Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

rea | A SEVERE THREAT. — CHAPTER X. Sve Va CT IS, Lloyd Vernon had returned to England in perfect ignorance of all that had occurred. He had become alarmed at Howard Ashleigh’s retarded absence, for not a word had he received from his friend since they had parted on the deck of the steamer Cambria, in New York harbor. Geraldine’s letters also had suddenly ceased; his father had not written in some time, and, at last, thoroughly alarmed, the young man resclved to go home, and see for himself what was wrong. Arrived in London, he found the great house in Park Lane empty, except for the servants, who speedily informed him that Miss Geraldine and her father were at their country-house near Waltham, and this announcement was supplemented by the news that his sister had been absent at the place for over a year and ahalf. Hastily deciding that his informant was out of his senses, yet impressed, in spite of himself, with a strange vague alarm, Lloyd returned to his waiting carriage, and was driven at once to the station, where he took the train for Waltham, with the result already recorded. How long Lloyd Vernon re- mained in a state of unconsciousness he could never determine ; but he opened his eyes at last to find himself lying on a bed in utter darkness, so intense that he could not see one inch before him. He sprang to his feet and called aloud; but no answer came back, only a long-drawn echo, with a peculiar intonation which reminded him of an echo in a dungeon. Although he was still faint and sick from the effects of the chloroform, he determined to find out if possible in what sort of a place he was confined, for a sure instinct told him that he was a prisoner. He moved forward, with both hands extended—on, on until he came in contact with a huge iron door, which was securely cComicbooks.co