Old Specie, the Treasury Detective; or, The Harbor Lights of New York — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

94 | OLD SPECIE. He had taken a good look at the party who en- tered the store, so that he might know him again when the time came. | This worthy was now before him—the single thread in the line that must lead him to the solu- tion of the mystery. He would not lightly lose sight of him. In two minutes he had learned that the man with the flaming eyes was called Ben Bolt. He had been a sailor, but went to sea no more, having some more profitable job on shore. Old Specie could guess what it was. He spent just ten minutes more, and at the end of that time was talking with the man. | Knowing how to become confidential, he soon let Ben Bolt understand that he was in need of a job, and not over particular about its nature, so long as it proved profitable. The man eyed him reflectively, and stroked his chin in a meditative manner. “T don’t know why you wouldn’t do for the job © the boss has on his hands, partner.”’ ‘Why not? Is there money in it?” ‘“‘“He always pays well. Besides, comrade, it may lead to something better.” | “Then count mé in.”’ The detective understood the deep significance of those words far better than Ben Bolt ever dreamed he did. An appointment was made to meet the boss on the next night in this place. Old Specie never rushed things, In a great case like this caution was necessary in order to excite no alarm in the Tainds of Wose he hunted, comicbooks.