The Argosy — page 265: what you’re looking at

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

246 The Mystery of Allan Grale. hands of the medical men, of Dr. Palmer in particular; he had been debarred from many pleasures that other youths and young men enjoy ; of balls, and severe gymnastics, and public speaking ; but he had his consolations in frequent change of air and scene, and a life of elegant leisure. And as the years went on, he had become so apparently strong, that perhaps nobody remembered the old fears, except Dr. Palmer, or that the past grave attack might sometime be renewed. But the attack had come. It had come quite suddenly, when no- body was looking for it, least of all George himself, and the Doctor was summoned to Dering Court in haste. And George, as well as Dr. Palmer, knew that what, happening once might be but an accident, happening twice meant the shadow of the end. Maria was in devoted attendance on her brother, and Dr. Palmer was not sorry to think that her confinement in his sick room might for the present spare her all knowledge of what was going on at the Black Pool. He also hoped another thing: that the cold words, the surmises and suspicions being whispered abroad of Edgar Vivian, would not reach her ears abruptly. How far had such suspicion and surmise any foundation? And would this horrible quest be fruitless? Dr. Palmer could not silence these inner questions. In the evening, when he was on his way to pay a second visit to the Court, he turned out of his road to go and take a look at the water- men at their work. The work of dragging the Black Pool, deep in bottom and densely weedy at its sides, might not be effectually completed in less than two or three days. But the watermen’s first hours of toil had not gone quite unrewarded. Mr. Grale, grimly watching their labours, had turned half angrily from the old tin vessels and faded rags which they had brought up for his gaze. But just before Dr. Palmer had arrived on the scene, they had secured a very different prize. It did not look unlike the other useless débris which had no significance whatever. It was only a man’s hat; and the watery bed it had had for months made its appearance exactly as if it had been the discarded head-gear of some tramp or gipsy. ‘The watermen judged it to be such, as they lifted it up, and shook off the heavy moist weeds which enveloped it. Mr. Grale, anxiously watching from the opposite bank, thought little else. But when he saw the men turn it round and look inside it, and look again, and then look at each other, he felt that they had come upon something at last, and he went say ard eagerly to meet them as they carried it towards him. There was no mistake about it. Sorely stained and soiled as it was, on the white silk lining of the hat there remained distinctly visible the name of ‘ Allan Grale.” The rough watermen stood awkwardly round the stern old father. Whatever emotion might stir him inwardly gave no outward sign, unless indeed it lay in the absolute silence in which he, aftera moment, waved | CONNIE OOlKS (E(©@) m