8, ix 1e nd th he V5, IL t tbe : ve eens SO MMMbpea Te N Ne SAS Ri Se 7 Pa ES WWM QW Mo \ \ \ Nits Z H: Entered as Second-class Matter at the New York, N.Y., Post-Office. Vol. 11. a en ee ae aes New York, August 24, 1895. i No. 277. OR, RALPH NELSON’S UPWARD STRUGGLE. BY HARVEY HICKS, tuthor of ‘The Tour of the Zero Club,” “Tom Truxton’s School-Days,’ “Mat Merriman Abroad,” etc., ete. CHAPTER I. ‘‘Why don’t you speak to Squire Paget? | He is the president of the village board.’’ A QUESTION OF PROPERTY. | **T have spoken to him, but he will give nd | me no satisfaction. He claims that the vil- <7 1’S a shame, mother! The property| lage has the right to nearly all the water i} belonged to father and the village has| front within its limits,’’? replied Mrs. Nel- 4j! no right to its use without paying for} son, with a sigh. Jt." | “It hasn’t a right to the land father ‘Tl agree with you, Ralph,’’ replied Mrs. | bought an paid for.”’ AN EXTRA HEAVY PUFF OF WINY CAUGHT THE MAINSAIL OF THE BOAT, AND Nelson, ‘‘But what are we to do in the| ‘*That is what I said.” WITH A LOUD CRASF. SHE DASHED INTO THE STONE PIER. matter?’? ‘ his mother was busy tying up the honeysuckle vines which grew over the porch. It was a bright summer day, with a stiff breeze blowing up from the south-west. ‘“There’s a sloop coming up Silver Lake, Ralph!’ cried his mother, presently, as she looked across the water from the cottage porch. ‘‘I guess you will have to open the bridge.’’ ‘*] haven't heard any horn,’’ returned Ralph, as he dropped his rake and ran up to look at the craft. ‘‘Nor I. But the boat is heading for the draw,”? ‘* Perhaps it’s one of those summer-boarder pleasure parties, that don’t know anything about blowing for a bridge-tender,’’ said the son, after a few seconds of silence. ‘‘I’ll go down and make sure.’’ Ralph was as good as his word. Leaving the door, he walked rapidly along a foot- path which led directly to the bridge, ar- riving there in less than a minute and a half. As he walked’ on the bridge a carriage from Eastport, containing several ladies, “ame over. They paid the toll to Bob San- derson, an old man who helped Ralph in this way during the slack hours of the day. In return for tbe work, Sanderson was allowed an attic room and board at the Nel- son cottage. ‘‘Sixteen cents since you went away, Ralph,’’ said Sanderson, as he handed over the amount in pennies. ‘‘An’t many folks out this morning.’’ ‘*There will be more out toward noon, Mr. Sanderson. Travel is always light be- tween nine and eleven,’’ ‘*That’s so. My! but there’s a stiff breeze a-blowin’, an’t there?’’ ‘Yes. If it koeps on we’ll have a regular gale by night.’’ ‘‘What brought you back so soon? I thought you was goin’ to whitewash your side fence?”’ ‘*T came down to see if that sloop wanted to go through. It’s sailing right for the draw.’’ ‘*They didn’t blow no horn.’’ ‘‘Perhaps they don’t know enough for that. I declare! what’s he up to now?”’ went on Ralph, a second later. He had espied a single man standing in the stern of the sloop, The man had com- menced to work at the mainsail, the manag- ing of which appeared to bother him not a little. ‘¢He don’t seem to know the ropes,’’ re- turned Bob Sanderson. ‘‘I guess he’s a-try- in’ to lower sail and can’t.’’ ‘*He is carryirg too much canvas for this breeze.”’ ‘*T agree with you, Ralph. But most of them chaps with sloops area daring set. They always want to sail at racing speed.”’ ‘*He wants to go through the draw, that’s certain,’’ responded Ralph. Going into the little house at the end of the bridge, be got out the key and the handle-bar. He unlocked the chain which held the end of the bridge in position, and then inserting the bar into the turn-post or capstan, began to walk around with it. Slowly but surely the bridge began to swing loose from the side which connected with the permanent portion on the Eastport end and moved toward the solid foundation which was built directly in front of where the Nelson dooryard ran down to the water’s edge. It was hard work to move the bridge around, but Ralph was used to it, and he did not mind. As he walked around with the bar before him he kept his eyes on the sloop and the man sailing her. The bridge was three-quarters open when the boy noted with some surprise that the man on the sloop had thrown over the main- sail half against the wind. Instantly the sloop began to swing around, heading full for the stone pier upon which the bridge swung. NEw S. ‘‘Why, what’s the matter with him?’’ he cried, in dismay. ‘*Guess he don’t know how to manage his boat,’’ replied Bob Sanderson. ‘‘He’s comin’ chuck-a-block for this place!’ ‘*Hi! hil what are you up to?’’ cried Ralph, as he dropped the bar and rushed over to the side of the bridge. ‘‘Do you want to run into the stone-work?’’ ‘“*T can’t manage the sail!’’ replied the man on the sloop. ‘‘My arm is lame, and the ropes are all twisted.”’ ‘*Well, throw your tiller over, and ke quick, or——’? Ralph had not time to say more, nor was the man able to profit by his advice. An extra heavy puff of wind caught the main- sail of the boat, and with a Joud crash she dashed into the stone pier, bow first. The shock was so great that the bowsprit | was smashed to pieces, as was also the woodwork around it. been standing partly on the stern sheets was thrown overboard by the accident, and he | disappeared beneath the water. Fearful that the fellow, who was evi- dently a city person, might not be able to swim, Ralph leaped down from the bridge into the sloop and went to his assistance. ‘‘Save me! save me!’’ called out the man, frantically, and he threw his hands up over his head. ‘*Catch hold of the boat-hook,’’ replied Ralph, and he reached out with the article as he spoke. The man grasped the curved iron nerv- ously, and Ralph at once drew him to the side of the sloop. ‘*Now give me your hand and I will help you up.’’ And without waiting he caught the man by the right arm. ‘*PDon’t! don’t! Take the other arm, please! That was broken less than six weeks ago.’?’ ‘‘Oh, then give me the left,’’ replied Ralph; and by his aid the man was soon aboard of the sloop once more. He was 'a fellow not over twenty-five years of age, and his clothing and general appearance indicated that he was well to do. ‘*Phew! but that was a narrow escape!”’ he ejaculated, as he brushed the water from his face. ‘‘I was afraid I was a goner sure!’’ ‘*Couldn’t you keep away from the stone- work?’’ questioned Ralph, curiously. ‘*No. The ropes got twisted into a knot, and my right arm hurt so I could only use my left hand. Besides, I am not much of a sailor.’?’ : ‘*T seen you wasn’t,’’ put in Bob Sander- son, who did not hesitate at, times to speak | out bluntly. ‘‘If it hadn’t a-been for Ralph you would have been drowned.”’ ‘*T don’t doubt it, for I cannot swim,’’ ‘‘How came you to be out in such a blow | and all alone?’’ asked Ralph, as he began to lower the sloop’s sails. ‘*Tt didn’t blow so when I started from Chambersburgh, and I fancied I could man- age the Magic without half trying. have found out my mistake now,’’ and the man gave a sorry little laugh. ‘‘Are you the bridge-tender?’’ Vea? ‘¢ And what is your name?’’ ‘¢Ralph Nelson.’’ ‘*Mine is Horace Kelsey. You are rather young for this position, are you not?’’ ‘‘It was my father’s before he died. » I am serving the rest of the time for which he was appointed.’’ ‘*T see, Does it pay you?’’ ‘‘T earn six dollars a week at it. That’s considered pretty good here in Westville. There are many who would like to get the job.”’ ‘*T came up here from New York to spend a few weeks boating and fishing,’’ said Horace Kelsey, during a pause, in which he dried off his face and hands, and wrung the water from his coat. ‘*This is my first day out, and it has ended rather disastrously.’? ‘‘T guess your sloop can easily be re- paired,’’ replied Ralph. ‘‘T suppose if can. Is there any one here in the village who does such work?’?’ ‘‘That’s in my line,’’? put in Bob Sander- son, promptly. ‘¢Yes, Mi. Sanderson repairs boats,’’ re- plied Ralph. ‘‘He will give you a good job at a reasonable price.”’ ‘Then you can go to work at once,’’ said Horace Kelsey, turning to the old fisher- man. ‘‘Do'your best, and I will pay what- ever it is worth.’’ ‘tT will, sir.’’ ‘‘When can you have the work com- pleted?’’ ‘*Not before to-morrow night. to paint the parts, you know.’’ ‘*T am in no hurry. I wished to spenda day or two around Westville and Eastport before going up into Keniscot Lake.’’ ‘*Then I’ll take the sloop around to my boat-house right now,’’ replied Bob Sander- son; and off he went with the craft, leaving Ralph and the new-comer on the bridge. CHAPTER III. RALPH MAKES A FRIEND, I’) have 2 YOU'LL catch cold if you stand around | in this wind,’’? remarked Ralph to Horace Kelsey, ‘‘especially as you ©’ are not used to it.’’ The man, who had | But I} | ‘That is true,’’? returned the young man. ‘*T wish I had some place where I might | dry myself.”’ |- ‘*You can go over to our cottage if you | wish. Mother is at home, and she will will- |ingly let you dry yourself at the kitchen | fire. I would lend you one of my suits, but | | imagine it wouldn’t be large enough,’’ | ‘*Hardly,’’ laughed the young man. ‘‘Do | 708 live far from here?’’ ‘*No, sir, that is the cottage right there. | See, my mother is in the garden, looking | this way.’’ ‘Thanks, I’ll take up with your kind offer. I am beginning to get chilled in spite of the sunshine. ’’ Saying that he would be back later, Horace Kelsey left the bridge and took the path leading to the cottage. Ralph saw him speak to his mother, and a moment later both passed into the cottage. It was now drawing toward noon, and the people began to cross the bridge in both directions, on their way to dinner. Each one ¢ither paid a cent or passed over a ticket, sixty-five of which could be had for fifty cents. At quarter to one the same pas- sengers began to go back to their work, and this was kept up for half an hour, at | the end of which the young bridge-tender had collected twenty-one cents and forty- | three tickets. | Several horns now began to blow from both Keniscot and Silver Lakes, showing | that the boats wished to pass through the |draw. The bridge, which had been closed by Ralph immediately after the rescue of | Horace Kelsey, was again opened for their | accommodation. While the young bridge-tender was wait- , ing for the last vessel to clear the draw the | young man from New York came back from | the cottage, bringing with him the lunch | Mrs. Nelson usually brought herself. There | was no time for dinner during the middle iof the day, and*so the family had their |} principal meal at night, when the draw was | closed for the day, and Bob Sanderson went | on to collect the toll. | ‘**Your mother gave me the lunch,’’ said | Horace Kelsey, as he handed the basket to | Ralph. ‘‘I told her I was coming down to | see you.’’ ‘*Ts your clothing dry?’’ ‘“‘Oh, yes. She was ‘kind enough to lend |me some which had belonged to your father, ‘and built up an extra hot fire to dry my own. She also pressed out my suit, as you can see. Your mother is a very accommo- dating lady.’’ Horace Kelsey did not add that he had paid Mrs. Nelson liberally for her kindness, for he was not one to brag in that direc- ition. Nevertheless, Ralph heard of it later on. In the basket were several sandwiches of cold corned beef and half a dozen peaches. Ralph offered one of the peaches to the young man, which he took, and both sat down to eat. ‘* You will find a tavern up the main road, |a two minutes’ walk from here,’’ began the youth, thinking that Horace Kelsey might wish for something more substantial in the way of food. ‘Thank you, but your,mother supplied me with a very good lunch while I was waiting, Ralph,’’ returned the young man. ‘‘Don’t mind me, but go ahead and enjoy your lunch.’? Ralph at once set to, for he was hungry. His companion looked up the lake for a mo- ment in silence, and then went on: ‘*T came down here to reward you, Ralph,’’ he said, hesitatingly. ; ‘*Reward me? What for, Mr. Kelsey?’’ ‘«For saving my life.’’ ‘*T don’t think I did as much /as that. Anybody could have pulled you from the water.”’ ‘““They might not have been as quick as you were, I feel [ owe you something for your prompt aid.’’ ‘‘T don’t want anything, sir. have done as much for any one.’’ ‘*T do not doubt it, and: it is to your credit to say so. But I feel I ought to do something for you. Will you accept this— not as payment for what was done, for I could not pay for that in this way—but as a gift from a friend?”’ And Horace Kelsey drew from his vest pocket a new and crisp twenty-dollar bill. | ‘‘T don’t see as I ought to take it,’’ bes- tated Ralph. ‘‘But you will. Here, don’t let it blow overboard,’’ and the young man from New York thrust it into Ralph’s hand, directly between a sandwich he was holding. ‘*Indeed I won’t let it blow away. . thank you ver—hallo! you have made a big mistake.”’ ‘SHow?’? ‘This is a twenty-dollar bill.’’ ‘“‘IT see no mistake about that,’’ and Horace Kelsey smiled quietly. ‘*You don’t mean to say you mean give me twenty dollars?”’ “I did. It is little enough for such 4 service.’’ ‘Tis too much. I thought it was a Oe dollar bill, sir.?’ i ‘‘T would not be mean enough to offet you only*a dollar, Ralph. A man 35? ‘ pulled from a watery grave, as the poe call it, every day.’’ ‘ “*T don’t ‘thinks I ought to take all thi I would t to a. a GOOD money,’’ returned the young bridge-tender, slowly. ‘*T do, so put it into your pocket and say no more about it.’’ Ralph gontinued to argue the point, but was finally persuaded to place the bill in his private purse. ‘*' Your mother has been telling me a little about your family affairs,’’ went on Horace Kelsey. ‘‘It'sa pity you haven’t a clear title to this land about here.’’ ‘‘We have a clear enough title if only we can find the papers in the case,’’ returned Ralph, promptly. ‘‘Tunderstand a syndicate from Cham- bersburgh are thinking of locating a big shoe factory here. If they do that Westville will have a boom.”’ ‘*Tt would have boomed long ago if it hadn’t been for Squire Paget and some others. They hold their land so high and keep the taxes on the hat factory up so, the manufacturers are scared away.’’ ‘“That is true, especially when other places donate them land free, and exempt them from all taxation for from five to ten years.’’. ‘*Do they do that?’’ ‘‘Certainly, and in many cases it pays very well, for the factories employ hundreds of hands, who receive fair wages, and that money is spent in the place where it is earned,’?’ ‘*It’s a wonder that shoe factory would come here, if such inducements are offered elsewhere,’’ said Ralph, thoughtfully. ‘‘T understand several men, including Squire Paget and the postmaster of this pore have received stock in the concern. do not know much about the deal. I only heard it talked over at the hotel.’’ ‘*Where are they going to locate the fac- tory?’? ‘*Somewhere along the water front, I be- lieve.’’ ‘‘Then it will be around here!’’ cried Ralph. ‘‘That is our land over there,’’ he pointed with his hand. ‘‘I wish we could prove our title to it.’’ ‘“So do I, Ralph, and I wish I could help you., You haven’t any idea who had the papers last?’’ nt Dy Oy Sa sey ‘“Too bad. I would advertise for them, and even offer a reward for them.”’ ‘JT will,’’ returned Ralph, quickly. ‘‘1’ll use this twenty dollars you have given me for that very purpose.’’ Horace Kelsey remained with Ralph the best part of an hour longer, and then started for a walk through the village, stating that he would also call on Bob Sanderson and see how the boat repairing was progressing. When he was out of sight, Ralph pulled the twenty-dollar bill from his purse to make sure that he had not been dreaming. But there was the money true enough. There was a grease spot on one corner of the bill, left by the butter on the sandwich, but this did no harm. ‘Hallo, there, Ralph Nelson, counting your fortune!’’ cried a rude voice from the shore, and looking up, Ralph saw a loudly dressed youth approaching. He hastily slipped the twenty-dollar bill into his pocket. CHAPTER IV. THE QUARREL ON THE BRIDGE, ™ HE/boy on the shore was Percy Paget, ? the squire’s only son. He was a year older than Ralph, and somewhat taller and heavier. His ways were arrogant to the last degree, and in the vil- lage he had but few friends, and these only because he generally had pocket money to spend. On several occasions Ralph had had sharp words with Percy because the latter wished to do as he pleased on the bridge, against the printed rules that were posted up. Be- cause his parent was squire, Percy imagined he could do almost anything and it would be all right. Ryd ‘‘T say, are you counting your fortune?’’ repeated Percy, throwing as much of a sneer into his tones as possible. ‘¢Unfortunately, I haven’t any fortune to count, Percy,’’ returned the young bridge- tender, good-naturedly. ‘*Humph! I suppose you mean that for a pun, don’t you?’’ growled the son of the Squire. ‘‘If you do, let me tell you it’s a mighty poor one.’’ ‘‘T hadn’t intended to pun, Perey.’’ “*T didn’t think so, for you haven’t the brains. Didn’t I see you counting some money just now?’’ ‘*T was looking at a bank bill.’’ ‘*That you got on the bridge, I suppose?’’ ‘No; it was a bill of my own.”’ ‘*Oh, I thought you had to use all the money ‘you made here.’’ _‘“T have to use the most of it. My pay isn’t any too large, as you know.”’ _‘*Yes, but I guess you make enough be- Sides,’’ returned Percy, suggestively. ‘‘What co you mean?’’ ‘*You’ve got plenty of chance on the ridge, with so many odd pennies coming n. 1 ‘*Do you mean to insinuate I steal the toll Mohey?’’? demanded Ralph, angered at the Isinuation. ‘*] didn’t say so,’’ sneered the other, more suggestively than ever. ‘*But you meant it.”’ ‘*Well, what if I did?’’ ‘‘Tt’s mean of you, Percy Paget! I never stole a cent in my life!’’ ‘*Tt’s easy enough for you to say so.”’ ‘‘And it’s true. You must think that every one isa thief just because somebody was caught stealing tarts out of the bakery.’’ Ralph was angry, or he would not have spoken as he did. As Percy had been dis- covered taking tarts and cakes from the counters of a pastry shop in Eastport only a few weeks before, and as he had been threatened with arrest for so doing, the squire’s son reddened at once. ‘‘See here, Ralph Nelson, don’t you dare to talk to me like that!’’ he stormed. ‘*T have more grounds to talk than you, Percy Paget!’ ‘*No, you haven’t, you low upstart!’ ‘*Hold on, Perey, I am no upstart!”’ ‘*Yes, you are. What was your father? Only a poor boatman on the lakes.’’ ‘*He was a hard-working man, and an honest one,’’ returned Ralph, warmly. ‘*Oh, of course, and you were all next door to beggars until my father took pity on him, and gave him the job here on the bridge.”’ ‘It was the committee and not your. father gave him the situation.”’ ‘‘Well, it was the same thing, for the committee have to do as my father says.’’ ‘*T doubt it.’’ ‘‘T don’t care for your opinion! I know one thing. They ought to have somebody else. to mind the bridge, and perhaps they will have before long.’’ ‘*Why, what do you mean?”’ asked Ralph, in quick alarm. ‘*Ha! hal I thought that would wake you up.’’ ‘‘Ts somebody trying to undermine me?’’ ‘You'll hear of it soon enough, never fear.’’ And with this parting shot, which was not without its effect, Percy started to cross the bridge. ‘Hold on!’’ cried Ralph. ‘*What do you want now?’’ ‘+The toll money.’’ ‘*1’m only going to the Eastport end of the bridge. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.’? ‘¢That makes no difference. Every one who crosses the bridge has to pay toll.’’ ‘*But I’m coming right back.”’ ‘*f{ don’t care if you return as soon as you strike the last plank. You have got to pay, or you can’t cross,’’ returned Ralph, firmly. ‘*T won’t pay acent!’’ blustered Percy, angrily. ‘*Then you can’t cross.’’ ‘‘And who will stop me, I’d like to know??? SOT Wills. ‘*You can’t do it.’’ ‘*Perhdps I can. Anyway, if you don’t pay I’ll try. You know the rules just as well as I do.”’ ‘“There an’t any fellow in Westville can stop me from going where I please!’’ howled the squire’s son, and once more he started to walk on. With a quick movement, Ralph stepped in front of the aristocratic bully. ‘‘Not another step, until you pay the toll! ’ he exclaimed, his eyes flashing their determination. “Out of my way, you upstart!’’ roared Percy. And raising his fist he aimed a heavy blow at Ralph’s face. The young bridge-tender caught the blow on the arm, and the next moment had Percy jammed up against the iron railing to one side. ‘‘Now you either pay your way or go back just as quick as you can!’’ he said, firmly. ‘‘I want no more trouble with you.”’ ‘* Let go of me!”’ E ‘‘Not until you promise to do one thing or the other.’’ ‘‘T?m not going to pay!’’ fumed Percy. ‘Then you can’t cross; that’s settled.’’ ‘‘We’ll seé! Take that! andjthat!’’ Percy began to strike out wildly. Ralph warded off most of the blows, and then up- set the aristocratic bully on his back and came down on top of him,. They rolled over together, and at length Percy set up a howl of pain. ‘‘Oh, my shoulder! You have twisted it out of place!”’ ‘‘Have you had enough?’’ Ralph. ‘*Yes! yes!’? ‘*Will you pay the toll?”’ ‘*T don’t want to go over now.”’ ‘All right then, you can go back to shore.’? \ Ralph arose to his feet, and the aristo- cratic bully slowly followed. Several persons were coming across the bridge now, and the young bridge-tender ran to collect their tolls, leaving his late antagonist to brush off his sadly-soiled clothes. ‘Tl fix you for this!’’ cried Percy, after the passengers had passed out of hearing. ‘*We’ll see if the village will allow a ruffian like You to tend bridge much longer.”’ And off he stalked, with his face full of dark and bitter hatred. Ralph looked after him anxiously. Would Percy’s threat amount to anything? It demanded NEWS. 4419 T would be a real calamity to lose his situation} Aroused by Zip’s cries several men were on the bridge. Then Ralph started to brush off his own clothes. While he was doing so he felt in his pocket to see if his twenty dollars was still safe, The bill was gone! With great eagerness he began a search for the missing bank-note. It was all to no purpose, the money could not be found. (TO BE CONTINUED.) es (This Story Will Not be Published in Book-Form.|[ SLACK-WIRE ZIP; The Ups and Downs of an Acrobat. ep cael lth BY VICTOR ST. CLAIR, Author of ‘Little Hickory of the Mountain Express,” “Zig-Zag, the Boy Conjurer,” “The Young Stone-Outter.”’ ete. ——- - (“SLACK-WIRE ZIP’? was commenced in No. 267. Back numbers Gan be obtained of all News Agents.) CHAPTER XXXVI. Sa CLEW AT LAT: *? LACK-WIRE ZIP had seen the ap- proach of Dim Pekin and his father, while at nearly the same time he saw a couple of suspicious-looking men walking slowly in the direction of the ticket wagon. These last he might not have noticed had it not been for their furtive looks to the right and left. ° ‘If they aren’t thieves, their looks and actions belie their true character,’’ thought the Boy Acrobat, turning his steps that way, being careful not to let them think he was watching them. One of the twain approached the front of the wagon to accost the ticket seller, though appareptly waiting until the crowd had thinned out somewhat. Finally he spoke to the man in a low tone which Zip failed to catch. While this person held the attention of the ticket agent, his companion advanced to the | rear end of the covered vehicle, where he stopped with a cautious glance around to see that no one was watching him. The crowd had now entered the tent, so only an occasional late-comer was to be seen, and under the dim lights of the scene—it being evening—the stranger might bave stood in the shadow of the wagon without being seen for some time. He had not stood there more than a min- ute, however, before Zip saw something bright flash for an instant in his hand. It was a knife! ; ‘‘Hallo!’’? greeted thé thin voice of Dim Pekin at that moment, and turning, Zip was surprised to find the ‘‘learned hog”’ standing at his elbow. ‘¢ )Bout time fer the show to begin?’’ asked the latter. Zip nodded, fearing that the words wonld frighten off the man whom he now believed intent upon robbing the wagon. ‘Ol’ man concluded he wouldn’t show ter- night. Kem over to see yer contrapshun. Got a spare——’’ ‘‘Hist!’? warned Zip, as at that_ moment he had seen the robber insert the keen-bladed knife into the canvas. ‘‘Say, bub,’’ said Dim_ Pekin, unheeding Zip’s warning, ‘‘got sumthin’ I wanter show yer, only yer mustn’t tell the ol’ man. Thought mebbe yer ’d like to see yit. It’s a picter of my gal. An’t she pooty?”’ Zip had tried in vain tostop his talk, knowing it was liable at any instant to at- tract the attention of the thief. ‘‘Hush! don’t you see——’’ But Zip had turned half around as he spoke, when he caught sight of the picture Dim had cautiously taken from an inner pocket. That single glance brought a low cry from his lips. it was a picture of Little Fairy! It was the most exciting moment in Slack- Wire Zip’s life. The robber had succeeded in cutting a hole into the wagon, and his arm at that very mo- ment was thrust through the aperture: but Zip forgot that fact for the time as he be- held the picture of her whom he had looked for so long in vain. Something in his looksymust have fright- ened Dim Pekin, for putting the picture back into his pocket, he turned to flee. He was no match for the Boy Acrobat, however, and he had not gone three steps before Zip had him by the shoulders, crying at the top of his voice: ‘Hold on, Dim Pekin! Ihave got you fast. Give me that picture. Help! the ticket wagon is being robbed.”’ Dim struggled wildly to break away, ex- claiming, frantically: ‘‘Don’t, mister, an’ I’}] let yer have yit.”’ By that time Zip had recovered his pres- ence of mind enough to know that he was neglecting his duty, and he dropped Dim to turn to see what had become of the thief, He was just in season to see the bold rob- ber starting away from the wagon, carry- ing in his hand the trophy for which he had ventured his life. | rushing to the place, among them Mr. Wil- |der. Seeing that he was likely to be caught | unless he got away at once, the wretch fled at the top of his speed. Maddened by the thought that he had been careless enough to allow thisrobbery to take place right before his gaze and to let the doer escape, Zip rushed in pursuit. Instead of stopping to go around the wagon he bounded into the air, clearing its top without touching it, and alighting on his feet to resume his pursuit with unabated speed. Looking back the fugitive saw that he was being pursued by a boy, and snatching a pistol from one of his pockets, he fired hast- ily two shots, showing by the act his desper- ate nature. ‘ Escaping these shots Zip increased instead of lessened his gait, soon beginning to gain on the man. Mr. Wilder was then in wild chase, though too far behind to hope to overtake the fleet-footed runner. ‘‘A hundred dollars to the man who capt- ures him!’’ cried the old showman. But Zip did not need this encouragement. He had made up his mind to catch the fel- low, let the consequence be what it might. The fugitive soon realized that he was no match in fleetness of foot for the Boy Acro- bat, and he flourished his knife over his head, hoping no doubt to intimidate his pursuer. Nothing daunted Zip continued his pursuit, gaining every moment upon his victim. ‘Lay a hand on me, and I[’}) cut your throat from ear to ear!’’ cried the hunted man, still flourishing the deadly weapon in | the air. Zip was now within three or four yards of him, when gathering his strength for the effort he sprang into the air like a foot-ball, and clearing the space, planted his feet squarely in the other’s back with a force which sent him prostrate to the ground. The knife was flung several yards away, and the breath was knocked completely out of the man’s body as he fell. Picking up the fire-arm that had dropped from his grasp, Zip leveled it at his head, threatening to blow out his brains if he moved. The threat was unnecessary, for the fellow did not move before the others had reached the spot. ‘*The hundred dollars are yours, Zip,’’ said the excited Mr. Wilder, as soon as the thief | had been secured. ‘‘I never saw such a fel- low as you are, Zip, always doing some- thing nobody else could.”’ The money from the sales of tickets was found intact. Seeing there was no further need of him, Zip started back toward the grounds in search of Dim Pekin, whom he feared would get away, without stopping to make any explanations to the others. e soon saw Dim, who met him, saying: ‘*T lied to yer, mister. She an’t my gal, though I liked to make mesilf think so. Yer can have the picter if yer say so.’’ ‘Where did you get it?’’ asked Zip, as he took the object from the other’s hand. ‘*J_oh, she jes’ traveled with us—she and another chap who called hisself Honey- comb.’’ ‘*Hoorah!’’ cried Zip, excitedly, and very much to Dim’s surprise. ‘‘A clew at last! Come} quick, Mr. Wilder; come, Marvel! I have learned something of little Fairy.’’ CHAPTER XXXVIII. A SHOW IN DISGRACE. a7 HAT’S that?’’ asked the old show- WAAAY man, reaching the spot at that - moment, knowing that something el) of more than common importance had occurred to excite the Boy Acrobat in that manner. Zip quickly explained what he had found, when Dim Pekin was plied with questions, in answer to which he could only tell that a man calling himself Honeycomb had joined their company for a month, and that he had with him the original of the picture, who used to act with him as ‘‘the fairy of the ring.”’ ‘*Where are they now?’’ **No un knows,’’ replied Mr. Pekin, join- ing the group at that moment. ‘‘Ther man drunk so | couldn’t do ennything with him, so I sot him off. I offered him a harnsome figger fer that gal. She jes’ did drawa crowd,”’ Nothing further could ‘be learned relative to the fate of Little Fairy, and as it was al- ready past the time for the show to open, Zip was obliged to enter the tent and pre- pare for his part. The prisoner had been put into the proper hands. His confederate had disappeared, and the search which was made for him was un- availing. The moment the last act in the sawdust ring had been performed, Zip looked for Dim Pekin, hoping by ‘renewed questioning he could get some clew of the subject upper- most in his mind. To his disappointment the Pekins, father and son, had disappeared. What was more startling, the captive thief had managed to elude his captors, and no trace of him could be found. / Upon receipt of this information, Mr. Wil- der made some very ‘‘vigorous remarks,”’ as Huntington styled them, but as he had lost ‘nothing by the attempted theft, he soon dis- A420 missed the thief from his mind, and he was not referred to again. But the Pekins were destined to be met again, for less than a week later, upon reach- ing a town called Rossroyalton, Zip felt a mingled surprise and pleasure to find every available place, it seemed, placarded with the announcements of the Pekin Family, which were going to exhibit there that after- noon, Messrs. Wilder and Huntington had not in- tended to open their tent before evening, so it did not seem possible that the Pekins were to suffer by them this time. More than that, it gave Zip an opportunity to see their ex- hibition, an opportunity he most gladly im- proved. Knowing he would have little or no time to talk with Dim before the entertainment, he resolved not to make his presence known until the performance was over. Accordingly he took a seat in an obscure corner, but where he could watch the scene plainly, and awaited developments. The show was in an old hall, which was filled to overflowing, and ‘‘ Prof. Armoroff’’ opened the affair with a bombastic speech, concluding with an introduction of the ‘*world-renowned bearded lady,’’ and the ‘‘earth-praised and star-sung famous double twins!’’ ‘*Go search the records of the heavens and the globe and their equal cannot be found,’’ continued the ‘‘professor,’’ waxing wilder in his talk. ‘*‘Here we have two lovely heads, two pairs of perfect shoulders on a single body. Who would not travel the wide world over to see and to converse with such beau- tiful, intelligent ladies? It is marvelous. ‘*But here we have something still more wonderful—the learned wonder of the nine- teenth century—the learned hog. Come for- ward, Solomon, and show these ladies and gentlemen, these learned people the astonish- ing things that you know. Always bow to the ladies as you come forward.’’ As he finished speaking the so-called hog eame slowly forward, grunting and sniffing so naturally that Zip began to think Dim had claimed what was not true when he had said that he took the part of ‘‘the learned hog.”’ ‘¢ Bow, Solomon, bow!’’ ordered the ‘‘pro- fessor,’’? whereupon the creature gruntedc and lowered its head to the infinite delight ot its master, ‘What did I tell you?’’ cried the latter. ‘*Now I am going to show you that such an ignorant creature as the hog, as he seems to many of us, is really capable of wonderful knowledge. Our friend here can do every- | thing but talk. Can’t you, Solomon? And you can talk, ouly we can’t understand your language. To get over this leetle differkilty I hey these keerds which I place along here inarow. They hev got figers on ’em, an’ | letters, an’ sich like, an’ when I calls on Solo- | mon he alwus picks up jes’ the un he should. | So we’ll show yer.’’ It will be noticed that the ‘‘professor’’ had | unconsciously dropped into the poor gram- | mar that he used in common conversation. : But the attention of the spectators was fixed | upon the movements of Solomon, who had | slowly advanced to the edge of the platform and stood looking stupidly over the audience. ‘*Now, Solomon, let’s bégin to show ’em what yer—stand back there, country gawk!’ cried ‘‘ Professor Armoroff,’’ as one of the | spectators crowded forward to the very edge | of the platform in his eagerness to see, at the same time pushing the fellow rudely away. ‘‘Hi there, mister! I reckon I’ve some rights here seeing——’’ ‘-Yer bound to keep out ther way. That hog--—’’ ‘*B’gosh!’? cried the red-headed country- man, pointing excitedly to the animal, ‘‘he’s bu’sted his skin! He’s been eatin’ sawdust, Dang me! ef there an’t something wrong.”’ Thereupon the speaker gave the creature a prodigious punch, which brought forth a howl of pain that startled every one present, ‘*Tt’s a man!’’ shrieked the stranger, bit- ting the figure again, when the voice of Dim Pekin yelled: ‘*Take him off, dad! He’s a bu’stin’ me.”’ By this time excitement had arisen to a high pitch, and almost every one was shout- ing, ‘‘a fraud! a humbug! put them out!’ Dim Pekin quickly threw off his disguise, and finding that the incensed mob was charging in that direction, he sought safety in flight. ‘*Professor Armoroff’’ tried to make him- self heard, and failing, he threatened to whip the whole crowd. Then a most surpris- ing development in the make-up of the Pekin Family occurred. The ‘‘bearded lady’’ joined in the struggle with masculine ferocity; the ‘‘united twins’’ suddenly separated, lending their voices if not their arms to the free-for- all fight. With a portion of the hog-skin still cling- ing to him, Dim was faring roughly at the hands of the indignant assailants, when Zip opened one of the windows and thus enabled the youth to escape. Not caring to be mixed up in the disgrace ful scene, Zip got out of the hall as soon as possible, to meet Dim outside. ‘Wow! but yer did me a good turn. Reckon dad’s old show is bu’sted this time sure. Well, dad is a screamer. Say, mister, { ruther like ther way yer pitched me out’n thet winder. How’s ther circus goin’??? ‘*Pretty well. Have you heard anything more of Honeycomb?’’ ‘‘Nuffin, mister, hones’. But say, hope you’ll ’scuse me, I —-the fac’ is dad made me lie to yer afore. But 1 an’t goin’ to do it this time. Yer man’s in Chicago.’’ ‘*Honeycomb in Chicago? Did the girl go with him?’? SY 60,73 This was all Zip could learn from Dim Pekin, and leaving the family of imposters to get clear of the aggrieved crowd as best they could, he returned to his company with the good news. ‘‘We shall get to Chicago in about ten days,’’ said Mr. Wilder, ‘‘when we will do our best to find them. I flatter myself we shall succeed.’’ CHAPTER XXXIX. ZIP ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE—THE CRY FROM THE FLAMES, ———) 5 az IRE! fire! fire!’’ ‘= The time is ten days later, and the ! , scene is Chicago, « nc Wilder & Huntington’s New Car- avan of Wonders was located for a three days exhibition in the ‘‘Queen City of the West.’ Zip immediately upon his arrival in the city bad begun to look after Little Fairy, but without any success so far. On the fore- noon of the second day his attention had been called to the mary feats performed by a certain Professor Buoyant, who had pla- | carded the town with glowing accounts of the wonderful feats he was capable of doing on the tight-rope. ‘*There’s a rival evidently worthy of your metal,’’ said Mr. Huntington, ‘‘and I think you had better put in an hour this forenoon in witnessing his exhibitions. You may gain a point.”’ Thus Zip was induced to go with his em- ployer to see Professor Buoyant perform his miracles on the tight-rope. The professor was a younger man than ‘they had expected to find, though he may have seen forty years. Dressed in his ath- lete’s suit, which showed off his perfect fig- ure to its best advantage, he presented a fine specimen of manhood. A line of a hundred feet in length had been stretch across a street about fifty feet above | the ground, upon which the ‘‘champion tight- rope walker of the world,’’ as the flaming handbills called him, was to perform his feats. : A big crowd had congregated about the scene a long time before the hour set for the appearance of the professor, and,when he did come he was greeted with vociferous cheers. Then no sooner had Professor Buoyant bowed to the spectators, when he startled them by running over the rope as lightly as a squirrel might have done, to bow aguin to the onlookers from'the opposite side of the street. ‘“‘T dare say,’’ said the professor, with a smile, ‘‘there is not a person present who can perform that little feat, though it is hardly worth mentioning compared to what I have seen Blondin do, Now let me see if I can imitate the celebrated Blondin.’’ With these words, he walked deliberately out upon the slender line to about midway, when he stopped and dropped flat upon the rope, where he lay stretched at full length, while the crowd made the air ring with cries of admiration. Springing back to his feet after a minute’s repose on his dizzy perch, he startled the spectators by suddenly dropping downward, until he hung suspended from the line by his toes. Then he displayed his wonderful nerve by slowly raising his body upward, until he could catch the rope with his teeth, to hang by them for a short time. When he had again got upon his feet he addressed his spectators, saying: “Now, ladies and gentlemen, I am about to show you some feats that I challenge any man in the world to match. Please remem- ber I have traveled in Europe, besides Amer- ica, and I have yet to find the first person who has dared to attempt them, much more perform them. So I throw the challenge open to all, and hope there is some one pres- ent who has the hardihood to accept, as it is lonesome to always perform alone.”’ With these words, the tight-rope walker retraced his course, disappearing into one of the buildings at the end of the line. He quickly re-appeared, however, bringing in his hands a short piece of board, which he carried out near the middle of the rope bridge, and laid it down with such /nicety that it remained balanced in midair. Again the professor returned to the house, when he soon came back with a small stove in his arms, setting this piece of household furniture upon the board. He then began to build a fire in the stove, and when it was burning he deliberately toasted a slice of bread and broiled a steak, while the specta- tors looked on dumb with wonder. It is safe to say one and all breathed easier when the perfurmance was over, and the man with such wonderful nerve removed the stove and thé board from the line. Zip’s. eyes had not: left the performer, toward whom he seemed drawn with a strong affinity, but his thoughts were sud- NEWS. denly broken into by the voice of Hunting- ton, shouting up to the tight-rope walker: ‘*That’s all very well, Professor Buoyant, but I know of a boy who can beat it. Yes, sirree! he is right here, too! Call up your challenge, for 1 am going to accept it.’’ ‘*Where is your man? I will meet him at any hour and place. If he can beat me, the championship of the world is his. When can you produce him?”’ ‘*‘Now! at once! he is here. Come, Zip, I’ll put up five hundred dollars that you can beat him,’? *‘No—no!?? said Zip, who was loath to ac- cept the challenge. ‘‘I1—I could not compete with him under those conditions. ’’ ‘*Name your own, then. You are going to beat. ’’ Intense excitement was shown by the looks and gestures of the spectators. Then it was | that the single word which carries the great- est terror to the human heart that the tongue can utter rang above the confused sounds: ‘‘Fire! fire! fire!’ ‘*Tt’?s coming down Central street, and it’s licking up everything in its path!’’ Ina moment the entire scene was changed. Men rushed to and, tro like madmen. Women shrieked and tried to get away from the place, often getting in the way of the wild multitude. Zip among others ran up the street, but they had not gone far before they came in sight of the conflagration, which was sweep- ing with its fiery tongue the works of man away as if they were but chaff. The firemen were battling manfully with the elements, but their efforts seemed but child’s play. ' ‘‘We must get back to the tent,’’ said Mr. Huntington. ‘‘If I am not mistaken this fire is going in that direction.’’ Zip’s attention was arrested just then by a sharp cry for help, and looking up toward the top of one of the stately blocks in the very folds of the conflagration, he saw a girlish figure in one of the windows. ‘*Poor thing !’’ said Huntington, discover- ing her at the same time. ‘‘She must perish in the flames for all the help she can get from any one.’’ ‘‘Tt is Little Fairy!’’ exclaimed Zip, sud- denly feeling a faintness coming over him at the thought of her peril. (TO BE CONTINUED.) —~<>— 6 --—__——- EY 8 aR To Bo F ¢ evo EDITED BY DAVID PARKS, tamper OW that bicycles have come into such universal use, this is a varia- tion of the old sport which will be found most exciting. The hares generally have the best of it, however; a good hare will lay false scents that threw the hounds quite off the track. A great deal depends on the hares. They must know the country well, but must not be too’ clever, or too fast, as otherwise the hounds have no chance of catching them. A single check, or a good false scent, may lose the hounds ten minutes or so. In a game re- cently played the hares gained thirty min- utes on the hounds, and only laid one false scent the wholeway. It was ata place where several roads met, and the hounds tried all the wrong roads for scent before hitting on the right one. The bares should have from five minutes to ten minutes start, according to the qual- ity of the hounds after them; if the hares are up to their work, and there are no very, fast hounds, five minutes is quite enough. Two hares generally start, but with a small ‘‘pack’’ of hounds one is sufficient. The scent is carried in bags slung on their backs, made of light material, so as not to hinder them in mounting. The mouth ofthe bag is slung under one arm, so \that while steering with one hand, they can throw scent with the other» They should lay the scent very thick at corners and turns, but on roads where there are no side streets once every hundred yards or so is sufficient to show the hounds they are on the track. Tt sometimes happens that'the scent runs out; the hares have put down heaps of paper where it was not wanted. A spot where there is a choice of roads is the only place where much scent is required, and then it should be laid continuously, so as to enable the hounds to ride on without dismounting. False scents should be very carefully laid, and not too frequent; two or three good ones in a long run are quite sufficient. The hares will of course have planned their road before, and should choose false scents in this way: Find a place where a little scent laid by one of the hares will tempt the hounds to go much, farther out of their way. A down-hill slope with a sharp turning off at the top, is a good place for a false scent. One hare rides down the hill fifty yards or so, laying the scent very thick, and then dis- mounts and follows the other hare, who has turned down the side road, and who has _ be- gun to lay scent about fifty yards along it. The'hounds come along and go down the hill full speed on the false scent, and rarely find out that they have been ‘‘done’’ till they have got some way beyond the place where the haré dismounted. Then they have the pleasure of walking up the hill again; they do not like this and the hares gain a great deal. One of the best false scents I ever heard of was a double false scent, something like the one I have described above. The hounds came to a place where three roads met, and found scent on all three; they took one, a rather rough up-hill bit, and found it a ‘*false;’? then tried a second, and found scent pretty thick for two hundred yards at least; that put them on a gentle down-hill slope, with the wind behind them, and the surface of the road very good. They had been coming against the wind, and they could not resist the temptation; they put | their heads down and tore along for nearly half a mile, till it suddenly occurred toa prudent hound that there hadn’t been much scent since the first two bundred yards, and sure enough they found themselves half a mile out of their way, with along up-hill drag against the wind before them. Imeed hardly say they never got near the hares after that. In view of false scents, an experienced hound will not be in a hurry. He will let the young and hasty hounds tear off in front, and will follow a hundred yards or so behind. In this way he lets them find out the false scents, and just comes up himself in time to ride quietly on in the right road. Then when | the hounds reach the straight run in, he can go ahead all the faster for not having wasted his breath at the beginning. It is sometimes usual for hares to carry a little paper of a different color—say bright red—to mark the end of false scents with, and so save the hounds from going too much out of their way. I don’t think, however, it improves the chase much, and it makes the hounds careless, Hares should always manage to have a little ‘trough riding’? in therun; not too much, or the hounds’ tempers may be spoiled, but half a mile or so of fields or woods. They must be careful to lay the scent very thick where they take to the fields, as the hounds are not generally on the lookout for field- work. It is well to give hounds a gate or two (if fastened, so much the better) to get over; those who have light machines find out the advantage. A plank across a stream is a capital thing to have in the course of a chase, and if the hares can pull it up behind them, it is excel- lent from the hares’ point of view. The hounds don’t usually see it in the same light. There are a good many fields and grass roads which can be easily ridden by good rid- ers, and a little of these in a hare-and-hound chase gives variety. The hares had better not ‘‘tip’’? any people they meet on their way NOT to say which way they have gone. As far as my experi- ence goes, the hounds give the same people a larger tip, and the latter tell the truth and pocket a double reward. IT need hardly say that riding in a game of disregarding the rules of the road—riding on their wrong side, passing carriages on both sides at once, or yelling at people who don’t at once make way. These thoughtless things, done by young riders, bring bicycling into disrepute; and are answerable for a good deal of the prejudice against which wheel- men have to fight. You will find this run on bicycles capital sport, Iam sure. You get a very healthy exercise, and a great deal of exciting pleas- EXPERIMENTS WITH SALT. Make a strong brine by shaking salt and water together in a bottle until the water will dissolve no more. Color the brine with any ink that will mix with water. Make a pile of salt on a plate, and pour the colored brine gradually into a plate. Jt will rise in the pile of salt until the whole pile is colored. The experiment will not succeed with water, because it will dissolve the salt in the pile; but the brine has so much salt in it already that it cannot take up any more. Fill a glass funnel with salt, packing it tightly ; invert iton a plate, and fit over the narrow end the mouth of an empty toy bal- loon, which has been kept very full of air for a long time, so that it will inflate with little force. Pour gradually into the plate some colored brine, prepared as in the first experi- ment. It will mount higher and higher in the funnel, driving before it the air, which will inflate the balloon. The experiment will not suceeed unless the salt has been packed tight, and unless the balloon has been well stretched, so as to inflate easily. A MAGIC EGG. If you puta silver egg-spoon above the flame of a candle it becomes black; plunge it in a glass of water—what a change! The spoon is no longer black. Take it from the water, you will think the smoke has disap- peared. It is notso. The spoon remains @ dull black. Curious, is it not? The explana- tion is simple. m , Lamp-black, because of its fmeness, is not moistened by the water; the water presents then, all around and at a distance from the blackened spoon, a curved form, reproducing light reflects as on a metallic surface. Try the pretty experiment this Wway- hare-and-hounds doesn’t justify riders in’ exactly that of the spoon and on which the, an eee fe - GoonDpD Blacken an egg above a candle, or better still, a very smoky lamp, and this egg plunged into the water, will take instantly a brilliant and metallic aspect, giving the illusion of a silvered egg, and reappearing black as soon as you take it out of the water. __ ~>-- {This Story will not be Published in Book-Form.] THE RIVAL GANOE BOYS: OR, With Pack and Paddle on the Nipigon, BY ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE, Author of *‘ Reckless Carl,” “The Gulf Cruisers,” etc. (“THE RIVAL CANOE No. 275. Agents.) 30Ys”’ was commenced in CHAPTER IX. FELIX MAKES A GREAT SHOT. Ki % S these words of warning, coming YX? from unknown space, struck upon ~ their ears, the two mourners natur- ally turned their faces in the quarter indicated, where the dug-out had been drawn up on the strand by the muscular arms of the guide. What they saw was a singular sight, that must have given them both something of a shock. A tall, gaunt man was endeavoring to half push and bodily carry the dug-out down to the water of the cove. The dude was at first paralyzed with amazement, but he seemed to recover his wits, and sprang forward with a shrill screech of anger, just as Amos leaped toward the offending stranger. The man had just got the dug-out into the water. He found no time to leap in, but gave it a push outward, as though seeking to divert the attention of the two from him self to the endangered boat, and thus man- age his own escape. In this idea he was partially successful, too, for the guide immediately rushéd into the water waist deep and caught the canoe, towing it back. / Not so the enraged dude. Blind to the vast difference in their size, he cut off the retreat —t ~> 0 vs} of the giant, and making a spring, landed | on the man’s back, where he clawed, and scratched, and spluttered until the fellow emerging from the water, succeeded in dis- lodging him. When Amos, having drawn the canoe up on the sand again, came bustling to the spot ready to annihilate the stranger, he found his small employer stuck fast in a thicket of thorns, which are to be founda here and there in ‘‘the bush,’’? as our Canada neighbors call the forest. With much difficulty and numerous excla- mations, the poor dude was finally extri- cated from his ridiculous predicament. Of course the cause of all this confusion— the unknown man who would have stolen the dug-out, even as-he tried to get away with the canvas canoe had vanished, plung- ing into the pine woods whence he had come. Amos Turner was both amazed and angry, while the dude began to show alarm. He had attacked the tall stranger in a spasm of bravery such as may come to even a cow- ard, but he more than once shivered to re- member how exceedingly reckless he had been of his delicate person. ‘*By Jove! the fellow was as strong as an ox. No man in his senses could throw me off like that. I’ve belonged to a gymnasium, and bardened my muscles,’’? and the little snip drew up a diminutive arm with all the pride a prize-fighter might have shown. The guide grinned—how could he help it under’ the circumstances? Was a barrel of conceit ever before contained in such a small compass? ‘*T wouldn’t be surprised if you was right in one thing, sir.’? ‘*What’s that, Amos?’? ‘‘That chap may have been crazy. He looked like it to me.”’ ‘‘Say, do you know now, a thought has just occurred to me—flashed across my mind like a shooting star over the heavens?’’ ‘*Good gracious!’’ ‘exclaimed Amos, who appeared uneasy whenever the dude vent- ured into such flowery language. ‘“Yes,’? continued Felix, unmindful of all else save the idea he hugged so tightly in order that it should not get away, ‘‘I’ve seen that man before now. Upon my soul, he’s the same gawky chap who communi- cated the intelligence to Bob Fletcher con- cerning this cache.’’ When Amos grasped the idea, he showed some signs of excitement. ‘*Are you sure, sir?’’ he asked. Another person would have said ‘‘I am,’’ but that was not Felix Darling’s way. ‘‘I’m ready to positively declare I’ve seen that fellow before, and that to the best of my knowledge and belief it was under the circumstances heretofore subscribed to,’’ he rambled on. Back numbers can be obtained of all News NEWS. 4421 without really arriving at any conclusion. Then the guide remembered the warning— who had shouted out in time to save the »| boat? Discussing this matter pro and con, the dude finally declared that he believed from the voice that it must have been Carl North. When they understood that the others might even at that moment be near by, Amos and his employer went into a com- mittee of the whole, their avowed purpose being to discover the camp of the enemy, if possible. Thus a peculiar three-cornered engage- ment was inaugurated. Jason Jacks being boatless, was prowling around trying to steal a craft of some sort in which he could make his return to Superior, where the steamer would carry him back to civiliza- tion. In turn, he was being hunted by Bob Fletcher and his chum, both of whom felt confident the man had in his possession the papers which Bob sought, and which were to win him his heart’s desire. Now, to cap the climax, here were these last two making up their minds that the aforesaid document was in the keeping of the young fellows who cruised in the canvas canoe, and were de- termined to lay hold of it, peaceably if they could, forcibly if they must. So the dude kept camp, after they had eaten supper, while Turner went out on a still-hunt to see if luck would not betray to his eyes or ears the spot where the others lay. : Left alone, Felix was not at all comfort- able. What if the crazy man, as he had dubbed Jacks, should return? He would be com- pelled to shoot him, beyond a doubt. As the thought came more definitely into his mind it made him exceedingly nervous, so that he even took up the gun and laid it across, his knees, a feeling akin to terror slowly creeping over him. This was presently augmented when he heard a low sound behind him, and twisting around discovered a pair of eyes glaring at him from among the bushes. Whether man or beast, the dude could not say. He was shaking like a leaf, but man- aged to pull back the hammer of his gun, forgetting that it contained bird-shot, and brought the weapon to his shoulder. ‘*Speak, if you are human!’’ he called out, in a quavering voice. Something like a growl answered. He shut | both eyes, clinched his teeth, and pulled the trigger. Then, as the loud report bellowed | | ) through the bush, the terrified dude dropped | 1 t € | flat upon his face, for he saw something | with a shake, such as a dog might give after | |coming for him—something that took great flying leaps, and which as hé fell to’ the ground, went sailing over through the space his form had lately filled, and landed with a tremendous yowl in the camp-fire! CHAPTER X. THE DUMMY SENTRY. OOR, terrified little Felix Darling thought his last hour had come. iG He had seen the unknown creature sf fly over him, and to his excited imagination it had seemed as large as a panther. What was that? It sounded as though something had come upon the scene with a tremendous report. Ah! it must have been the discharge of a gun near by. Felix ventured to raise his head, and saw a sight that he never forgot. The great cat was revolving like a strange fire-wheel, and e ded its woes with one tremendous screech that rang far and wide through the hemlock woods and over the lake. From among the trees strode a form carrying a smoking rifle in his right hand. It was Amos Turner, the guide, who had come upon the scene just in time to finish the savage invader of the camp. Felix became himself again, and he looked as bold as a lion when he stood before Amos, though his under lip trembled somewhat, and as he spoke his voice was exceedingly weak. ‘‘Didn’t I fool the, creature, Amos—did you see me give him the drop and allow him to leap into the blaze? Oh, I tell you, it takes brains as well as nerves to fight these forest monsters to a successful issue,’’ he said, proudly. ‘‘Well, for my part, sir, I think a rifle satisties my desire,’’ returned Amos, dryly. ‘Did you discover the abiding place of those other fellows?’’ asked Felix, suddenly remembering the mission that had taken his guide out of camp. ‘*T did,’’ returned Amos, moodily. ‘Then we may possibly surprise them and by bodily force make them deliver over the papers that count so much in my game.’’ ‘*We might have done it.’ ‘*Why not now?’? ‘*Well, you see, they an’t so far away but what this here racket must have reached *em and put ’em on their guard.’ ‘Plague take the luck—was it my fault??’’ ‘*Can’t say as it was, exactly, sir. But perhaps it is just as well. Now, we can wait a while, and then creep toward the camp. I’ve no doubt they keep a watch.”’ ‘What do you suppose they would do if -c< ‘*What brings him up here?’’ They talked the matter over for a time ‘Hard to say. They might fill you full of shot off-hand, and duck down, hoping to coax you into a leap over them into the camp-fire.’’ Felix did not notice the dry sarcasm of the guide’s words. He was thick-skinned anyway, and his rhinoceros hide could turn shafts aside that would pierce most persons. ‘*The duse you say. Fill me up with shot! By Jove! that would not be pleasant. I must respectfully and absolutely decline to allow my body to be made a receptacle for their shot,’’ said the dude, firmly. ‘ the danger they ran with respect to having their boat stolen, the two young fellows watched the scene through, chuck- ling at its ridiculous features, especially where the dude sportsman clung like the old man of the sea on Sinbad’s back, and was shaken into the thorn bush, from which he was rescued after much tribulation by his guide. When peace seemed about to descend once more on the camp near the water, Car] and his friend concluded they might as well be going. back to their own hiding-placs. They needed rest. Having thus made up their minds, they left the light of the camp-fire behind and cautiously passing under the trees, finally reached the spot where their boat lay secreted. Both lay down to sleep, for it did not enter their minds that the enemy would come upon them in the darkness. Carl made an ingenious trap by mean of which he would be warned in case any one attempted to move the boat. He remem- bered a time, years before, when he was a mere lad, and yet fond of sports. On one occasion, having arranged to go out after ducks, and desiring to start for the point before dawn, in order to be in the blind at the first streak of day, he had tied a cord to his foot and passed the end out of the win- dow, which bis friend, who had an alarm clock, was to jerk and arouse him, should Carl oversleep himself. This gave him his present idea. He fastened a cord to the boat, and secured the other end to his foot, so that if any one went to move the canvas canoe he would be aroused. Feeling secure ‘in this particular, Carl crawled under the blankets near Bob, and shut his eyes. Both of them slept heavily, Carl depend- ing on his trap to warn him, and having no care on his mind. Young Fletcher’s awakening was a rude one. the figure without betraying its counterfeit | | was to struggle, but just at that moment | there came a whisper close to his ear. ‘*Keep still, and you won’t be hurt! If you fight, I’ll have to do the choking act.’’ It was Amos Turner who thus pinned him to the ground. He could just see the dim outlines of the fellow’s head and shoulders in silhouette against the starry background, and this convinced him of the truth. If he needed any further evidence he had it. Amos only needed one hand to pin him down, and the other started upon a sys- tematic search of Bob’s various pockets. A queer sensation it is to be lying on the ground with another fellow thrusting his hand in each and every pocket—not a pleas- ant feeling either. Still, Bob was in no con- dition to resist, and at such a time the wise man makes a virtue of necessity, living in the hope of turning the tables at a future period. As the searching hand failed to discover the coveted object, it became evident that Amos was growing nervous and angry. He, had felt almost certain that he would find the papers on Bob’s person, and hence his disappointment was keen. Carl had lain like a log while this strange little circus was going on so near him, breathing naturally and deeply. He was aroused, however, by a tremen- dous jerk at his foot—a pull that broke the cord he had secured to that member and the canoe. The young cruiser did not sit up— he cast the blankets from him with a shout, and sprang from his humble couch as though fired out by some gigantic spring. He seemed to understand that some one was endeavoring to make way. with the canoe, for it was in that direction his im- petuous rush carried him. Before be had taken two jumps Carl fell over some object that was sprawling in his path, and a chorus of bewildering grunts and exclamations revealed the astonishing fact that it was no other than Felix Darling, who, tripping over the cord, had measured his length upon the soil, adding a few more | scratches to those which already ornamented his phiz. Carl grasped the situation. He at the same time laid hold of the dude, and smothered him with his arms. Car] was stronger than his tall frarme would indicate, and he did not find it an exceedingly diffi- cult thing to lift the diminutive figure of the dude in his arms. A few steps brought him to the brink of the lake—here he made a sweep of his arms, with all his reserve force. There was a squawk, a tremendous splash, and the dude’s new hunting suit received its christen- ing in the cold waters of Cranberry Lake. CHAPTER XII. A CHANGE IN TACTICS. S soon as Carl had sent Felix Darling with a splash into the lake, he ~+\& turned around, well knowing that ~\ > his attention was needed in another quarter. The darkness caused Car] some little an- noyance, but he had ears as well as eyes, and could hear the sounds made by strug- gling Bob and Amos upon the ground, though the tremendous splashing of the frightened dude and his pathetic appeals for help in four feet of water almost drowned everything else. Carl’s first action was to bend down and grope for his gun. This he had lost at the time he stumbled over Felix. Fortunately, he knew just about where this event had taken place, and was able to locate the spot where the gun had fallen. Groping around, his hand came in contact with the weapon, and caused him to ex- perience a fierce satisfaction. The sounds of a struggle could still be heard. Carl knew where a lantern they car- ried with them hung from the limb of a tree, and as he grasped it he produced a match, which was speedily turned into flame. All had been done with great rapidity, and the young fellow, having lost very little time ta delay, turned to survey the scene, holding the lantern in one hand and the gun in his other. What he saw was this: Amos Turner knelt upon the breast of young Fletcher, whose struggles were becoming much weaker, for the hands of the rough guide grasped his neck, and prevented. natural breathing. As the light of the lantern illuminated the scene, Amos twisted his head around and glared at the other. He hardly knew whether he should let go his hold upon the party he had on the ground or not, for Bob showed signs of being able to do something, once that terrible grip was removed. Car] saved him from the trowble of de- ciding in this dilemma. He brought his gun on a level with the fellow’s head, and there was a look in the face of the canoe cruiser that declared his intention, even before he spoke. ‘*Get up, Amos.”’ The guide was no coward, but something in the situation seemed to tell him it was no longer his game. they caught a glimpse of us creeping for- ward?’’ asked the dude, nervously. Strong fingers closed over his throat, shut- ting off his supply of wind. His first thought So he obeyed, not with good grace, and sullenly, but he did’ as Car] ordered, never: any 4422 theless. His fingers relaxed their hold upon Bob’s throat, and he arose to his feet, ‘“‘Stand still now, on your peril,’’ ordered the master of the occasion. ‘‘T’m standing, Carl,’’ replied Amos, with a grin, as though he meant to make the most of a bad bargain, in which he showed his wisdom. “Tf you’ve hurt my Bob, it’ll bea bad job for you, my fine fellow,’’ said Carl. There was a movement of the recumbent figure, and Bob slowly arose to a sitting position. This pleased Carl immensely. He knew that he was the master of the situation, and would be able to dictate terms to the con- quered foe. There was no hurry; the game was still young, and Bob had not yet fully recovered so as to be able to have a hand in the mess, Meanwhile, the dude, having grown tired of shouting for the help that did not come, reached the wise conclusion that Heaven assists those who keep their powder dry. He had also discovered that the water was not deep enough to drown even one of his size, and the consciousness of this fact gave him new courage. Recognizing the necessity for reaching the shore as speedily as possible, Felix waded, and emerged, dripping wet from his bath, It was just at this interesting juncture that Bob arose to his feet and called out to Carl, asking what he should do, for he recognized the fact that his companion was the master spirit of the little affair. Carl was ready with an answer, and im- mediately directed his friend to find the other gun, when he could cover the dripping dude, and prevent him from doing any damage. In one way this had the appearance of sarcasm, for poor Felix was in no condition to harm even a fly; but Carl was cautious, and lyelieved in the ounce of prevention that is always reckoned better than a pound of cure. So Bob hunted around. He discovered the rifle where it had been dropped, and as soon as his hands closed over it he turned upon the drenched dude. ‘*Throw up your hands!’’ he ordered. The fellow obeyed with alacrity. “Sit down, Amos, and you, Felix—sit close together, so that we can see you plainly,’’ Carl said, and Carl meant to be obeyed. Realizing this, they seated themselves upon the ground a couple of feet apart. ‘It’s pasy to understand what you have come here for, Amos Turner,’’ said Carl, The guide looked up and-grinned. ‘*Not for this here thing; I can tell you,’’ he said, nodding toward the gun that still covered them. ‘*Hardly. You're after a bundle of papers which you believe we hold.’’ Felix nodded his head eagerly—then seemed to remember that he was really med- dling.in a business that did not immediately concern him, for he let his eyes fall, and began wringing the water from his soaked gal'ments, ‘*Well, you’ve made two great fools of ourselves. We have no papers, and have een just as badly left as you were,’’ re- marked Carl, coolly. The two prisoners looked at each other, and probably exchanged some signal. Then Amos worked up that exasperating grin of his again, and winked one eye at Carl. ‘*You’re playing us now—you don’t reckon we an’t got eyes,’’ he remarked. ‘“‘Of course you mean the hole in the sand??? ‘*Hxactly.’’ ‘* And the empty tin box?’’ ‘‘Which Mr. Darling here smashed under his heel when he run across it.’’ ‘‘That tin box was in the same condition when we dug it up.’’ ‘“*Empty?”’ ‘Yes; not a paper in it.’’ ‘*Come now, you don’t expect us to be- lieve a yarn like that?’’ sneered Amos. ‘*Whether you believe it or not matters very little to us. I’m telling you the exact truth. We have not seen the papers which mean so much to my friend Bob here.’’ “P’r’aps you know where they be, though,’’ remarked the wilderness guide, shrewdly. ‘*We have an idea, that’s all.’’ ‘*D’ye mean*some other feller unearthed ‘em before you come up?’’ ‘6VYas.?? ‘*That might mean Jacks,’’ reflectively. Carl was surprised to see how quickly the man jumped at a conclusion, and with what remarkable accuracy he hit the bull’s-eye, too. Felix showed interest now. “ ‘*By Jove! there may be something in that, you know. Jacks—why he’s the man who informed Bob of the cache, the fellow who tried to steal our boat. Bless my soul! can he have secured the spoils?’’ The cat was now out of the bag, and Carl did not see any reason why the whole truth might not be known. At any rate he was determined that they should no longer be tormented by these parties following them, with the purpose of finding some chance to steal the papers which had not yet fallen into their possession. So he explained matters. The affair had now assumed a new phase, CGroOD and it was an object with both parties to ‘apture the tall man who had been stranded on the shore of Cranberry Lake after securing the contents of the little tin box. Amos was cunning. He had not the slightest idea of quitting the game, but at the same time believed it would be policy to make the others think such was their in- tention. Hence, when he heard what Carl had to say, his mind was made up, and he pre- tended to look very downcast. ‘The jig’s up, Mr. Darling, if that man has the documents. We might as well turn around and head for home.’’ As he spoke, the sly fellow gave his com- panion the wink, telling him as plainly as words could do that his proposition was to be taken with a large grain of allowance. The dude was sharp enough to understand what it meant, and for once refrained from putting bis foot in it. Car] understood the matter, too, and had not the least idea that the others would give the affair up. On the contrary, they would strain every nerve to lay hold of Jason Jacks. What was to be done with them now? Their presence was not desired in camp. Carl decided the matter by cutting the Gordian knot. ‘*You fellows can return to your own roost. We prefer to be alone. Besides, that old long-legged chap may find your boat and leave you. Come, stir yourselves now,’’ he said, sharply. ‘*Oh, but I’m so wet!’’ whined the poor dude, as followed by lantern and gun’ he kept beside Amos and left the camp of the canoe cruisers. CHAPTER XIII. WAITING. AHEY were gone at last, and the canoe >» cruisers stood alone in their camp. \ The lighted lantern revealed the fact 7° that Bob was still rubbing his neck, as though it felt sore after the hand of the | stout guide had clutched bone, muscle and cartilage in a fierce grasp. At the same time Bob was shaking all over, not from nervous excitement, but with silent laughter, as though some picture was before his mind which convulsed him. ‘*Carl, I owe you a bushel of thanks,’’ he managed to ejaculate. ‘*For what?’’ asked the other, surprised. ‘*Because you doused that man-monkey in the big drink.’’ And both of them once more laughed heartily at the ridiculous picture thus con- jured up. Then they settled down to business. The situation was canvassed, and every possible idea scanned. Of course their one thought was to get hold of Jacks, the prowler, and make him surrender the papers which he had secured without having any right to them. Plan after plan was discussed, and then given up as hopeless, Looking in the direction of the cove, they could see that the others had built a rousing fire. They could also hear the loud voices of Felix and his guide, ‘*He may be attracted by their fire,”’ re- marked Carl, as they listened., “But their clatter will alarm him. Jacks wants a boat badly, and will go to some trouble to steal one, but he is not the fool to show himself over there when he knows they are on the watch. I give him some credit.’’ ‘*That was acute dodge on the part of Amos,’?’ ‘*You mean leaving a dummy behind?”’ sé Yes. ” ‘*He’s a smart chap—I always knew it. The fellow who gets ahead of him has to be up bright and early in the morning. I’ve hunted with him more than once, and I tell you he knows forest lore down from Alpha to Omega.’’ ‘See here, why *couldn’t we do something of the same thing, only keep still?’ ‘*Hallo! got an idea, eh?”’ ‘‘What’s to hinder our setting a trap, and snaring the old fellow?’’ ‘*Nothing that I know of.’’ ‘‘We’ll build a generous fire that can be seen a long way off. Then, using what extra duds we have along, we can make up a couple of dummy figures that will pass muster, especially as no one may examine them closely. When all this has been fin- ished, both of us will retreat to a hiding- place, or two of them for that matter, near by, where we can watch what occurs, and take a hand in the game at the proper time.’’ Bob jumped at the idea. ‘*It takes the cake. The chances are ten to one we’ll succeed, for Jacks is dead set on getting hold of a boat of some sort. Let’s begin work.’’ Car! could afford to smile at the eagerness of his companion, not having such interests at stake; but all the same he was quité ready to rush matters. Hl In an astonishingly short apace of time the work had been completed; and when the bogus forms. were carefully deposited in the proper place, and the blankets drawn about them. it would have taken more than a casual glance to have revealed the truth. Carl was quite proud of his work. He NEWS stood there and surveyed the figures, nod- ding his head asif to signify his satisfac- tion. ‘*They’ll do,’? he muttered; ‘‘they’ll do; and now to find hiding-places for our- selves.’’ This was easily done, as on either side of the boat were bushes, in the midst of which they could secrete themselves, while at the same time they were in a good position to observe all that went on. It was a little singular to think that they were working upon the idea advanced by Amos Turner, and yet the circumstances were entirely changed. The guide had made a dummy to alarm Jacks if he showed up. On their part they had gone to the same trouble to quiet his suspicions. The one feared his coming while the other longed for it. That made a distinction with a differ- ence. It was perhaps atout an hour and a half after the two cruisers had retired from view, when Bob became aware of the fact that some one was moving near him. He could not see, because back of the bushes the fire was of little avail, but certain sounds that he heard convinced him of the truth. AI- most holding his breath, he crouched down and awaited the coming of the inevitable. (TO BE CONTINUED.) —_——_-~+- ee — (This Story Will Not be Published in Book-Form. ] FOR HIS HONOR’S SAKE: OR, The Richest Boy Detective in New York. BY WALDEN F. SHARP. a (“For His Honor’s SAKE’ was commenced in No. 271. Back numbers can be obtained of all News Agents.) CHAPTER XXI. THE RESCUE OF THE SAILOR. KAx NDREW DARWIN was horrified at Y R the thought that the sailor in peril \\ might be the very fellow he had “ assisted in the great metropolis. Without hesitation, he ran down to where the other sea-faring men stood. ‘*Tell me,’’? he asked of one of the men, ‘tis that man Gus Pendrill, a sailor who joined your vessel at Philadelphia?’’ ‘CAy, ay, sir’ ‘*Can nothing be done to save him?’’ ‘*We’ll do what we can if he comes near shore. We can’t go out for him.’’ At that moment another broad flash of lightning lit up the scene. It lasted but a moment, but brief as it was, it showed Andrew a curious condition of affairs. A long rope attached to the upturned boat was floating on the waves. As the light died out, its end was hurled up on the sand but a few yards away. With a leap Andrew sprang for the rope and caught it, just as it was sliding back into the undertow. He pulled with all of his strength, but he was not equal to the task, and was him- self yanked into the water up to his ankles. ‘*Help on the rope, somebody !’’ he cried. ‘Quick, if you would save a human life!’’ ‘*‘What have you?’’ asked a_ half-dozen ‘voices at once. ‘*A& rope attached to the boat.’’ As Andrew. spoke another wave sent the boat inward again. He ran out of the water and as high up the beach as the length of the rope would permit. Immediately willing hands jumped to his Every-one of the rescued sailors assistance. caught hold, and this time the upturned boat did not go back. ‘‘Heave away, boys! sang out the captain schooner. Now, altogether !’’ of the ill-fated And heave away they did, and half a minute later the boat came in with a rush, well out of harm’s way. It was time, for barely had he touched shore than Gus Pendrill fell in a dead faint, utterly exhausted. Two of his comrades picked him up. ‘‘There is a hut just back of here,’’ said Andrew. ‘‘You might take him there.’’ At onee the sailors, under command of their captain, carried Pendrill to the’ place mentioned, while the others remained at the beach, on the lookout for wreckage. ‘*You’ve done a noble deed,’’ said one of the sailors to Andrew, as he gave our hero an approving glance. ‘‘It was no more than my duty,’’ returned the youth, briefly. ‘*That might be, sir, but what if that rope It would have been the had pulled you out? end of you. So you know Gus?’’ ‘*Yes; I met him once in New York.’’ The sailor eyed Andrew curiously. ‘*T?1l bet a bit of plum duff you’re the brave lad as kept him from gettin’ robbed !”’ he cried. ‘*An’t you now, own up?’’ bey am ” ‘Gus told us boys of it. That was another brave deed, lad. You have a plucky heart.’’ At that moment the men came out of the old hut, and not wishing to be seen by them, Andrew walked along to the shelter of a large clump of trees. He was soaked to the skin, and the strong wind made his condition anything but com- fortable. ‘‘T may as well get back to St. Augus- tine,’’? he thought. ‘‘I doubt if Biltry and those other men try to do much as long as this storm lasts.’’ The rain came down more furiously than ever, and it was with difficulty that Andrew made his way back to where he had left his horse. He found the animal shivering with cold and fear, and glad enough to be untied. Our hero led him along until the solid ground was once more reached, and then, mounting his back, headed for the city. Despite the storm, Andrew’s thoughts were busy over all he had seen and heard. Matters were getting complicated, and there was no telling where they would end. ‘*But one thing is certain,’’? he mused. ‘‘I am not mistaken in my opinion of Mr. Bar- naby:Walthrop. He isa thorough villain, and no more fit to be my guardian than is that man Porter, who is now in jail. He will rob me of every dollar if he can, and take my life in the bargain, if he thinks it necessary.”’ Andrew’s thoughts came to a sudden end just then. A jagged streak of lightning seemed to strike directly in front of him. There followed an ear-splitting crack of thunder, and a huge tree camé down nota dozen yards ahead of him. The horse reared up and turned, nearly throwing our hero to the ground. For the moment Andrew’s heart appeared to stop beating. When the danger was finally over he drew a long breath. ‘*My! but what a close shave!’’ he mur- mured, as he surveyed the wreck of the great tree. ‘‘Supposing I had been under that when it came down? It would have been the end of me.’’ He was exceedingly thankful that he had not been harmed. The remainder of the journey was covered without further adven- ture, and an hour later found him at his room in the hotel, where he changed his clothing and made himself otherwise com- fortable. It continued to rain until the next day, and so furiously that Andrew did not think to venture out. During this time Carson Biltry did not put in an appearance, and our hero wondered greatly what had be- come of the land-boomer. The hotel was crowded with people more or less pleasant, and the time passed agree- ably enough, in spite of the dull weather. But Andrew chafed under the restraint. He wanted to be up and doing. He spent part of the next morning in writing a long letter to Mrs. Clara Petell, telling her of all he had done and what he expected to accomplish. This letter was finished just before dinner, and Andrew gave it to the clerk to post. In the afternoon it cleared up somewhat, and our bero prepared to go out. He in- tended to call on Mrs. Petson and see if she was better, and if the second thief had been heard from. In the lower corridor of the hotel he ran across Carson Biltry, who had just come in. ‘*Ah, how do you do, Mr. Andrews?’’ ex- claimed the land-boomer, cordially. ‘‘ Rather wet, eh?’’ ‘Ves, it is,’? was Andrew’s brief answer. ‘*Been out looking up some land,’’ went on Biltry. ‘‘Dusedly unpleasant work on a day like this.’’ ‘*T should imagine so.’’ ‘*By the way, I haven’t forgotten that you want to see some real estate, my young friend. As soon as it clears off, I want to show you the finest plots about St. Augus- tine.’’ ‘*T shall be pleased to see them. Do you own them yourself?’’ ‘*Me?’’ Carson Biltry laughed lightly. ‘‘Hardly. Iam not so rich. lam merely the agent for the estates to which they be- long.’’ COR! ‘But I have full power to sell.’’ ‘*And you can guarantee titles, I pre- sume?’’ Carson covered. ‘‘Certainly! certainly ! that, you know.”’ ‘“No, I did not. investing in land.’’ ‘‘“You need have no fear of dealing with me. I presume you will invest for your— er—widowed mother?’’ he ventured. This question was rather an embarrassing one to Andrew. He hardly knew how to reply. But he was not called on to answer, for at that moment a man came in from the street. That he was a new arrival was evident. He looked around curiously, and espying Carson Biltry, walked up to him, ‘*This is Mr. Biltry?’’ he asked. “That’s my name,’’ returned the land- boomer. ‘Tam Jack Walthrop, from New York. I came down to——’’ Jack Walthrop got no further: He had caught a side glance at Andrew. Biltry started, but quickly re- We always do Iam rather green about He thought it must be a ghost. He stepped back and bis face took on an ashen hue. ‘‘Who? What?’’ be stammered. ‘“‘Did you speak tc me?’’ demanded our hero, sharply. **No—I—I1—— It was simply impossible for Jack Wal- throp to go on. ‘*You seem surprised to see me;’’ added Andrew. ‘*Not at all—I—I—was thinking of some- body else.’’ Jack Walthrop turned to Biltry. ? ‘*T will see you at your leisure,’’ he said, and turned away. CHAPTER XXII. A STRANGE MESSAGE. ARSON BILTRY would have re- 4, , “3 ; —€ mained with Andrew longer, only as 2\/ Jack Walthrop departed he made a “peculiar sign to the land-boomer. biltry at once excused himself to Andrew, and followed the man. Andrew wished very much to hear what might be said between the two, but this could not be accomplished, for they -disap- peared around a corner outside and could not be traced. ‘*You are Barnaby Walthrop’s brother,’’ said Biltry, as soon as he was alone with Walthrop. ‘*Yes.’’ Walthrop was still pale. me about that boy.’’ ‘‘Why, do you know him?”’ ‘‘T do—or else somebody that looks just like him. When did he come here?’’ ‘*A few days ago.’’ ‘*From the North?’’ ‘*T believe so.’’ ‘*What is his name?’’ ‘* Andrew.”? Jack Walthrop gave a groan. ‘‘What’s the inatter with you, Walthrop?”’ cried the land-boomer, in alarm. ‘It isas 1 thought. But how under the sun did he escape?’’ ‘*Will you tell me what the trouble is?’’ went on Carson Biltry. ‘‘There is trouble enough, I can assure you. That boy is Andrew Darwin, my brother’s ward.’’ ‘‘The duse you say!’’ ejaculated Carson Biltry. ‘‘]-J—thought he was dead. My brother thinks he is dead, too.’’ ‘*What can he be doing down here?’’ **T’)] tell you what he is doing down here,’’ burst out Jack Walthrop, fiercely. ‘*He is spying on your crowd. He suspects my brother, and he is a warm friend to Mrs, Clara Petell.’’ This was certainly news to the land- boomer. He gave a long, low whistle of disagreeable surprise. ‘‘] reckon I’ve been putting my foot into it,’’ he said, slowly. ‘“How?”? ‘‘T’ve been talking land to him. I thought he was looking around to buy real estate for some relative or friend.’’ ‘‘Where is he stopping?’’ ‘‘ At my hotel. He has a room on the same floor/ In fact, it is next to mine.’’ Jack Walthrop muttered something harsh under his breath. ‘‘You can depend on it, Biltry, that he has been spying on you. That boy is as smart as a steel trap.’’ Carson Biltry’s face grew as dark as a thunder cloud. ‘‘Tf I thought he had been spying on us, I would——”’ ‘*What would you do?’’ The land-boomer paused, and looked at Jack Walthrop closely. ‘*T reckon I can trust you.”’ ‘*You bet.’’ Eas do your brother’s underhand work, eh??? ‘*T do anything that comes along.’’ ‘> factory. Evidently the boy had been carefully drilled and {properly frightened. He would sy, nothing more than has already been told. The last house in St. Augustine was passed, and they turned into a narrow shell road, lined on each side with wild date and other fruit trees. The walking was hard on Andrew’s feet, more especially as he wore thin shoes, but he did not complain until over two miles had been covered. ‘*See here, haven’t we most reached the place?’’ he asked, as he came to a halt. ‘*Jess a pert step moah, boss,’’ said the colored boy, and again they went on. Presently the road took a turn and led downward into a long hollow. At the bot- tom was an old mill. ‘*Dat’s der place.’’ Andrew looked forward. The prospect ahead did not seem particularly inviting. Should he go on? He had no time to answer the question. There was a stir behind him, and ere he GooD NEWS. could turn something was thrown over ‘his head. It was a coarse cotton bag. He struggled to escape, but found himself | powerless in the hands of three men. they were he could not tell, although he felt certain that one was Jack Walthrop, and another Carson Biltry. The cotton bag was drawn down below bis waist and tightly tied, the cord being wound upward, so that he could not move his arms. After this he was lifted up and borne along toward the mill. In the meanwhile he caught a few muffled words spoken to the colored youth about pay. The boy re- ceived some silver, and then scooted as if the evil one was after him. Andrew was carried to the old mill, and his body was deposited on the upper floor. Then the bagging was removed from his head, the men, however, first taking the precautions to close all of the windows, so that any ery for help he might utter would not be heard outside. As Andrew had surmised, two of the men were Jack Walthrop and Carson Biltry. The third was the fellow called Legrand. The cotton bag thrown aside, Andrew was bound, with his arms behind him, to a center post of the old mill. ‘‘What is the meaning of this outrage?’’ he asked, as coolly as he could. ‘*Oh, we’ll soon come to an understand- ing,’’ replied Carson Biltry. ‘‘You may think yourself smart, young man, but you ran up against the wrong man when you struck me.’’ ‘*T don’t quite understand.”’ ‘You came down to Florida to spy on me.’’ ‘‘T never heard of you till I arrived here.”? ‘‘No, but you were after somebody, and that somebody proved to be me. Dare you deny it?’’ Andrew remained silent. ‘*You are in the employ of Mrs. Clara Petell.’’ ‘*What if I am?’’ ‘*Ah! so you acknowledge it.’’ ‘*Better cut it short and find out what he knows,’’ put in Jack Walthrop. ‘‘T think I know you,’’ ‘said Andrew, gazing steadily at Walthrop. ‘‘You are the men who tried to murder me while the train was delayed the other side of At- lanta.’? Jack Walthrop sprang back. face betrayed his guilt. ‘*Who told you that?’’ he stammered. ‘*T guessed it—and I am sure I am right.’’ ‘*You rat! Ill fix you!’ In a rage Jack Walthrop was about to burl himself upon our hero, when both Biltry and Legrand interposed. ‘*Not just yet, Jack Walthrop. There is time enough,’’ said Carson Biltry. ‘*But hear what the boy says!’’ ‘*Oh, that’s all right.’’ Jack Walthrop muttered something An- drew.did not catch, and turned away. ‘*Now we want to know just how much you have found out about our doings?”’ went on Biltry to Andrew. ‘tT shall say nothing,’’ replied our hero, firmly. ; in this fashion, and\I want you to let me ” At this all three of the men began to laugh. His whole “GO 7@,) ] 7 Ss —— } sinus phat er a aes age watch lodged in the throat of the trout. we are through with you,’’ was Jack Wal- throp’s sarcastic rejoinder. At that instant there came a noise from below. At once all the men sprang forward in alarm. ‘“‘Legrand, go down there,’’ cried Biltry. The man hurried down the ladder. ‘*Come down here, Biltry!’’ he shouted, a moment later. ‘All right.’