The Halfpenny Surprise, Vol. I, No. 20 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

THE RIVER OF DEATH; Or, The Queen of the Forest. CHAPTER I. FRIEND OR FOE P—AN ANGEL OF MERCY—THE MEANS OF ESCAPE—FRANK LISTER CHAMPIONS CHARLIE HOLMES—DICK FLINTER’S AND BLACK MATHER’S DEFEAT—TREACHERY DEFEATED—THE DESCENT OF THE RAVINE—CHARLIE FIRES AT HIS ENEMIES IN MID AIR—THE FLIGHT AND PURSUIT—THE RIVER OF DEATH! “Hist! Charlie!” someone said, on entering an inner room of a miner’s hut, in Africa. “Who are you, friend or foe?” asked Charles Holmes. He was a prisoner, bound hand and foot in the room where he lay, into which not a ray of light could penetrate from the outer world. “In mercy’s name speak low or all will be lost,” said the speaker. “Iam Rose Oglin, here to save, friend you!” Closing the door of the apartment she turned on the light of a tiny bull’s-eye lamp, and stood with a@ warning finger placed on her rich, red lips. Tall for her age— sixteen—she was ex- quisitely lovely; a complexion of the lily tinged with the blush-rose, sappbire- blue eyes, and a wealth of golden hair that strayed down her shoulders in luxuriant abundance. “Rose! can it be youP” said Charlie, in a whisper, his face 7 lighting up with plea- sure. “Yes; listen to me, for your very life depends upon courage and quick dispatch.” Taking out a knife she severed his bonds, and left him once more free. In a burst of gratitude, the first use he made of his freedom was to raise her hand to his lips and kiss it, an action that caused her to blush prettily. “ You are to be lynched to-night as soon as the moon rises,” she said, hurriedly. “Ay, murdered! strangled like a dog and riddled with bullets for a crime of which I am as innocent as you, Miss Coglan, so help me heaven!” “Tf I did not believe that, Charlie, I would not have lifted even so much as my little sai to save you. Dick Flinter hates you because he thinks you have won my love. I detest him, Charlie, and rather than be wife of his I’d bury a knife deep in his black heart, and then end my own existence!” No. 20. Journal,” You should read “ The Son of aa Ontcast,” now appearing in “The Boys’ Comic Order No. 627 for the opening chapters. *“You love me, Rose? Oh! this is joy indeed, and more than compensates me for all that I’ve suffered !” “That’s a matter we must not talk about when a violent death stares you in the face.” “You must escape. Here is a knife, and a revolver loaded in each chamber, also spare ammunition.” Throwing back her jacket she unwound a thin rope, which despite its slight construction was as strong as steel, and knotted at intervals. “You cannot escape by the front door,” she said, on handing him the rope. “Frank Lister, who smuggled me in here, is your friend, but there are others than he to reckon with. : “You must get through the window, Charlie, and descend the abyss; the rope is long enough to take you to within a few feet of the bottom. Make for the forest which lies be- yond, and put your trust in Provi- dence ; may heaven help and defend you is my earnest prayer!” Tears swam in her eyes as she held out her hand in token of adieu; perhaps, a final part- ing! and she loved him so dearly, al- though there had been never a word of plighted troth be- tween them. Acting upon an unrestrain- able impulse, Charlie pres- sed his lips to hers, in one earnest _lin- gering kiss. FLINTER FELL BACKWARDS OVER THE BARREL. “Forgive me, Rose!” he said, in a voice which trembled with emotion, “it is a seal of my deep, un- dying love for you. My life belongs wholly to you, dearest. I will guard it vigilantly, and he or they who may attempt to take it from me will find that I will sell it very dearly.” : A lingering hand-clasp and she was gone, leavin him sad, but full of a desperate courage to make goo his escape at any price, even that of life itself. Six months ago he had arrived at Hagerstown, a new mining settlement in Africa; driven from home by the brutality of his stepfather, who, moreover, had, as Charlie suspected, designs against his life. His mother and sister had both disappeared most mysteriously, when Charlie was a mere child. Foul play was suspected, but never brought home to her second husband, Sir Percival Greene, who was a Vou. LL comiclooks.conn