The Argosy — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 263 “Not true? Ask him.” Maria was taken with a fit of shivering. What did it all mean ? Her thoughts were busy, full of tumult, and there was a pause of silence. “Mr. Grale,” she impulsively cried, gazing at him and reading too surely that he at least believed the accusation, ‘‘do you know about the diamond cross ?” “Mr. Grale looked at her with surprised and angry eyes, in which however there lay acertain pain. “ ‘The diamond cross ?” he repeated. “TI know all about the diamond cross. ‘There is not much to know, Miss Vivian. It is safe in our possession. It lies in my wife’s jewel box.” ‘Are you quite sure?” whispered Maria. ‘““T am quite sure,” replied Mr. Grale. ‘I saw it there myself bu a few days ago. Why do you come to me to ask this ?” ‘““Tt—is—there !” repeated Maria, as if unable to take in the fact. yee op oie Maria did not shriek; she did not faint; but her hands relaxed their grasp of the chair helplessly, and fell by her side. As Mr. Grale moved forward to her assistance, her lips parted to speak, but closed again in silence. ‘Turning, she walked to the room door; and when she had passed through it, she halted to look back at Mr. Grale. Staggering, like one who has been dealt some great blow, Maria set off to walk to the Court, and Mr. Grale sat down to his desk again. Half an hour later, the blacksmith, taking an evening stroll with his next-door neighbour, came upon Miss Vivian lying in a dead faint among the long grass by the roadside. With kindly, reverent hands, they raised her head and the neighbour ran for some water. But she gave no sign of returning consciousness. : “T reckon Mr. Edgar Vivian may have another life to answer for as well as young Grale’s,” whispered the smith to his neighbour. “That’s so,” was the answer. ‘‘ Hush! she’scoming to. Look!” (To be continued. ) CoOnnicloolkks (CO)