= P IOP WEEKLY ‘An ideal publication for the American Youth. é Issued weekly. By Subscription, $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Crass Matier at the N. Y. Post Ofice by StReET & SMITH No. 176. Price, Five Cents. ‘‘EXCUSE ME!’’ SQUAWKED HANS. ‘‘I VOS A GREAT HURRY IN!” ‘ssued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per“year. ; ( - &t., NW. ¥Y. Entered According to Act of Congress, in the year 1899 in the Office of the Itbrarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. TID TOP WEEKLY Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by StREET & SmiTH, 233 William UTH a> No. 176. NEW YORK, August 26, 1899. Price Five Cents, we Contents of This Number. Page. | FRANK MERRIWELL’S TURN; or, Working the Winning Streak = = = = = = J. . RED HUGH, THE BOY CHIEF - a i ‘ i ‘ 5 5 i 29 THE CLOWN'S STORY - - . - ss - - ‘ . . - +: $1 VAN’S VIOLIN ; weg en eat ee seg ee se ep gtk ee PPLAUSE - = - - - - - - - : : : - ~ 37 ORRESPONDENCE . ° . - . « = . ° si ‘ = 2 39 CHAPTER I. THE STORY OF A DREAM. ‘*Bess !”? The girl turned and hurried to the bed by the window in the poorly-furnished chamber. “What is it, Jeff?’ she asked, anx- iously, looking down at the face of her - brother. He stared around with wondering eyes, ‘as if doubting the evidence of his senses. **Be I awake ?”’ he asked. ‘TI guess you be, Jeff,’’ said the girl. - The morning sunshine of a_ perfect . oe 2 . ~ LT LW GOR en | Tee ee eee 7 ee ae % ee oe Rt f Cae Frank Merriwell’s Turn OR, WORKING THE WINNING SFREAK By BURT L. STANDISH. Sabbath fell across the bed. The bell of the village church was ringing. There were birds in a tree near the window. The sky was blue, and the sweet breath of the world crept into the chamber and fluttered the tattered curtains. “Pin awful glad!’ said the young fel- low on the bed, a great look of relief coming to his face. ‘It was northing but a dream, arter all! It was the wust dream Iever hed. It’s Sunday mornin’, ain’t © atti” ‘Vep. Can’t ye hear the church bell ja ringin’?’’ BS ee “Sure; an’ somehow it never sounded _ ‘4 so good before. I never did care ’bout hearin’ it none, but now there seems to I must have slept awful why I hed such a bad be music in it. That’s dreain,”? He started to sit up, but fell back with a weary exclamation of surprise. “By George! I’m 7 ‘“Never knew I could be so tired. late. he said. I ain’t tired, used to it.”? “You better lay still an’ rest, Jeff,’’ said the girl, solicitously. ‘‘You need vs Sh ‘“‘Why do I need it?’ he demanded, petulantly. ‘‘I don’t need northin’ of the kind. You talk jest as if you thought me It must have been my dream that makes me feel this way.’’ | “What did you dream, Jeff?’ asked, sitting down. beside the bed. “Oh, I don’t like to talk about it! I thought I had killed a feller!’ | **Killed somebody ?”’ “Vep. Thunder! I’ll never fergit how I felt in that dreamin! It was jest like it really and truly happened.”’ The girl was silent, a strange look on her plain face. ‘The cast of their faces showed they were brother and sister, al- was hard and brutal, while there was something of softness and a baby. she though his jaw tenderness about her homely features, Naturally Jeff Nash, the bully of the village, wore a rather stolid expression, but now his face pictured the emotions of terror felt at the remembrance of the **dream.’’ ‘Don’t excite yourself, Jeff,’’ urged his sister, ‘But you can’t understand how plain that dream seems, Bess!’’ he cried. ‘‘I know the village boys was tauntin’ me for lettin’ him lick me, and——”’ *‘Lettin’ who lick ye, Jeff?’ cried the girl, astonished. She had regarded him | as invulnerable, and it did not seem pos-- sible that any person had been able to get. the best of lim ima fair fight, 3 TIP TOP WEEKLY. His face grew crimson with shame, o> “*T never told ye about it,’’ he said. CENTH P? ‘Tt was Frank Merriwell done it.’’ “The feller who is runnin’ the ball team ?”’ ** Yep 99 ‘*Jeff Nash, you’re foolin’!” “Not a bit of it.” ““T won’t b’lieve that feller could do ita . s ‘*He done it, though.”’ ‘But one of them soft summer visitor folks. You’re bigger’n him and oa stronger’n him, and you kin break him he’s -in two with oue hand.”’ “T oughter,’’ confessed Jeff. ‘*That’s right.’ “But I can’t,’’ he added. ‘*How d’ you know?’ “T thought I could, an’ I tried it. I sassed’ him.”? ‘*What’d he do?’’ “nmitmet” ‘And then you—why, you must have wiped up the ground with him!’ “I tried ter, but he wiped up the ground with me. We hed it fair an’ square up behind Suttle’s barn. Bess, mebbe you noticed I had a_ bad-lookin’ eye an’ lots of marks all over my face?’’ ‘‘Yep, but I didn’t feel like askin’ ye how they came there.’’ ‘ “Prank Merriwell put ’em there.”’ The girl showed her astonishment. Was it possible there was something like a look of satisfaction on her face? No one had ever douhted her affection for her brother. He was big and strong and brutal; yet she had proved her affection for him a hundred times. She had known he was called the bully of the village; but. still he was her brother, and always had . he been kind to her. In secret she had grieved because he was a mere bully, but she had been careful to conceal it from him. She had not fancied it possible for, a clean-faced, well-dressed ‘“‘sunimer_ ‘i sates ee eer Te ? + awful’ creepy! youth’’ to get the best of her brother ina square fight. “It’s true,’’ asserted Jeff, fancying there was something like doubt in her face, ‘‘and the wust part of it is that the village boys saw him doit. ‘They ex- pected I’d lick him easy. I told ’em I would. They came out to see the fun. He done me up. Sence then all the fel- lers in the village hav bin pokin’ fun at Hie, ‘How did they dare!’’ she exclaimed. ‘“Well, they did. It was pretty tough, Bess; but I had to stand it. It made me crazy. I wanted to do somethin’ to git even with Frank Merriwell. I was reddy to kill hhimyj and that’s why I had the dream.”’ ‘“Tell me about tle dream,’’ she urged. “T thought I follered him out to Rag- ged Bluff. He climbed up there, and I follered. When he was standin’ on the very edge, I picked up a stone and soaked him on the head with it. He fell over the bluff into the crick and was killed. Oh, it was a bad dream! I hadn’t meant to kill him, but I’d done it, and I was a murderer! It wasawful to feel likea mur- derer! I sneaked away from there, scared to death for fear I'd be seen. But I couldn’t run away from his spook. I could see it follerin’ me and a-follerin’ me! It was I was dodgin’ round to face it all the time. I couldn’t git away from it. Oh, Bess, I never want to dream anything like that ag’in!’” His face betrayed his intense suffering, and there was deep pity and affection in her eyes. i “‘Don’t excite yourself so, Jeff,’ she said, soothingly. ‘‘It ain’t good fer ye.”’ ‘““What you mean?’’ he asked, sus- piciously. ‘‘Guess I kin excite myself if I want ter! Ain’t nobody boss of me round here.” ¢ “Oh, course not! of your dream ?’’ What was the rest ~“T sneaked inter town, bat ev enemy rs with me. a ae a ae yen TIP TOP WEEELY. 3 inet seemed to look at me suspicious-like. , Ev’rywhere I went, folks turned round to look at me. It made me mad, but I didn’t darst to ask what they was lookin’ for. I looked myself all over to see if there was anything on me to make ’em stare at me that way. I didn’t find any- thing, but it seemed jest as if some of his blood must be on me.’’ ‘“That was terrible, Jeff.”’ ‘*An’ the strangest part of itis that it seems now jest as if it was real. Seems jest like it had happened. I can’t seem ter git over it. I kept picturin’ how they’d find the body arter a while, an’. how they’d trace me, an’ how I’d be ar- rested an’ hanged. That was what took the stuffin’ out of me.’’ *‘Wasn’t you sorry for Frank Merri- well ?”? ‘“Ves, I was, fer I begun to see that he wasn’t to blame. I begun to see how I was a fool, an’ Herbert Hammerswell was the one to blame fer it all, fer he hired me to whip Merriwell. Oh, this dream has learnt me somethin’ I won’t fergit!’’ ‘‘Mebbe it was a good thing fer ye, Jeti?’ ‘“Mebbe so. Anyhow, this is the first time in my life the church bell ever sounded good to ine on Sunday mornin’. Somehow, the sunshine looks brigliter than it did, and this air is sweeter. I feel jest like I’d bin sick an’ was gittin’ well. ~The rest of that dream was enough ter make anybody feel that way. I hung round, hidin’ most of the time, till it come night. I didn’t darst to come home. I was afraid you’d see what was wrong I waited till night, but then it was wuss than ever. I thought I could hear steps behind me all the time. I thought I was follered by the ghost. It pretty nigh drove me crazy. At last I couldn’t stan’ it no longer, an’ I started fer the Jake.”’ , | ae “What was you goin’ to do, Jeff?” “ cried the ea ‘'T dreamed I was goin’ to drownd my- self to git out of the way. I couldn’t stand it, an’ I was goin’ to jump inter the lake. -Issneaked along the road. The moon came up, an’ it made strange kind of skeery shadders ev’rywhere. I was shakin’. It wasn’t ’cause I was goin’ to kill myself, but ’cause I was afraid of his ghost. Jest as I was goin’ to turn off from the road, I heard somebody comin’, an’ I hid behind soine trees. Then some- body jumped onter mean’ dragged me out inter ther moonlight. Next thing I remember is that I saw his- face—the face of Frank Merriwell! He was there— his ghost was there! Then I don’t re- member any more, an’that was/all the dream.”’ There was silence in the little cham- ber. The first bell in the church had ceased to ring. A bird twittered in the tree near the window. ‘*Yeft;?? ‘““What is it, Bess??? “That warn’t no dream at all. It really and truly happened jest as you’ve told ae CHAPTER II. FRANK AND JEFF NASH. For some moments Jeff Nash stared dully at his sister, as if he fancied he had not understood her aright. He seemed After a little, his face began to work slightly with the emotion he was beginning to feel. - dazed. ’” he said, hoarsely, “don’t go to tryin’ to play any of your **Look: here, Bess, jokes onto me, You know J don’t like jokes, and I won’t take ’em.”’ “This is no joke, Jeff,’’ said the girl, with no uncertain sincerity. ‘‘It is the truth. You have not been dreamin’ at all; but ev’rything happened just as you have told it.” . He sat up, a look of terror beginning to creep into his eyes. TIP TOP WEEKLY. ‘huskily. i “Then I throwed the stone at Frank Merriwell?”” “eVess? **An’ hit him on the head?” > CBe: | **An’ he fell inter the crick ?’” eS “Then I’m a murderer!’ gasped Jeff, lifting one thick hand to his throat, as if he fancied he could feel the choking cord of the hangman there. ‘‘Then it was his ghost that came tome. Then I will be arrested and taken to prison !”’ He was working himself into a state of great agitation and fear, and~ his sister sought at once to quiet him. “You ain’t no murderer, Jeff,’’ she said. ‘‘Don’t let that worry you no umiore.” He did not seem to understand her. **It really was the ghost of Frank Mer- riwell!’’ he groaned. ‘‘I’m haunted!” **No, Jeff,’’? she said, soothingly, ‘*you ain’t killed Frank Merriwell.”’ ‘‘But ye said it warn’t no dream!”’ ; “No more it was. You follered him, I reckon, an’ you throwed the stone at. him.”? “I saw him go over Ragged Bluff!” ‘Well, he warn’t killed, if he did go over.” He clutched her by the wrist, almost glaring into her face, as he panted: ‘*He must have bin kilt! Noman could fall over there an’ live! What do ye mean, Bess?’’ ‘“That he came here last night with them that brought ye. He told me how he met ye on the road an’ you fell ina fit. He didn’t tell me all the story you’ve told, but I knowed you’d done somethin’ tohim.” ; It was hard for the former bully of the village-to realize that this could be true, but he saw that his sister was sincere in all she said. Still one doubt remained. ‘‘Are ye sure it was him??? he asked, - ; ‘ “Dead sure, Jeff. You needn’t th ae ee Mike ioe Oil ae = i ber somethin’ you’re a murderer no more, ’cause ye ain’t. You didn’t kill him, brother.”’ She spoke the last word tenderly, and he fell back on the pillow, where he lay staring at her. After some minutes; he murmured: **1’'m so glad!’’ “I knowed ye’d be. An’ I’m glad, too, Jeff. I hope this will be a lesson to ye.” *‘But I warn’t so much to blame,’’ he said, trying to ease his conscience with some excuse. ‘‘It was the feller that hired me ter do him up. He gotame inter the scrape.’’ ‘“No, Jeff. If you hadn’t had the name of bein’ a feller he could hire to do such a thing, he’d never done it. You are to blame, Jeff. Jest you shoulder it likea man.’’ ‘‘But he’ll have me arrested! He knows I done it, an’ he’ll have me taken to prison! I ust git away, Bess! I must go soinewhere and hide—somewhere tliat he | ‘can’t find me!”’ **T don’t b’lieve you’ll lave to, Jeff. I don’t think Frank Merriwell] will hurt ye.?? “Why woun’t he? Of course he will! Didn’t I hurt him! Didn’t I come nigh killin’? him! He ain’t fool enough not ter git sqirar’ with me!” **But he spoke kind an’ good of ye last night, an’ he sent Doctor Hooper to see ye all of lis own accord.” ‘*He done that ?”? (Vag “Well, it was jest to git me well so he could have me sent to jail! Iknow! I din’t a fool! I remember now-—I remem- about the doctor bein’ nere..”?'- “Ves, -you was ravin’, an soniethin’ to keep ye quiet. > he gave ye Arter that “you went to sleep an’ slept till you jest woke up. Hesaid he’d come ag’in to- _day—and here le comes now!”’ Outside two persons were coming along TIP TOP WEEKLY. have me arrested right off!” thought the — 6 the road. They could be seen from the window. ‘“Who’s that with him?’’ panted Jeff scrambling out of bed. ‘‘It—it’s Frank Merriwell! He’s coniin’ here! Whiere can I go? I must go somewhere!”’ ‘Don’t run away, Jeff!’’ pleaded his sister. ‘‘Stay and be aman. Stay and face him.’’ ‘*FHe’ll have ie arrested !”’ é no officer now. He’s comin’ with the doctor to see how ‘“‘He ain’t bringin’ ye are, want to.’ There was a click of the frent gate, as it closed behind the two persons who had entered. The girl took hold of ler brother and forced him to get back into bed. ‘I'll be awful sick,’? he said. ‘‘Tell ’em you think I’m goin? to die, Bess— please do!”? ‘‘Now, don’t be a coward!’’ caine rather sharply from the girl. ‘‘Above all things, don’t be that, Jeff Nash!’ There came a knocking on the door. ‘‘Rather will let ’em in,” said Bess. She went to the head of the stairs and called down for the doctor to come up. ‘‘May I come, too?’’ asked a pleasant, manly voice. ; Jeff gasped: “Tell him no!’ But the girl said ‘‘yes,’’ and then foot- steps were heard on the stairs, Jeff Nash set his teeth and tried to to brave, but he was trembling all over. The doctor came in, followed by Frank Merriwell, who was dressed in a dark blue suit. ‘‘Well, how’s Jeff this morning??? asked the physician, pleasantly. ‘*He’s better, thankee,’’ answered. the girl. ‘*] am glad to hear that,’’ said Frank Merriwell. ; : ‘(He's glad because he thinks he can aos ain’t no time to ri, if ye 4 youth on the bed, with bitterness in his heart. The doctor spoke to Jeff and felt of his pulse. ‘“‘Well, it wasn’t anything serious at ‘all,’ he said. ‘‘I think he is well as ever to-day. He can get up when he likes and do what he likes. He’s much better than I thought.’’ Jeff was silent, keeping his eyes turned from the handsome, clean-faced youth who was standing near. Now Frank Merriwell stepped up to the bed, causing Jeff to shrink despite himself. * *‘T am very glad to know you are all right, Jeff,’’ he said, pleasantly. ‘{‘Last night I feared it might not turn out so well.”’ **T s’pose ye’re glad becatise now you can git square,”” muttered Nash, thickly. **You are wrong,’’ declared Frank. ‘‘I ain glad for your sake.’’ ‘*When you goin’ to have me arrested ?”’ Jeff blurted out the question suddenly. “Tam not going to have you arrested at allj® declared Frank, at once. “Ye ain’t?’’ gasped the youth on the bed. *¢No.”? ““Why—why, didn’t I come nigh kill- ie .7e? ‘‘Well, pretty near it. I havea lump on my head where the stone struck, and my hands are scraped, where I tried to hold-on when I was sliding down the face of the bluff.” 7 ‘“‘How’d ye ever escape? ‘The rocks down there oughter killed ye.’’ “‘T happened to be flung clear of them, and I went down in a deep place in the stream. I struck fairly feet first. It was a shock when I came to the bottom, but I kept my senses and managed to crawl out.”’ yee» "Py glad!’ murmured Jeff. ‘Any- how, no matter what ye do to me, I’m glad I didn’t kill yel’’ bs. ete ae | os TIP TOP WEEKLY. hateliet. ‘My dear fellow, Iam not going to do anything to you.’’ ‘What?’ ‘‘No; I think you have been punished enough. You suffered when you thought you had killed ime.”’ “Oh, 1. did!’ -criéed . Jeff. ‘I never knowed what it was to be miserable be- fore. JI was scared, and I was sorry. I thought your ghost was hauntin’ me. I was goin’ to kill myself.’’ ‘*Poor fellow!’’ said Frank, sincerely. *‘And do you think I would make you suffer more after that! I’m not that sort of a person, Jeff. I was afraid, last night that you might be crazy, and it was a re- lief to me when I found you this way this morning. It’s all right now. I have told but one person the story, and that person I have pledged to silence. Nobody will know anything about this affair save you, myself and one other. You need have no fears. The secret shall be kept.’ , Jeff stared at Frank Merriwell in amazement. After some moments, he chokingly said: *“T dunno why you should do this fer me! I’ve treated you meaner’n dirt. I in- sulted ye in the first place, an’ then, ’cause I couldn’t lick ye when I forced ye into a fight, I nigh killed ye. The doctor here knows.”’ at “But not all the story, and I have made him promise not to tell.”’ *‘T don’t understand it!’ muttered. Jeff. ‘‘I’d never treated anybody that‘way if they’d done ter me what I have ter you.. I’d soaked them back.’ ‘“That would not be real satisfaction. If I were todo that to you, you would hate me more than ever, and I should not be satisfied with myself. call it square, if you say so, and bury the Perhaps we may be friends. Who knows? Whatdo you say? Will you take my hand?” Frank held out hishand. Jeff was more : astounded than ever. Slowly he took No, Jeff, we’ll y Merry’s hand, turning his head away. A strange something choked him and forced two big tears between his eyelids, despite his struggle -to hold them back. He hoarsely whispered : ‘“*You’re the whitest feller in the world, Frank Merriwell!’? CHAPTER III. FRANK’S PERSUASION. The heart of Jeff Nash, the bully of the village, had been opened at last by the nobility of Frank Merriwell. He could not keep back the tears, but Frank pre- tended not to see them, much to Jeff’s re- lief. Bess, the bully’s sister, was deeply touched, and she left the room, sobbing softly. The doctor blustered about a little, told Jeff he could get up any time, and _then took his departure. Frank was alone with Jeff. Nash turned and looked at Merry. *“You’re different from anybody I ever met before,’? he declared. ‘*You’ve shown me what a mean feller I be, an’ I’m awful ashamed of myself. *I uster think it was fun to be a bully an’ hammer other fellers round, but somehow I don’t feel that way no more.”? “Tam glad you do not,” said Frank. ‘It is not fun to bea bully. There is more pleasure in giving pleasure to others than there is in giving pain.”’ “*T guess that’s right. ”’ ‘*T know it is, for I have tried it,”’ “But I should think you’d hate me some—jest a little, anyhow. Don’t ye?” “No. Ithink I understand how you felt, and I have not the least hatred for you. Instead of that, Jeff, I am ready to be your friend, if you will let me.”’ ‘‘Oh, you don’t wanter be that.’ ““Why not??? ; ** ’Cause you an’ me ain’t in the same class. I know that now,’? TIP TOP WEEKLY. ty SL, See ies Sali eeneaceeeenemn ie Frank laughed. ‘There should not be too much of this class business in America,’’ he said. ‘‘I have seen so much of it abroad that Iam sick of it. A man is what he makes him- self in this country. He need not be held down by caste.’’ It is possible Jeff did not quite under- stand, but he began to realize that he had made a big mistake in thinking Frank ‘*stuck up.’? ‘*Now, Jeff,’’ said Merry, ‘‘we will be friends in the future, if you will have ths ‘*!’m reddy to do anything fer ye!’’ ‘‘Are your?” (Ves? ‘*Then do something now.”’ ‘*What??? ‘Get up and dress without delay, It is yet half an hour before the second bell rings for church. Dress in your best, and come to church with me.”’ Nash gasped. ‘‘Jeeminny!’? he exclaimed. ‘‘You don’t want me to do that?’’ 6 -do. * ‘But I ain’t bin to church in two years, ”’ ‘All the better if you go now with me. Come, Jeff, you said you would do anything for me.”’ ‘*But—but I can’t go to church!’ “Why not?” : **T ain’t got such good clothes as you, an’ I’d feel like a fool.” ‘‘Haven’t you a best suit ?”? Ves, but——”’ “Put that on. I ain sure it will be all right. You must hurry, for I do not wish to be late. Will you do it?’’ **“Must I?” ‘If you really mean-what you said when you told me you were ready todo any- thing for me.’’ 3 “All right. | I'll be dressed in a min- ute.’ Frank said he would wait below, and he went down stairs, where he found Bess. At first the girl was timid in his pres- ence, but she overcame it when he spoke to her in a reassuring way, and she caught hold of his hands, earnestly say- ing: “Oh, I thank you so much for your goodness to Jeff! It was more than he deserved, but I’m sure he won’t fergit it.”’ ‘I do not think he will,”’ said Frank, quietly. ‘‘Jeff is all right. He is going to church with me this morning.”’ The girl was astounded. Frank told her all about it, but still*she seeined hardly able to believe it possible that her brother would go to church, and that in company with Frank Merriwell. “If you can git Jeff to do this, it’ll be the most wonderful thing in the world,”’ she said. ‘‘My goodness! won’t folks stare when they see my brother goin’ to church with you!’ Frank talked with her, overcoming her awe of him. He made her feel free and easy, in great contrast to most summer people she had seen, who seemed to re- gard ler with scorn. After a time, Jeff hurried down, dressed in a respectable black suit, and wearing a white shirt and collar. He seemed ra- ther awkward, but his sister ran to him and put her arms about him, saying: “*1’'m glad you’re goin’ to church, Jeff! Next Sunday you’ll take me, won’t ye???’ **Ves,’’ he said, ‘‘I guess so. . I won’t stop for nary bite of breakfast. Have a good dinner when I git home, Bess.” And then he kissed her. It did create something of a sensation in Maplewood. when Frank Merriwell and Jeff Nash were seen walking to church together. Jt was something almost un- heard of for the bully of the place to at- tend church on the Sabbath. The last time he had been in the church was when a “religious revival’? was taking place fy TIP TOP WEEKLY there, aud he had attended to laugh and scoff. | There was some craning of necks when Frank and Jeff entered and passed: down the aisle. Jeff's face was red as fire, and he kept his eyes straight to the front, but he followed Frank to a seat and sat through the sermon. af The next day the villagers were talk- ing about it. CHAPTER IV. FRANK’S ENEMIES. Out of the first six’ games played, the Maplewood ball team had won just two. Great things had been expected of the team after the fine showing it made in the trial games before the regular league series, but the injury to Frank and the fact that Derringer, the new pitcher, had hurt his arm at the very start, had proved a serious drawback. Of course, Merriwell’s enemies in Ma- plewood, the Hauimerswells, Archer Fitz- noodle aud Ned Hastings, were delighted, and they made the most of their satisfac- tion. On Saturday, as soon as possible after his injury, Merry had gone in to pitch, being pitted against Seaslope. No one had seemed to expect that Maplewood could win, but Frank had been able to hold the Softies down and pull off a beautiful victory. At the same time, however, Torreut- town defeated Rockford, thus. adding to the big lead she had obtained. At the end of the week the percentage of the teams was as follows: Won. Lost. Played. Per cent. TorrenttowN .....0005 I 6 833 Rockford ....4.......-3 3 6 «500 Seaslope..........060002 A: 6 »341 Maplewood ........+.2 4 6 341 The whole league had expected Sea- slope would defeat Maplewood, which ee would soon be hopelessly behind, but the Se ee « Tee ae ee SHY a . BP 3 Dax: unexpected happened, as frequently is the case. Then people in general awoke to the fact that Frank Merriwell had not, thus far, lost a single game he had pitched. In the trial gaines he had seemed to find it sport to hold the other clubs down, it could be said that he had literally had them at his aud, without exaggeration, mercy. Thus it happened that he was given the entire credit, while the critics still in- sisted that the team behind him was la- mentably weak. Attention was called to the fact that Merriwell’s new high-priced pitcher, Der- ringer, had been unable to win with the gl he had ° support he received, althou worked so hard in two games that he had seriously lamed his arm. Herbert Hammerswell, his father and his friends were the only ones who did not seem willing to give Merry thie credit he had won. They were sore to think Maplewood had been able to win another game, and they persisted in calling it “bull luck.’? Ned Hastings was the only one that ad- mitted in the least that it might be any- thing else, and he said: . ““Kven if he is such .a wonder, Frank Merriwell can’t pitch all the games, and his club will be defeated whenever he does not pitch. The best twirler in the world never won every game he pitched, so some of his games will goagainst him, and that will fix him.” Bernard ‘Burrage met Artemas Ham- merswellon the hotel veranda after the report of the game came in. ‘Well, sir,’? said Mr. Burrage, ‘‘what do you think about it now ?”’ ‘‘About what, sir?’’ growled the ex-. Senator. ‘About Maplewood’s baseball team.’’ “T think just as I have thought. all along. I am a man who never changes his -mind.’? TIP TOP WEEKLY. “Are you? I thought likely you might be that sort of person. Mules never change their minds.”’ ‘*Haw!’’ snorted the pompous gentle- man. ‘‘Do you mean to call mea mule, sire’ ‘Oh, not at all! Still, mules are obsti- nate creatures, and they are not remark- able for their wisdom.”’ Mr. Burrage passed on. Artemas was aroused. He fumed, he gurgled, he perspired. ‘“Such insolence!’’ he fluttered, ‘‘and to me—me, the Hon. Artemas Hanimer- swell!’ Herbert and Fitznoodle came along and found him wiping his face and muttering to himself. ; “What is it, gov?’ Herbert asked, with anything but an air of respect. ‘*]’ve been insulted !’’ exploded the.ex- Senator. ® *‘TInsulted, dad?’ Vee .)? **By whom ??’? “That withered up, hobbling, half- baked invalid, Burrage!’ ‘Well, why didn’t: you hit him? Sure- ly you ought to be able to knock him out,’ **Va-as,’’ drawled Fitznoodle, ‘““That would have been low and vul- gar, my son. I do not wish to lower my- self in such a manner.”’ ‘Then why didn’t you challenge him to fight a duel and ruh him through the liver or shoot him through the heart. That would be better, old man. Wouldn't it, Archer ??’ ‘€Vq-as,’’ said Fitznoodle. x **Good Lord! what are you trying. to get me into?’’ gasped Hammerswell. “Do you want to see me killed? I be- lieve you.do!?’ s ‘‘But you could die like a man on the field of honor, and leave me all aes simoleons,’’ grinned his son. “The field of honor be blowed! I have ’ no ambition to die on the field of hour. Came near having a duel witha Southern fire-eater when I was in the Senate, and that cooked me. ‘The man could handle a sword like a carving-knife and could shoot to beat the band. time had come. I made my will. Then it was patched up, although I had to make concessions. Since then I’ve been shy of duels. Excuse me, I prefer to get square with any man in another man- HexD” ‘*What did Burrage say ?’’ **Oh, he blowed something about this wretched ball game to-day!”’ ‘Tet en They do not get a chance very often, and they’ll have less blow. chance next week.’’ **Do you really think so?” “Of course. I watched the game all through to-day. Idonot say Merriwell did not pitch fairly well, but it was a clean case of luck that he won with such a team behind him. And hecan’t keep at it. Monday Maplewood plays Torrent- town, and that means a wipe-out. The Tigers will climb all over the Merry boys.”’ ‘IT think I'll have to see that game.”’ Ut will be played here.’’ *“Then I will not miss it.”? **We’ll all have a chance to crow, gov- ernor, I want to make a little something off the game, so I'll have to call on you to stake me.”? **Hey ?”? doubtful. “Oh, you needn’t be afraid this time. We'll be all safe in betting against Ma- plewood. You know Merriwell won’t be able to pitch again so soon, and the Tigers will jump on Derringer. Ill have to give odds, but it’ll be like finding money.’’ | ea ‘“*Well, you ought to win all right. How much do you want?” ‘fAs Pll have to give odds, you’d better let me have five hundred dollars.” _ Artemas looked sour and ea I thought my , + 10 TIP TOP WEEKLY. Artemas hesitated, but Herbert talked smoothly, declaring it was a cinch. The old man told his son to call on Monday, but Herbert said he might be able to pick up some bets before that time, if he had the money. “Well, I haven’t five hundred dollars in cash on me,’’ said the ex-Senator, as if that settled it. **That’s all right,’’ said Herbert, grin- ning. ‘*You can let me have a check. I?]] get it fixed all right. My friend Hast- ings can do that now.’? So he managed to ‘‘pull’’ his father for a check. Hastings happened along in tine to see Herbert receive it, glittered a little, and. an expression of satisfaction came to his face. His eyes ‘You can fix this for me, can’t you, Ned??? asked Herbert, showing the size of the check. **T think so,’’ nodded Hastings, Two hours later Hammerswell, Fitz- noodle and Hastings were engaged ina three-cornered game of draw-poker in the room of the latter. Hastings was ‘‘fixing’’ that check. CHAPTER YV. DISLIKE. The Rockford Star had given Maple- wood a severe raking over on Saturday morning. On the following Monday morning the Star found it necessary to come out and acknowledge that, with Merriwell in the box, the club had played a very swift game. But, not understand- ing Frank’s reason for appearing on the field in disguise, the reporter roasted him for doing so, saying it was a. piece of theatrical business that was quite out of place and inappropriate. Frank read this report and smiled grimly. The reporter had not learned the truth concerning the affair, so Jeff Nash | had not been exposed, and Merry was sat- isfied. Frank was willing to be called theatrical if Jeff could be protected. 3 : pe 4+ ney F ae Pee be RE —— The repentance and regret of the bully had seemed genuine in every respect, gteatly to Frank’s satisfaction, and Merry was anxious to give the. fellow a chance to show his sincerity. Frank had his team out for practice at an early hour in the morning, and he put the boys through their paces in beautiful style. He paid much attention to signals, making stire every signal was understood by all. knew when the catcher was giving Thus it eame about that the men the pitcher the tip to throw to certain bases, when the runner was signed to ‘‘go down”? from first on a pitched ball, when the batter was instructed to sacrifice, or bunt and to hit out, and a score of other things which every well-regulated club should understand. e Team work is what any successful club must have. A club that pulls together and is thoroughly up on signs and signals will make a successful showing against a club composed of much stronger “‘indi- vidual playérs,”’ providing the latter club pays little or no attention to team work. Constant practice is required of the club that will acquire the skill to win hard-fought games. Th a “slugging match’’ the club that knows nothing about team work may pull out ahead; but games of that sort do not please either players or spectators. Frank Merriwell had realized all along that his team was weak in spots, and he had worked hard to make it generally strong to counteract its weakness in those places. | 4 Merry was inclined to keep his friends on the team, if possible, for he knew every man of them would work hard to win, and that meant a great deal ina close game. ‘Their loyalty to him he regarded as something. 3 Hans Dunnerwust, without doubt, was the weakest player on the club, and yet, in some unaccountable manner, the Dutch lad succeeded in blundering into plays “= — Pa ee — ——, eae — s > 7 Sera oe TO alone he mens ante Fate me OE ae TIP TOP WEEKLY. il which rebounded to the advantage of the club. It was very seldom that his poor playing cost anything. Frank had been able to convince the directors of this at a time when they held a meeting for the purpose of doing some- thing to strengthen the team. Merry was not keeping his friends on the team simply because they were his friends. He was doing it because he be- lieved every man valuable in his position. Friendship is a beautiful thing, but it No weak man should be kept on a team sim- ply because heis a friend of somebody who has the power to keep himthere: No strong man should be barred simply be- cause he is personal quarrel. made up of strong players who are friends and pull well together, it means that the club is bound to win games. has ruined many a good ball team. not liked because of some 3ut when a team can be Hodge was in the dumps. Frank saw it as soon as they began to practice. For all of the fact that they had won the last game played, Bart looked forward with apprehension to the one to occur that afternoon. Merry did his best to cheer Bart up. “Forget it! forget it!’ he laughed. ‘It may not be true.’’ But the dark-faced lad looked sour. ‘‘Who’s going to pitch this afternoon ?”” he asked, drawing Frank aside. “Why, I think I shall let Derringer try his hand at it.”’ “That settles it !”’ **What ?”? 7 “The game is lost !”” y “Oh, come off your perch, Bart! There is no reason why the game should be lost because Derringer pitches.”’ “Isnt there !?? **Is there ?”? 6CVes, ) ““What reason ?’? ‘He can’t win it.”’ ‘“Why not?” ages Si PES PST ah ae He isn’t built right.’ f ‘Now, look here,’’ said Frank, grim- ly, ‘‘you have taken a dislike for Der- ringer, and you are not willing to see any good in him.’ ‘He’s-a cheap fellow.’ ‘*But he can play ball.”’ ‘Fe’s unreliable. He drinks.”? “‘He has not drank since the first game he pitched.”’ ‘“How do you know ?”’ “T am sure of it. He gave me his promise, and——’’ ‘Bah! What is the promise of sucha fellow pood for? Nothing! I tell you he isa cheap chap, and you cannot depend on him. Jam sure I cannot do my best catching him. I.do not propose to catch him, either. That’s straight.’’ Frank looked surprised. “Do you mean that you will not play this afternoon if he pitches?”’ ‘‘No; but I will-not play behind the bat. I know I can’t do my best there.’’ Frank’s face grew grin. For amoment he thought of asserting his authority as manager and captain of the club; but in- stantly he held himself in check, realiz- ing that that was not the proper way to handle Bart. ‘‘Very well,’? he said, quietly, ‘‘you may sit onthe bench to-day.”? Hodge was surprised at this. ‘Who will catch ?’’ he asked, his face flushing. ‘‘1]] find somebody to catch,’’ said Frank ; ‘‘don’t worry.”’ ‘‘Perhaps you do not want me any more?’ came rather huskily from Bart. ‘Oh, come down! come down!’’ ex- claimed Frank. ‘‘Of course I want you! What are you talking about! You say you will not catch to-day, and I say sit on the bench. » That’s all.”’ “If anybody but that fellow pitched, eas. 87: ‘That's all right. He’ll have to pitch ; Ope : : 12 TIP TOP WEEKLY. to-day, if he can. It’s time for him to go ie ; This made Bartysulk again, but Frank felt sure he would get over it. Practice was over after a while, and the boys strolled back to the hotel in lit- tle groups. Derringer singled Frank out aud walked with him. On the way, the ‘‘Western Wonder’’ said: “T s’pose you’re goin’ to put me in this afternoon ?’’ ‘*How is your arm ?”’ ‘Pretty good.”’ “Think you can stand a game??? “T can try; but there’s one thing I want to speak about.”’ “‘Drive ahead.”’ _ ‘It’s that fellow Hodge. He’s a pretty poor catcher.”’ ‘“Vou’re wrong.’’ ‘Rh? How??? ‘He’s one of the best catchers that ever stood behind a bat.”’ | “That’s what you think.’?’ ‘It’s what I know.”? “All right; but I call him bum. Now, if I had Sandy Mullen here, we could ? ‘You haven’t Sandy Mullen.”’ ee “Worse luck! He’s a dandy behind the bat. ‘This fellow Hodge sulks, and you ought to know it. A man whosulks can’t catch. He’s apt to lose his energy right in the middle of a gameand let things go all to pieces.’’ i ‘*Hodge never does that with me.”’ ‘Well, that may beso, but I’ve seen some of it. Now, I’d like to win this game this afternoon. We need it.” ‘We aust have it.” ‘‘We'll never get it with Bart Hodge behind the bat.”’ “Well do our best.” + ‘Then he’ll catch this afternoon ?”’ ‘Tf he wants to do so, he will.’’ ‘fAllright,”? muttered Derringer. “But . 2 ee you'll get it again next Saturday. second game in the trial series, ”’ don’t blame me if we do not get a smell.’ Frank grasped his shoulder. “Pll not blaine you unless you are to blaine, Derringer,’’ le said, meaningly. **But I can tell pretty well where to put the blame of a lost. All I ask of you is that you do your level best. You received your money Saturday night, and See if game you can earn it.”’ ee CHAPTER VI. A NEW MAN BEHIND THE BAT. The Tigers came down to Maplewood confident of winning an easy victory. “It will be asnap,’’ they told each other. : The fact that Maplewood had taken a game off Seaslope Saturday did not shake their confidence. Maplewood having wou a game Satur- day, the people of the little village and the summer visitors came out in quite a body to attend the game. Frank Merriwell smiled as he saw them pouring in at the gate. He remembered how, only a few days before, the most of them had kept away from the game, The Maplewoods were practicing some time before the ‘Torrenttown team ap- peared. Hodge was there. He batted to the outfield. The Tigers came onto the field laugh- ing and confident in their appearance. Captain Gill sought Frank at once. ‘‘Well, you managed to down the Softies Saturday, Merriwell,’’ said Gill. ‘That was better than I thought you could do,’? ‘*Was it?’ smiled Frank, coolly. ‘‘It didn’t prove such a hard task.’’ ‘Oh, you, held them down, but you must have uged your arm up.”’ “Nothing of the sort. My arm is bet- ter than it has been since I pitched the Sa ee aE R NAS ; epee TIP TOP WEEKLY. 13 Gill Jaughed. “*You can put up a bluff yourself!’ he exclaimed. ‘‘Are you going to pitch to- day 2”? ‘"No:?? ** Derringer ?”? ‘‘FHe’s the only man we have.’ *‘Well, he’ll be pie!’ ‘Think. so?’ ‘Soure thing.’” » ‘Fiver get fooled ?’’ “*Hardly ever.’’ ‘Well, this will be a ‘hardly’ occasion. Derringer is all right, and I'll guarantee that he makes you fellows dance a lively jig.’’ Gill laughed derisively. . ‘*Merriwell,’’ he said, ‘‘you seem to be a fellow of some sense, but you did get fooled awfully on that man.?* “That so? Oh, Idon’t kuow! There are various opinions about that.’ ‘“‘Kvery man on my team says he’s a cinch.’ 2 ‘*Wait til] after this game.”’ “It’s a good thing to have confidence, Merriwell; but your confidence is mis- placed this time. What kind of a trick did yot play on those fellows Saturday? Were you afraid to stand up before them as yourself? Is that why you went over in disguise? Thought you’d fool them by making them believe they had an easy thing, eh? Well, I guess you did it all tight.’ Frank laughed. **Vou are doing a lot of guessing, Gill, and it is pretty bad guessing, too. “Guess again.”? Gill found Frank. ready to talk fast, and the only thing he was able to learn was the name of the person that would pitch. : : : But there was a surprise in store for the Tigers. Not only for them, but, for the Maplewoods. : When the umpire called ‘‘play ball,” 1¢ TIP TOP WEEKLY. Hodge retired tothe bench, and Merri- well went behind the bat. = ‘“What’s this? what’s this?’’ cried Danny Dickens, kicking up his heels and looking tickled. ‘‘Look at this for a bat- tery! Oh, my! Who ever saw anything like it! Merriwell thinks he can back- stop, just because he is ableZto throw he double-shoot. Say, fellows, we’ll make him look like thirty cents!’ Frank smiled. “If you ever get a hit off Derringer, just try to steal second, Danny,’’ he in- vited. . “T]] do it if I live!’ was the promise. Bruce Browning stood on first and stared at Frank in amazement. “(Say,’’ he grunted, ‘‘the battery’s got twisted. It’s wrong end to.”’ 3 Rattletony: Browning and the others were no less surprised. But it is probable that Bart Hodge was more surprised than anybody, Bart had wondered what Frank would do about a backstop, but he had not dreamed Merry would go behind the bat himself. Hodge felt his face getting very red, and he was sorry he liad not gone in. He had been taken at his word by Merriwell, and it made him disgusted with himself. sick worth, the heayy batter of the Tigers, led off. Frank had studied thie big fellow’s peculiarities, and he started in by giving Derringer a signal to keep the balls around Bickworth’s ankles. Derringer looked awkward and _ gro- tesque in the box. He was determined, and he seemed steady enough. He showed no sign of nervousness, greatly to Frank’s satisfaction. | In two minutes Derringer had Bick- worth struck out. - Frank laughed outright as Dickens caine up. ' / “*T’d like to see you get a hit, ”? he de- clared. ‘‘Really, it would do me good.” ‘Would it??? said Danny, and it was vA « apparent that he did not quite relish the manner in which Frank spoke. He let two pass, and then he lined one out. “There it it is!’’ he cried, triumphant- ly, as he scudded down to first. It proved to be, and Frank laughed. “*T congratulate you,’’ he said, nodding to the little fellow ‘Save your congratulations, instant retort. ‘“‘I couldn’t help that. Why, anybody can hit’ that man. He’s the softest snap I’ve struck since I clerked in a grocery store.’’ « ‘““That’s where you got so much sand, wasn’t it??? came quickiy from Frank. “Vou found it in the sugar barrel.”’ “Oh, that’s funny !’’ “Thank you. Remember that you are going to steal second. Try it, Danny.’’ Gill came up next, and he raised a kick about the talking. ‘‘Vour side started it,’’ said Frank. This made Gill angry, and he forgot to give Danny a chance to steal on the first pitched ball. Heslammed at it with all his strength, sending up a foul, which Frank could not quite reach, and causing Danny to come back to first, after he had raced nearly to second, ‘“What’s the matter?’ cried Danny, ”? was the doing sharply. ‘‘Don’t get into such a stew.”’ —— bad!’ laughed Frank. ‘‘Try it again. Derringer seemed to let Danny get off first quite a distance. With the first mo- tion to deliver the ball to the bat, the little fellow scooted for second like a streak. Gill flourished his bat at the ball to bother Frank, although he knew he could not hit it. Frank took it, tracks, made a fore-arm throw to second. Derringer was tempted to stop the ball, so close to him did it come. Rattleton, running ‘in like a streak, took the ball about two feet from thre and, standing in his il ak an Tee ee 2 - ie ground and drove it down between Danny’s shoulder blades, literally pinning the little fellow at least afoot from the base. Dan made a wiggling squirm to reach the bag, but the umpire declared it an out. Dickens was out, but he forced a laugh. ‘“T’ve always had a good word for Frank Merriwell,’’ he said; ‘‘but this settles it. deadly foe.’’ ‘Vd rather have you for an enemy than From this time on I’m _ his ‘some chaps I know for friends,’’ declared Frank. ‘‘You made a mistake in think- ing that, just because I have been pitch- ing, I could not gauge a throw to second from behind the plate.”’ **VYou must bea second Walter Woods,”’ said Danny. ‘‘He plays all over the dia- mond and outfield.”’ Two men wereout. Gill did his best to get ina hit. He drovea skipper down to- ward third, and Diamond handled it on the run, sending it across the diamond to first like a bullet. Gill was out. CHAPTER VIIy GETTING INTO THE GAME. It is customary for the home team. to go to bat first, but custom had not been followed in this case. By taking the field, Merry had obtained the final turn at bat in the game, which often counted a great deal. Sometimes the first ‘turn at bat is re- garded as the most advantageous. If a club can lead off with several scores at the very start, the opposing team may be discouraged in its efforts to overcome the lead. Slossing, the great twirler of the ‘Tigers, was put in to face the Maplewood men. He had proved effective on former occasions, and it was fancied that he would keep them down now. But Browning, the first man up, led TIP TOP WEEKLY. 15 off with a two-bagger. Then Mulloy promptly advanced Bruce a bag by a beautiful bifat sacrifice. The big fellow -was on third, with one man out. Diamond came up and fanned twice. When he swung the third time he drove cut one of the longest fouls ever seen on that ground. ‘*That finishes him,’’ said the Tigers, Right there was where they made their mistake. Jack got against the next ball pitched, and drove it fair fully as far as he had driven the foul. It cleared the fence, and he trotted round the bases ina comfortable manner, being wildly clieered as he came in from third, , Slossing looked sick. Hans Dunnerwust jumped up from the bench and tried to stand on his head, but fell over on his back atop some bats and hurt himself. ‘“Wow!’’ he cried, rubbing his back, which he was able to reach with some difficulty. ‘‘Dot peen der purtiest hit you nefer saw!’ Rattleton was the next hitter. Harry was alinost too eager, but he did not fail. He sent out a clean single. Gallup came. after Rattleton, and he found the fence at the nearest point in- side the foul lines, sothat he just dropped a home run over. of Two more scores came in, and Captain Gill had a fit. In short order he set ‘‘Tin”? Richards, another pitcher, to warming up. Before Richards could get into shape, however, Frank had driven outa clean hit off Slossing. The Maplewood fans were howling themselves hoarse. Four scores had been made, and but one man was out. Herbert Hamunerswell and his friends were on the ground. ‘They had not en- tered the grand stand. Artemas Hammer- swell was there, and Herbert did not wish i6 TIP TOP WEEKLY. to come too conspicuously beneath his eyes, Herbert had lost every ceyg, of the five hundred dollars at dtaw-poker, and he was feeling pretty miserable and dejected. For the first time, he hoped Maplewood might win. If she won, he could tell his father that he had lost the money betting against the club. If she lost, he would be unable to account for the loss of the money. Richards entered the box, Slossing go- ing to the bench, feeling greatly crest- fallen. He had been knocked out of the box by the despised Maplewoods! The style of Richards’ delivery was in great contrast to that of Slossing, and he struck out Scott. Then came Dunner- wust, who blunderingly drove out a little scratch hit, just so that he was able to reach first by hard running. Derringer was the last inan on the list. He had frankly confessed that he was not a hitter. Richards sought for his weak point, and found it. Derringer popped up a little fly to right field, and the inning was over. It had ended with the score four to nothing, in favor of Maplewood. ‘Well, Mr. Gill,’? laughed Merry, as he prepared to go behind the bat, ‘‘it proinises to be a very interesting game. How many pitchers have you brought ‘along to-day ?”’ ” “Enough of them, don’t worry about that!’ snapped Gill. ‘‘I didn’t have to take Slossing out.”’ ‘“‘Oh, of course not! He could have stayed in there till darkness ended the game. Darkness always may be depended on to do that, you know.”’ Gill didn’t like this, and he showed it. ‘*Begorra!’’ laughed Barney Mulloy, as he went out into the field. ‘‘It’}l] be th’ regrit av me loife that Oi didn’t larrup th’ ball, inshtid av boontin’ it. Oi moight ~ hive made a home toon, too.”’ it i Ree LL ‘*Yaw,’’ said Hans, shouting across to him, ‘‘you might have done dot, but don’t you belief id. You done der pest thing I efer did.”’ . ‘Oh, shut up!’ cried Barney. ‘‘Aven you gota hit, ye Dutch chaze! an’ thot adds to me ire, so it does!’ “‘Oh, yaw, I fatteninged your patting aferage all righd, all righd,’’ said the Dutch lad, with great satisfaction. ‘‘Dese peen a greadt day der race vor, ain’d id?’ At least two persons in the grand stand had enjoyéd the first inning thoroughly. They were Inza Burragé and Stella Stan- ley. ‘What can’t Frank Merriwell do!’’ **Who ever saw him catch in a game before ?’’ “I’m sure I never have,’ said “Didn't know he could catch. did!’ ‘How?’ ‘Why, he can do anything!’ “Vour faith in him is unlimited.’’ ‘‘T have seen him tested, and he does not fail.”’ ‘‘But I wonder why Hodge is not catching ??? . ‘*T do not know. he has hurt himself.”’ **T believe it’s another of Frank Mer- riwell’s tricks. Think how he fooled thein over to Seaslope Saturday !”’ ‘Oh, wasn’t it grand when he came out and threw off all disguise!’’ breathed Inza. ‘*How the crowd did gasp!” ‘‘And then how it did cheer! wonderful he was able to fool you. That shows what a great actor he is.”’ . “Do you think he might become really great as an actor?’ “T haven’t the least doubt of it. cried the actress. Inza. It doesn’t seem that I be- lieve he might take the place left vacant in this country by the death of EKdwin~ Booth.” “Then I would not blame him if he becaine an actor; but, oh, -I’d_ not wish him to be an ordinary, second-rate actor! Loy pea 3 ; at iee Yes; I | But it’s a ntl a ns a ea ee ae nr ? 4) TIP TOP WEEELY. Ww I’d much rather he would become’ some- thing else.’’ A little cloud came to Stella’s face, and she showed that she was touched. ‘*There is nothing disgraceful in being an actor!’’ she exclaimed. ‘‘Only narrow- minded persons think that. You would admire Frank Merriwell if he were bril- liant in almost any other profession, even though he did not go quite to the top. Why should you not admire him as much if he were a brilliant actor, even though he did not become a Booth ?”’ **T don’t know,’’ said Inza; ‘‘but I feel that I could not. I feel that, were he to be an actor, he would have to become a Booth for me to hold iny respect for him. Let me tell you something, Stella. When I found he was on the road with a travel- ing company, even though I learned the company was his own, I was greatly dis- appointed in him. I’d much rather he’d remained a laborer on the railroad, where he was before that.”’ ‘Well, I am disappointed in you!’? said the actress, promptly. ‘‘I thought you broader and more liberal than that. You have traveled, and you should be. A common worker on the railroad is noth- ing. An actor is a gentleman,”’ “Oh, Stella, can’t you reverse that many times? A common laborer on a railroad may become the superintendent of that road.”’ ‘‘Not in these days. The time when such a miracle could happen is past. Once a common laborer, always a com- mon laborer. There is no chance torise.’’ - “T know you are wrong, but I will not argue with you. Frank Merriwell rose rapidly on the railroad, and he would have gone upward and onward to the end, had not the road been sold and the new owners made many changes in its man- agement. It was——’’ ‘‘Never mind. Watch! The second in- ning is beginning.’’ | Derringer squared himself in the box. Frank gave him plenty of ground, by ‘standing far back. Derringer sent in an out-drop to Stowe, who lifted it for two bags. Then Merry caine under the bat. Sledge was next to bat, and he showed his. determination. He nailed the ball fairly for the right field fence. Dunnerwust nearly broke his neck get- ting back after that ball. He managed to reach the fence in some manner. It was astonishing how he scrambled up on it and clung there. And then the ball came along, and Hans caught it with one hand! Derringer had looked for it to be a safe hit, and he nearly dropped in his tracks when the Dutch lad performed the re- markable feat. He flung his cap onto the ground and jumped on it with both feet, letting out a wild warwhoop of astonish- ment and satisfaction. Stowe had run to third, but now the ‘coacher there sent him back. Hans let go his hold on the fence and fell to the ground. He struck on his feet, but fell sprawling. He scrambled up, like a huge toad. 3 “Second!” rang out Frank’s clear voice. **In a second,’’ said the Dutch boy, as he picked up his cap, holding the ball in his hand all the while. Then he threw, and somehow he man- aged to get the ball over to Harry in time. Two men were out. The Maplewood rooters made them- selves hoarse. Such wild cheering had not been heard on that ground before. ee ——— CHAPTER VIII. BEATING THE LEADERS. The game was getting hot, and the spectators were growing wild in their en- thusiasm. “They had expected the Tigers to turn the tables on Merry’s men, and the result of Dunnerwust’s surprising i8 catch and ‘throw seemed to delight every- body but the Torrenttowners and ‘a few ' syinpatlrizers. Of course Herbert Hammerswell pre- tended to‘be ‘disgusted, ‘but inwardiy he was thanking fortune for what ‘he consid- ered a great’streak of luck. ‘Still, it did . not seem possible to him ‘that’ Maplewood could-win. If she did not, what could ‘he tell his father about that five ‘hundred ‘dollars? That question worried him. ‘How is it,’’ said Hastings, “that that Dutch tumbleheels always seems to ‘do something ina blundeting way that aids his sidé? I’m'hanged ‘if I understand it!”’ “‘Nor do I, deah‘boy,’’ drawled 'Fitz- noodle. “‘The fellaw isa’ perfect awse, but still he seems to do as well as any- body.”’ Hunt; the next batter, took ‘his position at the plate. ‘Line'it out,’ urged’ Gill. ‘We can make this a slaughter if-we just jump on tlrose differs.’ Gill did line it straight ‘into!the hands of Scott, whd' held it fast, and ‘again: the side was retired without a score. Now Maplewood’ seemed fully awake to what was taking place. The delight of the spectators made Artemas ‘Haumner- swell grind his’ teéth .and nutter -words which would not look well'in print. Richards went into ‘the ‘box, deter- mined to hold the boys in blue down. Slossing sat on the bench and longed for another opportunity to show what he could do. ; Richards was a good. pitcher, but Mer- riwell’s men ‘“‘had their batting clothes on’’ and they added=two more scores to their list, giving them)six in all. And thus it continued, despite the best efforts of the Tigers. In the fourth inning Torrenttown made a score, but, Maple- wood made three when her -turn came. ’ At the close of’ the -seveith: inning the score stood ‘fifteen’ to three. sUMerriwell had’ not permitted his’ men TIP TOP WEEKLY. to let-up ‘fora minute. He-had not made the mistake of allowing any of them to think they had -scores-enough, but'he had urged them ‘to their best .efforts,all. the time, saying they must ‘bury-their oppo- ueuts, if possible. Captain Gill .was sore. “It’s enough to make a man swear to be beaten by suclia lot of stuffs !’’ he mut- tered. “I’ve thought every inning that we must get.onto Derringer aud line him out.”? ‘We have hit ‘him’ hard)’ said Bick- worth ;''‘‘but we haven’t,been.able.to hit him safe, ‘That’s the matter. Every time we’vehit, it‘ has been right.at someboay ; while those fellows have seemed to have the luck of getting: their little hits down throughe«pen:places.”’ They did not know it, but all this ‘duck’? camerfrom the teaching and drill- ing'Frankihad given hisimen in placing theirvhits. ‘The Tigers were sluggers, but they did not think of placing >their hits, and’! Derringer had been working. all, day to.make them hit to certain: fields. In almost:.every ‘case he: had succeeded. Frank had seen this, and had realized that) Derringer was not a strike-out pitch- er, At his best, he: was ainan.who.could keep ateain from getting long hits. Were he ‘well :supportedjihe -would:do great work. After three! men had been throwa out trying to steal bases on pitched) balls, the! Tigers;began to realize that Merriwell was.a ‘‘dandy’’. when ;it,came;to throw- ing to bases, and : they stopped, .trying to steal. When the seventh, inning .came round Gill resorted to taunts. “Why, what do you suppose they'll do if they should happen to win a gaine off us?” hei sneered. ‘*They’ll: think ;they ean play ball.’? ‘‘Perhaps you’ll realize you can’t :play half as*much as you thought you coild,’’ said Frank, ready to meet him on his own ground, cnt a a ‘‘Don’t swell up and burst, Merriwell,”’ advised Gill. ‘‘It’s too bad you. didu’t pitch this-game. You could get all the credit then.’’ ‘*Never mind;, I may have my chance at you! next time.’ jut the Tigers did not give up. They had seen many. games lost and won in the final inning, and. they kept: trying right along. In the seventh they managed to squeeze in another score, but Merry’s' men added two to'their list. | Richards was a gentleman, and. le did not imake any insulting talk... Slossing sat on the bench and said things which might have caused his removal from. the ground in any larger league. It aggravated the ‘Tigers Frank’s men would not get angry. Barney Mulloy and Hans) Dunnerwust convulsed the. spectators. with their coach- ing, which was of a. rattling, order.. The Irish and Dutch lads. quarreled and coached at the same time, and some. of their shots at each other were laughable in the extreme. Bart Hodge began to feel sorry. that he had. acted sulky and refused to catch, but he said not.a word. He longed to. ask Frank if he might go behind the bat, but would not do it. Derringer took an opportunity toward the close of tlie gamé to’ say so that Bart would hear him: “This shows what I can do, when, I have a man behind:the bat.to catch.” Hodge grated his teeth. The ninth inning arrived. at last, and Torrenttown went first to bat. _Artemas Hammerswell had come down from the grand stand and sought lhis. som ‘What did you do with that money, Herbert ?”’ he asked. “Put every blooming cent on Torrent- -town,’’ answered Herbert, with a doleful expression on his face and satisfaction in- his heart. because’ TIP TOP WEEKLY. 19 Artenias'swore. ‘It’s beastly !’’ he. snarled—‘‘beastly! Whoever heard of anything, like it?” **Nobody,, dad,”’ whined Herbert. ! grated ' **Tt?simore tham I-cam stand the ex-Senator, his! face very red.. ‘‘ Why, there will! be no. living in the hotel. for us after this!” ‘*That’s right, governor.’ “This fellow-Merriwell. will think he owns thie earth.’’ **He will.’’ “But he can’t. keep this. up, catr he, Herbert,?”’ “Of course not, gov.”’ *‘Vah!’’ snarled, the old man, showing his teeth. ‘‘I heard ye say: so before! You kuew he couldn’t win'this game!’ ‘*T thought, I. knew, and. so'did) every- body else.”’ , ‘“‘T wish I’d never seen this fellow Frank Merriwell! I wish we’d stayed away. from thisitown this year! If Ihadn’t had anything to do with the ball team in the. first place, it would have been all right. You was to. blame for that. Now I’m into it, an’ I.don’t know how Vl get out, of it.”’ He stamped off, blowing, through his nose and glaring at everybody. ‘*My deah fellaw,’’ said Fitzneodle to Herbert, “‘I didn’t know you placed any —aw—money on Torrenttown ?’’ “‘T didn’t,’’? said Herbert. ‘‘I placed it on the four ten’ spots I held against Hast- ings’ four queens Saturday night. That’s what broke me, but it’s. no: use telling’ the old man so.’’ ‘‘Oh, la! of course not. I see through itnow. Very clevah, deah boy.”’ Hastings grinned, but said not a word. Herbert’s money was safely stored away in his inside pocket, and! he was living: m style. He had struck an easy thing: in Maplewood, and he was working, it. Stella.and Inza\ were delighted, although _ the latter felt sorry Frank had not pitched the game against the Tigers. Shei did not : eS “You didn’t waste a second, old man!’? 20 wish Derringer to have any of the glory, which was rather selfish of her. The Tigers started to make a rally in the ninth. They opened up with three sharp hits, which brought in a score and left a man on first and third. The Torrenttown rooters woke up and yelled like fiends in the attempt to rattle Derringer. The Western Wonder pulled himself together and shot them over in all kinds of curves. The man on first fancied Frank would not dare throw to second with a man on third, so he attempted to steal. Merry sent the ball down like a streak, The runner saw it, and he had time to stop and start back, thinking to play be- tween the bases while the man on third got home. But Rattleton saw the fellow on third start for home the moment Frank threw, and he did not hold the ball a moment. Like lightning he’sent it back to the plate, where it arrived in time for Merry to nail the runner, who tried to slide. In the meantime, the fellow between first and second whirled toward the latter base, for which he made a desperate rush and slide. Whizz! Down came the ball from Frank Mer- riwell’s hands. Plink! It struck in Harry Rattleton’s fingers. Then it was driven into the ribs of the sliding base runner. ‘Judgment!’ ‘Out at the plate! Out on second!”’ ‘*Hooray!’’ The bleachers rose, the grand stand shrieked, handkerchiefs fluttered, hats were thrown aloft. Bart Hodge jumped up from the bench, unable to keep still longer, rushed out to Frank and grasped him by the hand, ‘*Great work, Metriwell!’’ he screamed. ” TIP TOP WEEKLY. ‘“How about Rattleton ?’’ smiled Frank, ‘*He’s in it, too!”’ ‘This settles it!’? shouted the crowd. “Only one man more!”’ The Tigers seemed to feel that it was settled, for the next batter up did not have any real heart for his task, although he slashed at the ball savagely. He sent up a high foul, which Frank ran for. ‘‘Oh, what ails you?’’ sneered Gill. “Vou can’t come within a mile of that.’ He did, however. At the very last in- stant he reached it, got hold of it with his fingers and held it. ‘“*Batter out!’