The Prairie Detective — page 191: 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 that it 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 Esther,’”’ 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.’’ | ‘“Was Persimmon Bill that object?’’ a ‘“He was,”’ Eomicbooks.