The Twin Detectives; or, The Robbers of the Tomb — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

THE TWIN DETECTIVES. — 17 A sporting man, evidently fresh from some race-course. He stood on the platform and saw the steward emerge from the carriage, and look anxiously about him. The cross old man was not there. He had told the truth when he said his journey was over. McLean hailed a cab and got in. The sporting man fol- lowed his example. | _ ** Follow that cab,” he said to the driver. ‘‘ Keep it well in sight, but do not come up with it. In case it stops stop also, but not too near. Ido not want to alarm the party in- side.” “All right, sir,” replied the man, readily. He comprehended the situation. They rolled off through the busy streets. Surely this was a strange locality for such a respectable man as Malcolm McLean to seek! Endell street, St. Giles. The resort of burglars, pick- pockets, counterfeiters, and criminals of all kinds. The coachman drew up. ‘¢ He’s a-goin’ into Short’s Garden, sir,” he said. —s_ ‘‘ All right. You may go.” Short’s Garden is an alley opening on Endell street; its character is notorious. It is the hiding-place of the most desperate wretches of both sexes in the city of London. Murders have been committed there in broad daylight, and the police will not venture into its unhallowed precincts except in strong force. Being a cul de sac, there was no egress except on Endell street, and the unwary stranger is warned by the officers stationed there to flee from the locality. The eminently respectable Scottish steward dismissed his cab, and walked into the evil-smelling and ill-favored alley, as if he was familiar with it. He was followed by Bob Brierly, in his disguise of a- sport. comicbool ‘Ss