Old Specie, the Treasury Detective; or, The Harbor Lights of New York — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

142 OLD SPECIE. Old Specie looked up. ‘“Ah! waked you at last, eh?’’ “Ves. Now clear out.’’ ‘Clear out?”’ “That’s what I said.’’ ‘*Not much.”’ “You won’t?’’ ‘That ain’t my business. I’m here to get in.’’ “Then walk through the key-hole.”’ ‘Not this time. Come down and open the door, there’s a good fellow.”’ “What d’ye want, anyway?’’ The detective was playing for a little time. He held up the lantern and book. ‘‘l’m a gas man.’’ ‘Glad to know it.’’ “T want to examine your meter.”’ *Can’t do it.”’ “Why not?’’ ‘*Ain’t got any in the house.”’ ‘‘Nonsense. I’ve got your number down, and marked defective, too.’’ “Oh, get out, Come again later, when a fellow ain’t sleepy.”’ ‘‘No, I was sent here to examine this meter. Are you going to open the door?”’ ‘“When I find time.’’ ‘*T’]l save you the trouble.’’ The detective had dextrously Aiaieca the lock be- fore he rang the bell. Hence he had the door really ajar at the time he was speaking. Allit required was a push, and he was in the house. | He heard a savage oath above. Gomicbooks.¢o =}