Roxy Hastings — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS. | 65 him, a passenger in another peddler’s wagon, and with fell intent. But he by no means designed to commit an open and high-handed robbery, for his detection and punishment would be sure to follow, unless he added murder to the minor offense, which he was not prepared to do for spoils of so uncertan value. His forte was trickery, and he hoped to juggle the treas- re out of the carrier’s hands without endangering his own safety. The mulatto and his companion came up with the old man about a mile outside the city, and as they passed him at a clattering rate, Shem leaned over toward Luke’s cart and peered closely at its occupant, as if to make sure of his identity. * Dat you, Shem?” asked the fruit-peddler. “Yes. Good-night, old boy.” “Mighty good-natured all at wonst,” muttered the tremb- ling man. “I don’t know about dat ar. Dat ain’t like Shem. He drefful surly.” Shem drove on into the darkness, and soon left Luke out of sight. When he and Mose were some sixty rods ahead of old Whitey they stopped and both alighted. “Quick now, Mose; dis yer wheel,” said Shem, and while one raised the hinder part of the wagon the other knocked out the lynch-pin, and took off the wheel. They then let down the corner of the vehicle, and Mose, by his comrade’s directions, sat down on the side of the road. “We git dat bundle now jis as easy as nuffin,” said Shem, ‘‘and I know it’s wort’ a good deal; ’cause what for should Doctor Pickard talk so long about it, and ole Luke be so scary about it? You’ll see.” Luke came on, and as soon as he approached nigh the wrecked wagon the mulatto advanced to meet him. “ Hullo, Luke,” he said; ‘“we’ve had a break-down, and Mose is awfully hurt.~ You come and help me git de wheel on and git him back in de wagon, will yer? I tink he’s broke his leg.” “Oh, yes, sartain; I’ll do dat ar,” replied the old man, readily, and stopping his horse he clambered out and went forward with Shem. While he was inquiring of Mose about his hurts and con- doting with him, Shem slipped back to the cart—for it was almost totally dark—and quickly thrust his arm into the basket where the treasure had been deposited. There was a quantity of straw, and under it nothing. Baffled, but not despairing, he rapidly felt over every Eomicbhoo gS) (el)