Under His Thumb — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

—_— me: UNDER HIS THUMB. | The animal bounded directly toward them, and his lank, wet body came in contact with Stella’s hand. She patted his head fearlessly, saying: ‘“We have nothing to fear from the beast, Katie.”’ “But his master may not be so kind.”’’ ‘“‘And he may be kinder. At least we can again flee if it comes to that.” “Or we can fight, to be sure. Haven’t I got a pis- tol? And I can use it, too.” tHark.’’ | The sound of human footsteps approached. Peer- ing out into the darkness, only the swaying branches of the trees were visible. But a voice, crisp and dis- tinct, called out: ‘““Nero, where are you?”’ Stella caught the hand of her friend in sudden ter- ror. ‘“‘T have heard that voice before,’’ she breathlessly whispered. “Who is 1t?”’ ‘‘I—I cannot think.’’ ‘It isn’t the detective, Croly?’’ PeNiG.?? ‘‘Nor a policeman that you have spoken with?”’ “T think not. And yet how familiar the voice sounds !’’ The dog, for some reason, did not obey the man’s call. He crouched close to the girls, and did not stir. ‘Where is the hound?”’ impatiently exclaimed the voice from the darkness. Then the footsteps approached, and the girls dimly saw a man’s figure cautiously advancing. ‘“Shall we flee?’’ Katie asked, in the ear of her friend, comicbooks n —/_ oo” 2 ees ee we ae ify. e's ne} .