IP loP WEEKLY “An ideal publication for the American Youth Issued weekly By Subscription, $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Crass Matier at the N. Y. Post Ofice by STREET & SMITH No. 233. Harry. HuNTER, Price, Five Cents, RANK MIERRIWELES “FIND” THE HOOSIER HERCULES BY BURT L.STANDISH SAFE ON FIRST BASE, é ‘ 3 ‘ ~ — : é a rn EL ST x 2 3 ) } : : ee ee ene ee ; Nc AN IDEAL PUBLICATION AL lane 2 = dll TIP TOP WEEKLY Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year, Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SmiTH, 238 William Enter: > o te No. 233. NEW YORK, September 29, 1900. ed According to Act of Congress, in the year 1900 in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. Price Five Cents, Frank Merriwell’s “Find;” _ THE HOOSIER HERCULES. By BURT L. STANDISH. CHAPTER I. A ‘COLOSSAL AGGREGATION.” ‘“Gug-gug-gug-goshfry! look there!’ ‘““Wow! Am I dreaming?”’ we ‘There must have been some Indiana tanglefoot in that last soda!’ ‘Sure! I’m beginning to see things myself!’’ ; The speakers were Joe Gamp, Bink ‘Stubbs, Bruce Browning and Jack Ready, ~ who, with other members of Frank Mer- riwell’s Athletic Team, had stopped in a front of a show tent, before which a tall, + lank fellow was inviting the public ‘to _. enter and behold the ‘‘curiosities, ”” ‘The great Seymour Street Fair was in e- full blast, and the lively Indiana town was swarming with people, drawn from all the surrounding country. ‘*Poly hoker! I never would have galled he had such guess—I mean I never would have guessed he had such gall!’ Rattle- ton declared. “Tl refuse to train in this company — any longer if it has such an effect ona fellow’s morals as that!’ said Carker, the bored look going out of his face, to be replaced by a broad smile. ‘‘ ‘All the world’s a show!’ ’’ spouted Ready, slightly changing the language of the immortal bard. ‘‘ ‘And all the men and women merely players!’ Our good 2 TIP friend, Ephy, has taken up a new role that’s all. He’s clever at it, too! This outside view is worth ten times the price of the admission !”’ Bart Hodge and John Swiftwing stared as if they could not believe their eyes. At last Hodge’s mouth opened: **Can that be Gallup?’’ he asked. ‘‘It’s his dead image, but there must be some kind of mistake. We left him, with Bar- ney and Hans, in Colorado Springs.’’ ‘Yes, and Merriwell gave them some money to get East on,’’ said Rattleton. ‘‘Gallup has got part of the way, you see, This is East, from Colorado.”’ ‘Oh, there can’t be any mistake about it!’? drawled Bruce, his broad face shin- ing with delight. ‘‘I’d know that fellow, if he was in China, wearing a yellow face and a pig-tail queue. ’’ : *‘!’'d know him even in Indiana!’’ was Ready’s solemn assertion. The tall, lank fellow who had drawn forth these remarks was standing on a box in front of his tent. On big, highly- painted: ‘‘banners,’’ that were stretched up before the tent, were pictured repre- sentations of the ‘‘wonders’’ to be seen on the. inside. A large crowd was gathering, and to this crowd the ‘‘barker’’ his remarks, endeavoring to persuade the gullible to part with their money. The tent, which was dingy and somewhat ~aged, bearing the appearance of having been on the road a long time, was stretch- ed on a vacant lot near the heart of the little city. ‘Walk in! Walk in! Gents! hanged ef this ain’t the chance of yeour lifetime. Yeou never saw northen like it raound in these parts, I vum! Whut I’ve gutter say to yeu, I’ve gutter say right to the p’int, ’thout any preliminaries. I ain’t gifted with talk. But talk ain’t necessary in a case like this. Ask these gentlemen and ladies whut air comin’ dout! Ask them! Did they ever see another such aggrega- was addressing TOP WEEKLY. tion of wonders on the face of the airth? They’ll tell you never! And all fer the small price of a dime and a half—fifteen cents—the price of three cheap cigars! “Hey! hey! This way, everybody. The wonders air now all on exhibition. Con- tinuous performances’ and no_ reserved seats. One dime and a half —one dime and a half lets you see each and every feature as advertised. We’re in this taown to stay through yeour great and original street fair. We’re here to guarantee satisfaction er refund to each and every one of yeou the money yeou pay to us. Ef, when yeou have seen the colossal museum of freaks drawn frum every clime, yeou ain’t satis- fied with whut yeou have seen, come to me, look me in the eye, and say to. me that yeou are dissatisfied with whut yeou have beheld, and yeour money will be re- funded as freely as the air whut yeou breathe and the water whut yeou drink!”’ ‘Oh, am I dreaming!’’ Bink gasped. *‘Can that liar be dear old Ephraim Gal- lup!? ‘I'd like to go in!’’ said Bruce. | ‘‘Tf the show on the inside is worth half as much as that on the outside, it would be dead cheap at ten dollars!’’ Bink de- clared. “Of course you'll go in!’’ gurgled Ready. ‘* ‘A fool and his money are soon parted.” ”’ “Gallup seems to be parting a good many fools from their money, then!’’ said Rattleton. ‘‘Just look at the fellow!’’ Between tlie fingers of his left hand the speaker held a handful of greenbacks, His © clothing was of the ‘‘loud’’ order. Ready said of it that it ‘could be heard a mile.”’ His loud plaid suit was set off by a white shirt, flaming red necktie, and shiny black silk hat, which made him look taller and lanker and more solemn than he had ever seemed. In addition to this;-he wore on his fingers several sparkling rings, and. a rhinestone of enormous size, which hun- dreds supposed to be a genuine South % ~ a _ T pee, ae war African diamond of immense value, flashed and glittered on his thin bosom. *“Go see the show! go see the show!’’ he continued to bellow. ‘‘Yeou will see here the wonderful livin’ skeletun—the thinnest man to-day on the face of the airth. He is here pictured true to life on this banner. The wonderful livin’-skele- tun! Go see the wild cannibal frum the Phillipian Islands, in his native dress and war paint. Go see the descendant of the old Irish kings, with his coat of green and his Donnybrook stick !”’ He pointed to the banners with an air of supreme confidence. ‘“Rach and every feature of whut we advertise is to be seen on the inside at this moment. We never divide aour exhibi- tion, but show every feature wherever we pitch aour tent, and the people who once enter allus tell their friends that the half has never been told, and then they go home and bring their mothers-in-law. Go see the show! go see the show! One dime and——’’ “‘Great show!’ declared a man, at that moment coming out and elbowing his way past théspot where the members.of the Athletic Team were gathered. ‘‘I’d ad- vise every one to go in and see it. It’s worth more than the price!”’ ‘“‘What in tut-tut-time can they have in there?’’ Gamp gurgled. ‘‘Dinged if I wouldn’t Jul-lul-like to take a peek, just for fun!’’ | **FRellows, we'll all go in!’’ said Bruce, going down into his trousers pockets for some. loose change. ‘‘We’ve got to see what Gallup is up to!”’ ‘‘He hasn’t noticed us yet!’’ chirped Bink. ‘‘When he sees who we are, lie’ll choke on his big words and fall dead off that box! Come on, fellows! This is great !”’ Bruce pushed along in advance, work- ing his way through the ‘crowd that had gathered before the dingy tent where the showman was holding forth, and the TOP WEEKLY. other members of the team fell in behind. Merriwell and Danny Griswold, of the team members, were alone absent. “Wish Merry were here!?’ remarked Hodge. ‘And I wish that little fool, Griswold, was here, too,’’ said Bink. ‘‘He isn’t de- serving of atreat like this, I know, but he really ought to be with us, anyway.”’ “Oh, they’ll be along by and by! The fellow isn't going to pull down his tent to-day !’’ Carker complacently observed. Browning pushed his burly form up to the low box from which the showman de-’ claimed, and stood thus, unobserved by the speaker, looking. up at him. > 10) **Gallup, sure!’’ he grunted. **Sure!’? admitted Hodge, who had been at first sceptical. ‘““Dot a noubt of it—I mean, not a doubt of it!’’ whispered Rattleton. > missed that for a dol- ‘‘T wouldn’t ’a lar!’ as he came out of the tent. ‘‘Didn’t ye git yer money’s wuth, mis- ) a dyspeptic-looking chap asserted, ter ?’’? Gallup bawled to him. “‘T did!’ was the prompt answer. *“Thet’s the way itis every time! We never hev a single man come to us and tell us thet we’ve not given the greatest show fer the money that wus ever under canvas. We never fail to please—we never fail to satisfy. The greatest and best show fer the money ever seen in yeour taown!’’ Bruce passed up the amount of the ad- mission for the Merriwell crowd. ‘‘And here’s another party whut——”’ Gallup turned to Bruce and reached out a' hand for the money; then cut his sen- tence short with a gasp. For a moment he seemed too dazed and, bewildered to think. But his ready wi came quickly back to him. ‘“These gentlemen says to me thet they have seen this show before, and thet they are willin’ to part with their hard-earned money to see it ag’in! ‘*So it goes! so it goes! Once a customer, ‘ : es PT eee s see i 4 f i bt + Ze . aa 4: ie PO allus a customer! Once a patron—men come miles to see the colossal aggregation gathered under this air canvas. ’’ Gallip had regained his nerve, and took up his work of ‘‘crying’’ the ‘‘wonders,”’ even while the friends he knew so well were passing into the tent; and there was not a quaver in his nasal, high-keyed voice, nor a shade on his features to show that these patrons were any different in their appearance to him than other groups that had that day entered within the tent. ‘‘Geewhiz!’’ Rattleton the crowd was on the inside and he beheld the exhibit. ‘‘The absolute gall of it!’’ Every one stopped in amazement. the collar which the hound wore. The girl stripped: off the long white apron which almost covered the front of her dress, and to the surprise of Danny, tore it into strips and deftly plaited and knotted these into a strong rope. She flung this down to Merriwell. **T should think that would hold him!’’ she said. ‘“‘I thank you very much for trying to get him away from me.”’ By much coaxing, Frank succeeded in drawing the dog to a small oak sapling on a knoll a few feet away. Then he secured the rope to the collar, which bore the name of ‘*Carter, Seymour,’’ and tied the hound to the little oak. Going back to the sycamore, Frank ex- tended his hand, and the girl, slipping a little further down the tree, took hold of his fingers and was assisted to the ground. The dog sprang up and raged, but the rope and the collar held him and, finally seeing that he could do the girl no harm, he quieted down under Merriwell’s com- mands. Afar off across a corn field sounded the eries of men, who, on foot and on horse- back, were following the dogs. ‘*Tt’s quite a joke that the dogs took me for their criminal !’’ she laughed, smil- ing in a way to make Danny’s heart thump under his coat. ‘‘I suppose the 4 men were burglars. I almost hope they won’t be caught.”’ “Why ??? Danny asked, for he wanted to hear her talk. But | must thank both of you for coming to my ‘‘Oh, I just feel sorry for them. aid: She beamed on Danny in an intoxicat- ing way. He wondered if she were a country girl, and decided that if she were she was stun- ning enough to grace a city mansion. ‘‘T suppose I ought to introduce myself and thank you again!’’ She seemed to have quite recovered from her fright, though she continued to watch the uneasy hound tied to the sap- ling. **T’ll come back and steal that apron rope and keep it!’’ Danny was thinking. ‘What a lovely voice she has! So large and big and hearty. Oh, isn’t she a stun- ner! I’m glad that little rat, Bink Stubbs, isn’t here! But she wouldn’t look twice at him if he were!”’ ‘‘Tam Mary Bowers, and I live right over there. I was down here looking to see if the pawpaws are yet ripe. But it’s entirely too early for them, I guess, They don’t get good until frost!’’ She kicked with her foot a large green cucumber-shaped fruit of the Western woods which she had dropped when’ she scrambled up the tree. Having made this statement, Miss Mary Bowers invited Danny and Frank over to the house, which was on high ground not far away. ‘They went; they found a beau- tiful country home; they were treated to cider and sponge cake, the latter of Mary’s own baking; a boy was sent to release the hound, and tell the pursuing party; they. tarried for more than an hour, waiting the return of Hattuck; they made some ac- quaintances that were worth while, and Danny, drowsing and dreaming during the-carriage ride away from the place, told. himself over and over that he, was going - hands with them. 8 to call there again, and that in all the country he had not found so handsome and superb a girl as Mary Bowers. CHAPTER III. AN UNEXPECTED ARREST. ‘*Vrankie, py chingoes!’’ Dunnerwust, who had waddled from his throne for the purpose of shaking hands with the friends who had so unex- pectedly invaded the show tent, turned from Browning toward the door, and saw there Frank Merriwell, followed by Danny Griswold. | Outside, Ephraim Gallup was loudly dilating on the ‘‘curiosities’’ to be seen in the tent, but for the moment Hans had forgotten that he was a ‘‘living skeleton’’ and a ‘‘curiosity’’ of the first class. ‘‘Whoob!’’ he yelled, diving across the space that separated him from Merriwell. ‘‘You vos glatness to seen me, ain’d id?’’ Merry and Danny had come from Ewing on the train with Hattuck, and liad drop- ped off at Seymour to meet the other members of the Athletic Team, while Hattuck had sped on to Cincinnati, prom- ising to return to see the big ball game which he was resolved to bring about be- tween the Invincibles and the Merriwells. Frank and Danny had approached the tent, had seen and heard Gallup, much to their astonishment, and had then made their way inside, being but a few moments behind the other members of the Athletic Team. Gallup had not ‘‘choked himself on his big words or fallen off the box’’ on beholding Merriwell and Danny, for the appearance of the other members of the team had told him that Frank was near and might be expected at any moment. “Glad to see you, Hans! glad. to see you, Barney!’ Frank cried, as he shook ‘‘Allow me to express “my astonishment!’ ‘‘Unt allow us to asdonish our express- ‘men, doo, you pet!’’ said Dunnerwust, TIP TOP WEEKLY. moving the hand up and down as if it were the handle of a pump. ‘‘I vos nod scarcely aple to belief dot you seen me now! Dis pead der pant-vagon! Vos you chump vrom der moon, eh?’ Frank looked round. ‘“VYou’ve a great show in here. I don’t wonder that Gallup grows eloquent over er * ‘Shoo!’ whispered the Dutch boy in a whisper loud enough to be heard across the enclosure. ‘‘T’on’d mendion id! Ve vos foolin’ der beobles. Dis vos a game vor to raise der vint. Ve vent proke indo sixdeen bieces at der Saind Ljouey py der Mississibbi Rifer, unt——”’ He became aware that a number of peo- ple, who had been mystifiedly watching the hand-shaking and singular conversa- tion, were looking at him with displeas- ure, and he remembered, too, that he was the ‘‘living skeleton.”’ ‘‘Oxcoose me!’’ he squawked to Frank. *‘T haf pecome an acdor. I blay me der bart uf der skeledon. You ton’d know me, unt ve ton’d recognize each odher ven you seen me. You ton’d slite town by my cellar door any more in my pack yard. You vos nod acquainted with me. Yaw! Keeb it sdill, Vrankie! Keeb it sdill!”’ The suspicious-looking people filed out of the tent; but others came in. In fact, a steady stream was now pouring in and out all the time, while Gallup could be heard loudly and fervently advertising the ‘“wonders’’ that were screened from the view of the unfortunates who refused to enter. After greeting Mulloy in the same hearty manner, Merriwell turned to the “Cannibal from the Phillipians.’ His eyes flashed strangely as he made the survey. After a few moments he went to the door. A man was wrangling with Gallup. Another man was energetically elbow- he % tg a res Ye ies rt PS tS eg feta to 4 ES , ae OL ing his way forward—the crowd falling back before him in a manner to show that he was an officer, though he wore no badge or uniform. **Tt’s a confounded swindle!’ the man was saying to Gallup. ‘‘I don’t keer fur the fifteen cents, but I object to bein’ swindled.’’ **No swindle in this business, mister!’? Gallup was protesting. ‘‘We tell yeou fair and square thet ef yeou don’t like aour show we refund the money. Every man whut ain’t satisfied gits his dime and a half back. There’s yeour dime and a half! Ef that’s swindlin’, I should like to know haow ?”? The officer, who was a constable, pushed up. **IT reckon you’ll have to shut up this show!’’ he declared. ‘‘I don’t want to pull you fellers, but there’s bein’ com- plaint made. ”’ ‘“We’ve paid our license!’’ Gallup grumbled. ‘‘And by gum! we ain’t swin- dlin’ noboddy nor northin’!”? ‘Merriwell stepped up to the constable and touched him on the arm. “If you’ll come with me, Mr.——”? *‘Whitely—Constable Whiteley.’ “Tf you'll come with me, Constable Whitely, Pll show you something that vou’ll be interested in.”’ The constable lodked at him question- ingly. ‘I’m in earnest! There is something ‘much more important inside than out- side.’’ Whiteley turned from Gallup, who, as soon as he could get rid of the objecting patron, continued to cry aloud the merits of the show, and followed Merriwell into the tent. Frank walked over to the ‘‘Cannibal _ from the Phillipian Islands,’’ and laying. a hand on his shoulder turned to the con- stable. ‘‘Here is a man you Seymour people _ have been looking for!” ¥ WEEKLY. 9 The ‘Cannibal from the Phillipian Islands’? leaped up with an oath that sounded decidedly English and dived to- ward the edge of the tent. But Merriwell caught him and flung him back upon the cushion that had served him as a seat, at the same time deftly stripping off his false hair and beard. The stripes of paint were still con- cealing marks, but in spite of these Frank knew he could not be mistaken. Cower- ing before him was the burglar, who, two days before, after almost murderiung a prominent citizen of Seymour, whose house he had entered, had been- chased with a comrade into the White River ‘‘bottoms’’ by bloodhounds, and had escaped by climbing into the sycamore and swimming the river. CHAPTER IV. ABOUT THE BURGLAR AND THE ‘‘INVIN- CIBLES.’? “‘That beat my time, b’gosh!”? “I thought it was the best course to take, Gallup!”’ The burglar, in his ‘‘Phillipian Island”? costume, had been taken from the tent by. Constable Whiteley and was being conveyed to jail. There was much excite- ment outside of the tent and in the streets, and Gallup was uneasy. The ‘‘show’’ business had suspended, and the ‘‘flock’? were discussing the situation. “It was this way,’’ Frank went on. ‘I knew that Whiteley was going to stop your show and possibly arrest you, for as I came down the street I overheard him talking with some men at the post-office corner, ‘Then when I came into the tent and beheld your painted ‘wild man,’ I knew at once that he was the burglar I had seen wading the river. I don’t know how it was, but there was a familiar look about him, and I seemed to be able, after my suspicions were aroused, to see the LO PIE (COP real man under his disguises. I knew that you were innocent of any intention of harboring a fugitive from justice. ’’ “By gum! I never dreamed——’’ “But if I hadn’t taken that prompt course, you see you could not have made the people here believe in your innocence. They don’t like the looks of things now, but as soon as1t is known that [am your friend, the whole thing will assume a different aspect in their eyes. ‘“We couldn’t undertake to shield the burglar, and if we had sought to do so it would have been a dangerous proceeding. In that case, if his identity had been dis- covered, as I think it would have been, it would have put you in a bad light. See ! But when I, your friend, come in and point him out to an officer, then we lay a foundation on which, if necessary, it will be easy to establish the fact ge you knew nothing about his antecedents. ’ ‘“Haow, in tutt-ut-time, did you hap- pen to pup-pick him up?’’ Gamp asked. ‘‘Begorra! he wor foolin’ us worse than we wor foolin’ the p’aple!’’ said Mulloy. Hans’ eyes were wide open with speech- less astonishment and fright. “T think you’re all right now,’’ Frank assured. ‘‘But if the constable had closed up your show and had then discovered that you were harboring the burglar in that disguise, you can see what a hole you would have been in. I am glad I came along and made the discovery first. You would have been compelled to close, any- way, I think, from what I overheard, for some of the people had been making com- plaint.’’ “We wusn’t swindlin’ nobuddy nor morthin’ !’’? Gallup protested. _ Frank laughed. ‘(Perhaps not. But.some people aré ex- cessively thick-headed, and fai to see the , joke of paying fifteen cents for the privi- lege of beholding a fat boy labeled asa living skeleton and a burglar painted and posed as a Philippine Islander.” WEEKLY. “Well, we raised the wind, by thut- ter!’? said Gallup, pockets. patting his bulging ‘‘Y never made so blamed much money in so short a time in my life.’’ ‘ blood out this way, and almost toa man they’re for Merriwell. I heard a lot of them talking in front of the K. P. build- And Hattuck is here, too, with lots of Cincinnati men, and ing this morning. they’re all howling for you! He came down with his special, arriving a while ago.”’ ‘‘So Hattuck is here!’ Ves, and he was looking for you. He thinks we can’t beat you, but’’—Hamil- ton. winked knowingly—‘‘that’s to be seen !’’ The crowd increased rapidly while the Athletic Team engaged in some practice work for warming up, and when the game was called the grounds fairly swarmed, while the seats were packed. ~ TIP TOP WEEKLY. 13 The batting list contained these names: INVINCIBLES, Shield, c.f. Garish, 1.f. Applewaite, 3b. Hamilton, 2b. Cox, s.s. Kirby, r.f, Sligle, rb. Meeh, c. Tyler, p. ATHLETIC TEAM, Ready, 3b. Hodge, c. Browning, rb. Merriwell, p. Carker,_r. f. Swiftwing, 1.f. Gamp, c.f. Rattleton, 2b. Stubbs, s.s. The Merriwelis won the toss and went first to the bat. A breeze, seeming to come from the woods on the west and northwest, cooled the heated air. Dan Tyler walked into the pitcher’s box, a smile on his dark face, confident that he would be able to pitch the game of lis life that afternoon, if necessary. ‘‘Tust as soon asI get good control!’’ he muttered, for experience had told him that he was likely to be hit right at the start. Ready, who was first up, got a hit after two balls had been called, and gained first. Hodge let himself be hit by the second pitched ball, and took first bag, advanc- ing Ready to second. Tyler was striving for control, and he got two strikes called on Browning. _ ‘Ill strike him out this time!’’ was his thought as his arm went up, and his dark eyes shone in anticipation. Meech, behind the bat, was doing good work in stopping the rather wild first throws of the pitcher. He knew Tyler’s weakness, and this work did not take the smile from his little eyes, that peered through the bars of the mask with eagle- like vision. The ball came in, straight over the plate, and with a good curve. Crack ! Bruce made a long hit into deep center, over the head of Shield. Then the crowd opened out ina wild shout, as Bruce tore along toward first, vst TIP TOP WEEKLY. while Shield was sprinting after the ball. The hit was a safe two-bagger. Ready and’ Hodge scored amid much excitement, and Bruce, having reached second, went on toward third base, think- ing he could make it. Shield now had the ball, and he made a great throw from deep center. ‘*Slide!’’ shouted Frank, who had run ‘*Shde?”’ Browning threw himself forward in a down toward third to coach. ereat slide, for Merry’s tones told him that he was in danger. Plunk! the whizzing ball struck in the hands of the third baseman. Bruce was sliding with his hand stretched out for \ the bag, and the third baseman fell on - him heavily in trying to touch him out. With stabbing force, the baseman’s knees struck into Bruce’s shoulder, knocking him from the base. ‘‘Out on third!’’ said the umpire. A roar of protest went up, for the spec- tators had thought Bruce safe. Browning lay for a moment on the ground asif hurt, while Merriwell hurried toward him. Applewaite, the third base- man, who had not in the least intended to injure Browning, was bending ques- tioningly over him when Frank arrived. “Hurt?? Frank asked, anxiously. Bruce arose and ruefully brushed the dust from his shoulder, then turned on Applewaite with a weak smile. “Vour knees don’t look’ sharp, Apple- waite, but when they struck against my shoulder it seemed as if a knife had been driven through it.”’ “T was excited, and I must beg your pardon; but you see, you fellows had made two scores, and I knew I ought to put you ought if I could.” The pitcher’s dark face had grown pale | and troubled. What had just occurred was enough to shatter whatever belief he may have had. that the Merriwells were not likely to play much ball. As Frank walked in to take the bat, he saw that ‘I'yler was excited. ‘Wild as a hawk!’ was his thought, as the first ball came wide of the plate. **T shall not strike at anything like that.”’ ‘’Two balls’? was called, then ‘‘three balls.’ Tyler had again lost control. ‘“Take your base!’’ said the umpire, as the next ball plunked into Meeh’s mitt. Frank trotted down to first, and Carker came up. Tyler was still wild, and three balls were called. ‘Then another one swept in from the pitcher’s hand, and seeing that 5 s it was going wide, Carker thought it, would give him. his base on ‘‘balls.’’ But to his surprise, the umpire called it a Vstrike.? When Meeh tossed the ball back the pitcher threw suddenly to first, for the purpose of catching Frank, who was play- ing well off, hoping for an opportunity to steal second. ‘The ball flew high—too high for Sligle, the first baseman, to get it—and Merriwell darted for second base, which he took easily, while the baseball enthusiasts tuned up again. : The next pitched ball was wide of the plate, as Carker saw, and again he refused to strike, feeling that this time he would surely be given his base, but again, to his surprise, the umpire called it a ‘‘strike.”’ Frank, who was on second and in a good position to see, had seen that it was a ‘‘ball,’? and he promptly put in a pro- test. ‘Who is umpiring this game!’’ the umpire shouted at him. : “Vou’re umpiring the game,’’ Frank flung back at him, ‘‘but we want you to umpire it fairly! That was half a foot from the plate. I saw it, and I know. Carker is entitled to his base on balls.’’ The umpire, who was a fat, red-faced fellow, named Sidney Moffatt, scowled viciously at the objecting captain of the FX Athletic Team. > - ee “Tl want you to understand that I’m umpiring this game, and when | call a strike it’s a strike.”’ Tyler, the pitcher, had his back to Frank, while this angry dialogue was go- ing on between Frank and the umpire. Frauk saw that the third baseman was off the base, and he made a quick run for third. * Tyler heard him, even as a warning shout went.up, and he turned and threw to Applewaite. The third baseman caught bal the -ball Frank, who was passing him, and tried to put him and dashed toward out; but Frank hurled himself forward in a great slide under Applewaite’s hand, and the angry umpire was forced to de- clare him safe. ‘This work did not improve the nerves | of Tyler, the pitcher, and the next bail 4 he sent in to Carker was so low that it al- most touched the piate. ‘“Three strikes, out!’’ said the umpire. _ The crowd that had been howling over Merriwell’s splendid steal, now sent up a - growl of protest. % ‘*‘We’re playing against ten men!’’ ne Danny piped from the coach line. e ay? Moffatt gave him a vicious look, but ie Danny, not at all abashed, sang out: a _ ‘How much do ‘you get for playing on oo: & the Invincible nine, old man ?’’ e **T’]1 have you put off the ball field if . ie. you give me any of your Sass!’’ the um- “pure hotly declared. ‘I’m umpiring this game, I’d have you know, and I don’t Ae take any lessons from a little. rat like you !’’ 3ut his hot wofds could not drown the storm of protest from the Hoosiers, who, b above all things, liked to see fair play. . Carker was out, though he ought to have had his base on balls, and Swiftwing came to the bat. Danny drew near Merriwell. “Up in the grand-stand!’’ he whis- _pered. ‘Right hand end of the third seat from the top. In that white dress.. Oh, TOP WEHEKLY. 15 I don’t know whether I I can’t keep my eyes away from that spot,”’ say, old man! can coach vou in or not. Merriwell gave a quick glance to the point indicated, and saw there the fair, round face and generous proportions of Mary Bowers, the girl he and Danny had rescued from the baying bloodhound in the White River bottoms. ‘*Isn’t she a peach ?’’? Danny whispered. **You’re hit hard, Danny !’’ **Sure! Isn’t she a beaut? Oh, say ! I want to go up there and reintroduce my- self. How in thunder am I going to coach this game, I’d like to know"”’ ‘“Play ball!’ the angry umpire was commanding, and John Swiftwing waiked into the batter’s position. CHAPTER VI. STILL ACAINST TEN MEN. ‘“‘Get a lead! Swiftwing is going to get a hit!’ In spite of his thoughts of Mary Bow- ers, Danny was piping upon the coach ‘line, not so,much for the benefit of Mer- riwell as for the purpose of rattling Tyler, though he was telling himself that he might as well leave the coach line and try to get a talk with Mary Bowers, for Danny felt that Moffatt would down the Athletic Team if he remained in as umpire. But Tyler was getting control, and he now sent in three balls that were undeni- ably ‘‘strikes,’? and the Indian batter fanned out, retiring the side. . Browning went to first, as the Invinci- bles came to the bat, with his shoulder fifriously paining him, though he gave no sign, and Danny ventured. to mount into the grand-stand and reintroduce himself to the girl from the White River valley. Shield came to the bat, as the first on the batting list of the Invincibles. Frank signaled to Hodge and began to pitch corner cutters. He sent in two, both over the inner corner of the plate, and Moffatt, the umpire, called them ‘“‘balls.’’ Se ee ee mas eS a ee . = SQ 16 TIP Then Frank signaled, and put the next ball straight over. ‘‘Ball—too low!’’ cried the umpire. He was standing right behind Merri- well, and Frank now turned round and looked him squarely in the eye, but with- out saying a word. ‘That umpire is rotten!’’ the crowd was howling. ‘“Take him off the field!’’ a boy velled, from his position on the grass at the side of the diamond. ‘‘He’s got a bum eye!’’ another sang out. Moffatt flushed under Merriwell’s look, but he seemed not to hear the cries of protest, and gave no other sign. Frank sent another ball over the heart of the plate. This the umpire called a ‘‘strike.’’ sSelieving that if he did not put the ball straiglit over, Moffatt would call ita ball, Frank sent in another of the same kind. Shield swung at this, and hit a hot liner down to Stubbs. The little short- stop tried to hold it, but it dropped out _ of his hands, and before he could fish it up from the ground and throw to Bruce, Shield was safe on first. Garish then came up and struck the first pitched ball, putting up an infield fly, which Frank gathered in. Applewaite,. the next on the batting list, was the player who had jammed his knees into Browning’s shoulder. He was a ‘‘waiter.’? Frank put a ball over the center of the plate, but Applewaite did not strike at it. **One ball!’ said the umpire. Four times did Merriwell do this, and the umpire gave Applewaite his base on balls, in spite of the howling protests of the spectators. Then Hamilton, the captain and the heavy hitter of (he team, took a bat and walked into position. a Merriwell knew that Hamilton was a TOP WEEKLY. hitter, and, after signaling to Hodge, he sent in the double-shoot, cutting the outer corner of the plate. ‘One bali!’ sang out the umpire. Frank pitched the double-shoot again, reversing the curve and cutting the inner corner of the plate. ‘“T wo balls!” Hodge’s dark face was black with wrath, and he was trembling so that he could hardly hold the balls. “Oh, if I don’t hammer that scoun- drel’s face in when this game is over!’ he was growling. Metriwell turned to Moffatt and began another protest, at the same time explain- ing the curves of the double-shoot. “Tf you will notice closely, you will see that the ball has two curves, out and in, or the reverse. Both of those balls cut the corner of the plate.’ ‘‘Oh, come off!’’ Moffatt snarled. ‘‘Do you think I’m crazy? Such rot as the double-shoot don't go with me! What kind of a jay do you take mefor? Play ball!’? Finding that he could get no strikes called by using the double-shoot, Frank now put a straight, speedy one right over; and Hamilton hit it hot on the ground to Bruce, who picked it up, stepped on the bag and put the batter out. Shield was running for third, and Bruce wheeled to throw to Ready, the third. baseman, to cut Shield off, but the ball seemed to hang in the air and only went over the pitcher’s head. The effort hurt Browning’s shoulder horribly, and. he realized that he could not throw. _ Shield was safe on third, and two men were out. Cox came to the bat, and though Merri- well put the balls over the plate, the um- pire continued to call them ‘‘balls,’’ in spite of the growling of the spectators, In disgust, Frank then gave Cox one straight over, and Cox lined out a two- j Sesh aba Se : (EP. TOP bagger, scoring Shield and Applewaite and tying the score. ; Realizing that the umpire meant to rob him of the game, Frank now began to use a straight swift ball with a rise, and succeeded in striking out Kirby, who fanned at them, thus retiring the side. —_—— CHAPTER VII. KICKING AGAINST THE UMPIRE. Hodge caine up to Frank fuming. ‘That scoundrel !’’ he growled. ‘“‘He intends to gob us of the rame— rob us of the game!’’ sputtered Rattleton. ‘That same idea has for some time been permeating to the inner recesses of my think tank!’ chirped Ready. ‘‘What shall we do? Kick him off the ball field, or buy him over to our side?’’ “Tq like to hammer his face in snarled Hodge. ‘“‘And go into the lock-up, to keep the burglar company! Refuse me!’ The other members of Merriwell’s team gathered round, and Ephraim, Hans and Barney, who were also wildly indignant, added themselves to the company. ° ‘*Oi’d loike to crack him in the oiye!’’ said Mulloy. ‘‘Wurra! he’s more av a thafe than the burglar.’’ ‘Der pugler vos a shentlemans py der site uf heem!’’ Hans howled. ‘‘Sure, an’ thot’s no loie!’’ ; “TY think he has sold himself out,’’ was Carker’s opinion. ‘‘The ruinous love of money is what spoils the world. If pure socialism ever has its day there will be no temptation for a man to sell himself out for anything. 2 Browning smiled through his pain. ‘*Vou’re one of those philosophers, Car- ker, whose philosophy doesn’t agree with his practice !”’ 1 Carker flushed. His own great wealth and his closeness in the distribution of its bounties made his speeches seem some- times like irony. Nevertheless, he was in WEEKLY, as. earnest, believing what he preached, but unable to carry out his preaching in his own proper person. Yet Carker’s heart was all right, with this one exception, and the Athletic Team members, who had been at first inclined to fight shy of him, were slowly beginning to appreciate his good qualities. “7 think there can be no doubt that Moffatt has sold out,’’ was Merriwell’s conclusion. ‘‘His acts show it.’’ ‘“To whom ?’’ asked Ready. **T’m sure he hasn’t sold out to me!’ declared Bink Stubbs, with apparent seri- ousness. ‘‘You may search my pockets.’’ “If he robs us of the game, fellows, we’ll come back at him when it’s over by robbing him of the money he obtained!’ Ready airily chirped. ‘The Invincibles aren’t in the thing,”’ Frank went on. ‘‘I’m sure of that. They are an honorable set of players, Of course they have taken advantage of his rulings. But any set of ball players would do that. They can’t be expected to make a kick when he rules in their favor.’’ ‘‘Where is the great and mighty Dan- ny ?’’ queried Ready. ‘‘I haven’t heard his gentle opinion on this thing!”’ ‘Tat-tut-tied to that gug-gug-girl up there!’ stuttered Gamp, pointing to the spot where Griswold and Mary Bowers sat together, talking and laughing. ‘‘Oblivious to the woes of his friends!’’ said Ready. ‘‘It is ever so, Affairs of the heart make fools of men!’’ He glanced knowingly at Rattleton. ‘‘Nothing could make Danny Griswold more of a fool than he already is!’’ snap- ped Stubbs. ‘‘Here comes Hamilton!’’ Swiftwing had not entered into the conversation, but his quick eyes, roving and restless, were the first to observe the approach of the captain of the Invincibles. A great uproar was proceeding from bleachers and grand-stand, and the voice 18 Ake Oe of the umpire was heard cominanding the ‘“play ball!” Nevertheless, Bife Hamilton walked on teams to over to Merriwell. ‘“That umpire’s decisions were rotten !”’ he manfully admitted. ‘‘I hope you didn’t think we had anything to do with it.”’ ‘‘No, of course not,’’ was Frank’s an- swer. ‘‘But we are being robbed, and. we protest against that umpire.’”’ ‘‘IT can’t: believe that the fellow is crooked, Merriwell. He has been regarded as one of our best umpires, and his rulings have been considered fair.’? ' ‘*Well, he’s off now!’ ‘*Yes, he seems to be.”’ ‘“He’s been bought up!’ Hodge. Hamilton colored. snapped ‘“‘T didn’t mean by your team,’’ Hodge explained. ‘‘I don’t know by whom. But it’s dead clear to me that he’s been botight up by somebody.”’ ‘‘Does he gamble?’’ Merry asked. ‘‘Not that I know of. I never heard of it. Really, I know little about him per- sonally, except that he is a good baseball man and has proven very satisfactory as an umpire. He came here from Chicago last spring. We don’t want to have any advantage given us, but want to play you fellows a fair, square game, no matter who beats, and I shall tell him so.”’ Thereupon Bife Hamiltoft walked over to Moffatt. ‘‘See here, Moffatt! Those fellows are kicking, and really I think they have a right to. Those decisions looked rank, even though they were in our favor. The crowd is dead against that sort of thing, and soam J. We want'to win this game, but we want to win it with nine men.” He looked Moffatt fairly in the eye. Merriwell was still talking to the Ath- letic Team, and the crowd was impatient- ly howling. 3 ‘*Play ball!’’ was being yelled from the WRHREKLY. “What did we pay) our grand-stand. money for?”? ‘T think.that some gamblers have bet heavily on the Invincibles, and to make the thing sure they have bought up the umpire.’ ‘“That’s as clear as the face on my nose!’’ sputtered Rattleton. / Hamilton came back. ‘Moffatt is indignant at what he calls a malicious charge against him, but I think he’ll give you fellows a square deal now. I made it quite plain to him that we want nothing more than we are entitled to. Our boys are honest fellows, Merriwell!’’ “‘Sure!’’ Frank agreed. ‘‘I have had no other thought about them. The Hoo- siers are usually honest, as I’ve found. They’re good fighters, but they fight fair.’’ ‘*Shall we go on with the game? The crowd wants to see the thing goon. Of course we might get another umpire, but not another so good as Moffatt, if he plays white, which I think he will.” ‘“We'll go ahead!’’ said Merriwell. ‘‘But we won’t try to play the game out if the umpire keeps up that business. It would be useless for us to.” The impatient cries of the spectators were increasing. Hamilton went back to Moffatt. A minute later the umpire cried, ‘‘Play ball!’ and the Merriwells went to the bat. . . CHAPTER VIII. BROWNING GIVES UP. Tyler had apparently recovered his con- trol, for he promptly struck out Gamp and Rattleton, with ‘‘strikes,’’ to which there could be no objection. Stubbs came to the bat and got a pretty single, and on the second pitched ball to Ready, he stole second. But the little joker was able to get no further, for Tyler fanned out Ready and retired the side without a score. When the Invincibles came to the bat, Meanie beds 3 Mik da tetsi i sit 2 ck pA Lot cde hit Pot E s wakes ee Lie SOR Sligle was the first up. There was a surly grin on the face of the umpire, as he stood near Merriwell, when Frank began to pitch. ‘You fellows needn’t think that I won’t give you all you get!’’ he snarled. ‘*Y ain’t used to being called a cheat!’’ Frank did not answer, but began to send The two first were rises, and the third pitched ball was in his balls over the plate. a drop. Sligle fanned at all of them and went out. Then Meeh, the grinning, little-eyed catcher, took up the timber. He, too, 13 failed to connect with Merriwell’s whist- ling sphere, and went out. Tyler, the pitcher of the Invincibles, was up next. Frank sent him an in-ctirve that was a corner cutter. Tyler deliberately jumped into it, and was sent down to first by the umpire, notwithstanding that Frank made a vigorous protest against it, alleging that Tyler had purposely jumped into the ball. “Oh, come off!’? Moffatt growled. ‘Von fellows are bound to make a kick, whatever happens. ’’ Shield, the head of the batting list, took up his ‘wagon tongue,’’ and stepped into. position. Shield was a good batter and bs made a Score in the first inning. But on the second pitched ball he put upa high foul, which Hodge promptly collected, thus again sending the Invincibles into the field. When the Merriwells came in, Brown- ing was in great pain, but he said nothing about it. His shoulder had been severely injured, and there was a constant feeling as if a knife were being plunged into it. Hodge was the first batter up; and Tyler, who seemed to have regained his form entirely, struck him out. The game had become interesting, and the cries from the grounds and from the erand-stand and bleachers were constant. The small boys were piping shrilly, being WEEKLY. 19 two to one in number in favor of the vis- itors, because it was Merriwell’s team. Bruce’s sheulder was so Jame that he found he could not hold the bat in the | ‘ ordinary way, so he tried to bat left-hand- ed, putting his lame shoulder to the pitcher. He flinched dodgingly as the first pitched ball came in, and, as bad luck would have it, the ball hit him squarely on the stabbing pain was most intense. He grew spot in his shoulder where’the white to the lips, but he clinched his teeth and made no sound as he trotted down to first. Then Merriwell came to the bat, swing- ”’ ing a long “‘slugger. He had covertly signaled Bruce to try to steal second, and now gave Bruce the opportunity. Browning obediently made the dash. Meeh held the ball and promptly lined it down to the second baseman. ‘*Slide!’’ yelled Danny, who had de- scended from his perch by the side of “‘the handsomest girl in the world,’’ and Bruce recklessly threw himself Siciemntst in the dust. Bife Hamilton himself was on second base, and getting the ball he tried to pin it on Bruce and put him out, and in doing so crashed heavily into Bruce’s throbbing ° shoulder. : Bruce’s right hand was on the bag, but he felt sofaint that it seemed he could not rise. However, he pulled himself up with a great effort, and stood trembling on the base, but without a murmur or a sign of pain, other than his deathly white face. Merriwell then got a safe hit between second and third, and Bruce, who had played well off in obedience to Danny’s coaching, made a dash for third, though his head was fairly reeling. As he ran, he glanced toward the home plate. The flying ball seemed about to strike him in the head. Dodging to avoid it, he slipped and again went down on @ . 20 TIP, TOP WEEKLY. that shoulder—for it appears to be a strange rule that if one is hurt in any par- ticular place, everything coming that way strikes or touches or rubs against the hurt spot. Bruce tried to get. up and stagger on toward third, but before he could do so the ball was fielded in and he was put out. Then Carker was struck out, and the side was retired, with the score still two to two. Frank went over to Bruce, as the latter started for first with a white, dazed look on his face. ‘‘Pm afraid you’re not able to play first ?’’ he anxiously asked. srowning set his teeth hard and tried to smile. “Pll try it, Merry!’ was his dogged declaration. Discovering that Bruce was determined to remain at his post, Frank, after warn- ing him to be careful of his hurt shoulder, went into the pitcher’s box and Garish came up as the batter. | ; Moffatt began again to show the cloven foot, giving Garish his base on ‘‘balls,”’ two of which were clearly ‘‘strikes.’’ Then Applewaite came up and batted a ball hot to first. Bruce picked it up, leaped on the bag and put the man out, just as he had done once before; then ‘tried to throw to second to*cut off Garish. Instead of the ball going to second, it flew clean out into center field. The coacher shrieked for Garish to go on, and the runner went toward third, amid the excited cries of the Invincible rooters. Gamp, in his anxiety to stop him, hast- ily secured Bruce’s wild ball, and, throw- ing to third, entirely overthrew, and Gar- ish went home, amid the screams of the friends of the Seymour team. The Invincibles were now one score ahead. Frank looked toward Bruce, and dis- covering that he was sitting down on first bag, holding a hand to his lame shoulder, went over to him. “TI think I’d better get out, Merry!’ the big fellow grunted. ‘‘That is, if you can get some oue to fill the place. Other- wise I shall surely lose you the game. I can’t control the ball at all.”’ Frank squatted down by him in sym- pathy. Others hurried over, among them the grotesque trio, Dunnerwust, Mulloy and Gallup. “‘T feel disgustedly like a curiosity,’’ Bruce groaned. ‘‘You might put me in your show, Eph, when you start on the road again !”’ ‘‘Don’t> worry about it, old man!”? Frank urged. ‘‘I can get another to fill your place on first. The thing for you to do is to stop right here and go straight to a doctor. If you don’t, and try to go on, you may get your shoulder in such a con- dition that it will be ruined.”’ Bruce arose groaning, with Merriwell’s hand on his good arm. ‘“‘If you can find another man???’ he said, doubtingly. ‘‘Not that I think I’m such stuff that no one else can play first !”’, Frank rose, and, putting his fingers to his lips, blew a shrill whistle. To the astonishment of every one, as that whistle cut the’air, a big fellow in baseball costume came out from. some point near the grand-stand, and walked over toward first base. He wasa giant of a fellow—large in every way, with a boy- ish, pinkish-white face and the laugh of a girl. . ‘‘My Hoosier Hercules!’’ said Frank, as he stepped out to meet him. Browning stared, and the friends gath- ered round him stared also. The new- comer was taller than Bruce; but he was ‘well proportioned, with great length of limb and arm and acorresponding breadth of chest and shoulders. He was indeed a Hercules. . ‘Play first !’’ said Frank, without stop- ea vit = oa le ili) Stated 4 4 a =' 2 be the right man in the right place. He ping to introduce him to the members of the team, and the stranger stepped into the position vacated by Browning. CHAPTER IX. THE HOOSIER HERCULES. 3ife Hamilton, the captain of the In- vincibles, was the first batter up when the playing began again. He promptly smashed out a hot ground- er to Ready, which Jack had trouble in handling. He picked it up after a fumble, and then quickly threw to first, in his haste making a wild, high throw. It seemed to be going at least four feet above the first baseman’s head; but the Hoosier Hercules went into the air with a wonderful jump, pulled the ball down and put Hamilton out. It was such an exceptionally fine play that it brought shouts of approval from all over the ball ground. ‘‘What’s the hatter with the Hoosier Murcules?’’ asked Rattleton, and Ready howled back from third, ‘‘He’s all right!”’ 3rowning, walking over to a hack in which he meant to ride back to town, heard the cry, and saw that the work of the Hercules had. called it forth, as well as the cheers which had preceded it. ‘‘Where in thunder did Merry make that ‘find?’ he asked himself. ‘‘It beats the band! Whenever he wants a man all he has to do is to whistle, and the fellow rises right out of the ground, ball suit and all, ready for business. It makes me think of the wizard of the lamp. I think Merry must have Aladdin’s wonderful lamp tucked away somewhere in his trouser’s pockets. ”’ Cox came to the bat and batted the ball into the right field, making’ a seemingly safe hit. Carker secured the ball, and made a wild low throw to first. Again the Hoosier Hercules was seen to * TIP TOP WEEKLY. 21 threw himself out at full length on the ground, away from the base in the direc- tion of the wild ball, but with one foot still on the bag; and gathered in the ball in a manner marvelous to behold. Even the rooters for the Seymour team swung their hats and cheered,and Hat- tuck and the Cincinnati men, who had se- cured prominent seats together, joined in the applause. The side was out. There was a rush from the bleachers to shake the hands of the new man, and Hamilton walked over as if to say a good word to him. *‘Oh, that fellow is just a wonder on first base!’? Stubbs ecstatically squealed. **Merry, where did you find him ?”’ **T found him!’’ was Frank’s enigmat- ical answer. “By gum! I’m goin’ to put him under the canvas when we take the road ag’in!”’ said Gallup. ‘‘He’d go great, ef I should call him one o? Gullivers’ Liliputs.”’ In the next inning the Merriwells made a gteat fight for a score, but the umpire, though more cautious than he had been, was still against them, and they failed utterly. Ready was the last man, out when the side was retired. no ee In the Invincible’s batting half of the inning Kirby came up first and began to play awaiting game. The umpire favored him, twice calling ‘‘ball’? when he should have called ‘‘strike,’’ and finally giving him his base on ‘‘balls,’? when he had been really struck out. Hodge was again fuming and threaten- ing to ‘pound in the umpire’s face’’ at the first opportunity, and the spectators were once more beginning to growl. Kirby played off first a little as Sligle came up, thinking to steal second. But Frank, who had been closely watching him, without seeming to, suddenly snap- ped the ball down to first base. Spat! it went into the hands of the as t (oy th th 22 TIP TOP Hoosier Hercules, who instantly pitched his body toward Kirby, who was making a slide to regain first, having desperately thrown himself forward at full length. Down came the ball on Kirby’s back, and so hard and firm that he was literally pinned to the ground, and could not move, with his outstretched hand a full six inches from the bag. The umpire looked, reddened and then grumblingly declared Kirby out, for he saw he could-do nothing else. ‘*Oh, there’s a baseman on first!’ Bink squealed, turning a jubilant handspring, while the spectators roared and howled. Kirby walked to the benches, looking rather crestfallen. Merriwell then sent in an in-shoot, and Sligle apparently put his shoulder into it, and was struck, being given his base by the umpire. Then Meeh, the little-eyed, eagle-vi- sioned catcher, came grinning to the plate, and with a flourish struck at the first pitched ball, thinking to bother Hodge, and give Sligle a good chance to steal second. But Hodge, though he was excited and angry clear through, was not asleep. He held the ball. and lined it hot down to Rattleton, who, taking his cue from the work of the Hercules, pinned the ball hard against Sligle’s back as he made his slide, and again the umpire was forced to deciare the runner out. Meeh fanned out, retiring the side, and the Athletic team came to the bat, with the spectators howling over the clever work of Rattleton and the new first base- man. When Hodge came up, he hit a hot liner to the short stop, which was held, thus putting Hodge out, and the Hoosier Hercules took up a ‘‘wagon tongue’’ and stepped to the plate, amid tremendous cheering. : Tyler signaled to Meeh, and sent in two “i BF ile agionicenaeenicdaall rs, ” sorteciect=d ean mma Se WEEKLY. balls which were ragged, but which the umpire called ‘‘strikes.”’ 3 ‘*You’ve got to smash it!’’ said. Frank. “Sure!’’ the giant chirped, sounding his girlish laugh, while his pinkish-white face wrinkled in a smile. ‘‘I reckon at the school Mr. Moffatt learned in there was never anything pitched but strikes. I'll smash it!’ The next ball was apparently three feet over his head, but the big fellow reached up for it, and hit it a terrible crack. “Call that a strike, will you?’ he laughed, as he bounded toward first. The ball was flying far out into deep center, high over the head of Shield, who had turned and was running for it, with- out much chance of speedily getting it, _ however. The people rose from their seats howl- ing and screeching, as the Hoosier Her- cules sped past first and second and then on round the bases, running like a deer, finally scoring amid a tremendous din, thus tying the score. When the ball came in to the pitcher, the big fellow twas sitting in the bench, panting like a fagged hound, while he fanned his red’and perspiring face with his cap. ‘““That was great!’ said Frank, as he took up a bat and stepped into place. “Oh, you'll do as well!’ Rattleton shouted. ‘‘We’ve got the thing started now!’’ : But Frank did not do as well. He put a long fly into the left field, which was caught. Then Carker' came up, knocked a grounder to short-stop and was thrown out at first. The side was out, but the score they had struggled for had been made—made by the new first baseman. The game became savage from that time on, each nine making a desperate effort to score and get the lead. Merriwell once gained second base. At x v Legis teat 4 everything, beating the air as if it were TEP another time the Hoosier Hercules made a hit and reached first, beating, by a won- derful run, the ball, which was sent hot to first from the hand of the second base- man; but he could get no further. The work of the Invincibles was as fierce, for Tyler, having regained control, did some fine pitching, and the fielding was exceptional. The vast crowd grew wilder and wilder. They began to feel that they were getting their money’s worth, for in spite of the ‘evident bias of the umpire, a great game was being played. The work of the Hercules on first base was the most marvelous ever seen on that diamond, and the Hoosiers, recognizing that he was one of their.own men, cheered Not a single thrown ball got by him, no matter uproariously his wonderful plays. how wild they were. His marvelous reach of leg and arm apparently enabled him to pick them out of the air or off the ground. Whatever they were—wide, high or low —he invariably gathered them in, until he became the terror of the batters of the Seymour team. In the eighth inning, through the biased work of the umpire, together with an er- ror and a wild throw, the Invincibles made ascore, thus putting them again in the lead, with the scores now four to three in their favor. . CHAPTER X%. NIF AND. TUCK, As the ninth inning opened it seemed that the Athletic Team were facing sure defeat. They had now ouly one turn at the bat, the umpire was against. them, and their opponents were in the lead. _-Ready was first up, and he was. prac- - tically struck out by the umpire. Hodge stepped into position so angry that he could hardly see, and smashed at + TOP WEEKLY. 23 the head of the umpire, and struck out. The Hoosier Hercules, who was the next batter—having taken place in the batting list—walked out with Browning’s his long ‘‘wagon tongue,’’ and a placid smile on his boyish face. ‘‘Right there, Tyler!’ he called, with his queer, bubbling laugh, ‘‘Put her right there, will you, old man!’ Tyler did not ‘‘put ’er-right there,’’ but tried to throw a corner-cutter, which missed the plate. ‘‘One strike!’’ called the umpire. ‘“Vou’re cross-eyed—I mean the pitcher is cross-eyed!’’ said the big fellow, again laughing and passing a spot near the end of the bat, to which he again called Ty- ler’s attention. ‘Right there, old man! There’s a hole right there. _See if you can find it!”’ Again Tyler threw wide of the plate, and again the umpire called it a ‘‘strike.”’ ‘‘Oh, we’re done up!’’ Hodge groaned, furious with rage. A smile was still playing over the smooth features of the giant. Tyler signated to Meeh, and, with a terrific wind-up, threw a ball which was so low it seemed it would strike the plate. | But the Hoosier Hercules swung. at it. His bat seemed to pick it right up off the ground. Crack ! The sound was almost like the report of a pistol. : The hit was a three-bagger, and the Hercules took the bases with apparent ease, . ‘““That was another strike!’’ he laughed as he perchedion third bag and fanned himself with his cap, which, though it had often floated off his head in his wild running, had stuck to his hair this time. ““Now, if Mr. Merriwell can get three strikes of the same kind!”’ Feeling sure that every pitched ball would be called a ‘“‘strike,’’ no matter 24+ TIP TOP WEEKLY. where it went, Frank dabbed at them and succeeded in bunting the second one to- ward third. While he was taking first, the Hoosier Hercules came home on this bunt, and tied the score, and a cheer rolled out that seemed to shake the bleachers. When Carker came up, Frank stole sec- ond on the first pitched ball, and on the next pitched ball he stole third. Both balls were called ‘‘strikes,’’ ‘Hit it out, Carker!’’ he shouted from third. A stern, determined look had come into Greg’s face, replacing the bored ex- pression which so often rested there. His eyes shone, as Frank’s words came to him. ‘The command seemed to pene- trate him like an inspiration. “Pll make the effort of my life!’’ he thought. He put up three fouls in succession. Frank was closely watched by Tyler. A great din filled the air. Frank played well off third, and drew two throws from the pitcher, trying to get him to throw wild. The next pitched ball came straight at Carker, and though it was a swift one Carker let it hit him. When Carker dropped his bat and start- ed for first, Moffatt ordered him back, de- claring that Carker might have got out of the way of the ball and therefore was not entitled to take first. The din changed to a roar of indignant protest and disgust. But the umpire would not let Greg go to first, and sent him back to the bat. The sympathy of the spectators had for some time been decidedly with the Ath- letic Team because of the umpire’s unjust - decisions, and it showed itself now in a very positive way. Carker went back in obedience to the ‘umpire’s commands, and succeeded in getting a bunt out of the next pitched ball. - Merriwell, who had been playing well off, now came home in a splendid burst of speed, thus putting the Merriwells one score ahead. ; Then the din grew simply deafening. When Swiftwing came up, Carker tried to steal second; but he was thrown out. Three men -were out. ‘‘Oh, we’ll do you up now!’’ Hamilton declared, with a laugh, as the Invincibles came in. It began to look as if this might be true; for, though Merriwell put the balls straight over the plate, they were all ‘balls’? by the umpire, and Garish was given his base. | Applewaite tried a- bunt, sacrificing Garish to second, and was thrown out at first. ee Then Hamilton, the captain, put a hot one through the hands. of Bink Stubbs, and Garish went to third. , Stubbs got back, however, and secured the ball in time to keep Garish from scor- ing. Hamilton had taken first. Cox, the next batter, hit a hot grounder to the Hoosier Hercules, and Garish tried to score on it. But the Hereules cleverly picked up the grounder and threw home, — and Garish was put out by Hodge four feet from the home plate. Cox, however, had reached first and Hamilton second. Merriwell now tried the double-shoot on Kirby, sending it well over the plate, and Moffatt called three ‘‘balls’? on him. Seeing that he must use a straight ball or have it called'a ‘“‘ball,’? Frank put the next one straight over. The umpire was forced to call it a strike. The next ball, which was also straight, Kirby bunted into the diamond and took first. The bases were now full, and the great crowd was wildly roaring. Merriwell was at a disadvantage. He - s could not use the double-shoot, for it would be called a ‘‘ball’’ by Moffatt, and 2 when he sent in straight ones, which, be- cause they were. so plainly over the heart i of the plate, the umpire was forced to call ‘“‘strikes,’? they were likely to be batted. In this condition of things, Sligle came to the bat and hit a red-hot iiner down to first. . The Hoosier Hercules jumped out at it, cuffed it down, picked it up, with Ham- ilton sprinting for home, and again bya quick, clever throw to Hodge, kept the man from scoring. Danny Griswold, who had come down from the seat he had taken in the grand- stand by the side of Mary Bowers, was wildly yelling and turning hand-springs -Irke a circus athlete. **Oh, did you see him!’’ he howled, bay while the tears came into his eyes. ‘‘T’he ) __ Hoosier Hercules!” ey ‘Two men were out when Meeh came to > the bat and hit one of Frank’s straight 1 ones hot ‘down to Stubbs, ~. Again Stubbs fumbled it; but he got the ball up and made a wild throw to first, which apparently lost the game to the Athletic Team. Hodge groaned. ‘*We’re gone!’’ Rattleton gasped. But the Hoosier Hercules jumped off his base fully four feet, secured and held the throw; then flung himself back at the base at full length and put the ball on it. Such a marvelous play had never been ae seen in that region. The side was out, the * —-‘ Merriwells had won, and the ball field was in an uproar. This was the score: 123456789 Athletic Team..... 20001000 2—5 - Invincibles....... we20LTO00001 0-4 : ame Merriwell heard Moffatt’s voice at his elbow. TIP TOP WEEKLY. 25 Turning round, he took the cheating umpire by the throat. “Tf you weren’t such a cheap dog I’d shake you out of your skin!’’ he hissed. ‘‘Kick him off the ball grounds!’’ some of the Seymour people yelled. Moffatt turned pale and writhed under the clutching fingers. “T’ll pay you for this insult!’ he snarled, as Frank flung him scornfully aside, _ The cries of the indignant Seymour — men seemed to strike through him. ‘‘Lynch the dog!’’ one big, red-bearded fellow shouted. Moffatt shrank visibly before that cry, and edging into the crowd, made a hasty exit from the grounds. ‘‘Let me introduce you to the Hoosier Hercules, the man who won the game for us!’ said Frank, now smiling, as he pro- ceeded to make the ‘‘flock’’ acquainted with the new first baseman. ‘‘I have called him the Hoosier Hercules, but he travels under the name of ‘Thomas Jefferson Bow- ers, and he is a brother of Mary Bowers. Imet him at his home near Ewing the other day. He is a student of Depauw University, in this State, and, as you have seen, one of the best ball players in the country.”’ **Glad tomeet you! Glad to meet you!” Bowers was saying to the members of the ‘‘flock,’’? while his girlish laugh bubbled and gurgled and his pinkish-white face was wreathed in a happy smile. ‘‘Haow in tut-tut-time did you happen to be right at hand in a ball suit, ready to take Browning’s pup-pup-pup-place??’ Gamp bewilderedly stuttered. The bubbling laugh became more pro- nounced. ‘Nothing simpler! I am to play ball at North Vernoa to-morrow x and I brought my ball suit along for the purpose. I came up from home this morning, you know, with my sister. Merriwell saw me there by the grand-stahd when Browning first 26 ‘a? got his shoulder hurt. He thought your big fellow would not be able to go on with the game, and he asked me if I couldn’t take his place if he had to drop out. I told him yes, and then hurried away to get into my ball suit. I was ready and waiting when he whistled, and came right out on the field.” That’s all.”’ Gamp stared. ‘“Geewhiskers!’’ said Rattleton. ‘‘Noth- ing simpler, but it puzzled me just the samme. And you met Merry at your home ?’’ ‘““Sure! I met Merry when he met my sister, Mary, and we had a merry time. Gentlemen, I’m glad to have been able to serve you!”’ CHAPTER XI, STARTLING NEWS. ‘‘What has become of Danny ?’’ drawled +’ . : . Bruce, seated in a comfortable chair at the Lynn House, lis arm inasling. He took his pipe from his mouth as he asked the question and turned to Merriwell. ”” ans ‘Out riding with Mary Bowers, swered Stubbs, in a dissatisfied voice. ‘‘I saw them together in a buggy just before dark.’ Frank looked at his watch and saw that the time was nearly ten o’clock. The clerk of the hotel approached. ‘‘Vou’re wanted -at the telephone,’’ he said, addressing Frank. ‘“‘Danny. wants to notify you that he’s coming home by wire,’’ said Stubbs. The voice Frank heard at the telephone was that of Mary Bowers. “Is this Mr. Merriwell? Mr. Griswold and I are at a house near Hangman’s Crossing, two miles west of Seymour. >) Express robbers are going to hold up the TOP WEEKLY. night express from Cincinnati near this point. It issoon due at Seymour. Will you please notify the authorities ?’’ ‘“‘Are you in any danger??? Frank asked. bs ‘“‘No. We saw the robbers, but they didn’t see us. No time to lose!’’ Merriwell immediately telephoned for Constable Whiteley, and also telephoned the train dispatcher at the Seymour sta- tion; and the latter wired Hattuck, who had returned to Cincinnati. ‘“What’s the row?’ asked Stubbs, as Frank made his appearance. ‘‘Nothing. Let’s go for a stroll.’’ Frank said this, for he feared to com- mtnicate this startling piece of intelli- gence in a public manner, as several men _ were in the hotel’s public waiting-room, and he did not know what their char- acter might be. When the ‘‘flock’’ were outside, Frank told his story; then hurried toward the railroad depoty meeting Constable White- ley on the way. Whiteley was an energetic, determined- looking man, with pointed nose and red- dish whiskers. ‘‘No better place fora train hold-up,” he declared. ‘‘Though it has such a bad rep that I shouldn’t think they’d care to make the try there. The crossing gets its name of Hangman’s Crossing from the fact that some express robbers were hanged there by a vigilance committee in the days of the Reno gang.. We’ve got to hustle, for that train is due now..”’ ‘‘Teff’’? Bowers, as the Hoosier Hercules was familiarly known to his friends, came across the street. and joined the group on. the corner. VP ‘*A hold-up!’ he gasped. ‘At Hangman’s Crossing!’ said Bink. A man who came round the corner at that moment heard the words and yave a startled-jump. Whiteley turned sharply round and looked after him. ‘Better stop that man!’’. suggested Frank. ‘‘Falt, there!’ the constable command- ed, moving toward the man. Instead of halting, the man broke into a tun. He went across the street at sprint- ing speed, and, cutting the halter of a horse that was tied to a post on the oppo- site corner, he leaped on the horse’s back and galloped away. ‘‘Halt!’? Whiteley again shouted, and whipped out a revolver. The revolver cracked, but the man sped on down the street, heading at a wild pace toward the west in the direction of the crossing. The shriek of the whistle was heard and the night express- from Cincinnati came rolling toward the station. Whiteley was now in a fever of excite- ment. ‘There could be no doubt that the man who had fled on horseback was con- nected in some way with the gang of rob- bers who were lying in wait for the Cin- cinnati train. ‘‘We can stop the train at Seymour,” Stubbs suggested. But that’s not We want to capture the ‘ Tip Top ° Weekly Mail Sabscribers. (POSTAGH FREE.) Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each. 3 imonths - - - - - + + 65c,| One year - + + + + + «$2.50 4 months + + - «+ + = « 8 2 copies one year -« + + = 4.00 6 months - - + - « = - 1 copy two years - - + += 4,00 liow Tro SH#ND MoNnity.—By post oflice or express money order, registered letter, bauk check or draft, at our risk. At yourown risk if sent by ecttrrency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. ° 7 . > ‘ ¥ RECKIPTs.— Receipt of your remittance is acinowledged by proper change of menberon your label. If notcorreet you have not been properly credited,caut shold fee us mow at once. STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY, 238 William St., New York City. APPLAUSE. In the Tip Top Applause in No. 220 I notice d a short story written by John Hoger, of this ace. I reat it and wish to compliment him on writing such a good\ story, as it was well worth reading. What is the matter with the Tip Top having a ‘Short Story Applause Department?’ I think that lots of the Tip Top readers would like to write stories about the Tip Top Weekly. Let me hear from others of the Tip Top readers on this question. I notice that there are some who wish Bart Hodge to be thrown out of the Tip Top and Buck Badger put in his place. The Tip Top would not be the Tip Top without Bart. I hope Bart will make friends with Buck and ali of Merry’s ‘flock’ go to the Badger ranch in Kansas, I wished Frank would cOme to Texas again. Wish- ing success to the Tip Top forever. Oh, give us the Tip Top, Oh, give us the book we crave; For it tells about Frank. Merriwell, Who is noble, true and brave. Your friend forever, 5 oy Kaufman, Texas, In the more recent numbers you will be delighted to read. about the fine times the Athietic team has had at the Badger ranch. Your suggestion will be considered. I have read every number of Frank Merriwell and couldn’t get along without them. They are better than any other books I ever read. I hope Bart and Buck will be friends again and that Frank will beat the Eastern League. Eddie Eno, one of the undeér- signed, is just like Bruce Browning. [I think dark- eyed, dark-haired inza is noble and beautiful. CHAS. MORRISSEY, EDDIE ENO, JAMES O'DON. NELL, Decatur, Ill. We are glad you find so much pleasure in Tip Top. Not having seen any’ applause from this vicinity, and being an ardent admirer of your splendid Tip Top Weekly, feel called upon to express my opin- ion. It is the be st weekly paper for young folks that I’ve ever read. Frank is a real hero, and his friends one and all are true blue, The Inza-Elsie question seems to call attention to the readers. Both are worthy of/Frank’s love, but ‘7 they are not in Utah I think Frank should choose Elsie. Elsie being the weaker of the twoNshould have a protector in Frank, Frank has many admirers in this town who appreci- ate the Tip Top stories immensely. Wishing Frank and his friends good luck, and thanks to the author for the weekly treat. rendered to us each week. A SANTA CLARA ADMIRE Colorado. Thank you. Mr. Standish sends you his regards. * —_———_ We. have been constant readers of the Tip Top Weekly and we admire Frank Merriweil and _his friends very much: We have organized a club and call ourselves the Merriwell Juniors: Hoping the Tip Top will last forever and wishing Mr. Standish good luck. CONSTANT READER, Thank you. You have our best regards. 30 TIP TOP WEEKLY. I write to let you know my appreciation of your Tip Top. Comrades and Do and Dare are all right, but Tip Top is the top of the best. I see some one has told what he could do so I will tell what I can do: I wasina Y. M. C. A. contest and won out last April. ®@My age is 20; I.am 5 ft. 6 in.; weight 130 pounds. Broad jump, standing, 10, ft. 4 in. high jump, standing, 4 ft. 3 in.; high jump, running, 5 ft. 0 in.; high kick, running. 6 ft. 6 in.; hitch kick, 6 ft. 3 7 in.—that is, jump from the right foot, kick the pan with ‘the right foot and land on the right foot and hop 3 times before the other foot touches the ground; : 12-pound shot put 81 ft. 11 in.; high dive, 6 ft. 10 in.; pole yault, 9 ft. 8 in. Wishing yourselves, Tip Top, its author and its readers a long life. CLAU DE RICH, Paris, Texas. 4 Your records are excellent. As I have been reading the Tip Top Weekly for a long time I thought it was about time I told you } what I thought of it. I assure you that it is the - best book I ever read. As to the Elsie and Inza j question Frank ought to marry the one he loves best, d and I hope that. one’ll be Elsie.’ She is my favorite. ’ She is a true friend to Inza. I certainly don’t think . Inza is a true friend to Elsie. The Inza admirers ; call Elsie a doll-baby. Now, my dear friends, please q find another doll-baby that'll save Inza from a tiger. I am also an admirer of Bart. ; A GIRL ADMIRER, Toledo, O j Thank you. Your favorite is a very sweet girl. } i penton 4 [I have read the Tip Top weekly for the last vear and think it is a fine book for the American youth, ‘ In fact, I think it is the best novel written to-day, { Frank, Bruce and Bart I like the best. Although Bart is hot- py age he is a true friend to Merry.~ I 4 am going to read up all the early numbers. Hoping to see this i Deteit. HENRY F. BELLEW, : New York C ity. You will find great pleasure in reading all the “a back numbers I have been wanting to writesto you for a long time : to let you know that I received the badge that you ; A sent me. I think that it is very, very pretty. Next to Frank I like Bart; he is the truest friend that 4 “ Frank has. I think that Elsie is the girl for Frank. but I don’t want him to marry now, because it would 4 ¢ only spoil he stories. Give my régards to Mr. Standish and Street & Smith. . | Hoping the Tip Top will continue forever, ARDENT ADMIRER, . a Pass Christian, Miss. \ ‘ : Thank you, ) 4 Having been a constant reader of your Tip Top ; a Weekly from No. 1 up to date and never having seen 4 anything from our city in your Applause, I wish to say that the Tip Top Weekly is the best paper published and always find it the most interesting. ; We think Frank should give Inza up rather than Elsie, as she certainly is the girl of the two, as she > has stood with him through thick and thin; and mm as hoping to hear of him marrying Elsie soon, we are : ; his true friends, Kk. AND C. Tas) @ 3 Alliance, Ohio. " Thank you. MaygTip Top always delight you. The | al girl question will Certainly be settled to your. satis- 4 faction when the right time comes. I have read your Tip Top from start to finish. In regard to the Hlsie-Inza question, I think Els i the girl for Frank. Bart Hodge needs a tamer just like Inza. With regard to all, A; M, Yonkers, N. “¥. We are glad you like Tip Top so much. May it al- ; a Rt ways give you pleasure, ‘ 4 Iam areader of the Tip Top Weekly, and as I have BRS seen no-letters from Natchez, I wish to tell you how ae. much I appreciate your paper.. I think that Frank “g os ought to marry Elsie, for she is the’ one for him. q Most of the boys here like the Tip Top very much and as for myself, I think that ee Merriwell an q Burt L. Standish are simply great ‘ = MARION C) GRIFFIN, Natchez, Miss. Fr -ank has many other things. besides ) Jnatrimony to think of just now. J a capable of giving it as Elsie. ea I have long been a reader of the great Tip Top, and expect to read it for a long time yet. Aside from the worth of the story, there is nothing that interests me more than the Hisie-Inza question. I have had the experience spoken of by the writer from Vinton, Iowa, and she will probably allow me to qualify as an expert. I agree with her, ‘‘Inza is the girl for Frank,’’ in my humble opinion. In No. 229 is a letter from ‘‘Co.’’ espousing the cause of El- sie on the principle of the clinging vine and the strong oak. It isn’t a question of courage, for each girl is brave in her way; it isn’t a question of beauty, for one is pretty and the other is handsome; it isn’t a question of “blue eyes and golden hair’ versus “black eyes and raven tresses;’’ it isn’t a question of loyalty, even if Inza was engaged to “Cool Clay- ton,’’ for Elsie deserted Frank when he needed her in his troupe; it isn’t a question of which one he met first and loved first, for first love does not always result in marriage; and, last but not least, it isn’t a question of love begetting love, for Inza’s. quiet splicitude for Frank’s welfare shows as much love as does Elsie’s more opén affection, Somebody wise- ly said: “It is a difference of opinion that causes horse races.’’ Each ‘‘Tip Topper” has his belief in this matter, and argument will hardly change it. Indeed, I am glad that the controversy has arisen, for it brings out the very point of contrast that the worthy author wishes to make. One question comes up, Does Frank need some one to carry in addition to the burdens of life, or does he need some one to help him carry them’? That subtle power of which *“Co.”’ speaks as failing to blend with Frank’s is, as I see it, the very thing that he needs. No man ought to furnish ‘‘mental power” for both himself and his wife. Don’t understand me to say anything against Elsie’s “‘mental strength,’’ for I admire her, too; but I merely give this as an answer to this point of evidence. A man needs, as a wife, one who will be a helpmate in the fullest sense of the word. It is all very well for a lawyer to know that he has a sweet little wife at home to kiss away his cares at night; but wouldn’t it be better to have one who could help him untangle some knotty legal point, and understand his explanations of the case? That carries the matter to the extreme, I’ll grant, but no man is made stronger by knowing that he has a wife at home who will sympathize with him in his troubles and yet not understand them. She may alleviate the pain, but she cannot remove the cause of it unless she understands it. It is true that Frank is now very strong, but the greater the strength the more support he needs. He cannot be ‘‘the whole thing.’’ Look at the times he would have gone un- der but for the help of Bruce and Bart and ‘‘Rat- tles,’”’ and others of the ‘‘flock.’”’ So far as the af. fection being a help to Frank, I think Inza just as ‘ Her heart has as much right ta enrich the obje@t of its affections as that of Hlsie. She doesn’t deserve to be put off on Bart, for she does not love him and he does not love her. Bart needs a ‘quiet, loving little woman like Elsie that he can ‘“‘boss’ and “lord it over,’’ and be good to in his own way; just such a woman as that would have more power over him than one of the assertive kind, and he couldn’t be bad to a woman. In spite of his rough nature he has a soft heart. I come back to the starting place, and say that it is a matter of individual opinion. No reader should al- low others to make his opinions for him. I. won’t object if some one comes back at me with a defense of Elsie. Still, I have said nothing against her that her admirers can complain of. I have merely, as Badger would say, “‘left a straight trail’’ as to what I think. The editor is wondering if I shall ever stop, so I send regards to all of the Athletic Team, to Mr. and Mrs: Buck, to gentle Elsie and peerless Inza, and the author, Burt L. Standish, and hope that my long call will not frighten the Applause ‘Editor into telling me not to call again. “Love sees not with the eyes but.with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.’ : JASON, Gayoso, Mo. The reply to ‘‘Co.’s” letter is a reply to your in- teresting arguments as well. History is full of in- starices which prove beyond all question that no laws can be legislated to govern love, no reasons found to explain its frequent eccentricity.’ Proprie- ‘ty, considerations of personal fitness, demands of rank and station have repeatedly been set aside to let a prince love a dairy maid, or an astute states- man a frivolous beauty. Could a man so fully realize the failings and needs of his own character that he would be led to seek out a person whose qualities and characteristics/made amends for his self-recog- nized defects, then love might’ be reduced to a ra- tional basis, subject to specific regulations. Proverb and reality hold that such is not the case. We do not mean in any way to refute your arguments. | We believe your analysis leads to logical conclusions. But have you not omitted to premise that which im- ‘memorially has known no law? TOP WHEKIKLY. 31 I noticed in the Applause of No. 227 a letter from “One Who Has Been Placed in Inza’s Position,’ who Says that most of the readers of Tip Top are young people. There the writer makes a mistake, for I know of quite a few middle-aged people who read the Tip Top and who think that Elsie is the girl for Frank. The Tip Top is for the old as well as the young and I am sure both parties enjoy it ever so much. I have read from No. 1 to date and shall al- ways continue to read it. “One in Inza’s Position’’ also claims to have experience and has had lots of traveling. So kave I traveled and I have lots of ex- perience among young ladies and think I ought to give an opinion worth some consideration. I have written Tip Top before, but when I saw the letter from the ‘‘One Who Has Been Placed in Inza’s Po- sition’’ I could not keep from writing. There is one thing I would like to say and that is if I had a girl like Elsie Bellwood for my sweetheart I would be very happy, but if I-do favor Elsie so, I don’t wish to be hard on Inza Burrage, for she is certainly a very fine young lady and one to admire, but she has to step back for Elsie. Wishing Tip Top every suc- cess, [ am Elsie’s Champion, TOM CHESEBROUGH, Northport, L.