Detective Bob Bridger — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

- DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. © #4228 beans, pumpkin pies, border ruffians, wild Indians, and. California gold mines: but, betimes, we have to give them a point or two, eh? Ha, ha, ha! But now let me see, your name is—” he continued, addressing Bridger, ‘“ Bridger.” “But the first, short name, is—” 66 Bob. 9 “Bobe, eh? Well, my short name is Roe. Remember that, Bobe, and never say Fandon.” Bridger noticed that Fandon spoke with a slight Scotch accent, and, from the levity of his manner, began to fear that, notwithstanding his marvelous eyes, the prospect of being materially aided in the hunt for Hanford by this tastily dressed joker was so small that, withdrawing his hand somewhat curtly from the Scotch detective’s grasp, he asked, abruptly : 3 “Well, is there any hope of finding this Richard Hanford in London ?” “Bless your heart, yes!” responded F'andon, pulling forth . his watch as he spoke. “Itis now ten o’clock. At four P. M. Vill wager you a mug of beer we'll have the ‘dar- beys’ on his wrists, and every dollar he has left in our possession.” Bridger started back in astonishment at this sudden re- turn to business-like principles, and ejaculated : “Surely you don’t mean it?” “Mean it? Nothing simpler. I’ve had that youth’s measure in my eye for a fortnight past. He’s registered at Somerset House as Emanuel Picard, and his manners have become as grand as hisname. You wouldn’t take him for 2 Yankee clerk now, for he has so diligently set about aping the London swell that he has succeeded in fashioning himself into nearly as disagreeable a jackass as his prototype. And, finding that the aforesaid metropoli- tan jackass attends the races, he has necessarily learned to ‘talk horse’ by the yard, ‘ba jove, you know.’ In truth, I consider that about the swiftest move we can make to clip his spreading feathers will be to drive to Epsom Downs’ race course direct. My word for it, we’ll find him there at to day’s special meeting, strutting about among the book-makers, and giving himself airs as huge as the ship he came over in. Come, we’ll hail a cab and be off.” Fandon instructed the cabman, who came at his beck, to pull up first at Millbank prison. As the twain rolled off in the vehicle, Fandon said : Eomicbooks (ele)