Under His Thumb — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB, 101 “Then why were you in that locality, alone, at such an hour?’’ “T was returning from the house of a friend.”’ ‘‘Are you in the habit of being upon the street un- til the small hours of morning?’’ “No, sir. But this, sir, was a case of necessity.’’ “Can you explain the case?” She hesitated. She knew that Mr. Blain bitterly despised her vagabond father. But in no other way could she clear herself from the dreadful suspicions — which the singular circumstances had woven about — her, than by stating her true reasons for visiting so unwholesome a locality at the hour of midnight. So she briefly told her story, trusting to the integ- rity of her employer, whom she had reason to regard. as an honorable gentleman. ‘So you were looking after that vagabond father of yours, were you?’’ Mr. Blain exclaimed, in a se- vere tone. BWass SIPC **Are you in the habit of doing this?’’ “Trender him aid whenever it is in my power to do so.” ‘‘Do you think he deserves it?’’ “I know he is worthy in spite of his failings.’’ “Evidently you have inherited from him the vicious characteristics which have made him what he is. Carl Brandon is a scoundrel, girl, nothing more nor less. Do you know who is suspected of yester- day’s crime—the murder of my partner?” “Not Carl Brandon—he is not guilty !’’ Stella cried, forgetting her own troubles in her anxiety for the vagabond whom she knew, at least, was not so evil as most people thought him to be. “Of course he is, and he will be proven guilty, too. Eomicbooks €o m