CHAPTER XV
VISITORS
Several days went by and during that time the coldness that had sprung up between Dave and Jessie increased, although both did their best to hide it from the others.
One afternoon while the girl was off with Laura and Belle for a tramp along a brook that flowed into the lake not far from the bungalows, Mr. Appleby came into the cove in his motor-boat, bringing with him an old hunter and guide of that vicinity, named Tad Rason, and also Della Ford and her Aunt Bess. They found Dave, Roger, and Phil at the dock, fishing.
"Any luck?" called out the manager of the moving-picture company, cheerily.
"Some, but not a great deal," answered Dave, and he and the others pulled in their lines, so that they might not become entangled in the propeller of the boat.
"You'll have to go to the other shore for good fishing," said Tad Rason, who had already shown himself at the bungalows and made himself known.
"The fish are mighty scarce around here."
"I'd like to go fishing sometime!" exclaimed Della, with a smile and a nod to Dave and his chums. "I never caught a fish in my life. Mr. Porter, couldn't you show me how to do it?" she asked, sweetly.
"I might, if the fish was willing to be caught," answered Dave, with a grin.
"Oh, I am sure I could catch one if you would only show me how," returned the young actress.
"Well, if you are going to fish with worms you've got to first learn how to put one on a hook," said Phil.
"O my! I'm sure that I don't want to put a squirming worm on any hook!" cried Della, with a slight shudder. "I want to fish with one of those beautiful flies, it's so much more interesting."
"I came down on a peculiar errand," broke in Mr. Appleby, after he had tied up at the dock. "I would like to borrow a little furniture from you for one day only."
"Furniture?" queried Roger.
"Yes. You see, we have an interior scene up at our cottage, but we haven't got just the furniture that the drama calls for. I noticed when I stopped at your bungalows yesterday that you had several pieces that are just the ones required. If you will lend them to me to-day, I will see that you get them back safely by to-morrow."
"You'll have to see Mrs. Wadsworth and Mrs. Basswood about that," returned Dave. "Not but that I think it will be all right," he added, hastily.
"Come up here to do some shooting, I suppose, just as soon as the season opens?" remarked Tad Rason, to the boys.
"Well, we won't object to bringing down a deer or two if we get the chance," answered our hero. "But I rather imagine deer are scarce around here. I haven't seen any of them yet."
"Oh, you'll find plenty of deer up at the head of the lake," returned the old hunter. "They don't come down here much. They always left this spot for the bears."
"The bears! Oh, Mr. Rason! you surely don't mean that?" cried Della Ford.
"But I certainly do, ma'am. This was always a great place for bears. That's why they call this end of the lake Bear Camp. I shot one of 'em here last winter, and I got an old she-bear and her two cubs here two years afore that."
"We haven't seen any traces of bears," said Phil.
"You'll see 'em sooner or later," returned the old hunter, with conviction. "They are bound to come here."
"What makes you say they are bound to come?" questioned Dave, curiously. "Is there any particular reason for it?"
"I think there is, young man. So far as I can understand it, I think the bears come here in the fall to get certain roots and herbs that they like to eat. I think they find more of 'em around here than they do anywhere else, and that's what fetches 'em."
"And do you think the bears keep the deer away from here?" questioned Roger.
"I don't know as to that. But I do know that bears and deer don't mix very well," answered Tad Rason.
While Mr. Appleby was negotiating with Mrs. Wadsworth and Mrs. Basswood for the loan of several pieces of rustic furniture which the bungalows contained, Della Ford and her aunt visited with the boys. The young actress wanted to know all about what the young folks at the bungalows had been doing, and expressed her delight at the cosiness of the place, and its beautiful surroundings.
Mr. Appleby, aided by Tad Rason, carried the borrowed furniture down to the motor-boat. There was more of it than the manager had at first anticipated taking, and, as a consequence, the craft was well loaded.
"I don't see how we are going to sit in there with all that furniture packed around us!" exclaimed Della, in dismay, as she viewed the situation.
"You might sit in that rocking-chair on the bow," suggested Phil, with a broad smile; and at this suggestion there was a general laugh.
