The Halfpenny Marvel, Vol. 5, No. 109 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

: ‘ ‘ ey da 5 ~ ed ‘op “ * . a 25 ee at oe . - : mA . : oy 1 a : ‘a ay ( % fo*s Pa “ag ’ ‘ \ his etms, and essayed to return, But the flames and smoks dreve him'back. ‘Thrice he repeated the attempt; then, seaing it useless, stepped back, and half carrie@, half dragged the horrified traveller over tha scattered déGris in the rear. For some minutes he was hidden from the onlookers; then a hundred voives echoed a hearty cheer ag Gordon reappeared, carrying his living burden. | “dump?” he ered. | But the man wae eliher too terrified or unable to do sa; for, swaying to and fro, he would have fallen backward if Haverlock had not been there to eateh bim. seeing that assistance was urgently needed, two or three of the bolder epirite dashed oyer the burning wreckage, and carried the terrified passenger into a piace of safety. Waverlock, left to himsclf, <kiffully eluded the devouring fianies; then, taking a flying leap, he almost cleared the obstacles. But, alas! the smoke blinded him, and he alighted just within the circle cf Are. A ery of horror ress from the crowd, while several ran for- ward, and dragg@ed lan ont. But the fall had rendeced Haverlock uncouseious, “Carry him across to the Hall!’ exclaimed Dr, Bruce. “T will ae to him end the poor fellow he so bravely reseued.” The doctor was net alone, foe on his left arm he supporicd the young girl whom WUlaverlock Had extricated frem the burning wreckage. “Ta he dead, uncle’ ehe faltered, ae the neighhours started with ther unaconsewous burden. ead ® No, ehald: a dit knecked abou. thay all’ But tle Goctory onlimism was more upparent than real, ag, with » Woman ¢ upiek itustion, hid tuece soon detected, dt wer an adenious half-hour whieh sneceeded their arrivad at the Ball, ‘Mhen tue dector explarued thar the young mun had regained cossmouseucs. and onty needed a good night’s resi ia be ay wel as She best of them, “ Bute tee added eu iv, “we mist be awas. Phere are others tase: to. dT jeave our ying hero and bis reseved friend in the «Large of my niece. dlraven be thanked that she has been spared '" rm aa ne ee ee , . . :; . Phe worthy men furiin away ou hia ecxrand of mercy, leaving, as he hal evpesscmd i. Daveriock and the‘ stranger ta the care of hig niece. fad be but known how fate, in her my*terjous way, was busy spinmug the thread which should unite those three lives i & saanner ag strange as if was to be unespected, he might have hesitated ere lis butiy form was lost to sight in the dense fog. But Dr. Brace did nat concern himself just then with pro- babilities. Tis profession called him where the dying and the wyyred were erving for help. Still, he was surprised when, returning late that might, he found that one of his guests had . declined his hospitality under the plea of urgent business eLewhere. “soon pulled himself together,” remarked the doctor, @ bttle oettled, “Don't forget, unele.”” responded Ylilda Armitage, “the poor man tay lave a wife andl children awaiting his arrival somewhere.’ "Maybe. iaybe,” replied the doctars “but Mm glad te ree nave patlaat foend has not deserted us likewise.” " faderd, Dove hau some dificully to persuade hum to remain,” evelanined Phileas arelily. “ Fioguence tromphang again?” laughed the doctor. adding rerioualy: “Str } ewe you a debt of gratitude for the gallant manner ia whieh yon rescued my antece, Her arrival, though unexpected, 1. nevertheless invest weleome, and, under the eir- cumstances, oiest opportune. Whoever you are, or whatever you are, fever tn need of a friend remember Wallace Bruce.” And the worthy practitioner, in his exeess of gratitude, almost dislocated bis gmest's baud. “Thope Ate. Haveriock will aceepi my very grateful thanks olan, evil }Tilda. | ACremarh vhich Gordon Haverlock secmrd bugely tu appre- mate, Somehow he telt strangely drawn fo these peaplh, nace and niece; he, Cerdon Haverleek, whoa had travelled the world thrice over, and was, pevhaps, betler known in the highways apd bvways of Caleutta, Hour Keng, or Pekor, than anid {he multiple twinings of Londen: he whe had coen life in its thapsand phaces, who had scorned fellowship, and laurhed at any warner feeling, and all-the warm glow «of aympethy and interest which his host difused so skilfully, 6 | j In a few words he diseloved his identity, and his naine wags ret wnifamiler to Sis listeners, The doetor reeipriested + and frordon learnt that Wallace Bruce was 2 scientist of no mean repute: and whot was somehow far mnce interesting Lo the tvavelior, he learit the shert histery of Hilde Armitage, te remembered Tony afterwards that the fair girl, thongh on orphan, har one etaunch fmend—to wit, fer naele---snd in the time to come the recoljection gave him comfert. The night wos far sdveneed when the little party retired to rest. The events of the evening helped to prolong and deepen. 