The Vestibule Limited Mystery — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

152 THE VESTIBULE LIMITED MYSTERY. means a good deal to me, for I have no doubt the pay will be heavy; but it is something more than this that spurs me on. I have become deeply inter- ested, and to myself have sworn that the handsome adventuress must not succeed in holding her latest victim. | sae The battle is on. Who wili win? | Before proceeding to Andrews’ apartments again, I make my way to where I have agreed to meet Colonel Acton. He is on hand, and pleased with my report. Of course I bind him to secrecy, not desiring Lord Arthur to know that it is I to whom he is indebted for the papers. Then [tell him how I intend to wind the affair up, and receive several suggestions with pleasure. I have always found his hints valuable, and deter- mine to profit by them on the present occasion. He asks me what share he may have in the work, and I can think of nothing better than that he join the Englishmen in their room next to the apart- ments of Andrews, and await further developments. Possibly the ingenuity of the colonel can devise some means of seeing what takes place there; but upon this point Iam not particular if he will only keep his ears open for the signal I am about to utter when I desire their presence. To this he promises his attention, and I am satis- _ fied all will be well. | Before the night passes by, there may be quite a scene in that portion of the Palmer House, creating as much excitement, perhaps, as on the | occasion when a bolt of lightning shattered the flag- staff and alarmed the guests, “comicboo Ss Col