Detective Bob Bridger — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

160 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. She appeared to be angry,and sobbed incoherently as the detective assisted her to an easy-chair by the stove. ‘‘And now tell me vat have you done?” she said, as she became more composed. “Have you arrested de tief and de vimin up de stair?” “Yes,” returned Bridger, “my brother officer is now bringing them down.” “Dat vas good—lI like me dat! I vant no such beoples by me. But tell me, vas you going to take vid you my fadder and my uncle ?” “No, not tonight. They have promised to return some stolen property to-morrow, and we have let them off until we see what they will do about it.” “Vell, you had some fight vid them and de dog, eh? I — heard shots and de dog barking.” ‘““Yes, your father and uncle fired the shots, but were overpowered, choked a little, and the dog was killed.” “And you say my fadder vas choked—but not bad—he could talk ?” “Yes—he desir ed a moment ago that you should go down stairs to him.” “Vell, I could also stay up stairs, and vill!” exclaimed Rachel, tossing her head as if she believed that a fraction of the balance of power in the Muggins family had there its seat. ‘And I vas now glad by de whole business. If de dog vas dead he should be dead before such dog vas born. And my fadder act so long like an old fool, I hope he got good sense knocked into his head by dis racket.” © ‘‘T hope so, Rachel,” assented Bridger. “He is certainly rich enough to live differently.” “Dat’s vat it is—a-Jewish man vas never rich enough. De richer he gets de poorer he feels. A long while my fadder has plenty of money, and could be honest and live well—have no tiefs no detectives, no nothing go wrong. But everyting vid him is money, money—and his good, safe watch-dog, Kaiser. Ha, ha! vell, I feel safer ven dat good, safe watch-dog vas dead.” “TI should think,” suggested Bridger, “he should have | a good strong young man about the house if he fears rob- bery.” ‘‘And so I tink. Vy, I myself could get married often. I have now a quite nice young German man, vat is by trade a tailor. He vants me bad to marry vid him. Sure, of course, he vas not a Jew—but I vant nothing more vid such people vot knows nothing but ‘monish,’ ‘monish.’ And my fellow have such a nice name !” co “Comic 200 (S. . p ie .. ‘ “* : A. i: = |