[Illustration: Dave Porter and His Double
Edward Stratemeyer]
[Illustration: THE TEAM LEFT THE ROADWAY, AND THE NEXT INSTANT HAD
CRASHED THROUGH A FRAIL RAIL-FENCE.--_Page 24._]
Dave Porter Series
DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE
OR
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE BASSWOOD FORTUNE
BY
EDWARD STRATEMEYER
Author of "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," "The Old Glory Series," "Colonial
Series," "Pan-American Series," "Soldiers of Fortune Series," etc.
_ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER S. ROGERS_
BOSTON
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
Published, August, 1916
Copyright, 1916,
By Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
_All rights reserved_
DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE
Norwood Press
BERWICK & SMITH CO.
NORWOOD, MASS.
U. S. A.
PREFACE
"DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE" is a complete story in itself, but forms
the twelfth volume in a line issued under the general title of "Dave
Porter Series."
This series was begun some years ago by the publication of "Dave
Porter at Oak Hall," in which my young readers were introduced to a
wide-awake American lad at a typical American boarding-school.
The publication of this volume was followed by "Dave Porter in the
South Seas," to which portion of our globe the lad journeyed to clear
up a question concerning his parentage. Next came "Dave Porter's
Return to School," telling of additional happenings at Oak Hall; "Dave
Porter in the Far North," where he went on a second journey looking
for his father; "Dave Porter and His Classmates," in which our young
hero showed what he could do under most trying circumstances; "Dave
Porter at Star Ranch," in which he took part in many strenuous
adventures in the Wild West; "Dave Porter and His Rivals," in which
the youth outwitted some of his old-time enemies; "Dave Porter on
Cave Island," giving the details of a remarkable sea voyage and
strange doings ashore; "Dave Porter and the Runaways," in which the
boy taught some of his school chums a much-needed lesson; "Dave Porter
in the Gold Fields," whither he went in search of a lost mine; and
finally "Dave Porter at Bear Camp," which was located in the
Adirondack Mountains, and where we last left him.
In the present volume we find our hero in a new field of activity.
Having graduated from school, he has taken up the study of civil
engineering, and while engaged in that calling in Texas he becomes
mixed up in most unusual happenings, the particulars of which are
given in the pages that follow.
Once more I wish to thank my young readers, and many of their parents,
for all the kind things they have said regarding my stories. I trust
that the reading of the present book will not only please but also
profit the young folks.
EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
_March 1, 1916_.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I Off for a Sleigh-ride 1
II Something of the Past 13
III The Team that Ran Away 22
IV Ward Porton Again 32
V What Asa Dickley Had to Say 42
VI More Trouble 53
VII Face to Face 63
VIII The Basswood Fortune 72
IX Something About Miniatures 82
X The Big Sleighing-Party 93
XI Held by the Blizzard 104
XII Tim Crapsey's Plot 114
XIII What Washington Bones had to Tell 124
XIV Movements of the Enemy 133
XV The Return to Crumville 143
XVI How the Miniatures Disappeared 153
XVII A Vain Search 163
XVIII The Civil Engineering Examination 173
XIX Off for Texas 181
XX In New York City 191
XXI Dave in Washington 201
XXII In Texas at Last 211
XXIII At the Engineering Camp 221
XXIV A Midnight Alarm 230
XXV The Mexican Raiders 239
XXVI The Chase on the Bridge 249
XXVII Across the Rio Grande 259
XXVIII A Strange Discovery 269
XXIX The Capture 278
XXX The Fortune Recovered--Conclusion 288
ILLUSTRATIONS
The team left the roadway, and the next instant had
crashed through a frail railway fence (_Page
24_) _Frontispiece_
FACING
PAGE
He seized Porton's upraised arm and backed the
fellow against a tree 70
From under the snow and the robes crawled the boys
and the girls 102
Slowly the train puffed in, and proved to be a
freight 136
The young people played games, sang, and danced to
their hearts' content 170
The next instant he was dashing into the street 202
"Here we are at the camp!" announced the guide 226
"Hold tight, Roger! I'll help you," returned Dave,
quickly 256
DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE
CHAPTER I
OFF FOR A SLEIGH-RIDE
"What is the matter, Dave? You look rather mystified."
