Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

70 DARKE DARRELL. He tore two blank leaves from his memorandum-book. Upon one he wrote as follows: ‘No. — ‘A counterfeiters’ den. In trouble. Send help. STREET, N. Y. D.Ds “To Mr. Vincent Margs, Chief of Detectives, Baltimore, Mary- land.” Upon the other leaf he penciled the subjoined: ‘Should this fall into the hands of any law-abiding person, I ask him or her at once to send the accompanying dispatch by telegraph, and communicate with the local authorities. Keep the change, and be assured of a much greater compensation. ‘*DARKE DARRELL, Detective.” Placing a dollar bill between the leaves, he pinned them =~ together. Next he took from his pocket a pistol-cartridge, — oa a5 to serve as a missile. He coiled the money and messages ~~ around the cartridge, and hurled it through the window, little caring how much noise was caused by the shattered _ giass. ‘‘If I am never heard of again, and that missive gets into proper hands, it will at least be known where I met my fate. How stupid!” he suddenly thought, his hand at his brow. ‘‘I forgot to lock the door of the dungeon.. I can- not afford to be attacked in the rear.” He hurried back along the several passages, locked the heavy iron door, and took the key with him. | Retracing his steps, he passed the window through which he had hurled the missile, and kept on his way until he arrived at another door. He laid his hand upon the knob, and the door opened. He stepped back, a startled look on his face, for he was almost dazzled by a sudden blaze of light. _ ‘The windows were closed; gas-jets were flaring in every direction; a deadened din filled the room; men in paper / comicbooks sem . :