Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/243

Rh Plum. "Just wait till everything is ripe. I'll show you a trick or two;" and there the discussion ended.

When Dave told Dr. Clay he was going to do his best while at Oak Hall he meant what he said. Despite his initiation into the club, and his attention to certain sports, he worked diligently over his studies, and soon stood second in a class of thirty-six. He was especially strong in mathematics and in history, and this pleased Mr. Wadsworth and Caspar Potts very much.

"I am glad I sent him to that school," said the rich manufacturer. "If he keeps on as he has begun he will assuredly make his mark."

"I knew it—I knew it," answered the old professor. "Dave has it in him; he is no common boy. I saw that the day I had him bound out to me."

"It is queer that nothing has ever been learned concerning his parentage, professor."

"You are right there."

"I have asked the old authorities of the poorhouse, but they say they know absolutely nothing."

"Yes, I asked them myself, for I wanted Dave to know all there was to know—if it was going to do him any good."

In his letter to Caspar Potts the boy could not help but touch upon the incident which had caused him so much pain, but he made it plain that he intended to "live it down" and was getting along