The Argosy — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

The Story of Charles Strange. 267 not like it, would probably refuse advice. One who now and again sat in the position of judge, sentencing men himself, would scarcely choose to aid in concealing an escaped convict. I was upstairs in the dining-room at one o’clock, taking luncheon with Annabel, when the door was thrown back by Watts, and there loomed into the room the old blue cloak with the red lining. For a moment I thought it was the one I had seen the past night in Southwark, and my heart leaped into my mouth. Watts’s quiet an- nouncement dispelled the alarm. ** Major Carlen, sir.” The Major unclasped his cloak after shaking hands with us, and flung it across the sofa, just as Tom had flung his on the bed. I pointed to the cold beef and asked if he would take some. “Don’t mind if I do, Charles,” said he, drawing a chair to the table: ‘‘ I’m too much bothered just now to eat as I ought. A pretty kettle-of-fish this is, lad, that you and I have had brought upon us!” I gave him a warning look, glancing at Annabel. The old fellow understood me—she had not been trusted with the present trouble. That Tom Heriot had effected his escape, Annabel knew, that it was expected he would make his way home, she knew; but that he had long been here, and was now close at hand, I had never told her. Why inflict upon her the suspense I had to endure ? ‘Rather a chilly day for the time of year,” observed the Major, as he coughed down his previous words. ‘Justa little, Mrs. Strange ; underdone, please.” Annabel, who carved at luncheon time, helped him carefully. ‘And what kettle-of-fish is it that you and Charles are troubled with, Major?” she inquired smiling. ‘“* Ah—aw—don’t care to say much about it,” answered the Major, more ready at an excuse than I should have deemed him. ‘‘ Blanche is up to her ears in anger against Level ; says she’ll get a separation from him, and all that kind of nonsense. Have you heard from your Aunt Lucy yet, Mrs. Strange?” So the subject was turned off for the time; but down below, in my office, the Major went at it tooth and nail, talking himself into a fever. All the hard names in the Major’s vocabulary were hurled at Tom. His original sin was disgraceful enough, never to be con- doned, said the Major; but his present imprudent procedure was worse, and desperately wicked. | ‘Are Blanche and her husband still at variance?” I asked, when he had somewhat cooled down on the other subject. ‘They just are; and are likely to remain so,” growled the Major. ‘It’s Blanche’s fault. Men have ways of their own, and she’s a little fool for wishing to interfere with his. Don’t let your wife begin that, Charles; it’s my best advice to you. You are laughing! Well, perhaps you and Level don’t row in quite the same boat ; but you can’t foresee the shoals you may pitch into. No one can.” COMICLOOO SS (6)