Caught in the Snare — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

152 Next Morning. They walked on in silence until they reached the foot of the bluff. “Let us visit the scene of the tragedy,” said Nugent, as they paused for a moment to con- template the heap of black, smoking ruins. They turned to ascend. Scarcely had they gone a dozen steps, when the mayjor’s eye fell on some- thing bright gleaming among the rocks. He stooped to pick it up and started back with a cry of horror. It was the fatal dagger, red with still undried blood. As he turned it over, his eye fell on the name engraven on the handle—Irederic Stan- ley. “Just Heaven, how wonderful is thy retribu- tion!” he exclaimed, as he handed the knife to his son. “With this fatal blade the deed was done, and the murderer’s name is on it. In the excitement of the moment he has cast it away and forgot it.” Pale with horror Nugent examined it. He had often seen the dagger with Fred. It had been given him by his father in his boyhood and was prized as his gift. To doubt his guilt longer seemed out of the question, and yet how could he believe him guilty? Fred Stanley, so brave, so generous, sq noble-hearted, guilty of so dread- ful a crime. Oh, never, never! The thought was too pinnatural to be entertained. _— TI poss the body It GAZ Na. Ing tle His her fon the ha wi tir °f rns comicbooks.com