Dunston Porter

“ Porter took the car around to the garage. They had sent word ahead for rooms, and all soon felt at home. The girls had a fine apartment on the second floor, front, with Dunston Porter next to them, and the three boys in a big room across the hallway.
When the young people assembled in the dining-room, after brushing and washing up, a surprise awaited them. They had a table to themselves, ordered by Dunston Porter, and decorated with a big bouquet of roses and carnations. A full course dinner was served.
“Oh, this is lovely!” cried Jessie, as she caught sight of the flowers. ”

“ Porter, you can well be proud of Dave!"
"And I am proud of him," replied the parent, heartily.
"We are all proud," added Dunston Porter.
In the excitement it must not be supposed that Phil and Roger were forgotten. While Dave related his story to the men, and delivered the jewels to Mr. Wadsworth, his chums had to tell about all that had occurred, to Mrs. Wadsworth and the girls. And the questions that were asked and answered would fill a chapter and more.
"And what will they do to Jasniff?" asked Laura. ”

“ Dunston Porter?"
"Yes, but Dave looks like Dunston Porter, too," came quickly from Ben.
"It's queer that he resembles his uncle more than he does his father," was Shadow's comment. "Maybe this Ward Porton resembles Mr. David Porter."
"Well, it's fierce; that's all I've got to say," declared Ben. "And what Dave is going to do [Pg 269] if they prove he isn't the real Dave Porter is something I don't like to think about. ”

“ For several days Dave felt as if he was dreaming and walking on air, his heart was so light. The more the boy saw of his uncle Dunston he more he liked the man, and Dunston Porter was equally pleased. Both had long talks regarding the past and the future, and it was agreed that the man should return to the United States for the time being and, instead of hunting for the treasure, trace up the present address of David Porter, senior, and Dave's sister Laura. ”

“ In return, Dunston Porter gave Dave pictures of his father and his sister Laura. The boy gazed at the photographs a long while, and the tears filled his eyes as he did so.
"Well, there is one thing sure!" he murmured to Roger. "At any rate, I am no longer a poorhouse nobody!"
"That's right, Dave," returned the senator's son, warmly. "Let me congratulate you. By that picture, your father must be a nice man, and your sister is handsome."
"And to think that they are rich," added Phil. "That's the best of all." ”

“ On and on sped the big touring car, and soon the stirring incident on the road was, for the time being, forgotten. Crumville had been left far behind, and now they passed through one pretty village after another. On the broad, level stretches Dunston Porter allowed the boys to “spell” him at the wheel, for each knew how to run an automobile.
“Twenty miles more to Ryeport!” cried Dave, as they came to a crossroads and read a signboard. ”

“ Dave looked thoughtfully out of the window and tapped the table with his fingers.
"You still think Merwell and Jasniff guilty?" remarked his uncle, with a smile.
"Yes, Uncle Dunston. After what Hooker Montgomery said, I'll think them guilty until somebody proves otherwise."
"Then I tell you what I'll do, boys," said Dunston Porter. "I'll take a trip down to Florida with you and look into this matter. I'd rather be on the move than sitting still waiting for something to turn up."
"Will you go?" cried Dave, eagerly. ”

“ In spite of his rags and his dirty face and hands Charley Gamp had a winning way about him, and the boys and girls easily induced him to follow them to the hotel. Here they waited for the return of Dunston Porter, and then asked what might be done with the waif.
"You'll have your hands full if you want to help every waif that comes along," said Dave's uncle, with a smile. "Every big city has hundreds of them." ”

“ Dave drew the photograph from his pocket and thrust it forward, directly before the tar's eyes.
"There is the man!" he cried. "Now, what is his name? Tell me his name, at once!"
"Dunston Porter!" fairly shouted the sailor. "Dunston Porter! That's it! ”

“ I don’t believe there is any honor among thieves.”
Ben had not said how soon he and Dunston Porter would arrive. But as they would probably follow the letter the two chums looked for the pair on almost every train. But two days passed, and neither put in an appearance.
“They must have been delayed by something,” was Dave’s comment.
“Maybe they are trying to get that ten thousand dollars together,” suggested Roger.
“I don’t believe my Uncle Dunston will offer Porton any such money right away,” returned our hero. “He’ll see first if he can’t work it so as to capture the rascal.” ”

