Ps

 
£Seehcreviiie ils

{

 

 
 

gt tt a

- f ;
awudot AA
A. 6
¥.

TIp

Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year.

Top

f fo fi?
“7
“ *

te ee

LIBRARY.

Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office. STREET & SMITH, 29 Rose St., N. 1 |

Entered Aceording to Act of Congress, in the Year 1896, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.

 

December 19, 1806. Vol. 1.

No. 36.

 

Price Five ice Five Cents. _

 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN:
THE SIGN OF Pik AVENGER.

By the Author of ‘‘FRANK MERRIWELL.”’

CHAPTER TI.

FAREWELL TO INDIA.

A boy leaned on the rail of a large
steamer that lay in the port of Madras,
Indias” He was a good-looking youth,
dressed like a traveler, and having the air
of-one who had seen something of the
world.

There was honesty and fearlessness in

his straightforward eyes, decision and
firmness were revealed by his square chin
and characteristic mouth, while confidence
and independence were bespoken> by. the
poise of his shapely head. And yet about
his face there was a jolly light lurking,
telling that he fairly overflowed with en-
thusiasm and good spirits, and could thor-
oughly enjoy a joke or anything of a hu-
morous nature.
In short, he was a boy who would Rave
attracted attention anywhere. .It was
plain that he was built of material that
makes something more-than the ordinary
man. |

The smoke that came from the two

_ high black funnels, told that the engineer
> was getting up steam preparatory to sail-

 

The steamer had already taken aboard
her .cargo, and the last passengers were |
being brought out through the surf in a
masullah boat, which was rowed by eight |
native oarsmen, the oars being like huge |
teaspoons, while the rowers were dressed |
in nothing but knee pantaloons and wide- |
brimmed hats, the latter being tied by :
stout cords beneath the chins of their
wearers.

The boy watched with some interest the |
skill with which the dark-skinned fellows, |
brought the high-sided boat out through —
the heavy surf. Having come off to the
steamer in a similar boat, he knew hov
frail such craft were, and yet they.
seemed to ride on the very crest 6: |
the huge swells as lightly as if made «
cork. 7

He knew that the bottom of the boat
was filled withytwigs for the passenger:
to place their feet upon, and he could see
a man industriously bailing out the water
that came in by many leaks.

Being barefooted, the natives did not
mind a little water, and so the twigs were
placed in little piles to protect the feet of |
the passengers who wore shoes.

As they rowed, the oarsmen sang: |

 
FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

“‘Ahee! ma wala deery——
Ahee! ja nala merry——
Ahee! wala, nala, jan !”?

| would
| aboard,
i watching the

not have succeeded
» thought the boy,

in getting
who was
approaching boat, which

It was.a weird sort of song, and, for a} was now coming alongside.

moment,
feel lonesome
quickly ¢
muring :
*“Come,
grouchy !

but
himself a little shake,

and homesick ;

cave
man! don’t
You

come, old

It won’t do.

it made the boy on the steamer |
he!
mur-)

get)
are a long.

distance from home, and you haven’t be-|
) of |

gun to see the world. You have
it alone till you get back to Yankeeland,
but I reckoa you’ll manage to enjoy your-|
self a trifle as you drift along.
who doesn’t enjoy himself is a fool.
are we on earth for, any Way : ae

He continued to watch the masullah
boat, having an idle curiosity in the pas-
sengers who were cotfiing aboard the

- steamer. ;

There were but three passengers, two of |

which seemed to be white, while the
third was plainly
was dressed something like his compan-
ions, ~ who. wore
About the native’s head was wound a
gaudy turban, while the other two wore
the wide-brimmed hats which Europeans
in India usually adopt. ,
vm As the boat came still nearer, the boy
on the steamer’s rail saw that one of the
two white men was a mere youth, with a|
beardless face. And then it became evi-|
dent that he was not an Englishman or
an American. |

‘‘A Japanese or a Chinaman,”’ thought
‘the lad on the steamer. 7

The man sat with his back toward the
watching boy, who saw, however, that he
_ wore a full beard and seemed like a per-
pon of some importance. ©
_ Already the order had been given to
_ weigh anchor, and the anchor chains had
 begtn to rattle. ‘he captain was stand-

snowy-white clothes.

ing on the steamer’s bridge, giving sig-|

nals and orders.
elf. they had been a little aoe: diay

got to go)

Some steps were let down, and the bag-
gage of the three passengers came up be-
fore they left the boat, after which they
came aboard, the bearded man in advance.

Then the steps were drawn in, the little
boat rowed away, and the anchor let go-
its hold upor. the bottom.

The moment the man stepped upon

the deck of the steamer the boy started

The fellow |

What |

|
j

‘toward him, muttering:
‘Ts it possible?
mie???
He quickly advanced till he obtained a
fair look at the man, and then he uttered

acry of surprise and pleasure, springing

Do my eyes deceive

| forward.

a native, although he)

 

‘*Colonel Cutting, as I live!”’ ‘

The man turned swiftly, his hand slip-
ping into a handy pocket. His manner
betrayed agitation.

For a moment the man stared at the
lad, and then he dropped the heavy grip-
sack which he had brought aboard, and
thrust out his hand.

‘‘Frank Merriwell!’’ he cried, with re-
lief and satisfaction. ‘‘Why, how in the
world does this happen, my boy ?”’

‘“That’s what I would hke to know,”’
laughed Frank, as he clasped the ober s
hand. ‘‘I didn’t expect to see you here.”

‘‘And still less did I expect to see you.
I thought you had left this part of the soe

world some little time ago.”’
“Tam just getting away.’
Bor Japan?”
SY en, sit,2?

*

‘Well, es is, indeed, fortunate! I am ie

with you.”’ aa
“But it cannot. be you are bound for
Japan, colonel ?”’ ‘
“T am, though.”
“On business ?”?
**Not exactly.’
“But it cannot be you.

 
FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN. 3

pleasure. You could not leave your plan-| Frank was puzzled, but he did not wish

|

tation so long.”’ ito appear too inquisitive, and he fancied
‘‘T have no plantation.” Ithe man would soon feel like explaining
**VYou have no—— Say, did I hear cone thy he was leaving India in such a pre-

|
|

rectly? What have you done with it?” | cipitate manner, for everything indicated
reeeged it. that he was rushing away with all haste.
‘Well, that beats me! You had no} Of a sudden the colonel started, looked

thought of doing such a thing when I was/ at Frank in surprise; and then aioe

there a few weeks ago. What could have | ‘“Are you alone?”

happened to make you do such a thing 0 | “Ves sir,

quickly ?”’ | ‘*Where is Professor Scotch ?”’

j

Col onel Cutting glanced about in a “On his wav to the United States ”
| y tc ) OS.
nervous way, and then, in a lowered tone,; ‘*How does that happen? How did he

he said: lcome to leave you ?”’

vd do not care to talk it over here. | ‘He had to-return to look after some
Wait till I have secured a state-room, and  intenea ae velar teas property. As
then I will explain how I happened to} say guardian, it was unecessary that he
make such a move.”’ ag ;

: ishould be on hand. He wanted me to go
‘*Tt ts possible you may obtain a state-

'with him, but I was not willing to go till
room that connects with mine, colonel, teat sonia Japan Basides tat, thas
* - S c . t Cc c . » » c 5 c
do not think it is taken. Do you! : fo
for I lo aie : take Bo) |promised to remain to the wedding of
vis it? ; . ,
wish for |James Walker’s daughter with Lieutenant

eer v2 . F ) : |
‘rtainly I do. ome on; we'll go! pA ‘ 6
Certain! © ; S°' Cady, which took place four days ago.

and see about it. Dundal, Kyto, look out) +14. professor was obliged to leave several
9 | > ar > c LAPS

| -
|days before that, and he took ‘Toots with

| him, as BS needed a servant to look out-

for the luggage, and come along.
The colonel’s two companions, who}

appeared to be his servants, picked up the | ae tr
luggage, and followed the man and te . 3o a
. There are not many lads whose guar-

boy. Fis
_ eae = Rien 1 ali |dians would dare abandon them in such a
wenty minutes later, Colonel Cutting | :

and Frank Merriwell were seated in the |
state-room of the latter, while the door}

way,’’ said the colonel.

‘The professor has found that I am
‘able to take care of -myself. He did
‘urge me to return with him, but I was

> > > Y 7,
eit i'determined not to do so, and = gave up
after a while.’

which opened into an adjoining state-
room showed the colonel’s two servants |
engaged in afranging the luggage
“making things comfortable for their!
~ master. : . | ‘Well, he is the most remarkable
“There,” breathed the man, with evi- guardian I ever heard of!’’ exclaimed
dent relief, ‘‘we are by ourselves, and we | Colonel Cutting. “When you were at my
~ may talk as much as we like, with very | place, I observed that things went about
little danger of being overheard. ‘The}as you desired. Well, I do not wonder. —
steamer is under way,’’ he added, glanc-| You are a lad of decided force and deter- —
ing from the open window, ‘‘and I bid mination, while the professor lacks con- —
~ farewell to India—forever |’? : centration and the stick-to-it quality. I

Then you do not mean to return tos betes you have one grave fault, how.
. this country 3 ?”” asked the puzzled boy. ph om .
“Never,” was the answer. “T have “What 3 is that?”

had enough, of it.”” age eee rad “You do not seem to fear anything on

 

 
     
   

4

he face of the earth, and you are reck-
$e65."

**Colonel, I do not think you have sized
me up just right. I never run around
searching after danger, and I am inclined

to avoid it whenever I can; but when I)

find myself.in peril then it is that I sail in
and get through it some way, for it is
useless to back out.’’

“T don’t know but you are right,’’|

confessed the man. ‘‘I believe there is
sound sense in what you say. Like your-
self, I believe in avoiding danger when-
ever I can, and that is what is taking me
out of Indiain hurry. I might stay in
the country and be killed, but I had much
tather live a while longer, and so I am
getting out.’’

CHAP TI Th
THE FATAL SIGN.

Of course. the colonel’s words greatly
interested Frank Merriwell, and aroused
his curiosity.

“T fancied there must be some very
good reason why you sold your plantation
and hurried to get out of India so soon,”’
said the boy. |

‘(There was a good reason—the best

- @@reason in the world,’’ nodded the colonel,

tugging moodily at his brown beard.
7 He was silént for a little time, but he
finally said:
“Fate seems against me. I was forced
to leave the United States army, and was
finally driven from the country by my
enemy. Now I have been compelled to
sell my plantation and leave India, In
selling my property here I have not lost
anything, for I obtained it at a wonderful
_ bargain in the first place, but I did fancy
_ I sawa chance to make a fortune in the
_ wheat-raising business in this country.
- When the climatic conditions are right
India is one of the best wheat-producing
- countries in the world. The natives know
how to Taise rice, indigo, and opium, but

Nada LOS i

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

‘they know little about wheat. English-
men are making a good thing out of the
wheat business, and I had obtained a
tract of land that was particularly adapted
to wheat-raising. My dreams are ended,
however, and I am going to Japan, where
it is said a hustler has many opportuni-
ties of getting into some sort of business
at which he can raise the dust.’’

Frank looked at the colonel’s strong
face, and then said:

*‘T believe you
wherever you go.’’

Then the boy saw something come into
the man’s face that seemed to rob it of its
strength, and Cutting shook his head.

 

will be successful

|
}
|
|

have never made a great success any-
where.’

The boy realized that his companion
was a person with two very contradictory
sides to his nature. Attimes he was pow-
‘erful and commanding, but there were
other times when his weaker side pre-
'vailed, and he was then vacillating and
doubtful. 3

Through the lad’s ‘mind flashed the
thought that he had weakly permitted
himself to be driven from the army and
the United States, and that it had not
been necessary for him to flee from India.

 

man, and he was fascinating in many
ways. Whenever the strong side of his
one born to command.

After some moments of silence, the
‘colonel said:

them by fleeing from India.”’

‘“Escape whom ?’?

“Ah! I forgot you do not know. I
have had serious trouble since you left my
place. You remember the horrible creat-
ures called Human Leopards?”

ies!) |

>

»

 

   

@

‘‘T am not so sure of that,’’ he said. ‘‘I

But there was a mystery about the.

character predominated, he seemed to, be

“T am not certain that I shall escape —

ng?

Frank shivered a bit despité his. stron;

 

 

 

 

 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 

   
     
    
  
   

who seemed to kill human beings for the
love of kiliing, and yet who often drank
a the blood of their victims, vampire-like,
f and were said to sometimes feast upon the
Be: dead.

| Frank remembered the frightful snake
dance in the stone chambers beneath the
palace of the Rajah of Rutungarh, one of
the rich princes of India, who had proved
to be the high priest of the human ghouls.
He remembered his after experience with

erm

BIS MAD its x. ‘

in: f

a the enraged rajah, who had dragged

as him, with his. hands» bound behind his

af back, to the pit where a huge tiger was

o: confined, and had there sought to inject
‘i | into his veins the mysterious liquid that
i 5 aig a” a

turned human beings into human beasts.
‘He thrilled as he remembered the fierce
battle against odds, as, with his hands
bound behind his back, he had fought the
infuriated rajah with his feet, while the
hungry tiger raged and roared near at
hand. But most horrible of all was the
remembrance of “being suspended head

 

inch by inch, while the famished beast
leaped again and again to seize upon him.
Colonel Cutting was watching the lad’s
face, which happened to be very expres-
sive just then, and the man nodded, say-
ing:
4 ‘‘Of course you remember them; you
can never forget them.’’
‘* Never !’’
“You had a most frightful experi-
-ence.”?
“‘Frightful is scarcely strong enough to
express it.’?

“‘Well, Palpur Nawaga, the Rajah of
Rutungarh, is dead.’’

‘Surely.’

“But he has avengets.”’

ob .»? : ‘
“Ves, We simply destroyed a small
branch of the hideous body of creatures
called Human Leopards. There are hun-
dreds more—perhaps thousands. ’’

+

 
 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

periences in the hands of the spotted men |

downward above: the tiger’s pit, lowered |

 

5

 
   

 

   

‘‘But they were not in your vicinity ?”’

‘‘No; we destroyed all who were in
my vicinity at the time.’’

‘*You do not mean to say you have been
troubled by them since ?’’

‘“’That is exactly what I mean to say.”?

‘And you have allowed them to drive
you out of the country ?’’

