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Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at New York Post Office by STREET & SMITH, 278 William St., N. Y.

 

Price, Five Cents.

 

 

 

 

 

AGAINST THE STRENGTH OF THE MANIAC WERE PITTED THE SKILL AND STRENGTH OF FRANK MERRIWELL.

 
 

 

 

 

 

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EVERYONE KNOWS THAT TIP TOP WEEKLY LEADS ANY $e
PUBLICATION OF ITS CLASS IN AMERICA. 3 me

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

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Frank

_ makes him its servant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

§ fssued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year.

Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N. ¥.

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year igor, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. Cc.

 

No. 265.

NEW YORK, as a;

1901, Price Five ae

 

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By BURT L. STANDISH.

CHAPTER q.

WHEN THE SPRING COMES ‘AGAIN.

In the sweet and balmy springtime the sedate senior’s

fancy lightly turns to thoughts of frivolity. All through

the weary winter months he may have carried himself

with the grave dignity that so well becomes a senior ;

‘but when the spring comes something stirs within him,

and as the world turns green and the birds begin to twit-

ter that something takes hold of him with a grip that

A strange sensation of restless~-

. “ness pervades his entire being, running over his nerves

‘Tike little electric thrills, setting his muscles itching, his
heart throbbing, his whole body aching—aching to do

something, anything, everything.

~~

a —=

_ (This is a very dangerous condition for a senior: to fall
into, and yet nearly all of them suffer, from an attack of
it. It drags them to the border line of recklessness, and
while it possesses them in all its awesome force there is
no desperate thing it might not lead them into. It even
has the power to make them forget for a while that the
whole world has its eyes fastened upon them, watching to
see if they deport themselves with the manly gravity that
so-often gives a senior a far more important atmosphere —
than that which surrounds the high cockalorum of a bil- |
lion-dollar trust. |

There must be some vent for this spring-coltish feeling }
which assails the senior. Until he became a senior he

could occasionally disport himself as a boy, but now for

 
2 TIP TOP

some months the burden of his exalted station in the
world has roosted on his shoulders until it has become al-
most too heavy to bear, He longs to fling it off and be

a boy again.

That’s it—that’s what ails the grave-faced senior when

he feels that queer sensation running over the electric
wires of his body, which are known as the nerves. For
the first time in life he realizes that his boyhood is slip-
ping from him, and he makes a clutch at it to drag it
back for one last look into its happy face before he is
parted from it forever.

How ‘sad a thing it is to part with boyhood forever;
and yet how many do so without a sigh or a regret ! It
is only in after years that they wake up to understand
how great was their loss. Some, well aware that the
- hour has come for boyhood to bid them farewell, turn to
look after it fondly, even when their feet are set on the
new road that- manhood has led them into. Good-by,
happy boyhood! this is the final parting; we shall never
meet again. Of course, it’s a grand thing to be a man,
but it’s only after we have become men that we realize

how grand it was to be a boy.

The senior has been playing at being a man. He has
carried a sober face, his manner has been sedate, and he
has been very much impressed with his own importance,
All this has begun to wear upon him, and with the awak-
ening of spring he. wakes up also to a knowledge of what
is happening. By Jove! it’s a serious thing, after all, to
permit boyhood to drift away without so much as a word
of farewell. This hits him hard, and he suddenly
stretchés out his hands to that part of himself that he has
so carelessly thrust aside.

Behold a lot of dignified Yale seniors wooing back

theft boyhood on a sunny spring day. You'd scarcely’

know them now. There in one group are Aldrich, who
carried off the honors as a drum major in the political
rally last fall; Tomlinson, widely celebrated as a “greasy
grind;” Browning, the laziest man on earth ; Hodge, fa-
mous on the gridiron or the diamond, and Merriwell, fa-

mous the country over. And what are they doing?

WEHEKLY.

Spinning tops! So help me, they are spinning tops!

But look around and you will see scores of well-known
seniors engaged in the same surprising occupation. They
enter into the spirit of it with the combined hilarity of
boys and dignity of men. If you look beneath the sur-

face, it may seem rather pathetic to witness this great

crowd of intellectual young men seriously engaged in a.

last romp with their departing boyhood.
There is Porter, the famous poet of the Lit., frolicking
down the walk, trundling a hoop before him with the ap-

parent satisfaction of a lad of seven. See! his hoop col-

lides with that of Gammel, the great Dwight Hall orator, »

and there is a general mixup. But they’re not real boys.
They’re only men playing that they are boys. If they
had been boys that collision might have resulted in an
exchange of blows, instead of an exchange of bows.
Over yonder are more seniors spinning tops or rolling
hoops. And a great throng of men from other classes
stand off and watch “the sport,” commenting pod it

sagely.

‘This top-spinning and hoop-rolling serves as a vent

for the pent-up steam that has been threatening an ex-

plosion, The safety-valve is open, and the rollicking

seniors proceed to let ’er sizz. There are other ways of

letting off steam, but surely this is far better than the

sign-stealing and gate-shifting recklessness of the fresh-..

men.

¢ ¢ ‘ ~

This is a part of the life of Yale, a scene peculiar to:

the balmy days of early spring. It is one of the mem- —

ories that old grads. smile over in after years. It is pee

culiar and characteristic of Old Eli; to eliminate it would
be to take away something that seems to aid in making
Yale what it is.

By themselves the Chickering set had gathered to look z

on and make comment. Their observations were most

edifying. These remarks tell how the gray matter in

their little heads is working. It has to work hard for

them to think, for they have dulled the gray matter with

cigarettes and hot suppers and lack of proper exertion,

Yet somehow these “men” manage to keep along in their

——

_<,

a ee eee

 

 
  

  

\ ,
classes, and somehow they pass examinations, and some-

  

how they will graduate,’as hundreds and thousands like

  

them graduate from colleges all over our land.

  

» “Look at that big elephant, Bruce Bwowning!” lisped
§ ciep

  

a Lew Veazie, in derision. “Thee him thpinning a top,

fellowth! Ithn’th that a thight faw thore eyeth!”
said Ollie Lord,

“Just look at him, gentlemen!

“And that cheap fellow Hodge,”
‘pointing with his cane.
Isn’t it just perfectly comical to see him spinning a top!
Oh, dear, dear, dear!”

“And Merriwell,” said Rupert Chickering, whose

 

teeters looked as if they had been freshly pressed that
day. |
dignity.”

ho, eokab off!’ croaked Tilton Hull, his collar hold-

ing his chin so high that he seemed to be addressing his

“Tt is a sad spectacle to see a man like that lose his

Sas foes
Le ae

i.

Sie

Tae remarks to a twittering sparrow on a limb over his head.
4: “That’s about the only kind of sport Merriwell really is

suited for.”

 

“a ““Tt’s no use,” said Gene Skelding, gloomily, exhibiting

a | . deep depression for all that he was wearing a dazzling

a new pink shirt; “we can say whatever we like about

stay.”

4 we They all regarded him in amazement, for always he

a0 had been the fiercest against Frank, |

h “This from you!” cried Julian Ives, smiting his bang a
terrible smack with his open hand and almost se

What does it mean?”

“Tt means that we may as well own up to the truth.

 

He has pulled himself up to the top, and everything we
or others have done or said has best fruitless in pulling
him down.” Re Pia fo,
| Skelding had been
; one who had often taken a hand in some daring move
The others to a man had lacked
He
had never seemed to give up hope: but now, all at once,
Why shouldn’t they show con-

    

No wonder they were amazed!

  
 

against Merriwell.

 

re nerve, but Gene was reckless, and they knew it.

“he flung up the sponge.
Pit sternation p

Merriwell, but it’s eee he’s on top of the bunch to-

TIP TOP WEEKLY. 3

Behind his whitewashed board fence of a collar Tilton
Hull gave a gurgling groan.

“It’s not Merriwell’s strength that has placed him on
top,”

“Not in any sense,” said Julian Ives.

he said, despairingly. “He is not a strong man.”

“He's strong enough in his way. No other Yale man
has ever done the things he has done and kept on top.
Think of him, a senior, going into the freshman boat as
coxswain in place of the coxswain the sophs had stolen!
The nerve of the thing is colossal. But what would have
befallen any other senior who dared do such a thing?
He would have got it in the neck. How about Merri-
well? Why, everybody seems to think he did a clever
thing in palming himself off as Earl Knight, the fresh-
man. A man who can do a thing like that and come off
all right is too strong to be thrown down. It’s no use,

he is on top for good.”

“I don’t think he ith verwy thwong,” simpered Veazie.
“He ith a gweat bwute! But there are otherth jutht ath
thwong as he ith. I weally believe he thinkth himthelf a
Thandow.”

“I was not speaking: of his physical strength,” said
Skelding; “though it seems that he’s pretty nearly as
strong that way as any other. You know they say he

defeated that strange athlete of the scarred face.”

“That’s a story his friends tell, don’t you know, dear
said Ollie Lord.

mena
; Ia-f bs bi
: 1 i

boy,” “How can anybody be sure it’s

f Ne be 8

true?”

fg t og

wet.

“T don’t suppose there is much doubt of it,” said:

Gene, still with great gloom. “He is as strong one way

‘as another, and that makes his Ponition impregnable.

He’s king of Kale.”
~ Tt thirtenly ith a thwange thigtit to thee a king

' thpinning a top,” giggled Veazie.

“Come away!” croaked Hull, still with his eyes on the
limb where the sparrow had perched. “Gene is in need
of something to brace him up. Let’s get out of here for
a stroll.”

So the Chickering set dragged themselves away, all .

 
 
      
     
      
 

   

iE TOP

 

4

feeling greatly depressed by the words of Skelding, for
_when he gave up, hope seemed crumbling ashes.

They had continued to hope that something would
bring about the downfall of Merriwell. In Chickering’s
perfumed rooms they had tallsed of the possibility. Even
though every adverse. circumstance seemed to turn in
Merry’s favor, still. they hugged the gasping form of
Now

they beheld it dead in their arms, for Skelding had grown

hope and fanned breath into its pinched nostrils.

tired and refused to fan any more.

In a gloomy group they left the campus and crossed.

the green. Few words passed between them, but all
seemed to know where they were going. Into the Ton-
tine Hotel they made their way and disappeared, for
there they knew a room where they could be served with
whatever they ordered, and no one would be permitted
to trouble them, .

It was fully an hour later when they issued from the
hotel,

his teeth were set.

There was a wild light in Skelding’s eyes, and
Hull had a flush in his cheeks, but
his weak chin would have drooped, had his collar per-
mitted, Ives’ bang was rumpled, and he did not care.
He was humming a tune, Lew and Ollie were clinging
to each other, and making a pretense of being very
sober, in order to attract attention to the fact that they
had been drinking. Rupert had ‘his hat canted at a

rakish angle over one eat.

This is the Chickering set full of fuddle.

for them now, for they are real reckless.

Look out
You can’t im-
agine how reckless they are, sir! Why, they are in such
a devilish mood that they may even dare to sauce some
old lady: on the street! Look out for them, old gentle-
man! ‘There you go; they’ve elbowed you aside with
fiendish glee, and they laugh when you stagger and drop
your cane. .
ing in your carriage. What right has an old plebe like
you on the earth, anyhow? Why don’t you go die and
make room for real aristocrats like these gallant young
ay Heo

Yale gentlemen?

Bey strong they are. now! - a can. see- it in their.

WEEKLY.

hand stole round behind him and hovered over a place |

' fact that he is not strong in any way. We did that back ~

You’re not an-aristocrat, else you’d ye rid-—

        
    

faces and in the steadiness of their walk. And they

demonstrate it by their language.

 

“T don’t take a bit
of thstock in the thstorieth they tell about Fwank Mer-
riwell being tho stwong. I think he ith weal weak.” - |

“That’s right, chummie!” chirped Ollie Lord, flourish-
“We'd not be afraid of

“Tt ith no uthe!” Veazie declared;

 
  
  

ing his cane im a fierce gesture.

  

him, would we?”
“No, thir!” cried Lew; “not a bit!”
“Of course not!” said Ollie.

him we’d give him a shove just as we shoved that old

  

“If we were to meet

man just now.”
“I'd like to give him a thove!” said Veazie, shaking |

his terrible fist in the empty air. But somehow his other

pete : aii il a int ee a 3 2
> ieee zl geen a EC ee ee eet at

that had once been spanked by Merriwell’s open palm.
“Don’t talk about the creature!” croaked Hull, loftily.
“He should be beneath our notice. We've settled the

in the hotel after we took the second drink, Now, drop —
it. ” .
“Yes, drop it!” mea Skelding,

 

“He’s been given

every kind of a chance to demonstrate his strength, but al

I know it’s been nothing but luck. I could have done
the same thing, had I been given the ss. chances,
But I never have a chance.” ia / Me
“Let’s not, revile Merriwell,’ murmured Chickering,  ¥
“Let’s try to be charitable.” | x

“But I wouldn’t turn out for him if I were to meet him

tlt,
y sas Bs “ ms

face to face right——”

Tilton Hull stopped speaking with a ce for he had
come face to face with Merriwell, © _

 

CHAPTER II. ¥
‘A STRONG ARMA s
Full did not pause to make any kind of a bluff, but ha
turned out with remarkable alacrity, for Merriwell’s eyes
were fastened upon him and seemed to go through him
like knives. Those eyes seemed quite enough to ture

  
  
  
 

    

-any one aside.

      
 

 

 

Mix: ME A

  
 
 
  

Se ae ee

  

 

thing that would cap the catastrophe.

dered, screamed and turned pale, |

TiP TOP

Seeing Tilton make that abrupt swerve, Veazie and
Lord locked for the cause, and beheld Merry within two
strides of them. They nearly fell over each other in
their haste to get away, and they went clean off the side-
walk into the gutter.

Chickering pretended not to see Merry, although he
could not help swerving aside the least bit. Ives sud-
denly became busy with his bang, and Skelding was the

only man of the whole lot who ventured to give Frank

one savage glance. But Merry paid ne heed to Skelding,

who was not in his path at all, and walked on,

Gene was mad, :

“Well, I swear, you act like a lot of frightened sheep!”
he snarled, regarding the rest with scorn, “You make
me sick, the whole of you!” ie a

“What is the matter?” asked Rupert, with pretended
surprise, “What made everybody dodge aside so?”
Then he looked back and saw Frank. “Can it be?” he
said, in great disgust. “Really, it’s too bad!” :

In disgust, Skelding left the sidewalk and started to
cross the street.

The others flocked after him stragelinglys

Then there was a great rumpus and uproar down the
street. Men shouted and ran for the sidewalks, teams
got out of the way in a hurry, and the electric car at the
crossing slid over barely in time, oe

And right dewn,on the Chickering set bore two run-
away horses attached to a bounding, rocking, reeling car-
riage, The driver was gone from his seat, the reins were
flying loose, and the two ladies in the carriage were quite

helpless. At any moment they might be thrown out and

killed. At any moment the mad horses might crash into’

another carriage, a car, a stone post, the curbing or some-

Men looked on helplessly, or ran after the reeling car-
riage, shouting and waving their arms. Women shud-

— Was there no one to stop the runaway? ‘Yes, there

_ ‘was the famous strong policeman of that beat! Every~

~ (Wait a moment, my brave young gentlemen, There

  

5

WEEKLY.

body knew him. He would step the horses. He ran out

before them.

Then the erowd watched to see the officer perform the
wonderful feat. He was a giant in stature, and he had
He hurled himself fear-

lessly. at the heads of the frightened beasts, caught with

Hercules-like arms and legs.

one hand, clung and was dragged.

“He's down!”

Women covered their eyes to shut out the spectacle,
He had failed to obtain a good hold on the bits of the
horses, his hands slipped, he hung desperately, and
then.

 

It seemed that those terrible hoofs beat him down and.
went over him, leaving him lying there.

(At first the Chickering set had seemed dazed by the
commotion, Their brains were fuddled, and they, hesi-
tated fairly in the track of peril.

“Run, you fools!” shouted somebody. “Get out of
the way, or you'll be killed !’*

®
.

are twe ladies in that carriage, ene with snowy hair, the —

other with fluffy ringlets of gold. They are in terrible
danger. You are a brave set of fellows, as we all know
very well since you jostled the old man a few moments
ago, [You've never had a chance to demonstrate your
remarkable courage and get your names in the papers;
but here is the opportunity -thrust right upon you,
Surely you will embrace it? At least one of you will
prove now to the whole world that he is made of heroic
stuff, hee = ‘ aoe

But what can they do when the strongest policeman
in New Haven has been unable to check the horses?
They have seen him hurled to the street and left lying
there, and that sight is quite enough for every one of
them—with one exception, 4 he

As the others take to their heels and scamper.for a.
place of safety it is seen that ene remains behind.

It is-Skelding, 7 ;

+ Qn came the terrified horses, and Gene braced himself

  
6 ‘Pi? SPO

»

for the effort that was to land him in the halls of fame—
or in a cemetery.

