Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

ibd THRICE WEDDED. ‘<Partly from the coachman himself, whom I discovered lying half dead upon the ground, where he had fallen, and partly from my own knowledge of what is transpiring among these regions.’ ‘“Where is the man now?” asked Fredrich. ‘‘He is safe, and under good care; and no one knows any- thing about the affair except those who have the charge of him and myself. Of course,” he added, ae mean aside from those who instigated the deed.” ‘‘Who do you think are the instigators? Do you think the Moultons would dare commit such an act, and if so, where have they carried their captives?” «‘T know that, personally, Squire Moulton and his nephew had nothing to do with the abduction, but that it was some one or two of the smugglers who did it for them, and for their money. I also know where they are at the present mo- ment.” ‘The smugglers?” ejaculated Fredrich Weimher, spring- ing eagerly to his feet. ‘“‘Ah! I know where their den i is, and we will organize a party at once, and go to the rescue of my friend and his bride.” ‘‘But how will you enter their den, as you call it? That is a secret which but very few even of their own band is pos- sessed of.” ‘‘How do you know?” demanded Fredrich Weimher, re- _ garding the man searchingly. ‘‘Because I am one of ey he replied, boldly meeting his glance. “You!” SY os; Li? «Then you are, after all, an enemy to those whom I would serve,” returned Fr edrich, sternly. The strange man smiled, and Fredrich Weimher, fodring that he had been willfully duped, said sharply: ‘“‘Do vou mean me to understand that you are in league against these people?” “To that question I can answer both yes and no,’ "he calmly returned. ‘‘l ama friend, and yet I am an enemy. “Explain yourself.” ‘J will; listen. I have followed these Moultons every- where for a long time, for I know what their aim has been. I have watched every footstep since they came here, but in a complete and safe disguise. Look!” ‘comic 900ks.co