some days later mark found himself at omaha. here he was to transfer himself to the union pacific railroad, at that time the only pacific road built with the exception of the central pacific, which formed with it a continuous line to san francisco. mark decided to remain in omaha for a single day and then take the train for his destination.
at the hotel mark found himself sitting next to a man with bronzed face and rough attire who embodied his ideas of a miner. the stranger during the meal devoted himself strictly to business, but going out of the dining-room at the same time with mark he grew sociable.
"well, young pard.," he said, "what's your trail?"
mark looked puzzled.
"i mean which way are you going—east or west?"
"i am going to san francisco."
"ever been there before?"
mark shook his head.
"i never was as far west as this before," he answered. "i came from new york."
"so i thought. you look like a tenderfoot. are you going out to stay?"
"only a short time. i am going after a young boy. i am going to carry him back with me."
"a kid, eh? you're not much more than a kid yourself."
"i guess i can take care of myself," said mark with a smile.
"shouldn't wonder. you look like it. nothing soft about you."
"i hope i haven't got a soft head. as to my heart, i hope that isn't hard."
"good for you. i reckon you're a likely kind of boy."
"i suppose you have been to california," said mark, thinking it his turn to ask questions.
"yes; i've been on the coast for three years, more or less."
"how do you like it out there?"
"well, i've had my ups and downs. a year ago, six months for that matter, i was dead broke."
"did your luck change?"
"not till i struck nevada. then i got a small interest in the golden hope mine——"
"the golden hope mine?" exclaimed mark in excitement.
"do you know anything of that mine, youngster?"
"yes; i have a—a friend who owns some stock in it."
"then your friend is in luck. why, do you know where the stock stands to-day?"
"no, but i should like to know."
"at 110."
mark's eyes sparkled with joyous excitement.
"is it possible?" he exclaimed.
"it's so. i've got a block of a hundred shares myself, which i bought eighteen months ago for a song. i give you my word i didn't think it worth more than a dollar or two a share—what i gave—when i learned not long since that they'd struck it rich, and i was no longer a pauper."
"that's good news for me," said mark slowly.
"why? have you got any of it?"
"my mother is entitled to two hundred shares from her father's estate."
"whew! have you come out to see about it?"
"no; that was not my object, but i shall find out what i can about it."
"you're in luck."
"well, perhaps so. but my uncle is trying to cheat my mother out of it."
"then he must be a rascal. tell me about it."
the man looked sympathetic and trustworthy, and mark without hesitation told him the story as it is already known to the reader.
"do you think the stock has reached its highest point?" he asked anxiously.
"no; it will probably rise to two hundred."
"then my uncle probably won't close it out just at present."
"no; he will hear how the matter stands, and if he is sharp he will hold on."
"i am glad of that, for i want a little time to decide how to act."
"i am going to stop at the mine on my way to 'frisco."
"i will give you my address and ask you to write me a line to the care of my banker there, letting me know what you can about the mine."
"all right, boy! i like you, and i'll do it. when do you start?"
"to-morrow."
"we'll start together, and i'll get off the train in nevada."