Frank said the words in a reproachful
way, bringing a slight flush to the man’s
'cheeks.

‘‘Wait till you have heard my story,’’
urged the colonel.

‘*Very well. Iam ready to listen.”’

‘The lower order of Human Leopards
could not have driven me out of the
country, but I have found out more about
them since you were at my plantation.”’

‘“*Indeed ?”’

(Ves, ?

‘What have you learned ?”’

‘“That there are two branches of the
order. One is composed of the lower caste
and middle caste of the country, while
the other is made up of the higher caste.”’

“But I thought the injections which
the creatures used reduced them all to
one level.’’ ;

‘‘And so it inust in time. There has
been much wonder in India that rich and
prosperous natives who did not seem to
have any. heavy vices should become pov-
erty-stricken outcasts. The cause of this
was that they have sunk to the level of
the other creatures who use the terrible
liquid which gives them such keen de
lights as nothing else can bestow, and yet
robs them of manhood, honor, and every-
thing man should hold dear. The real
truth is that the head ones among the
Human Leopards are, as a rule, of the
higher caste. They keep their secret for
years, and some of them, finding they are
going to pieces rapidly and must soon
drop to the level of the lowest, deliber-
ately put an end to their lives. In many
‘cases, their secret dies with them, and it

     
    
    
   
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
   
   

 

 

         
     
     
       
       
       
     
       
     
     
     
     

 

 

 

 
 
  

is never known that beneath the clothes _
6 \
which hide their bodies are the ghastly
white spots that tell a frightful tale to all
who behold them.
one of these.
self before sinking to the level of those

creatutes whose master he was. And yet

. : ‘ |
at times, when under the influence of the)

mystic liquid, he joined them in their

most horrible and degrading deeds and_|

crimes.’
‘*You in truth,
concerning the Human Leopards,”’

have, learned much
con-

fessed Frank.

‘‘T have had reasons to seek to know as |
much as possible about them,’’ muttered |

the colonel, gloomily
Vou Seta inte veated me greatly.’

“Since the death of Palpur ‘Nawaga, it

has become generally known that I was|
I fancied that I|

concerned in the affair.

Palpur Nawaga was}
He would have killed him-|

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

[the vampires known'as Human Leopards
/were again at work. infuriated,
‘and offered a heavy reward for the capture
or death of the murderers.

I was

My laborers

| were agitated and fearful. I saw it would

,;not take much to put them to flight, and

I began to realize that my situation was

| growing desperate.

‘What could I do
|matter, but I was not given much time
'for thought. With the coming of another
iday the fatal sign was again seen on my

?° I meditated on the

‘door, and another of my men lay-dead,
with a round hole tn his throat, and his
| body bloodless.

| ‘*Picture the consternation this created !
|I sought sympathy and assistance from
ithe outside, but I found little of either.
Every one seemed to shrink from me, as
I could

if I were a thing accursed. not

. . | .
would be regarded with approbation as| understand it. .

the destroyer of the Human Leopards in|
that vicinity, but I found I was shunned |

_and avoided, like a thing accursed. The|
natives who had been my friends would
have little or nothing to do with me, and
the white men with whom I did business
seemed to regard me with suspicion.
at it, and not a little

pee was

)
angry.

“T should say you diight
exclaimed Frank.

“Still I continued about my business,
pretending I was not in the least dis-
turbed. One morning, on the door of my

house, I discovered a red circle, and within |

have been!’?

the circle was a cross. I knew it was a|
sign of some kind, and I made haste to
have it removed from the door. ‘hat
night one of my native servants was
killed. In the morning he was found with
a hole in his neck, and it seemed that

every drop of oe had beén ee

from his ili!

_ ‘The man was pale, and there was a

hunted light in his eyes. ’ He ahiverc’ a
bit as he spoke. |
é. “The eat of that hole told me that |i

I | veins.

a veins.

‘“Then I dreamed that I had become
the chief of the Human Leopards. It
came about this way: Like you, I was
| captured by them, but,“unlike you, I was
not able to defend myself when they
sought to inject the fatal liquid into my
They held me, bared my breast,
and accomplished their frightful work. I
was contaminated !

‘“Rrom this dream I awoke, bathed in

|cold perspiration, although the night was

burning’ hot. For a moment it seemed

that the dream was true, for I felt a
burning sensation upon my

a most peculiar feeling. After a

 

i stinging,
breast

little, discovering I was in my own bun--

aes and my own bed, I was certain the
burning sensation had been caused.by the -
bite of some troublesome insect, and it —
was that, without doubt, which caused
my dream.
again. .
“It did not seem that I slept more than |
five minutes. I awoke with a most re- ae
oe sensation tingling through my |

TI felt ue as a feather, a a

 

 

Then I turned over and slept’
   

  

eee

 

 

  
    
  
   
  
   
 

   
  
  
   
    
   
   
     
  

 

_ beads of perspiration from his forehead,

tween the two state-rooms.
speaking in a tone that indicated he didjseemed that I was capable of deceiving

of the conclusion.

before the wondering boy.

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN, 7
thirsty! JI arose and sought some water.|tion not to do so. Nearer and nearer I
It did not satisfy my thirst. I drank some | crept. :
wine. It was not what i wanted. Then.I| ‘The punkha-wallah slept, utterly un-
went out into the air. | conscious of danger. I was close upon
‘fAs I strolled about the bungalow, | him—so close that, with a single spring,
thinking it the most beautiful night I had|I could fasten my fingers on his throat. |
ever known, laughing at the stars and|found a knife in my hand. And then——
‘‘How I held myself in check TF have
delight, I suddenly espied my punkha-/not the least idea, but I did so.

taking deep breaths of air with keenest |
I forced
wallah, or fan-swinger, sitting on the | my unwilling feet to carry my body from
eround, with his back against the wal',|the spot. I returned to my room, but I
fast asleep. : |did not sleep, and when morning came I
‘*T stopped and looked at the fellow. A | was utterly worn out.
sudden, savage, desire came over me. I} ‘‘A strange languor came upon me. I
felt like an infuriated and famished tiger. idid not seem to mind so much if I was
I thrilled with delight at the thought of|regarded with suspicion and aversion. I
rending him limb from limb.- And then|held my neighbors, friends, and acquain-
I began creeping upon him, holding my| tances in scorn.

breath.’

They were nothing but
worms. I seemed to look on human be-

The colonel arose and paced the state-|ings as quite different from anything I
room for some moments, greatly agitated. | had hitherto conceived them to be. I
_ Frank Merriwell was fascinated beyond | decided that men were the same as ‘cattle,
measure by this remarkable story, and he | and without souls. Still such thoughts
was eager to have the man continue, al- did not make me uneasy or unhappy. It

though he seemed to dread what was!seemed that it should be so, and that the

}
|

coming. ‘sensual pleasures, the gratifying of one’s
There was a look of intense anguish on | passions and appetite, were all that could

Colonel Cutting’s fave, and he wiped |be desired.

‘‘T understood there had been a most

although a cool breeze from the bay came| remarkable change in me, but what had

in at the open window. caused it I could not conceive. Outwardly
Finally the man closed the door be-|I was the same as ever, but the change

He had been} was entirely beneath the surface. It

not care to have his servants hear the|my best friend, and that I could do so

whole story, and this final act showed he| with ease.

‘‘T worried no rhore about the Human
Leopards. What if they did kill a few
After some seconds, he squared himself| human beings? It was of no consequence.
A human life was of no value.

‘‘Ror two days I remained thus, and

did not intend that they should catch any

**T cannot tell you the sensations I ex-

perienced as I crept upon that sleeping|then I began to awaken, as it were. An-
_man,’’? came huskily from the colonel’s|other of my men had been killed in the
lips. ‘“‘T_ realized that I was impelled to|same mysterious manner, and the sign
do some frightful thing, but what that} had been seen on my door. My laborers.
. thing was I did not at first understand. I|left me. They did not come to be paid off,
tried to hold myself back, but it seemedjand they shunned me with the greatest

 

hat I must go on, despite my determina-| apparent terror.

 

 
 

 
  
 

  

‘I began to question myself. What

had I done? . and what was to be the end |

of it all? ‘Then it was that I found the
mark upon my breast! Then it was that

I discovered I was akin to the creatures '

known as Human Leopards!

‘*Here—look !’’ panted Colonel Cutting,
tearing open the bosom of his shirt and
baring his breast. ‘‘You shall see it!’’

Frank stared with dilated eyes. There
upon the man’s breast, a little above the
heart, was an irregular round, white spot,
nearly as large as a penny. ‘The colonel’s
flesh was fair, but the spot was of a differ-
ent whiteness, being ghastly as the face
of a corpse!

CHAPTER III.
WHY THE COLONEL FLED.

Speechless, horrified, wondering, the
boy stared at that strange mark a
moment, and then Colonel Cutting
quickly covered it from view.

Frank fell back in his chair, feeling
that his strength had been stolen away by
what he had seen.

The colonel paced the narrow confines
of the state-room a moment, and then
whirled on the boy.

**T was a fool to tell you!’ he hoarsely
exclaimed. ‘‘Now you will shrink from
me in repulsion, as the others have.’

- Frank tried to find his voice to protest,
but it choked and died in his throat.

“T can see it now!’’ came wildly from
the unfortunate man. ‘‘Well, if it must
be so, I cannot help it. I felt that I must
impart my secret tosomehbody. My secret!
Bah! It is no secret! I was driven from
India by others knowing or suspecting
theese A eg

Frank found his voice.

‘“That mark, colonel—how came it
there ?”’ .

‘Who knows? I have told you of my

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

| was placed on my breast. How it was

done, I do not know.’?

‘Did you recognize a peculiar odor in
the room when you awoke?’’ asked the
boy.

‘‘T did not notice it.’

‘‘Do you remember how the fellow on
the train—the first Human Leopard I ever
saw—nearly overcame’ us by burning
something that gave out a peculiar odor
which must have robbed us of strength
and consciousness if I had not awakened
when I did?’’

“*T remember it.’

‘‘Perhaps something. of the kind was
used to make you insensible to what was
taking place.”’

‘It is possible; but, be that as it may,
I know a small portion of that soul-de-
stroying liquid was injected into my veins
in some way.’’

‘“There is no doubt?’

‘‘How can there be? You have seen
the mark.’’ :

at 1s Sue?

‘‘And I have experienced the sensations
which the liquid imparts to its victims.’’

‘‘But the spot is not so large as those
on the bodies of thé natives—I am sure it
is not..*’

‘“Therein, I think, lay my sole salva-
tion. Ido not think enough of the fatal

terly overcome my will and make mea
brute.’ .

youthful companion.
forcing calmness upon himself. ie
‘‘My boy,’’ hesaid, ‘‘I felt that I must
tell you this.

could speak and tell the truth.’’
There was something supremely pathe-

him.

 

dream. While I slept I believe that mark

boy. : ea 5 a Di oe

liquid was injected into my body to ut- |

The man paused and stood before his _
He seemed to be

I have left no friends be-.
hind me. ‘There was no one to whom I

tic in Cutting’s manner, and Frank pitied

‘‘T am glad you have told me,”’ said the

  

 

 

 

    
    
    
   
  
   
      
   

 

 
  

eee,

 

 

 

 

  
  
  
  
 

    
  
    

 
  

  

came to be.”’

‘*But you will shun me, as the others
have.”’

**Not much, sir!’’ was the sturdy assur-
ance. ‘‘If ever you needed a friend, you
need one now.”’

‘“True, true! I am in desperate need of
friendship.”’

**Colonel, I am your friend to the end.”’

Frank extended his hand, and the man
clasped. it.

“Vou are a noble boy!’’ he declared,
with deep emotion. ‘‘And a braver lad
never lived!’

**T now understand why you left India,’’
said Frank.

‘‘Not fully. My laborers left me.

was not frightened away. I once saved
Dundal from the very jaws of a tiger,
and he is ready to go to the ends of the
earth with me.’’’

“Vou can trust them both?”

“With anything I possess—with my
very life!’

“‘T am glad to know you repose so much
confidence in them.” |

‘“Ves, I have unlimited faith in them.
But I will tell you what forced me to fly
from India. You know I said I was re-
garded with suspicion by everybody.”’

vee.

‘“‘“Kven my friends avcided me. Of
course, I was highly indignant, but I
finally learned the cause.’’

‘It was—what?”’

‘‘T learned that the report had been cir-
culated that I, with my own hands, had
slain my servants and laborers—that I
was a Human Leopard!”’

“Great Scott!”

“That was why men fled from me.

They feared me. ‘They spread the report

that I was one of the human beasts. ’’

‘‘And the story was generally cred-

e ited ?”?

‘*At first I think it was not, but it soon

 

My |
cook, Kyto, the Japanese boy, remained |
faithful, and Dundal, my body servant,

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

9

 

The boy fancied he realized the posi-
tion in which Colonel Cutting had been
placed.

‘What could I do?’’ cried the man.

‘““You were in a bad box,’’ nodded
Frank,

‘‘T heard that there were threats of

|capturing me and exposing my body, so

iand more open.

 

it might be known if there was truth in
the reports. These threats became more
Men looked at me sul-
lenly, and seemed to long to throttle me.
I found I was losing my nerve, and I
knew the black truth must become
known beyond a doubt if they carried out
their threats. ”’

‘“Then you sold your plantation ?”’

“‘T could not sell it there. I slipped
away to Calcutta, where I sold it.to an
Englishman who had been my guest a
few months before. I told him much of
the truth, explaining how I had become
unpopular among my neighbors and my
laborers had left me. I offered him a
bargain, and he took the plantation as a
speculation. ’’

‘‘T wonder you did not sail from Cal-
cutta.’’

‘*T should have done so, but I found
the avenger was on my track.’’

‘“The avenger ?”?

OVess”)

‘“What do you mean by that?”

‘TJ will tell you. All my trouble has
come about through the avenger of Palpur
Nawaga, who must be, like the rajah, of
high caste, but is one of the Human
Leopards. He brought members of the
mystic order to the vicinity of my plan-
tation, and he gave me no peace. It was
his symbol which [| found upon my
door.’’ :

‘‘And you think he followed you to
Calcutta ?’’

‘“‘T know it.’?

