Detective Bob Bridger — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

128 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. “Next day ven I dells a shentlemans oof dot bad gon- sumpted man, he said he vas vonce a story-book writer. “Dot vas vat makes me at vonce sicker. ‘But I bractice nit poxing-cloves, and a vrozen meat gargass in de kitchen, and if Vildemers J. St. Clair comes vonct more he could look owed.” “Has the English gentleman been in your place since?” asked the Scotch detective, as the German ended his story. “Two dimes—do-night, abowd six and a half o’glock, de last dime.” “Do you know where he lodges ?” ‘Right away, come—I could show you.” The fat landlord led to a window, and continued : ‘““You see dot house vere burns de street-lamp in front de steps? Vel, up dose steps keeps a lady a very fine, brivate lodgings house, and sends me much customer. And, by dot house, de English shentlemans sleep all de vile.” The two sleuth-hounds thanked the landlord for the in- formation he had given them, paid their bill, and departed. CHAPTER XXIX. THE KING OF ALL SLEUTH-HOUNDS. Directing their steps toward the fashionable lodging- house opposite, the detectives perceived that although a light dimly burned in the hall-way, all within seemed to have retired for the night. They at once set the door-bell ringing at full pitch. In response a window above them, on the second floor, flew up with a bang, and a female who proved to be the landlady, popped forth her night-cap covered head, and demanded : 'Who’s there ?” | “Two detectives, madam,” returned Bridger. ‘‘Mercy onus! What do you want?” ‘We wish to learn of two gentlemen who have had rooms with you for some days—one a tall, reddish-whiskered man, talking in a squeaking voice, and the other a thin, dark-eyed man, and afflicted with a lung disease.” ‘“Mercy on us! And have they done any crime? In- deed, I thought there was something mysterious about those men. And dear, oh, me! a poor woman keeping apartments to let in this wicked city can’t feel safe at any comicbooks.co ae” a A & ~" , ee ws @' ~ ie? >