The Argosy — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

242 THE ARGOSY. ‘‘Madam,’’ I whispered, ‘‘ there are others in the house.’’ ‘Oh, go, go!’’ she cried with an agitation she could not control ; ‘‘ go, I beseech you and leave me alone.”’ : I bowed to her and left the room. When I turned the corner of the first landing I could see her majestic figure outstanding in the morning light. I thought that I looked upon it for the last time. I did not know—but that is my story. There was sunshine in the hall; but I passed through it swiftly, fearing with a child’s fear that some unseen hand would be outstretched to touch me as I walked. Not until the street door had closed behind me and the sweet air of a June morning breathed upon my face, did dread of that house of mystery leave me. But inthe street, I stood to gaze at its lightless windows, and to ask myself if, indeed, I had witnessed the things of that night or had dreamed them upon my way. Outwardly it was as other houses, black and bare with drawn blinds and gloomy portals ; but within—what story could it tell. God alone knew, I said, and so turned toward my home. At the corner of the damnable street, I drank a cup of coffee from a stall. The man who served me remarked that my hand trembled. I did not answer him ; but the wind of morning told me that sweat was still running down my face. CHAPTER II.—In A GARRET. I HEARD Benjamin sighing upon the stairs and knew that he carried good tidings. For never was that best of men known to sigh when the news was ill. Moreover, he entered the room boldly, forgetting to remove his hat until he had advanced some paces towards me. ‘* Well,’’ I said, ‘‘ you.have been ?’”’ He sidled towards me like a crab: for thus was his habit acquired in many years of faithful service at my table. ‘There was no door in London, open but the half of a foot though it might have been, through which Ben- jamin could not slip when the need was. ‘“ Yes, sir,’’ he said, coming quite close to my chair, ‘‘ I have been.’’ ‘And have learned something new.”’ He fingered the brim of his hat nervously. I think that he Was always , frightened of me. Yet, let me bear witness, no man ever had a better friend. “Tf you please,’’ he said, answering my question with hesitation, ‘‘ the housemaid at No. 92 *% ‘“Benjamin,’’ I exclaimed severely, ‘‘ let me hope that I have brought you up in the way you should go. At your age, one does not speak of the housemaid at No. 92 . He giggled just for all the world like an old woman. ‘‘Oh, sir—oh, indeed—well, to be sure—that you should think it.’’ ‘*Benjamin,’’ I said, ‘‘go on with your story and then I will tell you what I think.’’ He became serious directly, screwing his neck out of his collar, and sigh- ing with that sigh which had become a part of my monotonous life. - Eomicbooks:.com / * Ve" ee