Under His Thumb — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

-_—— UNDER HIS THUMB. | 117 ‘“Didn’t I? Whatcher want of me, anyhow??’’ “Tell me what you were doing at this time of night in my building—the printing-house?”’ “I went there looking for something.’’ ‘Who told you to do so?”’ ““Mr. Croly, the detective.’’ “Tf he had any business of that kind to perform why didn’t he do it himself?’’ ‘‘He had somethin’ else on his hands, I s’pose.’’ ‘‘He has employed you as a spy, has he?’’ ‘“‘T dunno as that’s exactly what I am.?’’ , “Yes, itis; you’re a spy, hired to watch my busi- ness. I want you to understand that I will not al- low it.’’ ‘Don’t you want to catch the chap that killed Mr. Waldron?’’ “Certainly Ido, and there are detectives on the case who will attend to it. But you are in my em- ploy—an apprentice in my establishment.’’ “Mr. Croly wanted me to help him, sir.’’ “Mr. Croly doesn’t own you nor my building. I can’t trust boys prowling around the premises at night. J’ll have a big fire to pay for, or something of that kind. Do you hear?’’ **T hear well *nough.’’ **And you will obey?”’ “I can’t say about that.’’ **You can’t say, eh?’’ ‘Not till I see Mr. Croly.’’ ‘Mr. Croly is out o# the question, I tell you.” **Not when he’s hired me.’’ ‘“You are my apprentice.”’ ‘17m his’n too.’” ‘I. hired you first.’’ “I guess not, mister. Your partner took me in, — (E(0) m Eomicbooks