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‘Issued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Avenue,
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1q07, tn the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D.

; XN. ¥.

 

 

No. 593.

Dick Merriwell's Mastery;

OR,

THE WOLVES OF WOLFWOODS.

By BURT L. STANDISH.

CHAPTER ‘I.
THE WEATHER-MAKERS,

Qn a high grassy knoll well out toward Pine Point
Tommy Tucker was standing on his head, carefully

balancing himself with his hands upon the ground.

At his side knelt Obediah Tubbs, with arms extended
toward the eastern sky and eyes tightly closed.

Tommy was muttering some sort of gibberish, while |

the fat youth groaned dismally at intetvals.
Brad Buckhart halted and seized Dick Merriwell’s

PIT

“What sort of bug house business is this, partner ?”’
elaring at the lads, who seemed uncon-
g 4

presence. “What is Tucker trying

he growled,
scious , of \their
to do?”
| “I fancy he is trying to let his brains run down
into his head,” laughed Dick.

At this moment Tommy nearly lost his ‘balance, but
succeeded in saving himself, after which he thrust one

leg straight up into the air and wiggled his foot with

   

NEW YORK, August 24, 1907.

 

Price Five Cents; *

 

a jerking movement. At the same time he said some-
thing which sounded like, “Numbo, sumbo, kumbo,”’
and Tubbs, groaning still more digmally, beat his
breast with his. clenched fists and wailed, “‘Dubo,
sumbo, kumbo.”’

“Waugh!” snorted Buckhart. “I’m going to kick
those two lunatics plumb into the ocean.” —

But when he strode forward as if to carry out this
threat Tucker hastily dropped upon hands and knees
and recovered an upright position, while Tubbs lost
no time in getting on his feet and assuming the de-.

_ fensive. | tog

\

“How dare you interrupt our
snapped, Tommy. |

“Yes, how dare ye?” squealed Obediah. “Dern your —
picter, I'll pore you spiled it! Tl bate it'll rain or —
snow now.’

“What the dickens were you lunatics doing?” asked”
Dick laughingly.

“Wie were appealing to the glorious god of day to
appear and disperse these threatening clouds,” an-

incantations?”
  
   
    
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
    
  
  
    
   
    
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  

   

swered Tommy. “We were beseeching him to get
_% busy and do some shining, Two days of foggy and
threatening weather are enough in concussion.”
“Always thought you were an idiot, Tucker,” said
Buckhart; “but I have known Obey to have spasms of
almost sense.”
“In behalf of Mr. Tubbs I thank you,” bowed
Tommy. “Mr. Tubbs requests me to say that he’s
~ sorry he can’t return the compliment.”
“Why are you chaps so terribly anxious for good
weather to-day?” asked Dick, as he sat down on a
stone.
“Why, is not this the day when the Wolves are
_coming forth from yonder wilderness to descend upon
the city of Smoketown?” cried Tommy. “Is this not
the appointed date when Chester Arlington has prom-
ised to lead his howling cohorts from Wolfwoods to
besiege the metropolis which lies hidden beneath the
distant pall of smoke hovering, down the coast?”

33 “Why, sure,” nodded Buckhart. “I’d plumb for-
ot about'that. This is the day Chet set as the occa
sion on which he would present his great baseball-
team for our inspection. I reckon, however, that the
_ Smoketowners will look for him in vain.’
“What makes ye think that?” asked Tubbs quickly.
_ “Why, where can Arlington raise enough ball-
players to make up a team? That was alla bluff. He
- was sore becatise he couldn’t run things here at Pine
Point. He was hot under the collar because he found
Dick master here. He’s an onery varmint. I’ve al-
ways said so, and I stick to it. I admit I was begin-
ning to think it possible I’d made a mistake.
mit I was beginning to hope he’d really reformed, but
that galoot can’t reform. It isn’t in him. Not on your
-life! He hasn’t character and stamina enough to keep
straight unless some one holds the check-rein on him
constantly. Frank Merriwell came as near reform-
ing him as. any one ever did or ever can, but you see
how much it amounted to. Just as soon as he got
away from Frank and faced temptation he began to go
to the bad once more. Even you, partner, are begin-
ning to realize that Arlington is a bad one. You've
rot to admit it.” |

_ Dick looked grave, knitting 1 his ‘esi and ep agi
Shaking his head.

“Tt doesn’t seem to me that ‘Arlington is as vicious
as he was at one time,” he said. “It’s true he’s again
‘succumbed to his old weaknesses, but I don’t believe
he would maliciously try to injure anybody. The
pon with him is that he’s determined to have his

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Bigs | aiP TOP WEEKLY.

ll ad-

e

He’s not wholly conquered his old jealous

and it was jealousy that started him
wrong again. He wished more favors and attentions
than any one else here at Pine Point. When he failed
to get them he sulked and went away by himself.
Getting into Smoketown alone was a bad thing for
him in one of his sulky spells, for he took to drinking
again.’’

“Dern his picter!’’ squeaked Obediah, “he oughter
see that booze is bad medicine for him. It certainly
come mighty near finishing him the Sunday he hit it
up with hard cider over to Wolfwoods.”

“It was very fortunate,” said Dick, “that Arlington
and every one in his machine was not killed when the

restraint.
disposition,

automobile plunged into Rough River.”

“Waugh!” exploded Buckhart. ‘That old bubble
certain has stood some rackets. Nobody expected
there’d be much left of her after that dive into the
river, but they fished her out and fixed her up, and the
last we knew she was running like a top.”

“Wee!” suddenly squealed Tubbs, ‘Look ’a’ there!
look ’a’ there! By Jim, the sun is going to come out!
Hooray! We brought her, Tucker! We did it!”

“Certainly we did,” agreed Tommy; “but it’s doubt-
ful if we receive any thanks. If we hadn’t performed
those incantations, it would have been a rotten bad
day. Now it’s going to be a good one.”

?

“We oughter be rewarded, Tommy,”
youth. “They oughter strike you off a medal and
present me with a dozen pies. Um, pie! Why, I
only ate five pies all day long yesterday. There was
a per ‘fect famine in pie round these diggin’s. If they
don’t manage to do better in the pie-line, I’ll certainly
waste away to a shadder.”’ |

said the fat

“T believe we are going to have a good day,” nodded

Dick. “If the sun does get out, it will be hot.”
“Just the sort of a day for baseball,’ said Buck- pe
hart. “I’m sorry we’re not going to play. Only for

Arlington Smoketown would be playing us on our own —

ground’ this afternoon. He butted in and broke up
that arrangement. I opine he was a heap pleased over
it. I likewise opine that he had no idea of playing
Smoketown with a team of his own. It was simply
a nasty trick to spoil our game.”

“And we haven't been able to get at those Smoke-.
said Tucker dolefully.
“Every time we've tried to arrange it they’ve had ex-

towners since that draw,”
cuses. They’re afraid of us.”
“Dern their picters! they be afraid,” agreed Obey.
“T think it’s true,” said Dick, “that Brian Black-
pool has had more or less trouble on his team.

Mc- i

 

ace MARR

 

 

 

    
     
     
       
 
    
      
    
     
   
 

  
 

nce ROR

 

en

to bring you along.”

right \here dnd git a little nap.
_ Smoketown,

 

 

_ bor, and the boys

Teague and Kipp both quit, and that left him short
of a catcher and‘a first-baseman. He’s patched it up
with Kipp, but I don’t know whether McTéague will
play with Smoketown any more or not. . Considering
the fact that our first game ‘was it was natural
that Blackpool should wish to put a strong team on

a draw,

the field the next time he met us.”

“Tell you what let’s do, fellows,” proposed Buck-
hart. “Let’s put our suits,aboard the Wavelark and
go over to Smoketown. If Arlington doesn’t show
up with his team—and he won’t—it’s likely Blackpool
will be anxious for a game, and we'll get another
chance at that bunch. What do you say ?”’

“It’s a good idea,” nodded Dick. “We needn’t let
them know we've thought of such a thing’ unless*Ar-
lington does fail to put in an appearance. That’s just
what we'll do, fellows.”’

 

¢
‘ CHAPTER: fis: ,

=

SURPRISE ON SURPRISE.

Before noon the sun came out blistering hot. Still,
as usual, there was a breeze stirring at Pine Point, and
the boys were quite comfortable there.

In, spite of his enthusiasm at an earlier hour, the fat
boy proceeded to go comfortably to sleep in a ham-

_ mock directly after lunch, and when the others were

ready to start for Smoketown it became necessary to
arouse Obediah by drenching him with cold water.
When nearly a bucketful had been slopped over him,
Tubbs sat .up, sqtiealing resentfully, wiping his face
and uttering all sorts of threats.

“Can’t never seem to take no real rest round this
place,” “Tf a feller tries'to git a wink of
sleep, somebody throws wet water all over him.”

“Cuce-cuc-cuc-come on,” urged Jolliby, “we're gug-
gug-going over to Smoketown. Most everybody is
aboard thé Wavelark now. They left Tucker and me

/

he declared.

snatled Obey. “I'll stay
I don’t want to go to

“Let ’em go! let ’em go!”

anyhow.”
_ At this Chip pounced on Tubbs and jerked him out
of the hammock.

Tommy jabbed the fat boy with a pin, and, together,
they started him on the run for the tender, which
lay at the landing. ) | |

_ The Wavelark dropped anchor in Smoketown Har-
s were set ashore, landing as usual at

the Eastern: Pier. }

Reaching the Pinewood House, they were informed

HP: TOP

 

  

WEEKLY. , 3

that the players of the local team had already pro-
ceeded to the ball-ground.

“Here come the P’inters!” was the cry, as Dick and
his comrades arrived at the field.

The Smoketown team was practising. Brian Black-
pool was wielding a bat, but he turned it over to some
one else and sauntered out to meet the new arrivals.

a Asie sure you fellows would come over to, see the

game,” he said.
“T§ there going to be a gamé?” questioned Merri-
well.

“Going to be a game? Yoft bet your life!’

“Where's the other team?”

“Oh, it'll be here, all right.”

“Are you sure?”

Brian looked SARE.

“Of course, I’m sure,” he said.

“What makes you so sure?”

“Why, that’s all settled, Riya
the game with Arlington, and

“You don’t want to depend. a heap on any arrange-
ments made with him,” put in Buckhart. “Where’s he
going to get his players?”

“Oh, I understand he has thenay all right.”

“Who told your”

“Arlington himself.”

“When?” ’ :

“This forenoon. Talked with him over the-phone.
He said he had ten men., He said he would be here.
by two-thirty, at the latest.”

Dick glanced at his watch.

“Then he’ll have to show up within fifteén minutes,’
he said.

We arranged
.

 

“What makes you fellows fancy Arlington hasi’t a
team?” questioned Brian.

“We know him right well,’ nodded Brad. “He's
something of a bluffer.”
“Well, I’m certain you’re wrong about this. He en-

gaged the old Haverner house at Wolfwoods and set
about collecting his players without delay.”

At this moment there was a shout from a portion _

of the crowd that could see down the road. :
“Here they are! here they are!” cried several.
Directly a buckboard, drawn by four horses, came

into view.

cracked his whip over the horses and brought them
through the gate with a flourish. The moment the
turnout stopped Chester Arlington leaped to the —
ground, an example which was promptly followed by.
his comrades. | \ ;

 

| The buckboard was loaded with youths, ia
the oldest of whom was not over twenty. The driver

    
       
       
   
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
  
  
  
   
   
   
    
   
   
  
     
     
  
   
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
    
  
 
  
  
  

“Evidently Chester is right here with the goods,” a

os Dick. “You were mistaken this time, Brad.’
“{ opine I was,” admitted the Texan. “But who are

they? Where did they come from? By the great

horn spoon, I see one fellow I know!’

“T see more than one!’ cried Dick.
boys!”

Arlington was smiling proudly as the Pine Pointers
approached.

“Howdy, Merriwell, old fellow!”
wave of his hand. “I was in hopes you’d come over
for the game. I want you to see my bunch of Wolves.
Here they are. Look them over. These are the
Wolves of Wolfwoods, and I fancy they can chew up
any baseball aggregation in this region.”

By this time Dick was shaking hands with a laugh-
ing, yellow-haired chap.

‘Dale Sparkfair, you ctazy Indian!’ he cried.
ae “Where did you come from? How did you find your
way down to this corner of the earth?”

“T was lured hither by our mutual friend Chester,”
answered Sparkfair.. “He wired me a hurry-up call

“Come on,

he called, with a

Reith ew sig heeRy
ear LR Se

aOR ENS

stating that he was in distress and that my services
i were needed. Behold me, Johnny-on-the-spot.”’

ef ' “Here, here, let me crush Dick Merriwell’s hand in
-__-‘my massive paw!” ‘cried a little chap. “Break away

and give somebody elsé a chance, Spark.”
“Bob Bubbs, as I live!’
is a body-blow.”

a Dick. “Well, this

“You needn’t think you can come down here into
the woods and capture all the fun going,”
the little fellow called Bubbs, as he wrung Merriwell’s
hand. “Lawsy me, but I’m glad to see you again!
You look large as life and just as natural.”

“Here are some other chapsyou know, Merriwell,”
said Sparkfair, drawing forward a dark-eyed fellow
and a youth with an expansive moon face. “Here are
two of my perfidious classmates. Shake hands with
Carl Cutting and Mark Swan.” \

“How are you, Merriwell?” said Cutting, ‘with
_ great dignity, as he took Dick’s hand.

Swan was more effusive,

“Don’t make any mistake,” he implored. “Don’t
tell these chaps that I was the fellow who counted the
“moon at Lake Calmface. It wasn’t me. It was Ben-
~ son. % 3 uA
A tall lad approached. |

 
 

he said. “You ought to remember a classmate.”
' “Jim Pickering!” cried Dick, his amusement in-
creasing.

  
 

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

chuckled’

“T don’t suppose you've forgotten me, Merriwelt e

One of the party turned his back on Dick and
walked away. This action caused Merriwell to take a
quick look at the fellow, and that glance was enongh
to tell him it was his bitter enemy at Yale, Duncan
Ditson.

There was another Yale lad who came forward with
a somewhat sheepish air and shook hands. It was
Bertie Lee.

“What are you doing here, Lee?

“Ym hoping to play baseball a little,”
Bertie. “May not get into the game to-day.
going to have me on the bench in uniform, though.”

” asked Dick.
answered
They’re

>

FQ

“T don’t think you’ve met our catcher, Merriwell,”
said. Arlington, presenting a youth whose face
promptly proclaimed his ancestry. “This is Barney
Carney, from Killarney.”

“Thot’s me,”
“It’s proud Oi am to
Merriwell. I’ve heard av

“Well, Arlington,” said Dick a cave “it strikes
me that you’ve picked. up a rather warm bunch. It
wouldn’t surprise me at alk if you had an aggrega-
tion that could play the game.”

“Oh,

laughed the Irish lad, who had a rich
brogue. know yéz, Misther

yez.”’

I know my business,” averred Chester, wag-
ging his head. “You wait till you see them get ‘after
Smoketown. We'll have you shaking in your shoes.
We're going for your scalp next, Merriwell, and we'll
take it.”

As usual, Arlington was optimistic and brimming
over with confidence. —

“If you take my scalp, -you’re welcome to it,” re- -
turned Dick; “but I shall fight to the last gasp to
hold it.” |

“The harder you fight, the better the Wolves will
like it. We’ve got a great place up there at Wolf-
woods. Everybody delighted. Pine Point is all right,
but I wouldn’t swap locations with you. We've got
a big old-fashioned country house, with fine grounds,
an elegant orchard, a beautiful grove, a clear lake of |
water, and everything to make us contented and ready
to enjoy life. I say, Blackpool, where do we change ©
our clothes?”

“The carpenter-shop over yonder is at your dis-
posal,” answered Brian.

Ere leading the players to the shop Chester paused

to murmur in Dick’s ear:

“Keep your eyes open and you'll see some okie
people that you know.
game starts.”

As the Wolfwoods team trailed away to the carpen=

They'll be here before the |

|

 

 

r

vin tS, Se
Soca my
- ESS

    
      
    

 
    

ter-shop Obediah Tubbs weakly fanned himself with
his straw hat and murmured:

“Dern my picter, ’'m completely upset!
that beat ye to death?”

“It’s just like Ar-Ar-Arlington,” chattered Jolliby.
He’s always sus-sus-springing a sus-sus-sensation of
this sort.”’

Keeping Chester’s final admonition in mind, Dick
looked around and soon espied an automobile, which
} came whirring up the road and swung in at the gate.
Besides the driver there were three persons im the
machine. Even at a distance, Merriwell recognized
Mrs. Arlington on the front seat. True, the woman
was very gray, but she still wore colors and dressed
like a girl. |

In the tonneau were two girls. A single glance at
one of them brought Dick’s heart into his throat with
a leap. |

“June!” he cried.

As quickly as possible he was beside the car, hat in
hand.

“June Arlington!” he exclaimed.
est surprise of all!”

She had seen him coming, and the warm color
flooded her cheeks, while a light of gladness danced in

Wouldn’t

“This is the great-

her eyes.
“Dick,” she said, reaching out her gloved hand and
permitting him to grasp her fingers; “Dick, I’m de-

wees

B lighted!”
“Delighted doesn’t express it, June,” he murmured.
Then, it seemed that, neither of them could find
further words, but their eyes were speaking ‘for them:
“T hope you haven’t forgotten me, Dick,” said the
girl at June’s side, after some moments.
He looked at her wonderingly. Was it possible that

 

 

 

2 :
this refined, tastily dressed girl was,the daughter of
the hermit of Mad Lake? Was it possible that she

: was
“ fi “Madge Morgan!” he cried.
| ®
es CHAPTER IIl.
| | TIME S CHANGES,
| Yes, Madge o’ Mad Lake it was, greatly changed,
a and yet the same. Before Dick’s mental vision rose

a picture of this girl as he had first seen her in Slab-

picturesque costume and her strange, surprising beauty
which had instantly brought on her the attention of all
strangers in the Blue Hills who chanced to see her,

         

 

Lif 22oP

‘At that time she was wearing an old felt hat, a short

town, a little more than a year ago. He thought of her

        
 
 
   
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
   
  
   
 
 
  
  
 
  
    
      
 

WEEKLY. :

skitt, and high-laced boots. Her face and hands were
bronzed by the sun and wind. Still, in spite of all this,
there was something about her which betokened that
she was of higher and better grade than the ordinary
rustic maiden. Why this should be so it was difficult
to say, for her father, old Mose Morgan, was an ig-
norant, illiterate man, who had seen little of the world
and whose business and social relations had been almost
wholly with rude and uncouth people. It seemed,
however, that Madge had acquired her natural refine-
ment from her mother. This woman, coming ito the
Blue Hills to teach school, had, to the wonderment of
every one, married old Mose Morgan, for it had
seemed that she had many better opportunities.

After the death of her mother, through the friend-
ship of the Arlingtons, Madge had left the Hills to at-
tend a girls’ boarding-school at Wellsburg. One year
in that school had wrought a great change in her, for
now, although her clothes were plain and modest, there
indication of good taste and refinement
Dick was not sure that he liked the change.

was every
about her.
True, she now seemed a young lady who could pass in
almost any society, yet Merriwell was struck by the
thought that in acquiring so much of the softening at-
mosphere of life she had lost the old wild charm that
was wonderfully attractive.

The. girl seemed to divine the trend of his thoughts,
for her face fell a bit and the smile slowly faded ioe
her lips.

