The Vestibule Limited Mystery — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

THE VESTIBULE LIMITED MYSTERY. 185 were taking goods without being able to give an equivalent.” How sharply she arraigns me—if she were indeed a true-minded lady instead of being an adventuress, bold and unprincipled, I would *cower under her bitter tongue as the criminal does under the Dela- ware lash. As it is I pay little attention to her words save to admire her splendid acting. “We will dismiss this, if you please. WhateverI : have done, you must remember, was in the interest of justice and humanity. We cannot always choose our methods when dealing with desperate charac- ters, and the fact that I had saved a human life was enough to urge me on. We will now return to business.” “Yes, by the way, what is your business here, Mr. Police Spy?” Her coolness is amazing, but I know she is wrought up to a tense point, and if the case goes against her, when the climax comes, as I fully be- lieve must be so, she will have a collapse. “T have concluded it with your father.” “But it concerns me?” Unquestionably.” “Then it is only fair that I should hear it.” “You are right, and I see no reason why I should not inform you at once. I have arranged with Colonel Andrews for an exodus.” “What?” “You three will be provided with tickets to San Francisco, and will leave Chicago to-morrow morn- ing, bound West. If you ever dare to boast of your connection with the Hammond family, so as to bring their name into a scandal, or venture to ap- pear east of the Rocky Mountains again, the ven- _— ~ comicboo (ale) ES