The Halfpenny Marvel, Vol. 5, No. 109 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

had already been despatched, who, finding their victim on & similar errand te themselves, acted at the instigation of their superiors, and, by a plausibly coneocted story, induced Efilda. to acvept their credentials. Being » couple of Malay women, they professed to bring a letter from the doctor, in which he expressed a wish for Hilda to join him in Hainan, “Tcaught the very next boat out,” cried Hilda, “and never suspected treachery till we landed. I was a terrible coward, though my captors treated me very well. They intended keep- ing me till you, uncle, were able to buy my ransom with the sunke-wort. We left Hainan a fortnight after { landed, and, reaching the mainland by a Jarge junk, traversed through an immense forest. The purty seemed to be well poated in your movements, and those of the wretched man whom the Chinese pwate brought in.” ‘Then Hilda explained how the savages had eaptured tho pirate and his band, and how, presenting them to the priests of the Temple of Punishment, they had been released, with the exception of Tquorn, Nat long rgo a report went the rounds of the papers that @ jewel of extraordinary brilliance had been found in a huge speciinen of the sheesh-nag. Tire doctor smiled. “ Ali?” remarked he, “so far from being a myth, the snake- wort is a terrible reality. Tet its influence in future repay the Btrugele it hos cost to retain.” So which Hilda and Gordou would reply that the stone had its artues, aud not the least of which had been the orthodox Anile to these startling adventures. THE END. in te ee ee — “UNDER NELSON'S FLAG,” (TRAFALGARB,) taly ordered the mastiff to enter tle Wbrary. Then she shut the dow, an‘! lucrying upstairs, returned as soon av the carriage was at the deor, “TF you will allow me," said Meredy, “YT will ride beside the driver, sa that Tomy direct him to the spot where the poor young fellow Lies.” veg lly gladly agreed to this, and Meredy mounted the box. They were now nearing the spot where Alee Jay, when Aloredy drew a pistol siowly from his pocket. Then, with the lef hand, te struck ihe old man's hat from hie head, and with the pistol-burt dealt him a murderous blow. The coachman pitched from the box into the road, where he lay s@seless, v | Lily, who had noticed what was going on, uttered a cry for help; but none were near that lonely spot to hear her, and, as she teied to spring from the earriage, Meredy seized her Wrirt with a strength that bruised the flesh, At that inoment the horses started off at a rapld pace, Which increased cach instant, until the carriage wae dnshing olong the road at a fearful speed, ; and be releu-ed bis hold of Vidy's wrist. Before they had proeeeded mauy hundred yards there was a fearful concussion. The carriage swayed on its whecls, then over it went, and the plunging horses, sinaching the traces, galloped on, Lily was uninjured, and she soon sprang from the carriage : but Meredy, who had also oseaped with a few bruises, had already extricated imaclf frora the overturned velricle, and, directly Lily sprang out, he again caught hold of ber wrist. "No, no, my pretty bird!” he cried. “ You do not esca pt me xo easily. Lam going to- keep you captive for some time, if only to frighten your precicus brother !”’ * Release me, you ignoble coward!" eried Lily, struggling to free lier hand from the rufian's grasp. “My brother will chastise you for this insult. Help!’ she cried once more, as he tried to drag her along the road. But this time her ery was auswered. A brave friend, and one who would die for her, was pear, as a deep growl pro- claimed. Carlo had escaped from the library and followed the earriage. | Lily heard the growl, bur, fierce though it wes, it cansedd her no fear. She guessed at once that it was‘the mastiff, “Seize him, Carlo!” she cried. “Help, good dog!” Carlo needed no second bidding. Uttering a howl of rage, the great mastiff sprang at Meredy, and, seizing him by the breast. shook him as though he had been a rat. The terrified wretch uttered o shriek of despair, and tried to draw his pistol, but the great dog had him at his mercy, and he showed his none. : Fearful that the mastiff would kill the shricking wretch, Lily tried to call the dog off; but Carlo meant to have his own way this time, and Meredy knew it to his cost. Before Lily could get the dog off Meredy was bilten in a terrible mauner, oo ee ee ce ee 0 — eee eee Meredy was terrified now,. M | THE “HALEPRENNY MARVEL” 2 9. % and, even when he was released and struggled: te. his fea, Carl@ stood in front-of him, growling furiously. ' You had better go,” said hily. --° 