Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

158 DARKE DARRELL. way through. How many of the gang has Tim got about him?” ‘‘ 1 saw nobody there but Baldy Jones.” They were opposite the house to which Jeff had pointed. Darke knocked at the door, which was opened by a burly Jerseyman. He was in his shirt sleeves, and was smoking a& pipe. ‘Have you boats to hire?” asked Darke. “Yes.” ‘* Any of them in?” “Two.” ‘* How much an hour?” ‘<'T'wo dollars.” ‘Steep, isn’t it?” ‘*And me torow? Guess not. Ain’t anxious.” ‘“‘Is there a barge beached up the river, off the flats?” Darke asked. “Yes.” ‘““What will you take to row me up there and back?” asked Darke. “Five dollars,” answered the man. ‘‘Say, your voice has been kind of bothering me. Are you a telegraph oper- ator?” ‘“* Well—-yes,” answered Darke. ‘Ah! I have placed you,” and theman grinned. ‘You are the Boy Detective of Baltimore.” ‘‘Hush!” cautioned Darke, a look of surprise on his face. “* Pray, who are you?” ‘Don’t you remember the railroad accident; the little girl; the fellow you made back down; the man who spoke in, and wanted to give him a drubbing?” Darke recognized his pugilistic friend of that occasion. A hearty grasp of hands ensued. ‘“‘Don’t I remember, though!” cried Darke. ‘‘ You are the man I want to see above a dozen! That counterfeiting cGcomicbooks.co