“No use in talking, Dave, we’ll have to get after that rascal,” announced the father. “If we don’t, there is no telling how far he’ll carry this thing. I think I’ll put the authorities on his track.”
Two days after that, and while Dave was continuing his studies as diligently as ever, came word over the telephone from Clayton.
“Is this you, Dave Porter?” came over the wire.
“Yes,” answered our hero. “Who are you?”
“This is Nat Poole talking. I am up here in Clayton––in the First National Bank. You know my father got me a job here last week.”
“No, I didn’t know it, Nat. But I’m glad to hear you have something to do, and I hope you’ll make a success of it,” returned Dave promptly.
“I called you up to find out if you were in Clayton,” continued the son of the money lender. “I wanted to make sure of it.”
“Well, I’m not. I’m right here at home, Nat.”
“Then, in that case, I want to tell you that the fellow who looks like you is here.”