The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

* 116 THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. we will talk of that another time. Let us return to Hatfield at once. He may need our aid.”’ They found the robber lying where he had fallen, loading the air with horrible imprecations. As soon as he learned that Robinson had caused his wound, he was wild with rage. ‘““Accident!’”’? he exclaimed, bitterly. ‘“‘You’re a lar! You did it on purpose !’’ ‘‘S-s-s-h !’? responded Rebinson, with a deprecating gesture. ‘*You horrify me by such base suspicions. Be calm, and let me dress your wound.” He lifted the bleeding villain into a half-upright | position, and then, with fingers not the gentlest in the world, proceeded to bind up his wound. Once, when no one was looking, he stooped over so his lips were close to Hatfield’s ear, and murmured: | “Think you’ll go away and leave me to be mur- dered next time?”’ The reply to this taunting speech was a terrible . oath, which was overheard by one of the men. The entire party more than suspected their former associ- ate of having been fully aware as to where his rifle was aimed when he fired the shot which was so paintul to their present companion. But they had no very violent affection for Hatfield, and so felt no ‘disposition to quarrel with the man they liked far the better of the two. While Robinson was busying himself with dressing the dusky robber’s wound—incidentally causing him as much pain as possible—the other Bloodsuckers were searching for the trail of Esther. As her guide had foretold, the instant they struck the limestone ledge they lost every traee. They searched in all directions, but were utterly nonplused. If she had vanished into the «air, they comicbooks com — 1 ol Seep a ke