r. Appleby: "By the way, is Ward Porton still with you?"

"He is with my company, yes; but he is not here just now," was the
reply. "I expect him in a week or so."

"I met him in Crumville, where I live."

"Is that so? I thought he had gone to his old home down East. However,
it doesn't matter; he has a right to go where he pleases."

"By the way, Mr. Appleby, I would like to speak to you in private for a
moment," went on Dave, and leaping ashore he drew the manager to one
side.

"What is it?"

"You have a new member of your company, a young fellow named Link
Merwell."

"Yes, what of it?"

"Link Merwell is a criminal--a fugitive from justice," answered Dave.
And then he gave the man some of the particulars already known to my
readers.

"If what you say is true, Porter, I don't want that fellow in my
company," said Mr. Appleby, warmly. "What do you want me to do when he
comes, hold him a prisoner?"

"I wish you would do that, and let us know. Mr. Wadsworth will take care
of Merwell."

"All right, I'll do it--if he shows up. But he may not do that--if he
has found out that you are in this vicinity," added the manager.

"I'm thinking he will make himself scarce," returned Dave, with a grim
smile.

In the meantime Della Ford had come down to the side of the canoe.

"Where are you staying, Miss Wadsworth?" questioned the young actress.

"At a bungalow near the end of the lake," returned Jessie, and explained
about the location and who were in the party.

"Oh, how delightful! You will surely have a splendid time here. We are
located in the cottage around the bend where you perhaps saw the
motor-boat tied up. I am sure we'll be very glad to have you call on
us."

"Thank you; perhaps we'll get this way again some time," returned
Jessie, somewhat coolly.

"You must come and see us, Mr. Porter, by all means," went on the young
moving picture actress when our hero returned to the side of the canoe.
"And bring the others along, too. I liked the appearance of your chums.
You all seemed to be so jolly."

"Dave, don't you think we ought to be going?" questioned Jessie.

"Just as you say," he answered, and dipped his paddle into the lake.

"Then you don't want to stay and take part in that other picture?"
called out Della Ford, as the canoe began to leave the dock.

"Not to-day, Miss Ford," called back Dave. "But I may get into one of
your pictures just for the fun of it."

"Do! And don't forget to call a