The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRAIRIE DETECTIYE. 151 led up to the bank of the stream. The party had been three whole days completing the circle, and it was nearly dusk when they came in sight of the big flat rock again. ‘Wasted time!’’ said Dan, in tones which showed his discontent. ‘‘Halloa! what’s that?” With his index finger he pointed toward a white placard fastened upon a pole which was erected in a crevice upon the rock. The friends spurred their horses out into the stream. In a few moments they were where they could read the inscription traced in black letters upon the pane The legend ran thus: “THIS IS A HOT COUNTRY! LOOK OUT FOR FIRE! COMPLIMENTS OF PERSIMMON BILL.”’ ‘*What does it mean?’’ asked the detective, some- what puzzled by the enigmatic words. Just then a flash of light illuminated the air. Looking: in the direction from which it came, they saw that there was a great blaze, which spread in every direction with the rapidity of lightning. Their eyes sprang from one point of the compass to the other, but only to be met at every turn by the same yellow light. “Again I say, what does it mean?” were Dan’s words, as his cheek turned a shade paler. Ryan was very quiet, but his countenance was as batt: as death. Vixen stood erect an instant, and then thrust her : muzzle into the air with a wild and mournful scream. Esther, as pale as Sycamore Dan, waited eagerly for the scout’s words of explanation. (ele) Eomicbooks