The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

122 THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. distance planned. Then she found it necessary to adopt new tactics. She would advance a few paces and then halt to listen. Unfortunately, it was the wrong part of the month — for the moon, else she would have experienced little difficulty in picking out her course. But she per- severed with tenacity; and would not be discouraged by the dull prospect. Each moment it became less promising, and each moment her heart sank lower by almost imperceptible degrees, until she was well- nigh despairing, Many times she went ahead, and many times she halted, expecting to hear some sign. But she was disappointed at every succeeding turn. What if, after all, she should miss the friends she - sought? What would become of her then? Fort Hays was a long distance off, and she would have great difficulty in reaching it, even under the most favor- able circumstances. In her present plight the task seemed impossible, and as the time passed without any apparent hope of finding those for whom she, was searching, her lot seemed indeed pitiful. She trembled at the thought of what-might possibly be- fall her, and a cold, settled despair crept upon her as she contemplated the unpleasant picture. Hark! what was that? She stopped to listen. Surely her ears had not de- ceived her. No, for there it was again, close at hand —the sharp, familiar voice of Vixen calling to her through the night! With a glad cry of welcome, she bounded quickly forward to greet with cordial embrace her old and cherished friend. comicbooks io - *. ie com