Mark Manning's Mission

were James Collins and Tom Wyman, the first, the son of a large shoe manufacturer, the other the son of the village postmaster. They were about of a size, and had the appearance o

his pretensions, and this gave him his pos

a hunter," said Tom,

s complimentary, for he didn't feel it necessary to flatte

a tone of annoyance. "I don't pretend to be as good a

perched on

n the

aw you

as a

t," said Jam

Of course I can't s

in the village can come up t

ough Mark Manning

of the peggers in my f

es

idow that lives ne

es

gunning? He had bette

ou," said Tom apologetically, "

a gun of

gets the loan of

or if he were within fifty feet o

time he had noticed how distasteful

. He also had a gun on his shoulder. He had on a well-worn suit of mixed cloth, which had been darned in one or two p

he first to not

ry," he said, "and h

d James, who had not yet

Manning comi

to turn his glance

I wonder?" he said, w

, I should judge, from the gun

rk was within c

said. "Have you

ered Tom.

ve only j

hop?" demanded James, wit

ork only half

u were glad o

ave worked. Half-work

sideration for a-a working boy like you,

's disdain for affectation, and James was a very good specimen of a s

t pause, "it is a considerati

r pay you?" inquired James,

ents a day-that

uppose you take it

o," answe

-very poo

pressive. He had a sturdy independence of feeling that

t we have enough to eat, and to

e indebted to my

't see

ploy you and p

I earn my wage

. I presume you do passably well, or

on that score. However, I didn'

was a sudde

hat bird!" exclaime

o hundred feet above them. The three simultaneously raised their guns, and Tom and James fired.

The bird flew on, apparently unconcerne

y turn!" ref

r; the effect was soon seen. The bird fluttered

it him!" exclaimed

d in evident

ucky!" he said

forward to pi

ot!" said Tom, who had not so

ot than I, because he hit the bird a

don't s

t his eyes when he fired, but he succeeded when all his c

ame up with

said James, unpleasantly. "I suppose

k smilingly. "I have s

I was pulling the trigger, or

ucky for me

n away to the left. "We'd better separate, or

then!" said Mark,

es deigned no notice of Mar