Under His Thumb — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB. 137 As he neared them, who should he see but the nae himself running toward him as if for dear life, Bue hotly pursued by a policeman. “Gracious, ain’t I glad yer happened along ’bout ~ now!’’ the lad panted, halting at the detective’s side, and quickly facing his pursuer, who hastened up to * them flourishing his club. : ‘Don’t yer touch me, ’less yer wants a broken head !’”’ Steve exclaimed, defiantly facing the officer. ‘I don’t think I shall be frightened by a boy,’’ de- clared the policeman, reaching out to seize the youngster. ‘*You will let him alone,all the same, until you tell me-what you intend to do with him,’ the low, mild tones of the detective interposed. “What have you to do with the affair?’ the police- man demanded. ‘Nothing, except that I shall protect the boy.” ‘Rather cool, aren’t you, to dispute the authority of an officer?”’ ‘‘Perhaps I am, but I shall take the risk. Iam just about as much of an officer as you are, and I have a few grains of authority when it becomes necessary to useit. What has this lad been doing?’ ‘‘He broke a gentleman’s window—was playing thief, I suppose.’’ ‘*“Whose window did he break ?’’ “Mr. Julian Blain’s.’’ ‘Ah! possibly he did. What have you to say, . Steve?”’ The boy briefly stated the facts as they are already known to the reader. When he explained the clever ruse by which he had escaped from the gentleman’s mansion, Croly smiled approvingly. “You'll do, my boy,’’ he said, and Steve felt that _ Eomicbooks €oO m