The Argosy — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

18 The House of Halliwell. kept taking up on the road, and taking up, till they say he had six and twenty there, inside and out, and a dreadful heap of luggage. I say he must have been making free with the tap. It was the weight that caused the accident; the horses could not bear up against it.” “What damage is done?” “Well, some of the passengers are not hurt at all, and some, they say, are hurt badly. We drove up about five minutes after it had happened, and came on as quickly as we could to send Davis.” ‘hs me-gone ° ” Mr. Thorn nodded. ‘‘They had one doctor there, but the land- Jady was crying out for more, so I came and packed off Davis at once.” Hester stepped forward, speaking calmly. ‘‘ Mr. Thorn, do you happen to know whether papa was one of those hurt ? ” | Mr. Thoru, who was raising his ale to his lips, paused and looked at her. | ‘““Why—is not that one of the Miss Halliwells ?” “Yes,” answered Hester. ‘““My dear, I never saw your papa. I did not know he was there.” . “T don’t think as the Major was there,” interposed the bluff voice of the bailiff. ‘‘I never see him nor heered his name.” ‘“He was sure to be there,” said the landlord. ‘“‘He took his place this morning to come back to-night.” ) ‘“‘ Did you see all the passengers ?” enquired Alfred. “No,” said the farmer. ‘‘ Three or four, that were badly hurt, they had carried in before we came up. One had his leg broken, they said, and Jones was insensible. ‘The guard has got off scot free. Some of the passengers are on the road, walking on here.” Mr. Thorn handed back his glass, his bailiff did the same, and they drove on; but the farmer checked his horse suddenly, and called for Miss Halliwell. ‘Don’t alarm yourself, my dear,” he said, in a kindly tone. ‘There are no lives lost. Remember that.” Aunt Copp would have stopped gossipping all night, waiting for the passengers, who were advertised as being on the road; but Hester, who was shivering inwardly, drew her away. ‘Aunt, I shall go on to Crummerton,” she whispered. ‘““ Nonsense, Hester!” ‘IT do not want you to go with me. I am not afraid of lonely roads to-night.” “It’s three miles off,” retorted Aunt Copp, “and not a. single roadside house between here and there. ‘The passengers will be up directly, Hester: you heard that man in the gig say they were coming. [I daresay your papa will be one of them. He is an old soldier and does not care for trifles.” ‘He said papa was zof one of them,” she answered. ‘‘ Perhaps EORNIECLOOKS, (EC)