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n.

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PIO

“An ideal publ

Issued weekly. By

 

KLY

|

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tion for the American Yout

ICd

 

Entered as Second Crass Matier at the N. Y. Post Office by StrEET & SMITH

Subscription, $2.50 per year.

| [FRAN TERR

 

ive Cents.

Price, F

WEIL'S HUSTLERS

K

|

or CRACKING THE COLON

, ;
Sy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOE GAMP, CLINGING TO THE TOP OF THE FENCE, WITH HIS RIGHT HAND CAUGHT THE LONG FLY.

 

 
 

 
  

 

 

Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year.
St.

TID TOD WEEKLY

AN JOEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH |

   

 

 

 

Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 238 William
>. ¥Y. Entered According to Act of Congress,in the year 1900 in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.

 

 

New. YORK, October 6,

coe. Price Five Cents,

 

;

FRANK MERRIWELL’S HUSTLERS;

OR,

a Cracking the Cotonels.

pet iy

-

CHAPTER I

THE MAN IN GRAY.

 

 

“By guns, suh!” roared Major Norton

 

Gale, hitting the clerk’s desk in the office of

 

the Galt House a resounding thump with his

  

“that is what I call pure,
Just
look at that!” pointing a thick finger at a

 

huge clenched fist,

  

unadulterated gall, suh! Yes, suh!

  

page of the hotel register.

 

“Did you evah
. see such cheek, Colonel?”
The Major’s
son now, and his entire aspect was that of a
_ man ready to burst with wrath and.indigna-

tion, . He le glared at i eee hotel ee;

usually florid face was crim-

By BURT L. STANDISH.

ister as if he contemplated rending it into
fragments.

‘The Major’s left hand rested heavily on the
shoulder of his companion, whom he had
yanked up to the desk with one quick surge
of his powerful arm. This companion was a
little, skittish-looking man, with watery eyes
and burnside whiskers. He carried a crooked
cane and had one stiff leg. His clothes
were rather frayed and threadbare, while cer-
tain dust-filled spots on the front of the coat
and vest were suggestive of untidiness.

Colonel Pulsifer Plum, as this individual

was called, was a well-known character in

  

WP

    
   
     
     
   
    
    
    
  
  

   

    
   
 
   
   
    
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
   

2 CEE JOP

 

  

Louisville. He claimed to have been a
wealthy Mississippi planter before the war,
and to have held in the Confederate army the
commission which him

gave ‘the title by

which he was familiarly known. It was his

boast that a bullet in the knee at Gettysburg

had caused his stiff leg, and, under the
tongue-limbering influence of a few portions
of Old Rye, he could relate the most hair-
lifting tales of his adventures during the con-
flict between the North and South.

But it was a weil-known fact that Pulsifer
Plum had escaped impressment into the
Southern army by taking to the woods and
keeping under cover till the war was ower,
and his stiff leg had been caused by the kick
of a mule, which had shattered his knee-cap.

Even Major Gale’s military title was an
honorary one, as he had never seen army
service; but his friends delighted to call him
major, and it delighted him to have them call

him that. He assumed a military air and

roared and blustered at times.

Gale was well known in Louisville sport-

4
ing circles, as he was interested in’ horse-

racing and kindred enterprises, and had beer -

one of the heavy backers of the Louisville
baseball club at the time when the city was
included in the circuit of the National
League.
plunger, but in truth most of his moves were
deliberately planned, and generally his heavy
betting was on fixed things, he having been
“let in on the ground floor.”

Colonel Plum was a hanger-on who did all
-kinds of work for the Major, from acting as
his private secretary to being axmiddle man
or “go-between” in a deal with a hostler to
“dope” a horse or a jockey to “throw” a race.
Sometimes he was flush, but then he took

to opening all kinds of stuff, which accounted
for the tint of his nose.

Just now, with the Major’s hand firmly

- gripping his collar, he stared at the open ho-

WEEKLY.

He delighted to be known as a-

tel register in a bewildered way, wondering

what had struck his corpulent companion.
“Look at it!” roared Norton Gale, again
1 . a ? : ae & . e . . :

stabbing at the page of the register with his

thick finger. “Did yofi evah see anything

like that, suh ?”

the Colonel, trying to

“Hey?” gasped

catch on. “It’s mighty bad writin’, Major—
mighty bad. Anybody can see that.”
“Writing! What in blazes do I care about
that, suh! Can’t you read it?”

“T might if | had my glasses.”

“The trouble with you is that you’ve had
too many glasses this morning, Colonel
Plum. Look at that string of names, suh!”

“T see ’em, Major.”

“Then look at that bracket enclosing
them.”

“T see it, Major.”

“Then look at this writing on the opposite
side of that bracket. Those are the names of
a lot of diddly-hanged college kids without
a whisker to a mug of ’em. They’re nothing
but striplings, suh—mere striplings, suh!
And right here opposite their names some-
body has written, ‘Frank Merriwell’s Base-
ball Club, Independent Champions of Amer-
Think of a

ica.’ Wouldn't that chill you!

lot of college chaps claiming the independent

,championship of America! By guns, suh! [I

nevah heard of anything like it.”
Again the Major smote the desk, and, tak-
ing his cue, Pulsifer Plum did likewise,

though he nearly broke a knuckle,

“It’s an outrage!’’ squawked the Colonel,
excitedly rubbing his knuckle. “What're you

going to do about it, Major?”

“That’s the question,’ broke in a mild,
calm voice. “What are you going to do!
about it, sir? Frank Merriwell’s ball team
hds won the right to the independent cham-
pionship of Aimerica by defeating the lead-

ing independent teams of the country, and

 

 

.?
A ee ee

eee

   

 

 

 

      
      
        
 

 

 
      
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

so he has the privilege of writing what he
has upon the register there.”

The speaker was’a small man in gray, with
a thin, shrewd face and a self-possessed man-
ner.

The Major whirled about and glared
the stranger, who met his gaze quietly.

“Huah !”

suh ?”’

snorted Gale. “Who are you,
“My name is Hanley Rocks.”
“And what do you know about this Frank
Merriwell’s bail team?”
“T know it is the fastest and best baseball
National

club in this country, outside the

League. J also know it has defeated one of
the

shut out t

leading clubs of the Eastern League,
he Chicago Colts in the finest game
ever seen in the Windy
the
against.”
asap
suh!”

about this league business.

City, and wiped up

earth with everything else it has run

at do I care for the: Kastern League,
thundered the Major. “I know all
What do I care
for the National League! Louisville was in
1 the

Yes, sul’;

Wilts > ° oe
it, and we ha cleverest ball team in’ the

whole bunch. it's an acknowl-
edged fact, suh! We could have won the
championship any time, suh, but for the wire-
pulling and,crooked work among ‘the big
guns in the League, suh. I know, for I had
stock in the Louisville club—I was on the
imside, suh!”

“T helieve you are a backer of the present
known as

independent ball team in this city,

the Louisville Colonels,” said the man in
gray. | : :

“Ves, suh-—right, suh; and we can whip
any similar organization in the country, to

say nothing of the Brooklyns, of the big

league.”

“hen, of course, you are confident that
you can beat Frank Memweee team ?”
“Beat ’em—why, we can wipe "em off the

earth, suh!”

TEP DPOPCwE

  

DHK LY.

a
vw

“Yes, suh!”’ chimed in Colonel Plum,

“Tt would be a battle be-
Wouldn’t it,

flourishing his fist.
tween babies and giants, suh.
Major?”

said the

“T understand,” quiet stranger,

“that Frank Merriwell has prepared a chal-
lenge to your teain, which will appear in the
Courier-Journal tomorrow.”
“W-h-a-a-a-t ?”
“Wh-a-a-a-at ?” squealed
“That’s what,”

exploded the Major.”

the Colonel.
nodded the man in gray.
it, suh—

“T' nevah heard anything like

nevah, suh!” fumed the corpulent backer of

the Louisville team.
“Nevah,

panion.

suh4’” chimed his boon com-
said the stranger, in a coolly
“the

ten to one that Merriwell’s hustlers will de-

“Further,
aggravating manner, chances are about
feat your team.”

The Major came near falling in a fit,
Colonel Plum being forced to do his best
to support him.

“Ten—

crazy,

‘Gale. “Why

I'll have you arrested as

to—one!’’ gasped

you're suh !

a dangerous lunatic, suh! Great glittering

guns! I’d like to see the man who'd offer me
such odds! I’d take him for any sum he’d
put up, suh!”

flourishing

“Ves, suh!” squawked Plum,

his crooked cane. “For any sum he’d put
up, suh!”

“Very well,” said the quiet stranger. -“I
am the authorized representative of a man
who will bet fifty thousand-dollars to five
thousand that Frank Merriwell’s ball team
can beat the Colonels. Have you the five
thousand dollars handy, sir?”

“Eh?” faltered the Major.

“Tey?” whispered the Colonel.

The loud talk of Gale had attracted every
one in the office, and quite a collection: of

men had gathered near the desk. Sporting

blogd.iuns red and strong i in Louisville, and 3

   

  
 
 
   
  
  
  
  
 
    
  
   
  
   
      
 
   
 

     
 
 
 

   

& TIP TOP WEEKLY.

the offer of the man in gray created consid-
erable excitement.

“T’ll cover your five thousand with fifty
thousand the moment you put it up in the
hands of the proprietor of this hotel,” de-
clared the -cool stranger.

“By guns, sir!” burst from the Major, as
he plunged a thick hand into an inner pocket.
“I’m your man, suh! You'll either bet or
squeal, and if you squeal, I'll kick you from
here to the Custom House, suh!”

Out came the Major’s check book, out
came his fountain pen, and then, in a mo-
ment, he was dashing off a check for five
thousand dollars, payable -to the order of
“bearer.” .

“There, suh!’*he cried, as he shook it un-
der the nose of the mild-mannered stranger
—“there is my check for five thousand dol-
T will bet that’ sum that the
Colonels beat Frank Merriwell’s ball team.

lars, suh!

Now, suh, put up your fifty thousand—or
- run for your life!’

The proprietor of the hotel was now stand-
ing behind the desk, and Gale extended the
check to him.

Almost at the same moment the man in
gray extended a similar slip of paper, Saying :
Philip

Strange, whom I represent, for the sum of
fifty thousand dollars, payable on the First

“Here, sir, is the check of Mr.

National of this city. It is payable to bearer,
and may be converted into cash before the
game, if Major Gale should fear the stopping
of payment after the game.”

“A bluff!” roared the Major, grabbing the
proffered check and glaring at it. “I’m not
the man to be made sport of like this! I
demand the cash, suh!”

“My dear sir,” biandly smiled the stranger,
“it strikes me that you are somewhat unrea-
sonable. I have not that sum on my person
just now.” e

“Shoot him, Major!” squawked Colonel
Plum. “He’s been making a guy of you!”

“Not at all,” murmured the man in gray,
his hands in his pockets. “I fail to see why
I have not just as good right to offer a check
as you have, Major Gale. You were the first
to do so.”

“But any man and every man in this city,
suh, knows that my check is good, suh, for
five thousan’ or for any hang sum I put on
it, suh!” shouted Gale. “But nobody knows
that this thing is worth the paper it’s written
on, suh! Who is this Philip Strange’? Who
evah heard of such a man?”

“It makes no difference who he is, that
check is good. Take it to the bank and
satisfy yourseli on that’ point. My name is
Hanley Rocks, and I am the authorized
agent of Philip Strange, who is ready and
anxious to bet fifty thousand dollars to five
thousand that Frank Merriwell’s ball teanr
can beat the Louisville ball team. I will wait
here till you satisfy yourself about the check
by taking it to the bank.” eS |

“No need of that,” cried some one. “Here
is Mr. Gordon, the cashier. He can tell you
now.”

A man with iron gray hair and beard had

entered the office. Major Gale rushed up ta

him, thrusting out the check as he cried:
1 «6
ture on that check, suh ?” |

The bank cashier glanced at it, nodded,
and said: .

“Yes, Major.”

“What?” gasped the astonished man.
“You do?” :

“Ves, sir.”

“Then Philip Strange is a depositor at
your bank, suh?”

lec ig tS

¥

“And is he good for the sum of fifty thou- a

san’ dollars?” gasped the Major.

 

 

Mr. Gordon, do you recognize the signa-.

   

 

 

 

       
       
     
      
 
   
         
 

s

TIP TOP WEEKLY 5

There was a breathless pause, and then the
cashier calmly answered:

“He is good for that or ten times the sum,
Major Gale. That check will be cashed the
moment it is presented for payment.”

* CHAP PER «Hi.
SWIFTWING’S FAREWELL.
Who was Philip Strange?

An hour after the remarkable bet in the
Galt House this question had the sporting
circles of Louisville boiling.

No wonder, for it certainly seemed that any
man must be crazy to back a
ball

Colonels of Kentucky’s leading city.

“scrub college
team” at such odds against the crack
3ut it was also reported that Hanley Rocks,
the authorized agent of the mysterious Mr.
Strange, was still lingering at the Galt House,
having announced that he would take all com-
ers who wished to risk money on the Louis-
ville team, giving them the same astonishing
odds he had given Major Gale.

The newspaper reporters got hold of it and
rushed in a body to interview Mr. Rocks and
find out whatever they could about Philip
Strange; but, clever though the reporters
were, they obtained no information whatever
from Rocks concerning the man he repre-
sented. :

However, they were told that they could
find out concerning the financial responsi-
bility of Mr. Strange by applying to the First
National Bank. Some one had the curiosity
and he lez

to follow this out, urned that the

_mysterious individual in question was a de-

-positor to the extent of over five hundred

thousand dollars, the cashier having been in-

_ structed to answer questions in regard to this

matter.
arts

.

Of course this created.a still greater sensa-
e tion. -and of-a sudden it was difficult to find

: the | men who had been eager to place money

on the J ousville ball team by obtaining odds of youngsters below.

of ten toone. The iact that any man, known

or unknown, should have confidence enough
in Merriwell’s club to offer such odds in»back-
ing it was quite enough to cause the sport-
think

imply that the

ing fraternity to pause and it over.
Such confidence seemed to
Merriwells must be a very remarkable com-
bination of players. :

At the same time the beardless set of young
collegians had been seen on the streets of the
city and at the Galt House, and it did not
seem possible to anybody that they could
on the dia-

defeat Louisville’s “old stagers”’

mond.

That is, it did not seem possible to men of
mature age and judgment, but there were
youths and boys in the Falls City who were
Frank Merri-

well-in the box, the Yale men could down

perfectly confident that, with

anything on earth.

Frank was an object of curiosity to the lads
of Kentucky’s metropolis, a crowd of whom
linge red almost constantly in the vicinity of
the fibst famous and finest hotel to be found
in the whole state, watching to catch a
glimpse of their hero, while they discussed his
achievements. Occasionally

some skeptical

urchin would express a.doubt concerning

Merry’s abilities, following which said urchin

generally fled for his life, for he found he

had aroused the indignation of the entire mob.

Frank was somewhat annoyed, as well as
amused, by his popularity among the young-
sters of the city, for he found it difficult to
leave the hotel without having a gang of tat-
tered lads at his heels, staring at him, com-
menting among themselves in ‘awe-stricken
tones, or ready if some one led them to cheer

themselves hoarse.”

