The Argosy — page 357: what you’re looking at

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

334 Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. “Jem, Jem,” whispered Eldred, ‘‘don’t you know me, Jem? Won’t you open your eyes? Don’t you know your father?” A something passed over the still figure—a flutter—it seemed less within the frame than without it. It was life’s last effort to respond to a familiar voice. ‘The honest boyish blue eyes slightly opened, the lips parted with one or two words unheard. ‘They left a smile behind them—the strange, surprised smile of the dead. “Did he say aught to me?” asked Eldred chokingly. ‘I’m sure he said something kind,” said Mr. Connell. ‘See, that smile is left for you. His pain is all over now.” ‘‘But who gave the stuff to him ?” demanded Eldred, taking refuge from remorseful grief in sudden indignation and sense of injury. ‘““Who gave it to him? ‘Took something wrong, did they, both of them—Jem and the master? What was it?” “These are questions for us and the lawyers, my good friend,” said Dr. Wragge, quietly; ‘‘and you may rest assured they shall not go unanswered long.” The emptied basin of soup and the decanter and all such things had been secured. They stood aside, to allow Evelyn and the other doctor to pass. Dr. Wragge and Mr. Connell exchanged glances. Dr. Wragge gave an almost imperceptible nod, and the Minister understood that he might resign his surveillance of the young lady into the hands of that other medical man. Eldred Sloam had observed Evelyn: his eyes © seemed riveted to her. ‘Who is that P—the young miss?” he whispered. ‘Didn’t you ever see her before?” asked Charity, with a peculiar dryness. ‘She saw you when you were raving, Eldred. She’s a Miss Agate.” ‘“T have never seen her before,” he said, with strange interest. Meanwhile, Mr. Connell and Doctor Wragge stood in the passage, talking earnestly. “Tt is an awful charge to bring against the girl!” whispered the Minister. : “Tt is an awful deed. But this man, Cran, says he holds clues to motives, and so forth.” ‘“As yet we don’t even know what poison has been used,” pleaded Mr. Connell. ‘That will be easily proved,” said the Doctor, promptly. ‘The signs are so marked that I know what to look for—a terrible drug, sir—simulates natural symptoms so well, that we might have been easily deceived but for the accident of the two cases arising together. Of course, there need be no publicity till after the inquest.” ‘“T must telegraph at once to my son Philip, in London, and bid him prepare that poor, sorrow-stricken household which has reared and sheltered this girl!” said Mr Connell, wringing his hands. “The Reverend Jasper ‘Toynbee, sir,” announced Budd, suddenly coming up at that moment. ‘He is wanting to see you.” ECORMICLAOO;KS,(E)