Dave Porter at Star Ranch | Page 6

at him--or
at anybody."
"I think I had better tell my father about this," went on Dave. All his
interest in target-shooting had ended. "He will know what is best to
do."
"We'll leave the target where it is," said Roger. "Then we can explain

just how the thing occurred."
With downcast heart Dave left the field and approached the mansion,
and his chums went with him. Just as they reached the piazza, the door
opened and Laura came out, accompanied by Jessie Wadsworth.
"Oh, are you coming back?" asked Laura. "We were just going to join
you."
"Maybe you've killed the bear!" cried Jessie, with a mischievous
twinkle in her eyes. "I heard that Phil had manufactured one."
"No," answered Dave. "We--that is. I--had some trouble with Mr.
Poole." He turned to his sister. "Where is father?"
"Gone out of town on business. He'll be back this evening."
"And Uncle Dunston?"
"Uncle went with him."
"Oh, that's too bad!" And Dave's face showed more concern than ever.
"What was the trouble about?" asked Jessie, who was quick to see that
Dave was ill at ease.
"Oh, Mr. Poole thought I shot at him--but I didn't," replied Dave, and
then told the story.
"Oh, Dave, do you really think he'll have you locked up!" burst out his
sister, while Jessie's face showed her deep concern.
"I don't know what he'll do," was the slow answer.
"Oh, maybe he won't do anything--after he calms down," said the
shipowner's son. "He'll realize that Dave wouldn't do anything like that
on purpose."
"You don't know Mr. Poole," said Jessie. "Father says he is one of the

most hard-hearted men around here."
"Well, let us hope for the best," said the senator's son. He wanted to
cheer up Laura and Jessie quite as much as Dave.
The boys put the pistols away and then went out in a summerhouse to
talk the affair over.
"If he has me arrested, I suppose that will stop my going out to Star
Ranch," said Dave, gloomily. "Too bad! And just when I was counting
on having the time of my life!"
"Oh, don't take it so to heart, Dave!" cried Phil. "Maybe you'll never
hear of it again."
"He'll hear of it if Mr. Poole tells Nat," said the senator's son. "Nat will
want his father to make all the trouble possible for Dave."
"Where is Nat now? At home?"
"Yes," answered Dave. "I saw him yesterday, down at the post-office."
"Then he'll surely hear about it."
At first Dave thought to tell Caspar Potts about the affair, but then he
realized that the professor was too old to aid him. Besides, the aged
man was not well, and the boy hated to disturb him.
The middle of the afternoon came and went, and nothing was heard
from Aaron Poole. Mrs. Wadsworth went out carriage-riding, taking
the girls with her.
"Let us take a walk," proposed Phil. "No use in hanging around the
house for nothing."
"I don't want Mr. Poole to think I ran away," answered Dave.
Nevertheless, he agreed to go with his chums, and they started off,
leaving word that they would be back in time for dinner, which was

served at the Wadsworth mansion at half-past six.
"I'd like to see that place where you used to live with Professor Potts,"
said the senator's son to Dave. "Is it far from here?"
"Quite a distance, but we can easily walk it," was the reply.
They passed out on the country road and were soon tramping along in
the direction of the old Potts place. As they went on they talked over
the proposed trip to the West.
"We ought surely to have the time of our lives," said the shipowner's
son. "Just think of riding like the wind on some of those broncos!"
"Or getting flung heels over head from a bronco's back," added Roger.
"I rather think we'll have to be careful at first."
"One thing I don't like about this trip," said Dave.
"The fact that Link Merwell's father owns the next ranch to the Star?"
"Exactly."
"Oh, ranch homes out there are sometimes miles apart," said Roger.
"You may not see the Merwells at all."
"That will just suit me,--and I know it will suit Laura, too. She is
awfully sorry that she once corresponded with Link."
"Well, she didn't know what he was," answered the senator's son. Ever
since he had met Laura he had been much interested in Dave's sister.
The three chums had covered about half the distance to the old Potts
place when they saw a horse and buggy approaching. As it came closer
they saw that it contained two men.
"It's Mr. Poole!" cried Dave, and then, as he caught sight of the other
man's face, he turned