“Oh, am I so dreadfully SREP TENE, Dick ?” she
murmured.

“Not at all!” he cried quickly ;
believe it possible, Miss Morgan.”

“Miss Morgan!” she breathed, a trifle resentfully.
“You used to call me Madge.”

“but I could hardly

“But you seemed different then,” he said. “Really —
you overawe me now.” Siete Se |
“Do I? Then I’m sorry. I hoped I had improved;
but I fear
“Tt was impossible for you to improve in many
ways, Madge,’ he said. And she smiled again at the
sound of that name on his lips. |
“Now, don’t flatter me, Dick. I’ve had ail the con-
ceit taken out of me, if I ever had any. When I was a
little girl the people up in the Hills used to tell me I
was pretty. Tell a child anything like that and, after
a time, the child comes to believe she must be far more _
attractive. and fascinating than any one else. I sup-
pose I was like other children. When I grew older
I tried not to be conceited, but still, I couldn’t he

eo

 

 
 
 
thinking I must be rather attractive. When I got out
into the world and met so many beautiful girls who
were so much my superior all the conceit left me. I
don't believe I have a bit of it now, but I’m dreadfully
glad to see you again, Dick. It was awfully good of

her brother here, and it was very good of Mrs. Arling-
ton to bother with me.”

Up to this point Mrs. Arlington had not spoken to
Dick. He had been waiting for her to give
look, ready to do the polite thing, although this woman
had bitterly hated and despised him, and had even
tried, by devious methods, to disgrace him at school.

She turned slowly—apparently with reluctance—and
gazed upon him. He bowed, hat in hand, murmured
her name. To his unspeakable amazement, she put
forth her gloved hand. |

“Let’s shake hands, Dick,” she said.
forget.
Chester.”

He was not slow about accepting her hand. The old
feeling of resentment melted and faded in a moment,
for he was wise enough to understand that this wom-
an’s ambitious desires for her own son’s advancement
and elevation had been responsible for much of her un-
just hatred af the youth who had seemed to hold the
position Chester coveted.
also aware that Mrs. Arlington was not properly bal-
anced mentally. It had even been necessary for D.
- Roscoe Arlington to place his wife in a private, sani-
_tarium. Apparently the time spent by her in that sani-
_ tarium had been beneficial, for she now seemed greatly
improved.

him a

“Let’s try to
Your brother has been a very good friend to

“You'll find no one more ready than I to let by-

“Chester tells me,”
joyed himself very much at your camp on Pine Point.”

“Indeed?” murmured Dick, endeavoring. to repress
his surprise at this.

“Oh, yes, he said he had a splendid time; but, of
course, you had made up your own party and there was
really no room for him, although you were kind
enough to make room. You know what a crank that
boy is about baseball. , He has always been that way.
‘Having your own-team, of course, you couldn’t find
a place for him to indulge his taste in that direction.
Although I’m not thoroughly familiar with baseball,
even if I have seen a great deal of it, I understand
“that only nine men can play on a team. | Chester says
you had ten men at Pine Point, which left him out of
: it, and so he decided to gather a team of his own,

  

 

 

Sons .

June to ask me to come along when she decided to join

Not only that, but he was,

gones be bygones, Mrs. Arlington,” he said earnestly. *
said the woman, “that he en-—

6 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

which hé has done.
players.” °

“There is no question’ about that,” acknowledged
Dick, with a laugh. “I know all but two men on his
team, and the most of them can play baséball remark-
ably well.”

[t was evident that Chester had concealed the truth
from his mother. It was plain he had not told her his
reason for deserting Pine Point and organizing a team
of his own. Instead of this, he had spoken in the kind-
est terms of Merriwell and the Pointers. This was
quite different from the Arlington of old days. In

He thinks he has some very nice

the past Chet had never hesitated to malign Merriwell

on the slightest provocation or upon no provocation at
all, and always he had spoken most bitterly of Dick
to his mother.

“Then you really think Chester has a good team,
do you?’ asked Mrs. Arlington. ‘You know I have
not seen this Smoketown team play.
Chester.has a chance to win to-day ?”

“TI hope he has, although he’ll face the disadvantage
of playing against a well-organized nine that has de-
veloped a certain amount of team-work, while his ag-
gregation has not been together long enough to get into
good form. If he wins, his success will come to a
large extent through battery work.”

“What do you mean by that: P

“Through the work of his “pitcher and catcher.”

“Chester is going to pitch himself,” said June; “but
he says that he expects to use Sparkfair in half of the
games. You know what Spark can do, Dick.”’

» at the mention of Sparkfair’s name Madge Mor-
gan’s face brightened.

“Dick,” she said, with laughing disapproval, “I
think you were very mean not to let Dale win one of
those college games this spring. He’s told us all about
it. He’s told us how you beat him both times.”

“For which I’m taking very little credit. I had
beautiful support in those games.”

?

“Oh, but Dale says you pitched grandly,” said
Madge. “He says Harvard would have been shut out

es . 9 .
in the first game but that the umpire gave them two

runs.” |
\Dick’s companions, who had been greatly interested
in Arlington’ s team, were now seen approaching the

car. Several of the boys knew June and Madge and

_ hastened to speak to them. Ina few moments all were

gathered about the car, laughing and chatting ih the

free-and-easy mariner of light-hearted be Fig people
Mrs. Arlington was’ introduced to those df the pacha
whom she had net previously. met, and as Dick stood

 

al

 

Do you believe

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

TIP: LOP

near her side he was surprised to feel her hand on his
shoulder and hear her softly say:

“T like the looks of your friends, Dick. They seem
to be a very nice lot of boys,”

“T think they are, Mrs. he replied.

“Why don’t you find a seat in the tonneau with the
girls?” urged the woman. “I’m sure it will be a com-
fortable place from which to watch the game.”

June, happy at the change in her mother, gave him
an inviting smile and indicated that there was plenty of
room.

Arlington,”

He was not one to miss such an opportunity,
and directly he was seated between the girls.

“Here they come!’’ exclaimed Madge. “Here are
Chester and the Wolves!”

Arlington, at the head of his team, was marching
from the carpenter-shop to the field.

\

CHAPTER IV.
TWO FOR THE WOLVES.

WOLVES.

4 Bubbs, ss,
Cutting, 2d b.
Arlington, p.
Sparkfair, rst b.

SMOKETOWN.
McDade, 2d b,
Perkins, 3d b.
McTeague, 1st b.
Hornblower, cf,

Swan, rf. Cotton, ss.
Pickering, lf. Grady, lf:
Ditson, cf. Blackpool, p.
Shadd, 3d b. Huglippe, rf.
Carney, c. Kipp, c

“Play ball!’ cried Bixby, the umpire, as the local
team trotted onto the field.

Little Bob Bubbs pawed at the bats and found his
own stick, with which he danced into the batter’s
box. ;

Brian Blackpool, on the slab, had limbered his arm
by throwing a few to McTeague on first.

“All right, Bri,” said Mike. “You got a baby fer
der foist one. Twist ’em round his collar-bone.”

“Don’t hit him! don’t hit him!” barked Reddy Per- ,
“If you hit him, you'll kill him!” ”

kins from third base.
“Toss him up an easy one,”
second. “He'll never hit it.”
“Tf he hits it, he can’t knock it out of the diamond,”

came from McDade, at

- cackled Nubby Cotton, spitting on his glove and get-

ting into a businesslike position at short.

The three fielders all had something to say ere Brian
delivered the first ball.

Behind the bat Kipp crouched and gave a signal.

“Right over, Bri—right over!” he called. “Let’s
see what sort of an eye he has.”

Brian whipped over a sharp in shoot, at which Bubbs
struck without even fouling the ball.

WEEKLY. -

“Oh, he can’t see it! he can’t see it!” whooped Mc-
Dade. “He'll be fruit for you, Bri, old chap!”

“Don’t hit him,” again urged Perkins.

Mark Swan and Barney Carney were on the coach-
ing-lines, but both were silent.

.From the bench Arlington spoke in a low tone to
Bubbs.

“Just meet that speed,” he said.
kill it.”

Blackpool tried a wide out curve.

“Ba-a-a-all one!” droned Bixby.

“Get ’em over, friend,” invited Bubbs cheerfully. “TI
can’t reach that kind.”

“Don’t try to

Brian started an out directly at Bob. _ Declining to
pull away from the plate, the little chap advanced his
left foot directly toward the pitcher’s box, snapped
his bat round sharply, and met the ball handsomely.

It was a ground drive between first and second.

Bubbs went cantering down the base-line, his short
legs carrying him over the ground with speed that
landed him on the sack ere Huglippe ‘secured the ball.
The little fellow sought to draw a throw, but Huglippe
coolly sent the ball to second, which caused Bubbs to
duck back to first. i

“Tt’s aisy, bhoys—it’s aisy! came from Barney
Carney. |

“THe saw that one, all right!” cried Mark Swan,
from the opposite side of the diamond.

Brian shrugged his shoulders and faced Cutting, the
next batter. a

“Be afther gettin away from thot ahien, Robert,” 4
urged Carney. “He nivver’ll catch yez.” ae

Brian whipped one over to McTeague, who at- —
tempted to block Bubbs off. os

Bob understood Mike’s object. and lunged against
McTeague’s, feet in such a manner that Mike was up-
set. ‘

The ball flew over first. J

Snarling with anger, Mike McTeague grabbed at
Bubbs’ belt in an effort to gold him and prevent him» 3
from taking second.

 
 
   
 
   
  

The little chap was too spry, however, for he —
squirmed away, leaped to his feet, and raced down the |
line, arriving at second in safety and again seeking”
to draw a throw, Huglippe having secured the Spald-
ing. \'

Barney Carney roared with laughter. _

“Tt’s Irish ye are, me fri’nd,” he said, addressing ;
McTeague, “but being born in America has made yez  »
tophivvy in the upper shtory. Nixt time ye thry to.

 
    
 
  
  
  

aed

8 | TIP TOP WEEKLY.

block thot shpider you wanter be after kaping your

balance.”’
“Next time I'll fix him!”
“Ay ye thry it on me,” said Barney,
Oi'm wearing a foine lot of shpikes.’’

growled Mike angrily.
“it’s fixed yer-
silf ye’ll be.

“If you spike me, I’ll break your face!” snarled
Mike.

At this Barney laughed still more heartily.

“Or'll nivver spoike ye av ye play dacent,” he said.
“Thot’s not baseball.” |

Cutting attempted to bunt, but the ball went foul,
and a strike was called on him.

The infield crept up toward the plate, expecting he
would make a second attempt, but, instead of doing
so, Carl picked out a corner-cutter, met #t gently, and
lifted a Texas Leaguer over the infielders’ head.

As Bubbs came scorching to third Swan excitedly
motioned for him to go home.

Hornblower had secured the ball, and he threw to
the plate to shut off the score.

_ Cutting made for second on that throw.

The throw was a bit short, compelling Kipp to step
in front of the plate. He saw he could not get Bubbs,
and, therefore, he whipped the ball to second, hoping
to catch Cutting.

“Shloide, ye spallpane—shloide!”” shrieked Barney
Carney.

Cutting slid.

Nubby Cotton took the throw, McDade backing him.
Cotton tagged Cutting like a flash, but the Wolfwoods
man had reached the sack with his right hand, and
Bixby declared him safe.

By this time both June Arlington and Madge Mor-
gan were greatly excited. They clapped their hands
and nearly sprang from their seats, for both feared
Cutting would be caught.

“Oh, wasn’t that great!’ breathed Madge, as they
heard the umpire’s decision. “We have one run al-
ready, and there’s no one out.”

“That was fine hitting and clever base-running,
said Dick, who, like the girls, felt the thrill and’ ex-
citement of the moment. \
Mike McTeague was snarling at Bixby.
- “Dat was out at second,” declared Mike.
you tryin’ to do, Bix?”

The umpire did not glance toward Mike, which in-
creased the anger of Smoketown’s first-baseman.
 “T say dat was out!” he roared, stepping into the
~ diamond. |

“Out! out! out!” howled the Smoketown spectators.

”

 

 

 

“Wat are

ge
y

commanded Bixby. “I’m umpiring this

’Play ball,”
game.”
“Tt was close, Mike,”
lowed
your position.”
“W’at’s
town Terror.

“but he fol-
Get back to

said Blackpool ;
the rules and favored the runner.
der matter wit’ yous?” growled the Smoke-
“Goin’ to let these city dudes come here
and run tings any way dey like? If dat’s der sort
of baseball you’re goin’ ter play, I’m sorry I didn’t
stay off der team w’en I said I was t’rough wit’ it.”
With an ugly look on his face, he resumed his place
at first.
Arlington was at bat. :
“Here’s our friend!” barked Nubby Cotton. ‘Don’t
let him hit it, Bri. You know where to put the ball.”
Blackpool uséd sharp curves, with the result that the
first three pitched to Chester were balls.

“Begobs, ye have him in a hole, Chister!” cried Bar-

ney Carney. “He can’t foind the platter.”

And now Chester waited, fancying he might be
“given a walk.” Believing Arlington would not try to
hit, Brian sent over two straight ones which cut the
plate in halves and were declared strikes.

“Well! well! well!” yyapped Reddy Perkins.
control! Can he find the platter? I guess he can!” ©

Chester gripped his bat and squared himself, a look
of determination on his face.

Twice Blackpool declined Kipp’s signals. At last,
when the catcher called for a drop, Brian pitched.

Arlington caught the ball on the top of his bat and
sent it straight up into the air.

“T'll take it!” shouted Kipp.

There was a twist on the ball which carried it out
into the diamond some distance, but the Smoketown
catcher got under it and held it when it came down.

“Thats

Arlington had gone to first, but he came back sha-.

king his head disgustedly.

“Harrud luck, me bhoy,” oa Barney Carney.
“You want to straighten them out.’

Sparkfair followed Arlington and hit a slow one’

toward first. ~ ™

McTeague rushed in on the ball and cas it
while Blackpool covered first. Mike managed to get
the ball to Brian in time for a put-out.

“Good work, McTeague,” said Blackpool approv-

ingly.

Cutting had taken third.

“Come on, Swan, ye noble birrud of song!” cried
Carney, as Mark hurried in from third to take his turn
at bat. “Wan gintle tap will be afther giving us an-
other run.”

 

 

Pn conte

 

 
_awkardly.

 

 

i i ai as ee oc a

TIP Oe

Bob Bubbs took Swan’s place on the coaching-line.,
“Ait it, oe eae it!’ implored Bob. “We need
this tally.’

Mark beamed serenely on Brian, holding his_ bat
He did not look as if he had ever made a
hit in-his life.

“Here’s a mark, Bri!’’ called Kipp.

The first one was speedy and close.

“Fan him!”

Swan missed cleanly.

The next was wide and Mark let it pass, the um-
pire calling a ball.

Then Blackpool tried an out? drop, and the batter
reached it with the end of his stick. It was a grounder
that McTeague could have scooped had it not faken
a bad bound. Mike lost it, permitting Swan to reach
first and Cutting to cross the pan with the second run.

“Cut out that profanity, Mike,” commanded Black-
pool, as the Terror began to curse his luck. “There
are ladies present.”

“Well,. it’s rotten, rotten!’ snarled McTeague.
“Dey hadn’t oughter have no runs.”

Returning to the plate, Blackpool put on steam.
Jim Pickering did his best to secure a hit and made
five fouls in rapid succession. He kept this up, for all

of the fact that Arlington had cautioned him to let

Swan take second. Swan was badly winded, rushing
back and forth on the line. Then an unexpected thing
happened, for Brian suddenly whipped the ball to
McTeague, who caught Mark off the sack.

“Out!” roared the umpire.

The Wolves had made two runs in the first inning.

CHAPTER V.
CHESTER’S CHALLENGE.
“Gwathuth thaketh ali¥e, Bwian!” said Foss Dill-
twitter, all in a flutter, rushing toward the bench as
the locals came in from the field. ‘“‘Are'you going to
let thoth fellowth win thith game? What’th the mat-

ter? Anything the twouble with Your wing, old
chappie?”

“Get away and don’t bother me, Foss,” said Brian
sharply.

“But all the cwowd ith thore, Bwi. They’re begin-
ning to thay you ain’t thuch a much ath a pitcher.
They're beginning to thay you did pwetty well againtht
Lobthterville, but you can’t weally pitch much when
you go againtht weal batterth. I don’t like to hear

them talk like that, old fellow. It getth me dwead-

fully mad. My starth! I jutht up and told one fel-

 

WEEKLY. 9

low what I thought, and I came dweadfully near get-
ting into a weglar wow.”

“Go ahead and get into as many ‘weglar wows’ as
you choose,” said Blackpool, “but keep away from
this bench.”

“My eye, but you're awfully cwuthty! Thith ain't
any way to tweat a fwiend. All wight, I'll jutht keep
away from you, thir. Yo#'ll be thorry for thith!”

Muttering to himself, Dilltwitter retired.

“Come now, boys,” said Brian, “we’ve got to get
right into this game. Let’s even the score in short
order. We can do it.”

“Dat’s w’at we can,’
it off, McDade.”

Chester Arlington was on the slab. He looked cool
enough, although his heart was thumping with a sort
of joyous excitement. It was good to pitch once more.
It made him feel that he was really alive. Ere Mc-
Dade got into position Chester whipped two speedy
ones to Sparkfair, who laughed as the ball burned
through his mitt.

“There must be something the matter with your
wing, Arlington, old man,” said Dale. ‘ “You haven’t
a bit of speed.” *

Chester smiled, for he understood Spark's back-
handed compliment.

With body-protector and mask adjusted, Barney
Carney took his position behind the plate.

“Here’s the firrust wan, Chister,” chuckled the Irish
youth. “Let him be afther lookin’ at the ball in your
hand, for he’ll nivver see it at all, at ‘all whin you
pitch it.”

But it happened that McDade liked aed and, after
missing once, he met the ball with a sharp crack and
laced out a beautiful two-bagger.

“ “Dat’s der stuff!” roared Mike Mel seme

der way to t'ump ’em!”
‘Cotton and Blackpool went onto the dons dees

nodded McTeague. “Start

“Dats

Full of confidence, Reddy Perkins swung sharp and

hard at the ball. Chester used a-high in shoot on
Reddy and fooled him twice.

“Too bad!” said Barney Carney mournfully. “Oi
have a premonition thot you're a dead wan, me bhoy.
Ye'll nivver touch it.”

Barney was right, for Chet worked Reddy with an
out drop he could not reach.

“Aw, w’at’s der matter wit’ yer?’ sneered Mc- —
Teague derisively, as Reddy retired to the bench.
“W’at made yer go reaching fer der wide ones?” —

“Wait till you hit it, Mike, and then yop tan talk, 4
said Perkins.

 

 

 
   
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
   
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
    
  
     
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
   
    
 
    

 
  

“T’ll hit it,’ asserted McTeague. “Jest watch me.”

Arlington heard these words and resolved to keep
Mike from making a safe hit, if possible. With this
object in view, he held the ball close on the batter, and
McTeague proceeded to make foul after foul.

“Git ’em over der pan!’’ snarled the Smoketown
Terror, in his ugliest manner. “Pretty soon you'll
hit me. If yer do, I’ll come out dere and wipe up der
ground wit’ yer. See?” !

“Get back off the plate,”
too close.”

