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LARGEST WEEKLY CIRCULATION IN AMERICA

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An ideal publication “Gay, ) forthe American Youth

 

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

 

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Leaping from the car steps to the platform, Frank Merriwell rushed at the mob of men who had
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Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year.

Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, bv STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N. Y.
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1904, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.

 
  
  

 

No. 405.

 

NEW YORK, January 16,

  

1904. Price Five Cents.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER I.
IN DAYS TO COME.

  

For several days Frank and Bart had loafed at the
mine. At least, Bart loafed, although Frank found many
_ things to busy himself about during a greater part of each
- day.

Outside of operations at the mine, everything was quiet
enough in Mystery Valley. Merry’s Thirty were still on
duty, some of them standing guard over the valley, while
others patrolled the country for miles around. Twice a
day they sent messengers to report to Frank, and those re-
ports were all of a reassuring nature.

As they once more sat on Merry’s cetera in the cool
of the evening,

hand, Hodge said:

“Old man, I believe you have won out in this fight. I
a peleve Sukes has flung up the peenee

_ Frank smiled a little.

ae telling, Bart,” he said. “1 suppose you may be
a Tight: but he is a persistent scoundrel.”

eaten at every turn. You bale hin 4

 

  

RIWELL’S FIXED

OR,

Cap’n Wiley to the Rescue.
By BURT L. STANDISH

_When he saw the thing was going against him, he aban- _

with little Abe, the hunchback, near at,

» “What good will it do him to persist longer : ? He’ s been
: his. efforts tO:

E MER D

PURPOSE:

wn

  
   

seize the mine, and then you defeated him in court.

    
 

doned that fight.” — ,

   

“Somewhat to my surprise,” admitted Merry. “I fan-
cied he would attempt to have the case put off, or would
appeal it, if the verdict was against him. In that manner
he might have continued to bother me for some tine.”

“He knew it was useless, Merry. He knew you would
defeat him in the end.” : |

 
   
   
       
        

“Still, Bart, he might have made a show against me, in
case he still contemplated trying to seize the mine. Had _
he obtained possession of the mine in the meantime, it’s —
more than likely the thing would have gone more favor-
ably for him at another trial. His sudden abandonment
of the fight in court seems more than anything else to in-
dicate to me that he may have given up. At the same
time, you must not forget it was after that that we were
decoyed to Peaceful oe by those ruffians who | were»
in the employ of Suke ee ae

“Tt was his dying gasp, Merry. ee my opinion. het. Ly
he did that more for revenge than anything else.” ae

oe ou should not forget, Bers that Sukes has good rea ° : ve
} } 7

    
       
     
       
       
     
       
         

  
LiF: LOP

me
_s

sons to fear me still. Even though he has given up all
hope of obtaining my property, he knows I’m in possession
of facts regarding him and his operations which I propose
to make public. If I carry out my proposition, as I have
threatened to do, it will cost him a big sum of money, be-
sides branding him as a reprobate and permanently injur-
ing his reputation. This being the case, it is easy to under-~
stand why, even after the failure of his effort to defeat me
by process of law, he should wish to silence my tongue.
T can’t believe he has yet given over that determination.

It is more than likely that he is waiting and watching to

learn what move I will make next. The. moment I do
move I believe I shall hear from him.”

“When afte you going to move, Frank?’

“Well, I shan’t delay much longer.”

“What will you do?”

“To-morrow I intend to write out a full statement of
the exact facts in regard to Sukes’ fake mines in Alaska.
I shall copy from the reports of my agents who went
there. This statement I shall endeavor to have published
in the reputable mining organs and the best newspapers
in the country. If I can convalice the Press Association

that my report is news, it is possible that a brief state-
ment of the facts may be sent out by the association to
That

That would cook Milton Sukes

every newspaper on their list in the United States
would do the work, Bart.
and explode his great scheme.”

“that would do

“Sure enough, Merry!” cried Hodge;

it. But I don’t believe Milton Sukes is a man to let you
work the Press Association that way. He has too much
money and influence. He will get at headquarters, and
see that the facts are not scattered broadcast in the papers.

You have told him that you propose publishing this thing,
and I’ll bet something he’s already reached the Press As-
sociation and placed his squelching hand upon it.”

“With all his money, old man,” returned Merry,
Sukes might not be able to squelch the Press Association.
That is an honest, reputable concern, and I'm confident
it is not easily subsidized.”

“All right, all right,” muttered Hodge. “I hope you
make it work, but I have my doubts about your doing it
the way you have planned. You can vt operate from haa de

“No.”

“Then——”

“Milton

WEEKLY.

I’ve decided on that. I'm going
day or two.” , :

Little Abe had been listening with great intentness,

“T will go to Denver.

within a

and now a low cry came from his lips.
In surprise, Frank looked toward the shadowy figure
of the boy.
“What is it, Abe?” he asked.
“You're going away!” exclaimed the hunchback, pity-'
fully.
ie said anything about leaving you, Abe?”
But I}
“You're mistaken, my boy.

“You're going away and leave me!”
Know 4
I am going to take you
with me.”

Now the deformed lad’s alarm was suddenly turned to
relief and joy.

“You will take me?” he palpKated, as if still in doubt.
“You won't leave me?”
It

has been my intention for a long time to take you away

“No, Abe; I have had no thought of leaving you.

from this wild region, to take you somewhere that you may
be given instructions in the wonderful art you possess. I
I hope

that the day will come when you will be the wonder and

hope some day to see you a master of the violin.

pride of every musician in the ee I know you will.

I feel certain you will.” ’ :

All I want is to

I’ve been so happy since you found me at
I have known the-first happiness of my

“But, I do not care for that, Frank.
stay with you.
Camp Broncho.
life.”

??

“There, there, poor little devil!” muttered Merry, softly

patting his shoulder, “I have not done much of any-
thing to give you happiness.”

“Oh, yes you have! Oh, yes you have!” exclaimed the
“You have done everything! You have treated me
No one ever did that before. All I

Sorne- »

boy.
like a human being.
got was ctiffs, and kicks, and sneers and jeers.
times I was hungry, and weak, and sick, and didn’t feel
like playing. Then they would drag me in where they
were drinking ‘and carousing, and put me on a table and
And I had to play the
wretched tunes they liked, Nothing else would satisfy

cuss me and tell me to play.

them, If I tried to play the music that was in me, they

would howl. for me to stop it, and cuff me some more.

; eanaatinn es I couldn't play what they wanted me to, and

 

 
 

 

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then they'd chuck me out, and I slept on the ground, with

only my fiddie and the stars for company.”
“Poor little devil!” repeated Merriwell, again.

Hodge was silent. His sympathy, also, was aroused,
but his nature did not permit him to express it.

Suddenly a new fear seemed to seize on the hunchback.
k,” he said,

Shall

“When you take me away from here, Fran
anxiously, “‘are you going to let me stay with you?
I be with you all the time?”

“Why, Abe, perhaps not all the time. That would be
I shall

to some Eastern city, where I can find a

impossible. take you to Denver. I may take you
a proper instructor,
but I will see you often.”

The hunchback crouched on the ground near Frank’s
feet, He
seemed to be thinking it over. And it was plain that the

his long arms by his sides, his head bowed.
prospect was not in every way satisfactory.
“T don’t want to do that,” he finally said. “I don’t care
about that, Frank. Must I?”
“Why, it’s for the best, my boy. Such talents as you
have should be developed and carried to their highest
Think of the joy and satisfaction of becoming a
Think of play-
Think of enchanting
Think

Fancy yourself doing this,

point,
noted musician, known all over thé world.
ing before spe/ibound thousands!
them with the song of your fiddle! of thrilling
them and making them weep!
and then hear them burst into, a thunder of applause.
Abe, I have heard g
a spell over the people who listened, and once, in cold and

reat musicians. J have seen them cast
critical Boston, I witnessed a spectacle that, thrilled my
blood. Mascagni, the
His orchestra throbbed,
boomed, and roared his music,
sat as still as three thousand statues.

great Italian composer, was there.
sobbed,
Three thousand people

wonderful and and
Their faces were
turned toward the raised platform, and their enchanted
souls were in their eyes. When that music stopped, the
place was still as death for a moment.
~ women arose and shouted and screamed, and they seemed

Mascagni was called

Then men and

gone mad with the splendor of it.
a rorwas again and again, and compelled to bow and bow
to the exciting gathering. Me was grand, Abe. That’s
"what you may do sometime.”

The boy had been thrilled by Merriwell’ s words, and
now he whispered: _
“Do Eset think so, Frank? Do, rot really think so?

 

TTP-TOP. WEEKLY 3

Could I do that?

aes prugems Seok ee
over my playing ¢

‘Would people cheer and shout that
ees

‘You might do that, Abe. I believe it’s in you.”

The picture was an enchanting one to the deformed

lad. From the wretched outcast, hungry and miserable,

he saw himself transformed to a master musician, re-

spected, admired and worshiped by thousands. It was

like a wild dream to him. It seemed strange and impos-

sible.

39

“No, no,” he said, shaking his head, “it can’t be!’

clapped him on the shoulder again.
“You shall do it!

Frank laughed and
“It shall be, Abe!” he dec
I will

The boy was thinking it over. At

lared.
give you the chance.”
said:
I, would have
I don’t

Somehow

last he

“But I would have to leave you, Frank.

to be away from you almost always. Somehow,

believe I could play my best away from you.
you have drawn the best that 1s in me from me. It was
when I played your battle song in the barranca that I

seemed to rise above myself. It was your music I was

playing. It was when ] played your sou!-song here by the
ebin that I felt something stealing away my very life.

Even then I couldn’t quite play it all. It was too much
for me.

bank that I felt myself lifted away, ’way up into the stars.

It was when I played your triumph-song in the

Had you not been there my fiddle would have been silent.
I tell you, Frank, it was your music, not mine, that I
played.” |

“Perhaps it seems that way to you, Abe; but it was
When

you are complete master of yourself, you can do it at

your skill that drew those sounds from your fiddle.

command. tae when you bid the mood comie, it will do
your bidding.

“i’d rather not try it, Prank,” almost shivered the boy.
“Tt’s too great, too awful! I was not meant to do anything
like that.
would be then me I ask is to stay with you and play
your music. I’d rather do that for you than play for
thousands and thousands of people.”

No wonder Merriwell was touched by the devotion of

, I believe I am happier now than f

1

Somehc

_ the hunchback.

“Oh, well, we'll talk this over again, Abe,” he said. “It
is impossible for you to be with me always. My business
will not let you do that.” i

“T am sorry,” said the boy, simply.

And he sat close
by the wall, with his head bowed, .

  
 

4 wip: tOP

CHAPTER di.
‘SUKES PROPOSES A TRUCE.

Once before the men of the Terrible Thirty had es-
corted messengers into that valley to serve the purpose of
Frank’s powerful enemy. Once again they came, bring-
ing two men with them. One was a half-breed Mexican
guide, the other was a shrewd-faced, unscrupulous-look-
ing man. The latter Merriwell recognized.
It was high noon of the day following Frank’s talk
with Bart and Abe.

Merry stepped out to meet them in front of the cabin,
while Hodge waited in the doorway.

“Sukes has moved again, Frank,” said Bart, grimly.
“Those are his agents.”

The young mine owner shrugged his shoulders the
least bit.

The shrewd-faced man rode forward, watched closely
by the guard.

“How de do, Mr. Merriwell?” he saluted, with a cer-
tain politeness. “Perhaps you remember me.”

“Yes, I remember you, Philo Hanscomb,” answered
Merry. “What do you want?”

“T have come to see you on a little matter of business.”

“What sort of business ?” .

“It shouldn’t be hard to guess!’

3

muttered Hodge.

”?

“Why,” said Hanscomb, “my client

 

“You mean Milton Sukes?”

“Yes, sir; Mr. Sukes sent me.”

“T knew it.”

“Tf this man has come to serve a paper,” cried Hodge,
“you had better turn him over to the Thirty. They will
take care of him!”

“You bets,” nodded Mexican Bob, who was one of the
guards. “All you has ter do, Mr. Merriwell, is ter say
the word.”

“Don’t be too hasty!” exclaimed Philo” Hanscomb,
quickly. -“I am not here to serve any papers. I am nota
process server. JI am here to compromise!’

Something like a grim smile flitted over Merriwell’s
face.

“So that’s it?” he said.

“Yes, sir, that’s it. I want to have a good, quiet talk
with you. I think we can come to an understanding.”

“T fancy I should be wasting time,” said Frank.

“No! no!” \interjected Hanscomb, quickly. “On the

WEEKLY.

contrary, you would be spending your time to the best
possible advantage. I assure you of that, sir.”
“T doubt it.”

“T will convince you in short order. I am certain |
can,”

“Still I doubt it.”

“Let me try?” ‘

“Go ahead.”

“Not here. I want to git down with you, ,quietly,
somewhere and talk this matter over. I have my instruc-
tions.”

“No doubt of it. Mr. Hanscomb, I should fancy Milton
Sukes would know by this time'that he could enter into no
compromise with me. I decline to have any dealings with
him.”

“That’s all right. After this there need be no dealings
with him. After this you and he can go about your own
business. He will not interfere with you, and you need
not interfere with him.”

“The enemy caves in,” said Hodge, with a ort laugh.
“You have the whip hand, Merriwell, keep it!”

“I intend to,” answered Frank, quietly.

“Oh, you’re a winner all right, Mr. Merriwell,” smiled
Philo Hanscomb, pacifically.. “We acknowledge that.
You can’t be beaten. You’re a wonderful young man to
face a man like Milton Sukes and get the best of him. I
admire you exceedingly.”

“No, thanks,” returned the mine owner, “Save your
flattering remarks, Mr. Hanscomb. They're wasted, I
assure you. You are in the employ of Milton Sukes.
Don’t fancy I shall forget it.” :

“Well, there is no reason why you should treat me as
an enemy. J came on a friendly mission.”

“There can be no friendship between Sukes and myself.”
“Well, if not friendship, a truce, at least.

admit that there might be a truce?”

a ou will

“I don’t think it possible.”

‘Don’t be foolish, Mr. Merriwell. Don’t stand in your
own light. It’s.to your advantage.” :

“And to Sukes’.”

“Well, not so much as——”

“Te would not send you here otherwise.
take all that trouble.” ;

“There’s no question about that, Merry,” put in Hodge.
“On guard!” 3 f

 

 

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tienen etait
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ee 6: PORE

Philo Hanscomb dismounted, turning his horses over to
his half-breed companion.

“Let’s go inside, sir,” he urged. “After you have heard
my proposition you can decide as you choose. Until that
time you can’t be sure what you want to do.”

“All right,”

have to say, then you may go.’

said Merriwsie “T will listen to what you

They entered the cabin.
led Frank.

‘Do you wish a third person present?

“Come in, Hodge!” cal
39

inquired Hans-

comb.. “Do you wish another to know about your busi-
ness?”

“Mr. Hodge is fully informed in regard to my affairs.
I have no secrets from him.”

‘Very well,” said Hanscomh, coldly, sitting down and
“Why,
style here. For a rich man you seem to be living exceed-

ingly simple.”

glancing around the place. you don’t put on much

‘

“Get to business!’ directed Merry, sharply. “What

is your proposition ?”
“You've put up a right
mn. That is, y

you aré aware that Mr. St a is powerful, and could carry

hard fight, sir,,and you’ve won
you've won for the time being. Of course,
this matter on if he chose.

“Tf he chooses, let him do s

“He might give you no end 2 annoyance in the future.”
“In the meantim
“That’s

self and him, too. It would be expensive, Mr. Merriwell.

e, I may annoy him somewhat.”
trite, and make a whole lot of trouble for your-

Tf he chose he could hire a small army of adventurers

down here and continually besiege your mine.’
“It would be outlawry.
breaker.
trouble.”
“Oh, but he is powerful enough to take care of him-
self. He all right.
“T’m not wasting any of my-fears on Mr.

It would brand him as a law-
It would end by getting him into still deeper

will do that Never fear.”
Sukes, sir.
While he was spending his time in frtitless efforts to an-
noy me, I would be exposing him ‘and his despicable
schemes to the whole country. That's what I propose to
do. :
“And that’s what I’m here to talk about. That would
cost you a lot of-money. You understand that he has in-
fluence and money enough to keep rene statement out of
the newspapers.”

“T didn’t understand so.”

WEEKLY. 5

“But you must!”
“Well, I’ don’t.
there are no honest newspapers in this country.”

IT don’t acknowledge or believe that

“But you have no positive proof of your claims. Any
reputable newspaper will demand proofs. If you can’t
supply them, they will not take chances against a man
like Sukes. It would mean libel suits and no end of
trouble.”

“If I found it necessary to do so, I’d spread the thing
without the aid of a single newspaper.” \

“But that would cost an immense sum. There is no

necessity of doing such a thing. I can save you all that
expense.”
”

ee

Again no thanks, sir.
Be reasonable!” cried
Why
n Mr. Sukes is willing

“Be sensible, Mr. Merriwell!

Hanscomb, frowning a little. “It’s Rex as easy.
should you go to all this trouble whe
to drop the whole matter? If you ee agree to let him
alone and keep silent, he will pledge himself not to bother
you further.”

Hodge laughed again.

“So that’s the truce he proposes, is it?” said Frank.

“That’s it. He has sent me here with instructions to
tell you that he will let you alone in the future, in case you
agree to let him alone. He will never bother or harass you
again in the slightest. But you must pledge yourself not
to bother him.”

Which is quite a comedown for the mighty Milton
Sukes,” said Merry, smiling grimly.
“Oh, he wouldn’t do that if other matters didn’t demand
his attention. If he chose, he could carry on this fight
finitely.
attention to things of greater importance that he

What do you say

ee you inde It is only because he préfers to

2

is W shies o enter into this compact
to it?”
I haven’t anything to say—at present.”

uddenly Philo Hanscomb fancied he was making pro-
Suddenly he fancied that Merry was. wavering.
“Now is the time to settle the whole thing,” he declared.

If I go away without

fh

Xu

~

gress.

