Roxy Hastings — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

178 ROXY HASTINGS. “Tm gure I’m as glad as you are,” the widow replied, - wiping her eyes, ‘and I hope you'll prove to be right, but—” “Why, mother—don’t you suppose Mrs. Eldon knows her own son ?” | “Yes, yes, of course; what did I say?. I’m really sO confused by all this that I can’t make it out. Who is this man? How did he know all about Louis and Alfred, and the escape, so as to pass himself off for my son’s friend and preserver ?” “How is it, man?” asked Ross, who had been informed of the main points in the story. ‘‘Makeaclean breast of it now. It will be the better for you.” . “T got it from the nigger,” said the fellow, with a half laugh. “From whom ?” “The nigger—old Luke that helped him off. I heard him tell the story lots o’ times, and when he told me that him and the leftenant was goin’ travelin’, I thought it would be a good time to try it on.” ‘But how did you know that my son Charles was ab- sent ?” ‘‘T didn’t know anything about that. That was all ac- cident. I should ha’ come jest the same if he’d been to hum.” On further questioning it appeared that the man was a discharged soldier (or deserter, as Ross guessed), and that he had not expected to get very much, but finding the grateful ladies easy victims, he had returned again and again, until the idea of robbing the house occurred to him, and was carried into effect, as has been seen. He tried to bargain for immunity from prosecution by offering to bring back the greater part of the money which he had obtained from the ladies, but this, of course, they could not agree to, and he was taken back to jail. It may as well be said of him now that he was subsequently tried, and proving to be an old offender, was sent to Sing Sing for ten years. Before the policemen left the house Major Todd, whose joy over the recovered box was immeasurable, compelled Binney to accept a substantial reward, and assured him that when Charley came home he might expect to have it increased. The gratitude which Mrs. Lee and Laura had so mis- takenly bestowed on the swindler and impostor they could now lavish without stint on dear Mrs, Eldon, whom they Eomicbooks (ele)