Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/73

Rh "Have a drink, friend!" he called out, on catching sight of the boy.

"No, thank you," answered Dave, coldly.

"Oh, yes, do. I owe you one for watching my bag for me."

"Thanks, but I don't drink," came from Dave, and he sauntered on.

"Must be one of those temperance chaps you hear about," said the traveler to the barkeeper.

"Ah, those scrubs make me weary," sneered the fellow behind the bar. "They are too stingy to drink."

From the square Dave sauntered back to the depot, and presently found himself close to the telegraph office. As he came up he saw the telegraph operator arise with a message in his hand, and beckon to a policeman standing near.

"Say, Jackson, here is news from Hemson," said the operator to the officer of the law. "A house was robbed up there this morning, and they want the police along the line to watch out for the thief. They think he may be on the train that is stalled here."

"Do they say how he looks?" asked the policeman.

"No, excepting that he had on a dark-gray suit, and carried a big valise."

"Humph! how is a man to catch anybody on such a description? Hundreds of men wear gray