Trp oP WEEKLY “An ideal publication for the American Youth Issued weekly By Subscription, $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Crass Matier at the N. Y. Post Office by STREET & SMITH No. 181. Price, Five Cents. FRANK WON IN THE NINT BEFORE HE COULD REACH FIRST, FRANK RECEIVED A STAGGERING BLOW ON THE EAR. ¥ 9 Res Be dy pa de aoe SS ee — that there is a chance for us take that in his heart to win, and that we’ll chance var somehow. At first Diamond had been tr eady to declare that he jump upin anger and would withdraw from the club, for he had felt keenly humiliated to have Frank speak to him thus before the others; but, as Merry progressed, the hot-blooded Southerner began to understand the true meaning of the words being that Frank humiliate him, for every man spoken, and he saw was not seeking to but was giving a lesson on the team to profit by. Jack saw that he would be doing an unwise and unftiendly thing to pet angry and he check once in his life, at Jeast. and withdraw, held himself in ‘‘T suppose you are right,’’ he said, when Frank had finished; know how it makes *‘but you must a fellow feel to lose a game the way we lost this one to-day.’’ ‘Why, it ought to make you feel that, with an even show, we have the winning team. It was not Cea the general bad that through the fact that one man whom we playing of our team we lost, but depended upon, the pitcher, failed us. If the team had gone to pieces with Derrin- ger doing good work in the box, there. might have been something to feel bad about.”’ ‘But I know the. —I know Arteinas. Hanimerswell is spend- ing money liké water to beat us.” ~ - . z ‘*Sure thing, and therefore, it will be all the more glorious for us if we get the best of him. Wecan doit, boys! Cheer up! You have faces long enough to meas- ure calico with at a bargain counter. Come out of it! We’ll have that ee or die trying !’’ x influence against us_ Then, he laughed heartily and con 4 began to lift. CHAPTER II. REPENTANCE the hot water faucet, wrung it out almost dry, and then wrapped it, steaming hot, about be his good ‘Frank wet his towel beneath tight arm, which he had bared. “If Iam obliged to pitch to-morrow,’ he said, ‘‘I’ll have that arm shape as possible.”? “Tf you’re Harry. ““Derringer may be in——”’ A shout came from the boys. “Derringer ?’’ gaspéd Harry. **What?”’ shouted Jack **Him ?’’ snorted Ephraim. **Come off!’ yrunted Browning. **He’s rotten !’’ muttered. Bart.’ ‘*He is thot!’’ nodded Barney. in as good obliged to pitch!’ cried “*Tf you don’t, who will?’ “*Yaw, I vos.righdt,’’ agreed Hans, “Well, well, well!’ laughed Merry. “That stirred seem to think to pitch ?’’ “Why, confound it, well,’’ spluttered you up a bit. You don’t Derringer will be in shape Frank . Merri- Harry Rattleton, ina great flurry, ‘‘are you going to. fake a modl—I inean make a fool of yourself ?”? “That’s what I’d like-to know,” beneath his breath. ‘‘T hope not,’’ said Frank, as he pre- pated a second towel, and exchanged it ' for the one he had wrapped about his arm, ‘Then what are ‘you thinking about? You are not going to continue to keep Derringer asa pitcher??? * “Why nat?” “He got drunk to-day, and lost the ganie for us!’ . ‘That is true; but he has Won ; Acts of "games for us, and——’’ grated Hodge, ’ TIP TOP WEEKLY. fidently, and it seemed that tlié shadows . Hammierswell succeeded in keeping him ber of games——”’ “Oh, say, Merriwell, are you going to_ hee that a: gana’. Browning, rearing , up on his elbow to stare at Frank. ‘I didn’t think it after the talk you made to Diamond just now!?’ Diamond’s heart gave a revengeful bound at this, and he nodded his head. Surely Frank could not be soft with Der- ringer after him such a caljing down simpl he was a trifle dis- couraged. Merry giving y because carefully adjusted the second — + towel, dropping the first under the stream : of hot water. **Let me call your attention to the fact the in Derringer when he first joined the ‘*T confess that I was ; He was % Herbert | that no one had slightest confidence team,’ he said. disappointed in his appearance. drunk when he arrived, and so tfll after he lad pitched his first game. But I saw that the man could pitch well I resolved to see what I do with him. I had a talk with and IJ talked straight. TI gave hima show, aud I showed him that I’ meant to ie use him white. He tried to pitchthe | next day, but lost the game despite his if he was sober. could him, best efforts. However that was not so much his fault as it was of the rest of the 4 2 teain, for his support was poor. Justthe {| . same, he expected to be kicked out that a oe night, after nearly throwing his arm off ~ 4 - in the attempt to win; but I gave him a f-- contract to sign, and he sworethat he ~~ | would sa drinking and do his level best {| for me. | “See how he has kept his word!” ae muttered Bart. = aoe **Ves, see how he has kept his word? ff cried Frank, clearly. ‘‘He is reckoned to- | day one of the best pitchers in this league, not even barring Rockford’ * professionals. s iewes He has.won a large num- re lost the -critical one of the se- ries,’’ came fromm Bart. fo ““He has a weakness, and Arteinas. < ¢ sain bate a oe qe Hamimerswell, with his money and in fluence, reached that weakness. When he sobers up, hepswill be the most repentant fellow in the world.” ‘*T hat will not win back the game! ‘‘No; but I am certain he can win other games, and we must have him, for 19) he is the only pitcher within reach now.”’ “The N. E. League is: broken up, and you ought to be able to get hold of any amount of good men.’’ “*T can’t get them here under three or four days. Do you think I can pitch win- ning ball for that time ?”’ ‘‘No,; but——”’ **But what??? ‘**Better be without any pitcher than to have——”’ “It’s not your “brain that is talking now, Bart, and you know it. ‘T'rust this The league lasts but an- It is too late now to geta matter to me. other week. pitcher. Our only salvation lies. in my ability to handle Duke Derringer. Be sure I shall watch him closely.’? Frank threw off the towel from his arm ‘and gave it a wiping with a dry one. Then he began rubbing it with witch hazel, working. it in with his fingers. This he kept up for soime time, then changed to an oil, for softeniug the ius- cles and limbering them up.. ‘‘Ali1 your watching won’t do any good,’’ came grimly from Bart. _ Gol darned ef I ain’t afeared he’s ight, Frank,’’ put® in Gallup. Fe! s the kind’of a fellow to get drunk and stay so a week,” said Diamond. “Better let him go before he disgraces the team.”’ her ed am going to have a talk with him, and I’ll’ let you know about the. result,” said Frank, as he rubbed away at his arm. **T have an idea that he will Be penitent and ready to do any thing: he can to savers himself.”’ : - a “‘T do not take any lecocue in him Le? said . Hodge. . ‘And yet, a week ago, you confessed | -package in his hand. _tains your salary money ?’’ TIP TOP WEEKLY. 6 that you had made a mistake, and that he was all right.’’ ‘‘T made a mistake in that! kh forced myself to it, against my- inclination. I’ve always been stuffy and stuck out that I was right in everything, no matter if I found I was wrong, and I just forced my- self to give upin this. case. Now I’m sorry I did.” **T dont’ think you will be in the end, for I believe Derringer will be ready to break his arm at the shoulder to square up for this day.’ Frank returhfed to the hot towels to heat the witch hazel and oil into the flesh. There came a knock on the door. ‘*Come in;’’ called Frank. The door opened, and’ Duke Derringer slowly stepped into the room. He was holding his head down, and he looked disgusted and wretched. Dead silence fell on everybody, and they stared at the pitcher, who carried a He advanced toa table near the centre of the room, on which he placed the package. His step was unsteady, and the odor of whisky caine in with him. . “Mr. Merriwell,’’? he said, a_ trifle ~ thickly, “‘that’s all I got lef’ of it. °P I. iad more, I’d give it up. It’s the most of it, only exceptin’ what I’ve had to as spend.”’ Frank stepped quickly to the table. ‘What is it??? he asked. ‘The money.’’ 3 ‘What money ?”’ - ‘““The money you paid me.”’ eS ‘The money I paid you??? exclaimed Merry, in astonishment, while the other youths held their breath. “*Ves, sir!”? ‘*Do you mean that this package con- _ “All I have left of it.”’ “frank tore one end of the package open, and, sure enough, it was filled s wit “bank-notes and bills, — | ee is RS oc aes ee “Why are you bringing this to me?” Merry asked. “Tt bflongs ter you.” ““How so ?”?’ ‘‘T ain’t earned it. You’ve nsed me white, an’ ve bina fluke. I don’t de- serve no salary~none whatever! I got loaded to-day and gave the gaine away. I ‘know it! I’m loaded now, -an’ I’m ashained of it. First time I ever felt *shamed when I was drunk. Uswally I But I got to thinkin’ how you’d treated me an’ how I’d treated don’t care a hoot. you, an’ Imade up my find as how I was the most onery dern critter outside of jail! I did swear off—I did swear I’d alwus be where you could depend on me, but Islopped over. I know how much you want to winin this league, an’ I know I’ve knocked ye out of it. That's what makes me feel like a skunk! Here’s _ the money! Take it! Lain’t wuth shucks! -V’'m goin’ away in the mornin’. Yoti’ve bin white to me, an’ I’ve bin p’ison to & you! Iwish you’d kick me out of the room! I never felt so mean in all my life!” _ Tears were in the eyes of the Jank, -jong-necked, freckle-faced fellow. ‘T'o be sure they were drunken tears, but it is said the true nature of a ‘man comes to the surface when he is intoxicated. Der- finger was repentant and wretched. _ Frank took the money and put it into his pocket. SY will take it now,’’ he said; “but I want to have a talk with you pretty soon. Tm coming to vour room. Wait for me. I think we can fix this matter all right.” Derringer turned and staggered out of t softly closed the door behind hin The boys stared at each other in TIP TOP WEEKLY. he toom, muttering brokenly, and Frank 3 CHAPTER III. PRANK’ S-L.0645¢. Bart was first to speak. “CA trick!’ he declared. Frank Metfriwell turned and looked squarely and steadily at Hodge, an ex- pression of sorrow and reproof in his eyes. Despite himself, the dark-faced lad could not meet Frank’s glance squarely. ‘‘T am sorry to hear you say that, Hodge,”’ ‘“‘What sort of declared Merry. a trick could it be?’ ‘Oh, it’s too thin!’’ muttered Hodge, determined to stand by his position. ‘‘He may fool you that way, but he can’t fool me.’’ ‘“T fail to sge where the trick comes in. Derringer lias voluntarily brought his money to me and given it to me before witnesses. He has declared that he has not earned it. pentance and regret.’ “ Ido not take any stock in the sincerity of that foxy rascal. If there is anything I cannot bear, it is asneak! If Derringer is nota sneak, I ain no judge of human nature!”? He has shown ‘sincere re- ‘Sincere nothing! “Dye always considered you a poor judge of human nature, and I think you are proving it now, Hodge.”’ ‘(Oh, you’ pride yourself on your own judgment, and yet. you get fooled by every tascal who puts, on a humble look and pretends to be sorry for his crooked- ness. Vou ate smart. enough in some ways, Frank, but you are too soft that way !”” ee “That's what you think, but when ‘/have I been deceived? If you will point out one single case, I'll agree to offset it with two others where I have been right in my judgment. Human nature is weak at best, and the man who has no patience Avith its shortcomings is narrow-minded, intolerant and cold-blooded. wet : a : ‘ < Mf wel € +S No person — _ ever overcoines all his shortcomings at one stroke, and you ought: to know, oo ee ee ‘he has conquered makes h Hodge, ‘Frank ; putting up a bluff. Bart. nature aud build up He has to fight against his weaker his character bit by bit. He may slip and yield to temptation once, twice, many times, but if he keeps up the fight, he should be encouraged, and every open-hearted, honest’ man should hold out a hélping hand to him.”’ Oln me Frank felt li ke strange to pn that Hodge could preach !”? saying more. - It was not see Frank thought of the old days when Bart had 7 an ill lustration in his own case. been forced to fight constantly against the o evil side of his nature. He thought of the many times Bart had slipped and 5 P} fallen and seemed ready to give up‘the struggle. Yet he could not speak of this now, for he knew nothing could cut his friend deeper than any reference to his faults and failings. In this world it is not always the who has fought his weaknesses one sand cou- quered whio is the most tolerant with the weaknesses of others. Often the fact that im intolerant, seems to forget how hard the He says, ‘‘I did it, others and he struggle was. can do the same,”’’ No man could be more loyal than Bart and few were more intolerant witl disloyalty and weaknéss. Diamond had been silenced by the sur- prising appearance of Derringer and his still more surprising act and words. lle was in doubt, and he showed it. sart,’’ said ‘but I want to know just what you mean by saying this isatrick. Where does the trick come in, “Why, you would really let you keep that inoney if you tried to keep it, do you? I guess not! He does not think you will keep it. He’s “fT am not preaching, - old man?’ He kiiows he’s made a fool of himself, and he’s looking to stick on the team another week and rake in another hundred dollars by it.’ gouge spoke as a there was not a cyto TIP TOP WEEKLY. don’t think that fellow. probable instead of the improbable” - 7 doubt in his mind on that point. He be- lieved he had fathomed Derringer’s mo- tive. 3ut Frank -Merriwell did anything of Sa?) eae Duke when he came in here?’ **No; he the best he could:’’ — ‘Then it is pretty sobered off not believe the sort. Merry, slowly, ‘‘did you consider Derringer as saiteeets sober was drunk, but he braced up d certain he has not since pitching tlie oa or starting to pitch it tl ees “What does a man 1is afternoon.’ rig he has kept right on steaming.” d he is in- crafty —a piece of deception, such: — do when : toxicated? Does he plan outa piece of work: as you have charged Derringer’ with? or does he act on impulse, showing his true nature, be it good or bad??? Bart was silent. : ‘‘Doesn’t he act on impulse nine times out of ten ?’’ persisted Merry “I suppose so,’’ admitted Hodge. 3 “Then there are nine chances to one that Duke Derrnger did not deliberately plot to fool me by his action; but the act inptulse. You can- not deny that a man usually betrays his © true nature when he is intoxicated. He = seldom resorts to subterfuge and cunning, 2 Then, if eDerringer was resorting toa 2 trick in this case, he is an exception to the rule.’ 2 Bart did not speak. “Now, old man,’’ Frank wert on, “don’t you think it would be a little more decent for us to regard’the fellow as houest and sincere in his action, even, though he should repent of it an hour from now and come call for his money. — If he did that, I’d still think that he had shown sincere regret, and I should believe © It would not be a case c of came about through é in his honesty. Hodes had been sitting on en wind of & sill. Now. he sptang up with a gesture and an exclamation. “Tt’s no use to argue with you!’’ he eried. ‘*You always get the best of an ar- guinent! If you ever become a politician, you’ll be a dandy, and you’d make a first-class lawyer.”’ Frank smiled. ‘“‘But you must adimt that Iam right,” he said. ‘‘I ought to be able to put up a good arguinent when everything favors my view of the case.’’ **Well you can use all the logic you ~ like, but you can’t convince me that Duke Derringer was sincere in that little piece of business.’ “That’s because you are stubborn and determined not to be convinced. If you “were convinced in your heart, you would - not acknowledge it. I admit that Derrin- - ger may prove the exception to the rule, but everything goes to prove that he act- ed on impulse and was perfectly sincere and honest in what he did. I shall believe him so till I discover J ain wrong.’’ **Well,’? said Jack Diamond, ‘‘I am in- I hope you are. poen-O-be-“T, iigosbe #2 exploded Gallup. ~ “T didn’t take much stock in that feller at fust, but he’s bin keepin’ straight an’ doin’ so well that I’d begun ta like him. ‘I was sorry when he fluked up to-day.”? **An? begobs! he “moight sittle down aither this bit av a spree, an’ do all roight th? rist av th’ toime,’ said Barney. » “That is what I am hoping he will do,’ admitted Frank. ‘I am going to ee him and have a talk with him. If he fails us now, we shall be in a bad scrape. BS If we can get him sobered off and into _ condition, we'll give Rockford a hot cere: hustle next week. He will have all day Sunday to rest and ‘brace up, and he : ught to be in condition to pitch by “We play Seaslope Monday, don’t TIP TOP WEEKL} clined to think yeu may be right, Frank.. Oe: “Well, that team can’t do a thing with Derringer when he’s in form. He ought to pitch a Winning game Monday, if_you can get him sober, Frank.’’ ‘Yaw,’ nodded Hans Dunnerwust;, gravely, ‘‘dot peen a fact, Vrankie. Shust led ine took your advice und do der pest you can mit Terrincher. Uf you vind he can’d bitch der came, I vill gone in mine~ seluf und done id.”’ ““G’wan, ye Dutch chaze!’’ shouted Barney, in disgust. ‘‘Ye’d be a pache, so ye would!’’ “Shut ub my mouth!’ squawked Hans, glaring at the Irish youth. ‘‘Who toldt you I knew so much alretty yet soon righdt avay queek? You vos alvays scickin’ my nose into your pusiness!”’ ‘‘Don’t yez sass me, ye moon-faced lobster,’’ grated Barney, rising onto his knees on the floor and starting toward Hans. : ‘‘Kept avay from you!’’ shouted the Dutch vouth, also rising to his knees, and flourishing his short arms wildly. ‘Uf you don’d led me alone, I vill got hurt !”’ ““Begorra! Oi’ll break th’ face av. yez, ye Balony sausage!’ ‘fYou vos avPalony sissage myseluf!?’ Barney waddled forward toward Hans, and Hans waddled to meet him. They looked ready to devour each other. ‘Take dot!’ howled the Dutch youth, striking at Barney with all his strength while they were yet on their knees and at least six feet apart. His fist smote nothing but engines air, and the violence of the blow jerked him forward face downward ou the floor, where he struck his nose a terrible thump, causing him to howl with aston- e ishment and pain. Mulloy burst into a roar of laugiiter, pointing at Hans, who. struggled up, one é hand clasped over his skinned and bleed- ne ing nose.” ee RSA: ‘ Se a ee 5 and started for the door saying: TIP TOP WEEKLY. 9 “Did yez ivver see th’ loikes av thot!” shouted the Irish youth, Rene: his thigh. ‘‘Begobs! it’s aisy to get th’ bist All yez have ter do £1? av him in a foight! is lit him alone, an’ he’ll whip himsilf “Oh, you gone to grass!’’ blurted Hans, getting oufa soiled handkerchief and wiping off the blood. ‘*You ain’d haluf so funny as I thought I vos!”? There caine another knock on the door. The boys looked at each other mean- ingly. ‘It’s Derringer!’ said Hodge, triumph- antly. ‘‘He’s changed his mind as quick as this aud called for his money. Perhaps he will have you arrested for stealing it!” Frank advanced to the door and flung it open. | One of the hotel bell boys stgod out- side ‘Mr. Merriwell,’? he said, ‘‘Jiminy Cobb, from the village, brought this.” He handed Frank a sealed envelope. ‘CAj] right,’? said Merry. ‘‘Wait a mintute.’’ | He gave the bell boy a dime, and sent another down for Jimny Cobb. Frank tore open the envelope and took out a sheet of paper, on which there was a scrawled message, written with a lead pencil. This is what he read: “Mr. Frank Merry wall— “Rispected sur: i warnt to See you orFul much Right Aweigh. it is Some- thin iMPortunt, and i Am in a orful Scraip about My brotheR jeff. YOU hav bin So Good to Us, and i now You won’t FAIL to coMe now. if You come, You wil Find out About how You was druged that tiMe on tHe bal Ground. jeff knoes All Aobut it. . Come to the olD oke tree Nigh Wilbur’s barn Son as You reCeeve tHis. please doan’t Fale me, as i doAn’t _ knoe Whut i i sHell do if You do. ‘VoAres in Haist, heusie Nash.’’ Frank folded the paper and put it back into the envelope. Then he took his cap be back in a short time.”’ ‘Make yourselves at home, boys, I'll He hurried out: CHAPTER IV. STRUCK DOWN. Merry had not doubted the genuine- ness of the letter, and it had not occurred to him that there might be any trick or deception about it. The chirography and otthograplry appeared like that of an ig- norant girl. Frank had befriended the Nash family jj in many ways. Jeff Nash, the former a bully of the village, had nearly murdered Merry at Ragged Bluff, and then had been driven to the verge of suicide by re- morse. Frank had saved Jeff from committing suicide, and had seen that he was proper- ly cared for by a doctor when he became delirious afterward. When Jeff had tfe- covered, Frank had convinced the fellow 7 : that he had no desire todo him harm. Whien the father of Jeff and Bessie was injured by the premature explosion of a blast in a quarry, Merry had seen that the old man was given the best medical at-_ tendance, and had become a frequent vis: itor at the Nash cottage. 2 Jeff was grateful at first, but Herbert — Hamumerswell had been able to poison the — fellow’s mind against Merry, by insinuat-_ ing that Frank was a masher who won the affections of poor and trusting girls and then abandoned them. In his evil way, the ex-Senator’s son filled Jeff’s © wind with all sorts of foul suspicions, and the suspicions becamé convictions when the fornier bully found that Bessie actually adored Frank Merriwe?l. : Frank was utterly unaware of the girl’s great admiration for him, or of the bi ee in the breast of her brother, water whch he had received from the hand of Jeff Nash. Then Nash disap- peared, having been gotten out of the way by Hammerswell. Occasionally after that it was reported that he was lingering in the vicinity of the village. One or two villagers reported having seen Jeff sneak- ing into his own home after nightfall; but he took pains to keep beyond the reach of Frank Merriwell. Now, on receiving the note signed with the name of Bessie Nash, Frank did not hesitate about meeting the girl at the ap- pointed place. Wilbur’s barn was on a lonely strip of road running out of the village. To reach it quickly, Frank struck across Sih fields. It was dark as he approached the old 4 barn. ‘The moon was tinging the eastern sky before swinging into view, and the flush had not entirely died out of the west after the setting of the sun. ‘‘Wonder why she chose such a_ place as this?’’ speculated Merry, as he drew near the barn. . ‘‘She might have sent for | me to come to her house.’’ - he stubble grass swished a little be- neath his feet. either hand, and away across the fields _toward a lonely bit of woods a night bird “screamed. “they were not dimmed by the after glow of the sunset or the silver glimmer of the rising moon, the stars were bright and clear. A cool breeze came out of the west. “Summer was on the wane; it was near- ly over. The calling of the crickets in the grass was a prophecy of autumn. In the stubble the little fiddlers were play ing the threnody of th dying days of happiness. ; A feeling of sadness came upon Frank Metriwell, such as always touched him th the first suggestion of departing suminer. Upto that moment the year had eemed like a human being in the full swing of its powers, but with the Crickets were calling on Directly over his head, where x 40 TIP“TOP: 1 sug estions of autumn caine a thongs of 8 : j WEEKLY, falling fruit and decay, to be followed by grim old winter. As he approached the barn, he whis- tled softly, keeping his eyes open. In the deep shadow he saw something move. ‘*Miss Nash, are you there?’’ a esr e It was the girl’s voice, and he saw the outlines of her dark figure. He advanced straight toward her, and she waited for him there in the shadow of the barn. ‘*T came right away,’’ said Frank. ‘“Yes,’? she nodded, in a frightened way. ‘‘T ain’t been waitin’ long.”’ Some thick bushes had sprung up at the corner of the barn. They were mot far from the bushes. ~ “‘T did not mean to keep you waiting,” he said, standing near her. ‘You have something to tell me ?”? He ‘fancied that she was staring at him in surprise. ‘Through the gloom he seemed to see her eyes widen with aston- ishment. : ‘*No, I ain’t got northing I want to tell ye,’ she declared. | ‘‘Why, how is that?’? asked ° Merry, puzzled by her words and her manner. ‘*T don’t understand it. This is a strange place for us to meet, and there is some mystery in all this.’’ ‘‘T ruther thought so myself when you sent fer me to come see you here,’’ said the girl. ‘If you hadn’t bin such a good friend to me, I’d never come; but here I be, an’ now whut do you want?’ Frank grasped her arm and leaned towdtd her, saying earnestly, in a low tone: “There seems to, be some dee ER: Miss Nash! I did not send for you to meet me here, but I, received a letter from you a9 The girl interrupted him witha sud- den hoarse cry, suddenly springing upon him with all bee strength and giving ne | a thrust with both hands. ci Ei _ Then something descended with a crash om i 5” upon his head, a million colored lights a seemed bursting before his eyes, and a, blankness followed! | aa ; CHAPTER V. BROTHER AND SISTER. Frank Merriwell had been struck down from behind. Bessie Nash out from the clump of. bushes and uplift a‘club above Merry’s head. With a shout of terror, the’ girl had tried to. thrust Frank aside, so that the blow would not fall upon him. Too late! Down came the club, and, without cry or groan, Frank dropped to the ground! The assailant bent over/ him, lifting the club again, and grating: “*Cuss ye! had seen a dark.figure step Ill fix ye!’? Now the girl turned on him with a cry of horror. She literally hurled herself i “jagainst him, striking him with her fists. Me “Stop!? she s¢reamed—‘‘stop, Jeff “Nash! Would you murder him?” . “Yes, by the gods! I'll murder him!’ grated the girl’s brother, for Jeff Nash it really was. ‘‘I’ll fix him right here and now !”? * “Vou're crazy, Jefi—you’re mad!”’ “‘Ves, I be mad! Ill kill that skunk!”’ But she had fought him off, and he “was not able to accomplish his purpose of hitting Frank again. Fortunately the girl had thrust Merry aside somewhat, or he might have frac- tured Frank’s skull with the first blow. ©Vou'll be sent to prison—you'll he hung fer it if ye kill him!’’ panted Bessie. “'They’ll never ketch me! Til git erway drom here.’’ ‘“‘Jgff Nash, hev you fergot what he done for ye? Have you fergot how he spared ye when he might have sent ye ter . prison before? Shame on ye! Are youa brute that ye want to kill him after TIP TOP WEEKLY. li f ~ me, Bess. ‘‘Oh, he had a reason fer bein’ so gen- erous,’’? muttered Jeff, sullenly, having brought toa stand by ‘*He could ’ford to lowered his club, the desperate girl. be generous.’ “Tt don’t kn about, Jeff! noshun you’ve got inter your w what you’re talkin’ I don’t know what crazy head, but I do kuow you’re all wrong. ‘‘Oh, yes, of course!’’ he grated, sul- lenly—‘‘of course ye’ll say that! Iknowed ye would, Bess. Any gail in your place, would say it.’’ What do you 11 me what ‘‘Any gal in my place! mean by that? Te you mean, Jeff Nash! I’m sister, and you’ve got to tell me what you mean by such words!’ your ‘‘T ruther guess it ain’t necessary,’’ he muttered. ‘‘You know what I mean.”’ Her bosom, was heaving with lence of She stood squarely in front of him, her head thrown back, her nostrils dilated. ‘‘T don’t know what ye mean,’’ clared; ‘‘but I can tell by the way ye speak that it’s. some sort of ay insinua- tion. I’ve heard ye speak like that of » others befere now. Now, Jeff Nash, I want ye to talk right out ’thout beatin’ round the bush. What is it you mean by sayin’ that any gal in my place would — say what I did ?”’ a “Tt ain’t no use for you to try to bluff I ketched ye uget here with the feller to-night.’ ‘*VYou ketched me!’’ Vas. ” **What of it ??’ . ; “Whut you meetin’ him here fer? If ye’d wanted to seen him, you could have done it to home; but you come ont here an’ met him in the dark. Curse him! I know he’s to blame fer it all!”’ the vio- her exertions and excitement, she de-_ r ‘ . % 13 she could explain it to the satisfaction of her brother. » she ‘*] came ’cause he sent for me,’ said, blunderingly. ‘‘He wrote mea note, sayin’ he could tell me somethin’ abaout you. He asked me to ineet him here!’’ -A snarl came from the lips of Jeff. “That was a lie! He didn’t know any- thing abaout me. If he sent you such But this ain’t the first time you have met him like this! Oh, I know! *‘ Jeff, Jeff, you're wrong—it is the first e, time |? word, he lied to ye, Bess! He’s a slick gque.’’ *“Don’t tell me! I know all about him! He’s a slick one at foolin’ innerceut coun- try gals. That’s his game. He them think he cares for them, an’ then he _ fools um. an? when he’s got tired of um, he gits out an’ leaves um. the devil, an’ nary bit does he care! That’s the kind of feller Frank Metri- well is!’ Soa makes They gits in love with him, Arter that they can go to “You’re wrong, Jefi—you’re wrong!”? — “Dont tell-me! I know! I didn’t _ $Sp’ose yott’d think so. ‘The gals he fools never think it of him till after he flings um over. He’s a reg’ler sorcerer. He puts um under a spell, an’ they never git in- ter their right mind ag’in till he goes an’ - leaves uin.”? : ‘“How do you know all this ?”’ “Oh, Pve found it out! about him!’ ‘““Somebody’s been tellin’ you a lot of stuff that’s a mess of lies, Jeff.’’ _ But the more she stood up for Frank, the angrier her brother seemed to be- ome. ‘T'o him it appeared that she was trying to protect Merry at any cost, and hat served to confirm his suspicions, hich had already beconie a belief. © don’t blame ye so much, Bess, fer he is han’sum, an’ he’d mighty winnin’ in his way; but it’s him—the dirty whelp!— I’ve heerd all. “Dye had the proof of it,’ he said. “I. Fp FR OEP. TB tt LIER OR RIO LO ce AP: SP te AMOR a TIP TOP WEEKLY. that I want to kill! I'll fix him so that he’ll never fool another innercent gal!?’ ‘*Teff, Jeff, listen to me!’’ she cried, clinging to his muscular arm. ‘‘You are all wrong! I swear it by my honor!”’ He groaned. ‘Your honor !?? came bitterly from his lips. a ‘“Yes, yes, yes; I swear it by all I hold I swear it by the méniory of our You must believe ine now, Jeff—you must!”’ dear! dead mother! Isn’t that enough! ‘Do you swear you’ve never felt any love fer him?’ he asked, seeming to waver for the first time. Of a sudden she was choked and could not reply. again arouse the fury within him. “Ye can’t! ye can’t!” he grated, catching her by the shoulders. ‘‘I knew. it! Ye love him! He’s made ye do that! An’ now ye have met him hefe to-night!) He-flung’ her aside, and the heavy club® ts She went past?” him like a flash, dropping over Frank Her silence was enough to was whirled into the air. ‘Merriwell’s body, thus protecting and» saving the unconscious youth. ha “You must hear all I have to. say, Jeff!’ she panted. .‘‘I can convince you of your mistake!”? ‘*Git up!’ he snarled. him!’ She rose, graspiug his wrist. ‘“Wait a little!’ pleaded the distressed and terrified girl, who was battling for Frank Merriwell’s life. ‘“‘Hear all I have - to say, Jeff, an’ then do as you want to.” “Well, hurry! There’s no knowin’ who inay come an’ find us,”’ ‘Vou asked meif I’d_ never felt any love for him, an’ I found [ couldn’t say no an’ tell the truth.’’ ‘“‘T knowed it!” : “Listen! Inever thought of it that way before, for I knew he didn’t care a snap for me.’