Laura Brayton — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

oe LAURA BRAYTON. — CHAPTER XI. LAURA’S APPEAL. “The active life of a ‘fire laddie’ is not one to improve one’s good looks!” said Hldridge Putnam to himself, as late on the day following his daring and successful exploit in saving life at the fire, he stood before his mirror and surveyed his scorched and darkened features, and his singed eyebrows and hair. “JI once sailed in a Philadelphia yacht that was, as I thought, very feancifully named the ‘Singed Cat,’ and to look at my singed appearance just now, I think I’d do well as one of the crew of such a craft, living up to the name, in looks at any rate.” For a little while he used the various appliances of his toilet-table to improve his appearance as far as he could, but he could not obliterate the fresh and honorable scars made by lurid flames and hot cinders, nor restore his hair. He was interrupted by a gentle knock at the door. ) “Come in,” said he, turning to see who entered. It was a dapper little man, whose exquisite style of dress, almost as quickly as his accent, betrayed his nativity. “Ah, Monsieur Maret, is it you? I am glad to see you. Take a seat, I will be at leisure ina moment, 3 said Putnam, pleasantly. “ Oui, certainement, zis is me, mon cher ami; butis zat comicbooks (e(@) |