The Argosy — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

The Ebony Box. 29 ‘‘T dare say ! In my past days, sir, a young man had to cut his coat according to his cloth, We didn't rush into all kind of random games and then go to our fathers or mothers to help us out of them. Which is what you’ve been doing, my gentleman ?” ‘Does aunt know?” burst out Sam in a fright, as a step was heard on the stairs. ‘‘T’ve not told her,” said Mr. Jacobson, listening—“‘‘she is gone on into the kitchen. How much 1s it that you’ve left owing in London, Sam ?” Sam nearly choked. He did not perceive this was just a random shot: he was wondering whether magic had been at work. ‘‘ Left owing in London?” stammered he. “ That’s what I asked. How much? And I mean to know. ’Twon’t be of any use your fencing about the bush. Come! tell it in a lump.” ‘Fifty pounds would cover it all, sir,” said Sam, driven by des- peration into the avowal. ‘“]T want the truth, Sam.” ‘That is the truth, uncle, I put it all down in a list before leaving London ; it comes to just under fifty pounds.” 3 How could you be so wicked as to contract it ?” “There has not been much wickedness about it,” said Sam, miserably, ‘‘indeed there hasn’t. One gets drawn into expense un- consciously in the most extraordinary manner up in London. Uncle Jacobson, you may believe me or not, when I say that till I added it up, I did not think it amounted to twenty pounds in all.” ‘ And then you found it to be fifty! How do you propose to pay this ?” ‘‘T intend to send it up by instalments, as I can.” ‘Instead of doing which, you'll get into deeper debt at Worcester If it’s Worcester you go to.” ‘‘T hope not, uncle. I shall do my best to keep out of debt. I mean to be steady.” Mr. Jacobson filled a fresh pipe, and lighted it with a spill from the mantel-piece. He did not doubt the young fellow’s intentions ; he only doubted his resolution. ‘You shall go into some lawyer’s office in Worcester for two years, Sam, when we shall see how things turn out,” said he presently. “And, look here, I'll pay these debts of yours myself, provided you promise me not to get into trouble again.—There, no more ”—inter- rupting Sam’s grateful looks—‘ your aunt’s coming in.” Sam opened the door for Mrs. Jacobson. A little pleasant-faced woman in a white net cap, with small flat silver curls under it. She carried a small basket lined with blue silk, in which lay her knitting. ““V’ve been looking to your room, my dear, to see that all’s com- fortable for you,” she said to Sam, as she sat down by the table and ECOMiICOOoOKS (CO)