do. If this young man's story is true, then all of us have
made a sad mistake, and what Dave is to do in the matter I
don't know. Come on as soon as possible and help me to get
to the bottom of this terrible mix-up.

"Your affectionate brother,
DAVID BRESLOW PORTER."

Dave read this letter with care, and then allowed the communication to
slip from his fingers. If his mind had been in a whirl before, it was
more so now, and for the moment he could hardly think straight. If he
was not Dave Porter, who was he? A thousand ideas ran riot through his
brain.

"Oh, Dave! it can't be true; can it?" came half-pleadingly from Laura.

"I don't know," he answered dumbly. "I don't know."

"But, Dave, I thought that you and Uncle Dunston proved your identity
completely, even before you found father and met me."

"I always supposed we did prove it, Laura," he answered. "We went into
the matter very carefully at that time. Nothing was ever said about
Sandy Margot stealing two little boys. I always supposed he had taken
only one child."

"And to think this other young man is a perfect stranger," went on
Laura, dolefully. "There is no telling what sort of a person he is."

"He's no stranger to me. I helped to pull him out of the water when the
steam yacht was on fire," answered Dave. "I guess he's all right as far
as that goes, although I don't think much of his keeping company with
Link Merwell."

"Do you suppose it can be a plot hatched up by Link Merwell?"

"I don't know what to think. This news stuns me. I've got to consider
it. Maybe I had better go back to Crumville, too."

"No, Uncle Dunston said you had better stay here--at least for the
present. He said if they wanted you they could send you word."

"Oh, all right," and now Dave's voice showed a faint trace of
bitterness. "Maybe they don't want me around, if they have really
settled it that I am not the real Dave Porter."

"Oh, Dave! Don't want you around!" Laura sprang to her feet, and coming
over to him, caught both his hands in her own. "Don't talk that way.
Even if they should prove that you are not my brother, I shall always
think just as much of you."

"Thank you for saying that, Laura," he returned, with much emotion.
"It's nice to know that there is somebody who won't go back on me."

"I don't believe anybody will go back on you, Dave--you have always been
so good. Oh, I think this is dreadful--just dreadful!" and L