~

“Such fame is altogether too much for me,”
chirped Danny. Griswold, as he sat in Frank’s
spacious, comfortable room, third story front,
at the hotel and looked: down upon the knot

“T can’t stand the pres- fr

  

     
  
    
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
  
 
   
    
  
   
     
     
   
         
          
    
      
         
    
    
       
       
         
    
    
   
    
   
   
 
  
   
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
  
    
   
    
    
   
  

DA OLLI, £9

6 TIP

TOP

sure another season. I think I shall go

abroad, where I’m not so well known.”
“You

lying on the floor while he smoked a cigarette

may go,” grunted Bink, who was

surreptitiously, Frank having left the room.
“I don’t care to cross the ocean again.”
“Why not?”

delightful thing to be rocked in the cradle of

inquired,Jack Ready. “It’s a

What is there about an-ocean trip

the deep.
that you do not like, Binklet?”

“Oh, something always comes up to mar

murmured Stubbs, solemnly.

my pleasure,” j
“What was it the lul-lul-larst time?” asked

Gamp, who could always be depended upon

tc play the interlocutor.

“Everything: I ate,” returned Bink, with

continued solemnity.

Gamp stared, then dropped his jaw and
haw-hawed, as if this struck him as a great
joke; but Danny turned up his nose and
sniffed :

“Stale! It smelis!”

“Oh, the matter with you is that you're

sore because you had to leave Seymour and

Mary Bowers, you little runt!” blurted Bink.

“Yes,” chirped Ready; “he’d like to Sey-

mour of her.” Then he dodged and put up

‘both hands, gasping: “Refuse me! Don’t
throw the furniture at me! Something

might get broken, and I’m broke already.
Spare the furniture.”
“Mary Bowers is all right,” averred Danny,

sitting up and glaring round. “I. can lick

anybody that says she isn’t, too!”

“We-ee-ee!” squealed Bink, in delight.

“She said you were the most gallant fellow
She said

she ever met. I asked her why.

; ey:?
_every time you spoke to her you began by

saying, ‘Fair miss.’ I told@her that was from
force of habit, as you had once been a stréet
car conductor.” | os

“A-haw ! a-haw! a“haw!” bleated Gamp.

- Danny was, ready to jump for Stubbs and

 

where moonshine whisky grows.

WEEKLY.

‘
there were signs of trouble. From his posi-
tion on the couch, Browning lazily observed:

“IT know why the fair Mary of Indiana got
sticked on Danny. It’s clear as mud now.”’
“Why ?’* asked several.

“She found out he was a ball player, and
she must have regarded him as @ good catch.”

There was a deathly silence, and then, -with
the exception of Carker, everybody groaned.
;

“That’s worse than one of Bink’s stalest,”

declared Griswold. “Browning, you should
be presented with a dozen ripe eggs.”

““Eges-cuse me!’ droned the big fellow.
“T don’t care for fruit.”

“Here, Carker!” cried Rattleton; “cheer
up! What’s the matter with you? Get into
the game! Your face is long as a tombstone.
Come out-of it!” |

“Greg Carker looked up and shook his head
sadly, heaving a sigh. d

“It’s enough to make a man feel sad to
realize there is so much frivolity in a country
that is doomed, for I tell you, fellows, this
country is doomed.”

“93

“Ts this the same old doom, Greg?” asked
Ready, cheerfully ; “or is it a brand new one
that you've lately discovered ?”
Carker gave Ready one of his most re-
proachful looks. |
vei
“Always frivoloug and thoughtless,” he

murmured. “If you would pause a moment

99

 

in sober seriousness

“Don’t talk of sober seriousness in Ken-

“This is the land

Don’t for-

tucky,” laughed Jack.
get that, my dear old funeral.”

“If you would pause a moment,” Greg per-
sisted, “you could hear the rumble of the ap-
proaching earthquake. It’s coming just as -

sure as the present form of government and

; d ‘ .
the present state of affairs continue. Day by

day, the rich are growmg: richer and the poor
are becoming poorer. In time, the laborer

 

 

St
ae Tees

 

 

       
       
       
   
    
  

 

 

or

 

  
  

 

  

TIP TOP
of America will be degraded like the serfs and
slaves of——”

“Oh, what rot!” roared the boys in chorus,
having arranged to

previously interrupt

Carker the next time he got on one of his

doleful strains. .Ready gave the signal, and

everybody yelled the words, even Browning

sitting up to bellow at the top of his lungs.

Carker seemed pained and hurt, as he
looked round the room. He shook his head
and muttered:

“It’s no use—no use! They are like all the
rest of the world: they refuse to listen to
words of wisdom, warning them of the com-
ing crash.”’

“IT don’t care about the coming crash,” de-
clared Bink ; “but I am interested in the com-
ing cash. If the Louisville Colonels dare
accept Merry’s challenge to play us a game,
the winning team to take three-quarters of the
gate money, we’ll make a ten-strike here.”

“Not if you play on’ the team,” growled
Danny. “The time has come when we’ve got
to drop you or lose games.”

“Drop me, you red-headed parody on a hu-
man being!” howled Bink. “Why, they can’t
get along without me! and you've been
dropped for some time. You never could
play ball.”

“You're another! I can play all round you
any day.”

-
se

Bah!. You’re a big stuff!’

“Well, I can thrash you, anyhow!”

“In ,your dreams!”

“IT will!”

“Come on!”

“Look out!”

“T’m ready!”

“So am I,” said Jack Ready, stepping be-
tween them. “As Merry is not here, permit
me to pour oil on the troubled waters. Stop
this scrapping, or I'll lick both of ye!”

“That’s business,” grunted Browning, who

- was again reclining at full length. . “But I’d
se aD pane 5 5

f

WEEKLY. 7

like to have somebody explain what is meant
by ‘troubled waters.’ What does it mean,
Ready 2?”

“It doesn’t medn anything here,” declared
Jack, promptly. “Water is seldom troubled
in this state.”

“A-haw! a-haw!” came from Gamp. “That
makes me think of somethin’ gol ding ful-
fuf-funny. I hear they’re tut-tryin’ to parse
a law to mum-mum-mum-make pup-postage
stamp sellers pup-pup-pay a license in this
state.”

“What’s that for?” asked Rattleton, who
did not suspect Gamp.

“Bub-bub-bub-because they’re in the licker

bub-business!” stuttered Joe. “A-haw! haw!

haw!”

Finding he was the only one laughing,
while all the others stared at him in stony
silence, Gamp checked himself suddenly in
the midst of his outburst,of merriment, per-
mitted his mouth to close, gazed around, then

snorted:

“I sus-sus-said pup-pup-postage stamp
sus-sus-sus-sellers oughter pup-pay a license
because they’re in the lul-lul-lul-licker bub-
bub-business. Carn’t «you sus-sus-see the
pup-pup-p’int, you gol ding fuf-fuf-fuf-fools ?
That’s a jug-jug-joke, an’ you want to larf

at it pup-pup-purty durn quick, ur I'll sus-

‘

sail in an’ cuc-cuc-clean aout the hull bub-
blame crowd!” te

“Ha! ha!” said Ready, solemnly.

“Ho! ho!” grunted Browning.

“He! he!” squeaked Stubbs, pretending to
wipe away a tear.

“Haw! haw!” sighed Rattleton, in a most

doleftuul manner.

“Har! har!” grated Hodge, savagely, al-

J

though he had taken little interest in the con-

versation. (ee

“We “have ‘larfed,’ ” said Griswold hum-

bly.

 

 
         
    
   

.

  

OE oY

8 TIP

“You're a set of fools!” roared Gamp, furi-

3?

ously. “You don’t know a jug-jug-jug——

“Just show me a jug with_a little old-fash-
ined New England cider in it,” interrupted
Bink.

“You dunno a jug-jug-joke when a feller
mum-mum-mum-——”

“Everybody keep mum,” advised Danny.

“Mum-mum-makes one,” finished Gamp,
with a desperate effort.

“Make one and see if we don’t recognize
it,’ invited Rattleton.

“You gug-gtug-go to grass!” shouted Joe,
slamming himself down on a chair, his face
red with anger.

Then everybody roared with laughter, and
ir the midst of the merriment the door
opened and Frank Merriwell himself entered
ihe room.

“Fellows,” he said, “I have news for you.
The Colonels have accepted my challenge,
without waiting for it to appear in the Couw-
rier-Journal. Somehow they found out that
I had sent such a challenge to be published
in the paper and, without waiting to read it,
their manager, Norton Gale, has sent me a
note of acceptance, in which he states that
his team will not even permit us to score.
What do you think of that?”

“Methinks,” chirped. Ready, “that Mr.
Gale has machinery in his think-tank.”

“He'll change his mind after the game,”

grunted Bruce. ~
The boys were delighted over Frank’s suc-,
cess in securing a game with the Colonels,
for it was said that Louisville had a strong
team, and there might not be many more
opportunities to play ball on the homeward
trip. tee
“Tf we can down them,” said Rattleton,
“it will bap the whole kizness—I mean cap
the. whole business. We've had a great va-
Mather fellows.”
“Great !” shouted the others.

-no country of my own.
land of America once belonged to the red
man!

nferior of the red man.

  

go back to his people, he must again be-

TOP WEEKLY.

made it

who

“And Merry is the chap
great,’ added Harry. “He’s led us to vic-
tory all along the line.”

“Boys,” said Frank, soberly, “our success
has been something astonishing. Do you
realize that we have not lost a single contest

since we left New Haven? Think of that!

We had no such success last season. Once
or twice, things have looked mighty dark,
but the tide has always turned in our favor.
At Toledo and at Badger’s ranch, in Colo-
rado, it seemed to be the arrival of the ‘mas-
cot band’ that turned things our way; but
to-morrow we shall have no mascot band,
for Gallup, Mulloy and Dunnerwurst have at-
tached themselves to Scribner & Selborn’s
Circus, that is on its way East, and we'll see
no more of them this side of the Atlantic
You know Swift-

coast. Fhat’s not all.

wing has been missing since . yesterday.

Well, I’ve found out where he has gone,

Here is a note he left for me.” 7

Frank drew forth a sheet of paper, un-
folded it, and read as follows:

“Farewell, Frank Merriwell! The desert
and the mountains are calling me. My heart
sickens at the thought of the white man’s
great cities. 1 have seen enough of them.
The white man, in the kindness of his fool-
ish heart, took me from my people and gave
me an education. But he gave me nothing
else. ‘His education did not make me an
American citizen with a right to vote and
still to live among my people.as one of a
tribe.
Yet all this great

The black man, brought here from
another country, held in bondage for a time,

has now the right to vote and to hold of-.

fice. Yet, in all ways, the black man is the
To the Indian
everything seems wrong. Why take him

from his people and educate him? That

-education simply shows him how wretched.

is his condition. And then, when he would

I remained a creature with no land, |

     
       
          
     

 

 

 

  

 

  
  
   
    

  
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

; om
Poy

    
   

: a

 

gas Soe

come a savage, else they will have nothing
of him. He must throw aside his white

man ways and his white man learning, to

 

again be as he was before Indian. If

not,

an
outcast.
will not call him brother,
Farewell,
alone, have treated me as
You, alone, I love as a brother!

he does he is an The Indian
and the white man
Merriwell!
a brother.
[ have felt

reaching

shuns him, Frank

You,
a bond of silent sympathy from
your heart, the heart of a to
my heart, the heart of an Indian. Your lips
have not spoken much of this in my
‘but your soul has

white man,

ears,
spoken it to my soul.

i could not mistake it. I know we are
brothers, though _you are white and |. am

of you as my
I shall
in the desert, I shall think of you
Sometime,

Always I shall think

*In the mountains,

red.
brother. think of
you thus;
thus.
again. wonder where I shall go.
Not: back to my people, for once they have
shown me that, since I attended the white
man’s school, I not of them-—I am
First, I shall: go back

somewhere, we may meet
You may

am
neither red nor white..
to Badgers ranch,
waits: for me. In her veins. runs the blood
of fe ‘red and’ the white. She is neither,
and she’ is both.. I have spoken in her ear,
~and. she has listened. I: have told her my
story, and her heart has sighed. 1. shall go
to her, and she will follow me far from the
home of the white’ man. Somewhere we
shall find a home, and there we will live all
by ourselves. I will try:to forget that I
have no’ people, no country; no rights. “1
will be content with my Bright Fawn, and

no one who sees me will ever know: that

once | sat in the school at Carlisle, once I.
played on the football team, once, dressed
with the white man’s ‘clothes, I walked the
streets of New York, once I played “base-.
ball with Frank Merriwell and his * ‘college
nine. Any one who sees me will think I
am simply a wild Indian, a savage, a—
nothing. I have dreamed strange dreamis,
but they are over. . I put them ‘all behind
me, | leAve them ui the land of the white
Bi -man, aud I turn my face to ‘the mountains —
and: aC desert, Farewell, Frank Merri-
pee vod ome. Syartwine.

remarkable
where the Bright Fawn .

“pray. Reet a ade

      
      
   
  
   
    
    
 
     
    
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
    
  
    
   
    
 
      
     
       
     
       

WEEKLY. 9

finished reading, and he turned toward the

open window, so that his back would be to-
ward the others.

Dead silence had fallen on the laughing,
jesting lads.

CHAPTER IIT.

THE MAN WITH THE TERRIBLE EYES,
Mr.

of

Hanley
the Galt

Rocks lingered about the. of-

fice House, and he, also, was

an object of no small amount of curiosity.
He

anticipated that he would,

was watched rather closely, for it was
sooner or later,
meet and hold a consultation with; the mys-
terious Philip Strange.

But Mr.

anything of the sort.

Rocks seemed in no haste to do

gars and deported himself in a quiet, unos-

tentatious manner. There seémed to be
nothing of the freak about him, and yet ‘his

bet seemed. to indicate. that

either he or the man he represented’ Was not ~

exactly the same as the average mortal,
In answer to inquiries, Mr. Rocks always

answered that there was plenty more money

tc bet on Merriwell’s ball team at the same -

surprising odds. *
It was some hours after the original bet
had been made that.“ Major’

came puffing into the office, with “‘Colonel”’

Pulsifer Plum pegging along at his -heels.

The.) “major” looked about,

Rocks, and rushed up to. the represi sentative =

of the mysterious unknown.

“T am looking for you,:suh!”’

“Well, you have found me, sir,” “smiled
Rocks, pleasantly. ‘Ww hat can k do for —
you?” Morte

“Twant to know seiething? suh.”
“Yes,
know something, suh.” 6%

suh,”’-put in Plum, “we

"There are others, 5

Ahi

3 “4 want to. know suh, ify you are

He smoked good. ci- ’

Norton Gale ©

discovered »

1 Aas
he wheezéd.

 

want to -

y observed, the man, in %

     

    
     
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
    
    
    
     
       
    

parted.

. ing, suh !”

eae about with,a jump.

i his entire aspect.

  

10 Dae EE

 

stake at ten to one an unlimited sum upon

Frank Merriwell’s ball team, in case a num-
ber of gentlemen form a pool and make a
purse to place on the Louisvilles?’

was the calm

“T have been instructed,”

assurance, “to wager.at those odds the en-
tire amount of Mr. Strange’s deposit in the
First National. Are you looking for fur-
ther bets, major?” :

For some moments, both Gale and -Plum
stared hard at Rocks. * Then the corpulent
backer of the Colonels said:

“Til see you later, suh—l’ll see you later.