Mike refused to move back until commarided to do
go by the umpire. Even then, after getting back the
‘ proper distance, he crowded up the moment Arlington
__- made a motion to pitch.
ty Chester cut the inside corner once more, and again
Mike was too close. ‘This time, however, he did not
foul the ball. It spanked into Barney Carney’s mitt
as Bixby shouted, “Out!”

Perkins snickered as McTeague sullenly returned to
the bench.

“I didn’t see you do so much, Mike,” said Reddy.

“If you’re lookin’ fer a scrap wit’ me,” said Mc-
Teague fiercely, “you can have it by keepin’ up dat
kind of talk. See?”

Knowing Mike’s ugly disposition, Perkins decided
to cut out the chaffing and relapsed into silence.
Hornblower,” called Brian, “move us

advised Chester. “You're

 

&
eg

Ieee

“Come,
along!”
McDade was taking a long lead off second.
his object to score on a single if possible.
But when Arlington failed to drive McDade back
toward the sack the rtmner suddenly resolved to try
to steal third. He was on the jump ere the ball left
- Chet’s fingers.
Homer Shadd saw the runner coming and covered
third.
Carney lost not a second in shooting the ball to
Shadd.
McDade slid.
BAS ‘Shadd took Carney’s beautiful throw, which reached
him knee-high and enabled him to tag the sliding man
_ without loss of a second.
_ The umpire started to say “safe,” but discovered
that Shadd had pinned McDade with the latter’s fin-
gers still six inches from the sack, and this caused
Bixby, quickly to change his declaration to “out.”
_ “Wrat’s dat? w’at’s dat?” yelled McTeague, leap-
ing up from the bench. “Didn't you say he was safe?
‘You can’t change dat*decision.” 7
“J didn’t say he was safe,” said Bixby. “I started

It was

Se a a rer
; . ys

10 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

to say so, but he hasn’t touched the sack yet. He's
out.”

McDade started into the diamond, but Blackpool
hastened to cut him off.

“That’s right, Mike,” said Brian. “Even if Bixby
had declared it safe, he had the right to change his de-
cision instantly, in case he saw it was wrong.’’

“It was safe!” snarled McTeague. “Are you going
to give dat bunch dis game?”

“Did he get you at third, Mat?” asked Brian, as
McDade walked toward his position at second,

McDade nodded with a sickly smile.

“T guess he did, Bri,” he answered.
the sack at all.”

“You see how it was, Mike,” said Blackpool.

“Well, if you don’t fight for dese points, you'll
never win a game in de world!” grated the Smoketown
Terror disgustedly. “Don’t you want anyt’ing at all?”

“T didn’t touch

“I want everything we earn, and I propose to have
it,” answered Brian.

This argument settled, Arlington sauntered toward
the touring-car.

“What have you got to say about that, Merriwell?”

he asked smilingly.

“Tt was clever work,” replied Dick.

“TI wanted to strike that tough mug, McTeague,
out,” said Chester. “You did it in your game with
these fellows, and I had an ambition to show you that
I could do the same thing. Blackpool is a fine chap,
but he certainly has a tough bunch on his team. Mc-
Teague is the toughest one of the lot.”

Dick nodded.

“You may have trouble with him before the game’s
over,” he said.

“T don’t think so. I think Blackpool will hold him
down. What do you think of my friend Blackpool,
sis?” °

“He seems like a gentleman,’

“Oh, I told you he was.”

‘Do you think you can win this game, Chester ?”’

asked his mother, still very anxious over it.

answered June.

“Sure,” was the confident reply.
to do it. After we take a fall ont of Smoketown we're

going to tackle the Pine Pointers and do them up.
When will you

You’re our next victims, Merriwell.
be ready to take your medicine?”
“Any time,” laughed Dick.
“Then we'll play you at Wolfwoods day after to-
mortow. What do you say to that?”
“How about your field?’
“That’s all right.

 

“T have the boys

We have a better field than your. | -

 

 

 
 

nee

 

 

 

 

 

     
   
    
   
  
    
   
  
  
 
  
   
    
   
    
  
  
     
  
    
  
  
   
 
  
   
   
 
   
     
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
    
   
   

TLP “TOR. “WEEKLY. si

Pine Point meadows. Got a crew of men at work on
the diamond to-day.
when they get through.
against you once more.
chap.
on you.”

Sparkfair is itching to get
Day after to-morrow it is, old
Game called at 3 o’clock k shiasp We'll depend
said Dick.

“You may,”

CHAPTER VI.
TIED.

By this time Jim Pickering, the first batter in the
second inning, had swiped twice at the ball without
touching it.

“What's the matter with that fellow?’
Chester frowningly. “‘He’s slashing wild.
shut his eyes and swing any old way.”

“He doesn’t shut his eyes,” said Dick.

muttered
\
Seems ‘to

“At least, he

doesn’t shut them until he sees the ball coming, for

he pulls away from the plate every time Blackpool

pitches.
“Stop that pulling away,

starting toward the bench.

Pick!” cried Chester,
“Stand up to it! stand

“up to it!”

But Brian started another ball straight at Picker-
ing, who involuntarily pulled his left foot away from
the plate and leaned backward with his body. It was
a wide curve, and the batter discovered that the ball
would pass over the plate. This led him to swing at
it, but when the Spalding cut the outside corner of the
pan Pickering was in no position to*reach it, “and,
therefore, he struck out in a shabby, amateurish man-
ner.

‘T’'ll have to give you some batting-practise, my
man,” said Arlington, as he reached the bench at the
same time with Pickering. “I'll have to cure you of
that pulling-away habit. Take a wise pitcher and.

you never’d hit him in the -world.”

“Oh, I don’t know!” muttered the tall Yale man.
“T have hit some pitchers.”

“But not pitchers with good heads on their shoul-
ders,” declared the captain of the’ Wolves at once.
“You'd never get a hit off Brian Blackpool. All he
has to do is to start the ball at you, use an out curve,
and your goose is cooked. When the ball twists over
the plate you’re all out of position to hit it, and, if
it crosses the outside corner, you can’t reach it. But
you wait, my friend. I’ll cure you of that to-morrow.
I'll stand you up to the plate and do some pitching
to you. I'll place a piece of four-inch joist behind

It'll be in pretty good shape |

Brian has him on the string.” /

your heels and peg it fast to the ground so that when
you try to pull away you'll be forced to carry your
foot straight ahead or trip yourself up. ‘That’s the
way to reform a batter of your sort.”

Already Duncan Ditson, thin, sad, and sullen, was
in the batter’s box. About Dunc there was an atmos-
phere. of resentful hatred for all the world. He
looked like a youth who had soured on life.

When Blackpool worked Ditson for two strikes
Kipp began chuckling over it and chaffing the hitter.

“Too bad you can’t see it, my friend,’ mocked the
Smoketown catcher. “I'll tell him to ease up a little.
Those charming girls in the automobile are watching
you. It would be a shame for you to strike out.”

Ditson flushed darkly and his black eyebrows low- *
ered above his eyes. Gripping the bat, he met the next
ball pitched and hit it straight out to the left of Nubby
Cotton.

Cotton had barely time enough to make a sidelong
lunge with outthrust gloved hand. ‘The ball struck
in Cotton’s glove and stuck there.

The Smoketown crowd shouted applaudingly.

“Horseshoes! horseshoes!” shouted Bob Bubbs,
from the coaching-line. ‘Oh, what a blind stab! That
fellow ought to play policy. _ He’s a good guesser.”

“Go on, you sawed-off!’ retorted Nubby indig-
nantly. “You're jealous, that’s what’s the matter with
you. Keep your se open, and I’ll show you how
to play this position.” .

“That’s kind of you, indeed,” grinned Bubbs; “but
you'd better pin a medal on yourself ney You may
not deserve it when the game is finished.”

In fact, there was something coming to Nubby in
short order, for Homer Shadd walked into the box
and smashed a grounder straight at the local short-
stop. :

Cotton tried to make a graceful pick-up of it, but
did not even touch the ball, which flashed between his
feet and Went swimming and bounding toward the
outfield.

“Oh, horrors! oh, despair! oh, desperation! oh, ©
fudge!’ shrieked Bubbs hilariously, as Shadd raced
over first and made for second base. “What an awful
downfall, my countrymen! What a frightful shrink- —
ing of a swelled head! Go it, Shaddsy! He didn’t —
even touch the ball, and you get credit for a two-
sacker.”’

Nubby pretended to pay no attention to Bubbs, but
his face was crimson and he muttered fierce things to
himself. |

“Here comes the lad from Killarney,” piped Bob,

 
   

as Barney Carney strode toward the plate. “‘Connect
with the sphere, you Irish shamrock. Put your ‘shil-
lalah against it and give it a ride. Just imagine you’re
at Donnybrook Fair, and there’s a fight in progress.
Just fancy you're cracking an Irish head.”

There was a twinkle in the blue eyes of Barney
Carney and a whimsical smile flitting about the cor-
ners of his mouth. He declined to reach for two wide
ones which Blackpool handed up, but lay the bat
against the first ball that came over the pan and sent
it sailing toward deep center. Hornblower made a

  

ia ground at full speed.
ie “Another frightful calamity!” moaned Bubbs, with
+a show of unspeakable grief. “Will Ireland never get
a square deal?”

ts “That’s playing the game, Hugh,’ laughed Brian
a Blackpool, waiting for the outfielder to come in. “I
-\ was afraid you couldn’t reach it. That kept them
from scoring. You were the right man in the right
place.”

It was Hornblower’s turn to lead off at bat, and the
' Smoketown' crowd howled their applause as he selected
Wi < his slugger and walked to the pan.
of Confident as ever, Chester began pitching.
‘The third ball delivered to Hornblower seemed to
be just what the fellow wanted, for he smashed it
hard and fair and landed on second in safety.

“Nivver moind thot, Chister, old bhoy,” laughed
Barney Carney. pouch accidints will happen. Here
ye have an aisy victim.” .

“Guess again,” said Nubby Cotton, who had hur-
riedly danced into position to hit. “I’m going to lace
out a homer,”

 

long hit, as he was seen to grasp his bat in a manner
which seemed to indicate that he would swing on the
ball; but when Chester pitched Nubby hastily short-
ened his hold, thrust out the end of his bat, and bunted
toward third. 7
Apparently Hornblower knew what was coming, for

he had covered nearly half the distance to third ere
_ bat and ball met. |
_ Bob Bubbs came leaping in for di bunt, scooped
it cleanly, and then made a bad throw to first. Only
_by a wonderful leap into the air did Sparkfair prevent
the Spalding from sailing far over his head. Dale
stopped it with his fingers, but could not hold it, and,
‘therefore, Cotton reached first in safety.
“Now we're going some,” laughed Blackpool.
know the game, Goggles, old chap.”

  

72. 7 TIP TOP. WEEKLY.

great run and gathered the ball in while covering,

Apparently the local short-stop meant to try for a

“Vou P

Goggles Grady, got into position
to hit.

Nubby Cotton scooted for second on the first ball
pitched to Goggles,

Barney Carney made a feint to throw to third and
then whipped the ball to Cutting, who had covered
second.

Hornblower plunged back to the third cushion.

Cotton slid for second. Cutting took the ball and
tagged Nubby as he was sliding. Had Carl held the
ball Cotton would have been out, but, after touching
the Smoketowner, Cutting somehow permitted the
Spalding to get away from him, and Bixby declared
the runner safe.

“Too bad, Carl, old fellow,”

his eyes bulging,

said Chester, shaking

his head. “You had him by a yard.”
“T know it,” said Cutting. “All my fault. Rotten
work.”

Dick Merriwell wondered at Arlington, for this was

' quite different from the old-time Chester, who would

have snarled and snapped at a supporting player who
had made such an error.

Mrs. Arlington was greatly worried, for, bithough
she did not understand the game very well, she real-
ized that fortune had seemingly taken a turn against
her son’s team.

“How does it stand iow, Dick?’
“What’s the score?”

“Tt’s still just the same, two to nothing, in favor
of Wolfwoods; but Stoketown has two runners on
bases and no one out.
tying the score.”

“Oh, it can’t be Chester will permit those rough
fellows to beat him,” said the woman.

she asked.

“He can’t play the game alone, Mrs, Arlington.
That man should have been out at second.”’

“Why wasn’t he out?”

“Because the second-baseman dropped the ball.”

“What made him ror, it?”

“Well, I can’t say,” answered Dick.
did not have a secure hold on it when he tagged the
man.”

“Well, I think it was dreadfully careless of him. I ee

think Chester should have given hima scolding. Don’t
you think so?” F

“Indeed I do not, Mrs, Arlington. The man did
not drop the ball intentionally. He is doing his level
best. A scolding might have made him nervous or
angry and injured his playing during the remainder
of the game. As it is, he’ll try all the harder to make
up for that error. I’ve found that scolding the play-

They have every prospect of.

“Evidently he

pete gt

  
      

 
 
  
 
    
   
  
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
    
  
 

 
 
 

 

 

       
    
 

TE Rn ET Is

Ne an

 

ers simply frets them, and in nine cases out of ten is

the worst thing that can be done. In rare instances
it pays to get after a man who seems careless or lazy.
Sometimes a player will do better if he’s given a call-
In fact, some players never
can do their best unless they are-angry. I don’t think
Cutting is of that sort. Get him angry and he'll quit,
{ fancy Chester did the wise thing
by refraining from calling him down.”

Nubby Cotton was exulting over his success in
reaching second.

“Oh, it’s

the sack.

down that gets him mad.

is my conviction.

he whooped, dancing off
ay against the sphere,

a perfect snap!”
“Any one can do it.
Goggles, and we'll both Score.’

With his toe on the slab, Arlington leaned forward
to get Barney Carney’s signal.

The Irish lad signaled for a throw to second,

Like a flash Chet whirled squarely, his foot out-
stepped toward the base, and threw the ball to Cut-
ting, who had seen Barney’s sign and was in position
to take the Spalding.

Cotton made a lunge to get back, but Carl had him

_ and Bixby declared an out.

“It is easy, isn’t it?” mocked Cutting, with a sar-
castic laugh. “Didn’t drop it that time, did I?”

“What are you doing, Hornblower?” cried Black-
pool. “Are you asleep at the switch? Why didn’t
you take a chance on that throw?”

Hornblower shook his head, for he had been caught
off his guard by Arlington’s action and had failed to
try to score. ,

“That evens it up, Carl, old chap,’”’ laughed Chester.

“You see Cutting has redeemed himself, Mrs, Ar-
lington,” said Dick. “He caught that man, after all.”

“Are they all out?” inquired the woman.

“Oh, no, that’s only one, They'll have to get two
more before the side is retired.”

Arlington did his best to work Grady, but Goggles
declined to get after the bad ones, and Chester was
finally compelled to get the ball over. He found the
outside corner of the plate, but Grady found the ball.

-It was a beautiful Texas Leaguer, on which Horn-

blower easily scored while Goggles was getting down
to first.

Tee tae

Then Brian Blackpool walked out to the plate and

laced a sizzling three-bagger into right field, sending
_ Grady across the plate and tying the score.

Mrs. Arlington was in genuine distress.

__. “Why does Chester let them hit the ball?” she ex-
claimed.
hear that rough crowd shout and laugh!’

“I should think he might prevent it. Just

 

_hastily snapped the ball back to him.

        
  
    
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
    
 
 
   
    
  
   
  
  
     
 
 
  
   
   
   
    
    
   
  

WEEKLY. 13

June’s hand touched Dick’s arm, and in a whisper
she asked if he thought Smoketown was going to bat
Chester out of the box,

“Hard to tell,” he answered. ‘“Let’s hope not.”

Full of confidence, Huglippe took his position at. the
plate, picked out a shoulder-high ball and hit it hard.

Arlington made a grab at the ball with his left
hand. The Spalding struck his glove and was de-
flected a bit in its course.

Cutting lunged for it and Saat: it beautifully.

Blackpool, on his,toes, had hesitated ten feet from
third and started for the plate as he saw Chester miss
the ball. He stopped as quickly as possible and made
a dive back toward third.

But Cutting was lightninglike in his movements,
whipping the Spalding to Shadd, who held it and
touched the sack before Brian could get back.

Bixby declared both Huglippe and Blackpool out.

This double play left the score tied at the end of the
second inning, 7

 

CHAPTER VIL

M’TEAGUE MAKES TROUBLE.

I eG al

Much of Arlington’s boastful swagger was gone as"
he came to the plate. He anxiously urged Bubbs to
lead off with a hit, but Blackpool was now on his
mettle and quickly struck Bob out. A moment later
Cutting proved to be an easy victim, lifting a little
pop fly into the diamond.

“That’s the stuff, Bri!” yelled one of the soi
“Send the Wolves home a-weeping! They’re not so

sree ee Saka se REA?
as PRS aa eect adh ss 4,

Mae d

dS gign phy
Px os a

ia!

 

   

fierce!” ee
Chester set his teeth, walked out to the pan, picked
a good one and drove it far into the field. - oe
Ere’ the ball got back to the diamond Arlington
was safely anchored on third. te
And Dale Sparkfair was the next hitter. %
“Good chance for a run here,” said Dick. “Dale ‘a
is a clever batter.” | yy
“Get this man, Bri,” urged Kipp. “Never mind

that fellow on third. He'll die there.”

Chester took a long lead and suddenly electrified
every one by a most daring and surprising action. As
Kipp slowly returned the ball to Blackpool the captain f
of the Wolves went scooting toward the plate. ay

“Look out!” was the cry. hoe

‘Kipp. sprang astride the rubber, and Blackpool

  

      
    
 

   

    

Arlington slid. |
     

  

 

14 TIP TOP

stolen home from third.

“Phwat do you think av thot?” whooped Barney

Carney delightedly. “Is it playing the game at all,

at all?”
Dick Merriwell stood up in the touring-car and
cheered Arlington. His friends cheered [ikewise.

Even-Buckhart joined in thé demonstration.

It proved fortunate for the Wolves that their leader
had made that steal, as Sparkfair lifted a fly into left
field and Goggles Grady captured it with ease.

“Now we've got to hold them, fellows,”’ said Ches-
ter. “We've got to keep the lead.”

He walked into the box and struck out Kipp, Mc-

‘Dade, and Perkins in succession.

There was not a little of Chester’s
ger in his manner as_he smilingly walked to the bench.

“Don’t let up, boys,’ “Keep right after
them,” ;

“Thot’s phwat we will, Chister,” cheerfully asderted
Barney Carney. “Come on, Swan, ye beautiful birrud.

old-time swag-

he urged.

‘It’s up to you, me bhoy.”. =~

But neither Swan nor Pickering were equal to the
demands of the occasion. Mark lifted a foul for
Kipp, and Jim struck out in the same slovenly fashion
as before. Duncan Ditson got a-hit, but was caught
in his effort to steal second.

“Now,” said Mike McTeague, as he found bis heavy
bat, “dere’s goin’ to be somet’ing doin’.”

Great things were expected of Mike.
himself was determined, to reestablish his tottering
reputation-as a hitter.

Once more Arlington kept the ball close to Mike’s
knuckles, and again the fellow began to make fouls.

“Aw, git it over der pan!” snarled the Terror
fiercely. “If yer hit me, I'll t’row der bat at yer!”

“Put him back into his position, Mr. Umpire,”’ re-
quested Chestert ‘“He’s crowding onto the plate.”

Once more Bixby ordered Mike back./

Again Mike resorted to his familiar trick of taking
a proper position and then moving up on the plate
the moment the pitcher started his ¢ lelivery.

