"She is confined to her bed. The villain, whoever he was, nearly choked her, and the shock was so great that it quite prostrated her."
"Were you at home when the attack took place?"
"No; I had gone out on an errand. Meanwhile the rascal escaped. I suppose it was her nephew."
"I have brought him back to stand trial."
"You!" exclaimed his mother in amazement.
"Yes; I met him at Niagara, and on reading the paragraph I concluded that he was the thief, especially as he seemed to be well provided with money. On my information a telegram was sent to Inspector Byrnes, and he was brought back on the same train with me."
"Go up and tell Mrs. Mack. It will do her good."
Mark went up-stairs with his mother. The old lady, looking unusually feeble, was lying on the bed.
"How do you feel, Mrs. Mack?" asked Mark.
"I'm almost dead," groaned the old woman. "I've been robbed and almost murdered since you went away, Mark."