The Argosy — page 286: what you’re looking at

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

272 The Key of the Church. “‘ But, Fred, how did you get in here?” “We hear talk of providential occurrences: there’s nothing Mr. Holland is fonder of telling us about in his sermons than the guiding finger of God. If the means that enabled me to take refuge here were not providential, Johnny, I must say they look like it. When I met you yesterday afternoon, you remember my chancing to say that the little Hollands were playing at ‘Salt Fish’ in the study, while I sat there talking to Edna?” Of course I remembered it. “Directly after I left you, Johnny,” resumed Fred Westerbrook, ‘I put my hand in my tail coat-pocket for my handkerchief, and found a large key there. It was the key of the church, that the children had been hiding at their play ; and I understood in a moment that Charley, whose turn if was to hide last, had made a hiding-place of my pocket. The parson keeps one key, you know, and Bumford the other ——” ‘‘But, Fred,” I interrupted, the questionstriking me, “how came the young ones to let you come away with it?” ‘‘ Because their attention was diverted to something else, I expect. Ann brought in the tea-things, with a huge plate of bread-and-treacle : they screamed out with delight at the sight, and scuffled to get seats round the table. Well, I let the key lie in my pocket,” went on Fred, ‘intending to take it back to-day. In the night, when flying from pur- suit, not knowing who, or how many, might be after me, I felt this heavy key strike against me continually: and, in nearing the church, the thought flashed over me like an inspiration: What if I open it and hide myself there? Just as young Charley had hidden the key in my pocket, so I hid myself, by its means, in the church.” Taking a minute to think over what he said, it did seem strange. One of those- curious things one can hardly account for; the means for his preservation were so simply natural and yet almost marvellous. Perhaps the church was the only building where he could have found secure refuge. Private dwellings would refuse to shelter him, and other places were sure to be searched. ‘You are safe here, Fred. Nobody would ever think of seeking you here.” ‘Safe, yes; but for how long? I can’t live without Aood for ever, Johnny. As it is, I have eaten none since last night.” My goodness! A shock of remorse came over me. When I was at old Bumford’s knife-box, a loaf of bread stood on the dresser. If I had but secured it! © ‘We must manage to bring you something in, Fred,” I said, as he took the key from his pocket, and balanced it on his finger. ‘Yes ; you have served me in good need,” he said to the key. “I shall turn out for a stroll during some quiet hour of the night, Johnny. ecomniclooolkks (CO)