Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

DARKE DARRELL. 147 Leotine listened, her lips apart, her cheeks devoid of color. | ‘‘'They have been looking for you all these years,” Darke went on to say. - ‘‘ They employed me to find you.” ‘¢Tll not—not—lke!” stammered Leotine. ‘* But you will,” declared Darke. ‘‘I never saw a lady more lovely and amiable than your mother.” ‘Tt am to be consulted touching this matter,” spoke in Mr. Kendrick. ‘‘ My wife will not part with Leotine.” ‘‘T am not surprised at that,” answered Darke, with a fond glance at Leotine. ‘Still, she must accord her parents an interview.” ‘‘T shall even protest against that,” declared Mr. Ken- drick. : «© How are you going to prevent it?” asked Darke, a little nettled at the other’s positiveness. «What is it to you?” the latter retaliated. . ‘A matter of ten thousand dollars,” answered Darke, with alaugh. ‘‘ That is the amount of the reward.” Leotine shot him an indignant glance. He did not care about her, but about the reward. And yet had he not said that he would never care to part with her letter? ‘This is hardly a proper place to discuss a matter of this — kind,” suggested Mr. Kendrick, with a tone and look of reserve. ‘¢ Just what I thought,” indorsed Darke. ‘‘Shall I call at your residence this evening?” Mr. Kendrick hesitated. He was offended at Darke, because of his manners and his mission. Both were at variance with his boyish face. “Yes,” he said at last. ‘‘Here is my card. Mrs. Ken- drick shall decide the matter.” Darke took the card. «‘T hope she will decide like the court would,” he said. — 33 TJ don’t think any of us have any choice in the matter.” _.