? Andrew was now left alone with Jack Walthrop. The moment that Biltry disappeared Wal- throp sprang forward and began to search Andrew’s pockets. He took away aroll of bills, oir hero’s letters and his pistol. The watch, with the exposed chain, he allowed to remain. ‘“You cowardly thief!’’ was all Andrew could say to him, : ‘‘Shut up, unless you want me to knock you on the head!’’ growled the rascal. ‘*One of these days I will get square, Jack Walthrop.’’ ‘* Perhaps. hear?’? ‘*You arein Barnaby Walthrop’s employ.’’ ‘*What if I am?’’ ‘‘He hired you to murder me, did he not?’’ “I’m not answering all your questions just now.”’ , Andrew shuddered. He felt that what he had surmised must be true. He was thank- ful he had left bis guardian’s house. Aloud altercation below interrupted them. Evidently Legrand and Biltry were having a quarrel with some outsider. Walthrop. became nervous and finally left Andrew to see what it was all about. Now was our hero’s chance. If only he could get free! **T must dg it!’? he murmured to himself, and see who is Now shut your jaw, do you Who | ‘*You have no right to detain me | oan | was sitting. “To remain in their death.’? He tugged at the cords which bound him, and finally succeeded in getting his left hand loose. The cord cut his wrist and made the blood run, but to this he paid no attention. Better that than to remain a prisoner. Then Andrew went to work on his other hand. lt was a tedious task, and he was in great dread of being surprised before he could finish. At last the hand was also untied. Now for the cord about his waist. He tugged at the knots furiously. One was loosened, then another, and at last a third. The rope fell from the post, and he was free! Bitterly he regretted that Walthrop had robbed him of his weapon. Had he had the pistol it is more than likely he would have been tempted to shoot one or another of the rascals who had made him a captive. As he stepped away from the support to which he had been bound the row below suddenly ceased. He heard the clatter of a horse’s hoofs on the shell road, and heard Biltry slam a door and bolt it. The intruder, whoever he was, had gone. ‘‘Now we'll bave it out with our pris- oner !’’ Andrew heard the land-boomer re- mark, as be moved toward the ladder. Tip-toeing his way to the end window of the mill, Andrew opened it softly, but quickly. He gazed out only to find the ground a good twenty feet below, and cov~ ered with jagged rocks. A drop might mean a broken leg, or more. Should he risk it? As he meditated, his eyes rested on a tree growing at the corner of the mill. One of the limbs was but a couple of yards away. Without hesitation, Andrew leaped on the window-sill, launched himself into mid-air, and caught hold of the branch. In a second the danger of the leap was over. He drew himself up on the limb, and rapidly worked his way down toward the trunk, just as a shout from the loft pro- claimed that his departure had been dis- covered. ‘* Escaped !’? ‘*Where to?’’ ‘*Out of the window!” ‘*We must get after him!”’ ‘*Tt’s a long drop.’’ ‘“Yes, but he’s a daring boy, I tell you.’’ ‘*Legrand, stay here and look around the roof. Come on, Walthrop, we’ll hunt for foot-prints below.’ The last, speaker was Carson Biltry. In another moment he and Jack Walthrop were down on the ground, but a dozen feet from the foot of the tree in which Andrew was hiding. power may mean (TO BE CONTINUED.) ———_. 2 WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS FOR A FISH STORY 2 Last spring, whilea party of tourists were fishing up North, a well-known lawyer lost his gold watch from the boat in which be Last week he made another visit to the lakes, and during the first day’s sport caught an eight-pound trout. His astonish- ment can be imagined when he found his The watch was running and the time cor- rect. It being a ‘‘stem-winder,’’ tie sup- position is that in masticating his food the fish wound up the watch daily. NO FALSEHOOD. The other day two men were talking about their respective gardens, when one of them remarked that he had planted some seed and it was up in two days and looked well. ‘*That’s nothing,’’ chimed in a boy who was standing near; ‘‘my father sowed some the other day and it was up in less than an hour.’’ ‘*You should not tell falsehoods, boy,’’ remonstrated the man who bad spoken first, ‘it’s a bad plan.”’ ‘*Tt’s the truth,’’ declared the boy, ‘‘’cos the chickens scratched ’em up.’’ > +o A SEVERE LESSON. There is a story told of a lady who went one day to call on Fuseli, a painter, who, when there was need for it, could express himself with emphasis. Her ceaseless chatter did not even allow him to get in a word edgeways. At last a pause to take breath gave him time to say: ‘“We had boiled mutton and turnips for dinner to-day.’’ ‘‘What a strange observation, Mr. Fu- seli,’’ exclaimed the lady. ‘““Why,’’ he said, ‘‘it is as good as any- thing you have been saying for the last two hours. ’’ > 2 > Teacher—‘‘Now, who can tell me which travels the faster—heat or cold?’’ Johnny (promptly)—‘‘Heat, of course. Anybody can catch cold.’’ VERY QUAREER” ISSUED WEEKLY. ~~ 08.2 e. Sa 2ei5, STO ai NEW YORK, AUGUST 24, 1895. Terma to Good News Mail Subscribers: (POSTAGE I’ REE.) 3months - - - - 65c.! One Year - - - - - $2.50 4 months - 85c. | 2copies, one year- - 4.00 6months - - - - -$1.25! 1lcopy, two years - -. 4.00 Goop Nrws anv N. Y. WEEKLY, both, one year, $4.50 How to Senp Money.—By post-oftice or express money order, rewistered letter, bank check or draft, at ourrisk. At your own risk, if sent by postal note, currency, coin, or postage stainps in ordinary letter. RENEWATS.—Lhe number indicated on your address label denotes when your subscription expires. All subscriptions will be stopped promptly at expiration of time paid for. Recrirers.—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper chaiwe of aumber on your label. If not cor rect you have not been properly credited, and should let us know at onee. To CLUB KaAtsens.—Upon request we will send sam- ple copies to aia you in obtaining subscribers. : {GENTS.—Our responsibility for remittances ape lies oily tosuch as are sent to us direct, and we will not gnaranutee the reliability of any subscription agency (x postinaster. All letters should be addressed to STREET & SMITEV’S GOOD NEWS, 27 & 29 Rose Street, N.Y. Back numbers of GOOD NEWS can always be obtained from your Newsdealers. If they do not have them please send direct to this office and we will supply them by mail on receipt of price. Advertising rates, 50 cents per agate line. Contents of this Number. SERIAL STORIES. “By Pluck Alone,” by Harvey Hicks. “The Rival Canoe Boys,” by St. George Rathborne. “Boats, Bats and Bicycles,” by Ernest A. Young. “For His Honor’s Sake,” by Walden F. Sharp. “Toby and Tom,” by Wilk Lisenbee. ‘Slack-Wire Zip,” by Victor St. Clair. “Loyal to Napoleon,’ by Alfred Armitage. SHORT STORIES, “Our Patent Pavement,” by Max Adeler. ‘Spring-Heeled Jack,” by Lewis Hough. “A Bulland Bear Fight,” by Chas. H. Eden. ‘That Coon Rastus,” by **Peter.” REGULAR DEPARTMENTS. “Short Talks With the Boys,” by Arthur Sewall, ‘How to Do Things,” by David Parks, “Our Stamp Album.” “Mail Bag,” “Exchange Department,” “‘Olub Notices,” etc. ers NEXT WEEK. We shall begin another splendid _histori- cal story by Alfred Armitage. The period Mr. Armitage has selected for his new story is that of the Spanish Armada, and we can assure our readers that they will find it fully equal to those fine tales ‘““With Crusa- der and Saracen,” ‘In the Days of the Gladiators,” and ‘Loyal to Napoleon,” which have made their author so justly popular. The title of the new story is THE FIGHTING LADS OF DEVON OR, THE MYSTERY OF GILES MONTFORD AND SYDNEY ROOKWOOD. ——_~-- o> —_____ WEEK AFTER NEXT. delaras stencil A thrilling story of adventure amid the savage tribes of Africa. REMEMBER, THIS, BOYS! We have in preparation some new features which will surprise and delight you. Watch this page, and you will soon know what OUR PATENT PAVEMENT. ———~ rs HE recent discussions in the news- 2 papers of the various kinds of street pavements, recall to my mind an ex- * periment that was tried in our town several years ago. A man came along with a patent asphalt pavement, and he obtained from the super- visors permission to lay a couple of hundred yards of it on one of the side streets. NEWS. SHORT Wits {ue Boys. EDITED BY ARTHUR SEWALL. f ALKS == AY ee C.F. D., Bayou Goula, La., writes: “At pres- ent I am working in a grocery store as a delivery clerk, but do’ not like it very much. I would like the trade of a telegraph operator. At first, while the weather remained cold it did well enough; but in the spring it be- the cat bones for fertilizers. gan to soften, and by the time summer came it was like dough, excepting that when | it got hold of anything it held on like death. | A man would attempt to walk across it | and would sink into it; then he would find that he couldn’t move either leg. Then he would cry for help, and somebody would push a plank out to him, and he would struggle out of his boots and walk ashore. Ever so many cats and dogs were caught, | and they perished in their tracks, so that | after a while the whole street was filled | with boot-legs and cat-skeletons, and such | rubbish, sticking upon the surface until it | looked like a jungle. Cooley’s mule tried to cross one day, and he was captured. They couldn’t dig him out, and so they put up a derrick, and a man reached the| animal upon snow-shoes, and fixed the rope | around under its forelegs. Then they hoisted him, and the mule rose with a thick rope of pitch hanging from each leg so that by the time he got forty feet up he looked like a mule with an extraordinary tendency to grow in the legs. Then the tackle slipped, and the asphalt was so elastic that the mule flew back into the old place with a ‘‘ker-chock.’? But they got him out finally}; and the next day a boy fell on the pavement face down- ward, and was clutched fast. They saved him by cutting his clothes open in the back, and taking the boy out naked, like getting a pea from the pod; but he left the tip of his nose in the pitch. So then the supervisors thought they would take that pavement up. It couldn’t be cut or dug, so the workmen undertook to roll it over as you would roll up a sheet of music, but when they had gone forty feet it sprang back over the men, and assumed its old shape, excepting that there were four lumps on the surface where the buried workmen lay. At last they hitched twenty or thirty oxen to one end of the pavement and hauled it away. Then they slid it into the river, and it floated down until it lodged upon a shoal, and there it remained permanently. In the course of years a soil formed on it, and it is now rather a handsome island; and it is valuable, too. No doubt some day it will be utilized by a mining company that wants to go into the business of getting out leather. There are veins of old boots in that island which would make the fortune of anybody who knows how to work them; and I am not certain but that it will pay to get out et ns WILLIE’S MISTAKE. Willie Jones had been warned several times for breaches of school discipline, and was at length reported to the head master, who gave him a final warning. One night, not long after, Willie was again caught in mischief, and he felt that this time he was ‘‘in for it.’’ A flogging by the master was no joke, and Willie determined to make what prepara- tion he could that the wind might be tem- pered to the shorn lamb. On rising the next morning, he put on first his undershirt, then a layer of stiff brown paper, upon these a sweater, and over all a clean white shirt, borrowed from his chum, whose clothing was two sizes larger than his own. Lastly he put on his coat and vest. It was a very hot day in June, and at morning intermission Willie whispered to a friend ; ‘*1’m nearly stifled. I\hope he’ll give it to me now.’’ But the master said nothing, and Willie went on stewing until dinner-time. He felt half-inclined to dispense at least with the sweater before afternoon school, but fear of the master’s cane deterred him. All through the afternoon he suffered un- told misery, mopping his face until his hand- kerchief would mop no more. But at length, just before dismissal, came a messenger. ‘*The master would like to see Jones in his study.’’ On entering the study, the boy saw the supple, snake-like cane lying on the table. ‘Well, Jones,’’? said the master, ‘‘I can go on warning you no longer. You have brought this upon yourself. But as it is your first visit here for such a purpose, I they are. shall make your punishment somewhat milder. Hold out your hand; four on each!?? [ live in the country, and would like to know how to procure such a trade. On what terms do beginuers start? What are the wages? I ama poor boy. How is my handwriting?’ Your best plan would be to enter a country office as a messenger, and if the operator or superintendent is willing to teach you, you ought in six months to be able to earn something as an operator. Hundreds of young people have gone into telegraphy without much preparation, and the result is that the pay given to ordinary operators is low. It does not take much ability to become a common operator, and he is never worth much. The only way to get good pay is to become an uncommon operator, and to do this a boy must have a bright mind and a good education. The dull receiver will miss half the words or get the sense wrong. The ignorant receiver, how- ever bright, will slip into errors that will spoil his work or ruin all chances of promo- tion. The pay ranges from $30 to $120 a month, according to ability. The hours are long and the confinement is close. Then, too, the number of female opera- tors is large, and while the pay is fairly good for them, it is not what an ambitious boy should be satisfied with. We advise you to select some good trade for which you have a liking and give telegraphy the ‘‘go- by.’’? Your handwriting is fair. A. C. H., Chicago, TIL, writes: “Will you please tell me something of the railway mail service? What must I do to obtain an appoint- ment? I am twenty years old. Am I too young? What must I be examined in, and are the questions very hard? Can you’ give me a sample of the questions asked? I like to travel, and think I would make a good clerk.” The first thing to be done to obtain admis- sion to the Railway Mail Service is to file an application for examination. The application blank and pamphlet of in- structions may be obtained by writing di- rectly to the ‘‘United States Civil Service Commission, Washington, D, C.’’ There is /no need of seeking the aid of any prominent or influential person to secure an application blank, or an examination, and no recom- mendations other than those provided for in the application blank should be forwarded to the Commission, as the rules forbid the filing of any such letters with the applica- tion. Every applicant for the examination for appointment in the Railway Mail Service must furnish the vouchers of two citizens of the United States, each of whom must be at least twenty-one years of age; must have known the applicant for six months or more, and must bea legal resident of, and must actually reside in, the State of which the applicant is a legal resident, One of the citi- zens’ vouchers must be fiom a resident of the county in which the applicant resides, No person can sign more than one voucher, Vouchers will not be accepted from the fa- ther, mother, sister, brother, wife, or child of the applicant, and not more than one voucher will be accepted from a relative of a more remote degree. Accompanying the application must also be a certificate from a duly authorized phy- sician who has a personal knowledge, either form medical treatment or from a careful examination, of the applicant’s physical con- dition and habits. An applicant must be at least 18 years of age and not more than 35. He must not be below 5 ft. 4 in. in height, or under 125 Ibs. in weight. ; No person is eligible to an examination— 1. Who is not a citizen cf the United States. f 2. Who is not within the age limitations. 83. Who is physically disqualified. 4. Who is addicted to the habitual use of intoxicating beverages to excess. 5. Who is at the time he applies an appli- cant or an eligible for another branch of the service, 6. Who is enlisted in the Army or Navy, and has not secured permission for his ex- amination from the head of thé department under which he is enlisted. 7. Who has been dismissed from the public service for delinquency or misconduct within one year preceding the date of his applica- tion, 8. Who has failed to receive atolute ap- pointment after probation, within one year from the date of such failure. 9. Who failed within six months or who passed within one year in the same kind of examination for which he wishes to again apply. Lost 10. Who has made a false statement in his application, or has been guilty of fraud or deceit in any manner connected with his ap- plication or examination, or who has been guilty of crime, or infamous or notoriously disgraceful conduct. No application for the regular schedule ex- aminations shall be approved more than six months or less than six days prior to the date of the examination selected, and no applica- tion shall be approved which is dated, or which has vouchers that are dated, more than thirty days prior to the time of its re- ceipt. It is not necessary to go to Washington to be examined. For the last six months of 1895 the railway mail examinations will occur at the following named places on the dates mentioned: Atlanta, Ga., October 29; Bos- ton, Mass., October 17; Chicago, Illi, Octo- ber 10; Cincinnati, Ohio, October 5; Cleve- land, Ohio, October 3; Des Moines, Iowa, November 2; Detroit, Mich., October 5; Indianapolis, Ind., October 8; Kansas City, Mo., October 15; Milwaukee, Wis., October 12; Minneapolis, Minn., October 19; New York, N. Y., October 8; Omaha, Neb., Oc- tober 29; Philadelphia, Pa., October 3; Rochester, N. Y., October 29; St. Louis, Mo., October 12. The time allowed to answer the questions is five hours. It is necessary to obtain a general average of 70 per cent. to be eligible for appoint- ment, but as the number of persons exam- ined for the Railway Mail Service is far in exgess of the number appointed, only those wh® stand high have any chance of bdbtain- ing a position. Eligibles, except from the States and Territories of small population, who have a percentage. below 88 have little prospect of appointment. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, 4,250 persons were examined; 3,104 passed, and 718 were appointed. From June 30, 1894, to June 20, 1895, 652 were appointed. A notice of standing is sent to each person examined, whether he passes or fails to pass. This notice shows the general average on each subject. All subjects of the railway mail examina- tion are not considered of equal importance. The relative importance or weight of each subject is indicated by the following table: Subjects. Weights. First—Orthography - - - - 1 Second—Penmanship - - - $k Third—Copying - - . - - 2 Fourth—Letter-writing - - - mi ok Fifth—Arithmetic - - - - 2 Sixth—Geography of the United States 4 Seventh—Railway and other systems of transportation in the United States - 5 Eighth—Reading addresses* - - - 4 Total - - - - - ~ - 20 The above table also shows the subjects on which a candidate is examined, The following are some specimen questions: What is the difference between the product of 387/¢ multiplied by 314, and the quotient of 877,385,265 divided by 100,101? A railway mail clerk bought a lot for $1,944, and sold it for one-half more than it cost him, thereby gaining 40 cents on each square foot. How many square feet were in the lot? In one year a railway mail clerk distributed on his runs 468,640 pieces of mail. If five- eighths of the pieces consisted of letters, and there were 5 postal cards and 4 newspapers for every package, how many pieces of each class were there? Name two important cities on edch of the following named rivers and lakes, and give the name of the State in which each of these cities is situated: Hudson River, Ohio River, Mississippi River, Lake Erie, Lake Michi- gan. Name three cities on or near the Atlantic Ocean, one on or near the Gulf of Mexico, and one on or near the Pacific Ocean. Name the State of the Union that extends farthest east, and the State that extends farthest west, and name the capital of each. Name the three principal cities of your State, and the principal railway lines (three, if there be that many) centering in each of them. Name the principal railways (not less than. two) passing through or terminating in your State, and give five of the principal connec- tions (railroads which are crossed by them or terminate in the same city with them) made by either or both of them. Name the railroads which together form the most direct line from your nearest rail- way station (give name of that station) to the largest city in any adjoining State. Give name of the city and of the adjoiuing State. ) Appointments are made to places paying @ salary of $800 or less per annum. Places above $800 are filled by promotion or trans- fer. There are only a few places paying less than $800. The duties of a railway mail clerk are of 4 very severe and exacting character, and @ great strain upon the physical constitution and endurance. Taking into account the exhaustive nature of the occupation, and the comparatively small pay, you will readily see that the posi- tion of a railway mail clerk is not one to be eagerly desired. SpectaL Notice.—Many communications, improperly addressed to this department, are answered in the ‘‘Mail Bag.”’ re eae SS 2S BOD mS && & wee me ee re ~~ ™_ wt —_ an ur C° m n) ‘m il- ive oe) yr & ces ns- ess fa ion ure ely si- ns, mt, [This Story Wil) Not be E GooDpD -ublished in Book-Form. ] BOATS. BATS AND BICYCLES; NIMBLE JERRYS PLUCK AND LUCK. THE HAPS AND MISHAPS OF A YOUNG ATHLETE. BY ERNEST A. YOUNG, Author of ‘‘ Blue and White Sam,’’ etc. (Boats, BATS AND BICYCLES” was commenced in No. 273. Back numbers can be obtained of al News Agents.) CHAPTER XIII. THE WRESTLING MATCH. mon objects upon this beautiful lake in summer time, but our hero had other conditions. | MALL sailing craft were not uncom- | vicious attempt upon his life—for it could be This adventure renewed all of Jerry’s ap- prehensions concerning the designs of Morti- mer Thornton. There could be no doubt but this last regarded as nothing less—was designed by Mortimer Thornton himself, although that ~“ never seen one resembling this, the| gentleman might not have been aboard at bright new paint and graceful shape of which | would have been pleasing to behold under | the moment. They now lost no time in rowing over to} NEw S. - i cade ese maaan Aiea eed 4425 and easy conditions of life. One in particu- lar, Jerry noticed, possessed an unusually | handsome face and symmetrical figure. His movements evinced a lightness and grace which showed that he had every muscle of his body under most perfect and harmonious | This youth was presented as Joe | | control. Wilson. And after Graham had spoken his | name, he smiled and said to Jerry: | ‘*T never let anybody call me anything but Po As a penalty for calling me Wilson, a | against me; and if he has the audacity to put on the ‘mister’ he must choose whether he will wrestie or box against me! And let |me tell you, they don’t often incur the pen- | alty.’’ ‘*Much obliged, Mr. Wilson,’’ said Jerry, showed upon his astute face. Joe Wilson bowed, looked at Graham, and in turn to the others who were standing near, |asif he were mutely calling upon ther to witness the offense. | ‘*I’m willing to let a jury decide whether L have sufficient cause for enforcing the pen- alty,’’ he said. ‘‘If I were called upon,’’ said a short, + while not the faintest suspicion of a smile | |ness lying, so to speak, in his superior | strength. ‘*Joe has never met his match for his age,”’ was Graham’s low-spoken warning. ‘‘High time that he had, then,’’ laughed Jerry. ‘‘But you are rather light—that is, you | look as if you hadn’t been feeding very high | lately.’’ ‘“*Oh, you couldn’t get me fat, if you | stuffed me with Boston baked beans and fellow will have to try a swimming match | brown bread seventeen times a day. There’s no help for my being built like a sliver, though I am not as light as I look. Give me all the canned corn I eat for dinner and J’ll tip the scales at one hundred and thirty- two.’’ Now that there could be no doubt that there was to be a wrestling match between | the young champion of the Quakers and this rustily clad nomad, the news spread like wild-fire through the camp. Not many preparations were required. A small level plot of ground was chosen near the middle of the camp, and the two | boys took their places in the middle of it. | Every member of the club was on hand to | witness the contest. As Jerry surveyed the fine proportions of the Willis Terril’s ideas seemed vo haye been temporarily ‘‘in the clouds,’’ for until the shout of warning came from Jerry he had no intimation of the ap- proach of the strange craft. Jerry, too, had had no thought of pres- ent danger, and had been idly watching the maneuvers of a row- boat, which seemed to be hovering about in the vicinity of a land- ing near his den. He was\on the point of calling his compan- ion’s attention to this, when the sudden flap- ping of a sail in the fresh breeze, and-a louder swish of water than that made by Wil- lis’ oars, caused him to quickly glance in the opposite direction. The sail-boat was within barely a dozen lengths of our friends, and its course was di- rectly across the row- boat’s bow. There seemed to be no question but the one steering the other craft deliberately designed to cut the little boat in two. Jerry seized another oar and plunged the blade into the water, while Terril at the same time strove with all his strength to overcome their headway. Weaker muscles than his would have failed, or had Jerry himself been less cool, nothing could have saved them. Their combined efforts saused the boat to stop with a jerk and at the same time to veer with a suddenness which nearly capsized it. As it was, they ship- ped several pailfuls of water, and at the same moment the broad, white wing of the sail- ing craft: flashed past their very faces, while the water from its prow was thrown over them in a spray. A narrower escape they could not have had. The other craft swept on its way, | and a moment later tacked toward the | wharf which serves as the steamer landing at that end of the lake. Jerry drew a long breath. His knight-er- rant bowed and touched his cap. ‘Your majesty is safe,’’ he said. ‘‘And 1 do not think the corvette will make an at- tempt again to run us down. The vessel car- ries no flag. Butits pilot certainly knows little of sailing etiquette.’’ Jerry set about bailing out the boat, while Terri] again bent to his work at the oars. In that moment of danger Jerry had been unable to obtain a glimpse of the faces of | any of the two or three occupants of the sail- | boat. : As the craft had sailed away, he had seen | the figure of the one at the tiller, and was | Surprised to notice that the figure seemed to | be that of a heavy, burly man. It certainly | did not resemble any member of the Herki- | young fellow who con- fronted him, he realized that he need feel it no disgrace if he were van- quished in the match. They grappled with each other at once, ‘*collar-and-elbow,’’ and for a moment or two neither of them seemed to put forth any particular amount of effort or skill. Indeed at this stage, they were merely test- ing one another’s mus- cles, just to see whether the affair was really worth while or not. Jerry found that Joe Wilson stood upon his feet with the same sort of immoveableness as he might have evinced if he were a stout post driven into the ground. In one other respect did Joe Wilson resemble a post—in that there seemed to be no joint in his back. And at this point all resemblance to anything that was wooden ceased, for his body and movements were as graceful and responsive to his own will as are those of a leopard. So much Jerry dis- covered when they first clinched; and while he was noting these points his opponent was at the same time finding out a thing or two about the lean, dusty little fellow who had shown such willingness to wrestle with him. ‘*Now for business!’’ said Jerry, under his breath. And Joe Wilson sud- denly became aware he had hold of something that was fully alive. CHAPTER XIV. A MESSAGE FROM THORNTON. (> ore nOR the boys of the Quaker Out- &) ing Club it had ~<“¥ become pretty the spot which would land them nearest to the encampment of the Quakers. Half an hour later Jerry was shaking hands with Anthony Graham, who greeted him with the warmest friendliness. Jerry briefly told Graham of the peculiar mental condition of his eccentric comrade, so that when the latter presented himself a little later, he was received in a manner which should give him no offense. ‘*You -have come just in time,’’ said | ‘‘We have quite a fleet of boats, | Graham. which have just arrived, and I would like to have you look them over. Our fellows will have a race with the Gothamites on the lake within a day or two, as soon as we can get | into training. I know by the looks of you that nobody can tell you anything about a boat.’’ ‘*T’ve paddled about a good deal on fresh water, but I never got much seasoned with salt yet,’’ said Jerry. There were several members of the Quaker NIMBLE JERRY AND JOE WILSON GRAPPLED WITH EACH OTHER AT ONCE, **‘COLLAR-AND-ELI | stout youth, ‘‘I should say that the affront (in the present case called for the extreme | penalty. But owing to the youth of the cul- prit I would recommend him to the mercy of the court.’’ ‘*You give me a choice of two penalties?’’ Jerry asked. ‘‘Of the two last I named—yes. And I warn you whichever you choose, you’ll be sure to wish you’d taken the other, like the Arkansaw traveler.’’ ‘*T shall choose the wrestling first, and aftex I have done you up on that, then we’ll try a round or two at the boxing!”’ The Quakers exchanged glances and nodded approval. They decided that this rusty, dusty looking young fellow was of just the right sort, after all. At first some of them might have suspected that Anthony Graham had picked up a country guy. But Nimble Jerry seemed to be fully up- to-date. 30w.”’ tame business to watch a wrestling match in | which Joe Wilson took part. Everything ; they had witnessed in that line for a long while had ended in precisely the same way. | The wiry Joseph always won. But in the present instance there was a lit- tle novelty in the fact that his opponent was : wholly unknown to them, and, withal, a | character about whom was the added novelty of mystery. At the beginning of the contest, there was nothing so very unlike a dozen similar ones |in which Joe Wilson had acted as the prin- cipal. | As for Joe himself—for we will not incur | the penalty of his displeasure by calling him by any other name—we will do him justice to say that he was not really quite so vain of his prowess as he seemed. He never began |a new test of it without some misgivings. | The witnesses saw them sway back and forth as they begau to get warmed into the match, and it became evident that Joe would Mer Club, whom he had yet seen. | City Outing Club lounging near at the mo- Still there was something in the slouching | ment, and Graham promptly introduced attitude of the figure which had a familiar | them to Jerry. aspect. Where he bad seen it before Jerry| They were a good-looking set of young fel- could not for the moment recall. There were | lows, and there was that in their faces and Others aboard the boat, but it was evident | general appearance which indicated that that they wished to avoid recognition. ithey were familiar with both good breeding | Graham looked at Jerry a little doubtfully. | at least have something to do to place his an- It'was evident that he would have pre-| tagonist in a recumbent posture. ferred that his new friend had not been quite| Gradually the spectators could see that so prompt to accept Joe Wilson’s challenge. | these movements became more rapid and Not that he feared any unfairness on Joe’s| obstinate, and that each was putting forth perk, for the latter was one of the best-| more and more of both skill and strength. nearted fellows in the world, his only weak Joe had a fund of never-failing good-na- *eAAS ture. lf you would really make him your in adding fame to the Quaker City Outing fast friend for life, you could doso inno bet ter way than by beating him at some game | | leader, and directing their sports, he was in at which he excelled. So now as he found that the little fellow with whom he was clinching with such ap- parent ferocity was worthy of all his best efforts in that line, Joe really felt some com- punctions of conscience at thought of putting forth one or two ‘‘crack tricks’’ which in the past he had never known to fail. So he postponed this part of the programme just to make the battle more interesting by playing a little longer than usual with his opponent. He suddenly became aware that he had postponed them too long. Nimble Jerry was putting out some ‘ ‘crack tricks’’ of his own. The lithe body of the young athlete be- came as immovable as Joe’s own, but his legs and arms seemed to multiply themselves both in strength and numbers. Never had Joe found a pair of feet so per- sistently and frequently in his way as were those of Jerry. As for his arms, they were like two steel springs which were able to act and react with equal facility. And now Joe Wilson put forth every en- ergy at his command. e seemed determined, at whatever cost in bone or muscle, to throw Nimble Jerry upon his face. To the spectators it would have seemed much easier to accomplish the opposite thing —that is, to have put Jerry upon his back. But Joe seemed to have no thought of trying to do this. It looked as if Jerry would have all that he could do to resist the sturdy pressure of Joe’s weight and -strength, which was all brought to bear in one direction. Joe Wilson understood the value of con- centration upon. this single kind of effort. This is the one lesson in life worth learning, whatever one’s aims may be. In nothing are the results more quickly apparent than in any kind of feats of strength. But here Joe’s craftiness, as well as his skill, speedily became apparent. His determined effort to throw Nimble Jerry upon his face was in reality a clever ruse. His real intention was to divert Jerry’s forces to the resistance of the forward press- ure, and then to suddenly reverse the action and drop the young fellow unexpectedly upon his back. There was nothing particularly novel in this trick. Experts in wrestling have a great many cleverer ones. It was itssimplicity and Joe’s persistence in it which promised to make it successful. But just as he was about to resort to the final coup Jerry’s knees suddenly benf, and for a single instant his weight drew upon his opponent’s shoulders. Then the young ath- lete made a powerful upward spring, whose vehemence almost lifted Joe from his feet, for the instant upsetting all his plans. In that brief moment of demoralization, Joe felt one of Jerry’s knees boring into his back with painful force. And then—nobody could have told exactly how it was done—but Joe Wilson’s symmet- rical form measured its length very neatly upon the sward. There was a low murmur of surprise from the spectators, and one or two who had pre- viously been victims of Joe’s prowess vent- ured to utter wild hoots of exultation. Joe slowly got upon his feet and found Jerry standing with hands in pockets, his face serious as a parson’s, while he puffed hard from his recent exertions. Nimble Jerry didn’t have hands enough to go around, there were so many of the boys who wished to shake with him all at once. But Joe Wilson got there first. ‘‘The next time I enter into any kind of match with you,’’ said Joe, ‘tit will be on your side when the odds are against you. And I’m going to give you the special privi- lege of calling me by any name you may prefer, except Late to Breakfast!’ It was some time before Anthony Graham found a chance to get Jerry away by him- self for the little confab which he was anx- ious to have with him. But at last the coveted opportunity was found. Reclining themselves at full length under the shade of a tree, these two boys who had been acquainted for such a brief time deliber- ately opened their hearts to each other, with a frankness which is oftener observed be- tween girl friends. For young fellows are less prone to becom- ing confidential with each other than are their sisters. This is nothing against the lat- ter, either. It appeared at the outset that Anthony Graham and Nimble Jerry were in some re- spects similarly circumstanced. While Anthony was the leader of this club of wealthy young fellowsin the Quaker City, it appeared that in reality he had no more of a fortune than had Nimble Jerry. He was ‘leader of the Quaker City Outing Club by virtue of the wholesomeness of his character, and a natural gift for leadership. He was popular because he deserved to be. So far as he knew, he was an orphan. During nine months of the year he worked at a low salary in an office in Philadelpbia. During the three summer months he was paid a much better salary to use his talents Club. While he was paid for acting as their no sense treated or regarded as a servant. This is in brief the relationship existing between Anthony Graham and the party which he led. ‘*T have no reason to complain of having a particularly hard time,’’ he said, in con- clusion. ‘‘For I have had on the whole a pretty good chance to make my own way in the world. I was sent to school until I was sixteen, and the man who was acting as my guardian offered evento pay my : through a busi eolt of it would come out: nis pocket, 1 wouldn t accept it.’’ ‘*Well,’’ said Jerry, ‘‘we seem to be in dif- ferent ends of the same boat—you in the bow and J in the stern. That would make you get.there first. I am an orphan the same as you, and as I don’t even know who my pa- rents were, I haven’t had to cry much over their fate. Like you, I also had a guardian. He owned a milk farm, not a thousand miles from New York city, and he was good enough to send me to school when he didn’t need me to do chores, which was a blessed small part of the time. He wound up by offering to give me a course in learning how to peddle milk, but I felt just as you/did about it—I thought it was too bad to have the expense come out of his pocket. So one morning when I went to drive the cows to pasture I lost my way, and I haven’t found it yet!”’ Anthony Graham was laughing, but Jerry was not. ‘¢You’ll discount me on self-sacrifice every time,’’ laughed the Philadelphia boy. ‘‘T always come \out strong on that,’’ said Jerry. ‘‘Old Sharpe always said that I’d eat a whole mince pie any time just because I knew that it always gave him the nigbt- mare.”’ ‘*Was the farmer any relation to you?’’ ‘‘That depended upon how he was feeling. | When he was finding fault with me for not | doing more work, he would say that I ought | to feel it my duty to do a littlesomething in return for what he had done for me when I was really no kin of his. Then when I didn’t always talk as respectfully as. he thought I ought to, he would say that I ought to be ashamed of myself for treating an own un- Ost GooDdD NEWS. | good treatment that be was in excellent cle in that way. Right here let me tell you something, Graham. I happen to know that | old Sharpe got pay for my board from some- body on the first day. of every month, unless that day came on Sunday—and then the | money came the Saturday before. It never | missed but once, and then the old sardine walked the floor all night, he was so broke up about it.’’ Anthony Graham leaped to his feet. ‘*Why!’’ he cried, ‘‘it was the same with my guardian! I didn’t find it out until a month ago. Kind as that man has always seemed toward me, I know now that he has deceived me in that!’ } ‘“‘T hit it right when I said we were in the same boat, but I didfi’t know that I was making such a close shot as that,’’ was Jerry’s response. Their interview was at this moment inter- rupted by the appearance of a messenger who handed Jerry a note. Our hero glanced at the signa‘ure. It was from Mortimer Thornton ! CHAPTER XV. UP THE SONGO, AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE, IMBLE JERRY read the message, }} and then handed it to his new friend. x The note ran as follows: ‘ ’ ‘*There is such a good breeze to- day that our fellows want to take a little sail up the lake. They say that there are some points of romantic interest, including the Songo River, and I haven’t been able to find anybody who seemed intelligent enough to act as guide. I don’t want you to feel sore about what happened yesterday. We can just as well have a good time, and be decent friends as not. 1.don’t want you to feel sen- sitive about my offering it, but I should be glad to pay you for helping us out, if you will take money for it. Send back word by this messenger whether you will go or not. Three o’clock this afternoon is the time. ‘“THORNTON,”? ‘*Pretty slick, isn’t it?’’ said Jerry. ‘*Too slick ‘after what happened yester- day.’’ ‘¢And yet I want to do it. Not that I am so crazy after the pay, though I’ll take just what he offers me for the looks of it.’’ ‘*T don’t feel like letting you go, Jerry,’’ said Graham, doubtfully. ‘Why not? Do you think I should run away from old Sharpe if I thought I should ever need him to take care of me? I hope you don’t think Thornton will try to chuck me under water, and hold me there until it stops bubbling,,do you?”’ ‘*T don’t know but what he’d do it, if he really regarded you asso dangerous to him.”’ “But why am so dangerous to him? that’s the question. And that’s what [’m going to find out, if it takes me all summer. |his lips and nodding his head with silent All this fuss means something, and it looks to me as if I was never going to have a bet- ter chance to clear up the muddle that hides the first end of my life, than I’ve got right here and now. And while I’m about it who knows but I’ll let some light in on yours?’’ ‘‘T suppose if you’re bound to take the risk, you’ll do it. Still J think you’re sharp enough to take care of yourself, and I won’t make you feel shaky by acting as if I was myself.’’ The boys spent a couple of hours about the camp, and Jerry had a chance to look over the boats, and he had no reason to pronounce a very dismal verdict against them. At the end of that time Jerry decided’ to return to his den. During his brief sojourn in the camp of the (Juakers, Willis Terril had received such bumor, and he seemed more sane than he } had been before for a long time. While he still imagined himself to be the body-guard of some eminent historical personage—he never seemed quite clear as to the identity of the imaginary potentate—he was inclined to talk more freely, and with less stiffness of phrase than usual. Jerry told him of the expedition which was planned for the afternoon, and he sawa shadow of concern cross the young man’s fine face. ‘*Sire,’’ he said, gravely, ‘Syou should not go without your guard!’’ ‘*Oh, @ monarch can’t be a baby, Willis,’’ laughed Jerry, ‘‘and then you know these are times of peace.’’ ‘‘But sedition is being plotted, and too much depends upon your safety to warrant you in being careless.’’ ‘*T’]) turn up all right like a bad penny— never fear about that, Willis.’’ Thiseended the discussion, and a little later they were once more entering Jerry’s den. Here Jerry again took out the packet of papers, which, in an earlier chapter of our story, we have seen him examining by the light of his little lamp. He read them over slowly and carefully, although there was hardly any need of his doing so, since almost. every word there written was indelibly imprinted upon his memory. Among the papers was a tiny scrap, some- what soiled, which bore nothing except a pen and ink signature. This, to prevent loss, Jerry kept by itself in a small leather purse, and after examin- ing the writing, he now put the purse into his pocket, at the same time, compressing emphasis. After luncheon, Jerry lay down fora short nap. It was two o’clock before he awoke. He then lost no time in going out, finding Terril at the water’s edge, and then allowing the latter to row him to the landing nearest the encampment of the Gothamites. He found Mr. Mortimer Thornton pacing to and frosomewhat uneasily before the door of his tent. But the face of the young man lighted up as Jerry approached, ‘*l was afraid you were going to back out of your bargain after all,’’ said Thornton. He held out his hand as he spoke, with something very like friendliness. He was certainly in excellent humor, and for a mo- ment Jerry had a feeling that he might have been doing the young man injustice after all. ‘*T don’t know why I should go back on my word,’’ said Jerry. ; ‘*T should have thought nothing about it of course, except for what happened yester- day. Truth was that I heard some things about you, that made me a little suspicious. Besides, I was feeling generally out of sorts from the hurt that I received in the morn- ing. But I learned that you were all right en Y guess the fellow who was telling me about you had somebody else in mind.’? Jerry could hardly hide his contempt over this transparent fable, for such he judged every word of it to be. Jerry avoided making further reforence to the matter, nor did he speak of the appar- ently deliberate attempt on the part of. the skipper of the sail-boat torun down Will Ter- ril and himself. There was the bare possibility of its hav- ing been an accident, and Jerry was willing to give Mr. Mortimer Thornton the benefit of the doubt. It turned out to be that the party for which Jerry was to act as guide was to num- ber only two persons besides himself and Thornton. The smallest of their fleet of row- boats was put aboard the skiff with a pair of oars, and to Jerry was given*the honor of holding the tiller. Indeed, Mr. Mortimer Thornton seemed to have resolved to treat Nimble: Jerry as an honored guest; rather than as a servant, and to let him get his full measure of sport out of the expedition. There was a fresh breeze and the little craft cut the rippled surface of the lake with the grace and swiftness of a bird. As they sailed past the spot near the land- ing at Jerry’s den, our hero looked in every direetion in quest of Willis Terril, who he felt sure would be somewhere in the vicinity watching for them to pass. But neither Ter- ril nor their boat was in sight. While it appeared that the sail-boat was the private property of Mr. Mortimer Thornton, it likewise appeared that he knew no more} about handling it than he would have done! had it been a ship of war. The two Herki- mers who accompanied him went in the ca- pacity of skippers. Thornton lounged in the stern of the boat and talked to Jerry. He began by boasting about a good many things in which Jerry had no particular in- terest. And finding no very euthusiastic re- sponses, he fell to discussing their prospect- ive sports, ‘*We’re having a ball ground laid out,’’ he declared. ‘‘I suppose you know something about the game, as you do everything else?’ Jerry replied that he had seen a few games played when he was a small boy, and there might be a few points about the game that he hadn’t forgotten.”’ At this modest rejoinder, Thornton indul- goeutly smiled, and then went about giving Jerry a few lucid hints concerning the na- tional game. Jerry showed a commendable amount of interest, and innocently asked several ques- tions just to help his informant along. By this time they were skirting the shores of the lake, and Jerry proceeded to point out points of interest and beauty. Later they passed the famous Indian Island, and so on- ward into the Notch. This is the usual route in summer time of the lake steamer, which makes daily trips to the town of Bridgton. Jerry did not take the trouble to relate the legends, which are current about the lo- -alities, nor did he point out the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne, although he knew as much about them as anybody. He tolda few stories, aud answered Thornton’s ques- tions, and that was all. It was latein the afternoon when the mouth of the Songo River was reached. Here the sail was lowered and the craft meored to a tree. The small boat was launched, and Jerry, Thornton, and one of the others got into it. The skipper pulled the |oars, a kind of exercise to which Thornton seemed to be averse. The boat was propélled slowly along the narrow, picturesque channel, with its many turns, and dense foliage which bent over the stream from the opposite shores, forming a perfect arch of green over their heads. Ina particularly shaded nook they made a brief halt. As they did soa gruff voice came to them out of the thicket close at hand. ‘‘Take us aboard, can’t you, young fel- lows?’’ the voice asked, and at the same time they saw the coarse face of a tramp-like in- dividual peering out at them. Jerry instantly recognized that face. It. was that of the New York ruffian who had attempted to ride him down with the horse in the hare-and-hound chase the day before. Thornton gave the mana sharp glance, aud asked what be wanted. ‘*‘T want to get over t’other side of the lake,’’ was the reply. ‘‘A tramp, probably,’’? muttered Thorn- ton. ‘*But I suppose it would dono harm for us to do him a good turn. He’d be pretty sure to do us a bad one if we refuse.”’ Without waiting for the assent of his com- panions, Thornton signaled for the man to get into the boat. The pretended tramp lost no time in avail- ing himself of the privilege. He looked at Jerry witha faint leer, of Which our hero took not the slightest notice. Jerry was impatient at the intrusion. He had been on the point of approaching the matter which lay so near his heart. The tramp seated himself at the other end of the boat, and straightway seemed to fall into the stupid revery of his kind. Jerry at that moment took out the little purse and extracted from it the scrap) of pa- per. He held this toward Mortimer Thorn- ton, saying, as he did so: ‘*Here is a name of a person that I want to know more about. I thought maybe you might be able to tell me something about it.’’ Mr. Mortimer Thornton took the scrap of paper and lazily glanced at the signature. Thornton looked first, then stared, and lastly glared, while his lips and face became white and rigid as marble. ‘*Where did you get this?’’ he gasped. And without waiting for Jerry to reply, he sprang fiercely upon him, striking with bis clinched hands, and kicking viciously with his pointed-toed shoes. At that moment the tramp seemed sud- denly to wake up! (TO BE CONTINUED.) SS o> -———— REVENGE 1S SWEET. Some time ago a quarrel arose between the rival captains of two of our Cycle clubs. A had slandered B, and B wanted to be | revenged. : So one evening he strolled around in his cycling suit to A’s house, and, after getting possession of A’s machine, he knocked at the front door. ~ Being rather dark, A did not notice that B had got his bicycle. ‘*What do you want?’’ asked A, ‘tA fellow has just rushed off with your bike,’’ answered B. ‘‘He has gone along the main road, If you like, you can tako mine, and as he didn’t appear to be much of 4 rider, you may catch him up.”’ Off started A, and after five miles at racing pace he gave up the chase. Imagine his surprise on dismounting when he recognized as his own bike the one he had been riding all the time. « di th — a *-- * SF a. a. SS a "me @® aAMe , he | his with sud- 1 the > be! his tting d at at B your g the nine, of 4 es at when 18 he GOOD [This Story Will Not Be Published in Book-Form. } TOBY AND TOM. A STORY OF THE CUBAN REBELLION, BY WILL LISENBEE. (“Tony AND Tom’ was commenced in No. 269. Back } numbers can be obtained of all News Agents.) CHAPTER XXV. A WELCOME REFUGE. ATAHE startling words of the guide filled iio. the boys with alarm, and following his example, they broke into a swift ~~ run, The woods were more open now, and they made rapid progress. But as they proceeded, the ominous bark which had warned them of their danger now echoed and re-echoed in the depths of the forest, till it seemed that more than a score of the blood-thirsty beasts were following on their track. Pedro led the way, machete in hand, while the two boys ran close to his heels. The boys knew little of the wild dogs of the Cuban forest, but they had heard sufficient of them to realize that they were to be dreaded as much as the fierce gray wolves of the North. The clouds grew thicker across the sky, and the darkness deepened as they ran; the wind moaned dismally through the lofty trees, and now the red glare of the lightning flashed through the dark foliage of the rust- ling palms. Nearer and more frequent came the short, snarling barks of the wild dogs from behind. ‘‘Whatshall wedo? They will soon be upon us!’’ said Tom, filled with terror. ‘¢We climb de tree,’’ said Pedro, ‘‘but it bad stay there all night. But may be storm drive away they.’’ The darkness was so dense by this time that the three groped their way through the thick trees and tangled vines, and but for the frequent flashes of lightning, that served to reveal surrounding objects, it would have been almost impossible to have continued their flight. The bark of the pursuing dogs was now so near that the frightened boys fancied they could already hear the labored breathing of the dreaded beasts, as they sniffed the scent of their trail. Pedro now gave hasty orders as he ran, saying that they would soon be compelled to climb trees to save themselves. But as they were about to put the guide’s advice into execution, the walls of a large building loomed close ahead, plainly visible by a vivid flash of lightning. 1t was a low, wide story-and-a-half structure, half tum- bled down, its south wing having recently been destroyed by fire. Glad cries came from the lips of Toby and Tom as they rushed forward and gained the shelter of the ruined building. That the place was deserted they had little doubt, but as they thrust the dilapidated door open and entered, they were suddenly ~confronted by an old negro, who stood with aheavy cane knife in his hand, ready to ive combat to the intruders. His form was bent, and his hair white with age. A few smouldering coals burned on the hearth into which a piece of resinous wood had been thrust, which blazing suddenly, lighted the interior of the room. A few hasty words in the island Spanish from Pedro, and the old man dropped his knife, in the corner and welcomed the travel- ers with extended hand. By this time a barking without announced that the wild dogs had arrived. But they did not venture very near the building, Which they seemed to regard with suspicion ; and after yelping about at a safe distance, or a few minutes, they doubtless returned to the forest, for nothing further was heard of them. But Toby and Tom felt thankful for their escape, as well as for the shelter they had Zained, for now the storm, which had been rapidly gathering, burst forth in all its fury. How vividly the lightning played across the black sky, and how the wind roared through the great forest and swept about the creaking building. Cuba is noted for its violent storms, and Toby and Tom thought this the most dread- ful they had ever witnessed. But Pedro and the old negro seemed perfectly oblivious to ® raging of the storm, and sat complacent- Y smoking, while they conversed in low ones, An hour went by, still the storm showed no Signs of abating, and though the boys Weré impatient at their enforced delay, there Seemed little prospect of their being able to resume their journey during the night. Presently the old negro drew some roasted Oniatos (sweet potatoes) from the ashes on ® hearth, and taking an iron kettle of fra- 8rant coffee from the coals, placed them be- °re his guests. The travelers were not loath © accept the rude hospitalty, and they found 18 potatoes excellent, and the coffee, which ®y drank out of small gourds, delicious. When the repast was dispatched Pedro an- , R°unced that he thought it best to remain : ] ‘ there during the night. The guide was to! asked by his brother, Don Moroles, to make stay with the host and share his couch, while | Toby and Tom were to sleepin the room ' above. The boys were conducted up a short flight of stairs by the old negro, and ushered into a small apartment bare of furniture, save a solitary bed with dilapidated coverings. ‘‘Why, what a curious lantern,’’ said Toby, surveying the light carried by the old negro. ‘‘It looks just like a gib gourd | punched full of holes and fire on the inside.’’ ‘*So it does,’’ said Tom, turning to give it a closer scrutiny. ‘‘And look, Toby!’’ he added. ‘‘It isn’t fire on the inside at all, but a lot of big fireflies !’’* ‘‘Well, well, that does beat me,’’ declared Toby, as the old negro descended the stairs. The violence of the wind had, ina man- ner, abated by this time, but the rain was falling in torrents, while the lightning flashed almost continually. For a long time the boys lay on the hard bed, listening to the roaring of the rain on the roof, but at last a drowsiness came over them and they slept. It was broad daylight when they awoke. The rain had ceased and the sun was shin- ing through the cracks in the board wall. Sounds of heavy footsteps and clanking spurs | the voices of several men talking in Spanish. The boys sprang from the bed, trembling | with fright, and began to draw on their | clothes. As they did so the sound of heavy steps as- the next moment the heads of two Spanish soldiers were thrust through the opening! CHAPTER XXVI. A STARTLING ANNOUNCEMENT. HEN Horace Bird, accompanied by Harry, returned to the spot where Tom Buford and Toby Sparks had been left, he was much surprised and alarmed to find that the boys had disappeared. f But he had scarcely made the discovery when he heard voices not far away, and the sound of horses making their way through the tangled brush. He had barely time to gain the thicket where Harry was waiting for him when the blueuniforms of the Span- ish soldiers could be seen as they moved through the forest not far away. Then he caught sight of Toby and Tom marching in front, and knew that the boys had been taken prisoners. His first impulse was to go forward and demand their release, but a moment’s reflec- tion convinced him of the madness of such an act. It would only result in placing him- self a prisoner in the Spaniards’ hands. He would have been willing to make almost any sacrifice to have secured the boys’ release, but what could he do. The troops soon disappeared, and Bird threw himself on the ground, filled with gloom over the sudden misfortune of his youthful friends. For a long time he sat de- pressed and perplexed. There seemed only one course left, and that was to find some one who would interfere in the boys’ behalf. His thoughts at once turned to Don Moroles, and he resolved to ride to the hacienda and see the Don without delay. But what of the treasure? Had it been dis- covered and taken away along with the pris- oners? : He hurried to the spot where it had been concealed, and was rejoiced to find it still there. Loading the gold upon the horses, they rode to Don Eugenio’s plantation, where they stopped a short time. Then accompanied by Mrs. Conner, they set out in the direction of Havana. On arriving at Don Jose’s plantation, Horace Bird introduced himself to the Don, and after giving a brief explanation of the state of affairs, made known his errand. The Don, as well as Mrs. Ferguson and her daughters, had been greatly alarmed ati Toby’s prolonged absence, and he readily consented to do all he could in behalf of the boys. Bidding the travelers remain at his house till the matter could be inquired into, he dis- atched a messenger to his brother, Captain foroles, who was quartered not far from Jarez. About this time, as chance would have it, the captain had removed his quarters to a deserted plantation house not far from the spot where Toby and Tom had taken refuge from the storm and pursuing wild dogs, and early in the morning while some of his men were reconnéitering the locality, they came upon the ruined building and entered it; but they found no one on the inside excepting the two boys, the guide having left on his return before it was light, and the old negro, having doubtless discovered the approach of the troops, had fled into the forest. Not knowing who the boys might be, they were made prisoners and.taken before Cap- tain Moroles, who soon learned that they were none other than the boys he had been *These lanterns, made of a large perforated calabash, with some twenty large Cuban fire- flies placed on the inside, are in common use among the poorer class of the Island. cending the stairs came to their ears, and | NEWS. 4427 inquiries about. tation. fallen into the hands of their former captors. ‘“‘T thought it was all up with us when 1 saw the uniforms of the soldiers,’’ said Tom, ‘and so it might have been, but for Mr. Bird. owe him our lives. us.’