Detective Bob Bridger — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

166 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. while Goucher, who had barely approached it, stood be- tween the candle burning thereon and Bridger at the door. The men wore hats and overcoats, as if they had been on the point of going forth. ‘In his left hand Goucher held a long, tin tube, from which he blew forth a small tightly rolled bit of paper. As it fell upon the table, ‘‘Tom, the Frog,” seized it, and Goucher said : “'What’s he want?” The bit of paper proved to be a note which had been passed up through some peep-hole from below, and “Tom, the Frog,” read it. “The ‘Fork’ says,” said he, “there’s a ‘queer’ cab has pulled up over the way, and a chap that looks like a ‘fly- cop’ is on the stairs coming up.” Bridger rapped loudly upon the door. After a moment’s delay the door opened, and Goucher’s burly form appeared thereat. “How are you, Goucher?” said the detective, Sena his hand. “Why, halloo, Bridger! how do you do 2” pee Goucher, clasping the sleuth-hound’s hand warmly. “I haven’t seen you since the Chicago scrape. But what’s up now? Hope no one about this ranch is wanted to-night ?” ‘“No one, Goucher. Ihave only come to see you on a matter of business.” ‘“That’s all? Then come in and sit down.” He turned as he spoke, passed to the right about the table, and dropped leisurely to a seat at its rear. Bridger closed the door, exchanged nods with “Tom, the Frog,” and seated himseif upon a chair to the right of the table, to which Goucher pointed. “Ha! ha!” laughed Goucher, ‘‘rough chase you boys had to put old Goucher behind the bars that night, eh, Bridger? But I can tell you one thing, right here—you’ll never have that little pleasure again. Reformed, sir! reformed, sir! No more ‘crooked’ work for me! Keepin’ a ‘boosing ken,’ makin’ money, livin’ high, and when death calls home old Goucher, he’ll not write with his bony finger on the tomb- stone: ‘Here lies a convict.’ And how’s Hoff and Scott getting on ?”’ “Same as ever.” ‘‘Ah! they’re a hard pair to get over—the hardest men by long odds along the lakes. And when they get onto a comicbooks.co