The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. ol moments in an undertone, already indicated, and then, unconsciously, their voices grew louder. ‘“Have I not told you,’’ she said, indignantly, ‘never to speak to me upon that subject again?”’ “Yes. But how can I avoid it, when itis so near my heart?’’ ‘It must be avoided. How, I care not.’’ ‘‘But why are you so cold toward me? I have some money, and could provide you with a comfort- able home. Then, too, 1am not altogether ugly to look at, and, greater than all, I love you! Is not that enough to make you merciful to me?”’ The man looked at her with an appealing expres- sion in his eyes. Marian was not hard-hearted, but she thoroughly despised this person, and could scarcely endure his presence, not counting the tenac- ity with which he urged his repugnant suit upon her. She could not avoid pitying him, because she knew his passion was hopeless. She had the fam- ily trait of firmness, and having once fairly made up her mind no mortal power could change her de- termination. Turning in her saddle so.as to face him squarely, he said, without a quiver in her rich voice: “Dick Hatfield, [am sorry that you have ever thought of me other than asafriend. I am sorry that love for me has entered your heart. But as it is so, and through no encouragement on my part, I cannot remedy or help the matter. I do not love you. That being the fact, | would not marry you if you were as rich as Croesus, and as handsome as Apollo. When I say it I mean it, every word, and it is as useless for you to attempt to alter my decision as it would be for you to try and fly to the summit of Gomicboo <S (ele)