of Crumville were fairly well broken and
some of the telegraph and telephone lines had been repaired. The
newspapers came in from the larger cities, and it was found that the
blizzard had covered a wide area of the country, extending practically
from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic seaboard.

"It's given Ward Porton and his confederate a dandy chance to get
away," was Roger's comment.

"You're right, Roger," answered Dave. "And so far it would seem that
they have left no trace behind them."

From Ben it was learned that Mr. Basswood was slowly improving in
health. He had asked about the miniatures, and the art critics who
were to have visited Crumville on the invitation of Mr. Wadsworth.

"We couldn't keep the news from him any longer," said Ben. "When he
asked about the pictures my mother broke down and had to confess that
she had let Porton take them, thinking he was Dave. Of course, father
was very much disturbed, and the doctor had to pay an extra visit and
give him something to keep him quiet. I told him that all of us were
doing everything we possibly could to get on the track of the thieves,
and now he is resting in the hope that sooner or later the miniatures
will be recovered."

The loss of the miniatures had taken a good deal of the fun out of
Ben, and when the young folks stopping at the Wadsworth mansion went
out sleighing again, and for some fun skating, he begged to be
excused.

"I wouldn't take the loss too hard, Ben," said Dave, quietly.
"Remember, if the worse comes to the worst, you are just as well off
as you were before you heard of this Enos fortune."

"That is true, Dave. But it makes me mad to think that we had such a
fortune as that right in our hands and then let it get away from us."

"I suppose your mother feels dreadfully about it?"

"She certainly does, Dave. Why, she isn't herself at all. Sometimes I
think that her worrying will bring on a regular fit of sickness. She,
of course, thinks that it is entirely her fault that the miniatures
are gone."

"You'll have to do all you can to cheer her up."

"Oh, I'm doing that! And I do what I can to cheer up my father too.
Just the same, I'm mighty blue myself at times;" and the real estate
dealer's son heaved a deep sigh.

At last came the day when Belle and Cora must return to their homes in
the West. On the evening before, Jessie and Laura gave a little party
in their honor, which was attended by over a score of the boys and