‘After that——”’ :

‘‘T'did my best to slip him in coming —
to Madras, and I believe I succeeded. At

>

 

 
     
   
       
     
    
  
   
   
    
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
     
       
   

10 FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN,

any rate, I came on board this steamer at/expressed his thoughts to nis companion.
the last moment’ before she sailed, and| ‘‘That is my only hope,’’ gloomily
there is no danger that he will follow me|said the colonel. ‘‘It is said that no one
by the same boat.’’ ever recovers after being once tainted

“You are right. In that you were | with the devilish stuff, but Iam unwill-
shrewd.” ing tu believe it.”’

 

™

‘Tn ‘that, if in nothing else.”’ ‘‘T will not believe it,’’ cried Frank.

‘‘f do not believe he would follow you | ‘‘At the same time,’’ said the man, “‘I
out of the country, anyway.’’ | advise you to keep the door between our
““T don’t know about that, but you see} rooms securely fastened at night. I am
how persistent and malignant he has' sure my will-power is strong enough to
been. He has seemed determined to turn/ resist any temptation that may assail me
every one against me, ruin me, both body} when I am awake, but there is no telling
and soul, and then utterly destroy me.’’ | what I might be led to do while asleep.”’
The colonel sat down. The excitement}

CHAPTER IV. a he

 

occasioned by the narration of his singu-|

 

 

 

lar tale was passing away, and he seemed | a al
weakened and listless. His eyes drooped, | Desai, Seagate ioe elise
and the nerves of his face seemed to lose| In due course of time our friends ar- =a,
their tone, as they might if he had been|rived in Yokohama, and found lodgings : —-
drinking excessively and was intoxicated. |in a hotel, where they were given a room 4 i
Frank pitied the man, and wondered |at the rear of the house. To this Frank “-
no longer that he had suddenly disposed ‘objected at first, but he was informed that , 3
of his property and was hastily abandon-|the rooms at the back of the house were | we
ing the country, for he could understand | the best in the hotel, and were preferred aes
how much the colonel had passed through | by all guests.
during the few weeks just passed. | Colonel Cutting was still in a condition 2
‘Remémbering how by little less than a of nervous excitement, seeming to have a etiam pile
miracle he had escaped having the herri-| great desire for seclusion. The room_ i ae
ble liquid injected into his veins, the boy|suited him as to its location, but he found ee
felt like extending sympathy to the un-|the walls were very thin and light, so eas SaNe

fortunate who had met with such an ex-|sounds in the hotel could be heard in a
perience. /most annoying manner. i
At the same time, knowing the stuff | The party was given one large room,
was said to rob a human being of hiscon-| which was quickly partitioned off into

science and make him beast-like and piti-| three rooms by means of high screens.

less, with a thirst for human blood, Frank} In Japan this manner of partitioning off -
resolved to watch the colonel constantly, | rooms prevails, and the entire appearance
so he might be prepared for anything he|of a room can bechangedin a remarkably = Ss
might attempt. brief space of time by means of moving aaa

As but a small amount of the liquid |the screens. 3

could have been set coursing through the; Frank found that from his window he
man’s system, the boy believed there was | could look directly into the hotel kitchen,

a chance for its effect to wear off. All that}and he could see how the food was —
was needed was to keep the victim where|cooked, which gave him some satisfac-
there was no danger that he would re-|tion, as he thought cooks who seemed to.
ceive a second injection. court attention must be neat in their —
_ _ Having thought this all over, the boy|methods. pee aes

     
 
        
     
       
      
 

  

 

   
 

    

 

  
   
    
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
     
  
  
  
   
 

   

hot water to put in the tea.

The boy by this time had become ac- |

customed to traveling, and he took care|

to make a bargain with the proprietor of
the hotel before deciding to stay there,
which was a safe and shrewd thing to do,
as Japanese hotel proprietors have no fixed
rates for foreigners, and are likely to
charge whatever they think they can get.
If terms are not made in advance they are
certain to be rather
comes to settling.
Frank found there was little

exorbitant when it

real priv- |

   

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN. . 11

thing was served in shallow bowels with
Each person
|had two cups, oe containing soy, which

covers to retain the heat.

pwas a sauce like vinegar, in which the
|food was to be dipped. The other cup was

for sakee, which is a very strong drink,

;and on which one might become intoxi-
cated. Frank did not care for this, but
took tea instead.

| The boy was enchanted by his novel
| surroundings, and did his best to rally
| Colonel Cutting, but without much suc-

acy ina Japanese hotel. This did not}cess.

trouble him much,
Cutting, whom the boy
fast getting in a bad way from fear of the
enemies who had done so much to ruin
and destroy him.

Looking into the kitchen, the boy
could see what seemed to be large cages
suspended from the ceiling, and he wond-

‘ered what kind of birds or animals were!

He afterward found those
in which the cooked

kept there.
cages were
food was kept.

¢ 9)

safes

There were no chairs in the room, and|

it was found necessary to squat upon the

but it worried Colonel |

Having eaten, Frank was determined

could see was/|to go out and see the place; but the colo-

inel had no such desire; so he remained
‘behind.

Frank had made friends with the Jap-
|anese youth, Kyto, who promised to show
vim everything of interest, and the colo--
inel allowed the boy to take him along.
the hotel, they immediately
|obtained a jintikisha, as the Japanese car-
Iriages are called.

|

isemble

Leaving

These carriages re-
an overgrown baby cart, or a tiny
one-horse chaise, and are propelled asa
Irule by one man in the thills in front to

clean mats which covered the floors. This | pull, and a man behind to push.

was not a comfortable way of sitting for |

those who were not accustomed to it.
Their meals were served in their room.

When the time arrived for them to take|fortable, engaged two of them,
their first meal, two attendants appeared |

and brought in the food and other things
necessary.

There were two small tables, about
twelve inches high
square, which held the dinner and tea ser-
vice. There was a little low. stool, on
which was a broad, flat pot for holding

and fifteen inches

As a jintikisha is made to seat but one
| person, although two sometimes occupy a
}carriage, Frank, who wished to be com-
one’ for
himself and one for Kyto.

Of the sights on the streets the people
interested Frank the most, with their
quaint manner of dressing, their wide-
brimmed hats and gaudy suushades of
paper. . 3

He saw that the women came out on
the streets, the same as the men, and they

 

There was
/
yet another low stool for holding any-|

: thing not wanted at the moment.

The first course seemed to be a thick |
soup, but was found fo be stewed fish. |
There were radishes and other fish, and a/|
queer dish of shrimp, seaweed, and hard-

 

‘seemed rather good looking.

boiled 88s) the latter cut | in two. Every- |

Indeed,
some of them were pretty. Some of the
‘younger women eyed him in a manner
that was decidedly coquettish.

Kyto was delighted to be in Japan once
‘more, and he pointed out things of inter-
est with great pride.
To Frank the youth was something ofa

 

    
  
 

   

2 FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

mystery, as he had said very little about] As they were sitting there, the other
himself, and he did not seem to have any | girls of the place passed near, curious to
relatives whom he was desirous of seeing. | obtain a good look at the American lad,
After they had been carried about in} who was certainly rather handsome and
the jinrikishas for some time, and had |attractive.
seen stores, shops, pagodas, and so forth,| Suddenly one of the girls, the prettiest
Frank expressed a desire to visit a tea|of them all, stopped short, uttered a cry,
house, having obtained glimpses of the|and rushed toward the table, with her
| hands outstretched.
““Kyto! Kyto!’ she cried.
The Japanese youth was on his feet in
a twinkling. =
This was an immense establishment,} ‘‘Saso!’’ he gasped.
and covered a large area of ground. The} He caught her hands and embraced
attendants were all girls, and Frank dis-|her in Japanese fashion, while Frank and
covered that they were decidedly pretty |the others looked on in surprise.
and graceful. They talked swiftly in Japanese, both
Two of these girls advanced toward | being greatly excited.
Frank and Kyto, and saluted them in| After a few moments, Kyto turned to
Japanese, after which they asked if they | Frank, splutting:
would sit in private or in public. ‘(My sleetheart! my sleetheart! Her
“In public, where we can see what is|fader very poor. He sell her to lich man,
going on, of course,’’ said Frank, when ‘but she lun away. That in Hyogo. Lich
his companion had told him what they|man never find her; she come here. She
desired to know. look for me, but I am gone ’way off. She
So they were shown toa public table, |think I am dead; I think lich man have
and the girls brought them tea, and lin-|/her. I get chance on vessel to go clook,
gered to know if there was anything else | and I go to India. Now I come pack, but
they desired, as several kinds of light re-/ never ’spect to see my sleetheart. All
freshments were served there. same I find her here”’ 3
Frank did not want anything to eat,| ‘‘Whew!’’ whistled Frank. ‘‘This isa
but he liberally tipped both girls, where-| genuine romance! By Jove! I am glad we
upon, with delighted smiles, they bowed came in here, Kyto!’’
~ very low, saying: | ‘*Me dlad, too!’’ laughed the Japanese
‘‘Arinyato! Arinyato!’’ (Thank you, youth.
thank you. ) Nes | Then he began to talk rapidly with
As the girls lingered near, Frank began | little Saso once more.
to talk to one of them, Kyto acting as in-|
terpreter. To his astonishment, he learned | ness, and she clung to Kyto’s hands,
that the tea house was run by an Ameri-| Of a sudden there was a commotion at
can by the name of Snell, who conducted | the rear of the building.
it, however, upon the Japanese plan. \was heard speaking, and a rather gaudily

interior of several.

So they abandoned the tiny carriages,
and Kyto led the way into one of the
largest tea houses in Yokohama.

—

 

“Americans are pushers,’’ thought the|dressed youth came toward the group, |

boy; ‘‘but this is the last business I | causing the girls to scatter in terror.
should think of going into. There may be |

successfully.” |the youth saw Frank, and stopped as if

 

The face of the girl glowed with happi-.

A harsh voice

| Frank arose and faced the youth, who roe
money in it, but I fancy it would take a|was very angry, and who cried out some-
—ainighty shrewd foreigner to carry it on|thing to the girls in poor Japanese. Then

 

 

   
   
  
 
 

 

 

 

 

      
   
 

 

 

    
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
    
   
     
  

   
  
  
  

little expected to see Frank there,

‘Frank, when
i seemed to make him forget the presence
of the Japanese youth.

he had been turned to stone, his eyes pop-|

ping from his head.

‘“Frank Merriwell!’’ he gasped, in as-
tonishment.

Then Frank recognized him.

‘‘Wat Snell!’? he exclaimed, not less

astonished.

CHAPTER V.
ENEMIES OF OTHER DAYS.

At Fardale Academy Wat Snell had

_ been one of Frank’s most persistent -and

detestable enemies. Frank could endure
an enemy who was square and open, but
Snell had been a coward and a sneak, and
it was but natural that Merriwell should
hold him in the greatest contempt.

Frank had heard very little about Snell
since leaving the academy, and he had no
idea that the fellow was in this part of
the world till they stood face to face.

It was plainly evident that Wat as
and it
was some minutes after uttering Merri-
well’s name before the fellow seemed to
entirely recover.

Of the girls, Saso alone had not hurried
away when Snell’s voice was heard, and
it was possible she was the most fright-
ened of them all. She clung to Kyto, as
if seeking his protection, saying a few
low swift words.

These words seemed to cause the Jap-
anese youth to draw her close to him and
straighten up defiantly as he faced Wat,
as if he was determined to protect little
Saso against anything and everything.

Snell had glowered at Kyto till he saw
his astonishment had

When Snell recovered his voice, he

=. said :

“Well, this is a surprise! I’d like to

’ know what you are doing in this part of
the world, Merriwell i a

 

   

80. pe

 

   

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN. 13

Snell for mean and dirty actions, hoping

'the fellow would see the error of his ways

but Wat had remained a
sneak to the last, and so Merriwell had
left Fardale with nothing but a feeling of
the utmost contempt for such a miserable
rascal.

There now a contemptible air
about the fellow, and Merriwell felt all
his old repugnance for Snell return with
a rush. :

“Tam traveling,’’ he quietly answered,
making an endeavor to conceal his real
feelings. ;

‘“Traveling ?””

(Ves, )

‘“What for?”

‘SPleasnte;””

‘*Indeed !”?

That word seemed to give Frank the
lie. Snell’s lip curled, and the expression
on his face became offensive. :

Frank felt the warm blood mounting to
his face, but he held himself in check.

Kyto and Saso were whispering to-
gether.

In the background the girls who were
employed about the place were looking
on, some with their heads close together,
as they murmured to each other.

There were not many guests about the
place, but those who were present saw
something unusual was taking place, and
they, also, were watching the little
group.

‘‘And you are really traveling for
pleasure?’ cried Snell, with a jeering
laugh. ‘‘Well, that is funny.”’

‘‘T fail to see anything funny about it,
sir,

‘You put up a great bluff.”

‘‘What do you mean by that?’ de-
manded Frank, his anger rising.

‘You know what I mean.”’

eT ost...

-“T presume you wish me to tell you?”
‘*T would be pleased if you would do

and reform,

was
14 PRANK
EPS
like you would be

scarcely
traveling
world for pleasure, and you should know
it. Take my
other kind of a yarn.’

Frank took a step toward Snell,

advice, manufacture some

and |
then checked his desire to grasp
low by the throat and give him a

shake.

“*T see “you are
whom I knew at Fardale,
said.

“Oh,

2
’? was the reply.

yes, ‘*T bothered

you a little then, and I am still a hot cup |

of tea, you bet !??-
‘‘You are still a contemptible
Snell jumped.

cad.’?

‘“What’s that??? he angrily exclaimed. |

“Tyo you dare say that to me—here?’’

‘*Dare!’’ laughed Frank.
would not frighten a kid,’’

‘Well, I be hanged!’’ gasped
Wat. /

‘You may,’
unless you have mended your

may
> returned Frank. ‘‘In fact,
ways
leaving Fardale, you have a very
prospect for it.”’

‘‘Do you know whom you are
ing, sir??? cried Snell, fiercely.
you to understand that
proprietor of this place, and I will
stand it!’’

Frank laughed.

“Tt is lucky for you, Wat,
a father to support you.

‘*T want}
my
not

that you)
have You’d
never be able to do itin an
yourself.’

‘‘Honesty! Don’t talk to
esty !’? raved Wat, furiously.