“ There was a cynical sneer on his face as he read the communication from Jessie to Dave.
“It’s enough to make a fellow sick to think such a rich girl as that should take to a fellow like Dave Porter,” he murmured to himself. “Wouldn’t I like to put a spoke in that fellow’s wheel! I wonder if I couldn’t do something to come between Porter and the Wadsworths? I owe old man Wadsworth something for sending me to prison.”
Then Nick Jasniff turned to the letter written by Dunston Porter. ”

“ To Dave, Jessie was the most beautiful girl in the world, and just now, clad as she was in her dainty sealskin coat and her jaunty sealskin hat, she looked more bewitching to him than ever.
“Going for a ride, eh?” came from Dave’s uncle, Dunston Porter, who had just finished a belated lunch. “Well, have a good time, and don’t let that pair of grays run away with you. John was telling me they are feeling quite mettlesome lately. I guess they don’t get exercise enough.” ”

“ Dunston Porter. Maybe he is some relative of yours?" [273]
"The very man I am looking for!" cried Dave. "Can you tell me where I can find him?" His heart was almost in his throat as he asked the question. Supposing Mr. Dunston Porter had left Sobago Island for parts unknown?
"Find him? I think so. He was here yesterday and said he was going out to the ruins of the old temple on the Pokali Road. He expected to be gone all day on the trip. He'll be back to town by night."
"Then you'll have to wait, Dave," came from Phil. ”

“ The men who had accompanied Dunston Porter needed no further urging. They knew many of the particulars concerning the case, and had been promised a large reward if they would give their aid in rounding up the kidnappers and saving the two girls. One man was a local constable, and two were detectives, while the others were men who had been picked up in the town and pressed into service because of their strength and willingness to fight. The whole crowd leaped from the automobiles and lost no time in giving chase to the fleeing criminals.
“I’m going to join in this hunt, Roger!” exclaimed Dave. ”

“ Dave copied that portion of the letter which interested him and forwarded it to Dunston Porter, along with a communication in which he asked his uncle about taking a trip to London. He said he was tired of waiting and would like to start on a hunt for his father and sister without further delay. After sending the letter he talked the matter over with Roger.
"You can't imagine how impatient I am to meet my father and sister," he said. "Why, some days I get so I can hardly fasten my mind on my studies, and I go in for fun just to help me forget what is on my mind." ”

“ My! from what Uncle Dunston writes, that Liberty Loan campaign must have been a red-hot one.”
“Of course we are all very proud of the fact that you have become a sergeant,” wrote Dunston Porter. “If you keep on the way you have started some day you may become a lieutenant or a captain, or go even higher. You certainly have our best wishes.
“And that puts me in mind, Dave. You, of course, remember Nat Poole, old Aaron Poole’s son, with whom you had so many differences in the past. Well, that slacker was finally drafted into the army in spite of all old Poole could do to keep [40] him out. ”

“ Dave carried the rifle and Roger the shotgun, while the others were loaded down with several knapsacks of provisions and some extra wraps and a blanket or two.
"You want to take plenty of things with you," Dunston Porter had cautioned them. "You may get farther away from home than you anticipate, and may have to stay out all night."
"That's true, Uncle Dunston," Dave had answered. "And that being so, if we don't turn up at a reasonable hour, don't worry about us."
"But what will you do if you capture that wild man?" asked Mrs. Basswood. ”

“ They asked me my name, and I said something that sounded to them like Davy and Dun-Dun and Porter, and so they called me Dave Porter."
"Ah!" cried Dunston Porter, and he was all attention. "Go on."
"I was taken to the poorhouse, and then went to [276] live with some other folks who were very kind to me, and one rich gentleman sent me to a boarding school. While there I helped an old sailor named Billy Dill——"
"Billy Dill! Well, I never! Go on, please." ”

“ How this was accomplished has been related in detail in "Dave Porter in the South Seas." With information obtained from an old sailor the youth journeyed almost half around the world, and there fell in with his uncle, Dunston Porter, who gave him much information concerning his father, David Breslow Porter, and also about his sister Laura, one year younger than himself, and told how the family had become separated. ”

