Dave Porter and the Runaways Part 7

The touring automobile was brought around, and they were just getting in when there came a sudden hail from across the way.

"h.e.l.lo, there, everybody!"

"It's Dave Porter, and Roger, and Phil!" said somebody else.

"Why, how are you, Shadow!" cried our hero. "And how are you, Buster?"

he added, as Maurice Hamilton and Buster Beggs came across the road to greet them.

"Fine!" puffed Buster, who was very fat and jolly. "Only Shadow has been walking the feet off of me!" And then the stout youth shook hands all around.

"Now, just to hear that!" cried Shadow, as he, too, shook hands. "Why, all we did was to walk from the Hall to here."

"And up one street and down another for half an hour," burst in Buster.

"Say, that puts me in mind of a story!" cried Shadow, who was noted for his yarn-spinning weakness. "Once two men started to walk----"

"Stow it!" came from three of the other lads in concert.

"It's too early yet to tell stories, Shadow," said Dave, with a smile.

"You can tell them to-night. Tell us now, is there anything new at the Hall?"

"There sure is."

"What?" asked Phil and Roger.

"The wild man."

"Oh, has he turned up again?" asked the girls, with interest.

"Twice--yesterday morning and this morning," said Buster.

"He didn't turn up at all, Buster," interposed Shadow. "When you start to tell a story, why don't you tell it straight?"

"Oh, you tell it," grumbled the fat boy. "You have that sort of thing down to a science."

"There isn't very much to tell," went on Shadow Hamilton. "He left his mark, that's all."

"Left his mark?" queried Dave.

"That's it--wide, blue marks. He must have about a ton of blue chalk."

"Say, Shadow, you are talking in riddles," burst out the shipowner's son. "Give it to us in plain United States, can't you?"

"Sure I can. Well, this wild man visited the school yesterday morning and this morning, before anybody was up. The first time he went into the big cla.s.sroom and took some books, and the next time he visited the kitchen and pantry and took some grub--I beg the ladies' pardon--I should have said food--a ham, a chicken, and some doughnuts."

"And the blue chalk----?" queried Mr. Porter.

"I was coming to that. In the cla.s.sroom he left his mark--a big circle, with a cross inside, in blue chalk."

"And how do you know that is the mark of the wild man?" asked Laura.

"Oh, we found that out some time ago," answered Shadow. "He seems to have a mania for blue chalk, and even puts it on his face sometimes, and he chalks down that circle with the cross wherever he goes."

"Then, if he does that, why can't they trail him down?" asked Dave.

"Because he is like a flea--when you try to put your hands on him he isn't there," answered Shadow. "And say, that puts me in mind of another story. Once three boys were----"

"That will do, Shadow!" cried Roger. "About the wild man is enough for the present."

"Have they any idea who he is?" asked Dunston Porter.

"Not the slightest," answered Buster. "And they don't know where he keeps himself, although it must be in the woods near the school."

"Oh, Dave, I hope he doesn't harm anybody!" cried Jessie, with a shiver.

"Are you boys ready to go back to the Hall?" asked Dunston Porter.

"I am," responded Buster, readily.

"So am I," added the story-teller of the school.

"Then we'll take you along, provided you don't mind being crowded."

"We won't mind, if the young ladies won't," returned the fat youth.

"Oh, come in by all means!" cried Laura.

"We'll make room somehow," added Jessie.

A minute later the big car started on the way to Oak Hall, with Dave at the wheel and his uncle beside him.

"Looks familiar, doesn't it?" called out Roger, as they spun along the turnpike.

"It certainly does!" answered Roger, and then he added, "What do you say to the old school song?"

"Fine!" came back the answer, and then the senator's son commenced a song they all knew well, which was sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne." The girls knew the song, too, and readily joined in.

"Oak Hall we never shall forget, No matter where we roam; It is the very best of schools, To us it's just like home!

Then give three cheers, and let them ring Throughout this world so wide, To let the people know that we Elect to here abide!"

Loud and clear over the cool air sounded the song, and it was sung several times. Then, just as the car rolled into the grounds of the school, the boys gave one of the Hall yells, and Dave honked the horn of the automobile loud and long.

"h.e.l.lo! It's the Porter crowd!"

"Welcome to our city!"

"How about Cave Island, Dave! Did you bring it with you?"

"Heard you caught Jasniff and Merwell, Roger. Good for you!"