The Argosy — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

170 Edina. It therefore took him completely by surprise, in the midst‘of this ease, .to find himself suddenly summoned to Jamaica. One day in this same hot summer, early in the month of June—for we must go back a week or two in our story—Mr. Brown, having com- pleted his moming round of calls on patients, stood behind his counter making up the physic required by them, and waiting for his queer old maid-servant, Eve, to come and tell him his one o’clock dinner was ready. The door stood open to the hot street and to the foot pas- sengers, traversing the pavement; and Sam, the young boy, was waiting near the opposite counter with his covered basket, until the physic should be ready. “That’s all to-day, Sam,” said his master pleasantly, as he folded the white paper round the last bottle, and motioned to the lad to bring _ the basket forward. “And, look here "—showing one of the packets— “this is for a fresh place. Number 26, you see, in the Walk. It’s a grocer’s shop.” “All right, sir. I shall find it.” “ Maximilian Brown, Esq.,” interrupted a voice at this juncture. It was that of the postman. He came in at the open door, and read out the address of the letter (his usual custom) as he put it down. “ Oh, the mail’s in, I see,” observed the doctor to him. “Yes, sir.” The postman and the boy went out together. . Mr. Brown, leisurely turning down his coat cuffs, which were never allowed to come in con- tact with the physic, took up the West Indian letter, and broke the seal. By that seal, as well as by the writing, he knew it was from his mother. Mrs. Brown always sealed her letters. The letter contained but a few shaky lines. It told her son Max that she was ill; ill, as she feared, unto death. And it enjoined him to come out to Jamaica, that she might see him before she died. A note from his brother was enclosed, which contained these words. “Do come out, dear Max, if you can in any way manage it. Mother's heart is set upon it. There is no immediate danger, but she is break- ing fast. Come by next mail if you can, the middle of June; but at any rate don’t delay it longer than the beginning of July. I enclose you an order on our London bankers, that the want of funds may be no impediment. Your affectionate brother, Kenneth.” It took a great deal to disturb the equable temperament of Max Brown. This did disturb him. He stood staring at the different missives: now at his mother’s, now at his brother’s, now at the good round sum named in the order. A thunderbolt could not have more effectually taken him aback. Eve, a clean old lady in a flowery chintz gown, with a mob cap and bow of green ribbon surmounting her grey hair, came in twice to say the loin of lamb waited: but she received no, notice in return. gle comicbooks.com