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—TIPTOP WEEKLY ©

AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE whee YOUTH

Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year, Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 238 William
&t., N. Y. ntered According to Act of Congress,in the year 1900 in the Office of the Librarian of Per pata Ty By

 

No. 227.

NEW YORK, August 18, 1g00,

Price Five Cents,

 

Frank oe Vault:

OR,

THE BLADES OF TOLEDO.

By BURT L. STANDISH.

CHAPTER I.
MADISON JONES.

Madison Jones cautiously lifted his head
from the clump of bushes in which he had
hidden himself and glanced warily down
the woodland path. His red eyes were
tinged with dirty circles, his face was
| rimy with coal dust which a recent wash-
ing hhad failed to remove, and in his mus-
‘cular right hand he clutched a heavy
slungshot.

he growled. ‘‘A roll of big bills as thick
as my arm—and he gimme this!”’

As he sank down into the bushes"he
fished a dime out of a pocket and angrily
flung it away.

‘“‘Gimme that, when I told him that I
had been discharged and was starvin’!
Ten cents, and him with such a roll! But
I'll have it if I have to drag him out of
the club-house. I follered him up here to
git it, and I'll git it!’

He ground his teeth together with fierce
determination; then bored a hole through
the leaves, and lying flat on his stomach, —

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surveyed the path and the woods within
his field of vision.

“Tf the other feller comes along, Pll
tackle him, fer I reckon he’s got as much
money as his chum, and if they come to-
gether, I'll climb ’em both: I can lay out
two such fellers and not half try, fer one
is drunk all the time, and I allow that
t’other one hasn’t enough courage to go
up against a free lunch counter.’’

If ever the brand of Ishmael was stamped
on any one it was stamped on the mis-
creant who thus lay in wait, muttering
and fingering the deadly slungshot. From
his round, bullet head to his heavy, clay-
stained boots, every line revealed the
criminal. Yet he had worked his way
from Buffalo to Toledo as coal-passer on
the steamer, and always talked loudly of
the rights of the workingman.

‘‘Never another shovelful of coal do I
heave fer man or company, if I can git
that wad,’’ he huskily whispered. ‘‘Never
another! I’ve wanted to be an honest man
aud work fer a livin’, but what’s the use?
P’raps it’s in the blood! Or may be it’s
the name! When a boy’s parents name
him so that he is compelled to go through
life as ‘Mad Jones,’ what’s to be expected ?
A man has got to be either a villain or a
lunatic if he is called Mad Jones!”’

He lifted himself a little and caught his
breath with a gasping sound.

‘Ah! there they come! Both together.
But I can do ’em both.”’

Jack Ready and Greg ‘Carker had
walked into view and now came slowly
along. They were the camera fiends of
Frank Merriwell’s: Athletic Team and
they had been out along the Jake shore in
search of views suitable for the lens,

Merriwell’s party was now at Granada
Heights, the guests of the Toledo’ Blades,
whose captain and principal member had

been a passenger on the steamer that.

brought the Athletic Team from Buffalo
to Toledo. The Toledo Blades was the ap-

TOP WEEKLY.

  

propriate name of an organization of clever
and lively young men of the Ohio city
who delighted in athletics and out-of-door
life and sports. By a plentiful use of
money and a good deal of artistic taste,
they had changed a rough woodland on
the lake shore into a handsome park,
adorned with a club-house of Moorish de-
sign, the whole of which they called Gran-
ada Heights.

After overwhelmingly defeating the
Toronto baseball team at Niagara Falls,
Merriwell’s team had gone to Buffalo and
thence by lake to Toledo, and were soon
to meet the Toledo Blades at that city in
a field contest. Just now they were enjoy-
ing the lake breezes and the cool shade at
Granada Heights, to the great delight of
lazy Bruce Browning, who unblushingly
confessed that he liked nothing better
than to lie around and doze and dream all
day, and that sports of all kinds were a
weariness to the flesh. He even went so.
far as to declare that games and sports of
all kinds were designed and pursued by
fools for insane purposes of self-torture,
and that he was an utter idiot to permit
his friends to drag him into them. But it
was noticeable that when he once went
in, ro devotee ever fought more fiercely

for his faith than lazy Bruce did for the

honor of an honorable victory.

‘The whole world does nothing but
make pictures,’’ Greg Carker was philoso-
phizing, as he and Ready walked unsus-—

pectingly toward the miscreant who lay
hidden in the bushes with the deadly

slungshot,

y “We haven’t made many this morn- —
ing,’’ Ready chirped, swinging his camera ©
>) / ) g 4
as if to be ready for a snapshot in case a —

deer leaped from the bushes or an aeronaut_

   

dropped from the clouds. ‘‘I’ve chased ‘

my face all morning and seen nothing but
that pile of rocks with the waves washing
their feet with soapsuds—the feet of the
rocks, I mean—and the hawk sailing over
them. ae

 

   

ats

 

 

      
       
       
       
       
       
     
       
   
         
       
   
   
   
   
   
   
       
       
       
       
     
    
 
  

      
    
 

   
    
 
PIP DOP

/*O’er all that flutter their wings and fly
A hawk is hovering in the sky!’

The way that hawk hovered over us he
must have thought we were winged rab-
bits.’’

The bored look deepened in Carker’s
thin, intellectual face. It annoyed him to
have Ready indulge in chatter when he
wanted to philosophiize.

“The average man doesn’t understand
that life, from the cradle to the grave, is
simply an endless making of pictures.
While we are young we build our Castles
in Spain.”’

_ “Moorish architecture, something like
the club-house at Granada Heights!”’
Ready interrupted.

‘We build our fairy castles and fill
them with pictures of the things we are to

do, the lives we are to lead, the worlds we
are to conquer. The pictures are high-col-
ored, with lots of sunset gold: and silver-
lined clouds in them. We
riding in a chariot of triumph over streets
of gold, with Mammon cliained to the
_ wheels, and the world crowding round us
with applauding hands.
_ “When we old we continue to
make pictures—inemory-pictures, filled
with the scenes and faces of the past. We
ptt our loved ones in the gallery of the
- saints and paint halos round their heads
and give to them a beauty which was
never theirs in life.” |
“And we take snapshots of the big fish
_ we used to catch when we were boys, for-
getting the little ones!’’ Ready airily con-
tinued. ‘‘The pictures always show us
licking the other fellow, and never get-
- ting licked. In those pictures, the brooks
‘we used to swim are raging seas _and the
sand dunes we scuffed over are cloud-cap-
ped mountains. The sweetheart of our
boyhood days has cheeks as red as a new
mowing machine. We see her welcoming
us with a smile as broad and cheerful as
‘that of a catfish. Here in the West you

see ourselves

grow

WEEKLY. 3

never horned pout! If you should say here
that the lips of a girl were like those of a
pout, the. people would probably think
that you meant to insinuate that she had
a bad temper and that——”’

Madison Jones had lifted himself as
Carker and Ready dréw nearer; but now
he sank down with an exclamation of dis-
appointment and disgust.

‘*Not the fellers at all!’? he was grum-
bling. ‘‘I’ll bet the ten cent piece I
throwed away that they took the other
path.. I reckon these idiots belong to the
Merriwell crowd.”’

““Didn’t you fancy you saw something
move in those bushes?’’ Ready asked,
dropping his jocular tone.

‘‘Some small animal or bird, I sup-
pose,’’ Greg answered.

These woods
are so thick I’ve been half expecting a
polar bear to prance out and pose for us.
Go on with your picture-making. It’s the
only kind we’ll have this morning. Or, if

‘*VYou’re right, I guess.

you want to stir up those bushes and any-
thing hops out, I'l] snap it and divide
with you.”’

But Carker preferred not\to poke into
His head was full of poetic
fancies, which he wanted to pour out,
even if Ready seemed unappreciative; so
they walked on by the clump where Mad-
ison Jones lay with gripped slungshot,
and were soon beyond his reach.

After a time they left the path, for it
seemed to be taking them farther from

the bushes.

the club-house, to which they wished to
return, and swung into a faint trail that
bisected the path to which Jones’ disap-
pointed thoughts had gone and to which
he had hurried as soon as they were far
enough away to permit him to leave his
hiding-place without being seen by them.

‘I drew a blank in the picture lottery
that time,’’ said Ready, as he caught his
foot in a vine and tripped, pitching the
camera forward in an endeavor to catch
himself, and accidentally clicking the but-

 
  

 

       

RY Re Re FA Re

 

4- TIP TOP

ton. ‘‘I wish we had continued along the
lake shore. We could have got some rock
views, if nothing else. ”’

*‘Here is a wider path,’’ said Carker.
‘We'd better follow it.
straight toward the club-house. ’

Again Carker and Ready turned, and in
so doing missed a fearful scene, which at

It seems to go

that moment might have been visible to
their eyes only a
screen of bushes

them.

few feet away if the

had not shut it from

CHAPTER II.
A MURDEROUS BLOW.

‘‘Aw! I’m disgusted with you, don’t
you know!”’

The shot was fired at Herbert Ham-
mierswell by his friend Delancey Living-
ston.

Hammerswell stopped in the path, with
flushing face, though the flush was caused
more by the liquor he had recently swal-
lowed than by anything else.

‘What do you.mean by that?’’ he de-
manded.

‘‘Vou’re steaming all the time, don’t
you know, and I don’t like it. I don’t
like a man who all the time tries to keep
lis spitits up by pouring spirits down!”’

“Do you mean to insinuate that I’m
drunk ?’?’ Hammerswell asked.

‘‘Aw! I mightn’t go as far as that, you
know, but I haven’t seen you really sober
since we were at Niagara. You got such
a fright there, when you thought you had
drowned Merriwell and found you hadn’t,
and when you fell into the river, don’t
you know, that you’ve been bracing your-
self ever since. I don’t mind if a fellow

takes a drink now and then, but when he,

aw! simply saturates himself with the
stuff, it makes me sick.’’

Madison Jones was in another clump of
bushes some distance away, but by part-
ing the leaves he could see the two youths

 

   
 
   
    
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
 
     
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
    
  

WHEKLY, a

quarreling in the path, and his grip of the
slungshot cord tightened. :

“The two of them together, and the ~ | z
right ones this time! That Delancy’s got ee:
the roll, and I’ve an idea that the other
feller’s pockets are lined, too. Ican knock
’em both out, and I'll do it.”’

He pulled up some earth and rubbed it
harshly into his face, to darken and dis-
guise it, and plastered his hair with leaves ff
and sticks. |

‘They’ ll think I’m the Wild Man from tf
Borneo, when I jump out onto them from
ll be so seairt they
won’t think of makin’ a fight. I wish
they’d stop that pow-wowing and come

 

these bushes, and they’

on!’’

“Tye had only one drink this morn- ~ a
ing !’? Hammerswell blustered. ‘‘And Pll >
thank you to attend to your own affairs.’

‘‘You must have taken it in a lager
then!’’ was Delancy’s un-
ruffled reply. “ey shall quit you dead cold,
don’t you know, if you keep it up! You
were steaming all the way over on the
boat, and you’ve been at it ever since. I
can see that the club fellaws are getting
as tired of itas Iam. They thought we
were gentlemen, don’t you know, when
they invited us out here!”’

‘‘Why don’t they come on?’’ Madison
Jones was growling. ‘I’m ere nervous
layin’ here waitin’ fer ’em.

‘The fellaw that invited us up eee Eat
was iy friend,’’ Delancy went on, ‘‘and
he supposed that you were a gentleman
because you were my friend, and so the
invitation was given to you. But the ~
Blades of Toledo will politely tell us that — :
our room is better than our company, if — s
you go on this way. Aw! I’m sick of it, — aa
don’t you know! I’m horridly sick of it!’’ a

‘‘T’ve got to steam upif I’m to carry tis
out any plans to beat Merriwell. There is ?
something about the fellow that takes my
courage away from me when. I come near Zn
him. I don’t feel so when I’ve had a
drink. Iwas shaken up by that Niagara

 

beer. schooner,

 

   

 

 
      
        
    
      
     
     
   
        
      
       
       
     
     
     
     
     
      
    
     
 
 

  

    
 

 

  

    
 
   
     
       
         
     
         
     
     
     
         
   
        

 

TIP

business, I admit; but I’ll let up just as
soon as I’ve evened the score with Merri-
well. I didn’t expect to find him at Gran-
ada Heights, but he has come here, I
thought he wouldn’t go out of Toledo.
But he’s here, and again the chance to do
him up has come. I can’t miss it.’’

Hammerswell seemed to become more
sober as he talked.

*‘T will have nothing to do with any-
thing more of that kind!’’ Delancy de-
clared. ‘Aw! you’re a villain, Hammers-
well, don’t you know! You’re a bloody
villain !’?

Hammerswell smiled drunkenly. He
regarded this as a compliment.

‘*Perhaps Iam a villain. It takes vil-
lainy to match villainy. I’m going to do
up Frank Merriwell, if I hang for it!”?

Delancy turned away in anger ‘and dis-
gust.

‘‘Drop that, or I'll cut you dead!”’

Then he walked away from Hammer-
swell, moving along the path in the direc-
tion of the concealed ruffian, while Ham-
merswell stared at him, uncertain what to
do or say.

*“‘Comin’ on alone!’’ Madison Jones
whispered. *‘‘The feller with the wad.
Asked him fer help awhile ago and he
gimme adime! He’d ought to have his

head ripped open fer that. Gimme a dime

to keep the wolf out o’ the front yard—a
dime! Blast him! I'll give him an extra
welt fer that. A dime! and he and t’other
feller won five hundred dollars at poker
on the boat comin’ over from Buffalo!
Settin’ in the- saloons playin’ cards like
kings, and me breakin’ my back and

burnin’ my eyes out and sweatin’ myself

to rags heavin’ coal to keep the engines
runnin’ to carry them across! A dime!”’
The snarling exclamation seemed to
choke him.
Delancy Livingston walked straight on,
swinging his cane and fuming, and soon

was hidden from the sight .of Herbert
_ Hammerswell.

     

TOP WEEKLY. §

‘Aw! Dll have to cut the fellaw dead
cold!’ he was thinking. ‘‘I’ve been a
fool to continue with him as I have. I
don’t like Merriwell a little bit, but I’m
not going to be continually poking my
neck into a halter to get even with him,
don’t you know! Only an idiot would do
that. Hammerswell’s drinking like a fish
to give him enough courage to continue
his work against Merriwell. But I’ m out
of the game. Yet there was a swell way
about the fellaw that I liked, before he
got to steaming so outrageously.’

Nearer and nearer he came to the con-
cealed form.

He passed the bushes so near that Jones
could have touched him with outstretched
hand. Then Jones rose up; and, with a

gurgling gasp which caused Delancy to:
‘turn half round, he swung the heavy

slungshet and felled the youth in the
path. Delancy Livingston threw up his
hands and pitched forward on his face
without a cry.

