"Supposing we ask Mr. Passmore about him?" suggested Dave. "That's the idea." The youths found Mr. Passmore in a protected corner of a side porch, smoking. Most of the storm was now over, but it still rained. "Tired of bowling, eh?" said Bert's father, who was a wholesale dealer in rugs. "Mr. Passmore, we want to ask you some questions," said Roger. "Do you know an elderly gentleman here by the name of Fordham?" "Fordham? Yes, I've met him. Nice man, too, but rather feeble." "Is he alone here?" asked Dave. "Practically. He has a son that comes to see him once in a while. Did you want to see him?" "We have seen him, and we were wondering if we hadn't better have a talk with him," explained Dave. "We'll tell you how it is," put in Roger, who knew Mr. Passmore well. And then he and Dave related the particulars of what they had seen, and told something of what Job Haskers was. "Hum! This might be worth looking into," mused the rug dealer. "Of course, these stocks may be all right. But it looks rather fishy to me. Years ago I bought some stocks like that and they proved to be utterly worthless. It certainly won't do any harm to tell old Mr. Fordham what you know about this man Haskers." "I'd hate to get into a row----" commenced Roger. "I wouldn't--not if I was going to save that old gentleman's money for him," interrupted Dave. "Job Haskers sha'n't pull the wool over anybody's eyes if I can prevent it!" "Oh, I am with you there, Dave!" cried the senator's son, quickly. "I was thinking that perhaps we would warn this Mr. Fordham without Haskers knowing anything about it." "Better not try to do anything to-night," said Mr. Passmore. "You can see Mr. Fordham in the morning, and I'll be present, if you wish it." A little later the two boys found Phil and Bert coming from the dance, and told their old school chum of what they had witnessed. "Of course, we ought to expose Haskers!" declared the shipowner's son, who was not likely to forget how he had suffered at the hands of the former teacher of Oak Hall. "We'll go to this Mr. Fordham and tell him just what a rascal Haskers is!" The doings of the day had made all the boys tired, and they slept soundly. Dave was the first astir in the morning, but the others, including Bert, soon followed. The storm had passed and the sun was shining brightly. "I'd like you fellows to stay here over the Fourth," said Bert, when they went below for breakfast. "Maybe we could have a dandy time." "Can't do it," declared Roger. "I am expecting company at the house--some more Oak Hall fellows. But you might come there, if you care to, Bert," he added. "All right, I'll see about it." Dave and the others had already made up their minds what to do about Mr. Fordham. About nine o'clock they sent a message to the elderly gentleman's room, stating they wished to see him on a matter of importance to himself, and adding that Mr. Passmore would be with them.