IP lOPWEEKLY.

“AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH ””

Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.00 per year. Jintered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Poat Office by STRHET & SMITH.

 

No. 102. NEW YORK, MARCH 26, 1808. Price 5 €ents.

 

PRANK TERRIwEle FAITH

OR THE SHADOW OF "A CRIME

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‘*YOU ARK MY PRISONER,’’ SAID THE SHERIFF, AS HE GRASPED BART HODGE.

 

 
 

 
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“AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH.”

  

WEEKLY.

 

Issued Weekly—Br ibseription $2.50 per year Prterved as Second Class \iatter at the N. Y. Post Off STREET & SMITH, 8 William
Begisty le Dntered Aceording to Act of Congre ss, in the Year 1898, in the Office of the Libvatien é of 7 Conair Washington, ”. "hk
No. 102 NEW YORK, “March. 26, 1808. Price Five Cents.

 

Contents of This Number.

Page.
FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH; or, The Shadow of a Crime - ~ = = = = = |,
ONE HUNDRED PRIZES - - : - a Z “ . . 29,
RESULT OF THE “OPINION CONTEST " - é + a 29.
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COMIC COLUMN z : 81.
APPLAUSE - i 31.

Frank Merriwell’s

Faith

OR,

THE SHADOW OF A CRIME.

By the Author of ‘‘FRANK MERRIWELL.”’

PROLOGUE.
A beautiful midsummer night. ‘The
moon high inthe sky is flooding Wild-

flower Dell with light. The soft perfume
of the flowers and the forest is in the air.
With a murmuring tinkle the little brook
flows through the like
silver in the moonlight.

dell, shimmering

Three white tents are pitched there in
the little glade It is warm to-night, and
their flaps are tied back that the air may
enter freely.

Within the tents
his friends are

Frank Merriwell and
At. Fardale they
are known as ‘‘the Yale crowd,”’

asleep.
although
three of them are not Yale students, and
five of them have been cadets at the
tary academy.

Although tired by a day of sport and

mili-

 

excitement, Merriwell himself does not
rest well. For some he cannot
Usually his sleep is dreamless, but
to-night is au exception. He
pleasant things, and, at last,
he rises and sits

reason,
sleep.
dreams un-
in disgust,
stool by the
open flap of his tent, looking out into the
glade.
Frank
off a feeling of impending evil.

on a Calip

to throw
Away in
a tree-toad is making a mourn-

shivers a bit and tries

the woods
ful sound that fills Merry with sadness.
There is a stir in camp. Out of one of
the tents creeps

‘Some other chap can’t sleep,
Frank.

sut the other one not sit at the
opening of his tent. He walks stealthily

across the glade, niaking straight, for the

a forni.

” think

does

 

    
   

  

2 FRANK

path that leads toward the distant road.

   
  
  
   
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
   
  
 
 
 

Ina moment he has vanished in the

shadows.

“tT wonder where Hodge has gone ?’’
murmurs Frank, and he sits there watch-
ing for the return of his friend.
_ The minutes turn to hours. The moon

steals over into the west. T'he tree-toad is
silent at last, and a breathless hush seems
to have fallen on all the world.

Tired of waiting for his friend’s return,
Frank had turned in again, but the snor-
ing of Browning near at hand, breaking
out suddenly now and then, does not let
him sleep save at intervals. He wonders

where Bart could have gone, and if he
has returned.

Finally, being awake once more, Frank
fancies he hears a snapping sound, as if a
stick had broken beneath a foot. He gets
up quietly and quickly and looks out into
the glade. © 3

Half the dell is in darkness now. Out
of this shadow creeps a from that hastens
toward one of the tents. At first Frank is
startled, for that cowering figure does not
look natural, but the moonlight shows
him it is Hodge who comes ‘thus, sneak-
ing into the camp like a guilty creature
that does not wish to be seen.

Without making any noise, Bart enters
his tent. Frank takes his watch and holds
it in the moonlight. .

‘*He’s been gone more than two hours, ’’
-mttters Merry. ‘‘What has he been do-

: )
ing?

 
   

nan el none \
i. CHAPTER: TI.

STRANGE.

   
 

SOMETHING

 

“This is the day we open the new Far-
dale baseball ground!’’ cried Rattieton,
stretching his limbsin the morning sun-
shine. ‘‘Hurrah!”’
eS VAWL.) Sard: Hans
emerging from a tent with apiece of soap
-inone hand and a towel inthe other.
“Uf dot don’d peen a great came petween

 
 
 
  

Dunnerwust,

 
 

 

    

 

 

MERKIWELL’S FAITH.

der Vardale cadets und Merrivell’s Yale

Gombine you vos a liar!’?

,

‘‘T feel just like playin’, b’gosh!’’ cried
d 7 oa

Ephraim Gallup, jumping into the air and
cracking his heels together. ‘‘ Never slept

oO
S

so gol darn well’s I did las’*night. Didn’t

oD

1 «
wiggle atoe from the time I turned in

» ae |

till I waked up this mornin’.
‘‘Nor I,’’ said Bart Hodge; ‘‘but I do
not seem to feel particularly well this
moruing.’’
He did not well. There was a
sallow look around his eyes, and his mo-
tions Jacked their usual snap. :
Dismal Jones gave Hodge a queer look.
‘*Methinks thouscouldst not have slept

appear

well,’’ he said, solemnly.

.  Bttt:t aid," : Bart. ‘‘Never
stirred all through the night. Don’t un-
derstand why I feel so tired this morn-

declared

; 99
ing.

‘There are things past all understand-
ing,’? croaked Jones, and there seemed a
hidden significance in his words.

“‘Shust you come mit me, Partley,
vited Hans, ‘‘und dip your head der prook
indo, und I vill felt petter britty queek.
Vot I need is to got your plood to circula-
tin’, ain’d id?”’

a res

““G’wan, ye Dutch chaze!’’ exclaimed
Mulloy. ‘‘To hear yez talk a felly’d think
ye wur used to warther. Can yez tell me
pwhat’s dirthyer than a dirthy Frinch-
man ?”’

‘““Vaw,’? nodded Hans,
mans.’’

‘Ca dirty Irish-

‘‘No, bégorra!.a clane Dutchman !’’

Hans started for Barney belligerently,
but Barney braced up to receive: him,
whereupon the Dutch boy seemed to sud-
denly changed his mind, stopped and
walked away toward the brook, mutter-
ing:
“‘T pet me zwi tollar you vill get my
pay for dot! Maype you think I vos funny

ven you said dose things! Vale, I don’t
-knewas much as you thought I did!

 

       
   

oe

   
  
  
  
  

  

 

 

Soine dime you vill had some seddleients
mit yourself !’’

Frank Merriwell appeared, also with
towel and soap.

‘*Hello, fellows !’’ he called, cheerfully.
‘‘Hello, Hodge! Are you feeling like do-
ing first-class work behind ‘the plate to-
day ?”?

sart shook his head as they went over
to the brook together.

‘‘[’m feeling rocky,’’ he confessed.

‘“That’s bad,’’ said Frank. -‘‘I am. feel-
ing well, although I- did not sleep as well
as I might.”?

>)

‘*T slept well.’?

‘*You did?’ ‘

‘‘Yes. I don’t think I stirred for the
night.”’

‘*Why,’’ exclaimed Merry, ‘‘you were
up.”’

**Not last night.’

‘*Why, yes you were, Bart!’

‘‘You are mistaken, Frank. I slept like
a log last night.”’

‘‘And you did not get up about mid-
night?’

‘tN. > ;

‘‘You didn’t come out of your tent and
take a walk???

‘‘Not on your life! What are you driv-
ing at, Merriwell ?”’ |

“Nothing,” said Frank, evasively; but
he was filled with astonishment and con-

sternation. He felt sure he had fhade no

mistake. He had seen Bart’s face in the
moonlight, and he knew it was not one of
the others. Hodge had stolen out of the
tent without making any noise, and had
left the glade. Hours later he had come
creeping back like a guilty creature, and
now he denied having done anything of
the kind. j

Merry was puzzled. Over and over he

asked himself what it meant. He could

not conceive that Hodge would wilfully

and deliberately lie to him, and yet—and

yet

*

   

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

eee of the old days i in Fardale_

pI PE a a on

  

3

came rushing upon Frank. He remem-
bered that when they first met Bart was
unscrupulous in many ways and did not
hesitate totell an untruth. They had been
eneuiies at first, but Frank’s manliness
and generosity lad won Bart at last, and
Hodge became Merry’s friend.

With this change other changes came
about. Bart undertook to emulate Frank |
in everything. Merriwell was his model.
The change in his character was not im- ~
mediate, but it came about swiftly, till at

last, while he was with Frank and under ~

his influence, Bart Hodge was square and

‘fon the level.’

upright, always
But Hodge persisted in saying that he
owed everything to Merry’s influence,
and he confessed that, were they to be
parted, he feared he might go back to
his old associates and his old ways.
Frank had left Fardale, and the things

Hodge feared came about. He found him-

self relapsing into his former habits. He

hated himself for his weakness, and still
he had not the strength of character to
break away from temptation and live
straight.

At last Bart. decided that it was est
that he should leave Fardale and. the
temptations which he found there. And
so he quietly packed a grip and ran away.

His father hadggold him that he need
never return home if he should leave the
school or be expelled. He knew it would
be useless to apply to his stern father for
anything, so he started out ‘to fight the ©
battle of life for himself.

Bart and Frank next met in Nevada, .
whete Hodge had followed a charming
gitl with whom he was in love. Frank
soon saw that-Bart had in a great measure
returned to his old habits and his old—
reckless ways. Then circumstances parted
them again and it was not till Merry and
the Yale lads made the bicycle trip across —
the continent that the Fardale friends saw
each other once more.

They met in Cale a ans |-Frafk

  
    
    
   

4 FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

found that Bart was a fugitive from jus-
tice. He was supposed to be one of a band
of couuterfeiters, but, in fact, he was sim-
ply their tool, having fallen under the
sinister influence of the pretty half-sister
of the girl who had lured him to Nevada.
The girl was using Bart to help ‘‘shove
the queer.’? She was several years older
than Hodge, and her influence over him
was so great that he was ready to do any-
thing for her.
Frank tried to

Hodge was not read
girl. Asa large reward was offered for the

get Bart away, but
y to fly and desert the
detection and arrest of any of ‘‘the gang,’’
an officer was pushing thei closely, and
they were cornered at last in an old cabin,
where a desperate struggle took place,and
the officer was knocked senseless with a
chair. Whien he recovered his senses it
seemedethat he had completely forgotten
everything that had happened for months
previous to his injuty. As he was the
‘only person who knew beyond a doubt
that Hodge was in any way connected
with the gang, and even he did not know
Bart’s name, Merry was able to get his
friend out of California and away from
danger.

Then Frank set about the task of again
making a man of Hodge. He used his
influence, and Bart @accompanied Frank
back to New Haven. ‘Then at Merri-
well’s suggestion, he wrote to his mother,
saying he wished to enter Yale, and be-
lieved he could do so with some tutoring
if he had the money to pay his way
through college. 5

Bart’s mother had secretly stipplied
hin with money, and thus he was able to
get into college, where, aided by Frank
and his own ability as a baseball player,
he became something of a prominent fig-
ure in a very short time.

Bart had seemed to recover much of his
old stamina and reliability of character,
although at times there had cropped out
n

  

2

g trace of weakness, and now

Merry was astounded to hear Hodge de-
liberately tell a lie.

Frank would have. given not a little
just then to have thought what he saw in
the night was a dream, but he could not
convince himself that he had been dream-
ing, He wascertain that he had seen
Hodge steal away in the night and return
hours afterward.

They washed in the running brook.
Hodge .scowled unpleasantly as’ he
scrubbed himself with.a towel. At last he
asked :

‘‘Why did you ask me if I took a walk
last night, Merry ?’’

‘“Well, to tell the truth,’ was the di-
rect answer, ‘‘I did not sleep very well,
and I was sitting just within my tent on
a camp stool, looking out into the glade.
I saw some one come out of your tent and
The moon shone
fairly on the face of the person, and I
sweat, Hodge, if it wasn’t you there is

go away by the path.

something the matter with ny eyes!’

‘Then there is something the matter
with your eyes,’’ said Bart, sharply. ‘‘I
tell you I did not leave the tent from the
time I entered it last evening till I came
out this morning. I ought to know.

‘That's right,’? nodded Merry, ‘‘you
ought to know.’’ :

3ut he was not satisfied, and he began

)

to believe there was a mystery about the

movements of his friend, and Hodge was
ready to lie rather than have it known

that he had left the tent and Wildflower

Dell. at midnight.

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
    
   
     
 
  
 

op.

CHAPTER II.
THE RECEPTION AT THE BALL GROUND.

In the old days when he was a cadet at
the academy, Frank had considered Far-
dale baseball ground anything but satis-
When he came back to visit
Fardale he found there was some talk of

factory.

obtaining a new ground and fitting up
bleachers and a comfortable grand stand.
One of the well-to-do citizens of the town
from whose soul the juices of youth had
not entirely departed offered to give the

“
academy boys the use of a ground fora

term of ten years if they would fix it up
properly, fence it and put up bleachers
and a grand stand.
3ut money was not forthcoming to ac-
complish all this. As soon as Frank heard
what was needed, he started a paper with
a subscription of one hundred dollars.
» “It’s some of the good stuff I raked in
on the boat race, you know,”’ he said, as
Browning whistled on seeing the size of
the contribution... ‘‘I can afford to do it.”’
‘‘T can’t afford to do that,’’ said the big

fellow, ‘‘but I'll putin ten dollars. Let

some of the others chip in with me, and
we’ll put her down on the paper as from

- Frank Merriwell’s friends.’’

In this way fifty dollars more was
raised, and this proved a splendid starter
for the fund, which grew so rapidly that
it was not very long before the ground
was laid out and work upon it began.
And now the work was completed, and
the opening game was to be between
Frank Merriwell’s Yale team and the
academy nine.

The ball ground was near Fardale vil-
lage, which was a much better location

a than anywhere in the vicinity of the acad-

 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH. 5

on his travels were given circulation, and

  

 

   

  
  

   

emy. At the academy there was a fairly

     
 
   
   
   
  
   
    
   
 

good ground for practice work.

For three days large posters had been
put up in town announcing the game.
The poster was printed in display type,
aud read as follows:

MERRY AND HIS MERRY
MEN.
At the New Elin Street Grounds
Saturday, June 29,
At 3 o’clock P. M.
The Opening Ball Game.
YALE COMBINE

—vs.—

FARDALE ACADEMY.

    
    

Batteries:
Yale, Merriwell and Hodge.
Fardale, Pickett and Carter.

      
     
    

Frank Merriwell, formerly a
student at Fardale Academy, is
now the famous crack pitcher of
the Yale college nine, while
Bartley Hodge, also once a stu-
dent here, is Merriwell’s favor-
ite back-stop on the college
teain. Once they were the bat-
tery of the Academy nine.
Pickett and Carter make a
dandy battery, and a hot game
may be expected.

DO NOT MISS IT!
Admission 25 Cents.
Grand Stand 35 Cents.

      
       
       
       
         
     
     
     
     
    

Since his visit to Fardale Frank had
become known to the entire population of
the village, for events had seemed to.con- —
spire to make him famous. His rescue
of Elsie Bellwood from.a gang of kidnap- —
pers was enough to create the greatest ex-
citement in the place and cause every one —
to desire to see him, but that was only
one of the many things that had happened
to make him famous. So it came about
that many stories of his feats and accom-
plishments at the academy, at college anc

      
       
     
       
     
     
     
       
  
 

   
  

OE ee s ke 4

  
      
  
  
    
  
  
     
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
 
 
   
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 

i

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

     
       

   

, ‘

~ peat on the field.

the nine.

