Mark Manning's Mission

ossible to the edge of the wood. He hadn't got over his wond

much money in my pocket. Nearly thirty dollars! I

ero, brought up in a hand to hand struggle with poverty, t

ld not care so little for this sum as to trust it a

y was justified in his confidence. Had the sum been ten times as larg

ug store, and asked for the

druggist, who was very well acq

," answe

o are rheumatic," said

Mark. "I am buying the m

for his not having appeared in

visit to the cabin, and the condit

gist, "if he is otherwise kept comfortable. A st

hich he requested the druggist to

ive you this?" as

ed in the a

e has lived in the wood, he has always been prompt in his payments for all articles purchased in the v

uced him to settle i

s can tell. He is very secretive, an

here he obtained the milk and loaf of bread, which he had also been co

something from the grocer

y minutes since," said the storekee

t a st

a stout, broad-shouldered man with a bronzed

say who

lation of his, and that he

ant to call upon

cularly for the location of the cabin, I too

ee him, as I am going di

be there unless

ecede him, and make acquaintance with the man who had exci

is pallet waiting fo

nly and straightforward. He has never joined the other village boys in je

s mind were known only to him; but that they were s

he heard a noise at the door and t

u, Mark?" h

"No; it isn't Mark, whoever he may be. It is s

nt, and by an effort managed to turn ro

the middle height, shabbily clad, with

ylor!" he

d the other, mockingly. "Are

m not!" said old

pression. Yet they say bl

een us I regret deeply. A man more u

isn't that a little st

s scoundrel," said

nsulted and called bad names. Considering that you are alone and in my powe

thony. "Do so, if you choose. Life is

"but it wouldn't suit my purpose. Your death would do me no good u

for it

of me. I have no recommendations to offer. I don't mind te

for you," said the ol

ain! You are

why you have not f

d otherwise have kept away from you

I awoke in California to find myself robbed of the lar

hat I did. But I haven

believe. Why have

t more

rom my way of living whether I

omething to keep body and soul together even in this den. Of

will be di

ur money?" demanded L

wouldn't tell you!"

g! Either you will find some mo

ee and stooped menaci

his errand, reached the doorway, and stood a surp

d attacked him. Even if he had not been disabled by disease he would not ha

l!" said Anthony, whose spiri

where you ke

will n

f I can't find a

e throat. He concluded too hastily that old Anthon

alone!" cried M

e alarm. But when he saw that the words pr

ndles, and taking t

saying: "Let go,

ntemptuously. "Now, let me know where you keep your money," he said, turning on

will shoot!" exclaimed Ma

nce changed, for Mark, boyish but resolute, had dropped

to his fee

he said, nervously.

hony alone!" return

guardian?" demanded

the more shame to you

by a boy," said Taylor, angrily.