Detective Bob Bridger — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

~ ae + Pea 45 r * ’ \ _ 4 . e Ba. Sere : oa Sa he —_— “a » 162 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. CHAPTER XL. “OH, MISSUS MEG, YOU DOES LOOK NICE!” On reaching the street, Bridger perceived the Scotch de- tective arm in arm with Annette, walking briskly toward Chatham square, followed by Meg and Billy, the latter bearing the baggage. Stepping from the door-step, he speedily joined them. At Chatham square a cab was secured, the satchel and bundles which Billy carried placed therein, and then the — party separated. The Scotch detective, Annette, and Meg turned toward the mile-level of millinery stores on Division street, with the avowed purpose, as Fandon expressed it, of procuring Annette a fashionable hat in lieu of the huge salad bowl and vail concern which she wore. Meanwhile Bridger escorted the crazy giant first toa “moist goods” establishment on Chatham square, thence to a clothing emporium, and thence to a hatter, shoemaker and tonsorial artist respectively. A half hour’s time sufficed to perform the tour, and when Bridger turned again with his charge toward the waiting cab Billy’s appearance was wonderfully changed for the better. The tailor, hatter, shoemaker, and barber had changed him from the uncouth simpleton, so that he might readily have passed for an overgrown countryman on a junketing excursion to New York. Barely had “Silly” Billy deposited the satchel, contain- ing his cast-off clothes and new underwear, in the cab when. Meg dawned upon the scene, bearing numerous bundles. The patronage of the battalion of millinery and dress- making stores on Division street had far outreached the proposed purchase of the hat. Meg’s head was surmounted by a rakish, brigand hat, and as her black eyes, shapely features, and neat fat-and- forty form, incased in a costly fall wrap, appeared in the flare of the street lamp, she was by no means an uncomely female. At all events it seemed so to the crazy giant’s eyes, for he hastened gallantly forward to relieve the lady of the bundle she carried, and exclaimed as he did so; — — os 4 co P oy A €. \ . < a 2 fot 1icboo Ks.c0 n GEN Fe