The Argosy — page 388: what you’re looking at

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

306 Watching on St. Mark's Eve. ten Antes. “‘ Don’t you be insolent, Monk. That won't answer with me.” “Well, sir, it is not pleasant to be accused point-blank of a crime, as you've just accused me. I know nothing at all about the matter. *Twasn’t me. I had no grudge against Phcebe, that I should harm her.” Tod was satisfied ; I was not. He never once looked in either of our faces as he was speaking. We leaped the wire-fence and went across to Goody Picker’s, bursting into her kitchen without ceremony. ““T say, Mrs. Picker, we can’t find out anything about that business last night,” began Tod. “And you never will, gentlemen, as is my opinion,” retuned Mrs. Picker, getting up in a bustle and dusting two wooden chairs. ‘“ Who- ever did that, have took himself off for a bit; never doubt it. "Twas some one o’ them village lads.” ““We have been wondering whether it was Roger Monk.” “ Lawk-a-mercy !” cried she, dropping. a basin on the bnick floor. And if ever I saw a woman change colour, she did. ‘‘ What's the matter now P” ‘Why you sent me into a tremble, gentlemen, saying that,” she an- swered, stooping to pick up the broken crockery. “A young man lodging in my place, do such a villain’s trick! I'd not like to think it; I shouldn't rest in my bed. The two servants having started nght out from here for the churchyard have cowed-down my heart bad enough, without more ill news.” “What time did Monk come in last night?” questioned Tod. “Do you remember P” ‘‘He come in after Mrs. Hannah and the other had gone,” she replied, taking a moment’s pause. ‘Close upon it; I’d hardly shut my door on them when I had to open it to him.” “Did he go out again P” ‘Not he, sir. He eat his supper, telling me in a grumbling tone about the extra work he’d had to do in the greenhouses and places, because the other man had took holiday best part o’ the day. And then he went up to bed. Right tired he seemed.” We left her fitting the pieces of the basin together, and went home. “It wasn’t Monk,” said Tod. ‘ But now—where to look for the nght man, Johnny ?” Look as we might, we did not find him. Phoebe was better in a day or two, but the convulsive fits stuck to her, coming on at all sorts of un- expected times. Old Duff thought it might end in insanity. And that’s what came of Watching for the Shadows on St. Mark's Eve ! | Jounny LuDLow. COMIC OOOKS. EO mn _