Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-17


"Good nlght!''
They kissed and parted: Mark hurry
ing home to write to his friend, Nellie
going into the kitchen to tell Nancy and
Dan that her lover had received letter
from an old comrade in America, TO
whom he intended to go.
Ashton listened to the sorrowing las
sizes startling intelligence, and his heart
leaped with joy. The very thing for
which he and Mayhem were scheming
was coming about itself. Mark and Mel
lie we're to be parted-an ocean was to
divide them soon. What delight that
news would give Mayhem when he heard
it!
''You are sure Mark intends to go,
NelIie?'' Dan asked.
"Oh, yes. His mind If fully made up;
he has gone home to write to his friend to
ask him to send him pass.
"Well, l suppose its about the only
thing the lad can do, under the circum-
stances - Ashton answered, in COM
misserative tone. "But he would be
fool to stav here, where he cannot get
days work. -
Cabin gradely sorry for t. poor
| lad" Nancy broke in. OTIS greyt
| shame as he should be driven eawt OF
| country for only stickin up for his
reefs.
Nellie thanked her foster mother with
her eyes, and Dan added:
"Ah'm sorry, too, Nance, but we
can t mend it. But Marks almost GER
tain to do well tn America. He IS smart
chap, and IL give him bit of something
! to help him on his way.
| "Do Dan,' his wife cried warmly,
''the lad deserves it. -
The matter dropped here so far as con-
versation was concerned. But although
I he said nothing further, mine host was
grayely considering the question of Mark
| Eliot's contemplated journey to America.
| An idea had just entered Dams brains,
! and as he sat there by the kitchen fire he
was turning it carefully over in his
! mind.
Presently Ashton arose, put on his
coat and hat, and telling Nancy be was
going for a stroll, he went out.
| CHAPTER xXI.-DAN AsHToN's SCHEME.
As Dan Ashton left the front door Of
the Star and proceeded up Mitigate at q
| quick pace he almost ran against Walter
Mayhem.
"HeIlo, Dan! Where are you off at
such rate?' Mayhem asked as he and
the publican came to standstiu on the
flags.
~ am off on bit of business. But
YOU are the very man 1 was thinking
about Mayhew-the man L wanted to
see. -
"What about?'' the younger man
asked, for the others manner was a lit
tie excited.
"What do you think has happened?''
"I can't imagine
HWalk along with me and III tell
i you suppose you have a few minutes
to spare?'
LAS many as you like, " cried Walter
as he turned and they went up the street
together.
land what is this you have to tell
me?"
''Mark Eliot is going to America.
"Going to Americai" Mayhem cried .
"But when? Who says SOP"
"Himself-at least that is what Nellie
has just been telling me. l am going
now TO see Mark Eliot about it. -
"Why are you going to see him?'
HWill tell you in minute. But first
let me tell you how 1t came about that
II he has resolved to go. He's got letter
from an old friend out somewhere in
Pennsylvania, and this friend has offered
to pay Mark passage out. OF courae
he's jumped at the chance, and has gone
home few minutes ago with the-inten-
ton of answering his friends letter and
to ask him to send pass.
"And why are you going TO Eliot?
Mayhew queried, with a furtive,. glance
at his companion. ttYou don't mean,
hope, to try to persuade him not TO go?,
al should, think not, - Dan cried:
"Why, man, this thing is God-send Il
us. We might have schemed to ger hin
away forever without success, and here
he is gong away of his own free will
It's a perfect God-send, l tell you, May
hew - Dan reasseverated.
.sf"If he goes, Dan, Mayhew replied
II The news was so startling ana pleasant
! that he could hardly believe it yet.
'Goesl" Aston retorted. He's al
good as gone. He means to go in three
: or four weeks; / intend him to go in les
than one.
Chow will you manage that?'
"Easily enough, l fancy. 1 intend Il
save him the trouble of writing to- tina
friend of his for a pass. l shall givt
him as much as will take him out there
at once. Then, you see, he won 't'neeC
to wait until his friend sends for him.
az understand, - Mayhem responded
and a smile fiickered over his face
'sThat is good idea, Dan. A splendid
idea. But will he accept your offer d.
you think?'
'sIt's almost certain that he Will
, Why shouldn't he? We are rathe
. friendly you know"
''Well, give him anything TO get hin
: away. IN share the expense with you
And let him have the money at once
: tonight IL you can manage it-so tina
/, he will not have time to change hi
! mind. -
! "Leaye It to me; III do the bust.
ness Dan replied with shake of hi
head. "By this time next week MARI
Eliot will be good bit on his way Il
: America. -
3 hope So, Mayhem said with fer
l vor ''welI, IN not detain you any
e longer, Dan. What time will you &c
back to the Star?''
''In about an hour
: "wen, I'n drop in then to see how
= yon get on.
I IAN right.
They parted and went their diferen
} ways.
e CHAPTER xXu.-MARK LEAVES ENGLAND
Mark Eliot had just seated himself q
II the little square table in the front rooI
L., 49,,