? , **VYou thought so?” ne ‘Ves, ” oN i “Don’t touch = fee ee Ros 4 me mc 0 a “ va x _ church with ye! _ “the best care of since he-was hurt! How calf you want to hurt him now! think it of ye, Jeff!” _ for him. He knowed that was the way to ‘‘Govon,’’ he commanded, derisively. “How could I help loving him!’’ ex- “He How could I help lovin’’one who had been so good to my brother, who was all the world to me? He might have sent ye to jail, Jeff, Iv claimed the agitated girl. was so kind and good and noble! ; but he didn’t do it.” ““That was jest a trick of his to fool us both !”’ ; ““How a trick?’ “Tf he’d done that, you’d never had notthing todo with him. He was slick enough to know it. He seemed to be gen» erous to,me jest so that you’d fall in love with hin. That was his game.’ *‘No, no, nol’? “It was!”? “‘T know better, Jeff!” ‘*Then what did he do it fer? He done it fer somethin’, You gotter say that. There don’t nobody let an enemy git off, like that for northin’. It ain’t natural, Bess, an’ you kuow it.”’ Z “Tt ain’t natural, Jeff, with them that we know; but Frank Merriwell is dif- frunt, an’ you ought to see it. He ain’t like common folks.’’ “Ye think so ‘cause, you’re in love with him.’’ | ‘“(He’s proved it. Didn’t he have the doctor come fer ye! Didn’t he go to | Ain’t he had dad took I didn’t “He wds workin’ fer hisself in ev’ry- thing he done. He’s rich, an’ what he paid the doctor don’t ’mount to northing git on the best side of all of us.” ‘‘But he ain’t never tried to be any. thing but a friend, Jeff! I swear it! I say JT love him, but it’s because he’s so noble. "There ain’t no other reason. He’s never aid one word of love to me—not one vord!”? TIP TOP WEEKLY.- 13 a It was plain tlfat he did not believe her, for all of her earnestuess. ‘fOf course ye’d say that,’? he mut- tered. ‘*J’]] take any kind of oath to it, Jeff!” she cried. ‘‘He’s alwus been the perfect I’ve knéwed all along that I him to take Oh, You Who has told yeall this stuff against him? Ain’t-it somebody that hates him and is reddy to lie or do anything else to hurt him? “Was ita person ye kin alwus be- lieve an’ trust? Was it one whois the equal of him? Wasn’t it Herbert Ham- merswel] ?”’ i She had thrust home, and. he was silent. ‘*T knew it!’’ she exclaimed. ‘‘And he hates Frank Merriwell wus than p’ison. What is he but a sneak! Jest you com- pate him with Frank Merriwell an’ see which is a man to be trusted! Don’t let that dirty feller fool ye, Jeff! He’s done ev’rything he could to hurt Frank Mer- riwell, an’ you know it. He ain’t stopped at northin! Now him an’ his father’s gone to runnin’ the Rockford baseball team, so that they can beat Maplewood an’ Frank Merriwell. He’sa sneak and a traitor! He can’t tell the truth when he tries! You know it was him that hired tramps to ketch ye an’ carry ye off, thinking you was Merriwell. He done it so that Merriwell couldn’t pitch an’ win a game of ball. Will you trust a feller that could do a sneakin’ thing like that? Will you believe him ?’’ Plainly her words had some infiuence on him, and -he was wavering. All af once he cried: gentleinan, was to fur more than friendly notice of me. below him fer I have not been fooled, Jeff Nash! are the one who has been fooled. ‘But he has proved it!”’ *“Then he was the one who made ye believe all this, Jeff? I thought so! He was the one who led ye to think bad of — your own sister! You never did think | pg a eT, A OL Rie te hin ea ORR | Sp ON lh ee 4 Osathinstapptt 4 1é You bad to have of me before, but*he done it! him hinted . bad listened to when he me! You ought Jeff ! I never thoug] ht it of you! things about smashed him, I’m aoannaes of you! Now her the If. there whom Jeff N words cut him to quick. was one petson in the world lash really and truly loved it was his sister. “ He was ready todo any- thing for her, and his affection for her had led him into blind, unreasoning pas- sion against the youth whom he thought was plotting to deceive her. **Don’t!’* he hoarsely niuttered, shrink-. ing back. ‘‘It ae me to have ye speak like that, Bess.’ She and she was determined to make the best of it. | “‘If you’d come to me, I’d told ye thie honest truth,’ “What made ye listen to that sneak! You knew him through and through! He was usin’ ye for a tool, Jeff! Can’t ye see it? He was usin’ ye to hurt Frank Merriwell.”’ The big fellow was silent. **You can see it now, Jeff?’’ she went on. ‘‘Don’t be a fool no more!’ A sudden thought came to him. ‘‘He sent you a note, or word of some kind, tellin’ ye to meet him here! You said so!’? ‘Vas? “What'd that mean? What'd he want ye ter meet him here fer when he might seen ye?”? saw her opportunity had come, she deciared., have gone to yer house an’ _. She was silent, trying to think of a re- ply. **Ve can’t answer that!’’ he hissed. ‘‘No matter what ye think about him, t’s plain he laid his plans.’’ : “T know you mtst be wrong, Jeff! He can tell—if ye ain’t killed him!” Now a new fear came to her, for Frank - Merriwell had not nioved since dropping to the ground. With a cry, she fell on _ her knees beside him and tried to discover that he still breathed. ‘Then she felt for Tey ny pm RR sae eg <7 SO . pr “TIP TOP WEEKLY. killed the best friend we ever had, but his heart, but could detect no movement there. ‘“My God! ye’ve killed him-already, Jeff!’ s she groaned. CHAPTER VI. ANOTHER CRIME The big fellow shrugged his shoulders, while something like a shiver ran over- him. ‘Well,’ he said, huskily, ‘‘I ‘struck ter do-it.” ‘*Oh, Jeff! Jeff! you’re a murderer!’’ That word gave,him a feeling of hor- ona he e of as- ror. He remembered his sensations previous ogcasion when he thought had killed Frank Merriwell, and ‘som the old feeling of dread and terror sailed him. ' ‘“Don’t speak loud!’ he panted, bending over and clutching her shoulder. ‘“Mebbe he ain’t dead !’’ sO His heart ‘‘Heis! He/don’t breathe! don’t beat! You have killed him this time, Jeff!’’ ‘*Well, he brung ain’t ter blame fer it! fool my sister!’?” | ‘The law won’t let ye off fer no such éxcuse! You’ fer murder, Jeff!’ hisself! I ter it outer) He was tryin’ ll be hanged Choking back the luinp that fose in his. throaty he bent down and examined’ the prostrate youth. was superficial, for the feeling of horror grew on him, and he started back fron that recumbent body, shuddering. “Ye must go ’way, Jeff—ye must git away off somewhiere!’’ whispered the girl, springing up and clutching his arm. ‘“Nobody but me saw ye do it——”? “An’-you——”? ‘*T’m yer sister! ° it, Jeff! The examination ll never tell ye done ‘It’s an sh thing, an’ you’ve I’m yer sister, an’ I’ll keep yer secret. pe we ds most whimpered, You must git out of this State—out of this part of the country!” ‘“How can I[?’’ “You must find a way, Jeff!’’ ‘There “Then you’l ain’t no way.’’ : 1 be catched and hanged!’ He was desperate and terrified now. .A blind with murder for his short time before he had been passion, ready to commit sister’s sake. Now he realized that it was had been deceived and led in- His blood possible he to the work by Hammerswell. was cooling before the fear of that recum- bent figure stretched th in the black shadow of the barn. ere on the ground **T done it for your sake, Bess!’’ he al- the cowardice of his nature rising to the surface. ‘I didn’t want ve to be another of his victims.”’ ‘That ain’t no excuse! You all It never. would have back on was wrong about that. come that way; but I ain’t goin’ ye now that it’s done.” ‘What can I do?” “Vou must find a. way to git out of this part of the country. If you only hed some money !”’ | ‘That’s it! , I ain’t got none.”’ Didn’t Herbert Hanimerswell give ye none?’’ seNOs “Then you must make lim!’ “tMfebbe he won’t!”? “He will. Yon must threaten him.”’ ‘(Perhaps I can’t see him ag’in to- night.’’ “Vou must find a way to see him.”’ ‘“Tell me how.’”’ ‘““Somehow—anyhow! If you get money from him, you will be caught ~ do not mand arrested )’’. Jeff uttered a sudden exclamation. ‘‘T never thought of that!’’ he hoarsely — -ynuttered, staring down at the dark figure at their feet. ‘‘He’s rich, an’ he generally has lots of money.’’ _ Bess gasped. no!’ she cried. ‘‘You can’t TIP TOP WEEKLY. 16 touch his money! You can’t add another crime to the one you’ve done!”’ **Git out of the way !’’ ing her aside, with sudder ‘(What's the difference! an’ it won’t go no harder for me he grated, fling- 1 determination. I’in a murderer, if I’m ketched if I prove to be a thief on top of it. If he’s got money, I want it, and I'll have it.”’ Down beside the senseless youth he dropped. With shaking hands he began to rifle Frank’s pockets. ‘‘Money!’’ he muttered, his lips quiv- ering and his teeth rattling together— **l’ve gotter have it! I must find it on him! If he ain’t got none with him, I dunno what I'll do!”’ She begged him to desist, but her words were. useless. He ran through Frank’s pockets till he struck what he sought. A gasp of joy came from him when he pulled .a roll of pocket. bills from Merry’s The girl bent over him, trembling with excitement and apprelheénsion. “Don’t take it, Jeff!’? she pleaded— ‘don’t!’ ‘Don’t bea fool, Bess!’ he growled. “I’ve gotter take it! It’s my only show. I wonder how much there is lrere.’ . He found a match and strnckit. A glance at the roll of bills was enough to show him that he held a large sum of money in his hand. : The money was the same that Duke Derringer had turned over to Mey as short time before. “This is enough!’ he ultantly. ‘It will carry me fur away!” He sprang up hastily thrusting the toll into his pocket. ‘“‘Good-by, Bess!’’ he said. ‘‘I’d better be goin’. Mebbe you’ll never see me — ag’in. If ye ever do, I'll be rich. Pm goin’ to Africa, or some country where Ee can make a big fortune. If I don’ t make mutttered, ex- a fortune, I won’t come back. sister !’’ She permitted him to touch her hand, antly tur aed 4 Good-by, but he dropped it almost inst and 3 then, without another word and > slouched round away, quickly disappearing the corner of the old barn. CHAPTI THE {R VII. HEARD AT HOUSE CORNER. Left alone with the youth she believed her brother had Nash fully realized the horror of her position. She stood there like one turned to stone staring down at the prostrate form on the ground, her heart pounding furiously in her bosom. oe “It’s terrible!’ she thought. ‘‘And he _ was so good to us all—so noble! But Jeff is my brother, an’ I can’t see him hung! I’ve bin afraid he’d do some terrible thing like this.”’ A last faint hope that Frank might not be dead stirred within breast. She moved, she started forward, and, bit by bit, crouchingly, she crept nearer-that silent figure. She felt-like hurrying away, but’ the hope that Frank was still living, that a spark of life remained in his body, caused her to force herself nearer and nearer. A night-bird swooped down over the barn and uttered a shriek so weird and uncanny that it nearly frightened her out murdered, Bessie her of her senses. Shaking in every limb, her. breath fluttering her parted lips, she stood still again. - Far away beyond the dark woods a dog hhowled dolefully on a hill-side. The moon was up now, but it’s pale, ghostly face was hidden behind the barn, as if it feared to look on the spectacle of a tragedy. Chirp! chirp! ssl In the grass the “crickets were singing their doleful cho- : tus of lamentation. ; For some time the girl stood quite still, TIP TOP WEEKLY. hand breast. and then she crouched outstretched to touch Nearer, SDse ening up. lower, her the silent nearer, nearer till——-_ an’t do it!’ she moaned, straight- “‘T can’t touch him again! He Oh, the horror of it! Never as live can I forget it!’ is dead! as I Then, utterly overcome, she turned and 9 a b ] long fled from the spot. The crickets chirped on, and the moon sailed up slowly and majestically into the heavens. A long time Frank Mertiwell lay there as if really but, at last, he stirred slightly and groaned. dead: The blow had ‘driven away his senses, . but, most fortunately, had not broken lis skull. The girl had pushed him justin time to save him from being killed. Frank opened his eyes and lay there, staring upward at the sky, wondering where he was and what had happened. The cool breezes fanned his dew-wet face and seemed to bring him fresh life. There wasa dully throbbing pain in the side of his head, which told him that something of a serious nature had oc- curred. He seemed robbed of hisstrength, for, when he attempted ‘to stir, he found his efforts to sit up unavailing. Gradually, after a time, he remembered what had taken place. He remembered the note he had received, how he had hurried out in answer to it, how he had met the girl there by the old barn, and how—— ; _ “Somebody struck me down from: be- hind!’ he muttered, thickly. now! Who did it? Again he fell to thinking intently, and it was not long before he began to be- lieve that he had struck a solution of the rather mysterious affair. ‘“The girl decoyed me here,’’ he oe “Somebody hired her to do it! She has forgotten all I have done for her brother She betrayed me to an and her father! “JT know it Why.was it done??? — fl nn ee enemy, and left me after I was ~struck down!’’ Frank did not wish to think this of Bessie Nash, but she was gone, and he had upon usual b been left there alone after the assault All this itterness. him, filled him with un- “Hodge is right,’’ he muttered, hoarse- ly: ‘‘Human beings cannot be trusted! I’ve been trusting them all I have made a mistake by it. I’ve my life, and been fooled! This time it was by a girl. She came from a poor family. Hodge says blood will tell, and Hodge is right in that!’ Never before had Frauk Merriwell felt He aimomeut that the so bitter toward humanity in general. had gitl, who had seemed so very grateful for not dreamed for what he had done, would betray him to his enemies. After a Frank’s turned eitough to permit him to. sit up. He felt of the side of his head, and found It was very time, strength re- a large swelling there. ten- der, but his cap had protected lim some- what, and his head had not been cut. It was at least half an hour after he re- covered consciousness before he was able to get upon his feet. Even then he stag- gered up against the side of the barn, against which he leaned for support. ‘‘Well, that was a good hard thump!”’ he muttered, grimly. ‘‘I wonder how long I’ve been here. The moon is up, and it was just rising when I came down heres? | In four or five minutes, he found hiim- self able to stand without the aid of the bari. “7m coming round,’’ he said, with something like a harsh laugh. ‘‘Next thing is to find out who soaked me. Why was it done? There must have,been an object. It’s likely Herbert Hamimerswell — was behind this whole business, and yet ” PPPS oe: « He stopped and thrust his. hands into TIP TOP WEEKLY, 47 He remembered that, while that day, he had displayed. considerable money. . He felt for the Derringer that evening. his pockets. visiting at the Nash louse large roll given him by Duke It was gone! °*So that oyed ‘Rol bed !? > mut ttered was the game! The git me a, O © here, and her accoinplice ara the job. It’s likely they will skip with the money. It must have 09 Who was her accomplice? worthless brother! before Frank started out froim the barn tov been her It was not long ‘ard. the road near at hand. He walked rather slowly at first, and energy. git] who, the Was OD but with gathering strength Straight to the honie of the as he believed, had decoyed him to old barn, he made his way. It the outs dcints of the village. Approaching the house, he passed through the gate into the front yard, stepping sileutly. There was a light. in the front room, The curtains were not drawn, and Merry stepped near the window to look in. Bessie was there, walking up and down the floor, her face pale and grief-stricken. Plainly she was beset by a tempest of emotion. Several hands. As he watched her, Frank’s heart soft- ened, for he saw she was suffering intense Peel anguish. ‘(She is sorry for what she has done,” he said. to blame. **Poor girl! Perhaps she was not 5 His faith in human nature was He began to feel ashamed that he had been so ready to lose confidence in the natural goodness of human beings. ing. Stiddenly the girl caught up the lamp, turned and left the roon:. Wondering just what course was s best to pursue, Frank sat down on an old bench beside a clump of lilac bushes near the corner iof the house. times she wrung lier It ‘must be that her brutal ; - brother drove her to do it.’’ return- His legs had 18 been trembling under him, and he felt sorely in need of rest. Barely had he seated himiself there when he saw a dark figure coming hur- riedly along the road. When this person reached the WAC MEy of i a he whirled sharply aud turned in at the gate, tai up the steps, and knocked 1 leavily on the door, Frank Merriwell sat in the shadow of the lilac bushes, while the other was in the moonlight. And that other was his eneily, Herbert Hammerswell. Something led Merry to remain perfect- _ly silent and. wait, Again Herbert knocked. There was no imuinediate response, and the fellow uttered an impatient exclama- tion. \ He knocked a third*time, heavier than before. . : i After a little, the door was opened, and a glow of lamplight fell on Herbert Ham- merswell as he stood there. Bessie Nash, lamp in hand, the door. The girl gave a great start as she saw Herbert there. had opened “Vou ?’’ she gasped, her hand flutter- ing up to her heart. ‘‘What do you want???’ “Pye seen your brother,’’ said Her- bert, hurriedly, his agitation being quite as great as that of the girl. “He acted Mj like acrazy man. All I could get ont of _ him was that Frank Merriwell would not _ trouble anybody again. He rushed off like an idiot assoon as somebody ap- proached, Now I want to know what he meant.”’ “How do you suppose I now ??? she ~-alinost whispered. z “Why, why — because — becanse — didn’t you.meet Merriwell at the old barn down——”” “How do you xewethat?” Herbert seemed flustered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, saying: “Your brother told me, of course.’? ‘Then he must be crazy !”’ “Don’t be afraid that I will say a word f about it,’? said Herbert, hastily. ‘What I want to know is if it’s true that. some- thing has happened to Frank Merriwell.”’ She’ was silent for some moments. TIP TOP WEEKLY, hen she sponse | her voice was s harsh and. ; t : think itd { coma }0 this or r Pd Dever) : 7 ‘And you will rejoice if something has happened to him!’’ she said. “TI k row you will! You hate him! I don? t wonder that you do!’’ “wy es, I hate him,’’ admitted) Herbert. ‘Tt don’t wonder that you do!”’ she re- peated. ‘“‘He is as much above you as you are above adog! I’ve known some dogs that was better’n you ever darst to be! Frank Merriwell was a’ man clean through, he was! You’re a snéak—a snake!’ The girl hurled her,words at him, and he fell back a step, lifting one hand, as if he feared she would attack him. ‘‘Why—whiy, do you dare?’’ he tated, in astonishment. ‘“Yes, I dare tell you what I think of you! You are a cur, that’s what ye are, Herbert Hammerswell! You’ve yot my brother inter all the trouble! You was the one Who got him ter try to thrash Frank Merriwell—you hired him todo it! You was the one who got him to drug. Frank Merriwell durin’ a game of ball, so that Merriwell could not pitch it out! You have been in ‘all the mean, dirty tricks sence you came here to Maplewood, an’ I'll bet you hed somethin’ to do with this to-night !”? | ‘‘Be careful!’’ snarled Herbert. ‘‘I do not fancy being talked to like that!”? “What do I care whether you fancy it or not!’’ “Vou'd better palpt- have acare! J know that you met Merriwelil down by Wil- bur’s old barn to-night. Your brother caught you with him. To-morrow we shall know what happened there. I can guess froni what your brother said. It is easy. Frank Merriwell will trouble no- body more!’’ ‘Then he is dead! jp 2 A moan broke from the lips of the girl, and she held out one shaking hand. ‘*Don’t— Boe ten of it !’’ she gasped. “*T didn’t touch him! I didn’t know what was going to happen! Oh, you must keep | the secret! Vou must be silent long. enough for Jeff to get a start! If he can get away—if he can get out of the coun- try!’ , 5 “Then he has killed Frank - Merri- well!’ exclaimed Herbert, softly, tri- umphantly.. ‘“That’s all. I wanted to — know! Pll keep still! I swear I didn’t TIP TOP WEEKLY. He stopped himself suddenly. *“You’d never what?’’ quickly eagerly asked the girl. ‘‘Nothing,’’ he turning away. ‘*Good-night. Don’t worry. Sleep well!’ He ran down the path and out through the gate, while the girl closed the door with a slam. } and said, CHAPTER VIE POOR BESSIE! Frank Merriwell had been terested, and he was not a little for something told him that Herbert Hamimerswell had in some way been the cause Of all that had taken place that night, yet he could*noet understand how this could be. That he had been struck dewn by Nash he knew for a certainty: now, and that he had been left for dead in the shadow of Wilbur’s old barn was equally certain. Jeff had fled. Remenibering that he had been robbed, Frank had no doubt but the young ruffian had taken the money. Something told Frank the object of the assault was not robbery. % A short time before he had been fain to believe’that Bessie Nash had lured him to the old barn that he might be assau!t- ed and robbéd; now he was convinced that the girl had not known in advance what would take place at the barn. The belief that Herbert Hammerswell was the cause of all that had happened grew upon him. In part he had solved the mystery, but there were still some puzzling points in connection with the affair. : The light shone out from of the front room.in which he had seen Bessie walking the floor when he ap- proached the house. He rose to lus feet aud stepped up to the window. She was there, wringing her hands, sobbing and inoaning, as she walked up and down. never to think greatly in- puzzled ; Jeff the window She seemed that any one could look in at the window and see her. All at once, she fell on her knees and lifted up her clasped hands. Then, in a ‘simple, sincere way, she uttered an earn- est prayer Oh, Lord. a” she cried, “vor know never meant to hurt Frank Merriwell! Dear good Lord, I am so sorry—so sorry! He was good to us, and I loved him! He was the best feller I ever knowed, and now ie is dead! If it warn’t for poor old lad, I’d, want ter die, too! I know Jeff didw’ t mean to kill him, Lord! Please don’t be hard on poor Jeff! He’s my brother, an’ he alwus was good td me. Had I oughter tell what he done? I don’t know, L ord. If it would bring Frank Mertiwell back, I’d tell in a minute; but it can’t do that, so what’s the use of tell- in’?! Qh, I’1n so sorry—so miser’ble! It seems °*zif I’ve alwus been miser’ble all my life! Why is it that some folks has all the hard luck, an’ other folks has all the good things? Please fergive me, Lord, an’ don’t b@too hard on Jeff! Iil could bring Frank Merriwell back to life, I?ddoanything! Can’t you bring ‘him back, Lord, so my poor brother won’t have nrurder. on his hands? Please do, Lord! .Amen!”? Standing near a broken pane of glass in the window, Frank was able to heat all of this crude prayer, him deeply. , The girl rose to her feet, seeming to feel better in a measure. She stood irreso- lute a moment, and then took up the lainp to leave the room again. As she stepped away from the table, she turned toward the window by chance, and looked straight into Frank Merri- vell’s face. He was looking in at her, and the light of the lamp revealed him plainly outside the window. A shriek broke from the lips of the girl. She flung up a hand, pointing to- | ward the window, and then she crashed to the floor, lamp and all! Frank leaped for the door and burst into the-+house. When he reached her, her clothing was flaming, for the lamp had broken and set her dreds afire. as Frank caught up an old rug and flung it over her. In the darkness of the room, which followed, he beat out and smote ered the flames, thus saving her life. xs He was able to smother all the fire at. the same time, preventing the destruc- ns tion of the house. 3 When. he was sure this was accomni- plished, he sought for another lamp which he finally: found, all the whi and it touched & TIP TOP WEEKLY. hearing ‘‘Old Man’? Nash calling to Bes- sie from above. Frank shouted up thestairs to re-assure the injured man, telling him the girl was safe. “What's happened down there er asked Nash, in a whining voice. ‘‘I can’t git down to see. ‘The Lord knows if I’ll ever step ag’in!”’ Frank picked up the girl and carried her up the stairs to the chamber, where she slept, placing her on the bed. He stepped into the next room and told Nash that she had simply fainted, after which he got soine water and set about the task of restoration. Inia sliort time Bessie opened her eyes and stared at him steadily. ‘There was a strange look on her face. “Vou are all right now,’’ he said, soothingly. ‘‘Don’t be afraid of me.”? She laughed wildly. “Vou are dead!’” she cried.’ ‘*Ha! ha! ha! You are dead in the shadow of Wil- bur’s barn !”? _,, **No, youare wrong,’’ he declared, in » a caim, musical voice, ‘‘I am not dead.’’ ? ‘*T saw you killed!”” 'She sat up straight on the bed and glared at him. After a bit, she began to Sinile. and the light in her eyes changed. “Do you kuuw Frank Mettriwell?” sys “asked, bending towatd him. ‘Qh, he’s the noblest feller in the whole world! I ~~ uster think my brother Jeff was the best but Frank Merriwell is better’n him. He’s sent fer me ter meet him to- night! Think of that! I’m only a poor gal, but he wants tet meet me by Wil- _bur’s barn. I’ve got the note! See— here it is!’ “She took a folded sheet of paper from the bosom of her dress and held it»tri- Pe Me phantly before him. was addressed to her and his name was : signed to it! He saw that it asked her to mieet him at the old barn! In a flash Merriwell whole trick. ° pe Its: aforgery.!’’ he cried: “It’s a trick! And the one I received was a for- gery, too!”’ ~ She scowled at him. Go ’way!’’ she screamed, angrily. ‘He has sent for me! I am going to meet him! Ha! ha! ha!’? ~ feller, understood the He saw that it- - Hammerswell !’’ he grated. ‘“The poor girl is raving mad!’’ inut- tered Frank, sadly. — CHAPTER IX. AN UNDERSTANDING WITH DERRINGER. With all possible haste, Frank Merri- well sought the village doctor and sent him to see Bessie Nash. = « Then Merry returned to the hotel, see- ing nothing of Herbert Hammerswell. Frank’s ‘mind was not fully made up on the course he would pursue. He fan- cied he saw tlirough the trick perpetrated by the ex-Senator’s son. He was cons ident that Herbert had arranged the ineeting at Wilbur’s barn. Herbert had written the note to Bessie Nash, and also the one to Frank. He had told Jeff Nash that Frank was deceiving’ the girl and would meet her that night at the old barn. Jeff had been on hand, and had witnessed the meeting. Thinking Haum- mérswell had told him the truth , left be- caine furious and struck Frank down. This was the actual truth, altliough Merry had no proof of it. Herbert ‘had played his cards well, his purpose being \ to lead Jeff and Frank into an encounter, It is not likely Herbert had thought Jeff would kill Merry, and it is not at all probable he sought stich an outcome of the affair. But now Herbert believed that such a tragedy had taken place. Frank longed to obtain a hold on the young rascal, but Heibert was slippery. When Frank returned to his room, he found all the boys had left, with the ex. ception of Hodge. Bart was there, moping by himself. : ‘“Welly I’ d like to know where you ‘ have been all this time !’’ eon ied Hodge. ‘*T’ve been waiting for you. He little dreamed what fad taken place since Frank Merriwell left that room. Frank decided to take Bart. into his confidence, and he proceeded to tell the whole story. Needless to say, Bart became thorough- ly aroused. **Tt’s the work of that dastardly cur “J warned you that Nash was not to be trusted! Such creatures never can be! Set the officers after him, Merry.’ “Rirst,’? said Frank, ‘‘I’m going to find out, if I can, how much money he got off me.”’ “Cow ?”? ** Derringer ought to know.’ *‘Are you going to tell Derringer about 107)? “fYes.”? ‘‘Well, I want to go with you when you tell him.’’ Why??? ~.‘*T want to see what he’ll do.”’ »“SWhat’s your idea ?”’ ~ *P1] bet he raises a howl. He’ll think it’s a put-tup job, and he’ll jump on you for that money.’ ~ «**OF course I'll have to make it good.’ “Oh, yes!’ sneered Hodge; ‘‘of course “you Wi ill ! Didn’t he turn it over to you? -Didn’t he say he hadn’t earned it? Qh, _he’ll stick you all right! He’ll claim he gave you twice as much as he really did.”? “Well, we’ll see about. that. Come on.’’ eo. . “ees abed how.” ' - ** Well, we'll get him up.” ‘Hf he’s not too drunk to get up.’’ ae SWelll see.’ _4 — They proceeded to Derringer’s room and rapped on thedoor. To their sur- prise, it was opened in a ioment, and 4 Duke Detringer stood there before them, _ partly dressed. He was surprised to see them, but asked them in. ‘*T was just packin’,’’ hesaid, and they saw his open trunk satin thexmiddle of = the room.: fF ‘Why were you doing that?’ asked ‘Ee -Vrank. **¥¥in goin’ in the morning.’’ ‘“‘Where?” “Home,” - ‘*But you were not going without your ‘mopey ?”? ‘““My money? Whiat money t 2 ‘The money you gave me. “That don’t b’ long ter me none what- ever,” said the pitcher, doggedly. “Why not?” “Tt was part of the money you’ve paid ‘Mme as salary.”’ x ‘Well ?’’ . ~ Well, I -gave it. back to. yer, didn’t ?”” said the. Westerner, rather fiercely. —“T told ye I hadn’t earned it! Whatever do yee take me fer? You" ve used me TIP TOP WEEKLY. ae dirty. I ain’t got'no claim on a dollar of that money.”’ “But you will-take it back ?”? “*Not on yer life!’? “*T insist——’? ‘Don’t!’ growled Derringer, squaring away with his feet wide apart. ‘“‘It won’t do no good, pard. It ain’t often I run up against a galoot what uses me the way you did. I’veseen enough of ye to kyow you’re all:right. If I’d done right, we cotd ’a’ won the pennant. I. know ye want to do that the worst kind, and it’s all through me that ye’re failin’. Now what kind of a dog would I be to take your good money, whet you’ve been payin’ me fancy figures,and usin’. me white? I ain’t built that way!’ Hodge was not convinced. He still believed that Derringer was playing a game. ‘“‘Well,’’ said Frank, slowly, “‘perhaps it is well that you do not insist that I give the ‘money back to you, for I couldn’t do it if you did.’’ Derringer looked surprised. ‘‘How is that?’ he asked. ‘‘Now comes the kick!’’ thought Bart. ‘I’ve lost it,’’? said Frank. Duke looked astonished. *‘Lost it, pard?’’ he said. could ye do that?” **T’ve been knocked down and robbed since you let me have that money. Here, see this swelling on my head? That’s where I was hit. The blow sent my wits wool-gathering. When I came round, the money was gone.”’ ‘ ‘Well, I'll be shot!”’ gasped the West- erner. va they do that in this yar measly little one-hoss town ??’ ‘Ves. Your money was taken, but the fellow who did the job overlooked my own money.”’ Hodge could not help thinking that such a story must sound rather “‘fishy”’ to a person in Derringer’s pcsition. -To his astonishment, the Westerner did not seein to doubt it in the least. ‘“* However ‘Well, that’s what I call onery luck!” he cried. ‘‘Do yer know ther varmint what done the trick ?”’ “I think I do; andI hope to recover your money.”’ , ‘© 'Tain’t my money, I tell ve! It’s ourn! I wouldn’t touch it if you recov- y j ; 82 ered it, but I hope you’ll nail the varmint that ropéd it in.’’ “‘Derringer, are you~ in p’ison dead earnest about that money? I have told you the straight truth about losing it;°>now are you itt earnest about not wanting it / ‘ > back ?”