tooz” DICK MERRIWELL IN THE LINE~ cones STREET &5M/TA = PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK: SF An.idealublicaton Issued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. ' y J Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Avenwe, N.Y. Entered according to Aci of Congress in the year 1907, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. No, 603. NEW YORK, November 2, 1907. Price Five Cents. . eee ne eee ; , CHAPTER. I. 7 A LAMB AMONG WOLVES. reins “Boost him!” “Up he goes again!” ‘“Wa-ow! | Wow!” ™ “Up in a balloon, boys! Send him to the ceiling .«. this time!” : ES Thump! “Great! Grand! Lovely!” There was a babel of youthful voices shouting joyously. Windows rattled, the floor shook, the ceil- ing was cracked. In the midst of the uproar, the victim, who was being tossed in a blanket taken from his own bed, occasionally uttered a broken ‘howl of fear, or a gasping protest against the nee he » was: receiving. _/ “Dad blame ny—— Ouch! Great cats! Are yeou fellers tryin’—tryin’ to kuk- kill—ugh !—kill ‘me? Ain’ _ ye abaout ready to—— ° Gosh! | ugh! huh |". Dick Merriwell in the Line: . GIVEN A SHOW AT LAST. By BURT L. STANDISH. SS Gin-ginger ! Oogh L ‘ Again and again they sent him sailing to the ceil- =~ ing. They roared with Jaughter at his grotesque ap- pearance and his smothered, gasping howls. - | They were hideously disguised, one and all. Their g coats were turned wrong side out and their trousers By rolled up. Some wore ragged false beards which’ covered their faces almost, to the eyes; some wore hideous masks; a few had handkerchiefs tied over the lower portion of their faces. There’ came a sharp knocking at the door. “Come in!” cried several of the disguised lads, while they continued to toss the dizzy and breathless victim, - The door w as tried. The knob turned and rattled, | but the hazers, W ho were Yale sophomores, had taken care to lock and bolt it on the inside. Again the person on the outer side hammered On. the panels. Sage “Open this door, you young rapscallions!” de- manded a shrill, cracked femininé voice. “Let me in this minute, or I'll call the perlice! oo can’t ae : / TIP TOP I’m a respectable woman, Open up on. this way under my roof. and I won't have such doings in my house. this very instant!” One of the disguised boys stepped to the door. “My dear madam,’ he said, “the: door must be fastened on the outside. I assure you, on my word of. honor as a gentleman, that the key is not in the lock on this side.” “Your word of honor as a gentleman!’ came back the sarcastic, angry response. “You ain’t no gentle- man. J know. what ye be. decent, contemptible, sneaking softmore, that’s what ye be!” “And that will-hold you fora while,” the hazers. “She’s got you sized up, old chap.” The leader of the invaders, who had surprised and captured the freshman in his own room, now gave a signal, and the -boys ceased tossing the victim. : “Jimminy cricks!” panted the fellow, as they rolled F | Mim out of the blanket to the floor. “I wonder if I’m all here.” He sat up, rubbing his head and staring around in such a comical way that the boys shouted again. In- + deed, he was a queer-looking chap, red-headed, freck- led, homely, awkward, countrified, yet with a cer- tain twinkle in his eyes that told of a jovial dis- position, “That gives a feller a gosh-blamed funny feelin’ to his stummick,” he declared. Bang! bang! bang!—the hammering on the door continued, x “Mr. Lamb, Mr. Lamb,” called the woman outside, “be you killed? Be they murderin’ ye?” The leader of the hazers bent over the freshman, elutched his shoulder, and hissed in his ear: You're a deprayed, in- sang one of yh “On peril of instant and terrible death, answer that you are unharmed and having the time of your life! Say we are friends, Say you are enjoying your- self!” | : : | | sah “All right,” dotbedt the freshman; and, lifting his voice, he answered the woman: | “I'm all right, Miss Joyce. Jest havin’ a sociable little time with some friends that dropped in to see o: ive,” | _ “Hey?” squealed the surprised and wondering land- lady. “Why, I thought: they was softmores. I thought they was murderin’ ye, by the racket, Open “this door.” | disguised Fades}. (45-56, | nets. a Joyce,” “Say the key is 138 * Gey the ee of om called the vietim at once, “but WEEKLY. Ym huntin’ fer the key now. sofy, or somewhere. I can’t open the door till I find ih “You'd better find it in a hurry. findin’ it, I don’t want no more racket same as you've bin makin’. I won't have it. Why, I thought the whole house was comin’ down round my ears. The rest of my roomers are all near scat to death. They’re hidin’, an’ some of ’em have threatened to leave. I mean it when I say I won’t havé such carryin’s on.” “My dear madam,” said the leader of the invaders, in_a disguised voice, “it is not likely