The Opposite House: A Novel — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXII. IN THE MILL. “Look alive with your work!” ordered Inspector Lohfeld, swinging his hammer, with an eager glance around him. ‘“ Here, Josef, hand me up the fine needles; choose the thickest bunches, and bind them by twos, with young oak-leaves between or sprigs from yonder holly-tree. Zounds! This will be a splendid welcome!” And he again dealt a few vigorous blows to drive the nails through the green boughs on the door-posts; then, shading his eyes with his hand, he drew back to enjoy the whole effect. He scanned with evident satisfaction the gayly-painted shield bearing the inscription shining in the huge wreath. Lohfeld himself had wielded the brush to paint the ‘‘ Welcome” for his young master. It was difficult work for the un- trained fingers, but he finally accomplished it, and now the interlaced letters gazed down at him like a record of immortal fame. (233] Comiclboolk<s C@