‘‘T beg your pardon. I forgot
something you knew nothing about,”’
_. “This thrust caused
teeth. He knew he was no
Frank, either with his tongue
hands, and the thought that Merriwell|
could so easily and cleverly get the best |

of him in-everything made him desper- |

tne of hon-

it was

match

ate.

likely a young fellow]
around the

the fel-|

the same Wat Snell |
|
was all he}

‘*“Why, Snell, |

a» whole regiment of such puppies as you |

since |
good |

address- |

father is the,

honest way |
v7

Snell to grind his |
for |
or his}

MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

“You are a good one to talk of hon-
‘‘Why, you are
say. But I
some

) :
esty!’? he exclaimed.
|traveling for pleasure—you
stolen

i will bet anything you have

|of your uncle’s OnEy and run away to
see the world.’
*<Stolen ?”’

| “““~hat’s what I said.’
‘Take it back
Frank had Snell by the neck, and the
|fellow was helpless in his grasp.

‘“Take it back!’’ repeated Frank, his
face black as a storm cloud. ‘‘If you do

| not take it back, I will choke the life out

3)

'y>

| of your worthless body !

| Snell was shocked by the suddenness
of the assault, and he hastened to splut-
fer:

“Don’t be so hot-headed, Merriwell!
You rapped me, and I was trying to get
leven. Of course I know you never stole
| anything.’

‘“Take it back!’

‘CAll right, I will.’

With a muttered exclamation of con-
tempt Frank released the fellow, retreat-
ling a step.

Snell gingerly felt of his neck, where
ithe strong fingers of the other boy had
left their marks.
| ‘see you are the same old Merri-
|well,’’ he said, beginning to recover, and
feeling chagrined and furious because he
had been so easily scared into recalling
| his words.
| Frank did not speak, but he gave Wat
|a glance of unutter able scorn.
| a 2? you are the same old Merri-
well,’? came desperately from Snell.
peey ou played bully at school, and you
|are still a bully.’

‘“That is not true; but, even if it were,
I had much rather be a bully than a
sneak, a coward, and a detestable eur!”?

‘“That’s' more than I can
a Snell.
| ‘‘What are you g

oing to do about it??? ~—
| Wat looked round, and his eyes fellon  —

 

 

stand |)% ==
 

FRANK

Kyto and Saso, the latter still clinging to|
her youthful lover.

That was enough to make Wat use lan-,
guage that would not read well in print.

8 with
you,
toward Kyto.

‘*He is,’’? answered Frank.

this
Merriwell ?’’

almond-eyed monkey

he asked, motioning

“Twas right in saying
same old ]
bring you here where there were
_pretty gi
mash.
great masher.’’

*fAll the matter with you, Snell, is that

you
Merriwell.

tls, so you could try to make a

you are envious because you never
able to chop any frost with the girls.
think I am foolish to take you. seriously |
for a moment, you are not worth it. In|
some ways you are the funniest thing that |
ever happened. ”’

Now there was nothing that would cut
Wat like contempt and _ ridicule,
became so furious that he literally choked
-and was unable to speak for some sec-
onds.
whose

Frank,

was laughing in

of his!
|

In the meantime,
seemed to have changed,
a way that added fuel to the fury
old-time enemy.

‘‘Laugh!’’ grated Snell,

at last. ‘You

may laugh out of the other side of your|

If you remain in Yoko-|
will hear from

mouth very soon.
hama
again.’?

gi:

long, you me |

must hear from you, I’d

if I see too eo of aah a ridiculous ob- |
Sect.?”
“Oh, you have a sharp tongue,

-you were cock of the walk. In Yokohama
my father has considerable influence, and
Well, never mind. You’ll hear from
me. ae
“J presume you mean that
threat?

for a

are the!
You got this fellow to |
some |
You always considered yourself a|

were |

L

and he|!

mood |

much |
rather you’d write, for I can’t afford to)
laugh myself ill, and Iam sure I'll do so|

sit
you'll find you are not at Fardale where!

MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

|
|
| Frank snapped his fingers,

‘“Take it for anything you like.’
still laugh-
ing.

| ‘That for your threats, Snell. You are
like a bladder, full of but it takes

|only a small puncture to let it all out and

wind,

‘leave you collapsed flat as a pancake.”’
| ‘You'll see! Get out of here now! If
you do not——”’
‘*What then ?”’

| “PH call our bouncers, and you'll be
fired.??

‘That is a terrifying prospect, indeed!
as we have seen quite enough
Come, Kyto.”’
came quickly from

‘*She

| However,
of this place, we will go.
‘*Saso she dlo, too,”’
the lips of 4 1e Japanese youth.
| want to dlo.’
| ‘Not much!’’ shouted Snell.
girl is engaged for
|has paid her money

))

9

‘That
Father
in advance, and’ she

six months.

ican’t go!
‘“How much has he paid her?’’ asked

| : .

| Frank, ‘IT will refund the

amount.’’

immediately.

‘*Not on your birthday! snarled Wat.
‘‘She cannot break a contract like that!
We will not let
| ‘*Really! Perhaps you may not be able
‘to detain her.??

19

her go!””

just as hard! In this
country we can hold her till she has ful-
filled her contract—we can hold her
‘force, and we’ll do it, too!”

Kyto hastily informed Frank that Snell”
spoke the truth.

‘‘Now get out!’’ grated Wat, trying to
drive them from the building. ‘*Be lively
‘about it!” :

“Look here, Kyto,’’’? said Frank,
speaking in the Jap’s ear, ‘‘if you wish to
take Saso out of here, I will back you.
Perhaps we can do the trick O. K.

“The law!’? gasped Kyto—‘‘the law —
take her ’way flom me.”? |

‘*But we can,

by

‘‘You can skip out of Yokohama, and. :
escape that way.’?

 

 
   

16 FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN,

‘Got to glit out of clountry. Can’tdo| ‘I‘hat’s like him,’’ nodded Frank.

  

   

brat.’ | ‘*No, no, no!’’ cried Kyto, who misun-
‘Well, vy Jove! this is a scrape!|derstood. ‘‘Saso not like him. He kliss
What are you going to do about it ?”’ iher. She hit him slam-bang-slap with her

‘"Me don’t know,’’ cried Kyto, help-| hand.’’
lessly, looking sorely distressed. ‘‘Me  ‘‘Good for Saso!”?
flound my sleetheart, but have no got her| ‘He plit mad.’

yet.’ | “Of course’’
Frank did not fancy being baffled, and) ‘‘He grab her wrist.”?
still he realized that he must use judg-| ‘‘What then ?’’

ment in the matter. He quickly decided) ‘‘Hurt her.”’
it would be better to find out what could| ‘‘Just like him.’?

be done before they attempted to do any- | ‘‘He tell her she no glitaway.’””?
thing. He would consult with Colonel} ‘‘He isa confounded scoundrel!’’ ex-
Cutting, and would learn just what the|claimed Frank, beginning to warm up.
laws of the land relating to such a matter) ‘‘Did she get away?”
were. ' | ““Glit away then.”’
He communicated this decision to | ‘*She’s got sand.’’
Kyto, who told Saso, and the lovers al-| ‘‘He kleep after her all tlime.”’
most tearfully tore themselves apart. ‘‘That’s because she is the prettiest girl
Snell regarded this parting with ill-con-
cealed uneasiness and impatience, and to have such a sweetheart.”’
once he seemed on the point of assault-| Kyto showed his pride.
ing the Jap, but Frank uttered awarning, ‘‘Some sleethearts forget when lich
aoe he held himself back. /man git um; Saso no forget Kyto. She
‘“‘Now go!’ cried Wat. ‘‘Be in a hurry love Kyto whey she think she never see
about it, too!’ him gain.’
‘Don’t try to hurry us in the least, my | ‘‘Good girl!’’
fine fellow,’ cautioned Frank. ‘‘Weshall) ‘‘You blet!’’ nodded the a who had
not hurry if you do, and I may take a picked up some slang. ‘‘But how I glit
i ae fancy to give you something that will her out of clountry I don’t know. Must
- make you look funnier than ever.”’ do so. She have to stay in tea house long
Snell followed them to the door, ies Came: and mebbe lich man who buy her
ting his teeth. : |flind her there.”’
“You had better get out of Yokohama| ‘‘That’s right—dead right,’’ agreed
as soon as possible, Frank Merriwell!’’ he| Frank. ‘‘What you want to do is get her

  
 

 

shouted after them. aboard some steamer that is bound for
: pais Honolulu and San Francisco. You ought
CHAPTER VI. to be able to get her out of the country
in some way.’’ ;
: A WRESTLING MATCH AND A FIGHT. “Voy help me, Flank ?’’

Frank and Kyto returned to the hotel.| “I'll do my level best.’’

_ On the way Kyto, who was greatly ex- Ee she glo quick if she can glit
cited, told the ag a few things of .nter-| away.
Mest. < se ‘‘We'll have to get her away. I am

__ the Jap, Ssatesine tis hands. ‘‘He tly} Snell is going to get left.”
eke love to Saso!”” . . | Kyto was well satisfied.

 

 

about the place. Kyto you’re a lucky dog

“Snell he blad, blad, blad!’’ spluttered | bound to see this thing through, and Wet te

  
       
   
  
   
   
 
  
   
  
  
   
 
   
     
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
    
   
 

 

 

 

     
      
     
          
        
    
      
      
 
      
       
   
 
FRANK MERRI

gleat bloy!’? he cried.

**Rlank, you
**You blick!”’

‘‘T never like to see true lovers parted. ”’

In fact Frank was delighted to find a

romance of this sortin Japan, and he took

pleasure in the thought that he might be|

able to help the lovers in some way.

He could not readily recover from his
astonishment at seeing Wat Snell there
in Japan, and he had not the least doubt
but the fellow would try to annoy him if
there was any possible way of doing so.

When the hotel was reached it was
found that Colonel Cutting was sleeping,
while Dundal watched over him. This
was the only way which the man
seemed able to obtain the rest he needed,

in

for he would not sleep unless the faithful |

Indian was on guard.
_ Frank took great ca~e not to arouse the
“colonel.

‘*We will talk the matter over with
him later,’’ he said to Kyto.

But the colonel slept till it was supper |

time, and, on awakening, he showed no
desire to talk, which made Frank think

it was better to defer the matter till the |

next morning.

‘*We must find something for amuse-|

ment to-night,’? said Frank. ‘‘Where
can we go?”’

Now Kyto was thinking of Saso6, but |

he wished to amuse his friend, and so he |

said :

“There be wlestling show to-night.
You want to slee Japanese wlesters ?””

‘* Japanese wrestlers ?’’

ee, ”?

‘‘Well, that is just about the thing,
Kyto. Yes Mwant to see them. We will
go there.”’

“All light.’

So, after supper, they went out to see
the wrestling matches.

_ They did not go to a hall, as Frank.
had expected they would, but toa large

tent, which was made by stretching mat-

WELL IN JAPAN. 17

and it cost
for Frank

and secure

This tent was well lighted,
about twenty-five cents each
and Kyto to obtain admission
the best positions to watch the
matches.

In the centre of the tent was a circular
tmound that reminded Frank of a circus
entire body of earth was
It was ten or twelve

very

 

g, only the
|raised about two feet.

ring

feet across.

Outside the ring mats were spread on
the ground for tlie spectators to sit upon.

Kyto said the poorer positions in the
tent were quite cheap, and that the poor-
es. did not cost. more than four or five
cents in American moneys

The tent filled up rapidly after Frank
and Kyto entered, and soon it was time
'for the entertainment to begin.
| Then it was that a boy entered the ring
‘from one side of the tent, walking as if
ihe were a king. Reaching the middle of
the ring, he spread a fan which he car-_
tied, giving it a quick jerk, as if he
| wished to tear it to pieces. ‘Then, with a
| great deal of ceremony, he cried out some-
thing.

‘“What is he saying ?’’ asked Frank.

‘‘He glive names of wlestlers to clome
first, ’? explained the Jap.
| ‘Is that all? By the spread he made I
‘thought he was announcing some mighty
monarch. ”?

‘“That way they do in Japan.”’

The boy retired, with many very low
‘bows, and the wrestlers came on.

Frank gave an exclamation of astonish-
ment as he saw them for they were huge
men, witha great amount of fat upon
their bodies. They were fat all over, with
the possible exception of their backs,
which seemed to be more muscular. One
of them was so fat that his eyes seemed
partly closed.
“Great Scott!’? exclaimed the boy.
“What kind of athletes are these? They
need to train down

 

|

 

ting over a space inclosed by a high fence. | pounds each. ”

 

about a cee x 3
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

©

18 FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

Kyto shook his head. | ‘Is that their game? And don’t they
‘No, no; they tlain up—have to be throw each other ?””

blig.”’ | “No. Japanese not wlestle that way.”
“But they can scarcely get around.| ‘‘Well, this is an odd idea of wrest-

How can they move quickly ?”’ \ling,”? said Frank, with some disappoint-
‘“Wait. You see.”’ Iment. ‘‘I scarcely think it would become
The wrestlers were nearly stripped, | popular in the United States.’

having nothing but a cloth about the! After atime, one of them forced the

middle of their bodies. ‘Their legs and other out of the ring, and the referee de-

arms were like the trunks of trees. When! cided that the contest was over.

they doubled up their arms their biceps! Others came on and wrestled in a simi-

looked like hams of hogs. ‘lar manner, and occasionally the specta-
‘They are not like any other Japanese /| tors became quite demonstrative in their

I have seen,’’ said Frank. ‘‘I fancied all) enthusiasm.

Japanese were slender.”’ | Frank was beginning to tire of this

“Them plartic’ler kind of Japanese,’’!| when the style of contest was changed.
explained the boy’s companion. ‘‘They| One big fellow stationed himself in the
all glow to be wlestlers.”’ lring, bracing as if he anticipated en-

“Tn other words, they are bred, like a| countering an express train. Then an-
particular race of cattle ?”’ |otuer came at him with a rush.

‘*That so. ”? | ‘The shock was terrific when they

‘‘T should think one of those fellows/came together. Their heads cracked, and
might be hammered on the breast by the/ they tried to hit each other in the breast.
fist of an ordinary man without knowing | They shifted about in making the rushes,
he had been touched. ”’ |and soon they were covered with blood.

