Dave Porter in the Gold Fields

DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS CHAPTER I THE LANDSLIDE MINE "Roger, that sounds like a fairy tale—a real gold mine belonging to your mother lost through a landslide!" "So it does sound like a fairy tale, Dave; but it is absolutely true. The mine was owned by my uncle, Maurice Harrison, of Butte, Mon

CHAPTER II DAVE PORTER'S PAST "What do you think of that, fellows?" asked Roger, as he concluded the reading of the letter. "I am not surprised," answered Dave. "Now that Merwell finds he can't show himself where he is known, he must be very bitter in mind." "I thought he might reform, but I guess I

CHAPTER III CAUGHT IN A STORM "Some class to Roger's driving!" cried Phil, as the little touring-car swept along, in the direction of Lake Sargola. "Roger, if you ever want a recommendation as a chauffeur——" "We'll give it to him on gilt-edged paper," finished Dave, with a grin. "But, I say, don't m

CHAPTER IV A QUESTION OF STOCKS "Some rain, believe me!" It was Dave who uttered the remark, as the touring-car commenced the long and dangerous descent of Sugar Hill. A sheet of water was dashing against the wind-shield, which had been raised as high as possible. "I wish it was driving the other wa

CHAPTER V A TRAP FOR JOB HASKERS "What do you think of it, Dave? "I think Job Haskers is up to some game, Roger." "Selling worthless stocks?" "Yes, or else stocks that are next door to worthless." "I wonder who the old gentleman can be? He looks as if he might have money. That diamond ring he wears

CHAPTER VI ANOTHER SURPRISE The boys had listened to all that was said, and now they lost no time in filing into Mr. Fordham's bedroom. Job Haskers stared at them in amazement, and his face dropped in consternation. "Porter!" he gasped.

CHAPTER VII A GATHERING OF OAK HALL BOYS "Well, they are gone, that's certain!" "Yes, and there is no telling where they went to." "Must have slipped out by a back way." "They sure are a slick pair." It was some time later, and Dave and the other boys stood on the broad piazza of the hotel discussin

CHAPTER IX WHAT NAT POOLE HAD TO TELL "You saw two fellows sneaking around our place last evening?" cried Roger, with interest. "I certainly did." "What did they look like?" asked Dave. "I see 'em plainly an' I was wonderin' what they was up to," said the driver of the milk wagon, and then he descri

CHAPTER X DAVE AT HOME "I'm glad you washed your hands of Merwell, Nat," replied Dave, with warmth. "He is not the sort for any respectable fellow to associate with. But about that letter. Have you any idea what he was going to do?" "No.

CHAPTER XI OVERHEARD IN THE SUMMER-HOUSE "Dave, what do you think! I saw Link Merwell this morning!" It was Laura who spoke, as she burst into her brother's room, where the youth was looking over the things he expected to take with him on his trip West. "You saw Link Merwell!" cried Dave, dropping s

CHAPTER XII ON THE WAY WEST "Off at last!" "Hurrah for the West!" "And the Landslide Mine, Roger, don't forget that!" "What a splendid day for beginning the trip!" "Say, we make quite a crowd, don't we?" "Wonder if the train will be on time, Dave?" "I suppose so. Special excursions are supposed to s

CHAPTER XIII DAVE SEES SOMETHING "You gave somebody my suit-case!" cried the senator's son, while a number of tourists gathered around, to learn what was going on. "Yes, sah!" returned the colored porter of the car. Plainly he was much distressed. "He had an order, sah," he added, and fumbled in one

CHAPTER XIV IN BUTTE Dave overheard the conversation between the two rough-looking men in the crowded car, and so did Phil and Roger. All glanced at each other suggestively. "Do you think they are talking about the Abe Blower we want to find?" asked Roger of Dave, in a whisper. "More than likely, Ro

CHAPTER XV AT ABE BLOWER'S HOME The boys saw at once that something was wrong. Mrs. Carmody was completely bewildered, and being old, had no easy time of it to collect her wits. "Do you feel faint?" asked Dave, kindly.

CHAPTER XVI ON TO BLACK CAT CAMP "You go!" cried Dave. "I thought you had given up prospecting," exclaimed Roger. "Not but that we'd be glad to have you along," put in Phil, hastily. "Well, I have given up prospecting," answered Mr.

CHAPTER XVIII THE STOLEN HORSES "Oh, look!" "That horse is going over the cliff!" "Take care, Phil, or he'll drag you with him!" Such were some of the cries which arose as the others looked back on the rocky trail and saw the situation. The horse with the outfit had struck against a projecting rock

CHAPTER XIX THE NEWSPAPER CLEW "Do you think he'll catch that fellow?" It was Phil who asked the question, as he and Dave and Roger watched the old miner disappear around a bend of the back trail. "I don't know about that," returned Dave. "But if he gets the horses back it will be something." "I sho

CHAPTER XX THE EXPOSURE When Tom Dillon heard about the light that had been seen and the determination to walk to it, he wanted to know how far off it was. "If it's that close we had better all go," he announced, after being told. "If it's Abe Blower's camp it must be in a good spot, for Abe knows t

CHAPTER XXI ON THE BACK TRAIL "Just you two wait a minute!" It was Tom Dillon who uttered the words, as he saw Link Merwell and Job Haskers turn to where their horses were tethered. "You bet they'll wait!" exploded Abe Blower, wrathfully. He stepped forward and seized Merwell by the arm. "What do yo

CHAPTER XXII DAVE AND THE MOUNTAIN LION "Don't fire, I beg of you! We—we are friends! Don't fire! Please put down that pistol, do!" It was Job Haskers who called out in this fashion, as he raised his hands high in the air.

CHAPTER XXIII IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost. The mountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fighting humor. The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's order

CHAPTER XXIV SEARCHING FOR THE LANDSLIDE MINE Lost underground! It was a terrible condition of affairs to contemplate, and for an instant Dave's heart almost stopped beating and something like a chill swept down his backbone. What if they should be unable to find their way out of the rocky cave? "We