The Argosy — page 311: what you’re looking at

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

286 Michael’s Mistake. The dark passenger interfered again. ‘“*Pardon me; where was your portmanteau put into the van?” Viola raised her blue eyes frankly. “In London. We came up from Dover.” From Dover!” ‘Yes, and changed trains in London, and came straight on.” His heavily moustached lip curled into a smile. ‘ Matters are complicating. / came up from Dover to London, and changed trains, and came straight on.’ The two girls stared at each other, the old woman stepped for- ward, and peered again into the van. Constella’s golden head sleamed in the lamp light. ‘Don’t you think we had better do something about them ?” she said hastily. ‘‘ The train must just be starting now.” He bent to her gravely. ‘‘ What would you suggest ? ” ‘*T—T don’t know.” “Neither do I, very well. Look here, guard,” and he turned sharply to a man hurrying past them. ‘I suppose you didn’t see anything of two big portmanteaus, did you, at any of the stations? Brass bands at the ends, and projecting locks.” The man paused a moment, passing his hand over his hot forehead. ‘‘T seem to remember something about them, sir; odd-looking things, were they ? Yes, yes, of course,” he went on, his face brighten- ing; “fit was at Hillsborough I joined the train, and it was there I saw them coming out of the van. Three; there were three just alike.” ** At Hillsborough!” "Three !” The man with the grey ulster and Viola made the two exclama- tions together, and paused, looking at each other, The guard turned to Viola. ‘Yes, miss, three, one beside the other. I must go now, but just you tell the station-master about them. Right—all right ! ” In two minutes the girls, with their servant, were walking hastily down the draughty station. Somehow or other, this tall, unknown passenger kept beside them, without listening to, or taking part in their conversation. Near the door he came a step nearer and said: “T have been thinking, I have a friend at Hillsborough, and I intend telegraphing to him to find out my portmanteau and send it on here. He can easily do the same for yours, if you have no objection.” Viola faced him a little doubtfully. “Tt is very good of you, but —— ‘But perhaps you would rather not ?” ‘‘Oh no, indeed ; but you see the whole thing is so strange, the guard said he saw three portmanteaus.” ”) Gomicbooks (E(0) m