The Argosy — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

In the Dead of Night. 2577 fact that Bloggs and Hayling, the great engineers, are very much» interested in getting the scheme pushed forward, and they are generally” credited with knowing pretty well what they are about.” ‘As you seem, sir, to be on such intimate terms with Lord Tyne- dale,” said the banker, with a sneer, “‘ you can, perhaps, tell us the rea! ins and outs of that strange gambling transaction with which his lerd~ ship’s youngest son was so recently mixed up.” “T cannot tell you the real facts of the case,” answered ‘Tom. ‘“ & presume that they are known only to the parties most concerned. But. this I can tell you, that I and Mr. Cecil ‘Drake, the young gentleman» in question, lived tegether for three months in Algeria on the most int1. mate terms; and, from my knowledge of him, I feel perfectly sure that his share of the transaction you allude to was that of a strictly honour+ able man.” The banker blew his nose violently. This Mr. Bristow was a very: strange young man, he said to himself. There was evidently a mistake: somewhere. Probably the squire had blundered as usual. In the mean+ time, it might be just as well to be decently civil to him. When the evening came to an end, and the banker was putting om: his overcoat in the hall, he whispered in the squire’s ear: ‘“ I suppose you know that your balance is seventy pounds overdrawn ? ” The squire’s face for a moment turned quite ghastly, and he clutched at a chair for support. He recovered himself with a laugh. “I knew it was very low, but I didn’t know it was overdrawn,” he whispered: back. ‘But I know what I’m about, never fear. Just mark my words »- before you are two months older, you'll have a bigger balance to the credit of Titus Culpepper than you’ve ever had yet. Oh yes, I know perfectly well what I’m about.” ‘“‘T’m very glad to hear it, I’m sure,” said the banker with a dubious-. cough. ‘I think we shall have some rain before morning. Good night,.. Mr. Bristow. Very pleased to have made your acquaintance. Hope: we shall meet again.” 7 The banker took counsel with himself as he was being driven home: by his son. ‘‘ I think it will be advisable to send Edward to New York for a couple of months,” he thought. ‘In case the worst comes to the- worst, the affair can then be broken off without scandal. ‘The squire’s-. playing some underhand game which will bring him to grief if he’s rot: very, very careful. Meanwhile, all I can do is to wait and watch.” ) Strange to say, Tom Bristow’s dreams that night were ot Jane Cul¥ pepper. “I wonder whether she dreamed about me,” he murmured te: himself next morning as he was stropping his razor. “Not likely. And. I was no better than a fool to dream about her.” VOL. XVII. Ps COMICOoOolKS. com