TIp : P WEEKLY “An ideal publication for the American Youth Issued weekiy— By Subscription, $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Cass Matier at the N. Y. Post Office by StreET & SMITH No. 163._ Price, | Five Cents. HE ST ANDREWS GOLEES a te. » 4 4 ee . aad 5: MEE: OLINGING TO THE BIT OF THE RUNAWAY WAS FRANK’S CADDIE. TIP TOP AN IDEAL STG, PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH WEEKLY — Sie PET Soe hoes NOUS OTe a gy ‘ # 3 if 2 > ANS Bs: C . A < ; y 4 rye) ry ; — aN ZZ ; fe PS AA pa ssued ae Entered Seconda M t the N. Post O; f ; a a Trterca amen te wel ar Ciaran. oe “the vane 1899. ~ the Opice of the ‘tiorarian is bomaress, Wanna Wi ie ao en er ee re No. 163: NEW YORK, May 27, 1899. Price Five Cents, if Contents of This Number. Page. e FRANK MERRIWELL’S CADDIE’; or, On the St. Andrews Golf Links Sie oe ee ; Be SQUIB’S TALKING HORSE : = - : 29 C . APPLAUSE - ; - . . = 34 : CORRESPONDENCE ; 39 eT oo ao CHAPTER I. v = BOBBIE MACFANE. : Frank Merriwell’s party bore a letter - of recommendation from Mr. Horace G. _ Hutchinson to the secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, _ so it happened that Frank and his friends were received with open arms and in- vited to make themselves quite at home on the finest links in the world. St. Andrews, the mecca of golfers, is aout sixty miles from Edinburgh, Scot- land, and stands on a promontory that juts out into the eo Sea. rank Wc avell= Caddie rg OR, ON THE ST. ANDREWS GOLF LINKS By BURT L. STANDISH. It is an old and interesting town in a historical way, but the chief interest for nine out of ten pilgrims who journey thither is the incomparable golf links. Ask them about St: Regulus drifting thither from Greece ina boat without sails or oars, and they will look at you blankly and confess they never heard of it. They do not even know that the Cathedral of St. Andrews was. erected in his honor; but they will talk to you by the hour about ‘‘niblicks’’ and ‘‘divots’? and ‘‘driving off’? and eos onhe 5 and such things. a Dolph and Juliet es and thee = aunt, along with Elsie Bellwood, had ac- companied the Yale jads to St. Andrews immediately after the week of house-boat life at Henley. Dolph had been there be- fore, and it was through him the boys were led to journey thither. They were comfortably established in town, and now they had been looking the club house over, escorted by the sec- retary himself. They came at last to the shaded verandah which overlooks the links at the driving-off point. Just outside the grounds a group of boys were quarreling in boyish fashion. Sev- _ eral of them seemed trying to drive off a little bare-legged chap, whose clothes were poor and ragged. Qne of the larger lads stood back and set the others onto the little fellow. ‘It’s no business he has here, the ragainuffin!’’? cried this boy. ‘‘Hit him! hit him on the nose! What do ladies and gentlemen waut with a dirty monkey like him! Drive him off!” Thus urged, the better dressed lads set upon the ragged chap and beat him un- mercifully with their fists. The little fellow began to cry, but he fought all the more fiercely for all of his tears, ‘“*T have as ood right here as any of ye!’’ he screamed, striking out blindly. **Ve can’t drive me away! Kill me! kill me! I won’t be drove!’’ “Al! that is the real sand!’’ exclaimed Frank Merriwell, in admiration. “It’s ashame!’’ declared Juliet; ‘‘but he is awfully ragged and dirty, so I don’t wonder the other boys wish to drive him On. Just then one of the larger boys struck the little fellow on the nose, causing the blood to spurt. : This did not stop the barefooted boy from fighting. With blood streaming over. his clothes, he continued the battle - against odds. ae rather think it’s time to interfere TIP TOP WEEKLY. there!’ said Frank, as he started toward the group. But he had not taken two steps when Hisie ran past him and crossed the grass to where the struggle was taking place. Right into the midst of the fighting lads she rushed. In a moment she had grasped the collar of the big boy who struck the little fellow on the nose. : ‘‘Stop this!’ she cried, her blue eyes flashing. ‘‘Aren’t you ashamed, all of you, to be whipping a little chap like this! Stop it, I'tell you!” The boys looked at her in astonish- ment. One of/them said: pe ‘““Aw! He has no right to come round tryin’ to get our jobs away from us! He saw the party that’s just come to the jinks, an’ he’s here tryin’ to body to hire him as caddie.’’ ‘Well, hasn’t he a right ?’’ ‘*No, iiss. get souie- He ain’t got no shoes nor What gentleman ot lady’d want him for a caddie!” . ‘Well, if nobody’d want him, there is no reason why you should all set on him and try to drive him away.”’ Elsie turned and put her arm about the little fellow, who was crying and trying to staunch the flow of blood from his nose. stockin’s- ‘“T here, there!’’ she said, softly, draw- ing him close to her. ‘‘Don’t cry any more. ‘They shall not touch you again.”? Out came her own delicate linen hand- kerchief, and with that. she wiped away the blood, to the amazement of the boyish spectators, who had never before seen a lady do anything of the sort, Frank Merriwell. came walking into the crowd, observing: “Vou got ahead of me, Elsie. coming to the boy’s rescue.’’ _ Then he ordered the other boys to clear out, and they drew away, muttering and indignant. I was “Come with mie,’’ said Elsie to the - little fellow she had rescued, ‘“‘There is > ve : A iennanittit iideait ith aes ats fm a ee i ey Paes ar water in the club house. = e and we’ll wash this dreadful blood away. The boy had stopped crying, Sak he was catching his breath now and then in the effort to control his feelings. He perimitted them to take him to the club- house, where his face was washed and the flow of blood was stauuched aftera while. The boy luoked At last, she noticed it. ‘“Why do watch asked, kindly. ‘‘You do eyes off me for a moment.’”’ at Elsie wonderingly she not take your you me so?”’ ‘““T was thinkin’,’’ he said. *SOf what ?”’ “T was thinkin’ that you’re the first real angel Iever saw!’’ he faltered, his eyes filling with tears once more, while a big lump seemed to rise in his throat. Then Elsie knelt down right there and put her arms about the ragged little fel- low. ‘“My poor little chap!’’ she exclaimed; “something tells me you have had any- thing but an easy time in life. I’m no angel.”? “‘Ves, ye are!’’ he persisted. ‘‘I know ye’re an angel! Never nobody else’d done the way you’ve done fer me. ’Sides that, ye’ve got the face o’ an angel—an’ the eyes o’ an angel! You’ve got the goodest face and the prettiest eyes I ever saw!”’ Elsie laughed bubblingly. “‘T’'m glad to know somebody thinks that of me,’’ she said. ‘*Thank you, my little man. What is your name?”’ ‘Bobbie Macfane.”’ ‘Well, Bobbbie, why didn’t you run away, instead of staying to fight all those boys? You must have known you were -no match for them.”’ “T did know, but I wanted a job. I need it, ye see. I’ve got:to find somethin’ to do or starve.”’ * ~'“Haven’t you a home?”’ The boy hesitated and then said: “Yes, I have a home; but we’re poor, TIP TOP WEEKLY. $ an’ mother is sick, while father ain’t got work now. He says I’m a burden on him, I saw you fine ladies and young gentlemen come an’ I must find some work to do. here, an’ I thought I might get a chance but when I to see ye, the other fellers that has had all the jobs juniped on me thought to be caddie for some of ye; went to come an’ started to whup ime. They I’d run, but I did na do it.”’ ‘That’s right,’? said Frank; ‘‘you fought like a hero against odds, and you hire Ii] and you shall shall be rewarded. you for my own have double regular pay.”’ “Oh, thankee!’ cried the boy. ‘You are good, too, sir, fer to help me right after the lady. An’ when shall I come, sir???’ ‘“This afternoon, at two o’clock.”’ ‘‘T’l] be here, sir, ye can depend on me. Thankee, kind, sweet lady, for bein” so goodtome. Thankee, good gentle- man, for givin’ me the job to do.”’ He doffed his ragged cap and bowed very low, with surprising. grace, backing away like a courtier. When he had departed, Frank asked some questions about him, and was in- formed that old Andy Macfane, the boy’s father, was one of the most worthless and wretched drunkards and ne’er-do-wells in St. Andrews. ‘“‘T] don’t care,’”? said Frank; “I be- lieve there is good material in that boy. I think he has the making of a hero in- him.’? caddie, you Cale CHAPTER II. ON THE LINKS. { Frank found a ‘‘character’? in Tom Morris, the green keeper at St. Andrews, we was familiarly known to everybody s ‘Old Tom.” thusiastic over Be as an American fae of The green keeper wag eat -five years old, but he was asen- 4 TIP TOP WEEKLY. seventeen is over baseball. He kept a little shop near the club-house, and it was reckoned by everybody as a great pleasure and a great honor to have played a round of the historic links with him. He had met the world’s most famous players, and he could tell many interest- ing things about the playing of such men as Horace Hutchinson, Leslie Balfour- Melville and John Ball, Jr. Frank found his way to Old ‘Tom’s shop and chatted with him fot an hour, finally winning a promise that the vet- eran would play a round with him at two that afternoon. **T’]]1 ha’ to get ye a caddie,’’ said the old man. ‘‘} have one engaged already,’’ said Frank. Old Tom looked disappointed, not to say displeased. “Ve need na hurried,’? he said. ‘‘I know thein all, an’ I can say I would ha picked ye a guid one.’’ . **T have no doubt of that, Mr. Morris, but——’’ . ‘Call me Tarm, sir. It’s what I am used to an’ IJ like it best.”’ ‘fAll right, then,’’ laughed Frank. ‘Ton it shall be.’’ ‘*How did ye happun to get a caddie sa soon, Mr. Merriwell?’’ Frank explained, and the old man listened. When Merry had finished the old green keeper said: *“VYe’ll ha to get ye anither one, I do be thinkin’.”’ ; ‘*Why, how is that?’ **T know the Maefanes, an’ they are na guid, sir. Old Andy be a worthless sot, an’ na one of his childer iver amount- ed to anything at all. He do have one “boy in jail for stealin’, an’ his oldest girl ha made a serious mistake, so na one will _ha aught to do wi’ her. It isa bad fam- _ “Still,’? said Merry, ‘‘I believe t rea se. * he lit- tle fellow good material in him. ‘*Blud wi? tell, sir.”’ ‘‘I confess that is true in most cases, but still there are exceptions to almost every rule, and I have known honest and worthy lads to come out of poor families. I do not believe in pushing a chap down because he may have some bad relation.”’ ‘*Still, ye wud na trust one sa far if he came fram a bad family ?”’ ‘*No, not till I had tried him. I would not condemn him entirely for his rela- tions, however.’’ whois to be my caddy has ” ‘*Ha’ a care ye are na too ginerous.”’ *“Well, it will do no harm to give Bobbie Macfane a chance to earn some honest money.’”’ “Tt is like to be the first honest money the family ha’ seen in a long time. But ye are a gentleman, an’ gentlemen do na want ragamuffins fa caddies. ”’ ; ‘And I will not refuse to have him be- cause he is ragged, unless the managers of the links bar him for that reason.’’ **All richt. Do as ye plaze, but I think ye wi’ ha’ anither caddie before ye do be here lang.”’ At two that afternoon Frank appeared at Old Tom’s shop, and the green keeper accompanied him to the club-house. When they were ready to start out it was found that Bobbie Macfane had not appeared. “T told ye,’’ said Old Tom, shaking his head. ‘The boy were tryin’ to win your sympathy, sir, so ye wud. gie him soinethin’. He had na thocht to work.”’ But Frank insisted that he believed Bobbie really meantto come. Other boys were on hand, however, and it seemed that Merry would have to take one of them if he wished to start out promptly. -Dimaond and Rattleton came down to- gether to witness the start off and possi- | bly to follow Frank and Old ‘Tom over the links, Barely had they arrived when > / ay Dolph. appeared, escorting his sister and Elsie. Frank *told Elsie that it looked as if her ragged heroof the morning would not keep his promise, but Elsie declared she was certain the boy had intended to come. As Old Tom was growing impatient, Merry was about to give up and select another caddie, when Bobbie Macfane came running and panting to the spot, his face red and perspiring. ‘*Please excuse me, sir!’’ he begged in deep anxiety. ‘‘I did not mean to be late, but I could not get here before.’ ‘“What kept you?’’? asked Merry. ‘‘I was about to take another boy.°’ The litlte fellow seemed confused. “Flonest I did come as soon as I could,’’ he declared again. “But you have not told me why you were late.”’ **T can’t tell ye, sir. mes?’ Please don’t ask The lad showed distress, and Merry. ‘ said at once: ‘fAll right, Bobbie. Here are my clubs. Now, Tom, we’ll make a start.” The party left the club-house, and there was quite a gathering of spectators to watch Old Tom and Frank start off. It fell to Merry to drive off first. With the ball in position, he selected his club and addressed the sphere for the drive off. Some of the strangers present com- mented audibly on his appearance and his position, making it rather awkward for Frank. It was something of an ordeal at the first tee. However, he drove off fine- ly, winning a grunt of approval from Old ‘Tom and applause from Juliet and Dolph. It was not long before Merry was com- pletely absorbed in the game. Old Tom gave him information concerning the po- sitions of the holes and the best manner of approaching them. And Frank was amazed at the skill of the veteran, who _ made soine of the most ale drives imaginable. = TIP TOP WEEKLY. 5 Old Tom had a caddie, and he proved to be one of the boys who had attempted to drive Bobbie Macfane away from the grounds. He held his nose very high, re- garding Bobbie with great scorn; but the barefooted boy paid no attention to him, attending strictly to business, and being on hand just when wanted. . Frank was not in form, as he had not — been playing lately, but he did not fancy being beaten by a white-bearded man of seventy-five, and he put himself on his mettle. He found this necessary when Old Tom made some of the most difficult — holes in four or five. The old man ex- _ celled in putting, but his driving would | have made many a younger golfer gee with jealousy. ia Old Tom was generous with his praise — when Frank deserved it, and he was equally ready to agree with Merry when Merry declared he had made a bad shot — unless the shot did not happen to be bad. . He was thoroughly honest in any criti- cism, and he was really anxious to aid his - opponent in getting the-lay of the links. — More and more absorbed did Merry be- come, and the game grew exciting when” j it proved to be neck and neck for hole — 2 after hole. ‘The club-house was left far behind, and they were alone on the links: with no players in their immediate vicin- | ity although others were ahead and mor were coming behind. Sees Old Tom made the eighth hole i thirty- nine, while Frank reached it one behind. 5 The old green keeper drove off for the 3 ninth, and then as Frank was addressing the ball, something happened. ag Bobbie Macfane uttered a queer cry and eae — like a young wildcat, oy CHAPTER III. IN THE SHADOW OF THE WOODS. Nothing could have been more aston- Ashing than this action of Frank’s caddie. + Somewhere a pistol shot’rang out. Old Tom came hurrying back. Fe Frank sat up, and his caddie sprang to his feet, wildly dancing about, while he pointed toward a line of bushes, crying: ‘“There! there! 3ehind those bushes!”’ Above the bushes rose a curl of blue smoke that grew thin in the afternoon eas air. ‘Ve little brat!’’ shouted Old Tom, as he came hurrying up. ‘‘What do ye | mean by attacking a gentleman like that?’ : “TY saw the man beyont the bush!’ _. ¢ried Bobbie, excitedly. **Did I na tell ye?’ said Old Tom, ad- * dressing Frank.. ‘‘But I did ua think he’d - doa think like this.” Frank was on his feet now. “‘T believe this boy saved my life!’’ he exclaimed. e — What??? shouted Old ‘Tom wonder- ingly. ~ “Did you hear a shot?’ asked Merry. “T believe I did hear something,’?’ con- fessed the green keeper. “And here is where the bullet cut my _sleeve!’’ declared Merry, showing the place. ‘‘If Bobbie hadn’t pushed me down, it would have passed clean through my body!” - Then Old Tom called on the saints. _ “What did you see, Bobbie?’ demand- ed Merry. “A man! I saw him rise upan’ point a pistol straight at ye.’’ ~ “And then you pushed me over.? ee Nee eit “That 1 man tust not get away | Ouick, I saw him! TIP TOP WEEKLY. Bobbie—show me where you saw him!” ‘Yes!’ cried Old Tom, who was_be- coming aroused. ‘‘It’s murder ha been tried here!’’ ‘‘Come!’’ cried the boy, and away he darted toward the line of bushes. Frank Merriwell followed closely, and Old Tom came after as fast as his legs would bear him. Bobbie plunged fearlessly into the bushes and tore through them. Frank was at his heels, and, a moment later, both stood on the other side of the line. ‘‘He’s not here!’ cried Frank’s cad- die, in disappointment. ‘‘Where can he have gone?”’ They looked around, but could not im- mediately see a place of concealment. for the man who fired the shot. Old Tom caine puffing up. “I wi? na believe there was a marn here,’’ he said. ““Didn’t you hear the shot?’ demand- ed Frank. ‘‘T did hear something,’’ confessed the green keeper; ‘‘but——”’ Frank was on his knees, examining the ground. He uttered an expression of sat- isfacticn. ‘What ha’ ye found ?’’ asked Old Tom. ‘*Sign,’’ was the answer. ‘What be thocht?’’ ‘‘It’s a word used in the western part of America by frontiersmen and Indian fighters, and it means that indications of an enenmy’s presence have been discoy- ered.”? ‘“‘What is it there?’’ asked Bobbie, watching Frank eagerly. ‘‘Here is where the man stood when he fired the shot,’’ declared Merry, get- ting close to the line of bushes. ‘He had been ¢rouching here on his toes, for you can see the marks of his toes deep in the ground. He waited the proper moment, and then lhe rose and fired at me. Through this opening im the © line of bushes he watched us approach. , Look at these sie bent and broken bushes. He thrust them uy was plain enough aside that he might, have a_ better chance to peer through.”’ “T do begin to believe he were there!”’ exclaimed Old Tom. ‘*Of course he was here!’’ ‘Where is he noo?”’ ‘‘Here is where he dodged down after firing the shot. He stopped long enough to peer through the branches, and he must It’s two to ght me have seen me on the ground. one that he thought he had brous down !’? “What thin ?”’ “He started to here, crouching as he went.”’ ‘*But he could ma roon fa’. na reached tlre wood doon yend before we tun along the bushes He could came here.’ *‘No, he hadn’t reached the woods.’’ “Then where be he?’? ‘“Rollow me, and we'll find out. If he is lying in cover, we’ll have him out of his hole in a hurry.” Frank started off on the trail, which to his keen eyes; but Old Tom called out: ‘Ha’ a care, marn! If he took a shot at ye once, he’ll be like to doit again when he finds ye clost after him.”’ **¥’1]l chance it,’’ came froin Merry. «Bobbie. Macfane followed Frank as closely as possible, and Old om man- aged to keep along. They had not gone far before a cry broke from the lips of Frank’s caddie, “There he goes!”’ He had seen a man rise up and break from cover in a hollow, running as swift- ly as he could for the dark line of woods far away in the hollow. : Warned by Bobbie’s cry, Frank Merri- well was after the fellow in a moment, aud a wild race for the woods began. Frank tan like a deer, but the fellow ahead seemed spurred on by fear, and he made wonderful speed in his flight. Never once did he turn his head to look TIP TOP WEEKLY. he had held through everything, but he 7 back, so Frank was not able to get a look at his face. 30bbie Macfane ran, too, with remark- able speed, his bare legs fairly twinkling. His heart was beating high with wildest excitement. Never before had he taken part in anything so exciting, and he was atingle from his head to his heels Frank gained on the fugitive. Had the distance to the woods greater he would have overtaken the man, for he get into shape for run- been was beginning to ning, while. the fugitive was losing his wind. But the unknown reached the line of the woods and plunged in. In the shadow he paused long enough to whirl and fling up his hand. Frank saw a spout of fire burst forth — and heard a bullet sing above his head, but he did not slacken his speed inthe least. If the fellow had expected to stop — Merry in that way, he was disappointed, and into the woods he plunged, disap- pearing from view. **Ketch him!’’ cried Bobbie, excitedly, eer ““Don’t let him get away!’’ - 5 Frank unhesitatingly followed the man. At first he could hear him crashing | through the underbrush, and that served to guide him in the pursuit, but very soon that sound ceased. , ‘“He’s crouched in cover somewhere $= take a shot at me!’ thought Frank, and — it caused a chill to run along his back. The bravest man must hesitate if he feels sure a murderous-minded enenry is lying in wait for him, grasping a loaded pistol. Frank scanned every clump of bushes. © The shadows were thick down there in the woods, and some of them looked won-~ derfully like human beings in ambush. Merry did not turn back. He was quite unarmed, save for the golf club, to which continued the search for his would-be as- sassin. Mery Pause to liste, hoping | to he A his enemy moving. Instead, he heard a sharp’cry that was suddenly broken and smothered. ‘*T believe that came from the lips of Bobbie Macfane!’’? he muttered, but he was unable to tell from which direction the sound came. Frank was right. The boy had plunged bravely into the woods, hoping in some manner to aid Merry in the hunt for the ruffian who had fired at hii. Bobbie did not follow close after Frank, but turned to one side and pushed on. He did not go far before he ran full and fair upon aman who was crouching in the cover of some low bushes. Bobbie started to utter a shout, but the man sprang at him like a tiger, grasping him by the throat, choking off the cry | that had started to leave lis lips. — You little brat!’’ grated the furious fugitive. ‘You spoiled my first shot, or _ Vd got Merriwell fair, and, with only an - old man and a boy to follow, I’d_ escaped without trouble. I owe you one!”’ Bobbie struggled with ail his strength. He clenched his hands and struck the man fairly between the eyes, causing the fellow to stagger a bit. A hissing curse broke from the ruf- fian’s lips, and his fingers tightened on _ Bobbie ’s neck till the bones seemed to _erack beneath the pressure. Hit ine, will you, you little whelp! Well, I'll fix you so you woun’t hit any- body else in a hurry!” The boy felt terrible pains beginning to shoot through hislimbs. There was a roaring sound in his head, and bright lights g ‘glowed and faded before his eyes. In the ‘inidst of those lights he saw the face of a fiend who was trying to destroy him, grinning at him wickedly. He tried to strike again at that face, but he simply beat the air ina feeble manner, being robbed of his strength. In his ears sound- ed a low, cruel laugh of triumph. In a hazy way, Bobbie felt that the end of life had come for him. The terrible ‘pains became less acute, and were fol- lowed by a smothered, yet not unpleasant sensation. He no fonger breathed the ‘pure air of heaven; it had been shut off from him forever. He was heavy, heavy —-so heavy! And he was tired. It would be good to rest. | rte did not care now ; he was willing & TIP TOP WEEKL\ to die, for all the pain of dying was past. Never again would he be hungry and cold; never again would he shiver and cower beneath the fist of his drunken and brutal father. Wher@ he was going no one would kick him about with heavy boots and trainple upon him when he lay helpless on the floor. He was leaving his sister behind. Poor sister! That was his only regret. She had made a mistake, and the world regarded her with scorn. Her miserable father had jeered at- her and made her life more wretched. That very day he had demand- ed money of lier, and had tried to force her out to earn it in a way that was not honorable! Bobbie had defended his sister as best he could, and he had not left the house till he was sure there was no further dan- ger that his father would beat her. That was whiy he had not arrived at the club- house on time, and that was why he had declined to make any excuse, for his shame had kept him from telling the truth. Poor sister! When he was gone, she might carry out the threat she had made a hundred times and fling herself from the black bluffs into the sea. It would be better if she did. Then his thoughts began to die away, and he seemed to feel that he was going to sleep forever. A purple haze settled heavily around him, in the midst of which he seemed to sink. There came a slight shock, and all was over. Movement, thought and life seemed departed forever from the ragged little chap who lay there on the damp ground of the woods, one arm curled under him, his eyes closed, and fearful purple marks showing ou his thin little neck. Away from thespot crept a dark pave: crouching, pale-faced, shaking. A hoarse veice muttered: “T hope I haven’t killed the little fool! - I didn’t mean to kill him!”’ On a branch a wild bird paused a mo- ment to twitter a sweet little song that told of the happiness bubbling from its heart. Beneath the branch lay the boy whose ears were deaf to the wild bird’s song. ‘The bird flew away; the boy lay there still. eet . oe ro. nee Peek mt ae e = 4 . Leg oe we CHAPTER IV. WORKING FOR A LIFE. Frank Merriwell came through the woods, with Old Tom following. ‘‘T am sure I] heard a cry,’’ declared Frank. ‘‘Whiere is that boy?’’ “‘Dinna mind the boy,’’ growled Old Tom. ‘‘Catch the whilp that tried to murder ye!’’ ‘*But I do et wish’ “any harm to come to that boy.’ ‘*Na harm wi’ come to Siac. sir. He can take care 0’ hisself: It’s strange ye take such a guare interest in heem.”’ ‘‘He saved my life!’’ exclaimed Frank. “If he had aot pushed me down, I’d_ be dead or dying now, with a bullet through my body. Why shouldn't I take an. in- terest in him!’’ ‘*It’s the first thing I ever knew a Mac- fane to do that were a credit to hissilf or anybody else.”’ “‘T tell you, Tom, I’m sure there is good stuff in the boy. All he needs isa chance. It’s pretty hard to kick him down because of his father and relation.” ‘fA weel, perhap’ ye are richt; but na one in St. Andrews wi’ take any stack i’ a Macfane. Who do you think fired the ~ peestol shot at ye??’ *'T don’t know.’’ ‘Ve ha’ an inimy??’ Several of them.”’ **]’ this country ?”’ “Well, I’ve had some in Hagiated. but I didn’t suppose any of them had taken ore trouble to follow me here.”’ ‘““Did ye na reecognize heem by his look ?”’ **T saw nothing but his back.”’ “And ye did na know heem by thocht ?”’ ‘‘Well, he looked like somebody I have seen before, but it does not seem possible that somebody can be in Scotland. If he iat es ones 9 - Frank stopped, uttered a shout, sprang forward and fell on his knees. He had found Bobbie! ‘‘Here he is, Tom!’’ cried ee ‘Something ae ‘happened! ia “Hoot, marn! its! plain ye spake the TIP TOP WEEELY. thus. 9 ‘*He has been attacked ! He has been ) ? “Ts he dead ?”’ ‘I fearso! He seems quite lifeless! Hurry, Tom, if you know where there is — water, and bring me some.’’ ‘“But the marn what deed it will get awa’ if ye stop here! If ye keep on, the wood is sma’, and he will na _ be able to escape.”’ ‘‘What, keep on and leave this poor little fellow, without making an effort to restore him? No, no! Not if the assassin escapes a tliousand times! Bring me wa- ter, Tom !’’ ‘*The spring is near, but I ha’ nothing to breeng water i’.’’ a “Brank gathered the Gab body up in his arms. ‘‘Lead the way to the spring,’’ he or-— dered. ‘‘Hurry about it, Tom! Every moment is precious now. ” rae Through the brush they crashed till | they came tothe spring. There Frank — laid the boy down and began working ~ over him to restore him. He directed © Tom to aid him, and together they. did’ ze. everything they could fer Bobbie. 2 At first it seemed that all their affects Se would prove fruitless, but Frank kept on, praying that he might succeed. Some- — how, he felt that the spark of life re- | mained in the body of the unfortunate — | lad, and he hoped to fan it intoa flares A again. ces Old Tom thought it useless to work % He felt that the boy was past sav- ing, and, had he expressed his thoughts, he might have said it wasa good thing for Bobibe if he were dead. a But Frank found traces of life after 453 time, and he continued to labor till So ‘a bie began to groan. 2m ‘“He do be coomin? round!” exclaimed the old green keeper. ‘'I had na ixpictit thocht.”’ es. *‘Oh, oh, oh, dear!’’ gasped the boy, iM chokingly. a Poor little chap!’’ murmured Frank. ‘Don’t strike Nell again, father!’ came from Bobbie’s lips. “Don’t ‘drive. her out to shame! Promise me ye won’t strike her again! I must be at the club- house at two, or, I will lose the job.’? __ He was silent, breathing hoarsely. Hi teeth were set, and he twisted — ¥; 10 have lost the He will una strike **It is so late now I fear I job. Father is asleep. ye again.’’ Frank turned to Old Tom, saying with deep feeling: ‘“Now you know why he was Jate this afternoon. He stayed at hoine to defend his sister.”? The old green keeper nodded, and something of a change seemed to come oyer him. He regarded the boy witha kindlier look on his face. Bobbie seemed to hear Frank’s words, for he opened his eyes. Then he lay quite still and stared up at Merry, seeming un- able to understand what had happened. He feebly lifted his hands to his throat, | on which the cruel finger marks still | . showed. — “Vou are all right now, my poor little -fellow,’’ said Merry, with deep sympathy. Does your throat pain you ?”’ oes, “Sir.” ‘“The miserable wretch! finishing you!”’ “T_T thought I was dead!’’ faltered the boy. ‘And, oh, it was so good to be dead!’ - Unbidden tears rose to Frank Mertri- _well’s eyes. ‘‘It was so good to be dead!” These words struck to his heart. . Surely it was a terrible thing to hear a mere doy saying such words. _ **¥ou are all right now, Bobbie,” he a tenderly. ‘‘Can you sit up?”’ “And I am not dead ?”’ _ It was an exclamation of disappoint- : ment. eave * No, you will’ be ‘as wall as ever to- morrow.’ Frank lifted the boy, but Bobbbie cried ut with pain, putting his hands to his ead. He caine near “Oh, everything is whirling round— round!’ he moaned. He seemed on the point of fainting, and Merry laid him back, fixing him as comfortably as possible. After a few mo- ments the boy was easier. - Frank questioned him and found out what had happened. “Did you see the face of as man, Bob- bie?” "Ves, for a moiment.”* ‘ cThen you would know him again a Yes, sit.’ | TIP TOP WEEKLY. "Oh, I bad face.’’ *““Was he young or old ?"’ ‘‘Near your age, sir—perhaps a little older, sir.”’ ‘“Any beard? *“*A sma’ one, “Black?” “Ves, sir. Black é€yes an” *“Do ye know heem, Mr. asked Old Tom. ‘It’s possible I do,’’? nodded Frank. ““T have an enemy, of that description, and he would hesitate at nothing in or- der to injure me, I fancied he might have perished with another enemy of mine in a London fire, for I have not seen him lately; but something tells me he still lives and is here. In fact, I am quite cettain he isthe man. But let him -go now. He has injured this poor boy, who saved imy life, and he shall pay for it.’ “‘Don’t think o’ me, sir,’’? said Bobbie. earnestly. ‘‘Leave me! Go catch him, sir!’ “‘No,’’ said Merry. ‘I shall take you back to town, Bobbie. By this time the fellow has escaped, but we’ll meet again. I shall be on my guard for him now.”’ Frank lifted the little fellow tenderly in his arms and started on the return. Thus it caine about that he bore Bobbie all that lung weary distance, stopping to rest now and then, but never putting him down for good till the club-house was reached. don’t know, sir. He had a A mustache ?’? Sit; *? hair, sir.” Merriwell ?’’ CHAPTER V. BOBBIE’S HOME. Of course there was a great flurry at the club-house when Frank and Old Tom returned, the former carrying the injured boy in his arms. Scores of questions were asked, Elsie being the most eager ques- tioner. Some of the aristocratic golfers gazed in wonder at the handsome Ameri- can youth who had brought in the ragged caddie as tenderly as if the boy were his own brother. \, Bobbie was still weak and unable to walk, althotigh he had tried to do so sev- eral times during the journey from the - woods to the club-house. You: are So 10 good to nel. he choking- ee ly whispered in Merriwell’s ear. ‘‘No- body ever was so good to ine_ before—no- body ’cept the pretty girl with the blue eyes.’’ Then, as Frank strode along, tears welled from the eyes of the unfortunate lad and trickled down his cheeks. ‘Don’t cry, my boy,’’ said Merry, gently. ‘‘You have done noble work to- day. You saved my life and I'll see that you are well paid for it.’’ “‘T want na pay, sir. Ye have paid nie a thousan’ times over already!’ ““Don’t cry. Idon’t like to see ‘you feel bad, Bobbie.” ‘Oh, sir, I am na cryin’ because I feel bad; I am cryin’ because I feel happy!”’ And now Old Tom’s sypmathy was won, for he hada kind and _ gentle heart. *‘T think mayhap ye be richt, Mr. Mer- riwell,’’ he said. ‘“‘About what?’’ asked Frank. ‘It is na richt to condemn a’ persons because the family is bad.’’ . **T think you will say I did well lecting my caddie to-day. ae Old Tom nodded his gray head. “*Yes,’’ he confessed, “T believe ye did.”? ‘“This boy saved me from being shot. He was quick witted enougl to under- stand my danger when he saw the man rise behind the bushes and aim a pistol at me. It’s almost certain anotherboy would have stood still in terror or would have run away. He did nothing of the kind. He pushed me out of the course of tlre bullet.’ ‘It’s a bra’thing he did,’’ declared Old Tom. ‘‘Heis a hero the nicht.’ Elsie hugged the ragged boy when she heard what he had done—hugged and kissed him! “*Vou dear little fellow!’ she cried. “It’s like a beautiful dream!’? mur- mured, Bobbie. Frank seut out for a carriage, and Bobbie was carried home in state by Frank and Hlsie. His home proved to be a wretched- looking hut in the poorest quarter of the town, and the interior of the place was even inore wretched than the exterior. The few pieces of furniture were broken and shakey, while beds were scarcely more than piles of straw and tags upon the floor. in] Se- TIP TOP WEEKLY. Bobbie. 11 Bobbie’s sister, thinly e¢lothed and hol- low-cheeked, but bearing traces of former beauty, tried to keep out of sight. Bob- bie’s father, blear-eyed, red-faced, rum- soaked, a human wreck, had no such shanie. Frank lifted the boy from the carriage and bore him into the house. Andy Mac- fane looked as if he thought of barring the way, but Frank pushed past him, and Elsie entered also. | ‘“What is the matter wi’ the brat?’’ snarled the boy’s father, glaring at Bob- bie. ‘Ha’ ye roon over heem ?”’ he greed- ily asked, a covetous look filling his eves. “If ye ha’, ye must pay well-fa it.”’ *“No, we did not run over him,’ said Frank, sharply. ‘‘You havea boy to be proud of, Mr. Macfane, and——’’ ‘What ails him?’?’ demanded the drunkard. ‘‘Ha he been i’ a ‘fight wi’ the town boys? He need na coom here to whine round! I told heem to go out an’ beg, an’ I warrant he ha com back wi’- out a penny.”’ ‘‘So you sent your boy out to beg, did | you? and you an able-bodied man! It’s — plain you are not fit to take care of your children, and some society should take | them from you and care for them prop- erly.”? - ‘“Thankee fa nothing!’’ grated Mac- — fane, glaring at Frank. ‘*Ye ha plenty 0’ — talk to me like Gi’ oout.”’ cheek to come here an’ that! ‘This be my hoose! ‘‘Not yet, sir.’’ om Macfane blustered up to Frank, but — Merry simply looked at him, saying: ‘‘VYou will not frighten anybody, sir, so you need not try.’’ | ‘J believe ye ha hurt my boy,’’ said the man. ‘‘It’s well ye’ll ha to pay fa it. I want money.”’ ‘“To spend for rum, while your ae dren suffer for food aid clothes! No; you shall not have it.’ : ‘“We'll see! If ye do na pay wha ye ha ¥ doon, I’ll make ye pay!’ Frank placed Bobbie ina chin fortaeee position on one of the wretched beds, kneeling beside it on the dirty floor, “How do you feel now, my little hero?’? he gently asked, paying no attention to the inebriate father. ‘‘Is the pain gone?’ ‘Most gone, thankee, sir,’’ answered Then he whispered are : 12 TIP, TOP ‘*VYe should na get father angry. If ye do, he will beat me when ye are gone.”’ ‘*No, he will not,’’? promised Merry. “711 see about that.”’ **Ye do na know heem!”’ **Don’t fear, Bobbie. I'l] fix him so he will not lift his hand against you.”’ *‘T’m afeared ye can na do it.”? Ves, + Can. *” *€Oh, ye be so guid!”’ Hlsie saw Bobbie’s sister peering from the one other room which the hut con- tained and gently called to her. ‘Don’t be afraid of ime,’ said Elsie. ‘Please come out. I want to talk with you.’? The girl dodged back, but soon she appeared, her thin face flushed painfully, and advanced awkwardly and timidly in- to the room. Frank regarded her with some surprise, for he had expected she ~ would be bold and shaiieless. _ Elsie went to her at once, spoke to her kindly, and began talking with her. The | girlhung her head and listened. She - wondered that anyone like Hlsie should speak to her in that manner, for it was plain that Elsie was a lady. _ Elsie told the girl what had happened, adding that Bobbie had made himself a hero that day. “It’s like Bobbie,’’ said the girl. ‘‘He _ be different from the rest o’? us. Father _ never ha been able to make heem cry oout ~ when he ha beat heem.”’ “Then your father beats him ?”’ - The girl showed confusion, but ded. ‘It?s his way, ye see. It’s the drink. _ When he ha taken too much, he is ugly, and when he ha taken none, he is worse.’’ - *It?s too bad! I am sorry for Bobbie— ‘and you.”’ “And -me, miss? things about me? ge nod- Ha they na told ye No one is sorry for : someone is, What is your name?” “Maggie. Everyone calls me Mag.’’ “*T shall call you Maggie. Now, Mag- gie, I want to be your friend.?? “ac Nat nal ye be foolin’ !’? Indeed I am not.”’ ~~ “But ye bea lady!’’ _ ‘What of that?” “Na eee would iver be the friend a for I am_ sorry. Nats WEEKLY. “You are wrong. ‘There are many la- dies in the world who would gladly be your friend, if you would let them. I am not going to try to pry into your affairs. I do not want you to tell me about your- self. What I see is enough. I know you must have a hard life.’’ The girl forced a laugh to cover tion of a different sort. ‘*Who cares fa that!’? she exclaimed, almost fiercely. ‘‘I be only old Andy Mac- fane’s girl! No one iver cared fame! An’ when—when—I did wrong, they all took to pointin’ their fingers at me an’ callin’ o’ ime bad names!”’ ‘“Which was very unkind of them, Maggie. Everybody makes mistakes, and the world should be charitable. Of course you are sorry you did wrong ?”’ ‘‘Sorry—yes! I ha wisht a tlousan’ times I were dead! If it were na fa Bob- bie, I should ha’ killed myself long ago !”? “You must not think of such an awful thing! No one has a right to commit sui- cide.’ ‘‘Here!’? growled the voice of Mac- fane, as he angrily strode forward. ‘‘What are ye tellin’, ye worthless jade? Get into that room noo, or I’ll throw ye in!’ He started to drive the back room, his brutal strike her. She shrank and cowered, but Elsie boldly and quickly stepped before him, saying: ‘‘Stop, sir! don’t dare to touch her!”’ emo- girl into the CHAPTER VI. FRANK TALKS PLAINLY. Andrew Macfane glared at the blue- eyed slip of a girl in amazement. ‘What!’ he hoarsely roared. dare tell me what I shalldo in my own house ?’’ ‘ ‘*Yes, I dare tell you that you shall not strike het, sir” ‘Why, out o’ the way, ‘If you do,’ said the cold, even voice of Frank Merriwell, ‘‘I’l] break every — bone in your miserable old rum-sdaked body!’ Frank was on his feet now, his faeds fist upraised to- “Do ye or Pll hit ye!” resting on his hips, and his eyes looking wee os iRise ie a straight into those of the startled sot, who had turned when ke spoke. For a moment Macfane seemed turned to stone, and then he broke into husky, derisive laughter. Mm ‘““Who be ye?’’ he cried. ‘‘Ye walk in- ' to my house like ye owned it! Ye tell me ~ whatI mun do! Get cout! Get cout, I Ba say 1’? He tried to point toward the door com- -- mandingly, thinking to drive them out. oe “We will go directly,’? said Frank; | ‘but we have a few words for you before * —_—we leave.”’ “1 do na wislit to hear ’em!”’ ait 4 or not.” ‘ ‘““What??? roared the man. ‘‘I tell ye '» to get oout!”’ ; ‘Ve had-better go!” fluttered Maggie, | catching hold of Elsie. ‘‘He is terrible When he’s s angry !”’ } But, as Frank was there, Elsie did not seem alarmed, although her face was a pale. =. ‘“What be ye whisperin’ there?” snatled Macfane, whirling toward the girls again. ‘‘Go oout, I say!” He grasped Elsie by the shoulder with his heavy hand. } The next moment he | against the wall with such | the whole hut shook, and well pinned him there. SS ‘*] warned you not to put one of your hands on her!”’ said Merry, speaking de- liberately and with great force, although _ he did not lift his voice in the least. ‘‘If ~~ you had struck her, I’d kept my promise. As it is, I think I'l] give you—this!”’ - Then he took hold of the man and “shook him till Macfane's teeth rattled and his head threateed to snap. off his body. The old sot tried to resist, but, to his intense amazement, found himself like a child in the hands of the athletic young American. Maggie Macfane looked on in startled - wonder, while Bobbie lifted himself toa sitting posture and fairly gasped for breath. _ '“There,’’ said Merry, as he again held Andrew Macfane against the wall, ‘‘now I have a few words more to say to you. Keep your hands down! If you lift them, PLL shake yon again, = . was hurled violence that Frank Merri- TIP TOP WEEKLY. ‘You will hear them whether you wish body! the man. 13 ‘“Ye ha na richt to do it,’’ came feebly from the lips of the dazed sot. ‘Then I shall take the right,’’ declared Merry. ‘‘Now, listen. Your boy there was injured because he proved himself a hero and tried to run down a man who attempted to shoot me. He is a hero, and I have taken a great interest in him,.”’ ‘*What he did should be worth thing to ye,’’? muttered old Andy. “Tt is worth something. I am going to see that he is treated right by you, to be- gin with. That is one way in which I shall reward him for his noble act.’’ ‘“What do ye mean ?’?’ ‘*T mean that I shali see that you do not beat him.’’ ‘*Ye can na stop thocht.’’ ‘“Tean! ‘(Na 1)? ‘‘T say yes! Be still! Hear me, Andrew Macfane! If you beat that boy while I am stopping in St. Andrews, I promise you _ such a thrashing that you’ll not be able to crawl out to a grog shop for a week.”’ ‘“VYe would na dare!’ | ““Wouldn’t I! Well, that’s just what you'll get! I?ll put you to bed witha hundred bruises on your miserable old And I can do it!’’ To emphasize his words, Frank slammed the man up against the wall again after which he gave him one fierce shake that nearly jerked the breath from the drunk- ard’s body. ““T]] ha the law——’’ began Macfane, but Frank cut him short. “‘T wish you would. That is exactly what I’d like to have you try! If there is any law in Scotland, I’d land you behind iron bars for one year, at least! It would be the best thing in the world for your son and daughter.”’ “It’s a fine gentleman ye are, comin’ into a marn’s house an’ treatin’ him this way!’ whined old-Andy. ‘‘As if a marn did na ha’ a richt to handle his own chiil- dren !”” ‘““You have no right to make savages of them. You may become a brute your- self, but you have no right to brutalize thein! Now, I am going to warn you not — to put the weight of your hand on that — boy. If you do, I shall learn of it.” — s ‘*He’ll na dare to tell ye,”’ species some- ‘*T’ll find it out, whether he tells me or not. And I never break my word, so you know what will follow.’’ ‘fAnd he must not touch either,’’ put in Elsie. ‘*No, he shall not,’’ promised Frank. *‘T know that he treated her like a brute this very day, and that Bobbie tried to defend her.’’ **Did the little whelp tell ye thocht?”’ grated Macfane. ‘“*He did not,’’ answered Frank; ‘‘but you would not have touched him if he “had. He was ashamed to tell that his fa- ther would do such athing! And you should be ashamed of it, too! But drink has robbed you of manhood and shame! It has not robbed you of reason, however, and you will not touch your children while I am near, unless you are anxious for a nice long term in prison. I do not i fool with such men as you; I give them a just what they deserve at the very start. Ba Do you understand ?”? : Macfane was silent. . ae ‘I see you do,’’ said Merry, releasing him. ‘‘Now I am going to bring in some Fe food and clothing for Bobbie and Maggie. BF You are welcome to share the food. It is useless to give you clothing.’’ | Again Maggie whispered in Elsie’s ear. “Hell pawn the clothes to get drink.” It seemed that Frank caught the words, for he said: “If you attempt to pawn or sell any- - thing I bring in here, ll handle you rougher than I have to-day. I mean it!”’ Ve will breen in some money ?”’ whined Macfane. - “Not acopper! I shall give you noth- ing.”’ ‘‘Ve might bring in a wee mite 0’ _whiskey« Iam old, an’ I need it.”’ — “Vou are old, and drink has been your ruin. Iam sorry for you, but I shall not give you money to spend for the stuff, nor shall I bring you a drop of it.”? The man knew it was useless to beg, and so he gave it up. chair, on which he dropped, beginning to whimper in a disgusting manner. “Tama poor old marn,\an’ it be too late fa me to gi? up me whuskey. I mun ha’ it. It isa’ that keeps the breath o? jife in my body.”’ ~ \ ST believe it will rob. you of your Maggie, BS) < 14 TIP TOP WEEKLY. fellow, getting hold of Merry’s hands and He staggered toa _ breath in the end, for you will drink ’ , . * i Sits \ 4 “ yourself to death, if you can get the stuff. If you had ever been of any account, I 1. should have more sympathy for you. But | you are not worth sympathy.’’ He turned and bent over Bobbie. ‘He'll not hurt you now, my boy,”’ said Frank, assuringly. ‘If he does, he i knows he’ll have to settle with me. Iam | coming back pretty soon with food and A clothing. You shall have enough to eat while I remain in this town.”’ ‘‘God bless ye, sir!’’? sobbed the little kissing them. ‘‘I never saw anybody like ye before! God bless ye an’ the angel with the blue eyes!”’ z ie CHAPTER VII. | THE GIRL WHO DARED. i Frank aud Elsie departed together. The carriage was waiting outside, and | they drove away. Elsie seemed sad and moody. — “Tt was not a pleasant place for you to go, sweetheart,’? said Merry. ‘‘I’m sorry I permitted you to accompany me.’’ *“‘T am glad, Frank,’’ she said, earn- estly. ‘““But you have seen how wretchedly | they live, and you will not forget it : soon.”’ | ‘ ‘“‘No, I shall not forget it soon; but I {| am glad I went, for I think I may be 7 able to do some good there.”? : ‘“‘Vou are not going back there again, Elsie?’ : ‘(Indeed Iam, Frank.”’ : a: “Why ?? gees 1 ‘Because it is my duty.” | Ee ‘Why should it bé your duty? Vou | - do not belong in this place. Itis the | duty of the people here, if anybody’s.”? r: ‘That may be true, but the people | | here are not doing their duty toward | | those poor people. Too many persons | shrink from scenes. of wretchedness and want because such things shock their nerves, and they cannot bear to be shocked. ‘They say it is nothing tothem, | and they turn their backs on wretched- | ness and want, while they live in luxury. They call themselves Christians, but - they fail to show one of the greatest of — Seti ie % Kale she should not know right from has been very short. of. happiness. Christian virtues—charity. It should be a pleasure, as well as a duty; for them to relieve suffering and want, but it is a pleasure they seldom or never taste. Of course it has made me feel sad to see hu- man beings. living in such degredation, but I shall feel better when I have done something to better their condition.”’ **Dear little girl!’? exclaimed Merry; “your heart is in the right place. Bobbie Macfane called you an angel with blue eyes. ?? ‘*Kinduess seemed to be something of which he knew very little, poor boy! It is wonderful he should be such a brave little hero.’’ *‘Tt is wonderful, but a hero he cer- tainly is.’’ “*And I do not } believe his sister is half as bad as people think “*She hasn’t a bad face.”’ *‘No. She isignorant. It is not strange wrong. I am her often while we remain I shall try to do something for her. going to see here, Frank.”’ ‘‘What will people say? They shun her _—have nothing to do with her.”’ ‘And is that Christianlike! That is the very thing that makes wicked people still more wicked. The moment they do anything wrong, they see*everybody turn from them, look at them with scorn and suspicion, and they think it is no use try- ing to be good and’ honest after that, so they hurry to ruin. Frank gazed at ds in surprise. «Elsie, * he exclaimed, ‘‘I had no idea you were such a philosopher. I had no \ idea you thought of such things.”’ “Tt is only recently that I have thought of them. It seems a long time since I was a thoughtless girl, but, really, the time I have been forced to struggle with the world ‘and fight all kinds of temptations. I have known pov- erty and despair.’ ‘*But all the shadows have passed now, Elsie. It seems that there can be nothing but happiness in store for you,’ “T dare not promise myself too much I believe real happiness comes from making others happy, and I shall try to do my duty that way. I shall visit Maggie Macfane, no matter” what _ people here may think or say.”” My ee 8 little eae en TIP TOP WEEKLY. 3 15 Frank recognized this as real moral courage in Elsie, the very highest quality of courage. A person may have mere physical courage and be a brute; but true moral courage raises that person above the level of humanity. ‘‘T do not see anything that,’’ protested Elsie. ‘Well, Ido. Not one girl out of thou- sands would hold out a hand to poor, ig- norant, misguided Maggie. If one had the desire to do SO, she would repress it because of what others might Say.’’ ‘fAny person should have the courage to do right, no matter what the world may say.’’ ‘*But you know few really have such courage, It is a remarkable fact that brave about woen are the severest on their own sex who have erred. All women seem ready to push down made a false step.” *-T wish I might deny that,’’ said Elsie; ‘but I fear it is the truth.”’ ‘-T hope you may beable to do Mag- gie some good. As for old Andrew he seems to’ be past redemption.’’ *“Is there such a thing as being past re- demption, Frank ?’’ ‘*T fear there is. ever another who has In this man’s case, I believe ali we can do is to make him let his children alone.’’ ‘“VYou handled him roughly, Frank.’’ ‘tt was necessary. was the only thing that would leave an impression on his rum-soaked brain. If I had not shaken him and shown him how easily I could handle him, he would have vented his anger on the boy and girl the moment we left the house.’ ‘He will not now?’’ ‘*T do nat believe he will dare. I think I made him fully believe I would give He Most him a terrible whipping if he did, is afraid of being handled roughly. brutes who delight to beat others are. — They shrink from violence to themselves, _ hurting some-_ but they take delight in body else. I am certain I sized old Andy — up, and I donot believe he will date” harm Bobbie or his sister.” ‘“What shall we do for them, Prank’ 2 ‘*Rirst Iam going to send a doctor to. Bobbie.’’ : — And: then ? 2” I saw that force . asso - ~ 16 ““At the same time, I will buy clothes for Maggie.”’ ‘““That is good, for you know far bet- ter than I what the girl needs.’’ “‘Oh, it will bea pleasure to take the things to her!’’ cried Elsie, her pretty face aglow. ‘‘I know she will be pleased !”” ‘‘And you will take them there to- night ?’’ wa 65,2) **Shall we return together ?”’ “No, Frank. You have to see the doc- tor and do other things. You must order provisions for the family, and see that everything is sent to-night. I will get the things for Maggie and go back there at once. You can come afterwards, as soon as possible.’’ ; **But aren’t you afraid ?’’ **Of what?’ “They live in a wretched quarter, and there are some lonely lots near.’’ Oh, and you will come later, so we'll leave the place together.’ . **But there i is aid Reagent you ‘afraid of him ?’’ ‘‘No. He will not dare touch me. I! tell him you are coming, and he’ll be careful.’’ Frank did not feel just riglit about iet- ting Elsie return alone to the wretched home of the Macfanes, but the brave lit- tle girl insisted, and he gave in to her. By this time they were in the business section of the town, and they left the car- riage, Frank paying the driver and dis- missing him. Then Merry parted from Elsie and _ hastened to find a doctor. He inquired the way to thie office of the best physician in the place, and was fortunate in discov- _ ering that worthy, who proved to bea rather aristocratic-looking Scotchman. ‘‘Dr. Burns,’’ said Merry, ‘‘I have a case for you, and I wish you to call at once.”’ The doctor listened while Merry told him all about it, but, at the end, he said: «Na, na, marn; I canna go there noo. It i? my office hours.” _... Frank took out a sovereign and placed it in the doctor’s hand. “Will that pay you for calling at “once?” he asked. some TIP TOP WEEKLY. I'll get back there before dark, ‘STF 60, please g go. And 52 a wish you to Took eS Bobbie Macfane as if he were the son of the richest man in town. I will see that you are paid well and promptly.”’ CHAPTER VILL. FRANK STEPS IN, Accompanied by a boy, who was load- ed down with bundles, brave little Elsie returned to the Macfane hut. A grocer’s boy was just departing when she arrived, aud she found the doctor there. Old Andy Macfane was sitting outside the hut in the twilight, and he glared at her as she came vp. ‘*Ha, ye brought me a drop o’ stuff to keep me alive?’’ he hoarsely asked. ‘Plenty of food has been sent or or- dered,’’? she answered, without showing any fear of him, although she felt a trem- or run over her. *“Ho! ho!’ he jeered. “What do I want o’ food when I canna ha’a drink! An old marn needs a drop noo an’ thin. If I had a little, it might gi’ mie ai appe- tite.’’ ‘‘If you would do some work, you’d have appetite enougl, Mr. Macfane. Would you drmk and let your children starve ?’’ . ‘‘Bah! -They be old enough to look after themselves-an’ ha’ soom care fa their father.” : ‘*Have you ever had a care for them ?”” ‘What is that to ye! It’s na business o’ yourn what I ha’ doon! Ye come here to poke into things that na consarn ye.”’ Elsie passed on and entered the hut. The doctor was saying: “There, my boy, I ha! doon all Ican fa ye noo. ‘To-morry I wi’ come again.” “But Ican not pay ye, doctor,’’ said Bobbie, weakly. “‘Na mind thocht. It are a’ paid. -Ye ha’ a friend who wi’ see that I am paid.”’ “And he are the first friend I iver — 2, had!’’ sobbed Bobbie, happily. so good!”’ The doctor was astonished to see Elsie there, for he knew nothing of her. a “Ts he hurt much, doctor?’ she asked, “Na, na; he wi? be all richt in a day cr so,’’? was the assurance. ‘‘I wi’ gens fa hheem. Iam well eae to do it. yee ‘““He are look — Re 4 Re And he departed, chuckling with satis- Fos; ) faction: Maggie was there. She was making \. Bobbie something the doctor had ordered, but she seeimed | bewildered. “Oh, miss!’? she cried; ‘‘I dinna un- derstand it! A’ the guid things that ha } scone fa us to eat! It be enuch to last fa 7 more than a week! I ha’ eat o’ thim till I canna eat na more.”’ Bur. ‘CAnd it be the first time sister has had enough to eat for a long, long time,’ said Bobbie, laughing. ‘‘It do seem that we be rich now !”” ‘Those are the things Mr. Merriwell a sent,’’ said Elsie. i. “‘Nobody iver done it before!’ 1: Maggie. | “And I have brought something for i you,’’ said Elsie, taking the bundles and | dismissing the boy, who seemed glad to 7 getaway. ve “Ra me?’ cried Maggie. + fame 66Vas )? Elsie began to open the bundles, which contained clothing to make the poor girl comfortable. There were undergarments such as Elsie knew the girl must need, then caine stockings and shoes. The girl gavea loud cry when she saw the shoes... “*T had a pair like thim once!’’ she ex- claimed. ‘‘Dinuy gi’ thim to me whin ””? ; said She stopped short, her thin face turn- ing crimson. Up went her hands and coveted it. Elsie understood, and she said : ‘Look here, Maggie, tliis is a dress for you to wear about the house. It is of calico, but you can keep it neat and clean.’ ‘*It is guid!’ said Maggie. ‘And here is a better dress for you to wear when you goout. You are about my size, and I think it will fit, you very well.” _° She spread it out before the girl, who clasped | her hands and went into recstacies over it. on MOM. DU. a a look fine i’ thocht!’’ -shecried. ‘‘An’ noo whin he sees me i’ _ thocht, mebbe T'arm wi’ na look away.” s a nat for you to wear with it.”’ 1e girl actually danced, while Bobbie Tie TOP WEEKLY. 7 —lady !” affair as the girl would have chose for ‘And here,’’ said Elsie, opening a box, - Pia witir pleasure. ‘‘Oh, sister!’? he laughed; ‘‘ye will look so fine! Ah, miss, but she did look fine once! She were one o’ the prettiest girls in the town, and all said that.” ‘‘But father !’’ gasped the girl, looking fearfully toward the door. ‘‘He i’ angry noo. He do say na one ha’a richt to come here an’ meddle., He wi? take the pretty things away fra mean’ sell them to get drink!’ ‘“He’ll not dare do-it,’’ declared Elsie. “Tf he does, he’ll have to settle with Mr. Merriwell.”’ The girl was eager to put on some of her fine clothes, and so, with Elsie, she returned into the other room. Bobbie lay there on the bed, looking out of the door and watching the twilight gather. Hecould hear the murmur of © the girl’s voices, and his heart was filled with happy thoughts. wg ‘Ves,’ he whispered. ‘There be an- i gels on earth. They have come tous!” | His lips moved, aud he tried to utter a prayer of thankfulness, for his heart was | bubbling over. He adored Elsie, wlio had been so good to his sister, gud he loved Frank Merriwell in a sort of tautic way, for he felt that he was utterly incapable of showing his affection and gratitude as he should. Tears welled frou his eyes, but they — were tears of happiness. e After a time, the door opened, and a— girl entered the room, dressed in fresh, new clothes from the shoes on her feet to. the hat on her head. | Bobbie popped up in bed and stared. ““Guid een to ye, Maister Macfane,’? | said this person, bowing very low. ‘I | thoucht I would ca’. How do you like ine new dress an’ hat, Maister Macfane ?”’ ‘‘Maggie!’’ he alinost shouted. ‘(Na, ia,’? she laughed; ‘‘it be Miss Macfane, if ye please.’’ ‘“Maggie—ye—ye look like a—like a_ “Ye know fine feathers wate fi birds.”’ i The dress was not such a mane flashy herself. It was plain and neat and pretty, and it gave her a wonderful look of re- finement, with her thin, sorrow-marked face. Elsie stood in ns door aut, sin 18 ‘It isa lady Ido be noo,’’ declared Maggie. There was a hoarse laugh, and old An- drew came in atthe door. He stopped aud stared at lier. ‘“Fool!’’ he said. ‘‘It were ye guid clothes that spoilt ye before! It set. the men lookin’ at ye. , I wi’ na have it noo! Take them off at once!’ The girl shrank and cowered. ‘Take them off!’’ roared the man. He advanced toward her, and she fell back. ‘*Rather!’’ cried Bobbie. “Shut up!’ he snarled. ‘‘This> thing ha’ gone far enuch! This be my house, an’ I be maister here! Th’ girl na can be a lady, fa she ha’ not the education, an’ she be a Macfane. It is wrong for her to lia’ fine clothes. See what caine o’ it be- fore! It wi’ be worse noo, for they a’ _ know what she is.”’ ‘“Mr. Macfane,’’ said Elsie, quietly, ‘Gt is natural that any girl should wish “to look well dressed and neat. ‘Take good dresses away from her and you rob her of her ambition and her life. You make her ashamed. She does not wish to be seen. You lower and degrade her. There is nothing wrong ina girl having good clothes.’ ‘*How do ye know sa much! Yeha’a pretty face, but I doot that ye be a lady, ilse ye’d na coom here an’ be so anxious to hilp them what are beneath ye.’’ ‘*Your estimation of a lady is entirely wrong, sir.’’ That is enuch! Ye ha’ na business to tell me thocht in my own house! I wi’ tear them fine clothes fra Mag’s back !’’ He seemed on the point of carrying out his threat, but again Elsie placed her- self before him. **You will do aentiiie of the sort!’ her clear voice rang out. “Bah! Ye ha’ doon sa much! Bah! | What ha’ ye doon fa me? Nothing!’ “What have you done for yourself? Nothing.” “Tf I let the girl keep them clothes, ye must gi’? me maney to get what I want.”’ “And that is rum !”’ “It be nothing to ve.’ “Yes, it is! I would’ be glad to help you, if it would do you any good; but anything I might give you would be ex- har ed sid drink, e know.” . TIP TOP WEEKLY. ment. ‘‘A poor marn ha’a richt to a drop noo an thin. If ye wi’ gi’ mea little money fa to gi mea drink, I will na touch the girl.” ‘‘You cannot frighten me into giving you anything in that way.”’ ‘“Then by the soul o’ Cameron! I will tear the rags fra her back!”’ He thrust Elsie aside, nearly hurling her down, and clutched Maggie by the arin, really meaning to tear off her dress. There was a step at the door, and once more Frank Merriwell interefered. CHAPTER 1X. FRANK EXACTS A PROMISE. This time Frank handled old Andrew even rougher than before. He said nota word till he had nearly shaken all the breath from the old man’s body. ‘Then he dropped Macfane on a chair, standing. before him. **In time,’’? said Merry, calmly, ‘‘you will get it through your head that I mean what 1 say when I tell you a thing. This is twice; the third time will end it with you.”’ The old sot gasped and looked up tim- idly. ‘*T fergot ye!’ he almost whimpered. ‘‘Well, it’s not best that you forget me again. lam taking an interest in you, Mr. Macfane, and to-morrow I shall know just what you do after I leave to-night. You are enough to drive your children to ruin, and Ido not wonder they have made inistakes. It is a wonder to me that they have not made greater mistakes.’ | The old man was silent, ‘‘Maggie shall wear what she likes,’’ Frank went on, ‘‘and you will not touch her. Promjse me that you will not.” ‘CN. ) ‘Very well. fix you up for the hospital. I see that ' shall have fo I shall make a good job of it, so your children wil] not. be bothered by you for some ‘inte to come.’ Frank aidited to take off his coat. Near the door he had dropped several bundles. Old Andrew ne is at him i in sheratag bia nas ‘Why .do ye take ye coat off?’ ‘Just so it will not hamper me when I get down to work basting you in good I ’» answered Frank, calivly. ‘‘Y shape,’’ answered Frank, calivly. ou have beaten others all your life, and now you'll find out what it is to take a large dose of your own medicine. ”’ Iminediately the old sot became fright- ened, for it seemed that the athletic youth really meant to give him a drubbing. “Oh, ye wud na beat an oid marn!”? he whined. “‘Ts jt worse to beat an old inan than it is for an old mau to beat a child? You lave beaten Bobbie many a time. ”’ ‘‘T na deed it ixcept when he desarved a ‘*Well, you deserve it now.”’ Old Andy wasimore frightened than ever. He fell off the chair onto his knees, whimpering: ‘“‘Please, sir, do na dout! I did na mean nathing! I did na mean to hurt the girl. Iw anted a dreenk. Ye know how it is when a marn wants a dreenk, so he is a’most crazy fa it.”’ ‘No, thank goodness, Ido not know how it is! I hope I may never know!’ “Then ye dinna ken what it is to be crazy fa.th’ stuff. But I did na mean to hurt the girl! I swear ut, marn—I swear ut! Please don’t beat me!’ Frank stood over the whining old in- ebriate, his hands on his hips, his feet planted wide apart. He looked down at Andrew Macfane grimly, failing to show sympathy, if there was any in his heart. Old Andy made a_ pitiful picture as he groveled there at the teet of the young athlete, rolling up his bleared eyes and holding out his trembling hands. Elsie pitied the nan, but she did not intervene, knowing it was best that Frank should handle him. Never before had Maggie or her brother seen their father grovel like. that, and they looked on amazed, wondering what would happen. Bobbie really fancied Frank meant to give the man a drubbing, and now he _ spoke. | ‘‘Please, Mr. Merriwell,’? he said, “don’t strike him! He is my father!’ . “Do you hear that, Andrew Macfane! ¢ried Frank. ‘It should strike a pang of shame and bitter regret to your old heart, pog.t this phere, Ae cipice: Me have ill- treated iy TIP TOP WEEKLY. I have something here for Bobbie. When. all his life, begs for you now! He forgets the many tines you have beaten him, ‘and he asks that you may be spared! Shame! shame !’’ “Oh, Bobbie is a guid boy!’’ exclaimed the man, humbly and eagerly. ‘‘He kens it were na me that whipt heem; he kens it were the rum that deed it!”’ “Phat is the way you shirk the re- sponsibility, but you cannot get out of it that way. If you had not taken the rum you would not have beaten your boy. You are to blame. Every drinking cow- ard who comniits a crime pleads that the - liquor was v0 blaine for what he did. It will not.do.’ : ‘‘But ye will na beat me ?’’ “Tf I do not, it will be because I pity your unfortunate children, and not from pity of you. Do you understand’?’’ tV ag? “If I do not, it will be when you have sworn that never again under any circum- stances will you raise a hand against either of them. Swear it! Swear it!’’ And old Andrew took the -oath which Frank Merriwell imposed -upon him. Frank made it as binding as possible, seeking to impress it upon the old man’s mind. i ‘‘Now,’’ said Merry, ‘‘solemnly ‘prom- ise me that vou will not touch a_ single piece of clothing orany gift that has been — brought to them this day.’’ Andrew promised. “Well, Ithink Ill let you off this time,’’ said Frank; ‘‘but beware if you break your word. You know what will happen.’”’ Then he turned eway, payiug no more attention to Macfane, and picked up the bundles he had dropped. Old Andrew got upon his feet and stood there irresolutely for a few monients, then he shuffled out of the door and dis: appeared. It was growing lighted a Jamp. “See, Prank! !? cried Elsie; Mi: agile, he that is what I calla great im- provement!’’ smiled Merry, in his pleas-_ antest way. ‘‘You look find: Maggie, and dark, and Maggie NeoKe ‘at. he appears at the links next time he will. clothing for Bobbie, causing the little fellow to pop up again and clap lis hands. Frank liad bouglit a complete suit, aud lhe Jaid it out before the little chap, who uttered exclamations of satis- faction and delight. Oh, Mag! he exclaimed ; ye think o’ this?” “Tl think we aré 1’ luck, Bobbie,’’ the girl. ‘‘Na one iver did anything before for us,’’ declared the boy. ‘It’s not: half enough, Bobbie,’’ serted Frank. ‘‘Do you think I can you in this way for saving my life! no!”? “what do said like this as- pay No, “‘T did na do that for pay, sir.’? ‘I know you didn’t, but I am indebted to you just the same. “What if I had had somebody else with me to-day! I shall never be able to dohhalf enough for you.”’ Frank sat down and talked ‘to the boy, while Elsie chatted with Maggie. Perhaps there were not two happier _ soulsin all Scotland just then than the - “brother and sister. ‘‘What did the doctor say, Bo -asked Merry. — “He told me I wud be all right soon. J want to be all right, sir. I want to be caddie for ye when ye play again.”’ Vou shall be my caddie while I re- - main here. To-morrow, if I play, I shall have to get somebody else, but I think _ you will be on the links the next day.” ‘£711 try to be there, sir.’’ ‘‘Anyhow, I shall come to seg you to- morrow.’? i ‘And imay asked Elsie. «Tf ye ca’ to come, miss,’’ said the ; girl. **T did na think ye ee ca’ to come _again.’’ **Ohy yes! I want to talk with you i I have many things I wish to say Oo you. Can you read, Maggie? ee, “A wee bit, but I ha’ td spell the hard words.’” _ “If I were to bring you a Bible, would you try to read it ?”’ _ “Yes, iniss.’? Then I will bring it.” ae this moment. a bbie ?”’ $ ” I come, too, Maggie? ee!" he cried, pointing with - trem ger toward a .window. — “Look TIP TOP WEEKLY. “in vain Frank looked for him. lowed ‘low cry of alarin out there.”? there! It is the man that tried to kill ye to-day, Mr. Merriwell!”’ CHAPTER X. LYING. IN WAIT. Frank turned swiftly, and was barely in time to see a face at the window—the face of a man who had been looking into the room! The face of his bitterest foe! ‘Only a glimpse did Merry obtain, it was) Sport Harris beyond a doubt! Frank ‘had felt that Harris it must be who had followed him to St. Andrews and attempted to kill him, and the sight, of that face settled it. Harris was there! Instantly that hateful, vanished. The girls did but malignant face not turn in time to see it. | Toward the door Frank sprang. He was out of the hut in a moment, and he dashed round to the window, hoping to catch his enemy. No one did he find. The man who had ’ looked in at the window was gone, and Harris had slipped away in the darkness. Frank went back. He could not help feeling uneasy now, for he knew how des- perate the young ruffian really was. | Merry had fancied that some one fol- him when he caine down in the twilight to the hut, but he had not been sure. Once he had turned in time to see a dusky figure disappearing in the gloom anid the shacks. Now he was certain Harris had followed him. Outside the door he paused and listened, peering into the darkness. Far away he could hear a sullen roar as thie sea beat on the rocky headlands. Frank did not remain there ark a4 He found Robbie if re-entered the house. and the girls much alarmed, but he): laughed and tried to calm their tan “Tt must have been. your imagination, — Bobbie,’’ he said. - “T could find no one “T saw it!’ declared. the boy. ‘the face at the window!’ — i “You thought you saw it a” E “Isa sa 2 ; pe tl Peg Be Te ‘No, I saw it! It were the face o’ tlie - man that tried to kill ye! The face o’ the man that grabbed mein the woods an’ choked me! I’d know it anywhere!’ ‘lm afraid you have been thinking about him too much. You must not think [) Of nim. He has 1 no cause to harm you, Peiny boy.’’ **Tt’s na that I’m Reread o’, sir. for ye I ain feared.”’ ‘‘Well,’? laughed Frank, ‘‘I’ve been able to take care of myself very well thus iar through life, and I’ll risk the future. lf I had been born to be killed by an as- sassin, the fellow would have brought me dlown to-day.”’ **Ve can na tell. iit, 9 ‘““Now, don’t let it worry you. Forget that you thought you saw a face at the window.’? a “Tam sure o? it, sir. ae when ye go away to-night! - +> ‘Oh, Pll he careful, ” smilingly as- | ured Merry. ‘‘And I think we had bet- ter go now.”’ _He did not let them know, but he was not exactly easy there, for he was in a lighted room, whiere it would be an/easy thing for his enemy to stand in the dark- ess ‘outside and take adeliberate shot at him. The thought that this might occur was not pleasant. _ So they bade Bobbie and Maggie good- night and departed. Elsie clung to Frank’s arm as they left the hut and moved away. “Are you sure there was no one at the window ?”’ she asked. “Of course Iam not sure,’? he con- fessed; ‘‘but there was no reason why I should alarm them. It might have been almost any prowler, but I found no one. ‘Old Andy might have come back and ‘looked in at the window.”’ He avecided telling her that he had ainly seen the face himself. Frank remembered that It be Next time he may do Do be careful 9) Harris and _ TIP TOP WEEKLY. ~ ye owned it, sir.”’ CS ie pounce upon me!’ the young villain was following them about. In his heart Frank Merriwell was be- coming wearied by the persistence of his bitter enemy. He had resolved that Harris should not be spared, if fertune ever again placed the fellow in his power. It was by the turn of events that Harris had escaped punishment for his attempted crime on the ocean steamer ‘‘Eagle,’’ and ¢ since his escape he had not again fallen into Frank’s hands. Elsie ¢lung close to Frank. ‘‘How dark it is!’’ she whispered. Merry shifted something from his hip pocket to the side pocket of his coat, where he could keep his hand upon it. All at once a light gleamed out behind | them. It wasa lamp placed in the win- dow of the hut they had just left. That light showed them something that crouched before them—showed them something that moved. Elsie cried out with fear. Quick as’ thought, Frank swung her ~ behind him out of the way, and out came his hand, grasping the something he had shifted from one pocket to another. The light from the window glinted on the shining barrel of a revolver. A form rose in the darkness, and a man ran swiftly away. ‘‘Stop!? cried Frank—‘‘stop or I shoot !’’ *‘Dinna shoot!’? whined a voice, and another form rose before him, just as he was about to fire. | ea Had Frank pulled the trigger, he must have sent a bullet RRA through the man. With an ac iguiwiied of disappointment at being baffled in that manner, Merry leaped forward and clutched the second figure, | ““Who are you?’’ he demanded. | ‘“‘Na one but old Andy,’ was the fal- tering answer. It was Macfane. ‘(What are you doing here?’ asked _ Frank, warmly. ‘‘Why were you crouch- _ ing there like a panther in my path?” ‘I na ken it were ye path. I na ken ‘Don’t get insolent! Answer my ques- tion! You were waiting for ihe ee tat were not 1, sir.” e job, sir. _ tempting highway you off on your promise to tell mie every- SAT see no Shanice. to eee you, 50 T ‘‘Not you? What do you mean by that? You were up to some deviltry, and I’il swear to that! Who was with you?”’ ‘“‘A marn.’? ‘Who hs **] did na ask heem hees namie, sir.’ ‘*Then he was a stranger to you ?”? eee, MTC ‘“‘What was he doing here? Don’t lie to me, Macfane, or I’]1] give you what you did not get a short time ago!”’ The man hesitated. He stood in mor- tal fear of Frank Merriwell, and he dared not tell anything but the truth. ‘“He were waiting fa ye, sir.’ ‘“Ha! That’s pleasant information! Why. was he waiting for me??’ “He seemed to ha’ something agan ye.” ‘‘And he was waiting to attack me as I _caime along?’’ ‘*He said something o’ the_ sort,’’ con- fessed old Andy. ‘‘And you--were you him ?”? ‘*Na, ria! I ken bettir than thocht.”’ ‘Did he ask you to help him ?”’ ‘Well, he deed mea drink, an’ I stood in fa need o’ thochit.’’ ‘What else? Tell everything.”’ ‘*He offered ine a five pun’ note, sir.”’ ‘“To help knock ime over???’ “To grab the girl when he deed the He said he’d take ca’ 0’ ye, going to help +) o gi met,?? ‘‘And you madea bargain with him, Tl swear!’ ‘“No, nocht o’ the kind, sir,’’ protest- ed the inebriate. ‘‘I were lookin’ fa an- ither dreenk, sir, an’ so I kept talkin’ to hee. That i? the truth.’ ““And you had no thought of bioine Jim: ?”’ ‘*Na one thocht o’ it, eee averred old Andy. ‘«'The wheeskey it were I wanted, sir. ¢ believe you should be jailed for at- robbery, but I71] let thing if he comes to you again. If you help me capture him, it will mean more money to you than he will pay you any ruffianly work.”’ ‘Money—money to'spend as I please ?”’ e 8° Ves, ” ‘“To spend fa dreenk??? TIP TOP WEEKLY. ~ for | shall not try it. If I give you money, it a > will be yours. ‘Ihe fellow who offered | ™ you money to-night is a criminal. If you eh have anything to do with him you’ll land in prison along with him.’’ . Re “Then it’s na thing Pll ha, to do wi? sh heem agaiu,’’ vowed old Andy. bs : sid J a mi ee | the CHAPTER XI. - do age A PROBLEM. ie he’ 4 ¢ The next day Frank wandered about || restlessly, seeming ili at ease. He hung | for around the club-house and looked out at | the links. He watched the crowd at the | thi: first tee, but he did not seem inclined to any play. Rattleton came at him in his usual her linpetuous manner. . “Come, Merry, get your clubs and | gol: your caddie andI’ll go youone. Ithought | Pla you came here to play golf.”’ ity “So I did.’ “her, ‘‘Well, you’re not playing’’ : eS ‘‘Not now”’ ‘*Come on.”’ “Excuse me, old man.’”’ “Oh, say! what’s crawling over you, anyhow! Come ahead! Jack and Juliet have gone out, and she’ll make him play pretty fast if he beats her.”’ me ‘‘She is making him play. pretty fast, . anyhow,’’ smiled Merry, ‘fand I think she has won the game aire: dy.’ “Rh? What “gang ? What are you driving at?’’ A ‘CA game that began in London. He |. refused to play it, at first, but she led him into it. at Henley and had a fair lead of him there. They’re keeping the game up here, and I think Diamond is a sure loser. I’m inclined to believe he’s given up already.”’ ‘Well, what sort of a game Bh ga ee ‘The game of love. But in that game, if she wins, he wins too, so it is all. right.”’ ey ‘Oh, I know Jack is smashed on her, | but I guess he’ll get over it when we get away from England. I don’t think he'll stay smashed.” — “That’s where you make a mistake, Harry. Jack isthe kind of a fellow to stay smashed. He came near falling ii love with little Paula Benjamin last sum- TIP TOP t ‘ ; | mer, and he’d stuck to her if she hadn’t ; | thrown him over for a Harvard fellow.” ; | . “Well, if Pm not mistaken, Juliet _ Reynolds has a temper of her own, and she and Jack would not match up very well. I don’t suppose he’s stopped to con- sider that.” “And right there is where vou make a mistake. He has considered it. He thought once that he’d do with her, but he couldn’t | against her eyes, and that is | he’s playing a losing game.”’ hold, out why I say it | ‘‘And she turned “down Lord Hanbury 1g | for him.” at 2: ‘Oh, she’s 2 gisl of sense, and I don’t ve quettink she cared a tap for Lord Hanbury, to | anyhow. He’s too wooden-headed for ‘al: eet? ‘Well, I'll bet there’s more love than ad | golf on the links to-day. I counted on ht | Playing with Diamond myself, but I saw | it was no go when he showed up with her. Come on, Frank.’ “7 don’t think I'll play.”’ Oh, rats! What ails you? Here I am eager to biff the gutta-percha. I’ve tried a get ‘Browning, but he’s too tired to breathe to-day. He’s getting worse and yu jet ‘worse. I challenge you!’ lay | _ ‘‘I decline to accept. My caddie is not } here.” st, . - Your caddie! Well, can’t you play ink |just as well with another caddie?” “] ‘Well, that was remarkable.”? ‘‘He wanted to know if I believed all there was in that Book. I told him I did. Then he asked me some other things, and I answered them all. I told him the vilest of sinners could be forgiven and made pure assnow. He shook his head. ‘I dinna ken; it may be so, but I ha’ my doots,’ was all he would say about that. I am sure he was thinking of himself. I ain sure he was thinking it would be im- possilbe to wash away his sins.’ “Tf you are right, Elsie, you ad done ' good work to- day, for there is some hope - for a man when he gets to thinking. It is the men who will 1 hopeless. Even old Andrew miglit be re- Secksaee rr. ' “TF some good people could. be found to carry on the work after we are gone, | for we must go away soon.’? is panini You ate not think who are. TIP TOP WEEKLY. we do for them, they will sink back into their old state of savagery, wretchedness and degredation. It is not pleasant to think of that, Elsie.’’ There was a_ troubled pretty face. - What can we do about it, Frank ?’’ “‘T don’t know. We must think about it; we must talk it over. I have thie ereatest interest in the boy. He saved my life. I know that, and I feel that I have a duty to perform toward him.’’ Elsie looked up at Frank. She had long ago recognized the depths in his. nature, and each day she seemed becom- ing better acquainted with him. She had known him when, to a great extent, he had seemed a reckless, thouglitless bov She saw him developing into a noble, thoughtful man. ‘‘No wonder she loved faults, if he had faults, minute, while all his higher and qualities stood out grandly. ; So they talked of the problem that con- — fronted them, but it did not seem easy to solve, and the forenoon was passed in that way. look on her him! His CHAPTER XII. SPORT’S GAME. Bruce Browning loved lager beer, but. he knew it was not good for him to drink, 5 Already he was too fat, and beer added ta — his flesh. However, there came times — when the desire to drink itovercame him, and he indulged till his thirst, was quenched. ast On the afternoon of this very Sos iy i was assailed by a longing for sone beer, 1 and he found his way toa queer little taproom, where he was able to get whey he wanted. It was a dark, inusty, » cobmebby lit windows. Browning sat in one of the detente ners and jdrank his beer, thinking \ such a place would delight thie hearts \ j That i is what A have been thinking the beer-loving students of Vale. nat would be worth a fortune to he could move the Piece: into 4 ¥ seemed most _ better _. for fear he’l] not get all he wants. det him paralyze himself. TIP TOP WEEKLY. 25 and. was perfectly content and happy, minding not the flight of time. Two persons came down the stairs and entered the room. One was an old, rum- soaked, doddering Scotchman. The other was toughly dressed and wore a heavy beard. ‘¢What'll you have ?’’ this person asked, in a hoarse tone of voice. The eyes of the big Yale man corner were wide open now. that voice sounded familiar. ‘*4\ wee drop o’ rum, if ye please, sir,”’ eagerly said the old Scotchinan. || “A wee drop, Andy!’’ laughed the man behind the bar. ‘‘I know what your wee drops are. How much shall I give him, sir?’’ As. much as drink,’’ was the answer. it. ”? ; “Then ye may feel mea beer mug o’ it, Peter,’ quickly said the old Scotch- man. The man behind the bar laughed. “Pm afraid you do not know. Andy Macfane as well as you said, speaking to the man who had ac- companied the old inebriate. ‘He don’t know me, that’s what’s the matter. He wants to hob it at the start, ‘Give him a good drink asa starter, but don’t I want to talk in the Somehow, he will take at one “T’ll pay for . with him.”’ So they drank, old Andy tossing off a . brimming glass of rum at a single gulp. ‘They sat down at one of the tables. Old Andy’s companion glanced at the dark form Browning was lying back with his’ hat pulled over his eyes, and seemed fast asleep. Pe ‘“‘Now, look here, Macfane,’’ said the _ stranger, ‘‘I’ve brought you here to talk business with you. I had some talk with you last night.’’ . : ‘Vea, but ye roon away.’ ‘‘When that light was cin in the window by tiose “cursed brats of yours, so it showed us to Frank Merriwell. I saw a revolver in his hand.’’ . “YT think ye deed. When I rose up, I found I were lookin’ straight into it. _ He’d shot at ye, if it had na been fa ine, so ye Owe 1ne ena fa thocht. . ee ‘ take room.”? . niight, sir,’’? he in the shadowy corner, but \ -the earth! More drinks were ordered and brought. *‘T didn’t have time to make all ar- rangements with you last night, old man. Merriwell came before I expected him.”’ **VYe can talk noo.’’ ‘tT offered you money to help me do him up.”’ ‘*Do heem oop ?”’ *‘Ves, cut his throat—do anything to finish him !’’ ‘*Hoot, marn! ye bad!?? . “Hate him! much I hate him. across the ocean him !’? The bearded man leaned forward and spoke the words in a hissing whisper, but they reached the ears of Browning. ‘*Murder do be a dangerous theeng to do. ”? ‘‘Bah! It’s only cowards who hesitate to put an enemy out of the way! What if I kill him here in Scotland? Ill get out of the country on the jump. I'll go to France or some other country. I can live anywhere that men gamble. Ill stay— away from America for ten years, if necessary. In ten years I snall change so that no one will know me. Then I can go back to America under another name, and I’ll be safe.’’ ‘“‘And ha’ ye na friends? Ha’ ye na one ye care to be separated fram the ten year ?”