this will happen again in your house. It is not probable that you will be thus honored again for a long, long. time.” “Honored!” cried the woman, “Is that what ye call it when ye come tearin’ my house down over my very. head?” “Ves, indeed. You see, we are members of one of Yale's great secret societies, to which fraternal order Mr. Lamb has been elected, and we are simply giving him a part of the initiatory ceremonies and rites. It is possible that we may have been a trifle demonstra-— tive and noisy, but that was absolutely necessary, and’ You may retire to. we assure you the worst is over. your boudoir with perfect assurance that your dia- monds and jewels are safe, and that you have beneath your rooftree, instead of ruffians, a gathering of gal- lant young gentlemen who would. fly to your "ast ance if you needed them, even at the extreme peril OBO their bright and promising young lives. We have now given Mr. Lamb the honky-tonk and the rizzle- ma-roo, which will sooth his nerves for the time being. On proof from him that he is a bold and fearless youth, we shall hand him the grip or the influenza, whisper the password in his shell-like ear, and there- upon he will be a full- fledged member of our eras fraternity.” “Oh, what a lovely spiel!” admiringly whispered one of the fluent speaker’s comrades. great, Dick.” “Shut up, you chump!” hissed another, giving the admiring one a poke in the ribs. names!” eee “T don’t know northin’ about your secret societies,” returned the still indignant landlady, “but I do’ know T won’t have such a rumpus under my roof. I want it stopped, and I mean ‘to have it stopped. If you start it. up ag’in, I'll surely call in the cops and have ev'ry one of ye lodged in the station-house. Now, a if they. be your friends, Mr, Lae you'd better Keep ‘em quiet.” Nig i: It’s lost under the An’ while: ye’re “That. was vee “Don’t be calling - ae. > eet: - a” e we a i wm ff) ~~. Th AS TIP, TOP said the freshman, grin- Don’t “All ning comically, you worry no more.” right, Miss. Joyce,’ “T’ll keep ’em as quiet as I kin. The woman muttered and grumbled, and the fellow ’ who was listening with his ear close to the panel of the door heard her keep this up until she had de- scended the stairs and closed the door of a room be- hind her on the floor below. “All right, fellows!’ he laughed, straightening up. “Now we can go on with the solemn ceremonies.” “Oh, sassafras!” groaned the freshman. “Is there any more comin’? I thought that was the end. Ain’t you fellers had abaout fun enough with me?” “T think we have given him a faithful demonstra- tion of the great lesson that this is a world of ups and downs,”’ said the leader soberly. “He has stood the test well. Now, if on the morrow he proves that he has the courage of one worthy to enter into full brotherhood with the members of the Grand Order of Gluttonous Pie Eaters, we'll accept him with the em- brace of love and esteem, and set him to the final grand test of eating fifteen pies in thirty minutes. Yea, yea!” “Yea, yea!” cried the boys. CHAPTER Ii. THE CANDIDATE RECEIVES INSTRUCTIONS, “Tewhittaker !” exclaimed Ebenezar Lamb, | “Fif- teen pies in thutty minutes! That’s goin’ some.” “We hope you will not falter in doing your full duty when ‘the crucial hour arrives,” said the leader ‘solemnly. “And now, Sir Grand Taster of the Top Crust, you will give the esteemed candidate full in- structions concerning his deportment, to-mbrrow.” . A little chap who wore a hideous Chinese mask hopped forward on one foot, like a sparrow, and. struck a pose before the shrinking victim. “Listen, thou lowly born devourer of plain pork and beans,’’ he said in a harsh voice, “in order 4o enter into full concord with the brothers of thé esthetic order to which you have been chosen, you must not, on peril of everlasting scorn and contempt on the paré pf all full-fledged Pie Eaters, disobey the com- . mands you are to now receive in even the minutest particular. Are you listening?” “You bate,” said hasnt, who was from New Hemp- shire. ‘‘Let her rip.” “Then listen, and pay strict heed. f On rising. to- morrow you will) perform the usual ablutions, after Vite A i i ae WEEKLY. : | 3 which you will dress, putting on all your garments hind side foremost. Do you understand—everything you wear you must put on in this manner.” “Gug-gug-ginger !” spluttered Eben Lamb, ’m I goin’ to git my shoes on that way?” “Haow This caused some of the disguised boys to snicker. “That is one exception you may make,” said the Grand Taster of the Top Crust, “Yop need ‘got put your shoes on backward, but you must put them on before you don your stockings, and the stockings must be pulled on over your shoes. Dressed in this man- ner, you will go for your breakfast.” “Haw! haw!” laughed Lamb, as if he thought it a fine joke. ‘Folks who see me won’t know whether