The Argosy — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

THE AKGOSV.) Anne Hereford. 9! Oaks. Not the least resemblance did he bear to his brother. Following him was one in an official dress, who was probably superior to a common policeman, for his manners were good, and Mr. Barley called him ‘‘Sir.” It was not the same who had been in the hall. “ Oh, this—this must be the little girl,” observed Mr. Barley. “Are you Mrs. Edwin’s niece, my dear—Miss Hereford P” “Yes, sir.” ‘¢Do you know where she is ?” I said I thought she was in her bed-room. It had transpired that a quarrel had taken place the previous Friday between Mr. Heneage and Philip King ; and the officer had now been in the kitchen to question Jemima. Jemima disclaimed all knowledge of the affair beyond the fact that she had heard of it from little Miss Hereford, whom she saw on the stairs, crying and fnghtened. He had now come to question me. “ Now, my little maid, try ahd recollect,” said the officer, drawing me to him. ‘ What did they quarrel about ?” “T don’t know, sir,” I answered. And I spoke the literal truth, for I had not understood at the time. “Can you not recollect ?” “T can recollect,” I said, looking at-him, and feeling that I did not shrink from him, though he was a policeman. ‘Mr. King seemed to have done something wrong, for Mr. Heneage was angry with him, and called him a spy; but I did not know what it was that he had done. I was too frightened to listen ; I ran out of the room.” ‘Then you did not hear what the quarrel was about ?” “T did not understand, sir. Except that they said that Mr. King was mean, and a spy.” “They !” he repeated, catching me up quickly ; “‘ who else was in the room ?” ‘My Aunt Selina.” “Then she took Mr. Heneage’s part ?” “¢'Yes, sir.” ‘‘ How did the quarrel end? Amicably, or in eval feeling ?” “TI don’t know, sir. I went away, and stayed in my bed-room.” ‘My sister-in-law, Mrs. Edwin, may be able to tell you more about it, as she was present,” interposed Mr. Barley. ‘“‘[ dare say she can,” was the officer’s reply. ‘It seems a curious thing altogether—that two gentlemen should be visiting at a house, and one should shoot the other. How long had they been staying here ?” “‘Let’s see,” said Mr. Barley, rubbing his forefinger upon hfs fore- head. “It must be a month, I fancy, sir, since they came. Heneage was here first; some days before Philip.” ‘Were they acquainted previously Pe” ‘¢T7—think—not,” said Mr. Barley, speaking with hesitation. ‘‘ He- neage was here on a short visit in the middle of the summer, but not comicaooks GO)