ntil the others were ready to depart, but he had
gained little information beyond that already known to the reader.

"If only I had the address of that Obadiah Jones, I might go and see him
and listen to what he has to say about Ward Porton," he told himself.
"Of course he may not be Porton's uncle at all--I know lots of children
taken from poorhouses and orphan asylums who call the folks aunt and
uncle. But even if he isn't, he may be able to give me some information
that will put me on the right track regarding this affair."

The morning was spent by those at the bungalows in getting settled once
more. The provisions brought from the Appleby camp were divided between
the two places, and likewise the kitchen utensils.

"I'd like to set some sort of a trap and catch those burglars," declared
Ben.

"I don't see how you're going to do it," returned our hero. "I doubt
very much whether they will show themselves in this vicinity again. More
than likely they are miles away."

"Dave, do you think Link Merwell had anything to do with this?"

"It's possible, Ben, although I don't see how he would have the nerve to
come back here after what happened. I should think he would feel like
quitting this territory entirely."

Another day went by, bringing no word from Crumville. Our hero and Roger
had tramped all the way to Carpen Falls, hoping for letters, but the
only one to come in was a re-directed epistle for Ben, inviting him to
become a subscriber to some local charity.

"O shucks! I suppose the charity is all right," said Ben, when he got
this letter, "but I'd like to get some real news from dad or somebody
else at home."

Dave said little, but he felt more downcast than ever. He had thought
that a letter would surely come by now. Roger noticed how he felt, and
placed a kindly hand on our hero's shoulder.

"Don't you worry, Dave, old man," he said feelingly, "this will come out
all right in the end."

"I hope so, Roger," was the answer. "But this suspense wears on a
fellow."

"Perhaps if you went to Maine to that town where the poorhouse is
located that Ward Porton says he came from, you might be able to find
out something about that Obadiah Jones," went on the senator's son, who
had been told of what the Fords had revealed.

"I was thinking something of that, Roger, and if I can't get on the
track any other way, I'll go there," was the reply. "But I hate to think
of leaving here until I get some kind of word fr