The Argosy, Volume XXIV — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

10 Gabriel’s Appointment. revelation would have been—or that Myra’s idea of their past was not more remote from the truth than his own ! ‘Your gold-finder has taken possession of Lowlevels,” he said presently ; when, the sitting being over, Mrs. Salisbury was replacing the diamonds in their cases. ‘He is a cool hand, and did what I could not have done: he cleared out old Medland and his wife at a day’s warning. They had had notice before that the house was being sold, but they rather hoped to keep possession some time longer, and were sorely vexed at such prompt dismissal. But Mr. Martin was obdurate, and he is actually there all alone, except a dog, which he bought at the inn. Excuse me, Mrs. Salisbury—may I look at that brooch for one moment ? ” | She gave it to him in some surprise. He looked at it very earnestly —weighed it in his hand, and carried it to the light. All their eyes were upon him, curious to discover the meaning of this proceeding. He took a magnifying glass out of his pocket, but that did not seem to satisfy him. At last he tried one of the brilliants on thé .window. Mrs. Salisbury smiled. | “One would almost imagine you doubted their being real,” she said, a little offended. ‘I told you I had heard curious facts about diamonds, and I only P wanted to try an experiment,” was his reply, as he handed back the jewel. He took leave with a smiling face, but it changed to thought- fulness and perplexity as he drove away. CHAPTER XxX. HOW THE CLOCK STRUCK AT LOWLEVELS. ANYONE who knows how much a new event is appreciated in a small village, will understand what a boon to the gossips of Level Bridge and its neighbourhood were the proceedings of Martin the Iron- hand. Mine host and hostess of the inn, who were to a certain de- gree in his confidence and aided and abetted him to the best of their ability, were not a little amused by the various reports that reached them respecting the strange behaviour of this new-comer ; whom the dispossessed Medlands bitterly denounced as the most unfeeling, inconsiderate person they had ever come across. His offences, in their eyes, were twofold: first, in enforcing their prompt departure, and secondly, in keeping watch over them when they did depart, whereby their little plans for stripping the premises of all available - booty were cruelly frustrated. They had, indeed, fairly over-reached themselves by their delay; ample warning had been given, that they might have time to pack up their own effects; but the hope of getting an early crop out of the garden (which they always told Dr. Nelson barely kept them and the pig in vegetables) made them hold on as long as possible, and consequently their opportunity was lost. comicbooks.com