Laura Brayton — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

42. LAURA BRAYTON. “He is not in his room, sir, nor, by appearances, does it seem that he has been there during the night.” “Yes, yes! I remember now, limping old fool that Iam. Isent him off on business, and till it is done he will not be back. Laura, go to my safe there—here is the key. Open it, and in the pigeon- hole marked ‘Insurance’ find a bundle of papers tied with a black string, and bring them here.” The young girl obeyed. With a nervous hand the lawyer took the bundle, and, looking at the indorse- ments, quickly selected one of the papers. Opening it, he glanced at the date. “The policy expired at twelve noon, yesterday !” he cried. “I told Nathan to renew each policy two hours before it expired. If he has obeyed me, all is right; if he has not, curse him! If he has not, I’ll murder him, for I will lose full seventy thousand dollars—more than five hundred such lives as his are worth.” Hasty steps were heard approaching, and the next instant Nathan Sloth himself appeared, his face flushed and his gait not such as sober men generally exhibit. “Was the Holiday street tenement insured, Nathan Sloth?” asked Sharp, nervously. “Not only was, but is, most potent, grave, and _irreverend master,” said Nathan, with a gurgling laugh, | comicbooks co