The Argosy, Volume XXIV — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

Gabriel’s Appointment. 15 no further by candle-light. ‘To make assurance doubly sure, he took off the old broken lock of the clock-case, and quickly replaced it with one of his own, of which he had a supply in his tool-chest. This done, he went to bed, and slept without any further disturbance. His time was fully taken up the next day with sundry workmanlike jobs he had planned beforehand for the baffling of intruders ; and he only stirred from the house to give Settler a run—admitting no visitors inside the gate, to which his faithful widow brought him a supply of milk and bread. Such of the curious folk that hung about the place, hoping to glean some incident which would make a sensation, could only report that they heard hammering: and this they were quite wel- come to hear. Late in the evening, Martin and his dog appeared in the village, on their way to the post-office, and several idlers listened with eager interest to hear him ask for his letters—sympathising audibly with his evident disappointment on receiving none. But when the doctor’s gig drove up, and the doctor himself beckoned Martin to conference, the interest deepened into excitement, and everybody felt it would be only public-spirited in the two to hold their conver- sation aloud. It did not take long; afew friendly questions and answers—a message, an inquiry, and expressions of mutual good understanding, constituted nearly the whole of it; and then Dr. Nelson drove on, ' and Martin turned his face homeward, tempted by the freshness of the evening air to take the longest way round. It ended, of course, in his going further than he meant, and it was nearly ten o’clock when he put the key in the lock of the house door and let himself in. As he did so, to his surprise, the refractory old clock began to strike ; and to strike, moreover, in so sharp and flurried a fashion | that Martin stood still for a minute, staring at it in astonishment. Setéler, however, showed his teeth, and began to demonstrate an intention of looking into the matter—which was nipped in the bud by a peremptory order to lie down. A twinkle in Martin’s eye be- trayed a grim sense of humour at the situation; but he contented himself by observing, in a very distinct voice, that he supposed the clock had run down again, and he must look at it to-morrow. The striking had ceased: but Settler was charmed to obey the order to lie down opposite the dial, for he was sure in his own mind that some fun was coming. Meanwhile, the hunter went below, made his coffee, filled his tray, and brought up their supper, as he had the previous evening; lighted a small fire in the dining-room, and a couple of candles, and finally produced a revolver, which he carried in his left hand, while he held a key in his right. “ Now, Settler, we'll just see what’s the matter here, before we sit down to supper.” He unlocked the case, and the dog made one bound into it. A cry and a scuffle followed, and in another minute Martin had seized the collar of a man whom Settler had got by the leg. Between comicbooks.com