Laura Brayton — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

134 LAURA BRAYTON. the villain who would sacritice a helpless girl against her will.” ¢Take him and that rascal off!” cried Sharp, pointing to Eldridge and the clerk. The officers advanced, while Laura, with a low cry, sprang to the side of her lover. “Fear not, Laura, I have friends at hand,” said Eldridge, purposely emphasizing a word pre- arranged as a signal. “Yes, sir! You have got friends that’ll stand by you in any muss that comes!” cried a manly voice at the door, and the next instant Sammy Glenn and a half-dozen young men entered the room, Monsieur Maret bringing up the rear. “ Ah—ha—ze gens de arms—zey here?” cried the latter. “Bon—we shall see what we shall see. Monsieur Pootnam, shall I have ze honare to assist you in ze-present case?” “Wait a moment, gentlemen, I see reinforce- ments are the order of the day. I too have my reserves!” cried Sharp to the policemen, and he hopped into the outer room and stamped fiercely on the floor. The next moment a dozen fierce,-wild, murderous-looking ruffians followed him into the front part of the crowded room, while Putnam, determined to protect Laura with his life’s best blood, if necessary, retreated with her to a corner. of the room. "Ah, this suits me,” cried Sharp. “Here comes the real magistrate. And now with plenty of wit- nesses the intended marriage shall go on!” | “Tt shall not!” came in a voice as loud as thunder —so strong and fierce that Bartram, who was yet sitting by the table, sprang up in terror, upsetting comicbooks.com Bee Taye Oth ‘ A. ais .