i Five Cents, ican Yout . Y. Post-Ofice by Sta ert & SMITH Amer : ice, Pr ation for the Ic g . & ideal publ By Subscription, $2.50 per year, Entered as Second Crass Ta DOOR FLEW OPEN WITH A BanNG, AND FRANK MERRIWELL CAME IN, F Txsued weekly— Ae we 5 aah r. ah. Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. St., Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 238 William N.Y. Entered According to Act of Congress, in the year 1900 in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. CORRESPONDENCE APPLAUSE - : ° ° - : NEW YORK, January 27, 1900, Contents ase This Numbef. FRANK MERRIWELL'S TEMPTATION ; of, Nothing But Quiet Sport 1. ‘Price Five Coa: Page, 28 - - : . . ; 89 Frank Merriwell’s Temptation Ui > NOTHING BUT QUIET By BURT L. STANDISH CHAPTER I. THE ROPER FROM THE CIMARRON. **Who can the wude cwecher be. that he’th got with him?’’ Lew Veazie lisped ina flutter of amazement, as he stared through the window. | Ollie Lord lifted himself on his high- heeled shoes, as if he thought that would : enable him to see more distinctly, and Be stared also through the window. \. Julian Ives lounged forward, caressing “What is it?” asked Tilton Hull, usting his chin i in an effort to see over” SPORT “‘Deah old boy, I with you would juth tell uth!’’ Veazie gasped. ; Rupert Chickering’s particular set were in his daintily and handsomely fur- nished edness crowding about a window that looked down on the campus walk. Chickering himself was there, and likewise Gene Skelding. Skelding, who had bea standing with his back to the fireplace, removed the — cigarette from his lips, and the frown — from his window, giving his gorgeous necktie a tap to assure himself that it was not dis: arranged. Z Buck Badger was brow, and strode also to the * 2 TIP TOP WEEKLY. with a strange companion. There was an air of conscious pride and ownership in Badger’s manner. It said almost as plain- ly as words: ‘Tam not aman to boast. I not cate whether the people here think me the son of a Kansas claim-iolder or ofa man who ranges his herds over a range as big as a New England State. To me this is all a matter of complete indiffer- e1ice. have put a fence round it, but we’d die before we'd boast of it. Nevertheless, here is a full-fledged cowboy from that very rauch, I reckon this will snake the fellows stare!’’ It did make Chickering’s set stare. ““He lookth like one of the wough widerth you wead about!’’ “said Veazie, with a little tremble in his voice. ‘‘I’m sure I thouldn’t like,to meet thucha cweeclhier.’? Tilton Hull held down lar with both hands. **1]] tell you,’’ he said, in a burst of inspiration. ‘‘That fellow is a cowboy from Badger’s ranch. Don’t you remem- do We own the world out there, and his choker col- ‘ber that he told us about the cowboys out a ly thleep.for a week there, one time?’’ ‘‘And nearly fwightened me to death with his howwid stowieth. I could hard- 1%) Buck ; Badger’s companion was not walking at Badger’s side, but slouching along justin his rear. The position and attitude added to Badger’s appearance of ownership and dignity. “Looks as if Badg had a string to the fellow and was leading him along,’’ ob- served Gene Skelding. “There isa big enough string at the fellow’s side,’’ said Ollie Lord, calling attention to the lasso that was a part of the outfit of the Kansas cowboy. Chickering. ‘And leather trousers, don’t you know !?? declared Julian Ives. “Wonder who is his tailor??? laughed The cowboy was apparently just out of the saddle and just off the ranges. His long hair, which fell to his shoulders in aul untended way, seemed still to holda breath of the prairie breezes. His spurs glinted in the sun, and his high-heeled boots gave him an unsteady gait. One thing was absent. No revolver was dis- played on his hips. ‘This was the only indication that he realized he was in a land of civilization and refinement. | This seeming specimen from a Wild West show, dropped down into the streets of New Haven, looked neither to the right nor to the left as he followed Bad- ger along the walk. Yet it was apparent that he saw all that was going on out of the corners of his roving eyes. Perhaps he shared the feelings that stirred Buck Bad- ger’s breast, and was anxious to set New Haven beholders, and. the student set in particular, to staring their eyes out. ‘Do you know what that reminds me of ?”’ asked Ollie Lord, with the air of a poet capturing a brilliant idea. ‘‘One of those knights of the Middle Ages with a faithful retainer at his heels!’’ Lew Veazie-softly clapped his hands. ‘“That wath extheedingly clever in you, dear old chummie!’’ he ‘said, lounging affectionately against Ollie Lord and then putting a hand caressingly on Lord’s shoulder, : ‘‘Well, all I’ve got tosay is, I hope they won’t think. of turning in here,” said Tilton Hull, in his excitement tug- ging so hard at the cutting edge of his high collar that he almost crushed it down. . 5 “They won't. think.of it perhaps,’ suggested Julian Ives. — \ “‘Gwacious! But they are turning in here, jutht the thame!’’ Veazie lisped in ~ consternation. ‘‘I wouldn’t meet that howwid cwecher for anything. Im ac- — tually afwaid of him. Ollie??? ines nda What if he thould lay one of thothe big handth om. you, TIP TOP WEEKLY. 4 “I'd very promptly tell him to keep his hands to himself,’’ declared Lord, tiptoeing to increase his fighting Ireight. ““Gwacious. You wouldn’t twy to fight him, dear old chummie!”? * Ollie Lord’s answer was to ask Rupert Chickering if he meant to let the cowboy invade the room. Chickering smiled, but it wasa_ sickly ° sort of smile. He did not himself care to have these sacred and perfumed apart- ments vandalized by the cowboy. Still, _he would not give expression to his real feelings. ‘‘Badger is our friend,’’ he said, in his usual hypocritical way. ‘‘He has gener- ally been welcome here, and we can’t very well tell him that he isn’t welcome now. We should treat every one kindly, you know. This rough-looking fellow mniay be one of the best men in the world. I’11 sure it’s our duty, anyway, to think so, until we know otherwise.’’ Lew Veazie gasped and clung trem- blingly to Ollie’s shoulder as if for pro- tection, although Ollie was full three inches the shorter. Buck Badger was approaching \ with the cowboy still at his heels. It seemed clear that he meant to visit’ Chickering’s luxurious apartments with looking follower, though he must have known that such a proceeding would throw the Chickering set into a_palpitat- ing flutter. Gene Skeld rool, eyes, his rough. across the new light came into his ing took a turn while a The sudden thought had occurred to him that Buck Badger’s cowboy friend might be used in some way to Frank Merriwell. Skelding hated Merri- well all the imore fiercely because he knew of no way by which he could with safety to himself injure Merry. His will _ was good, and he had been bold enough to take on himself some risk to bring about Frank’ s pete but all his efforts injure, “I'm willing the fellow shall do as he pleases here, and everywhere else, if only I can use him in some way.” I wish I could approach Badger on the subject; but, of course, I can’t. I believe that Buck Badger hates Merriwell as much as I do, yet he pretends that whatever trou- ble he has had with Merriwell has been smoothed over, and that, if they are not exactly friends, they are not enemies, That makes me sick, for I was counting on Badger to get the better of Merriwell by and by in some way. Still, Buck Bad- ger does not like Frank Merriwell, and I know it. I wish I could understand Bad- ger better. Sometimes I feel almost that it would be safe to try to unite with him in a scheme to down Merriwell in some underhanded way, but there’s always something im his manner that seems to say to me that I’d better not speak of it. Confound Merriwell, anyway !”? He turned from these thoughts agaia tothe window, though there was an un-— pleasant light in his eyes and the trace of -a flush on his cheeks, “I'd like to throw the fellow into the street !’? Ollie was, declaring, though his wianner was’far from warlike. ‘*Don’t get into any twouble with him, | dear old chummie!’’ Lew Veazie pleaded. **T shan’t!’? said Lord, taking out his cigarette case and selecting a cigarette with great apparent coolness, his fingers trenibled just a little. ‘Tf he thould pwove to be pugnathious | we might cool him down with thome of Chickering’th -nithe wine!’’ suggested Veazie, selecting a cigarette from Lord’s case. ‘“That wine is vewy cooling, as I can testify.’’ although’ ‘It made you pretty warm one night, I thought,’’ said Lord, lighting a wax — inateh and handing it to Veazie. : , ‘“Thethe are thuth lovely cigawettes,’? lisped Veazie, trying to light the Cigars, ette unmoved. Veazie tried not to hear the soxnids é ‘his friends at home as. the 4 ) ; TIP TOP WEEKLY. which indicated the coming of Badger and the cowboy. He would his ears literally if he could. - He gave the match back to Ollie and Lord applied it to his cigarette. he did so he heard Buck Badger’s in the room: ‘Gentlemen, let me introduce to you Bill Higgins, of Kansas, better known to Roper from have closed Lord As voice the Cimarron.’’ “CHAPTER Ii. BILL HIGGINS’ OPINIONS The Roper from the Cimarron took in all the details of the room out of the tail threshold. It he was not of his eye as he crossed the need hardly be said that pleased with what he saw. But his face remained as impassive as that of the Sphinx. He would have thought it a weakness to show traces of surprise -at this unfamiliar refinement and luxury. “Glad to meet you, gents,’ he said, witha wave of the haud, dropping into the softest chair and placing his big hat on the floor. ‘‘Buck has been tellin’ me ‘bout you fellers. Dingedest yarns he used to tell us whenever he come back to the tauch, ’bout the collige au’ New Hay- vun, an’ the scrimmages an’ sich. I used to say to inyself, ‘I reckon Buck is sort o’ givin’ it to us,’ but I allow he wasn’t none whatever! Glad to see you, gents,. -asIsaid. This cheer is softer’n buffler grass!’’ He glanced about and gave an imper- ceptible sniff, Evidently the atmosphere of the room did not please him as well as the free, sweet air of the plaitis. In addi- tion to being heavily perfumed, it was tainted with cigarette smoke. Julian Ives had dropped upon the couch in front of ~ the mirror, and was nervously pulling at a cigarette. At the same time, he watched himself in the glass. He wondered if thie ‘owboy would not admire him as he ‘Te- posed ae breathing out the spirals of blue sinoke that his figure and his pose were ad- initable. & me to meet you, Mr. Hig- gins,’’ said Rupert Chickering;*advanc- ing with outstretched hand. °‘‘The friends of Mr. Badger are always welcome here. ; “Very glad Higgins arose and awkwardly took the extended hand. At the same time he looked at Chickering’s sinart coat and his: trousers, which were. creased like a knife. Something of the perfume that haunted forward with Bill the room seeined to swing Chickeriny. ‘Put er there,” said the cowboy, clos- ing upon the hand with a gtip that. made Chickering wince **Confound the fellow!” Chickering. ‘*Does ‘he think are made of iron ?’’ But he only said: ‘This is my friend, Gene Skelding.”’ “Put er there Bill Higgius bellowed thought my fingers again. = Skelding pulled his hand. away as quickly as he could, glad to get it out of that vise-like grip. “T wish I could get him to close witi that grip on Frank Merriwell’s throat,’’ was his thought. ‘‘How can I bring that about ?”’ Lew Veazie and Julian Ives looked alarmed. ‘Tilton Hull seemed meditating some way of escaping from the rooim. Rupert Chickering appeared to be on the point of desisting in his self-appoint- ed work of introducing the cowboy to the -occupants of the room, whereupon Buck. Badger introduced Higgins to Lew Vea. Ollie Lord and Tiiton Hull. on zie, Higgins looked down fingers apart, wondering if eo Mentally he told himself — Veazie and Lord from his six feet'of manhood, tow- =o ering above them like a giant’ above pig- mies, while Veazie pulled his crushed — were | *S TIP LOP WEEKLY, 8 “I’m powerful glad to meet up with sich gents as you,’’ declared the cowboy, with queer emphasis. ‘‘I allow I did meet up with jist your sort.”’ He gave a sniff of disgust at the cigar- ette suioke; then he dropped back into the easy chair and fished black cigar froin his pocket. never a big “—Pdask ye fer a light,’ he said to Veazie, ‘‘that is, if ye had one.” Veazie promptly extended his cigarette, for he.had no matches with him. Higgins looked at it quizzically. ‘Thunder!’ he exploded. ‘‘Why, there is fire on the end of that thing, _ain’t there! Dinged if I didn’t think you was chewin’ some kind of a weed.” “Tt is a weed!’’ said Ollie Lord. ‘bacco is called a weed, you know.”’ TS “Vewy good!’ declared Veazie, slap- ping Ollie on the back. ‘‘A pwecious weed it is, too. We could hardly live without our cigawettes, could we, chum- ine?’ “Oh, somebody gimme alight!’ grum- bled the cowboy, for the cigarette had been extinguished by his rough touch of it against the end of his cigar. ‘‘Soime- body. gimine a match.’? Buck - Eacacr “match. lazily handed him a Badger was looking on and listening in aimanner that puzzled Gene Skelding. Skelding was half of the opinion that Badger was merely trying to have some fun with the fellows of Rupert Chicker- ing’s set. “TT don’t know about that, though)’ he muttered to himself. ‘“‘He doesn’t seein to be playing any gaime.’’ -“Soon’s as I struck this ranch—I mean 7 this hyer town,’’ said Higgins, taking the cigar from his lips ahien he had it as going, ‘I says to Buck, ‘Show me some of these hyer collige fellers what you’ve talked about to. the oe on: the ranch.’ ‘ out-throw, strong tobacco smoke, re I see you, I’m oe to say, gents, that I’m disapp’inted.’ Julian Ives smoothed his bang and looked at his full length portrait in the mirror... He wondered hiow any one could be disappointed in him. Badger said. nothing, and the others hesitated. Seeing he was not to be questioned, ‘the cowboy lifted his spurred boots to an end of the lounge on which Julian rested, to‘the manifest uneasiness‘of that young -gentleman. ‘ Scuse me, gents, fer plain talk! But you’re all so’ dinged little! I allow you’re the runtiest outfit I’ve struck in a month of Sundays. I reckoned Buck yarns purty big, but I didn’t think it was quite so big. Now, he tol’ of fellers that could out-jump, aid an’ out-rastle, and out-fight anything on the hull of his dad’s ranch, I allow Buck must’ve been a-lyin’ jist a little bit!” i i He let his eyes rove calmly over the - occupants of the room. Then he nodded solemnly; as sé: to in- dicate a positive conviction., < ‘“Ves, I reckon Buck was a-doin’ some of the sal ies kind of lyin’ that he knowed how. Ollie Lord lifted himself to his full height,, and ‘Tilton Hull tried to look- a fiercely over his high collar, but neither said anything. to the rescue: “We here,” he asserted. back me in that aththertion, a am Bae: Some vewy wemarkabie men.’ - ‘The cowboy stared hard at Veazie. “Yes, I allow ‘that vou have! But they ain’t jist the kind that I was figger-_ in’ on meetin’? up with. What was the : name o’ that feller, Buck, that you wrote home to your dad about ?’’- turning to- ward Buck.and exhaling a great cloud ¢ f ‘“Seems iike he must’ve spuy-lis have thome wemarkable’ men Lew Veazie tried to come ‘‘Mither Badger will — i had a girl’s name. ’T wasn’t Mary? Couldn’t ’ve been that, I reckon ?”’ “Frank Merriwell,’’ ‘said Badger. **Ves, I wrote home about him.’’ “Well, now them’s the kind of chaps I ’xpected to see on this hyer ranch, but I ain’t a-seeing of ’em to any amount whatever. Whiat’s become of—er—low d’ye spell it ?”’ “*M-e-r-r-y !”” ~ What's come of him?’’ “Oh, he’s here. That is, I mean he’s here at college. We’ll meet him by and by.’’ *€An’ does he look like*these lhyer—er ” eee He hesitated lest his words should give offense. “Don’t make the mistake of becoming a worshipper of Frank Merriwell!’* put in Gene Skelding, with an impatient ges- ture. ‘‘You’d want to keep away from him if you knew him.’’ ‘*Never speak ill of a person behind his back,’’? pleaded Chickering. ‘‘Of course Merriwell’s done some remarkable things. We might as well admit it. That he was helped by an uncommon run of ; good luck ought not to be added perhaps, fur when a iman wins, who can rightly say whether it was luck or merit that fa- — vored him? Merriwell is a good——”’ 4} Bluffer!?’ Skelding interpolated. Lew Veazie softly clapped his velvety hands. Julian Ives continued to admire him- self in the mirror. Tm sure, whatever Metriwell is, he can’t compare with me in: looks,’’ he re- flected, and then lovingly caressed ‘his bang. Bill Higgins shifted ‘his heavy feet. In doing so hé caught one of his big spurs inthe lounge cover and torea gaping rent. He was like the bull in the China closet. oe — “T don’t think Merriwell is a bluffer,’’ said Buck rh iene in duty bound 6 TIP TOP WEEKLY. to speak the truth in this matter. ‘‘ There is no love lost between us, but that’s no reason that I should pretend to think that he isn’t a good man. Frank Merri- well is aj] right!”’ ‘*And ye* he has more than once tried to harm you,’’ reminded Gene Skelding. ‘‘He has defeated you in more than one contest. And it is his constant boast that he can do it again. Only the other day I heard him say to some fellows down by the fence that you had got enotigh, and wouldn’t dare to come up against him any more in any kind of a contest.’’ “Did he say that?’ Buck growled, with a show of anger and annoyance. “That was the substance of what he said. I richiti recall the exact language} of course. is ‘‘Because he says that is no reason why you should be disturbed,’’ purred Rupert Chickering. ‘‘I presume that Merriwell says things now anid then that perhaps he ought not to say, but I don’t think I should pay any attention to them.’’ “Tl shall never ‘refuse to meet Frank Merriwell, or any other man,’’ declared Buck Badger, unable to control his an- noyanice. ‘“That’s whatever !’? said Bill Higgins, giving his leather leggings a resounding slap.: ‘‘An’? if any. man says that ye would, he don’t know ye.’’ He glared round as if he expected some one to dispute his assertion. one did, he went on: “‘T allow that Buck Badger’d never take water on this hyer ranch when hie never did on the one at home. I don’t keer what the game was, Buck was allus Was it ridin’? He able to hold his own. was there. Was it ropin’? He could string a riata with the best cowboy on the range. Was it ’rastlin?? Was it shootin?? Was it any ol’ thing? Buck was there!’ YOR? shige np 1 ~~ Xow ly ake these fellows. When no growled Badger. ates ees hour ago. it so fur. Pe eee "From brought = on from Kansas to toota horn for me. ‘‘Let any man darst to say that |?” said Higgins, blowing a cloud of black smoke into -, face. ‘‘When you didn’t know I was comin’ till you seen me down the street while ago inquirin’ the way to your shanty. ‘No, sit, geuts! give emphasis to his words. ‘‘My boy Buck—pardin® me if I call him my boy —didn’t know that Bill Higgins was in a thousand miles o’ hyer till less than an ’’ straightening up to I come on to Kansas City and Chicago with some cattle fer the ol’ man, and then I thought I’dlike to see New York; and then, finding that New Hay- vun wasn’t so fur away, I cale’lated I’d come on hyer an’ see what sort of aranch Buck was hangin’ up at.’? He sinoked a moment in silence; looked gravely round the luxurious apart- ments aud over the pampered youths there congregated. **And I’m hanged if I like the looks of I hope this hyer Merriwell will pau out. If he should prove to be only another runt with shiny shoes and a high collar, smokin’ a stinkin’ cigarette, I’d shore go back -on Buckie ferever after. Gents, them’s my sentiments, if I have to be sorry fer ’uim.”’ se then CHAPTER ITI. IN MERRIWELL’S ROOM. In Frank Merriwell’s room that even- ing a number of Frank’s friends were gathered, after the customary manner. ‘‘Have you seen Badger’s new y friend ; 28 asked Diamond. : “ve heard of him,’’? answered Merry. ‘‘He wants to see you,’’ said Rattleton. what I heard this afternoon I think Badger’s been praising you to him. The funniest story is rowing the ground =I mean going the round—about the way Buck and this cowboy strolled intg “TIP TOP WEEKLY. 7 Chickering’s room and fairly frightened Lew Veazie aud some of that set to death. They say that Veazie almost fainted. Higgins—that’s the fellow's name—had a big sheath knife about him somewhere, with which he proceeded to pick his teeth after he had carefully sharpened it on thie leg of his boot.’’ “Say, Dauny Griswold. sheath knife like a handsome sleigh ?’’ ‘fNot the least resemblance in thie world, you red-headed idiot; though, of course, you’ll claim that there is, just to make a point,’’ shouted Bink Stubbs. ‘*Because it’s a fine cutter!’? **T should like to get out a fine cutter with a good horse in front of it,’’ sighed Frank, ‘‘if only we could have enough snow for the purpose.”’ The winter had been what is called an ‘fopen’’ one. But there had lately been indications of snow aud cold sufficient to please any lover of ice and sleighing. ‘‘And a handsome girl in’ the hand- some cutter with you??’’ suggested | Dia- moud. ‘They say that isc asked ‘Tilton Hull why he didn’t buy himself a collar protector!’’ said Saleh ‘And what did Tilton say?’ queried Bink. ‘Tilton didn’t kuow what to say, and the cowboy had to auswer his own ques- tion. The answer was better than the question.’? : ‘*What was it?’’ I’ve got one for you,’’ broke in ‘*Why isa sharpened ‘‘He told Hull that on second thought — he reckoned he didu’t need a collar pro- tector, for no doubt his father was: rich enough to enable Hull to put ona clean one every week, if he wanted to. The auswer made Hull’s neck veins swell so. that his collar almost cut his throat.’’ ‘‘Higgins was coming down the street with Buck Badger,’’ said Bink Stubbs, © ‘“when Badger pointed ont to him a fire- escape. Badger seems to be showing tlie & chap all the kinks here. ‘A fire-escape ?’ said Higgins, looking at it. ‘How in création does the fire escape down ‘that dinged thing? I suppose it must run down it like lightnin’ down a lightnin’ rod!” “You just made that up,’’ slouted Danny Griswold, throwing a paper wad at Bink and hitting him in the eye. “You know you made that up.’’ ; “One of the hardest things in” the world,’’ retorted Bink, severely, ‘Sis to keep the brass band from mistaking it- self for the entire procession. If you only had some seuse of modesty inside of your red head, Danny, Modesty and manners go together. Do you call it manners to paste a fellow in the eye with a paper wad? That’s a trick for little boys. Or do you think I’ma blank wall?’’ “T think you’re a blank fool! Man- ners. Say, fellows, did you ever hear about the telegram Bink sent to his fa- ther? Don’t motion to me that way, Bink, for I’m going to tell it anyway. ~ You brought it on yourself?’ "Who is. motioning at you?’’ Bink fiercely demanded. ‘‘Go on with your lying. Fortunately you’re so well known that nobody will believe anything you : may.” | “Well, Bink’ s father brought him up _on the good old model which teaches that children should be seen and not heard, aud should say ‘No; sir,’ and ‘Yes, sir,’ and respect their elders. When , Bink came on to New Haven he arranged with his father that if he found everything satisfactory on his arrival he would tele- - gtaph home ‘Yes.’ When the telegram came Bink’s father had forgotten whit Yes’ referred to, so he wired back, ‘Yes what? And Bink answered: ‘Yes, sir.’ ”’ “The trouble with you, Danny,’? said ink, breaking into the laugh that fol- lowed Griswold’s story, ‘‘is that your you’d\ be bearable. TIP TOP WEEKLY,® ‘separate people in the talking is like the writing of the busy author. ‘Busy, old man?’ said a friend to the authior. ‘Why, I’m writing so nruch that I don’t > ‘Busy,’ gasped the author. have time to think.’ ” Frank Merriwell arose in auswet to a rap, and when he opened the door he ushered in Buck Badger and Bill Hig- gins. Bart Hodge could hardly conceal his surprise. No one had really thought that Badger would bring the Kansas cow- boy to Merry’s room; for, though Merri- ‘well and Badger were not eonsidered en- eulies, they were still only coldly formal in their treatment of each otlier. | *‘Buck has got some scheme in his mind,’’ was Bart’s thought. ‘‘I don’t see how Merry can be even friendly to him. I can’t pretend that I like him or can even tolerate him, and I’m not going to try.’’ Badger was introducing the cowboy to Merry’s set, though Diamond and Rattle- ton were plainly discomposed. Merry, however, was as smiling and pleasant as a summer morning. It was not Merri- well’s custom to wear his heart on his~ sleeve for daws to peck at. Nevertlieless, like Bart, he was wondering if Buck Badger did not have some ulterior motive in bringing the rough cowboy to the room. To do Badger justice, however, though he hoped to get Merriwell défeated in a contest with Bill Higgins, he meant no insult, in bringing the cowboy there, Badger was a bit obtuse in some things. He was so much a stranger to the lines of caste and the class distinctions which fast that it did not occur to him that these educated college men might not like to meet Higgins. Bart’s acknowledgment of the intro-_ duction was a surly growl. He was deter- — mined to. hate Higgins quite as much ae he hated Badger. | vo After shaking hands all pans in his earnest, if boisterous, manner, the ane es ; pisnee again to Frank Merriwell. he said, with a “Buck writ **So this is Merry,’’ : 3 é : : gentiine burst of enthusiasm. home all about ye. He said you was a man, and dinged if ye ain’t! Put ’er there ag’in! Shake!’ eee ee ee CHAPTER IV. ‘ BILL HIGGINS’ CHALLENGE. Since his arrival in New Haven the fact had dawned on Bill Higgins that he was attracting a good deal of attention. Nothing suited him better. His vanity was tickled. It delighted him to be the ob ceutre of an-admiring throng. ~ . Now he threw himself back in the i chair that had been given him, elevated one spurred boot on his knee, thrust his “| et thumbs iuto the armholes of his vest and Oe looked about. es ‘So this is the man that kin out-run, a | an’ out-fight, an’ out-rastle anything an’ everything that comes ag’in him!’ He glanced straight at Merriwell. “‘T make no such claims,’’ Merry, “and I’m sure that none of my friends make such claims for me.’’ ~ Harry Rattleton twisted uneasily. “Buck writ home that you was the best man in the collige!’’ ‘*So he is,’’ spluttered Ratt] eton. eee Batt Hodge gave Buck Badger a fs searching look. eo: “I think I see Mr. Buck Badger’s little a game,’”? he mused. ‘‘He wants to get Merry into trouble with this cowboy, thinking the cowboy will do him up. No doubt Higgins carries a gun, and of course he wouldn’t hesitate to use it. I i oes ho ot sri FC Se said he thought it was safe.”’ ‘(T’d like to see ye 'rastle with one o’ “Yd like to see ye have a tussle with | _ Buck. ae _ He came near saying Buckie, but ‘G lipped the final aati for Badger had TIP TOP WEEKLY. ? believe Badger would use one himself if: the boys!’ said the cowboy, longingly. ~ ready for any sort of a contest ?”” warned him that he was not pleased with that nanie. Merry only smiled. “Mr, Merriwell and I are not caring - for anything of the kind at present,’’ said Badger, slightly coloring. “T hope you ain’t afeared of him ?’’ the cowboy blurted. ‘‘If ye’re afeared of him, I'll tackle him fer ye.”’ “No, I’m not afraid——”’ At ’rastle, try somethin else. boxin’, any ol’ you won’t Runnia’, jumpin’, thiug.”’ ‘(Merry has always been able to own his hold—I mean hold his own,’’ splut- unable to control his in- met a mau tered Rattleton, dignation. ‘‘He has never yet that could beat him.’’ . “At any old thing whatever?’ said — Bill Higgins. “Ves, at any old thing. I don’t care what it is. I?ll bet on Merriwell.’’ ‘“My friends are over-enthusiastre at times,’’ said Merry, hoping to turn the conversation. ‘‘It’s a good thing to have warin friends, but——’’ . “T have said nothing that isn’t strictly - true!’ Rattleton asserted, with warmth. “There hasn’t been a man in the college who has been able to beat you.”’ “Of course Mertiwell hasn't every thing,’’ suggested Buck Badger. ‘Not everything, Buckrum,” replied Frank. ‘‘No man can claim to be expert at everything. This is a day of special- — | ists. Ifaman makes himself strong in” one form of athletics-or in one branch of — study; it is the most he can hope todo. — When he spreads out over too many xs things, he dissipates his strength and — foredooms himself to failiire.”’ eee tried “But you've always claimed to. be ‘4Never,’? answered Frank. ‘I ave: never made such a claim.2’ ‘*Well, ots friends have made the claim es you ee 10 ‘‘And make it again,’’ shouted Rattle- ton. Bill Higgins smiled in a crafty way. *‘T allow that there is one thing that you have never tried with Buck?’’ he half queried. Then he dropped his hand to the raw- hide lariat that hung at his belt. “T knew Buck Badger had come here ‘prepared for something,’’ thought Bart Hodge. ‘Why does Merry have anything to do with a chap of that sort? He regular snake in the grass.’’ “TI have challenged Mr. Merri- well to such a contest, because it wouldn’t be fair,’? Badger put in. ‘‘He doesn’t know anything about roping.’’ “Oh, he doesn’t ?’’ snéered Rattleton. **T do not claim to bea rope expert,’ said Merriwell. “But they told methat you was allus ready for any ol’ thing,’’ insinuated the cowboy. “*Who told you that? iebcnart ?? “Nothing of the kind,’’ said Badger, is a Hover. growing angry. ‘‘You ought to know that I wouldn’t.. Still, I have heard the clain). just as he has. He heard it at Chick- ering’s. I heard it all over the grounds—that you are a phenom, ready for anything, at any time.’’ **T niake no claim to being a Frank cally insisted. "Well, Buck does, an’ I’m sorry that you’re taking water on that proposition, for I’d like to have him show you jist what he can do with a riater.”’ have and roper,”’ **T haven't. said that I do not know how to throw the rope,"”’ said Merry. ‘‘I merely say that I can lay no claim to be- ing an expert. I have practiced a little. T always think it a good idea to pick up ei every stray bit of knowledge that cne Be can, for there is no telling when it may beofuse. I had a chance to take some B practice lessons while in the West, and took. them, but I have not touched a lasso for a gacd wil 7 TIP TOP WEEKLY. the cowboy, the riata was as. much a opart ‘“Tell ye what,’’ said Higgins, scent ing a bit of favorite sport; ‘‘you and Buck make a try of it. If ye beat Buck, then I?ll let you have a whirl at me. But Buck’]] beat ve all right.”’ | He ltad offered Merry what he consid- ered the greatest of lonors—an oppor- tunity to meet him in a roping contest if Merriwell should prove himself a skillful thrower. was so fine a thrower of the riata that he was known on the Kansas ranges as the ‘Rope King.”’ TON CHAPTER V. BILL HIGGINS IS SURPRISED. That which is to the great majority of Americans a mere rope with a loop at one eud, is in the hands of a iman_ skilled in its use one of the cleverest and, at the same time, one of the most dangerous weapons in existence. If the merits of the lasso were better known there would be good ‘‘ropers’’? in every part of the continent, and trope throwing as an ainusement would not be confined to the | cattle ranches of the West. Few men knew better the value of the ‘rope’? than did Frank Merriwell. As he had said, lis habit to utilize every opportunity to acquire knowledge of léarning and sport. He had practiced with persistence and intelligence, utilizing to the utmost. his limited opportunities when they came. If Buck Badger thought that Merry knew next to nothing about throwing a ‘‘rope,”’ as tle lasso is called on the ranges, he was likely to have his eyes pocnee in an unexpected manner. Yet Frank was not poastinnt nor did he fancy that Buck Badger, and, least of all, the cowboy, would be easy to defeat in a rope-throwing contest. He did not it was and skill in all manner doubt that Badger had been carefully ‘ trained to the use of the riata; and as for For the Roper from the Cimar- ~ ‘ in handygsome time,”’ of his every-day outfit as was his wide- brimmed hat. The place selected for the meeting was the gymnasium, and the time early the next forenoon after the taik in Merry’s room, Bart Hodge and Harry Rattleton came to the gym with Merry. Buck Badger was there aliead of them, accompanied by Bill Higgins. Others came in shortly afterward, and before the contest began the gym was fairly crowded. A space had been cleared by tiie re- nioval of some horizontal bars, and a post had been set up for roping purposes. Bill Higgins was already stringing his rope to test it, and had twice hurled it over the post. Buck Badger was unlocking a hand- some ‘‘grip.”’ ‘J haven’t had this rope out since I have been here,’’ he said, half apologeti- cally. ‘“Why did you ever bring it to college with you?’’? Harry Rattleton asked, bluntly. *‘You didn’t expect to find any steers running wild in the streets of New. Haven ??’ **T didn’t know but that it might come ” Badger answered, “To be honest with you, I did think once that I’d try to introduce roping as a sport worth practicing, but backed out when I took time to consider it. I allowed that you fellows would think self-conceit’ was at the bottom of it, if I did.” He took a handsome rawhide riata froin the “‘grip,”’ aud strung it across the floor. ““There’s fifty feet in that, ” he said, proudly. “Bill’s rope is a bit longer. You may have your choice of them, Mer-' , ‘riwell.’”’ — ; He looked Giicainnly. round. “*T declare to you, fellows, I don’t feel just right about this challenge which Higgins has made, and which I have ac- cepted with him. It doesn’t give Merri- eS well a fair deal, I’m afraid. ”9 f TIP TOP WEEKLY. on Morton Agnew was there, and Gene Skelding, and a number of others who would have been delighted to see Frank Merriwell brought to humiliation. **Oh, he’s always ready for anything !”” Aguew sneered. Merriwell affected not to notice tlie sar- castic cominent. *T’m obliged for your offer, Buck- rum,’’ he said to Badger, ‘‘but I have brought a rope of my own.’’ Buck Badger stared. Before he could frame a question, Danny Griswold and Bink Stubbs came into the gyninasium, with what seemed to be an armful of ordinary three-eighths inch hemp rope. Merry took one of the ropes, the one held by Bink. **T prefer my own rope, so I’ve gone to the trouble of getting some that will an- swer.”’ a Buck Badger reddened. He was not | sure whether Merriwell meant by this to cast suspicion on anything not furnished by himself or if he was honest in his as- sertion that he preferred to furnish his own lasso. Bill Higgins whirled round sharply on | his high-heeled boots, ‘You can’t do anything with a green rope; that is, I mean to say that I reckon you'll throw away whatever @hances you’ve got if you try that. A green hemp rope ain’t in it with a soople raw- hide.’? ee Bart Hodge was looking decidedly ngs ce easy. ‘*Don't take any foolish risks, Merry,” he managed to whisper. ‘‘You’re all ~ right, I know, but it won’t do to take] risks. I want you to beat Badger and this <4 cowboy blowhard so badly that they will | want to sneak off by themselves and hide.’? | ee Bart Hodge, Rattleton and Dianiond | had been with Merry the previous even ing when he went out to make the sel each yt tion of the hemp rope which he meant to use for his lassos. They had been with him, too, when he prepared the ropes and stretched them. | from the hands of Bink Stubbs, was forty-two feet long; the other was sixty feet long. There are few cowboys on the ranges who can successfully string a ‘sixty-foot riata, as Merry knew. Having selected his ropes and taken ‘them to his room, Merry had given them - asoaking of two hours in water, after having secured the ends from fraying by winding them tightly with shoemaker’s wax. He had nade the houda (loop) by ‘‘orafting’’ one end back on the rope, and winding the ‘‘graft’’ also with shoe- maker’s wax. No knots had been used. Having soaked the new lassos for two hours, he had whipped them free from _ kinks and had then stretched them tight between two posts, not by tying the ends -tound the posts, but by securing them _ with other ropes. He had deft them that | way until morning, when they were found perfectly dry, free from kinks and pliable almost as if made of rawhide. Still, as he knew full well, they were not the equal of rawhide riatas by any means. His friends knew this, too, and that was - why Bart Hodge was uneasy. _. Bill Higgins looked at the hemp rope, ‘first with a show of scorn, and then with - quickening interest. _ ‘Then he came straight up to Merry. wo uy reckon you won’t object if I take a look at that?’’ he said. a “Not i in the least,”? Merry cheerfully responded, _ “Merry’s got the fellow rattled al- _ ready,” was Harry Rattleton’s gleeful thought. ‘‘I’m metting my boney—I mean i scala my money that Frank does both rT ee He pulled out. a roll of money ane ; stipes off an X. TIP TOP WEEKLY. One rope, the one ieee had ei string’? his riata. % ; Frank Merriwell,’’ he declared, cautieus- - ly, as betting was not permitted in the gym. “Against who?’’ said Gene Skelding. ““Against either of them; against both of them.”’ ‘“T'o make such a bet as that with ‘you would be too much like ‘robbery,”” said Morton Agnew. ‘‘Dare you do it?’ demanded Rattle- ton. . - ‘*Let us save our money for something else,’? said Morton, .meaningly, upon Rattleton colored. Bill Higgins was carefully examining Merriwell’s riata. ‘‘Temme see t’other’n,’’ he begged. “Certainly,’’ said Merry. ‘He took the second lariat from the arms of Griswold and passed it over to the cowboy, who scrutinized it in the same critical manner. aio ‘‘Pardner,’’ said Higgins, in a grave voice, ‘‘did I understand you to say that you wound these hyer ropes and loops?” ‘“To be sure he did,’’ declared Rattle- ton. ‘‘I saw him.”’ m4 ‘Then all I've got to say is that you know athing er two about ropes, an’ I wouldn’t ’ve believed it! Why, hang it, man, there ain’t a dozen fellers of the C-Bar Ranch that could do that half as slick, and T allow I know jist what I'm as tallein’ about.’’- ’ . There was something in the cowboy’s voice that was more than surprise ; it was -almost awe. Buck Badger turned away and. began to Then he stood back and cleverly tossed it over the pole that had been fixed upright in the centre of | the room for tle purpose, . ‘‘T guess there ain’t any more to be said,’’ said Bill Higgins, with an_ air ‘CE | mental bewilderment. ‘If you~ “beaten. Buck, I’m ready to tackle ye, and may the best, man win!’* y where-_ ae) he eS aside to indicate his PTT ae Byatt he felt that it would * a chance. \ Opinion that the time had come for work instead of talk. _ CHAPTER VI. THE ROPING CONTEST. The gaze of the cowboy wandered from ‘the rope which had so attracted his.atten- wielder of the rope, Frank tion to thie Merri well. Buck Badger had made his “first cast. It was a skillful one, though of no gzeat length, and Frank Merriwell was prepar- ing to throw. _ He stood erect, shaking the noose into place. As he lifted his hand for the ‘“taim,”’ he stood with right foot a little forward. The right arm came up till it cleared the head, and then began to re- volve with a movement like that of swinging indian clubs. With his easy poise and graceful motions, Frank Mer- riwell stood revealed to the Roper from the Cimarron for what lhe was, an accoii- plished and ready athlete. — “Ym afeared that Buck ain’t got niuch show ag’in him, after all,’’ was the cow- -boy’s thought. ‘‘I allow I didn’t suppose they had such a man_on this hyer ranch. «But Buck ought to beat him with the ‘rope, fer he’s lad a power of practice.’’ ‘Which was true. received training from the best ropers in his father’s employ, Bill Higgins among the number. S Buck Badger was quite confident. He was not ready to credit Frank Merriwell with much skill at riata throwing. ‘Bad- ger, in telling of his own rope as he took it from the ‘‘grip,’? had but spoken the truth. He had never tried to draw Merri- well into a roping contest simply because not give Merriwell But now that Merriwell had _ been drawn into it, something like a _ gloating feeling of triumph filled pace : aes heart. a OE: course 1 i _— —: him, Y was his ™, : whisper to Buck Badger had TIP TOP WEEKLY. yee ale o~ reflection. ‘*The only trouble is, it won’t reflect inuchthonor on me to beat him, expect me to. They will say I ought to beat: him, and I rec- for every one will kon they’re right in that.?? .* But when the noose shot out so cleanly “settled with such grace over the pole, Buck Badger felt that per- haps he would need to revise his opinion a little. But not for a moinent would he adinit to himself the possibility of being defeated in the contest. ; When at their full lengths the lassos had been looped over the pole without advantage appearingwith either of the contestants, the cowboy called for work. at some flying objects. and easily, and Thereupon a trapeze was set to swing-. ing. Fm The first throw at the trapeze fell to Frank Merriwell. He stepped forward, holding the free end of the lasso in his Jeft hand and the big swinging noose trailing in his right hand. He took a keen ‘look at the swinging trapeze, then threw—and missed ! - Bart Hodge set his teeth together in a growl. “Don’t get reckless,’’ he contrived: to. Merry a moment later. “These fellows who have been reared ‘on the ranges can be counted on to do ‘some | good throwing.’’ | Before Merriwell could reply, there — was aclapping of hands. Buck Badger — had skillfully caught the trapeze. os “Give it a quicker movement,’’ re- quested Merriwell, stepping back for as long a throw as his riata would admit of. “There, that’s better.” . The trapeze dropped like a bird with a broken wing, deceiving swiftness. to aim at it, but let fly with an apparent- ly careless twist of the wrist, and oe the end of the trapeze bar. Buck ones: oe. to ‘the pe lips, -and then shot back with os Merry did not seem _ sneered Gene Skelding. 14 while a dazed look caine info the eyes of - Bill Higgins. ‘It was just an accident,’’ whispered - Morton Agnew to some of his friends. “He couldn’t do that again in a week.” But Bill Higgins knew better.. He had seen that slight and alinost unnoticeable turn of the wrist when the cast was made. He had seeit that many a time, but only whem the man using it was a most skillful roper. His heart was gripped with a-great fear that Buck Bad- ger was going to be defeated. **And it will be all my fault!’ he men- tally groaned. ‘‘Ding it! Why did I coax him to go into this thing ?’’ It cost hitn a keen pang to admit that Buck was in such danger of being beat- en. Hven though he adinired_Merriwell, Merry was still only one of the boys at the = the son of lis employer and had been his pet and playmate in days gone by. Frank Merriwell heard the whispered comment of those who were sv quickly claiming that the result of this clever throw was an accident. “T should like to try for that again,’’ he said, speaking to Bill Higgins, who was the admitted umpire of the contest. Badger caught eagerly at this. He did not believe that Frank Merriwell could again rope the trapeze bar in that way. ‘“collige,’’? while Buck Badger was “Go ahead,’’ said Higgins. ‘Take your turn, said Frank. “Try for the point of the trapeze bar, just the lower left hand tip as the tra- peze flies back,”’ Badger,”’ “That’s a difficult thing to aim at,’? objected Buck. ‘Do you think you can put your noose there again ?”’ **] haven’t said. No man can tell.’? “Of course he can put it there again,’ ‘He can put it _ just where he pleases. ’’» "Vou bet he can!’ suapped Harry Rattleton. ‘‘And you'll see him put it all over your friend Buck Badger, too.’’ TIP. TOP WEEKLY.) “Wait until he has done it,’’ said Ag- new. ‘Time enough then to talk.’’ Buck Badger had stepped into position. He held the big noose in his right hand and stood in the pose of a trained roper. Again the trapeze was dropped fora swift swing across the rooin. It sped again like a descending bird, then swung quickly back. Badger threw as the tra- peze crossed the line in front of him, and caught it! ‘There was a clapping of hands. His friends, and particularly the enemies of Frank Merriwell, could not conceal their delight. throw was not so good as the one Frank Merriwell had made. Instead of catching the trapeze bar on. the small lower left hand corner, the noose had swung up over the bar, taking more than half of it in its folds. The bar had been caught, but not so neatly as Frank had caught it. Bill Higgins fairly held his breath as Merriwell stepped into position. “Tf he can do what he did afore, I al- low he’s a wonder,’’ was lis thought. ‘1’m hopin’ he can’t do it.’