Roxy Hastings — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

36 ROXY HASTINGS. “Well, I’ll take it. He’s as alive as you are, and soraik asleep this minute, I’ll be bound.” Rooke grasped his fellow-villain’s hand, and said, ear- nestly : “Do you speak truth now 2” *T swear it.” “T’m mighty glad on ’t. You got the money without waking him ?” “Yes, but it was touch and go. A leetle more and he’d a been done for.” “But you know I’m to have my half. It wasacheat. I can’t stand that, you know.” “T don’t want you to. I’m satisfied with half of sucha haul as that. Only keep quiet, and let it be where itis until after he’s gone.” “All right.” Charley Lee arose early, dressed, and came down stairs without learning his loss. He was gratified to find that Roxana was up, and not at her accustomed post in the kitchen, where one of the Miss Rookes was supplying her place, and was making a great commotion among the pots and kettles. Roxy was reading i in the breakfast-room, quite naturally and quietly, and the young man hastened to address her. “T may not have another opportunity to see you alone,” he said. Let me say what I wish tonow. You have done me the greatest service. Bear this always in mind, and do not feel that you are receiving any thing from me as a gift. Ihave sold half my land only, at a very large price, which is to be paid ina few days, after which I shall be able to do you justice. For the present I want you to take money enough to enab e you to prepare for your jour- ney—” Charley was fumbling nervously for his pocket-book as he spoke. ‘You are doing too much, sir, I fear. _I do not like to take money—certainly not if you are going to help mother. I could only take it to send her.” “ But clothes—a traveling dress—you may want some- thing of this kind.” ‘No; I can get along.” Lee had felt several times in every pocket by this time, and began to show decided signs of alarm.. “Excuse me a minute,” he said, ‘I must have dropped my pocket-book on the floor up stairs.” He went up, but did not return for many minutes, and Comicbooks (eco)