Mark Mason's Victory   By: Horatio Alger (1832-1899)

by

HORATIO ALGER, Jr.

Author of "Erie Train Boy," "Slow and Sure," "Risen from the Ranks," "Julius, the Street Boy," Etc., Etc.

M. A. Donohue & Company Chicago New York

Printed Bound by M. A. Donohue & Company Chicago

Made in U. S. A.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. TWO STRANGERS FROM SYRACUSE. CHAPTER II. WHERE MARK LIVED. CHAPTER III. AN UNEXPECTED CALL. CHAPTER IV. A NIGHT AT DALY'S. CHAPTER V. MARK AS A HERO. CHAPTER VI. "THE EVENING GLOBE." CHAPTER VII. THE GREAT MR. BUNSBY. CHAPTER VIII. A SCENE IN MRS. MACK'S ROOM. CHAPTER IX. AN ADVENTURE IN A FIFTH AVENUE STAGE. CHAPTER X. AN IMPORTANT COMMISSION. CHAPTER XI. MR. HAMILTON SCHUYLER IS ASTONISHED. CHAPTER XII. MR. SCHUYLER HAS A BAD TIME. CHAPTER XIII. MARK STARTS ON A JOURNEY. CHAPTER XIV. THE TELLTALE MEMORANDUM. CHAPTER XV. A RAILROAD INCIDENT. CHAPTER XVI. MARK AS A DETECTIVE. CHAPTER XVII. MARK MAKES A CALL ON EUCLID AVENUE. CHAPTER XVIII. A MIDNIGHT VISIT. CHAPTER XIX. AT NIAGARA FALLS. CHAPTER XX. A NEWSPAPER PARAGRAPH. CHAPTER XXI. MARK RETURNS HOME. CHAPTER XXII. A CRAFTY SCHEMER. CHAPTER XXIII. MARK'S GOOD LUCK. CHAPTER XXIV. THE TWO SISTERS MEET. CHAPTER XXV. MAUD GILBERT'S PARTY. CHAPTER XXVI. AN IMPORTANT COMMISSION. CHAPTER XXVII. LAST INSTRUCTIONS. CHAPTER XXVIII. MARK AT OMAHA. CHAPTER XXIX. NAHUM SPRAGUE AND HIS ORPHAN WARD. CHAPTER XXX. PHILIP FINDS A FRIEND. CHAPTER XXXI. THE MINING STOCK IS SOLD. CHAPTER XXXII. CONCLUSION.

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 a Hawk. He was well dressed, and across his vest was visible a showy gold chain with a cameo charm attached to it.

The boy, probably about fifteen, was the image of his father. They were crossing City Hall Park in New York and Mr. Talbot was pointing out to his son the public buildings which make this one of the noted localities in 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 less outside."

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

Instantly the bootblack was on his knees, and signed for Edgar to put his 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 with their cash."

Edgar felt rather flattered to be called a swell, but a little alarmed at 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 he gave me a quarter. General Washington once paid me a dollar."

"What!" ejaculated Edgar. "Do you mean to say that you ever blacked General 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' astronomy when I went to school."

"What's your whole name?"