouble about the land?” questioned Roger. - -“Yes, they were the leaders in the quarrel,” answered Dunston Porter. -“Bopeppo was particularly furious, and one day threatened to strike Mr. -Basswood. I stopped him, and told him if he didn’t behave himself I’d -have him placed under arrest. Vazala was also very vindictive, he -asserting, along with Mother Domoza, that they had the right to occupy -the land as long as they pleased.” - -“Then it is more than likely that Bopeppo and Vazala, assisted by Mother -Domoza and perhaps by Nick Jasniff, are guilty of this kidnapping,” went -on our hero. - -“We had figured it out that way—of course leaving out Jasniff.” - -“Have you any sample of the handwriting of Bopeppo or Vazala?” asked -Roger. “If you have you might compare them with the note sent to Mr. -Wadsworth.” - -“We have managed to get one note written by Bopeppo, and we have two -samples of Vazala’s signature. But neither of them seem to be in the -handwriting used in the note,” answered Dave’s father. - -“Then it would seem as if the note had been written by somebody else!” -cried Dave. “How about Mother Domoza?” - -“We don’t believe the old hag can read or write English.” - -“I’d like to see the note,” said Roger. Thereupon the communication was -brought forth and the two young civil engineers scanned it very closely. - -“I wish I could remember Nick Jasniff’s handwriting, but I can’t,” said -Roger. “How about it, Dave?” - -“If my memory serves me, he wrote rather a heavy hand,” answered our -hero. “But I am not willing to say whether this is in his style or not. -This looks to me as if it was a disguised hand, for it is very -irregular.” - -“We all thought the handwriting was disguised,” answered Mr. Wadsworth. -He heaved a deep sigh. “Too bad! All this talk doesn’t seem to get us -anywhere.” - -“Well, one thing is certain,” said Dave. “The girls got on board that -train, and the train went to Boston, making all of its usual stops. In -that case, they must have gotten off at one of the stop stations,—that -is, unless the train made some other stops which were not scheduled.” - -“We have found out that the train did make a number of other stops,” -answered his father. “Shortly after it left Hemston they discovered a -hot box, and they had to stop four times on the way to fix that—twice -near some water tanks, and twice at some cross-road signal towers. As a -consequence of the delay, the train was also held up at two little way -stations to let two express trains pass, and did not get into Boston -until nearly two hours behind its regular time.” - -“Have you got a list of all those stopping places?” questioned Roger. - -“We have.” - -“Then I know what I’m going to do,” cried Dave. “I’ll take the -automobile and go along the line of the railroad and stop at every one -of those places and make inquiries, and see if we can’t find out whether -the girls left the train, or if they were met by the gypsies, or anybody -else.” - -“I’ve already been along the line, Dave,” answered his father. “Your -uncle and I went over the route, not by automobile but by a way train, -and we made inquiries at every station; but without the least success.” - -“Yes, but the train couldn’t have stopped long enough for you to ask -many questions,” put in Roger. - -“That is true,” returned Dave’s parent slowly. “Probably you would have -a better chance of getting some particulars if you went along the route -in the automobile. Of course it would take considerable time—several -days in fact—to follow the route in that manner all the way into -Boston.” - -“It’s the only thing I can think of to do,” answered Dave. “And it will -be much better than sitting here and doing nothing.” - -“Right you are!” cried Roger. “I’m willing to start this minute if you -say so,” and he jumped to his feet. - -“I don’t think you can do much to-day,—it is too late,” answered Mr. -Wadsworth. “But you might get ready for a start early to-morrow -morning,” and he looked rather hopefully at the two young civil -engineers. - -“We’ll do it!” answered Dave. - -After that the discussion became general, and our hero and his chum got -all the particulars possible concerning the stops the train upon which -Jessie and Laura had taken passage had made on its trip to the Hub. They -put all these names and locations down on a sort of map that they drew -up, and then consulted an automobile Blue-Book, so that they might get -familiar with the roads to be taken on their tour. - -“This is certainly going to be some search, Dave,” remarked Roger, after -the conference had come to an end and the two chums had gone up-stairs -to fix up for dinner. - -“I know it, Roger. It will probably take us several days, and maybe a -week. But I won’t mind that, and neither will you, if only we learn -something of advantage.” - -It was a quiet party that sat down to the table that evening in the -large dining room of the Wadsworth mansion. In a voice that trembled -more than usual with emotion, old Professor Potts asked a blessing on -the meal, and the repast was well on its way before anyone felt like -talking. Then Roger questioned Mr. Wadsworth concerning the automobile -to be taken for the trip. - -“I think you had better take the four-passenger car,” announced the -jewelry manufacturer. “That will leave us the large car in case we need -it. The smaller car is in just as good a condition and is just as -speedy.” - -“We’ll look over the car as soon as we have finished eating,” said Dave. -“I want everything to be in the best of order, so that we shall not be -delayed by any breakdown. Of course, we’ll carry along an extra shoe or -two, and three or four inner tubes.” - -The two chums had already decided on what they were to wear on the trip -and what to take along in the way of extra clothing. They spent the -entire evening in going over the four-passenger car, and, with the aid -of the Wadsworth chauffeur, put the machine in the best possible order, -and then filled it up with oil and gasoline. - -“Oh, boys, you’ll do your best to find them?” said Mrs. Wadsworth, when -they came in rather late and were ready to retire. - -“You can rest assured of that, Mrs. Wadsworth,” answered Dave. - -“We won’t give up until we have found them, or found out something about -them,” broke in Roger. And then the lady kissed each of them -affectionately. The strain had been terrible, and she looked ten years -older than usual. - -Dave and Roger had expected that no one would be around when they were -ready to depart in the morning, for it was but a little after sunrise. -But in this they were mistaken. Both Dave’s father and his Uncle Dunston -had come down to see them off. - -“I want to caution you about one thing,” said Dave’s parent. “You take -care of yourselves, and if you do chance to run into those gypsies, or -anybody else who has any connection with this crime, do your best to -keep out of trouble.” - -“We’ll be on our guard, Dad, don’t fear,” answered the son. - -“Of course you are armed?” questioned Dunston Porter. - -“Yes, we’ve each got a pistol, and Dave’s shotgun is under the back -seat,” answered Roger. “You see, we weren’t going to take any chances,” -and he smiled grimly. - -“If you discover anything at all, send us word at once,” went on Dave’s -father. “Use the telegraph or the telephone—whichever is handiest.” - -“You can depend on it we will,” said Dave. - -“And don’t forget that we want to hear from you folks here in Crumville -if you hear anything,” added Roger. “You can send a message to any of -the railroad stations along the line. We’ll stop at each station and ask -for messages.” - -Dave was at the wheel of the car, with Roger alongside of him. In the -back the two had their suit-cases, and also a number of wraps and a -hamper filled with lunch, for there was no telling where they could stop -along the road for something to eat. - -With scarcely an effort, the touring-car rolled away from the Wadsworth -mansion, the men left behind waving their hands to the two on board. -They waved in return, and a moment later the machine left the grounds, -headed for the Crumville railroad station. This was soon passed, and -they took the highway leading to the next station on the line; and thus -the great search was begun. - -The first place they reached was a small way-station, and they soon -learned that the particular train Laura and Jessie had taken had not -stopped there for a month or more. The station master had, however, -heard about the kidnapping, and was anxious to hear more. But Dave and -Roger did not waste time on him. - -In the course of the next couple of hours, they stopped at six more -stations, and made various inquiries. The train had stopped at just one -of these places, but the station agent was positive that only two of the -local residents had gotten on board, and no one but a drummer from the -city had alighted. - -The way to the next station was up a long hill, and near the top Dave -had to bring the car to a sudden halt. The regular road was being -repaired, and a sign was up showing where a detour might be made. - -“That side-road doesn’t look very inviting,” was our hero’s comment, as -he surveyed it. - -“Oh, it must be all right,” answered Roger. “If it were not, they -wouldn’t have that sign up.” - -They proceeded on their way, and soon found the side road both rough and -uncertain. They had some difficulty in getting to the bottom of the -hill, and here they had to make a sharp turn to the left in an endeavor -to get back to the main highway. - -“Look out for the puddles, Dave!” cried the senator’s son, as they -splashed into one pool of water. - -Dave did what he could to keep out of the next puddle, and in doing this -ran pretty well off to one side of the roadway. The next instant he -found himself in mud almost up to the hubs, and here the car threatened -to come to a standstill. He immediately threw the gear into second, and -then into low, and thus they chugged on for a distance of ten or twelve -feet farther. Then the car came to a sudden standstill. - -“Stuck?” remarked Roger laconically. - -“So it would seem,” answered Dave. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - STUCK ON THE ROAD - - -Twice Dave tried to back the car and then go ahead, but without avail. -The machine settled down still farther in the mud of the road, and there -it stuck. - -“Now what are we going to do?” demanded the senator’s son, impatiently. - -“I don’t know, Roger,” was the slow reply. “We’ve got to do something—we -can’t stay in this mud-puddle all day.” - -“It’s an outrage that they marked this road for a detour,” continued -Roger. “Why, a team of horses would have all they could do to get -through such a spot as this!” - -“I guess I’ll have to get out for help,” said Dave. “Too bad! To think -of getting stuck inside of three hours after leaving home!” and he made -a grimace. - -There was no help for it, and, reaching over into the tonneau of the -car, Dave got out a pair of rubbers and put them on; and Roger did the -same. Then both leaped out of the car and made their way to where the -footing was fairly firm. - -“The road seems to be pretty good farther on,” announced our hero, after -an examination. “But I’m afraid we’ll have to get somebody with a team -of horses or oxen to pull us out of that hole. The car will never do it -under its own power.” - -They walked on, and presently came in sight of a farm nestling in a -small valley beyond the hill. They walked up to this, and found a farmer -in the barnyard, cleaning the mud from one of his horses. - -“Well, gentlemen, what can I do for you?” hailed the man, as they walked -up. - -“I guess we got here just in time,” returned Dave. “There’s no use in -finishing that cleaning until you’ve done a little job for us.” - -“Eh? What’s that?” demanded the farmer curiously. - -The chums explained the situation, and the farmer, whose name was -Rawson, readily agreed to take two of his horses and the necessary -tackle and assist them in getting the automobile out of the mud. In less -than ten minutes the three were on their way to where the car was -stalled. Mr. Rawson went to work quickly and with a precision that -showed he knew exactly what he was doing. - -“As soon as I give the word, you turn on your power and throw her into -low gear,” he said. “I think we’ll have you out of this in a jiffy.” - -And so it proved, the car coming up from the mud by the combined power -of itself and the horses with hardly an effort. Then the team was -unhooked, and Dave ran the car along the highway to where the farmer -said farther traveling would be perfectly safe. - -“By the way, we are on a rather peculiar errand around here,” said Dave, -after he had settled for the farmer’s services. “May I ask if you have -seen any gypsies in this vicinity during the last couple of weeks?” - -“I don’t know about their being gypsies,” answered Mr. Rawson. “I had -some trouble with a couple of tramps who robbed my chicken-coop about -ten days or two weeks ago. I found they had been camping out in one of -our sheds down in the woods. They wore bandana neckerchiefs and -bright-colored vests.” - -“That sounds as if they were gypsies! What became of them?” - -“I can’t tell you about that. You see, one night we lost two of the -chickens, and so I set a watch, and the next night I saw these two -fellows sneaking up toward the house. I had my shotgun, and asked them -what they wanted, and both of them dived out of sight behind some bushes -and then ran for the woods. I followed them as far as the shed, and -after that I lost track of them, and I’ve never seen them since. The -next day I went down to the shed, thinking they might be hanging around -somewhere, and there I saw they had been camping out in the shed, and -saw where they had cooked the chickens and eaten them.” - -“That sounds pretty interesting,” said Dave. “But I hardly think those -fellows could have been the men we are looking for. The gypsies we are -trying to spot must have had some money, and I don’t think they would -camp out in that shed you mention. However, I’m going to remember it,” -he added. - -The chums questioned the farmer further, but got very little -satisfaction. Then the journey in the automobile was resumed. - -“What makes you think those fellows could not have been Bopeppo and -Vazala?” questioned Roger, when they were once again speeding along the -highway. - -“I think this kidnapping was conducted in a much more high-toned -fashion—if you can call it that, Roger. Those gypsies who used to camp -on the outskirts of Crumville were far from poor. In fact, I have an -idea that old Mother Domoza is really wealthy.” - -“What! Wealthy, and live like that?” - -“Exactly. I think she’s a first-class miser. A good many of the gypsies -are—especially the older ones. They pretend to be very poor, but they -own all sorts of jewelry, precious stones, and, very often, quantities -of gold coin. They won’t trust the banks, but carry the stuff around -their person, or else bury it somewhere.” - -“But these fellows might have been frightened over something, and gone -into hiding on that account,” suggested Roger. - -“That may be—and I don’t intend to forget what Mr. Rawson said,” -answered Dave. “It’s also possible that those two fellows may have been -just hangers-on, who helped Bopeppo, Vazala and Mother Domoza, and maybe -Nick Jasniff, to commit the crime.” - -By noon the chums had stopped at one more way station, and also at one -of the water tanks near where the hot box on the train had been -discovered. They went up and interviewed the man in charge of the tank, -but he could give them no satisfaction. - -“I can’t tell you who left the train or who got on board,” he said. “I -went down to look at the hot box along with the engineer, and I helped -him get some water, and I didn’t pay much attention to anything else.” - -“Have you seen any fellows around here who look like gypsies?” -questioned Dave. - -“Yes. I saw a couple of that class of men walking up the track either -the day before that train came along or the day after. I’ve been trying -to make up my mind which day it was since I read about this kidnapping, -but I can’t say for sure.” - -Leaving the vicinity of the water tank, the chums continued along the -highway which ran within sight of the railroad. Reaching a convenient -spot in the shade of a big tree, and where there was a spring and a -watering trough, they came to a halt and there enjoyed a portion of the -lunch they had brought along, washing it down with a drink of pure, cold -water. - -“Well, we haven’t learned anything yet that is worth while,” remarked -Roger, during the course of the meal. - -“I didn’t expect it was going to be any easy kind of a job,” Dave -replied. “Even if we get the slightest kind of clue to this mystery, -Roger, we can think ourselves lucky.” - -“Oh, I know that.” - -During the afternoon they stopped at five other places, putting to the -people they met the questions which they had been asking all along the -line. In every instance, however, no one could give them any -information, although most of the men and women were very anxious to -learn if anything had been heard of the missing girls. - -“I hope those kidnappers are caught,” said one of the men at the last -station at which they stopped. “They are not fit to be at large.” - -“They ought to be hung!” declared his wife emphatically. “Why, since I -heard about the disappearance of those two girls, I haven’t dared to let -my little girl and boy leave the house! It’s terrible! I do so hope they -catch those rascals and punish them well!” - -Evening found the chums at the town of Chesleyville, and here, as there -was a fairly good hotel, they resolved to remain for the night. They -drove around to the hotel and left the car in the garage attached to the -hostelry, and then made arrangements for a room and meals. They had -supper, and then Dave suggested that they take a walk down to the -railroad station and in the vicinity of the freight yard. - -“I don’t know whether we’ll learn anything or not, but we can’t afford -to miss any chances,” was the way he expressed himself. - -“That’s the talk!” cried Roger. “We don’t want anything to get away from -us.” - -They had quite a talk with the station agent and a number of others, -including a young fellow who had charge of a news-stand. - -“I’ve seen pictures of those girls who were kidnapped,” declared the -youth, “and unless I am greatly mistaken, one of them—the taller of the -two—bought a magazine and a weekly from me.” - -This was interesting information, and the two lost no time in -questioning the youth closely. He described the taller of the two girls, -telling how she had been dressed and what sort of hat she had worn. The -description of the suit and the head covering tallied closely with what -Mrs. Wadsworth had said Laura had worn. - -“What did she buy—do you remember that?” questioned Roger. And thereupon -the news vendor mentioned a popular monthly magazine and an equally -popular weekly. - -“And you saw the other girl?” asked Dave. - -“Yes, at the car window. She didn’t get out, but the other girl went to -the open window and asked her what she wanted, and then she came back -and got the weekly. That was after she had bought the magazine. She -dropped her hand-bag and had to turn around to pick it up, and that’s -how I came to notice her.” - -This was all the youth could tell, but it was something, and the chums -returned to the hotel in a thoughtful mood. - -“If that really was Laura, and if the girl in the car was Jessie, then -that proves one thing,” remarked Dave. “They weren’t kidnapped anywhere -between here and Crumville.” - -“And that means that it did happen somewhere between here and Boston,” -added Roger. “But, gracious, Dave! it’s a long way from here to that -city!” - -Neither of the young civil engineers felt in the humor for retiring -early, so they passed into the reading-room of the hotel, to glance at -one or two of the newspapers. Dave was perusing an article in reference -to the disappearance of the girls, and Roger was deep in some news from -Washington which affected his father, when both were startled by an -exclamation made by some one who had stepped from the outside to a broad -window which opened upon a veranda of the hotel. - -“Who was that?” asked Roger, as he looked up just in time to see -somebody disappearing from view. - -“I don’t know, I’m sure,” answered Dave. - -Struck by the peculiarity of the movement which had taken place, both -walked over to the window and looked outside. Here all was in -semi-darkness, the only light coming from the hotel and a small street -lamp some distance away. They saw the figure of a young man hurrying -down the street, and as the individual passed under the street light, he -pulled up the collar of his coat and pulled down the soft hat he wore. - -“Whoever he was, he got out in a mighty hurry,” was Roger’s comment. - -To this Dave did not answer. He was wondering who the strange individual -could be. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - THE FIRST CLUE - - -“Did you see his face at all, Dave?” - -“No. Did you?” - -“Not at all. He left the window so quickly I didn’t catch more than a -glance of the side of his body.” - -“He certainly left in a mighty hurry,” mused our hero. - -“Dave, do you imagine it might have been Nick Jasniff?” asked the -senator’s son excitedly. - -“I thought of that, Roger. As the fellow passed under that lamp-post his -form looked something like Jasniff’s. But that is rather a wild guess—a -good many fellows might possess his general make-up.” - -The two chums went back to their newspapers, and half an hour later they -retired to their room. Both arose early, thinking to look over the -automobile before breakfast, so that they might be ready to start off -immediately after eating. When they reached the hotel garage, they found -the colored man who was in charge very much excited. - -“You gemmen didn’t send nobody down here to get your car, did you?” he -questioned quickly. - -“We certainly did not!” cried Dave. - -“Has any one been here to get the car?” questioned the senator’s son. - -“A young fellow was here at your machine,” answered the colored man. “I -jest stepped over to the hotel to ask the clerk to order some more -gasoline, we runnin’ short. When I came back the fellow was at your car. -I thought at first it was one of you gemmen, but as soon as I called to -him he jumped from the car and went out the back door.” - -“How long ago was this?” burst out Dave. - -“Not over five minutes ago, boss. I called to the fellow and ran after -him, but he jumped over the back fence and got away.” - -“Was he a tall young fellow with a soft hat?” queried Roger. - -“He was.” - -“He must have been the same chap who looked in at the hotel window!” -went on the senator’s son to Dave. “Now, what do you make of that?” - -“I make of it that he is trying to do us some injury,” answered Dave. - -“Do you really think it could be Nick Jasniff?” - -“I am sure I don’t know. If it was Jasniff, how in the world did he get -up here in this town?” - -“Perhaps he has been following us.” - -“But how could he do that unless he had an automobile or a motorcycle, -or something like that?” - -“I am sure I can’t answer that question.” Roger turned to the garage -man. “Did you know the fellow at all?” - -“No, boss; he was a stranger to me.” - -“Have you ever seen him before?” asked Dave. - -“Oh, I ain’t exactly sure of that, boss—so many men comin’ and goin’ all -the time.” - -“Let us see if he did any injury to the car,” suggested Roger. - -The automobile was run out into the yard of the hotel, and there the -young men went over the machine carefully. Nothing seemed to be amiss, -and the things in the tonneau had been left undisturbed. - -“I guess he didn’t have time enough to do anything,” said Dave. “I think -he had been watching this man,” indicating the colored individual, “and -as soon as he went into the hotel, the rascal sneaked into the garage -intending to get the car out. Maybe he was nothing more than an auto -thief who watched us come to the hotel and thought he saw a chance to -get away with our car.” - -“If he’s an auto thief, I wish I had caught him,” was the comment of the -colored man. - -“I think I’ll buy a lock for the car,” announced Dave. “I saw an -automobile place down the street. We can stop there before we leave -town.” - -This was done; and the chums purchased a lock which could be placed on -the gear shift, so that it would be impossible to start the car without -unlocking the device or smashing it. - -“By the turn of affairs, we’ve got to watch out for more than one kind -of enemy,” announced Roger, when the search for clues to the mysterious -disappearance of the two girls had again been resumed. - -“I’ve got a new idea, Roger,” answered our hero slowly. “I may be -mistaken, but somehow it strikes me that it would pay us to take a look -around Chesleyville before we go farther. If that fellow was connected -in any way with the kidnapping of Jessie and Laura, the girls may be -held somewhere in this neighborhood.” - -“That idea strikes me as a good one, Dave. Let us make a number of -inquiries and find out if the gypsies were in this vicinity.” - -The plan was carried out, the two youths spending the best part of a -couple of hours both in the town and on the outskirts. The search in -that vicinity, however, proved fruitless, and once again they set off on -their trip along the line of the railroad. - -Before lunch time they had stopped at three more places, and at one of -them gained the information that several gypsies had been seen in that -vicinity about two weeks before. They had been men, and where they had -gone nobody seemed to know. - -Late that afternoon found the chums at a place known as Fallon’s -Crossing. Here a small sideline crossed the main railroad, and here were -located a switch shanty and a small freight yard. At this point it was -said that the train which had carried Laura and Jessie had stopped for -fully fifteen minutes, to let the hot box cool off and also to allow -another train to pass. Just beyond Fallon’s Crossing was the thriving -town of Crandall, at which the train was scheduled to make a regular -stop. - -The switchman at the shanty could tell them nothing more than that the -train had stopped. He said a number of people had gotten off to pick -some wildflowers that grew by the roadside, and then re-entered the -train. Who the people had been, he could not remember. - -There was a man hanging around the freight yard who had also been -present on the day when the train had stopped, and he vouchsafed the -information that when the people on the train had learned that the stop -would be for some time a number had tramped up the tracks to the town, -to get on again when the train arrived at the regular station. - -“There were at least eight or ten people did that,” said the -freight-yard man; “but who they were I do not know.” - -“Did you see any gypsies around?” questioned Dave. - -“No. We haven’t had a gypsy around here in years. We don’t stand for -gypsies any more than we do for tramps.” - -When the two chums returned to their automobile they saw nearby a -middle-aged man with a motorcycle. He was bending over the machine, -trying to fix something, and as they came closer he hailed them. - -“Is that your car over there?” he questioned. - -“It is,” answered Dave. - -“Then, would you mind lending me a small wrench for a few minutes? I -just broke mine.” - -“Certainly,” answered Dave. - -The tool was brought forth, and the man at once set to work to use it. -While the two chums looked on the man spoke about the trials and -tribulations he had had with the motorcycle and of a trip he had made to -that vicinity some time before. Being questioned, it developed that he -had been on hand when the train containing the two girls had stopped -there. - -“I was quite interested in that hot box they had, and I was talking to -the fireman about it,” he said. - -“Did you see any of the folks leave the train?” questioned Dave. “We are -very anxious to find out.” And then, seeing the look of surprise on the -man’s face, he gave his reasons. - -“I’ve read about that kidnapping case!” cried the man. “Yes, I saw at -least a dozen people leave the cars and walk off in the direction of the -town. Some of them said they belonged in the town, and others asked the -conductor if they couldn’t go up to the railroad station and get aboard -again when the train came along.” - -“Did you notice those two young ladies?” questioned Roger eagerly, and -gave a description of Laura and Jessie. - -“I think I did see them,” answered the man slowly. “I remember seeing -the beaded hand-bag one of the young ladies carried, and I remember she -wore a hat with a blue pompon.” - -“It must have been Jessie and Laura!” exclaimed Dave. “Have you any idea -where they went?” - -“The whole crowd walked up the railroad tracks in the direction of the -town. Whether they went to the station or not, I, of course, don’t know. -I hung around here watching them fix that hot box, and then I jumped on -my motorcycle and rode off in the opposite direction.” - -This was all the man on the motorcycle could tell; and as he was in a -hurry to go on they did not detain him further. - -“This looks like a clue,” was Roger’s comment, as they re-entered the -automobile and moved on their way. “I guess the best thing we can do, -Dave, is to make some inquiries around Crandall.” - -“Exactly, Roger! I think we are on the trail at last;” and Dave’s face -showed his pleasure. - -The road ran close to the tracks, and it took them but a few minutes to -reach the town. Here they continued their inquiries in and around the -station, but without gaining any additional information. - -“It is too bad,” said Roger disappointedly. “I thought sure we would -learn something more.” - -“We’ve got to do it, Roger!” cried Dave. “I am sure we are on the right -track. Those girls came here, and, so far as we can learn, nobody saw -them get on the train again. If they didn’t get on the train, where did -they go?” - -“I’d give a good deal to have that question answered,” returned the -senator’s son. He heaved a sigh. “Oh, we’ve got to do something!” - -They continued their inquiries, and presently found themselves talking -to a lame boy in charge of a small fruit-stand, where they made a -purchase. - -“Yes, I was here the day the train was held up down at the Crossing, and -some of the folks walked up to the station,” said the lame boy. “There -were a couple of drummers with their cases, and a man and his wife and -two or three children, and then there were a couple of other men,—and -three or four young ladies. Some of ’em went right over to the station, -and the rest of ’em went uptown.” - -“Did you notice two young ladies in particular?” questioned Dave; and -then he told how Laura and Jessie had been dressed, and of the beaded -handbags they carried, and added that they also had a magazine or two. - -“Oh, yes, I remember them!” cried the young fruit-stand keeper. “They -stopped here and got some grapes and a couple of peaches.” - -“And did they get on the train again when it came along?” - -“I didn’t see ’em. They walked uptown. One of them asked me where the -Bliss House was.” - -“The Bliss House?” queried Roger. - -“Yes, sir. That’s our hotel,” explained the boy. - -“And they went there?” questioned Dave. - -“I think they did.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - WHAT THE LITTLE GIRLS KNEW - - -Dave and Roger talked to the fruit-stand boy a few minutes longer, and -then jumped into the automobile and rode up to the Bliss House, an -old-fashioned hotel, standing on a corner and surrounded by a number of -stately elm trees. - -“I can’t understand this at all, Dave,” said Roger, while on the way. -“What would take those girls uptown? They must have known that the train -might come along at any minute, and then, if they weren’t on hand to get -aboard, they’d be left.” - -“It certainly is a mystery, Roger. All we can do is to follow up this -clue and see where it leads to. From what that man who had the -motorcycle said, and from what the lame boy told us, it is pretty -certain that Jessie and Laura got off the train at the Crossing and did -not get on again at this railroad station. And if they came up to the -hotel here, they must have had some purpose in so doing.” - -The country hotel was not a very busy place, and the chums found the -clerk quite willing to give them all the information he could. He did -not, however, remember the girls; nor did the proprietor of the place, -who came up to see what was wanted, remember them. - -“I don’t think they came here. Or, if they did, they didn’t come to the -office,” said the clerk. “I was here all day, and I know.” - -“Did you have any strangers around the place that day, so far as you can -remember?” questioned Dave. - -“None to stay. We had half a dozen drummers; but I know all of them, for -they have been coming and going for a number of years.” - -“Wait a minute! Come to think of it, there was something else happened -that day which I thought was rather queer,” cried the hotel proprietor -suddenly. He was a bald-headed man, and he began to scratch his hairless -head vigorously. “Seems to me it was just about half an hour or so -before that train came in, too,” he added, nodding his head -emphatically. - -“What was the thing that happened?” questioned Roger quickly. - -“There was a big touring-car came down the Kapton road yonder. A man -dressed as a chauffeur was driving the machine. He stopped his car and -asked for directions, and then the car swung around and came to a stop -down there near our stables. I sent the boy out to see if anything was -wanted—the stable man being off on an errand—and the boy came back and -said they wanted to know when that train would get in. Then the car -moved over to the other side of the street and stood there for five or -ten minutes. The chauffeur turned around in his seat to talk very -earnestly to a couple who were in the car. I couldn’t hear what they -were saying, but they all seemed to be rather excited. Then the car went -back down the road, and that was the last I saw of it.” - -“It wasn’t a car that belonged around here, so far as you knew?” asked -our hero. - -“No, it didn’t belong around here. It was a great big heavy enclosed -affair, and looked as if it had seen pretty rough usage—one of the -mud-guards being quite battered. That was one reason why I took notice -of it—I thought maybe they had been in some sort of an accident, -especially when the chauffeur and the people in the car got to talking -so excitedly among themselves.” - -“Did you notice what kind of people they were?” asked Dave. - -“I think the chauffeur was a foreigner. He had heavy dark hair and a -small dark mustache. He wore a regular cap and goggles, and also a -dust-coat.” - -“Who were the people in the car?” questioned the senator’s son. - -“There were a man and a woman, and I should say they were rather -elderly. The woman had a thick veil over her face, and the man wore a -dust-coat buttoned up around his throat and a cap pulled far down over -his forehead, and I think he had on smoked glasses. I thought the whole -bunch might be foreigners, and that was another reason why I noticed -them.” - -“This is certainly interesting, but I don’t see how it connects up with -the disappearance of the girls,” was Dave’s comment. - -“Those gypsies all look like foreigners,” said Roger. - -“Yes. But I don’t think any of them knows how to run an auto. They -always use horses.” - -“Oh, well, they might be getting up-to-date.” - -Thinking that the incident of the strange touring-car might be worth -following up, Dave and Roger left the hotel and ran their own automobile -a distance along the Kapton road. From the hotel proprietor they had -learned that this road led to the small village of Kapton two miles -distant. - -“This is a good deal like looking for a needle in a haystack,” was -Roger’s comment. - -“True, Roger. But if you took the haystack and went over it a wisp at a -time, sooner or later you’d come on the needle,” answered Dave. “And -that is what I propose to do in this case—I’m going to follow up every -possible clue until we strike something.” - -On the outskirts of Crandall they came upon a little country home where -several children were enjoying themselves at a swing in the open -dooryard. Here Dave stopped the car. - -“I suppose you play here nearly every day,” he said to the oldest of the -girls, a bright miss of nine or ten years of age. - -“Oh, yes; whenever the weather is good.” - -“And we have lots of fun,” broke in another of the happy group. - -“We are trying to find out something about a big automobile that came -along here about ten days ago,” said Roger. “It was a great big enclosed -car, and one of the mud-guards was smashed.” - -“Oh, I remember that car, Nellie!” cried one of the girls. “Don’t you -remember? It’s the one that stopped over by Radley’s orchard.” - -“Indeed I do remember!” answered Nellie, with a toss of her head. -“Didn’t they come close to running over Rover?” - -“What did the car stop at the orchard for?” asked Dave. - -“I don’t know exactly. I think they had to fix something on it. Anyway, -the man opened the tin door on the top of the front,” answered the girl. -“That was broken, too, just like the tin thing over the wheels.” - -“They didn’t stop for that,” said another one of the girls. “They -stopped to send Billy Barton on an errand down to the hotel.” - -This announcement on the part of the little girl filled our hero and -Roger with increased interest. - -“Where is this Billy Barton, and what did he go to the hotel for?” -questioned Dave. - -“The man who ran the car gave Billy a note to give to two young ladies -who, he said, would either be at the hotel or would soon get there. -Billy said he saw two young ladies just going into the hotel, and asked -them if they were the people he was looking for, and they said ‘Yes’; -and so Billy gave them the note. The man gave him ten cents for doing -it. I wish I could deliver a note and get ten cents for it,” continued -the little girl wistfully. - -“Well, you’re going to get ten cents for telling me all about those -people in the automobile,” said our hero, and produced several dimes -which he distributed among those present, much to their astonishment and -gratification. - -“But that wasn’t all of it, mister,” said one of the girls. “Those young -ladies came up here and got into the automobile and rode away.” - -“Got into the automobile and rode away!” burst out Dave and Roger -simultaneously. - -“Yes, sir.” - -“I saw them, too!” said the smallest of the girls, who had thus far -spoken but little. “They didn’t get in very easy though!” - -“They didn’t get in easy?” queried our hero. “What do you mean?” - -“Why the driver of the automobile and the man who was inside got out and -had to shove them both in. I thought they was fooling, but they was -awful rough about it.” - -“Did the girls scream, or anything like that?” asked Roger. - -“I don’t know. I wasn’t near enough to hear.” - -“And then, when the girls were in the auto, what did the others do?” - -“Oh, they drove away just as fast as they could. They drove so fast that -they nearly ran over old Mr. Merrick.” - -“Who is he?” - -“Why, don’t you know old Mr. Merrick?” asked the little girl. “He lives -’way up the road—up there where you see that little white house. He was -standing out in the middle of the road when the automobile rushed past -him so fast that he could hardly jump out of the way. He was awful -angry. He told my papa that he thought the man ought to be arrested.” - -“If only they had arrested them!” murmured Dave. - -“And that was the last you saw of that automobile?” asked Roger. - -“Yes, sir,” came from several of the girls at once. - -“It hasn’t been this way again?” - -“No, sir.” - -After that the two chums questioned the little girls closer about the -general appearance of the car, and learned that the turnout not only had -one of the mud-guards badly bent, but that the side of the car was -scratched in several places and that the wind-shield was cracked. - -“That’s something to go by, but not much,” remarked our hero. “One thing -is certain, we are on the right trail at last. For some reason that -isn’t at all clear, Jessie and Laura left that train at the Crossing, -walked up to the railroad station here in town, and then to the hotel. -There they were met by the small boy with the note, and as a result of -receiving that note they came out here and either got into that -automobile willingly or were forced into it.” - -“But where did the auto go to, Dave?” - -“That remains to be found out.” - -“Will you let the authorities know about this?” - -“At once! The more people we get on this trail, the quicker we’ll be -able to run those rascals down.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV - ANOTHER CLUE - - -Dave and Roger lost no time in getting back to the business section of -Crandall, and there they inquired their way to police headquarters. They -found the chief in charge, and introducing themselves asked him if he -knew about the disappearance of the girls. - -“Oh, yes, I know all about that,” answered the chief. “We’ve been on the -watch for them, but so far nothing has come to light.” - -Thereupon Dave and Roger related what they had heard from the lame boy -and those at the Bliss House, and then what the little girls had told. - -“This is mighty interesting,” mused the chief. “But I don’t see what I -can do except to have my men on the watch for that automobile. If it -turns up, do you want the party running it held?” - -“I certainly do!” answered Dave. “Or better yet, if you get the chance, -have the auto followed and see where it goes to—especially if it goes -down the Kapton road.” - -“All right, I’ll do that.” - -From the police station the two young civil engineers hurried down to -the telegraph office, and there sent a long message to the folks in -Crumville. No message had arrived for them, so they took it for granted -that no news had come in at the Wadsworth place since their departure. - -“And now what’s the next move?” queried Roger, who in this affair looked -to Dave as the leader. - -“I think we had better travel along that Kapton road and see if we can -find out anything more about that automobile and those in it,” was the -reply. “There is certainly no use in our continuing the trip along the -railroad.” - -It was growing dark when Crandall was left behind, and they journeyed -forward on the Kapton road slowly, keeping their eyes open for anything -that might suggest a further solution of the mystery they were -endeavoring to unravel. - -“We might stop and question that Mr. Merrick the little girls -mentioned,” suggested Roger. - -“Yes, we can do that, although I doubt if the old man can add much to -what we already know.” - -They found Mr. Aaron Merrick a very fussy old individual and hard to -talk to. He remembered the incident of the automobile very well, and was -highly indignant, but he could not tell anything about who had been -driving the car or who was inside. - -“They went by me jest like a comet!” he explained. “I had to jump fer my -life, or I’d been run over sure! All them pesky rascals ought to be put -in prison. I don’t believe in autermobiles, anyway,” and he looked -rather indignantly at the two chums. - -“Well, we are after the fellow who ran that auto,” answered Roger. “And -if we catch him he’ll go to prison fast enough.” - -“What’s the matter? Did he steal that there car?” - -“He did worse,” answered the senator’s son. “But we haven’t got time to -talk about that now,” he added, and hurried away, followed by our hero. -Mr. Merrick came after them, anxious to know what might be wrong, but -they did not enlighten him. - -Half an hour later found the machine rolling into the little village of -Kapton. They had stopped twice on the way, but had learned nothing more -concerning the big touring car with the battered mud-guard and the -cracked wind-shield. - -“Do you think we ought to stay here all night?” questioned Roger. - -“That will depend on whether we can get accommodation or not,” returned -Dave. “Anyhow, we want to make some inquiries before we leave this -place.” - -They soon learned that Kapton boasted of nothing in the way of a hotel -or boarding-house. - -“But you can get pretty good accommodations at the Bliss House in -Crandall,” said the storekeeper, who gave them the information. “Or else -you can go to the American House at Frytown.” - -“Is that in the opposite direction to Crandall?” questioned Dave. - -“Yes, sir; it’s on the same road that you came up on. The road runs -right through Frytown to Cullomburg, and it’s a pretty fair road all the -way.” - -“Then I guess we’ll go on to Frytown. By the way, can you give us any -information about a big touring-car that went through here about ten -days ago—a touring-car that had a battered mud-guard and a cracked -wind-shield and was driven by a fellow who looked like a foreigner—a -chap with a small black mustache?” - -“Why, yes, I saw that car!” cried the storekeeper. “The fellow who ran -it came in here and bought a lot of groceries.” - -“He did!” exclaimed both of the chums in surprise. - -“Yes, sir.” - -“When was this?” - -“Let me see——” The storekeeper rubbed his chin reflectively. “I guess it -was just about a week ago to-day. The fellow came in and said he was in -a good deal of a hurry, so I and my clerk hustled to get the order out -for him. We packed it in a big box, and put the box in the tonneau of -the car. But what about this—is the man some friend of yours?” - -“Hardly a friend,” answered Dave quickly! “But we are very anxious to -locate him. Have you any idea where he came from or where he went?” - -“All I can say is that he came into this place from Frytown way, and he -turned around after he had the stuff and went back the way he came.” - -“Did he give you any names, or say where he was from?” questioned Roger. - -“No, he didn’t say anything excepting that he was buying the things for -some folks who were sick in a camp and couldn’t get away. I asked him -one or two questions, but he acted as if he didn’t want to answer them, -and so I didn’t say too much. You see, he paid spot cash for what he -got, so it was none of my business,” added the storekeeper. - -“Do you remember the things he got?” questioned Dave. And then, as the -storekeeper showed that he was becoming suspicious, our hero added: “I -may be perfectly frank with you, Mr. Linton. We suspect that the man who -is running that automobile is a fellow who escaped some time ago from -prison. In fact, we are not sure that he owns the automobile he is -running, and it is possible that he may be mixed up in the abduction of -two young ladies. That is why we are so anxious to get on his trail.” - -“You don’t say! Well, I’d want to get on the trail of a rascal like that -myself. Yes, I think I can tell you pretty near everything the fellow -bought.” - -And thereupon the storekeeper enumerated a number of articles, including -coffee, sugar, flour, butter, and a quantity of canned goods. - -“And was that all?” asked Roger, as the storekeeper paused. - -“No. After he had those goods, he asked about a good strong -clothes-line, and then he bought a lock, some screws and nails, and a -hammer and a screwdriver.” - -“And was that all?” - -“That’s all, so far as I can remember. Oh, no! he did buy some smoking -tobacco and a couple of pipes and some packages of cigarettes.” - -“And how did the fellow look? Can you describe him?” - -“I can’t say much except that he was rather tall and thin and had, as -you said, a little black mustache, and heavy black curly hair. His face -was very dark, as if he had gotten well tanned. He kept on his -automobile goggles, and had his cap pulled down well over his forehead, -and his dust-coat was buttoned up tight around his neck.” - -“You haven’t seen him since?” - -“I think I saw the automobile going by the door late one evening a -couple of nights ago, but I am not sure. You see, I am getting old, and -my eyesight ain’t none too good,” concluded the storekeeper. - -When Dave and Roger returned to the automobile and headed the car in the -direction of Frytown, both were in a meditative mood. - -“I think I can begin to figure this out, Roger,” said Dave slowly. “It -looks to me as if Jessie and Laura were being held prisoners somewhere -in this vicinity, and that that fellow who ran the car, whoever he is, -came down here to buy supplies for the crowd.” - -“Yes. And do you remember what the storekeeper said about the -clothes-line and a lock and nails? More than likely they’ve got the poor -girls tied fast in some room, and they have put a new lock on the door -and nailed up the windows.” - -“What you say would fit in very well with what the storekeeper told us. -If that rascal came here to get his supplies, it would seem to indicate -that the place where the girls are being kept prisoners must be -somewhere in this vicinity.” - -“Yes, unless they did not dare to go to any town that was closer by. For -all we know, he may have come from twenty or thirty miles away—or even -farther than that.” - -“Well, we’re on the right trail, anyway, and that’s something,” returned -Dave hopefully. Then he gave a sudden exclamation. “My gracious! Why -didn’t I think of that before?” - -“Think of what, Dave?” - -“Don’t you remember what the storekeeper said about that fellow -purchasing some cigarettes?” - -“What of it?” - -“Why, just this: One of the things that fastened the crime on Jasniff -and Merwell at the time Mr. Wadsworth’s jewelry factory was robbed was -the fact that both of those rascals were inveterate cigarette smokers, -and smoked a certain brand of Turkish cigarettes—a kind that had a -peculiar gold and blue band around the box. I’m going back and ask that -storekeeper what kind of cigarettes that fellow got.” - -And so speaking Dave made a sharp turn and brought the car around, and -in a moment more was on his way back to the store. - -“Back again, eh?” said the proprietor. “You weren’t gone very long.” - -“I believe, Mr. Linton, you said that fellow we were talking about -purchased some tobacco and cigarettes?” - -“So I did.” - -“Can you remember anything about the cigarettes? Please try to think -exactly of what happened when he asked for them.” - -“Hum! Let me see!” The storekeeper meditated for a moment. “Oh, yes, I -remember now! He asked me if I had any Doradas or Mimoras, or any other -Turkish cigarettes. I told him No, we had very little call for anything -like that. So then he took half a dozen packages of these,” and the -storekeeper pointed to some cigarettes in his showcase. - -“Thank you. That’s all I wanted to know,” answered Dave. “Good night”; -and he hurried away to the automobile with Roger following. - -“Well, what do you make of this?” questioned the senator’s son quickly. - -“I think we have found another clue, Roger. That fellow asked for -Doradas cigarettes. They are a Turkish brand, and come in a box having a -blue and gold band around it—the same kind of cigarettes that Jasniff -smoked when he and Merwell robbed Mr. Wadsworth’s safe.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXV - WHAT HORSEHAIR HAD TO TELL - - -“Then you think the fellow purchased the cigarettes for Jasniff?” -questioned Roger, after our hero had made the declaration concerning the -Wadsworth robbery. - -“Either that, Roger; or else the fellow purchased the cigarettes for -himself.” - -“Do you mean to insinuate that that chauffeur was Nick Jasniff?” -exclaimed the senator’s son. - -“Why not, Roger? It would be an easy matter for Jasniff to disguise -himself. In fact, if he was in any such game as this, I think that is -just what he would do. He could easily stain his skin with some walnut -juice, or something like that, gotten from the gypsies, and then put on -a wig and a false mustache.” - -“I believe that’s just what he did!” exclaimed Roger. “I know one -thing—he was a good hand at running automobiles. I have seen him do it.” - -“The whole thing fits in pretty closely,” went on Dave. “First, Jasniff -was angry at Mr. Wadsworth and the rest of us for placing him in prison. -Next, he stole those letters and my money. The letters told him all -about the gypsies and their troubles with our folks. He put two and two -together, came on East, and fixed up the plan to kidnap the girls.” - -“But how did they get the girls to leave the train at Crandall and then -go from the hotel to where the automobile stood along the road?” - -“That is something still to be explained. But that can wait. What we -want to do just now is to find out where they took Jessie and Laura, and -rescue them.” - -“It certainly is a great search, Dave. What are you going to do next?” - -“I think the best thing we can do is to work our way along to Frytown. -That is quite a place, and it is barely possible that from there we can -get into communication with Crumville on the long distance telephone. If -we can do that, we can tell the folks at home all we have learned, and -get them to send some first-class detectives out this way to assist us -in the search.” - -“Let’s run rather slow on the way to Frytown,” suggested the senator’s -son. “We may be able to pick up more clues.” - -“Yes, we’ll keep our eyes wide open.” - -They presently found themselves on a lonely stretch of the country road, -and here it was so dark they had to turn on all the lights of the -machine. - -“I’d give all I’m worth, Dave, if we could catch sight of that other -car,” remarked Roger, after a spell of silence. - -“I’m afraid that’s too much to hope for,” answered our hero, with a grim -smile. “We ought to be thankful that we have learned as much as we have. -If we hadn’t met that fellow on the motorcycle down at the Crossing, we -might still be hunting for clues along the line of the railroad between -Crandall and Boston.” - -“Oh, yes, I think we’ve done wonderfully well.” - -On the way to Frytown they stopped at six or seven farmhouses, but -without learning anything that was to their advantage. Two farmers had -seen the big touring car with the battered mud-guard go by a week or two -before, but could give no definite information as to who had been -driving it or what passengers the automobile had contained. - -“So many machines comin’ and goin’ these days, a feller don’t pay much -’tention to ’em,” was the way one farmer expressed himself. - -“I know it,” answered Dave. “But we are very anxious to find that car, -so I thought it wouldn’t do any harm to ask.” - -“Oh, no harm whatever,” said the farmer. - -When the chums reached Frytown it was after nine o’clock. They made -their way at once to the American House, the hotel which the Kapton -storekeeper had mentioned, and there placed their machine in the garage, -engaged a room, and asked if they might be served with something to eat. - -“The dining room is closed,” announced the proprietor. “But we don’t let -anybody starve,” he added, with a smile. “Just come this way, and I -guess we can fix you up,” and he led them to a side room, where a -waitress served them with a plain but substantial supper. Before this -was eaten, however, Dave questioned the man about telephone connections. - -“You can’t get any out-of-town connections after seven o’clock,” was the -statement made by the hotel keeper. “You’ll have to wait until seven -o’clock to-morrow morning.” - -After the meal the two chums questioned the hotel man and several of his -assistants about the big automobile they were looking for, and were -informed that the touring-car had been seen in Frytown a number of -times, moving up and down the main road. - -“Once I saw it when it had several people inside besides the chauffeur,” -said one man. “The people seemed to be cuttin’ up pretty well, but what -it was all about, I don’t know. The car was goin’ too fast to give a -fellow a chance to see.” - -“How long ago was that?” questioned Dave quickly. - -“Oh, I don’t know. Ten days or two weeks—or maybe longer.” - -“Do you remember which way the car was going at that time?” - -“Sure. It was headed in the direction of Cullomburg.” - -“How far is that town?” questioned Roger. - -“That’s up in the mountains about eight miles from here. It’s a pretty -fair road, though, all the way.” - -After receiving this information, Dave and Roger took a walk around the -town, stopping at several of the stores and making a number of small -purchases just for the sake of getting into conversation with the -storekeepers. From one of these they learned that the man who had driven -the car had come in for some supplies, including some cigarettes. - -“Yes, he bought six packages of Turkish cigarettes—all I had,” said the -storekeeper. - -From this man they learned that there was a regular public garage in the -place with a machine shop attached. - -“Let us go over there. Possibly the fellow with the car stopped for -gasoline or oil, or to get something fixed,” said our hero. - -The garage was a short distance up a side street, and they found the man -in charge sitting in a little office with his feet on a desk and smoking -a corncob pipe. They stared at this man for a moment in amazement, and -then both burst out: - -“Horsehair!” - -“Eh? Wot’s that?” cried the man, and swung his feet down from the desk -and leaped up, taking his corncob pipe from his mouth as he did so. -“Well now, ain’t this jest wonderful!” he ejaculated. “Dave Porter and -Roger Morr! Who would ‘a’ thunk it!” - -“And who would have thought of meeting you here, Horsehair?” cried Dave, -shaking hands vigorously, quickly followed by his chum. - -“Why, we thought you were still driving the stage-coach at Oak Hall,” -remarked the senator’s son. - -For the man they had run across so unexpectedly was indeed Jackson -Lemond, the man who for years had driven the stage-coach and worked -around the stables at the boarding-school. Because of the number of -horsehairs which continually clung to his clothing, the pupils had never -known him by any other name than Horsehair. - -“Well, you see, I got a leetle bit old for that job—or else the boys got -a leetle bit too frisky fer me, so I looked around fer something else -that was a bit more quiet; and as my cousin owned this garage, and he -was too sick to tend to business, I come out here and took hold—and here -I be.” - -“It’s like a touch of old times, Horsehair!” cried Dave, as he dropped -on a chair, while Roger did the same. And then after a few more words -about their former doings at Oak Hall our hero continued: “I am after -some information, and I know you’ll give it to me if you possibly can. -Have you noticed during the past couple of weeks a big touring-car -around here—a car that has one of the mud-guards badly smashed, and the -wind-shield cracked, and a good deal scratched up?” - -“Sure, I know that car,” answered Horsehair readily. “The feller that -runs it was in here to git some new batteries, and also some gas and -oil.” - -“Was he smoking cigarettes?” questioned Roger. - -“He was—one right after another. But I told him not to smoke while I was -pourin’ in the gasoline. I don’t want to go up to heaven jest yet;” and -Horsehair chuckled over his little joke. - -“Have you any idea where that fellow came from or where he went to?” -questioned Dave. “I might as well tell you, Horsehair, it is of great -importance. We suspect that fellow of some serious crimes.” - -“You don’t say, Porter! What did he do—steal that machine? Oh, I know -them auto thieves is all over. They told me only last week a car was -stole in and around Boston ’most every day.” - -“Never mind what the fellow is guilty of, Horsehair. What we want to do -is to find him, and then you’ll know all about it.” - -“Well, I don’t know where he come from, but after he got fixed up here -he turned off in the direction of Cullomburg.” - -“Do you know what make of car it was?” - -“Yes, although the name-plate had been tore off. It was a Simms-Tecco, -one of them old foreign cars. Must be about eight or a dozen years old. -It had them old-fashioned battery connections on it, and had them old -Horseshoe anti-skid tires on the rear wheels. That’s how I remember it.” - -“You must have learned a lot about cars after you left Oak Hall,” was -Roger’s comment. - -“Oh, I’m right in the business now, I am!” answered Horsehair proudly. - -“You didn’t know who the fellow was, did you?” questioned Dave. - -“No, I didn’t. But do you know, he acted awful queer—that feller did. He -come sailin’ in here shoutin’ out fer gasoline, and all at once, when he -seen me, he stopped as if he was shot, and fer a minute or two I thought -he was goin’ to back out and go ’way. Then he seemed to git over it and -bought what he wanted, jest like I said.” - -“It is no wonder that he was surprised, if he is the fellow we think,” -answered Dave. “Do you remember a chap who went to Oak Hall, named Nick -Jasniff—the fellow who once attacked me in the gymnasium with an Indian -club and then ran away?” - -“O’ course I remember that big overgrown bully,” answered Horsehair. - -“Well, that’s the fellow we think it is,” said Roger. - -“But it can’t be him! This feller was a furriner. He had real dark skin -and dark hair and a little dark mustache.” - -“We think he was in disguise.” - -“Gee, sho! you don’t mean it?” ejaculated Jackson Lemond. “Gosh, it does -beat all wot some fellers will do! And I suppose he stole that auto?” - -“We don’t know about that. But even if he did, we think he is guilty of -a worse crime,” answered Dave; and thereupon related some of the -particulars concerning the disappearance of his sister and Jessie. - -“Well, if that rascal is guilty of sech a measly piece of business as -that, I hope you ketch him,” said Horsehair. “He deserves to be put -behind the bars.” - -The two chums talked the matter over with the former stage driver of Oak -Hall for fully half an hour, and then returned to the hotel. Now that -the scent of the trail seemed to grow warmer, it was hard for them to -rest, and they slept but little and were glad when morning was at hand. - -“I am going to call up Crumville on the telephone as soon as possible,” -declared Dave, and went to a booth to see if he could get the necessary -connections. - -It took some little time, but finally he recognized the voice of Mr. -Wadsworth. - -“This is Dave—Dave Porter,” said our hero. “I’ve got some news of -importance.” - -“And we’ve got some news, too,” answered the jewelry manufacturer. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI - THE MOUNTAIN ROAD - - -The news Mr. Oliver Wadsworth had to impart was to the effect that two -more notes had been received from those who held Laura and Jessie -prisoners. - -The first told that it was known Dave and Roger were trying to follow up -those who had committed the crime, and added a warning that it would do -no good and if they persisted in the search they would certainly come to -grief. The second communication had been another demand for the fifty -thousand dollars, stating that the sum must be paid over in cash inside -of the next three days and designating how the transfer was to be made. -With that communication was sent a lock of each girl’s hair and also a -card on which was written: “_We are well_,” and signed by both. - -“I’m glad to know they are well,” answered Dave; and then he related the -particulars of what he and Roger had discovered since they had sent -their former messages to Crumville. - -“It certainly looks as if you were on the right track!” exclaimed the -jewelry manufacturer. “I hope you will notify the local authorities, so -that they will watch out for that car and those who are running it.” - -“We have done that,” answered our hero; “but the local authorities up -here do not amount to a great deal when it comes to running down such -slick criminals. I think the best thing you can do is to notify some of -those city detectives to come up here and get busy.” - -“You can rest assured, Dave, that I will do that—and at once,” was the -reply. “Where can they get into communication with you?” - -“We are now stopping at the American House in Frytown, but from here we -are going to go up into the mountains to Cullomburg. We have an idea -that the girls are being held somewhere between here and Cullomburg or -beyond. There are not very many good roads around here, and it is -reported that the battered-up touring-car was seen going back and forth -on the road between here and that mountain town.” - -Before the conversation over the telephone came to an end, Dunston -Porter broke in on the Crumville end of the wire, and when he heard of -what had been discovered stated that he would come on to Crandall -immediately, bringing several men with him, and there get some kind of -turnout to take him to Frytown and beyond. - -“There can’t be too many of us in this search,” said Dave’s uncle. - -“If we learn anything new we’ll send word to you at the American House -in Frytown,” announced Dave, “and if we need any signal remember what we -used to use—two shots or two whistles in quick succession”; and -thereupon the telephone conversation came to an end. - -“I’m glad to learn your uncle is coming up here and that he will bring -two or three men with him,” said Roger, when told of what had been said -over the wire. “As your uncle says, it would be impossible for us to -round up those rascals alone, even if we were fortunate enough to locate -them.” - -“I don’t want to round them up so much as I want to rescue Jessie and -Laura,” was the reply. - -“I’m glad to learn that they are well, Dave.” - -“But we can’t be sure of that, Roger. That card may have been signed -under compulsion, or it may have been signed some days ago. There is no -telling what condition the girls are in just now. They may have been -dreadfully mistreated,” and the look on Dave’s face showed his great -anxiety. - -The chums explained the situation to the hotel proprietor, who promised -to aid them in every way possible. Then they had breakfast, paid their -bill, and rode away from the hotel. They stopped at the garage where -Horsehair was in charge, and there purchased some gasoline and oil and -had a little more air put in their tires. - -“Now don’t forget, Horsehair,” said Dave. “If that fellow puts in an -appearance with that battered-up car—or anybody else comes with that -car—be sure to have the fellow held. I don’t care how you do it—just see -to it that he doesn’t get away. If he talks about damages, or anything -like that, don’t pay any attention to him. We’ll foot the bill, if -there’s anything to pay.” - -“All right, Porter, you leave it to me,” answered the former -stage-driver of Oak Hall. “If I git my claws on ’im, you bet your boots -he ain’t goin’ to git away, nohow.” - -“And remember, if you see any of those people, or see any people who -look like gypsies around here, either let me know, or else leave word at -the hotel for my uncle, Dunston Porter.” - -“Is he here?” - -“Not yet. But I expect him up here before to-night.” - -Dave had questioned Horsehair about the road to Cullomburg, and had been -told that it was a winding highway, passing over two small hills, and -then going up into the mountains beyond. There were a number of -cross-roads, but none of these was in very good condition, and that to -travel them in an automobile would be difficult. - -“I wonder if we had better take somebody along?” remarked Roger, when -they were about to leave. “We might get a constable, or somebody like -that.” - -“I think we had better make this search on our own hook,” answered our -hero. “Outsiders might be more in the way than anything else.” - -“I wish we had brought along some sort of disguises, Dave. They might -come in handy.” - -“We can put on our auto goggles and pull our caps down pretty well over -our foreheads and button our dust-coats tight up around our necks, just -as Jasniff did. That will help to disguise us.” - -A little while later found them on the road to Cullomburg. The highway -was a winding one, passing a number of farms, where, however, the houses -sat back a considerable distance from the road. Here and there they had -to pass through patches of woods, and at one point they crossed a -rickety bridge that spanned a small mountain torrent. - -“That bridge isn’t any too good for a heavy auto,” announced Roger, -after they had rattled over it. “Some day some fellow with a heavy load -will break through.” - -So far they had met nobody on the road, but now they heard the rattle of -a wagon, and presently a sleepy-looking farmer, drawing a load of hay, -appeared. He was willing enough to stop and talk, but could give them no -information concerning the battered touring-car. - -“I belong on the other side of Cullomburg, an’ I don’t git down on this -end o’ the road very much,” he explained. - -“Do automobiles use the road on the other side of Cullomburg?” -questioned Roger. - -“They do when they don’t know where they’re at,” answered the farmer, -with a chuckle. “A feller from Boston come through that way this spring, -an’ he vowed he’d never come ag’in. He got stuck in the mud twice, an’ -he cut two tires all to pieces on the rocks, an’ I guess it was too -expensive fer ’im.” - -“Then the good road ends at Cullomburg?” said Dave. - -“That’s right, mister. An’ the last half-mile into town ain’t none too -good at that.” - -“And the side-roads are all poor, too?” - -“Yes, sir, every blame one o’ them. We ought to have ’em fixed up, but -the folks aroun’ here don’t want to pay the taxes for doin’ it.” And -then the farmer with the load of hay rattled on down the road. - -“Well, the trail seems to be shortening,” announced Dave, as they -continued on their way up a steep grade where he had to throw the clutch -into second gear. “If that car couldn’t use the road beyond Cullomburg -and couldn’t use any of the side-roads, those rascals must be hanging -out somewhere on this road between Frytown and Cullomburg.” - -They were passing up a rocky bit of the roadway when suddenly there came -a loud report from one of the back tires. Dave turned off the power and -put on the hand-brake, and they came to a stop. - -“A blow-out,” he announced laconically. - -“I was thinking we might get something of that sort after what that -farmer said,” answered the senator’s son. “Well, it’s all in the day’s -work, Dave. We might as well get out and see how much damage has been -done.” - -The cut in the back tire was not a large one, and at first they thought -to use the same tire again by putting in a patch. Then, however, Dave -changed his mind, and said he would put on another shoe. - -“The tube might blow out through the patch just when we wanted to use -the car the worst way,” he said. “If we have to, we can fall back on -this old shoe later on.” - -The chums were used to putting on tires, so the task did not take them -very long. There was a device attached to the engine for blowing up the -inner tube, so they were saved the trouble of this exertion. - -“Suppose you let me run the car for a while?” suggested the senator’s -son. - -“All right, Roger; go ahead,” was the ready reply. “Only don’t run too -fast. I’ve got another idea. Perhaps we’ll be able to trace that other -car by the marks left in the roadway. Don’t you remember Horsehair said -that the back wheels of the car were equipped with the old-style -Horseshoe anti-skid tires?” - -“Yes, I remember his saying that.” - -They proceeded along the mountain road with care, doing this not only to -look for some trace of the car they wanted to locate, but also in order -to avoid the rough stones which seemed to crop up most unexpectedly. A -quarter of a mile farther on, they came out on a level stretch, and just -beyond was a cross-road. Here the woods were thick on all sides, and the -roadway was covered with dirt and decayed leaves. - -“Certainly a rather lonely place,” announced Roger. - -“A splendid place in which to hide,” answered Dave, and then, as they -came closer to the cross-road, he added: “Let us stop here, Roger, I -want to take a look around.” - -The touring-car was brought to a halt, and the chums got out and began -to inspect the wagon and other tracks to be seen both on the highway -which they had been traveling and the narrow cross-road. A few minutes -later Dave uttered a cry. - -“Here are the marks of auto tires, Roger! Just look in this muddy -stretch. Wouldn’t you say that those were the marks of the Horseshoe -anti-skid shoes?” - -“That’s just what they are, Dave!” answered the senator’s son, after a -brief examination. - -The marks had been discovered on the side-road to their left. The road -was a winding one, leading through the thick woods, and what was beyond -they could not surmise. - -“It seems to me this proves their hiding-place must be up on that road,” -said Roger. - -“Let us go down the road on the other side and see if any of the marks -are there,” returned our hero. - -This was done, but no automobile marks of any kind were to be discerned -in the soft soil. Then they came back to the cross-road, and after a -long hunt found traces where the other touring car had come around the -corner from the side-road into the main road leading down to Frytown. - -“That settles it in my mind,” announced Dave. “I don’t believe they ever -went through to Cullomburg or that they ever went up that side road on -our right. They took this side-road to the left, and it’s my opinion -that leads to where they have got Laura and Jessie prisoners.” - -“What do you think we ought to do, Dave? Go back to town and get help -and round them up?” - -Our hero mused for a moment. “Maybe we had better go ahead, Roger, and -do a little more investigating.” - -“But suppose those rascals come on us all at once and surprise us? For -all we know there may be half a dozen or more in this gang.” - -“I’ve got another idea. I don’t believe this road is very long. As we -came up I saw through the clearing below that there was quite a mountain -on our left, and this road probably ends right there. Now, if you are -willing, we’ll run our machine up past the cross-road a little distance, -and then see if we can’t hide it behind the bushes. Then we can tramp up -on the side road on foot.” - -“All right, Dave. Let us do it—and at once!