Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 225 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 225: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: Victorian Penny Dreadful Running Prose This is a page of running prose narrative (page 207) from a serialized Victorian penny dreadful set in Charleston during what appears to be the American Revolution. The text describes a protagonist named Tom's bewildering encounter with a patriotic woman who mysteriously knows his identity and a family pet name ("Dare"), unmasking him as someone in disguise. Confused and troubled by this revelation, Tom resolves to remain indoors, fearing detection in the dangerous occupied city where rebels are being executed. His companion Rory agrees after returning home from a street fight.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHARLESTON 207 Next door lives an ardent patriot, a lady whose husband and sons are in Marion’s army.” Her eyes were full upon him: “ My question, now! Do you know Lady Pantoufle?”’ His start of amazement, his choking voice, told their story. “Where could you have heard that name?”’ he faltered. ‘“T have unmasked you!” She swept him a mocking curtsy. “Oh, I shall never forget your brave deed! Old Pomp’s coming. Be quick!’ — giving him her hand to kiss. “‘Good-bye!”’ His bewilderment could hardly be overstated. In Charleston he knew nobody but the old fellow who’d pulled him out of bad company— the shark’s! “How in Heaven’s name could she know anything about little sis? She knows who I am!’ —which was true enough. The thing was a tormenting mystery. No elucidation, however, came of suppositions. Had he only known how elucidation was to come! , “Sometime, somewhere, I'll get to the bottom of this new mystery. How mysteries pursue me, and beset me, at every step!’’ And how strangely Dare’s pet name — the familiar household word — rang in his ears here, in this armed city, whose streets he trod in disguise, at the risk of his life! “My conscience! I’ve talked to my father, without his knowing that he was speaking to his son, got into a fight, a flirtation, and a mystery — all in one morning! What Dextr Could he have foreknown all that would befall him be- fore another sunrise, he would have blenched. He made his way back to Rory’s lodgings by a circuitous route. He _had no thought of leaving those four walls before night. The “topless towers”’ of Charleston’s churches were not the only emblems clear-cut against Charleston’s skies. Black gibbets blighted the purple. This Minotaur de- voured “Rebels.” ‘[om’s determination not to set foot on the streets again that day was fully concurred in by Rory, when he came home. He was full of the fight. CORNICLOOO® SS (C©) mn