The Argosy — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 83 suggestions concerning his invention, and had offered him every facility for experiment among his machinery. ‘¢ Nothing of much consequence was in your desk that day, I fancy, except the mysterious manuscript,” laughed Agnes. “Is it destroyed, Charlie ? ” “ Never mind the manuscript,” replied Charlie, his face flushing. ‘What sort of an instrument was it—the one you have mislaid ?” she asked. | “Tt is a watchmakers hammer,” he replied. ‘TI think Tl go down to the works this afternoon and ask the counting-house clerks if they remember seeing such a thing.” ‘Why yes, that’s what you ought to do, Charles. It may be lying about there yet, in some corner or other.” In the afternoon Charles started upon his expedition. Later, Lettice set off to walk to the Court. Agnes would not go with her; she seemed never to care to go there now. It was a lovely day; and the scenery was fair, around. But there can be no fair picture without shadows ; and in the time of our sunshine these shadows are cast by the sorrows of others. Charles walked straight into the counting-house. He was very welcome there. He had always been a favourite, and everybody was glad when the cloud was lifted off him, especially as it proved Mr. Grale to be in the wrong. “IT am come in to ask if any of you have seen a watchmaker’s hammer lying about,” began Charles. The clerks turned their faces towards him. “A watchmakers hammer!” echoed one. “No; I’ve not.” ‘] remember seeing such a thing,” spoke up Mr. Wilton. ‘“ And IT remember 4 “Why that there must be what the master wanted,” interrupted the office boy eagerly. ‘‘ He set us hunting for it.” “Speak when you are spoken to,” said Mr. Wilton, sharply to the boy. ‘‘I was about to add, Mr. Carr, that such an instrument as you speak of was lying about, and when it was wanted, it could not be found. It was sought for high and low.” “We did not know whose it was,” said Mr. Mawson. ‘“ Nobody claimed it, and we supposed it must belong to the man who had come to mend the Mill clock, and that he had taken it away with him.” Charles reflected. ‘‘ He may have mistaken it for a tool of his _ own,” he said. ‘*‘ When was that?” “*Oh, a long while ago. It was last year.” “It was before the young master went away,” again put in the boy, regardless of reproof. ‘I remember his standing by the man while he was about the clock, and talking to him.” Old Mr. Wilton looked at the boy severely. Nobody ever spoke of the young master now, save, perhaps, in a whisper. Allan Grale’s CONnniclooolKxs (CO) am