Roxy Hastings — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

——— =« ROXY HASTINGS, ~ | 79 Lee had had but one interview with old Luke since the day when he came, cased in gold, and then they had dis- cussed the possibility of his smuggling into the prison a suit of citizen’s clothes, which might serve as a disguise to Alfred, if he should ever be able to get outside. Luke said that he could easily bring the garments by wearing them under his own, but in no other way, as any bundle or bas- ket which he brought would be closely scrutinized. He was instructed to do so, though there was great uncer- tainty whether there would be any opportunity to take them off unobserved by some of their guards, who, if they did not always remain in the room during the presence of visitors, were sure to look in every few minutes. The negro was expected again on the day of the drawing, of which he knew nothing, and it need not be said that the lieutenant looked for him now with greatly in- creased interest. He had been chary of having Luke come too often, lest his visits should excite some suspicion. But he need not have feared as long as he was able to pay his very liberal entrance fee. The sordid keepers looked for visits almost as anxiously as the prisoner. Luke did not disappoint his friend. His interest in the young officer was very great, nor was he altogether in- fluenced by the visions of that shower of gold which was to reward him for the liberation of the lieutenant from captiv- ity. True, it was nearly a hopeless case—perhaps utterly so—but he liked to think of it, dream of it, and imagine what he would do when that vast wealth descended upon his shoulders. Alfred met him eagerly to-day, and ina corner of the room unloaded his basket of its supplies. “What about the clothes, Luke?” he asked, aS soon as they were alone. _“T got ’em, Massa Lee—got ’em on!” replied Luke, with brightening and widely-dilated eyes. “Ef I can only git ’em off now we'll be all right.” | * Are they old or new ?” “Old, sah—second hand. I bought ’em of a Jew, and dey jes about right size for you. Dey terrible tight on me. Dere, you see.” ‘The old man unbuttoned a thin, brown Holland overcoat, and exhibited a dark dress coat of broadcloth, white on the seams, and glossy on the napless sleeves, yet well suited for the purpose for which it was wanted. Eomicboo cS co