The Twin Detectives; or, The Robbers of the Tomb — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

THE TWIN DETECTIVES. 53 Hudson family. Madge was looking her brightest and best, and Bob Brierly’s quick eye read in a moment what Charles Hudson’s had never seen—that she loved her cousin with all the strength of her heart. ‘“She is a beauty, and he is a fool!” said Bob, as che re- turned to his hotel. ‘‘I must cultivate an American accent. I foresee some fun while I wait for the faithful Scottish steward to make his appearance.” | Brierly was a man who had always been singularly un- susceptible to the influence of female charms. He had not known many women, for his life had been an exceed- ingly busy one. His father had sent him to a country school in Yorkshire till he was fourteen years of age. He then came up to London, and was employed as a messenger in Scotland Yard till he was twenty-one, when he was ad- mitted to the force. Long before he wore the badge, Bob was a detective— keen, sharp, and unscrupulous. His father lived an easy, indolent life. He seemed to have ample means, but he never cared for more style or comfort than the house where he lived afforded, or more skillful attendance than crazy Hetty was capable of. She was an extraordinary creature, faithful as a dog, and possessing scarcely the intelligence of one; she performed the duties of housekeeper for Bob and his father year after year. There was little comfort in the house, which had nothing about it that would lead one to call it a home. Perhaps this want of a home-life had rendered the young detective the hard, worldly man he was. He had never known the softening influence of a mother’s love or a sister’s caress. He knew nothing of women. GEomicbooks (eo)