The Argosy — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 13 him. He had it on his arm when he walked from the door, but James saw him take hold of it as if he was going to put it on. I wonder what he and Mr. Edgar had got to talk about ? And what a gmesome place to meet at !—that Black Pool.” Miss West took up her sewing again. ‘I should not speculate upon the matter, were I you, Susan,” she said, reprovingly. ‘ Gentle- men may have business matters to discuss that do not concern other people.” Susan listened with perfect good-temper. She decided that Miss West was an old maid, and all old maids were ridiculously particular. When Mr. Grale went down stairs after leaving the nursery, he drew a chair to the dining-room fire, and sat down to think. The prolonged absence of his son and the fact of his not writing to them was beginning to disturb him, but only in a slight degree. He was now asking himself why Edgar Vivian should refuse to tell what he knew—if he knew anything—and why he should suspect that seamstress of having spoken to him, Mr. Grale, about matters that concerned his son. But upon these points his mind wholly refused to give him any answering light. “Well, well, we must hope it will come soon,” mused he. ‘“ Every day must bring us nearer to hearing something or other.” Just as he was about to rise and take his departure for the Works, Mrs. Grale came into the room. “Why, Richard !” she exclaimed, “I didn’t know you were here > I thought you had gone back long ago. Is anything the matter ? Are you not well ?” It was so very unusual for Mr. Grale to linger at home in the day- time that she put the question. More often than not he did not come in to lunch at all. “Well? I’m quite well,” crustily answered Mr. Grale. ‘What should ail me?” Mrs. Grale sat down on the other side of the hearth, and drew her chair near to him. She had been wanting to talk to him, but had not liked to begin ; perhaps this might be a good opportunity. “We don’t hear from Allan, Richard.” “No,” he answered. ‘‘Shan’t be long first, I daresay, now.” “If I could only think it!” she sighed. ‘ Richard, I’ve wanted to say something to you, but I couldn’t sum up courage. You take me up so sharply if I ever mention such things.” “What things ?” he asked. “ Well—all sorts of things. Dreams, for example.” “Dreams!” Mr. Grale’s voice had a great scorn in it. “Yes, I know how you ndicule all that. But, Richard, I’m very unhappy ; you may'see it for yourself, though I don’t talk of it ; and I wish you’d let me just tell you what I want to tell, and listen to me quietly. I try to be patient ; you know I do.” | “You can tell it,” said Mr. Grale, in a kinder tone. CONMIUC JOO S (C(O)