This periodical appears to be Chums, dated August 8, 1900. The featured serial is "Fought Out at the Front" by E. C. Heath Hosken, a military adventure narrative set during the South African War of 1899–1900.
In Chapter XXXI–XXXII, protagonist Jack Scarlett discovers the mortally wounded Paulus Van Kock, his mysterious adversary, on the battlefield near Dundee Hill. Before dying, Van Kock confesses he was hired to kill Scarlett. Scarlett recovers letters revealing the conspiracy: Scarlett's uncle and guardian, Phineas Baldwin, partnered with Van Kock in a scheme to murder Scarlett and claim a £20,000 life insurance policy, having already embezzled Scarlett's £60,000 inheritance. Baldwin instructed Van Kock to intercept Scarlett upon arrival in Natal and arranged for the hired agent "Bull-frog" to track him. After reading the incriminating correspondence, Scarlett and his friend Gilly Morant devise a plan to confront Baldwin at Durban by impersonating the deceased Van Kock.
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About this artifact
- Date
- August 8, 1900
- Rights
- Public domain — free to view, share, and reuse.
- Restoration
- Digitally restored and hosted by ComicBooks.com · high-resolution version available.
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