Under His Thumb — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB. 7 175 said, in a low voice. “It remains to be proven | whether they are all unlike. And to test the relia- bility of this clew, I must pit it against the marvel- ous skill of Hyjah, the Hindoo. For that he is the _ most skillful detective living, I have not a doubt. If I win in this case—and I have scarce a hope of doing so—I shall still declare that the Hindoo is the shrewdest officer in the world. Mysteries simply dissolve under his efforts. He can seem to see through walls, read men’s thoughts—do all those things which we know to be impossible to a human being. Yet he has only natural powers, matured and perfected by training. I am young and love my profession. Should I succeed in this case, and he fail, then it will show that he is not infallible, and that there .is hope of my becoming his equal. Time will tell.’’ Croly’s wonderful eyes glowed behind his specta- cles with the fire of ambitious resolve. He looked then as invincible as the Hindoo himself. The truth — was, in his modesty, he underrated his own natural powers. which, in the mystérious case which he was now working out against a great rival, were being developed with marvelous rapidity. He next took from its case a large microscope, the lenses of which were of great power. Still he hesitated, as though fearing that a further examina- tion might dissolve all his hopes of making a success- ful solution of the great mystery. As he at length adjusted the microscope, and bent over the clew to complete his examination, a violent clangor of his office bell interrupted him. He hastily placed the impressions in a drawer, and then went to the door. | A message-boy handed him a local message en- velope, and said: ‘‘Kifteen cents, mister.”*? Croly tore open the envelope before paying, and read the following: | ‘‘Come to No. — Baxter street at once. Very im- portant. . ‘*(Signed) STEVE LAWTON,” . m Comichbooks.co