The wrestlers came on on opposite | But the men did not seem to be injured
sides of the ring and stood five or six ae nearly as much as one might have sup-
apart, resting their hands on their knees) |posed, and they kept this up for nearly
and glaring at each other fiercely. They | fifteen minutes, till one of them was too

had the air of two wild beasts about to |exhausted to continue, and the other was

engage in mortal combat. And as they ‘declared the victor.

glared they made noises like the growling| Then came some fencing with wooden

of savage dogs. ‘swords. ‘The participants wore masks to
At a given signal, they Sani pel on the! protect their heads, which was the point

ground, rushing at each other, and then | ‘aimed at by each. The fencers shouted

fell back. This they repeated several; ‘and snarled at each other, and Frank de-

times before grappling. | | cided that it wasa burlesque on’ fencing
Finally they clinched, and then it was|as practiced in other countries. Kyto

that their great muscles were seen to|told him, however, that it was the Jap-

 

‘swell and stand out, and Frank realized! anese method, and the spectators seemed to

that they were as strong as they were fat. | take it as a most serious affair.

 

To his surprise, they did not attempt; »’The fencing ended the entertainment.
to throw each other, but pushed and} ‘‘Well,’’ said Frank, as they made =:
shoved in a savage ‘manner, itheir way out of the tent, ‘“‘I am glad it
‘“What are they trying to do, Kyto?’’|is over. There was some satisfaction in _
he asked. ‘seeing how they.do these things in this mt

a ‘One that plush iene out of ring he | | country, oat I do not think I care to come aoe
= : , here again.’ is

wet

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  
  
     
 
       
    
 

  

   
 

CAH:
see it much,’

‘They turned toward the hotel, to reach |
which it was necessary to pass through)
some rather-dark streets.

Frank fancied they were followed, and, |

‘ou elit so you like it when you |
y o> 5 7 |

’ assured Kyto, laughing.

 

 

. ;

£ not caring for an encounter, they hurried)
:. Suddenly they were confronted by sev-
P

eral dark forms, and, at the same time, |
others came running up behind them. |

The voice of Wat Snell, fierce and ma- |
lignant, was heard crying:

‘‘Now I have you, Frank Merriwell! y

pore:

as

will square my account with you now!” |

Frank’s blood leaped in a moment.
**So it’s you, is it, Snell?’’ he returned.
‘‘And you have brought a gang to help|

you. That is like you!”’

. om
Wat. Then he gave an order in Japanese,
and the gang rushed at Frank and Kyto.

 

:

well, who tore off his coat in atwinkling.
“If you can use your dukes, we’ll give|
these ruffians a warm time.’’

The Japanese boy was quick to catch
the idea, and, with his back to Frank’s,
he made ready to defend himself.

Snell had found a gang of young
hoodlums, and he had hired them to as-
sault the two,

‘“You’ll be pounded so you. won’t get
out in a week, Merriwell!’? he shouted.
‘“This is for old times!”’

‘““Come where I can reach you and I
will give you something for old times,’’
retorted Frank. 7
- Merriwell was a skilful boxer, and. he
could strike a fearful blow for a boy. He
handled his fists, and his knuckles cracked
“on the faces of Snell’s tools, sending them
reeling and knocking some down.

_ The young ruffians tried to get hold of
Frank and Kyto, and the two handled
heir fists in beating them off. Kyto did
“well, but, fortunately, three fellows tried

/

 
 

  

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

ithe fellows.

| Wat!’

| thought !? flung back Frank.
we'll give it to you!”’ shouted | me sick !””

‘Back to back, Kyto!’’ directed Merri- |

   

   

19

   
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
 
   

to get at Merriwell while one was tackling
the Jap.

Frank’s fighting blood was up, and he ~
laughed as he soaked one after another of

)

cheerfully.
and

invited,
bully
You’ll receive it in

‘Come on!’’ he

‘‘Prance right up, my boys,
|take your medicine!
Ye irge and liberal

CCN

doses.’

yo for him!’’ cried Snell.

with him! Hammer him!’
‘*Come take a hand with them,’

Frank. ‘‘They need your aid. Get into

the push and help out your hired tools,

“Down

y

urged

“Oh, I'll thump you a few after they

   

down you!’’ snarled Snell.
‘*By Tove! you’rea bigger coward than I

3 3 55
‘*Vou make

      
         
    

| ““Vou’ll be sick enough before we are:
| through with you.
| Smash! smash!—Frank sent in the

 

   

The young toughs had anticipated
easily overcoming him by force of num-
bers, and they were astounded by his suc-
cess in beating them off. They uttered
langry exclamations in their own. lan-
guage, mingled with cries of pain.

Suddenly a cry came from Kyto. Frank
whirled, and saw two fellows were drag-
ging the Japanese youth down.

| blows.

        
       
     
     
       
     
 

In a moment Merriwell was on them.
Like a tiger, he tore them from the Jap,
sending one reeling in one direction, and
the other the opposite way.

    
     
     
     
       
 

Kyto was somewhat dazed, but he
straightened up instantly.
‘‘Back to back once more!’’ cried

 
 

Frank.
gang!

‘“‘We are good for the whole
This sort of a scrimmage does a
fellow good once in a while. It timbers
him up and gets the kinks | it of him.”?

Snell began to rave and snarl at his’
hired tools, who now showed a wariness
of Frank’s hard fists.

ad
“Ob sail in yourself, Wat,” urged N Mer-

a

 
       
     
   
   

 

  
20 FRANK

riwell. ‘‘You’ll find it any amount of
sport. Come on!’?’
SO It not over!’

is > returned Wat.

‘“You won’t get away without being ham-|
mered, and don’t you forget it!”
He again urged the Japanese toughs|
on, offering them still more pay if they
would down Merriwell.
Frank was struck once or twice, but
the blows simply served to arouse him all | we meet.

the more, and
tiger. The young ruffiang fell back before
him, and, finally, despite Snell’s offers
and entrez aties, they began to take to their
heels.

The moment one of them scampered
away in the darkness Frank knew the
others would soon follow and he was
right.

But he took care not to let Snell es-
cape. The cowardly wretch attempted to
slip away, but Frank was after him ina
twinkling, overtook him, and held him
fast.

‘“Teggo!’? gasped Wat, squirming
about and aiming a blow at Frank’s face.

Frank dodged, but was struck on the
cheek. In another moment he gave Wat a
rap in the eye that made the son of the
tea-house keeper see stars.

**Help!’ yelled Wat,
murdered !’’

‘“‘You are getting a taste of what you
deserve,’’ said ‘Frank, as he struck the
fellow again, “holding him from falling.
‘“That’s to make your eyes mates. You’ll
think of me when you see them in the
morning—if you can look in the glass.’’

Wat threw up his hands and whim-
pered.

‘Don’t!’ he begged—‘‘don’t hit me
again, Merriwell! It was only a
anyway! I didn? t mean to hu rt ou.
wanted to scare you, that is .

Frank had drawn back is fist,
sudden sense of shame | ov
“he was sorry he had s
3 moet: fellow at all.

““T am being

%
~~

 

: ; |
he became like a raging |
| were an old rag.

 

|of anything.

MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

‘fAll right, 1] not thump you again,’’
‘“but I want to give you some
advice: Don’t try jokes of this sort on
me, for they do not go down. You
getting off easy. Almost anybody else in
my place wouldn’t leave you in the shape
Go home, and let Saso alone.
If you bother her any Pil
tempted to use you rough the next time
Git!”

Then Frank flung

he said;

are

more, be

Wat aside as if he

CHAPTER VII.

A DOUBLE ARREST.

Snell lost no time in taking to his heels
and disappearing in the darkness.

Kyto was filled with unutterable de-
light and admiration.

‘‘You dleat fighter, Flank!’’ he cried,
almost hugging Merriwell. ‘‘Nebber see
no fighter like to bleat you.”?

‘‘Oh, those fellows were trying to get
hold of me at first, and they knew noth-
ing about handling their fists. It was not
much of a job to get the best of them.
Anybody could have done it.”’

‘‘No, no! You fight better than any-
body I ever know to do it. They be ’flaid
of you after this.”’

‘‘Well, I hope they will let me alone. I
am not running about with a chip on my
shoulder, lodking for trouble.’’

“You get best of odder Yank _bloy
easy.’’

: Oh, that fellow is an easy thing. He
hasn >t heart enough to stand up like a
man and fight anybody. I am ashamed
to think I struck him at all.’’

‘*Dlo him glood.’?

“T don’t know about that.
He grew that way.”?

““Mebbe he fet Saso ’lone.’?

“Perhaps SOs a

“‘Tf he touch rs some more, I igh
him, too,’’ dgcleree Kyto. .

 

. He is nat- e
urally dirty, and I doubt if he can — it.
FRANK MERRIWELL JIN JAPAN.

‘*You can do him up in one round.”’

‘“To-mollow I tly to see Saso some
more.’’

‘‘And I will be with you, Kyto. But
we had better hustle along to the hotel.
Those fellows might get a dozen or so
more and come back to tackle us again.”’

‘*Tet um clome,’’ said the Jap, stoutly.
**Me no ’flaid with you.”’

‘“That’s all right, but it is well enough

to get out of-the way and avoid further |

trouble. Come on.”’

They reached the hotel without further
adventure, and found Colonel Cutting
nervously pacing the floor.

‘‘t wondered why you were away so
long,’ said the man, whose eyes were
restless and unsteady, and whose face was
beginning to wear a hunted look.

Frank told of their adventure. The)
colonel listened in a way that seemed to
indicate he was thinking of something
else all the while, and, in
the narration, he broke in
tion about an entirely different subject.

Frank had seen this haunted air set-
tling heavily upon the unfortunate
colonel, and he had hoped for an improve-
ment when Japan was reached; but, now

they were safely ashore, the man seemed
worse than ever.

The noises in the hotel seemed to wear
on Cutting’s nerves, and he was contin-
ually starting and looking behind | |

When Frank had told the. colo1
everything concerning the finding ;
Kyto’s sweetheart in the tea house, the
meeting with Wat Snell, and the

counter through which they had just
_ passed, he sought advice. 3

“YT don’t care anything about Snell,”
he said, ‘‘but I am determined that Kyto
and Saso shall be united. It seems that
Saso is bound to Snell’s father | 1 some
way, as she has engaged with hin ; and I

want to know how we are going about it
to get her away. Can you suggest a

the middle of |
to ask a ques-|

en-

21

‘Tl think I shall leave Yokohama and
go to Tokio,’’ said the colonel, without
seeming to have heard the words: of the
‘boy at all.
| “But you will not go till we have res-
cued Saso ?”?

‘‘Saso? Who is Saso?’?’

‘“Why, she is Kyto’s sweetheart,
| whom I have just been telling you.”

‘‘Kyto is a good boy, and he is a good
cook. How far is Japan from India?”

‘‘Never mind about that now, colonel.
Think of something else for a while?
Shall we rescue Saso ?”’

‘“Tell me about her again.”’

And Frank found it necessary to go all
over the story once more.. While he was
doing so he found the colonel’s mind was
|inclined to wander, and he bapsed several
times to fix the man’s attention on what
he was saying. At last, he was successful
[in making Cutting listen to the whole

 

of

 

story.

1. a0

not understand the laws of
Japan,’’ said the man, wearily; ‘‘but the
avenger will hold his hand for no laws.
I must be beyond his reach.’’

‘‘We are all right where we are,’’ de

clared the boy, rather impatiently. ‘‘’There

is.no sign of the avenger, and——’’
‘“The sign of the avenger!’’ cried the

man. ‘‘I have seen it! I fear to see it

again !”?

Frank gave up in despair, and he de-

i cided that Colonel Cutting was in a very
| bad way.

He feared that the man was
\about to be very ill, but hesitated about
calling in a doctor, although there were
Eurcpean physicians to be obtained.

““T’]] talk with him in the morning,
and see how he appears then,’’ thought
the boy. ‘‘If there is no improvement in
his condition, I will go for a doctor, as I
do not — what should be done for
iste 2 ee :

During the 1 nig ht, whenever he. awoke, |

 

about i in his See feet.

 

Frank saw Colonel Cutting moving softly =>
Sometiimes ! ev tee
22
was peering behind the screens, as if he
feared an enemy lurked there, sometimes
he was to
he smoked a little as he walked, and then

muttering himself, sometimes

he would carry his unlighted pipe in his!

quite that it
had gone out or that he had been smoking
at all.

mouth, seeming unaware

Frank stirred the

and seemed ready to repel an at-

Whenever
started
tack.

sehind one of the other

a screen, in

‘‘roois,’’ Kyto and Dundal were sleep-|

ing.
Frank dreamed many unpleasant things |

about Colonel Ctitting. Somehow he had

begun to fear the man a little, for he saw |
the colonel could not be considered en-|

tirely responsible for his acts.

In the morning he was not a little sur-|

prised to find Cutting ready to talk and |
listen, although he looked weary and in|
need of sleep. The boy saw that the man
was much calmer, for all of the fact that
he had not Sieaad his eyes during the}
night. It seemed as if a great strain had
been removed from his mind, and he was
rejoiced by the coming of another day.
Frank inquired the

after colonel’s

health, and was assured that it was very |

good,

“T thought you were going to be
last night,’’ said the boy. ae seemed |
to show ever indication of it.’

‘‘Nonsense! Ill! Why, I have searcely
had an ill turn in all my life.
dured the climate of India as if it were
the most healthy country in the world.
Don’t worry for fear I shall be ill, my
boy.”’

“All right,’ said ‘Frank, much
sured. ‘‘But you did appear strangely.
could not understand it.”’ |

The colonel’s face clouded a bit.

‘Don’t mind me when I have those} <é
e _ spells,’’ he entreated. “The best way is
not to notice me at all.”’ : ;

put Frank thought of - spot on the

reas-

]

man |

ill |

I have en-|

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

man’s breast, and of the baleful liquid
that had been injected into his blood. He
felt sure it was that which had wrought
such a change in the man, and he won-
dered how he had dared sleep in the room
where Cutting, in painful wakefulness,
walked the floor.

| The colonel was watching the face of
/his companion, and it seemed that he was
able to read Frank’s
“T shall not harm you—never fear,’

| was his assurance. ‘‘I am past that, and I
| have absolute control of myself.’’

| But, for all of this assurance, Frank
could not help thinking how little the
'man had control of himself the evening

thoughts.

before and on various occasions of late
i when he had been unable to prevent his
lmind from wandering.
The boy, however, believed in encour-
‘agement, and he said:

‘You are all right, colonel, but you
ac cease thinking of your misfortune, —
‘and put your mind on other things.’?
| Pll try
But first I must have some sleep.
After breakfast, Dundal will watch over

to while I rest.’’

| ‘‘That is good advice, my boy.
it.
|

the
influence of the to-
He would
inot lie down to sleep, however, till he
| was certain the faithful Indian was close
at hand and would remain there till he
awakened.

