Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

MS She: ek wy ati tt : ee FRAY owe - : J - : 4° - ‘ ; gee ft cei pape MR RT SUBLIME Rae hy ROA Nel at ae al YE : ; ’ ¢ My A OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. 7 € How do you know? I thought you said I was a stranger to you.” : ‘Possibly; and yet your circumstances and antecedents might be soon discovered by one who looked into the matter. Understand me, Captain Leyard. I have selected you as the man calculated to serve me honorably and with ability in this matter, and I have quietly investigated into your affairs to make sure how I could offer you attractive inducements to accept my proposition. I know that your | little investment at Wiley & Co’s has melted away in that rascally affair of theirs; that your wife is bed-ridden, your children an expensive burden, and, worst of all, that the fine young lad, your son, has, very naturally and pardonably under the circumstances, yielded to the temptation to retain some of the money passing through his hands in his ém- * ployer’s business, and that there is great danger of discovery and arrest. Now | bring you a safe and complete antidote for all these evils. Two hundred and fifty pounds will restore the sum purloined, and your son, taught by the lesson to be strictly honest, will retain his good? name and his position. ‘The other two hundred and fifty will give _ your family the comforts they need and all you desire for them.” ““T think,” exclaimed Captain Lo, wiping off the big drops which gathered on his forehead—‘“‘ blast me if I don’t think you are the Evil One himself! You know how to tempt a man so terribly.” A low, musical laugh rippled out from the heavy mus- tache and whiskers. “Not so fast, my good friend, my worthy skipper. I assure you | am hoofless.” And as he spoke he thrust forth a slender foot, clad in an elegant French boot, another sign of aristocratic antecedents, of which Captain Lo was duly cognizant. ; €s) ComMmIcboo co 71) |