"I am mystified, Laura," replied Dave Porter. "I have a letter here
that I can't understand at all."
"Whom is it from?" questioned Laura Porter, as she came closer to her
brother, who was ensconced in the largest easy-chair the Wadsworth
library contained.
"It's from a shopkeeper in Coburntown, Mr. Wecks, the shoe-dealer. He
wants to know which pair of shoes I have decided to keep, and asks me
kindly to return the pair I don't want."
"Well, what of that, Dave?" continued his sister, as the youth paused
with a wrinkle on his forehead. "Can't you make up your mind which
pair of shoes you want to keep?"
"I certainly can not, seeing that I haven't had any shoes from Wecks's
store," returned Dave, with a faint smile. "I haven't been in his
place for nearly a year, and the last time I was there I bought a pair
of rubbers and paid for them."
"Oh, then the letter must be meant for somebody else, Dave. Mr. Wecks
has got his customers mixed."
"Perhaps so. But in the letter he speaks of the two pairs of shoes I
took away with me. That looks as if somebody had gotten two pairs of
shoes in my name."
"Well, as we are going out sleighing this afternoon, why don't you
drive to Coburntown and drop into his shop and explain matters?"
suggested the sister.
"I guess that would be best, Laura." Dave folded up the letter and
placed it in his pocket. "How soon will you be ready?"
"Inside of quarter of an hour."
"And how about Jessie?"
"She was almost ready when I came downstairs."
"Good! Then we can get an early start and have a good long ride
besides stopping at Coburntown, where I suppose you and Jessie can do
a little shopping while I am at Wecks's store."
"That will be fine, Dave! I would like to match some ribbon, and the
only place I can do it is in the French Shop in Coburntown;" and thus
speaking Laura Porter hurried out of the room to get ready for the
sleigh-ride.
Dave had proposed the ride just before lunch, and the young people
living at the Wadsworth mansion had telephoned over to the Basswood
home, asking if Ben Basswood would accompany them.
"Sure I'll go--be glad to!" Dave's former school chum had answered
over the wire. "I haven't a thing to do this afternoon, and a first
sleigh-ride of the season will tickle me to death."
"Oh, I don't want it to kill you, Ben," Dave had answered gaily. "Just
the same, you be ready for us when we come over;" and to this Ben had
agreed.
Although it was still early in the winter, there had been a heavy
fall of snow two days before and now the roads in and around
Crumville were in excellent condition for sleighing. The musical sound
of sleigh-bells could be heard in all directions, and this had made
Dave anxious to get out on the road, even though he had to spend
most of his time indoors studying, as we shall learn later.
Dave had already given orders to the hostler connected with the
Wadsworth estate, and now this man brought to the front of the mansion
a fine, big sleigh drawn by a pair of sleek-looking, high-stepping
steeds. The sleigh was well provided with heavy robes to protect its
occupants from the cold.
"Oh, Dave, I'm so glad to go sleighing!" burst out Jessie Wadsworth,
as she came bounding down the broad stairway of the mansion to meet
him. "Isn't it just glorious weather?"
"It sure is," he answered, as he gave her a warm glance. 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."
"Oh, don't worry, Uncle Dunston. I'm sure I can manage them," answered
Dave.
"Sure you can!" returned his uncle, heartily. "Too bad you couldn't
have asked an old fellow like me to go along," he continued, making a
wry face.
"Why, you can come along if you want to. Can't he, Dave?" burst out
Jessie. "We'd be very glad to have you."
"He's only fooling, Jessie," answered Dave. "You couldn't hire Uncle
Dunston to go sleighing to-day. I saw him cleaning up his shotgun
right after breakfast. And I'll wager he has just come in from hunting
and expects to go out again this afternoon. How about it, Uncle--am I
right?"
"You've got me, Davy," answered the man, with a grin. "You see, I
can't get over my old habit of going hunting when I get the chance.
