, mina sag B ubscription, per yom. Entered as Seco’ c o ae =o fo ee roe C ce STR SMI'I : No. 236 Price, Five Cents > ae s : Wo" ee & STANDISH DICK STARBRIGHT AT : RACTICE WITH PUNCHING BAG. i + i } win + at - TIPTOP WEEKL Issued Weekty—By Subscription $2.50 per year, Entered as Second Class Matier at the N. Y. Post Office, by Street & SmirH, 238 William &t., N. Y. Hntered According to Act of Congress,in the year 1900 in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. NEW YORK, October 20, 1900, Price Five Cents. Frank Merriwell’s New Protege; OR, THE STAR OF THE FRESHMAN CLASS. o By BURT L. STANDISH. CHAPTER Tf. ENEMIES OF MERRIWELL. “All aboard!” shouted the conductor. Dick Starbright turned to the steps of the car in which he had been riding, helped an old lady up to the platform, and, carrying the heavy bundle of a woman who was nerv- ously trying to marshal her brood of children and get them safely aboard, at last found himself in the seat he had a short time before vacated for the purpose of stretching his tired legs by a walk up and down the plat- form, The seat before him, which had been va- cant when he went out, was now occupied by two young men, who, as his ears soon told him, were talking about New Haven and Yale College. These young men had not got on at the station, but had come forward from another car. The New York, New Haven and Hartford train was soon rushing rapidly toward New Haven, where Dick Starbright’s thoughts had been for many a day; and when the ¢alk of the young men in front of him touched 2 TIP TOP WEEKLY. on the subject of the college and the students, he became intensely interested. The cars were filled with students hurry- ing back to New Haven for the opening of’ Yale. Dick Starbright could not help hearing what was being said, for one of the speakers spoke openly and blusteringly, as if to at- tract attention to his words. . Though Starbright did not know it; this speaker was Morton Agnew, a disgraced Yale student, who had been driven out of college and out of New Haven by Frank Merriwell the year before. As a consequence, he hated Merriwell with an intense and bit- ter hatred, and was not at all cordial toward anything that pertained to old Eli. The other young man was. Dade Morgan, who, like Dick Starbright himself, was go-_ ing to Yale to enter on his freshman year. Dade Morgan was strikingly handsome, of a dark type, yet there was something pecu- liar-looking about him, though it would re- quire much study of his face to tell just what He was of a strong, athletic build, and evidently this peculiar and unpleasant thing was. possessed of exceptional strength. His abun- dant hair, black as a raven’s wing, was parted in the middle. Perhaps the most noticeable thing about him, aside from his general godd leoks,; was his eyes, which were not only black, sharp and -penetrating, but glittered with a strange light. They were shifty eyes, too, and he had a trick of dropping the lids over them as if to shut out the revelation of - some thought or to hide their fiery glitter. “The thing ‘disgusts me!” Agnew was say- as Dick Starbright dropped down into in gS) the seat back of the two. “It’s nothing but Merriwell, Metriwell, wherever you go! I was in New Haven yesterday, where I ran across some of my old chums, and they told me that the fuss which is being made over _ Merriwell is absolutely nauseating.” ~ nodding toward Starbright. isn’t he?” “i ve ig ge s @ “Then he is there already?” Dade Morgan asked. “Or-did [ understand you to say that = or he is.only on his way?” . 3 ia “He reached New Haven last night. - The ne fellow took a lot of his chums out West dur- ieee y ing the vacation, it seems, and they have had ate 4 g the luck to win some ball games. 3 fancy = e that the teams they went up against weren't . i such-a-much, but Merriwell has made the people think they were the greatest ball team ever got together.” ig ee “Well, they did play some games that | “4 af y “That is, if the newspaper reports are. to be be- were worth while,” Dade declared: lieved. [I saw accounts of them myself.” “Oh, that’s easily managed, you know, if cia . a fellow has money, and Merriwell has that. es x ; It’s easy enough to get the good will of re- porters and such cattle. All_you’ve got. to do is to feed their vanity and their stomachs, and now and then buy up one of them, and you can build up a newspaper reputation for anything!” Dick Starbright had also heard of Merri- well—had heard so much of him that he rose from his seat and sauntered to the further end of the car, for the’ sole purpose of ‘saun- tering back, that he might study the faces of the young fellows who were slandering him; for Starbright believed that Merriwell repre-_ sented the best that was to be*found in Yale, and the talk he had heard was rather discon- certing, to say the least. Was Merriwell the kind of fellow spoken of by these youths, or ioe was he the honorable student and great Yale | athlete which he was reputed to be? This was what Starbright asked himself as he. walked along the swaying: aisle. SS “Who is that fellow?” Agnew queried, ie “Don’t know,” Morgan answered. “I’m pretty sure he’s bound for Yale, though, from the cut of his jib. He’s a big fellow, re a big fellow. S Dick Starbright was, indeed, ie He stood six feet two inches high, being pro- portionately well developed; and was as fine -a specimen of young manhood. as one could Z3 wish to set eyes on. A‘ E _ As he turned and came back toward them, they were able to study his face, even as he es was studying theirs. It was a pleasant face that they looked on, though not what*could be called strictly handsome. The eyes were blue, the hair fair, and the countenance frank, with features strong and masculine. “He ought to be great at football?” said . Agnew. Sa bene i. They did not know that Dick Starbright at 2 had been captain of the football team at oo Andover, and that for three years he had filled the with glory for the old school. important position of full-back, Gane _Starbright had graduated the previous . spring at the famous Yale preparatory school, Philips Academy, at Andover, and during his _ time there had shown himself to be an all- * round athlete of exceptional ability and prom- ise. His dream had been of Yale, and now he was on.his; way to Yale. He did not like the looks of either Agnew or Morgan, and felt somewhat resentful to- ward them as he again dropped into the seat at their back. \ They had ceased to talk of Merriwell; but they began it again as the train drew near _. New Haven, holding converse in low tones, as if*it\had occurred .o them that this was » the wisest thing to do. But in the roar of the train Starbright could catch a few words and sentences. | “Tf I get a chance I’ll slip down and help Pre, debt.” seemed that Dade Morgan disliked Merriwell much as did Morton Agnew, though ~ _ quite as TOP WEEKLY. 3 oe _ you,” Agnew whispered. “T owe that fellow i i Starbright could not hear much, but it the reason was not clear. It was a queer thing altogether, Dick thought, for he heard Dade speak of himself as entering. the fresh- man class; and what a freshman, who had never been. at Yale, could find to dislike in Merriwell, whom he had probably never met, was a-puzzle. Yet it was clear that Dade Morgan disliked Frank Merriwell intensely and would take any opportunity that came to him to show this dislike in a marked way, even if he were only a freshman and Merri- well a senior. “He'll get all that nonsense taken out of him after he has been there a few days,” was Starbright’s thought. Starbright knew that custom and tradition has made the seniors kings in college and _ freshmen next to nothing. CHAPTER II. PLACE. SHAKING INTO As Morton Agnew had said, the return of Frank Merriwell to Yale and the victorious tour of his Athletic Team was the subject of a good deal of the. Yale and New Haven talk. a The New Haven Journal and Courier of< that morning contained a column story of his return, of his reception on the previous even- ing at the station, and of the supper and re- union in Merriwell’s rooms in Vanderbilt Hall. Bert Dashleigh, Dick Starbright’s room-- mate, had a story to tell of a meeting of stu- dents that morning interested in baseball and ees football, over which Merriwell had presided ; and, as the two turned from Church street into Chapel and passed down toward the New Haven house, a remarkable-appearing man with snow-white hair and strange look was pointed out by one man to another as Frank Merriwell’s father. “This is fine!’ Dashleigh chattered, as he and Starbright swung along together. “I _ was almost homesick until you came, but this _ S oe + TIP CS itself is enough to drive the blue devils away. I. tell you, it’s great to be in New Haven now and to feel that you’re about to enter on the life of a student in Yale!” Dashleigh was not so tall nor so muscular as Starbright, but he was no mean athlete for all that: . contrast with Starbright’s great height and e . He only seemed rather small in * magnificent proportions. The two had met at Babyan’s in the White Mountains during the summer vacation, had learned that each intended to enter Yale this fall, and being of congenial turn, had formed what they felt to be @ lasting friendship. Dashleigh was bubbling over with animal spirits, and as he walked along his feet tried to keep time to a merry tune that came from a hurdy-gurdy somewhere out of sight. - “Yes, this is great!” Indeed, one must have been cold and unenthusiastic Starbright’s blue eyes lighted. moved. All along Chapel street the stores had hung out a merry welcome, in recognition = of the fact that the sleepy reign of Town was over and the energetic reign of Gown was ar about to begin. Yale banners were floating everywhere; show windows were gayly decked in the college colors, and the shdép folks themselves, in anticipation feeling their purses grow fat, were everywhere on the sharp lodkout for the homing passage of the golden birds at whose arrival they rejoiced with the best of reasons. Students and prospective students. were everywhere—some wandering aimlessly and alone, as if feeling themselves strangers in a strange land, and others, greeted on all sides by familiar nods and words of recognition. “We’re strictly in it,” Dashleigh chattered, as they turned toward the college buildings, where the shadows of the tall elms, which throughout the dull summer had moved in fe ees beg TOP WEEKLY. who could have beheld the scene wholly un- clared. ’ jier. ‘ demanded Starbright. undisturbed quiet, now fell upon the bustling , “colored sweeps,’ who were busily engaged in getting things ready for their returned and @ si micas necting fin Laas NE ALI te ee returning employers. “T’ve managed to get rooms in Farnam. I think they’re tip top and that we’re dead « lucky. I hope you'll like ’em.” i — f : = * ¥ Then he dragged Starbright on to the de- signated dormitory building and up to the rooms he had secured. — “Simply great!” he asserted, giving his hand an all-embracing sweep. “You can’t help but like them, and you’d better have your trunk sent up here at once.” Starbright deposited his liberal length of limb on a Morris chair and looked about. ae The rooms were in confusion. Dashleigh’s oa clothes were strewn over everything and un- der everything. The apartments were on the second floor of the second entry of Farnam. A colored mam came clattering in, an ex- pansive smile on his yellow face. ik Cee ere eee “Been waitin’ for you gemmans,” he de-_ His face looked so much like oiled yellow leather that Starbright had a feeling that it would crack, as the fellow began to smile again. ie oe “T wukked for Mistah Simpson last yeah and I fought if you hadn’t ’ployed any otheh gemman to do yo’ wuk dat mebby I could git de position.” “See you later,” said Dashleigh, with an- . . , other comprehensive wave of his hand. The colored man cracked his leathery face . with another smile and floated out, promis- ing to return. “What’s his name?” Starbright asked. — “Who? Oh, the darky’s? Seneca Arte- Funny name-for a black.” “Aren’t you going to clear up this mess?” you g p ; “How am I to get a trunk in here?” b irs 2 e > < ae “I was waiting for you to volunteer to help me.” ‘ “Well,” said Starbright, from this moment!” “T am a volunteer So Dashleigh and Dick began industri- ously to arrange the things about the apart- ments, which composed a study, witl. a bed- room opening from either side of it. “These rooms are not the only thing I’ve done.” | “You haven’t done.them yet.” “Not the only things I’ve secured, I mean. I’m sure we'll be assigned seats in Commons. That’s the big university dining hall, you Accommo- know. Oh, it’s simply great. dates over five hundred students—that is it makes a big bluff at it; though a fellow _whose brother has had a chance to know, . says that the edibles are not infrequently . a zs ” quite classic as to age. asked Dick. tion, _ that all? bpler- dows. ~ over. “T guess we'll be comfortable, if you ever get those things out of the way, and can De you know’ what I’m most anxious to see?” manage to keep them out of the way. “Can’t imagine; haven’t the vaguest no- ” chattered Bert, flippantly. “Well, I just want to set my eyes on the gymnasium. I’ve