The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

152 ae THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. examined it by the lamp-light. Every hesitating movement caused Alphonse an angony of fear. At last Clinton frowned, tossed his head, and drank down | _ the brandy. Beads of cold perspiration stood on the forehead of Al- phonse as with staring eyes he watched Clinton. Five minutes passed, and still the artist puffed away calmly. Suddenly he stiffened his body and threw away his cigar- ette. He half rose in bed and fell again, clutching at his throat and making a gurgling noise. His body bent like a bow. His features were contorted as if the musles were tying themselves into knots. The clutching at the throat.and gurgling went on. Alphonse turned sick at his stomach and rushed from the — closet. _ Elise was on her knees with her hands clasped, her face full of terror. “‘ He is dying,” hoarsely whispered eae “Come, let us fly.” “ He took it?” Elise sprang to her feet eagerly. Alphonse nodded. he ‘“Then let us go in, that he may know who did it. Qh, I can love you for this, Come.” , ‘«“No, no—for Heaven’ s sake, no! It is awful.” ‘« Bah! Come, I say.’ She turned on him fiercely. << Are you afraid of a dying man? ©ome, I say.” | He looked toward the door as if half-minded to call 4 The glass was almost at his lips, when he withdrew it and a She dragged him after her to the door, eagerly threw it open; and led him in. Clinton was undergoing fearful agonies, as his writhing © body and convulsed features proved. His speechless suffering was terrible. Elise langhed like a madwoman. ‘“Aha!” she hissed, as Clintons glaring eyes fell upon her. ‘You will choke me, eh? You will beat me, eh? You will curse me, eh? J am a snake, eh? See, here is Eomicbooks.co . o t . dn” e - , a ~~) 2 - ee ie tt “al aS os.) - —— —- Nid th eo ’ * _ Ce ne ds ee AT id prea lS tile ss — = i im