The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

— 96 THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. could not move hand or foot. There was a strange sensation around her. It was like some strong in- ternal cord holding her muscles in its power. Again she tried to sit up. It was impossible for her to move. The strange feeling about her heart increased, and grew stronger and more powerful every instant. It was a vague yet subtle bond, which held her as firmly asa chain. She knew not how to explain the strange dullness which seemed to be growing upon her. In fact the imprisonment was rather agreeable than otherwise. She seemed to yield gradually to the new influence. A delicious languor began to en- velop her senses. It was a calm, delightful feeling of repose. As the sense of fascination grew upon her, she felt attracted toward a given point. Her eyes wandered mechanically whither the subtle charm drew them, and she was utterly powerless to change their course. Indeed there seemed to be no reason why she should strive to avoid the spell which guided her vision. Surely there was no harm in basking in the mellow sunlight, and giving way to the sweet rest- fulness which encompassed her. Slowly her eyes were drawn toward that single spot. She could not avoid the inclination to look straight down into her lap. As her vision rested upon that one particular point she became convulsed with horror. Her eyes dilated, and glared with an agony of fear and repulsion. All the pleasant qualities of her lethargy departed in the smallest fragment of a sec- ond. In their place remained a terrible sensation of dread. But horror-struck and terrified as she was the strength did not come back to her limbs, and her sinews still refused to do their office. s comicbooks.com