6 FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

nothing could have proved a greater at-
traction. for the citizens of Fardale than

his name on the poster.

The afternoon of Saturday, June 2
7% )
proved to be a half-holiday for the citizens
of Fardale village. By half-past one peo-
ple began to make their way to the new
ball ground, and a crowd was waiting to
>
be admitted when the gate was opened at
two o’clock, The ticket-seller was kept
busy in a manner that made him perspire

freely, for it was a good warm afternoon,

‘just the kind of weather for good ball

playing.

It began to seem that the whole of Far-
dale had resolved to see that game. As it
was given asa benefit for the Fardale
Academy ball team, the cadets were de-
lighted. The grand stand was filled with
the best people of the place. Nearly all
the girls and young women of the town

were there, and, in their bright summer

clothes, they made a flower bed of beauty.

The bleachers, above which floated a
handsome flag, weré well filled.
cadets packed themselves together ina
mass, ready to ‘‘root’”’ for the academy
nine, but equally ready to applaud the
favorites of the Yale Combine and any
good plays they should make. They were
proud of theirteam, but they were just as
proud of the fact that Frank Merriwell
and Bart Hodge, the crack battery of Yale

college, had once formed the Fardale bat-

tery. |

The Fardale men were the first to ap-
They came on at a trot,
and the erand stand applauded and flut-
tered handkerchiefs, while the bleachers
howled with delight.

Then from the massed cadets came the
yell:

“Hal ha! ha! ’Rah!
ger- -boom !

rah!
Zigger-boom !

rah! Jig-
Grapeshot !

\ ‘Canister! All hail Fardale. Zz-zz-zz-zz!’

Pickett, the pitcher, was the captain of
_He was a good man and very

y
os

rates Ms al) Sg

The -

ladies who- would: not deign to lose their

popular, which was shown as a cadet rose
and yelled:

‘‘What’s the matter with Old Pick ?”’

Then the other cadets thundered:

**He’s all right!’

Pickett laughed and nodded, doffing his
cap to the crowd. Then the Fardale team
took the field for practice. They had nice
new uniforms, with the letter F on the
bosom of each shirt, and they were a fine-
looking lot of lads. ~

A short'time later the Yale team came
onto the field, also in uniform, with Y on
the bosomsof the shirts. Frank Merriwell
Jed them) and then lis real popularity be-
caine evident, for one grand roar went up
gathering of spectators.
There was a hoarse note from the bleach- -
ers and a shriller sound from. the grand
stand, which seemed to blossom into a
great mass of white flowers, which were
fluttering handkerchiefs.

Frank laughed and blushed like a cal-
low youth, for such a welcome in the
town where he had once been a cadet was
something to stir his blood. For all of his
varied experiences and his adventures in
many parts of the world, he had not
grown hardened and indifferent so that a
genuine expression of friendship failed to
move him. ‘That cheer set his pulse to
throbbing and his body to tingling, and
never had he looked handsomer or more
manly. ‘

‘They are giving us a rousing recep-
tion, fellows,’’ he said.

‘““They are giving you a rousing recep-
tion,’’? said Hodge. ‘‘It’s not meant for
the rest of us.’’

‘‘Oh, it is meant for us all.”

“Not much! Listen to that!”

Now, in chorus, the spectators in the
bleachers were roaring: |

“‘Merriwell! Merriwell!
"Rah! ’rah! ?rah!’?

Then the grand stand sent out that
shrill note once more. Girls and young —

from the entire

Merriwell!

 

 

 
 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH. te

dignity on almost any occasion sprang to
their feet, wildly waving their handker-
chief and cheering.
enthusiasm of the moment was intense.

There came a lull, the cheering died
away at last. Then a tall cadet arose in
the midst of his fellows on the bleachers
and shouted, every word being clear and
distinct :

“(Rardale welcomes Frank Merriwefl,
famous asa gentleman, an athlete, and a
hero! Fardale is proud that he was once a
cadet in her academy. Once more, boys,
wake her up for Frank Merriwell, this
season’s captain of the victorious Yale
ball team. Let her go!”’

They did! In unison those cadets

opened their throats and tired to split the
sky with their fierce cheering. The crowd
took it up again, but the regular cheering
of the academy enc could be heard above
every other sound.
- The eyes of Bart Hodge weresparkling
and he was very happy at that moment—
happier than he could have been had the
ovation been.for himself.

‘Merry deserves it all!’’ he muttered.
‘‘He is the whitest man on the earth!”’

The excitement and

There was no envy in Bart’s heart at.

that moment. ‘The time had passed for-
ever when he could envy Frank his popu-
larity. Metriwell had done too many gen-
erous and noble things for him and had
proved the one friend that Bart needed in
the world.

‘““Huah!’? grunted Bruce
‘’They’ll yell themselves
the game begins.
they are!’’

But he was not envious;
his peculiar way.

Cap in hand, Frank bowed his thanks.
His eyes fell on three girls in one little
group in the grand stand. They were Inza
Burrage, Elsie Bellwood and May Blos-

Browning.
hoarse before
What a lot of lunatics

he was glad in

-gom, and their faces wore expressions of

: the greatest excitement and happiness.

©

Once more the cheering. died OEE

Pens

 

Then the tall cadet popped up again, and
again his voice rang out :—

‘‘Don’t forget Bart Hodge, boys! He’s
an old Fardale man, and he was Merri-
well’s catcher on the Yale nine this year.
Whoop her up’once for Hodge!’

They ‘‘whooped her up’’ for Hodge,
greatly to Frank’s satisfaction. Merry’s
arms slipped about Bart’s shoulders, and
they faced the cheering crowd together.
There was something in ;that spectacle
that seemed to make the throng break out
wilder than ever.

Bart turned pale, and then the blood
rushed to his face till it was crimson.

“This time it is for you, old man!’’
exclaimed Frank in his ear. ‘‘How do
you like it?”’

Bart choked.

‘tT don’t deserve it!’’ he said; huskily.

‘‘Ves you do!’ cried Frank, enthusias-
tically—‘‘you deserve every bit of it.”’

‘‘No,’? came stubbornly from Bart,
‘‘you are wrong, Merriwell. You do not
know—I do not deserve it.’’

‘Well, I think you do, € pd the crowd
thinks so. Lookin the grand stand, to
the left, and see the girls there. There is
May Blossom, and she is half hysterical
with delight. You have her now, my boy,
and no rival can get ahead of you. Off
with your cap! Bow—bow!’’

So Hodge bowed and he actually trem-
bled with the emotion that he felt at that
moment. . -

The cheering was all over at last, and
the Yale team ‘took the field for practice.
One of the Fardale men started to bat out
a few hot ones tothe in-field, while Frank
prepared to send some hard flies to the ©

out-field.

Just then Bill Hawkins, the sheriff, en-
tered the grounds and walked onto the
field. He advanced straight to Hodge and —
placed a hand on Bart’s shoulder, saying:

‘‘You are my prisoner!’ |

 
   

 

   

CHAPTER III.
THE ARREST OF HODGE.

A sudden silence fell on the spectators
and the ball players. Every eye was fixed
on Hodge and the officer.” Bart stared
straight into Hawkins’ face, but he had
grown pale.

‘What do you mean?’ he _ hoarsely
asked.

‘‘T mean that you are under arrest, my
fine fellow,’’ said the officer, sternly:
“‘You will have to come along with me to
the lockup.’”’

‘Under arrest? For what ?’’

‘Ror the little job last night.’’

‘The little job? What little job?”

“Vou are playing innocent all right,”’

said the sheriff, without sympathy; ‘‘but

bluff won’t do you any good. The evi-
dence against you will put you where you
belong, behind bars.’’

“But I demand to know why I am ar-
rested !’’ cried Hodge, hotly.

Frank Merriwell came running to Bart’s
side, amazemi@pe and consternation ex-
pressed on his face.

‘What is the matter, Mr. Hawkins?”’
he breathlessly asked.

‘lhe matter is that your friend here is
under arrest,’’ answered the sheriff.

Then the Fardale players gathered
about and the Yale men came running in
from the field, while there was a comimo-
tion among the spectators.

“Under arrest?’’? gasped Frank. ‘‘For
what ?”’

‘*Robbery !”’

‘‘Tmpossible !”’

Metriwell was astounded. His face
grew pale, and he looked at Hodge.

‘There is some mistake!’’ he cried.

- Not a bit of it,’? asserted Hawkins.
‘‘We have proof of his guilt. He is
caught all right.” .

“I do not believe it! Why, it will be
asy to prove an alibi. When was this
robbery committed ?”’ Mes

 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

 

“Tast night.”

“Last night?”

Frank stopped, and his face turned still
paler, for a sudden thought had come to
him. He remembered what he had seen
the previous night, he remembered Bart
had sneaked out of camp and sneaked
back again, after being away more than
two hours. He remembered that, in the
morning, Hodge had declared he had not
left his tent all through the night.

Frank was staggered for a moment, but
he quickly recovered.

‘“‘T tell you there is amistake here, Mr.
Hawkins!’ he cried. ‘‘I know Bart
Hodge would not do such a thing!”

Bart gave Merry a grateful look—a
look that went straight to Frank’s heart.

“T don’t doubt but you think so, Mer-
riwell,’’ said the.sheriff, kindly; ‘‘but
you’re dead wrong this time. Collins’
drug store was entered last night, the safe
was opened, and money and valuables
taken, the whole worth more than eight
hundred dollars.’’

Collins was a small jeweller and op-
tician, as well as a druggist, and it was
known that he stored a large amount of
valuables in his safe each night. It was
not remarkable that the robbers should
obtain eight hundred dollars’ worth of
‘‘swag’’ from his store.

‘It’s remarkable we have not heard of
this before!’’ exclaimed the umpire, who
was a young man belonging to the village.

“You have not heard of it because Joe
Collins thought best to keep still till the
affair could be investigated by the proper
authorities. As a result, the robber is
nabbed without delay.”’

Hawkins was positive and triumphant
in his manner. It was plain that he had
taken charge of the case, and he was well
satisfied- with his work, as detective.
There was no doubt in his mind but he
had nabbed the guilty one.

“This is rather tough on your team,

 

Merriwell,’’ said George Carter, but there

ee

i i satel Ai acai Se

 

 

    
        
    
    
   
PREPS Te’

 

was something like a gleam of triumph in
his eyes. ‘‘You will have to get another
catcher.”’

Frank did not seem to hear the words
of the fellow who but a short time before
had aspired to defeat him at bowling and
who was Hodge’s rival for the favors of
May Blossom; but, a little later, he gave
Carter a look, and saw a flush of satisfac-
tion and triumph on the fellow’s face.

Carter was well satisfied at the turn
affairs had taken. The arrest of Hodge
gave him the greatest pleasure, for it was
disgrace to his successful rival, and it
brought humilation to Frank Merriwell,
to say nothing of May Blossom, who had
dropped him for Bart.

“Tf this isa put up job, you may be
in it, Mr. Carter,’ thought Frank.

Aloud he said:

‘‘T am positive there will be no trouble
in proving the innocence of Hodge, and
I know this arrest is hasty and ill-advised.
You might have waited till this game
of ball was over, at least.”’

‘Wal, I’m not takin’ any chances,”’
said the sheriff. ‘‘A game of ball amounts
to nothin’ side of catchin’ the robber.’

‘You will feel pretty proud when you
find you have ruined the ball game and
not caught the robber,’’ said Merry, a
trifle bitterly.

‘“The rest of you chaps can play ball,”’
said Hawkins, ‘‘This fellow goes to the
lockup.”’

‘And I go with him!’ exclaimed
Frank.

Then the Fardale men raised a cry of
protest.

‘You can’t do that, Merriwell,’”’ they
said. ‘‘Look at this great crowd of spec-
tators. We must give them a game.’’

‘You will have to do it without me,’?-

said Frank, grimly. ‘‘Do you think I can
play ball now! Such a thing is impossi-
ble.’’

‘*But what can your team do without a
battery.?”’

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH, 9

   

   
   
  
   
  
  
    
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
 

   

‘‘Give them a battery from the acad-—
emy.’’

‘‘We can’t play that way,’’ spoke up
Browning immediately. ‘‘ Without Merri-
well we would be no good on earth. The
game would be a farce, and the spectators ©
would go away disgusted. It would hurt
future patronage more than anything that
could happen.”’

‘‘T believe that is right,’’ said Nat
Pickett.

But Carter insisted that Metal must
remain and play—that he had no right to
leave insuch a manner. However, his
talk was vain, for nothing could have
forced Merriwell to play ball then. For
once in his life, Frank Merriwell seemed
quite broken up and unnerved, but he ~
stood by Bart firmly.

‘‘What do you say about this thing,
Hodge ?”’ asked Harry Rattleton.

‘“The only thing I say is that Iam in- Sa
nocent,’’ was the calm reply.

‘“Then don’t lose heart for a moment,
old man,’’ said Frank. ‘‘We’ll pull you
out all right in the end. I will stand by
you to the last gasp.”’ %

Bart’s hand found Merry’s, and gave it
a warm clasp of gratitude. ;

‘““Wal,’’? said Hawkins, grimly, sud- —
denly producing handcuffs, ‘I reckon ~
we’ll have to put on these here bracelets.’?

Without a murmur of protest, Hodge
held out his bolic and a moment later —
he was ‘‘ironed.’ 2

  
         
 
   
   
     
      
     
       
 
        
         
     
      
      
    
 

CHAPTER. F¥y 3°

    
    

THE ACCUSING HANDKERCHIEF.

    

By this time the spectators thoroughly
understood what had happened, and the
excitement wasintense. From the bleach-
ers men and boys came flocking upon the
diamond, and could not be kept back.

‘““What’s Hawkins nabbed him for???
was the question. .
‘‘Ror robbing Collins’ store, ”” came > th

 
     
      
      
     
  

 
 

      
  
 

   
 
  

 

  

    

10

ready answer. ‘‘It was broke into last
night, and that fellow did it.”’

A few moments before they had been
now some of them

cheering Hodge;

hissed him. Somebody said loudly:
“We had a bad record when he was in

the academy here.”’

Bart heard the words and quailed a bit,
as if he had been struck. His.past was to
rise now and cast its black shadow over
him. He felt that.

- “What we want-is a. game of ball!’’
cried aman. ‘'We have paid our money
to come in, and want to see the game!”’

““That’s right’? shouted another. ‘‘Put
somebody in the place of the robber.”’

‘*Hear them,’’ said Carter to Frank.

‘‘Ves, I hear them,’’ exclaimed Merry,
his eyes flashing. ‘‘What right have they
to call aman arobber till he is proven
such. When Bart Hodge is free and sus-
picion has been removed from him I will
play ball, but I'll never play another
game till he is free.”’

‘*Be careful!’ said Dismal Jones,
speaking in Frank’s ear. ‘‘Don’t make
any rash pledges.”

‘‘Rash? That is not, rash.’”

“T am afraid it is,’? whispered one.

‘“What do you mean ?’’

‘‘T will tell you later. This
‘place.’? .

is no

There was something in the words and
manner of the dismal man that gave
Merry a chill at heart, but his faith in
Hodge was not shaken.

- ; . °
‘‘Come, young man,’’ said Hawkins;

‘‘we’ll have to go to the lockup,”’

‘“‘T am ready,’’ said Bart, quietly:

‘And you will not stay and play the
game,, Merriwell?’’ anxiously asked
Pickett.

‘*Tcan’t,’’ cried Frank. ‘‘Ten thousand
dollars could not induce me to play ball
now. I must stand by my friend.”’
“Then that settles the game,’’ came

regretfully from Pickett. ‘‘We will be

ect

 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

,

 

forced to refund the money to the specta-
tors as they pass out at the gate.’’

Hawkins inarched Hodge away. Frank
walked beside Bart. Behind them came a
crowd of men and boys. ; .