?’ : “‘Rriends! Ha! ha! I had friends till Frank Merriwell robbed me of them! I have none now that I care a rap about! I am an outcast—a wanderer on the face of Who made me so? Frank Merriwell! I owe everything bad in me to him! Why shouldn% I hate him! Why shouldn’t I kill him!’ ‘Oh, ye should, if ye want to.’ “Tf I want to! Curse it! I’m ee to! But you must help me!”’ ‘“‘Na! na! I might steal, but I will na ha’ a hand i’ thees.’’ “Oh, don’t be afool! I don’t want you to tackle him. : But you must help meJead him into the snare, If I can get him to come to your must hate heem I do! I have followed from America to I’ll tell you how him kill house to-night, as he did last night, Ill. : get him all right. gs lay for ‘him, and 1’1l Se He must come after. But he must come. datk. 2 I’ll take care of that. = 26 TIP ‘TOP WEEKLY. ened tit?” I’]ll give you enough can keep drunk for a **T will na ha’ ‘‘Look here, ioney so you year.” ‘*Ha mooch?”’ ‘Ten pounds.’”’ ‘“That would na last me a moonth.”’ **A hundred pounds, then!’ ‘“T hat is better.’ “Pll give vou a hundred pounds, and you'll not be implicated in any way. All ‘you will have to do iste get your boy Bobbie to write a vote to Metriwell, tell- ing him to, come to your house at once, as Bobbie is dangerously ill. Understand ?”’ Old Andy nodded. ‘““You are to take that after dark to-night. Merriwell and J’ll do the rest.’’ ““How be I to get the writin’ ?”’ ‘““Why, you can force the boy to write at? ‘*T dinna ken aboot thocht. I ha’ to beat heem.’’ ‘Then beat him!?’ ‘“But Mr. Merriwell ha’ beat me if I do.”’ **He’}l not live to keep his promise. Don’t worry about that. I’ll see to him.”’ '*What do ye pay me doon?”’ ‘‘Five pounds. Here it is, if you prom- ise to do what I ask.” P71) doit)’ to Merriwell will comme, mought ‘promised to CHAPTER XIII. WHAT HAPPENED TO OLD ANDREW. ‘‘There will be a great surprise for Sport Harris to-night, >” muttered Bruce Browning as he left the ale house. He had, kept perfectly still and waited till Harris and old Andy departed. Straightway he went to Merriwell and informed him what he had learned. *T didn’t \jump Harris then,’’ said _ Browning, “for I thought it best to cateh him right in the act to- “night. Then we’ll have him foul.’ _ “Good plan! Together we ought to have no trouble in doing tHe job.”? eet a: Dif _ . Frank had been to visit Sothie and : he found the little fellow apparently as well as ever, although the doctor had for- — ~ coom 2?” bidden his going. out ie i next day. ‘That doctor knows a good thing when he has it,’’ Merry said to himself. Diainond and Juliet spent the afternoon as well as the forenoon on the links. Dolph ‘‘got into the game,’’ and every one wondered that Frank did not play. That night, shortly after dark, old Andrew brought a crumpled bit of paper to Frank. He seemed greatly excited. ‘J ha’ kep’ my word 7’ this,’? mumbled the old man, ‘‘I ha’ earnt my money. Frank read it. It was a misspelled, scrawling bit of writing, signed, ‘‘Bob- bie.’? It asked Frank to please come to the house right away. ‘*T]] come,’’ said Merry, quietly. But, to his amazement, Macfane cried: “‘Dinua ye do ut! Dinna ye do ut!” “What's that?’ “JT say, dinna ye do ut!’’ ‘“Why not ?’’ ‘€Ve’]] na coom back if ye do!”’ ‘“Not come back ?”’ ‘(No.”? f ‘“*Why not??? ‘It is a trap fa yel’’ declared the old man, to Frank’s utter amazement, ; A trap?”? Wea. ‘What sort of a trap?”’ “*A trap to murder ye!’’ whispered Mac- faue, trembling all over. Frank grasped him by the shoulder. “See here, Macfane, make a clean breast of it,’? he ordered. ‘*You have started in. Dont’ stop. Tell me all about 1.27 : And Macfane did! ‘(He paid me to do ut,’’ said the trem- bling old sot; ‘‘but Ina intinded to, I wanted the woney, fa ye would na gi’ me any to buy adreenk. I took it. Thin I got Bobbie to write, tellin’ heem I want-. ed ye to come an’ read the Bible to me. — Pristors I had to shoow that marn the paper, but I thocht all the Hime that I wid na let ye a go inter the trap.’ . “‘Old man, you shall lose nee by this.. I knew of this trap, and should not have fallen into it; s yourself by this confession. Go back to — the whelp and tell him you delivered the | note. Tell him I said I’d come ee Wows. Ps Brit ye weel dpc: out? a weel na but you have saved 2 : TIP TOP WEEKLY. 791] sate? Macfane hastened away. A short time after, Frank and Brown- ing started out. Both were armed and prepared for the encounter they expected. ‘Tt? be the best thing in the world to bore Harris,’’ said Bruce. ‘‘The law will not take care of him properly.” “But Ido not want his blood on my hands.’? “Then let me do it.’ ‘‘No, not unless we have to. to capture hiin.’’ ‘*And he’ll try to knife you.’ “In which he’l] fail.’ Frank carried a stout cane, with which he expected to defend himself from Har- ris. When the deserted lots were reached, Merry walked ahead, with Browning fol- lowing at a distance. The big fellow was ready to rush forward on the instant and aid in the capture of Harris. Onward they went. At last, Frank stopped. groaning came to lis ears. ‘Is that part of the trap to catch me??? he asked himself. ‘‘I believe it is. When I go to investigate the sounds Harris will make his rush. ‘Well, here’s for it.”’ He advanced toward the point from which the sounds seemed to coine. They becaine more and more distinct. Then he heard a voice: “Oh, Lord! thees is what a marn comes to that has oucht to do wi’ such theengs! Noo I shall dee here alone! God ha’ mercy on my soul!?’ It was the voice of old Andrews, and Frank was puzzled not a little. What did it mean? “It be fate!’’ groaned that voice again. “Tt be justice!’ j Then, through the darkness, Frank could see a dark form stretched on the ‘ 1 ground. He looked for another figure, but discovered nothing. -. After a little hesitation, Merry asked: “Is that you, Macfane?”’ An exclamation of relief broke from the dark figure. Ves,’’? was the answer. here to dee! I am bleeding » Help!’ “What has happened??? asked Merry, advancing } yet nearer, look out. Don’t worty about We’ll try The sound of “T am left to dith! ‘“He deed it, the villain‘”’ **Who?” “The one I told ye aboot. He found out I had betrayed hee, and he took re- venge on me! I shall dee!’’ Wh at did he do?”’ ‘*Stabbed me i’ the side! Iam ing to dith!” Something bleed- assured Frank that this was no trick, and he was bending over = old Andy ina minute. He struck a match and was horrified to see the man pressing his hands to his side, where his clothing was . stained with blood. ‘It be the judgment o h me!’’ moaned the old man. Browning was on hand now. In haste they lifted. old Andrew and bore him across the desolate lots to the hut where he lived. In haste a doctor was sent for, and everything possible was done for the man. He had been severely cut, but the doctor said there was a chance for him to recover. Then there was a hot hunt for the man who did the stabbing, but Sport Harris was not found that night, nor was he ever after seen in St. Andrews. caven on CHAPTER XIV. A TRUE Old Andrew did not die, although it was generally declared that it would have been better for himself and every- body else if he had. He feared death and he fought against it. ; ‘*T ain na reddy to dee,’’? he declared. **Y ha’ na thocht aboot it before.”’ In this respect he was like many a heedless old sinner, who goes straight on — the downward road to death and destruc- tion without pausing to think what the end -of the journey must be. It is best for everyone to pause and think occasionally. A strange change came over old drew. Once he asked Frank: HERO. sir??? ‘‘Of course I think so,’’ answered Merry, at once. ‘The habit has a fearful. hold on you, but men who were worse off | have stopped. Why don’t you doit?” “'T weel theenk aboot it, ’? promised the : old man. é An- — “Do ye theenk I could stap dreenkin’, —_| ~ elub-house. ee what it meant. and explained that he was not used to . 28 TIP TOP WEEKLY However, Merry did not have much condfience in the old man’s conversion for the better, as he had seen too many men who contemplated reform when they thought death stood near, but forgot all their good resolutions the moment the griin visitor passed on. Maggie cared for her father as well as she could, and, more than all others, per- haps she was most amazed by the change that had come over him, for he did not grow] or swear at her, and he never once threatened to beat her as soon as he got up. “*Tt’s fa’ too guid to last, Bobbie,’’ she told her brother. Bobbie was all right very soon, and he announced himself as ready whenever Frank wished to play golf. The exciting events following his ar- tival at St. Andrews drove all interest in the game from Merry for a time, but, when it became evident that Harris had taken to flight and escaped, he returned to the pastime with renewed zest. Within two days he got into such form that he became the wonder of the club inembers and the visitors, and the adinira- tion of Old Tom, who declared that he might be the champion of the world if he would keep at it. Each time Frank played, as most golf- ers do, to beat all previous records, and one day he found himself tied with the expert who had made the best score on the links. ‘“To-morrow,’’ prophecied Jack Dia- inond, ‘‘he will beat that and hold the record.’? But it was to happen that Frank would not play on the morrow. Late that afternoon, in company with Rattleton, he walked over the links; making sure that he was perfectly familiar with the lay of the land. Bobbie Macfane had come down to the Frank noticed the little fel- low was barefooted, and he asked him Bobbie turned crimson ‘shoes, and they had made his feet sore. “But I will wear them to-morrow when - Tam your caddie,”’ he said. _ As Frank and Harry were returning to the club-house, there was a sudden com- - motion. Dogs were heard barking furi- : ously, and out from behind the building © in my side! aes “And that is all angels can do!”? said _ boy’s side. dashed a horse, pursued by two dogs. On the back of the horse was Elsie Bellwood, trying her best to pull the animal up, and clinging to the animal’s bit with the gtip of heroic despair was Frank’s caddie. In a moment, Merry understood what had happened. ‘The dogs had frightened the horse and the beast was running away. Bobbie had sprung at the bit and tried to stop the creature. Instantly Merry dashed forward to in- tercept the animal. Bobbie held on, be- ing struck again and again by the knees of the horse. Round and round he whirled, but no cry came from his lips. Of a sudden his hold was broken and he weut down! Theiron hoofs drove him flat upon the ground and the horse dashed on. Bobbie Macfane lay limp and still. Frank succeeded in intercepting the horse. He grasped the animal’s bit, run- ning with the creature a short distance and then brought it toa stand, shutting off its wind with fingers and thumb driv- en into the quivering nostrils. Rattleton was on had to drive the dogs away. ; Elsie was saved, but her first thought was not of herself. ‘‘Bobbie!’’ she cried. killed!” Down from the saddle she sprany, turning to run back toward thie spot where ‘that limp form lay. ‘*Yook cut for this horse, Rattleton |”? directed Merry, hoarsely, and he turned the creature over to Harry. Then he followed Elsie, but she reached. the boy first. Down on her knees slie dropped, gathering the little hero up in her arins. From the club-house people were hur- rying toward the spot. “Bobbie! Bobbie!’ sobbed Elsie; ; “‘ohy my noble little man!”’ He opeued his eyes. His face was pale as death, and he gasped for breath. “I did my best,’? he whispered, in great pain. ‘‘I tried to save ye!’ eS ‘“‘Oh, you were so brave, Bobbie! Are- you hurt much? Oh, I hope you are not hurt much!”’ ‘The pain!’? he moaned. ‘‘It be here Oh, oh! I did my best!”’ ‘“‘He has been Frank Merriwell, also on his knees at the ‘‘You have shown that you TIP TOP WEEKLY. a9 were the real hero I believed you to be!’ Then he gently took the little fellow from Elsie, while Bobbie writhed in pain, and carried him to the club-house, wliere the lad was placed on an improvised couch, made of cushions. A doctor was sent for in great haste. Bobbie was gasping for breath, and there was an ominous blue circle round his mouth, Elsie knelt again beside him, crying as if he were her own brother. ‘“‘Poor, poor Bobbie!’ she “Oh, I am so sorry, Bobbie! sorry, my brave little man!”’ He looked at her with a loving light in his eyes. “Do nacry,’? he murmured. ‘‘It is all right. Iam na guid at bist. I am only old Andy Macfane’s son!”’ “And Andrew Macfane’s son _ has proved himself one of the world’s hie- roes,’’ said Frank. ‘*The doctor will be here soon. We’ll have you allright ina short time, Bobbie.’’ : Na, na! Oh, the pain! sobbed. I am so I can’t stand it! Iam goin’ away!”’ He turned his eyes on Elsie once more. “‘T am goin’ to that better land ye told us aboot. I ha’ doon my best here, an’ ye said thim that did their best would go there. Do ye theenk I may go there? Dinna ye think they will take me in? - Oh, what if they would na take me in!” — They will, Bobbie!’ cried Elsie, earnestly. ‘‘You will be welcome there, Iknow!” A smile of mingled joy and pain came to his face. “Tam so glad ye are sure o’ that!’ he whispered. ‘Then he was convulsed some moments with such agony that the very souls of the witnesses caused tears to start from every eye. All at once he became still. “Mr, Merriwell,’’ he whispered. - ‘Ves, my little hero.”’ “Good by. Tell Maggie——”’ : _ He stopped short and his eyes turned o Elsie. _ Ves,’ he breathed, ‘‘I am sure they will take mein. Ye ha’ made me sure— n’ happy. Iam goin’ now.” ‘The evelids closed down, there was a ast faint shudder, and he was gone! ~ In the little churchyard at St. Andrews stands a plain marble shaft, erected by Frank Merriwell and Elsie Bellwood. On the shaft are chiseled these words: ROBERT MACFANE. ““A True Hero.” [THE END. ] The next number (164) of the Tip Tor WEEKLY will contain ‘‘Frank Mer- riwell’s Farewell; or, Last Days in Mer- rie England,’’ by Burt L. Standish. SQUIB’S TALKING HORSE. BY BURT Jl. STANDISH. ‘““Where is Squibs?’?’ asked Abel Mo- ran, pausing at the ranch door, with his hand on the bridle of the horse to whose back he had just adjusted the saddle. ‘‘T don’t know,’’? answered his wife. ‘‘T have not seen him for two hours.’’ The rancher gave vent to an angry ex- claination. ‘*He is probably hidden around some- where, talking to himself. I don’t see what has got into the boy! Ever since I took him to the show over at the Bend he has acted mighty odd. Likes to get off by himself, and I have heard him muttering in a queer manner when I have stumbled upon lim once or twice. I did hope I would havea boy who’d amount to something, but——’’ ~ “Don’t, Abel!’ entreated the little woman. ‘‘You know he is a cripple, and he will outgrow his odd ways by and by.’’ ‘IT hope so. Well, I must be started if I hope to get to the Bend and back be- fore dark. 1 was going to tell Squibs to look out for Demon and Jack, for there are horse thieves around.”’ ‘‘Little danger of Demon being stulen.”’ ‘That is true; but some rascal might run off with Jack. I gave the horse to Squib, and he must look out forit. Good- 30 TIP TOP WEEKLY. Then the rancher swung into the sad- dle, waved his hand toward his wife, and allowed his horse to bear him away ata gallop. The little woman watched the form of her husband till he disappeared beyond a swell in the rolling plain; startled by hearing some one ask: *‘Where has father gone?’ It was Squib, who came limping around blue-eyed lad then she was the corner, a_ bare-footed, of twelve. ‘‘He has gone to the Bend,’’ answered Mrs. Moran, ‘‘and he did not like it at all because you were not about. Where were you?” , *‘Behind the big stable.” “What doing?” ‘Practicing. ’’ ‘Practicing what? Why in the world do you steal away by yourself so much of late ?”’ “T don’t want to tell now, mother; you shall know when I get it perfect. I ain doing first rate, and——. Whiat’s boil- ing over ?”? The sizzling sound that came from the kitchen proclaimed something was wrong, and Mrs. Morse hastened to investigate. Later, she told Squib what his father had said about horse thieves, but forgot to question him further, and the boy was not inclined to revert to the subject. The forenoon ‘passed quietly, and it was midway in the afternoon that Squib, who'was behind the big barn, whither he had gone to ‘‘practice,’’ was startled by the sudden appearance of a bewhiskered man, who caine boldly around the cor- ner. . % ‘Hello, younker!’’ saluted the stran- ger, ‘‘Where’s yer dad?” “‘Gone’ to the Bend, sir,’?’ was the prompt reply. ‘‘Did you wish to see him?’ | fWell, I should say so! I have come all the way, from North Ridge for sat ; ea2 = When = he be back: me but. “Not before night, sir. Can you wait?”’ “Don’t see how Ican. I heard he had an ugly horse that he’d like to get rid Gis’, ‘That is Demon, sir. Nobody can do anything with him but me. Father says but I feed him. He has he will kill me some day, and go in the pen where he is. never hurt me yet.”’ “T buy such horses as that and break Make a pretty good thing out of if. My name is Filkins. Maybe you’ve heard of me?”? But Sqib was obliged to confess he had never heard of Mr. Filkins. ‘‘Show me this horse, younker,’’ urged the man. ‘‘I can tell if I want him as_ soon as I clap my eyes on the critter.” So Squib took him around to the small corral-like pen where Demon was con- fined. The horse was a splendid creature, with a _coal-black, glossy and proudly arching neck, its tail curving rearward like an ebony rainbow. — But there was a vicious cast in is eye that told of a treacherous nature. arate Filkins immediately went into raptures — over the animal, and, despite Squib’s warning, attempted to enter the corral. — He changed his mind suddenly when, en. coat, with a fierce squeal, Demon charged upon | him, and he beat a retreat that was more. - > yay ‘“The animal surely needs breaking, » 4 acknowledged Filkins; ‘“‘but I wauite4 soon have him tamed. Have you 1 other horses about ?”’ : ‘Only Jack. He belongs to me.’’ ‘“‘Sell him? No? Well, let me ‘have a look at him.”’ ; sea precipitate than graceful. So Squib took the visitor into the sta- ble where Jack was kept. | ‘Very fine horse,’? commented Filkins, as he patted Jack’s flank. ‘‘Docile, toe Kuowing critter, I take it?” “Vou are right, sir,’’ said the boy proudly. ‘‘He knows more than lots : people.’’ hese ss aS fe a _ your father’ll be back before _ to hang around so Jong.”’ opinion. _ door, and he _ the visitor. claimed, er’s wife. him alone with Jack. om anery.”’ and was making animal. terrible! with Jack under our very eyes! who was riding from *ugs, and a single look showed Squib it TIP TOP WEEKLY. “‘Say, younker, just run into the house and ask your mother if she doesn’t think dark. I hate So unsuspecting Squib limped away to- ward the house to ascertain’ his mother’s Mrs. met him at thie hastened to tell her about Moran She instantly became suspicious. **Perhaps he is a horse thief!’ she ex- in alazin, hes, 311} oa | mother!’ ‘“But he may be, the ranch- **You ought not to have left If he should steal the horse your father would be fearfully don’t think so, ” insisted “Then I’ll go watch hiimn.’’ But as Squib turned to limp back to- _ ward the stable, Mrs. Moran uttered a cry of dismay. “ook there!’ she screamed. ‘There he goes now, and he is riding Jack away! He is a horse thief!” | She pointed to the figure of a horseman the ranch build- was the visitor. ‘Filkins had saddled and mounted Jack, off with the valuable The lame lad seemed stricken motion- Jess with dismay, while his mother wrting her hands and sobbed : “Oh, I knew he was a thief! This is You have let the man get away What that?” cried Squib. he has a son who said ci ‘Well, he shall find 31 ‘What screamed excitedly. **I’'m going to. follow that thief,” re plied the lame lad. ‘*How can you?” ‘“On Demon’s back!?? ‘No, You will, be killed! You shall not! You could not get Jack from the thief if you did follow!”? *“We shall oy the reply. Squib ran to the corral with aud he did not are you going to do?’’ she no! see!’ was determined remark- able swiftness, hesitate to fling the gate wide open. Then he darted in, caught the black horse by the and scramble upon its glossy back by means of the logs which composed the corral. *+2 —______— TIP TOP LEAGUE. Our readers will see upon the last page of this issne announcement that the badge is now ready. Read this and you will find that for the small sum of ten cents in cash and two coupons from the Tip Top, (accepted as ten cents in cash) you can secure one of these badges, in the pendant of which will be found the embossed photo- graph of Frank Merriwell and the password of the league. The password “True as Steel’ appears in small letters under the photograph, somewhat as does the lettering on a large coin, and should furnish an introduction to all readers, and insure a hearty welcome which will serve to strengthen the tie that already binds them one to the other. Weare now prepared to supply badges promptly and would like to have them worn by at least one hun dred thousand readers. 