A Silver Brand — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND, | 99 lain—doubly-dyed traitor! Answer for this to me. I tell you, you shall answer it all to me, now, here, or I will kill you where you stand. How came you in correspondence with Von Schubert, and that royal villain, his master?” “How came you by my private letters” returned Nat, as fiercely, but the color had all faded away © from his face, and his lips were cold and white. “IT was listening to the girl’s musical voice, and playing idly with the nails that stud your writing- | desk. _Unconsciously I had pushed it from the table, and it tottered and fell. I caught it hastily - only afraid lest the noise should betray my hiding- place, and somehow—lI cannot tell how, I could not do it again—but somehow the secret spring was touched, and the lid flew open, the papers dropping to the floor. I picked them up, carelessly returning them to their place. I recognized my father’s writing, but I was little enough prepared to see these. Traitor! villain! you have been playing with both sides. You have cheated me. You have wormed our plans out of me, and already, I dare- say, they are on their way to Von Schubert. But it shall cost you dear. I tell youl will have a plain explanation now. You are-at my mercy here, how- ever it may be with my poor father.” Speak, confess the full sum of your treacherous villainy !” He caught up Nat’s rifle, which stood leaning against its stand in that corner of the room, and pointed it full at its master’s forehead. “Rash boy, put down that dangerous weapon!” cried Nat, authoritatively. | “Tam no boy!” returned the other, hotly. “Iam aman, andlam here to represent a great and im- portant interest. And you have cheated and cajoled me. Give me some explanation, or I will fire.” “Stephano, you mean rightly, but you are very foolish and absurd. Shoot, if you like, but you thus extinguish the only hope of your father’s release and future prosperity.” | And Nat folded his arms and faced his fiery young foe with a cool, calm smile. | The gun was slowly lowered, “S comicboo com ~