Detective Bob Bridger — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. 151 by my ears, de dog vas right. And, I say, you have strange men widin vid you vat vant to rob me. Soopen out vid de door, and you should at vonce all go by de street.” “Out on ye, ye ould crab ye. I'll have ye to know ’ma lady. And if that’s all ye want, ye ould thafe, take away the dog that’s the better animal av the two av yez, and we'll be lavin’ yer ould rat-trap of a ‘padding ken’ and ‘fence-madge,’ and be sindin’ around for yea dozen ‘cop- pers’ to whisper in yer ears about sindin’ out his ‘ pig-wid- geon’ nights. You miserable ould thafe of a ‘kidsman!’ ” This threat, couched in strictly “ professional” language, caused Moses Muggins to alter his tactics, and he began to belabor the dog to quietness. “@uit your noise, you villain dog! You hear, you Kaiser? Quiet, I told you!” he cried, as he struck the brute repeatedly with his cane, and the dog’s fierce bark turned to a yelp of pain, and then to a low, surly growl. “ Visper, Misses Bolards,” quoth Muggins, softly, at the keyhole. ‘I vas nod mad vid you, only vid de dog. Who vas dat stranger man, vat have come to see you?” “Now yer spakin’ in a more proper stoyle toa lady,” returned Meg. “Take away the dog below to the store, so he won’t bite the gintleman and you shall see him. Can’t a woman invite a friend to her rooms that she pays rint for widout all Jerusalem, and their other dogs bein’ turned loose about it?” “Dere, dere now, Misses Bolards, I vas too quick mad vid de dog. I vill, right avay, tie him down in de store, and you should have a fine present for my quick temper.” When Muggins had thus spoken he endeavored to drag away the unwilling dog from the door. Ile coaxed, cursed, beat, and pulled the obstinate brute to no purpose. Then he called loudly to Sammy Muggins, and Sammy’s shambling footsteps sounded in the hall-way, as he obedi- ently approached. | By main force, the two men now dragged the huge mas- tiff away, the noise of his claws as they scratched and held ‘back on the floor without, giving proof of his enforced de- parture. A moment later, from the rear hall-way, came the voice of Moses Muggins. “Come out now vid your friend in de hall-vay,” he cried. “De dog vas now all right, Misses Bolards, and I vant to speak vid you only von vord.” “And now, Meg,” said the Scotch detective, hasten, you - (e(o) mm boo <S €oO