Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

THE HERMIT’S SECRET. | 159 “ Didn't she know her adopted som?” “She would have it that I was be, though he had run away from her a year or two before. I could not convince her to the contrary for a long time; and she told me very nearly the same story that Mr. Gayland and bis wile related to me to show how I happened to be with them, stating Grst that it was in Malaga, and then changing the place to Dresden.” * Didn’t she know where the event occurred? ” ‘‘ She told me wrong first as a trick to see if I did net detect the difference im the story; and when abe found I did sot notice the error, she changed the name of the place.” Phil repeated the marrative of Mrs. Forbush more in detail than he had given it at first; and as the ex detective began to see the bearing of the inci- deat, he ceased to gape. “Once more,” comtinued the captain, “‘ Reddy told Sparks that the third person of the trio had seen a lady at the-West Hotel who nught identify him, and he wanted to keep out of sight. That brings the several incidents into close connection, I sixould say.” “4 belseve you, my iad.”’ ‘Roddy called the third member of the trio Chick Gilpool, which is not bkely to be bts real name,” added Phil. “ And you say that the lady, after she had looked at the initials on your arm, expected to find C. G. there. There seems to be a hole in the curtain, and we can soon see what is behind it,” said the agent, who had become as nich interested in the matter as though he expected to make ten thousand dollars ont of 1t. ° | “ There was another incident at the lake yesterday, though I cannot con- nect it with the robbery in any manner,” continued the captain, recalling the affair of the steam launch, and the singular conduct of Mr. Arnold Bionday. “Then we will let it rest till another time,” added Mr. Cavan, rising from his chair as though he had business on his hands. “ You have done your errand here, and done it well, Paul.” “J have done a good deal more than I intended when I came here, for I did not think of telling you anything more than was necessary to explain how the six thousand dollars came into my possession. I have related the rest of my experience in self defense.” : “ What do you intend to do next?”’ asked the agent. “It was my purpose to take the first train for the lake, which leaves at seven in the morning.” “Will you go with me now to Mr. Gayland’s house, and tell him what you have told me? ” “No, sir! I will not! I will never go into his presence, and especially not imo the presence of Mrs. Gayland, till I can prove my innocence of the charge against me,” rephed the captain, with a blush on his cheeks. ‘“T will not insist upon it,” replied Mr. Cavan, as he put the money Phil had brought him into bis pocketbook. ‘‘ What are you going to do when you get back to the lake? ”’ “I had not decided what to do when I left. You have had more experi- ecomilEclooolks COLNT