McTeague

Arlington used an in shoot, and it caught } McT eague
just under the ribs. /

Mike did not throw the bat at Chester, fof he went
down as if hit by a bullet.

“T didn’t mean to “hit him,” “‘and

said Arlington,

he would not have been touched if he had kept in his
_ position.”

The Terror rolled around on fithe ground for a few

moments, then gathered himself up, snarled at Chet,

Kipp muffed the ball, and Chester was safe, having

WEEKLY.

and trotted slowly down to first, holding his hand

to his side.
“You wait!’
wit’ yous!”

he growled fiercely.

Hornblower bunted and was out at first,
Teague was taking second.

Nubby Cotton followed with a safe hit, on which
Mike tried to score.

Swan caught the ball and lined it to the plate.

Barney Carney took the throw in perfect style.

“Look out, spikes
first.
“Look out. yersilf!”

howled McTeague, as he slid,

cried Barney, cleverly avoiding
the spikes and tagging the sliding man.

“You're out!” shouted Bixby.

sarney had nailed the ball onto McTeague with such
fierceness that the Terror was left gasping on the
ground.

“Av thot’s the kind av baseball ye play, ye’ll foind
the bhoy from Killarney up to the game,” observed
the Wolfwoods catcher.

McTeague rose and started for Carney. As the lat-

ter squared himself in a businesslike manner fhere

seemed every prospect of a fight.
Again Brian Blackpool was the peacemaker.
rushed between them and checked Mike.

“Stop it,” he commanded.
ball, not to fight.” :
“Did ye see him soak me?” gasped METeague. .

““Av ye didnt see it,” said Barney, “‘it’s me opinion
thot you felt it, me frind. Ye threatened to spike me,
and ye tried to do it, Take your medicine and be a
man.”’ ; -

ae that hg could not put up much of a fight

1 his winded condition, the Terror permitted Brian
to lead him away to the bench.

Cétton was on second, al Grady was again up.

Well satisfied over the backing he was getting,
Arlington handed the,ball over to Grady with renewed
confidence, and Goggles struck out.

He

“We're here: to play

The fourth inning ended with the Wolves still one
erun to'the good. Pid
Barney Carney was the first man up in the fifth:
, He stung the ball for a single and romped to first.
McTeague attempted to give him the knee.
Barney caught the fellow’s leg and upset him. Then
there was trouble, for the Smoketown Terror rose and

went for the Wolfwoods catcher hammer and tongs.

“Thump him, Mike—thump him!” shouted ’ the
tough crowd.
With a leap Dick Merriwell,was out of the automo-

/

“T’ll square dat

while Mc-

     
 
   
  
    
  
 
   
 
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
 
   
  
   
  
 
 
  

 

 

 

 

 

      
         
       
   
   
      
  

es

JQ

oO

 

 

 

 

 

      
    
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
     
    
   
 
 
  

   

bile. He uttered a cry which was answered by the
Pine Pointers, who followed him in the dash toward
first base. They surrounded Barney Carney before
the Smoketowners could reach him. McTeague was
thrust off and held back.

Brian Blackpool forced his way into the midst of
the crowd.

“Stop this business right here!’ he cried. “If
there’s a fight, I'll have Bixby declare the game off.
We're here to play baseball, not to fight.”

“W’at’s der matter wit’ yer?” snarled McTeague.
“Didn’t yer see him t’row me down?”

“And I saw you try to give him the knee. You're
to blame, Mike, and you know it.”

At this McTeague tore his cap from his head, flung
it on the ground, and smashed_his spikes through it.

“Den here’s where I quit!” he roared. “You coaxed
me back inter der game, but I’m done. I don’t play
no more.”

“Take off your suit,” commanded Blackpool, point-
ing a finger at the Terror. “We'll get along without
you.”

The Smoketowners -wavered, muttering among
themselves. A few of them agreed that Brian was
right, although the greater part of the crowd seemed
inclined to stand by McTeague.

“Have you a man to fill his place, Brian?” asked
Arlington. “If it’s going to stop the game

99

 

“We'll play with eight men rather than to stand for,

any more of this,” said Brian.

“Don’t you do it,” came from Chester. “There
are plenty of players here. Take one of the Pointers.
I think Merriwell will loan you a man. Eh, Dick?”

“Sure,” answered Merriwell instantly. “I think
you're better off without McTeague, Blackpool.
Here’s Singleton, who can cover that sack.”’

“But McTeague’s suit won’t fit me,” objected big
Bob lazily. “I don’t feel like playing to-day.”

“Why don’t you play, Merriwell?” suggested Ar-
lington. “You can cover first.”

Dick glanced toward Brian.

“Tf you will,” said Blackpool.

“All right,’ nodded Dick. “Give me time to get
into a suit.”

CHAPTER VIIL.
A CHANGE OF PITCHERS,

Shedding his suit in the carpenter-shop, Mike Mc-
Teague vowed he would never wear it again.
“It will be a good thing for Smoketown if you

AIP EOP

seemed to possess better control and sharper curves, _

 

  

WEEKLY.

  

never do,” said Dick. ‘You have a mistaken idea of
baseball. Clean baseball is the finest sport in. the
world, but dirty baseball is disgusting. You don’t
know how to play a clean game, McTeague.”

And Mike was forced to swallow this, being afraid
of Merriwell, who had once whipped him in a square
fight.

The Pine Pointers. and the players of both teams
cheered as Dick came hurrying onto the field.

Bixby had called time, and the game was now re-
sumed, with Barney Carney on first and Bob Bubbs at
bat.

“High and close, Brian,” called Dick. “He never
could hit ’em there. Trim his whiskers.” :

“Oh, you think you know all about my. style of
batting,” scoffed Bubbs, “but you’ve got another guess
coming to you.”

The infielders crept toward the plate for a short hit
or a bunt:

Bubbs tried to bunt, but the ball went foul.

Bixby declared a strike.

Again the batter attempted to bunt, and again the
ball went foul, making the second. strike.

Arlington whipped over a drop, and Bubbs missed.

Barney Carney was still on first.

On the first ball pitched to Cutting, however, Carney
stretched himself for second.

Kipp made a beautiful throw to McDade and “—
the Irish youth by a narrow margin.

Cutting laced a fly into right field, where Huglippe
captured it.

\ “Now get after them, Smoketown!’’ cried Earl
Gardner. “You can win right here.”

It seemed that Smoketown had a chance for scores,
as Blackpool led off with a hit.

Huglippe advanced him by sacrificing.

Kipp laced a fly into the field.

Swan and Ditson both made for the ball.

“Take it, Ditson!” cried Arlington. S

Apparently Swan did not hear Chester, for he kept —
on, and the two men collided, both going to the
ground.

, The ball was lost in the grass for a moment, aif
Blackpool reached third. Duncan prevented him from
scoring by securing the Spalding and hurriedly throw
ing it to Arlington. car

But now there were two men on the bases and only
one out. To make it more serious, the head of the
batting-order was up. RS

Chester put on steam. Never in his life had he

    
 
  
  
  
   

  
   
     

 

   
   
   
 
 
   
  
  
   
 
  
    
 
  

\

Ret
=

16

  

McDade fanned.
“All roight, Chister, me daisy,”

Carney, “they’ll nivver touch yez.”

Perkins did hit the ball, but he drove it at Bubbs,
who froze to it as if his life depended upon the result
and burned it across the diamond to Sparkfair for
the third put-out.

, With the fifth inning finished, the Wolves still held
the lead by the narrow margin of one run. To open
the sixth, Arlington connected with the ball for a
beautiful two-bagger.

Sparkfair bunted and was out at first, while Chester
took third. 8

Then Swan and Arlington worked the “squeeze
play.” In the effort to stop the run Smoketown per-
mitted Swan to reach first. |

Chester crossed the pan.

Swan tried to steal on the first ball pitched’ to

Pickering.

Again Kipp threw beautifully to second, and Swan
was caught by ten feet, at least. —

“Pickering hit a weak one to third and was thrown
out. ‘

“All right, boys,” laughed Chet;
down.”

With Merriwell at bat, Arlington was fired to do
his best, and, the first two balls being strikes, it be-
gan to look as if he had Dick in a hole.

“let’s hold them

In vain Chester tried to lead Dick into reaching #

for wide ones. The result of thisi was that he soon
found himself compelled to put the Spalding over,
three balls having been called on him. Ff

Dick wondered whether Chester would put it over
or permit him to walk. He held himself ready in
case the Wolfwoods captain did find the plate with
a good one.

Arlington tried for the inside corner.

Merriwell fell back a bit and met the ball with a
sharp swing.

* It was a clean single. :
Hornblower seemed up to snuff, for he bunted and
sacrificed Dick to second. . .

Cotton followed with a hit to right field.
-¢ Merriwell scored.
~~ Cotton took second on the effort to stop the run.

_ And now Goggles Grady smashed the ball for ‘two

sacks, and Cotton went home, tying the scgre.

~The Smoketowners were red-hot, and Arlington

5

‘was worried. Try as he might, Chester could not

find the plate and Blackpool walked.
-Huglippe hit safely.

ike aor

laughed Barney

WEEKLY.

Grady might have scored, but he lost his footing in
rounding third and was compelled to get back to that
sack.

The bases were full.

With the crowd howling wildly, Chester went off

his feet completely and handed Kipp a pass, forcing
, another run.
This put the locals in the lead.
The bases were still filled and only one man out.
Chester realized that the situation was-a desperate
With unusual judgment, he. called Sparkfair
into the diamond and requested him to pitch.
“I’m clean up in the ‘air, Spark,” he said. “Can't
seem to settle down. See if you can’t stop this busi-

one,

39
.

ness. If you don’t stop it, our goose is cooked
Although he was not at all anxious to go into the
box, Dale made no protest, seeing that Chester was
really upset and in such a condition that he would
almost surely give the game away if he continued
pitching.
The spectators howled derisively when they saw that
Chet was going to quit.
“That’s the stuff! that’s the stuff!’ they cried.
“Now give it to the next one, boys! Bat his eyes out!
Show ’em how to play baseball! Show the summer
swells how to play the game!” ep
\. Sparkfair’s face assumed a sad and apprehensive
expression, Apparently he was badly frightened the
noment he took the ball from Chester.

The crowd roared with delight. .

“Look at Curly Locks!’ whooped a big man. “His

_ teeth are chattering and his knees shaking. He'll be a

perfect snap.”

“Want to limber your arm, Sparkfair?’ asked
Brian.

“Nun-nun-no, I gug-guess not,” faltered Dale
doubtfully. “I gug-guess it won’t make any dud-dif-
ference whether I limber up or not.”

At this the crowd howled still louder.

“You're right,” said the big man, “it won’t make
a bit of difference. The boys have got ye goin’ and
we're goin’ to bury ye right here.” ’

Knowing Sparkfair as he did, Dick was inclined to

j | ; ‘
_ believe there ,was.a surprise due the Smoketown play-

ers and the gpectators.

Literally beaming with confidence and eagerness,
McDade gripped his bat in position to) hit,

After toeing the slab and seeming on the point of
pitching, Dale apparently changed his mind, for he
called Barney Carney and walked toward the plate.

“Swap gum! swap gum!” yelled a Smoketowner.

 

   
     
   
 
  
   
    
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
    
    
  

 

 

  
  

 

 

 

 

   

 

ve

 

SERACRS gee SE POD

NAOT Ee aes a
Tae take. RPS ges Se ae Ne E

struck at the ball the Spalding took a sharp shoot and

_ the batte missed. would have been a ball. He barely touched it with his
bat, but did not deflect it enough to prevent Carney —

- Mat a pass.. He can’t find the pan.”

TIP TOP WEEKLY. | 17

  

 

Carney stepped in front of the plate, where Dale batter. “I don’t know how I happened to. miss that
met him, and for a few moments their heads were one.”
close together. Sparkfair now threw what seemed to be a high ball.

“That won’t do ’em any good,” wheezed a blear- Apparently it was far too high, but it took a marvel-
eyed man by the name of Corbin. “I'll bet the next ously sharp drop and cantts down across McDade’s
three men to bat git hits.” shoulders.

“That’s a cinch,” chuckled Rip Gordon, who as Although the drop astonished the batter, he «vas
usual was “wearing his cowboy clothes, “The next quick of eye and saw that it was liable to be a strike
three batters are McDade, Perkins, and Merriwell. eyen though he did not swing. Realizing this, he did
We know McDade and Perkins can biff the ball, and his best to connect with the leather, but missed again,
we've seen Mefriwell hit it, too.” to his uncontrollable disgust.

Still seeming to exert effort to prevent himself from

e a “You're out!” roared Bixby.
trembling visibly, Sparkfair returned to the box.

“What do yer think of that?’ wheezed Corbin, in
surprise. - “Mat struck out.”

“Mistake,” declared Rip Gordon. “You'll see
Reddy hit it.”

Perkins rolled out to the plate on his crooked legs,
giving McDade the laugh. :

“T’m ashamed of yer, Mat,” he said. . “Why, that
pitcher is scared blue. I can hear his teeth chatter.”

“Nivver moind, me bhoy,!” cried Barney Carney,
crouching behind the plate; “nivver moind phwat they
say, but put the sphere roight over. Here’s the pocket
for it, me hearty.”

He held up his big mitt as if expecting Spark to
send the ball straight into it,

Dale had a peculiar windmill sort of delivery which

he sometimes used. He now swung into it to the con- he Smok ; lof he Lelie hat Mt
tinued amusement of the spectators. When the ball AR: SOMES NERS MCS AN Orne age nN ae re

left his hand it passed behind McDade’s back, Barney D ade's sitiee-out had been nar of oe ae
Carney stopping it with a seeming effort. ' anything else. They urged Perkins to “lace the ball

“Ho! ho! ho!” laughed Corbin, slapping Rip Gor- oe bring in wig runs.
don on the shoulder. “Did yer see that? He'll give The first one pitched to Reddy looked good, but it
actually seemed to dodge under his arms as he swung

the bat. i

“Look at the style he puts into his movements,” 5
Bixby declared a strike.

snickered Rip. ‘“He’s seen some pitcher do those

stunts, and he’s trying to copy the delivery.” The next was one of Dale’s high balls which turned

into a drop and shot down across the ne
chap’s chest.

- Reddy was fooled and did not wiggle his bat.

McDade was impatient.
“Do get one over the plate,’ he implored.
Nevertheless, the next ball pitched was both wide

and high, and once more Carney made a brilliant stop. : : ;
» “What are you doing, Perk—what are you doing re

“Put in another pitcher! Put in another pitcher! : ;
; P P cried Brian, dancing nervously near ae “Get
yelled the spectators.
ed against it! Get against it!’
While they were yelling Spark suddenly whipped ¢ SF aouh 4 ki Ww
over a straight one, catching McDade off his guard. : udden anxiety and doubt assai ed Per oe a —
it possible that this yellow-haired chap had deceived
them all? Was it \possible Sparkfair was a clever,
. pitcher in Spite of his appearance?
‘6 . , it”? i ; r re ile Rat ;
Very well, ‘sir, said Dale mildly. i you like “Pye got to hit it,” thought Perkins.
it, P'll give you another in the same place.” | .

“Two strikes!” cried Bixby.

“Strike!” shouted Bixby.

“Do that again!” snapped McDade.

Apparently he tried to do this, but when McDade anxious, and this was precisely Reddy’s condition.

His great anxiety led him to bite at an out curve that

“Stri-i-i-ike two!” called Bixby.
“Look out, Mac!” cried Brian Blackpool from third, from gathering it into his mitt and squeezing it there.
“We want these runs. Hit it—hit it out!”
“Oh, I'll hit it, all right,” muttered the confident out, and three of the home team were left on bases.

_ “Tt is always a bad thing for a batter to become _

Dale had stopped the scoring, for this was the third ©

    
  
 
  
   
 
  
   
  
  
   
 
   
     
    
   
   
  
   
  
    
    
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
   
  
 
  
  
    
  
     
   
 
 

ae

ink Mts BEA a as

 
   
 
  
   
  

TOP

CHAPTER IX,
SPARKFAIR’S SLAB-WORK.

“*Rah!’rah! ’rah! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah!
‘rah! Sparkfair! Sparkfair! Sparkfair!”’
The Pine Pointers gave Dale a hearty cheer
demurely walked over toward the bench.
Chester rushed up to Spark, took his arm, and con-
gratulated him. ;
“Great, work!”
‘chaps he indsomely.

"Rah! ’rah!

as he

said Arlington. “You fooled those
Too bad I let them get the lead.”
“There are three more innings,” said Dale. “It
seems as if we ought to make some runs before the
game ends.” |

Once more Duncan Ditson was up, and he awakened
the hopes of the Wolves by cracking out a handsome
single.

“Play the game, boys!” cried Arlington.

Both Ditson and Shadd understood Chester’s mean-
ing. Homer bunted and was caught before he could
reach first, but he had sacrificed Duncan to second.

‘““Now we want a hit, Carney,” called Chet.

“Tt’s harrud luck Oi’ve had,” said the Irish youth,
“but Oi’m due now.” — ,

He tried to drop the ball over the infield, but Reddy
Perkins made a marvelous and seemingly impossible
eatch.

Although Cotton covered second and Perkins
snapped the ball to him, Ditson was wary, and they did
not catch him off the sack for a double play.

“You see what you have to do, Bubbs,” said Ches-
ter, as little Bob walked out with his bat.

The Wolfwoods short-stop had not done anything
since the first. inning. Apparently Brian had found
Bob’s weak spot, for the best Bubbs could do was to
lift a foul back of the first-base line, and his face wore
a disgusted Se hip as he s saw Merriwell scoop the
ball.

“That’s clipping their claws!’ cried Nubby Cotton,

dancing in from his position. ‘“That’s pulling the teeth
of the fierce old Wolves. Oh, we've got ’em!”
“Play the game, everybody,” urged Arlington, his
team again taking the field. “Let’s make it a fight to
the finish. Look out for Merriwell, Spark. You know
him,” Vineet

Dick led off forthe locals. He fouled two of Dale’s
benders, and; two strikes were called on him.

Sparkfair was anxious to strike him out, but failed,

for Diek drove a long liner into left field.

_ Although he had: made a mess of his batting, Jim
- Pickering got im front of the hall by quick work and
took it cleanly,

 

WEEKLY.

“That helps,

Pick—that helps,”
from his position at first.

Hornblower batted one at Shadd, who blocked the
ball, but juggled it until it was too late to get the man
at first.

laughed Chester,

‘Here's. where we add some more runs!” cried
Blackpool. “Watch out, Nubby.”’

Cotton nodded and tried to bother Carfiey in order
to let Hornblower try for second on the first ball
pitched. |
gathered the Spalding, stepped to one side
and whistled it toward second.

Carl Cutting was at the other end of the line and
took the throw cle anly, putting it onto the Smoke-
towner for an out.

“They still think you can’t throw, Barney, old boy,”
laughed Chester.

Carney

“It’s a bit weak me wing is,” said the irish youth.
“Oi’m surprised at me luck.”

The crowd no longer scoffed at Sparkfair. At last
they realized that Dale had the laugh on them and they
were disgusted with themselves for being fooled.

Spark struck Cotton ‘Ont.

“But we’ve got ’em,” declared Kipp.
make another run.”

“They can’t

It began to look as if the Smoketown catcher was
right, for both Cutting and Arlington fanned.

Then Sparkfair walked into the box, planted his
slugger sgerhst the leather, and lifted it far over the
center-fielder’s head.