‘While I am here we may do so.
accomplishing my purpose Mr. Sukes may become angry
You should

see, sit, that it is moré to your interest than to his to have

and decline to enter into further negotiations.
this whole trouble ended. If he decided on such a course,
he could block every trail to this valley. He could shut’
- you in so that in a short time you would be in desperate

Sf, ‘ \
‘ r

 

 
 

=” Pir TOP WEEKLY,

straights. He could cause your mine to shut down. Think
of that!’ He might even pen you in so that you couldn’t get
out to injure him as you have proposed.”

At this Frank laughed outright.

“Very alarming!” “The threat won’t do, Mr.
Hanscomb. Milton Sukes, with all his paid ruffians, could

he said.
not shut me in here. I’d get out in the face of him, and
I’d make it warm for him! Don’t try threatening, Hans-
comb, for it won't go. Instead of that, it defeats your pur-
pose. I am naturally somewhat belligerent, and I really
enjoy a good fight.
Sukes has given me a sort of pleasure in this struggle. I

It may not seem true to you, but Mr.
have found it interesting.’ It has broken in on “y monot-
ony of life down in this God-forsaken country.”
“Well, if I understand you, I'll be hanged!”
the lawyer, striking the table with his fists.

exclaimed

“You may be hanged whether you understand me or
not,” retorted Merry. “Hanging is not such an unusual
thing in this Territory.”

“Don’t get personal, Mr. Merriwell. It isn’t necessary.”

Then the lawyer leaned on the table and began a plea,
in which he used all his skill. He endeavored in various
ways to show how it was vastly more to Frank’s advantage
than to Sukes’ that a truce should be made.

enough to see that threats would be 6f no avail, and so he

He was wise

Merriwell listened quietly, never once taking
His silence encouraged Hans-

made none.
his eyes. from the speaker.
comb, who fancied that he was at last bringing about what
he sought to accomplish.

Hodge alone knew better.

When the lawyer had finished he drew from his pocket
a paper. +

“Here, sir,” he said, “is a little document I have drawn
up. Mr. Sukes has approved of it and signed it. I have
made two copies. He has signed them both. It i isa a pledge
between you that you will drop this whole matter and

bother one another no more. I fancy I have convinced

you beyond question that it is decidedly to your advantage.

What do you care if Mr. Sukes goes on with his affairs
and catches a few poor foolish suckers who invest in the
stocks of his mines? It will not
injure you in the least.

It is nothing to you.

— “Mr. Hanscomb, ” said Frank, rising and paste ti

“his hands i in is eee Ec to es er in ay ite I have .

 

On the contrary, in order to dis-—
 turb his “ and annoy him you will ber put to great |
: i eepemse. 1:

made it a practice to protect the weak from the attacks of
Up to
this point in my life I have never lost an opportunity to

the strong and wicked whenever I could do so.
expose a fraud. Many times I have put myself out and
lost money in order to do this. If I change now it will be
the first time in my life I have ever done such a thing.”

“But probably in the past it has not been for your in-
terest to keep still. Now it is different. Your own affairs
are concerned.”

“And do you think, sir, in order to save myself I am
Do you think I could
do this and feel myself an accessory to Milton Sukes’
I doubt it.”

Why, you know thousands of such

willing to become a scoundrel?
criminal operations? I am afraid not,
“It’s nonsense!
The facts are known
to thousands of reputable business men who might inter-
Why don’t they do so?
Merriwell.

things are going on in this country.
fere. I will tell you why, Mr.
It is because they know it would injure them-
selves. It is becattse they don’t feel called upon to hurt
their affairs by interfering in others. Some of those men
are religious men.
respected.
them? Do you mean to infer that you are so much
superior in your virtue and uplifted ideals? But come, sir,
You can see I am right. Here’s my

All you have to do is to put your name

sign the paper.
fountain pen.

there. Mr. Hodge can act as witness.
Then the matter is settled. Then you can conduct your
affairs in peace, and you needn’t bother your head as to

Then it is all over.

whether some few foolish people scattered over the coun-

try are investing in worthless mining stocks.

discuss the thing further. I don’t think it’s necessary.”
“Tt isn’t,” said Frank, as he’ stepped nearer the table.
The lawyer smiled with his inward sureness of success.
“Then what’s your answer?” he asked,
Frank took up the two papers.

“It is—this !’”’ he declared, as he tore them into bits and |

cast them at his feet.

 

CHAPTER III.

AN OLD FRIEND APPEARS.

Four days later Frank, Bart and Little Abe tod the
train at Holbrook, bound for Albuquerque, where they

- meant to change for another train shat would carry cea fh
oe to Denver. eet i

 

 

 

Some of those men are honored and
Jo you mean to place yourself so high above

Let’s not.

 

 

   

sett neate secs

ince inated

si tS ial ing

satin ns alta ai ay

  

 
a nn lig

 

 

    
 

 

  
   
  
   
  
 

TIP

Merry was resolved not to let the grass grow under
his feet. It was his fixed determination to attack and ex-
pose Milton Sukes without further delay. For this pur-
pose he was on his way to Denver, where he would attempt
to deal with the Rress Association and the mining and in-
dustrial papers of the country. If he failed in this, he
would carry out his scheme to publish the truth and spread
it broadcast at his own expense.

Milton Sukes was eventually to find that he had aroused
a tiger of the most dangerous sort.

The train was an accommodation over the Sante Fé
Pacific. Merriwell had fancied he might have trouble
before he could hoard it, but he was not molested. Since
the departure of the disgusted and baffled lawyer sent to
deal with Frank nothing had been heard from Sukes or his
agents.

Still Merry was not foolish enough to fancy the man
had given up. Sukes knew now that it was to beva strug-
gle to the bitter end, and beyond question he would resort
to more desperate means than ever.

Shortly after pulling out of Holbrook, Frank felt a
desire to pass through the train and look the passengers
over. Barely had he enter ed the smoking cat when his
attention was arrested by a voice that seemed strangely
familiar.

Four men were playing cards near the center of the car,
and one of them was talking volubly as he played. It
was the voice of this fellow that seemed familiar to Merry.
Three of them were tough-looking customers. ‘The fourth
was the chap who was doing the talking. They were
playing poker, and the talker seemed to be winning.

“Gents,” he was saying, “you have my deep, heartfelt
e to do this, but I
You mustn’t mind it.

and most excruciating sympathy. I hat
need the money. You know you
are contributing it to a good cause. Those are bright,
lovely yellow boys you have, Pedro. You seem to be a
regular corner sewer on money. You get the best there
is a-going.”

“But J ain’t liable to have it long if this keeps up,”
growled the fellow called Pedro.
dratted luck!”

“Luck!” cried the other,

it’s skill.

“TI never saw such

“Why, my dear, dear boy,
You're up against the real thing. I am the man
who invented this game. I have instructed crowned heads,
and potentates, and high moguls, and whoopdedoodles in

the mystic art of playing poker. Why, I was the tutor of

  

TOP WEEKLY. 7

jon my fresh-laundered collar.

   

~

the great Duke of Slushwater, and he became an expert
1 the game. One thing the duke could never understand
When he held four jacks, four queens or four kings, I
It got

always had a little way of holding four aces.

monotonous to the dukey after a while. Says he to me
one day, with tears in his eyes: “Vap’n, o!d boy, I will give
you twenty thousand dollars if you will tell me how you
do it.’ ‘Slushy, old pal,’ says I, ‘it is my copyrighted trick.
I can’t part with.it for a paltry twenty thousand. If you
will give me two hundred thousand I will tell you.. Then
you can go out and do it whenever you want to.’ Well,
gents, he had only about a hundred thousand in his jeans,
and so he says he will wait until he can get at his bank-
ers for the rest. In the meantime we kept right on play-
ing the game, and the duke he lost extensively by bumping
against those fouy aces so frequently. We played all one
night and part of the next forenoon. Before morning
I had the duke’s hundred thousand, and he was compelled
to give me his I O U’s for the rest of his losses. About
11 G. M., Slushy says to me, kind of heartbroken like, he
says: ‘Cap'n, I am busted. You have all my loose change
and my I O U’s for all I possess. In order to settle with
you I will have to draw every dollar from my bankers and
sell my whole estate, including my fine old zebro-spinal
menengetis castle on the Thames. It’s mighty hard on
me, cap’n. I don’t know what I will do now.’ He looked
so sad and mournful and down at the heel that my tender
heart was touched, and I up, and says: ‘Slush, my boy, I
can’t do it. I’ve not got the erust to eae your castle. 1
will not lay my hands on that.’ My generosity was so
great that he was almost putrefied with astonishment. He
flung his arms around my neck and wept scalding tears
I’ve not had time to get a
clean callar since. After a little while he kinder slumps
back into his seat, and 1 saw something was still chewing
‘What is it, Slushy, old pal? You
don’t seem wholly cheerful and overjoyed now.’

“‘T’ve been thinking, cap’n,’ said he, ‘I am still in a tight
box. ‘I don’t know just what I am going to do. You see,
it costs a pile to run a castle and keep it up to high-
water mark, and I haven't got atiy spondulix to run it on.
Of course your generosity is more than ignoble, but I am

on him. So I says:

afraid I will have to part with the cast, after all, in order

to get my daily bread and butter.’ Then I up and sla apped’
him on the shoulder, and, laughing at him, told him he had

blamed little ingenuity and resource for a realy ludy-dah

 

va * .

   
  

8 TER TOP

duke. ‘Why,’see here, Slu
all right for you.’

sh,’ says I, ‘I will fix this thing

“J dissolutely refuse to receive any further favors from
your hands,’ said he. ‘I can’t do it and retain my man-
hood.’

“T told him a duke wasn’t supposed to have much nian-

hood anyhow and kinder calmed him down, and then ex-

plained that I didn’t propose jarring loose from the money.

I’d won off him. Instead of that I had a little scheme by
which he could redisburse himself and get the coin to run
his old castle and keep up the same hog-killing style he
was used to. “Why, it’s dead easy,’ said I, ‘All you have
I will fix that for

you. I will introduce you to the daughter of Pierpont

to do is to marry an American heiress.

Vandergould. She’s just pining to tie up to a real duke
with a castle and a lot of debts. All the rich American
girls are, you know. Any ef them had rather have a
superanuated, spavined, ringboned, broken-down duke
without a dollar and with about three million dollars in
debts, than to get a lively, hustling, healtlky American. I
have a pull with old Vandergould and the ontray to the
I will land

you at the halter with Beatrice Vandergould or bust a

very swellest society in this glorious country.
suspender.’ Then he grabbed me again and wept sticky
tears down my shirt bosom and added to my laundry bill.
- Well, gents, I kept my word. I introduced him to Bea-
_ trice, and in the least possible time that it could be done
without scandalizing society she jerked him into the bonds
of matrimony. Now, he’s living once more in style in his
own castle and drinking hot toddies and beating Beatrice
occasionally for’ amusement.
“T will take three cards. Don’t deal any of them from
the bottom, Tom. I am watching you.”
F rank had found a seat directly behind the fellow whom
he had recognized to his delight as Cap’n Wiley. The
captain seemed to be in his glory, and he was surely mak-
ing the most of his opportunity to gather in a few dollars
at the great American game. Occasionally he would
~ scratch his head reflectively as he looked the cards over,
and. Merry noticed that whenever he did so he deftly,
slipped a card down the back of his neck and pulled out
another, which materially improved his hand,
“Say!” snarled one of the men, as Wiley gathered in
another pot. “Do you always have this yere kind of
“luck? If you do I don’t see why you need to work.” ~

“Work! ? tees Es eccentric fellow. “Where have I

WEEKLY.

heard that word before? Seems to me I saw it in the dic-
tionary once. Work! Why, gentlemen, I wouldn’t know
work if I met it face to face. I always look with heartfelt
sympathy on the poor devils who work. My tender soul
yearns for them. If I had my way I’d make it a crime to
work. I’d abolish work. On my native heath, away down
in Camden, Maine, no man dares mention work to me.
Once on a time Bill Dyer said something about it to me,
but I fainted, and he had to call the doctor, and he has
never been that careless since. I got even with, him
though; I’ve never paid him for that last shave.”

The game continued, and Wiley won steadily. At
length one of the men seemed to get a good hand. The
others dropped out, leaving Wiley and his antagonist to
settle it. There was heavy betting until the cap’n’s op-
ponent had shoved up his last dollar.

“That’s every cent I’ve got. And

I holds four kings.”

Thar!” he cried.
I knows I has you beat,

“Why, so you do!” said Wiley, as the four kings were
spread out. “Aren’t they real pretty fellows? I never
saw four handsomer kings in my life, and I have met all
the crowned heads of Europe, Asia and Africa. But un-
fortunately for you, my*dear boy, I hold four aces.”

As he said this the cap’n displayed his four aces and
started to rake in the money.

Quick as a flash the man pulled a revolver and leveled it.

“Hands off!” he roared, viciously.

“My goodness!” said Wiley, in surprise. ‘“What’s the

matter with you? I thought you were taking out a bottle.
I came as near freezing to it with my lips as could be!

What seems to be crawling ovet you now, my friend?”

“You never wins my money by cheating!’ declared the

man. “I ketches you at last.” ig :

“Now that’s a real interesting statement,” returned the
cool chap. “Will you explain how you catch me?”

“You bet! You holds four aces, does you? Well,
what do you think of this? Here’s another ace, the fifth
card in my hand. When I sees them four kings T says to
myself: ‘This sure is one oe Mr. Wiley can’t beat no-
body with his four aces.’ |

The speaker placed the ace beside his kings.

Wiley leaned forward and looked at it eels,

“Why, now that’s singular, ” he said.

“Sin ular Pa cried the ruffian. “Ips cheatin, kis You’ re
g g

_ketched, and pa here they shoots a man what cheats

at keerds. ‘ Ym going to blow a hole i in you Fi

woe f
y ' , f

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» flict might follow.

ko DOP

“Wait just a minute, please?” urged the cap’n, as he
reached over and touched the fifth card the man had
placed beside his kings. ‘Why, there seems to be a mis-

take here. That is not an ace at all. How can you fool

yourself that way? It’s nothing but a tray.”

“That’s right, Hanks!’ exclaimed one of the other men.
“It’s a tray.”

Hanks took a quick look at it, and seemed paralyzed
with astonishment.

“What in blazes is up here?” he cried. “I saw it in my
hand, and it was an ace!”

“My dear boy, you must have been drinking,” purred
Wiley, softly and soothingly. ‘Sometimes when I look on

the ardent too long it bothers my eyes. I have seen things
double on many occasions ; I have even seen things triple!
That’s a dangerous point to get to. Right after that comes
Hanks, I
If you don’t you will be
having the delirium triangles within:-a week.”

snakes and sea serpents and things of that sort.
advise you to sign the pledge.

Again the unruffled sailor attempted to gather up the
money. Again Hanks leveled his pistol and swore he
would shoot.

Frank had seen danger for Cap’n Wiley in the eyes
of the enraged gambler, and so he slipped out into the
aisle, as if moving out of range. Hanks was sitting at the
end of the seat near the table, and suddenly Merry seized
his wrist and turned the muzzle of the revolver toward
the roof of the car.

At the same time Bart Hodge, who had just entered in

search of Merry, chipped in by pulling a revolver and

. threatening to shoot either of the ruffian’s companions who

should kick, up further disturbance.
With a twisting movement, the young athlete had dis-

_ armed Hanks and now threatened him with his own
-weapon. During this Cap’n Wiley serenely scooped itr the

money and jingled it into his pocket. The conductor and

-Séveral train hands came hurring to the spot, demanding

to know what was the matter.

Gambling was not allowed on atte train,’ ‘but the con-
ductor had feared to interfere w
knowing their character and realizing that a serious con-

ith those desperadoes,

Now that the ruffians were covered
by, drawn Weapons, however, it. was at once proposed to
put the entire party off the train.

“Put them off | ‘Pat them off ye cried the passengers in
the car, ne gee Pha ; ee Mey {

 

wings, conductor, and set me to playing on a golden harp,

    

WEEKLY. | 9

“Don’t you dare do it!” growled Hanks, glaring at the
conductor.
“You have broken the rules of the road,” answered the
official.
“Why didn’t you say so?”

“Never mind that,”

signal for the train to stop.

“You knew it slag: you played for money here.”

said the conductor, as he gave the
“You will get off right here.”

The men were compelled to rise and step out into the
aisle. Cap’n Wiley, however, lay back serenely in his
seat, making no offer to move.

“Come on, you, too,” demanded the conductor. “‘No’
fooling about it.”

“What, me?” in evident surprise.
“Why, you can’t mean me! Iam as innocent as Mary and
her little lamb. just had to play with them. They
forced me into it. They are total strangers to me.”

“You knows us

cried the sailor,

“That’s a lie!” said one of the men.
well enough. You proposed the game yourself.”

“Pedro, you shock me with your frightful prevarica-
tions. You know that you

picked me up for a sucker and were going to skin me. I

How can you do it, Pedro?

am a total stranger in this part of the country, so I know.
nothing of the rules and regulations of the road. I was
not aware that it was a heinous offense to play cards for
money on the train. I am very sorry. I apologize to
everybody.” yea
~“Mebbe you gives us back our money?” said one of the
trio, :

“Now I will meditate on that. Mebbe I will. In fact, I
think I will. I'll just take it to a bank somewhere and
deposit it for you. You might spend it in riotous living,
gewgaws, and confectionery,
if you had it. Therefore I'll be doing you a good turn
by putting it into a bank where it will be all safe for you.
See you again—I don’t think.”

and for and knickknacks,

So long, boys! Ta-ta!

“Better let him remain, ‘said Merry. “I
think he speaks the truth when he says he is a stranger in >
these parts, although the truth may be a little, strange
I know him, conductor, and he is

conductor,”

coming from his lips.
a harmless fellow.”
“Harmless as a kitten,” grinned W iley. “Tt will be a
crime to put me off with those three dangerous individuals.
They would fall on me and lacerate me and maultreat me.
If you don’t want to furnish me with a nice little pair of

 

  
 

 

to LT? ae

don’t drop me off with those gents. I am not quite pre-
pared for the shining shore.”

