Laura Brayton — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

ps - LAURA BRAYTON. 91 “Fool! Ido not care that for your threats!” and the lawyer snapped his fingers contemptuously. “Why, if harm comes to me from any source, and one particular friend misses séeing me for only four-and-twenty hours, sealed papers will be opened which will give a full account, with the proofs, of every crime you have done. Why, the dungeon and the gallows would both be yours in less: time than 16 would take to write-and print your life and dying confession.” “Well, aman can’t die but once,” said Bartram, sullenly. “I don’t know as it matters much how he goes, so he slips off easy.” “They don’t hang folks easy now,” said Sharp, with a sneer. “They generally choke ’em by de- grees, instead of breaking their necks. But I’ve no doubt you’ll understand the system experimentally allin good time. As soon as that girl comes in I'll have her in here, and send for a parson or a magis- — trate. She has got to come to it, or I’ll murder her!” There was a savage earnestness in the words of Sharp, as he fairly hissed them out, which startled Bartram, world-hardened as he was. “Sit down, and read law, or smoke—do anything to pass time, until she comes in. Ihave some papers to draw up.” And the lawyer darted off to a desk and went to writing with a speed which soon filled several pages of legal foolscap. An hour passed, and he was done. “The foul fiend take that girl! I wonder why she stays out so long. I must see to it!” cried Sharp. “Stay here till I come back!” And he limped, or rather, hopped away from the room, comicboo S) Eom,