And now Dale showed his speed as a base-runner.
Cutting over first, he crossed second like a
a hundred=yard dash. On to third he went.

Patton had the ball and threw it to Cotton,

who had run out a little toward the dutfield to Te- |

ceive the throw.

“Go it, ye golden sunflower!” shouted Barney Car-
ney, as Spark crossed the third cushion. “Score, me
bhoy—score!”’ _

One of the Smoketown spectators had moved down
toward the third-base line, and as Dale passed this fel-
low put out a foot and tried to trip him.

Spark leaped over the extended foot and kept on
without a break im his speed.

Cotton threw to the plate, but Dale was there ahead

of the ball and the score was tied.

Arlington caught Spark’s hand and wrung it de- ia cs

lightedly.

“Finest hit Pve seen in a hundred years!” he ex-

uberantly cried.

a sprinter in

 
   
       
 

  

 

   

 

      
 

 
        
 
       
         
     
   
   
   
   
  
 

 
 
    

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work of his teammates.

LiF -EOr

Mark Swap “got a life” on a bad bounder to Cot-
ton. :

Following this,

g he surprised his teammates by pilfer-

ing second in beautiful style.

But Pickering was at bat, and there seemed-no pros-
pect of another run.

A surprising thing happened.
Jim batted a slow bounder
one fancied the fellow out,
of the ball.
struck'a pebble and shot off to

By some accident
toward first base. Every
for Merriwell was in front
Just before the Spalding reached Dick it
one side.

Merriwell made a lunge and thrust out
his hand.
got the ball in his

Blackpool,

sidelong
He struck at full length on the ground and
fingers. Sitting up, he looked for
expecting Brian had covered the sack.
Brian was not there, having. started too late. It was
impossible for Merriwell to recover his feet and reach
the bag ahead of, Pickering.

Swan had taken third.

“That was rotten bad work on my part, Merriwell,”
shaking head. made a
That man was ours if I'd covered first

Brian, his “Vou

corking stop.
as I should.”’
Ditson,

again at bat, waited for Pickering to go

* down to second.

Jim, went down without the slightest hesitation.
Kipp threw on a line to the sack.

_Cotton ran in front of second as if to cut off the
throw. He put up his hands, but held them wide apart
and let the ball go when he saw that Swan was not
trying’ to score.

Seeing that he would be ,caught, Pickering store d
\

on the base-line.

McDade took the ball and started up the line after
Jim, who promptly retreated.

Then there was excitement, for four of the locals

pinned Pickering between them and ‘kept him dodging

in a lively fashion.

Satisfied that this was a trick to let Swan go ‘eae
to tie the score, Merriwell warned them repeatedly
while they were pursuing Pickering. In’spite of his

warnings, they permitted Mark to sneak offthird until

he was far enough to make a desperate dash for the

pan.

Too late to stop the run, Cotton threw to the plate.
Swan was safe on a slide, and Pickering gave a
joyous ‘yell as he reached second.
“Bad business, Brian,” said Dick, shaking his head.
“Couldn’t seem to get them wise to the trick.”
Blackpool was not a little vexed over the dumb

 

WEEKLY.

 

£9

“We can’t expect to win if we let them work such
old gags as that,” he said.

Arlington delightedly congratulated Swan and
shouted his approbation to Pickering.
3rian did his best to strike Ditson
Duncan declined to be struck out. Even though
he finally landed on the ball
and cracked it into right field.

Pickering, having a lead off second, was sent home
by the coacher as he crossed third. The throw to stop
the run was a bit wide, and Jim scored.

“That’s playing ball!” cried Arlington. “We've got
this game cinched, fellows. With Sparkfair handing
’em up in his best style, they’ll never lead us again.”

Homer Shadd popped up an infield fly, making the
third man out.

“Now hold ’em—hold ’em right where they are,”
urged Chester. |

Sparkfair responded by striking out Grady, Black-
pool, and Huglippe in rapid succession.

Setting his teeth,
out.
he missed two benders,

The ninth inning opened with the Wolves one run
to the good. Brian Blackpool worked like a Trojan.
One run was a lead that might be overcome, but should
the visitors add more tallies it seemed reasonable to
believe the game irreparably lost.

Carney popped up a foul to Kipp.

Bubbs was out on an easy infield bounder.

Although Chester implored Cutting to give him a

chance to hit, Carl was not equal to the occasion and

fanned. #8.

“Now we've got to have a run,” said Blackpool.
“One will tie and tw6 will win. Get after Sparkfair,
fellows. Don’t let him make monkeys of you. You

can hit him if you try.”

They tried hard enough,
hurry. }

McDade followed by popping up a weak infield fly
that was gathered by Shadd. i

but Kipp fated in a

“Only one more man, Spark!” cried Arlington. -

“Get this red-headed chap. Don’t let Merriwell have
a chance at it.”
-Reddy Perkins smashed a furious grounder at Bob
Bubbs.
\ “Wow! wow!” barked Bubbs, as he fumbled the
ball, which bounded away from him,

_ Perkins was racing for first as if his life depended

on getting there in safety.
With the nimbleness of a cat, Bubbs made a dive

after the ball, caught it up, and whistled it across the —

‘

diamond without the loss of a second.
It was a beautiful throw to Chester and reached his

       
  

a
oe
ay
pe
4
ey

   
       
       
     
     
     
       
     
         
   
       
     
     
   
  
  
    
    
  
   
  
   
 
    
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
 
   
  
   
 
 
  
  
   
   
 
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
     
 

 

.

~~

me get located: at Wolfwoods,”’ said Chet.
what you did, I suppose it was rather rough on you

different next time.”
_ “What’ll you do without McTeague ?”’

 

20 TIP. -LOP
hands just as the bow-legged chap was making the
final leap for the sack.

“Out!” shouted Bixby.

The game was over, and the Wolves had won by ‘a
single score.

The score by innings was as follows:

PME es ee woe net

2 5 POO Gg
SHMOMELO WIS Sex Gn tries Se omer oo 2 0° 0'Q 4'0°0 oF
MLODAVOCS: tashe Gee yee hme cme A MYT OE ee Oo Ie Oe

CHAPTER X.
A TOUCH OF JEALOUSY.

In spite of his bitter disappointment, Brian Black-
pool showed his “‘sporting-blood” by hustling to gather
his team and giving Wolfwoods a hearty cheer.

The Wolves responded with a cheer for Smoketown.

“You couldn’t save them, Merriwell, old. man,”
laughed Chester. ‘We were bound to take this game,
and we're going to take the game day after to-mor-
row.”

“Don’t get overconfident, Arlington,” smiled Dick.
“There’s many a slip produced by overconfidence.”’

“We've got the team to trim you,” was the retort.
“You’ve played Smoketown to a tie, but we won.”’

Mrs. Arlington leaned out of the automobile to
congratulate her son as he smilingly approached.

“I’m very glad you won, Chester,” she said. “You
deserve to win. It shows what you can do when you
havea fair chance.”

“They made us fight for it,” acknowledged Arling-
ton. :

“T was very much surprised to see Dick Merriwell
go into the. game against you,” said the woman. “I
didn't think he’d do that.”

“Oh, that was all right,” assured Chester quickly.
“They had to have a man when that thug McTeague
quit on them. I was willing Blackpool should choose
any one he wished. You'll find him a fine fellow,
mother. I want you to meet him.”

Looking around, Chet discovered Brian and called
him.

The son of the Smoketown magnate was introduced
to Mrs. Arlington, June, and Madge.

“T’ve told my mother and the girls how you helped.
“After

to bring down a team that could beat you.”

“That’s the first game,” smiled Brian. “It may be

WEEKLY.

“Vil fill his place. Tl do it if I have to pay a man
to play the position. I don’t think I'll have to do that,
however. I know some fellows who would be glad
to come down this way for an outing if they could
find plenty of baseball. Apparently there'll be enough
of it during the remainder of the season.”

“Sure,”

for.

nodded Chet, “that’s what we’re looking
We play Pine Point day after to-morrow, and
we're going to tackle Lobsterville as soon as
arrange for a game with that team.
up to Wolfwoods, Brian.
the old Havener house.”

we can
You must come

There’s plenty of room in

“How about the spooks?” laughingly inquired
Blackpool.

“Well, we haven’t seen anything ghostly thus far,
although we've heard some mighty queer noises.
Sometimes in the night there are queer wailings and
groanings around the old house. We lay it to the
wind. You see mother and the girls have found a
good boarding-place with an old farmer, and we fel-
lows have the whole house to ourselves. We've got a
coon man of all work and a Chinese cook. The queer
sounds have frightened the darky until he’s turned al-
most white. I’m afraid we’ll lose him. The China-
man doesn’t seem to know enough to be scared.
Whenever he hears those noises he says: ‘Glost
whistlee velly loud. Glost likee music. Bimeby pletty
soon me catchee him, teachee him how to play Yankee
Doodley.’ Oh, he’s a great Chink.” 3

“I shall be pleased to accept your hospitality, Ar-
lington, old man,” said Brian.
seemed to have any attraction for me, but I fancy con-
ditions have changed.”

He accompanied this remark with a smile, glan-
cing toward June and Madge.

“Well, I’m going to get out of these togs, mom,”
said Arlington. “I'd like a bath, but suppose I’ll have
to wait until we get back home, where we can all have
a dip in Deep Pond.”

“We may leave Smoketown ahead of you, Chester,”
said Mrs. Atlington. “I wish to take a look at the
place, but that won’t require much time.”

“It'll take you about ten minutes in the machine,”
said Chet. “See you this evening.
By-by, Madge.”

Brian lifted his cap, and the two lads turned away.

Dick was found changing his clothes with the others.
in the carpenter-shop. Bubbs and Sparkfair were try-
ing to chaff him, but he did not mind their joshing in
the least.. Of the victorious team Duncan Ditson was

.the only silent member. :

So-long, June.

“Wolfwoods never

peices

  

 

 

 

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hat,
lad
uld

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ind
can
me

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SRS Oe ee SE eee
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~

donned his own clothes, Merriwell bade

and departed.

| Having
jthem ‘‘so-long”

He had notified his campmates that he would meet
them at the Pinewood House. On

 

the way to. the

/ hotel he came in sight of the temporary home of the

Arling-
with

Blairs, and was surprised to discover Mrs.
ton’s automobile standing in front of the house,
a number of the Smoketown people, men, women, and
children, gathered about it.

“Something has happened,” decided Dick, as he
hurried forward.
| On inquiring, he was informed that the car “had
struck little Tom Blair, who had been taken into the
house in an unconscious state.

Mrs. Arlington and the girls were inside.

He found the little cripple on a bed, with a bleed-

ing gash near his right tefnplé. The boy’s mother was

move about, sought to reassure and calm her.
June was assisting Mrs. Blair. |
1 “How badly is he hurt?” asked Dick anxiously.
“Not seriously, I hope,” answered Mrs. Arlington.
“Somehow the brake failed to hold the car. He tried
to cross the road in front of us. Fortunately the
e chauffeur was able to stop in time to prevent us from
running over the boy.”’
Agatha Blair seemed overwrought with excitement.
. “Oh, Dick, Dick!” she cried, hurrying to him.
Then she collapsed and. would have fallen had he
not caught her in his arms. He did his best to com-
fort and reassure her. A doctor had been summoned,
and he appeared in a very short time.

cae

 

All waited anxiously for the physicfan to examine
the injured boy.

#

he

After some minutes the doctor announced that lit-
tle Tom had no broken bones and did not seem to be
greatly injured, as the cut near his temple was not at
all dangerous.

 

“l’m very glad to hear this, doctor,’ said Mrs.
| Arlington. “You will attend to him and send me your
| bill at Wolfwoods. If I can do anything else, I stand
| ready and willing.”

 

| Agatha Blair fell to crying and laughing over her
| brother, fondling him affectionately.
June had turned away, a strange look on her face,
“Let us go, mother,” she said;
thing so unusual in her face that Dick looked at her
quickly.

 

_- Their eyes met, and her glance was full of accusa-
_ tion.

 

TP gee

bathing the wound, while Adam Blair, now able to’

and there was some-—

WEEKLY. 25)

Wondering at this, Merriwell followed her from the
house. .

‘“What’s the matter, June?”
you look at me like that?”
declined to answer,

he asked.

“Why did
At first she simply moving
quickly toward the waiting car. He followed her,
urging her to explain.

Having stepped into the car, disdaining his assist-
ance, she turned on him suddenly.

“Miss Blair is girl,’ she said. “I
wondered what attraction you could find in this smoky
old town. I wondered what brought you way up here
on the coast of Maine.” é

He started to protest that her suspicions were un-

just, but was interrupted by the appearance of Mrs.

a very pretty

Arlington and Madge, whom he assisted to their
seats.

The driver cranked the.-engine, which started
promptly.

“Good-by!” called Dick, waving his cap.

Mrs. Arlington bowed and Madge smiled an answer,
but June did not speak, did not even look at him, as the
automobile moved away.

» CHAPTER XI.
THE CLOUD.

When Dick set out to secure transportation for him-
self and the members of his team to Wolfwoods the
day of the game he was not a little surprised to learn
that it was impossible to secure a buckboard in Smoke-
town. The small lime-burning seacoast town did not
boast of a single buckboard.

By vigorous hustling Merriwell finally obtajiied
turnouts of various sorts sufficient to convey the boys
to their destination amid the hills. They started im-
mediately after an early midday meal in Smoketown,
and Dick saw all the others off ere, with Buckhart as
his only companion, he seated himself in an old-
fashioned top buggy and drew the reins over the back
of a long-limbed, ‘vicious-eyed roan horse.

“Our cayuse is sure a beaut, pard,” chuckled the
Texan, as they rattled on their way out of Smoketown.

“There doesn’t seem to. be anything fascinatingly ~

attractive about this nag,” retorted Dick, “but his
owner said that he was a great traveler, except when
he took an ugly streak and balked. If the horse balks
on us, we’s

will move in a few minutes if he is not urged or
whipped.”

e simply got to wait in patience until he —
decides to go on of his own accord. I’m told that he

    
 
   
  

   
 
   
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
   
     
   
 

   
 
    
 
  
   
 
 
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
    
   
  
  
  
   
    
   
 
   
  
   
   
  
 
   
   
   
 

neem

‘

 

22

“Great tarantulas! I hope the varmint doesn’t hold
us up and prevent us from arriving in time to start
the game promptly. If that happened, Chet would
certain claim we did it purposely, being afraid of him
and his terrible Wolves. Why didn't you staf out
ahead of some of the others, partner? In that case,
had our trotter balked on us, we could have found
something to tote us into Wolfwoods.” =,

“That’s right,” nodded Dick; “but I took the man’s
word for it that this horse would cause little trouble
if permitted to start of its own accord after balking.”

“The gent cértain provides a whip for skinning the
hide right off the cayuse,” chuckled the Texan, as
Dick flourished the whip, which was a queer old-faSh-
ioned one with a long, pliable rawhide lash.

“Something like a quirt, isn’t it?” said Merriwell, as
he swung the whip through the air, the lash cracking
like a_ pistol. :

“It’s near a genuine bull-whacker whip. It’s like
the kind they used to use on the overland trails in the
old days. They hitched several yoke of oxen to a
prairie-schooner and teamed them with whips _ like
that. Those bull-whackers were tough customers.
Sometimes they got into a fight and used their whips.
I’ve heard that one of them could cut open a man’s
cheek at eight paces with the lash of a bull-whip.
They don’t ‘have any more such wild old times in the
West. The country sure is getting civilized and
anemic, like the East.”

It, was a relief when they passed from the smoky
atmosphere of the lime-burning. town into the clear,
sweet air of the open country. Having received ex-
plicit directions for making the journey, there was no
faltering or loss of time inquiring the way.

Dick seemed to fall into a reverie. There was a
cloud on his face, and his lips were pressed together
as-he drove in silence. Buckhart realized there was
something troubling his companion, yet for some time
he refrained ‘from asking questions. ‘They were pass-
ing through a strip of woods when the Texan suddenly
observed : ’

“Waugh! What’s the use?
take, pard.”

Maybe it’s all a mis-’

Dick shrugged his shoulders and suddenly launched
forth the lash of the whip, aiming at a leaf at the end
of a'tree-branch and cutting it off as cleanly as if it,
had been clipped by a knife.

“Perhaps it is,” he said. .““Mistakes will happen.”

“You haven’t been just right since Arlington played
in Smoketown, yet I don’t believe you’re eating your
heart opt because he defeated Blackpool. It'll give us

- thought the Texan.

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

all the more satisfaction to take a fall out of the
Wolves,”

“Oh, I was quite willing Chester should win that
game.”

“Well, June is in Wolfwoods, and that ought to
perk you up some. You'll see her to-day.”

“Possibly,” nodded Dick,

Brad continued to wonder.
this was an occasion when Merriwell should be bub-
bling with high spirits, yet it was plainly apparent that

To him it seemed that

the lad was unusually. downcast.

“{ opine he’ll tell me when he gets good and ready,”
“T'll let him take his time.”

Conversation languished. Fortunately the horse did
not balk or show a particularly ugly streak on the road
to Wolfwoods, although he was frightened and seemed
tempted to run away shortly:before they came in sight
of the little town amid the hills. They were passing
a farmhouse, and two vicious dogs, chained beneath
ia tree, leaped and tore at their fastenings, barking
furiously. The horse started to run, but Merriwell
handled him without much trouble and finally brought
him down into a trot.

“Those dogs are some ugly for sure,’ observed the
Texan. “Let them loose, and I opine they’d try to
chaw up anybody who passed that house. Wonder
why the man keeps such onery varmints ?”’

“Some men wouldn’t keep a dog unless it was ugly,”
said Dick. “Some time those animals will get loose
and cause a runaway or do damage of some sort.”

Coming over the brow of a hill, they rattled down
into Wolfwoods, nestling: in its little hollow like a
bird’s nest high and safe above the rest of the world.

“There’s the field, pard!” cried the Texan, point-
ing toward Deep Pond and the old Havener house near
the water.

The field was in plain view, and the Wolves were
already practising.
tators had gathered to witness the game, for lining
the fence were a number of turnouts and horses
hitched to the rails. A real game of baseball was a
novelty in that place, and Chester had taken pains
to notify the surrounding country that a red-hot game
was sure to occur. This had brought out most of the
Wolfwoods people, besides inducing various country-
men to drive in for the purpose of witnessing the
sport. At one side of the field seats, made from old
lumber found on the farm, had been'erected. Most of
the spectators were gathered near these seats, but over
by the edge of the grove a number of persons were

sitting on the grass, shaded by the trees. In this gath-.

Apparently a collection of spec- _

“_e

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‘

erins
mer

a:
gloo
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wer
a fle
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field.
figures along the edge of the grove.

— er Sees

ELE eer

ering could be seen many of the fair sex in light sum-

}mer dresses.

The old Havener house, which had seemed so
gloomy and deserted when first beheld by Arlington,
now presented quite an altered appearance. Blinds
were thrown back, doors and windows were open, and

} a flag was gaily flying from a tall pole newly planted

in front of the house. On the broad front steps a
group of people could be seen.

 

charge of the horse,

‘squeakee in smokee-stackee when wind blowee.
jolly glost.

said pe. sauntering up to Dick.
plenty of balls
_ balls, old man.’

