Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

DARKE DARRELL, | 30 ‘“‘T had no need of it. Why do you carry it? I was quite astonished. “‘ You were? I carried it because She paused, her face working. ‘“‘T will make you a present of it, if you will accept it,” she completed. ‘*T would rather not have it,” Darke replied. She was offended. “You are frank,” she said, biting her lip. ‘The hilt is gold, fretted with pearl.” ‘< Knives cut friendships,” objected Darke. ‘‘T’ll gladly accept something else to remember you by.” The offended look left her face. “‘T’ll not forget,” she said. ‘* You have befriended me.” Their eyes met, hers so full of passionate gratitude that Darke felt his cheeks burn. ‘¢ What can you tell me about Tim Jordan?” he asked. “You are a detective,” replied she. ‘* Ask somebody else,” a twinkle in her eyes. It was an admission that she lived with questionable peo- _ “ple, and would not betray their secrets. ‘‘Ts she a bad piece®’ Darke asked himself. ‘Am I buying peril too cheap? No. Chance has thrown me right across the track of my mission.” Tim Jordan passed behind the tree, twirling his cane. Darke saw and heard him, and stood up. ‘«“We haven’t made a settlement,” growled the man, with a fierce glance at Darke. ‘No, and I’m sorry,” answered Darke, with a grin. ‘It will accumulate.” «And keep,” hissed the other. ‘‘I always pay with interest.” “In bogus money. ‘Send her over very early, as Traske offe#s no compromise either,’” replied Darke, quoting the secret dispatch. ‘‘ ‘Shove at once,’” 3? Eomicbooks (E(0)