The Argosy — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

What Our Advertisement Brought. 157 earrings, but I could see how hard he found it to say anything at all— “tell me what has alarmed you? ” I forgot then all about my novel costume; I even forgot the wet and cold. With a sob of relief to begin with, I told him everything, only interrupted by fits of coughing. He listened astonished and excited, while the gentleman within the room gradually lost his scruples, and drew quite close to the window to question me. “We were sitting together downstairs,” explained Mr. Hall, “when we fancied we heard a knocking somewhere, without being able to distinguish where ; at least, I fancied it, while my friend ridiculed the very idea. But we decided to go over the house together, and had reached this room when I saw you. Iam glad my friend is still with me, for we will collar this scoundrel. You say you did not lock the door after him ? that’s right—at least, it will be all right if we can insure his trying to effect his escape in the manner he effected his entrance. It will not do to make any alarm, because if we rouse Miss Deborah she will naturally run downstairs, and may perhaps fall right into the villain’s way. At the same time, we must not give him the chance of letting himself out by the front door while we he in wait for him here. Fielding, what plan have you to suggest?” Fielding, then, was the young man who had come up close to us now in a most in- different manner. I—I hoped I should never see Mr. Fielding again after to-night. “Tt will hardly do for us to separate,” he said, pondering, “ for if he has only one man to elude, he may be prepared to make short work of it.” I remember putting in a disjointed speech here, to the effect that, if they perilled their lives, I could never enjoy mine again ; but they only smiled, instead of promising me. There was a silent pause, while they cogitated ; and I had leisure to—to feel exceedingly uncomfortable. “T’ve thought of a plan,” said Mr. Hall, at last. (I think that being on a daily paper makes a gentleman unusually quick.) ‘‘ What do you think of it, Fielding? I will take Miss Lavinia down, while you keep watch here. As soon as I have let her through the front door, I return to you, and we take up our station one each side that next window. Meanwhile, she goes to her own front door, and knocks; a ready, natural, fearless knock, which will startle the thief, and make him hasten to this back window, where you and I will have the pleasure of seizing him.” Broken so abruptly to me, the part I had to play seemed ternble ; but I knew nothing else could be done. I remember, with a haunting distinctness, that journey of mine from the scullery roof to Mr. Hall’s front door, under his guidance. I remember with what thoughtfulness Mr, Fielding made himself invisible as I passed through the gaslit COMIC OOOKS. EO in —_)