So they had breakfast, and then
‘colonel smoked, the

| bacco seeming to soothe him,

Frank and Kyto talked in a low tone
behind:a screen till after the colonel had
fallen asleep, and then they decided to go
out and look around some more. oS

sarely had they left the hotel when they

anese officers in regalia.

Just behind the officers were aman and —
boy, the fatter having a pair of beauti-
fully blackened eyes.

They were Wat Snell and his father. cs “ :

 

ihe of e pincers could speak English,

 

found themselves confronted by four Jap ee
~ senior.

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

and he informed Frank that he was under |!

arrest.
= Atrest T?
surprise and anger.
‘‘For murderous
the officer.
**Upon whom???

cried Frank, in mingled

“What for?”

,)

assault,

‘‘Upon my son, sit—upon my son!’

cried Joshua Snell, mushing forward and

shaking his cane at Merriwell.
“Ts that
‘Well, I
You have ny
But Joshua snarled and
bacco-stained teeth as if he were an angry

Frank.

Snell.

asked
Mr.
heartfelt sympathy.’

your son?’’

aml sorry for you,

showed his to-

iking his

dog g

>)
American lac

‘You'll
am through with you!
Look at his eyes! Look. at him!”’

‘‘Beautiful eyes!’’ smiled Frank.
told him I would make them mates, and,
by Jove! I did it.’’

“Vou'll pay d
Wat, triumphantly
father was a
country.”’

“Did you? I have forgotten it.

cane

again she
i.

Yes, that is my

son,

sarly for it!’’ declared
“T told

influence

you my

man of in

is like you—dirty.”’

“Oh, you keep right on talking while’
You'll find you’ve g6ét to go to?

: ‘ing his
out, |

you can!
prison,
either. ”’

““Not by a jugfull!’’ growled Snell,
‘Pll look out that you stay there,
my fine fellow.’’

“*You seem to be a very suitable father
for your son. Upon knowing you further,

I am much inclined to be sympathetic.”’
wasat

and you can’t be bailed

| bright.

) in
bumped them against

‘saulted

at the cool | i
‘| that he hired a gang of young ruffians to

be sorry for yourself before I|
ay

‘grimly from Frank.
/all these little things, and there will be a

- |day of reckoning.”’
this | :

So this |
is your game to get back at me? Well, it!
‘death of him.’

Wat grinned in high glee.

‘OT hat , Merriwell,’’ he cried.
‘You just keep it up, and the old man
will see that vou stay in prison the rest of
your life. He can keep you there, if he

. :
* rio ht
Ss right

iwants to,”’

‘Ts he the Mikado ?”’

‘*Perhaps you think that question is

Oh, you keep it up!”’
at my boy!” cried

>
his eyes.

them

**Look
‘Look at

Joshua.
He must have
something hard.” =
‘oPhat home how brutally you as-
and beat him. It is all the evi-
dence that is required against you.”’

‘tT have. seen

‘‘T presume he has told you a nice lit-
tle yarn, but I fancy he failed to mention
jump on Kyto and ‘ot haiyy and beat us.”’
“What's that? a iat are you trying to

| tell ane???

‘Don’t take any stock in his yarns,
governor,’’ warned Wat. ‘‘He was the
biggest liar at Fardale Academy.’

‘*Better Watson,’ came
“Tam noting down

go _ slow,

‘There, dad,’? said. Wat, -quickly;
‘fyou see it is just as I told you—-he is an
awful bully, and he always threatens.
Half the fellows at school were scared to

‘Well, he’ll have a eo chance to get
over his bullying habit while he is suck-
thumbs.”

‘‘T presume I am to be given a fair

trial ?’’ said Frank.

‘You'll find out.”
“You'll find | out,’? echoed Wat.
‘“Things are not run in this country just

‘as they are in the United States.”’

‘Not much,’’- put in Joshua. ‘‘And

‘Iny son has an opportunity now to settle
his old score against you.
‘me how he would have
‘Evidently Watson is a chip of the old!

He has told
got along at Far-
dale if 1t had not been for you. You were

block, and he is the one to be pitied, for determined he should not excel you in

he “didi have
father.”

“Oh, you insolent young rascal!
you dare talk to me in this ee me,
Sy ‘sir—me?"” ee | a

the choosing of his

0;

‘anything, and you kept him back by in-

timidation. In short, you ruined his ee
| pects at school.”’
Frank smiled scornfully.

“Does the old man believe this rot,
| Watson’ ao he asked.

 
  

24 FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

‘It is true—every word of it!’’ cried
Wat. ‘‘You know it is!’

Frank saw that Wat had made his
father believe he had been persecuted at
Fardale. He knew it would be quite use-
less to tell Joshua the truth, and so |!
remained silent.

Snell, senior, seemed boiling over with
wrath, and he would have stormed at
Merriwell for some time longer if one of |8
the officers bee not objected, as a crowd
was gathering.

“ATL right! all right!’’ spluttered the
man, ‘Take them away—take them both
away, officers.”’

‘“What!’’ cried Frank.
atrested, Kyto?’’

Then he saw that two of the officers
had placed themselves on either side of
the Japanese youth.

‘‘Ves,.me ’lested,’’ sorrowfully nodded
Kyto.

‘‘Sure!’’ grinned Wat. ‘‘Think I am
going to have him coming around and
bothering Saso! Not much!”’

‘‘He aided an the assault upon my son,”’

 
 
     

iS

 

‘‘Are you also

 

said Joshua. ©

“Tt is a nice little plot!’ exclaimed |
Frank. ‘‘But, as a rule, your plots have|
slipped up in the past, Wat, and {am in-
clined to think this one may.”’

**We’ll see about that.”’

**You are right.”’

TE 4s useless to bandy words with
them, governor,’ said -Wat. eet them
be taken away.’

The man gave a signal, and in a Aoi:
ling the officers whipped out some stout
cords, grasped the boy and the young Jap,
forced the hands of the prisoners behind |
them, and tied them thus.

This was an indignity Frank had not
anticipated, and he turned pale with
anger, which, however, he held in check.

Wat saw Frank grow pale, and attrib-
uted it to fear, which caused him to aauge
and sneer.

_ **Now you are begining to realize the
kind of a box you are in,’’ he jeered.
“*You’ll have a nice time before you get
out !”’

Frank gave the dastardly fellow a look,
but uttered not a word.

__ ‘Then the prisoners were marched off to
jail, forced to travel through the princi
: ‘Pal siserty with a curious crowd following.

 

 

CHAPTER VIII.
A REJECTED PROPOSAL.

The cell in which Frank was incar-

1e
icerated was gloomy and bare, but the

walls were rather frail in appearance, and
Frank began to believe it must be no
great feat to escape from the place.

He changed his mind about this when
he found that never for a moment that he
could discover were the eyes of an armed
guard taken off him.

The guard was relieved often, but each
one was as vigilant as his predecessor.

Frank tried to talk with them, but
they shook their heads and signed that
they did not understand English.

The boy wondered how long he would
remain in that cell before he was brought
to trial. «

Kyto had been imprisoned in another
cell, so the two could not communicate
with each other.

The time dragged slowly.

Frank did stat Gaes he could to amuse

himself, waiting patiently for something
to happen.
He had tried to send word to Colonel

Cutting, but this privilege had been re-—

fused him.

However, he felt sure the colonel must
know the truth already, for the arrest had
taken place directly in front of the hotel,

where it had been witnessed by many

persons.

That the colonel would do everything

possible to intercede in his behalf Frank

| had not the slightest doubt, but he won-

'dered just how much the man could do.

Not wishing to trouble himself by be- =

coming needlessly angry, the boy reso-

lutely refused to think about his own ar-
rest, and set at it trying to devise some

scheme to assist Kyto and Saso.

He was brought some food after he had 3 :

been in the prison several hours, and a
ate as heartily as possible.
Later in the day Joshua Snell called.

“‘Huah!’’: grunted the man. , vou a
don’t seem to be worrying much.’ ‘dangle

‘(What's the good of it?” Oe sone

coolly. ‘‘I am_ here, and IT may as well

fale itcéasy.'? =:
‘‘You area hardened young scenedsan

   

, “Thank eee Pll not take ay: i im at.

  

  

  
  
  
  
 

 

   

e&>

sti

  

 

 

   
     
 

  
   
   
FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

being complimentary, as it might hurt!
| true.’

your feelings.”

““Huah!””

-Frank had a way of saying things so
they cut deeply, and Sneli was crimson
with anger.

The man glared at the boy some
moments, and then, with a yawn, Frank
asked:

‘“When does the trial come off ?’’

“Fhe trial?’

6tVes, Sf

‘“There will not be a trial.”’

“(No ?”?

*** No, sir!’

‘Why not???

‘**Tt is not necessary.”” -

‘“How is that?’

‘The matter is settled.”’

“*Is that so?’

“‘Of course it is.”’

_ ‘"Who settled it?”

sd did.”?

“*By Jove! that’s cool!’

‘It is possible you begin to realize
your situation. It is possible you begin to
understand how much influence I have in

Yokohama.”
_ “You do seem to be a sort of chief high

mogul, or something of the sort. How

did you settle this affair ?”’
) “By proving that you attacked my son
in a most murderous manner.’’ °

“But didn’t I have anything to say in
the matter at all ?’’

Joshua showed his discolored teeth in a
crafty smile.

‘*T looked out for that,’’ he said.

Frank whistled.

Well, this is queer sort of justice!’’ he
exclaimed. ‘

‘‘Oh, yes, you are beginning to. under-
stand!’’ chirped the man. °

“Yes, I think I am. How long dolI
_ stay here?’’

‘As long as I wish to keep you here.”’

“Well, that is interesting! How long
do you intend to keep me here?’?

‘*A year, perhaps. ’’

*‘And all because I gave your boy a
pair of black eyes when he came with a
gang to do me up?”’

“Oh, that story of a gang is a fabrica-
tion, and you know it!”’

 

25

possible I would have proved that it was

‘Well, I didn’t give you a chance. I
have wanted an opportunity to square
with you ever since I heard how you
treated Watson at school.’’

‘I don’t suppose you ever knew of
your son telling you anything that was
not strictly true?”’

“‘Huah! Oh, in minor matters—minor
matters—he . may sometimes be—er—’

slightly—slightly nee
**T have no doubt of it. “Now, let me

tell you something: I have been ‘unjustly
imprisoned here, and there is going to be
serious trouble about itif I am not released
without delay.”’

The man forced a laugh that y was harsh
and unpleasant.

‘*You talk boldly.”’

‘*You will find out it is not entirely a
case of talk.’

‘““Why, what can you do?’

‘*T have friends who can do something,
and you will find they are not weak.
This affair will be investigated.’

‘‘Bah! ‘They may investigate.”’

‘‘When my turn comes, as it will, I
may see fit to press you hard, Mr. Snell.”

“‘Oh, that does not worry me.’’? ~

Still Frank was confident that Joshua
Snell was not a little disturbed, for all of
his effort to appear composed.

“It may not worry you, but the time
will come when you’ll wish you had been
worried about it”? .

‘*Nonsense! However, I am inclined to

‘be easy with you.’?

‘*How kind!”’

‘*Yes, I am more generous than I ought
to be. Wat insists that you be kept in
prison a year, but I think that is too.
much.”?

“And so I presume you fancy about six

months will do?’

‘“That would be about right, but I ae
a proposition to make.’’

Frank was silent.

‘‘Do you want to hear it ?”’ uihiaxple de-
manded the man.

“Oh, you may” make it if you want
to. I am indifferent.’

Joshua did not like this. He had fan-.
cied the boy would be a to hear what
he proposed. 3

Sit AS. pele you do not cade

 
26

ime,’’ he said,
concerning your

“Well ?”?

“*T thought you would be
to hear it.’

‘*For various
anxious.’ 4

‘““Give your reasous.’’

“TY don’t have to, but I will give one or
two of them. In the first place, I am cer-
tain that any proposal you may make will |
be to your advantage and niy disadvan-
tage. In the second place, I know I shall |
soon be released through the influence and
intervention of friends, regardless
you.

release.’

reasons, I am not at all)

Joshua Snell was angry, and he stormed
z fiercely. What sort of a boy was this, who |
had such nerves,
the least before him?
derstand Frank Merriwell. He had }
accustomed to riding roughly over every-|
body, and having things go pretty much |
as he desired, but Here was a lad, who)
would not be intimidated.

Frank saw that he was getting
man aroused, and, as Joshua became
turbed, the boy grew cool again.

“You'll never. be released from prison |
unless it is by my directions,’’ declared |
the excited man.

‘‘Now, say,’’. drawled the boy, who)
was serenely squatting on the floor of his
cell, ‘‘if you’ve got any sporting blood in
your veins, I'll go you something on that.
What will you bet ?””. .

Suell stamped.

‘Bet!’ he cried.
ting now ?’?

‘Why not?’

‘“You’re a bigger fool than I thought!”’

‘Well, you are about the kind of an
old knave that makes the sort of son who
calls you dad.”’

‘Insolence !”’

‘““Think so? Remember I am a pris-
oner, and you began calling names.’
‘tT hadn’t ought to waste my

with you”’

‘“That’s right. Go away and leave me
alone. I will call on you with some off-
cers just as soon as I get out. Perhaps
_ they have cells that are more comfortable

than this. You had better make arrange- | w
ments for one of them.”?

the
dis-|

time

‘‘Thave a proposal tomake|the point of leaving,

of {man angrily demanded:

and who did not quail in | |
He could not un-|

|
een |

‘Do you talk of bet-| ,

jhe was led forth,
J oshua Pretender to turn away as if-0 on | was ie to depart.

FRANK MERRIWELL fN JAPAN.

but he quickly
iturned back, saying:

| “T will make the proposal anyway. I

rather anxious | want to be thoroughly understood in this

| matter.
Frank was silent.
“It 45.this,’” said “the “man, = ‘it
| will agree to leave Japan at once, and
| will take the Japanese called Kyto with
/you, you shall be set at liberty in time to
\go aboard a steamer that sails for Hono-
| lulu to-morrow.”’
|. Frank was still silent, and,
to

you

after wait-
speak, the,

|ing some minutes for him

| ‘‘Well, what do you say to it?”
| -**What do I say???
‘“Yes; do you accept the offer ?”’
ae
‘Vou will not?”?
SiN: »)
‘*Be careful.
| not repeat it.’’
‘Tt will do you no good if you do repeat
it, so I advise you to spare your breath,”’
‘“You are foolish—you are reckless.
Just consider that Ican keep you here a
year if I wish to.”’ '
| ‘‘T will not consider that,
'do not believe it.’
| ‘*¥ou will consider it. after you have
| been here a few days,’ ’ snapped Joshua.
| ‘711 leave you to think it over.”
Then he departed.

