The Argosy — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

122 A Mystery. listening for his step on the stairs. But William Brook did not come, At five o’clock punctually the tea was brought in, and waited for some little time on the table. Presently Mr. West appeared. When they told him he was late, he replied that he had lingered in the office expecting Mr. St. George. St. George had left him some time before to go to the Shrub Hill station, having business to see to there, and had promised to be back by tea-time. However, he was not back yet. Mr. West was very glad to hear of the arrival of William Brook, and supposed St. George was then with him. Before the tea was quite over, Gregory West got back from Spetch- ley. He told them that he had met St. George just outside the town, and that he had a gentleman in his gig. He, Gregory West, who was in his brother’s gig, pulled up to ask St. George whether he was not going home earlier than he had said. Yes, somewhat, St. George called back, without stopping: when he had seen what sort of a night at was going to be, he thought it best to be off as soon as he could. ‘““Of course it was William Brook that he had with him, Gregory !” exclaimed Mary West, forgetting that her brother-in-law had never seen William Brook. ‘‘T cannot tell,” was the only answer the young lawyer could give. ‘‘It was a stranger to me: he wore a lightish-coloured overcoat and a white comforter.” ‘‘'That’s he,” said Mrs. James Ashton. ‘‘ And he had on new tan-coloured kid gloves: I noticed them. I think St. George might have brought him here, in spite of the roughness of the night. He is jealous, Ellin.” | They all laughed. But never a shadow of doubt rested on any one of their minds that St. George was driving William Brook home to Timberdale.. And we, as you have heard, saw him, or thought we saw him, in Dip Lane. And for the particulars of Mr. St. George’s counter-statement, and other remarkable statements, we must wait for the next and conclud- ing paper. JOHNNY LUDLOW. ECORNIE OO KS, COR