“Ti you say so,” said the conductor, turning to Frank.

“I think it is best,” said Merry.

So Wiley was left in his seat and the others ordered
out of the car. As they marched sullenly down the aisle,
THanks turned to snarl at the sailor,

‘We'll see yer ag’in, drat yer!’ he shouted. “When we
do we'll fill yer full o’ holes!”

“That would be too bad,” was the easy retort. “I should
not like that. It would hurt my feelings. Besides, I might
Jeak when I took a drink. So long, boys!”

The ruffians were put off the train, and kept from
swinging onto it again when it started up. They were

left cursing and raging by the track side.

CHAPTER IV.
CAP’N WILHY EXPLAINS.

“Ahoy there!” cried Cap’n Wiley, jovially, as Frank

“

and Bart returned to the car. “Lay alongside here. It’s

a salubrious thing to again behold you with my ocular
vision. I almost doubted the evidence of my colossal in-
tellect when you precipated yourself strenuously into the
agitated disturbance. But you stirely loomed on the scene
at the psychological moment, or words to that effect. Let
me grasp your shapely hand and give me a fraternal grip.”

He seized Merry’s hand and shook it vigorously. Then
he also shook hands with Hodge. :

“What in the world are you doing down here?” asked
Frank. ‘“‘And why were you associated with such ruf-
fans ?”

“My dear fellow, I needed the long green,” answered
the cap’n. “I happened to know they had it, and so I set
my massive brain to work to formulate a method of extri-
cating it from their wearing apparel and safely stowing it
away with my cargo.”

“Well, you surely did it, cap,’ laughed Frank, “al-
though that fifth ace came near being your finish.”

“Flow did he ever cinch onto that ace is what bothers
me. I thought I had every ace in the pack down my
neck. It was a great oversight that I skipped one. I
‘ound it necessary to inject one or two aces into the pack
at various times, and that’s how the miscalculation come
about. I was wholly unprepared for the promptness with
which he produced his armament, and I fear Little Wal-

}

 

WEEKLY.

ter would have been scuttled if you hadn’t taken part in
the action, Sit down, Capt. Merriwell, and let me feast
my eyes on your radiant countenance.” :

Frank and Bart sat down opposite the adventurer and
entered into a conversation with him.

“I last saw you away up in Wyoming somewhere.
Where’s your great ball team ?”

“Oh, it has been dissolved into vapid atmosphere. The
baseball business kinder petered out after you finished us
off so handsomely. Before that I’d been doing fairly well,
and I managed to keep afloat. After that I got stuck and
the crew mutinied. They harshly demanded their wages,
regardless of the painful fact that I was down to my up-
pers. This made it necessary for me to put on my gum
shoes and strike out in the stilly hours of the night. Since
then I have been knocking around more or less, and I have
been up against the worst kind of luck. I have tried thou-
sands of things, but none of them seemed to work very
well until I struck the Great. Arabian Hair Restorer and
Youth Regenerator. That was a wonderful thing. But
for a most unfortunate accident I should have been sailing
right along smoothly on my course at the present time.

“The Great Arabian Hair Restorer and Youth Regen-
erator was warranted to grow hair on perfectly bald
heads in double-quick time, besides making an old man
young again in a few days, JI passed from town to town,
standing on the street corners at night and extolling my
wonderful remedy. I usually obtained a big dry-goods
box and elevated myself upon its altitudinous heights
where I could look over the vast multitudes who gath-
ered to hear the music of my melodious voice. At first I
didn’t do very well, for I was unable, with my seraphic
tongue, to fully convince the doubting populace of the
virtues of amy remedy. After a while I hit on a most ex-
cellent plan.

“T engaged ‘an assistant, a young man with short,
curly, luxuriant moss all over the top of his head. Mr.
Merriwell, he had the most beautiful hair it was ever
my unadulterated fortune to gaze upon. I went into rap-
turous ecstasies over his hair. It was just the right length
for my purpose, At the first opportunity I secured a
beautiful indestructable old man’s wig, the top of which
was perfectly bald. This wig I had made to fit the head
of my assistant, and it covered his own hair so that no
trace of it could be seen. Oh, but you shouid have seen

that wig! It was a dream! In all wavs it was the most

 

 

 

 

  
  
 

  

 

 
acura casein ss daepnimsteistitideaaittita

hippest chins SO

a,

 

 

 

 

4

tt et RE

tell you,
get up on the box beside me.

£ dana handkerchief,

those people stare and hear them shout.
i couldn’t ‘believe it!
i ways asked them right up to, examine that head of hair and

TIP TOP WEEKLY. | 3 11

natural-looking wig it has ever been my luck to behold.

When my assistant put it in place you couldn’t tell for the:

life of you that he had it on. He looked exactly like a
man with a fine-polished skating rink on the top of his
head. I gave him explicified instructions, and after that
we gathered in the shekels so fast that it made me round-
shouldered to carry them. When we struck a town we
took pains not to arrive there together, as that might
arouse suspicion. I followed my usual method of gath-
ering a multitude around me on the street corner in the
Then I did a few

stunts to interest them and keep them there.

early window curtains of evening.
I performed
several sleight-of-hand tricks, such as laying hard-boiled

eggs and extricating a jack rabbit from some gentleman’s

ear. On top of this I introduced my wonderful Arabian
I told them in
dulcit tones of the amazing properties possessed by the

Hair Restorer and Youth Regenerator.
remedy, . J volunteered to prove before their very eyes
the truth of my statements. Then I requested some
rheumaticy, aged old fossil with a bald head to come for-
ward and iet me experiment on it. I promised to make
the hair grow onvhis head right there before the eyes of
the multitude. In every case I took pains to couch my in-
vitation in such language that none of the bold-headed
citizens of the place would care to rush forward for the
experiment. I caused them to feel that I was certain to
make them a joke and a jest for the other fellows. I
gents, this required skill, but when Little Walter
does a thing he does it to the queen’s taste. :

“After a while my assistant would come forward and

Then, right before the

: eyes of the throng, I opened one of the bottles of my great
remedy and slopped it over that wig. I took a big ban-

spread it over the fellow’s head and
I hovered over him and rubbed with
And as I

commenced to rub,
vigor, as it appeared to the unsophisticated eye.

- tubbed I deftly rubbed that wig off into the handkerchief,

which effectually hid it; When I removed the handker-
chief, lo and behold! there, before their eyes, was the
beautiful and glorious head of hair. Mr. Merriwell, Mr.
Hodge, ‘it* would have done your hearts good to just see
Why, they
] didn’t blame them, either, I al-

See that it was the genuine article. While they éxamined it

| I took ¢ care of the wig, pach fortanately for me, x ‘was an

 

 

imperishable concern. After that you’d ought to have
seen the people fight to get near enough to plank down
their dollars and get a bottle each of the Great Arabian
Hair Restorer and Youth Regenerator! Why, it was just
like finding money! If the thing had kept up for a month
or two longer I’d been independently wealthy. I could
have looked down with lofty disdain on Morgan and Van-
But,
You've heard that great soliloquy

’? Well, as I said, this was

derbilt and all the rest of those bloated bondholders.
alas! it was not to be.
of Hamlet:

not to be.

“To be or not to be

“In a little town by the name of Fried Dog I met my
fate.
Fried Dog I met several congenial gentlemen who pulled

To confess the lamented truth, after arriving in
me violently from the water wagon. I thought I knew my
capacity, but on that occasion I didn’t know the kind of
jagjuice they sold in Fried Dog. I give you my voracious
statement that it was the most powerful spirits fermenti
that I ever permitted to trickle down my unwary throat.
When the time came for me to display my wares I would
have sworn the whole world was the deck of a vessel in a
raging storm. However, I had taken pains to tell the peo-
ple of that place that I would be on a certain corner that
evening and would entertain them free of charge. They
gathered there and I felt it my duty to make good. There-
fore I mounted my box, which acted suddenly like a buck-
ing broncho, and began my harangue. I got along first
rate right up to the critical point. My assistant ¢ame for-
ward after the usual manner, and I doused him down the
back and all over the top of his head; but while I was rub-
bing his head with the handkerchief I made a sad and un-
fortunate slip. My fingers lost their cunning, and in some
manner I rubbed that wig off and let it fall right down |
before the whole crowd. They tumbled to the game in no |

time, and the next thing I knew Little Walter was striking

for the tall timber, with about two hundred howling men
behind him.

“Mr. Merriwell, if ever I let myself out a notch and
fairly made the earth hum under my feet it was just about —
then. I knew by the way those people were yelling that —
they had malicious designs on me. It was an awful race,
but somewhere, outside of the town I miscalculated and
stepped off the edge of the earth, which rose up and
bumped me behind the ear. When I recovered I was in |
the hands of the heartless mob. I never saw such people
as ee were! They. were so rude, and rough, and unre-_

 
 

12 TA ae

fined! They actually dragged me right under a tree and
put the rope around my neck and pulled me up about a
foot off the ground and left me there. I tell you that was
a painful affair for me. Even now it makes me shudder
and shed tears.”

Cap’n Wiley paused and brushed his hand across his
eyes.

In vain Frank and Bart, both of whom were highly
amused, waited for him to go on. At last Frank asked:

“Do you mean to say that they hanged you?”

“They did, Mr. Merriwell. They were even that cruel!”

“But you seem to be alive and kicking now. They
must have let you down.”

“On the contrary, they went right away and left me
there to my fate.”

“And no one released you?”

“No one then. All through that long, weary night |
remained with my hands tied behind my back and the
noose about my neck.”

“Come, come! Cap’n Wiley, this is too thin!
you would have choked to death in short order. Can
you explain why you didn’t?”

“That’s easy,” said Wiley.
frightful. rubber-neck. My neck stretched immediately,

“All my life I have been a

so that my feet rested on the ground, and although the
position was painful I managed to survive. In the morn-
ing a kind soul-cut me free, and that’s how I escaped.”

Merry laughed heartily.

“You seem to be the same old Wiley,” he said. “But
you haven’t explained how you happened to be down this
way.”

“Oh, I wandered around after that, and got broke
again. That’s where we come to something that may in-
terest you, Mr. Merriwell. In Holbrook a few days ago
I heard something about you. Then I happened to men-

tion I knew you, and it was not long before a gentleman

came to me and proposed to pay me well to do a little busi-
ness for him. He said he was expecting a man to take
the train there who would try to escape from the Territory.

He told me this man was a double-dyed scoundrel, and
te offered
_ to pay me one hundred dollars if I would join some other
nice gentleman in stopping this man and flustrating his
plans of flight. The one hundred dollars looked big to me
_ just about then, and I was thirsty, too. I snapped him
up; but I give you my word, Mr. Merriwell, that never

that he must be prevented from getting away.

 

Why, -

WEEKLY,

until I saw you get onto the train to-day did I know you
were the gentleman they wanted to bother with. Then they
told me. Those three handsome and refined-looking chaps
I was playing cards with had been engaged to take part
in your capture. It was their intention to knab you just
this side of the New Mexico line, where the train is to “be
held up by some more fine gentlemen. We were to step off
with you and turn you over to these other gentlemen and
permit the train to go on.

“Immediately on learning that -you were the one they
were after I resolved to warn you of your danger. In the
meantime, however, the three men with me had been paid
like myself for their work, and I knew they had the stuff
with them. I hated frightfully to let them go away with it.
That’s how I seductively drew them into the game at
which we were engaged. It was my plan to get all their
money and then to hunt you up and tell you what was
doing.”

Frank seized Wiley by the shoulder,

“Cap’n, are you telling me the truth?” he asked.

’

“Look deep into my unguivering eyes,” directed the

sailor. “Why, guile and deception is distasteful to me!
Fooling aside, Mr. Merriwell, I swear that I have told you
the truth. Those men will hold up this train, expecting to
have you immediately delivered into their possession,”
“What will you do, Merry?’ asked Hodge, anxiously.
“Forearmed is forewarned,” said Frank. “I shail be

ready for them.”

-——~-—--———

CHAPTER V:
CAP'N WILEY AND THE BEAR.

“Now, that’s the kind of talk I like to hear!” cried '
Cap’n Wiley, smiling. “When they get ahead of Frank
Merriwell they will haye to sit up all night to do it. I ad-
mit that I regard him as the most magnificent specimen
of colossal intellect that ever perambulated terra firma, I
don’t know just what terra firma is, but we will let it go
at that. I speak
several languages fluently. You may not understand me
when I do. JI don’t understand myself, but I speak them
all the same. I can parleg vous with a. Frenchman, Erin-

It is Spanish or Dutch or something.

go-braugh with an Irishman, or nix come arous with a
Dutchman. Why, it would do your tingling hearts good ©
to hear me ish leiber dish with a Dutch girl. |

“But puteall those things aside for now. It’s time that
we consider other matters, There will be twenty of that

 

 

 

ination

 

wen ne ne ce ee ety ee

 
 

 

 

tat. Tusk

gang, and they will be armed with Gatling guns, and can-
non, and broadswords, and deadly weapons of all sorts.
If they ever stop this train, I assure you there will be
violent doings.”

“That being the case,’ smiled Merry, “we must take
earé they don’t stop the train. You know where this thing

is to happen, I suppose.”

“My late sweet-scented companions gently murmured
in my ear that it would occur at Navajo Springs, which
is a small flag station on the line out here in the vast and
irid plains.”

“Well, then,” szid Merry, “it’s up to us to see that we
don’t stop at Navajo Springs. We must see the con-
ductor and get this thing fixed.”

At this point the conductor, accompanied by Little Abe,
entered the car.

“Ts this boy traveling with you, sir?” he asked of Frank.

“I didn’t know where you were!” cried Abe. “You
were gone so long I became frightened.”

“Forgive me, Abe,” said Merry, quickly. “Things have
been happening which led me to forget you.”

Then he turned to the conductor, saying:

“I have the information that this train is to be held up,
sir, by a band of ruffians, to which those three who were
put off belong.”

The conductor looked interested,

“So that’s the game, is it?” he exclaimed. “I fancied
there might be something up when I saw that fine bunch’
come aboard.”

“This hold-up is to occur at Navajo Springs,” said

Merry. “You will be flagged there, and if you stop the

ruffans will go through the train.”

“Are you positive about this, sir?”

“I am positive about it,” nodded Merry. “If you wish
to protect the passengers, conductor, all you have to do is
to pay no attention to the signal at Navajo Springs. Run
by the place regardless.”

“1 shouldn’t like to make a blunder by doing so,” said

the conductor.

“You'll make a bigger blunded by stopping. I give you

my word, sir, that the men will be there to hold up the

train. Without doubt they will keep out of sight until

we stop. They. are desperadoes of the worst sort, and

my information assures me that there will be at. least
twenty of them.”

 

WEEKLY. 1:

C2

“How did you learn so much about this?” asked the
conductor, puzzled.

“My friend here learned it from those ruffians while he
was playing with them.”

fhe conductor looked Wiley over suspiciously, where-
upon the little chap thrust Lis thumbs into the armholes of
his vest and smiled back knowingly, observing:
I’ve got Old

Nick has offered

“I am a regular Sherlock Holmes, I am.
Broadbrim and Nick Carter skinned.
me thousands upon thousands of dollars to lend him the
use of my magnificent and far-seeing brain to aid him in
his business, but I have always been too busy to strike a
bargain with him.”

“Let me advise‘ you to keep out of the kind of company
you were in, unless you are anxious to wear a hemp
cravat,” said the train official.

“Thanks, my dear sir,” chirped the sailor. “I have
managed to perambulate this mundane sphere lo! these
many weary years without getting into any trouble that I
couldn’t get out of, True, many times I have barely won
out by a neck, but I am still in good health and able to
sit up and take my medicine.”

The conductor now gave all his attention to Frank, with
whom he talked for some moments, ending with another
assurance that the train would not stop at Navajo Springs..
He then went forward to notify the engineer to pay no
attention to the signal at the Springff.

“Well, I am feeling better,” said Wiley, as he settled
back in his seat. “Now, if some one would lend me the
use of a cigar and a match I’d be perfectly contented.
I could smoke like a ham.”

“You were, indeed, in a pretty tough crowd, cap’n,” said
Merry. “And they had you in a bad fix when I took a
hand.”

“Truly you speak the unadulterated truth. Just about
the time you got into the game, Mr. Merriwell, I’ was
feeling the way I did once up around Moosehead Lake
when I went on a little bear hunt and found my bear.
That was a time of great agitation for Little Walter, I
assure you. That bear was the biggest bear in the State.
He had a record. People had been seeing him fora year —
or two, and whenever they saw him they turned tail and
lit out for civilization, only hitting the ground in the high
places as they ran. Perhaps you won't believe me, which
will be shocking to my sensitive nerves, but that bear

weighed at least thirteenghundred pounds. Talk about

A vs

 

 
 

14 Debi PR ae

your grizzlies! Why, it’s my opinion that the ordinary
Rocky Mountain grizzly would have looked like a teething

One or two
but he didn’t

more than he would had it

baby beside that veteran of the Maine woods.
hunters had fired at him from a distance,
seem to mind a bullet any
been a pea from a boy’s pea-shooter. He prowled up and
down Moose River and sometimes came out to the settle-
ments and made things interesting there. When he got
hungry and couldn’t find anything else to eat he would
walk out into somebody’s pasture, break a cow’s back with
a swat of his paw, and just take the cow in his teeth and
walk off with her. The people got tired of losing cows
and stock in general through the depredations of Old Bus-
ter, as the bear was called. So, having heard of my repu-
tation as a hunter, they sent for me to come up there and
relieve them by slaughtering Buster. I realized I had a
pretty big job on my hands, but I tackled it with the ut-
out into the howling wilder-

most slang floyd. I struck

ness in search of Old Buster, and found myself in a region
where wolves howled, and panthers screached, and moose
roared, and all the wild beasts of that part of the country
‘made the forests echo. Sometimes at night they came
and sat around just outside the circle of light made by
my camp fire and sang me to sleep. I tel! you it was
eine music, gentlemen, to have a hundred wolves
and a few stray moose, a dozen panthers, a scattering of
_ wildeats, and other ‘mesh of inferior quality all joining
ina melodious vesper chant while a fellow dropped off to
sleep. Of course I kept my fire burning all night, and
whenever I woke up and found any of those critters
prancing too near I looked at them with my terrible eye
and drove them off.

