Part 13 (1/2)
”Very well.”
”Glad to hear it. And I suppose Roger has that same old eagle eye of his on your sister Laura?”
”Well, you don't find him talking very much to anybody else when Laura is around,” was Dave's dry comment.
”Oh, we had a perfectly splendid journey!” cried Belle Endicott. ”And wasn't it the strangest thing that we should run into Phil at the junction where we had to change cars to get here?”
”Must be some sort of mutual attraction,” cried Laura, mischievously.
And then to hide any possible confusion she added quickly to Cora Dartmore: ”I hope you enjoyed the trip also.”
”Yes, I had a splendid time,” answered the newcomer, a girl not quite so tall as Belle but almost equally good-looking. ”You see, this is my first trip to the East. Oh, I know I am going to have a perfectly lovely time!” she added enthusiastically.
The young folks piled into the sleigh and automobile, and in a very short time arrived at the Wadsworth mansion. Here Mrs. Wadsworth was ready to receive the visitors, and her gracious manner made them feel at home immediately.
Phil, as was his custom, insisted on rooming with Roger and Dave, while Belle Endicott and her chum were made comfortable in a room next to those occupied by Jessie and Laura.
”I don't know what I'm going to do with you boys,” said Mrs.
Wadsworth, laughingly. ”You always bunk in as thick as fleas.”
”We got used to that at Oak Hall,” returned Dave. ”Besides that, the room is a large one with two single beds in it, and we can easily put in a cot;” and so it was settled.
”My, but I'm mighty glad to be with you two fellows again!” declared the s.h.i.+powner's son, when the youths were left to themselves. ”It seems like a touch of old times.”
”So it does,” returned Roger, smiling broadly.
”From now on I suppose we won't be able to get together as much as we used to,” said Dave; ”so while we are together let us make the most of it.”
”So say we all of us!” cried Phil and Roger, gaily.
CHAPTER X
THE BIG SLEIGHING-PARTY
Of course, even with so many visitors to entertain, Dave and Roger could not neglect their studies; so it was arranged that every day the pair should apply themselves diligently to their books and to what their tutor had to say from eight o'clock until twelve. Then lunch would be had and the young folks could start out to enjoy themselves in one way or another.
On one occasion the three boys went hunting with Dunston Porter in the woods back of Crumville. They had a most delightful time, and brought back quite a bagful of rabbits, as well as several squirrels, and also a plump partridge, the bird being brought down by Dave.
”And it was a fine shot, Davy,” remarked his Uncle Dunston in speaking about the partridge. ”As fine a shot on the wing as I ever saw.”
Crumville boasted of a good-sized pond; and from this the snow had been cleared, giving the young folks an opportunity for skating, which every one of them enjoyed to the utmost. They also attended a concert given in the church one evening, and even went to a moving-picture show which had recently been opened in the town.
The moving pictures interested the two girls from the Far West more than anything else, for, so far, they had had little opportunity to take in such a form of entertainment.
During those days Dave was continually on the watch for some information concerning Ward Porton, but no word of any kind came in, and he finally concluded that the rascal had left that vicinity.
”Most likely he thought things were growing too hot for him,” was Phil's comment, when the boys talked the matter over. ”He probably realized that if he continued to go to the stores and get goods the way he did he would be caught sooner or later.”
Ben Ba.s.swood often went out with the others, pairing off, as had been expected by Laura, with Cora Dartmore. This left Belle Endicott more or less in Phil's care, for which the s.h.i.+powner's son was grateful.