Under His Thumb — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB. 113 : “Vou were, eh? Well, I guess that is rather thin. You were in the building when I started her. You were prowling around, for 1 heard you some time ago—or heard somebody.” The watchman looked other at the boy. But the latter did not flinch. “I came in on busines norehods sent me here that had a right to. Itis all correct, so don’t look savage. I guess you were asleep, or you’d have known there was something going on here. There were two men prowlin’ overhead; I heard ’em talkin’.’’ The watchman was interested at once. The fact was, he had felt a trifle nervous on account of the murderin the counting-room, and had, consequently, shrunk from visiting that part of the building, as it was his duty to do at least once every hour. ‘‘Honor bright, Steve, did you hear somebody talk- ing up-stairs?’’ the man eagerly asked. ‘Sure as I live, I did.” ‘*Did you see ’em??’’ ~ **How could I see ’em in the dark??? Steve had put his lantern out of sight, so this bit of deception passed unquestioned. “That’s so, Steve; you couldn’t. I fancied I heard voices awhile ago, but being nervous on account of the—the murder, I didn’t like to investigate. Thought | it was my imagination, you see. You won’t say nothing about it?’’ “Pll keep mum, if you will.”’ ‘‘About your being here?’’ “Yes. I was sent here to find out something by a detective. You mustn’t say anything about that, either. I merely tell you, so you won’t think I was prowlin’ ’round for any mischief,” Gomichbooks (E(0) am