Petherick's Peril
The story revolves around Petherick, a wealthy businessman who becomes embroiled in a complex web of deceit and conspiracy. He receives a mysterious letter warning him of impending danger, which sets off a chain of events that puts his life at risk. As the plot unfolds, Petherick's past mistakes come back to haunt him, and he finds himself trapped in a desperate struggle for survival.
By Edward William Thomson · First published 1893 · Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Historical Fiction · 4,395 words
First lines
Each story of the Shelton Cotton Factory is fifteen feet between floors; there are seven such over the basement, and this rises six feet above the ground. The brick walls narrow to eight inches as they ascend, and form a parapet rising above the roof. One of the time-keepers of the factory, Jack Hardy, a young man about my own age, often runs along the brick-work, the practice giving him a singular delight that has seemed to increase with his proficiency in it. Having been a clerk in the works from the beginning, I have frequently used the parapet for a footpath, and although there was a sheer fall of one hundred feet to the ground, have done it with ease and without dizziness. Occasionally Hardy and I have run races, on the opposite walls, an exercise in which he invariably beats me, because I become timid with increase of pace.
What this Textopian page supports
Petherick's Peril is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edward William Thomson, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edward William Thomson
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Drama, Action
- Length: 4,395 words
- Structure: 1 section, 59 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Petherick's Peril by Edward William Thomson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Petherick's Peril?
- How does this short story by Edward William Thomson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Adventure — The plot centers around thrilling and risky undertakings.
- Mystery — The story involves solving a perplexing and suspenseful situation.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a specific historical period and incorporates historical events.
- Drama — The book explores intense and emotional themes through its characters.
Tags
Adventure · Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Action · Drama · Historical Fiction · Canadian Literature · 19th Century · Colonial Era · Exploration · Frontier Life