And now that this snow is on the ground, it's just fine for tracking
rabbits."
"Did you get any this morning?"
"A few. I didn't go very far. This afternoon I am going deeper into
the woods, and I guarantee to bring back enough to make the biggest
rabbit pot-pie to-morrow you ever saw;" and, thus speaking, the uncle
hastened away.
He had spent many years of his life roaming the world in quest of game
both big and little, and now, though of late years he had done his
best to settle down, it was still impossible for him to give up his
hunting habit entirely.
Laura soon appeared ready for the ride. Dave had already donned his
heavy overcoat, fur cap, and his driving-gloves. He assisted the girls
into the sleigh and saw to it that they were well tucked in with
robes.
"Have a good time and don't stay out too late," were the farewell
words of Mrs. Wadsworth, who had come to the door to see them off.
"Well, you know we don't expect to be back to dinner this evening,"
answered Dave. "We can get something to eat at Coburntown, or some
other place, and then drive back in the moonlight."
"Very well, but don't make it too late," answered the lady of the
mansion. And then Dave took up the reins, chirped to the team, and
away the sleigh started out of the Wadsworth grounds and down the
highway leading to the Basswood home.
Ben was on the lookout for them, and by the time Dave had drawn up
beside the horse-block he was outside to meet them.
"Good afternoon, everybody," he said gaily, lifting his cap. "This is
just fine of you to take me along."
"Let Ben come in back here with me," said Laura, "and that will give
Jessie a chance to sit in front. I know she always likes to be up
ahead," and Laura smiled knowingly.
"Suits me," answered Ben, quickly; and then assisted Jessie to make
the change, which, however, the miss did not undertake without
blushing, for it may as well be admitted here Jessie thought as much
of Dave as he did of her.
"Oh, Dave, do you think the grays will behave themselves to-day?"
asked the girl, partly to conceal her embarrassment.
"I'm going to make them behave," he answered, sturdily.
"I don't believe they have been out of the stable for several days.
You know we don't use the horses nearly as much as we used to, before
we got the automobile."
"I'll watch them." Dave looked behind him. "All right back there?"
"Yes," answered his sister. "But please don't drive too fast."
"I don't believe sleighing will seem too fast after the riding we have
been doing in the auto," answered the brother. He took up the reins
again, and once more the turnout sped along the highway.
They made a turn, passed along the main street of Crumville, and also
passed the large Wadsworth jewelry works, and then took to a road
leading to Coburntown, some miles distant. The air was cold but clear,
with the bright sunshine sparkling on the snow, and all of the young
people were in the best of humor.
"Say, Dave, how would you like to be back at Oak Hall?" cried Ben,
while the sleigh sped along. "Wouldn't we have the dandy time
snowballing each other, and snowballing old Horsehair?"
"So we would, Ben," answered Dave, his eyes gleaming. "We sure did
have some good times at that school."
"How are you and Roger getting along with your civil engineering
course?"
"All right, I think. Mr. Ramsdell says he is greatly pleased with our
work."
"That's fine. I almost wish I had taken up civil engineering myself.
But dad wants me to go into real estate with him. He thinks there is a
big chance in that line these days, when Crumville is just beginning
to wake up."
"Hasn't your dad got a big rival in Aaron Poole?"
"Oh, no! Poole isn't in it any more when it comes to big deals. You
see, he was so close and miserly in all his business affairs that a
great many people became afraid of him."
"What has become of Nat Poole?" questioned Laura. "Did he go back to
Oak Hall?"
"For a short while only. When his folks found out that he had failed
to graduate they were awfully angry. Mr. Poole claimed that it was the
fault of the school and so he took Nat away and told him he would have
to go to work. I think Nat is working in some store, although where, I
don't know."
"I don't think it's in Crumville or we should have seen him," said
Dave.
"I never want to meet that boy again," pouted Jessie. "I'll never get
over how meanly he acted toward us."
"It's not so much Nat's fault as it is his bringing up," remarked Ben.
"His father never treated him half decently. But I hope Nat makes a
man of himself in spite of the way he used to treat us," went on the
youth generously.