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII - TO THE RESCUE - - -It was an easy matter to run the car a hundred feet or so beyond the -side road. Here the trees were slightly scattered, and they had little -difficulty in bringing the machine to a halt in the midst of them at a -place where there were a few bushes. Then Dave took out the spark plug -from the dashboard and placed it in his pocket. - -“I don’t believe anybody will bother that car,” he said. - -“Perhaps we won’t be gone very long anyhow, Dave. This may prove to be a -blind road leading to nothing.” - -They pushed on side by side. As it was very warm they had discarded -their dust-coats and their goggles. Each had seen to it that his pistol -was ready for use, for there was no telling what might confront them. - -A little farther on the road took a turn, and here became so stony that -the tracks made by the wheels of the car they were following were -completely lost. But as there was no place where the machine might have -turned around, they felt certain it had gone on. - -“We had better keep quiet from now on, Roger,” said our hero in a low -voice. “And keep your ears and eyes wide open.” - -Two hundred feet more were passed and then Dave came to a halt, at the -same time clutching his chum by the arm. From ahead they heard footsteps -coming down the rocky roadway. Both made a bound, and crouched behind -some trees and brushwood. The approaching person, whoever he was, came -closer; and presently the two youths saw that he was a middle-aged man -dressed in the garb of a gypsy. - -“I’ve seen that fellow before! He is one of the gypsies who used to hang -around the outskirts of Crumville!” whispered Dave excitedly. - -“Then he must be one of the chaps who ran off with Laura and Jessie!” -returned the senator’s son. “What shall we do?” - -“Wait a minute. We want to make sure that he is alone.” - -They waited until the gypsy had passed them and gone on a distance of a -hundred feet or more. He was evidently alone. - -“Maybe we had better let him go,” whispered Roger. “That will make one -less to tackle, if the others are ahead of us.” - -“He’s not going to get away,” answered Dave decidedly. “We may not meet -the others at all, and in that case we’d be very foolish to let this -fellow get out of our clutches. Come on! I’m going to make him a -prisoner!” - -Making as little noise as possible, our hero went after the gypsy, who -had now passed a turn in the road and was out of sight. The senator’s -son followed, and soon both came up behind the fellow ahead. - -The gypsy was taken completely by surprise. He had seated himself on a -rock to fix one of his shoes, and before he could regain his feet both -of the young civil engineers had him covered with their weapons. - -“Throw up your hands and keep quiet,” demanded Dave sternly. - -“Yes, don’t you dare to cry out,” added Roger. “If you do, you’ll get -shot.” - -“What is this? For why do you stop me like this?” stammered the gypsy. -He was a tall, swarthy-looking fellow, with anything but a cheerful -countenance. - -“You know well enough why we have stopped you,” returned Dave. “What -have you done with those two young ladies who belong in Crumville?” - -“I know not’ing of any young ladies,” grumbled the gypsy. “You make big -mistake.” - -“You do know!” cried Roger. “Now tell us the truth! Have you hurt those -young ladies?” - -“I know not’ing,” was all the gypsy replied. And, try their best, that -was about all the two chums could get out of him. - -Had the man not been covered by the pistols he would undoubtedly have -shown fight, but he was too cowardly to attempt anything under the -existing circumstances. - -Not knowing what else to do with their prisoner, the two youths marched -him down the road and to where they had left the automobile. Here they -brought out a strong rope, and with this bound the gypsy’s hands and -feet and tied him fast to one of the trees. - -“I guess he’ll stay there until we get back,” was Dave’s comment. “Now -then, are you going to tell us what became of those young ladies or -not?” he questioned. But to this the gypsy merely shook his head and -muttered something which neither of the young civil engineers could -understand. - -“I don’t believe that fellow is altogether right in his mind,” said -Roger. - -“Either that, Roger, or else he is shamming,” answered Dave. But Roger -was right, the fellow was not more than half-witted. - -Leaving their prisoner, the two chums lost no time in making their way -along the side-road once more. They soon passed the point where they had -first caught sight of the gypsy. Here the roadway became fairly good for -a distance of several hundred feet, but beyond this were a number of -large rocks, and the road seemed to come to an end in a mass of -brushwood. - -“Let us look around for wheel-tracks, Roger,” said Dave in a low voice. - -Both began an eager search, and were soon rewarded by seeing where the -touring-car they were following had left the mountain road and passed in -among some trees and bushes on the right. Close at hand was a spring of -water, and beyond this the remains of a tumbled-down barn. - -“I see the car!” whispered Dave, and pointed to the machine, which -rested behind some rocks and brushwood. One glance at the automobile -showed that it was deserted. - -“They can’t be very far off,” said Roger in a low voice. “Dave, what do -you think we had better do next?” - -“Let us get behind the trees and bushes and reconnoiter,” was the -answer. “Be very careful, Roger, so that you don’t expose yourself. We -don’t want to tumble into a hornet’s nest.” - -“Don’t you think we had better go back to town and get help, or wait -until your Uncle Dunston arrives?” - -“Maybe we’ll have to do that. But I want to discover where the girls are -first, if I possibly can.” - -With extreme caution the young men moved along behind the trees. They -saw that from the dilapidated barn a trail ran over some rough rocks to -where was located a large bungalow. This had evidently been unused for -years, and was almost as dilapidated as the other building. One end of -the front porch had fallen down, and many of the windows had the glass -broken out of them. - -“I’d like to wager that this is the place to which they brought the -girls,” whispered Roger. - -“I think you’re right,” answered Dave. “And if that is so, and those -rascals are around here, we want to be more careful than ever.” - -Nobody was in sight around the dilapidated bungalow, and not a sound -came from within. Presently, however, Dave noticed a thin wreath of -smoke curling up from the chimney. - -“Somebody has got a fire in there—that’s sure,” he whispered. “I’m going -to work my way around to the kitchen side of the building.” - -With added caution the two youths crept along among the trees and over -the rocks until they gained a point where they could look into the open -kitchen of the bungalow. Here they saw an old gypsy woman moving around -as if preparing a meal. - -“I’ll bet that’s Mother Domoza, in fact, I’m almost certain of it,” -whispered our hero. And he was right, it was indeed the gypsy woman who -had caused so much trouble to the folks in Crumville. - -The two chums crept closer, and were then able to see what Mother Domoza -was doing. She had prepared some things to eat over a small rusty stove -in the bungalow, and now she placed this food on a couple of tin plates. -Then, with the plates in one hand and a tin kettle of water in the -other, the old woman left the kitchen and entered the front part of the -bungalow. - -“Do you know what I think?” said Roger excitedly. “I think she’s been -getting some food ready for the girls!” - -“I’m going to follow her and find out,” answered Dave, with sudden -determination. - -“But, Dave, we want to be careful! If those other fellows are around——” - -“I know, Roger. But I was thinking that possibly we could get into the -bungalow without being seen. It is a big rambling affair, as you can -see, and it must have a lot of vacant rooms.” - -Our hero led the way across a little clearing, and then entered the -kitchen of the house. Going to one of the doors, he listened intently -and heard Mother Domoza ascending a creaking pair of stairs. Then he -heard a door slam, after which, for the time being, all became silent. - -Not daring to speak for fear of being overheard, our hero tiptoed his -way across what had been the living room of the bungalow and then to the -narrow stairs which led to the upper floor. Roger came close behind him, -and soon the pair stood on an upper landing. All was bare, the entire -building being devoid of everything but a few heavy pieces of furniture, -evidently left there years before because the owner did not think they -were worth carrying away. - -“Oh! oh! please don’t do that! Please don’t!” - -The unexpected cry came from a room at the end of a corridor. It was the -voice of a girl, and was immediately followed by some harsh words -uttered by the gypsy woman. Then the voice of another girl was heard. - -“You let her alone! Don’t you dare to touch her, or touch me!” - -“I’ll do as I please! I’ll make you behave yourselves!” came in the -voice of Mother Domoza. And then there followed some heavy footsteps and -several girlish screams. - -Not waiting to hear more, Dave and Roger bounded down the corridor and -flung themselves against the door to the room from which the sounds had -issued. They had recognized the voices of Laura and Jessie, and were -more than eager to go to the girls’ assistance. - -The door had been closed, and evidently something had been placed -against it. But the two young civil engineers were strong and their -excitement gave them additional strength. They flung the door open -readily, sending a bench before it. As they did this they found -themselves confronted by Mother Domoza, her eyes blazing with commingled -astonishment and anger. - -“You—you!” she shrieked. “What do you want here?” - -“It’s Dave!” shrieked Jessie. - -“And Roger!” exclaimed Laura. - -Then the two girls attempted to move toward the two youths, but their -way was barred by Mother Domoza. - -“You get out of here! You have no right here!” screamed the old gypsy -hag, and in her sudden fury she hurled herself at the two young civil -engineers, sending them out into the corridor. Then she tried to shut -the door of the room behind her. - -But now Dave’s blood was up, and he knew it would be useless to attempt -to argue with the old hag. He made a leap forward, caught her by the -arm, and swung her around. As he did this, Roger caught the old hag by -the other arm, and between them they ran her down the corridor. Here -they saw the open door to a vacant room, and into this they thrust the -old woman, who, by this time, was screaming at the top of her lungs. The -door had a hook with a staple to it, and this they locked. - -“Now you behave yourself and keep still,” ordered Dave. “If you don’t, -you’ll get into worse trouble than ever.” - -“Oh, Dave! is it really you?” came from the room at the other end of the -corridor. - -“Roger! Roger!” burst out Laura, “can’t you come and release us?” - -“We are chained fast to the floor,” explained Jessie. - -“We’ll release you, and we’ll get you out of here in no time,” answered -Dave; and then he and his chum ran back to where the girls were -confined. - -They had just passed into the room and were hard at work on some chains -which bound the two girls to rings in the floor, when there came an -unexpected interruption. They heard footsteps in the corridor, and an -instant later several gypsy men appeared. Then, before they could make a -move to escape or show fight, the door to the room was slammed shut and -they heard the click of a heavy lock. - -Dave and Roger were prisoners in company with those they had sought to -rescue. - -[Illustration: “YOU HAVE NO RIGHT HERE!” SCREAMED THE OLD GYPSY HAG. -_Page 275._] - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII - PRISONERS - - -For a moment after they were made prisoners Dave and his chum thought to -try an attack upon the door, in an endeavor to batter it down. But then -a command from the corridor made them pause. - -“Now, you keep quiet in there and behave yourselves,” said a voice in -fairly good English. “We are armed, and we mean business.” - -“Who is it who is talking?” asked Dave. - -“That’s none of your business, young man. You keep quiet or it will be -the worse for you.” - -“Say, Tony, you are wanted downstairs,” put in another voice out in the -corridor. “There may be more of those spies around.” - -“All right, Carlos,” was the quick reply. Then the gypsy called Tony -raised his voice. “Now you fellows settle down and don’t try any funny -work. Remember we are all armed and know how to shoot.” - -“Look here, we want to talk this matter over,” said Dave, as he heard -the gypsy prepare to go below. - -“I haven’t got time now. I’ll be back later. Now, no funny work -remember, or you’ll get the worst of it!” and then those in the room -heard the gypsies tramp downstairs. Mother Domoza had joined them, and -all seemed to be in an angry discussion among themselves. - -“Oh, Dave, do be careful!” pleaded Jessie. “They are dreadful people, -and I am afraid they will shoot us!” - -“Yes, you must both be very careful,” put in Laura. “I heard one of them -say that if our folks attempted to follow them, there would surely be -some shooting;” and the girl shuddered. - -“Have they done you any harm?” questioned Roger, quickly. - -“They have treated us very rudely, and they have given us awful food,” -answered the daughter of the jewelry manufacturer. - -“They wanted us to aid them in a demand for money, but we would not do -it,” explained Laura. “We have had some dreadful quarrels, and that old -Mother Domoza has been exceedingly hateful to us. Just now, when she -brought in some food, she said we must write a letter home for money, -and when we said we wouldn’t do it, she caught Jessie by the arm and -shook her.” - -Each of the girls was chained to a ring in the flooring by means of a -heavy steel dog-collar fastened around her ankle and to a chain which -had another steel dog-collar on the other end passed through a ring in -the floor. - -“They keep us chained up about half the time,” explained Laura. - -“But not at night, I hope?” returned Dave. - -“No. At night Mother Domoza releases us so we can go into the adjoining -room where there is an old mattress on the floor on which we have to -sleep. Mother Domoza, or one of the other gypsies, remains on guard in -the hallway outside.” - -“What about the windows?” questioned Roger. - -“They are all nailed up, as you can see. Once we tried to pry one of -them open, but the gypsies heard it, and stopped us.” - -The two youths made a hasty inspection of the two rooms in which the -girls were kept prisoners. Each apartment was about twelve feet square, -and each contained a window which was now nailed down and had heavy -slats of wood taken from the tumbled-down piazza nailed across the -outside. The inner room, which contained the mattress already mentioned, -had also a small clothing closet in it, and in this the girls had placed -the few belongings which had been in Laura’s suit-case at the time they -had been kidnapped. - -“They took our handbags with our money away from us,” explained Jessie. - -Of course the girls wanted to know how it was that Dave and Roger had -gotten on the trail, and they listened eagerly to the story the chums -had to tell. - -“Oh, I knew you would come, Dave!” cried Jessie, with tears in her eyes. -“I told Laura all along that you would leave Montana and come here just -as soon as you heard of it;” and she clung tightly to our hero, while -the look in her bedimmed eyes bespoke volumes. - -“Yes, and I said Roger would come,” added Laura, with a warm look at the -senator’s son. - -“There’s one thing we can’t understand at all,” said Dave. “How was it -that you left that train at Crandall, went to the hotel there, and then -walked out on that country road to where the automobile was?” - -“Oh, that was the awfulest trick that ever was played!” burst out Laura. -“They must have planned it some days ahead, or they never could have -done it.” - -“Tell me,” broke in Roger suddenly, “wasn’t the driver of that car Nick -Jasniff?” - -“I think he was,” answered Dave’s sister. “We accused him of being -Jasniff, but he denied it. Nevertheless, both of us feel rather certain -that it is the same fellow who robbed Mr. Wadsworth’s factory.” - -“We suspected Jasniff almost from the start,” said Dave. “But go -ahead—tell us how they got you to leave the train and go to where they -had the automobile.” - -“You see, it was this way,” explained Laura. “At the very first station -where the train stopped, a messenger came through the car calling out my -name. He had a telegram for me, which read something like this: ‘We are -on an auto tour to Boston. If you want to ride with us, leave train at -Crandall and meet us at the Bliss House. Telegraph answer from -Glenwood.’ And the telegram was signed, ‘Mrs. Frank Browning.’” - -“Mrs. Frank Browning?” repeated Dave. “Do you mean the girl you used to -know so well—Edith Parshall?” - -“Yes, Dave. You know she is married, and her husband has a fine big -touring-car. They left Crumville for a trip a few days before we went -away. They were at our house talking about the tour the night before -they started.” - -“I see,” answered Dave, nodding understandingly. “Go on.” - -“Jessie and I talked it over, and as we were very much crowded in the -day coach—you know we couldn’t get parlor-car chairs—we thought it would -be a fine thing to accept Mrs. Browning’s invitation. So at Glenwood we -sent a telegram, stating we would meet them at the Bliss House in -Crandall. The train met with some kind of an accident, and we were -stalled just outside Crandall; but we got out with a number of others -and walked to the town.” - -“Of course Mrs. Browning had nothing to do with the telegram,” put in -Jessie. - -“Just as we got to the hotel in Crandall, a boy came up with a note and -asked if either of us knew Laura Porter. I took the note, and from the -way it was written supposed that Mrs. Browning had sent it. It stated -that they had had a blow-out, and her husband was fixing the car some -distance down the road, and wouldn’t we walk down there and meet them?” - -“So, instead of going into the hotel, we went down the road as the boy -told us,” said Jessie. “He pointed out the car, and then ran away to -join some girls who were in a yard not very far off. We went up to the -car, and the next thing we knew we were caught up and thrown inside, and -the car went down the road at breakneck speed.” - -“Who was in the car?” questioned Dave. - -“Mother Domoza and a tall gypsy, who we found out was Tony Bopeppo, the -man you were just talking to. The fellow who drove the car was the chap -we afterward suspected of being Jasniff. He wore a false mustache and a -wig, and I am sure he had his face stained.” - -“Didn’t you struggle or cry out?” questioned Roger. - -“To be sure we did! But the old gypsy hag had something on a -handkerchief which she placed to our faces, and then we went off into -something like a swoon. When we recovered, we found we were bound hands -and feet with pieces of clothes-line. The automobile was going along at -a lively rate, and we bumped over some terrible rocks. Then we began to -climb a long hill, and after a little while the automobile came to a -stop among some trees. There we were met by several other gypsies, and -the whole crowd made us walk to this house and marched us up to these -rooms—and here we are!” - -“And now they have captured you, too!” cried Jessie. “Oh, this is worse -than ever!” - -“Don’t you worry too much,” whispered Dave, lowering his voice so that -anybody outside the door might not hear. “When we were at a town a few -miles away from here, we sent word to Crumville, and Uncle Dunston is -coming out to this neighborhood.” - -And then in a low voice Dave and Roger related how they had been -following up the trail from Frytown, and had captured one of the gypsies -and tied him to a tree. - -“Oh, if we could only get word to Uncle Dunston!” murmured Laura. - -The girls had had no food since early morning, and so they were hungry. -Nevertheless they insisted upon it that the boys share what was on the -tin plates left by Mother Domoza, and each washed down the scanty meal -with a draught of water from the tin kettle. - -“Dave, what do you think they will do with all of us?” questioned his -sister, after the situation had been discussed from several angles. The -gypsies were still downstairs and in the woods surrounding the bungalow. - -“Their idea is to make a lot of money out of this,” was the reply. “But -they are not going to do so if I can prevent it. I’m going to get out of -here somehow, and then notify the authorities, and have these rascals -rounded up.” - -“That’s the talk!” returned Roger. “Come on—let us make an inspection of -these rooms and see what can be done.” - -“I’m going to release the girls first,” said Dave, and getting out his -penknife, he opened the file blade and began work on the steel band -which encircled Jessie’s ankle. - -Seeing this, Roger employed himself on the band which held Laura -prisoner, and soon the youths had the satisfaction of setting the two -girls free. - -“Those gypsies will be very angry when they find out that you have -ruined the chains,” remarked Jessie. - -“We’ll have to take our chances on that,” answered Dave. - -“We are still armed, even if we are prisoners,” put in Roger. “I guess -we could put up a pretty stiff fight if we had to.” - -“Oh, Roger, I hope there won’t be any shooting!” cried Laura, in horror. - -“There won’t be, unless they start something,” answered the senator’s -son. - -The two young men began a careful inspection of the two rooms. Although -the bungalow was old and dilapidated in many places, the timbers of -which it was built were heavy, and they found the walls and the floor, -as well as the ceiling, intact. The only place that looked as if it -might afford some means of escape was the little closet where the girls -had hung up some of the articles contained in Laura’s suit-case. Here, -by standing on a bench, Dave found that one of the boards in the closet -ceiling was loose. He was just about to make an investigation of what -was beyond this loose board, when there came a sharp knock on the door -leading to the corridor. - -“I want Dave Porter to step out here!” said a voice. “I want to talk to -him!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX - TRYING TO ESCAPE - - -“Oh, Dave, don’t go!” cried Jessie, as he walked toward the door, and -she caught him by the arm. - -“I don’t think I’d trust myself out there alone, Dave,” cautioned Roger -in a low voice. “I think the best thing we can do under the present -circumstances is to stick together.” - -Dave hesitated. He realized that what his chum said might be true. Then -his hand went into the pocket where he had his automatic pistol. - -“I’ve got this, Roger. I think I can defend myself,” he said. - -“Oh, Dave, I’d hate to see any shooting!” whispered his sister. - -“There won’t be any shooting unless they start things,” he answered. - -“Say, Dave Porter, are you coming out or not?” demanded the voice of the -person in the corridor. - -“Is that you, Nick Jasniff?” asked our hero quickly, for he was quite -sure that he recognized the voice. - -“Who told you I was Nick Jasniff?” grumbled the fellow outside. - -“Never mind that now, Jasniff. What do you want?” - -“You are making a mistake about me, Dave Porter. I want you to come -outside so I can talk to you.” - -“Is the door unlocked?” - -“It is. But don’t you try any funny work, because we are well armed, and -we don’t intend to take any chances so far as you and Roger Morr are -concerned.” - -With caution Dave opened the door several inches, and peered out into -the corridor. He saw the disguised person he suspected of being Nick -Jasniff standing there, and behind him were several others, evidently -gypsies. - -“This is a fine piece of business for you to be in, Jasniff,” he said -sharply. For a close look at the face in front of him had convinced him -that the rascal was really the fellow who had escaped from prison. - -“Humph, you needn’t preach to me, Dave Porter! I guess I’ve now got you -just where I want you!” answered Nick Jasniff, seeing it would be -useless to deny his identity any longer. - -“That remains to be seen. Fellows like you always get to the end of -their rope sooner or later.” - -“We won’t waste words on that just now, Porter. What I want to know is, -did you and Morr come here alone or are there others hiding in the -woods?” - -“Do you think I’d be fool enough to tell you our plans?” demanded Dave. - -“You’ll tell me everything, Porter, and do it pretty quick!” snarled -Nick Jasniff, flying into a sudden rage. “Don’t you see that you are -entirely in our hands, and that we can do as we please with all of you? -Unless you tell me everything I want to know, we are coming in there and -take those two girls away and leave you two fellows here, bound and -gagged. Then, if nobody comes to rescue you, you can starve to death. Do -you get me?” - -“Oh, Dave! don’t let them do anything like that!” pleaded Jessie, who -had been listening over his shoulder to what was said. - -“Don’t worry about their binding and gagging us—at least not while we -are armed,” put in Roger. - -“See here, Jasniff, you can talk all you please, but we do not intend to -let you carry out your threats,” said Dave. “Both Morr and I are well -armed, and we know how to shoot. In a very short time this place will be -completely surrounded and you will be made prisoners.” - -“It isn’t so!” cried the former bully of Oak Hall; but the tone of his -voice showed his uneasiness. - -“It may be so!” cried one of the gypsies quickly. “Remember, Carmenaldo -did not return. That looks bad.” - -The gypsies began to whisper among themselves, and then one of them -pulled Jasniff back. - -“We had better go out again and take another look around,” he said in a -hoarse whisper. “That young man may speak the truth, and we do not want -to run any chances of being captured in such a game as this. If we find -the woods clear, we can then come back and settle with these intruders.” - -“All right, have your own way,” grumbled Jasniff. “Just the same, I -think they came here alone. Didn’t I see them alone at that hotel?” - -The gypsies were evidently too disturbed to argue the matter further, -and they pushed forward and closed the door in Dave’s face. Then those -inside the room heard the lock fastened once more and heard the gypsies -tramp away and down the stairs. - -“Oh, Dave, I’m so glad you didn’t get into a fight!” cried Jessie, her -face showing momentary relief. - -“While they are gone let us see if we can escape by way of the opening -in the top of the closet,” suggested Roger. - -“Hush, not so loud!” whispered Dave. “One of the gypsies or Nick Jasniff -may still be in the corridor listening.” - -“I’ll tell you what let’s do,” returned the senator’s son in an equally -low voice. “Let the two girls stay here and do some pretty loud talking. -That will cover up any noise that we may make in the closet. Then, if -there is a chance to get out, we’ll have to lay a plan as to just how to -do it.” - -This suggestion was carried out, and the two girls began to talk -hurriedly and in a loud tone of voice close to the door leading to the -corridor. In the meantime, Dave and Roger went to the closet, and both -made an investigation of the ceiling. Here, as stated before, one board -was loose, and they soon managed to pry up another. - -“Now boost me up, Roger, and I’ll investigate further,” said our hero. - -Dave presently found himself in a dark place directly under the sloping -roof of the bungalow. In its highest part, the roof was but four feet -from the flooring, so he had to stoop as he felt his way around. He soon -came to a sort of hatchway; the cover to this he raised cautiously. -Below was a vacant room which had once been used as a bed-chamber. -Around the opening where Dave stood was a mass of discarded household -things and several packages of magazines which had evidently been -brought up to the little garret-like opening by means of a ladder, but -now the ladder was missing. - -Our hero lit a match, and this brief illumination showed him several -large bundles of magazines still tied together with some old rope. He -quickly possessed himself of the rope, and found it still usable. Then -he went back to the closet where Roger awaited him, and told of what he -had discovered. - -“Do you think we can make our escape that way?” questioned the senator’s -son eagerly. - -“I don’t know about that, Roger. We might try.” - -The matter was discussed for several minutes with the girls, and all -decided that they had better do what they could to secure their freedom -without delay. Dave brought down one of the boards from the flooring -above, and setting the bench up endways placed one end of the board upon -it, thus making a sort of gangplank. Up this he and Roger assisted the -girls, and then followed to the little garret-like enclosure above. - -“Now I think I had better go down into that other room first and look -around,” said our hero, and let himself down by means of the rope which -he had found and which he fastened to a staple at the side of the -hatchway. - -Once below, Dave tiptoed his way around cautiously. There was a window -to the room, and this looked out on the top of a little porch, beyond -which were a number of trees. Then he went to the door and opened it -cautiously. He saw a little corridor opening into that which led to the -stairs. From below came a murmur of voices. - -“I don’t think we can get away by going below,” he explained to the -others, after they had joined him; “but that looks pretty good to me,” -and he pointed out of the window to the roof of the porch and the trees -so close at hand. - -“Oh, that’ll be easy if they don’t catch sight of us getting down,” -answered Roger quickly. - -The glass of the window was gone; nevertheless, they had to raise the -lower sash before any of them could get out on the roof of the porch. -This was much dilapidated, and creaked as they stepped upon it. - -“Oh, Dave! you don’t suppose it will break down with us?” cried Jessie. - -“Jump for the trees if it starts to go,” he answered, and the words had -barely left his lips when the old porch began to sag. A moment later it -collapsed completely, sending all of the young people to the ground. - -It was a most unexpected tumble. As they went down Dave made a grab for -Jessie and did what he could to save her from getting hurt. Both landed -in some bushes, and Laura and Roger came down beside them. - -With the sudden collapse of the porch, there was a cry of alarm in the -lower part of the bungalow, and some person, evidently one of the -gypsies, set up a yell from somewhere among the trees. - -“Come!” cried Dave, as he pulled Jessie to her feet. “We’ve no time to -spare! Let us get out of sight as quickly as possible!” - -He glanced over his shoulder, to see that Roger had Laura by the arm and -was forcing her along. All four ran among the trees, not knowing, -however, in which direction they were heading. - -“Oh, Dave, they are after us!” panted Jessie. - -Our hero glanced back and saw that several gypsies and Nick Jasniff had -just emerged from the bungalow, some with pistols and others with clubs -in their hands. - -“This way, quick!” he exclaimed, and pointed to a little gully but a few -feet away. - -He and Jessie leaped into this, and Roger and Laura immediately -followed. The hollow was filled with weeds and brushwood. - -“Say, can’t we hide here?” asked Roger. - -“They’d be after us in a minute, Roger,” answered Dave. “Come on!” and -he pushed his way down along the hollow until they reached the tiny -watercourse which flowed from the spring near the roadway. Here was a -heavy clump of trees, some of the branches close to the ground. - -“Now then, up you go!” cried Dave, and he and Roger assisted the two -girls into the nearest tree branches. Then the young men hauled -themselves up. - -“Now climb up as high as you can,” directed Dave to Jessie and his -sister. And then all four went up the tree a distance of twenty feet or -more. - -“Where did they go?” cried someone who stood close to the watercourse. - -“I don’t know. But they must be somewhere in this vicinity,” answered -the voice of Nick Jasniff. - -Hardly daring to breathe, the four in the tree listened to what was -taking place below. They heard Nick Jasniff and several of the gypsies -tramping around, first in one direction and then in another. - -“Are you sure they all got away?” questioned one of the gypsies, of -another who had just arrived. - -“Yes. The room was empty and we have searched the house thoroughly.” - -“Then I guess the game is up,” growled a third. - -“What’s the use of giving up so soon?” grumbled Nick Jasniff. “I believe -they are hiding around here somewhere, and I don’t believe there is -anybody else near. I think the best thing you can do, Bopeppo, is to -call in all those other fellows and begin a search for them. Eight of us -ought to be able to handle two fellows and two girls without much -trouble.” - -After that Jasniff and Bopeppo moved around again through the woods in -the immediate vicinity of the bungalow. One of them had discovered where -the party of four had jumped into the gully leading to the watercourse, -and now he set up a sudden shout: - -“They came this way! Here are their footprints!” - -“Where do they lead to, Vazala?” questioned Nick Jasniff eagerly. - -“They lead to right here!” answered Carlos Vazala, pointing to some -impressions in the damp ground and some overturned stones. - -“I bet they went up into these trees!” cried Jasniff. He raised his -voice. “If you are up there you might as well come down,” he commanded. -“If you don’t, we’ll come up there and bring you down.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXX - THE ROUND-UP—CONCLUSION - - -“Oh, Dave, do you think——” began Jessie in a low voice, when a look of -warning from our hero stopped her. - -“You can’t fool us!” cried Nick Jasniff, after a moment of silence. “Are -you coming down, or shall I come up and bring you down?” - -To this none of those in the tree replied. All kept silent, scarcely -daring to breathe. Jessie was clinging to Dave’s arm, and Roger had a -protecting hand on Laura’s shoulder. Each of the young civil engineers -had his pistol ready for any emergency which might arise. They heard a -movement below as if either Nick Jasniff or one of the gypsies was -starting to climb the tree. - -“Oh, don’t let them come up here!” whispered Laura, unable to remain -silent longer. - -“Yes, yes, make them stay on the ground!” breathed Jessie. - -“Stop where you are!” cried Dave in stern tones. “Don’t you dare come a -foot closer if you value your life.” - -“Don’t you shoot me!” exclaimed Nick Jasniff. - -“Then you get back on the ground, Jasniff, just as quick as you can,” -answered Roger. “We won’t stand any more of your nonsense!” and at these -words Nick Jasniff lost no time in dropping out of the tree. - -The gypsies and the fellow who had escaped from prison began to talk -among themselves, but in such a low tone of voice that those in the tree -could not make out what was being said. - -“What do you suppose they’ll do next?” questioned Jessie anxiously. - -“They’ll try to get us down somehow; but I’m not going,” answered Roger -stubbornly. - -“But they may keep us up here all night—or even longer!” returned Laura. - -“Are you going to give in or not?” demanded Nick Jasniff in a loud tone -of voice. - -“I don’t see why we should give in,” answered Dave. - -“You’ll have to do it, Porter, sooner or later. Can’t you see that we’ve -got the bulge on you? If you don’t give in now, we’ll keep you up in -that tree until you change your mind. The best thing you can do is to -drop your pistols and give yourselves up. If you’ll do that we’ll -promise to treat you well and let you go as soon as we receive that -ransom we are expecting.” - -“We don’t intend to give in,” answered Dave, after a few words with -Roger. - -“All right then, we’ll let it go at that—for the present,” answered Nick -Jasniff. “I think you’ll change your tune after you have spent a night -in that tree and are good and hungry,” he added cunningly. “And let me -tell you, if anybody tries to escape he’ll get shot.” - -After that there was a long period of silence. Evidently some of the -gypsies had moved away, but it was more than likely that the others were -keeping on guard in the vicinity of the tree. What had become of Nick -Jasniff those who were concealed among the branches could not surmise. - -It must be confessed that Dave and those with him were in a great -quandary. They did not wish to remain in the tree indefinitely, and yet -to make another break for liberty might be decidedly perilous. - -The best part of an hour passed, and then Dave and the others heard some -of the gypsies calling to each other. - -“Dobado is back, and he has news!” they heard some one cry. - -“Did they find Carmenaldo?” asked another voice. - -“They did not.” - -“Perhaps that half-witted fool has gone back on us,” came in the voice -of Nick Jasniff. “I said it wouldn’t be wise to let that fellow into the -game.” - -“Carmenaldo is all right. He can be trusted,” answered the voice of -Mother Domoza. She was an aunt to the half-witted gypsy and she did not -like to have any one speak ill of him. - -Then began a hurried consultation among the gypsies, and the whole crowd -moved down in the direction of the tree in which our friends were -hiding. - -“Ha, you are a pack of cowards not to get them out of the tree!” cried -Mother Domoza. “Had I the strength to climb, I’d get them out -single-handed.” - -“We’d bring them down quick enough, were it not that they are armed,” -answered Tony Bopeppo. - -There was a warm discussion, the old gypsy woman urging the men to go up -into the tree and bring down our hero and the others. - -In the midst of the discussion Dave heard a sound which thrilled him to -the heart. Far off from the direction of the main road between Frytown -and Cullomburg came the honk of an automobile horn twice repeated. - -“Roger, did you hear that?” he cried in a low voice. “Listen!” and a -moment later the double honk was repeated. - -“Why, it sounds like the horn on your auto!” exclaimed the senator’s -son. - -“That’s just what it is! And didn’t you hear—it sounded out twice in -rapid succession? Listen! there it goes again! That’s the signal from my -Uncle Dunston!” - -“Oh, Dave! can it be Uncle Dunston?” exclaimed his sister. - -“That’s just who it is!” he answered, great relief showing itself in his -voice. “I’m going to answer back!” and pulling out his pistol, Dave -fired two shots in the air in rapid succession. - -“Hi! hi! what are you doing?” roared a voice from below. “Don’t you dare -to shoot at us!” - -“We are not shooting at you,” answered Dave quick-wittedly. “I am trying -my pistol to see that it is in good order.” - -“Huh, you’ll get no chance to use that pistol on us,” growled Nick -Jasniff. - -All in the tree paid but scant attention to what was said below. They -were listening intently. An instant later came two more honks from the -distant automobile. - -“Give them two more shots, Roger!” cried our hero. “I’m going up to the -top of the tree to look around,” and he began to climb with vigor. - -From the top of the tree Dave could get a fairly good view of the -surroundings. He soon made out the little side-road and the point where -it ran into the main highway. Then he spotted an automobile containing -four or five men. Another auto was on the main highway but a short -distance away. - -Standing on the topmost branch of the tree and holding fast with one -hand, Dave waved his cap with the other and then fired two more shots -from his pistol. Those in the automobile were evidently on the alert, -and a second later our hero saw that his signal had been seen. One man -jumped up in the front automobile and waved his arms, and then the -automobile moved forward rapidly up the little side-road. - -“They have seen us, and they are coming in this direction!” cried Dave, -as he lowered himself to where the others rested in the tree. “I’ll give -them another signal, so that they won’t go astray,” and a few seconds -later two more shots rent the air. - -“Hi, you! what are you doing up there, anyway?” came uneasily from Nick -Jasniff. - -“An automobile is coming!” came in a yell from a distance. “An -automobile with a number of men in it!” - -“We’ve been betrayed!” added another of the gypsies. “We must run for it -or we’ll be captured!” - -“The automobile! Why can not we ride away in the automobile?” asked -Mother Domoza, in sudden panic. - -“We can’t use it! That other auto will block the road!” answered Nick -Jasniff. - -By this time a shouting was heard from the narrow roadway as the first -automobile came closer, quickly followed by the second car. - -“Hello, Uncle Dunston! is that you?” yelled Dave at the top of his -lungs. - -“Yes, Dave!” came the answering cry. “Where are you?” - -“We are all here in a tree in the woods,” answered Roger. - -“Are the girls safe?” - -“Yes,” returned Dave. “Never mind us—go after those gypsies and after -Nick Jasniff.” - -“We’ll do that all right enough!” answered Dunston Porter. - -“They are the kidnappers, don’t let them get away!” yelled Roger. - -The men who had accompanied Dunston Porter needed no further urging. -They knew many of the particulars concerning the case, and had been -promised a large reward if they would give their aid in rounding up the -kidnappers and saving the two girls. One man was a local constable, and -two were detectives, while the others were men who had been picked up in -the town and pressed into service because of their strength and -willingness to fight. The whole crowd leaped from the automobiles and -lost no time in giving chase to the fleeing criminals. - -“I’m going to join in this hunt, Roger!” exclaimed Dave. And then he -added to the two girls: “You had better remain where you are until we -come back.” - -He dropped out of the tree just in time to see his Uncle Dunston making -after one of the gypsies and Nick Jasniff. Several shots were fired, -which, however, took no effect, and then the criminals dived out of -sight between a number of trees. - -Dave’s blood was up, and he made up his mind that Nick Jasniff should be -captured if it were possible to do so. Roger had followed him out of the -tree, and now both made after the rascal who had escaped from prison. - -“You get back! Don’t you dare to follow me!” howled Jasniff, and -flourished a revolver at them. He pulled the trigger, but the weapon -failed to go off, and then the rascal continued to run. - -“We ought to shoot him!” exclaimed the senator’s son. - -But as he spoke he saw Nick Jasniff trip over a tree root and go -sprawling. Before the fellow could arise, Dave was on him. Jasniff tried -to catch our hero by the throat, and in return received a blow in the -chin which all but stunned him. - -That the chase after the fleeing gypsies was going on in earnest was -testified to by the sounds coming from various quarters of the woods on -the mountainside. Exclamations and cries rent the air, punctuated every -now and then by a pistol shot or the discharge of a shotgun. One of the -gypsy men was hit in the leg and fell, and Mother Domoza received part -of a charge of shot in her right hand. - -“We’ll disarm him and tie his hands behind him,” said Dave to Roger, -referring to Jasniff. And despite the protests of the fellow who had -escaped from prison this was speedily done. Then Jasniff was marched -along to the foot of the tree in which the girls were hiding, and there -Roger stood guard over him, while Dave assisted Jessie and his sister to -the ground. - -In less than half an hour the impromptu fight came to a finish. Mother -Domoza and three of the leading gypsies had been captured. The others -had escaped into the mountains, but a posse was organized, and all of -them were rounded up inside of twenty-four hours. - -“Oh, Uncle Dunston, I am so glad to see you!” cried Laura, when the -uncle put in an appearance. - -“And I am glad, too!” exclaimed Jessie. - -“Are either of you hurt?” questioned Dunston Porter quickly. - -“No, not in the least,” answered the daughter of the jewelry -manufacturer. “But we have been horribly frightened.” - -“You didn’t pay the gypsies or Jasniff any reward, did you?” questioned -Dave quickly. - -“No, Dave; although we might have done so if we hadn’t got the word that -you sent by telephone.” - -As far as our friends went, it was a happy little party that gathered in -the bungalow a short while after. The girls were inclined to be somewhat -hysterical, and the young men and Dunston Porter did all they could to -quiet them. - -“As soon as I discovered your automobile in the bushes I knew that you -must be somewhere in this vicinity,” explained Dunston Porter. “We had -come in to Frytown from Crandall less than an hour before.” - -“But how did you get to Crandall so quickly?” questioned Roger. - -“As soon as I got word from Dave I set the wires to working, and through -the authorities had the Boston Express stop both at Crumville and -Crandall, so that brought us up here in no time.” - -“Did you see that fellow we had tied to the tree?” questioned Dave. - -“Oh, yes, I found him directly after I located your auto. I tried to get -something out of him, but he seemed a bit off in his mind. Then I -remembered that signal you had spoken about and used it on the auto -horn.” - -“Oh, won’t I be glad to get back to Crumville!” murmured Jessie. - -“That’s right,” answered Laura. “I don’t think we want to make that trip -to Boston just now. I want to get home and see the rest of the folks.” - - * * * * * - -And now let me add a few words more and then bring this story of “Dave -Porter’s Great Search” to a close. - -The whole party found themselves that night at the Bliss House in -Crandall, where they would have to remain until morning. Word had been -sent to Crumville, and it can well be imagined how happy those at home -were when they received the glad tidings that the girls were safe and -that those who had kidnapped them had been captured. - -“Oh, Dave, it was simply wonderful how you and Roger got on the trail of -Jasniff and those awful gypsies!” remarked Jessie, in talking the matter -over. - -“It was certainly very clever work,” put in Laura. “I think I’ll have to -have medals of honor struck off for both of you”; and this remark -brought a happy laugh all around. - -The criminals had been taken in charge by the authorities, and the -following day found them safe behind the bars. It may be added here that -later on all of the gypsies, including Mother Domoza, were tried and -sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. Nick Jasniff was returned to -the prison from which he had escaped. - -“He’ll have to serve his old sentence over again,” explained Dunston -Porter. “After he has finished with that, they will probably try him for -this kidnapping affair, so that it’s likely he will not mingle with -honest people for a good many years to come.” - -On being taken to prison, Jasniff was closely questioned and finally -gave the particulars of how he had stolen the battered touring-car, come -to Crumville in disguise, learned that the girls were going to take the -trip to Boston, and arranged with the gypsies to do the kidnapping. - -“Oh, what a misspent life!” was Laura’s comment. - -“Well, he has no one to blame for it but himself,” was Roger’s blunt -reply. - -The home-coming of the two girls, accompanied by Dave, Roger and Dunston -Porter, was made a gala occasion at Crumville. Many of their friends -were on hand to greet them, and Mrs. Wadsworth shed tears of joy when -she embraced her daughter and Laura. - -“I shall never forget what you have done,” said Mr. Wadsworth to Dave -and Roger. “It was grand—simply grand!” and he wiped the moisture from -his eyes. - -“I knew Davy would do it,” quavered Caspar Potts, nodding his head over -and over again. “He’s a great boy—my Davy is!” - -As for Dave’s father, the man could hardly speak, but the way he grasped -his son’s hand spoke volumes. - -The two young civil engineers could not resist the temptation to send a -so-called night letter over the wires to those at the construction camp -in Montana, telling of what had been accomplished and stating that they -would soon be back at work. This message caused even Ralph Obray to -become enthusiastic. - -“They are certainly great boys,” he said to Frank Andrews. - -“The finest lads we have in camp,” answered the other. “I’m certainly -glad they joined us. Some day they’ll make their mark.” - -“I believe you!” - -Now that the young civil engineers had found the two girls they were -loath to separate from them. The young folks had many hours of happiness -together, which the older heads did not have the heart to interrupt. - -“They certainly think the world and all of each other,” said Mr. Porter -to Mr. Wadsworth, referring to Dave and Jessie. - -“So they do, and I am not sorry for it,” answered the jewelry -manufacturer. “And I notice that Roger thinks a good deal of your -daughter Laura.” - -“You are right. And that pleases me, too,” returned Dave’s father. - -“Well, we’ve got to start back for the West to-morrow,” announced Dave -one day. - -“Right you are!” answered the senator’s son. “I suppose after this there -won’t be anything left for us to do but to work.” - -“Oh, I don’t know, Roger. Something else may turn up sooner or later,” -returned our hero. - -And he was right. Something else did turn up, and what that was will be -related in our next volume, to be entitled “Dave Porter Under Fire, or A -Young Army Engineer in France,” in which book we shall learn how our -hero and his chum “did their bit” for Uncle Sam. - -“Becoming civil engineers has not been such a monotonous existence after -all,” said Roger. “Think of those strenuous times we had along the Rio -Grande and in Mexico, and then all those doings out in Montana, and when -we went after the gypsies and Jasniff.” - -“They certainly were strenuous days, Roger,” answered Dave. “But now -we’ve got to buckle down to work if we want to become first-class, -full-fledged civil engineers.” - -And here let us take our leave and bid Dave Porter good-bye. - - - THE END - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER’S BOOKS - - - Old Glory Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._ - - UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA. - A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA. - FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS. - UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES. - THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE. - UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON. - - - Fortune Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._ - - ON TO PEKIN. - UNDER THE MIKADO’S FLAG. - AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR. - WITH TOGO FOR JAPAN. - - - Colonial Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._ - - WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST. - MARCHING ON NIAGARA. - AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL. - ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC. - THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS. - TRAIL AND TRADING POST. - - - Mexican War Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00._ - - FOR THE LIBERTY OF TEXAS. - WITH TAYLOR ON THE RIO GRANDE. - UNDER SCOTT IN MEXICO. - - - Pan-American Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00._ - - LOST ON THE ORINOCO. - THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS. - YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS. - YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON. - TREASURE SEEKERS OF THE ANDES. - CHASED ACROSS THE PAMPAS. - - - Dave Porter Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._ - - DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL. - DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS. - DAVE PORTER’S RETURN TO SCHOOL. - DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH. - DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES. - DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH. - DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS. - DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND. - DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS. - DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS. - DAVE PORTER AT BEAR CAMP. - DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE. - DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH. - DAVE PORTER UNDER FIRE. - DAVE PORTER’S WAR HONORS. - - - Lakeport Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._ - - THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT. - THE BASEBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT. - THE BOAT CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT. - THE FOOTBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT. - THE AUTOMOBILE BOYS OF LAKEPORT. - THE AIRCRAFT BOYS OF LAKEPORT. - - - American Boys’ Biographical Series - - _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._ - - AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY. - AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT. - - DEFENDING HIS FLAG. _Price $1.75_ - - - - - DAVE PORTER SERIES - - By EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - -“Mr. Stratemeyer has seldom introduced a more popular hero than Dave -Porter. He is a typical boy, manly, brave, always ready for a good time -if it can be obtained in an honorable way.”—_Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis._ - -“Edward Stratemeyer’s ‘Dave Porter’ has become exceedingly -popular.”—_Boston Globe._ - -“Dave and his friends are nice, manly chaps.”—_Times-Democrat, New -Orleans._ - -DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL - - Or The School Days of an American Boy - -DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS - - Or The Strange Cruise of the _Stormy - Petrel_ - -DAVE PORTER’S RETURN TO SCHOOL - - Or Winning the Medal of Honor - -DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH - - Or The Pluck of an American Schoolboy - -DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES - - Or For the Honor of Oak Hall - -DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH - - Or The Cowboy’s Secret - -DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS - - Or The Chums and Foes of Oak Hall - -DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND - - Or A Schoolboy’s Mysterious Mission - -DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS - - Or Last Days at Oak Hall - -DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS - - Or The Search for the Landslide Mine - -DAVE PORTER AT BEAR CAMP - - Or The Wild Man of Mirror Lake - -DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE - - Or The Disappearance of the Basswood - Fortune - -DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH - - Or The Perils of a Young Civil Engineer - -DAVE PORTER UNDER FIRE - - Or A Young Army Engineer in France - -DAVE PORTER’S WAR HONORS - - Or At the Front with the Fighting - Engineers - - - For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the - publishers - - Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. Boston - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES - - - 1. Moved the advertising page at the beginning of the book to between - the End and the advertising at the back. - 2. Silently corrected typographical errors. - 3. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - 4. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Dave Porter's Great Search - The Perils of a Young Civil Engineer - -Author: Edward Stratemeyer - -Illustrator: Walter S. Rogers - -Release Date: October 17, 2017 [EBook #55764] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER'S GREAT SEARCH *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, David Edwards and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class='tnotes covernote'> - -<p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber's Note:</strong></p> - -<p class='c000'>The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/frontis.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><span class='sc'>The long horseback ride of the morning had whetted their appetites.</span>—<em>Page <a href='#Page_125'>125</a>.</em></p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Dave Porter Series</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <h1 class='c001'>DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH<br /> <span class='small'>OR</span><br /> <span class='xlarge'>THE PERILS OF A YOUNG CIVIL ENGINEER</span></h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='small'>BY</span></div> - <div class='c003'><span class='large'>EDWARD STRATEMEYER</span></div> - <div class='c003'><span class='xsmall'>Author of “Dave Porter at Oak Hall,” “The Old Glory Series,” “Colonial Series,” “Pan-American Series,” etc.</span></div> - <div class='c003'><em>ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER S. ROGERS</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/titlepage.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>BOSTON</div> - <div>LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c004'> - <div>Published, August, 1917</div> - <div class='c002'>Copyright, 1917</div> - <div><span class='sc'>By Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.</span></div> - <div class='c003'><em>All rights reserved</em></div> - <div class='c003'>DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH</div> - <div class='c002'>Norwood Press</div> - <div>BERWICK & SMITH CO.</div> - <div>NORWOOD, MASS.</div> - <div>U. S. A.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>PREFACE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Dave Porter’s Great Search” is a complete -story in itself, but forms the thirteenth volume -in a line issued under the general title of -“Dave Porter Series.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As my old readers know, this series was begun -some years ago by the publication of “Dave -Porter at Oak Hall,” in which my readers were -introduced to a wideawake, American boy at an -up-to-date American boarding-school. This was -followed by “Dave Porter in the South Seas,” -where our hero had gone to find his father, and -then by “Dave Porter’s Return to School.” -After that we had “Dave Porter in the Far -North,” where the lad went on a second journey -looking for his parent; “Dave Porter and His -Classmates,” in which our hero was put to a most -unusual test; and then by “Dave Porter at Star -Ranch,” in which he took part in many strenuous -adventures.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From the Wild West Dave returned again to -school, as related in “Dave Porter and His -Rivals.” Then he took a sea voyage, as told of -in “Dave Porter on Cave Island,” and later still -taught some of his school chums a much-needed -lesson, the particulars of which are given in “Dave -Porter and the Runaways.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad had imagined his strenuous adventures -were now at an end, but this was not to be. He -heard of a lost mine, and, with his chums, went -in search of it, as related in “Dave Porter in the -Gold Fields.” Coming back, he put in some fine -times in the Adirondack Mountains, as related in -“Dave Porter at Bear Camp.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>By this time the lad had graduated from school, -and he now took up the study of civil engineering. -There was another lad who looked exactly like -Dave, and this person caused our hero much -trouble, as told of in “Dave Porter and His -Double,” where we last met him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the present volume Dave is still pursuing his -calling of civil engineering. He is at work in the -mountains when he comes face to face with one of -his old-time enemies. Later still word comes to -the youth that his dearest girl friend, Jessie -Wadsworth, and his sister Laura have disappeared -from home. One surprise is followed by -another, and the young civil engineer is confronted -by many perils.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Once again I thank my young readers for the -interest they have shown in the various volumes -I have written for them. I trust that the reading -of this book will benefit them all.</p> - -<div class='c007'><span class='sc'>Edward Stratemeyer.</span></div> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><em>May 1, 1917.</em></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_v'>v</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<table class='table0' summary='CONTENTS'> - <tr> - <th class='c008'>CHAPTER</th> - <th class='c009'> </th> - <th class='c010'>PAGE</th> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>I</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>In the Mountains</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>II</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Something About the Past</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_12'>12</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>III</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>A Surprise of the Road</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_22'>22</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>IV</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>What Phil’s Letter Told</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_34'>34</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>V</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Nick Jasniff’s Visit</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_45'>45</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>VI</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>News from Home</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_58'>58</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>VII</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>The Fight on the Trail</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_68'>68</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>VIII</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>What Was Missing</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_77'>77</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>IX</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Dave at Orella</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_88'>88</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>X</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>What the Girls Had to Tell</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_98'>98</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XI</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>The Oak Hall Chums</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_109'>109</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XII</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>On the Mountain Top</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_120'>120</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XIII</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>To the Rescue of Shadow</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_130'>130</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XIV</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Something About Bears</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_142'>142</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XV</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>The Trail to Nowhere</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_152'>152</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XVI</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Waiting for Letters</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_162'>162</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XVII</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Bad News</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_172'>172</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XVIII</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>On the Way East</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_183'>183</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XIX</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>The Demand for Money</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_192'>192</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XX</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Beginning the Great Search</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_202'>202</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XXI</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Stuck on the Road</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_212'>212</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_vi'>vi</span>XXII</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>The First Clue</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_221'>221</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XXIII</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>What the Little Girls Knew</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_230'>230</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XXIV</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Another Clue</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_238'>238</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XXV</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>What Horsehair Had to Tell</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_247'>247</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XXVI</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>The Mountain Road</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_257'>257</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XXVII</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>To the Rescue</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_267'>267</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XXVIII</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Prisoners</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_277'>277</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XXIX</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>Trying to Escape</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_286'>286</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>XXX</td> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>The Round-Up—Conclusion</span></td> - <td class='c010'><a href='#Page_296'>296</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<div class='ph1'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c004'> - <div>DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_1'>1</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER I<br /> <span class='large'>IN THE MOUNTAINS</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“What do you think of that sky, Dave?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It looks to me as if we were in for a storm, -Roger,” answered Dave Porter, a trace of anxiety -crossing his usually pleasant features.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Perhaps it is only wind,” vouchsafed Roger -Morr, after he brought his horse to a standstill so -that he might scan the distant horizon minutely. -“You know they do have some terrible wind -storms out here in Montana.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes. I remember the big winds we had -when we were out at Star Ranch,” answered -Dave. “Don’t you remember once we thought -we were in for a regular tornado?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I surely do remember. Say, Dave, those were -certainly great days on the ranch, weren’t they?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now that we’ve moved up here to Montana -I hope some day to get the chance to run out to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_2'>2</span>the ranch,” continued Dave. “I would like very -much to meet Belle Endicott and her folks.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll wager you’ll find Phil Lawrence sneaking -out this way some day,” laughed Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Can you blame him, Roger? Belle is an awfully -nice girl.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Of course I shouldn’t blame him, any more -than I’d blame myself for—for——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Than you would blame yourself for sneaking -off to Crumville to see my sister,” laughed Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Humph! I guess you wouldn’t mind being -back in Crumville this moment, calling on Jessie -Wadsworth.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t deny it. But say, let us get on our -way. Those black clouds are coming up altogether -too rapidly to suit me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How many miles do you suppose we are from -the camp?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Six or eight at least. You know we followed -this trail for a long time before we stopped to -have lunch.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If that new branch of the M. C. & D. Railroad -comes through this way it will certainly follow -a picturesque route,” declared Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That will suit the summer tourists, even if it -doesn’t cut any ice with the natives. But come on, -we had better not waste any more time. Before -you know it it will be dark and that storm will -be upon us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span>The two young civil engineers were high up on -a trail among the mountains of Montana. Far -below them stretched a rugged valley, containing -more rocks than grazing lands. Off to the southward -could be seen a small stream which some -time before had been shimmering in the sunlight, -but which now was almost lost in the sudden -gloom that was overspreading the sky.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What a difference between the scenery here -and that along the Rio Grande,” remarked Roger, -as the two chums made their way along the narrow -trail leading to the camp of the Mentor Construction -Company.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m glad of the change, Roger. I was getting -tired of the marsh land along that river, and -I was also mighty tired of those greasers.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not to say anything about the raids the Mexicans -made on us,” laughed the chum. “Say, we -came pretty close to having some hot times once -or twice, didn’t we?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hope, Roger, we are able to make as good -a showing up here on this railroad work as we -did on that Catalco Bridge. That certainly was -a superb piece of engineering.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave was silent for a few minutes while the -horses trotted along the stony trail. Then, -pleased by a passing thought, his face and eyes lit -up with enthusiasm.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wouldn’t it be grand, Roger, if some day -<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>you and I could put through some big engineering -feat all on our own hook?” he cried. “Think -of our putting up some big bridge, or building some -big tunnel, or some fine skyscraper, or something -like that!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t see why we shouldn’t be able to do it -some day. The men who are at the head of the -Mentor Construction Company had to start as we -are doing—at the foot of the ladder. What one -man has done, some other fellow ought to be able -to do after him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Right you are! But ride slow now. If -you’ll remember, the trail is rather dangerous just -ahead of us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The admonition that had been given was not -necessary, for both young men knew only too well -the danger which lay ahead of them. At this point -the trail became exceedingly narrow and wound -in and out around a cliff which towered at least -a hundred feet above their heads. In some spots -the trail was less than a yard wide, and on the -outer edge the rough rocks sloped downward at -an angle of forty-five degrees.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If a fellow slipped down there I wonder -where he would land,” murmured Roger, as he -held back his steed so as to give his companion a -chance to pick his way with care.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If you went over there you’d probably tumble -down several hundred feet,” answered Dave. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>“And if you did that, you and your horse would -most likely be killed. You be careful and keep -your horse as close to the cliff as possible.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At one point in the trail where it would have -been utterly impossible to pass another person, the -young civil engineers stopped to give a long, loud -whistle, to announce to any one coming in the opposite -direction that they were approaching. No -whistle or call came in return, so they took it for -granted that the trail was clear and proceeded -again on their way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By the time the vicinity of the cliff had been -left behind, more than three quarters of the sky -was overcast. Far off in the distance they could -hear a murmur which gradually increased.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s the wind coming up between the mountains,” -announced Dave. And he was right. -Soon the murmur had increased to a strange humming, -and then, in a moment more, the wind came -rushing down upon them with a violence that was -anything but comfortable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come on! Don’t linger here!” shouted -Dave, as he urged his horse forward. “We’ll -soon be out on the regular road.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>A quarter of a mile farther brought them to -another turn in the trail, and in a minute more -they went down a long slope and then came out -on a broad trail running to a number of mines and -ranches in that part of Montana. Here for over -<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>a mile riding was much easier, and the chums -made good progress in the direction of the construction -camp at which they were making their -headquarters.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you think we can make it before the rain -comes?” questioned Roger, as they dashed along.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No such luck. Here comes the rain now,” -answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As he spoke, both of the young civil engineers -felt the first drops of the on-coming storm. -Then the rain became a steady downpour which -threatened every minute to turn into a deluge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Fortunately for the two young men, they were -not hampered by any of their civil-engineering outfit. -They had been asked that morning by Mr. -Ralph Obray, the manager of the construction -gang, to ride up the trail and make sure that certain -marks had been left there by the surveyors -for the railroad. The work done by the railroad -had been merely of a preliminary nature, but this -preliminary work, crude as it was, was to be used -as a basis for the more accurate survey by the -engineers of the construction company.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t think we can make camp in such a -downpour as this,” gasped Roger, after another -half-mile had been covered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe you’re right,” responded Dave. “It -certainly is coming down to beat the band! But -what are we going to do? I don’t believe in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>standing still and getting ourselves drenched to the -skin.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We ought to be able to find some sort of -shelter near by. Come on, let us take a look -around.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Both did this, sheltering their eyes from the -rain with their hands. In such a downpour the -scenery on all sides was practically obliterated.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Can’t make out a thing,” remarked Roger in -disgust. “I suppose we’ve got to go on and take -what comes. By the time we reach camp we’ll -feel like a couple of drowned rats.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind. We’ll have a chance to change -our clothing, anyway,” responded Dave lightly. -“And we won’t have to take a bath or get under -the shower.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Take a bath or get under the shower!” repeated -Roger. “Wow! If I had a chance to do -that I wouldn’t know myself,” he added with a -grin. For neither of the chums had seen anything -like a bathtub or a shower for several -months. When they took a bath it was usually -in a small stream that flowed not far from where -the construction camp was located.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Forward the young civil engineers went once -again, the rain beating furiously in their faces as -they proceeded. The downpour was so severe -that presently they came to where a hollow on the -road was completely filled with muddy water.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>“Stop, or you may get stuck!” cried Dave, as -he brought his horse to a halt. “I think we had -better try to go around this pool.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come on this way,” returned his chum -quickly, and turned off to the left.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And right here it was that the two young civil -engineers made a big mistake. Had they turned -to the right they would soon have come out on -the road at a point where it would have been -perfectly safe to proceed. But the turn to the left -led them downward, and almost before they knew -it they found themselves between the rocks and on -the edge of a thick woods.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello! where have we landed now?” queried -Dave. “I don’t believe we can get back to the -road from here.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, come on, let us skirt the woods,” urged -Roger. “We are bound to get back to the road -sooner or later.