The Vestibule Limited Mystery — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

+ « “a t.% ce 2 eg oe THE VESTIBULE LIMITED MYSTERY. 169. deliberately plotted to take his life, and would undoubtedly have succeeded had it not been for my watchfulness. “It does not matter at all, whether you had any- thing to do with the coma that came upon him during the night—let any jury hear the facts, as we can present them, and you will be surprised to see how fast they will railroad you to prison. Wedo things in a big hurry over here, Colonel Andrews, a when we attempt them at all.” His face drops again. | I have succeeded in taking the wind out of his sails, and his bark loses steerage-way. “There is no escape?” he mutters. “None, save over the road to ’Frisco. You should be glad of the chance. Your plans are totally ruined here, and if once that fire-eater Hammond gets hold of you, there will be the duse to pay.” “At any rate, it might be worse.” “Decidedly. I am glad to _see you turn philos sophical, colonel. It shows you are gradually get- © ting back to your old self again.” “Tell me what you want.” “With pleasure.” “You have ink, pen, and paper here, I suppose?” “Paper, but nothing else.” “Ah! here is.a fountain pen I carry for oat such emergencies, colonel. Get the paper. “ He does so. - ‘ “Now seat yourself at the table.” “You want me to write?” | “T do.” “ And commit myself on paper?” “What I give you to put down will not harm you, *Eomicbooks co se