Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/135

Rh "But if you think Merwell and Jasniff guilty, why don't you go after them and find out?"

"We don't know where they are."

"Aren't they with their folks?'

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. The Jasniffs are traveling aboard and Mr. Merwell is in Philadelphia. We sent to Mr. Merwell—through an outsider—and learned that he didn't know where Link was just now, said he had written that he was going on a tour south for the winter. My private opinion is that Mr. Merwell finds Link hard to manage and is glad to get rid of him."

"Do you suppose he did go south? "

"He might—after this affair here."

"They didn't say what part of the south he went to?"

"They said Florida. But Florida is pretty big, you know," and Dave smiled faintly.

"Jessie is awfully downcast over this, and so is Mrs. Wadsworth—in fact, we all are."

"I know it, Laura." Dave drew a long breath. "It's awfully hard to sit still and do nothing. I imagine Mr. Wadsworth can't sleep for thinking of the affair."

"I heard Mrs. Wadsworth talking last night to him. I didn't mean to listen, Dave, but before I could get away I heard her say that if it was