“Well, Chet sure has got a great place here, part-
ner,”’ remarked the Texan, having taken in everything
to be seen. “Look at that field. It’s a cotker. Look
at the diamond. It cost him something to have her
fixed up like that.”

Still Dick was silent. He was not looking at the
First his eyes had surveyed the line of human
He was now
inspecting the group upon the steps of the house. He
was looking for June Arlington, and he could discover

| her nowhere.

As they turned in through the gate and came down
the private road leading toward the house the final

arrivals from Pine Point were greeted with a cheer.

Arlington sent the colored man of all work to take
and himself directed Dick and
Brad to change their clothes for playing-suits in the

house.

The Chinese cook, grinning and bobbing, was at the

door and showed them a room set apart for their
use.

?

he chattered.
Glost
Velle

“Velle glood loom to dlessee in,’
“Smokee-stackee comee down by dlessee-loom.

He makee music.”
“What’s he talking about, partner?’ asked. Buck-
hart.

“He’s trying to tell us that the ghost makes music

in the chimney here when the wind blows, Brad.”

“Get out, you gibbering heathen!’ shouted the

_ Texan, as he pulled off a shoe and flung it at the
_ Celestial, who hastily dodged out of the room.

It did not take the boys long to prepare for busi+
ness. They found their comrades waiting in playing-
Suits when they hastened forth to the field.

“Just about time for you to practise, Merriwell,”
“Have you
We're supplied. You can te our
_ “TI sent over balls by T ubbs,” said Dick. “You cer-

inly have a fine place here, Chet. Do you like Bee

WEEKLY.
\
“Oh, it’s great, great!
days, Merriwell.”’

We're living high these

                         

“T think so. She’s tivo over the other side of
town, you know.”

“T don’t see her here.”

“Oh, no. She’s out walking with my friend Black-
pool. I told her all about him, for I had amidea she
would take something of a fancy to him. I was right.
She has.”

“Come on, pard,”
wing of yours,”

Dick turned m answer to the summons.

upon his face had deepened. ;

cried Buckhart. “Limber up that

The cloud

CHAPTER XII.

BY Av SEiNGLE RUN,

Although the game was one of the fastest ever
played on. any field, it was in some respects disap-
pointing to the country spectators. From the start it
was a pitchers’ battle, with Merriwell and Sparkfair
opposed, and during six innings neither side made a
clean hit. The Wolves succeeded in landing one man
on first through an error, while the Pointers had
equally good fortune by getting a runner down to the
sack on balls.

But neither of these men saw second base. One
died in an effort to steal, while the other was forced
by the next batter, who hit into a double play.

In the first of the seventh, with one man out, Spark-

fair sustained an injury that forced him to retire from

the slab. Big Bob Singleton batted a terrific liner at
Dale, who tried to take it with his bare hand and had
his index-finger dislocated at the first joint. Dale
promptly pulled his finger into place, but the joint
swelled and stiffened so that he was compelled to give
up pitching. Nevertheless, he refused to retire from
the game ‘and took Arlington’s place on first, Chester
going into/the box.

“Hard luck, Dale!’ cried Dick.
couldn’t fight it out.”

Singleton had reached first. Young Joe Crowfoot,
the Indian player, tried to advance big Bob, but his
long drive into the field was captured, and Singleton
was driven back to the initial sack.

Rob Claxton followed Crowfoot, and Arlington Suc-

ceeded in striking the Virginian out.

Early in the game Brad Buckhart had discovered
The

the cause of the cloud on Merriwell’s face.

“Tm sorry we

       
   
  

v4
{
¥

 
      
  

     
         
      
     
     
    
    

    
  
 
   
  
   
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

24 TEP (le
es °

Texan had seen Brian Blackpool and June Arlington

crossing from the highway by a foot-path that led

to the steps of the Havener house.

he was wise to the fact that something had gone wrong

between June and Dick.

“Well,” thought Brad,
to my pard, I don’t admire her

Blackpool had lingered at June's side, until the
seventh With Chester’s change first
to the slab, Brian hastened toward a small group of
Smoketowners and urged them to stir things up by
cheering for Wolfwoods at every opportunity.

“If he doesn’t get back too soon, I’m sure going to
have an interview with that young lady,” thought the
Texan, as he strapped on the body-protector and ad-
justed the mask.

It began to seem as if Merriwell had let up with the
retirement of Sparkfair from the box, for Arlington
secured the first hit off Dick and stretched it into a
two-bagger by great running.

“Get alive, fellows! Wake up!
he cried. ' “Here’s where we win!”

He gave Sparkfair a signal as Dale walked up to
the plate. Spark promptly dropped a bunt in front
of the pan, and Chet took third while Dale was being
thrown out at first.

The Smoketowners cheered SS Blackpool lead-
ing them.

A cheer followed from the group on the steps of
the house, and a flashing sidelong glance told Dick
Merriwell that June had started it. :

Dick’s jaw squared, his teeth were set, and his eyes
flashed. A safe hit meant a run for the Wolves, and
it, was possible that a run would win the game.

“if she prefers that gent

taste any at all.”

inning. from

Stir yourselves!”

~~

_ “She'd like to see me lose to-day,”
“Well, if I lose, I'll die hard.”

And now his speed fairly dazzled Mark Swan.
Never i in his life had Dick sent the ball over in such
a manner. His curves were small, but sharp and
baffling.

Behind the pan Brad Buckhart laughed into the
meshes of his cage as he felt the ball sting through
the big mitt and almost lift him off his feet.

thought Dick.

“That sure is pitching some, pard!” he cried. “The
gent can’t see it at all. Maybe he sees you swing your
arm, but I’m a whole lot sure he doesn’t catch as
much as a glimpse of the-ball when it passes.’

Not a word from Dick. In that grim manner he
quickly struck out Swan.

_ Arlington managed to suppress a groan as Jim
Pickering stepped out to the me

’

In a twinkling

 

WEEKLY. Fis

“That fellow’s in the wrong place on the batting-
It >

order,’ thought Chet. “I have to drop him down

to the bottom. Should have done it before this game
began.”

Had Pickering
the rarest sort of

hit the ball, it would have been by
an accident. He was disturbed and
made nervous by Merriwell’s great speed, and every
time Dick swung
plate. The result*was another strike-out, and Chester

expired at third.

his arm Jim drew away from the

Instead of jogging to the plate with his comrades,
Buckhart trotted over to the steps of the house and
spoke to June. ‘

“Red-hot game, June,” he said.
it?”

“T am sorry Sparkfair was hurt,”
“Still, I hope Chester will make good.”

“Tt’s a whole lot evident that you'd like to see Pine
Point trimmed to-day.”

“How do you like

she replied.

“TIsn’t that natural?
brother’s team win.”

“And still I opine you’re not just happy, June.”

“What makes you think so?” she! quickly asked.

“T reckon that gent Blackpool has beert annoying
you some by his attentions.”

Of course I’d like to see my

“On the contrary, he has not annoyed me in the
least. I think he is a very fine fellow.”

“Well, I’m not here to throw him down any, for I
will admit that he’s a whole lot more decent than I
took him to be the first time I met him. It’s too bad
Agatha Blair isn’t here to-day. Brian is some inter-
ested in her.”

- June caught her breath.

“That’s strange,”’ she said, after a moment, “for it
seems that Dick Merriwell is interested in her, also.”

“Hit. the bull’s s-eye first shot,” thought Brad.

Aloud he said:

“As far as that goes, we’re all interested in her.

You see old Lavan Blackpdol, Brian’s father, evicted
the Blairs and turned them into the streets of Smoke+

town. At that time Adam Blair was so ill that he
could barely lift a hand. They brought him out of
the house on a cot. Merriwell and Steele and I hap-
pened to witness the affair. Jaturally enough, we
were a-plenty indignant. Dick promptly told Lavan

Blackpool what he thought of him and stirred up the ©
Smoketpwners so that Roger Holmes plucked up suffir  —

cient courage to take the Blairs into his house, I opine

that’s about as much as my pard is interested in Aga- |

tha Blair. It’s some different with Bri Blackpool.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard of this,” said June.

}
:

     
    

 

RRO

me
ct

iz
%

 

    
    
  
  
  
  
  

          
     
       
       
            
 
     
      
   

|e

 

  

| Tucker, “Hike, you inflated zephyr! Go home

“I wondered how Dick came to know her so well. It
| seemed very strange to me.”
“T reckon I’ve opened your eyes a bit, my lady,”
q thought Brad, in deep satisfaction. “Maybe you
_ realize that you’ve made an error.”
: At this moment he was called by his comrades and
i. hurried away to join them at the bench.
| — Jolliby had struck out.
Tubbs was at bat.
The fat boy popped up an infield fly.
i “Dern my picter!” he squealed, as he raced toward
first. “T'll bate a- pie that feller drops it.”
“Tl take you!” cried Nubby Cotton, as he $quaregl
himself beneath the ball.
Then Nubby made one of those disgraceful muffs

 

  
  
   
  
  
   
 
 
  
   
  

which always upsets a player.
_ “Til take punkin or squash!” yelled Obediah joy-
Ne ously.

| it to Chester.

: Somehow this muff seemed to worry Arlington, and

| the fact that Merriwell was the next hitter added to

e his uneasiness and apprehension. He decided to pass

_ Dick and take his chances with the head of the bat-

4 ting-order, but the first ball pitched came close to the
| outside corner of the plate, and Merriwell nailed it.

| There was wild excitement as Tubbs tore over the
sacks with Dick gaining on him at every stride.

| “Gug-gug-go it Obey!’ chattered Chip Jolliby.

“He'll be on your cuc-cuc-coat-tails in a minute.”

 

‘ % -. Clenching his fists, Obediah put on steam and made
a wonderful spurt. His eyes bulged from his head
ES and he tore along the base-line from second to third.
“Oh, look at Airy Fairy Lillian!’ cried) Tommy
}>
Tubbs went home, although it seemed as though he
fs would be caught at the pan. In an attempt to slide he
struck on his stomach, bounded like a huge ball, turned
a squarely over, and landed flat upon his back across the
plate.

- The ball had been sent to Barney Carney, who
‘leaped out onto the line and intercepted Dick, who was
trying to follow Tubbs home.

 

; os Merriwell was caught, but the fat boy had landed
} a tally for his team. The Pointers rushed out and
1 lifted Obey to his feet, slapping him on the back, and
} congratulatihg him for his performance. He
barely able to stagger to the bench, where he collapsed
like a bladder that had been punctured.

Tucker rushed in, seized a bat, and—struck out.

- One score, however, proved to be the winning run

 

was

  

TIP fOr

} In great disgust, Nubby secured the ball and tossed”

 

WEEKLY.

of the game, for Merriwell continued to pitch like a
fiend, and not another one of the Wolves saw first
Chester Arlington was the last man up in the

base.
ninth, and he made a desperate bid for a hit, but Dick
shot into the air and pulled down his line drive with
one hand.

Although sadly disappointed, Chester hastily gath-
ered his team and gave the visitors a hearty cheer.

CHAPTER XIII.
AN ADVENTURE ON THE ROAD.
June Arlington had left the field before the game
was over. Somehow, after her talk with Buckhart,

she could not remain to witness the finish.
At the conclusion of the contest Dick looked vainly

for June.

“‘She’s gone,” he thought. “She hated to see me
win.”

Not a little to his surprise, he discovered Brian

Blackpool with the Smoketown crowd. Blackpool
came up and offered congratulations:

“That was a great hit, Merriwell,”’ he said; “but I
don’t suppose you'd ever made itNhad Sparkfair
pitched the game to.a finish.”

“Perhaps not,’ admitted Dick; and that was all he
had to say.

Having changed his clothes, Merriwell lingered in
the hope of seeing June, although he pretended to be
occupied with other matters. He saw the remainder
of the players get’ ready and leave on their way back
to Smoketown.

When the crowd had dispersed Arlington came
forth and found Dick talking to the colored man, who
had just brought the horse and carriage from the
stable.

“T never meant for you to hit that ball, Metrriwell,”
confessed Chester. “I intended to keep it beyond your
reach. I wasgoing to hand you a pass and then see
what I could do with Bubbs and Cutting. You've
taken the first game, all right, but there are others
coming: Where’s Buckhart ?” .

“T don’t know,” answered Dick. “I) haven’t seen
him since he got dressed.”

“Tt’s likely he’s out looking our young city over,”

laughed Chester. “He'll see a marvelous place. Come
yver and-call on us any time, Merriwell. We'll be glad:

to have you.” |

“Thank you,” said Dick, as he sprang into the car-

riage and took the reins from the darky.

w

Bla a SS Dela ters, oat
rales ti ta etl id

    

Pema oi

    
   
  
  
  
  
    
   

 

   
     
     
   
  
 
    
 
   
  

26 TEP "FOP UWLERLCY.

Reaching the gate, Dick saw the Texan coming up
the road with swinging stride. Brad lost no time in
placing himself at Dick’s side.

“Where did you go?” asked Merriwell.

“Oh, I hooked out to find what had become of June.
She skipped right after I had a little conversation
with her.”

“T observed that she didn’t stay to see the game fin-
Did you find her?”

“No; found Madge Morgan. ‘She said June came
back to the house, got into her riding-rig, had a horse
saddled, and struck out all by her lonesome.”

ished.

“Which way?”
“She came over the bridge, Madge said.
we'll run across her on the road.” ,

Maybe

They did run across June in a most unexpected man-
ner. It seemed that the victorious Pointers had
cheered and shouted at the vicious dogs chained in the
farmer’s yard, which aroused the farmer himself until
he finally unleashed both of the animals. June, riding
along that road, had been startled when the two beasts,
barking furiously, came charging out of the farm-

yard, Her spirited horse wheeled in its tracks and
went galloping madly back toward Wolfwoods. The

dogs came up, one on either hand, and began leaping
and snapping at the nose of the horse.

This was the spectacle that suddenly burst on the
view of Merriwell and Buckhart. Already the horse
driven by Dick had balked and backed the carriage
half-way round. ogame

Seizing the whip, Dick flung the reins to Brad and

leaped into the road.
_ Without the whip Buckhart was unable to keep the
horse from turning with him. The carriage was
nearly upset, but righted itself as the animal faced
toward Wolfwoods and went clattering away, at a
frantic gallop.

June’s horse seemed to see the youth who had leaped

into the road, for it took a sudden veer to the left,
‘sprang over the ditch, and sailed, ‘riderless, across a

low stone wall.

Although an expert horsewoman, the excited girl
lost her balance and was pitehed to the ground at the
roadside. |
- One of the dogs leaped at her, while the other con-

_ tinued in pursuit of the horse.
_ With a great shout, Merriwell charged at the dog,

‘

swinging the whip round his head and launching forth
with the lash.

The cracker of the whip split one of the dog’s ears.

In a twinkling the animal turned on Merriwell. Its
jaws were spread and its teeth were gleaming as the
creature hurled itself toward the boy.

Quick as thought Dick reversed the heavy whip-
handle and smote the dog between the eyes.

That blow dropped the creature to the ground, and
ere it could recover Merriwell was upon it, raining
such a -volley of blows that the beast was quickly
cowed. Howling with pain and fear, the animal took
flight. )

“June, June,” cried Dick, as he knelt beside her and
lifted her in his arms, “fare you hurt?”

She looked up at him, and their eyes met.

“Not hurt, Dick,’ she faltered, clinging to him;
“but only for you I should have been torn to pieces
by those terrible brutes.
Dick! Dick! Di #3

His name was smothered on her lips by another pair

 

misjudged, you.

of lips which pressed her own. |
Having succeeded in stoppitlg the horse, Buckhart
had turned about and was driving back up the road.
When he came in sight of them he stopped with aston-
ishing suddenness, leaped from the carriage, and in-

_ dustriously gave his attention to a part of the harness

which required no attention at all. ! is
/

THE END.

The Next Number (594) WIII Contain

Dick Merriwell’s Warm Work;

OR,

“A HOT DAY FOR SMOKETOWN.

   

—The Fuse and the Powder—A Wicked Man’s Pun-
i,

ishment—The Explosion—The Rescue of Adam
Blair—After the Fire—Broken—Father and Son—

Casper’s Proposal—Little Tom Goes Away.
eg 3

 

 

Oh, Dick, I’m so sorry I.

 

4m

‘regi
bye
- ehai
cred

7 Orme
4 ~=6Gzor

  
 

       
     
       
       
      
 

  

 
   
 

 
       
     
     
   
   
    
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S.
ts
1€
NEW YORK, August 24, 1907.
= rain
be TERMS TO TIP TOP WEEKLY MAIL SUBSCRIBERS.
f i (Postage Free.)
d FF Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each.
BY EN edocs 5% vende duews ox 650, «|: One Yeaw csscds csxpgonaegeen wees $2.50
g | 4 months. 2 copies one year.............. “4.00
Bes 6 months . aa ssh ar GOeee eee eee $1. 25 1 COPY TWO YCATB.cccccanssacss 4,00
yo ae .
yA re How to Send Money—By post-office or express money order,
le registered letter, bank check or draft,’at our risk. At your own risk if sent
_ by currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter.
4 oe Receipts—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper
a4 change of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly
d _ redited, and should let us know at once.
i Onwows C. Suri, _ STREET & SMITH, Publishers,
_ Grorce C. Swrru, | Proprietors. 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City.
; TIP TOP ROLL OF HONOR.
Ss) ae Following the suggestion of Mr. Burt L. Standish, that appeared
I Ke in his letter to Tip Top readers in No. 480, the following loyal Tip
- Toppers have won for themselves a place on our Honor Roll for their
_ efforts to increase the circulation of the King of Weeklies. Get inline
boys and girls and strive to have your name at the head of the list,
r ¥ Bator
John Mager, West Virginia.
Russell Hart, Cal.
t Edmond J, Augustin, Louisana.
: Mrs. A. E. Sanford, Oklahoma.
Hugh Faulkner, Ill.
? Ben. Jones, Penn.
% y Harvey A. Everhart, Ohio.
5 Chas. L. Kuhn, New York State.
Donald Bachert, Penn.
Alex. [1cCabe, Jr., Rhode Island.
_ Dick Roberts, New York.
:
We The names of other enthusiastic Tip Toppers will be added from
_ time totime. Send in the result of your efforts to push the circula-
tion of your favorite weekly and win a place on the Roll of Honor.
3 7 APPLAUSE.
)

Owing to the number of letters received, the editor of Tip Top

cannot undertake to secure their publication under six weeks. Those
who contribute to this department must not expect to see them before
that time.

 
 

  

«kes Advertisements—A limited number of acceptable ad-
Vertisements will be inserted in the columns of TIP TOP WEEKLY,
at the rate of 50 cents per line, of about ten words each, nothing less
than four lines taken. Remit by stamps, check or money order to the
Beprtishecs.

   

  

Seeing my fette? in Applause tempts me to write again, for,
Since | last wrote, “Tip Top” has improved, that is to say, new
‘characters have been! ushered in, making it more interesting than
€ver—not saying it was “slow” before. That Ditson crowd are
worse than the old-time Chickering set. Poor old Brad, too
bad he lost Nadia, but just now Mabel Ditson is all he can see.
e seems hard “hit; hope he ‘ makes goo d.”’ He is one of the
est characters that go to salen

   

TIP TOP WEEKLY. ers,

the white man don’t seem to possess, but are gradually learning

_ S., and lifelong success.

