Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/30



" rather a long story, and I scarcely know how to begin," said Dave, after he, Phil, and Roger had skated ahead and to the right, where the others were not likely to overhear the conversation. "But, to begin with, Jasniff and Merwell have been to Crumville since they left here in such a hurry, and—I have some reason to believe—they have been here in town, too."

"Here!" cried the shipowner's son.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell us of this before?" asked Roger.

"I didn't know of it until lately, and I didn't want to worry you over my private affairs."

"But what have they done?" demanded Phil, impatiently.

"As I said before, Phil, I hardly know how to begin to tell you. But to plunge right in. In the first place, when they were in Crumville they followed my sister Laura and Jessie Wadsworth to a concert by a college glee club. They forced their attentions on the two girls, and gave