The Twin Detectives; or, The Robbers of the Tomb — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

| 48 THE TWIN DETECTIVES. «<Can’t I speak to a pretty girl?” he asked, evasively. ‘“Yes, you can, but not to pay her such very marked attention.” ‘©Why not?” he asked, defiantly. <¢ Because she is not your equal.” «< My equal! Ishould think she was my superior. Any , honest woman’s child is.” She grew white to the lips at the bitter insult. ‘You forget yourself strangely, Mr. Hall,” she said, with a certain kind of dignity. ‘‘ You forget that you are per- fectly dependent on me for the success of your schemes. Yes, and for the very means of existence.” He flashed a look on her that would have been enough to make a timid woman tremble. ««What do you mean?” he asked, in a fierce whisper. «Just what I say. When we land in New York, a short telegram to Montrose Hall will settle you pretty effectually.” “What?” he demanded, grasping her arm. “Take your hands off me! You cannot frighten me, though you have vileness enough in you to make even mur- der easy to you.” ‘Murder! Why, mother, what do you mean?” His tone had changed very suddenly, but his face was dark as ever. 7 | ““T mean what I say. I know you, Archy. You are an unnatural son—a cruel, bad, worthlessman! Iam not with _ you in this business for love of you.” ‘‘] know it; you have no love for me,” he said, sullenly. “You are right; I have not; but I hate Cuthbert, and I am determined to be revenged on him, and on his father, and yours.” The resemblance between mother and son was great now, and the fierce fire that burned in their dark, gloomy eyes _ was the same fire—lit by hatred and the dreadful desire for vengeance. (E(0) = Gomicbooks m