Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

_— DARKE DARRELL. 167 Darke accepted the check, seized a pen, and wrote his name on the back of it. ‘You will make no claim on me in the future?” Mr. Cassandra asked. ‘Why should I, sir?” Darke stared, and felt indig- nant. ‘‘I have been more than compensated,” he added, coldly. ‘“In the future you may some time presume——” ‘“ Never!” interrupted Darke, a little dazed. Had he seen the worried look on Mrs. Cassandra’s face and the bright red flush on Leotine’s face, he perhaps would have had an inkling of Mr. Cassandra’s meaning. Darke was a mere boy yet; but in after years it was all made plain to him. He stepped over to Leotine. ““T promised you this,” he said, handing her the check. ° ‘*T cannot accept it,” demurred she, with a confused face. A look of admiration crossed Mrs. Cassandra’s face. «¢ Pray do not be offended at me,” Leotine added, putting her hand on his arm. ‘‘ You needit. It will aid you to select a profession surrounded with less peril, and more con- genial to your taste, I am sure.” ‘‘Take it Leotine,” persisted Darke. ‘* Have it invested in your own right. I don’t feel quite at ease in keeping it. It wasn’t the reward which influenced me.” Leotine looked at him, her soul speaking in her large, liquid eyes. ‘‘What then?” they seemed to inguire. ‘‘ Your devotion to me?” ‘¢ She cannot accept the check,” decided Mr. Cassandra, with a sternness which Darke could not understand. ‘‘ Neither of us wish to be under any further obligations to you.” 3 ‘¢ Pedro!” exclaimed his wife. ‘‘ What are you saying?” Gomicbooks.co