The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. 137 to him I could not hold up my head—I should sink with shame.”’ “TI can understand your feelings, Miss Esther,’’ said Dan, “‘and admire you for what you have said. | It shows that you area brave and self-sacrificing girl, and one that any man might be proud to num- ber on his list of acquaintances. But have you fully weighed the danger, the hardship, the great risk of the journey we contemplate?” ‘““T have, sir, thought very fully upon the subject, and you will believe me when I say that no danger can beso great, no hardship so severe, no risk so hazardous as to deter me from my wish. I am no child, and I come from blood that does not run in the veins of cowards or people who hesitate. Of course, if you do not desire my companionship, I shall not force myself upon you. But I tell you that ,as certain as the sun rises to-morrow morning, I shall go to the rescue of my father. If I do not go with you, I shall go alone!’’ She spoke with impetuous vigor, and where she made reference to her ancestry, there was a ring of pride in her voice, which had a deep significance. Her friends had not yet fully recovered from the surprise occasioned by her expressed determination, and so did not reply at once to her fiery speech of reiteration. “Well,’’? asked Dan of his-partner, after a pause, ‘what do you say, Ryan?” “T vote ‘yea,’’’ responded the scout, good-hu- moredly. ‘‘She may prove of use to us in the big job we hev got on hand. Atenny rate she won’t hin- der. All I’m afraid of is thet she’ll not be able to — stan’ the journey.’ But Esther assured ‘them that she could endure “S €O Sei GComicboo