Detective Bob Bridger — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. * 489 “Speak in a whisper!” he commanded. “And now tell me if your father did not know this man’s business, how came he to let him rooms in this house ?” “IT vould have you to know”, returned Rachel, “dat I give de man rooms, by myself, and my fadder vas down stairs by de cloding store. Dot silly man come von even- ing vid his vife and daughter, and ve have, dot time, three rooms idle on de floor above, and dey vas quite shenteel beople, I tink, so I let de rooms.” “Well, if you didn’t know this man as a thief, how did you suppose he lived ?” “Vell, I could see dat de daughter vas a sweet, innocent young woman, and de man vas a silly-minded, strong man, and dat de Irish voman have plenty money vid her. Could you make of such beoples tiefs? Vould you not see how such beople might live 2” | “Such talk,” said Bridger, “would do if you were a law- yer or witness at court. But we are detectives, and know that you, your father, and Sammy, ali know that this silly man is a thief.” “Vell, I told you it vas a he vat you say,” returned Rachel, angrily, pitching her voice above a whisper. “ Vat it is more, if dis man was a tief, quick, right avay, should he get avay by de house! I vould go right avay so you shall get him. Or, if you vant it, shust let me call loud vonce, and he come here, and you get him. Oh, dere vid—” And before Bridger could shut off the young woman’s utterance she had begun, in loud accents, her proposed summons. “Rachel,” said Bridger, winking at the daughter of Moses, in acknowledgment of her shrewdness, as his hand once more enforced her to silence, “you will excuse me, but we will have to muzzle you.” Placing the girl on her bed in the corner, the two detec- tives speedily bound and gagged her in such a manner that she could not move or utter a cry. Barely had they accomplished this task when the dog be- neath uttered a series of vicious yelps, sounding as if the basement door had been opened. A moment later a stealthy, cat-like step approached in the hall-way without, and a rap came upon the door of the room. Then a voice without whispered, hoarsely : “Miss Rachel! Miss Rachel !” “Hush!” quoth the Scotch detective in Bridger’s ear. - “Tt is the voice of the crazy giant.” GOmIIcboo <S (Elo)