Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

JOE HOOKER IN THE ARENA, 141 ‘“What! Knowing me so well, could you think JI would give up the fight so easily? ‘That isn’t my nature—I never could have battled among the bulls and bears in the stock pit unless I had good staying qualities. This is only a beginning. They may think they have won, but I'l] soon startle them.”’ ‘‘In the first place,’’ says Senator John, soberly, ‘[“f this figure has been altered within twenty-four hours an expert can readily detect it, for the re- mainder of the entry was made eighteen years back, and the ink is very aged. I have no doubt but what, with certain chemicals, this new figure can be re- moved, leaving the original in plain view. Such low cunning as this generally overreaches itself.’’ ‘It does me good to see you gentlemen take it all so good naturedly,’’ remarks Bob’s bride. _**Come, now, you are joking. I don’t know how I look, but I feel like biting a nailintwo. To think of that sly little French frog-eater laying a trap to trip me up, while we journeyed on in the full belief that the affair was settled. However, the laugh will yet be ours.’’ Such confidence is half the battle in a game like this, and both of those who hear his words are inspired by their boldness. “T can help you, Bob. By rare good luck, I have a friend in Richmond who has always prided him- self on being an expert at reading character by the handwriting. Yes, I’ve known him to be even called to New York to testify at some trial where millions were at stake. He claims to be able to tell the state of mind a person was in when he wrote the names. Gomicbooks sco im