The latter thought came upon him with appalling
force as he saw those mad horses almost within reach.
Their eyes were glaring, their teeth were set on the bits,
their lips flung great flecks of foam, and the muscular
play of their thrashing legs, bounding. bodies and shod
hoofs, beating fire from the flinty stones, was enough to
shake the nerve of a would-be hero. The power of their
mad crush was something against which it seemed that
mo frail human arm could avail. ,

The thought of fame had led Gene to halt there; but
“mow the thought of something quite different got hold of
him. He saw himself, hurled to the stones with broken
bones, maimed for life, perhaps.
hobble through life a miserable cripple.
be killed! It would be a glorious thing to die the death

If he lived, he would

But he might

of a hero, but even that was not quite enough induce-
ment to satisfy him with the sacrifice of life.
Thus it happened that, at the last minute, Skelding
made a backward spring and a.scramble to get out of
the way, not even lifting his hand to try to stop the

¥
horses.

At another time his haste might have seemed comical
and caused the spectators to roar with laughter; but just
now the peril of the helpless ladies in the carriage pre-

vented any one from laughing. |
i But another Yale man has rushed out into the street
and prepared to make an attempt to check those horses.
As they approach, he runs in the same direction they
are going. They come up beside him, and he swerves in

toward them at exactly the right moment, having

watched their approach over his. shoulder. Then he ©

leaps at their heads, gets them firmly by the bits and
holds fast with a grip that nothing can break.
. : The crowd looks on in breathless ieee and admira-
. tion. All had expected to see this beardless youth flung

Enna. down and trampled as the policeman had been trampled,

but nothing of the kind occurs.

What wonderful strength he must have, for he ,has

ED |

WEEKLY.

checked the mad rush of the horses at once! Though
they plunge and rear, he holds them fast and sets them
back with a surge of his arm, which seems to have
muscles of steel. They do not carry him half a block
before: he had brought them to a stand and holds them
there, his jaw squared, his cheeks flushed a bit, but his
broad breast scarcely seeming to rise and fall with more
than usual intensity. It is the deed of a man of wonder-
ful nerve, skill and strength.

“Who is he?’ some ask.

“Why, it’s Merriwell!” others reply, as if all should
know him.

Yes, it was Merriwell who. had stopped the horses.
He gave them his entire attention till he had them quite
under subjection, ,

Then other men came to his assistance, and he could
leave them for a moment. |

Frank stepped back to’ the carriage, politely lifting his

e ‘

hat, and saying:

“I trust neither of you is harmed, ladies? Your _

39

driver . at i

 

He stopped, staring, astonished, wondering. The

golden-haired girl was gazing at him in unspeakable ad-

miration.
“Elsie!” he gasped.
For it was Elsie Bellwood!

Then he glanced at the lady at Elsie’s side. —

“Mrs. Parker! Well, this is a surprise!” |
Mrs. Parker had been ready to faint, but now she

recovered enough to say:

“How can we ever thank you, Mr. Merriwell? You —

saved our lives! There is no doubt of it?

“When they ran away,” said Elsie, “when the driver

fell off, I felt that somehow, somewhere, Frank ipiould™ ey

turn up and stop them. He did it!”

Her face was full of triumph: Although she still.
shook with excitement of the adventure through which
: re

she had passed, still there was happiness in that look she

tt

gave him.

Somehow that look stabbed him to the heart.

Was iti

{ 3 ( Sah ; on “fe ay le aa ore Ne

 

 

   
     
     

 
 

TIP TOP

Why fiad she not fancied that Hodge

might be the one to stop the horses?

a look of love?

In that moment, when he might have been well satis-
fied with himself for what he had done, Frank Merri-
well felt miserable. |. i

“Elsie,” he said, “I did not know you were in the city.”

“We came to-day,” said Mrs, Parker. “I -have a
brother who lives in Hamden.”

~ They had not let him know they were coming. He

 

- did not believe Hodge had known it,
Mrs. Parker refused to ride farther in the carriage.
She declared the horses could not be managed. And so,

as the dirt-covered driver came panting up, angry,

ES ee eee
sos aisha, ze oe

ashamed and humble, Frank was helping them from the
He had offered to take the driver’s place

¥ 4

_ Carriage.

piribaeiie 5

je

himself, but Mrs. Parker would not even trust one who

ap SI Sas

had shown his power to check the mad runaways.
she added.

shall not induce me to come out behind those terrible

*T shall return in a car,” “Brother George

—

is Sil atlas ae
ee ne anaeangneaaetens

creatures again.”
| Elsie had given Frank’s hand a gentle pressure as he
helped her to alight. oF

“I was awfully frightened,” she whispered; “but I
1 __ knew you would stop the horses the moment I saw you.”
: i She trusted him—she trusted him au And ahe did
i
.

not know the truth.

 

the midst of the sport; now he was gone. For a while

4 q He was engaged to Inzaf)
e pa ib stipe ‘CHAPTER III.
ad fr 4 THE STRENGTH THAT MAKES A FRIEND.
Me i. , Bart Hodge had missed Merry from the throng of rol- :
a licking seniors. A little while before Frank had been in
|

 

, but
He looked around and saw that

Hodge continued to take part in the top-spinning
°C shis heart was not in it.
| he was not the only one who found it impossible to drag

back his boyhood in such a manner. He saw that there

 

 

 

_ simply because it-was a privilege of seniors at this time.

 

  
   

were others who were taking part in the top-spinning ~

‘Some there~were -who laughed and joked and-were-

  

WHREKLY.

34

merry, but, strangely enough, if seemed ‘fo Bart that

these did not realize how sad a thing 4 it was to lose their

boyhood.
So Hodge drifted away Sy himself, giving himself up
_ to thoughts that were both pleasant and otherwise,
Bart’s boyhood had not been the pleasaittest imagin-
able.

he had given little thought to the manner in which Bart

His father was a careless, self-indulgent man, and

was coming up. Bart had been given almost everything
he desired, and, thus pampered, it was not strange that
If he fret-
ted for anything, he was given that which he desired in

he came to be regarded as a “spoiled child.”

order to pacify him. Finding that he could win his own
way, with a pout and a whine, he pouted and whined
more-and more, © “###j 8s.

His mother saw with some alarm what was happen~
ing, but it was useless for her to try te reason with his.
father. ° “Oh, give the boy what he wants, and keep him
still!’ was the way Bart’s father settled it. His mother,

knowing the real dispysition of his father, feared:for the
future, and her fears were justified, wag

As Bart grew older his demands became harder to
satisfy, but he had a way of making life miserable for
everybody around if he did not get his way, More and
more he annoyed his father. “The boy must go away, —
-to school,” Mr. Hodge had decided at last. His mother
_ would have ae him ‘home: a little e JOeBrs, ays ae father

had decreed, :

5 Bart, however, in no Soney for going away.-to school,

| He swore he would not stay, and he did not, In less
than two weeks he Was sent home, expelled.
“We'll see about this,

“An ordinary boarding-school is not Strict

Then Mr, Hodge was furious.

sir!” he said.

enough. [You shall attend a military school.”

“T won't!” said Bart.

But he did—for a month. Then he came home again,
The principal said he was incorrigible. ,

“We'll see!” said Mr. Hodge, and his face was black |
as a stormcloud. “I’ll give you one more chance, young

man, .. ‘This is-the last one! If you are expelled again—

Ph
a
   

  

8 | TIP

shift for

well, you,need nct come back here! You may
yourself!”
é Bart knew he meant just that, but even then he did

‘not care. He had such a bad disposition that he longed
to be expel lled in order to “spite” his father. “I'd like

9)

to show lim that he can’t force me into anything !’’ mut-
tered Bart.

And so, when he was packed off to Fardale, he went
with bitterness in his heart. During the journey he
regarded with satisfaction the possibility that he would
He pictured himself
He

pictured himself as a reckless youngster, going to sea,

‘soon be expelled from this school.
as turned from his own home, set adrift an outcast.
perhaps. He would see many strange lands, lead a wild
life, be shipwrecked, make a fortune in some far coun-
try, come home and treat his bent and aged father with
kindness and magnanimity, caring for him in his declin-
ing years.. He would be able to say: “Well, father, you
sce I bear no grudge, even if you did treat me in a
|, | shabby manner when .I was a boy. I’ve made myself
what I am, no thanks to you. It’s all right; but I can’t
quite forget.”

But this fancy did not give him so much. satisfaction
/as another, that,;came to him. In this he saw himself
it wandering homeless over the world, living a wretched
iste life, drinking, associating with bad men, sinking lower
2 At -last,

might drag himself back home.

and . lower. having fallen to the depths, he
He would be met by a
stern father, who still rebuffed him. On his knees he
would beg for one chance, When he was refused, he’d
e bn go out and break into a bank or*something. Then, as
ke stood in the dock.to receive sentence for his crime, he
would | urn to his father, point an accusing finger at the
cowering man, a and cry out, ina terrible voice: “You
are vee ponsibie for it all! My sins are on your head!”

bellious mood that day when he stepped off the train
at Fardale station. His first act had been to kick a poodle
‘That kick had

dog that came within reach of his foot.
Me led him inte trouble with a bright-faced stripling who

 

' Having such thoughts as these, Bart was in a re-

“enemies when they first me

enemy,

     

TOP WEEKLY.

    

also arrived on that train. Later on he had fougkt

had

this stripling in

an open field on a moonlight night. The

heart B

him. if

5 | q94 Tage aet olen *
ficht had been interrupted, but in hi: art knew

the stripling would have whipped had con-

tinued to a finish, and he hated the stripling with a
hatred he fancied undying

The stripling was Frank Merri ell, and so they were
| at Fardale.

Certain it is that Hodge in those days was ready to
stoop to almost anything in order to get the best of an.
and many were the questionable and unfair
things he did.

But, no matter how. unfair Hodge was, Merriwell
always fought fair and above-board. Bart had not fan-
cied that anybody lived who would never accept an op-
portunity to take an unfair advantage of an enemy, and,

at first, he could not understand Merriwell. Like many

others in after years, he first mistook-Merry’s squareness

and generosity for timidity. The time came, however,

when he realized that Frank Merriwell was as courageous

‘asa lion.

The test that won Hodge to Frank came when Merry
might have caused Bart’s expulsion from the academy by

a word which would have made Bart seem guilty of a

reprehensible thing that he had not committed. Hodge

knew that Frank held him in his power; he knew that the

proof of his guilt must seem convincing to Merry. For

once in his life Bart was frightened, for he suddenly real-
ized what it mearit to him if he were expelled from Far-
dale.

was no hope of his father relenting in such an event.

His mother’s letters had conviriced him that thea

“I’m done for!” said Bart, to himself. And he wondered

why Merriwell did not strike.
hold on Frank, he would have struck, even hough he had

known Merry was innocent. j

Then came an accident at the academy that showed

_another cadet with the same initials as Bart was lgley. |
and Hodge was saved. Still he wondered why Merriwell 4
) “Why did you do it, ‘Merriwell $Y he ie ie

“Because I was not absolutely cer

“had held his hand.

asked, point blank.

‘ad
<

ar:
ee
a
‘

Had he possessed such a’

   
   

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roommates.

TIP TOP

tain that you were guilty,” Frank answered. “It looked
that way, didn’t it?’ “Yes, it looked that way.” “I
should have been expelled if you had accused me.” “I
think you would; Hodge.” “You had no reason to like
me, Merriwell.” “I did not like you,” Frank admitted.
“Then why didn’t you accuse me and get me out of the
way?” “Because to save my life I would not charge my
worst enemy with a crime of which he might be inno-

cent.”
| Bart remembered this conversation. He had pondered
over it, and it had opened his eyes to the difference be-

tween himself and Frank Merriwell. All at once he saw

_ that this fellow whom he hated was his superior in every

way. He had suspected it before, and it had made him

hate Merry more intensely ; but now the full knowledge of .

the fact brought him a different feeling.

+ sNot all at once did Bart surrender to Frank. ‘He tried

to keep away from Merriwell, but the rules of the military
school threw them together singularly, making them
Never were two fellows less alike. But
Bart found that, for all of his sense of justice and honor,

Merriwell was no milksop. Frank could defend his

rights, and he did so often enough.

—

| (The end of it all was that Hodge became passionately

_ attached to Frank, even though he tried to conceal the
fact. He would have fought to the death for Merriwell

at a time when he had not ceased to sneer and say bitter

things about him. Others did not know how much he

~ cared for Frank; he tried to hide it even from himself. -

That friendship for Frank Merriwell was the making
of Hodge. Frank was a splendid model. Uncon-

“sciously Bart began to imitate him, and the work of

changing his selfish, revengeful nature went on slowly »

but surely. In time Hodge realized that he owed the
great change to Frank, but he was not aware of it so
much eaie it was taking place. |

Inza had lived there its i ardale, and Bart admired sts
for far back in those days Hodge had regarded himself

as a “lady-killer.” But she was dark-haired and dark-eyed

f

 
  

 

WEEKLY. 9

like Bart himself, and she took no great fancy to him.
Merriwell’s success with Inza annoyed him ‘at first.

Then came Elsie. _

But it was Merriwell who had done most in saving her
from her father’s shipwrecked vessel, which went to
pieces on Tiger Tooth Ledge, off the coast at Fardale, one
wild night, and it was Merriwell on whom the golden-
haired girl smiled. The first sight of her had aroused a
strange sensation deep down in Bart’s heart; but she
would not even give him a glance.

That did not make him bitter toward Frank. Instead,
he became bitter toward girls in general. He told him-
self that he hated them all and that he would never have
anything to do with any of them. So, for a long, long
time, Bart Hodge believed himself a “woman-hater.”

He had kept himself from Elsie. When he thought of
her he turned his mind on other things. She troubled

him a great deal for a time, but at Jast, after being put

out of his mind so many times, she bothered him less

and less. He had not fancied himself in love with her.

He would have ridiculed such a thing as preposterous.

But the time came when, on the burning steamer, he
knew the truth in a sudden burst of light. He had loved
her all the time, and, rather than be false to Frank, he
had remained silent. In the face of what seemed cer
tain death his lips had been unsealed and he had told her
of his love.

Then—strange fate!—Merriwell himself had battered
down the partition and dragged them out to life.

Perhaps it was the happiest moment of Bart’s life when
he learned that Frank had found he loved Inza and she
loved him. With Frank and Inza engaged, it seemed
that there was no barrier left between him and Elsie:

He had known that he was going to meet Elsie ir
Charlottesville during the Easter trip of the bail team,
and he had made Frank promise to let him teil.-her every-_
thing, for she remained unaware of the engagement be-
tween Merry and Inza. <

When the time came, however, Bart longed to learn: f
from Elsie that she loved him most before telling her

   
   
     
     
    
®

10 Ti POP

what liad happened. He felt that not for anything would
he wish to think she had accepted him because she knew
Frank was lost to her. It was the great longing of his
heart to be first in her heart.

And so, fearing what her answer might be unless she
knew all, he had begged her to wait a little before mak-
ing it. ‘And he had left Charlottesville and Virginia
without telling her of the engagement of Frank and Inza.
Not, however, till they were back in New Haven did he

confess this to Frank, ne

»  *T couldn’t do it!” he cried, alone with Merry in his

room. “I long to hear her tell me she loves me most

without having her know that you can never be anything

to her. That would settle every doubt for the present |

and for all time.” ae ;

“I can’t blame you, Bart,” said Merry. “I believe I
understand how you feel. But I fear you lost your
courage when the right moment came.” . .
| “Gods, Merriwell! who wouldn’t lose courage? Her
answer was to make or mar my whole future. I longed
to cry out, ‘Frank and Inza are engaged.’ But the fear
that it would be that alone which would give her to me
made me keep silent’ I want her to love me because not
even Frank Merriwell is as much to her.”

“T hope she will, Hodge,” said Merry, sincerely; “and

something tells me that she will. It will all come right,

old man.”
CHAPTER IV.-
THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD, «

Bart wandered from the campus and left the vicinity

; of the college. He walked by himself through the

streets, thinking of these things. With his mind thus

occupied, he gave little thought to the direction he was

taking.
{ >

be 6
: }
‘

: i into his throat, for he recognized the girl.

 

In time he came round into Church street, and he was

barely in time to see Merriwell assisting a young lady
onto a car. 3

Hodge stopped in his tracks. His heart had leaped

 

Even then he brushed his hand over his eyes, as if in

doubt. It did not seem possible that Elsie Bellwood

could be there in New Haven without his knowledge.

He had not seen the elderly lady Frank aided onto the |

car in advance of Elsie. He saw nothing but Elsie.

Then he made a single step, as if to dash forward.

Elsie turned and spoke something to Frank in a low tone, |

giving him a sweet smile, and Bart stopped as if shot.

That smile seemed to strike straight through the pas-
sionate heart of Bart Hodge. He would have given the
world to have her smile on him like that. .

