Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

162 THE ARGOSY. “ Come in, Cavan; I am glad to see you, though I did not expect to have a call from you before ieee said the guest, as he grasped the hand of his old friend. “IT have to go away in half an hour, and I have only come to say that I cannot be here in the morning,” replied Cavan. “ You are a bird of the night ; but where are you going at this strange hour, though it is none of my business?’ asked Mr. Westlawn. “Tam only going over to Excelsior,” replied the agent, prudently keeping his business to himself. ‘I believe that was the cry of the young fellow who was climbing a hill, but I never heard of a place of that name,’”’ commented Mr. Westlawn, as he led the way into his room, where he had lighted the gas. “Tt is over on Lake Minnetonka.” “Lake Minnetonka! ” exclaimed the guest. “Ts there anything strange about that, Westlawn? ” ‘My business is with a party of people who are at that lake, if I do not mistake the name,” answered the guest, as he took a memorandum book from his coat, hanging on a hook. “Lake Minnetonka is the great summer resort of the Minneapolitans ; and even some from St. Paul have been known to go there,” Cavan explained, - as he looked at his watch. ‘‘ That is the place; I have the name here,” replied the gentleman from Chi- cago. “ But I want to see you as soon as possible. I have never given up that affair of eight years ago, about which you helped me; and I have obtained some new light on the subject,” continued Mr. Westlawn, with no little anxiety in his expression. “ Of course I know you are not in your former occupation, and I am only going to ask your advice as a friend.” “ Of course I shall be glad to give you any advice in my power when I have time to hear the case,” answered Cavan. “I have learned that the sister of one of my birds has moved from New York to Minneapolis, and my party are here on a visit; and they have gone out to this lake to spend the summer. What is the reason I cannot go with you, for I shall have a charice to tell you all about it on the way, without taking up any more of your time? ” suggested the guest. The agent did not like to have two irons in the fire at the same time, and he looked at Phil, as though he expected him to say something about the matter. “ It will take nearly an hour to reach the Hermitage after we get to E.xcel- sior,’ the captain remarked. “ You can have the cabin all to yourselves for your conference.” “I have no objection to your going, Westlawn, but you must get ready in five minutes,” said Cavan. “ T will be with you in three minutes,” replied the guest, as he proceeded to dress himself more carefully than he had done before. “ T don’t remember much about the case on which I worked for you, and I have not time to go back to my house to look up my note book in which | should find the whole of the details.” ecomilEclooolks COLNT