Detective Bob Bridger — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. Bate: will never get hold of you if I can lead them astray on the scent. But keep your eyes peeled at the depot, for a train arrives on the P. and E. railway from Garson a few min- utes before the train on the A. and G. W. is due going east, and the two depots are close together, you know.’ “ Heeding his warning, I hurried away toward the depot. “My plan was to take the A. and G. W. palace sleeping- ear which ran via Salamanca, and east over the Erie rail- way to Elmira, and from this point journey southward on the Northern Central railway to Williamsport, through which passed the P. and E. railway upon which insensible Angette was being hastened eastward in charge of Meg Bolard and Billy. “T would arrive at Williamsport some hours after the train bearing them had continued eastward, and I would - trace them thence until I had placed Annette safe again in my own charge. - ‘As I neared the depot I perceived that the P. and E. train, against which Tom Bowling had warned me, had al- ready arrived and was discharging its passengers. “It was now broad daylight, but no one was on the streets save here and there a straggling railroad hand com- ing from or going to his labor. “Mrs. Bibby’s home laid in the opposite direction from the depot, and I supposed thatif she had returned from Garson on this train she was already hastening thither. “Consequently a cold shiver ran up my spinal column when I suddenly perceived a neat littl woman briskly cross the railway track in front of the steaming engine, and approach directly toward me on the narrow board walk, which I was pursuing toward the depot. “A glance assured me that the little woman was no other than Mrs. Bibby—evidently hurrying toward the hotel to vent her troubles in the ears of Tom Bowling’s sis- ter, the landlady. ‘Here was a pretty pickle, for I assure you I had much preferred to have met a royal Bengal tiger under the cir- cumstances. ‘‘Barely a hundred yards intervened between us, and did I attempt to evade her by altering my course, her suspic- ions would be aroused on the instant, and one of her high- key shrieks would awake the town. “ Relying upon my disguise, and altering my features as best I could, I walked boldly on in the hope of safely pas- sing the threatening danger. €oO Gomicbooks