The horrible conviction that she still loved Frank
seized upon him, and turned his blood to water.

The whole affair was very remarkable, to say the
least. pre,

‘How had Frank known she was there in New Haven?
Bart told himself that Merry must have known it, else

why had he left the campus to meet her.

It did not occur to Hodge that the meeting had been |

by accident. He knew nothing of the runaway. He be-
lieved Elsie had sent Merriwell word that she was com-

ing to New Haven, and he had met her by appointment.

A terrible feeling of jealous rage took possession of
him as he whirled and hurried away. That feeling,
which was like a terrible, crushing pain in his bosom,
drove reason and sober thought from him.’ For. the time
he was a furious fool in the grasp of the fiercest. pas-
sion that can sway a human being—a passion that has
overthrown empires. «Oh, the terrible things he told
himself! He strode on and on, his face black as mid-

night, his heart in a wild tumult. —

How he hated Merriwell now! At last he felt that

he knew Frank Merriwell’s one weak point. Merriwell
‘was deceiving both Elsie and Inza! Even now that he
had proposed to Inza and been accepted, he was not
satisfied to give Elsie up.

But Merry had deceived him; Bart told himself that

over and over. He had slipped away from the rollick- ap

 

ing seniors that he might keep the appointment with .

  

 

 

 

  
   
   
  
  
  

 

 
     
   
  

  

 
  
  

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me Fn Se

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- and not returning to college.

on the ground at his feet.

Elsie unknown to Hodge. Was — that a wretched
trick?

All the old hatred he had once entertained for Frank,
renewed and redoubled by his jealousy, swayed him now.
He felt that he could kill Merriwell without a feeling of
remorse. Bee :

Why not? Was not Frank deceiving Elsie? ‘And a
wretch who would deceive her deserved death!

Bart knew that Elsie trusted Frank implicitly. She

believed him the soul of honor, and the thought that he

could deceive her i if any way had never for a moment en-

tered her mind.

But he was deceiving her! Why was he doing it?
Was it possible that he had grown sorry. because of his
proposal to Inza? Was it possible that he thought of
giving Inza up and turning to Elsie?

Hodge asked himself these questions as he swung

along, coming into Whitney avenue. Away he went to

the north, covering the groun@ with great speed, seek- .

ing to walk off the terrible feeling that possessed him.

At last he came to the outskirts of the city. LO tee
right lay East Rock Park; ahead was Lake Whitney.

Bart felt like losing himself somewhere in the country
He did not wish to look
on Merriwell’s face again. Always he had seen “hon-

esty and frankness there; but now he felt that he would

_ be able to detect deceit and treachery lurking somewhere

- about it. : ; } hag) & {

Deceit and treachery | in Frank Merriwell! ‘That

meant that the Merriwell ie had known in the past. was

dead tio) ho aes Nae 1

Bart tired of the highway. He longed to plunge into

: the woods, and he struck across some fields toward a dis-

tant grove, into which he made his way.

There he felt that he would be quite alone, ak he was

mistaken, In the midst of the grove he found a lodge-

Tike house, the doors. of which were standing open.
_ Near this house, in the grove, a large, broad-shouldered,

_ muscular-looking man stood contemplating a large stone

His hat, coat arid vest were

43

TIP TOP WEEKLY. | 11

 

- off, and his sleeves were thrust back, showing a massive

 

     

forearm.
Bart paused to look at the man, admiring his Hercu-
lean build. Then the man looked up, as if he had known

all the time that Bart was there, and called to him.

“Come here,’ commanded the stranger, in a heavy

voice. “I have something to show you.”

\

\ With his curiosity strangely aroused, Bart advanced. —
_ “What is it?” he asked, as he paused near the man,
“Do you see that stone?” |

The man pointed at the large rock at his feet.

“Ves.” |

“Do you know how much it weighs?”

No.”

“Do you think you can lift it?”

“I doubt it.”

~ Td like to see you try it.” ‘i ;

Hodge wondered at the peculiar manner of the man.

“Oh, just to show how strong you are.”
“I don’t want to show how strong I am.” 1

4 “Well, I want to show you how, strong I am.”

Ao *

“Go ahead.”

“T cannot, unless you take hold of that rock and con- 3
oe you have done »

vince yourself that it is heavy.
that, I will show you how light it is.”

Possessed by a sudden impulse, Bart stooped and tole
hold of the. stone.
lift it from the ‘ground.

With a strange smile on his face, the muscular giant
of the grove watched Bart’s unavailing efforts. _

“Ha! ha!” he laughed. “It is heavy, isn’t it?” |

“Rather,” admitted Bart, as the straightened up. “It. a

must weigh half a ton.”
“As much as that,” nodded the man.
“You knew I could not lift it.”
wk AAT 2 :
“You ey | cae ae :
“Yes.” |
“I do riot believe you can posge it.”

“Why should I try to lift it?” he asked, wonderingly. —

But try as he might, he could ‘not |

    

       

|

  
 
  
 
 
 
   
    
       
 

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“You shall see,”
Then the man bent his broad back, obtained a hold on
the stone with his hands, and, to the astonishment of

Hedge, lifted it fully two feet from the ground with no
great apparent effort.
_ “What.do you think now?” he cried, triumphantly, as
he let it drop.

“T think it is remarkable!” exclaimed Hodge, looking
at the man in wondering admiration. 3

“IT knew you would,” said the stranger, with a show of
satisfaction, “Can you keep a secret?” A

“T believe so.”

“Then I will tell you something,”

“Go on.”

“I am the strongest man in the world!”

These words were spoken with perfect seriousness, as
if the one who uttered them believed them fully.

“Are you?” asked Bart, beginning to feel that there
was something vety peculiar about this man.

“Yes.+You are ‘the only one besides myself who
knows it. I decided to tell yout as soon as I saw you.”
“Do you live here?” asked Bart, ooking toward the
lodge and seeking to turn the subject.

“Oh, no; I only conte here to get strong. I had this
hut built here for that purpose.”

“Do you live near here?”

“Yes: this is my property all round here. I have dis-

covered the secret of becoming strong. Although I am ~

now the strongest man in the world, I shall*keep tight on
getting stronger. The time will come when I'll be
stronger than. a hundred men combined.”

Now Bart understood that there must be something
the matter with the man’s mind; although he had little
the appearance of a lunatic. 7

“T have let no one know why I come here to this place
_ ata certain hour every day,” the stranger went On Ot

_ knew they would laugh at me, and it makes me angry
| when any one laughs at me. Don’t laugh, young man!
Lam very disagreeable when I am angry,” ) |

; es Bart had no thought of laughing, |

 

WHEKLY.

“This is a ptetty place,” he observed.

“Tt’s quiet and secluded,” nodded the man; “yet it is
so near the house that I can easily hear them when they
ring’ the bell for thie, They think I come here to study
médicine. Why, I completed the study of fiedicine long
ago. I let them think that, however, for they would not
wnderstand if they knew what I was really studying.
Any man who knows the secret may become strong if
he is willing to shorten his life. You look surprised. I
will explaiti, In order to acquire my present amotnt of
stterigth, I have been compelled to boil down atid con-
centrate the strength of several years into oie year, and

my life has béen shortened just that mich. But it is a

glorious thing to know that I am the strofigest man if

the world. I am bound to becortie famous, and alimost.
any man is willing to sacrifice a few years of life in of-
det to win enduring farie. Perhaps you think my fame
will not endure, but you ate wrong. The fame of Sam-
son has endured, arid I shall become even stronger than
Samsoti, I know the secret that Samson knew. It did

not lay in his hair, What fools they were to think so!

But I know the secret. It will take a little time fot me y

to condense all the strength of years to come in one year,
but I shall succeed, and then I’ll astound the world.
With ease I'll be able to pick up a horse and fling it over
my head, as if it were light as a cat. I’ll have the power
to topple over houses as if they were built of cards. I

will ef

 

A voice sounded through the grove, calling:
. “Dr. Lincoln! Dr. Lincoln!”
Bart started and listened in amazement,
“Dr. Lincoln! Dr. Lincoln!” called the voice.
It was that of Elsie Bellwood, and he saw her coming

toward him along a path through the grove.

 

CHAPTER V.
THE MEETING WITH ELSIE,

In his wild desire to get away somewhere, Hodge had

* fancied he must be putting distance between himself and

Elsie. Instead of that, he had hastened to her. -

ae

 

 

an
4
i

Bf RCE neering 6

 

 
 

 

ee -S

.
}

 

  

  

TIP TOP

There she was comitig along the path. He stood still
and stared at her in amazement.
The man grasped his arrn with a gfip that seemed to

crush flesh and bone.

“You must not tell her that I am the ‘strongest man
in the world!” he breathed, hoarsely, “Promise me you
will not tell her!”

“I promise,” said Batt.

“That is all I ask,” said the man, in a low tone, re-
leasing his hold on Hodge. “I see by your face that you
are a young man who values his word.”

Then he lifted his voice, and answered +
_ “Here I am, Miss Bellwood. What do you want?”
“Oh, doctor!” called Elsie; “we met with such an ad-
venture in town. The horses ran away and James fell
off.”

Bart had drawn back. He would have slipped away,
had it been possible to do so without being observed by
the approaching girl, for he felt that he was in no mood

to meet Elsie then,

/

‘How pretty she was as she came tripping through the
woods, holding up her skirts! It seemed to Bart that

she had never looked more beautiful.

She trusted Merriwell, and Merriwell was deceiving

her! Again his heart seethed with indignation, and just

then he felt that he longed to stand face to face with

Frank and say a few things.

In the eyes of Bart Hodge, Elsie was the most beauti-

- ful girl in the world. In her he saw all that was sweet

and good and true. He wondered how .it was possible
for Frank to care more for dark-eyed Inza than for
golden-haired Elsie,

“The horses ran away?” exclaimed the “strong man,”
with evident alarm and annoyance. “And James fell off?
Well, James shall be discharged at once.” .

“Oh, he was not to blame! He was not strong enough
to hold them when they became frightened.”

“Not strong enough? Then he is not fit for the place.

No man has a right to be weak. Strength should be

| /

   

 

WEEKLY. "6
dphitig 2

sought by all. But I hope, Miss Bellwood, that the run-
away did not result in a disaster?”

“Fortunately not, doctor. The horses were stopped.”

“Good—very good! Who did it?”

“A policeman tried to stop them first.”

“Tt was his duty!”

“But he did not succeed. Oh, I was so frightened!
He was thrown down, and I thotight he must be killed.
We found out afterward that he was not very badly
hurt.”

“He got hold of the horses?” asked the man, frown-
ing.

“Yes, but he could not hold them.”

“Weakling!” ‘muttered the man, contemptuously..
“Why, had I been in his place, I’d stopped them in their
tracks !” | pale

“They were mad with terror, and it seemed that no one
could check them. But there was a young man who
ran out, got them by the bits, and brought them to a
stand.”

“Ah!” cried the man, with a show of interest. “He
must be the possessor of some strength.”

“He’s the greatest athlete in Yale. His name is Frank
Merriwell.”

Elsie had stopped a short distanice away. ‘As he
leaned against a tree which shielded him from her view,
Hodge had not been discovered by her. 7

Standing thus, Bart heard her tell how Frank had
stopped the runaway horses, It gave him a strange sen-
sation, and all at once he began to wonder if the meeting
between Frank and Elsie had been unintentional or ac-
cidental. ;

“Oh, yes; I know about him,” said the -ma:z called
“doctor.” “I have seen him many times in athletic sports
and games. I presume some men would regard him as
rather strong.”

“You should have seen him drag those horses to 2
stop, doctor! Mrs, Parker wished me to come and tell

you about it. She thought I might find you here,

9

 

and.

   

  
 
     
 

‘TIP TOP

14 ,

Elsie stopped. For the first time she perceived that
the man was not alone.

Finding hé was discovered, Bart stepped out into view,
lifting his hat.
“Here?”

“Yes, Miss Bellwood,” he said, in a tone of voice that

“Bart Hodge?” she cried, astonished.
>

sounded strained and unnatural.
both, I fancy.”

“So you are acquainted?” exclaimed the man, looking
“Well, well!”
Elsie started forward, her hands outstretched.

“It is a surprise to us

- from one to the other.

“T am so glad to see you, Bart!” she cried, her cheeks
turning crimson,

“Are you?” he exclaimed, feeling his heart give a ereat
throb of joy.

“Why, of course I am!” she asserted, as he met her
and clasped her hands.

“But you, did not ss me know you were in New
Haven.”

“You'll find a letter when you get back to town. I

dropped one in the office for you.”
“But Frank knew you were here.”

“He did not know I was coming. Oh, Bart, you
should have seen him fling himself at the heads of those
snorting, terrified horses and bring them to a stop! It
was grand, and it was just like him!” |

Admiration for Frank thrilled her; Hodge. saw it in
her face and heard it in her voice. ia

“She loves him still !” he told himself, his heart sink-
ing.
_ “Then there was no harm done?” asked the
man,”

“strong
seeming awakened at last to the possibility that the
‘runaway might have resulted in damage:

“None, save to the policeman, who tried to stop the

Of coutse 1} Mrs. ‘Parker was frightened.
James drove the team home, and we care by trolley as
- far as we could, and walked across.’

horses, doctor.

“T’ll discharge him at once!” declared the man.
Bart and
She fluttered to him, placing her

“Please don’t!” entreated Elsie, leaving
turning to the man.
gloved hands on his muscular arms and looking up into
we his face entreatingly. “I am sure ‘James does not de-
serve to be discharged, doctor.
“tot do that.”

“pele alee before

Promise me that you will

her appeal

 

WEEKLY.

“Oh, well,’ he
as long as you ask it, I'll not discharge him.”

“Oh, He patted
her cheek, and she turned to Bart in triumph.

said, “I'll have to reprimand him, but,

\??

that’s a good doctor!’’ she laughed.

“Now,” she said, “you must explain how you happen
to be here, sir.”

“T left town for a walk and just wandered ane here;
that’s all.”

“Well, wasn’t that odd! And I’m so glad to see you!
You had to leave Charlottesville in such-a hurry.”

“That’s right,” he agreed. “I left much before I was
ready to do so,”

“We are going to stay here for several weeks, per-
haps. Now, if Inza and Winnie were here, how jolly
‘it would pel. * ‘

The man had.turned from them to the lodge, the doors

of which he was closing and locking.
“Who is he?” asked Bart, nodding toward hin.

“Dr. Lincoln,” “He is Mrs. P
brother.”

she answered. aie? s

“You are visiting him?”

“Yes. He lives here at Whitney Hill all by ‘iniele ts
“Is he a practicing physician ?”

“No. He has never practiced. He is wealthy, and it’

has been his fad to experiment.
pana ki are Bart.
quickly.”

He’s rather peculiar.”

here seem afraid of him.” *
“Some of the neighbors 2” py:
“Yes.”
Bart nodded.
“I shouldn't wonder.” f .
She looked at him searchingly.
“Why should they fear him ?” she asked. “Hasn't a
man a right to his own peculiar ways? He built this

lodge here in the grove in order to have a private labora-

_‘tory where he could continue his experiments and inves-
tigations undisturbed. He says the neighbors were very

curious about it, and used to come prying rourid till he ~

was forced to find ways of frightening them off. Then

they took a dislike to him and said he was queer.”
“Elsie,”

is not just right in his upper story.”

*

“dT found that out very

“But he is so kind and good. Some people around | |

said Bart, seriously, “TI am afraid Dr. Lincoln ts

“Oh, vou misiudge | him!” she whispered. cae am n sure :

  

 

 

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-you do! He is very kind in the house. He’s simply

original,”’

“There are hundreds of men in the country having his
original ways who are spending their days in lunatic
asylums,” murmured Bart.

 

CHAPTER VI.
BART’S CONFESSION,
The feelings of Bart Hodge had changed greatly when
he left that little grove. He escorted Elsie to the house,

Dr. Lincoln following them at a distance and giving

them a chance to talk quite freely. Bart found that he

- had suspected Frank without the least cause, and he saw

that his jealousy was groundless and foolish as far as he
had thought Frank meant to turn to Elsie again.

But still within him was the feeling that Elsie still
cared for Merry, and that was gall and wormwood to
him. eee
He longed to tell her everything, but resolved to see
Frank and talk with him again before doing so.

Just then Hodge fancied that he was in need of ad-
vice, and who was better able to advise him than Frank?

Elsie told Bart that Mrs, Parker had asked the doctor

to have a house party of college men and young ladies

at Whitney Hill, and he had agreed.

“The. invitations are to go out to-morrow,” she said.
“We'll have a delightful time. Oh, if Inza were here!”
_ Bart wondered if she felt no jealousy of Inza.

Having bade Elsie adieu, and waved his hand to the
doctor, who returned the ‘salute, Bart turned his face
toward the city.