I’m comin’ or goin’.” “Silence!” cried the leader, and the others sternly echoed the word. “Bub-beg pup-pardon!” stuttered the boy from the Granite State. “Worshipful Grand Pie Devourer,” said the Grand — Taster, addressing the leader of the party, “the can- didate seems to lack a realizing sense of the sole nature of the duties required of him, If he dis- obeys the instructions given him, what shall be his fate?” “He shall be condemned to eat Frankfort sausages and Limburger cheese three times a day for thirty — days,’ was the answer. , “Go on with your instruc- tions, Sir Grand Taster.” | es “For breakfast,” said the little chap, shaking a stern finger under Lamb’s nose, “you will eat one dozen raw oysters, decorated liberally with’ a sauce com- posed of molasses, vinegar, red pepper, salt, and milk. You will follow this with two large crullers soaked in tomato catsup and vinegar. Instead of sugar, you will use two teaspoonsful of salt in your-coffee. When you have finished eating, you will order a bread-pud- ding, but you will’not eat it. When it is delivered to you it will be your duty to empty it from the dish ) into your hat, after which you will place your hat upon your head and depart as quietly as possible.” “Tand of Goshen!” breathed Lamb. “If that sort of a breakfust don’t kill me, they'll chuck me inter a a f lunatic asylum sure.’ “Silence !’’ shouted, the Worshipful Grand Pie De- * vourer. “Silence !’’ echoed the others. “Vou will not be expected to wear‘ your clothes wrong side foremost in your classes,” Grand Taster.» ne si (a ae explained the _ i Tae Te Harvard, an’ what he kin Ao I guess I kin do, _ jest watch me ter-morrer.” TIP “Thank goodness!’’ whispered the freshman, in great relief, “At high noon,” the instructor went on, “you must cross the campus wearing a high silk hat and carrying a cane. You must pay no heed to any one, unless Although you may not be aware of it, our noble order numbers highly some even.being on the faculty. they attempt to stop you by physical force. many respected persons among its members, Whoever tries to stop you upon the campus, that person will be one of our members—possibly more than one—maybe a dozen members. They will attempt-to test your nerve and fortitude by reviling you for wearing such a hat.and carrying a cane. You must stand up to them like a man. ‘The leader you must poke in the ribs with your cane, saying: “Avaunt, thou lobster!’ If he does not heed the warning, it will be your duty to knock off ‘Uncover, for I am After this, no matter what may be said his hat with your cane, saying: your equal.’ ‘to you, you must answer by quoting an appropriate bit of poetry. In this manner you will demonstrate your own wit and literary attainments. give you the grip, password, signs, and the strangle- hold embrace of affection and brotherly love. “I have finished, Worshipful Grand. Have I given the candidate his instructions without error?” “You have done nobly, Sir Grand Taster of the Top Crust,” was the solemn answer, “If the candi- date follows your instructions to the letter, he will be accepted into full fellowship with us, and have the unalloyed pleasure of tucking fifteen mature pies be- neath his belt at one sitting. After this he will have-—— “A doctor!” croaked a piratical-lodking young - rascal. In spite of themselves, the boys laughed outright. This laughter grew until it becahe a grand shout of ! . . Adie offs merriment, in. which even Lamb joined, Said the New Hanipshire lad: _ “Dad he tole me to take my medicine and not squeal, an’ you bate I’m goin’ to do it. I read in the papers abaout Teddy Roosevelt doin’ some such shines at You “Very well,’ said the leader. “We will now con- 4 clude by singing that solemn and touching song, 5 ‘There’s a Cockroach in the Soup.’ Sir Obedient Pie an you an ees us the b Bie 1 ete TOP WEEKLY. If you get through | , this alive, we will visit you again to-morrow night, and Hubbard dress, bowed so low that he nearly lost his balance and fell on his face. “Oh, Worshipful Grand,” anguish, “I regret to say that I forgot to bring the pitch with me.” At this the leader of the youthful rascals pretended to be very angry. he said, with “One so negligent is not worthy to hold such high office,’ he cried reproachfully. besought the fat fellow. “To tell you the wretched truth, I have been unable to find any good pitch in this city, and I fear we may have to lay “Forgive me,” in a supply of ordinary coal-tar, instead.” “Coal-tar!” tasped the leader fiercely. ‘Never! If we cannot have the pitch, we will not sing.” “Therefore,” piped the Grand Taster, “it is up to the candidate to sing. We never conclude without music, Wedemand music. We must have music.” They all joined in a clamorous demand for a song from Eben Lamb. “Gosh all thutter!” more’n a caow. “I can’t sing no ed better excuse me.” grinned Eben; Guess y “Impossible,” they said. thing.” “But I don’t know northin’ “cept the song old Jim_ Plunkett uster sing.” “Give us that.” “Go ahead.” “Let her drive.” “Strike up! strike up!’ Thus urged, Lamb cleared his throat, chrew back his head, and sang in a rasping, nasal voice; “There was an old man and he wasn’t very rich, And when he died he didn’t leave much, Left an old hat with a great wide brim All wound round with a woollen string. All wound round with a woollen string, Ail wound round with a woollen string—— Left an old hat with a great wide brim All wound round with a woollen string.” This was greeted with applause and calls for more. 99 “As Jim uster say,” chuckled the New Hampshire — lad, “the chorus is a heap like the fust ver $e, and here she is.” variation of.a word. Indeed, his manner was droll and ludicrous, causing the boys to shake with laughter. “Naow, this is a queer song,’ verse and the fust chorus. Here she goes.” _ Again he sang the stanza bearies a change: Be- a sob of © “You must ‘sing some- He repeated what he had Already sang, w itaoalt the re ’ drawled the fresh-_ mag, “for the second verse is a whole lot’ like the fust | Sn =e ta OL is . ; chorus had a decidedly strong resemblance to the . second stanza, and likewise to the first chorus and the f ; first stanza. 1€ i : There was no change in what he sang. d “It’s kinder gosh-alfired funny, but the third verse | is jest abaout like the fust two verses, an’ the fust tw: . t abaout like the fust t the fust two Sedhene nal announced Lamb. “It runs somethin’ like ‘h this i T ‘hey began to look at one another as he hammered : through the same thing to the finish. ba 48 j d3 . y “‘Naow we come to the third chorus,” he explained. y “It has a leetle resemblance to the second chorus, an’ + E> in some pertic'lers it is like the fust chorts. It also hd bears a strikin’ resemblance to the third verse, and aH / ° * 5 some folks say it saounds to them like the second { Sei a ; ihe verse, while there actually be some who declare it 1 makes them think of the fust verse. It runs this way: So ; “There was an old man and he wasn’t very rich, 5 And when he died he didn’t leave much, * é Left an old hat with a great wide brim - - All wound round with a woollen string. a: All wound round with a woollen. string, Bas All wound round with a wool Pie “Oogh! Ugele-oogle! Ugh-gug! Goshfry Pe- ter! Who done it?” One of the boys had produced a loaded squirt-gun, taken careful aim, and struck the singer full in the mouth with the stream. The song came to an abrupt end. % CHAPTER IIl. A FRESHMAN, ‘A SILK HAT, AND A CANE, The following day, at noon, the sun shining pleas- antly and there being an agreeable warmth in the Oc- tober air, students had gathered here and there in groups upon the campus. Although they were dis- cussing various topics of natural interest to Yale men, it was noticeable that the one subject which seemed to . interest nearly every one was football.” There was ! _.more or less talk over the fact that Dick Merriwell “had not yet been given a tryout in a regular game, although he had demonstrated in practise that he was ‘ fast, keen-witted, up on the plays, and in every way _ apparently the sort of a man the team gravely needed. As for Buckhart, : _given a show, there were knowing ones who argued ~ that Brad was too heavy and too slow to make a first-class football-player under the new rules. In who, a spectacle been seen. like Dick, had not been a hat and carrying a cane, Professor Jope conceived ‘the old days, they said, he might have been a good, to: wee at ao with h great fierceness, altho h t WEEKLY. 5 man in the line, for he was solid, muscular, plucky, and had a bulldog tenacity to hold on and fight to the last gasp. It was apparent that Merriwell himself seemed less concerned than any one else over the course of events. Over by the fence he was whittling a stick and chatting with a group of his friends who had gathered round him. One of the group, Tommy Tucker, after looking at his watch, sidled close to Dick and whispered in his ar, standing on tiptoes to do so: “It’s almost ten minutes past, and he hasn’t made an appearance. He’s going to flunk.” “T don’t think so, Sir Grand Taster,” smiled Dick, in reply, also speaking in a whisper. “He obeyed the other instructions to the letter. Breakfasted on raw — a oysters and molasses, finished by eating crullers soaked in tomato catsup and vinegar. Put salt in his coffee ) instead of sugar. Wore his clothes wrong side fore- most all the morning. Frightened his landlady, who. thought he had gone daffy. After doing this much, I have an idea There he is now!” ; Ebenezar Lamb, wearing a tall silk hat and carry-— ing a cane, came.saunterihg leisurely along one of the flagstone walks that led across:the campus. : . Naturally, the