\ L As you say, Tip Top has many grown-up readers. Their judgment may be more mature than that of some of the younger readers and yet all are generous and just enough to feel that the choice which is of such importance to Frank should be left solely to him. See Correspondence Column. I have read the Tip Top from No. 92 to 224 and must say it is fine. Frank Merriwell is truly a model young man. Next to Frank I like Diamond. If like Jack’s spirit and, besides, I am a Southerner. Bart, Bruce, Harry, Jack Ready and the two clowns, Bink and Danny, are all right. I think Barney Mulloy ought to play left-field on Frank’s team again. Iam second base on the nine of this place and am thir- teen years old. Wishing Mr. Standish a long life. WM. MILLIKEN, Florence, Ala. Jack Diamond is a fine specimen of the true South- erner. No: wonder you like him. We trust you will make a good record at second base. We write to tell you how much we enjoy the Tip Top, and we will always read it. We like. dear old Bruce next to Frank. The only fault we have to find with the weekly is that dear little Elsie doesn’t ap- pear more, ; Inza is a noble girl,; we are not blind to her charms, yet she is not as sweet and noble as Elsie. Some Inza “crank” will say we haven’t read Nos, 1 to 10 We have read every number and still are in favor of sweet Elsie. All our boy friends here that read the Tin Top are in favor of Elsie also, and we shall all be disappointed if he don’t marry her, Yet it is for Frank to choose, and we hope he will choose soon, even if he don’t marry. We have been ratching the applause, and Elsie is ahead, though Inza has many admirers. We would like to hear from Winnie and Badger again. I hope you will forgive us for taking so much of your time and space. With best wishes to.author and publishers. “FIFTEEN GIRL ADMIRERS OF ELSIE,”’ Susquehanna, Pa. Frank, we all believe, is a king among boys, and the old saving is that the king can do no wrong. You girls ‘believe that the choice rests with Frank and your letter shows that you are broad-minded enough to be perfectly content with the results of that choice, whether it be Elsie or Inza. Having finished just now No. 228 of your famous weekly, [ wish to take off my hat to Burt L. Stand- ish. If there is anybody else who can describe a baseball game the way he can, he is yet to be found. It seemed to me as if I were witnessing the game, and I think that this number has a better descrip- tion. of the great national game than any of the others that Mr, Standish has written. I am a great devotee of the game, and see some very good games here by the Western League. I think the plan of having an alternate set of ball games and athletic contests is a very good idea, and takes with all the readers. This is the first time I have ever written you, but it is not the last if I get as excited as I was a few moments ago after finishing 228. I just let out a yell when Frank made ‘home’ safe. Well, ‘“Here’s to good old Yale; drink it down.’’ Wishing long life to Tip Top, a Omaha, Neb. Thank you. The stories of Frank’s athletic team cannot fail to delight all true lovers of sports. th rrr on rr hn eer eat — — -_ % mt ty, . . » _ 32 TIP TOP WEEKLY. : Correspondence, W. E., New York City.—No premium. W. Davis, Galveston, Tex.—l. Numismatics is the science of coins and metals. Chas. B&. Tacke, Cambridgeport, Mass.—Address the Scott Stamp Company, 40 John street, New York City. T. J. T., Brooklyn, N. Y.—1. It requires years of training to sail a boat well. 2, Sailing to windward means sailing with the-head of the boat pointing in the direction from which the wind is coming. 3. When a boat is said to ‘‘point’’ well it means that she can sail very close into the wind. This is a great advantage in racing. G. P. Day, New Haven, Conn.—The following are the steps through which a book passes before it reaches the public: The manuscript of the author is first read and corrected by a copy reader, who then turns it over to the composing-room, where it is set up in long forms called galleys. When the book is all set up, “proofs” are struck off from these galleys and sent to the proof-readers, who correct any typographical errors, These corrections in turn are made in the type, which is then set in page form and electrotyped for the fiat or rotary presses upon which the book is to be run off. The forms are then put in the presses, which print out on either side of the paper, generally about thirty-two pages at a time. These printed sheets are now ready for the folding machine, and are placed on an automatic feeder, which sends one sheet at a time into the folder, where the large sheet is folded in such a way that the pages follow in regular rotation. Bach parcel of thirty-two pages is called a signature, and a book consists of eight, ten or twelve of these sig- natures. The signatures are then arranged in their, regular order and sent to the binding machine, where they are sewed together. The uncovered text is now fed into a machine which automatically ad- justs and glues on the cover. Then, after passing through the trimming machine and ‘“‘smasher’” the book (or rather books, for they are turned out by the hundreds) is ready for delivery to the shipping department. LATEST ISSUES. 234—Frank Merriwell’s Hustlers; or, Cracking the Colonels. 233—Frank Merriwell’s Find; or, The Hoosier Her- cules 232—F rank Merriwell’s Double Play; or, Winning His Own Game. 4 231—Frank Merriwell’s Archer; or, Beating the Red 30wman. 230—Frank Merriwell’s Battery; or, Taming the “Broncho Busters.’’ 229—Frank Merriwell’s Rough Riders; or, The Ath- letic Team at Badger’s Ranch, 228—Frank ene Speed; or, Breaking the Chi. cago Colts. ‘ ae ener e Vault; or, The Blades of Toledo. 226—Frank Merriwell’s Wonders; or, Hitting the Eastern League, 225—Frank Merriwell’s Throw; or, Yale Athletes at Niagara. , 224—Frank Merriwell’s Wrist; or, The Nerve of Iron, 223—Frank Merriwell’s Camp; or, Yale Athietics in the Great North Woods. 222—Frank Merriwell’s Athletic Team; or, Sport in the Adirondacks. 221—Frank Merriwell’s Discovery; or, The New Lon- don Boat Race. 220—Frank Merriwell’s Curves; or, Clipping the YTiger’s Claws. 219—Frank Merriwell’s Compact; or, The Triumph of Badger. 218—Frank Merriwell’s ‘‘Liner;’’ or, Elsie, the Mas- cot of the Nine. : 217—Frank Merriwell’s ‘‘Pull’’; or, True and Tried. 216—Frank Merriwell’s Phantom; or, The Ghost of Bey Mulloy. 215—Frank Merriwell’s Favor; or, True as Steel. 214—F rank Merriwell’s Stroke; or, The Test of Friend- ship. irre Merriwell’s Handicap; or, The Heroism of Dsie. 212—Frank Merriwell’s Football; or, The Disappear- ance of Jack Ready. 211—Frank Merriwell’s Reward; or, Buck Badger’s Humiliation. Back numbers always on hand. If you cannot get our publications from your newsdealer, tive cents a copy will bring them to you by mail, postpaid. ea TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER'S BADGE. HALF PRICE TrO OUR READERS ONLY. | In response to the urgent request of a host of ‘Tip Top readers the publishers after carefully considering a number of designs for a badge of membership in the TIP TOP LEAGUE, finally adopted one which is an artistic gem of excelleuce. The picture shows the design, but it does not give you an adequate idea of the exquisite beauty of thie 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 second order, We still offer it at the very low figure of TWENTY CEN'IS (‘ren Cents in Cash or Stamps and ‘len Cents in Coupons, AN EXACT PICTURE OF THE LEAGUE BADGE \/ Gp: FOR MEMBERS ONLY. Each coupon is worth five cents when accompanied by five cents in stampsorcoin. TWO COUPONS AND TEN CENTS SECURE YOU THE BADGE. You can get as many badges as you desire at the same rate by use of the extra coupons, Badges without coupons will cost fifty cents each. The coupons are free to TIP Top readers, and we adopt this method to prevent others from getting the badge at the special rate given to our patrons, IF YOU | ARE A READER OF THE TIP TOP YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE, AND ENTITLED TO WEAR THE EM- BLEM OF THR ORDER—and our word for it, you will be more than pleased after you receive it. . TIP TOP LEAGUE i MEN.BER’S COUPON This Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents towards the purchase of the League Badge. STREET & SMITH. TIP TOP LEAGUE. MEN™.BER’S COUPON ° This Conpon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents towarts the purchase of the League Badge. ° STREET & SMITH. To secure the promptest attention, address all letters on the subject to -«. FIP TOP LEAGUE... STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N.Y. * : * bgt aie : ae ‘ Syn ess . . : a a ds Cis ali eB Ny asl ns dials. NOVO OOVOOOVOOOOODOOOO® ONCERNING xs TMITATORS EARLY five years ago Street & Smith originated and introduced the Tip Top Weekly, combining the new features of beautiful and attractive colored covers, and a continuous series of stories, each dealing with the same characters ; each. book complete in itself yet part of a progressive series. It was an instant success. An enormous circulation was at once se- cured, and this has yearly increased with rapid strides. The Tip Top Weekly, containing the onlyand original Frank Merriwell stories, by Burt L. Standish, has today three times the circulation of any similar publication not issued by Street & Smith. In response to continued demands we have, from time to time, established new libraries as companions to Tip Top. Success always stimulates imitation. Other publishers have copied the general style and form of the Tip Top Weekly, Do and Dare, etc., and, while the contents and general merit of these would-be rival publications are far below the standard acceptable to Street & Smith’s patrons, it is probable that some have been induced to purchase the inferior product of other publishers under the mistaken idea that they were getting “Street & Smith’s.” In one instance a rival publisher has gone so far as to ascribe the authorship of his stories to a name very similar to that of Burt L. Standish, a method calcu- lated to confuse the reader. We wish to call our reader’s particular attention to the fact that all of Street & Smith’s five-cent libraries are of uniform size, of convenient dimen- sions to handle readily, and to fit nicely in the pocket, and that any five-cent weekly which is not of the same size as the one you hold in your hand is not Street €& Smith’s. As a further safeguard against disappointment always look for the name of Street & Smith as publishers on the cover. We use every effort to secure the very best stories by the very best authors, and give our readers this caution that they may not be disappointed by mistaking the lines of other publishers for ours. As a further safeguard we give herewith the complete list of the five- cent weeklies published by Street & Smith :— THE TIP TOP WEEKLY, containing the Frank Merriwell series. DO AND DARE, containing the Phil Rushington series. COMRADES, containing the best series of railroad stories ever written. MY QUEEN, our latest, containing the Marion Marlowe series. THE NICK CARTER WEEKLY contains the exploits of the world’s greatest detective, Nick Carter. DIAMOND DICK, JR., the best stories of the West. STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 238 William St, N. Y. MOMOMOMOOOMMOOMOMOOMOOS =| za =| I =I I =I aI si si | eI a ei =| | | ZINN NNO NNN OTTO NN TOOT OT NOT OTN OT NTO OT NOT OI NO OCOOOOOOOOOOVOOD