The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

72 THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. Just after sunrise, an hour later than the murder had been made known, the body was deposited ina new-made grave, with the homely services at the command of the hunters. The party, then, with heavy hearts, prepared to resume their journey. Hatfield had not yet returned to consciousness, and it was an open question whether he ever would. They knew he was not dead, because there was an almost imperceptible pulsation over the place where his heart ought to have been, if he had possessed such a commodity, which I doubt. It was some time before they could decide what to do with him. Some wanted to go on and leave him lying on the prairie. Others desired to wait until he should regain his senses, and then try him for the murder, and hang him. One or two of the sterner members of the company advocated blowing out his brains and leaving him to furnish food for the wolves and vultures. But the majority would hear of no such work. They said it was too much like the crime with which he himself had been. charged. That would not be justice, even though he did: richly deserve death. It would be murder. They were still perplexed about the question, when Ryan, after consulting a few moments with Sycamore Dan, came to the rescue. Said he: ‘“Peeraps, feller-citizens, seein’ as how me an’ my pardner hez rooted out this game, so far, ye’ll low me to make a sijjeschun.”’ That was just what they wanted, and they sig- nified their compliance with his wish at once. “Wal,” he continued, ‘‘I propose thet we cart him ‘long till to-night, anyhow. Ef he’s a-goin’ to come comicbooks.com |