Detective Bob Bridger — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

a DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. {+ 907 “That settled the whole business. All that Hen could do, and say, wouldn’t convince that woman different. She knew it was so. Sarah was bounced in just two seconds. Hen had to fiv for his life in two more. But I believe they’ve got together again. And the moral of this tale is, Jack, that just as the woman knowed Sarah had been kissed by Hen, just so I know there’s big ‘boodle’ in Mug- gins’ safe.” “Did a baby tell you?” ‘No, but the next thing to a baby did.” “ An idiot that didn’t know much more than a baby.” This seemed to reassure “Jack, the Fork,” and, as the ‘“peeler” had had ample time to reach Chatham square, the burglars set forth, at a brisk walk, down East Broadway. As they approached the Muggins house they walked slower. Directly in front of it they paused. “The coast’s clear,” commanded Goucher. “Up to the door, Ted and Jack, you know what you’re to do.” Ted, the bartender, and “Jack, the Fork,” pulled the black masks that were ready in their hats, over their faces, and hastening up the steps, stood near the door ready for action. Goucher followed them to the top of the steps, and, reaching forth, tapped lightly on the window with his cane; then stepped aside. A moment later the key was cautiously turned in the lock, the bolt slid softly back, and the door opened, just a crack. Rachel’s caution, however, abetted her little, for, ere she had beheld who her visitors were, or had opportunity to close the door, it was pushed violently open, and she was roughly seized, gagged, and blindfolded. Goucher and “Tom, the Frog,” now hastily followed into the hall-way, closed, and locked the door behind them. Rachel’s struggling form was borne within her room, and again, by rougher hands than before, was she tied upon her back in bed. Goucher now lit the wick in the large dark lantern he carried, and the four masked men passed stealthily forth into the hall-way. Ted, the bartender and “Jack, the Fork,” walked softly ahead, “Tom, the Frog,” and Goucher following, the latter showing the way with the dark lantern, EOmMmicbooks: mn (E(o)