Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

THE FLIGHT OF THE EAST-BOUND EXPRESS. 131 ‘‘T wonder if——’’ begins Gypsy, and then sud- denly stops short, looking at Senator John in a way that tells Bob she has been on the point of making some reference to her secret. He will not ask her about it—she must tell him of her own free will, all in good time. ‘What do you think of it, John?’’ asks Pemberton. ‘Well, Iam inclined to believe there is little of accident about the matter, though, of course, it might be so. lLet’s take Colonel Corneel and the lawyer for an example—they were floored at the church, but may have seen a way out, as they believe.’ Bob frowns. ‘‘Can you give a guess as to what they may have struck ?”’ ‘Well, let’s look into the matter. How was it we turned their case upside down? By the introduction of good Doctor Hammond and his evidence regarding the mistake in the birthday of Mrs. Bob. His word —it would not have been sufficient, but he declares it is supported by documentary proof—that his report is filed at Richmond in the Register of Births.’’ “Tove! I begin to smell a rat!’’ cries Bob. “Vou will, before long. In my opinion, they are now on their way East——”’ ‘On to Richmond, you mean.”’ ‘“Ves—to examine that same Registry of Births. If Doctor Hammond has been mistaken then the game is in their hands. On the contrary, should he prove to have been right, they must either throw up the sponge or go at something else.’’ GCOMIGcdooks (c©) im