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 18 original iiuminated itustra- tions, 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. Nos. 1 to 13 of Tip Top Weekly. Nos. 14 to 26 of Tip. Top Weekly. Nos. 27 to 39 of Tin Top Weekly, Nos, 40 to 62 of Tip Top Weekly. Nos. 58 to 64 of Tip ‘lop Weekly. Nos. 66 to 78 of ‘Tip ‘Top Weekly. Nos, 79 to 91 of Tip Top Weekly. No. Nos. 92 to 104 of Tip Top Weekly. No. Nos. 105 to 117 of Tip Top Weekly. Tf your Newsdealer has not got the Quarterlies, remit direct to the publishers, STREET & SMITH, No. No. No No, No. No. No. Cesta oe ohm 238 William St., N.Y. HOW TO DO BUSINESS This book is a guide to snecess in life, 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. etc. It also contains an appendix of complete business forms and a digtionary: — of commerce terms. No young man should be without this valuable book. Tt gives complete information about trades, professions and occupations in which any young man 1s interested. Price ten cents.. Address STREET & SMITH, 238 William Sty Ne Xs nes / 4 TIP TOP WEEKLY. APPLAUSE. Although I am a girl, I have read a large number of your delightful ‘stories. I think the theatrical stories are splendid, but I like them all. I am sure no one can wish more perfect success to the Tip Top Weekly and its au- thor than Caperton Preston. Hast Radford, Va. Thank you; we are suré you are one of the most loyal of Tip Top’s Virginia friends. Tip Top has been received with open arms in our club and also in our homes. Our club is composed of twenty- 6ne members, ten boys and ten girls and one chaperon. We are most of us students of the Topeka High ‘School, and spend most of our time reading Tip Top and Latin,—Of- ficers—Charles Conway, president; Irene Hazleton, secre- tary; Harry Mullen, treasurer; Leonora Mills, librarian. Members—Will Richards, George Carter, Frank Murphey, Harry Longford, John Bear, Fred Jaques, Edward Whit- comb, Lawrence Crane, May Sheller, Alice Bowes, Mary Conner, Elizabeth Bear, Loraine Carter, Hattie Lock, Dorothy Alford, Rose Crane. Chaperon—Miss Crane. To- peka, Kan. “We are greatly pleased to hear from so many of our Topeka friends, and to learn of their loyalty to Tip Top. \ I read your excellent and highly deserving weekly, and regard it as interesting and instructive as any boys’ week- ly could -possibly be. Mr. Standish must have traveled extensively to so vividly describe certain parts of the coun- try. In a certain class of Yankeee dialect I think Burt L, Standish contrasts favorably with Opie Read. I admire Mr. Standish, and hope his popularity will always be as great as it is now.—David. Pmmet James, Chicago, Ill. Your comments are intelligent and appreciative to a high degree, and we thank you for your interest. We desire to express our admiration for Tip Top. We think Frank fine. Bart stands next in our estimation, and the rest are all equal. We feel quite slighted’ to think “True Blue’’ did not stop in Cleveland on its way East, so that we might have seen it. We would not ask it to come here, as this is too small a place for so fine a play. Cone gratulating Frank on his former triumphs, and wishing him still further ones, we remain his sincere admirers.— Bert Lester and Ned Maynard. Norwalk, Ohio: Thank you heartily. Of course, it was quite impossible for Frank to visit-all his friends, however much he might desire to do so. T.am a constant reader of your Tip Top Weekly, and write you to express my gratification upon your works. I think all the boys and girls would do well if they should read your novels. Of all the five cent novels I think yours far superior to any. I have read them from the first issue. My father gives me five cents a week with which to buy the Tip Top Weekly.—Meritt Cooper Fordyce. Bowling Green, Ky. j 3 We are very glad that Tip Top affords you so much pleasure. Your nickel could not be better invested. Tip Top is the best book I have ever read without excep- tion. My parents read it and think it ‘‘out of sight.’’ We discuss the happenings in Frank’s book at home just as though they were real happenings. I think that if it was not for Frank’s cool nerve and steady hand Bart would give many a rascal ‘‘a good thumping.’’ I like Bart very much. I think Mr. Standish must have traveled and read a great lot. I wish to be one of his friends. I hope you will Publish my letter.—Myra Seymour. Lake Breeze, Ohio, Parents and children alike read Tip Top with pleasure and profit. Thanks for your interesting letter. As I have read each number of the noble Tip Top library I thought I ought to write to let ‘both yourselves and the readers know what I think of it. As I have read nearly vevery five and ten cent library published, I believe that I fam in a position to give you a just criticism. I think that Frank is the best character that could be drawn from life without overdoing things. Those of Hodge, Diamond, Browning and the others are all good. I believe that if any one would take Frank Merriwell as a model he would lead an upright, Christian life, one that he would be proud to look back upon in after years. With the kindest wishes to Mr. Standish.—Will S. Black, Chicago, Ills. We are much indebted to you for your generous appre- ciation. Accept our hearty thanks. 4 Allow me, in behalf of the Tip Top League of Reading, Pa.,' to extend to you my heartfelt thanks for your pub- ‘lishing of such magnificent stories as are contained in the Tip Top Library. Frank is indeed a hero of heroes, and any boy following his example will most assuredly succeed. Our league has a membership of twenty-one, We are also going to organize a branch league in Mohnsville, which is only a short distance from here. We will then be known as the Combined Tip Top League, and will meet regularly. ‘once a week. Here are four of our league who use as- sumed names, taken from your library: President Francis Ganter, Frank Merriwell; Vice-President Paul Snyder, Bruce Browning; Secretary Harry E. Miller, Ephraim Gal- lup; Treasurer Walter F. Sneider, Hans Dunnerwurst. Our other members are Johnnie Root, Tommy Collins, G. Brun- nergress, John Oswald, Mike Sullivan, Chas, Deterline, Joe Hemmig, Dan Stamm, Chas. Wick, C. Mushley, Jas. Pfleger, Chas. Taylor, Hans Rickenbach, Francis Richards, Pat, Brannigan, Mendel Simm, Max Shine.—Harry B. Miller, secretary Tin Top League. ‘Reading, Pa. We learn with great interest of the beginning and pros- perous growth of the Reading Tip Top League. We wish to thank you for your very true appreciation of Tip Top. I received badge O. K., but I did not expect it to be as good a one as it really is. It is the handsomest and most. perfect badge that I’ve yet seen. I shall form a club this week.—Melvin Dame. Boston, Mass. The satisfaction with the badge is universal. yet to hear a dissenting note. We have We have been constant readers of the Tip Top Weekly from No. 1 to the present time, and find it is the best paper of its kind for any ‘‘American Youth.’’—Marion Woodruff, Russell Woodruff, » East Stroudsburg, Pa. ; Thank you. We appreciate the aproval of our friends, Having read nearly all of the numbers of the Tip Top, I can say that it is one of the best weekly papers published. — —J. McCormick. "West Chester, Pa. Thank you. Having read and enjoyed your Merriwell stories in the Tip Top Weekly from their beginning up to; date, I feel it my duty to drop my mite of applause into the contribu- tion box. The adventures of Frank are very interesting, and the more we read about him the higher rises our am- bition to be like him.—R. H, Richardson. Weston, Mo, eee a A most excellent ambition. "We trust it will succeed, j : We, the members of the Hobson Medal Club, wish to express our- opinion of the Tip Top. -We have read all ; your books from No. 1 to the latest published, and think it is the best weekly we ever read, or ever want to read. We wish to express our gratitude to you for getting up such a nice badge, and each member of our club must have one before he can become a member of. our organiza- tion.—Vance A. Montgomery, president; Edwin P, Dudley, vice-president; Charlie Loughlin, secretary; Fred ' Russ, treasurer, Wilmington, N. C. Thank you. We were certain you would be delighted with the badge. I have been a constant reader of your Tip Top Series, and é 3 think they are fine. Nothing I can say will equal the good | qualities of Tip Top.—A. Jerome R, Cleveland, Ohio. ; We are very glad to hear from you. I should think it was about time for me to write some- — thing about Tip Top. I think it is the best paper in the world I have read to date. [I wish Frank and Bart all kinds of good luck. I have read nearly every boys’ weekly there is, but I think Tip Top is the best of them all, and. I hope to read it as long as I live. Mr. Standish is all ~ right in writing these stories, and I wish him good luck.— — G. A. E. Cambridge, Mass. Tip Top has no equals among five-cent weeklies; thank | you. a Your paper is good for boys and girls alike, It is an 4 ‘ ideal publication for American youth. I have read a great many of your papers, and find them very interesting.—An- thony McNamara, Syracuse, N. Y. Your interest will increase as you continue to read. We think Tip Top has well deserved the name in two ways—for its excellent stories and its information.—Ben An- derson, James Taylor, Fred Mihleisen. Ottawa, Kan, Sart We appreciate your kindly message. \ : és We have been reading Tip Top for some time, and think it is splendid, That the Tip Top may continue as it | j been, a success, is the earnest’ wish of. Geo. B. Carcia, — president; I C, Raney, vice-president; Will C. Holder, secretary; R. BH. Guyson, treasurer, Emory Tip Top Club,— Oxford, Ga. ; ae Sey Many thanks for your cordial words. I have read Tip Top to. date, and think it is just O Any one who takes Frank for a model must certainly im I will continue reading Tip Top forever. I prove. Fond du Dee: Mr. Standish the best of luck.—M, A, S§. \ pete ae oR Frank’s example cannot but benefit any young man studies it.carefully, Thank youu ; ? TIP TOP I have read all the Tip Tops to present time, and will continue to read them always. I think they are good books for every one to read.—W. Hughes. No address, Tip Top appeals to all tastes with equal effect. I cannot praise the Tip Top Weekly too highly. All of my chums think highly of Frank Merriwell. We all wish him success.—Wim, Humphrey. St, Joseph, Mo. , Thanks: for your praise and good wishes. I write to let you know that Tip Top is the best book published.—Tim Hall. Ironton, Ohio. Thank you; ‘all Tip Top readers will declaration. agree with that I have been an interested reader of Tip Top since its and have been greatly interested and instructed I have never met an author that understands human nature as well as Mr. Standish, while his char- acteristic originality, sentiment and pathos strike home to the heart. All his characters are good. In my opinion, however, there is none better than Bart Hodge; there is nothing superficial in his ‘‘make-up,’’ while beneath his rough exterior there beats as brave, noble and true a heart as ever bosom bore.—Drexel V. Hopkins. Elizabeth, . . _ Many higtiie: for your cordial and intelligent apprecia- tion. We are sure Tip Top will continue to please you, f iain - We have read nearly all of the Frank Merriwell stories, and think they are ‘‘great.’’ We try to take Frank Merri- well for a model in everything we do.—E. Price Kim- brough, John A. Love, J. T. N., E. F., R. B. G., W. H., G, B. L., W. M., JVC, aw os: gs We we Bay: 5. G. Bt. Louis, Mo, : You are certain to do right with Frank for an example; _ thanks: for your praise. TI will add my mite to the thousands of letters of praise and applause you have received and are receiving. The best praise that I can give is that you have many imitators, but no equals.—A Reader, First, Last and Al- Ways, Robert Holdorf. Omaha, Neb. Imitation is said to be the highest mode of. flattery. Tip Top is imitated with poor success. We are pleased to hear from you. ‘, I have read quite a number of your Tip Tops, and think they are fine. I could give you the names of about fifty boys I know who read the Tip Top. I shall send for a badge very goon,—Will Schwikert. Rochester, N. Y ; We are much pleased to hear of Tip Top’s great popu- larity in Rochester. veu will surely be ess with it, — I wish to express my thanks for the many delightful hours spent in reading the Tip Top Weekly. I have read them all to the last number, and I will continue to read them always. I received the badge you sent me, and was much pleased with it.—C, F, F.. Boston, Mass. We are indebted to you for your kind words. That the badge would please you was a foregone conclusion with us, in ane bacbae you upon the 1 take great pleasure It is indeed an ideal pub- success of tlfe Tip Top Weekly. lication for the American youth. Mr. See with the best, writers of our time.—No Name. coln, eb We regret ‘that no signature is appended to this greeting ae a sap-sear in Lincoln, Lin- I think the Sip Top is at the tip top of all weeklies. I ean hardly wait for it to come. Wishing the Tip Top and th . rest of your publications success.—R. M, Ray, Bed- Towa, 4 - ¥ ‘hank you; a are correct. Tip Top leads, We are all readers of the Tip Top Weekly. We read many other weeklies, but none are as good as Tip Top.—A. Tu G. Hiller, E. Burges, C. Mowery, and others. Belle- D is h d- and aie. ‘above all. other weenie. ae ank \you ; hh € been penne your admirable paper, the Tip Top wv Weekly ever since it was first published,:and I can truth- fu that it is a model paper for the American youth Tead. Putting forth, as it does, puterentiog and clean it gives an example which will result ad- y to any one who. Ytolidws it. I*am your con- Bo nee SPREE S: ED) We will send you the badge gladly; Standish may be. WEEKLY, | 35 and I Ohio. I have read the Tip Top Weekly from 117 to 154, am going to read it always.—bL. B. N. Bills. Ironton, thank you. That is an admirable resolution; The\members of our club all take the Tip Top, and think it the finest weekly we have ever séeén.—Borey Owens, Chip Taylor, Hal Straw, Roy Owens, Frank Taylor, Bill Mikkel- son, Clyde Foster, Wells, Ind. We are pleased to hear from your club, and thank you for your kind words. published. I remain I think Tip Top the best paper G. W. C. Los Angeles, Cal. your constant reader.—C. G. Thank you, I am a constant reader of the ‘‘Merriwells,’’ and when I get a Tip Top to read I have nothing better to do.—James L. Downs. Wells, Minn. No other weekly holds the interest so closely as Tip Top. Thanks. ‘ x have been an ardent admirer and reader of Tip Top from its first appearance to the present date, and it is a strictly first-class weekly for boys and girls. A long life to Frank Merriwell.—George Washington Andrews. Danville, Thanks for your praise. I think the Tip Top Weekly the best paper of its kind ever published, because it is refined) and-moral, and it is a good adviser to all young men. Let them all follow the ways of Frank Merriwell, and they will all become manly.— Bie Chie, Pa: You are right; Tip Top is the best possible adviser for young» men. Thank you. I think Tip Top is the greatest five-cent book published. I don’t approve of letters to Mr. Standish telling him what and.whom to write about and asking him when, where and how Frank will be. I for one hate that kind of thing. It is not interesting to read the Tip Top if = tells them all about Frank. The badges are very good. shall send for one.—Fred Forrest. Lawrence, Mass, Thank you for your hearty words. You strike an impor- tant truth in. your remarks about advice to Mr. Standish. We hope our readers will read it carefully. I think the Tip Top Weekly is one of the best papers published. Frank’s true character and noble heart would win anybody’s admiration. Mr. Standish must be a very learned man or he could not write such pure and good stories. I sincerely hope that Frank will go back to Yale in a short time and take Bart with him. Wishing luck to Tip Top, I am.—Wm., O. Duckstein. Baltimore, Md. Frank will return to Yale on the eighth of September in time for the opening exercises. Thanks for your cordial and judicious praise. Tip Top excels every other story paper published at the rice of five cents. I impatiently await the time when "rank will return to Yale.—George Chittenden. Brooklyn, September will see Frank back agein in Yale, Thanks nes your kind words. I have read Tip Top from the first to the present time, and will continue to do so. ‘I find that they grow more in- teresting every week. I think we readers owe Mr, Standish an immense debt of gratitude, which we will never be able to repay, for giving us such clean, interesting reading matter. It seems that I learn a new lesson from’ Frank Merriwell every week.—James G. Armstrong. Boston, Mass, The interest of Tip Top grows, as you say, with every number, and it is interest of the most wholesome and helpful sort. Thank you, We have read your weekly. since the be ginning, and find it the best publication ever pri ited, It A interesting for both: ladies and gentlemen.—W. S. B. E. ; L. P.M. ~ New, Castle; Pa. The right-minded of both sexes fad in Frank Merriwell the ideal hero. Thanks for your kind words. Day I wish to congratulate you on the Tip Top. are beautiful.—John McKenzie. Thanks for your Egaecet ale Hanic. We have read Frank Merriwell from the first up to the last copy, and think it the best weekly we have ever had _ the pleasure of Se _ Lon "B, life to Frank Remi His Roar ae a B, and. Oe ae: se Tex. 3, The stories Charlestown, Mass, 36 I ama little girl, 11 years old. ‘I have read all the Tip Top Weeklies to date and some of the back numbers. I think Mr. Standish is a splendid author. Of Frank’s gen- tlemen friends I admire Bartly Hodge the most, for I think that he is the truest. Wishing Mr. Standish and Frank Merriwell success and a Jong life to the Tip Top, I remain, your constant reader.—Iva O. Van Buren, Ind. We are greatly pleased to hear from one of our younger Stands, We are sure you will always enjoy reading Tip op. We think Tip Top is the best book for the coming youth, and we take it every week. We have got a fine club.—Tom Monroe, Tom Glasscock, Al Cole, Bun Quinn, Jake Silber- man, Irvin Brown, and others. Nashville, Tenn. We are sure you have a fine club, and we thank you for your friendly words. We think Tip Top the best story paper published. Besides ank, we think Bart Hodge is the finest fellow mentioned in the Tip Top Weekly, and we hope he will return to Yale.—A. De War, L. Hartman. Indianapolis,: Ind. The Fall opening at Yale will find Frank there with all his friends. Thanks for your kind words. We have organized a club and call it the Tip Top De- fenders. Each member has taken a solemn oath to ‘‘chas- tise’ any boy who would dare to insult any good char- acter in the Tip Top. We have never as yet had occa- gion to punish any one, for every true American lad unites with us in shouting ‘‘Long live Frank Merriwell!’’—Char- lie Harper. Clinton, Mo. We are sure you will never be obliged to inflict pun- ishment on any of your members. > I think Tip Top contains the finest stories written for young men and women. I must compliment Mr. Standish on his work. I will not make any suggestions, as I think Mr. Standish is capable of handling Frank’s affairs alone. Long life to Frank and Tip Top Weekly.—Elmo Riddell. Newport, Ark. You are quite right in all that you say. Thank you. I have been a constant reader of the Tip Top to the present date, and think it the finest five-cent weekly pub- lished. I admire Bart Hodge very much and hope he will turn out well.—Tom A. Neales. Chicago, Ill. Thanks for your kind words. Hodge is indeed a fine char- acter. I think it is my duty as a reader of Tip Top Weekly to express through the columns of your paper my thanks for such a good weekly as the Tip Top. I have been a reader of the paper for the past two years and expect to be a reader in the future. I remain an admirer of Frank Merriwell.—Jettie Hildebrand. Fairmont, W. Va. Thanks for your hearty praise. never regret your decision. We are sure you will The members of the Tip Top Reading Club desire to tell you how much we appreciate your weekly. We will soon send for the badges. Long live Frank Merriwell.—Etta Herbert, Will Thompson, Georgia Sheppard, Joe Herbert, Laura Reece, John White. Mattoon, Ill. We wish your club a happy and successful life. badges will delight you. The I write to congratulate you for the Tip Top, which is a very good name for it. I have read them all, and my brother, who is eleven, has done the same and thinks them grand. We intend to send for two badges soon. We re- main constant readers of the Tip Top.