A Daughter of Delilah — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

EDGAR ALSTON’S BETTER SIDE. 171 Mr. Billings, the confidential manager, started with sur- prise, and hurried from his office. ‘‘Is my father here?’’ stammered Edgar. ‘Yes, Mr. Edgar; but——’’ ‘That is sufficient. ’’ ‘*You will permit me to announce you?”’ ‘“‘No, I might be refused an audience, and it is most urgent. Is he alone?’’ : Billings replied in the affirmative, and having tapped the door of his father’s private room, the young man stepped inside. Jabez Alston was a man of iron nerves, but he could not control his astonishment at being thus suddenly con- fronted by his erring son. ‘“Hdgar!’’ he ejaculated; then he turned away his face, and his knees trembled under him. Edgar did not notice this, but burst out impulsively: ‘“‘T have not come to make excuses formy unpardonable conduct, father. Jam here on behalf of an innocent man who is lying in prison.”’ ‘How do you know that he is innocent?”’ There was an impatient ring in Jabez Alston’s tones. ‘‘Mr, McKeen, his counsel, is without. He has absolute proof that Hawley never injured the murdered man.” ‘¢And what do you want of me?’’ “The amount of his bail assured—a matter of a few thousands. ”’ ‘‘And why should you apply to me?’ demanded Jabez Alston, sternly. ‘“‘If you care so much for your friend, surely it will be no hardship to employ a portion of that which I was forced to make good yesterday.”’ Gomicboo “S =) (E(@)