“Killed him, I reckon!’ the ruffian
whispered, half in fear; and, dropping
the slungshot in the path, he began a hur-
ried.search of Delancy’s pockets.

““Ah! here it is!’ he snarled, as he
nervously drew out a roll of bills. ‘‘‘The
very wad he fished up when he gimme the
dime. Iallowed he’d have it with him
yit!”?

Then he went through other pockets,
and not finding more money, was about
to relieve Delancy of his watch, when he
heard an exclamation, and saw a form
bound toward him through the bushes.

It was Frank. Merriwell, who had
chanced to be walking near.

This unexpected interference was so.

startling, for Frank seemed to have risen
right out of the undergrowth by the path,
and the look in Frank’s eyes was so fear-
inspiring, that Jones rose to his feet.
‘You murderer!’’ came from Merri-

well’s lips, as he saw the senseless form_

on the ground.

    

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Another leap would have taken him
upon the shivering and startled wretch,
who would not have cared if the prospect
had been of an encounter with Herbert
Hammerswell.

Frank’s muscular hand seemed reach-
ing out to grasp the miscreant, and Jones,
filled with

stand, turned about in a headlong flight

a terror he could not under-
that took him tearing through the bushes
like a madman.

Merriwell picked up the slungshot, and
the roll of bills which Jones had dropped
in his fright, and stooped over Delancy.

As he did so he thrust a hand into De-
lancy’s bosom to ascertain if there were
any heart beats.
glanced up.
racing down the path toward him, accom-

He heard a cry and
Herbert Hammerswell was

panied by Leverett Osgood, one of the-

leaders of the Toledo Blades, who had
come up with Hammerswell in the path
but a moment before.

CHAPTER III.

MERRIWELL ACCUSED.

The blow which felled Delancy Living-
ston was delivered with sufficient force to
kill, if it had fallen fairly, but it had
fallen glancingly, and Delancy’s cap had
Not only
was Delancy’s heart beating, but he was
returning to consciousness. as Merriwell
stooped above him; and..as Merriwell
heard that cry from Hammerswell and
turned, Delancy rolled half over on his
side, and stared dazedly up into Merri-
well’s face.

He vaguely knew that he had been

_ stricken down, and it seemed to him that

Merriwell’s was the hand that had done
the work. ;

- Hammerswell came down the path with
quick, fierce strides and strangely working
features, closely followed by Osgood.

Unfortunately, Osgood, who was not
especially popular with the club members,

TOP WEEKLY.

  

SO RA Re RT NE ET eR RT RE es

    
 
  
  
   
   
   
    
   
  
   
 
   
    
   
  
   
 
  

though he was one of the wealthiest and
consequently one of the most influential,

had disliked Frank from the first, prob-

ably because Merry was a popular idol and

he was not—for it is the nature of some
men to become jealous of those who pos-
sess what they desire and cannot get. In

addition to this, Osgood had lent a listen-

ing and credulous ear to some of the dam-

aging stories against Merriwell’s character
and reputation which Herbert Hammer-
swell always delighted to repeat to any
who would hear them.

Delancy Livington’s uncertain’ gaze

wandered from Merry’s face to the slung-—

shot and the roll of bills. -

‘“You struck the down like a dog!’ he
eurgled, as Frank turned back for the
purpose of assisting him and at the same
time drepped the money and the weapon.
‘You're a

murderous scoundrel, don’t

you know!”’

Hammerswell and young Osgood heard

and understood the words, though so gur-
glingly spoken. A wild joy filled the
heart of the youth who had, as Frank’s
enenly, so persistently dogged his steps.
He thought he saw the evidences of the
truth of the accusation in the bills and
the slungshot and in Frank’s attitude with

hand beneath Delancy’s coat at the mo-.

ment they sighted him round the turn in
the path.

In spite of this, Herbert came toa hesi-
tating halt. He wanted to accuse Merri-
well of this murderous assault, but felt
cowed, in spite of the courage given him
by the liquor he had taken. . Yet he quick-
ly rallied and blustered: :

“Vou are a murderous scoundrel, Mer-
riwell, as I’ve always known, and this
proves it!”?

Merriwell rose to his feet with a danger-
ous glitter in his eyes. His right fist was
clenched, and he restrained himself with
difficulty from.striking the coward.

‘‘Hammerswell,
clock!)

you’re a liar by the

 

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Sia TOP

 

‘“There is the proof!’? Hammerswell
continued, while Frank began to laugh.
**You had that slungshot and the roll of
money in your hands, and you were
searching for more money, or for his
watch. Osgood saw you as well as I.’’

‘‘And I saw ’im!’’ declared Delancy,
weakly attempting to rise. ‘‘He struck
me down with that thing and then robbed
me. I saw the money, too.’’

Osgood -was silent, though his face
showed a readiness to accept this belief.

If Hammerswell’s cowardly nature had
not been given a false strength by his po-
tations he would have taken warning from
Frank’s dangerous laugh. But now he
saw in it an indication of confusion and
fear and his bravado increased.

‘You can’t scare me by your threats,
Merriwell! You tried to murder and rob

?

Crack!

Merriwell’s white fist shot out and
Hammerswell reeled backward in the
path, and was only kept from falling by
the outstretched arms of Leverett Osgood.

‘This is an outrage, Merriwell!’’ Os-

good hotly panted. ‘‘If a fellow flies into

a rage, it’s mighty good proof, as a rule,
that he is guilty !”’

Frank turned on Osgood with flashing
eyes.

‘‘T stand ready to settle with such fel-
lows as these, at any place and any time,
though I know that I disgrace myself by
noticing them. Go for a catriage for Liv-
ingston !”’

There was something in the words and
manner that made Osgood jump as if he
had been touched by a galvanic battery.
- “A carriage at once!’’ Frank repeated.
‘I’m sure this fellow is worse hurt than
he thinks he is!”’

‘Certainly !’’ said Osgood, and he ran

back along the path to obey the order and
_ hurry help at once.

Hammerswell was now standing very
erect and white, though his face a mo-

  

  

WHEKLY.

7

ment before had been red with drink and
excitement. His rage burned like a fur-
nace.

“You have hit me, Merriwell—a cow-
ardly blow! I'll not forget it. You struck
Delancy down and tried to rob him. I
think I understand why, for lately I’ve
heard that you’ve been hard up and
pressed for money. You are bound to keep
up your reputation, even if you have to
resort to such means to enable you to do
it. We have the evidence, and we’ll make
it interesting for you. You have sent Os-
good away, thinking that while he is gone
you can scare me, but you can’t scare
me.”

Merriwell understood the change in
Hammerswell’; manner, for lie had known
that Hammerswell was getting courage
from the flowing bowl. Nevertheless, it
was with great difficulty that he restrained
himself from again striking the man who
stood thus tauntingly before him.

Delancy Livingston again made a weak
effort to crawl to his feet, and this time
succeeded, picking up the roll of bills and
thrusting them into a pocket as he did so.

‘*Yes, well make it hot for you, Merri-
well!’ hedeclared: ‘‘You struck me down
like a dog, don’t you know, and I’ll not
forget it, nor forgive it! I might have
thought that you didn’t, if I hadn’t seen
the evidence with my own eyes.’

‘‘Hammerswell is drinking, and so is
hardly responsible for what he says, and
only a coward would strike a man in your
condition. I’ve sent for a carriage, and
I’ll stay by and help you into it, if you
wish.”’

Frank was again calm and collected.
He wanted to take Hammerswell by the
throat and choke him, but he controlled
the inclination. .

‘‘As for you, Hammerswell, you’re a
cur on whom it is not worth while to

waste words. You have dogged my foot-

steps from the Adirondacks to Toledo.

Perhaps you think it will be safe for you —

        

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8 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

to keep it up, but I want to tell you that
you are mistaken. I have let you alone
when I ought to have hammered you into
the earth. But patience has ceased to be a
virtue. And now I warn you that if you
continue this I shall punish you in a way
that you will remember as long as you
live. You followed me around this way
last summer—you and your father. The
limit has been reached!’

The color came again into Hammer-
swell’s face. He saw that Frank was in
deadly earnest; and, in spite of the liquor,
the old fear of Merriwell crept back into
his mean little heart.

Sey ss Fees?

‘*Vou have heard what I have to say.

Remember it and act on it, or you will
live to regret it. You talk to me about
murderous intentions, when you have
hired men to maim or assassinate me,
when you were too cowardly to undertake
anything of the kind yourself. But I have
recognized the hand back of it all. When
I do strike you, I will strike to pulver-
ize!”’
He turned again to Delancy, who looked

wofully weak and white, but who, in

spite of his condition, had more real cour-
age at that moment than Hammerswell
had ever had in his life.

‘(Shall I stay and help you? Some one
ouglit to be looking after the fellow who
struck you down. I saw him, and he-ran
in that direction when I jumped through
the bushes at him.”’

“Don’t bother about that phantom—
for he’s just a phantom, don’t you know!”’
Delancy sneered. ‘‘I think I don’t want
your help, thank you, though my head is
spinning round, and I feel like a chicken
with a wrung neck,’’

‘“Very well, then!’? was Merriwell’s

curt rejoinder; and he left the path and

set out for the club-house, intending to re-

port and send out searchers for the mis-
_ ereant who ‘had fled. |

On the way he met Bruce Browning,

who came hopping down a path as light-
footed as a colt. Browning had heard that
Delancy had been stricken down, and also
that Merriwell was in trouble of some
kind, though just what he had not been
able to find out, for Osgood had madea
statement, and hurried away after sending
a man for a carriage.

‘Just when I’m thinking you’re in
some sort of a tarnation scrape you rise up
before me like Hamlet’s ghost!’’ Bruce
drawled, stopping in the path in front of
his friend.

Merriwell smiled.

‘‘By Jove, old boy! I thought you were
too lazy to run like that.”’

‘‘Fasily explained,’’ droned Browning.
‘*Laziness runs in our family.”’

‘‘No need for laziness to run now.
Walk back to the club-house with me, and
I'll tell you what has happened. I tried
to help an idiot back there, and he turned
on me like a warmed rattlesnake. ”’ :

CHAPTER IV.

AT GRANADA HEIGHTS.

There was a tremendous undercurrent _

of excitement at Granada Heights that
forenoon; though, after the first ebulli-
tion, everything looked quiet enough on
the surface. Hammerswell and Delancy
Livingston had departed for Toledo, after
telling their story to the club members,
and Leverett Osgood, who had backed
their assertions, had gone with them.
Metriwell saw and heard all, but ex-
plained only to his. friends, feeling that
he could not assert his innocence of the
ridiculous charge to the members of the
club whose guest he was. If they were in-
clined to believe the three who had de-
parted, the only course for him was to

leave also; otherwise he could do nothing ©

but remain until the expiration of his
visit. I'o goto the members and tell them
that he could not be guilty of attempted

murder and robbery was a thing he could a

   

     

¥ He
Cea mne Bice ne

 

aaa

 

        
   
     
         
   
   
     
       
     
   
   
   
   
     
   
   
       
   
 

 

 

  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  

TIP TOP

not think of, even though he felt that
some of them, particularly the friends of
Osgood, probably believed the story.

But he was set at rest by a call. from
Merret Palmer, the captain of the Blades,
a splendid young fellow, who was accom-
panied by Bennett Saulsbury and Sidney
Gail.

**We take no stock in that story, Mer-
riwell!’? Palmer warmly and cordially de-
clared. ‘‘We thought you might think
that we did if we stayed away, that’s all.”’

Nearly all of Merriwell’s friends were
in the room at the time of this visit.

“We have men out looking for the fel-
low you described, and I’ve no doubt he
will be captured. ”’

*‘Osoood is a pretty good fellow,’’ said
Gail, ‘‘but he’s likely to go off half-cocked
in his opinions and to jump at conclusions
that make a man stare. We are sincerely
sorry for his attitude in this matter, but
we don’t want. you to feel that it reflects
the sentiments of the club.’’

**Ves, we know that you’re all right,
Merriwell,’’ chimed in Saulsbury. ‘‘We
heard of you and your friends long before
you reached Toledo; and, when we
learned that on the voyage down the lake
you had arranged with Merret to meet the
Blades in field sports, we were simply de-
lighted. Not that we think we can easily
defeat you, but because we know that it

was an honor to compete with your team.

We know your record at Yale and the
records of your friends.‘ As for Hammer-
swell and Livingston, we know nothing
about them, except that Delancy is an ac-
quaintance of Osgood and through him

they were invited to Granada Heights.

But as for myself, I’m glad the fellows

- have cut out; all but Osgood, I mean. As
he is a member of the club, we feel called

on to apologize for his conduct in this
matter. ’’
‘“The story is simply too silly to listen

to!” Bart Hodge growled. ‘‘The idea.
_ that Merriwell could do a thing like that!’’

 

WEEKLY. 9

‘It makes me cot under the holler!”
sputtered Rattleton.

‘We'll not allow it to interfere in any
way with the contest ?’’ said the captain,
in a questioning way, looking at Frank.

“‘We are still ready to meet your or-
ganization on the day and hour named,”’

"was Frarnk’s answer. ‘‘I am sorry the
thing occurred, and that I have been so
misjudged,. but it’s just what I could ex-
pect from Hammierswell. He’s been try-
ing to injure me for a long time. But it
won’t amount to anything. I want you to
know, though, that I am grateful for your
confidence. ”’

Then the talk drifted to the subject of
the coming contest, and became so in-
formal and pleasant, not to say jolly, that
these friends seemed dearer than ever be-
fore they took their departure; and Mer-
riwell’s heart warmed with the knowledge
that the members of the club, whose friend-
ship was worth having, were sure of his
uprightness and integrity of purpose,
whatever might be the opinion of Osgood
and the few who trained with him.

Bart had been raging against Hammer-
swell, and again broke out, when the cap-
tain and his companions were gone.

“*‘!’m only sorry, Merry, that you didn’t
hammer the face off the scoundrel!’’ he
snarled. ‘‘If I had been there I’d have
done it for you. He keeps away from me,
for he knows I won’t stand any nonsense
from him.’?

‘After you saved Livingston from be-
ing mobbed and rurdered—I mean robbed
and murdered, for him to turn against
you that way!’ grumbled Rattleton.

“We'll try not to let it disturb us,”
said Frank.

‘‘But if they should have you arrest-
ed??? asked Danny.

“Tf it were you, I should say for them ;
to go ahead,’’ chirped Bink. ‘‘It would i

give us arest!’’ '

 

“Dye only one wish for you,’’ retorted

  

    

i

aca eee ee

ARS ABO TERRE RE RS SY

 ——————

    
   
   
    
      
         
       
       
 
      
     
     
          
 
   
   
       
     
       
 

 

 

 

tae

 

 

10

Danny, ‘‘and tliat is that you may live to
be as old as your jokes.”’

