Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 230 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 230: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful serial titled "Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil" (page 212). The text depicts a dramatic scene in which Tom, disguised as a Highlander, is led through a hidden room in a house and encounters an old army chaplain whom he recognizes as a General. Tom warns the General that the British are coming to search the house and urges him to flee, claiming he heard this directly from Lord Rawdon. The passage emphasizes melodramatic tension through descriptions of concealment, disguise, and imminent danger during what appears to be the American Revolutionary War period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
212 Tom ANDERSON, DarE-DEVIL “You are a Southerner, that’s certain.” “My father, an officer in Wa shington’s army, languishes in that prison-ship down the bay.” “T believe you.” She took a taper from the branching silver candlestick on the chimney-piece. Holding it above her head, she looked him full in the eyes. “‘ But af this ts treachery — you shall not escape !”’ “Teli him Dare-Devil must see him. For God’s sake, be uick!”’ ; She opened the door, when the old negress reappeared. Leaving Tempe as outpost, she led the way upstairs. Noiselessly, they crossed the upper floor. A big oak clothes- press masked a door. The shelves had been removed; the back of the press was a sliding panel, the entrance to an unsuspected room beyond. His guide drew back the panel, whispering, “I will come for you in a few minutes,” and she locked the door of the press. From this queer vesti- bule Tom stepped into a tiny room with one dormer window. He halted in confusion. What had he “run to earth’’? Before the fire sat a little old army chaplain; in a skimpy suit of ill-fitting black, shrunken with rain and bespattered with mire, and a priest’s cap and bands. He was drying his wet boots on the hearth. “‘ Whoever he is, he forded the river,’ thought Tom. Though the intruder had entered so silently, the old chaplain could see through the pores of his skin. He sprang to his feet, one hand in the breast of the muddy old alpaca coat, and tiger eyes were on the Highlander. ‘Stand still!” bringing his pistol to bear on Tom. And now Tom recognized him. He saluted, at the point of the pistol. “It’s Dare-Devil, General.” “What! What! Y wringing the dusky hand. “ Your dis- guise 1s complete. On my soul, it is. ‘And yours, General. I’m here to warn you. The British are coming to search the house. I| heard it from Lord Rawdon’s own lips! Fly!” ECONMMIECOOOKS.(€©) m