I think in London. The man had a daughter named Laura, and I
think this Jasniff had been calling upon her."

CHAPTER XVI

SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Dave felt like groaning when he heard Mrs. Clever's words. Then what
Jasniff had written in the letter to Gus Plum was true--he had met Mr.
Porter and Laura. Had he tried to set himself up as a friend? It was
more than likely.

"And father and Laura don't know what a rascal he is," Dave murmured to
his chum. "Oh, I feel as if I could wring his neck! For all I know, he
has been making himself agreeable to my sister. Isn't it enough to make
one's blood boil?"

"It certainly is, Dave. But I fancy your sister will soon be able to
size up such a fellow as Jasniff."

"Perhaps, although he can be very oily when he wants to be. Oh, if only
I knew where my folks were!" sighed the boy from the country.

Mrs. Clever could tell nothing more about Nick Jasniff or about the
Porters. But she promised to send Dave word if she heard anything, and
seeing that she was poor Dave paid her the money out of which Jasniff
had swindled her, about six dollars and a half. Then the two youths took
their departure, stating they might call again.

"Let me know beforehand," said Mrs. Clever, "and I'll treat you
handsome-like." She offered them some cakes and ale, but they politely
declined the refreshments.

From the woman they learned the easiest way to reach Siddingate, and
arrived at that London suburb shortly after the dinner-hour. Here they
procured a hearty meal at the leading hotel and from a directory learned
that six Chesterfields lived in that vicinity--one an ironmonger,
otherwise a hardware dealer; another a draper, that is, a dry-goods
merchant; and a third a stoker, which meant that he was a locomotive
fireman. The other three were not put down as in business.

"I don't think we'll try to hunt up the stoker," said Dave. "Most likely
he's off on a run. We can try the storekeepers and then the others."

The ironmonger, a burly, red-faced man, had never heard of Jasniff, but
the draper, while he did not know anybody of that name, said that one of
the other Chesterfields, whose first name was Philip, had some relatives
in the United States, including some folks who were now traveling either
in England or Scotland.

"Thank you; we'll hunt him up," said Dave. "Where does he live?"

"Any cabman can tell you," was the answer. "Better ride out--it's a cold
walk."

It was c