s and lots to tell," went on Dave,
with a smile. He caught Laura and Jessie by the arms. "See Nat Poole
over yonder?" he whispered. "Well, you want to be nice to Nat after
this, for he is going to reform."

"Reform?" queried his sister.

"Really?" added Jessie.

"That's what he told me. We had quite a talk on the train. I'll tell
you about it later. And I've got a lot more to tell," Dave went on. "All
about a lost gold mine that belongs to Mrs. Morr, Roger's mother."

"A lost gold mine!" exclaimed Dunston Porter. "Is this a joke, Dave?"

"No, sir, it's the truth. The strangest tale you ever heard. When we go
out to Yellowstone Park we--that is, us boys--are going to look for the
mine."

"Of all things!" burst out Laura. "Say, Dave, will you ever settle down?
Here I thought you were going to take a nice little personally-conducted
tour with us, and you talk of going land knows where to look for a lost
gold mine!"

"Is it very far?" asked Jessie, and her face showed some disappointment.

"Oh, it's not very far from Yellowstone Park," answered the youth. "It's
in Montana, and you know a corner of the Park is in that State."

All had walked toward the automobile, which Mr. Porter had been running.
The girls got in the tonneau and Dave climbed into the front seat beside
his uncle. Just as they were about to start, Nat Poole walked past,
suit-case in hand, and tipped his hat politely. Both girls smiled and
bowed and Mr. Porter nodded. Then the touring-car rolled off in the
direction of the big Wadsworth mansion, where, as I have before stated,
the Porters resided with the jeweler's family and old Caspar Potts.

As they passed through the main street of Crumville--now built up a
great deal more than when Dave had first known it--many persons bowed
and smiled to all in the car. Everybody knew the Porters and liked them,
and the fact that Dave had once been an inmate of the local poor-house
was almost forgotten.

To the youth himself the ride was full of interest. As he sat back in
the comfortable seat of the automobile he could not help but think of
the many changes that had taken place since he had been found wandering
along the railroad tracks, alone and hungry. He had found a father, an
uncle, and a sister, and he had made many warm friends, including Jessie
Wadsworth, to him the dearest girl in all the world. Certainly he had
much to be grateful for,--and he was grateful from the bottom of his
heart.

A few m