The Argosy — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

174 Edina. standing open to the narrow street ; the two counters running up on either side ; the glass jars aloft; the scales lying to hand, and sundry packets of pills and powders beside them : to him, it all savoured of @ small retail chemist’s business. Charley thought he must be in a kind of dream. He could not understand how or why Frank had descended to so inferior a position as this. “Do you Zike this place, Frank ?” “Uncommonly,” answered Frank ; and his honest blue eyes, glancing steadily into Charley’s, confirmed the words. “It is a relief to be in harness again ; and to have a home to bring Daisy to.” “Will Daisy like it?” questioned Charles. And the hesitation in his tone, which he could not suppress, plainly betrayed his opinion, that she would not. . Frank’s countenance fell. It was the one item of rue in the other- wise sufficiently palatable cup. ‘© T wish I could have done better for her. It is only for a time, you know, Charley.” ‘“‘T see,” said Charley, feeling relieved. ‘You are only here while looking out for something better.” ‘ That’s it, in one sense. I stay here until Brown comes back. By that time I hope to—to pick myself up again.” The slight halt was caused by a consciousness that he did not feel assured upon the point. That Mr. Blase Pellet and his emissary, the Tiger, and all their unfriendly machinations combined, would by that time be in some way satisfactorily disposed of, leaving himself a free agent again, Frank devoutly hoped and most sanguinely expected. It was only when his mind dipped into details and he began to con- sider how and by what means these enemies were likely to be sub- dued, that he felt dubious and doubtful. , “Something good may turn up for you, Frank, before the fellow— Brown, if that’s his name—comes home. I suppose you'll take it if it does.” “Not I. My bargain with Brown is to stay here until he returns. And here I shall stay.” “Oh, well—of course a bargain’s a bargain. How long does he expect to be away?” “He did not know. He might stay four or six months with his people, he thought, if things went on well here.” “I say, why do you keep that street door open ?” “TJ don’t know,” answered Frank. “From habit, I suppose. Brown used to keep it open, and I have done the same. I like it so. It imparts some liveliness to the place.” “ People may take the place for a shop, and come in.” “Some have done so,” laughed Frank. “It. was a chemist’s shop before Brown took to it. I tell them it is only a surgery now.” ’' comliichooks.com