The Vestibule Limited Mystery — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

164 THE VESTIBULE LIMITED MYSTERY. surprise. Heisincapable of motion for the time being, my sudden action having given him quite a rude shock. Another actor appears. The old Jew doctor seems to realize that he has a share in this game, and uttering a confused jumble of exclamations, whether Hebrew, Sanskrit or some- thing else lam unable to say, he springs over to where the fallen weapon lies. I am ready for all comers by this time, as my own revolver flashes in my hand. “Hold! touch that on your life, man. Don’t you see I’m covering you?” I exclaim. The Jew turns his head, even as his eager hand is outstretched to grasp the prize, and discovers that I speak the exact truth. After that he cannot be hired to touch the weapon lying on the floor. Strange as it may seem, life is worth living even to him. “Come back to your seat,” I say, quisths but there is something in my voice that warns the old man not to refuse. Iam notin amood to be played with—this busi- ness is too serious for that. When property is in danger the man set to guard it must be vigilant, and when evil plotters are scheming even against human life it is right that he should be doubly vigilant. These two villains would not make much over murdering me, and resting their case upon some plausible excuse that, with the use of gold, and the charming face of Andrews’ daughter, might cause a susceptible jury to disagree. To win the game I comprehend full well what it is necessary for me todo, I must hold them well in co comicbooks