. 1 read was one in which Frank was at college; since then I

“Tip Top”; far better than squarest, kindest,

 

 
  

  
 
 

Buck Badger; fact is he is my favorite character next to dear
old Frank. Claxton, ah! there’s the boy, a true Southerner,
every inch of him. Get a true Southerner for a friend, and you
have a friend indeed. But I think that some-of the Northern
people haye a wrong opinion of the Southerners in regard to
the duel ‘question; you never hear of a man fighting a duel \
down there nowad: 1ys. In the years gone by they used to '
regard a duel as ‘tlie only way to settle a personal affair, but
that custom has died out, and you will find a man as ready
to use his fists to defend his honor as a Northerner. This I
know, as I am a Southerner myself, and I ask my Southern
brothers to confirm fny statement. ;
There is another character that I admire, and that is Young
Crowfoot. Although an Indian, he is as smart as any white-
man when it comes to studying, and he has lots of gifts that
the white man does not possess, gifts that nature gives only
to that race. You bet that when it comes to a show-down the
white man has not got much on the Indian, after summing
all things up, for you never see a sickly Indian. Why?
Because they\ know how to take care of themselves, a secrét

      
       
       
     
         
    
   

  
     
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
 
   
  
 
  
  
   
    
   
  

through the influence of “Tip Top” and other magazines that
are proving that natural means are the best for preserving the
health, not making a dumping-ground of their stomachs for the
sake of the patent-medicine manufacturers.

“Tip Top” is doing one of the best things that could be done
for the American boy, and that is the publishing of the “Physical
Culture Department.” _ Frank Merriwell is an example of physical
culture. If young fellows took more interest in athletics there
would be less dissipating among them. Where is Frank, the
favorite of all veteran “Tip Toppers,” whose place in their hearts
cannot be taken by later editions in the hero line?

Well, I must chéck this lengthy letter, and aim it straight for 4
the copy-file, and trust that it will not swerve from its course and {
plant itself in “His Highness,” the waste-basket, I remain, as a
ever, with three cheers for “Tip Top,”

Philadelphia, Pp.

Frank will appear before a great while, and doubtless the
facile pen of the author will spring some new eee delightful sur- 4
prise upon us at the time. ’

its author, and publishers. oa
THOMAS PIERCE. 3

 

(A letter from Utah.) a

T have been reading “Tip Tops” and Medals for about hires :
years, and I think they are the best stories out.

There isn’t so much brag:about them, and Frank can’t do im-
possible things. Thomas Pierce wrote the best letter that I have
seen for a long time. I was going to write the same thing my-
self about the other hero making millions in Wall Street’ and
killing a dozen men out West.

All the Salt Lake book-dealers are selling the old Medals for 4
fifteen cents. I don’t think that is right, because the notice in Po
front of the new Medals says that the old’ ones should be sold o
at ten cents. :

L don’t care about the five cents, but I don’t want to be
swindled, as the constable said when he went in Ephraim’s side-
show in Seymour, Indiana. aa

I will close, with three cheers for Burt L. Standish and S. &
Yours respectfully, F. FLetrcHer.

We will quickly investigate your complaint, and, if there is
any remedy, apply it.

    
   

 

In looking, over your Applause column, I see most oe the
readers praising Dick more than Frank. They have not’ read
the early numbers, of they would not make such a statement.
Now, let me ask you a few questions:

1. Who was it who found Dick away out on the plains under
the care of an old Indian?

2. Who was it who took Dick back East with him and edu-
cated him so he could go to Fardale?

3.. Who was ft that stood by and was a friend to Dick, although
Dick and that Indian, Crowfoot, plotted against him, and the
Indian tried to kill him? 1 could go on with more questions to —
convince the new readers, but I haven’t time. The first number

      
   
 
   
   
 
      
     
     
      
     
 

have read every one from 1 to 300, and a good many old ones
after that to date. I have worked on the railroad, acting as |
brakeman, fireman, carpenter, and something of a mechanic. os
Once again, readers, here’s to Frank Merriwell’s success. May
he live to see his son be as. great. The noblest, grandest, bravest, —
man there ever was; who also forgave an

 
         
       
TIP TOP,

enemy no matter what he had done. All Dick has won in con-
tests he owes to Frank’s training, who taught him how to for-
give and be generous. Please publish some more stories about
Frank. Yours, A VETERAN,
Pittsburg, Pa.

Well, here’s a lover of good old Frank, all right, and we are
glad to know him. But, without giving a name or address, we
can hardly send him the catalogue he asks for in his postscript.
Write again.

(A letter from Alabama.)

Latest “Tip Top” read, “Dick Merriwell’s Great Rival; or,
Dick Starbright on the Slab,” was great.

But the saddest news was in the Applause.

Cap’n Wiley dead! Or is it a joke on us, Mr. Standish? It
must be. The Cap’n Wiley of old, with a glad smile for every-
oy and a most tender heart, dead! But it takes it all to make
life.

Glad to see our old friend James Stretcher back.

Please send me a catalogue of Medal and “Tip Top” libraries.

Hoping to see this in print, 1 remain, Frank Hirps.

As Mr. Standish had Dick Merriwell relate, the original of
Walter Wiley was killed recently in a Maine railroad wreck.
But the boys won’t have it that our Cap’n Wiley has left us,
and what was a murmur of protest at first-is becoming a storm.
We believe Mr. Standish, who keeps his ear close to the ground

to catch the trend of public opinion, will have to admit that it.

was a false report, after all.

Have read all the “Tip Tops,” and am reading them over
again in the Medal Library. 1 have read all of them except
about ten numbers, which I have tried to buy second-hand, but
cannot. On the back of “Tip Top” you advertise them for ten
cents and four cents additional each for postage.

Now I am very anxious to get them, but cannot afford to
pay fourteen cents for each one. Is there any way I can get the
ten books cheaper? I could pay ten cents each, but could not
pay the four cents for postage on each one.

I wish you would kindly let me know as soon as possible,
or, if you know of any of the readers who wish to sell their
Medal books, could you give me their addresses?

By answering this you will confer a great favor on an old
reader. Yours very truly, F. J. STANFIELD.

Buffalo, N. Y. ,

Why, certainly. All you have to do is to go to a dealer who
‘handles the Medal books, and give him your order. Or you can
go to the Buffalo branch of the American News Company and
secure them at ten cents each.

I have ,been an enthusiastic reader of “Tip Top” about four
years, and I think it is the best five-cent magazine ever pub-
lished. Of all the boys I like Dick best. Since I began reading
“Tip Top” I have got nine boys to read them. Please send me
a catalogue of both Medal Library and “Tip Top.” »

A loyal reader. S. J. Wainer.

New York City. pi

You_are doing a good work, and we take great pleasure in
complying with your request. ;

I have read all the “Frank Merriwell’s” that have been pub-
lished, and they are fine. have also read most of the “Tip
Top Weeklies,” and I am getting most of the ones._I have not
read. While I am in New York I go down each day to your
place and buy some. I also got the “Rover Boy” and “Jack
Lightfoot Weeklies.” Are all the “Jack Lightfoots”\ going to
be published in the Medal Library? 1 hope they are. Can you
send me Burt L. Standish’s address? Wishing to hear from you,
I remain, a boy from Philadelphia. STtanitey B. Reep.

New York City. . / é'

In time they will all be in the Medal. A letter in our care
will reach Mr. Standish.

: -T have written before, but it found the basket or kindled your
- fire; even at that, it was helping the good cause along, When

Undoubtedly Mr. Standish is a wonderful writer. ake:
characters so true to nature that one seems to be in their

I first started to read “Tip Top” my mother burned them up, .

WEEKLY.

but I got her to read one, and now I have her full approval.
These stories not only reflect upon the good judgment of
Street & Smith, but also the character of the author, Burt L.
Standish, to whom I tip my hat. I have tried to get readérs,
and I found it easy getting 16 or 17. I will close, hoping ‘to
hear more of Dale and Dick, I remain, your loyal friend,
Norwalk, Conn. Woopy. »

It certainly pleases us to know we have so earnest a friend
working to extend the circulation of “Tip Top” in Connecticut.
And your good mother is to be congratulated, first upon having
so dutiful a son, second upon her watchful care over his favorite
reading, and last of all upon her common sense in recognizing
the wonderful power for good a story of the Merriwell type
must have over almost any lad.

(A letter from Texas.)

We have been reading “Tip Top” for about one year and
a half, and like it better than any other weekly of its kind. We
do all we can to increase the circulation by lending and giving
it to our friends.

We buy our “Tip Tops” from a bookstore here. Now to the
Doris and June question, we are Juneites, and we hope to see
Dick win the love of June; at least, win the hand of June, as he
has already won her love. We will now close, with three cheers
for “Tip Top” and B. L. S. and S. & S.

E_mo Jounson,
Jack Sampson/

All that will be left to the good judgment of the master hand
who week after week and year after year has held the American
boy enchanted with his astonishing stories of clean sport, right
principles, and rich humor. There is only one Burt L. Standish,
and he has made himself the idol of our boys far and near,
north and south, east and west.

I have been reading “Tip Top’ about two months. You
can truthfully say that “Tip Top” is the king of weeklies, I
like Frank better than Dick. Of Frank’s flock I like Bart Hodge
best. I have just finished “Frank Merriwell’s Club” of the new
Medal Library. Will you please send me a catalogue of the 4
great five-cent magazine and the Medal Library? Three cheers —
for Burt L. and S. & S&. Respectfully yours, }

New York City. Harry GIBNEY.

We quite envy you, Harry, the wonderful treat that lies before
you in reading for the first time those wonderful stories that —
made “Tip Top” famous, and the Merriwells the finest charac- —
ters of juvenile fiction. The catalogues will go forward.

(A letter from Florida.) .

I am a constant reader of “Tip Top Weekly,” but have been
reading them only two years, but shall continue to read them
as long as I have got the “price” of a copy. I have just fin-

ished reading some old numbers I borrowed from a friend, and 4

I like the old ones the best; but Dick and his flock is “all to the
good.” Frank is my favorite, with Diamond a close second. I —
hope this won’t find the waste-basket. I read all of Street & |
Smiths five-cent publications. Please send me a catalogue of the
Medal, Yours truly, Harry THIGKEN.

We have none of the quarterlies you mentioned in a portion of
your letter. Glad you like the Merriwell stories.
you the catalogue as per request.

,

(A letter from Indiana.) : ee

I wish to say a word in Applause for “Tip Top,” the king of
weeklies. My wife and I and, son have been reading it for
many years. We are as ‘deeply interested in the weekly ag its
younger readers. I am past fifty-eight and my wife is fifty-seven. —
He makes his _

society when reading of them. Of course, every one has their
favorites; so have we, so I do not think it worth while to
single out samples when one jis a great admirer of the whole
bunch, and wish for the reformation of the waywards. | There

is no one so bad but, as Dick Merriwell says, there possibly igs. J
some good in them, and I hope such will prove to be true im

 

 

We have sent —
TIP TOP

*
ral. } Chet’s and Ditson's ‘case. The ‘time will come, and I hope soon,
of when they will see their mistake and reform. “Tip Top” is
1. } surely the finest that it has ever ‘been my luck to read, and J
rs, hope Mr. Standish may Jive many long years and be able to
to continue the work of building up the American youth; for if

the advice of Mr.

; i Standish is taken and put into practise much
| good will follow.

I will here give a part of a letter I received

 

 

 

} from my son, up in Wisconsin, in his own words: “Say, I
nd have never had such ‘health in my life, for a long time T have
ut. } been reading all the physical culture literature I could with the
ng time I had for it, and following it im practise also. At this ‘rate
“he _ I will in a year have Dick and Frank eclipsed. Such a chest as
aK eget k, wonsider sg, of eee hae kind I aie It’s

] ul that life, and depend upon it, it’s the one I will always
pe lead now. I live as nearly outdoors as possible, and it ‘seems
as though I can’t get enough of that air. Ewery nice morning
ao me out in on country, with a swiraming-jacket, overalls,
and moccasins, that’s all, and you should see me pull a boat.
Can go ten miles out on the wheel in from a half to three
nd 4» Quarters of an hour, and never realize how far I have ridden.
Ve us Just give me man’s normal way of living now—day work—and
ng | I don’t dare think of how I could enjoy it. You can’t imagine
| how good it makes me feel to think that I have none of the
he _ after-effects of dissipation to fight, either. Oh, I “would like to
ee | Shake hands with Burt L. Standish, for he is the one ‘that ‘first
he } put the thought in my mind a long time ago. Tyong live Burt L.”
13 a This is my first attempt, hope it will mot meet up with ‘the
Pie o. ane and 2 or appear in print. Our best wishes
| to Burt L., Street mith, and long life to “Tip Top.”
ne C. A. anno L. B.Wysonce.
ae
1d } . _You have done your part nobly, and we consider you a tried
an a and true friend to the American boy. We wish you and yours
ht | continued health, and much enjoyment in the reading of future
h, | “Tip Tops.”
ir
4 This is my first attempt to write to the Applause column. I
have read “Tip Top” for about a year, including a large part
. of the back numbers, all of which I enjoyed thoroughly.

 

I like every character, not that all/of them are models, but that

 

  

  

 

 
 

 
 

yu
I _ they make the stories far more interesting and exciting and more
re true to life.
y a Mr. Standish certainly is a fine writer, and his stories are
18! _ all clean and manly. Chester Arlington has had. quite a hard
és | time to reform, and that character certainly could not be made
_ more true to life. Well, I will have to say good-by now. 'Wish-
Re ing success to Burt.L. and S. & S., I remain, a true and loyal
| friend of “Tip Top.” SAMUEL AyRES.
fe <P ©. New York City.
at _. Thank you. Write again Samuel, and tell us how you came
" to read “Tip Top” and whether you hav® received any benefit
_ from its steady perusal.
; (A letter from Minnesota.)
n I did not read the “Tip Top” until last year, when I bor-
mn towed some from a friend, and it is the best I have ever read.
1- When I was reading one my sister came in and said: “Is
a that the kind of literature you read ?” All I had to do was to
le _ show her some of the letters in the Applause and she agreed
I - with me.
‘ '. I like the baseball-stories best, as I play in a nine, second

base. My favorites are Frank, Dick, Sparkfair, and Arlington,
and if all the boys that read “Tip Top” try to be as noble as
_ Frank and Dick there will be “plenty of true men. I will close,
with three cheers for “Tip Top,” Burt L., and Street & Smith.
Yours, RAy HARKNESS,
That is the only way to convince scoffers that something good
Tay even “come out of Nazareth,” and that there is one five-
- cent magazine for boys that has a fine mission—the up-lifting

f mind and body of our lads.

  

 

  

{A letter from Nebraska.)

, , T have written three or four letters to the Applause in praise
ae of the great and only weekly, our beloved “Tip Top.” I believe
: it has been stated that kickers would not be accorded any space
‘in the future, but, just the same, I’m going to kick over the
: races and put up such a furious howl that you'll be glad to
ive me space to keep me from coming back with another pro-
est. In No: 584 we are informed that our beloved Cap’n Wiley

  

  

is no more; Wiley the talented, gifted, brilliant story-teller, who.

    
   
 
 
 
  
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
   
   
  
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
 
  
  
    
 
 
 
  
    
  
 
  
      
     
    
    
 
    
   
      
   
    
   
       
        
           
          
      
       
      
      
   
     
        
     
      
     

WEEKLY. | | 29
has more admirets and friends among “Tip Top” readers than
could be’ cotinted in a ‘morith of Sundays. Tf I only Knew Mr.

Standish’s address I would appeal directly to him, but in leu
of that I’m sending this to Applause, and trust that it will come
before his eyes.

Mr. Standish: What have we loyal supporters of “Tip Top”
done that we should be deprived of such an interesting chara¢tter
as Wiley was? The original of Wiley may ‘have been killed in a
tailroad wreck, and, if so, I’m sorry to hear it. But Wiley the
fictitious does not have 'to die, for his fate is in ‘the hands of ‘the
author of these stories. Now, I beg and beseech you not to
consign our noble old ‘marine prev aricator to the grave, but let
us still have him occasionally in the dear old ‘stories 'to cheer
us up and drive the blues away with his wonderful yarns. Please
Jet us have a number soon in which the marine marvel reappears
and explains that the report of his death was false, and_ that,
though he may have been run over by dozens of trains, that he
is ‘stril very much alive and full of veracity. If any of the old
characters. have to be consigned to oblivion let it be ‘most any
one else but Wiley. There are dozens of characters who have
appeared in “Tip Top” that would not, if all rolled into one,
equal Wiley in interest. Again I say, let us still have Wiley in
the stories, and I’m sure I’m voicing the sentiments of thousands
of others, else I would not be writing this. “Tip Top” is my
favorite publication, and I have added several readers to the list
of Merriwell admirers in the past year. Among these are a
gray-headed old fellow of sixty or thereabouts, a couple of little
brothers of mine, also a sister, several friends, both married and
single, of both sexes, and lastly, my boss, a jolly, good- natured
Switzerland, born German, who never misses a number of “Tip
Top,” and will sit up until late in the night to read of the ies.
riwells.

Long life to publishers, author, readers, and_publication.

Cuas. L. Beck.

We can sympathize with you, Charles, and hope that when our
genial author has read your earnest appeal he will relent and
bring*the captain back from the grave.

(A letter from New York.)

A friend of ours, who has been taking the “Tip Top” for a
long while, loaned us his to read, and we liked them so much
that we have been taking them ever since.

We almost quarrel sometimes, every one wants to read them
first. :

We are both very much interested in athletics, especially in
baseball.

Our favorites are Dick, Dale, Obediah, Tubbs, “the great pie-
eater,” June, and Bab.

We will close now, with best wishes for all “Tip Toppers,”
and to Street & Smith and Mr. Burt L., and, hoping to see this
our firet letter in ‘print, we remain true “Tip Toppers.”

Harry AND INEZ STOCKSLADER. -

Bani that we are unable to break our iron-bound rale about
addresses, for we would like to carry out your wishes.

 

 

(A letter from Minnesota.)

I think “Tip Top” is the best weekly ever written. I have
started three boys. Dick is my favorite, Will you please tell me
how much a catalogue will cost? I would like one.

My chum says that the Applause letters are all fake. And as
to convince her I hope you will print this. I enclose three
cheers for Burt L., Standish and all having anything to do with
the “Tip Top.” Yours truly, J. G

St. Paul, Minn.

We will be glad to send you a late catalogue of “Tip Top
Weekly,” when you give your address, and at the same time

we hereby express our appreciation for your words of com-
mendation.

 

\ (A letter from South Dakota.)

fT have been astonished at the continued excellence of “Tip

Tip Weekly.” Most authors write a few good stories, and many
bad stories, but nearly every number of “Tip Top,” week by
week, and year by year, is ‘strictly up to date. No. 585 isa

dandy. I am sorry to hear that some of them are out of print.
Loren E. Stocum.

Those that are out of print are appearing in the Medal, three
or four issues of “Tip Top” in one number of the Medal, so your

regret should be short-lived, friend Loren,
Ps
f iit ; ‘4,

   

idl Coates
a ieee 4

oe

 
 

 

 

(A letter from. Wisconsin.)

Pror. Fourmen: I have been reading “Tip Top” for quite
a while, and I want you to look over these measurements. I am
12 years old; height, 3 feet 8 inches; biceps, right arm, 7%
inches; left arm, 714 inches; chest, normal, 27 inches; expanded,
30 inches; calves, 7 inches; weight, 78 pounds; thighs, 14 inches.
If I run half a mile I have a pain in my left side near my
heart, and sometimes in my right side, and if I stop it does not
pain me any more. I do not smoke or drink.

