Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 350 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 350: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful titled "Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil" (page 330). The text depicts a tense confrontation between characters—Tulloch, Dr. Pomeroy, and Macglashan—regarding a patient who has been mysteriously drugged or "narcotized" before a scheduled duel. The characters argue about the drug's identity and how it was administered, with the dialogue becoming increasingly heated. The passage ends with Macglashan's revelation that there is an unusual smell in the victim's hair, prompting shocked reactions from the gathered men.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
330 Tom ANDERSON, DareE-DEVIL “What’s the matter with him, Mac?” said Tulloch, hoarsely. “Narcotized!”” “What?” Maceglashan nodded. Tulloch stared, and turned sharply upon the surgeon. ‘Pomeroy, what the devil does he mean?” “What he Says. The patient has been narcotized — in some way,” was the mechanical answer. fi ‘In some way, ” fiercely. “What way! Speak out, man.’ “Impossible to say.” “Why, Good Lord, man: we’ve got to know in what way. There was a two-edged pause. The music-box played “Buy a Broom”’ furiously. ‘There are no indications how the patient was thrown into this state. That is a matter for investigation,” re- sponded Dr. Pomeroy, deliberately. ‘Oh, it shall be ‘investigated’ to the bottom,” retorted Tulloch. “The principal in a duel ‘narcotized,’ a bit be- fore the appointed hour for the meeting, and no explana- tion forthcoming? It’s scandalous! It’s damnable!” “Wait until Dick’s able to gie an account of himsel’. Maybe he kens how the drug was administered,” sug- gested Macglashan. “ Maybe?” with rankling sarcasm. Silence. Then Tulloch returned to the charge. “Can you say what the drug was, Mac?’”’ ‘Theer’s nae indication o’ that. He’s a victim 0’ some narcotic or ither, as ] hae said. But nane that I am familiar 21. |? “By Jove! You mean —” “Hout tout, Tulloch. I mean there’s a domned queer smell aboot his hair!” Four tense faces were turned on Mac— and Tulloch was in a nervous frenzy. ECOMUIEOOOKS.(€©) m