‘‘Doesn’t such nonsense annoy you??”’
queried Carker, addressing Frank.

“Oh, no. I used to work in an old saw
factory !’’

Then Carker stared, for he failed to see

the teeth of the pun, but Bink and Danny
howled...

“Tf you’d only given Hammerswell
what he deserved!’ snarled Hodge, pay-
ing no attention to what the others had
said. |

‘You would despise a man who would
strike a drunken coward, no matter how
insulting the latter might be, wouldn’t
you?’’ Merry demanded. ‘‘That is the
way I felt. I wanted to knock Hammer-
swell down, and I so far forgot myself as
tostrike him. But I regretted it instantly.
To have gone further, or to strike De-
Jancy in the condition he was then in,
would have been the essence of cowardice. ’’

“T’m for pulling out of this game, any-
way,’’ Bart went on. ‘‘I looked for a fine
time here in Toledo. But you are queered
here now, no matter what may be said or
done. ‘Likely you will be arrested, and
there will be some who will fancy that
you may be guilty. It makes me sick and
mad. I’m in favor of going on to Chicago,
and letting Toledo go by. . We’re out for
sport and pleasure this summer, not wor-
riment.’’

It was a long speech for Hodge in his
present temper, but he felt strongly on
the subject.

‘‘Oh, we’ll stay and do up the Toledo
Blades,’’? grunted Browning. ‘‘But I’m
not in any hurry to get away from Granada
Heights. I haven’t found a more com-
fortable place this summer, not even in
the Adirondacks. ’’

‘*We have arranged to meet them, and
I’ve no disposition to back down from the
atrangement,’’ was Merriwell’s comment.
“T think we will, have some fine sport.

OE ATE, EO SAT SPN EEE TEMES OER aT

TOP WEEKLY.

 
 

  

They have a runner that I want to put
Gamp and Swiftwing against.’’

‘‘And me!’’ piped Danny.

‘“There will be work for you, my boy,
and for all of us. The Blades of Toledo
are not likely to be easy!”’

CHAPTER V.

HAMMERSWELL STRIKES.

‘Aw!
don’t you know!”’

Delancy Livingston put up his monocle
and stared at Frank Merriwell, who was
passing along the street in front of the
hotel with Merret Palmer, the captain of
the Toledo Blades.

Delancy’s words were intended for Her-
bert Hammerswell, who lounged in a
chair at his side and also looked down
into the street from the window of the
hotel.

‘‘The fuses are all laid and the mine is
ready for the explosion,’’ said Hammer-
swell, with a half-drunken scowl.

‘‘T can’t see why the officers fail to
move in the matter, don’t you know!
The fellaw is walking the streets of To-
ledo as if he owned the place, and had put
a fence around it. I don’t like it. Why
don’t they move against him? That’s
what I should like to understand, don’t
you know!”?

This was answered by an owlish look -

he must anticipate an arrest,

of wisdom.

‘“The thing is (hic) all right, Delancy:_
Lines all laid for the explosion. It will
come to-night. Going to be a good one.
Red fire and rockets and all that. Just
you don’t go to becoming excited, and it —

_will be all right.”’

‘‘Oh, you’re disgustedly drunk again,
and I don’t like it! You’re throwing away
your money like a fool, too. You’lI——
Aw! I don’t want to talk to you when
you get that way!’’

‘€ °S all.right!’ Hammerswell assured. _
‘“‘Rverything’s all right. Trust to yer

    

 

 

 

   
        
 

 

TIP: "TOP

uncle. ‘When I Jay a plan, that plan’s
good one, and don’t ye forget it! This best
plan I ever laid. When it happens, make
these (hic) Toledo Blades think ‘the sky
is fallin’? down on their poor bald heads
an’ they better see the king!’ ”’

He looked as grave as an undertaker
while quoting this classic of the nursery.

‘*What’s your plan ?’’ Delancy demand-
ed, putting down the eyeglass and _ turn-

‘ing on him, when Merriwell had passed

from sight.

‘“Tha’s all right, too!’’
Hamumerswell was intoxicated, but not
enough to lose his caution. His plan was
spectacular, and he feared Delancy might
object to it, for Delancy had been filled
with objections lately.

Merriwell and his party had returned
to Toledo, whither they had been preceded
by Hammerswell, Livingston and Leverett
Osgood; and Delancy, having left the de-
tails to Hammerswell, was irritated to see
Merriwell still walking the streets when
he fancied Frank ought to be in jail or
under arrest. |

“When are you going to stop this drink-
ing, Hammerswell ?’’ he demanded.

Hammerswell tried to straighten up and
look extremely sober.

“T shan’t take ’nother drink to-day—
not ’nother drink!” ak:

In spite of his drunken mood, he meant
it, dimly realizing that what he now need-
ed to carry on his plan was shrewdness
rather than the brute “courage he had
sought for through liquor.

Delancy turned away. He did not be-
lieve that Hammerswell was in earnest or
could carry out his promise.

““G-by!’’ called Herbert, flabbily wav-

ing his hand as Delancy walked off. ‘‘See
you later.

Plan’s all right!” ©}
Then he crept away to his own room
| os
and to bed, not to emerge until evening,

~when he came forth white-faced and sober,
with shaky limbs and a cowardly heart,
but more crafty and vindictive than ever.

WEEKLY. 11

the supper.’

 

  
     
  
   
 
  
    
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
  
   

‘‘Aw! I should have liked an invitation
to that German, don’t you know !”’ was
Delancy’s salutation, his reference being ,
to a dinner and German given that night
by Merret Palmer and other members of
the Toledo Blades in honor of the visiting
team of Yale athletes.

‘‘T shouldn’t have gone if I’d had
‘Tt would
make me sick to be in that crowd. The

one!’’?’ Hammerswell snarled.

Blades, are going wild over Merriwell,
even after what he has done—after. that ;

attempt to murder and rob you!’’ i
He did not want Delancy to forget that. j
‘Aw! Ithink I should have liked an

Some stunning girls there to-
It makes

invitation.

night, you know! Rich, too.

me feel deuced uncomfortable not to be {
going, when the thing is for the Blades
and their friends, I understand.”’ Ae

He put up his eyeglass and ogled a

   

young lady who was passing. q
‘Aw!

mured.

 
   
    

deuced handsome!’’ he mur- {
‘Right clever girls out here,

And I wouldn’t have

 
      
     

don’t you know!
believed it.’’

    
    

“Better be cautious,’?’ Hammerswell |
warned. ‘‘That' was Merret Palmer’s sis- |
ter. he chap with her gave you a black J
look. They’re on their way to the dinner, 7
I suppose. It. wasn’t given by the Blades
as an organization, but only by certain

 
         
         
   
 

members, and that’s .why we were left

out. You see, if it were given by the

Blades, Osgood would have invited us.’?’
‘‘And that is why——”’

 
       
 

‘‘Ves, that accounts for the milk in the
cocoanut. If the Blades had given it as an
organization, Osgood would have asked
us, and tothe other fellows we are om
persona grata.’ eas

‘‘Aw! confound them!’ , .

‘*But Pl be there!’’ said Hammerswell,
with a fierce look. ‘‘I shall smuggle my-
self in, for that red fire and rocket busi-
ness will take place in the ball-room after

       
    
   
   
   
   
   
 
 

   
 

 

- ae a EE oF IF

 

TIP TOP

 

 

12

‘‘Aw!’’ and Delancy stared through his
eyeglass. ‘‘You said you wouldn’t go?’’

**In my proper person. I shall smuggle
myself in. If you’re clever you can do the
same. It will be worth it.’’

Hammerswell smuggled himself in, by
the aid of a bribe, and blacked as a wait-
er; and when the officer who had been
sent to make the arrest, and who also had
fingered some of Hammerswell’s money,
pushed inte the big dining-room from
which the chairs had been removed, and
where the dancing was in progress, Ham-
entrance and

in a side

a sort of glioulish glee.

merswell stood
watched him with
At that
than his face.
Merriwell was
Palmer, Merret Palmer’s sister.
the whirling,
gitls and

moment

with Fannie
The room
swaying

dancing

was crowded with
fizures of handsomely-gowned
women and with clever and witty men.
Every member of the Toledo Blades was
there, with the exception of Leverett Os-
good and afew of his cronies, and all had
vied with each other in making the even-
ing pleasant for the Yale athletes.

“Tt will kill him !’’? Hammerswell whis-
pered, restraining: his joy with difficulty.
‘“The disgrace of being arrested here will
kill him. ‘This isa revenge worth work-
ing for! This is even better than maiming

him or injuring him in any other way.

He is.as proud as ° Lucifer, and the thing
will tear his heart out.”’

It was well for him that his face was
blacked, for its working and the fire which
suffused it would otherwise have been no-
ticeable.

The officer walked across the room,
pushing the dancers aside; and approach-
ing Metriwell laid a hand on his shoulder.

‘‘T arrest you, sir, for assault with in-
, 3 %

tent to kill!’’ he said, in a loud voice.
“Vou will come with me}? \

Fannie Palmer swayed on Metriveel!? s
arm as if about to swoon, while Merri-
well’s face flamed like fire. — ;

  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
    
  
   
   
 
 
 
 
  
 

WEEKLY.

 

his heart was blacker.

ERS

   

Women gasped and shrieked, and a half
dozen members of the club pushed for-
ward, among them young Palmer himself.

‘This is a shame!’’ Hammerswell heard
Palmer say. ‘‘If you had a warrant you
could have served it in some more appro-
priate place. We will become his sureties
in any amount needed.”’

‘“’That’s all right,’’ the officer sneered.
‘But I know my duty. This young man
an assault with intent to

I have the papers issued
He goes with mé!”’

is charged with
commit murder.
to me in legal form.

‘*But——

‘Tf he can get the judge to admit him
to bail, all right; otherwise I shall land
him in jail and hold him there.’’

Hammnerswell fairly hugged himself in
delight.

‘‘Oh, it’s a glorious revenge!’’ he pant-
ed, leaning eagerly forward. ‘‘A glorious
revenge! Frank Merriwell, you now feel
the hand of Herbert Hammerswell. I’ve
got Delancy and Osgood
against you, and if wedon’t make you
smoke, then I’m a liar and an idiot.”’

The protests of Merret and other mem-
bers of the club were of no avail, and
Hammerswell had the great pleasure of

1)?

seeing Frank led from. the dancing room-

'
under arrest.

CHAPTER VI.
BART LOSES HIS TONGUE.

Crack! whack! crack!

Bart Hodge’s hard knuckles played a
tattoo on Herbert Hammerswell’s face.

‘Take that! and-that! and that!’’

Hammerswell staggered backward.

‘*Stand up like a man, you booby !?
Bart snarled.

then clung to it as if for protection.
The German had been broken up by,

the arrest of Merriwell the night ators et
and though Merret Palmer and the lead- —

  

as witnesses

“Stand up and meet me!’? —
Hammerswell saved himself from a fall
by catching at the fence back of him, and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'
4

 

 
         
   
          
        
 
          
       
        
ing members of the Blades of ‘Toledo had
secured Merriwell’s release by becoming
his bondmen, the justice before whom
the preliminary hearing was held had
been so impressed by the evidence brought
forward by Hammerswell, Livingston and
Osgood that he had scored Frank in a
talk from the bench in which the guilt of
the accused was strongly intimated. The
at day had been a humiliating one to Frank
a and his friends; and now, meeting Ham-

 

ee merswell by chance, Hodge had permitted
ere his anger to get the better of him.

**T’ll have you arrested for this!’’ Her-
bert panted, a look of deep fear in his
: eyes.

a ‘‘And if you do, I’ll pay the fine and
lick you again as soon as the thing is
over. Come on and defend yourself!’

“T don’t want to fight!’? Hammerswell
whined, still clinging to the fence.
re *‘Merry thinks that it is cowardly to
: strike a fellow as I have hit you, when

that fellow is a coward and_ no fighter—
- that it’s too much like a big dog jumping

on a little one. But I don’t care anything
, for that. You deserve to have your face
= @©3~—_ hammered in, and I’m the boy to do it.”
. ‘“‘Let me go!’’ Hammerswell begged.

**Stand up and strike back, you sneak !
Stand up before I knock you through the
fence!”? Ds

‘Don’t hit me again! Please don’t hit
me agai!”

 

 

know what I want to do to you?”’

He advanced threateningly, and Ham-
merswell, shrieking in fear, started to run.
But Bart put out a foot, and the pusil-
lanimous miscreant went down in a grov-
eling heap. .

* “Don’t strike me!. Don’t strike me!

I’]l do anything, if you——”’
mek Et up!’’ Bart fiercely commanded.
“Ves, yes!?? Sete
i “Get up before I’m tempted to kick
- you into ribbons. Get up, I say!”

  

bs

 

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

~“Vou white-livered puppy! Do you”

_ Hammerswell sprang up and again

  

13

started to run; but fell once morte, this
time across a wide board, which in his
terror he did not see.

Delancy came racing across as if to
help his friend.

“T’ll polish you off, just as soon as I
get through with this fellow!’’ Bart ex-
claimed ; then deliberately walked up to
Hammerswell, who was floundering and
threshing in an effort to rise, and admin-
istered to him a vigorous spanking with a
bit of shingle which lay in the path,
whereupon 'Hammerswell bawled like a
whipped schoolboy.

‘‘Now, I’m ready for you!’’ Hodge
cried, turning to Delancy, as Hammer-
swell scrambled up.

‘Aw! I feel like caning you, don’t you

know!’?

drawled Delancy, swinging his
cane and putting up his eyeglass.

Bart faced him fiercely.

‘“‘Kven if you are a simpering dude,
you’re more of a man than Herbert Ham-
merswell. If you want to defend him or
defend yourself, put up your hands, or
come at me. I’m ready for you.’’

Delancy retreated, flourishing the cane.

“Aw! I’m nota fighter, you know! I
leave fighting to bulldogs and pugilists,

don’t you know!”’

For a moment Hodge seemed about to

strike him; but he checked the impulse.

“T think Merry is right. I can’t hit
you, unless you are willing to stand up
and fight. But you’re a cad!’

“Aw! you’re another, don’t you
know!” Delancy declared, again putting
up the eyeglass in that irritating way, as
if Bart were some sort of insect that he
wished to inspect.

Hammerswell was backing off, as if he
feared Bart might again come at him.

“Hit him, Delancy!’’ he urged. ‘‘Hit
him !”?

‘Aw! hit him yourself!’’ was the re-
tort. .