? “If T aint’; | hope I may be shot on the spot!’’ roared Duke. Frank gave .Barta look, and he saw that Hodge was staring steadily at the Western Wonder, as if trying “to read him. “TY believe..vou, Derringer,’’. said Frank, holding out his hand; ‘‘but you shall not losé a cent of it. Old man, you must give up this idea of leaving me now. [can’t spare you. Ii you go, the last chance of winning the pennant goes with you. If you stay and straighten up, we may be able to pullit off yet. You say I have used you white?’’ *“Whiter’n I ever was used before.’?’ “Then you owe me something.”’ “Tf there’s anything I kin doe Say, Mr. Merriwell, [ll do anything! If you think I can help you, I’ll stay and do my level best! I don’t want no money—lI won’t take it! All I want is a chance to squar’ myself with you!’ Derringer had grasped Frank’s hand, and he showed his sincerity and eager- ness. To himself. Bart Hodge confessed that he might be wrong in his estimate of the fellow. ‘*Now you are talking the way I like to hear you talk!’ exclaimed Frank. ‘Promise me that you will stick by me, and that you will not touch another drop of liquor till after the league season is ended. Will you do that?’’ **Tf I touch another drop, I hope I may be shot on the spot!’’ cried Derringer. ~ Vou may count on me from this out! Tl die in the harness tryin’ to pull off that pennant!’’ “*That’s the talk, and it’s a go,’”’ nod- ded Frank. ‘We'll win the pennant if wecan; but, whether we win it or not, you shall not lose a dollar, Derringer’? CHAPTER X. BART MAKES A BET. The next morning the Rockford Starz. _ gave the standing of the Trolley League _ as follows: TIP TOP WEEK ‘Wilbur’s barn at an early LY, Played. Won. Lost. Per Cent. OC MIO TO: sila cxas ici gs 27 7 10 613 Maplewood........... 27 16 Ir o5Or forrenttown......... 28 15 IZ 531 Seaslope........ Seinten 28 7 2X 281 Following tls it gave a the games the previous day, telling how Rockford had placed herself at the head of the league again, and ending with the statement with her present team, full report of that, Rockford was absolutely certain of cap- turing the pennant. The Star had lost no opportunity to slur Maplewood, and it could not refrain from giving Merriwell and his teama rust. It stated that Maplewood had been | } aided by the greatest lek ever known ite baseball, but that it was on the ‘‘tobog- gan,’’ and there was very little doubt but. Torrenttown would give it a hard fight for second place. In conclusion, it was even inferred that Maplewood had a poor- er all-round teany than Seaslope, but that Seaslope had met with phenomenally hard luck, while fortune had smiled on Ma- plewood on every possible occasion. Frank had read too many such reports in the Star to be annoyed by this one. He was not feeling first-class when he awoke in the morning, and so he ordered breakfast brought to his room, _where he ate it. Frank had a fancy that he dould sur- prise Arteinas Haminerswell and his son that day, and so he had pledged all his friends to say nothing about having seen him, but to maintain a mysterious silence about his whereabouts. It was Merry’s belief that the Ham- merswells would think the members of the Maplewood ball team knew uothing ~ at all about their captain and manager. “If I can get those rascals to bet against Maplewood to-day,’’ thought» Frank, ‘‘we’ll give them another digg? He was very sorry that it was not -Ma- plewood’s turn to play Rockford, for then he knew that the Hammerswells would bet. A ~ Herbert wondered that no one had found anything of Frank. He had ‘ex-— pected Merry’s body would be found by hour, but the forenoon wore on, and there was no re- port of any such grewsome discovery. Then the ex- Senator’ s son took to- ing about among Frank’s friends and quiring for him, ee % se , 3g —— ce TIP TOP WEEKLY, 23 “T waut to see him,’’ he declared. ‘‘I hhave an important piece of business to transact with him.’ But every one seemed utterly ignorant of Merry’s whereabouts, and Herbert ob- tained no satisfaction at all. With Ned Hastings, lie walked down the road so he could look up at the win- dow of Frank’s room, The window was closed and the curtain down. . “By George!’’ exclaimed Herbert, *‘I’d like to know what. has become of that fellow Merriwell.’’ - ‘“What makes you so anxious that out?’’ asked Hastings. ST ve 4 a notion the “chap won’t play pall to-day.’ ““What fe you think so?’’ ‘tT believe he knows the jig is up.’? ‘*How do you mean ?’’ “Why, he must know Rockford has the better team. It has been his one am- bition to win the pennant, and——”’ “‘He’s come mighty near doing it.”’ ‘(He can’t do it now, and he knows it. He knows Iam bound to. triumph over him, and that is enough to take the stuff- ing out of him.’’ **You think so.’’ Won't you?” * “CNo. By - ‘(Why not?’ “Because I do not believe Frank Mer- tiwell is put up that way. I think he isa stayer. I think he will fight any kind of a battle to the very end.’’ 7 don’t know what ails you, Hast- ings!’ snarled Herbert. ‘‘I really and truly believe you admire Merriwell!”’ **So I do,’ confessed Ned. ‘‘I’ve seen -enough of him for that. At first I thought him a very ordinary fellow, but «! have found out that he is not ordinary “in any way. Heis remarkable. He has -.sand, and he has ability. He isa great general and a great strategist.”’ Herbert swore. ‘Tnever thought it of you!’’ he de- Clared. ‘Thought you were my friend.’’ ‘So I am, but I can’t hefp admiring 2 You have fought him tooth and nail, and still you have not been able down ‘him and keep him down. I aan 3 p who can admire a nervy enemy. to find ‘Well, I never get soft over se, en- : pile: on Seaslope. that you have not found it an easy thing to get the best of Merriwell.’’ ‘‘Well, he was harder than I thought he would be,’’ confessed Herbert; ‘‘but I have him now, and you must see that, as well as he does. Look at the make-up of the Rockford ball team! Why; such play- ers nevet were seen around here before and never will be again! They are crack professionals.. Half of them, could play on the National-League. I have the best Anfield ever seen in New Knglard. My pitchers.are corkers. My outfield is made up of swift men and heavy batters. What show does a collection of freaks like the Merriwell gang have with me?’’ **Not very much,’’ confessed Hastings, ‘‘And still it will be no great glory. to beat him with the team you have brought together. It will be a case of profession- als triumphing overamateurs. Of course Rockford will crow, but I have a fancy that that place will be sore because it was necessary to sell itself to you in order to escape defeat from Maplewood. a Herbert growled and muttered. “TY don’t Fike 3 your style of late, Hast- ings!’’ he finally cried. ‘‘You’ve been all Merriwell, Merriwell, Merriwell If you think so much of the fellow, why the dickens don’t you chum with him ??’ *‘Simply because he won’t chum with me,’’ laughed Ned. ‘‘I’ve been running round with you, and that has queered me with Frank Merriwell. Don’t get angry, Ham, old fellow! What’s the use? Can’t you take any sort offa jolly 2”? ‘Well, I don’t know how to take you now. You seem to make a fool of your- self over this Merriwell. I tell you he » knows he is beaten, and he’s not. going to stay here and stick it out. I don’t be- lieve he will be seen on the ball field to- day.”’ : ms **Oh, yes, he will’ ety. “Well, I’m ready to bet that he ‘will not. If he does not show up, the Merrys will go to pieces. Derringer was drunk yesterday, and it’s not likely he is over it to-day. There will be nobody to pitch | the game, and Seaslope will win... It’s ay. chance. for somebody to make money: The sports will beebetting on Maplewood. By Jove! the old nan must be put onto this! He’s lost Sake money so he’s fierce to make it up. He’ll shove up a But somebody: must chee a4 TIP TOP WEEKLY. handle the stuff for him. iman, Hastings.”’ ‘*Better slow, Herbert. not dead sure Frank Merriwell play ball to-day, C0 bet If you’re not dead sure he will the ground, do not bet." ‘“That’s all right,’’ said Herbert, with a wave of his hand. ‘‘J’ll have to look after my own club, so I won’t be able to be on. the ground to make any bets. But you cafi inake a commission. Jl] get the money from the old man, and you are to. bet it on Seaslope.. Understand ?’’ ‘fAll right; if you’ve got money to give away, go ahiead,”’ “Don’t you worry about the money be- ing given away. Ill get it for you; and you must bet it = soon a you can. Don’t waste any time. “*Just as you ay Herbert was afraid Merriwell’s body wotld be discovered before any bets could be placed, and so he hastened off to lis father to get the money. Within thirty minutes, he placed a large suin in Hast- ings’ hauds. And, following Herbert’s instructions, Ned sought sporting men who were ready to back Maplewood to win. The first man he ran against was Bart Hodge. Hodge grew hot under the collar when he heard Hastings offering to bet any- a frou ten dollars to a thousand gainst Maplewood. He jumped up and sake how the fellow wanted to bet. Hastings was willing to go even, and Bart told him he would see him ‘within ten minutes. . Then Hodge hurried to see his mother, He told her just how matters stood. Mrs. Hodge had some of her son’s warm blood in her body, and she was aroused. In’less than ten minutes, Hodge re- turnéd and covered Hastings’ money ! You’re the very If you’re will not Seaslope. not be on o on CHAPTER XI. “THE GAME BEGINS. oN “When Lhcghest tenn that Hastings had succeeded in placinga@ll his money ina _ very short time, and that Hodge was one of the heaviest betters, he began to grow alarmed and wondered tat it meant. ‘ght -- For-all that no one seemed to kuow: anything of Frank Merriwell, the Maple- wood team did not seem in any manner disturbed. There was something decided. ly mysterious about the whole affair. It was ten o’clock in the forenoon when word was received from the presi- dent of the association that a imnistake had been made in the schedule and that Ma- plewood would have to play Torrenttown in that place, instead of playing Seaslope on Maplewood ground. This created a stir, as might be ex. pected. There was a general outcry, but Herbert Hawmierswell was delighted, for he saw that Frank Merriwell’s team would be forced to go against a club that was harder to beat, while’ Rockford would havea comparatively easy thing of it. But Herbert was’ astonished when Hast- ings repotted that Hodge was willing -to let the bet stand. ‘‘T tell you there is something behind this matter that you are onto, Haim- merswell,’’ declared Hastings. ‘‘Why, Hodge was not at all disturbed by the change of clubs. He was just as teady to bet that Maplewood would win. , “That fellow’s a fool!’? me Her- bert. ‘‘He thinks Merriwell will play. He thinks Merriwell can do anything! Here’s where he gets it in the neck this day.’’ Herbert was obliged_to leave for Rock- not ford at eleven o’clock, but the continued he unshaken failure to find the body of the youth believed murdered, and the confidence of Hodge, disturbed him.some- what. Inumediately on arriving in RGEk ford; Herbert sought some tough chaps, whom he found loafing in asaloon, and had a hurried talk with them. He ended by saying: | . “Understand, beat on any condition. going to win, start a riot, and. break up the game. Do anything to keep her from winning. If you get into trouble, D ll see your fines are paid, and it means a3 thing for you. So the next car for Torrenttown bore : a quartette of unsavory -looking scoundrels, who had been hired by Herbert to defeat. the Maplewood team by foul means if— peice aud to break up vee ‘gue, aks Maplewood must not If you see she 1s oe a i alin: see % ee yw the: Me! A Tor Thre the hoj Th aro dor the mit oere r ont hit , sor sti: loc lea TIP TOP there was no other way to keep Frank cs Merriwell’s club from winning. . At three’ o’clock that afternoon the . Torreuttown ball ground was crowded. The. Tigers were not so far behind that Rn} their admirers and supporters had lost all ' § hope of seeing them win the pennant. d i The article in the S¢arv that morning had = i aroused the Torrenttowners. If itcould be a 2 done, they would lead Maplewood when ° Ba the season ended, and they were deter- i mined to start right in by winning from - 4 Frank’s crowd that day. t q To the surprise of the Tigers, Merri- 4}. well was not with his club when it came 1 =| onto the field. The manager called for t | him, but Hodge said he had not arrived. i The spectators soon caught on that > something was wrong, and there was a ee.” Stir. _ “Where is Merriwell ?”’ ) It was natural that every one should be - Jooking for the most famous man in the 1 league. - = He was not to be seen. ; _ Hastings had accompanied the team to : Ma Torreuttown, Archer Fitznoodle. being : with him. “By Jawve!’’ drawled the Anglo- : maniac; ‘‘Il rawther think Hammerswell : was tight, don’t yer ’now.’’ : _. **About what?’ 5 ‘*Rrank Merriwell.”’ ‘*How-?? ‘He didn’t come with his club.” “'What of. that?’ ' > “Where. is he? -nevah stay to see his teain defeated.” “And Herbert has said just as foolish things before. I don’t know whiy he was so fierce to put money on this game to- day, but I think there was some reason play.” “Perhaps he has tried the same game he tried befoah.”’ ~ “What game?’ “Kidnapping Merriwell.”? _ “Well, if he has, I’ll bet anything it will go wrong, just as it did before.”’ er “Why so! >”) “Because not one of Merriwell’s team has shown any alarm over his absence. They are laughing and joking among themselves. They are up to some. kind a game that Hammerswell pee noth- ing about, mark whet eases ae ing their WEEKLY. 25 The two teams went into practice, tak- turns on the field. Five minutes before practice was over, Farnk Merriwell came walking out from the dressing-room and appeared on the field. His appearance created a stir. Sonie- body began to clap hands, and 1t was taken up all round. Then a Torreuttown man rose in the grand stand and-cried:: ‘*T belong in this town, but Iam an admirer of honest sport and clean- ball. playing. For that reason I admire Frank Merriwell, who has shown himself square as a brick in everything, and who has put up a wonderful fight for the champion- ship of this league. If Torrenttown can’t win the pennant, I hope Maplewood will.” ‘*Hooray! hooray! hooray!’ The crowd roared. “Well, what did I tell you, Fitz!’ ex- claimed Ned Hastings. ‘I'll. guarantee that Herbert Hammierswell has been fooled to-day, and he loses every dollar he gave me to bet on this game.”’ ‘“By Jawve! he must be losing a heap of money, don’t yer ’now.. He seems to lose almost every time he bets, and his father has lost something, too.”’ ‘*Ves, the old bloke has dropped a fine penry.”’ ; ‘You don’t seem to care.”’ ‘“Why should I? Hammerswell don’t ainount to anything in particular. The end of the summer is right here, and I’ve worked him for pretty near all there is in Herbert said he’de him.”’ “Vou've worked him? What do you mean, deah boy?” ‘fOh, nothing!’ laughed Hastings, quickly. ‘‘Let’s watch what’s going on.” Frank Merriwell peeled off his sweater 17 why he felt that Merriwell would not * and began to warm up. ‘“He’s going to pitch!’’ was the cry. Five minutes later, the umpire called: **Play ball!” Torrenttown chose its wood went into the field. Duke Derringer sat on the bench, and Frank. Metriwell went into the box to itch. The spectators settled down to witness a hot game. They werernot SEED Maple- SGne” a outside, ending with CHAPTER XII. FRANK’S GREAT HIT. great Frank Merriwell starte ca balls speed, but the umpire straight on him. ‘You have himina hole!’ captain to the batter. ‘‘Make thei over now, and take one.”’ The’ next ball cut the heart of the plate, but the batter obeyed instructions and let it pass. ‘*He can’t do it ‘again,’’ declared the captain. ‘‘Take another.’’ But the batter knew Frank Merriwell of old, and something told him Merry had great control that day. So it hap- pened that, when he saw the next one coming straight for the plate, he swung at it fiercely. The ball took an outshoot and- passed beyond the plate and the:end of Iris bat. ‘Striker out,’’ decided the umpire as the ball plunked into Bart’s glove. Then the captain of the Tigers was angry, and he gave the unfortunate batter a calling down. Frank had gauged the fellow correctly. He had decided that, for all of instruc- tions, the batter would strike if the next ball seemed coming straight over. Thus he had started what seemed to be a straight one, but had given it an out- clirve, and the first man was retired. The next batter took his place. “Give him the double-shoot!’’ somebody in the crowd. hitter, Merriwell,”’ Frank did not seem to hear, but he fooled the fellow. on three slow drops, and man number two sat down. There was applause. The third man, came up vowing he would not strike out. Frank wotked him first inside and then a rise, and the side d off with lied three cried. the him put cried was retired. The game was starting off well. The pitcher for the Tigers was on his mettle, too, and he struck out both Browning and Hodge. Then Barney Mulloy laced out a safe three bagger. ‘ He rested on third till Diamond sent up a high infield fly, which the shortstop E gathered with ease, and Maplewood was retired without a score. ‘*Hé’s the heavy TIP TOP WEEKLY. ¢ The Torreuttown rooters roared. On that ground were four inen who were watching the game ‘with interest, for they were the rufhans hired by Her- bert Hammerswell to break it up if Ma- plewood stood a show of winning. In the next inning the Tigers were again retired without a hit, although it was necessary for Gallup to pull downa long fly. ‘CNow let’s see if they can do it to us, boys,’’ laughed Frank, as his men came to the bench. ‘You are the first man up, Harry. Pick out a good one and meet it fairly.. Don’t try fora home run. Just get a base hit, if you can, and let it go at that.” Harry did his popped up a fo catcher. Ephraim stood up and fanned twice. Then he looked his bat over in a comical manner, a queer grin twisti ing his homely face, as he observed : “ “Gol darned ef I kin see the ho les! Guess they must be there, jest the same, fer I can’t hit the ball.’ Then he swung at another but missed that, and retired to the bench. It was Frank’s turn to hit. He ‘had two strikes called on him, and then found one, which he tried to drive out between short and third. The third baseman cuffed the ball over to the shortstop, who best, but he finally ul that was scooped by the got it across the diamond in’ time to “put Frank out at first. Hot! Well, it certainly was. ‘*Now let’s see if he can keep our boys from scoring!’ cried a voice from the bleachers. Frank went into the box smiling. blood wasup. ‘This was the kind ofa game that delighted his soul. ' Thus far he had not resorted to the double:shoot, as it had not seemed neces- sary. His wrist was not as strong as he would have liked,-and he did not “wish to. weaken it. | But the second batter placed him ina hole, after the first man had been thrown out at first. Frank tried to work the fel- His low, and gave him three balls, without a single strike. Merry saw that anything that started : Torrenttown to going might mean dis- _ aster, so. he attempted to strike the fellow. out with the dduble-shoot. s — , t So Tl) Mert off it he « Al tow1 hom was .. the i Wit ther ru in b kno him E pert stea squ: hon J At to ] the ing wh > ¥ 3 APL Lt bes Something astonishing happened. = The man struck blindly at one of t, Merry’s twisters and got a three-bagger De off it.. He hit it fairly, but how he did it a~ | he could not tell. All would have been well for Torrent- az town had not the runner tried to makea it homer out of the three-bagger. The ball = was in Gallup’s hands, and it looked as if . the man might come home all right. He With any other fielder holding the ball, . there would have been a chance. The > runner plunged for the home plate, sent t in by one coacher, although the- other, _ knowing Gallup’s ability, tried to hold . him back. } Ephraim did not throw to second and y | permit Rattleton to throw home. In- . i stead, from far down in deep centre, he ~ squared away and let the ball drive for . home! ; | ‘The ball did not rise high into the air. _ At first it was thought that he had thrown to Rattleton. But the sphere held up in the air in a most amazing manner, sail- ing on and on toward the home pl ate, for which the runner was making with all the speed he could muster. Fast as the man ran, the ball came faster. It literally whistled through the air. ‘The great crowd rose as one person _ and stared, “astounded. the ball, and Bart put it onto the runmer in a comfortable manner, actually laugh- ing as he observed: “It’s too bad, but you should have been satisfied with three bases.’’ ‘Phere was disgust and there was de- light. The captain of the Tigers gave the coachers a call-down. But the spirit of the team had been broken for that. in- ning, and the next man was an easy out. ep luis it ran ae to the eighth inning, pens In the eighth, €frors, two ond and third, without a man being out. then the pitcher rose to the occasion and ade another shut-out, leaving the men : on those bases. on a combination of hy The eighth inning closed with neither e ce made a single score. with the = great crowd strange- ‘Straight into the hands of Hodge came: The TIP TOP WEEKLY. = a7 ly silent. Somehow, most of those. pres- ent began to feel that this game was a de- cisive one. If Maplewood won, Rockford would not be able to obtain second place in the league. If Torrenttown won, the Maplewood team would be on ‘‘the slide,’’ and it would be pretty sure to drop to third place. The Tigers were fighting like real tigers. In the ninth they went after the game. Frank gave the first man upa pass to first. By a most magnificent run and a close decision on the part of the umpire, the man stole second. Then, by an error, the next hitter was let down to first, and yet another error filled the bases, Not a man was out. ‘Torrenttown be- gan ‘to roar. Hverything was done to rattle Merriwell. 3art called for the double-shoot. Frank’s face was a trifle pale, He stood up and took his time. In his heart he knew it would not do to depend in the least qn his support. The battery must do it all. And so he finally managed to fan a nian, still holding the three men on their . bases. ces men reached. sec-. The second man fanned, also, for Frank was sending double-shoots across the plate, and the Tigers couJd not lo- cate them. ‘*He’ll get out of the hole!’ said Ned Hastings. ‘‘If he does, Torrenttown will go to pieces.’’ Ned was right. Frank struck out 'three men, and retired the side still without/a - score, It happened’ that Fr aie was the first man up. He went after the very first ball pitched and hit it terrifically. . It did not sail into the air to a great height, but shot off on a Jine, like a bullet out of a gun. 3 Frank anticipated a two-bagger, at: least, and made a dash for first. . One of Hamuuerswell’s hired ruffians had stepped under the rail that held back the crowd. He saw that ‘the must inter-— fere at once if he expected to break up the game and keep Maplewood from win- ning. Before Frank could reach first, he fe~ ceived a staggering blow on the side of | the head. a 28 TIP TOP WEEKLY. Metry was dazed and almost knocked off his feet. The ruffian attem pte: d to follow up the blow and hit Frank again, but Browning happened to be onthe coaching line near first. With a roar like a mad bull, the vent for the fellow who had hit Me ATTry. He saw three other rough-looking cus- toiliers come over the rail, but he did not stop! Aroused to his utmost, he caught up-the ruffian and literally mowed. down Herbert Hamimerswell’s hired tools. In Jess than a ininfite he had stretched them all on the ground. giant Frank was recovering from the blow he received. He had stopped on first. ‘Thank you, old man,’’ he said, smil- A y ing a bit at Bruce. ‘SY Ont did that trick all 1 ‘ight, but the scoundrel oer me from makine another bag on that hit.’ Barney Mulloy came tearing down froin the banat j “Pwhat Frankie ?’’ lad. ‘‘It’s a home ball is over th’ fince! th’ game wid yer hit!’’ It was true, and Frank trotted rofind the bases, winiing with a sing! e score the n1ost fcitidekabie gaine to date in the whole league series. Again Herbert Hammerswell had met with defeat, and Frank Merriwell was triumphant. are yez slitoppin’ there fer, shouted the delighted Irish roon yez have, an’ th’ [THE END. | The next»number of the Tip Top WEEKLY [182] will contain ‘‘Frank Mer- riwell’s Triuinph;-or, In Front at the Finish.”’ NOTICE TO READERS. All letters intended for this publication should al- ways be addressed Street & Smith, 238 William St., New York City, and in the lower left hand corner of the envelope the name of the department for which they are intended, such as Tip Top Applause Dept., Tip Top Correspondence Dept., Tip Top League Dept., Tip Top Subscription Dept. Where you wish to address more than one department or more than one publication in one letter, a separate sheet of paper should be used for each, written only on one side. It is always better to use ink than pencil, as the latter is easily obliterated. If our readers will keep these points in mind they will re-- ceive more prompt and satisfactory attention than nae AEN. . Huroo! ye’ve won name have Correspondence. Pa.—No value, Ohio.—The carpenter’s trade A. A. J., Austin, ANN Wha gh ety is always a Bio EE ngs of 1849. B. G., Toledo, piece of 1832, O~ kis munit Wellington, good one, Cadiz, Ohio.—No premium on the dime Ohio.—No premium on the five-cent Memphis, Tenn.—We will refer com- sation to Mr. Standish. _H. R., Newark, N, dollar of 1820. B. C., Albany, Ga.—The dime dition, is worth fifteen cents, Bart Hodge, Washington, D. C.—Quarterly No. 11 of:the Tip Top is now on the market. GW. BG Pa.—We the ‘‘novelty”’ of you speak. Frank Merriwell, Jr., New York City—The record will be given in the present issue. W. C. F.,- San Antonio, mium on the dime of 1853. A. W. M.; Waterbury, half-dollar of .1828, Tso aka, sy your J.—No premium on the half- of 1814, if in good con- Easton, know nothing of which Texas.—There is no pre- Conn.—No premium on the : pe ha an i iw New York City.—Thank you for your suggestion. We will consider it. Frank’s Friend, Milwaukee, Wis.—One million. Per- haps. No premium on any coin. Yes, if we under- stand your question correctly. M. R. M.—They are the same. The “Don Kirk’” stories originally appeared in Good News. No. About one million. K. H.; Erie, Pa.—We which is certainly well considered, ted it to Mr. Standish. E. R, C., St. Louis, Mo.—No premium on any of the coins mentioned. Your meastirrements are about correct, although you are rather tall for your age. H. O. I., Boston, Mass.—Your measurements are about the average. For punching bags, write to A. G. Spalding & Bro., Nassau street, New York city. J. G. S., Tallapoosa, such propositions, but do not find seems to us that the Tip Top League thank you for your letter, We have submit- them feasible. answers all purposes. R. A. S., Buffalo, N. Y.—Use dumbbells and Indian clubs; but be sure to get thenr of medium weight. utter rather briskly, Both cycling and walking, the 1} calves of the leg. will develop the F, P., Medford, Mass.—You need have no appre- hension concerning your lack of flesh at the pres- ent time. Growing lads are often extremely thin, but the frame begins to fill out as soon as the ulti- mate height has been attained, Partake freely of wholesome, nutritious food, take as much outdoor exercise as your time will permit, and rest easy as to the future. Tip Top Admirer—Answering your inquiry about Hal Standish, have to say that Burt L. no relation whatever of his, if indeed such a person as Hal Standish really exists. We have noticed that many of the stories formerly published under this appeared ascribed to different authors in various English periodicals, from which we con- clude that the name is a stock one used by the pub- lisher. At all events, judging from the titles of somg of the stories, such as ‘The Unknown Rene- gade,”’ ‘“Ruloff the ’Barber,”’ “Man, mon,” “The Skeleton Scout,” ete., etce., we should say that few of the readers of the Merriwell storieg would be interested in stth sensational work. CENTS WorTHO fens | ee BREE onan 1B EY yal l i a See traitation a 20 in. long ; / Box Burnt Cork; nice Moustache and Goatee, any color; Locomotive or Detective Whistle; Rolled Gold ied Finger Ring; Imitation Rubber Mouth Piece, with } Lov Ve vig tecth, makes your mouth appear from ear te ear; GSS Nice F iber Whisk Broom; Apparatus for performing the Gréat Vanishing Half Dollar Trick; A Cure for Love, an original novelty queer and funny, sure to please. This big bargain is offered e send our largo ill’td cata- : log af Tricks, Novelties, Wixs, Par Rings & outa P bas Bend nebo snes goed a Address, ©. OMAS. FE. MA : Ga.—We have considered many ~ Standish is Woman or De- ~ ade ime ent im- Llf- = Ip TOPWEEKLY- AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THY AMERICAN YOUTH ”” NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER. 30, 1899. Terms to Tip Top Weekly Mail Subscribers. (PosTa@kK FREER.) Single rales or Back Numbers, 5c. Bach. 8 months - © - - oue | One year «+ - eo » $2.50 4months © - « + + = © 8c. 2 copies one year - <« « + 4.00 6 months - - + «+ «= * Ps 25 } 1 copy two years - - + = 4,00 How vo SEND Monny.—By post.office or express money order, registered letter, bank check or drsét, at your risk. At yourown risk if sent by postal note, currency, coip, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. RECEIPTS.— Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper change of number on your label. _ If not correct you have not been properly credited, and should let us know at once. To ChuB RaisKhis.