The Argosy, Volume XXIV — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

16 Gabriel’s Appointment. them the fellow was soon on the floor of the hall. Where, instead of offering resistance, he began to implore mercy in such piteous tones that Martin’s hand involuntarily relaxed. Calling off the dog, he quietly uncocked his revolver. ‘You had better get up, Medland,” he said. ‘‘If you are sober, I will hear you presently.” “Sober 2? What have I had for the last four-and-twenty hours in- side my lips, sir? Nothing. And I’m that starved with cold, too, I’ve caught my death, I do believe. Oh, sir, 1f you’d left me there another night it would just have been a murderat your door. I couldn’t have lived through it—no, I couldn't.” ‘Then T’ve saved your life, it seems?” said Martin, as he coolly locked the clock-case. ‘“‘T don’t deny it, sir—you have: and thankful I am to you for that same. Only I’m that sick and faint I don’t know how to say what I mean, and if so be your honour would spare me a mouthful of brandy ——” » ‘‘T have none—I never use it. Come in here.” He led the way into the dining-room, gave his unbidden guest a chair, and poured him out a steaming cup of coffee. The trembling creature swallowed some of it in haste, and then devoured the bread and meat set before him with an avidity that convinced Erasmus his tale was so far true, that he had been a long time without food. His appearance, never attrdctive at the best, was now wretched in the extreme, from his clothes, face, and hands being grimed with dust and dirt, and his hair all one tangled dust-heap. Settler, having been instructed that his person was protected by the laws of hospitality, contented himself with occasionally giving him a contemptuous sniff, and refusing all overtures at conciliation. His master might choose to tolerate such company, for reasons of his own—but no dog of the world would be drawn into acknowledging his acquaintance. Whatever Martin’s reasons were, his method of treatment had a marked effect on his prisoner ; as the meal went on, and his strength and senses came back, young Medland, for it was that individual, involuntarily dropped the whine, and ceased the protestations, with which he had tried to defend himself at first. He became more silent ; and looked sincerely ashamed when Martin calmly asked him how he felt now. ‘* Well, sir, I must say I feel uncommon small.” ‘You had need be small, if you play such tricks often.” ‘* Meaning the clock, sir? Ah, there’s more room behind there than you’d suppose. I could tell you something about it that would surprise you, sir.” ‘You had better keep all that for the magistrate.” “The magistrate! Dear sir, you never mean to say you'd give me into custody, after I’ve sat at your tabie, and eaten of your bread? Why, sir, the very savages wouldn’t do such a thing.” comicbooks.com