The fever had left this veins, and his heart was beating

jn its usual manner as he swung along.

But he was ashamed of himself on accouht of the bit-

_.ter things that had filled his mind in regard to Frank,

and he resolved to make a confession and ask pardon.
His love for Elsie was more intense than ever,
While he thought of her, visions of the strange, un-

canny doctor kept obtruding upon him. He saw the man

standing there in the woods, big, thick, muscular, star-
ing at the huge stone at his feet. This man seemed
harmless enough, byt Bart was firm in his conviction that
such queer characters were dangerous and should be
watched. This being the case, he could not help feeling
uneasy about Elsie as long as she remained at Whitney

ill,

 

TIP TOP

   
 

 

WEEKLY. 15

It was growing dusk when Bart came swinging down
Whitney avenue. He did not look like the same per-
son who had rushed madly and blackly out of town a
while before. His face wore such a pleasant look that he
was positively handsome.

Some children had been playing a game of tag, One
of them fell and was hurt. Bart stopped, picked up the
child, wiped away its tears, soothed it to laughter, and
left it with a quarter clasped in its soiled fingers.

Straight to Frank, Bart went. He found Merry in his
room, writing steadily, manuscript scattered about.
Often of late Bart had found him thus employed, and he
wondered somewhat what the nature of Frank’s work
could be. |

“Where have you been Hoige ?” Frank asked. “I’ve
tried in vain to firid you.” 2

“Have your” -

esi"

“Why ?" .

“I wished to tell el something.”
_ “About——” :

“Elsie—she is here.”

“T know it.”

“You have seen her?”

Yes,”

Then, without shielding 1 himself in the least, Bart told
Frank how he had seen him helping Elsie onto the car
and how he had fancied all sorts of bad things about him.

Hodge’s face was flushed with shame as he proceeded.
Several times Merriwell tried to check him, seeing that
this confession was causing him great humiliation and
distress, but the penitent fellow would not desist until
he had finished.

When it was finished, they stood there, Frank Toskacie
straight at the dark-faced lad, whose eyes were on the
floor. The silence caused Hodge to look up.

“I don’t blame you, Merriwell!” he exclaimed. “I
don’t blame you for despising me! I’m a bad fellow to
think such things of you after all you have done for
me!” ad

“It’s not that I am’ thinking, Hodge,”
gently. “I am thinking of the great change in you since
the days when we first met. Then you would not have —

said Frank,

confessed you were wrong if you had committed a crime;

now you are eager to eee when you have no more
than thought wrong of me.”

  
 

 

16

“That was a crime!
after all you have done!”
“What have I done?
sure you’ve done as much for me as I ever did for you!”
“No! no!”

“You saved my life:

We have been friends, and I’m

ing hotel.” . ga

“You have done a thousand’ times more than that for ‘

me. You have saved me from dishonor and disgrace.

You have saved me from going wrong and becoming a

dissolute reprobate. All that I am and all that I hope

_ to be I owe to you!

‘my heart this day! Oh,

too much to bear!’’:

He shook with the intensity of his emotion, covering .

his drawn face with his: hands.

Quickly Frank advanced to his side, and his arm went
across Bart’s shoulders.

“You think too badly of yourself, old man,” declared
Frank.
truest friends.”

Bart turned and caught hold of Merry.

“But it shall not part us?” he cried, fiercely.

“You were jealous, and jealousy has parted the

~

“Say it

shal] not part us, Frank!” ae

“T hope not, Bart. We will not permit it.”

“No, no! Such friendship as ours comes but once in a
lifetime! Once lost, nothing can ever take its place.”

_ Frank nodded. .

“That is true,” he said. “I think there is no danger,
Bart.” |

“But can you feel ts the same toward me after—after
this ?”

“Just the same, old man.
You iar have hidden it from me, and
I'd never been the wiser?

“Oh, f couldn't!
of any one else I’d never confessed it; but of you
-“T understand, Bart. You had no reason to be jealous,
for you know I am engaged to Inza.”
“Elsie does not know ?” ee ve
“Because you have not told her, after asking the privi-
_ lege to do so, I should have let her know it long ago
but for that. Bart, you must tell her.
_ her right to keep it from her.”
_ Then Hodge confessed why he aid: not told her be-
a fore—confessed that he feared she still cared for Merry.

If anything, I must think
_ more of you.

>

 

It is not treating

How could I think wrong of you ?

You dragged me from the burn- .

Yet I could hold hatred for you in °
Merriwell, the shame of it is, |

else was well satisfied.

Had I thought Aiey things rat i y

' \ lend me her chewing-gum.”

 

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

Something tells me
But you know it is possible that she

“T hope you are not right, Bart.
that you are not.
believed she would be doing me an injustice if she learned
to care more for another, and Elsie would not, to save
her life, do anything she thought wrong. The safest
way, Bart, is to tell her everything. If you will not, you
must let me do it.”

“I will!” said Hodge, resolutely. “There is to be a
party out there, given for Elsie, and we'll receive invita-
tions to-morrow. At that party I'll find a way to tell

her, Frank.”

—ennepr + !
4

*" CHAPTER VII. oe ,
THE PARTY, }

ob-
erved Jack Ready, as he surveyed the assembly of pretty
“In fact, it’s been a long time

“There are lots of joy forevers here this evening,”

tirls and manly youths.
ince ve had the pleasure of looking on such a fine
ollection of joy forevers.” |
“What are you trying to get off?” asked Bert Dash-
‘eigh, who for once was unaccompanied by his mandolin,
which made him feel very lonesome, although every one
“What are joy forevers?”
“Things of beauty, of course,” explained Jack, with an
‘xpression of contempt. “My callow young friend, it is rs
barely possible that you have’heard it said that a ‘thing er
of beauty is a joy forever.’ ” | x
“I believe I have,” faltered Bert. re.
“Well, just take a look at those stunning girls. ‘Aren’t
they things of beauty? Then, of course, they are” Toy
forevers. Where do you get off?”
“Anywhere,” muttered Bert, meekly.

{

“Vou have such. _

 

flowery ways of saying things that——” ~~
“That will do!” said Jack, loftily: “It is plain you
belong to the common herd that does not understand
the poetic feelings of those who soar to heavenly heights.
By Jove! there is Jennie Dwight! I wonder if she will
And away he went in pur- foe 2
suit of a vivacious-looking girl. ee oe
It was the evening of the party at Whitney Hill, ade: |
Dr. Lincoln’s handsome residence was thronged with a
beautiful girls and bright- looking: young men. From =
basement to attic the mansion was glittering with lights, :
and the sound of music and laughter and chattering a a
voices seemed to come from every part of it

 
  

 

‘ner that did not seem prosaically conventional.

 

TIP TOP

Elsie was happy. Of course she had been compelled
to meet scores of strangers when she would have pre-
ferred to be enjoying herself with a group of her own
particular friends, but all were kind and pleasant, and a
spirit of good-fellowship seemed to pervade the gather-
ing: |

Elsie was handsome to-night.
she looked more attractive. Her dress was of some gray,
silkish substance, made over pink, which gave it a delicate

Never in her life had

tint that seemed to match her complexion perfectly. Her
eyes were blue as the summer sky and shining like stars,
while the smile that flitted about her sweet mouth made
it seem sweeter than usual.
The heart of Bart Hodge had given ‘one great throb
when his eyes rested upon her. ;
“How beautiful she is!” he inwardly cried. ene
She gave him her hand, with a pressure that tilled
his every nerve. ‘The hot blood was in his cheeks, and
she saw the love-light flame deep in his intense eyes.
She knew how much he cared for her, and his love was

something that made her afraid at times, for not yet did

she understand her own heart.

Frank came.
and he had a way of saying something pleasant in a man-
Pretty
girls flocked round him, and he showed that he was one

He was jsplendid in his evening: suit,

of those raré men who, while in every way a “man’s
man,’ could be quite at his ease in the presence of the
other sex.

It was a perfect spring evening, so warm that the

windows were thrown open and many of the guests
sought the breeze that could be found on the broad |

veranda. Out there Chinese lanterns dangled and glowed,

- and the throng strolled beneath them.

‘Somewhere behind a screen of palms and flowers an

orchestra gave forth sweet music.

Refreshments were served. The heroes of Yale, the

| gridiron gladiator, the baseball man, the hammer-thrower,

the sprinter, and others who had done Shee, were in
great demand by the pretty girls.

But of all the heroes present Frank Merriwell was the
most popular. The girls crowded to get a look at him,
to speak to him, to hear his voice ee receive a smile from

at eh

: = him. aes gh 4 iv ial Tia 1 gi i
o “Heeis it!” declared Jack Risk * "He bes the call in
this little game. I don’t know. anothen- fellow who °

Newer ete

» center of a bevy of handsome girls.

 

 

WEHEKLY. 17:
wouldn’t look a little foolish” or self-conscious. He
doesn’t seem to know that he’s just about the whole
blooming show. ‘That makes him all the more : Ros
I am for boycotting him.” oy

Tell be ai
There isn’t a pretty girl

“Boycott him!” growled Browning.
caught if he doesn’t look out.

here who doesn’t stand ready to fling herself at his head

r yi

on the slightest provocation.”

“But what sort of a show do ¥ we stand?” sighed Ready,
sadly. “All the girls seem to want to talk about Merri-
well, Merriwell, Merriwell. I just teld a saucy young
miss that I thought him perfectly horrid. She gave me

the icy eye at once.

oat

Bet a button she won t know me the
next time we meet.” vada
You're old énbuigti™
‘“But I'd like to be a little bit of a tin hero to some-
“Tm going to do
I have made up my mind to do something
What would you advise ??
“Shoot yourself,” said Bruce, gravely, “ Xoull ‘get an
obituary notice.” Gee Br dae ae
“Thanks!” retorted tails “I am net seeking post
humous glory, my wise friend. I don’t know of-any-:
I want to do something that

% “You should know better.

body,” the queer sophomore sobbed.
something.
to produce notice.

thing I have less use for.
will make a lot of stunning girls cuddle round me like
N OMe if : oe only take
part in a duel!” ba aa

“You will ‘duel’ to avoid such a pict of obtaining
glory,” said Bruce.

flies around a molasses barrel.

Jack gasped.

“Air!” he moaned, faintly.»

“That’s all anybody finds in your ees said Brice,
moving away. .

Next to Merriwell, Dick Starbright seemed the most
popular with the girls. The handsome freshman giant
had won his spurs on the football field. Having the
build of a Spartan gladiator, the rosy face of a boy, and
the pleasant nianners of a Yale gentleman, it was not
strange that he should find himself almost constantly the
And he knew what:
it meant when, in a careless, apparently theughtless, man-
ner, some of them rested their hands on his arm for 4
moment. .

_ Hodge might have had a flock around him, but He wad
so dark'and stern that they seemed a little afraid of him,
When they. gathered near. he-did not seem-to-mind-thenm, - on

They wanted to feel:his muscle!

  
  
      
     
  

‘18 | eke Oe?

There was only-one girl among them all for Bart, and

he was impatiently waiting the time when she would be |

at liberty to give-him some of her, attention.

Dr, Lincoln seemed very happy. His heavy face wore
a smile, but Bart fancied the wild light lurked in his
eyes. The doctor found Hodge and drew him aside.

“I have been distening to the talk,” he said. vl have
heard these young people speaking of Merriwell as such
a wonder, ‘And- Starbright—they seem to think he is
very strong.” lhe age

“He is,” sail Bart...

“T presume so—in, a way. He is big, and of course he
must have a certain amount of strength, But he is not
what I rate as truly strong.”

“Font hed? a dh

-‘Not-at all. 6 you think he could liff that stone out
there in the grove?”

“He might’

The-doctor frowned.

“Perhaps he might, but I doubt it.
riwell could not lift it.” pet ed oy

“Don’t be too.certain. Frank Merriwell is far stronger
than he looks, I fancy if put to the test he’d be able to

Sshow himself even stronger than Starbright.”

“Do you thinkthat?” exclaimed the doctor, in apparent
surprise. “Well, you knew them both, and you may be
right, But how-I could astonish them. They do not
know that I am the strongest man in the world, do they?”

_ “T don’t think they do.”

Somehow this answer screine to arouse'the man’s sus-
picions,

“Have you betrayed my secret?” "he whispered, rather
fiercely.

.

I am certain Mer-

“You promised that you would not. Have you
told them that I am the strongest man in the world?”

“No.” |

“You are sure?” -

“Yes.” |

The man seemed to draw a breath of relief.

“I was afraid you had done so,” he said. “You must
‘keep my secret. You must not breathe it to a soul. I
r don’t know why I trusted you.
‘Bart said nothing,

It was foolish of me.”

“You took me by surprise,”

tor, “You were watching me there in the grove.

“were vow watching me? Answer that question,”
‘It happened quite by chance.”

Why;

declared the strange doce ’

WEEKLY.
“Did it? Then you were not spying upon ine?”

“Of course not.”

“I thought perhaps you might have been. I have kept
the great secret until the time comes to divulge it, which
I shall do in a most sensational manner. I have not yet
decided how it is to be, but I shall do something to rival
the act of Samson when he pulled down the temple upon
his enemies. I have enemies. You may not know it,
I have secret enemies, and they would
That

is why I wish to keep it a secret until the time comes.

but “it is true.
rob me of my strength if they knew I possessed it.

Then I shall call them all out in a body and topple some
That will obliterate
them, and they will give me no more trouble.”

massive building down upon them.

He was speaking in a quiet tone of voice, and any one
observing him must have fancied he was simply chatting
with Bart about ordinary matters, |

More than ever was Hodge satisfied that the man
was a dangerous lunatic. ‘And he was all the more dan-
gerous because he had craftily concealed from those who
They.
but it was not likely that any

knew. him best the full state of his derangement.
simply thought him “queer,”
of them dreamed that his mind was actually unbalanced.

“When the time comes,” the doctor continued, “I may
ask you to assist me in calling my enemies together. Oh,
I’ll show you some. sport! You love sport, and you'll
laugh at this, I promise you. We will get them to stand
in one long row, and then I'll bring the bricks and mortar
and stone and iron thundering down upon them. It will
be just like children playing with blocks.”

The doctor laughed silently to himself as he thought of
this, and Bart felt a cold shiver creeping over him.

“T must tell Elsie everything,” he thought. “She must
not remaip in the holise with this madman.”

Then he saw her coming toward them.

“Excuse me, doctor,” he said.
with Miss Bellwood.”

“But not a word of the great secret to her!” warned

i

the man, in a whisper. “If you value your life be silent!”

 

CHAPTER VIII,

BAFFLED BART,
| “Elsie.”

/ She stopped and turned as she heard her name spoken,
' Mrs. Parker approached, accompanied by a young: man,
whom she introduced, |

“IT wish to have a chat

 

 

;
|
;

 

 

 

 
      
|

 

?

CR Cr te

 

 

 

«

TE OP

Skelding.

It was Gene S

“The dancing is about to begin,” said Mrs, Parker.

“Gene is my nephew, Elsie.”
Then, in a very clever manner, she practically asked

Elsie to give Gene Skelding the first waltz.

Now, Elsie did not care to dance with Skelding, but
she could not refuse under the circumstances, and Bart
Hodge was filled with dismay, chagrin and anger when
he saw the fellow bear Elsie away toward the drawing--
room on his arm. She glanced back over her ‘shoulder,
but he had seen her turn, and he pretended to be deeply
interested in another direction.

This was a disappointment to Elsie, for she had in-
tended to indicate to him by a look that she was not
pleased with the arrangement, which she had been unable
to avoid. hei | ;

Skelding was triumphant. For a long time he had ad-

‘mired Elsie Bellwood, but, being entirely outside Merri-

well’s set, he had not succeeded in making her acquaint-

Ed

ance.

When he chose, Skelding could converse pleasantly,
and he exerted himself just now to be agreeable. In fact,

he exerted himself so much that he came near overdoing

it, goons .
When they reached the drawing-room the dancing had
begun. It was with great satisfaction that Skelding

— glided onto the’ floor with Elsie, brushing past Frank

Merriwell, who was still surrounded by several pretty
Bk eG Fe RE
Gene knew Merriwell had paid Elsie great attentions in

‘the past, and it was his belief that Frank still cared for

her. Therefore le regarded the securing of the first
waltz with her as a very clever thing on his part.

Frank saw Elsie with Skelding, and he was astonished,
for he did not know the fellow was Mrs. Parker’s
nephew, and he wondered how he had obtained her for
that dance.

‘A sudden fear came to Frank. Was it neat that
Elsie did not care for Bart and had taken particular pains
to avoid him, giving this dance to another for the pur-
pose of causing him pain?

No, he could not think that of her. Elsie was not the

girl to deliberately give pain to os one she regarded as
_ her true friend.

But perhaps she sa did wish to avoid Bart. Perhaps

   

W. iLL, 19
she steered this as the best way of showing him what
her wishes were.

If she did not care for Bart—what then? Frank re-
membered the past, and it gave him no little uneasiness.

