you folks, I'll get off at my place,"
announced Ben. "I suppose my father and mother are worrying about
me."

"Go ahead, Ben," returned Dave. And then he added quickly: "I trust
you find your father is better."

With a flourish Washington Bones drew up the panting horses in front
of the Basswood place. Just as Ben leaped from the sleigh the front
door of the house opened and Mrs. Basswood appeared.

"Ben! Ben! is that you?" cried the youth's parent, quickly.

"Yes, Mother," he answered cheerily. "Don't worry. I am all right."

Forgetful that she had on only thin shoes, and no covering over her
head or shoulders, Mrs. Basswood ran directly down to the big sleigh.
She glanced over the occupants and her eyes fastened instantly on
Dave.

"Dave, have you been with Ben since you went away?" she queried. "You
haven't been to our house?"

"Why certainly I haven't been here, Mrs. Basswood," he returned
promptly.

"Then it's true! It's true!" she wailed, wringing her hands.

"What's true, Mother?" demanded the son.

"The miniatures! They're gone! They have been stolen! That young man
who looks like Dave was here and took them away!"

CHAPTER XVI

HOW THE MINIATURES DISAPPEARED

"The miniatures are gone?" came from Ben Basswood in astonishment.

"Yes, Ben, gone!" and the mother wrung her hands in despair.

"Do you mean to say Ward Porton dared to come here and impersonate me
and get them?" cried Dave.

"It must have been that fellow, Dave. He looked exactly like you. That
is why I just asked you if you had been to our house."

"I have been with Ben and the others since we went on our sleigh-ride,"
said our hero. "This is terrible! How did it happen?"

"Come into the house and I'll tell you all about it," answered Mrs.
Basswood. Her face was drawn with anxiety, and all could see that she
was suffering keenly.

"And how is father?" questioned Ben, as the party trooped up the
piazza steps and into the house.

"He isn't so well, Ben, as he was before you went away. Oh, dear! and
to think how easily I was duped!"

Dave had told Washington Bones to wait for them, and, entering the
parlor of the Basswood home, the others listened to what the lady of
the house had to tell.

"Your father had just had another bad turn, and the nurse and I were
doing what we could for him when the door-bell rang," she began. "I
went downstairs, and there stood somebody that I thought was Dave. I
asked him into the house