The Argosy — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

178 Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. had a red mark on his neck; and she could see him turn round about, she said, and shake hia. fist at the Court.” ‘That woman’s nothing canny, you may be sure,” spoke Charity Hale. ‘Witch, or no witch, she must have dealings ”—and the old nurse paused with a meaning shiver—‘ dealings underground. As _ to the figure—it has not been seen lately.” ‘‘T don’t know that,” corrected the butler. ‘‘ Mrs, Fisher, at the White Hart, tells a tale of some young lady, staying there recently for the night, being frightened by a queer-looking character that she met by starlight on that same road. Or moonlight—I forget which she said. ‘The young lady spoke about it to Mra Fisher, and the landlady, in her turn, spoke to me.’ James went on. ‘‘ When the clear-voyer came to her senses, Worsfold hinted that they’d be ready to pay her well for what she had done, and that he did not intend to take any score from her. But she bade him hold his tongue: that she should pay him as she paid other inn-keepers ; and she reminded him that she took no pay for what she was enabled to tell. She speaks real haughty, Giles says, and has such a grand manner with her.” ‘“‘T wonder,” slowly deliberated Mr. Budd, ‘‘ why she should have come to the Pitchfork at all ?” ‘The curious thing is, sir, Giles says, that his missis is not a bit easier in her mind about her brother than she was before. First thing this morning she and Worsfold fell out over it, she saying the ‘clear-voyer’s words meant that Tom is resting himself on some desert island, maybe after his labours in digging up gold, and that he’ll hail a ship some day and come home and make their fortunes. But he ‘says it’s meant that Tom is Stretched out stark and cold at the bottom of the sea, among the corals and things that grow there; and that he should always have thought so without being told, but for knowing that his brother-in-law, Tom, was one of those unlucky people that escape drowning for hanging.” ‘¢ And as that is all you have to tell, 1 suppose, James,” cried Mrs. Sims, “‘ you can go into the pantry and set about your duties.” It appeared the signal for the rest to rise, and to go about theirs. Presently no one was left in the room, save Mrs. Sims and the lady’s- maid, Janet Mackay: a staid, respectable Scotchwoman, who had not very long come into service at the Court. Naturally reticent and cautious, she had listened to the conversation in silence. ‘There has been a good deal said that you don’t understand, I suppose ?” began the housekeeper to her presently. “In truth I don’t,” answered Janet. ‘‘ That allusion to a figure that walks between the Court and Eldred Sloam’s—is it a ghost?” ‘Supposed to be. The ghost of Squire Eldred Raven. And good cause his spirit has to walk that road: he walked it too often in his lifetime.” ** How sor” ECORNIE OOOKS.(6©)