Under His Thumb — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB. 491 least. You must decoy him, as I shall direct. He ~ is a reg’ lar lion,and you have to handle him careful. — TV’ll tell you how we’ll manage him.”’ Leary proceeded to lay before the other an elabo- rate scheme, every word of which was distinctly overheard by the boy detective. In the conversation that ensued the twain used a more cautious tone. Once, however, the stranger, | becoming unusually excited, sprang erect and spoke — up in a sharp,clear tone. The effect upon Steve Lawton was magical. He rose to his feet, his young face pale with the intensity of his agitation, and without waiting to hear more, he stole softly down the stairs and has- tened out upon the street. Reaching the open air, he quickly crossed the street, walked down Fulton street, turned the corner of Front, and, when out of sight of the biliard-room, paused to collect his excited thoughts. ‘That voice!’’ he exclaimed, half aloud. ‘‘By gin- ger! 1 know him now—I know him! And he is the one that shot Mr. Waldron, or else—but I can’t figure it all out in a minute. I guess I’ have to let Croly do the figuring. But I’ve got the idea any- how, and if it don’t clear up this awful affair, then I don’t know a Hoe cylinder from a type-writer. To think that I should hit upon this piece of evidence! And that ain’t all—it clears up that other business that Il overheard in the printin’-house t’other night. This—but hold on. Am I goin’ to stand here like a Quaker and let ’°em slaughter Mr. Croly and the Hindoo detective? I guess not.”’ And away the youngster ran, almost wild with the weight of responsibility pressing upon him. He thought of laying the whole case before the police; but Croly had charged him not to do that. A dozen plans struggled in his brain, and nightfall found him hastening toward Corlear’s Hook. Straight toward this most dangerous locality he went, alone and upon an errand of greatest moment. Before he had reached his destination he became conscious of a startling fact. A man was following him, so swiftly and silently m 'GOMmIEDOOKS: CO