The Camp in the Snow

ckets,

n under his arm, and his punch in hand, ent

f the tenth of December. The train was speeding eastw

l-dressed lad of eighteen, with a ruddy face, and

haven, cadaverous face and rusty black clothes. He was rea

pockets. He turned them inside out, one after another. He l

ticket

en standing by the s

ad. "Just my beastly luck! You know th

ctor star

pay your fare

whipped out a handkerchief, and a bulky pocketbook. The latter fl

king man stooped

aid, handing it b

r. "Hello! there's a wad of bills

d went on reading. The conductor and the lad peered under the neighboring seat

conductor, sharply, as he tapp

njured innocence, and the roll

tested. "I was not aware th

t," sneered t

nified tone. "Here is my card. I am a missiona

aved aside the

he remarked, sarcastically. "Is that th

ooked discomfite

orror," he replied. "Some worldly sinner le

sengers laughed aloud. The missionary folded his hands

ook, and in one of the compartments of the latter he found the

al yonder. He's no more a

ried on to

red through the frosty windows, and finall

shrieked t

n soon rolled into a lofty station. The lad gathered up his traps, hurrie

s warning. But he could see nothing of the clerical-loo

an't lose any more time here. Thanks to Tom Fordham, I've got my bearings pretty straight. I'll be

street of Maine's most thriving port and lumber town. He en

a bellboy, and wrote hi

kins, New

d at the inscri

med the lad. "Brick is only a n

e amused clerk. "Will you

on the train. Send the tra

two of his cape-coat, and

probably have failed to recognize him, for Mr. Pendergast now wore a tweed st

followed as he pushed steadily across t

e dim glow of the starlit sky he could see that the beach sloped upward to a pretty steep bluff, and that ta

paused to look about him. "The dug-out ought to be near b

and he wheeled around in time to see

" cried a stern

in the darkness he collided with a tall stack of lumber.

e ground, and looking down he saw hi

the man. "I've got you safe.

urprise, Brick rec

he replied. "I'm willing to donate five dollars

in the missionary line now. If I don't get your pocketboo

ghts of the town. There seemed no chance of saving

nd. You're making a big

ol reply. "There's not a soul withi

began to tremble and sway,

on his enemy's back. They went to the ground together,

and ran. Pendergast overtook him, and snatched the collar of the cape-coat. Brick twisted

s head. He dashed on through the gloom, panting hard for breath, and shouting

he had no time to swerve aside. He pitched roughly over the gunwale and fell inside

as he lifted his shining wea

" plead

and struggled to ward o

," cried t

pain, and immediatel