The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE’ NED. 4G SW -, Y » \\\ C WY WO \\\ NOOO ‘ ANY NON CXSSS\ TN a KS Ae SS a 7 wia r rei We) at e111 TN psi | , y A ei Dr Z ut J w TESS PD Wh \\\ I PN WWM en \ i; Ca REE wp ih \\ Me li es ea le bi ie DEON TIT ed ih i | ADIPAN \ Ag | i (| Aum WN is \ Mh iy \ ' oe I HEN Ne | TAA Z as DT | i i \ ZZ, Lill ip ep sit Hy a8, \\ SiN nF \\ Vas Aw —————— py ZO | Ya Z ~ HHI ————— A } i} ‘ = hog Ht ali = jn ee ef SSS > - THE But with all his ferocious exterior there was a something in his smile both tender and re-assuring. He placed a finger on his lips, and led her gently towards the window. He next, and with great air of mystery and caution, pulled out of his silk doublet a small ivory tablet. He partly wrote upon it these words :— ‘You are a stranger to me, and, rough as [ look, I love you, love you dearly.” Ellen’s eyes darted fiery anger. at him as she shunned the smiling black. He took no notice of her seeming repugnance, but smiled, and, in. the act showed his rows of shining teeth, . No. 7, iN BS { -Z BI \\\\ J AVN AZ ZZ \WWA Ra HiAN TL \ Z —_—— Z ae is , 4 4 / J Af A Ze ZZ ee A ULITHIIU) ““eel7 if / ef t = —— SY) SSS ia ) = SS Sl —-— ee MYSTERIOUS BARBER. He rubbed out the words he had written, and quickly pencilled these others :— “Do you wish me to be a friend or foe, fair one?” “A friend,” said Ellen, trembling. He placed before her the tablet again, and she read— “T will be a friend to you, and a true one, ona single condition,” The girl’s blood almost curdled in her veins as she read what he had hastily scribbled, for she now trembled for her honour and chastity. ‘‘ Name your condition,” she gasped. “Can you, will you keep a secret ?” he wrote. will,”’ she answered,