Ves, suh;. we'll see later,’ chimed
Plum.

Then the

you

“major” and' the “colonel” de-

Outside the hotel, the former said
to the latter:

“Thére’s no bluff about it; he’s ready

hos the limit.”

“Tt looks that way from the road, major—

it looks, that Ww ayy  coniessed the smaller man.

WV hat does it mean?

“This Strange
He don’t

seem to»mind betting a few hundred thou-

“Ask me!’> grunted Gale.

must be a regular Monte Cristo.

sand dollars any more ethan another man

would mind betting the drinks, It’s astonish-

*

Barely had they left ‘the office when, Sith

~a silent, rapid step a man reached the side of

Hanley Rocks and gently” placed - a long,

white hand on, his éhoulder™

“At the touch Wacky started yidient and

He found him-

-self face to face with a person whe chained

his attention on the instant. Kun

A rather spare man with a cadaverous face

stood there. ‘There was something sinister in _

His’ coal : black hair was
streaked with gray, and it fell upon the collar
of his coat.

  

WEEKLY.

heart swell

His. clothes» were, black and.
- fitted his spare frame too closely. From, head

   

and angle 2s. On his head he wore a wide-

brimmed black hat.
But it was to the eyes of the stranger that

Hanley Rocks was immediately attracted.

Such eyes he had never before beheld, and
Set be-

eyebrows, they

they seemed to turn his blood cold.
neath beetling, shaggy were
black as Egyptian darkness, piercing as the
keenest dagger, and shifty as the orbs of a
tiger-cat.. At first the pupils were as small,
almost, as the point of a pin, and from them

seemed to gleam a reddish fire; but swiftly

they changed, expanding in a marvelous
manner, expanding and opening, till their

‘depths, seemed like magic mirrors, in which

one seems to see strange, ghostly forms and

flitting shadows.
, Hanley Rocks was: fascinated and spell-
. He felt his

es a es of

bound b¥ those remarkable ey
and throb
choking fear, while a strange trembling
seized pon him, and something like cold
perspiration started out upon every Part of
his body. He felt the influence of a eae
natural and awe-inspiring Powers. ‘such as.
never before had 1 1e experienced.”

‘The stranger smiled, but aan" a smile !
[t was cold as the snow on the peaks of the
Rockies—cold as the ice crushed about the
Northern Pole. | There was no mirth in that
smile, and it re “minded Rocks of the erin of a

skeleton skull:

Then the man Pwosk e, and tits Voice was, .

hollow and empty , like an ‘echo in’ the ‘bare
room of a deserted house.
” “said the

“T beg: veur, pardon, stranger

°
with the terrible eyes. “I did not wish ‘to
alarm you; but it is my desire to ask youa
question. T heard you talking with the | cor-

pulent stranger who just ‘departed, and [

fancied that he spoke a familiar name—Mer-
‘riwell. Were, you speaking of : Leen Byes.

that. name, sir? an

gee

“Phe man’s

 

 

 

  
 

 

v=
ree

b

 

 

:

yet Rocks was irritated and annoyed. He

felt a strong repulsion for this stranger and
a desire to get away from him.

“That, sir.” said the agent of the mysteri-

ous Mr. Strange, finding his voice, “was our
business. Excuse me!”
_ The ghastly smile died instantly from the
face of the stranger. The pupils of the eyes
began to contract. The man’s thin lips were
pressed together.

“{ spoke to you politely,” he said, his voice
still having the same uncanny sound. “You
will answer me!”

“Why should [?”

“Because I command it!”
“Who are you?”

“T am Dion Santenel.”
“Never heard of you.”
“Perhaps not. Hundreds have. Look
into my eyes.”

It was a command.

Hanley Rocks tried not to obey, but he

felt a strange power draw his gaze to those

remarkable orbs, the pupils of which were ,

again contracted till scarcely more than
pin-points. And from those tiny points once
more gleamed that reddish fire. which
burned into the very soul of the man in gray.

Rocks was warned of danger, and yet he
could not turn his gaze from those terrible
eyes. The stranger who called himself Dion
Santene! had craned his neck forward and
was gazing at Rocks with fearful intensity.

Only a moment, then, with that same
mirthless laugh, he lifted his hand, made a
slow, peculiar gesture, and asked:

“Are you ready to answer my question
now?”

A deep sigh escaped Hanley Rocks and he
answered :

am”

“Good!” echoed from those thin lips.
“Then tell me, did that man speak of one

2 by the name of Merriwell?”

 

TIP TOF WEEKLY.

“He did.”

“Ah-a! Of Charles Merriwell ?”’

“No; of Frank Merriwell.”

Something like a look of disappointment
came to the indescribable face of Dion San-
tenel.

“You are sure?” he demanded, sharply.
ese
“Who is this Frank Merriwell?”

“A young man, a student at Yale College.”
“A student—not yet twenty-one?”
“Not more than that.”

“What do you know of him?”

“Very little.”

“Do you know his father?”

“No2

“Tell me the truth.”

“T have.”

“Where is this Frank Merriwell ?”

“He is behind us—coming toward us
now.”

Dion Santenel, the man with the terrible
eyes, whirled about with the sudden turn of
a startled panther.

Frank Merriwell was there.

They were face to face.

CHAPTER ‘TY;
A STRANGE POWER. :

For some moments the mysterious mau
and the healthy, sun-browned youth stood
confronting each other. Frank was struck
by the singular appearance of the man, so
that he did not speak for a moment.

The moment Santenel removed his gaze
from Hanley Rocks the man in gray shud-
dered, shook himself, drew a breath of relief
and seemed to come out of something like a
te stared hard at the back of the
man with the terrible eyes, and then, to him-

trance.

self, he faintly whispered :

“The very man! This is the one Mr..

Strarige warned me to be on my’ guard

against. 1 fell into his power because I did

   

     
  
   
  
      
     
     
     
       
       
     
       
    
 

 

    

12 EE SOP

not heed that warning and positively refuse
to meet his eyes.”

Rocks backed off a little, then paused,and
watched the man and youth.

“Are you Frank Merriwell ?”

The question came hoarsely from the lips
of Santenel.

“That is my name,’ answered the young
calm, well-modulated

college athlete, in

tones. “What can I do for you, sir?”

Then Hanley Rocks summoned courage
to step swiftly past Dion Santenel and whis-
per in Frank’s ear:

“Look out for.that man! He is Satan in
the flesh! Don’t meet his eyes for an in-
stant !”’ |

As Rocks passed on, he was followed by
a hollow, mirthless laugh that caused chills
to flutter along his back.

“T have warned him,” thought the man in
gray. “It was a part of my duty, and I have
done it.”

He retired to a-distant part of the office,
from which he watched Santenel and Frank
Merriwell.

“Poor, weak creature!” said the man in
black, motioning toward the retreating form
of Rocks. “It is easy to frighten such sim-
ple-minded beings. Now, young man, you
are not afraid of me, are you?”

“Of course not,” smiled Frank—‘not in

the least.”

“Ha! ha!” laughed the mysterious man.
That is
Because I happen to be pale and

6:

‘Of course not—not in the least.’
splendid.
because lung trouble has given me a strange-
sounding voice, some silly creatures shun
me and fear me. It is silly, isn’t it?”

“T should think so.”

“T’m glad you think so. I’m glad you are
You look
young and strong and healthy. Why, you
are a splendid-appearing youth! I don’t

not in the. least afraid of me.

 

 

 

WEEKLY.

know when I have seen such a fine-looking

fellow as you.”
“Thank you,” smiled Merry; “but I’m

afraid you are inclined to flattery, sir. If

”

 

“you have business with me

“Flattery! Not at all! I simply speak the
truth. And your name is Merriwell?”

“T have told you so.”

“You are the son of Charles Merriwell,
are you not?”

A remarkable feeling of danger seized
upon Frank; something seemed to warn him
not to answer the questions of this man.

“T have told’: you my name,” he said. “1
fail to see that it is necessary for me to give
you my pedigree. If you have business with

me, be kind enough to state it at once. My
time is limited.”

The man made a slow gesture.

“Why should you hurry?” he said. “Tt
may be to your advantage not to rush. |
wish to have a talk with you.”

“But I can’t spare time for such a talk

*now.”

‘‘Perhaps you had better spare it. I may
be able to tell you something about your
father.”
fin COAT

Yes a

“What do you know about my father?”
Frank doubtingly asked.

“Tf his name was Charles Merriwell, I
know much about him. I know you have

seen little of him in recent years. I know he

is now a man with snow-white hair and

beard. All his vast amount of money, and
he is rich as the Rothschilds, cannot give
him back his lost youth. Now, do you be-
lieve that I know your father?”

“Perhaps you do,” admitted Frank, whose
curiosity was aroused far more than he be-

trayed. “But what of all this?”

 

“Come to my room up one flight,” invited ;

 

 

=

 
 

  
    
   

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
  

 

 

= softly, saying:

TIP

 

Dion Santenel, ‘and I will tell you many
things that you want to know.”

Frank hesitated.

“My business——”

“Can wait,” murmured Santenel. “Is it
not more important that you learn the many
things I can tell you? Will you come?”

Frank looked into the man’s eyes. The
pupils were small as pin-points, and the red-
dish fire again gleamed from them.

For some moments Merry stood staring
at those remarkable eyes, and then he said:

“T will come.”

“Good!” muttered the strange man, exult-
antly. “Follow me.”

He led the way from the office.

And Frank followed.

CHAPTER V.
SANTENEL’S STORY AND THE STRUGGLE.

As Merry was passing through the door.
Hanley Rocks clutched his arm and hissed in
his ear:

“Stop! stop! Keep away from that man!
He is a hypnotist, and already he has you
in his power! Break away now, for you are
in terrible danger !”

Frank smiled quietly at the excited man
in- gray. .

“Don’t fear about me,” he softly returned
“He has no power over me, and I shall take
care of myself.

Then he passed on.

“T have done my best!” thought Rocks,
wiping his forehead. “It is not my fault if
the young fool will not heed. That man
Santenel will toy with him.”

Frank followed Dion Santenel up the first
flight of stairs to a room at the front of the

house. Santenel unlocked the door and mo-

tioned for Merry to enter first, but Frank
had decided not to turn his back on the
owner of the terrible eyes, so he laughed

TOP WEEKLY.

 

    

13

 

“After you, sir.’

Santenel hesitated, bowed, smiled in his
ghastly way, and enttred the room.

Merry followed.

“Sit down,” invited the singular man, wav-
ing a hand toward one of the chairs.

“Thanks,” said Frank. “I have told you
that my time is limited. Ill stand.”

“But what I have to tell you may take
some little time.”

“No matter. -Be seated yourself. I'll
stand.”

The man with the terrible eyes was not
pleased at this. For a moment he seemed on
the point of commanding Frank to be seated.
His eyes met those of the youth, who did
not waver or flinch in the least, and then,
with a quiet gesture, he took a chair.

“You'll excuse me,” he said. “This is
more comfortable.”

“T must again remind you that my time
is limited,” spoke Merry. “If you have any-
thing to tell me, I shall be pleased to listen
at once.”

“Very well. I have told you that I know
your father. It is true, but I cannot tell just .
where he is now.”

“How did you happen to know him?”

“T was once associated with him in busi-
ness.”

‘What sort of business?”

“Mining.”

“Where?”

“In Arizona.”

Now Frank knew that his father had
owned mines in the Southwest, but outside
of that he knew very little of Charles Merri-
well’s affairs. He also knew that some great
trouble or calamity had cast a shadow over
his father’s life, turned his hair snowy white,
furrowed his face, and made him old before
his time. Once Charles Merriwell had
promised to tell his son the singular story of _

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
 

  
  
     

  

his life, but this promise had never been
kept.

Frank felt his interest in the man with the
shifty eyes growing, for perhaps this man
might tell him some things that would clear
up the cloud of mystery that hung over
Charles Merriwell.

Merry felt those piercing, red-gleaming
eyes fastened steadfastly upon him. He also
felt a peculiar fascination in them—a power
it was hard to resist.

3ut Frank was on guard, and he had sum-
moned all his own remarkable will-power to
meet and combat that of this stranger.
Something told him he would need it all be-

fore he was done with Dion Santenel.

“T have heard that my father owned mines
in Arizona,” Merry quietly said. “How were
you associated with him?” :

“I was his partner. We were prospectors

in the beginning, and I need not tell you of
our hardships in tramping the mountains
and searching for a pay streak. It seemed a
fortunate day for us when we located the
‘Ragged Queen,’ but it was the very worst
thing that could have happened to us both.
I need not go into particulars, nor explain
how we raised the money to open up that
mine. It paid from the very start, and we
began to believe we were on the high road to
enormous wealth. I believe your father was
anxious to become wealthy in order to return
East and straighten up some sort of an un-
fortunate affair. He was greedy in his am-
bition for wealth, and a hundred times he
told me the world would never hear of him
till he could face it with money enough to
gratify his every wish, no matter how ex-
‘travagant.. For two years we bored into
the earth, having a great crew of men and
the most improved machinery. We were of-
fered large sums for the Queen, but both
were determined to hold on to her and work
her to the limit.

14 TIP TOP WEEKLY,

“In those days we lived the plainest sort
of lives. A hut was our home, and our food
was the food of the commonest laborer in
the shaft. Our only relaxation was card-
playing, which we indulged in occasionally
at first, but with growing frequency. At first,
to maxe it interesting, we staked small sums;
but, as the games grew more frequent, the
sums grew larger. Finally, we were playing
for amounts which made -the games some-
thing more than mere sport to pass away the
time. For a time, your father won, but luck
changed, and I had my turn when every-
thing came my way. “Iwas then that our
feelings toward each other gradually under-
went a change. From friends and partners
who confided everything to each other, we
grew to distrust, dislike and hate each other.

As I won, it became my ambition to clean

Charles Merriwell out completely, to gain

full possession of the Ragged Queen.

“But that was not to happen, for, one
night when he had staked his last dollar in
the world outside the mine, I won, and then

it was that he charged me with cheating. I[.

told him that he lied, and he struck me sense-

less with one blow of his fist. That was a
terrible blow, for it was more than a week
before I recovered my former strength. He
seemed to be very sorry for what he had

done, and nursed me faithfully.

“Tt was while he sat beside the rude bed
on which I lay that 1 made a discovery.
Hundreds of times I had been told that my
eyes were peculiar, and many people had
professed a feeling of fear when looking into
them. As I lay there looking straight at
Charles Merriwell, I longed for the power to

make him do just as I desired. Then the
belief came upon me that I possessed such a

power. I felt that I could bend him to. my
will. Without speaking, in my heart I or-
dered him to take down his coat from a peg
in the wall and put it on. And, as I lay

 

=e

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        
o

4 , ‘

 

 

  

formed the command in my heart.

- human being,

  

ar

there, trying to force this thought in upon

he arose, took down his coat. and put
At first,

than a coincidence;

him,

it on. I doubted that it was’ more

but then, when I had

again found your father’s eyes, I looked

deep into his soul and bade him get up and
returning it to the wall.
but

take off that coat,

{ did not utter a single word aloud,
And he
other tests, and I found [

obeyed! I made

could bend him to my will, but he did not

suspect this in»the least.

