CHAPTER X
DAVE AT HOME
"I'm glad you washed your hands of Merwell, Nat," replied Dave, withwarmth. "He is not the sort for any respectable fellow to associatewith. But about that letter. Have you any idea what he was going to do?"
"No. All he said was, 'If you will join with me we can pay Dave Porteroff good and get him in the biggest kind of a hole.' I guess you hadbetter keep your eyes open, Dave."
"I am doing that already."
"I--I made up my mind I'd tell you--when I got to Crumville," falteredthe money-lender's son. "I didn't want you to suffer at his hands."
"I've got my eyes open already," was Dave's reply. "Let me tell yousomething, Nat." And then he related the particulars of the affair atLake Sargola, and told about the burning of the garage.
"And to think Job Haskers is with him!" cried Nat. "Say, they'll make ateam, won't they!"
"Yes, for I'm thinking that Haskers is about as bad as Merwell,"answered Dave.
After that came a pause, neither youth knowing exactly what to say. ThenNat cleared his throat.
"I--I'd like you to do me a favor," he stammered.
"All right, Nat. What is it?" returned our hero, promptly.
"If you get the chance will you tell Ben Basswood and the other fellowshow I'm going to be--er--different after this? And will you tell yoursister and Jessie, too? I don't want them to--to--think I'm wanting todo anything more that's mean. I want to be--be, well, friendly--ifthey'll let me," and Nat's face grew very red as he made the admission.
"I'll tell them all--the first chance I get," promised Dave. "And I amsure they will be pleased. Why, Nat, I know you can turn over a newleaf, if you want to. Look at Gus Plum, how mean he used to be, and whata bully! And look at him now. He's a first-rate fellow. You can do it ifPlum can, can't you?"
"I'm going to try, anyway."
"And I'll help you all I can--and there's my hand on it," answered Dave,and then the two lads shook hands.
A talk lasting all the way to Crumville followed. As they rolled intothe station Nat left rather hastily, going to the rear of the car, whileDave went forward. The money-lender's son knew Dave expected to meethis sister and friends and he did not, just then, wish to face theparty.
"There's Dave!" cried Jessie Wadsworth, as she caught sight of himthrough a car window.
"Hello, everybody!" cried the youth, as he swung himself from the carsteps. He gave Jessie's hand a tight squeeze and then kissed his sister."How are you?"
"Oh, fine!" came from both girls.
"Hello, Davy!" cried a merry voice, and Dunston Porter, the lad's uncle,came striding forward from an automobile near by. "How did you leaveSenator Morr and his family, and are you ready for that trip throughYellowstone Park?"
"I left the senator and his family well," was the answer. "And I amready for the trip--that is--part of the trip," Dave added, hastily.
"Part of the trip?" cried Jessie. "Why, what do you mean?"
"I'll tell you later. Oh, I've got lots and lots to tell," went on Dave,with a smile. He caught Laura and Jessie by the arms. "See Nat Pooleover yonder?" he whispered. "Well, you want to be nice to Nat afterthis, for he is going to reform."
"Reform?" queried his sister.
"Really?" added Jessie.
"That's what he told me. We had quite a talk on the train. I'll tellyou about it later. And I've got a lot more to tell," Dave went on. "Allabout a lost gold mine that belongs to Mrs. Morr, Roger's mother."
"A lost gold mine!" exclaimed Dunston Porter. "Is this a joke, Dave?"
"No, sir, it's the truth. The strangest tale you ever heard. When we goout to Yellowstone Park we--that is, us boys--are going to look for themine."
"Of all things!" burst out Laura. "Say, Dave, will you ever settle down?Here I thought you were going to take a nice little personally-conductedtour with us, and you talk of going land knows where to look for a lostgold mine!"
"Is it very far?" asked Jessie, and her face showed some disappointment.
"Oh, it's not very far from Yellowstone Park," answered the youth. "It'sin Montana, and you know a corner of the Park is in that State."
All had walked toward the automobile, which Mr. Porter had been running.The girls got in the tonneau and Dave climbed into the front seat besidehis uncle. Just as they were about to start, Nat Poole walked past,suit-case in hand, and tipped his hat politely. Both girls smiled andbowed and Mr. Porter nodded. Then the touring-car rolled off in thedirection of the big Wadsworth mansion, where, as I have before stated,the Porters resided with the jeweler's family and old Caspar Potts.
As they passed through the main street of Crumville--now built up agreat deal more than when Dave had first known it--many persons bowedand smiled to all in the car. Everybody knew the Porters and liked them,and the fact that Dave had once been an inmate of the local poor-housewas almost forgotten.
To the youth himself the ride was full of interest. As he sat back inthe comfortable seat of the automobile he could not help but think ofthe many changes that had taken place since he had been found wanderingalong the railroad tracks, alone and hungry. He had found a father, anuncle, and a sister, and he had made many warm friends, including JessieWadsworth, to him the dearest girl in all the world. Certainly he hadmuch to be grateful for,--and he was grateful from the bottom of hisheart.
A few minutes of riding, after leaving the center of the town, broughtthem within sight of the Wadsworth residence, a fine mansion set backfrom the roadway, with beautiful trees and shrubbery surrounding it.Down at the great gateway stood Professor Potts, now white-haired andsomewhat bent, but with a kindly smile of welcome on his face. Davewaved his hat and the old gentleman bowed with old-fashioned courtesy.Then the touring-car swept up to the broad front piazza and Mrs.Wadsworth showed herself.