As they reached the gate they saw Ru-
pert Reynolds and Win Harding there.
Both were showing satisfaction. Harding
laughed sneeringly, and said:

‘“‘There are the two young men whio
have been flying so high since they
struck this town. I rather think this will
pull them down a bit.”’

Frank’s eyes met Harding’s, he saw
something in the fellow’s face that caused
him to fling back:

‘Your time hasn’t come yet, but it
will come.’?

‘“Ha, ha, ha,’’? laughed Harding and
Reynolds, derisively. o

Bart Hodge ground his teeth, and there
was a gleam of {fire in his eyes.. He felt
the disgrace with keen intensity, and his
soul was a tumult of emotions.

As they passed out by the gate,, the
voice of Nat Pickett was heard announc-
ing to the spectators that there would be
no game and the money of all would be
refunded at the gate.

Into the village the sheriff marched his
prisoner, and Frank Meétriwell walked by
Bart’s side. Behind them came the crowd
of curious men Some of the
crowd expressed their opinions as to the

and boys.

guilt or innocence of the prisoner, and it
was soon evident that sentiment was
turning against Hodge.

Straight to Collins’ store Bart was
taken. Frank was admitted, but the door
was closed and locked to keep out the
curious ones who would have crowded in.

Collins was a little, nervous man, who
wore spectacles and had a way of rubbing
his hands together as he talked. Occa-
sionally he would tug at a little tuft of
black beard that grew down under his
chin. As they entered, he seemed in-
tensely excited.

 

 

 

 

  
   
    

      
  
 

  
  
 

“4

am
eS
Faken.
ee:

 

 

 

   
  
   
  
  
  
  

ing up his leathery old face, ‘

 

Three other men where present. ‘They
were the ‘‘town fathers,’ three of the
leading citizens of Fardale, Ayer, Marsh
and Gill.

‘*Ah!? said Mr. Marsh, harshly, screw-
‘so you have
the wretched culprit, Mr. Hawkins. I
must say you thade quick work.”’

‘‘My, my,’’ exclaimed Mr. Ayer, peer-
ing over his spectacles at Bart. ~‘‘He is
hardly more than a boy.’’

**But look at his face, sir,’’ said Mr.
Marsh, with a sweep of his arm.’ ‘‘The
criminal propensity is plainly revealed
upon it. One glance should satisfy you as
to his guilt, sir.’?

“Quite right—quite so,’’ said Mr. Gill,
who ‘always agreed to anything Marsh
might say. ‘‘One glance should satisfy
you, Mr. Ayer.”’

‘‘It would be better for, you, ‘Gill,
said Ayer, flatly, ‘‘if you had a mind of
your own occasionally.”’

‘Dear me,’’ gasped Gill, blinking.

The curtains were drawn deep to keep
those in front from looking in.

‘‘Where is Howe ?’’ asked the sheriff.

‘‘He has not yet arrived,’’ answered
Collins, rubbing his hands together. ‘‘We
must get along without him.’’

“I think it will be better to wait for
him,’? said Marsh,

‘I think so, too,’’ said Gill.

‘*He knows just how to conduct such
matters,’’ declared Marsh.

‘‘He surely does,’ agreed Gill.

‘‘Haw!’? grunted Ayer, and the express
sion was one of great disdain.

There came a peculiar rap at the side

door.

‘“That’s him,’’ exclaimed Collins, and,
rubbing his hands all the way, he hastened
to open the door, admitting a tall, angu-
lar, stern-faced man, who was dressed i in
sombre black.

_ ‘*How do you do, gentlemen,’’ said the
man in black, speaking in a down-cellar
voice. ‘‘Was making out some important

 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

' papers.

    

11

Came as soon as possible. Um—
ha!’?

With this final expression, Lawyer
Howe, the village attorney, faced Bart
squarely and stared at him. Nota word
did he say, but he looked the boy over for
some moments, and then turned away.

*‘Just what is wanted of me, Mr. Col-
lins?’? he asked.

Collins drew him aside, fussily, and,
standing on his toes and pulling the law-
yer down by the lapel of his coat, whis-
pered in his ear, and there was much nod- ~
ding and whispering. Howe was heard
to say:

‘*My time is valuable. I must be com-
pensated.”’ .

‘*You are thoroughly familiar with the
particulars,’’ said Marsh, in his important
way. ‘‘It will pay Mr. Collins to let you
take charge.’’

Frank Merriwell had not been saying
much, but he was sticking by Bart and_
watching everything keenly. Both his
eyes and his ears were wide open.

‘“They are going to question you,
Bart,’? he said. ‘‘They are going to try
to force you into a confession.”’

~‘‘T have nothing to confess,’’ said
Hodge, quietly.

‘It is well enough to be careful what
you say. In such a case as this, a careless
remark is often turned against a suspected
person. ’”’

‘What troubles me,’ said Bart, ‘‘is
why I was singled out and arrested. Why
didn’t they arrest somebody else ?”’

‘“That will come out in. time, Wait and
ex

After considerable whispering and nod-
ding and muttering, the storekeeper and
his two companions came forward. At
the end of a countertwas a desk. The
lawyer stood up beside the desk, which
Collins unlocked. eae

‘‘Mr. Hawkins,’’ said Howe, in hiscel-
lar-basement voice, ‘‘bring the prisoner —
AEN -

 

     
  

12

    
    
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
   
 
  
   
 
  
  
  
    
  
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
   

Bart was marched forward, and stood
up facing Howe.

‘Young inan,’’ said the lawyer, ‘‘I
wish to ask you afew questions, and I
warn you to answer them truthfully.’’

“T object to this!’ cried Frank, at
Bart’s side. ‘‘Mr. Hodge is not on trial
here. If you are to question him, it is
your duty to warn him to be careful and
not say anything that can be used against
him. You now that.’’

Howe scowled at Frank, and Marsh
gasped:

‘“Such boldness! Such insolence
astonishing.’’

‘Tt is astonishing,’’ chirped Gill.

It is

' “Hal? exclaimed Ayer, nodding his
head. ‘‘A shrewd young man. Has the

making of a lawyer in him. ‘That is evi-
gent: ?”

_ “Be careful,’?’ Howe suddenly roared,
_ bending forward and shaking a finger at
Frank. ‘‘You are known to be his friend,
and it is possible ‘you may be implicated
in this affair. The less you say, the better
it will be for you, sir.’’

‘J am his friend,’’ retorted Merry,
calmly, not in the least disturbed or
frightened. ‘‘That is why I am here. I
believe he has been falsely arrested, and
I do not propose to see him bulldozed.’’

‘Such insolence!’’ Marsh again gasped.

‘Such astonishing insolence!’’ gurgled
Gill.

Ayer actually grinned.

— “That young man is all right,’’ he told
himself.

Lawyer Howe was not pleased by
-Merry’s words and aspect. He continued
to glare at Frank.

‘Mr. Officer,’? he suddenly said, ‘‘it
may be necessary to make another arrest.
Do not let this self-confessed friend of the
prisoner get away.’’

“Do you want me. to. arrest him???’
_asked Hawkins, ready to obey.

““Not now,’’ was the answer.
‘want you to watch him.”? |

  

‘But I

 

   

 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

‘All right, sir.”

Frank laughed, disdainfully.

‘You need not fear that I will run
away,’’ he said. ‘‘I shall stand by Mr.
Hodge to the last.’

‘It is quite likely you will both occupy
one cell to-night,’’ said Howe.

But he began to realize that Frank
could not be frightened in such a manner,
and he turned again to Bart.

‘*Your name is Hodge, is it?’’

‘$3¢ 1s¢"?

**You are visiting in town ?’’

¥eSSite 77

‘“Have been here soe weeks ?”?

“i have,’

‘*Hver been in this store before ?”’

‘*Several times. ’’

‘‘For what purpose ?’’

‘‘On business. Once to bring in my
watch, once to get it after it was repaired.
Once I came in to get a bill changed.”

‘‘What was the denomination of the
bill ?”?

‘“‘Rifty dollars, I believe.’’

‘‘How did. you come by that money ?”

‘“You need not answer, Bart, if you do
not wish to,’’ said Frank, quickly.

‘“There is no reason why I should not
answer,’’ said Hodge, quietly. ‘*My
mother sent it to me, sir.’?

‘Indeed!’ exclaimed Howe, doubt-
ingly. ‘‘Does your mother send you such
suins often ?’?

‘Quite often. She is paying my way
through college, and she sends me money
whenever she can. She has sent me
money twice since I came here, as the
record of registered letters at the post-
office will show, if you will take the
trouble to investigate. ”’

Howe seemed a trifle nonplussed. He
was trying hard to find out where Bart
obtained his money, for Hodge had shown
considerable money since coming to town.
It was plain that the boy was suspected
of obtaining it dishonestly.

‘That is of minor importance,’ de-

vot

     

 

 

 

       
      
    
      
   

 

           
 

 
ee

 

 

 

   
  
  
   
 

   
   
  
  
    
     

the hour of one A. M. ?”?

 

«¢(p

clared the lawyer. sut did you watch
Mr. Collins as he opened his safe ?”’
‘“Not that I remember.”’
“*How about it, Mr. Collins?’’
’” said the little man,
tugging at the tuft under his chin. ‘‘I

‘It was this way,

was opening the safe—happened to look
over my shoulder—saw him
likea hawk. He turned away quickly
when I looked at him.”’ ;

“Do you deny this, sir?’’ sternly de-
manded the lawyer.

watching

‘‘T have no recollection of watching
opened his safe,’’ said Bart,
with a scornful smile.

‘What if he did?’’ put in. Frank, ‘‘Are
you trying to show that, standing outside

him .as he

the railing that surrounds the safe, he
discovered how to work the combination
by watching Mr. Collins?’

“Tt is very likely he did,’’ nodded
Howe. ‘‘The safe was opened by some-
body the combination. ”’

?

who knew

Frank laughed.

‘Is this your proof against Hodge?’’
he cried. ‘‘Why, it is ridiculous! And
have you had the nerve to cause his arrest
on such proof? If so, it is an outrage!’’.

**Silence!’’ thundered Howe. ‘‘Iam not
done with the prisoner. Mr. Hodge,
where were you last night between the
hours of twelve-thirty and one-thirty ?”’

‘‘T was at our cainp in Wildflower Dell
asleep in my bed,’’ answered Bart, with-

out a tremor.

Frank Merriwell felt his heart leap up
into his throat and flutter there. He felt
the blood leave his face, and, for a mo-
ment, he was almost giddy.

‘‘Indeed!’’ exclaimed Howe, in his
scornful way. ‘‘I presume you will swear
to this in court ?”’

'T-shrall, sizz’’

‘‘Be careful!’’ again thundered the
inan. ‘‘I warn you now that you will
suffer if you commit perjury. Were you
not in the village of Fardale last night at

x

   

FRANK MERRLWELL’'S FAITH. 13

‘*No, sir, I was not’? exclaimed Bart,
his eyes gleaming. ‘‘I tell you again that
I was asleep in camp.”?

‘fA ready liar,’? murmured Marsh, his
leathery face full of wrinkles. _

““Extremely ready,’ nodded Gill.

‘‘Acts as if he is speaking the truth,”
muttered Ayer.

‘Young man,’’ said Howe, harshly, ‘‘I
advise you to think well of the conse-
quences before you go onto the stand and
You were in the
village last night at the hour stated, and
More
than that, you were seen in the vicinity
of this store. Now let me tell you what
you had better do. It will be far better

make such a statement.

you were seen by three witnesses.

for you to own up to everything. It will
save trouble and expense, and your pun-
ishiment will not be so heavy. In fact,

by owning up at once, you will save Mr.
Collins trouble, and he will not be in-
clined to press you so hard. If you will
tell us who aided you in getting into the
store, you will get off very lightly indeed. ”’
sart tossed back his head with a proud
and defiant movenient, and his eyes met
Howe’s Squarely.

‘“‘T tell you now that I have nothing to
confess!’’ he cried, his voice hard and
“Tam not a robber, and “I
know nothing of this affair last night.”’

The lawyer opened the desk and took
out a handkerchef, which he passed to
Bart, asking:

“Do you recognize that?’

Hodge took it and looked at the cor-
ners. In one of them were some faint
marks. ‘The letters ‘‘B. H.’’ were there.

determined.

‘“Ves.’? said the. prisoner, quietly, ‘it
) , y;

is my handkerchief.’

‘“That settles it!’ cried Howe, tri-
umphantly. ‘‘That handkerchief was
picked up on the floor in front of th
open safe this morning !”’ :

 
  

a

14 FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH. :
CHAPTER V.

JONES EXPRESSES HIMSELF.

Bart, Hodge was taken to the lockup.
Frank did not leave him till the time
came when Bart was to be locked in a
cell.

“Don’t get downhearted a bit,
Hodge,’’ said Merriwell, cheerfully.
‘We'll pull you out of this before long.

Bart smiled sadly.

‘‘Luck is against me, Merry,’
‘*If I want to live

”»

’ he said,

in a dejected manner.
square, they won’t let me.’’

‘Nonsense! You will come out of this
with flying colors. ’’

‘‘T hope so, but that handkerchief—
how in the world do you suppose that
handkerchief came there ?”’

‘‘Haven’t an, idea. That may be ex-
plained later on.”’

‘Tf I am downed this time,’’ said Bart,
“‘IT shall give up the struggle and go to
the dogs!’

“*VYou’ll not be downed, my boy! They
can’t prove a thing.’’

‘“Circumstantial evidence.’’

“Hang that!’

‘That has hanged many a man.’?

‘Well, it shan’t finish you. Iam go-
ing to see what I cando at this case,
Batt. They didn’t find anything on you
when they searched you, although it was
plain they expected to find all the evi-
dence desired. The handkerchief is the
only thing that looks bad against you.”

‘“How about the witnesses who say
‘they saw me in town last night?’’

“But you say you were not in town.”’

‘It’s my word against three.’’

Plainly Hodge was discouraged, but
Frank urged him to brace up, gave him
a warm handshake at parting, and prom-
ised to hustle things.) Merry showed not
-asymptom of doubt concerning the inno-
_ cence of his friend.

_ Merry went straight to the hotel. Hans
and Ephraint were there.

x Ae } 2

    

‘

‘*Gol darned if this air ain’t a ’tarnal
scrape!’’? exclaimed the boy from Ver-
mont. ‘‘Makes me wisht I was to hum
on the farm, b’gosh ”’

‘Id peen doo pad!’’ exclaimed the
Dutch boy. ‘‘Vot ve yoin’ to done for
Hoch, Vrankie?’?

‘*Don’t know yet,’’ said Merry. ‘‘ What
I want is an ordinary suit of clothes from
camp. Will you bring a swt for me,
Ephraim ?”’

Paaeetie

‘fAll right.
here the better I shall be pleased.
hustle on. Ishall havea room here in
the hotel. Ask for me. You, Hans, tell
the fellows I am going to stop here.’’

Hans and Ephraim left the hotel to-
gether, while Frank registered and was
given a room. He went up to it and
looked out of the window into the street
below. :

By this time the whole town was agog
with excitement. Knots of men and boys
gathered here and there on the street and
were talking excitedly. _There was a
crowd in front of Collins’ store.

‘““These sensations are coming a trifle
too fast,’? muttered Frank. “Our quiet
visit to Fardale has turned out to be alto-
gether too lively. But this final event
caps the whole of them.” / °

Then he paced up and down the room,
thinking. His thoughts were troubled
ones, for before him rose the vision of
Hodge sneaking out of camp in the
moonlight and returning more than two
hours later. What troubled him most,
however, was the thought that Bart
should persist in declaring that he had
not left his tent all through the night.

