Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 243 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 243: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 225 from "Pink" This is a page of running prose from what appears to be a serialized Victorian penny dreadful. The text depicts an action sequence: a man named Marion, apparently a patriot fugitive, flees on horseback through moonlit terrain near a river, using the password "The McIntosh!" to pass checkpoints. He is pursued by Captain Valentine Paris, a Royalist officer seeking revenge for being knocked down. Marion gallops through a burned-out warehouse ruin to evade his pursuer. The passage ends ambiguously with Paris emerging from the ruins having "dragged" something from a stirrup that allegedly throws "the Royalists of Charleston into a frenzy"—the outcome unclear. The final lines mention Sir Aeneas and Colonel Lloyd preparing to visit "Lady" (name cut off).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PINK 225 little room under the eaves, was driving his feet into the general’s soaked boots, the partisan leader made his way to a near-by deserted residence, abandoned by its stubborn patriot owner to His Majesty’s forces. The gate had dropped from its hinges. The fountain was dry; and to the jaws of the marble dolphin disporting himself dismally in the dusty marble basin, Marion had trusted his horse’s bridle. He mounted and rode away. Friends had provided him with the countersign. When challenged, he replied “The McIntosh!” and was allowed to proceed. But by and by the moon leaped up from the sea. With what a light! And with the rising moon rose one man’s evil star. _ Marion had neared the river when a young fellow galloped out from a side street. He had been in the saddle for hours, trying to trail a fugitive. He drew rein, and stared after that horseman receding in the moonlight. . “Jove! Itzs/ Butif I should be mistaken —” Away he lunged, after the Highlander. Directly he was near enough to make out that swarthy bridle-hand. His suspicions were confirmed by the man’s actions. He would not cast one look back at his pursuer. “Look at that black paw! I’ve got him! The very scoundrel that knocked me down this morning! Hello! — You!” ‘The man in kilt and plaid might have been deaf. Captain Valentine Paris was furious at this show of open contempt. “Halt!’’ he shouted, drawing a pistol. Marion put spurs to his horse. On came Paris. On the river bank stood the ruins of a warehouse which had been gutted by fire. The walls alone were left. Thinking to elude his pursuer, Marion galloped through the blackened arch of the doorway. Paris followed. Now Marion looked back — to fire. When Captain Paris’s horse cantered out of the old brick ruin, he dragged at one stirrup that which threw the Royalists of Charleston into a frenzy. Sir AXneas and Colonel Lloyd, after discussing the challenge, determined to present themselves at Lady CORNICLMOOO SS (C©) im