The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. - 181 “Just then Robinson recalled you to our memory, and he started down to this room, where we told him you were, with the intention of finding you. Bill Creighton, with hands heavily ironed, came with him. Robinson, of course, knew nothing about the cellar, and had it not been for Vixen, Bill would un-— _doubtedly have led him off the scent. “Well, Creighton had just begun to get over the surprise of meeting me here, and no doubt was sorry he had given up so easily, for, when Robinson was fishing you out of the cellar he made a sudden break to escape. As he came through the door he ran plump into my arms; and somehow, before I thought, I struck him with my fist.”’ ‘“How long ago was thet’’ asked Ryan. ‘‘About twenty minutes. ”’ “Oh! Then of course he hain’t well enuff to do much talkin’ jest yet, is he?’’ ~ “Not verymuch. He is lying on the floor over there. ’’ Ryan was able to get up by this time, and rose at ‘once to have another look at the man who had with one blow robbed him of mother and sister. Just then the door opened, and several of the hunt- ing party entered. They had been searching in vain for the spot where Marian and her father were hid- den, and came in, with disappointed faces, to tell the discouraging news. That immediately diverted Ryan’s attention from the subject which had en- erossed him. “Can’t find ’em,’’ he ejaculated. ‘‘Don’t talk hke thet! They must be found, ef we hev to rip up every board in the hull blasted shebang. Come with me. Great snakes! J’// find ’em, or I won’t leave a’piece o’ this shanty big enough to pick yer teeth with !’’ EComicboo cS con