—Upon request we willsend sample copies to aid you in obtaining subscribe All letters should be addresse STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY, 238 William St.. New York City. d to >, APPLAUSE. Your weekly has’found lots of readers around our way. I read the first one Over a year ago, and since that I have read all the numbers from 1 to present number. I worked in a news company, where, as you know, your weekly was kept. When a dealer asked me for a good selling five cent’ library, I was always sure to advise him to buy the Tip Top. There is one library which is trying to imitate you. After reading the first two numbers of that weekly, I got So disgusted at it that I went around advising my friends not to buy it. I write the above to show how much I appreciate your weekly. I hope your weekly will be an everlasting one, and that it Will never try to imitate. Oot te: New York City. We are obliged to you for your efforts and good opinion of the Tip Top. The writer has written to the Applause department of the Great Tip Top Weekly before, and is also one of the Tip Top League, having joined it a short time after it started, thanks to Mr. Lynn Hartley, if I am not mistaken. The other young men under. signed are great admirers of the Top Top Weekly, especially. Mr. Alfred Sawnsch, who would rather read a Tip Top Weekly than eat; same with the others, including the writer. : One thing not to be forgotten is that we think Inza the superior of Elsie. Now, for instance, take the time when Frank was engineer of the Blue Mountain road and was hurt in a collision and dis- charged by Cobb, the train master of the B. M. road, and Inza, like the noble girl she is, nursed him and planned to get him the position back, and suc- ceeded, and in many other respects. If the_readers will only read over the issues, as we are foing at present; but, of course, Mr. Standish knows what is best. © We think Bart Hodge and Jack Diamond, not for- getting Bruce and Harry, are very fine young gen- tlemen. We admire Hodge for his pluck. Our kindest. wish is that Tip Top never ‘‘busts,” and that Frank will ‘‘put it into his head’ that Inza is O. K., and we think most of the readers in the city of Chicago wish the same. We also wish that Bart should marry May Blossom, and Jack Juliet Reynolds. We very much hope to hear from Nellie Norton, Jack Norton, May Blossom, Bob ‘Nutting’ and Larry Logan, the fireman. Hoping you will think over our suggestion, and wishing good luck to Frank and the boys, Inza and the girls, and Burt L. Standish, not forgetting Messrs. Street & Smith, we remain ADMIRERS OF TIP OP WEEKLY RUDOLPH A. GUST, ALBERT E. ENGLAND, y Se te SAWUSCH, FLOYD BHRESTMAN, JOHN GUST CHAS. GUST, and many more too numerous to mention Chicago, Ill. ¥en will probably hear again of all those you men- ~ tion. Inza is certainly a fine character, but. whom Frank will wyaes ho one can tell as yet. TIP TOP WEEKLY. a9 “We have just formed a club and call it the Frank Merriwell Club. We read every novel in town, but think the Frank Merriwell is the best. We had our picture taken a few days ago holding the Tip Top. We are thinking about forming a base-ball team next season and naming g — the F. M. B.: B. Club. IST FROST, President. MIL. c ARD STRAND, Secretary. Roe kford, I. We should like very much to see your picture. I have read the Tip Top Weekly since it was first published, and desire to thank you for the vast amount of amtsement furnished by it. Why not bring Dismal Jones before the public again? I think he is much more comical than any of the others. Since Ephraim Gallup has such a wonderful arm, couldn’t he be developer sf into a good pitche HARRY B ARTHOLOMEW, Lancaster, Pa. Mr. Standish will consider what you say. Ti Iam a constant reader of Tip Top W eekly, having read from No. 1 to date, and think it is the best weekly published. Please continue the baseball stories, especiaily the ‘*Trolley League,”’ ae they are the most exciting stories I have. ever rez A RE, ADER, Toronto, Cans da. You will see some more exciting bail games before it is time*for Frank to returh to Yale As [ never have written to the Tip Top Library, I thought I would write to you and tell you how I en- joy reading your books. We have a young man here who takes Frank Mer- riwell for his model. have read every one of your books, and I hope Frank will marry Elsie. I hope Jack Diamond will marry .Juliet Reynolds. I hope Burt will marry Stella Stanley. I hope Bruce will marry Angie I hope Harry R- will marry some old maid. TI hope Herbert Hammerswell will get killed, and Jeph Nash will become. Frank’s frie ad, and, Herbert Hammers- well’s father will lose his fortune and go to the dogs. When-is Frank going back to Yale, IT am going to Yale when I get 18, and I am now 16. My friends ‘in the club are going with me. I hopes! will meet Frank when we go there, for I don’t want to be- come his enemy. We remain constant reade rs. of the Tip’ Top Weekly. PRES., M. B.; I. Bi. We K.. VICE-PRES., J. K.i CB. GN, SRD. O.: Toes Ba Age TREAS.. M.’ D.; OF ere LIBRARIAN, N. D.; A. K. T. P R. S., P. P., Huntsville, Ala. Frank will go back to Yale in October. Both he and his friends are too young to think of marrying at present, ; T have read the Tip Top Weeklies only a little while, but they are all right. I think they- have the right kind of a name, for they are just tip top. like Bruce Browning, and would like to make his . acquaintance, for he has my name. «Do you send ; your badges to only your regular subscribers, or do you send them to all that eee the Tip Top? ’ BRUCE HUESTON Stillwater, Okla. Any one can obtain a badge by nee price and coupon: J Although not fortunate enough to be able to say that ve cs read your Tip Top Weekly since the first number, I am thankful to be able to state that’ I did come across them. © It was when I belonged to a club that one of the members — had a big stack of them. Well, began reading them ~ then, and ever since as many as T could get. I must and am glad to say that Mr. Standish is a leading’ author. among leading authors, and the boys that read what he writes can foart nothing but truthfulness, honesty and — gentlemanly ways, for that is the character of the hero of the Tip Top Weekly, Frank Merriwetl. TI heartily thank Mr. Standish, and so does a friend of mine, who is a con. stant Tip Top reader, for his thoughtfulness in havin Frank visit our city in oné of his earlier journeys, and would thank him still more if he would have. Frank visit us again during the coming carnival; but, ‘of course, we cannot expect too much, and so we leave that to Mr. — Standish. Next to Frank, Diamond and. Hodge are: our favorites, and then comes aS Ea at is GUS. CRAIS, ‘ NDREW OJEDA, > New ‘Orleans, La : Frank’s studies at-Yale will soon occupy him, but. ‘pe haps he will go to men Orleans again eome tim ime. a TIP Week hers er r We I] a « tory tc the Dutch ¢ the rest of em be Bruce because he so lazy we ca Geo le S+phraim Gallup, and Pert ei OF k he } or Link st t 1\ Im THE SPECIAL DELIVERY BOYS OF PITTSBUR( PA: Our hearty good wishés to you all, boys. We are constant readers of it fine Ve have a club of twenty m ; ris The hoose the i have > ‘several weeklie: but the Tip T long life to Frank and Mr, i; lish! CLUB, M Pres. Br ian. a May your club always read the Tip Top. my I have been reading’ Tip Top from No. 1 to date, and : find it to be the best weekly published. There is a moral jin every one for some young man, I would advise all to read them regularly. Frank is having a hot time. Hope he has a good thing im the one-armed. wonder and Der- ringer. Will* he ever zg Hammerswell where he wants him? In Columbus, my home, we have to get the Tip Top early or get none at all. & BB. W., 7, “ ee Fort Valley, Ga All the dealers declare that the Tip Top is the best I have read every Frank Merriwell up to date and think them above description. I have played ball somewhat, both football and baseball, and was asked to join the football one base ball teams of the school T attended in °98, but on ccour t of accident Was not able to join the football toate bad W like to say that from my knowledge of the games that é lever ». read better descriptions of them than those *written by Mr. Standish. I am a Southerner, and naturally take g ; interest in Jack Diamond, as much as if he had been my brother, aff would like to call your attention to a prophecy made by Paul Pierson on page 2 of No. 4 é ‘Diamond would be on the regular teé -~ to baseball. } beg that Mr. Standish will have take place as prophesied. If it is not taking a ' *) Mr. Standish I would jike to make another sug; jo that Frank, the aero, being a Northern boy, couldn’t t Jack, a Southern, and Bart, a Northern boy, occupy, equal places ’ jn Frank’s heart, aa as Frank has roomed with Bart at Tardale and Rattleton at Yale, couldn’t Jack be the privi- leged one on Frank’s return to Yale? I have many friends who adore the ‘" ferry”. stories, but who would be pleased to see Jack next 0 Frank in most things. I think most Southern boys think as\we do. My brother, who has been to Yale, says it is the) best place on earth except home. Hurrah for Frank and i! Bart , and also the Virginian and publishers! , i. sinc ee . Louis, Mo, ct me , We are glad the Southern boys like Jack. Mr. Standish is pleased to receive your suggestions and will consjder them. : } Seeing no applause from my. town in your Applause col- -umn I thought I would write to tell you that I think it is the best weekly published. I. have.read most of the aA p Top Weeklies, and I think they can’t be beat. I see that some of the readers would like Frank to marry Inza, aire I think that as Frank has ae that he loves Wisie best he should marry her. I like Frank at Yale the best. Mr.” ndish knew what his ance wanted when he wrote the p Top Weekly. Hoping for the Tip Top to be rere always, WARREN ANGELL, Mansfield, Mass. “Frank will soon be back at Yale again. TOP WEEKLY. Frank, Bar real sample of the Ameri | team will win the penn [I hope to get Top League , but I trying hem mine. We Top - Club. I Frank. or was ong life to know think she is.a rs at Standish, Frank Merriwell and his frie1 E. $s LLS, Brookly N. ¥ You wot not ¢ dey a a flirt if you had read the Tip Top from the peeeaine Tip T Everyt eads p Tory cE. M. ROBLINS, Tra i Salesman, Joplin, Mo. } publication ‘for highest opinion rery true and model. It vould give us great )] t if Frank ae visit New Hampshire, but we ill act wisely in leaving it in the whose ability to please all is -be- organized a club here, known as hands of Mr. yond doubt.' the “Tip Top Powwow Club,” and it has a mi mbe ip of eleven and is every week. We belie iat the Merriwell t to both young and old. Pli ae old and it ve atin amusing ther, who is 82 says they are i “es ser old gentleman é about Have Ss, "Mulloy and Gallup. Our nost hearty wishes are: Long live the Tip Top; a bright ‘uture to Prank, and God bless Mr. Standish! Here is the al of membership of our I ELI ELLIS, Big Chief SAM Ww ICKBS, Little Chief; HAZEN WADDBIGH, a BS, ; JOHN EB. HUGHES, V ey Treas.; LAWRENCE J. ‘KE L b B Cc, BLACKBURN, Janitor; nstructi D, Sec. ; Dover, N. H. Mr. Standish sends his regards to the old gentleman and tly pleased that he is able to amuse him, May your e long and prosper. Kindly accept my words of praise for that exquisite pub- j the Tip Top Weekl It is un monte diy the youths’ lar book. Also, the old people like it. Its attractive, vivid colored cover is alone worth the rice of the whole book, Mr. Standish is indubitably a genius asing’ boys. He is also a moralis ality (at least théy ,0uld) into i them. From each story a lesso The characters c uld not be better Y were see (say Browning) among a thousand, I believe I could c him out. Will Frank ever meet the following: Nellie Norton, Big Gabe and Kate Kent? I would like to see Frank start up a football team just as he now has a baseball team. May the Tip’ Top continue to be published indefinitely J. GEORGE GOODALL, New York City. epene n the matter of i still who In all probability your desires will be gratified, I have been reading the Tip Top Weekly for quite a whi and find it very interesting. What I enjoyed most wa ; nis (Frank’s) scholarship at Yale, and will be glad when Mr. Standish writes some more about the same. I also read them to my brother, Milford Fox, and’ my cousin, Louis Kaufman, both of whom are seven years old, but enjoy them quite as much as myself. With best wishes to Mr. Standish and Frank, LEONARD FOX, Cincinnati, 0, You won’t have long to wait now. Glad the youngsters enjoy the Tip Top. ‘ I wish to say that I enjoy the Tip Top Weekly more than any other book or paper IT have ever read. Mr. Standish makes the paper intensely interesting, and I also think that it has a high moral influence. : aR D. LOOMIS, San Diego, Cal. Thank you. TIP TOP WEEKLY. I have read the Tip Top Weekly from 3 he present Allow me to one and think them very good. Which I am pres I have been try > imitate Frank’s 8 hink I tip Top Weekly, have succee a l. m ¢ ar of «s since énce like it. .W read the Merriwelils. Al OLI rEIN into the room unless hicé ) I appreciate them very s 1 py life, and Hope you will always be like Frank . and paint j rs e spiri hat every true the purpose eae ‘ g the opponents. Ame should have, honesty, love of country, and a good, would like ‘to see E 1 Inaza brought into promi- will. W 1ave an ideal Merr 1 ou ib We ad- nence once more. We in the better g : series’ : ora > our members N TRAY, rT. BOARDING ‘e first-rat ayers of the great game. Wishing Frank AL FONSO GUNN, and his chums success; ‘Tru : i;”” l ; PATSY COLFORD, TERRY MULLIGAN, Yes, Hans has done s ididly : ar, MARK WATTS, TOMMY LOATHES, JOHN M’DONOUGH G. M CARTHY, ED. HANNON, HARLBY HAILEY, am very much interested i ading the Tip y. Ironton, O. am _ thoroughly convinced x Ww ave rea 4% rt Success t r clut , une xcellt a. I caller Il live in W igton, va, an I \ You might let rank. visit Washington. We ave a We have been reading the Frank Merriwells, and are very swinaming hole thera, a dandy, and other attractions. Frank much interested jin them. We h Frank will marry Bisie, might enjoy the swim. I am twelve years old and ama hotel We wish good luck to Mr. Standish and to Frank Mer- bookworm, Well, I hope Maplewood will take.a jump up the riwell, if there is such a person. Give our love to Elsie. pole, and also that I may read more of Mr. Standish’s ERMA M., LUCILE M., ey lend id literature. When I goeback to Washington I am EVELYN B., going to get up a Tip Top club. and encourage the boys St, Louis, Mo. (and girls) to read it. PRED SHOEMAKER, Ste ie Be ’ Cedar Rapids, Mo. t is always a pleasure to hear from our girl friends We have no doubt that Frank would enjoy your swim- ming hole. As we have seén no correspondence from this part of the State we thought we would write. We have read nearly , the Tip Tops and think they are not surpassed by any. IT am unable to keep my opinions to myself concerning the have formed a club known as the Maple City Tip Top Club, - Tip Top Weekly, and therefore must inform you that it is We have now ten members and expect to get three more next regarded by we» Swampscott boys as the most instructive meeting. We will be glad when Frank Merriwell goes back ‘paper issued, and that its hero is the best model ever held to college. We think Mr. Burt-L. rp has no equal in before the eyes of the American youth. writing stories. Wishing Frank Mosristal the best of luck It is impossible for me to think of Frank as a fictitious ip time to come, character and it is far more pleasant, I know, to think BUCK KEATING, Pres.; FRANK MOTT, Vice-Pres.; of him as one of our own live countrymen passing through CHIPPIE CHAPIN, Sec.; FRED LEWIS, Treas., blood-stirring adventures and hair-breadth escapes week Ogdensburg, N. Y. after week, yet always managing to easily hold his place in the line of life. Wishing health and happiness to far-famed Mr. Standish, . A SCHOOLBOY ADMIRER, ‘ Swampscott, Mass. your club ever increase and continue friends of Pos ? i Kindly permit me the pleasure of thar iking you and the Frank, as you probably know, is founded upon fact. We author for the benefit and pleasure I receive oe agree with you that he seems very réal. your peerless, entertaining and elevating Tip Top. : work that carries with it an Influence to better and a charm , yoy ae to interest. No one can read it without being influenced to I am sorry to say that I have not seen any letters from a better life and’a more loyal devotion to their country.. this pretty little city, so I will tell you what I think of Patriotism, courage, fidelity, justice and liberty permeate its. your great paper: I think Mr. Standish is a great writer. every number, and should assure it a place in every Ameri- I have read Tip Top from No, 1 up to date, and think there can home. Tip Top rides on the crest of the highest wave is no better paper going. I like Harry Rattleton the best on the™ocean of literature. ; of Frank's friends, and { think Pisie is a little peach. The author’s ee are so vivid that the reader is JOHN H. BRANT, impressed with the idea.that he is witnessing a reality, in- Camden, N. J stead of a Genepletare from the author’s wonderful intel- a) lect. I wish to congratulate Mr. Burt L. Standish on his - Frank’s friends are fine young fellows. masterful genius, for in the character of Frank Merriwel) — ; he has created the idol of all true Americans—a brave, splendid model for old and young, of either sex. te, Having read Tip Top from the beginning and-not seeing J. BERTRAM B., anything gi: the Lone oe evpre I feel it my duty to f Fayette City, Pa. rite and tell you what think of.our friend, guide and s Reet ‘ have read all weekly books, but can y faithfully : We think one of the great charms of Mr. Standish’s writ that Tip Top is the best, and I think there are thousands ing is his fidelity to nature, It is almost like- looking inte of boys who will agree with me, at least the Texas boys. @ mirror. Wishing Mr. Standish and rank good luck and long life, GRAHAM W. RENFRO, : . 