Under His Thumb — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB, | 63 On and on ran the fugitive, with his two pursuers close upon him. It was a thrilling race. CHAPTER IX. AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER. Croly, the detective, saw that, at the present rate of gaining, the race could last only a few moments © longer. | The fugitive seemed to be in a somewhat ex- hausted condition, doubtless on account of his recent debauch. His limbs tottered as he ran; he stag- gered several times, and seemed about to fall upon the sidewalk. He glanced over his shoulder, and saw how close were his pursuers. ‘Then he suddenly darted across the street, thus bringing him nearer the unknown pursuer upon the opposite sidewalk. Croly instantly divined that the stranger wasa confederate of Brandon, and that the latter was crossing over to seek his protection. Whether the detective was correct or otherwise in his conjecture will presently appear. As it was, Croly redoubled his efforts to overtake the vagabond before the supposed friend of the latter could do so. He, too, increased his speed. As hedid so, Carl Brandon darted into a dark passage only a few yards distant from the unknown pursuer. The latter followed, with long, swift leaps, dis- appearing into the black depths of the passage. Croly was a fearless man, but not a reckless one. He did not really believe Brandon to be capable of deliberate murder, vagabond though he was. Yet ecomichooks.co mn