"No," answered Mark promptly, "I pay for myself."
He drew out a ten-dollar bill and tendered it to the clerk.
"You seem to be well provided with money," said his uncle curiously.
"Yes, Uncle Solon, I can pay my way," replied Mark.
"It is very strange," thought Mr. Talbot, "how a common telegraph boy should have so much money."
He did not seem to miss the memorandum. Had he known that it was snugly reposing in Mark's pocketbook he would have felt disturbed.
CHAPTER XV.
A RAILROAD INCIDENT.
Mark pushed on intent upon reaching Cleveland. He decided not to stop off at Niagara till he was on his return. He never for a moment forgot that a great responsibility rested upon him for the safe delivery of the valuable diamond pin intrusted to him by Mr. Swan. When it was safely out of his hands and in those of Mrs. Loring he would feel relieved.
He was within a hundred miles of Cleveland in a car well filled with passengers when his attention was called to a young lady sitting in the seat directly opposite him. She seemed lively and was particularly attractive.
Mark was too young to be deeply impressed by female beauty, but he experienced, like most persons, a greater pleasure in looking at a beautiful than at an ugly object. The young lady had been sitting alone, when a tall man of about forty came up the aisle and paused by her seat.