‘“That’s right. Come at me, both of
you—both of you at once!”? see

    

      
         
   
     
       
   
       
     
       
     
    
   

 
 
14 TIP

3ut Hamimerswell did not care to try
anything of the kind, and Delancy seemed
to get all the
ply by
staring at him through the eyeglass.
‘*You’re and both of
you!’’ Bart hissed. ‘‘I shall forget that,

though, and that it’s beneath the dignity

satisfaction he wanted sim-

swinging his cane at Bart and

cowards cads,

of any honest man to strike you, and
hammer you to pieces if you don’t keep
out of Merry.’s way, and out of the way of
of the Athletic Team. I

don’t want you to tempt me, for I can’t

every member

stand much!’
Bart’s
had a

Hammerswell shivered under

glance, and Delancy Livingston

cold, creepy sensation of fear as he re-
treated, again swinging his cane.
‘‘Remember it!’ said Bart; then turned
away, for he observed
and did
to be seen publicly quarreling or bandying
he so

and walked quickly
some men approaching not care
words with the creatures whom

despised.

CHAPTER VIL
DANNY HAS SAND.

The beautiful grounds of the Blades of
Toledo, on the Maumee River,
immense crowd on the afternoon of the
day set for the field contests between Mer-

drew an

‘Yiwell’s team and the Blades.

The day was propitious, the sky bright
and the promise of sport good; but there
was, tievertheless, a shadow over every-
thing, deeply felt by Frank and his friends
and by the members of* the entertaining
organization.

The feeling that Frank was in
danger from the charge which
lodged against him, and the testimony
with which it had been supported, could
not be shaken off. This feeling was not
groundless; for when the circumstantial
evidence in the case was dispassionately
exainined it was found to be strongly

against Merriwell.

great
had been

TOP WEEKLY.

Delancy Livingston, Herbert Hammer”
swell and Leverett Osgood were all positive
They had seen Frank
had

way, and

in their statements.

bending over Delancy, who been

stricken down in a cowardly
had seen in his grasp the slungshot and a
roll of bills, and had beheld him, as they
Delancy for other
Against this “could

be produced nothing but Merriwell’s un-

searching

money.

supposed,
valuables or

supported declaration of innocence and
his assertion that he had interrupted the
real thief and frightened him away.

None felt the weight of the evidence
against Frank than did Merret
e Blades, though
Merret was personally sure of Frank’s en-
tire He had talked with Os-
good, but could not shake Osgood’s story
Osgood believed that Merri-

more
Palmer, the captain of th
innocence.

in the least.
well was guilty, and he intended to say
so when the time
trial.

The feeling of pride with which the
Toledo athletic men and prominent citi-
zens, as well as the newspapers, had wel-
comed Merriwell and his friends, had giv-
en way to an suspicion
which was very unpleasant. And, though
the newspaper comments on. the charge
against Merriwell were guarded and infre-

came for the regular

uncomfortable

‘quent, there was in them a noticeable lack

of cordiality.
‘This whole business makes me awful-

ly hot!’’ Bart asserted, as he stood talking
of the situation to young Palmer while

the crowd filed into the grounds. ‘‘I have
heard a lot of these people talking, and
more than half of them, I believe, have
come to see Merry, not because he is a
great athlete, but simply because he is
suspected of an attempt to rob.and kill
Delancy Livingston. It not only makes |
me hot but it makes me sick !”’

‘“There is a good deal of that sort. of
feeling,’’ Palmer reluctantly adinitted. ‘‘I_

don’t want you to say anything to Megs
well about it, but one of the best lawyers:

 
NES SOR a RSS Ee a

“t
ts

 

 

  
 
 
  
 
    
     
   
   
     
   
   
     
   
   
       
       

makes the case look black.

 

\ TIP TOP WEEKLY. _ 15

in the city told me yesterday that he be-
lieved Metriwell is in danger of being sent
to prison. The charge isall rot, of course,
and I have confidence that the right will
win, but the way things have turned
I’m _ sure,
though, that Merriwell’s former good
name will break the force of the charge
and secure his release. ’’

This was not at all satisfactory to Bart
Hodge, who fairly ground his teeth at the
thought that any one could fora moment
suspect Merriwell of anything criminal or
dishonorable.

Frank came sauntering toward them as
they talked. In his face was the sunshine
of a good conscience and abounding
health. He did not seem to be troubling
himself about the black charge against
him.

“(A fine day,’’ he said, as he came up.
‘“‘T believe that my men are all in tip top
condition. ’’

He looked out on the field where Gamp
and Ready were racing and leaping, and
other members of the team were engaging
in various warming-up exercises.

From.a seat on the bleachers, to which
he had surreptitiously crept, Herbert
Hammerswell glanced at the field, then
turned his gaze, full of malevolent hate,
on Frank and Bart. He had disguised
himself by assuming cheap clothing and

by slightly darkening his face and wear-

ing a small, sandy-colored mustache.
“I’ve got you in a bad hole, old man!”’

was his thought, as he eyed Merriwell.

“T’ve had you in tight places before, but

never in so close a one. If you don’t go

to the penitentiary, all signs will fail.’

- Delancy had not come to the field—had

declared that he did not want to come and

would not come, simply because he was
more disgusted than ever with Hammer-
swell’s childish exhibition of cowardice in
his encounter with Hodge.

As Merriwell turned back toward the

benches, Danny Griswold came out of a

dressing-room clad in a suit of unsoilable
old clothes.

‘‘What’s he up to now?’’ was Frank's
thought. ‘‘He looks like a miniature rag-
man.”?

Another diminutive chap had emerged
from another dressing-room, and a man
was standing on a ladder applying some-
thing with a broad brush to the flagpole
that rose in front of the grand-stand.

Rattleton ran beamingly toward Frank.

‘‘Banny’s got a debt—I mean Danny’s
got a bet—with little Partridge that he
can beat him climbing a greased pole;
and they’re getting ready. it will be a
nicpic—a picnic to see them. ”’

The crowd was laughing and cheering
the man who was applying the grease to
the pole, while Danny, having now
pranced into-full view, posed like an ad-
miral on the quarterdeck, in spite of lis
ragamuffin attire.

Curt Partridge was no larger than Dan-
ny, though much more slender. He wore
a long-tailed coat, and when he rushed at
the pole he looked as much like a spider

 

monkey as a man.
The pole was round and as ‘‘slick as
grease,’? and when Partridge tried to

‘climb it he appeared to-fall down faster

than he could ascend.

“Oh, I’m just practicing!’ he called to
the laughing crowd that was showering
him with all sorts of humorous advice.
‘Wait till I rub all the oil from the old
thing, and I’ll go up it like a flash.”

‘Oh, we’re waiting !’’ squealed Danny,
who beamed in anticipation of an easy
victory. ‘‘I don’t want to have to wait
till these, beautiful garments wear out,
though !”’

Partridge’s efforts to ascend the pole
were a complete failure.

Nothing daunted, Danny advanced with
an air of supreme confidence. _His hands

were in his pockets, and his pockets were _

bulging. :
‘‘Now see me!’’ he called out. ‘‘Every-

  

tad net es

   
16 TIP TOP

thing is easy
how.”?

The crowd shouted.

**Hear the kid calling hisself a man!’

one gawky, long-necked fellow yelled,

to the man who knows

rudely.

But Danny was undisturbed. When his

hands caine out of his pockets each held

a quantity of sand. This he threw on the
greased pole, where it stuck and formed
something of a rough surface. Up this
Danny shinned in a lively manner, stop-
ping at the sand limit and showering the
higher places with more sand from his
pockets.

The spectators began to cheer in appre-
ciation of the little fellow’s cleverness, for
he was working up the pole in a hand-
some way due to tlie aid of the sand.

When he had climbed as high as he
cared to go hedropped to the ground, took
off his ragged hat, and made a profound
bow. 2

‘‘Yadies and gentlemen. I have shown
you that even a greased pole may be
climbed by the man who knows how. ‘The
only thing that prevents people from as-
cending in the world is a lack.of perse-
verance and know how. And _ always re-
member that you never can sticceed un-
less you’ve got ‘sand!’ ”’

Then he bowed again and
amid a din of applauding cheers.

retreated

CHAPTER VIII.

THREE QUEER MERRIWELL ROOTERS.

Four men had been assigned their posi-
tions by the clerk of the course and were
lined up at the starting point ready for
the one-hundred yards dash. Referees,
judges, time-keepers: and starter were. in
their places. Merriwell sat at one side
with the members of his Athletic Team.
In the grand-stand and bleachers was a
brilliant array of color. ‘The dresses and

ribbons of the ladies, the blue of Vale, and

the red-and-gold of the Toledo Blades

WEEKLY.

made grand-stand grounds, and /bleachers
blossom like beds of moving flowers.

All eyes were centered on the four men
lined up for the one-hundred-yards dash.
One of them was Carker, slender, thin-
faced, thin-limbed and intellectual-look-
ing. Another was Jack Ready, jauntily
bearing the Yale Y on his breast, and
round and red of cheek as if he were end-
ing the race, instead of merely holding
himself in readiness to begin it.

The other two were (Sail, tall and slim,
and Broadbent, whose sunken chest and
spindle legs made him look like a con-
sumptive, but who was said to be wonder-
fully fast in the short distances. In addi-
tion, Broadbent had a thin face and little
gleaming black eyes like those of a ferret.
The men of gambling instincts were plac-
ing their money quietly on Broadbent,

though the Blades of Toledo objected to

betting.

The starter lifted his pistol,
the question :

‘‘Are you ready?
set!’

There was a tense straining of limbs, a
crouching of bodies and a swaying of arms
as the men answered.

and asked

Get

On the mark!

Then the pistol cracked, and the run-.

ners came down the hard cinder path with
legs flying.
Ready leaped into the lead, and Joe.
Gamp began to ‘‘haw-haw’’ and screech.
‘*You’re cuc-coming, Ruh-Ruh-Ruh-
Ready !’? he bawled, his tongue buzzing

over the name like a fence splinter in a

high wind.

The spectators rose up and yelled, while
flags and handkerchiefs fluttered.

Then a pretty thing was seen. Broad-
bent, the spindle-legged and thin-chested,
pushed up out of the crowd, overtook
Ready and passed him, in spite of ‘all that
Jack could do, and in a mad dash that set
the spectators wild, breasted the tape at
the finish line six good yards ahead, .

vA rors dash!’ said Merriwell, and

.

 
ae ee

the time went up on an announcement
board—‘10 1-5 seconds.”’’

For thie 120 yards hurdle race, Bart
Hodge and Harry Rattleton were entered,
with Bennétt Saulsbury and Ralph Morris
of the Toledo Blades.

Merriwell \had a good deal of confidence
in Bart’s ability to pull out ahead in this
hurdle contest, for Bart had a good eye,
was speedy, and, moreover, had practiced
at hurdles under Merry’s personal super-
vision.

But Morris, who was taller and lighter
than Hodge, and seemed to be really
quicker on his feet, was the favorite with
the betting men and with most of the
spectators. Morris had -a hurdle record,
too.

“If you’ve a man who can beat Morris,
he’s a good one!’’ was the declaration of
Palmer, the captain of the Blades. ‘‘He
hasn’t the wind fora mile run, but he’s
simply great at hurdles.’

There were ten hurdles set ten yards
apart with a fifteen-yard clear start and
finish. The height of the hurdles was
three feet, six inches.

At the crack of the starter’s pistol
Harry Rattleton got away first, and in
such a race a good start is often a big part
of the battle. But Harry could not hold
his lead. Saulsbury and Bart both passed
hii.

‘*Bart’s going to win. Whoop!”’ shriek-

ed Bink Stubbs, waving his cap. ‘‘Climb
over them, you old scrapper! Just im-
agine you’re fighting fire or knocking
somebody out, and you’ll win sure.”?

It does not require a great deal of jump-
ing ability for one to be good at hurdles,
The aim of the trained hurdler is to bare-
ly clear the hurdles, skimming over the
tops so closely that he almost grazes them,
yet without touching or knocking them
over. Instead of running as fast as he can
between each leap and taking the hurdles

_ with no definite number of steps, he takes
-acertain number of steps between each

WEEKLY. 17

flight, and reaching each hurdle at the
most favorable point for the rise.

Hodge was cleverly taking the hurdles,
coming on in fine style, but Bink had
hardly begun to shriek and howl his en-
couragement, when Morris was seen to be
gaining.

His leap over each bar resembled the
rythmic rising motion of some birds in
flight, and he came with the speed of a-
deer.

‘*Don’t let him do you, Bart!’’ Danny
yelled, wild with excitement.

But Morris came on, passed Bart in a
low, easy leap, and beat him out neatly
at the finish, the others swinging behind.

The time was 16 1-5 seconds.

‘‘T ought to have won that, Merry!’’
Hodge confessed in some humiliation, as
he stood pantingly by his friend and cap-
tain. ‘‘But I couldn’t get that arrest and
trial out of my mind, even when I felt
that Morris was passing me. It’s going to
be a handicap on the whole: team, in the
same way, I know, for I’ve heard the fel-
lows talk. They’re blue about it, and
they’re worried. And I’m more worried
about it than I like to confess even to
you. When I see Hammerswell, I shall
have to lick him again.”’

Merriwell gave him a serious look.

‘“You’ve no business to feel that way,
Bart. You mustn’t feel that way. Put the
thing out of your mind, just as I have.
No man can do well at anything who car-
ries a load of worry on top of his work.
That’s what kills people—it will knock
out the best man that ever lived! We're

going to win these eontests, and I’m-go-
ing to come out of that other thing all

Just take my word for it and be- |
You must! Understand?

tight.
lieve with me.
You must!”’

‘“We seem to be getting it inthe neck,”
grunted Bruce, as he loafed uneasily past,
looking as calm as an unruffled sea and as
strong, yet inwardly disturbed and filled
with foreboding.

 
18 TIP TOP

“Just: put your thoughts
the hammer throw and the shot-put.
are not required to fret away any mental

on winning
You
fiber over anything else. The fellows who
are in the races must look after the races, ”’

Others came to Frank in the
tal stew, and they went away feeling saner
He had a way of communi-
cating his own inward strength and men-

same men-
and stronger.
tal poise to his friends, and because of it

they had won on many a hard-fought
field, and were likely to win many more

times when

everything seemed against
them.

‘*1’m ashamed of you,’’ he at last said
to Rattleton, who came up in spluttering
dismay.
tests, Harry, and we must win them.’”’

“Tf we just had Diamond!”’ said Rat-
tleton, who had raged against the splen-
did Virginian through jealousy at Niagara,
but who admired and loved him just the

“Were here to win these con-

same.

Joe Gamp and Jack Ready were to con-
test with Carl Moonlight and ‘‘Pepper’’
Benton in the Moon-
light was as tall and almost as awkward
as Joe Gamp.
age, and had an expansive, good-humored
face and flaxen hair, and it was expected
that the fight between him and the lank
New Englander for the finish would be
something pretty to see.

