A Silver Brand — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND. z 199 “Do you think we could hire your husbands balloon for to-morrow morning early ?” “'To-morrow—oh, no! And what a pity! He is taking it all to pieces to make a new improvement. Wouldn’t you be able to wait until he could get it done? It’s so sel-’ dom, alas! he hasa chance to make any money by it. sens please wait if you can.” “Dm sorry it isn’t in order. Do you mean that he met with an accident with it?” “No great accident. I know the old silk ripped and tore,” returned she, serenely, poising her needle in mid- air, and looking straight into his face. “An innocent little goose,” thought the detective. “I : could soon find everything out, if there was any mischief. . I begin to doubt if this is the man after all.” And then he asked in the blandest voices “Your husband takes frequent flights in his balloon, doesn’t he? I should think you would be afraid he would fly away from you some time with another woman. Was — there ever a lady went up or came down with him ?” Crezence’s merry laugh rung out gleefully. ‘Me jealous of Carl! Oh, sir, if you knew us you would see how absurd it looks! And I don’t believe he could tempt a lady into such a dangerous, giddy place, any ex- cept me. I went with him once, but my heart was in my mouth. Good Saints! how would he make room in the car for a lady? it is such a small affair !” “ And when was he up the last time? was it long since ?” She dropped her head on one side, and held up the plump pink tipped fingers to count upon. “Let me think, was it yesterday, or the day before, or the day before that? Ican’t be sure—it was one or the other, and then he went last week, and the week before that, and twice the week of baby’s birthday festival.” And then she dropped her work and started up. “There he comes. I hear his step.” And running to the door to meet him she seized Carl’s hand, giving it a warning pressure, while she ran on glibly : “ Oh, Carl, here’s a gentleman come to hire your bal- loon. And to think you have just taken it to pieces to re- model. Can’t you fix it back again so he can take it? it’ would be comforting to have the balloon earn something at last.” “T will try, certainly,” answered Carl, quickly taking the cue; “but it is terribly out of kilter. Good- -evening Eomicboo “S' (Efe)