"Then all I can say is, that you treated him very cruelly."
"That ain't the way to talk to me," blustered Sprague. "I guess I know the way to treat boys. You're only a boy yourself."
"That is true, but what has that got to do with it?"
"You should be more respectful to your elders."
"Suppose we get back to business, Mr. Sprague. Has Philip ever run away before?"
"No, and it's very ungrateful for him to do it now. Why, I have supported him ever since his father's death, and I paid the expenses of his father's funeral."
"I shall probably repay you for that—when you find, and deliver to me the boy."
This was welcome intelligence to Mr. Sprague, who straightway became very polite to Mark.
"Thank you, my dear young friend. I wouldn't accept it if I was not a poor man. I am very much attached to the boy, and I wouldn't let him go if I could afford to keep him. Oscar, go to the village at once and see if you can see anything of Philip."
"I will go with him, Mr. Sprague."