Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

192 THE FACE AT THE WINDOW. ‘‘T began to try, colonel, but they both came at me like a couple of old wildcats, and pretty soon I was on the defensive, and a minute later on the ground. Reckon my looks bear me out-when I say I’ve passed through an experience,’’ showing his rags and scratches. “Yes, yes, no doubt of it. You sall be paid, Mon- sieur Grubbs. Ze great question with us is, where are ze inans who did this sing ?”’ _“Oh! they’re gone,’’ coolly. ‘‘Gone!’’ gasps the colonel. ‘‘“Gone!’’ gurgles the lawyer, throwing up both hands. ‘“Reckon they’re pretty nigh the station now, and the up train’s just about due. If you step to the window you may ketch a sight of her,’’ returns Grubbs, who has been paid in advance, and having passed through a_bitter experience, is’ just mean enough by nature to wish some of the bad luck to fall upon his employers. | Both men immediately rush to the window and hear a rumbling sound, undoubtedly made by a train in the distance. ‘How could they go without our hearing the carriage ?’’ demanded the colonel. ‘*Zere is tanbark on ze drive—it makes no noise.” ‘Quite true, sir,’? added Grubbs. ‘You speak of two—was the other a negro?” ‘Yes, a funny old chap—second Uncle Tom, but, thunder and Mars! didn’t he have nails,’? with a sympathetic hand laid on his face. ‘‘That’s Old Reuben, curse him,’’ grates Corneel. Gomichooksscom