Under His Thumb — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

ap ce UNDER HIS THUMB. trance to it, and that the discovery now served him as a clever concealment from his foes? : | The boy had not mentioned this conjecture to Croly, the detective, because he had only thought of it. Having regained his breath, the lad made his way cautiously toward the basement stairs. His thrilling adventures did not weaken his cour- age. Instead, he was more resolute than at first. He found the piece of steam-pipe which he had used once before as a weapon, and with it grasped firmly in one hand and the lantern in the other, he descended boldly to the basement. As he did so he was thrilled by the sound of stealthy footsteps moving away from him. He nearly closed his lantern, and cautiously fol- lowed. A moment later the footsteps abruptly ceased. The boy paused, his nerves tingling with excitement. Then, with a sense of vague dismay, he heard a mys- ~ terious whirring and creaking all about him, comicbooks rs 4 ‘ts <2 F le. ; ok cas), ies > e Like Oe a J a 5 *