The Argosy — page 271: what you’re looking at

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250 Mrs. Raven’s Temptation, familiar places. Frank carelessly opened his valise, and threw out his slippers, and then it occurred to him that he might as well write a note to his cousin Philip, It would be in time to catch the mid-day train, and could tell more than the telegram had told. He would urge Philip to write again to Coltburn, and spur the detectives on in their work. If they should really see fit to prosecute their inquiries as to the Oriental Mystery as far as Ravenscourt, Frank began to think that many mysteries might be unearthed at once. He only wrote a brief letter, and then he thought he would post it himself. The silence in the house oppressed him, and he was glad of an excuse to taste a breath of fresh air, and get a sight of the old familiar trees. Passing the gatekeeper’s lodge, he met Mrs. Sims, the housekeeper, stepping out of its door. He stopped and spoke to her. She was solemn and portentous. ‘TI said to Budd, that night, sir,” she said, “‘there’d be no good come of being too curious. Mysteries is mysteries, and it’s best not meddling with things whose locks and springs you know nought about. [t was natural in the master, sir; aye, and good of him, for poor folk about were getting awful scared. But then, as it is now, matters is worse.” ‘Not if people could look at my poor brother’s accident sensibly, as the doctors tell them to,” said Frank. “And have you heard of the man Sloam during the last day or two? Surely everybody is willing to believe that his fright or injury was caused by his own fault? Eldred Sloam going home at midnight, means that Eldred Sloam was going home not sober.” Mrs. Sims shook her head. ‘The boy James, sir, says his father was very bad. His head seemed affected. I believe it was something he’d said to Worsfold that frightened Worsfold, before the man took to the new fancies about two of them together. Charity Hale’s got somebody from somewhere to look after Eldred now. James says she seems to be a distant relation of his mother’s, but he thinks she doesn’t want to own the connection.” ‘‘ Indeed,” said Frank, not much interested. * But I’m thinking of the master,” said Mrs. Sims, dolefully. “They carried him into Eldred’s house when he was took, and this person did her best for him, and did it right well, Dr. Wragge says. It was strange it should be to Eldred’s house the master should be taken,” she added, shaking her head. For though Mrs. Sims professed to be above the weaknesses of her fellows, she had not forgotten the fortune- tellers hints about the root of the Raven tree lying under Eldred Sloam’s hearthstone. ‘* Do you know whether Mrs. Raven has sent to thank her ?” asked Frank. ‘I expect, sir, she hasn’t given it a thought yet, poor lady.” “At any rate, I will walk down there at once, and thank her in the name of the family.” COMIECMDOOKS, oO)