The Essential Edward Stratemeyer Collection. Stratemeyer Edward

out of some board money."

      "I--er--I was going to send her that money to-day."

      "Then you had better pay me, for I settled the account," answered Dave. "But let us drop this talk for the present, Jasniff. I want you to tell me all you know about my father and my sister."

      "Humph! I haven't got to tell you anything if I don't want to."

      "Yes, you have got to!" cried Dave. A dangerous gleam came into his eyes. "Out with it at once. Where is my father?"

      "See here, Porter, I don't propose to be bullied. I----"

      "You answer my question, Nick Jasniff. If you don't I'll call in an officer at once and have you placed under arrest."

      "You can't do it."

      "I can and will. If I can't have you held on one charge I'll have you held on another. I want the truth from you, and I want it right away."

      Dave had followed Nick Jasniff to a window, and faced the runaway with such sternness and determination that the latter cowed before him.

      "I--er--that is, your father went north, last week."

      "Where to?"

      "He said he was going to Christiania, Norway."

      "Christiania, Norway?" repeated Dave. He knew there was such a place, but that was all. "What for?"

      "Oh, he was interested in an expedition that was going to the upper interior--some kind of a scientific expedition, I think. He was full of it--said they hoped to make all kinds of discoveries."

      "Whose expedition was it?"

      "It was gotten up by two men named Lapham and Hausermann."

      "I read about that expedition!" cried Roger. "There was an account of it in this morning's _Times_."

      "When was it to start?" asked Dave, anxiously.

      "I don't know."

      "Do you know, Jasniff?"

      "Not exactly--some time this week, I think."

      "Was my sister Laura going with my father?" went on Dave, anxiously.

      "No."

      "Where is she?"

      "I give it up."

      "Jasniff, tell me the truth!" And again Dave looked at the runaway sternly.

      "I don't know where she is."

      "You met her."

      "Certainly--half a dozen times."

      "How did you get acquainted with my folks?"

      "Oh, I met them by accident, and as soon as I learned who they were I introduced myself and said I knew your uncle Dunston Porter."

      "What did you say about me?" and now Dave was more anxious than ever.

      "I--er--I----"

      "Come, out with it, and tell the exact truth, Jasniff, or it will be the worse for you."

      "I--er--I didn't mention you," stammered the runaway. He could scarcely bring himself to speak the words.

      "You didn't!"

      "What! do you mean to say you met Mr. Porter and his daughter and didn't let them know that Dave was alive and that he was looking for them?" demanded Roger.

      "It wasn't my business to tell them," answered Jasniff, doggedly.

      "Nick Jasniff, you are the meanest fellow I ever met in my whole life!" burst out the senator's son. "For two pins I'd give you the worst thrashing you ever received. Didn't you know how happy it would make Mr. Porter and his daughter to know that Dave was alive?"

      "I--er--that wasn't my business. Dave was no friend of mine--why should I put myself out to do him a good turn? If he wants to find his father and his sister let him do it."

      "Did you become well acquainted with my sister?" asked Dave, after a pause.

      "Fairly well, yes."

      "Did you take her out anywhere?"

      "No--er--she wouldn't go with me."

      "I am glad to hear it. You say you have no idea where she is now?"

      "Not exactly. There was an American family named Endicott over here. They came from somewhere out West. They had a daughter about Laura's age, and the two were chums. I think your sister sailed with the Endicotts for the States."

      "Did they write to my uncle?"

      "I don't know, but I think not, for they thought your uncle was still knocking around the South Sea Islands."

      "And you wouldn't tell them a word!" cried Dave, bitterly. "Jasniff, I never supposed any fellow could be so cruel and hard-hearted."

      "Humph! I haven't forgotten what I had to suffer," muttered the runaway.

      "You brought all that on yourself. You had no business to go in with those two thieves. If you had remained honest there would have been no call for you to run away."

      "Oh, don't preach, Dave Porter."

      "What Dave says is true, Jasniff," said Roger. "If you have suffered, it is all through your own dishonesty."

      "Who says a relative of mine is dishonest!" came a loud, harsh voice from the doorway of the library, and turning quickly Dave and Roger found themselves confronted by an old man, white with sudden rage, and brandishing a heavy cane in his hand.

      CHAPTER XVII

      ON THE NORTH SEA

      Both Dave and his chum were startled by the sudden interruption, and for the moment did not know what to say. They looked at the old man and then at Nick Jasniff. The latter turned pale and seemed thoroughly ill at ease.

      "Who says a relative of mine is dishonest?" repeated the old man, and now he strode up to Dave and raised the cane over the youth's head.

      "If you refer to this boy as your relative, I say he is dishonest," answered Dave, stoutly.

      "And so do I," added the senator's son.

      "Nicholas dishonest! It cannot be! There must be some mistake."

      "I am sorry for you, sir, but there is no mistake," returned Dave.

      "Who are you, sir?"

      "My name is David Porter. I come from the United States. Nicholas and myself and my friend here all attended the same boarding school."

      "The place called Oak Hall?"

      "Yes, sir. I presume you are Mr. Philip Chesterfield."

      "I am, and I am a great-uncle to Nicholas." The old man lowered his cane. "What do you know of Nicholas?" he questioned, curiously.

      "I know a great deal, Mr. Chesterfield. If you care to hear the story I will tell it to you."

      "Don't you listen to him, Uncle Phil," stormed Nick Jasniff, in increasing fear. "He'll tell you nothing but a bundle of lies."

      "I can prove every statement I make," answered Dave.

      "Dave will tell you nothing but the truth," added Roger.

      "Who are you, young man?"

      "My name is Roger Morr."

      "He is the son of United States Senator