d to tell all about Ward Porton and what
that young rascal was supposed to be doing. As they proceeded Mr.
Wecks's face took on a look of added intelligence.

"Exactly! Exactly! That fits in with what I thought when that fellow
went off with the shoes," he declared finally. "I said to myself,
'Somehow Dave Porter looks different to-day. He must have had a spell
of sickness or something.' That other chap was a bit thinner and paler
than you are."

"He's a regular cigarette fiend, and that is, I think, what makes him
look pale," put in Roger. And then he added quickly: "Do you
remember--was he smoking?"

"Yes, he was. He threw a cigarette stub away while he was trying on
the shoes, and then lit another cigarette when he was going out. I
thought at the time that he was probably smoking more than was good
for him."

"I don't smoke at all, and never have done so," said Dave. He turned
to his chum. "I think the fact that the fellow who got the shoes was
smoking is additional proof that it was Porton."

"I haven't the slightest idea that it was anybody else," answered the
senator's son.

Mr. Wecks promised to keep on the lookout for Ward Porton, in case
that individual showed himself again, and then Dave and Roger left.

"I'm going into all the stores where I do business and tell the folks
to be on the watch for Ward Porton," said our hero.

"A good idea, Dave. But see here! How are they going to tell him from
you?" and the senator's son chuckled. "You may come along some day and
they may hold you, thinking you are Porton."

"I thought of that, Roger, and I'll leave each of them my signature on
a card. I know that Ward Porton doesn't write as I do."

This idea was followed out, the boys spending the best part of an hour
in going around Coburntown. Then they drove back to Crumville, and
there Dave visited some other establishments with which he was in the
habit of doing business.

All the storekeepers were much interested in what he had to tell, and
all readily agreed to have Ward Porton detained if he should show
himself. At each place Dave left his signature, so that there might be
no further mistake regarding his identity.

After that several days passed quietly. Both Dave and Roger were
applying themselves to their studies, and as a consequence saw little
of Ben except in the evenings, when all the young folks would get
together for more or less of a good time.

"Any more news about that fortune in Chicago?