Detective Bob Bridger — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. 137 The window above, on which Sammy Muggins had tapped for admission, was carefully guarded by a thick curtain, so that no light might penetrate forth. Ascending the stone steps the detectives listened at the keyhole of the door, and heard a subdued conversation going on, as if in a room directly to the right of the hall- way, and evidently between the woman and Sammy, Soon after Sammy came forth from the room, and its door closed after him. The sound of his footsteps grew fainter as they receded from the door, and it was evident that he had followed the dark hall-way to the rear, and was descending to the base- ment beneath. A moment later Bridger’s eye at the keyhole beheld a flash of light burst, as if from an open door, and lght the rear hall-way. Then came distinctly the surly growl of a dog, and the hum of voices from the same direction. Then the light vanished, and all was still. “Sammy has joined Moses in the rear basement,” whis- pered Bridger, “and it would seem they have a surly brute of a dog down there with them. But we have no time to lose. So here goes.” Taking from his pocket a pair of manacles, Bridger leaned forward over the iron railing of the steps, and tapped lightly with the hard steel on the window-pane, in imitation of Sammy’s signal. The door from the room to the right of the hall-way opened at once, and some one came forth from it. The next instant the key turned in the lock of the door, the bolt slid back, the door opened cautiously, and a young Hebrew woman appeared in the half-open door-way. “Does Moses Muggins reside here?” asked Bridger, ina low voice. “Yes. Vat you vant?” returned the woman. “IT have been told he has rooms to let here,” quoth Bridger, planting his foot softly over the sill, and against the door. “You vas told wrong. Ve have no rooms to let,” she re- plied, eying the detectives keenly. “ Well, could we come in and see Mr. Muggins? Weare his friends.” “He vas notin. Nobody vasin. I vas Moses Muggins’ _ daughter, Rachel. If you vant any vord vid him you could leave it by me.” “Well, the truth is I have an important matter of busi- GComicbooks €oO