Laura Brayton — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

A c ‘ - at a tay y ? _— ~ oo ae a > = | Rn OE bd io - Fr Baw Frakefe t an ~~ if IT only had him by the throat, I’d choke the truth out of him first and the life afterward!” And the long, talon-like fingers of the lawyer worked convulsively, as if he had his wished-for victim by the neck in truth. LAURA BRAYTON. 101 Then he rang the bell for Nathan Sloth. It was answered instantly, almost. “Nathan,” said he, “have you ever heard any strange sounds about this house at night?” “No, sir, nothing more than rats and mice, gnaw- ing in the ceiling or running between the walls.” “No groans, no laughing, no bia senect when you couldn’t tell where it came from?” “Mercy! no, sir. Why, what do you mean, sir? You’re not getting light here?” And the clerk raised his inky forefinger to his head. “No, but I’ve heard sounds lately which make me nervous. If 1 believed in Als I’d think the house was haunted.” “Oh, don’t say that, sir. For I know there is ghosts, sir, Isaw one once. Why, sir. I was nearly scared to death atit. And if I thought this house was haunted I’d be afraid to sleep here.” “Coward! If it was*haunted and old Satan him- | self was chief of the spirits, I wouldn’t be scared — out of it.” — “Oh, you are brave, sir. I don’t pretend to be when ghosts are out. [’m a mortal coward, and Y know it.” “Well, well. To- night, well-armed, you and I will sit up all night here in the library and see if the ‘sounds continue.” “Oh, dear, sir! I’d rather not! I know I’ll get to sleep, and if I heard or saw a ghost, I'd die, sure!” EComicbooks GO