Ruby's Reward — page 291: what you’re looking at

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

But she said quite calmly, and as if she were will- ing to be helpful: “Let me go and ask Mrs. Coxon for a amall lamp so that you can examine the place more thoroughly. Perhaps you may find something.” He turned and looked at her sharply, alinost threat- eningly. The almost unconscious emphasis which oe had put upon the pronoun made him suspect er. She saw it, and gazed steadily back at him. “Oh, no; pray do not trouble yourself,” he said, after a moment, ‘and do not worry about the desk. There is no special damage done to it, The glue had become old and the panel warped, 80 that it is not strange it zave way when you pressed.against it.” Still, as if not satisfied even yet, he reached down again into the hole and felt all about very carefully. ‘He knew it was the very place where the will ought to be unless some one had removed it, and he was growing very much disturbed not to find any traces of it; but he only drew forth some cobwebs and dust, at which he looked exceedingly disgusted and annoyed. He arose, pushed the desk back to its place, and then sat down by the grate, looking moody and thoughtful, Ruby picked up her book, seated herself by the table, and began to read again, hoping he would soon take his leave, and then, after Estelle should retire, she could regain possession of the important document. But Mr. Carpenter evidently was in no hurry to go. He soon began to talk to Mrs. Gordon, and kept her engaged in conversation for some time; but Ruby was sure, though she did not once look up at him, that he was watching her intently. The clock struck ten, then the half hour, and still the master of Forestvale sat on. Ruby began to grow very nervous, and wished now that she had concealed the will about Sg ioe moo then she could have slipped oe up tc er, LOOM and felt perfectly safe aboutit. _ pooksicom