‘‘When you see merun, you’ll think
I’m shod with the slippers of Mercury !”’
Ready airily declared, as he looked -into
the face of ‘‘Pepper,’’ who was taller than
he. ,
“Sure! And those slippers will make
you slip up before you reach the tape
line!’ was the answer. —

Then the starter’s pistol cracked, and
with a flashing of white limbs, the run-
ners were off, amid an outburst of wild
cheers and an encouraging flutter of hand-
kerchiefs.

Moonlight leaped into the lead, with
Ready a close second,

quarter-mile run.

He was of German parent-

WEEKLY.

“Ready’s crowding him!’’ said Bruce,
‘*Y should like to see some of

We seem to

placidly.
the fellows pull off a victory.
be getting it in the neck.”’

‘‘We’ll continue to,’’? was’ Bart’s un-
‘““The fellows haven’t
They’re thinking
What little
hope I’ve got I’m pinning to Gamp. The
fellow doesn’t wake up till the race is
half over.”’

pleasant answer.
any heart in the thing.
of that arrest all the time.

‘‘And in a quarter mile there isn’t a
great deal of time for waking up.”’

Ready came on ina splendid burst of
speed, but Benton was pushing him close-
ly, with Gamp a yard behind.

Then Gamp began to pull toward the
front, amid the yells of the Athletic Team
and their friends, and the howls of a
group of small boys, who were, as usual,
Merriwell enthusiasts.

Gamp passed Benton, and then Jack
Ready, and began to fight with Moonlight
for the lead. a beautiful
sight. The two fellows lost all their awk-'
wardness. The German threw his yellow
head back on his shoulders, pushed out
his chest, and, crowding by Gamp, who
was tight at his shoulder, came down the ~
path like the wind.

For one brief moment it seemed that
Gamp would be the winner, and Danny
and Bink were dancing with joy. Then
Moonlight spurted ; and Gamp was still at
his shoulder when they breasted the tape,
and again a member of the Toledo Blades
had won first place.

“We're done up!’’ groaned Hodge,
while Bruce’s broad face appeared to
sober. :

At that moment the notes of a fife, with.
the rattle and rub-a-dub-dub of drums,
floated across the field, and three queer
figures came into view,
his hat a ‘‘stove-pipe’’ section of blue
cardboard bearing a big white Yale Y. 4

They were marching abreast, and only _
a glance was needed to show that they _

Then was seen

 

 

each wearing on
 

TIP

The fifer, a tall, lank fel-
low, capeted his fingers rather awkwardly
on the fife)
tune out oft.
three.
height, while the man who

were disguised.

though he contrived to geta
the

The snare drummer was of medium

He was the tallest of

bore the big
drum, pounding it ‘in time and out of

> was almost

time and ‘‘in every old way,’
as big and round and squat as his drum,
though whether this effect was produced
by stuffed clothing or was natural, no one
They were garbed like ‘‘jay’’

beard that

could say.
farmers, and each worea red
defied penetration.

Merriwell stared.

‘‘Some sort of a joke of the ‘l'oledo
Blades!’’ grunted Bart.

‘‘Some members of the Blades fixed up
’? said Carker,
who was not pleased with what he consid-
ered childish exhibitions.
have queer ideas of humor.”’

The fifer was playing, or trying to play,
that old, old fife piece, ‘‘We Are March-
ing’ Down to old Quebec!’’ He
rather a mess:of it; music from
Sousa’s band was ever received with more

in that way to look funny!

‘*Some fellows

made
but no

| “cheering or greater demonstrations of de-
light. The people-simpl\stood up in the
grand-stand and howled.

‘That bands the beat—beats the band!”’
gasped Rattleton.

‘““Git onto the jay wid the base drum!’
yelled one of the boys.

“Dat. fifer must be Jack come down
frum his bean stalk !’’ yelled another.

‘‘See de snare drummer stumble wid
his sticks!”’

‘*Haow’s
— Gamp,

' The fifer took the fife from his mouth,
stared at Gamp, and inaclose imitation
_ of Gamp’s dialect shouted back
. ‘The hayin’s all right, b’gosh! an’ so’s
this music}? °
‘*Did you say Sousa’s musig! ?’? demand-

ed Bink.

the haying?’’ yelled Joe

cr gene.s feller, don’t zit gay! the

me

TOP WEEKLY. 19

leader threatened. Then turned to his

men: :
‘Right abaout face. Left foot forrud.

rigit.2?

The drums stopped and sodid the men,

the

handkerchiefs were fluttering

Naow, march.

facing toward erand-stand, where

aud shouts

of laughter were rising.

‘‘Naow, all together. Give ’em a rip-

roarin’ one, b’gosh!’’

A dozen dialects seemed to,mingle in

the cry:
**Hooraw for Frank Merriwell!’’
**Don’t fall. mit dot

you!’’ shouted a good-natured German to

trum on top of

the fat drummer.
Pon’ d

dot id vill fall indo you!’’ was

your mouth so vide
shot back

you oben

in answer.

‘Will yez git onto the luks av thim!’’
yelled a big Irishman.

os dee us ye are, Oi’ll break
the face av yez!’’ the snare drummer
yelled back. ‘‘Oi’m frum the Ould Dart
mesilf, and Oi won’t shtand anny sass,
begob!”?

‘‘Whoop!’’ squealed Bink.
the funniest circus I’ve seen
of Sundays!”’

; insultin’

“THis: 15

in a month

‘“The jay band from Jayville, come out
to whoop things ‘up for Merriwell!’’
screeched Danny. ‘‘Somebody pinch me,
please, so that I can tell if I’m awake or
dreaming.’

The fifer put his fife to his lips and gave
the key-note, and the three disguised,
farmerish fellows began to«sing, each in a
separate dialect, at the same time moving

their feet as if marching:

‘‘We are inarching down to old Quebec,

Where the drums are loudly beating;
The Americans have gained the day
And the British are retreating.”’

But they did not sing it so plainly as_

that. The tall fifer started in alone:

‘We are marching daown tew old ue
hes

 
20

and was then drowned by the heavy voice

of the fat base drummer:

‘Vere der truin vos loutly peating,”’
“The Amiricans hov gained the day,
b’ gob,
And the British fale loike retrating.”’
Then the tall fifer yelled, crowded out
and followed by the others:

‘“The war’s are all o’er, b’gosh, an’ we’ll
turn back,”’
‘‘Wrom der blace vere virst ve sdarted,”’
‘‘We'll open up the string, begorra! an?
choose a couple in,
To rel’ase the poor, broken-harrted.”’
The clumsy base drummer was_ behind
here, and bellowed, as he thumped his
drum for emphasis:
‘‘Shust to cheer ub dose vemales whose
hearts vos vide-oben pu’sted.”’

“*T should like to know the nationality
of these guys,’’ said Greg Carker, in a
voice loud enough for them to hear.

‘They were bred in old Kentucky!”
chirped Bink Stubbs.

**You vos* a liar!’’
drummer.

‘“If yez sass me, ye hatchet-faced lob-
ster, Oill t'ump yez wid me dhrum
‘shticks!”’ |

‘Well cut him daown fer hay while
he’s green, b’gosh!’’ said the fifer.

Frank Merriwell was broadly smiling.

‘Take off your beards and show us who
‘you are,’’ urged Carker.

‘shouted the base

*‘Shed your hayseed and show us your
hair!’’? shouted Danny.

The fifer began to sing, followed by the
others i in rather straggling order: ‘

‘(We was btead in old Kentucky,”
‘(We wor butter in New Or’lanes,”’

‘We vos vresh pork in Chicago,”’
‘In Boston we was baked beans!’

Here the fifer drew a long breath, and
started in again, taking the first line as
. before, followed again by the snare drum-

mer with the next line, and he by the
base drummer avath the next:

im passive face.

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

‘We was cod fish in New Foundland,”’

‘‘In Kansas, b’gobs, we wor wh’ate!”’

‘“‘But in efery bart uf der vorlt; you pet!”?

‘‘Merriwell never was beet!”

Everybody howled as the song con-
cluded.

‘‘Merriwell
the lank fifer.

Then he turned to his men and swung
his fife.

‘“Naow! Merriwell! Merriwell!
cheers for Frank Merriwell!’’

Then a thousand throats seemed to
burst forth in one great shout for Merri-

shouted

never was beat!”

‘Three

well.
CHAPTER IX.
THE MASCOT BAND.

That shout was joined in not only by
Frank’s friends and admirers, and they
were many in Toledo, but bya large num-
ber of people who did it to cheer the
three queer Merriwell rooters.

Excited queries concerning their iden-
tity were flying round.

Frank Merriwell was still broadly smil-
ing.

“Dick the whoens—I mean who the
dickens are they ?’’ sputtered Rattleton.

‘Well, that’s what I should like to
know myself!’ grunted Bruce.

“They ’re for Merriwell, all right!”
squealed Danny. *

‘‘Who do you think they are, Merry ?’’
Carker inquired, the bored look having ;
departed from his face.

“Tf that three-man band will only play
for me when I run‘next time, it will give
to my Mercury wings the speed of the
wind!’ chirped Ready. ‘‘Refuse me, but
I must confess that I’m puzzled! [i

Swiftwing stood with arms folded and

-

The people on the ground, in the grand-

stand and in the bleachers, were hurling a

4 ay
all sorts of questions at the three fellows —
who had made so strange anentrance upon _

the scene, and the three were shooting

 

 
 

TIP

back replies that tended to set everybody
in a good humor.
“Gug-oug gug-goshfry! I
sus-seen aiiyebing like
me and my brothers gug-got up the tin-
pup-pup-pan band and charged the school-
house!’ stuttered Gamp. ‘‘That was sus-
something of a sus-sus-sensation, naow, I
tell you! I beat my old tin pan till I pup-
-pup-pounded a hole through it. Iwas a
thumper in them days, by chaowder! but
I wan’t nigh as fat: as the feller with that
big drum, you bet. A-haw! haw! a-haw!
If you’d chop off his legs and his head
you couldn’t tell him frum his drum!”’
**T believe Merry knows who they are!”’
‘declared Bart, who had been studying his
friend’s face. ‘‘Who are they, Merry ?’’
“Ves, I know, but I’ll leave you to find
out.”’
The officials of the contests were busy-
ing themselves, for the games had appa-
rently come to an end, and now the an-
nouncement of the one-mile run was
made.
_ -Swiftwing and‘Gamp, Moonlight and
_Ralph Morris, the latter said to be a phen-

omenal runner in a mile race, were in this
cCevent,

_ Those who were not ready dived for the
dressing-rooms, to reappear shortly in
racing suits.

' The betting men and the citizens of
Toledo, as well as the ‘Toledo Blades,
were sure that another victory was to be

- added to those already won by the Blades,

all pinning their faith on the eoleneta

‘running abilities of Morris and Moonlight.

nun-never
it, sense the time

‘Morris was as tall and deep-chested as

Moonlight.

_ Swiftwing, however, was the favorite

of a great many, particularly the ladies,

_ perhaps” because he was an Indian, aid

also because he was a veritable demi-god

in looks as he came out of the dressing-
room and walked solemnly into position.
ze “Hooray ‘fers the Merriwell b’ys!’’

‘ ted the snare drummer, giving his

TOP WEEKLY. 21

drum sticks such an elaborate flourish that
he struck the fat base drummer in the ear.

‘*Vot vos I ub to?’ the latter howled,
turning on the other with lifted stick.

‘‘Shut up, ye Dutch chaze!”’

“You shud ub my mouth!’’ the other
cried, with a fierce flourish. ‘‘You vo sal-
vays sdiekin’ my nose into “your pusi-
ness. ’’

‘If ye sass me, ye lobster, I'll woipe
up the flure wid yez!’’

‘‘Kept avay off from you!’’
other.’

‘*Begorra !
ye Balony sausage!”’

The fat fellow shook
snare drummer’s nose.

*“You vos a Palony
und you couldt vhip me mit your hants
tied !’’

‘‘Begosh, I'll birch ye both, if you
don’t carm daown!’’ the lank fifer de-
clared. ‘‘Hooray fer Frank Merriwell!’’

The others forgot their quarrel in-
stantly. :

‘‘Dot vos der stuffin’s! Do heem ag’in!
Whoop her up.vor Vrankie Merriwell!’’

*‘Oi’m howlin’ f’r the Merriwell run-
ners, you bet! They can bate the wur-
ruld!’’

Rattleton plucked at Merriwell’s arm.

“Say !’’ he excitedly whispered.

The crowd was dividing its attention
between these queer hayseeds, whose dia-'
lects were so different from their appear.
ance, and the men who were getting ready
for the mile run. It was great fun to be-
hold the ‘‘farmers’’ quarreling at each
other in the broken English of Germany,
the brogue of Ireland, and the ‘nasal twist
of the New England backwoods,

‘‘Git into line there and dew quit your
fussin, !’? the lank fifer commanded.

“Vaw!’? exploded the fat drummer.
‘‘Gid me a line, unds hut uo.”’ |

‘Oi ll shut yez up wid a cr-rack-on the
jaw, d’ye moind, av yez don’t quit hur-rl-

shouted the
Oi’ll break the face av yez,
his fist under the

sissage imyseluf,

in? yer Dutch nonsinse at me, begobsi??

 
aa

‘*Naow!’’ cried the leader. ‘‘All ready.

Play

b’gosh!

The racers are goin’ to start. ‘em a
to cheer ’em. A lively
Naow! All together!”’

He put his fife to his lips and began to
squeal out ‘The Girl I Left Behind Me,’’
as the pistol of the starter cracked, and
eats four runners leaped forward.

‘“Say !’ Rattleton excitedly whispered,
**T -know

tune one,

tugging at Merriwell’s coat.
those fellows. ’’
Merriwell laughed.
‘*You’ve caught on,
ties???
‘‘Who are they ?’’ Bruce grunted.
‘Tell him, Merry. I’m afraid even yet
that I may be mistaken.”’
‘‘Dunnerwust, Barney Mulloy
Ephraim Gallup! I saw through their dis-
elise as soon as they came on the grounds

have you, Rat-

and

)

it can’t be!’’ protested Bart.
hey’re not in Toledo! How does it
happen that they’re in Toledo, if your
guess 1s true ?”’

“My guess is true, though I don’t
know how they happen~-to be in Toledo.
They are here, and, learning of our ad-
vent into the place and of this contest,

and. began to talk.

ce 3ut
cor

they have planned this little business as a |

pleasant surprise. ’’

‘“‘Hakes me want to go out and mug
them—I mean it makes me want to go
out and hug ‘em!’’ beamed Rattleton.

‘Say, fellows, this is the jolliest go I ever
1eard of. I’m not dreaming, am I?”

The shriek of the fife and the eccentric
rattle of the drums were enough to con-
vince him that he was not dreaming.

The runners were moving along in full
view of the grand-stand and bleachers in
beautiful style, and the three ‘‘jays’’ were
fifing and thumping so loudly that they
appeared ic, be resolved to make their
‘‘music’” heard to the farthest end of the
track.

