The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE, _ 157 mind had gone back to the problem of overtaking the Bloodsuckers. It was evident to him that the flames had been kindled by the pursued, with a double purpose. They would, if they succeeded, both obliterate the trail and destroy the pursuers. The scheme had been well planned and neatly executed, but it had failed. What had to be done next? And why had the trail of the robbers taken such a circuitous course? Surely, with their force they could have whipped all that was left of the hunting party. Why then had Persimmon Bill taken such pains to throw them off the scent? Another thing the scout could not quite understand. That was the trail crossing the river from. the west- ward. Onthe whole, Ryan was pretty badly mud- dled. | “Well,” he muttered, “Ill sleep on it to-night, an’ in the mornin’ I may be able to hit a leetle nigher the truth nor | hev yet.’’ The friends ate a hearty supper, and were soon wrapped in heavy slumber, while Vixen assumed her old position as sentry. It was very nearly daylight when they were awakened by a signal from the wild-cat. Listening intently they could hear sounds made by a horse approaching rapidly. Who the rider could be, and why he should be traveling alone in such evident haste across the seared and blackened prai- rie, they could not imagine. The horse came nearer and nearer at a full run. Ryan looked at Vixen. If it was an enemy, she would be sure to indicate as much by growling and showing other signs of displeasure. She seemed to cS cComicboo co