The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

* A 114 THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. coming. I may have to accompany these scoundrels. away; but I will escape from their clutches just as soon as there is an opportunity, and will then return to my friends. I may get information that is worth having, by appearing to join their forces again. There—that’s right. Stay where you are, and keep perfectly still.’’ Fa ‘But if I am discovered——’’ “You will not be. Buteshould any accident befall you, use this pistol. It may be of service to you.”’ By the time he had finished talking Esther was safely ensconced in the hollow trunk of the tree, where there was an abundance of room for her form. As soon as she was safely inside, Robinson pro- cured a heap of dry bushes and threw them upon the ground where she had disappeared. Then he sat down to wait for the coming of Hatfield’s gang. He was not kept long in suspense. The regular tramp of the horses’ feet soon fell upon his ear. His hand wandered mechanically to his rifle, and he was half tempted, even at that late hour, to have his revenge on Hatfield, and then fight it out with the rest of them. A happy thought flashed upon him. “By George, Ill do it!’? he exclaimed to himself. “T won’t kill him, but IV’ll give him a dig that he won’t forget for one or two months. And Robinson fairly laughed at the idea which had presented itself to him. He cocked his rifle and brought it to his shoulder, glancing along the barrel and chuckling at the thought that he was going to “oet even’? with Hatfield for deserting him in the hunters’ camp. At the same instant the head of the sub-chief of the Bloodsuckers came in sight down the incline, not comicbooks.co