"Home again, are you, Dave," she said, pleasantly. "I am glad to seeyou." And then she allowed him to kiss her. There had been a time whenDave had been somewhat afraid of this stately lady of society, but thattime was past now, and Mrs. Wadsworth looked on Dave almost as ason,--indeed, it had been this affection for the youth which had causedthe two families to live under the same roof.
Dave was soon up in his room, putting away his things and getting readyfor dinner, which would be served in half an hour. He was almost readyto go below when he saw Caspar Potts pass through the hallway.
"Well, Professor, how have you been?" he asked, pleasantly.
"Very well, David, very well," was the somewhat slow reply. "It is avery pleasant life here, very pleasant!" And the eyes of the old collegeprofessor glistened.
"Got the library in shape now, I suppose?" went on Dave, for he knewthat was the old gentleman's hobby.
"Yes, David, we have every book and pamphlet catalogued. And I am addingsomething new," continued the professor. "I am getting the autographs ofmany of the writers and pasting them on the fly-leaves. And where awriter dies and I get a printed obituary notice I paste that in the backof the book. I think it adds something to a volume to know about thewriter and to have his or her autograph."
"Fine, Professor!" cried Dave, and tapped him on the shoulder. "My, butit is nice here! Much better than the old farm, eh, and the poor-housethat I came from!"
The old gentleman nodded several times, and the tears stood in his eyes.
"Yes! yes! It is very, very nice. I have found real friends, and I amthankful, very thankful!" And he continued on his way down the hall,wiping his eyes with his handkerchief.
On the stairs Dave met Jessie. She was in a fresh dress of white, andhad a rose in her hair.
"How pretty you look!" he whispered, as he took her arm. "Just like a--apicture!" And then Jessie blushed and that made her look prettier thanever, if such a thing were possible.
Dave's father and Mr. Wadsworth had come in, and both were glad to seethe boy back. Soon dinner was announced, and all sat down to the longtable, Dave between his sister and Jessie. It was old Professor Pottswho asked grace; and then some rapid-fire
conversation followed, thegirls and the others demanding to know all about what had happened atSenator Morr's home, and about the lost mine.
"It certainly sounds like a romance!" declared Dave's father, referringto the lost mine.
"But I have heard of such things before," answered his brother. "I knowof several valuable mines in South America that were lost throughearthquakes. Landslides have not only buried mines, they have buriedcities as well."
"Oh, Dave, supposing you went to look for that mine and there wasanother landslide!" gasped Jessie, and turned pale.
"That's a risk we'd have to run," was his answer. "But I'd be verycareful as to where I went, Jessie."
"I don't know about this," put in Mr. David Porter, with a grave shakeof his head. "Better take the trip through Yellowstone Park, Dave, andlet the Landslide Mine slide," and he smiled, faintly.
"Oh, I promised Roger that I'd go with him,--and Phil is going, too!"pleaded Dave. "We'll be very careful."
"I might go with you myself, only I think I ought to stay with the partyto go through the Park," said Dunston Porter.
"Yes, we want you with us!" cried Laura.
"I don't like this at all!" pouted Jessie, and looked somewhatreproachfully at Dave.
"Oh, you mustn't take it that way!" cried the youth. "Why, we'll be withyou on the trip to the Park, and then we'll join you on the tour alittle later. You are to stay at least four weeks, remember. Well, if wespent two or even three weeks looking for that mine we'd still have aweek in the Park--and one can go through in six days, so the circularsays."
After that the talk became general, Dave learning more concerning thetour and who from Crumville and vicinity had signed to go, and theothers asking for the details concerning the mine, and about the doingsof Job Haskers and Link Merwell.
"You steer clear of that rascally teacher and young Merwell," advisedDave's father. "They are a bad lot."
"I'll steer clear if I can," answered Dave. "But if I catch them in anywrongdoing and I can manage it, I am going to have both of themarrested."
"I'd not blame you for that."
After the meal Dave spent a pleasant evening with Laura and Jessie. Thethree young folks went out on the porch and there, a little later, BenBasswood joined them. All talked about the trip to Yellowstone Park, andabout the Landslide Mine.
"I'd like to go after that mine myself," said Ben. "But I know I can'tdo it, for I promised mother and my Aunt Kate that I'd stay with themall through the trip."
"Then you'll have to stay with Laura and Jessie, too," returned Dave."I'll leave them in your care while I am away."
"Oh, Dave, as if Uncle Dunston wasn't going along!" cried his sister.
"Well, you can't have too many protectors, in such a wild portion of ourcountry," and Dave laughed, for he knew as well as did all of them thatthe trip through Yellowstone Park is a perfectly safe one.
By and by Ben walked around the garden with Laura, while Dave tookJessie. It was moonlight and perhaps some sentimental things were said.Anyway, when Dave and Jessie came back he held her arm and both lookedvery contented. Then Ben had to go, and Dave walked down to the gatewaywith him and spoke about Nat Poole.
"Well, if he reforms he's a good one," was all Ben said. He and Nat hadbeen on the outs for a long while.
"He'll do it," answered Dave. "At least, I hope so."