Pee the fourth day of my hunt I struck a bear track,
Mates, when | put my eye on that track I knew I had

found the trail that would lead me to the game I sought.

I won’t tell you just how big that bear track was for fear.

-you would doubt my voracity. For two days more I fol-
lowed that track as the bloodhound follows the scent of a
nigger. On the second afternoon I found Old Buster
_making a meal off a mouse he had just killed. T believe

he knew'I was after him, for he had been hipering out in a
He had not stopped to eat before, and
He was in the midst of a

lively manner.
so he was good and hungry,
clearing, and when I saw him I said to myself: “Walter,
you have got him foul.
3 cee out there and shoot him sa of holes.

 

All you have to do is just prance |
I didn’ t take |

WEEKLY.

the precaution to shoot from hiding, but out I went. He
saw me and lifted his head.
[ had a Winchester that fired

Then I began to pepper away

at him. sixteen shots, and
I felt pretty sure I could settle him before I emptied her.

“Gentlemen, then it was that I met with the most pain-
The bullets glanced off the old

skull just the same as if they had struck flint. He

ful surprise of my life.
bear’s
didn’t seem to mind them much, only they made him mad-
der and madder. He lifted his nose and came:at me, his
head wagging and his teeth showing. I presume I was a
usua! unerring accuracy I
That

kept on shooting at his

trifle nervous, for with my
should have hit him in the eye without any trouble.
was what I was trying to do, and I
head. Of course I might have hit him in the body, but I
was proud of my marksma nship, and I had told before
starting out after him that I would shoot him in the eye.
Without realizing what I was doing, I kept count of the
shots
of horror as I realized that but one more shot remained in

I fired, and suddenly I was struck with a feeling

And still Old Buster was just as good as ever
and coming right along. In fact, he was decidedly too near
| ;

About that time I decided it was well for

me to seek safety by retreating.

my rifle.

for comfort.
Vhen I looked around,
however, for a place of safety, I discovered that I was in
a nasty scrape. The woods were too far away, for Buster
was a great runner, and he’d be pretty sure to get me if
I tried to escape that way.

“In the clearing there was a high, pointed rock, and I
set my course for this. J had the idea that I might be
able to scramble up on top of this rock and find time to
refill the magazine of my rifle. But when I reached the
rock I saw it was almost as smooth and shiny as glass

and altogether too steep to climb. I ran around it, look-

ing, for some: place to scale it, but did not find any, and

right behind me came the bear. During those moments
of seething agitation my internal arrangements seemed to
be kicking up great excitement.

to scale my esophagus, and various other things seemed

to be trying to get out of their usual place of abode. © I

realized if I made a pause Buster would put his paws on

me. So I whistled around the rock like the hands around |
a clock, for I couldn't bear the shock, (Another of my lit-
tle poetic gems.) Whenever A slackened up a bit and

looked over my shoulder I saw the nose of Old Buster

me to renewed energy. Once or t twice I spodght of Oe

 

I felt my heart trying

iii hn ti ta shee asia

come peeping around the corner, of.the rock, and that led —

a ene sentnt

Se

ants

saan neballias xd

i a esa tn incense

 

 
 

   

 

 

  

 

ca EOE:

ping to meet him and try finishing hirn with my last shot.
I had
fired fifteen shots toward him without feasing him any,

This, however, I realized was a fearful expedient.

and it seemed wholly improbable that 1 should drop him
in his tracks with the last bullet. If I failed he’d have me,
and even though I’d wounded him mortally, he might rend
me in sections and distribute me over the landscape.
“Then I resolved on another scheme. I decided to run
fast enough to get up behind him and take a shot at him
‘that way. Mates, the ground fairly hummed undet my
Why,
it was so hot that the rock itself threatened to melt; but

feet. The ait literally smoked around that rock.

the faster I ran the faster that blamed old bear ran, and I

couldn't get the chance to shoot him in the back to save my

neck. After about two hours of this, I began to feel a lit-

tle weary. Says I to myself, ‘Walter, I don’t believe you
can keep this up more than two or three hours longer.
3ineby you'll peg out, and Buster will lunch off you.’

“Now, gentlemen, I leave it to you if I wasn’t in a bad
scrape? I leave it to you if either of you could have de-
vised a scheme to get out of that scrape? But in times
of peril my highly developed brain works with wonderous
activity. I was trying to devise some way of shooting that
bear, and finally I hit on it. Quick as a flash I caught
hold of both ends of the barrel of my rifle, holding it side-
ways, and gave it a terrible thump over my knee. In this
manner I bent it until it was crooked to my satisfaction.
Having done this, I just poked it out ahead of me, so
that the bend followed the direction of the rock. I couldn’t

see the bear when I fired that shot, and I didn’t know but

what he was pretty close behind me, for I’d had to stop a

little to bend the rifle. In this it seemed that I was right,
for I ran almost nine-tenths around the rock after shoot-
ing before I came on Old Buster. He was on the ground,
kicking and tearing things up, and he had fallen just
Where the bullet hit him. I afterward inspected the dis-
tance, and decided that at the very time I fired he was close
behind me. It was likely he was reaching for me with
his forward paws. The bullet had left that crooked rifle
and kept right on in a circle around that rock and hit

him fair in the heart. I take no credit for marksmanship

_in this, you understand. It was just a chance shot, but it

did the business and added greatly to my reputation as a
hunter in my native State. Can't somebody lend me a
chew of tobacco for a few moments, I will give it back
after I am through with it.”

z

WEEKLY.

    

CHAPTER VI.
TO THE AID OF A FRIEND.

According to the conductor’s promise, the train ran
past Navajo Springs without stopping, although a man
waving the red flag stood in the middle of the track until
he was barely able to escape by making a wild leap out of
the way. Then other men appeared from places of conteal-
ment behind the water tank and station, yelled their rage,
and fired at the passing train. The bullets broke two win-
dows, but the passengers had been warned, and they were
crouching low, so that none of them were hit.

“I am now able to respirate with regularity and ease,”
observed Wiley, as the train hummed on. “If I had fal-
len into.the hands of those gents after what has happened
I surely should have been in a worse-place than I was
when the bear chased me. However, I have not done so
bad out of them. My pockets are lined with shining
shekels and I am once more on my feet. Leave it to me.
I will win out yet. For all of my vast accumulation of
hard luck, it has always been my firm conviction that I
am predestined to gather unto myself riches and spend
my declining years in enjoyment, and high living, and the
gout. You can’t keep Little Walter down: He bobs up
serenely.”

During the journey to Albuquerque Wiley entertained
his companions with various tales, all of which were inter-
esting,

He seemed to feel it keenly, however, when any one ap-

although most of them were highly improbable.

peared to doubt his truthfulness in the least. He averred
that he had always been misunderstood by those he loved
most, and that even when he borrowed a gun of a friend
and pawned it with another friend and spent the money,
the resentful owner of the gun seemed to take it to heart
and reviled him and hurt his feelings and shocked his sen-
sitive nature by harsh words.

At Albuquerque they changed to a train northbound by
the way of Las Vegas. When they reached Springer it
was near nightfall.

“Do you remember, Bart,” said Frank, “how once we
found Barney Mulloy and Bruce Browning here?”

“Sure,” nodded Hodge. “I wonder where they are
now.”

“After the close of the football season Browning to'd

me he expected to come back here this season to look after

his mining interest. He may be up there in the moun-

tains now.”

   
 

16 tik FOP

“Oh,’ look! look!” : cried little Abe.

doing to that man?”

“What are they

Near the station a rough crowd of men were seen en-

gaged in a desparate hand-to-hand battle with a single in- :

dividual, who was keeping them busily engaged in spite
of the fact that he alone was pitted against overpowering
numbers.

A shout burst from Frank’s lips, and he seized Bart’s
shoulder.
He’s

“By jingoes!” he cried. “It’s Browning himself!

in trouble! Come, Bart!”
They dashed from the train, followed by Cap’n Wiley,
his fiddle

clutched in his hands, as usual. ’

with little Abe hobbling along behind them,

Frank

Merriwell rushed at the mob of men who had attacked

Leaping from the car steps to the platform,

Bruce Browning.

For all of Bruce’s wonderful fighting abilities, he was
getting the worst of it, and without assistance would have
soon been overpowered.

Unhesitatingly Merriwell pitched into the fracas, and
his hard fists cracked on the heads of the ruffians.
“Give it to them, Browning!” he shouted. “We’re with
you !”

Hodge was equally ready, and Cap’n Wiley was not

slow about taking a hand.
, eat I had a belaying

eensd some of you merry tars off with cracked heads.”

-pin, now,” cried the sailor, ‘“I’d
The diversion created ‘by the attack of Merriwell and his
friends enabled Browning to recover himself, and he
swung his ponderous fists with terrific effectiveness.
_ The fight did not last long after that, for, as if by a well
understood signal, the ruffians suddenly gave up and took
to their heels.
With his massive chest heaving and his eyes flashing,
Bruce stood there, saved by the “us ba, of Frank
Merriwell. /
“Merry !” ie panted ;
surprise !”

“is it you? By Jove, this is a

“Tt seems to have been a lucky surprise for you,” half
laughed Frank. “So help me, Bruce, those thugs had you
ina bad scrape. How did it happen?” —

“T don’t know. They seemed to be laying for me, and
they pitched on me just as the train was pulling i in. Give
us your hand, Merry ; ; and you, too, Hodge. — Where under
the stars did you Ate from??

 

 

WEEKLY.

He shook hands with them heartily.

Then Cap’n Wiley tectered up on the balls of his. feet.

“If you will cast your toplights in this direction you
may recognize your humble servant, Extend. your fin and
let me agitate it.”

“Wiley!” exclaimed Browning. “You, too; you here?”

“On deck, as usual,’ smiled the sailor, with a wipe of
the back of his hand across his mouth. “You don’t hap-
pen to have a Manuel Garcia or a Prince de Gale about
you, I suppose? I am pining for the wantof a smoke.”
smiled Bruce; “but I think

You shall have a

“I haven't a cigar with me,”
we can find plenty of them in town.
whole box for this.”
said Wiley.

past, and simply touched here.”

“But we can’t stop,” “We were sailing

“Tt looks to me as if you’d have to stop a while,” re-
“Your train has gone.”
the train had

turned the big fellow.
This was true. During the conflict,

pulled out, and they were leit in Springer.
“Well, there is no particular harm done,” said Merry;

“although our lug We can afford

to stop over all night and enjoy your society, Browning.

gage was on that train.

We'll investigate the cause of this attack on you, and we
may be able to call some of those rufhans to account.”
“Come on, then,” said Bruce. “We'll go up to the

hotel.”

Frank looked around for little Abe, and was relieved to.

find the boy had jumped off with him. The hunchback
hobbled along at his side as they left the vicinity of the
station and walked toward the hotel.

Bruce had a room there, and in this they were soon
gathered.

“You say you haven’t an idea of the cause of the at-
; tack on you?” questioned Frank.

“Well, it is possible that I have an idea of its. cause,”
answered the big fellow. “I have been having trouble

of late. You see, there has arisen another claimant for
my mine.”

“What?” cried Merry.

“That’s right,” nodded Bruce. “I have had to keep on
guard constantly to hold ee errion of my property.”

‘Well, this is interesting,’ averred Merriwell.’ “Vou
know I have been having the same kind of trouble,
Things have been warm around the Queen Mystery.

Who is it. that has been. annoying you?”

as “Well, a man by the name of Len Tompkins ‘is the

 

a

ar a

 

 

 
  

Ve

Ay

 

seestinioiatstsaoitiiniireniliint

figure-head in the affair, but I have discovered that there
He has filed claims to the prop-
| erty, and:swears he located it originally.”

are others behind him.

“Len Tompkins? I know the man. Who do you think
; is behind him ?” .

) “As near as I could get at it, his name is Morgan.”

; “Not Macklyn Morgan, of the mining trust ?”

“I think it is the same man.”

“Why, he is a partner of Milton Stukes, the man who
has been giving me se much trouble. Bruce, we seem to

be in the same boat. We may be able to join forces in

1 fighting against these men. With me it is a fight to the
finish. And Sukes has alregly found that out.”

“T think,” said Bruce,
was instigated by my enemies, who are trying to get pos-
session of my property.

some of those ruffians

“that the attack on me to-day

Still, I don’t understand why
When they
jumped on me I pulled my revolver, but it was knocked

didn’t try to shoot me.

out of my hand.

fists, and I was doing the best I could when you took a

hand. It’s they

_ would have stamped the life out of me in short order. I
had to struggle to keep on my feet.”

Then I had to fight them with my bare

my belief that had they downed me,

“It was a joyous old scrimmage,” chirped Cap’n Wiley.
When I
saw what was doing I said to myself, ‘Walter, here’s where
4 you get entertainment and a
a cent. You can get right out there and have your block
knocked off without the slightest trouble.’
of a Peaceful, harmicss, refined,
are extremely distateful to ine.

sion, howeyer, 1

“There is no question but it was the real thing.

amusement without costing you
I am naturally
sensitive nature, and broils

On this :
noted with my piercing eye that my bosom
friend was in peril. Under such circumstances I regard

alubrious occa-

{ ny own ‘life. as of no value whatever, and I aip ready to

wield it up On the altar of friends ship, pro bono pyblico, sic
sem per tyrannis, le pluribus onion, oe words to that effect.

7a e ie Excuse my intense enthusiasm.’

“Tt’s plain you’ re the same old Wiley!” smiled Bruce.
“Old Wiley! Ola Wiley!” cried the sailor, resentfuily.
“Now, there is w here you touch me ona tender spot. Just
~ because I happen to have a fow stray spears of gray in my
_ raven locks it’s no sign ’'m. totterin ng on the verge of tt!
Score years and ten..,

 

cnr

3 C Yn the contrary, my hair has been
- gray ever sinice that frightful occasion on which, with four

 

4 men on my back, a boy on top of my. head and a woman

  

 

s - clinging to my leg, I swam nine miles from the wreck of

 

 

TIP TOP WEEKLY. 17

my noble vessel, with the thermometer twenty-nine degrees
below zebro, finding it necessary to break through a mile
of ice before reaching the shore. That frightful expe-
rience turned my lovely hair as you see it now. I never
think of that occasion without a quiver of my heart-
strings and a sob of regret because I failed to save the cat.

”?

I will tell you all about it. We were off Matinicus-—

“Told on,” interrupted Frank. “You can save this yarn

for some other time. Just now we haven't time to listen.”
Wiley seemed pained by this refusal to listen to another
of his veracious tales, but lapsed into sad and somber
silence.
“Tt am troubled about one thing,” said ‘Bruce. “You

know Barney Mulloy was with us, and ad formed a

eh
ten days ago I sent Barney

sort of partnership. Nearly
down here for supplies. He was to return as soon

as possible. I haven’t seen him since. He seems to have

vanished in a most! unaccountable manner. This was

wnat brought me to SE I’m afraid our enemies
have done something to Barney,’
“By Jove!”

glad we were left here.

cried Frank. “This is serious. Now I’m
sruce, we will have to stick by
what has become of Mulloy.”

“We'll have to find

you until you find out

“That’s right,” nodded Hodge.
Barney.”

Wiley brightened up.
! Pd like to

hing cael I’ve

“Barney Mulloy?” he said. “By jingoe
find him, too. Id like to settle one
always suspected that Barney had Irish blood in him. It's.
true he sometimes, spoke with a French accent, but that
T am confident there is a streak of

4

Fot a long time they sat talking over what had hap-

pened, and making plans. Little Abe remained silent and

contented, but after a while Wiley arose and tiptoed out
of the toom with the tread of a cat. When they had fin-
ished talking they noted that he was gone.

Suppe

ate, and he

time camie, and still Wiley was absent. They
had not appeared when the meal was finished.

“I'm going to look around for him, Hodge,” said Mer-
riwell. “When I find him I will bring him back to the
hotel.”

Despite the time of year, the night.was warm, and the
doors and windows of Springer were open.

A short time after lea ving the hotel, Frank paused out-
side the open window of a saloon, ‘a smile CORRE to his

  
 

18

face, for his ears could detect the voice of the irrepressible
Wiley. Peering through the window, he saw that Wiley
was seated at a small table in the saloon, with two suspi-
cious-looking ¢ompanions, one of whom had a wooden leg.

“That leg of yours, partner,” the captain was saying,
“reminds me of the time I undertook to raise chickens.”

“How’s that?’ asked the man, as drinks were placed
en the table before them.

“I had a little theory of my own about economy in
chicken raising,” said Wiley. “All my neighbors were
feeding their hens on good corn, and their chickens on good
cornmeal. To me this seemed a useless extravagance, and
so I tried a little experiment with my hens. Near my
place there was a saw-mill, and I gathered up a few
bushels of saw-dust, which I mixed with their cornmeal
when I stirred it up for them. I watched the effect of this
with some anxiety at first, but I discovered with relief
that the hens ate this mixture of cornmeal and saw-dust
with apparently as good: relish as they had cornmeal
alone. This encouraged me. I saw where I could make a
great proft out of chicken raising if I could feed my bid-
dies on that kind of fare. I kept it up for some time, and
the hens continued laying right along. Finally I set a few
of them, and every blessed egg hatched a chicken. But
Mates, I'll
be hanged if every infernal chicken did not have one

here comes the singular part of the business.

wooden leg. This ruined my scheme and disgusted me so
that I went out of the chicken-raising business.”

“Well, here’s how,” said one of the men, lifting his
glass,

Wiley raised his and looked at its contents.

“I tell you, dear mates,” he said, “judging from the
kind of ardent they deal out in this part of the country, I
should say that here’s a copious supply of delirium trian-
gles. If I stay in these parts much longer I will be able
to hire out in some dime museum as a snake charmer.”