* cried the umpire. The game was over. Maplewood had beaten the leaders! CHAPTER IX. HANS AND THE RAM. That game proved another sensation. When the report reached Rockford it was doubted. Oh, no! it could not be that Merriwell’s weak team had won from the Tigers! Of course Rockford was delighted when it learned this was true, for the Ruffans | had beaten the Softies, and that placed them much nearer the leaders than they. had expected to be. The new record of the teams was as fo]- lows: Won. Lost. Played. Per cent. Torrenttown......... 5 2 eo 724 MOCRIONG issaisdiies. 4 3 7 579 Maplewood.......... 3 4 7 .435 Seaslope......... fut 5 7 .290 No longer was Maplewood the tail end- er. It had placed itself in third position, and the other teains realized at last that Frank Merriwell’s team was a factor in the race. On Tuesday Maplewood was to play > at Rockford, and Frank knew it was bound to be aterrible fight. The Ruffiaus would struggle to the last gasp, ready to ~ “win in any possible manner, no, matter how they did it. = ~~ Se q y § wise, en ag Othe ans IR SE I ARE $a pCO The following morning the weather was threatening. It did not rain in Maple- wood, but report came from Rockford that it was raining heavily there. At noon it cleared up fully, but at one- thirty word came. from Rockford that the ground was too wet fora game, and Ma- plewood was advised not to come. Straightway on finding there was to be no game, Inza and Stella set about getting up a picnic party. vite Ned Hastings, but Inza objected. ‘*He is one of Herbert Hammerswell’s friends, and he will provoke discord in the party,’’ she said. So Stella was induced to give Hastings up, but she made sure that Hodge would be one of the party. The girls had found a lovely spot in There Stella wished to in- their rambles for such a picnic. were some other girls stopping at the ho- tel who were agteeable, and it did not take long to arrange things. Frank was grateful enough for the op- portunity to lay off for aday and spend He seeined to throw off all care and enter into the spirit of the occasion with a good will, and he made things lively. A farmer was hired to take them to the picnic ground in a hayrack, and they drove away from the hotel, shouting and laughing, seated on a pile of. straw in the bottom of the rack. Herbert Hammerswell and his particu- lar friends, Hastings and Fiztuoodle, saw them depart. his time in this manner. ‘“By George!’’ exclaimed Herbert; ‘‘I don’t like this much! been invited.”’ ‘Not with that crowd,’’ said Hastings, who looked piqued. ‘‘Merriwell and his friends are in it. They have cut us out.”’ ‘*Va-as, by Jawve!’’ drawled Archer. “We're left, don’t yer know, deah boys.”? ‘“Stell Stanley is there,’’ said Herbert. ‘‘T see her,’’ nodded Hastings, grimly. “You told ime you had her cold.”? _ We might have — becatise—— TIP TOP WEEKLY. a “*T rather think I have—if I want her.’’ “She might have invited you, at least.’? ‘fT presume she objected to me because »? ‘‘Because you area friend of mine!’’ cried Herbert. ‘‘Well, do you want to shake me for that gang ?”’ “Oh, no, my dear fellow!’’ laughed Hastings, quickly. Of course he did not! Hamunerswell paid altogether too well just then. ‘‘T wondah where they are going,’’ speculated Fitznoodle. ‘Oh, over by the lake somewhiere,’’ replied Herbert. ‘‘I’d like to spoil their good time, but I don’t suppose we can do | yas ‘‘We might find a way if we followed them, don’t you ’now,’’ said Fitznoodle. **Tt’s hardly the thing to follow them,’’ said Hastings, and still he felt that he would like to do so. ‘‘Oh, we needn’t seem to do so on pur- pose,’’ said. Herbert. ‘‘We can take a stroll and happen round where they are. Perhaps they’ll not see us atall. Let’s watch which way they go.”’ Thus it happened that Herbert and his friends started out from the hotel some time after the picnic party disappeared. In the meantime, the party iad pro- ceeded to their destination, finding an ideal spot beneath some shady trees ina field. } Hans Dunnerwust made one of the party. He was dressed in a rather extrav- agant suinmer suit of ducks, and he was proud asa peacock. The afternoon passed swiftly, and the , party prepared for their lunch under the; trees. They spread a cloth on the ground, and on the cloth they arranged the good things to eat and drink which they had brought along. Whien everything was ready, they sat down around the cloth. Then it was’ discoveréd’ that Hans was missing. ' «Where is he?” That was the question. ‘‘Hans!’’ they cried. ‘‘Where are you ?”’ In reply, there was a sudden sound of beating feet on the hard ground. ‘‘T vos coimin’,’? shouted a voice which they recognized. ‘‘Got oudt mine vay uf, for I can’t sdop!”? ‘*Ba-a-a-ar!”? Down upon them came the Dutch lad, tunning for his life, and purstied bya male sheep which he had aroused in his rambles. ‘““Somepody hit dot rams mit a club!’ shouted the Dutch lad. ‘‘Kill de plame thing pefore he kills me alretty soon”’ ‘Look out!’ shouted Frank. ‘Turn out, Hans!”’ ‘“Oxcuse me!’’ squawked Hans, as he burst into the midst of the’party. ‘‘I vos a greadt hurry in, und you doi’t péen ,aple to durn oudt vor tie!” Straiglit across’ tle cloth they had spread ou the ground bouded the Dutch “youth. And, behind sortie trees at a’ distance, three persons who’had taken some’ pains to get’d boy to’turiy the’ vicious rain into that! field fairly held their sides to keep from slotting’ with latigliter. ‘‘By George! it’s funny!’ gasped Hast- ings. “He! he! hel’ snickered’ Herbert. ‘This is the greatest joke I ever struck!” **Yatas, by Jawve!’’ pit in Fitzroddle. Scréaniing, the girls’ fled in all direc- tioris. Hans made a wild break-for the nearest fence, but, just as he reached it, the goat reached him. | The ram did not lift the. Dutch boy over, but struck Haus fairly, driving him headlong between two rails, where le stuck fast. ‘*Basat'!’? came from the’ramy, and he drew off and went at Hans again. 23: TIP TOP’ WEEKLY: ‘*Hellup!’? roared the unfortutiate: lad. ‘*Got der fence oudt uf me} or I vill kildt der ram ‘alretty'soon!» Oh, mine: goods ness! I vos‘a goner! Woo! Ow! Shim-* miny Gristmas! vot: vos dot I sdruck mit der front end uf: me dot'comes pehind my pack! ‘Took me avay vromdot qveek!” Frank and some of the others ran’ to the assistance of the Dutclr lad: Merry attracted the attention of the rain, caught it by the-horns; and threw it fairly over tle fence. Then’ Hans’ was dragged out, badly battered and bruised. CHAPTER X. THREE OF A KIND. The three rascals wlio had caused all this trouble were delighted. ‘If they’d invited us, tlrey’d saved themselves all that trouble,’? chuckled Herbert. ‘I don’t suppose you expect’ Frank Merriwell to invite’ you atiywhere he goes?’ said Hastings. “No; but he didn’t get this’ up this tine. The gitls got it’ up, and they might have left him otit.’’ ‘‘He’s rather popular just’ now, 1ily dear fellow, aid you are not,’’ said Hast- iigs, with something’ like malice, per- haps. ‘‘Last' Friday it might Have been different, but the Maplewoods -have won two games of ball since then.’ ‘‘Vatds}?’ said Fitzioodle. ‘Nobody can aceotint fa it.” “Oh, things will turn again!’ grated Herbert. ‘‘How that rai did drive the Dutchmian itito the feneé! He! lie! he!” ‘*Ya-as,’’? grinned Archer. ‘‘How tlie low fellaw did kick!” “Twas afraid the beast might injure some of the girls,’’ said Ned. “It'd served then right for having anything todo with that fellow Merri- . well !? exclaimed Herbert. ** Aud we should have been: to’ blame if they lad been liurt.”’ sr geen ‘ilies. i Rieti: pena | | . “T wouldn’t have cared if it had. been that tall, black-eyed flirt who is- forever standing up for Merriwell.’’ ‘“Perhaps you would. not have cared, but I would. I do not care to be responsi- ble forthe injury_of any girl.”? ‘*You’re rather. soft, Hastings!’ There was a strange light in Ned’s eyes, and a sarcastic smile played about the corners of his mouth. If Herbert could have read his;thoughts then! ‘*Vou call me soft, do, you!’’ Hastings mentally exclaimed. ‘‘Why, you are the greatest mark I ever struck!’ ‘‘By Jawve!*’ drawled Fitzuoodle, as if something -had- just occurred to him. “That fellaw, Merriwell, nevah. seemed to care faw the dangerous .wam .in the least !”’ ‘*He did, not seem anuch .afraid,’’ said Hastings. ‘fOh, he had: to.do:something to :show his heroisin!’’ sneered Herbert. ‘‘Well, we gave him. the opportunity,”’ smiled»Ned. '“‘He threw -the ram.clean over the fence.”’ “Tet’s get it and. put it back, deah boys,’’ said Fitznoodle. ‘©All right,’’ said Ned, at once. go-ahead and do it.”’ ‘‘But the ewecher might butt me, don’t yer ’now.”’ Frank Merriwell didn’t :seem afraid of it. ‘‘Oh, we've had our sport,’’ said |Her- bert. ‘‘Now we'll let the ram go. I tell you what we can.do;’’ ‘(Name it.”? ‘‘We know where the old hayrack is.’’ eure.’’ ‘‘We can doctor that.’’ *Doetor it ?”’ *