The Vestibule Limited Mystery — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

166 THE VESTIBULE LIMITED MYSTERY. working, as he endeavors to get them back into something like their regular appearance, and in this he succeeds to a certain extent. “Look the matter calmly in the face, colonel, and you will see that I am right. You are in a hole—a desperate position. There is only one way of escape open to you. Thold the door ready to let you all out. The question is do you want to go, or will you drown like so many rats in a trap?” “All very good, man, but you have ruined my plans that seemed so near fruition,” he says. s They were never so far advanced as you be- lieved. You have been closely followed and your every movement watched. You could not have succeeded in your plans—it was impossible. At any rate, we will not discuss that. You have a chance of getting away if you please.” “Hmpty-handed.” “Virtually so, but what does that matter? A man of your accomplishments, backed by a daughter so charming, will not long remain out of funds, Iam sure.” “You flatter me.” “Not at all. I know you, colonel, and do not underrate your ability. You will have much suc- cess in the future, before your downfall. That does not concern me. Iam only interested in keeping Robert Hammond away from you, in order to save his family the scandal of knowing that he has been engaged in a shooting scrape in the Palmer House.” He seems to reflect. “Repeat your terms again.” I do so. “And these are the only ones you offer?” ‘comicbooks (eo)