? ‘*He has indeed been faithful and true,’ replied Toby. warded,’’ Tom added. The boys could hardly suppress their joy since coming to Cuba. The messenger sent by Don Moroles brought |he, Mrs. Conner, and Harry would await | this manner! |came from the room: below, mingled with | of them. Toby and Tom while tion. In the course of their conversation Tom relation to some business of his uncle, Joseph before. captain, in surprise. ‘*Yes, Joseph Dibbin; did you know him?”’ ‘*‘T knew a man by that name—in fact, we were partners in the ownership of a planta- tion not far from this place. He was an American from Massachusetts, I think, and affair, and was subsequently killed in an en- gagement with the troops in the interior.’’ ‘*He was my uncle,’’ said Tom. ‘*Well, that is indeed a surprise,’’ said the captain. ‘‘I suppose you know that his wife died soon after, leaving a child, which was placed in an orphan asylum in Havana?’’ business that brought me to Cuba.’’ ‘*But of course you have learned that the United States?’ ‘‘Why, no,’’ said Tom. ‘‘We have already found the boy with Mrs. Conner, who took him from the orphan asylum.,”’’ ‘*There must be some mistake,’’ replied the captain, in surprise. ‘‘I have reasons to know that the boy is not with Mrs. Conner, though it is true that she did take the child from the asylum. You have been imposed upon. Was there any legacy or inheritance that might have induced this woman to act falsely in the matter?’’ ‘*Yes; there is quite a sum of money to be turned over to the boy.’’ ‘‘Ah, Isee it all very plainly; this Mrs. Conner has doubtless learned of this, and has sought to palm off her own boy—who is about the right age—on you that she may get hold of the legacy.’’ ; ‘‘T have no doubt that this is the case,’’ went on the captain, ‘‘and, as I said before, Mrs. Conner did take the child, but it was for another woman, a Mrs. Phoebe Sparks, who took the boy, and soon afterward re- moved to the United States, to a little vil- lage called Brighthaven, if I remember cor- rectly.’’ The two boys sprang to their feet in amaze- ment at the captain’s words. CHAPTER XXVII. CONCLUSION. TA HEN,”’ said Tom, in a trembling voice, the laying his hand in that of Toby, ‘‘this 7 is my cousin, Harry Dibbin!’’ ’ A rush of joy came over the faces of the two boys as they stood with clasped hands. It was now the captain’s turn to be sur- prised, and he turned a perplexed, question- ing gaze upon the youths. “Tt is all very strange,’’ said Tom, ‘‘but we can soon explain.”’ Toby then gave a brief account of the in- cidents of his life, the death of his supposed mother, and his removal to the Simpkins farm. Then he told of his treatment while with the farmer which led to his running away. ‘*Ah, the villain! I see it all now,’’ cried the captain, nodding slowly. ‘‘I ought to have suspected the rascality of Roger Simp- kins long ago.’’ ‘*Why, do you know him?’’ Toby asked, in surprise. ‘Yes, I know something of him. But let me explain. You see, having been a friend and partner of Joseph Dibbin, I naturally took an interest in the child, but when I in- quired for it, I found that it had been taken to America. It happened that when Dibbin was preparing to leave the island that we, as partners, owned an interest in some prop- erty in Havana which then seemed worthless, . Captain Moroles conversed pleasantly with | was mixed up somehow in the Narciso Lopez | | ie i : : , so he left it with me to dispose of as I saw fit. Well,.the property lay there unsold for The captain treated the boys kindly, and | several years, when finally it suddenly rose promised them an escort to the Don’s plan- | in value, ana I subsequently sold our inter- I The boys were greatly relieved to | est in it for ten thousand dollars. As half of find themselves in the hands of friendsinthe | the proceeds belonged to Joseph Dibbin, place of enemies, for, on seeing the Spanish | though they had been transferred to me be- soldiers enter the room, they had given up/} fore he made ready to leave for America, I all hope, fully believing that they had again | began to try to discover his heir, to whom I | desired to turn over the money, ‘*T wrote inquiring for the child, and after a long delay, received a letter from Roger | Simpkins, saying that Mrs. Phoebe Sparks I’ll tell you, Toby, we might say we} was dead, that the child had been adopted I can hardly wait to see | by him, and was now staying at his home. him to thank him for what he has done for} He also stated that Mrs. Sparks had told | him of the child’s parentage on her death- | bed, and whatever legacy should come to the boy, should be placed in his (Simpkin’s) ‘*T shall see that he does not go unre-| care. So after some further correspondence, {I sent the five thousand dollars to Roger Simpkins, and in due time.received an ac- at the happy turn affairs had taken, and | knowledgment of its receipt from him. And their hearts were lighter than they had been | did you know nothing of this before?’’ he asked, turning to Toby. ‘*Never heard a word of it till now,”’’ re- a hastily scrawled note from Horace Bird to ) sponded Toby. Tom, in which he stated that he had brought | | the treasure safely to the plantation, where | ’ ‘The old villain!’’ exclaimedthe captain. ‘*To think he would treat an orphan child in But I shall see to it that you | the arrival of the two boys, or some tidings | have your rights, for there is no mistake that you are really Harry Dibbin.”’ ‘‘Oh, I’m ‘so glad!’’ cried Tom, fairly / preparations were | hugging Toby in bis joy: ‘‘so glad that it is being made to conduct them tothe planta-| you who are my cousin instead of that boy of Mrs. Conner’s.’’ Toby did not attempt to reply, but the related some of the adventures they had been | tears of gladness ‘that came into his eyes told through, saying that he had come to Cuba in | of the joy at his heart. ‘*‘] shall see you in Havana before you Dibbin who had died in Cuba several years |'sail,’’ said the captain, ‘‘and then we’ll fix up this affair regarding Roger Simpkins. I ‘*‘ Joseph Dibbin, did you say?’’ asked the | think we shall teach him a lesson, he won’t soon forget.’’ * * * * * * The meeting between Toby and Tom and their friend Horace Bird, at the plantation was a joyous one, and great was the amaze- ment of the innkeeper when he learned of the revelation made by Captain Moroles re- garding the parentage of Toby. ‘‘But I’m glad of it, I am, by Jupiter!”’ he declared, wringing Toby’s hand. As to Mrs. Conner, she readily confessed when confronted with the truth, and burst- ing into tears, declared she had only done what she did to get money to take her and ‘*Yes, and to find the child is a part of the | ber children to America. The boys readily forgave her, and moved by her distress, they assured her that she child is not in Cuba, but was taken to the| should be provided with funds necessary,to enable her to return with her son to Amer- ica. Mrs. Ferguson was greatly relieved and re- joiced at Toby’s safe return, and as for Ma- bel, she clapped her hands with delight, and on learning of his change of fortune, she de- clared that she knew Toby deserved a fort- une whether he ever got it or not. ‘‘But you can’t stay and go riding with us now,’’ she said, in atone of sadness, ‘‘for you’ll want to go home with your cousin, and——”’ ‘But I’m going to stay till Captain Fer- guson returns,’’ declared Toby. ‘‘I promised him I would, and then we can all go back in the Penguin together.”’ ‘‘Oh; but won’t that be jolly !’’ cried Ma- bel, fairly dancing across the veranda, as she ran to carry the good news to her mother. Toby and Tom remained oveér.a month in Cuba, Toby remaining at the plantation and Tom staying in Chorrera with the genial Horace Bird, who, though reluctant to do so, was induced to accept a liberal reward for the services he had rendered the boys. At last the Penguin arrived and was soon ready to start on her return voyage to New York. When Tom bade the innkeeper a warm good-by, he felt that he was parting from one who had indeed been a friend to him. As Toby and Tom went aboard the Pen- guin they saw a familiar face peering at them from the docks, and they instantly rec- ognized it as belonging to Ben Gaston. But that was the last they ever saw of him. The voyage in the Penguin was a most pleasant one, and when Toby Sparks and Tom-Buford arrived in Brighthaven, they soon found themselves the heroes of the hour, for the story of their good fortune, as well as that of their adventures in Cuba, had spread rapidly through the village. When Roger Simpkins was confronted with the evidence of his perfidious conduct, he made a reluctant confession to the truth, claiming, however, that he was only with- holding the money as well as the knowledge of it from the boy till he should become of age, and though no one )believed his story, the matter was dropped on the money being turned over to its proper owner. Dick Simpkins seemed to have lost much of his arrogance and conceit when Toby again met him, and he was very humble and gracious in his manner. The first act of Toby and Tom, on their arrival in Brighthaven, was to visit the her- mit, Silas Briggs, on his island, and relate to him the success of their trip to Cuba and the surprising developments that had fol- lowed. He seamed as much elated as the boys over the happy termination of affairs, and bad many questions to ask about his. old friend, Horace Bird. A month later the two boys went to New 42428 Bedford, where they attended school for three years. Then Toby entered the office of Mr. Wallingford and took up the study of law, while Tom engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in partnership with Captain Ferguson, who had retired from the sea. Toby did not forget the kind landlady who had befriended hin: when he had been robbed of his money by Howard Brock, the young swindler, and when he appeared at ber hotel to thank her for her kindness to him, she was greatly surprised, and expressed her thankfulness that he had come out of all his difficulties with such happy results. From her he learned that young Brock had been sent to prison for his crimes. The boys made many visits to their friend, Silas Briggs, and during their school days they always spent their vacations with the hermit on his little island, and during these visits he was as garrulous as in the days of old, and none were more welcome to bis cabin than Toby and Tom. [THE END. [ — Oe SPRING-HEELED JACK. BY LEWIS HOUGH. -——— + Fra, HEN the afternoon down train WA (there was but one) stopped at \ Byeway Station, a fourth passen- _—~»_____ A TAKING STORY, A grocer had a litter of kittens left on iS hands, and thinking to get rid of he placed them in front of his shop.in a baske’s with a sign over them reading ‘‘Take One: a A small boy appeared upon the scene few moments later, and put the sign 0? “5 of a heap of apples, and before the traded man was aware of the state of things 0? turn the\watch and purse, even if he wanted to, for fear of leaving a trace.’’ nape, and she squeezed with all her might. The monster had horrible claws, and be- half the pile had been carried away. As the ship was leaving the port he asked ~ Ce. CS heh De be, be eh oe oe Catgq Mew no ae ee eas esl Qux §ramp ‘ALBUM. HE letter and note sheets of the United " States opens another field that phila- telists have begun to be interested in, very little attention having been given to them in the past. In 1861 an issue of a letter and note sheet was begun. Both were of the denomination of three cents, rectangular in shape, and made of handsome thick blue paper. This issue was water-marked ‘'P. O. D.—U.S.,’’ the letters being of excellent form. On August 18, 1886, a supply of letter sheets was circulated which were not water- marked, but later on this wasremedied. The last issue of letter sheets is officially de- scribed as follows: ‘‘On the upper right-hand corner is the stamp, consisting of an oblong tablet bear- ing a full-face portrait of General U. 5. Grant, in military dress, and inclosed in a circle of pearls. At the bottom of the oval surrounding the portrait are the words ‘Unitéd States Postage’ in white capitals, and underneath the words ‘Two Cents’ in white letters, separated by the numeral ‘2,’ inclosed in a small shield. To the left of the stamp is the legend, ‘United States Letter Sheet Envelope,’ the words ‘‘ Letter Sheet’ being upon a shaded and ornamental back- ground, to the left of which is the shield of the arms of the United States, surrounded by a wreath of laurel. On the left of this shield is a blank request in small capitals in these words: ‘If not called for in ten days, postmaster will please return to.’ The de- vice is printed in dark green.’’ On June 30, 1894, the manufacture of letter sheets was discontinued, but up to date they can yet be bought at post-offices where the stock has not been sold or withdrawn. * * * * The grilled stamps of the United States adhesives are some of the hardest to collect, the prices constaptly increasing. The first grilled stamp appeared in 1868, a 3-cent rose Washington. This stamp is the only one with the grille—sometimes called embossing —covering the entire back, that can be pur- chased for any reasonable amount, it being catalogued at $17.50. The 5-cent brown and 30 cent orange of this issue being worth $250 each. The grilled all over stamps are not the only grilled ones that are to be found in this date, the same stamp being found of four other varieties, viz., grille measuring 13x16 millimeters, and measuring 11x18 and 9x13. The last stamp is the most common, and can’ be procured from any dealer for two cents. The grille is also found in the entire issues of 1869 and 1870-71. The 1869 issue is grilled, measuring 91¢x9!g, and 9x114g_ milli- meters in the 1870-71 issue, in which the 1, 2, and 8 cents are also found grilled 814x1014. Following we give the catalogue Value of the 1872 issue, which is the same as the 1870-71 issue, but not grilled, and that of the 1870-71: 1872 not grijled. 1870-71 grilled. $,01 lc. blue ; $ .40 2c. brown .01 .10 8c. green 01 .03 6c. pink .02 4.00 Te. vermilion .80 8.50 10c. brown .03 8.00 12¢c. dark purple .25 25.00 l5c. orange 03 6.00 24c. purple 05 35.00 30c. black 15 10.00 90c. carmine .40 5.00 The 1875 issue is the same stamp as the £rilled issue of 1869, only not grilled, and in this case the ungrilled are rarer tham the 8rilled. There are numerous oddities in the 8rilled stamps, one of the best known is the Stamp having part of two or more grilles, ue to the sheets being fed unevenly, and in Such instances collectors who are fortunate © possess one are not anxious to dispose of it. * * * We give below a few of the prices realized for United States stamps at recent auction Sales: 1851, 24c. lilac, $75.25; 1861, 8c. Scarlet, $52.50, and $55.50 for a dark shade; State, $110; $10 State, $55. Numerous other stamps sold for smaller prices, among ich we will mention a few: 1851, 5c. brown, $44.50; 1868, 8c. rose, grilled all Over, $26; complete set of Columbian, 7.30; complete set Executive, $32.50; com- Plete set Justice, $46.50; $20 State, $35.25. ese stamps were all unused, and in numer- °Us cases brought considerably more than ® catalogue price. * * oe * **A valuable specimen—A broken package of test 2-cent postal stamps printed in 1884.— “ne very singular case is that of the 2- “ent stamp of 1884. A test was made of the atl as originally turned out, but it was not eruistactory, and in July of that year an der was issued, changing the color of the Mp and the form of the die. A number of 4mpsthad been struck off asa test. but it alth, Supposed that none of these were issued, ough it is now known that three of them a Outside of the office. In May, 1893, in- Tuctions were sent to the postmaster at {rtford, Conn., to clear up all the odds ends at the office there, and in some e | way, which is not clearly understood to | this day, a broken package of these: stamps found their way into the Boston post-office. One of them was given out in the regular routine of the office to a man who happened to be a stamp collector,-and who knew the value of the stamp. Of course, there was immediately a rush for them, and the col- lector before mentioned secured sixteen out of the twenty-two that were given out. They are worth $45 each.”’ The above is taken from the Boston Tran- script, and although we have sought for further information about them, we have been unable to obtain any. * 2 * * New issues are constantly appearing in foreign stamps. We will describe six of' the latest most important ones. Seychelles Islands have added three en- velopes to their elegant set, of the values of 8, 15, and 80 cents. They are of thick, white wove paper, the colors being carmine, ultra- marine, and brown. The usual issue appears in a ld. gray anda is. green from Trans- vaal, while the South African Republic shows one stamp, a 3d. violet, perforated. New Caledonia has surcharged her 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 centime stamps with a pack (T) in a black triangle to serve as unpaid stamps. Hayti has issued a 20-cent brown stamp, and although Funchal has not troubled her- self with a new issue, she has made her 5- reis stamp do for a 2}¢-reis one, by simply splitting the former in two, diagonally. * * * * A short time ago philatelists were startled by the announcement that certain parties had been arrested in Chicago for counterfeiting stamps, and considerable talk and speculation have occurred as to the number of stamps circulated. A prominent stamp magazine gave the following facts (?) : ‘‘Tt has been discovered that the country has been flooded with counterfeit 2c. stamps of the present issue, their number, it is sup- posed, running into the millions.’’ Several other papers contained similar items, but as to their being correct we have it on the best of authority, that only twenty- five counterfeit stamps were circulated, and that they were all used by one person. * * * * Among the numerous, most noticeable shades which we may find in the United States adhesives, we will mention the: fol- lowing: Three-cent, 1851-6, brown to black. Three-cent, 1861-3, shades of rose and pink. Three-cent, 1872-82, yellow-green to blue- green. Two-cent, 1883, dark claret yellow. One-cent, 1898, light and dark blue. Two-cent, 1894, shades of carmine to pink. Shades have a great deal to do in the value of stamps. For instance, the 5-cent chocolate Columbian envelope, is worth 10 cents, while the same stamp of a slate- brown color is catalogued at $15. * * * * There has always been a large demand for Confederate stamps among collectors, and although thousands were\ used they are ex- tremely rare, and only thé wealthy are able to obtain them, as may be seen by the prices realized at a recent New York sale. Three varieties of the Baton Rouge 5c. brought $148; Macon, Ga., two varieties, $234.50; an Athens, Ga., sold for $40; Le- noir, N. C., $82, and $41.50 was paid for a Mobile 2c. black. * * * * Numerous varieties have been found in the 2c. stamp of the United States current issue. The following is a list of five distinct varieties we have seen: First is the pink shade, the lined triangle, the plain triangle, and the lined and plain triangle water- marked. The triangle is in the upper right and left-hand corners of the stamp. The new variety is water-marked “‘U. 8. P. 8.,’’ and all are quite common. — 0 NO MORE FOR HIM. A medical man was overhauling an elec- trical machine, and after putting it in order turned the crank to test it. His little daughter wanted to help, so he told her to turn and he would hold the handles. The child played her part well, and the current of electricity was so strong that the doctor’s hands shook as though he had an attack of the ague. The next day the little girl asked her father to let her play the hand-organ again. ‘*Hand-organ,’’ said the doctor, in an in- quiring tone of voice. ‘‘I didn’t know that you had ever played a hand-organ.’’ ‘*Oh, yes,’’ rejoined the young lady, ‘‘I have—yesterday, you know. When I played and you were the monkey.’’ —_—-_ + e+ Youngster (gleefully)—‘'Papa, I have found a cycling cap!’’ ‘‘What are you going to do with it, my lad?’’ ‘‘Oh, papa, do get mea bicycle to match it!’’ GOOD NEWS. {This Story Will Not be Published in Book-Form. } | LOYAL TO NAPOLEON: OR, THE YOUNG SPY OF FOUCHE. BY ALFRED ARMITAGE, Author of ‘Wilh Orusader and Saracen” and “In the Days of the Gladiators.” [LOYAL TO NAPOLEON” was commenced 1n No. 265. Back numbers can be obtained of all News Agents. } CHAPTER XXXVII. CONCLUSION. e~ } 4 ay, N the wild enthusiasm of the moment if Lucien did not comprebend what fear meant. He kept his seat superbly as he | rode, holding the bridle in one hand other. heard the command, ‘‘ Forward! ring loudly from front to rear. The next instant the scene changed. The squares of Russian and Austrian infantry poured volley after volley of grape-shot into the leading squadrons, causing fearful havoc. But with loud cheers the cuirassiers dashed on amid the smoke and roar, closing up the shattered ranks and trampling heedlessly over dead and dying. Lucien was borne on with the rush, and now found himself face to face with the grim Russian infantry. Right and left his sword flashed, and ere his arm was weary the blade reeked with blood. Against the desperate fury of the French cuirassiers and dragoons the enemy found it impossible to stand. They held out until their very batteries were captured, and then, still fighting sullenly, they retreated toward the village of Austerlitz, which was separated from the allied armies by a plain and a good-sized lake. Their pathway was marked by hundreds of dead and wounded, for the cavalry fol- lowed in pursuit, sabering without mercy. Lucien was near the front of the line, and through the worst of the conflict he seemed to bear a charmed life. Amid flying shot and saber strokes he hewed and slashed at the foe, forgetting all else but the glory of France. Suddenly the bugles sounded the recall, and the gallant troopers reluctantly obeyed the summons. Lannes came riding back to the rear, accompanied by a few staff offi- cers. Lucien was about to follow when a heavy shot struck his horse in the breast, and down went steed and rider. The fall stunned Lucien, and for ‘several minutes he was ina state of semi-stupor. When full consciousness returned he found himself lying on his back, and with his lower limbs tightly confined under the body of the dead and mangled horse. The attempt to ex- Charge !’’ tricate himself proved so painful that he) soon abandoned it. He lay still for a little while, listening tothe roar of the battle, and finally he managed to sit up and look around him: In all directions the ground was strewn with dead and wounded, Austrian and Rus- sian infantry, French dragoons and cuiras- siers. The air rang with the pitiful cries of suffering men. Lucien saw thé cavalry bri- gade in motion at some distance to the left, and when he looked behind him he saw a French battery at the summit of the long hill, near the base of which he lay. The men wore the uniform. of the Imperial Guard, and at present the guns were still. In the op- posite direction, a quarter of a mile beyond the base of the hill, lay the aforementioned lake, and here our young lieutenant wit- nessed a scene of indescribable riot .and panic. The remnant of the shattered Austrian and Russian infantry brigades—many. thousands in number—were in full retreat by this route. The lake happened to be frozen, and as the two roads leading across it were speedily choked and encumbered with ammunition wagons and guns the panic-stricken fugitives took to the ice in their haste. Lucien watched the scene for a moment, and then looked behind him again to see if any one was coming to his assistance. As soon as his eyes rested on the hill-top he saw what was about to occur. Napoleon and bis staff were standing by the battery, and a moment later the order came to fire. At once a storm of grape and round-shot, poured with unerring aim from twelve guns, passed high over Lucien’s head and ‘fell upon the flying enemy. The destruction was fear- ful, and the crowded ranks of the Russians and Austrians were literally cut to pieces. But the worst was to come, for as the shells began to explode with thunderous reports beneath the ice, the frozen surface of the lake gave way in patches, and regiment after regiment was engulfed to be seen no more. In ashort time the massacre was com- plete, and scarcely a living thing was seen to move. Five thousand of the enemy were dead at the bottom of the lake. Lucien endured the horrible spectacle as long as be could, and then turned away, sick at.heart. The artillery kept volleying from the hill-top, and through the canopy of 4429 smoke that was settling down on the plain he could see, far to right and left, that the allied forces were everywhere in retreat be- fore the victorious French. His heart was thrilled with enthusiasm. He forgot pain and weakness, and the slaughter down on the lake. ‘*Vive l’Empereur!’’ he cried, hoarsély, waving his sword in the air. ‘*Vive )’)Em- pereur !’’ At that moment a riderless horse, snorting with fright, loomed out of the smoke and bore straight down on the helpless. young officer. Lucien felt the iron-shod hoofs tram- ple him to earth, and with the keen agony consciousness left him. * * * * * * * It was night when Lucien next opened his eyes—a dark and starless night on the field of battle. He remembered the events of the day and felt thankful that he was still alive. So far as he could tell he was not mortally hurt. His head was bruised and bleeding, and a sharp pain stabbed his lungs at every ; L : | breath. His left arm, broken near the elbow, and waving his unsheathed sword in the | Above the terrible din of battle he | was badly swollen. With a resolute effort of will, he sat up, and supported his head with his hands as he looked around him. Scarcely a breath of air was stirring, and the groans of suffering and dying men floated on the still night with a melancholy cadence. Here and there in the distance moving lights showed that fatigue parties and ambulances were searching for the wounded. ‘*Water! water !’’ called a feeble voice near by. ‘‘Oh, for a drop of water to cool my throat!’ The tones sounded strangely familiar to Lucien, and the appeal excited his pity. He clinched his teeth to prevent crying out with pain, and by a hard effort he pulled himself free from the stiffened body of his horse. In spite of his broken arm he dragged himself on his knees and one hand to the spot from which the appeal had come. Here he found of an Austrian officer. It was too dark to see the face. ‘*Are you badly hurt, my potr fellow?’’ he asked. ‘‘T am dying,’’ was the faint reply. ‘‘I am shot through the chest. Oh, in the name | of mercy, sir, give me a drop to drink.’’ ‘*Tf 1 had any you should have it,’’ said Lucien, who cared little that the wounded man was anenemy. ‘‘But wait—I may get it for you.’’ He crawled to.one side, and soon stumbled on the dead body of a Russian infantryman. After a short search he was rejoiced to find a canteen around the soldier’s waist. It con- tained but asmall quantity of liquid, and 'for an instant he was strongly tempted to drink it himself, so intense was his thirst. But he conquered the unworthy impulse, and painfully returned to his charge. ‘+ rink,’’? he said. ‘‘Itis very little, but it will relieve you.’’ The Austrian eagerly drank every drop of the precious fluid as the canteen was held to his lips. ‘‘Thank you, my friend,’’ he whispered. ‘‘But I have robbed you. You are wounded and thirsty yourself.’’ Lucien did wot reply, for just then he saw a light moving along within a few yards. He shouted loudly, and at once the sum- mons was answered. A moment later two French officers and a surgeon reached the spot, carrying lanterns, and behind them, mounted ona black horse, came Napoleon himself. ‘*Tt is I, sire,’’ said Lucien, as he made a vain attempt to rise. ‘‘Lieutenant Bellair!’’ exclaimed the em- peror. ‘‘I feared you were dead. France can ill spare so brave a servant.’’ ‘“‘f am but slightly hurt, sire,’’ replied Lucien. | ‘‘Here is a wounded Austrian who needs assistance more than [.’’ ‘*An Austrian?’’ muttered Napoleon, and as he spoke one of his companions held a lan- tern close to the ground. Lucien bent over the wounded officer and started as though shot. ‘‘Jules St. Maur!’’ he cried. ‘*You here, Lucien?’’ was the feeble reply. ‘*It was you, then, who gave me the water. I did not deserve such a kindness at your hands. I tried to kill you—you know that— but I am glad that I failed. And now——”’ ‘Don’t exert yourself, Jules,’’ said Lucien. ‘*T harbor noill-feelings. I forgive you all.’’ ‘‘So this is the son of Henri St. Maur!’’ exclaimed the emperor. ‘‘He is one of the party who escaped from Ulm in violation of the treaty. Well, see that he is properly taken care of.’’ ‘*Tt is useless to move him, sire,’’ replied the surgeon. ‘‘He is sinking fast, and can’t live more than twenty minutes.’’ ‘*You are right, sir,’? whispered Jules. ‘‘I am dying, and well I know it. But I must live long enough to make a confession. I can’t die with that unsaid. It concerns you Lucien——’’ ‘*In such a case I may be of assistance,’’ said the surgeon, taking a flask of brandy from his box. A drink of the strong liquor gave Jules a little more strength, and a flush of color came into bis face as he was propped up in . thesurgeon’s arms. The emperor and his’ offi - ; cers looked on curiously. ‘*You will find a paper in my breast, a slim figure in the white and gold uniform | ae i =. 4 443530 GrooD tT Lucien,’’ Jules began. ‘‘Look for it. I want | commence at three o’clock punctually. Long to see it in your hands.’’ The surgeon unbuttoned the dying officer’s | jacket, found ‘the paper, and gave it to} Lucien. ‘‘It is the receipt for the money your fa- | ther owed mine,’’? Jules resumed. ‘‘The| mortgages, you remember, Your father paid | them off in the grotto that day, and he was bitten by the snake before he had taken the} receipt. My father was strongly tempted by | the opportunity, and he did not resist it, Lucien. He kept the mortgages, the money, and the receipt. I knew nothing of it until six months ago. Then, before his death—even | while he lay dying—he wrote me a farewell | letter and inclosed the receipt. I was to give | it to you, but I kept it.”’ He was compelled to stop for breath, and | when he began to speak again his voice was | husky and broken, ‘*It is—all right now,’’ he whispered. ‘‘I | have made what atonement I could. The pa- per will give—you the money that is—yours. You will get your old—home back. I am} sorry, Lucien—say you forgive me——’’ ‘*] do, Jules,’’ Lucien replied. ‘‘I forgive | you all freely.’’ Jules smiled faintly, and stretched out one | hand. Blood gushed from his lips, and his | head fell back. ‘*Ts it the end?’’ asked Napoleon. ‘*He is dead, sire,’’? the surgeon replied, solemnly. * * ee x The treaty of Presburg, which Napoleon | exacted after the victory of Austerlitz, isa matter of history. It ended the campaign, | and shortly after Lucien’s return to Paris | his broken arm was as sound as ever, and he | was in his usual robust health. Spado and | Captain Jouillard had happily escaped with- out a single wound. Some months later, owing to the emperor’s intercession and aid, Lucien found himself in possession of his father’s old plantation at Martinique, as well as in receipt of a hand- some income. But he had no desire to go there to live, since all his happiness lay in France, and in the pursuit of the vocation | which he had chosen. Spado possibly felt | some longing for the green hills of Marti- nique, but it was not strong enough to in- duce him to leave ‘his beloved master, whom he continued to serve with unswerv- ing fidelity. We need not follow Lucien’s career farther. He retained the favor of Josephine and Na- poleon, and took part in most of the empe- ror’s succeeding campaigns, winning great renown, the cross of the Legion of Honor, | and finally the rank of general. After the abdication he went to Jersey, and was making preparations to go to Mar- tinique when Napoleon escaped from Elba and returned to France. Lucien joined him | at once, and was present at the disastgous battle of Waterloo. That defeat and the sub- sequent imprisonment of the emperor on the island of Saint Helena, was a great blows to him. He saw that all was now lost, and in 1816, while; yet a young man, he returned with Spado to the isle of Martinique. There Lucien remained until the end of his life, taking personal charge, with Spado, of the plantation, and endearing himself to the good people of St. Pierre and vicinity. But master and man were never affected by the changes in the great world beyond the sea, : and the passing years found them loyal at heart to their beloved emperor, and cherish- | ing the memories of their years of devoted | service under the First Empire. (THE END.) A BULL AND BEAR FIGHT. BY CHAS. H. EDEN. ee OME years ago my uncle, wha.was an official in one of the Mexican rail- ways, and stationed at Mazatlan, in- vited my friend, Willie Hammersley, and myself to make him a visit. We went, and a royal time we had, too, but the most exciting adventure we met with is ‘the one I am about to relate to you. One day we were strolling about the old gity. when a number of flaming posters, yrhereon was depicted a most ferocious-look- ing bear in deadly battle with a magnificent bull, engrossed our attention, and an Ameri- can resident was kind enough to translate to us the letter-press at the foot of these startling announcements. This ran to the following effect: ‘*Senor Juan Morano, the celebrated mata- dor, who has exhibited his matchless skill before every crowned head in Europe, and received a sword of honor from the hands of her most Catholic majesty the Queen of Spain, has. the felicity to announce to the inhabitants of Mazatlan that he has become the possessor of the grizzly bear, El Presi- dente, an animal that two years ago was the terror of all Mexico. During its captivity the ferocity of this world-famed brute has increased greatly, and its owner has the honor to invite the people of this city to wit- ness a fight, which will take place this after- noon in the Plaza de Toros, between two bnills of noted strength and courage, and the above mentioned bear, El Presidente. Seats in the shade, one dollar. Other parts of the ring, half adollar. The performance will flourish the Mexican Republic.”’ ‘*That isthe thing to suit us,’’ cried Willie Hammersley. ‘‘Come along, Herbert, and let us secure seats.’’ This we accomplished without much diffi- culty, and by a small tip administered to the guardian of the Plaza de Toros; we were per- mitted to a private view of the future an- tagonists. Neither of us had ever seen a bull-ring be- fore, and stared about with manifest curios- ity and excitement, as we crossed the now empty arena, to reach the dens in which the animals were confined. A large circular space, some forty yards |in diameter, was strongly barricaded by a paling about five feet in height, and behind this rose in tiers the seats of the spectators. In the very center of the arena was sunk a massive ring-bolt, to which, our guide in- formed us in broken English, the bear would be tethered to prevent his paying an unwel- come visit to the witnesses of the combat. Passing through the folding-doors by which the bulls were admitted, we came to the loose boxes occupied by some half-dozen of these animals; and if the excitement and rage with which they viewed our approach could be taken as a test, there was little doubt of their intractable natures. Angry stampings and fierce bellows issued from their stalls, and more than one savage, with glaring eyes, dashed his horns against the oaken door, as though the process of gor- ing us to death would afford him complete satisfaction. A few paces farther on we came to the stables, in which a few wretched broken- down horses were standing, with drooping ears and lack-luster eyes, as if conscious of the cruel death to which they were surely doomed, Viewing these miserable animals, the barbarity of the whole business came fully home to me; but our guide, who seemed ito read my thoughts, intimated that no | horses would be used on that occasion. A large covered wagon stood near the sta- bles; and a deep, hideous roar, issuing from this, revealed unmistakably that we had reached the habitation of bruin. Peering in through the bars, I saw a dark, indistinct mass, which both Willie and ‘I were closely scrutinizing, when our conductor jerked us suddenly backward—and not a mo- ment too soon, for with a sudden bound, the monster had reached the grating, through which his huge paws were thrust, in the ef- fort to reach us, while his little eyes glared fiendishly, and his jaws, half opened, showed the cruel fangs with which they were fur- nished. ‘*Beware! he is hungry,’’ said our guide. But we needed no further injunction to point out the wisdom of keeping such a sav- age beast at a respectable distance. Another small donation to our courteous companion made him so thoroughly our friend, that he volunteered to keep us seats in the best part of the stalls. **Come punctually,’’ he added, as we took our leave for the present, ‘‘tor there will be an amusing scene with a monkey before the real business begins.’’ Long before the appointed time we were at the entrance of the Plaza de» Toros, where our friend Antonio inducted tis into two | seats in the very foremost row, places, more- over, that would be in the shade during the entire afternoon. Many people had already assembled, and it was matter of interest to watch their joy- ous faces, for:to all branches of the Spanish race the torture of a bull seems to bring the keenest pleasure. Suddenly the laughter ceased, and a hush fell, astwo men entered the arena, one carry- ing a long bamboo pole, the other a monkey. What this could mean we were at a loss to understand, but Antonio told us that the proprietor was going to amuse the people by |a fight between a bull and a monkey, asa preliminary to the stirring bear scene. Our knowledge of Spanish precluded our asking any but the simplest questions, so we could only sit still and watch the proceed- ings with the keenest interest. The bamboo, which was about fifteen feet in lergth, was securely fixed in an iron socket in the center of the arena, and toa ring, which traveled freely on the pole, Mas- ter Jocko was attached by a rope ten yards long, secured to a belt round his waist. Poor little wretch, he looked by no means eager for the fray; but, on the contrary, supremely miserable; and the moment he was loosed, he ran up the pole with marvel- ous agility, and seating himself ona small peg or rest, grinned and chattered horribly, to the intense gratification of the spectators, who were convulsed with laughter at his manifest trepidation. A bright scarlet, coat, in which he seemed very ill at ease, added to Jacko’s ludicrous appearance. Long before the mirth was exhausted, the folding-doors were thrown open, and a small, savage-looking bull trotted into the ring, and stood pawing up clouds of dust as the shouts of the people aroused him to fury. With glaring eyes he glanced around, seek- ing some object on Which to vent his rage, and at last spied the bamboo, on which poor Jacko was jumping about in the deepest dis- tress, his visage screwed up into the most ab- surd shape. NEWS. With a bellow, the bull darted at the pole, which yielded readily to his assault, but the force of the shock compelled poor Jacko to loosen his hold, and flung him almost on the shoulder of his formidable antagonist. Immediately the bull left it, the pliant bamboo regained its upright position, and, as quickly as legs would carry him, the ter- rified monkey was again at its summit. How often this was repeated I cannot say, but never before or since have I ever wit- nessed anything half so ludicrous, From the outset it was apparent that Jacko ran no real danger; but his gestures were supremely ridiculous, and I felt my sides ache from the incessant laughter into which his contortions threw me. Once he was flung actually between the bull’s horns, and grasped them like grim death, while his an- tagonist roared with rage. and shook his head furiously in his attempts to dislodge the un- welcome rider, who clung to his seat like Sinbad the Sailor’s Old Man of the Sea. I think we were all relieved when the bull was driven away, and the monkey, descend- ing from his perch, made a grave bow to the people before quitting the scene of his trou- bles. A continuance of so ludicrous an ex- hibition would have become painful. Now sterner work was at hand, and a great cheer rose from all sides, as the wagon con- taining El Presidente was drawn into the arena by a pair of gayly caparisoned mules. A long chain fastened to the animal’s loins was securely shackled to the ring-bolt, and then, the barred door being drawn up, it shuffled awkwardly out, and rearing up on its hind legs, stood winking and blinking in the sunlight, a savage growl breaking forth as it viewed the serried throng of eager spec- tators. The cart having withdrawn, Bruin pro- ceeded to examine the premises, dropping on all fours, and walking leisurely around, until a spot was reached where the fierce glare of the sun was excluded. There it paused, awaiting the arrival of its antagonist, for it seemed fully conscious of the chief part it was destined to play in the programme, Amid the discordant strains of an execrable brass band, and the loud shouts of the spec- tators, the doors were once more flung apart, and a noble bull trotted into the arena. For a moment it stood motionless, awed by the yell of delight that greeted its arrival; then, perceiving the bear, it lowered its head and charged furiously on the foe. The position occupied by Willie and me en- abled us to see everything that passed to the best advantage. Bruin, on seeing the bull, had reared up on its hind quarters and in this attitude it awaited the onslaught of the foe. As the horns of the latter neared its chest, I noticed the the bear fell backward to avoid the momentum of the shock, and this action alone saved it from being transfixed. As it was, the fur flew in flakes from either flank, and for a moment I thought the bear must be mortally wounded. But it was not so. Quick as lightning its fore-paws closed around the neck of its antagonist; the huge jaws, opening, seized the muzzle of the bull, and held it as though in a vise, while a stream of blood, issuing from either shoul- der, bore fearful evidence to the power of the cruel claws. In vain did the bull, with bellows of pain, endeavor to loosen that deadly grip; the fore- paws of the bear presSed yet closer; the jaws, shifting, took a more deadly hold, and, a dull crack was plainly audible, and the noble bull fell lifeless on the body of its victor. Its neck was broken. Amid the shouts of the audience, our friend Antonio, who was provided with a lasso, threw the noose dexterously around the still quivering hind legs of the bull, and the end being attached to four mules, the carcass was dragged from the embrace of the conqueror, who clung to his prey with surprising tenac- ity, his giant strength almost defeating the efforts of the team. Scarcely had the gate closed behind them, than another bull, of even greater Size than its predecessor; was introduced, and another combat terms, for the bear was out of breath, owing to its furious exertions. This bull moreover, was more wary than the last, and dodging around the bear, drew it into the sunshine; when, seizing an opportune moment, during which the glare shielded its movements, it succeeded in burying one horn in the ribs of its antagonist. Furious with pain, bruin now became the aggressor, and charged upon the bull, who, terrified at its furious aspect, sought safety in flight. Round and round the confined arena both animals careered, until the bull, finding its fierce antagonist to be gaining ground, at one desperate bound cleared the barrier, alighting in the narrow lane that separated the arena from the stalls. Mad with .rage, the bear strained at its tether, endeavoring to follow its enemy; seizing the chain in both paws, it bore back- ward with all its strength and ponderous weight; each link tightened beneath the strain, then the tether parted, and.the fren- zied brute was loose in our midst. Up rose the panic-stricken spectators as one man, and crowded toward the exits with | shrieks of horror, tumbling over and crush- ing each other in their increasing dread. should probably have followed their ex- commenced, but on more equal | !ample, had it not been for my brave com- |panion, who never for a moment lost his | presence of mind. | ‘Tasso him!’’? he shouted out to Antonio, | but the Mexican was terror-stricken, and | seemed unable to act or think. | ‘‘Give me che rope, then!’’ he cried out, and leaning forward, snatched the coil from the man’s unresisting hand. ‘‘Now, then, Herbert,’’ he continued, ‘‘let me drop the noose over his head, then you take the end to the ring-bolt and make it fast. We’llshow these cowardly rascals how to bring up a grizzly all standing !”’ El Presidente was about to bury his fangs in the throat of the prostrate bull—for the | poor brute had broken a leg in jumping the | barricade—but relinquished his intention on seeing Willie approach, and seemed inclined to attack his new assailant. But the brave lad never hesitated; advancing fearlessly toward the animal, he coolly leaned over the rail, and dropping the lasso over its head, shouted : ‘*Make fast the end, Herbert, and pull taut, old fellow, or the beast will board us in no time.’’ To venture into the open arena was a task of some risk; but, fired by my compgmion’s example, I jumped down, and dragging the lasso as taut as possible, made two secure half-hitches round the bolt. The brute was now, as Willie phrased it, ‘‘moored,’’ and all danger was over, for the tough hide lasso was more reliable than chain. Order was gradually restored, and we were regarded as the heroes of the hour. But small credit was due to me; it was Willie’s pluck and coolness that saved us, and indeed that saved him, for Juan Morano assured us that, had the lad shown the slight- est-timidity or hesitation, he would have been torn to death; only his very rashness secured him. So ended our bull and bear fight. i SWISS WATCH SCHOCLS. The famous Swiss watch schools are the most exacting industrial institutions in the world. Their methods, which are doubtless the secret of their success, are very curious and interesting. In one of the most celebrated of these in- stitutions in Geneva, for example, a boy must first of all be at least fourteen years of age in order to enter. After being admitted, the student is first introduced to a wood-turning lathe, and put to work at turning tool handles. This exer- cise lasts for several weeks, according to the beginner’s aptitude. This is followed by exercises in filing and shaping screw-driver's and small tools. In this way he learns to make for himself a fairly complete set of tools. He next undertakes to make a large wooden pattern of a watch frame, perhaps a foot in diameter, and, after learning how this frame is to be shaped, he is given a ready-cut one of brass, of the ordinary size, in which he is taught to drill holes for the wheels and screws. Throughout this instruc- tion the master stands over the pupil, direct- ing him with the greatest care. The pupil is next taught to finish the frame so that it will be ready to receive the wheels. He is then instructed to make fine tools and to become expert in handling them. This completes the instruction in the first room, and the, young watchmaker next | passes to the department where he is taught to fit the stem-winding parts, and to do fine cutting and filing by hand, / Later on he learns to make the more com- plex watches, which will strike the hour, minute, etc., and the other delicate mechan- isms for which the Swiss are famous. . Oe SHOPLIFTING EXTRAORDINARY. A well-dressed woman lately entered 4 Paris jeweler’s shop and asked to see some valuable gold pins. While she was exami1D- ing them a man began playing a barrel organ before the door. The music seemed t0 annoy the lady, and, stepping to the door; she threw a piece of money to the man aD told him to go away, which he did at oncé- On returning to the counter she said that none of the pins suited her, but that as some compensation for the trouble she had give®s she would buy a brooch. She accordingly chose one, paid ten francs for it, and wa leaving the shop when the jeweler missed 4 diamond pin of great value from among those she had been examining. He accordingly stopped his customer, who seemed highly indignant, and insisted o the jeweler’s wife searching her, which oe done, but no pin was found. The jeweler sent his sister to watch the woman, who W@ seen to enter another jeweler’s shop, ge was pretending to make a purchase Wh the organ grinder made his appearance. As soon as he began playing she aga - threw him some money and ordered bim ig move on, but the person who was werent her perceived that with the money she given the man a piece of jewelry. the | This was at once made known to the police, who arrested ‘both, and found oP man several articles of stolen jewelry: ‘ , we SH Oem mem ho ‘ free hey me, Maj and Old; Rlit 2 c Day Stay lax Vik Prey Mat Art] ng ho yas ler vas ep. ail | to jug the the AMON Gr i p News iGLUBS. 7 ny GOOD {SPECIAL NOTICE,—'T'his column is for Goob NEws Clubs only. No notices will be inserted excepting such as are genuine GOOD NEws Club notices, aud nothing in the shape of an advertise- ment will be allowed. Every club notice should have the names of the president and secretary of the club attached. For information concerning GOOD Nrws Club Badge and Electrotypes see ad. vertisement on last page. | CLUB NOTICES. Look! Don’t you want to be up to date? If you do, join the Goop News Stars and Stripes Corresponding and Exchange Club of Duluth, Minn. We are going to issue a new membership list in the near future, so we want twenty-five new members, to make our list . Show the names ofone hundred members, 80 we make the following special offer: To the first one joining, we will give fifty foreign stamps, and a book entitled “Ships That Pass in the Night;” to the second, a sub- scription of six months to our paper, the Club News, and one comic library; to the third, a miscellaneous bundle of reading matter; to the fifth, a handsome colored picture; to the tenth, a large book bound in a strong, durable cover; to the twenty-fifth Vol. 5 of Goop News. We guarantee todo as we say, but the above offer will hold good for one week only. 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Our member- ship roll is daily increasing, and ifit continues in the way it has done, in the last few days, we will soon Stand at the head of all Goop NEws clubs. Calvin 8S. Hallam, Adolph Boehm, Leo Rogoske, Gus W. Gaul, and others equally as well known, are members of this club. Every one joining from a State or country in which we have no members, will be appointed rep- resentative of that place. The | GoOoOD Qur Mail Bag. Ba ret otter D {Questions on subjects of general interest only are | dealt with in the ‘Mail Bag. Medical or legal questions not answered. Goop Nxws goes to press two weeks in advance of date of publication, and there- fore answers cannot appear until two or three weeks after we receive them. Communications intended for this column should be addressed Goop News “Mail Bay,” P. O. Box 2734, New York City.] -- Constant Reader, Philadelphia, Pa.—l. It has never been satisfactorily settled who was the man in the Iron Mask. The popular belief is that he was a twin brother of Louis XIV. 2. Mr. Parks may have an ar- ticle on wrestling later. 8. The Aztec nation, accord- ing to tradition, was one of the seven tribes of the Na- huatlecas, who are represented as emerging from seven caverns in the region called Aztlan. Some have advanced the theory that Asia was the birthplace of the Nahuatlecas; others claim that they came from the north of Mexico. Wherever they. originally came from, which at best is but a matter of conjecture, the Aztecs founded the city of Tenochtiltan, or Mexico, in 1325, and on the arrival of the Spaniards, in 1519, their empire was found to extend from ocean to ocean. 4. The discoverer of diamonds is unknown. From references in Exodus, it isapparent that the diamond was @ precious stone in Egypt in those early times;and even before that it was known in India, where prob- ably it was first obtained. 5, The earth would be de- stroyed, should the sun approach too near. 6. Yes, progress is being made in the construction of air-ships and submarine vessels. 7. Some of the names of the American war ships are New York, Maine, Monterey, Chicago, Baltimore, Minneapolis. It would take up too, much space to give the entire list. 8. Great Bri- tain has the finest navy in the world. H. A. B., Boston, Mass.—No comparison can be drawn between Napoleon and Wellington. Both were men of vast military genius, but Napoleon had immensely greater opportunities of showing his mili- tary skill than Wellington had. If you ask, did Napoleon or Wellington prove himself to be the great- est general? theve can be no doubt as to the answer. Napoleon showed himself to be the greatest military strategist and tactician of his age, or any other. Well- | ington might have been as great with the same oppor- Upon joining you will re- | ceive our beautiful membership card, and list, and one | year’s subscription to the Amateur Standard. 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Now, you join, and receive a neat card Of membership, printed in five colors of bronze, a Membership list, application blank, and Club News, along with many other articles. Be sure to join now, Or the initiation fee is going to be raised soon, Ad- dress all letters to the secretary, James M. Camp- \bell, Duluth, Minn. Are you one of the people? If yoware, you should not waste any time, but join the Goop NrEws ‘Reading lub of Rankin, Pa. This club will soon be one of the largest in Pennsylvania. We want members from every part of the world. The initiation fee is 10 cents, Silver. To all joining we give two five-cent novels, list of books we lend, No. 2list of members, and a handsome membership card. We admit ladies fora “Cent stamp; foreigners free. Address the secretary, - M. Crom, Rankin, Pa. Decatur’'s Goop NEws Corresponding Club wants More new members at once. Initiation fee, 10 cents; no dues. Ladies free. Foreigners, except Canadians, Tee, Join now, so your name will appear in our hew listof members, Each member gets a beautiful Membership card and list of members by return mail, Percy S. Ewing, secretary, Decatur, II. “Tis many the flower that’s born to blush unseen, 8nd waste its fragrance upon the desert air.” It’s an d Saying, but not true in our case, as the Goop NEws Elite Corresponding Club of Washington, D. C,, we 8nk firstin popularity. For full particulars and ap- Dlication blanks address with stamp, C. Clements “vis, secretary, 1418 9th street, N. W. gi Only six cents in stamps to join the Goop Nrws 4r Exchange Club of Burlington, Ia. No dues; Pray wd foreigners free. Curd and list free. AS a ®miym, you can haye either a bundle of reading Aree, or erage of stamps.. Address the secretary, hur Brei snstein, 1339 Angular street. tunities, but in point of fact, he had comparatively few chances. Most of the battles of the Peninsula, as well as Waterloo, were soldiers’ battles—that is, fights won by sheer pluck and bravery, but with little ma- neuvring. Rag, Leadville, Col.—1. Yes, a person may become fleshy by a system of dieting, but, at your age, we ad- vise you not to make any such attempt. 2. The book you mentioned is a very good one. Read the articles on ventriloquism in Nos, 232 and 233 of Goop Nrws. 8. Both Herrmann and Heller have written books on the magic art. Write to Street & Smith for cata- logue. 4. There have been so many good stories in Goop News that it is impossible to say which is the best. 5. Not at present. 6. La Scala, in Milan, Italy, is the largest opera house in the world. 7. Henry C. Dobson is probably as good asany/ 8. You write an excellent hand for a boy of 18. 9. Please thank your mother for us for her kind words of appreciation. N. C. D., Aurora, Ill.—You can make matches that will make no noise when struck, by taking 8 parts by weight of sugar, 5 of gum-arabic, and 30 of powdered chlorate of potash, and rubbing them together into thin paste with a litthe water; then add to the paste 10 parts by weight of powdered sulphur, and when worked well together dip into the mixturesome of the common sulphur matches. Or, in another way, you can get 16 parts of gum arabic, 9 parts of powdered phosphorus, 14 parts of nitre, and 16 parts of vermil- | ion. Dissolve the gum in the least possible amount of water, triturate in the phosphorus, add the nitre and | a roe press, or for best offer. ee ; vermilion, and form a paste, into which you dip the sticks. 4ruth, Trenton, N. J.—You use a watch as a com# NEWS. oe rs oe . — a8: peeve eee — =s ee er a Saas ae rae Te = = oa es EAR — 4431 | | is better than mijlk for fixing pencil marks, but it ; costs more, S. &. L., Ravenswood, Ill.—The best thing to re- move finger-marks and similar stains from postage | stamps is to rub them with slightly moistened bread | crumbs, L. W. E., Richmond, Va.—Atan early opportunity we will deal with the matter in an article. We could not do so satisfactorily here. C. N., Chicago, Ill.—There is no premium on the 1883 five-cent piece ‘‘without cents.” | | } | [Several communications left over to be answered next aweek. | ns oy i, XCHANGE ‘DEPARTMENT. | tJ? ‘ex | {Imporrant.—This column is freeto all our readers. We will uot be responsible for transactions brought about through notices in this column. All offers must be strictly exchange offers. We will not inse “for sale” advertisements, nor exchanges of fire-z : explosives, dangerous or worthless articles. If exchange notices do not appear in a reasonable time, it may be | understood that they were nat accepted. Address al) communications for this colmiun to “Exchange De- | partment.”] ses Ry Se, PRINTING PRESS.—Percy:S. Ewing, Decatur, Tll., has a self-inking printing press and outfit to ex- change for best offer in old coins or stamps. Would also beapleased to exchange autographs and speci- | mens with foreigners. STAMPS.—N. R. Lowry, 3306 King street, Austin, | Texas, hasa stamp album, 200 finely mixed foreign stamps, and 500 stamp hinges to exchange fora 30-cent Columbian; also 30 foreign stamps for every copy of | Goop NEws or novel. READING MATTER.—R. J. Hartnett, Fort Dodge, Iowa, has the St. Lawrence Traveler, Spalding’s Official Sporting Rules (50 cents), Goop Nrws, from 57 to present date, toexchange for best offer. All let- | ters answered. MISCELLANEOUS. — Julius Wolff, 40244 Grove | street, San Francisco, Cal., will give a picture card for every two 3c. United States stamps; alsoa California Fair ticket, a novel, or a story paper for every 25 dif- ferent stamps. GOOD NEWS.