heard it is the finest in the country.” ‘Shs Why, that’s easy. Nothing sim- “The gym!” exclaimed Dashleigh. You can see the roof from our win- Look here!” “What, that!’ cried Dick. glass roof? Is that the gym?” - “That’s what it is.” “Ts it open?” queried Starbright. replied Bert. “Let’s look her Come on!” e “That great “Suret’ “T’m with you,” sang out Dick, picking 2 up “his hat and going out on the run. So the two freshmen made their way to the e ‘gymnasium, and even as they Apt ES TOP WEEKLY. this great building they were lost in admira- tion of its afchitectural beauties, its towering height, its great windows and its heroic statues of Atlas and Hercules, Pollux and the Grecian runners. _ Passing under the high archway they came to the main entrance and there, entering the ° Marble Hall, in awe’ and wonder, made their way up the magnificent white marble stairs, passing the Trophy-Room filled, as it is, with to Yale her splendid prestige, and still on up till they came to the the prizes which give main fioor, to be met by even greater won- ders. Here, under the expansive glass roof, are all kinds of machines for building up the chest weights, body. Flying rings, bars, back-boards, ladders, ropes and punching bags meet one’s eye at every turn, while above the main floor circles a gallery upon which is laid the padded running track. The great reason that Starbright was such a splendid athlete was because he always had kept himself in training, even from _ his earliest boyhood, and in this respect he was - like Frank Merriwell. Punching the bag and running were among his favorite methods of training, so that when he saw before him the finest equipped of gymnasiums he was de- lighted beyond measure. the the baseball cage They visited the baths, the plunge, rowing tanks, the aileys, and the lot. Then they returned to their rooms in Farnam well pleased ct their first acquaintance with the gym. “Tt’s all very fine,” said Bert, “but I shiver all over every time I think of my conditions,” — “You should say you think we will be com- fortable. I’m shivering about my conditions, though.” “How many have you?” “Three,” cg Fao cde “And I have three! But I think T’m all Tight, unless it’s mathematics.” _ “Oh, we Il be kept i in Alumni Hall all day oe 6 to-day, you bet, tryingsto pass off those con- ditions. A plague on conditions.” Twenty examinations must be taken by every candidate for entrance into Yale. In the early entrance examinations in ‘June Starbright and Dashleigh had each failed in three of these subjects, and now they were to have a chance again to “pass them off.” Happy the freshman who is able to set about the work of the freshman year with no “conditions” at all. These evils will hang over his head like a drawn sword; for he can- not start on his sophomore courses if he car- ries over a single entrance condition. sut in spite of their fears, Starbright and Dashleigh were destined to pass those con- ditions all right and so be able to iace the freshmen year without fear or trembling. ) CHAPTER III. ABOUT TOWN. Everywhere throughout the day Dick Star- bright and Bert Dashleigh heard over and ' over again snatches of talk about Frank Mertriwell. Baseball men were talking of the Foot- ball men, were eagerly discussing his pros- summer victories of the Athletic Team. pects of being the football captain that fall, 3 of the Ss) whose course in: college had come to an un- in place regularly. elected captain, . ; . * ie timely end through the business failure of his father. ‘ / : . seemed to dominate everything. The. fame and name of Merriwell But they did not see Merriwell at all. The young fellow who was so much talked about and whom “Yale and New Haven were just now delight- ing to honor was altogether too modest and unassuming to be stalking the streets for the _ purpose of letting the full sunshine of this glory shiné ‘publicly, in his face. leigh and Starbright heard other names, most of them new to them. Bruce Browning and TIP TOP WEEKLY. Along with the name of Merriwell, Dash- Bart Hodge, who were -said to be seniors, were the names most in the mouths of stu- dents; though now and then something was said about Jack Ready and Greg Carker, who were sophomores, ike and other Donald I juniors whose names are familiar to the reader. “If I don’t get to see this wonderful Mer~ riwell pretty soon I shall burst with curi- osity!”’ said Dashleigh, as he and Starbright started out to look the city over on the first night of their sojourn in New Haven. They had nothing now to fear from the Damocles sword of the entrance examina- tions, and in consequence their spirits were light as a bird’s Passing along Temple street, their atten- tion was attracted by singing, which came from a low, old-fashioned wooden house, en- tered by a pair of swinging leather doors. They thought at first the house was a resi dence, though the singing seemed to be rather different in some manner from that which might be expected from a residence. Stopping in the shadow of a great elm in » front ofthe place, they made out from the- aged sign above the door that this was. “Morey’s’—the famous ‘‘Morey’s’—whose precincts are forbidden to freshmen unless accompanied by an upper classman. * “My! I’d like to go into the place!” said Dashleigh. “So this is Morey’s!” 3 “T’ll tell you how you can get into it.” “How ?” “Wait a few years and become a senior.” » They could see a group sitting at the cén- tre round-table in tne main room of the ‘old tavern. back for ‘counted for the sad reflective character of | the last year, which perhaps: ac- their songs. Among the seniors wis a graduate; Jack | Diamond, the Virginian, whose sweet tenor voice now took up the: words of a song” which Starbright and Dashleigh were to. and about Berlin Carson, ~ These were seniors who had come. > oe ae ee Sane know so familiarly as the college years rolled on. Diamond had a beautiful voice, and as the seniors joined him the dingy room. of the old place throbbed with the words. The music was familiar to both Starbright and Dashleigh, for’ it was “‘The Watch on the Rhine.”’ “Bright college years, with pleasures rife, The shortest, brightest years of life; How swiftly are ye gliding by! Oh, why does time so quickly fly? The seasons come, the seasons go, The earth is green or white with snow; But time and change shall not avail To break the friendships formed at Yale! “Tn future years, should troubles rise To blight the blue of sunny skies, How bright will seem, through mem’ry’s haze, ‘hese happy, golden, by-gone days. So let us strive that ever we Shall make these words our watch-cry be, » Where’er upon life’s sea we sail J. ‘For God, for Country and for Yale!” » For some time Starbright and Dashleigh lingered in front of Morey’s, listening to the singing and the talk; but other seniors began to arrive, and they slipped away, continuing: their stroll through the streets and over the grounds adjoining the college. Starbright had told Dashleigh of Dade _ Morgan, the enemy of Merriwell, whom he had seen on the train. Once they saw Mor- gan, bit for some reason he seemed to seek thé@ shadows and hurried away. “Tf I was a sophomore, I'd like to help haze that fellow!” declared Starbright. =— Dashleigh glanced quickly round. “Say, we’ve been rather reckless, haven’t we?” Starbright laughed. — 7 “Tf the sophomores want us, likely they’ll contrive to find a way to get us.” But there was too much excitement on the ee streets, too much music, too many talking and walking groups, too much brightness and life TTP TOP WEEKLY. 7 to permit the fear of hazing sophomores to cause them te seek the security of their rooms in Farnam Hall. Consequently they contin- ued their walk. At a later hour, as they strolled again into Church street, they found themselves in front of a place more pretentious than Morey’s, This os- “Heib- from which issued noisier music. tentatious structure was “Heib’s.” lein’s’” was the full name, but it was cut. short and pronounced “Heib’s.” A lot of rollicking sophomores were enjoy- ing themselves and singing to the downfall. of the freshmen. The words of the song seemed a prophecy of future victories for the sophomores and humiliation for the fresh- men : e “The stars brightly glancing, Behold us advancing, And kindly smile upon us from high. Our summons awaiting, With hearts sadly beating, The freshmen trembling on their couches lie. “Wake! wake! Freshmen, wake!: 3 Wake while our songs smite the sky! For now e’er we leave you, We heartily give you A welcome into Delta Beta ~Chi.” “That doesn’t sound very pleasant,” said Starbright, grimly, and he seemed to sttffen himself for the coming struggle. “JT think we’d better hurry on,” Dashleigh suggested. “If they should discover us here, . Not that I’m afraid of them, but there’s no use of rtuin- they might make it warm for us. ning. into trouble.’’. “T think myself that those seemingly cor- dial musicians aren’t in love with trembling freshmen like you and me, Bert,” Starbright admitted. Passing further along, as they came to an entrance to the green not far from the New RS Haven House, they saw a man stumble and © x fall violently. At the same time, a young 8 TIP TOP WEEKLY, fellow was seen to slip out from behind the ‘nearest tree, as if with the intention of at- tacking or pouncing upon the man, possibly, as they. thought, for the purpose of robbing . him. “Hi, there!” yelled Starbright, leaping for- ward in-a tun. “You scoundrel!” The youth who had tripped the man turned his face for just a moment in Starbright’s direction, then fled away through the green as fast as his legs would carry him. In that brief moment Starbright believed whe saw the face.of Dade Morgan. When Starbright and Dashleigh reached the man, they found him groaning in pain and staggering to his feet. A rope had been stretched across the path, and this rope was what had tripped him. To their astonishment they saw that the man was the peculiar-looking, white-haired stranger who had been pointed out to them as Frank Merriwell’s father; and to Star- bright’s mind came the memory of the talk of Dade Morgan and Morton Agnew on the train. It was clear to him that some cowardly blow had been aimed at the elder Merriwell, though just what it was; or why, he could But the talk on the train had told him that Dade Morgan not only hated Merri- not guess. well, but every one who could claim relatiofi- ship or, even friendship with Merriwell. Dick lifted Mr. Merriwell to his feet as ten- —_ s : _ derly as if the man had been an infant, and oP with as much apparent ease. “Are you hurt?’. was his anxious inquiry. “No; that is, I think not:~ I was on my way to the New Haven House when I stum- . bled across this rope and fell heavily.’: He turned to Starbright. “Did you get a good look at the young villain who threw me?” “Not a very good look.” “T hoped you might know his name,-for I presume you are one of the students. He seems to have been following me around all the .evening.”’ , Charles Merriwell was indignant, and his words showed anger. “T thank you for your help. I-wish I knew who that young scoundrel is.”’ “Can we aid you to the hotel?” “No, thanks; IT don’t need help. But I am obliged to you for hurrying to my as- sistance.” Then he looked in the direction taken by Dade Morgan. “T can’t think that was.a college boy’s idea et fun me eee He was turning away, but halted. | “My name is Merriwell—Charles Conrad As you are Yale students, you %. Merriwell. may be acquainted with my son Frank.” His tone thrilled with pride as he pro- nounced the name. “T should like to tell him who it was came to my assistance so promptly.” ~* Thereupon Starbright and Dashleigh told their names and that they were members of the new freshman class. | Charles Merriwell jotted the names down in a note-book. “Thank you again,” he said, and walked > away. . _CHAPTER IV. . FACE TO FACE WITH MERRIWELL. * Every Yale graduate, even the “Oldest Living,” whatever other historic dates may escape his memory, still remembers that the university always ré-opens on the last Thurs- day in September. And why should he not? For who so forgetful as not to recall the date that for four years marked the beginnings of the brightest, happiest, most careless, most ‘cheerful, pleasantest seasons of his life — So, when this eventful Thursday arrived, Dick Starbright and Bert Dashleigh again ae ey E : with outstretched hand. ; TIP TOP WEEKLY. 