“You’te all right, captain,” laughed the man with the
wooden leg. “When I saw you, [ says to myself, ‘That
chap is all right.’ That’s why I sought your acquaint-
ance,”’ |

“That’s right, Peg,” averred the third man of the party.

“Sure,” nodded Peg.

“Another thing that interested us,” said the other man,
who was a little chap, with keen eyes, set very close to-

gether, and a vicious mouth, “is the fact that you dropped

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

off here with Frank Merriwell. ‘You seem to know him a
whole lot, and that’s mighty interesting to us.”

Frank bent nearer to listen.

 

CHAPTER VII.
THE SAILORS ANSWER,

“Know him!” exclaimed Wiley. “Did my good vessel,

the Siorm Queen, know the bounding billow? Does a
Jack Tar know the smell of bilge-water and the taste of
Vhy, gents, I knew him like a

salt horse? Know him!

twin brother, I know his ins and outs, and undets and
overs. I should say I did! I’ve seén him pitch in a base-
ba‘l game, and if he hasn’t a few ins and outs, and unders
and overs, no men ever had. Mates, you should see that
noble specimen of American manhood toe the slab and
whistle a sphere through the atmosphere while creating a
disturbance on the hemisphere. Curves! I don’t like to
I won't exaggerate !

exaggerate. I hate exaggeration!

But I tell you, on my word, mates, thet he can make the
ball curve around a man’s neck and start back over the
same course it came. I’ve seen him pitch to a batter, seen
the batter strike at the ball, seen the ball pass the batter,
then teke a sharp curve around behind him and come
He
don’t need any catcher behind the bat; he can act as
pitcher and catcher himself. Why, you

He and I have shared the same bunk from

a-sailing right back into Frank Merriwe'l’s hands.

Know him!
amuse me!
Labrador to Patagonia. He and I have dined together in
hovels and in palaces. We have eaten off a plate made of
birch bark in the Maine woods, and off of one of solid
gold when we dined with King Edward. Know him!
Well, I should rise to remark !”

“This is a whole lot interesting, Snodd,” nodded the
man with the wooden leg, eying lis companion.

“Quite so, quite so,” growled Snodd, gruffly, in a’ voice
far too big for his physique.

“If I had time,” said the sailor, “I’d tell you some
strange and fascinating tales of Frank Merriwell; but I
refrain. You might think me fabricating, which would
hurt my tender and sensitive soul.”

“How do yer happen to know him so well?” inquired
Peg, \ i.

“As far as that goes, I knew him before I ever had the
pleasure of meeting him, I knew him by reputation. He
is known far and wide wherever baseball is played, The

la i

 

 

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constitution won't stand the strain.

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papers used to devote coltimns to him. One great metro-
issue to him,
There wasn’t another thing printed in the whole paper.
It made no difference that the Prince of Norumgood had
that the Em-
press of Turkey had been stuffed with cold steel and served

on a platter.

been assassinated. It made no difference
It made no difference that the English army
in South Africa had lost two hundred million men in a
battle, It made no difference that there had been a colli-
sion between two trains on the Union Pacific and four hun-

ed lives had been lost. All these things were minor

‘tems in the eyes of the news editor, who excluded evy
one of them that he might give all of his space to Frank
Merriwell. That's the kind of a famous gentleman he is.
When you look on him, mates, take off your hats and hold
your breath.”

“As you know him so almighty well,” said Snodd, in
his hoarse voice, ‘I s’pose you’re familiar with all his
plans.

to do.”

“And your supposition is eminently right.

I s’pose he tells yer about everything he intends

He takes ine
into his secret chamber, bars the door and opens **- heart
to me. He has no secrets from me.”

The two ruffians exchanged glances again.
“Have another drink,”

_“T hate to decline,”

urged Peg.
said the sailor, Sadly; “but my iron
In my time I have

refreshed and regaled myself on Johnson’s Linament,

arnica, petroleum, benzine, laudanum and. carbolic acid;

but this New Mexican fire water is a little too strong for
me. I appreciate your generosity, but, if you don’t mind,

‘ + will take a cigar.”

He was provided with a cigar, which he examined
with a critical eye before lighting’
“I suppose this is the best the place affords,” he said.
“But it’s a little hard on one who has been in the habit
of smoking imported regalias at fifteen hundred dollars a

So Don't feel hurt because I mention this little
matter,”

ae ee you know where Frank Merriwell is bound

fer?” said Peg, carelessly.

I

ve

“Don’t doubt it for a minute. J can assure you L know
all about his mundane affairs.” a
“Where was he going when he got off here?’ /
op yonder,” answered the sailor, with a wave of his
_ hand. : “He was bound in that direction,”

4 elt : ; 3 Sas

 

WEEKLY. ‘i

3)
“Oh, we know that.

“We will

cago.

But what was his objective point ?”

say it was Chicago. Yes, I think it was Chi-
/ > 3

Such little things slip my memory.”

“What did he intend ter do when he got there?”

“| believe it was his intention to take the town apart.
Yes, I

he has been out here in this lonesome and arid expanse so

am quite sure he said something about it. You see,

long that he fairly yearns to play with something. He
wants to get back where things are moving. He con-

templates putting on his war paint when he strikes Chi-

cago and taking charge of things generally there.”

The ruffans were far from satisfied.

“Did ye hear him mention anything in perticular that
he meant to do?” asked Peg, leaning on the table.

“Well, now, if I did it evaporated from my porous
memory.”

“Did yer hear him say anything about his business?”

“Why, I heard him say just oceans of things! What is
it that you want to know about his business ?”

“You know héhas a mine over in Arizony,” said Snodd.

“T should say I did!”

“An’ mebbe you know he’s had some trouble over it ?”
Wiley lay back

his legs under the table, puffing at his cigar in a satisfied

in a comfortable position and crossed

manner.

“Seems to
me he told me he'd had lots of amusement over there. I

“Now, mebbe he did mention that,” he said.

complimented him because he was looking so well, and
hearty, and agreeable, and chipper, and he said that was
because he’d been having such a good time of late.
Mates, that boy just naturally enjoys a gentle disturbance.
He can’t live without it. It’s necessary for the preserva-
tion of his health and the soothing of his nerves.”

“Did you hear him say anything about the people he’s

been havin’ trouble with?” questioned the sailor’s inter-

locutor.
“Sure, sure. It was some insignificant individual by the

name of Sukes, I believe. A man worth a paltry thirty
or forty million dollars.” .

““An’ did he say he’d give up this yere fight with ae
Sukes ?”

“Give it up! Why, how you talk! I heard him say he’d
just begun to get after Sukey. Yes, I am positive of it.
He told me he proposed to make Sukey take to his hole

like a woodchuck, and pull the hole in after him. He'll

 

 
 

20 Tite TOP WEEKLY:

do it, too. Why, I wouldn’t be in Mr. Sukes’ shoes for
twice the money he’s got.” |

“How are you fixed for dust?” asked Snodd.

“Dust?” said Wiley. ‘‘Why, I can shake it out of my
clothes any time.”

“T mean for coin—for money.”

_ “Oh, for filthy lucre. Well, mates, just at present I
am bound to confess I am a trifle short on the filthy.
It’s a little inconvenient and embarrassing, but all my
money is deposited in a sand bank in Pennsylvania, and
I can't draw on it conveniently.”

“Then a leetle money would be acceptable to you?” sug-
gested Peg, in an insinuating voice.

“Acceptable! Mates, I would welcome it with out-
stretched hands.

“Would ye like to make a hundred or so?”

I'd clasp it to my throbbing bosoni!”

“Don’t agitate me! Don’t agitate me! Whisper low!
Tell me how IJ can make that amount, and bind ie to you
with chains of steel! I'll never forgive you—-I mean, I'll
never forget you!”
The two rascals again exchanged glances, which the
o °o o
Pez's glance was one of

“Go

sailor did not seem to observe.

inquiry, and Snodd nodded a little, as if to say,
_ ahead ; try it.”

“We -can tell ye how to make two hundred cold dol-

lars,” said*the man with the wooden leg. ‘And it won't
require much effort on your part.”

“Shall I have to work?” inquired Wiley, apprehen-
sively.

“Not, at all,”

“What a relief!” sighed the sailor. “TI am too strong to

work. It doesn’t agree with me. But now, mates. as you

say there’s no work connected with this business, go ahead
and expostulate your plan.” ,

“Well, it is this way: If Frank Merriwel! kin be pre-
vented from going north for a while, it’s money in our
pockets and yours, too. The way to prevent him is to
lead him into a leetle snare.
while and held in captivity.”

“In other words,” said the sailor, ‘‘in
That’s the way they put it in all the high-toned nove's I
have ever read. When a man can clothe his language in
flowers of speech, and thus rob it of its cold, harsh
features, I believe it’s his bounden duty to do so. My soul
revolts against unpoetical things. I was born to be a bard.

Had fate not deferred me from my true object in life, by

He will be trapped for a

durance vile.

I'd

had old Shake run to cover and afraid to show his nose.

this time I’d had Shakespeare done to a brown turn.

I told him so the last time I met him. ‘Shake,’ says I,

‘your King McDuff is pretty rotten—pretty rotten! I can
write better stuff than that with my feet. I can write
better stuff than that in my sleep. Shake, my boy, if you
continue to write so poor you wi!’ find yourself famous.
For I have taken notice that the man who writes the worst
drizzle gets the most fame.’ He didn’t seem to like it
much. But that wasn’t anything compared with what I

told Vennyson. ‘Tenny,’ said I, ‘your ‘“‘Come into the

garden, Maud, for the black-cat night has scooted over the

fence,” is ebout the limit. I read it to a dog the other
day. I hadn't read ten lines before the dog began to
whine. In ancther minute he was howling. I silenced

the poor cur, ahd kept on, all unaware of the terrible deed
I was doing. When I had finished I looked at the dog, and
he was dead, Tenny, you are responsible for the death of
that dog. If you keep on writing you may killa hun-
dred dozs.’ Much to my surprise, he turned up his nose
and scemed offended.”

“Cut that!” growled Snodd. “Let’s talk business,”
‘Business it is,” smriled the sailor. “Drive away.”
“All vou have to do,” said Peg, “is to lead Frank Mer-
riwell into the trap. We will tell you where it is set, and
you cin take him there. We wil! lay out the whole plan
for you, so there will be no chance of your failing. Then
you will sure get your two hundred.”

“That seems easy,” said Wiley, and-neither of the men
noticed the touch of sarcasm in his voice. “But I can’t
think of doing it unless I get my money, in advance.”

,

“(Ve can’t pay yer in advance,” said Peg; “but you will

be dead certain of it when the job is done.”

ae
in-

less you can pay something down we will cut this negotia-

“T elways have to'have a retainer.” said Wiley.
tion short. Make it a hundred.”

“Can't do it,” growled Snodd.

“Ain't got so much now,” declared Peg,

‘Well, say fifty,”

The men shook their heads. :

‘“Tt’s a mere matter of form,” said Wiley. “But I will
have to have something down. Can’t you make it twenty-
five? No? Then I will come to the bottom notch. Call it
ten. Ten dollars, or not another word do | say. Ten
dollars before I enter into further negotiations. Put
down your ten, mates,” |

suggested the sailor.

 

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two hundred

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TIP TOP

Again they. glanced at each other, and again Snodd
nodded.

“All right,” said Peg,
pocket
Now I reckon you’re bo
to do the job.”

Wiley

was good, after which he rang it on the table

as he drew a gold piece from his
“There’s the ten.
Now you will have

and. slapped it on the table.
und to us.
picked up the money, and bit it, to make sure it
> and slipped
it complacently into his pocket.

“There,” he said,
answer.

“now I am ready to give you your

Now we can talk business. Now I will talk
ithout reserve.”
“You'll do

manded

what we instruct yer to do?” hoarsely de-
Snodd.

cs ~
I am expected to be-

“In other words,” said the sailor,

tray my friend, Frank Merriwell? I am expected to

show myself a double-dyed, white-livered whelp! I am

expected to sell my noble manhood for the paltry sum of

1 plunks, with ten down! Is that it?”

They did not fancy his tone; neither did they like the
manner in which he looked at them.
“You don't have to reckon it that

way,” assured Peg.

“We ain’t going to hurt this Merriwell any. All we want
to do is to catch him and keep him where he will be quiet
a while. What do you say to that?”

“What do I say to it?” repeated Wiley, pushing back a
little from the table. *“I will tell you what I say. I say
that you have picked up the wrong customer. I say that
you have made a mistake in thinking Cap'n Wiley is a
I say I regard ‘you two crawling vermin
as fit only to fertilize the earth. It’s a shame that you are
permitted to live around decent people, polluting the at-
mosphere. If I had my way, I'd take you both out and
elevate you beneath the nearest tree, with a rope around

your necks. I /fancy you understand me. If not, I will

‘make myself a little plainer.”

The scoundrels had been astounded into silence; but

now, with exclamations of astonishment and anger, they
arose to their feet.

_ At the same time Wiley sprang up.
“Hold on!” roared Snodd, suddenly whipping out a
revolver, ‘Stand whar ye are, or I’ll ‘drop you!”

“Shoot him up Say WAY) para!” sarled Peg, also pro-

ducing a weapon,
peat this point Frank Merriwell a arose + Deleack the 5 a tadaas

 

VNEEKLY. 21

and leaned an el
his hand.

“Drop those guns,” he exclaimed,
both |”

bow on the sill, a blue-barreled pistol in

“or I will drop you

CHAPTER. Vili.
AT LAST.

The appearance of Merriwell in the window caused the
ruffians to pause. -

Cap'n Wiley laughed.

“On
compatriot !
afraid th

Frank didn’t take his

time, like a clock!” he cried. “Welcome, noble
If you had been a few moments later [I’m
ey’d scuttle me.” ,
eyes off the ruffians.

“Drop those guns!” he repeated.

The command in his voice was not to be disobeyed. They
realized the danger of
fell to the floor.

Frank opened fire,

disobeying, and the drawn weapons
A moment later, with amazing rapidity,
and every bullet smashed a lamp. In
a twinkling, almost, the place was in darkness. Then he
sprang back from the window, hearing Wiley’s shout:

“Clear the passage! I’m coming!”

Out through the window sailed the compact athletic
sailor, alighting on his feet like a cat.

“Head
There’s liable to be a wreck

“Crack on every stitch of canvas!” he exclaimed,
away from these shoals.
around here.”

He did not pause, but quickly dusted away in the direc-
tion of the hotel.

Frank followed.

At the hotel, Frank found the sailor serenely waiting,
while he finished his cigar. |

“Well, say,”
most delightful way of showing up at the psychological
Ii ever I needed you, it was just about then. In
another moment those pirates would have boarded me.”
said

smiled the swarthy chap, “you have the

moment,

“You were foolish to show your colors so soon,”
Merry.

“T believe you’re right about that; but, inwardly I had
been seething with righteous indignation for the lapse
of no small time. I couldn’t seem to hold in any longer.

Before I knew it I let her fly, and there I was. How long

had you been outside?”

“Quite a while,” answered Frank.
to work you.”

“T heard them trying

“Which was silly of them, for I refuse to work, But I.

%

 
  

ing.
“name of all creation can Barney be doing with Len

  

Bae Oe

22

am a bright shining shekel to the good. I have a fresh,
gleaming ten-spot in my locker, and there is no damage
done.”

“T have found that my enemies are still hard at it,”
Frank. “Milton Sukes is determined to shut me off.”

“Forewarned is foreordained, you know. You're pre-

said

pared for them.”
“Still,” said Frank,
I wish you had found out their plans in full,

“T wish you had played the game a
little longer.
just how they meant to trap me and all about it.”

“Yes, I believe I yawed a little at that point. I was
a-holding too close to the wind. But you can keep on the

watch for them.”
At this moment Bruce Browning entered, accompanied
by a tall, bewhiskered man, with whom he was talking.
“You're dead sure?” questioned Browning
Mr. Rand?”
“I know Mulloy as well as I know you,”
“That’s right,” nodded Browning,
be mistaken.”

; “dead sure,

said Rand.
“You should. not

“I am not mistaken.”
“You saw him?”
Ma aL 1 5
“In Cimarron?”
“That’s where it was.”
“And with two men?”
“Right again.”
“You recognized the men?” ei
“One of them was San Luis Bowman. He is a thor-
oughbred scoundrel, and a bad man with a record.”
“A strange comrade for Barney!” muttered Bruce,
frowning. “Who was the other man?”
“Never saw him before.”
“What did he look like ?”
“He was very tall, with unusually long legs, ~ had
a full brown beard. That’s about all I can tell you.”
“Ten to one it was. Len Tompkins!” exclaimed Brown-

“That description would fit him. But what in the

_ Tompkins, my enemy ?”

hs ; shaking his head.

“7 can’t answer that, Mr. Serene, admitted Rand

t

“The whole thing i is mighty mysterious,”
turning to F; rank,

’ said Bruce,

friend.” 4

eT MS: ‘Merriwell, is ‘Kent Rand, a man ;
I know well. Mr. Rand, this ‘is | Frank Merriwell, my

 

WEEKLY.

“How are you, sir,” said Rand, extending his hand.
Frank shook it, and the moment he touched the prof-
fered hand something told him that Rand was on the
square.
“Mr. Rand tells me,’

he saw Barney Mulloy in Cimarron with those two men.”

’ said Bruce, “that only yesterday

“T spoke to him,” put in Rand. “He looked square at

] thought it was mighty strange.”

“T will

me, and did not answer.

“The whole matter is strange,” declared Bruce.
never be satisfied until I understand it.”

“You don’t suppose Mulloy has turned on you, do you?”
suggested the man. . “You don’t suppose he has gorie over
to the enemy?” |

“Not in a thousand years!” cried Browning, positively:
“Barney Mulloy is true as steel!”

“That’s right,” nodded Frank.

“Well, I. can’t explain it any other way,” said Rand.

