The Argosy — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

Fifty Pounds Reward. 83 she purchased for her husband, her children, and herself. Then came a big overcoat for Tom, and wraps for the little ones—and she told the cabman to drive home fast. She had paid for her purchases with gold, and bank notes crackled as she closed the purse. Miss Greybrook carried out her intention, and bustled them all off to the station. The children slept all the way in the comfortable first-class carriage. It was eleven o’clock when they drove up to the door of the old lady’s house, and she grimly counted five heads in nightcaps thrust out into the night air from her neighbour’s windows —amongst them the Rector’s, with a flannel rolled round as extra protection. : Inside the house all was done in the right way as soon as the word was given. **My godson, his wife, and children have come to live with me. Light large fires in the two best rooms, and get supper.” Ifl. THREE years had passed. ‘Tom was flourishing in a large firm in a seaport town where his godmother’s money had bought him a partner- ship. It was only a short daily railway journey to his work, and he and his family were still happy inmates of Miss Greybrook’s house. One day Clara accompanied her husband to this seaport town; and before taking leave of him at his office door, and proceeding to make the purchase which was her ostensible reason for bringing her bonnie face and fresh winter costume through the grimy streets, she waited while he went in for a book he wanted her to change. While she was standing outside, great crowds of poor, respectable looking people came in and passed on to a large room beyond. She | was told they were emigrants, just about to start for New Zealand. She watched their faces with kindly interest as young and old passed by, and presently a woman who seemed old to be thinking of such a jour- ney dropped her purse just in front of Clara, who stooped to pick it up. In returning it she saw what made her stop the woman and eagerly question her. Yes, it was her fellow lodger in the old West- minster street, and with a face of quiet happiness she told the lady that a young son who had gone to New Zealand three years before had sent her money to join him. ‘“He’s my only one, ma’am, and was a trouble to me once, but praise God he’s doing well now !” Then Clara in gentle tones wished her well, and when her husband came back to her she reminded him of the events of that miserable night which seemed so far—so very far off from the prosperous to- day, and in a hushed and reverent tone, she said : “Thank God, Tom, we never had that ‘450 Reward !’” (E(©) m CONMIEIOOKS