FACE TO FACE
"If you catch Porton, Dave, what will you do--turn him over to the
authorities?"
"Yes, Roger."
"Is Bixter much of a place?"
"Oh, no. There are but two stores and two churches and not over thirty
or forty houses."
"Then you may have some trouble in finding an officer. Probably the
village doesn't boast of anything more than a constable and a Justice
of the Peace."
"I am not worrying about that yet, Roger," returned our hero, grimly.
"We have got to catch Porton first."
"Oh, I know that. But if he started for Bixter on foot we ought to be
able to locate him. A stranger can't go through such a small place
without somebody's noticing it."
On and on trotted the horse, past many well-kept farms, and then
through a small patch of timber land. Beyond the woods they crossed a
frozen creek, and then made a turn to the northward. A short distance
beyond they came in sight of the first houses that went to make up
the village of Bixter.
"Well, we've not seen anything of him yet," remarked the senator's
son, as they slowed up and looked ahead and to both sides of the
village street.
"No, and I don't understand it," returned Dave. "From what that
carpenter's helper said, I thought we should overtake him before we
got to Bixter. Either he must have left this road, or else he must be
some walker."
"I don't see where he could have gone if he left the road, Dave. All
we passed were lanes leading to the farms, and a path through that
wood. It isn't likely he would take to the woods in this cold
weather--not unless he was going hunting, and that chap back in
Clayton didn't say anything about his carrying a gun."
With the horse in a walk, they passed down the village street and back
again. As they did this they kept their eyes wide open, peering into
the various yards and lanes that presented themselves.
"I'm afraid it's no use unless he is in one of these houses or in one
of the stores," was Roger's comment.
"I'll ask at the stores," returned Dave.
The inquiries he and his chum made were productive of no results so
far as locating Ward Porton was concerned. No one had seen or heard
of the former moving picture actor.
"All the strangers we've seen to-day was a cigar drummer," said one of
the shopkeepers. "And he was a fat man and about forty years old." The
other storekeeper had had no strangers in his place.
Hardly knowing what to do next, Dave and Roger returned to the
cutter.
"Maybe he went farther than this," suggested Roger. "We might go on a
mile or two and take a look."
Now that they had come so far, Dave thought this a good idea, and so
they passed on for a distance of nearly two miles beyond Bixter. Here
the sleighing became poor, there being but few farmhouses in that
vicinity.
"It's no use," said Dave, finally. "We'll go back to Bixter, take
another look around, and then return to Clayton and home."
When they arrived once more at the village Dave suggested that he and
his chum separate.
"There are a number of these lanes that lead to some back roads," said
Dave. "Perhaps if we tramp around on foot and ask some of the country
folks living around here we may get on the track of the fellow we are
after."
The senator's son was willing, and he was soon walking down a lane
leading to the right while Dave went off to the left. Presently Dave
came to a barn where a farmer was mending some broken harness.
"Hello! Back again, are you?" cried the farmer, as he looked at Dave
curiously. "What brought you? Why didn't you stop when I called to you
before?"
"I guess you're just the man I want to see," cried Dave, quickly. And
then, as the farmer looked at him in increasing wonder, he added: "Did
a young man who looks very much like me go past here to-day?"
"Look like you?" queried the farmer. "Why, it was you, wasn't it?"
"No. It must have been a fellow who resembles me very closely. I am
trying to catch him."
"Well, I swan!" murmured the farmer, looking at Dave critically. "That
other feller looked as much like you as could be. Wot is he--your twin
brother?"
"I am thankful to say he is no relative of mine. He is a swindler, and
that is why I would like to catch him. He has been getting goods in my
name. If he went past here perhaps you can tell me where he has
gone?"
"He walked past here less than fifteen minutes ago. He went down that
lane, which is a short cut to the road to Barnett."
"Barnett!" cried our hero. "That's the railroad station up this way,
isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Then he must be heading for a railroad train!" exclaimed Dave,
quickly. "How far is it from here?"
"Barnett is three miles by the road, but it's less than a mile and a
quarter by that short cut through Gerry's Woods."
"Then I'll go after him by that short cut," answered Dave. He thought
for a moment. To hunt up Roger and get him to go along might take too
long. He looked at the farmer. "Would you like to go with me? I'll
make it worth your while," he continued.
"Sorry, but I can't do it," was the reply. "I've got to meet the man
who buys my milk down town in about fifteen minutes. He's a very
particular customer, and if I should fail him he might get mad. So I
can't go."
