Mark Manning's Mission

sture belonging to Deacon Miller, an old farmer whose hous

some of the boys unwilling to accompany him, unless it was unloaded. Tom had two or three time

gun, Tom Wyman," he said. "I guess I kn

ust admit that you handle it rather carelessly. So

ever shot any boy yet," ans

ut you

of fuss about nothing. I di

id, but I shouldn't like to be riddled w

life insured when you go out

hall," said Tom, decl

forgot his caution, and in transferring his gun from one shoulder to

went off it was pointed directly at a wh

oor animal's eyes, and with a moan o

dismay at the vict

it now, James," said Tom. "Yo

ned to do it," stammered

to carry your gu

to get me into trouble about th

I d

about it. We'll get home as soon as we can, and

will be known that we have been

Mark M

ficantly at Tom, a

lame for a deed he didn't d

can't go back on James. I want to keep in

nded James,

ough me," answered Tom

accused you won'

aid Tom,

us put f

two boys hurried across the pasture, never ve

re already at home, Mark Manning entered the

experience at the cabin being the subject of his reflec

ded from old Whitey, as the deacon wa

ey?" said Mark, who was always moved

oubt. The nature of the injury which the

, pitifully. "Who has shot

moan of anguish from

Mark, sadly. "It is only torture for her to live

the cow, gun in hand, when

done to my cow,

w the deacon but

popular man in the neighborhood, and deservedly so. He had made home so disagreeable that hi

to my cow?" he demanded,

Miller," answer

the critter's makin' all th

r animal has

at?" snarled

and I am afraid its eyes

repeated the deacon, in a fury

cow, Mark Manning?" said t

dignity. "I have just come up, and this i

ryin' in your hand?" dem

gu

uth. I didn't know but you'd say it was a

y from my gun, if that's what y

take t

nto his hands. The deacon rais

heard. The gun

been loaded, I might have thought you told me the truth. Now I kn

end the extent to which he was implicated, although innocent. "I assure y

ain't going to lose a forty-five dollar cow, and say nothin' about it. You jest tell your mother when you go home to see about ra

I repeat that I didn't harm your

nswer the deacon gave, nodd

slowly home. He was innocent, but circumstances were ag