The Argosy — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. 15 a little to hear that something they believed to be.a secret was open to the eyes of some unexpected and unknown person. Frank only blushed vividly. He was aware of but one secret; it was connected with Alice Cleare; and his heart had not yet whispered of it surely to himself. “Do go,” said Philip, airily. ‘“‘It will be fun to study the way in which the old prophetess tries to make fools of people. And— Frank—did you listen to that advertisement my mother read from the paper this morning ?” “Of course I did. We all listened.” “Well, look here: we believe that advertisement was intended for your eyes, and that the ‘message’ mentioned is the witch’s wish to see you.” | ‘What nonsense!” exclaimed Frank. ‘‘ Why, that message was all about the Cave—wasn’t it ?” “ Well, weren’t we at the Cave yesterday ?” returned Philip. ‘I’m sure you heard ¢haz, old fellow. It was there we held our several interviews with the witch.” ‘“‘ But does she attend at the Cave P” ‘No. We got her to meet us there because we did not care to go to her lodgings ; don’t you see ?” Frank felt surprised. ‘‘ Which of you went P” “The two girls—Louisa here and Evelyn Agate; and I escorted them.” And Philip went on to speak more in detail of what hap- pened, and repeated the message to Frank. “Td go if I were you, Frank.” * Do,” said Louisa, emphatically. “The woman does know strange things, and I can’t imagine how it is possible she should, unless her knowledge is supernatural.” “But that must be nonsense,” laughed Frank. ‘And pray, Philip, where am I to see her if I do go?” “Oh, at her house, certainly. I will go with you. To tell you the whole truth,” added Philip, ‘though it may take down your sense of self-importance, one of us must see her again, for we all forgot to pay her. And I have a shrewd suspicion that this accounts for the special urgency of her wish to see you. I suppose asovereign will be enough.” At that instant Mrs. Connell’s voice was heard calling from the dining-room, and Louisa had to hasten away in answer to it. Philip saw his opportunity. He gave a sideway nod towards the door as it closed behind her. ‘“‘ You see how upset she is,” he whispered. ‘‘ You must go. I suspect that the Oriental Craft saw Louisa could be easily scared, and so gave her a dose of daggers, and omens, and cross-bones. Now see here, Frank; if you go to this woman, and are able to prove her the humbug she certainly is, you will do Louisa a true service. I am afraid the belief in all this has taken serious hold upon her nerves.” . CONIC HOOOKS. EO