The Argosy — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

The Syllabub Feast. | 359 (mentioning it), were known ; that the poacher, Richard Standish, who shot Walter Gisby had confessed the crime, and that Gisby had not died of his wounds but recovered from them. This was done with the view of letting Fred know that he might come back with safety. But he never came. The advertisements brought forth no answer of any kind. The master of the N. D. Farm became very short with his bailiff as time went on. There was no reason to suppose that Gisby had inten- tionally accused Fred of the shot: he had really supposed it to come from Fred; but nevertheless Mr. Westerbrook took a great dislike to him, and was very short and crusty. Gisby did not relish that, and they had rows perpetually. When we got home for the Christmas holidays, it was thought that Gisby would not be long onthe N. D. Farm. ‘Johnny, I want to tell you! I have hada letter. From Asm.” The whisper came from Edna Blake. It was Christmas Eve: and we were in the church, a lot of us, sticking the branches of holly in the pews. The leaves had never seemed so green or the berries so red. “ Not from Fred?” ‘Yes, Ihave. It came addressed to me about a week ago, with a ten-pound Bank-of-England note enclosed. There was only a line or two, just saying he had not been able to return it before, but that he hoped he was at length getting on : and that if he did get on, he should be sure to write again later. It was signed F.W. That was all. Neither his name was mentioned nor mine, nor any address.”’ ‘¢ Where did it come from ? ” ‘¢ London, I think.” ‘From London! Nonsense, Edna!” “The post-emark was London. You are welcome to see the letter. I have brought it with me.” Drawing the letter from her pocket under cover of her mantle, I took it off to the porch. True enough: the letter had undoubtedly been posted in London. Calling Tod, we talked a little, and then told Edna that we both thought she ought to disclose this to Mr. Wester- brook. ‘J think so too,” she said, “ but I should not like to tell him myself ——though his manner to me lately has been very kind. Will you tell him, Johnny? I will lend you the letter to show him. He will be sure to want to see it.” ‘‘ And he will have to know about the gold, Edna. The loan of that night.” “Yes; it cannot be helped. I have thought it all over, and I see that there’s no help for its being known now. The letter alludes to it, you perceive,” After that, the advertisements were resumed. Mr. Westerbrook put some solicitor in London to work, and they were inserted inevery known CORnniclooolkks