The Argosy — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

A Crisis in his Life. 131 ‘* Johnny need not fret himself that he’ll catch much harm from my niquities,” said Tod with a sneer. | ‘“‘ Now listen to me, young man,” spoke Mr. Brandon. ‘If you per- sist in this insane conduct and refuse to hear reason, Ill keep you out of danger by putting you in prison.” Tod stared. ‘‘’'You owe me a hundred pounds.” . ‘“‘T am quite conscious of that, sir: and of my inability hitherto to repay it.” “For that debt I will shut you up in prison. Headstrong young idiots like you must be saved from themselves.” Tod laughed slightly in his insolence. A defiant, mocking laugh. ‘“‘T should like to see you try to shut me up in prison! You have no power to do it, Mr. Brandon: you have never proved the debt.” Mr. Brandon rose, and took a step towards him. “You dare to tell me I cannot doa thing that I say I will do, Joseph Todhetley! I shall make an affidavit before a judge in chambers that you are about to leave the country, and obtain the warrant that will lock you up. And I say to you that I believe you are going to leave it, sooner or later; and that Chalk woman with you !” ‘What an awful lie,” cned Tod, his face all ablaze. “ Lie or no lie, I believe it. I believe it is what she will bring you to, unless you are speedily separated from her. And if there be no other way of saving you, why, Ill save you by force.” Tod ran his hands through his damp hair: what with wrath and emotion he was in a fine heat. Knowing nothing of the law himself, he supposed old Brandon could do as he said, and it sobered him. ‘I am your father’s fmend, Joseph Todhetley, and I'll take care of you for his sake if I can. I have stayed on here, putting myself, as it were, into his place to save him pain. As his-substitute, I have a right to be heard ; ay, and to act. Do you know that your dead mother was very dear to me? I will tell you what perhaps I never should have told you but for this crisis in your life, that her sister was to me the dearest friend a man can have in this life; she would have been my wife but that death claimed her. Your mother was nearly equally dear, and loved me to the last. She took my hand in dying, and spoke of you ; of you, her only child. ‘Should it ever be in your power to shield him from harm or evil, do so, John,’ she said, ‘do it for my sake.’ And with Heaven’s help, I will do it now.” Tod was moved. The mention of his mother softened him at all times. Mr. Brandon sat down again. ‘Don’t let us play at this pitched battle, Joe. Hear a bit of truth from me, of common sense: can’t you see that I have-your interest at heart? There are two roads that lie before a young man on his setting out in life, either of which he can take: you can take sitherocrencycty