fellow attracted attention in short order. . A freshman carrying a cane and wearing a silk 1 on the campus! Not in many a long day had such Immediately there was a stir. Exclamations of in- dignation were heard on all sides. Eben must have heard the muttering of the storm, but he strolled on with a defiant swagger, car rying his head high and swinging his cane jauntily, There was a hasty gathering of students and a. movement from more than one quarter to head the freshman off. Before they Sond, reach oon Professor Darwin Jope came doddering along the flagstone path, his. cane clanking on the stones, Professor Jope, peerings over his spectacles, saw Eben Lamb. Now, it happened that the queer old professor had a habit of, wearing an antiquated silk hat, of whic the students had made no end of sport, not a Tittle to his vexation and annoyance. » Immediately on beholding the freshman — st h the idea that this fellow was mimicking him, The old man halted directly in Lamb's path, tryin LIP.“ TOP ™ ». professor could not be fierce, try as he might. At this moment he looked mild And harmless as a rabbit, as he squeaked : “Look here, young man, what do you mean, sir, by such conduct? What do you mean?” Instantly Lamb poked the end of his cane into the professor’s ribs, saying: “Avaunt, thou lobster!” Darwin Jope staggered. “Why, why, why!” he gasped. “I never heard such -_ insolence! It’s insulting! It’s outrageous! man, you shall smart for this! I mean it!’ With a sweep of his cane, the fréShman knocked the silk hat from Jope’s head. “Uncover!” he’ croaked, “for I am thy equal.” At this the professor flew into a great rage, and made a slash at Lamb’s hat with his cane. His aim was true, and he sent the freshman’s silk headpiece spinning through the air. “You—you ruffian!’” he piped, giving another sweep with his cane and forcing Lamb to dodge. “You have assaulted me! (You shall~regret it. name?” | Quoted Eben: . Young _ “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.” “Land!” palpitated Jope.' “Is the fellow crazy?” Involuntarily he lifted this cane once more, this time in an attitude of defense, at which Lamb said: Hy a “Lay on, Macduff, And cursed ,be he who first cries hold, enough |” The professor retreated, ns bined in a de- fensive attitude. -Merriwell and his friends were not far away. AlI- though highly amused, they realized th at the result of this encounter might prove very serious for Lamb. It was Dick who dashed forward, seized the fresh- man by the arm, and spoke to him in a low tone. “You lunatic!” he said, “that is Professor Jape. You'll get yourself expelled. » Apologize instantly.’ a here was something in Merriwell’s manner that did more to convince the boy from the Granite State of his mistake than anything | else. pes “Thutter!” he gasped. “Is that right?” s “Sure it is. Get humble. Fix it somehow, even if you have to tell the truth.” : , Eben Lamb was not as slow-witted as many fancied, even. though he was direct from the farm. “T beg your pardon, per fessor,” he said, humblest manner. “It’s a dreadful mistake. in his It's a pale N What is your. WEEKLY. put-up job on me. I didn’t know who you was till somebody jest tole me this minute—honest I didn’t. I’m awful sorry. Here’s your hat. I’m ready to apol- lergize afore ev’rybody, and I do so naow.”’ His manner was so earnest that the mild old pro- fessor felt his indignation oozing away. “Why were you wearing a silk hat and carrying a cane, young man?” he asked. “I was dared to do so,” number of students within hearing held their breath apprehensively, fearing he would tell the truth and start an investigation about hazing. such a fool that I couldn’t take a dare, and when they tole me I couldn’t carry a cane and wear a silk hat on the campus, I decided, by gum! that I’d try it: I didn’t know you, perfessor, and I thought you was somebody going to-tackle me.” Bouncer Bigelow almost sobbed with relief. “The jays all right,” he whispered to himself. “After this he has a right to demand full fellowship in the Grand Order of Gluttenous Pie Eaters. He’s no squealer,”’ GHAPT ER IV. . THE MAYIcE oF A DEFEATED RASCAL, Phil Whiting looked in at the open door of Duncan Ditson’s room. “Come on, mate, Poland,” he called to Ditson’s room- “Coming out for practise, aren’t you?’ _Ditson himself pit in an appearance from the ad- joining room. “Hello, Whiting!, Why don’t you come in a min- tes. “Suppose I might,” said Phil, accepting the invi- tation. “There’s plenty of time.’ Dunean closed the door behind Whiting, and wale i \ him toward a chair. { _ “Make yourself comfortable,” he invited. “Going out for football practise, eh? I didn’t suppose you'd go in for that game. You didn’t take it up last year.” sin “T was too busy at other things,” said Phil, with a smile. “I’ve gut out sporting and gone in for ath- — ee tried.’ poy you’ d-done better last year than you will this,” remarked Duncan. Whiting gave him a quick look, ‘What do you mean by that?” he questioned. te answered Lamb; while a “T alwus was I might have made the eleven last year if I'd . “Being a freshman, your friend Merriwell couldn’t get onto the Varsity last year. He’s going to get there now, all right.” “My friend Merriwell!” ing his teeth in a bitter smile. Ditson.” Duncan laughed. exclaimed Whiting, show- =r * “Don’t call him that, “T had an idea there wasn’t any love lost between you.” “I should say not.” “You had some troble once, didn’t you?” | Whiting flushed, and an ugly look passed over his haughty, sensual face. “Oh; yess evening at White’s. that fellow gave me a call-down one gedit Ceca ae You know, every one was toast- even though he was a fresh- So much of that business made me a bit dis- I proposed a toast to Merriwell, in which lady-killer. He took ex- ceptions when [ referred to some of his conquests. Oh, I’ve never forgotten it. He sprang up and told me in the preectay of the whole bunch that I was no gentleman.’ ing and toadying him, ‘man, gusted. [ jestingly called him the “You had a scrap with him after that, } ~——s The ugly look on Phil Whiting’s face deepened. 1 “Yes,” he admitted reluctantly, “I had to fight him.” | a “And you found him somethingvdf a scrapper?” “He got the best of it,’ confessed the fellow. “I don’t like to talk about that. Why the dickens did you mention Merriwell to me, Ditson?’”’ didn’t you?” Oa “Because I fancied you felt about the same toward 7 Mr. Richard Merriwell as I do. I’ve just been telling Poland that it’s a shame to waste his time trying to make the eleven. Merriwell has no use for Poland.” “But Merriwell isn’t running the team, is he?” snapped Whiting, beginning to drum nervously on the ' table with his fingers. “Any one would fancy he was oa “manager, captain, and the whole shooting-match, hear you talk.” eet “You wait and see if Merriwell doesn’t come pretty 2 Bs near running the team before the season is over.” f t ‘ “Oh, rot! how can that be? Roger Cutts is ee . “Called captain,” interrupted Dune. “Already he’s slobbering over Merriwell. In practise yesterday Mer- riwell had one of his streaks, and did some stunts in _ the game against the scrub. He made one fifty-yard ; fs run for a touch-down, and he would have repeated it only for his chun Buckhart, who was playing with the serub, and who tackled him after he'd practically cleared the rest of the field. Last night every one who took any interest in football was talking about TIP, TOP WEEKLY. + Merriwell. Why, they were saying that he’d make a player than his brother ever. was. They say Cutts is simply delighted because he’s going to have that chap on the team.” “T don’t quite understand faster muttered Whiting. “There was a time when Cutts seemed to be holding Merriwell and his Texan chum back. Now he’s turned round and is pushing them forward:” Poland, who had been saying nothing, gave his roommate a quick look. Duncan seemed to hesitate, mind of a sudden to speak out. and then made up his “Perhaps I had something to do with that,” he said. “You? exclaimed Whiting doubtfully.. “Impos- sible!” ' “What makes you think so?” “Why, I don’t see how it can be possible. You're not at all interested - football.” “Oh, yes, 1 am.’ “Well, if you’re ‘interested, you Laent any influ- ence. You have no power.” “Tt wouldn’t be so frank with some fellows,” said Duncan, “but knowing your old-time hatred for Mer- riwell, I’m willing.to let-you in on a little secret: It was I who held Merriwell back, but it’s got beyond my teach now.’ . Still Whiting seemed incredulous. : “T’ve heard you say it,’ he muttered, “but you’ ie haye to explain. I don’t see any method by which you could do it. You haven’t any pull with Cutts.” “You know Roger is one of those scrupulously a square chaps, who believes the rules against profes- sionalism should be lived up to. While I haven’t any influence with Cutts, I once did him a good turn, and he feels himself indebted to me. If there’s anything that makes me sore, it is to see Dick Merriwell suc- ceed. I have good reasons to hate him, for he ruined every scheme Of mine during our freshman year. I’m. absolutely confident that I -would have been the Tee: nized leader of my class only for him. “At the beginning there was an antagonism and a_ clash between us. I made up my mind to get the best - of him by fair means or foul. When I start in on anything I leave no stone unturned to succeed, © That chap has a queer sort of hypnotic magnetism; and he succeeded in carrying a large bunch of backers ‘with him, but I made him go some before he triumphed. He did Spe at last. Tve ra to adinit: it ‘Find- *. .suppose-that to-day there’s no more unpopular man in my class than I am. It’s likely Merriwell