't think so. Of course he had on a slouch hat, drawn down over his
eyes, and an unusual suit of clothing, but I am pretty certain it was
Merwell."

"Then Haskers must be here, too. They travel together." Dave heaved a
sigh. "It's too bad! I wish they were in China, or at the North Pole!"

It was two days after Dave's arrival at Crumville and most of the time
had been spent in getting ready for the trip to Montana. Roger and Phil
were coming to the house that afternoon, and Dave had received a
telegram from Shadow Hamilton that he would accompany the tourists as
far as Yellowstone Park. The other lads were unable to make the
necessary arrangements.

It was lunch time and Dave lost no time in going to Mr. Wadsworth, who
had just come in from his jewelry works. Both of them, accompanied by
Dave's father, went into the library to talk the matter over, so that
Jessie and her mother might not be disturbed.

"I'll see the police about this," said Mr. Wadsworth, when he had heard
about Merwell. "If possible, we must place this young scamp where that
fellow Jasniff is, behind the bars."

"I wish they could arrest Haskers, too," sighed Dave.

"I don't see how we can--we have no charge against him," answered the
manufacturer.

It was about three o'clock when Roger and Phil came in. As my old
readers know, the senator's son and Dave's sister were on unusually good
terms with each other, and the greeting between them was very cordial.

"But I don't like you for one thing, Roger," said Laura, half
reproachfully. "I don't like this idea of Dave going off to look for
that lost mine."

"Oh, we won't be away from you long, Laura."

"And the danger--not only to Dave but to--to you," went on the girl, and
gave him a look that meant much.

"We'll be careful," answered the senator's son. "But I hate awfully to
worry you," he added, in a lower tone.

For Phil, Laura had some good news, which was to the effect that Belle
Endicott, the daughter of the owner of Star Ranch, where the young folks
had spent such an enjoyable summer, had written that she would join the
party at Livingston, for the trip through Yellowstone Park. Phil had
always admired Belle, she was so dashing and so full of fun, and the
news was just to his liking.

"We'll have the best times ever!" he cried. "That is, after Dave and
Roger and Shadow and I get back from locating that lost mine!"

"You talk as if it was going to be the easiest thing in the world to