Under His Thumb — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

178 UNDER HIS THUMB. — “Jehu!” he gasped, glaring at his cool adversary, _ as though he would devour him. ae ae ‘Better luck next time—-try again ‘’’ Croly retorted. The man edged his way around to the other side — of the hall-way. Divining treachery, the detective — determined to forestall any further attempt his foe might make. | Watching his chance, Croly suddenly sprang upon the giant, clutching the latter by the throat, and pressing him forcibly against the wall. | | The ruffian was strong and heavy, but he possessed neither agility nor skill. His opponent pressed him so closely that he had no time to wield his ponder- ous fists in self-defense, save in impotent wrath with blows against the air. On the other hand, the fingers that pressed his own hairy throat threatened to en- tirely shut off his breath. : In vain he writhed and kicked, and even this poor satisfaction was presently denied him by a threat that he dared not ignore. a The cool muzzle of a revolver pressed his fore- head, and the voice of Croly, the detective, ex- claimed: : “Stand quiet!’ The ruffian instantly obeyed, an ashen pallor over- spreading his dark face. ‘Don’t kill me!” he gasped. “Why not?’’ ‘‘I—I was foolin’.’’ “Oh, that’s it? Then I’ll give you a chance to live —a small one. You began this picnic, and I’m going ~ to endit. Now don’t you stir hand or foot, if you care to eat another dinner. Do you mind what I say?’’ ‘“‘T was in fun, I say.”’ “Yes, yes, so am I. You have had your fun, though, and now I will take mine. Now tell me who gave you orders to attack me in this way?” ‘‘I—thought you were a burglar——”’ ; ms “No, you didn’t. You thought I was a sort of sleepy detective that you had caught napping—a big blunder, as you see. I’m a detective, but I -c€omicbooks. ‘on : “ Ka oe Bs