Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

A SEVERE THREAT. 125 ‘‘Love laughs at locksmiths,” he quoted, sententiously. Then he drew from his pocket a bit of strong wire, curiously bent, and held it up in the flickering firelight. ‘* Do you see that?” heasked. ‘‘I have never seen a lock that I could not open with ingenuity and a piece of wire. If only they do not awaken, I think we will escape, Geraldine. Hark ! what is that?” Roaring and howling, the tempest long threatened was upon them at last, tearing through the tall tree-tops, tossing their branches wildly with a moaning sound, With a frightened cry Geraldine clung to her lover’s arm. “Ttis a fearful night !” she whispered, in an awe-struck tone. ‘<So much the better for us,” returned Howard, ‘‘ for the noise of the storm will cover our departure. I will go to work at once on the outerdoor. If I succeed, I will summon you.” He stepped noiselessly into the hall, and Geraldine stood with her hand pressed upon her wildly throbbing heart, and listened. eagerly. No sound reached her ears save ‘‘the wind at his prayers.” Upstairs in the great house silence and darkness reigned. Old Judith had not troubled herself in regard to the intruder. Her master having arrived, she had given all authority into his hands, and had retired to her own couch, after imbibing freely from the little squat tea-pot full of young hyson, with a strong infusion of old cognac to keep it warm. She had told Lionel Vernon simply of Howard’s intrusion, but had neglected to add that he was still in the house, for she stood in wholesome awe of her master’s anger ; while Vernon himself, fondly believing that his daughter had retired, as he had bidden her, was sleep- ing soundly after the fatigue of his journey ; and it thus hap- pened that Howard had everything his own way. Geraldine stood panting and breathless in the great room, trying to still the wild tumult in her breast. - The fire was dying out now, and fitful shadows danced in the corners. The mo- a Comicbooks (ele) 3