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Somewhat against his better judgment, Dave allowed -his chum to take the lead, and on they went -through the rain and increasing darkness. The -first rush of wind had now somewhat subsided, but -in its place they could hear the low rumble of distant -thunder. Then a sudden flash of lightning -lit the scene.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say, I don’t like this!” cried Roger, as the -thunder became louder and several more flashes -of lightning flared over the surroundings.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>“Watch for the next flash, Roger, and maybe -you can see the road,” suggested Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Both young civil engineers did as had been suggested, -but, though they waited not only for the -next flash of light but also for the two following, -they were unable to see more than the rocks and -trees in their immediate vicinity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m afraid we’re lost down here,” said Dave -at last. “And if that’s the case, the only thing -we can do is to ride back to where we came from.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, let us go ahead a little farther. Maybe -the road is at the edge of the woods yonder.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If we only knew of some miner’s camp or -some ranch-house around here, we might get -shelter, Roger. I don’t much like the idea of riding -in such a storm as this is getting to be.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“True for you! But I don’t think there is any -kind of shelter such as you mention within a mile -or two of this place. I didn’t see anything that -looked like a house or a cabin when we came up -the trail.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Once more Roger went ahead, and with increased -unwillingness Dave followed him, all the -while thinking that it would be better to retrace -their steps to the point where they had found the -roadway covered with water.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We might have skirted that pool somehow,” -thought Dave. “Now we don’t know where -we’ll land.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>The two riders found a slight rise ahead of -them, and this encouraged Roger into believing -that the roadway was not far distant. Less than -a hundred yards further on, however, they came -to a sudden halt.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I’ll be blessed!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think we’ll have to turn back now, Roger.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I suppose so. Isn’t it too bad?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Without warning of any kind they had suddenly -come to a spot where the jagged rocks arose in -front of them several feet higher than their -horses’ heads. Off to the left flowed a swift -mountain torrent, bordered on one side by a low, -irregular cliff and on the other by the jagged rocks -and the tall forest. The rain was now coming -down as steadily as ever, while the thunder and -lightning constantly increased in violence. The -sky was entirely overcast, so that when there was -no lightning it was almost totally dark at the edge -of the forest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe if we could get across that stream we -might climb up to the roadway,” suggested Roger, -who hated to think of going back. “Anyway, let -us take a good look the next time it lightens.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Roger had scarcely spoken when there came a -tremendous crash of thunder so close at hand that -it made both of the young civil engineers start. -The horses too were badly frightened, and both -gave wild plunges one into the other. As a consequence, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>a moment later Dave found himself unseated -and thrown to the ground, and an instant -later Roger landed almost on top of him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hi! Stop the horses!” gasped Dave, when -he could speak.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To this Roger made no response for the reason -that he had come down on the rocks with such -force that he was all but stunned. Dave attempted -to struggle to his feet and catch the -plunging animals, but before he could do so the -two horses had bolted away in the semi-darkness, -leaving their former riders to their fate.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER II<br /> <span class='large'>SOMETHING ABOUT THE PAST</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“We’re in a pickle now, and no mistake!” -panted Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us try to catch the horses before they get -too far away,” came from Dave. “We don’t -want the fun of tramping back to camp on foot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not to say anything about losing two valuable -animals.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hope you didn’t break any bones,” continued -Dave, as he saw his chum feeling of his knee and -his elbow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I guess I didn’t get anything more than a -good shaking up. And you didn’t escape entirely, -either. See, your hand is bleeding.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, it’s only a scrape. Come on;” and thus -speaking Dave ran off in the direction the runaway -horses had taken, and his chum followed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To my old readers Dave Porter will need no -special introduction. For the benefit of others, -however, let me state that when a small boy he -had been found wandering alongside the railroad -tracks in Crumville. As nobody claimed him he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>had been put in the local poorhouse, and, later on, -bound out to a broken-down college professor, -Caspar Potts, who at that time was farming for -his health.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In an elegant mansion on the outskirts of Crumville, -lived Mr. Oliver Wadsworth, a wealthy -jewelry manufacturer, with his wife and his daughter -Jessie. One day the gasoline tank of an automobile -took fire, and Jessie was in danger of being -burned to death when Dave came to her rescue. -As a consequence of this Mr. Wadsworth became -interested in the boy, and decided that he should -be given the benefits of a good education and had -sent him to a first-class boarding school, as related -in the first volume of this series, entitled “Dave -Porter at Oak Hall.” With Dave went Ben -Basswood, his one boy friend in the town.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At Oak Hall Dave made a number of close -friends, including Roger Morr, the son of a well-known -United States Senator; Phil Lawrence, the -offspring of a rich ship-owner; “Shadow” Hamilton, -who loved to tell stories; and Buster Beggs, -who was as fat as he was jolly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In those days the principal thing that troubled -Dave was the question of his parentage. To -solve the mystery of his identity he took a long -sea voyage, as related in “Dave Porter in the -South Seas,” where he met his uncle, Dunston Porter, -and learned much concerning his father, David -<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>Breslow Porter, and also his sister Laura, who -were at that time traveling in Europe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On his return to school, and during the time that -our hero spent in trying to locate his father and -his sister, as related in succeeding volumes of this -series, Dave made many new friends. But there -were some lads who were jealous of the boy’s success, -and two of them, Nick Jasniff and Link Merwell, -did what they could to get our hero into -trouble. The plot against Dave, however, was -exposed, and in sheer fright Nick Jasniff ran away -and went to Europe while Merwell went out West -to a ranch owned by his father.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave’s sister Laura had an intimate friend, -Belle Endicott, who lived on Star Ranch in Montana, -and through this friendship all of the boys -and girls were invited out to the ranch. There, -to his surprise, Dave fell in once more with Link -Merwell and finally exposed that young rascal -so that Link thought it would be to his advantage -to disappear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’ll have to keep your eyes open for those -wretches,” was Roger’s comment at the time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They’ll get the better of you if they possibly -can, Dave,” Phil Lawrence had added.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll watch them,” the youth had answered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the Christmas holidays arrived Dave -went back to Crumville, where he and his folks resided -with the Wadsworths. Directly after -<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>Christmas came a startling robbery of the Wadsworth -jewelry works, and Dave and his chums -by some clever work discovered that the crime -had been committed by Merwell and Jasniff. -After a sea voyage to Cave Island, Jasniff was captured -and sent to jail, but Merwell at the last -minute managed to make his escape.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The trip to Cave Island was followed by another -to the great West, where Dave aided Roger -Morr in locating a gold mine which had been lost -through a landslide.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After this our hero went up to Bear Camp in -the Adirondack Mountains, where he had a glorious -time with all of his chums and also the girls. -At that time Dave fell in with a young man named -Ward Porton, who was almost our hero’s double -in appearance. Porton proved to be an unscrupulous -person, and caused our hero not a little -trouble, he trying at one time to palm himself off -as the real Dave Porter. This scheme, however, -was exposed, and then Porton lost no time in disappearing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our hero had now graduated from Oak Hall, -and he and Roger Morr had taken up the profession -of civil engineering. In the midst of his -studies Dave was startled by the news of the disappearance -of some valuable miniatures which had -been willed to his old friends, the Basswoods. It -was discovered that Ward Porton was in this plot, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>and later on this evildoer, along with his disreputable -father, was brought to justice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As soon as their first examination in civil engineering -had been passed, Dave and Roger had -succeeded in obtaining through their instructor -positions with the Mentor Construction Company, -a large concern operating many branches throughout -the United States and in foreign countries. -They were assigned to a gang operating in Texas, -building a railroad bridge near the Rio Grande. -This construction camp was under the general -management of Mr. Ralph Obray, assisted by a -number of others, including a middle-aged man -named Frank Andrews, who had speedily become -a warm friend of the young civil engineers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The work had proved absorbing from the start -to Dave, and it must be said that the senator’s son -was almost equally interested. Both kept up their -studies every day and kept their eyes and ears -wide open, and consequently made rapid progress. -On more than one occasion Mr. Obray had given -them encouraging words and shown his satisfaction, -and Frank Andrews was enthusiastic.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You fellows keep on the way you have started, -and some day you’ll be at the top of the ladder,” -was the way Andrews expressed himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two young civil engineers had remained at -work on the Catalco Bridge for nearly a year. -Then the task had been turned over to another -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>gang, and the Obray outfit, as it was commonly -called, had been sent up from Texas into Montana, -to take up the work of roadbed and bridge -construction for the M. C. & D. Railroad.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This railroad was simply a feeder of one of the -main lines, yet it was thought that in time it would -become a highly important branch. The work to -be undertaken was unusually difficult, and it was an -open secret that several construction companies -had refused even to give figures on it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ve got our work cut out for us up here,” -had been Frank Andrews’ remark to Mr. Obray, -after the pair had gone over the situation carefully.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Right you are, Andrews,” the manager of the -construction gang had answered. “It looks all -right on paper, but we are going to have a good -many difficulties which can’t be put down in black -and white.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What we’ve got to guard against, to my way -of thinking, is landslides,” the assistant had -answered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Since beginning work for the Mentor Construction -Company, Dave and Roger had had two opportunities -for returning to the East. They had -come by the way of Washington, where Senator -Morr and his wife were now residing, and had -also stopped off at Philadelphia to visit Phil Lawrence. -Then they had made their way to Crumville, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>there to put in a most delightful time with -Dave’s folks and the Wadsworths. As my old -readers are aware, to Dave there was no girl in -the world quite so sweet and lovable as Jessie -Wadsworth, while it was noticed that Roger and -Dave’s sister Laura were together whenever occasion -permitted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two young civil engineers had been in Montana -now for about three weeks, and during that -time they had gone on numerous errands to places -ten and even twenty miles away. On arrival they -had hoped to visit Star Ranch, but had learned -that this place was nearly a hundred miles off. -They had looked at some of the local mines with -much interest, and had likewise visited several -ranches.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll get to know this whole district like a -book before we get through with it,” had been -Roger’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe,” Dave had answered. “Just the -same, if I were you I wouldn’t go too far away -from the regular trails without a pocket compass. -Getting lost among these mountains might prove -very serious.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two young civil engineers had started off -on their errand that morning in high spirits, due -not alone to the fact that both were feeling in the -best of health and were doing well in their chosen -profession, but also to the fact that the day before -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>they had received a number of letters from home, -including a warm epistle to Dave from Jessie and -an equally tender missive from Laura to Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At their end the two girls had written each in the -confidence of the other, so that the two chums did -not hesitate to talk over the contents of both letters -between them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, we’ve got the brightest prospects in the -world before us!” Dave had cried when they had -set out, and in the exuberance of his spirits he had -thrown his cap high up in the air.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the prospect at this particular minute did -not seem to be so bright. The rain was coming -down steadily, accompanied by sharp crashes of -thunder and vivid flashes of lightning, and the -two youths had all they could do to keep their -feet as they sped along in the direction the runaway -horses had taken.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is the worst ever!” groaned Roger, as -both presently came to a halt with the rocks on -one side of them and the forest on the other. -“I can’t see anything of those horses, can you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave did not for the moment reply. He was -waiting for the next flash of lightning, and when -it came he strained his eyes in an effort to locate -the vanished steeds. The effort, however, was a -vain one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They’re gone, that’s sure,” he announced -gloomily. “If the storm didn’t make so much -<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>noise we might be able to hear them clattering -over the rocks; but between the wind and the -thunder that’s impossible.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They had to come this way, for it’s the only -way. Let us go on a little farther.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As there was nothing else to do, Dave followed -his chum along the edge of the forest and at last -the pair reached the spot where they had left the -road. Here the pool of water had become much -larger and deeper.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We don’t seem to be getting anywhere,” -grumbled the senator’s son, as they came again to -a halt. “Just look at this! It’s a miniature -lake!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll have to get around it somehow, Roger,” -was the reply. “Let us try the other side this -time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But what about the horses?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If they came up here on the roadway I’ve an -idea they started straight for camp. They -wouldn’t know where else to go.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not caring to stand still in such a downpour, -the two started to skirt the pond, going in the opposite -direction to that which they had before -taken. They had to clamber over a number of -rough rocks and through some brushwood -heavily laden with water, so that by the time they -reached the other side they were as wet as if they -had taken an involuntary bath.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>“Well, there’s one consolation,” announced -Roger grimly. “We couldn’t get any wetter if -we tried.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come on. Let us leg it for camp as fast as -we can,” returned Dave. “It’s pretty cold out -here, drenched like this.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wait a minute! I think I saw something!” -cried the senator’s son suddenly. “Look!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He pointed off to one side of the roadway, and -both waited until another flash of lightning lit up -the scene.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The horses!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were right. There, not over a hundred -yards away, stood the two runaway steeds, partly -sheltered by several big trees. Their heads had -been down, but now they suddenly came up as if -in fresh alarm.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you think we can catch them, Dave?” -gasped the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ve got to do it, Roger,” was the reply. -“But be careful, or they’ll get away as sure as -fate. Here, you approach them from the right -and I’ll go around to the left. And don’t let them -get past you, no matter what happens.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER III<br /> <span class='large'>A SURPRISE OF THE ROAD</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>Fortunately for the two chums, the flash of -lightning which had revealed the two horses to -them was followed by something of a lull in the -storm and this served to keep the steeds from -stampeding again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Be careful, Roger,” cautioned Dave, as they -separated to do as our hero had advised.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you want me to take my own horse or the -one which happens to be nearest to me?” questioned -the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Take the nearest, by all means—and be sure -to hold on tight!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the darkness, and with the rain still coming -down steadily, the two approached closer and -closer to the horses. One animal gave a low -snort, but whether of fear or recognition of his -master could not be ascertained.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess we’ve got them, all right enough,” -sang out Roger, as he made a dash to cover the -dozen feet that separated him from the nearest -steed.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>Dave was a few steps farther away from the -other horse. At that instant came another clap -of thunder, followed almost instantly by the lightning. -Then came a crash in the forest, showing -that a tree close by had been struck.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The nervous horses wheeled around and reared -up. Then one started in one direction and the -other in another.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Grab him, Roger! Don’t let him get away!” -yelled Dave, and made a wild leap for the animal -nearest him. He caught the loose rein, and an -instant later had a firm hold on the steed. The -horse did considerable prancing, but the youth, -who some seasons before had tamed a bronco at -Star Ranch, was not daunted. He brought the -animal to a standstill, and then, seeing that it was -his own mount, leaped lightly into the saddle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now behave yourself, old boy,” he said -soothingly, patting the animal on the neck. -“You’re all right. Take it easy.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the meanwhile, Roger was having an exciting -experience with his own horse. The animal -had tried to back away from him, and had gotten -a hind leg fast between two trees. Now he began -to kick out wildly, hitting one of the trees several -resounding blows.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whoa there! Whoa!” cried the senator’s -son; but his horse continued to kick out until, with -a wrench, he got the other foot free. Then he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>began to prance around once more, showing every -evidence of wanting to run away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wait! I’ll hold him while you get into the -saddle!” cried Dave, riding up. And then he -placed himself directly in front of Roger’s mount.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Taking advantage of this opportunity, the senator’s -son made a leap and got safely into the saddle; -and then the two runaway horses settled down -to behaving themselves decently.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This was luck, all right,” remarked Dave, -when the brief excitement was over.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Right you are,” was the ready reply. “I -didn’t fancy walking back to the camp.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nor losing two such valuable horses,” added -our hero. “If they had failed to return perhaps -Mr. Obray would have made us pay for them, -and that would make a big hole in our salaries.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Making sure that the horses should not get -away from them again, the two young civil engineers -rode back to the road, and then with caution -picked their way along on the right-hand side -of some ever-increasing ponds of water. This -was slow and dangerous work, the horses slipping -and sliding among the wet rocks and loose stones, -and more than once getting into mud and water -up to their knees. But at last that peril was left -behind, and once again the youths found themselves -on comparatively solid ground and headed -in the direction of the construction camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>“We’ll sure have a story to tell when we get -back,” remarked Roger, as they rode along side -by side.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. But we’ll want to change our togs before -we start to tell it,” returned Dave grimly. -“I feel as if I had jumped overboard with all my -clothing on.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It looks to me as if the storm was passing -away,” continued the senator’s son, gazing up at -the sky.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, more than likely it will stop raining as -soon as we get back, Roger. It would be just our -luck.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was true that the storm was passing, and they -were still some distance from the construction -camp when the rain practically ceased. A portion -of the clouds rolled away, making the sky -much clearer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll bet the sun comes out as brightly as ever -before it sets,” ventured Roger. “Hang it all! -why couldn’t we have found some shelter during -this awful downpour? Then we wouldn’t have -got wet to the skin.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind, Roger. There is no use in crying -over spilt milk. Don’t forget how thankful -we are that we got our horses back.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The chums were still out of sight of the construction -camp when they heard a clatter of hoofs -on the stony roadway ahead of them. In a minute -<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>more a figure, clad in a semi-cowboy outfit, -came galloping toward them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello! who can that be?” cried Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe it’s one of our men coming out to look -for us,” answered Dave. “Perhaps Mr. Obray -or Frank Andrews got worried when it began to -blow so and lighten so hard.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two young civil engineers slackened their -pace, expecting that the newcomer would halt as -soon as he saw them. They drew up to one side -of the road, and were somewhat surprised to see -the person on horseback go by without paying any -attention to them. He was a fellow about their -own age and had his head bent down over his -horse’s neck as if he was in deep thought.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Both of the young civil engineers stared at the -rider as if he were a ghost. Neither of them said -a word, but they both looked after the passer-by -as if they could not believe the evidence of their -senses.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dave, did you see him?” came at last in an -excited tone from Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I certainly did, Roger!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It was Nick Jasniff!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So it was!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But how in the world did he get here?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know. I thought he was in prison!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So he was—we saw him sentenced ourselves, -after we caught him on Cave Island.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>“And his sentence can’t be up yet. The time is -too short.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe he broke jail or got out sooner on account -of good behavior. You know they give -prisoners some time off if they behave themselves -well.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t think we could be mistaken?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t think so. If that fellow was not Nick -Jasniff, it was his double.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, don’t say anything about doubles!” cried -Dave quickly. “I had all I want of that sort of -thing with Ward Porton. I’m quite sure that fellow -was Nick Jasniff himself. He had that same -hang-dog, slouching way about him he had when -he went to Oak Hall.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But what can he be doing out here in Montana?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know,—unless he may have thought -that some of the Merwells were still out here. -He, of course, must know about Mr. Merwell disposing -of the Three X Ranch.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t suppose he came out here to see us, -do you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To see us? Not on your life! Why should -he want to see us? He knows well enough that -we have no use for him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But maybe he wants to get square with us. -You know he threatened us in all sorts of ways -after we had him arrested. And you know what an -<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>awful wicked fellow he is, Dave. Didn’t he try -once in the Oak Hall gym to brain you with an -Indian club?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes; I remember that only too well, Roger. -Just the same, I don’t think a fellow like Jasniff -would come away out here to square accounts with -us. It’s more likely he came out here to get away -from the people who know him. Maybe he -thought he could start life over again in a place -like this, where nobody knew him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Humph! possibly you’re right. But if that’s -the case, I don’t want him to come around where -I am. I have no use for a jailbird,” grumbled -the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The youths had resumed their journey, and a -few minutes later they came into sight of the construction -camp. This consisted of a rudely-built -office, backed up by a score or more of smaller -buildings used as bunk-houses. At the end of a -row was a large, low building in which was located -the kitchen and also the mess hall, or “Palace of -Eats,” as some of the engineers had christened it. -Still further away was a small shed for horses, -with a corral attached.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello! I was wondering what had become -of you two chaps,” cried Frank Andrews, as they -rode up to the building wherein they and the assistant -and some others had their quarters. -“Some let-down you got caught in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>“I should say so!” cried Roger. “We came -within an ace of being drowned.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Be thankful that you weren’t struck by lightning,” -returned the older engineer, with a twinkle -in his eyes. “I suppose you’ll want to get some -dry duds on before you make any report about -those marks.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The marks are all there, just as Mr. Obray -expected they would be,” answered Dave. “I’ve -got a list of them here in my notebook.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“By the way, Mr. Andrews, was there a -stranger here a little while ago—a fellow about -our age?” questioned Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There was somebody here. I don’t know -who it was,” answered the assistant. “He was -over at the main office, talking to Mr. Obray.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And you don’t know who he was?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No.” Frank Andrews gazed at the two -chums questioningly. “Anything wrong about -him?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is what we want to find out,” answered -the senator’s son. “We thought we knew him; -and if so he isn’t the kind of fellow that any one -would want around here.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, how is that?” questioned Frank Andrews. -And thereupon, in a few brief words, -Roger and Dave told about Nick Jasniff and his -doings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’re right! We don’t want any jailbirds -<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>around this camp!” cried the assistant. “When -you go up to the office you had better tell Mr. -Obray about this.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave and Roger were glad enough to get under -shelter. They lost no time in taking a good rub-down -and in changing their apparel. Then they -hurried over to the office of the construction camp, -where they found the manager and several of his -assistants going over various papers and blue-prints.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Got back, eh?” said Mr. Obray, with a smile. -“You certainly didn’t have a very nice day for the -trip.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, well, it’s all in the day’s work, Mr. -Obray,” answered Dave lightly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And we had one advantage coming back,” put -in Roger. “We didn’t suffer the least bit from -dust;” and at this sally a smile lit up the features -of all present. They liked Dave and Roger very -much, and the fact that Dave’s chum was the son -of a United States Senator added something to -the importance of both of the young men.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Getting out his notebook, Dave lost no time in -turning in his report, which was supplemented by -what Roger had to say. Then the two young -civil engineers were asked a number of questions, -to which they replied as clearly as possible.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess that’s about all,” said Mr. Obray -finally. “I think that makes it pretty clear. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>Don’t you, Mr. Chase?” he continued, turning to -one of the other men present.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think so,” answered Mr. Chase. “But -we’ll still have to make an investigation up there -at Number Six. I’m not satisfied about the formation -of that rock. I think we’re due for a -lot of trouble.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, we’ll meet it as it comes—there is no -use in anticipating it,” answered Ralph Obray -briefly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was a man who was never daunted, no matter -how great the obstacles that confronted him. -It was his clear-headedness that had won more -than one engineering victory for the Mentor Construction -Company when all the other engineers -had given up a task as impossible.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mr. Obray, we would like to ask you a few -questions in private if you don’t mind,” said Dave -in a low voice, when he saw the other civil engineers -turn away to consult a map that hung on -one of the office walls.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, Porter. Come right in here,” -answered the manager, and led the way to a -corner, where he had a small private office.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I wish to ask you about a fellow we met on -the road just before we got back to camp about -half an hour ago,” explained our hero. “He was -a fellow about our own age. He was on horseback, -and I thought he might have been here.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>“There was a fellow here, and he left less than -an hour ago,” answered the manager. “I should -think he was about your age, or maybe a year or -two older.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Was he a tall, lanky sort of fellow with a -rather slouchy air about him?” questioned Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, that description would fit him pretty -well.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And did he have a squint in one eye?” questioned -Dave suddenly, remembering a peculiarity -about Nick Jasniff which he had almost forgotten.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, there certainly was something the matter -with one of his eyes. The upper lid seemed -to droop considerably.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Might I ask what that fellow was doing -here?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He came here looking for a job. He said he -was working on one of the ranches in this vicinity -but that he preferred to work for us and learn -civil engineering if we would give him a chance. -I told him we were pretty well filled up as far as -our engineering corps was concerned, but said he -might call some other time. You see, Barry and -Lundstrom are thinking of leaving, and if they do -we might have a chance for one or two outsiders, -provided they were of the right sort.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, if this fellow is the person we think he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>is, he isn’t any one you would care to have around -here, Mr. Obray,” cried Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And why not?” demanded the manager of -the construction camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Because if he is the fellow we think he is, he -is a thief and a jailbird!”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER IV<br /> <span class='large'>WHAT PHIL’S LETTER TOLD</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>Mr. Ralph Obray was much surprised at the -statement made by Roger, and his face showed it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is a pretty strong statement to make -against anybody,” he said slowly. “Perhaps you -had better explain.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I can do that easily enough,” returned the -senator’s son. “And Dave here can tell you even -more than I can.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“By the way,” broke in Dave, “may I ask if -the fellow left any name?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes.” The manager of the construction -camp glanced at a slip of paper lying on his desk. -“Jasper Nicholas.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Jasper Nicholas!” cried Roger. “What do -you know about that?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It sounds a good deal like Nicholas Jasniff -turned around,” answered our hero. He looked -at the manager. “The fellow we have in mind -was named Nicholas Jasniff,” he explained.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Tell me what you know about the fellow,” returned -Mr. Obray shortly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon the two chums related how they had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>been schoolmates with Nick Jasniff and Link Merwell -at Oak Hall and how Jasniff had one day attacked -Dave in the gymnasium with an Indian club -and how the fellow had run away. Then they -told of the robbery of the Wadsworth jewelry -works, and of how Jasniff and Merwell had been -followed to Cave Island and captured.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“At the last minute Merwell got away,” continued -Dave, “but the authorities hung on to Jasniff -and he was tried and sent to prison for a long -term of years. How he got out I don’t know.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is certainly an interesting story,” said -Mr. Obray. “But if that fellow Jasniff is in -prison he can’t be the fellow that called here.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But look at the similarity in names!” broke -in Roger. “Oh, I am sure he is the same fellow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If he is, we won’t want him around here even -if he has a right to his liberty,” declared the manager. -“Our men are all honest—or at least -we think they are—and we can not take chances -with a man who has been convicted of a crime. -Of course, such a fellow has a right to do his best -to get along in the world; but he had better go -to some place where nobody knows him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t you think we had better try to find out -whether Jasniff has really served his full term and -been properly discharged from prison?” remarked -Dave. “If he is a fugitive we ought to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>capture him and send him back to the authorities.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are right there, Porter. It might be a -good idea for you to send a message to the East -to find out about this.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where do you think I ought to send for information?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you know where he was placed in prison?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I would send directly to the prison -authorities.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us send a telegram!” cried Roger. “A -letter would be too slow. I’ll stand half the expense.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, I’ll go you!” responded our hero -quickly. “If Nick Jasniff got out of prison on the -sly, he ought to be returned to the place.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe if he did get out, and we captured -him, we might get a reward, Dave.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is true, too—provided a reward has -been offered.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You seem to be pretty sure that this fellow -who called here is the man you are after,” remarked -Mr. Obray. “Don’t you think you may -be mistaken? In that storm, and with the fellow -galloping past you on horseback all hunched up -to keep from getting wet, you may have made a -mistake.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At this remark the face of the senator’s son became -clouded.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>“It might be so, Dave. To tell the truth, we -didn’t get a very good look at him. And yet I -think it was Nick Jasniff.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m almost certain of it, Roger. I’ll never -forget that face of his. I studied it pretty well -when he was up for trial and we testified against -him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You might wait until he comes here again,” -suggested the manager.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. But then we wouldn’t have the information -we want,” declared Dave. “I’d rather -pay out my money on that telegram and learn -the truth. Then, if Jasniff was wanted by the -authorities, we could make a prisoner of him right -then and there.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is true.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The matter was discussed for several minutes -longer, and then the two chums walked back to -their quarters. Here they talked the matter over -between themselves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We can’t send a telegram to-night; the office -closes at six o’clock,” declared Dave. “We can -write it out, however, and send it the first chance -we get in the morning. I think Mr. Obray will -let you or me ride down to the telegraph office with -it.” The nearest station from which a telegram -could be sent was quite a distance away, and a telephone -line between the two points, while it was being -erected, was not yet in operation.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>Of course Frank Andrews wished to know what -had taken place, and the youths told him. He -shook his head sadly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s too bad! Especially with a young fellow,” -he declared. “That term in prison will -hang over him like a cloud all the rest of his life. -Kind-hearted people may talk all they please and -do all they possibly can—the fact remains that if -a man has once been in prison, unless he can prove -that he was innocent, very few people will care to -have anything to do with him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If Jasniff were a different kind of fellow I’d -have a different feeling for him,” said Dave; and -his face showed his earnestness. “If he had been -led into crime by others it would be a different -story. But so far as I can remember, he was always -hot-tempered, vicious, and bound to have his -own way. He was the leader in that robbery—not -Merwell. And when he was captured he -acted in anything but a penitent mood. On that -account I can’t get up much sympathy for him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He doesn’t deserve any sympathy!” cried -Roger. “Why, every time I think of how he -grabbed up that Indian club in the Oak Hall gymnasium -and did his best to brain you with it, it -makes my blood run cold!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He certainly must have been a pretty wicked -boy to attempt anything like that,” was Frank Andrews’ -comment. “It’s bad enough for schoolboys -<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>to fight with their fists; but that at least is a -fair way to do.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two chums were tired out from their -strenuous adventures of the day, and were glad to -retire early. During the night the storm cleared -away entirely, and in the morning the sun shown -as brightly as ever.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If you don’t mind, Dave, I’ll take that telegram -down to the office,” said Roger, while the -pair were dressing. “I’m expecting a box that -father said he was sending, and I can ask for that -at the same time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, Roger. But you had better wait -until the mail gets in. There may be some other -message we’ll want to send.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The mail was brought in while the youths were -at breakfast, and was distributed immediately -after that repast was over.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello, here’s a letter from Phil!” cried our -hero, as he noticed the postmark “Philadelphia.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve got the box from dad,” returned the senator’s -son, “so I won’t have to ask about that at -the express office.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I knew it!” exclaimed Dave, who had ripped -the letter open and was scanning its contents. -“Phil is coming out here to pay a visit to Star -Ranch; and he says he may bring Shadow Hamilton -with him. Isn’t that the best ever?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So it is, Dave! But it’s no more than I expected—at -<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>least so far as Phil is concerned. I -knew he couldn’t remain away from Belle Endicott -very long,” and the senator’s son winked suggestively.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here’s a lot of news about the other fellows, -Luke Watson, Polly Vane, and Jim Murphy. -Polly has gone into business with an uncle of his, -and Jim Murphy has a well-paying position up at -Yale.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m glad to hear it. Polly Vane was one of -the finest fellows that ever lived, even if he was -somewhat girlish. And as for Jim Murphy—there -was never a better monitor around Oak -Hall.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave had turned over to the last sheet of the -six-page communication Phil Lawrence had sent. -Here the letter proper came to an end, but there -was a postscript added in lead pencil. This ran -as follows:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“You will be interested to know that some -time ago Nick Jasniff’s case was brought up before -the Board of Pardons by a Committee on Prison -Reform. The men and women composing the -committee made a strong plea for Jasniff because -of his age, and I understand they made a very -favorable impression on the Pardon Board. If -Jasniff is pardoned, he will be getting out without -having served even half of his sentence. I wish -I had been there to tell the Board what sort of a -fellow he is.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>“Here’s the milk in the cocoanut, Roger!” -cried Dave, and read aloud what Phil had written.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Humph, so that’s the truth of it,” murmured -the senator’s son. “More than likely that committee -worked on the feelings of the Pardoning -Board so that they gave Jasniff his liberty. Well, -if that’s the case, there won’t be any need for -sending that telegram.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’re right. If he was pardoned, that ends -it, and he has as much right to his liberty as we -have to ours. Just the same, I think they made a -mistake. When he was tried, I am sure the -judge, on account of his age, gave him as short a -sentence as he deemed best.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m sure of that too, Dave! Why, one of the -lawyers told me that if Jasniff had been ten years -older he would have gotten twice as long a sentence.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think I had better go to Mr. Obray with -this news,” said Dave. “You can tell Andrews -if you want to.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our hero found the manager of the construction -camp just preparing to go out with several of -his assistant engineers. Explaining the situation, -Dave allowed Mr. Obray to read the postscript of -Phil’s letter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Looks as if you were right after all, and the -fellow who was here had been pardoned,” was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>Ralph Obray’s comment. “In that case, you -can’t do anything about having him held. Just -the same, if he is that sort I won’t want him -around.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If he comes again, may we see him to make -sure that he is really this Nick Jasniff?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Certainly, Porter. If you are anywhere near, -I’ll hold the man at the office, or wherever we happen -to be, and send for you and Morr.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave and Roger were now working under the -directions of Frank Andrews. In the gang were -two others—a young man named Larry Bond, -and an elderly engineer named Hixon. All had -become well acquainted and were good friends. -Hixon was from the West and had spent many -years of his life on the cattle ranges and in the -gold fields.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I was a prospector for six years,” he once declared. -“But, believe me, it didn’t pay. Sometimes -I struck it pretty rich; but then would come -long dry spells when I wouldn’t get a thing. All -told, I didn’t do as well, year in and year out, as -I am now doing at regular wages.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Andrews’ gang, as it was termed, had some -work to do at Section Five of the proposed line, -the work, of course, being preliminary to that -which was to be made on the erection of the -bridges to be built. This was in a decidedly rocky -part of the territory, and the young civil engineers -<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>and the others had no easy time of it making their -survey.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Some different from sitting in your room at -Oak Hall working out a problem in geometry, -eh?” remarked Dave to Roger, after a particularly -hard climb over the rocks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I should say so,” panted the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You look out that that chain doesn’t get away -from you,” cried Dave, pointing to the long -coiled-up steel measure which the other was carrying -at his belt. The real civil engineer’s, or -surveyor’s, chain is largely a thing of the past, the -steel measure having taken its place.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Frank Andrews and the others were at a distance -and young Bond was wigwagging his signals -across a deep cut in the hills. Now Dave prepared -to signal in return, at the same time holding -up his leveling-rod as required. Roger attempted -to climb around on the rough rocks, and -then suddenly uttered a cry of dismay.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s the matter?” asked Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That measure! I just started to fasten it -tighter to my belt when it slipped out of my hands. -There it goes—sliding down the rocks out there,” -and the senator’s son pointed to a spot at least -fifty feet below them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>While Dave was still signaling and moving his -leveling-rod farther along as desired, Roger began -to scramble down the rocks in the direction where -<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>the steel measure had fallen. He was gone for -fully ten minutes when suddenly Dave heard a -yell.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s the matter, Roger?” he called, dropping -the leveling-rod and the signal flag he held.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s a snake—and a big one, too!” screamed -the senator’s son. “Oh, Dave, come here and -help me! My leg is caught between the rocks, -and it’s a rattlesnake!”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER V<br /> <span class='large'>NICK JASNIFF’S VISIT</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>The announcement that Roger had his leg -caught between the rocks and that a rattlesnake -was about to attack him filled Dave with alarm.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Roger, are you sure it’s a rattlesnake?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes! Yes! Come down and help me! -Quick!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I will. Can’t you hit him with a rock or -something?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I will if I can. But hurry up—and bring -that axe or something with you!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When leveling parties, as they are officially -called, go out, one man often carries an axe with -which to clear away any obstructions which may -prevent a clear sight. On this occasion Roger -had been carrying the axe, as well as the chain, -and the implement now lay close to where our -hero stood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Grabbing up the axe, Dave lost no time in -scrambling down the rocks. As he did this he -heard a stone strike on some rocks below and knew -that Roger was throwing at the snake.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>“Oh, Dave! Help!” yelled the senator’s son, -“He’s getting ready to strike!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With one wild leap Dave came down to within -a few feet of where his chum stood between two -rocks which reached up to his waist. One leg -was fast between the rocks, and while the unfortunate -youth was endeavoring wildly to extricate -himself from his predicament, he was shying one -loose stone after another at a snake that was coiled -up in something of a hollow less than a dozen feet -away. The hollow was so situated that exit from -it could only be had in the direction occupied by -the young civil engineer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As Dave approached he saw that it was indeed -a rattlesnake that his chum had disturbed. The -reptile was at least five feet in length and of corresponding -thickness, and was now coiled up as if -ready to strike.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was a moment which called for immediate -action, and without stopping to think Dave raised -the axe and sent it whirling forward toward the -snake. His aim fell short, but this shortness -proved to be thoroughly effective. The handle of -the axe came down with a thud on the rocks, sending -the blade flashing in a semicircle. The sharpened -bit of steel caught the snake in the very center -of its folds, inflicting several deep cuts.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Instantly the reptile’s attention was taken from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>Roger. It whirled around swiftly in search of -the enemy that had struck it and whipped angrily -at the axe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave! can’t you shoot him?” gasped -Roger. “I dropped my pistol when I came down -over the rocks.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>In that wild territory it was the custom of every -one of the engineering gang to carry firearms. -Dave had a small automatic pistol in his hip pocket, -and this he now brought into play.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Crack! Crack! Crack! went the weapon -three times in rapid succession. The first shot did -not take effect, but the second and third hit the -mark, and the rattlesnake twisted and turned in -its death agony. Then, placing the pistol back in -his pocket, our hero raised up a stone almost as -large as his head and with it put the reptile out -of its misery.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave, is he—is he dead?” panted -Roger. His face had gone white, and his whole -attitude showed how unstrung he was.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He’s as dead as a door-nail, Roger,” was the -answer, after Dave had made a brief inspection of -the remains. “He’ll never bother you or anybody -else again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I felt sure he was going to bite me!” went on -the senator’s son with a shudder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You certainly had a close shave, and I don’t -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>wonder that it scared you, Roger. Think of facing -a snake like that and not being able to run -away!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He was down in this very hollow where my -leg is first. Then he glided over to the other hollow -and began to rattle and coil up to strike. If -you hadn’t come down as you did, he would have -struck me sure;” and the senator’s son shivered -again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think we had better wipe off that axe-handle, -and the blade, too,” remarked Dave. “He may -have gotten some of his poison on it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, wipe it off very carefully,” answered -Roger. “But first of all I’ve got to get my foot -loose. It does beat all how I got stuck.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You didn’t hurt your leg or your foot, did -you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I scraped my shin a little, but that doesn’t -count.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>An inspection was made, and finally Dave had -to bend down and unlace Roger’s shoe before the -limb could be gotten out of the space between the -two rocks. Then the footwear was recovered, -and the senator’s son put it on once more. In the -meanwhile, Dave took up the axe rather gingerly -and also tied a bit of string to the tail of the lifeless -rattlesnake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll take it back to the camp to show the -others,” announced our hero. “They wouldn’t -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>believe our story unless we were able to show the -snake. Besides that, we can keep the rattles if we -want to. Some people prize them quite highly as -trophies.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The axe was wiped off with care, and then, -after Roger had recovered his pistol and also the -steel measure he had dropped, the pair scrambled -up the rocks to where Dave had left his flag and -the leveling-rod. He waved the flag in the air as -a signal, and presently an answering signal came -back from the other members of the leveling gang, -who had been wondering what had become of the -two assistants.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say, you fellows have got to attend to business -during working hours!” cried Frank Andrews, -when they met. “If you want to——Great catfish! -where did you get that snake?” and -he broke off short to gaze in wonder at the rattlesnake -tied to the string that Roger exhibited.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You have to break off business when you get -an unexpected caller like that,” replied Dave dryly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you mean to say that rattler attacked -you?” questioned Larry Bond quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He started to attack Roger.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And Dave threw the axe at him and then shot -him,” explained the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Some rattler! that’s what he is!” was the -comment of John Hixon. “If he struck for you -he certainly meant business;” and he examined the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>remains of the rattlesnake with much interest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We thought we heard several shots, but we -were not sure,” remarked Frank Andrews.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess you didn’t hear them very well because -we were in something of a hollow,” answered -Dave; and then he and Roger gave the particulars -of what had occurred.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can be mighty lucky that you weren’t -struck,” declared Hixon emphatically. “When I -was out in the gold mines in the northern part of -this state I knew a man who was struck twice by -a rattler, and he came about as close to dying as -any man I ever saw.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The adventure had so unnerved Roger that -Frank Andrews excused him for the rest of the -day, and he went back to the construction camp, -taking the remains of the rattlesnake with him. -Here the story about the reptile soon spread; and -that evening all the men connected with the camp -came in to view the rattlesnake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m very thankful that you got out of this as -luckily as you did,” remarked Mr. Obray to Roger. -Then he told all of his men that they must be -very careful when they went among the rocks and -through the bushes. “Because, you know,” he -explained, “where there is one rattlesnake there -may be more. I was told by those who made the -first survey for the railroad that they saw no -snakes of any kind in this vicinity. Evidently, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>however, there was one snake that they missed.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And I hope he’s the only one,” put in Frank -Andrews.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The snake scare was the main topic of conversation -for several days, and it is safe to say that no -one went anywhere without having his eyes wide -open for a possible appearance of some reptile. -But no more snakes—rattlers or otherwise—put -in an appearance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Phil had written that he would come out to -Montana in about a week and would stop at the -construction camp before going to the Endicott -place. Dave and Roger, of course, looked forward -to the visit with much pleasure.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll have to ask for a day off just to show -Phil around,” said Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s so. And among other points of interest -we can show him the spot where you killed -the rattler,” answered his chum, with a grim -smile.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, we can do that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hope Shadow Hamilton comes with him. I -could even stand it to hear some of Shadow’s oldest -chestnuts of stories,” went on Roger. “It -would seem like old times at Oak Hall.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us trust that Shadow has a new batch of -stories to tell,” responded Dave. “We haven’t -seen him in such a while he has had plenty of time -to gather in a new crop.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>Several days went by, and the young civil engineers -were kept so busy that they had little time -to think about the coming of Phil Lawrence and -Shadow Hamilton. Once or twice they thought -of Nick Jasniff and asked Mr. Obray if that individual -had shown himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not yet,” was the manager’s reply. “Maybe -he got wind that you were here and that is -keeping him away.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the afternoon of the fourth day following -the killing of the rattlesnake, Dave and Roger -were hard at work in Section Five when one of the -general utility men around the camp came riding -up on horseback and leading another steed by the -halter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mr. Obray sent me for you,” he announced to -the chums. “You are to take these two horses -and ride down to the office as fast as you can. -Some young man is there that you wanted to see—the -fellow who came here some days ago looking -for a job.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It must be Nick Jasniff!” exclaimed Dave, and -lost no time in leaping into the saddle. He was -followed by Roger; and both hurried off along the -trail leading to the construction camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us sneak up to the office by the back way -and listen to what Nick Jasniff has to say,” suggested -Dave while they were on the way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This suited Roger, and coming into view of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>camp they left the horses at the shed and hurried -along past the bunk-houses to the rear of the office. -Here a window was wide open, and, looking -through this, they saw Mr. Obray at a desk, -and sitting near him was his visitor, hat in hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There is no mistake about him. It’s Nick -Jasniff,” whispered the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was right, it was indeed the former bully of -Oak Hall, the rascal who had been sent to prison -for the robbery of Mr. Wadsworth’s jewelry -works. Jasniff was talking very earnestly to the -manager of the construction camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, I am working over at the Double Eight -Ranch,” Jasniff was saying. “I’ve been there -now for quite a while, but I don’t like it very -much. You see, I’ve been used to office life, and -working around the construction of skyscrapers, -and things like that. I had a pretty good job out -in San Francisco and another one in Seattle. I -would much rather work for a concern like yours -than to stick to cow-punching.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How long have you been at Double Eight -Ranch?” questioned Mr. Obray. He was doing -what he could to put in time until Dave and Roger -might arrive.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Been there nearly three months.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And did you come directly from San Francisco -or Seattle?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh—I—er—came from Seattle,” responded -<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>Nick Jasniff hesitatingly. “I was—er—out -of work for about six weeks.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And how long did you work in Seattle?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A little over a year. I would have stayed -there longer, only the firm that employed me went -out of business,” continued the fellow who had -been in prison glibly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ever been in the East—in New York or -Philadelphia?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, sir. I never got any farther East than -Chicago.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At this reply from Jasniff Dave poked Roger in -the side and both looked at each other knowingly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He’s the same Jasniff,” whispered the senator’s -son. “He always did have a smooth -tongue.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. And that smooth tongue of his got him -into more than one difficulty,” responded our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The pair remained silent for a minute or two -longer listening to the questions put by Ralph -Obray and the answers made by Nick Jasniff. -Finally the questions became so personal that the -fellow who had been in prison commenced to grow -suspicious.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, will you have an opening for me or -not?” he demanded at last, arising to his feet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At that moment Dave and Roger glided around -the side of the office and tiptoed in through the -doorway. They came up directly behind Nick -<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>Jasniff before he was aware of their presence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here is the fellow if you want to talk to him,” -said Mr. Obray quickly; and thereupon the visitor -turned around, to stare in amazement at Dave and -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“W—w—what——” stammered Nick Jasniff, -and was unable to go on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You didn’t expect to see us, did you, Jasniff?” -declared Dave coolly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You were lucky to get out of prison so -quickly,” put in Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I—I—don’t know you,” faltered Nick Jasniff, -and now his face grew purple while the heavy -beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t know us, eh?” cried Dave. -“Well, we know you well enough!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Even if you are traveling under the assumed -name of Jasper Nicholas,” added Roger slyly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“See here! I don’t know what you fellows are -talking about!” cried Nick Jasniff, straightening -up. “Is this some game or not?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is a game—on your part,” answered Dave, -quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know what you mean.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, come, Jasniff, what’s the use of talking -like this? We know your game thoroughly!” -burst out Roger. “We have found out all about -you, and Mr. Obray here knows about you, too. -He just sent for us to identify you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>At this announcement Nick Jasniff wheeled -around to confront the manager.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is that true? Did you send for these fellows -to come to identify me?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I did.” Mr. Obray’s face took on a stern -look. “They had told me all about you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They didn’t have any right to do that!” -blustered the fellow who had been in prison.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, they did. In fact, it was their duty to -do so. We are all honest men in this camp, and -we have no use for fellows like you. I wanted -to make sure that there was no mistake. Now I -am sure, and you can get out—and stay out.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think that Board of Pardons was very -foolish to pardon you,” Roger could not help remarking. -“They should have let you stay in -prison to the end of your term.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At this remark Nick Jasniff looked for a moment -blankly at the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, see here, you——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, we know all about how you were -pardoned,” went on Roger. “It was a big mistake. -But now that they have let you go, I suppose -you have as much right to earn your living -as anybody.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But we don’t want you around where we are,” -added Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Huh, I’m not taking orders from you,” blustered -Nick Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>“No, but you are taking orders from me,” interposed -Mr. Obray sternly. “As I said before, -I want you to leave this place. I don’t want you -to come here again—understand that;” and he -arose to his feet to signify that the interview was -at an end.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right—I’ll go. But I won’t forget that -you had me come over here on a fool’s errand,” -grumbled Nick Jasniff. And then, as he reached -the doorway and passed outside, he turned around -and shook his fist at Dave and Roger. “Just you -wait! Some day I’ll get square with you for -this!” he cried angrily.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he ran swiftly toward the horse he had -been riding, leaped into the saddle and rode away.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER VI<br /> <span class='large'>NEWS FROM HOME</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“He’s mad clean through, that’s certain,” remarked -Roger, as he and Dave hurried out of the -office to watch Nick Jasniff gallop away down the -road leading from the construction camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. And I’ve no doubt but he’ll do his best -to make trouble for us,” replied Dave seriously. -“It’s too bad! I thought we were done with that -fellow forever.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you suppose he really has a job at the -Double Eight Ranch?” queried the senator’s son, -after a pause, during which they noted Jasniff’s -disappearance around a bend of the trail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He must be working somewhere. Or else -somebody has supplied him with funds. He can’t -live on nothing.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Perhaps he got his funds as he got those -stolen jewels, Dave.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That might be true too. They say very few -men reform after they have once been in prison.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us ask some of the others about this -Double Eight Ranch.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>This suggestion was considered a good one, and -during the next few days they made a number of -inquiries concerning the ranch in question, and -learned that it was a large place located in a fertile -valley about twenty miles away. It was owned by -a syndicate of Western capitalists and was under -the management of a man named James Dackley. -The ranch employed about a dozen experienced -cowboys and an equal number of assistants.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If Nick Jasniff works there it must be simply -as an assistant, since he knows little about a cowboy’s -duties,” was Dave’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. And if he is only an assistant he can’t -be paid very much money. No wonder he wanted -to join our crowd. I suppose he thought he could -earn two or three times as much.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, Roger, you can’t blame him for wanting -to earn money,” returned Dave briefly. -“Now that he has paid the penalty of his crime, -as the laws puts it, he has as much right to go -where he pleases, and work at what he pleases, as -anybody.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’m not begrudging him a chance to earn -his living,” cried the senator’s son quickly. “I -hope he reforms and gets along well in life. I -only want him to keep away from where I am. -I think I’ve got a right to pick my company, and I -don’t propose to pick such fellows as Jasniff.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Sunday passed, and then Dave received another -<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>letter from Phil Lawrence stating that the ship-owner’s -son had been delayed, but that he would -surely come West in the near future, and that not -only Shadow Hamilton but also Ben Basswood had -promised to make the trip with him. Concerning -Ben, Phil wrote as follows:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“You must know how grateful the Basswoods -are to you and Roger for recovering those thousands -of dollars’ worth of miniatures down there -on the Border. I think they feel pretty wealthy -now, having been offered a fine price for some of -the little paintings. So it was an easy matter for -Ben to get permission to join Shadow and me -when the trip was proposed. Ben is wild, thinking -what a good time he is going to have, for, -as you know, he has never had the chance of getting -around that we have had.