A Daughter of Delilah — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

EDGAR ALSTON’S BETTER SIDE. 163 ‘‘Great Heaven! no!’ he gasped. | | ‘‘T have spoken the truth. I married that woman seven years since in Philadelphia. IJ was a leading lawyer there —a wealthy man. I was fooled by her, as you have been fooled, and am supposed to be dead. I was the first victim who went so far as marriage. The day after the ceremony I was drugged by her, and my body tossed into the river by the convict who escaped recently from the State prison at Frankfort. He has been her favored lover from first to last. She is shielding him now. How I was rescued does not matter, but the finger of fate was in it. My death was reported and generally accepted, and I lived only to be re- venged upon the beautiful traitress who had eased me of a fortune. My real name is Russell, and she retains it, quite certain that the grave will not give up its dead.”’ “Tam appalled by my own folly,’’ groaned Edgar. “I pity more than I blame you,’’ replied Hawkley, ‘‘be- cause I have gone through the same ordeal. Her power is marvelous. While she repels, it is impossible to escape her toils, and she uses her victims as stepping-stones to hizher game. Even her confederates are subservient to the same power.’’ ‘‘T must see St. Leonards,’’ Edgar exclaimed, suddenly. “Help me to hunt him up. Perhaps he has not parted with the money yet.’’ ‘The proceeds of your notes?’’ smiled Hawkley. ‘“‘My dear sir, that was divided hours ago!”’ ‘‘Divided! Do you mean to say that he 93 ‘Ts not Lord St. Leonards any more than youare! His make-up is perfect. He is an English swindler, wanted for more than one fraud in the old country. To his asso- Eomicboo <S