A League of Three: Boy's Detective Stratagems — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

A LEAGUE OF THREE. struck our hero’s hand and extinguished the sputtering blue flame of the match. Madie at once sprang across the room and dealt the fellow a kick that seemingly paralyzed him and caused him to Jie still; then the lad again struck a match and succeeded without interference in lighting the eandle. He glanced toward the man whom he had kicked over and recognized the respectable-looking iellow whe had been his guide. “You rascal,” cried the lad, “so you are a robber, eh, after all?” Madie was going for the man when the door suddenly opened. ‘There was a gas jet in the hall and the hght flashed in and together with the candle illuminated the room. “Seize that fellow,” cried the man whom Madie had knocked down. A fellow whom our hero recognized as the clerk had rushed into the room. “What is the matter?” he demanded. “Seize that fellow. He forced his way into this room and attempted to rov me. He knocked me down when I attempted to seize him.” Qur hero was no fool; he perceived on the instant that he had been inveigled into a “snide” lodging house and that an attempt had been made to rob him. Well, he waa a terror when arcused. ‘The clerk also was apparently a powerful fellow and he made a dash for the lad, but was met by a blow that staggered him. | The fellow evidently bad not calculated upon meeting such a stout reception fiom a mere country boy. Madie realized that he must get in his work quickly and getaway. Fortunately he had retired with his pants on, avd his bundle lay handy. He was in light marching order; it was the fear of fire that had led him to be read? icr a sudden exit in case of any emergency. COMIIEROO <S com ee A aT +