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is better than ever!” cried Roger, when -he read the communication. “Talk about old -times at Oak Hall! We will tear things wide -open when they arrive.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll have to attend to our work, Roger. -You know we are here to learn all about surveying -and civil engineering. Our play days are very -largely at an end.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I think Mr. Obray and Frank Andrews -will let us cut loose a little—after they understand -matters,” pleaded the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The same mail had brought the young men letters -<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>from Jessie and Laura and also an interesting -communication from Dave’s Uncle Dunston. The -two girls had been on a trip to New York with -Mrs. Wadsworth, and had much to tell about their -sightseeing in and around the metropolis. Both -said they wished Dave and Roger had been with -them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Too bad! But we are a long way from old -New York,” sighed Roger. “My, what a grand -old time we could have had, visiting Bronx Park, -Coney Island, and a lot of other places!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. And we might have taken an auto trip -or two,” added Dave, his face brightening.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And think of being with the girls, Dave!” -broke in Roger wistfully. “It seems a terribly -long time since we saw them, doesn’t it?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It sure does,” answered Dave. He gave -something of a sigh. “Well, it can’t be helped. -If we want to make something of ourselves in this -world, we’ve got to buckle down and take the bitter -with the sweet. I guess it’s just as hard on the -girls. They won’t want to go out in company with -any of the other fellows.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And we know what we are working for—and -that is one comfort,” added the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In his communication to his nephew Dunston -Porter spoke about having bought some stock in -the Mentor Construction Company, and having -gotten Mr. Wadsworth to make the same kind of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>investment. Between them the two had put up -twenty thousand dollars.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That sure is something worth while!” cried -Roger. “It ought to help your chance with the -concern.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, if it helps my chance, it’s got to help -your chance, too, Roger.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I never thought of the company as an investment,” -went on the senator’s son. “I think when -I write to my father I’ll speak to him about it, and -tell him of what your uncle and Mr. Wadsworth -have done. Maybe my father will buy a like -share.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That would be fine, Roger. Then both of us -could feel as if we had a real personal interest in -the concern we were working for. Of course, it’s -only a small amount in comparison with what the -construction company really has invested in this -business. But every little helps.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. And it will prove to those higher up -that we have some interest beyond just earning our -salaries.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Another part of Dunston Porter’s letter referred -to the clearing up of a tract of land on the -outskirts of Crumville which belonged jointly to -the Porters, Mr. Wadsworth and an estate which -was represented by Mr. Basswood. The real estate -dealer had said that now would be a good -time in which to lay out streets through the tract -<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>and sell off the plots for building. There were -several new factories being erected down along the -railroad tracks, and the workingmen employed in -these concerns would want homes.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“The tract has not been used for a number of -years,” wrote Dunston Porter; “and during the -past six summers a band of gypsies has been making -its encampment there. We had quite some -trouble getting the gypsies to evacuate, and a couple -of them became so ugly that we had to threaten -them with arrest. But they have gone at last, -and we have told them that they cannot come back. -We expect to lay out the streets and the plots of -ground immediately, and then Mr. Basswood is -going to get ready and hold a big auction sale of -the various parcels. All of us hope to make quite -some money by the transaction.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hurrah for the auction sale of building lots!” -cried Dave. “I hope they make a barrel of -money. Wouldn’t it be fun to be there and see -the various plots sold off?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I went to a sale like that in our home town -years ago,” returned Roger. “They had a big -tent put up and furnished refreshments, and a -small brass band played selections. The auctioneer -was a very gifted talker, and he made a -wonderful address to the assemblage, telling them -of all the advantages to be had by buying the lots. -Then the agents got busy and the lots sold off like -hot cakes, some for cash and some on the instalment -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>plan. At that time there wasn’t a building -of any kind on the land; but less than a year later -there were half a dozen rows of houses and half -that number of barns and garages, and now that -end of the town is quite thriving.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m sure Crumville is bound to grow,” returned -Dave. “Just look at what it was when I -was a small boy and what it is to-day! We have -three or four times as many people and stores, and -we have a new railroad station with a good many -more trains, and two moving picture theaters, two -new schools, another church, and several new -factories. And not only that, the business men -have become so wideawake that they are gathering -in the trade for miles around—trade that -used to go to other towns.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I hope it does grow, Dave. That will -make it so much better for your folks and the -Wadsworths, and also the Basswoods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the morning following this conversation -Dave was preparing to go out with the others -when one of the clerks from the office came to him -with the information that Mr. Obray wanted to -see him at once. He found the manager of the -construction camp deep in some papers strewn over -his desk.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Porter, would you like to go on a special errand -for me over to Orella?” the manager asked -abruptly. “I’ve got some important papers that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>I wish delivered, and I want to see to it that they -are placed in the hands of just the right party.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, yes, Mr. Obray, I’ll be glad to do whatever -you want me to,” answered Dave quickly. -“It’s quite a trip though, so I’ve heard,” he added -with a smile.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I know that, Porter. But the trail is a good -one all the way; and if you follow the signboards -you can’t go astray. You can take a good horse, -and you had better take something to eat along, -too. If you start inside of the next hour, you -ought to be able to get back before dark. Of -course, if you have any difficulty in finding the right -party, you can stay in Orella all night and come -back to-morrow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I think I can make the trip in one day, -provided I don’t have to lose too much time in the -mining camp. I’ll be ready inside of fifteen or -twenty minutes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then go ahead, and when you’re ready I’ll -give you the papers and also tell you who they are -to be delivered to.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Dave rejoined his chum he told Roger -about the proposed trip.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’re in luck, Dave!” cried the senator’s -son. “That will make a dandy outing. I wish -I was going along.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I thought at first of asking Mr. Obray to let -you go,” answered Dave. “But then I got to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>thinking about the time we would want off when -Phil and the others came, and I didn’t want to -crowd things too much.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, no, I’m glad you didn’t,” was the hasty -response. “I don’t want to have the manager -thinking we are loafing on the job.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave ran over to the kitchen and there had -Jeff, the cook, put him up a substantial lunch. -Then he dressed himself for the long, hard ride -through the mountains, and a little later presented -himself again at the office.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here are the papers,” said Ralph Obray, -handing over a large and fat legal-looking envelope. -“I want you to deliver them to Mr. Raymond -Carson or, if Mr. Carson is not there, to -either his wife or his brother-in-law, Mr. Fred -Jamison. If you deliver this to the wife or the -brother-in-law, tell them that the papers are very -valuable and that they must not be given to anyone -but Mr. Carson.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, sir,” replied the young civil engineer. -And to make sure of the names he put them down -in the notebook he carried. “I suppose I had better -get a receipt for them,” he added.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do that, Porter, -although I know I can take your word for it. -I have watched you ever since you came to work -for our company, and that is why I am trusting -you in the present instance.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>“You can rely on me to do my best, Mr. -Obray,” answered our hero. And then with pardonable -pride he drew from his pocket the letter -he had received from his uncle. “I guess this -will prove to you how much I am interested in the -Mentor Construction Company,” and thereupon -he showed the manager the paragraph pertaining -to the purchase of stock in the concern by the Porters -and Mr. Wadsworth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That certainly is evidence!” cried Ralph -Obray heartily. “I am glad to know your people -take such a substantial interest in this company. -I might as well tell you, my folks have an -interest in it, too. But now you had better be on -your way, because it’s a long trip to Orella and I -won’t feel entirely satisfied until I know those papers -are in the hands of Mr. Carson or those -other people.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll get them there just as soon as I can make -it,” answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And a few minutes later he was on his way, -never dreaming of the strange adventure in store -for him.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER VII<br /> <span class='large'>THE FIGHT ON THE TRAIL</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>The road to Orella was in the opposite direction -to that taken by Dave and Roger on the day -they had encountered the heavy storm. As Mr. -Obray had said, the trail was well marked, so that -the young civil engineer had little trouble in following -it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But you are going to have some rough riding, -Dave,” remarked Roger, when he came forward -to see his chum depart. “They tell me there is -one spot on the trail where riding is as dangerous -as it is on any trail in Montana.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, Sport is a good horse, and I intend to -be careful,” answered our hero; and then, with a -wave of his hand, he galloped away and was soon -out of sight of the construction camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our hero felt in the best of humor, for the day -promised to be a fine one and a ride on horseback -through the mountains was just to his liking. He -could not help but whistle gayly to himself as he -sped forward; and thus the first three miles of his -journey were covered in a comparatively short -space of time.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>Beyond these three miles the trail roughened for -another mile or two, and here the young civil engineer -had to pick his way among the rocks and -loose stones with care. In some places where the -trail was of dirt, the brushwood grew thickly, so -that it often brushed his legs and the sides of his -steed as they passed. This, of course, was merely -the foot trail to Orella, a sort of short cut. The -main trail for teams wound along farther down in -the valley and was fully fifteen miles longer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As Dave pursued his journey, many thoughts -came to his mind, both about his work and concerning -those left at home in Crumville. The -beautiful face of Jessie, with her bewitching eyes, -was continually before him; and once or twice he -took from his pocket the last letter he had received -from her, to read over some of the lines she had -penned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“She wants me to make good as a civil engineer, -and I’m going to do it,” he murmured to himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Shortly after leaving the construction camp he -had passed several miners who were prospecting -in that vicinity, but now he seemed to be alone on -the trail, and the only sound that broke the stillness -was the occasional cry of a wild bird and the -hoofbeats of his horse as the sturdy animal moved -ahead.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Having mounted to the top of an unusually hard -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>rise, Dave brought Sport to a halt to rest, and also -to take a look at his surroundings. On one side -of him were the jagged rocks leading still further -upward, while on the other was the broad valley, -clothed in green and with a shimmering river flowing -through its center. Far away he could see -some animals grazing, and took them to be mountain -goats, although at such a distance it was hard -to make sure.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A fellow certainly could have some great -times out here hunting in the proper season,” he -told himself. “I’d like to go out myself for a -few days, especially if I could get some old hunter -for a guide.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Having rested for about five minutes, Dave -moved forward again, and soon found himself on -the dangerous part of the trail mentioned by -Roger. The youth had heard this spoken of before, -and he reined in his steed and moved forward -with caution.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You be careful, old boy,” he said, patting his -horse on the neck. “Neither of us wants to take -a tumble down yonder rocks. If we did, it might -be good-bye to both of us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Evidently Sport understood the situation quite -as well as did the young civil engineer, for he kept -as close to the inner side of the path as possible, -and picked every step carefully, and thus they -moved onward until the very worst of the trail had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>been left behind. There was, however, still some -bad places, the trail widening out in some spots -only to narrow worse than ever in others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hi there! Don’t you ride me down!” cried -an unexpected voice, as Dave came around one of -the narrow bends of the trail. And the next instant -the youth found himself face to face with -Nick Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fellow who had been in prison was on foot, -and carried a bundle strapped over one shoulder. -He was so close that he had to leap to one side for -fear of being trampled under foot, and this filled -him with anger even before he recognized who -was on horseback.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nick Jasniff!” exclaimed Dave, and for the -instant knew not what more to say.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So it’s you, Porter, is it?” snarled the former -bully of Oak Hall. “What are you doing on this -trail?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is none of your business, Jasniff,” -answered Dave coldly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“See here! You needn’t put on any lordly airs -with me!” growled the fellow who in the past had -caused our hero so much trouble. “Thought you -were playing a fine game on me, didn’t you—having -that construction camp manager make a fool -of me?” And now Jasniff came closer and caught -Dave’s horse by the bridle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You keep your hands off my horse, Jasniff,” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>ordered Dave. “You let go of him this instant!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll let go when I please.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, you won’t! You’ll let go now!” And -so speaking, Dave leaned over in the saddle to -push the fellow away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was not a very wise thing to do, and Dave -should have known better. The instant he made -the movement, Jasniff, who was tall and powerful, -caught him by the arm, and the next instant had -hauled him from the saddle. The scuffle which resulted -from this alarmed the horse, and the steed -trotted away some distance up the trail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess I’ve got you now where I want you, -Porter!” cried Jasniff, the squinting eye squinting -worse than ever as he scowled at our hero. “I’ve -got a big account to settle with you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave realized that he was in for it and that -Nick Jasniff would hesitate at nothing to accomplish -his purpose. Our hero remembered well -the dastardly attack made on him by the rascal at -the Oak Hall gymnasium with an Indian club.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Jasniff struck out with his left fist, and at the -same time put his right hand back as if to draw -some weapon. Dave dodged the blow intended -for his face, and then struck out swiftly, hitting -Jasniff in the cheek. Then several blows were exchanged -in quick succession, Dave being hit in the -chest and shoulder and Jasniff receiving several in -the chest and one on the nose which sent him staggering -<span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>several feet. Then the bully rushed forward -and clinched, and both circled around and -around on the narrow trail, each trying to get the -advantage of the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll fix you! Just wait and see!” panted Jasniff, -as he did his best to get a strangle hold on -our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave did not answer, for he realized that in an -encounter with such a tall and powerful fellow as -Jasniff he must make the best use of his breath as -well as his muscles.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He slipped from the clutch Jasniff was trying -to get on him, and caught the fellow by the waist. -Then Jasniff went down with Dave on top of him, -and both rolled over and over among the rocks -and into some bushes which chanced to have sprung -up in that vicinity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You le—le—let up!” gasped Jasniff presently, -when he found Dave had him by the throat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll let up when I’m through with you—not -before,” answered Dave pantingly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The struggle continued, and Jasniff arose partly -to a sitting position only to have his head banged -backward on the rocks. Then, however, he managed -to get one leg doubled up and he sent his foot -into Dave’s stomach in such a way that our hero -was for the moment deprived of his breath. -Both clinched again and rolled over until they -were close to the edge of the rocks.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>“Now I’ve got you!” cried the bully; and just -as Dave managed to hit him another blow in the -nose, one which made the blood spurt, Jasniff tore -himself free and an instant later pushed Dave -down over the rocks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Even then our hero might have saved himself, -as he had his left foot planted in what he thought -a safe place, and he might have caught Jasniff by -the leg. But the foot gave way most unexpectedly, -and in a trice Dave found himself rolling -over and over down a rocky slope. He clutched -out wildly, and managed to catch hold of several -bushes. But these came out by the roots, and then -he slid downward once more, at last reaching a -little cliff over which he plunged sideways, to land -with a crash in some bushes and stunted trees -some distance below.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The rolling and the drop over the cliff had all -but stunned the young civil engineer, and for fully -five minutes he lay among the bushes hardly realizing -where he was or what had happened. Then, -when he finally arose to his feet, he found that his -left shoulder hurt him not a little, and that his left -ankle felt equally painful and was quite lame.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That certainly was some tumble,” he groaned -to himself. “I suppose I can be thankful I wasn’t -killed.”</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/p074.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><span class='sc'>Dave found himself rolling over and over down a rocky slope.</span>—<em>Page <a href='#Page_74'>74</a>.</em></p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>He had rolled a distance of fifty yards, and the -top of the little cliff was six or eight feet above his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>head. From where he stood he could not see that -portion of the trail where the encounter had occurred, -and consequently he knew not what had become -of Nick Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hope he rolled down, too,” murmured Dave -to himself. But after he had taken a good look -around he concluded that Jasniff had remained up -on the trail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The only thing to do was to climb up to the trail -and try to find out what had become of Jasniff and -the horse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It would be just like Jasniff to take Sport and -ride off with him,” thought Dave dismally. -“What a fool I was not to give him a knock-out -blow when I had him down on the rocks! If I -had given him that I could have made him a prisoner -before he had a chance to regain his senses. -Now he’s got the best of it, and there is no telling -what he’s up to.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>More anxious to know what had become of his -horse than over Jasniff’s welfare, Dave moved -around to one end of the cliff and then began to -scramble up the rocks. This was by no means -easy, and more than once he had to stop to catch -his breath and nurse his hurt shoulder and his -lame ankle. Up above him he could now see the -trail, but neither Jasniff nor the horse was in sight.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last Dave had the satisfaction of drawing -himself up over the rocks bordering the edge of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>the trail, and here, feeling rather weak, he sat -down to regain his strength. He listened intently, -but scarcely a sound broke the silence of the mountains. -Evidently Nick Jasniff had taken time by -the forelock and made good his departure.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If he took that horse, what am I to do?” -mused Dave bitterly. “To foot it all the way to -Orella, and especially with this lame ankle, is almost -out of the question.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thinking of Orella put Dave in mind of his mission, -and he quickly thrust his hand into his pocket -to see if the envelope Mr. Obray had given him to -deliver was safe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next instant his heart almost stopped beating. -The envelope was gone!</p> - -<p class='c000'>Frantically he searched one pocket after another; -and then he made another discovery equally -dismaying. Not only was the envelope the construction -camp manager had given him missing, but -likewise the letters he had received from Jessie -and his Uncle Dunston, and also his pocketbook -which had contained upward of forty dollars.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER VIII<br /> <span class='large'>WHAT WAS MISSING</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Gone!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was the one word which burst from Dave’s -lips as he searched one pocket after another in -rapid succession. Then he arose to his feet, to -hurry up and down the trail in the vicinity where -the encounter with Jasniff had occurred. But -though he looked everywhere, not a trace of the -documents, the letters, or his pocketbook could be -found.</p> - -<p class='c000'>An examination showed that his coat was torn -in several places and that the side of one of the -pockets had likewise been rent. But whether this -damage had been caused by the fight or when he -had rolled down over the rocks, he could not determine.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess I got pretty well mussed up in the -fight, and the fall down the rocks finished the -job,” he muttered to himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was much disheartened, and felt bitter -against Nick Jasniff. Whether the rascal had -picked up the articles lost and made off with them -was, however, a question.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>“If I lost them up here on the trail he probably -took them,” Dave reasoned. “But if they fell out -of my pockets when I rolled down the rocks and -over the cliff, they must be scattered somewhere -between here and the place where I landed in the -bushes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave felt much perplexed, not knowing whether -it would be better to try to find Jasniff or to make -a search in the vicinity where he had had the fall.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I suppose it would be sheer nonsense to try to -follow Jasniff on foot if he went off on my horse,” -the young civil engineer reasoned. “I might as -well take a look down below and make sure that I -didn’t drop those things when I fell.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With his hurt shoulder and lame ankle, it was -almost as much of a task to get down the rocks -as it had been to climb up. As well as he was -able, he took the same course he had followed in -the fall, and he kept his eyes wide open for the -things he had lost. But five minutes of slipping -and sliding brought him to the top of the little cliff -without seeing anything but dirt, rocks, and bushes. -Then he had to make a wide detour to get to the -bottom of the cliff.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I suppose it’s a wild-goose chase, and I’ll have -my work for my pains,” he grumbled. “Oh, -rats! Why did I have to fall in with Jasniff on -this trip? I wish that fellow was at the North -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>Pole or down among the Hottentots, or somewhere -where he couldn’t bother me!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave began to search around in the vicinity of -the spot where he had fallen. He was almost -ready to give up in despair when his eye caught -sight of a white-looking object some distance below. -Eagerly he climbed down to the place where -the object lay, and the next moment set up a cry -of joy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hurrah! Here are Mr. Obray’s documents!” -he exclaimed. “I hope they are all -right.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>A hasty inspection convinced him that the legal-looking -envelope and its contents were intact. -Having inspected them carefully, he placed the -packet inside of his shirt.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I won’t take any more chances with it,” he told -himself. “Somebody will have to rip my clothing -off to get that envelope away.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With the envelope safe in his possession once -more, Dave felt exceedingly light-hearted. But -the letter from Jessie, as well as the communication -from Uncle Dunston, and the pocketbook -with the forty odd dollars in it, were still missing, -and he spent some time looking for those things.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It doesn’t matter so much about the letters, -even though I hate to part with the one from Jessie,” -he reasoned. “But I’d like to set my eyes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>on that pocketbook with the forty-two or forty-three -dollars it held.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But our hero’s success had come to an end with -the finding of the envelope to be delivered at -Orella; and although he searched around for a -quarter of an hour longer, nothing of any value -came to sight. Then, with a deep sigh, he pulled -himself up once more to the trail, and set off on a -hunt for his horse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Jasniff was headed in the opposite direction, -and maybe he didn’t go after Sport,” Dave argued -to himself. “Anyhow, I’ve got to go that way, -even if I have to journey on foot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Painfully our hero limped along, for the climbing -up and down on the rocks had done the lame -ankle no good. He had had to loosen his shoe, -for the ankle had swollen not a little.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If I could only bathe it it wouldn’t be so bad,” -he thought.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But there was no water at hand, and the small -quantity he carried in a flask for drinking purposes -was too precious to be used on the injured limb.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He had covered several yards when his lame -ankle gave him such a twinge that he had to sit -down to give it a rest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know what I’m going to do if I can’t -find that horse,” he thought bitterly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was sitting and nursing the hurt ankle and -looking over the landscape in the valley below him, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>when something on one of the bushes less than -fifty feet away caught his eye.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I wonder what that can be,” he mused. “It -doesn’t look like a bird’s nest. It looks more like -an old shoe. I wonder——Can it be my pocketbook?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The last thought was so electrifying that Dave -leaped to his feet, and, regardless of the painful -ankle, walked over to the edge of the trail. Here -he could see the object quite plainly, and he lost -no time in crawling down to the bushes and obtaining -it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was indeed his pocketbook, but wide open and -empty. Even the few cards and slips of paper it -had contained were missing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This proves one thing,” he reasoned bitterly. -“Jasniff picked that pocketbook up where we had -the fight, and he came this way while he was emptying -it, then he threw it away.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave was also sure of another thing. The -pocketbook and the two letters had been in the -same pocket, and he felt certain that Nick Jasniff -had also confiscated the two communications.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now the question is, if he came this way, did -he get Sport?” Dave mused. “If he did, then -it’s good-bye to the letters, the money and the -horse.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Placing the empty wallet in his pocket, Dave sat -down and rested his lame ankle. He counted the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>loose change in his trousers’ pocket and found he -had eighty-five cents. Then he limped on once -more around another bend in the trail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here a sight filled him with satisfaction. At -this point the rocks came to an end and there was -a fairly good bit of pasture-land, and here stood -Sport, feeding away as if nothing out of the ordinary -had happened.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good old Sport!” cried Dave, going up to the -animal and patting him affectionately. “I’m -mighty glad you didn’t run any farther, and doubly -glad Nick Jasniff didn’t get you. Now, old boy, -we’ll be on our way and try to make up for lost -time;” and in a moment more our hero was in the -saddle and galloping off in the direction of Orella.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave surmised that Nick Jasniff had come in -that direction looking for the horse, but without -finding Sport. At the same time, the rascal had -rifled the pocketbook and then thrown it in the -bushes. Then, thinking the horse had gone a -much greater distance, Jasniff had retraced his -steps and continued on his way in the direction of -the construction camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But he can’t be bound for the camp, for Mr. -Obray warned him to keep away,” thought our -hero. “It must be that he is headed either for -some of the mining camps or ranches, or the railroad -station.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our hero felt that it would be next to useless -<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>for him to go to the Double Eight Ranch, where -Nick Jasniff was employed, and accuse him of the -theft. The fellow would probably deny everything—even -the meeting on the road. And as -there had been no witnesses to the transaction, -there the case would have to rest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Just the same, when I get the chance, I’ll let -the manager of the Double Eight Ranch know -what sort of fellow Jasniff is,” Dave said to himself. -“Maybe that crowd over there won’t want -a prison bird around any more than we wanted -him at the construction camp.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our hero had been right in regard to finding the -pocketbook and letters. After Dave had disappeared -over the edge of the cliff below the trail, -Nick Jasniff had looked around to find his hat, -which had fallen off in the struggle. As he picked -this up he had noticed the pocketbook and the two -letters.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe there’s something in that pocketbook -worth keeping,” he had muttered to himself, as he -tried to stop the flow of blood from his bruised -nose. “And I guess I’m entitled to anything I -can get from Dave Porter. I hope he broke every -bone in his body by that fall.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He waited for a minute to see if Dave would -reappear, and then hurried along the trail, thinking -he could find and mount our hero’s horse. -He quickly transferred the forty-three dollars he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>found in the wallet to his own pocket, and then -threw the pocketbook away in the spot where -Dave picked it up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess it’s no use to look any farther,” Jasniff -had muttered to himself on failing to locate -the horse. “Gee! I’m glad I struck this forty-three -dollars! That amount with the thirty I had -before will see me a long distance on my way.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And thereupon he had hurried back past the -spot where the encounter had taken place, and -then along the trail to where there was a fork—one -branch leading down to the construction camp, -and the other off in the direction of some mines -and the nearest railroad station.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Although our hero did not know it, Jasniff had -had another quarrel earlier in the day. A miner -operating near the Double Eight Ranch had the -night before fallen in with several of the men employed -by the Mentor Construction Company, and -from them had learned the particulars concerning -the fellow who had gotten out of prison.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This news had been carried to James Dackley, -the manager of the Double Eight, and Dackley, -who was naturally a hot-headed man, had become -furious over the thought of being so deceived by -Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I only took him on because I thought he was -a tenderfoot and was hard up for a job,” Dackley -had growled. “He told such a straight story that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>I swallowed it, hook, line, and sinker. I don’t -want such a fellow around here any more than -they want him over to the railroad camp. Just -have Nolan send him to me, and I’ll soon send him -about his business.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon Nick Jasniff had been summoned -from the bunk-house to the main building on the -Double Eight Ranch and been closely questioned -by James Dackley. He had denied everything, -but the ranch manager had refused almost to listen -to him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m going to investigate this,” said Dackley, -“and if the story is true, the sooner you get out -the better I’ll be pleased.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nick Jasniff had well understood that the truth -would come out in the near future; and knowing -how passionate James Dackley could become on -occasion, he had lost no time in packing his few -belongings and asking for his pay. This had been -given to him, and he had thereupon set out on his -journey toward the railroad station on foot—Dackley -refusing to give him the loan of a horse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nick Jasniff had come to the conclusion that it -would be best for him to quit the neighborhood. -He had thirty dollars in his pocket, and this added -to the forty-three taken from Dave’s pocketbook -made quite a sum.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There’s no use of my staying here in the -West,” he reasoned. “There are far more -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>chances in the East for a fellow like me. Maybe -I’ll find some of the fellows I used to know out -there, and we can pull off some stunts worth -while.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With several miles placed between him and the -place where he had had the encounter with Dave, -Nick Jasniff sat down to rest and at the same time -look over the letters he had picked up. There -was a cynical sneer on his face as he read the communication -from Jessie to Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s enough to make a fellow sick to think such -a rich girl as that should take to a fellow like Dave -Porter,” he murmured to himself. “Wouldn’t I -like to put a spoke in that fellow’s wheel! I -wonder if I couldn’t do something to come between -Porter and the Wadsworths? I owe old man -Wadsworth something for sending me to prison.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Nick Jasniff turned to the letter written by -Dunston Porter. The beginning of this did not -interest him greatly, but he read with interest what -Dave’s uncle had written concerning the gypsies -who had camped out on the outskirts of Crumville.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Got into a row with a couple of gypsies, eh?” -he mused. “I reckon that’s something worth remembering. -Maybe those fellows wouldn’t mind -joining me in some kind of a game against the -Wadsworths. Maybe we could put one over and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>make a lot of money out of it. Anyway, it’s something -worth thinking about;” and thereupon Nick -Jasniff grew very thoughtful as he proceeded on -his way to the railroad station.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER IX<br /> <span class='large'>DAVE AT ORELLA</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>It was two o’clock in the afternoon when Dave -rode into Orella. This was a typical mining town -of Montana, containing but a single street with -stores, the majority of which were but one story -in height. Back of this street were probably half -a hundred cabins standing at all sorts of angles -toward the landscape; and beyond these were the -mines.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just previous to entering the town Dave had -stopped at a wayside spring and there washed up. -Before that he had brushed himself off as well as -he was able, so that when he entered the place the -only evidences he carried of the encounter with -Nick Jasniff were some scratches on the back of his -hand and a small swelling on his left cheek.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first person he met directed him to the offices -of the Orella Mining Company, of which Mr. -Raymond Carson was the general manager.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is Mr. Carson in?” he questioned of the -clerk who came forward to interview him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He is,” was the answer. “Who shall I say -wants to see him?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>“My name is Porter, and I was sent here to see -him by Mr. Obray of the Mentor Construction -Company.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, then I guess you can go right in,” returned -the clerk, and showed the way to a private -office in the rear of the building.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here Mr. Raymond Carson sat at his desk writing -out some telegrams. Dave quickly introduced -himself and brought forth the legal-looking envelope -which had been intrusted to him. The -manager of the mining company tore it open and -looked over the contents with care.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very good—just what I was waiting for,” -he announced. “You can tell Mr. Obray I am -much obliged for his promptness.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Would you mind giving me a receipt for the -papers?” questioned the young civil engineer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not at all.” The mining company manager -called in one of the clerks. “Here, take down a -receipt,” and he dictated what he wished to say.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave at first thought he might tell of how close -he had come to losing the documents, but then -considered that it might not be wise to mention -the occurrence. The receipt was written out and -signed and passed over.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How are matters coming along over at your -camp?” questioned Mr. Raymond Carson with -a smile.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, we are doing very well, everything considered,” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>was Dave’s reply. “We are having a -little trouble on account of some of the rocks -in Section Six. They are afraid of a landslide. -We’ve got to build two bridges there, and our engineers -are going to have their own troubles getting -the proper foundations.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, that’s a great section for landslides. I -was out there mining once, and we had some of -the worst cave-ins I ever heard about.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There is practically no mining around there -now,” ventured Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No. The returns were not sufficient to warrant -operations. Some time, however, I think -somebody will open up a vein there that will be -worth while.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>A few words more passed concerning the work -of the construction company, and then Dave prepared -to leave. Just as he was about to step out -of the office, however, he turned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“By the way, Mr. Carson, may I ask if there -was a young fellow about my own age here during -the past week or two looking for a job—a -fellow who said his name was Jasper Nicholas?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A young fellow about your age named Nicholas?” -mused the mine manager. “Let me see. -Did he have a cast in one eye?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The fellow I mean squints a good deal with -one of his eyes. He is rather tall and lanky.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>“Yes, he was here. He wanted a job in the -mines. Said he didn’t think he was cut out for -office work. But somehow or other I didn’t like -his looks. Is he a friend of yours?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He is not!” declared Dave quickly. “In -fact, he is just the opposite. And what is more, -he is a thief and has served a term in prison.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t say!” exclaimed the mine manager. -“Are you sure of this?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Positive, sir. His real name is Nicholas Jasniff. -Some years ago he and another fellow stole -some valuable jewels from a jewelry works. I -aided in capturing him and sending him to prison.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Humph! If that’s the case I am glad I didn’t -hire him. As I said before, I didn’t like his looks -at all, and out here we go about as much on looks -as we do on anything.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He came to our camp, but Mr. Obray soon -sent him about his business,” said Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After talking the matter over for a few minutes -longer, but without mentioning the attack on -the trail, Dave rode away. At the end of the -street he stopped at a general store, which contained -a drug department, and while giving his -horse a chance to feed, there obtained some liniment -with which he rubbed his lame shoulder and -his hurt ankle. Then, having obtained a bottle -of lemon-soda with which to quench his thirst, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>and help along his supper when he should stop -to eat it, our hero set off on the return to the construction -camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By the time Dave reached the spot where the -encounter with Jasniff had occurred, it was growing -somewhat dark on the trail. Over to the -westward the mountains were much taller than -those where the trail ran, and the deep shadows -were creeping upward from the valley below. -Soon the orb of day sank out of sight, and then the -darkness increased.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So far on the return Dave had met but two men—old -prospectors who had paid scant attention -to him as he passed. He had stopped at a convenient -point to eat what remained of the lunch -he had brought along, washing it down with the -lemon-soda. Presently he came to a fork in the -trail, and by a signboard placed there knew that -he was now less than four miles from the construction -camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The hard ride had tired the young civil engineer -greatly, and he was glad enough to let -Sport move forward on a walk. The horse, -too, had found the journey a hard one, and was -well content to progress at a reduced rate of speed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The narrow portion of the footway having been -left behind, horse and rider came out into something -of a hollow on the mountainside. Here and -there were a number of loose rocks and also quite -<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>a growth of scrub timber. Dave was just passing -through the densest of the timber when an -overhanging branch caught his hat and sent it to -the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whoa there, Sport!” he cried, and bringing -his horse to a halt, he leaped down to recover the -hat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave had just picked up the head covering when -he heard a low sound coming from some bushes -close at hand. It was not unlike the cry of a cat, -and the youth was instantly on the alert. He remembered -only too well how, when he had been -at Star Ranch, a wildcat, commonly called in that -section a bobcat, had gotten among the horses belonging -to himself and his chums and caused no -end of trouble.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The cry was followed by several seconds of intense -silence, and then came the unmistakable -snarl of a bobcat, followed instantly by a leap on -the part of Sport.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whoa there!” cried Dave, and was just in -time to catch the horse by the bridle. Then Sport -veered around and kicked out viciously at the -brushwood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The bobcat was there, and evidently had no -chance to retreat farther, the bushes being backed -up by a number of high rocks. With a snarl, it -leaped out into the open directly beside the horse -and Dave. Then, as the horse switched around -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>again and let fly with his hind hoofs, the bobcat -made a flying leap past Dave, landing in the -branches of a nearby tree.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whoa there, Sport!” cried the youth, and -now lost no time in leaping into the saddle. In -the meanwhile the bobcat sprang from one limb of -the tree to another and disappeared behind some -dense foliage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Had our hero had a rifle or a shotgun, he might -have gone on a hunt for the beast. But he carried -only his small automatic, and he did not consider -this a particularly good weapon with which -to stir up the bobcat. He went on his way, and -now Sport set off on a gallop, evidently glad to -leave such a dangerous vicinity behind. Although -horses are much larger, bobcats are such vicious -animals that no horses care to confront them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I sure am having my fill of adventures to-day,” -mused Dave grimly. “First Nick Jasniff, -and now that bobcat! I’ll have to tell the others -about the cat, and maybe we can organize a hunt -and lay the beast low. The men won’t want to -face a bobcat while at work any more than they -would care to face that rattlesnake I shot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was not long after this when the lights of -the construction camp came into view, and soon -Dave was riding down among the buildings. -Roger was on the watch, and came forward to -greet him.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>“Had a safe trip, I see!” called out the senator’s -son. “Good enough!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I had a safe trip in one way if not in another,” -announced Dave. “Two things didn’t suit me at -all. I met Nick Jasniff, and then I also met a bobcat.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t say!” ejaculated Roger. “Tell -me about it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I want to report to Mr. Obray first, Roger. -If you want to go along you can.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave found the construction camp manager at -the doorway of the cabin he occupied, reading a -newspaper which was several days old. He, as -well as Roger, listened with keen interest to what -our hero had to relate.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And so that rascal took your forty-odd dollars, -did he?” exclaimed Ralph Obray, when -Dave was telling the story. “He certainly is a -bad egg.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m mighty glad he didn’t get away with your -papers, Mr. Obray,” answered our hero soberly. -“Of course, I don’t know how valuable they were, -but I presume they were worth a good deal more -than the contents of my pocketbook.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are right there, Porter. The documents -would be hard to duplicate. And I’m mighty glad -they are safe in Mr. Carson’s hands and that we -have the receipt for them. Now, in regard to -your losing your money: If we can’t get it back -<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>from this fellow Jasniff, I’ll see what the company -can do toward reimbursing you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I sha’n’t expect that, Mr. Obray!” cried -the youth. “It was no concern of yours that I -was robbed.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know about that. If you hadn’t taken -that trip for us, this Jasniff might not have gotten -the chance to take your money. In one way, I -think it is up to the company to make the loss -good; and I’ll put it up to the home office in my -next report.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You certainly ought to let the people at -Double Eight Ranch know what sort Jasniff is!” -cried Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Of course, I can’t prove that he took the -money,” returned Dave. “There were no witnesses -to what occurred, and I suppose he would -claim that his word was as good as mine.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But we know it isn’t!” burst out the senator’s -son indignantly. “He’s a rascal, and I intend -that everybody around here shall know it!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You certainly had your share of happenings,” -was Mr. Obray’s comment. “It was bad enough -to have the fight with Jasniff without running afoul -of that wildcat. You ought to have brought him -down with your pistol, as you did that rattlesnake,” -and he smiled broadly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I didn’t get a chance for a shot,” explained -Dave. “I had to grab the horse for fear he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>would run away and leave me to walk to the camp. -And besides, the wildcat moved about as quickly -as I can tell about it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe we can form a party and round the -wildcat up,” put in Roger eagerly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I was thinking of that, Roger.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Of course Dave had to tell Frank Andrews -about the encounter with Jasniff and also about -meeting the wildcat. Several others were present -when the story was retold, and soon nearly -everybody in the camp was aware of what had -taken place.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I certainly hope you get your money back,” -remarked Larry Bond. “Gracious! I wouldn’t -like to lose forty-odd dollars out of my pay! I -couldn’t afford it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll have to round up that bobcat some -day,” said old John Hixon. “If we manage to -kill him off, it will discourage others from coming -to this neighborhood.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, any time you say so, I’ll go out with -you to try to lay the bobcat low,” answered Dave.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER X<br /> <span class='large'>WHAT THE GIRLS HAD TO TELL</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>Two days later Dave was hard at work with -the others on the mountainside when a gang of -six cowboys rode up. They were curious to know -some particulars concerning the new railroad spur -which was to be put through in that vicinity, and -stopped to watch proceedings and to ask a number -of questions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What ranch do you hail from, boys?” questioned -Frank Andrews of the leader of the crowd, -a tall, leathery-looking man of about forty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’re from the Double Eight outfit,” was the -answer, as the fellow pulled a sheet from a book -of papers he carried, filled it with some loose -tobacco from a pouch, and proceeded to roll himself -a cigarette.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The Double Eight, eh?” exclaimed the civil -engineer. “That is interesting. I think one of -my young men here would like to ask you a few -questions, if you wouldn’t mind.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, pard, shoot away,” answered the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>cowboy calmly, as he began to puff at his cigarette.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Frank Andrews lost no time in summoning -Dave, who was some distance up the trail, and -told our hero where the cowboy hailed from.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I believe you have a fellow staying with you -who calls himself Jasper Nicholas,” began Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We did have a feller with that handle down -to our outfit,” responded the cowboy. “But he -got fired some days ago.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Fired!” cried Dave and Roger simultaneously.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s the size on it, son. He got kind o’ -fresh with the boss, and Jim wouldn’t stand for it -nohow. I don’t know exactly wot the rumpus was -about, but that feller didn’t lose no time vamoosin’.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I wish you would tell me some of the particulars -about him,” went on Dave. “Then I’ll tell -you something that may interest you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I ain’t got much to tell, ’cause I didn’t like -the feller, and consequently didn’t have much to -do with him. Fact is, he wasn’t in cahoots with -nobody around the ranch. He had a hang-dog -way about him none of us cottoned to.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I wish you would tell me what you do -know,” insisted our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon the cowboy, who said his name was -Pete Sine, told how Nick Jasniff had come to the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>Double Eight Ranch some weeks before with a -hard-luck story and had been given a job as an all-around -handy man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But he wasn’t handy at all,” announced Pete -Sine. “Fact is, he was the most unhandy critter -I ’most ever met up with. But he told such a -pitiful story, the boss and some of the fellers felt -sorry for him, so they all done the best they -knowed how for him—that is at the start. But -he soon showed the yellow streak that was in him, -and then, as I said before, the boss got wise to him -and fired him. Now what do you know about -him?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave, aided by Roger, gave many of the particulars -concerning Nick Jasniff’s past doings, and -our hero related the details of the fight on the -road, and how he had lost the contents of his -pocketbook.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Snortin’ buffaloes!” ejaculated Pete Sine, giving -his thigh a resounding slap with his hand. -“I knew it! I sized that feller up from the very -start. I warned Jim Dackley about him, but Jim -was too tender-hearted to see it—that is at first. -Now when did this happen?” went on the cowboy. -And after Dave had mentioned the day, he -continued: “That was the very day the boss -fired him!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And have you any idea where he went to?” -questioned our hero quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>“Not exactly, son. But Fred Gurney, one of -our gang who ain’t here just now, got it from the -agent over to the railroad depot that the feller -took the seven-thirty train that night for Chicago.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He must have left Montana for good!” cried -Roger. “Dave, I’m afraid you can whistle your -forty-odd dollars good-bye.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So it would seem, Roger. It’s too bad! But -I’m mighty glad Nick Jasniff has cleared out. I’d -hate to think he was around here. He would be -sure to try to do us some harm.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You might send on to Chicago and have him -arrested on his arrival there,” suggested Frank -Andrews. “That is, if he hasn’t gotten there already.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t think it would be worth bothering -about,” answered Dave. “It would make a lot -of trouble all around; and maybe I would have -to go on to Chicago to identify him, and then stay -around and push the charge against him. I’d -rather let him go and pocket my loss.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe you’ll meet up with him some day,” -suggested Pete Sine. “And if you do——Well, -I know what I’d do to him,” and he tapped his -pistol suggestively.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The other cowboys had listened with interest -to the talk, and every one of them intimated that -he had distrusted Nick Jasniff from the start. -Evidently the fellow who had been in prison had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>not created a favorable impression, even though -his hard-luck story had brought him some sympathy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After this occurrence matters moved along -quietly for a few days. On Sunday, there being -no work to do, old John Hixon and several of -the other men went out to look for the bobcat -Dave had met on the trail. But though they -spent several hours in beating around through the -brushwood and the scrub timber, they failed to -find the animal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Guess he got strayed away from his regular -haunts, and then went back,” was Hixon’s comment. -“Wild animals do that once in a while. -I remember years ago an old hunter told me about -a she bear he had met here in Montana. Some -time later another hunter, a friend of his’n, told -about meetin’ the same bear over in Wyoming. -Then, less than a month later, this old hunter I -first mentioned met the same bear and killed her. -He always wondered how it was that bear got so -far away from home and then got back again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On Monday morning came more letters from -home, and also communications from Phil Lawrence, -Ben Basswood and Shadow Hamilton. -The letters from Crumville were, as usual, two -communications from Laura and Jessie; and in -each of these the girls mentioned the fact that -Dave’s Uncle Dunston, as well as Mr. Wadsworth -<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>and Mr. Basswood, had had more trouble with the -gypsies who had formerly occupied the vacant land -on the outskirts of the town.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Uncle Dunston says the gypsies were very forward,” -wrote Laura. “They said all kinds of -mean things and made several threats. One of -the old women, who is called Mother Domoza, -came here to the house and frightened Jessie and -me very much. The folks were away at the -time, and I don’t know what we would have done -had it not been for dear old Mr. Potts. He -was in the library, where, as you know, he spends -most of his time, and when he heard the old -gypsy denouncing us he came out with his cane in -his hand and actually drove her away.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good for Professor Potts!” cried Dave, when -Roger read this portion of the letter to him. -“I’m glad he sent the old hag about her business.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The letter from Jessie also contained some -references to the gypsies, but had evidently been -mailed previous to the trouble with Mother Domoza. -Jessie said she was glad that the vacant -ground was to be cut up into town lots and built -upon, and she sincerely trusted that none of the -gypsies would ever come to camp near Crumville -again.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Some of them used to come around and tell -fortunes,” wrote Jessie. “But I don’t need to -have my fortune told, Dave. I know exactly what -<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>it is going to be, and I would not have it changed -for the world!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And this part of the letter Dave did not show -to Roger; but he read it over many times with -great satisfaction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But all thoughts of the gypsies and of what they -might do were forgotten by our hero and Roger -when they came to peruse the letters sent by Phil, -Ben and Shadow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hurrah! They are on their way at last!” -cried Dave, his face beaming with satisfaction. -“Ben writes that they were to start within forty-eight -hours after this letter was sent.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And that is just what Shadow and Phil say, -too,” announced the senator’s son. “That being -so, they ought to arrive here within the next two -days.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Right you are, Roger! Oh, say! when they -come, won’t we have the best time ever?” exclaimed -Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And then, in the exuberance of their spirits, both -youths caught hold of each other and did an impromptu -war-dance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello! hello! What’s going on here?” cried -Frank Andrews, coming up at that moment. -“Have you fellows joined the Hopi Indians?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Our three chums are on the way—we expect -them here inside of the next two days!” announced -Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>“Is that so? I don’t wonder you’re so happy. -As I understand it, you fellows were all very close -chums.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The closest ever!” answered Roger. And -then suddenly his face clouded a little. “But -oh, Mr. Andrews, what are we going to do with -them when they get here? We’ll have to make -some sort of arrangements for them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I reckon we can make room one way or another,” -answered the older civil engineer. “You -know Barry and Lundstrom have left and that -gives us two vacant bunks, and we can easily fix -up an extra cot here if we want to.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then that’s what we’ll do, if you won’t -mind,” announced Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He and Roger had already spoken about the -matter to Ralph Obray, and the general manager -had given them permission to entertain their -chums at the camp for several days if the visitors -wished to stay that long. It was, of course, understood -that their meals should be paid for, -since a report of all expenditures had to be made -to the head office.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think you fellows have earned a little vacation,” -said the manager to the chums. “You -have both worked very hard. And I have not -forgotten, Porter, how you carried those documents -to Orella for me and what a fight you had to -get them there in safety.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>“But understand, Mr. Obray, we don’t expect -to be paid for the time we take off,” interposed -Roger. “At least I don’t expect to be paid for -it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And that is just the way I feel about it,” -added Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You young fellows leave that to me,” answered -the construction company manager smilingly. -“I’ll take care of that. I can remember -when I was a young fellow and had my friends -come to see me. You go on and show your chums -all the sights, and have the best time possible, and -then, when they are gone, I’ll expect you to work -so much the harder to make up for it. I think you -see what I mean.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And we’ll do it—take my word on it!” -answered Dave heartily.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Indeed we will!” echoed Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>During the next two days the chums were so -anxious awaiting the coming of the others that -they could hardly attend to their work. They -saw to it that quarters were made in readiness -for the three who were expected and that Jeff, -the cook, would have room for them at one of -the dining-tables.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then, on the morning of the third day, when a -telegram came in from the railroad station stating -that Phil and the others would arrive by noon, -Dave and Roger, taking a lunch along, set off on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>horseback, leading three other horses behind them, -to meet the expected visitors.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The ride to the railroad station occurred without -mishap, though it was no easy matter to make -the three riderless horses follow them at certain -points where the trail was rough. But the two -chums reached the station with almost an hour to -spare.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And it wasn’t no use for you fellers to hurry,” -announced the station master, when he found out -what had brought them. “That train is generally -from one hour to three hours late.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Great Scott! have we got to wait around here -three hours?” groaned the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We might have known the train would be -late,” observed Dave. “They usually are on this -line.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently the station master went in to receive a -telegram. When he came out he announced that -the train would be there in less than two hours unless -something occurred in the meanwhile to cause -a further delay.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The chums put in the time as best they could; -but it was slow work, and they consulted their -watches every few minutes. At last, however, the -time came to a close, and soon they heard a long, -low whistle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here she comes!” cried Dave, his heart giving -a leap.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>“Let’s give them a cheer as soon as we see -them,” suggested the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And then the long train rolled into sight around -a bend of the mountains and soon came to a standstill -at the little station.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XI<br /> <span class='large'>THE OAK HALL CHUMS</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“There they are!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This way, boys! Oak Hall to the front!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>A vestibule door to one of the cars had been -opened and a porter had come down the steps carrying -three suit-cases. He was followed by three -young men, who waved their hands gayly at Dave -and Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here at last!” sang out Phil Lawrence, as -he rushed forward to catch our hero with one hand -and the senator’s son with the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Some city you fellows have here,” criticized -Ben Basswood, with a broad grin, as he waited -for his turn to “pump handle” his friends.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say!” burst out the third new arrival, as he -too came forward. “Calling a little, dinky station -like this a city puts me in mind of a story. -Once some travelers journeyed to the interior of -Africa, and——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello! What do you know about that?” -sang out Dave gayly. “Shadow has started to -tell a story before he even says ‘how-do-you-do’!”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>“Why, Shadow!” remonstrated Roger in an -apparently injured tone of voice. “We heard -that you had given up telling stories entirely.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Smoked herring! Who told you such a yarn -as that?” burst out Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t intend to give up telling stories,” announced -Shadow Hamilton calmly. “I’ve got a -brand new lot; haven’t I, fellows? I bet Dave -and Roger never heard that one about the coal.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What about the coal, Shadow?” demanded -Roger, shaking hands.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t ask him,” groaned Ben. “He’s told -that story twenty-six times since we left home.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’re a base prevaricator, Ben Basswood!” -roared the former story-teller of Oak Hall. “I -told that story just twice—once to you and once -to that drummer from Chicago. And he said he -had never heard it before, and that proves it’s a -new story, because drummers hear everything.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, that story has one advantage,” was -Phil’s comment. “It’s short.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right then, Shadow; let’s hear it. And -then tell us all about yourself,” said Dave quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It isn’t quite as much of a story as it’s a conundrum,” -began Shadow Hamilton. “Once a small -boy who was very inquisitive went to his aunt in -the country and helped her hunt for eggs. Then -he said he would like to go down into the cellar. -‘Why do you want to go in the cellar, Freddy?’ -<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>asked the aunt. ‘I want to go down to look at -the egg coal,’ announced the little boy. ‘And -then I want to see what kind of chickens lay it.’” -And at this little joke both Dave and Roger had -to smile.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No other passengers had left the cars at this -station, and now the long train rumbled once more -on its way. The station master had gone off to -look after some messages, so the former chums -of Oak Hall were left entirely to themselves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s a touch of old times to get together again, -isn’t it?” cried Dave gayly, as he placed one arm -over Phil’s shoulder and the other arm around -Ben. “You can’t imagine how glad I am to see -all of you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am sure the feeling is mutual, Dave,” answered -Phil. “I’ve missed you fellows dreadfully -since we separated.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I sometimes wish we were all back at Oak -Hall again,” sighed Ben. “My, what good times -we did have!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess you’ll be glad enough to reach Star -Ranch, Phil,” went on Dave, giving the ship-owner’s -son a nudge in the ribs. “Probably Belle -Endicott will be waiting for you with open -arms.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Sour grapes, Dave. I know where you’d like -to be,” retorted Phil, his face reddening. “You’d -like to be in Crumville with Jessie Wadsworth—and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>Roger would like to be in the same place, with -your sister.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you fellows had your lunch?” questioned -Roger, to change the subject.