Under His Thumb — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

64 UNDER HIS THUMB. there was no telling to what depths he had fallen, nor to what extremities he might go if goaded to des- peration. Therefore, believing the mysterious stranger, who had followed Brandon unhesitatingly into the pas- sage, to be a confederate of the fugitive, the detec- tive deemed it the height of recklessness to leap blindly into the gloomy passage, perhaps to be met by a treacherous bullet from his foes. Hence he resorted to prudence and skill rather than bravado. He paused at the entrance of the passage, shield- ing his person behind the corner of a building. For an instant he listened, but all was still. This seemed to confirm his suspicions that Brandon and > his supposed confederate, finding flight useless, were lying in wait for him, at least with the design of temporarily rendering him incapable of continuing the pursuit. The street was deserted, the hour being late. A better time or place for a desperate encoun- ter could not be imagined. For, at best, the most dangerous localities in New York are poorly guard- ed at night. Croly was prudent, but he had no intention of abandoning the pursuit. This detective, slender, | wiry, and keen-eyed, had followed criminals with the persistency of a hound through the greatest of dangers. He would not shrink from his duty, how- ever perilous it might be, no more than an ordinary workingman shrinks from his labors in the midst of security. The detective orauchad close to the entrance of the passage, and peered in. Not a thing could be seen, Perfect silence reigned. “ Eomicbooks.co