“ Poole,” answered Dunston Porter, stiffly. “I think it was your fault entirely. But if you think otherwise, come and see me when I get back from this trip, which will be in four days.” And without waiting for more words, Dave’s uncle started up the touring car, and Aaron Poole was soon left far behind.
“If he isn’t a peach!” murmured Roger, slangily. “It’s easy to see where Nat gets his meanness from. He is simply a chip off the old block.”
“He’s a pretty big chip,” returned Phil, dryly. ”

“ Wadsworth,” said Dunston Porter. “If we find those young men have the gems—or had them—we’ll get them back, never fear.” And he spoke in a tone that showed he meant what he said. 136
They went to the depot in the family sleigh. Ben had heard of their going away and was there to see them off. Soon the train rolled in that was to carry the travelers to New York City.
“Good-by!” cried the boys, as they clambered aboard the car. ”

“ Wadsworth. "We haven't any umbrellas."
"Oh, excuse me, I didn't mean to shower you," pleaded Shadow. "Anyway, it was Roger's fault."
"If you are going to race, start in!" ordered Dunston Porter.
"Well, what's the prize?" queried Roger, doing his best to keep out of Shadow's reach.
"The fellow who wins gets the hole in the doughnut," returned Dave, gaily.
[Pg 177] "All ready! Line up!" ordered Dunston Porter, and after a general scramble and amid much merriment, the boys lined up. Then came the order "Go!" and all of them struck out lustily for the rock that marked the goal. ”

“ Breen’s affairs, and Dunston Porter had promised to take the matter up, through his lawyer.
“I think it best that our names don’t appear 42 in the case,” said he. “Otherwise, Mr. Haskers might not treat you so well during the term.”
“He never treats us well, anyway,” grumbled Phil. “But you are right, don’t mention our names.”
On this late winter day the town looked rather dreary, but the young folks were in high spirits, and Dave, with a grand flourish, ran the car up to one of the best hotels the place afforded. ”

“ Occasionally, of course, they get swept away, but not often. They sail altogether by the sun and stars, and can strike almost as straight a course as if they were using a compass."
Dave questioned Soko further about Dunston Porter, but could learn little, outside of the fact that the man was a treasure hunter and had paid very well for what was done for him. ”

“ OFF FOR BARBADOS
The next three days were busy ones for the boys and Dunston Porter. Telegrams were sent back and forth between Phil and his father, and also between Dave and Mr. Wadsworth.
"Here is news!" cried our hero, after receiving one of the messages. "Just listen to this." And he read the following, from the jewelry manufacturer:
"Clew in Boston proved to be false, also clew in New York. ”

“ If we want to make something of ourselves in this world, we’ve got to buckle down and take the bitter with the sweet. I guess it’s just as hard on the girls. They won’t want to go out in company with any of the other fellows.”
“And we know what we are working for—and that is one comfort,” added the senator’s son.
In his communication to his nephew Dunston Porter spoke about having bought some stock in the Mentor Construction Company, and having gotten Mr. Wadsworth to make the same kind of 62investment. Between them the two had put up twenty thousand dollars. ”

“ We have an idea that the girls are being held somewhere between here and Cullomburg or beyond. There are not very many good roads around here, and it is reported that the battered-up touring-car was seen going back and forth on the road between here and that mountain town.”
Before the conversation over the telephone came to an end, Dunston Porter broke in on the Crumville end of the wire, and when he heard of what had been discovered stated that he would come on to Crandall immediately, bringing several men with him, and there get some kind of turnout to take him to Frytown and beyond. ”

“ Such random shots they know often inflict the most galling wounds.
However, "Friend," "My good man," and "Mr. What's-your-name," disappointed this lady's small artillery of effect. He seemed invulnerable both to her insolence and to her affectation; for to be thought a wit, by even Miss Dundas's emigrant tutor, was not to be despised; though at the very moment in which she desired his admiration, she supposed her haughtiness had impressed him with a proper sense of his own meanness and a high conception of her dignity. ”