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. When we found out that the train was -going to be late, we went into the dining-car as -soon as it opened,” answered Ben. “How about -you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We brought something along and ate it while -we were waiting for you,” said the senator’s son. -“Come on, it’s quite a trip to the construction -camp. We came over on horseback, and we -brought three horses for you fellows.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good enough!” cried Shadow. “But what -are we going to do with our suit-cases?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’ll have to tie those on somehow,” announced -Dave. “We brought plenty of straps -along.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As the five chums got ready for the trip to the -construction camp, Dave and Roger were told of -many things that had happened to the others during -the past few weeks. In return they told about -themselves and the encounter with Nick Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A mighty bad egg, that Jasniff,” was Phil’s -comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The worst ever,” added Shadow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mr. Dunston Porter and the girls didn’t tell -you half of the story about those gypsies,” said -Ben. “Those fellows tried to make all sorts of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>trouble for us. They tried to prove that they -had a right to camp on that land, and my father -and your uncle had to threaten them with the law -before they went away. Since that time several -of the gypsies have been in town, and they have -made a number of threats to get square. That -old hag, Mother Domoza, is particularly wrathful. -She insists that she got the right to camp -there as long as she pleased from some party who -used to own a part of the land.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where are the gypsies hanging out now?” -questioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Somebody told me they were camping on the -edge of Coburntown.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t say! That’s the place where I -had so much trouble with the storekeepers on account -of Ward Porton’s buying so many things -in my name.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If I were living in Coburntown, I’d keep my -eyes open for those gypsies,” declared Ben. “I -wouldn’t trust any of them any farther than I -could see them. Ever since they camped on the -outskirts of Crumville folks have suspected them -of raiding hencoops and of other petty thieving. -They never caught them at it, so they couldn’t -prove it. But my father was sure in his own mind -that they were guilty.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, and I remember a year or so ago some of -the gypsy women came around our place to tell -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>fortunes,” added Dave. “They went into the -kitchen to tell the fortunes of the cook and the -up-stairs girl, and two days later the folks found -that two silver spoons and a gold butter-knife were -missing. We made some inquiries, but we never -got any satisfaction.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Looking for stuff like that is like looking for -a needle in a haystack,” was Phil’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, say! Speaking of a needle in a haystack -puts me in mind of a story,” burst out Shadow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What! another?” groaned Roger in mock -dismay; and all of the others present held up their -hands as if in horror.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is just a little one,” pleaded the former -story-teller of Oak Hall. “A man once heard -a lady speak about trying to find the needle in -the haystack. ‘Say, madam,’ said the man, very -earnestly, ‘a needle in a haystack wouldn’t be no -good to nobody. If one of the animals got it in -his throat, it would ’most kill ’im.’”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wow!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Does anybody see the point?” questioned -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What do you mean—the point of the -needle?” demanded Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If you had the eye you could see better,” suggested -Ben.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t care, it’s a pretty good joke,” protested -the story-teller.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>“Hurrah! Shadow is stuck on the needle joke!” -announced Dave. “Anyhow, it would seem so.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Jumping tadpoles!” ejaculated Roger. -“Boys, did you catch that?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Catch what?” asked Phil innocently.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Phil wasn’t born a tailor, so maybe he never -knew what it was to <em>seam sew</em> anything.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whoop! I’ll pummel you for that!” roared -the ship-owner’s son, and made a sweep at Dave -with his suit-case.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the latter dodged, and the suit-case landed -with a bang on Shadow’s shoulder, sending the -story-teller to the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say, Phil Lawrence, you be careful!” cried -the prostrate youth, as he scrambled up. “What -do you think I am—a punching-bag?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ten thousand pardons, Shadow, and then -some!” cried the ship-owner’s son contritely. “I -was aiming to put Dave in the hospital, that’s -all.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come on and get busy and let us be off to the -camp,” broke in Roger. “We’ll have plenty of -time for horse-play later. We want to show you -fellows a whole lot of things.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave insisted upon carrying one of the suit-cases, -while Roger took another. Soon all of the -hand-baggage was securely fastened to the saddles -of the horses, and then the boys started on the -journey to the construction camp. They took -<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>their time, and numerous were the questions asked -and answered on the way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, I’m doing first class in business with -dad,” announced Phil. “We are going to buy an -interest in another line of ships, and dad says that -in another year he will put me at the head of our -New York offices. Then I’ll be a little nearer to -Crumville than I was before.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m glad to hear of your success, Phil,” said -Dave. “I don’t know of any fellow who deserves -it more than you do.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Sometimes I wish I had taken up civil engineering, -just to be near you and Roger,” went -on the ship-owner’s son wistfully. “But then, I -reckon I wasn’t cut out for that sort of thing. I -love the work I am at very much.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I suppose some day, Phil, you’ll be settling -down with Belle Endicott,” went on our hero in a -low tone of voice, so that the others could not -hear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know about that, Dave,” was the -thoughtful answer. “Belle is a splendid girl, and -I know she thinks a good deal of me. But her -father is a very rich man, and she has a host of -young fellows tagging after her. There is one -man out in Denver, who is almost old enough to -be her father, who has asked Mr. Endicott for her -hand in marriage.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But Belle doesn’t want him, does she?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>“I don’t think so. But she teases me about -him a good deal, and I must confess I don’t like -it. That’s one reason why I am going out to Star -Ranch.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, you fix it up, Phil—I know you can -do it,” answered Dave emphatically. “You -know Jessie and Laura are writing to Belle continually; -and I know for a fact that Belle thinks -more of you than she does of anybody else.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hope what you say is true, Dave,” answered -the ship-owner’s son wistfully.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Naturally a bright and energetic youth with no -hesitation when it came to business matters, Phil -was woefully shy now that matters between himself -and the girl at Star Ranch had reached a -crisis.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In their letters Dave and Roger had told their -chums much about the Mentor Construction Company -and what it proposed to do in that section of -Montana. They had also written some details -concerning the camp and the persons to be met -there, so that when the party came in sight of the -place the visitors felt fairly well at home. They -were met by Frank Andrews, who was speedily -introduced to them, and were then taken to the -offices.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m very glad to meet all of you,” said Mr. -Obray, shaking hands at the introduction. “Porter -and Morr have told me all about you; and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>I’ve told them to do what they can to make you -feel at home during your stay. There is only one -thing I would like to caution you about,” went on -the manager, who occasionally liked to have his -little joke. “Don’t under any circumstances -carry away any of our important engineering secrets -and give them to our rivals.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can trust us on that point,” answered -Phil readily. “All we expect to carry away from -here is the recollection of a grand good time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, say! That puts me in mind of a story,” -burst out Shadow enthusiastically. “Once a -man——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Shadow!” remonstrated Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hardly think Mr. Obray has time to listen -to a story,” reminded Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Sure, I’ve got time to listen if the story isn’t -a long one,” broke in the manager.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well—er—it—er—isn’t so very much of -a story,” answered Shadow lamely. “It’s about -a fellow who told his friends how he had been -hunting ostriches in Mexico.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ostriches in Mexico!” repeated Mr. Obray -doubtfully.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. A man told his friends that he had been -hunting ostriches in Mexico with great success. -His friends swallowed the story for several days, -and then began to make an investigation. Then -they went to the man and said: ‘See here. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>You said you had been hunting ostriches in -Mexico. There are no ostriches there.’ ‘I -know it,’ said the man calmly. ‘I killed them -all.’” And at this story the manager laughed -heartily. Then he dismissed the crowd, for he -had much work ahead.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A nice man to work for,” was Ben’s comment, -when the visitors were being shown to their -quarters in the bunk-houses.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“As nice a man as ever lived, Ben,” answered -Dave. “Roger and I couldn’t have struck it -better.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I know I’m going to enjoy myself here,” announced -Shadow. “All of your gang seem so -pleasant.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And I want to learn something about civil engineering,” -announced Ben. “Maybe some day -I’ll take it up myself.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XII<br /> <span class='large'>ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>The next morning all of the former Oak Hall -chums were up by sunrise. As Dave had said, -they wanted to make the most of their time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s a beautiful location,” was Phil’s comment, -as he stood out on the edge of the camp -and surveyed the surroundings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On one side were the tall mountains and on the -other the broad valley, with the little winding -river shimmering like a thread of silver in the -sunlight.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nice place to erect a bungalow,” added Ben.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are you thinking of, Ben—erecting -bungalows and selling off town lots?” queried -Roger slyly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I didn’t get as far as that,” laughed the -son of the Crumville real estate dealer. “Just -the same, after your railroad gets into operation -somebody might start a summer colony here.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The visitors were shown around the camp, and -at the ringing of the breakfast bell were led by -Roger and Dave into the building where the meals -<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>were served. And there all did full justice to the -cooking of Jeff and his assistant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The youths had talked the matter over the -evening before, and it had been decided to take -an all-day trip on horseback along the line of the -proposed railroad.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll show you just what we are trying to -do,” Roger had said. “Then you’ll get some -idea of what laying out a new railroad in a country -like this means.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I wish I could have gone down to the Rio -Grande when Ben went down,” remarked Phil. -“I would like to have seen that new Catalco -Bridge your company put up there.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It certainly was a fine bit of engineering -work!” cried Ben. He turned to Dave. “You -don’t expect to put up any bridge like that here, -do you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not just like that, Ben. Here we are going -to put up fifteen or twenty bridges. None of -them, however, will be nearly as long as the Catalco -Bridge. But some of them will be considerably -higher. In one place we expect to erect a -bridge three hundred feet long which, at one -point, will be over four hundred feet high.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>A substantial lunch had been packed up for them -by the cook, and with this stowed safely away in -some saddlebags, the five youths set out from the -construction camp, Dave, with Phil at his side, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>leading the way, and the others following closely.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Every one felt in tiptop spirits, and consequently -the talk was of the liveliest kind, with -many a joke and hearty laugh. Shadow Hamilton -was allowed full sway, and told a story whenever -the least opportunity presented itself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Some mountains around here, and no mistake,” -observed Phil, after they had climbed to -the top of one stretch of the winding trail and -there come to a halt to rest the horses.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That climb would be a pretty hard one for -an auto,” observed Ben. “It’s worse than some -of the climbs we had to take when we were making -that tour through the Adirondacks to Bear -Camp.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, say! Speaking of climbing a hill in an -auto puts me in mind of a story!” burst out Shadow -eagerly. “A man got a new automobile of -which he was very proud, and took out one of his -friends, a rather nervous individual, to show him -what the auto could do. They rode quite a distance, -and then the man started to go up a steep hill. -He had a terrible time reaching the top, the auto almost -refusing to make it. But at last, when he did -get up, he turned to his friend and said: ‘Some -hill, eh? But we took it just the same.’ To this -the nervous man answered: ‘I was afraid you -wouldn’t make it. If I hadn’t put on the hand-brake -good and hard, you would have slipped -<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>back sure.’” And at this little joke the others -smiled.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Having rested, the party proceeded on the way -once more, and Dave and Roger pointed out what -had been done toward surveying the new line and -where the bridges and culverts were to be constructed; -and they even drew little diagrams on a -pad Dave carried, to show how some of the -bridges were going to be erected.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It certainly is a great business,” was Phil’s -comment. “I should think it would be pretty -hard to learn.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is hard, Phil. But we are bound to do -it,” answered Dave. “We are going to learn all -about surveying and draughtsmanship, and in the -meantime we are brushing up on geometry and -trigonometry, and half a dozen other things that -pertain to civil engineering. We’ve got a great -many things to learn yet, before we’ll be able to -tackle a job on our own hook,” he added, with a -little smile.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From time to time the youths talked about the -days spent at Oak Hall and of what had become of -numerous schoolfellows. The visitors discussed -the doings of Nick Jasniff in that vicinity, and -they wondered what that rascal would do next.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Like the proverbial bad penny, he’ll be sure -to turn up again sooner or later,” was Phil’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>“I’m afraid you’re right,” sighed Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thinking that they might possibly spot a bobcat -or some other wild animal, Dave had brought -a double-barreled shotgun along, and Roger carried -old Hixon’s rifle. The others were armed -with small automatic pistols, purchased especially -to be carried on the trip to Star Ranch.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I don’t suppose we’ll sight anything worth -shooting now we’re armed,” remarked our hero. -“That’s the way it usually is.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Noon found the chums in the very heart of the -mountains. They had been told by Hixon where -they could find a fine camping-spot close to a -spring of pure, cold water; and there they tethered -their horses and proceeded to make themselves -at home. They had brought along some -coffee and a pot to make it in, and presently they -started a small fire for that purpose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A fellow could certainly camp out here and -have a dandy time,” remarked Ben, when the odor -of the coffee permeated the camp. “There must -be plenty of game somewhere in these mountains -and plenty of fish in the streams.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, the streams are full of fish,” answered -Roger. “But about the game, I am not so sure. -There are plenty of birds and other small things, -but big game, like deer, bear, and mountain lions -are growing scarcer and scarcer every year, so -Hixon says. He thinks that every time a gun is -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>fired it drives the big game farther and farther -back from the trails.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The youths brought out their lunch from the -saddlebags, and when the coffee was ready they -sat down to enjoy their midday repast. The long -horseback ride of the morning had whetted their -appetites, and with little to do, they took their -time over the meal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let’s take a walk around this neighborhood -before we continue the ride,” said Roger, when -they were repacking their things. “I’m a bit -tired of sitting in the saddle, and had just as lief -do some walking.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Seeing to it that their horses could not get away, -the five youths started to climb up the rocks to -where the summit of the mountain along which -they had been traveling would afford a better view -of their surroundings. It was hard work, and -they frequently had to help each other along.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Be careful, Shadow, or you may get a nasty -tumble,” cautioned Dave, just before the summit -was gained.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t worry about me, Dave,” panted the -former story-teller of Oak Hall. “I know -enough to hang on when I’m climbing in a place -like this. I’m not like the fellow in the story who -let go to spit on his hands.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>From the summit of the mountain they could -see for many miles in every direction, and here -<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>Ben, who had brought along a pocket camera, insisted -upon taking a number of views—two with -the others seated on several of the nearby rocks. -Then Dave made Ben pose and took two more -pictures.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s too bad we can’t take a picture of Ben -shooting a bear or a wildcat,” remarked Roger. -“That would be a great one to take home and -show the folks.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’d rather have a picture of you and Dave -building one of those big bridges you spoke about,” -answered the other youth. “Then we could have -a couple of copies framed and shipped to Jessie -and Laura;” and at this dig Ben had to dodge, -for both Dave and Roger picked up bits of rock -to shy at him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let’s walk across the summit of this mountain -and see what it looks like on the other side,” suggested -Shadow. “I suppose we’ve got time -enough, haven’t we?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ve got all the time there is, Shadow,” -answered Dave. “It won’t make any difference -how late it is when we get back to camp.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>One after another they trudged along through -the underbrush and among the loose stones on the -mountain summit, which was a hundred yards or -more in diameter. In some places they had to -pick their way with care, for there were numerous -cracks and hollows.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>“A fellow doesn’t want to go down into one -of those cracks,” remarked Phil, after leaping -over an opening which was several feet wide and -probably fifteen or twenty feet in depth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He’d get a nasty tumble if he did,” answered -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And he’d have a fine time of it getting out if -he chanced to be alone!” broke in our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With the sun shining brightly and not a cloud -obscuring the sky, the five chums presently reached -the other side of the mountain. Looking down, -they saw a heavy wilderness of trees sloping gently -down to the hollow below them and then up on -the side of the mountain beyond.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Isn’t that perfectly grand!” murmured Ben. -“Just think of the thousands upon thousands of -feet of timber in that patch!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. And think of all the masts for ships!” -added Phil, with a little laugh.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And flagpoles!” exclaimed Dave. “I guess -there would be enough flagpoles in that patch to -plant a pole in front of every schoolhouse in the -United States.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, every schoolhouse ought to have a flagpole, -and ought to have Old Glory on it, too!” -cried Roger. “My father says that people generally -don’t make half enough display of our -flag.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The youths walked along the edge of the summit -<span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>for quite a distance, looking off to the northward -and southward. Then, after Ben had taken -a few more pictures, they started back for where -they had left the horses.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come on, let’s have a race!” cried Ben suddenly. -“First fellow to reach the horses wins the -prize!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And what’s the prize?” queried Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Won’t tell it to you till you win it!” broke -in Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With merry shouts, all of the chums started on -a run for where they supposed the horses had -been left. They soon found themselves in the -midst of the underbrush and many loose rocks, -around which they had to make their way. Some -thought the horses were in one direction and some -another, and as a consequence they soon became -separated, although still within calling distance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hi! Be careful that you don’t go down in -some hole and break a leg,” cautioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s right!” sang out Roger, who was some -distance off. “Some of these rocks are mighty -treacherous.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Forward went the crowd, and in about ten -minutes Dave and Roger found themselves in sight -of the former camping spot. Phil and Ben were -also coming on from around some rocks on the -left, and each of the crowd put on an extra burst -of speed to reach the horses first.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>“I win!” cried Roger, as he caught hold of one -of the saddles.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the same moment, Phil touched another of -the animals, and a few seconds later Dave and Ben -did the same.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pretty close race for all of us!” cried Ben; -and then, of a sudden, he looked around. -“Where is Shadow?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The four who had reached the horses looked -back toward the brushwood and the rocks around -which they had made their way. They waited -for several seconds, expecting each instant that -the former story-teller of Oak Hall would show -himself. But Shadow failed to appear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello, Shadow! Hello! Where are you?” -sang out Dave, at the top of his lungs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No answer came to this call, and one after another -the others also summoned their missing -chum. They listened intently, but not a sound of -any kind broke the quietness of the mountain top.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Something has happened to him, that’s sure,” -remarked Roger, his face growing grave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess we had better go back and look for -him,” announced Dave.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XIII<br /> <span class='large'>TO THE RESCUE OF SHADOW</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Who saw Shadow last? Does anybody -know?” questioned Dave, as the whole crowd -looked at each other in perplexity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He was close to me when we started the -race,” answered Phil. “But I soon got ahead of -him and turned to one side of some big rocks while -he went to the other side.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And didn’t you see him after that?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No. But I heard him call to some of the -others.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think he was close behind me during the -first half of the race,” broke in Roger. “But -after that I drew away from him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll go back to where we started from and -keep calling his name,” said our hero. “He’ll -be bound to hear us if he is anywhere around.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Perhaps he went down into one of those openings -between some of the rocks and was knocked -unconscious,” suggested Ben. “Such a thing -could easily happen.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I hope he isn’t seriously hurt!” cried the -senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>Very soberly the four youths climbed back to -the summit of the mountain, and then began to retrace -their steps toward the other side. They -kept calling Shadow’s name continually, but no -answer came back.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Over yonder is the worst opening I had to -jump over,” remarked Roger, when they were -near the center of the summit.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us look at it, right away,” returned our -hero quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All hurried to the place Roger had mentioned. -It was an opening between some rough rocks, and -was all of a hundred feet long and two to eight -feet in width. How deep it was they could not -surmise, for the walls curved from one side to the -other, so that the bottom of the opening was out -of sight.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Looks to me as if it might be the entrance to -some cave,” announced Ben, as all came to a halt -on the brink of the opening. “Listen!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The crowd did so, and at the bottom of the -opening they heard a faint splashing of water as -it poured over the rocks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Must be an underground stream down there,” -remarked Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Perhaps it’s the same stream that furnishes -water to the spring at our camp,” suggested Dave. -He sent up a shout. “Hello, Shadow! Are -you down there?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>“Help! Help!” came in a low voice from -below.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He’s down there, as sure as fate!” exclaimed -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Are you hurt?” shouted Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m pretty well scraped up, that’s all. But -the rocks down here are all smooth and wet, and -I can’t climb up—try my best.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are in no danger just at present, are -you?” questioned Dave quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t think so—unless you fellows roll -down some stones on me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll be careful about that,” answered Ben; -and lost no time in pushing back a number of -stones which lay close to the brink of the opening.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll have to get a rope or something with -which to haul him up,” said Phil. “Dave, did we -bring anything of that sort along?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, I’ve got a good strong lariat tied to -my saddle,” answered our hero. “Frank Andrews -advised taking it along; for when you are -traveling among the mountains you can never tell -when you’ll need such a rope. I’ll go back and -get it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe you’d better bring a few straps along, -too, Dave,” put in Roger. “Then, if Shadow -can’t haul himself up, he can tie himself fast and -we can pull him up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good idea, Roger. I’ll do it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>Dave was soon on his way, and in less than -twenty minutes he was back to the spot, carrying -the lariat he had mentioned and also a number of -straps taken from the outfit. The lariat was of -rawhide, and more than once had been tested by -the civil engineers for its strength. It had been -purchased by Andrews from a cowboy in Texas, -after the latter had given a very fine exhibition of -lassoing steers with it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’re sending down the end of a lariat with -some straps,” called down Dave. “Let us know -as soon as it is low enough.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right,” answered Shadow, but somewhat -feebly, for the tumble had evidently knocked the -breath out of him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Tying the loose straps to the end of the rope, -and weighting the whole down with a stone, Dave -lowered the lariat carefully over the edge of the -opening. It slipped through his hands readily, -and soon the end disappeared from sight over a -bulge of the wall below. All of the others -watched the rope as it disappeared into the opening. -They waited for some cry from Shadow, -stating that he had hold of the other end, but none -came.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe it caught somewhere on the way -down,” suggested Ben.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, here’s the end of it anyway,” announced -Dave. “And the other end must be free -<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>for I can still feel the weight of the straps and -the stone.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello, down there!” shouted Roger. “Can -you see the rope?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes,” answered Shadow. “Please let it -down about two feet farther.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I can’t do that just now. I’m at the end of -the rope,” answered Dave. “Just wait a few -minutes, and we’ll fix you up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll have to tie something to it,” said Roger. -“Too bad we didn’t keep one or two of those -straps up here.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let’s get a stout sapling and tie that to the -lariat,” said Phil. “That will be even stronger -than the straps.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the edge of the summit they had noticed -a number of saplings growing, and in a few minutes -they had one of these uprooted. It was ten -or twelve feet in height, and plenty strong enough -for the purpose intended. It was tied fast by -the roots, and then they lowered it into the opening, -all taking hold of the other end, so that it -might not slip from them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, I’ve got the rope now,” announced -Shadow, a few seconds later. “Just hold it as it -is.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you think you can haul yourself up, -Shadow?” asked Dave. “Or do you want us to -do the hauling?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>“I guess you had better do it if you can,” answered -the youth below. “That tumble made me -kind of weak and shaky.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then strap yourself good and tight,” answered -Roger. “See to it that the lariat won’t -slip from the straps, either.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was almost dark at the bottom of the hollow -into which Shadow had tumbled. He was in water -up to his ankles. But this the unfortunate -youth did not mind, for the stream had enabled -him to bathe his hurts and obtain a refreshing -drink. Now he lost no time in fastening one of -the large straps around his waist, and to this he -attached the lariat by a firm knot. Then, to make -assurance doubly sure, he tied another of the -straps to the rope and around his left wrist.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now I’m ready!” he shouted to those above. -“But do be careful and don’t send any rocks or -dirt down on my head!” His hat had fallen off -and into the stream, but he had recovered it, and -was now using it as a protection for his head.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll be as careful as we can,” announced -Dave. “If anything goes wrong, shout out at -once.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It had been decided that Dave and Roger -should haul up on the sapling and the lariat; -and while they were doing this, Ben and Phil were -to hold fast to them in order to prevent any of -the party from going over the brink.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>Soon the sapling came out of the opening, and -then the lariat came up inch by inch.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Are you all right, Shadow?” demanded our -hero, when about half of the rope had been pulled -up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, so far,” was the gasped-out answer. -“For gracious’ sake, don’t let me drop!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t worry,” answered Roger. And then -he added to Ben: “Just carry the sapling back -and stick it between those rocks, then we’ll be sure -that the rope can’t slip.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As Shadow even though thin, was tall and -weighed all of one hundred and thirty pounds, it -was no easy matter to haul him up out of the -opening, especially as the lariat had to slip over -several bends of the rocks. Once there came a -hitch, and it looked as if the lariat with its burden -would come no farther. But Shadow managed -to brace himself and climb up a few feet and -loosen the rope, and then the remainder of the -haul was easy. Soon he came into sight, and in a -few seconds more those above helped him over the -brink of the opening and to a place of safety.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Thank heaven, I’m out of that!” he panted, -as he sat down on a nearby rock to rest. “I owe -you fellows a good deal for hauling me out of -that hole.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t mention it, Shadow,” answered Dave -readily.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>“We’d do a good deal more for you than that,” -added Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Indeed we would!” came simultaneously -from the others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“After this I’m going to be careful of how I -run and jump,” answered Shadow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How did you come to go down?” questioned -Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That was the funniest thing you ever heard -about,” was the quick reply. “Just as I came -into sight of this opening, I felt one of my shoes -getting loose. I bent down to feel of it, and the -next instant I stumbled over something and rolled -right down into the hole. Of course, I tried to -save myself, but it was of no use, and down I -went quicker than you can think. I struck the -rocks on one side of the opening, and then on the -other side, and hit some bushes and dirt. Then, -the next thing I knew, I went ker-splash! into a -big pool of water.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And that pool of water saved you from breaking -your neck,” broke in Ben.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“More than likely. I got up out of the pool -in a hurry, and then I walked several yards to -where the stream of water wasn’t nearly so deep. -Then I set up a yell, and kept at it for nearly a -quarter of an hour. I had just about given up -thinking you would ever find me, when I heard you -yelling.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>“As soon as you’ve rested, we’ll help you back -to our camping place,” announced Dave. “Then -we can start up the fire again and you can dry -yourself;” for he saw that Shadow was soaking -wet from his back down.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m thankful this adventure has ended so -well,” was Phil’s comment. “What would we -have done if anything had happened to you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“As it was, enough did happen,” answered -Shadow ruefully. Then, of a sudden, his face -broke into a smile. “Say, when I was down there -I thought of a dandy story! One day two men -went to clean a well——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was as far as the former story-teller of -Oak Hall got with his narrative. The others -gazed at him for a moment in wonder, and then -all broke out into a uproarious fit of laughter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Can you beat it!” gasped Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess Shadow would tell stories if he was -going to his own funeral!” came from Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’ve certainly got your nerve with you, -Shadow,” announced Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I suppose you thought of the story while you -were tumbling down into the opening,” suggested -Ben.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I didn’t think of it just then,” answered -the story-teller innocently. “It came to me while -I was waiting for you fellows to get the rope.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind the story now,” said Dave. “If -<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>you are rested, let us get back to the camp and -start up that fire. We don’t want you to catch -cold.” For on the summit of the mountain there -was a keen, cool breeze.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were soon on the way, Dave on one side -of Shadow to support him and Roger on the other. -Phil and Ben ran ahead, and by the time the youth -who had taken the tumble arrived, more wood had -been placed on the campfire, and it was blazing up -merrily, sending out considerable warmth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s an adventure we didn’t count on,” remarked -Phil, while Shadow was drying out his -clothing in front of the blaze.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, something is bound to happen when we -get together,” answered Roger. “It always -does.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“After this we had better keep our eyes peeled -for all sorts of danger,” said Dave. “We don’t -want anything bad to happen to our visitors during -their stay.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Half an hour was spent in the camp, and by -that time Shadow’s wet clothing had dried out sufficiently -to be worn again. The former story-teller -of Oak Hall had been allowed to tell several -of his best yarns, and now seemed to be in as good -a humor as ever. His hands and his shins had -been scraped by his fall, but to these little hurts he -gave scant attention.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I came out on this trip with Phil just to see -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>what rough life was like,” he announced. “If -something hadn’t happened to me I surely would -have been disappointed.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’ll see enough of rough life before you get -home again, Shadow,” said Phil. “Just you wait -till you get to Star Ranch. I’ll have some of the -cowboys there put you through a regular course of -sprouts.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just before the party got ready to break camp, -Ben wandered off to get several more pictures. -He went farther than he had originally intended, -the various scenes before his eyes proving decidedly -fascinating. He took a view of some rocks, -and then gazed for a long time across to a hill -some distance away. Then he returned quickly to -where he had left the others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say, fellows, I’ve discovered some game!” he -cried.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Game?” queried Dave. “What kind?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know exactly what they were,” answered -the youth from Crumville. “They looked -though to be a good deal like a couple of bears. -They are off in that direction,” and he pointed -with his hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say, let’s go after them, no matter what they -are!” exclaimed Phil. “I’d like to get a shot at -something before we return to the construction -camp.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m willing,” announced Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>“Shall we go on horseback or on foot?” questioned -Shadow. “For myself, I’d rather ride -than walk.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, we’ll go on horseback,” answered Roger. -“There is no use of our coming back to this place. -Come on—let us get after that game right now! -Ben, you show the way.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XIV<br /> <span class='large'>SOMETHING ABOUT BEARS</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>The campfire was stamped out with care, so -that there would be no danger of a conflagration -in the forest so close at hand, and then the five -lively chums leaped into the saddle once more and -started off in the direction in which Ben had said -he had seen the game.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What made you think they were a couple of -bears?” questioned Dave, as they rode along as -rapidly as the roughness of the trail permitted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They looked as much like bears as they looked -like anything,” answered his chum. “Of course, -they were quite a distance away, and I may have -been mistaken. But anyway, they were some sort -of animals, and quite large.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Were they standing still?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No. They appeared and disappeared among -the rocks and bushes. That’s the reason I -couldn’t make out exactly what they were.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Perhaps they were deer,” suggested Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think they were too chunky for deer—and -even for goats. Besides that, they didn’t leap -<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>from one rock to another as deer and goats do.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Could they have been bobcats?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No. They were larger than that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The chums soon had to leave the regular trail, -and then found themselves in a section of the -mountainside sparingly covered with bushes and -an occasional tree. The rocks were exceedingly -rough, and in many places they had to come to a -halt to figure out how best to proceed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say, we don’t want to get lost!” remarked -Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t think we’ll do that, Phil,” answered -Dave. “Roger and I know the lay of the mountains -pretty well around here. And besides, I -brought my pocket compass along. Just at present -we are northeast of the construction camp.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They could not go in a direct line to where Ben -had noticed the game, and it therefore took them -the best part of an hour to reach the vicinity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now I guess we had better be on the watch,” -announced Dave, and unslung the shotgun he carried, -while Roger did the same with the rifle. -Seeing this, the others looked to their automatic -pistols, to make certain that the weapons were -ready for instant use.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For fully half an hour the five chums rode up -and down along the side of the hill and had Ben -point out to them just where he had seen the two -animals.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>“It looks to me as if they had cleared out,” -said Phil in a disgusted tone of voice. “And if -they have, we have had a pretty nasty ride for our -pains.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, don’t let’s give up yet!” pleaded Shadow. -“I want to get a shot at something—even if it’s -nothing more than a squirrel.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If you don’t watch out, you may have an elephant -crashing down on you,” laughed Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Humph, I suppose you don’t care whether we -bring down any game or not!” retorted Shadow. -“You put me in mind of a fellow who went hunting. -He came back at night, and his friends asked -him if the hunting was good. ‘Sure, it was -good!’ he declared. ‘I hunted all day long, and -not a bit of game came anywhere near me to disturb -my fun!’”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“One thing is certain,” broke in Dave. -“You’ve got to be quieter if you expect to find -any game at all. You don’t suppose a bear is -going to come out on the rocks just to listen to -stories.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s right! He couldn’t bear to do it!” -cried Roger gayly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“My, my, but that’s a bare-faced joke!” cried -Phil; and then there was a general laugh over the -little puns.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After that the youths became silent, and the -only sound that broke the stillness was the clatter -<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>of the horses as they passed over the rocks between -the brushwood. Thus another half hour -passed, and still nothing in the way of game was -brought to view.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess we’ll have to give it up and continue -our trip,” said Roger at last.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To this the others agreed, and then all started -off in another direction to hit the regular trail -where it wound off towards the railroad station.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think we can make a sort of semicircle,” said -Dave. “And if we don’t lose too much time -we’ll be able to get back to the construction camp -by seven or eight o’clock.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>All were disappointed that they had not seen -any game, and the others began to poke fun at -Ben, stating that his eyesight must have deceived -him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It didn’t deceive me at all,” insisted the son -of the Crumville real estate dealer. “I know I -saw them as plain as day. But what the animals -were, I can’t say.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, well, never mind!” cried Phil gayly. -“If we can’t bring down any game, we can have -a good time anyway. Let’s have a song.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, boys. Everybody go to it!” cried -Dave. “Oak Hall forever!” And then all -present began to sing, to the tune of Auld Lang -Syne, a song they had sung ever since they had -first gone to Oak Hall.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>“Oak Hall we never shall forget,</div> - <div class='line in2'>No matter where we roam;</div> - <div class='line'>It is the very best of schools,</div> - <div class='line in2'>To us it’s just like home.</div> - <div class='line'>Then give three cheers, and let them ring</div> - <div class='line in2'>Throughout this world so wide,</div> - <div class='line'>To let the people know that we</div> - <div class='line in2'>Elect to here abide!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>They sang it exceeding well, Dave and Roger in -their tenor voices, Phil and Ben filling in with their -baritone, and the long and lanky Shadow adding -his bass voice, which every day seemed to be growing -deeper. Then, after the verse was finished, -at a signal from Roger, all let up the old school -cry:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in6'>“Baseball!</div> - <div class='line in6'>Football!</div> - <div class='line in6'>Oak Hall</div> - <div class='line in6'>Has the call!</div> - <div class='line'>Biff! Boom! Bang! Whoop!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, my! wouldn’t it be grand if we were all -going back to school to-morrow?” burst out Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, those good old baseball days!” cried Ben.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And the skating and snowballing!” burst out -Shadow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And the football!” added Dave. “Don’t -you remember how we used to make Rockville -Academy bite the dust?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And all those funny initiations in the Gee -Eyes!” came from Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think if I could do it, I’d like to go back to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>my first days there, even if I had to stand Gus -Plum’s insolence,” said Dave, his eyes glistening.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. But we wouldn’t stand for such fellows -as Merwell and Jasniff,” added Roger quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, let’s forget all those bullies!” broke out -Phil. “If we should——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Phil did not finish, for Dave had suddenly put -up his hand as a warning to be silent. Now our -hero motioned his chums behind some of the rocks -and brushwood beside the trail. Then he pointed -to a large, flat rock a distance farther on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A bear!” gasped Shadow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Two of them!” burst out Ben, in a low tone. -And then he added quickly: “I’ll bet they are -the two animals I saw when I was taking those -pictures!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Perhaps so, Ben,” answered Dave in a whisper; -“although we are a pretty good distance from -where you spotted them. However, that doesn’t -matter just now. The question is—what are we -going to do?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Shoot ’em!” came promptly from all of the -others in a breath.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Evidently the horses had either scented or -sighted the bears, for they showed great uneasiness. -The bears, however, did not seem to be -aware of the presence of their enemies. Both -were bending down on the rocks, as if examining -something intently.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>“They are eating something,” said Roger, a -moment later. “See how eagerly they are lapping -it up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe it’s some wild honey,” suggested Phil. -“I understand bears are all crazy about anything -that is sweet.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The shipowner’s son was right. The bears had -come upon the remains of a “bee tree” which had -been blown down by the recent high winds. A -section of the tree containing a large portion of the -honey had struck the rocks, and the honey had -spread in every direction. Now the two animals -were frantically lapping up the sweet stuff, each -trying to get his fill before the other got it away -from him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess Roger and I had better fire first,” said -Dave. “I’ll take the bear on the left, and you, -Roger, take the one on the right. Then, as soon -as we have fired, you other fellows can let drive -for all you are worth with your automatics while -we are reloading. Then, if the bears are not dead -by that time, we’ll try our best to give them another -dose of lead.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So it was arranged, and a moment later the -crowd of five dismounted and tied their horses to -some trees. Then they crept forward, keeping -as much as possible behind the rocks, so that the -feeding bears might not see them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Ordinarily the bears would have been on the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>alert, and their quick sense of smell would have -made it impossible for the youths to get within -shooting distance. But now both animals were so -absorbed in lapping up the honey spread around -on the rocks, that they paid absolutely no attention -to anything else. It is also possible that the -smell of the honey was so strong that it helped to -hide every other odor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now then, fellows, are you ready?” whispered -Dave, when they had gained a point behind -the rocks which was not over a hundred and fifty -feet from the bears.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All ready!” was the whispered return.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It must be confessed that some of the youths -were nervous. Shadow’s hand shook as he -started to level his automatic pistol. Had he been -called on to face a bear all alone, it is quite likely -that he would have been struck with what is known -among hunters as “buck fever,” and would have -been totally unable to do anything.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bang! crack! went the shotgun and the rifle. -And almost immediately came the crack! crack! -crack! of the three automatic pistols.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then, as the bears whirled around and started -to run, Dave fired again, and so did Roger, and -the others continued to discharge their small firearms -as rapidly as possible.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave’s first shot had been a most effective one, -taking one of the bears directly in an ear and an -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>eye. This had been followed up by the second -shot, and also several shots from the pistols, and -presently the animal raised up on his hind legs -and then came down with a crash, to roll over and -over among the rocks and brushwood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He’s done for, I think!” cried our hero with -much satisfaction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t be too sure,” remonstrated Ben, who -was close behind. “He may be playing ’possum.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the meantime, the other bear had leaped out -of sight behind some of the rocks. Now, as Dave -stopped to reload the double-barreled shotgun, the -others went on, intent, if possible, on bringing the -second beast low. That he had been hit, there -was no doubt, for he had squealed with pain and -flapped one forepaw madly in the air.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The youths with the pistols were the first to -again catch sight of the second bear. He stood at -bay between a number of large rocks, and snarled -viciously as soon as he caught sight of them. He -arose on his hind legs and made a movement as if -to leap directly toward them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Shoot! Shoot!” yelled Roger, and discharged -his rifle once more. But the shot whistled harmlessly -over the bear’s head. Then the other -youths took aim with their pistols, hitting bruin -on the shoulder and in the thigh.</p> - -<p class='c000'>These wounds were not dangerous, but they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>maddened the beast very much; and, with a roar -of rage, the bear suddenly leaped from between -the rocks and made directly for the crowd of -young hunters.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XV<br /> <span class='large'>THE TRAIL TO NOWHERE</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Look out there!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He’s coming this way!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Run for your lives!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>These shouts were mingled with shots from several -of the pistols, none of which, however, took -effect, for the sudden advance of the wounded -bear had disconcerted the aim of the young hunters.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The youths scattered to the right and the left -behind the rocks and brushwood, and as the bear -came lumbering forward, it looked as if for the -time being he would have the place entirely to himself. -Then, however, he caught sight of Roger -and made a savage leap for the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Fortunately for the youth, the rifle he carried -was a repeating weapon, and now he let drive once -more, sending a ball along bruin’s flank. But this -attack only served to increase the rage of the animal, -and with a ferocious snarl he sprang forward -and made a pass at Roger with one of his heavy -paws.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>Had this blow landed as intended, it is more -than likely the senator’s son would have been -felled and perhaps seriously hurt. But by a quick -backward spring, the young civil engineer dodged -the attack. Then he fired again, and this was -followed almost simultaneously by discharges -from the pistols of Phil and Ben. But all the bullets -flew harmlessly over the beast’s head.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Run, Roger! Run!” yelled the shipowner’s -son. “Run, or he’ll knock you down sure and -kill you!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Roger needed no such advice, because he already -realized his peril. He turned to retreat, -but in his haste tripped over the uneven rocks and -went pitching headlong into some nearby brushwood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was at this time, when the matter looked exceedingly -serious, that Dave came once more to -the front. He had succeeded in reloading the -shotgun, and now, advancing rapidly, he took -careful aim at the bear and fired twice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first discharge from the shotgun took the -huge beast directly in the neck, and as he made a -leap forward, as if to cover the distance that -separated him from our hero, the second dose of -shot landed in his stomach. He let out a frightful -roar of pain and rage, and then pitched forward -with a crash on a rock and rolled over and -over down into a nearby hollow.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>“Reload as fast as you can, fellows!” ordered -Dave. “Don’t take any chances. Neither of -those beasts may be dead;” and he started at once -to look after his own weapon.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Years before his Uncle Dunston, who, as my -old readers know, was a famous hunter, had impressed -upon the youth the truth that an unloaded -weapon is a very useless affair.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It must be admitted that Roger’s hand shook -not a little while he was looking to make sure that -his rifle was in condition for further use. Poor -Shadow had gone white, and now sat on a flat -rock, too weak in the knees to stand up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe we had better give the bears some -more shots before we go near them,” suggested -the former story-teller of Oak Hall, in a voice -which sounded strangely unnatural even to himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It wouldn’t do any harm to give them a few -shots from the pistols,” answered Dave. “Then -we can all say we had a hand in laying them low.” -And thereupon those who possessed the smaller -weapons proceeded to make sure that the bears -should never have a chance to fight again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dave, I’ve got to hand it to you for coming -to my assistance,” said Roger warmly, as soon as -he had recovered from his scare. “Gracious! I -thought sure that bear was going to jump right on -me!”</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/p154.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><span class='sc'>Dave took careful aim at the bear and fired.</span>—<em>Page <a href='#Page_153'>153</a>.</em></p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>“Dave is the head hunter of this crowd,” announced -Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He takes after his Uncle Dunston when it -comes to shooting,” put in Ben. “Both of them -can hit the bull’s-eye without half trying.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I—I—don’t think I want to do much hunting -after this,” was Shadow’s comment. “That -is, hunting for big game. I wouldn’t mind going -out after rabbits and birds and things like that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, you’ll get used to it after a while, -Shadow,” answered Dave. “I know how I felt -when I faced my first big game. I had all I could -do to steady my nerves.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not such very big bears, when you come to -look them over,” said Ben, who was making a -close inspection.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They certainly looked big enough when they -stood up on their hind legs and came for us,” -answered Phil. “I guess a bear must shrink -after he’s dead;” and at this remark there was -something of a laugh. Now that the tension had -been removed, some of the youths were inclined to -be a bit hysterical.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are we going to do with the bears?” -questioned Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Can’t we save the skins and the heads?” -asked Ben.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, we can do that,” answered Dave. “I -don’t believe the skins are particularly good at this -<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>time of the year, but you fellows might draw lots -for them and take them home as trophies of the -occasion.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On their numerous hunting trips Dave and -Roger, as well as Phil, had seen large game -skinned and dressed on more than one occasion, -and, consequently, the task before them was not -an altogether new one. In the outfit they had -brought along there was a hunting-knife, and also -a good sharp carving-knife, and with these tools, -and the aid of the hatchet they had brought along, -they set to work to skin both of the bears and cut -each head from the rest of the body. It was no -easy job, and took much longer than they had -anticipated.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“As soon as we have finished we had better -make for the construction camp,” said Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are you going to do with the bear -meat?” asked Roger. “It’s a shame to leave it -here.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We can cut out some of the best of the steaks, -Roger; and then we can hang the rest of the meat -up on the limbs of a tree. Then, if we want to -come back for it to-morrow, or any of the others -at the camp want to come and get it, why all -right.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>One of the saddle-bags was cleaned out, and in -this they placed the very choicest of the bear -steaks. Then the heads and pelts were rolled up -<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>and strapped into bundles. After that, by means -of the lariat, they hoisted one carcass after the -other into the branches of the nearest tree and -there fastened them with straps.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The horses were uneasy, evidently scenting the -blood of the bears. They did not seem to fancy -the idea of carrying the pelts and steaks, and the -youths had all they could do to make the animals -behave. But all the young men were used to riding, -and so, after a little prancing around, they -made the steeds steady themselves, and then the -journey back to the construction camp was begun.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think it is quite a while since a bear was -brought down in this neighborhood,” said our -hero, while they were riding along. “Old Hixon -told me he had been on their trail a number of -times, but he could never get close enough to get -a shot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was already growing dark, and long before -the construction camp came into view, the sun sank -over the tops of the mountains in the west and the -long shadows began to creep across the valley.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hope you are sure of where you are going, -Dave,” said Phil, as he rode alongside of his -chum.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m not so very sure of this trail, Phil,” was -the slow answer. “You see, this is a new bit -of territory to Roger and me.” He turned to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>the senator’s son. “What do you think of it?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hope we are on the right way,” was the -ready reply. “I think inside of another half hour -we’ll strike the regular trail between the camp and -the railroad station.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Soon the shadows had reached the summit of -the mountain behind them, and then the darkness -of night came on rapidly. As the trail was a -most uncertain one, they had to proceed slower -and slower, for fear of running into some danger -which might lurk ahead.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s a pity one of us didn’t bring a flashlight -along,” said Ben. “Then we could make sure of -what sort of footing was ahead.” They were -passing over some loose rocks at the time, and -these occasionally made the horses slip and slide. -Once Phil’s animal went to his knees, and made a -great splurge and clatter regaining his footing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is certainly some lonely spot,” was -Roger’s comment, after they had gone forward another -quarter of a mile. “There doesn’t seem to -be a cabin or a camp of any sort in sight.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Listen! What’s that?” cried Shadow suddenly, -and came close up beside Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Far away in the woods they heard a peculiar -sound. They listened intently for several minutes, -and then the sound was repeated.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t think it’s anything more than a hoot -owl or something of that sort,” said our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>“Just what I think,” answered Roger. “I’ve -heard that cry several times since I came to Montana. -It’s a bird of some sort.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They had been going downward, but now the -little trail they were following led up over more -loose rocks, and then into a thicket of underbrush. -Beyond this they came to the edge of the -mountain forest. Here Roger called a halt.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This doesn’t look very good to me,” declared -the senator’s son. “The trail is getting worse -and worse, and now it seems to lead directly into -these big woods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We had better go slow about getting in among -trees,” announced Phil. “We might become -hopelessly lost.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then what do you propose to do?” demanded -Ben. “Go back?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m sure I don’t know. I am willing to leave -it to Dave and Roger. They know a great deal -more about this section of the country than we -do.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We don’t know much about this particular -piece of ground we are on right now,” answered -the senator’s son. “I can’t remember that I was -ever in this vicinity before.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nor I,” added Dave. “Ever since we left -the place where we had our lunch this noon, the -trail has been a strange one to me. Just the same, -I think we have been heading in the general direction -<span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>of the construction camp. For all we know, -it may be right on the other side of these big -woods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave brought out his pocket compass, and he -and Roger inspected it carefully by the light from -a match. Then the two talked the matter over -for several minutes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll tell you what I think about it,” declared -our hero finally. “I think the best thing we can -do is to skirt the woods instead of going through -them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m sure it would be safer,” added Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To skirt the edge of the forest, they had to -leave the trail entirely and pick their way as best -they could among the rocks and brushwood. -Soon the horses hesitated about going forward, -and then they had to dismount and lead the animals.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If we can’t locate the camp after we get -around the edge of the woods, what are we going -to do?” questioned Roger of our hero in a low -voice, so that the others who were coming on behind -might not hear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m sure I don’t know, Roger,” was the unsatisfactory -reply.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ve got to do something, Dave. We can’t -stay out here all night.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes, we can if we have to. If it becomes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>necessary to do so, we can go into camp, light a -fire, and broil some of those bear steaks.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, we could do that. And bear steaks -wouldn’t be half bad, seeing how hungry I am -getting,” returned the senator’s son. “But just -the same, I’d rather get back to our camp to-night.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XVI<br /> <span class='large'>WAITING FOR LETTERS</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>The five chums continued on their way around -the edge of the forest. All were in a sober frame -of mind, for each realized that, for all they knew, -they might be hopelessly lost on the mountainside. -Presently the sharp decline came to an end, -and then all of them leaped once more into the -saddle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Look!” exclaimed Dave presently. “Am I -right? Is that a light ahead?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>All gazed in the direction he indicated, and presently -made out a small light which was swinging -to and fro as it seemed to draw closer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I believe that’s some one with a hand lantern!” -cried Roger. “Maybe it’s a man on -horseback with a lantern to light his way.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The five chums noted in what direction the light -was headed, and then turned the horses toward -the same point. Soon they came so close that they -could call to the other party, and they set up a -shout.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello, Porter! Hello, Morr! Is that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>you?” came an answering hail. And then the -light seemed to come to a halt.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It must be one of the fellows from our -camp!” exclaimed Dave. “And if that is so, we -can’t be very far from one of the regular trails.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He urged his steed forward with the others following, -and soon they came face to face with a -man named Dan Morrison, who had charge of -one of the section gangs at the camp. To this -individual our friends explained the situation, and -received the information that they were on a side -trail which, half a mile farther on, ran into the -regular trail leading to the construction camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This trail is one of several that leads to the -railroad station,” explained Dan Morrison. -“It’s something of a short cut, but it isn’t quite as -good as any of the others. But I’m used to it, -so I don’t mind it, even in the darkness. I carry -the lantern more for company than for anything -else.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Morrison was much surprised to hear -about the shooting of the two bears, but the youths -did not wait to go into details, being anxious to get -back to the construction camp, where they hoped -a good hot supper would be awaiting them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And if they haven’t got anything cooked for -us, we’ll make Jeff broil some of these bear -steaks,” announced Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They’ll certainly be something in the way of a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>novelty,” said Phil. “Although, as a matter of -fact, I never yet ate a bear steak that could compare -to a beefsteak. The meat is usually coarser -and tougher.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was not long after this when they discerned -the welcome lights of the construction camp in the -distance. Then they set off on something of a -race, and rode into camp in great style.