The Argosy — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 251 evening he left; and she could swear to a miniature dressing-case found in one of the pockets of the coat. She could not speak so positively as to the ordinary tweed suit which was shown her, but she knew Mr. Allan had had two or more suits of similar appearance. She could not identify the handkerchief, despite its initials, neither the under-clothing. She said with some hesitancy that these were not so fine as Mr. Allan’s, nor could she remember that he had had any mended as they were. She was in the habit of looking through the Moorland House linen as it went to and came from the laundry. She had often found articles which she did not recognise as Mr. Allan’s, but which she found afterwards he had bought on emergencies during his travels, or else had been changed at hotels for his own in the washing. Susan went on, in answer to questions, to say that she was one of the last people who had seen her young master. He had left home on the twentieth of last October. That same afternoon, Mr. Edgar Vivian had called ; but on being told (by herself) that Mr. Allan was gone out, he had written a note in pencil in the hall, which she had carried up to Mr. Allan’s room, and placed on his table. When Mr. Allan came home to dinner that evening, he went up to his room and no doubt saw the note. It was after dinner, soon after it, that he finally left. Mr. Allan had dined alone that evening, the rest of the family not being at home. Further, the witness said that Mr. Allan Grale generally wore his watch—always, indeed, so far as she knew. Also his signet ring. But the signet ring had been found on his dressing-table. Possibly he had omitted to replace it on his finger after washing his hands for dinner. No watch had been found on the body: hence these questions to Susan. Mr. Edgar Vivian was next called. He came forward looking very pale and with a constrainedly calm manner. He remembered calling at Moorland House. ‘The servant just examined told him Mr. Allan Grale was out: she thought he had gone to Dr. Palmer’s, to take something to Charles Carr. He saw the carriage driving away with the ladies in it as he came in sight of the house. He wrote a short note in pencil to young Mr. Grale, asking him to meet him on the morrow at the Black Pool. He could not say whether he had dated the note. Probably not. These words were listened to amid breathless silence. Edgar Vivian spoke them in a low, clear voice. He went on to say that he had not received any answer to his note. But he had gone to the Black Pool the next day. Allan Grale did not appear, did not keep the appointment. He had wished for a conversation with him on business. The business was of a private nature. ‘Two or three days afterwards, he received a letter which he had believed came from Allan. It requested that a small box, which Allan had put in his charge, should be sent to Scotland, to a certain CONIC OOO (CO)