At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

12 AT A GIRL’S MERCY. hair; and then—the white lids lifted of themselves, and the eyes opened large and deeply blue—the blue that turns to purple with excitement, the blue that is true and sweet with life. The man who had unconsciously drawn nearer the bed, attracted by the purity of the girl’s face, - now drew himself to his full height, and touched the revolver he held in his hand with a sharp metallic click that drove the color from the sweet face among the pillows, but did not daunt the brave eyes lifted quietly and rather defiantly to his. The bril- hant eyes behind the mask glowed with an intenser light as the man’s voice broke the silence. ‘‘Pardon this intrusion, friend. You doubtless de- sire an explanation, and shall have it at once. Everyone in this house, excepting yourself and my comrades, is in my power at this moment. We came here on a little matter of business, and decided not to call in the aid of the officers of the law in captur- ing the house. Our business is almost finished, and my friends are waiting below. I intend to use no violence with you unless you make it necessary for me to do so. My private secretary here,’ with a shight movement of his hand that brought the revol- ver flashing under the gaslight, ‘“‘wishes—nay, de- mands, if need be,’’ as an ominous flash in the blue eyes opposite showed an undaunted ‘spirit. ‘‘That, | however, I trust will not be necessary,’’ and again there was a twitching of the partly hidden mustache and a gleam in the dark eyes between the slits of the mask. “‘You will oblige me, madam, by arising and showing me where your money is, and such jewelry as I may desire.’’ The girl’s spirit arose to the occasion. “Is it not rather ungallant,’’? she asked, her low Gcomicbooks (Eo) mn