fancied he had. me squelched, -but nothing can squelch me as long as. I live and have the strength to fight. “When I returned to: Yale this fall | renewed my efforts on the quiet. The way to get back in such a contest is to stand # with the man who naturally hates Have you ever from. California? the fellow you're trying to down. noticed that chap Bolton Norwood, » He’s a freshman. He's a: conceited head several sizes too large for his hat. would just about kill-him to have Merriwell outpitch him: in the baseball-game between our class and ‘the freshies. Of course, Merriwell had the luck to do it. I took pains at once to: get in with Norwood, and Ww pi do you think I found out through that chap?” ’. admitted» Whiting, “F won't: try. fellow, ‘with a IT knew it who: was lis- Go can’t guess,’ tening witly considerable interest. on.’ ‘Norwood and his roommate, Webb, know a chap out in California who managed a summer baseball- team made up mainly of college players. They had both seen Merriwell and Buckhart before coming East, They had seen them playing on this California team, and from the manager they had been told that those fellows were paid salaries.” Whiting shook his head, “It’s hard to prove anything like that against any one,” he said. “But Norwood claimed that Caton, the Califorfiia manager, \had receipts signed by both Merriwell and. Buckhart. He asserted that he had seen those receipts.” “Documents of, that nature might serve as first- class evidence,’ admitted Phil quickly. ‘“That’s the way I figured it. I made up my mind to get hold of those receipts,/if possible. I urged Norwood to send to Caton for them. I promised that I wouldn’t Mvolve Norwood in any way whatever if he would get the receipts and turn them over_to me.”’ “And did he do it?” “He tried. He wired daton to send them on.’ “With what result.?”’ ; _/ “He got an answer back from Caton, stating that the receipts had been destroyed.” _ “Well,” breathed Whiting, “that let you down with a thump.” , “T thought it had at first, but T didn’t give up. I set myself to studying the situation over. I suggested to Norwood that there ought to be a way to get hold of some fake receipts. The fellow bit at the hint in a minute. There’s another freshman whom I hap- ner and opened a bottle of wine. 8 LTP. TOR” WEEKLY. pened to pick up‘on the train. He is mighty clever man’s handwriting His name is Dayton.. Know. him?” “T don’t think so,” admitted Whiting. “You see, | don’t take any interest in these callow freshmen.”’ “Well, this Dayton is a mama’s boy. .On the train play cards with me. ‘You should blush and stammer. He said» he [ pumped him. He said he’d: promised his Told. me a pathetic story about a big brother who had gene wrong at Harvard with a pen. He can imitate any to perfection. [ invited him to have seen -him couldn't. mother not to play cards. through gambling, and about his mother’s uncle; who had been shot over a card-game in Alaska, or Arizona, or Australia, or some other place. I gave him the laugh. I told him every fellow played cards occa- ,and that a college chap who ducked on a little game was regarded as a dub. I told him it was his only salvation to play when he liked and keep the facts from his dear mama. Before I got through with him I had him in a little game of auction pitch.” “You're a slick devil, Ditson,” said Whiting, and there was something besides admiration\in his voice | and words. sionally, a “Tl tell you why I took so much trouble with this freshman,” laughed Duncan. “I’d been spending money rather loosely during the summer, and I was coming back herfnearly busted. Besides that, my old man had put me down on a niggardly allowance that was not sufficient to take care of a stray cat. I found that the freshman’s folks were well fixed, and that he was carrying around some money that he really didn’t need. I needed that money. I suggested to him that he ought to see the town—that he ought to see a bit of life. A few days after getting settled I looked Dayton up, and took him out to dinner. roommate, by the name of Burns, came along. Couldn’t shake Burns very well; but they were both proud to be friendly with a sophomore, and so I de-/ | cided that it was worth while being encumbered with Burns. I drove a few cocktails into ’°em before din- They got té feeling rather high. After dinner we circulated some, wind-- ing up at last at Fred’s, where I drafted a friend to help me, got a private room, and started a poker- game. Like all freshmen, that pair tried to drink all the booze in town. I\had to hold them back, for fear they’d get under the table before I could get : all, of Dayton’s money.” “You might have taken it out of his pocket after he went under the table,” suggested Whiting. “Oh, no,” said Duncan, wholly missing the visitor's —_ His; ee — a“ pened to show these bits of paper