Detective Bob Bridger — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. 181 After the form of an oath the coroner said : “What is your name, sir?” “My name is Pere Videre,” returned the prisoner in the peculiar piccolo voice which the detectives had heard in Goucher’s den. “And your business ?” “T am agent for Alfonse Godot, Esquire.” “That gentleman ?”’ “Yes, sir.” “You passed westward upon the express train yesterday morning ?” “Yes, sir Mr. Godot had preceded me, and I met him, as per appointment, at Pittsburgh.” The coroner stepped forward, and turned back the canvas cover of the ice-box so as to reveal the calm face of the corpse. “Did you ever seé this face before?” asked the coroner. Videre glanced hastily toward the face of the dead man, and, with a shudder, answered : 4¢ No. 9 “Why do you shudder ?” 7 “Tam not an undertaker, a physician, or morgue-keeper. A dead man is abhorrent to my nerves.” At this moment the sheriff ushered Goucher into the coroner’s presence. ‘“T would beg, sir,” said the Scotch detective, “that you ask the prisoner if he knows this gentleman.” “Do you, sir?” asked the coroner, pointing to Goucher. “No, sir,” returned Videre, bending his cold gray eyes unflinchingly upon Goucher’s features. “Did you not purchase a weapon called a sand-bag from this man in New York recently?” demanded the coroner, sternly. “You are insulting, sir. I claim my attorney’s protec- tion. I will not answer you.” “Please swear this man,” said the attorney, indicating Goucher. The coroner did so. “ Now, tell me, sir, what your charge is against this gentleman ?” demanded the attorney. “TI have no charge to make,” returned Goucher. “I am here against my will, but I identify that gentleman as a man who came to my house in New York, and desired me to procure him a weapon with which he might defend himself. He said that he was traveling in company with a person whom he feared had planned), to attack and knock | Eomicboo <S €o