"Yes, Mother," he answered cheerily. "Don't worry. I am all right." Forgetful that she had on only thin shoes, and no covering over her head or shoulders, Mrs. Basswood ran directly down to the big sleigh. She glanced over the occupants and her eyes fastened instantly on Dave. "Dave, have you been with Ben since you went away?" she queried. "You haven't been to our house?" "Why certainly I haven't been here, Mrs. Basswood," he returned promptly. "Then it's true! It's true!" she wailed, wringing her hands. "What's true, Mother?" demanded the son. "The miniatures! They're gone! They have been stolen! That young man who looks like Dave was here and took them away!" CHAPTER XVI HOW THE MINIATURES DISAPPEARED "The miniatures are gone?" came from Ben Basswood in astonishment. "Yes, Ben, gone!" and the mother wrung her hands in despair. "Do you mean to say Ward Porton dared to come here and impersonate me and get them?" cried Dave. "It must have been that fellow, Dave. He looked exactly like you. That is why I just asked you if you had been to our house." "I have been with Ben and the others since we went on our sleigh-ride," said our hero. "This is terrible! How did it happen?" "Come into the house and I'll tell you all about it," answered Mrs. Basswood. Her face was drawn with anxiety, and all could see that she was suffering keenly. "And how is father?" questioned Ben, as the party trooped up the piazza steps and into the house. "He isn't so well, Ben, as he was before you went away. Oh, dear! and to think how easily I was duped!" Dave had told Washington Bones to wait for them, and, entering the parlor of the Basswood home, the others listened to what the lady of the house had to tell. "Your father had just had another bad turn, and the nurse and I were doing what we could for him when the door-bell rang," she began. "I went downstairs, and there stood somebody that I thought was Dave. I asked him into the house and he at once wanted to know how Mr. Basswood was getting along." "When was this?" questioned Ben. "This was two days ago, and just about noon time." "Two days ago!" repeated Roger. "Then Porton must have come here right after leaving the hotel in Lamont. How ever did he get here?" "Maybe he took that train that got through from Pepsico," answered Phil. "You remember we heard that quite a few people made that train." "Let us hear about the miniatures," broke in Ben, impatiently.