Detective Bob Bridger — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

76 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. ‘Are there any level headed men in this crowd, whom _— you can deputize as your assistants ?’ “There are some half dozen such men.’ *** Then deputize them at once, and ¢all them to your side to serve.’ ‘‘In a loud voice the officer called out the names of half a _ dozen men, and, deputizing them constables, ordered them — to his side. ‘*“Now, Constable Westbrook,’ said I, just as the appear- ance of an individual, bearing a coil of rope, was greeted by the mob with loud cheering, ‘the first thing to be done is to clear the house. Then you can place me under guard as al a criminal, and deliver me on the morning train to the prison at Cor ydon.’ ‘Ranging his deputies in line he advanced upon the crowd, and in the name of the law ordered the excited men back, while I followed with pistols leveled as the officers forced the mob from the house. ‘When the last would-be lyncher had been shoved with- out the doors were locked and barred. ‘The constable and his men then entered the office, and I gave them a brief outline of the crime which Bolard had committed, and picking up the glass, explained how I had practiced upon the dead man thr ough its mesmeric effect. ‘**T am truly sorry,’ I added, ‘that this excitement and turmoil have been visited upon your peaceful village, but cannot blame myself more than any officer might who had met the same ill-luck. For all know that I had far sooner have taken this man Bolard alive—though I had not hesi- tated to kill him, if that had been necessary. He killed himself, however, as I have said, when he found that his fight against arrest was useless—and the chipped bottom of that chair, with which I shielded myself from his blows, attests the truth of what I say.’ “Westbrook and his deputies, all of whom were intelli gent men, believed my story, and promised that they would do all in their power to deliver me before a justice at Cory-| don in the morning, who should decide the matter. ‘Meanwhile the turmoil had continued without, and handing one of my revolvers to Constable Westbrook, I told him that I was now in his custody. ‘‘He decided that I should be locked in one of the sleep- ing apartments above, while he and his men would remain» , below to hold the mob in check. ‘Accompanied by two deputies, I ascended to the second _ a. y . ; . - es * - 5 ~~ . ae comic 200 <s.com