“Why hasn’t Hodge told her of my engagement to
Inza?” he inwardly cried.

Then he realized that he was standing there with those
girls talking to him, yet without’ understanding a word
they had been saying for the past three minutes.

The college men ventured to come up and bear one
after another of the girls away. Frank selected one and
was soon in the midst of the waltz.

In vain he looked for Bart. Hodge was not Goce

Indeed, Hart had withdrawn from the house to the
veranda, where he stood facing the cool breeze that felt
so pleasant on his flushed cheeks. &

“Curse that fellow!” he inwardly cried. “Properly,
this is my dance with her. Why did she give it to him?”

He longed to throttle Skelding. The fact that Elsie
was waltzing with a member of the despicable Chickering

set caused him to grind his teeth in rage. »

He felt a touch on the arm.

“Vou did not decide to dance?”

It was the voice of the doctor.

“No,” answered Hodge, ao

“Tt is a beautiful evening.” |

OV 6g 9 OSE tales. |

Bart did not feel inclined to talk just ‘then but ‘the
doctor lingered.

“If you are not going to dance, what do you say to a
stroll?”

Now, Hodge had no fancy for taking a stroll with this ,
man just then, and he politely declined.

“Perhaps I might be able to tell you some things of i in-
terest,” suggested the doctor, in a low voice. “You know
I have a secret. Wouldn’t you like to be able to acquire
marvelous strength?” 4

“I am quite satisfied with my strength.” e tages

“Are you?” asked the man, as if he really pitied the
poor fellow. “That is because you do not know what e,
you are missing. You do not know what it is to feel that .
you are able to move a Ree if you wish. That is
living! It goes all through you.” — .

Bart turned away. | The talk of this lunatic wearied

him.
-<, “If you will come 6 be idee in the grove,” whispered — oe

  

‘aes
 

    

50 ‘TIP TOP

the doctor, "Yt réveal to you my wonderful secret.
Think of it! I have*never before made stich an offer to
any living human being. I will show yott how you may
become strong like me.” :

“Why shotld you do this?”

“Because I have taken a fancy to yott. re

Come! come!
He seized Bart’s arm as if he would force him from
the house toward the grove. near at hand.
“Stop!” said Bart; sternly.
go with you!”

“Let go, sir! I will not

The man’s eyes seemed to gleam at him balefully
through the gloom, and it was plain that he was hesi-
tating. Hodge nerved himself for the struggle in case
he was attacked. . Td

But the attack did not come. The doctor’s hand fell
from the arm of the studerit, and he laughed softly.

“You are the first man I ever offered to give a part of
my great secret,” he said,
cept it!

“and you have refused to ac-
I did not expect it of you!
you has been misplaced, but again I warn you to be si-
lent. If you betray me it will cost’you your life!”

My confidence in

Then he turned and left the veranda, walking rapidly
away into the darkness.
Hodge gave himself a shake.

“T feel that he
wished to get me away from the house for no good pur-

“The man means me harm!” he decided.

pose. He is dangerous, and Elsie must not remain be-
neath this roof!”

Then he thought of Elsie waltzing with Skelding and
ground his teeth again. 3

“Why did she accept him for that waltz? She knew I
was waiting for her!
me off ?”

Can it be that she wishes to stand

The»thought filled him with intense anguish, so that
beads of cold perspiration started out upon his face.
The music stopped. The waltz was over.

“T'll keep out of the way for a time,” he decided. “I
am in no mood to be seen now.”

_ Some of the dancers came out onto the veranda, where.
they could chat, but Bart remained in a dark corner and
was given no attention.

Everybody seemed happy, and he was most miserable.
After a timg a little group of students gathered near
him and lighted their cigarettes. He saw their faces
by the flash of the match, and an exclamation nearly es-

WEHEKLY.

elding was one of

caped: his lips as he observed that Sk
them.

“Never enjoyed a waltz so much in my life, fellows,”
declared Gene. - “Didn’t I have a queen?”

“She’s Merriwell’s best,” said somebody. “Look otit
or you'll get tangled up with him.”

“Merriwell be hanged! I don’t care for him.”
“Perhaps not, but still he’s bad medicine. She is a
queen, though.”

“Fellows, she’s a peach of a waltzer,” declared Gene,
while Hodge began to tremble in every limb.

“You must be struck on her,” chuckled one of the
others.

“Vm hard hit.

keeps.”

I wouldn't mind winning her for

“You can’t win her away from Merriwell.”

“I got the first waltz with her.”

“Well, that was something ; but he'll waltz with her
oftener than you do to-night.”

“T’ll go the fizz for, the crowd that he doesn’t.”

“Done !” ;

By this time Bart was furious. His hands were open-
ing and closing nervously and it seemed that his hoarse
‘breathitig must be heard by the group of students.

“Oh, this is going to be easy!’ laughed Skelding.

“That’s all right.
Merriwell watching you.”

“I’m glad of that. Made him jealous. Ha! ha!”

“You seem to think you have a safe thing.”

We'll see how easy it is. I saw

“Why, fellows, I’ll tell you something: she squeezed
my hand during the waltz.”

“You're a miserable liar and a cur!” said Bart Hodge,
as he stepped into the midst of the group and confronted
Skelding. * F . \

 

CHAPTER IX,
FOR ELSIE,

Before Gene could get out of the way or lift his hand,.
Hodge seized him by the nose, which he gave a pull that
brought a cry of pain from the fellow’s lips.

Then the two were thrust apart.

Gene had clasped his nose with both hands. Beneath
his feet his cigarette spluttered sparks and went out.

Somebody laughed beyond an open window.

“Cursé you!” hoarsely breathed Perna “You shall
pay for this!” he eae es

eee
ee:

 

¥
ie
,
y
ts
;
Fi

     
 

 

 

PN ee :

Se.

; 1 other. ‘ rot

“With pleasure,”
“Now e

“The sooner the better !’’.

said Bart, grimly.

“Follow me.”

“Lead on.”

Some of the others tried to interfere and prevetit the
fight for the time, but such a thing could not be averted.

They left the piazza.and moved away from the hotise
toward the lake. Bart did not seek the companionship
of friends. The mén whom Gene had been speaking to
thus lightly about Elsie went along.

They found a quiet spot at a distance from the house,
The or-
chestra had started up again and the happy throng in

yet within hearing of the music and laughter.

_the house was dancing.

Hodge was eager Ao get at Skelding. He boiled to
That any one had
dared speak in such a manner of Elsie was enough to

make him furious.

teach the cheap fellow a lesson.

They stripped off their coats and vests. They even re-
moved collars, neckties and white shirts.
Skelding’s friends Se him prepare.
help.
Hodge fastened his suspenders about his waist to sup-

port his trousers. He was ready first.

“T’ll make you sorry for what you did!” vowed Skel-
ding.
“I'll make you swallow your lying words or ll kill
you!” declared Bart, in a low, terrible voice.

“Are you ready?”

“T am waiting.”

They stepped quickly toward each other.
ment they were at it.

In a mo-

It. was not light enough for them to see to fight in a
scientific manner. Hedge pressed the fighting from the
very start. Skelding had tried to do this, but he found
Bart a perfect whirlwind, flying about him here, there,

everywhere, hitting him’ on one side and then on the

The spectators watched if great asicticccimak. It was a
fierce fight, and they knew it coyld not last long.

Suddenly one of the men went down before a blow that
- sounded like a pistol-shot.

It was Skelding. :

Bart stood over him, panting.

Bart disdained.

WEEKLY.

21
“Get up!

Get up and let me finish you! I’ve not
begun to give you w hat you deserve! .

3

Skelding was ready enough to get up. He did so as
soon as he could, theeting Batt’s rush in the best form
he could command.

But the blows rained on Gene’s face. He felt the blood
flowing, and he panted and staggered.

What. made him feel the worst was that he could not
seéin to reach Hodge with a sitigle good blow.

Bart was fighting for the honor of Elsie, and it made
Indeed,
it was a wonder that Gene stood up before him as long
as he did. Ps

him a thousand times more terrible than wsual.

At last, however, Skelding went down again and again
He could fot stand in front
of them at all, and he was very “erogey.” . '

before those terrible fists.

“That’s enough, Hodge!” exclaimed one of the specta-
tors. “You have given him punishment enough!”
“Keep back!’ commanded Bart, in an awesome voice.
“But I say it’s enough!” i
“Tf you interfere you'll have to fight, also!”*

at

“Do you want to kill the man?” |. |,

“If he does not swallow his lying words I shall never
stop till he is dead or unconscious |”

He meant it, and Skelding knew it. THe knew that he
could not endure such fearful punishment much longer,
and yet he hated to give up.

“Yo—you devil!” he almost sobbed, his ‘heart filled
with shame and anger.

“You lied about her, Skelding! ‘You Know it, and I
know it. Take back those words!”

“T will not!’

Crack—down Gene went.
Bart waited for him to rise, and he got up slowly, ’
“Take back those wordal” 4
“IT cefusey? :

Crack!—tt was repéated.

‘Again, after a pause, Skelding Gragged finself ups

“Take back those words\®

_ *No, I will—” 1 Z
Crack !—a third time he went down.
The men who were watching did not dare interfere.
Skelding dragged himself to his elbow, but didnot try ce
to rise. a
“You can’t make me take them back!” he said, thickly.

 
 
 
  

  

22 TIP TOP

3art dropped to one knee, grasped the fellow by the
neck and lifted his terrible fist.
“Take them back,” he said,
life! Yl never stop till you swallow those words!”
“I—I will take them back!” faltered the beaten fellow,
his nerve failing him at last.

“or ll disfigure you for

“Confess that you lied!” j
“I—-I lied; I confess it!’
“That’s all!” said Bart, rising.

her name again and I know of it, I’ll give you worse than

“But if you ever speak

anything you have received to-night!” :

Then he removed his suspenders from abotit his waist,
found his clothes and began to dress, his manner seem-
ing so cool that the witnesses of the fight wondered.

A short time after this, Bart Hodge came sauntering
slowly up to the house, as if he had simply been out for a
little stroll in the cool air.

_ As he mounted the steps to the veranda, some one ut-
tered a little exclamation of pleasure and came toward
him through the shadows. 1 99h) RR

Then Elsie was before him, and her-hands were on his
arm, f Be age to Os , |

“I’ve been searching for you everywhere, Bart,” she
declared. “Where in the world have you been?”

“Oh, just wandering round the grounds,” he answered.

“You did not dance.”

“Without you!” His voice was full of tender re
proach. ‘

“Oh, Bart! 1 couldn't help it,” she told him. “Mrs.
Parker asked me to dance with him that time, and how
could I refuser?? :°"

“Why was she so anxious?”.

“He is her nephew.”

“Good gracious!” exclaimed Bart; but that was all he
said, though he was thinking that Mrs, Parker might
not recognize her nephew if she could see him just then.

“I was afraid you would not understand,” said Elsie.
*You see what an awkward position I was in: I didn’t
have enough wit to tell a fib and say I-had promised

“T am glad you did not tell a fib, Elsie. Even a white
fib would seem out of place issuing from your lips.”

“But were you angry with me it

Yes.”

"Ob: Batt!"

oy was as angry as a—as. a—as a fool !” he said, “TI

1

SF

WEHEELY.

couldn’t help it! I even thought of leaving without a
word and going back to town.”
She uttered a little cry. |
% “I am so glad you did not!" she whispered.
‘} > “Are you really glad, Elsie?”
, “Really and truly, Bart.”
“Have you been dancing again?”
“No.”
_., Why not?’
“I was searching for you! Somebody asked me to
_ dance, but I refused him.”
_ “Who was it 2”,
* “Frank.” iE
a “Prank  Merriwell?”.
eg
‘Hodge almost choked.

&
Fee

“You refused to dance with Frank?” he said, huskily.
“All because you -had not danced with me?”

“Yes, Bart,” she whispered, and he felt her hands”

trembling. : 5

He found those hands and imprisoned them both, all
the great love in his heart surging up to his lips and
seeking to be outpoured at once,

“Elsie, my sweetheart! You are—I feel it! I know

it! And a little while ago I thought you did not care—

I thought you wished to show me that you did not care,
and that I was nothing to you!”
“How could you think such mean things of me, Bart!”

“TI did not want to think them, ve knows! but they

- would come into my head.”

The music was some simple little love-song, and it
came sweetly to their ears. It seemed to be particu-
larly adapted to the moment, and ever after through all
their lives, that tune was. the sweetest of all tunes to
them. . _ Oe

“Elsie, you do love me—you do?” Se

She did not answer in words, but her hands were
clasped in his and he received a pressure that told him

much. And only a short time before he had fought aes a
another man for claiming to receive such a pressure from 4

those dear hands.

j
}

Hé would have lelased/her then’ and there, but a stroll-—

Ang couple approached along the veranda.
Bart was throbbing to kiss Elsie. 5 Ms

 *Let’s take a little walk through the ole, he sug A a

gested. | aa is warm. (Will you need a wrap?”

See’

  

Le ee eee ee
Ee. Lae $ eo

:

 

     
       

TP Ae ta

 

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RL ee ee

Sa

_

 

TIP TOP

“Nothing more than this I have about my shoulder’s,”
she answered.

They descended the steps and moved away along a
walk. : |

Up from a spot near where they had been rose a dark

_ shadow, like a thing of evil, and stole silently after them.

we were talking—the doctor came right upon us.

mn he
ant

rd {
4 *

 

 

  
 

‘hausted to Speak.

_

 

CHAPTER X.
IN THE HANDS OF THE MAD DOCTOR.
Frank had been unable to firid either Hodge or Elsie

for some time. “He wondered what had become of them,

and the fancy came to him that perhaps Bart had met

her and was improving the opportunity to unbosom
himself.
“T hope he has,” thought Merry; “and I hope she ac-

cepts him, He is a truly splendid fellow! Not many

chaps would have made the confession he did to me yes-

terday.”

At last, Frank left the house and started alone for a
stroll about the grounds. He was weary of being lion-
ized, and he wished to get away by himself.

At the further extremity of the grounds he paused,
hearing some one running swiftly toward him, panting
and sobbing as she came, for the sound was like that
of a woman. ae

This person ran almost into Frank’s arms.

foot and nearly fell.

She saw
him, caught her
kept her from going down.

“Help!” she gasped, in the greatest terror, clasping his

His strong arm

iad

arm. Bring somebody to help him!
“Flsie!” he exclaimed. “What has happened?
me everything! Tell me quick 1”
“Oh, Frank!’ she palpitated, being almost too ex-
“Bart—he f
“What has happened to Bart?”
“He told me—all about Dr. Lincoln.

Tell

 

And then—while
He
seized Bart, and they had a terrible struggle. I tried to
help Bart, but he—thrust me off. Then I saw him strike
Bart with something, and Bart fell. He has—carried

him off—into the grove!” Maes . .
Now Frank was stirred. :

“Where did this happen, Elsie? Tell me, if you can-
not show me! I must do what I can to save him.”
She had confidence in Frank; she believed Frank could

   

WEEKLY. 23

save him. Her strength seemed to come back, and she

started away, crying:
“Follow me; Pll show you!” }
{At a distant part
of the grounds, not far from the edge of the grove, she

She ran again, and he followed her.”

showed him the spot where the encounter had taken
place.

. “And he carried Bart off toward the grove?’’.

. “Yes, yes!” .

The grove looked dark and gloomy, but nee
bounded toward it at once.

Hodge had told him of the lodge in the midst of that
grove, and he = that the maniac had carried Bart to
that. rie ; BAN .
Having struck Hodge down with
an instrument that rendered Bart helpless and unable to

Frank was right.

resist, the man caught him up in his powerful arms and
rushed straight toward the lodge in the midst of the
grove. Knowing every foot of the way, he bore the un-‘
fortunate college man straight theré, .i.#; 2) oj" “i
The door opened before the touch of the doctor, and

he carried his intended victim into the hut,

When they were inside, the doctor touched .a~button,
and: electric lights flashed up. |

Hodge was conscious now, and he tried to make
another struggle. The man catight him by the-neck, and’

it seemed that those iron fingers would crush flesh, sinew.

~
+.

and bone.
There was a frightful glare in the eyes of the mad
doctor.
“T trusted you,” he said, in a terrible voice, “and you.
betrayed my secret! For that you shall diel”
The struggle did not last long, and Bart was hurled
Then the doctor held hing
there, binding his limbs with cords and tying him fast. A
Hodge felt like shrieking for help, but he knew that
would be folly, and he made no cry, Instead, he tried to’

into a big chair with arms.

.think of some method of appeasing the mariacs ena

“Haven’t you made a mistake, doctor?” he sai@j-in a
voice that possessed all the calmness he could command. '

“You knowl have made
You are the traitor!”

