Under His Thumb — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

: a 184 UNDER HIS THUMB. tive a way by which he could reach a projection of one of the roofs, and thus gain an entrance to the ruins, which it would not be easy to do by way of a | door or lower window. : This plan, which was hastily formed, he did not proceed at once to carry into effect. He first care- fully reconnoitered the premises, peering into: each dark corner to make sure that no person lurked there to spy upon his movements. In poking among some rubbish the detective was rewarded by seeing a crouching, shapeless mass of rags move clumsily, then sit erect in the form of a man. Croly instantly seized the ragged figure by the shoulders, and held him so that he could not raise to his feet, should he try to do so. ‘“Wha—what yer want?’ drawled the man, his 2 ate and manner unmistakably betraying his con- ition. : , “I want you to keep still, that is all.’’ ‘Ain’t I still *nough, I’d like to know?’’ ‘“Not if you talk as loud as that.”’ “Where am I, anyhow? An’ who the dickens ’re — you? Guess you’re—you’re off yer base, eh?” The man was hopelessly intoxicated, so much was clear. The speech, tone, clumsiness, all could not be so perfectly feigned. Of so much Croly felt sure. But something in the hapless creature’s voice, caused him to linger. Where had he heard that voice before? Surely, at a time and place differing widely from this, if at all. The detective had his pocket-lantern with him, but he dared not use it then, for fear that watchful eyes might see the tiny rays of light, and curiosity be excited. While he was debating the question, the man | leaned against his arm and began breathing heav- ily, indicating that he had again fallen into a drunken stupor or sleep. _ “T must leave him until I finish my investigations in this quarter,’’ he decided. He dragged the unconscious man toamore ob- — scure corner, that he might be less likely to be dis- Comicbooks ; \ 4 = oe a HS ‘J | . hy +i..* K « es “ ® im Lad Te f ~ Vy a " ~ ¢ = ” 7 apa) ote ee @