A Daughter of Delilah — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

170 EDGAR ALSTONS BETTER SIDE. could produce receipts, and explain under what circum- stances the goods. had been purchased. This man was visited at once, but he could only repeat what had already been told them. It was his business to buy second-hand goods. A gentleman had called upon him the previous day, explaining that he was wishful to sell his furniture because the woman he had been supporting had deserted him. Having assured himself that it was free of a chattel mortgage, he had paid cash for it and left a man in possession. His description of the gentleman who had conducted the transaction tallied with that of the sham St. Leonards. Such transactions were of almost daily occurrence. The lawyer and Edgar Alston returnued to their cab completely nonplused. ‘‘Baffled! We will go back to my office and see if any telegram or news of Hawkley has arrived. It is possible that he is tracking this Mitford Palmer, who has been masquerading as Lord St. Leonards. ’”’ There was no message at the office, and they were taken down town to the great Wall street financier. ‘You will permit me to have five minutes with my father alone,’’ Edgar said. ‘‘By the way, I do not know your name, sir.’’ ‘‘Abel McKeen, of the firm of McKeen & Co. I guess Mr. Jabez Alston and I have met before. I will remain in the waiting-room. You havea good nerve, young man, after all that has passed!’’ Edgar pushed his way through the clerk’s office, and was conscious of a sudden cessation of the half-audible whis- _ pering, mingled with the scratching of a hundred pens. "comicbooks co