"All right, I'll go after him alone," answered our hero; and then
continued: "If you are going down town, and you chance to see a friend
of mine with my black horse and cutter, will you kindly tell him where
I have gone?"
"Sure, I will;" and with this promise from the farmer Dave started on
a swift walk along the short cut to Barnett which the other had
pointed out.
Fortunately for the youth, to keep his feet warm while riding he had
donned a heavy pair of rubbers, so that walking through the rather
deep snow of the path leading through the back farms and through
Gerry's Woods was not as uncomfortable as it might otherwise have
been. To be sure, he occasionally found himself floundering in snow
that was over his shoetops, but when this happened he simply smiled
grimly and made the best of it. When at Oak Hall he had often taken
part in track athletics, cross-country running, and occasionally in a
game of hare and hounds, and consequently his wind was good and he
made rapid progress without becoming too much exhausted.
He was in the depth of the woods when, at a turn in the path, he saw a
figure ahead of him. The individual wore a heavy overcoat and had a
cap pulled well down over his ears and the back of his head.
"I may be mistaken, but that looks as if it might be Porton," said
Dave to himself. "However, I'll soon know;" and he increased his speed
so that he might catch up to the other walker.
As the ground was covered with snow our hero made but slight noise
while he advanced, and as a consequence he drew quite close to the
other individual before the latter was aware of his presence.
"Hi there!" called out Dave, when he was but a few feet behind. The
fellow had stopped and turned around, and a single glance showed our
hero that it was the youth he was seeking.
"Dave Porter!" muttered Ward Porton, as he recognized our hero. His
manner showed that he was much astonished, as well as chagrined, at
this unexpected meeting.
"You didn't expect to meet me out here, did you?" remarked Dave,
sharply, as he came up alongside the former moving-picture actor.
"Why--I--er--I--can't--can't say that I did," returned Porton,
lamely.
"You've been acting in a fine way, haven't you, Porton?" went on Dave,
angrily.
"Huh! What have I done?" Porton's gaze was shifty. He did not dare to
look our hero in the eyes.
"You know well enough what you've done, Porton--buying a whole lot of
goods in my name."
"What are you talking about? I didn't do any such thing!" was the
blustering reply. The former moving-picture actor was recovering from
his surprise.
"I can prove that you did; and I'm going to hold you responsible for
it," answered Dave, calmly.
"Look here, Porter, I don't want any such talk from you!" and now
Ward Porton doubled up his fists and stuck out his chin. "I've stood
all I am going to stand from you. I want you to leave me alone."
"Porton, you can bluster all you please, but it won't do you any
good," answered Dave, and his voice had a more positive ring to it
than before. "You thought you could play this trick on me and get away
with it, but I am going to show you it can't be done. I am going to
hand you over to the authorities and see that you go to jail."
"If you think you can do that, Porter, you've got another guess
coming. You clear out and let me alone or I'll make it hot for you;"
and Ward Porton shook his fist in Dave's face.
The manner of the young man who had been obtaining goods in Dave's
name was so aggressive that many a youth would have been intimidated
and inclined to withdraw. But that was not our hero's way. He was
righteously indignant, not only because of what the rascal before him
had done, but also because of his present threat. Without more ado he
seized hold of Porton's upraised arm and backed the fellow against a
tree.
[Illustration: HE SEIZED PORTON'S UPRAISED ARM AND BACKED THE FELLOW
AGAINST A TREE.--_Page 70._]
"Now, you just listen to me," he said sternly. "Your bluff and bluster
won't do you any good. I am going to hand you over to the authorities,
and that is all there is to it. You've got to behave yourself and
stop threatening me, or I'll give you something that you won't want."
"You imp, you! Let go of me!" roared Porton, and, bringing around his
disengaged hand, he struck Dave a glancing blow on the chin.
If anything more was needed to arouse our hero's just ire, this blow
proved more than sufficient. As much anger as he had ever felt in his
life surged up in Dave's heart. He drew back, letting go his hold--and
the next instant his fist shot out and landed straight on Ward
Porton's nose.
"Ouch!" spluttered the former moving-picture actor, and not without
reason, for the stinging blow our hero had delivered not only hurt
exceedingly, but also caused the blood to flow.
"Now will you behave yourself and come with me, or do you want some
more?" demanded Dave.
"I'll fix you for that! Just wait!" bellowed Porton; and then he made
a savage rush at our hero.
The next instant they were locked in each other's arms and swaying
from side to side, each doing his utmost to gain the mastery.