The Argosy — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 177 Dr. Palmer undertook to see that the walking-stick in possession of Mark Acland should be brought from Sladford for the meeting. And, when Mr. Grale was taking leave, he suddenly asked him whether he happened to have with him the Corrabuin label, and those two notes—the one asking for money and the other making the appoint- ment—which were believed to have been written by Edgar Vivian. Yes, Mr. Grale had them; he kept them in his pocket book, which never left his person by day and was put under his pillow at night. “Asa great favour, Mr. Grale,” said the Doctor, “I ask you to leave that label and those notes here for to-night. I wish to make them the subject of—an especial study.” Mr. Grale had no objection. When he was gone, Dr. Palmer sat down and waited for the return of his young people, who were out. They came in, Charles Carr and Lettice chatting gaily. Calling Agnes to him, the Doctor went with her into the laboratory. “ Agnes,” said he, “ I want your help in a little experiment : some- thing which came into my head while you were all out.” Agnes had helped her father with many a little experiment. He took his loose buttons and his torn gloves to Lettice; but he always called Agnes for his experiments. “Very well, papa,” she answered, delighted. “What am I to do first ?” ‘You are to let me bandage your eyes,” he said, suiting the action to the word; “and then you are to try to answer questions I shall ask about some things I shall put into your hands.” ‘Why, this is like witchcraft,” she observed laughingly, as she submitted. ‘Suppose I cannot answer at all, papa?” “Then, don’t try to,” he replied ; “‘ your inability or ability is part of the experiment. Sit down, child; be quite at your ease.” As she obeyed, he placed in her hands the note Edgar Vivian had written asking young Grale to meet him at the Black Pool. “What is that?” he asked. ‘““A piece of paper,” she answered, still laughing. ‘It seems to have been twisted like a note. This does not seem very difficult, papa 1? He put into her hands the label, taken from the box, sent to Corra- buin. She lingered longer over that. It was thin paper and had suffered somewhat in its journeyings and its removal. It seemed to puzzle her a little. ‘¢ Surely this is paper too!” she said. “I think there is writing on it. Itisn’t the back of the envelope belonging to the note, is it? No, no—that note was twisted, so that it didn’t need an envelope. But I think this piece of paper has something to do with that note.” A gleam of satisfaction passed over Dr. Palmer’s face. He took the label from her, and placed in her hands that other note, apparently in the same handwriting, which had asked Mr. Grale for the loan of fifty pounds. VOL. XL. | N eCommiclooolkks