hose around you. You'll
make a name for yourself in this world even if they take your present
name away from you;" and as she spoke the girl's words rang with
earnestness.

A great and peculiar joy seemed to creep over Dave, and despite the
blackness of the situation, his heart for the moment felt light. He
gazed with emotion at both Laura and Jessie.

"If that's the way you feel about it--and Laura says she feels the
same--I'm not going to worry just yet," he answered.

CHAPTER XXVII

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NIGHT

That evening the sole topic of conversation at Bear Camp was the news
concerning Dave. The other lads could not bear to question Laura or
Jessie on the subject, knowing how badly both of them must feel; but
they asked Belle to tell all she knew, and also quizzed Mrs. Wadsworth
and Mrs. Basswood.

"It's the worst state of affairs I have ever known," was the way the
jewelry manufacturer's wife expressed herself, in private to Roger and
Phil. "We, as you know, think the world and all of Dave, and we don't
want him to drop back and become a nobody, even in name. He is a
splendid boy, and no matter what happens we shall always think as much
of him as we ever did."

"I think all his friends will stick to him," answered Roger. "At the
same time, this will cut him to the heart; and what he'll do if they
really prove he isn't Dave Porter, I don't know."

"Maybe the Porters will continue to keep him in the family as an adopted
son," suggested Phil. "That is, if this report really proves to be true,
which I don't believe will happen."

"I have always thought a great deal of Dave, ever since he saved Jessie
from that gasoline explosion," returned Mrs. Wadsworth. "Should they
find out that he is not a Porter, I think I would be strongly in favor
of my husband adopting him."

"Say, that wouldn't be half bad!" burst out Phil, "and the suggestion
does you credit, Mrs. Wadsworth. Personally, I think Dave is the finest
fellow in the world."

"I am sure we all think that," added Roger. "Since he went to Oak Hall
he has made a host of real friends, and I don't think one of them will
desert him."

While this conversation was going on, the other boys were talking to our
hero, doing their best to cheer him up and to convince him that, no
matter what happened, they would stick to him.

"You take it from me," declared Luke, "this is some scheme gotten up by
Link Merwell and this other fellow!"

"Certainly it