"No; I didn"t feel any particular interest in him, and did not give him a second thought."
"Perhaps he may still be on the train. I have a great mind to go and see."
"I don"t think it would do any good. We could not prove that he took my purse."
"If you will excuse me for five minutes I will make a search."
Mark went through the next car and entered the second one, which was a smoking car. He looked about him, and in a seat about the middle of the car he saw the man of whom he was in search. He recognized him by his white tie and his red nose. He was smoking a cigar and gazing out of the car window.
The seat beside him being vacant Mark went forward and sat down in it.
The gentleman with the white tie glanced at him carelessly, but did not appear to think Mark was worthy of attention. He changed his mind when Mark said in a low voice:
"Please give me the purse which you took from a young lady in the second car back."
CHAPTER XVI.
MARK AS A DETECTIVE.
THE adventurer turned swiftly when he heard Mark"s startling question.
He seemed astounded at the boy"s audacity.
"What did you say?" he demanded with hauteur.
"I asked you to return the purse which you took from a young lady in the second car back," repeated Mark calmly.
"Boy," said the false minister, "you must be insane or drunk."
"I don"t think I am either," returned Mark.
"What do you mean by such nonsense, then? Are you aware that I am a minister of the gospel?"
"Where do you preach?"
"It is of no consequence," said the other loftily. "I am not in habit of being insulted by whipper-snappers like you."
"Are you in the habit of taking young ladies" purses, Mr.----"
"Rev. Mr. Buffington is my name, young man."
"Then, Mr. Buffington, will you answer my question?"
"I shall be tempted to forget my sacred profession and throw you out of the car," said the pseudo minister, looking very unclerical as he spoke.
"I have no doubt you would like to do so."
"You ought to be thrashed for your impertinence."
"Suppose you call the conductor and complain of me. You may tell your story and I will tell mine."
This suggestion seemed fair enough, but it did not appear to strike the Rev. Mr. Buffington favorably.
"I do not care to notice the foolish insolence of a half grown boy," and the pseudo clergyman, taking a paper from his lap, half turned away from Mark, and began to read, or appeared to do so.
Mark, however, did not propose to be bluffed off in this manner.
"Mr. Buffington," he said resolutely, "I am a boy, but I know what I am about. You took the young lady"s purse. Before you sat down beside her she had it in her pocket. When you left the car it was gone."
"If I ever get you alone," said Buffington in a low tone of concentrated rage.
"If you do, I hope you won"t forget your sacred profession."
"I am a minister, but I am also a gentleman, and I shall resent an insult."
"Look here," said Mark, getting out of patience, "either you give me back that purse for the young lady or I will call the conductor and lay the matter before him."
"Rev." Mr. Buffington tried to turn Mark from his purpose by threats, but he was evidently alarmed. He was conscious of guilt, and he knew how such an appeal would end for him.
Mark saw him waver, and followed up his advantage.
"There was only about five dollars in the purse," he said, "and it won"t pay you to keep it. If you give it up without further trouble I won"t expose you. What do you say?"
Mr. Buffington looked in Mark"s resolute face and he saw that he was in serious earnest. He felt that he was in the boy"s power, and much as it galled him, he decided that he must yield.
"It is possible, of course, that the young lady in handling the purse, may have dropped it into my pocket," he said. "I will search for it, and if that is the case it shall be returned."
He thrust his hand into his pocket and drew out the purse.
"I wouldn"t have believed it," he murmured. "It is a most extraordinary incident. Is this the young lady"s purse?"
Mark took it, and opening it, saw that it contained three dollars in bills, and a dollar and seventy-five cents in silver.
"Yes, sir," he said; "this answers the description."
"Give it back to the young lady with my compliments," said Buffington with unabashed a.s.surance. "Express my regrets at the unfortunate mistake. I now remember how it occurred. I saw the purse on the floor where she had doubtless dropped it, and supposing it to be my own put it into my pocket. I was so busily engaged, reading the volume of sermons which I carry with me that it made little impression on my mind."
"I will tell her what you say, Mr. Buffington," said Mark gravely.
Of course he might have expressed doubt of the accuracy of his companion"s statement, but he had accomplished his purpose, and did not care to humiliate Buffington farther.
"Good morning, young man," said Buffington with Christian forgetfulness of Mark"s errand.
"Good morning, sir."
When Mark had left the car Buffington"s face underwent a change. He looked absolutely ferocious.