“No!” roared the madman,
no mistake!
I did not——<”

“Tt will do you no good to lie! You have betrayedsme
and you-must die!l’* ‘

“Did you hear correctly, doctor?

  
   

    

“I was See to Miss Bellwood when you .pounced
bpon me.’

“Yes; you had told her that I thought myself the
strongest man in the world. Thought! Ha! ha! ha!
Why, I know!
Did you see how weak and helpless you were?

You were like a child in my hands!
Yet/Tll
wager that you think you are strong. You thought you
were strong when you fought with Skelding a while
ago.” : ea

“You know. of that?’
“Oh, yes; I know of it.

for a long time, as something told me you would betray

I have been watching yout

me. You thought you were strong because you could

conquer him. Bah! I could have stepped in and
handled you both without an effort.
with you.

I could have toyed
It would have given me pleasure to do so, but
I did not care to betray my great strength to those others
who were present,
waited.”” Cee
So this maniac had been following him round all the
evening? ‘The thought was hardly agreeable.
“Something told me you would give away my secret,”
went on the mad doctor, his eyes dancing.
why I clung so close to you.

“That was
When I hear that voice
whispering something in my ear, I know it speaks the
truth, It whispered over and over, ‘He is a traitor! he
is a traitor!’ But you lied'to her!” ’
“How?”

“You told her that IT am a. Poor fool! Why

should you think anything so ridiculous? You did it
- because you were jealous. I can read you. You did not
wish the world to ever know that I am the strongest man
alive. Why, you idiot! |
me and confine me in an asylum? Why, you must have
known that I can bend and break the strongest iron
bars! ‘You must have known that I could pull the walls
down. ‘There are no walls strong enough to hold me.”

“I think you are right,” said Bart, ' ee

“T know I am!”

“Well, why don’t you proclaim your wonderful
_ strength to the world?” ,
“The time has not come.” |
“This is a good time to do it. Why wait so long?
(To-morrow you can astonish the whole world.”

‘The doctor shook his head, .
_ “I am not quite ready.”)

A

hat was why, I stood off and

Did you think they could take

 

Weis. TIP TOP WEEKLY.

got your enemies—you wish to obliterate them, and
Iam to help you. I will get them together to-morrow,
and you may topple those heatgy buildings upon them.”
“You can’t fool me!” laughed the maniac, with a cun-
ning leer. “I know your game.”
“You Pye it yourself. You suggested that I was
to help you.’
“But then I thought you all ot; t. Now I know you

ate a traitor. You would not help me,”

?

 

“If I promise
“I will accept no promise from you. A man who has

been false once will be false again. You must die.”

Bart began to realize that he could not deceive the

maniac in such a manner; but he was thinking that Elsie
had rushed away for aid, and this talk might give her

time to bring help. So Bart went on talking. After a

time, however, the doctor seemed to suspect his purpose.

“Tt’s no use,” he grinned, as-he went to a closet in the
wall, from which he took a long, black knife. “I know
what you are trying to do, but there is no hope for you.
They will not come to your aid. And even if they did,
what could they all do against me? Why, I could handle
them like a giant among children.”

He was feeling of the edge of the knife with his
thumb.

“Tt is sharp,” he nodded. “One slash of this will 43
the work, and I shall be stronger when it is over, for all
your strength will go into my body.”

“Is that how you won your strength?” asked Bart, —

still hoping help might appear.
“T’ll not tell you! You have betrayed me, and I'll tell
Your time has come! I am going to
make quick work of you. I’ll not torture you. One
strong, swift stroke and the knife will finish you. Brace

you no more,

up, now. You're ‘white.
coward.” | i :

Bart fancied the door behind the doctor’s back moved
slightly.
hurry! In a few seconds more it would be too late.

The maniac bent over Bart and lifted the knife. |

go Ne ora eae j
CHAPTER XI.

‘A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE,

Then the door swung back noiselessly, and Frank Mer-

riwell came into the room, leaping on the back of the

mad doctor, whose wrist he grasped,

 

HO that sae ate ot: a4!

He fancied it was swinging open. Hurry!

 

 

  
    
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
    
  
  
   
   
  
      
     
     
    
 

   
   
 

 

 

 

 

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Then bi gas one £5 the

haz Baek Tne rt
Pad ever wichessed.

most terrible strug

£ sle S Hodge

\nd Bart was Hes to render Frank the least as-
Hstance. He could onlylieck on and pray that Merry
might conquer this tcrrible maniac of the remarkabie
SIre neth,

Frank knew that it was a life and death struggle, and
he exerted his wonderful powers as he had never before
done.

The doctor uttered a roar of rage and tried to fling the

outh off. 3

“Look out for him, Merry!” panted.Bart. “Look out
for that knife!”

Frank was taking care that the man did not get his
knife-hand free. He had jerked the doctor’s hand back

and given it an upward twist behind his back, hoping to

force him to release his hold on the knife; but the man,

continued to clutch it for a time.
Higher and higher Frank twisted that arm, on which

the muscles stood out in great ridges. At last the fingers

.telaxed and the knife slipped to the floor with’ a clang.

Bart gave a sigh of relief and hope.

But having released the knife, the mad doctor
wrenched about and fastened his hands on Frank.

The strength of the maniac was ‘appalling, but against
it was pitted the strength and skill of the cleverest ath-
lete Yale had even known.

Frank succeeded in tripping the man, but the wall kept
the doctor from going down. The lodge shook and
rocked beneath their fearful struggles.

The fact that he could not handle Merry at once made

the maniac madly furious.

“You fool!” he roared. “Do you think to pit your

“puny strength against mine? Why, I am the strongest

man in the world, and I can crush you!”

“Strong!” retorted Frank, with an expression of con-
“Why, you are weak as a child! You could not
handle a healthy boy of ten!”

“What?” snarled the doctor, in amazement. . “You

-. know better than that!”

|
“T am fooling with you now to show you how weak

you really hei Frank declared. “I can handle you any
time.”

“It’s a lie!” shrieked the doctor, redoubling his afforts:

- “T’ll break every bone in, your body!”

Orit *, ;
Throw he did his utmost. and a gasp of horror came

TOP

  

WEEKLY. 25

from the lips of Bart, for he saw Merry gradually; forced

to his knees, despite his ‘efforts to prevent,

Hodge knew Frank had sought to shake the maniac’s
confidence in his own strength by his words, and now,

Bart broke into taunting laughter.
You
He thinks he is getting the

“That’s it, Merriwell!” he cried, as if delighted,

can fool, him with that trick!

3?

 

best of you, but

Frank had given a sudden great twist, and the doctor
was flung heavily to the floor.

Frank was on top.

The shock was a great surprise fo the madman, but
he did not give it up. He had fancied he was getting the
best of his antagonist, only to find himself thrown with
a wrestler’s trick. 7

Here and there over the floor they writhed and
squirmed. (With his powerful body the doctor would lift
Merry more than a foot, but Frank always drove him
back to the floor with a shock that made the lodge quiver.

How Bart longed to break free and take a hand. To-
But though
he writhed and twisted and strained the cords held him
fast.

Where was Elsie?

Frank had run on before her, and she was lost some-

gether they could have conquered the man.

where in the grove, wandering about in search of the
lodge. Had she been there, she might have rendered as-
sistance' just then. ; Ste ee
There was a sudden flop, a turn—ah! heavens ! Tt
seemed that the man had’ Frank foul at last. He laughed
harshly, and Hodge held his breath. is; at,
But Merry rose to one knee, got his feet beneath him,
struggled up despité all attempts to hold him down, and
again they both were on their feet. |
“Great work!” exclaimed Bart, in delight.
him the cross buttock, Merry!”
Frank did it at the very instant that Bart spoke, but he
got his body far under that of the doctor, whom he flung
fairly over his head. Down came the man with a terri-

ble crash, his head striking the floor hard.

“Now give

Merry was on him.

“The strongest man in the “world!” laughed” Bart,
“Why, he is a kid in your hands, Merriwelll” ,
“He must be an deities &

“T told him so,” said Frank.

or he could do better than this.” © gee fee

2

A groan of eee escaped the lips of the @oe-

 
       
     
      
 

26 TIP TOP

tor, for at last he realized that this youth had -conquered
him; and then, as Frank had hoped, with this realization
all the remarkable strength seemed to go out of the man,
leaving him helpless in Merriwell’s grasp.

At that moment, Elsie appeared at the door and looked
in, having found the lodge at last.

“Just in time!’ cried Bart. “Quick, Elsie! take that
knife and cut these cords !’” ‘

She staggered a little, but she caught up the knife and
obeyed, setting Hodge fres =. >

“Let me help.you, Merry!” panted Bart, as with some
of the cords he bent over the conquered maniac. “We'll
soon have him tied up in fancy style. Old man, you put
up a dandy fight!”

So they swiftly, bound Dr, Lincoln, taking pains to tie

him fast.
Frank drew a deep breath when the job was done.
“Well,” he said, “of all the men I ever tackled he is the
“most remarkable. ‘At times he seemed to have the
strength of two men, and I did fear that he would get
the best of me.” ‘A

A strange look came to the face of the doctor.!

WEEKLY.

“Then you lied when you‘called me weak!” he cried,
frothing at the mouth. “It was a trick! You did it to
deceive me!” %

“That is true,” nodded Fak, “Tt was necessary to
do something.”

Bart was supporting Elsie.

“Come!” she whispered ;

“let’s go away. I can’t stay,

here! The sight of him terrifies me.”
Hodge supported her from the lodge, saying:

“Come on, Merriwell. He’s secute, and we éan leave

him till we can send somebody to take care of him.”

Frank lingered a little to make sure the mad doctor’s

bonds were secure,

“Oh, Bart!” Elsie breathed, when they were alone out-
side ; “I have suffered stich terror, for I thought he would
kill you! Had he done so, it would have killed me also!”

“Elsie—Elsie, my sweetheart! ‘Then you do love me?
Tell me that you love me!”

“Bart, I love you—I love you!”

THE END.
/ The next number (266) will contain “Frank Merti-
well’s Eyes; or, Saving an Enemy.”

 

 

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eekly.

 

“LATEST
264—Frank Merriwell’s’ Coach +-ore How the Freshmen Won.
263—Frank Merriwell in Form; or, The Wonderful Athlete of

the Scarred Face.
262—Frank Merriwell-Deceived; or, Jimmy Lee, of Charlottes-
ville.
261—Frank Merriwell’s Bosom Frida; ot, Making Up the Yale
: Nine.
260—Frank Merriwell’s- Sweetheart; or, The Girl to Whom He
Proposed.

ee renee Trust; or, The Mystery of the Black
tic

258—Frank Metriwell’s Suspicion; or, The Girl from Maine.
257—Frank Merriwell’s Hand; or, Saved from the Snare.

2 tae eee Mysterious Move; or, Thirteen Pieces of
ilver

255—Frank Merriwell’s- Scheme; or, The Daring Deception of
Dr. Cloud.

254—Frank Merriwell’s: Club; or, Indoor Baseball in Baltimore.
2538—Frank Merriwell’s Skill ;-or, Liz, the Girl Wrecker.

ae, Merriwell’s. Life Struggle; or, The Bluff That Did
ot

251—Frank:Merriwell’s- Party ; or, The Cruise of the Petrel. | .°

 

250—Frank: Merriwell’s- Ring; or, The Rivalry for Elsie, aa

4

Back numbers always on hand, If you cannot get our publications from your newsdealer, five cents a copy will. icint them. |

touyou, by-mail, postpaid,

<r he b ete.

249—Frank Merriwell’s Search; or, Elsie’s Narrow Escape.

248—Frank Merriwell’s Set-Back; or, Dick Starbright’s Success.

247—-Frank Merriwell’s Dilemma; or, Forcing His Enemy’s
Hand.

246—Frank Merriwell’s Mastery; or, The Success of the Polo
King.

245—Frank Merriwell’s Entertainment; or, eee the Vic-
tories of Old Yale.

244--Frank Merriwell’s Shrewdness; or, Clearing His Protégé’s
Honor.

243—Frank Merriwell’s
“Hazard.”

242—Frank Merriwell’s High Jump; or, Winning the Champion-
ship from Harvard.

241—Frank Merriwell’s Kick; or, Downing the Princeton Tigers,

240—Frank Merriwell’s Generalship; or, Beating the Carlisle In-

“Brassie” Shot; or, Inza’s Difficult

dians:
Pet ten oN Freshmen; or, The Relay Team’ That.
on
238—Frank Merriwell’s Policy; or, | Playing Columbia. ior
Practice.

| 287—Frank Merriwell’s Power;- or, Hazing the Freshmen “4

Billig’ fe

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

     

  

       
  

 

 

  
  
 

 

  

 

 

 

   

 
  

   

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
S

de

 
  

  

 
   
   

 

  

 

 
 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 
   
   
    
  
  

   
 
   
 

  

  
   
  

 

 

      
    
     
   
  

 

   
   

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! NEW YORK, May 11, 1gor.

 

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APPLAUSE.

‘At last I have settled down to write again. I was never so
much surprised, and I might say disappointed, as I was when I
read in the last number (260) ‘that Merry had proposed to Inza.
It certainly was a sudden jolt, as I fully expected that his choice
would be Elsie, Well, at last the tables have turned on our side,
but the Inzaites need not think for a moment that we will waiver
and get faint-hearted. Some of the Inza admirers ungenerously
state that we are fickle and that we will go over to whichever
side is ahead, but we will prove conclusively that we are not,
that we are still true to dear little Elsie, and that we are in the
game to stay. They may think we will quit now, but we will
show them we are not that kind, and that we vhave not near
played our last card yet. I see in the Applause Column a letter
from Auburn Park, N. Y., in which the writer (or writers) states
that the scarcity of letters in favor of Inza was due to the fact
that they did not want their names in print. I hope you will ex-
cuse this long letter, but the fact is, when I got started I could
not stop and I could not resist the temptation to start just to cheer
up the Elsieites, although I know they are too stanch to need it.
Well, I think I will have to close now, and I hope you will have
room for this. Hoping the’sun will shine again soon for “our
Elsie,” and with best wishes to Street & Smith and Burt L.

Toronto, Canada. EXO;

~

 

_ That's right. _Never give up the fight’ till the last gun is fired.
We none of us can foretell the future, but we know it will be a
happy one for all concerned in Tip Top,

 

’ Lhave just finished Weekly No. 260 and it was quite a surprise
‘to know that Frank had at last chosen a wife. It was hard to
choose between them at times. I favored Inza, especially during
the railroad series, and then again I thought Elsie the most
worthy, but then Frank knows best who he wants for a wife, and
he has chosen wisely. Some readers, I notice, are against Bart
Hodge and want him ostracized from the flock; why, Bart is
- Frank’s best friend.
_ burning hotel? is not that unselfishness? He ran right into death
for Frank; none of the others ventured near the fire. Had itnot
been for Bart Frank would have been burned. Should Frank quit
him, would that be gratitude for all Bart has done? Did not

_* Bart in No. 141 run forward and ‘receive'the bullet a ruffian had
' intended for Frank?
. “miraculous escape. Bart will not hear a word against Frank; he

Of course Bart*did not die, but it was a

Bart he

would fight in a moment for him. If Frank dropped

_, would go to ruin and Frank would be partly to blame, and that

Some readers want

“js not Frank’s true pee to do that.
’ T } ‘ :
art’s place. Whatehas Buck ever done in

Buck Badger put in

Didn’t Bart risk his life for Frank in the |

TIP TOP WEHEKLY.

for Tip Top..

f

rs

   

27

comparison to Bart for Frank? Buck was conquered and now
he is a friend, that’s all. No, I don’t think any man could take
Bart’s place in Frank’s heart; Bart has many faults and is hasty,
but his one great redeeming trait is his love and respect for his
mother. *A man may be bad, but if he loves his mother there is
some good in him; when a man ceases to respect and reverence
his mother then he is bad indeed. Also another good trait of
Bart’s is his unselfish devotion to Frank. Of course, I like
Browning, Diamond, Rattleton and the others. I hope Elsie will
take to Hodge, but Mr. Standish will fix it all right. Well, here’s
to Burt L. Standish and the “flock.” May they all live long and
prosper. 4 ss R. B. B.

Indianapolis, Ind. pees 3

This is a very commendable eulogy on Barf. We all know him
now and love him for a true, brave fellow, Frank’s dearest

friend. .

Seeing no Applause from this part of the country I take the
privilege of writing you a few lines of Applause. The Tip Top
Weekly is indeed an ideal publication for the American youth.
After reading No. 260 I could not help shouting for joy, because
I am a stanch Inzaite and have always admired her. In all
respects I think Frank chose the right one.’ Three cheers for
Frank, Burt L, and Street & Smith, and a long, happy life to
Inza and Frank, , AS a sh) aia ey BART WERRIMELL.

New York. (RISA SEET SS Ra i ee 3

Thank you. May you have many ether opportunities to shout.

