t I don't want
him to suffer.

"I am sick at the house of a cousin of my wife. He is a mean man,
and his wife is also penurious and mean. They have made my sickness
still more bitter by their taunts. They complain that I am an
expense to them, and they would turn me out of doors, sick as I am,
I am convinced, if they were not ashamed to do so. Poor Philip will
be left to their tender mercies, but I hope only for a short time.
I can bear to suffer myself, but I can't bear to think of his
suffering. He is a sensitive boy, not over strong, and ill-fitted
to bear the buffetings of a cold and unkind world. Won't you send
for him as soon as you can? In your hands I am sure he will be safe
and kindly cared for.

"I am getting very tired and must stop. God bless you!

"Your unfortunate cousin,

"JOHN LILLIS.

"P. S. The man in whose house I am stopping is named Nahum
Sprague."

"You see, Mark, your mission will be one of mercy. The sooner the poor
boy is rescued from such people as Mr. and Mrs. Sprague the better for
him. By the way, I don't want them to say my cousin has been an expense
to them. Therefore I will authorize you to obtain from them an itemized
account of what they have spent for him and the boy and pay it. You will
see that they don't impose upon me by presenting too large a bill."

"Yes, sir. I will look sharply after your interests."

"I shall give you more than enough to get you to San Francisco, and I
will give you a letter to a firm there, authorizing you to draw upon
them for any sum you may require up to a thousand dollars."

"But that will be a great deal more than I shall need."

"I presume so, but I give you so large a credit to use in case of
emergencies."

"You are trusting me very far, Mr. Gilbert."

"I am aware of that, but I feel entirely safe in doing so."

"Thank you, sir."

Other directions were given, and it was agreed that Mark should start on
his long journey on Monday morning.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MARK AT OMAHA.

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 himse