Old Specie, the Treasury Detective; or, The Harbor Lights of New York — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

158 OLD SPECIE. grand closing scene of the exciting drama that was to be played for this one night only. Jack Ramsay was especially pleased, for he had conceived a terrible feeling of hatred for the uncle of Amy, and longed for the hour of his downfall to arrive. ! When the little party reached the house on Fifth avenue it was just at that hour when fashionable people were thinking of starting in their carriages for an entertaimnent, or a soiree at the mansion of a fellow member of the select four hundred. Old Specie consulted his timepiece. | It marked exactly eight forty- three. This was well within the hour set for his meeting with Caldwell. Glancing toward the house, he saw a light in the library. . ) The drawing-room was dark. Old Specie had expected this, and indeed built somewhat upon it. Quietly he marshalled his forces upon the stone landing at the top of the steps. Amy knew every inch of space beyond that mas- sive door, and once it was opened she could take Jack quietly into the dark parlor, where they could await the detective’s signal, meanwhile hearing all that transpired. The detective bent over, and with his usual skill succeeded in opening the door without much trouble in about a minute’s time. Then Jack and Amy slipped in, and the door was closed without noise. Giving them a couple of minutes to secure a hid- ing-place in the parlor, the detective took hold of the bell, which he pulled vigorously. Eomicbooks.co