The Argosy — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

204 How it Happened. The train stopped for ten minutes about midway between Weston and the junction, and John got out here to look after his fellow traveller. Louis was then suffering from a racking headache. He was leaning forward, supporting his forehead upon his hands, and groaning with agony. The sudden stoppage of the train seemed to increase his sufferings, although, a moment before, he had attributed his torments to the rapid movement. He had thrust the precious valise beneath his feet, and another passenger had appropriated his copy of the Times. , “I feel as if I could give all I have about me for one drop of cold water,” he said, looking up at John with a ghastly attempt at a smile. My husband brought him a glassful, and then proceeded to lay a wet handkerchief upon his aching brows. When this was accomplished, John was obliged to return to his seat. His patient was much better by the time the junction was reached. The two met Fenella and her friend here, and waited to see them off. The girls continued their journey by the train that the other travellers had just left. IV. In the meantime, Frances and I had been spending the day together very quietly. When I had her all to myself in the silent house—for all our boarders had departed—I told her what had occurred the previous evening, but I had hardly got through my short tale when I began to regret that I had mentioned the organist’s name at all. My poor friend was not strong enough to bear any excitement, and she sobbed and cried until she made herself ill. “Never talk to me about him again,” she said at last, imploringly. ‘There are some things that never can come right in this worlts when once they have gone wrong, and this one of them.” She shivered and trembled all through this hot day as though she had an ague fit. We had taken tea, and my husband was rejoicing in being home again, when we were all startled by a loud and hurried knocking at the hall door. He was called away, and Frances and I waited anxiously, longing to know what was the matter. We both felt that foreboding of evil which so often fills the mind on the occasion of an unexpected summons coming at some unusual hour. It seemed as though we were a long time kept in suspense; but at ’ Jast John reappeared, in the act of drawing on his overcoat. His face was troubled and perplexed, and he looked uneasily at Frances. ‘Carter has lost his pocket-book,” he said. ‘“‘ There was a thousand pounds in it, in Bank of England notes. He has been with the Police, and has telegraphed hither and thither, and now he wants me ‘to drive comicbooks.com