Old Specie, the Treasury Detective; or, The Harbor Lights of New York — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

OLD SPECIE. 30 He would have enjoyed it, only that he had busi- ness on hand now which must be attended to. Ben Bolt, on the previous night, when arranging with him for his services, had failed to mention any time. Consequently Old Specie came early. He would not have missed the connection for a considerable amount. Much depended on it. The time passed on, and as the hour grew later it seemed as though the revelry became more and more animated. With difficulty the proprietors of the den re- strained several seamen, who had spliced the main brace too often for their own good, and who felt like untamed steeds of the prairie. Their wild shouts could be heard above the music as they gave free rein to the enthusiasm that bub- bled over within them. | Poor fools! Half a dozen men had marked each of them for a victim, and when morning came they would be lucky if life remained. Old Speci3 watched the clock. It was close on half-past eleven when he gave a orunt of satisfaction. His man had arrived. Ben Bolt soon,.saw him. The detective was too shrewd to appear anxious about the matter. He desired to be wooed. It would strengthen his case. His game worked, too, for while he was talking confidentially with the bartender his man came up and tapped him on the arm. Gomi1eboo S) co =} ;