When London Sleeps — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

/ / 80 A SHOWER OF GOLD. J At this question, Rodney Haynes advanced a step or two. | / ‘‘Tet me be the first to speak,’’ he sajd, deferen- tially, and yet with the air of one who has important information to impart. ‘‘Queenie, you see before vou the only relative you have in the world. I am your first cousin, Rodney Haynes.’’ Both Jonesio and his wife started and looked at the speaker with interest. In the inquiries they had made as to Queenie’s family, they had heard of this cousin. It could be a matter of no small importance that had brought him here. “My cousin!’’ echoed Queenie, faintly, waiting in breathless interest for what was to come next. “Yes,’? went on Haynes, seeing the impression he had made, and determined to play to the best of his ability the part he had studied and elaborated before- hand. ‘‘Yes, the son of your dead father’s only sis- ter. Our parents are all dead, Queenie; we are the last of the old race, and must be very good friends.’’ As he spoke he took her hands in both of his, and leaning forward, kissed her upon the forehead. Queenie submitted to the caress. She was just a little dazed at what was being told her, and, beyond that, surely the only relative she had in the world had the right to greet her with cousinly affection. There was something, however, to Mr. Fuller, which was repulsive in this action. He knew Rod- ney Haynes too well to have any particular confi- dence in him, and, while he could not quite under- Stand his attitude to his new-found relative, he felt instinctively that it boded no good. Ccomicbooks.co