The Argosy — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

Edina. 173 which he knew belonged to Frank. He crossed the street at a bound, and entered. « Frank 1” Standing in the identical spot that Max Brown was standing when we first saw him, was Frank, his head bent forward over an account- book, in which he was writing. He looked up hastily. “‘ Charley !” Their hands met, and some mutual inquiries ensued. They had not seen each other since quitting Eagles’ Nest. “We thought you must be dead and buried, Frank. You might have come to see us.” “ Just what I have been thinking—that you might have come to see me,” returned Frank. ‘J can’t always get away. Since Brown left, and for a week before it, I have not had a minute to myself: morning, noon, and night, I am tied to my post here. Your time is your own, Charley.” “I have been about at the West-end, finding out Colonel Cockburm, and doing one thing or another,” said Charley, by way of excuse for his laziness. ‘ Edina left us only yesterday.” “ For Trennach ?” “Yes, for Trennach. We fancy she means to take up her abode for good in the old place. She does not feel at home anywhere else, she says, as she does there. It was good of her, though, was it not, Frank, to set us up in the new home? ” “Very good—even for Edina. And I believe few people in this world are so practically good as she is. I did a little towards helping her choose the furniture ; not much, because I arranged with Brown. How is the school progressing ?” “Allright. It is a dreadful come-down: but it has to be put up with. Alice cries every night.” ‘¢ And about yourself? Have you formed any plans?” “I am waiting till Cockburn returns to town. I expect he will get me a commission.” “« A commission!” exclaimed Frank dubiously ; certain doubts and difficulties crossing his mind, as they had crossed Edina’s, “Tt will be the best thing for me if I can only obtain it. There is : no other opening.” Frank remained silent. His doubts were very strong indeed ; but he never liked to inflict thorns where he could not scatter flowers, and he would not damp Charley's evident ardour. Time might do that quickly enough. Charley was looking about him. He had been looking about him ever since he entered, somewhat after the fastidious manner that he had looked at the streets, but more furtively. Appearances were surprising him. The small shop (it seemed no better) with ‘the door comicbooks.com j