The Argosy — page 398: what you’re looking at

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

Yosodhara. 377 interior, but of Yosodhara, as she had looked standing at the gate to wave her good-bye. He was stroking his light beard, and contemplating his work with some complacency, when a sharp rap, apparently just above his head, brought him to his feet with a bound, and scattered his papers round him. “Ts that you, Kerr?” he shouted. “Ts what me?” was the reply. “Ts that you kicking up that row? You’d better look out. This oak must be very thin, or I shouldn’t hear so plainly.” As he spoke, Kerr came in at the door. “The oak may be thin,” he said, laughing, “and so is the wall: only about three or four feet.” “You must have heaved a brick at the wall, then, to have made a row like that.” ‘“T only went for a spider with my cane,” the other said, taking up the sketch and looking at it with an expression which made his friend feel not disinclined to ‘ heave a brick’ at Azm. ‘Leave that alone,” he said, impatiently. ‘‘ Herein is mystery. This door is close to the dividing wall. Let’s see how far off the other room door is.” “My dear fellow, that’s exactly how I knew the walls were so thick.” “'Then the wall must be hollow, and the deceased Buddhist gentleman is probably inside. ‘This becomes thrilling. Let us investigate.” “NotI. It’s a great deal too thrilling. Let’s go home.” “No, no,” said Rivers, ‘I believe we are going to find something out.” “Yes, the skeleton of a rat, or something equally valuable and cheerful. But seriously, this wall is not hollow,” and he gaveit a smart blow with his stick. It certainly sounded particularly solid. “But behind the chair,” said Rivers, who was getting a little excited —and he rapped on the place with his knuckles. ‘‘As hollow as a drum,” he said triumphantly. “That may be a flaw in the wall,” returned Kerr; “ T’ll go round and see if it is the same the other side.” Presently—trap, rap. “Yes, I can hear you distinctly. Try farther down.” Rap, rap. Almost inaudible. ‘‘ Try farther up.” Rap, Rap. Much fainter. ‘‘It does go through,” cried Rivers. “Come back. What shall we do?” | ‘“‘T dare say we’re the only people in the country who don’t know of this hollow wall. Let’s go and question the lovely widow.” “Not if I know it,” laughed Rivers. ‘‘ Within this wall are doubt- less diamonds from Golconda, or precious stones from Indian idols’ eyes.” GOGO Oo 5) Go im