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, lads, what kind of a day did you have?” -questioned Frank Andrews, as he came out to -greet them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Fine!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The best ever! We shot two bears.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Shot two bears!” repeated Frank Andrews -incredulously. “You can’t string me that way. -Why don’t you say you brought down half a dozen -elephants while you’re at it?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We certainly did bring down two bears,” announced -Roger with pardonable pride. “And -one of them might have killed me if it hadn’t been -for Dave.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s this I hear about shooting two -bears?” demanded another voice, and Mr. Obray -stepped into view from the semi-darkness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s true, Mr. Obray,” answered Dave. -“Just wait, and we’ll show you the skins and the -heads. We cut them both off to bring along. -And we’ve got some fine bear steaks in our saddle-bags -too.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>“And anybody who wants to, can go back and -get the rest of the carcasses,” added Roger. -“We hung them up in a tree to protect them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It doesn’t seem possible!” exclaimed the construction -camp manager. “One bear would be -something worth talking about. But two! Are -you sure you’re not fooling?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s the plain truth,” answered Phil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I never want to go out to shoot any more -bears,” vouchsafed Shadow. “One bear hunt in -a lifetime is enough for me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The news soon spread throughout the construction -camp that two bears had been killed, and it -was not long before every man in the place came -up to view what the hunting party had brought in. -Old John Hixon seemed to be particularly interested.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pretty big critters—both of ’em,” was his -comment. “Of course, I’ve seen ’em bigger, but -these fellows were large enough for anybody to -wrassle with.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Of course the youths had to tell their story in -detail—not only about the fight with the two -bears, but also how Shadow had fallen into the -opening on the mountain summit and had been -rescued.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’ve certainly had a strenuous day of it,” -was Ralph Obray’s comment. “I’m glad to know -that all of you got back in safety. After this I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>guess I had better keep my eyes on you,” and he -smiled faintly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hope we are in time for supper, Jeff!” cried -Roger to the cook. “I’m altogether too hungry -to miss that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You all ain’t goin’ to miss nothin’,” answered -the cook, with a good-natured showing of his -ivories. “Come right down to the dinin’-room -and git all you wants. If you wants me to broil -some of dem dar bear steaks, I’ll do it fo’ you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I’m mighty glad we’re not going to miss -anything in the way of supper,” remarked Ben.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, say, speaking about missing something -puts me in mind of a story!” burst out Shadow -eagerly, as the chums made their way toward the -dining-room of the camp. “Once there was a miserly -old man who was inveigled into buying a -ticket for a charity concert. He found it impossible -to get there on time, and so found the concert -in full blast when he arrived. ‘Say, what are -they playing?’ he asked of an usher as he came -in. ‘Why, they just started the Twelfth Symphony,’ -was the reply. ‘You don’t say!’ groaned -the miserly old man. ‘It’s too bad I’ve missed so -much of the concert, after paying for that -ticket!’”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It might go without saying that all of the youths -enjoyed the repast which Jeff and his assistant provided. -At first they thought to have some of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>bear steaks; but then concluded to leave those until -the morning, when every man in the camp who -cared to do so might have his share of the -meat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the following morning all of the visitors, -as well as Roger, were so tired that they decided -to remain in camp and take it easy. Dave, however, -after consulting with Mr. Obray, took two -of the men with him and went back to where the -carcasses of the bears had been left, and brought -the meat back to camp. Here the steaks and the -other portions fit to cook were enjoyed by all, and -served to put Dave and his chums on better terms -than ever with the others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Phil, Ben, and Shadow remained at the construction -camp two days longer, and during that -time the chums went fishing, as well as riding, and -enjoyed every moment of the time. Ben was particularly -pleased, and in private confided to Dave -and Roger that had he not promised to go on to -Star Ranch with Phil he would willingly have put -in the rest of his vacation with them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, you’ll like it at Star Ranch just as well -as you like it here,” announced Dave. “It’s a -splendid place, and the Endicotts will be sure to -give you the time of your life.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The days passed all too quickly for all of the -young men. Even Shadow complained of the -shortness of the time, he stating that he had not -<span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>had an opportunity to tell one half of his best -stories.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind, Shadow, you’ll have to come -back some day and tell us the rest of them,” said -Roger consolingly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last came the hour when the visitors had to -depart, and Dave and Roger saw them off at the -railroad station.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Give our best regards to the Endicotts!” -cried Dave, when the long train rolled into the -station and Phil and the others climbed on board.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And don’t forget to remember us to Sid -Todd!” added Roger, mentioning the foreman -of Star Ranch, a man who had proved to be a -good friend.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t go after any more bears!” sang out -Ben.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, say, that puts me in mind of a story!” -cried Shadow. “Once three men went out to -hunt, and——” But what the story was about, -Dave and Roger never heard, for the vestibule -door to the car was closed, and in a moment more -the long train rumbled on its way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A nice bunch, all right,” was Roger’s comment, -as he and Dave turned their horses back in -the direction of the camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No better fellows anywhere, Roger. I’ll tell -you, when we went to Oak Hall we made some -friends that are worth while.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>“Right you are!” The senator’s son drew a -deep breath. “Well, now that they have gone, -I suppose we have got to pitch into work again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Sure thing, Roger! It doesn’t do to be idle -too long.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’m not complaining, Dave. I love my -work too much.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s exactly the way I feel about it. The -more I see of civil engineering, the deeper it -grips me. I’m hoping some day we’ll be able to -get together and put over some piece of work that -is really worth while,” answered Dave earnestly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Two weeks slipped by without anything unusual -happening. Their brief vacation at an end, Dave -and Roger plunged into their work with vigor, just -to show Mr. Obray and Frank Andrews that they -appreciated all that had been done for them. -During that time the weather was far from fair, -and the young civil engineers were more than once -drenched to the skin while at work on the mountainside. -Then the numerous storms brought on -a small landslide, and some of the results of what -had been accomplished were swept away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s too bad!” cried Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, it’s all in the day’s work, Porter,” answered -Frank Andrews philosophically. “Mr. -Obray is mighty thankful that none of our men -was caught in that landslide.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Two days after this the storms cleared away, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>and the sky became as bright as ever. As soon as -things had dried out a little, the engineering gangs -went forth once more, and Dave and Roger became -as busy as ever. They worked their full -number of hours, as did the others, and in addition -spent one or two hours every evening over -their textbooks. Frank Andrews continued to aid -them, and often explained matters which puzzled -them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two youths had received letters from home -on the day after their former Oak Hall chums had -left. But since that time no other communications -had arrived.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s queer we don’t get some more letters,” -grumbled the senator’s son one day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Were you looking for a letter from your -folks?” questioned Dave slyly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You know well enough what I was looking -for,” answered Roger, his face growing a bit red. -“You didn’t get any letter from Jessie, did -you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not since the day you got one from Laura, -and the day that one came from your mother.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What do you make of it, Dave? They must -have gotten our letters.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe not, Roger. Just the same, I think -the girls would have written even if they didn’t -get our letters.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you suppose anything has gone wrong?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>“I don’t know what to suppose.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe we ought to send a telegram,” suggested -the senator’s son, after a pause.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, there’s no use of scaring them with a -telegram, Roger. Let us wait a few days longer. -We may get some letters to-morrow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the morrow passed, and so did several -more days, including Sunday, and still no letters -were received from Crumville. Roger got a letter -from his folks in Washington, and Dave received -a brief communication from Phil, stating -that he and the others had arrived safely at Star -Ranch. But all of these did not satisfy the young -civil engineers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Something must be wrong somewhere,” announced -Dave at last. “I guess after all, Roger, -we had better send a telegram to Crumville and -find out what it means.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XVII<br /> <span class='large'>BAD NEWS</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>On the following day the two young civil engineers -were sent with the rest of the gang under -Frank Andrews to do some work located along -the line about half way to the railroad station.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That will give us a chance to send off a telegram,” -said Dave to the senator’s son. “We -can ask Andrews to let us off an hour earlier than -usual and ride over to the station and get back to -camp in time for supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So it was arranged; and as soon as they quit -work, the two young men hurried off on a gallop -so that they might reach the station before the -agent, who was also the telegraph operator, went -away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We want to send a telegram to the East,” announced -Dave, as they dismounted at the platform -where the agent stood looking over some express -packages.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, I’ll be with you in a moment,” was -the reply. “By the way, you are from the construction -camp, aren’t you? I just got a telegram -for one of the fellows over there.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>“Who is it?” questioned Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I forget the name. I’ll show it to you when -we go inside. Maybe you wouldn’t mind taking -it over for the fellow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Certainly we’ll take it over,” declared Dave -readily.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they passed into the office, the agent -brought the telegram forth from a little box on -the wall, and gazed at it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“David Porter is the name,” he announced.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, that is for me!” cried our hero -quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t say! Well, there you are. It’s -paid for.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hastily the young civil engineer tore open the -flimsy yellow envelope and gazed at the message -inside. It read as follows:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Do you or Roger know anything about Jessie -and Laura? Answer immediately.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>David B. Porter.</span>”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“What is it?” questioned the senator’s son -eagerly; and without replying our hero showed -him the message. Then the two youths stared -at each other blankly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What in the world——” began Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Something has happened!” burst out his -chum. “Dave, this looks bad to me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They want to know if we know anything. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>That must mean that Jessie and Laura are away -from home, and they are without news about -them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It certainly looks that way.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Each of the youths read the telegram again. -But this threw no further light on the mystery.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And to think we didn’t get any letters! That -makes it look blacker than ever,” murmured -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m going to answer this at once and see if -we can not get further information!” exclaimed -our hero. He turned to the station agent. -“How long do you expect to remain open?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I generally shut down about seven o’clock, but -to-night I expect to stay open until the five-forty -gets here, which will be about seven-thirty.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You haven’t got to go away, have you?” continued -Dave. “The reason I ask is that I want -to send an important telegram off, and I’d like -to wait here for an answer for at least a couple -of hours. Of course, I am perfectly willing to -pay you for your time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I haven’t anything very much to do to-night -after I close up, and if you want me to stay here -I’ll do it,” announced the agent, who was not -averse to earning extra money.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two young civil engineers held a consultation, -and soon after wrote out a telegram, stating -they had heard nothing since the receipt of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>the last letters from home, the dates of which -were given. They asked for immediate additional -information, stating they would wait at the -telegraph office for the same.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nothing wrong, I hope?” ventured the station -master, after the telegram had been paid for -and sent.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We don’t know yet. That is what we wish -to find out,” answered Dave. And then, to keep -the man in good humor, he passed over a dollar -and told the agent to treat himself from a small -case full of cigars which were on sale in the depot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After that there was nothing for Dave and -Roger to do but to wait. The agent sat down to -read some newspapers which had been thrown off -the last train that had passed through, and even -offered some of the sheets to them. But they -were in no humor for reading. They walked outside, -and a short distance away, and there discussed -the situation from every possible angle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If we don’t get any news, what shall we do?” -queried the senator’s son. “I’m so upset that -I know I won’t be able to sleep a wink to-night.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Upset doesn’t express it, Roger,” returned -Dave soberly. “When I read that telegram it -seemed fairly to catch me by the throat. If anything -has happened to Jessie and Laura——” -He could not finish.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dave, do you suppose those gypsies——”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>“I was thinking of that, Roger. Such things -have happened before. But let us hope for the -best.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Slowly the best part of two hours passed. -Then the station master, having looked through -all the newspapers, came out of his office, yawning -and stretching himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How much longer would you fellows like me -to stay?” he questioned. “You know I open up -here at six in the morning, and I live about a -mile away and have to hoof it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, don’t go away yet,” pleaded Roger. -“The message may come in at any minute. -They’ll be sure to send an answer as soon as they -get what we sent.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wait at least another half-hour,” added Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right;” and the agent went back into his -office, to settle himself in his chair for a nap.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Ten minutes later the telegraph instrument -began to click. The station agent jumped up to -take down the message.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is it for me?” questioned Dave, eagerly, and -the station master nodded. Then the two -youths remained silent, so that there might be no -error in taking down the communication that was -coming in over the wire.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here you are,” said the agent at last, handing -over the slip upon which he had been writing. -“I’m afraid there is trouble of some kind.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>Like the other message, this was from Dave’s -father, and contained the following:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Laura and Jessie left on visit to Boston four -days ago. Thought them safe. They did not -arrive and no news received. Suspect gypsies. -Everybody upset. Mrs. Wadsworth prostrate. -Will send any news received.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave’s heart almost stopped beating when he -read this second telegram, and he could not trust -himself to speak as he allowed his chum to peruse -the communication.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave, this is awful!” groaned the senator’s -son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So it is,” responded our hero bitterly. He -read the message again. “I wonder what we -can do?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t see that we can do anything—being -away out here.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I’m not going to stay here—I’m going -home,” announced Dave firmly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, Roger. I’m going home. Why, you -don’t suppose I could stay here and work with -such a thing as this on my mind! This looks to -me as if Jessie and Laura had been abducted—or -something of that sort.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, if you go, Dave, I’ll go too!” cried the -senator’s son. “If anything has happened to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>Laura——” He did not finish, but his face -showed his concern.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you want to send any more telegrams?” -questioned the station agent. “If you don’t, I’ll -lock up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think I will,” answered Dave. “They’ll -want to know whether this telegram was received.” -And then, after he and Roger had consulted -for a moment, they sent the following:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Second telegram received. Both too worried -to remain. Will come East as soon as possible.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Dave and Roger.</span>”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Having listened to the operator sending the message -off, the two young civil engineers lost no time -in leaping into the saddle and setting off for the -construction camp. They rode at as rapid a gait -as possible, and on that stony trail there was but -little chance for conversation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It must be the gypsies,” said Roger, when he -had an opportunity to speak. “I can’t think of -anything else.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The gypsies certainly promised to make trouble -for them,” answered Dave bitterly. “But to -go so far as kidnapping——Why, Roger! -that’s a terrible crime in these days!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I know it. But don’t you remember what -they wrote about the gypsies—how that Mother -Domoza and the others were so very bitter because -they had to give up their camp on the outskirts -<span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>of Crumville? More than likely your -Uncle Dunston, and Mr. Basswood, and Mr. -Wadsworth, didn’t treat them any too gently, and -they resented it. Oh, it must be those gypsies -who have done this!” concluded the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they arrived at the construction camp, -they found that most of the men had gone to bed. -But there was a light burning in the cabin occupied -by Ralph Obray and several of the others, -and they discovered the manager studying a blue-print -and putting down a mass of figures on a -sheet of paper.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What do you want?” questioned the manager, -as he noted their excited appearance. -“Have you struck more bears?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, Mr. Obray. It’s a good deal worse than -that,” returned Dave, in a tone of voice he tried -to steady. “We’ve got bad news from home.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t say, Porter! What is it? I -hope none of your relatives has died.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“My sister is missing from home, and so is the -daughter of the lady and gentleman with whom -my family live,” announced our hero. And then -he and Roger went into a number of particulars, -to which the construction camp manager listened -with much interest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That certainly is a strange state of affairs,” -he declared. “But I don’t see what you can do -about it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>“I can’t stick here at work with my sister and -Jessie Wadsworth missing,” declared Dave -boldly. “I’ve come to ask you to give me a -leave of absence. I want to take the very first -train for home.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But what can you do after you get there, -Porter? If anything has really gone wrong, you -can rest assured that your folks and the others -have notified the authorities and are doing all they -possibly can.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That may be true, Mr. Obray,—more than -likely it is true. Just the same, unless I get word -by to-morrow morning that they are found or -that some word has come from them, I want to go -home and join in the search.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And I want to go with him!” broke out -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I might as well explain matters to you, Mr. -Obray,” said Dave. “For a number of years -Jessie Wadsworth and myself have been very close -friends, and now we have an understanding——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I see. That’s the way the wind blows, -does it?” And the camp manager smiled.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, sir. And the same sort of thing holds -good between Roger here and my sister Laura. -That’s the reason he wants to go with me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh!” The construction manager nodded his -head knowingly. “I understand. Well, I suppose -<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>if I were situated like that, I’d feel just as -you do.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Please understand we’re not going away to -shirk work or anything like that,” declared -Roger. “You ought to know me well enough by -this time, Mr. Obray, to know that I am heart -and soul in this thing of making a first-class civil -engineer of myself.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And that’s just the way I feel about it, too,” -affirmed Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I understand. I have been very well -satisfied so far with the showing both of you -have made. It has been very creditable. I know -you haven’t shirked anything.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Of course, it’s too bad we have got to go right -on top of having that vacation when our friends -came to visit us,” was Dave’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is true, too, Porter. But some things -can’t be helped. I take it that you would rather -know that your sister and that other young lady -were safe, and stick at work, than you would to -lay off on account of such an errand as this.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’re right there, Mr. Obray!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’d give all I’m worth this minute to know -that Dave’s sister and Jessie Wadsworth were all -right!” burst out the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well then, if you think you ought to go back -home, you may do so,” announced Ralph Obray. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>“But I sincerely hope that by the time you get -there this matter will have straightened itself out. -And if that proves to be true, I shall depend upon -your coming back immediately.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll do it,” answered Dave readily. “We’ll -come back the very first thing after we find out -that everything is all right.” And Roger promised -the same.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It can easily be imagined that the two chums -did not sleep much that night. They spent the -best part of an hour in packing some of their -belongings and in informing Frank Andrews of -what had occurred. The head of their gang was -even more sympathetic than Mr. Obray had been, -and said he would do anything in his power to -help them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I suppose you would like to take the eight -o’clock morning train East,” he remarked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s our idea,” answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” went on Frank -Andrews. “I’ll order up an early breakfast for -you, and I’ll have old Hixon ride over to the station -with you to bring back your horses.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so the matter was arranged.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XVIII<br /> <span class='large'>ON THE WAY EAST</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Well, boys, I certainly wish you luck.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was John Hixon who spoke, as he shook -hands with Dave and Roger at the railroad station -on the following morning.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As arranged, the party of three had had an early -breakfast and had lost no time in riding over to -the railroad station. They had found the train -half an hour late, and Dave had lost no time -in sending a telegram to Crumville stating that -he and Roger were on the way, and asking that -if there was anything of importance to communicate, -to send them word either at St. Paul or -Chicago.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two youths had no accommodations on the -train, which was made up of sleeping-cars, an observation-car -and a diner. They had made up -their minds that they would journey on the train -even if they had to sit up in a smoking compartment. -But the cars proved to be less than three-quarters -filled, and they had but little trouble in -obtaining a section. Then they settled down as -best they could for the long journey to Chicago, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>where, of course, they would have to change for -the train to the East. They paid for their passage -only as far as St. Paul, so that they might leave -the train at that city if a telegram was received -assuring them that everything was all right.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I’m afraid we won’t have any such luck, -Roger,” observed Dave, in speaking of this possibility.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can’t tell,” answered the senator’s son -hopefully. “It’s just possible that Laura and -Jessie may have returned home and explained their -disappearance.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They’d never stay away so long without sending -some word, I’m certain of that,” answered our -hero emphatically. “They are not that kind of -girls.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It certainly would seem so, Dave. But you -must remember they may have sent some kind of -word, and it may not have been received. They -may have met some friends, sent a message, and -gone off on an automobile tour or a motor-boat -voyage.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave shook his head. “It won’t do, Roger. I -know Laura and Jessie too well. They would -want to make sure that the folks at home knew -where they were. And they would send us word -too. Besides that, they wouldn’t go off on any -extended trip, such as you mention, unless they had -permission from my father and Mrs. Wadsworth.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>All through the morning the two young civil -engineers discussed the situation from every possible -angle, but without arriving at any satisfactory -conclusion. At noon they partook of lunch in the -dining-car, making this repast last as long as possible, -“just to kill time,” as Roger expressed it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s going to be a long-winded trip,” sighed -the senator’s son, after they had finished their -meal and had walked back to the end of the -observation car.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, we’ve got to make the best of it, Roger,” -was Dave’s reply. “Ordinarily such a trip as -this would be fine. Think of what grand scenery -there is to look at!” and he pointed out with a -sweep of his hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The long train rumbled onward hour after -hour, and the two youths passed the time as best -they could, talking, looking at the scenery, and -reading the various papers and magazines contained -in the car library. At seven o’clock they -had dinner, and then sat outside once again until -it grew so dark that nothing could be seen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, we might as well go to bed,” remarked -Dave finally. “Which berth do you want, -Roger—the upper or the lower?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is immaterial to me, Dave,” was the answer. -“To tell the truth, I don’t think I’m going -to do much sleeping.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll toss up for it,” was the answer. And -<span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>the toss of the coin gave Dave the lower berth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It proved to be a long, wearisome night for both -of them. Dave tumbled and tossed on his pillow, -trying in a hundred ways to account for the -mysterious disappearance of his sister and Jessie. -Were they captives of the gypsies? Or had some -other dreadful fate overtaken them? Then, at a -sudden thought, Dave sat up in his berth so quickly -that he hit his head on the bottom of the berth -above.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I wonder if it’s possible,” he murmured to -himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He had suddenly remembered how he had lost -the two letters from home at the time he had been -robbed by Nick Jasniff of the contents of his -pocketbook. If Jasniff had read those letters he -had learned much about the trouble in Crumville -with the gypsies, and he had also learned from -Jessie’s letter that she and Laura were contemplating -a trip to Boston.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Jasniff is bitter against Mr. Wadsworth for -having had him sent to prison,” Dave reasoned; -“and he is equally bitter against me and my family -for what I did in capturing him. He took a train -for the East. Can it be possible that he is mixed -up in this affair?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This thought sent Dave off on a new chain of -reasoning, and he became so restless that, instead -of trying to go to sleep, he pulled up the shade -<span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>of one of the windows, propped his pillow close -against the glass, and lay there thinking and looking -out on the star-lit landscape. But at last tired -nature asserted itself, and he fell into a fitful doze, -from which he did not awaken until it was about -time to get up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve got a new idea,” he announced to his -chum, after the two had washed and dressed and -were on their way to the dining-car for breakfast. -And thereupon he related his suspicions against -Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It may be so,” mused the senator’s son. “It -would be just like that rascal to go in with those -gypsies and try to do your folks and the Wadsworths -harm.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the train the two young civil engineers met -several very agreeable people, but they were in no -frame of mind to make friends just then. Though -they did their best to be pleasant, they were glad -enough when the train, after a stop at Minneapolis, -finally rolled into the station at St. Paul. Here, -with only a few minutes to spare, they rushed -out to the telegraph office. There was a message -for them, and Dave tore the envelope open eagerly. -One glance at the contents, and his face fell.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No news of importance,” he announced. -“Come on. We’ll have to go on to Chicago.” -And then the journey to the great City of the Lakes -was renewed.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>At Chicago another message awaited them. -This was a little longer than the other had been, -but gave them scant satisfaction, reading as follows:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Strong suspicions against gypsies who have -disappeared. Demand for fifty thousand dollars.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Dunston Porter.</span>”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“That settles one thing. The girls have been -kidnapped,” remarked Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. And the kidnappers want fifty thousand -dollars,” added Dave. He drew a long -breath. “Well, there’s one satisfaction about -this, Roger. We know the two girls must be -alive.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, Dave. But think of them in the hands of -those dirty gypsies!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I can hardly bear to think of it, Roger. I -wish I had those rascals by the neck! I think I -could willingly shake the life out of them!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So could I! But come on, let us see if we can’t -get on the next train bound for Albany. There is -no use of our going down to New York City.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The chums were fortunate in getting two upper -berths on a train to leave in less than an hour. -The run to Albany would take less than twenty-four -hours, and there they would be able to change -to a local train running to Crumville.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the train a surprise awaited them. They -<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>ran into two of their old school chums, Buster -Beggs and Sam Day. Both of these lads were -fat and full of fun, and, having been close chums -at school, had gone into business together in the -city.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’re in the book and stationery line,” announced -Buster Beggs, after a cordial handshaking -all around. “We’re doing fine, too. Aren’t -we, Sam? But say, I thought you fellows were -learning to be civil engineers and were away out -West.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We have been out West,” answered Dave. -“But we are going home on a special errand just -now.” And then there was nothing to do but to -acquaint Buster and Sam with what had occurred.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t mean it!” burst out Buster in excitement. -“Why, that reads like a regular old-fashioned -novel!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I thought kidnappings like that were a thing -of the past,” was Sam Day’s comment. “I certainly -hope you round up those gypsies and rescue -the girls.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll do it or else know the reason why,” answered -Roger determinedly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From Buster and Sam the two young civil engineers -learned much concerning a number of their -other school chums. In return, they told a great -deal about themselves; and thus the hours passed -a little more quickly than they would otherwise -<span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span>have done. The four former Oak Hall students -dined together, and managed to make an exchange -of berths with some others on the train, so that -they were all together in opposite sections that -night.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’re certainly getting some touches of old -times,” remarked Dave. “First Phil, Ben, and -Shadow, and now you two!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll tell you what—we ought to organize that -Oak Hall club we once talked about,” said Buster -Beggs. “Then we could hold a reunion once a -year.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It certainly would be fine,” answered Roger, -his eyes lighting up with pleasure. “We’ll have -to remember that, Dave.” And to this our hero -nodded approval.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Buster and Sam left the train at Utica, while -the two young civil engineers continued on their -way to Albany. Here they had a wait of an hour -and a half, and during that time they purchased -a couple of newspapers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello, here’s an account of the affair now!” -cried Roger, pointing to the top of one of the -pages.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was an account nearly a column long, telling -of how a search was being instituted for the -missing girls and how it was supposed that a demand -for money had been made upon Mr. Wadsworth -and Mr. Porter. It was added that neither -<span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>of the gentlemen would affirm or deny the report.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That looks to me as if they were warned -to keep quiet about the demand for money,” announced -Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Possibly they were told that if they did not -keep quiet something would happen to the girls,” -added Roger. He closed his teeth with a snap. -“Oh, I just wish I had my hands on those rascals!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s maddening, isn’t it, Roger, to stand around -here and not be able to do anything?” groaned -Dave. In his mind’s eye he could picture the misery -endured by Jessie and his sister while they -were being held captives.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last the train for Crumville came in, and they -lost no time in jumping on board.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Thank heaven, we are on the last leg of this -journey!” breathed Roger, as they settled down -in a seat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Right you are, Roger!” answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But then their faces grew exceedingly thoughtful. -What dire news might await them at their -journey’s end?</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XIX<br /> <span class='large'>THE DEMAND FOR MONEY</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, what shall we do—what shall we do?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was Mrs. Wadsworth who uttered the words. -She sat in the luxuriously furnished living room of -the Wadsworth mansion, wringing her hands -while the tears stood on her cheeks. In front of -her was the rich jewelry manufacturer, pacing up -and down and biting his lip in deep thought.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t take it so hard, Alice, my dear,” said -the husband in a husky voice. “It’ll come out all -right—I am sure it will.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But, Oliver, I am so frightened! Think of -those poor girls in the hands of those awful gypsies—or -somebody just as bad, or worse! It’s dreadful! -I can’t bear to think of it!” and Mrs. Wadsworth’s -tears began to flow afresh.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In a corner of the library sat old Caspar Potts, -white-haired and with eyes that were no longer -bright. The professor’s head was shaking from -side to side.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I wish Davy were here,” he quavered. “I’m -sure that boy could do something.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He has telegraphed that he is on the way, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>along with Roger Morr,” said Mr. Wadsworth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good! Good! He’ll do something—I -know he will! Davy is a great boy!” and the old -professor nodded his head vigorously. Ever since -he had taken our hero from the poorhouse years -before, Dave had been the very apple of his eye.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Oliver Wadsworth walked to a writing-table, -and from one of the compartments drew a much-rumpled -sheet of paper, which had come to him in -a dirty envelope several days before. The envelope -had been post-marked, “Halwick,” the -name of a town about thirty miles away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are you going to do about that demand -for money?” questioned Mrs. Wadsworth, as she -watched her husband peruse the note—something -he had done a great number of times.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know,” he answered helplessly. “We -have been given at least ten days in which to raise -it, so there is no great hurry about deciding the -question.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is Mr. Porter in favor of meeting the demand?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He is like myself, he doesn’t know what to do. -He and Dunston Porter are both of the opinion -that this demand for fifty thousand dollars may -be just the forerunner of other demands. They -may want every cent all of us are worth before -they give the two girls up,” added the jewelry manufacturer.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>“But, Oliver! if you don’t give them the -money——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I know, I know, Alice. We’ll have to fix it -up somehow,” answered the husband hastily. -Then he sat down beside her and put his arm -around her shoulder. “Please don’t worry so. I -am sure we’ll be able to fix this matter up somehow -sooner or later, and that the girls will come -back safely.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I wish I could believe you!” burst out the -distressed woman. And then, unable to control -herself longer, she burst into a passionate fit of -weeping, and betook herself away to her bedroom.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From outside came the sound of an automobile -rolling along the gravel roadway, and looking -from a window the manufacturer saw Dave’s -father alight, followed by Dunston Porter. Both -showed signs of weariness, and the look on the face -of each betokened keen disappointment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Any success?” demanded the jewelry manufacturer -quickly, as the pair entered the house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nothing worth speaking about,” answered -Dunston Porter. “We hired another detective -and sent him off to Halwick.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The authorities have no news whatever,” -added Dave’s father. “They have received telegrams -from all the large cities within three hundred -miles of this place, and not a trace of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>girls has come to light. They claim that it’s the -strangest disappearance on record.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But this demand for money——” began Oliver -Wadsworth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, they are trying to sift that out, too. But -they don’t seem to be able to get anywhere with -it. They have advised that you continue to keep -quiet about it, and they said they would keep quiet, -too. Nevertheless, I think the news has leaked -out somehow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let me see that letter again,” said Dunston -Porter, and perused the communication as carefully -as the jewelry manufacturer had done. It was -written in heavy lead pencil in evidently a disguised -hand, and was as follows:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“The to girls Jessie Wadsworth and Laura -Porter are safe in our hands. We will take good -care of them but you wil haf to pay the price and -do it inside of ten days or two weeks at longest. -We mean busines so no funy work. We want -fifty thousand dollars from you Mr. Wadsworth -and from them Porters. Each of you can pay -as much of the amount as you plese. We want -the money in cash and wil send you word just -were it is to be placed and at what time. If you -fale us you will be mighty sory for we mean -busines. Dont make no mistak about that. If -you pay the money as we want the girls will be -back home safe inside of two days and not a hare -of there head harmed. Now take warning for -we mean busines and wont stand for no nonsence.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>“This was either written by a very illiterate -person or else by somebody who tried to make -out he was such,” was Dunston Porter’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think it is just such a letter as one of those -young gypsies might write,” answered Dave’s -father. “Most of them have some education, but -not a great deal.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Both Mr. Wadsworth and Dave’s father had -had a great deal of business to attend to during -the past few weeks, and Dunston Porter had been -kept busy assisting Mr. Basswood in turning the -vacant land on the outskirts of Crumville into -building plots and offering them for sale. But -since the unexpected and mysterious disappearance -of the two girls all thoughts of business had been -brushed aside.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dave and Roger ought to be here almost any -time now,” remarked Dunston Porter. “But -what good their coming on the scene is going to -do, I can’t surmise.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can’t blame them for wanting to come -after receiving such news,” remarked Mr. Wadsworth. -“Dave, I know, thinks a great deal of -his sister, and you all know that he and Jessie think -a great deal of each other.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. And I know that Roger has his eye on -Laura,” answered the girl’s father. “And she -thinks a great deal of the young man.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At that moment the telephone rang, and Dunston -<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>Porter went to answer it. A telegram was -telephoned to him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dave and Roger are now on their way from -Albany,” he announced. “They will be here in -about an hour. I think I’ll run down to the depot -in the auto and meet them.” And so it was arranged.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There were no passengers as eager as Dave and -Roger to leave the train when it rolled into the little -station at Crumville. Dunston Porter was on -hand, and they gazed eagerly at his face to see if -it bore any signs of good news.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I’ve got nothing to cheer you with,” he -announced, after shaking hands and conducting -them to the auto, into the tonneau of which they -pitched their suit-cases. “We haven’t the least -idea where they are or how they disappeared.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But, Uncle Dunston, you must have some -news!” pleaded Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“At least you can tell us how and when they -left home and what was the last word you had -from them,” said Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They made up their minds to go to Boston to -visit Jessie’s aunt, Mrs. Brightling, just about two -weeks ago,” answered Dave’s uncle. “They -spent two or three days in getting ready; and -then a week ago this Wednesday they started on -the trip, Mrs. Wadsworth and the chauffeur taking -them down to the depot. They carried one -<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>trunk, which was checked through to Boston, and -Laura had a suit-case, and both of the girls had -handbags. They had through tickets to Boston, -and got on the train; and that was the last we saw -or heard of them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We had expected to get a letter from Laura, -and the Wadsworths expected a letter from Jessie, -stating that they had arrived safely. When -no letters came, Mrs. Wadsworth got nervous, -and as a result she asked her husband to send a -telegram to find out what was wrong.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The telegram had just been sent when a telegram -was received from Mrs. Brightling, asking -how it was that the girls had not come on as expected. -Then she telegraphed a little later that -she had not seen them nor heard from them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A search was made at the depot in Boston, -and the trunk was found just as it had been -checked from here. The suit-case the girls had -kept with them on the train.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But didn’t they meet anybody on the train -who knew them?” questioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No one that we have heard from up to the -present time. We have been making a number -of inquiries, and, of course, expect to make more. -You see, the people they met on the train were -going away from Crumville, so that makes it difficult -to follow them up. And besides that, so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>much time was lost in the first place, that I suppose -a good many people would forget, even if -they had seen them on the train.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But didn’t they have parlor-car chairs?” -questioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No. The train had only one parlor car on it, -and that was crowded. Mr. Wadsworth had telegraphed -for seats, but there had been some mix-up, -and as a consequence the girls had to put up -with seats in one of the day coaches. Mrs. Wadsworth -told them they had better wait for another -train, but they laughed and said that they would -rather go into one of the day coaches than lose the -time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>During this conversation Dunston Porter had -started up the automobile and was on the way to -the Wadsworth mansion. In a few minutes more -they rolled up to the piazza, and there Dave’s -father and Mr. Wadsworth came out to greet -them, followed by the trembling form of Professor -Potts.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was a sorry home-coming for our hero, and -Roger was equally affected. They shook hands -with those who were there to greet them, and for -the moment the emotions of all were so deep -that nobody trusted himself to speak. All went -inside, and it was old Caspar Potts who broke the -silence.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>“If I were only a younger man!” he said in a -trembling voice. “Davy, it’s up to you to do -something—you and your friend Roger.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m going to do it if I possibly can, Professor,” -answered the youth, huskily.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All sat down and the Crumville folks gave to -the young civil engineers all the particulars they -had concerning the strange disappearance of the -two girls.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And are you quite sure it is the work of those -gypsies?” queried Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t see who else would play such a dirty -trick,” responded Mr. Wadsworth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dave has another idea,” went on the senator’s -son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What is that?” asked Dunston Porter -quickly, while the others looked up questioningly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve been wondering if Nick Jasniff wasn’t -connected with this affair,” answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nick Jasniff!” exclaimed Oliver Wadsworth. -“You mean the fellow I helped to put in prison?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What makes you think he could have had anything -to do with it?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll tell you,” answered our hero. And thereupon -he related how he and Roger had first seen -Nick Jasniff in the vicinity of the construction -camp, and how, later on, he had been instrumental -in having Jasniff sent away from the camp, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>then how he had met the rascal on the road, had -a fight, and lost the two letters and the contents -of his pocketbook.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I ought to have written about this, but I didn’t -want to worry you folks too much,” he concluded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dave, you may have struck the truth!” burst -out Mr. Wadsworth excitedly. “It would be just -like that rascal to do such a thing as this. And -besides that, you must remember one thing—Jasniff -was not pardoned.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not pardoned!” burst out our hero and -Roger simultaneously.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, he was not pardoned,” answered the -jewelry manufacturer. “His case came up before -the Board of Pardons, and after a hearing -they recommended a pardon for him to the governor. -But before the governor signed the order -to let him go, Jasniff made his escape from the -prison and ran away. Then, of course, the recommendation -for a pardon was torn up and -thrown in the waste-basket; so if the fellow is -ever captured he can go back to prison and serve -his term over again.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XX<br /> <span class='large'>BEGINNING THE GREAT SEARCH</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Well, what do you know about that!” cried -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No wonder Nick Jasniff wanted to leave the -vicinity of the construction camp,” remarked -Dave. “He must have reasoned that sooner or -later we would learn that he hadn’t been pardoned -and was wanted at the prison.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That must be it,” answered the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If this Nick Jasniff is interested in the affair, -we want to know it,” said Mr. Wadsworth. “I -shall at once give the authorities the particulars -of Jasniff’s doings, so that they can go on the -hunt for him. They have his picture in the -Rogues’ Gallery, and that can be copied and circulated, -so that the authorities in different cities, -and especially in this vicinity, can be on the lookout -for him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But why weren’t the authorities on the lookout -for him before?” questioned our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They were at first. But then they got word -that Jasniff had sailed for some port in South -<span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>America, so they gave it up. Evidently the report -was a false one.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, and probably circulated by Nick Jasniff -himself,” added Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Of course you have been over to Coburntown, -where the gypsies went after they left here,” remarked -Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We have been all around that territory,” answered -his Uncle Dunston. “The gypsies have -disappeared entirely, one report stating that they -were bound south. I had them stopped at a town -about fifty miles away, and those in the camp were -closely questioned. They said that Mother Domoza -had been left behind on account of sickness, -and that two gypsies, one named Tony Bopeppo, -and the other Carlos Vazala, had remained with -her to take care of her. They said the three were -to go to another gypsy camp some twenty or thirty -miles away. But at that camp it was said that -they knew nothing about the old hag and her followers.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Were the two gypsies, Bopeppo and Vazala, -the two with whom you had trouble about the -land?” questioned Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, they were the leaders in the quarrel,” -answered Dunston Porter. “Bopeppo was particularly -furious, and one day threatened to strike -Mr. Basswood. I stopped him, and told him if -he didn’t behave himself I’d have him placed under -<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>arrest. Vazala was also very vindictive, he asserting, -along with Mother Domoza, that they -had the right to occupy the land as long as they -pleased.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then it is more than likely that Bopeppo and -Vazala, assisted by Mother Domoza and perhaps -by Nick Jasniff, are guilty of this kidnapping,” -went on our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We had figured it out that way—of course -leaving out Jasniff.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you any sample of the handwriting of -Bopeppo or Vazala?” asked Roger. “If you -have you might compare them with the note sent -to Mr. Wadsworth.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We have managed to get one note written by -Bopeppo, and we have two samples of Vazala’s -signature. But neither of them seem to be in -the handwriting used in the note,” answered -Dave’s father.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then it would seem as if the note had been -written by somebody else!” cried Dave. “How -about Mother Domoza?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We don’t believe the old hag can read or write -English.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’d like to see the note,” said Roger. Thereupon -the communication was brought forth and -the two young civil engineers scanned it very -closely.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I wish I could remember Nick Jasniff’s handwriting, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>but I can’t,” said Roger. “How about -it, Dave?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If my memory serves me, he wrote rather a -heavy hand,” answered our hero. “But I am not -willing to say whether this is in his style or not. -This looks to me as if it was a disguised hand, -for it is very irregular.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We all thought the handwriting was disguised,” -answered Mr. Wadsworth. He heaved -a deep sigh. “Too bad! All this talk doesn’t -seem to get us anywhere.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, one thing is certain,” said Dave. -“The girls got on board that train, and the train -went to Boston, making all of its usual stops. In -that case, they must have gotten off at one of the -stop stations,—that is, unless the train made some -other stops which were not scheduled.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We have found out that the train did make -a number of other stops,” answered his father. -“Shortly after it left Hemston they discovered a -hot box, and they had to stop four times on the -way to fix that—twice near some water tanks, and -twice at some cross-road signal towers. As a consequence -of the delay, the train was also held up -at two little way stations to let two express trains -pass, and did not get into Boston until nearly two -hours behind its regular time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you got a list of all those stopping -places?” questioned Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>“We have.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I know what I’m going to do,” cried -Dave. “I’ll take the automobile and go along -the line of the railroad and stop at every one of -those places and make inquiries, and see if we can’t -find out whether the girls left the train, or if they -were met by the gypsies, or anybody else.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve already been along the line, Dave,” answered -his father. “Your uncle and I went over -the route, not by automobile but by a way train, -and we made inquiries at every station; but without -the least success.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, but the train couldn’t have stopped long -enough for you to ask many questions,” put in -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is true,” returned Dave’s parent slowly. -“Probably you would have a better chance of getting -some particulars if you went along the route -in the automobile. Of course it would take considerable -time—several days in fact—to follow -the route in that manner all the way into Boston.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s the only thing I can think of to do,” answered -Dave. “And it will be much better than -sitting here and doing nothing.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Right you are!” cried Roger. “I’m willing -to start this minute if you say so,” and he jumped -to his feet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t think you can do much to-day,—it is -too late,” answered Mr. Wadsworth. “But you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>might get ready for a start early to-morrow morning,” -and he looked rather hopefully at the two -young civil engineers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll do it!” answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After that the discussion became general, and -our hero and his chum got all the particulars possible -concerning the stops the train upon which -Jessie and Laura had taken passage had made on -its trip to the Hub. They put all these names and -locations down on a sort of map that they drew -up, and then consulted an automobile Blue-Book, -so that they might get familiar with the roads to -be taken on their tour.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is certainly going to be some search, -Dave,” remarked Roger, after the conference had -come to an end and the two chums had gone up-stairs -to fix up for dinner.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I know it, Roger. It will probably take us -several days, and maybe a week. But I won’t -mind that, and neither will you, if only we learn -something of advantage.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was a quiet party that sat down to the table -that evening in the large dining room of the Wadsworth -mansion. In a voice that trembled more -than usual with emotion, old Professor Potts asked -a blessing on the meal, and the repast was well -on its way before anyone felt like talking. Then -Roger questioned Mr. Wadsworth concerning the -automobile to be taken for the trip.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>“I think you had better take the four-passenger -car,” announced the jewelry manufacturer. -“That will leave us the large car in case we need -it. The smaller car is in just as good a condition -and is just as speedy.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll look over the car as soon as we have -finished eating,” said Dave. “I want everything -to be in the best of order, so that we shall not be -delayed by any breakdown. Of course, we’ll -carry along an extra shoe or two, and three or -four inner tubes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two chums had already decided on what -they were to wear on the trip and what to take -along in the way of extra clothing. They spent -the entire evening in going over the four-passenger -car, and, with the aid of the Wadsworth chauffeur, -put the machine in the best possible order, -and then filled it up with oil and gasoline.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, boys, you’ll do your best to find them?” -said Mrs. Wadsworth, when they came in rather -late and were ready to retire.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can rest assured of that, Mrs. Wadsworth,” -answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We won’t give up until we have found them, -or found out something about them,” broke in -Roger. And then the lady kissed each of them -affectionately. The strain had been terrible, and -she looked ten years older than usual.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave and Roger had expected that no one -<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>would be around when they were ready to depart -in the morning, for it was but a little after sunrise. -But in this they were mistaken. Both -Dave’s father and his Uncle Dunston had come -down to see them off.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I want to caution you about one thing,” said -Dave’s parent. “You take care of yourselves, -and if you do chance to run into those gypsies, or -anybody else who has any connection with this -crime, do your best to keep out of trouble.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll be on our guard, Dad, don’t fear,” answered -the son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Of course you are armed?” questioned Dunston -Porter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, we’ve each got a pistol, and Dave’s shotgun -is under the back seat,” answered Roger. -“You see, we weren’t going to take any chances,” -and he smiled grimly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If you discover anything at all, send us word -at once,” went on Dave’s father. “Use the telegraph -or the telephone—whichever is handiest.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can depend on it we will,” said Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And don’t forget that we want to hear from -you folks here in Crumville if you hear anything,” -added Roger. “You can send a message to any -of the railroad stations along the line. We’ll -stop at each station and ask for messages.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave was at the wheel of the car, with Roger -alongside of him. In the back the two had their -<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>suit-cases, and also a number of wraps and a hamper -filled with lunch, for there was no telling where -they could stop along the road for something to -eat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With scarcely an effort, the touring-car rolled -away from the Wadsworth mansion, the men left -behind waving their hands to the two on board. -They waved in return, and a moment later the machine -left the grounds, headed for the Crumville -railroad station. This was soon passed, and they -took the highway leading to the next station on the -line; and thus the great search was begun.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first place they reached was a small way-station, -and they soon learned that the particular -train Laura and Jessie had taken had not stopped -there for a month or more. The station master -had, however, heard about the kidnapping, and -was anxious to hear more. But Dave and Roger -did not waste time on him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the course of the next couple of hours, they -stopped at six more stations, and made various inquiries. -The train had stopped at just one of -these places, but the station agent was positive -that only two of the local residents had gotten on -board, and no one but a drummer from the city -had alighted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The way to the next station was up a long hill, -and near the top Dave had to bring the car to a -sudden halt. The regular road was being repaired, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>and a sign was up showing where a detour -might be made.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That side-road doesn’t look very inviting,” -was our hero’s comment, as he surveyed it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, it must be all right,” answered Roger. -“If it were not, they wouldn’t have that sign up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They proceeded on their way, and soon found -the side road both rough and uncertain. They -had some difficulty in getting to the bottom of the -hill, and here they had to make a sharp turn to -the left in an endeavor to get back to the main -highway.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Look out for the puddles, Dave!” cried the -senator’s son, as they splashed into one pool of -water.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave did what he could to keep out of the next -puddle, and in doing this ran pretty well off to one -side of the roadway. The next instant he found -himself in mud almost up to the hubs, and here the -car threatened to come to a standstill. He immediately -threw the gear into second, and then into -low, and thus they chugged on for a distance of ten -or twelve feet farther. Then the car came to a -sudden standstill.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Stuck?” remarked Roger laconically.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So it would seem,” answered Dave.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XXI<br /> <span class='large'>STUCK ON THE ROAD</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>Twice Dave tried to back the car and then go -ahead, but without avail. The machine settled -down still farther in the mud of the road, and there -it stuck.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now what are we going to do?” demanded -the senator’s son, impatiently.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know, Roger,” was the slow reply. -“We’ve got to do something—we can’t stay in -this mud-puddle all day.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s an outrage that they marked this road for -a detour,” continued Roger. “Why, a team of -horses would have all they could do to get through -such a spot as this!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess I’ll have to get out for help,” said -Dave. “Too bad! To think of getting stuck inside -of three hours after leaving home!” and he -made a grimace.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was no help for it, and, reaching over into -the tonneau of the car, Dave got out a pair of rubbers -and put them on; and Roger did the same. -Then both leaped out of the car and made their -way to where the footing was fairly firm.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>“The road seems to be pretty good farther on,” -announced our hero, after an examination. “But -I’m afraid we’ll have to get somebody with a team -of horses or oxen to pull us out of that hole. The -car will never do it under its own power.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They walked on, and presently came in sight of -a farm nestling in a small valley beyond the hill. -They walked up to this, and found a farmer in the -barnyard, cleaning the mud from one of his horses.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, gentlemen, what can I do for you?” -hailed the man, as they walked up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess we got here just in time,” returned -Dave. “There’s no use in finishing that cleaning -until you’ve done a little job for us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Eh? What’s that?” demanded the farmer -curiously.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The chums explained the situation, and the -farmer, whose name was Rawson, readily agreed -to take two of his horses and the necessary tackle -and assist them in getting the automobile out of -the mud. In less than ten minutes the three were -on their way to where the car was stalled. Mr. -Rawson went to work quickly and with a precision -that showed he knew exactly what he was doing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“As soon as I give the word, you turn on your -power and throw her into low gear,” he said. “I -think we’ll have you out of this in a jiffy.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so it proved, the car coming up from the -mud by the combined power of itself and the horses -<span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>with hardly an effort. Then the team was unhooked, -and Dave ran the car along the highway to -where the farmer said farther traveling would be -perfectly safe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“By the way, we are on a rather peculiar errand -around here,” said Dave, after he had settled for -the farmer’s services. “May I ask if you have -seen any gypsies in this vicinity during the last -couple of weeks?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know about their being gypsies,” answered -Mr. Rawson. “I had some trouble with -a couple of tramps who robbed my chicken-coop -about ten days or two weeks ago. I found they -had been camping out in one of our sheds down in -the woods. They wore bandana neckerchiefs and -bright-colored vests.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That sounds as if they were gypsies! What -became of them?