The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. “” 179 tossed into the cellar-way, they were surrounding the house. ‘Robinson, who was the only one about this place, stationed outside the house, saw them coming, and immediately volunteered to lead them. “When he entered, followed by eight or ten of the others, you and Esther and myself were already se- cured. The invaders met Persimmon Bill in the hall, backed by his three subordinates. There was a brief but desperate fight, during which the three assist- ants were killed, and Bill himself retired to an inner chamber, hare he locked himself in and swore he would kill the first man who entered. ‘Robinson, knowing my desire to capture the vil- lain with my own hands, and guessing immediately where I was confined, came with great haste to liberate me, first having stationed his followers be- fore the door. “What was his surprise to find that you were no longer with us? Before we could explain he led the ~ way to the door of the chief’s room. Of course, we - didn’t imagine the actual condition of your confine- ment. If we had, even in the remotest way, we should, of course, have come at once to your rescue, and let the matter of catching Bill rest until after- ward. But we supposed, of course, that the cellar was merely what it looked, a dry excavation, which might be used as a prison, nothing more. ‘“As it was, I had determined to take Persimmon . Bill, then and there. So I knocked on the door. There was no answer, and I knocked again. « ‘What do you want?’ came from within. ‘<‘T want to come in,’ said I. “«“Are you armed?’ ve ‘No.’ gS) co Eomicboo