Detective Bob Bridger — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

~ - 70 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. . ~~ “<Ffe and Billy.’ 7 E ‘‘‘Had murder been suspected on whoin would you have — thrown the blame ?’ “ie “On Billy.’ ace Why 9? : ; “ ‘Because he is silly, and would likely do such a thing.’ “¢When did you first meet Pere Videre?’ | eat “‘Haven’t I told you a hundred times, he is my son?’ _ “*And what did he do to live before he came to -old Godot’s place ?’ | “*He was the same as I used to be.’ eWhat?? “CA thief.’ | “¢What name did you go by when you were a thief?’ “‘Mike Drugo. The boys called me “Iron” Mike.’ “¢ And what did they call Pere?’ ie aa ae “* Jack Drugo, the ‘“ Squealer’—from his squeaking talk.’ — “‘How did you come to get in the employ of old Gedot?) “‘T had served a ten years’ sentence for burglary, and, being sick of London, thought I would strike the country. I came tu Jean Godot’s place, and had been told he was — the richest farmer in the neighborhood. To get my bear- ings, I applied to him for work. He had recently dis- — missed his head-farmer from service. I told him that my father had been a French gardener, and he employed me. — I found that he kept his ready money in bank, and so I worked along planning to get everything he had, and then “tie up prigging.” ’ | “‘TDid Pere give you your share of the money ? “*Of the ready, yes; and my share of the yearly income of the estate is over a thousand pounds each twelvemonth.’ — “«Then you are rich ?’ . : “*T own half of the estate, this house, two farms, and in the safe in the corner are thirty thousand dollarsin bonds.’ — “*Well, what of Annette ?’ ets “«She must be kept close, and away from all men.’ re “*Does she know anything that might harm us? obs: “<Ffaven’t you told her that I am suspected of acrime that I did not do? | ake “*But that is nothing.’ Re ea att “*But she has overheard things, Meg, and she suspects that she is not our child.’ | et i ae aera : i is the picture of her mother, is she not?’ Sw “To you like the girl? | 15h Baia “*Yes—but I wish she were dead.’ - , oie EA Taha oe aed at all * , # F a te ht) 2 Ee .- ‘ nr Ute iat 2 thet ei 5i i oa - a ’ V A=W ex rrp. , ee 7 : - M4 ¢. ‘ ™ ay ri, iy 4 wp bs he = . ~ _é Re, Ne ‘ + - rote eee hy PS Cae ’ : a 2 > 7 a . aa 4* a4 4 z : * ,