The Argosy — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

166 — The Mystery of Allan Grale. Whatever she felt, Mrs. Vivian refused to show any alarm. ‘ Men of the General’s age often have these seizures,” she observed to Maria. ‘‘ He must never ride alone again. And let George be telegraphed for at once. When your uncle revives he is sure to ask for him.” Edgar undertook this duty. He could not be thankful enough that he had not worried his uncle with his own difficulties. Yet those difficulties were imminent. His one hope lay in Allan Grale’s fulfilment of his promise of aid. As he went by the lodge of the Court on his way to the telegraph office, he paused to direct that if Mr. Allan Grale or any messenger from him should appear on the scene during his absence, he should be requested to await his return. | Poor Maria found herself quite at a discount in the sick room. There was nothing she could do. She could only sit still, and gaze mistily at the toilet table, on which some attendant had laid the watch and chain that had been removed from the General’s prostrate form. There was the little gold pencil case, for which she had saved up her youthful shillings, proud of the dainty gift she had at last laid in her uncle’s hand. But something suddenly aroused Maria’s attention. The watch-chain had attached to it a large gold ring, over which was slipped the smaller rings of several little ornaments. One of these smaller rings now hung twisted and vacant. Its appendage had clearly been wrenched from it! Maria took up the chain and eagerly examined it. What was mis- sing? ‘There was her childish gift, the pencil case; there was the familiar locket containing his wife’s portrait, and the hair of their one baby who had died in early infancy ; there was the General’s much- valued compass; there was a small seal. What was missing was a spade guinea. About this spade guinea there hung a little tale. During a brief visit to London made by the Vivian family many years before, George Vivian had picked this coin from the grass in one of the parks. He was quite a little lad, and thinking it to bea pretty gew gaw, he had played with it for a whole day before it was observed and its value noted. It was duly advertised. But though three or four claimants responded, none of them could give an accurate description, and one or two of undoubted character, to whom it was shown, distinctly disclaimed it. So George retained possession of it, and on his uncle’s next birthday, when his brother and sister were ready with their little offerings, he bethought him of this, and got up quite a pretty speech about rendering “treasure trove” to the lord of the manor. ‘The General had been delighted. Somehow, the whole thing had seemed to him like a good omen, and he had often since adverted to it. Mrs. Vivian had said that it appeared to her more like a sign that Nephew George would get a good character for generosity at very little cost to himself. And now, how had this spade guinea got lost? Had it happened ECORNICLOOOKS EC) m