ger wondering what
had become of him.

"Well, did you catch Porton?" queried the senator's son.

"I did and I didn't," answered Dave, with a grim sort of smile. And he
related the particulars of what had occurred.

"Great hambones, Dave! you certainly have had an experience!" was
Roger's comment. "Let me look at that ear. I declare! it's quite
swollen. I hope it didn't hurt anything inside," he added anxiously.

"It rings and aches a little, Roger; but I don't think it is seriously
hurt."

"How about your shoulder?"

"That feels a little sore, but that's all. I'll soon get over it."

"And to think you got so close to capturing him and then he got away!"
was the sad comment of the senator's son. "It does beat all how
slippery some of those rascals are."

"I'm living in hope that those farmer boys will locate Porton," said
Dave. "I promised them a reward of ten dollars if they did so. That's
a lot of money for lads living around here."

Now that he had rejoined Roger, and had gotten partly over the effects
of his encounter with Porton, Dave was rather loath to give up the
hunt. They managed to find a store where the proprietor occasionally
furnished lunches, and there procured some sandwiches and hot
chocolate. Then they drove to Barnett by the regular highway, and
there took another look around for the missing evil-doer.

"The boys have gone down to the woods to look for him," announced the
farmer when Dave called on him once more. "If they learn anything I'll
let you know."

That evening found Dave and Roger back in Crumville, where, of course,
they had to relate the details of what had happened.

"Oh, Dave, you must be more careful!" cried Jessie, after he had told
of the encounter in the woods. "That wicked fellow might kill you!"
and she shuddered.

"Yes indeed, you ought to be careful," said Laura. "Why, he seems to
be almost as bad as Merwell and Jasniff were!"

"So he is, Laura. And if I ever get the chance I'll put him where they
are--in prison," answered the brother grimly.

As was to be expected, Dave was quite worked up over what had
occurred, and that night he did not sleep very well. Both his father
and his sister insisted that he go to a physician and have his ear
examined.

"No damage done, so far as I can see," said the doctor. "But you had
better bathe it with witch-hazel and keep it warm for a day or two."

The next day Dave settled down to his studies as well as he was able.
He h