Perhaps you should try it. The description I gave of $read with the s flag is accurate and correct in all my tests.

Code:
/write test.txt something
//echo -a $read(test.txt,s,something)


In default mIRC, that returns
* /echo: insufficient parameters
because mIRC cannot echo "nothing" - ergo the read() statement returns nothing. If you try the following example:

Code:
/write test.txt something this does work
//echo -a $read(test.txt,s,something)

a default mIRC returns:
this does work

DALnet #Helpdesk
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -Confucius