Part 43 (1/2)
”I airl from the West ”What this Porton bases his claim on I don't know As I said before, I didn't read the letter Dave's uncle turned over to Laura”
”I o in and find out about this,” said Dave, in a curiously unnatural voice His ood luck at hunting, and the finding of Phil's uncle and the clearing up of the otten
He found Laura in one of the bedroo in a chair by the ith her hands clasped tightly together and her face firm-set and drawn As she looked up at him, two fresh tears stood out on her cheeks
”They tell ot a letter abouthis best to steady his voice ”Will you let irl,with her hand And then she added impetuously: ”Oh, Dave, I can't believe it's true, I si that ever came up! I am sure there must be some mistake!”
”I--I can't understand it,” Dave stammered in return, and then picked up the coer from Carpen Falls The letter ran as follows:
”DEAR DUNSTON:
”Ahas come up, and I wish you would return to Cru Mr Wadsworth with you
”I cannot go into all the details because I a man named Ward Porton--the sao with Link Merwell--has written tothat he has every reason to believe that he is the real Dave Porter, and that our Dave is somebody else His story is that he was left in a poorhouse at Lumberville, Maine, by an old woot, who told her the child had been under the care of Polly, his wife The claiot had in reality stolen two children, little boys, at about the same time, and the theory is advanced that the other boy was the one dropped froone into the matter very carefully, and has a number of proofs which he will submit whenever called on to do so He adds that he feels sorry for Dave, but hopes that I will find in hiood a son, and also hopes that Laura will like him as well as a brother
”I am so upset that I hardly knohat to think or what to do If this young man's story is true, then all of us have made a sad mistake, and what Dave is to do in the matter I don't know Coet to the bottom of this terrible mix-up
”Your affectionate brother, DAVID BRESLOW PORTER”
Dave read this letter with care, and then allowed the coers If his mind had been in a whirl before, it was ht If he was not Dave Porter, as he? A thousand ideas ran riot through his brain
”Oh, Dave! it can't be true; can it?” caly from Laura
”I don't know,” he answered duht that you and Uncle Dunston proved your identity completely, even before you found father and met me”
”I always supposed we did prove it, Laura,” he answered ”We went into thewas ever said about Sandy Margot stealing two little boys I always supposed he had taken only one child”
”And to think this other young er,” went on Laura, dolefully ”There is no telling what sort of a person he is”
”He's no stranger to me I helped to pull him out of the water when the steaht as far as that goes, although I don't thinkcompany with Link Merwell”
”Do you suppose it can be a plot hatched up by Link Merwell?”
”I don't knohat to think This news stuns o back to Crumville, too”
”No, Uncle Dunston said you had better stay here--at least for the present He said if they wanted you they could send you word”
”Oh, all right,” and now Dave's voice showed a faint trace of bitterness ”Maybe they don't want me around, if they have really settled it that I am not the real Dave Porter”
”Oh, Dave! Don't want you around!” Laura sprang to her feet, and coht both his hands in her own ”Don't talk that way
Even if they should prove that you are not my brother, I shall always think just asthat, Laura,” he returned, with much emotion
”It's nice to know that there is soo back on o back on you, Dave--you have always been so good Oh, I think this is dreadful--just dreadful!” and Laura showed signs of bursting into tears once more