“You will have to settle it for yourselves.”
“And settle it we will,” said Bruce. “I am much ob-
Mr. Rand.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Wiley smoked and listened during this conversation, but

liged to you,

did not venture to say anything,

A few moments later Frank and Bruce were talking the
matter over in Browning’s room.

“The only thing to do,” said the big fellow,
off to Cimarron. This is the first time I have struck Bar-
ney’s trail. I can’t ask
Frank,”

“You don’t need to ask me.”

“But your time is important.”

you to give your time to this,

“T can afford to spend time in aiding my friends when |

chey need aid. Do you think I can leave you without find-
ing out what has happened to Barney?
thing through, Browning,”

“T am glad to hear you say so, Merry.

”

 

anything in return
“That’s enough!” exclaimed Frank,
hundred things already.”
“But you have your own troubles.” —

“They can wait a little.

4
;

ron ?”’

“We can't cae it very well pe but I propose we do Iti

at an ‘early hour in the morning.”

‘
\

“ts to hike

I will see this

If I can ever do %

When do we start for Cimar- i

Al soci that Pon We will need horses for myself 2

ld ata th asa

it

 

Sit sont einen enmity

“You’ve done Bee

 

 
   
     

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fe)

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es

 
    
 
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era a

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lieve he has fallen into

 

 

 

 
 
 

TLP: TO?

Hodge, Little Abe and possib We must secure

them to-night.”

ly Wiley.

é

“IT will look out for that, Frank, You remain here and
leave it to me.”

Merry did not agree to this, but accompanied him in
his quest for horses. The animals were found and pur-
chased from their owners, together with the needed outfit.

They were then brought together in a stable near the

hotel, and everything was made ready for the start
planned.

N/E a c AG 40 ped rae as : sie *
When informed of these arrangements, Hodge was

eager as either of them to be off on the quest.

1

Not knowing what efforts his enemies might make,

Merry took every precaution that night. But he was not

disturbed, At an early hour they were astir. When they
came to look for Wiley the eccentric sailor was missing.
In vain they searched for him. He was nowhere to be
found,

“What will you do, Merry?” questioned Bruce. “Will
you wait to find him?”

Frank took a little time to think this over.

said:

He finally

’t be-

1 don

has, Cap'n

leave word for him to follow us.
If he
oe has a way of getting himself out of almost any sort

“I will
serious trouble.
™

fa scrape, and is sure to land right side up.”

wre

= hirty mintites later, béfore dawn had fairly come, they
rode out of Springer to the west, Little Abe and his fiddle
still with them.

It'was a long, rough journey, and the day was well spent

hk they came into Cimarron.

7 There they lost no tine in making inquiries for Barney
Mulloy. Tt was not long before they learned that the youth
they described had been seen there. And, as they antici-
pated, he was. in company with San Luis Bowman. But

Bowman was to be found in none of the gambling plac
or saloons, and Barney was also looked for in vain

“We seem to be up against it, Merry,” said she ning,
in disappointment, “T doh’t believe he’s here now.’

_ Again they discussed the matter from all sides, but

could arrive at no satisfactory solution of the mystery,

After a square meal, Frank | set out by himself to wan-

 

  
 

   

 
 

| der about the place. It was a small, scattered, uninterest-

ing town, like the others of that region, with which Merry
was familiar, His strolling took him out of the camp and
down the reek a short distance, where he came upon a

WEEKLY.

     

cabin by itself, like a skulker.

As he came in sight of this

cabin he saw a person walking toward it. One glimpse
was enough. Frank recognized the sturdy, athletic figure
of Barney Mulloy. f

“Barney!” he cried. \

The Irish youth heard him, and turned his head. It
was Mulloy beyond question. But in his face Frank fan-
cied there was no expression of recognition.
“Barney!” called Merriwell, hastening forward.
Mulloy

closing the door behind him.

Without answering, turned away and entered
the cabin,

It was a shock to Frank Merriwell, for such behavior
on the part of Mulloy was beyond his understanding. For
a moment he paused in doubt.

Behind the mountain peaks the sun was dropping. In
the valley shadows were gathering. Night was at hand.

“Of all things mysterious, this is the limit!” muttered
Merry. He heard

me call his name, but he did not reply.”

“He saw me, but hé did not answer.

No wonder Frank
“Well,”
know what it means.

was astounded and puzzled.
said Merry, “he is in there, and I will soon

I will demand an answer, and I'll

With this, he again advanced toward the cabin, quicken-

Without hesitating

ing his steps. g, he thrust open the door.
The light from without showed him part of the interior
of the room. At the farther side of it, on a bench, sat
Mulloy, looking: straight at him.
“Barney !” called Frank, again.
Mulloy sat perfectly still and stared, but his lips did not
part to answer.
He ad-
nt figure, and, as he did so, the

One window lighted the place,

With a bound ce was inside the room.
ranced toward that si
door slammed behind him.
and that poorly.

The slamming of that door startled Frank, and he
with
drawn weapons leveled straight at him. One was Len
other Frank believed

wheeled like a flash. Behind him were two men,
Tompkins beyond question, and the
to be San Luis Bowman.

“Good-evening, Mr. Merriwell!’’ said Tompkins, with

a coarse laugh. “We’re delighted to see you!”
His astonishment over

the strange behavior of M ulloy had ae him into a careless

Frank felt that he was trapped.

: te

and unguarded action, ee
They had him foul. rae

ff

 
 

fae TOP

a

But there sat Barney, his friend of school days, his true
and tried companion of many a desperate adventure, his
hands empty, lifting neither of them to render assistance.

Frank crouched a little, like a cornered panther.

“I wouldn’t try any tricks, Mr. Merriwell,”’ said Bow-
I don’t want to

man. ‘Perhaps you know my record.

shoot you up, but I will have to do it if you act can-

Besides,
have to contend with if you raise a rumpus.

tankerous. we are not the only ones you will
There are
two other gents to be counted on.”

As he spoke, the door leading into the only other room
of the cabin swung open, and through it marched two men.

The first Frank

recognized with surprise as Philo Hans-

comb, Milton Sukes’ crafty lawyer; but his astonishment’

was unbounded when his eyes fell on the second man,
tall, thin, hard-featured and triumphant.
It was Milton Sukes himself!
At last Frank was face to face with his powerful enemy.
Face to face with Sukes, and Sukes had him trapped!
“You?” muttered Merry, in spite of his wonderful
“You here?”
“Yes!” cried Sukes, with shrill satisfaction,

nerve.
cee arn

here, and so are you! I have you at last!”

CHAPTER IX
| THE LONE CABIN OF CIMARRON.

In that moment Merry knew that he had been decoyed;
but still the singular behavior of Barney Mulloy was not
explained.

Sukes could not repress his triumph over his youthful
antagonist. He gazed on Merry with scornful gloating.

“Ha!” he exclaimed. “You thought yourself smart.
You thought yourself able to outwit Milton Sukes, did
you? You fancied you had the best of the fight, did you?
Ha! You fight hard; but when you pit yourself against

me you invite certain defeat. I have handled worse men

than you. Where are they now? I am here, and they—

where are they?” .

“Ruined, beyond question,” answered Frank.

“Yhat’s right! That’s right! The man who tries to
down Milton Sukes invites certain ruin. You’ve tried it!
You thought you had me down. You refused to make a
truce with my attorney, did you? You will be sorry for it.
You were | going toes pose “my business and ruin it, were
your T hat’ s hah Se you were going north, was it? You

   
   

 

  

WEEKLY.

will be sorry for it! I have got you--good and foul!

You will disappear. You will keep quiet until I have fin-
ished my business. Then you can blow all you like, if
you're lucky enough to be alive. Watch him—watch him
close, men. If he reaches for a weapon, shoot him down.”
“We

laughing.
Again Frank glanced at Barney Mulloy,

follow orders, sir,” said San Luis Bowman,
who still sat
on that bench, rigid as stone. Something told him that
Barney was doped—that the Irish youth had no control of
his will power. a

“What have you been doing to this poor boy, you miser-
able scoundrel?” cried Merriwell, white with rage.
“Oh, we used him as a part of the game,” answered
“When you slipped through my men in Arizona, I
Ha! You don’t

You didn’t know I had men watching for you

Sukes.
fancy you thought all danger was over.
know me.
in Albuquerque. You didn’t know they wired me which
train you took. You thought it an accident, I suppose,
that your friend was attacked in Springer just as the
train pulled up. It was an accident—well planned. It
was an accident arranged to get you off the train, for
they knew you’d stand by your friend. Oh, how shrewd
you were! But you are.no match for Milton Sukes.”

The words: of the sneering man cut deep, but Merry

endeavored not to betray it.

“Vou have done well, Sukes,” he said; “but the end is

not yet.”

“Tt may be—for you. Disarm him, men. You have

your orders !”’

Frank was on watch for the slightest slip on the pict of
his enemies, but he felt that his case was practically hope-
less in that small room.
him down if he offered resistance.

“Wait a minute!” commanded Sukes. » “Somebody light
alamp. We want to make Bure." we take every weapon off
him.”

It was tapidly growing dark, and the shadows were
thick in that room. .

Philo Hanscomb struck a match and lighted the lamp.

“Now we will finish the job,” said Milton Sukes,

“Wait a minute!” called Frank, playing for time. ‘“Let’s
talk this matter over. Perhaps we can come to an under-
standing. You offered to make a truce with me.’

“I did; but it’s too late now.” ;

With all the skill at his command Frank, talked on.

_ He saw no hope in this, but it was the only thing he could
do. He drew Sukes into argument; he excited the man;

he talked and talked, while it grew dark outside,

 

San Luis Bowman could shoot

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“No use!’ cried the arch-rascal, at last. “I will waste
no more words on you. Go ahead, men, and strip him of
his weapons. Tie him hand and foot. Then you know
what to do with him.”

Tompkins stepped close to Merry. Even.as Tompkins’
hand touched Frank, outside the cabin sounded a shot, and
through the window came a bullet that smashed the lamp
and piunged the place in gloom. It seemed darker than
it would had+not the lamp been lighted.

Like a flash Merry seized Tompkins, and swung the
tall, thin man off his feet.. With all the wonderful strength
that made him known as such a remarkable athlete at Yale,

_Merriwell hurled Tompkins bodily through the air at the

» place where San Luis Bowman had stood. There was a

crash, and something told Frank the two men were down.
The door burst open. Outside a voice cried:
“Set your course this way,-mate! If the rest of that

lot foller you, I will sink them as fast as they come out.”

It was the voice of Cap’n Wiley.
Inside the cabin the utmost confusion prevailed. Sukes

_was calling to his too!s to seize Frank, but in the darkness

they interfered with one another.

Merry knew exactly where Barney Mulloy sat, and he

| clutched the fellow by the shoulder, jerking him to his

feet, and started him for the door. Some one blocked their
way, but with a terrible blow Frank stretched this man
flat. Out through the door they plunged, and again the
voice of Cap’n Wiley sounded:

“Scoot, mates! Take for open water!”

“Run, Barney!” ordered Frank, in that tone that was

" not to be disobeyed.

They ran. Behind them shots sounded, but in the
gloom no bullets reached them.

Both Browning and Hodge had been looking for Frank,
and they were astounded when he came rushing upon
_ them, with his two panting companions.

“Mulloy!” cried Bruce. “Where did you find him?”

_. “No time for explanations,” said Merry, “We mus

light. out of Cimarron at once. We need another horse

_ I suppose you have a horse, Wiley?”

“Sure, sure,” said the little sailor. “I will never

monkey with New Mexican fire water again, so help me!
It’s the worst that was ever distilled. I attempted/to walk

_ off its effects last night, but when I sat down outside of

-

“Springer, with the cool night air fanning my noble brow,
em instantly drifted off to slumber-land, and there I slept
as peacefully as a newborn babe until far into the day.
_ Then, when I looked for my friends, lo, and behold! they
| were gone. But I found out whither they had departed,
and I straightway cleared for the same port. That’s how
_» T happened along just as I did. From a distance up the’
i/- trail I saw you, Mr. Merriwell, when you went into that
_. cabin. I dropped down there and followed your noble

eee
.

¥ $

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

Frank Does Some Clever Detective Work.

    

x RUA ie

 

    
  
   
  
   
 
  
  
  
   
  
    
  
   
   
    
 
  
  
   
  
 
 
  
    
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
      

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example of looking through the window. A little later I
again followed your example by shooting out the light.”

“It was a job well done!” said Frank. “TI will not forget
it, Wiley.” .

“Oh, don’t mention a little thing like that,” retorted the
sailor, ‘It’s absolutely. of no significant importance among
the colossal deeds of my munificent existence.”

* * * x * x *

Two days later, at Browning’s mine, they were talking
it over, They had escaped from Cimarron and had seen
nothing of their enemies since. On the second morning
Mulloy, who had remained in a dazed condition, seemed to
suddenly come to himself. He awoke as if from a dream.
Then they found that he could remember nothing that had
happened after meeting a stranger in Springer, who
‘seemed very friendly, and with whom he dined at the hotel,
Barney remembered drinking a cup of coffee, and after
that things gradually faded into a blank.

“Now, Merry,” said Bruce, as they sat discussing the -
matter, “I seem to be all right myself; but I am wonder-
ing what you are going to do.”

“What am I going to do?” said Frank. “That’s easily
answered. I am going on my way to Denver to-morrow.
I shall go to Springer and take the train there. I am
going on my way to carry out my plan of exposing Milton
Sukes. I will do it if I live!’

THE END.

The Next Number (406) Will Contain

FRANK MERRIWELL IN DENVER;

OR,

RPROW
Loi De NAY

ERNEST M1
The Clew of the Candle.

 

“-

The Rascal and the Scapegoat—Frank’s Dramatic Ap-.
pearance—The Proposal and Refusal—The Die
is Cast—The Missing Papers—Frank is Suspected

_ The Bit of Candle—The Triumph of Genius—The _
Imprint of the Thumb—The Mysterious Jorkins. . :
The Cabin in the Dark—The Inquest—Phantom ee
Voices—The Recovery of the Papers—“ Break That
Pledge at Your Peril!” | es

  
Ti? Lar

 

 

 
 
 
  
   

  

  
 
  
 

  

(() besa) Gas} NY AR K a
IVI NY Teale

si An.ideal Publi

 

 

 

 

LOO pts x a Whe
E forthe Aniérican You

 

 

cation i

owe ge pasties tat aal atin

NEW YORK, January 16, 1904.

 

 

TERMS TO TIP TOP WEEKLY MAIL SUBSCRIBERS,
(Posvacy Freez.) }
Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each.

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How f6 SeNb MoNnY.—By post-dffico or express money order,
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risk if seat BY curfetcy, coin, of postage stamps in ordinary
létter.

REcCEIPTsS.——Receipt of your rethittance is acknowledged by proper
charge of Humber on your label. If net correct you have not béén
properly credited, and should let us know at once.

STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY,
F 238 Wiiliam St., New York City,

 

A LONG WAIT.

It’s an awfully long wait till the next week’s issue after
Tip

Top isso intéresting that you have read it through before

you havé finished one number of Tip Top, isn’t it?

you know it, and then time hangs heavy on your hands,
especially on these winter days and long evenings, until
you can hustle around to the newsdealer again for a fresh
copy.

That need not worry you so much this week, anyway,
for if you get this week’s issue of the Brave and Bold
Weekly and read the story contained in it you will vote
that you have not spent a nickel more profitably in a month
of Sundays. :

No. 56 of the Brave-and Bold Library is out’ this week
and can be purchased from any newsdealer or from the
publishers, Street & Smith, 238 William Street, for five
cents.

It contains one of Oliver Optic’s stories. You have all
heard of Oliver Optic, the great writer for boys. Most
of you who read this have read one ot more of his stories,
and know what a splendidly interesting author he is.. The
story issued this week in the Brave and Bold Weekly

shows him in his very best vein, and that means about as
‘good a story as can be found anywhere. It is called
“The Boat Club; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton.” Don’t
‘miss it, Once you read it, you will be a friend for life

ta the Brave and Bold Weekly.

1

WEEKLY.

x

  
    

This is my first letter, but_I hope to see it in print. Have
read nearly all of the Tip Tops from No. 1 down, but don’t
rémeémber seeing atiy from my city, so thought I would try to
chime in for her in expressing her appreciation for Mr. Standish’s
stories, which dre perfection. [ am, like Big Bill, sorry that Dick
ever appéared to take the place of Frank, who was so good and
grand. I often think of the days when he was an engineer, or
when he traveled in England, and of his thrilling adventures on
this side of the pond. Jack Ready is ali right, and I wish J
could hear more of him. Barron Black has been one of my
favorites since Ditk got him off that island.

L don’t fancy the way “A, S.” paired off the girls. Inza and
Doris are my favorites, but of course Frank has Inza. I want
Dick to get Doris, Brad can have Felicia, am undecided about
June, and Chet Arlington can haye Zona Desmond if she don’t
reform.

Heping to see this in print, I am, Just FROM GEORGIA.

It’s hard to come to an agreement about the girls—almost im-
possible.

eer etisersilin

I shall again take the pleasure of writing to you. Perhaps I
ought to let scme ofte else have my space, but I simply can’t
suppress myself. I must help defend the Juneites.
is just the sweetest and best of girls, and any one who has any
common sense will say so, too. I think she was meant for Dick.
As for Doris, I can’t help but like her, too. She is a sweet girl.
Just the girl for Hal. I like Dick very much. Brut I don’t think
he can be equal to his brother. I wish all boys were like Frank;
he is my hero. But I must say a word about Dick’s friends.
Dave Flint is one of mv favorites, and so is Brad, Ted Smart and
3i¢ Bob. Betore I close |
think that F. G. M/s idea is a good one; but I hope you will not
think me too forward. I am June’s friend, and always shall be.

And now I will close, wishing success to Mr. Standish and Street 7

& Smith. I remain, a constant reader, Lizzit Koen.

