Roxy Hastings — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS, 165 opened the door which communicated with Charles’ room, and holding his lamp in hand, looked in. A glance showed that it was a handsomely furnished room, with a marble top bureau and tables, a large mirror and mahogany bedstead, and that there was a heavy substantial looking trunk standing near the head of the bed. He did not go in, but closed the door and took from one of his pockets a small box of wax matches, which he laid upon a table beside his lamp. He then blew out his light, and removing only his boots threw himself on the outside of the snowy counterpane, which covered Alfred’s bed. About two hours later when the house had become per- fectly silent, the strange man arose and lighted his lamp, turning the wick down so that it emitted but a feeble ray. Having made sure that his door was locked and that the window curtains were drawn, he passed with his dim light into the back room, where after similar precaution, he made a hasty examination of the room without any satis- factory results. The bureau drawers were not locked, but he found nothing in them but clothing, which he turned over carelessly, as if looking for something valuable and at the same time small and portable. He next knelt before the trunk, and putting down his light took from his coat-pocket several short pieces of wire of different thicknesses, a hooked instrument of steel, and other curious looking tools. In a short time the lock was broken, and the lid lifted, but while these things were occurring the sleepers below stairs had not been altogether undisturbed. Mrs. Lee, who had gone to sleep with her mind charged with solicitude for her lodger, was awakened even by the light steps overhead, and having roused her daughter, she requested her also to listen. “Tam sure Mr. Hartley is up,” she said, “and if so he must be worse. What shall we do?” ‘““Why, mother, there seems to be somebody walking in the back room,” replied Laura, “what can he be doing in there ?” “Perhaps he walks in his sleep, or—or that stupid girl has put him in the wrong room. He may faint away there all alone.” , | : “Oh, no, mother, he’ll certainly come down if he is ill.” “T shall put on my double gown and go up and inquire. Suppose it was my son sick among strangers.” The widow did as she had proposed. She went up stairs ( Eomicbhoo “S (ele)