Under His Thumb — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB. | 149 ‘It doesn’t appear to be early for you.”’ The young man averted his face, and seemed on the point of entering the house. At the same time the Hindoo, having nodded in recognition of his ri- val, turned to depart. Croly, stepping between them, niickie placed a hand upon the arm of each. ‘*Do I interrupt an interview?’’ he questioned. “We had finished,’’ Hyjah quietly replied. And he added: ‘‘Pardon me if I leave you, as I am in great haste.”’ He descended the steps, while Croly turned to the young man, saying: ‘Then it is my turn; so you need not go in.’’ ‘What can I do for you, sir?’? Clarence Blain coldly inquired, recalling the summary treatment that he had received at the hands of this slender, wiry man upon a former occasion. “You can give me some very valuable informa- tion, if you will,’’ Croly declared. “I may not ahoase to do so, if I can.’’ “You may not act wholly ecard to choice in the matter, young man. Upon another occasion, if I remember rightly, you desisted from persecuting a young lady somewhat before you chose to do so. Do you remember it?’’ ‘You meddled with that which did not concern you, sir.’’ ‘That is all right.’’ Croly’s eyes gleamed from behind his spectacles in a way that made the young man feel very un- comfortable. The detective continued, in a milder tone, how- ever. ‘Of course, 1 am seeking information only con-_ Eomicbooks m (Ef)