The Argosy — page 283: what you’re looking at

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

264 Lhe Mysteries of Heron Dyke. Such was the substance of the narrative Mr. Meath had now to relate at Heron Dyke. ‘‘ Ihave brought the list of names with me,” he added to Mr. Conroy when he finished. ‘‘ Perhaps, sir, you and this lady will be good enough to look at it, and to tell me whether any one of the gentlemen is known in this neighbourhood.” Edward Conroy took the paper handed to him, and ran his eyes over the list, but without the least expectation of finding on it any name that he should recognise. Mr. Meath watched him with a kind of suppressed eagerness. ‘*¢ Admiral Tamberlin,’” read out Conroy in a muttered tone, ‘¢¢ Tr, Backhouse, Sir Gunton Cleeve ’”—and before speaking the next namie, he came to a dead standstill. Mr.,Meath, the suppressed eagerness still in his eyes, smiled grimly to himself when he saw Conroy’s start of surprise. For a moment Conroy stared at the name, which he had not yet spoken, in speechless amazement. ‘Then, recovering himself, he passed the paper to Miss Winter without a word, simply pointing with his forefinger to the name, | ‘Oh, impossible !” exclaimed Ella, her tone full of fright, her face turning white as death. ‘ Madam,” interposed Mr. Meath, detecting her emotion, “it does not follow that because a gentleman may have been wearing these sleeve-links now, he was the one to steal them from Major Piper. The thief may have sold them, and he bought them legitimately.” ‘* But, see you not, sir,” cried Ella, grasping the case mentally, **that if this gentleman made one of the Major’s guests that even- ing, and it was he who lost the link in the struggle here with Hubert Stone " She paused, unable to continue. Mr. Meath slowly nodded his head. ‘‘ Yes, madam, I see the difficulties—if this gentleman is indeed known here ” : “Known here! why, he lives here,” interrupted Ella. ** Oh, Edward, it cannot, cannot be!” ‘My dear, you go to Mrs. Toynbee,” whispered her lover. ‘‘ Say nothing to her, Leave me to deal with this.” “ But, Edward—surely you will not accuse him!” she cried . aloud. “Of course I will not. It may be that this dreadfui suspicion can be cleared away. Mr. Meath ”—looking at that able man— ‘‘ must make it his business to ascertain first of all, if he can, whether grounds for accusing him exist.” And, opening the door for her to pass out, Conroy resumed his seat at the table. Again Mr. Meath left the Hall as quietly as he had entered it. Edward Conroy joined the ladies, and found that not a word had been spoken to Mrs. Toynbee. He stayed to dine with them. The winter afternoon had deepened to a still, close evening, when Mr. Conroy once more took his way to the north wing—for his Gomichbooks.com