The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

390 | A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC, ‘Come in, come in, gentlemen,’’ said Undercliff, with some nervousness. ‘“‘’Take seats, do. How d’ye do, Carter ?”’ ‘Thanks, I’m well,’ responded the younger man. ‘‘ But by Jove isn’t this a start? I sh’d think you'd feel knocked all of a heap, ‘Thorne, at such news.’’ Thorne’s brow grew dark and he made no reply. Mr. Undercliff hastened to get down to business. 3 ‘““Monckton,’’ he said, turning to his partner, ‘I have just been telling Howard the sad story connected with his father’s disappearance,’’ The elder Monckton’s thin lips contracted unpleasantly. ‘You should have told him before, Undercliff,’’ he said sourly ; ‘‘ I have often said so. There was no use in covering up the—the unfortunate affair.” ‘“You were glad enough that I refused to have it made public, when the money was found at last,’’ said Mr. Undercliff. ‘You know that, Monckton.”’ The other grunted, but made no audible reply. ~ But we haven’t time to discuss ¢hat,”’ pursued the senior partner. ‘Captain Latimer, this is Howard Thorne ; Edgar’s son, you know.”’ ‘’ And he looks a sight like him,’’ responded the captain, giving Thorne. one of his stumpy hands. ‘‘I’m pleased to meet you, sir, an’ I’m willin’ to wager you're thinkin’ of takin’ a trip to the South’ Pacific about as quick as you can get ready, eh, sir? ”’ " lam,’ replied Thorne, gravely. . ‘‘ Just so,’’ said the mariner, ‘I says to myself, ‘that boy’ll be about starting off immediate to find his father, if so be he’s above board yets.?’ ‘“ Reg’ lar romance, isn’t it?’’ murmured Carter, from the opposite side of the table. His father fixed him with his cold eye, and he subsided for the moment. Thorne controlled a longing to shake him out of his boots, and turned again to Captain Latimer. Mr. Undercliff has only given me the barest outline of the affair,’’ he said. ‘‘ Won't you tell me all about this—this man who is supposed to be Edgar Thorne ?’’ ‘I will, sir, though it won’t take me long to tell all I know, I’m sorry to say. If I’d been a prophet, or one o’ these here clairvoyants, I might have been able to tell you a deal more. JI hada chance to learn it.’’ ‘‘ What do you mean ?”’ inquired Mr. Undercliff. “ Why, sir, I didn’t tell you a the particulars as to how I come by what information I got. You know we was pressed for time this morning. ’’ ‘True, Latimer, butsHoward here is desperately interested. I know he’ll be glad to hear every scrap of information bearing on the appearance of Hdgar Thorne in Aukland. ~ Very well sir. Tl spin my yarn.’ He settled back in his seat and, leaning his elbows on the chair arms, twirled his stumpy brown thumbs as he talked. ‘The very day we got into Aukland a fellow came aboard the brig claim- ing to be an American seaman in distress. He wanted to be took home, an’ eomicbook