Detective Bob Bridger — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

74 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. “T knew that unless some unusual occurrence had de- tained it it had certainly departed. “A glance assured me that the train had passed upon its way, and that my little Annette, drugged to slumber, was being hurried eastward according to the plan of the ‘dead man at my feet. ‘A throng of circus-goers, who had missed the first train, approached the hotel from the railway, and one of — the number suddenly cried out: ‘The cry was taken up by others of the crowd, and the noisy bar-room in response emptied itself of its ‘drunks’ ; upon the street. ‘“T had held at the window my cocked revolver in hand, and this I realized had caused the uproar. “The next instant the hall-way was thronged with bois- terous men, the office-door flew open, and the bartender, followed by the drunken mob, surged within. ‘““Great Heaven! Bolard is dead!’ cried the bartender, starting back in horror, as: he perceived the dead body of his employer in the pool of blood upon the floor. “At once every one near enough to see me, pistol i in hand, set me down as the innkeeper’s murderer. | aM Hang him! Lynch him! Swing him up!’ they cried, and things began to look dark to a certainty. “T felt that if I did not act promptly and well my life was of little account. ‘“Drawing forth and cocking my second revolver, I ad- vanced several steps toward the excited crowd, which had paused where the dead man lay, and seemed plucking cour- age to spring forward and seize me. ‘““*Men,’ said I, showing my badge, ‘I warn you all that I am. an officer here on duty. I attempted to arrest this man for cause, and sooner than submit to arrest he killed him- self, as you see.’ “It’s a lie! You came here to rob and murder him! , shouted a voice in the crowd. ‘‘And then a score of voices set up the cry of: “Hang him Lynch him! Swing him up!’ ‘‘And yet none seemed ready to take the initiative | in seizing me. ‘‘At length a man in the rear of the throng sang out : ‘“*Go get a rope, and I’ll hold him ready for it.’ She ‘‘Saying so, he pushed his way through the crowd and a appeared at its head. Aes ioe comicboo 5.€¢ . “Laat a = ee