Under His Thumb — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

192 UNDER HIS THUMB. that he realized there was no escaping an encounter with him. Hence, with compressed hps and deter- mined countenance, he paused and waited for his — pursuer to overtake him. PO ee rr) ree CHAPTER XXVIII. THE HINDOO GAINS A POINT. Stella Brandon, startled by the expression of hor- ror upon the face of George Dyer, turned quickly to see what he beheld to agitate him so intensely. . Her own dismay was scarcely less than his when she saw the tall figure of the Hindoo detective stand- ing in the door-way of the hut. She would have fled if there had been a possibility of doing so. Butthere was not. Hyjah blocked the only means of egress from the hut, and to elude him was out of the question. : | He took a step forward, and spoke in a kindly tone: ‘“You look at me as though I were some monster that you expected would devour you!’’ he remarked, a slight smile curling his firm lips. Ni Stella was first to find voice to respond. There was no use of attempting to escape; and something in the great detective’s face and speech reassured her rather than increased her apprehensions. ‘““What do you wish, sir?’’ she asked, in a firm one. ‘“T wish to do youno harm. I would protect you if you would accept my protection,’’ was the reply. ‘“We do not need protection, sir.”’ “You did need it a short time ago.”’ ‘*IT do not understand. ’’ ) “When you were coming up from the railway station, and that ruffian attacked you.”’ ‘ ‘Then it was you who came to our assistance?” ‘I chanced to be at hand, and I gave the fellow a sound lesson. Then I came on to see that you fell into no more serious trouble.”’ | ‘*Did you allow the ruffian to go0?”’ 3 ‘ Yes, after chastising him. It suited my purpose comicbooks.com.