The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. Se ee ried about that enough last night. It’s a strange coinci- dence, that’s all.” | The handkerchief was thrown petulantly into the box, and locked up. ‘<T won’t look at that cursed thing again until——” Well, what was the use of setting a time? Clinton assumed his happy look again, and began to hum. | But his mind would keep running on those initials. “6A, G., G. A., I wonder which it is?” The box was out again, and once more the initials were studied. . | ‘© Well;” when he had scrutinized the letters with anxious care, ‘‘ well, and suppose you do stand A.G.? Whatthen? Is there anything in that?” Clinton demanded this of the handkerchief in a defiant tone, as if to prove that it was a very small matter. Again the box was closed and put away. ‘This time angrily. ‘‘ ll not stay here, and be worried by this foolish trifle.” Thrusting Alphonse’s handkerchief into his pocket, he- went down stairs, and wandered uneasily about the porch until Grace came down, looking, as he told her, as fresh and rosy as Aurora. He was speedily out of his own world and into hers, and was reveling in the joy of her presence. All at once his hand came in contact with the handker-— chief, and a bright, idea occurred to him. As Phe I did have Alphonse’s handkerchief, after all.” 6é es?” : | ““Yes; and, very stupidly, 1 never thought it was his when he spoke about it.” —* Nor’ Grace was not vitally interested in the handkerchief, but she was quite willing to hear her lover talk about anything. ‘“No. I had found it in my pocket, and thought the initials were G. A. Now wasn’t I stupid?” ‘* Of course you weren’t stupid, you couldn’t be.” ” ‘* Well, but see if you could have made G. A. out of it.” He gave her the handkerchief. ‘In a hurry I might. Of course I could, easily.” ‘‘ Now, Grace, you are trying to evade the question, and that isn’t like my honest little woman.” ag ICOIMICcbDC (0) <3} (a(0)