Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

THE GIRL WHO DARED. 51 one. Live and let live has been my motto. Have you both lost your tongues? Speak!”’ They writhe in their abasement, but open not their mouths. ‘*Shame on you, for men, to war upon a girl. If you must plot and do evil, pick out those who can meet you openly. I have not been in ignorance—I suspected something of this sort when I saw Ralph Rollins climbing down from the servants’ quarters. You see I came prepared.” She holds something up; her arm comes into the flood of moonlight, and that something proves to be a short riding whip, almost as stoutly built asa cowhide. “Would you lay that on us, Miss Gypsy ?’’ whines the fellow called Rollins, a sneaking hypocrite, a canting coward and turn coat, ready to betray his best friend for money. “Tt is my nature to abhor treachery; I would sooner cut off my right hand than betray one who has befriended me. I would teach you a lesson; I mean to show you that I am mistress here, and Gypsy Gordon can punish as well as reward.’’ Bob is ready to shout ‘‘amen’’ to that; never in all his life has he run across a girl whose spirit shines out like this. Who could help admiring her—almost worshiping her? ‘“‘Have a care, miss!’’ growls the man whom she has called Amos Peterman. “‘Of what ?’’ ‘“You don’t know the men you face; you wouldn’t > dare lay that lash on me.”’ ECOMIIGcsooks (c@) im