Under His Thumb — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB. 115 and in another moment was opening the door of his lodging-house with his latch-key. As the door swung open a hand seized him from behind, and drew him backward, while a gruff voice said: ae on, Steve Lawton—l’ve got Riatrane with you.”’ He turned, and to his dismay encountered the cool gaze of a big policeman. ‘“Knock my form into pi if I ain’t in for it now,” was the young typo’s mental exclamation. Aloud he only asked: “What yer want?’’ ‘“l want you.’’ ‘“T haven’t done anything.”’ ‘‘Perhaps not, and perhaps you have. We’ll soon find out.’’ | The officer dragged Steve away from the house without more ado. There was a police-station close | at hand, and the boy expected to be taken thither. He naturally supposed that some one had seen him enter and come forth from the printing-house, and suspecting something to be wrong, entered a com- plaint. | Steve was debating with himself whether it was _ not best to explain to the officer, when the latter suddenly halted him beside a carriage that seemed to have been standing in waiting for them. Then the lad decided to await further developments be- fore explaining. ‘Tumble in, boy, and we’ll take a little ride,”’ the policeman ordered. He pushed Steve into the carriage, and followed himself, and the vehicle rattled away over the pave- ments. Eomichbooks (E(6) m