Part 44 (2/2)

”But evidently they don't want me there,” he told himself, bitterly

”They want to solve this mystery without my interference And if they do make up their minds that I am not the real Dave Porter, I wonder how they will treat me? Of course, they may be very kind to me--the same as Laura and Jessie and the others up here But kindness of that sort isn't everything I don't want any one to support me if I haven't some claim on him” And then Dave shut his teeth hard, clenched his hands, and walked on faster than ever

Finally tired out because he had been on his feet since early , Dave sat down on a flat rock to rest As he did this, he heard the put-put of a motor, and presently around a bend of the shore showed the headlight of Mr Appleby'sdown to the end of the lake, or whether they are going to stop at our place,” said Dave, to himself

”I'd rather they wouldn't stop at Bear Ca is so upset”

As the ht flashed full upon our hero and there followed an excla-picture company, as at the wheel of the craft, with two men beside hi--fishi+ng?”

”No, I just ca,”

answered Dave

”We area little trip around the lake,” went on Mr Appleby ”I was going to stop at your dock and deliver a letter that caht as well give it to you now”

”A letter for me, eh?” answered Dave

”Yes, here you are!” went on Mr Appleby, as the motor-boat came to a standstill close by ”I'll put it in the newspaper and you can have that too, as we have read it;” and suiting the action to the word, the man placed the letter in the folds of the paper and tossed the latter ashore

”Will you stop?” questioned Dave

”Not to-night We are going to ht I'd give you the letter, that's all,” and then, with a pleasant good-bye, the ain

It was too dark to read the letter without a light, and as Dave did not happen to have even aout on the porches as was the custoht of one of these he looked at the communication he had received

”It's froerly, as he looked at the post, his face fell

”It's only from Nat Poole”

The co one, containing ive here There was, however, one paragraph in the letter which Dave read with great interest

”I a to catch that wild ot away from the sanitarium and they had quite a job to locate him They found him up in the vicinity of Oak Hall, at one of the houses where he had once stayed They got him to return to the sanitarium without any trouble, and the doctors think that he is now doing finely”

”hello, Dave! what are you reading?” re up

”Here's a letter from Nat Poole,” and our hero told how he had received it ”You can read it for yourself They have found Wilbur Poole, and have put hilad they caught hier read the letter, and went off to spread the news a one for Dave While Ben and Luke went to Carpen Falls with a letter directed to Phil's father, he spent part of the ti the two deer But his heart was not in the work, and his friends noted his absent-mindedness Several ti to Carpen Falls, and they kneas hoping for so him to come to Crumville

”It er, that evening ”I e could cheer hi to do it We can't lift that burden froot to wait until some word comes from the Porters at Cruer than necessary”

”But think of the terrible suspense!”

”I know it It's too bad!”