Roxy Hastings — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

ROMY HASTINGS, oh eT listened in great suspense for the steps of the dreaded guard. He heard him pacing the hall, and trembled as he stopped now and then at the door, though it was only to turn and resume his walk. But ere the frightened and fumbling negro had quite suc- ceeded in getting off his double suit, and while he was al- most in a nude state, the terror-inspiring man suddenly opened the door and walked in. “ Ain’t that old boy most ready ?” he said. “Oh, yes, in a few minutes. But I want to say a word to you,” added Alfred, shaking a couple of double eagles to- gether in his hands and purposely exposing them to view. “I’ve been looking for you.” “Well, whatis it? What are them fellows all huddled up there for ?” “Oh, they’re after cigars out of old Luke’s basket. Let them smoke if they want to.” There was certainly smoke enough at the far end of the room to make Lee’s assertion probable, and the guard was himself puffing at one of a lot of choice Havanas with which Alfred kept him supplied. “What is it then you want?” asked the man, gruffly. “Please to come this way a little,” said the heutenant, walking toward the windows which were in the rear, Luke and his supposed customers being in the opposite end of the room. “T don’t want them to hear what I have to say,” contin- ued the young man. “But don’t yer go to offer to bribe me, sir,” said Hess, with affected sternness, while his eyes were fairly glued to the yellow coin. Paper “Bribe you! You may tell President Davis himself what I say to you if you want to.” | “Oh, very well—go on, then.” His virtue was already appeased. | “Tn the first place, I want to know where I am to be confined when [ am taken from here.” “Down stairs—in a small room under here—a great deal stronger than this—cross-bars over the windows, and all that.” “T.ooks out into the same yard, eh?” “Yes—do you like the view ?” | “Well, I’ve seen finer,” replied Alf, laughing, as he looked into the dirty yard, surrounded by a high board fence, and saw the gleam of the sentry’s bayonet as he paced to and fro on his endless round. “S (E(e) Eomicboo