“fT was the only one who saw him,”
murmured Frank. ‘‘If I were to tell of
it, it would go against him. Ido not be-
lieve he is guilty, and my lips shall be
sealed. But why did he leave camp in
such a manner, and where did he go?”’

There came a knock on the door.

peed

The sooner you get. them
Get a

  

 

 

 
 

ncn nen iets natin etl

 

 

 

 

 

        
    
   
 

 
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
 
   
  
  
  
 
 

‘*Come in,’’ called Frank.

The door opened slowly, and Dismal

Jones strolled sadly into his room, seem-
ing to bring with him a profound cloud
of gloom. He did not saya word, but
walked to a chair and sat down.

‘*So you found me?’’ said Frank.

Jones nodded.

Merry explained that he had™~ sent to
camp for another suit, and that he was
going to see what he could do for Hodge.
Jones listened in silence. At last he
shook his head slowly. ;

‘“‘What’s the matter?’’? Merry. asked,

rather sharply. ‘‘Why do you shake your

head in that manner ?”?

‘(I was thinking of something,’’ said
Jones, grimly.

“Of what?”

‘‘Something that happened last night.’?

“Rh? What was it?’

‘“Somebody took a stroll.”

“A stroll? When ?”?

‘‘About midnight, or shortly after.’’

‘‘Who do you mean?’’ Frank breath-
lessly asked. .

‘*Hodge,’’ answeted Dismal, bluntly.

‘“Then—then—you saw him?”

“Have you spoken of it to any one
else ?”?

cate < SRK

‘* Whom ??*

rath

-asOCgeT .

“sure,”

‘*What did he say ?”’

**Said he slept like a top all through
the night. Said he did not stir all night
long.”? .

“A Well??’

‘*Tt isn’t well!’ drawled Dismal, sadly.
‘It’s bad—confounded bad! He lies!

_ Why should he lie ie

‘‘Aie you sure it was Hodge?’ asked

' Merriwell, by way of saying something.

‘‘T’1] swear to it.”’

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

  

‘Well, don’t swear to it! It might —
ruin him!?

‘Ruin him! Hang it, Merriwell! If
he broke into that store, he deserves to
be punished !”’ |

‘“That is right, but he did not break
into that store.’’

‘‘Didn’t? But he was seen in town. I
know he left the camp. He lies. He says
he did nothing of the sort. Looks mighty
bad to ine. I don’t know how it looks to
vou.”

‘‘Hodge says he is innocent.”’

‘‘And he says he did not. leave camp
last night. If he will he about one thing,
he’ll lie about another. I know he is your
friend, Merriwell, but I don’t believe you
want to stand by him if he is a crook.

Browning just told me on the quiet that |

he was in a bad scrape out in California
when you picked him up'there.”’
‘‘Browning had no business to say any-
thing about that!’ exelaimed Frank,
warmly. ‘‘He promised to keep still.”’
Jones stared at Merry in wonder.
‘“Say,’’ he drawled, ‘‘you are showing

a new side. For a fellow who has always

seemed on the level, it strikes me that
you have peculiar sympathies with a
criininal,’?

That was too much for Frank. Witha
spring lie was in front of Jones, he
clutched the . fellow by the shoulders and
forced him back. Jones tried to rise, but.
Merry held him there, helpless as a child,
and the look on Frank’s facesawed Dis-
mal as he had never before been awed.

‘‘Jones,’? said Merriwell, slowly and
distinctly, ‘‘you stepped over the limit
then. You cast a slur at me, and you
called Hodge a criminal, which he is not.
If he ever did a criminal act, it was an
innocent one. Browning knows that he-
was an innocent tool in that California
matter. I tell you now that I will stake
my life that Hodge speaks the truth
when he says that he had nothing to do

 

  

 

  
  
  
 
 
 
  
     
     
   
     
     
       
 
  

    

you, you can harm him if you talk. If
you wish to forfeit my friendship forever,
you will tell. Ifyou do tell, I am done
with you forever! That is all!’’

CHAPTER VI.
MERRIWELL IS UNSHAKEN.
Jones was silenced, but it was plain
Out of re-
gard for Merriwell he would close his lips

that he believed Bart guilty.

-and say nothing.

3eing left alone, Frank again walked
the floor, He betrayed the
which had a hold on him, for his eyes

einotions

shone with a strange fire, but otherwise
he was calm To look
at him, one would not have fancied that

and undisturbed.

he was greatly troubled.

But Frank was thinking it all over.
He tried to dovso in a fair and impartial
manner, but soon found that, were he to
be strictly impartial, he would soon be
convinced that there was a_ possibility of
his friend’s guilt.

‘‘And that I will not believe!’’ he
cried. ‘‘Hodge is innocent, no matter if
he did not tell the truth about his move-
mients last night. I must see him again,
however. I must see him alone. He will
tell me everything now—he will tell why
he left the camp,”’

Frank felt absolutely certain of this.

Ephraim came with a suit of clothes,
and Merry soon got out of his baseball
uniform.

‘Whole town is talking over this busi-
ness, b’gosh!’’ exclaimed the boy from
Vermont. ‘‘Heard street,
and heard ’em daownstairs in the hotel.”’

‘‘What are they saying ?’’

‘*Most of them say Hodge done it.’’

‘Vou do no believe that?”

**Great'oum! I don’t want to.’’

**But you do not ?”’
 ‘*Wal, b’gee! I dunno what to think.
You know that feller did have a bad
name when he first came to Fardale, and

em on the

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

t

he didn’t stop at northing to git the best
He was full of meanness then as
It seemed to be

of you.
an aig is full of meat.
his natur’, an’ it’s pritty gol darn hard
work to change a human critter’s natur’.
It may seem to change, but if it is real
mean, that there meanness will crup out
some time.”’

This was philosophy, but Merriwell
shook his head.

‘‘T do not think Bart Hodge was natur-
ally crooked.’’ !

‘Then he uster act gol darn queer fer
a straight feller!’

‘“‘T believe he was spoiled by his indul-
gent mother, that was all. When he came
to understand himself—wherrhe saw him-
selfin his true light, he was ashamed,
and it did not take him long to face
about and straighten up.”’

It was Ephraim’s turn to shake his
head.

‘“He do that, for he was
sharp enough to see that he was gittin’
gol dinged unpopperler, but if he was
really converted, he backslid easy as soon
as he left Fardale. He wasin with crooks

seemed to

when you run onter him aout in Cali-
forny.”’
‘‘He had been drawn in with them

through the influence of a scheming girl
who was using him as a tool. He was
hypnotized by her.’’

‘*Mebbe.’’

It was plain enough that Gallup took
no stock in this.

‘“T see you are against him,’’ said
Merry, somewhat bitterly. ‘‘Still you
have been friendly enough with him till
he fell into this trouble. Now is the time
to stand by him.’’

‘‘Wal, Frank, I was friendly with him
because you seemed to think so much of
him. I never was stuck-on the feller. He
was too sober an’ quick-tempered fer me,
b’gee! I was alwus scared of gittin’ him
mad.’

  

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dent that he is innocent.

‘‘And now you are going back on him
entirely ?’

‘“No. I’m gol darn sorry fer him! I’m
sorry even if he done the job, for
siiart in a good many ways, and it’s too
bad fer a smart feller to be crooked. If I

)
.

he’s

kin help him I will

‘Then for Heaven’s sake don’t let any-
body know but you are absolutely confi-
If it gets out
that his friends are doubtful, the hand of
every man will be against him. For my
sake, if not for his, pretend that you be-
lieve him innocent!’

This appeal moved the boy from Ver-
mount.

‘“All right,’’ he said.
I'l] do almost any old thing.’’

Having put on a citizen’s suit, Merry
left the room, locking the door, and de-
scended to the street. His friendship for
Hodge was well known in Fardale,
it seemed that everybody stared at him.
They were wondering how he took the
arrest of his chum.

As he left the hotel he saw three girls
on the opposite side of the street, and he
crossed over to them. They were Iuza,
Elsie and May.

‘Oh, Frank!’’ Inza exclaimed; ‘‘isn’t
it just dreadful ?”’

“Tt wall come out all right,’’ declared
Merry, witn an air of absolute confidence
that was reassuring. 3

**Do you think so?’ asked Elsie.

‘*T know so.”?

‘*{am so glad!”’

‘*Fer your sake

and

breathed May. ‘‘I

was so—so awfully afraid it might be—

might be——”?

She did not finish; she would not con-

_ fess that she was afraid that it might be

true. In the innocence of her heart arrest
was equivalent almost to conviction. She
had beyun to like Hodge very much, and
his arrest was a great shock to her.
‘““How could they make such a_ blun-
der?’ asked Inza. .
“Such things frequently happen in

*

FRANK MERRIWELL'S FAITH.

- me all the more confident that he is inno-

        
   
   
     
    
   

small places where there are no _ profes-
sional detectives to work up a case,’’ an-
swered Frank. ‘‘Hodge was in Collins’
store the other day when the proprietor
Collins
watched him. The robber knew the com-
bination. Collins thought Bart must haye

caught onto the combination while he

opened his safe, and says Bart

watched.’’
‘‘Well, it must be a great old safe that
anybody could open so easy!’ cried the
dark-eyed girl.
‘‘T heard somebody saying something
about a handkerchief,’’ said Elsie.
‘*Yes, Bart’s handkerchief was
in the store.

found
been dropped

Burglars do
dropping their
chiefs as clues. They are too sharp for
that. The very fact that Hodge’s hand-
kerchief was found in that store makes

It may have
there yesterday by Hodge.

not go round handker-

            
     
   
 

cent. If Hodge were crooked enough to
attempt such a job, he is altogether too
shrewd to leave his handkerchief behind
as a clue.’?

Frank’s words caused the girls to
brighten up. They had not thought of it 7
in that light. T'he discovery of the hand-
kerchief seemed almost proof positive of
Hodge’s guilt; but now Frank put it in
quite another light.

When the girls went on they were
Frank turned toward the
store where the robbery had been com- —
mitted, and was met by Diamond and
Rattleton, both of whom seemed down-
cast. ; ;

‘This is tough on us, Merry!’’ ex- a
claimed Harry. ‘‘We will leave a soiled —
reputation behind us in this town,”’ See

‘“‘Why should we?’’ demanded Frank,
sharply. i ae

“Kh? Help can we how it—I mean~
how can we help it? Who’d thought
Hodge would do such a thing?’ se

‘*He might have chosen some other
time!’’ grunted Browning.

      
     
       
           
      
      
       
    

much relieved.

 
         
       
     
       
     
     
       
       
     
     
     
 

   

      

  
 

  
 

  

Merriwell’s eyes.
tired !””
seems that you
without

Fire flashed in Frank
‘*You all make
ee
judged Bart guilty

me he ex-

claimed. have ad-
y hearing or
trial. * And you are the ones to stand by
will? Shame
Believe what
whole world

him! If you do not, who
on such friendship!
like, but, even though the

thinks Bart guilty, I will not believe it
1)

you

till he is tried and convicted

CHAPTER «VI.

UNCERTAIN FRIENDSHIP.

“Oh, we don’t like to think him
guilty,’ said Rattleton, hastily;
“but——”’

‘*No, it isn’t pleasant,’’ put in Brown-
Ppt pute”

‘*“But me no buts!’ exclaimed
Frank. ‘*You are supposed to be Bart’s

friends. If you are heard expressing evel
so much asa doubt about his innocence,
it will turn sentiment against him. I am
heartily ashamed of you fellows, anyhow!
You are altogether too ready to think he
may be guilty.”’

’ It was plain talk, but neither Rattle-
ton nor Browning showed resentment, al-
though their faces flushed with embar-
rassment.

‘‘We tolerated Hodge because you
were so friendly toward him,’’ began
Harry but Frank cut him short:

‘““A weak excuse! You have pretended
to be friendly toward him, and, now that
he is in trouble, you turn your backs on
him, Is that the kind of friendship you

bear toward ime?’’

‘Oh, no!’ gasped Harry.

‘‘Not much!’ grunted Bruce.

“Tf Tam afriend to a came
from Frayk, ‘‘I am his friend forever. I
do not care for fair weather friends. I ad-
mire the sort that. stand by you when it

storms. Bart Hodge needs some stormy
weather friends just now. He can count

on me to the end.’”

man,’’

fo

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

‘You would not stand by him if you
were satisfied of hig guilt ?”’ 4
‘‘No, but it will take considerable to
satisfy me. I know the sort of argument
you will bring—I have heard it already.
I care nothing of his past; don’t mention

itto me. My influence over Hodge has
ever been for the best, and ‘he. has
walked straight while with me. I do not
think he has stepped from the straight
and narrow path of honesty this time.
He had money enough—all he needed.
Why should he.’’

‘*Natural inclination.’

 

‘‘Natural rats! Hodge comes of good
His blood is the very best. In

his case everything back of him is in his

family.

favor. Blood will tell. Hodge has plenty
of honest blood in him.”’

“Did you always think
Harry.

‘“Phere was a time when we first met
that I thought Bart a rascal,’’ confessed’
‘‘Afterward I saw the fellow was
all right if he could be started on the
right road. Idid my best to win his
start him, and I suc-

so?’ asked

Merry.

friendship and
ceeled.”’

‘‘He has not always stuck by the road
you started him on.”’

Frank made a gesture of impatience.

‘IT know what you would say. You
want to bring up that California affair. I
have heard that before to-day.
mention it again! And don’t

 

let any-

;

;
x a ° é ae
body hear you say anything that will lead | ;

them to think you even dream Hodge
may be guilty. I tell you he is not guilty!
I tell you I will prove that he is not j
guilty !’’ 2g
‘‘T am afraid you have contracted for a ee
big job,’’ grunted the big Yale man. -
‘“Higger than you can bandle—I mean
bigger than you can handle,’’ said Rattle-
ton. .
“Don’t let it worry you. It is prob-
able I shal] not be at the camp to-night. *
I have a room in the hotel. Don’t trouble

   

 

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s SS A I a I Na SCRE oR LT

SE ETRY D

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LEER OT

 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH. 19

about ine. If I am not around, don’t try
to find me, for the chances are that you
will waste your time. Ill turn up all
right to-morrow.’

“‘Where are you going ?”’

‘*Don’t know.”’

‘*What are you going to do?”’

‘*Haven’t decided.”’

They could get nothing more out of
hin. He passed on toward Collins’ store,
and they stood looking after him.

‘Well!’ grunted Bruce.

**Well?’? interrogated Harry.

‘““What do you think ?”’

‘*Just like the fellow!”’

‘““That’s right! He is true blue!. He
will stand by a friend to the Jast gasp,
and that is certain.’’

‘‘T his is a hard blow for hitn.”’

‘*Tt’s a tough one.’’

**VYou see he introduced Hodge to ll
of us and got him into college, and that
is one thing that makes him take it so
hard.”’

“Tam not certain, but I reckon he
would take it just as hard anyway. | It’s
like him.??

‘“That’s what I said,’? nodded Rattle-
ton. ‘‘But Pll bet he has thought how
he will feel on going back to college and
having it known that Hodge was pinched
for burglary. Not all the fellows in Yale
are Merry’s friends, aud some of thein
will be sure to make a great deal of this
affair. ”’

‘*Well,’’? said Browning, ‘‘no matter
what we may think, we must stand by
Frank, and he has asked us to stick to
Hodge.”’

‘‘Not exactly asked us that, but he ex-
pressed a very forcible_opinion on that
pojnt. Till Hodge is proven guilty, we
must proclaim his innocence.’’

Dismal Jones was seen approaching.

Never in all his life had the fellow

looked so sad and downcast as he did at

that moment. He would have passed them _

without looking up, but
stopped him.

Browning

‘““What are you thinking about ?’’ asked
Harsy.

‘‘Heap many things,’’ grunted Jones,
like an Indian. ‘‘No like to think of
um! Ugh!’ ;

‘*Did you see Merriwell ?”’