9 found themselves in Alumni Hall to receive their charts of courses. Then they purchased the necessary text-books, went to the first recitations, and met their instructors and Di- vision Master. j Thursday evening a reception was given in Dwight Hall, at which function the fresh- man class was officially and tenderly received into the bosom of college society. Dwight Hall is the Yale Y. M. C. A., the abode of the very good, as Traeger’s, Heib’s and Billie’s are the hang-outs of the very bad. Here, in the main hall, Starbright and Dashleigh made their way through the dense crowd of freshmen who were eagerly press- ing forward to receive the distinguished honor of a handshake from “Prexy’— “Prexy” being*the term of endearment by which each succeeding president since the year of one has been known. It was a great crush. A quartette from the Glee Club rendered appropriate and amusing selections, and Starbright and Dashleigh experienced a feel- ing of gratitude at the courteous and solici- tous attentions of the upper classmen who introduced them to such refreshments as might cool their fevered spirits, little dream- ing that these very gentlemen might be among the first who some night would drag them out of bed and fling them into the lake, to the extreme, chilly discomfort of their ex- terior persons. - Suddenly Starbright found himself face to face with Frank Merriwell. He knew the one before him was Merriwell, for he had just before heard the name called; and when he looked into Frank’s pleasant, manly face and clear, bright eyes, and noted the glow of health and the athletic pose of the body, an undefined feeling of gladness that Frank -Merriwell belonged to Yale, and that his _ honors were Yale honors, came to him. - To his surprise, Frank came straight up, Some other’ youths were trailing along be- hind Merriwell, one a big™hulking fellow, who seemed too lazy to walk, and whom Star- bright fancied, from what he had heard, must be’ none other than Yale’s great ham- mer-thrower, Bruce Browning. “Starbright, I, believe?” was Frank’s greeting. “Permit me to introduce myself as Frank Merriwell, and to thank you for what you did for my father last night.” Though Starbright, so big and powerful himself, had felt.that he was not entirely a slow coach in athletics, something within him caused a feeling of inferiority as he stood in front of Merriwell, and his fair face flushed. He stammeringly acknowledged the intro- duction, and as stammeringly drew Bert Dashleigh forward and introduced him. After that Frank presented” Browning, Bart Hodge, Jack Ready, Greg Carker and Berlin Carson, who were the ones trailing a his heels through the crush in Alumni Hall. These melted away after awhile as the crowd pushed and surged around -them, and Frank, seeming about to turn away also, bent forward and asked, in a half whisper: “Do you know who the fellow was that did my father that trick last night?’ Starbright again flushed. He did not know whether he ought to tell or not. “T. saw. the face, but I am not certain, and until I am absolutely certain, I prefer not to say.” Merriwell warmly pressed his hand. “T see that you are a gentleman, Star- bright! That’s all right. It wouldn’t be right to give the name unless you are absolutely sure there can be no mistake. Whenever you are sure, if ever,:I should like to know it.” Then Merriwell moved away, too. “Isn’t he great!” Dashleigh stammered. “T don’t wonder that his friends are wild over him.” eas * “Nor I; but do you know there are a lot 10 ingen of little two-by-four fellows here in Yale who . . : e . ~~ are just wildly jealous of him and his: popu- larity and who say and do everything they can to injure him? I[ heard one of them talk- ing this morning. He was a little, ‘simpering dude, his name is Julian Ives. Ih dressed in the pink of perfection, and sard him say that cad!” Dash- he thought Merriwell was a horrid “Ld 1 leigh growled. ike to pull his nose for him!’ ” Opening from the. reception-room were four smaller rooms, two on either side. These were the class-rooms for religious meetings, \ and above the door of each was a bronze plaque bearing a class numeral, and here, for the first time, Dick and his room:mate gazed upon the official recognition of the class with whose fortunes they were to be so intimately connected during the rest of their college life. | | They were in an especially happy and self- congratulatory frame of mind as they made their way homeward after this warm and cor- dial reception, for it had seemed to them that every person in the whole college was doing his utmost to make the freshmen feel at home in their new surroundings. They ‘had yet to learn; however, that the inner sentiment of any society is not to be learned from the demeanor and decorum of its public functions, and the sophomores who gfad been so friendly to the freshmen were al- down their ready planning how to tame spirits. CHAPTER V. THE “CIRCUS MAXIMUS.” Talks among the freshmen revealed the fact that there was a general feeling that the sophomores would sooner Or later try to “get * the freshmen. This was fostered perhaps by the ideas of certain new classmen whose brothers and other relatives had been through Yale in the earlier days, when hazing was the accepted order of things. chums hastened after them. TOP WEEKLY. ' It developed,.too, that the irrepressible Jack Ready was one of the sophomore: lead- ers. and introduced to Starbright That Ready was a friend of Mertiwell had been cordially and Dashleigh by Merriwell himself, counted for something with those two, but it was not thought worthy of consideration by any one else, for the others believed that when the hazing days came—if they came—Ready would take no account of the fact that Star- had once been intro- bright and Dashleigh duced to him by the Yale hero. Not ‘chums kept together most of the / knowing what to expect, the two time, and carefully avoided places where they fancied sophomores might be lurking. On Friday evening, while trying carefully ‘ . . to avoid conspicuousness, they found them- selves suddenly confronted by an exciting and novel scene. ; dashing : ; 3 ' “Hi! this way!” some one yelled, past toward a point where a crowd was gathering. 3 | It was the freshman, Dade Morgan. “What's up?” Dashleigh questioned. “You may search me!” Starbright an- swered, quite seriously “No trick of the sophomores, or Morgan wouldn’t be sprinting in that direction.” I shall al- ways feel that it isn’t safe to follow in the ‘He may be fooled. Anyway, footsteps of that fellow.” Nevertheless, as others were seen hurrying in the direction taken by Dade Morgan, the | The is the long oval space in front of White Hall, and the asphalt “Circus Maximus” roadway was then in a bad state of repair. Workmen had been hurriedly pushing’ for- ward the work of relaying the asphalt of the driveway. In consequence, a number of wheelbarrows, tampers, brooms and several | heavy stone rollers had been left on the prem- ises. Se oe When Starbright and Dashleigh reached the “Circus Maximus’ they found that the seniors had instituted some extempore field games of their own, in which these various implements figured largely. The gathering crowd was wildly cheering a lively footrace between two long-limbed seniors, as Dashleigh and Starbright pushed forward into a position to see what was going on. The sports had attracted a crowd from all classes, which filled every available inch on the entry steps, packed the lawn, which was surrounded by the long oval driveway, while some had even climbed the electric light pole in the centre, and others clung to the pil- lars of the memorial gateway. _ Starbright pushed his big frame through the yelling crowd, easily making a way for himself and his friend. He did not see Dade Morgan, though he looked about for him. “That’s Hodge!” one excited freshman was whispering. Hodge had advanced with a wheelbarrow. Af his side was a lively, light-footed senior named Holburt, with another wheelbarrow. Seniors were acting as time-keepers and judges, while, from the yells and shouts of advice going up, nearly everybody was acting as coach. A group of Merriwell’s friends were yell- ” and Hodge, with the frown gone from his face and something ing for Bart to “do him,” like a laughing light in his eyes, was yelling fiack that of course he would “do him.” Then the word “Go!” was yelled, and the wheelbarrow race began. Hodge fell almost to the ground as he started, but he was on*his feet like a cat; and, with the wheel of his barrow fairly buzzing, | he drove his strange’vehicle across the line ' in ‘advance of that of his opponent and won out. » se | Then there was aisha foot,race. ‘ . A St 824 WEEKLY. 11 After that there were calls for Browning ; and the big fellow, walking in a bag, ambled out with the grace of ai¥ elephant. Another big fellow, in a bag also, came into view, and another and another, until there was a line of big seniors with their feet and legs in bags. “Go!” was again called, and the race be- gan. It seemed queer to Starbright and Dash- leigh to see these men, whom they expected to be grave and dignified, engaging in such sport; but it was all so funny that they soon found themselves howling and shouting with the rest of the crowd. The bag racers fell down, rolled over, got up again, started anew. Those who were hurrying seemed to get along more slowly than those who were contented with a snail- like pace. ! 7 Browning went down several times. “He’s trying to walk over himself!” some one shrieked. aie. 38 walking on himself!’ another yelled. : Browning climbed up in dignified silence after this fall, and essayed the task once 2 more, The smallest of the big fellows—and he .. was small only by comparison—won the novel race amid a tremendous din of ap- plause. The bag race was followed by some lively tilting. ° * 3 Then came a ~ which wrought the enthusiasm of .the spectators to the highest pitch.of excitement. , 3 The greatest event. of the night, however, sparring -match, was being held in reserve, as the chums were soon to discover. oe This was called the “human chariot race. = Two teams, each made up of four seniots, attached: themselves to two heavy rollers. . In one team was ae Browning, a 12 Hodge and an athletic senior named Steven- son. Starbright and “‘Dashleigh found them- selves almost involuntarily yelling for the_ members of this team. Everywhere resound- ed the name of Merriwell. Cliff Cutler, Yale baseball team of the previous year, had for- the manager of the gotten his dignity. and. climbed: the electric light pole, and from this coign of vantage he made the welkin ring with shouts for Merri- well and his friends. Gathered together on the steps, a group of sophomores, led by Jack Ready, also screeched for Merriwell. Not far away some juniors, among whom were Berlin Carson and Jim Hooker, were also sendirig up calls for their favorite. “Now, again!” said Dashleigh, his face flushed and his eyes shining. “Hurrah for Merriwell !” Starbright:added his voice to that of his friend, and, a score of others joining in, they succeeded in making a noise which was very satisfactory. ; The two teams of seniors had lined up at - the starting point, with their rollers, andthe - Sigrial being given, they started, going slowly at first, but gradually gathering dangerous head. Starbright found himself catching his . breath as he looked at them, and he forgot to cheer, for there seemed to him to be an ele- ment of peril in this. ; : . _ Up’ the stretch tlie teams tore, and circled atl the first corner with a roar and-rumble that _ Was almost drowned by the cheers that urged ee them to their work. d Faster, faster, and still faster, as they came back toward the starting point! The teams and the rollers were fairly flying. eve “The spectators were howling with delight, _ wher sttddenly something happened which _ choked the cheer in every man’s throat. — TIP TOP WEEKLY. -came to a realization of the possibilities and of what had actually happened. Then some to what Starbright had chanced. to cast an upward glance at the windows above the race course, which were crowded with spectators, all yell- ing and excited. In one of these windows, almost above his own head, he saw the head and shoulders of Dade M could not tell exactly what, dropped quickly organ. Some heavy object, Dick C ; downward and outward from Dade’s hand. the seemed a sure winner, and his friends were Merriwell’s team was in lead and whooping with delight. The team was but ten yards from the finish when that object dropped from Dade Morgan’s hand. The next moment Frank Merriwell tripped and stumbled and fell to his knees directly in front of the roller, which was-rumbling down Ee on him with certain destruction. Dick Starbright’s heart seemed to stop its” beating. — But he did not lose his. presence of mind. He saw that immediate action was necessary to save Merriwell from a horrible death un- Sores der the roller. The other members of the 3 team could not help Frank, for the roller Tee handle was pushing them on. - In another instant Dick Starbright was out of the crowd. With one bound of his: long athletic legs he reached the imperiled runner, grasped his shoulders with fingers of iron and quickly lifted him up so that the roller passed under him and not over kim. It was.as close a call as Frank Merriwell ever had. a A great sigh rose from the crowd when it realized that Merriwell was safe. . This was followed by a moment of abso- lute silence, during which time the spectators one in the crowd shouted: — “The long cheer for Merriwell!” Then the entire gathering, to a man—ex- cept stich freshmen as were not informed as _ the cheer > ray called for—responded: = EP Tor “Brek ker co ax, CO ax, co ax! Brek ker coax, co ax, co ax! Hoo up, fioo up, para- baloo, Yale! Rah! rah! rah! rah! rah! rah! rah! rah! rah! Merriwell! Merriwell! Merri- well!” Dick Starbright heard that cheer, but he was bounding into the entry of White Hall. Rushing upstairs toward the room where he had seen the head and shoulders of Dade Morgan, he encountered the fellow céming down. Morgan’s dark face was now pale. When he saw Starbright, he dropped his lids over his eyes, as if to ‘hide the light that was in them, and tried to hurry by the big freshman. But Starbright’s hand was on his collar, hall. “You miscreant! You dog! 1 saw you You ‘have a grudge against Merriwell and his do that and I know it was no accident. father. It is not your fault, you miserable white-livered cur, that you did not kill him just now. Come along! You've got to face ee Merriwell in this!” CHAPTER VI. . THE REVENGE OF A COWARD. ~ Dick Starbright’s face was aflame with -. anger and indignation. °* ‘Come along, you dog! You’ve got to ‘face the man you tried to kill!’ -- _ At this moment a heavy book, hurled - from some unknown quarter, with true aim and strong hand, struck Dick squarely in _the back of the head and tumbled him down, ‘causing him to relinquish his grip on Dade x Morgan’s collar. Beforé he could scramble up, Morgan had slipped away and was running. as if for his whee... oS ae | ey ¢ Seeing that he could not catch him, Star- % bright looked about and picked up the book. a There was no name on the fly leaf. -Fancy- eee and he jerked him remorselessly along the - WEEKLY. 13 ing that it must have come from the doorway of the nearest room back of him, he stepped to the doorway and looked in: An excited crowd of young fellows was looking out of the windows. They were cheering so that it seemed they had not heard his words ad- dressed to Morgan. At any rate, not one of them, turned to notice him, although he felt sure that some hand in the room had hurled the book. Just then’ his head was rather dizzy. The book had struck him so fairly that he felt the effect of the jar allover. Sure that no one in the room would con- fess that he had thus come to Morgan’s aid, Starbright dropped the book on a chair, and after trying to fix in his mind the appear- ance of those on the outside of the cheering crowd, he hastened down into the open air. Morgan had disappeared, and Merriwell, seeming unhurt and undisturbed, was stand- ing in a group of friends. Preparations were being made for a continuation of the games. Merriwell’s keen eyes saw Starbright as soon as the latter appeared. He pushed through the crowd, which fell back respectfully. ‘‘If it hadn’t been for you, there might have been a funeral to look forward to in- stead of further fun!’ said Frank, smiling, as he took Dick by the hand for the purpose - of thanking him. ‘‘That was prompt and quick work, and I shall not forget it. I thank you for what you did, Starbright.’’ ‘Some one let a tennis racket fall from one of the windows,”’ said Hodge. “It was a dreadfully careless thing to do, and if I could lay my hands on the chump I’d try to” - teach him some sense!’’ Bart’s fingers twitched with the desire to chastise the unknown whom he supposed had accidentally dropped the article in front of the roller, thereby tripping Merriwell and t fe ‘ hurling him down in front of the deadly | 14 thing. But Starbright saw that neither Mer- riwell nor his friends dreamed that it had been more than an accident. ‘‘Shall I tell him of Dade Morgan ?’’ was Dick’s thought. © There was no opportunity then, but he did tell Frank later, and warned him to be on the lookout against such tricks. When the impromptu entertainment of the seniors came to an end, Starbright and Dashleigh left the ‘‘Circus Ma‘ximus’’ and sought other scenes of adventure and merri- ment, . Not only the students, but the whole town, seemed to be awake, determined to Heib’s, Billie’s, ‘T'rae- er’s, Morey’s and Jacques were running in ’ 7 make a night of it. full blast. Students and citizens were swarm- ing everywhere. Consequently the hour was unwholesomely late when the chums approached their apart- ments in Farnam. ‘They had seen no more of Dade Morgan, though they had twice encountered a few of the freshmen who seemied ‘to. be training with him. i ( Starbright applied the key to the door and stepped into the room, not thinking of harm. As he did so he received a shock that threw him to the floor and caused him to ery aloud in pain. ‘“Keep back!’’ he shouted, as Dashleigh, seemed about to run to his assistance. ‘*What is it?’’ Bert asked. **T don’t know.’’ Starbright was gasping in agony. ° ‘Keep back!’’ he again warned, as he “climbed to his feet. For a moment he stood still; then gave a _ mighty bound that took him half way across the room. “Keep back!’ he still warned; then struck a match. | re : | a nee ; x By the light the chums saw a wire, com- TIP TOP WEEKLY. ing from they knew not where, and some flat pieces of iromlying on the floor of the room in front of the door. ‘‘T received an awful shock when I stepped on that iron!’’ Starbright declared, appar- ently somewhat shaken. ‘‘A little heavier jolt would have killed me, I believe.’’ ‘“What is it?’’ Bert asked, staring at the wire and the iron. ; “I don’t know. I should call it an infernal machine.’’ He looked up and saw that the electric lamp was all right, and turned it on, and by c¢ the light began an inspection of the ‘‘in- ’ fernal machine,’’ still warning Bert to be careful. An investigatiion showed that a wire had been brought through an open window from an electric light pole and connected with the pieces of iron on the floor. The wire, as they afterward discovered, was fastened to the iron spikes by which the lamp trimmers climbed the pole, these spikes serving to carry it up to the wire above. ‘‘How it was done I don’t know!’’ Star- bright delared. usedtubber gloves, for the wire has been a ‘The miscreant must have live one all the evening.’’ “But it’s plain that it was intended for one of us?’’ / ‘‘No doubt about that, and it's been placed here since we left the room.”” , / ‘‘T should think the villain would have ; been seen.” “There were very few féllows on the campus. The Circus Maximus drew out everybody.”’ 3 ‘*But who could it have been ?’’ “Do you want me to.make a blind guess?’ (Ves 3 ‘‘Dade Morgan. I was told this morning a by a freshman who has formed Dade’s ac- quaintance that he is something of an elec- trician.’’ / | ie x TIP TOP WEEKLY. ‘* And he hates you!’’ “Hates both of us.”’ ee : “Because we are friends of Merriwell.?” ‘“And, Merriwell’s father. That fellow has some deep grudge against the Merriwells, though I can’t imagine why, for’ I’m pretty sure that Fratik Merriwell never saw him before. He was thrown into a rage by what I did and said when I dragged him along in that building, and he hastened over here to get even with me, and put up this job. Per- haps he didn’t think it would give me more than a moderate shock, but enough to serve as a warning that I had better attend to my own affairs hereafter. Bert, that fellow isa dangerous man; more dangerous than I ever thought !”’ Dashleigh came gingerly into the room, carefully avoiding the irons, though looking curiously at them. ‘“What are you going to do?’. ‘Leave these things just as they are, lock the door, and make a report to the authori- . ties. My left leg and arm aren’t just exactly humming a lovely tune at this moment. Say, Bert, that was a corker!' I had a shock this summer in the White Mountains, when a girl I’d been somewhat sweet on cut me dead before her precious mamma and a young fellow from New Vork who parted his name in the middle and was worth mil- lions; but never anything like this. Upon my honor, it was shocking !’’ He tried to laugh; but he didn’t feel like it, not even a little bit. ‘And the worst of it is,’’ said Bert, ‘‘un- less some one saw the fellow monkeying round here, there is no way of bringing him up with a round turn for it.’’ “There is just one thing I’d like to do. I'd like to tie that wire round him for a few seconds and let him feel just what I felt _ when I set my foot on that bit of iron.’’ Starbright had little enough vindictive- _ when the second class of the day meets. In 15 ness in his composition and his limited seventeen “years of experience, but he felt just then-that a man who would deliberately plant such a contrivance for another, no matter what the provocation, needed to be taught the most severe lesson possible; and he could think of few things that would be more severe. Dashleigh’s fears were built on_ solid foundations. Though the dastardly thing was reported and the contrivance inspected by electricians and the officials of the col lege, there was absolutely no way of deter- inining who did if. But Starbright .was sure that it was the work of* Dade Morgan, and that it was meant as a warning. CHAPTER VII. ‘STRINGING’? THE FRESHMEN. Yale College—and by this is meant that part of the University exclusive of the pro- fessional and technical schools—requires its members to attend divine services every morning at 8:10 o’clock. Chapel is over at 8:30, and at that hour | the first recitation begins, which lasts until 9:20. The freshman class, which alone consists of about 350 members, is divided into two alphabetical sections of four divisions each. After the Christmas holidays these divisions are rearranged according to stand, so that the man who finds himself at that time in the First Division is entitled to regard him- self as among the first sixty of his class from the standpoint of scholarship. Since no electives are open to freshmen, they must take the studies required of them in the prescribed course and according to the ‘‘rotary schedule.’’ | When the freshman finishes his first reci- tation at 9:20 he is at liberty until 11:30, .. + Saar b * tr: Ee ry oT eat at Ey PL RNP ILE PIE ICL 16 ee the afternoon from four to five or from five to six he goes to ‘‘Modern Language,’ which recitation occurs but three times.a week, atid thus the hard-worked freshman enjoys a half holiday every other day. All courses throughout the University are so ar- ranged that recitations are over at 12:30 on Saturdays. For this reason Dick Starbright and his room mate found themselves on their first Saturday afterrioon at Vale busily engaged in arranging and beautifying their apart- ments. Seneca Artilier, the colored sweep, with the cracking leather face, had half put things to rights, for a consideration, but_there was yet much to be done to make the rooms cozy and bachelorlike. The two boys were talking of Dade Mor- gan and his supposed attempt to injure one or both of them by planting the deadly. elec- trical contrivance in the room that night during the ‘‘Circus Maximus.’’? They had no way of knowing that Morgan was cer- tainly the author of the outrage, but they felt sure he was. “fT shall find out one of these days!’’ Starbright declared. | }»? “Murder will out, you know!’’ said. Dash- vaetet, in his flippant way, yet jamming a pair of trousers into his trunk with as much fierceness as if they were Dade Morgan’s head. ‘Of all the fellows I’ve seen at Yale I like Dade Morgan least and Frank Merriwell ™ most.”’ *‘And yet Dadeis a freshman! How about standing up for your class, Dickie?’’ ‘Well, I shall never stand up for a man of my class simply because he is of my class, if he is a villain.’’ Dashleigh hung a picture on the wall and stood off to admire it. Then he glanced round. TOP WEEKLY. ‘‘Getting things shipshape,’’ said Star- | bright, with a smile, flopping onto a chair and perching his feet on the window ledge, for he was growing tired. ‘‘Such a length as you are!’’ ‘*T’ve just been thinking of ordering an extension bed,’’ Starbright laughed. ‘‘ That little six-foot bed doubles me all up. You. don’t see any symptom of a loop growing in my spinal column ?’’ ‘If I were as big as you!” ‘What ?’’ ‘‘T’d make a big try to get on the football team! A freshman can do it.’’ ‘*T thought you were going to say that you’d induce some-modern. Barnum to put you under canvas and take you out on the road, if you were as bigasIam. I’ve been thinking about that football——”’ ‘Rap! rap! rap! A footstep had sounded in the hall and some one was breaking his knuckles on the door. Starbright was himself lazily asking whether he ought to get up and open the door or invite the rapper to open the door himself and come in, when the door was flung open and admitted a tall, athletic-look- ing collegian. Without any amenities whatsoever, the newcomer stood on the threshold and gazed * about the room from ceiling to floor and into every corner. Starbright and Dashleigh stared blankly at him. ‘‘Well,’? he remarked, after his compre- hensive survey, ‘‘pretty good for freshmen ! Never met you My name’s Bingham—Ralph Bingham, sopho- gentlemen before. more class. you?” ; . Starbright took his feet down from the window ledge, but continued tostare, and Dashleigh stood by the wall, not knowing waa to say. Glad to meet you. How are ey ‘, oe $ ei, 0 ies ee i , * Biictts dat hae Spite eo Risk heise 4 Ans % PL Se. 7 oe eRe ? 3 “Oot alight?” asked Bingham. He had been filling his pipe when he entered. Bert produced a match with alacrity, and the big sophomore dropped himself into the comfortable Morris chair and lighted his briar. The two freshmen still gazed-at him in uficertainty. He had said he was a sopho- more, and that was quite enough, for they had the freshman’s reverence and respect for the member of the class above him, and they wanted to do whatever was necessary to con- ciliate and gain this man’s friendship and good-will. 2 ‘“Take a seat,’’ the visitor said, address- ing Dashleigh and waving his hand hospita- bly toward the divan. ‘‘Make yourself per- fectly at home. Just dropped up here ona little matter of business. Only detain you a moment.”’ | Bert seated himself obsequiously, and there was a noticeable growth of deference to be perceived in the manners of both him- self and Starbright. ‘‘Like. the place?’ asked Bingham, blandly. The room mates admitted’ that they were very proud of it. “‘Well,”’ said the sophomore, ‘‘there may be a few things more for you to learn.’’ ‘*We’re willing to be instructed,’’ Dash- leigh answered, with meek and becoming submission. ‘*Well, then, as to this little business I mentioned just now. I had these rooms last year.’”’ ‘Oh! this from both Bert and Dick. ‘Yes, and for your enlightenment I'l! tell you that it’s a matter of ancient custom for the new inmates to pay the former occupants for such furnishings as the latter may be unable to remove. For instance, that chan- ‘delier overhead. Cost twenty dollars when - new. Splendid piece of work! What will TIP TOP WEEKLY. ~— 17 you give for it? Suppose we say five dollars! 7 1 chec c < pan VE Very cheap, too, at the figure.’ **FRive dollars for the chandelier ?’’ Dash- leigh gasped, in astonishment, looking up at the tarnished fixture that had been thus dignified by the name of chandelier. ‘‘Very good!’ assented Bingham. ‘‘We’ll call it five’ dollars, then. That’s perfectly satisfactory. Now, then, about the wall paper. Beautiful old rose, gold leaf figure, double width border, gilt trimmings, not to mention the cost of hanging. If I let it go at six dollars it’s a bargain. How does it strike you?’’ “‘T thought the paper -went with the room !’’ ventured Dick. ‘Certainly, sir,’? said Bingham, with much dignity. ‘‘ You are perfectly correct. The paper always goes with the room if the price goes with it.’’ ‘*Oh, that’s it!’’ said Bert. He was somewhat discomfitted by this un- expected item of expense, and yet it seemed only just that if the other fellows had paid to improve the rooms they might rightly expect something for it in return. ‘“Well, let’s see,’’ continued Bingham, ° ‘‘five and six make eleveh—eleven dollars for the chandelier and wall paper, to say nothing of the cost of hanging. It’sanawful bargain, but I guess we’ll have to let it go at that. Now, then, there’s the hard-wood floor, and that’s about all.’’ ‘? they study! They just think was Starbright’s answer.”’ ‘‘Why should they study? ‘They fancy they’ know everything that’s knowable.’’ Yet Starbright admired the upper class- men and was in nowise bitter toward them. Hé was only thinking of Bingham. Suddenly some one sung out in a low voice. **Phis way, freshmen!’’ The man who had sung out came nearer to.them, and they recognized him as belong- ing to their class. ““What is it?’’ Starbright asked. ‘‘ Where are the freshmen ?’’ “Don’t you know? Over in front. of Alumni Hall. Hear the juniors and sopho- mores singing.’ He took out a pipe. : ‘Better put that away!’ Dick warned. “Not much! I’ll smoke a pipe if I want to!’ - ‘¢And you’ll pay for it if you do!’’ College custom does not allow a freshman g to smoke a pipe on the street or campus, to carry a cane before Washington’s birthday, to dance at the Junior Promenade, to sit,on the college fence, or to play ball or spin tops | on the campus. The three were moving toward Alumni- Hall, and the freshman put away his pipe, even though he had avowed he would not N _ “Great rush night, you “know!” he gab- . B bled, as they ere on. i < « TOP*WEEKLY. 21 _**Oh, there’ll be fun!’ the freshman de- clared. ‘‘ Dead oceans of it. I wouldn’t miss it. for anything. We’re going to do up the sophomores to-night, and don’t you forget it! Those fellows have got to be taken down a-péep.~’ ‘‘T shall be glad to help take them down, if that’s the programme,’’ said Starbright. ‘‘But I fancy the thing won’t be easy.”’ The tonguey freshman looked up at the big fellow. ‘‘Why, you aren’t afraid? If I were as big as you, I wouldn’t be afraid of any- ’”) thing. Starbright laughed in a lenient way. ‘Not even of flunking your exams?’’ ‘‘Well, I didn’t mean in that way. I wouldn’t be afraid of any sophoinore that ever walked.” ‘“But you put your pipe away ?”’ ‘‘Well—yes! Say, a pile of our fellows are gathering! Oh! we’ll have fun!’’ On reaching Alumni Hall, they found the freshmen silently assembling like a flock of frightened sheep, awed partially by the pres- ence of the singing and joking upper class- men and partially by the charm and novelty of the scene before them. The first recognition the freshmen re- ceived was a shout from the sophomores: ‘*Oh—freshmen—tell—who—you—are?’’ There was a moment of deep silence, and then the freshmen raised an answering cry: ‘Oh, freshmen, this way!’’ The class to which Starbright and Dash- leigh belonged had made its first public ut- terance! : Seeing that it was good, they essayed to repeat it, calling freshmen this and freshmen that, until they were ordered by the upper classmen to ‘‘cork up.’ Starbright had observed that the senior : fence in front of Durfee was. vacant-and that ‘ / there.were n up. pee in tosis 22 ee Just then the clock struck eight, and, as the last stroke died away, the strains of a band playing a popular march floated into the campus. The freshmen knew that this band was in connected with the Great Rush It ex- cited their imaginations and set their hearts some way ' Night, but they could not guess how. to-beating quicker time. What new wonder was about to be revealed they could not imagine. The band came nearer and nearer. It marched into College street, and finally, passing under Phelps’ Archway, emerged upon the campus with full blare of trumpets. Then Starbright and Dashleigh came to a sudden understanding of the mystery con-: cerning the rushing trade at the store of Mally & Neely. No wonder they had been the busiest of all the shop folk, for they had been called’ on to furnish every. variety of costume at their command. Dancing and prancing behind the band description. of fancy dress—painted_ ballet girls, society matrons, Indians, warriors, tramps, rough riders, and, in. short, every { manner of burlesque conceivable. As Starbright and his friend looked over that queer dancing company they wondered if Merriwell and his friends, Hodge and Browning, were concealed beneath any of those strange disguises. : It seemed impossible, yet they were sure that Merriwell and his classmate friends were there. | CHAPTER X. Pe ‘HE GREAT RUSH NIGHT. Each senior carried in one hafid a torch or ps stick of Egyptian fire, and in the other a stuffed club, with which latter he ey 2 beat time on the heads of his neighbors. "The band’turned toward the fences, sing came the senior class arrayed” in every equal to those of Merriwell. lift his voice in that musical outburst. ‘out, ade f dragging ee ok TOP WEEKLY. ing as it did so into the air of that old song, **Balm of Gilead.’’ t 5 very meekest freshman, took up the strains, And every man,'to the singing: ‘‘Here’s to good old Yale, drink her down, drink her down! Here’s to good old Yale, drink her down, drink her down! Here’s to good old Yale, she’s go hearty and so hale, } | Drink her down, drink her down, drink her down, down, down!’’ Then they swelled into the chorus, rolling the volume of song high above the tree tops into the night and toward the stars: | ‘*Balm of Gilead, Gilead, Balm of Gilead, Gilead, Balm of G-i-l-e-a-d, — ~ Way down on the Bingo Farm!"’ Starbright, standing head and shoulders’ above many of his classmates, put his hands on the shoulders of his:;chum who stood be- fore him, bawling the chorus in his heavy bass. A strange infection had seized him. Although only a freshman, and extremely green and tender, he felt that.he belonged to Yale. if the fates were kindly, and he, too, would Some time he, too, would be a senior, come prancing -behind that band into the campus. the youngest class—the unheroic freshmen, but a resolve to prove himself worthy of the best traditions of Yale ‘swelled in his bosom. — He.was glad ‘he was there and that he could Tall as he was, he seemed to grow even taller | -under the inspiration of the moment. The seniors passed the fences, and as-they did so the juniors fell into line, and behind’ ‘them came the sophomores. ~ ba There was a stir in the freshmen mob. o “Fall i in, freshmen!’ shouted the seniors. - Starbright did not know Why he did. ites | “but on the impulse of the moment he sprang He might even win honors almost at eata a RAN eed 9 4 fhort ites Veo Ne He belonged to_ . . Here’s to the freshman - for former ‘‘Prexy”’ Dwight that the kindly His great height and bulk seemed to point him out as a leader, and the pushing, ex- cited freshmen fell in behind him and Bert without a word. “**Keep step, everybody !’’ some one yelled. “Left, right! left, right!’’ “There began to be a steady tramp, tramp, tramp of the hundreds of feet. - In advance the band was playing. Starbright felt as if treading on air, as he strode on close at the heels of the marching sophomores. Some one in the freshmen ranks began. laughingly to call: ‘*Left! left! Left my wife and fourteen children! Left! left!’’ The entire column came down with the left foot in that steady tramp, tramp, tramp. Starbright was thinking of his class, with a warm and happy heart, and almost before “he knew it he found himself singing in his ' deep bass: ‘ ; ‘«Here’s to the freshman class, drink her down, drink her down|!: : class, down, drink her down! Here’s to the freshmen, may she win forever more, _ Drink her down, down, down!”’ He found the whole class roaring the words with him. Then they rolled the chorus in a mighty burst of sound: ‘*Balm of Gilead, Gilead, Balm of Gilead, Gilead, Balm of G-i-l-e-a-d, Way down on the Bingo Farm!”’ : When the procession had circled the cam- : pus once and passed into Elm street, through _ Thermopyle, the famed passage between Durfee and Chapel, they turned into College street and came to a halt in front of an old colonial residence. Here the long cheer was given so lustily TIP TOP WEEKLY. drink her dancing steps, old gentieman.came out onthe porch and bowed gravely.to the students who thus sought to do him honor, Then the: band struck up again, and the procession wheeled into Whitney Avenue, that beatiful and picturseque street of New Haven whose course is lined by splendid, time-marked mansions. The students were marching in lines of eight, each student holding his fellow’s shoulder at arm’s length. Starbright and Dashleigh were in the frost lire of the freshmen, near the center of the line, Starbright’s tall form towering wel above the heads of all the others. Thus in line of eight the students began to dauce with a-skipping step to the time of the music, swinging from sidewalk to sidewalk, until the whole torch-lighted procession ‘ presented the appearanice of a huge, glisten- ing serpent. swaying its way along the ave- nue. Starbright’s great height enabled him to view the os procession in front of him, and the thrill of excitement deepened as he surveyed that glistening line, heard ‘the and far in front the music of the band. All of New Haven seemed to be packed along the sidewalks and gathered in the doorways and windows, viewing the spec. tacular scene. Their chatter and talk filled the air. ‘Look at that big freshman!’’ a voice called from a window almost over Star- bright’s head. ‘‘Don’t he think he’s the stuff !”’ ‘‘T think he looks like a king!’’ was the thrilling answer, which took out somewhat the sting of the words of the first speaker. Shouts and calls and comments filled the a Bock ‘Oh, the s)phomores will do you fellows up!’ was howled at the freshmen by a big fellow whose wide body filled a doorway. — } ¥ Lie DOL Then: there was a counter cry for the freshmen. Dashleigh -was’ skipping. with wild aban- did not reach him, or if he heard them he did not td don. The words of the spectators heed. : That swaying, winding, dancing column. seemed almost unreal to Starbright, although he was of it; as unreal as some fantastic pro- duction of the stage. Surely those grotesque- ly-dressed dancing figures in juniors could not be the staid seniors of Yale! It seemed unbelievable, yet it «was true. This dancing march was continued until a vaeant field was reached near Lake Whit- ney on the outskirts of the city. * Here the seniors formed a great ring, and round them the other classes packed, deep. es goa : : Something of great importance seemed about to occur, and Starbright, standing bolt upright among the freshmen, who seemied to «be looking upon him as their natural leader, if for a conflict. CHAPTER XI. SOME LIVELY WRESTLING. A lot of buffoonery followed. A big fel- low, in striking at another, was thrown to his knees, and before he could rise another senior was on his back, trying to drive him round the circle as if he were a horse. “Browning!” was screeched, and Star- bright knew that the big fellow who was cutting such antics was none other than Frank Merriwell’s warm personal friend, the great Yale hammer-thrower. Browning was dressed like a fat Irish woman, and when he got up he pushed back his slat sunbonnet, slipped up his sleeves, spat on his hand and threatefied to ‘‘smack the gob av the felly that had made a harse ay him!” front of the’ ten | WEEKLY. The classmen and the crowd packed inand about the field yelled . and howled their de-- light at the buffoonery of the seniors, and the mild moon looking down on and lighting the field seemed to. smile its approval. : ‘“This is the greatest circus I ever saw!’’ laughed Dashleigh, clapping Starbright: hilariously on the: back. ‘‘It’s a barrel of fun,.’’ : “T thought they were going to rush us*in some way ?”’ a-freshman whispered. He was an Andover boy, and he stood close to Starbright, naturally recognizing the man who had been a leader at Andover © as a leader here. There were other Andover boys. among 2 the freshmen, and they, too, naturally looked to Starbright for guidance and instruction. ‘“No telling what will come next,’’ Star- me Sc, ; The sophomores bright answered. that’s all; be ready for’ it a, aren’t through* “with us. I imagine this is just the grand. . parade which ‘opens the circus. At any rate, -we shall soon see what we shall see.’’ caught his breath, and stiffened his limbs as There was no gainsaying this. Already there were being shown some signs of impatience in cries for the sopho-- mores and freshmen. ; The buffoonery.came to an end at last, and the circle was again drawn. Those in the front row squatted or knelt. 3 as A senior who seemed to have been chosen as announcer came forward with a big mega- phone. The crowd grew silent. ‘“Now we’re to have it!’’ said BIAthe ant to Bert. The sophomores began to yell: ‘‘Oh, freshmen, toss up a man!’’ The senior with the megaphone now an- nounced loudly that the first match between the sophomores and freshmen was in order. : The sophomores appeared to be prepared — for this, and they pune tee: peee to sereech | et 7 eckaet a . =] - _ another dash. TIP TOP WEEKLY. > In answer to these cries a small sopho- more stepped into the torch-lighted ring and ‘was stripped to. the waist. This was followed by. more sophomore cries: ‘Oh, fresh, cough up a lightweight!”’ Starbright looked over the excited fresh- men ‘packed about him. He knew very few of them as. yet, and he had no idea who » would. be a good man to pit against the Jackson, in featherweight, the wrestling match noweron the programme. ea Several freshmen were talking in a group and trying to push a little freshman forward. $ ‘‘Bailey’s the bantam for you!’’ these freshmen shouted. Instantly there was a chorus of cries for ‘*Bailey.”’ Starbright turned. his gaze on Jackson, who, stripped and ready, waited the appear-. ance of his antagonist. ‘‘He’s a muscular little fellow,’’ he ad- mitted to Dashleigh. ‘‘I hope we’ve got some lightweight that can do him.’’ Under the persuasion of the calls Bailey ‘advanced from the freshmen into the circle, and was also stripped to the waist. The bout was to be for the two best falls in three. This announced and was no sooner e ‘‘Time’’ called than the men were at it, hammer and tongs. There was a clash and a crash, a twink- ling of heels, and the freshman was laid on his back. “First ot fall lost!’ Starbright almost But the spirit. was by no means taken out et Bailey. He advanced: with more caution next time, and both danced about like game cocks, looking for an opening. There was They grappled; struggled, rolled round, and then there was a heavy 2 fall. or aD Starbright could hardly repress-a shout. ‘‘Bailey’s got it!’ he gasped, in Dash- leigh’s ear. were screaming. for their The freshmen champion. “Do it again, Bailey! Stand him on ae head !”” . ‘‘What’s the freshman yelled, and there was am dnwering matter with Bailey?’ a shout of, ‘‘ He’s all right!’’ Then the featherweights. again flew at each other. The struggle lasted longer than before. throw, and they realized it. Up and down They were fighting for the deciding and round and round they swayed and bent, struggling for the mastery.:This was fol- lowed by a flopping fall, and once more the freshmen. screamed their delight, for Bailey had won. Si ‘*This is Heal tld Dashleigh. ‘*Oh, we’re going to do those fellows!”’ ‘‘The featherweight goes to the fresh- men !’’ announced the umpire. Bailey staggered back into the midst of the freshmen, who told him that he wasa , “bully boy,’’ and an ‘‘honor to the class,’’ and that ‘‘if he kept on he would somé day be a senior and entitled to wear a spangled dress on the Great Rush Night,” and a lot more off the saine piece and Bailey, panting and perspiring, swelled’ out his little chest in an-important way and felt ‘bigger than Grant !”’ % While they were i pattie his sweaty back” and thus congratulating him and themselves, the senior with the megaphone announced that the | weight wrestling. next event would be the middle-- Then Ahere was an instant clamor’ of sophomore voices for Jas Ready, and Ready pranced into the ring.’ While the noisy sophomores were calling to the freshmen to ‘‘cough up a middle-— weight,’’ Ready tossed his cap and coat to RAF | 26 TEP classman, and, striking a characteristic. atti: tude, waited for his opponent. The freshmen were hesitating. “Who: 18 the victim ?’’ Ready queried, streking his red-apple cheeks. » o & But no,one seemed ready to rush. into Jack On frefhmen, cough up your man!’’ Ss loving embrace and try for a fall. Some one—and the voice sounded strange- ly like Merriwell’s—called: "Oh, freshmen, send out Bert Dashleigh!”’ Starbright felt Dashleigh’s arm tremble. 19? “Dashleigh! Send out Dashleigh ! By. the’ moonlight aud the flame of the torches, Starbright saw Bert’s cheeks flame. ‘‘Shall I go?’’ Dashleigh trembled. Before Starbright answered, some one in the ‘class gave Bert a push that landed him in the ring. ‘*Be easy with him, Ready!” some sopho- more shoiited. ‘‘His legs are made of glass.”’ ‘For Heaven’s sake, don’t scare him,’’ said another, “‘for he’s about to back out now!”? a a Pee Sie Dashleigh did have a hesitating and un- certain air; but those words braced him. ‘His cheeks were hot and his heart Seemed to “be coming into his throat in a choking 3 lump, for this sudden summons to do battle for his class was unnerving, but for all that ? Dashleigh was far enough from being a | coward, He had stuff in him, even though he was inclined to be easy and to gabble. a. You’ re all right, Bert!” 7k, ‘He heard the eneouraging call, in Star- bright’s voice, and it helped him.. Tent ‘Just peel your upper garments and fall into my arms, ot you ?’’ Jack Ready was TOP WEEKLY. cs airily begging. ‘Me heart yearneth for thee, . freshman »? ' mghg ‘You'll be yearning to let him’ go in about a minute!’ yelled one of Dash®igh’s classmates. : Some freshmen helped Bert to strip off his upper. clothing; then “Time!” was called; and the -wrestlers approached -each other,. looking for an opening. S Ready was wonderfully quick on his feet, and He hopped and ducked round Dashleigh, bewildering the lattér with the quickness and lightness of his movement. ‘ack ee Then | fancying at the same moment that he saw they sprang at each other, each his opportunity. ‘ There was a quick struggleand Dashleigh — lay panting under Ready on the grass. He felt very sheepish and mentally very sore. He was no mean wrestler, as he knew, and he fancied he had been in a measure dis- graced by this apparently easy fall. ‘Ready, Ready, true and steady, He’s all right!”’ the sophomores were howling. ‘Bert found Starbright at his side, as he stepped, discomfitted, back against the fresh- a men.’ ; “Get hith about the thighs!" Dick whis- persed. ‘‘You can do him! He’s quick as lightning, and you must look out for that. f Get him low down and lift him!’’ “Time!” was again called; and Bert made an instant rush for his sophomore antagon- - ist, remembering Starbright’ s injunction. 5 Ready dodged and stepped backward and 5 Bert almost ‘tripped ; gether. But-Bert was stooping low, and be- fore ae eee ae intention ~ ‘ then they came fo ae aa ae rir freshman had him round the thighs, his feet left the ground, and he came down witha resounding crash, while Dashleigh, with thumping heart and shining eyes bent irre- _$istibly over him and pressed his shoulders and hips tightly to the earth. ““Phat’s the stuff!’’ Starbright called. Ready, who had been over-confident, was more wary.as they came toward each other for the next and last bout. | Again Dashleigh tried to get his opponent round the thighs and repeat his previous performance. But Ready was looking for this and eluded the swooping grasp. Then they locked in each other’s arms, and began a struggle for the fall. _ It was hotter work than had yet been seen that evening. Ready was no stronger than Dashleigh, if as strong, but he had the advantage of the training _ given at Yale, and he was fighting fiercely now for the honor of the sophomores. The fréshmen and sophomores, and al- ‘most every one else as it seemed, were show- ering the wrestlers with advice, none of which was heard or heeded. » Once the wrestlers seemed about to break ‘away; but clinched again, and this was fol- lowed by a fall. Ready was on top, and the sophomores had won. 9 CHAPTER XII. THE STAR OF THE FRESHMEN CLASS. While the sophdmores were cheering, Dashleigh limped back to the freshmen. His = heart was aching, as well as his body. His “He had been pushed into the: wrestling | TOP WEEKLY. pride was touched and he felt humiliated. match somewhat against his will, though at > Then he walked into the arena. 27 the time there had been conflicting feelings, in which not the least was a desire for pub- lic recognition and the possible honor to be gained by the overthrow of the sophomore. ‘“*You put up a mighty good fight, Dash,”’ Starbright said, consolingly, patting Bert encouragingly on the shoulder. The kindly words made Dashleigh ugly. ‘‘T was a fool for going into it!’’ he snarled. ‘‘If you hadn’t urged me on!’’ The senior with the megaphone was an- nouncing the ‘‘heavy-weight’’ event, and the sophomores were again howling: ‘Oh, freshmen, bring out your man!’’ Instantly the Andover contingent began to yell for Starbright. Beckwith, the big two hundred-pound guard of the University eleven, had entered the arena for the sophomores. “You'll have a chance now to try your muscle!’’ said Dashleigh, and there was al- most a sneer in his voice. S J It was plain that Dashleigh was taking his defeat very hard. The sophomores began to shout at Star- bright, though to most of them he was only a name: . ie Lee | ‘‘Come, Starbright, brace up, old man! Beckwith won't eat you!’ Dashleigh gave Starbright a push. Dick had been standing quite still, a smile on his fair face, while he sized up Beckwith. He knew nothing about the big sophomore except that ‘he had learned that | he was the guard of the football team; yet this was enongh to assure him that Beck- with was not likely to be ‘‘easy.”’ “DI try it!’ he said, in a quiet voice. 2 ‘it did not last long. Arms and legs seemed 28 EE Beckwith was stripping down to the waist, and Starbright followed suit, revealing a magnificent pair of arms and shoulders and a chest like that of a Greek athlete. The Andover boys were cheering wildly. ‘We're backing you, Starbright !? they encouragingly yelled. ‘‘ You can down him!’’ .The sophomores were yelling for Beck- with, whom they thought invincible. Stripped to their waists, the wrestlers faced each other in the center of the ring. Starbright was taller than Beckwith, but the The devel- opment of his upper limbs and shoulders was sophomore had a bulkier body. enormous, and he had a neck like a bull. ‘‘T’ll down you, if the thing is possible, and I think it is!’ Starbright was thinking, as he surveyed his antagonist. For the moment he forgot the yelling spectators and the excited classmen. He saw only Beckwith. _ The two men walked up to each other and eave hands. Beckwith was smiling and confident; Starbright grave and silent. Then they backed off and began circling slowly, with their bodies bent slightly for- ward and their arms working nervously. Suddenly actawith made a rush like the charge of a bull. Starbright deftly evaded the onset and dashed aside the hand that tried to clutch. him. : z Beckwith again began to circle, while Starbright stood still, slowly turning to face his adversary. The crowd had grown silent a in expectation. Bee Then without warning, Starbright made a, diving swoop, and the struggle began. But TOP WEEKLY. inextricably mixed, and this was followed by a heavy fall. }? ‘‘Starbright is on top!’’ the freshmen shrieked. The big freshman had won the first bout. Though the strus ggle had been so short it had been fierce, and Star bright found himself panting heavily as he walked toward the edge of the circle. A number of seniors had sprung forward to assist him, and these conducted him into his corner. Here he was given a seat on the knee of a Spanish cavalier, while the seconds hurriedly chosen by the freshmen rubbed him down for the next go. ‘(This was beautiful work,’ Dick!’’ Starbright stopped his panting and looked quickly round. The Spanish cavalier had spoken to him, | 3 His quick movement brought a laugh from the seniors. ‘“Vou’ve got the fighting stuff in you!” | The cavalier had spoken again, and Star- bright, staring into the “disguised face, recognized Frank Merriwell. ‘“The only thing you need to do is to keep cool,’’: Frank urged. Then Starbright began to understand that he was panting as much from excitement as from anything else. ‘ Nee found that his nerves were all aquiver. ‘‘ Merriwell’ s new protege!” one of the _ ~ _ seniors laughed. ‘Tf you can keep cool you will surely get two falls out of the three,’’ Frank went ODS at ‘“Are you his coacher?’’ the senior. asked. . “Well, I’ m his friend, and I’ d like to see him win this match. I know. Beckwith’ 5 weale points and he doesn’t.”” oz TIP TOP WEEKLY. Frank was too considerate to say that he had also discovered some of Starbright’s weak points. . “The chief thing for you to do, as I said, is to keep perfectly cool. Just believe that you can do him. Don’t let a doubt of it enter your mind. Make up your mind that you are going in to win, and then go in and win. Beckwith’s idea is to charge for an opening. He has terrible strength, and by charging that way he hopes to break through your guard and get the hold heprefers. You mustn’t let him do that, for it will trouble you to throw him off if he once grips you.”’ Starbright had ceased his nervous trem- bling and was drinking in these words. The Merriwell courage was coming into his heart, and it began to submerge all doubt. It was always the way. When Merriwell chose to assist any one in this manner, he seemed to have the power to impart some- thing of his own invincible disposition. He wanted: Starbright to win, and he was now willing him to win and coaching him to win. Frank contintied to talk in this strain while the seconds went on with their work; _ so that when Starbright again went out to face Beckwith he went with a belief that he 4 could win aud a resolute resolve which ~ nothing but absolute defeat could shake. _ Beckwith began the round with one of his rushes, which Starbright evaded. Frank had instructed him to try to continue this work and wind Beckwith, then dash in for = hold and a throw. _ . Again and again Beckwith came at the , big freshman in that raging manner, pound- ing through the air like a pile driver, and each time Starbright danced cleverly out of the way. _ The sophomore was soon puffing like a steam engine, while his great chest heaved 5 up and down and the perspiration came out _ on his face, the wildest pth ‘man, excitement prevailed, and 29 sophomores and freshmen howled advice and warnings to their respective champions. ‘‘ Now, Starbright!’’ From the disguise of the cavalier came these words, in the voice of Merriwell. They lifted Starbright to his full. height. For.a moment he towered thus, his chest heaving, his nostrils distended and his blue eyes flashing fire. Then with an eagle swoop he rushed at the blown sophomore, beat down his guard and caught him round the waist. Beckwith had not anticipated this sudden change in the fighting tactics of the fresh- but winded though he was, and for a few mo- he still made a gallant fight, ments the sophomores felt that their cham- pion would win. But Beckwith’s staying power was gone. His mad rushes had weakened him, and the fierce struggle ended with a crashing fall. The freshman had literally lifted him from the ground and hurled him down at full length. Starbright had won. The freshmen were going wild, for their class had captured the honors of the evening, Beckwith was helped to his feet, bruised and dazed, but not otherwise hurt. Star- bright was standing near, his heart thump- ing like a trip-hammer. ‘There was no ugly blood in Beckwith, even though in a strug- gle, whether a wrestling match or a football rush, he raged and raved like a bull. Hold- ing out his hand to Starbright he said, in no unkindly tone: ‘‘Freshman, you’re all right!’’ High over all roared the voice of a senior. ‘‘Hurrah for Frank Merriwell’s new pro- tegé—the star of the freshman class!”’ | And Berlin Carson, swinging his cap, led the yell that followed. THE END. v The next number -will contain ‘ Frank _Merriwell’s Power; or, Hazing the Fresh- men at Billies.’’ 30 TIP Tp fo PHEEKLY. “AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THI’ AMERICAN YOUTH ” NW Yy ‘ORK, Oc TOBER 20, - 1900, Terms to Tip Top Weekly Mail Subscribers. (PosvTaGh FRER,) Single Copies or Back Numbers, Sc. Each. @months - - - - + + 65c. |,One year - + - + = + = $2.50 4 months - - - + + + - 85c. 42 copiesone year - =- + 4.00 6 months - - -« - «= = ~ $1.25 fi copy two years - - + - 4,00 How ro SEND Moniy.—By post-office or express money order, registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At yourown risk if sent by currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. : Recwiprs,—Receipl of your remittunce is acknowledged by proper change of number on your label. If uotcorrect you have not been properly credited,candé should let us know at once. STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY, 238 William St., New York City. APPLAUSE. I am an admirer of your library, the unequaled Tip Top, and wish to congratulate you for putting such an interesting and useful publication on the market. Mr, Standish is certainly a great writer. Now for the main part of my letter. I notice that there are many opiniohs from the different readers regarding the HElsie-Inza question, and, therefore, I take liberty to express mine. I am from head to foot for Elsie Bellwood, and so is Frank Merriwell, I hope. I think Bisie is the girl for Frank. Inza is a good and true girl, too, but as the Inza cham- pions claim that Elsie is not as brave and strong as Inza, I therefore hold the Inza people at their own words, and tell them that the one she would need most to take her through life would be Frank Mer- riwell. Frank himself has called HBlsie ‘“‘My sweet- heart.” But I wish to state, which cannot be de- nied, that Elsie has as much courage as Inza. She has proven it by saving Frank from that bear, and even Inza herself from that tiger. She showed what ‘a noble heart she had when she confessed to Inza the thoughts she had a few moments before she saved her; it goes to show that she loves Frank, from the depth of her heart. Then Inuza said to Frank, in one of the early numbers of the Tip Top, “Let us consider it nothing’more than friendship.”’ I don’t see why the Inza people want any more proof. Frank, I hope, will not marry for some time to ‘come, but when he does make his selection I hope it will be Elsie Bellwood. Please pardon length of letter, but this is my honest opinion. Best wishes to Mr. Standish and Street & Smith. May Tip Top live forever, THOS. WILSON. New York City. Be assured that every Tip Top reader will be sat- isfied that Frank’s choice, whatever it is, will be the right one. * I am a constant reader Of your paper, and find it very interesting. There is nothing of the trashy dime novel matter so common in the papers now- adays. All the incidents in your paper are described very carefully, and are such.as might happen to any honest and ‘upright young man any day. Frank Merriwell is my’ ideal of a young man. The girls are all nice, and I have no preference. Wishing you every success, ROY Ww. TABOR, , Haverhill, Mass. Thank you. / It is with sincere feelings of pleasure and gratitude that I improve the present opportunity to thank you for the good I have derived from your Tip Top weeklies. After reading many ,weeklies that are upon the market to-day, I unhesitatingly pronounce the Tip Top entirely superior in every, manner ee: any other that has come under my notice. Now I will close,- wishing long life to the publishers and author of the Frank Merriwell stories. . ‘ ARTLEY HODGE, \ Massilon, ch: Such expressions: of praise ple ase us ‘in the highest ‘ MeETeS: differences in the past, TOP WERKLY. I have read nearly all the numbers,of the Tip Top Weekly, and I think they _are far better than any other weekly publication I have seen. I have the pictures of Inza, Hlsie, Swiftwing and Bill Higgins cut from the covers of Tip Top, and I would like to get one of Frank and his other comrades, including Buck and his wife. I would like to have Grace Vernon in the stories again. I hope Frank will take Elsie for his wife. I will now close, with best wishes for Bert L. Standish and Street & Smith, SETH H-ASKINS, Chicago, Ill. No doubt you will be able to increase your Tip Top — gallery from time to time. You will probably hear of Grace Vernon again. Having been a constant reader of the Tip Top Weekly from No. 167 up to the present date, and never seeing any applause from Beverly, I thought I would drop a line in favor of it as a book for young men, as well as boys. I should like to hear from Frank’s father, as he is very strange and in- teresting. Long be the life of Bert L. Standish, Tip Top and its publishers. A. R.- BORD: Beverly, Mass. Thank you. Your wish about Frank’s father has already been gratified. Having read your Tip Top a number of years, I must state that it is a first-class book—a book that will instruct and please any one who reads it. I shall never be without it, and I am thankful for the day when it first came into my hands. Do and Dare is also very good. Best success to Mr. Stand- ish, the best story writer, and to Street & Smith for publishing tue same. FRANK ROSE NBERG, East Canaan, Conn, Your appreciation is most gratifying. We thank you for your kind suggestions. As I am here in London, I will write you to tell vou how much I enjoy your Tip Top over on this side of the water. One of my friends has sent it to me every week since I have been in Scotland and England. You cannot imagine what a treat they have been to me. The boys’ papers here do not touch it by a long way, I can tell you. How well Mr. Standish gave an account of London and Lon- don life. The metropolis is swarming with American visitors at present. The papers over here call it a “Yankee Invasion.’”” They claim there have been more visitors from the United States this year than ever before. Everything here is war! The papers give full accounts of the victories ‘‘at the front,”’ as they term it. When Lord Roberts’ picture is thrown on the screen by the biograph, the audience goes simply wild with enthusiasm. The most popu- lar songs here at present are ‘‘Tommy Atkins’”’ and “Soldiers of the Queen.’ But one thing an Ameri- can cannot fail to notice here is the desire on the part of the English to court—so it would seem—the friendship of America. The number of American flags to be seen in London-is amazing. Quite a num- ber of the shops display in their windows the Stars and Stripes and the British “flag together. And, truly, they make a pretty pair, I must say. The dancers at the theatres go whirling around the stage with the American flag in one hand Great Britain in the other, a performance which never fails to bring loud applause from the audience, and at the mention of Uncle Sam they always cheer. In a biograph picture at the Royal Aquarium Uncle Sam is presented as second to John Bull, and France as second to Kruger in a boxing match, and you ought to see the way the former sail in and give it to the Frenchman and Kruger. At the finish, when Uncle Sam and John Bull stand hand in hand _ to- gether, the spectators were loud and long in their eries of joy and dpproval. 'The Englishman is no as bad as most Americans think him, this side will prove. Englishmen have a high opinion of Americans and everything American. I hope you will print this in full, if only to show the readers of . the Tip Top that Great Britain bears no animosity or ill-feeling toward her American cousins, but gives evidence of friendship and admiration. Wishing Mr. Standish, Tip Top and its publishers every ‘success, __ RONALD J. GRANT, = ° London, England. This is a fine letter, and one which every Tip Top admirer will read with pleasure. Your testimony as | to the good feeling of England toward us bears out other reports from many sources. Why should there — be ill-will or animosity between the two great Hng- lish-speaking nations? Our interests are one; our aims are one. There may have been reasons: for but are not these:all forgot- ten in the light of the high Rurpone whith ae this and the mother oquntry al ike? (iets a and that of ~ , as ‘a Wisite tos: 7 » ar « take her part in the play? effectually Frank call Inza sweetheart? -No,' you haven't; TIP the controversy, I regret very much that this was ever started. So long as we do not air our prejudices and take an open stand, we are much more liable to greater apprecia- tion of the beauties of character! exhibited by the two contestants. When we become an open cham- pion of the one, we are blinded to the merits of the -other. The stories, so far, are entirely too interest- ‘ing to admit of matrimonial alliance,- which may dispose of the prominence of either of the two. However, it is a well-known fact that ex- *tremes should mate; and, were I to take sides, I should certainly declare in favor of Elsie. A man of strong personality, vigerous as to health’ and mind, “needs a woman who does not possess these at- tributes in so marked a degree as himself. Inza is too much like Frank to make an acceptable mate for him. Should-a dispute arise, Frank, with his ability to distinguish fine differences between right and wrong, and his determination to remain true