The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. 77 fully. The scout noticed the movement, and smiled. Then patting her head he continued: ‘But ef she can’t talk she understans evrythin’ that’s sed to her jest ez well ez if she was ana- tive. She an’ I hez ben pardners onto the border for purty nigh six year, now, an’ we sticks to each other jist ez pardners orto. Don’t we, my gal?’’ Vixen rose from her recumbent position and climbed upon Ryan’s chest reaching forward so as to lick his face. Dan was deeply affected by the evident warm feeling which existed between them. He was on the point of passing some comment when the strange pet pricked up her ears as if a sound had fallen upon her hearing. She sprang lightly from her perch on her master’s breast, and ran up the trunk of a partly fallen tree lying near by. Throwing back her head, she sniffed the air as if her keen scent had detected some strange property in the atmosphere. ‘“‘Wal, Vixen,’’ said Ryan, in a low tone, a is it ye smell?”’ The animal trotted back to his feet, and uttered a low and ominous growl. ‘What does she mean?’ asked the detective. ‘‘She means thet our man is comin’.”’ _ “How can you divine her thoughts?”’ “Wal, I reckon it’s a kind of instink. It ain’t very. often thet I make a mistake, though.” Then turning to Vixen, he added: “Who is it, gal? Is it Robinson?’ The ominous growl was repeated. “Thar!’’ exclaimed Ryan, in tones of triumph. _“Didn,’t I tell ye so?” Gomicboo cS co