Detective Bob Bridger — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. Seine 129 time as to what villains might get into them. Were they murderers, thieves, defaulters, or—” “ Are these men in your house now?” ‘‘Oh, dear, no, sir. Thank Heaven, both went away to- night.” “At what time ?” ‘“At half-past seven .” “Taken their baggage away and left for good, eh?” “Oh, ves. They only had a trunk and two hand-satchels, and they took them with them upon the hack.” “Do you know where they went?” “No, sir; they were careful to say little to me.” “You thought there was something mysterious about these persons, madam—tell us what you mean by that? Were they not friendly to each other ?” “IT cannot say that they were unfriendly, but I will tell you all I know of them, and let you judge for yourselves. Just one week ago to-day they came here. I was sum- moned to the door, and found awaiting me the red-bearded Englishman, while the cab stood at the curb. He said that he had barely arrived from Europe, had seen my house mentioned in a pamphlet containing a list of fashionable boarding-houses on shipboard, and desired apartments for himself and for his companion who was a consumptive. He said they were bound to Florida, and desired quiet rooms to rest from their sea-voyage. I showed him a suite of two bedrooms and a parlor, which he at once en- gaged for a week, paying me in advance. I asked his name, and after a moment’s hesitation he said his name was Thompson, and that the sick man was his brother. He had a fire continually in the parlor, and remained much of the time indoors. The dark-haired sick man could barely speak above a whisper, and did not once quit the apart- ment from his coming until his going to-night. He ate but little, although the strong man frequently had splendid meals sent to his room, and the parlor table is, even now, covered with grapes, oranges, and all kinds of fruits, bot- tles of brandy, wine, beer, cakes, and even candies—show- ing that the invalid’s appetite had been tempted in every way by the strong man.” ‘‘But you have not explained why you looked upon them as mysterious people.” “Oh, the poor invalid seemed to be so unhappy, and I sometimes thought was fearful of his companion, who . seemed to hold control over him. At times, too, the ser- -vants overheard what seemed to be quarreling between the Eomichboo <S (e()