The Argosy — page 322: what you’re looking at

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

250 The Mystery of Allan Grale. ‘‘That will suffice,” he said. ‘ Any further examination will do afterwards.” They drew a white sheet gently over the awful thing. And they hung another to screen the dusky window of the outhouse. And then they all came out, and the Doctor made fast the door and took away the key in his own pocket. And in less than an hour there was wild weeping in Moorland House, and a messenger was speeding across the country to apprise the coroner of the need for his services ; while the Dering villagers ran in and out of each other’s cottages and made public property of any confidences which might have been privately exchanged during the last few weeks. Only Mr. Grale sat, pale and silent.’ He had not been sorry when he first thought that Allan had gone away. But Allan could never come back now. The father shed not a tear. He had not a word : except once. Mrs. Grale cried out that she and her sister Marget were two miser- able women. ‘“ Those live who would be better dead,” she wailed. ‘** And those die who should live!” “Poor Polly!” said her husband. That was all. But there was something in the tone which touched some recollection in the mother’s mind. She was not comforted: she was not soothed: she was not called from her grief to console his. But her moans grew more gentle. The coroner’s inquest was held in the village school-house, where the rooms were large and suitably furnished with benches. The children were enjoying a week’s holiday, which left the place at liberty. As to the identification of the remains, the jurymen themselves had known Allan Grale, and they testified to their recognition of him. They could see all that could be seen—that the dead man was of Allan’s height and build—that he had the familiar light-brown curly hair; and of the hand which had not been clenched in the death agony, the little finger had a slight crook, a little congenital peculianty which Allan had inherited from his mother. But more special ev- dence was forthcoming. The father’s came first. He said he believed the body was that of his son Allan. He had not seen him since October last. Had not been alarmed at his disappearance at first, believing he had wished to absent himself from home for a short time. Had afterwards heard re- ports of his being in Scotland, and had grown very angry about the matter. Latterly he had grown to feel alarmed at the prolonged absence, and at the total lack of any news. One of the maids from Moorland House—Susan—was next called to testify to certain points. She identified (as others had already done) the light overcoat, which Mr. Allan had taken with him the ECONMCOOOKS.CO mn