—Mary and £. G. St. Paul, Minn. We will gladly send you the badges, and we anticipate your delight at receiving them. Thank you, We want to express our admiration for Tip Top. We think it hits the mark. We have read every single copy and hope to read them always. I let a boy read one at the theatre the other night and he begged me to let him finish it. He thought it was fine. I guess he will read them all now. We wish to thank Mr. Standish for giving up so much enjoyment.—‘‘The Four Knights of the Red Cross.’’ Ed. J. Frohman, leader; Milton Frohman, chief packer; Anson Frohman, chief herder; Raymond Frohman, member of band. Portland, Ore. Any one who reads one Tip Top may be counted a con- stant friend. Thanks for your kind words. We have formed a club at Orient Heights, which is our home. We read Tip Top and think it the best weekly_pub- lished. Your loving friends.—Will Riley, president; Hugh Beaton, vice-president; Jack Webster, treasurer;’ Joe Kirby, secretary; Will McConnell, assistant secretary. Boston, Mass. We wish your club a long and happy life. TIP TOP WEEKLY. Tip Top is the best five cent weekly that I have ever read. It has a good deal of sense to it, and is not full of foolishness, ag are some other novels. If a person once starts to read them he will ‘‘shake’”’ all the others. I have read nearly all of the weekly papers. If you want reading that you may be sure will benefit you and one that you would not be afraid to read before any minister, it is the Tip Top Weekly. Wishing Frank Merriwell a long life and hoping that the Tip Top Weekly will be published forever, I remain, yours respectfully.—Chas. A. Goodrich, Chicago, Ill, You have an excellent conception of the good qualities of Tip Top. Thanks for your kind words. I have read every number of the Tip Top Weekly, and I think it is the best five cent book published. IE now close, wishing the Tip Top a long, successful life and thanking mat pert for so good a book.—A Girl Friend. Rich ; oO. Nothing gives us greater pleasure than the praise of our young lady friends. Thank you, I have been.reading the Frank Merriwell stories for over two years, and take great pleasure in saying ‘‘that they are the best.’’ Mr. Standish knows human nature thor. oughly, and his stories show that. Wishing you great suc- cess, I remain.—Samuel Schottland. Manhattan. You are right. Mr. Standish is a careful student of human nature. The members of the f4 O. N. Club have taken the Tip Top Weekly for two years, and they think it is the best five cent weekly that is published. We are glad that. you have a badge with Frank’s picture on it, as it is an ornament for any person to have. Long live Frank and Bert.—L. O. N. Members. C. J. Polhill, Ed Hunt, G. Rushforth, Wm. Jacobus, C, Nelson, A. V. Free, C. Rushforth, W. Dunning. Peekskill, N. Y¥. These are the charter members. We have twenty-five altogether and have been going for three years.—Wm,. Jacobus, The L. O. N, Club has our thanks and best wishes. We are two Irish lads and have read all the Tip Tops published. It is an ideal publication for the American youth, and it is an ideal publication for the Irish youth. We have read them over and over again till we can almost write them ourselves, but we wouldn’t undertake to da it.— eee and Richard Malone, two Irish lads. Brook- yn, N. Y. Manly youth, of whatever nationality, cannot fail to enjoy and profit from Tip Top. Thanks for your kind letter, I wish to express to you my gratitude for having a mag- azine in the fleld that is the best in the world. Yours very respectfully.—An Ardent Admirer. Denver, Colo. Thank you. I wish to congratulate Mr. Standish as a great writer of boys’ books.—Rob. J. Reef. Decorah, Iowa, Mr. Standish appreciates your congratulations and thanks you for them. I have read the Tip Tops from No. 40 up to the present time and think them the best literature of their kind on market.—Frank Hodge. North Adams, Mass, 5 You are most emphatically correct. Although on the road, we have and always will read the Tip Top under any circumstances, Many men of rany minds, Many books of many kinds; Some are better, some are worse, Some a blessing, some a curse. But of the many which are best, The Merriwells have stood the test, And thousands throughout the land Proclaim as a leader Tip Top will stand. No Name. Indianapolis, Ind. Your verses are very apt and clever. We regret that you did not sign your name to them. The fact that you are ‘‘on the road’’ makes us unusually pleased to hear from you. I am a cadet at Virginia Military Institute, and Frank Merriwell is the only ‘hing that keeps me alive. I am studious and am anxious to be promoted to corporal I admire Frank Merriwell and try to follow his example. He is in my opinion the model American youth, and if all my fellow cadets in this school were like him, I think that there would be very few privates in ranks.—J. H. C. W. Grasty. Lexington, Va. We are greatly pleased to hear from one of our cadet friends and to know that Tip Top is such a good comrade for you, IT am a constant reader of the Tip Top and an ad- mirer of that noble specimen of Américan youth, Frank BAe TIP TOP WEEKLY. $7 Merriwell. I wish to write you a few lines of thanks for placing so fine and moral a publication in the hands of the boys of this country. I am a member of the Boys’ Health Club, a splendid Brooklyn organization whose object is 7s welfare of boys, physically, morally and so- fo. large number of our members. follow with terest, oo week to week, the exploits of Frank Mer- riwell. Our club runs a twelve-page monthly known as ae ‘Club Journal.’’—A Tip Top Admirer. Brook- RRO TING ic tee We are glad to hear from a member of so useful a club, and to know that you and your friends are such warm admirers of Tip Top. Your remarks are true. We, the undersigned, have been reading the Tip Top from No. 1 to the present date, and we wish to say that we appreciate it far more than any other five-cent library published, and are very grateful for the many pleasant hours you have afforded us, Wishing Frank Mer- riwell and the Tip Top a long life, we remain your. con- stant readers, ‘‘The Cuckoo Literary Society.’’ rand Rapids, Mich. - We are pleased to hear that Tip Top has offered your club so much benefit and pleasure. Thank you. We. have. been reading your charming and fascinating weekly for a long time and think there is no other like it. We think Bart Hodge is a pretty good fellow in spite of his faults, but Frank Merriwell ‘‘takes the cake.’’ He is a splendid fellow. We can scarcely wait from one week to another for the paper, and sincerely wish it great success.—Angus Labarge and others. Malone, N. Y. Many thanks for your true and appreciative remarks. Frank. Merriwell ‘‘can’t be beat,’’ as he shows in his fighting. He is a good example for any boy. Through the - kindness of a friend I have secured all back numbers and they have helped me morally, physically and in- tellectually. If mothers would take advice from a boy 17 years of age, I would advise them to purchase ‘Tip _ Top Weekly’ for their boys. Boys, if you read “Tip -Top’’ and follow Frank Merriwell as an example, you will never go astray. Wishing success to Tip Top and ' publishers thereof.—L. Bernard Williamson. Pulaski, Va, We are much gratified with your helpful and suggestive letter. Your advice to mothers is excellent, and thou- ' gands of them are following it. We have read the Tip Top Weekly up to date, and it cannot be beat. It abounds in as high a moral sense as can be found in the more expensive novels. The reading has worked wonders in Schuylkill Haven. A young man who had smoked cigarettes from a child quit smoking as he became disgusted with the habit when he saw how Merriwell hated smoking. Another used to swear, but reading Merriwells made him quit swearing and be- come a moral young man. The Tip Top Weekly is a joy, To every girl and every boy -. We have formed a league called T. T. L.—Frank Cleary - and others. Schuylkill Haven, N. Y. We ‘are much gratified at this report of the good in- fluence of, Tip Top in your town It is doing the same all over the land, and in that it is fulfilling its chief mission, ' f have read Tip Top from No. 90 to the present date and will eontinue to read it always. I have followed Frank’s career with great interest. I am a student of St. Ignatius’ College. I would like Frank to go back to Yale and play baseball. I wish Mr. Standish a long and happy life.—An Admirer. Chicago, Ill. . The opening of the fall term will see Frank back at Yale ready to take his place in the college life. We are pleased at your satisfaction with Tip Top. ee I have been through the Rebellion, and had quite a lot of ' -experience With all classes of people. I have never heard .or seen anything in the way of reading matter that would give any better advice to the young people as they grow up than the Tip Top Weekly, and if the readers will study those points of noble conduct that we read about _ they nnot fail to profit. I think the library is worthy of its name. It is /.unnecessary to praise the books be- cause the great number that is read throughout the country is the best praise.—N. K. Nelson. Waukon, Ia. We are greatly, pleased to receive such cordial praise for Tip Top from a friend of your age and experience. We have endeavored to make Tip Top just what you have found ‘it—a guide; and inspiration for growing man- I am an old man and a farmer by occupation. t We and the Tip Top Weekly and it is the best weekly published. We would no more let a single number pass without purchasing it than we would think of doing without a are grocery clerks we are ry likely to eat. heartily. Frank Merriwell is a good c pie" for all boys to follow. — - realized, If they would read Tip | Soe ind learn of Frank Merriwell’s coolness, his — the respect he Sa ee the fair sex and. he always thinks ee a acts, ‘es. would be fewer ‘‘toughs’’ crowding our streets. We wish both the author and publishers a long and a happy life. We remain constant readers of Tip Top Weekly.—George Glass, L. C. Pierson. Vincennes, Ind. You have summed up those qualities that make Tip Top pre-eminent among weeklies. Your remarks are entirely just and true; thank you. I have read a great many libraries, but I can’t find any that suits me as well as the Tip Top. It is always interesting from beginning to end, and between times of getting them I have to content myself with reading back numbers, which I find almost as interesting as I did the first time I read them I hope to see Frank back to Yale soon ‘and take his old place as leader in all the athletic sports. Wishing a long life to the Tip Top, a constant reader.—O. C. Blosser. Scrafford, W. Va. Frank will return to Yale in time for the fall open- po Re Stee Sept. 8. Your appreciation of Tip Top is ex- cellent. The medal you so kindly sent me I received this morn- ing, and wish to express my sincere thanks. I think the Tip Top Weekly is the finest five-cent paper published. Hoping long life to Frank Merriwell, I remain.—A. H. Graham, Philadelphia, Pa. We were confident that the badge would delight you. .Many thanks for your kind words. WAITING FOR TIP TOP. Half way iown the village street There is © little store I see the boys all sitting round * What are they waiting for? ‘What is the matter, boys?’ I ask, ‘‘Why don’t you go and play?’ ‘Let them alone,’’ the clerk replies, “They have good cause to stay. *‘Whenever Saturday arrives They come to my little shop And if you would know what they’re waiting for Til tell you it is Tip Top.”’ R. M. Chicago, Iil. Thanks for your clever little picture of what _ transpires all over our land on every Saturday. I have read all the Tip Top Weeklies from No. 1 to date. When I get the latest Frank Merriwell, I throw aside all other books and read it.—Ralph Harvey. Ot- tawa, Kan, 4 No other reading can compare in ayes with Tip Top. Thank you. The Tip Top Weekly is up to date in every respect. Next to Merriwell I like Hodge, but all of them I think are splendid characters. I would rather read a Tip Top than eat a good dinner. I read several of the other weeklies, but Tip Top is the best, it is so inspir- ing. An ardent lover and reader. I am yours.—Chancer Caver. Stephenville, Tex. : Tip Top satisfies a hunger which food cannot appease. Thanks for your kind words. We, the boys of the Reckless Bowling Club, all read the Tip Top Weekly, and are glad to say that there is no other weekly book or paper that can come up to it, for we have read them all. Hoping Tip Top Weekly will last forever, The Reckless Bowling Club.—R. Hall, P. Mugler, C. O’Brien, A. Partrich, J. Mugler, T. Hazelton, * eee mascots, Hannah Smith, Mabel Dolan. Brook- yn, ' Many thanks for your cordial praise. Your wish will be I have read your rightly named Tip Top Weekly up to date, and I think Mr. Standish writes the best stories published. My mother did not allow me to read them until about three weeks ago, when my. aunt came from Texas to visit us. I gave the latest to her to read; when she got to where Frank was talking about vul- garity she said it was all right to read.—R. G. C. Chattanooga, Tenn. Mothers are wise to be cautious, but one reading ‘of Tip Top convinces them of their value to their boys and . girls. Thank you. I write to tell you that our club, which we named — after the hero of Tip Top, think that Frank Merriwell is the best example for ali American boys to follow. We all hope that the Frank Merriwell stories will last for-— ever. Long live Frank Merriwell and the firm of eres: < Yours very a —The merrier Club, se a mpi four « ioe Sieh - gooe “wish es will be. "reailzed.” 38 TIP TOP WEEKLY. I have just finished reading the last issue of Tip Top I notice no letters from Kentucky, and wish to! write you a line or two just to let you know that even though you don’t receive many letters from Kentucky your most interesting paper is appreciated in the best State to the greatest extent. I have read all the Tip Tops from No. 1 to present date, and must say that words eannot express my sincere admiration of Mr. Standish; he is eertainly a very interesting and instructive writer. I am sure I can offer no suggestions which could better the Tip Top (they are as near perfect as possible). I remain as ever, your constant reader.—H. A. E. Murray, Ky. We have read your cordial letter with great interest, and we are sure that Frank has no warmer friends than those in your grand old State. Thanks for your kind words, j ; 7 —qidicz I have read all of the Tip Top Weeklies beginning with No. 50, and the very first one interested me so much that I was forced to buy next number, and so on; each succeeding number seems to be more interesting than the last. Mr. Standish may well be proud of being able to interest such a large number of young men and women who read his stories. I think the present num- bers are equal to any ever published. Wishing the best of success to Frank and his speedy return to college, I remain your reader.—Alfred lL. Steltner. Little Falls, Minn. One reading makes a firm friend for Tip Top. Your interesting experience is by no means an uncommon one. Frank returns to Yale early in the fall, i have read a great many of the Tip Top Weeklies with the greatest of pleasure and. delight. I was in Wichita, Kan., when the first Tip Top was published, and I have read nearly all of them up to date. I have also read many other weekly publications but in none of them have I discovered a hero like ‘‘Frank Merriwell, an ideal American gentleman.’’ I think that if all young men would try and pattern after Frank, the rising generation would be a perfect one. I am trying to ‘‘practice what I preach,’’ and must say I have more friends now than ever before. I hope there are others that are doing the same. I wish Tip Top the best of success and a long, happy life to its hero, Frank Merriwell.—H. N. W. Kansas City, Mo. Letters like yours are a great source of gratification to us. They tell us that Tip Top is fulfilling its high- est mission. "We wish you the greatest success in all your good resolutions. ' JT am a poor boy and am working my way up in the world and I find the Tip Top as good a companion as one could desire. I received the badge in December, and I think it is all right. I have never missed a number of the Tip Top. The longer I take it the better I like it. Mr. Standish is without doubt the king of story. writers, and his writing is such as will better, instead of harm, young men. I will not send any advice. No other man could interest me as Mr. Standish does. So wishing Mr. Standish and Tip Top a great future, I remain, a constant reader.—S. P. P. Tomahawk Station, Wis. ; ‘Tip Top is indeed a companion—the truest comrade and friend that any boy could desire—for it mever grows wearisome, and its influence is always for manliness and right. We are very glad to hear from you. Please accept my congratulations on the Tip Top. I am a girl, but nevertheless I admire and honor Frank Merriwell very much. I like Bart Hodge also. TI think he will prove (as he already has) a great and valuable friend to Frank. Long live Mr. Standish, riwell and the Tip Top Weekly.—Inez Bohler. Washing- ton, D. C. Many thanks for your cordial praise. Frank Merriwell is a true ideal for young men and young women. I have been reading the Tip Top Weekly for quite a long time, and think it is the best weekly published. I hope Frank will soon return to college.—Hlza Hennessee. McMinnville, Tenn. / The opening of college will find Frank on hand_ to take his share in all that pertains to college life. Your es- timate of Tip Top is correct. 1 I wish to show my appreciation for Tip Top. I have studied the character of Frank Merriwell for so long that it almost seems to meas if I could not live without him. IT am sure it will make us good and wise men if we follow his example. Mr. Standish must truly be a won- derful writer.—V. M. F. and John Brown. Parkersburg, WwW. Va. ~ é Tip Top has a wonderful. influence for good over the young men and women who read it. We are glad that you are among those whom it has benefited. ~— a : be < § J 7 om ? Top ts “ee 4 That is true; Frank Mer-. the finest story paper published.—Joseph ockinghorse. Rochester, i Se Vit Be ee De club h I have read all of the Tip Top Weeklies. There is a fellow in our troupe that is a great deal like Bart, and since reading about Hodge he and I have become fast friends, for I understand him better. The Tip Top Weekly is undoubtedly the best weekly, ‘‘an ideal publication for the American youth,’’ and Mr. Standish is the best of boy writers. If there were more people like Frank on the stage, it would be greatly benefited. You will never regret that. decision. Thanks for your message. I have read Tip Top Weekly for a long time and think it is the best 5-cent weekly published. *f would like to see Frank go back to Yale and meet his old friends.— Dean Davis. Beaver Falls, Pa. Frank will return to Yale early in the fall, and begin anew the college life. I have never bought a copy of the Tip Top that was not interesting and I have read it for a long while.— Harry Fitzsimmons. Pittsburg, -Pa. And we are very confident that you never will. you. Thank It is with much pleasure that I tender you our sincere thanks for the enjoyment we have obtained through read- ing the. Tip’ Top Weekly. My brother and I have read all the numbers since its publication and enjoy it im- mensely. I like Bart Hodge very much and enjoy hear- ing Ephraim Gallup talk:. Wishing the Tip Top a long ee I am.—Ella A. Sawtell, Wm. R. Sawtell. Providence, ee Many thanks for your kindly greeting and good wishes. Tip Top is an excellent paper and well deserves its name. Yours truly.—H. [ S. Wheeling, W. Va. You are right; never was name better bestowed. I am. a reader of Tip Top and it is the best book out. I received your badge and think it is all right.—George Walther, captain Sparrow B. B. C. Jamaica Plain, Mass. We have yet to receive a word of dissatisfaction with the badge. All are unanimous in its praise, Thank you. Although we are girls we like to read Tip Top, and think it the best publication for boys and girls printed. If every young man should take for example Frank Mer-* riwell, there would be more noble and manly men. Wish- ing Mr. Standish and Frank Merriwell a long and pros- perous life, we remain your constant readers.—Miss Chris- tine North, Miss Mercedes Delgado. Van Buren, Ind. Our young lady friends are among the most appreciative of Tip Top’s readers, and we are always gratified to hear from them. pe ; + We have read all of the Tip Top Weeklies from No. 1 to the present, and think them the best we_ have ever read. We hope Frank will be successful.—Frank Bailey, Thos. Liddy, Frank Dwyer, Bart Smith, Wm. Sullivan, Joe Russell. Renovo, Pa. \ A young man with Frank’s characteristics is bound to succeed. Thank you. Iam an ardent admirer of the Tip Top Weekly and have | read them from No. 1 to date. I have also read other weeklies but nothing in its line can compare with the Tip Top Weekly. Wishing Frank a long and prosperous life. —BE. M. Long. Phoenix, Ariz. Tip Top is the acknowledged leader of 5-cent weeklies. _ Thanks for your appreciation. f oi ‘ The Tip Top Weekly is the most excellent publication — issued. I am an actor and am at present upon my uppers for we went to smash last month, and.1_ had to geta job on a farm to tide me through until I can find a generous manager to ‘‘see me home.’’