The Illegal Marriage — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

184 THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE, Appling, the detective, hidden behind a fallen cypress. “Don’t speak,” he said, ina whisper; “don’t make a noise. Come near me, please.” They pushed through the bushes and sat upon the og. “I’m after old Hawks,” he said, in an undertone; “and havea trace of him. Go back as you came, without looking around. I may not be able to meet you to-morrow, but will come to Perry at once. Go, quick—I expect my bird every minute.” “But what do you——” “Please don’t question me now, Mr. Crawford; I have nothing but suspicion. I’ll let you hear from me soon.” It was now twilight and fast growing dark. The two men retraced their steps in silence, but turned as they reached the rise of the hedge, seeing the shadow of a man, opposite the spot where the de- tective was lying, as it disappeared in the bushes. “Appling has him this time—no hound on the scent is keener than that fellow. I have never seen his equal.” “T hope he may be on the right track, Peyton; for, to tell the truth, I begin to fear she will have to remain there until the next term of court.” Talking of the topic that was uppermost in their minds, the friends soon arrived at Stannard’s gate. Appling’s clew furnished a new key to them, and until near midnight they sat upon the veranda, voing over, again and again, the points that could be made in Miss Morgan's defense. The morning train brought Pierce to Echaconnee, and again the three men stood at Trippe’s bedside. “Can you not see that Iam better, Crawford? It was all owing to my little talk with you yesterday. I believe a man would cease to think rationally, if he could not express his thoughts in some way.” “Don’t try to do too much, Trippe; you may be needed to——” _ Pierce called Crawford to the window, interrupt- ing his remark. comicbooks.com —