"Now we can go to the hotel and have dinner," said Dunston Porter. "And
then we can take a local train back to Buffalo."
The carriage was just crossing the bridge that connects Goat Island with
the city of Niagara Falls when a man stepped up and stopped the turnout.
It was Tom Shocker.
"Excuse me, but I reckon this is the number, 176," he said. "Is there a
young man here named David Porter?"
"Yes, I am Dave Porter," answered Dave, and looked at Shocker curiously.
The fellow was a total stranger to him.
"Got a note for you," went on Shocker, and produced it. It was sealed
and marked _Private_ in plain letters.
Wondering what the note could contain, Dave opened and read it. His face
changed color and he gave a little gasp.
"Excuse me, I'll have to--to leave you for a little while," he stammered
to the others.
"What's the matter?" asked Roger.
"I--I can't tell you just now." Dave turned to his uncle. "Where will
you get dinner, Uncle Dunston?"
"At the International."
"All right--I'll be there before long," answered Dave, and sprang to the
ground.
"But what's up?" cried Phil. He could see that his chum was much
disturbed.
"I--I can't tell you, Phil. But I'll be back before you finish your
dinner."
"Don't you want some one along?" asked Laura, who did not like to see
her brother depart in the company of such a looking stranger as Tom
Shocker.
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