Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/209

Rh "Hasn't he any relatives at all?"

"Not any, so far as is known. He was a pick-up—probably belonged to some low people who didn't want to pay for raising him."

"I see." Gus Plum's eyes began to glow. "Say, but I'm mighty glad you told me of this."

"Porter used to live with an old broken-down crank named Caspar Potts," went on Nat Poole. "Potts owed my father money, and there was quite a row before my old man could get what was coming to him. Dave Porter took Potts's part, and he and I had some sharp words. That is why he keeps his distance now. I let him understand that he wasn't in my class at all."

"Good for you!" cried the bully of Oak Hall. "After this I'll let him know what I think of him, too."

"Maybe we had better let the other fellows know about this," suggested Macklin. "I'm sure such fellows from fine families as Phil Lawrence and Lazy Day won't want to associate with a poorhouse upstart."

"Don't tell Porter I told you of this," put in Nat Poole, hastily. "I—well,—you understand——"

"Oh, that's all right," answered Gus Plum. "We shan't get you into any trouble."

The matter was talked over for half an hour, and when some of the other students came in the