Detective Bob Bridger — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. 233 To the sleuth-hound’s utter astonishment Goucher’s face suddenly assumed a ghastly pallor, his legs knocked to- gether in terror, and sinking to his knees on the earthen floor, he lifted his hands above his head as if in prayer. “Jack, the Fork,” speechless and trembling, perceiving his chief’s attitude, followed his example. Their sudden terror may be better understood when it is | explained that Bridger’s underclothing was of bright red flannel, and his face, neck, hands, and hair were com- pletely covered and stained red with blood. The bloody handkerchief, tied about his head, seemed like two great red ears, and, in the glow of the fire-ball, he much resembled the stage devil, who springs suddenly to view through the wall in the theater. Perceiving that the trembling burglars evidently believed that he was either the avenging spirit of the dead sleuth- hound or Old Nick himself, Bridger said in the eovper tones he could command : ‘‘Now, keep to your knees, for the man who first at- tempts to rise goes first to Hades !” CHAPETR LVIII. THE SCOTCH DETECTIVE TO THE RESCUE. The mystified burglars remained mutely upon their knees, their hands clasped and trembling, and their eyes glaring wildly at the blood-red apparition above them. Meanwhile Bridger kept them covered with his revolvers, listened intently to the growing noise above and watched the fire-ball which still continued to blaze brightly. So long as it held out to burn the kneeling villains were safe. Did it give signs of burning out two sharp reports had ruhg out between the damp walls of the trap, and their lives had gone out with it. _ Lower and weaker burned the blaze, but ere it had so far drooped as to make Bridger an executioner, the harsh blows of an ax sounded on the floor directly above. A rain of splinters came flying down, and the next moment the huge trap-door of the ‘‘sawdust den” fell back on its hinges, and, glancing upward, Bridger perceived a line of blue-coated policemen peering downward, while among them, ax in hand, stood the Scotch detective, Gomichbooks;co m