Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 68 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 68: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 52 of Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil This is a running prose page from a Victorian penny dreadful serial. The text describes Dr. Pratt arriving to treat a wounded man (Tarleton, apparently a British officer) who has been shot. Upon examination, the doctor discovers the rifle ball lodged in Tarleton's brass belt-buckle, which saved his life. Tom witnesses this discovery with emotional relief, having previously blamed himself for the man's injury. A footnote notes the incident is "not fiction, but fact."
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
52 ~ Tom ANDERSON, DarE-DEVIL And here the door swung open, and Peter came in, Dr. Pratt at his heels. Fiery energies and no mean skill were his. Moreover, he had been family physician at Oxheart for so many years that he was an authority in the house- hold. “Miss Dare,” he began briskly, “go downstairs, if you please”; which poor little Dare was about to do, without being bidden. With scarlet cheeks, and a haughty curtsy, she withdrew. “That’s twice to-night I’ve been told to begone!”’ and she gave a furious little stamp of her foot, because there were hot tears on her burning cheeks. Meantime, thus Dr. Pratt: — ‘Ole, make up that fire; my fingers are freezing. Dilsey, fetch us that basin, and the bandages. Thank the Lord somebody had sense enough to scrape up those old table- cloths into linen-lint. “Thomas, come and hold these can- dles, — both of ’°em,— and don’t spill that hot candle- grease on my hands when | get down to work. You are certain he caught a rifle-ball? First thing to dois to find it.” “Certain! I saw him drop.” | Tom held the candle close to the wounded man’s sword-belt. ‘The stout brass belt-buckle had been in- dented by the missile; — and there was the ball! sticking in that brass socket! The rifleman had not missed his man. But Tarleton’s belt-buckle had saved ‘Tarleton’s life! This discovery made lom’s heart leap. He had held himself to blame for this man’s desperate extremity. And lo! the British officer had come forth unscathed!? Tom could hardly believe his eyes. His eyes were hot and misty, too. Dr. Pratt was saying things under his breath. Then he burst out, — “Why, bless my soul! Look at that. A bruise as big as my hat, and as black. No wonder he was done for. Well, well! Warrant you he has vomited, when he came to his 1 By the way, this incident is not fiction, but fact. ECOMMICLOOOKSa(e© m