Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

160 A SEVERE THREAT. Panting and breathless Lloyd Vernon drew himself up on the bank, and gazed eagerly about him that he might ascertain his whereabouts. A lowcry of surprise escaped his lips. What he saw was this. -He was standing in the midst of a grove of green trees, the black, sluggish stream dragging itself, like a slimy ser- pent, along at his feet. And away in the distance a gleam of gray—a tall, castle-like building. Surprised and filled with wonder, he turned to leave the spot, when chancing to glance downward, his eyes caught a glimpse - of something which drove the color from his cheek, and made his heart beat wildly. For upon his breast, showing plainly upon the snowy linen which he wore, and not obliterated by his involuntarily plunge-bath, were “he marks of three bloody fingers! He started, with an exclamation of horror, and drawing forth his handkerchief, attempted to remove the ghastly stains. As he did so, he observed a slip of linen knotted around his wrist —evidently a handkerchief which had been torn in two for the purpose of binding his hands. He examined it eagerly. It was of the finest linen, and bore in one corner an elaborate coat of arms, in dainty embroidery. ‘‘Great Heaven !” ejaculated the young man, with a start. ‘What does this mystery mean ?” He looked at the bit of linen attentively, The coat of arms represented two mailed hands grasping a bleeding heart, and above it, daintily and wonderfully executed, in tiny letters, the motto, ‘‘ Ve Vict.” The young man shuddered. ‘‘ Whoever this titled lordling may be,” he cried, indignantly, ‘‘he is a villain! But what could have prompted his malice against myself? Perhaps it isa case of mistaken identity.” But there was no way of solving the mystery. He turned, and looked back toward the gray, castellated pile towering in the distance. Just beside him a great, gnarled oak lifted its unsightly arms in the air—an oddly shaped tree. He drew =) EComichbooks:.co