Under His Thumb — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

174 UNDER HIS THUMB. Hindoo scoffs at. We'll see whether the murderer | of Hiram Waldron falls under his thumb or mine.”’ pe The detective hastened to his own private quarters. © But he did not reach them far in advance of the | dwarfish being known as Spider, whom he had once before encountered under such peculiar circumstan- | ces. w—— eS CHAPTER XXIV. THE SHADOW OF A CONSPIRACY. Croly, the detective, having arrived at his private — room, seated himself at the table where so man unique curiosities and criminal clews were collected. Then he produced the wax impression of Julian Blain’s thumb, which he had obtained in such a clever manner. } This impression he placed upon a small tablet of eray marble; and by its side he deposited the piece of window sash which bore the bloody print of the murderer’s thumb. For several minutes he looked at them carefully. As he did so his face flushed with excitement, and he bent over them with eager interest. The impressions were exactly alike in size and shape. So much was distinguishable at a glance. And it was also plain that the lines were similar, if — not the same in detail. Exactness in this particular could not be attained by asuperficial or hasty examination. They must be compared line by line through a microscope. _ Before proceeding to do this, the detective took from a drawer another wax impression, and placed it upon the marble tablet beside the others. This was of his own thumb, taken long ago, and used many times before in comparison with others.» . Between this and the other impressions there was but slight difference as to the size or contour. But the naked eye revealed a marked variation in the lines—so marked that even an unscientific eye must detect the difference. 7 | a: “They’re not all alike, so much is certain,’ Croly — > ~ : “, a « - _ 4 ~ . tay se . 5 oe - comicbooks.com. c <<? ty a “hy . ee ~ ~ tall - aa - - a) a" - 6536" 3 Sree | % ‘ = = eae