Phil Rushington's Pledge, or, The Disappearance of Dora Warren

This issue of *Do and Dare Weekly* (March 10, 1900) features "Phil Rushington's Pledge: The Disappearance of Dora" by Stanley Norris. The serial opens with schoolmates Phil Rushington and Walt Arkwright at Springvale Academy, where Phil playfully terrifies Walt with a prank, claiming a spider has crawled down his neck. Walt panics, strips himself partly bare, drinks a mixture of Jamaica ginger extract and peppermint oil, only to discover Phil used a black feather. After Walt recovers his humor, Phil prepares to visit Dora Warren. A messenger then delivers an urgent letter from Mrs. Warren: Dora vanished the previous day after leaving a note claiming to meet Phil for a boat ride, but Phil received no such message. Phil and Walt rush to the Warrens' house, troubled by the mystery and the family's suspicion of Phil's involvement in Dora's disappearance.