“Now, for all that he seemed repentant, I
as never had I hated
He had called me a cheat and

hated him before
his. fist had struck,me down at his feet. I
could not forgive nor forget.: I swore in tny
heart to»square that score with him, but ap-
parently such a thing had never entered my
thoughts. I pretended to receive him again
otf the old footing of friendship. Each day,
however, I was testing the extent.of my
power upon him, and each, day I could see
that it Was- stronger than the day before. I
‘worked until I couid control him fully—until
I found, that ge was helpless to resist my in-

fluence.
7 te « a 4
gi git ; S

“Then came my revertge!’’

_ Frank was listening to every word.
face had grown pale, for something. seemed

stb tell him that the story. this being with the

terrible eyes: was telling. must be true. Now

he advanced to a ‘small table that stood in.

the middle of the room, placing the*table
between himself and Santenel. te

“That is right, noddedk ‘the strange man,

with that same, mirthless « smile, ‘
self at: home: Sit down,”

x i « 4 ay

~
i © t

A Tt was a command, ‘accompanied bya ‘sin-
gular” gesture. Slowly. Frank sank* into a

His:

“make: your-

*

ao with his eyes, fastened on. those _

of, the man “he; om knew to be his father’ S

_ He Jeaned a and

 

become his perfect image.
é

“him and that J meant to destroy him.

     
   
  
    
     
     
  
   
   
   
   
    
   
    
   
  
    
   
  
   
 
  
    
  
  
   
   

TOP WEEKLY. 15

rested his arms on the table, his hand falling

on a heavy metal paper-weight.

“Go on,” murmured Merry.

“You are interested?” said the hollow

voice of Santenel.
You

thought you would wish to listen.

“IT knew*you would be:
away. °*J
Ha! ha!

I can

are not so eager to run

You are a handsome young man.

see that you resemble your father. He was
a fine-looking man when | first knew him.

If you were to live, you would in

If you were to
Ha! Life ‘is

haps you may never see angther sun rise.

live! ha! uncertain.
Who can tell?”
urged Frank.

rest of your story.”

“(so on,”
hear the
“In those days,” resumed the man, “I was
not known as Dion Santenel:

called Brandon Drood. It makes

little dif-

. m
ference whether or not that was my true
name. Since those days I have had a score

of names, Santenel being the last. Why

fore I have finished.

: oe
“As 1 told: you, I could not forget the”

1 plotted.
J longed for such re-

blow your father had struck me.
and planned revenge.

venge as should satisfy my soul: One day _
I exerted the full strength of my power upon

Charles

had him completely in hand, I told him to
s ; ;

his face that I had never. ceased to hate

“Metriwell.

mine, where a false lead had been followed
till it petered ‘out* There I had everythitig-
arranged, as I explained to‘ him, so that a
small blast. would cause, the shaft to” cave.
in and close itself completely. Then I told
him that he must go in there, totich the

“blast off with his own hand, retire into the.

shaft and wait to be buried alive.”

The wretch’ ‘stopped a moment, fancy
Rees » se

time

Per-

“Tl am anxious to

Then I was

I

have had so,many names you shall know be-_.

When satisfied that I-

‘Tiled
him down into an abandoned branch of the is

>

  

Ss

*

      
     
       
       
       
  

   
   
16 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

some ex xpression might fall from the lips of disappearance of Charles Merriwell, but I
his listener, but Frank remained motionless, showed papers which seemed to prove that
waiting for him to resume. everything had been transferred to me, and

“Was it not a grand-revenge for that | simply stated that businéss interests had
blow?” roaked Santenel, with a horrid taken him to South America. I think I was
smile. “I told him how he would linger in suspected by one man, but one night I
the darkness. till he starved, how he would looked deep into his eyes, and my heart
beat his hands against the rocky walls, how commanded him to fall into a deep ravine
he would pray for death. He fell on his on his way to his cabin. Two days later,>

knees at my feet and entreated me not to his body was found at the. bottom of the

«

send him in there—not to make him fire favine.

the .blast that should bury him alive. I “T had money, and I left Arizona. Some

pushed him off and laughed in his face.” * months later, a man came to me sand of:
Now there was “a strange gleam in the fered to purchase the Ragged Queer.) Hew *

éyes of the pale- faced lad who listened with- seemed like a tenderfoot, and-he had a story ©
out speaking: His hand had closed con- of a project to organize a fake stock com-=—
vulsively on the heavy paper-weight, and pany and sell certificates to credulous East-
his jaws were square-and hard. ern suckers. I sold to him. - Four months
“Well,” Santenel went*on. ‘ “I sent him in after I sold, the mine, re-named ‘the Lost

_there. He could not resist my command. Man, was paying as> “it never had before.

"He fired’ the blast and retreated into the Phe new owner, who had been represented

shaft.” I bade Rinitarewell aud. fed... Be-cc Oy Sue hail whe bought from me, had opened.

hind me’ "sounded the explosion and the | UP the shaft in which Charles Merriwell was

ers falling earth. When I crept buried alive, had followed it intoa singu-

back to examine, I found the’shaft-com- at natural’ cavern, cand: had. located there

pletely ‘blocked’ by tons of earth, and I felt. one of the richest lodes i in the whole South-

‘that Charles Merriwell was buried forever _, west.

from the light of day and. the eyes of hu- iC EOL course TI was curious “to know 4f the

-man beings.” |. bagen Fee bones; of Merriwell had been found, and this
Still no word from the cones ite curiosity led: me back there. I could learn
Le _of the youth across the table. Santenel was nothing. I-tried to obtain. an. interview with >
boring Frank through with those terrible the new owner of the mine, but found that.»
_eyes, the eyes which had compelled Charles he was a TORE mysterious person, ‘seldom re

% “Merriwell to bury himself MPG. = ey ee “Seen. by. any 4 one,

eey was wrong,” the wretch confessed, “But, ‘one iene} Ke: I alee’ I awoke to
after a pause. “For a year [ fancied I had aa Charles Merriwell standing by my side.

* ar}
ae

+

Os ‘accomplished my purpose, and no ghost His hair was white as 'snow, as was his, *

- rose to haunt me. But, with the falling of” “beard. His face bore a strange. pallor, and
that. blast fortune turned against me, andj there was something: in his_ manner , that © 3
within that year, the Ragged Queen pe- made‘ my soul / shudder and quake, es “s
“tered” out completely. In vain “experts tried 3 thought him. a- wraith, ‘but he spoke and told

vag relocate the paying vein; it seemed run Some. that he still, lived. He told ‘me ‘that ¢ thes
oe and ended. aayie mine was abandoned. | hand. of God had led “him from that. ae #

 
Ci. a

  

Ce

open air. He it was who had bought back

the mine. He told me that his wealth was

rolling in so fast that he would soon have

enough to-~ gratify his most extravagant

 

Then he added that from that hour
He would hunt
me up and down the face of the earth, and

wish.

ae he would give me no peace.

his one object should be to make me mis-
erable, to drag me down to poverty and dis-
grace, to wreck my life and to make’ me

suffer the tortures of the damned.

“Up to that moment, I had been too terri-

“When I did make such an attempt, he was
*From that day till: the present time
He

is now fabulously. wealthy, for he owns many

gone.
he has persisted in keeping his word.

valuable mines and much other property.
‘He has dogged me from one place to an-
other with the persistency of a
out of the West,

refuge in New York,

Nemesis. -He

drove me and I found
for a time, I
But the tide

single day; I

where,
prospered in stock operations.
turned against me, and, in a
lost every dollar I possessed. ,
lost} he sent word, that he. had operated
brought about my ruin.. I-fled from New
York, crossed the ocean,
_foreign lands, but he pursued me every-

~ where. L -have. been unable to escape. A

 

score of times L have tried to. stand. face to

_ power, but he has avoided me. Against me

- revenge has been complete.

“But now,” Santenel smiled, evilly, ‘my
I have met you.
Through you I shall
ik strike him. + hhave told you this story that

ee might ‘enjoy, my reprisal more. fully. It

turn has come again.
_ You are his son.

TOP WEEKLY.

fied to attempt to use my power over him.

—my revenge!’ What do you think of yar 3
‘that? Ha!ha! Isn’t it.a pretty picture?” :

When all was’
against me and had* “worked the wires that
roamed through .
‘The moment he felt that the hypnotist was
es face with him. and again get him into my.

he has brought the power of money, andchis—

“‘e
z _ be little satisfaction ots ame to crush’

- grace.

an ee

         
   
    
   
   
    
 
 
  
   
  
    
    
  
     
   
 
   
  
  
   
    
   
  
  
   
  
 

17

ae

power has developed till no man can resist

it. As we have been sitting here, I have
placed you beneath my control, and now

you are utterly unable to obey your own
will. You are young and handsome, a per-
fect specimen of physical perfection. [|

shall bring about a change. I shall cause
you by my influence to-take to drink and
become a wretched sot; I shall compel you
to. eat opium and kindred drugs until your
mind is destroyed; I shall never let up till
you. are- a_ wretched,

degraded creature, - eh

shunned and loathed by all» Then I shall

say to your father: “Behold! this is my work

He leaned forward and made some strange

passes with his hands. Frank was’ looking

straight into his eyes, and he did not stir.
Santenel sat quite still, for something warned
him that he had not yet conquered. It was
evident that he was putting the full force
of his subtle power into one. supreme effort

*
to conquer the son of the man he hated.

"Frank felt that power, and, having been
forewarned, he was prepared to- resist it.
Unconsciously something of a hypnotist
himself; possessed of. a wonderful will and
determination, he had told himself that he

would not permit Santenel to conquer him.

seeking to master him, he brought the full _
force at his command to battle with and Tene
buff the influence of ne man. ~ te

¥ ‘ tee

Thus they sat for some moments, staring

 
     
     
    

into each other’s eyes. It was a strange

 
   

~

battle—the strangest in which Frank Merri-

      
 

well had ever participated. Having listened

    
 

‘to the words: of Santenel, Frank knew that -
this silent battle of the eyes “was A067 be a oa
‘supreme test between them. He knew that oe
‘on the outcome. aepended. his future. If he z
met defeat, it” meant ruin, degradation, dis-
Tf he met et defeat, he-had nor doa

    
       
     
 
  

 
 
      
  
 
   
  
 
  
 
 
   
  
    
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
   
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 

 

SS

x
t

- of dismay atid

 

18 TIP’ TOP

but this creature without a heart would drag

him down as he had promised, thus obtain-
ing revenge on the father through the son.
the red

Santenel leaned further forward,

light seeming to shoot from the tiny ori-
fices of his contracted pupils. . His face was

. _ : ,
drawn, like that of a man in great agony,

and his aspect indicated that he was exert- :

ing all the strength of his evil soul for the

mastery.

-Calmly, steadily, with squared, jaw and

compressed lips, Frank Merriwell met that

gaze. He was confident of victory, yet he
did not make the mistake of being over-
confident and. relax his. combative power.
As the moments passed, it almost seemed
that the: throbbing of two human hearts
“could be heard in that room.
suddenly,

the street came a cry in a clear, boyish voice

The imac was open. from
—the voice of a Louisville youngster:
“Hooray fer Frank, Merriwell, ther chap
what never was beat at anything!”
This was followed by a shrill cheer frSmn
the crowd of urchins gathered in front of
the hotel. 2 3 eeep

Santenel gasped, choked, uttered a snarl

defeat: He knew
failed.

“The fitst time’ in my life!” he muttered.

“PEE can’t conquer you that way, you shall .

never leave this room!”
Quick as a “flash, he snatched forth a re-
volver and pointed it at. Frank.

»

E qually quick, . Frank leaped up with the

heavy paper- -weight in his hand. He threw

‘the weight before he was fairly erect, and

it struck, the hand that held the revolver,

causing the weapon to drop to the floor.

With the leap ‘of a ‘panther, the son of

» Charles M erriw wie a the Pape: Nee

dead. And now I have

first kicking aside the loaded

he stood over Santenel, his’ finge

he had.

 

 

WEEKLY.

He had Santenel by the throat in a twinkling,
holding the wretch helpless in his grasp.
“You miserable whelp!” Frank: panted,
looking with loathing and contempt into the
face of the villain. “You murderous snake!
I to-choke
body! It

almost seems that Almighty. Providence“has

It would serve you right were
the breath of life from your dirty
in this moment given me the permission to
avenge the frightful wrong you did my poor
father! For,
in burying hint alive to ‘perigh> of hunger
and thirst, the frightful
passed through crazed. him for the time.
When last I saw-him, he had not entirely re-

covered.

up and down the face of the earth, seeking

vengeance! Something tells me he may
never be fully restored to sanity till you are
you in my clutch!

I am his only, son!”

Frank had forced the wretch to his knees,
revolver, and
into the man’s ‘throat: <

As Merry looked, downy that cadaverous

face grew red and: then purple

ful gurgling sotind seemed smothered in‘

Santenel’s throat. ag

*

It seemed that Frank ag resolved 48

avenge his father then and there.

_ The Ged ‘lig she had died out of Santenel’s

eyes, and now the pupils were widely ex: .

panded.

expression of cowardly fear and _entreaty

that was sickening to behold:
could not, speak,

his vo life..

Nese but once before had Frank Merri. -
‘well felt the awful thirst for, a human life.

That occasion was when he had struggled
_with Sport Harris on the rotten bridge in,

far away. Bees. ad leertage che had

though you did not’ succeed.

ithe

ordeal that he,

No wonder he has pursued you >

rs sinking

; while a fear- 9 ©

And those eyes were filled with an.

The man
but he was begging for.

{ sh ctesseictne,

were

    
   
   
     
      
        
 
     
    
    
     

  
 

oe

6

we

a

el

oer See OST
Ping Stas psec tl

 

ee Re the

 

22

iiasitid tes ica

pee £8

 

    

Pie PoP

thanked Heaven that he was prevented from
accomplishing his purpose. :

Now he experienced:the same fearful de-
sire, and it caused him to. think of that other
the

strangled in his clutch.

time. Santenel, serpent, was being

It was thus he had
seen the face of Sport Harris turn red and
purple and black

Suddenly he relaxed his hold, but San-

tenel lay helpless in his hands. He bent
over the man and spoke in cold, hard
tones:

“No; I will not burden my soul with your

miserable life! Something tells me that I
have come between you and my father, and
that the spell you. cast over him is broken.
Something tells me that I have conquered
you for all time, and that when next I meet
my father he will be clothed in his right mind.
I shall let you go now, but keep away from
me.
I shall become yours, and I may be tempted
to make of you the wretched thing you
threatened to make of me. Even that could
not lower you much, for already you are a
snake in human form. It is contamination
to touch you!”

With a sudden surge, he flung the wretch
into a corner, and there Santenel lay limp
and motionless, while Frank turned and
walked from the room, without even. casting
a backward glance of caution over his
shoulder. a ae

CHAPTER VI.

READY FOR BUSINESS.
A glorious day in early fall. A mighty
crowd had gathered on the Louisville base-
ball ground’to witness the contest between
the Colonels and Frank Merriwell’s team.
The game had been well advertised by the
“newspapers, which had contained pictures of
Frank and stories of his victories. But a
greater a had been the story of

   

You know you are not my master, but:

   

WEHREKLY. 19
the astonishing bet made by one Philip
Strange on the result of the game. Even the

shrewdest reporter had been unable to solve
1e mystery surrounding the identity of Mr.