‘“Vou’re right, Merry !’? Bart assented,

- “TY don’t know how I could have been so

TOP WEEKLY.

They’re Mulloy, Dunnerwust and
The same old three!”’
expected to recog-

stupid.
Gallup!

‘*But who could be
nize them in those beards and with that
outlandish clothing ?’’? said Carker, who
was not very familiar with the appearance
of Gallup and Hans, and who had never
before seen Barney.

“Regular jays from Jayville!’’ chirped
Ready. ‘‘When I look at them I seem to
smell the hay of far-off meadows. ’’

The crowd was dividing its cheers be-
jay’? band and the runners;
though, and attention ‘was
being turned toward the latter.

tween the ‘‘

more more,

The race was seen to be a fine one.

Moonlight and Swiftwing were in the
lead, closely followed by Morris, with |
Gamp ten yards behind, as the quarter- ~
mile was passed. —

The track was almost circular and a
half mile long. As the runnerscame down
on the second quarter stretch, the fife
squealed even more loudly and the din of -
the drums became deafening. Swiftwing
was in the lead, though only a foot or so,
and Gamp was crawling up on Morris.

Gamp continued to lessen the distance.

Then Moonlight spurted in an effort to —
overtake and pass Swiftwing, and the
crowd stood up in the seats and yelled.

As the runners neared the grand-stand,
Gallup forgot to blow the fife and Hana
forgot to thump the big drum. aes

‘‘Git daown to business, Sutioriaaae:
Gallup yelled. ¢

‘“You, Run-queek-mit- der-ving, te a
faster move on me!’? Hans howled.
“Shust t’ink dot you vos a mule mit an
oats-pundle in vront uf mine nose! Dose _
vos der stiffin’s! Gid me town to mine
pusiness. Yaw! Go id! go id !??

In his excitement he seized the big
drumstick and joined Mulloy, who had ~
steadily hammered away on his snare
drum, and Gallup, now recollecting him- |

i

self, es the = to his lips and age n

 

 
TIP TOP

sought to send Swiftwing and Gamp on
with ‘‘The Girl I Left Behind Me.”’

Moonlight was almost abreast of Swift-
wing as they passed this half mile, with
Morris a close third, though crowded by
Gamp.

But Gamp continued to gain, running
in long, easy lopes that somewhat re-
sembled the Indian stride of Swiftwing,
and at the three-quarters pole he passed
Morris. Then Moonlight, having over-
exerted himself, dropped back into fourth
place, and Gamp swung up beside Swit-
wing on the third quarter, with Morris
right at their heels.

From this on it was a fight for first
place between the Pueblo and the gaunt
New Englander. The Indian lope of
Swiftwing was wonderfully effective, but
_Gamp’s strides were longer, and his gaunt
legs moved like the piston rods of an en-
gine as he neared the end. He held his
own with Swiftwing, whose running was
something beautiful to see; then, witha
spurt, he leaped past the Indian and beat
him out.two feet at the end.

The ‘‘three-man band’’ was. filling the

ait with a din, but it was drowned in the
wild shout that went up when Gamp and
- Swiftwing crossed the line. It had been a
splendid race, and it was a splendid vic-
tory.
- The time was good, too: Four minutes
and twenty-one seconds for Gamp.
_ The tide had turned. The coming of
, the eccentric trio of disguised friends had
lifted the cloud that was shadowing the
Athletic Team and rendering their efforts
futile. Everybody felt it.

_band,”’ as Ephraim put down his fife.
“Bhat was handsomely done!’’ he said.
“T don’t know how you happen to be in
Toledo, but you have done me and the
fellows a good turn. We’re going to win
- this series of contests now without any

You vas gladness —

WEEKLY. 23

to seen me!’’ shouted Hans, dropping the
big drumstick and clasping Merriwell’s
hand, though he did not remove his dis-
guising beard, and his unfeigned pleasure
made him appear more comical than ever
before. ‘‘You vos neffer so gladness in
mine life!’’

“‘B’gobs! We t’ought thot yez naded a
mashcot, and we got togither and kim
over to be thot very thing fer yez!’’ shout-
ed Mulloy, getting hold of the other hand.
‘fAv anybody can holler louder fer yez
than Barney Mulloy, Oi’ll punch the vil-
lain’s head for him, so Oi will!’’

‘*B’gosh, we met together in this old
taown by chance!’’ cried Gallup. ‘‘Some
feller told us that you was daown here,
and he thought you was going to fluke-up
to-day ; so we org’nized our band and we
come daown to help ye. By gum! I wa’n’t
afeared, though, that. anything could do
up yore fellers, Merriwell! °’Tain’t in the
blood of the fellers that trains with you
ter be licked!’

‘*Hooray for Gamp!’’ Danny was yell-
ing...

‘‘Hooray for Swiftwing!’’ screeched
Bink, z

Then the crowd joined in and roared
again.

CHAPTER X.
MERRIWELL’S DASH.

The coming of the mascot band seemed
to have been the one thing needed to put
life into Merriwell’s men; for Jack Ready

almost immediately won the half mile run —

in a contest with Broadbent, and Bart
Hodge captured the 220-yards hurdles in

.a hot contest with Ralph Morris.

That the race might be made as inter-
esting as possible from the point of view
of the spectators, six men were entered

“for the 220-yards dash—Merriwell him-

self, with Joe Gamp and Swiftwing rep-
reseriting the Athletic Team, and Carl

Leib sit cs

adlusc.

Saitek.

 
et TIP TOP

Moonlight, Broadbent and ‘‘Pepper’’ Ben-
ton the Toledo Blades.

The applause on their appearance from
the dressing tents was pretty equally di-
vided between Frank Merriwell and John
Swiftwing, for both were almost perfect
specimens of physical manhood. Swift-
wing, in his light racing suit, looked like
a dark bronze statue, while Merriwell’s
perfectly formed limbs and arms were a
beautiful pink. He appeared larger than
when clad in ordinary clothing, and the
sight of his well-proportioned yet massive
muscles was a revelation as to what per-
sistent and intelligent all-round training
can do for a young man.

‘(He can’t run with those spindle-legged
fellows, though!’’ was the remark that
went round.

‘“’Ton’d you fool myseluf apoudt dot!’
yelled Hans, who overheard it. ‘‘I vosa
vlying machines ven he geds me vound
ub!” x

The mascot band had been ‘‘lifting’’
the other runners over the ground with
‘‘Vankee Doodle’? and ‘‘Marching
Through Georgia.”’

Now Gallup pushed the Yale ‘‘stove-
pipe’’ to the back of his hat, pulled off the
big red beard and began to tune up with,
‘*Here’s to good old Yale, drink it dona
drink it down!’ ~ ;

Hans Dunnerwust jerked off his. red
beard, and, after deliberately hunting for
a safe pocket in which to stow it, solemn.
ly tucked it away, then spat on his hands
and again took up the drumstick. Mulloy
gave his beard a fling into the air, with a
whoop of joy at sight of Merriwell. It
came down on the top of his blue ‘‘stove-
_pipe,’’ knocking the latter awry, and

rested there, while he began to caper the:

sticks over his snare drum.
Danny began to sing:

“*Balm of Gilead, Gilead
Way down on the Bingo Farm.’’

hen some Yale men in the grataaee
broke out with the famous Yale cry:

WEEKLY.

‘*Brek key co ax coax coax

Brek key co ax coax coax
pr

Wh-o-o-up who-o-up paraholoo Yale!

What a contrast there was in the run-
ners as they strained in position for the
start! Merriwell, beautiful as Apollo;
Swiftwing, looking like a bronzed god;
Joe Gamp, tall, lank, awkward; Broad-
bent, with hatchet features, sunken chest
and spindle legs; Moonlight, yellow-
maned and Teutonic, and ‘‘Pepper’’ Ben-
ton, lithe, muscular and freckle-faced.

In spite of the wonderful running of
Gamp and Swiftwing, those who fancied
themselves judges of such things believed
that the chances in this dash were all in
favor of Moonlight and Broadbent. Moon-
light was a wonderfully fast runner; and
in a short dash, Broadbent, in spite of his
appearance, was simply a phenomenon.

The starter’s pistol cracked, and the
runners leaped away, with Hans furiously
pounding the big drum, Gallup blowing
the fife with all his might, and the spec-
tators yelling.

Broadbent looked to be two feet ahead
at the very beginning of the run, with the
others abreast.
of Merriwell pushed out into clearer view,
passing the spindle-legged fellow. 3

Danny and Bing began to shriek and
howl.

Moonlight and Swiftwing drew abreast —
of Broadbent, closely followed by Gamp. —

Merriwell was already two yards in the +
lead. Swiftwing passed Moonlight, with:

Gamp at his heels. |
Then Moonlight and Broadbent spurted,

in a desperate effort to regain what they

had lost. Moonlight came up with Gamp, a
Mer- oa:

riwell was ahead, with Swiftwing two —

but the lank fellow again left him.

yards behind him.

The people rose to their feet, with =

babel of exclamations and cries. Rattle-

ton. tried to say something, and stuttered

so in attempting | to right a reversed sce
- tence that he fairly choked himself red ir

Then the beautiful form

é

ai Bh did eta
> eo

 
ed TO TIT es eid

lela a a a

By

™

— ing on it.

_ vlag tied to your catcher-cow!
_ whoob! Come home to dem vot lofes you,

TIP TOP

the face. Bruce began to bellow like a fog
horn, and Bart smiled his grim satisfac-
tion.

**Come home, Merry !’’ Bink screeched,
throwing his hat on the ground and jump-
**Co-ome ho-ome!”’

High over all sounded the furious
pounding of the base drum and the shrill
squeal of Gallup’s fife.

Merriwell was coming home! He was
now eight yards in the lead, and Swift-
wing was behind him. Gamp was now
close after Swiftwing, with Moonlight

_ tight at his heels, and Broadbent and

Benton stringing along farther back.

Then the fife began to whistle, ‘‘See,
the Conquering Hero Comes!”’

Hans was not trying to keep time, nor
did Mulloy appear to care for so small a
matter. They were simply bent on mak-
ing a deafening noise, and they were suc-

ceeding.

“Dose vos der stuffin’s!”’ yelled Hans,
as he furiously pounded away. ‘‘See my
legs vly avay mit heem! You vos a auto-
mobilier, und I ton’d vorget myselluf vor
a minute, you pet! Whoob! whoob!
Vrankie, I vos a locomo-inchine mit a red
| Whoob!

Vrankie!”’
_ Merriwell was nearing the tape. So fine
a burst of speed had never been seen on

_ the cinder path of the Toledo Blades, and

the excitement was intense.

Then he crossed the line, twelve yards
ahead of his best competitor, John Swift-
wing, with Gamp three yards behind the
Pueblo. The Toledo Blade contestants

-. were simply ‘‘not in it.’”

—_—

CHAPTER XI.
FRANK MERRIWELL’S VAULT.

~The greatest jumper of the Toledo
Blades was the captain, Merret Palmer. In
the running high jump he had a record

f five feet, eight and a half inches. He

i is

WEEKLY.

25

was equally celebrated as a vaulter. It
was believed by his friends that few could
None of the
other members of the Toledo Blades could

defeat him at pole vaulting.

approach him in the high jump and the
pole vault, and because Merriwell was said
to be something of a wonder in both of
these, Palmer was put against him.

The running high jump came first.

The queer mascot band had marched,
playing, round the grounds in front of the
grand-stand immediately after Merriwell
had won the 220-yards dash, to the de-
light and amusement of the vast crowd of
the spectators.

Now the ‘‘band’’ took position where
the running high jump was to be con-
tested and “‘tuned up’’ for the purpose of
cheering Merriwell.

““Uf Vrankie Merrivell ton’d peat
heem, he will peat me myselluf!’’? Hans
gravely shouted, as he took up the drum
stick.

‘“‘Shut up, ye Dutch chaze!’’ Barney
commanded. ‘‘Yez couldn’t git yure fut
over a broom shtick. The leddies do be
afther laughing at yez! Oi’ll be ashamed
of mesilf for being seen wid the loikes of
sich as ye air!’

‘Oh, you gone to grass!’’ Hans blurt-
ed. ‘You vos nod half so funny as I t’ink
I vos!”’ 3

Merret Palmer was in position for the
jump, and now started. He made a beau-
tiful run, and easily cleared the bar. Mer-
riwell did the same. Then the bar was
lifted higher, and Palmer cleared it again.
Merriwell followed in the same way.

Again the measurers elevated the bar.

‘‘Merriwell will never go over that!’’
said Saulsbury.

‘I’m afraid they’ve put it so high that
Palmer can’t go over it,’’ said Gail.

Palmer carefully estimated the distance
with his eye, then broke intoarun. He
made a beautiful leap, and it appeared
that he would easily clear the bar. But

\~

 
Ti

the height was very high and deceptive.
Palmer struck the bar and carried it away.
‘Put ittwoinches higher!’’

| said Frank.

The measurers looked questi

iim.

‘Tust a bluff!’ Gail whispered. ‘‘He

kuows he’ll carry the bar away, too, and

thinks he may as well have it two inches
1
A

higher and so give the appearance of hav-

ing made a great jump! The thing is too

, hs } ly
lim and gave him. a black

g
thin, thougfi. ’
d |}

Bart hear
look, but at once turned toward Frank.
band

The mascot was shrieking and

pounding but it seemed to redouble

its effort as Merriwell started for the run.

away,

‘The noise, unmusical, yet produced by
men who loved and adored him, seemed
to give speed and lightness to his move-
ments. Then he rose into the air with the
lightness of a bird, and cleared the bar
with the greatest apparent ease.

A wild shout went up from the specta-
tors. [he jump had been phenomenal.
Gail was astounded and bewildered.

‘*T didn’t think it possible!’’ he gasped.

‘*Which only
know Merriwell!’’ Bart snapped.

The figures went up: “5 ft.,

shows that you don’t

LaksA
inches.’

While the ‘‘jay
ing and the people

’» band was still play-

shouting, big Bruce
Browning: walked into position for the
taking the hammer and
stepping into the seven-foot ring. He

hammer-throw,

looked like a young Hercules.

Twice the
heavy hammer was swung round, then it
went over his shoulder ina mighty throw,
which measured:150 feet, five inches.

A big giant named Devan was his com-

petitor in this event; but Devan’s throw

measured only 133 feet, nine inches—a.

good throw, but appearing to fall ridicu-
lously short in comparison with the one
made by Bruce.

After that, Bruce defeated Devan easily
in the shot-putting event; and Jack Ready

: ane. Joe Caah took the honors i in the run-

TOP WEEKLY.

ning broad jump. Everything in sight

was now being taken by the Athletic

Team.
hen Merriwell and Palmer came for-
ward to fight for the honor of the pole
vault.
The mascot band ‘‘tuned up’’ again.
‘‘Now you seen me go higher as der
moon vot jumbed ofer der cow!’ squawk-
ed Hans.

