ortunity for skating, which
every one of them enjoyed to the utmost. They also attended a concert
given in the church one evening, and even went to a moving-picture
show which had recently been opened in the town.

The moving pictures interested the two girls from the Far West more
than anything else, for, so far, they had had little opportunity to
take in such a form of entertainment.

During those days Dave was continually on the watch for some
information concerning Ward Porton, but no word of any kind came in,
and he finally concluded that the rascal had left that vicinity.

"Most likely he thought things were growing too hot for him," was
Phil's comment, when the boys talked the matter over. "He probably
realized that if he continued to go to the stores and get goods the
way he did he would be caught sooner or later."

Ben Basswood often went out with the others, pairing off, as had been
expected by Laura, with Cora Dartmore. This left Belle Endicott more
or less in Phil's care, for which the shipowner's son was grateful.

"Yes, my father has brought the Enos miniatures here," answered Ben,
one day, in reply to a question from Dave. "He had them in a safe
deposit vault first, but he concluded that they would probably be just
as safe at our place. You know, he has a big safe of his own in which
he keeps all his real estate documents." Mr. Basswood's office was in
a wing of his house, and all the boys had visited it and knew that it
contained a massive steel affair about five feet square and probably
four feet deep.

"They ought to be safe there, Ben," returned Dave. "I don't see what a
thief could do with miniatures, and I don't believe your father's
office is liable to catch fire."

"And that safe must be fire-proof," put in Roger.

"I think it is fire-proof," returned the real estate dealer's son.
"And I guess you are right about thieves--they would rather steal
money or jewelry or silverware, or something like that, every time."

Used to a life in the open air, and to riding and driving, the
sleighing in and around Crumville proved to be a constant delight to
Belle and Cora. As a consequence, it was arranged by the boys that the
whole crowd should go out in a large sleigh, to be procured from the
local livery stable and to be drawn by four reliable horses.

"We'll put a lot of straw in the bottom of the sleigh and make it a
sort of straw-ride," declared Dave.

"And just to think! it will be moonlight