Old Specie, the Treasury Detective; or, The Harbor Lights of New York — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

OLD SPECIE.” . 439 Snyder was always armed. Moreover, he had spent some years of his check- ered career in Texas. There he had learned to draw a revolver with lightning rapidity, and even shoot through the side pecket of a sack coat. Taken in all, he was a dangerous customer, and one to be handled with a great deal of care. Old Specie had no fears. It really tickled him to take hold of such a man and land him where he belonged. He soon had his plans arranged. Then he left the gentleman’s house. Within twenty minutes he had a man with him, | heading for his rooms. This party was one whom he knew well—a HOP Hy in the government service. He would serve the detective well. They soon reached the place Old Specie kept as his quarters when in New York. Here he had facilities for all disguises. He was an expert at this. Every appliance known to modern Baghinnaes was found here. This, in a measure, accounted for his wonderful success in deceiving those whom he was in the habit of hunting. Under the skillful manipulation of his nimble fingers the changes were soon made. He himself represented a spruce-looking citizen, with a book and lantern—an employe of a gas com- pany making his rounds to look into the state of the meters. The other—John Bailey by narme-—hag the look of a genuine tramp beggar. Gomichoo cS (E(0) =|