The Argosy — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

The House of Halliwell. 179 know what is to be done. The maids commence coughing when- ever they enter your bed-room, for the fumes of smoke there, they tell me, are overpowering.” “Ah, I know they are. It’s where all my clothes hang.” “Suppose you were to get some lumps of camphor, and sew in your pockets?” suggested Mrs. Agatha, alighting on a bright idea. “Tf it keeps fevers from the frame, it may keep tobacco-smoke from clothes. Get sixpennyworth, Thomas.” “Tl get a shilling’s worth,” said Tom. ‘* Though I fear its pro- perties don’t reach smoke.” “Oh, Thomas, I forgot. Did you hear the noise in the house last night ?” ‘““ Noise 2?” responded Mr. Tom. “A noise on the stairs, like somebody bumping up them. It was just two o'clock, for I heard the clock strike. When Rachel came to dress me this morning, she said it must have been Minny, racing after the mice. But I never heard her make such a noise »efore. I hope it did not disturb you.” “Not at all, aunt,” answered Tom, burying his face in his hand- kerchief: ‘‘I never woke till half an hour ago. Cats do make an awful noise sometimes. I’m off to the infirmary.” ‘“And you have eaten no breakfast! I can’t think what the lad lives upon.” In the hall, as Mr. Thomas was dashing across it, he encountered the housemaid, a pretty girl with cherry cheeks. ‘“‘ Look here, sir,” she said. ‘‘See what we picked up this morning. If mistress had found it, instead of me and cook, what- ever would you have done ?” ‘My latch-key ! I must have dropped it when I came in, in the night. But after a punch jollification, following on a tripe supper, one’s perceptive faculties are apt to be obscured. ‘That’s a fact un- disputed in physics, Rachel, my dear.” And as Tom dropped the latch-key into his pocket, he acknowledged his obligation to the finder in a way of his own. “Now, Mr. Thomas,” remonstrated Rachel, ‘‘I have threatened fifty times that I’d tell missis of you, and now I will. You want to get me out of my place, sir, going on in this way.” - he, 4 cried. om, -“tgo. amd. tellu heratsonce. .. And, harkee, my dear, if you and cook get talking to the old lady about the smoke in my bed-room, I’ll shoot the first of you I come near. You should put the windows and door open.” | é Just as the incorrigible Tom walked off, Mrs. Agatha Needham opened the breakfast-room door, and down dropped the maid upon her hands and knees, and began rubbing away at the oilcloth. ‘’ Rachel! was that my nephew talking to you?” “Mr. Thomas has gone out, ma’am.” “Yes. Who was he talking to before he went?” COMICOOOlKS.EO© im