Detective Bob Bridger — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

146. DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. “But, lo! see ’ere, Misses Meg,’’ he added, “I is got you _ @ letter !” A letther! from me ould man, I suppose. And let me read it, thin!” And Meg took the decoy letter from Billy’s hand, and tore it open. : ‘‘ And ’ere, Misses Hannette,” continued Billy, approach- ing Annette, “’ere Lis got you some sugar, coffee, greens, and aturkey. Anda box of sugar candy, and lots of good things. See-ree-go! what feastings we'll ’avej ”’ Annette received the basket of provisions and set them aside, while her bright eyes glanced continually through the door-way into the dark room where the waiting sleuth- hounds stood, as if she had determined not to permit the Scotch detective to far escape her eyesight again. “As sure as I live,” quoth Meg, elevating her voice above the clamor of the dog without, “the old man is dead !” “What? Who?” asked.Billy. “Why, me old man, Bolard, or whativer his name was. And it’s more than his wife of twinty years could tell.” “ Master Bolard dead !” exclaimed Billy. “Yis,” returned Meg, “as dead as an ould salt mackerel !” “Klick!” ejaculated Billy, imitating the hangman’s method by swirling his right hand about his neck, and jerking it upward. . “Quack!” returned Meg, dashing her hand across her throat, as a suicide might do in slashing his windpipe. Strange to say, on thus learning of Bolard’s death Billy suddenly burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, fairly clapping his hands and dancing in idiotic glee. “What! you unmannerly vagabond! Do you see the villain, Annette? glad to the face of a poor widow that’s just heard the shockin’ intelligence of her husband’s death ?” quoth Meg. | “Shame, Billy,” said Annette, “Dad Bolard was always good to you, Billy.” “sometimes,” quoth Billy, sobering down somewhat. “Ho! no, lis not glad. Poor Dad Bolard !” Then, unable to control his real feelings, he burst again into laughter, clapped his hands, and danced about in the greatest glee. Annette and Meg could not restrain themselves, and burst forth in merry peals of laughter as well. : Bridger and the Scotch detective also laughed quietly at . the crazy giant’s antics, and had Bolard’s spirit at that mo- ment visited the vicinity it had certainly wished success — ? owt @ ox ~~? GOmMicbooks.com —