Old Specie, the Treasury Detective; or, The Harbor Lights of New York — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

170 OLD. SPECIE. “The same as Grant’s at Donelson.”’ “What?” ‘Unconditional surrender.’’ ‘“But you have a price.’’ “Where would you put 1t?’’ ‘Would ten thousand do the business?’’ ‘Double it.’’ ‘*T will do so.’’ ‘‘Now treble that. ’’ “Confusion! man, I cannot. Let me think before you decide. It would ruinme. That means sixty thousand dollars.’’ | “Tt is allthe same. I would not take it.”’ “You will not be bought?’’ ‘““My price is above your reach.’’ ‘“What do you intend to do?’’ Little by little the shapely white hand of the ad- venturer steals toward the partly open drawer of the library table. Old Specie sees it, but makes no move to betray the fact. He knows full well what is coming, and even takes inward delight in the confusion that must | naturally overwhelm the other when the denoue- ment comes and leaves him stranded. “I mean to drive a hard bargain with you, my in- teresting schemer, or hunt you down to your fate. Already you suspect that my engagement with Ben Bolt was not in the nature of an accident, and in that you believe truly.’”’ “You sought him out?” he gasps, and the moving hand has now reached the drawer. ‘I did. You may Eves my motive when I tell you who I am.’’ ‘Yes, Lam anxious to know.”’’ ‘*We have met before, August Delmar.” Gomichboo cS (Elo) =