The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. gy look annoyed. Itis Alphonse, 1 know. He has been bor. rowing money of you. I have known for sometime that he was making use of you in this way; but, though I was in- dignant, I said nothing. Now I will not have it any more.” | ‘“Why, Grace, dear, I don’t care for the money. I’m so rich tuat I’m glad of some one to help me spend my money. But, to be candid, I don’t like to think of your brother being such a fellow as Alphonse.” ; “T don’t, either, darling, and I will not have him troubling you so. Was it on his account that you looked so troubled before?” ‘‘No, no; that is, not exactly, Grace. But don’t talk of him. Let us talk of you.” * iit Sa a. + ‘Well, my iron-headed friend, did you collect your thousand dollars?” ‘er aid.” Clinton shuddered. He had hoped to hear otherwise. . Did you have any trouble?” ‘* Not much. He swore at first 1t was a mistake; but, as soon as I’d talked a little with him, I knew him dead cer- tain, and I let him see he couldn’t play with me.” ‘* How did he pay you?” ‘¢ Bills. Here they are.” Clinton looked them over. They were the same he had © given Alphonse. ‘‘Did you make any agreement with him?” ‘““ No; he wanted me to leave the country, but I said no. You see I didn’t know what you wanted.” ‘<'That was right. You may gonow. Come back here to-morrow morning, and [ll show you how to makean- einer thousand. You haven’t any doubt he was the masked man?” ‘‘] can swear to him; besides, would he have paid if he. hadn't been?” ‘* Allright. Come in the morning.” When ‘Tete-de-Fer was gone, Clinton mechanically locked the door-after him, and threw himself on a chair, murmuring: ‘‘ Just Heaven! what does this mean? Whither does it “GCOMIGHOOKS. CO