7 . t Bonham, Tex. We, the undersigned, frorfi Mineral Wells, Dallas, Fort i ‘ Wirth and Arlington, Texas, all join togéther We have received a large number of. lette from Texas, that Tip Top is the only~weekly foe A it but are always glad to know that the Tip Top is appre- words in the dictionary to describe ribatnesal Tt ig ciated there. ik a simply impossible to tell of its goodne We hope every as one who is connected with it now, and a oan many oth rs, Sa So may meet in some town to celebrate No As 1 have not seen any letter from Virginia I thought I Cc. R. H., AND -A HUNDRED. OTHERS, ; ‘would write, I take your Frank Merriwell stories weekly, Mineral Wells and Dallas, Tex. ; and let me say they cannot be et We have a club es | of four. OHNNIE ST. EYR, We regret that lack of space does not allow us to’ eprint - 1 Vi rginia, Minn. the long list of names you send, but appreciare greatly ‘your Thank you. efforts in obtaining the signatures. ; % want to exténd our congratulations to you and the author for such a fine publicati i Our club is called the \ Tip Top Weekly Club, We have read all of your .Tip Top Weekly publications and o es s4UB} KLAHR, Sec. Clarion, Pa. The Tip country, Top clubs are evidentiy increasing all over the I have read Tip Top since No. 10 and find it the pebble on the beach.’’ It is the only book my mother and father allow me to read. They would not allow me to read it until I coaxed them to read one, *and they didn’t say an- other word, only to make me let them read it first whén I ret it. ky - OU. Bs, ” Springfield, O. ‘only We have_yet to hear of : the Tip Top, objecting tot mother,,who has read * children reading it We have read all your books and think they are unex- celled by any of its kind We think the latest ones are Breat, because they are about baseball, which is a’ game nearly all American boys like We thank the author for giving us so many hours’ see this in the Applause, pleasure every week, Hoping to Benet, Pid Providence, R. TI. We are sure you will be delighted with the athletic sports at Yale. It gives me great joy to add my praise to that of the many others for Frank Merriwell. I have read from No, 1 to the present, No. 175, and I can safely say that Tip Top Stands first. Here is a little incident which goes to show the popularity of Frank Merriwe!l. It happened in the city: A small boy selling papers was stopped by a burly-looking lad of about eighteen. The large boy must have been the bully of that district, for he asked, or rather commanded, the lad to give him a paper. On being refused, he started abusing the little fellow. He struck him twice, when a lad about his own age stepped up, and as he went to strike him again, let fly one of his fists, hitting the bully under poe the chin, knocking him clean out. I asked him his name ’ and he said it was Frank Merriwell. On being pressed he : acknowledged it was not his right name, but said he and some other boys had taken the names of Frank and his companions, and were trying to imitate them. I shook hands with him and wished him good-by. I think he acted a a good deal like Frank. HENRY TT. TAYLOR, Roxbury, Mass. Your story is an interesting one and goes far to show what Pay @ splendid influence Frank has. I have long been a constant reader of your Tip Top and consider them the finest novels of the kind printed. No youth can be harmed by reading such literature, for they are the standard of good morals and good reading, Of Frank’s boy friends I admire Bart and Jaék the ‘most. , Elsie is by far my favorite of the, girls, but still I admire or Inza, and hope that Frank will continue’ to be her friend, I fear some of the readers are prejudiced against Hisie, on because they cannot understand the nobility and goodness of her character. hope Frank’s father will again be brought into the stories. I suggest that you have Bart do some heroic deed that will make Frank’s Yale chums, espe- cially Jack Diamond, admire him more than they do, Will Frank éver again meet his old foes, Hugh Bascomb and Leslie Gage? I will close wishing Tip Top a long and pros- ~ perous life. ; EH, S. ARTHURS, Little Rock, Ark. fair to tell just what ‘will happen to We thank you, however, for,your sug- It would not. be Frank beforehand. &estions, HIAWATHA UP TO DATE. Then the learned Burt L. Standish \ Sat him down within his wigwam, ? Seized his quill pen in his right hand, In his left hand seized his .paper, 'Thought that he would write a story; -»« Write a legend for the people. Dipped his pen into a river, ™ “In the stream of Youth he dipped it. All ‘the world stood still and listened : _ At the first stroke of this wizard, ~ At the marvelous Tip Top Weekly, At Frank ‘Merriwell, the hero, He the hero of all heroes. When the second book was published - All the people shouted wildly, a Shouted, sang and spoke in this wise: “. “Give to us the Tip Top Weekly, May it always live and prosper.’’ - Thus the people cried and shouted, From the turbulent Atlantic : To. Pacific, calm and peaceful, From the Great Lakes of the Northland ‘To the Southland, sweet and balmy. Always cheering, always shouting, or this ideal publication, For the ard, Burt L. Standish, _ For Frank Merriwell, the mighty. rhy did you not sign your name to this parody, which is 32 TIP TOP WEEKLY. | @ubject to : ae STREET & SMITH, teed Lobelia te spree Tip Top League Member’s Badge. HALF PRICE TO OUR READERS ONLY, In response to the urgent request of a host of Tip Top readers, the publishers after carefully considering a number of designs for @ badge of membership in the TIP TOP LEAGUE, finally adopted v one which is an artistic gem of excellence. The picture shows the design, butit does not give you an adequate idea of the exquisite beauty of thiselegant ornament, It is solidly and substantially made, finished in gilt and beautifully embossed. The widespread desire for this badge gave us so much faith in the enterprise that our first order Was enormous, but we have been obliged to give a second order, We still offer it at the very low figure of TWENTY CENTS (Ten Cents in Cash or Stamps and Ten Cents in Coupons.) past is A ie SS sea AN EXACT PICTURE OF THE LEAGUE BADGE , V/ in /TIP-TOP LEAGUE} FOR MEMBERS ONLY CONDITIONS .... Each coupon is worth five cents when a¢companied by five cents” in stamps or coin. TWO COUPONS AND TEN CENTS SECURB YOU THE BADGE. ‘You can get as many badges as you desire at the same rate by use of the extra coupons. Badges without coupons will cost fifty cents each. The coupons are free to Trp > Top readers, and we adopt this method to prevent others from getting the badge at the special rate given to our patrons. IF YOU te ARE A READER OF THE TIP TOP YOU ARE A MEMBER ~ OF THE LEAGUE, AND ENTITLED TO WEAR THE EMe- BLEM OF THE ORDER—and our word for it, you will be more Sia e a than pleased after you receive it. ‘ ny TIP TOP LEAGUE [| , im 4 MEMBER’S COUPON This Coupon and FIVE CENTS —. will be accepted for ten cents i. towards the purchase of the League Badge. STREET & SMITH. TIP TOP LEAGUE * ee MEMBER'S COUPON This Coupon and FIVE CENTS ‘ will be accepted for ten cents Po — towards the purchase of the s League Badge. ee “i STREET & SMITH. + / To secure the promptest attention, address all letters on this sae TIP TOP LEAGUE ..5° 238 William St., N. Y. * CATALOGUE OF FRANK MERRIWELIL STORIES IN TIP TOP WEEKLY Frank Merriwell; or, First Days at Fardale. 105 Frank Merriwell Under Megunticook. Fraax Merriwell's Foe; or, ““Plebe” Life in Barracks. 106 Frank Merriwell's Mystery. Frank Merriwell’s Medal; or, ‘‘Plebe” Life in Camp. 107 Frank Merriwell'’s Disappearance, Frank Merriwell’s Rival; or, By Fair Play or Foul. 108 Frank Merriwell Aroused. Frank Merriwell’s Fault. 109 Frank Merriwell’s Pursuit, Frank Merriwell’s Frolics; or, Fun at Fardale. 110 Frank Merriwell’s Catch. Frank Merriwell’s Mysterious Ring. 111 Frank Merriwell’s Guide. Frank Merriwell’s Fag; or, Fighting for the Weak. 112 Frank Merriwell’s Peril. Frank Merriwell’s Furlough. — 113. Frank Merriwell’s Drift; or, With the River Drivers. Frank Merriwell on His Mettle, 114 Frank Merriwell’s Daring; or, I-Isie’s Sacrifice. Frank Merriwell's Fate; or, The Old Sailor’s L exacy. 115 Frank Merriwell’s Fist; or, Bound to Know the ‘ruth Frank Merriwell’s Motto; or, The Youny Life Savers. 116 Frank Merriwell's Masquerade. Frank Merriwell in New York; or, an Unknown Foe, 117 Frank Merriwell’s Misfortune. Frank Merriwell in Chicago; or, Meshed by Mysteries. 118 Frank Merriwell, Engine Wiper. Frank Merri well in Colorado, 119 Frank Merriwell, Fireman; or, First Step Upward. Frank Merriwell in Arizona; or, Mysteries of the Mine. 120 Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity. Frank Merriwell in Mexico. 1vl Frank Merriwell’s First Run; or, Chance of His Life Frank Merriweil in New Orleans. 122 Frank Merriwell, Engineer; or, The Lurn of Fortune Frank Merriwell’s Merey. 123 Frank Merriwell’s Hard Luck. Frank Merriwell’s Friend; or, Muriel the Moonshiner. Frank Merriwell’s Advancement. Frank Merriwell’s Double; or, Fighting for Life. 5 Frank Merriwell Held Up, Frank Merriwell Meshed; or, The Last of the Danites. 96 Frank Merriwell’s Protege. Frank Merriwell’s Fairy. 7 Frank Merriwell on Strike. Frank Merriwell’s Money. Frank Merriwell as a Ferret. Frank Merriwell's Mission 29 Frank Merriwell Accused; or, Reaping the Harvest. Frank Merriwell’s Mysterious Foe. ‘ Frank Merriwell on the Road. Frank Merriwell a Monarch, : Frank Merriwell's First Part; or, The Start as an Actor, Frank Merriwell in Gorilla Land. € Frank Merriwell in Advance. Frank Merriwell’s Magic; or, he Pearl of Tangier. 338 Frank Merriwell Mavician. Frank Merriwell in France. 34 Frank Merriwell’s Own Company Frank Merriwell’s Feat. 135 Frank Merriwell Stranded, Frank Merriwell in London; or, The Grip of Doom. 1é Frank Merriwell’s New Venture. Frank Merriwell’s Venture; or, Driven from Armenia. ‘ Frank Merriwell’s Play. Frank Merriwell in India. : 388 Frank Merriwell’s Fame; or, The Road to Suecess. Frank Merriwell’s Vow; or, After Big Game in Ceylon. 39 Frank Merriwell s Father. Frank Merriwell in Japan; or, The Sign of Avenger. i Frank Merriwell’s College Chunis, Frank Merriwell’s Dead Shot, Pitsegem Merriwel’s Understudy. Frank Merriwell in the South €sa; or, Cast for Life, : rank Merriwell Puzzled, or, the po ne of Inza. Frank Merriwell at Home Again. rt rank Merriwell’s Problem; or, Vhe Vanishing of Elsie Frank Merriwell at Yale. Frank Merriwell Missing; or, On the Brink of Disaster Frank Merriwell’s Match. Frank Merriwell’s Disaster; or, The Hand of the Law. Frank Merriwell’s Victory; or, The Winning Oar. Frank Merriwell’s Fortune; or, The Legacy of the Frank Merriwell’s Finish; or, Blue Against Crimson. Skeleton. Frank Merriwell’s Game; or, Snaring the Sharper. Frank Merriwell’s Failure; or, High Hopes and Hard Frank Merriwell’s Run; or, Trouncing the Tigers. Lueck, ‘1 Frank Merriwell’s Even Up; or, Squaring the Score. Frank Merriwell’s Pluck; or, Never Say Die. Frank Merriwell’s Queen; or, Blow for Blow. 9 Frank Merriwell’s Chance; or, To Make or Break. Frank Merriwell’s Find; or, The Waif of the Train. 50 Frank Merriwell Wins; or, Che Success of “True Blue.” Frank Merriwell’s Racer; or, Birds of a Feather. 51 Frank Merriwell HKetrayed; or; The Downfall of Frank Merriwell’s Nerve; or, Game to the End. Hodge. , Frank Merriwell’s Shadow. Frank Merriweil’s Admirers; or, Annoyed by Atten- Frank Merriwell’s Dash; or, Yale Against the Field. tions. Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Boys. 58 Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity; or, Forging to the Frank Merriwell’s Ride for Life. Front. Frank Merriwell’s Great Capture. 54 Frank Merriweli's Great Hit; or, Fighting the Play Frank Merriwell to the Rescue. Pirates. Frank Merriwell’s Close Call; or, The Tramp's Token. 55 Frank Merriwell’s Boom; or, The New York Pro- Frank Merriwéll’s Unknown Friene duction. Frank Merriwell Among the Rustlers. Frank Merriwell’s Reception; or, A Hot Time in New Frank Merriwell’s Desperate Drop. Haven. Frank Merriwell in the Mines; or, The Blind Singer. 57 Frank Merriwell's Scheme; or, Getting Ready for the Frank Merriwell Among the Mormons. Great Trip. Frank Merriwell on the Desert. 58 Frank Merriwell’s Nobility; or, The Tragedy of the rank Merriwell’s Underground Search Ovean Tramp. Frank Merriwell in California. 9 Frank Merriwell’s Backer; or, Among London Sports. Prize Plot Story; Frank Merriwell as the Star. ’ Frank Merriwell’s Black Beauty; or, Winning the Frank Merriwell’s Yacht: or, Chase Down the Coast. Derby. Frank Merriwell’s Combination, Frank Merriwell’s Sand; or, London Slums at Night. Frank Merriwell’s Red Rival. 32 Frank Merriwell at Henley; or, Life on a House Boat. Frank Merriwell’s ‘Texas Tournament, Frank Merriwell’s Caddie; or, On the St. Andrews Frank Merriwell’s Nine. Golf Links. Frank Merriwell’s Shot; or, Out With the Gun Club. Frank Merriwell’s Farewell; or, Last Days im Merrie Frank Merriwell’s Flyer; or, The Winning Wheel. England. Frank Merriwell’s Thoroughbred, Prank Merriwell in Paris; or, The Man Without a Frank Merriwell’s Enemy; or, Rivals of Blue Ridge. Name, ; Frank Merriwell’s Crew. Frank Merriwell Suspected; or, For the Honor of Frank Merriwell’s Hunt; or, Tn at the Death. France. Frank Merriwell’s Blow; or, Unmasking a Rascal. Frank Merriwell Doomed; or, The Anti-Dreyfus Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale. League. Frank Merriwell as ‘“‘Anchor;” or, The Winning Pull. 68 Frank Merriwell’s Friendship; or, The Hot Blood of Frank Merriwell’s Initiation; or, The Secret Order, Youth. Frank Merriwell’s Sign. Frank Merriwell’s Return; or, Tne Unmasking of the Frank Merriwell as Full Back; or. True to His Colors] Mystery. Frank Merriwell’s Duel; or, A Point of Honor. Frank Merriwell’s Ball Team; or, Winning the First Frank Merriwell’s Mark; or, Subduing a Bully. Game. Frank Merriwell’s Secret; or, A Friend in Need. Frank Merriwell’s Secret; or, Trying to Steal the Frank Merriwell’s Revenge; or, Aroused at Last. Double Shoot. : Frank Merriwell’s Capture; or, The Black Schooner. 72 Frank Merriwell’s Determination; or, Getting the Frank Merriwell’s Chum; or, The Hand of a Friend. Best of His Foes. Frank Merriwell’s Double Shoot. 73. Frank Merriwell’s Injury; or, Hard Luck and Crooked Frank Merriwell’s Danger; or, Shadow of Disgrace, Work. Frank Merriwell’s Wager; or, Bound to Win. 74 Frank Merriwell’s Ruse; or, Paid in Their Own Coin. Frank Merriwell in Training. Frank Merriwell’s Fall; or, Tom, the Tramp Twirler ’ Frank Merriwell's Courage; or, Loyal to the Last. 76 Frank Merriwell’s Turn; or, Working the Wimmue ; Frank Merriwell at Fardale Again. Streak. Frank Merriwell in Camp. Frank Merriwell’s Freak; or, The One-Armed Wonder. Frank Merriwell’s Fardale Friends; or, Old Foes. 8 Frank Merriwell’s Bat; or, Saved by an Alibi. Frank Merriwell’s Yale Chums. Frank Merriwell’s Skill; or, Fighting for the Lead. Frank Merriwell’s Choice; or. Fair Rivals of Fardale, SX Frank Merriwell’s ¢ ‘ontide nee; or, Pulling Against the Frank Merriwell’s Fardale Racket. Tide. Frank Merriwell’s Courage; or, Nerve Against Bluff. Frank Merriwell’s Hit; or, Won in the Ninth. Frank Merriwell’s Faith; or, The Shadow of a Crime. 2 Frank Merriwell's Triumph; or, In Front atthe Finish. Frank Merriwell’s Celebration. 33 Frank Merriwell at Yale Again; or, Batting for the Frank Merriwell Afloat. Blue. i SAAS ae For Sale by all Newsdealers, or will be sent Postpaid, on receipt of Price, by STREET & SMITH, Pustisners, 238 Wituiam St., New York.