"No, Ben, I have not had the courage to tell him," answered the mother. "I told the doctor, and he advised that I say nothing for the present." "I don't think I'd tell him," said Dave. "I think the best thing we can do is to try to follow Porton and this fellow with him and get back the miniatures. Then it will be time enough to tell Mr. Basswood about the affair." As soon as they had entered the parlor the lady of the house had shut the door, so that none of the conversation might reach the sick chamber overhead. In reply to numerous questions Mrs. Basswood gave all the details as to how the rascally Porton had been able to gain possession of the miniatures. "I think I'll hurry up and get home," declared Dave, presently. "I want to hear what Mr. Wadsworth has to say; and also find out what he and my folks have done towards getting on the track of Porton and his confederate." "That's the talk!" exclaimed Roger. "Say! but this is the worst yet, isn't it?" He turned to the lady of the house. "I am awfully sorry for you, Mrs. Basswood." "I guess we are all sorry," broke in our hero, quickly. "Oh, I hope they catch that Porton and put him in prison!" cried Jessie. "That is where he belongs," answered Dave, soberly. CHAPTER XVII A VAIN SEARCH To find out what Mr. Wadsworth, as well as Dave's father and his uncle, had done, Ben accompanied the other young folks to the jewelry manufacturer's mansion. They found that Mr. Wadsworth had gone to business, but the other men were present and were much interested in what Dave and his chums had to relate. "We've done all we could to get the authorities on the trail of Ward Porton," announced Dave's father; "but we have been much hindered on account of this awful blizzard. The telegraph and telephone wires are down in all directions, so it has been practically impossible to send word any great distance." "With such a storm it may be possible that Porton and his confederate are still in Crumville," suggested Roger. "I hardly think that," said Dunston Porter. "More than likely they did everything they could to put distance between themselves and this town after they got their hands on the miniatures." "I suppose you know we found out that Porton's confederate managed to get a horse and cutter from Bryson's livery stable," said Dave's father. "No, we didn't know that!" cried Ben. "Well, it's true. The confederate, who gave his name as Frank Carson, said he wanted the turnout to go for a doctor. He said he had been sent by Mr. Jamison, the minister. Of course, it was all a trick and Mr. Jamison knew absolutely nothing about it." "Did they return the horse and cutter?" "They did not. And Bryson is mourning the loss of a good horse. The cutter he says did not amount to so much. He would not have let the animal go out, only the fellow begged so hard, stating that it was practically a case of life or death--and he offered to pay double money for the horse's use."