Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

DARKE DARRELL. ‘ ‘‘ Listen to the bantam!” derisively. ‘“* You couldn’t do it if I hadn’t no legs at all.” Darke stepped out, his hands clinched. Mike stood ready to ward off the blow. “Darke!” his mother simply said. Very faintly spoken, yet something in the tone recalled him to himself. He sat down again, under strong restraint, his eyes gleaming out of the storm clouds on his face. ‘* He is all Mike said, however painful it may be to us to hear it,” she said. ‘“T meant no offense to you, ma’am,” apologizod Mike. ‘1 fancied you’d look at it as a good riddance, for he didn’t do anything toward keeping you, but expected you and Darke here to keep him. I’m no hand to carry bad news; but he asked me, and I promised, and I’m glad it’s did.” Off he went, muttering to himself, and needlessly slow in closing the door. Mrs. Darrell shivered, and once more drew the shawls about her. Darke rose, stood over her, and kissed her on the forehead. “Mother,” chokingly, ‘I'll stand by you all the way through. I'll work my fingers to the bone.” ‘‘ Darke,” returning his kiss, her eyes tearless, her voice strangely steady, ‘‘ I still have you left.” «‘ And I'll be a man,” straightening himself, his cheeks hardening. ‘‘ But—that fierce temper, Darke?” <‘T’ll curb it, mother. It only breaks out when I’m set upon. Properly regulated, it will serve me well, I am sure.” Yeriten ‘‘ Right, my boy,” with a smile. ‘‘ Held in check, it is energy. A boy, or a man either, without temper, is an easy-go, vacillating fellow, readily imposed upon, of little use to himself or anybody else.” -” Gomilcbooks G 0)