Under His Thumb — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB. _ 23 The impression was wonderfully perfect, every line being distinctly traced. It seemed as though Fate had placed this piece of evidence in the hands of the great scientific detective, that the truth or fal- lacy of the curious statement might be proven. Croly placed this strange clew carefully under a glass globe, to protect it from dust and accident. Then he closed the book, and said, aloud: ‘““Most detectives would consider such a clew as this a rather slender one. I guess it is. But some- how, I am impressed by a conviction that the wretch who shot Hiram Waldron left behind a fatal im- print, and that I shall soon have him under my thumb.”’ The detective went out, carefully closing and lock- ing the door. Later in the day he attended the inquest in the coroner’s office, in East Houston street. He was called upon to testify as an expert. The verdict implicated no one, but declared the case to be one of murder, not of suicide. After the inquest Croly returned to the printing- house. Of course, business in the building was sus- pended, but a Alimber of employees and others lin- gered about the premises under the impulse of mor- bid curiosity. Croly found Mr. Blain in a small private office. That gentleman had just concluded a consultation with a detective sergeant from police headquarters. “Iam glad to see you, Mr. Croly,” the gentleman promptly said, placing a chair for his visitor. “I was afraid you would not be,” was the quick reply. Croly seated himself in a position whence he could Eomicbooks Eo m