I
th
Strange. Scores of stories, all fashioned

from vivid imaginations, were afloat con-

cerning the personality of Mr. Strange, his

fabulous wealth, and the manner. in which

he had: acquired it. And all these wild yarns
had helped to draw the crowd to the ball
ground. Not even in the most hopeful Na-
tional League days had a greater throng as-
sembled to witness a’ball game.
With the older people, the home team was
the favorite; but not so with the boys and
girls of Louisville, all of whom had heard of
Frank Merriwell.

city were for Frank in a body, and they were

The young people of the

adorned with the Yale blue, bore blue pen-

nants, and stood ready to yell themselves

hoarse for the lads from New Haven.
“Major”

important and self-satisfied.

Ch Saal ee iz cs :
Gale was on hand, looking very

hath
Plum trotted about at his heels, as a

As usual.
onel”
dog follows its master.

‘A great day, colonel,” puffed the “major.”
“And a great gathering. I have but one
regret.”

“What is that, major?”

“That I did not place a larger amount on
the Why,

raised five thousand more yesterday.

a 4 .
home team, suh. might have

Then
I should have stood to win one hundred
thousand dollars.”

“And to lose

99

 

“There is no question of losing, suh! Our
team can’t lose to those inexperienced col-
lege boys. No, suh!” |

“Of course not, but——-”’

“There are no buts about it, suh! If I could
have found Mr. Hanley Rocks to-day, I’d
taken him for another five thousand; but he
was gone, and no one has been able to find

him, All day a crowd of men with money x

 

 

 

      
  

  

_

has been hunting for him. But he took to
the woods, suh, and he could not be found.”

The Louisville players had been in prac-

tice for some time.

“Tt looks to me, major,” said Plum, “as if
Merriwell’s ball team may fail to appear on
the field. It’s time they were here.”

“If they fail to come, the bet is forfeited,
and I shall hold it. Yes, suh—every dollar
of it.”

At this moment, the proprietor of the Galt
House rose in the grand-stand and cried, in
a loud, clear voice:

“Tadies and Gentlemen: Within an hour
by special messenger, I have received from
Mr. Philip Strange a communication. As
you all know by this time, | am the stake-
holder of the most remarkable wager ever
made on a baseball game in this or any other
city. Mr. Strange, through his agent, Mr.
Hanley Rocks, bet the sum of fifty thousand
dollars against five thousand, odds of ten to
one, that Frank Merriwell’s ball team would
defeat the Louisville team.. In his communi-
cation to me, Mr. Strange says that he has
learned that Mr. Merriwell deplores the bet,
being out with his college team for straight,
clean sport, and wishing to be in no way con-
nected with gambling ventures. This being
the case, Mr. Strange wishes me to state
that, in case he is the winner, the sum com-
ing to him will not be accepted, but will be
donated to the Masonic Widows’ and Or-
phans’ Home, together with the amount he
has staked against it, making fifty-five thou-
sand dollars in all.”

When the speaker sat down there was a
breathless pause, as the astounded listeners
took time to grasp the full meaning of this
proposition. Then came a murmur, a hum,
a roar, a wild cheer of admiration for the un-
known man who had made such a magnifi-
cent offer.. After the cheering had subsided,
excitement ran high, for more than ever was
the curiosity of the people aroused as to the
identity of Philip Strange.

“What do you think of that, major?” pal-
pitated “Colonel” plum. “Did you evah
hear anything like it?”

_And Gale simply gasped:

“Nevah, suh—nevah!”

   

Frank directed the practice.

 

 

20 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

The excitement following the stake-hold-
er’s speech had not subsided when another
commotion was created by the appearance of
Frank Merriwell’s team on the field. As the
sun-tanned young’ gladiators came trotting
out in a body, dressed in their dirt-soiled
uniforms, it seemed that every soul under
twenty years-of age, and not a few above that,
in the vast audience rose up and screamed
and shrieked and yelled. It was a greeting
to stir the blood, and the calm face of Frank
Merriwell flushed a little. :

It was some moments before the cheering
subsided. Then a handsome young Yale
.man on the bleachers started it up once more
by asking ‘in stentorian tones what was the
matter with Frank Merriwell. Merry’s
youthful admirers howled back in unison
that he was ali right, and they would not be
silenced until they had nearly exhausted
themselves. s

“Well, bub-by gug-gosh!” stuttered Joe
Gamp. “I never heerd anything lul-lul-like
that outside of New Haven befuf-fuf-fore.”

“Tt is the way of the world,” said Carker,

sighing sadly. “To-day the crowd cheers for _

its hero; to-morrow he is forgotten and an-
other has taken his place. What’s the use?”
“Greg, you're always worried and worry-

ing,” said Ready. “Come out of it! Imitate

me and you will taste the sweets of life, in-

stead of having your mouth continually
puckered up with the bitter dregs.”
“Don’t you ever worry?” asked Carker.
“Never,” declared jack.
“How do you avoid it?”
“Well, in the daytime I’m too busy, and at

night I’m too sleepy. “Here wo go out for ’

practice. Forget it, Greg, and get into gear,
for we’re going to have our hands full this
salubrious day, and we can’t afford to ruin
our record by losing the last ball game of
the season.” ‘

Out upon the field trotted the Yale men,
the Louisvilles having made room for them
by retiring. Two balls were-put into use,
one being batted to the in-field and the other
to the out-field. Two of the Colonels did
the batting. Bart Hodge was in his place as
catcher to handle the in-field ball, while

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

     
     
     
 

 

  
    
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

    

Lie ake

 

As Swiftwing was gone, Griswold was
again in right field, and he was in his glory.
He covered ground in an astonishing way
and caught everything he could touch. His
practice was far more snappy and pleasing
than that of Carker in left, who somehow
seemed strangely oppressed and unable to
throw off the cloud of gloom that had settled
upon him.

Stubbs was not to be outdone by Danny,
and he “ate” every kind of an old ball that
came into his territory, and his throws across
to first were perfection. Ready was all alive
on third, and Rattleton let but one get
through him at second. On first, Browning
took all sorts of difficult throws with lazy
ease. Gamp did good work in centre field,
and Frank was pretty well pleased with the
practice until Hodge made his first throw to
second. To Merry’s surprise, Bart threw
twenty feet to the right of the bag and fifteen
feet. above the ground, so that the ball did
not.stop till Gamp ran it*down out in the
field,

“That must
laughed Frank.

sart said nothing,

When the ball came in, Merry called for
another throw to second, and to the wonder
of all and amazement of many, Bart threw
exactly the same as before.

Still Hodge offered no word of explana-
tion.

“Major” Gale bustled up.

“The hour has arrived for the game, Mr.
Merriwell,” he said. “I think your men have
had practice enough, suh.”

“All right,” nodded Frank, although he
‘had not warmed up himself.

Then he took one of the balls and, during
the few moments of delay, did some brisk
throwing to Bart. Hodge was silent and
strange, a singular dreamy look on his dark
face. But he held everything till Frank said:

“We've two strikes on the man, Bart.
Here’s the double for a fan.”

He sent in the double-shoot, which struck
- in Bart’s hands and went through them, roll-
ing twenty feet away.

The umpire was advancing onto the field.
Frank walked up to Bart, asking: |
“Are you feeling all right, old man?”

have slipped, old man,”

 

  

  

WEEKLY.

21

“Yes,” was the answer. “I never felt
better.”

The Louisville’s had chosen to go to bat
first, so Frank immediately put his team onto
the field, entering the box.

There was a hush. he game was about

to begin.

CHAPTER VII.
A BAD BEGINNING.

Louisville Colonels.
Roberts, 2.

Roach, r.
White, c.
McVeigh, 3.
Orland, m.
Drinkwater, s.
Whiskemore, I.
O-Hara A.
Black, p.

Above is the batting list of the two teams
as given to the scorer.

“Hit it out, Robbie, old man,” cried one
of the Colonels, as the first batter took his
place, poising one of the far-famed “Louis-
ville Sluggers.”

Roberts grinned and fanned at the first
ball Frank put over the inside corner.

Merry’s admirers shouted.

Something had told Frank that Roberts
could hit an out-curve, so he kept them in
close to the batter’s fingers, and the Louis-
ville man made three fouls in succession.
Then Frank sent over a high rise, and Rob-
erts missed again.

“Two strikes!” announced the umpire.

Immediately Merry assumed a_ position
that told Hodge he would use the double-
shoot. f

The next ball looked like an out-curve
that would take the outside corner of the
plate, and Roberts went for it hard. The
ball, however, reversed and passed so close
that it seemed to graze the _batter’s
knuckles. 5

“Three strikes!” cried the umpire.

Again Frank’s admirers screamed, but the
shout was turned to a cry of dismay, for
the ball seemed to go through Bart’s hands
and roll twenty feet away.

Roberts sprinted for first on the instant,
while Bart leaped to get the ball. When

Athletic Team.

Ready, 3.

Hodge, c.
Browning, I.
Merriwell, p.
Gamp, m.
Carker, 1.
Rattleton, 2.
Stubbs, s.
Griswold, r.

   
     

 

     
     
     
     
  

  

22 TIP

  

he did get it, Hodge threw so badly that
Browning was pulled -off first to take the
ball, and Roberts went over safe.

“That’s a starter!’ shouted Orland, the
captain of the Colonels. “Why, we don't
have to get hits in a game like this.”

He took his place on the coach line near

se

first and “opened up” with a running fire
of advice to the base-runner, his talk being
intended mainly to rattle Frank.

“That’s all right, Hodge, old boy,” smiled
Merry. “First time you ever did a thing
like that. You couldn’t do it again if you
tried.”

Bart said not a word.

Roach followed Roberts, while Frank
kept the runner near first by watching him
closely.

However, on the first pitched ball, Roberts
started to steal. The ball plunked into
sart’s, mitt, and Hodge threw to second
without delay.

Then another shout went up, for it was
‘seen that the throw was high in the air and
far to the right of the base.

“Take another!” screamed Orland, and
Roberts passed over second and raced on to
third, where he was held by a coacher, for
Gamp had stopped the ball and fielded it
in to Rattleton. :

“What have we struck!” laughed Orland.
“Ts this a ball game? Wouldn't that kill you
to death!”

“Steady, Bart,” said Merry. “We'll stop
it right here.” 3

But it did not stop there, for again the
third strike was dropped by Bart, and Rob-
erts came dashing home, while Roach
sprinted down to first.

Merry had rushed in to stop the score,
but Bart did not seem able to get the ball
to him in time. |

“Are you sick, Hodge?” asked Frank,
seriously, for never in all his experience with
Bart since the old days at Fardald had he
seen the wonderful catcher do anything like
that.

But Bart again declared that he had never
felt better, and Merry returned to the box,
hoping the foolishness was over. ,
“Tt strikes me,” murmured Ready, from

Wars Z a

 

eee

     
   

TOP

WEEKLY.

third, “that our friend Hodgelets has broken
his pledge.”

“Tf he keeps on this way,’ growled
Stubbs, “he'll break my heart.”

“It may be that the bracing atmosphere of
Kentucky is too much for him. He shouldn’t
let such stuff go to his head.”

If Bart heard anything of this, he made
no sign. Frank shook his head warningly
to Jack and Bink, and they closed up.

“Are these ‘Frank Merriwell’s Hustlers’ ?”
cried a voice from the grand-stand. “Why, I
read a long piece in the paper, saying they
were hustlers from the word go, and that
they stood a good chance to crack our
Colonels.”

“The man who wrote that must have been
cracked himself,” laughed another man.
“I’m afraid we’ve wasted gur money to see a
bum game. If this keeps up, I’m going to
try to get mine back.”

“Mr. Philip Strange must be nutty,” com-
mented another speaker.. “Oh, don’t I wish
I’d found somie of his money at ten to one.”

“You’ve named it,” shouted a man who
wore a silk hat. “It was a case of finding
money, and Major Gale is the only lucky
card in the pack.”

The “major” was patting himself on the
back, figuratively speaking, already confi-
dent that the game was a “cinch for Louis-
ville.”

“Too bad!” shouted a young man. “The
Masonic Widows and Orphans’ Home will
never realize a benefit from that bet.”

Then “Major” Gale stood up in his re-
served seat and cried:

“T’m not quite as generous as the unknown
Mr. Strange, gentlemen, but I tell you what
Tll do; [ll donate the amount of my wa-
ger to the Masonic Widows and Orphans’
Home, only keeping the sum that I shall
win.”

This caused laughter and cheerings.

“Merry set his teeth, but something like
a grim smile played over his handsome
face.

“You are having your fun now,” he

thought; “our turn will come later. But
what can be the matter with Bart?”

White, the Colonels’ catcher, was at the —

plate.

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      
      
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

se ae vouldn’t do a ‘thing like that!’”

  

TIP

without
Mr.

“Let's first
touching the ball,”
Merriwell.”’

Frank tried White with a hig
White fanned at it.
second on that pitch, and again, to the hor-
ror of Frank and _ his
wild into the field, though he
enough .to catch the man.

Like Roberts, Roach took third, but he
did not stop there, for this time Gamp had
able to field the. ball in. soon
enough, and Roach sprinted home.

Gamp threw from the field to shut, the
runner off at the plate, but Roach slid un-
der ‘Bart and was declared safe.
talked to Hodge.
he said, quietly,

make
he said.

see if I can

“Come on,

h one, and
Roach went down to
Bart threw
had time

friends,

not been

Frank came in and
=*T_ ook ‘here; Bart,”
plain something is the matter
‘can't be that you did those things inten-
tionally.” ‘ i
het couldn't help it, Merry,” declared
Hodge, with an are of feorets QOL
don’t. know what made mé do it, “bit some:
thing seemed to force. me to, drop those. ‘balls
and make those throws,

“itis

“You must brace: up ‘immediately.
aré’ making a. spectacle of ourselves.”
“T'll brace up. I'll be all right” after
oes. ed z
“Take | him out!’ roared the’ crowd; but
Pratik could, not take him’ out, for he had

‘not a single substitute to put in his place.
“That’s hard an you, Merriwell,’”. cried a
youthful admirer," "You're all right. You've

~\ struck out two men, and there _shouldn't be

a eiiets score,” ea
“That catcher has sold the game! yelled
another. . ;

“And this was Nie thénghy that had en-*

tered the minds of more than one of the
Yale men It did not seem ‘possible that
Bart "Hodge. one of the cleverest college

‘catchers in the business, could make such:
. frightful errors unless. he did so intention-

} Ja ly. ; on =i
s Yon. know I haven't. sold the game,
Meena! said’: ‘Bar art, ina. low: tone: -.<

“But, some- —

ety know it " nodded ek
19 Throw it off

rat

with you. It”

“We

TOP WEEKLY. 23

White had fanned the first time, so Merry
returned to the box, made sure every man
was in position,’ and tried the fellow with
another of the same sort.

White let it pass.

“One ball,” said the umpire.

Then two more balls were called, and

“in a hole.”
and White

Frank seemed to be

Merry put over an in-shoot,
hit it hot to Ready.

Jack was nervous, having been excited by
the way the game had started; and he
fumbled the hot grounder. When he. got
t.up, he threw swift, sure and straight, but
the runner was declared safe on a close de-
cision.

