The Argosy — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

Mr. Gordon: Specialist. — Tf they had been obliged to submit in the last hotel where they had sojourned. With a self-sacrifice wholly alien to her character, Mrs. Farringdon Griffiths prepared to place herself beside these, leaving the chair next an unoccupied, and therefore still promising, place to her daughter. Virginia tactlessly and persistently resisted this movement on her mother’s part, until the elder lady’s whispered remark sank her with a vivid blush on to her appointed seat. Scarcely had her colour subsided, and the tittering of the Miss Harpers opposite been quenched in the first mouthful of soup, when the tall, bearded stranger entered the room. After a rapid glance round the now crowded tables, he apparently discerned the Farring- don Griffiths, for without further hesitation he strode up to them, and with a pleasant smile and word of greeting, possessed himself of the vacant chair. The dinner passed very happily to Virginia. Her neighbour, as her mother soon discovered, was a Scotchman, and a good talker. He had evidently travelled a great deal, was well acquainted with life in America, and had many stirring adventures by land and water to relate. As Mrs. Farringdon Griffiths sat with Virginia on the big balcony after dinner, she thus concisely expressed herself of the opinion which she had formed during the meal of their new friend : “A professional man, and very gentlemanlike, my dear. Quite worth following up. We must find out who he is.” At this moment the inconnu once more made his appearance. He had put on a little travelling-cap, and held a cigar, which Mrs. Farringdon Griffiths at once mentally pronounced to be of excellent quality, between his fingers. ‘Don’t you find it chilly, sitting ?” he suggested in his soft, Scotch voice. ‘‘ Wouldn’t you like to take a little turn up and down ?” “You are very kind,” Mrs. Farringdon Griffiths responded gra- ciously ; ‘‘ but really I am somewhat tired after the heat of the day. And it is so refreshing to sit here quite idle and watch those curious shadows the moon throws upon the snow mountains. But Virginia, my dear. Perhaps you are cold. Careless mother that Iam! Had you not better walk about for a little?” Virginia turned to her mother for further direction, and catching in the moonlight the most peremptory expression of command upon that lady’s face, she rose, and wrapping her shawl more carefully round her shoulders, prepared to follow the stranger. He was a professional man. That she already knew. For her mother’s sure judgment never erred or failed, and Virginia had implicit confidence in it. But to what particular profession did he belong, and what was his name? She felt that these were facts left to her to discover, and she knew that explicit information would be required, nay, demanded of her when she was once more under the parental wing. But how set about discovery ? They had walked up and down the long balcony for some time, cComicooolks (S(O)