The Essential Edward Stratemeyer Collection. Stratemeyer Edward

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      "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.

      "He says for you to come right up," said the bell-boy, who had delivered the message.

      "Is he up yet?" questioned Dave.

      "Yes, sir."

      The bell-boy led the way to the room, which was in a wing on the second floor. All the boys but Bert went up, and Mr. Passmore accompanied them. They found Mr. Fordham seated in an easy chair. He looked quite bewildered at the entrance of so many visitors.

      "Good-morning, Mr. Fordham," said Mr. Passmore. "I suppose you are quite surprised to see me at this time in the morning, and with so many young gentlemen with me," and the rug dealer smiled broadly.

      "A bit surprised, yes," was the somewhat feeble answer. "But I--I suppose it is all right."

      "Let me introduce my young friends," went on Mr. Passmore, and did so. "They have got something they would like to tell you."

      "To tell me?" questioned the aged man, curiously. "Sit down, won't you," he added, politely, and motioned to chairs and to a couch.

      "We came to see you about a man who called to see you last night, a Mr. Job Haskers," said Dave, after a pause, during which the visitors seated themselves. "Perhaps it is none of our business, Mr. Fordham, but my chums and I here felt it our duty to tell you about that man."

      "We don't want to do him any harm, if he is trying to earn an honest living," put in Roger, "but we want you to be on your guard in any dealings you may have with him."

      "Why, what do you young men know of Mr. Haskers?" demanded the old gentleman, in increasing wonder.

      "We know a great deal about him, and very little to his credit," burst out Phil. "If you have any dealings with him, be careful, or, my word for it, you may get the worst of it!"

      "Why this is--er--very extraordinary!" murmured Mr. Fordham. "I--I don't know what to make of it," and he looked rather helplessly at Mr. Passmore.

      "Porter, you had better tell what you know about Haskers," said Bert's father. "But cut it short, for that man may get here soon."

      In a plain, straightforward manner our hero told of several things that had happened at Oak Hall, which were not at all to Job Haskers' credit. Then he told of the attempt to blow up the hotel, and how the unworthy teacher had tried to throw the blame on the students, and how the truth of the matter had at last come out, and how the dictatorial old teacher had been dismissed by Doctor Clay.

      "And do you mean to tell me that this is the man who is trying to sell me this stock in the Sunset Milling Company?" asked Mr. Fordham, when Dave had finished.

      "This is the same man," answered Roger.

      "Yes, and Dave didn't tell you the half of what can be chalked up against him," added Phil. "I wouldn't trust him with a pint of peanuts."

      "Hum! Strange, and I thought he came highly recommended!"

      "If he showed you any recommendations I'll wager they were many years old," said Dave.

      "This is really none of my business, Mr. Fordham," broke in Mr. Passmore. "But as this man is so well known to these young gentlemen, and he has proved himself to be so unworthy, I would go slow about investing in stocks that he may offer."

      "Yes! yes! Certainly!" cried the elderly gentleman. "But--er--why should these young men take such an interest in me, a stranger?"

      "We don't want to see Job Haskers get the best of any one!" answered Phil, bluntly. "My opinion of it is, that he ought to be in jail."

      "I see, I see! Well, if he did what you say he did, I don't blame you."

      "I wouldn't sign for any stock until I had some outside advice about it," cautioned Mr. Passmore.

      "Why not wait until your son gets back?" he suggested.

      "I'll do it. Mr. Haskers wanted the deal closed at once. But now I won't sign for the stock. I'll wait. My son will be here day after to-morrow at the latest, and he can look into the matter for me. And I am very much obliged to you all for this warning. I think----"

      At that moment came a knock on the door, which had been closed. A bell-boy was there with a card, which he handed to Mr. Fordham.

      "Bless СКАЧАТЬ