wful Ward Porton?"

"That's the fellow I fasten on. Didn't we meet him in Clayton? And
that's only six miles from Coburntown. More than likely that rascal
has been hanging around here, and maybe getting a whole lot of things
in my name." Dave began to pace the floor. "It's a shame! If I could
get hold of him I think I would have him locked up."

"What are you going to do about this letter?"

"I'm going to go to Coburntown the first chance I get and tell Mr.
Dickley, and also Mr. Wecks, the truth. I want to find out whether the
party who got those things procured them in person or on some written
order. If he got them on a written order, somebody must have forged my
name."

"Hadn't you better tell father or Uncle Dunston about this?"

"Not just yet, Laura. It will be time enough to worry them after I
have seen Mr. Wecks and Mr. Dickley. Perhaps I can settle the matter
myself."

Dave was so upset that it was hard for him to buckle down to his
studies; and he was glad that evening when an interruption came in
the shape of the arrival of his old school chum and fellow engineering
student, Roger Morr.

"Back again! And right side up with care!" announced the senator's
son, as he came in and shook hands. "My! but I've had a busy time
since I've been away!" he replied in answer to a question of Dave's.
"I had to settle up one or two things for father, and then I had to go
on half a dozen different errands for mother, and then see to it that
I got those new text books that Mr. Ramsdell spoke about. I got two
copies of each, Dave, and here are those that are coming to you," and
he passed over three small volumes. "And that isn't all. I just met
Ben Basswood at the depot where he was sending a telegram to his
father, who is in Chicago. Ben had some wonderful news to tell."

"What was that?" asked Laura and Jessie simultaneously.

"He didn't give me any of the particulars, but it seems an old friend
of theirs died out in Chicago recently, and Mr. Basswood was sent for
by some lawyers to help settle the estate."

"Yes, we know that much," broke in Dave. "But what's the new news?"

"Why, it seems this man, Enos, died quite wealthy, and he left almost
his entire estate to Mr. Basswood."

"Is that so!" cried Dave. "That sure is fine! I don't know of anybody
who deserves money more than do the Basswoods," and his face lit up
with genuine pleasure.

"It will be nice for Ben," said Jessie, "and even nicer for Mrs.
Basswo