The Argosy — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksmith. 109 . and self-control, so she answered in a firm voice, though she turned a shade paler. ** Don’t be a fool, Mark. If you think to frighten me, you are mis- taken ; I don’t believe the pistol is loaded.” ‘* Twenty-one—twenty-two,” continued Mark doggedly, not deigning to answer her remark. Janet looked to see if she could get past him, but unless she turned round and went down the hill, she could not escape without a struggle. At that moment, to her delight, she heard a horse’s hoofs coming up the narrow lane, and as few people rode in this path except Vera and Mr. Tempest she nghtly guessed it to be one of them. It was indeed Vera returning froma ride. Mr. Tempest had gone on the pony to see Mrs. Jamieson, so she could not have taken Mark had she wished as they had only two horses—the pony Mr. Tempest rode and drove, and Vera’s own little thoroughbred. But she rarely took Mark when out riding, as she disliked him. Moreover, she was a first-rate rider, had no fear of tramps, and cared nothing for conventionalities. ‘** Here comes your master or Miss Vera; pray have done with this foolery, Mark,” said Janet. * Thirty-eight—thirty-nine—forty,” continued Mark, and at the word forty he pointed the pistol towards his own red head and fired, giving Janet a reproachful leer before he pulled the trigger. Simultaneously with the report of the pistol, Mark fell down into the fence apparently a dead man, and Janet, horrified, gave a loud cry for help and caught hold of the stone wall on the opposite side of the lane to support herself, for her knees sank under her, and it was only by a great effort she prevented herself from fainting. It was at this critical juncture that Vera appeared upon the scene, (Zo be continued.) COMIC OOOlKS. CO —_—