The Argosy — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

Within thetr Gates. gir of limb, rather preferred the perpendicular way of getting down preci- Pices. Mary, catching him by the jacket, to his intense surprise, whispered a confused explanation in three or four brief words. “He has been a guest within our gates, Tom. We must not let him be taken, if anything we can do will save him.” “Taken! Of course not,” responded Tom, warmly earnest, but quite bewildered. ‘We'll save you, Mr. Shepard. I'll throw those ruffians off the scent. And that rat of a Hale, too, to have done it!” “Take care, Tom, my boy. You may do me more harm than good.” Away rushed Toni to the front, crashing through the trees. The three gentlemen on the opposite bank looked down at him like so many hyenas. “ Halloa !” roared Tom, looking up. ‘‘ Why, that’s never you, Mr. Hale! Glad to see you back again—but won’t you just catch it from the master! He has had to hear our Latin homily this week—and you know he can’t. I say, have you seen anything of Mary and Mr. Shepard? They went off to Treffyn this afternoon.” “Went to Treffyn this afternoon?” called back Hale, his voice echoing down the glen, sounding almost close to his trembling listeners’ ears. “The pair of them,” shouted Tom. ‘It strikes me that’s a case, you know, Mr. Hale. Don’t know what will be said to it at home.” “How did they go? Which way did they take?” panted Hale the information nearly stopping his breath. “Went on Shanks’ pony, and took the road by the old mine. It’s the furthest, you know, but the shadiest, and they’d be sure to like shag. Here, you just wait there till I come up and get round to you, and we'll go and meet them, if you like. Mary will be glad to see you after this long absence.” “We'll go on at once,” replied Hale, “‘ you can catch us up.” The three peering faces disappeared from the. opposite bank like a shot. They had taken the bait. Tom Owen turned to crash up the bank again through the trees and brushwood, in order to overtake the men of law and keep up the farce. Mr. Stanley seized the hand of the ready-witted lad. t “Thank you, Tom; thank you ever. Should I escape I shall be your grateful debtor always, ” ‘Don’t lose time,” whispered Tom in return. “Get out of this wilderness, and take the way to the left—you know. That’s just the opposite direction to Treffyn,-and you'll get across country and dodge them nicely.” A loud shout proclaimed Tom’s arrival at the top of the bank. Making his way round the brow of the precipice, he saw the three hastening along towards the Treffyn road, and proceeded to catch them up with all the speed of his active legs. ** | comicbhooks.conn 1