The Argosy — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksnuth. 95 Truly, discontent is the besetting sin of the human race, As Reuben and Vera had foreseen, the Archdeacon, as we must now call Mr. Ryot-Tempest, paid but little attention to the fact that Mark had been seen talking to Vera’s assailant. He was busy that evening trying on his new clothes and preparing for Easter Day, or he might have investigated the matter further. As it was, he was content to ask Mark if it were true; and Mark, after endeavouring to recollect the occurrence, at length succeeded in remembering he had directed a tramp to Ashchurch one evening; and Mrs. Ryot- Tempest pronounced this account satisfactory, and pooh-poohed Vera’s doubts as a piece of spite on her part against Mark. But the next morning, when nearly all the villagers were at church —curilosity to see the Archdeacon having drawn a large congrega- tion—Mark Brown was improving his time by smoking a pipe ina quarry with the man who had stopped Vera. This gentleman—who probably rejoiced in as many names as a prince of the blood—was known to Mark Brown as Jim Freeman; and their friendship, though of very recent date, was already intimate. It arose the day after Vera’s adventure, when Mark was exercising a horse, accompanied by Lion. During the ride they met Freeman, whom Lion recog- nized, and, but for Mark, would have attacked. Mark guessed Free- man was the hero of Vera’s adventure, and levied blackmail on him. Freeman responded generously, anxious to buy Mark’s silence, and also anxious to cultivate his acquaintance, which he saw might be of service to him for the wickedness he had in hand, They had met twice since, and now they were literally as thick as thieves. Seated on some quarried blocks of stone, they smoked and made their arrangements for what Freeman considered a piece of professional business, and Mark a way: not quite an honest or a laudable way: but still a way of earning fifty pounds, which was to be his fee for services rendered. For Mark had discovered that the object which kept Freeman lingering in the neighbourhood, at the risk of being arrested for his attempt at robbing Vera, was Mrs. Ryot-Tempest’s diamonds, whose fame had reached Freeman’s ears. Simultaneously with Mark’s discovery Freeman found that Mark would be a very useful tool, very easy to manipulate; and the meeting this Easter morning was to make the final arrangements for stealing the diamonds. The plan was a very simple one. Freeman was to be under Mrs. Ryot-Tempest’s dressing-room window one night at a given time, and Mark was to drop the jewel- case out of the window to him when the rest of the household was asleep. The time fixed was the following Tuesday night. Mark knew his master and mistress were going to a party that evening, and if Mrs. Ryot-Tempest did not wear her diamonds his task would be all the easier; since, when the other servants and Vera were in bed, there would be no one to hear him hand the jewels to ECORNICIOOKS ».E® am