Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

76 DARKE DARRELL. They turned into a quiet by-street, and came out on the street upon which the house fronted in which the events had occurred as recorded in previous chapters. Just as they came opposite the house, Darke Darrell hurled his missile through one of the upper windows. There was a crash, and a fall of shattered glass. The - tiny paper parcel fell upon the parasol with which Mrs. Cassandra was shading her face from the sun. It dropped from the parasol to the sidewalk, and Mrs. | Cassandra picked it up. ‘‘ What does it mean?” sheasked. ‘‘ Wasit an accident, or was it purposed? ‘Take my parasol for amoment, Pedro, while I see what the parcel contains.” He took the parasol, and they kept slowly on their way, she quietly undoing the string. Mr. Cassandra closely watched her. When he saw her unroll the copper pistol-cartridge, he suddenly exclaimed: “Take care, my dear!” She dropped the cartridge upon the sidewalk. ‘Why did you frighten me in that way?” she asked, a little angrily. ““T was afraid it might be some infernal machine,” ex- -plained he. ‘Nothing dangerous about this, at least” she said, show- him the dollar bill. ‘* There is a letter inclosed. Some - one is in distress.” She stopped, then stepped close to the house, in order to leave the sidewalk free. She read the messages to herself, then aloud to her husband. “‘ Jt is some trick,” he declared. ‘“No, Pedro!” her tone positive, alook of concern on her face. ‘‘ People do not fling money away ina joke. Itisa genuine appeal. ‘The writer of it is really in distress, and prompt action is necessary.” Eomicbhooks.com >