The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAJOR’S PLOT.* A tale of intrigue and mystery, involving the Penrose family in a network of crime and bringing more than one life into jeopardy—Perilous experiences in the Indian cavern and a night’s journey which ‘ends in a terrible immurement—A boldly conceived conspiracy which stops at no expedients and hazards all risks. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. DicK PENROSE lives with his grandfather on the squire’s extensive farm in Lewisberry, a country town near Harrisburg. Dick’s mother is dead, and his father went abroad some fifteen years before, and has not been heard of since till one day he comes back, like one risen from the dead, in the shape of Major Horace Penrose, who accounts for his prolonged absence and silence by telling a fearful story of captivity among the Moors. The night of his return a fire breaks out in astore in the village and Dick rescues an English- man who had obtained lodging there for the night. This fellow, whose name is Henry Ford, strangely enough is recognized by the major as a valet whom he had brought from London with him, and from whom he became separated in New York. He is taken to the farm, where he and his master have many secret interviews. In course of time the squire’s health fails mysteriously, and Dr. Galen, the family physician, at last thinks he discovers evidence of vegetable poisoning being used. He suspects Ford, and one night sets Dick to watch what goes on in the sick room. Dick conceals himself in a large clothes press and is horrified to see his father enter the room, take a phial from his pocket and pour some fluid into the squire’s medicine before handing it to him. Moping that there has been some mistake, the boy determines to hurry off to Dr. Galen at once for an explanation. But in his excitement, he leaves the doors of the wardrobe open, the major learns that he has been watched, and Dick is captured and dosed with chloroform before he can get off the grounds. The major proposes sinking Dick in the pond at once, but Ford takes him to a private in- sane asylum near New York, whence he makes his escape, aided by Dock Dawson, a trampish character who has turned up in Harrisburg, and who knows more about the major than the latter cares to have spread abroad. Meantime the squire grows worse and the major urges that his new will be made at once. The family lawyer is summoned and the signature is about to be affixed in the presence of wit- nesses when a commotion is heard in the corridor and the next instant the door opens to admit Dick, followed by Dock Dawson, Henry Ford and a stranger with tanned skin and fair mustache. CHAPTER XXXVII.—IN WHICH A STRANGE STORY IS RELATED. A® Major Penrose saw the strange procession filing into the room his face assumed an ashen pallor. ‘« Sacre!’ he muttered between his clinched teeth, and then, moving back from the bed, he stood still, with folded arms. Mr. Grimwood looked on in stupefied amazement, and the doctor rushed forward to embrace Dick. But before he could accomplish this, the stranger in the rear of the party moved quietly forward, revealing, as the light shone full upon him, features that bore a startling resemblance to Major Horace Penrose. *This story began in the November, 1596, issue of THE ARGOSY. The five back numbers will be matled to any address on vecetpt of 50 cents. CONNIE OOKS. CeO 3