Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

THE HERMIT’S SECRET. 153 denly, Paul,’ said the agent, looking very keenly into the face of his young visitor. ‘‘ Suddenly to others, but not to myself, for I had been thinking of leaving for months before I went,” replied Phil. “I suppose you are aware that certain persons are rooking for you,” con- tinued the agent. “Tf they are, they have not been where I was, for I was not even aware of the fact that a search for me had been made.” “It is very unfortunate that you left at just the particular time you did,” said Cavan, looking sharply at him again. “ Why so?” asked Phil, with what seemed to be innocent surprise. ‘ If you had left the night after the robbery instead of the night before, it would have been better,” suggested the agent. ‘“ What robbery?” asked Phil, though he was not much surprised to hear of such an event. “ Didn’t you know that Mr. Gayland’s house had been entered, his safe opened, and over six thousand dollars taken from it? ”’ asked the ex detective, toying with a pen on the table at his side. “T had no actual knowledge of it, but I suspected as much from infor- mation which I obtained within six hours,” replied Phil, as he took his pocket- book from the inside of his vest and proceeded to open it on the table, at which he had seated himself opposite the agent. He had placed the money he had taken from the burglar’s bag in a com- partment by itself, and he took out the pile without exhibiting the rest of his money, and held it in his hand, while he turned his eyes again to the business agent of his benefactor. “Can you tell me the exact amount taken from Mr. Gayland’s house? ” he asked. ‘Six thousand two hundred dollars; nothing but the money was taken,” replied Cavan, promptly. “ Will you be kind enough to count this money, Mr Cavan?” said Phil, and he passed the package of bills to him. “ Certainly, if you desire it; ”’ and he suited the action to the word; and, as the amount was all in large bills, it took him but a couple of minutes, though he went over it twice. “ Six thousand two hundred dollars,” he added, as he passed the money back to the young man. “ T will thank you to retain it, and give it to Mr. Gayland, for it appears that the amount is correct,” continued the captain of the Hebe. ‘“T will do as you request and give you a receipt for the money,” replied Cavan, as he wrote the document and handed it to the visitor. “ T think I have done my duty now,” added Phil, as he put the receipt into his pocketbook, and returned it to its place inside of his vest. ‘““I suppose you have so far as this money is concerned,” said the agent, with a heavy frown on his brow, as though he did not entirely appreciate the honesty of the captain. In fact a great change had come over his face, or the expression of it, and he looked like a disappointed man. GOH GoOOO ‘SS COLNT