Mark Mason's Victory: The Trials and Triumphs of a Telegraph Boy Read online

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  [Transcriber's note: This etext is based on the A.L. Burt publicationof 1899 and differs from etext30387, which is the post-1900 versionpublished by M. A. Donohue & Co., in that it contains the last sevenchapters before the "Conclusion" chapter which are missing from thelater version; it is also illustrated. (the images are visible in thehtml version only)]

  "'Why, Uncle Solon, is that you?' exclaimed Mark."--Page7. _Mark Mason's Victory._]

  MARK MASON'S VICTORY

  THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OFA TELEGRAPH BOY.

  BY Horatio Alger, JR.,

  _Author of "Joe's Luck," "Tom the Bootblack," "Dan the Newsboy,""The Errand Boy," etc., etc._

  ILLUSTRATED.

  NEW YORK:A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER.

  Copyright, 1899, by A. L. BURT.

  MARK MASON'S VICTORY.

  BY HORATIO ALGER, JR.

  CONTENTS.

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I. Two Strangers from Syracuse 1

  II. Where Mark Lived 10

  III. An Unexpected Call 17

  IV. A Night at Daly's 25

  V. Mark as a Hero 34

  VI. "The Evening Globe" 42

  VII. The Great Mr. Bunsby 50

  VIII. A Scene in Mrs. Mack's Room 57

  IX. An Adventure in a Fifth Avenue Stage 65

  X. An Important Commission 74

  XI. Mr. Hamilton Schuyler is Astonished 78

  XII. Mr. Schuyler has a Bad Time 90

  XIII. Mark Starts on a Journey 99

  XIV. The Telltale Memorandum 108

  XV. A Railroad Incident 116

  XVI. Mark as a Detective 124

  XVII. Mark Makes a Call on Euclid Avenue 132

  XVIII. A Midnight Visit 140

  XIX. At Niagara Falls 149

  XX. A Newspaper Paragraph 157

  XXI. Mark Returns Home 165

  XXII. A Crafty Schemer 178

  XXIII. Mark's Good Luck 182

  XXIV. The Two Sisters Meet 190

  XXV. Maud Gilbert's Party 199

  XXVI. An Important Commission 207

  XXVII. Last Instructions 215

  XXVIII. Mark at Omaha 219

  XXIX. Nahum Sprague and his Orphan Ward 223

  XXX. A Circus in Mr. Sprague's Yard 229

  XXXI. Philip Finds a Friend 239

  XXXII. Nahum Sprague's Surprise 247

  XXXIII. A Change for Philip 255

  XXXIV. On the Way Home 264

  XXXV. Edgar Gets into Trouble 272

  XXXVI. At the Fifth Avenue Hotel 281

  XXXVII. Solon Talbot's Plans 290

  XXXVIII. The Mining Stock is Sold 299

  XXXIX. Conclusion 302

  MARK MASON'S VICTORY.

  CHAPTER I.

  TWO STRANGERS FROM SYRACUSE.

  "THAT is the City Hall over there, Edgar."

  The speaker was a man of middle age, with a thin face and a nose like aHawk. He was well dressed, and across his vest was visible a showy goldchain with a cameo charm attached to it.

  The boy, probably about fifteen, was the image of his father. They werecrossing City Hall Park in New York and Mr. Talbot was pointing out tohis son the public buildings which make this one of the noted localitiesin the metropolis.

  "Shine?" asked a bootblack walking up to the pair.

  "I'd like to take a shine, father," said Edgar. "What do you charge?"

  "Five cents, but I don't object to a dime," replied the bootblack.

  "Can I have a shine, father?"

  "Why didn't you get one at the hotel?"

  "Because they charged ten cents. I thought I could get it for lessoutside."

  "Good boy!" said the father in a tone of approval. "Get things as low asyou can. That's my motto, and that's the way I got rich. Here, boy, youcan get to work."

  Instantly the bootblack was on his knees, and signed for Edgar to puthis foot on the box.

  "What's your name, boy?" asked Edgar with a condescending tone.

  "No, it ain't boy. It's Tom."

  "Well, Tom, do you make much money?"

  "Well, I don't often make more'n five dollars a day."

  "Five dollars? You are trying to humbug me."

  "It's true though. I never made more'n five dollars in a day in my life,'cept when I shined shoes for swells like you who were liberal withtheir cash."

  Edgar felt rather flattered to be called a swell, but a little alarmedat the suggestion that Tom might expect more than the usual sum.

  "That's all right, but I shall only pay you five cents."

  "I knew you wouldn't as soon as I saw you."

  "Why?"

  "'Cause you don't look like George W. Childs."

  "Who's he?"

  "The _Ledger_ man from Philadelphia. I once blacked his shoes and hegave me a quarter. General Washington once paid me a dollar."

  "What!" ejaculated Edgar. "Do you mean to say that you ever blackedGeneral Washington's shoes?"

  "No; he wore boots."

  "Why, my good boy, General Washington died almost a hundred years ago."

  "Did he? Well, it might have been some other general."

  "I guess it was. You don't seem to know much about history."

  "No, I don't. I spent all my time studyin' 'stronomy when I went toschool."

  "What's your whole name?"

  "Tom Trotter. I guess you've heard of my father. He's Judge Trotter ofthe Supreme Court?"

  "I am afraid you don't tell the truth very often."

  "No, I don't. It ain't healthy. Do you?"

  "Of course I do."

  This conversation was not heard by Mr. Talbot, who had taken a seat onone of the park benches, and was busily engaged in reading the morning_World_.

  By this time Tom began to think it was his time to ask questions.

