out what Mr. Wadsworth, as well as Dave's father and his
uncle, had done, Ben accompanied the other young folks to the jewelry
manufacturer's mansion. They found that Mr. Wadsworth had gone to
business, but the other men were present and were much interested in
what Dave and his chums had to relate.

"We've done all we could to get the authorities on the trail of Ward
Porton," announced Dave's father; "but we have been much hindered on
account of this awful blizzard. The telegraph and telephone wires are
down in all directions, so it has been practically impossible to send
word any great distance."

"With such a storm it may be possible that Porton and his confederate
are still in Crumville," suggested Roger.

"I hardly think that," said Dunston Porter. "More than likely they did
everything they could to put distance between themselves and this town
after they got their hands on the miniatures."

"I suppose you know we found out that Porton's confederate managed to
get a horse and cutter from Bryson's livery stable," said Dave's
father.

"No, we didn't know that!" cried Ben.

"Well, it's true. The confederate, who gave his name as Frank Carson,
said he wanted the turnout to go for a doctor. He said he had been
sent by Mr. Jamison, the minister. Of course, it was all a trick and
Mr. Jamison knew absolutely nothing about it."

"Did they return the horse and cutter?"

"They did not. And Bryson is mourning the loss of a good horse. The
cutter he says did not amount to so much. He would not have let the
animal go out, only the fellow begged so hard, stating that it was
practically a case of life or death--and he offered to pay double
money for the horse's use."

"Were they seen at all?" questioned Ben.

"Oh, yes! A number of people who were stormbound saw them pass down
the street and stop at your house. Then others saw the cutter turn in
the direction of Hacklebury."

"Of course you tried to follow?" queried Dave.

"I did that," answered Dunston Porter. "It was tough work getting
through as far as the mill town. But I managed it, and made all sorts
of inquiries. Two people had seen the cutter pass the mills, but no
one could give me any definite information as to which way it headed
after that. You see, it was growing dark by that time, and the snow
was coming down so thickly that it was next to impossible to see any
great distance in any direction."

"Well, we know they went as far as Hacklebury, and that