“Porton! You don’t mean it? Where is he?”
“He was standing under that light when I drove out from the stable. I ran to speak to him, and then he took to his legs and scooted around yonder corner. I went after him, but by the time I got on the side street he was out of sight.”
“Is that so! It’s too bad you couldn’t catch him, Dave. I suppose you would have liked to talk to him.”
“That’s right, Ben. And maybe I might have had him arrested, although now that he has been exposed, and now that Link Merwell is in jail, I don’t suppose it would have done much good.”
“It’s queer he should show himself so close to Crumville. One would think that he would want to put all the distance possible between himself and your folks.”
“That’s true, Ben. Maybe he is up to some more of his tricks.”
The girls were on the lookout for the boys, and now, having bundled up well, they came from the restaurant, and all got into the sleigh once more. Then they turned back in the direction of Crumville, this time, however, taking a route which did not go near Conover’s Hill.
“Oh, Dave! were you sure it was that Ward Porton?” questioned his sister, when he had told her and Jessie about the appearance of the former moving-picture actor.
“I was positive. Besides, if it wasn’t Porton, why would he run away?”