The Argosy — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

The Ebony Box. 1&9 Now I'll leave you to judge how this evidence struck on the ears of old Jacobson. He leaped to the conclusion that Sam had been going all sorts of ways, as he supposed he went when in London, and might be owing, the mischief only knew how much money; and he shook his fist at Sam across the justice room. Mr. Standup next called young Chance, quite to young Chance’s surprise ; perhaps also to his father’s. He was questioned upon no end of things—whether he did not know that the accused was owing a great deal of money, and whether the accused had shown any guinea to him when he was in Edgar Street on the Tuesday night. Austin answered that he believed Mr. Dene owed a little money. not a great deal, so far as he knew; and that he had not seen the guinea or heard of it. And in saying all this, Austin’s tone was just as resentfully insolent to Mr. Standup as he dared to make it. Well, it is of no use to go on categorically with the day’s proceed- ings. When they came to an end, the magistrates conferred pretty hotly in alow tone amongst themselves, some apparently taking up one opinion, as to Sam’s guilt, or non-guilt, and some the other. At length they announced their decision, and it was as follows. ‘‘ Although the case undoubtedly presents grave grounds of sus- picion against the accused, Samson Reginald Dene —‘ Very grave indeed,’ interjected Mr. Whitewicker, solemnly—we do not consider them to be sufficient to commit him for trial upon; therefore, we give him the benefit of the doubt, and discharge him. Should any further evidence transpire, he can be brought up again.” “Tt was Maria Parslet’s testimony about the guinea that cleared him,” whispered the crowd, as they filed out. And I think it must have been. It was just impossible to doubt her truth, or the earnestness with which she gave it. Mr. Jacobson “interviewed” Sam, as the Americans say, and the interview was not a loving one. Being in the mood, he said anything that came uppermost. He forbade Sam to appear at Elm Farm ever again, as “long as oak and ash grew;” and he added that as Sam was bent on going to the Deuce head foremost, he might do it upon his own means, but that he’d never get any more help from him. The way the Squire lashed up Bob and Blister when driving home— for, liking Sam hitherto, he was just as much put out as old Jacobson —and the duet they kept up together in abuse of his misdeeds, was edifying to hear. Tod laughed; I did not. ‘The gig was given over this return journey to the two grooms. ‘‘T do not believe Sam took the box, sir,” I said to old Jacobson, interrupting a fiery oration. He turned round to stare at me. ‘What do you say, Johnny Ludlow? You do not believe he took the box?” ‘Well, to me it seems quite plain that he did not take it. I’ve hardly ever felt more sure of anything.” COM (A) lNOOKS.EO