You’ll be sorry. I may

because I

—_—

CHAPTER IX.
A’ CAPTIVE.

SsSASO

Sf
The day passed, and no word came
from Colonel Cutting, although Frank
had expected his friend would send him
word in some way.

When night came the boy was given
no bedfling, and was forced to sleep on
the hard floor as best he could. Be

He spent a most dismal night of it, be-
ing cold and uncomfortable, and dream-
ing unpleasant things.

Frank was relieved when
came, and he was forced to confess to —
himself that he did not desire to pass -
another such night. re

He was not compelled to, for, some-—

what to his surprise, at a very early hour —
and informed that he |

‘He tried to find « out:

 

 

morning =
FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

how this came about, but was unsuccess- |
fyil till he reached the hotel and saw Colo-
nel Cutting, who was awaiting his ar-|
rival.

‘*Well, well’? exclaimed the man, as|
he grasped Frank’s hand. ‘‘You have!
had an experience’’

‘*Rather so,’’ smiled the lad.
do things in queer ways here.
jugged without trial, and released with-
out knowing how they happened to let
me go.”’

‘“They let you go because I made a
big racket over it. I went to the United
States cousul, and told him everything.
He knows Mr. Snell, and he proceeded to
call on that gentleman, taking me with
him. Mr. Snell was convinced that he
had made a slight, mistake, and he
agreed to withdraw the complaint against
you. Your release was ordered last night,
but it took till this morning to bring it
about. ”’

Frank was pleased by the changed ap-
pearance of the colonel, who seemed to
have forgotten about himself for the
time.

“But where is Kyto?’’ asked the boy.

“J think he will be released to-day.”’

‘“Then you have done something for
him ?”?

“Certainly.

‘They

He ismy servant, and I

propose to see that he has a square deal.’? |

‘“*T presume, Wat Snell was for holding
him in order to keep him from Saso.’’
‘*Saso? Seems to me you told
something of a person by that name?’’

me

“4 ’ »
c ; s ce |
I did, but you must have been think Had he had falsely imprisoned.

ing of other matters at the time.’
‘‘T have been thinking of other mat-
ters much of late—too much, perhaps.”’
Frank once nfore told ‘the colonel of
the romance between Kyto and Saso, and

. how the latter was detained by the
- Snells.

“OW el, we will see what can be done
about that as soon as my boy is set at
liberty. Perhaps the Snells ee be in-
duced. to release Saso,’’

They had breakfast, wae iSeok talked
to the colonel about his recent adventure
and about helping the Japanese lovers.

“We will go and see Mr. shua Snell
this very forenoon,” declared the man.

A d a8 after breakfast, ‘they left the

I was, te

27

(hotel and took jinrikishas for the tea
| house, of which the American was the
| pr oprietor. ;

Entering the place, Frank observed
ithat Saso was not among the girls who
were on hand to serve customers.

Colonel Cutting seemed quite like his
usual self.as he strode in and demanded
see Joshua Snell. He bore an air of
‘command and dignity that seemed ‘nat-
lural with htm and was very impressive.
Joshua. received them in his private
| office, which -he had arranged in Ameri-
jcan fashion. ‘To Frank’s surprise, the
man was smiling and affable, bowing,
smirking, and rubbing his hands.

““Ah, sir—ah, Colonel Cutting!’ he
purred, ‘‘I am pleased to see you, and I
am delighted to see that Mr. Merriwell
was released promptly this morning, as
I desired. I beg Mr. Merriwell’s pardon
for any inconvenience to which I have
put him—lI am extremely sorry. It was
all a mistake. Watson, it seems, did not
tell me the exact truth concerning the
affair. Of course Mr. Merriwell has a
right to defend himself, and I should not
have interposed in a boyish quarrel. Ah,
well! we have to live and learn. I don’t
suppose there are any of us too old to
learn something. The lessons of life are
sometimes severe, but, if we are. wise, we
may profit by them.’ .

Frank was disgusted with this hypo-
critical cant. He would have thought
more of the man if he had openly de-
clared that he was still the enemy of-the

|

Colonel Cutting was not in the least
deceived. He retained ail his dignity

|and impressiveness, as he said:

‘“‘Mr. Snell, we have called to see you
on another matter of importance. ’’

“Ves, sir—quite so, colonel. I shall.
be pleased to serve you in any way, if it
is in my power to do so. Kindly state
your business.’’ .

‘It seems that there is a girl in your
employ to whom my cook, Kyto, is at-
tached. In short, they are loveérs.”’

“Really ! really! You don’t tell me!

the girl?”
‘(She is known as Saso.”

 

Joshua Saell stiffened uP, | Tooking sur-

 

Why, this is very nrg. Who is :
  

28

prised. He lifted his
shrugged his shoulders.

‘“There was a girl by that name
my employ,’’ he said.

‘There was? Do you mean to tell me
she is not in your employ now ?”?

**Hxactly so, sir.’’

‘*How does that happen? She was here
yesterday.”’

‘‘Ouite true, but my son found that
she was not stich a girl as we care to
have here, and he discharged her last
night. You see, colonel, Jam bound to
keep a thoroughly respectable place, as
my patrons are of the very best class.’’

Frank was indignant.

‘‘Do you mean to say that Saso is not

_respectable?’’ he asked, restraining his
anger and contempt with difficulty.

in

The man trubbed his hands and
shrugged again.
“Oh, no, Ido not mean to say any-

thing about it,’’ he declared, in a mean-
ing manner. ‘‘But I intend to have no
one but respectable persons in my ein-
ploy. ”

‘“That is rough on the respectable per-
sons who have to work for you! You are
so eminently respectable yourself that I
presume you will not tolerate anything
that is not just. right in your help!”’

‘“That is the truth, although I perceive

that you intended it for sarcasm. I have
always led a respectable life, and——”’
* ‘Oh, drop this!’? broke in Colonel
, Cutting, sharply, as if nauseated. ‘‘If
Saso has been discharged, where is she
now ?”?

‘“That is something I am unable to
tell you, sir. As soon as she left my em-
ploy I had no further interest in her.”’
ga “Oh, it is a big bluff!’ broke in

a Frank. ‘‘Saso has not been discharged,
‘for Wat Snell would not let her go with
ae Kyto last night.”’
fee Joshua looked shocked eeu indignant,

holding up his hands.
Ee “Do you mean to infer that I am tell-
fe. ing an untruth ?’’ he ‘gasped. “‘Why, I
would not do such a thing for the
world !’?
*‘Oh, of course not !’’
“Took here, Mr. Snell,’’ said the colo-
nel, ‘‘I understand that this girl is in-
— debted to you in some way ?’’
¥ epits is true. She needed the necessary

 
 

joyed when he saw Frank.

     
  
   
    
    
  
  
 
   
  
  
  
    
  
   
 
    
   

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

eyebrows, nO to make her presentable when

she entered my employ, and I advanced
the money, which was a dead loss, as she
lias never repaid me.”’

‘‘How much did you advance her ?’’

Joshua figured a moment, and then
named astm between four and five dol-
lars.

‘*Well,’’ said Cutting, ‘‘you produce
the girl, release her from her contract
with you, and turn her over to me, and
I will pay you that sum with as much
more for interest. ’’ }

‘‘T would do it instantly if it were pos-
sible, but I tell you she is no longer in
my employ.”’ |

‘‘Mr. Snell, you came near getting
yourself into a very bad scrape when you
caused the imprisonment of this boy, and
you had better go slow now, for you may
get yourself intoa much worse one. I[
have taken an interest in this affair, and
I shall see it through. If I find this girl
has not left your enploy—well, you will
hear from me.”’

The proprietor of the tea house tried to
look injured and indignant.

‘You wrong me by such suspicions, r
said, with a sniff.

‘‘Do you refuse to produce the girl ?”’

‘*T can’t do what is impossible. ”

‘‘Very well. It seems pretty certain

that you will hear from me again. Come,

Frank, we will go.”’

he

force matters then, and, giving Joshua a
meaning look, he followed the colonel
from the office. Neither of them replied
when Snell bade them good day.

OF course the girl
where,’’ said Frank, “when they were on
the street again. :

“I think so,’’ said the colonel; tte
we could not force him to give her up.
just then.’ 7 ‘a

‘*What shall we do?”’ oS

tee have to take time to consider the sate
matter.’ ys

Back to the hotel they went, and Kyto— “
was found ‘awaiting them. He was ovet=

1

et

“Glit lout all right,”’ he eried” “Didn't 2
know you was lout, till clome here, and
they say you been here before.”?

 

They sat down and _ talked ateetes
over. E30: was greatly excited ;

atae

Frank saw it was useless to try to Be

is there some- 7h

        
     
       
    

ai oh

 

 

 
    

to
th
m

    
   
     
       
     
     
     
       
       
         
         
       
    

 
     
       
       
      
 
 
       
    
 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN. 29

told of their recent expedition and the|money with which to engage several as-
assertion of Joshua Snell that Saso was/|sistants, and the tea house, in which it
no longer in his employ. |was believed the girl was confined, was
“phat blig lie!’ cried the Jap. ‘‘Saso| watched on all sides.
know where I slop, and she clome here} Night came.
quick if she be let glo.”’ | Frank and Kyto had secliided them-
‘fT thought as much,’’ said Frank.|selves near a rear entrance to the tea
“‘Now we must find out what has hap- house, believing Saso was likely to-be re-
pened to Saso—what they have done with | mov ed that way.
fer”? | Their judgment préved good, for, late
“oes, ?? |in the evening, four men brought up a
‘*How-can we do it?’ norimon, stopped at the back of the build-
That was something for them to study ing, and gave a peculiar signal.
over, and none of them could arrive at | Instantly Frank did not doubt but the
satisfactory conclusion. |norimon was brought to carry the cap-
At last. Kyto said: | tive girl away in, as that would be a good
**‘T have to watch lout. Mebbe I flind| mode of removing her quietly.
out something. ”’ | ‘The norimon is a box of light bamboo,
‘Vou mean that you will watch the | with inclosed sides, having two small
téa house.”’ 'doors, which may be closed by means of
Lesa. curtains. It is large enough for one per-
‘*T am afraid that will do no good.”’ son to occupy comfortably. The box is
- *Tt can do no harm, if Kyto takes care ‘slung from a long pole, and the pole rests
to keep out of sight of the Snells,’’ said|on the shoulders ‘of the coolie carriers.
the colonel. ‘‘While he is watching we, Shortly after the signal was given the
may be able to devise some other scheme.’’| rear door of the tea house opened cau-
So it was decided that Kyto should try|tiously, and some one peered out. Then
to play the spy, and he set out todo so. | there was an exchange of signals, and a
It was in the middle of the afternoon |man slipped out.
that he returned to the hotel, throbbing} ‘This man was a Jap, as Frank and Kyto
with excitement. _ _ |eould see from their hiding-places. He
* ov know where Saso bei” he cried. | spoke hurriedly and guardedly to the car-
I had little letter flom her. tiers of the norimon, and then flitted
‘fA letter ?’’ exclaimed Frank. back into the building, closing the door
*‘Ves, here it be. One glirl bling it to| behind him.

_ me; Saso glive it to her. Glirl ‘saw me Five minutes passed, and the door

. ”) . ;
watching. opened again. Once moré somebody

re +>)? ; :
eg ae ah ae Wat Snell. peered out, again signals were exchanged,
ee ee es ee at onell. | and then three men—or two men and a

He shut her lup so she can’t glow ’way boy—left the building.

at ae ae : The two men were carrying a huge
at knew it!) cried Frank. bundle, which did not struggle or resist.
: To-night they glo to take her ’way| ‘The sight of the bundle caused Kyto to
2 slome oder place. shake with eagerness and excitement,
ae ‘So that is their scheme? Well, We} and he longed to rush to the rescue.
will ‘be on hand to thwart ars Kyto. But Frank had taken care to make the
There is ae be a racket in Yokohama| tananese youth promise to keep still and
o-night! await his movements, so Kyto held him-
; self in check.
CHAPTER X. The men hurried toward the norimon,
ie a into which they were on the point of
THE SIGN OF THE AVENGER. thrusting the bundle. |
<. Then Frank whistled sharply, and
sak aul Kyto made arrangements to| leaped toward them, crying: Se
nt the carrying away of Saso by| ‘‘Come on, Kyto!??. foe
‘Snell. ‘Frank oe the Jap with | he Japanese yeu was with him in

 

 
30 FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

a twinkling, and they attacked the kid-|once more as night came on; but he was
napers like two infuriated creatures. | pacing the room, smoking and waiting.
The coolies were frightened, and they | ‘Well, Frank?’ he asked, as soon as ©
lost no time in» abandoning the norimon/|the boy came in.
and scampering away. ‘*YVes, very well,’’ was the smiling re-
“Give it to ’em, Kyto!’’ shouted|ply. ‘“‘It-was too easy, and that is all I
Frank, as he bowled one of the menjhave to find fault about. I expected a
over. ‘‘Sail into them!’ | gteat racket, but we did the trick with-
Sail into them they did, and the at-j|out a struggle.’
tack was so sudden and unexpected that; He then told the entire story, to. which
an easy victory was won. | Cutting. listened, although Frank noticed
As the last one was scampering away, |that he frequently looked behind him
Frank grabbed him. and did not pay close attention to all
It proved to be Wat Snell, who began | that was being said.
to whimper and beg. | ‘‘Well,’’ sighed the man, ‘‘Kyto is _ all
“Don’t hurt me, Merriwell!’’ entreated | right. If anything should happen to me,
the contemptible fellow. *‘‘I’m no match | Frank, I want to see that he receives a
for you! Please don’t!’ ‘fair half of my money, which.
“Oh, you ought to have your head|sewed into my clothing. Dundal is to
- broken!’ cried Frank, fiercely, ‘‘But I|have the other half. They have been
will let you off with—this!”” lfaithful. I have made my will, which is
A small canal ran at the back of the |also concealed in my clothes in the lin-
tea-house, and Frank dragged Wat to ing of this coat.”
the bank and flung him in, leaving him ‘Colonel, vou are in a bad way, and
to get out as best he might. ie must do something to. brace up.
By the time Frank had attended | You have seen no enemy since leaving
Wat, Kyto had unmuffled and Safari ‘India, and it is almost certain that you
Saso, and they were in each other’s arms. | will never be troubled again. You gave
‘There is no time for billing and coo- your foes the slip.”’
ing,’’ said the boy, sharply. ‘‘We’ll have}. Cutting sadly shook his head.
to hustle out of this.’’. | Vou think so,’’ hesaid; ‘‘but Iknow.
Hustle they did. ‘I have been rarned, and the feeling is
It had been decided that, if Saso was;strong upon me. You know my secret,
rescued, they should not take her to the| boy. ‘Promise me you will keepit! Prom- —
hotel where they had been stopping, but’ ise me that, when I am gone, you will ©
should go with her to the house of an/ never let it ‘be known that the accursed —
American missionary, who was licensed | liquid was injected into my veins!’
to perform the marriage ceremony. ‘‘T promise, colonel. ’? ae
This arrangement was carried out: The! ‘‘It is not entirely the fear of death, —
missionary was called up, and the lovers|Frank, that unmans me; but it is the —
were soon standing hand-in-hand while |feeling that the accursed stuff is robbing —
the good man pronounced the words that|me of my soul! Think of it! It is fright- =
made them man and wife. (fal)? .

