The Wasp, 1913 · page 14 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains text only—no visible cartoon or illustration. It continues a narrative about James Burnham, a highwayman who robbed John Trimmer on the road. After being unmasked, they strike a deal: Trimmer keeps half his stolen money back in exchange for Burnham leaving him alone. The story then describes Burnham's subsequent exploits in London with his newfound wealth—courting a woman named Kitty Trimmer, living lavishly in Swan Alley, and gaining notoriety among "hell-rakes and harmless young fools." The narrative notes his luck eventually turns when he's forced to use loaded dice cheating, which angers his young associates. The passage appears to be serialized fiction rather than political satire, depicting 18th-century criminal underworld activities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 13 tleman of the road, removed the mask, and dis- covered John Trimmer, of Wantage, the brother of his light-o’-love and son of the honest breeches- maker. He sat on the highwayman’s heaving chest and laughed ironically. John’s saddlebags were fairly well lined with the golden tolls of the road; and in return for half of that golden lining James agreed to consider the incident closed. They shook hands on the agreement; then John Trimmer went his way and James Burnham his. So James arrived in London with full pockets, and soon, sent to Wantage for Kitty Trimmer. Kitty came, and for a week the game went mer- rily; gold was multiplied, silks were bought, and the lodgings in Swan Alley rang with mirth pro- voked by sound vintages. Kitty became a toast with a certain set of hell-rakes and its following of harmless young fools. Then Burnham’s luck changed suddenly, and he was forced to make use of loaded dice with some of the young fools. He did it clumsily, and the plucked fools took offense. On the heels of this, a Comicnooks.com