 

4

Finding a few moméhts of leisure off my rettirn home from col+
lege, I thought I would pen you a few lines. You see I am jus’
home for Saturday and Sunday on an Easter recess. I arrived:
home Saturday morning and will leave for college Monday morn-
ing. Straight from the station I hurried to my newsdealer and
called for all the recent issues, which he saves out for me, and I
had quite a bundle, and of course met and left a smiling proprie-
tor. But to get down to facts, I am staying in the house all day
receiving friends and reading Frank Merriwells, determined not
to lay eyes on a text-book till I get back to college. But to re-
turn; a little over a week from the date on which I am writing
will be the fifth anniversary of the birth of the Tip Top Weekly.
The first number was issued April 18, 1896. I began to look them
over in a newsroom in the fall of ’97; seriously in ’98, and to
become a devotee in ’99, and have ever since. Last Xmas after-
noon my mother found me deep in a big chair—found me, I say,
with a large pile of the Weeklies on thé floor and No. 194 in my
hand. She thought it strange that I should read the stories,
One of the stands she took was’ that L, being a Harvard man,
should read so much of stories detailing the defeat and humil-
iation of my Alma Mater. I told her that they’ were true, for
in all the athletic contests between Yale and Harvard the Elis
have invariably come out the best. It’s the sad but solemn truth.
My mother reads and approves of Tip Top and wishes I would
try to practice Frank’s example as to tobacco. You see, I smoke
a pipe and cigars, although I never touch liquor. -But I like a
good, fat pipe. In No. 236 I read of the adventures of Starbright
and Bert Dashleigh on ‘entering Yale.. I can sympathize with
them, as I know how it feels on first entering college—awkward,
green and homesick and everything seems so strange. At home
you felt as if you were 6 ft.; on arriving you dwindle down to
3 ft. 2 in. At Harvard we poor freshmen are not subjected to
hazing, although Bloody Monday Night is a time when we feel
the strength of upper class men. So Frank has decided at last to
take Inza for better or worse. Congratulations! think he has
the best one, although some of the readers did waste an awful lot
of paper trying to persuade him to take Elsie. So here’s long
life to them both. Merry had better take care of his double- a
shoot this spring, as we are going to have a great nine, andI am _

already saving a part of my allowance to lay on fair Harvard. IT

will visit the Pan-American Fair, this July 20. I remain a stanch
iriend of the Tip Top. D. E. Carey.
Springfield, Mass.
+ ¢ ~* , ‘ ce
We always welcome Mr. Carey, our Harvard Tip Top follower,
to this column. His letters are always interesting and though
they do not always cheer for Yale and Merry, they show what

great respect is felt for the true blue college and the true blue

boy by thos¢ of-our other great university, Harvard.

       

      
         
       
     
     
     
 
 
     
28 ATE FOP

Welly;atvlast Fah has made his cholca and.it is Inga. I have
always. loved and admired her. I hope that Elsie will turn to
Bart, brave, noble Bart! Where will you find one more noble
or braver than he is}? I like him best of all, and I think that he
is deserving of Elsie. I hope that Elsie will accept him and
learn to love him, and that Bart will always be true to her-and
make her happy. I have read the Tip Top for three years and
have read quite a number of the letters, and I don’t know which
I enjoy most. I think the Tip Top stories are fine, I] will close,
wishing Frank and Inza along, happy life, A. W,

Little Rock, Ark... ———_-——-—~

Thank-you. tect aw tak

We are. all readers of the Tip Top Weekly and think it the
best paper printed on earth for girls as well as boys. We have a
club called the Tip Top A. A. Club. We had a football team
last fall. We played, and won two games; the first, by 15 to 0,
the next 10 to 0. We have a baseball team; we have played
and won just one game this year, by the score of 21 to 20. Our
star player is a youth 15 years old; 5 feet 7 inches tall, and
weighs 137 pounds. ‘He played end and fullback on the football
team. They never got around his end but once for‘a gain. Full-

back was his regular position; he runs the ends swiftly and was.

never tackled for a loss bucking the line or running the end and
he scored all five touchdowns in the two games. We call him a
Starbright in size and a Merriwell in disposition, as he always
looks on the bright side of everything. At baseball he is all right
in the field and at bat; in one game he got two of three flies
and batted a homerun and a three-bagger, the ohly man that got
past second on one hit. His other records are rufis, 100 yards in
a1 4-5 seconds; broad jump, 18 feet; puts 16-pound shot 20 feet,
iWe say let Frank choose the girl he wants; we also want Dade
Morgan to.be a driend to Frank and his party. Will you please
publish this soon, so as to let the readers see what the West can
turn out in the way of athletes, and what you think he ought to
weigh when a man. He wants to go to Andover Academy, but
his father won’t let him, He says he wishes his father would say,
he could go. '” Tip Dor A, A, Crus, /

Portiand, Oregon.

(Thank you, [Write soon again,” -

‘ * roernpmcterentend “y a

‘We have been close readers of the Tip Top from No. ¥ to
present number and like it very much. We want Bart to marry
Elsie because we think he likes her better than Frank does. We
want Inza to get married to Frank. We like Jack Diamond very,
much and hope he and Juliet will be very happy ape :

\4

Jackson, Ohio. | 5,
hank you for this pleasant letter,

I have long been a reader of the Tip Top; I think it is the best
book published. I have just read No. 260 and I am disappointed,
and in regard te the Inza-Elsie question. Although I have lost,
Elsie is still my favorite. I like Bart almost as much as Frank,
Wishing all long life and presperity, AN E sie ADMIRER,

Nevado, Mo.

‘Always be true to your favorite and in Elsie you have one to
he proud ef. Remember that in the matter of this choice Frank
was the one who was to be consulted, and now that he has spoken
be sure that it-is with all his heart that he did so,

The Tip Top was never more interesting, never more exciting
than it is at the present time. The Inzaites must all be jubilant
ever Inza’s success. I, for one, am glad to see her win the prize
she suet so long. A few weeks ago one of the Elsie admirers
stated that the Inzaites must be bull-headed not to see that they
were defeated, calling to attention something that Frank said
when at Maplewood. If that gentleman read last week’s Tip
ffop (“Frank Merriwell’s Sweetheart”) I think by this time that
he has reversed his opinion. If not, he must be what he called the
Inzaites. I would like to hear from Swiftwing and other friends
ef Frank. Wishing Yale a successful baseball season, and good
luck to Street & Smith. Jos. F. Leonarp, Jr.
Philadelphia. bee ae ae

Thank you.
ing host,of Tig Top admirers. Best'luck te you, , .

‘wo Kins."

We are glad to have you join the steadily-increas-. :
- . show the world. that«we know, how., to lose bravely_and,te do —

WHEKLY.

I have read a great many copies of the Tip Top and think it
very fine. In 254 Frank Merriwell came to Baltimore, where I
live. I find that everything relating to the city is correct. I
think that Inza is the girl for & AN Api,

Baltimore.
Thank you.

Saiaitll

As president. of the College City Pastime Club, I again write
you on behalf of the members. We cannot express our joy at
the selection of Mr. Standish for Frank Merriwell’s life partner.
But he could not possibly have done otherwise. To any one that
has read from No. ft to the present, it was plain as day who
_Frank loved best. At all the college games see what confidence
“Inza placed in him, not alone in athletics, but in everything he
undertook to do. Don’t you think Frank valued this confidence?
Don’t you think he valued the friendship of that noble Inza, who
stood by him in all his trouble when he was sick? Yes; he more
than valued her—he loved her. Let me congratulate all fellow
Inzaites. You have worked for a good cause and won, Let us,
then, unite and work for another cause. If you Know a fellow
who is rather wild, one who smokes excessively, drinks or in- |
dulges in other vices, hand him a Tip Top, and in a year, yes, in
a month, you will have won a fight as great or greater than the
one that is new so gloriously ours, The C. C. P. Club wishes
me to say that they always trusted in Mr. Standish to pick
wisely. We have always been a strong Inza Club. Let me say a
few words to the Elsie admirers: Dear Elsieites, you have stood
by your favorite loyally. You have fought for her, but lost—
but have you lost? Ne, Elsie has a sweetheart who will fight
for her as no man can, one who loves her with as much love as
Frank does Inza. Elsie likes Frank; she loves Bart.. Therefore
let us all join in wishing Frank and Inza a long life, and. give
the Yale cheer with a will:

‘Breaka, coax, coax, coax,
Breaka, coax, coax, coax,
Oup, Oup, parablo. |

. Yale—Yale—Yale—
’"Rah—'Rah— Rah—
Mrs,—Frank—Merriwell.

“ New Haven, Conn, Howarp Nexon, Pres. C. C. P, Cy |

This is splendid. To be just almost amounts to genius. You
have a right to be jubilant, but we admire you for not forgetting
those who seem to be on the losing side. Yet Elsie has much in
store for her and is sure to be happy with Bart

T have just finished reading No. 260, Tip Top, and was very

well pleased to see the outcome of the Elsie-Inza contest. I have
been an admirer of Inza for a long time and always thought she
was the girl for our hero. I don’t like Elsie, for she is too
much like a baby. I live in Pittsburg, Pa., but I am on a visit up
here in the country. I wish to see this letter in the Applause
Column soon, as 1 am very much interested in it. Long live
Frank and Inza. .L. J. GREENLEE,
Pittsbufg, Pa, ee

Thank you.

a ‘aa OTT Er a. Wiki anak ae HNere -— wae

Inza, Queen of Beauty, more sublime than the goddesses of
ancient times, peerless among women. The Elsieites of the Sun-
set City, on the Golden Gate, salute thee. Having fought our
battle and lost, we would indeed be poor supporters of our loy-
ing heroine if we failed to lose cheerfully. Such, indeed, would
be her wish to us; and, then, we know the future holds some-
thing very bright in store for her. Little did we know how
much we loved Inza, until now we know she is Frank’s affianced
wife. Elsie will still be their dearest friend, and abiding by her
wish, I again say: Long live Inza! Long live Frank! We al-
ways loved Inza, but it was a case of “I love not Rome the
more, but Caesar less.” Inza will be a grand type of American ©
womanhood. She needs no titled honer to hold her. own with
the dignity of foreign courts. Were she and Merry to“go to the
Qld World, Inza’s grand*bearing would place her/high above.the .
titled pigmies, whose only elaim to distinction lies therein, I
had better close now, or you will think I have deserted my
favorite. A supporter of Elsie can never desert her, but we can

 
 

 

   

  

TIP TOP

fustice to whom, justice is due, knowing now our hope was one
those things that are not to happen. Knowing, also, Merry
4 1appy, for he has told us so, and now will prove who are his
fue friends—those who @dl) grumble over blasted. hopes and
™ endeavor to make a cha r those who lift their hats to Inza
and feel gratified at his ce, among whom will be found every
Elsieite on this Golden West, and especially so in this imperial
‘city, resting on the Golden Gate, Long life to Tip Top! Long
live Mr. Standish! a Geo. OSBORNE,
San Francisco, Cal.

This is a fine spirit, generous and brave, never losing faith in
a favorite, yet able to see the good in others. Live on that plan
and happiness will go with you. May you be always as fortunate
in life as Frank and Inza, Elsie and Bart.

t
i

 

‘ I must say something in behalf of the famous Tip Top. Its
hero, Frank Merriwell, is a perfect gentleman, and a yonderful
athlete in every respect. But his choice between the girls was
far from what I expected. I was positive it would be Elsie. In
No. 99 he has chosen sweet and gentle Elsie, and in the last issue
he has chosen Inza. Even after reading last week’s edition I
still say he will marry Elsie. Elsie was my choice, is, and always
will be. Who saved Inza from the tiger? Elsie. Who broke the

vow of eternal friendship made by the two girls? Inza. Elsie
never likes to see Frank risk his life, where Inza don’t care
whether he does or not. Some say that Inza is braver than
Elsie. Well, if she is she has never shown it! .When Elsie was
nearly caught by the alligator Inza ran for her ‘life, where Elsie
would have died there to save a friend. She wasn’t very. brave
then, I hope Jack Morgan will be Frank’s warm friend some
day. Long life to Burt L. Standish, Street & Smith, and may
the Tip Top Weekly last forever! Accept from me this little
piece of poetry;

MARCHING TO VICTORY.
(Air, “Marching Through Georgia.”)'
Hurrah for gallant Merriwell, a hero out and out,

No matter where he goes, the boys are always there to shout} :

Oh may he beat his enemies and put them all to rout, “i
As he goes marching to victory.

Chorus.

Hurrah, hurrah, for the hero of the blue;
Hurrah, hurrah, for all the others, too;
May they go marching to victory.
a

~ Now, boys, let us refer to this great hero’s host of friends,
Each one of them is stanch and true, their leader they'll defends
No matter where they go, there is a glad “hurrah” to send, --
As they go marching to victory.

Chorus.

Hurrah, hurrah, for Merry and his chums,
Hurrah, hurrah, we'll salute with fifty guns; .
Three cheers for Messrs. Street & Smith, and Mr. Standish, too,
May they go marching to victory,
New York. ewig be 3h Ty

| (Thank you
4 : +: 7 : z
Have read. your helpful and interesting weekly since the first
number was issued with the eagerness and enjoyment which
equaled that manifested by any of my brothers (I have four). In
my opinion, this weekly 1s certainly unrivaled. I think that boys
or girls cannot read this book without being benefited greatly by
it in more ways than one. It is plain to be seen that the author
has fourid the way to the hearts and sympathies of young Amer-
ica. The book is good for young and old. My father reads it,
and.when a young man of twenty-five, and a young woman of
- twenty-two, and lads of sixteen and eighteen eagerly follow, week
by week, the life, the fortunes and misfortunes of a “boy in a
book,” and are alike aroused to such a pitch ef enthusiasm as to
care for what he does, his likes and dislikes, and to actually feel
an interest, a kind of “ownership” interest in him and the girl we

ontaicteeenes ' i

want him te marry, that we experience a real sort of hard pang’
of disappointment when he doesn’t choose the girl we particularly *
favor, and:tofeelvasal feel, that -Imever wanted: to. read any-more—- Tupakuaw |

 

eer Bas

 

WEEKLY.) 29

of Frank Merriwell’s. life because little Elsie was not; to be a part
of it, he may judge what his power is over the Tip Top readers.
His characters are fine and true to life. Of the two girls, my
choice is Elsie, although Inza possesses great fineness and nobility
of nature. But Elsie, dear little Elsie, so gentle and sweet, her
instincts are not one whit less sterling than Inza’s, and she al-
ways seemed to me to possess those finer qualities which go to
soften the coarser side of man’s nature. She seemed to me al-
ways to belong to Frank, from the time, et any rate, that he urged
her to become engaged to him when they were both on the stage.
Her refusal of him was not due to any lack of feeling for him,
but to an idea that he belonged to Inza. I presume all of the
Elsieites are as disappointed as I am. She certainly possesses as
much stability as Inza. Little Elsie has ne home, no father or
mother to go to for love or protection—she is alone. Does any
one realize what that means? Alone! Cannot she devote herself
to music, the one outlet of joy and sorrow? Again I ask Mr.
Standish’s pardon for presuming to suggest, and I thank him
most sincerely for the useful pleasure he has given me in that
uneqttaled publication—The Tip Top Weekly.

From AN OsHxosH GIRL, AND 4& FREND AND CHAMPION OF

Evsiz BELLWe@D, 2

Thank you, '
{ * “

I have been reading the Tip Top Weekly for the last year and
think it is all right. Next to Merry, I like Dick Starbright and:

Jack erase Many¥ C. MANCBESTER, ,
ew York, .

_ Thank yous
] tata \

I am going up to the college Saturday so I give you my address, |
although this letter comes from Providence. I am a boy nineteen!
years old, and although I am ‘quite strong I am not large enough —
for my height, which is five feet six inches. I havea small chest. |
Now, can you tell me any outdoor exercises which would make!
my chest broaden out and make me larger, also stronger? pues
is a fine gymnasium up there also. I also want to tell you how’
much I like the Tip Top Weekly,
try to copy Frank ié Z can.

It is fine»and Lem going te;
Kingston, R. I. se dtivesel

pap ere 'Buat. SHELDON, va
Thank you. If you read the new Physical Culture Departmenti)
in this number of Tip Top you will find the best professional
advice given by Professor Fourmen on~all-matters, of. ghysicalé

development, .

 

‘As I am a constant reader of your Tip Pop Weekly, T think 1
am entitled to a space in your Applause Column. Now fot the
question‘of who rightfully belongs to Frank: Inza, by all means ;'
good and grand Inza. Let some of our readers who are in favor®
of Elsie read them carefully and see how Inza watched over
Frank like a true sweetheart, never once deserting him while he
was penniless, while Elsie was never heard of. Even Frank did
not know where she was. Now, don’t you think Inza ought t
have Frank? Mr. Burt L. showed his ability as_a writer when hej)
ended No. 260 the way he did. But how.aboutBruce, and Harry.
and Dismal Jones. When Jack and Bart are provided for, let x
hear more of them, Eeot Hy LareaMBersh...”