“Now,” said Kyto, when it was over, | The boy saw Cutting was in a bad
‘me all light. Me pay ole Snell what! way, and he did all he could to calm him,
Saso owe. Ifman clome what bought) but was not very successful. eens

her, me pay him, and then nobody can} When Frank fell asleep the colonel was
take her.’’ . restlessly walking the’ floor.
The missionary was very kind, and

gave the newly martied couple liberty to|the colonel in a “most pitiful oni
stop with him that night. His eyes were wild, his face ‘pale and

Frank returned to the hotel, where drawn, and his hands shook. a

~. Colonel. ‘Cutting was awaiting the out- “Tt is the dreadful stuff at work

_ = come of the affair. his system,’’ thought the boy. a

The colonel had not dared to venture thing must be done for him, ar ni
forth, having become nervous and one not delay longer.”

 

 

 
 

Frank went out. Ashe did so, glancing
between two screens, he saw Dundal,

FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

the |

   

31
|that Colonel Cutting had disappeared, but
had left behind him a communication -for »
| Frank.

| With fingers that were not quite steady,
\the boy tore open the envelope and took

|out the paper inclosed.

| ee
| This is what he read:

- natiwe,servant, still sleeping on the floor.
- The Morning was very warm, and|
~ 4 Frank carried afan to aid him in keeping
1 comfortable.
a At the very door he met Kyto who was
4 dressed most gorgeously in Japanese}

style, and looked rather .odd, as he had
been wearing clothes similar to Frank’s.
“Me celablate!”’ laughed the bride-
groom. ‘‘Feel plitty well this mornin
Glo lup see colonel.’’
' Frank thought Kyto might be able to
divert Cutting’s mind for a short time,
; and so he accompanied the Jap back to the
4 rooms, where Cutting was still pacing the
=4 «floor.
To the boy’s surprise, the
- seemed to have grown worse with
-tapidity. He scarcely noticed Kyto,
| Frank decided to arouse Dundal, and he
hastened to do so. A moment later he ut-
tered a cry that brought Kyto and the
colonel hastening to his side.
On the floor lay Dundal, quite dead, a
livid circle about his neck, which told
that he had been strangled.
bare breast was a blood-red ring, in the
middle of which was a crimson cross.
‘“See there!’’? came hoarsely from the
ips of Colonel Cutting, as he pointed at
he mark. ‘‘It isthesign of theavenger!”’
Frank was horrified. How had it come
“about? He felt certain that when he had
eft the hotel, not more than fifteen min-
“7 utes before, Durtdal had been peacefully
sleeping on the floor. Now the fellow was
ead! —
- ‘The boy touched the body, and found it
had not grown cold.
_ The murder had just been committed ! |
He questioned the colonel.

or
5°

  

colonel
great

   
   

 

 
  
   
    
  
   
   
     
   
  
    
    
  
   
  
   
   
  

after

 

ne rooms _Frank left, but the boy

   
    
 

‘here is no escape! The feet of the
aoe are shod with silence. No one

   
  
  

notified at once, aa he arena to in-
the eerictor of the hotel. 2
ok *

  

~

 

a

 

* *

 

   

And on his!

Ctitting insisted that no one had entered 2

| ‘DEAR. FRANK:—By the time this
|reaches your eye all will be over, for I
‘have decided to escape the avenger by

i $ ;
'taking my own life. . The avenger? I do
not know as there is an avenger! But

there is a great.horror upon me, and it is
driving me mad. My father before me
died in a madhouse, and my grandfather
took his own life. I shall fling myself into
the bay, and, to save you trouble, I leave
my clothes which I usually wear where
you will find them. My all goes to Kyto,
now that Dundal is dead. Poor Dundai!
Did I dream that it was my hand that——
'Ah! there is the horror! Am I mad al-
lready, or is it the accursed: stuff in my
|blood? Good-by, Frank! Farewell!
“CUTTING.”’

 

°

Frank found the man had, in truth,
left his clothes, and the boy took charge
of them, discovering the will and money
concealed in them, as the colonel had
said.

Then he employed parties to search for
the body. It was found on the following
day.

Before the colonel was buried, Frank
looked for the spot upon his breast. To
the boy’s astonishment, it was not there.
It had disappeared, as if the water had
washed it away.
| "Then Frank read the letter again, and
a strange belief grew upon him. He be-

gan tov think that Colonel Cutting had
been slightly deranged for years, which
accounted for the mysterious manner in
which he had left the United States S army
and had fled from the country. .

Frank even began to doubt if the man

had been troubled by an avenger, as he

 

‘believed. He saw by the note that Cut-
ting had doubted it hiniself at the last
moment. Was it possible that the colonel

had* painted the spot upon his own breast,
and had made himself believe that the
liquid which turned men into beasts. had.
been injected 3 into his veins?

 

  
32 FRANK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN.

_ In such a case it was easy to understand
the disappearance of the spot. FOR EVERYBODY.
Then who had killed Dundal? TEN CENTSEACH,

~The thought sickened Frank, and,
The following list of books will be found useful, entertaining, and |

reading the note once more, he Saw that full of instructive information for all. They are handsomely
bound in attractive covers, printed on good quality paper, illus-

the colonel himself had been seized with ' trated, and are marvels of excellence. These books have never
before been offered at such a low figure. The price, 10 cents each

doubt and horror when he _ speculated | itcuaes postage.
upon it. JSEFUL AND INSTRUCTIVE INFORMATION,

And so the mystery of Colonel Cutting’! ainum writer's Assistant. Boys’ Own Book of Boats.
- Short Hand for Everybody. The Book of Knowledge.
was never cleared up. How to Do Business. Everyday Cook Book.

7 ; %< | Amateur’s Manual of Photography. The Taxidermist Manual.
But = a obtained au ne a S| Mills’ Universal Letter-Writer. Good Housekeeping.
money, which was enougn to make 1€
ys 5 GAMES AND SPORTS.
Jap wealthy in that country, and he was

° i i The Hunter and Angler. The International Cricket Guide.

able to settle with Snell, besides paying a! The Complete Angler. Amateur and Professional Oarsman’s

lib lb : ] | 1 d Riding and Driving. Manual.

1bera onus to the man who had pur-'! poe's Foot-Ball. Complete Training Guide for Amateur
‘ ‘ Campbell’s Lawn Tennis. Dunn’s Fencing Instructor.

chased Saso in the first place, for that The Complete Checker Player. Capt. Webb’s Swimming

; ; Backgammon and Bagatelle. Instructor.
man appeared after a while. Out Door Sports. Aquatic Quide; or, Yachting and

The Young Gymnast. Sailing.
FORTUNE-TELLING.

[THE END. ] Napoleon’s Book of Fate. Cupid’s Dream Book*
Zola’s Dream Book.

 

‘TRICKS,
Herrman’s Black Art. Heller’s Hand Book of Magic.
The Way to Do Magic. Herrman’s Tricks with Cards.

“RRANK MERRIWELL’S DEATH SHOT; RECITATIONS AND READINGS.

e
IG Tory ” The Peerless Reciter. Select Recitations and Readings.
or, ROUGHING IT IN AuSTRALIA,”’ by the) He Young Elocutionist. The Standard Reciter. —

vc ‘ : 9 ae
author of Frank Merriwell, Ww ill -be These books will be sent-prepaid upon receipt of 10 cents each:

When ordering, please be particular to seud the full title of the
published 1 7 the next number (37) of the book desired, also your full ee aun address. The books are 10 |

r cents eac poste uge free. Ad ;
Tip‘ToP LIBRARY. LANUAL L ABRARY,, 5 Rose st., New York.

Th c Ti 'D Top | Laces Pate ae
Fifty Cents. O Ud rt eC r ly d

Number 2 of the Tip Top Oussledly 3 is now ready, containing in one ele 3
- ume thirteen of the famous Frank Merriwell stories complete, and cnet :
/ and thirteen illuminated photo-engraved illustrations. _ mh

_ The Frank Merriwell Stories

to the core. They have received universal conimendation, and the Tip Top
~ Quarterly is issued in response to numerous inquiries for a complete series oO
_ the Merriwell stories. . ,

 

 

_ For sale by newsdealers everywhere, or sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt
-of tare » by the pas : | STREER. & SMITH, New —

 
 

 
Thirty-two Pages. ee
Price Five Cents.

Tip Top ,
“Libraryeeans

Me"
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF FRANK MERRIWELL CAN _
BE. FOUND ONLY IN-THE TIP TOP LIBRARY.
AIvrr*

1.—Frank Merriwell; or
Burt L. Standish.

First Days at Fardale. By | 21.—Frank Merriwell’s Double; or, Fighting for Life
and Honor. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merri-
well.”’

22.—Frank
Danites.

2.—Frank Merriwell’s Foe; or, ‘‘Plebe’’ Life in Bar-
racks. By Burt L. Standish.

8.—Frank Merriweli’s Medal; or, ‘‘Plebe’’ Life in 23
Camp. Bythe Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.’’ | ~*

Merriwell Mesbed; or, The Last of the :

By the Author of +: frank Merriwell.’>
Frank Merriwell’s Fairy: or, The Hermit of Yel
lowstone Park. By the Author of ‘‘Frank

4.—Frank Merriwell’s Rival; or, By Fair Play or
Foul. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.’?’

5.—Frank Merriwell’s Fault; or, False Steps and Foul
Snares. By the Author of ‘*Frank Merriwell.”’

6.—Franuk Merriwell’s Frolics; or, Fun and Rivalry at
Fardale. By the Author of ‘‘ Frank Merriwell.’’

7%7.—Frauk Merriwell’s Mysterious Ring; or, The Man
in Black. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.’’

8.—Frank Merriwell’s Fag; or, Fighting for the Weak.
By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.’’

9.—Frank Merriwell’s Furlough; or, The Mystery of
the Old Mansion. By the Author of ‘‘ Frank
Merriwell.’’

10 —Frank Merriwell on His Mettle: or, Wield Day at
Fardale. By the Author of ‘‘ Frank Merriwell.’’

11.—Frank Merriwell’s Fate; or, The Old Sailor’s
Legacy. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.’’

12.—Frank Merriwell’s Motto; or, The Young Life
Savers. By the Author of ‘‘ Frank Merriwell.’’

18.—Frank Merriwell in New York; or, Fighting an
Unknown Foe. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Mer-
riwell.’’

14.—Frank Merriwell in Chicago; or, Meshed by Mys-
teries. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell ’’

15.—Frank Merriwell in
Train Wreckers.
Merriwell.’’

36.— Frank Merriwell in Arizona; or, The Mysteries of
the Mine. By the Author of ‘‘ Frank Merriwell.’’

17.—Frank Merriwell in Mexico; or, The Search tor the
Silver Palace. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Mer-
riwell.’’

18.—Frank Merriwell in New Orleans; or, The Queen of
Flowers. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.”’

19.—Frank Merriwell’s Mercy; or, The Phantom of the
Everglades. By the Author of “rank Mer-
riwell.’’ 4

20.—Frank Merriwell’s Friend: or, Muriel the Moon-
shiner. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.”’

Colorado; or, Trapping the
By the Author of ‘‘Frank

 

| 32.— Frank

 

Merriwell.’’

24.—Frank Merriwell’s Money ; or, The Queen of the
‘*Queer’’? Makers. By the Author of ‘‘Frank
Merriwell.’’ ,

25.—Frank Merriwell’s Mission; or, The Mystie Valley
of the Andes. By the Author of “Frank
Merriwell.”

26.—Frank Merriwell’s Mysterious Foe: or, Wild Life
on the Pampas. By the Author of ‘‘Frank
Merriwell.’’ ;

27.—Frank Merriwell a Monarch; or, The King of
Phantom Island.
Merriwell.”

28.—Frank Merriwell in Gorilla Land; or, The Search
for the Missing Link. By the Author of
“Frank Merriwell.”’

29.—Frank Merriwell’s Magic.
“Frank Merriwell. ’

30.—-Frank Merriwell in France, or, The Mystery of
the Masked Unknown. By the Author of
‘Frank Merriwell.”

31. —Frank Merriwell’s Feat; or, The Queen of the Bull
Fighters. By the Author of “Frank Mer-
riwell.”

Merriwell in London; or, The Grip of
Doom. Sy the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.”

33 -—Frank Merriwell’s Venture; or, Driven from
Armenia. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.”

84.—Frank Merriwell in India; or, Hunting Human
Leopards. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merri-
well.’’

85.—Frank Merriwell’s Vow; or, After Big Game in
Ceylon. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.’’

36.—Frank Merriwell in Japan; or, The Sign of the
Avenger. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merri-
well.’’

By the

¢
87.—Frank Merriwell’s Death Shot; or, Roughing It
in Australia. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Mer-

riwell.

STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK.

DLAI

 

By the Author of ‘‘Frank ™

Author of .._