Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/70

56 on the stranger. "Had to tramp half around town with it, too."

To this Dave made no reply, and for several minutes there was silence. The stranger gazed out of the window anxiously, and looking in the direction Dave noticed a white mansion standing on a small rise of ground. The place was well-kept, as if belonging to a family of means. As the boy looked at the place he saw a man come running out of the front gate and look up and down the road, as if in strong excitement.

"Something is wrong there," thought Dave. "Perhaps the place is on fire." But before he could see more the train dashed into a wood, and the mansion was left behind.

"Say, friend, I think I'll go and have a smoke," said the stranger, when the train was clear of the woods again. "Will you keep an eye on my valise while I am in the smoker? It's too heavy to carry back and forth."

"I'll look after it as long as I am on the train," answered Dave, seeing no reason to refuse the request.

"How far do you go?"

"To Oakdale Junction."

"Do you belong there?"

"No, sir, I am going to Oakdale, to attend a boarding school there."

"Ah, I see. Well, I'll be back before we reach