Part 24 (2/2)
”Suit yo' self, sah.”
”But they wouldn't hurt a flea!”
”Can't help it, sah, it's de baggage-cah fo' dis collection of wild animals,” answered the porter, striding off with the cage in his hands, while the professor followed.
”Talk about something happening!” burst out Roger, when the excitement was over. ”This was the funniest experience I ever had.”
”I am sure I don't see anything funny about it!” snapped the elderly lady, who overheard the remark. ”I think that man ought to be prosecuted!”
”He didn't expect his mice to get loose,” said Dunston Porter. ”Just the same, he had no right to bring them in here. As the porter said, all animals must go in the baggage-car.”
”Wonder if he'll come back,” mused Phil.
”I doubt it,” answered Dave. ”Well, now I'm going to try to get a little sleep,” he added, as he climbed back into his berth. The others followed suit, and presently one after another dropped into slumber. It may be added here that Professor De Haven did not show himself again while on the train, he being afraid of the indignation of those who had been disturbed by his educated mice.
Early the following morning found our friends in the city of Jacksonville, which, as my readers must know, is located on the St.
John's River. They did not wait for breakfast but hurried at once in the direction of the Hotel Castor, once a leading hostelry of the city, but which had seen its best day.
”Quite a town,” remarked the senator's son, as they pa.s.sed along.
”Jacksonville is now the main city of Florida,” replied Dunston Porter.
”It is a great s.h.i.+pping center, and is also well-known as a winter resort.”
”How balmy the weather is!” was Phil's comment. ”Just like spring at home!”
Dave's uncle had been in Jacksonville several times and knew the way well. Soon they reached the hotel, and with his heart beating loudly, Dave hurried up to the desk and asked the clerk if Link Merwell and Nick Jasniff were stopping there.
”Never heard of them,” replied the clerk, after thinking a moment.
”I have photographs, perhaps you can tell them from that,” went on Dave, and he drew from his pocket two photographs, taken at different times at Oak Hall. Each showed a group of students, and in one group was Merwell and in the other Jasniff.
The clerk looked at the pictures closely.
”What is this, some joke?” he asked, suspiciously.
”No, it is a matter of great importance,” answered Dave. ”We must find those two young men if we possibly can.”
”Well, if they are the pair who were here some days ago, you are too late. But their names weren't what you said.”
”What did they call themselves?” asked Dunston Porter.
”John Leeds and Samuel Cross,” answered the clerk. ”They had Room 87, and were here two days.”
”Do you know where they went to?” asked Phil.
”I do not.”
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