Detective Bob Bridger — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

242 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. devolved upon the Scotch detective, he remained for several years upon the Scotland Yard detective force, and was ultimately made an inspector of the London police. This proud position he subsequently resigned, and he is at present part owner and manager of one of the largest lines of steamships sailing from England. Nine years subsequent to his marriage with Annette, or in the fall of the year 1882, an incident happened in London without recounting which the tale of the Scotch detective would be incomplete. One afternoon, as Manager Fandon sat in the palatial cffices of the steamship company in London, a messenger oame to him from a third-rate hotel near the docks. A sick woman had that day arrived in England upon a steamship, and the doctor said she was dying. : She wished to see Fandon, Annette, their children if they had any, and Dr. Macy. Who the sick woman was Fandon could not imagine. What if it should prove to be Annette’s mother, Alice, and the marble slab which bore her name, combined with that of her murdered husband, prove a mistake ? Fandon was on the point of driving around himself to solve the mystery, when an open-topped family carriage drove up and halted in the street near his office. | In it sat Annette, still winsome and beautiful, but more matronly in appearance than of yore. Facing her was Dr. Macy, happier and younger in his own belief, than ever any man of his years had felt before. Occupying the seat with him were three handsome, black-eyed boys, the picture of their father, while two golden-haired, blue-eyed girls, types of their fair mother, nestled at her side. When Fandon appeared and spoke of the strange sum- mons he had received, Dr. Macy and Annette became much interested, and, at their earnest desire, Fandon entered the carriage, and instructed the coachman to drive to the hotel indicated. : Soon after Fandon entered the sick-room, followed by Dr. Macy, Annette, and the children. A thin, emaciated creature lay upon the bed. Her eyes were closed, and, to all appearances, she was dead. | A physician sat at the bedside, clasping the wrist of the dying woman. ‘‘Poor thing! she’s almost gone,” said the doctor, “and she seemed so anxious to see you and your family, sir.” com ly \ . . - . - > ve he Teh i ps vy 2 ah mee cbooks.com y wa ~ a’ 7 | --* 1 a 7 ws FF ‘ ha - 7 * oo APO | = * - . t op " “~. sal © 2 . ~ . 7 vi 7 y ‘ " “ py en ee nae Sy, eR . ay ie f= - - a ae? Ma 4 - ue Tee TA Le.