Dave Porter's Great Search

ng but a single street with stores, the majority of which were but one story in height. Back of this street were pr

brushed himself off as well as he was able, so that when he entered the place the only evidences he carried of t

offices of the Orella Mining Company, of whi

tioned of the clerk who cam

wer. "Who shall I sa

nt here to see him by Mr. Obray of

turned the clerk, and showed the way to a

ced himself and brought forth the legal-looking envelope which had been intrusted to him

" he announced. "You can tell Mr. Obray

eceipt for the papers?" quest

ed in one of the clerks. "Here, take down a r

the documents, but then considered that it might not be wise to mention

ver at your camp?" questioned M

e on account of some of the rocks in Section Six. They are afraid of a landslide. We've got to build tw

I was out there mining once, and we had som

no mining around the

perations. Some time, however, I think somebody w

uction company, and then Dave prepared to leave. Just as

low about my own age here during the past week or two looki

icholas?" mused the mine manager. "Let

ood deal with one of his eyes.

didn't think he was cut out for office work. But somehow

he is just the opposite. And what is more, h

imed the mine manager.

go he and another fellow stole some valuable jewels from a jewe

As I said before, I didn't like his looks at all, and ou

r. Obray soon sent him abou

ch contained a drug department, and while giving his horse a chance to feed, there obtained some liniment with which he rubbed his lame shoulder and his hurt ankle. Then, having o

he trail. Over to the westward the mountains were much taller than those where the trail ran, and the deep shadows

t a convenient point to eat what remained of the lunch he had brought along, washing it down with the lemon-soda. Presently he c

ough to let Sport move forward on a walk. The horse, too, had found the jour

the mountainside. Here and there were a number of loose rocks and also quite 93a growth of scrub timber. Dave was

d bringing his horse to a halt, h

y of a cat, and the youth was instantly on the alert. He remembered only too well how, when he had been at Star Ranch, a wildcat, c

lence, and then came the unmistakable snarl of a bobc

catch the horse by the bridle. Then Sport veered

ks. With a snarl, it leaped out into the open directly beside the horse and Dave. Then, as the horse switched around 94a

ng into the saddle. In the meanwhile the bobcat sprang from one lim

ider this a particularly good weapon with which to stir up the bobcat. He went on his way, and now Sport set off on a gallop, evidently glad to

t! I'll have to tell the others about the cat, and maybe we can organize a hunt and lay the beast low. The

camp came into view, and soon Dave was riding down among the bu

e!" called out the senat

announced Dave. "Two things didn't suit me at all.

jaculated Roger. "

bray first, Roger. If you

e occupied, reading a newspaper which was several days old. He, as wel

, did he?" exclaimed Ralph Obray, when Dave was

our hero soberly. "Of course, I don't know how valuable they were, but I pr

in Mr. Carson's hands and that we have the receipt for them. Now, in regard to your losing your money: If

ray!" cried the youth. "It was no

ot have gotten the chance to take your money. In one way, I think it is up to the co

eople at Double Eight Ranch know

ed Dave. "There were no witnesses to what occurred, and I

's son indignantly. "He's a rascal, and I int

h to have the fight with Jasniff without running afoul of that wildcat. You ought to hav

horse for fear he 97would run away and leave me to walk to the camp.

y and round the wildcat u

nking of t

lso about meeting the wildcat. Several others were present when the story was r

d Larry Bond. "Gracious! I wouldn't like to lose fo

ld John Hixon. "If we manage to kill him off, it will

out with you to try to lay the bobca