Detective Bob Bridger — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

46 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. “Alfonse Godot still lives?” echoed the Scotch detective, in surprise. ‘““As surely as that my poor Alice is dead.” ‘Have you seen him ?” “Yes; have been in his company for months, and his story agrees with yours, that he was kidnapped to sea. By the way, sir, what is your name and occupation ?” “My name, sir, is Roland Fandon, detective of Scotland Yard, detailed to America to find Harvey Bolard, Meg, his wife, ‘Silly’ Billy, and Annette, and clear up the Godot murder case.” “Then it was of you the inspector in London spoke to - me a fortnight since ?” ‘1 dare say.” “He informed me that Annette was in America, and bade me communicate with you through the British Minis- ter at Washington. But oh, I have been always fortunate in misfortune, even as I have been misfortunate when for- tune seemed smiling fairest on me. My sole aim in life is now wrapped in the well-being of the child Annette. Not receiving an answer as I expected from you at Washing- ton, | became nervous. In every pretty face I passed upon the street I fancied I saw a resemblance to my dear dead daughter. It was following a pretty maiden, who glanced smilingly toward me, that led me to walk from the steps of the hotel to the cross street where I was robbed. Might it be that Annette has been trained to decoy men thus into the clutches of ‘Silly’ Billy ?” ‘No, for she is as pure as an angel.” “Then these coarse people have not dragged her toa level in their sin ?” “That they have not.” “Thank Heaven! But you said that she is tk this mo- ment dwelling in this city among thieves. I pray you make haste and tell me the circumstances that have brought her to this plight?” The Scotch detective glanced toward Bridger, and the two detectives placed their chairs that they might face the old doctor. 7 ‘Make haste, I beg of you,” he continued, impatiently, perceiving that the Scotch detective paused, as if determin- ing in his mind whether it would best suit his ends to pro- ceed with his tale. “T rest easy, you perceive,” said the old man, “and will be much stronger as soon as the doubts and uncertainties that perplex my brain may change into a definite hope that — comicbooks.com | on" 16 . oF Tay t PA ¥"