“Where did you get that team, Mr.. Mer-
riwell?’”’ yelled a man on the bleachers, “If
the rest of them are as good as your catcher
and third-baseman, we’H make a hundred

scores, even though we don't get a hit.”
Jack was disgusted. Ka
“Ye gods and little fish-hooks!’... he
groaned. “Have I caught the same dis-

ease! If so, I want somebody to hit me
on the coco ‘with a good hard piece of iron
that weighs about fifty pounds. It will save
me the trouble of committing suicide.”

“Never mind it,” advised Frank. “We're
going to stop it now.

He ptt the first ball to McVeigh right
over the plate, and the Colonels’ . third-
baseman lifted, a fly into left, field. Carker
went after it, but did- not seem to have much
ginger in-his movements. All the same, “he
got under the ball, took it fairly in both

_ hands—and dro pped it!

‘The crowd was disgusted, ‘and. Frank Mer-
riwell was dumb, with amazement. It seemed
plain that the team had a bad case of rattles,
and: the game was going to the dogs in the
very first inning.

With a man on first anid Seeautl Orland,
the captain of the Sore cee to the
plate.’s" *

It had been the sisupieee kind of oe! to
steal on Hodge thus far, and’ so, with the
very first pitched ball, White and’ McV eigh”
tried a double steal’.

Hodge threw to third to. stops ‘White.

>The throw. was. worse than_ anything he
- had Bpeesls made, the ball going twent ty

 
 
  

  
 
  
 
 
   
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
      
   
     
   
       
    
 
  
   
  
   
   
   
    
  
  
  
   
   
    
  
   
   
   
   
   
      
    
   
 

 

   

ed

a "Bee. ‘Tip ‘Top Weekly No. 2%, “Prank Merriwel! 8 :

 

24 iP

  

feet over Ready’s head and bounding past
Carker out in left field.

White and McVeigh cathe in and scored.

When the ball was returned, Frank walked
toward Bart, with it in his hand.

“Tt’s he said.
change you.”

“Take him out!” “He’s full!” . “He’s
“Four scores without a hit!”
rotten !”

no use, Hodge,” “T must
sold
the game!”
“Rotten ! 5
The spectators were wild
“T don’t know what I can do,’ Frank was

heard saying, as the uproar ceased; “but I
haven't another catcher on the team.”

‘Then down from the bleachers sprang a
ragged, blear-eyed,  disreputable-looking
specimen of the genus tramp. In all that
inclosure there was not another human be-
He looked
as if he had not.eaten a syuare meal in six
He was dirty ane seemed unsteady
, on his pins.

“Podner,” he cried,-in a husky voice,
der daisy ye’re lookin’ fer!
feller on der bench and let me take his posish,
Den we'll show dese guys wot’s*wot.”

ing that could compare with him.
months.

* 4

CHAPTER VIII. 4 5

THE-NEW CATCHER,
“Shoot him!’

“Set the dog on him!”
“Fire him gut!” ;

“Give hima bath!

The spectators shouted with taints and.

yelled at the tramp.

But Frank Merriwell’s eyes flashed with
pleasure as they rested on the ragged fellow.
— “Willie Walker!’ he cried.

“Der same, podner,” answered the tramp,
with a flourish of one hand... “Dat’s me.”

“Why, we left: you in Chic ago. Nop
“Dat is,” chirped the tramp, “yer left. me
dere, ur T left you. But [ am der great
American traveler, an’ hearin’ you was
“booked fer dis game here, I came t’rough in
me own private car—wid der rest of der
"horses. It seems dat: I'm needed. mighty
_ bad, an’ so I’m ready. ter peel off me coat,

_ spit on me lily-white han’s, and show der

¥e ’ 4

éed; or, yee we Gnicago. Colts. ate

Jest chuck dat

TOP WEEKLY.

~Frank’s men,

He buckled the reast-protector about him’

«

    

; wr “Wy,

_ter yer by a good-lookin’ cook,”

fans a ting ur two in baseball. You an’ J,
podner, kin win dis game widout turnin’ a
hair.” ;

Frank knew that the man before him, an
unfortunate tramp, was one of the most re-
markable catchers he had ever seen. Once
that same tramp had been a student at Yale
once he had caught on the ’Varsity nine, and
then he had been honored and petted and
lionized.

 

But drink had wrought the poor

fellow’s.ruin, and now he was an outcast
without a home, doomed to wander up and
down the face of the earth. ae

 

The crowd of spectators did not know this,
and they jeered and hooted at the tramp. An
officer came to put the man off the fieldy but
Frank.told the policeman to-let him remain.

Then, to the wonderment of everybody but
Bart Hodge was placed on the
bench, and the tramp, having cast aside his
tattered coat, went behind the bat. to catch.

‘The crowd:guyed the tramp unmercifully,
but he grinned and fanned one soiled paw.

 

 

and pulled on the cage,
"Dig aunt de first time I’ve looked t’rough | S
a gratin’,’ Are remarked. “It’s nattevak fer >
me, an’ dat’ ‘Ss wot makes it dead easy fer me
ter catch. “Jest slide in der double-shoot, See : ie
Merry, an’ see yer Uncle: Wal Iker freeze id Poe P e
the sphere.” ee . ee,
“Tt’s an awful fatce as the general ver- :
dict. Cees ee FG
3ut now, feeling confident; Frank began ~ aS.
to cut the plate with the double- shoot, using ~~ Vy e
his greatest speed. In short order,.Orland . ae
fanned out, and the tramp held every ball. +
The spectators began to be interested.
This was something quite unexpected.
it’s like catchin’ pie w ‘en it’s t’rowed
observed ‘
the tramp, a happy look on his dirty face.
“Say, Merry, old rooster, it’s dead: lucky fer,
-you dat I’ m sober ter day. a sober man in :
Kentucky’ is a pretty good man.’ ‘
~ Frank was delighted with the. tramp, for.,
he remembered that in Chicago, Walker-had
been unable to hold the double- shoot with ~
certainty, but now the ragged sap held’ any- a
thing « and. everything, ag ee
ue “Who's the batters. 2" “cried. a a playe Meee

 

 

 
   
         
      
    
       
         
         
     
     
 
 

 

: TIP

6

“\ hiskemore follows.” 5

* Peleg?

man in dere State o’

squawked Walker. “Is dere a

Kentucky by der name
o Drinkwater? An’*der odder chap’s called
Whiskemore. Dere’s no

dem.

comparison be-

tween Drinkwater! W’y, I like

Whiskemore!”’
Drinkwater came up to the plate. Frank

gave him a high rise, and he fanned, while
the tramp went up into the air and brought
ball Frank

with a drop, and again Drinkwater belted the

the down with ease. followed
atmosphere, Walker seeming to dig the ball
out of the dirt just back of the plate.

“Tf I could catch fer youse all der time,
Merry, I’d reform an’ never take anodder
drink—of water,” chirped the remarkable
catcher.

The interest of the spectators was increas-
ing. They began to applaud Walker, for the
most of them could see that he was a catcher
of no mean calibre.

“Why, you’re a regular surprise party,
' dusty!” cried a man from the bleachers.

“Don’t t'row any bouquets,” grinned the
tramp. “Wait a while—an’ t’row money. I
like der smell of it better.”

Drinkwater set his teeth, resolved to get
a hit. The thought came to him that, for all
of the scores made, not a man thus far had
obtained a safe hit off Merriwell.

Then Frank sent in the double-shoot,
whizzing hot, and the batter struck out.

_ “Sit down, Drink, old man,”
Walker. ‘You'll do better
don’t tink.

Whiskemore came up. He was a strap-
ping big fellow, and he had a way of getting
long hits when they were needed. Orland
urged him to crack out a three-bagger..

3ut Frank used the double-shoot, and
Whiskemore nearly broke his back trying
to line it out. Not a ball could he touch,
and the side was retired at last.

“What’s the matter with Mertiwelt’ s Hus-
tlers now?” shrieked a youthful voice, and
the young admirers of Merry rose up -and
cheered wildly.

advised
next time—lI
Let Whisk have his turn, an’
see if he ain’t jest as easy as you.”

TOP WEEKLY.

CHAPTER IX.
THE FIRST RUN.
come

A sudden had

game with the

change

appearance of the tramp

but it was soon seen that the first

might

catcher:

inning prove fatal for Merriwell’s
team. Ready was the first man up, and hé

Walker,

struck

struck out in a _ hurry. faking

Bart’s place, followed Jack and out
Browning, regarded as the
put up a pop fly with
Black, the

s, gathered it in, re-

quite as quickly.
slugger of the team,
the first — ball
pitcher of the Louisvilles

pitched, and
tiring the side. 3

“Why, oe we need is our battery to beat
those kids!’”’ shouted an admirer of the home
team.”

“Black and White can do ’em!”
other.

“Wait till we get inter chirped
Walker, toddling out from the bench to his
position behind the bat. “Den we'll pound
your pitcher so hard dat'your battery will
be Black and Blue.”

Frank was in fine fettle the next inning,
and he struck out O’Hara, Black and Rob-
erts in rapid succession. Then he came first
to bat artd lined a two-bagger into left field;
but the hit was wasted, for none of the three
batters behind him could touch Black, and
the score remained four to nothing, in favor
of the Colonels.

Frank’s hit had awakened the wildest en-
thusiasm amid his youthful admirers, but
that enthusiasm was dampened by the ease
with which Black disposed of Gamp, Carker
and Rattleton.

The spectators were beginning to regain
their interest, for this was something like
baseball. It seemed to be the general opin-
ion, however, that Merriwell’s men could not
score, while the home team would -be sure
to pile up more tallies before the game was
over.: Indeed, some sportily-inclined fellows
made wagers that the Merriwells would be
shut out.

The work of Walker behind the bat con-
tinued to be of the very highest order, and
he soon won the admiration and approval
of the crowd, who cheered him whenever he
made a sensational stop ora difficult catch
of a hard foul.

cried an-

gear,’

 
 

TIP TOP

But Walker and the others, with’ the ex-
ception of Merry, did not seem able,to hit
Frank instructed them in

Black safely.

hitting, warning them over and over not to
slash fiercely at Black’s speedy ball, but to
\
meet it fairly with the bat gripped hard.
“If you meet it that: way,” said Merry, “‘it

will go a mile. I Wouldn’t be surprised if

we knocked Black out of the box before the
game is over.”

“It hardly

looks that way from where I
stand, your royal muchness,”” said Ready.
“Allee samee, I don’t understand why we
can’t hit him,. for he sends them straight
over.” ;

“With a rise and a drop,” said Frank.
“Two of the most difficult balls to hit.”

“Tf you forget the double-shoot,” grunted
Browning.

But the fifth and sixth innings passed with-
out the team falling on Black, and the spec-
tators grumbled, even though they were kept
awake by the swift work of Merry’s men on
the field.

something to do, for three batters seemed

The fifth inning gave the team

to get safe hits off Frank, but all three hits
were spoiled by the clever and rapid fielding
of Ready, Carker and Griswold, every play
being of a sensational order. °

Again somebody yelled from the bleach-
ers that Frank’s “Hustlers” were all right.

“But they haven’t scored yet,” shouted
back another. - : ;

“The Colonels should have scored,” re-
turned the first speaker. “They got every

mark by the bum work of that

catcher, for they haven’t made a hit off
Merriwell.” :

This was true. The home team _ had
scored four times without a hit. . Merry’s
team had made five hits, but had not scored.

in the seventh inning Frank urged his
»-imen to do something, for the game was

drawing toward a close. They responded by

first /

 

  

WEEKLY.

= 4
oe »
getting a man to third, but that was the end
I

v

of it, and no run could they make.

{
‘6 os
ts

“We'll never win!” sighed Carker.

all Hodge’s fault! He did us a foul turn!”

“Right!” nodded Ready. “I have no

doubt of it. He threw us down.”

[t lul-lul-looks that way to me,” admitted
Garnip

With the exception of Merry, every man
on the team seemed firmly convinced that
Hodge had ‘deliberately thrown the game,
and their rage toward Bart made them sav-
age. It was useless for Frank to say any-
thing, and he had no time for argument
then, so he remained silent.

To confess the truth, Frank was becoming
worried about the game. Though he had
held Louisville down, his team had not been
able to get a batting streak and score, and
the game was rapidly drawing to a close.

In the first half of the eighth, Louisville
made a desperate effort to score; but Frank |
put on steam, used the double-shoot, and
the attempt was a failure.

Carker came to bat first in the last of the
eighth. It seemed that he had lost hope
and courage, for he fanned listlessly. Rattle-
ton was mad, and, he drove a fly into left
field, but was caught out.

“Only four more men to get, Black, old

boy,” cried Orland. “This is where we
crack Frank Merriwell’s crack ball team.”
‘ Stubbs came next. The little fellow was
not a sure hitter, but now Black underrated
his ability, and Bink got a safe one. past
short. Black laughed at Griswold, but
Danny dropped one just over the in-field,
and two men were on bases. 3

oo BES TS our inning!” exclaimed Frank,
with sudden conviction. “Boys, the time
has come! The game is ours! We win it
right here!” |

“Or die!”, grated Jack Ready, as he
gripped a bat and advanced to the plate.

'

  

 

 

aT ecto IE

 

 
  
 
   
   
  
  
   
 

    
 
   
   

Tire

eX Then Ready drove such a hot one to
prinkwater that the Louisville short could
not handle it in time to put anybody out,
and the bases were full.

The admirers of Frank and his team were
electrified. They rose and screamed their
joy, waving hats, handkerchiefs and flags.
kes The blue was in evidence now all round the
‘a field.

“My turn!” groaned Walker; “an’ I can’t
hit dat duffer’s curves to save me_ neck!
ose Wot'll I do?

wot a pain I’ve got!

 

re Aare: x ey ile

Two men out! Oh, my, my,

Wait! jes’ as true as

I’m livin’, I'll git hit wid de ball if he puts
Pa it anywhere near me! Dat’s wot I'll do!
roe Order a stretcher fer Willie Walker.”

Then he -walked up into the plate, pre-

 

tended to try to dodge the stcond ball

 

pitched, and was hit fairly on the back of
the head with it, laying him out in a stunned
‘condition beside the plate.

Walker had forced the first run for Mer-
riwell’s team, but might it not be at the cost

of his life?

CHAPTER X.

HOT WORK AT THE FINISH.

body.

Walker sat up with a mighty effort.

“Don’t do dat!” he gasped, motioning
them away. “Let me die like a gent, but
don’t t’row dat wet water on me!”

Then, assisted by Frank, he rose to his feet
and toddled down to first, while the crowd

rose up in a body and cheered him madly,

more than anything else.
. _Stubbs had scored, and still the bases were
gt Hall,
“Too bad!” laughed Orland. “We meant
to shut you out, but that accident gave you

the only score you'll get.” eo tie

 

 

TOP WEEKLY.

“Throw some water on him!” yelled some-

for all true Kentuckians admire pure grit

 

   

27

“We'll see!” thought Browning, as he

came up with a bat.

Black was afraid of Bruce, and tried to fool ,

him with wide ones, but Browning waited
till three

cracked the next one in handsome style, set-

balls were called, and then he

ting the crowd mad as he thundered down
on first and on to second, while every other
runner came sprinting home, making four
scores in all for Merriwell.

The score was tied.

Now Frank’s admirers were screaming
like lunatics, for this was the sort of work
that set their blood boiling.

