" asked Dave, one
evening of the Basswood lad.

"Not very much," answered Ben. "Father telegraphed that he was hunting
for some things that belonged to Mr. Enos. He said that as soon as he
found them he would tell us all about it."

"That certainly is a strange state of affairs."

"Strange? I should say it was!" cried the other. "Mother and I are
just dying to know what it all means. One thing is certain--Mr. Enos
did not leave his fortune in stocks or bonds or real estate, or
anything like that."

On the following day came additional trouble for Dave in the shape of
a communication from a hotel-keeper in Coburntown. He stated that he
had heard through Asa Dickley that Dave was having trouble with a
party who was impersonating him, and added that a person calling
himself Dave Porter was owing him a bill of fifteen dollars for five
days' board.

"Isn't this the limit?" cried Dave, as he showed the letter to his
father and his Uncle Dunston.

"No use in talking, Dave, we'll have to get after that rascal,"
announced the father. "If we don't, there is no telling how far he'll
carry this thing. I think I'll put the authorities on his track."

Two days after that, and while Dave was continuing his studies as
diligently as ever, came word over the telephone from Clayton.

"Is this you, Dave Porter?" came over the wire.

"Yes," answered our hero. "Who are you?"

"This is Nat Poole talking. I am up here in Clayton--in the First
National Bank. You know my father got me a job here last week."

"No, I didn't know it, Nat. But I'm glad to hear you have something to
do, and I hope you'll make a success of it," returned Dave promptly.

"I called you up to find out if you were in Clayton," continued the
son of the money lender. "I wanted to make sure of it."

"Well, I'm not. I'm right here at home, Nat."

"Then, in that case, I want to tell you that the fellow who looks like
you is here."

"Where do you mean--in the bank?"

"Well, he came in here to get a five-dollar bill changed. I happened
to see him as he was going out and I called to him, thinking it was
you. When I called he seemed to get scared, and he got out in a hurry.
Then I happened to think about that fellow who looked like you, and I
made up my mind I'd call you up."

"How long ago since he was in the bank?" questioned Dave, eagerly.

"Not more than ten minutes ago. I tried to get you sooner but the wire
was busy."

"You haven't any idea where he w