‘Ves. Found him in the hotel.’

9

‘You said you were going to tell him
something.’?

‘TI did,’?? murmured Dismal, elevating
his eyebrows
something,

‘*Whereupon he told me
and there was considerable
muchness to what he had to say.”’

‘“We have been talking with him.’’

est

‘‘He wants the crowd to stand by
Hodge—says it is our duty, even though
we may think Bart guilty.”’

‘“What if we know he is guilty ?’’

‘But we do not know that.”’

‘Hush!

There was something in Dismal’s man-
ner that excited Rattleton greatly. He
caught hold of Jones, demanding:

“You talk as if you knew something!”

**Perhaps I do.”’

“What? Tell us!”’

“You uncork es ’? commanded
Browning.

‘Meant

‘Why not?”

‘‘Under orders to keep still.”

**Whose orde at

**Merriwell’s.

Now they were excited and eager to
know what Jones could tell; but he
would say nothing more till both had
promised to keep silent. He made them
swear to be silent, and he was in deadly
earnest.

‘Out with it!’’ palpitated Rattleton.

“Let her come!’’ grunted Browning.

So Jones told them what he had seen
the night hefcre, and when he had fin:
ished, both exclaimed together:

Phat settles it!’

 

Perhaps you do not.”’

     
  
      

   

‘‘] thought so myself,’
*‘but Merriwell didn’t.”’

‘“This is a case where Merriwell is let-
ting his heart govern his head,’’ said
Harry. ‘‘He is hoping against hope.’”

‘Folly!’ muttered Browning. ‘‘He
may as Sell give up. Hedge is caught
dead to rights, Fellows, our visit to Far-
dale will end in the shadow of disgrace.”’

‘Ah! fain would I think otherwise,
but it is impossible,’’ sighed Jones. ‘‘I’in
sorry I came.’’

‘It’s a miserable shame!’’ cried Harry ;
‘‘but we must stand by Merry, fellows—
we must show our good will. _ No matter
what we-may think about Hodge, we
must pretend to believe him innocent.”’

‘*The' farce. can’t last long,’ came
sadly from Jones. ‘‘He goes on trial to-
morrow, and, without doubt, he will be
held by the judge. Icallitrotten! Hodge
has put us all ina bad light here, and I
am not feeling very friendly toward
him.”?

It was not often that Jones spoke in
this manner, and he showed how earnest
he really was.

‘*We can’t do anything about it.”’

‘We can get out of town.”’

“What’s that?’ cried Harry and
Bruce, in chorus.

‘“We can pack up and make a sneak,’’
said Jones. ‘‘Let’s.”?

Not for a garrel of bold—I mean a
barrel of gold!’’ spluttered Harry. ‘“‘I
am here to stay just as long as Merriwell
‘stays. He is the fellow I stick by?

‘‘Saine here,’’ grunted Bruce,

‘““Then I don’t see but I'll have to
stick,’’ said Jones.

said Disinal;

CHAPTER VIII.

ee eek CLL Voy

Frank made his way to Collins’ store.
There was a crowd in front of the build-
“ing. Ashe approached he sawa man
come out of the side door.

‘(That is the way to get in,’’ he de-
cided.

Merry had determined to attempt a
little detective work on his own hook if
he could gain adinission to the store.

He went round to the side door and
rapped. It was opened bya boy, who
asked what he wanted.

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH

“Tl wish to see’ Mr,

Collins,’ said

‘Frank, boldly.

” said

aud closed the door in Merry’s

‘*Can’t see him now; he’s busy,
the boy,
face.

‘‘Confound it!’ muttered Frank. ‘‘I
must get in there some way.’’

While he stood trying to devise a plan,
the door opened again and Mr. Aver came
out. He would have passed without see-
ing Frank, but Merry stepped forward,
lifting his hat and saying:

“Excuse me, sir; I wish to speak with

‘you a moment.”’

‘*Kh??? said Ayer. ‘'Why, “pless me! 1
believe I know you! You have changed
your clothes, but yottare Frank Merri-
well.’

CaN GR, SITs:

‘Young man, I am sorry you are
mixed in this unfortunate affair,’’? de-
clared Ayer, sincerely. ‘‘You area shrewd
youth. I like your appearance. You are
very popular in town. It is unfortunate
that this thing happened.’’ .

“Tt is, indeed,’’ said Frank; ‘“‘but I do
not care on my own account. My friend
is the one I am thinking of, sir. He is in
a bad scrape.”’

‘‘You are right—quite right.’’

‘*T ain confident he is not guilty of the
crime with which he is charged.”

‘“‘I trust you are right,’’ said Mr. Ayer,
slowly, and with uncertainty; ‘‘but it
looks bad for him—very bad.”’

‘It does, at present—it always looks
bad for a person who is arrested for a
crime, no matter how innocent he may
pe.”

‘““You are a very shrewd reasoner,
young inan,’’ said the ‘‘town father,’’
with a.show of admiration. ‘‘But the
finding of that handkerchief was a inost
unfortunate thing for Mr. Hodge.’’

**T will admit that it seems so on the

surface, but I take the view that, instead
of proving his guilt, it is an assurance of
his innocence.”

“Well, that -is a most remarkable
view !’’ exclaimed Ayer, showing his as-
tonishment. ‘‘I fear you are going, to
overthrow my good opinion of your abil-
ity as a reasoner,”’

‘*Perhaps I may,’’ said Frank, quiet-

ly; “‘but I wish to explain why I look
at it as I have stated.

 

I know Bart — 2 z

   
  
  
  
       
  
  

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Hodge thoroughly, and I know heis very
shrewd. ‘The finding of a handkerchief
as a clue in a case of robbery is old—very
old. It has happened oftener in stories
than otherwise. Robbers, shrewd _ rob-
bers, especially, do not drop handker-
chiefs around so they may be traced by
them. Now Bart Hodge, while he is no
robber, is shrewd. If he had committed
the robbery last night, you may be sure
his handkerchief would not have been
found this morning lying in full view be-
fore the open safe. Not: much! He would
not have left anything behind that was
so absolutely certain to lead to his arrest.
Even if he had left it there, he would not
have owned the handkerchief at once on
examining it. He would have sworn it
was not his.
that it belonged to him ?”’

““Good = gracious!’? exclaimed Mr.
Ayer, astonished. ‘‘That is a most amaz-
ing way of looking at it.”’

‘‘Toesn’t it seem reasonable ?”’

‘It seeins possible now that you have
put it in such a light. You may be right.
I am more than ever impressed with your
fine reasoning ability, young man. But
what have you to say to those witnesses
who are ready to swear that they saw
Mr. Hodge in town last night ?”’

‘““They may have been mistaken.”’

‘"Not likely. It was a bright moon-
light night.”

‘They may lie.’’ :

‘“‘No, no! That will not go. Two of
them are reliable citizens of the place.
They were returning from a Masonic
meeting of some sort over in Freedom
and drove into town some time between
one and two o’clock this morning.
Hodge passed them. He walked directly
past their carriage. In fact, he was walk-
ing not far from the middle of the road,
and they were forced to turn out for him.
He did not pay the least attention to

them, but they saw lis face distinctly in

the moonlight, and they are ready to
swear to that.’’
“He did not sneak past them ?’’
coNOs*.

“‘Did not even turn his face away so

they would not get a good look at it?”

“No.”
— ‘It seems to me that he did not act

Who could swear positively

   

FRANK MERRIWELL’S Fal. | 21

much like a person who had just com-
initted a crime.’’

‘It is strange,’’ admitted Ayer.

‘Was he carrying anything in his
hands?’’

“They did net notice anything.”’

‘‘At that time the store must have
been robbed, I take it. Which way was
he going ?’’

‘*In the direction of the academy.”’

. ‘Leaving the village ?”’

BRAT p27

**And carrying nothing. He must have
disposed of his swag in a hurry. And
still, although he had just come red-
handed from the job, he made no attempt
to avoid the team and the meu in it!
Astonishing conduct fora burglar! You
must acknowledge, Mr. Ayer, that his
actions were quite unlike those of a
criminal.’’

‘(There is something very queer about
it—something I do not understand. If
Mr. Hodge is innocent, and you have
made it seem possible that he is, I trust
you will be ableto aid him in proving his
innocence. ”’

‘‘T am going to try to do so; but I
wish to get into this store. I want an op-
portunity todo a little detective work
on my own hook. I applied for admission
just before you came out, but the hov
closed the door in my face. Of course I
could rap again and then force my way
in when the boy opened the door, but it
is almost’certain that I would be fired
out. Can’t you get me in there, sir?”

‘‘Well, really, I don*t know—perhaps
so, . 1’]i-See.””

The man rapped at the door, which
was opened by the boy on guard.

“Look here, Jim,’’ said the ‘‘town
father,’’ “‘this young man wishes to en-
ter on important business. Admit him.”

)

‘CAll right, sir,’? said Jim, who plain- —

ly stood in no iittle awe of Mr. Ayer.

‘’Thank you,’? murmured Frank, as
he stepped in at the open door.

The door closed behind him.

‘““Want to-see Mr. Collins,’’ said Jim,
with a show of respect for Merry, now
that Ayer had spoken for him. ‘‘He is
in the front store. Right through this —
way, sir.’’ . 3

Frank passed through a dark passage
and came out into the store, which was —

®

   
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their ears can

_ said the

‘right

he could look down at the
the safe.

22 FRANK MERRIWELL'S
also rather dark, as all the curtains were
drawn. Three men were there. They
were Collins, Marsh anda eee who
wore a black beard. ‘The stranger was
kneeling in front of the ae with a
small lamp in his hand, and seemed to

be making some sort of examination.

‘“There are experts who might open
this safe without knowing the combina-
tion,’’ he said. ‘‘They could do the trick
by sound and by touch. Such men know
all about the construction of safes, and
tell the meaning of the
faintest click. Then they havea way of
keeping the skin on the ball of the
thumb very tuin, the same as a gambler,
who reads marked cards by touch ; As
they turn the knob, they let their thumb
gently touch the plate here, and the
slightest jar tells them what has _ hap-
pened inside. ’

‘“‘But the youngster who robbed this
safe is not up to those tricks,’’ said Col-

lins. ‘‘He isn’t old enough.’’

“That is right, Mr. Brace,’ said
Marsh. ‘‘He isa mere boy.’’

‘‘Well, it is hard to say what some

boys can do and what they can’t do,’’
man with the black beard.
‘They are up to ali sorts of tricks in
these days. It is certain, however, that
the one who opened this safe either knew
the combination or was anexpert. He
did not leave a mark upon it.”’

“But for the finding of his handker-
chief, he might never have been ar-
rested,’’ said the storekeeper.

‘*Whetre was his handkerchief found ?”’

“Right here in front of tlre safe.’’

“If that is the case, it is certain he is
no professional, for a professional would
never leave such a clue behind him. It is
quite probable that you have nabbed the
man, but the case is interesting,
and I ain glad I happened along.”’

‘Yes, I ain very glad you happened
along, Detective Brace, ”” said Collins.

‘*So this is Detective Brace ?’’ thought
Frank. ‘‘Well, it strikes me that he is
giving them the biggest kind of a brace.
His voice sounds natural. I believe I have
heard it before. I want to get a square
look at his face.”’

Frank slipped forward and stood where
man_ before
The man heard a slight noise

 

FAITH.

and turned, rising to his feet,
still in his hand.
He and Merry were face to face.

the lamp

CHAPTER IX.

HODGE LOSES HOPE.
‘(The deuce!’
The astonished detective came near
dropping the lamp. Without a word

Frank looked hiin straight in the face.

‘““What does this mean?’’ exclaimed
Collins. ‘‘How does this fellow come
here ?”?

‘‘How dare he intrude!’’
Marsh, harshly. f

‘‘] have business here,’’? said Merry,
calmly. ‘‘My: friend is under. arrest
charged with a crime he did not commit.
I came here to doa little detective work
on my own hook.’’

‘*Can’t have a boy meddling around,”
said Brace, quickly.

‘Of course not,’? nodded Marsh, his
leathery face full of wrinkles.

‘‘He shall be put out at once,’’ said
Collins. ‘‘I don’t understand how he got
past Jim.’’

‘Don’t be in sucha hurry to run me
out,’? urged Frank. ‘‘I can’t do any
harm now I am in here. Of course you do
not wish to convict my friend if he is in-
nocent, and it is barely possible I may be
able to aid in the discovery of the real
criminals.’

Teicieslgsiett sneered the detectives
‘*He will be in the way while he is here,
and he is certain to go out and tell all he
learns. Get him out immediately.’’

‘‘You really seem afraid of me!’’ ex-
claimed Frank. ‘‘It is most remarkable
that a detective should be afraid of a per-
son who has the interest in the case that
I have. Is it possible that you fear I may
discover a clue to the real criminal.’

‘*Such insolence!’’ burst from Marsh.
‘*How does he dare talk in such a man-
ner !?’ ;

“Put him out!’ ordered Brace.

‘““There is something familiar about
your voice,’’? said Merry; ‘‘but I don?t
seein to remember those whiskers. ’’

‘‘Put him out!’ repeated the detective,
harshly.

“tn fact,’ said Frank, with astonish-
ing coolness, ‘*T do not think you had a
beard the last time we met. =

exclaimed

    
  
    
  
 
     
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
 
    
   
   
  
  
 
  
 
   
  
 
     
   
 
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
     
      
        
    
         
      
  

ae

 

 

Sa
- AS ark ieat ee

 
 

   
  
   
    
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
    
  
  
 

   

-the matter with

“Put him out!’ burst from Brace for
the third time.
Collins grasped Frank by
Marsh caught hold of the other.
‘Come!’ they cried together.
‘*One moment,’’ urged Frank
‘‘Not one!’ cried Collins.
‘*Not an instant!’’ grated Marsh.
They tightened their grips on his
arins, they forced him forward.
*“March!”’
Straight into the passage and toward

one arm,

the back door they hurried him. Some-
thing caused Frank to fling over his
shoulder:

‘*T’]] see you again, Detective Brace.”’
The door was reached. Collins ‘splut-
tered at Jim for admitting Frank. Open
caine the door, and Merry was thrust
violently out. The door slammed behind
him. :
Frank thrust his handsinto his pockets
and turned about to survey the door, a

queer look on his face.

‘‘That was all overin a minute,’’ he
said. ‘*They didn’t seem to want me in
there. Collins is a numbhead; Marsh is
a fool who thinks he knows it all. As

for Mr. Detective—well, he acted mighty |

Seemed afraid of me. What was
him? I swear it does
seem that I have heard his voice! There
was: something familiar in the sound.
And that beard looked to me as if it were
false. Perhaps he is in disguise. Ha!
Why is he in disguise? Detectives go
about in disguise in stories; in real life
they seldom wear disguises, especially
fullbeards. False beards are a give-away.
That detective is on the bum. He is
playing some sort of a game, and I would
give something to know what it is.’
’ Frank stood there some time, looking
straight at the door and thinking hard.
He was sorry that he had made himself
seen so soon after getting into.the store.
Then he thought of his reasoning con-
cerning the discovery of the handkerchief
in the store. Bart had claimed the hand-
kerchief as his. If he had not dropped it

queer.

there, then it must be that some other

Why. had they
-throw suspicion on

person had dropped it.
dropped it? To

_ Hodge!

- Frank did tot show excitement when
he arrived at sat conclusion, but he was

   

FRANK MERRiWELL’S FAITH. 23

convinced that he had struck upon the
truth. That being the case, it must be
that one of Bart’s enemies had perpe-
trated the trick.

Who were Bart’s most prominent ene-
mies ?