convictions, would find a stubborn opposition on the part of Inza, which must, undoubtedly, sooner or later, produce discord and render both unhappy. Elsie is true to Frank in every way, even to the subborning of her opinions to his, and, again, she is his opposite as to her physical character. A man of Frank’s build demands a woman who can sym- “pathize with him, and who requires his protection ‘and stronger mind. Inza is too much like Frank— that is, she may think she is right in her opinions, and would, conscientiously, perhaps; defend them in. opposition to Frank, and. this would result in much unhappiness to both. ALFRED STEVENS, f Columbus, O. Regarding Eisie-Inza It requires a large and broad mind to be partisan in any contest and yet see the merits’ of both con- testants. We admire your impartial partiality. I have been a reader of the Tip Top Weekly for a long time, having all the numbers from No. 1 up to No: 232, and wish to say that I think it is the best paper published. I wish to say something in regard to the Elsie-Inza* question. I would like to have Mr. Bush and all the other admirers of Inza answer the following questions: Who was it that saved Frank’s life when he was thrown in front of the engine, and also on the Brooklyn Bridge? Who was it that saved him in the sawmill act? Who saved him from Percy Lackwell’s bullet? Who saved Frank from Sport Harris while he was in England? Again, who was it that fought a man and bear with only an umbrella to save Frank? It was dear little Elsie, who has golden hair and blue eyes, and is as true as the stars. Again, did not Elsie help Frank when Martin Brattle kidnaped her and took her to a flat in New York City by getting away .so as to Did she not sa Bobby Macfane? Did not Frark say that he did not think he would be happy with Inza? Did you ever nest ut 'you have heard him call Elsie his sweetheart. Now, let's see what Frank has done for Elsie. Did not Frank save Elsie from the burning ship, and did he not jump from one burning building to another with Elsie in his arms? Did he not save her from a gorilla, from the mutineers in the Florida Ever- glades, and from the Békalais, one of the most bar- ~-barous tribes in Africa? ,.Did not Frank choose Elsie ‘ ¥ believe you her equal. for the girls—now a few lines for the boys. instead of Inza in No. 99, Frank Merriwell’s Choice? Again, did not Elsie show-her courage in No. 213? And yet, after all Elsie has done, you will still call her a doll baby and a bread-and-butter girl. Inza did do a good thing for Frank when he was sick by taking care of him. I wish to say that I.do not think much of a girl who will send an infernal ma- Think of the way Inza — chine, as Inza did, to Elsie. treated Frank when he had his Christmas vacation! In No. 122 of the Tip Top Frank says, when he is. talking to Inza: “There is something about Elsie that draws me to her like a magnet, éven though I It seems as if we were in- tended for each other.’’ Would not Frank have pro- posed to Elsie in No. 157 but for Elsie, who said that if he was engaged to her he would not feel like going eps with other girls and having a good time? Because Frank met Inza first, it does not make it that he should marry her. he loves best, and that girl will be Hlsie. He will marry the girl So much Next to Frank, I like Harry Rattleton, and Bruce Brown- ing, although lazy, is Frank’s truest friend. Bart Hodge is also.good. I suppose Frank will return to Yale this fall and finish up his college life. Well, I will close by giving three cheers for Frank lished forever. JOSEPH W. BARNES, : ; \ Roxbury, Mass. ss Elsie finds in you a bold and fearless champion. Ache ro nagar no doubt, will have something to ALE TOPE ee a 3 ic etfs S TOP WEEKLY. to his, and, Elsie and wishing that the Tip Top Weekly be pub-. _ Thank you. 31 Top Next great number of your Tip with them. As to. the I have read a very great stories, and am greatly pleased to Frank I like Jack Diamond. inza-Elsie question, I think it best to let Mr. Stand- ish write his own stories; but, so many of the readers are giving their opinions, I thought I would give mine. DBlsie is the girl for Frank, and I think I can prove it. Mr. Bush says Inza is the girl for Frank, but any one reading No. 193 of Tip Top ought to see the difference between the girls. \Inza seems to think that Frank can’t go with any other girls but her or Elsie- Again, any one reading No. would see how Elsie loves Frank. Hoping that the Inza admirers will look at this carefully, QO: 8S. M., Cooletsville, Tenn. attention. of the Inza ad- as 205 This mirers. will attract’ the t have just finished No. 231 of the Tip Top Weekly, and in reading the applause I noticed a letter from Consuello Castro, of Washington, which rakes me over for expressing my sentiments so strongly. Well, I won’t retract a bit of it. Miss Castro says I have no right to say that I hoped the Inza admirers would reconsider the error of their ways. Well, I repeat the statement, and I think that my opinion so strongly favoring Elsie ,gives me the right to say it. Miss Castro says I’m prejudiced. Well, of course, I am, and so is she, or she would be too indifferent to make an answer to my former letter. Of course, Frank preferred Inza at Fardale before he met Elsie, for Inza is a very nice girl. Our friend at Washington says that Inza is brave. Well, I admit it, but stop and consider. A boy admires a brave girl. but the girl who appeals to him out of fear seems more like a girl, and he loyes one and admires the other. So it is with Inza and Elsie. Wishing success to the Tip Top, TOM TERREL, Clinton, Ia. Your arguments are certainly interesting and your choice well defended. I have looked carefully over your applause col- umns to find some praise to your admirable Tip Top Weekly from this place, but have never found any- thing, so I take the liberty in writing. We boys have gotten up a library, which we are going to name after Frank Merriwell. I am an ardent ad- mirer of Inza, and so are most of the boys. Long life to Tip Top, Frank and Burt L. Standish. AN INZA ADMIRER, Wilson, N. C. Thank you. - I wish to show my appreciation for the wear you publish. The Frank Merriwell stories’ are, with- out exception, the finest stories I have ever read, and I hope to be able to read them for many years to come. Wishing both you and Mr.:- Standish suc- cess, M. CONKLIN, New York City. Thank you. I wish to congratulate you on the great ‘book; the Tip Top. -About one or two months ago we saw a party who gave a theatrical. We boys and girls thought we would try it. We did, and it was a success. The following is the cast: F. Merriwell, Cc. Theinan; B. Hodge, R. Bessette; B. Browning, B. Coyle; H. Rattleton, F. Rostion; J. Diamaend, W. Monty; H: Dunnerwurst, Viens; Buck Badger, Bick Yeager; E. Gallup, A. Ronneau; B. Mulloy, M. Tabor; D. Griswold, B. Bennett; J. Ready, J. Ben- nett; B. Stubbs, H. Leader; M. Agnew, W. BRostion; D. Pike, J. Langley; Miss Elsie Bellwood, Miss L. Brown; Miss Inza Burrage, Miss G. Sowle; Miss Winnie Lee, Miss F.. Brady. Act I.—Morey’s. . Act Il.—F. Merriwell’s Room. Act. IlI.—The Yale Sampus. Hoping you will put this in your applause, ‘we remain your friends always. ~ New Bedford, Mass. Your play must have been excellent. Let us hear of more such from you and our other Tip Top dramatic societies. : I have read the Tip Top Weekly to my hushand for about a year, also lots of the back numbers. We think them the finest books we ever read. We think Frank the finest fellow we ever heard of, and next to Frank is. Bart Hodge. I like his temper. He’ is a noble young man. So many criticise his faults.: I would like to see the person who is without faults. Buck Badger is all right, also all of Frank’s friends. I wish there were more young men like Frank and Bart. We wish the publishers and the author of Tip Top Weekly a long and prosperous career. ; MR. AND MRS. G. E. BEYER, » t Enfield, Mass. ake Correspondence, Cc. A. T., Kalamazoo, Mich.—No premium. Frank B. Davidsdén, Spring Mill, Pa.—No- premium. H. BE. N., Chicago, Ill.—No premium on any of the coins mentioned. Valdosta, TOP “Bicyclist,”’ Ga.—No premiums on coins. G. BE. T., Lowell, you refer to in the 220 and 232 Tip Top. Buck Badger, Hinsdalé, Mass.—You can such a book by writing to Spaulding Bros., street, New York City. S. R. K., Water Mills, Long Island.—i. All the courses of freshman and sophomoré years at Yale are prescribed by the faculty. 2. It includes Latin, Greek, mathematics, all modern languages and Eng- lish literature. quoted Mass.—You will find the records Correspondence Column of Nos. obtain Nassau Young Voter, Meriden, Conn.—In the Presidential election of 1896 McKinley carried 23 states and Bryan 22. 2. Mc Kinley’ s popular vote over that of Bryan was 603,514. McKinley received 271 electoral votes and Bryan 156. T, R. W., Seattle, Wash.—1l. A new baseball organ- ization will be before the public next year. 2. It will be known as the National Association. 3. The teams will represent eight cities. 4. These will be Balti- more, Boston, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Chicago, and probably Pittsburg and Washington. EB. L. T., Rockland, Me.—1. Marconi is the discov- erer of the so-called wireless telegraphy. His theory is that the vibrations directly transmitted by elec- tricity as current passes over wire are likewise transmitted when the current passes through air. 9. The French scientist, M. Willot, now claims that the transmissions Marconi previously claimed to be made through air are in reality made through the earth and that Marconis signals, instead of leaving the top of the mast, as supposed, passed downward to the earth beneath the water. WEEKLY. LATEST ISSUES. 237—Frank Merriwell’s men at Billie's. 236—Frank Merriwell’s Ne Ww Protege; or, the Freshman Class. 235—F rank Merriwell’s Captivity; or, Kentucky. 234-Frank Merriwell’s Colonels. 233—Frank Merriwell’s cules, 232—F'rank Werriwel? s Double’ Play; or, Own Game. 231—Frank Merriwell’s Beating the Red Bowman. 230—Frank Merriwell’s Battery; or, Taming the ‘“‘Broncho Busters.’’ 229—F rank Merriwell’s Rough Riders; or, The Ath- letic Team at Badger’s Ranch, 228—Frank Merriwell’s Speed; or, Breaking the Chi- cago Colts. 227—F'1 The Blades of rank Merriwell’s Vault; or, Toledo. 4 226—F rank Hitting the Eastern League. , 225—F Merriwell’s rank Merriwell’s Throw; Niagara. 224—F rank Merriwell’s Wrist; or, The Nerve of Iron, 223—F'rank Merriwell’s Camp; or, Yale Athletics 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—F rank Merriwell’s Tiger’s Claws. 219—Frank Merriwell’s Compact; of Badger. 218—Frank Merriwell’s ‘‘Liner;”’ cot of the Nine. 217—Frank Merriwell’s ‘‘Pull’’; 216—Frank Merriwell’s Phantom; Barney Mulloy 215—Frank Merriwell’s Favor; or, True as Steel. or, Hazing the Fresh- The Star of eae he The Vendetta in _ Hustlers; or, Cracking the Find; or, The Hoosier Her- Winning His Archer; or, Wonders; or, or, Yale Athletes at Curves; or, Clipping the or, The Triumph or, Elsie, the Mas- or, True and Tried. or, The Ghost of Back numbers always on hand. If you cannot get our publications from your newsdealer, five cents a copy will bring them to you by mail, postp< tid. TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER'S BADGE. HALE PRICE TO OUR READERS 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 LE AGUE, finally adopted one which is an artistic gem of excellence. The pic ture shows the design, butit does not give you an adequate idea of the exquisite beauty of this elegant ornament. It is solidly and substantially made, finished in gilt and beautifully embossed. The widespread desire for this badge gave us so much faith in the enterprise that our first order was enormous, but we have been obliged to give a second order. We still offer it at the very low figure of TWENTY CENTS (‘len Cents in Cash or Stamps and ‘Ten Cents In Coupons, AN EXACT PICTURE < THE LEAGUE BADGE ONLY. Each coupon is worth five cents when accompanied by five cents in stamps or coin. TWO COUPONS AND TEN CENTS SECURE YOU THE BADGE. You can get as any badges as you desire at the same rate by use of the extra coupons Badges without coupons will cost fifty cents each. The coup@ns are free to TIP Top readers, and we adopt this method to prevent others from getting the hadge 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 EMe BLEM OF THE ORDER—and our word forit, you will be more ban pleased after you receive it. TIP TOP LEAGUE - MEMBER’S, COUPON This Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents i towards the purchase of the League Badge. STREET & SMITH. TIP TOP LEAGUE — MEMBER’S COUPON This Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents towards the purchase of the League Badge. — ° STREET & SMITH. To secure the promptest attention, ° address all ee on. the subject to Airhepa “Well, I say that the very best of men don’t know the dif- ference between their souls and their stomachs, and they fancy that they are a-wrestling with their doubts when really it is their | dinners they’re a-wrestling with. “Take my old man. A kinder husband never drew breath; yet so sure as he touches a bit of pork he begins to worry hisself about the doctrine of Election, till I say,