"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.