A Loyat “Tip forrer.”

Do not take long, hard runs until you become accustomed to
shorter ones. Lead up gradually to the kind of running you'

have started to indulge in.

Pror. Fourmen: Is there any possible way for one who is
very tall to decrease his height? \ BES Li (J;
Rochester, N. Y. Nace

When a person has ehiwn to a certain height he cannot ex-
pect to decrease his stature.

‘

(A letter from Louisiana.)
Pror. FourmMen: Being a reader of “Tip Top Weekly,” I
take the liberty to ask you a few questions about my measure-
ments. I am 14 years oldi; height, 4 feet 1134 inches; weight,
8014 pounds; neck, 12 inches; chest, normal, 26 inches; ex-
panded, 31 inches; biceps, 8 inches; flexed, 9% inche$; forearm,
9% inches; waist, 24 inches; thigh,/161%4 inches; calves, 11%4
inches. My record for running broad jump is 13 feet 3 inches;
standing, 714 feet. In two recent meets I won the 440 and 880-
/yards run. I run four miles every morning, and come home
and take a bath and rub down. Are four miles too much for
me? Are my jumping records good? What are my chances of
becoming an athlete? Are eight hours sleep enough for me? ;
. ApotpH DucourNau.

If you do not feel any ill effects after running four miles.
there is no reason why you should not continue to run that
distance. Your jumping records are very good for a boy of
your age. The prospects of your doing excellent athletic-work

in the future are very bright. Eight hours sleep is the usual |

amount for growing boys.
¢ /

Pror. Fourmen: ‘This is the first time I have written to
“Tip Top,” but I have read it for a long while. Permit me to
submit my measurements for criticism. I am fifteen years oldg
height, 5 feet 1014 inches; biceps, Io inches; comftracted, II
inches; forearm, 914 inches; neck, 13% inches; chest, 31%
inches ; inflated, 34 inches; waist, 2514 inches; thighs, 2134
inches; calves, 1334 inches; my muscles are very’ solid.. My
lung capacity is 240 cubic inches. My weight is 152 pounds. I[
do not use tobacco. or liquor in any form, have regular hours,
eat plain food, drink water by the quart at a time, and make
constant use of a good gymnasium. Do you think I could de-’
_yelop into a good long-distance runner?

eee

runs; also the pole-vault?

, how much I am underweight.

Will you, please give ©

 

 

the records for the 880-yard dash, the mile, 2-mile and 5-mile
Do you think I would make an

athlete at any other field or track event? Every two weeks I
walk ten or fifteeh miles. It does not tire me much. Is this.
too much? I also row, ride a bicycle and horseback a great deal.
Do you think I will ever be 6 feet 2 inches tall? 1 want to
be that. I have tall, well-developed relatives.

Philadelphia, Pa.

You are on the road to become a. very athletic young man,
Be careful of overdoing your training. There is as much danger
of this extreme'in the case of an enthusiast as there is in the
opposite case where young men neglect exercise altogether. The
record for the 880-yard dash is 1 minute %4 second; the mile,
4 minutes 1234 seconds; two-mile run, 9 minutes % second;
five-mile run, 24 minutes 40 seconds; the pole high vault, 12 feet
1% inches, se

By constant practise you will develop into a very athletic
young man. You are apt to gtow to be a “six-footer” if your
relations are tall, but it cannot be predicted with any degree of
certainty.

Younc GIANT.

(A letter from Conn.y 4
Pror. -FourMEN: I’ve read “Tip Top” for four years, and
think it the best of all weeklies. Below are my measurements
with a few questions:” I am 16 years old; weigh 102 pounds;
height, 5 feet 3 inches; chest, 31 inches; expanded, 36 inches; |
neck, 13 inches; biceps, 10% inches; wrist, 31 winches. .I am a
ball-player. I started to train 4 month ago. I use one-pound —
dumb-bells for ione-half hour at night; arise at 6 o’clock and
walk 2 miles to work in all kinds of weather. It makes me feel

fine. Puittie CONNELL.

You should take on more weight instead of trying to reduce ;
it, as a person 5 feet 9 inches should weigh 155 pounds, and
you do not weigh more than 102 pounds.

; a

_ Pror. Fourmen: I have been following your advice concern-
ing taking on flesh, by drinking plenty of water, etc., for the
last ¥ months and have only taken on 5 pounds. I indylge in all
outdoor sports, especially rowing, swimming, and_ ball-playing,
but I would like to be heavier. I weigh only 91 pounds in street
dress; height, 5 feet in stockings; age, 14 years. Please tell me
My diet is as follows: Morn- |
ing, light breakfast of coffee and rolls; noon, generally steak or
soup, potatoes, and other vegetables; supper, consisting of tea,
eggs, and steak, and ‘vegetables.
I don’t believe that there is a thing that does not agree with me,
but I won’t brag.
please tell me. Am training for heavy athletics. Can lift 172
pounds—hold out with one hand 17 pounds. Can “dip” four
times. | STENOGRAPHER.

Cincinnati, Ohio.
You aré too light to go in for heavy

athletic-work. Ifvyou
confine your training to lightweight Indian clubs, dumb-bells,

 

I have a good appetite, and

How is my diet, and, if I could improve it,

 
LIP Lee.

n connection with outdoor sports, you will increase in weight,
ubstitute cocoa for coffee and tea.

' Pror. Fourmen: How are the following - measurements:
Height, 5 feet 7 inches; weight, 125 pounds; age, 15 years; neck,
12¥4 inches; chest, 31 inches; expanded, 34 inches; biceps, right,
0/ inches ; left, 9% inches; waist, 26 inches; thigh, 18 inches;
12% inches. I can run too-yard dash in 12 seconds. I
played left field. for my gymnasium team. Will I be a successful
baseball-player? ee
New York City.

I see no reason why you should not be a successful ball-
player.

~

(A letter from South Dakota.)

 Pror. FourmMen: The following are my measurements:
16 years; height, 5 feet J0Y2 inches ;

inches ; expanded, 3934 inches; waist, 29 inches; forearm, 14

inches; arms, 15% caked neck, 17 inches; thigh, 22 inches;

Calves, 17 inches.» I practise about an hour a day in a gym-
_ fhasium with a punching-bag, dumb-bells, etc. I also take regular
~ running exercises every day. I am full-back on the football-

team, and also play baseball. EpwaArp A. NELSON.

Age,
weight, 145 pounds; chest, 35

Train to take on more weight so that your proportions will be
all right. \

_ Pror. Fourmen: I am 16 years old; height, 5 feet 114 inches;
weight, 110 pounds; neck, 1314 inches; chest, normal, 30 inches;
expanded, 3314 inches; waist, 26 inches ; upper arms, right,
normal, 934 inches; exp anded, tr inches ; left, normal, 9% inches;
expanded, 1034 inches ; forearms, right, 95% inches ; left, 9%
inches; thighs, 1814 inches; calves, 124 inches. Do you think I
could become a good all- found athlete? What should I exer-
cise with? Do I weigh enough? If not, how much should I
weigh? A “Tie Top ”ADMIRER.
New York City.

‘ You are in excellent condition. All you need to do is to keep
in trim by light exercise with dumb-bells and Indian clubs,

_ Prov. Fourmen: Being a reader of the “Tip Top Weekly,”

I write asking you what you think of my measurements. I am
4 years old; height, 5 feet 7 inches; weigh, 117 pounds; chest,

29% inches; ‘expanded, 32% inches ; waist, 29 inches; neck, 13%4

“ Boecinches, I take great interest in boxing, baseball, and hockey.’ I

9am a lover of walking and am always moving. Here is my

y daily exercise. When I-wake up in the morning I open the
‘window and take ot. thirty deep breaths, I next punch the
bag for about ten min I then eat my breakfast, consisting
of a cup of cocoa and two eggs. I then take a half-hour walk.
I take another walk, about 12 o'clock; at six o’clock I take an-

WEEKLY,.<4 31

About
G

other walk, and play baseball for about half an hour.
9 o'clock I box three rounds.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Instead of walking after breakfast,
you eat the morning meal.

take this exercise before

(A letter from New Jersey.)

ProF. FourMEN: Having read “Tip Top” for over two years,
and being anxious to know what you think of me, I take the
liberty to ask you a few questions. My age is 16 years; weight,
115 pounds; height, 5 feet 614 inches; chest, normal, 30% inches;
expanded, 33 inches; biceps, normal, 9g inches; expanded, 10
inches; waist, 27 inches; calves, 13 inches; meck, 13% inches, I
have poor wind. How can I build it up? I have a punching-
bag and exercise with it. I would like to become a pitcher, but
my speed is poor. I have sent for a United States setting- up
exercise book. An Anxtous “Tir Topper.’

Use the punching-bag night and morning. This is €xcellent
for the wind. In a few months you will notice that this exercise
has developed the muscles of your chest and arms to a sur-
prising extent.

(A letter from Arkansas.)

Pror. FourMEN: Having read “Tip Top” for quite a while,
T take the liberty to ask you a few questions. I am 15 years old
5 feet and 11 inches tall, and weigh 156 pounds. Neck, 14%
inches; biceps, normal, 1014 inches; expanded, 13 itches; waist,
32 inches; thigh, 20 inches ; chest, normal, 34 inches; expanded,
3614. inches; calf, 14% inches forearm, 11 inches. Am T built
to become an athlete? I take interest in all kinds of «sport,
including baseball, football, rowing, skating, hunting, fishing,
etc. Should I weigh more or less according to my height.

. Harotp GAwNrT.

You ought to weigh ten or fifteen pounds more to be well
proportioned,

Pror. FourMEN: T am 18 years of age, 5 feet o inches in
height. I weigh 120 pounds. My father says,I should at, least
weigh 150 pounds. I would like you to tell me the way to put
on muscle and fat. Do you think I am too big for my age?
I play baseball, tennis, and football. I am short-winded. «When
I run about a square I can hardly get my breath. W. B.C.

Philadelphia, Pa.

Your father is right about your weight. It should be 150 or
155 potinds. Eat only plain, wholesome food, get 8 hours sleep,
and you will fatten up. You are tall for your age, but it is
not unusual for a young man of: eighteen to measure 5 feet 9
inches. Take deep-breathing exercises of five minutes duration
for your, wind.

 

 

ames, will be declared the winners.

cap. Is this not worth working for, boys?

be properly made out.

Tip Top Baseball Tournament Is Now Open.

The two teams which, at the end of the season, have the highest average—the members of Mes
which play the greatest number of games, score the most runs and have lost the least number of ‘$s re ee

Of the two winning teams, the one having the ae a
average will be declared the Tip Top Championship Team of the All-American —
Baseball Tournament for 1907, and will receive a handsome pennant bearing an
appropriate device. The two successful clubs in 1906 were the ‘‘Unions” of Hawthorne,

N. J., and the ‘‘Athletes” of Circleville, O. Each winning team will receive a full

| equipment for nine members, consisting of. trousers, shirt, stockings, shoes and

DON’T FAIL TO SEND IN YOUR COUPON AT ONCE.

ay notice taken of any score not entered ona coupon. Coupons must
One coupon for each game.

 

 

 
 
  

   
  
 
    
  
 
  
  
   
  
  
   
 
   
   
   

  
 

 

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JEERLY

 

 

ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY

  

HANDSOME COLORED COVERS

 

 

Never has Burt L. Standish written such interesting tales of the
adventures of the Merriwell brothers, Frank and Dick, as are now appear-

ing in this weekly.

Mr. Standish has a world-wide circle of friends and.

he is putting forth his best efforts to amuse and entertain them. Boys,

you have no idea of what a grand feast he is preparing for you,

Tip

Top’s stories are going to astonish you. Do not fail to buy this weekly.
PRICE FIVE CENTS PER COPY

\
For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt of price in money or postage stamps

 

HERE ARE THE

561—Dick Merriwell in the Tank; or, Rushing the Regu-
lars at Water Polo.
'562—Frank Merriwell’s Captive; or, The Folly of Ches-
ter Arlington.
663—Frank Merriwell’s Trailing; or, The Flight of a
Fool.
(§64—Frank Merriwell’s Talisman ; or, The Charm of
iat Cocheta.
 (§65—Frank Merriwell’s Horse:
Would Be Bad.
- (666—Frank Metriwell’s Intrusion; or, Warner, the Man
Who Won,
'§67—Frank Merriwell’s Bluff; or, The Lost Sefiorita of
Sonora.
+ 568—Dick Merriwell’s Regret ; or, The Friend He Never
Knew.
- '569-—Dick Merriwell’s Silent Work;
~ Hand for a Foe.
§70—Dick Merriwell’s Arm; or, The Trick that Rome
' the Tricksters.
'§71—Dick Merriwell’s Skill; or, The Prince of the Pistol.
572—Dick Merriwell’s Magnetjsm ; or, The Curing of a
. Cad.
saa  '673—Dick Merriwell’s System; or, The Way te Win.
- §74—Dick Merriwell’s Salvation; or, The Traitor on the
Team.
'§75—Dick Merriwell’s Twirling; or, Tracing the Traitor
_ (§76—Dick Merriwell’s Party; or, Springtime s Youthful
Fancy.
OO Bas Merriwell’s Backers; or, The ‘Man Behind the

or, The Boy Who

or, ‘A Helping

ay

\

 

LATEST TITLES:

578—Dick Merriwell’s Coach; or, Pride and Prejudice.

579—Dick Merriwell’s Bingle; or, A Hit in Time.

580—Dick Merriwell’s Hurdling ; or, The Star and the ©
Satellites.

581—Dick Merriwell’s Best Work; or, Up Against a
Hard Propositiom —

582—Dick Merriwell’s Respite ; or, The Campers of Lake

’ Calmface.

583—Dick Merriwell’s Disadvantage ; or, The First Game
with Harvard.

584—Dick Merriwell Beset; or, The ee of Quinn

a

Harvester.
585—Dick Merriwell’s Great Riyals or, Dale Sparkfair) 4
on the Slab.. 4
586—Dick Merriwell’s Distrust; or, Betrayed by a ©
Blotter. ; oe
587—Dick Merriwell, Lion-Tamer; or, Ate, Queen of —
the Air. a
588_Dick Merriwell’s Camp-site; or, The Peril at Pine 4
Point.
589—Dick Merriwell’s Debt; or, Settling the Score With
Smoketown. 7
590—Dick Merriwell’s Camp-mates; or, Old Chums On i
the Field. ©
59I—Dick Merriwell’s Draw; or, The Struggle Wits
Smoketown.

892—Dick Mertriwell’s Disapproval ; or, Chester Arling- ’
ton’s New Chum. ' oA

593——Dick Merriwell’s Mastery; or, ‘The Wolves of ©
3 _Wolfwoods. a

gi you want any back numbers of this publication and cannot procure them from\your news-
dealer, they can be obtained from this office direct, -Postage stamps taken the same as money.

A STREET & SMITH, Publishers, hs Seventh Avenue, NEW YORK CITY. J
 
 

 

 

 

How the Early
Numbers of the

TIP TOP WEEKLY

May Be
Secured

 

 

O the boys who take interest in the adventures of Frank Merriwell and want to read
everything that was written about him, we desire to say that numbers 1 to 325 of. the
TIP TOP WEEKLY containing his early adventures are entirely out of stock and will

not be reprinted.
with No. 150 which is entitled ‘‘Frank Merriwell’s Schooldays.”’

These numbers, however, were published in the Medal Library beginning

We give herewith a com-

plete list of all the Merriwell stories that have been published in book form up to the time of

writing.

We will send a compete catalogue of the Medal Library, which is just full of good

things for boys, on receipt of a one-cent stamp to cover postage.

 

 

MEDAL LIBRARY AT 10c.

150—Frank
167—F rank
178—F rank
184—F rank
189—F rank
193—F rank
197—F rank
201—F rank
205—F rank
209—F rank
213—F rank
217—F rank
225—F rank
229—F rank
233—Frank
237—Frank
240—F rank
244—F rank
247—Frank
251—F rank
254—Frank
258—Frank
262—Frank
267—Frank
271—F rank
276—Frank
280—F rank
284—F rank
288— Frank
292—F rank
296—F rank
300—F rank
304—F rank
308— Frank
312—F rank
316—Frank
320—F rank
324—F rank
328— Frank
332—F rank
336—Frank
340—Frank
344—F rank

Merriwell’s Schooldays.
Merriwell’s Chums.
Merriwell’s Foes.
Merriwell’s Trip West.
Merriwell Down South.
Merriwell’s Bravery.
Merriwell’s Hunting Tour.
Merriwell in Europe.
Merriwell at Yale.
Merriwell’s Sports Afield.
Merriwell’s Races.
Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour.
Merriwell’s Courage.
Merriwell’s Daring.
Merriwell’s Athletes.
Merriwell’s Skill.
Merriwell’s Champions.
Merriwell’s Return to Yale.
Merriwell’s Secret.
Merriwell’s Danger.
Merriwell’s Loyalty.
Merriwell in Camp.
Merriwell’s Vacation.
Merriwell’s Cruise.
Merriwell’s Chase.
Merriwell in Maine.
Merriwell’s Struggle.
Merriwell’s First Job.
Merriwell’s Opportunity.
Merriwell’s Hard Luck.
Merriwell’s Protégé.
Merriwell on the Road.
Merriwell’s Own Company.
Merriwell’s Fame.
Merriwell’s College Chums.
Merriwell’s Problem.
Merriwell’s Fortune.
Merriwell’s New Comedian.
Merriwell’s Prosperity.
Merriwell’s*Stage Hit.
Merriwell’s Great Scheme.
Merriwell in England.
Merriwell on the Boulevards.

MEDAL LIBRARY AT 10c.

348—Frank
352—Frank
356—Frank
359—F rank
362— Frank
365—Frank
368—F rank
371—F rank
374—Frank
377—F rank

NEW

380— Frank
383—F rank
386—Frank
389—F rank
392—F rank
395—F rank
398—F rank
401—F rank
404—Frank
407—Frank
410—Frank
413—Frank
416—Frank
419—F rank
422—Frank

Merriwell’s Duel.

Merriwell’s Double Shot.
Merriwell’s Baseball Victories.
Merriwell’s Confidence.
Merriwell’s Auto.

Merriwell’s Fun.

Merriwell’s Generosity.
Merriwell’s Tricks.
Merriwell’s Temptation.
Merriwell on Top.

MEDAL LIBRARY AT 15c.
INCREASED SIZE
Merriwell’s Luck.
Merriwell’s Mascot.
Merriwell’s Reward.
Merriwell’s Phantom.
Merriwell’s Faith.
Merriwell’s Victories.
Merriwell’s Iron Nerve.
Merriwell in Kentucky.
Merriwell’s Power.
Merriwell’s Shrewdness.
Merriwell’s Set-back.
Merriwell’s Search.
Merriwell’s Club.
Merriwell’s Trust.
Merriwell’s False Friend.

Published About August 19th

425—Frank

Merriwell’s Strong Arm.

Published About September 9th

428—Frank

Merriwell as Coach.

Published About September 30th

431—Frank

Merriwell’s Brother.

Published About October 21st

434—F rank
Published Aboat November 11th

437—Frank

Merriwell’s Marvel.

Merriwell’s Support.

Published About December 2nd
440—Dick Merriwell at Fardale.

Published About December 23rd
443—Dick Merriwell’s glory.

 

 

STREET & SMITH, Publishers, New York City