The Argosy — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. Q7 would hurt him. No. I must find some way myself, and bear the trouble my own folly has brought upon my head.” “The beggar calculated upon your good-nature, I see,” mused Allan. ‘* I suppose you are paying an exorbitant interest P ” ‘T received one hundred and forty pounds, and I have to repay two hundred,” said Edgar. ‘And you haven’t told your uncle ?” ‘¢No,—he has been vexed a great deal lately and has had losses of his own. Besides I have no right to ask him to make good a venture of mine, about which I did not consult him. I must fight my own battle somehow. And I thought you might advise me.” ‘What is the present pinch?” Allan inquired. ‘‘T have paid off sixty pounds already. One hundred and forty— the sum which I actually received—remains. It is all due the day after to-morrow; but if I can pay down fifty pounds at once, they will wait and take a hundred in three months’ time. I shall have my yearly allowance by then, and shall be able to meet that payment, if I could borrow a fifty now from somebody who could wait a little for its repayment.” Edgar’s face flushed as he spoke. His was one of those proud and sensitive natures which are keenly alive to the degradation involved in every sort of financing and loaning. He could not help wondering whether Allan might not be able to do him this service, but he would never go nearer asking it, than by this simple statement of his need. Allan was thoughtful. “T think I could do this for you,” he said, presently, in his good nature. ‘‘I feel sure I can do it, though I can’t say so quite defi- nitely in the moment. [ll let you have a note to-night, and you may look out for an enclosure !” ‘““T don’t know how I shall ever be able to thank you!” said Edgar, with a gasp, for the revulsion of feeling was almost too much for him. “ J’ll write at once and tell the harpies that I have a reason- able expectation of fulfilling their demands. And oh—you said you were about to ask me something? I’m ashamed to mention it after this, for it is sure to be so trifling in comparison ! ” ‘Well, it is trifling, in a way,” said Allan, in his leisurely fashion, “and yet it is something I would only ask of one whom I trust and who trusts me. I want you to take charge of a little box for me, for a few days.” “Oh, certainly, I will do that,” answered Edgar, surprised at the smallness of the request. “There has been something rather unpleasant going forward at our place while I have been away,—I scarcely know what it is yet, for I’ve not fathomed it,” explained Allan. ‘‘ My father opened the matter to me last night. He is being robbed, it seems, and it has gone on to forgery. Everything is being searched, or will be ; literally everything. He talks of calling in the police, and I expect he will. CoOnnicloooks (SO