The Argosy — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

QA The Mystery of Allan Grale. Mr. Grale did not tell his clerks what was amiss. He said simply that something was wrong, and that he intended it should be sifted to the bottom. ‘‘The innocent could have no interest but in the ex- posure of the guilty,” he added. None of them spoke at first in answer. Charles Carr looked amazed. Mr. Wilton was the only one who made a faint protest. He recognised Mr. Grale’s just nght, he said; yet really, when for forty years one had kept a character which “Tut, tut,’ Mr. Grale exclaimed. ‘“‘I have no night to suspect anyone, but if I begin to pick and choose whom I might possibly suspect, somebody might then have a right to complain. Let me have your keys.” Mr. Smith meekly brought his key to Mr. Grale. Mr. Mawson rattled his down rather noisily on the desk. Charles inserted his, turned it, and opened back the lid. “Don’t touch anything inside,” said Mr. Grale, quickly. And Charles instantly sat down on his high stool. His delicate face was a little flushed. The examination of the desks could scarcely offend anybody, it.was so cursory,—far more cursory than it might have been had they not been examined already. When Mr. Grale approached Charles, the young man rose quietly, and stood beside him. The master made a feint of turning over the envelopes and note paper. As he did so, Charles stretched forth his hand and possessed himself of that innocent looking roll of paper. At the same time, he opened the little drawer, and disclosed to view the mysterious envelope. But he did not offer to touch that. Mr. Grale pounced upon it. Charles did not wince in the least. ‘‘T have often amused myself by doing such things,” he said, quietly. ‘‘“A dangerous amusement!” cried Mr. Grale, his face growing purple with excitement. ‘‘ And now, young man, what is that roll you are holding in your hand ?” ‘Only some private matter of my own, sir,” said Charles, his face crimson ; ‘something in my own writing.” ‘‘ Show it to me,” commanded Mr. Grale. But Charles held it firmly, though he was trembling. “Sir,” he said, ‘‘I assure you solemnly that it is a mere trifle. It ~ concerns nobody in the world but myself.” ‘“ Boy,” said Mr. Grale, passionately, “‘ whoever committed the crime that I am tracing home, is not likely to stop at solemn assurances, however false! I have evidence against you of which you do not dream * | ‘¢ Sir,” interrupted Charles with quiet dignity, though the colour was -coming and going fast in his sensitive face. ‘You have not yet told me what it is I am accused of.” “You are not yet accused of anything,” replied Mr. Grale, rather more civilly. ‘I only ask you at once to make a clean breast of what (EO) m COMMGCHOOLKS