The Argosy — page 286: what you’re looking at

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

The Story of Charles Strange. 205 had only an attic bedroom, I found, and I went up to it. He was partly lying across the bed when I entered. I almost thought even then that I saw death written in his face. White, wan, shadowy it looked; much changed, much worn from what it was three weeks before. But it lighted up all over with a smile, as he got up to greet me. “ Halloa, Charley!” cried he. ‘‘ Best congratulations ! Made your- self into a respectable man. All good luck to yourself and madam. I’m thinking of coming to Essex Street to pay the wedding visit.” “Thank you,” said I, ‘‘ but do be serious. My coming here is a hazard, as you know, Tom; don’t let us waste in nonsense the few minutes I may stay.” ‘‘ Nonsense!” cried Tom. ‘‘ Why, do you think I should be afraid to venture to Essex Street P—what nonsense is there in that? Look here, Charley !” From some box in a dark corner of the room he got out an old big blue cloak lined with red, and swung it on. ‘The collar, made of some black curly wool, stood up above his ears. He walked about the small room, exhibiting himself. ‘Would the sharpest officer in Scotland Yard take me for anyone but old Major Carlen?” laughed he. ‘I’m sure I look like his double in this elegant cloak. It was his, once.” ‘“‘ His! What, Major Carlen’s ?” ‘‘ Just so. He made me a present of it.” *“ You have seen him, then !” “IT sent for him,” answered Tom, putting off the old cloak and coughing painfully after his recent exertion. ‘‘I thought I should like to see the old fellow; I was not afraid he’d betray me; Carlen would not do that ; and I dropped a quiet note to his club, taking the chance of his being in town.” "Taking the chance! Suppose he had: not been in town, Tom, and the note had fallen into wrong hands—some inquisitive waiter, let us say, who chose to open it?” ‘*Well—what then? A waiter would only turn up his nose at Mr. Dominic Turk, the retired schoolmaster, and close up the note again for the Major.” “And what would Major Carlen make of Mr. Dominic Turk ?” “ Major Carlen would know my handwriting, Charley.” ‘And he came in answer to it ?” | ‘* He came: and blew me up in a loud and awful fashion ; seemed to be trying to blow the ceiling off. First, he threatened to go out and bring in the police; next, he vowed he would go straight to Blanche and tell her all. Finally, he calmed down and promised to send me one of his cast-off cloaks to disguise me, in case I had to go into the streets. Isn’t it a beauty ?” “ Well, now, Tom, if you can be serious for once, what is going to become of you, and what is to be done? I’ve come to know.” conniclooolkks (C(O)