40 Bona Street, Cleveland, Ohio.
Of course, Miss Lizzie, we don’t think you are forward at all.
Your letter is an interesting one.

a tee

This is my first letter to the Applause Column of Tip Top
Weekly, the best weekly ever published. Now, before I go inte
further details, I would like to say a few words to Street &
Smith, especially. I know that when you open this letter you
will think that some six-year-old is writing you, and be surprised,
indeed, when I tell you that it comes from_a girl of just sixteen
summers, and a high school girl at that. The truth is that | am
an athletic ‘girl; and a member of the Chicago Athletic Club.
While playing basket-bal!. several weeks ago, I broke my right
arm, jus
treattnent, it doesn’t want to heal up right,
able to write myself. so I just wrote this on our typewriter with
the intention of copying it, anid had just started when the old
thing broke. .

I want to write thotigh, and so will give the letter I intended to £
and tell him to copy it as best he can, |

éopy to Cousin Leonard :
as he ig only ten years old. But he ts so full of mischief that
I’m afraid he will omit some and let you think a sixteen-year-old
girl wrote this, which, when he gets through, will assuredly be
a scfibble. a .

Now I will begin the letter. Once, while in school, I saw a
boy friend of mine reading Tip Top during recess, and asked him
how he could waste golden minutes reading such trash. He told

mé it was the best weekly he had ever read, and he itsisted upon |
my reading one of them, which was No. 102, I enjoyed it very
much to my own surprise. Since then T have never missed read- 7
ing one, 1 like every character in lip Top, except Dick’s ene- }

mies, I especially detest Chet Arlington and Clint Shaw, and

do not think either of them worthy of Dick’s friendship. They
, There is one thing I cannot
why do some readers think that Dick

certainly are beyond the limit.
understand, and that is:
eat never be Frank’s equal?

-. “Of course Frank ig and: always was a wonderful boy, but Dielk
has already provéd to be his equal, though I do not see in What

/

I think June —

 

 

would like to say that I, for one, }>

above the elbow, and though I have had the best of |
So you see I am not:

 

    

 

 

 

bik Skea en isa neg ena erp a eae Gn

 

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Dick could exceed Frank. I also see in the Applause that there
is great war over the Brad question. '

I think that Brad is quite a suitable companion for Dick.

Of course, like all the rest of us, he has his faults and virtues.

 

   
  

  
 
 

 

 

   
  

 

 

 

    
 

  

ve Brad is not a hypocrite, but speaks from his heart. =
nt I will also give my opinion of the girls. I noticed in Tip Top
to } No. 395 a letter from a reader who signs herseif “Framingham
h's | Admirer.” The “Admirer” takes the liberty to criticise the
ick readers about the June versus Doris question.
nd I do not see how anybody can read Tip Top and not become
or enthusiastic over its girl characters. I, for one, certainly am. I
on | do not say, however, and I presume I can include many others,
cs ; that Dick shall marry any of the girls. As to his marrying soon,
my 4 that idea is simply absurd, and it is quite likely that he will never
marry any of our present girls. But can he not have a sweet-
ind heart without it being said that he must marry her?
ant I was an Inza admirer, and am glad that she is Frank’s fiancée.
out _ But now I am a captive to the charms of the only girl, our queen
mt | June. No matter how many new rivals come in, she is the only
sweetheart for Dick. June is a great deal like Inza; her bravery,
is self-sacrifice and other virtues strongly resemble those of Inza.
ee Doris is, I think, the girl for Hal alone, and will never be any-
' thing more than friend to Dick. Well, I declare! Here I find
- myself having written nine pages. I'll have to stop right here.
' I might have gone on and on had not Cousin Len reminded me
sl | of the fact that he must go home. Oh, dear! I’m afraid S. & S.
in’t _ will not print this, as it 1s so long. Begging you to excuse mis-
une - takes this letter will contain after Len-has copied it, I will bring
any | this left-handed scribble to a finish. Wishing lIdng life to Mr.
ick. | Standish, Street & Smith and Tip Top Weekly, I remain, yours
irl. J sincerely, Datsy Louise H.
ink Chicago, Il.
ne +» Miss Daisy Louise, we are at a loss as to how to thank you
and Rt for your letter. We appreciate it all the more when we. know
ne) wee the trouble it cost you to write it, and we hope that when you
not | write again. your arm will have healed entirely. As for your
ma cousin, he is a very obliging boy, and writes well for his age.
‘. ies,
: I have long been wishing for an opportunity to write an ap-
all. plause of Tip Top. king of weeklies. I admire all the Tip Top
‘characters, and my special favorite among the girls is June. I
think June, the Brave, loyal girl, is the proper match for our hero,
| Dick. I think Hal Darrel will marry Doris, I like Elsie and
Ton Fu? Felicia, but 1 can’t say the same of Zona. Among the boys, I
into | like Brad and Ted. Dave is a brave boy, and I am sure he will
t & | conquer his enemy, Barron Black. As for Chester Arlington, I
vou think he is mean and sly, and Dick did him a great favor when he
sed, f Tet him re-enter Fardale. Good luck to Burt L. and Street &
teen | Smith, Wishing to see this in print soon, I remain, a true June
am |. admirer, Craupia RUSSEL.
‘lub, | Massachusetts.
ight |} \ Thanks, Miss Claudia; write again.
COs Rpt ’ ;
ee |» . Being a.constant reader of Tip Top, I will take the liberty of
~ |, giving my opinion of several of its characters. Barron Black is
dtc Peay favorite, as I consider him an ideal boy. With the exception
can: ae of Dick, I think he can whip any boy in the school. Perhaps
that | Some one will speak of the fight behind the fence, but this didn’t
-old | any more decide who was the better man than a fight between
y be ) two longshoremen would decide the pugilistic championship of
a the world. I acknowledge Barron got an awful fall. I would
wy’ a Meet have thought it possible for any one to give Black such an
hin ee awful drubbing, but stich things are liable to happen to any one,
oid | 00 matter whom,
= After knowing all the particulars, IT don’t see how any one can
ary believe that Buckhart is a better man than Black. Now, Barron
cad. | 18.2 plebe and Brad an oldtimer. Black had been bullyragged,
bie eed uyed and hazed BU sceery one, and he realized that he had no
and | ends, because Arlington, Marsh and Shaw had showed. that
the | they had no real friendship for him by their conduct on the
ra a ) night of the “duel.” The. men behind Buckhart were true as
Nick 4. Steel, and, what is more, Brad knew it. The last-named young
ms | man had not engaged in any bouts for some time, and was in
Dick ‘SPlendid form, while Black had bested ten meh in the three pre-
a ceding nights and was black and blue from head to foot. i

What -

  

   

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

, admit it.

‘and his friends ever appeared and took Frank’s place.

He is

  

   

27

the only Barron Black, is game to the core, and will fight the
string out if it takes the hide off. I think he will whip the blus-
tering bully if they ever come together again.

Some way or other I have a dislike for Dave Flint, yet I have
no particular reason for feeling as I do. But if Flint and Black
ever mix up, what will happen to the scar-faced lad will be a
plenty.

As to the girls, they don’t interest me and never did, but I
think Dick will get June and after a while (Oh, my! How
long?) Black will marry Doris, but Dick, Bart, ete, will settle
that in due time.

With best wishes for the two B’s—+. e., Burt and Barron—T
remain, yours very truly, More ANON,

Mississippi.

Your defense of Barron Black is very convincing.

 

It has been truly stated that a man is what his surroundings
make him. No-one, born in company of crime and brought up
in its atmosphere, can, unless he be powerful of mind and honest
by instinct, become a gentleman; neither can one whose home life
is not congenial.

The fact is only too well known, and is proved by the criminal
records of every city.

Chester Arlington, son of a rich man and an indulgent mother, ,
grew up to disregard the virtues and nobility of those whose
pecuniary lot in life contrasted with his. He never paused to
consider that in this supposed-to-be civilized age money does not
make the man, though persons in similar circumstances do not
Money was the king to whom Chester did homage, in
which he was seconded by his parents.

Believing in the superiority, then, which money gave him, is it
strange that he was domineering? When his plans for. making
himself leader in Fardale had failed, and when his hate of Dick
Merriwell had become undying, is it strange that in his efforts to
fully win success, he fell in with desperadoes who further de-
generated his character? And why all this? The answer is
simple. Had Chester had a different mother, he undoubtedly
would have become a prominent man, even though his qualities
were all not worthy of praise. Had he, I say, the guiding hand
of a less fond mother, he would not have become so deeply sunk
in the depths of villainy. Grorcke N. PALMER.

Brooklyn,

Your analysis of Chester’s character shows deep thought and
careful reasoning.

 

I have just finished No. 397 of your famous weekly, and, hav-
ing read Tip Top for over a year, I think I am capable of ex-
pressing my high esteem for this excellent weekly. I have read
many of the ather weeklies, but can assure you that Tip Top puts
them all in the shade, look at them from whatever standpoint you
may—in regard to excellency.

In No. 397 I saw a letter from F. G. M., which expresses. my
thoughts to the letter, and I will say that it would be a very good
idea to have a Correspondence Club, according to my way of
thinking. Then, there is another from “A June Defender,”
which certainly takes the cake. I would be pleased to hear from
some of the Juneites, and a letter addressed to P. O. box 467 will
reach me, A CALIForNIA JUNEITE,

Sacramento, Cal.

Lots of people seem to want to form this club. Good luck to it.

 

I am a Texas gitl, and as we had the yellow fever here and
YT osee no letter from the Alamo City, I decided to write a few
lines for your column, I was afraid the readers might think we
have all gone to the happy hunting ground.

I think the Tip Top is the best weekly published, and I like
Dick and Darrel and all the rest of them; of the girls, June and
Felicia are my favorites, Pi :

I feel the same as Big Bill in No. 387, where he is sorry Dick
I sympa-
thize with him. I thought the world of Frank and his friends,
especially Bart.. He is my favorite. It may seem foolish, but

when T meet a handsome, manly young man, I imagine he must
look something like Frank; but usually I come to the conclusion
that none of them are half as good and manly as he is. I wonder

   
 

  

2
20

ced Inza ada Bart and Elsie are going to\be mar-
ried. I thought it was to be a year from their engagement, which
must be about due We hope to hear of Frank ‘atid his flock
very soon. I think Chester should be put in the reformatory; it
might do him good. On the other hand, it might make him
worse, as he is so proud and headstrong, and he would imagine
himself mistreated and probably escape and become a regular
scamp.

I think at Ww ould be very nice to form a Correspondence Club,
as F. G. in No. 387 suggests. F. G. M. must admire a poetic
nature. irs a pity that I cannot write even a stanza. Hoping
to see this in print, sending my best wishes to everybody, which
might mean a-fat turkey on Christmas, I am, A Texas Ber.

when Frank

We hope you have enjoyed your turkey, and are glad that the
yellow fever hasn’t touched you. ;

Have just completed Tip Top, No. 397, and it seems to me that
Tip Top is becoming a history af keinoten’s gang of cut-
throats. Dear editor, let us have a little more of Merriwell,
especially of dear old Frank. Let us hear of Darrell a little
more, and of June. Ah! I have said it. Let us hear and see
June often. She is a sweet girl; a good, kind-hearted girl, who
loves her brother for all cussedness, who has an old hag for
a mother. Mrs. A. isa jeze profligate. But June-—why,
she is ‘a vision of loveliness; il, so fair, that I say, “Thou
art not of earth, but of angelic race.”

eet

1 his

   

She is as much superior to that little, giddy, young flirt, Zona,
as noble Frank is to Chester, of whom Portia’s “God madeé hin
therefore let him pass for man,” might well be said. Back to

the woods with Zona and the others! Down to the foatlights
with June! If ever a girl had enough to take all the virtue out
of her June certainly has. With that measly old Lady Macbeth
for a mother, and that sweet little brother, it is Surprising that
she is alive at all. Up, up, ye Juneites, and join in the mighty
chorus: “What’s the matter with June ?” and then hear the
answer echoed back:

“She's all right; well, I should smile!
She’s been all right for a —— of a while!”
so, with best wishes for

Alas, kind friends, it is time to part,

all, I remain, sincerely yours, “NEBRASKA.”
Auburn, Neb. ’
We have met with June enthusiasts before, but you lead the
list. Nebraska may go to the head of the class of “June Ad-
mirers.”

I have been reading Tip Top for six years, and think there is
no other weekly lile it. Dick, Black, Darrel at June are my
favorites. .I think ! any chara cer in Tip Top was left out it
would spoil the stor

I heartily agree vith F. G. M. in No. 397 in his plan to arrange
the Tip Top readers into a Correspondence Club, and. would like
to hear: from athers on that point

I would like to know what back numbers ‘are not in print.

Respectfully, B. E.R.
Woodsfield, Ohio.
We print the addresses of those wishing to correspond.
agree with you about the characters in Tip Top, and thank
for yotir praise. -

We
you

 

As. 1 do not see any applause from my at I will represent
it by sending in my letter of praise and applause.

I have been a constant reader of Tip Bop ever. since Dick
Merriwell came to the front in Tip Top, afid 1 aim well pleased
. with him and his friends.

Here is a word about the girls—for I like them myself, I
think June Arlington is the girl for Dick, and Doris tor Hal
Darrell, and Zona for Chester Pt ington, and Felicia for Earl
Gardner, and Brad Buckhart will have to look for another girl,
‘as Zona has turned him down for Chester Arlington. ;

I like the work of Dave Flint and Earl Gardner. I am stuck
on him; I hope to. hear a great deal about them this year, and
also, Qbed . Tubbs, Billy Bradley and Ted Smart; they are all
right. Chester Arlington is 2 smart boy and a good athlete, and
I would like him :, he would quit smoking, gambling and drink-

\

Linck wae oo

~

4 ‘YY
¥ ELUIAS

ing, and I hope he will be a true friend to Dick , like Bart Hodge
was to Frank. I will close, hoping to see thf s in print, as it is
the first I have ever wrote. I remain, a constant reader of ' Pip
Top Weekly. Three cheers for Burt Standish, and Dick Mert ri-

well, too. Yours respectfully, Harry WHITLOCK.
R. F. D. No. 5, New Town, Texarkana, Texas.
You seem pretty well acquainted with the characters. They

amed for its bright boys

I wish to add another applause of your grand weekly, Tip Top.
Although I am a mother of a_boy of 14 years, I enjoy reading
Tip Top as much as he does. I think all the characters are good
and well brought out, to show boys and girls ri¢ht from wrong.
Dick Merriwell is all a true American boy should be, and could

say Texarkana 1s f

be if they tried ; while Chester Arlington shows all the bad
things a boy should shun. Now,/I hope my letter will not be
dull for the younger readers, for, I assure you, I always read ail

wishes to

Mor#er,

with good

A

ur letters with interest. .I will close,

3
SHtt bi Stand dish and his excel lent weekly,
ee Neb.

We appreciate in the highest angi the compliments con-
tained in this letter, and we shall try to keep on with the good
work Tip Top has started.

I have been reading Tip Top Weekly for a long while. I
started with No. 274, and have’ been reading them along until
the present number.

[ see in No, 378 where Mr. I. M. Kicking was upholding
— Arlin, gton and downing vood friend Brad.

 

tand for hearing him
1 true frien d of Di ck.
it to be kicked into
longer,

  

good friend of Brad, and cannot
He has proved himself a ¢
M. Kicking is hot air,

Te cannot uphold Che

“ood a
cl

ana

dewr ne éd. }
Mr. ]
eternity. I
he will see
In 392 I see Mr.
league called “Buck

z. Ouy

 

ster Ali for
his mistake,

Greenas Grass said he would like to form’a
hart Defenders.” I am with him, and would
b he mentio ned,

like to hear from him and the boys he ;
Besides Dick and Frank, I like Brad, Dave Smart, Jolliby,
Scudder, Obed, Big Bob, Earl, Hal, Tubbs, Hod ige, Bradley; and

i
and Fe

   

 

 

ainong the girls, Elsie, June, Doris lies
Away down deep in my heart 1s a warm ae for Dave Flint,
as he kept his mother’s promise wond lerfully .under all cireum-

stances; and I hope he will be cas of his class for years to
come. I wets like to hear more about little Bill.
How is little Bill?

Excuse me yee this long letter, but hoping to see it in print, I

remain, a long, true friend of Brad's and the rest of the boys.
I hope Mr. Burt L. Standish will live to contin intie his good work

Thre 2¢e cheers for &
loyal forever, V
Feltonville, P

to come. & S. and Tip Top
ER t PARKER.

I
hiladelphia, Pa

for many
and its admirers. I remain,
115 East Wyoming Avenue,

Little Bill is all 10. K.

We give ne full address so Mr.

This is not the first time I have taken the liberty. to write to
the * ‘King of W cek lies.” Words cannot describe the value of Tip
Top, and as I have written before on that subject, 1 will not
linger on that point. On seeing that the Juneites seem to have
taken possession of the Applause Column, I write, to help rally
our brave defenders of Doris.

There 1s oné who has tried and has not failed—it is one who
lf “The Leader of the Dorisites,’
It is in No. 374 of this

years

   

Grass can write you.

     

signs him S@i

Sao Ins letter, those, who have not,
weekly. u

From the Harg f of his letter, I presume he would make a first-
class leader for the Dorisites. Dear friends, those whose sy m-
pathy li¢s with fair, golden-haired, blue-eyed Doris, come, write
it to the Applause e Celuran. I must close and also apologize for
the length of this letter. Good fuck and long life to Messrs,
Street & Smith, Mr. Burt L. Standish, Dick, Frank, Brad, Flint,
Hal, Obed and all the rest of the boys, and
golden-haired, blue-eyed Doris, the only girt to be thought of for
a ne Dick Merriwell. Past, present and future a Dorisite,

Columbia, S. C. JAs. W., Morris.

You are certainly an a ident champion of Doris, and there is
no question but that she is a charming girl.

beautiful, pure, sweet,

 

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT,

NEXT WEEK an announcement will be made of the
PRIZE WINNERS Of the GREAT FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT held
this fall under the auspices of Tip Top, which is now
drawing to a close.

