Laura Brayton — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

LAURA BRAYTON. 21 “Make me a hot punch, then, and bring it in—hot and strong, mate; let the foundation be Jamaica, and fill it with Cognac. Take your change out of that.” | And the stranger carelessly tossed down a bank- bill, as if there were more where that came from. Entering the room he sat down by a table a yard or two distant from that at which Bartram had taken a seat, moodily waiting for the drink that he had ordered. | Soon the barkeeper had placed two steaming mues before the two men. Seeing by a glance of his eye that Bartram noticed his presence, the stranger, lifting his mug to his lips, said: - “Here’s a health to ye, mate. I’m not in the habit of drinking alone, but where one knows no- body, and nobody knows one, why it can’t be helped. It isa good while since I dropped anchor in Baltimore waters.” : “Been on a long cruise—more’n one, may be,” said Bartram, trying to look civil, as the other spoke in a friendly tone. “You may well say that, mate,” said the other. “But I’m goin’ to stay ashore a bit. My locker is pretty well supplied, and I’ve had all I want of roving for awhile. Besides, I’ve some law business _toattend to. Anestate has to be settled in which I have a right to some rich pickings.” ~ | *“That’s encouraging,” said Bartram, now quite » comicboo cS (e(e)