The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. 419 CHAPTER XII. ESTHER’S JOURNEY. Ksther remained in her narrow compartment until some time after the last sounds died away in the dis- tance. She was far from comfortable in the confined space, but she reflected that the alternative of three or four hours amid uneasy surroundings, was far preferable to the misery which was implied by possi- ble capture by her blood-thirsty lover, and so man- aged to bear her load with brave patience. The time moved by with leaden wings. It seemed to her as if the instant when her persecutors should be out .of range would never arrive. And it was with the sincerest thankfulness that she perceived, through a convenient knot-hole, the retreat of the pursuing band. But even then she remained motionless, without making a sound to betray her presence. She was determined to be on the safe.side. What if they had forgotten something, and a member of their party should return just in time to discover her com- ing from her-hiding-place? No. She would avoid the possibility by remaining secreted a little while longer. | But when half an hour had passed, and she had seen nothing to arouse her suspicions, she slipped softly down to the bush-covered aperture, and push- | ing aside the boughs which had been placed there to hide the opening, crept out into the daylight. Everything was quiet on all sides. Nota branch comicbooks.co