‘B’eosh! I'll put a string raound your

neck to keep you from talking all the

time an’ fergittin’ to paound that drum !??

threatened Gallup. ‘‘I will, by chaowder!””

Bart and others were cheering the mas-
cot band, and in consequence Hans was
so pleased and excited that he thumped
the atmosphere quite
the drum head, and forgot entirely that
in music there is such a thing as ‘“‘time.”

Palmer came first in the pole vault. He ~

made‘a pretty leap and easily cleared the
high bar. Merriwell duplicated the per-
formance. .

The bar was pushed far up..

ease, while Merriwell appeared to have no
difficulty in passing cleverly over it.
Again it went up, astonishingly high
as it seemed. Palmer, however, appeared
confident that he could clear it, though
his friends, made anxious by his experi-

‘‘Petter you put a string to
‘heem to bull me town again!’

as much as he did

Palm@t 7:
went over it. again, but not with such —

 

ea el eee a a —- ~ -
z ts & fis! oh ‘ ’

ence in the high jump, were plainly nerv- =}

ous.

Palmer made a quick, confident run, a
planted his pole firmly and rose lightly;

but the bar was too high for him, and he
knocked it down instead of passing over it.
. Merriwell stood for a moment survey-

ing the distance with his eye,
encouragingly.

with as much apparent ease as when it
was lower.
The Blades were amazed.
Rot yet folt ee f2 equewked Hans,

while the
mascot band dinned and Hans squawked —
Then he made the same_
kind of a run and passed over the bar,

 
TIP TOP WEHEKLY.

stopping his pounding fora moment and

glaring round. ‘‘Vos det cow jumper ofer
der moon petter as dot ?’’/

Put the “bar six inches higher!’ Mer-

- Tiwell commanded.

The measurers stared.

**Put it six inches higher!’ he repeated:

**VYou seen me??’ howled Hans, giving

the big drum a terrible thump. ‘‘I vos

going to, peat dot, und yumb ofer der cow
vot jumbed ofer der moon. Climb me ub
jn a tree und hold me dose pars higher yit
_a’ready! Gid oudt uf de away off, efery
_ poty! Now you seen me!”’
s The measurers put the bar six inches
higher. .

_ The spectators were howling. They
‘jiked an exhibition of grit, though many
began to fear that even Merriwell had cut
out too hard-a task for himself.

Hans and Barney ‘‘lifted’’ on the drums
as Frank started, and Gallup gave the fife
an extra squeak. Merry passed over the
short distance with the lightness of a bird,
planted the pole in the ground a little
space in front of the bar, and lightly lift-

ed himself into the air.

He went up, up, as if flying, swung
: himself gracefully over the high bar as he
reached the perpendicular, letting go the

le at the same moment, and dropped to
the ground on the other side as lightly as

_. There was a thunder of applause, while
the nieasurers and the athletic members
_of the Toledo Blades who knew oe

CHAPTER XII.

JACK READY’S PHOTOGRAPH.S

Tack Ready came into Merriwell’s room
at night in great excitement, holding in

hand a surprising camera picture for

ch he could not account.

The room was filled with Merriwell’s
friends, including Mulloy, Dunnerwust
and Gallup, who had been volubly.ex-
plaining how, by the merest chance, they
had stumbled upon each other in the city

of Toledo and{had then conceived the

Fete tas °

plan of visiting the grounds of the Toledo
Rs

‘jay’? disguise as a mascot

<

Blades in their ‘
band.

‘‘By chaowder! It was the most sing’ lar
thing I ever knowed,’’ Gallup declared.
‘‘The Dutchman bumped ag’in me right
in the middle of the street; as we
was shakin’ Mulloy along
and jammed my hat daown on my head,
and hollered ‘Haow de do?’ B’gosh, I
’most fainted. Never heard of anything
so tarnal queer in all my born days!"’

‘‘Not half so queer as this!’’ chirped
Ready. “‘I think I must have been taking
pictures in my sleep—sort of walking
round on the ozone in broad daylight and
snapping my camera without knowing
anything about it. I’ve got a picture here
that I never took !’?

He thrust it under Frank’s nose.

Merry stared at it for a moment, then
fairly leaped from his chair.

‘“You see who the parties are? ? he
asked.

‘‘Well, my cranium feels so queer since
discovering that thing while I was devel-
oping my films that I can’t trust my eyes
to anything.

and

hands, come

But if I’m not dreaming—
say, fellows, I’m not dreaming?’
Gies Carker pushed forward for a look

at the picture.

“Tf I’m not dreaming, I should say that
one of the fellows—the one who is being
gently belted with the slungshot—is De-
lancy Livingston !’’

‘Tt is Livingston !’? exclaimed Carker.
‘‘Where did you get that?”

‘Just now; awhile ago, that is—while.
developing films. Ican account for the
other pictures, but not for that. I know I
never snapped on that scene —unless q did

ay in ney Pee

 
28 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

‘Where were you when Delancy was
knocked down? Were you out in the
woods by the lake shore ?’’

Frank put the questions.

Imost a dazed look came into Ready’s
face

“Say !? he cried. Then stopped, as if
the thought was impossible.

“Say!” he began again.

*“Well, say it!’’ Hodge grumbled.

“‘T was out there with Carker, and we
had our cameras; but I didn’t think—
why! it’s possible, isn’t it? I remember
that,,as we were going along a path, or
I stumbled and pushed my

I recollect now, too, that
’s a film gone!’
But the camera

toward a path,
camera button.
I said to Carker,
or something like that.
wasn’t pointing at anything!”’

‘(Where isthe picture of the bushes
and trees which you must have got when
you pressed the button ?’’ Carker queried.
‘That is, supposing that your camera
was ready for taking a picture at the
time ?”’

“The camera was ready. I thought
something might hop out of the bushes
and JI held it ready, sothat I could in-
stantly press the button in case of need.
There isn’t any picture with bushes and
things, except this one; and it shows this
scene. Say! fellows; I must have snapped
the scene when the trampish fellow was
beating Delancy down with the slung-
shot.’

‘Nothing else!) Frank declared.
‘“’That’s the very fellow, and that’s the
very scene I looked on myself, though
from a different point of view, when I
leaped through the bushes to help Liv-
ingston.’’

‘‘And got yourself into trouble by it!’’
snarled Hodge.

‘It’s all clear to me, since your ex-
planation,”? Frank went on. ‘‘You had
the camera pointed through an opening in
_ the bushes upon that very scene at the
moment you stumbled and pressed the

‘There

button, and the camera faithfully record-
ed what it saw. . You have a witness that
no honorable court will go back on!”

Hodge stared, then uttered a warwhoop
and leaped to is feet.

‘CA witness! Sure! And I never thought
of it that way! What an idiot I am!
Merry, you’re all right!”

There were almost tears in the eyes of
the honest fellow and true friend—for
Merriwell had no truer friend than Bart
Hodge. And Hodge had been troubled
beyond meastire by the evidence which
was to be brought against Frank in the
trial, which was fixed for an early day.

He had talked the matter over, without
s knowledge, with the members of ©

Frank’
the Athletic Team, with those who could
be trusted as friends in the Toledo Blades,
and with some of the best lawyers in ‘T'o-
ledo; and none of them.could make him
feel that Merriwell was not in imminent
peril of imprisonment and ignominious
disgrace, even though innocent.

He saw now that the picture which
Ready had unknowingly taken in the
grounds at Granada Heights by the lake
shore, was the one thing needed to cleans

Frank of the faintest suspicion of guilt.

This picture, added to the abundant

proof of Frank’s stainless reputation hith- Be
erto, would be enough to convince any
unprejudiced judge and secure Merriwell’s Pe

release.

Bart was dancing about the room like

a wild man.
Carker took the pictare and passed it
round for inspection.
‘*Where’s
He leaped up also.

“tnd my trum vos creebed avay by”

myselluf!’? squawked Hans. Been
uoes truims ?”’

‘‘Rrom the looks of you, I think. you

ideal Bink Stubbs.
“Shut ub my mouth!”’ Hans newied

glaring at the little joker. | BOE: you ed

smy fife?” yelled Ephraim. .

4 i
enti Rn piled i eee ee -
or " « ‘
Pe ee OTs” ew, " a

 
I laa aati al Mia a aa ie ia nek a aha cet sid eet ates ed
oer ay cane earn & rie
2 Oe Ie rs FERS I Bak |

‘

TIP TOP WEEKLY. 29

so much as myselluf you voult pe pigger
as two moons. Who-tolt you so much al-
retty yet righdt avay queek? You see
dot ?’’ shaking his fist under Bink’s nose.
**You vill hit me, uf you talk so much
sassiness to yourselluf. I ton’d stant no
such voolishness from me or anypotty!?’

**B’gorra! I bel’ave I'll put the two
hands av me on the little dhrum!’’ Mul-
loy exclaimed, likewise scrambling up.

Then the three dived into the hall, and,
returning in a few moments with the fife
and drums, began a furious pounding and
fifing that was enough to raise every guest
in the hotel. ©

*‘Dose bictures vos der stuffins!’’ Hans
squealed, as he flailed away. ‘‘Dose pic-
tures uf me voult make two deat mans
alife! Whoob! Keeb her ub, Ephy! Keeb
her ub!”?

_ Gallup straggled in the first notes, as if

in uncertainty, then swung into ‘‘We

Won't Go Home Till Morning !”’
In another minute pandemonium had
broken loose. Not until then did Frank

tealize how much all these friends had

_ been worried about the serious charge

which had been brought against him and

which was to be pressed by some of the

strongest legal talent of ‘Toledo, employed

by the money of Hammerswell and De-

-Jancy Livingston. Confident in the purity

of his intentions and in*his innocence, he
had not felt the situation to be so grave;
but these friends had felt Tact

~“T see now why you fellows were so
blue at the beginning of the contests with

the Blades,’’ he said, taking Bart’s hand
_ ina warm clasp. ‘‘You couldn’t win any-
thing, because you were weighted down

‘“You’re right, old man!’’ Hodge
shouted. ‘‘And if something hadn’t hap-
pened to lift us out of that Slough of Des-
pond the Blades would have won as sure

as fate!’

‘‘And the thing that happened was the
coming of the mascot band! Let the hon-
est fellows drum and tear around, I’m
glad to have such friends.’

Never had there been such an exhibi-
tion of the great. hold which Frank Mer-
riwell had on the affections of his friends.
Thought of his danger had taken the
strength and cleverness from their athletic
frames and the courage out of their hearts.
But now!—now, with that shadow lifted
and the games won—with Merriwell safe,
their spirits were so jubilant that restraint
was impossible.

‘“What’s the matter?’’ the landlord de-
manded, poking his: head through the
doorway.

‘Celebrating the release of a captive!”
drawled Browning, as he lighted a match

and thrust it against the tobacco in the

bowl of his pipe. ‘‘This is the year of

jubilee !’’

The landlord smiled, but went away
mystified.

He knew, however, the next day, when
Merriwell was given an honorable release
by the judge of the court; for the mascot
musicians lined up infront of the hotel
and Merriwell’s friends gave Ready ard
the ‘‘jay’? band ‘‘three cheers and a_
tiger!”

THE END.

The next number will contain ‘‘Frank |
Merriwell’s Speed; or, Breaking the
Chicago Colts.”’

 
TTP

Tp loPWEEKLY.

AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THI” AMERICAN YOUTH ”

TOP

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK, AuGusr 18, 1900

Terms to Tip Top Weekly Mail Subscribers,
(PosTAGKk FREE.)
Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each.

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ordinary letter.

Recwirrs.—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper
change of nwnber on yourlabel. Ifnotcorrect you have not been
properly credited,and should let us inow at once. ‘

STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY,
238 William St., New York City.
aw

APPLAUSE.

All the leteers in the Tip Top seem to come from
boys. I think girls can enjoy Tip Top as well as boys.
Inza is the girl for Frank. I think Frak loves Hlsie,
but he loves her as a Sister. I hope when Frank
marries he will choose Inza as his wife. Still—we
will let Frank choose his bride. Success to B. L.
Standish, | MAH THOMAS,

Chicago, Ill.

We have a great many letters from the girl readers
of Tip Top. It should delight them as much as it
does the boys. Weare glad to see that you take such
a personal interest in Frank’s happiness and agree
with you that he should be allowed to make his own
choice of the girls.

Hurrah for John Swiftwing,
‘The famous athiete;

He is the real thing
From his head to his feet.

Good luck to Bart Hodge,
Who knows how to win, i

And stick to Frank Merriwell
Through thick and thin.

Here’s to young Hammerswell,
The high mucky muck;
He thinks he’s aswell;
May he never have luck!
GEO. W. M’KAY,
Youngstown, Ohio.

You have a just appreciation of Swiftwing and
Bart. Hammerswell is to be pitied. His is a case of
too little brains and too much money.

As I have read all the Tip Tops from No, 1 to No,
228, and as I have never written to the Applause Col-
umn, I came to the conclusion that you'd like to
hear from a girl admirer in Weston. I think that
the Tip Top is the best weekly I ever read, As to
the Elsie and Inza question, time and Mr. Standish

must decide, although I think the author gives us
the pleasure of having our favorites. I am proud to
say that Elsie is my favorite. Dark-haired, dark-
eyed Inza is noble and beautiful, still she is not my
‘favorite. I like her, but I love beautiful, golden-
haired, blue-eyed Elsie, who is as true as the stars.
Long live Frank Merriwell and Elsie Bellwood, Re-

gards to Mr. B. Standish. ‘
i ELSIE BELLWOOD,
Weston, Mo.

We are indeed glad to hear from the girl admirers
of Tip Top. for we.esteem their praise very highly.
Your letter gives. evidence that while your affections
are all for Elsie,you are not blind to the charms and
good qualities of her rival, Inza. This is a splendid
phy and generous trait. oN

‘

WEEKLY.

I have read a great many of the Tip Tops, but I
have never seeh any applause from this part of
Michigan. I am sorry to see that some of the readers
wish to have Bart Hodge dropped from the stories,
I, for one, do not think that would be fair, for not.
one of the ‘‘flock’’ has been a better friend to Frank
than Bart has. Look how in No, 214 he rushed into
the burning hotel and saved Frank from an awful
death by fire. I hope Buck Badger is not going to be
“dropped” from the stories now that Winnie and he
are married. I hope to read of a double wedding of
Frank and Elsie, Bart and Inza, but not for some
time to come, Best regards to the “king of writers,”
B. L. Standish, and also the publishers, Street &
Smith. EF. B.. M’'TAGGART.

Frank has no better friend than Bart Hodge, and it
would not therefore be right to have him dropped,
We shall hear from Buck and Winnie again. Mr,
Standish sends you his regards. See Correspondence
Column. a

I thought I would write you and tell you that in
my town your paper is greatly appreciated. I have
just purchased No. 223,.and am preparing myself for
the treat of reading it. I am an Inzaite and a friend
of Bart. I will give my arguments later on.

