Under His Thumb — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

- 132 UNDER HIS THUMB. scowling glance, and then closed the door with a bang without vouchsafing a word. | ‘We must walk up to my cousin’s house in spite of the storm, for they don’t have any cabs in this out- of-the-way place,’ said Katie, when they had wrapped themselves in their waterproofs and re- turned to the depot platform. ‘“‘How far have we to go?’’ Stella asked, as they found their way to the muddy road. “It is half a mile up to the village, and we'll be drowned in the mud before we get there, at this rate.”’ There were trees upon both sides of the lonely road, and the way was intensely dark. Still, they picked their way, under the pouring rain and gusty wind. Suddenly Stella laid her hand warningly on ee arm of her friend. ‘There is some one behind us!’’ she exclaimed. A heavy tramp, tramp had become audible at the © moment, and they could discern a slouching figure coming toward them. | ‘‘Likely it is the depot master,’’ said Katie. Yet, even as she spoke, she was convinced that her conjecture was not true. They involuntarily quickened their footsteps. And. the slouching figure in their rear followed their ex- ample. ‘Oh, let us run—run!’’ Stella whispered, ‘seized with a sudden, overwhelming fear. Clasping hands they began running up the ascent, the rain beating in their faces, their feet sinking in the soft mud at every step. Then their worst suspicions were confirmed; for cComicbooks.co x