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I can’t tell you about that. You see, one night -we lost two of the chickens, and so I set a watch, -and the next night I saw these two fellows sneaking -up toward the house. I had my shotgun, and -asked them what they wanted, and both of them -dived out of sight behind some bushes and then ran -for the woods. I followed them as far as the -shed, and after that I lost track of them, and I’ve -never seen them since. The next day I went down -to the shed, thinking they might be hanging around -<span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>somewhere, and there I saw they had been camping -out in the shed, and saw where they had -cooked the chickens and eaten them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That sounds pretty interesting,” said Dave. -“But I hardly think those fellows could have been -the men we are looking for. The gypsies we are -trying to spot must have had some money, and I -don’t think they would camp out in that shed you -mention. However, I’m going to remember it,” -he added.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The chums questioned the farmer further, but -got very little satisfaction. Then the journey in -the automobile was resumed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What makes you think those fellows could not -have been Bopeppo and Vazala?” questioned -Roger, when they were once again speeding along -the highway.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think this kidnapping was conducted in a -much more high-toned fashion—if you can call -it that, Roger. Those gypsies who used to camp -on the outskirts of Crumville were far from poor. -In fact, I have an idea that old Mother Domoza -is really wealthy.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What! Wealthy, and live like that?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Exactly. I think she’s a first-class miser. A -good many of the gypsies are—especially the -older ones. They pretend to be very poor, but -they own all sorts of jewelry, precious stones, and, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>very often, quantities of gold coin. They won’t -trust the banks, but carry the stuff around their -person, or else bury it somewhere.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But these fellows might have been frightened -over something, and gone into hiding on that account,” -suggested Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That may be—and I don’t intend to forget -what Mr. Rawson said,” answered Dave. “It’s -also possible that those two fellows may have been -just hangers-on, who helped Bopeppo, Vazala and -Mother Domoza, and maybe Nick Jasniff, to commit -the crime.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>By noon the chums had stopped at one more -way station, and also at one of the water tanks -near where the hot box on the train had been discovered. -They went up and interviewed the man -in charge of the tank, but he could give them no -satisfaction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I can’t tell you who left the train or who got -on board,” he said. “I went down to look at the -hot box along with the engineer, and I helped him -get some water, and I didn’t pay much attention -to anything else.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you seen any fellows around here who -look like gypsies?” questioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. I saw a couple of that class of men -walking up the track either the day before that -train came along or the day after. I’ve been trying -to make up my mind which day it was since I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>read about this kidnapping, but I can’t say for -sure.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Leaving the vicinity of the water tank, the -chums continued along the highway which ran -within sight of the railroad. Reaching a convenient -spot in the shade of a big tree, and where -there was a spring and a watering trough, they -came to a halt and there enjoyed a portion of the -lunch they had brought along, washing it down -with a drink of pure, cold water.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, we haven’t learned anything yet that is -worth while,” remarked Roger, during the course -of the meal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I didn’t expect it was going to be any easy -kind of a job,” Dave replied. “Even if we get -the slightest kind of clue to this mystery, Roger, -we can think ourselves lucky.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I know that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>During the afternoon they stopped at five other -places, putting to the people they met the questions -which they had been asking all along the line. -In every instance, however, no one could give -them any information, although most of the men -and women were very anxious to learn if anything -had been heard of the missing girls.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hope those kidnappers are caught,” said one -of the men at the last station at which they -stopped. “They are not fit to be at large.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They ought to be hung!” declared his wife -<span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span>emphatically. “Why, since I heard about the disappearance -of those two girls, I haven’t dared to -let my little girl and boy leave the house! It’s -terrible! I do so hope they catch those rascals -and punish them well!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Evening found the chums at the town of Chesleyville, -and here, as there was a fairly good hotel, -they resolved to remain for the night. They -drove around to the hotel and left the car in the -garage attached to the hostelry, and then made arrangements -for a room and meals. They had -supper, and then Dave suggested that they take a -walk down to the railroad station and in the -vicinity of the freight yard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know whether we’ll learn anything or -not, but we can’t afford to miss any chances,” was -the way he expressed himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s the talk!” cried Roger. “We don’t -want anything to get away from us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They had quite a talk with the station agent and -a number of others, including a young fellow who -had charge of a news-stand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve seen pictures of those girls who were -kidnapped,” declared the youth, “and unless I am -greatly mistaken, one of them—the taller of the -two—bought a magazine and a weekly from -me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was interesting information, and the two -lost no time in questioning the youth closely. He -<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>described the taller of the two girls, telling how -she had been dressed and what sort of hat she had -worn. The description of the suit and the head -covering tallied closely with what Mrs. Wadsworth -had said Laura had worn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What did she buy—do you remember -that?” questioned Roger. And thereupon the -news vendor mentioned a popular monthly magazine -and an equally popular weekly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And you saw the other girl?” asked Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, at the car window. She didn’t get out, -but the other girl went to the open window and -asked her what she wanted, and then she came -back and got the weekly. That was after she had -bought the magazine. She dropped her hand-bag -and had to turn around to pick it up, and -that’s how I came to notice her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was all the youth could tell, but it was -something, and the chums returned to the hotel -in a thoughtful mood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If that really was Laura, and if the girl in -the car was Jessie, then that proves one thing,” -remarked Dave. “They weren’t kidnapped anywhere -between here and Crumville.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And that means that it did happen somewhere -between here and Boston,” added Roger. “But, -gracious, Dave! it’s a long way from here to that -city!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Neither of the young civil engineers felt in the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span>humor for retiring early, so they passed into the -reading-room of the hotel, to glance at one or two -of the newspapers. Dave was perusing an article -in reference to the disappearance of the girls, and -Roger was deep in some news from Washington -which affected his father, when both were startled -by an exclamation made by some one who had -stepped from the outside to a broad window which -opened upon a veranda of the hotel.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who was that?” asked Roger, as he looked -up just in time to see somebody disappearing from -view.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know, I’m sure,” answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Struck by the peculiarity of the movement which -had taken place, both walked over to the window -and looked outside. Here all was in semi-darkness, -the only light coming from the hotel and a -small street lamp some distance away. They saw -the figure of a young man hurrying down the -street, and as the individual passed under the -street light, he pulled up the collar of his coat and -pulled down the soft hat he wore.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whoever he was, he got out in a mighty -hurry,” was Roger’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To this Dave did not answer. He was wondering -who the strange individual could be.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XXII<br /> <span class='large'>THE FIRST CLUE</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Did you see his face at all, Dave?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No. Did you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not at all. He left the window so quickly I -didn’t catch more than a glance of the side of his -body.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He certainly left in a mighty hurry,” mused -our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dave, do you imagine it might have been -Nick Jasniff?” asked the senator’s son excitedly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I thought of that, Roger. As the fellow -passed under that lamp-post his form looked -something like Jasniff’s. But that is rather a wild -guess—a good many fellows might possess his -general make-up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two chums went back to their newspapers, -and half an hour later they retired to their room. -Both arose early, thinking to look over the automobile -before breakfast, so that they might be -ready to start off immediately after eating. -When they reached the hotel garage, they found -the colored man who was in charge very much excited.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>“You gemmen didn’t send nobody down here -to get your car, did you?” he questioned quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We certainly did not!” cried Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Has any one been here to get the car?” questioned -the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A young fellow was here at your machine,” -answered the colored man. “I jest stepped over -to the hotel to ask the clerk to order some more -gasoline, we runnin’ short. When I came back -the fellow was at your car. I thought at first it -was one of you gemmen, but as soon as I called to -him he jumped from the car and went out the -back door.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How long ago was this?” burst out Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not over five minutes ago, boss. I called to -the fellow and ran after him, but he jumped over -the back fence and got away.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Was he a tall young fellow with a soft hat?” -queried Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He was.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He must have been the same chap who looked -in at the hotel window!” went on the senator’s -son to Dave. “Now, what do you make of -that?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I make of it that he is trying to do us some -injury,” answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you really think it could be Nick Jasniff?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am sure I don’t know. If it was Jasniff, -how in the world did he get up here in this town?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>“Perhaps he has been following us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But how could he do that unless he had an -automobile or a motorcycle, or something like -that?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am sure I can’t answer that question.” -Roger turned to the garage man. “Did you -know the fellow at all?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, boss; he was a stranger to me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you ever seen him before?” asked -Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I ain’t exactly sure of that, boss—so -many men comin’ and goin’ all the time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us see if he did any injury to the car,” -suggested Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The automobile was run out into the yard of -the hotel, and there the young men went over the -machine carefully. Nothing seemed to be amiss, -and the things in the tonneau had been left undisturbed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess he didn’t have time enough to do anything,” -said Dave. “I think he had been watching -this man,” indicating the colored individual, -“and as soon as he went into the hotel, the rascal -sneaked into the garage intending to get the car -out. Maybe he was nothing more than an auto -thief who watched us come to the hotel and -thought he saw a chance to get away with our -car.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If he’s an auto thief, I wish I had caught -<span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>him,” was the comment of the colored man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think I’ll buy a lock for the car,” announced -Dave. “I saw an automobile place down the -street. We can stop there before we leave town.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was done; and the chums purchased a lock -which could be placed on the gear shift, so that -it would be impossible to start the car without -unlocking the device or smashing it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“By the turn of affairs, we’ve got to watch out -for more than one kind of enemy,” announced -Roger, when the search for clues to the mysterious -disappearance of the two girls had again been resumed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve got a new idea, Roger,” answered our -hero slowly. “I may be mistaken, but somehow -it strikes me that it would pay us to take a look -around Chesleyville before we go farther. If -that fellow was connected in any way with the kidnapping -of Jessie and Laura, the girls may be -held somewhere in this neighborhood.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That idea strikes me as a good one, Dave. -Let us make a number of inquiries and find out if -the gypsies were in this vicinity.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The plan was carried out, the two youths spending -the best part of a couple of hours both in the -town and on the outskirts. The search in that -vicinity, however, proved fruitless, and once again -they set off on their trip along the line of the railroad.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>Before lunch time they had stopped at three -more places, and at one of them gained the information -that several gypsies had been seen in -that vicinity about two weeks before. They had -been men, and where they had gone nobody -seemed to know.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Late that afternoon found the chums at a place -known as Fallon’s Crossing. Here a small sideline -crossed the main railroad, and here were located -a switch shanty and a small freight yard. -At this point it was said that the train which had -carried Laura and Jessie had stopped for fully -fifteen minutes, to let the hot box cool off and also -to allow another train to pass. Just beyond Fallon’s -Crossing was the thriving town of Crandall, -at which the train was scheduled to make a regular -stop.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The switchman at the shanty could tell them -nothing more than that the train had stopped. -He said a number of people had gotten off to pick -some wildflowers that grew by the roadside, and -then re-entered the train. Who the people had -been, he could not remember.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a man hanging around the freight -yard who had also been present on the day when -the train had stopped, and he vouchsafed the information -that when the people on the train had -learned that the stop would be for some time a -number had tramped up the tracks to the town, to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>get on again when the train arrived at the regular -station.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There were at least eight or ten people did -that,” said the freight-yard man; “but who they -were I do not know.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did you see any gypsies around?” questioned -Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No. We haven’t had a gypsy around here in -years. We don’t stand for gypsies any more than -we do for tramps.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the two chums returned to their automobile -they saw nearby a middle-aged man with a -motorcycle. He was bending over the machine, -trying to fix something, and as they came closer -he hailed them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is that your car over there?” he questioned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is,” answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then, would you mind lending me a small -wrench for a few minutes? I just broke mine.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Certainly,” answered Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tool was brought forth, and the man at -once set to work to use it. While the two chums -looked on the man spoke about the trials and tribulations -he had had with the motorcycle and of a -trip he had made to that vicinity some time before. -Being questioned, it developed that he had been -on hand when the train containing the two girls -had stopped there.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I was quite interested in that hot box they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>had, and I was talking to the fireman about it,” he -said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did you see any of the folks leave the train?” -questioned Dave. “We are very anxious to find -out.” And then, seeing the look of surprise on -the man’s face, he gave his reasons.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve read about that kidnapping case!” cried -the man. “Yes, I saw at least a dozen people -leave the cars and walk off in the direction of the -town. Some of them said they belonged in the -town, and others asked the conductor if they -couldn’t go up to the railroad station and get -aboard again when the train came along.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did you notice those two young ladies?” -questioned Roger eagerly, and gave a description -of Laura and Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think I did see them,” answered the man -slowly. “I remember seeing the beaded hand-bag -one of the young ladies carried, and I remember -she wore a hat with a blue pompon.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It must have been Jessie and Laura!” exclaimed -Dave. “Have you any idea where they -went?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The whole crowd walked up the railroad -tracks in the direction of the town. Whether -they went to the station or not, I, of course, don’t -know. I hung around here watching them fix -that hot box, and then I jumped on my motorcycle -and rode off in the opposite direction.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>This was all the man on the motorcycle could -tell; and as he was in a hurry to go on they did -not detain him further.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This looks like a clue,” was Roger’s comment, -as they re-entered the automobile and moved on -their way. “I guess the best thing we can do, -Dave, is to make some inquiries around Crandall.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Exactly, Roger! I think we are on the trail -at last;” and Dave’s face showed his pleasure.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The road ran close to the tracks, and it took -them but a few minutes to reach the town. Here -they continued their inquiries in and around the -station, but without gaining any additional information.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is too bad,” said Roger disappointedly. -“I thought sure we would learn something more.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ve got to do it, Roger!” cried Dave. -“I am sure we are on the right track. Those -girls came here, and, so far as we can learn, nobody -saw them get on the train again. If they -didn’t get on the train, where did they go?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’d give a good deal to have that question answered,” -returned the senator’s son. He heaved -a sigh. “Oh, we’ve got to do something!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They continued their inquiries, and presently -found themselves talking to a lame boy in charge -of a small fruit-stand, where they made a purchase.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, I was here the day the train was held -<span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>up down at the Crossing, and some of the folks -walked up to the station,” said the lame boy. -“There were a couple of drummers with their -cases, and a man and his wife and two or three -children, and then there were a couple of other -men,—and three or four young ladies. Some of -’em went right over to the station, and the rest of -’em went uptown.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did you notice two young ladies in particular?” -questioned Dave; and then he told how -Laura and Jessie had been dressed, and of the -beaded handbags they carried, and added that -they also had a magazine or two.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes, I remember them!” cried the young -fruit-stand keeper. “They stopped here and got -some grapes and a couple of peaches.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And did they get on the train again when it -came along?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I didn’t see ’em. They walked uptown. -One of them asked me where the Bliss House -was.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The Bliss House?” queried Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, sir. That’s our hotel,” explained the -boy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And they went there?” questioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think they did.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XXIII<br /> <span class='large'>WHAT THE LITTLE GIRLS KNEW</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>Dave and Roger talked to the fruit-stand boy -a few minutes longer, and then jumped into the -automobile and rode up to the Bliss House, an -old-fashioned hotel, standing on a corner and surrounded -by a number of stately elm trees.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I can’t understand this at all, Dave,” said -Roger, while on the way. “What would take -those girls uptown? They must have known that -the train might come along at any minute, and -then, if they weren’t on hand to get aboard, -they’d be left.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It certainly is a mystery, Roger. All we can -do is to follow up this clue and see where it leads -to. From what that man who had the motorcycle -said, and from what the lame boy told us, -it is pretty certain that Jessie and Laura got off -the train at the Crossing and did not get on again -at this railroad station. And if they came up to -the hotel here, they must have had some purpose -in so doing.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The country hotel was not a very busy place, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>and the chums found the clerk quite willing to give -them all the information he could. He did not, -however, remember the girls; nor did the proprietor -of the place, who came up to see what was -wanted, remember them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t think they came here. Or, if they -did, they didn’t come to the office,” said the clerk. -“I was here all day, and I know.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did you have any strangers around the place -that day, so far as you can remember?” questioned -Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“None to stay. We had half a dozen drummers; -but I know all of them, for they have been -coming and going for a number of years.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wait a minute! Come to think of it, there -was something else happened that day which I -thought was rather queer,” cried the hotel proprietor -suddenly. He was a bald-headed man, -and he began to scratch his hairless head vigorously. -“Seems to me it was just about half an -hour or so before that train came in, too,” he -added, nodding his head emphatically.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What was the thing that happened?” questioned -Roger quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There was a big touring-car came down the -Kapton road yonder. A man dressed as a chauffeur -was driving the machine. He stopped his -car and asked for directions, and then the car -swung around and came to a stop down there -<span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>near our stables. I sent the boy out to see if anything -was wanted—the stable man being off on -an errand—and the boy came back and said they -wanted to know when that train would get in. -Then the car moved over to the other side of the -street and stood there for five or ten minutes. -The chauffeur turned around in his seat to talk -very earnestly to a couple who were in the car. I -couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they all -seemed to be rather excited. Then the car went -back down the road, and that was the last I saw -of it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It wasn’t a car that belonged around here, so -far as you knew?” asked our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, it didn’t belong around here. It was a -great big heavy enclosed affair, and looked as if -it had seen pretty rough usage—one of the mud-guards -being quite battered. That was one reason -why I took notice of it—I thought maybe -they had been in some sort of an accident, especially -when the chauffeur and the people in the -car got to talking so excitedly among themselves.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did you notice what kind of people they -were?” asked Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think the chauffeur was a foreigner. He -had heavy dark hair and a small dark mustache. -He wore a regular cap and goggles, and also a -dust-coat.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>“Who were the people in the car?” questioned -the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There were a man and a woman, and I should -say they were rather elderly. The woman had a -thick veil over her face, and the man wore a dust-coat -buttoned up around his throat and a cap -pulled far down over his forehead, and I think -he had on smoked glasses. I thought the whole -bunch might be foreigners, and that was another -reason why I noticed them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is certainly interesting, but I don’t see -how it connects up with the disappearance of the -girls,” was Dave’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Those gypsies all look like foreigners,” said -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. But I don’t think any of them knows -how to run an auto. They always use horses.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, well, they might be getting up-to-date.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thinking that the incident of the strange touring-car -might be worth following up, Dave and -Roger left the hotel and ran their own automobile -a distance along the Kapton road. From the hotel -proprietor they had learned that this road led -to the small village of Kapton two miles distant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is a good deal like looking for a needle -in a haystack,” was Roger’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“True, Roger. But if you took the haystack -and went over it a wisp at a time, sooner or later -you’d come on the needle,” answered Dave. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>“And that is what I propose to do in this case—I’m -going to follow up every possible clue until -we strike something.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the outskirts of Crandall they came upon a -little country home where several children were -enjoying themselves at a swing in the open dooryard. -Here Dave stopped the car.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I suppose you play here nearly every day,” he -said to the oldest of the girls, a bright miss of nine -or ten years of age.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes; whenever the weather is good.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And we have lots of fun,” broke in another -of the happy group.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We are trying to find out something about a -big automobile that came along here about ten -days ago,” said Roger. “It was a great big enclosed -car, and one of the mud-guards was -smashed.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I remember that car, Nellie!” cried one -of the girls. “Don’t you remember? It’s the -one that stopped over by Radley’s orchard.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Indeed I do remember!” answered Nellie, -with a toss of her head. “Didn’t they come close -to running over Rover?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What did the car stop at the orchard for?” -asked Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know exactly. I think they had to -fix something on it. Anyway, the man opened the -tin door on the top of the front,” answered the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>girl. “That was broken, too, just like the tin -thing over the wheels.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They didn’t stop for that,” said another one -of the girls. “They stopped to send Billy Barton -on an errand down to the hotel.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This announcement on the part of the little girl -filled our hero and Roger with increased interest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where is this Billy Barton, and what did he -go to the hotel for?” questioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The man who ran the car gave Billy a note to -give to two young ladies who, he said, would either -be at the hotel or would soon get there. Billy -said he saw two young ladies just going into the -hotel, and asked them if they were the people he -was looking for, and they said ‘Yes’; and so -Billy gave them the note. The man gave him ten -cents for doing it. I wish I could deliver a note -and get ten cents for it,” continued the little girl -wistfully.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, you’re going to get ten cents for telling -me all about those people in the automobile,” said -our hero, and produced several dimes which he -distributed among those present, much to their -astonishment and gratification.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But that wasn’t all of it, mister,” said one of -the girls. “Those young ladies came up here and -got into the automobile and rode away.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Got into the automobile and rode away!” -burst out Dave and Roger simultaneously.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I saw them, too!” said the smallest of the -girls, who had thus far spoken but little. “They -didn’t get in very easy though!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They didn’t get in easy?” queried our hero. -“What do you mean?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why the driver of the automobile and the -man who was inside got out and had to shove -them both in. I thought they was fooling, but -they was awful rough about it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did the girls scream, or anything like that?” -asked Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know. I wasn’t near enough to hear.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And then, when the girls were in the auto, -what did the others do?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, they drove away just as fast as they could. -They drove so fast that they nearly ran over old -Mr. Merrick.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who is he?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, don’t you know old Mr. Merrick?” -asked the little girl. “He lives ’way up the road—up -there where you see that little white house. -He was standing out in the middle of the road -when the automobile rushed past him so fast that -he could hardly jump out of the way. He was -awful angry. He told my papa that he thought -the man ought to be arrested.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If only they had arrested them!” murmured -Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>“And that was the last you saw of that automobile?” -asked Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, sir,” came from several of the girls at -once.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It hasn’t been this way again?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>After that the two chums questioned the little -girls closer about the general appearance of the -car, and learned that the turnout not only had one -of the mud-guards badly bent, but that the side of -the car was scratched in several places and that -the wind-shield was cracked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s something to go by, but not much,” -remarked our hero. “One thing is certain, we -are on the right trail at last. For some reason -that isn’t at all clear, Jessie and Laura left that -train at the Crossing, walked up to the railroad -station here in town, and then to the hotel. -There they were met by the small boy with the -note, and as a result of receiving that note they -came out here and either got into that automobile -willingly or were forced into it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But where did the auto go to, Dave?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That remains to be found out.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Will you let the authorities know about this?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“At once! The more people we get on this -trail, the quicker we’ll be able to run those rascals -down.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XXIV<br /> <span class='large'>ANOTHER CLUE</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>Dave and Roger lost no time in getting back -to the business section of Crandall, and there they -inquired their way to police headquarters. They -found the chief in charge, and introducing themselves -asked him if he knew about the disappearance -of the girls.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes, I know all about that,” answered the -chief. “We’ve been on the watch for them, but -so far nothing has come to light.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon Dave and Roger related what they -had heard from the lame boy and those at the -Bliss House, and then what the little girls had -told.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is mighty interesting,” mused the chief. -“But I don’t see what I can do except to have my -men on the watch for that automobile. If it turns -up, do you want the party running it held?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I certainly do!” answered Dave. “Or better -yet, if you get the chance, have the auto followed -and see where it goes to—especially if it -goes down the Kapton road.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, I’ll do that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>From the police station the two young civil engineers -hurried down to the telegraph office, and -there sent a long message to the folks in Crumville. -No message had arrived for them, so they -took it for granted that no news had come in at -the Wadsworth place since their departure.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And now what’s the next move?” queried -Roger, who in this affair looked to Dave as the -leader.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think we had better travel along that Kapton -road and see if we can find out anything more -about that automobile and those in it,” was the -reply. “There is certainly no use in our continuing -the trip along the railroad.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was growing dark when Crandall was left -behind, and they journeyed forward on the Kapton -road slowly, keeping their eyes open for anything -that might suggest a further solution of the -mystery they were endeavoring to unravel.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We might stop and question that Mr. Merrick -the little girls mentioned,” suggested Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, we can do that, although I doubt if the -old man can add much to what we already know.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They found Mr. Aaron Merrick a very fussy -old individual and hard to talk to. He remembered -the incident of the automobile very well, -and was highly indignant, but he could not tell -anything about who had been driving the car or -who was inside.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>“They went by me jest like a comet!” he explained. -“I had to jump fer my life, or I’d been -run over sure! All them pesky rascals ought to -be put in prison. I don’t believe in autermobiles, -anyway,” and he looked rather indignantly at the -two chums.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, we are after the fellow who ran that -auto,” answered Roger. “And if we catch him -he’ll go to prison fast enough.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s the matter? Did he steal that there -car?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He did worse,” answered the senator’s son. -“But we haven’t got time to talk about that now,” -he added, and hurried away, followed by our hero. -Mr. Merrick came after them, anxious to know -what might be wrong, but they did not enlighten -him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Half an hour later found the machine rolling -into the little village of Kapton. They had -stopped twice on the way, but had learned nothing -more concerning the big touring car with the battered -mud-guard and the cracked wind-shield.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you think we ought to stay here all -night?” questioned Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That will depend on whether we can get accommodation -or not,” returned Dave. “Anyhow, -we want to make some inquiries before we -leave this place.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span>They soon learned that Kapton boasted of nothing -in the way of a hotel or boarding-house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But you can get pretty good accommodations -at the Bliss House in Crandall,” said the storekeeper, -who gave them the information. “Or -else you can go to the American House at Frytown.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is that in the opposite direction to Crandall?” -questioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, sir; it’s on the same road that you came -up on. The road runs right through Frytown to -Cullomburg, and it’s a pretty fair road all the -way.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I guess we’ll go on to Frytown. By -the way, can you give us any information about a -big touring-car that went through here about ten -days ago—a touring-car that had a battered mud-guard -and a cracked wind-shield and was driven by -a fellow who looked like a foreigner—a chap -with a small black mustache?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, yes, I saw that car!” cried the storekeeper. -“The fellow who ran it came in here -and bought a lot of groceries.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He did!” exclaimed both of the chums in -surprise.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“When was this?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let me see——” The storekeeper rubbed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span>his chin reflectively. “I guess it was just about a -week ago to-day. The fellow came in and said -he was in a good deal of a hurry, so I and my -clerk hustled to get the order out for him. We -packed it in a big box, and put the box in the tonneau -of the car. But what about this—is the -man some friend of yours?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hardly a friend,” answered Dave quickly! -“But we are very anxious to locate him. Have -you any idea where he came from or where he -went?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All I can say is that he came into this place -from Frytown way, and he turned around after -he had the stuff and went back the way he came.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did he give you any names, or say where he -was from?” questioned Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, he didn’t say anything excepting that he -was buying the things for some folks who were -sick in a camp and couldn’t get away. I asked -him one or two questions, but he acted as if he -didn’t want to answer them, and so I didn’t say -too much. You see, he paid spot cash for what -he got, so it was none of my business,” added -the storekeeper.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you remember the things he got?” questioned -Dave. And then, as the storekeeper -showed that he was becoming suspicious, our hero -added: “I may be perfectly frank with you, -Mr. Linton. We suspect that the man who is -<span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>running that automobile is a fellow who escaped -some time ago from prison. In fact, we are not -sure that he owns the automobile he is running, -and it is possible that he may be mixed up in the -abduction of two young ladies. That is why we -are so anxious to get on his trail.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t say! Well, I’d want to get on -the trail of a rascal like that myself. Yes, I -think I can tell you pretty near everything the fellow -bought.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And thereupon the storekeeper enumerated a -number of articles, including coffee, sugar, flour, -butter, and a quantity of canned goods.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And was that all?” asked Roger, as the -storekeeper paused.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No. After he had those goods, he asked -about a good strong clothes-line, and then he -bought a lock, some screws and nails, and a hammer -and a screwdriver.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And was that all?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s all, so far as I can remember. Oh, -no! he did buy some smoking tobacco and a couple -of pipes and some packages of cigarettes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And how did the fellow look? Can you describe -him?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I can’t say much except that he was rather -tall and thin and had, as you said, a little black -mustache, and heavy black curly hair. His face -was very dark, as if he had gotten well tanned. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>He kept on his automobile goggles, and had his -cap pulled down well over his forehead, and his -dust-coat was buttoned up tight around his neck.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You haven’t seen him since?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think I saw the automobile going by the -door late one evening a couple of nights ago, but -I am not sure. You see, I am getting old, and -my eyesight ain’t none too good,” concluded the -storekeeper.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Dave and Roger returned to the automobile -and headed the car in the direction of Frytown, -both were in a meditative mood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think I can begin to figure this out, Roger,” -said Dave slowly. “It looks to me as if Jessie -and Laura were being held prisoners somewhere -in this vicinity, and that that fellow who ran the -car, whoever he is, came down here to buy supplies -for the crowd.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. And do you remember what the storekeeper -said about the clothes-line and a lock and -nails? More than likely they’ve got the poor -girls tied fast in some room, and they have put a -new lock on the door and nailed up the windows.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What you say would fit in very well with -what the storekeeper told us. If that rascal -came here to get his supplies, it would seem to -indicate that the place where the girls are being -kept prisoners must be somewhere in this vicinity.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, unless they did not dare to go to any -<span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>town that was closer by. For all we know, he -may have come from twenty or thirty miles -away—or even farther than that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, we’re on the right trail, anyway, and -that’s something,” returned Dave hopefully. -Then he gave a sudden exclamation. “My -gracious! Why didn’t I think of that before?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Think of what, Dave?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t you remember what the storekeeper -said about that fellow purchasing some cigarettes?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What of it?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, just this: One of the things that fastened -the crime on Jasniff and Merwell at the -time Mr. Wadsworth’s jewelry factory was -robbed was the fact that both of those rascals -were inveterate cigarette smokers, and smoked a -certain brand of Turkish cigarettes—a kind -that had a peculiar gold and blue band around -the box. I’m going back and ask that storekeeper -what kind of cigarettes that fellow got.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so speaking Dave made a sharp turn and -brought the car around, and in a moment more -was on his way back to the store.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Back again, eh?” said the proprietor. -“You weren’t gone very long.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I believe, Mr. Linton, you said that fellow -we were talking about purchased some tobacco -and cigarettes?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>“So I did.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Can you remember anything about the cigarettes? -Please try to think exactly of what happened -when he asked for them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hum! Let me see!” The storekeeper -meditated for a moment. “Oh, yes, I remember -now! He asked me if I had any Doradas or -Mimoras, or any other Turkish cigarettes. I -told him No, we had very little call for anything -like that. So then he took half a dozen -packages of these,” and the storekeeper pointed -to some cigarettes in his showcase.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Thank you. That’s all I wanted to know,” -answered Dave. “Good night”; and he hurried -away to the automobile with Roger following.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, what do you make of this?” questioned -the senator’s son quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think we have found another clue, Roger. -That fellow asked for Doradas cigarettes. They -are a Turkish brand, and come in a box having a -blue and gold band around it—the same kind of -cigarettes that Jasniff smoked when he and Merwell -robbed Mr. Wadsworth’s safe.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XXV<br /> <span class='large'>WHAT HORSEHAIR HAD TO TELL</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Then you think the fellow purchased the -cigarettes for Jasniff?” questioned Roger, after -our hero had made the declaration concerning the -Wadsworth robbery.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Either that, Roger; or else the fellow purchased -the cigarettes for himself.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you mean to insinuate that that chauffeur -was Nick Jasniff?” exclaimed the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why not, Roger? It would be an easy matter -for Jasniff to disguise himself. In fact, if he -was in any such game as this, I think that is just -what he would do. He could easily stain his skin -with some walnut juice, or something like that, -gotten from the gypsies, and then put on a wig and -a false mustache.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I believe that’s just what he did!” exclaimed -Roger. “I know one thing—he was a good -hand at running automobiles. I have seen him -do it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The whole thing fits in pretty closely,” went -on Dave. “First, Jasniff was angry at Mr. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>Wadsworth and the rest of us for placing him in -prison. Next, he stole those letters and my -money. The letters told him all about the gypsies -and their troubles with our folks. He put -two and two together, came on East, and fixed -up the plan to kidnap the girls.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But how did they get the girls to leave the -train at Crandall and then go from the hotel to -where the automobile stood along the road?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is something still to be explained. But -that can wait. What we want to do just now is -to find out where they took Jessie and Laura, and -rescue them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It certainly is a great search, Dave. What -are you going to do next?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think the best thing we can do is to work -our way along to Frytown. That is quite a place, -and it is barely possible that from there we can get -into communication with Crumville on the long -distance telephone. If we can do that, we can -tell the folks at home all we have learned, and -get them to send some first-class detectives out -this way to assist us in the search.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let’s run rather slow on the way to Frytown,” -suggested the senator’s son. “We may -be able to pick up more clues.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, we’ll keep our eyes wide open.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They presently found themselves on a lonely -stretch of the country road, and here it was so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span>dark they had to turn on all the lights of the machine.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’d give all I’m worth, Dave, if we could -catch sight of that other car,” remarked Roger, -after a spell of silence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m afraid that’s too much to hope for,” answered -our hero, with a grim smile. “We ought -to be thankful that we have learned as much as -we have. If we hadn’t met that fellow on the -motorcycle down at the Crossing, we might still -be hunting for clues along the line of the railroad -between Crandall and Boston.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes, I think we’ve done wonderfully -well.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the way to Frytown they stopped at six -or seven farmhouses, but without learning anything -that was to their advantage. Two farmers -had seen the big touring car with the battered -mud-guard go by a week or two before, but could -give no definite information as to who had been -driving it or what passengers the automobile had -contained.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So many machines comin’ and goin’ these -days, a feller don’t pay much ’tention to ’em,” was -the way one farmer expressed himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I know it,” answered Dave. “But we are -very anxious to find that car, so I thought it -wouldn’t do any harm to ask.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, no harm whatever,” said the farmer.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>When the chums reached Frytown it was after -nine o’clock. They made their way at once to -the American House, the hotel which the Kapton -storekeeper had mentioned, and there placed their -machine in the garage, engaged a room, and asked -if they might be served with something to eat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The dining room is closed,” announced the -proprietor. “But we don’t let anybody starve,” -he added, with a smile. “Just come this way, -and I guess we can fix you up,” and he led them -to a side room, where a waitress served them with -a plain but substantial supper. Before this was -eaten, however, Dave questioned the man about -telephone connections.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can’t get any out-of-town connections -after seven o’clock,” was the statement made by -the hotel keeper. “You’ll have to wait until -seven o’clock to-morrow morning.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>After the meal the two chums questioned the -hotel man and several of his assistants about the -big automobile they were looking for, and were -informed that the touring-car had been seen in -Frytown a number of times, moving up and down -the main road.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Once I saw it when it had several people inside -besides the chauffeur,” said one man. “The -people seemed to be cuttin’ up pretty well, but -what it was all about, I don’t know. The car -<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>was goin’ too fast to give a fellow a chance to -see.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How long ago was that?” questioned Dave -quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I don’t know. Ten days or two weeks—or -maybe longer.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you remember which way the car was going -at that time?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Sure. It was headed in the direction of Cullomburg.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How far is that town?” questioned Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s up in the mountains about eight miles -from here. It’s a pretty fair road, though, all the -way.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>After receiving this information, Dave and -Roger took a walk around the town, stopping at -several of the stores and making a number of -small purchases just for the sake of getting into -conversation with the storekeepers. From one of -these they learned that the man who had driven -the car had come in for some supplies, including -some cigarettes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, he bought six packages of Turkish cigarettes—all -I had,” said the storekeeper.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From this man they learned that there was a -regular public garage in the place with a machine -shop attached.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us go over there. Possibly the fellow -<span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>with the car stopped for gasoline or oil, or to get -something fixed,” said our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The garage was a short distance up a side -street, and they found the man in charge sitting in -a little office with his feet on a desk and smoking -a corncob pipe. They stared at this man for a -moment in amazement, and then both burst out:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Horsehair!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Eh? Wot’s that?” cried the man, and -swung his feet down from the desk and leaped up, -taking his corncob pipe from his mouth as he -did so. “Well now, ain’t this jest wonderful!” -he ejaculated. “Dave Porter and Roger Morr! -Who would ‘a’ thunk it!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And who would have thought of meeting you -here, Horsehair?” cried Dave, shaking hands -vigorously, quickly followed by his chum.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, we thought you were still driving the -stage-coach at Oak Hall,” remarked the senator’s -son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For the man they had run across so unexpectedly -was indeed Jackson Lemond, the man who -for years had driven the stage-coach and worked -around the stables at the boarding-school. Because -of the number of horsehairs which continually -clung to his clothing, the pupils had never -known him by any other name than Horsehair.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, you see, I got a leetle bit old for that -job—or else the boys got a leetle bit too frisky -<span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>fer me, so I looked around fer something else -that was a bit more quiet; and as my cousin owned -this garage, and he was too sick to tend to business, -I come out here and took hold—and here I -be.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s like a touch of old times, Horsehair!” -cried Dave, as he dropped on a chair, while -Roger did the same. And then after a few more -words about their former doings at Oak Hall our -hero continued: “I am after some information, -and I know you’ll give it to me if you possibly can. -Have you noticed during the past couple of weeks -a big touring-car around here—a car that has -one of the mud-guards badly smashed, and the -wind-shield cracked, and a good deal scratched -up?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Sure, I know that car,” answered Horsehair -readily. “The feller that runs it was in here -to git some new batteries, and also some gas and -oil.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Was he smoking cigarettes?” questioned -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He was—one right after another. But I -told him not to smoke while I was pourin’ in the -gasoline. I don’t want to go up to heaven jest -yet;” and Horsehair chuckled over his little joke.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you any idea where that fellow came -from or where he went to?” questioned Dave. -“I might as well tell you, Horsehair, it is of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span>great importance. We suspect that fellow of -some serious crimes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t say, Porter! What did he do—steal -that machine? Oh, I know them auto -thieves is all over. They told me only last week -a car was stole in and around Boston ’most every -day.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind what the fellow is guilty of, -Horsehair. What we want to do is to find him, -and then you’ll know all about it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I don’t know where he come from, -but after he got fixed up here he turned off in the -direction of Cullomburg.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you know what make of car it was?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, although the name-plate had been tore -off. It was a Simms-Tecco, one of them old foreign -cars. Must be about eight or a dozen years -old. It had them old-fashioned battery connections -on it, and had them old Horseshoe anti-skid -tires on the rear wheels. That’s how I remember -it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must have learned a lot about cars after -you left Oak Hall,” was Roger’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’m right in the business now, I am!” answered -Horsehair proudly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You didn’t know who the fellow was, did -you?” questioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I didn’t. But do you know, he acted -awful queer—that feller did. He come sailin’ in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span>here shoutin’ out fer gasoline, and all at once, -when he seen me, he stopped as if he was shot, -and fer a minute or two I thought he was goin’ -to back out and go ’way. Then he seemed to git -over it and bought what he wanted, jest like I -said.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is no wonder that he was surprised, if he -is the fellow we think,” answered Dave. “Do -you remember a chap who went to Oak Hall, -named Nick Jasniff—the fellow who once attacked -me in the gymnasium with an Indian club -and then ran away?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“O’ course I remember that big overgrown -bully,” answered Horsehair.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, that’s the fellow we think it is,” said -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But it can’t be him! This feller was a furriner. -He had real dark skin and dark hair and a -little dark mustache.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We think he was in disguise.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Gee, sho! you don’t mean it?” ejaculated -Jackson Lemond. “Gosh, it does beat all wot -some fellers will do! And I suppose he stole -that auto?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We don’t know about that. But even if he -did, we think he is guilty of a worse crime,” answered -Dave; and thereupon related some of the -particulars concerning the disappearance of his -sister and Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>“Well, if that rascal is guilty of sech a measly -piece of business as that, I hope you ketch him,” -said Horsehair. “He deserves to be put behind -the bars.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two chums talked the matter over with -the former stage driver of Oak Hall for fully -half an hour, and then returned to the hotel. -Now that the scent of the trail seemed to grow -warmer, it was hard for them to rest, and they -slept but little and were glad when morning was -at hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am going to call up Crumville on the telephone -as soon as possible,” declared Dave, and -went to a booth to see if he could get the necessary -connections.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It took some little time, but finally he recognized -the voice of Mr. Wadsworth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is Dave—Dave Porter,” said our hero. -“I’ve got some news of importance.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And we’ve got some news, too,” answered -the jewelry manufacturer.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XXVI<br /> <span class='large'>THE MOUNTAIN ROAD</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>The news Mr. Oliver Wadsworth had to impart -was to the effect that two more notes had -been received from those who held Laura and -Jessie prisoners.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first told that it was known Dave and -Roger were trying to follow up those who had -committed the crime, and added a warning that it -would do no good and if they persisted in the -search they would certainly come to grief. The -second communication had been another demand -for the fifty thousand dollars, stating that the -sum must be paid over in cash inside of the next -three days and designating how the transfer was -to be made. With that communication was sent -a lock of each girl’s hair and also a card on which -was written: “<em>We are well</em>,” and signed by -both.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m glad to know they are well,” answered -Dave; and then he related the particulars of what -he and Roger had discovered since they had sent -their former messages to Crumville.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It certainly looks as if you were on the right -<span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>track!” exclaimed the jewelry manufacturer. -“I hope you will notify the local authorities, so -that they will watch out for that car and those who -are running it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We have done that,” answered our hero; -“but the local authorities up here do not amount -to a great deal when it comes to running down -such slick criminals. I think the best thing you -can do is to notify some of those city detectives to -come up here and get busy.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can rest assured, Dave, that I will do -that—and at once,” was the reply. “Where -can they get into communication with you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We are now stopping at the American House -in Frytown, but from here we are going to go up -into the mountains to Cullomburg. We have an -idea that the girls are being held somewhere between -here and Cullomburg or beyond. There -are not very many good roads around here, and -it is reported that the battered-up touring-car was -seen going back and forth on the road between -here and that mountain town.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Before the conversation over the telephone -came to an end, Dunston Porter broke in on the -Crumville end of the wire, and when he heard of -what had been discovered stated that he would -come on to Crandall immediately, bringing several -men with him, and there get some kind of -turnout to take him to Frytown and beyond.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>“There can’t be too many of us in this search,” -said Dave’s uncle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If we learn anything new we’ll send word to -you at the American House in Frytown,” announced -Dave, “and if we need any signal remember -what we used to use—two shots or two -whistles in quick succession”; and thereupon the -telephone conversation came to an end.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m glad to learn your uncle is coming up -here and that he will bring two or three men with -him,” said Roger, when told of what had been said -over the wire. “As your uncle says, it would be -impossible for us to round up those rascals alone, -even if we were fortunate enough to locate them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t want to round them up so much as I -want to rescue Jessie and Laura,” was the reply.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m glad to learn that they are well, Dave.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But we can’t be sure of that, Roger. That -card may have been signed under compulsion, or -it may have been signed some days ago. There -is no telling what condition the girls are in just -now. They may have been dreadfully mistreated,” -and the look on Dave’s face showed his -great anxiety.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The chums explained the situation to the hotel -proprietor, who promised to aid them in every -way possible. Then they had breakfast, paid -their bill, and rode away from the hotel. They -stopped at the garage where Horsehair was in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>charge, and there purchased some gasoline and -oil and had a little more air put in their tires.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now don’t forget, Horsehair,” said Dave. -“If that fellow puts in an appearance with that -battered-up car—or anybody else comes with -that car—be sure to have the fellow held. I -don’t care how you do it—just see to it that he -doesn’t get away. If he talks about damages, or -anything like that, don’t pay any attention to him. -We’ll foot the bill, if there’s anything to pay.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, Porter, you leave it to me,” answered -the former stage-driver of Oak Hall. -“If I git my claws on ’im, you bet your boots he -ain’t goin’ to git away, nohow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And remember, if you see any of those people, -or see any people who look like gypsies -around here, either let me know, or else leave -word at the hotel for my uncle, Dunston Porter.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is he here?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not yet. But I expect him up here before -to-night.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave had questioned Horsehair about the -road to Cullomburg, and had been told that it was -a winding highway, passing over two small hills, -and then going up into the mountains beyond. -There were a number of cross-roads, but none of -these was in very good condition, and that to -travel them in an automobile would be difficult.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>“I wonder if we had better take somebody -along?” remarked Roger, when they were about -to leave. “We might get a constable, or somebody -like that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think we had better make this search on our -own hook,” answered our hero. “Outsiders -might be more in the way than anything else.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I wish we had brought along some sort of -disguises, Dave. They might come in handy.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We can put on our auto goggles and pull our -caps down pretty well over our foreheads and button -our dust-coats tight up around our necks, just -as Jasniff did. That will help to disguise us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>A little while later found them on the road to -Cullomburg. The highway was a winding one, -passing a number of farms, where, however, the -houses sat back a considerable distance from the -road. Here and there they had to pass through -patches of woods, and at one point they crossed a -rickety bridge that spanned a small mountain torrent.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That bridge isn’t any too good for a heavy -auto,” announced Roger, after they had rattled -over it. “Some day some fellow with a heavy -load will break through.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So far they had met nobody on the road, but -now they heard the rattle of a wagon, and presently -a sleepy-looking farmer, drawing a load of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>hay, appeared. He was willing enough to stop -and talk, but could give them no information concerning -the battered touring-car.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I belong on the other side of Cullomburg, an’ -I don’t git down on this end o’ the road very -much,” he explained.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do automobiles use the road on the other -side of Cullomburg?” questioned Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They do when they don’t know where they’re -at,” answered the farmer, with a chuckle. “A -feller from Boston come through that way this -spring, an’ he vowed he’d never come ag’in. He -got stuck in the mud twice, an’ he cut two tires all -to pieces on the rocks, an’ I guess it was too expensive -fer ’im.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then the good road ends at Cullomburg?” -said Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s right, mister. An’ the last half-mile -into town ain’t none too good at that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And the side-roads are all poor, too?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, sir, every blame one o’ them. We -ought to have ’em fixed up, but the folks aroun’ -here don’t want to pay the taxes for doin’ it.” -And then the farmer with the load of hay rattled -on down the road.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, the trail seems to be shortening,” announced -Dave, as they continued on their way up -a steep grade where he had to throw the clutch -into second gear. “If that car couldn’t use the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>road beyond Cullomburg and couldn’t use any of -the side-roads, those rascals must be hanging out -somewhere on this road between Frytown and -Cullomburg.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were passing up a rocky bit of the roadway -when suddenly there came a loud report from -one of the back tires. Dave turned off the power -and put on the hand-brake, and they came to a -stop.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A blow-out,” he announced laconically.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I was thinking we might get something of -that sort after what that farmer said,” answered -the senator’s son. “Well, it’s all in the day’s -work, Dave. We might as well get out and see -how much damage has been done.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The cut in the back tire was not a large one, -and at first they thought to use the same tire again -by putting in a patch. Then, however, Dave -changed his mind, and said he would put on another -shoe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The tube might blow out through the patch -just when we wanted to use the car the worst -way,” he said. “If we have to, we can fall back -on this old shoe later on.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The chums were used to putting on tires, so -the task did not take them very long. There -was a device attached to the engine for blowing -up the inner tube, so they were saved the trouble -of this exertion.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span>“Suppose you let me run the car for a while?” -suggested the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, Roger; go ahead,” was the ready -reply. “Only don’t run too fast. I’ve got another -idea. Perhaps we’ll be able to trace that -other car by the marks left in the roadway. -Don’t you remember Horsehair said that the back -wheels of the car were equipped with the old-style -Horseshoe anti-skid tires?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, I remember his saying that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They proceeded along the mountain road with -care, doing this not only to look for some trace -of the car they wanted to locate, but also in order -to avoid the rough stones which seemed to crop -up most unexpectedly. A quarter of a mile farther -on, they came out on a level stretch, and just -beyond was a cross-road. Here the woods were -thick on all sides, and the roadway was covered -with dirt and decayed leaves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Certainly a rather lonely place,” announced -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A splendid place in which to hide,” answered -Dave, and then, as they came closer to the cross-road, -he added: “Let us stop here, Roger, I -want to take a look around.