Of a sudden, the Louisvilles were looking
frightened and worried. That seemed a ter-
tible catastropiie—a thing most unexpected.

But in all that gathering, “Major” Norton.

Gale was the most distressed and wretched.
>

“By guns, suh!” he roared at “Colonel

Plum ; “I don’t lke the looks of things, suh!”’

 

“Accident, major—accident,” | squealed
Plum, seeking to soothe his friend.

Then came a perfect. thunder of applause,
for Frank Merriwell had picked up a bat and
advanced to the plate.

Black was pale and nervous. He intended
to make the first ball wide of the plate, but
it slipped and passed sttaight over.

Passed? No! Frank hit it, and away it
sailed over the head of Orland, who had been
playing deep.

While Orland was chasing the ball, Bruce
and Frank came in, and Merry’s team had

the lead.:

It was impossible to hear anything in the
uproar that followed that home-run hit; but
‘Major’ Gale was-seen standing and waving
his hands frantically to the captain of the
team when Orland had obtained the ball and, .
fielded it in. |

Orland came in out of the field and sent

»

    
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
    
  
   
     
 
      
      
      
     
      
      
 
          
     
     
    
    
 
   
    
     
  
    
   
  
  
  
  
  
    
 
   
  
   
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
   
 
   
 
     
    
      
     
   
     
        
     
    
    
       

Black to the bench, calling another pitcher
out.

Black had been batted out of the box in
the eighth inning.

But the slaughter did not stop, for the new
pitcher was hit safely by Gamp and Carker.
Then Rattleton drove a hot one to McVeigh,
who let it through, and Gamp scored. Stubbs
made a desperate bid for a hit, but O’Hara
pulled it down after a long run, and the scor-
ing was over at last, Frank’s team having
made seven.

“What do you think about cracking Mer-
riwell’s crack team now?” shouted a voice,
as the Louisvilles came in with long faces.
“Tt strikes me that they have cracked the
Colonels.”

“We'll see!” growled Orland. “Get in and

ewin out now, fellows.”

McVeigh came up and made a bid for a
hit, but Stubbs got it and threw him out.
Then Orland got the first clean hit of the

-. game off Frank. That seemed to make the
boys nervous, for Ready fumbled the next
ball that came to him, and two men were on
bases.

“Stiddy, stiddy!” called Walker, who, des-
pite the blow he had received, was again be-
hind the bat. “Dis is our pie, and we eats it.”

Whiskemore did his best to get a hit, but
Frank struck him out with the double-shoot.

“W’y, it’s a sure ting!’ grinned Walker.

The umpire, however, gave Merry the “bad
end of it” on the next man, and O’Hara “got
a life” on balls.

The bags were full when Snyder, the new

der’s measure, and he tried the fellow with a

drop for the first one.

 
 

Snyder hit it. It was a most awful crack,
-. and the ball was lifted far over the heads of
 »the players.

... Over the fence!” was the cry. “A home-

.

run! That wins this game!”

 

28 TIP TOP WEEKLY. e i.

_stripped me. If the Colonels had won, it

pitcher, came up.’ Frank had not.taken Sny-.

not done with you, Frank Merriwell! You  — ~

When you least expect me,

 

 

x

If the ball passed over the fence it would
mean four scores for the Colonels, putting
them one in the lead, and it seemed certain to
go over. Rs

Gamp had been playing far out, and now
he raced for the fence.

“He can’t get it!”

But Gamp literally threw himself at that
fence, seemed to scramble up its side like a pe

cat, got hold of the top with one hand, then

 

twisted round, thrust up the other hand and 13
—caught the ball!
Never before had such a catch been seen
on the Louisville ball ground, and it decided
~ ’ f \ 4 :

the game, for the Colonel’s last chance was 2

 

gone, and this was the score: Set
aan 1234567849

Merriwell’s Athletes. 0000000 7 x—7

Louisville Colonels.. 40000000 0—4 :

CHAPTER XI.
BREAKING THE SPELL.
Bart Hodge was not found on the ground
when the game was finished.

“He’s sneaked,” said Ready. “He’d better
, J
keep away from us!”

“Wait,” advised Frank. “You may find

you have done Bart a great injustice.”

 

Back in his room at the hotel, Frank found
a note that had been thrust beneath his door.

This is what he read:
’

“T failed in my scheme to strike your father
for fifty thousand dollars to-day, but I’ll yet
succeed in stripping him of his wealth, as he

would have been a victory for me, as my first
blow would: have reached home. I know he
might not feel the loss of fifty thousand, but
sums like that count in the end. When you
discovered the trick it seemed too late, but
fortune gave you the victory at last. I am.

shall yet feel the weight of my hand, and thus
I will strike my heaviest blow at your father.
I shall appear at —
 

 

 

   
  
 
   
   
    
  
   
   
   
  
     
    

 

 

 

  
   
  
 
 
    
 
   
  

  

‘ your side.

Frank.
e

~.on your ball suit.
--. game ?”

  

aay
I shall shadow your future as a

dark cloud. ‘My time must come!

“Dion § SANTE NEI

Frank puzzled over this for some time. He
could not understand how Santenel had
sought to strike him that day. He could not
understand what was meant by the “trick.”
How was it that Santenel had been in any
manner concerned in workings of the ball
game.

All at once, Merry gave a cry:

“T have it!”

“If it’s worth keeping, keep it,” advised
Jack Ready, entering the room at that mo-
ment, with Rattleton and Carker at his heels.

Frank grasped Jack by the shoulder.

“Come!” he cried.

“Where?”

Without answering, Frank led the way to
Bart’s room. ‘The door opened at Merry’s
touch, and there on the bed lay Hodge, slum-
bering. heavily.

“The traitor!’ panted Harry.

“Wait,”

They entered the room and did their best to

said Frank. “T'ry to arouse him.”
awaken Bart, Merry standing back and tak-
ing no part in it; but all their efforts seemed
useless, for Hodge slept on, not even stirring
when Ready jabbed him with a pin.
“What waite him?” asked the puzzled Jack.
“Stand back and keep still,’ commanded
“Do not speak or stir till I am done
with him.”

‘They obeyed, looking on wonderingly.

Frank advanced to the bed, gently touched
3art with his hands, bent over the sleeper,

gazed steadily at him, and rested his fingers

gently on Hodge’s head, and softly said:
“Wake up, Bart—wake up!”
Hodge opened his eyes and stared in sur-

~ prise at Frank. : '

“What is it, Merry ? a he asked. - “You have

Is it time to go to the

TOP WEEKLY.

fell full upon his face.

_ Kentucky.’’

 

  

‘The game is over, old man.”
Hodge sat up instantly.
“Over?” he gasped. “And J not in it?
You're joking !”

“No joke. The game is over, and we
won.”

“Who caught? Why—I—I——

“Look here, old man, have you met a

99

strange man with a cadaverous face and
burning, piercing, shifting eyes?”

“Yes; I met such a man last night. He
insisted on talking to me. I could not beat
his looks, and I tried not to look at his eyes,
but they fascinated me. [ wonder what hap-
pened after that? Why, I don’t seem to re-

member

 

“T knew it!” cried Frank, triumphantly.
“You were hypnotized by that wretch! You
have been under his power ever since. In the
first inning of the game to-day, you were
carrying out his when you
dropped the ball on every third strike and
threw wild when men were trying to steal
bases. But I have brought you out from un-

commands

der his influence, and we won for all of his
evil work!”

*K *K *K 2K ok > *

That night, as Frank sat alone in his room,
writing some letters, there came a rap on the
door. ;

“Come in,” Merry called.

The door opened, and Hanley Rocks stood
on the threshold.

“Mr. Merriwell,” he said, “' am here to an-
nounce a gentleman who wishes to see you.”

“Bring him in,” invited Frank, who had
risen.

“The gentleman,”
Philip Strange.”

Then he stepped aside, and a man in dark
clothes, with snow-white “hair and beard,
slowly advanced into the room until the light
Then he stretched out
his hands to Frank, his voice full of emotion
as he cried:

“My boy!”

“My father!”
ward.

said Rocks, “is Mr.

shouted Frank, leaping for-

THE END

The next number will contain ‘‘Frank _
Merriwell’s Captivity; or, The VEsert in

 

 

      
       
   
  
 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        
   

TIP

 

TOP

Tip IopWEEKLY.

AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THI AMERICAN YOUTH ””

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK, OcroBeEr 6, 1900,

Terms to Tip Top Weekly Mail Subscribers.
(POSTAGH I’ RWH.)

Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each.

3 mouths - - - - + * += 65c.;/ One year - + + © © © «+ $2.50
4 months - - - - + - - $85c.|2 copiesone year’ - + + = 4.00
6 months - - - - - =, + $1.25) 1 copy twoyears - - + = 4.00

How to SHND MONity.—By post.oflice 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. .

RECKIPTS,—Receipt.of your remittance is acknowledged by proper
change of mwndber on your label. If notcorrect you have not been
properly credited, aud should let us inow at once.

STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY,
238 William St., New York City.
PPPPPPPPPPPP PPP PPP PP PPP APP

APPLAUSE.

 

I would like to say a few words in praise of Inza
and Bart. I am an ardent admirer of both. Now,
some say that Inza was cold toward Frank and was
going with that Harvard man. Well, did not her
father make her do so? A good many people say
that Frank ought to marry Elsie because she is sq
gentle and kind. In one of the numbers, I forget
which one, Elsie shakes her fist in Inza’s face and
says, “I could kill you.’’ So she (Elsie) is not so
gentle after all. When Elsie came into a fortune,
did she not forsake Frank? Not much love shown
there. And when Frank and the ‘‘flock’’ Were in
England, did not Elsie act coolly toward Frank? In
one book where Frank was crossing the United
States on a bicycle, Inza and Elsie were in a boat
ahd it turned over with them. Did not Frank go to
Inza, and after he had started back with her and
he almost gave out and sank beneath the water
with Inza in his arms, did he not think that he could
die contented with Inza in his arms?, Then he finds

that Bart, brave, noble Bart, had saved Elsie and
brought a boat to Frank's aid. Inza is the girl for
Frank, HARRY ALLEN,

Kansas.

They have
will

Hiawatha, Brown Co.,
Bart and Inza are splendid characters.
plenty of stanch friends who, like yourself,
never fail them.

 

Having read your Tip Top Weekly from No, 1 to
229, IT can say with the greatest of pleasure that it is
the best weekly I have ever read. I consider Mr.
Standish a great and able writer. I like Jack Dia-
mond next to Frank. Although he has a hot temper,
he does not mean all he says. and does, I think Elsie

is the girl’ for Frank. She is so true, and she has
proved so. I think Inza is the girl for Bart. Frank

Merriwell is as true as steel, and I think an example
for every American youth. Hoping to see more of
Jack Diamond, 2
AN ADMIRER OF FRANK MERRIWELL

AND-THY : TIP TOP,
; _' Cape Charles, Va.

This would be a fine world, indeed,
were a Frank Merriwell. You will hear
Diamond,

if every boy
more from

- JI think that your Tip Top Weekly is the best paper
published, and that Elsie is the girl for Frank.
Why does not Frank search for his father? I think
that if Mr. Standish would have him look for his
father all the readers would be pleased. 5
A ELSIE ADMIRER, °

Middletown, Conn.

Frank is soon to see his father again, under very
exciting circumstances. t
']o Frank:—
* ; Roses may wither,
Flowers may die,
Friends may forget you,
But never shall I.
Philadelphia, Pa.

sf hank you. We are proud to say that none of our |
friends ever forget us, f

 

  

WEEKLY.

     

Although I see letters from everywhere in the Ap-Y
plause echoing the Tip Top’s high standing, I notice
few from Canada, especially from Port Colborne. !
think your weekly should be called ‘‘An ideal pub-
lication for all youths,’’ for is it not read all over the
world? The boys in Cdnada and other countries are

just as anxious to be early at the post-office or
news-stand to procure the last number of Tip Top
as the boys in the United States. As I am a kind

of baseball player, being captain of the Port Col-
borne team, I can easily find great interest in
Frank’s athletic team. With best wishes for the
splendid Tip» Top and Burt L., ”
H. M. MILLIKEN,
Port Colborne, Ont.

We think you will agree with us when we say that
what is an ideal for American boys and girls cannot
be other than an ideal for boys and girls the world
over. We are glad you like the athletic stories.

I have read lots of books and papers, but they do
not come up to the Tip Top. Frank is all right.
His friends need not worry about him. I like Bart
next to him, and I think Elsie ought to have him,
but know you will arrange it so as to please us all.

CO. Beg
Boonville, N.Y.

Thank you. Tip Top aims to please each one of

its host of readers.

 

As I have not seen any letters from Greenville,
I thought I would write a short one. I have read
nearly every one of your famous books, and I think
there is no other book in the world that can be com-

pared with it. The Tip Top is certainly the best
book published. Speaking of the Elsie-Inza ques-
tion, I think Elsie is the girl for Frank. I would

like to see Frank meet his father again. I do not
want to take up too much of your precious time, for
I know there are many letters received every day.
I can hardly wait for the Tip Top to come here each
week. We have formed a club and read your Tip
Top every week. Best regards to Mr. Standish and
Street & Smith. CARL. ROCK, °
i Greenville; S. C.
We appreciate deeply your high praises for the
Tip Top. Frank will soon meet his father again.

 

If you had been on the, bank of a small creek in
a western county of Texas, you would have seen
a typical Texas boy fishing. In one hand he held a
fishing pole; in the other he held a book. which he
was: reading. Every now and then he would look
up a path that led to a farm-house and mutter to
himself: ‘‘Mustn’t let dad ketch me here, ’kase that
means a whippin’, shore.’’ A wily fish stole his
bait, but he still read on, and soon became so inter-
ested that he did not see a man coming down the
path until the man was right on him. Then he
dropped his book and commenced to wind up his.
fishing line and made a break for home. He dropped.
his book when he went, and Mr. Farmer (his father)
picked it up and gazed at it curiously. He read the
title half to himself, ‘‘Frank Merriwell’s Frolics; or,

Fun and Rivalry at Fardale,”’ “One of those dime
novels. Wonder what it’s like. Frank knows I

don’t want him to read them, yet he still persists.”
He looked up to see Frank making record time for
home, He took the book and went home, saying to
himself, ‘‘I’ll jest have to settle with Frank fur
running away to fish an’ read books when he ought
to be at work.’’ When he reached home he had an
interview with Frank in the woodshed. A_ strap
was the principal actor in this scene. Mr. Farmer —
wanted to see what kind of. books his son was read-*
ing. He got the book and sat down to read. , He
read awhile very dignified. He soon began to smile
faintly, and then to laugh. Then he roared with
laughter. Mrs. Farmer looked at him in surprise,
for it was such an unusual thing, and asked him
what he was laughing at ‘‘Mother, you _orter read
this book; funniest book I ever read. Tells about
a feller puttin’ some crawfish in a feller’s bed, an’
they bit him all over. Ha! Ha! Ha!’ Frank had
been watching his father all the evening. He nov
spoke up: ‘‘Father, can I read them kind of books?’
‘Are they all as good as this one?’’ asked Mr, Far-
mer. ‘Yes. I’ve got some of them. hid er-way. Do
you want to read them?’ Frank got them, and Mr.
Farmer read them every evening until he had read
them all. He went to town the next Saturday and
got all the back numbers. He gave them to Frank
and said: ‘Frank, I brought you something from
town that I know you will like.’’. He handed Frank
the books, and Frank danced for joy. ‘‘Papa, you
got me jest what I been a-wantin’.’’ They were*
Tip Tops. And to this day Mr. Farmer will not read
any book except the Tip Top. JOHN HOGER, .
f Kaufman, Texas.
This is a very interesting story. Mr, Farmer’s ex-
perience goes to prove that, by persisting in our
prejudices we can deprive ourselves and others of —
much good. 4 pas “=

x

 

 

 

 

 

   
  
  

 

 

 

 

      
  
  
  
 
     
   
 

 

 

 

s

I have read the Tip Top from the first until row,
and they are all fine. I think No. 229 is the best.
Next to Frank I like Bill Higgins. My father owns
@ ranch in San. Francisco. Ielike cowboys on that
account. I just came from the ranch a few days

ago. I go to school in Chicago. Though I am a girl
I like Tip Top. Regards to Burt L. If Frank ever
comes to our ranch he -will have’ a good time. I
think Inza is the girl for Frank.
, LESLIE L.,
Chicago, Ill.

