The Vestibule Limited Mystery — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

THE VESTIBULE LIMITED MYSTERY. 137 weakens for the moment. Andrews glares at me as though inclined to make a sudden leap at my throat. Should he attempt such a course, I am afraid the respectable Palmer House will soon wit- ness a scene of wild commotion, for I do not allow any living man to meddle with my breathing apparatus. He thinks better of it and refrains. “What you insinuate, sir, is a serious charge, and you would do well to hesitate before you hint at such a thing in public,” he says, with assumed ~ calmness. “It all depends upon you, Burke, whether this charge is pushed to the end. Unless you hand me the papers I came for, I will certainly put my hand in your game here and break itallup. You have your choice—I will not make the offer again—give me the papers, and Sergeant Billings will never betray you—refuse, and there is trouble ahead.” I have him now. When: he comes to deliberate, and sees the only choice there is open to him, I am sure he will not be long in settling the matter. “Give me time to think. I am all broken up.” As he speaks he retires to the other end of the room. The girl follows him, and speaks in low, earnest tones. I imagine she is trying to duce him to give the papers up, but he is obstinate. He shakes his head in a negative way, and looks ugly. I complacently await their decision, knowing - what my power is. Fume and fret as he will, Andrews must finally come to my terms, for there is no alternative. I hear him say something in an unknown tongue, GComichoo cS (are)