The Argosy — page 230: what you’re looking at

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

172 The Mystery of Allan Grale. neighbourhood. Will you tell me one thing, Mr. Grale : what became of the box I sent to Corrabuin? ” © J will,” replied Mr. Grale, harshly. ‘“‘ I have it.” ‘Then possibly you know what it contains, sir. I never did.” The assertion struck bitterly on Mr. Grale’s mind. “I dare say!” he ejaculated. ‘But if I had known earlier things concerning Allan which I began to suspect later,” pursued Edgar, “no box of his should have ever been In my possession.” Mr. Grale’s face turned livid with anger. ‘ What do you know, or suspect?” he cried. ‘‘ Unless you know what is in that box, or unless you have been mixed up with other things of which a guilty knowledge would put you in a felon’s dock? Unless you do, I say, you can know nothing: and if you do, then hold your peace, and | will hold mine, if I may. My son may be dead—leave him his character. Surely he has paid dearly enough for the past, when he has paid with his life—his very life—while you will go free and unscathed ! ” Edgar Vivian was trembling from head to foot. The hand on which Dr. Palmer laid his own, was deathly cold. ‘‘ Have you nothing to say ?” whispered the Doctor. But it was too late. Mr. Grale’s heavy footsteps were crossing the hall. ‘‘ The truth, the truth, Edgar! Speak it.” ‘Dr. Palmer,” was the agitated answer, ‘‘I have said nothing but the truth.” *‘ Perhaps not all of it,” thought the Doctor, as he hastened after Mr. Grale, and overtook him at the foot of the outer steps. ‘* Perhaps not all of it.” ““He never had that letter from Glasgow,” affirmed Mr. Grale, taking his friend’s arm, as if he felt the need of its support. “ He says it for a blind. He got afraid to have anything of Allan’s in his possession, and so packed the box off to the first place that came into his head.” CHAPTER XXXIV. MR. GRALE’S VISIT. Mrs. GRALE did not succumb so utterly as might have been expected to the gloomy cloud which seemed to be settling on Moorland House. Over and over again her husband assured her that there were good reasons why their son should have gone away and be keeping away. He told her, though he did not say that he did not believe it absolutely himself, that Edgar Vivian had received a letter from Allan written at Glasgow a few days subsequent to his leaving home ; in which letter he had requested Edgar to send the box to Corrabuin, there to walt until he fetched it away. Thus the keenest edge of agonised suspicion CONNEC MOOOKS.CO @ im