—John Reeves, 1612 Broadway street, Logansport, Ind., has one volume of Goop Nrws, | No. 4, to exchange for Vol. 1. STAMPS.—C. H. Schmidt, 43 Charles Terrace, Phil- | | adelphia, Pa., will give two different foreign stamps | for every special delivery stamp sent him; don’t send less than five atatime: Will also give one foreign stamp for every 8,6,and purple 3c.; four different foreign for every.15c., and 15 for every 30c. stamp, This offer is good for six months. MISCELLANEOUS.—Lewis J. Ambs, 4452 North Market street, St. Louis, Mo., has one No. 3 associa- tion foot-ball, 50 foreign stamps (all different), and all of Vol. 2 of Goop NrEws to exchange for best offer in Goop NEws, beginning with No. 79, or for 5 and 10c. novels, GOOD NEWS.—W. Arthur Stoddard, 66 Salem street, Wakefield, Mass., has Vol. 2 of Goop Nrws, in | good condition, to exchange for an unused United States Columbian 50c. stamp, or a $1 Columbian stamp, either used or unused. ; READING MATTER, ETC.—Suel Rudy, Hagers- | town, Ind., has 10 Goop Nrws, 15-6 cent novels, six 10-cent novels, eight 25-cent novels, 88 New York Weeklys, ‘40 other 10-cent papers, 60 5-cent papers, | 1,000 picture cards, and other articles to exchange for | | All letters an- LEAGUE BALL.—Arthur J. Breitenstein, 1339 An- gular street, Burlington, Iowa, has a Jeague ball to | pass by holding it horizontally so as to point the hourl! exchange for best offer; also will give a vest-pocket ! hand—when the watch is going—at the sun; balf the distance between where the hand points to and the x11 is the south point. site the 11; if six o’clock opposite the 111. This is, of course, approximate only, and it holds good only for | the northern hemisphere, but it is near enough for all practical purposes. The sun rises ‘“‘in the east’’ all the year round, but it rises ‘(due east” only at the equi- noxes. ; Chicken Raiser, Montpelier, Vt.—Yes, a double-yolk- ed egg has frequently produced twin chickens. As a rule, the little ones die before they have ever known what it is to live. Occasionally, however, existence is not denied them, although double-headed and joined together after the manner of the famous Siamese twins. But instafices are not unknown where two separate and healthy birds have been hatched from one egg. Not long ago a double-yolked egg was laid, and produced two chickens, one white and the other black, both of which are still living and thriving well. Don Kirk, St. Louis, Mo.—To your question, how to make 21 by adding together six of the following figures, Oncor 1 3 5 7 9 OIA coe we see but one solution, and that is to use fractions. For instance, 1, 3, 5, 9and 9-3 make 21. Perhaps some of our readers can help us to some other solution. Fr. B. 8., Chicago, I1l.—We do not know of any ink which will last as long as four weeks and then disap- pear. But you might try the following: Boil four ounces crushed gall-nuts in diluted nitric acid, and add two ounces sulphate of iron and some chloride of am- monium. Writing done with this mixture will disap- pear in a few days. A, F., New York city.—There have been several fifteen puzzles. The latest is to walk out fifteen boys on seven successive days, in such a way that on each occasion there will be five ranks of three boys, al- though no two boys will ever come twice together in the same rank. Isthat what you mean? R. A. C, Santa Barbara, Cal.—1, August 10, 1870, fellon Wednesday. 2 “Shorthand Tom’’ was begun in No. 196 and ended in No. 207. 38. You have prob- ably already seen the department called ‘Our Stamp Album,;” which is just what you want. Youare about the average in both height and weight. Don Kirk, Portland, Me.—1. Hickory is the hardest wood. 2. It is perfectly natural for your voice to break at your age. It will come all right in time. 3. If you are not fat, your proportions are generally good. Your calf is too small, however. You don’t walk enough. Jolly Jerry, Grand Forks, N. D.—1. No. 2. Goop News has published several stories by Horatio Alger, among them being ‘Only An Irish Boy,’ ‘‘Grit,” “Prank Hunter’s Peril,’’ and “Adrift in the City.” 8. The first copy of Goop Nrws was issued May 15, 1890. f. ©, Dedham, Mass.—There are 66 books in the Bible; 1,189 chapters; 31,173 verses; 810,697 words, and 3,566,480 letters. We cannot spare space to answer the other portion of your question, particularly as the Bible itself gives you the names of the books. J. M., Lima, Ohio.—Wash the drawing over with milk. Use a large, soft camel’s-hair brush. Collodion For instance, if it is four | o'clock in the afternoon the south point will be oppo- | | dictionary for every six 5-cent novels. | MISCELLANEOUS. — Austin J. Jones, 705 South Adams street, Peoria, Iil., has a violin and bow, and | | hand-inking press, with type, cuts, borders, ink, etc., | |to exchange for Kombi, or any kind of syap-shot | samera and outfit. All letters answered. Sénd de- | scription. KNIFE.—L. M. Libbey, 6 Holland street, West | Somerville, Mass., woll give a new, three-blade knife, worth 75 cents, for the best offer in stamps from the | British Provinces. PRINTING OUTFIT AND WATCH:—Milton E. Marsh, Sterling, Cayuga County, N. Y., has a print- | ing outfit, in good order, worth $40, and a watch | valued at $15, to exchange for a diamond frame | safety bicycle, 1894 or 1895 style. Correspondence solicited. READING MATTER.—George C. Crowley, 1358 Leyington avenue, New York city, has volumes of papers, novels, 5-cent libraries, to exchange for other volumes of Goop News, and philatelic papers. All letters and postals answered. SCELLANEOUS.—John Baumgarten, 270 North 4th street, Philadelphia, Pa., has a bound volume of boys’ paper, in excellent condition, and a United States 1847 5c. used stamp (fine copy), to exchange for best offer, or for Vol. 1 of Goop Nrws, in excellent condition. COLUMBIANS.—R. H. Sankey, Box 454, Green- | ville, Pa., has 250 1 and 2-cent Columbians to ex- change for best offer in comic libraries. SWEATER AND NOVEILS.—Levi L. Lofgren, Box 32, Wauregan, Conn., hasl heavy woolen sweater, (cost $2.50), and seven 5-cent novels, to exchange for a pair of opera glasses, or best offer in reading matter. MISCELLANHOUS.—Arthur Duane, 2722 Camden avenue, Omaha, Neb., has a fine banjo (value $25), a printing press and type, will print 8x10 (value $30), and a 14-carat gold watch (value $40), to exchange for a bicycle, or best offer; also volumes of Goop News, from Vol. 2 to date, and other boys’ papers for bicycle sundries. All letters and postals answered. STAMPS.—A. S. Kimball, Bloomfield, N. J., has stamps from nearly every country in the world to ex- change for United States postage or Revenue, or Brit- ish Colonials. If you have a collection you wish to dispose of, it would be to your advantage to write him before exchanging with some one else. MISCELLANEOUS.—S. Phillips, 1914 Third ave- nue, New York city, has $20 worth of story papers, most of which are out of print, a magic lantern with 12 slides, a cabinet of tricks, and a pair of Donohue racing skates (cost $5), to exchange fora bicycle in good condition. All letters or postals promptly an- swered. CATCHING MITT.—E. J. Lausted, 211 Smith street, Buffalo, N. Y., will exchange a catching mitt, worth 75 cents, for some United States or foreign stamps, in good order, to equal the amount. Send list of stamps before sending them. Best offeraccepted. All letters answered MISCELLANEOUS.—S. 8. Goshen, Jr., 517 East Costilla street, Colorado Springs, Col., bas numbers 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 228, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, and 234 of Vol. 9of Goop | delphia, Pa., has 21 | exchange for GooD NEws from 208 to 223, | change for best offer. | exchange for best offer. News, Vol. 10; also 1 pair Barney and Berry skates, size 9%, and 1 pair of 3% pound Indian Clubs, to ex- change for numbers of Goop News farther back than Vol. 9, or athletic goods, or best offer. STAMPS.—Chas. Mund, Jr., 2689 Papin street, St. Louis, Mo., has stamps to exchange for printing press and outfit. A1Jl letters and postals answered. MISCELLANEOUS.—George B: Weaver, 13 48th street, Chicago, 0., has thousands of rare” domestic and foreign stamps, a telegraph key-sounder, and battery, and a large number of bound books, to ex- change for large canvas tent, mandolin, camera, or best offer in sporting goods. STAMPS.—Chas. Rogers, 115 West 15th street, New York city, hasexactly 1,000 stamps, mounted in a new 1895 $5 Dumas album, with 20 sheets gummed paper, to exchange for writing paper, stamps not in his collection, or best offer. STAMPS.—Ned A. Barney, Canaan, N. H., has a set of Columbians, 1-cent to 10-cent, to exchange fora 15-cent and 30-cent stamp, 1872 issue, or an 1887 3-cent stamp and 1890 30-cent. MISCELLANEOUS.—Early Moorman, Marshall, Texas, has 250 picture cards, ten 25-cent books, and boy’s papers, to exchange for Goop News from 200 to 223. STAMPS.—I. H. Kunsman, 8162d avenue, New York city, will give 150 foreign stamps for every one y | hundred 1 and 2-cent Columbians, 45 foreign for every | 6 and 8-cent stamps of 1890 or 1894 issue, 80 foreign for j every stamp above 10e. guaranteed in above offers. NOVELS.—James Tobin, 3814 Wallace street, Phila- novels, allin good condition, to or will ex- change same novels with complete flag set of all nations, 60 in all, these cards are about 3x5, and have the history of how they originated at the bottom, for Goop NeEws from 208 to 223, and from 288 to 251. They must Forty different stamps | be in good condition. CAMERAS.—B. Springsted, Perry, Mo., has one 4x5 snap-shot camera, with tripods, to exchange for best offer. All letters answered. READING MATTER.—Neil Madigan, 107 North | 8th street, Brooklyn, N. Y., has bound volumes of boys’ paper to exchange for volumes of Goop NEws, and other magazines and papers, bound or unbound, MISCELLANEOUS.—Albert H. Chandler, Cum- berland Mills, Me., has reading matter, curiosities, printing apparatus, and various other articles to ex- change for a pair of field-glasses, army relics, or offers. All letters answered if accompanied by list. MISCELLANEOUS.—E. A, Griffin, 907 North Main street, Decatur, Ill., has 200 boys’ papers, large list of | 5-cent novels, 1 rapid duplicator (in good condition), | 1 pocket-lamp, to exchange for reading matter, orbest offer. Don’t fail to send for list. STAMPS.—J. Feigel, Box 53, Sharon Hill, Delaware County, Pa., has. lot 30-cent, brown, 1888, unused; | also all values Columbian stamps, except $1; also lot United States revenues, for rare United States depart- ment, or 90¢., 1869. No specimens, reprints, or proofs ; for best offer. MISCELLANEOUS.—Elvin D. George, 103 North Main street, Staunton, l., will exchange 125 picture cards, one fine policeman’s whistle, and any number of foreign stamps for best offer. All letters answered. STAMPS.—Jacob Greenstein, 39 East Broadway, | New York city, has 2,000 2c. Columbians and 2,000 2c., 1894 issue, 2c. LIBRARIES.—Uly G. Coffin, Thorndike, Waldo County, Me., will give 3 5c. libraries for each of the fol- lowing numbers of Goop NEws: Nos. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 47, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 77, 78. All lettersand postals answered. MISCELLANEOUS.—A. L. Towsley, Rome, N. Y.’ has set of boxing-gloves, nearly new, cost $7.50, bicy- cle racing suit, $4.50 sweater, and other articles to ex- Camera and outfit wanted. Send description of what you have. BOYS PAPERS.—G. W. Eysenbach, 812 Seventieth street, Chicago, Ill., has 7 volumes of boys’ papers to City offers preferred. GOOD NEWS.—James M. Burke, Healdsburg, Son- oma County, Cal., has Vols. 2 and 4 of Goop News to to exchange for Columbian stamps above | exchange for any other bound volumes of same paper, excepting Volk 3. Would exchange for other boys’ papers or libraries also. PRINTING PRESS.—John P. Lass, Jr., 405 West Fourteenth street, Chicago, IIL, hasa 3x4 self-inking press, 5 fonts, and a gold-ftlled stem-wind watch to exchange for bicycle, camera, or typewriter. READING MATTER.—H. T. Cook, 205 West 133d street, city, has 35 5and 10c. novels, and vol- umes of boys’ papers to exchange for Good NEws, before Vol. 4, or Columbian postage stamps. MISCELLANEOUS. — Jay F. Smith, 514 Jones street, Sioux City, Iowa, has spring electric door-bell, cost $2; pull-down door-bell, cost $1.50; stereoscope, with views, cost $3; bamboo, three-jointed fish-pole, cost $2; pair of opera-glasses, cost $10; electric bell, cost $2; lots of boys papers, and other goods, to ex- change for electric motor, medical battery, telephone, or all kinds of electric goods. READING MATTER.—Alfred Snyder, 742 South 15th street, Philadelphia, Pa., has eight boys’ papers, nine 1-cent weekly story papers, and two magazines, to exchange for Goop Nrws, from 183 to 202 in- clusive. STAMPS.—Ernest Lutz, 816 2d avenue, New York city, will give 25 foreign for every 4, 5, and 10c, Co- lumbian stamp; 50 for every 3, and 8c., and 80 for every 6c., and 125 for every one above 10c.; 25 all dif- ferent-guardénteed in first two offers, and 45 in the last two. MISCELLANEOUS.—Hall Hackley, 2416 Arling- ton street, Philadeiphia, Pa., bas 20 Goop Nrws, 30 other boys’ papers, ‘‘Ralph Raymond’s Heir,’ by Alger; “Erie Train Boy,” by Ellis; about 1,200 Colum- bian 1 and 2c. stamps, to exchange for base-ball mask. MISCELLANEOUS.—Ernest M. Andiless, 1019 Mc- Gee street, Kansas City, Mo., has over 40 copies of illustrated and comic papers, 1 two-draw telescope, and 500 picture cards to exchange for best offer of newsboy photos, or best offer; no stamps. MISCELLANEOUS. — H. Murphy, Marysville, York County, N. B., Canada, will give one 5-cent library for every three picture cards sent him, and one 10-cent library for every five picture cards; tele- scope, GooD NEws, and other boys’ papers to ex- change for best offer, actresses’ photos preferred, All letters answered. 5 STAMPS.—Charles Gill, 707 Lamar street, Wilkins- burgh, Pa., has 1,900 rare stamps, catalogued at $200, which he would like to exchange for a foot-power, self-inking printing press, 10x8, and about $30 worth of type. All letters answered if stamp is inclosed, MISCELLANEOUS.—Bert Hamilton, Coshocton, Ohio, has 800 different varieties of United States and foreign stamps, catalogued at about $25; set boxing- gloves, cost $5; dark lantern, Indian relics, newsboy photos, novels, Goop News, coins, ticket punch, etc., to exchange for a light pneumatic-tire safety bicycle, in good condition. Send description of bicycle. PAPERS AND STAMPS.—James Todd, 64 2d avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, has one volume of Goon News, and 50 different stamps, worth $2, to exchange for best offer in reading matter; papers and stamps in good condition. All letters answered. BOYS’ PAPERS.—D. E. Gilmartin, 94 South 34 street, Brooklyn, N. Y., has 14 bound volumes of en other boys’ paper to exchange for bound volumes of Goop Nrws, and for books by Frank H. Converse. ee eX, EY a a a CHAPTER I. *RASTUS AND HIS JOB. F all the sassy and dandy coons in » New York, there wasn’t a single one that could hold a candld to ’Rastus 4>~ Washington Doolittle. >Rastus was a full hand and no bluff. He had sprung from somewhere down in Thompson street, that beautiful spot where the black tulips grow, but he had traveled far and wide, and always in tony society. His clothes were so loud you could hear them coming two blocks off, his collars and cuffs were simply great, and his patent leath- ers always had looking-glass tronts. And the diamond he wore! Locomotive head-light doesn’t express it, for the very. electrie lights had to blink whenever he passed by. ’Rastus lived an up and down life. At present he was engaged asa valet to Mr. Euclid Latinass. And in spite of all his trials and tribula- tions, he invariably bobbed up as chipper as a dancing-master. ‘‘“’Tan’t no use fo’ to be cas’ down wen yo’ an’t on de top wing ob prosperity,’’ he used to say. ‘‘ Luck doan cum ter aman dat looks like a funeral. Keep yer eye peeled, an’ hook onto der fust freight-car whad cums along, and doan yo’ get orff wende con- ductab cums ’round.’’ Such was our ’Rastus as he rose on this beautiful morning in May. His head felt three sizes too large for him, and his tongue was as dry as a Kansas pro- hibition town. ’Rastus had been on a racket the night, be- fore. The Ebony Poker Club had had a grand re- union, and he had been right in it from the start. He had cleared off something like sixtden jack-pots, and then treated all hands. He couldn’t remember how long they had kept things going, and how he had got home, nor could he tell how long he had been sleep- in fie was befuddled and no mistake. ‘*Dat las’ round done me up fo’ keeps,’’ he muttered, as he sat on the edge of the bed, trying to get his left shoe on his right foot. ‘‘Ef I ever git de drop onter de deacon agin I’se doan spend a cent ob de boodle. De deacon——’’ ‘*Ting-aring-aring!’’ went a bell on the wall. ‘*Hullo, dat’s de boss aready! Wot de deb- ble I got ter say fo’ myself? Dat yere story *bout my gran’mudder bein’ dead doan go nomo’. I’se had fo’ gran’mudders dead aready an’ dat’s de end ob de——.’’ ‘*Ting-aring-aring !’’ went the bell again. Half-dressed, ’Rastus rushed off to Mr. Latinass’ apartments. Mr. Latinass was a tall, thin-faced man, with a voice that put one in mind of a horse- ear going around a rusty corner. ‘* 7Rastus, ’Rastus!’’ he yelled. ‘*Yes, sah.’? ‘*Where the dickens have you been all morning, answer me instantly.’’ ‘*Werry sorry, Mistah Latinass, ’deed 1 is, sah,’’ replied the coon, ‘‘But I tried my best to git heah two hours ago, ’deed I did.’’ ‘*Well, why didn’t you?’’ ‘*On account ob de fire, sah.”’ ‘*What fire?’’ ‘*Tn de stobe, sah.’’ ‘*You rascal! What do you mean by jok- ing me?’’ *“7Tan’t no joke, sah.’’ ‘*Well, what’s the matter with the fire in the stove?”’ “Dar an’t no fire, sah, dat’s wot’s de mat- tah, sah.’’ ‘*An’t any fire 2?” **No,; sah.’ ‘*In the kitchen range?’’ ‘“No, sah.’’ ‘*Why not?’’ ‘“?Kase de plummer is cummin’ ter fix de biler, sah.’’ ‘*Well, how did that keep you waiting?’? howled Mr. Latinass, in a rage. ‘‘Here I’ve been sitting half an hour waiting for you to get out my best black suit, shine my boots, and do half a hundred other things and you not here. I?ll discharge you on the spot. Here, hurry up with that suit.’? ‘*No, sah.’’ ‘*What!? ‘‘Af I’se discharged, dat settles it.’’ ‘*Why, you black lump of stupidity, get Gj 2yb, | the suit and say no more. When | want you to go, I’ll tell you.’’ So into the clothes-press dove ’Rastus. As he bent over, Mr. Latinass saw the tightly drawn pants the coon wore. It was too good a chance to miss, NEWS. asked, sarcastically. ‘‘Or did go out and buy a pail?”’ In a few moments ’?Rastus had mopped up about a pail of dirty water. Then he set to work to blacken the old man’s boots. He polished them up in the height of the art, and helped put them on. The artistic polish put Latinass in better humor. ‘| And he even smiled a bit when Finnigan 7% | put in an appearance with his morning glass | —another one from the pantry. | ‘*Ought to have been here before,’’ ob- } the glass. “*l would with a sour coon——’? Then he stopped short. have been,’’ began Finnigan, look at ’Rastus. ‘‘But that | He had tripped up on the edge of the pail, which stood in the middle of the room. In his excitement he dropped the glass. And over went the dirty water on the old man’s boots, ruining that beautiful shine forever. Latinass was red with rage. He up with one of his canes, and the next instant ’Rastus received a cut that made him squirm clear to the heels. ‘‘Great hambones! Wot de debble!’’ he yelled. And he bounced up out of the clothes-press in a jiffy. ‘“‘That will teach you to be more prompt,’’ cried Latinass. ’Rastus was in a rage. ‘*Yo’se a fine gen’man!’’ he ‘*Take dat!’? And up with the suit in his hand, he fired it straight into Latinass’ face. It struck the old man in the mouth, end knocked his false teeth down his throat. He grew purple in the face, and began to | cough for all he possessed. But the teeth refused to come up. ‘*T ‘didn’t mean ter do that,’’ said ’ Rastus, with a very solemn look on his mug. ‘‘Jest | wait till I help yer git ’em loose agin.”’ And he pounded old Latinass on the back with all his strength. Then the teeth came up, flew out on the floor, but ’Rastus kept on pounding. ‘‘Hold—hold on!’’ gasped the old man. **Do you—you want to bammer the life out of me?”’ ‘*T’se only tryin’ ter git dem teef up,’’ ex- plained ’ Rastus, ‘*You rascal! There are the teeth on the floor. What did you mean by hitting me with the clothing?’’ ‘*T got excited ’caus yo’ hit me wid de cane, sah.’’ ‘Well, here, help meon with this suit. I’ve got to hurry or I’ll miss my engage- ment. You scamp, your breath smells of whisky the worst way.’’ ‘tDat’s my cough med’cine, Mr. nass.’? ‘*Your cough nonsense! I’ll—— Confound you! you’ve got the pants on hind side fore.” The old man told the truth. ’Rastus’ head was in such a state he hadn’t noticed which was front and which was back. Mr. Latinass sat down on a chair to have the pants pulled off again. ’Rastus bent down and tugged away. The pants stuck fast first, and then came off with a ‘jerk. And over went ’Rastus on his back, His head struck against a wash-stand, and brought down a pitcher of water, and the fluid flowed all over him. When he arose, he was a sight to see, And the old man was madder than ever, ‘“You black blockhead !’’ he yelled. ‘*‘Why don’t you hire out to some showman as_ the greatest living jackass in existence? Runand get a swab before that water ruins the car pet, and runs through the floor.’’ Away tore ’Rastus down the stairs for a swab and a pail. Finnigan, the Irish butler, was just com- ing up. They collided midway. Down went the butler to the bottom heap. And down came ’Rastus on top of him. Finnigan had a glass in his hand contain- ing Latinass’ morning bracer. Away flew the glass over the banister. ‘*Phat’s the matther wid ye?’’ howled Fin- nigan, as he struggled to get up. ‘‘Dat’s an error,’’ cried ’Rastus. ‘‘Why didn’t yo’ git outer de way?’’ ‘‘Out ov the way, is it?’’? exclaimed Fin- nigan. ‘‘An’ do ye think Oi’d git out ov the way ov a moke like ye?”’ ‘*T’se a gen’man ob colah,’’ replied ’Ras- tus. ‘*Holy smokes! a gintleman, is it? Well, take that fer yer manners,”’ And the butler gave ’Rastus one in the chin. The coon hardly felt the blow. Like* many another nigger his only soft spot was his shins, But he returned the blow with interest. He landed one on Finnigan’s ear, and an- other right in his left eye. And then beforathe Irishman could re- cover, he dusted to get the swab. When he returned up stairs he found Lati- nass-in a rage over the delay. howled. Lati- ‘ ina ‘‘Did you stop to make that swab?’’ he Drowned. any address on receipt of 10 cents. MANUAL LIBRARY, 29 Rose St., New York. ‘You Irish clown,’’ he roared. ‘‘You are ten times worse than that fool of a coon. Look at those boots, and it’s the only pair that really fit my feet!’’ And he up with a foot-rest and fired it at Finnigan. ‘*But, sor, I——’’ ‘*Git out of my sight,’’ roared Latinass. And grabbing poor Finnigan by the ear, he marched him out of the room, and kicked him down the stairs. (TO BE CONTINUED.) you have to served the old man, as he reached to take This cut is the exact size and style of the GoOoD NEWS Club Badge, The badge is made of a high grade of German silver; artistic in design and something every reader will be proud to wear. Any reader send- ing us 10 centsin stamps or silver will receive a badge. Electrotypes for print- ing the badge on letter heads, cards, ete., will be sent post-paid on receipt of twenty-five cents. Ten cents is all that is required to secure this handsome badge. Address GOOD NrEwWs Corre sponding Club, 29 Rose street, New York. 5 Giving all of the | arsman § anila most valuable 'hints for the practice of this sport. Both amateur and pro- | | fessional, Written by a well-known expert. To | those about to learn and those already proficient | in the manly sport, this book will be found very | iff iow STO ry oO TOC N TD E e useful. It teaches Coaching, Reach, Finish, Feather, Recovery, Grasp, Use of the Legs, Sliding Seats, Sculling, etc. The book is illus- trated, and will be sent, postpaid, to any address on receipt of 10 cents. Address, MANUAL LIBRARY, 29 Rose St., New York. ARRIAGE PAPER with 1,000 ads. and photos of marriageable people, many rich, lists of rare books, ete., free, GUNNELS’ MONTHLY, Toledo, Ohio. Mention Good News. CAPT. WEBB’S = SWiMMiNng___ Seimate, .\ Instructor, ee wont Containing all the ful sport, is practical 5 wim.- also the most ming motions healthy. Anyone necessary. Al- can learn the art by most every ani- giving careful atten- mal swims tion to the rules laid naturally down in this book. The ce finding following motions are itself in fully described and illus- trated: Floating, Kick, Arm, Breast, Side and Racing Strokes, Swimming on the Back, Hand-Over-Hand, Swim- ming ‘Iricks, Plunging and Diving; also Parlor Practice, Artificial Aids, Bath Swimming, Cautions, Sea Bathing and Direc. tions for Restoring Apparently Price 10 Cents. time, This book will be sent, postpaid, to Address, Good News Binder Price 50 Cents. Auswers the purpose of a bound volume, fifty-two copies comfortably. Holding It is, without doubt, the finest binder ever offered even for double the price we ask, and is indispens- able to those who are keeping their papers, as it not only preserves GOOD Nrws for future reference, and from being lost, but keeps them clean, and in good order. Itis both useful and ornamental. It has a durable black embossed cover with flexible back, and a gold stamp title on the outside cover, It opens flat as any book, and each week’s paper can be inserted as soon as received. Full directions for inserting the paper accompany each binder. We will send the Goop Nrws binder, and a pack- age of binder pins, postpaid, to any address on re- ceipt of 50 cents. MILLS’ _ LETTER Amateurs Manual of Photography, S. & S. MANUAL LIBRARY, No. 6. PRICE, 10 CENTS. A hand-book of practical instructionsin the arto dry -plate photography. Itisa complete guide to this fascinating art. Fully illustrated. Tells from how a camera is made to the finish of a first-class picture. Photography is a clean, light. and pleasant occupation, suitable for any young lady or gentleman, and within the reach of all. For sale by all Newsdealers, or will be sent, postpaid upon receipt of price, ten cents, by the publishers. MANUAL LIBRARY, 29 Rose Street, N.Y. BOUND VOLUMES OF GOOD NEWS. We have issued volumes two, thrée, four, five aud six, boundin an attrac- live, heavy paper. cover. ‘l'wenty-six numbers constitute a volume. ‘The papers are cut and trimmed and bound with as much care as an expensive cloth binding, and the prices are Vols, 2 and 3, $1 Each. Vols. 4, 5 and 6, 85c. Each. These volumes contain serial stories by Edward S, Ellis, Horatio Alger, Jas, Otis, Edward Stratemeyer, Harry Castlemon, Wm. Murray Graydon, Walter Morris, Oliver Optic, W. B. Lawson, Lieut. Lounsberry, And others equally well known. { Address rar a a emer omens Goob NEws, , 29 Rose street, New Yor Volume One out of print. HUNTER AND ANGLER. S. & S. MANUAL LIBRARY, No. 10. PRICE, 10 CENTS. This is a book that is needed by everybody who takes feats in the sports of hunting and fishing. Fully llustrated. Instructs how to use a gun and size of shot in hunting different game, trapping, the kind of rods iines, hooks, and bait to be used to be a successful fisherman, is fully described in this valuable little book. For sale by all Newsdealers, or will be sent, postpaid, upon receipt of price, ten cents, by the publishers, MANUAL LIBRARY, 29 Rose Street, New York. BO AT S HOW TO MODEL, SAIL a AND BUILD A BOAT. Everything relating to boats 1s fully {llustrated and explained in plain terms with an avoid- © ance of technical words, Complete chap- ters on modeling a boat, ship building, rigging of ship,etc. Among the illus- e trations will be found: model for deck of cutter, diagram of forms of boat, form of stern, model of schooner, sheer plan of 4 ship, half breadth plan, body plan, the kee)- son, planking, cat- head, knots and splices, step- contains com- , plete instrue- , tion in all branches of corresp 0 hi d- ence, to- gether with samples of letters Himes n ee ; on every AS = ' —————~ variety of subject — Penmanship, Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation, Use of Capitals, Abbreviations, style; advice to those who write for the press, business letters, letters of introduction, applica- tion, recommendation, social, congratulation, love and courtship, ete.; the art of secret writing, busi- ness laws and maxims, rules of conducting public meetings, and all forms of conveying thought from one mind to' another through the mediam of written language. This valuable book will be sent postpaid to any address on receipt of ten cents. Saieae MANUAL LIBRARY, 29 Rose St., New fork, ping a mast, Aa 8 etc, G WRITER |< Water Line. * ‘This book of ead y Over one hun- | Sst beaeteetoyetis 7! fucken dred pages, Pi Nay tae * This valuable book, entitled Boys’ Own Book of Boats, wil sent postpaid to any ad- 1 Cc Address MANUAL LIBRARY®; dress on receipt of price, . 29 Rose St., New Yor OUT-DOOR SPORTS, §. & S. Manual Library No. 7. Price, 10 Cents A book of instruction for playing many of a most popular out-of-door games. A book that nh supply along felt want. The games introduce ° while well known, are elaborated, and many eat features introduced, which makes them more 12 tes esting and less Jikely to become stale. 1lustr ey: games with and without toys,for the city or en ee For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent, x paid, upon receipt of price, 10c., by the publishers. MANUAL LIBRARY, 29 Rose Street, N: Be sure to use **Mrs. Winslow s Soothing Syrup” for your chil ie while Teething. 25 cents a bo