Detective Bob Bridger — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. i 67 “Taking forth note-book and pencil I began to figure as if arranging the amount of my charge. “Hor some time I sat thus, and as Annette did not re- turn I began to fear that my identity had been discovered by ‘Silly’ Billy. ‘‘T resolved to proceed to business at once. ‘Stepping from the parlor, I entered among the noisy throng in the bar-room, looked about, and withdrew. ‘“Crossing the hall-way to the office, I entered it. “Bolard, presenting the same vigorous appearance as when I had met him at the cottage in England, was the sole occupant. “He sat, as if in a doze, in an easy-chair Honibd back | against the office bar. ‘A newspaper lay carelessly spread upon his knees, and @ pair of spectacles hung awry upon his nose. ‘‘T felt that I was in the presence of the actual murderer of Jean Godot. “T knew that although he feigned sleep he was wide awake. “I realized that my identity had been discovered, or sus- pected. ‘‘The man before me believed that I was an officer on his trail, that his neck was in danger, and had resolved to out- general me in my own line. ‘““A keen steel cleaver or corn knife had been placed Gare- lessly near the registry-book, as if by some one who had been laboring in a near-by corn field. “There was a cool determination in the manner of the pretended sleeper which boded no good, and I somehow felt that one of us would never leave that room alive. ‘‘Banging the door boldly behind me, I exclaimed as I entered : ‘“*Ho, sir! are you the landlord ? ‘' * Yes, sir,’ he responded, opening his eyes, and dropping his chair to the floor, as a man naturally would in waking from a doze. ‘“*Uncommon drowsy, sir, to-night,’ he added, rubbing his eyes. ‘Did you just drop in on the train ?’ ‘**T came on the train a while ago to repair your organ.’ “Oh, yes, yes—my daughter spoke to me of it. You will find it in the parlor.’ ‘I have repaired it already—put three new key-tops on, tightened the cords inside, and it is now all right.’ “<Fow much do I owe you for the service ? f ‘* “Three dollars.’ Eomichboo €oO cs