CHAPTER XXXIV.
ON THE WAY HOME.
AT San Francisco Mark stopped over a day to buy some clothing forPhilip.
"Did Mr. Sprague select your clothes, Philip?" asked Mark. "If so, Ican't compliment him on his taste."
"They are some old clothes of Oscar's," answered Philip. "They are thebest I could get."
"We'll see if San Francisco can't furnish you with something better."
At a clothing store on Market Street, Mark bought a complete outfit forPhilip. The latter was much pleased when he saw his transformation in apier glass in the store.
"Now I shall have nothing to remind me of Mr. Sprague," he said. "Do youwant me to take the old clothes with me?"
"No; we will leave them here."
They stopped at the Russ House. Just after supper Mark met an oldacquaintance, the bronzed miner whom he had seen in Omaha. The latterwalked up eagerly and grasped Mark's hand.
"It does me good to see you again, young pard," he said. "And is thisthe kid?"
"Yes."
"Well, upon my word he looks like a little gentleman."
"He has improved in appearance since I made his acquaintance inGulchville," said Mark with a smile. "I have just bought him a newoutfit."
"So, so! Well, fine feathers make fine birds. Well, my boy, does Markmake you call him father?"
Philip laughed heartily at the idea.
"Why, he's only a boy!" he rejoined.
"Philip," said Mark with a warning finger, "you must treat me withproper respect."
"Shall I call you father?"
"No; perhaps it will be more suitable to call me brother Mark. Did youstop over in Nevada, Mr. Dempsey?"
"Yes; I went to the mine."
"What did you learn?"
"That a New York syndicate is trying to purchase the mine, and this hascarried up the price of stock to two hundred and fifty dollars."
Mark's eyes sparkled.
"Why that would make mother's share worth fifty thousand dollars," hesaid.
"I advise you to take measures to secure your mother's rights as soonas you reach home. There is danger in delay."
"I certainly will follow your advice, Mr. Dempsey. Shall you hold on toyour shares?"
"No. I think I will sell out. I have an offer from a man in VirginiaCity which I think I shall accept. The stock may go higher, but again itmay go lower. My shares will bring twenty-five thousand dollars, andthat will make a man like me rich."
"I wish I had control of mother's stock now," said Mark. "I couldrealize a price which would make her comfortable for life."
The sudden rise in the value of the Golden Hope shares was already knownin New York. Mr. Talbot on receiving the intelligence called on hisbrokers, Crane & Lawton.
"Would you advise me to sell now, Mr. Crane?" he asked.
"Wait a week, Mr. Talbot, and you may realize a few more points. Thenyou had better unload."
"I will be guided by your advice. I am sure it is for the best."
There was still, however, a feeling of uneasiness in the mind of Mr.Talbot, who knew very well that Mrs. Mason was the rightful owner ofhalf the stock which he controlled. He decided to call on his sisterin-law once more, and urge her to sign a paper releasing him fromfurther liability as executor of her father's estate.
"I wonder whether Mark has got back," he said to himself. "If not,probably Ellen is very short of money. I will offer, if necessary, fivehundred dollars for her signature. I don't think she can resist that."
Mrs. Mason had just finished washing her breakfast dishes when there wasa knock at the door. Opening it, she saw the familiar face of TomTrotter, dressed in the uniform of a Western Uniform telegraph boy.
"What, Tom!" she exclaimed in surprise. "Have you changed yourbusiness?"
"Yes, Mrs. Mason," answered Tom complacently. "I've give up blackin'boots, and now I'm a messenger boy like Mark."
"You look very nice in your uniform, Tom. There's another improvement Isee."
"What is that, Mrs. Mason?"
"Your hands and face are both clean."
"I've got to keep clean now," said Tom soberly. "It seems kind ofstrange, but I guess I'll get used do it. When I look in the glass Idon't hardly know myself."
"Don't you like it better?"
"Well, I guess I shall when I get used to it. But I forgot, I've got amessage for you," and Tom drew out an official envelope.
"It must be from Mark," said Mrs. Mason in excitement, and she tore openthe dispatch and read as follows:
* * * * *
OMAHA, Sept. 17.
Shall be home on Friday. MARK.
* * * * *
"Mark will be home on Friday, Tom!" said the happy mother. "How glad Ishall be!"
"Hurray!" exclaimed Tom. "That's good news."
"Come round and take dinner with us Sunday, Tom. We'll have a littlefeast in honor of Mark's return."
"I'll see, Mrs. Mason. I was engaged to take dinner with Jay Gould, butI'll telegraph him I can't come."
"I am afraid we can't give you as good a dinner as Jay Gould."
"You'll have Mark here and that's better than the best dinner Jay cangive me. Shall I wear my swallow tail?"
"No; your uniform will do."
Tom Trotter had hardly gone out when there was another knock at thedoor. On opening it Mrs. Mason was somewhat surprised to see herbrother-in-law. Solon Talbot's manner was very gracious andpatronizing.
"I hope you are well, Ellen," he said extending his hand.
"Thank you, I am quite well," replied Mrs. Mason.
"And Edith too?"
Mr. Talbot seldom took any notice of Edith, but he had an object to gainnow.
"Yes, Edith is well. She has just gone to school."
"I think I heard that Mark was absent from the city."
"Yes, he is away."
"He has been gone some time?"
"Yes."
"I should think you would miss him."
"So I do. I miss him constantly."
"You must find it hard to get along without him--financially I mean."
"He left some money behind. I am not in want."
"Ellen, I am really sorry to see you living in such a poor way. Thesehumble rooms are not suitable for you."
Mrs. Mason was rather astonished to hear these words from herbrother-in-law. She did not understand that he was preparing the way foranother offer.
"It would certainly be pleasant for me to live better," she said. "Ihope to when Mark gets older."
"You had better not count too much upon that. An office boy's wagesseldom amount to much. How much does he earn?"
"He averaged about five dollars a week as a telegraph messenger."
"So I supposed. He may get a dollar or two more in a year or two--butwhat is that?"
"It isn't much," Mrs. Mason admitted.
"I was talking the matter over with Mary the other day, and it islargely on her account that I came here this morning to make a proposalto you."
"Now it's coming!" thought Mrs. Mason. "Well?" she said.
"And I have made up my mind to offer you five hundred dollars."
"That is very kind," said Mrs. Mason demurely.
"On condition that you sign this paper releasing me from allresponsibility as executor of your father's estate."
"This seems important to you, Solon," said Mrs. Mason keenly.
"It is a matter of form. I shall present it at the probate court. But itgives me an excuse for offering you a generous gift."
"I will think it over, Solon."
"Think it over? What thinking over do you need? I am not sure that I cangive you time for that, as the gift is entirely voluntary on my part. Ihave brought the money with me, and in five minutes you can be acomparatively rich woman."
"I have just had a telegram from Mark saying that he will be home onFriday. I will wait till he comes. If you will come round Saturday----"
&n
bsp; "I can't promise," said Talbot, deeply disappointed. "You stand verymuch in your own light."
"I can make no other answer, Solon."
"Confound that young meddler, Mark!" muttered Talbot as he left thehouse. "But for him I should have no difficulty in obtaining hismother's signature."