. I think Tip Top is what its name implies—a tip top publication and one > that ought to be read by every one who wishes to pass a most pleasant time and derive a good moral effect.— Harry Raymond. — ‘ : We are sorry to learn of your ‘hard luck,’’ and trust_ that you will see cheerier days soon. Thank you for your kind words for Tip Top. : RSE The members of the National Athletic Association have’ asked me to write and tell you what we think of Frank Merriwell. We one and all buy a copy every week and wait impatiently for the next issue. Our favorites are — Bart Hodge and Jack Diamond.—-E. J., T. C., M. P., L. S., C3 Geg. Bs, By SE We pa ke Dean Ge Ee He Ni, EP. Mow 0. 8., x5 A. 8., J. Rey Ey they G. Hi; Je D. G C., 2) , takte B, . Boston, KS “he old friends will all be met with again. ub has our best wishes. Ph deatints 1 OE ae sg a TIP TOP WEEKLY. I have determined to let Mr. Standish know how grate- ful the boys of Charleston are to him for affording such splendid reading. . Long live Mr. Standish!—T. T. W. Charleston, 8S. C. We are greatly pleased to learn of Tip Top’s popular- ity in Charleston. Thank you. Frank Merriwell, I think, is the greatest hero that ever lived. IT want to thank Mr. Standish for the way in which he writes about him. He is truly a wonderful writer. We have a club composed of the following boys, called the ‘‘True Blue.’’—William Benson, George Kal- lond, Dave McIntor, James Collins, Will Hamilton, Sam L. Thompson. We thank you for your kind words, but regret that you omitted the name of your State and city from your letter. Our club thought we would express our opinions of your weeklies; we think it the best 5-cent paper published. Our club is called. the “Swamp Angels.” Long live the Tip Top Weekly. Colo. Springs, Colo, The “Swamp Angels’’ have our thanks and best wishes. As I am an earnest and constant reader of the greatest weekly ever published, I desire to send you this in the way of praise and congratulation. Yours as a constant reader.—(H. Meyer) Harry Rattleton. Veedersburg, Ind. Thank you; we are pleased to have your congratulations. I have read Tip Top from No. 1 to the present, and think it an excellent weekly for the American youth.— _ Charles Weil. Buffalo, N.»¥. The young people show by their appreciation what they think of Tip Top. It easily leads; thank you. I have’ been a very much interested reader of the Tip Top -Weekly ever since .the first copy was published. I quite agree with some of the readers when they say let Mr. Standish do the writing of the stories, and I suppose he will, and it is likely an excellent author like Mr. Standish is -will not be bothered with what we think. Long life and happiness to the author of my fa- vorite weekly, the Tip Top.—Norman Joseph. Buffalo, We are always glad to have the opinions of our readers on the stories, but of course Mr. Standish must work them out along determined and consistent lines. There will be no slacking in the interest whatever turns the narrative may take. Thanks for your friendly words. We are thinking about joining the Tip Top League. We as one, wish to thank you for the Tip Top Weekly. It is not only excellent as a pastime, but also useful and in- structive.—John ‘Strout, James Lacy, Ben Foster, Samuel Fraser. New York City. We will give you a cordial Thanks. for your kind words. welcome to the league. I am a constant reader of your Frank Merriwell stories and I can scarcely wait for them to come each week. I think they are just as they are headed—Tip Top. I hope that after Frank makes his tour in WBurope that he will come*back and go to Yale, and I hope that Bart Hodge goes with him and that they will play base- ball and football.—Clarence Mayberry. Norwalk, Ohio. Frank proposes to do just as you suggest. He will return to Yale in September. We haye a Tip Top Reading Club called the Tip Top League. We can hardly wait for Saturday to come.— Dave Patillo, Bud Goodwin, Haywood Glisson, Theo. Bauer. Stephenville, Tex. Thanks. We wish your club every success. * As we are constant readers of the Tip Top Weekly, we think it is, the best 5-cent weekly printed. _ Huntington, W. Va. ‘Thank you; you are right. ed We all read Tip Top Weekly and enjoy it very much.— Palmer Huntley, chief messenger Seattle W. U. Tel. Co. Thank you. Epox ny ORS Cabinet containing imitation Snake, 20 in. long; Box Burnt Cork; nice Moustache and Goatee, any color; Locomotive or Detective Whistle; Rolled Gold Finger Ring; Imitation Rubber Mouth Piece, with } big teeth, makes your mouth appear from ear to ear; aa Nice Fiber Whisk Broom; Apparatus for perform): the Great nlsbing Half Doflar Trick; A Cure for Love, an original novelty,queer and fui bargain is offered to ee log of * j ae Bae Novelties, ig a. dieu tt Ammer Marans meaeteniee | ther, Adare, OHAS. E; MARSHALL, Mita Lockport, N-¥e Wishing you success, we remain your readers.—T. Ward, A. H. Jordan. -to advise you in the choice of a trade. Correspondence, _C. O. W., Alton, N. ¥.—You can get the informa- tion you desire from a catalogue of Street & Smith's publications. M. F., Pittsburg, Tex.—There is no premium on the half dollar of 1835. Constant Reader.—Your proportions are about the average. ‘ A. W., Chicago, Ill.—The periodical in question is mo longer published, but back numbers are. in print. No’ premium on those coins. hes. Louisville, Ky.—At eighteen a boy should be about 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weigh 135 to 140 pounds, Your writing is very good. N. C. W., Port Huron, Mich.—We do not think that the name of the author of the song you mention has ever been published: The song itself can be obtained of any music dealer. A Boy, Fairmont, W. Va.—Justice McKenna of the Supreme Court is, we think, a Roman Catholic. Admiral Dewey is a. Republican. We do not know the politics of the other officers you name. William S. Devery is Chief of Police of New York City. Rex, Clarion, Pa.—Perspiration of the feet may ite prevented by using the following powder: Mix to- gether seven ounces carbonate of magnesia, two ounces powdered calcined alum, seven ounces orris root, and one-half drachm powdered cloves. To pre- vent dandruff, wash the head frequently with borax, dissolved in water. Actors, who have inherited their talents, are not uncommon, but it is- by no means a general rule. Your handwriting is very good. E. A. R. L., Athens, O.—Write to the War Depart- ment and the Navy Department at Washington for information about West Point and Annapolis. Your proportions are unusually good for a young man of your age. BHighteen is about: the average age for admission: to Yale. .Walter Camp’s book on football is about the best authority. You can get it from any book store, or by sending to the American News Company, Chambers street, New York city. Bashful Boy.—Bashfulness usually comes from self- consciousness. The only way to cure it is to cultivate self-forgetfulness. Try not. to think of yourself. at all when you are with others. Do not avoid people, but rather seek the society of others and enter heart- ily into whatever is going on about you without thinking of how you look or what impression you are making. It is not easy, but success wili come if you persevere. Your shyness will probably wear off in time, anyway. E. F., Lincoln, Neb.—Your training ought to make you entirely competent to teach a country school. Your handwriting and punctuation can be improved by practice; your method of expression is very good, indeed. You should apply for a school to the various town supervisors or committees, either in person or by writing, and perhaps it would be wise for you to correspond with or see the State Superintendent of Schools, You will probably be obliged to pass an examination in the common branches, but you ought to do that readily enough. Constant Reader, Ord, Neb.—Blackheads are usual- ly the result of general debility of the system. A toning-up is therefore the first essential for their . cure. Bathe the face frequently with water as hot as can be borne, using plenty of soap and friction. After washing, expel the cones with a watch key and then apply cologne water to close the pores. Oinit- ment containing sulphur is an excellent remedy. Avoid pastry and rich food and take plenty of out- door exercise. The hair may be removed by elec- tricity or by pulling them out, though the latter is rather painful. O. H., St. Paul, Minn.—Without knowing anything of your tastes or capabilities, it is a difficult matter If, as you say, you have a good education, by diligent, intelli- gent labor you ought to be able to succeed in what- ever you choose, If you have any taste for electrical work, that field is a good one; the plumber’s trade is also profitable. Good machinists are always in de- mand, as are also printers. You should not act hastily, unless it is absolutely necessary. You should have inclination toward some particular branch of labor; this should help you to decide. If you are able, you should get as much out of school as you possibly can, and, if your tastes incline that way, co should go to college. By the time you have nished your studies, it is probable that the ques- — tion of a trade or profession will have settled itself. The Tip Top League Member’s Badge HALF PRICE TO OUR READERS ONLY. In response to the urgent request of a host of Tip Top readers, the publishers after carefully considering a number of designs for a badge of membership in the ‘IP TOP LEAGUE, have finally adopted one which is an artistic gem of excel- lence. ‘The picture shows the design, but it does not give you an adequate idea of the exquisite beauty of this elegant ornament. Itis solidly and substantially made, finished in gilt and beautifully embossed. Such a badge in lots of 1,000 or s less would cost at least $1.00 each, The widespread desire for this badge gives us so much faith in the enterprise that EY our first order was 50,000, to secure the lowest possible rates, and we are therefore enabled to offer it at the very low figure of TEN CENTS in cash or stamps wheu accompanied by two coupons. This barely covers the cost to us. SSICONDITIONSE— Each coupon is worth five cents when accompanied by five cents in stamps or coin. TWO COUPONS AND TEN CENTS SECURE YOU THE BADGE, Yonucan get as many badges as you desire at the same rate by use of the extra coupons. Badges without coupons will cost fifty cents each. The coupons are free to Tip Top readers, and we adopt this method to prevent others from getting the badge at the special rate given to our patrons. IF YOU ARE A READER OF THE TIP TOP YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE, AND ENTITLED TO WEAR THE EMBLEM OF THE ORDER—and our word forit, you will be more than pleased when you receive it. TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER’S COUPON °* This Conpon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents towards the purchase of the League Badge. ° STREET & SMITH. TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER’S COUPON This Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents towards the purchase of the League Badge. STREET & SMITH. An Exact PIcTURE OF THE TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER’S COUPON He ce | This Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents will be accepted for ten cents 3 ee towards the purchase of the towards the purchase of the i 4 ; League Badge. League Badge. he STREET & SMITH. » STREET & SMITH. TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER’S COUPON This Conpon and FIVE CENTS TIP TOP_LEAGUE > MEMBER’S COUPON Raa Ls 9 Aniline % Tins Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents towards the purchase of the League Badge. STREET & SMITH. TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER’S COUPON This Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents towards the purchase of the League Badge. STREET & SMITH. TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER’S COUPON TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER’S COUPON This Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents towards the purchase of the League Badge. STREET & SMITH. TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER’S COUPON This Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents towards the purchase of the League Badge. STREET & SMITH. This Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents towards the purchase of the League Badge. STREET & SMITH. TIP TOP_LEAGUE MEMBER’S COUPON This Coupon and FIVE ee will be accepted for ten cen towards the purchase of the League Badge. STREET & SMITH. y (Care STREE ae Cs . T& SMITH To secure the promptest attention, address all letters on this subject to” ess THESRIP TOP LEAGUE 6. 603 Ss Hie 238 William Street, New York. CATALOGUE OF FRANK MERRIWELL STORIES IN TIP TOP WEEKLY Frank Merriwell; or, First Days at Fardale. Fraak Merriwell’s Foe; or, “Plebe” Life in Barracks. Frank Merriwell’s Medal; or, ‘‘Plebe”’ Life in Camp. Frank Merriwell’s Rival; or, By Fair Play or Foul. Frank Merriwell’s Fault. Frank Merriwell’s Frolics; or, Fun at Fardale. Frank Merriwell’s Mysterious Ring. Frank Merriwell’s Fag; or, Fighting for the Weak. Frank Merriwell’s Furlough. Frank Merriwell on His Mettle, Frank Merriwell’s Fate; or, The Old Sailor’s Legacy. Frank Merriwell’s Motto; or, The Young Life Savers, Frank Merriwell in New York; or, an Unknown Foe. Frank Merriwell in Chicago; or, Meshed by Mysteries. Frank Merriwell in Colorado. Frank Merriwell in Arizona; or, Mysteries of the Mine. Frank Merriwell in Mexico. Frank Merriweil in New Orleans. Frank Merriwell’s Mercy. Frank Merriwell’s Friend; or, Muriel the Moonshiner. Frank Merriwell’s Double; or, Fighting for Life. Frank Merriwell Meshed; or, The Last of the Danites. Frank Merriwell’s Fairy. Frank Merriwell’s Money. Frank Merriwell's Mission Frank Merriwell’s Mysterious Foe, Frank Merriwell a Monarch, Frank Merriwell in Gorilla Land. Frank Merriwell’s Magic; or, he Pearl of Tangier. Frank Merriwell in France, Frank Merriwell’s Feat. Frank Merriwell in London; or, The Grip of Doom. Krank Merriwell’s Venture; or, Driven from Armenia. Frank Merriwell in India. Frank Merriwell’s Vow; or, After Big Game in Ceylon, Frank Merriwell in Japan; or, The Sigu of Avenger. Frank Merriwell’s Dead Shot, Frank Merriwell in the South Sea; or, Cast for Life, Frank Merriwell at Home Again. Frank Merriwell at Yale. Frank Merriwell’s Match, Frank Merriwell’s Victory; or, The Winning Oar, _ Frank Merriwell’s Finish; or, Blue Against Crimson. Frank Merriwell’s Gaime; or, Snaring the Sharper. Frank Merriwell’s Run; or, Trouncing the Tigers. Frank Merriwell’s Even Up; or, Squaring the Score, Frank Merriwell’s Queen; Or, Blow for Blow. Frank Merriwell’s Find; or, The Waif,of the Train. Frank Merriwell’s Racer; or, Birds of a Feather. Frank Merriwell’s Nerve; or, Game to the End. Frank Merriwell’s Shadow. Frank Merriwell’s Dash; or, Yale Against the Field. Frauk Merriwell’s Bicycle Koys. Frank Merriwell’s Ride for Life. Frank Merriwell’s Great Capture. Frank Merriwell to the Rescue, Frank Merriwell’s Close Call; or, The Tramp's Token. Frank Merriwell’s Unknown Frienc Frank Merriwell Among the Rustlers. Frank Merriwell’s Desperate Drop. Frank Merriwell in the Mines; or, The Blind Singer. Frank Merriwell Among the Mormons. Frank Merriwell on the Desert. rank Merriwell’s Underground Search. Frank Merriwell in California, Prize Plot Story; Frank Merriwell as the Star. Frank Merriwell’s Yacht: or, Chase Down the Coast. # Frank Merriwell’s Combination. Frank Merriwell’s Red Rival. Frank Merriwell’s Texas Tournament, Frank Merriwell’s Nine. Frank Merriwell’s Shot; or, Out With the Gun Club. Frank Merriwell’s Flyer; or, The Winning Wheel. Frank Merriwell’s Thoroughbred, Frank Merriwell’s Enemy; or, Rivals of Blue Ridge. Frank Merriwell’s Crew. ' Frank Merriwell’s Hunt; or, In at the Death. Frank Merriwell’s Blow; or, Unmasking a Rascal. Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale. Frank Merriwell as ‘“‘Anchor;” or, The Winning Pull. Frank Merriwell’s Initiation; or, The Secret Order, Frank Merriwell’s Sign. Frank Merriwell as Full Back; or. True to His Colors] Frank Merriwell’s Duel; or,*A Point of Honor. Frank Merriwell’s Mark; or, Subduing a Bully. Frank Merriwell’s Secret; or, A Friend in Need. Frank Merriwell’s Revenge; or, Aroused at Last. Frank Merriwell’s Capture; or, The Black Schooner Frank Merriwell’s Chum; or, The Hand of a Friend’ Frank Merriwell’s Double Shoot. Frank Merriwell’s Danger; or, Shadow of Disgrace, Frank Merriwell’s Wager; or, Bound to Win. Frank Merriwellin Training. Frank Merriwell’s Courage; or, Loyal to the Last. Frank Merriwell at Fardale Again. Frank Merriwell in Camp. Frank Merriwell’s Fardale Friends; or, Old Foes. Frank Merriwell’s Yale Chums. Frank Merriwell’s Choice; or. Fair Rivals of Fardale, Frank Merriwell’s Fardale Racket. Frank Merriwell’s Courage; or, Nerve Against Bluff. Frank Merriwell’s Faith; or, The Shadow of a Crime. Frank Merriwell’s Celebration; or, Last Days at Fardale. PONS o mee 104 105 106 107 159 160 161 162 163 164 Frank Merriwell Afloat; or, The Cruise of the White Wings. Frank Merriwell Under Megunticook; Knox County League. Frank oer Mystery; or, The Monster of Devil Island, Frank Merriwell'’s Disappearance; or, The Secret of the Island. Frank Merriwell Aroused; or, The Bicycle Boys of 3elfast. Frank Merriwell’s Pursuit; or, Stolen Yacht. Frank Merriwell’s Catch; or, The Canoe Boys of Lake Sebasticook. Frank Merriwell’s Guide; or, Sport Around Moose- Head Lake. Frank Merriwell’s Peril; or, The Smugglers of the Border. Frank Merriwell’s Drift; or, With the River Drivers. Frank Merriwell’s Daring; or, Elsie’s Sacrifice. Frank Merriwell’s Fist; or, Bound to Know the Truth Frank Merriwell’s Masquerade; or, The Belle of Hur- ricane Island. Frank Merriwell’s Misfortune: or, The Start of a New Career. Frank Merriwell, Engine Wiper; or, At the Foot of the Ladder. Frank Merriwell, Fireman; or, First Step Upward. Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity; or, The Ghost of Black Gorge. Frank Merriwell’s First Rin; or, Chance of His Life Frank Merriwell, Engineer; or, The Turn of Fortune Frank Merriwell’s Hard Luck; or, A Slip on The Ladder. Frank Merriwell’s Advancement; or, Engineer of the Mountain Express. Frank Merriwell Hela Up; or, The Robbery of the Mountain Express. Frank Merriwell’s Protege; or, Hand. Frank Merriwell on Strike; or, Saving the Enemy’s Property. Frank Merriwell as a Ferret; or, Tracking the ‘Train Wreckers. Frank Merriwell Accused; or, Reaping the Harvest. Frank Merriwell on the Road; or, The All-Star Compbi- nation. Frank Merriwell’s First Part; or, The Start as an Actor, Frank Merriwell in Advance; or, Adventures Ahead of the Show. Frank Merriwell Magician; or, For Fun, Fame, and Fortune, Frank Merriwell’s Own Company; or,Barnstorming In the Middle West. Frank Merriwell Stranded; or, The Fate of the First Venture. Frank Merriwell’s New Venture; Elsie. Frank Merriwell’s Play; Piece. Frank Merriwell’s Fame; or, The Road to Suecess. Frank Merriwells Father; or, The Man With Money to Burn. Frank Merriwell’s College hums; or, Bart Hodge’s Wonderful Shot. Frank Merriwell’s Understudy; Friend. Frank Merriwell Puzzled, or, the Mystery of Inza, Frank Merriwell’s Problem; or, ‘'‘he Vanishing of Elsie Frank Merriwell Missing; or, On the Brink of Disaster Frank Merriwell’s Disaster; or, The Hand of the Law. Frank Merriwell’s Fortune; or, The Legacy of the Skeleton. Frank Merriwell’s Failure; or, High Hopes and Hard Lueck, Frank Merriwell’s Pluck; or, Never Say Die. Frank Merriwell’s Chance; or, To Make or Break. Frank Merriwell Wins; or, The Success of **True Blue.” Frank Merriwell Betrayed; or, The Downfall of Hodge. Frank Merriweil’s Admirers; or, Annoyed by Atten- tions. Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity; Front. Frank Merriweli’s Great Hit; or, Fighting the Play Pirates. Frank Merriwell’s Boom; or, duction. Frank Merriwell’s Reception; or, A Hot Time in New Haven. Frank Merriwell’s Scheme; or, Getting Ready for the Great Trip. Frank Merriwell’s Nobility; or, The Tragedy of the Ocean Trainp. Frank Merriwell’s Backer; or, Among London Sports. Frank Merriwell’s Black Beauty; or, Winning the Derby. Frank Merriwell’s Sand; or, London Slums at Night, Frank Merriwell at Henley; or, Life on a House Boat. Frank Merriwell’s Caddie; or, On the St. Andrews Golf Links. Frank Merriwell’s Farewell; or, Last Daysin Merrie England, or, With the The Chase of the Lending a Helping or, The Finding of or, Putting on His Own or, Helping an Old or, Forging to the The New York Pro- For Sale by all Newsdealers, or will be sent, Postpaid, on receipt of Price, by STREET & SMITH, Pustisners, 238 Winuiam St., Niw York.