The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

.) ; — -% tn. : . Jon eae Set me ea ; ECOomicboo oe gi “ “{>- . a fas THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. . 103 the gals hez gone. Tharfore I’d siggist thet Mister Robinson go an’ make a circle ’round whar we was camped last night, and look at the trails leadin* in all directions. Ef he sees anythin’ o’ impottuns let him come back hyar an’ report. We’ll wait fer him.’’ Robinson did not demur at the task, but was soon gone, moving away with the stillness of one fully ac- customed to the ways of people on the border. Dan and Ryan were both satisfied that he would not turn traitor, and so passed no comments upon his acces- sion to their forces. Both saw that he would bea powertul ally in the work they had to do, and were willing to take the chances on his fealty. Ina very few moments after his departure both were sound asleep—for they knew that, in order to perform the task that lay before them they must hus- band their strength. They were thoroughly tired out by the exertions of the previous night, and slept soundly. | | But they were not so deeply buried in slumber that they did not awaken suddenly when they found six or eight men upon their recumbent forms holding them down. - Almost before their eyes were fairly open they were bound hand and foot. The first person who met their startled gaze, when their captors withdrew a step or two, was Dick Hatfield. That worthy was smiling with delight. - - “Morning, boys!’? was his salutation, delivered with a curling lip. Neither of the prisoners vouchsafed any reply. ‘““Well, my fine fellows, you were going to kill me, were you? x ‘Never count your chickens until they are hatched. Just now,’’ he continued, ‘“‘I have got the best of the cS com