The Argosy — page 366: what you’re looking at

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

352 Lhe Syllabub Feast. apart from any replenishing of his pockets that might take place at starting. He wanted it for a particular purpose, he said. And the Pater, after holding forth a bit about thnft versus extrava- gance, handed out the sovereign. Tod betook himself to the barn. There sat Mack on the inverted wheelbarrow, at his dinner of cold bacon and bread, and looking most disconsolate. “Found the things, Mack ?” ‘‘ Me found ’em, Mr. Joseph! No, sir; and I bain’t ever likely to find ’em, that’s more. They are clean walked off, they are. When I thinks o’ them there beautiful boots, and that there best smock-frock, I be fit to choke, I be!” Tod was fit to choke, keeping his countenance. ‘* What was their value, Mack?” ‘“They were of untold val’e, sir, tome. I'd not hardly ha’ lost ’em for a one-pound note.” ‘Would a pound replace ’em?” Mack, drawing his knife across the bread and bacon, let it stay in the middle, and looked up. ‘Tod spoke more plainly. ‘¢ Could you buy new ones with a pound? ” ‘‘ Bless your heart, sir, and where be I to get a pound from? In course I could. I was just a-calkelating how long it ud take me to save enough money up——”’ ‘* Don’t bother. Look here: there’s a pound ”-—tossing the sovereign to him. ‘ Buy your things, and think no more of the old ones.” Mack could not believe his eyes or ears. ‘‘ Oh, Mr. Joseph! Well, I never! Sir, you be ——” “ But now, understand this much, Mack. I only give you the money on one condition—that you say nothing about it. Zz2/ nobody.” “Well, I never, Mr. Joseph! A whole golden pound! ‘Why, sir, it'll set me up reg’lar in ——” ‘“‘If you don’t attend to what I am saying, Mack, Ill take it away again. You are not to tell anyone that you have had it, do you hear?” ‘¢Sir, I'll never tell a blessed soul. And I'm sure I ” Tod walked away, cutting the thanks short. As we were turning out at the gates on our way back to school, Tod driving Bob and Blister (which he much liked to do, though it was not always the Squire trusted him) and Giles sitting behind us, Duffham was coming along on his horse. Tod pulled up, and asked what was the latest news of Gisby. “‘ Well, strange to say, we are beginning to have some faint hopes of him,” replied the doctor. ‘‘ At mid-day he was a trifle better.” ‘¢ That’s good news,” said Tod. ‘The man is a detestable sneak, but of course one does not want him to die. Save him if you can, Mr. Duffham—for Fred Westerbrook’s sake. Good-bye.” CORnniclooolkks (CO)