Old Specie, the Treasury Detective; or, The Harbor Lights of New York — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

178 : OLD SPECIE. double construction here—he takes the words liter- ally. Again a hollow groan breaks from his lips, and he seems utterly dejected. “Then I’m in forit. I suppose I must stand the racket like a man, but it comes hard. The worst of it is the girl does not live to benefit by my downfall. That is cruel.’’ “While I was in the tomb, who should come upon the scene but Ben bolt.’’ ‘‘Ha! bent on the same errand as yourself?’’ “Exactly. I heard him cough, and guessed his identity before he came in sight. An idea seized upon me. The lid of the casket was loose. I man- aged to work my length into the box, and drew the lid over me. ‘Presently Ben came in, made some remark at finding the lid loose, and pulled | it. off. You can imagine his astonishment at seeing me. “We had a pleasant chat, and I gave him his orders, for he soon realized that I was his leader, and had him well in hand. “It was arranged between us that we should de- ceive you, and when the time,came demand a big price for silence in the matter.’’ While the detective speaks, a light appears on the | face of the man in the toils, a cunning look that tells of a new-born hope. “Ah! you. got into the coffin yourself?’’ Vas Old Specie knows what is coming, but he does not betray the fact, desiring that the other shall get al} the, glory out of it he can. “You pulled the lid over yout Pay ‘So I said.” comicboo cS cor