Detective Bob Bridger — page 203: what you’re looking at

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196 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. crazy,” returned Bridger. ‘‘I have tried it, and the effect is to make one weak and dazed for a few minutes, but that soon wears off.” “By the way,” demanded the Scotch detective, ‘“‘has Videre been searched—might he have any weapons upon his person ?” ‘““He might have,” responded the sheriff, ‘‘for we do not search prisoners here when merely held for examination.” ‘“You should search all prisoners,” said the Scotch detec- tive, ‘‘and I would suggest that we make all haste back, and make the search in this case.” ‘‘It is very late, and, doubtless, the deputy has retired,” objected the sheriff. ‘“You must, then, assume the responsibility, if you sus- tain your objection, ” quoth the Scotch detective. “I call all here to witness that I have made the suggestion.” “Why, if you fear that any new trouble might result from letting the matter lie over until morning, we will re- turn and search the prisoner,” returned the sheriff. “T can only say,” said the Scotch detective, ‘‘that I would rest far easier abed this night did I know that Videre had no weapons on his person. The man is neces- sarily in an excited state of mind, and it is only proper that all care should be taken in the matter.” ‘“You do not intimate, do you,” queried the district attor- ney, ‘‘that there is danger of the prisoner killing himself?” ‘“My past experience causes me to fear that,” returned the Scotch detective, ‘‘and, I may add, that I am even now, possessed of a feeling of dread that the man may have done so already.” ‘You alarm me!” exclaimed the sheriff. ‘It would not surprise me to find it so,” said the Scotch detective. ‘‘Videre’s father, when brought to corner under like circumstances, cut his throat, and I take great blame to myself that I did not take thought to search the pris- oner. It would bea terrible shock upon me to find that a repetition of Bolard’s death had occurred in this case, and I, therefore, beg of you all to, without delay, accompany me back to the prison.’ The Scotch detective’s manner was so earnest that with- out further question the party in a body turned with him ~ back toward the jail. At every step Fandon’s anxiety seemed to become more intense. He reached the prison fully a hundred yards in advance €omicbooks.co