The Argosy — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. QI which hung from her girdle. And then Frank noticed that across the folding doors leading to that back room was swung a bar with a lock in it. Nobody could enter that apartment hastily or unawares. “ Poor lady !” began Philip, when they were once more in the street, ‘¢there’s a terrible story in that back room. She has never related it to me; I’ve gathered it up here and there. I'll not tell you about 1t— at any rate, not now. She can tell it to you herself if she wishes you to know: and I shouldn’t be surprised if she does tell you, for I know Gertrude Agate, and if ever she took to a new face, she took to yours. She’s a genius and a good woman, Frank—just a little cracked, per- haps—but through a crack, my boy, we may see a Star, which does not shine in at the front door.” “TJ scarcely thought her cracked,” said simple Frank. ‘All she said seemed so reasonable that I felt as if I ought to think with her. Only I fancy I had never thought at all about most of the subjects.” “Maybe she is extra wise,” answered Philip; with a queer laugh. ‘¢ But that comes to the same thing. Cracked china and crackle china look very much alike, only the one is but too common, and the other is Invaluable !” | CHAP TER WV TT. GREEK MEETS GREEK. _ <“‘T supposE I must go to these men, Dewe and Creed,” remarked Philip Connell, as he sat lazily sipping his coffee next morning. ‘You mean about the mysterious advertisement,” rejoined Frank. “Ves. If the errand was not for Miss Agate, I should say it was a fool’s mission ; but she is the queerest woman I know for hitting on a right nail! I tell her she would have been burned in the witch days.” ‘‘What is the particular nail to be hit in the present case—if I may ask ?” said Frank. ‘‘I did not understand it last night.” “Tt is the mystery of Evelyn,” Philip answered, melodramatically. Frank laughed. “I like mysteries. To begin with, who is Evelyn ?” “Evelyn is just Evelyn,” said Philip. ‘‘She is very much just Evelyn and nothing else, though she is commonly called Evelyn Agate.” Frank looked puzzled. ‘‘ Who is she, then ?” | “That is what she does not know herself, and is particularly anxious to get explained,” said Philip. ‘‘ Neither do I know very much about her personally ; except that she is what would be con- sidered pretty by most people—including herself.” “Do explain, Philip!” “Well, there is a mystery about the young lady’s birth and parentage. I can never see how it can connect her with Miss Agate’s own family tragedy : still I should think they are connected.” comicooolks (SO)