3 “THE PHANTOM ‘MOUNTAIN® | Freon -, ‘taf. rAd \ o— wre > e 2) 6 4 ‘- S59 pSSsry! Sass as PS he : Oo SAS 7 any ONE ee We ome: me Le ~~ < a 97) ‘ their shumbers, otherwise they weuld have heard'the ominous sound of 9 window-ceatch ily back, and ‘subsequently the stealthy movements of a midnight marauderyas, ‘making his way froin the reay of the old’ housé, he erept inch by inch, an step by step, till, with a smothered cry of triumph, he gaing the doctor’s study, and, quickly fastening the door, lit ths vas and made a dart for a scintillating object on the mante}- ahelf encased in a small glass frame. “The omen, the omen! At last ’tis mine, after years of evgarch. Whom have I not slain in the hope of possessing ti. priceless gem, the suake-wort? Mnglish fool!’’ apostroph: 4} the desperate villain; “if you did but know the virtue of ti: stone you would move heaven and earth to retain it. Pit too late! The hands of Jauora,-the rich trader of Tyka, ¢alt wax fat on its virtues. Now can no harm assail Iquorn ths Magnificent!” And, heetily darkening the room, the sirens intruder crept softly through the passage, and as softly pulir-d the window down. Then, pulling up the lappet of his coat. as he liad done once before that night, he hurried noisele -\y into the dark, unwholesome night, possessed of a power such «3 tradition asserted excelled all ather power this mundane worl) eould boast. CHAPTER If. Hilda's Dream—The Vhefe Discovered—Conster iin. tion--The Doctors Terror--On the Track—Too hate ! Jiarly the following moruing Gordon was astir. He met a. host and Uilda Armitage in the breakfast-room, and the thor. sat down to a sinoking repast. “Do you know. uncle, J had a most horrible dream {:-t night, and can’t get rid of the recollection,” exelammed Eo. ag the meal waa half finished. “1 dreamt that you and Haverloc: were fighting » lot of black giants in some stra: country--- great Heree ereaturca, who threatencd every moni to oveepower you. ‘Then the earth wevrned to open and osc low both of gaaup. It seemed so ceal, L can’t help shuddesicg now.” : | | "Woll, well, Retle woman, you mustn't sit up latu ay: or you'll dresm nest we've been hacking each other to pur like a couple of Boriieo yaks,” laughed the docior, — t4. Haverlouk 7! But whatever remark the Jatter “might have made was :1s short by the uneeremonious entrance of the housekeeper | two af her subordinates. “What ever ia the matter, Mre. Bevis? you had seen a ghost !? ered the docter. ope?” “Wothing wrore, sirl?’ exclaimed the — houselsr +. “Wrong! Yo don't know what you call this?’ And she tended the broken glass case which for years had held vie You look as thei) “ Nothing wrens. | strange giittermnay stone the doctor so prised. “Broken!” ered Grace, Jumping to his feet. “ Wohiase oe leseness is this?” “T don't know, sir, We've just found it lire this ov: libtary mantel-lelf,”’ replied the housekeeper. “Don't know! found it like thig! Where's the stone’? ce: | the dactor quick!y. “It's pone!” “Great heavens! that stone gone! You must be miata In a triee he darted out of the room and examined «4 hhrary fireplace. ) “done!” he repeated: then shuddered vierbly. °° Wiis strange theft! Iv: worthless as a market commoility, os 0 | thief would see. Tre man who took that stone is aware oi i's pecniiar virtues!” Again Bruee shucklered, and passed 1° hand across his temple, while Jus face grew white. “What is it, nnele dear? Is the loss very great?’ 1°! Hilda, feelise very much frightened. | . “Creat! Tis stupendous!’ cried Bruce. “But the ‘1: Mereiful heavens! what ase! 1 Y raust be overtaken, or—-or- — catastrophe mav happent”’ Haverlock, who had followed, beard the exelamation, o2! ctarted madvertently, “Ts the lost stone s. snake-wort 7?" he erjed. “Vog; there is only avother m existence,’ replied thy aes” “hen the thief who has scolen the ene intends lkewr. °4 obtain the other!” exclanmed Gordon. ‘The doetor’s face turned grey with terror. “Vea,” be vhispercd hoarsely. “Their horrible affinity : @ common secret im the Bast!” The two men exchange! glaneces. “Hilda, dear, leave us together a few minutes,”' doctor. Phe gid obeyed. aud the housckeeper and servants deft ite room. Bruce took three quick strides, and canght his guess rons” by the arm, : 8 “You, Waverlock, are acquainted with the history of 3} said 9 .e Splendid Serial Siory commences next week, 4¢OIOM DANVERS. THE YOUNG VENTRILOQUIST.” De you like school stories os giories of rumance and my DANVERS.” atery? Yes’? Then mind you’ begin “DICK , comichooks.conn "ey