The Halfpenny Surprise, Vol. I, No. 20 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

THE RIVER first man that raises a finger against Frank Lister will reckon with me, Nat Riordon!” Turning upon Flinter, who had risen from his un- comfortable resting-place, he said: “ You and Mathers will pay up sharp for this damage, or quit Hagerstown at once. You know who yow’re dealing with in me; I never break my word. Now be off, or you'll be carried out feet foremost!” All the rowdy boys slunk away—Mathers had to be led out—like beaten hounds, for experience had taught. them that Riordon could bite as well as bark on occa- sions. Rose pleaded hard with him for the life of Charlie now that he had quelled the rowdies of Hagerstown. “T can’t interfere with the doings of Judge Lynch, my girl,” he said. “He may be innocent, but things look black against him. I can stand up for my own rights with the boys, as you’ve seen many a time; but to put down Judge Lynch isa thing I dare not attempt.” However, the brave girl, aided and abetted by Frank Lister, as already shown, did not desert the lad she loved so dearly. Charlie, when she left, lost no time in perfecting the arrangements for his escape. The hut, which was used as a prison, was built on the edge of a deep ravine, which was too precipitous for ascent or descent without the aid of a rope or ladder. Rose had left her bull’s-eye lamp behind, by the aid of which Charlie found a strong staple capable of bear- ing his weight. Having properly secured one end of the rope, he unbarred the shutter, which did duty for a window, and lowered the other end. After kneeling on the bare boards, and committing himself to the care of heaven, he commenced the descent. Half-way down was a plateau, and as he approached it he detected the sound of voices. Pausing to listen, he distinctly heard Flinter say: ‘“‘ We are safe here from eavesdroppers, nephew Bob. I put off the young cub’s execution till the rising of the moon, knowing that you’d arrive before then and be present at it.” “Jolly good luck to you, uncle,” replied a voice, which Charlie recognised as that of his mortal enemy, Robert Greene.” “The dad, after writing to you, thought it as well for me to come out here to help you; besides, England was getting a trifle too hot for me in many ways.” “Why the young fool didn’t change his name puzzles me; if he had I wouldn’t have been a rap the wiser about his real identity. I shall expect to be well paid for this job, nephew Bob.” “Yes, with my bitterest vengeance, you cur,” cried Charlie, unable to restrain his indignation, though he was swinging between earth and sky. : Bob Greene, acoward at heart, shook in every joint, and his hair bristled with fright, for he thought he was in the presence of the supernatural, and sank upon the rocky platform quite limp. Flinter, who recognised Charlie’s voice, crouched low, too. And it was as well he did, for holding on with his left hand, Charlie seized his revolver and fired several shots in the direction of the speakers, without hitting either, however. Then he recommenced his perilous descent much more swiftly than before. “Get up you fool,” hissed out Flinter, “its no ghost, but Charles Holmes escaping. If we can find the rope and cut it he'll be killed.” Flinter had come provided with a dark lantern, which he turned on full. “Hang the thing, it’s out of our reach,” he cried, beside himself with impotent rage, “he'll escape us after all.” “You've got a revolver, fire at it; I'll hold the light,” said Bob Greene, excitedly. ‘He mus’nt escape. I wish I could hurl a piece of rock down upon him.” Flinter acted promptly on his nephew’s suggestion, The truly grand story, “The Four Conspirators,” wi Ready next OF DEATH, 3 and being one of the finest shots on the African Continent, had no doubt but that he could sever the rope with a bullet. Charlie overheard their intention, and made the rope oscillate so that it presented an uncertain aim. With his sixth and last shot, Flinter struck the rope, but even then it did not quite sever it. “He must be nearly at the bottom,” cried the ruffian. foaming with rage. “ Why does not the thing snap? The fiends seize the cub.” “Hurrah!” shrieked out Bob Greene, “it’s parted at last; hurrah! hurrah !” Luckily, Charlie was only a few feet from the bottom ae ot Sar SCS errs WITH THE SIXTH AND LAST SHOT FLINTER STRUCK THE ROPE. when this happened, and sustained no injury by the fall. Raising his clenched right hand in their direction he muttered : “?Tis your turn now ; mine will come ! When it does I swear before high heaven to exact an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!” Gathering up all his strength and energy, and with the bull’s-eye lamp to guide him, he made his way towards a gorge. In the meantime the sound of firing had alarmed the settlement and every man was on the alert, for the blacks—the Matabeles, more especially—had an ugly knack of raiding outlying settlements occasionally. “The prisoner has escaped,” cried Flinter, bursting in'among them. “Form yourself into two parties and start in pursuit. He must not reach the forest alive. I'll give a hundred pounds, money down, to the man or men who either capture him alive or kill him!” bu opre in No. 21 of the “ Halfpenny Surprise.” day. comicloooks.corn