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The touring-car was brought to a halt, and the -chums got out and began to inspect the wagon and -other tracks to be seen both on the highway which -they had been traveling and the narrow cross-road. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>A few minutes later Dave uttered a cry.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here are the marks of auto tires, Roger! -Just look in this muddy stretch. Wouldn’t you -say that those were the marks of the Horseshoe -anti-skid shoes?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s just what they are, Dave!” answered -the senator’s son, after a brief examination.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The marks had been discovered on the side-road -to their left. The road was a winding one, -leading through the thick woods, and what was -beyond they could not surmise.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It seems to me this proves their hiding-place -must be up on that road,” said Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us go down the road on the other side -and see if any of the marks are there,” returned -our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was done, but no automobile marks of any -kind were to be discerned in the soft soil. Then -they came back to the cross-road, and after a -long hunt found traces where the other touring -car had come around the corner from the side-road -into the main road leading down to Frytown.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That settles it in my mind,” announced Dave. -“I don’t believe they ever went through to Cullomburg -or that they ever went up that side road -on our right. They took this side-road to the -left, and it’s my opinion that leads to where they -have got Laura and Jessie prisoners.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>“What do you think we ought to do, Dave? -Go back to town and get help and round them -up?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our hero mused for a moment. “Maybe we -had better go ahead, Roger, and do a little more -investigating.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But suppose those rascals come on us all at -once and surprise us? For all we know there may -be half a dozen or more in this gang.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve got another idea. I don’t believe this -road is very long. As we came up I saw through -the clearing below that there was quite a mountain -on our left, and this road probably ends right -there. Now, if you are willing, we’ll run our -machine up past the cross-road a little distance, -and then see if we can’t hide it behind the bushes. -Then we can tramp up on the side road on foot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, Dave. Let us do it—and at -once!”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XXVII<br /> <span class='large'>TO THE RESCUE</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>It was an easy matter to run the car a hundred -feet or so beyond the side road. Here the -trees were slightly scattered, and they had little -difficulty in bringing the machine to a halt in the -midst of them at a place where there were a few -bushes. Then Dave took out the spark plug from -the dashboard and placed it in his pocket.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t believe anybody will bother that car,” -he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Perhaps we won’t be gone very long anyhow, -Dave. This may prove to be a blind road -leading to nothing.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They pushed on side by side. As it was very -warm they had discarded their dust-coats and -their goggles. Each had seen to it that his pistol -was ready for use, for there was no telling -what might confront them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A little farther on the road took a turn, and -here became so stony that the tracks made by the -wheels of the car they were following were completely -lost. But as there was no place where the -machine might have turned around, they felt certain -it had gone on.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>“We had better keep quiet from now on, -Roger,” said our hero in a low voice. “And -keep your ears and eyes wide open.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Two hundred feet more were passed and then -Dave came to a halt, at the same time clutching -his chum by the arm. From ahead they heard -footsteps coming down the rocky roadway. Both -made a bound, and crouched behind some trees -and brushwood. The approaching person, whoever -he was, came closer; and presently the two -youths saw that he was a middle-aged man dressed -in the garb of a gypsy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve seen that fellow before! He is one of -the gypsies who used to hang around the outskirts -of Crumville!” whispered Dave excitedly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then he must be one of the chaps who ran -off with Laura and Jessie!” returned the senator’s -son. “What shall we do?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wait a minute. We want to make sure that -he is alone.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They waited until the gypsy had passed them -and gone on a distance of a hundred feet or more. -He was evidently alone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe we had better let him go,” whispered -Roger. “That will make one less to tackle, if -the others are ahead of us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He’s not going to get away,” answered Dave -decidedly. “We may not meet the others at all, -and in that case we’d be very foolish to let this -<span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span>fellow get out of our clutches. Come on! I’m -going to make him a prisoner!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Making as little noise as possible, our hero -went after the gypsy, who had now passed a turn -in the road and was out of sight. The senator’s -son followed, and soon both came up behind the -fellow ahead.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The gypsy was taken completely by surprise. -He had seated himself on a rock to fix one of his -shoes, and before he could regain his feet both of -the young civil engineers had him covered with -their weapons.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Throw up your hands and keep quiet,” demanded -Dave sternly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, don’t you dare to cry out,” added Roger. -“If you do, you’ll get shot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What is this? For why do you stop me like -this?” stammered the gypsy. He was a tall, -swarthy-looking fellow, with anything but a cheerful -countenance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You know well enough why we have stopped -you,” returned Dave. “What have you done -with those two young ladies who belong in Crumville?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I know not’ing of any young ladies,” grumbled -the gypsy. “You make big mistake.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You do know!” cried Roger. “Now tell us -the truth! Have you hurt those young ladies?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I know not’ing,” was all the gypsy replied. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>And, try their best, that was about all the two -chums could get out of him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Had the man not been covered by the pistols he -would undoubtedly have shown fight, but he was -too cowardly to attempt anything under the existing -circumstances.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not knowing what else to do with their prisoner, -the two youths marched him down the road -and to where they had left the automobile. Here -they brought out a strong rope, and with this -bound the gypsy’s hands and feet and tied him fast -to one of the trees.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I guess he’ll stay there until we get back,” -was Dave’s comment. “Now then, are you going -to tell us what became of those young ladies -or not?” he questioned. But to this the gypsy -merely shook his head and muttered something -which neither of the young civil engineers could -understand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t believe that fellow is altogether right -in his mind,” said Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Either that, Roger, or else he is shamming,” -answered Dave. But Roger was right, the fellow -was not more than half-witted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Leaving their prisoner, the two chums lost no -time in making their way along the side-road once -more. They soon passed the point where they -had first caught sight of the gypsy. Here the -roadway became fairly good for a distance of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span>several hundred feet, but beyond this were a number -of large rocks, and the road seemed to come to -an end in a mass of brushwood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us look around for wheel-tracks, Roger,” -said Dave in a low voice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Both began an eager search, and were soon rewarded -by seeing where the touring-car they were -following had left the mountain road and passed -in among some trees and bushes on the right. -Close at hand was a spring of water, and beyond -this the remains of a tumbled-down barn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I see the car!” whispered Dave, and pointed -to the machine, which rested behind some rocks -and brushwood. One glance at the automobile -showed that it was deserted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They can’t be very far off,” said Roger in a -low voice. “Dave, what do you think we had -better do next?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us get behind the trees and bushes and -reconnoiter,” was the answer. “Be very careful, -Roger, so that you don’t expose yourself. We -don’t want to tumble into a hornet’s nest.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t you think we had better go back to -town and get help, or wait until your Uncle Dunston -arrives?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Maybe we’ll have to do that. But I want -to discover where the girls are first, if I possibly -can.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With extreme caution the young men moved -<span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>along behind the trees. They saw that from the -dilapidated barn a trail ran over some rough -rocks to where was located a large bungalow. -This had evidently been unused for years, and -was almost as dilapidated as the other building. -One end of the front porch had fallen down, and -many of the windows had the glass broken out of -them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’d like to wager that this is the place to -which they brought the girls,” whispered Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think you’re right,” answered Dave. -“And if that is so, and those rascals are around -here, we want to be more careful than ever.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nobody was in sight around the dilapidated -bungalow, and not a sound came from within. -Presently, however, Dave noticed a thin wreath of -smoke curling up from the chimney.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Somebody has got a fire in there—that’s -sure,” he whispered. “I’m going to work my -way around to the kitchen side of the building.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With added caution the two youths crept along -among the trees and over the rocks until they -gained a point where they could look into the open -kitchen of the bungalow. Here they saw an old -gypsy woman moving around as if preparing a -meal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll bet that’s Mother Domoza, in fact, I’m -almost certain of it,” whispered our hero. And he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>was right, it was indeed the gypsy woman who -had caused so much trouble to the folks in Crumville.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two chums crept closer, and were then able -to see what Mother Domoza was doing. She had -prepared some things to eat over a small rusty -stove in the bungalow, and now she placed this -food on a couple of tin plates. Then, with the -plates in one hand and a tin kettle of water in the -other, the old woman left the kitchen and entered -the front part of the bungalow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you know what I think?” said Roger excitedly. -“I think she’s been getting some food -ready for the girls!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m going to follow her and find out,” answered -Dave, with sudden determination.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But, Dave, we want to be careful! If those -other fellows are around——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I know, Roger. But I was thinking that possibly -we could get into the bungalow without being -seen. It is a big rambling affair, as you can see, -and it must have a lot of vacant rooms.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our hero led the way across a little clearing, -and then entered the kitchen of the house. Going -to one of the doors, he listened intently and heard -Mother Domoza ascending a creaking pair of -stairs. Then he heard a door slam, after which, -for the time being, all became silent.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not daring to speak for fear of being overheard, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span>our hero tiptoed his way across what had -been the living room of the bungalow and then to -the narrow stairs which led to the upper floor. -Roger came close behind him, and soon the pair -stood on an upper landing. All was bare, the entire -building being devoid of everything but a few -heavy pieces of furniture, evidently left there years -before because the owner did not think they were -worth carrying away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh! oh! please don’t do that! Please -don’t!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The unexpected cry came from a room at the -end of a corridor. It was the voice of a girl, and -was immediately followed by some harsh words -uttered by the gypsy woman. Then the voice of -another girl was heard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You let her alone! Don’t you dare to touch -her, or touch me!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll do as I please! I’ll make you behave -yourselves!” came in the voice of Mother Domoza. -And then there followed some heavy footsteps -and several girlish screams.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not waiting to hear more, Dave and Roger -bounded down the corridor and flung themselves -against the door to the room from which the -sounds had issued. They had recognized the -voices of Laura and Jessie, and were more than -eager to go to the girls’ assistance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The door had been closed, and evidently something -<span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>had been placed against it. But the two -young civil engineers were strong and their excitement -gave them additional strength. They -flung the door open readily, sending a bench before -it. As they did this they found themselves -confronted by Mother Domoza, her eyes blazing -with commingled astonishment and anger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You—you!” she shrieked. “What do you -want here?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s Dave!” shrieked Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And Roger!” exclaimed Laura.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the two girls attempted to move toward -the two youths, but their way was barred by -Mother Domoza.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You get out of here! You have no right -here!” screamed the old gypsy hag, and in her -sudden fury she hurled herself at the two young -civil engineers, sending them out into the corridor. -Then she tried to shut the door of the room behind -her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But now Dave’s blood was up, and he knew it -would be useless to attempt to argue with the old -hag. He made a leap forward, caught her by the -arm, and swung her around. As he did this, -Roger caught the old hag by the other arm, and -between them they ran her down the corridor. -Here they saw the open door to a vacant room, -and into this they thrust the old woman, who, by -this time, was screaming at the top of her lungs. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>The door had a hook with a staple to it, and this -they locked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now you behave yourself and keep still,” ordered -Dave. “If you don’t, you’ll get into worse -trouble than ever.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave! is it really you?” came from the -room at the other end of the corridor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Roger! Roger!” burst out Laura, “can’t -you come and release us?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We are chained fast to the floor,” explained -Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll release you, and we’ll get you out of -here in no time,” answered Dave; and then he -and his chum ran back to where the girls were confined.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They had just passed into the room and were -hard at work on some chains which bound the two -girls to rings in the floor, when there came an unexpected -interruption. They heard footsteps in -the corridor, and an instant later several gypsy -men appeared. Then, before they could make a -move to escape or show fight, the door to the room -was slammed shut and they heard the click of a -heavy lock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave and Roger were prisoners in company -with those they had sought to rescue.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/p276.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><span class='sc'>“You have no right here!” screamed the old gypsy hag.</span> <em>Page <a href='#Page_275'>275</a>.</em></p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XXVIII<br /> <span class='large'>PRISONERS</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>For a moment after they were made prisoners -Dave and his chum thought to try an attack upon -the door, in an endeavor to batter it down. But -then a command from the corridor made them -pause.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, you keep quiet in there and behave yourselves,” -said a voice in fairly good English. -“We are armed, and we mean business.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who is it who is talking?” asked Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s none of your business, young man. -You keep quiet or it will be the worse for you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say, Tony, you are wanted downstairs,” put -in another voice out in the corridor. “There may -be more of those spies around.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, Carlos,” was the quick reply. -Then the gypsy called Tony raised his voice. -“Now you fellows settle down and don’t try any -funny work. Remember we are all armed and -know how to shoot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Look here, we want to talk this matter over,” -said Dave, as he heard the gypsy prepare to go -below.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>“I haven’t got time now. I’ll be back later. -Now, no funny work remember, or you’ll get the -worst of it!” and then those in the room heard the -gypsies tramp downstairs. Mother Domoza had -joined them, and all seemed to be in an angry discussion -among themselves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave, do be careful!” pleaded Jessie. -“They are dreadful people, and I am afraid they -will shoot us!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, you must both be very careful,” put in -Laura. “I heard one of them say that if our -folks attempted to follow them, there would surely -be some shooting;” and the girl shuddered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have they done you any harm?” questioned -Roger, quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They have treated us very rudely, and they -have given us awful food,” answered the daughter -of the jewelry manufacturer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They wanted us to aid them in a demand for -money, but we would not do it,” explained Laura. -“We have had some dreadful quarrels, and that -old Mother Domoza has been exceedingly hateful -to us. Just now, when she brought in some food, -she said we must write a letter home for money, -and when we said we wouldn’t do it, she caught -Jessie by the arm and shook her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Each of the girls was chained to a ring in the -flooring by means of a heavy steel dog-collar fastened -around her ankle and to a chain which had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span>another steel dog-collar on the other end passed -through a ring in the floor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They keep us chained up about half the time,” -explained Laura.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But not at night, I hope?” returned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No. At night Mother Domoza releases us -so we can go into the adjoining room where there -is an old mattress on the floor on which we have -to sleep. Mother Domoza, or one of the other -gypsies, remains on guard in the hallway outside.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What about the windows?” questioned -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They are all nailed up, as you can see. Once -we tried to pry one of them open, but the gypsies -heard it, and stopped us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two youths made a hasty inspection of the -two rooms in which the girls were kept prisoners. -Each apartment was about twelve feet square, and -each contained a window which was now nailed -down and had heavy slats of wood taken from the -tumbled-down piazza nailed across the outside. -The inner room, which contained the mattress already -mentioned, had also a small clothing closet -in it, and in this the girls had placed the few belongings -which had been in Laura’s suit-case at the -time they had been kidnapped.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They took our handbags with our money away -from us,” explained Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Of course the girls wanted to know how it was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>that Dave and Roger had gotten on the trail, and -they listened eagerly to the story the chums had to -tell.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I knew you would come, Dave!” cried -Jessie, with tears in her eyes. “I told Laura all -along that you would leave Montana and come -here just as soon as you heard of it;” and she -clung tightly to our hero, while the look in her bedimmed -eyes bespoke volumes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, and I said Roger would come,” added -Laura, with a warm look at the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There’s one thing we can’t understand at all,” -said Dave. “How was it that you left that train -at Crandall, went to the hotel there, and then -walked out on that country road to where the automobile -was?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, that was the awfulest trick that ever was -played!” burst out Laura. “They must have -planned it some days ahead, or they never could -have done it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Tell me,” broke in Roger suddenly, “wasn’t -the driver of that car Nick Jasniff?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think he was,” answered Dave’s sister. -“We accused him of being Jasniff, but he denied -it. Nevertheless, both of us feel rather certain -that it is the same fellow who robbed Mr. Wadsworth’s -factory.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We suspected Jasniff almost from the start,” -said Dave. “But go ahead—tell us how they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>got you to leave the train and go to where they -had the automobile.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You see, it was this way,” explained Laura. -“At the very first station where the train stopped, -a messenger came through the car calling out my -name. He had a telegram for me, which read -something like this: ‘We are on an auto tour -to Boston. If you want to ride with us, leave -train at Crandall and meet us at the Bliss House. -Telegraph answer from Glenwood.’ And the telegram -was signed, ‘Mrs. Frank Browning.’”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mrs. Frank Browning?” repeated Dave. -“Do you mean the girl you used to know so well—Edith -Parshall?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, Dave. You know she is married, and -her husband has a fine big touring-car. They left -Crumville for a trip a few days before we went -away. They were at our house talking about the -tour the night before they started.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I see,” answered Dave, nodding understandingly. -“Go on.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Jessie and I talked it over, and as we were -very much crowded in the day coach—you know -we couldn’t get parlor-car chairs—we thought -it would be a fine thing to accept Mrs. Browning’s -invitation. So at Glenwood we sent a telegram, -stating we would meet them at the Bliss House in -Crandall. The train met with some kind of an accident, -and we were stalled just outside Crandall; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span>but we got out with a number of others and walked -to the town.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Of course Mrs. Browning had nothing to do -with the telegram,” put in Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Just as we got to the hotel in Crandall, a boy -came up with a note and asked if either of us knew -Laura Porter. I took the note, and from the -way it was written supposed that Mrs. Browning -had sent it. It stated that they had had a blow-out, -and her husband was fixing the car some distance -down the road, and wouldn’t we walk down -there and meet them?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So, instead of going into the hotel, we went -down the road as the boy told us,” said Jessie. -“He pointed out the car, and then ran away to -join some girls who were in a yard not very far -off. We went up to the car, and the next thing -we knew we were caught up and thrown inside, and -the car went down the road at breakneck speed.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who was in the car?” questioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mother Domoza and a tall gypsy, who we -found out was Tony Bopeppo, the man you were -just talking to. The fellow who drove the car -was the chap we afterward suspected of being Jasniff. -He wore a false mustache and a wig, and I -am sure he had his face stained.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Didn’t you struggle or cry out?” questioned -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To be sure we did! But the old gypsy hag -<span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>had something on a handkerchief which she placed -to our faces, and then we went off into something -like a swoon. When we recovered, we found we -were bound hands and feet with pieces of clothes-line. -The automobile was going along at a lively -rate, and we bumped over some terrible rocks. -Then we began to climb a long hill, and after a -little while the automobile came to a stop among -some trees. There we were met by several other -gypsies, and the whole crowd made us walk to this -house and marched us up to these rooms—and -here we are!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And now they have captured you, too!” cried -Jessie. “Oh, this is worse than ever!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t you worry too much,” whispered Dave, -lowering his voice so that anybody outside the door -might not hear. “When we were at a town a -few miles away from here, we sent word to Crumville, -and Uncle Dunston is coming out to this -neighborhood.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And then in a low voice Dave and Roger related -how they had been following up the trail from -Frytown, and had captured one of the gypsies and -tied him to a tree.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, if we could only get word to Uncle Dunston!” -murmured Laura.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The girls had had no food since early morning, -and so they were hungry. Nevertheless they insisted -upon it that the boys share what was on the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>tin plates left by Mother Domoza, and each -washed down the scanty meal with a draught of -water from the tin kettle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dave, what do you think they will do with all -of us?” questioned his sister, after the situation -had been discussed from several angles. The -gypsies were still downstairs and in the woods surrounding -the bungalow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Their idea is to make a lot of money out of -this,” was the reply. “But they are not going to -do so if I can prevent it. I’m going to get out of -here somehow, and then notify the authorities, and -have these rascals rounded up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s the talk!” returned Roger. “Come -on—let us make an inspection of these rooms and -see what can be done.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m going to release the girls first,” said Dave, -and getting out his penknife, he opened the file -blade and began work on the steel band which encircled -Jessie’s ankle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Seeing this, Roger employed himself on the -band which held Laura prisoner, and soon the -youths had the satisfaction of setting the two girls -free.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Those gypsies will be very angry when they -find out that you have ruined the chains,” remarked -Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll have to take our chances on that,” answered -Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>“We are still armed, even if we are prisoners,” -put in Roger. “I guess we could put up a pretty -stiff fight if we had to.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Roger, I hope there won’t be any shooting!” -cried Laura, in horror.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There won’t be, unless they start something,” -answered the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two young men began a careful inspection -of the two rooms. Although the bungalow was -old and dilapidated in many places, the timbers of -which it was built were heavy, and they found the -walls and the floor, as well as the ceiling, intact. -The only place that looked as if it might afford -some means of escape was the little closet where -the girls had hung up some of the articles contained -in Laura’s suit-case. Here, by standing on -a bench, Dave found that one of the boards in the -closet ceiling was loose. He was just about to -make an investigation of what was beyond this -loose board, when there came a sharp knock on the -door leading to the corridor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I want Dave Porter to step out here!” said -a voice. “I want to talk to him!”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XXIX<br /> <span class='large'>TRYING TO ESCAPE</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, Dave, don’t go!” cried Jessie, as he -walked toward the door, and she caught him by -the arm.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t think I’d trust myself out there alone, -Dave,” cautioned Roger in a low voice. “I think -the best thing we can do under the present circumstances -is to stick together.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave hesitated. He realized that what his -chum said might be true. Then his hand went -into the pocket where he had his automatic pistol.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve got this, Roger. I think I can defend myself,” -he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave, I’d hate to see any shooting!” -whispered his sister.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There won’t be any shooting unless they start -things,” he answered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say, Dave Porter, are you coming out or -not?” demanded the voice of the person in the -corridor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is that you, Nick Jasniff?” asked our hero -quickly, for he was quite sure that he recognized -the voice.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>“Who told you I was Nick Jasniff?” grumbled -the fellow outside.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind that now, Jasniff. What do you -want?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are making a mistake about me, Dave -Porter. I want you to come outside so I can talk -to you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is the door unlocked?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is. But don’t you try any funny work, because -we are well armed, and we don’t intend to -take any chances so far as you and Roger Morr -are concerned.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With caution Dave opened the door several -inches, and peered out into the corridor. He saw -the disguised person he suspected of being Nick -Jasniff standing there, and behind him were several -others, evidently gypsies.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is a fine piece of business for you to be in, -Jasniff,” he said sharply. For a close look at the -face in front of him had convinced him that the -rascal was really the fellow who had escaped from -prison.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Humph, you needn’t preach to me, Dave Porter! -I guess I’ve now got you just where I want -you!” answered Nick Jasniff, seeing it would be -useless to deny his identity any longer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That remains to be seen. Fellows like you -always get to the end of their rope sooner or -later.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span>“We won’t waste words on that just now, Porter. -What I want to know is, did you and Morr -come here alone or are there others hiding in the -woods?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you think I’d be fool enough to tell you -our plans?” demanded Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’ll tell me everything, Porter, and do it -pretty quick!” snarled Nick Jasniff, flying into a -sudden rage. “Don’t you see that you are entirely -in our hands, and that we can do as we please -with all of you? Unless you tell me everything I -want to know, we are coming in there and take -those two girls away and leave you two fellows -here, bound and gagged. Then, if nobody comes -to rescue you, you can starve to death. Do you -get me?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave! don’t let them do anything like -that!” pleaded Jessie, who had been listening over -his shoulder to what was said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t worry about their binding and gagging -us—at least not while we are armed,” put in -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“See here, Jasniff, you can talk all you please, -but we do not intend to let you carry out your -threats,” said Dave. “Both Morr and I are well -armed, and we know how to shoot. In a very -short time this place will be completely surrounded -and you will be made prisoners.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It isn’t so!” cried the former bully of Oak -<span class='pageno' id='Page_289'>289</span>Hall; but the tone of his voice showed his uneasiness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It may be so!” cried one of the gypsies -quickly. “Remember, Carmenaldo did not return. -That looks bad.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The gypsies began to whisper among themselves, -and then one of them pulled Jasniff back.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We had better go out again and take another -look around,” he said in a hoarse whisper. -“That young man may speak the truth, and we do -not want to run any chances of being captured in -such a game as this. If we find the woods clear, -we can then come back and settle with these intruders.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right, have your own way,” grumbled Jasniff. -“Just the same, I think they came here -alone. Didn’t I see them alone at that hotel?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The gypsies were evidently too disturbed to -argue the matter further, and they pushed forward -and closed the door in Dave’s face. Then those -inside the room heard the lock fastened once more -and heard the gypsies tramp away and down the -stairs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave, I’m so glad you didn’t get into a -fight!” cried Jessie, her face showing momentary -relief.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“While they are gone let us see if we can escape -by way of the opening in the top of the closet,” -suggested Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span>“Hush, not so loud!” whispered Dave. “One -of the gypsies or Nick Jasniff may still be in the -corridor listening.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll tell you what let’s do,” returned the senator’s -son in an equally low voice. “Let the two -girls stay here and do some pretty loud talking. -That will cover up any noise that we may make in -the closet. Then, if there is a chance to get out, -we’ll have to lay a plan as to just how to do it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This suggestion was carried out, and the two -girls began to talk hurriedly and in a loud tone -of voice close to the door leading to the corridor. -In the meantime, Dave and Roger went to the -closet, and both made an investigation of the ceiling. -Here, as stated before, one board was loose, -and they soon managed to pry up another.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now boost me up, Roger, and I’ll investigate -further,” said our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave presently found himself in a dark place -directly under the sloping roof of the bungalow. -In its highest part, the roof was but four feet from -the flooring, so he had to stoop as he felt his way -around. He soon came to a sort of hatchway; the -cover to this he raised cautiously. Below was a -vacant room which had once been used as a bed-chamber. -Around the opening where Dave stood -was a mass of discarded household things and -several packages of magazines which had evidently -been brought up to the little garret-like opening by -<span class='pageno' id='Page_291'>291</span>means of a ladder, but now the ladder was missing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our hero lit a match, and this brief illumination -showed him several large bundles of magazines -still tied together with some old rope. He quickly -possessed himself of the rope, and found it still -usable. Then he went back to the closet where -Roger awaited him, and told of what he had discovered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you think we can make our escape that -way?” questioned the senator’s son eagerly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know about that, Roger. We might -try.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The matter was discussed for several minutes -with the girls, and all decided that they had better -do what they could to secure their freedom without -delay. Dave brought down one of the boards -from the flooring above, and setting the bench up -endways placed one end of the board upon it, thus -making a sort of gangplank. Up this he and -Roger assisted the girls, and then followed to the -little garret-like enclosure above.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now I think I had better go down into that -other room first and look around,” said our hero, -and let himself down by means of the rope which -he had found and which he fastened to a staple at -the side of the hatchway.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Once below, Dave tiptoed his way around cautiously. -There was a window to the room, and -this looked out on the top of a little porch, beyond -<span class='pageno' id='Page_292'>292</span>which were a number of trees. Then he went to -the door and opened it cautiously. He saw a little -corridor opening into that which led to the stairs. -From below came a murmur of voices.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t think we can get away by going below,” -he explained to the others, after they had joined -him; “but that looks pretty good to me,” and he -pointed out of the window to the roof of the porch -and the trees so close at hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, that’ll be easy if they don’t catch sight of -us getting down,” answered Roger quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The glass of the window was gone; nevertheless, -they had to raise the lower sash before any -of them could get out on the roof of the porch. -This was much dilapidated, and creaked as they -stepped upon it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave! you don’t suppose it will break -down with us?” cried Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Jump for the trees if it starts to go,” he answered, -and the words had barely left his lips when -the old porch began to sag. A moment later it -collapsed completely, sending all of the young people -to the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was a most unexpected tumble. As they went -down Dave made a grab for Jessie and did what -he could to save her from getting hurt. Both -landed in some bushes, and Laura and Roger came -down beside them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With the sudden collapse of the porch, there -<span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span>was a cry of alarm in the lower part of the bungalow, -and some person, evidently one of the gypsies, -set up a yell from somewhere among the trees.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come!” cried Dave, as he pulled Jessie to -her feet. “We’ve no time to spare! Let us get -out of sight as quickly as possible!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He glanced over his shoulder, to see that Roger -had Laura by the arm and was forcing her along. -All four ran among the trees, not knowing, however, -in which direction they were heading.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave, they are after us!” panted Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our hero glanced back and saw that several -gypsies and Nick Jasniff had just emerged from the -bungalow, some with pistols and others with clubs -in their hands.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This way, quick!” he exclaimed, and pointed -to a little gully but a few feet away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He and Jessie leaped into this, and Roger and -Laura immediately followed. The hollow was -filled with weeds and brushwood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say, can’t we hide here?” asked Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They’d be after us in a minute, Roger,” answered -Dave. “Come on!” and he pushed his -way down along the hollow until they reached the -tiny watercourse which flowed from the spring -near the roadway. Here was a heavy clump of -trees, some of the branches close to the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now then, up you go!” cried Dave, and he -and Roger assisted the two girls into the nearest -<span class='pageno' id='Page_294'>294</span>tree branches. Then the young men hauled themselves -up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now climb up as high as you can,” directed -Dave to Jessie and his sister. And then all four -went up the tree a distance of twenty feet or more.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where did they go?” cried someone who -stood close to the watercourse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t know. But they must be somewhere -in this vicinity,” answered the voice of Nick Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hardly daring to breathe, the four in the tree -listened to what was taking place below. They -heard Nick Jasniff and several of the gypsies -tramping around, first in one direction and then in -another.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Are you sure they all got away?” questioned -one of the gypsies, of another who had just arrived.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes. The room was empty and we have -searched the house thoroughly.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I guess the game is up,” growled a third.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s the use of giving up so soon?” grumbled -Nick Jasniff. “I believe they are hiding -around here somewhere, and I don’t believe there -is anybody else near. I think the best thing you -can do, Bopeppo, is to call in all those other fellows -and begin a search for them. Eight of us -ought to be able to handle two fellows and two -girls without much trouble.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_295'>295</span>After that Jasniff and Bopeppo moved around -again through the woods in the immediate vicinity -of the bungalow. One of them had discovered -where the party of four had jumped into the gully -leading to the watercourse, and now he set up a -sudden shout:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They came this way! Here are their footprints!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where do they lead to, Vazala?” questioned -Nick Jasniff eagerly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They lead to right here!” answered Carlos -Vazala, pointing to some impressions in the damp -ground and some overturned stones.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I bet they went up into these trees!” cried Jasniff. -He raised his voice. “If you are up there -you might as well come down,” he commanded. -“If you don’t, we’ll come up there and bring you -down.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span> - <h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER XXX<br /> <span class='large'>THE ROUND-UP—CONCLUSION</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, Dave, do you think——” began Jessie in -a low voice, when a look of warning from our hero -stopped her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can’t fool us!” cried Nick Jasniff, after a -moment of silence. “Are you coming down, or -shall I come up and bring you down?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>To this none of those in the tree replied. All -kept silent, scarcely daring to breathe. Jessie was -clinging to Dave’s arm, and Roger had a protecting -hand on Laura’s shoulder. Each of the young -civil engineers had his pistol ready for any emergency -which might arise. They heard a movement -below as if either Nick Jasniff or one of the -gypsies was starting to climb the tree.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, don’t let them come up here!” whispered -Laura, unable to remain silent longer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, yes, make them stay on the ground!” -breathed Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Stop where you are!” cried Dave in stern -tones. “Don’t you dare come a foot closer if you -value your life.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t you shoot me!” exclaimed Nick Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_297'>297</span>“Then you get back on the ground, Jasniff, just -as quick as you can,” answered Roger. “We -won’t stand any more of your nonsense!” and at -these words Nick Jasniff lost no time in dropping -out of the tree.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The gypsies and the fellow who had escaped -from prison began to talk among themselves, but -in such a low tone of voice that those in the tree -could not make out what was being said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What do you suppose they’ll do next?” questioned -Jessie anxiously.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They’ll try to get us down somehow; but I’m -not going,” answered Roger stubbornly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But they may keep us up here all night—or -even longer!” returned Laura.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Are you going to give in or not?” demanded -Nick Jasniff in a loud tone of voice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t see why we should give in,” answered -Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’ll have to do it, Porter, sooner or later. -Can’t you see that we’ve got the bulge on you? If -you don’t give in now, we’ll keep you up in that -tree until you change your mind. The best thing -you can do is to drop your pistols and give yourselves -up. If you’ll do that we’ll promise to treat -you well and let you go as soon as we receive that -ransom we are expecting.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We don’t intend to give in,” answered Dave, -after a few words with Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_298'>298</span>“All right then, we’ll let it go at that—for the -present,” answered Nick Jasniff. “I think you’ll -change your tune after you have spent a night in -that tree and are good and hungry,” he added cunningly. -“And let me tell you, if anybody tries to -escape he’ll get shot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>After that there was a long period of silence. -Evidently some of the gypsies had moved away, -but it was more than likely that the others were -keeping on guard in the vicinity of the tree. What -had become of Nick Jasniff those who were concealed -among the branches could not surmise.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It must be confessed that Dave and those with -him were in a great quandary. They did not -wish to remain in the tree indefinitely, and yet to -make another break for liberty might be decidedly -perilous.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The best part of an hour passed, and then Dave -and the others heard some of the gypsies calling -to each other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dobado is back, and he has news!” they -heard some one cry.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did they find Carmenaldo?” asked another -voice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They did not.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Perhaps that half-witted fool has gone back on -us,” came in the voice of Nick Jasniff. “I said it -wouldn’t be wise to let that fellow into the game.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Carmenaldo is all right. He can be trusted,” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_299'>299</span>answered the voice of Mother Domoza. She was -an aunt to the half-witted gypsy and she did not -like to have any one speak ill of him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then began a hurried consultation among the -gypsies, and the whole crowd moved down in the -direction of the tree in which our friends were hiding.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ha, you are a pack of cowards not to get them -out of the tree!” cried Mother Domoza. “Had -I the strength to climb, I’d get them out single-handed.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’d bring them down quick enough, were it -not that they are armed,” answered Tony Bopeppo.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a warm discussion, the old gypsy -woman urging the men to go up into the tree and -bring down our hero and the others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the midst of the discussion Dave heard a -sound which thrilled him to the heart. Far off -from the direction of the main road between Frytown -and Cullomburg came the honk of an automobile -horn twice repeated.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Roger, did you hear that?” he cried in a low -voice. “Listen!” and a moment later the double -honk was repeated.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, it sounds like the horn on your auto!” -exclaimed the senator’s son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s just what it is! And didn’t you hear—it -sounded out twice in rapid succession? Listen! -<span class='pageno' id='Page_300'>300</span>there it goes again! That’s the signal from -my Uncle Dunston!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave! can it be Uncle Dunston?” exclaimed -his sister.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s just who it is!” he answered, great relief -showing itself in his voice. “I’m going to answer -back!” and pulling out his pistol, Dave fired -two shots in the air in rapid succession.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hi! hi! what are you doing?” roared a voice -from below. “Don’t you dare to shoot at us!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We are not shooting at you,” answered Dave -quick-wittedly. “I am trying my pistol to see that -it is in good order.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Huh, you’ll get no chance to use that pistol on -us,” growled Nick Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All in the tree paid but scant attention to what -was said below. They were listening intently. -An instant later came two more honks from the -distant automobile.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Give them two more shots, Roger!” cried our -hero. “I’m going up to the top of the tree to look -around,” and he began to climb with vigor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From the top of the tree Dave could get a fairly -good view of the surroundings. He soon made -out the little side-road and the point where it ran -into the main highway. Then he spotted an automobile -containing four or five men. Another auto -was on the main highway but a short distance -away.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_301'>301</span>Standing on the topmost branch of the tree and -holding fast with one hand, Dave waved his cap -with the other and then fired two more shots from -his pistol. Those in the automobile were evidently -on the alert, and a second later our hero -saw that his signal had been seen. One man -jumped up in the front automobile and waved his -arms, and then the automobile moved forward -rapidly up the little side-road.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They have seen us, and they are coming in this -direction!” cried Dave, as he lowered himself to -where the others rested in the tree. “I’ll give -them another signal, so that they won’t go astray,” -and a few seconds later two more shots rent the -air.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hi, you! what are you doing up there, anyway?” -came uneasily from Nick Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“An automobile is coming!” came in a yell -from a distance. “An automobile with a number -of men in it!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ve been betrayed!” added another of the -gypsies. “We must run for it or we’ll be captured!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The automobile! Why can not we ride away -in the automobile?” asked Mother Domoza, in -sudden panic.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We can’t use it! That other auto will block -the road!” answered Nick Jasniff.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By this time a shouting was heard from the narrow -<span class='pageno' id='Page_302'>302</span>roadway as the first automobile came closer, -quickly followed by the second car.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hello, Uncle Dunston! is that you?” yelled -Dave at the top of his lungs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, Dave!” came the answering cry. -“Where are you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We are all here in a tree in the woods,” answered -Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Are the girls safe?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes,” returned Dave. “Never mind us—go -after those gypsies and after Nick Jasniff.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll do that all right enough!” answered -Dunston Porter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They are the kidnappers, don’t let them get -away!” yelled Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The men who had accompanied Dunston Porter -needed no further urging. They knew many of -the particulars concerning the case, and had been -promised a large reward if they would give their -aid in rounding up the kidnappers and saving the -two girls. One man was a local constable, and -two were detectives, while the others were men -who had been picked up in the town and pressed -into service because of their strength and willingness -to fight. The whole crowd leaped from the -automobiles and lost no time in giving chase to the -fleeing criminals.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m going to join in this hunt, Roger!” exclaimed -Dave. And then he added to the two -<span class='pageno' id='Page_303'>303</span>girls: “You had better remain where you are -until we come back.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He dropped out of the tree just in time to see -his Uncle Dunston making after one of the gypsies -and Nick Jasniff. Several shots were fired, which, -however, took no effect, and then the criminals -dived out of sight between a number of trees.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dave’s blood was up, and he made up his mind -that Nick Jasniff should be captured if it were -possible to do so. Roger had followed him out -of the tree, and now both made after the rascal -who had escaped from prison.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You get back! Don’t you dare to follow -me!” howled Jasniff, and flourished a revolver at -them. He pulled the trigger, but the weapon -failed to go off, and then the rascal continued to -run.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We ought to shoot him!” exclaimed the senator’s -son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But as he spoke he saw Nick Jasniff trip over a -tree root and go sprawling. Before the fellow -could arise, Dave was on him. Jasniff tried to -catch our hero by the throat, and in return received -a blow in the chin which all but stunned -him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That the chase after the fleeing gypsies was going -on in earnest was testified to by the sounds coming -from various quarters of the woods on the -mountainside. Exclamations and cries rent the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_304'>304</span>air, punctuated every now and then by a pistol -shot or the discharge of a shotgun. One of the -gypsy men was hit in the leg and fell, and Mother -Domoza received part of a charge of shot in her -right hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll disarm him and tie his hands behind -him,” said Dave to Roger, referring to Jasniff. -And despite the protests of the fellow who had escaped -from prison this was speedily done. Then -Jasniff was marched along to the foot of the tree -in which the girls were hiding, and there Roger -stood guard over him, while Dave assisted Jessie -and his sister to the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In less than half an hour the impromptu fight -came to a finish. Mother Domoza and three of -the leading gypsies had been captured. The others -had escaped into the mountains, but a posse -was organized, and all of them were rounded up -inside of twenty-four hours.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Uncle Dunston, I am so glad to see you!” -cried Laura, when the uncle put in an appearance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And I am glad, too!” exclaimed Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Are either of you hurt?” questioned Dunston -Porter quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, not in the least,” answered the daughter -of the jewelry manufacturer. “But we have been -horribly frightened.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You didn’t pay the gypsies or Jasniff any reward, -did you?” questioned Dave quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_305'>305</span>“No, Dave; although we might have done so -if we hadn’t got the word that you sent by telephone.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As far as our friends went, it was a happy little -party that gathered in the bungalow a short while -after. The girls were inclined to be somewhat -hysterical, and the young men and Dunston Porter -did all they could to quiet them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“As soon as I discovered your automobile in the -bushes I knew that you must be somewhere in this -vicinity,” explained Dunston Porter. “We had -come in to Frytown from Crandall less than an -hour before.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But how did you get to Crandall so quickly?” -questioned Roger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“As soon as I got word from Dave I set the -wires to working, and through the authorities had -the Boston Express stop both at Crumville and -Crandall, so that brought us up here in no time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did you see that fellow we had tied to the -tree?” questioned Dave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes, I found him directly after I located -your auto. I tried to get something out of him, -but he seemed a bit off in his mind. Then I remembered -that signal you had spoken about and -used it on the auto horn.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, won’t I be glad to get back to Crumville!” -murmured Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s right,” answered Laura. “I don’t -<span class='pageno' id='Page_306'>306</span>think we want to make that trip to Boston just now. -I want to get home and see the rest of the folks.”</p> - -<hr class='c013' /> - -<p class='c000'>And now let me add a few words more and then -bring this story of “Dave Porter’s Great Search” -to a close.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The whole party found themselves that night at -the Bliss House in Crandall, where they would -have to remain until morning. Word had been -sent to Crumville, and it can well be imagined -how happy those at home were when they received -the glad tidings that the girls were safe and that -those who had kidnapped them had been captured.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Dave, it was simply wonderful how you -and Roger got on the trail of Jasniff and those -awful gypsies!” remarked Jessie, in talking the -matter over.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It was certainly very clever work,” put in -Laura. “I think I’ll have to have medals of -honor struck off for both of you”; and this remark -brought a happy laugh all around.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The criminals had been taken in charge by the -authorities, and the following day found them safe -behind the bars. It may be added here that later -on all of the gypsies, including Mother Domoza, -were tried and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. -Nick Jasniff was returned to the prison -from which he had escaped.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He’ll have to serve his old sentence over -<span class='pageno' id='Page_307'>307</span>again,” explained Dunston Porter. “After he -has finished with that, they will probably try him -for this kidnapping affair, so that it’s likely he will -not mingle with honest people for a good many -years to come.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On being taken to prison, Jasniff was closely -questioned and finally gave the particulars of how -he had stolen the battered touring-car, come to -Crumville in disguise, learned that the girls were -going to take the trip to Boston, and arranged with -the gypsies to do the kidnapping.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, what a misspent life!” was Laura’s comment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, he has no one to blame for it but himself,” -was Roger’s blunt reply.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The home-coming of the two girls, accompanied -by Dave, Roger and Dunston Porter, was made a -gala occasion at Crumville. Many of their -friends were on hand to greet them, and Mrs. -Wadsworth shed tears of joy when she embraced -her daughter and Laura.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I shall never forget what you have done,” -said Mr. Wadsworth to Dave and Roger. “It -was grand—simply grand!” and he wiped the -moisture from his eyes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I knew Davy would do it,” quavered Caspar -Potts, nodding his head over and over again. -“He’s a great boy—my Davy is!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As for Dave’s father, the man could hardly -<span class='pageno' id='Page_308'>308</span>speak, but the way he grasped his son’s hand spoke -volumes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two young civil engineers could not resist -the temptation to send a so-called night letter over -the wires to those at the construction camp in -Montana, telling of what had been accomplished -and stating that they would soon be back at work. -This message caused even Ralph Obray to become -enthusiastic.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They are certainly great boys,” he said to -Frank Andrews.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The finest lads we have in camp,” answered -the other. “I’m certainly glad they joined us. -Some day they’ll make their mark.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I believe you!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now that the young civil engineers had found -the two girls they were loath to separate from -them. The young folks had many hours of happiness -together, which the older heads did not have -the heart to interrupt.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They certainly think the world and all of each -other,” said Mr. Porter to Mr. Wadsworth, referring -to Dave and Jessie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So they do, and I am not sorry for it,” answered -the jewelry manufacturer. “And I notice -that Roger thinks a good deal of your daughter -Laura.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are right. And that pleases me, too,” -returned Dave’s father.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span>“Well, we’ve got to start back for the West -to-morrow,” announced Dave one day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Right you are!” answered the senator’s son. -“I suppose after this there won’t be anything left -for us to do but to work.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I don’t know, Roger. Something else -may turn up sooner or later,” returned our hero.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And he was right. Something else did turn -up, and what that was will be related in our next -volume, to be entitled “Dave Porter Under Fire, -or A Young Army Engineer in France,” in which -book we shall learn how our hero and his chum -“did their bit” for Uncle Sam.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Becoming civil engineers has not been such a -monotonous existence after all,” said Roger. -“Think of those strenuous times we had along the -Rio Grande and in Mexico, and then all those doings -out in Montana, and when we went after the -gypsies and Jasniff.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They certainly were strenuous days, Roger,” -answered Dave. “But now we’ve got to buckle -down to work if we want to become first-class, -full-fledged civil engineers.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And here let us take our leave and bid Dave -Porter good-bye.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>THE END<a id='END'></a></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c003' /> -</div> - -<div class='ph2'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c004'> - <div>EDWARD STRATEMEYER’S BOOKS</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>Old Glory Series</div> - <div class='c003'><em>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA.</div> - <div class='line'>A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA.</div> - <div class='line'>FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS.</div> - <div class='line'>UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES.</div> - <div class='line'>THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE.</div> - <div class='line'>UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>Fortune Series</div> - <div class='c003'><em>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>ON TO PEKIN.</div> - <div class='line'>UNDER THE MIKADO’S FLAG.</div> - <div class='line'>AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.</div> - <div class='line'>WITH TOGO FOR JAPAN.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>Colonial Series</div> - <div class='c003'><em>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST.</div> - <div class='line'>MARCHING ON NIAGARA.</div> - <div class='line'>AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL.</div> - <div class='line'>ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC.</div> - <div class='line'>THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS.</div> - <div class='line'>TRAIL AND TRADING POST.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>Mexican War Series</div> - <div class='c003'><em>Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>FOR THE LIBERTY OF TEXAS.</div> - <div class='line'>WITH TAYLOR ON THE RIO GRANDE.</div> - <div class='line'>UNDER SCOTT IN MEXICO.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>Pan-American Series</div> - <div class='c003'><em>Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>LOST ON THE ORINOCO.</div> - <div class='line'>THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS.</div> - <div class='line'>YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS.</div> - <div class='line'>YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON.</div> - <div class='line'>TREASURE SEEKERS OF THE ANDES.</div> - <div class='line'>CHASED ACROSS THE PAMPAS.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>Dave Porter Series</div> - <div class='c003'><em>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER’S RETURN TO SCHOOL.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER AT BEAR CAMP.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER UNDER FIRE.</div> - <div class='line'>DAVE PORTER’S WAR HONORS.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>Lakeport Series</div> - <div class='c003'><em>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</div> - <div class='line'>THE BASEBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</div> - <div class='line'>THE BOAT CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</div> - <div class='line'>THE FOOTBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</div> - <div class='line'>THE AUTOMOBILE BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</div> - <div class='line'>THE AIRCRAFT BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>American Boys’ Biographical Series</div> - <div class='c003'><em>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c012'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY.</div> - <div class='line'>AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>DEFENDING HIS FLAG. <em>Price $1.75</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='ph2'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c004'> - <div>DAVE PORTER SERIES</div> - <div class='c003'><span class='large'>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Mr. Stratemeyer has seldom introduced a more popular hero -than Dave Porter. He is a typical boy, manly, brave, always ready -for a good time if it can be obtained in an honorable way.”—<em>Wisconsin, -Milwaukee, Wis.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'>“Edward Stratemeyer’s ‘Dave Porter’ has become exceedingly -popular.”—<cite>Boston Globe.</cite></p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dave and his friends are nice, manly chaps.”—<cite>Times-Democrat, -New Orleans.</cite></p> - - <div class='dl_1'> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or The School Days of an American Boy</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or The Strange Cruise of the <em>Stormy Petrel</em></p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER’S RETURN TO SCHOOL</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or Winning the Medal of Honor</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or The Pluck of an American Schoolboy</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or For the Honor of Oak Hall</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or The Cowboy’s Secret</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or The Chums and Foes of Oak Hall</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or A Schoolboy’s Mysterious Mission</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or Last Days at Oak Hall</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or The Search for the Landslide Mine</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER AT BEAR CAMP</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or The Wild Man of Mirror Lake</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or The Disappearance of the Basswood Fortune</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or The Perils of a Young Civil Engineer</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER UNDER FIRE</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or A Young Army Engineer in France</p> - <p><span class='dl_1'>DAVE PORTER’S WAR HONORS</span> - </p> - <p><span class='dl_1'> </span> - Or At the Front with the Fighting Engineers</p> - </div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='small'>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers</span></div> - <div class='c003'>Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.     Boston</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c003' /> -</div> -<div class='tnotes'> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES</h2> -</div> - <ol class='ol_1 c002'> - <li>Moved the advertising page at the beginning of the book to between the <a href='#END'>End</a> and - the advertising at the back. - - </li> - <li>Silently corrected typographical errors. - - </li> - <li>Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - </li> - </ol> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Dave Porter's Great Search, by Edward Stratemeyer - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER'S GREAT SEARCH *** - -***** This file should be named 55764-h.htm or 55764-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/7/6/55764/ - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, David Edwards and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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