Adventure Magazine Cover — page 164: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

920 library. Now you are here you had better have some food. Sit there and tell me what has brought you here.” , ‘“‘Why,I came to see you, Uncle Stephen!”’ cried Algy, marveling at the tremendous change that had come over the old man, and resenting, though trying to fathom, the air of deep suspicion with which he so evidently regarded him. ‘““To see me, eh? What for? You—you haven’t heard anything, eh?”’ ‘““Heard anything? What on earth do you mean, sir?” asked Algy, a doubt as to the | old man’s sanity becoming a certainty in his mind. ‘‘What is there to hear?” he re- peated. “Oh, nothing, nothing!’’ muttered his uncle, though his crafty eyes still shot looks of suspicion, and an uneasy nervousness was momentarily becoming more and more pro- nounced. ‘ Nothing—but Jacobs talked— Jacobs became very unsatisfactory and un- settled the whole house. I’ve been much easier in my mind since I sent them all away.” 5 old Jacobs?” cried Algy, remember- ing suddenly that he had not so much as seen or heard a sound or footfall in the great silent house since he had entered. Could his uncle be in earnest when he said that he had sent all the servants away? And old Jacobs too! Surely not old Jacobs who had been his uncle’s right hand? ‘I’ve not exactly dismissed him alto- gether,” explained the old man hesitatingly. ‘“‘T’ve packed him out of the house, and he lives in a little cottage behind the stables. He was very prying—very.” “And you’re all alone at night? Quite alone? I don’t think that’s right for an old gentleman like you, sir, do you?” “‘T like it; it suits me better. Jacobs did nothing but pry, pry, pry all day and all night long, and Mr. Ostermann and I ob- jected very strongly—very strongly indeed. What did you say?” What Algy had said was merely one word. But the emphasis with which he said it at- tracted the old man’s attention. Oster- mann! Ostermann! Here! “What did you say?” he queried, peering into Algy’s face. ‘‘Eh?” “I’m horrified to think that you are living in this enormous place all alone!” explained Algy. “It’s not right. If you had a friend ‘““DO YOU mean that you’ve sacked Adventure it would be different. I must speak to my father to come and remonstrate, with you,” he added, speaking with design to try and make the old man repeat the name he had uttered a moment since. For Algy could scarcely bring himself to believe that fate— or luck—had so played into his hands as to bring him and the man he so keenly desired to trace under one roof so early in the search. And the ruse worked success- fully, for his uncle started up in a quick agitation, his face working convulsively and a wild excitement chasing the doubt and suspicion from his eyes. “No, no!” he cried quickly, his words tumbling one on top of the other. “No, no, don’t bring John up here. I’m all right, and Jacobs is very comfortable where he is. Every old man has his likes and dislikes, and I’m saving money——much, much money by doing without a lot of useless servants. No, don’t tell John. Besides—besides, I have a friend with me. He’s gone to London to-day, but he’ll be back to-morrow or the day after, and then I shall not be alone again. He’s a very clever man, and we amuse our- selves pottering about with experiments— and we read books together.”’ ‘And Jacobs pryed upon you, eh? Too bad of him!” “That’s what my friend said. It was really most danger—most uncomfortable. So we sent him off. You see, boy, there is no need to worry John about me, after all. Besides, you’re here now—for how long did you say? ‘Till morning?” “Well, sir,’ returned Algy slowly, pre- ferring not to notice the old man’s unflatter- ing desire to get rid of him at the speediest possible moment, “I could stay with you until your friend—Mr. Foster, did you say? —returns. Did you say his name was Foster, uncle?”’ : “Ves, yes—Foster. Alsopp Foster is his name; he’s a peculiar man, but a genius, and he likes to be alone a good deal, so you will see that I can not have you here after he comes back. You quite see that, don’t you, my boy?” “Quite uncle, quite!”’ said Algy, meek- ness in his voice, but triumph trumpeting in his breast. ‘‘I shall stay until Mr.—er— Foster returns, then. Now shall we have some supper and then get to bed? It’s late.”’ He went to his room with his head in a whirl. His uncle had lied to him! Ostermann, C© MICLOOKS CO