Immediately he thought of George Car-
ter. The fellow had seeined pleased over
Bart’s arrest at the baseball ground, and
Frank did not think Carter any too good
to rob a store and leave something to
throw the crime on the fellow he hated.
But had Carter found the opportunity?
How had he obtained possession of Bart’s
handkerchief ?

It didnot seem probable that the cadet
was the one who robbed the store, but
Merry felt that it was possible,

Then there was Rupert Reynolds.
Hodge had handled Reynolds roughly on
one or two occasions, and the fellow had
sworn to geteven. Perhaps he was the
one. It seemed far more probable to
Frank that Reynolds was in it than that
Carter had taken a hand.

Win Harding was another who hated
Hodge, and Frank thought of Harding’s
sneer as Bart was taken from the ball
ground by the officer. He also remem- —
bered that he had told the fellow that his
time would come.

Bart had his washing done at Snodd’s,
and it did not take Merry long to decide
to find out how large a list of patrons in
the line of washing and ironing Mrs.
Snodd had. He hired a team and drove.
over to the farmer’s without delay.

Belinda met him at the door.

‘‘Land sakes!’’ she exclaimed. ‘‘Ain’t
it just awful! Can it be that Mr. Fodge
would do such a thing ?”’

‘““Not for a million dollars, ak less
for what was taken from that little store,’’
returned Frank, promptly. ‘‘He did not
have anything to do with it.”’

Then he questioned the girl in reget
to the customers for whom her mother did

washing and ironing. He soon found out
that both Reynolds and Harding were on
the list.

‘*It is quite likely dott were in that
job last night,”’ said Merry to himself,
as he drove away without satisfying Be- |
linda’s curiosity as to the reason why he |
had asked such questions. Fi

Delivering the team at the livery

  
 

    

24

stable, he went to the lockup. Sheriff
Hawkins was keeping watch over his
prisoner. The sheriff was inclined to be
friendly toward Frank, and it did not
take Merry long to obtain permission to
see the prisoner alone. He was admitted
to Bart’s cell, and the sheriff retired.

*‘Took here, old man,’’ said Frank,
seriously, ‘‘I am absolutely convinced of
your innocence, but there is one thing
you must explain.’’ :

‘*T will explain anything that I can,”’
said Hodge, quietly, and his manner
seemed to indicate that he meant it.

‘“Then tell me why you left camp last
night and where you went,’’ came com-
mandingly from Merriwell’s lips, as he
looked straight into Bart’s eyes.

**T do not know what you mean by ask-
ing me such a question,’’ declared Bart.
‘*T did not leave camp last night.’’

‘Don’t say that!’’ cried Merriwell,
desperately. ‘‘Isaw you, Bart. AndI
was not the only one.”’

*‘Impossible!’’? came firmly from
Hodge’s lips. ‘‘You are mistaken,
Frank.’’

‘‘T am not mistaken. I was restless last
night, for some reason, and I was sitting
on a camp-stool just within our tent
when I saw some one come out of the tent
you occupy. I was surprised. The moon-
light fell fairly on the face of the person
I saw, and I recognized you.’’

Hodge turned very pale, but he did not
show confusion. Instead, he repeated:
‘‘Impossible! You must have dreamed
it, Merry, for I did not leave the tent last
night.’’
“*T wish I might think it was a dream,”’
came desperately from Merriwell, ‘‘but I
was not the only one who saw you.”’

‘‘Do you mean to say that another per-
son thinks he saw me ?”’

(Ves, 9

‘Who?’

‘*Tones,’?’

‘‘Then you are both mistaken.’’

Frank was seized with a desperate feel-
ing, for he had hoped that Bart would
confess and would explain his movements.
It was plain now that Hodge had no
thought of making sucha confession, and
 Merriwell was nonplussed.

- Something that Bart saw in Frank’s

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

=

 

  

face caused him to turn away, a choking
sob rising in his throat.
*‘T understand,’’ he muttered, huskily.

‘*You really believe ine guilty! You want.

me to confess! Great heavens! When you
lose faith in me I am done for!”?

He staggered, and, in a moment, Mer-
riwell was at his side, his arm about him,
while he spoke swiftly :

“Do you think I lied when I just told
you that I am absolutely convinced of
your innocence? Did you ever know me
to lie, Bart Hodge? But you did come
out of your tent—you did leave cainp—
you were gone more than two hours! I
saw you when you returned. Jones saw
you. I hoped you could explain.’’

Bart’s face seemed to grow still paler.

‘Tt is plain that you believe I lie,’’ he
said, hoarsely.
about this, there is no reason why I
would not do something worse. If I have
lied to you, I committed the crime for
which I have been arrested !’’

Then Hodge sat down as if all the
strength and hope had gone out of him.

CHAPTER X.
MERRY’S DISCOVERY.
When he left the lockup Frank Merri-

well did a strange thing. He looked at
his watch and then hastened to the rail-

way station, where he was barely in time_

to catch a train that passed through the
village.

He was seen and recognized by several
as he stepped aboard the train. It alinost
seemned that he tried to avoid observation,
and it was not long before the report
went out that he had fled from Fardale.

Within an hour after Frank’s depart-
ure it was rumored that he had been con-
cerned in the robbery and that he had fled
to escape arrest.

Frank’s enemies caught up this story _
and did their best to circulate it, fancying —

they saw their opportunity to turn public
opinion against Merriwell.

His friends were puzzled by his singu-

lar act, but they did not believe he had
left Fardale to avoid arrest. Se

There were doubtful ones who were
neither enemies nor» friends. ‘They re-

membered how Merriwell had stood by _
Hodge, how friendly the=two lads had —
¢

.

been in the past, and many other thing

   

 

“lf:1 will he to. you-

es

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
      
     
     
    
 

eet aside '

 

  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
     
    
     
     
   
    
      
   
     
     
 
 

that caused thein to wonder if it were
possible that the lad of whom they had
heard so much and who had created such
enthusiasm in the village really could be
a criminal.

Frank’s foes worked earnestly to turn
public opinion against him, and they be-
gan to be satisfied and gratified by their
success. It was suggested that telegrams
describing him should be sent out, to-
gether with orders for his arrest, for, al-
though he had departed without carrying
baggage, there were those who said that,
beyond doubt, he was getting away with
the ‘‘swag.”’

In the meantime, shortly after night-
fall, the express from the north brought
Frank back to Fardale.

But no one recognized him when he
stepped off the train.

He was in disguise.

It was a chap in loud clothes, red neck-
tie, russet shoes and a silk hat that left
the train. Never before had such a dis-
play of perverted and vulgar taste in
clothing been known in Fardale. ‘The
stranger carried a huge cane and wore
gold-bowed spectacles. There was a tiny
coal-black mustache on his upper lip and
a sinall goatee on his under lip. Across
his vest was strung a huge gold chain.
There were ‘‘sparklers’’ on his fingers
and another in his tie. He wore a
‘‘fancy’? shirt anda high white ‘‘choker’’

collar. He walked with an arrogant swag-

ger as he left the station.
‘““Chimminy !’’? said one urchin to an-

other, gazing in awe after the retreating

figure; ‘‘see dat feller???

“Vou bet! Ain’t he a daisy?’

‘“(Dat’s a sport, an’ don’t yer fergit it!
Ain’t dat der stunninest rig! My! what
would I give to be able to wear dem
close!’

The new arrival was Frank Merriwell.
He went straight to the hote] where he
registered as ‘‘Charley Soon,’’ and _ paid
in-advance for his accommodations, as he

_ had no luggage.

At first he did not seem to be much of

a talker, but he was a very good listener,..
and it was not long before

he heard
Frank Merriwell spoken of in terms not
exactly complimentary. In this manner

he found out how his enemies were at
_ work.

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

3ut Frank was seeking to get track of
Detective Brace. He was finally rewarded
by seeing the detective come into the
hotel and go to his room.

On arriving at the hotel Merry had
looked the register over and found that
the detective’s name was there. Then he
had asked for a room close to that of the
detective, and, as it happened to be
empty, had obtained it.

After getting this room Frank imme-
diately retired, and, although he had not
brought any luggage, from his pockets he
produced two quite large oval mirrors.
One of these he adjusted to the end of
his cane at a certain angle, doing the
trick readily enough, asthe cane and mir-
ror had been prepared for that very pur-
pose. Then he stood up near the tran-
som of his door, holding the mirror above
his head with the cane, and saw with sat-
isfaction that it would serve the purpose
for which he had intended it.

As soon as Detective Brace went to his
room Frank hastened up into his own
room, and again the mirror was adjusted
to the cane. Then, with the other mirror.
in his hand, he slipped out into the hall.

A light shone from the transom above
the door of the detective’s room, and
Merry could hear the man moving about
inside. With the utmost caution, Frank
slipped up to the door, toward which he

turned his back. Then, with his cane, he

elevated the mirror till it was slightly
above the transom, which was half open.
Immediately he set the mirror in his hand
against the cane at such an angle that
he could look into it and see reflected the
one above. And the one above clearly
showed the interior of the room before
which Frank Merriwell was standing.

At the moinent when Frank adjusted
the mirrors so that they showed him
what was taking place within the room
the detective was standing in front of 4
dressing-case. His back was toward
Merry, and his coat was off. He seemed
to be busily doing something. Near the
dressing-case a large grip stood open.

Aided by his novel] arrangement, Frank
watched the man within the room. It
was not long before the detective paused,

produced a handkerchief, attempted to—

wipe his face and muttered an exclama-
tion of disgust.

   

  

   
    

26

  

Then something surprising happened.
With an impatient gesture the detective
lifted his hands and detached the black
whiskers which he wore. He lay them
on the dresser before him. Atthac mo-
ment the mirror in the dresser reflected
the face from which the disguise had
been removed. It was the face of Klegant
Ed Clair.

“CHAPTER XI.

AN ACCUSING OW...
Elegant Ed was well known in Far-
>

dale, where he had been born and reared.
He was known to be something of a
gambler and a rather reckless fellow, but
still he came of a good family, was pol-
ished in his manners, had a good educa-
tion, was handsome and managed to re-
tain something like popularity.

At times Ed would leave town and be
gone several weeks. He always came
back with plenty of money and new
clothes. It was said that he obtained his
money and clothes by gambling. —

But a short time before the events re-
lated in this story, the fellow had over-

stepped the bounds by kidnapping Elsie °

3ellwood. Frank rescued Elsie, and
Clair made haste to disappear to escape
arrest and punishment.

Now he was back, and he was playing
a bold game, for,he had pretended to be
a certain well-known detective and had
interested himself in the robbery case that
had startled the village.

But something had told Frank Merri-
well the fellow was a fraud. Now Frank
had discovered who he was.

What was Clair’s little game?

That question leaped into Merriwell’s
mind. Of course he was surprised by his
discovery, and he sesolved that Elegant
Ed should not get away this time, .but
he was eager to know what sort of a game
the fellow was into.

~ Ed took something from the dressing-
case and stood upright. Now he was side
to Frank, who could see what the fell low
held in his hands.

It was a package of banknotes that he

was counting.

When he ‘had completed his task he
picked up his coat, turned up the lining |

at the bottom, and close up under the

arm on the right side he found a pocket

in w hich ae catelully pert the anOMe YE.

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

Then he took more banknotes from
the open grip, counted them, and con-
cealed them in a secret pocket on the

~ other side of his coat.

Next he took out of the grip a hand-
some watch, which he spent some mo-
ments in examining, after which the
watch was also hidden away somewhere
in a secret pocket.

Frank’s ears were open all the while,
as well as his eyes, and now he_ heard
some one coming. Straightway he made
haste to slip into his room, the door of
which he left slightly open, extinguish-
ing his light. Peering out, he saw Win
Harding come up and rap at the door of
Clair’s room. The knock hers peculiar,
and it was evidently a signal, for Harding
was adinitted.

Frank was elated. He felt that he
knew the robbers of the store now. But
when he slipped out to once more watch
what was taking place in the room, he
was disappointed to find the transom had
been closed and a curtain drawn. Evi-
dently Clair and Harding did not wish
any one to overhear their talk or watch
them by the transom.

Frank watched from_ his
thirty minutes later, Win Harding came
out and departed. When Harding left the
hotel, Merriwell was shadowing him.
Win went straight to the principal saloon
in the town. He was standing at the bar
when Frank Merriwell, in his disguise,

came sauntering in and stood up beside

him.
Harding had ordered whisky. Merri-
well said he would take ’‘‘a_ little

whisky.’’ Behind the bar was a queer
clock with a human face anda jaw that
wagged as if it were chewing with each
tick of the clock.

Harding happened to be
straight at the clock as he
whisky. Then the clock
squeak : ;

‘‘Look out! Snakes!’

*“What the dickens!’ exclaimed Hara
ing, lowering his glass and staring at the

“tnele,

looking
lifted his
seemed to

clock. —

‘*Say, Bili!’’? cried Harding; ‘‘what’s
the matter with your old | ploChe It’s talk-
ing!”

toom till,

‘‘Snakes in | your glass!’ squeaked thas

 

 

 

 
    
 

        

  

     
       
  

*“Come off!’
‘You have
afternoon.
you.”’

**But I heard the blamed
‘snakes!’ ?’ persisted Win,
i his glass on the, bar.
“a> With adeft motion, while everybody

, was looking at the clock, Frank ex-

changed glasses with Harding.

The clock chewed on regularly, but

did not do any further talking. After a

. time, Harding started to take his drink
eo again. He lifted the glass almost to his
lips, and then, with a yell, he dropped it

a on the bar, having seen something that

ees was coiled in it. When it struck the bar it
broke, and a small green snake leaped out
- and shot wiggling from the bar to the floor.
‘‘A snake!’ screamed Harding. ‘‘It’s
e. on the floor here !’’
= oer That’s right, )°
lower end of the bar,
**T saw the thing.’”’

But when they looked for: the snake it
could not be found, for there had been a
small black string attached to it, and that
string had aided Merriwellin quickly
conveying it to his pocket, where the
tiny rubber thing was easily hidden.

‘“Have I got ’em ?”’ gasped Harding.

“Tf you have, I must have ’em, too!??
said the man who declared he had seen
the snake.

After a time, the excitement cooled
= down, and Harding insisted that he must
yhave a drink to brace his nerves. Just as

he was pouring out the drink a stuffed
owl over the bar seemed to cry:

‘*Who? who? who?’’

‘*Blazes!’’ gasped Harding. .‘*What’s
the matter with your old owl, Bill? You
heard that, didn’t you?’

‘““T heard sometiring,’’* confessed the
barkeeper, scarcely less astonished than

_ Harding and the others in the saloon, ex-
_ cepting Merriwell, who was not aston-
~ ished at all, although he appeared to be.
‘“That bird’s been dead ten years. It
-couldn’t been the owl..”’

““Then who was it?’’ gasped Harding.

‘‘Who? who? who?’’ hooted ‘the owl.

Bill, the barkeeper, ran out from be-
hind the . bar and faced the owl, at which
he glared, gurgling:

“Blame aay ey es!”

retorted the barkeeper.
been drinking like a fish this
That’s what’s the matter with

old clock say
as he placed

said a man at the
his eyes bulging.

 

 

4s

FRANK MERRIWELL'S FAITH.

‘in the robbery.

      
     
  
  
   
   
     
  
  
   
  
   
   
    
  
  
     
     
       
 
    
   
   
   
       
     
       
     
     
     
     
     
         
     
     
     
     
    
    
         
       

  
  

27

Harding was shaking, but he drewa
breath of relief when he beheld the agi-
tation of the others.

‘““Who—who robbed Collins?
who? who?”’

Harding staggered. It seemed to him
that the eyes of the stuffed bird glared
straight at him. ‘Those eyes seemed to’
pierce his very soul and read his_ secret.
Then the MASAO Y bird hoarsely hooted:

‘You! you! you!”

That was altogether too much for Win.

‘“To blazes with your old owls!’’ he
almost See ‘““The thing lies!’’