THE NEXT WEEK AFTER THAT, in No. 407, Prof. Four-
men, the well-known athlete and gymnastic expert and the
physical culture editor of the Tip Top Weekly, will com-
metice a series of short articles on muscle building and
general physical training. This. series of lectures will sup-
plement his answers to queries in regard to physical de-
velopment. It will contain.many new and valuable dis-
coveries of the secrets of muscle building. They will
show the weakling how he can become strong. If you
lack muscle or nerve, if you are too light and small and
wish to build up a substantial frame, if you are tod heavy
and clumsy and wish to train down to fighting trim, read

these articles. By following some of Prof. Fourmien’s
hints you may accomplish more in a month than you
would in a year by ordinary gymnasium methods.

 

R. M. C., Hannibal, Mo.: In a few numbers we will print a
series of articles on physica) culture which will answer your
question.

 

Pror. Fourmen: Seeing your valuable advice each week in
he Tip Top, I take the liberty to ask a question,

Since last spring 1 have been bothered by a peculiar pain in my
back. It only exists down near the hip cn the right side. and

, comes only when runn‘ng or exercising. When running fast my

right leg does not move freely or easily, and causes a dull pain
in my back. Would, you please tell ime what this is, and how I
-am to get rid of it? Thanking you for any courtesy you may
. § j SG
extend, 1 remain, yours truly, on'G,
We advise you to consult a doctor. You are probably suffering
from a strain, which may become serious if neglected.

 

'

Pror, FUurMEN: ' Having been a reader of Tip Top for two
years, I take the liberty of as<ing you a few questions. 1 have
been in training for a year and a half, thanks to Tip Top, and
the following are my measurements: Right arm, biceps, 10

| sinches; forearm, 912 inches; left arm, biceps, 934 inches; fore-
arm, 94 inches; neck, 14 inches; chest, uninflated, 30 inches;
- > Pa ; 4

/

 
  

 

 

 

  

inflated, 35 inches; waist, 2914 inches; right calf, 13 inches;
calf, 13 inches; wrists, 6 inches.

I can jump 8 feet 614 inches in standing broad jump, 13 fee:
4 inches in running broad jump, 4 feet 1 inch in running high
jump, 2 feet 8 inches in standing hich jump. I can put a five-
pound shot 31 fee: 6% inches. I am 13 years old, and weigh
105 pounds; height, 5 feet 3% inches. 1. Am I too heavy for my
age and size? 2. How ate my records for my age and size? 3.
How long should I exercise? Piease answer as soon as possible
and oblige, ; W. R. MILLER.
Corning, N. Y.

1. You are in splendid proportion.
2. First rate.
3. About half an hour a day besides outdoor games.

 

Pror. Fourmen: I am 13 years old, weigh 105% pounds, § feet
3 inches high; neck, 1234 inches; biceps, 11 inches; wrist, 7%
inches; thigh, 1814 inches; knee, 14 inches; waist, 29 inches;
chest, normal, 30 inches; chest, expanded, 33 inches; calf, 13%
inches.

1. How are my mezsurements?

2. What weight dumb-bells should I use?

3. What weight Incian clubs should I use?

© B. Leporirz.
Your development is good for a boy of your age.

Use one-pound bells and clubs.

Pror. FourweN: I have read your Tip Top for some time,
but it is not sold in this town any more. This being the first time
J have writtcn to you, | wish to ask you a few questions. I am
17 years 1 month old, 5 feet 7 inches high and weigh 135 pounds.
My measurements are: Neck, 14 inches; chest, normal, 30 inches;
chest, expanded, 3344 inches; waist, 34 inches; right arm, 11
inches; left arm, 11 inches. 1. How is my weight, according te
my height? Is it good?

2. How are my measurements?

3. How can | build up my muscles?

Thanking you in advance, yours truly,

Box 46, Chesterton, Porter County, Ind.

HERMAN KatTH.

1. You are about ten pounds underweight.

2. Fair.

3. Use five-pound. dumb-bells.
appear on muscte building.

A series of articles will shortly

 

Prov, FourMEN: As a reader ef Tip Top Weekly, I take th
hberty to ask you some questions which, if you will answer, wi
obiigeyme greatly. [I am working to become an athlete.

1. How high and what weight should a boy of 15 be?

2. How much training should I take a day? ¢

3. | have Indian clubs, punching-bag, bars, boxing-gloves.
Will these develop me, and what size dumb-bells should I use?
4. 1 am round-shouldered. How can I cure this? My back

curves in a lot at-the base.
remedy it?

Does this hurt any; if so, how can I

  
 

  

TIP TOP

39

5. How can I make my neck larger? When IL exercise the’

bones ‘of my shoulders crack together. How can I cure this?
My arms are covered with hair, yet I am only 15. Please

state how I can get this. off. Hoping you will excuse such a

long Jetter, and thanking you in advance, I remain, yours truly,

Connellsville,’ Pa. R, A. Wooparr.

1. The average fifteen-year-old weighs about a hundred pounds,
and is 5 feet 3 inches; but there is no standard. Some boys do
most of their growing before they are fifteen, some later on.

2. Half an hour.

.3. Your apparatus is all you need. Use two-pound bells for a
month or two, then use three-pound bells. .

4. Use a chest machine, taking exercise facing it. Don’t worry
about the curve. Every well-built man curves in at the small of
the back.

5. Wrestling will give you a thicker ‘heck. In fact, it is the
only exercise sure to do this. The cracking you complain of will
go away when you grow older. :

6. Let it alone. You can’t get it- off.
sign of strength.

It is supposed to be a

Pelainey tia

Pror. FourMEN: My measurements are: Age, 14 years 8
months; height, 5 feet 8 inches; weight, 145 pounds. I do not
know why. it is that I grow so fast. As for my weight, it is not
flesh. I am tall and very slim; my legs are all bones. Would
you tell me what would be good exercise to develop myself, and
are dumb-bells good to make the shoulders large? Also, is run-
ning good for the wind, and how far do you think I should run
for the first? _Hoping you will answer this without delay, I will
close. I am. yours respectfully, I. Mrtier.
Chicago, Ill.

Grow just as much as you can, and exercise with light wooden
dumb-bells. .Begir with a quarter-mile run at a slow trot.

 

Pror. Fourmen: Kindly inform me through your Question
Department in Tip Top how my measurements below correspond
to my age, weight and height: Age, 17 years 7 months; weight,
142 pounds, stripped; height, 5 feet 7 inches; chest, contracted,
3412 inches; chest, normal, 36 inches; chest, expanded, 38%
inches; waist, 29 inches; forearm, 1244 inches; across shoulders,
22 inches: biceps, 13 inches; wrist, 674 inches; thighs, 22%
inches; calf, 15% inches. Thanking you in advance, I remain,
yours respectfully, Wie ahe tre,

New York City.

You are very well built. You must have made a mistake about
the breadth of your shoulders. Twenty-two inches is remarkable
for a very large man.

Pror. Fourmen: I am 18 years of age; weight, 126 pounds;
height, 5 feet 5 inches; neck, 14 inches; waist, 30 inches; chest,
32% inches. I have good shoulders. i

1. How are my measurements? I use five-pound dumb-bells,
_ IT have weak wrists. 2. How can I remedy them? 3. Will coffee

hurt me? Thanking you in advance for the answer, I remain,
Alabama. A Constant READER.

1. First rate.

2. Use Whitely wrist machine, and practice bending the wrist
‘backward and forward while holding the dumb-bells.

3: Coffee is good for no one and harmful to many. Better

drop it.

 

_ Pror. Fourmen: As J have read the Tip Top Weekly about
four years, I take the liberty to ask a few questions. I am 18
years 10 months old, weigh 100’ pounds, am 5 feet 2 inches tall.
1, I think I ought to weigh more. 2. I would like to know what

isthe best food for me to eat to gain weight. 3. I work in the
day, and I would like to know which is the best time to exercise

—in the morning or in the evening; if both, how.long? 4. What
weight dumb-bells would you advise me to use? 5. What time

the night? 6, How long should I exercise with

,

the dumb-bells?

 

 

X,

ought Ito rise in the,morning, and what time ought I retire in”

 

-§ It might,

 

WEEKLY.

As this is my first letter, IT wish you would excuse it being so
long. “Hoping to. see this in print in the next number, I- remain,
* Eo 8,
1. You ought to be about fifteen pounds heavier.
2, Eat a mixed diet of meat, cereals and vegétables. Eat plenty
of soup and stew. Drink all the water and milk you want.
3. Exercise fifteen minutes in the morning and twenty minutes
or so in the evening.
Use three-pound dumb-bells.
Get up at six. Go to bed at half-past nine.

r

4.
5.
6. Fifteen or twenty minutes.

Pror. FourMEN: I have been reading Tip Top for a long
time, and I will be pleased if you answer for me a few
questions. Here are my measurements: Calf of right leg, 314
inches; forearm, 9% inches; upper arm, 11 inches; chest, 33
inches; expanded, 36 inches; neck, 14 inches; age, 16 years;
weight, 125 pounds. ;
How are my measurements?
How do they compare?
What would you advise for wind?
Yours truly,

 
 

ara
Wil

    

u
ei
3-
A FRrenp.
Carthage, Mo.

1. You are fairly well built.
2. You are a trifle above average.
3. Take long, slow runs once or twice a week,

Pror. Fourmen: I ama steady reader of the king of weeklies,

 

the Tip Top. I wish to ask a few questions. My age is 14 years
and § months; weight, 133 pounds; chest, normal, 33 inches;
chest, expanded, 3612 inches; wrist, 634 inches; biceps, 12 inches.

Do you think these measurements are good? What is best exer-

cise to build iungs and chest muscles and shoulders? 2. And I

am pretty strong, but I ain’t got no muscles at all. Yours truly,
68 North Clark Street, Chicago, Ill. ALFRED H. Garvo.
Measurements good.

Use chest weights and deep-breathing exercises.

Pror. Fourmrn: I take the liberty to ask you a few questions.
Iam 17 years old; height, 5 feet 1 inch; weight; 96 pounds. I am
not very strong, but have fine health. I should like to be much
stronger, heavier and taller. Can you advise some plan for such?
I never drink, but once in a while I smoke; but lately I have
given it up. Thanking you for such advice, 1 am, yours respect-
tully, Ba Sick

Providence, R. I.

Give up smoking. Commence with three-pound dumb-belis,
and exercise for fifteen minutes every. morning. |

At the end of a month increase the weight of the dumb-bells
to five pounds. .

Take plenty of outdoor exercise and eat and sleep regularly. |

 

Pror. FourMEN: Being a constant reader of Tip Top, I would
like to ask a few questions, J am 15 years and 4 months old, 5
feet 314 inches in height, 125 pounds in weight; neck, 13% inches;
right bicep, r inches; left bicep, 10/2 inches; chest, normal, 3114
inches; chest, expanded, 33% inches; right thigh, 20 inches; left
thigh, 1914 inches. oe ,

1. Am I not a little heavy for my age? Ae ?

2. When [ exert myself very much I sweat profusely. Is that.
right? ay i

Py I have a weak ankle. What can I do to make ‘it stronger?
I wear an ankle supporter. a

4. What can I do to increase my speed in running?

5. Would a decrease of weight improve my speed?
ue Yours truly, M. M. H.
2 No. pr: ; Paige
2. Pfofuse perspiration will do you no harm
g and 4. Practice running daily. .

.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

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FIVE D FIFTY Fr ?
TIP TOP CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL PENNANT |

 

 

GQFOE=Q HESE are the prizes in the Annual All-American Football Contest. This
t T contest is conducted by the TIP TOP WEEKLY to decide the

AMATEUR CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICA.

 

asl, The winning team gets the Tip Top All Silk Championship Pennant.
Five Hundred and Fifty Regulation Footballs will be given away. One

to each member of the fifty teams making the best showing.

LINE UP NOW! THE FOOTBALL SEASON HAS

 

ae ae iN CURE Re SEVIER Seren (AG aula DASE TET RET DL B) Mn MARS n Coan a es es RA NSE Ran Ea a BET

: i ; Don’t let this splendid opportunity slip through par en ¢ t in tri
Now § Your Time, Nanagers! is splen your lingers et your team in trim

 

 

   

at once and get in your coupons for every game during the season

camer eects Those teams having the best scores at the close of the season will be declared the
winners he team having the best record will be declared THE TIP TOP CHAM-

PIONSHIP TEAM OF 1903, and in addition to regular prize will receive an—ALL SILK PENNANT—-bearing the legend which

announces—Their Championship All Official Scores will be published in TIP TOP WEEKLY. The contest will be decided on thé scores

published in TIP TOP Don’t miss a single game! A coupon for every game!

eee Site SRT TATE RST ATTN TS OS AOR TTR RTT BR ICI SPT ET TR ESTE DIE PRETO REETE || RECT TET

R d Th Dir ti For Making Out Score Coupons: The manager of each compating team after every game
ied ese. DITeC 1088 should write the names of his players in the left-hand column of coupyn in such a manner that the
position of the respective players,are indicated by the lettars in the middle column He should
then write the names of his o;ponent’s team in the right-hand column. _ In case score coupons of

 

 

 

 

 

 

more than one game are to be sent in at the samo time, only the coupon of the first game should have the nayes of the manager's team.
In the left-hand column of the remaining coupons, the manager should write “Regular Team” Bo sure ty give the name, town and
tate of both teams.

 

a al a |
SCORE COUPON FOR Tip TOP FOOTBALL CONTEST,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dae eae a
 

TIP TOP WEEKLY

THE IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH

LATEST ISSUES:
383. Dick Merriwell Surprised; or, Cap’n Wiley’s Wind Jammers. 4
384. Frank Mertiwell’s Quick Move; or, Cooling Off Cap’n Wiley. t
385. Dick Merriwell’s Red Friend; or, Old Joe Crowfoot to the Front.
386. Frank Merriwell’s Nomads; or, Cap’n Wiley’s Clever Work.
387. Dick Merriwell’s Distrust; or, Meeting the Masked Champions.
388. Frank Mertiwell’s Grand Fini:hy or, The Indenendent Champions of America

 

YOUNG BROADBRIM WEERLY

THE ADVENTURES OF A STURDY BOY DETECTIVE

LATEST ISSUES:
52. ‘Young Broadbrim, the Boy Detective; or, The Old Quaker’s Faithful Ally.
53. Young Broadbrim in Kansas City; or, What Was Found in the Flood,
54. Young Broadbrim on an Aerial Trail; or, The Terrible Ordeal of Fire.
55. Young Broadbrim and Company; or, Solving the Mysteries of Rockwood.
56. Young Broadbrim Triumphant; or, The Girl Cracksman.
57. Young Broadbrim Fighting an Unknown Power; or, A Scientific Murderer.

 

BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY

A DIFFERENT COMPLETE STORY EVERY WEEK

LATEST ISSUES:

| 33. Upright and Honest; or, Harry Hale’s Struggle to Success, ™ "ery, imi
34, Two Young Inventors; or, The Treasure of Three Pine Mountain. py rennet:
35. The Life of the School; or, Out for Fun and Fortune. «picyar hae et eine»
36. Tom Hamlin, Mesmerist; or, The Boy With the Iron Will. ny mate roysi
37. The Puzzle of Panther’s Runs ot, Leon Gale’s Triumph. ay rant Fare
38. A Girl Crusoe; or, The Wonder of the Isle of Gnomes. py cornettus shes

 

BUFFALO BILL WEEKLY

FASCINATING TALES OF WESTERN ADVENTURE

LATEST ISSUES:

120. Buffalo Bill's Discovery ; or, The Mystery of the Gold Treasure.

121. Buffalo Bill’s Clean-Up; ot, Routing the Rascals of Yellow Dust City.
$22. Buftalo Bil’s Pards of the Plains; or, The Dead Shot Four. .
123. Buffalo Bill’s Helping Hand; or, The Secret of Kid Glove Kate.

124. Buffalo Bill’s Boy Pard; or, Captain Hyena and His Red Angels,

125. Buffalo Bill’s Sacrifices or, Waneta, the Indian Queen.

 

 

 

NICK CARTER WEERLY

THE GREATEST DETECTIVE STORIES EVER WRITTEN

LATEST ISSUES:

346. Nick Carter On and Off the Scent; or, The Mysterious Tragedy at
Herald Square.

347. Wick Carter on a Parisian Trails or; The Death Trap of the “Silencers.”

348. Nick Carter’s Battle Against Odds; or; The Mystery of the Detroit
Pawnbroker. .

349, Wick Carter on His Metals or, The Trapping of Cool Kate.

350. Nick Carter’s Life Chase; or, The Shot From Ambush,

353. Nick Carter’s Chain of Guilt; or, The Robbery of Express No. 5.

 

 

 

or a Ma et il rte
 

 
ADVENTURES IN THE WILD WEST

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES:

32 Large Sized Pages 45 Handsome Colored
Clear Type C % Covers

 

 

Buffalo Bill is one of the brave men who undertook to punish the Indians of our
western states for their misdeeds. His adventures are related in a most interesting
manner. Each one teems with life and excitement. Every boy wants to know about the
habits of the Indian and this library gives him the opportunity.

 

 

LATEST ‘TYTLES

123—Buffalo Bill’s Helping Hand;

or, The Secret of Kid Glove Kate.
124—Buffalo Bill’s Boy Pard;

or, Cap’n Hyena and His Red Angels.
125—Buffalo Bill’s Sacrifice;

or, Waneta, the Indian Queen.
126—Buffalo Bill’s Red Trail;

or, The Unmasking of Cap’n Hyena.
127—Buffalo Bill’s Death Deal;

or, The Wandering Jew of the West.
128—Buffalo Bill’s Double; or, The False Guide.
129—Buffalo Bill at Advance City;

or, The Wolves of the Mountains.
130—Buffalo Bill and the Black Trailers;

or, White Coyote the Renegade Chief.
131—Buffalo Bill’s Dead Shot Dragoon;

or, The Man Killer of Perdition City.
132—Buffalo Bill’s Trump Card;

or, The Indian Heiress.

 

 

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price, 5c., by the publishers

STREET © SMITH, 238 William St., New York