The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

132 THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. “Vou are a generous man,” she observed, “‘even if you are a trifle mysterious. I like you for your kind- ness of heart.’” A great throb came in the detective’s throat. He felt a strange thrill of pride at receiving praise from that source, and yet he could not explain his enjoy- ment. It was something entirely new to him. Al- most before he had time to think he blurted out: “There is no one in this ‘world, Miss Esther, from whom I would rather hear those words.”’ It was an awkward compliment, but it seemed to give him relief. The expression was entirely spon- taneous, and to have checked it would have cost him a struggle. On the whole he was glad he had spoken. Up to this time Ryan had been entirely silent. The three sat so close together that they could distin- guish each other, dimly, through the darkness, and now they noticed that the scout was peering fixedly at the ground, as if he would read there the answer to some question which perplexed his mind. Dan and Esther sat there watching him some seconds be- fore speaking. Still he did not move. ‘Well, pard,’’ said the detective, at length, ‘‘have you nothing to say?’’ : “Yes, I hev,’’ responded Ryan, after another mo- ment of contemplative silence. ‘‘You folks hev made a purty fine picter o’ this thing, but I wouldn’t be afraid to bet a small stake thet ye’re jest about ez badly sold ez ever ye was.”’ “Sold! Why, what do you mean?’’ ‘“Wal, in course it ain’t none o’ my bizness, ef ye both b’leve what ye say, an’ ez majorities rule, in this free an’ enlightened country, why I ain’t got nothin’ partickler to say, beyond sijjistin’ thet ye’re a comicboo ~~