Then he flung the glass in his hand at
the bird a fled from. the saloon, shak-
ing in every limb. He hastened away,
cold perspiration pouring from his body,
but he had not gone far before there was
a step behind him, and, as he whirled in
terror, iron hands clutched and held him.

A hard, remorseless voice grated in his
eat:

‘*T want you! Confess or go to prison !”’

‘*T’ll confess!’’ gasped Harding, in ter-
ror. ‘‘I didn’t do the job! It was Clair!

I gave hiin the handkerchief, and he gave
me some of the swag if I would——
What have I said ?”?

‘*You have said the only thing that
will save you from prison,’’ said the dis- -
guised Frank Merriwell. ‘‘There_ is evi-
dence enough against you, but you may
get off easy by turning State’s evidence.
Stick to your confession. ”’

—_— —— ——

CHAPTER XII.
THE CROWNING SENSATION.

Bart Hodge was arraigned in
The room was packed to suffocation. The
spectators stared at the prisoner. Some
said he showed guilt, while some pitied
him, for it was plain enough that he was
utterly disheartened.

The Vale crowd, with the exception of
Frank Merriwell was on hand.- It was
whispered about that Merriwell had run
away aud deserted Hodge to his fate.
Some said he could not face the disgrace,
while others suggested that it was more ~
than possible that he had been concerned

Who?

court.

The judge arrived and court was —
opened. Detective Brace was there, talk-
ing confidentially with Collins and Marsh.

i << Bart Hodge, to the bar |”?

  
  

SR AS aot 7 _—

oo ee ee

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     
       
      
   

 

 

 

         
     
       
        
   
      
       
     
      
      
      
      

  
  

   

bs

28

Hodge arose. There was silence in the
rooin.

At that moment there was a commotion
near.the door.

‘Room! room!’’ commanded a _ clear
voice, a voice that caused every man of
the Yale crowd to start and turn in ex-
citement.

Through the crowd came palefaced
Win Harding, followed closely by ‘‘Char-
ley Soon.’’

‘(What is the meaning of this disturb-
ance.?’’ angrily demanded the judge.

‘This young man,’’? said ‘‘Charley
Soon,’’ ‘‘knows the true thief and will
point him out. Where is he, Harding ?”’

‘Right there!’? said Win, hoarsely,
pointing at the supposed detective
‘That person is no detective! He is Ed
Clair in disguise, and he committed the
robbery !”’

Clair leaped to his feet.

‘It’s a lie!’ he furiously cried.

Bill Hawkins dropped a hand on the
fellow’s shoulder, whirled him about,
snapped irons on him, and then said:

‘‘Gentlemen, it is the truth. Mr. Mer-

>>

tiwell brought me absolute proof of it

last night. See here!’

He tore off Clair’s false beard, and
there was a sensation in that court room
that came near being a riot. When order
was restored, it was seen that Clair had
dropped limply upon his chair and was
staring at the irons on his wrists.

‘“Mr. Hodge,’’ said the sheriff, ‘‘is en-
tirely junocent of the crime with which
he is charged. That can be easily shown.
My prisoner here is the guilty one. On
his person now he has money and jewelry
from the store. ‘The rest of the stolen
stuff has been recovered already. And

-you have Frank Merriwell to thank for

the successful solution of the case.”’

‘Rrank Merriwell!’’? shouted some-
body. ‘‘Where is he?’

‘*Here!”’

The disguised boy flung aside his silk
hat, tore off the black wig, removed thie
spectacles from his eyes, and had both
mustache and goatee off in a moment.

Frank Merriwell was before them!
There was a husli—then a roar from the

amazed spectators.

aes . Dep : . r ° ° °

FRANK MERRIWELL’S FAITH.

: Of course Hodge was acquitted. Hard-

ing toid his story, explaining how he had
given Clair the handkerchief belonging
to Hodge, which had gotten in with his
linen by accident. Both Harding and
Clair were held for trial by jury. Later
they were tried and Clair was sentenced
to three years at hard labor. Harding got
off much easier.

But both Merriwell and Hodge vere
heroes in Fardale. Every enemy wa’

‘silenced at last, for nothing could be said

to aes them now. Thestory of Frank’s
peculiar detective work as related by him
in court was repeated from mouth to
mouth and magnified till it seemed one
of the imost wonderful feats ever per-
formed.

But one inystery remained unexplained
—the mystery of Bart’s movements on the
night of the robbery. Nor-.was this ex-
plained forsome time. Finally, one night,
Hodge was seen by Frank to come out of
the tent as he had done before and start
to leave the glade. Merriwell did not let
him get away. He rushed out and
stopped him. Heclutched him, shook
him, and Bart—awoke!

He was walking in his sleep! As he

had not known that he ever did such a
thing, there had, until that moment,
been no explanation of his movements on
the night of the robbery. Now it was
plain enough that he had arisen and
walked into town, where he
seen by three witnesses.
Hodge’s gratitude toward Merriwell for
standing by. him could not be expressed
or measured.
_ “Brank,’’ he said, with. emotion, ‘‘the
day I forget what you have done for me
I hope I may die! You believed in me
when all others thought I might be
guilty. And it was you who saved me

from prison—I ain sure of that! Give me.

the opportunity and I will repay the debt
with my life and regret that I have but
one life to give!’’

Never was human being nore imear-

nest.

[THE END. ]

The next number (103) will contain as
the complete story, ‘‘Frank Merriwell’s
”?

Celebration; or, Last Days at Fardale,’ as
by, the author of “Frank, Merriwell.’” ‘

 

had been

     
  
  
  
    
 
  
    
     
      
   
   
  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Tip ToPWEEKLY.

“AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH 7?

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK, MARCH. 26, 1898.

Terms to Tip Top Weekly Mail Subscribers,

(POSTAGK FREER.)
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6 months - - - - ~- - $1.25) 1 copy two years - - - - 4.00

ss money order
At your own
or postage

Flow To SEND Monky.—By post office or expre
registered letter, bank check or dré/t, at our risk.
risk if sent by postal note, currency, coin,
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Recyipts.— Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper
change of number on yourlabel. Ifnotcorrect you have not beer
properly credited, and should let us know at once,

To CLUB RaIsEks.— Upon request we will send sample copies to
aid you in obtaining subscribers,

All letters should be addre

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238 William St., New York City.

One Hundred Prizes!
AWATCH FOR A POSTAL GARD

ek ew
Why do you Consider the Tip TOP
WEEKLY the Best Boys’ Paper of
To-day?
Becalise 8 Ee

Stanips if}

ssed to

 

To celebrate the ONE HUNDREDTH ISSUE
of the Tip ToP WEEKLY, the publishers offer
one hundred warranted nickel watches for
the one hundred best answers to the question

iven above. Replies must be written on
Postal Cards, and the sentence should not
contain more than ten words commencing
with the word “ Because.”

100 100
Warranted Warranted

Nickel

Nickel \\ 4
14] Watches.

Watches. \ i

 

This contest will bas Seater. May 24st,
1898. Postals should be addressed to

. HUNDREDTH ISSUE CONTEST,”
TIP TOP WEEKLY,

- STREET te AMT

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

—_

NEw York CITY.

  

  

w RESULT x

OF THE

“OPINION CONTEST.”

ee 3
LIST OF PRIZE WINNERS.

   
   
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
   
    
  
 
 
   

5 After a careful examination of the enormous number of
replies received in the contest, the twenty one dollar prizes
awarded to the contestants whose names are
The story receiving the greatest number of
Loyal to the

have been
given below,
votes was ‘‘Frank. Merriwell’s Courage: - or
Last,”’ No. 94 Tip Top Weekly.
ee

PRIZE WINNERS.

ALBERT JORGENSEN, Grant Station Post Office,
Michigan.

 

ORVIE MORSE, Box 16, Clinton, Il.
HARRY KENDALL, Chelsea, Mass.
ALLIE HORTON, Almonte, Ont., Canada.
ERNEST L. DRAIME, 313 Dubois St.,
M. GOETZ, 1303 8. Rampart St., New Orleans, La.
F. QUEST, Box 292, St. Augustine, Fla.

JOE R. KIMMEL, 218 Fourth Ave.,
Kansas.

WILLIAM FOX,

  
   

Vincennes, Ind.

 
 
 

Leavenworth, “|

  
 
 

346 W. 31st St., New York City.

   
  
 
  
  

JEREMIAH C, LYNCH, 44 Lombard St., Spring-
field, Mass.

ADRIAN P. HOWALD, Massillon, 0.

STEPHEN MARLEY, 943 Harrison Ave., Beloit:
Wis.

L, G. CAMPBELL, Mt. Vernon, Skagit, Co., Wash-

 
 

ington.
JAMES McNULTY, 476 33rd St., Chicago, Tl.
CHAT McLAUGHLIN, 304 W. 13th St., Austin,
JESSE. 8. FISHER, Box 153, Woodbury, N. J.
C. ORSEN, Westall, Middlebury, Vt.
THEO. ANDREWS, 188 Elm St., Biddeford, Maina”
R. S. SIMONS, 8 New St, Charleston, 8.C;
AL ZISKIN, 709 6th Avenue, Grand Forks, N. D.

—_—__—+- e-_e_____

 
 

Tex,

 
 
 
 
  

    
 

How Criminals Accuse Themselves.

     

A noted Parisian detective followed a murderer —
to Brussels. The chief description he received of —
him was. that he was of medium size, with blue
eyes, sandy hair and with a front tooth missing.
In two weeks) he Was on his track, but could not —
discover him. He eventually recognized the fellow, —
although his hair had been dyed, by the frequency —
with which he put his hand to his mouth, as if to
adjust unaccustomed teeth. The fellow had added
to his disguise by having four of his front teeth re-.
pias by false ones. ie

   
 

  

 
      
        
     
     
    
  

How to Make an Ejiectro-Magnet,
Including Batteries.

‘The best plan will be to purchase an electro-

magnet. It should be of good round iron, and bent

into a‘horseshoe shape. The bend should be as flat

as possible. When made, the magnet is put intoa

clear fire, and when red hot taken out and laid in

the ashes to slowly cool. Care must be taken not to

burn it. Jastly, two small holes are drilled in the

centre of the ends, about one-sixteenth of an inch
drive a piece of btass wire tightly into the
the
to allow a piece of thin paper between the iron
and the table when the iron is standing upon it
This is to prevent the armature adhering to the
magnet from residuary magnetism, which always
exists more or less. A cheap and simple battery—
not a telegraph battery, but one suitable for pro-
ducing the electric light—may be made as follows:
Get two half-pound porous cups and a round glass
jar large enough for the two porous cups to stand
in upright. Get two plates of sheet lead one-six-
teenth of an inch thick, wide enough to fit the half
round side of the porous cups, and deep enough to
come an inch or so above the top edge of the cups
and jar. Solder a stout copper wire or a screw post
to each lead plate at the top. Place the lead plates
Bs in the cups, and fill the cups nearly full with paste
made of red lead mixed with a solution of sulphate
of soda thin enough to run like cement. The glass
i jar containing the two cups should be filled to
within half an inch of the top of the cups with
sulphuric acid and water, about one part of acid
and eight parts of water. One plate should be
marked X, so that, in charging, the currents will
be correctly connected. This may be charged by
attaching to a series of a dozen sulphate of copper
cells for twenty-four hours, or from a dynamo. It
should always be charged in the same direction,
and it will improve by repeated chargings. A
wooden cover may be fitted to the glass jar, and
evaporation of the fluid should be replenished by
adding water. TIwoor more cells of this battery
will work small motors, lamps and. induction
coils, and if thoroughly charged, will retainva large
volume of electricity for a considerabletime. After
_ once being well charged, four to six cells of sul-
phate of copper battery will recharge it.

deep;

holes, and allow wire to project sufficiently

E's e

< ~~ 0

‘Georgie Writes a Letter.
_ Dear Uncle Fred: thot I was ded.
But paw says you’couldn’t kill /me by Runnin me
Sawmill, All I Done Was
be es Toe. Me and Tom Simmons was agoin to Bild a
Eiffle tower. His paw Has a Carpenter Shop in
The-Back yard and so we me all the Boards we
Could tair loose from the Fences in that naberhood
and took Them in Tom’s Back yard, and Begin
bildin. When Tom’s paw wasn’t their Tom tuk a
lot of tools out of the shop, and they was a Sharp
thing amung Them with Handles on the -ends.
- That's what they make shayens with.
EE rie Las ea oo ae

I spose you

thru a

 
  

30 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

Cut off my Big ;

 

    
 
 
 
   
    
  
 
  
   
   
   
   
    
   
    
 
    
    
   
   
  
  
  
     
 
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  

We got one Story up all rite, and all the Boys
around Thair was gittin interested.

I was up on top Doin the Fancy work and Tom
was Hafidin up the boards, so when I was pullin
with all my mite and Tom he was pushin away as
hard as he could a nale broke, and they was some-
thin a good Deal like a erth quake Happened.

The blaim sharp Thing was layin rite whair I
struck, and When they took my Shoe off the toe it
stayed inside.

You ought a seen Paw when he Came Home.
Maw she Sent fer Him as she Knowed ]
was Hurt, and the Doctor had it all Tide up When
paw Got Thair. When they told paw it was mi Toe
He says:

‘Is that all. I thot it was his hole darn laig.”’

That made Maw purty mad.

““T spose,’’ she says to Him,
no worse!”’

““Yes,’’ paw -says,
him more Good.’’

I wonder what makes Boys paws Have Sich Hard

as soon

‘your sorry it ain’t

‘I Am. If it was it mite do

Harts.

Maw cried purty Hard when He sed that and
when she could Talk again She sed He was that
Cruel it was a wonder the Lord let Him Have enny
Childern,

eI guess I wouldn’t Have none if you Had your
way,’’? says paw. ‘‘You’d encourage them to go
ahed and Braik their blaim necks the First thing.’

They mite a Had a reglar fite if the Doctor was
ent thair.

I thot it was purty tuff at first, But I Diden’1
need to Go to School, so I’m Glad it happened. I]

wisht it wasn’t well yit. I could git along without

no Crutch if I wanted to, But I ain’t goin to Give
up this Here Snap as long as they are enny Show
to Hang on to it.

We had a grait old Thanksgiving. I et so Much
Turkey my hed aiks yet so I can’t think of no
more this time. Georgie.

ee ooo

Tricks of Opium Smugglers.

The opium smuggling business, for which Puget
Sound is notorious, is developing the best talent of
all the swindlers on the North Pacific coast. Nota
little opium is brought in on the regular steamers,

Reéently the custom house officers have seized -a

number of trunks containing ,what- were supposed
to be packages of opium, but have disclosed the
fact that the smuggler has himself been tricked
into buying cans of sawdust and molasses, for
which he paid the regular price of opium.

This method of cheating the smuggler is just

now very popular with the Chinese of Victoria,

ho prepare most of the opium forsmoking. Some-
times a smuggler, when closely pressed by the cus-
toms inspector, will drop his cargo overboard, and
try to fish it up afterward. ‘

A fisherman who was catching cod from one of”

the wharves canght comething very heavy on his
line. He tugged away for five minutes and finally
disentangled and brought to the surface a package
of ten five-tael opium cans, bound together by a
heavy cord.

The cans contained the genuine Arn g; si
somewhat injured by water. ’

     
      
 

 

 

 

 

 

     
      
       
     
      
 
       
        
    
    
       

    
   
        
   
   
 

  
 
   
  
 
  
   
  
 
  

 
 
  
 
   
  
  
  
 

 

 

 

  

 
 
 
 

   

TIP TOP WEEKLY. ol

Comic Column,

THE SUREST WAY.

 

First Outer—I didn’t see youin bathing this
season.
Second Outer—No. When I want a bath I go

canoeing.
A SUMMER VACATION.

