The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

_ 182 THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. Followed by the others, Ryan left the room. Dan and Esther were the-only ones remaining in the apartment, excepting Persimmon Bill, who was still senseless from the blow he had received. The two were silent for a little space. Somehow, they felt constrained in each other’s presence. ‘The sensation was a new one to both of them. Perhaps it was because they had never been alone together before—at least, not since they had become thor- oughly acquainted with each other. The stillness _ became oppressive at length, and they both began to realize thatit must be broken before long, or it would become seriously embarrassing. ‘“Ahem!’’ said Dan, after a while. Then he relapsed into his former condition. But about that time a new idea struck him. It would do to start the conversation with anyhow. ‘*Do you remember, Miss Ksther,’’ he began, ‘‘that once we had a brief talk about my identity ?”’ “Yes, sir, 1 believe I do,” she responded, without lifting her eyes. Dan smiled. That ‘‘sir’? seemed rather strained, everything considered. “Well,’’ he continued, “I promised at that time to tell you on some future occasion all about myself— or at least I intimated that I would do so. ButI could not well keep my promise until the object of my stay in this country had been accomplished. But now, as I firmly believe, I am at liberty to talk with entire freedom.”’ “Then I am to infer that your ‘object’ has been at- tained.”’ } “Certainly.” i ‘“Was Persimmon Bill that object?’’ Sy ‘“He was,”’ EComicbooks. co