Detective Bob Bridger — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. _ ee 6 isa the Pennsylvania Railroad, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. A train left at eight P. M. via that route, and he sup- posed the man and his companion had taken that train. “We will now call to our aid the king of all sleuth- hounds,” said Bridger, as the two detectives drove to the nearest all-night telegraph office. ‘‘Ay,” returned the Scotch detective, ‘“ Professor Morse and his electric wires have captured more thieves and murderers than can be computed, and deserve well to be called so.” Had the mysterious voyagers continued upon the eight P. M. train they were due to reach Baltimore one hour from the moment the two sleuth-hounds entered the tele- graph office. They might have stopped off at Philadelphia. In Philadelphia lived Miles Barclay, in Baltimore Joel Parkman, two shrewd detectives, intimate friends of Bridger, who might be relied upon to lend their aid with alacrity at his appeal. He telegraphed Barclay to find out if the parties “wanted” had stopped off in Philadelphia, and to hold them if they had. A second dispatch to Parkman bade him search the train - on its arrival at Baltimore, and hold the parties if found. An hour later came a telegram from Parkman, saying that he had searched the train at the Baltimore depot, and had found no such people on board. Soon after came a dispatch from Barclay, saying that he could find no trace of the men “wanted” in Philadelphia, and that they had certainly not stopped off in that city. On receiving these telegrams Bridger was puzzled. Spreading a railway map upon the counter in the tele- graph office, he asked the Scotch detective’s opinion. “The railways and the wires you must work yourself, for — you know the country best,” said the Scotch detective. “ But of one thing rest assurd—Videre has made known, or has attempted to make known, his coming and arrival to Bolard, of whose death he is doubtless in ignorance. And since he has determined to rid himself of Alfonse Godot’s claims, his plan must also extend to Annette and Dr. Macy. He has therefore attempted to inform Bolard of the danger threatening the estate he holds in England, and instructed him to join him at some point, possibly in com- pany with Annette.” “Taking that view, which is a sound one,” returned = COomicbooks (Elo) —