The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

~ * THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. 81 quietly reposing.. Dan was carrying Robinson’s feet, while Ryan upheld the other end. Accidentally, or by design, the scout dropped his burden, and the robber’s head came in violent contact with the ground. ‘“‘T axes yer parding,’’ said Ryan, with mock sol- emnity. “Did it hurt ye?’’ Robinson replied ~with a terrible anathema, ac- cusing the scout with having allowed him to fall on purpose. ‘“My darlin’,’’ continued the hunter, in an apolo- getic tone, as he picked up the robber by the hair of his head, ‘*I wouldn’t hurt ye for the world. Don’t ye know how much I love ye? Go ahead, Dan.’’ In five minutes they had arrived at their destina- tion, and in ten the whole camp was aroused and preparing to greet the Bloodsuckers as soon as they should arrive. | Robinson and Hatfield were tossed side by side upon the ground, and employed the time in abusing each other for having “‘bungled the job,”’ as they phrased it. Then the camp relapsed into silence, the men lying upon their arms, waiting for the time of action, while the girls sat together in their tent, anxious, yet hopeful. The time sped by rapidly. At two o’clock, sharp, the sound of many horses was heard, their hoofs clattering loudly upon the frozen earth. Nearer and nearer they came, and the hunters rose upon their knees, clutching their rifles firmly to resist the at- tack. Suddenly, the sounds ceased. The Blood- suckers had stopped. “They’re gittin’ ready to charge,’’ said Ryan, calmly, ‘Stand solid, boys, an’ kill every derned cEomicbooks ——_