The Argosy — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

84 In the Dead of Night. “T am sure of it. Your property would make a nice addition to his income. He would be the most dutiful and affectionate of nephews as long as you lived ; he would bury you with every outward semblance of regret; and a month later there would be another hunter in his stable at Newmarket.” ‘Faith, I believe you're right, Dick. But not a single penny of my money will ever go to Kester St. George. All the same, I'll write the letter in the way you wish it to be written, when you tell me the time for sending it has come.” “ We will let Christmas get quietly over, and then we will talk about it again.” But once again the General was puzzled. “I’m bothered if I can comprehend why you want to invite Kester to Park Newton,” he said. ‘““You hate the man, and yet you want me to ask him to come and stop under the same roof with you, where you must, out of common courtesy, meet him once or twice every day all the time he is here.” “The coming of Kester St. George to Park Newton is merely another link in the chain of evidence, which Bristow and I together are trying to forge out of the very poor materials atourcommand. It may prove ijn the end to be nothing better than a chain of sand—or it may prove strong enough to drag a murderer to his doom.” The General shuddered slightly. ‘‘ Your words are very strong, my boy,” he said. ‘‘I have seen so many tragedies in the course of the sixty years I have lived in this world that I have no desire ever to see another—least of all among those of my own kith and kin.” Richard did not answer at once. He rose from his chair, went to the window, and stood gazing out across the frosty landscape. At length he spoke gravely, almost sadly. ‘‘ My hand is put to the plough, uncle, and I cannot—I dare not draw back.” ‘‘ No doubt you are night, and I am wrong,” said the General meekly. ‘*But I sometimes tremble when I look into the future, and ask myself what all these disguises and plottings have for their aim and object.” — “ They have but one aim and one object,” said Richard sternly, “both of which are comprised in one word—and that word is Retribution.” ‘“‘¢ Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord,’” said the old - soldier in a reverent whisper. A deep sigh came from the bosom of the younger man. Again he paused before answering. “Oh, uncle! is there no pity, no thought forme?” he said. “Think of what I have suffered, of all that I have undergone! Name, wealth, position, lost to me for ever unless I can prove I am not the murderer that the world believed me to be. My very identity gone. Obliged to die and be buried, and assume the name and identity of another man; or live the life of a hunted animal, with a price set on my head, and with the ever-present shadow of a Gomile zo! S (ECO) ff