BF. R. FELAND, JR,
Danville, Ky.

We are glad to know that your town has its Tip
Top following. We shall expect to hear your argu-
ments in behalf of Bart and Inza.

Having read your Tip Top Weeklies from No. 1 to
present date will say I think they are the best boys’
and girls’ weekly published. In regard to the Inza-
Elsie controversy, will say I do not think that those
who have not read the Weeklies from No, 1 up have
any right to express themselves. As it appeared in
the last numbers, Elsie may have the best of it and
a better right to Frank. But in my opinion you will
find nine out of ten readers that have read from No,
1 to present date will hold up for Inza and Bart. I
hope Frank will marry Inza. Kindly put this in the
popular column and see what encouragement it
brings. I think this a.favorable idea and I hope it
will meet with approval. Always a reader of Tip
Top. ; j B36 ey :
Peru, Ind.

Of course those who have read the entire Tip Top*
library ‘are best able to judge the merits of the two
girls. We think that many of-the “oldest readers”
will agree with you; at the same time, there are
those who will not. ;

——

The boys of Montpelier have read the Tip Top for
some time, and they talked about it so much that at >
last I bought one just to see what it was, and have
read them ever since. I like the articles on baseball
the best, as that is our favorite game. Harold Cum-
mings, one of the undersigned, is just like Bruce
Browning. Fred Huntington says he thinks Bart
Hodge is the best character in the lot. We are all for.
Elsie every time. Long live the Tip Top.
FLORENCE SHIPMAN, H. F. CUMMINGS,

F, W. BANCROFT, LOIS WOODBURY.
F. W. HUNTINGTON,
Montpelier, N. H.

That the boys had s@mething good to talk about in
Tip Top you are now convinced, and can do’ some
talking in your own behalf. We are glad Tip To
pleases you and wish our Montpelier friends, boy
and girls, the best of luck. t

/

i

I have read nearly all the Tip Tops and think it’s —

the best weekly ever published. I ho e Inza Bur-
rage will meét John Swiftwing again. nd some day
let Bart and Buck be friends. Danny _and Bink are
my favorites, Long live Tip Top and B. L. Standish,
WILLIE LESTER,
Atlanta, Ga.

Thank you. We cannot foretell what meetings will os

‘occur or what friendships be cemented in the future, ©

Your favorites, Danny and Bink, are fine fellows,
See Correspondence Column, é Sco as te aaa

 
TIP TOP

Having read Tip Top from No, 1 to present date, I
feel it my duty to join in the applause. As to Hisie
or Inza becoming Frank’s wife I think Mr. Stand-
ish is perfectly capable of choosing for him, but we
should like to voice our sentiments. Some say Elsie
is a bread-and-butter miss, but if they, would stop
to think how she saved Frank’s life on the Brooklyn
Bridge, and from a fellow dressed as a bear, and
Inza from the tiger, they would see she was as
ecurageous as Inza. If Frank should marry Inza.he
would not be true to his nature, because he told Elsie
she was the only girl in the world for him. At an-
other time he told her they might-as well have an
‘understanding and become engaged then, but she
said no, fearing he would not enjoy himself with
other girls while at college, And as for him marry-
ing Inza because she was his first love, that does
not hold good at all. If a man always married his
first love I fear there would be many unhappy mar-
riages. Bart Hodge is my favorite. I think his is a
character that will stand study. Wishing success to
Mr, Standish and sae Top.

VO CELERY CITY GIRLS,
Kalamazoo, Mich.

Elsie and Inza are certainly courageous girls. But
in addition to this they have other womanly qualities
which recommend them to Frank’s love. It is almost
without dispute that the affections are governed more
by intuition than by reason, and therefore no calcu-
lating consideration of the girls’ respective virtues
would be likely to convince Frank which one he holds
the dearest. He regards them both sincerely, but
which of them is something dearer than a friend no
one knows, though all believe that the right one will
make him happy.

IT thought I would write and tell you what a nice
weekly you have in the Tip Top and give you some
0. my records. Standing broad jump, 6 ft. 7% in.;
running broad jump, 12 ft.; standing hop, step and
jump, 20 ft.; standing high jump, 3 £t. 5 in. running
high jump, 5 ft.; 16-1b. hammer throw, 53 ft.: 12-lb.
shot put, 25 ft. I am 14 years, 5 ft. 2 in., weight-115
lbs. In your measurements in No. 201 I am ahead of
all of them except the neck measurements, Wishing
Frank and Mr. Standish success.

HESTER E, CARTON,
Indianapolis, Ind,

Your records are very creditable. They should con-
stantly improve with practice and careful training,
Tip Top is a good trainer every way you take it,
ou should aspire to live up to the Tip Top records,

We have never seen any applause from our city, so
Wwe thought we would write and tell you how we ap-
preciate Tip Top. They are thé only stories worth
reading, and Mr, Standish ought to be commended
for writing such literary gems. We have a club that
we have named the ‘‘Merriwell Applause Club,’’ and
we meet every week to read of our noble hero, If
Frank ever comes to Detroit we will make it pleasant
for him. We all think he ought to marry Hlsie, be-
cause she loves him, and it would be harder for her
to give him up than for Inza, because poor Elsie is
alone in the world. We could write for hours, but we
mustn’t take up too much of your valuable space,

we close with best regards to Frank and his
friends. MERRIWELL APPLAUSE CLUB,

per Dorothy Culver, Sec.,

; , Detroit, Mich.
_+ You have chosen ‘a very apt name for your club and
» we sincerely wish you every success. Your senti-

“ments about Hlsie and Inza are interesting, though
many are sure to differ with your opinion, May Tip
‘Top long continue to be the centre of your club.

SO noble and true;
ts for the blue;

Hurrah for Frank Merriwell,
Hurrah for our hero who fig
He's a good, all-round athlete, as every one knows,
And always in trim from his head to his toes,

He has many a friend, all true and tried,

And through thick and ‘thin they stand by his side,
Now three cheers for the author, a well-learned man,
Who is the author of this little band.

This is my first attempt and I hope to do better
next time, MILTON CLINE,
Chicago, Ill.

4 Thank you. Your verses are good for a first ate

_ tempt. See Correspondence Column,

_ We wish to send our appreciation of the Tip Top

Weekly. We have formed a club known as the Ifer-

meee ee Club. We have read ne all of the

we pute it is indeed deal publi-

rican youth.’’ We admire all of

the characters and hope the Tip Top will flourish for-
ever. With best wishes to Burt L. Standish.

SANFORD BILLINGS, Pres., AND OTHERS.

% Your words of appreciation erate us, Success to
our club.

WEEKLY.

I have been a reader of the Tip Top Weekly since
its birth, and for some time past I have noticed a
controversy in the Applause Column as to the re-
spective claims of two young ladies to the affections
of the hero. It is that which causes me to write this
letter. The readers of the Weekly are mostly young
people who have not reached that age when the y are
competent to judge in affairs of the heart. “{ am a
great deal older “the an most of your readers, have
traveled in all countries for the past five years and
devoted a great deal of the time to the study of the
different phases of woman’s character/ The space al-
lowed is too closely limited for me to give all of my
reasons at this time for my choice of charac ters, but
I may do so in the future. One thing I must ask the
admirers of Elsie who call Inza ‘‘thard-hearted.” Are
they women, and if they are, have they ever been in
love? If neither of these they are not competent
judges. I speak from experience. Inza is the girl for
Frank. Stella Stanley is by far the best suited to
hold the sullen Bart in check. Mr. Standish is right
in bringing ‘“‘Buckrum’’. and Winnie Lee together.
Both are very strong characters and admirably suited
to each other. Of course, Jack and Juliet should
marry. As to which one of the “flock” is Frank’s
best friend, your readers seem to forget ‘‘Rattles’’
and the “King of the Sophomores.’’, Dear old Bruce,
he is‘a man after my own heart—lazy, but always to
be depended on when;needed. Let me say right here
that nothing but the strongest of friendships could
overcome his laziness. And Jack Ready, who could
help liking him? This letter is entirely too long. 1
have not said half what I wanted to, but will write
again. Success to all.
“ONE WHO HAS BEEN PLACED IN INZA’S
POSITION,”’ Vinton, Iowa.
It is true that many of Tip Top readers are young
people; many, like yourself, have had experience.
But all, we think, can understand the affection which
leads to “affairs of the heart.” Even those who eall
Inza “‘hard-hearted’’ may have been at some time in
love, for we all cannot cherish the same ideals when
under the influence of the tender passion. Let us
qualify your statement somewhat, then, and say, the
girl he loves is the girl for Frank. Sure ly your own
observation and experience will convince you that
this is the only right principle. Is it Elsie or Inza
whom he loves? That is a secret of Frank’s heart,
and the multitude of his Tip Top friends will not
think to infringe upon it. In the right time, which is
still afar off, the others you speak of will be made
happy to their best interests.

Having seen but few editorials in the Applause col-
umns from our city, we thought we would write and
tell you that we appreciate your weekly very et:
HERMAN F. HILLER, WILLIAM CLINTON x
San Francisco, Cal.
Thank you.

It is such a long time since I have seen-a letter
from any of the Charleston boys in your columns
that I think it is about time to send one. The Tip
Top Weekly is without a doubt the finest weekly
which has ever been published. Everything about it
is so totally free from anything pertaining to com-
monness, and any one who has any discernment at
all can readily see that the author must spend a
great deal of time in keeping out those little, unpleas-
ant incidents: which so often spoil a good story. I
heard a boy say that he did not see why Mr, Stan-
dish did not strive for higher aims and write a story
which would make him famous. That is a very great
compliment to Mr. Standish’s skill, but how could he
strive for a higher aim than the preserving the
morals of the youth of his country? It would give me
great pleasure to discourse further on the good the
Tip Top Weekly has done for many a boy, but that
would only take up your time and space, so I will
defer my opinion until another time. I would like

very much for Frank to meet Jack and little Nellie
once. more, and also his father. We have not heard
anything of his father for quite a long time,

HENRY L. DAVIS,
Charleston, S. C.

Tip Top is ideal in its conception and its execution.
Mr. Standish feels it his duty and mission to make it
so. He is certainly complimented by the remark of
your friend, but he is convinced that no higher aim
could inspire a man than to show the good results
that come from following the dictates of a right mind
and a good heart. What meetings the future holds in
store we cannot now foretell.

We have read all the Merriwells from No. 1 up to.
the present number and we like them very much,
With regards to yourselves and Mr. Standish. Your

. friends,

W. Murphy, Henry Galligan, wm. Quill, Can-
ton, Mass. 2
Thank you.

x
‘

 
TIP TOP WEEKLY.

Correspondence,

R. EB. I. C., New York City.—No premiums,

C. M., Indianapolis, Ind.—No premium.

X. X. X., Augusta, Ga.—Address the Scott Stamp
Company, Twenty-third street, New York City.

F. B. M., Paines, Mich.—No premium. They are
German coins,

B. C, P., Danville, Va.—There is no premium listed
for the coin.

W. A. C., Delta, Pa
coins you mention.

Brooklyn Boy, Brooklyn, N. Y¥.—The company is no
longer in existence.

G. EB. E., Brooklyn, N, Y.—It is not one of the
series,

Harris Campbell, San SAVERS Tex.—You will find
what you want in No, 219.

Ww. C., Rochester, N. H.—Write to the Scott
Stamp Company, inclosing a rubbing of coin.

W. L., Atlanta, Ga.—We have the numbers you
mention. They will cost five cents apiece.

ae Frey, Lima, Ohio.—There is no premium on the
coin.

B. F. Reynolds,
Seott Stamp Company,
York City.

Cc. E., Company Bluff,
academic coursé at Yale.
good,

Ss. Cc. F., Thomaston, Conn.—1. There is such a
school. 2. You might try it for a while to see how it
suits you,

Jack Diamond, Columbus, Ga.—l. You can exchange
it for its equivalent in our money. 2. Your propor-
tions are good, 3. You write well.

.—No premium on any of the

Washington, D. C.—Address the
Twenty-third street, New

Ja.—Frank is taking the
Your penmanship is very

Til. aaae records are as fol.
lows: 1. High jump, 6 ft, 5% in. 2. Broad jump, 12
ft. 914 in. Pole vault, 14 ft. 10% in. 4. Shot put
oe -lb.), 47 ft. 5. Hammer throw (16-Ib.), 167 ft. 8 in,
One-hundred-yard dash, 9 4-5 seconds. These are
all amateur.
A. E, C., Houston,

Milton Cline, Chicago,

Texas,—A tonic of the iron salts,
plenty of outdoor exercise, good sleep, a cold bath
every morning after getting up, and light dumbbell
practice. This, if conscientiously followed, will make
you hale and hearty. Do not rush into it, but grad-
ually accustom yourself to systematic training

Harry G. Miller, Washington, D. C.—1. Try Web-
ster’s Academic Dictionary. 2. It is a good trade,
8. The prospect of any trade depends on the work-
Sue nen of the individual. 4. It is a good trade to
learn. In our opinion, it is an excellent business.
| ie dapends upon yourself primarily, but the chances
are always fair.

H. McR., Ogdensburg, N. Y.—1. Yes. 2, Single num-
bers cost 5c. apiece. 3. Your suggestion will be con-
sidered. 4. You will find a complete catalogue up to
No. 198 in Tip Top of 196. 5. Thousands of readers
would not be pleased with such an arrangement.
6. Eagle cent of 1856 is worth from 55 cents to $1.10,
depending upon its cdndition. Three-cent piece of
isvo valued at 30 cents; of 1869, 25 cents; of 1871, 2
cents, and of 1873, 75 cents. The dimes of 1807 and
1846 are worth 25 cents apiece, No premiums on the
others.

 

 

LATEST ISSU ES.
2277—Frank Merriwell’s Vault; or, The Blades of

Toledo.
Hitting the

226—Frank Merriwell’s
Eastern League,

eee Merriwell’s Throw; or, Yale Athletes at

lagara.

224—Frank Merriwell’s Wrist; or, The Nerve of Iron,

223—Frank Merriwell’s Camp; or, Yale Athletics in
the Great North Woods.

222—Frank Merriwell’s Athletic Team; or, Sport in
the Adirondacks.

Wonders; or,

 

 

 

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beauty of this elegant 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-

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CENTS (‘len Cents in Cash or Stamps and Ten Cents in Coupons.)

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ARE A READER OF THE TIP TOP YOU ARE A MEMBER
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BLEM OF THE ORDER—and our word forit, you will be more
than pleased after you receive it.

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Don't
Trust to Luck

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Fever, Dumb Ague, Periodical Headache,
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or any of the diseases due to Malarial
poisoning, take the one positive and
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Cure has been the means of
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