CHAPTER XIII.

MARK STARTS ON A JOURNEY.

"Shall you want me to-morrow, Mr. Swan?" asked Mark, as the clock struck
six, and the jeweler prepared to close up.

"Yes; I shall probably want you for a week."

"Very well, sir; I will so report at the office."

The next morning about eight o'clock Mark reported for duty and waited
for orders.

The jeweler looked up from a letter he had been reading.

"How would you like to make a journey?" he asked.

"Very much, sir."

"I shall probably send you to Cleveland."

"Is Cleveland in Ohio?" asked Mark, his eyes sparkling.

"Yes. Do you think you can find your way there?"

"I'll try."

"You generally succeed in what you undertake to do. Well, I will
explain. I have a customer living in Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, who
used to be a New York society lady. She bought a good deal of jewelry,
and always purchased of me. This is what she writes."

The material part of the letter was this:

"I want a diamond pin worth about one thousand dollars. My husband
has agreed to give it to me for a birthday present, and left the
selection to me. I can't find anything here that I want, and have
been led to think of my old jeweler in New York. You know my taste.
Select what you think I will like and send me by private messenger.
I might of course employ an express, but there have been some
express robberies recently, and I am ready to pay the extra expense
required by a special messenger. Send at once.

"ARABELLA LORING."

"You see," said the jeweler, "that this is an important matter. The
messenger will bear great responsibility on account of the value of what
he has in charge."

"Do you think I am old enough for the commission, Mr. Swan?" said Mark
modestly.

"It is not so much a matter of age as of shrewdness and reliability. I
have been led to think that you possess these qualifications. Of course
there would be danger of your being robbed if it were known that you
carried such a valuable parcel."

"I am not afraid, sir."

"Of course, again, you must take care not to let it be known what you
have in charge. Make what statements you like as to your business. I can
safely leave that to your own shrewdness."

"When do you want me to start, Mr. Swan?"

"There is a train this afternoon for Buffalo on the New York Central
road. Can you get ready to take that?"

"Yes, sir. May I go home and let my mother know? I am not quite