The Dugdale Millions — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

° 273 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. with considerable rapidity, and the three standing upor the track watched the light growing larger and larger as it approached. While they were thus occupied they heard a shout, and looking up they saw Dick on the roof of the tun- nel, at that point where it was guarded by a rail, struggling with two men. For amoment the three did not realize what the struggle meant. Soon, to their horror, they discovered that the two men were endeav- oring to thrust Dick over the precipice. Immediately that Lord Merrimount realized what they were trying to do, he shouted to Dick: ‘Fight the beggars hard. I am coming to you!”’’ With this he rapidly began the ascent of the rocks, not waiting to take the easier but longer means of the stairs. Dick was making a gallant struggle with the two men. He was holding his own, though his assailants redcubled their efforts when they saw Merrimount climbing rapidly to his assistance. ~ Horror-stricken, and Bessie almost frantic in her fear, the two girls watched from below the varying chances of the unequal struggle above. ‘The train in the tunnel was approaching them, its thundering noise falling more loudly upon their ears, They heeded it not, so intently were they watching Dick’s fierce struggle for life. Merrimount had climbed two-thirds of the distance, and was rapidly gaining the top, when a third man appeared and threw himself upon Dick. Against him Dick could not prevail. Inch by inch the three forced him to the edge of the rocks. Wallis screamed as she perceived that Dick was lost, but Bessie, in whom the blood had ceased to flow as she saw the lover, who but a brief half hour previous had imprinted his first kiss upon her lips, surely forced to his death, could utter neither moan nor shriek. ‘The agony of years was crowded into a brief moment. She was conscious of Comicboclk C@ 3