The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-12-18
The Condor's Manifest.

Mark Compton, the confidential clerk
of Gaffey & Co, Commission Merchants,
found himself alone in the counting
room of the firm. He felt comfortsb Bile,
with his feet so near the crate, and lis.
tened to the bowling November winds
with a smile. The firm bad retired to
cosy parlors far removed from the busi-
ness quarters of the river city, and the
key had been turned in the front door
by the clerk. lie had received instruc-
tions.concerning certain correspondence
which had to be ready for the morning
mail, hence his presence In the count
ing-room at the hour we have named.
With his accustomed promptitude
the letters had been written, and, for
rest and recreation, the clerk had flung
himself into an easy Office chair, His
presence was not demanded anywhere,
and he did not feel like deserting a
comfortable fire for the wind-swept
streets.
\" The Condor is coming up" he said
in an audible tone to himself "and, by
my lady's love l forgot to look at her
manifest this morning."
aud the next moment the confidential
clerk was running his eyes down the
columns of river news. Graffey & Co.,
were the largest commission dealers in
the city, and almost daily received con-
signments from the South. These con-
signments brought work to Mark Comp
ton, and therefore the river column al
ways elected his especial attention.
On the particular night with which
we deal, the manifest of the South
ern boat soon greeted the clerks eye,
and it was while running over it that
he almost started from his chair.
"There must be mistake some
where" he exclaimed, with his eye
still riveted on the page before him.
"WhO could be sending such an object
to me from the South-from anywhere?
There surely must be another Mark
Compton in the city 70
With the paper ia his hand, the clerk
rose and opened the ponderous" Direct
ory" Oh the desk. A mGmept later he
was running his finger down the list OF
Comptons, speaking audibly after his
manner
Compton, O. c.; Compton Nathan;
Compton, Nary Martin, Maxwell p.
The mischief take it! I'm the only Mark
Compton in the book !"
He closed the volume greatly per.
picked, and looked at the paper again
"By George I'm going to claim that
portion of the Condor'S manifest mark
ed to Mark Compton !" he calculated
I've heard of Ieai life mysteries, and
as this may be the only one | may ever
run against, I'm going to make the
most of it,
living reached a conclu sion, the
confidential clerk of Gaifey & 20 don,
ned his overcoat, lowered the gas, and
left the store. He made his way to the
wharf, and inquired at the steamship
Office ii the Condor had arrived.
Just in, Mr.. Compton," answered
the night clerk, who knew him as Gaf'
fey Il Co 3 "right- bower" and Mark
at once proceeded to the accustomed
landing of the particular packet.
Straight to the Office of the clerk o
the Condor he made his may, after OBJ
tanning footholdon the boat, and was
soon looking over the bills of lading
! At that moment the boats clerk en-
tered the apartment.
"Thirty-two barrels of oranges TO,
Gaffey & Co.," he said, noddng anc
smiling to Mark and consignment tC
you Mr.. Compton"
YES" answered the clerk, gro Sinl
pale.
"A relative, l presume"
"No a friend"
"Ah yes, the best of friends mus
part" said the Condor's clerk, with {
show OF sympathy that almost mad
Compton smile. "Do you wish the de
ceased TO night?"
Il have come fox the body" wa
Marks reply, and having signed tn,
receipt he hurried from the boat.
On the wharf he met favored dray
man of Gaffey & Co. One of them Ii
accOsted
There's box on board the Condo
for me see Marley, and bring it t,
the store as soon AS possible.
The man complied by moving towar,
the boat, aud Compton retarnea to tn
store.
:" ~ ipi ~ ho"b ut Sdlu, Will
curious smile, doiling his overcoat
"The dickens knows what's going t,
come of this, and if there's anothe
Mark Compton in the city, why | ma,
be reminded of law to punish fellow
who obtain goods under false pretenses
Well, II the thing shouldn't be mine
there's a train going OUT of the city be
fore day" and the clerk laughed at hi
own words.
IL was this announcement that ha,
first startled the clerk, and he found
in the report Of the Condor's manifest
MARK Compton, one corpse
Brief as the sentences was, 1t wa
enough to startle any person, and +
say, that Gatfey q Co.'S coufidentia
clerk was astounded and mystifie
would not be describing his feelings.
Who would send him q corpse?
More than one hundred times had Il
asked himself the question since read
ing of the terrible freight consigned I
a man of his cognOmep, and as Otte
had he failed to answer it.
Finally he had resolved to await th
arrival of the consignment wlthou
botherlng himself further with the per
picking Interrogation but, like tn
ghost in MAJ beth, 1t would not down