The Argosy — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

8 Edina. to lend me a thousand pounds, or so, to set me up until the nest-egg is found ; but I know you have not got it to lend.” “ Got it to lend /” echoed the Major in a tone of dismayed astonish- ment. ‘“ Why, Frank, my boy, I want such a sum lent to myself. I wish to my heart I knew where to pick it up. Here’s Charles must have money now: has come home from Oxford with a pack of debts at his back 1” “ Charles has !” exclaimed Frank in surprise. ‘ And would like to make me believe that all the rest of the young fellows there run up the same bills! every man Jack of ’em! No, no, Master Charley: you don't get me to take in sha#. Young men can be steady at college as well as at home if they choose to be. Charley’s just one that’s led any way. He is young, you see, Frank: and he is thrown there, I expect, amid a few rich blades to whom money is no object, and must needs do as they do. The result is, he has made I don’t know what liabilities, and I must pay. Oh, it’s all a worry and bother together !” Not intentionally, but by chance, Frank, on quitting his uncle, came upon Charles. Looking into a room in search of his wife, there sat Charley at a table, pen and ink and paper before him, setting down his debts, so far as he could judge of and recollect them, Frank went in and closed the door. “Can I help you in ay way, Charley? Uncle Francis has been telling me.” Charles let off a little of his superfluous qjscomfort in abuse of the people who had presumed to trouble him with the wine bill. Frank sat down, and drew the paper towards him. “T had no idea it could be as much as that, Frank,” was the rmueful avowal. “And I wish with all my heart their wine parties and their fast living had been at the bottom of the sea !” “ Js it as much, Charley?” To tell the truth, I’m afraid it’s more,” said Charles with candour. “Yve only made a guess at the other amounts, and I know I’ve not put down too much. °That tailor is an awful man for sticking it on: as are all the rest of the crew, for the matter of that. I was trying to recollect how many times I’ve had horses, and traps, and things; and I can’t.” “ Does Uncle Francis know it comes to all this ?” “No. And I don’t care to let him know. Things seem to worry | him so much now. I do wish that lost money could be found!” “Just what your father and I have been wishing,” cried Frank. Look here, Charley. I have a little left out of my five hundred pounds. You shall have the half of it: just between ourselves, you know : and then the sum my uncle must find will not look so formidable to him. Nay, no thanks, lad: would you notall do as much for me— comicbooks.com