There was another circumstance, however, that equally puzzled the good people of the village. This was the disappearance of Mark. He was no longer seen walking about the streets, and many were the inquiries made of his mother as to where he had gone. At the request of old Anthony she answered very indefinitely. She could not tell just where Mark was, but he was employed. He would probably be home in a few weeks.
Among those whose curiosity was most keen were James Collins and Tom Wyman.
"Where do you think Mark has gone?" said James one day, throwing away a half-smoked cigarette.
"I don't know any more than the man in the moon," answered Tom. "I asked his mother the other day when I met her in the street, but I couldn't get any satisfaction out of her."
"Perhaps he has gone to the city in search of a place."
"I shouldn't wonder."
"He can't get anything to do here. Father won't take him back into the shop."
"He was at work for old Anthony."
"That couldn't amount to much. The hermit is as poor as Job's turkey."
"Do you know this? How about the gold we saw?"