The Argosy — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

THE ARGOSY.} A nne Llereford. 85 with cold water, and made her drink it. He then took his leave, say- ing that he would call again in the course of the evening. Nota minute had he been gone, when Mr. Martin burst into the hall. ‘‘What is this report?” he cried, in agitation. ‘‘ People are saying that Philip King 1s killed.” “They might have said murdered,” said Mr. Edwin Barley. ‘“ Heneage shot him in the wood.” ‘* Heneage !” “Heneage. Took aim, and fired at him, and killed him. There never was a case of more deliberate murder.” That Mr. Edwin Barley was actuated by intense animus as he said _ this, the tone proved. ‘“Poor fellow !” said the clergyman, gently, as he leaned over him and touched his face. ‘I have seen for some days they were not cordial. What ill-blood could have been between them P” “ Heneage had better explain that, when he makes his defence,” said Mr. Edwin Barley, grimly. ‘It is but a night or two. ago that we were speculating on his health, upon his taking a profession; we might have spared ourselves the pains, poor lad. I asked you who was his heir-at-law, little thinking another would so soon inherit.” Mr. Edwin Barley made no reply. “e Why—good heavens !—is that Mrs. Barley sitting there?” he in- quired, 1n a low tone, as his eyes fell on the distant stairs. “She won’t move away. These things do ternfy women. Don't notice her, Martin: she will be better left to herself.’ ‘‘Upon my word, this is a startlmg and sudden blow,” resumed the clergyman, again recurring to the death. ‘ But you must surely be mistaken in calling it murder.” “There’s no mistake about it: 1t was wilful murder. I am as sure of it as though I had seen the aim taken,” persisted Mr. Barley. ‘And I will pursue him to the death.” - ‘‘Have you secured hime If it really is murder, he must answer for it. Where is he ?” Mr. Barley spoke an ugly word. It was a positive fact—account for It, anyone that can—that until that moment he had never given a thought to the securing of George Heneage. ‘“-What a fool I have been!” he exclaimed, “ what an idiot! He has had time to escape.” ‘He cannot have escaped far.”. ‘‘Stay here, will you, Martin. I'll send the labourers after him ; he may be hiding in the wood until the might’s darker.” Mr. Edwin Barley hastened from the hall, and the clergyman bent over the table again. I had my face turned to him, and was scarcely conscious, until it had passed, of something dark that glided from the back of the hall, and followed Mr. Barley out. With him gone, to comicaocks (GO)