"Would your father consider it if it did come in?"

"I don't know what he would do, Dave. Of course, he'd hate to give up
money to a thief; but, just the same, he'd hate it worse if he never
got the miniatures back."

At last came the time for Dave to leave home. His trunk had been
packed and shipped on ahead. There was still considerable snow on the
ground; so he was taken to the depot in the big Wadsworth sleigh, the
girls and his father accompanying him.

"Good-bye, Davy, my boy!" cried his Uncle Dunston, when he was ready
to leave the house. "Now I expect you to give a good account of
yourself while with that construction company."

"I'll do what I can," he answered.

"And do keep away from the Mexicans," added Mrs. Wadsworth with a
sigh.

"You trust David to do the right thing," came from old Caspar Potts,
his mellow eyes beaming brightly. "David is all right. He's my boy,
and I'm proud of him," and he nodded his head over and over again.

For the girls, the drive to the depot was all too short. Laura had so
many things to say to her brother that she hardly knew what to speak
of first. As for poor Jessie, she felt so bad she could scarcely
speak, and when she looked at Dave there were unbidden tears in her
eyes.

"Now don't look at it that way," David whispered, when he caught sight
of the tears. "I'll be back again before a great while."

"Oh, Dave, I--I--ca--can't help it," she murmured. "I--I--think
so--so--much of--of--you!" and then, for the moment, she hid her face
on his shoulder.

Mr. Porter had a few words of advice to give, and he had hardly
finished when the train rolled into the station. Then Dave shook hands
with his father, and kissed each of the girls, and climbed on board.

"Good-bye, my son!" called Mr. Porter.

"Good-bye, Dad! Take care of yourself while I'm gone," he shouted
back. "Good-bye, Laura! Good-bye, Jessie!"

"Good-bye, Dave!" returned the sister, waving her hand.

Jessie tried to speak but could not, and so she too waved a farewell.

Then the train rolled from the Crumville station, slowly gathering
speed, and finally disappearing in the distance.

At last our hero was off to become a full-fledged civil engineer.

CHAPTER XX

IN NEW YORK CITY

"Dave Porter!"

"Buster Beggs!" cried our hero, his face lighting up. "Where in the
world did you come from?"

"Just got off the accommodation coming the other way," announced
Joseph Beggs, otherwise known as Bu