? pe Again the trapeze dropped. The ut- most silence reigned in the gymnasium, The trapeze swung back with a swift® motion. Merry waited until it was fairly past hiin; then with a quick, snapping jerk he tossed the noose of the lasso. It went tothe mark like a bullet from a rifle. ‘whe trapeze bar stopped with a shaking quiver of the trapeze ropes. It was the turn of Merry’s friends to clap their hands and cheer; and this they did with much lustiness, led by Sesie> Rattleton. The lower left-hand tip of the canes : bar had been caught by the noose of the rope as neatly as if the noose had been ~ placed there by Frank Merriwell’s fingers. Bill Higgins’ boots. ; tee ‘Better try another trick,’’. he said. “T allow that I wouldn’t have believed But it was soon seen that the hopes went into his — - that any man not born to a rope could do that. IT reckon, Buck, we'd better try the coat trick,’’ Buck Badger said nothing. There seemed to be nothing for him to say. Frank’s foes were also silent. Harry Rat- tleton did not try to conceal his delight. “‘Y knew you could do it, old man!”? he cried. A coat was brought to the cowboy. ‘*l'm goin’ to throw this hyer coat across the room as hard asI can throw it,’? he announced. ‘‘I’ve seen fellers that could miss a coat throwed like that with a gun, an’ [’m free to say it’s a good deal harder to tech it witha rope than it is with a gun.”’ **Are you all ready, Buckruii ?’’ Frank questioned. “You have the first throw this time.’’ “Don’t make difffrunce whio throws fu’st,’’ observed the cowboy. e ‘Step into line, Buck. I’in ready to pitch any the coat. If you can ketch it ye’re a good reais.’ He threw. the coat with lightning-like quickness. . “Buck Badger threw at thie saie 110- ment. He did not catch and stop the coat; but he struck it, which was “sonie- thing, when the speed with which the coat was hurled is taken into consideration. ‘*Keep steady, urged Bart Hodge, who was standing at Merry’s ide. ‘‘Don’t throw away any chances. You can do him up, and you must do it.”? **T never throw away chances,’’ Frank now,”’ asserted. ‘‘A niiss is not always a chance thrown away. Sometimes it isa chance gained, when it makes your opponent overconfident and careless.’’ He stepped into position. The cowboy had been given the coat, and was again ready to hurl it. “*Careftl, now,’ he warned. me. I’m going to throw it, an’ it’s goin’ - jike chain lightning. This ain’t no baby test. Look out ? fae ; ae “Watch took the cowboy’s Jong riata for it. “TIP TOP WEEKLY. 16 Once more the coat shot through the air. Frank’s rope also shot through the air, but it was too slow, and dropped to the rear of the flying coat. ‘What did I tell Hodge, when Merry **You’re monkeying.’”’ like that is not to be time,’’ said Frank, with imperturbable calm. ‘Wait till Buck catches it. He no more than struck it awhile ago. Wait till he catches it.”’ He had not long to wait. At the next throw Badger the coat and brought it down with the noose round it. ‘‘What did I tell you?’ whispered Bart Hodge. ‘‘You might have done that awhile ago if you had tried.’’ you?’ growled stepped back. 4¢ . A coat going caught every stopped ‘fOh, Merry is all right,’’ argued Rat- tleton ‘’Heis just playing with Bad- ger.’ : : He spoke to Gene Skelding and Mor- ton Agnew. Frank into position. Then he threw down his rope and took up, the usixty- -foot riata, requesting Hig- gins to stand further away, which the cowboy did, eveing this change of ropes with a dubious look. stepped again Then he hurled the coat. . The rope did not fly after it immediate- ly, though it was going so swiftly. Then the long riata shot out like an uncoiling serpent, The coat was almost at the sixty-foot limit apparently, but the riata_ noose overtook and brought it down as promptly as a load of shot brings down the slain bird. ‘Tt was a hemp rope, too!” reflected Bill Higgins. ‘Buck is up ag "in the real thing now.’’ 3 Buck Badger seemed to understand | now that he had no hope of winning. — Still, he was clear grit. Higgins told him — he was entitled to another throw, and he | But, ong he tried again | and again i could 16 TIP TOP WEEKLY.: not bring down tlie coat at the limit, as Merriwell had done. | **Gents,’’ said Higg ins, throwing his big hat down onthe floor. ‘This hyer leetle game is gittin’ interestin’. I allow ‘that it’s time fer the Roper from the Ciniarron to-try his hand.” CHAPTER VII. THE COWBOY’S DEFEAT. Buck Badger was deeply ‘humiliated. He had not believed that Frank Merrti- well could beat him with the rope. It was the worst defeat that he had yet met at Yale. ‘To be defeated at baseball or football was something that might be anticipated and discounted. Even to be beaten at oe fuiiping and boxing, as he had been by Merriwell, was not so bad as this. For was he not the son ofa ranchman, who had bden given unlimited opportunities to learn the tricks of the lasso, and was not Frank Merriwell one who could not be expected to be skilled in the use of this weapon? Badger’s face was flushed. He tried to conceal the bit- terness that rankled in his heart, but he could not. Bill Higgins did not fool with the short viata, but took up his own long rawhide, _ which had seen hard service in the work _ of the ranch, and through much use had become pliable asa silk cord. aS, ‘Higgins first tried the point of the tra- _ peze bar with his long rope, and Frank ‘Merriwell duplicated his throw. ‘Then Higgins tried the flying coat, - catching it neatly at the farthest limit, and again Merriwell duplicated the throw. “He can just rake them in in any old way,” said Harry Rattleton, delighted at ‘the skill Frank was showing. ‘‘It won’t take him long to cow. this showboy—i “mean show this cowboy that he don’t ‘know half as much about roping as he thought he did.”’ et : But Merry himself was not things any » Frank . Merriwell His ee was Braves but aE atts on, boasting. He knew that serious work was now being cut out for him. The Roper froin the Cimarron was a master of the lasso. To defeat such a man would bea difficult thing. Yet he was resolved to do it if he possibly could. Hence in making his throws he used great care, calculating with his unfailing eye the distances to a nicety. “Git somethin’ littler,’? commanded the cowboy. ‘‘That there towel, will ye? This hyer is gittin’ int’restin’. I allow I have got to believe Mr. Merriwell when he says he was never in the cowboy biz- ness, but I don’t have to believe him when he says he ain’t no roper.”’ Bill Higgins, it was noticeable, was becoming as careful as Merriwell in mak- ing ¢his_throws. He hoped Merriwell would not be able to stop the flying. towel, and that the contest would thus be ended. The cowboy cleverly Sercad the towel at a distance of forty feet. Then Merri- well threw and as cleverly stopped it at fifty feet. . “With a hemp rope!’ Higgins in- wardly gasped. ‘‘I reckon, Bill Higgins, when this hyer thing is through with, you’d*better git this hyer collige chap to show you how to throw a rope!’ Higgins unwound the red handkerchief’ from round his bony neck. Then he'took some lead slugs out of one of his pockets, placed them inside the folded red handkerchief, to give it ‘heft?’ as he said, and tied it into a loose | ball. was his thought. ‘‘Fire away,’’ he commanded, when the man who was doing-the throwing was in position ready to toss the handker- pes chief. ‘The handkerchief spun “Agivotigh the air, and Higgins Hepat it at fifty feet. stepped into place. “Tf he ketches that he’s a wizard!” , c ict eget ana ‘I'm feeling very well, thank you.”’ Merry took a chair in the easiest way, and coolly drew it toward the table. _ “Go ahead,” he said. ‘‘I’ll just look on awhile. I always liked to watch a game of poker. No objections, I — sie ?”” Ngee “You never play, I believe?’ ques- tioned Agnew, with a disagreeable simile, — mentally cursing Frank for an intruder, The waiter approached with the tray, but Merry declined to drink. . Rattleton — es hesitated, then refused also ; while Dia~ . mond poured out a very little. ‘Si sae ee : rents care for at, said - Badger. x a “Why don’t you fellows drink whiskey if you. want to drink ?”” ‘tT will send for some,’’ said Agnew. ‘‘No, don’t trouble. I don’t care for anything. I believe you were dealing, Diamond?” = Thus recalled to himself, Diamond be- gan again to throw out the cards. “T hope I’ll get some kind of a hand,”’ said Rattleton, nervously. ‘‘Luck has been against me lately.’ | “‘Nothing but a little quiet sport,’’ said Agnew, apologetically to Frank. ‘‘There’s hardly enough going on to stir one’s blood. ’’ \ ‘“What about that lassoing?’’ ques- tioned Danny Griswold. ‘‘I called the at- tention of the chief of police to the possi- bilities of the lasso yesterday. I think I can get him to arm every policeman with atope. Then woe to the scorchers on ‘bicycles and automobiles, and the drivers of fast horses.’” : ‘*Better get out a patent on the idea,”’ said Merry. -. “Jve applied for one,’ sastared Gris- wold. ‘You'll see my advertisements in the papers next week. ‘Warranted to -- stop anything,’ that’s the way-I’ll have them read; ‘warranted to stop anything, from a hotel fire to the fellow that’s run- ning away with your best girl.’ ”’ ‘And we’ll get Merry the position of chief of police, ’? suggested Rattleton. . A ‘come-down like that?’? snorted Danny. ‘Well, I don’t think! The posi- tion he’s got right here in the college goes ahead of anything that could be - offered to him outside. Chief of police! Why, he’s chief of the athletes!” ‘*And he doesn’t flunk when it comes to the recitations, either,’’ asserted ae tleton. | Merriwell only smiled. “Oh, you fellows make me weary!" Buck Badger growled. ‘‘You’re always singing about Merriwell, Us “Done you, _ inet, the: same!” sapree looking at his hand. game to Frank ‘Merriwell. ‘the fact that more than once ‘Merriwell. had admitted to his friends that ecard » TIP TOP WEEKLY. 3 SS a ae Griswold. ‘‘And you didn’t think that — he could either, with a rope.”’ : Radyer turned to Merriwell with a dis- gusted air. ‘“How much do you pay. these ee for this sort of stuff ?”’ “Oh, come off!’ said Griswold. ““You’re sore because he beat you in that roping contest. Why can’t you ‘take your medicine like a man?’ Danny Griswold was bold because he felt sure that his insignificant size pro- tected him. Then, too, he felt the assur- ing protection of the friends present. Buck Badger looked at him with chok- ing contempt. “If you weren’t so measly little and no-account, Danny Griswold, I’d try to teach you some manners. It would be effort thrown away, though.’’ ‘‘No quarreling,’’ urged Morton Ag- new. ‘*That’s not what we’re here for, gentlemen. ”’ “‘No,’’ thought Merry, ‘‘you’re here for quite a different purpose, that’s appa- , rent. But I hope to clip your claws by and by.’’ _ “The roping contest is a thing of the — past,’? he said, aloud. ‘‘I see no particu-_ lar use in discussing it. I confess that I was very fortunate.”’ ‘Oh, you don’t boast yourself!’’ Bad- ger sneered. ‘‘You don’t need to. All _ you have to do is to give your friends the tip and they stand ready to do the blow- fg 2S * Merry smiled in his placid way. **T didn’t come here for a quarrel with. you, Badger,’’ he answered. ‘‘I thought I’d drop in, and I’d like to look on while you fellows are playing.” Diamond had dealt the cards and was’ thinking of what he saw there so much. as of the possible consequences of the He recalled” But he was not. 7 22 -playing was his weakness. Now he was afraid that Frank would want to get into the game, and that, once started, he would not be able to resist the tempta- tion to continue playing. Diamond had felt the strength of the fascination of poker playing himself. He did not want his friend Frank Merriwell to become its slave. Harry Rattleton was right in his con- Clusious. The man or boy who plays poker is treading dangerous ground. Poker playing is like the liquor or mor- phine habit, and no Keeley cure has as yet been devised for the relief of its vic- tims. Once a victim to the poker habit aman feels that he is aslave and despises himself accordingly. quit; or, if he quits for a short time, it is but to return. When he swears off, as he is likely to do, he is usually ashamed to confess the fact to his ‘‘set’’ lest they laugh at him. The young drunkard is no more to be pitied that is the youth who has become an inveterate poker player. 4 _ Honest gaines of poker are played, of course, but for every honest game played there are nine dishonest ones. The hon- est poker player will run up against the sharpers sooner or later; and then the temptation will come, when he begins to understand their tricks, to adopt those tricks for his own. To every poker plaver there will come atime when it willdo him good to re- “member the injunction, “‘Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.’? He may not believe that he will ever use his knowledge of dishonest play, but when a large pot is on the table, the temptation to win by fair means or foul may become too strong for him. © The only safe way is to let poker play- ing alone. If you never learn the game you will never play it... It makes honest men dishonest—it makes yap: crim inals, jailbirds!..-«:/ es sioagise of Frank’s pel: trou . tage ghey TIP TOP WEEKLY. é But he does not. bling Diamond, and similar thoughts troubling Rattleton and even Danny Gris- wold, the playing was resumed. eet ee CHAPTER X. FRANK MERRIWELL’S TEMPTATION. “Just a gight Jame—I mean a light game, of a quarter limit,’’ said Harry Rattleton, apologetically, addressing Frank Merriwell. “It’s easy to lose considerable money , in that sort of a game, though,’’ Frank observed. ‘I’ve known a man to drop fifty dollars at it in one sitting, when the ES cards ran against him and he tried to bull Hee the game.”? a Morton Agnew looked nervous. He would have given alimost anything to have had Frank Merriwell out of the room. ‘You can sit behind me, Merry,’’ said ‘Rattleton, still, with that troubled feel- ing. ‘It will be all right, I guess, if he sits behind me? He’ll see no other per- son’s hand, and I'l] take the chances of : his giving away what I hold.” tg “Oh, all right,’’ said Agnew. ‘I’m : not making any kick. But I thought you understood about our rule against jspecta- — tors. It’s no use to make a kick over it now, though, so we’ll just go ahead.”’ Mertriwell was not to be induced to leave the room in that way. He had come there for a purpose, and that pur- pose he meant to try to carry out. ‘(A quarter limit is rich enough for my /blood,’’ laughed Danny. “We are losing time in talk,” oieised Buck Badger. ‘‘Goon.”’ Frank watched everybody as the play proceeded. Danny was an impatient play- er, though he contrived to hide it from — inost eyes by his running fire of jokes and puns. Rattleton was too easily elated, — while Diamond was a steady, nervy play- er wno should win under ordinary cir- cumstances in a square game. » Yet: Dia- ‘ TIP TOP WEEKLY. 28 mond, as Frank had been told, had been losing steadily to Morton Agnew. Agnew played great billiards, and Frank was convinced that he was quite as good at cards. He had white, supple fingers, and when he dealt Frank noticed that he did not ,deal the cards rapidly, but pulled them from the end of the pack m an odd way, while his thumb slipped back and forth onthe top card. While playing, his features were as unreadable as those of the Sphinx, though Frank saw that now this calm was maintained by a great effort of will. _ “Agnew is. pretty smooth,’ was Frank’s conclusion. ‘‘He’s_ pretending to play a very square game, but he isn’t. I'd be willing to wager big money that he’s marking those cards.’’ It is claimed that a good gambler can mark ali the big cards in the pack within Jess than twenty aninutes after the first hand is dealt. Agnew’s nerve began to come back to him as the game went on. It had been ‘somewhat shattered by Merry’s entrance. He not only hated Merry, but he feared him. He could not get out of his mind that night when, after being defeated by Merry at billiards, he lad yielded to the temptation to drug the man who had de- feated hin, and had been exposed in a most humiliating manner. He ‘had dis- liked Merry before that night; now he hated iim with a bitter and intense ha- tred. He knew tiiat Frank was watching him, and he had a feeling that Frank had come into the room for the purpose of trapping him. Butas his nerve began ‘to come back -his confidence came back with it, and the fear of an exposure al- - most completely vanished. | Griswold began to feel uncomfortable. - Luck seemed to be against him, for he Jost steadily. _ Rattleton, on the other ad had been winning as steadily, and soon had quite a pile of ee before him. Others ma night chips of him, and he stowed away the When he gave it to Frank. **Merriwell iiust be your mascot,’’-ob- served Morton Agnew. ‘‘You are es a very conifortable business.’’. ‘‘He’s always my mascot. I’m going to have him sit belind me all the even- : 9 ing. money. had ten dollars he Merriwell continued to watch Morton Agnew. And as he did so, there slowly grew in his heart a great temptation. He knew how unsafe it was for him to touch poker. He knew that it was perilous for him just to sit quietly and watch the gaine. “But if I play just this once, for the purpose of unmasking Agnew, I shall be justified,’’? was his thought. ‘‘I find that Ican’t unmask him by sitting here. I can’t get my hands on those cards. I don’t know that he is marking the cards, and yet I believe that he is. I thought I could tell without playing. I could soon settle the question if I was in the game.”’ This was the thing that Harry. Rattle- ton and Frank’s old-time friends. had feared. They knew well enough that he did not play poker, and liad not played tle gaine for a long time, except for some such purpose as this., But they knew, too, what a hold the game might get on him if he once began to dally with it. ‘Harry thinks I can’t play and then quit,’’ Merry said to himself. ‘‘I am sure Ican. I'd like to show him that I can!” The fever of the poker player was be- ginning to burn in Ins veins, but he fought against it. It was better, he began to tell himself, to let Agnew cheat these players than to run the risk necessary to make the exposure. Why should he care for Buck Badger, anyway? And yet he had told Bill Higgins that, he would try to save Badger from the clutches af i card sharp, Frank recalled bis own father, an sone est 1 man, who had peen ruined oe his love ah TIP TOP WEEKLY. of cards. Cards had broken up their home and: made his father a wanderer on the face of the earth—a seeker after the for- - tune he had squandered. He thought, too, of his father’s weakness had caused misery.. A hundred times she had warned Frank against playing cards for money. ’ She seemed to be reproachfully looking -at him now, and he fancied he could hear her loving voice and see her dear face. He almost forgot to watch Morton Ag- new in the intensity of the struggle that mother. His her untold was going on within him. “TY will crush it down,”’ gasped. ‘“‘I will kili it. I will let these friends take care of themselves. I can’t afford the risk.’’ The voices of the players had almost ceased to be heard by him. He was about to rise from his chair, and was beginning ‘to feel that he had conquered a great vic- tory. Then he heard the voice of Danny Griswold. “Pm dead broke,’’ Griswold squeaking, ‘‘and I’m going to draw out of the game.”’ | Mertiwell’s head whirled. -“Fellows,’’ he said, ‘‘if you’re willing, I'll take his chair and come into the game.’’ Then he braced himself, and this was his thought and resolution. “I know that Ican stop when I want to, and I know that I will: stop as soon as I have shown up this rascal, Agnew. I make that solemn promise to myself, and I'll keep it!” “7°]1 come into the game, if you’re he mentally was _ _willing,’® he repeated. SOON eae mee CHAPTER XI. ‘THE EXPOSURES. * “Don’t you do it, Merry!’ Rattleton rotested in dismay. ‘‘You mustn’t get “into this business. You mustn’t, I tell Merry laughed. He felt that he hada ‘good grip of himself, and that what he purposed to do was perfectly safe for hii. And Frank Merriwell usually understood himself much better than any one else did, not excepting his most intimate friends. “Why? he said. ‘Am I not entitled to a little of this quiet sport that you gen- tlemen seem so to enjoy? Perhaps in these mid-winter days, life is as mtich of a pull ~ mé at Yale as it is for the rest of vou, “Tt isn’t that, ”” Rattleton persisted. “Vale is proud of you—proud of your athletic qualities and capabilities. If you get to chasing the game your athletic days will soon bea thing of the past. Poker will keep you up nights, it will get your nerves out of order and get you out of condition generally; it will sim- ply ruin you for athletics. And you can’t afford that. Your friends can’t afford it.’” Buck Badger smiled in a bitter way. Diamond felt that Rattleton’s warning was timely, andhe hoped it might yet be of effect, though it must be admitted hig hopes were not strong. Agnew was inwardly fuming. Merriwell laughed again at Rattleton’ S earnestuess. ‘““That’s all sabe. Your heart-is where it orguy to be. Tam in this game, anyway.’ Hatry, old hoy: But Merriwell began to play aciuaeee | all the while watching the slender white | fingers of Morton Agnew. He watched _Agnew’s peculiar method of dealing from ae the end of the pack and how the supple — thumb slipped about on the back of the cards. He was very careful, however, to prevent Agnew from knowing that he was being so closely watched. ie It took him but a short time to be sure that Agnew had all the cards marked. He could feel the little cuts which he be. lieved Agnew had made with his sharp- ; oe. th —— _ Frank’s thought. TIP TOP WEEKLY. a5 - Finally, as a further test, when the king of diamonds came into his hands, he punched both ends of it, making slight creases with his thumbnail. The. very next hand the deal round to Agnew. He shuffled in his slow way, feeling card after card. He stopped suddenly as he was dealing. His sensitive fingers had touched the marks made by Merriwell. Something almost like a smothered oath escaped him. “What's the matter??? Buck Badger : asked across the table. . ‘‘Nothing,’’ said Agnew, though he had turned as white asasheet. ‘fA cramp struck my leg. It does that sometimes, caine when I sit too long in one position.”? He straightened his legs under the table, and then went on calmly dealing out the cards. But Frank Merriwell, nar- -rowly watching him, saw him give an ‘uneasy glance round the table. ‘He knows that I did that,’’ was Jet on. He’sasly fox. I hope he won't get scared and try to get outof the Rapa. Hs But Agnew seemed to be more bewil- dered than scared. Perhaps that was be- cause the memory of the billiard game and what followed it was so fresh in his s mind. Ina moment his face resumed its _ customary color and expression, and he showed no further perturbation. - - **Hfe is a’ cool one,’’ thought Frank. **He thinks because he isa card. expert -and can do almost anything he pleases all y g with cards that he will be more than a match for me. We shall see!’’ - Diamond and Rattleton watched Mer- ; _tiwell as well as they could without ap- | pearin g to do so, were his thoughts. — ~ Jack Diamond was steadily fsa Rat- tleton won and lost by turns. Agnew wed extensive winnings, and, BF Badge ger. ; **But he isn’t going to muscular hand fell on They woridered ae Phe Kansan rarely spoke, | how: id ever, seeming to be too much engrossed in the game. Then Merriwell fairly gasped, for his fingers had detected a new mark. Had it been put there by Agnew, or was some one elsé marking cards? He could not tell. But he turned his attention to Bad- ger, and continued to play. ‘“Thunder and Mars!’’ was his mental ejaculation. ‘‘Perhaps I’ve been wrong all the time. Can it be possible? What if Buck Badger is the fellow who has marked all these cards? Surely, though, it can’t be!?? Frank put a mark on another card and continued to watch the game. He was not trying to win, but simply to detect who the card marker was. ‘It would be all-fired funny if Badger is doing this, and Bill Higgins has sent me up here on such a wild goose chase. He has fooled Higgins, if he is—fooled him completely. And me, too. But I can’t believe that Badger is doing this _ marking !’? He watched Buck Badger very closely for a while, and discovered that the card marker was not Badger. Then he turned his attention again to Morton Agnew. He saw Agnew mark a card, and his Agnew’s slender fingers. ‘*Hal Agnew, you're the man!”’ The words came from Frank sudden as a shot from a pistol. He pointed an ac- cusing finger, pistol-like, at Agnew, who started yisleatie and turned pale. } ‘“‘Wh-what do you mean?’ Agnew huskily asked. * ‘You’re marking cards!’ accused Mer- ry, point-blank. | ‘‘Look here, gentlemen, here are the marks. See them ?’’ a = He pointed out the tiny thumb-nail cuts to the astounded gamesters. - ice “There, gentleman, is the man who has been cheating you. Look at his face, and yom can, see » guilt written nee qe TIP TOP WEEKLY, CHAPTER XII. “JUST DESERTS. Again the accusing finger covered Ag- new, who choked and began'to protest. Stick Badger was staring at accuser and accused as if he could not believe the evidence Of his senses. The other players had arisen from the table in their excite- nent. ‘hie thief!’’ shouted Rattleton. ‘‘Loke the chife—clhoke the life out of him, Merry.”’ ~ Diamond’s strangely. **T want you to look at the llarks, gen- tlemeun,”’ said Frank. ‘‘You can see’ ‘them with your naked eyes. But you -can see thei much better with the aid of this glass.’ He drew out a round magnifying glass, which he lad slipped into his pocket on leaving his room. ‘(And see his hand! This thuimb-nail is sharpened until it has an edge like a knife, while the skin of his right thumb has been filed until it is as sensitive to the seuse of touch‘as the fingers of an infant. Here is the evidence to prove what I say.’’ Merriwell’s friends did not need any proof, His uusupported word was good enough for them. Nevertheless, they looked as he cominanded, ' T'hethis is-is absurd,’’ Agnew protest- ed, striving to struggle out ‘of his chair aud to withdraw his hand. “I never heard of anything quite so ridiculous!” * ‘Except when you tried to «drug Merry !’’ growled Jack Diaiond. ‘‘Gentlemen, I protest against this out- rage!’ said Agnew, again trying to draw away his hand. ‘‘He says. there are marks on the cards. Perhaps he put thein there himself, if he is so sure of it. Why should he accuse me more than any one else? Let me go, please !”’ Frank Merriwell’s grip tightened until it seemed to Morton Agnew that the dark face was working bones of his hand were cracking. “Tet me go!’ he begged, growing deathly white. ‘Let me gol? 7m ready to let you go as soon as -you’re ready to confess to these gentlee men that you have been cheating them at cards,’’ said Merry, sternly. > Buck. seraet lifted his large frame the tate! from rage. ‘You might as well confess,’’ said Jack Diamond. ‘‘We were fools to play with such as you after the way you treat- ed Merry over that ‘aime of billiards.’ Aguew turned to Badger with an ap- pealing look. He haa hoped that he niight get some syinpathy there, for he liad really permitted Badger to take some Winnings in this game “by giving good . cards to him. But ‘what he saw in Bad- ger’s face took away his courage com- pletely. **Let mie go,’’ he panted. and Ill tell ‘everything. = Merriwell released the hand, ‘“VYou marked these cards ?’’ mauded, stern as a judge. ‘“Y-yes; that is——’’ ‘You marked them ?”? coy yes!”? ‘And you have been cheating these gentlenien at poker ?’’s ‘‘Ve-ves!”’ faltered Agnew. ‘‘Gentlemen,’’ said Buck Badger, and there was something in his voice that made Morton Agnew shiver. ‘‘I allow that I’ve just cattse to feel hurt by thie conduct of Mister Agnew. He pertended to be a inighty good friend of mine, and he nigh about made me believe it. I thought he was playing a square game. I thought when I lost, and I’ve lost a good deal lately, that I was losing it likea gentleman. I didn’t for a moment sup- pose that I was being fleeced like a genu- ine hayseed. If you will kiudly!”’ . He turned Morton Agnew around with a quick jerk, and then applied to thie re- vealed card sharp a kick that staggered © him against the wall. “Good! ee chattered Harry. another!’ “And I think I'd like to take a hand when you’re through, ” said Jack Dia- mond, Without a reply, and in the most bls emn inanner, as if he had resefved this— to himself as a serious duty, Buck Bad- ger again kicked Morton Agnew. Then he kicked him again. Agnew turned toward hie door, and Buck Badger kicked him again. Agnew - pulled the door open and = stumbled — poe and Badger EA Aue See fe He was shaking with ‘Let me go, imprisoned he de- “Give him ~ sending him through the doorway, head- first, in most unseeinly haste. At the street entrance Bill Higgins met Morton Aguew. Agnew pitched by him in great haste, his coat tails flutter- ing and his hat jammed over his eyes. Higgins wheeled round and stared at Agnew, who turned up the street ina half run. Higgins was in that peculiar mental state when one sees double. To his eyes there were two Morton Agnews with streaming coat tails and excited manners. But he was not fora moment deceived. He knew there was only one. Higgins had been in that condition of double vision before. . **Hol’ on!’’ he gasped. ‘‘Ho-hol’ on! Oh, you’re tryin’ fo run away frum me, aire ye? Tryin’ to run away f’um m-me! M-ine, Bill Higgins! Been up to s’m tricks up in the club room, I reckon. Say!” Agnew did not shop, but ‘Bill was after him. “Tf I throw at either of ’um, I’ll be shore to miss,’’ thought Higgins. ‘‘But € I throw between ’um I’m sore to ketch somethin’. Dinged if I don’t throw be- tween ’um!”’ And he did, The ready lasso at his belt shot out with a curling swish, came to a sudden halt. He threw up his hands, gave a terrified squawk, and then tried to cast off the rope. ‘“Knowed in reason tween ’um I hook on, gins. ‘Then, ) muttered Hig- seeing that Agnew was trying to free himself, he gave the rope a vank and tumbled Agnew down on his back. ‘Help! help!” Sane squawked. The door opened and Buck Badger came out hastily, followed by Merry and , the others who had been in the card ‘room. YT saw him tryin’ to run ga and J _ knowed hie’d been up to some tricks, so I jist stopped him,’ "Pm jist holdin’ ’im fer you. é Thanks!’ said Buck Bas quickly running past the cowboy. _ Agnew was trying to cast off the rope. As Badger reached him he succeeded in doing this and rose to his feet. “Thanks, my cowboy friend,” Badger peated. “Thanks !?) and Morton Agnew ’ I throwed be- ’ Higgins explained. TIP TOP WEEKLY. Then he kicked Agnew again. . . © ° ° © Morton Aguew was not permitted to escape without disgorging the money he had virtually stolen from the men who had been playing with him in what they supposed to bea square game. Finding . that this was the best.and the only thing left for him todo, Agnew gave up the money without question. He was glad to get off so easily. But he went away with a heart boiling over with rage, hate and plans for ree venge. ‘‘You’re all right, Merry!’ was Rate tleton’s enthusiastic comment. ‘‘I really was afraid for you, old boy, when you began to play. You know why. But you knew just what you were doing, and I didn’t.”? ‘‘T have not the least desire to play now,’’ said Frank. And he spoke the truth. Some way, the excitement attending the exposure and the close watch he had kept in trying to trap Agnew had temporarily taken his mind from the game itself, and he knew that he had a sufficient grip of himself to render his position safe. “Tl shall never play again,’’? he said to Rattleton, ‘‘unless it is in a case like this. I haven’t, as you know, for a good while. And I’m resolved not to Jet the gambling mania get hold of me. I ac- knowledge that for just a little while this evening I was wild to play; but that feel- ing is gone now.”’ ‘““Thank goodness!’’ said and the exclamation came from toi of his heart. . Merry took care to walk home with Buck Badger. - ‘How is it,’? said Buck, with apparent bitterness, ‘‘that all the friends I pick up seen to have proved to be crooks? Why are none of vour friends crooked ??’ . ‘“That is because I have read their , hearts,’? said Merriwell, gravely, Stand Rattleton, the bot- have chosen them right. ” “Bill Higgins told you that I was be- ing fleeced ?”’? Badger asked. Nig )? “He said to me that he did.” They walked on in si eae fora mo- ment. 2 “But why did you care to help me? 288 TIP TOP Or were you merely trying to help your friends ?”’ + “‘T was trying to help all of you.’’ **And yet we have never been friends ?”’ ‘*Not especial ty " **And are not f friends now ??? ““Not especially.’ ‘‘And I don’t aHow that I shall be your friend in the future!’’ ‘‘That’s good,’’? laughed “Thank, you for saying so, Buck. If we should make the mistake‘ of becoming friends half the spice would go out of our acquaintance. ’’ ‘Then we'll see that the spice re- “ mains!’ declared Badger. And he went his way. ' Frank. THE END. The next number of the Tip Top WEEKLY [199] will contain ‘‘Frank Mer- riwell’s Work ; or, In Training for Spring Sports. ”’ ———~9 +40 4+ Che Cip Cop Quarterlies. OOD READING “AND LOTS OF IT. Thirteen Weeklies in Each Quarterly. SOc. ts No. 2.- —Frank Merriwell’s School Days. Lay certe Merriwell Out West. » No. —Frank Merriwell in Foreign Lands. - No, 4.—Frank’ Merriwell at Yale. §.—F rank Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour Across the Continent. 6.—Frank Merriwell Athlete. — 7.—Frank Merriwell’s Second Term at Yale. 8.—Frank Merriwell’s Vacation. 9.—Frank Merriwell in Maine. 1o.—Frank Merriwell asa Railroad Man. ace Merriwell as an Actor. 2.—Frank Merriwell’s Fight for Pros- pathy? 13.—F rank Merriwell’s Exciting Adven- tures in England and France. as an All-round G The Merriwell series are written in groups of thir- teen. Each quarterly is a complete series ot group, PRICE FIFTY CENTS EACH From all newsdealers, ot by mail postpaid, from the publishers, -. Admirers of Frank Mertiwell, desieotio. wi following his adventures from the first will find these quatterlies — the most ees — in wane to procure the earlier es . City, for catalogue. proportions are excellent. 3. are ee eas shipped, eents each, and 1873, forty cents. No - one dollar and a quarter; that of 1802 fifteen cents. its face va WEEKLY, Correspondence, P., New York City. 7 ank you for your ef~ forts. We’ will take your idea into consideration. H, R., Wichita, Kan.—Iit is a Spanish coin, about forty cents, * G. S., Milwaukee, Wis.—Your letter has been sent to Mr. Standish, T. J. G., Patchogue, L. ic None coin is Spanish, and is worth about twenty-five cents. Bill, Norwalk, O. —YoOu do not give your age, 80 we cnet offer an opinion. Write again. J. P. S., No Address. —It depends entirely upon how far advanced you are in your studies. H. C, J., Omaha,’ Neb.—The half-cent of 1809 is worth five cents, Cc. lL, Van Z., Jersey City, N. 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M., Portland, Me.—The badges are all one price, whether for one or fifty. They- are; only sent to members. See notice in all issues. WwW: A, A, Jersey. City, on “Physical Cuiture” from A. G. Spalding & Bro., Nassau street, New York City. L. S., Chicago, Ill.—As we have frequent stated in this department, coming jockeys. Girl Reader, Sewickley, Pa.—Your giedeetion vill be submitted to Mr. Standish. Your penmanship is really excellent. a 8. Oe GS Waterbury, French & Son, G. W. worth i TPS EmeLOn Gs street, New York st +, bs, Milwaukee, Wis.—You average in either height or weight. cise more. Try Indian clubs. good, { R, D., Cicero, Ind.—l, The three-cent ‘giiée of 1865 is worth Br -five cents. 2. No premium on. the quarter of 1831. New York City. ~R.OL., Toledo, Ohio.—The half-cent of 1833 is worth five cents. No premium on the cents mentioned, or on the twe-cent piece of 1865. The three-cent pieces of 1865, 1866 and 1867 are worth twenty-five cents each. No premium on_any of the other coins. Coin & Stamp Company, York City.- ot Da sekee! Wig Springfield, Hl. —1. The swantidel: century : begins the ist of January, 1901; are not eomplete ‘until December SASt pL OOs Bay ‘We will see that the 4, Your handwriting is goo CG Altoona, Pa.—No premium on the copper cent ~ of 1818. The ‘fying sagic: cent of 1856 is worth one dollar and a half Bein Reading, Pa.—The three-cent piéces: of 186 1866, 1867 and 1869 are worth 25 cents eac |; that o 1868, thirty cents; those of 1870, 1871 and 1872, fiftes. emium on any of the half-dimes. The dollar of 1795 is worth , one dollar : oe ‘Columbian aoe, Aa is. worth o You should exer- Your. You B., alte... N. J.—You can obtain a book . we do not approve of boys be- Fey: Conn. —Write fs Samuel ~ ; are not. up to tee hen Ene is. 3. The J. W. Scott Co., 40 John street, The Scott Twenty-third street: New tae nineteen ceo hee See eee: See eee TIP TOP WEEKLY. a9 ‘ Tip TopWEEKLY- AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOuTH ” NEW YORE,°JANUARY 27, 1900, Terms to Tip Top Weekly Mail Subscribers (POBsTAGE FREE.) Single Copies.or Back Numbers, 5c. Bach. S months + «"- - + + + 65c./Oueyear - - - - - - $2.50 @ months « + + + + = o 85th) 2 copiesone year - - - 4.00 months - - + - - + «+ $1.25)1 copytwoyears - - - 4,00 ‘How ro SEND Monty.—By post-office or express money order, registered letter, bank check or drsit, at your risk. At yourown risk if sent by postal note, currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordipary letter. ; REcHIPTS.— Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper shange of number on yourlabel. If notcorrect you have not been properly credited, and should let us know at once. STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY; . 238 William St., New York Oity- APPLAUSE. I think it is about time that somebody from here said something in regard to your publication, the Tip Top Weekly. I think it is the best book that is published. If have read every one of them from No. 1 to the -present number. I can hardly wait till Saturday comes to get the Tip Top. Wishing Mr. Standish ‘and yourselves a Merry Christmas also that the Tip Top Weekly will have a pros- perous new year. ” H;,O, 'T; SCOTCH, Halifax, N. 8. We are gratified to hear from Halifax and to know that the Tip Top is appreciated there. We reciprocate your kind ‘wishes most heartily. at I wish to add my applause to that of your numerous , friends. The best that I can say. for the Tip Top is that it is the best. As for the author, Mr. Burt Standish, I can only say that he has done more for Young America than any other man. He must be a great student of human nature; his characters are real—not the kind found only in books. If it were possible, I should like to give my opinion of a certain would-be imitation of the popular Tip Top. ’But I shall refrain from so doing in order that my letter may not be scorched with the burning words I should be forced to use. I wonder if any of the T. T. readers can give me the number of the copy containing a letter from a boy, in Italy who asked about American butterflies? _I should ‘consider it a favor if some one will give me this in- formation. I-can be reached by mail at 312 St. Clair street, Cleveland, Ohio. Wishing prosperity to the publishers and author of the great and only Tip ‘Top, - BESS. J. BLAKE, . Cleveland, Ohio. You can be sure that no pains will be spared to make the Tip Top ever worthy. of its name. We trust you will obtain the information desired. All prosperity to you also, —_—— I wish to praise your Tip Top Weekly. for the good stories in it every week. I have read it now for four months, and have found every number very interesting. - Hoping it will ever continue the same, L. STUMP, . Chicago, Til. Thank you. See correspondence column. I wis to extend my applause. I have read the Tip Top -for nearly two years, and think it is the most interesting weekly published. Among my friends Frank has many. I am trying to induce them to get up a club and have the p Top on the top. I think Frank is as true as they make them. Of all Frank’s friends I like Bart best. HARRY F. KENNEDY, ; ; Troy, N. Y¥.— "We hope you will be able to form 4he club. Lét us _ signow more*about it. eee Seeing no\applause from Belle Vernon, I thought I would ew lines. I have just finished reading No, 193 Top, and like the Tip Top better every time I read it. I can scarcely wait till Friday, when I can get ink Frank Merriwell a hero, ‘“True_ as Steel,’ also ‘4t. Ith think Elsie is the girl for Frank. I think Bart will marry gets. Hurrah for Frank Merriwell and the Tip Top Weekly. Long live Frank Merriwell and his chums. ERB NE eT Ser aoe FRED CLEGG, — Pitty Aeted Rie May oe eng: EEO NN OENOl, “ant Thank you. A Happy New Year to you!) he Ss ot ote " to more interesting every week. I think No, 1 _ Year to- Iam going to be ‘‘Frank’’ with you. Seeing no applause from my own city, Canton, I will tell you my opinion of ‘‘Merriwell,”’ the great college athlete and hero of the great est college in the United States, That he is all right is **True.” Nearly every boy in our town reads your fine paper now, and some always have done so, “‘As” it is the best one pub. lished. It is a clean and moral,paper for boys, as its lesson helps to ‘Steel’? them for their life-work in the future, I hope I shall grow up like Frank, and be able to go to Yale. OPUS TENERI PUERI, Cafiton, Ohio. We trust your ambition will be gratified. It rests largely, you know, with yourself. You have very cleverly introduced in your letter the name of the hero and the motto of the Tip Top League. : s For more than a year I have read the Tip Top Weekly, with many other papers, but none is to be compared to it. I have followed Frank on the stage, abroad and at college, and heartily agree with many others that Tip Top is the best weekly published. Look at some of the ap- plause—letters from Maine to California via New Orleans, which show how your paper is appreciated. I hope f may® make the following suggestion: That Frank, Bart, Dia- mond, Rattleton, Elsie and Inza go on a camping _ trip next summer to the mountains of Virginia or New York. I have camped in both, and I know Tip Top’s friends would enjoy Frank’s adventures with bear and deer in the wild forests. Frank certainly got the best of Badger in the jumping contest. Mr. Standish is a splendid writer. When- ever Frank gets in a tight place, and it seems impossible for him to escape, then Mr. Standish shows that he is a good writer. He brings Frank out of his trouble s0 nat-— urally that, although mere fiction, it could easily be true, , PHILIP D. SMITH, Baltimore. Md. We are very much obliged to you for your suggestion, which will be submitted to Mr. Standish. We agree with you and many of our other readers that one of Mr. Stand. ish's great charms is his naturalness: We are very proud, and justly, of the letters we receive from North, South, East and West. Sones & I have just finished reading No. 194 of the Tip Top W eek- ly. {I think Frank Merriwell is just the thing. I have not seen any letter in the applause column from Meriden, and Y thought I would write to tell how much I like your weekly. JI can hardly wait until Friday comes to get my paper. I would like very much to see Buck Badger becoms one of Frank’s friends; I admire his pluck and courage. Long live Frank Merriwell and his friends, and I send my best wishes to Mr, Standish. HARRY COAN, — Meriden, Conn. It looks very much as if Buck were turning toward Frank. We will send your message to Mr. Standish, who, we are sure, will be pleased to receive it. : —_—— I will write to you and say what I think of the Tip Top. But there is no use in praising it any more, as all readers know its true value. I have just finished No. 193, and in that I think Bart Hodge shows his true character. and has. met the girl he loves. No need to tell of Frank’s choice, as we all know it is dear little Elsie. That great hero, who’has such a fine name, is simply &wful in trying to copy from the Tip Top, It is making the book a perfect farce. Giving three rousing cheers for the Tip Top | kly. EARL BEVERLY, eee Columbus, Ohio. As we have frequently said, we welcome competition, but can afford to despise weak imitation. Thank you. | I have read the Tip Top Weekly from No, 1 to the pres- — ent number, and am.waiting for the next to hurry and come. I am surprised not to see more applause from my town than I do, but if your readers here (and you have > jots of them), won’t take the uble to send you their opinion, I will for them along th mine, and that is, “It’s the ‘only’ weekly there be!f’ I Hike Bruce Brown- ing better than any of Frank’s chums. But I hope Jack Ready will turn out to be from North Carolina; if not, that some North Carolina boy may so become a friend and — chum of his; also that Badger and Frank will be chums. I wonder if the readers that want Frank to love Inza best | noticed how he attempted to shake hands with Inza and _ started toward Elsie with outstretched arms. There is*no - doubt but that Elsie is the one for Frank. Of course, we — can’t let him get married, but we want him to love Digie — best and be with her as much as possible. As I have sa enough for this time, I will wish Street & Smith, Burt Standish and Frank 5 prosperous New Year. BOOT BORER, ; ; New Berne, N.C. "Mr, Standish will consider all that you say. We wish others of our friends from North Carolina would write. A prosperous New Year to you all! ; oe be getting more a ives the joyful announcemen 1 Merry Christmas “Your Tip Top Weekly seems most interesting. — that Bart Hodge is aay. Happy New Year to se ip ‘The Tip Top will al ou also. fvigs 30 TIP TOP WEEKLY. & Seeing no applause from Oregon, i thought I would ex- press my opinion of your loyal’and most beloved Tip Top, It is perfectly grand. There are a good many readers of your famous paper in Oregon, and I sincerely hope there may be thousands more to have and know the joy there is in reading one of your fine books. It seems that I can’t find words good enough to express the real, true happiness I find in the Tip Top.’ I think that Inza is the girl for Frank, and that he should find a place in the right side of his heart for her as he did in the first days of his early love. I like Elsie very much, but dislike her for robbing Inza of her Frank as she has. Wishing you success and a Happy New Year, I remain a true friend to we os Top. Rihana, ‘Ole A Happy Né@w Year to you and the boys of Oregon. May they all read the Tip Top and be as fond of it as you are, I have read the Tip Top from No, 100, and I think there. is no other book published that is as good for the Ameri- can youth as it. I have just finished reading No. 193, about “Grace Vernon. Will Bart ever hear from Grace again? Il hope he marries her. Good luck to. Frank, Burt L. and Street & Smith; may they live long. R. O. THAYER, Chicago, Ill. Bart will probably meet Grace again, but it is impossi- ble to foretell accurately. Good luck to you also. I have just read ‘“‘A True Kentuckian’s’’ letter in No. 188, and I agree with him in all he says. I-think it is an outrage that the paper is allowed to be published. Their hero is one who is always looking for a fight and always boasting: He settles many things in courthouses, and am sure that the readers ,will agree with me. I hope Buck Badger and Frank will be friends soon. I wish Mr. Standish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and also the readers of the Tip Top. SOUTH END, Boston, Mass. Thousands of boys and girls agree with you and ‘A True Kentuckian.’’ The compliments of the season to yow and all our friends. As I have not seen any applause from here, I thought I would write to you and let you know how much I think of Frank and his friends. I can hardly wait until Sat- urday to get the Tip Top. The following lines are what I think: } There is one lad that isn’t bad, For he is true as steel. Yet if you bother with him He’ll surely make you squeal. Oo: Avondale, Ala. We are pleased that you think so much of Frank and his friends, . : I take the pleasure of once more thanking you for. your kindness in thus placing before the public such a high- grade periodical. No doubt you will think me early with my second letter,, but, after reading the Christmas“num- ber, I could not help. complimenting you on the way you have of suiting the boys. The Tip Top is all right. I again take leave of you, wishing the author, Mr, Standish, and yourselves, a Happy New Year. ; ARTHUR BERNARD, East Taunton, Mass. ‘Write just as often as you like. We cannot hear from our friends too often. Best: wishes. Wishing to let you know of our appreciation for your weekly, we have decided to write to you a few words of applause. We think Frank is a fine character, and most of us admire Bruce Browning. We also think that it is an insult to Mr. Standish for such a poor imitation of the Tip Top to be ogee and sold. ¢ WARREN JOHNSON ELLSW ee KLINE. BERT STEWART. JOHN HOL i Thank you all. Poor imitations are always detected and rated at their just value, Gonkanviids. Pa. We, the undersigned members of the Gaiety Club, thought we would write and tell you how much we thought of the Tip Top Weeklies. In our opinion, they are a very good novel, for they are not bloodthirsty, and they are interesting. We see there is another novel that is trying - to copy from the Tip Top, but it will never sell as well as the Tip Top. We would like to see Buck Badger become - Frank’s friend. Bruce Browning is all right. We like the - idea of Danny Griswold and Bink Stubbs cracking jokes. We would like to see Frank Merriwell give Bertrand De- mene and Morton Agnew a apes drubbing. aie BE. G. J. 8. B. B. a ee! . wf Chteago, M1. YP : Al gnecess ‘to the Galety Club. an wishes. ay be. a in. the, favare. We wish to congratulate you on the success of the Tip Top. We read all the popular weeklies, and we think it leads them all. We are the night gang of the District Telegraph Company.. We have lots of time to spare, so we have to read. We think Frank is all right. We hope he will marry Inza. We are dying to hear some more about Badger. BILL BOWEN. HIRAM CROMWELL. NELSON KORKIN. WILL FOSTER. Grand Rapids, Mich. leisure time better than in You could not spend your Regards to you all, reading about Frank and his friends. I have just finished reading the last number of the best boys’ (and even girls’) paper published in the United States. To such an extent does it surpass its rival weeklies in merit, that it defies competition, and its would-be imi- tators are ignominiously left in the rear. Though in the middle class of the High School and sixteen, years of age, I find as much enjoymeént in your publication as the day when I read a sample copy of Frank Merriwell’s arrival at Fardale.: I like’ Frank’s adventures at college the best. I have a brother at present attending Leland Stanford, Jr. University, and expect to follow in his footsteps. Per- haps that will tell you why I take most pleasure in Frank Merriwell’s achievements at Yale. I am glad Frank. de- feated Agnew and Badger at their own games. I /hope Buckrum will remain an open and declared enemy of our hero, for a while at least, but that finally he will become one of Frank Merriwell’s ‘‘select.’”? I wish Ephraim and | Hans would manage to enter Yale. I would like to. see Bruce Browning (who, after Frank, is my favorite) put forth some of that reserve strength of his and play base- ball after the holidays. I am pretty sure that Mr. ish will allow Frank to marry Elsie, and I Would like to have Inza become Bart Hodge’s wife. But as for their getting married, I think there is lots of time. I simply write (it is my first letter to you) in order to let you know that we boys of San Francisco admire your hero and in what» high estimation we hold the only boys’ writer of the age, Mr. Burt L. Standish. Should he ever have Merry come to this eity, he can be sure that his hero would be well ree ceived, THOMAS FREDERICK, « San Francisco, Cal Many thanks for your excellent letter, which has grati- fied both publishers and author. 4 ™ » Of all the weekly books I have read, the best ones are the Tip Top Weeklies. I think Frank Merriwell is an hon-. orable man. The same is true about Hodge. Elsie and Inza are nice girls. I hope Frank will marry Blsie, » RANK ADAMS, New York. Thank you. I have read the Tip Top Weekly from the first up to the present date, and. wish to state that it is the best paper for old and young alike that I know of. There are lots of my friends that read them, and they express the same opinion that I do. Long live Frank Merriwell and all his friends! The Tip Top Weekly is all right; “Buck Badger’’—he is game. Frank Merriwell don’t like to aght, But he gets there just the sam NED ARMSTRONG, Hastings, Mich. No efforts will be spared to deserve the good opinion of yourself and your friends. ~_———— We have just finished reading No. 193, and we think the Tip Top is fine. We noticed in the applause column of 188 a letter from ‘‘A True Kentuckian,’’ saying there is a book trying to copy after the Tip Top. We sincerely hope no Tip Top reader will read it. Hoping a long life to the Tip Top. : FRANCIS SHEARN and HUGO McFATRIDGE, r San Francisco, Cal. I have read the Tip Top in Dallas, Tex.;. Kansas City, © Chicago, Elkhorn, Wis.; Ottumwa, lIowa,: and San Fran- cisco, St. ‘Paul and Minneapolis. - HUGO McFATRIDGE, Any reader of the Tip Top must see its SaDEncrNy. over all others. We reciprocate your good wishes. I have just been sonality No. 198 of the Tip Top, and I want to thank you for giving the, boys such a good paper. I enjoyed reading the letters of “A Constant Reader’ of Chicago and ‘‘A True Kentuckian.’? Their sentiments are the same as mine. Such an imitation of the Tip Top should not be allowed if it can be helped. They have a medal, too. How honored Admiral Dewey must be to have his picture on a medal with their fake hero! I lfke Buck. Badger, and I hope he will become a friend of Frank's. I hope to hear of Sdoker again, and also the Hammer- swells. I liked the baseball series best. We would be glad to have Frank visit Iowa some time. Wishing suc- cess to the Tip Top, Mr. Standish, and all other readers. HE IOWA BOY,’ Chariton, Iowa. 5 Mr. Standish will consider your suggestions. All our army of readers tigers hi opinion as to the imitation, — - Thank you, sg re, Kentuckian’ ae & Please accept my thanks for your instructive and moral publication, for such I believe the Tip Top. Weekly to be. Wishing the writer, yourself and your paper a long and prosperous life. MINER BAKER, f Friendship, N. Y. The Tip Top will never disappoint you, we are sure. We appreciate your kind wishes. We think there is no better: book for boys than the Tip ‘Top Weekly. We have read them from 168 to 193, and can hardly wait for them to come. We wish Frank could visit us, as our town is of the same name as the college where he goes. Long life to Mr. Standish and the Tip Top Weekly. E. R Cc. M. ea at Thank you. S..T. 4. 3, Yale, Ill. I have read the Tip Tops from No, 1. books out, and I read nothing but the ‘very much in the applause column about the imitation books out. I have read one of them, but don’t like it, -becausé the hero is all the time looking for fight. I agree with Gerald Romaine, of Lynn (No. 193), about liking Inza best, and I hope Frank will marry her. I also hope Bart Hodge will marfy Grace Vernon. I am a Nova Scotian by birth, and commenced reading your books in my own province. Wishing long life to Frank and Inza. EDWARD PAYSON, Worcester, Mass. They! are the best best I have read Neither Frank nor Bart are thinking of marrying at present. Mr. Standish will settle the question at the proper time. Glad to hear from, you. I have been reading the Tip Top from the first issue up to the latest, and they are ali that their name implies. They are fine sketches of the trials and triumphs of a true American lad at Home and abroad. The characters are excellent, and show the care the author has taken in _ mot having them too similar. Griswold and Stubbs are all right. Will Frank play on the basket ball team? Will Nagasaki, the Jap, and Frank’s cousin, be in the stories - goon? I hope Frank will play hockey, basket ball and la- crosse\this winter. I read some of those rivals (?) of the Tip Top. I call one of them the ‘‘Nightmare Imitation.’’ A boy of ten could beat the composition of the author. This alleged hero (?) can whip anybody, can throw a double- jointed spiral curve, and his ‘‘old girl’' is abducted and he chases the automobile at the rate of forty miles an hour on a wheel for a couple of hours and catches it These are a few of the remarkable adventures of this remarkable freak as related by an author whose truthful- ness can stretch like a lawyer’s conscience, but its end is” in sight. EL, s ies aoke F ; New York City. Your suggestions will be submitted to \Mr. Standish. Your estimate of our“imitator is a jusf one. North, South, Hast and West Proclaim Tip Top Weekly as the best. From frigid North to sunny South Merriwell’s name’s in every mouth. It cheered our gallant boys in blue, Who eagerly read it through and through, And in Cuba’s\jungles, dark and deep, They made the Spaniards run like sheep. tverybody finds it true That Merriwell is true blue. ; ! ADAM LUCKHAUPT, Columbus, Ohio. Your verses are by no means unworthy. _ Keep it up. Practice will help you greatly. Write us again, i I am very much surprised at having never seen any ap- - plause from Memphis, as your valuable and praiseworthy paper is read very extensively here. Words are too weak to describe the Tip Top; they are also too weak to describe that other trashy imitation of the Tip Top which is causing so much comment in the Tip Top applause columns (oppo- -gite kind of words, though). A friend of mine had his mother forbid him reading the Tip Top, because she thought it was trash. He could not give up reading the Tip Top, so he got one the very next week and determined to, read it ‘‘on the sly.’’ He started to read it and his mother caught him, and, of course, took the book away from him. He soon had the laugh on his mother, though, for he went into the room where she was and found her nearly bursting with laughter over something Hans had said. This is an absolutely true story. I would like Mr. Standish to let Frank make a tour of the South during the sumimer holidays, and visit a different city in each of the thirteen numbers, and let Memphis be in the list. .I would also like to see a Memphis boy become a firm friend of _ Frank’s and go with him afterward, just as Bart Hodge did. I hope he will do this, as I am sure it will be appre- ciated down here in ‘‘Dixie.’’ Three cheers each for Frank, \. Mr. Standish, and last, but not least, Street & Smith. FRANK .C. CLIFFORD, * = nore ° Memphis, Tenn. - Your an@edote is a capital one, and we are pleased to print it. It is always a great gratification to us to have the approval of parents, : i TIP '1OP WEEKLY. ‘numbers. -wish they would come out every day. St _have discovered its virtues. 31 I wish to write you about my appreciation of your popu- lar weekly, of which I am a constant reader. I have been instrumental in organizing a hockey club called the “Prankies,’’ of which Walter S. Foosel is eaptain and HEd- win G. Lining, caddy and water boy. The ciub would like to hear of Frank playing ice hockey. JONATHAN W. WICK, Business; Manager, Milwaukee, Wis. We trust your club will prove highly successful. We will inform Mr. Standish of your desire. I have just finished reading No. 193 of the Tip Top Weekly, and I think it the best publication for the Ameri- can youth, and I hope it will continue, for I like to read it very much. I would like to know how Bart and Miss Vernon came out in their love affair. I think every boy ought to try and imitate Frank Merriwell. Thanks to Mr, Standish and Frank and his friends. I will continue to read the Tip Top. Wishing Mr. Standish and Frank and his friends a long and happy life. ELMER MARTIN, Springfield, Mo. is found. Frank have an excellent model, as hosts of our readers Thank you. I am a great admirer of Tip Top, having read over 150 All the characters are excellent and very origi- nal. Mr. Standish deserves great credit for writing such clean stories, and Street & Smith also deserve credit for publishing them. As for the other weekly that is trying to imitate Tip Top, “I see its finish already.’’ Ww. ye = Paterson, N. -J. Both Mr. Standish and the publishers are gratified at your appreciation of their efforts. Having been reading your Frank Merriwell Series for at least three months, I think it is time I thought of getting one of your ‘‘medals.’’ I think there‘ is no better book for the American youth, not speaking of grown up people, than your Frank Merriwell Series. I think they keep my- self and a lot of other boys off the streets a good deal. Hoping you success, GEO. BERG, Brooklyn, N. Y. You are sure to like the badge. Nothing pleases us more than to hear that the Tip Top is doing good. I'take great pleasure in giving my opinion of the Tip Top Weekly. which I think beats all the other weeklies. I like Frank and all his friends, and hope he will succeed in all his undertakings. Long life to Frank and his friends and Mr. Standish. FRANCES KOSIOL, Cincinnati, Ohio. Thank you. A happy New Yéar to Street & Smith and Mr. Standish and Tip Top and Frank, and every reader of the dandy little weekly. Good hard sense and a moral book for every one is dear Tip Top. I find great pleasure in reading it. Once a fellow gets after Mr. Standish’s pen he will never let up on him. Long life for Tip Top and its gallant author. : ' JOHN T. EARLE, Springfield, Mass. We are very glad to hear from you, and warmly recip- rocate your kind wishes. ‘ This is to let you know of my appreciation of your nobie creation, Frank Merriwell & Co. They are great, ‘‘simply divine.””’ When first I began to reaa them my brother constituted himself my mentor and censor. He tore two of them up on me and read the third. He asked for an- other and another; then,in his anxiety to get them he bought all back numbers™ He now reads them regularly. A word as to that imitation. ‘They certainly are working hard for popularity, but they don’t win. «Their hero is ‘a big stiff. Is there any_relationship between their author and our dear Burt L.? In conclusion, here are three cheers for Frank Merriwell & Co., Tip Top, Street & Smith, and ‘last, but not least, our dear Burt L. Standish. E. BE. G., New York City. ® Your brother is following the example of a large number, To read one Tip Top is to want to read them all. Best wishes for you both. The two authors are no relations whatever. ‘Your other questions will be answered in the correspondence column. As I have been a reader of the Tip Top Weekly for some time, I will send you a few words of applause. After I got to reading the Tip Tops my father and friends said I would go crazy reading those novels. One day I was laughing when I read a Tip Top and they asked me what was laughing at, and I told them, and after that they did not say anything, and so I read most of them, and £ am reading them now. I am so interested in them that [ till the week is over to read Weekly. the grand book, Tip Top j Buffalo. N. Y¥. It will never harm you or any one to read the Tip Top. On the contrary, we know a host of boys who have been — helped by it. We are pleased that your father and friends 4 ‘ x. 5 I can hardly wait © ' ‘ LAWRENCE ROTHANG, | 118 TIP TOP WEEKLY. a ,cowr ‘ * LA TES i SSUES 199 Frank Merriwell’s Work; or, In Training for Spring Sports. 198 pane Merriwell’s Temptation; or, Nothing but Quiet port. 197 ee Merrivwell's “Flock;” or, The Badger. 196 Frank Merriwell Tested; or, A Doubtful Honor. 196 Frank Merriwell’s Limit; or, Calling a Halt. 194 rank Merriwell’s Stratagem; or, True Friends and False. ‘ 198 Frank Merriwell’s Holidays; ; with Old Friends. 192. Frank Merriwell’s Touch; Yet Heavy as Iron. 191 Frank Merriwell’s Generosity; or, Square as a Brick. 190 Frank Merriwell’s Drive. 189 Frank Merriwell’s Heart; or, A Royal Thanksgiving. 188. Frank Merriwell’s Sport. 187 Frank Merriwell’s “Set;” or, Picking up an Outcast. 186 Frank Merriwell’s Thrust. 185 Frank Merriwell’s Automobile. 184 Frank Merriwell’s Vii. 188 Frank Merriwell at Yale Again. 182 Frank Merriwell’s Triumph; or, In Front at the Finish. 181. Frank Merriwell’s Hit; or, Won in the Ninth, 180 Frank Merriwell’s Contidence. 179 Frank Merriwell’s Skill; or, Fighting for the Lead. 178 Frank Merriwell’s Bat; or, Saved by an Alibi. 177. ~Frank Merriwell’s Freak; or, The One-Armed Wonder. 176 Frank Merriwell’s Turn. 175 Frank Merriwell’s Fall; or, Tom, the Tramp Twirler 174 Frank Merriwell’s Ruse; or, Paid in Their Own Coin. 173. Frank Merriwell’s Injury 172. Frank Merriwell’s Determination. 171 Frank Merriwell’s Secret 170 Frank Merriwell’s Ball Team. 169 Frank Merriwell’s Return. 168 Frank Merriwell’s Friendship, 167 Frank Merriwell Doomed, 166 Frank Merriwell Suspected. 165 Prank Merriwell in Paris x 164 Frank Merriwell’s Farewell. 1638 Frank Merriwell’s Caddie. 162 Frank Merriwel at Henley; or, Life on a House Boat. 161 Frank Merriwell’s Sand; or, London Slums at Night. 160 Frank Merriwell’s Black Beauty. 159 Frank Merriwell’s Backer; or, Among London Sports. 158 Frank Merriwell’s Nobility; 157. Frank Merriwell’s Scheme. 166 Frank Merriwell’s Reception, 155 Frank Merriwell’s Boom. (154 Frank Merriwell’s Great Hit. 153 Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity. 152 Frank Merriwell's Adimivrers, 151 Frank Merriwell Betrayed. 150. Frank Merriwell Wins; or, 'Che Success of “True Blue.” 149° Frank Merriwell’s Chance; or, To Make or Break. 148 Frank Merriwe s11’8 Pluck; or, Never Say Die. 147 ae Merriwell’s F ailure. 146 Frank Merriwell’s Fortune. 145 egnk Merriwell’s Disaster; or, The Hand of the Law. 144 Frank Merriwell Missing; or,On the Brink of Disaster, 143° Frank Merriwell’s Problem; or, ‘he Vanishing of Elsie, 142 Frank Merriwelk Puzzied; or, the Mystery of Inza. ~ 1441 Frank Merriwel’s Unde pEBbUG NS 140 Frank Merriwell’s College Chums, 1389 Frank Merriwell’s Father, 138 Frank Merriwell’s Faine; or, 187 Frank Merriwell’s Play. 1386 Frank Merriwell’s New VY. 135 «Frank Morriwell Stranded. 134 Frank Metriwell’s | Own Company. ~ 183 Frank Merriwell, Mavician.« 1382 Frank Merriwell in Advance. 381 Frank Merriwell’s First Part; or, The Start as an Actor 130 Frank Merriwell on the Road. 129. Frank, Merriwell Accused; or, 128 Fri unk’ Merriwell as a Ferret. 127. Frank Merriwell on Strike. 126 Frank Merriwell’s Protege. 125 Frank Merriwell Held Up, 124 Frank Merriwell’s Advancement. 128 «~Frank Merriwell’s. Hard Luck, 122 Frank Merriyell, Engineer; or, 'The Turn of Fortune, 121 Frauk MerriWwell’s First Run; or, Chance of His Life. 220 Frank Merriwell's Opportunity. 219 Frank Merviwell, Fireman; or, First Step Upward, 5 Frank Merriwell, Engine Wiper. 17. Frank Merriwell’s Misfortune. : % 116 Frank Merriwell’s Masquerade. _. _ Frank Merriwell’s Fist; or, Bound to tiow the Truth. 14 rank Merriwell’s Daring; or, Elsie’s Sacrifice. 113 Frank Merriwell’s Drift; or, With the River AEE 12. Frank Merriwell’s Peril. ill Frank Merriwell’s Guide. 110 Frank Merriwell’s Catch. z 09 Frank Merriwell’s Pursuit. : aie Merriwell Aroused,. ; Awakening of or, A Merry Christmas or, Light as a Feather’ The Road to Success rue. Reaping the Harvest, ‘ 2 Merriwell’s Disappearance. eae riwell’s Mystery. iwell ander Meguuticook a Tip Top League Member's Badge. 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RIPSTOP LRAGUE ©... + wy STREET & Beare Bs = 8 SSEERRSESE § CATALOGUE OF FRANK MERRIWELL STORIES IN TIP TOP WEEKLY Frank Merriwell’s Skates; or, Into the Ice Trap. Frank Merriwell’s Work; or, In Training for Spring Sports, Frank Merriwell’s Temptation; or, Nothing but Quiet Sport. Frank Merriwell’s “Flock;” or, Badger. Frank Merriwell Tested; or, A Donbtful Honor, Frank Merriwell’s Limits or, Calling a Halt. 7 Merriwell’s Stratagem; or, True Friends and alse. Frank Merriwell's Holidays; or, A Merry Christmas with Old Frienda. Frank Merriwell'’s Touch; or, Light as a Feather Yet Heavy as fron, Frank Merriweil’s Generesity; or, Square as a Brick Frank Merriwel’s Drive. Frank Merriwell’s Heart; or, A Royal Thanksgiving. Frank Merriwell's Sport. Frank Merriweii’s “sety” or, Picking up an Outcast. Frank Merriwell’s Thrust. Frank Merriwell’s Automodile, Frank Merriwell’a Vir. Frank Merriwell at Yale Again. Frank Merriwell's Triumph; or, In Front at the Finish, Frank Merriwell’s Hit; or, Won tn tue Ninth. Frank Merriwell’s Contidence. Frank Merriwet’s Skill; or, Fizhting for the Lead, Frank Merriwell'’s Bat; or, Saved by an Alibi. Frank Merriwell’s Freak; or, The One-Arined Wonder, Frank Merriwell’s Turn. Frank Merriwell’s Fail; er, Tom, the Tramp Twirler, Frank Merriwell’s Ruse; or, Paid in Their Own Coin. Frank Merriwell’s Injury Frank Merriwell'a Determination. Frank Merriwell’s Secret, Frank Merriwell’s Ball Team. Prank Merriwell’s Return. Frank Merriweil’a Friendship, Frank Merriwell Doomed, Frank Merriwell Suspected, Prank Merriwell in Paria Frank Merriwell's Farewell, Frank Merriwell's Caddie. Frauk Merriwell at Hentey; or, Life on a House Boat, Frank Merriwell’s Sand; or, London Slums at Night, Frank Meriiwell'’s Black Beauty, Frank Merriwell’s Backer; or, Ainong London Sports, Frink Merriwell's Nobility; Frank Merriwell’s Bcheme, Frank Merriwell’s Reception, Frank Merriwell’s Boo, Frank Merriwel’s Great Hit. Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity. Frank Merriwell’s Admirers, 4 Frank Mer iwell Betrayed, Frauk Merriwell Wins; or, The Buecess of “True Blue,” Frank Merriwell’s Chance; or, To Make or Break. Frank Merriwell's Pluck; or, Never Buy Die, Frank Merriwell’s Failure. Frank Merriwell’s Fortune, Frank Merriwell’s Disaster; or, The Hand of the Law, Frank Merriwell Missing; or, On the Brink of Disnater, Frank Merriwell’s Problemy; or, Vhe Vanishing of Elsie, Frank Merriwell buzzled; or. the Mystery of Laza, Frank Merriwel'’a Understudy, Frank Merriwell’s College Chume, Frank Merriwell’s Father, Frank Merriwell's Fame; or, The Road to Success Frank Merriwell’'a Play. Frank Merriweli's New Venture, Frank Merriwell Stranded, Frank Merriwell’s Own Company. Frank Merriwell, Magician, Frank Merriwell in Advance, Frank Merriwell's First Part; or, The Start as an Aotor Frank Merriwell on the Road. Frank Merriwell Accused; or, Reaping the Harvest. Frank Merriwell as a Ferret. Frank Merriwell on Strike. Frank Merriwell’s Protege, Frank Merriwell Held Up, Frank Merriwell’s Advancement, Frank Merriwell’s Hard Luck. Frank Merriwell Engineer; or, The Turn of Fortune, Frank Merriwell’s First Run; or, Chance of Hie Life, Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity. Frank Merriwell, Fireman; or, First 8tep Upward. Frank Merriwell, engine Wiper, Frauk Merriwell’s Misfortune, Frank Merriwell’s Masquerade. Frank Merriwell’s Fist; or, Bonnd to Know the Truth. Frank Merriwell’s Daring; or, Elsie’s 8xcrifice, Frank Merriwell’s Drift; or, With the River Drivers- Frank Merriwell’s Peril. Frank Merriwell’s Guide, Frank Merriwell’s Catch, Frank Merriwell’a Pursuit. Frank Merriwell Aroused, Frank Merriwell’s Disappearance, Frank Merriwell’sa Mystery. Merriwell under Meguntioook,. The Awakening of ‘nak 104 103 102 1h 100 98 Meth Oates Merriwell Afloat. Merriwell’s Celebration, Frank Merriwell’s Faith; or, The Shadow of a Crime. Frank Merriwell'’s Courage; or, Nerve Against Bla Frank Merriwell’s Fardale Racket. Frank Merriwell's Choice; or, Fair Rivals of Fardaie, Frank Merriwell's Yale Chume. Frank Merriwell’s Fardule Friends; or, Od Foes, Frank Merriwell in Camp. Frank Merriwell at Fardale Again. Frank Merriwell's Courage; or, Loyal to the Last. Frank Merriwell in Training, Frank Merriwell’sa Wager; or, Bound to Win. Frank Merriwell’a Duuyer; or, Shadow of Disgrace Frank Merriwell’s Double Bheaot. Frank Merriwell’a Chum; or, The Hand of a Friend. Frank Merriwell’s Capture; or, The Black Schooner, Frank Merriwell’s Revenge; or, Aroused at Last. Frank Merriwell’s Secret; or, A Friend in Need. Frank Merriwell's Mark; or, Subduing a Bally, Frank Merriwell’s Dnel; or, A Point af Honor. Frank Merriweli as Full Back; or, True to His Colors. Frank Merriwell’s Sin. Frank Merriwell’s Initiation; or, The Secret Order. Frank Merriwell as “Anchor; or, The Winning Pall, Frank Merriweil’s Return to Yale. Frank Merriwell’s Blow; or, Unmasking a Rascal. Frank Merriwell’s Hunt; or, In at the Death, Frank Merriwell’s Crew. Frank Merriwell’s Enemy; or, Rivals of Blue Ridge. Frank Merriwell’s Thoroughbred, Frank Merriwell’s Flyer; or, The Winning Wheel. Frank Merrtwell’s Shot; or, Out With the Gun Club. Frank Merriwell’s Nine. Frank Merriwell’s Texas Tournament, Frank Merriwell’s Ked Rival. Frank Merriwell’s Combination, Frank Merriwell’s Yacht: or, Chase Down the Coast. Prize Plot Story; Frank Merriwell as the Star, Frank Merriwel!l in California. Krank Merriwell’s Underzround Bearch. Frank Merriwell on the Desert, Frank Merriweil Among the Mormons, Frank Merriwell in the Mines; or, The Bind Singer, Frank Merriwell’s Desperate Drop. Frank Merriwell Among the Rusthera, Frank Merriwell’s Unknown Friene Frank Merriwell’s Close Call; or, The Tramp’s Token, Frank Merriwell to the Rescue, Frank Merriwell’s Great Capture, Frank Merriwell’s Ride for Life, Frank Merriwells Bicycle boys. Frank Merriwell's Dash; or, Yake Agatnst the Field. Frank Merriwell’s Shadow. Frank Merriwell’s Nerve; or, Game to the Enda. Frank Merriwell’s Racer; or, Birds of a Fenther, Frank Merriwell’s Find; or, The Waif of the Train. Frank Merriwell's Queen, or, Blow Jor Blow, Frank Merriwell’s Even Up; or, ens the Score, Frank Merriwell’s Run; or, Trounecing the Tigers. Frank Merriwell’s Game; or, Snaring the Bharper. Frank Merriwell’sa Finish; or, Blne Againat Crimson. Frank Merriwell’s Victory; or, The Winning Oar, Frank Merriwell’sa Match, Frank Mermwell at Yale, Frank Merriwell at Home Again. Frank Merriwell in the South Sea. or, Cast for Life, Frank Merriwell's Dead Bhot, Frank Merriwell in Japan; or, The Bien of Avenger. Frank Merriwell’s Vow; or, Alter Big Game in Ceylon, Frank Merriwell in) India, Krank Merriwell’s Venture; or, Driven from Armenia, Frank Merriwell in London; or, The Grip of Deom, Frank Merriwell's Feut. Frank Merriwell in Franee, Frank Merriwell’s Magic; or, The Pearl of Tangier, Frank Merriwell in Gorilla Land, Frank Merriwell a Monarch, Frank Merriwell’s Mysterious Foe, Frank Merriwell’s Mission Frank Merriwell’a Money, Frank Merriwell’s Fairy. Frank Merriwell Meshed; or, The Last of the Denites, Frank Merriwell’s Double; or, Fighting for Life. Frank Meriiwell’s Friend; or, Muriel the Moonshiner. Frank Merriwell’s Merey, Frank Merriweil in New Orleans. Frank Merriwell in Mexico, Frank Merriwell in Arizona; or, Mysteries of the Mine, Frank Merr: well in Colorado, ‘ Frank Merriwell in Chicago; or, Meshed by Myatertes. Frank Merriwell in New York; or, an Unknown Foe Frank Merriwell’s Motto; or, The Yeung Life Savera, Frank Merriwell'’s Fate; or, The Old Sailor's Legacy. Frank Merriwell on His Mettle. Frank Merriwell's Furlough. Frank Merriwell's Fag; or, Fighting for the Weak, Frank Merriwell’s Mysterious Ring. Frank Merriwell’s Frolics; or, Fun at Fardale, Frank Merriwell’a Fault. Frank Merriwell’s Rival; or, By Pair Play or Fouk Fian« Merriwell’s Medal; or, ‘*Plebe” Life in Camp, Fraok Merriwell’s Foe; or, “Plebe” Life in Barracks. Frank Merriwell; or, First Days at Fardale, Frank Frank Sale by all Newsdealers, or will be sent, Postpaid, on receipt of Price, by STREET & SMITH, Puntishers, 238 m St., New York,