Under His Thumb — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

52 : - UNDER HIS THUMB. formed, a bitter enemy of both these gentlemen.’’ “He did not kill Mr. Waldron, sir. I would stake my life on his innocence,”’ cried Stella, in aCCOnty of dismay. Instinctively she realized that this quiet, spec- tacled detective was weaving a subtle web of evi- dence against her vagabond father. ‘‘T have no reasons for suspecting your father,” was the ready reply. ‘‘But I must follow all these little clews, and not drop them till they prove to be misleading. Now, tell me when you saw your fa- ther last?’’ ‘“More than a week ago.’’ **W here?’’ ‘‘T met him on the street.”’ “That will do for the present, Miss Stella. ‘Ant eae future, should you need me to defend you against Clarence Blain or any other persecutor, I shall be at your service. In the meanwhile do not hide any- thing from me. I wish to prove you perfectly frank | and truthful.’’ The detective turned to Steve, and said: ‘‘Come, it is approaching nightfall, and I have a great deal to do.’’ They returned to the private office, where Croly gave the boy some specific directions. When Steve was alone he slapped his knees in the intensity of his satisfaction. ‘‘Detective business knocks type-stickin’ higher’ n a kite, by Jinkins it does!’’ he exclaimed. Some hours afterward, it being quite late in the evening, Croly, the detective, emerged from his lodgings so completely disguised that no one would * have recognized him. He was attired as a dandy, with a mustache ex- — comicbooks.co mn