"No, thank you. I have no desire to be spilled overboard. I went overboard once, and that was quite enough," answered the young actress.
"I'll tell you what we might do," answered Dave. "We could take you and your aunt in one of the rowboats, and have the motor-boat tow it."
"Oh, that would be lovely!" cried Della. "What do you say, Aunt Bess; shall we do it?"
"I'm willing, if it is safe," answered the aunt, "I don't want to go to the bottom of this lake any more than I wanted to go to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean."
"It's perfectly safe," answered Dave. "The boat's a good broad one, so there is no danger of its tipping over – not unless Mr. Appleby makes a quick turn, and I don't suppose he will do that."
"If I pull your rowboat I'll be as steady as an old freight engine," was the manager's reply. "It's very kind of you boys to do this."
The best and broadest of the rowboats was brought around, and Della Ford and her aunt were assisted into the craft. Then, after the boys had procured a pair of oars, they, too, embarked, and the motor-boat headed back for the moving picture company's camp.
"Hello! hello! Where are you going?"
The cry came from the shore at a point where the brook ran into the lake, and looking in that direction, those in the rowboat saw Jessie, Laura, and Belle just emerging from behind some brushwood and rocks. The girl from the West was swinging her broad hat vigorously.
"We are going to take these ladies home!" yelled Dave. "We'll be back soon."
"Oh, see; the motor-boat is loaded with furniture!" exclaimed Dave's sister. "What a funny sight!"
"I didn't know those folks were going to visit us to-day," was Jessie's comment, and her face showed she was not at all pleased.
"See! they have Miss Ford and her aunt with them," said Belle. "Miss Ford is a stunning girl; isn't she?"
"She certainly is quite good-looking," returned Laura. "What do you say, Jessie?"
"Oh, I don't think she is any better-looking than lots of other girls I know," returned Jessie, rather coldly. "Come on, let's get back to the bungalows; this long tramp has tired me dreadfully."
"You do look rather pale," said Belle, kindly. "Don't you feel well?"
"I've got a little headache, that's all. I think I'll go back to the bungalow and rest," returned Jessie; and went on ahead, soon disappearing within one of the buildings.
"Do you know, Laura, I don't believe Jessie likes that Miss Ford a bit," was the comment of the western girl, when she was alone with Dave's sister.
"Why shouldn't she like Miss Ford, Belle? She seems to be a nice enough girl, and I don't think the fact she acts in the movies ought to be held against her."
"I don't think it is that, Laura. It is something else."
"Something else? What do you mean?"
"Oh, I don't know that I ought to mention it. Come on, let us get up to the bungalows."
"But, Belle, do tell me what you think," pleaded Laura. "You know you haven't any right to keep back anything from me," and she caught her chum around the shoulder and held her tightly.
"Well, if you must know, it's this: Jessie can't forget that Dave saved Miss Ford from drowning."
"Oh, I see what you mean, Belle! You think that because Dave did that Jessie thinks he might get more interested in her than would otherwise be the case."
"Not exactly that, Laura. Jessie may imagine that Miss Ford is quite interested in Dave."
"Oh, I see!" Dave's sister was silent for a moment. "But you forget one thing, Belle; Dave saved Jessie's life, too. Don't you remember that I told you of it? A gasoline tank exploded, and she was in danger of being burned to death when Dave jumped in and – "
"Oh, yes, I remember that very well, and you may be sure that Jessie remembers it, too. But then this rescue was so much more recent."
At these words Laura grew more thoughtful than ever, and suddenly she caught her western chum by the arm and pulled Belle into a path leading to the dock.
"What now, Laura?"
"Oh, Belle! do you really think there is anything in that? Do you think that is what has made Jessie act so queerly for the last couple of days? I noticed she was not herself at all; and Dave seemed to be different, too."
"If you want the truth of it, I do think there is some sort of a quarrel between them. Of course, I am not sure it is on Miss Ford's account. But they don't act as they used to."
"It's too bad!" and Laura's face showed great seriousness. "I wouldn't have anything come between Dave and Jessie for the world!"
