Dave Porter at Star Ranch | Page 9

the reception room and shook hands
formally with Aaron Poole.
"I came to get Dave Porter," said the money-lender, stiffly. "I am going
to have him locked up."
"Mr. Poole, will you kindly step into the library with me?" answered
Mr. Wadsworth.
"What for?"
"I wish to have a little conversation with you."
"It won't do any good. I'm going to have that Porter boy arrested, and

that is all there is to it."
"I wished to see you about your son, Nat. Do you know that he stands
in danger of arrest?"
"Arrest! Nat?" queried the money-lender, and the officer of the law
looked at the rich manufacturer with interest.
"Yes. Come into the library, please."
"Want me?" asked the officer.
"No," returned Mr. Wadsworth, shortly, and the man settled back in his
chair, his face showing his disappointment.
Once in the library the manufacturer shut the door with care. He
motioned his visitor to a chair. But Aaron Poole was too impatient to sit
down.
"Now, what's this about my son, Nat?" growled the money-lender.
"I'll tell you," was Mr. Wadsworth's reply, and he related what had
occurred at the old Potts place.
"You expect me to believe this?" snarled Aaron Poole.
"Believe it or not, it is the truth, and I have the three boys to prove it,
and likewise Professor Potts's ruined suit of clothing. Now," continued
the manufacturer, "I know all about your charge against Dave. I'll not
say that he wasn't careless, because he was. But he meant no harm, and
it is going too far to have him arrested. It would be much fairer for
Professor Potts to have your son locked up, and make you pay for the
suit of clothing in the bargain. Now, the professor thinks a great deal of
Dave, and he is willing to drop his complaint against Nat if you'll drop
your complaint against Dave."
"Oh, so that's the way the wind blows, eh?" snarled Aaron Poole. "Well,
I won't do it!" he snapped. "I'm going to have Dave Porter arrested!"

"If you do, Professor Potts will have Nat arrested, and we'll push our
case just as hard as you push yours, Mr. Poole."
"Humph! I guess this is a plot to free Dave Porter!"
"You can think what you please. This is the way I look at it: Dave was
careless, and his father can give him a lecture on his carelessness. Nat
was brutal, and it is up to you to take him in hand. If he were my son,
I'd give him a good talking to--and maybe I'd thrash him," added the
rich manufacturer, warmly.
"Oh, you are all down on my son--just as you are down on me!" cried
Aaron Poole. "I'll look into this! I'll--I'll----"
"Don't do anything hasty," advised Mr. Wadsworth. "Better talk the
matter over with Nat."
"I'll do it. But I'll not drop this matter! I'll get after Dave Porter yet!"
cried Aaron Poole, and then he stalked out of the library, and,
motioning for the officer of the law to follow him, he left the mansion.
CHAPTER IV
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
"I don't think he'll do anything--that is, if he gets the truth out of Nat,"
said Mr. Wadsworth, as he rejoined the others. "Of course, if his son
denies the attack on the professor, it may be different."
"If Nat does that, we'll have the testimony of the professor, Phil, and
Roger against him," said Mr. Porter.
It must be admitted that the next day was an uncomfortable one for
Dave, for he did not know at what moment an officer of the law might
appear to arrest him. In the afternoon he and his chums went fishing,
but he had little heart for the sport.
Early on the day following Ben Basswood called to see Dave and the

others. As my old readers know, Ben had been a friend to Dave for
many years, and had gone from Crumville to Oak Hall with him.
"Was coming before, to meet you and Roger and Phil," said Ben. "But I
had to go out of town on business for dad. How are you all? Say, I hear
you are going out West on a ranch. That's great! Going to shoot
buffaloes, I suppose."
"No, hippopotamuses," put in the senator's son, with a grin.
"And June bugs," added Phil.
"You'll sure have the time of your lives! Wish I was going. But I am
booked for the Great Lakes, which isn't bad. Going to take the trip from
Buffalo to Duluth and back, you know. But say, I came over to tell you
something."
"What is it, Ben?" questioned Dave.
"Come on outside."
The boys walked out into the garden and down to the summerhouse,
where they proceeded to make themselves