Old Specie, the Treasury Detective; or, The Harbor Lights of New York — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

32 OLD SPECIE. He knew what it meant. This was the boat of the harbor police. The vigilant officers were making their customary . round along the wharves. “Tf I leave go here, I’ll float away, gentlemen,”’ said the supposed river thief. ‘Seize hold of the boat, Mike.”’ The police patrol boat came forward and bumped into the craft of the detective. ‘““Now, come aboard, you sneaking rascal. What has he in the boat, Mike?’’ ‘A lot of plunder.”’ ‘‘Aboard here, my fine fellow.”’ Old Specie was half inclined to obey and carry out the joke to the end, but he desired to finish the work he had undertaken. “Captain, don’t make a fool of yourself.’’ “Kh! what, you impudent devil——”’ ‘“‘Remember Royal Sec and Coney Island, my dear captain.’ ‘‘Confusion! here, give me that light.’’ He threw the penetrating glare full in the face of the detective, who winked at him. ‘‘Bless my soul, what are you doing here?’’ “Hunting ducks.”’ ““Who’d expect——”’ “Say no more, captain. Mum’s the word.”’ ‘‘No, it’s Royal Sec, you mean.’’ — “Fairly caught and extra dry. Now, kindly move along and leave me to my love.”’ “But you will shake hands?”’ | “Willingly, but how is it with you? Look!’’ and he held up the blackest paws ever seen outside of negro land. Gomicbooks.¢o