"It would be a great shame, there is no doubt of that," answered the girl from the ranch.
When the pair entered the bungalow they found that Jessie had gone to her room. She was lying on a couch, and though the light was dim, Laura could see quite plainly that her friend had been crying.
"You poor dear!" said Dave's sister, going up and placing her hand on Jessie's forehead. "Is your headache worse?"
"Not much, Laura," was the answer. Jessie turned over with her face toward the wall. "I just want to be left alone awhile, and then I'll be all right."
"Don't you want me to get you anything at all?"
"No. Just leave me alone, that's all."
Laura stood by the side of the couch for a moment. She was on the point of speaking again. She wanted very much to relieve her mind, but concluded that it might not be a wise thing to do. She tiptoed to the doorway, where she encountered Belle, and both walked to another part of the bungalow.
"And do you really think it was a headache, Laura?" whispered Belle, when the two were safe out of earshot of any of the others.
"She may have a headache, but I think it is more than that," was the reply from Dave's sister. "Oh, Belle, if matters are as you think they are, what in the world are we going to do?"
"I don't know of anything to do, Laura. I don't believe it would be a wise thing to say anything to Jessie."
"Then suppose I talk to Dave?"
"You can suit yourself about that. But if I were you I'd be very careful. Boys are as touchy as girls when it comes to a subject like that."
"Do you really think so?"
"I certainly do."
"Then I will be very cautious. But I've just got to say something," declared Laura.
CHAPTER XVI
A STRANGE COMMUNICATION
The three boys had quite some sport going up the lake with Della Ford and her aunt as passengers. Being towed by the motor-boat, they had nothing to do but take it easy, and they spent the time in chatting of things in general, and of moving pictures and fun on Mirror Lake in particular.
"We would be pleased to have you come up some evening and take dinner with us," said Della Ford, after consulting with the manager of the moving-picture company. "Come up and bring that boy with his banjo, and we'll have a lot of fun."
"All right, we'll be up some time," answered Phil.
"And don't forget, Mr. Porter, that some day you're to show me how to catch a fish," called out the young actress.
"All right, I won't forget," answered Dave; and then the three boys pushed the rowboat away from the dock, and started upon the return to Bear Camp.
"She's a mighty pleasant girl, that's sure," remarked Phil, as he took it easy on the stern seat, while Dave and Roger plied the oars.
"I think Dave has made a hit with her," responded Roger, with a sly wink at the shipowner's son.
"If you don't look out I'll make a hit with somebody in this boat," declared Dave, his face flushing. "You attend to your rowing or we won't get back in time for dinner."
"I thought you said that fellow, Ward Porton, was going to join the company up here," remarked Phil, by way of changing the subject.
"All I know about it is what Mr. Appleby told me," returned Dave. "I'd like first-rate to see him again and ask him some more about Link Merwell."
"Do you think Link will come up here?" asked Roger.
"I don't know what to think. He is likely to do almost anything. But I doubt whether he will want to place himself in any position where we can get hold of him."
"What a fool Link has been," was Phil's comment.
When the rowboat returned to the dock at the camp, the boys found only Laura and Belle on the veranda of one of the bungalows.
"Where's Jessie?" asked Dave.
"She has a headache and is lying down," answered Laura, and looked at her brother closely.
"That's too bad," he answered. "Can't you do anything for it?"
"She wanted to be left alone, Dave."
"I wonder if I can't do something?"
"I don't think so."
Roger and Phil sat down on the veranda, and were soon joined by Luke and Shadow.
"Where is Ben?" questioned Roger.
"He went to Carpen Falls with his father and Mr. Porter for the mail," answered Mrs. Basswood, who had joined the group.
"I hope I get a letter from daddy," cried Belle. "Why, just think! I haven't had a letter for three days," she pouted.
"I'd like a letter, too," put in Phil. "I haven't had a word from home since I left," and his face clouded, as he remembered his father's troubles over the land question.
Dave had been seated on the end of the piazza, but now he arose and walked over to the other bungalow. Here he met Mrs. Wadsworth just coming from Jessie's room.
