Under His Thumb — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

108 UNDER HIS THUMB. ance, however, for he instantly regarded the detec- tive with a look of intense apprehension. “Can you read my thoughts: ?’? he demanded, in a husky tone. “Yes, very plainly. Of course, all thine are not clear. They never are to professional mind-readers. But if you state a falsehood I know it at once. So beware.”’ “Tl own up, mister,’”? Spider declared, with an eagerness which was unfeipned. Croly believed that he was now on the eve of ob- taining an important confession. But he kept per- fectly cool. He must not allow the dwarf to distrust his power to discern truth from falsehood. “Tf you have anything to say, don’t keep me wait- ing,’ said the detective, gazing fixedly into the strange being’s face. | ‘‘Carl Brandon never did me a favor. Lam no friend of his, either. But I didn’t want you to catch him.”’ ‘So I thought: And why did you wish him to es- cape?’’ “So as to earn some money.”’ ‘Somebody pays you to help Carl Brandon to es- cape, I suppose?’’ ‘That is it.’ “Who pays you?’’ ‘TI don’t know.?’’ “You don’t know?’’ “T don’t, honest. I’ll tell you how it happened. You believe what I say, don’t you?’’ ‘TI believe all that is true. But remember that I can detect a lie the instant it passes your lips. Your face will tell me, if your lips donot, Your face | is very easy to read.’’ i Py wa + ~~ 4 ; ® a ‘ eee % a a “= comicbooks.co Aa 4s 9. eG