The Vestibule Limited Mystery — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

i4g ~ HE VESTIBULE LIMITED MYSTERY. A peculiar look passes over Billing’s face. Strange, but I seem to comprehend it at once. “See here, my friend, 1 want you to understand one thing. Those papers are yours, and no one shall know how they came into your possession. I want none of the credit.” He grasps my hand earnestly. “Ah! Craig, you are a noble fellow. There is nothing under the sun I wouldn’t do for you. After the great hunt I have made for these papers, I would have been ashamed to tell Lord Arthur they had been secured by another. You understand?” “Oertainly. Circumstances threw the chance in my way, and I seized it. You could have done the same, Billings.” “What was the lever you used?” “T demanded the papers on condition that I main- tained silence regarding the real cause of Robert Hammond’s death.” The sergeant sees the point and laughs. “Of course you can keep your promise?” “T went further and guaranteed that they should not be suspected with having anything to do with the young New Yorker’s demise.” Billings laughs aloud. He is in a jolly frame of mind just now, and even -asmall joke is like touching a match to a magazine —an explosion must follow. | As he desires to hear the story I: give it to him briefly. He is pleased to know that I personated - him in the transaction, as it will give him prestige with Lord Arthur, should it eventually reach that gentleman’s ears. Billings is the most grateful man I have ever comicbooks ~ A com — a eee mow : . ads