Beadle's Dime Novels No. 37: Godbold, the Spy — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

<HE BANDSTS’ COTTAGE. 55 Tne. woman looked fiercely at them both, and then replied . “ You're old and she’s young, or I should refuse you, for a «ne woman must. be careful who she lets into her house now- a-days, I guess; but come in.” ‘Alice and the entered with the hostess, who, after minutely examining tliem, which curiosity was equally apparent in the sage: 53 | “Ye seem dacent folks,” said the woman, after her guesta were seated ; “ but you're an idiot, old man, to bring ‘your daughter to 4 0 izhborhood like this.” | “7 would come,” interposed Alice, in order to defend the y of her supposed parent. ee on oud come, would you,” replied the woman, with 4 malicious grin; “ well, you may fird that your pretty face Ai be as dangerous to you in the forest, as it is a matter of ide and vanity to you in the city.” __ & blush passed over the face of Alice as the crone made this remark; but she did not reply. Alice felt uneasy. The uncouth manners of the woman, despite her seeming efforts to be civil, caused a timidity in Alice she could not control, and she thought that she perceived some uneasiness in her worthy guide when the woman barred and secured the outer door. When she bad made all safe, she approached the fire, took from the steaming pot some savory meat, and placing it upon the dishes which were already spread, she invited both to eat, and began herself. The suspicions of the aged man seemed to abate before the vapors of the feast, and he ate to a degree that told of previous hunger, and even Alice could not resist the tempting bait, and partook sparingly cf the meal, though frequently invoked to do more justice to the viands. When the feast had ended, and the guide and hostess sat yack in their chairs in that peculiar manner which is thought to aid digestion, th were heard suddenly footsteps, veices, and then stale at the door. The woman leaped up ‘a alarm. The sage displayed a vigor quite foreign to his years, and boldly placed himself in front of Alice, as if he had confidence in his’ single arm. But he watched the woman more closely than the entrance, as if ke suspected that the greater enemy Was within. But the crone now whispered, as she pointed to a door: , conmiclbooks.conn