Under His Thumb — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIs THOME. 159 “If I give pennies to everybody that asks me I shall have enough to do,’’ he exclaimed, adding: ‘“l’ve just paid toll for one man; I must draw the - line somewhere.’ And he coolly returned the pennies to his pocket. He would have walked on, had the youngster not clung tenaciously to his arm. ‘Did you pay for that slouching chap?” Steve eagerly asked. FN eR: 2? se asked yer tor’ ‘What else did he say?”’ “That he had lost all his money, and Hee he must cross over to see his sick mother.’’ ‘*Did you swaller that yarn?’’ “Just the same as I swallow yours, sonny. So trudge along.” The man flung off the boy’s grasp impatiently, — and hastened on. Steve watched him disappear from view with a mis- chievous grin, and a moment later advanced, paid his toll with a bright new copper, and then trudged on his way in pursuit of the slouching stranger. ‘“My hand is small, and the old duffer’s pocket was big, so it wasn’t so very hard to borrow a cent, after all. I’ll give it back if I ever see him again. I ain’t no pickpocket, but I must have a penny when so much depends on it,’’ Steve remarked, with a chuckle. As yet he had seen nothing of the man of weliown he was in pursuit on tho bridge. He hastened forward lest he should lose him, after all. still the stranger did ‘not appear, and at length the lad halted and looked backward. ‘“He’s given me the slip after all,’’ he exclaimed. “No he hasn’t; he’s right here!’’ exclaimed a eruff voice so close at hand that the lad sprang backward with a startled ejaculation. He found himself face to face with the slouching figure which he had been pursuing; and before he could recoil beyond his reach, the stranger had seized the boy’s arm with no gentle | hand, Eomicbooks (E(6) mn