The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

162 THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. “Tmpossible!’? said Dan in much the same tone. “Tg it? Just wait here a second.’’ Robinson rose, and waded out into the stream. He soon returned with three or four flat rocks, which he lifted from the bed of the river. ‘See if there are not marks of fire on those,’’ he said. ‘‘And if that don’t convince you I’ll bring every stone that was used in the forge.” The look of doubt on Ryan’s face passed quickly away, and was replaced by one that was half won- der, half chagrin. ‘“Outwitted, by hokey! Wal, may I be everlast- ingly chawed: up, ef I ever see sich a smart trick in my life. Wal, goon with the music. Gosh! what a peart cuss that Persimmon Bill must be!’’ : “This circle was partly for the purpose of leading pursuers astray, and partly to lay a train of powder. That was to be touched off when we were sure that we had our men where we wanted them. Well, I had charge of the keg which held the powder, and as I knew you would be the first to follow us, I plugged up the hole one night, and left a gap nearly ten miles wide without a particle of the stuff in it. My object was to get away from them and warn you in time to save you from the terrible death in store for you, by leading you out of the circle through this gap. “But, unfortunately for me, Hatfield owed me a grudge, and watched me mighty close. After the trail was laid, he took all but, five of us, who were left to fire the powder, and went to join the chief. On the day when we crossed your trail the last time, and knew you were here, it was determined to touch off the train. I was very tired from my past exer- tions, and so fell asleep. I had horrible dreams, and comicbooks.com —