Under His Thumb — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

176 UNDER HIS THUMB. It was not in Steve’s handwriting of course; in- fact, he could not have written it at all. But it was, — without doubt, written at the dispatch office at which it was dated. iS SAR “No reply,” Croly said, audibly, giving the boy . his money. 3 ee He hastened to the Twenty-third street station of the Third avenue Elevated Road, and took the first train, which soon landed him at Grand street. And thence he had not far to go to reach the place desig- nated in Steve Lawton’s message. He was impatient at the interruption, for he had been on the eve of settling his doubts in relation to the clew which he had been at so much pains to pro- cure. Yet he dared not delay a response to the tele- oram, for fear that his boy assistant. was In serious difficulty of some kind. Reaching the number in question, he walked past it once, furtively scanning the premises. — “3 It was one of the many dingy brick buildings which mark the locality, and there was nothing in its appearance to distinguish it from a score of others. Croly had not been very long in the city; yet, like a true detective, he had posted himself concerning the locality and exact character of all dangerous and — questionable localities. And, although there were many disreputable places in that vicinity, this dingy ~ brick building was not in Croly’s list as such. He went boldly to the entrance, and, without ring- ing the bell, tried to open the door. To his-surprise it was not locked, but opened readily, and he found himself in a narrow hall-way and confronted by an uncarpeted staircase. | Before he could pursue his investigations further, a side door was burst violently open, and he was confronted by one of the most powerful men he had ever encountered. | The man‘s complexion was dark as that of a mul- atto; his eyes were small and bright, and like black beads; his arms were bare, disclosing their notted muscles and cords. His size, fierceness of aspect, and great muscular powers rendered this man a — -~ a *, — S . is rie Pe ere? we Bs * : & ~ a ¥; ’ ys i —_ yy com cboo <S.C 4 a 7 , re t A ea, —~#s i *. A e ” es