Black Arrow, the Avenger — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

76 BLACK ARROW, TUE AVENGER. he couldn't take that oath, because he was one of Roder’s men, and had told the secrets of the vigilance folks. That was fair and square, and all they had to do then was to ask him if he had anythin’ to say aginst bein’ hung as a spy. He allowed he hadn't; but he concluded at last, though he couldn't say any thin’, that he might show somethin’. Then he held up his right arm.” “And what of that ?” coolly inquired Whetstone, as Roder paused and looked at him. “ Jim Baker was lookin’ close, and there was a streak of moonlight ag'inst the arm just then, and ee black arrow marked on it.” “And what of that?” “Then the vigilance doiianthe ten up to him, and bugged him, and made a heap of him.” * And what of that ?”’ ‘“ “Why, you ‘are the man !” “Very well. That's no news to-me: miubwaiireire “It proves that you are found out. It. proves that you have been a spy ag’inst us all the time, while pretendin’ to be a spy for us. It proves that Jim Baker knows now who Black Arrow is, and that we know _— killed: our men and ‘let that gal loose.” To the astonishment of Roder' and Baker, if tet ih the rest, Nat Whetstone leaned back, and burst into a roar of ‘laughter. But while he was indulging in this untimely mirth, his one eye was’ busily engaged in seeking a loophole for re- treat in case of an emergency. ~“T did not think that yousonkl be such a fool, Pail Roder,” he said. “To pay Baker for having laughed at his puzzle a while ago, you are now ready to believe the most absurd and monstrous notion he can invent. I will tell you what that thing proves. It proves that I played my part well—so much better than Satterlee played his, that I am alive and free, while he is dead. Did you never before see a man with a mark on his arm? I have seen hundreds of them, and an arrow makes a very nice mark. The Comanches did that for me, Does it follow, because I have an arrow marked on my arm, ‘that I have shot those black arrows through Mart Simp- Gommiclooolks.comn : ss