Part 10 (1/2)
”Hu-picture actor, and for the ht you to Cruht you and your coo to Boston, and the coone up into the woods I had a little business in this vicinity, and so I ca on the next trip with them”
”Did you come to Crumville with Merwell?”
”I did, but I didn't knoas a criminal”
”Then you must have met Merwell in Boston?”
”No, I met him on the steam yacht”
[Illustration: THEN, AS DAVE WENT AFTER HIM, HE BROKE INTO A RUN--_Page 63_]
”The steaht fire?”
”Of course”
”Then Link Meras on board that vessel?” cried Dave, in added wonder
”Yes”
”Was he a er, took him on the day before ent on the trip I don't knohere Mr Appleby met him”
”That certainly beats the Dutch! Of course, Merwell must have seen me and my friends in the rowboat”
”He said he did”
”He took good pains to keep out of sight!”
”I don't know anything about that, Porter But he was on the boat, you can take ular member of your coood at the business I think he came to Mr Appleby with soive hih, I don't think he's very ot to do so”
”He can probably act as well as the majority,” answered Dave ”But I am surprised to learn that he was on the steam yacht and didn't show hilad enough to keep out of sight I suppose he brought you to this farm?”
”Oh, we just took a walk up this way,” returned Ward Porton, with soave Dave a keen look ”You see, I was on my way to the Crumville poorhouse By the way, Merwell told me that you had once been connected with that institution,” and he gave Dave another keen look
Our hero's face flushed, and for the instant he did not knohat to say Caspar Potts, too, showed confusion
”David was not--er--connected with that institution, sir,” said the old gentleman, hurriedly ”He was placed there when he was a child by those who found hi the railroad tracks here They did not knoho he was, and----”
”I don't think Mr Porton will be interested in that story, Professor,”
interrupted our hero
”Well, to tell the truth I am interested,” answered Ward Porton ”I once lived in a poorhouse myself”
”Indeed! Is that so?” !”