A Daughter of Delilah — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

10 A FALSE TELEGRAM. ‘Well, the tunnel is half a mile through, and I don’t mind if I loan you a lantern. Give it up at Covington, and it’ll get back to me all right. Youcan take this one.’’ He pointed to a lantern standing against the wall. ‘‘And keep on the right-hand track! There’s nothing behind you until eleven o’clock,’’ he went on, consulting his watch, ‘*‘but an express leaves Covington in twenty minutes. Don’t get in her way, sir!’’ Alston laughed lightly. ‘‘Tam much obliged to you,’’ he said, snatching up the lantern, ‘‘and you need have no fear for me. My nerves are well steeled! I'll give this up at the Covington depot, and tell the agent to send it back to you. I won’t forget your kindness ina hurry. I would face the devil himself, and all the lesser imps, rather than fail to get back to Cincin- nati to-night. ’’ He nodded brightly, and turned away, singing to him- self the refrain of his late song: ‘So wreathe the bowl with flowers of soul, The brightest Wit can find us; We'll take a flight toward heaven to-night, And leave dull earth behind us!” ‘The right-hand track!’’ called the station-agent, watch- ing Alston’s tall figure. The light in the lantern swayed and flickered as he moved onward, and the huge shadow that fluttered after him looked like a grotesque giant from the lower regions. “He isn’t exactly sober,’’ the station-agent thought, ‘‘and maybe I’ve done wrong in putting him onto this racket. Well, I suppose that these sporty young bloods will have their day, and he’ll be safe in the tunnel from tramps, anyway. A New Yorker, every inch of him, I’ll wager !”’ CS (E(@) m Gomicboo