The Argosy — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 245 away, but not fractiously. Each must bear his own burden, and there is some sympathy which can scarcely exist except as pity, and so is painful. “JT beg your pardon, papa,” she said, quite humbly. “Edgar Vivian knew of it in this way,” said Charles. ‘ He walked in from Carstow station with me the day that I first got the hammer. I showed it to him, and told him it was lent to me through Mark Acland.” “Webster, Sladford,’ was printed on the handle,” observed Mark. “You say you took that for the maker’s name,” he added, looking at Charles. ‘‘ But Mr. Edgar Vivian would probably know Webster’s shop: he was often at Sladford for the cricket-matches.” “Well, I don’t see that we can make anything out of the matter,” said Dr. Palmer. ‘ But I suppose, under all the circumstances, we had better let Mr. Grale know about this.” “And then Mr. Webster can send up his hammer to let Miss Bessie Tempest impart guesses about it, and thereby cover herself with honour and glory,” cried Agnes, speaking bitterly. Half an hour later, as Mark Acland was on his way to the station, Charles accompanying him, they met a cart, containing some men, strangers to Dering, and a quantity of curious gear. One of the men touched his hat to Mark. “Why, they must have come in from Sladford! ” he exclarmed. “They are the lock-keeper and some watermen belonging to Sladford canal,” Leaving Charles on the footpath, Mark went up to the cart and spoke with the lock-keeper. The young fellow’s face looked grave as he returned to his friend. “Mr. Grale lost no time,” he remarked. ‘He despatched a special messenger to Sladford on Saturday night.” “ But what for ?—what are the men going to do?” asked Charles Carr. “ They are come to Dering to drag the Black Pool.” CHAPTER XXXVII. THE BLACK POOL GIVES UP ITS SECRET. BErorE that day was out, Dr. Palmer was fetched to the Court in hot haste, to attend a new patient there. It was George Vivian himself. Years before George had had a serious lung attack, of the kind which, by its suddenness and the unmistakable gravity of its manifesta- tions, sometimes alarms the patient into a valetudinarian existence, and generally conveys a warning so solemn as to command more or less attention. George for some time had been more or less under the CORnICclooo SS COM