The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

_ - THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. 1351 his frens. Heis an infernal scoundrel, thet’s what. he is, an’ ef ever we meet again I’ll stick his hide so full o’ cold lead thet it’ll look like a nutmeg grate— I will, so help me——”’ “Stop !’? exclaimed Esther, so suddenly that the scout did not finish his sentence, and his uplifted hand fell to his side. “You will do nothing of the sort.’’ ‘““Won’t I? Wal, p’raps ye’ll tell me why not.’’ The scout’s tone indicated that he was annoyed at Esther’s interference. ‘Listen to my story, Posey ivan: and if you still continue in your thirst for revenge, I shall not say you nay.” “Wal, fireaway then. But I’m blamedif I kin forgive a chap what plays me so low down ez this one hez. Great snakes!’ Esther began her story, and related as briefly as possible the incidents of her flight, adventures, and final meeting with the ex-Bloodsucker. She laid particular stress upon the fact that his cunning had saved her from captivity, and pictured in glowing colors the meeting between Hatfield and his former companion. The partners heard her through in silence. When she had finished Sycamore Dan drew a long sigh~of -relief. ‘Miss Esther,’’ he exclaimed, heartily, ‘“‘I am glad to hear you give this explanation. In my profession it is the custom to believe every man a guilty wretch until he is proven innocent. but your vindication of this fellow Robinson has been so complete that I cannot for a moment doubt his integrity and the sincerity of his professed reform.”’ Esther looked at him gratefully. Comicbooks €oO