  "Where did you come from?" he inquired.

  "How do you know but I live in the city?"

  "'Cause you ain't got New York style."

  "Oh!" said Edgar rather mortified. Then he added in a tone which heintended to be highly sarcastic: "I suppose you have."

  "Well, I guess. You'd ought to see me walk down Fifth Avener Sundaymornin' with my best girl."

  "Do you wear the same clothes you've got on now?"

  "No, I guess not. I've got a little Lord Fauntleroy suit of blackvelvet, with kid gloves and all the fixin's. But you ain't told me whereyou live yet."

  "I live in Syracuse. My father's one of the most prominent citizens ofthat city."

  "Is it the man you was walkin' with?"

  "Yes; there he is sitting on that bench."

  "He ain't much to look at. You look just like him."

  "Really, I think you are the most impudent boy I ever met!" said Edgarwith asperity.

  "Why, what have I said? I only told you you looked like him."

  "Yes, but you said he wasn't much to look at!"

  "I guess he's rich, and that's better than good looks."

  "Yes, my father is quite wealthy," returned Edgar complacently.

  "I wish I was rich instead of good lookin'."

  "You good looking!"

  "That's what everybody says. I ain't no judge myself."

  Tom
looked roguishly at Edgar, and his aristocratic patron was obligedto confess that he had a pleasant face, though it was marred by a blackspot on each cheek, probably caused by the contact of his hands.

  "You're a queer boy," said Edgar. "I don't know what to make of you."

  "Make a rich man of me, and we'll go to Europe together. My doctor saysI ought to travel for my health."

  "Edgar, haven't you got your shoes blacked yet?" asked his father fromthe bench.

  Tom struck the box sharply with his brush to show that the job wascompleted.

  "Just got done, governor," he said familiarly.

  "Here is your money," said Edgar, producing some pennies from hispockets.

  "There's only four," observed Tom with a critical glance.

  "Only four! Haven't you dropped one?"

  "No. That's all you gave me."

  "Father, have you got a cent?"

  Mr. Talbot's hand dived into his pocket, and he brought out a penny, butit was a Canadian coin.

  "I don't know as I can pass this," said Tom. "They're very particular atthe Windsor Hotel, where I am boarding."

  "You can save it till you go traveling in Canada," suggested Edgar, withunusual brightness for him.

  "That's so," answered Tom, who appreciated a joke. "I'll stop inSyracuse on the way and pay you a visit."

  "How does he know about our living in Syracuse?" asked Mr. Talbot.

  "I told him I lived there."

  "He said you was a big bug up there."

  "I hope you didn't use that expression, Edgar," said his father.

  "Oh well, that's what he meant. Won't you have a shine yourself,governor?"

  "No; I don't think I shall need it."

  "Where'd you get that shine you've got on?"

  "In Syracuse."

  "Tell 'em they don't understand shinin' boots up there."

  "Hadn't you better go up there and give them some lessons?" suggestedEdgar.

  "Well, I don't mind, if I can get free board at your house."

  "Do you think we would have a bootblack living in our house?"

  "Don't waste any time on him, Edgar. He is a street boy, and his mannersare fitted to his station."

  "Thank you, governor. That's the biggest compliment I've had for a longtime."

  Mr. Talbot laughed.

  "Really, boy, you are very grotesque."

  "That's another compliment," said Tom, taking off his hat and bowingwith mock politeness.

  "Hallo, Tom!"

  Tom turned to meet the smile of a District Telegraph messenger, who wascrossing the park to Broadway.

  "How's yourself, Mark?" he said. "I'd offer to shake hands, but I'vebeen doin' a little business for these gentlemen, and my gloves ain'thandy."

  No. 79, following the direction of Tom's nod, glanced at Mr. Talbot andEdgar, and instantly a look of surprise came over his face.

  "Why, Uncle Solon, is that you?" he exclaimed.

  Solon Talbot looked embarrassed, and seemed in doubt whether toacknowledge his relationship to the humble telegraph boy.

  "Are you Mark Mason?" he asked.

  "Yes; don't you know me?"

  "I haven't seen you for two years, you know."

  "And this is Edgar!" continued the telegraph boy. "You've grown so Iwould hardly know you."

  "I hope you are well," said Edgar coldly.

  "Thank you. Uncle Solon, where are you staying?"

  "Ahem! I am stopping up town."

  "Shall you be in the city long?"

  "I don't think so."

  "Mother would like very much to see you. She would like to ask aboutgrandfather's estate."

  "Ah--um--yes! Where do you live?"

  "No. 174 St. Mark's Place, near First Avenue."

  "We'll call if we can. Edgar, we'll have to hurry away."

  As they walked toward the other side of the park at a brisk pace, Tomasked: "You don't mean to say that's your uncle, Mark?"

  "Yes; that is, he married my mother's sister."

  "And that young swell is your cousin?"

  "Yes."

  "He is rich, isn't he?"

  "I suppose so."

  "Why don't he do something for you and your mother?"

  "He was always a very selfish man. But we don't ask any favors--motherand I don't. All we ask is justice."

  "What do you mean by that?"

  "My grandfather, that is mother's father and Mrs. Talbot's, died twoyears ago, and Uncle Solon was the administrator. We supposed he hadleft a good deal of money, but all we have received from his estate isseventy-five dollars."

  "Do you think the old feller's been playin' any game on you?"

  "I don't know what to think."

  "I tell you what, Mark, he deserves a good lickin' if he's cheated you,and I'd like to give it to him."

  "Well, Tom, I must be going. I can't stop talking here, or I'll get intotrouble at the office."