The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

» — THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. 79 that he could scarcely have discovered the identity of the man he was talking with, even if he had been brought face to face with him. ‘I saw the chief to-day,’? he began. ‘‘The attack is arranged for to-night.”’ : In the alarm caused by this sudden announce- ment, Dan came very near betraying himself; but by a strong effort he checked the words which were on his lips, and said: ‘““Good enough! At what time will they be here?” ‘“About two o’clock. You will be ready for them, of course?’’ : “Yes, I will,’’ responded the detective, emphati- cally, forgetting fora moment his assumed charac- ter. | The change in his voice was noticed at once by Robinson, who started in his saddle, and gathered up the reins of his horse. ‘“Duped, by Heaven!’ he exclaimed. “‘But whoever you are, you shall never live to tell the tale.” And quick as thought his hand flew to the holster in which he carried his revolver. His motion was rapid, but fruitless; for during the foregoing conversation Ryan had crept noise- lessly around to the opposite side of his horse. At the first movement toward the pistol he rose from . the grass, bounded into the air, caught the villain around the neck with both hands, and dragged him to the ground in an instant. | With his sinewy fingers firmly clutched in Robin- son’s throat, and his knee upon his chest, Ryan spoke between his teeth, with terrible earnestness: ‘Make one sound, give one yelp, an’ I’ll wring yer neck like I’d choke a chicken, D'ye hear?” (ee) ‘ comicbooks