Detective Bob Bridger — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

2% § +-—~—-«sDETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. When the engine, baggage-car, and baggage had been changed, Bridger, who had carefully mapped his run upon the time-table given him at the office, informed the en- gineer what he was to do, and gave the signal to go. On entering the first sleeping-coach of the running train an unexpected surprise awaited Bridger. Dan Colgate, his fellow train-man on the nights of the | occurrence of the night express mystery. had charge of the s two sleeping-cars. After a warm exchange of greetings, the two young men dropped into a seat in a vacant state-room of the car, and began to compare notes—Bridger mentally vowing that he would touch no sleeping passenger that night at all events. Dan Colgate imparted the information that General and Mrs. Grant. accompanied by two servants, occupied the rear car, while sleeping in the car in which they sat were five reporters, the ticket-agent of Millford station, and a friend of the last-named gentleman. The ticket-agent and his friend had been permitted to ride from Cleveland at the agent’s request. The conversation then turned, among other topics, to the night express mystery of three years before. The fate of the German, the raftman, and the other pas- senger, and how mysteriously they had met their deaths, was talked over from beginning to end. In the connection Bridger narrated his experience in London, spoke of the East Indian necromantic glass, and of the strange forewarnings of the Scotch detective’s dreams. It was nearing daybreak, but still night, when the swift- running train passed Maysville station. A strange idea came into Bridger’s brain that he would step out upon the dark platform and look, as the train swept by, at the spot where the two passengers had plunged to their deaths, as if lured to the deed by the touch of his hand. The night was cloudy and not a star overhead. The sparks amid the lurid column of smoke overhead but dimly lt the dark landscape on either side of the swaying train. | As the fatal spot derw near, seizing the iron brakewheel, Bridger leaned forth in the rush of air at the side of the train, and held low his lamp that he might see it. He imagined, in his mind’s eye, aman springing from where he stood at that speed, and a strange feeling of | superstition possessed him as he did so. comicbooks.com