Chicago, Ill. Bie

Weare glad you are so well pleased. You will hear more. abou!
all the old friends you mention in a very short time, *

  
   
   
   
 

netgear

Being a reader of the Tip Top, I have-seen many warnt letter
of Applause, but none from Santa Clara. I am going to writé and
let you know that I am enjoying the Tip Top. I think that Fran
is a model for all boys. I like all of. Frank’s friends, but Star<j
bright is my favorite. I also like Ready’s sayings. i
to have béen on Frank's Southern trip very much, Hoping tha

  
  
 
 

Mr. Standish will continue to write tert ip: with the best
‘wishes to Frank and his-ériends,~ : Wado,
Frehm, Cal ;
 

 

     
     
  
    
    
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
      
   
    
   
     
     
  

IP TOP READERS ALL OVER THE WORLD,
Ae TAKE NOTICE! Do you all see those words
at the head of this column? ‘‘It is a crime to be
weak!’’ Do you realize what they mean? If you
do not, Tre Top is going to impress their full meaning
upon you. The time has come when every American
boy should know that it is his duty to build up his
body as well as his mind. No matter ‘how bright or
studious or clever a man may be, he never can be fully
successful unless he has a strong, well-developed body
to sustain him in his work. The demands of to-day
are greater than ever. We must have men. capable of
bearing greater burdens and doing greater things than
have ever been done before. Every boy and every young
man must develop himself for this kind of manhood.
EVERY BOY MUST TRAIN HIMSELF TO BE AN
ATHLETE. He’must havea clever, active mind, and
a strong, enduring body. Above all, he must have it
branded upon his soul that it is A Crime to Be Weak!
‘ The time has come to speak plainly to thousands of
red boys. And who is most fitted to speak to them in this
outspoken manner? Why, of course, the publication of
the ideal American youth, the advocate and friend of the
oe young athlete and hero, the champion of the true Ameri-
ame can boy—Tip Top WEEKLY.
_ The great difficulty is that boys do not know how to
go about the work of developing themselves much as
they want to become strong. But it is very easy when
you know how. The secret is in knowing how, and this
is the secret that Tip Top is going to reveal to all
American boys. Tir Top is going to make it easy and
within the reach of every boy to become a well-trained
- athlete.

Hach week this department will contain the most
valuable advice as to how to train yourself. Professor
Fourmen has been especially engaged by Tre Top
WEEKLY to edit in this column full instructions in all
matters of the great science of self-development. He
will tell you how to train for running, jumping, wrest-
ling, football, baseball, boxing, and, in fact, for every

_ Kind of athletic sport. You may perfect yourself by fol-
_ lowing his advice. He has made a specialty of all-
round development, and his system is used by hundreds
of famous athletes.
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY WISH TO ASK
WILL BE ANSWERED BY HIM. You may ask any
_ kind of question pertaining to physical culture and be
_ sure‘that your questions will receive careful attention
~ and thorough answers.
_. This week Professor Fourmen writes the following
_ instructive article on the subject of first and greatest im-
_ portance to all those who wish to become athletes:

ee aids hee

“IT IS A CRIME TO BE WEAK.”

By PROFESSOR FOURMEN.

Food performs two great offices: First, it supplies
material from which the body is built up. Second, it
supplies material by which the bodily .waste is repaired.

Life is nothing more than a constant

_ FooD process of building up and breaking

AND down of body tissues, so that a man is
DIGESTION. Weak or strong according as there is
more of the breaking down process going

on, or more of the building up. ‘To be strong he must
be doing more building up, and nothing is so essential
to this object as good food and good digestion. A good
digestion means good teeth for the mas-

THE tication of food, a good heart, blood ves-
TEETH. sels and blood, so as to give proper saliva,
gastric juice, intestinal juice, and a

healthy liver, and a good nervous system, so as to
properly regulate the process of digestion. Good teeth
are absolutely essential. ‘They should always be kept
clean. Brush them daily. Rinse the mouth frequently.
Consult a dentist at regular periods to guard against
defective teeth. Never bolt your food, but always chew
it carefully. Take time to eat your meals. The more

time that is spent in chewing, the less |

=: WHEN
& TO EAT.

is required for digestion. Never eat
when tired. Never eat shortly before
active work. Do not smoke, for it de-
presses the heart. Do not drink, because it at first ex-
cites the heart and strains the blood vessels and after-
wards produces just the opposite effect, both of which
interfere with digestion in healthy persons. Do not eat
while laboring under excitement of any kind, whether
it be of joy, sorrow or anger, for all alike affect the
heart so as to retard or preveut digestion. Keep the
bowels open, for if this is not done a part of the con-
tents of the bowels are absorbed into the blood and act

as a poison upon the brain and whole nervous system,

and this deranges digestion. Eat little or nothing if
not hungry. Never overfeed; it is bad. Eat your meat
either roasted or broiled in an oven or pot. Recollect
that all that interferes with digestion eventually causes
impoverished blood, and this leads to starvation of the
digestive organs, poor digestion and inevitable loss of
strength, sickness and death. _

Water is one of the chief ingredients of food. The
body could not thrive without it, and is necessarily not

at its best when too little is taken. Men who have | ;
made experments in fasting find that.

PLENTY

they have been able to keep their fast
_ OF .. from ten days to two weeks longer when
WATER. they drink plenty of water. Besides

this, water is a great aid to digestion

because it stimulates the flow of the gastric juice and

s es ON OE OR ce ee
ET Fe BEN ON EP EO Oe LE A 3 Ia Me eM a Ft oe

3 / ’
Asmnahectilt iran gy pe a ee oan
‘ We a asia me SA ttt e

 

 

  
       
        
  
        
     
       
    

 
 
    

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

   
 
  

 
 
 

 

   
  
   

many ailments, but kills the patient.

_ BILIOUSNESS

  

puts some parts of the stomach contents into solution
so that theyare better prepared for the absorptive pro-
cess of digestion.

Water flushes the kidneys and thus helps wonderfully

imgphe excretion of those poisonous substances formed by’
pbreaking down progaggyof the body.
™ It is an excellent Me, therefore, to drink water

before, during and aftem@meals. .

A goblet of water, taken bifMre breakfast, does several
things: It passes through | stomach into the small
intestines in a continuous uninterrupted flow. It
partly distends the stomach. It thins and washes out
into the gut most of the mucus. It wakes up, so to
speak, the whole alimentary tract, and gives it a moin-
ing’s exercise and washing.

The beneficial effects of a drink of water before break-
fast may account for the desire for water at this time of
the day particularly on rising. How often we find that
when we are very hungry we want a drink before begin-
ning to eat.

Moderately cold water taken into the stomach chills
locally, it stimulates to contraction and produces a reac-
tion. A warm, healthy glow succeeds the contraction
due to the cold. The clean member is in excellent condi-
tion to receive food, which now comes in direct contact
with the bare gastric wall. A copious flow of digestive
juice is the result, and the food, not being covered with

mucts, digestion is easy and rapid, for it takes place >

under the most favorable conditions and in a minimum
time.

Most of the repair of the body takes place during
sleep, that is, wear and tear is made good and a new
supply of force is accumulated for expenditure during
the next waking period. Hence sleep is
very necessary to good health and
strength. It is just as important to sleep
well as to eat well. Loss of sleep is as wearing as loss
of food. Experience has taught that one-third of adult

SLEEPING.

life should be spent in sleep—in other words, eight

hours out of every twenty-four.

It is better for the health to retire at 9 p. m. than at
11, and the following is the reason, and it is a good one:

The ‘‘early-to-bed-and-early-to-rise boy’’ gets just as
many extra hours of sunlight as the number of hours he
goes to bed before the accustomed time. It is plain,
therefore, that with the increased benefit of longer sun-
shine, he should have better health than when retiring
late at night. But it is also the spirit that is infused by
eatly rising and the observance of quiet nature that is
beneficial, by more or less modifying the behavior during
the balance of the day, A volume may be written to
point out the many ways in which early rising does
good, but these few examples must suffice, while the
reader is advised to try it and think out the remaining

benefits for himself. He will find new ones almost daily.

A man may feel stronger after taking a drink of
spirits, but it is only artificial strength;
when the effect passes away it leaves
him in a weaker state. Whisky cures
*“He that is de-

ALCOHOL.

> mg,
The best treatment for this harassing
complaint is plenty of hard Work to the
point of free perspiration. ‘This is par-

ceived is uot wise

ticularly true if the work is done in the fresh open air. -

,

 

 

This art requires that the young athlete shall adopt
at the beginning of his work a well-
regulated and scientific system. For
this reason every athlete lays out a daily
programme for himself.

I have devised the following programme especially for
youth and young men:

1. Breakfast at 7 a. m., dinner at 12-m., supper at 6

p. m.
2. Chew food well—the stomach has no teeth. ,

TRAINING.

3. Eat nothing between meals,
4. Never drink intoxicants. )
5. Do not use tobacco in any form.
6. Live in open airas much as possible, at least three
hours daily.
7. Always breathe through the nose and breathe
deeply. !
8. Keep neck, legs and arms well covered,
9. Exercise on rising and before retiring.
10. Use light weights slowly at first.
11, Stop exercising before feeling tired
12. Run on toes one half mile daily,
13. Do not take violent exercise.

14. Do not wear tight belts or coats fitting tightly
over chest. ;

Every boy should have this programme pasted up in
his room and follow it out religiously if he wants to
train himself thoroughly, .

* Learn to do these things well and you will be on the
high road to successful physical development.

 

7

NEXT WEEK’S PHYSICAL CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL
CONTAIN A SPECIAL ARTICLE ON:

“CURVE PITCHING AND HOW TO DO IT.”
OTHER FEATURES WILL BE: |

‘INDOOR TRAINING,” AND “HOW TO USE THE
SPRING GRIP DUMB BELLS.”

HERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

 

We are going to make it an object for every American
boy to become an athlete. Every reader may become a
competitor for THE GREAT TIP TOP ATHLETIC
PRIZES. Here is a contest worth your while! All you
have to do to win a prize is to develop yourself to the
pink of peferction. Professor Fourmen will tell you how
it is to be done. Then you do as he says and iftyou do it
well enough and follow his advice conscientiously you
are sure to develop into a splendid athlete as well as
have an excellent chance of becoming A TIP TOP
PRIZE WINNER, ;

   

   
 
 
   

   

 

 

) MAGNIFICENT PRIZES

5 vy vvwvN VvrsvvyY
Pre ow e POO VOU VU UV OVP UU UUW UV UVVVVVUVVUUVVUVVUUYYEYVUVYVUEVVVUV TV VV v vv

 

 

NINE COMPLETE TRAINING O@FFITS

CAREFULLY EXAMINE THE FOLLOWING usT ee PRIZES
AND SEE WHAT A GRAND OPPORTUNITY WE OFFER!

  
  
    
  
  
   
   
  
    
  
  
   
    
    
  
  
  
  
 
   
  
     
  
     
     
      
       

“FIRST CLASS. . SECOND PRIZE.

OpEN ‘YO YOUNG MEN BETWEEN 16 AND 21 YEAR 1. A Spalding’s Expert Punching Bag.
OF ce P : 2. A Pair of Championship Boxing Gloves. No. 4.
> | 3. A Whiteley Exerciser. No. 0.

FIRST PRIZE.
1. A Spalding’s “Expert”? Punching Bag. THIRD PRIZE.

2.” A Pair of Championship Boxing Gloves. Ne. 40. 1. A Sbalding’s “Expert”? Punching Bag.
3. A Whiteley Exerciser. No. 1. .
4. A Pair of Indian Clubs. No. 15. S
5. A “Shaker” Sweater. No. 3. THIRD CLASS. :
SECOND PRIZE. . OPEN TO BOYS OF I2 YEARS AND UNDER.
1. A Spalding’s «Expert” Punching Bag. FIRST PRIZE.
2. A Pair of Championship Boxing Gloves. No. 4. 1. A Spalding’s “Expert” Punching Bag.
3. A Whiteley Exerciser. No. 0. 2. A Pair of Youth’s Championship Boxiag Gloves.
| THIRD PRIZE. 3. A Pair of Spring Dumb Bells. |
te A Spalding’s “Expert” Punching Bag. 4. A Pair of Indian Ciubs.
Rr 5 . 5. A Whiteley Exerciser. No. f.
Et | SECOND CLASS. G. A Ribbed Sweater. No. 9.

OPEN TO BOYS BETWEEN 12” AND 16 YEARS OF AGE, SECOND PRIZE. !
FIRST PRIZE.

1. A Spalding’s «Expert’’ Punching Bag.
t. A Spalding’s «Expert’’ Punching Bag. 2. A Pair of Youth’s Championship Boxing Gloves.
2. A Pair of Championship Boxing Gloves Ne. 40. 3. A Whiteley Exerciser. No. 0.
3. A Whiteley Exerciser. No. 1.
4. A Pai¢ of Indian Clubs. No. {3. THIRD PRIZE. ;
5. A “Shaker”? Sweater. f. A Spalding’s «Expert’’ Punching Bag.

 

HEN a Tip Top reader becomes a contestant for these prizes he must measure himself carefully, cut out the coupon which he
finds at the end of this column, fill in the blank spaces with answers to. all’ questions, have it signed by the newsdealer or
postmaster of his town or city, and mail to Tir Top WupKLy in care of Street & Smith, 238 William street, New York City.
Roe At the end of six months he will measure himsalf again, cut out another counon from the Physical Culture Department, which must
5 be filled out in the same way and returned to us. The success of his training will be judged by the improvement of his measurements
as shown by the first and second coupon. , :
The competitor having the highest percentage of improvement will receive the first prize. The noxt highest will be winner of
the second prize, and the third best will receive the third prize.
In order that the competition may be in evéry respect fair, the system of counting used at Yale College will be adopted, and —
Professor Fourmen will judge the records of all contestants for the prizes.

 

 

 

  

 

ALL THESE PRIZES ARE SPALDING FIRST-GRADE GOODS

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()UR.YALE ATHLETES

 

When you look
athlete. He
Every boy "in the United

   
   
 
 

    
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

This is a reproduction from Frank Merriwell’s latest photograph,
showing his wonderful chest and arm develepment.

ro

 

2
ts Photograph you will see why tts that Frank Merriwell ts such a wonderful
varie the most perfectly developed all-around athlete Yale ever produced.

Saeees cannot help envying Frank for his splendid muscles and strength.
But this ts what Frank Merriwell has to say about tt tn a letter to Street & Smith:

“Every boy in this country can de-
velop and train himself to be a thorough
athlete. The one thing that is necessary
for him is to make up his mind that he
will conscientiously and unflinchingly
devote himself to the work. It is not a
hard task, but once begun it must never
be given up. Training is based on com-
mon sense. It must not be indulged in
to the extent of overtaxing the strength,
but must aim to gradually and slowly
build up the muscles as well as the entire
system. When I was ten years old I
was a very delicate boy. My muscles
were small and almost without develop-
ment. But one day my father told me
how the great athlete, Sandow, had de-
veloped himself, and I made up my mind
then that I would do the same. Since
that time I have always been at work,
slowly but surely training myself. I
never indulge in any kind of liquors,
neither do I smoke, for these, I believe,
are always injurious. To the boys of
our country I want to say that there is
no greater pleasure in life than the
knowledge that you possess the strength
of well-developed muscles and a perfect
constitution. Every boy van have these
if he makes up his mind that he wants
them. “Frank Merriwell.”

This is what Frank says. There is
no better authority on such subjects in
America ! .

 

5
NOTICE In a short time this

prize photograph gal-
lery will be devoted to the interests of
Tip Top Athletes. On this page where
photographs of Our Yale Athletes now
appear, we will reproduce the photo-
graphs of Tip Top readers who have the
best physical develépment. Here is a
chance for every pires to
become known as

  

  

   

 

 
~ . a
st 7

wy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tip Top Weekly

~ FRANK MERRIWELL STORIES.

PPL II

O modern series of tales for boys and youth has met with anything like the
cordial reception and eee accorded to the Frank Merriwell Stories,
published exclusively in STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY, a
publication which has to-day a circulation larger than that of all similar |

weeklies combined. There must be a reason for this, and there is. Frank Merri-
well, as portrayed by the author, is a jolly, whole-souled, honest, courageous Ameri- |
can lad, who appeals to the hearts of the boys.

He has no bad habits, and his manliness inculcates the idea that it is not |

| necessary for a boy to indulge in petty vices to be a hero. Frank Merriwell’s |
| example is a shining light for every ambitious lad to follow. |

 

Issued CENTS Sold byw all
Weekly a Copy Newvdealers

 

 

 

 

STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, - - - - - NEW YORK.