The Argosy — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

Edina. 13 Had Frank possessed the money, in pocket or prospective, he would ‘have handed out help to Charles there and then. But he did not possess it. He was at a nonplus. ‘‘When once a writ’s served, they can take you, can’t they?” asked Charles, stopping to pluck a pretty pink blossom from the bank, the twig being bitten away to nothing. “T think so,” replied Frank : who had, himself, contrived to steer clear of these unpleasant shoals, and knew no more of their power, or non-power, than Charles did. “Well, then, I think I am going to be arrested,” continued Charles, dropping his voice, and turning round to face the common again. “It’s rather a blue look-out. I should not so much mind it for myself, I think: better men than I have had to go through the same: but for the fuss there'll be at home.” “The idea of calling yourself a man, Charley! You're but a boy yet.” “By the way, talking of that, Jones of Corpus told me a writ could not be legally served upon me as I was not of age. Jones said he was sure of it. What do you think, Frank?” “T don’t know. But I should suppose that the very fact of the writ having been served upon you is a proof that it can be done, and that Jones of Corpus is wrong. William Stane could tell you: he must have all points of the law at his fingers’ ends.” “But I don’t care to ask William Stane. May be, they take it for granted that I am of age. Any way, I got served with the writ. And unless I am mistaken,” added Charles gloomily, ‘a fellow has followed me here, and is dodging my heels to arrest me.” “ What are your grounds for thinking it, Charley? Have you seen any suspicious person about ?” “Yes, Ihave. Before you came up just now, I ” The words were broken off suddenly. Charles leaped aside from the stile to hide himself behind the hedge. Some individual was emerging from the grove of trees ; and he, it was evident, had caused the movement. “Tf he turns his steps this way, tell me, Frank, and I'll make a dash homewards through the oak-coppice,” came the hurried whisper. “All right. No. He is making off across the common.” ‘“‘That may be only a ruse to throw me off my guard,” cried Charley from the hedge. “Watch. He will come over here full pelt in a minute. He looks just like a tiger, with that great mass of brown beard. He is a tiger.” Frank, leaning his arms on the stile, scanned the movements of the ‘*¢ Tiger.” The Tiger was at some distance, and he could not see him clearly. A thin tiger, of middle height and apparently approaching brows, comicbooks.com *( middle age, dressed in a suit of grey, with a slouching hat on his