The Argosy — page 359: what you’re looking at

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

336 Mrs. Raven's Temptation. ‘ Yes, ma’am,” answered Charity. ‘It’s about poisoning—that’s what they say was done to Mr. Frank and poor James. [I'll not be- lieve she did it, unless she’s been made a cat’s-paw. ‘There’s some- body else behind. What motive could she have?” | “There was that wicked fortune-teller,” cried the lady, sitting up- right. Charity gave a low, incredulous laugh. ‘Do you remember “er, ma’am ? She was in Ravenstoke long before Miss Evelyn came to — the Court.” ‘“‘T believe it must have been the same woman who was in Coltburn during our visit there,” said Mrs Raven, excitedly. ‘But how is Frank P—how is Mr. Frank, Charity ?” ‘“‘ He is doing well, I think, ma’am, but poor James is dead. It is not likely the poison was meant for him. And / don't believe Miss Evelyn meant poison for Mr. Frank either. There is nothing wrong lying about that she might have taken hold of by mistake, is there ?”—-—-and the old woman peered round, as if she thought that deadly drugs might lie at random in a peaceful chamber. “No, no, nothing,” said Mrs. Raven impatiently. ‘‘ But that for- tune-teller must be found. The police must be told all about her and her sayings—I must tell them myself, if nobody else can.” ‘‘T should be very glad to see her, too,” cried Charity. ‘“I’vea notion that she might tell us something about the two ghosts.” ‘Did you ever see her yourself?” suddenly asked Mrs. Raven. ‘IT never went consulting her, ma’am,” Charity answered, evasively. *‘T may have seen her—anybody may see anybody else.” Mrs. Raven rose up. ‘‘I have certain—suspicions—which may be worth suggesting—something about an occurrence at Coltburn, too. And when did Mr. Connell come? What made him come, I wonder ?” ‘‘He came this afternoon,” said Charity. ‘‘I1 suppose, ma’am, it will now be the duty of each of us to tell all that we know and all that we suspect ?” Mrs. Raven replied quietly. ‘‘ Yes.” “Tt’s my belief that evil will out. I’m afraid it’s no use trying to hush it up to save ourselves or to serve others,” said the old woman. “It is no use,” returned Mrs. Raven, in the same quiet, slow tone: ‘and when we strive to hide things, we are only forced to speak about them when it 1s too late. You can leave me now, Charity.” “There is something deep at the bottom of this affair,” the Vicar was saying to Mr. Connell in the drawing-room. ‘‘Do you happen to know anything of the past history of this young woman ?” ‘‘T know only that she is a foundling, adopted and reared bya very clever and estimable lady,” returned the Minister. ‘A foundling—adopted?” questioned Mr. Toynbee. “So ho! Somebody told me she was an orphan, brought up by an aunt. Who could that informant have been, now, I wonder? Ah, I recollect COPMNITCELOOOKS COLT