The Argosy — page 281: what you’re looking at

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

The Key of the Church. 267 “‘ Don’t, Joseph.” * Don't /” retorted Tod. ‘ But I do. She wants old Westerbrook to leave the property to her; that’s the beginning and the end of it ; and to cut off poor Fred with a shilling.” “ Of course we are all sorry for Fred, Joseph,” resumed the mother. ‘But he need not do reckless things and lose his good name.” “ Bother his good name!” cried Tod. “Tt is a hopeless case, I fear, Joseph. - Fred has been all on the wrong track lately, and done many a sad thing.” “I don’t care what he has done. -He has been driven toit. And I'll stand up for him through thick and thin.” Tod flung out of the room with the last words. It was just like him, putting himself into a way for.nothing. It was like somebody else too —his father. A fine commotion arose next morning. We were at breakfast, when Thomas came in to say old Jones, the constable, wanted to see the Squire immediately. Old Jones was bade to enter; he appeared all on the shake, and his face as white as a sheet. There had been murder . done in the night, he said. Master Fred Westerbrook had shot Gisby : and he had come to get a warrant signed for Fred’s apprehension. “‘Goodness bless me!” cried the Squire, letting fall his knife and fork, and turning to face old Jones. ‘ How on earth did it happen?” “Well, your worship, ‘twere a poaching affray,” returned Jones. “‘ Gisby the bailiff have had his suspicions o’ the game, and he went out last night with a man or two, and met the fellows in the open field on this side the copse. There they was, in the bright moonlight, as bold as brass, with a bag o’ game, Master Fred Westerbrook the fore- most on ‘em. A fight ensued—Gisby don’t want for pluck, he don’t, though he be undersized, and he attacked ’em. Master Fred up with his gun and shot him.” “Ts Gisby dead P” ‘‘ No, sir, but he’s a-dying.” * What a fool that Fred Westerbrook must be!” stormed the Squire, getting up and stamping a bit. “ And I declare I hiked the young fellow like anything! It was only last night, Jones, that we were talking of him here, taking his part against his uncle.” ‘‘Ffe haven’t been after much good, Squire, since he went to live at that there Silver Bear. Not but what the inn’s as respectable-———” ‘‘ Respectable !—I should like to know where you would find a more respectable inn, or a better conducted !” put in Tod, all in a heat and with scant ceremony. ‘‘ What do you mean, old Jones? A gentleman can take up his abode at the Silver Bear, and not be ashamed of it.” ‘“T’ve nothing to say again it, sir; nor against Rimmer neither. It warn’t the inn I was a-reflecting on, but on Master Fred himself.” “ Any way, I don’t believe this tale, Jones.” COMIC OOOKS.COn