The Argosy — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Grace. 185 ‘*You bought a lot of jewellery from a man named White,” con- tinued Charles, who, of course, was no longer at any loss to know who had so mysteriously personated him. ‘You paid him by a bill, purporting to be accepted by me. And you ” “¢ But the bill’s not due?” hastily interrupted Cyras, lifting his head in surprise. “Tt was due a day or two ago, and ——” ‘By Jove! I made no memorandum of the date. How time flies !” ‘But why did you attach my name to it?” “T signed it with my own namé, ‘C. Baumgarten.’ I made it payable here, for I had no settled address in London, with all of you out of it, north, south, east and west. By Jove! that bill due! They didn’t bring it to you, did they?” ““*Of course they brought it to me, believing it was mine. And I disowned it, and it’s not paid yet; and there’s I don’t know what work about it. It was a pretty close imitation of my handwriting, Cy.” “Tt was my own handwriting, and no imitation of anyone else’s. I wrote my name as I always do, and always have done. As we are alike in person, Charles, so we are in writing. You know it.” “You have given me little opportunity of knowing it of late,” was the reply. ‘‘ It must be months since you wrote to me, Cyras.” . ‘“T’ve made your letters to me do duty for both of us,” returned the free-and-easy Cyras ; “and have sent you one of our splendid newspapers in return. I have no end of business letters to write now, besides looking after the shipping ; so that when the day comes to an end I don’t care to set to work again.” ‘You seem to have taken quite a business turn,” remarked Charles, only half believing in his brother’s industry. “T took that a long time ago. It’s a positive fact, Charley. They are going to give me a share in the concern.” ‘*Who are?” “ Brice and Jansen. Anyway, they talk of it.” “And what about this bill, Cyras ?” “Oh, I'll see to it,” said Cyras, airily. ‘Don’t let it bother your head, lad.” It seemed that he did not allow it to bother his own. Seated back in Charley’s easiest chair, his legs stretched out to the blaze—for the evening was chilly, anda fire had been kindled—Cyras lighted a small meerschaum, with which he had come provided, and held it between his complacent lips. “One can’t do long without one’s smoke,” he remarked. ‘‘ Hope you don’t mind it up here, Charley ?” ‘"Not after business hours,” laughed Charles. “Have you any more bills out, Cyras?” “One more.” comicbooks.com