Detective Bob Bridger — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. 225 the Scotch detective had not found time to read the papers, and were not informed of the Muggins’ burglary. That night the two detectives visited Bridger’s Bond street rooms, and after looking over the mail that awaited them, retired for the night. The most important letter which Bridger received was one from Washington, informing him that his work on the smuggling case was satisfactory, and ordering him to hold himself ready to proceed at once to Kentucky to look after some persistent moonshiners, who were there doing a wholesale business in illicit whisky. Karly on the following morning the two sleuth-hounds returned to the hotel for breakfast. At breakfast Dr. Macy informed them that he had re- © ceived one thousand dollars, which had been forwarded to the hotel from the Bower Detective Agency. After breakfast Bridger set forth alone to visit Detective Bower, and notify him that Dr. Macy had received the amount forwarded. The Scotch detective would not quit the company of his fair fiancee at the time, but made an appointment to meet Bridger at the hotel at one P. M. on business. Bridger had barely progressed two blocks on Broadway when he heard a voice close at his ear call out: ‘Ho, there, Bridger! Bridger, I say !” And turning about Bridger found himself confronted by Goucher. “T just happened to be in the saloon on the corner,” said the “King of the Ken,” extending his hand, “and seein’ you pass by I thought I’d ask you how the murder case turned out at Alton, and apologize for leaving that town so suddenly. The fact is, I was afraid that I might be arrested if I stopped longer.” “As matters turned,” quoth Bridger, ‘“vour leaving made no difference whatever. The Knglishman drugged his ac: complice to death that same night, and afterward cut his own throat, thus ending the case.” “The duse you say! But I suppose your promise holds good just the same, and you will not make a move against me for the brush we had in the house ?” ‘““What I promise, I keep,” returned Bridger. “I have no interest at present in the local affairs of New York city. ce I would advise you not to use that trap any more, and— “I never used it before, and never will again,” inter- rupted Goucher. (E(0) m Gomicbooks.