"It's only a slight headache, Dave," said the lady, in answer to his question. "I think Jessie will be all right in the morning. She thought she had better stay where she is this evening."
"I wish I could help her, Mrs. Wadsworth," returned the youth, quickly. "Isn't there something I can do?"
"Nothing that I know of," was the reply, and then Mrs. Wadsworth walked out of the bungalow to join her husband, who was smoking a cigar in a little pavilion that overlooked the lake.
Dave took a turn or two across the living-room. He was very much disturbed in mind, and felt that he ought to do something.
"I'll take a chance, and knock on the door anyhow," he told himself, and moving to the door of Jessie's room, he tapped lightly. Then, as there was no response, he tapped again.
"Who is it?" came from the girl.
"It is I, Jessie. Can't I do something for you?"
"No, I don't think you can," she returned, quickly.
"The others told me you had a headache. I'm very sorry to hear that. I wish I could do something to make you feel better."
"You can't do a thing."
"I might get a hot-water bottle, or some chopped ice, or – or – something," he faltered, not knowing how to go on.
"Oh, Dave, don't be silly!"
"Silly! So now I'm the one who's silly; am I?" he returned. But there was more of slyness than bitterness in his tone.
"Dave Porter! Was there ever such a boy! Now you must go away and leave me alone!"
"All right, Jessie, if you want me to go away I'll go. Just the same, I want you to know that I'm awfully, awfully sorry that you have a headache. I'd rather have it myself."
"Would you indeed?" There was a creaking of the couch, as if Jessie had turned and was sitting up. "Well, I don't want you to have a headache. They are not a bit nice! They are horrid!"
"Are you lying down?"
"I was lying down."
"Well, if you're not so very, very sick, Jessie, won't you just come to the door a minute? I want to tell you something," went on Dave, after a moment's hesitation.
The girl came slowly to the door, and opened it several inches, showing a mass of disheveled hair, and cheeks that had traces of tears on them.
"What do you want to tell me?"
"A good many things, Jessie," returned Dave, in a low tone. "First of all, I don't want you to be angry with me. I simply can't bear it. And besides, I don't think you have anything to be angry about."
"Oh, indeed!"
"No, I don't. I think you misunderstand me. Why, Jessie, I wouldn't have anything come between us for the world, and you know it!"
"Do I?" The door opened a little wider.
"Yes, you do. You know there isn't any one that I care for one-tenth part as much as I care for you. I didn't go up the lake this afternoon because I particularly wanted to; and those people came here of their own accord."
"Yes, Dave – "
"And I don't want you to act so cold, Jessie. Why, it cuts a fellow to the heart! If I thought – "
A wild yell, followed by several screams of terror from outside, interrupted the conversation. Dave stopped short to listen, and Jessie threw wide-open the door to do likewise. Another yell rang out, fierce and penetrating, and then came several more screams, and a rush of footsteps.
"Oh, Dave! what can it mean?" cried Jessie, in sudden alarm.
"I don't know. I guess I had better find out," he returned, and ran toward the front doorway.
"Be careful, Dave! be careful!" cautioned the girl, pleadingly. "Maybe it's a bear!"
"In that case I'd better get one of the guns," he returned.
The party had brought a number of firearms with them, and several of the pieces were hung up on the walls, loaded and ready for use. Catching up a double-barreled shotgun, Dave ran outside with Jessie at his heels. The commotion had continued, and now the youth found himself confronted by his sister and Belle.
"What is it, Laura?"
"I don't know, exactly. But it certainly was something awful!"
"I think it must have been a wild man," broke in Belle. "Anyhow, if it wasn't, I don't know what else it could have been."
The other boys had left the vicinity of the bungalows, and were running toward the woods, with Mr. Wadsworth following them.
"They saw something, but they don't know what it was," said Mrs. Wadsworth, who was plainly much agitated. "It let out the most awful yells you ever heard."
"Maybe it was that wild man, Wilbur Poole!" exclaimed Dave. "He might have followed us to this place, you know."
He ran on, and soon joined the other boys and Mr. Wadsworth, who had come to a halt at the edge of the clearing on which the bungalows were located.