"By the way, Ben, didn't you say your father had gone away?" queried
Dave, a few minutes later.
"Yes, he has gone to Chicago on very important business. It seems an
old friend of his--a Mr. Enos, who was once his partner in an art
store--died, and now the lawyers want to see my father about settling
up the Enos estate."
"An art store?" queried Dave. "I never knew that your father had been
in any such business."
"It was years ago--before my folks came to Crumville. You see, my
father and this Mr. Enos had been chums from early boyhood. My father
says that Mr. Enos was a very peculiar sort of man, who was all
wrapped up in pictures and painting. He got my father to advance a
thousand dollars he had saved up, and on that money the two opened an
art store. But they couldn't make a go of it, and so they gave it up,
and while Mr. Enos went West my father came here."
"Maybe the dead man left your father some money," suggested Laura.
"That is what my mother said to dad. But he thinks not. He thinks it
is more than likely Mr. Enos died in debt and left his affairs all
tangled up, and that the lawyers want my father to help straighten
them out."
"I'd like to be able to paint," said Jessie, with a sigh. "I think
some of those little water-colors are just too lovely for anything."
"Why don't you take it up? There must be some teacher in Crumville,"
returned Dave.
"Let's both do it!" cried Laura. "I used to paint a little before
father and I did so much traveling. I would like to take it up again.
It would be very interesting."
While the young folks were talking, the pair of mettlesome grays had
been speeding over the snow of the road at a good rate of speed. Dave,
however, had them well in hand, so that there was little danger of
their running away.
"We'll be to Benson Crossroads soon, Dave," remarked Ben a while
later, after they had passed over a long hill lined on either side
with tidy farms. "Which road are you going to take--through Hacklebury
or around Conover's Hill?"
"I haven't made up my mind," answered Dave. He looked at Jessie. "Have
you any preference?"
"Oh, let us go up around Conover's Hill!" cried Jessie. "That is
always such a splendid ride. There is so much of an outlook."
"Yes, let us go by way of the hill by all means," added Laura. "It
isn't very nice through Hacklebury, past all those woolen mills."
"All right, the Conover road it is," answered Dave; and forward they
went once more as fast as ever.
They soon passed the Crossroads, and then took the long, winding road
that led around one side of the hill just mentioned. Here travel since
the snow had fallen had evidently been heavy, for the roadway was
packed down until it was almost as smooth as glass. Over this surface
the spirited grays dashed at an increased rate of speed.
"Some team, believe me!" was Ben's comment. "Mr. Wadsworth ought to
put them on a race-course."
"Papa does not believe in racing," answered Jessie. "But he always did
like to have a horse that had some go in him."
"Hark!" cried Laura, a moment later. "What is that sound?"
"It's an auto coming," announced Ben, looking behind them. "A big
touring-car, and whoever is in it seems to be in a tremendous hurry."
"I wish they wouldn't cut out their muffler," was Dave's comment, as
he saw the grays pick up their ears. "They have no right to run with
the muffler open."
As the touring-car came closer those in the sleigh who were able to
look back saw that it was running at a great rate of speed and swaying
from side to side of the roadway. It contained four young men, out,
evidently, for a gloriously good time. Dave did not dare look back to
see what was coming. The grays had their ears laid well back and their
whole manner showed that they were growing more nervous every
instant.
"Hi! Stop that noise!" yelled Ben, jumping up and shaking his hand at
the oncoming automobile. But those in the car paid no attention to
him. The fellow at the wheel put on a fresh burst of speed, and with a
wild rush and a roar the touring-car shot past the sleigh and the
frightened horses, and in a few seconds more disappeared around a turn
of the road.
As might have been expected, the coming and going of the big machine,
with its unearthly roar, was too much for the mettlesome grays. Both
reared up wildly on their hind legs, backing the sleigh off to one
side of the roadway.
"Whoa there! Whoa!" cried Dave, and did his best to keep the team in
hand. But they proved too much for him, and in an instant more they
came down on all fours and started to run away.