Under His Thumb — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

166 UNDER HIS THUMB. She pushed him quickly from her, impetuously — crying: ‘Then you do not know.” | ) “TI do know.”’ | Geet ‘Why do you refuse to tell?” “Because [ dare not disclose the truth.‘ “You dare not?”’ “Yes, ”’ “Then you are a coward. That is why you fled as soon as the authorities began to investigate the mys- tery—because you were a coward.”’ “You do not understand, Stella. I am in a ter- | rible situation, and in which it is not easy to say what is duty. If you would only be more friendly I would tell you all, and act upon your advice, for you are interested as well as I, you may be sure of that.” “T can tell you what to do. If the one implicated is near and dear to you, shield him, though that may not be the highest form of duty. But the public is so blood-thirsty that it does not always do a criminal justice. So I would shield one whom I loved at any cost. But, otherwise, expose the miscreant. That is your duty.” | ‘You are braver than I.’’ ‘*T trust I am.’’ ‘‘T have half a mind to confide in you, Stella.’’ “Tf the secret is yours I should not keep it.’’ ‘““T say it is yours also.”’ | “Then tell me, as I have urged you to do.” The young man hesitated, glancing furtively out into the darkness that so densely surrounded the hut. Then he bent toward the girl and quickly ex- claimed: age “Listen, Stella—I will tell you all I know concern- ing the printing-house tragedy.” Stella Brandon could not wholly restrain the eagerness which she felt to hear the revelation, for she instinctively felt that the young man really in- tended making her his confidante. His weak, waver- ing nature had yielded to hers, which was so strong — and resolute. ‘Katie, stand back—what he has to say is for my : Jar? 4. 2 ¢ ‘ - Jf > ~~ = FY; ‘. of *comicbooks.co 7 ieee