The Argosy — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 171 face flushed painfully as he turned to the two gentlemen sitting by and watching him. “This is very strange,” he cried. “I cannot find the letter.” Contempt sat on Mr. Grale’s stern face. Dr. Palmer spoke. “You mentioned another desk to Stephen ; a larger one. ' Perhaps you put it in that one.” “No, no, Doctor, that is my old school desk; nothing of conse- quence is ever put into that ; it is not kept locked,” said Edgar, with some emotion, as he still kept nervously opening and re-closing papers. “What can have become of it? I certainly thought I put it in here.” He laid hold of the desk, turned it upside down, and shook it ; but nothing more fell out. “ Here’s a letter of the same date,” he remarked. ‘‘I must surely have put this here in mistake for the other, for this is one that should not have been kept at all—a mere note from a tradesman, see!” He held it towards Dr. Palmer. It was a tailors request for a postponement of the fulfilment of a little order, on account of great pressure of work—certainly not an epistle to be treasured up. “TY don’t think there is anything more to be said,” stiffly observed Mr. Grale, rising. “ Mr. Grale,” said the young man, “I see what you think—that [ am purposely keeping back the note. I assure you it is not so. I thought it was here—and you should have been welcome to read it.” “No,” said Mr. Grale, curtly, “I am not thinking that you are keeping the note back. Are you ready, Dr. Palmer?” Dr. Palmer was dissatisfied with young Vivian’s manner. It was not the natural manner of one anxious to tell all he knows, fears, or suspects. Yet it was impossible for the Doctor to give up all his faith in his old favourite. He would not even own to himself that it was shaking at its foundation. “Ts there not anything more you can tell us, Edgar?” he stayed to say. ‘* Are you aware that Allan’s walking-stick has been found this afternoon near the Black Pool? You may imagine what that means to his frends. There is no longer room for any false notions of loyalty to false friendship. Allan could never wish his parents to be subjected to a cruel anxiety if you can put an end to it.” Vivian recoiled. He had not heard the news. ‘“ By the Black Pool!” he exclaimed. ‘What does that mean? Why Maria — Maria —_e ee “Yes,” said Dr. Palmer, “it will alarm your sister. I know that she has had curious fears and fancies. You had better keep it from her at present— if that shall be possible.” Of course Edgar Vivian discerned the kind of fear that was crop- ping up of the Black Pool—that he was lying in its waters. “T cannot think it,” he said, with what looked like very genuine eamestness, “I believe that Allan must have got away from the GOGO S (SO)