Detective Bob Bridger — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. $1 from the cottage I glanced about, and perceived the girl peering toward me from a ‘window in the second story, whither she had doubtless fled, girl-like, to weep over the farmer’s rebuff. Her bright eyes were dimmed with tears, and her look as she watched me was both wistful and sad. It was evident that she was not a member of the farmer’s family, and that a mystery enveloped her life which she _ trusted the future to raise. “Suddenly dropping upon her knees, she clasped her hands and lifted her fair face, now white as marble, toward heaven in an attitude of prayer. “A minute later she glanced toward me again, her bright blue eyes seeming toask if | understood the hope of her heart. “T threw back the ragged coat I wore, displayed my badge, and placed a finger upon my lips enjoining her to silence. “She smiled, bowed, placed a finger upon her own fair lips, and waving her handkerchief toward me, vanished from the window.” ‘But we are closely approaching Millford station, are we not?” asked the Scotch detective, suddenly pausing in his narrative, and glancing from the car window, through which the light of dawning day now poured. ‘Five miles yet,” returned Bridger. “Well, I must awake Simonton, the Millford ticket agent, and leave you there, Bobe. But fail not to com- municate with me through Pinkerton’s New York agency, and look for letters from me. “You see,” continued fandon, in a whisper, “I have been on a speculative, theatrical * piping’ trip with Agent Simon- ton to Cleveland. He has been selling tickets twice and thrice over and ‘whacking-up’ with the conductors. Feel- ing rich, the idea has entered their heads to start a variety theater in the oil regions. To them I-am Sam Josalyn, a person understanding well the management of such a show, and the visit to Cleveland was with the view of ar- ranging the purchase of the seats and scenery of a defunct theater there.” “T- understand,” returned Bridger. “But you can rest easy regarding the agent, for we must take the side track a mile this side of Millford to let the West-bound express pass, and I will see that Simonton is up in time.” He then called to Dan Colgate, and after bidding him _ arouse the sleeping agent, turned to hear the continuation — of the Scotch detective’s story. EGomichbooks (E(0)