A Daughter of Delilah — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

28 “GILBERT ROSEBERRY, YOU ARE MY PRISONER!” is something behind this devilishly queer,’’ he growled. “And I'll return to New York to-morrow, and find out what it is.’’ | | The carriage stopped with a jerk, and the driver bawled: ‘‘Bellevue avenue, sir. What number?’’ ‘*T will alight here!’’ announced Alston, adding, to him- self. ‘‘Happy thought! If Minnie is watching for my re- turn, the sound of carriage wheels would betray me.”’ He dismissed the driver, and walked rapidly until he came to a large brick house, surrounded by lawns and ornamental flower beds, which occupied an entire block. Running lightly up the broad steps that led to a noble veranda, he crept with the stealthiness of a thief into the handsome vestibule, that formeda kind of antechamber to the hall beyond. Through the upper half of the great oaken doors, which were tastefully paneled with stained glass, Alston saw a couple of servants moving idly to and fro, and gently tapped the door with the tips of his fingers. ‘‘Curse them for a pair of fools!’’ he growled, under his breath. ‘They evidently imagine that I am a burglar by the terror exhibited in their senseless faces. If I touch the electric bell, of course Minnie and my aunt will be at once ~ upon the scene!”? He rapped the door sharply with his knuckles, and the effect was almost electrical, both servant-men making a bee-line for the kitchen in search of weapons of defense. Alston’s only resource now was to ring the electric bell, and within ten seconds the door was being unlocked and unbarred by his anxious sister. The moment it was opened, Edgar darted inside, saying: Gomicbooks (E(@) m