STARTLING NEWS
Dave was so surprised that for the moment he knew not what to say or do.
His eyes followed Laura as she disappeared within the bungalow, and then
he turned in bewilderment to Belle.
"Laura takes it awfully hard, but I don't think she ought to--at least
not yet," said the girl from Star Ranch. "There may not be a word of
truth in the story. Anyway, I'm not going to believe it until they prove
it."
"But what are you talking about, Belle?" questioned Dave, his face still
showing his perplexity. "What is it all about? Has anything happened at
home? It isn't my father; is it?"
"No, there is nothing wrong at your home, Dave--at least not in the way
you think." Belle paused for a moment as if not knowing how to go on.
"You remember what Link Merwell said; don't you?"
"About me?"
"Yes. Of course I don't believe it at all. But this young fellow, Ward
Porton, sent word to your father, and that has upset him a great deal,
so that he sent word to your Uncle Dunston and Laura, as well as to Mr.
Wadsworth. The word came in this morning, a couple of hours after you
had left; and after talking the matter over, your uncle and Mr.
Wadsworth made up their minds to return to Crumville without delay."
"And what did this Ward Porton have to say?" questioned our hero, and it
was with an effort that he steadied his voice.
"I can't give you all the particulars, because Laura did not show me the
letter. Poor dear! it just broke her up completely, and I've had an
awful time with her--and I've had an awful time with Jessie, too."
"But you must know something," went on Dave, while the others gathered
around, their faces showing their intense curiosity.
"Well, as near as I can make out, this Ward Porton has been
investigating matters connected with himself and with you, and he claims
that he is the real Dave Porter and that you are somebody else."
"Oh, say, that's nonsense!" burst out Phil, quickly. "Why, we proved
Dave's identity beyond question, when we came back from our trip to the
South Seas."
"Sure we did!" added Roger. "Dave's uncle went into all of the details
with the Crumville poorhouse authorities, and also got the particulars
of how that fellow named Sandy Margot, the good-for-nothing husband of
that crazy nurse, Polly Margot, abducted Dave and took him on a railroad
train, and then got scared and put him off at Crumville."
"I am sure I hope what you say is true, Roger," responded the girl 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 must go in and find out about this," said Dave, in a curiously
unnatural voice. His mind was in a whirl, and for the time being his
good luck at hunting, and the finding of Phil's uncle and the clearing
up of the mystery of the wild man, were completely forgotten.
He found Laura in one of the bedrooms of the bungalow, sitting in a
chair by the window, with 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 me that Uncle Dunston got a letter about me," said the youth,
doing his best to steady his voice. "Will you let me see it?"
"It's on the table," returned the girl, motioning with her hand. And
then she added impetuously: "Oh, Dave, I can't believe it's true, I
simply can't! Why, it's the most dreadful thing 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 communication which had been sent by special messenger from Carpen
Falls. The letter ran as follows:
"DEAR DUNSTON:
"A most astonishing thing has come up, and I wish you would
return to Crumville at once; and it might be well to bring
Mr. Wadsworth with you.
"I cannot go into all the details because I am completely
upset. Briefly stated the matter is this: A young man named
Ward Porton--the same fellow who was in Crumville some time
ago with Link Merwell--has written to me, stating that 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 woman
who obtained him from Sandy Margot, who told her the child
had been under the care of Polly, his wife. The claim is
also made that Sandy Margot 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
from the train at Crumville. The young man states that he
has gone 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 him as good a son, and also hopes that Laura will
like him as well as a brother.
"I am so upset that I hardly know what 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. Come on as soon as possible and help me to get
to the bottom of this terrible mix-up.
"Your affectionate brother,
DAVID BRESLOW PORTER."
Dave read this letter with care, and then allowed the communication to
slip from his fingers. If his mind had been in a whirl before, it was
more so now, and for the moment he could hardly think straight. If he
was not Dave Porter, who was he? A thousand ideas ran riot through his
brain.
"Oh, Dave! it can't be true; can it?" came half-pleadingly from Laura.
"I don't know," he answered dumbly. "I don't know."
"But, Dave, I thought 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
the matter very carefully at that time. Nothing was ever said about
Sandy Margot stealing two little boys. I always supposed he had taken
only one child."
"And to think this other young man is a perfect stranger," 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
steam yacht was on fire," answered Dave. "I guess he's all right as far
as that goes, although I don't think much of his keeping company with
Link Merwell."
"Do you suppose it can be a plot hatched up by Link Merwell?"
"I don't know what to think. This news stuns me. I've got to consider
it. Maybe I had better go 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 coming
over to him, caught 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 as much of you."
"Thank you for saying that, Laura," he returned, with much emotion.
"It's nice to know that there is somebody who won't go back on me."
"I don't believe anybody will go 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.
"Where are Jessie and Mrs. Wadsworth, and Mrs. Basswood?"
"I think Jessie went over to the other bungalow with her mother. She was
as much upset as I was."
"Does she think the story is true?"
"She hopes it isn't. But of course she can't do anything--and I can't do
anything either."
"Well, I don't see what I can do." Dave took a turn up and down the
room, and then sank on a chair. "This just knocks me endwise. I can't
even seem to think straight," he added, helplessly.
"You poor boy!" Laura came over and brushed back the hair from his
forehead. "You don't know how this hurts, Dave. Oh, it can't be true!"
"I wonder how long I've got to wait before I hear from Crumville?"
"I am sure I don't know. I think, though, we'll get word just as soon as
they know anything definite."
At that moment came a timid knock on the door, and Laura opened it to
admit Jessie. The appearance of the girl showed that she was much
upset. Her face was tear-stained and her hair awry.
"Oh, Dave!" was all she said. And then coming straight toward him, she
threw her head on his shoulder and burst into a fit of weeping.
"There, there, Jessie! Don't you cry so," he said, soothingly. "I am
sure it will be all right."
"But Da-Dave, hasn't Laura to-told you?"
"Yes, she has told me."
"And did you read that letter?"
"Yes."
"But it can't be true, Dave! Oh, tell me it can't be true!" went on the
girl, pleadingly.
"I can't tell you whether it is true or not, Jessie, for I don't know,"
answered the boy, as bravely as he could. "I suppose they'll investigate
the matter at Crumville and at that place in Maine, and let me know." He
looked at her curiously. "What if they prove I am not the real Dave
Porter, Jessie--will you care very much?"
"Care? Of course I'll care, Dave! But don't misunderstand me," she
added, quickly. "Even if they prove you are not the real Dave Porter, it
won't make any difference to me. I shall think just as much of you, no
matter who you are."
"Do you really mean that?" and he clutched her tightly.
"I certainly do! What difference will it really make? You will be
yourself, no matter what your name is."
"I know, Jessie, I'll be myself; but who will I be? Perhaps I'll be a
'poorhouse nobody' after all," and he smiled bitterly.
"Never!" returned the girl, emphatically. "You'll never be a nobody,
Dave. You are too true, both to yourself and to those around you. You'll
make a name for yourself in this world even if they take your present
name away from you;" and as she spoke the girl's words rang with
earnestness.
A great and peculiar joy seemed to creep over Dave, and despite the
blackness of the situation, his heart for the moment felt light. He
gazed with emotion at both Laura and Jessie.
"If that's the way you feel about it--and Laura says she feels the
same--I'm not going to worry just yet," he answered.