Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 240 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 240: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis This is a **running prose page** from the penny dreadful *Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil* (page 222). The text depicts a dramatic confrontation between an American man and Sir Æneas, a British officer who becomes jealous after learning the American visited a young lady and was present when she defied Tarleton's troops. Sir Æneas challenges the American to a sword duel that night, with seconds appointed. The scene concludes with the American leaving, whistling "The Hunters of Kentucky," while an arrogant young Englishman in a waiting carriage watches him depart and wonders where Sir Æneas has gone. The narrative suggests military conflict during what appears to be the American Revolution era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
O22 Tom ANDERSON, DaRE-DEVIL “Very well, then; I will speak of her to you. D’ you sup- pose I’ll have a Rebel prisoner hanging about the young lady to whom I am paying my addresses— eh?” And then a flash of intuition drove him upon thin ice. “Are — are you the American who swam the river yonder — to see Hens a | qam.”’ “What, thir? You! Under parole to cross “no river, creek, or arm of the thea!’’”’ hoarse with excitement. “A blunder, Sir Atneas. I swam the Ashley before I was captured.” Whereupon the baronet “felt curthedly thilly,” as he afterward admitted. “Ts it true that you, sir, were in this house when the young lady defied larleton’s troopers?” Troupe’s nod roused a tempest of jealousy in Sir Atneas. He lost his head. “Give me that rose!” fiercely. “Why? I’ll die first!’ “Give it up! — or fight.” “Fight? But yes; with pleasure.” “You’re a swordsman? Good. I challenge you to a duel with swords: to-night.” How Troupe’s casual nod infuriated him! “My friend Captain Taliaferro can be found at the paroled prisoners’ quarters — old Savage mansion, you know. He will act for me, I may safely say.”’ “My friend Colonel Lloyd will call upon him at once.” “We may leave everything to them, then. Good-night.”’ The big iron gates at the end of the avenue stood wide. Outside waited a carriage — and the man in it stared impatiently up the prolonged vista of acacias. Great is vermilion splashed with gold! A cameo-featured young Englishman leaned forward — the moon blazing on a gold epaulet — to stare, with arrogant eyes, at the American. And he muttered audibly, “ Where the devil’s Sir Avneas?”’ The other fellow went swinging along the road, whistling ‘The Hunters of Kentucky.’’ And Colonel Lloyd little imagined that this American would be one of the princi- ECONMMICOOOKS sO) m