The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

ete A Aes Se THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. 169 “Because it don’t leave more than four men about the place—that is, four besides the chief.”’ eon we shall have an easier time to catch our —man,’’ observed Dan, with a smile. XN ‘‘But still,’? added Ryan, with a Tahiods shake of his head; “‘the job ain’t no soft snap, for I hev allers heert thet Persim William was a thunderin’ hard man to get away with. 1d like to see him. I’ve had many a skrimmage with his men, but never yet had a chance to tackle the poss nimself.’’ “Well, if we get over the ground as fast as we have been doing for the past day, your desire will be gratified ere the sun goes down to-night.”’ Robinson’s prophecy proved to be correct, for, just as the god of day leaned toward the high crest of mountains to the westward, the horses loped over the brow of a sharp hill, full in sight of a large log house situated in a picturesque hollow. T'wo men stood near the door-way, and a third sat close at hand, under the shade of a large tree. A moss-bound stream flowed a few yards in the rear of the dwell- ing. As thes approached, the man who sat beneath the | tree rose and scanned them closely. They were soon near enough to distinguish features, and the proprietor of the place, as soon as he was satisfied of the identity of those approaching, resumed his seat. Dan instantly recognized Bill Creighton; the man~ he had come so far to seek. His fingers thrilled with a strange desire to clutch his enemy by the throat, but choked back the sensation and retained his com- posure. As soon as Ryan saw the stranger, he started * vio- lently, and he turned a trifle paler. The blood rushed to his eyes, turning the whites to a Guy red color. comicbooks €O