The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

42 THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. great blade was stained where clotted blood had been.”’ Esther shuddered at the thought. “A bad man,”’ said her father, laughing. ‘‘Carries— his knife in his boot! Anything else?’ “Yes, that was not all. When he saw that I had detected the murderous weapon, he seemed to be taken with a strange whim. In fact, he was ever a moody creature. At one time he would be gay, light- hearted, and happy; then for.a week ata time he would exhibit a spirit of unflagging ugliness. At those times he was silent, ill-tempered, and de- pressed. Well, this time I am telling you about, his mood seemed to be a reckless one. He said: “Having discovered one of my weapons, you may as well see the rest.’ “With that he pulled from the back of his neck another knife, the mate of the first. It also was spotted and stained. Then from his belt, where they had hung concealed under his loose coat, he drew two heavy revolvers. From his left boot-leg there came a third, All these weapons he placed on the floor in a row, and then regarded them with an odd expression I could not understand. In fact, what in the world a man could want with all that armament is beyond my comprehension. ’’ Ksther’s father had stopped rubbing his rifle, and sat looking at his daughter with a strange and ques- tioning glance. The old man’s suspicions were awakened. ‘“Well,’’ he said, ‘“‘what next?’’ “I asked him what could be the necessity of going about like a walking gun-shop. “Suddenly he riveted his eyes upon my face with cS Eomicboo - if 7. , < . ’ : ¢, > 2 Rt ee