"What did Mr. Wadsworth do?" questioned Dave, in the midst of rather
an awkward pause. He agreed with Ben that Mrs. Basswood should have
recognized Ward Porton as an imposter, but he did not want to say
anything that might add to the lady's misery.

"He said he would set the authorities at work and see if he could not
find Porton and his confederate. I was so bewildered that I--well, I
might as well admit it--I told him that I couldn't understand how I
had been deceived, and that maybe Dave had gotten the miniatures after
all."

"Oh, Mrs. Basswood, you didn't really mean that!" cried our hero.

"I was so bewildered I didn't know what I meant, Dave. That young man
did look so very much like you. That's the reason, when you folks
drove up to the house, I ran out to ask if you had really been here or
not."

"Have you heard anything of this Ward Porton since?" asked Roger.

"I haven't heard anything. Whether Mr. Wadsworth has learned anything
or not I do not know, for he has not been here and the storm has been
so awful, with all the telephone wires down, that I could not send for
news."

"Does father know about this now?" questioned Ben.

"No, Ben, I have not had the courage to tell him," answered the
mother. "I told the doctor, and he advised that I say nothing for the
present."

"I don't think I'd tell him," said Dave. "I think the best thing we
can do is to try to follow Porton and this fellow with him and get
back the miniatures. Then it will be time enough to tell Mr. Basswood
about the affair."

As soon as they had entered the parlor the lady of the house had shut
the door, so that none of the conversation might reach the sick
chamber overhead. In reply to numerous questions Mrs. Basswood gave
all the details as to how the rascally Porton had been able to gain
possession of the miniatures.

"I think I'll hurry up and get home," declared Dave, presently. "I
want to hear what Mr. Wadsworth has to say; and also find out what he
and my folks have done towards getting on the track of Porton and his
confederate."

"That's the talk!" exclaimed Roger. "Say! but this is the worst yet,
isn't it?" He turned to the lady of the house. "I am awfully sorry for
you, Mrs. Basswood."

"I guess we are all sorry," broke in our hero, quickly.

"Oh, I hope they catch that Porton and put him in prison!" cried
Jessie.

"That is where he belongs," answered Dave, soberly.

CHAPTER XVII

A VAIN SEARCH

To find