Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

' THRICE WEDDED, 57 ‘sHere,” replied Edgerton, and handed him the brooch which he had had made. He took it, and opening each lid, convinced himself tat they were really the pictures of the faces he wished to pos- sess, then shutting them with a snap, he uttered an oath and cast them into the blazing grate. «Zounds!” exclaimed his ally, springing from his chair as if to save the doomed jewel; then drawing ina deep breath, he sank back again, inwardly congratulating himself that it was only the copy, and not the original. ‘There!’ said Squire Moulton, with an evil smile. those infernal pictures will never trouble anybody again.” ‘That is true, sir,” replied Edgerton, returning the smile tenfold, and speaking with marked emphasis. ‘‘Now,” ue continued, ‘if you'll hand over the cash, squire, I'll go.” “Oh! but you have not told me how you gained possession of the brooch yet.” ‘‘Well,” laughed the other, “I was not aware it was in the bargain for me to reveal all my slight-of-hand performances, though it was easy enough done. You see I had my eye on the woman, and one day she fainted in the street, and - I very humanely went to her assistance; a little maneuvering and the thing was mine.’ ‘‘Where does she live?’ asked the squire, scowliug darkly. ‘‘Couldn’t say just now, squire; but perhaps I can find out,” replied Hdgerton, with a sly glance at the dark face before him. ‘Well, at all events, you have earned your hundred dol- lars easily enough.” He handed him the other fifty as he spoke. “Just keep your eye open, and report occasionally, and you shall be well paid for it.” “All right; and now I will say good- -evening to you, sir. : is some distance back to the city, and it is getting ate.”’ Ronald Edgerton passed out into the night, leaving Squire Moulton to indulge in more pleasing reflections than he had enjoyed this many a day. “Ah!” muttered Edgerton, ‘‘you little know, my worthy squire, with whom you are dealing. I shali study this game pretty thoroughly. Your instinct is finer than your honor, you fool, for you did not like to trust me; but you were in “S Eco “ Eomicboo