The Argosy — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven's Temptation. Q7 She took his hand in her firm, soft clasp, and held it there. Then, without a word, she went away, leaving Frank Raven gazing after her, his thoughts busy. ‘‘ When the ghosts come,” he whispered to himself, ‘‘ surely the angels are not far off.” Pon Po TR RX Xx xX. THE SEALED PACKET. WHEN the visiting party returned, Frank contrived to speak to Philip apart. And Philip was so much impressed by this first whisper as to hasten to secure themselves from interruption. He followed Frank’s narrative with an attentive interest almost as masterly as that which the detectives had shown. Frank did not tell him everything, but he was candid in his concealment, openly avowing that he did not communicate what secret the woman had told him, but only that she had been utterly wrong in declaring that she knew it already. ‘‘I hope you don’t think I did wrong in speaking to the police,” cried Frank. ‘‘ You see, the slightest delay might have spoiled all by enabling the woman to get clear off.” | “Wrong?” echoed Philip, ‘‘my dear fellow, you did quite right, and I am uncommonly glad you acted promptly, without waiting to consult me or anybody else. From what you state, this woman knows a great deal too much, and we must find out whence she derives her sources of information, and, if possible, the ends she has in view. The whole affair, as connected with this woman, is rather strange,” he added, after a pause. ‘‘Why Louisa should be so nervous and excitable I cannot quite understand.” . “Tf I speak to your father, may it not get her into trouble ?” *‘T’ll take care of that,” Philip answered. ‘“‘ The blame of the expedition shall le between myself and Miss Evelyn Agate—who deserves the whole. It was she who in her crafty way pushed it on. And I will tell him—and it’s the truth—that Louisa has had a better caution against such folly in the future than in any lecture he could give her. Allow me to take another look at that ring, Frank ?” Frank drew it from his finger, and put it into Philip’s hand. He examined it narrowly—even to the hall-mark on the metal. He shook his head as he returned it. ‘I thought it might be a cleverly got-up duplicate,” he said; “but I see it is a genuine article. I suppose it is really your father’ s ring ?” ‘“‘Here’s a proof of it: the letter E, rudely engraved inside. You have heard of the old Squire Eldred: the ring belonged to him, and that stands for the initial letter of his name. There is no mis- take, Philip, about its being the real ring.” ‘* How on earth, then, did the woman become possessed of it !” “That is one of the most puzzling of all the questions. You see I must disclose all this to your father.” VOL, XXXIV. H GOMIGDIOOKS (C©) mn