His Other Wife: A Novel — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

A LAMB AND A WOLFE. 227 ‘‘Well, I intend to treat you just as I would Floy, if she were here to-night instead of you. If she were, I'd say, ‘Floy, my girl, just you slip this little dirk under your bodice in easy reach of your right hand, and ever budge an inch without it; and this pistol carry half-cocked, this | way, in your pocket, or lay it under your pillow of nights, so that if we should meet a pirate crew, day or night, youre all right.” | ‘*Do you think we shall meet one?” asked Faith, her big eyes all aglow with excitement. ‘“Oh, no; but it’s always possible, and it’s my way to prepare for war in time of peace. I can see it in your eyes that youd be equal to anything at a pinch, and I don’t mean you shall lack the means of self-defense if you should need them aboard the Madcap. Come, let’s see you arm yourself now !” His voice was very cheery, but a ring of earnest deter- mination sounded under its lighter tones. Faith smiled a little nervously, but her look was firm, and her white hand steady, as she took the dirk and deftly slipped it, sheathed, within the bodice of her dress. _ €*There—cleverly done! Now for tother,” and he handed her the revolver, which he held by its delicate barrel, saying: ‘‘Let’s see, now, if you know what you've to do when you want to fire.” ‘‘Tust pull the hammer-lock so?” And she cocked the pistol with never a tremor of the little pink thumb. (E(@) | Eomicbooks: