Under His Thumb — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

y a +. - o — és Y ' ine? » : , nt, - >» ‘ - — ? ; . “ @ \ - 5 ' a “ e = . a - 7 \ ' %, '. “ ’ - ¢ 16 UNDER HIS THUMB. / Mr. Blain and the coroner’s deputy furtively watched him. “A detective quack—a pretender!” was the for- mer’s mental decision. This verdict had scarcely crossed his mind, how- ever, before he was impelled to change it. “A quarrel; pistols drawn; other party fired first; Mr. Waldron the victim.”’ | | This was speken by Croly, the detective, in a mild, 3 _ low voice. He had abruptly ceased his investiga- tions and addressed the remark to Mr. Blain. “You think Mr. Waldron was killed in a quarrel?” Blain demanded, in his abrupt way. “Evidently. He might have drawn his weapon for self-defense, but he certainly had no chance to use it.’’ “So you did not notice the empty chamber of the cylinder?’’ “Oh, yes. - Been empty a good while, too. Car- tridge-shell removed; barrel not smoked; weapon hasn’t been used since it was thoroughly cleaned and oiled. You did not hold to the suicide theory, Mr. Blain?’’ The latter felt strangely thrilled as the spectacled eyes of the detective were fixed penetratingly upon his face.. “Certainly not, since the bloody thumb-mark was discovered on the window-sash.”’ “Still you thought this pistol was the one used?” “I supposed the murderer placed the weapon in the hand of his victim before escaping.”’ “Not at all. He didn’t stop for that. Mr. Wal- dron was shot by an enemy ina quarrel. You ought to be able to name the culprit, Mr. Blain. Who was Mr. Waldron’s bitterest enemy, eh?’’ comicboo S.