The Argosy — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

26 The Mystery of Allan Grale. ‘Very curious,” assented Dr. Palmer. “Do you think ‘Towne related it to anyone besides yourself, Brice ?” ** No, sir, I don’t—I’m pretty sure he didn’t. The next morning I spoke of it to Stephen up at the Court, and to Miss Vivian’s maid, who’s always very friendly with me. I thought what a dreadful thing it would be for the Grales if it was true, and I hardly liked to keep it all to myself. But that same afternoon while I was at tea, down came Stephen here to tell me it was nothing but one of that poor Sam Towne’s weak fancies, or perhaps he might have had a drop of drink in him at the time; for that Mr. Allan Grale was safe and well in Scotland, and was writing letters to his folks at home. So I looked after Towne, and found him, and told him this, and I warned him never to repeat a word of his foolish tale if he didn’t want to be had up for it and punished—and that scared him. He began to tremble, saying it must have been the fairies—who were always deceiving him.” ‘Do you know where Towne is now?” “No, sir; I’ve never seen him since then. Whether it was the scare sent him, or that he couldn’t find work, he went right off and away from Dering. But, Dr. Palmer ” “Yes?” said the Doctor, kindly, for the old man had stopped. ‘What is ite” “Well sir,” said Brice, in a tone that seemed to have borrowed something of Sam Towne’s scare, ‘“‘ now that the time has gone on all this long while, months of it, and Mr. Allan does not come back, and there seems to be no signs of him near nor far, I get asking myself, sitting all alone here in the gloaming when thoughts are deep, whether Sam Towne’s tale was true.” (To be continued.) comniclooo ks (C(O)