Under His Thumb — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB. | 103 CHAPTER XIV. THE FUGITIVE AGAIN. The dark, oval object protruding over the edge of the flat roof, which Croly saw making a movement, was the head of a human being. Of this the detective was instantly convinced; and with his usual promptness of action he sprang to the fire-escape ladder that hung upon vhat side of the building. He scaled the ladder with lightning-like rapidity, clambered upon the flat roof, and was in time to see a small, agile figure drop through an open sky-light. The building was an old-fashioned affair, and there were several of these windows in the roof, which served to admit light and air tothe small, close rooms below. Croly sprang to the sky-light, and was in time to prevent its being closed by the person who had dropped through. He instantly raised it, and with only a hasty glance down into the room below, he leaped through the opening. The room was lighted by a single gas-jet, turned very low. It had only one door. And the being of whom the detective was in pursuit was hastily try- ing to unlock and open this door. But for some reason the key refused to turn; and the fugitive, with a low, defiant cry, turned upon his pursuer. Croly’s gaze fell upon a dwarfish figure, possessing long arms and short legs, and a small, astute face. The detective had seen this being before, and upon rm L- Eomicboo ‘S €oO m