Detective Bob Bridger — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. 157 The crazy giant then squatted on the floor near by, and began to arrange the dead dog in a position to resemble life. Moses and Sammy Muggins were now breathing freely, but, as yet, neither of them had spoken. While awaiting their resuscitation the Scotch detective and Bridger approached the huge safe and turned the eye of the dark lantern upon its contents. 'A glance sufficed to show them that Moses Muggins was possessed of wealth which he could never have gotten through the medium of the second-hand clothing business which he professed to run, and that 1t was only a cover. One large drawer was filled with government bonds of large denomination, four other drawers were packed with bundles of greenback bills, while the remaining room of the safe was occupied by a curious mass of watches, diamonds, coins, jewels, ornaments, and utensils of every conceivable kind, in gold and silver. ‘‘How that ‘boodle’ pile would tickle the ‘glims’ of a ‘burster,’ Bobe?” exclaimed the Scotch detective. “I grant ye, my ‘cocum pal!’ ” returned Bridger. As the two sleuth-hounds leaned forward examining the Jew’s treasures the Scotch detective suddenly felt a hand placed gently upon his shoulder. Thinking that the crazy giant had approached, and not wishing him to see the hoard, the Scotch detective whis- pered to Bridger : “Turn aside the light! Here’s Billy.” Bridger did as requested, and, stepping back, the Scotch detective flung to the safe door. As he did so he perceived that instead of having felt Billy’s hand on his shoulder, as he had supposed, it was the hand of Moses Muggins. Suddenly reviving, the Jew had perceived the sleuth- hounds at the safe, and dragging himself from the bed, had approached them. ‘‘My God! vould you rob old Moses! Moses vat is so good to all de boys?” he ejaculated in a whisper, wringing ue hands in agony, and tears rolling down his haggard ace. A No, Moses. Weare not ‘bursters.’ This is what we are !’ 3 , As he spoke the Scotch detective displayed his badge. The Jew’s eyes glared wildly, and he tottered back in terror as he realized that his visitors were detectives. to his fancy it had been better had they proved thieves, _ Eomicboo “S (E(o)