Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

DARKE DARRELL. 177 have preferences,” with a gay littlelaugh. ‘‘ Do not be un- easy, Darke. [ll not alter my mind,” with ashrug, and a glance of so much tenderness that he forgot for a few mo- ments how coldly he had been received by her father. CHAPTER XXXVIIE. A WEDDING. Two more surprises were in store for Darke—one of them entirely unanticipated. His partner suddenly announced to him, in the office, one morning, that he had sold out his interest in the busi- ness. «Sold out!” repeated Darke, with a stare. ‘Surely you should have consulted me. I would have bought out your share.” | «< You hadn’t capital enough,” rejoined Mr. Beaumont. ‘<T could have borrowed it,” suggested Darke. ‘¢That is a bad way to do business,” and his partner shook his head: ‘I have always been too conscientious to risk other people’s money.” «T confess that I am quite taken by surprise,” declared Darke. ‘I had not the least idea that you wanted to retire from the business.” ‘‘T haye made money enough,” and Mr. Beaumont laughed. - ““T could have found a purchaser with whom my re- lationships would have been cordial, or at least congenial.” «You judge your new partner without having his ac- quaintance. Why, you have not even made any inquiries about him.” ‘For want of time, Mr. Beaumont. I shall put a few inquiries now. Is he an old man?” Gcomicbooks (E(0)