The Argosy — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 183 who has been committing these frauds on Mr. Grale and has got his money.” ‘Wilton, I cannot understand you,” said the Doctor after a be- wildered pause ; “‘ what is it you mean ?” ‘“T mean that the person who has been drawing bills on Mr. Grale and put them into circulation and obtained the money for them ; and who has drawn out cheques to himself—Mr. Grale’s cheques, and signed them with Mr. Grale’s name—and got them cashed over the counter at the bankers’, is Mark Bedell.” Dr. Palmer could hint speak at first for astonishment. “ Who is Mark Bedell? where is he to be found ?” he said at last. "That is what we would like to get at,” was Wilton’s answer. ‘“ Mr. Grale thinks he has a clue now, because he saw the name in Mr. Carr’s desk, in Mr. Carr’s handwriting, and with that exception he has never seen it but on the bills and the cheques.” ‘Why could he not have said this to Mr. Carr?” “Well, sir, it strikes me that the question might rather he the other way. Why did not Mr. Carr explain what he meant by having that name in his desk—and why did he refuse to allow the master to inspect the roll of paper on which he saw it ?” “He shall see it, he shall see it,” cried the Doctor eagerly, ‘‘ when he returns. I-give you my word of honour, Wilton, that nothing can be more innocent than that roll of paper.” ‘““T quite believe you, Doctor, and I shall believe in Mr. Carr until he is proved guilty—and I can’t think that will ever be. But you must see that Mr. Grale had grounds for suspecting the young man.” “I do see,” assented Dr. Palmer, speaking from the depths of puzzled thought. ‘‘’This matter seems to me very mysterious. When will Mr. Grale be back ?” “Sir, I have already told you that it is impossible to say. ‘The very day that his business in Manchester is over; rely upon that. Not but that I think it likely he will take the opportunity of his absence to make enquiry into this other business,” added the clerk. ‘Well, good day to you, Wilton,” said the Doctor, holding out his hand. ‘‘ Of course, I shall not say anything of this, except to Charles Carr. Who takes the lead here in Mr. Grale’s pluie a ‘““T do, subject in general things to Mr. Allan,” replied Mr. Wilton. ‘Good morning, Doctor.” As Dr. Palmer crossed the courtyard, full of perplexed thought over what he had heard, a breeze, freshening rather suddenly, began to blow. It set the dust whirling, and made the Doctor say to himsel that the autumn leaves had come. It blew something right against the Doctor’s face, which then fluttered down and settled on his arm. It was a triangular shred of paper, a fragment of some note which had been crumpled and torn up. He looked at it, as it lay on his sleeve. There were only two words on it, and these words had been evidently on different lines, and one was ‘“‘reduced” and the other “spade.” =» COMNICOOOKS: CO An