We ‘are glad to hear that you think so highly of
the Tip Top. The flock enjoyed a fine time at Bad-
ger’s ranch, .

 

Having read your Tip Top Library from number
one up to the present issue, I want you to know
what I think of it. I appreciate it very highly, as

it shows what a young man with good judgment
and courage can do. Next to Frank, Bart Hodge

HANS JENSEN,
Davenport, Ia.
Good judgment and courage go a.long way toward

good achievements.

is my favorite.

I thought I would write and let you know how
much I appreciate your Tip Top. I think it is the
best weekly that is out. I have read all the num-
bers from 160 to 226, “Frank Merriwell’s Wonders.’”’

As to the Elsie-Inza question, I think Burt L. can
settle that. I like all the members of Frank, Mer-
riwell’s flock, and of his athletic team. After Frank

I like Rattles best, then Bart Hodge, then Browning
and Diamond. I hope Diamond will marry Juliet
Reynolds, and Hodge Grace Vernon. I would like

to hear from Wat Snell, Ned Hastings and Frank’s ,

to Burt L. and. to Street
HERBERT A, ZAGER,
FRANK PIERCE.

Towa.

father. Wishing success
& Smith, :

Many of your favorite characters will reappear in
the near future.

 

Although not a yearly subscriber to your excellent
weekly, “Tip Top,’’ I buy it regularly at the book
stores in town. I consider it a model publication for

“voung -America,’’ and. intend to subscribe right
away. DE BOW M’MILLIN,
mam \ Nashville, Tenn.
Thank you.

 

As.I have not seen any applause from Ft. Worth
I thought I would write and let you know what I
think of your splendid paper. The Tip Top Weekly
is the best book published. My sister and I enjoy
reading them. Frank is a fine fellow, and I like
him. I love to read of his daring deeds. He is a
brave boy. Next best to Frank is Bart; I like him
because he is a friend to Frank. Then comes Jack
Diamond, that brave Southern boy. Of course, I
like Bruce; Danny and Bink. Jack Ready is a fine
fellow, too. Harry. Rattleton is a good, honest fel-
low, and I like to read of his twisted tongue. Bad-
ger is a good fellow, and he also got.a sweet little
wife. Of the two girls, Elsie’and Inza, I like Elsie
the best. I think Frank should marry Elsie, but f
will leave that to Frank and the two girls to decide

about. Mr. Burt L. Standish is the author of the
day. I send my regards to Frank, Elsie and the
rest, MRS. ROBERT CURTIS,

Fort Worth, Tex.
Thank you.

 

I think I have not seen any letter from Moline,
and I wish to express my idea about the Tip Top.
I think it is all right, and is at the top of all other
weeklies. I have read from No. 154 to the present
number. I hope to get all the back numbers I have
not read. I cannot stop reading a Tip Top until it
is finished, and wish it were published every day
instead of every Saturday. I like Bart, and without
a friend like Bart I don’t know what Frank would
do, and then Browning, Frank’s friend, who forgets
to be lazy when he does his level bést for Frank in
a game of ball or any danger which Frank is in,
Then that tramp, Walker, ought to be pitied. I

‘think Frank ought to change his (Walker’s) course

in life, like he has done with others, and make a
decent and respectable man out of him, for in-
stance, as he did with Bart and many others. aa
ought to take him on to his athletic team as
catcher. It is Frank’s right to persuade this tramp
to lead a better life. I hope to read of Walker as a
member of Frank’s athletic team. 14,. 26s;

; — Moline, Til.

Walker has proved himself worthy of Frank’s es-
teem. He has just saved the athletic team from
defeat. Frank’s influence may help him up.

TIP TOP WEREKLY.

 

 

31

   

- .

As I have not seen any letter in your Applause
column from our village, I wish to inform you that
the Tip Top has many warm admirers here in
Colusa. We like Bart next to Frank. We like the

others of Merry’s flock equally well. I think Inza
is the girl for Frank. Wishing the Tip Top, Burt L.

and Street. & Smith long life, I will close. on
4 CONSTANT READER,
Colusa, Cal

Tip Top has its warm admirers in every city, town
and village. We are glad to hear from you.

As I have never seen a letter from this city in
your splendid paper, Tip Top, I will take the
liberty of writing and letting you know what our
club thinks of it. I have read from No. 1 up to
date, and expect to read them as Jong as they are
published. Before I commenced readimg your. val-
uable paper I was a cigarette smoker. I. associated
with boys who gambled and drank, but Frank Mer-
riwells noble example has taught me that this
doesn’t pay. We have formed’a’ Merriwell Club here
of which I am a member. Give my regards to Mr.
Standish, Frank Merriwell and Street & Smith. The
boys all thank you for the good you have done
them, and our folks do the same. Three cheers for
Frank, Merriwell. JEFF WEBB,

Hampton, la.

We are glad to hear that Tip Top has benefited
you. We hope it will always continue,to do so.
Good luck to your club.

I have been reading Tip Top from No, 1 till now,
and am more than pleased with same. I am for
Elsie—first, last and all the time. I indorse every
word said in favor of Elsie. I call myself an Elsie-
ite. Wishing you all success in future, as in the
past. CORA E. R.

Montgomery, Ala.

We hope Tip Top will always please you.

 

Having read the Tip Top from No. 1 to present
date, I wish to compliment yeu on your good work.
I think Frank Merriwell is a very noble character,
and I try to follow the example he sets for others.
The boys of our block have organized a club which
we call the Tip Top A. C. I was elected president
for four years. I hope Frank marries Elsie in the
future, but not too soon. My favorites are: Frank,
Bart, Diamond, Eph, Hans, Harry, Jack Ready and
Buck. Also the girls. The series I like most are
the athletic sports. I hope Frank stays out West
in Badger’s ranch a long time, and I would like to

see Frank and Bart become the Yale battery this
year. I hope that ‘‘Weary Willie,” the tramp
catcher, joins Frank’s flock. Wishing a long life

to Frank Merriwell, Tip Top, Burt L. Standish and
the publishers. Go ss:
; Brooklyn, N: Y.

Best luck to your athletic club. With such, a guide
as Tip Top your records should be extremely good.

 

Some two years ago we happened to see anew
publication called the Tip Top Weekly. We each
bought. one and took it home with us, and ‘when
our parents saw us reading ‘‘a five-cent novel” they
“were very angry. After purchasing each edition for
some. time, we persuaded both our fathers and
mothers to read them, and they were unanimous in
the verdict that the Tip Top was an ideal publica-
tion for American youth. Since then we have read
each numbgr, and the interest’ has_ never flagged.
As to tho Wiktevinas controversy, while we admire
Inza, we think Frank should be allowed to make
his choice. We have several sweethearts of our
own, and should not like any one to choose for us.
We cannot think of words strong or expressive
enough to tell Mr. Standish our appreciation of his
“Frank Merriwells.’”’ Slater has many admirers of
the Tip Top, but we think we are the first to ex-
press our admiration. We love to read of Merri-
well,” with arm so true and steady; and after him
our favorite is apple-cheeked Jack Ready.

. The jokers, Bink and Danny,
3art, Bruce and. Rattleton,
And Buck, his Kansas cowboys,—
We like them every one.

Then here’s to Tip Top Weekly,
And all who in it are—
We think in all things jolly,
Frank Merriwell’s a star.
With best regards to Mr. Standish, and hoping you

will publish this, ,
A. C. DAWES, MARCUS RHOADES.
Slater, Missouri.

Tip ‘Top is a word to conjure with. It carries all
before it. And those who join the procession are
well paid in pleasures and profits of the most de-
sirable sorts,

           
 
   
 

  
      
      
 
       
     
       
       
 
      
 
     
 

    
       
     
   
      
   
     
 
  
      

32
Correspondence,
T. C. E., New York City.—No premium.
C. Hayes, Pittsfield, Mass.—No premium.
J. lLoeffle, Evansville, Ind.—The catalogue will
cost 25c

W. G. Ross, Burnet, Texas.—Address A. G. Spald-

ing, Nassau street, New York City.
B. H. S., Gonzales, Texas.—Address the American
News Company; Chambers street, New York City.
H. A. J., Davenport, la.—l The record is 94-5 sec-
onds.” 2.11 seconds is very good for a boy of four-
teen.

Cal.—i It is claimed
2 Carter pitched for

A Constant Reader, .Colusa,
that some pitcher has done so.

Yale in 1893, 1894 and 1895.

Wm. B., New Haven, Conn.—1 No. 2 Some: do
enter at that age. 8 The President would probably
refer you to your Congressman.

Jack. Diamond, Harrisburg, Pa.—l. Payments ‘by
postage stamps, coin or currency must be at your

own risk. Registered letter, express, money order,
postoffice money order or bank check will prove the
safest method by which to forward your remittances,
2. Tip Top can be had in single numbers from No. 1
to present date,

G. S. H., Cincinnati, O.—The following is a list of
the college buildings at Yale:
mitory; Osborne Recitation Hall; Art School Hall;
Chittenden Library; Linonian and Brothers Library;
Welsh. Hall, dormitory; Lawrence Hall, dormitory;

Farnam Hall, dormitory; Battell Chapel; °, Durfee
Hall, dormitory; Alumni Hall; Dwight Hall; Yale
Y. M. C. A.; Old North, dormitory; South Middle,

dormitory; Old Chapel, recitation hall; White Hall,
dormitory: Berkley Hall, dormitory; East and West
Divinity Halls, Theological School; Pierson Hall,
dormitory; Sheffield Hall Scientific School; Winches-
ter recitation hall; Phelps recitation hall; North
Sheffield Hall; Gymnasium, Law School Hall; Med-
ical School Hall; the Treasurer, Peabody Museum,
and numerous physical. and chemical laboratories.

Vanderbilt Hall, dor--
“917—Frank Merriwell’s *‘Pull’’;

s
~

a

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

LATEST ISSUES.
235—Frank Merriwell’s Captivity; or, -The Vendetta in
Kentucky. .
234—- Frank Merriwell’s
Colonels.
233—Frank Merriwell’s Find; or, The Hoosier Her-
cules, , 7
232—Frank Merriwell’s Double Play; or, Winning His
Own Game.
231—Frank Merriwell’s Archer; or, Beating the Red
s3owman., estes

Hustlers; or, Cracking the

230—Frank Merriwell’s Battery;. or, Taming the
‘*“‘Broncho Busters.’’
229--Frank Merriwell’s Rough Riders; or, The Ath-

Ranch,
or, Breaking the “Chi-

letic Team at Badger’s
Frank Merriwell's Speed;
cago Colts.

228

997—Frank Merriwell’s. Vault; or, The Blades of
r leds d.,
226—Frank Merriwell’s Wonders; or, Hitting the

_ Eastern League. #
225—Frank Merriwell’s Throw; or, Yale Athletes at
Niagara.

224—F rank Merriwell’s Wrist; or, The Nerve of Iron.

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

222—Frank Merriwell’s Athletic
the Adirondacks. ‘

221—Frank Merriwell’s Discovery; or, The New Lon-
don Boat Race.

220—Erank Merriwell’s the
Yiger’s Claws.

219—Frank Merriwell’s. Compact;
- of Badger.

218—Frank Merriwell’s ‘‘Liner;’’ or, Elsie, the Mas-
cot of the Nine.

Team; or, Sport in

Curves; or, Clipping

or, ‘The Triumph

or, True and Tried.
216—Frank Merriwell’s Phantom; or, The Ghost of
Barney Mulloy. : ‘ :
215—Frank Merriwell’s-Favor; or, True as Steel.

214—Frank Merriwell’s Stroke; or, The Test. of Friend-

ship. ;

pea Merriwell’s Handicap; or, The Heroism of
Hisie,

212—Frank Merriwell’s Football; or, The Disappear-
ance of Jack Ready.

Back numbers always on hand. If you cannot get our
publications from your newsdealer, tive cents a copy will
bring them to you by mail, postpaid. ;

 

TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER'S

ate ee

BADGE.

HALF PRICE TO OUR READERS ONLY.

In response to the urgent request of a host of Tip Top readers
the publishers after carefully considering a number of designs for a
badge of membership in the TIP TOP LEAGUE, ' finally adopted
one which is an artistic gem of excellence. The picture shows the
design, butit does not give you an adequate idea of the exquisite
beauty of 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 yery low figure of TWENTY
CENTS (‘ren Cents in Cash or Stamps and Ten Cents in Coupons,

AN EXACT PICTURE OF THE LEAGUE BADGE

>;

 

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 many badges as you desire
at the same rate by use of the extra coupons. Badges without
coupons.will cost fifty cents each. The coupons are free to TIP
Tor readers, and we adopt this method to prevent others from
getting the badge at the special rate given to our patrons. IF YOU
ARE A READER OFTHETIP TOP YOU ARE A MEMBER
OF THE LEAGUE, AND ENTITLED TO WEAR THE EM-
BLEM OF THE ORDER—and our word for it, you will be more
than pleased after you receive it.

TIP TOP LEAGUE

MENMBER’S COUPON

k This Coupon and FIVE CENTS
will be accepted for ten cents
towards the purchase of the
League Badge.

STREET & SMITH.

 

 

 

TIP TOP LEAGUE

MEN.BER’S COUPON

This Conpon and FIVE CENTS
will be accepted for ten cents
towards the purchase of the

# League Badge. $ °

STREET & SMITH.

 

 

 

subject to

; ¢s TIP TOP. LEAGUE i597.

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To secure the promptest attention, address all letters on the

‘STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N. Y.

 

  

   

 

 

 

  

 
  
 
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Horneliness—not positive ugliness —

but mere plainness, often passes for
beauty when crowned with a halo of
beautiful hair. % ,
_ In scores of cases the secret of beauty
“Gs Ayer’s Haw Vipor. oath Ge

Practical Chemists, . Lowell, Mass.
Ayer’s Sarsaparilla | Ayer’s Hair Vigor
Ayer’s Pills Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral
Ayer’s Ague Cure | Ayer’s Comatone

If your druggist cannot supply you, send us $1.00, and we will express a bottle
to you, all charges prepaid, Be sure and give us your nearest express office,