7 ) -Mad with rage- and pain, the rufian-took-a. fow steps along the road;.then, drawing his pistol, he turned, and deliberately fired at Lily, | — , a A ~The ball did not strike her, but it whizzed ao. clase past her fuce that she uttered a cry of terror. Meredy darted along the read; but he heard'the panting breath of the: mastiff as ib leaps after him. Ina very few bounds Carlo came up;, then Mered shrieked with terror and pain. as the fangs fastened: in his flesh. Before the dog would release his hold Meredy was go fearfully mauled that it was as much as he could do to stagger to his feet, and thus he made his way back to.the tavern. Carlé walked first one side of his mistress, then the other, ay. he cecasionally uttered fierce growls, as though to show hy was quite ready for a little more fighting. Presently he stopped, and Lily, hearing footsteps along thes road, kept close to ker brave protector, who stood perfeory motionless, growling angrily. As the footsteps approachyd the mastiff moved slowly forward. “Ys that you, Carlo?’ demanded a voice which Lily recy. nised as the conchman's. Then the dog uttered a joyful ha-t, and, when the old man came up, Laly told him what }h. i happened. The mastiff scemed now to quite understand what wa- quired of him, for he waiked a short distance ahead of Li!- and the coachman, and presently he stapped at a clump +‘ bushes by the side of the road, “Steady, Carlo! Ite a friend, boy! Mlizs lily. Come, come! cfon"t give way.” The old man knew that the fright which eansed the cateiiey of tily’y breath was the sight of w motionless form te... stretched on the ground beside the bushes. aria steppe up to it; then, raisme his head in the «+» howled ieourntully, and Lily sobbed outright. Lean on my avn, “Phere. thece, my child!” said the oll man, who had iw. , her when a baby. “Be brave, like you always are, Mie - | Wiss! John diel) beside the prostrate form, and Lily claspert -; hands woth the rings she wore cut into the flesh. Bh: ; recopnived Aleo’s paliid face, and she felt as though Wie wc! coachiman’s next words would be her ceath-blow. The old man placed his hund over Alec's heart. * Ee lives, murs," be said, Then lily Enelt beside her hero, and no mortal heer oor word: ot thaulfulues-. Vie pisfol-ball had grazed Alec’s temple awl stunned + i: Now lie begun fo show SUPE of returayne CONMCTONSTNE Se before many incites had elapsed he was able tu rise to. feel with Joliu’s asairstauce, faly samported bin the other side, and, after much dite: an’ inaey resis, for Alec was badly wouncled, thes rear. the ongeston, where they were met by Lady Richardson, had returned, and the ductor for whom Lily had vent. “soc down. joung eit.” said the doctor. “A few miu. rest. chen we shall be vble to get you upstairs, Dear, this is a baal job, but no doubt we shall saon be well. is perfectly quiet now. LT cannot allow the slightest exertene in” When Daly told all that had happened, Alee kept he. i + Axel on her as he listened to every word, “Nuw, my dear young sir,” said the doctor, who ware Alec's face as it grew very stern, “To aoust really jusist -. your tomatntag perfectly calm. Excttement in your press wonnded condition might prove fatal, What was the man is- Miss Raehardson 7’ . “Tall anc dark,’ replied Lily. “Te was a very big 7 aud he had a deep sear down one cheek.” Fy Alee sprang to his feet, and, without knowing it, drew 4 sword, The little decter sprang awey from him, but boty felt no more tear than she had done when standing beside tis apgry mastiif, | “ By Teaven, thet ian shall answer to me for this villan.. cried Alec. “ As sure as T am a living man J will strik. ': down for that deed of cowardice! Pardon me, ladies. Sid deeds madden me." . “Ay dear young sir, pray be calm,’ said the do ov. “Where are you going?” “To evenge the deed!” cried Ales. “Vo ga out in that wounded condition is certain dea’) eried ths dector. “ He is the worst patient I ever hact- it were wot for your ladyship I would throw up the case. Ue should be stopped by foree!? “4 if “Tam afraid none of us are quite competent to do that.” -) + Lady iichardson, smiling at the doctor's indignation, “Sin pose you try to stop him by force of persuasion, Lily?" Biushing slightly at her mother’s words, Lily buyried tue the hall, and endeavoured to restrain the young heutenapt oon his purpo:ze. : , | “Ye ia iunpossible!’? replied Alec. “‘ What would *. > brother think of me? What should I think of myrcl | ro Our New Serial Story—“DICK DANVERS, THE YOUNG VENTRILOQUIST,” by Claud Heathcote. Author of “ The Scapegrace of Swishall School,” “Clive Bertram, the Hero of Crofton Schoal,” &c., &c. 4 « ‘s . COMME OOOKS. CON