The Wasp, 1918 · page 101 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 101: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains serialized fiction rather than a cartoon. It describes a dramatic confrontation between characters named Percy Stanton and James Burnham over some unspecified wrongdoing ("the cheat"). Stanton, drinking heavily and emotionally compromised, debates whether to confront Burnham or use blackmail involving "Kitty Trimmer" to silence him. He ultimately decides against a duel, choosing instead to negotiate and discover what Burnham knows. The narrative suggests Stanton cannot physically fight due to an undisclosed condition. Burnham, unaware of this limitation, waits in the garden prepared to duel if Stanton refuses to let him interview "the new charmer." **Without knowing the story's larger context, publication date, or earlier installments, the specific identities of these characters and what "the cheat" involves remain unclear.** This appears to be mid-plot in a serialized drama rather than political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
92 THE WASP search of some way of turning this information to his own advantage. Might he not silence — Stanton by threatening to tell tothis new charmer the story of Kitty Trimmer? It was well worth considering. In the meantime Percy Stanton had eaten little and drunk a great deal. He was not happy. The thought of the interview in the garden stuck in his crop like a bullet and refused to be washed down. His hatred of James Burnham grew with the passing of every minute and the emptying of every glass. He could see no way of avoiding - the fight. A condition of which Burnham was ignorant made it impossible for him to get to his feet and denounce the cheat to the assembled company. The punch did not give him courage. At last he decided, confusedly, that he would eat — his words rather than fight with Burnham. His courage continued to ebb and his mind to cloud. He would find out how much Burnham knew. He would come to an understanding with the fellow. : Burnham went to the garden alone, having decided not to force the ensign to a duel unless — the threat to interview the new charmer should comicbooks:com) A y