De Bull—How did you enjoy yourself at Restful
Seach ?

De Bear—First rate. Got all the city papers be-
fore breakfast, and there was a stock ticker in the
reading-room.

FROM THE CYCLONE SECTION.

Little Miss (who has been to the opera)—Uncle

‘John, did you ever see ‘‘ Castles in the Air?

Uncle Wayback from the West)—No, my dear,
but I’ve seen houses an’ barnsin th’ air many a
time.

LIKED OYSTERS.

Little Son—Mammia, do you like pearls?

Mamma—Indeed I do.

Little Son—Well, you give me some money to
goto a restaurant an’ get an oyster stew, an’
mebby I’ll finda nice pearl for you.

SEEKING INFORMATION.

Sister’s Little Brother—Was you born with a sil-
ver spoon in your mouth, Mr. Poorchappe?

Mr. Poorchappe (sister’s caller)--I fear not,
Why do you ask ?

Little Brother—I thort mebby you was.
body says you’re awful spooney.

Every-

A SUNDAY GAME.

-Mother—You shouldnX play games on Sunday.

Little Boy—This one is all right.

“Do you mean that all that running and jump-
ing is right?’’

‘‘Yes’m; we are playing steeplechase, and pre-
tendin’ they is reg’lar church steeples.’’

A PERSISTENT DOG.

Mother-—Horrors! Where did you get that dog?

Young Hopeful—He' followed me home!

‘*Hum! why did you coax him ?’’

‘‘T didn’t coax him. I threw things at him, but
he would come anyhow.’’

‘“That’s strange, What did you throw?’’

‘‘A Jot of hard, ugly, old bones the butcher
gave me.’’
CAKE AND BREAD LANGUAGE.

‘

Little Dot—Oh, I just love cake, It’s awful’
nice. :

Mamuna (reprovingly)—You should not say you
‘love’ cake; say ‘“‘like.’’ Do not say ‘‘awful;’’
say ‘‘very.’’ ,Do not say “‘nice;’’ say ‘‘good.”’
And, by the way, the word ‘‘just’’ should be
omitted, also the ‘‘oh.’’ Now, my dear, repeat the
sentence correctly. ’

Little Dot—I like cake; it’s very good.

: Mamma—That’s better.

Little Dot (with an air of disgust)—Sounds as if

I was talkin’ ’bout-bread.

‘. s ~

Applause,

(Letters from Tip Tore WEEKLY readers are always acceptable,
Views and suggestions will be welcomed.)
Oakland, Cal., Jan. 4, 1898.
Dear Sirs: Away out West here we receive your
Tip Top Weekly and with great pleasure, too.
Allow me to state that the series can’t
be beat, I wish the Tip Top was issued every day.
Hoping to receive it the rest of my life,
I remain respectfully, Norman P. White.

ball

base

Phoenix, A. J., Jan. 10, 1898.
Dear Sirs: I have read your from the
first and consider myself a good judge of them and
want to say that there is not another library in
circulation that will surpass the Tip Top. Long
live the Tip Top. Geo. Weigle, Jr.

library

Lexington, Ky., Jan. 13, 1898.
Dear Sirs: I have been reading your Tip Top
Weekly ever since the stories started, and I think
they aresplendid. My friends allreadthem. Frank
Merriwell is certainly a fit example for any Ameri-
can youth. I intend to take the Tip Top Weekly to
the end. I look forward each week for the coming of

the paper. “ Ruth Sebrel.

Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 13, 1898.

Dear Sirs: We have been reading your Tip Top
Weekly from No. 1 up to the present number and
think that they are the finest five-cent library ever
published.

We hope that they will be published for a long
time to come.
Arthur Upham, James Lennan, Clyde McConnell.

Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 15, 1898.
Dear Sirs: I wish to tell you how pleased I am
with your famous ‘‘Frank Merriwell’’ stories. I
have ready from No. 1 to 92, and will read as
many more as you issue.
I am a paper boy and carry the ‘‘Harvard Crim-
son,’’ but I hope to go to Yale some day. _
I hope your weekly will never have an esd.
Joseph Wm, Johnson.

Biddeford Pool, Me., Jan. 17, 1898.
Gentlemen: I have been a reader of the Frank
Merriwell series for some time and think they are
almost perfect. I was very much taken with the
series of the trip- across the continent. It seems
almost impossible to me how Mr. Standish can
convey the almost perfect incidents without having

been there himself. G. M. Cole.

- ;

New York, Jan. 20, 18098.
Dear Sir: We have been reading your Frank
Mertiwell series and we think they are on top of
all others, and if every boy and girl read them
they would learn a good deal about traveling, and
college sports, and also they would learn how to
treat their enemies in the right way and before
long they would be friends, -They are more inter-

esting than any other weekly published.

Archie Allen, Webbie Garvey, Eugene Tuppen ~

4

and George Fraser.

  
  
    
  
  
    
    
    
        
    
  
    
  
  
  
   

 
 

Tip Top Quarterly.

The earlier issues of Tip Top Weekly are now on sale in the
form of Quarterlies, each including 13 consecutive issues of this
favorite weekly, together with the 13 original illuminated illustra-
lions, and an elegant cover in colors, The price is 50 Cents per
volume, for which sum they will be sent by mail post-paid to any
address in the United States.

NOW READY. = =

  

No. 1, including Nos. 1 to 13 of Tip Top Weekly.
> “e

No. 2, Nos. 14 to 26 of Tip Top Weekly.
No, 38, ns Nos. 27 to 39 of Tip Top Weekly.
No. 4, bs Nos. 40 to 52 of ‘Vip Top Weekly.
No. 5, fe Nos. 53 to 65 of Tip ‘Top Weekly.
No. 6, se Nos, 66 to 78 of Tip Top Weekly.

If your Newsdealer has not got the Quarterlies, remit direct to
the publishers,

STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N, Y.

 

4

op FOP: WEEKLY
BINDERS.

 

  

 
 

Vet aie "2

iy ioe ae: ; ae

 

SOE hi
This binder will hold 20 copies and keep. your paper
always clean and smooth. No more missing numbers.
Handy to refer to and ornamental a8 well as useful. Sent
os ;
post-paid to any address on receipt of price, 35 cents.

STREET & SMITH,
= NEW YORK CITY.

«
—

-QUT-DOOR SPORTS.

_ Complete instructions for playing many of the most popular out.
of-door games is found inthis kook, "The games are illustrated
and very easily mastered. Priceten cents. Address.
cia i STREET & SMITH, 25 Rose street, New York,
_ Manual Library Department). ch feos ‘age i :

   

   

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

FOR EVERYBODY

BOOK TEN CENTS EACH,

The following list of books will be fonnd useful, entertaining, and
full of instructive information for all. They are handsomely
bound in attractive covers, printed on good quality paper, illus.
trated, and are marvels of excellence, ‘hese books have never
before been offered at such a low figure. ‘lhe price, 10 cents each
ncludes postage.

JSEFUL AND INSTRUCTIVE INFORMATION,

Album Writer’s Assistant. Boys’ Own Book of Boats
Short Hand for Everybody. The Book of Knowledge.
How to Do Business. Everyday Cook Book.
Amateur’s Manual of Photography. The Taxidermist Manual.
Mills’ Universal Letter-Writer. Good Housekeeping.

The Hunter and Angler. The International Cricket Guide.
The Complete Angler. Amateur and Professional Oarsman’s
Riding and Driving. Manual.

Poe’s Foot-Ball. Complete Training Guide for Amateur
Campbell’s Lawn Tennis. Dunn’s Fencing Instructor.

The Complete Checker Player. Capt. Webb’s Swimming
Backgammon and Bagatelle. Instructor.

Out Door Sports. Aquatic Guide; or, Yachting and
The Young Gymnast. Sailing.

FORTUNE-TELLING.
Napoleon’s Book of Fate.
Zola’s Dream Book.
TRICKS,

Heller’s Hand Book of Magic.
Herrman’s Tricks with Cards,

RECITATIONS AND READINGS.

The Peerless Reciter. Select Recitations and Readings,
The Young Elocutionist. The Standard Reciter.

‘These books will be sent prepaid upon receiptof 10 cents each,
When ordering, please be particular to send the full title of the
books desired, also your full name and address. The books are 10
cents each, postage free. Address

Cupid’s Dream Book

Herrman’s Black Art.
The Way to Do Magic.

STREET & SMITH, 25 Rose St., New York.
(Manual Library Department.)

HOW TO DO BUSINESS.

This book isa guide tosnecess in Hfe,embracing Principles of
Business, Choice of Pursuit, Buying and Selling, General Manage
ment, Mechanical Trades, Manufacturing, Bookkeeping, Causes
of Success and Failure, Business Maxims and Forms. ete. Jt also
contains an appendix of complete business forms and a dictionary
of commercial termis. No young man should be without this
valuable book. It gives complete information about trades.
professions and occupatoin in which any young man is interested.
Price tencents. Address : )

STREET & SMITH, 25 Rose street, New York
(Manual Library Department.)

 

 

AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY.

Many people imagine that a photographer's camera is a difficult
machine to handle, and that the work isdirty and disagreeable. All
this isa mistake. Photography is a clean, light, wid pleasant ac-
coniplishment, within the reach of all. he camera wilt. prove a-
friend, reporter, and helper. With a very inexpensive camera any
boy or girl can now learn not only to take good pictures, but picthres
that there is everywhere a demand for at remunerative prices. A
complete guide to this fascinating art, entitled AMaTwuR MANUAL
OF PHOTOGRALUY will he sent on receipt of ten cents,

STREET & SMITH, 25 Rose street, New York.
Manual Library Department).

F aa X
WRESTLING
weil igs all e
History tells us that wrestling was the first form of athletjc
pastime, Without doubt, it gives strength and firmness, combined
with quickness and pliability, to the limbs, vigor to the body
coolness and discrimination to the head and elasticity to the tem-
per, the whole forming an energetic combination of the greatest
power to be found in man, The book is entitled Prormssor
MULDOON’s WRESTLING. It is fully illustrated, and will be sent
postpaid on receipt of ten cents, Address. Be ;
STBEET & SMITH, 25 Rose street,.New
(Manual Library Department). ; aged 3

 

ton

 

    

 

   

 

     
      

       
 
       
   
     
    
     
     
    
             
     

     
        
           
    
     
   
            
 

 
Fs

ic

TIP TOP WEEKLY

Illuminated Cover—Price, Five Cents—Thirty-two Pages.

Complete List of Stories By the author of “Frank Merriwell.”

MOST AIS

Tales of School, Fun, College, Travel anc Adventure.
DPALSON™

All back numbers are constantly on hand, and will be mailed to any address on receipt of

price, Five Cents each.

41 Frank Merriwell’s Match; or, The King of the
Sophmores.

43 —Frank Merriwell’s Victory; or, The Winning Oar.

43—Frank Merriwell's Finish; or,"Blue Against Orimson.

44—Frank Merriwell’s Game; or, Snaring the Sharper.

45—Frank Merriwell’s Great Run; or, ‘lrouncing the
‘Livers.

46 —Frank Merriwell’s Even Up; or, Squaring the Score.

47 Frank Merriwell’s Queen; or, Blow for Blow.

48—Frank Merriwell’s Find; or, The Waif of the Train.

49 Frank Merriwell’s Racer; or, Birds of a Feather.

50—Frank Merriwell’s Nerve; or, Game to the End.

51-Frank Merriwell’s Shadow; or, The Mysterious
Stranger.

52 Frank Merriwell’s Dash; or, Yale Against the Field.

53 —Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Boys; or, 'The Start Across
the Continent.

4—Frank Merriwell’s Ride for Life; or, Foiling the

Train Destroyers.

55 -Frank Merriwell’s Great Capture; or, Bicycle Against
Horse.

56-—Frank Merriwell to the Rescue; or, Through Fire
and Water.

57 ~Frank Merriwell’s Close Call; or, ‘he Tramp’s ‘Token.

58 —Frank Merriwell’s Unknown Friend; or, Old Foes
in New Places.

59 Frank Merriweil Among the Rustlers; or, The Cattle
King’s Daughter.

60—Frank Merriwell’s Desperate Drop; or, Wild Adven-
tures in the Rockies.

61—Frank M-~-rriwell in the Mines; or, The Blind Singer
ot Silver Bluff.

62—Frank Merriwell! Among the Mormons; or, The Lost
Tribe of Israel.

63—Frank Merriwell on the Desert; or, The Mystery of
the Skeleton.

64—Frank Merriwell’s Underground Search; or, Saving
the Buried Heiress.

65—-Frank Merriwell in California; cr, 'The End of the
Great Tour.

66—Prize Plot Story; Frank Merriw 2Il as the Star.

67—Frank Merriwell’s Yacht; or, The Chase Down the
Coast

68.—Frank Merriwell’s Combination; or, The All Round
Athletes.

69—Frank Merriwell’s Red Rival.

70—Frank Merriwell’s ‘Texas Tournament; or,
Among the Cowboys.

71—Frank Merriwell’s Nine; or, Surprising the Southern
League.

7° —Frank Merriwell’s Shot; or,
Gun Club.

72 . Frank Merriwell’s Flyer; or, The Winning Wheel.

74—Frank Merriwell’s ‘Thoroughbred; or, Honesty
Against Crookedness.

Sport

Out with the Guthrie

 

75°- Frank Merriwell’s Enemy; or, Rivals of the Blne
Riage.

7§ —Frank Merriwell’s Crew; or, The Champions of the
Potomac.

77—Frank Merriwell’s Hunt; or, In at the Death.

78—Frank Merriwell’s Blow; or, Unmasking a Raseal

79—Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale; or, The Mystery
of the Examination Papers.

80—F rank Merriwell »s ‘‘Anchor; or, The Winning Pull
in the ‘Tug of War.

81—Frank Merriwell’s Initiation; or, The Secre Order
of Pi Gamma.

82—Frank Merriwell’s Sign; or, The Secret of the Silent
Student.

83 —F rank Merriwell as Full Back; or, True to His Colors.

84—Frank Merriwell’s Duel; or, A Point of Honor.

85—Frank Merriwell’s Mark; or, Subduing a Bully.

86—Frank Merriwell’s Secret; or, A Friend in Need.

87—Frank Merriwell’s Revenge; or, Aroused at Last.

88—Frank Merriwell’s Capture; or Jhe Black Schooner.

89—Frank Merriwell’s Chum; or, The Hand of a Friend.

90—Frank Merriweli’s Double Shoot; or, Winning in
the Box.

91—Frank Merriwell’s Danger; or,
Disgrace.

92.-—Frank Merriwell’s Wager; or, Bound to Win.

93—Frank Merriwell In ‘Training; or, The Mystery of
the Midnight Prowler.

94—Frank Merriwell’s Courage; or, Loyal to the Last.

The Shadow of

95—Frank Merriwell at Fardale Again; or, Yale Lads at

the Military Academy.

96—Frank Merriwell in Camp; or, Frolics with the Far-
dale Boys.

97—Frank Merriwell’s Fardale Friends, or, Facing Old
Foes.

98 —Frank Merriwell’s Yale Chums; or, The Jolly Dogs
of Fardale.

99—Frank Merriwell’s Choice; or, The Fair Rivals of
Fardale.

100—F rank Merriwell’s Fardale Rackets; or, Yale Lads
On a Frolic.

101— Frank Merriwell’s Courage; or, True Nerve Against
Bluff.

102—Frank Merriwell’s Faith; or, The Shadow of a
Crime.

103—F rank Merriwell'’s Celebration; or, Last Days at
Fardale.

104—Frank Merriwell Afloat; or, The Cruise of the
White Wings.

105 —Frank Merriwell Under Megunticook, or, With the
Knox County League.
106—Frank Merriwell’s Mystery;

Devil Island.

or, The monster of

 

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