"I think he disappeared over here!" cried Shadow.
"And I think he went this way!" returned Luke.
"When I saw him last he was by yonder bushes!" were Roger's words.
"I think he went over there, just as Shadow said!" came from Phil.
"Who was it?" asked Dave. "Wilbur Poole?"
"Whoever he was, he had the most outlandish rig on a fellow ever saw!" exclaimed Luke. "I think he must have borrowed it from some scarecrow."
"If that was Wilbur Poole we had better keep our eyes open for him," said Dave, seriously. He had not forgotten the trouble which the wild man who called himself the King of Sumatra had given him and his chums in the past.
"We were all sitting there enjoying ourselves when we heard the fellow give an awful yell or two," explained Phil. "Then he came dancing out from behind some bushes, waving a sort of sceptre in the air. He nearly scared the girls into fits, and that is what made them scream. Then he caught up a stick of wood from the pile yonder, and disappeared between the trees. I guess he must have imagined he was a wild Indian on the warpath."
"I am afraid if that poor fellow isn't captured he will cause us a good deal of worry," was Mr. Wadsworth's comment. "As long as he is at large there is no telling what he will do."
"If it really is Wilbur Poole, we ought to let the Pooles know about it," said Dave.
The matter was talked over for some time, and then, after another search through the edge of the woods and among the rocks and brushwood of that vicinity, the boys and Mr. Wadsworth returned to the bungalows. They found all of the girls and Mrs. Wadsworth on one of the verandas, discussing the situation. Even Jessie had joined the group, declaring that the alarm had scared most of her headache away.
"Oh, I was so frightened when I first saw the man – if it really was a man!" cried Laura.
"He looked more like an orang-outang," declared the girl from the West. "If I had met him out on the range, and if I had had a gun with me, I surely would have shot at him!"
"I brought a gun along," returned Dave, exhibiting the weapon; "I thought it was a bear scare."
The scare was the topic of conversation all through the dinner hour, and it was decided that a letter should be posted to Mr. Aaron Poole the following morning, acquainting him with what had occurred.
"It's queer that my husband and Ben and Mr. Porter don't come," remarked Mrs. Basswood, when the meal was nearly over and it was growing dark.
"It's quite a walk to Carpen Falls," said Dave. "And you must remember the trail isn't any too good in some spots."
"I think I see them coming now," announced Roger, a minute later; and he was right. Soon Ben and his father and Dunston Porter came into full view near the end of the lake.
"Talk about an adventure!" cried Ben, as they came up. "Who do you think we met?"
"The wild man!" burst out several of those present.
"Oh, then he was here, was he? Was it Wilbur Poole?"
"We are not so sure about that. We didn't get a very good look at him. He had on such a queer outfit that he was completely disguised."
"That's just it!" broke in Dunston Porter. "We couldn't tell who he was, either. He appeared right in front of us on the trail, flourishing a big stick. He let out a whoop like an Indian, gave a leap or two into the air, and then dashed out of sight behind some bushes."
"He didn't attack you, did he?" questioned Mrs. Basswood, anxiously.
"No," returned her husband, "but, all the same, I didn't like his actions. He might have done some serious damage with the stick he carried."
"That man, whoever he is, ought to be put under guard," declared Phil, and then he added quickly: "Did you get any letters, Ben?"
"Oh, yes, several of them. Here they are," and placing his hand in the pocket of his jacket, the youth brought forth over a dozen epistles.
There was a wild scramble, and the letters were quickly distributed.
"Oh, good! Here's a letter from dear dad!" exclaimed Belle. "Excuse me while I read it," and she quickly tore open the communication.
All of the girls had letters, and there was also one for Dave and another for Phil. As our hero looked at the communication addressed to him, he could not help but start. He thought he recognized the handwriting as that of Link Merwell.
"I wonder what he has got to say now," he mused, and then as the others began reading their letters, he opened the envelope and took out the single sheet it contained.
In a large, heavy hand were scrawled these words:
"I think before long you will be getting what is coming to you, you poorhouse nobody."
There was no signature.