A Daughter of Delilah — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

: } ; IN THE TUNNEL 19 perfectly still, and being unarmed, I am quite at your mercy. I confess that I did feel in my pockets for a match, but no such commodity is at hand. Even if I had one, I would respect your wishes under the circumstances—be- cause you have me at a disadvantage. ”’ There was a hoarse laugh in response. ‘“‘Now, my good friend,’’ continued Alston, ‘‘as I am | reclining in a puddle of mud, will you kindly tell me your wishes? I donot care to remain here one moment longer than is necessary. ’”’ : “Vou swear that you are unarmed?”’ ‘‘T do, most solemnly. You have free permission to make a search, and if you find anything more formidable than a penknife, I give you the right to shoot.”’ ‘‘T am satisfied. I have the word of a gentleman,”’ said the voice in the gloom. ‘‘Now jump up, and I will let you know what I want.”’ Edgar obeyed. ‘‘Your name?’’ demanded the strange assailant. ‘‘Hdgar Alston, of New York,’’ with mock politeness. ' ‘‘What are you doing here?”’ “T wished to reach Cincinnati to-night, and there was no train from Bridgley, so I elected to walk. What next, my Grand Inquisitor?’’ The man breathed a sigh of relief. “Tam glad that I did not kill you,’’ he said, at length. “Do you know, sir, that I lay for several minutes waiting for you? I thought that you were a blood-hound on my track! I crouched here like a tiger, ready to launch you into eternity! I waited till the engine passed, and the glow from the furnace revealed you tome. I leveled my Eomichboo <=) (E(e) m