Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

20 THE DOOMED HUNTER. There was something so impertinently malicious in the tone of the speaker, that Ralph started as if stung by a viper. “ You do not. mean to insinuate that I am guilty of this dreadful crime?’ he demanded, his soul shrinking in terror from the very thought. “T didn’t say nothin’ about it,’ was returned, with a grin of triumph, “ but if ye want my opinion, I made say that it looks pretty dark for ye.” “ And you?” the young man asked, casting a glance around upon the others. “ You certainly can not think me guilty of such a dreadful crime,” “T hate to. think it, Ralph,” said Adams, who still held the knife, “ but as Rufus says, it. certainly looks quite dark against you. Everybody knows of your quarrel with Jehonikam, and I have heard much wonderment as to the cause. This, with the finding of your knife in this dreadful state, will tell hard against you, unless something else should transpire. You see what a phase these facts put. upon the case.” “ Yes, I see,” returned Ralph, who hardly yet understood the true light in which he was placed, “but, I declare, and swear, with all Heaven to witness, that I know no more of the manner in which that knife came here than yourself. I had not touched.it for two weeks, and supposed it lying in sd room at my brother’s house.” . “ Hadn’t you better try to prove that you and Andrews was on the best of terms?” Rufus insinuated. “I’ve knowed the poor man for a number 0’ years, and you’s the first one I ever knowed turned out’n his house. I thort.’twan’t all right when I see’d ye so desput a-tryin’ to put out the fire. They dew say ‘straws show which way the wind blows’ sometimes.” The search was continued for some time longer, the closest scrutiny being given to every article; and no crack or crevice escaping the general inspection. But search as they would— and none could be more anxious than Ralph, since. his very life depended upon the fruits of it—nothing transpired, Beyond the finding of the knife, there was not the slightest trace to be gained of the perpetrators. With sorrowful faces the party unclosed the door, and pre- . pared to step forth. A crowd without was clamorous to learn the result of their investigations. connicloooks.comn ~ 4