Under His Thumb — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

UNDER HIS THUMB. 83 tor, but in vain. Dyer sprang to Blain’s assist- ance, and together they had no difficulty in holding the struggling boy. “T do not believe he heard anything of import- ance,’’ Blain declared, in an undertone to his com- panion. ‘He is a shrewd lad anda sly one,’’ Dyer replied. And he added, with a nervous shras ‘‘T am running ereat risk in thus exposing myself, and ought to re- turn at once tomy hiding-place. But I cannot do so until we have safely disposed of this boy. He must not go at. liberty, at least not unless he will bind himself by a solemn promise not to disclose anything that he has seen or heard this night.’’ ‘“Will he keep a promise if he makes one?’’ ‘“‘T am confident he will.’’ “What do you say, Steve?’’ Blain asked, looking ~ down into the face of the boy. ‘““T have nothin’ to say,’’ was the grim reply. “Will you not keep the promise?”’ “When I make one I will.’’ “You must yield to us, and atonce. You know how you were served when you refused to yield to me,’ said Dyer, sternly. “IT know that you’re a pair of howling big cow- ards, and I ain’t goin’ to let either of you drive me. That’s what I know.”’’ “‘There is no use—we must dispose of him,”’ de- clared the foreman, casting a nervous glance over his shoulder, as though he momentarily feared cap- ture by the police, whom he knew were on the look- out for him. : ‘*How shall we do it? I cannot lend a hand in any- thing too—too desperate, you understand,’’ declared Blain, in some apprehension, lest he, too, were be-_ (e(oypayirel exeyxoy <S (Elo) mie