to Norwood. TIP: TOF sarcasm, “that wouldn’t'do. Well, to make a long story short, when the game was over I had Dayton’s loose money and three or four of his I] O U’s.. Next day that fellow was frantic. He wasn’t so sore over losing but he ‘was scared to death for fear those I O U’s would bob up somehow and betray ghim to his 1 hap- When we settled on the scheme of faking up receipts against Merriwell and Buckhart, Norwood asked for Day- ton’s IO U’s. I let him have them. He took Day- ton out and nailed him to the wall. He induced the fellow to imitate Merriwell’s signature on a number soiled, and wrinkled dear mama before he could take them up. of receipts prepared on worn, pieces of paper. For this service, Norwood handed over the I O U’s to mama’s little boy from Salem, Massachusetts. Dayton was a bit; curious, but Nor- wood told him it was all a joke. I took those _re- ceipts and showed them to Roger Cutts. Cutts tried to get them away from me. I wasn’t fool enough to let him put hands on them. I told him I was. going to send them to Captain Egan, of Harvard, and that’s just what I meant to do.” “Ditson, you were playing a fool-game.” “How do you make that dut?’ “You were taking too many chances, old chap. Any one with a level head could perceive the danger you were risking. But go on. Explain where you fell down; for, of course, I know you did fall down.” Ditson hesitated. It became evident he was some- what reluctant to conclude his tale truthfully: “The main cause of my failure,” he declared, “was the fact that I hadn’t quite sized Paul Dayton up correctly. I fancied I could frighten him into keeping mum by threatening to tell his dear rhama’ just what sort of a high-rolling son she had. Only for Mer- riwell’s usual luck, I still believe I would have suc- ceeded. After forging those receipts, Dayton got on a toot, and wandered off by his lonesome ‘down into the slums somewhere. He ran up against a couple of sailors who tried to do him up and rob him. I don’t know how Merriwell happened along, but, of course, he turned up at the psychological moment, and rescued mama’s dear boy. Can’t. you imagine the rest? Tears and gratitude on the part of little — little Paul feeling that he owed Merriwell a debt ‘that he could never repay. Little Paul got onto the fact _, his wrath, _ plow the whole thing, even though I disgraced him wa 2 ae A 4 that Merriwell was going to, be blacklisted through those fake receipts. And then little Paul, rising in came down on me, and swore that he'd WEEKLY. forever with his dear mama, unless I quit right where I was. He meant it,too. By Jove! he meant it. I saw the jig was up. That fellow would have peached, even though it caused, him to get out of college. And if he peached, it was good-by, Old Eli, for, yours truly. [had to pull in my horns instanter. I had to hand over those receipts to Dayton. Then I got after him. I told him to keep his mouth shut about anything that had happened, and close the mouths of his friends, or else I would put his mother dato the fact that he. had broken his pledge to her. That saved me, even though I’ve been living on the ragged edge of disaster ever since. There you have the ‘whole story.” ‘Decidedly interesting,’’ nodded* Whiting; “but it was a howling shame that you couldn’t get hold of the genuine receipts.. Weren’t you afraid that Mer- riwell and Buckhart would repudiate the fakes and demand an investigation?” “Why, look here, Whiting, hadn’t those fellows ac- : Hadn't , cepted money from Caton, the Californian? they given receipts for it? Even'they might have been fooled. Even they might have fancied those receipts genuine, for I tell you again that Dayton might have ‘ynitated a fellow’s signature so that he’ll think he’s written it himself.” “Mark you, Whiting,” said Poland, “that I wasn’t concerned in this business in any way whatever. While I’m rooming with Dunc, he didn’t let me in_on it, although he told me he had Merriwell foul, and was going to throw him down. Now that he’s made a fizzle, he’s trying to discourage me about going out for football. I’m aware that Merriwell won’t have ahy friendly feeling for me, but I'd like to get into the game.” “You, never will,’ asserted Ditson, believe Whiting will, either. The only chance you fel- lows have is for this Merriwell to get his quietus. If there’s any way of giving him that, you might have a chance.” 4 “Perhaps he’s in trouble now,” scoped Whiting. “You saw the freshman who tried to cross the cam- — pus wearing a tall hat and carrying a cane?” “Oh, yes,” nodded Poland quickly; “I happened to witness that; little episode. Wasn’t it queer he should run against old Professor Jope the way he did?” ~~ You know Jope summoned that fellow before him, and questioned him minutely. He found out that the freshman had been hazed by a lot of disguised sopho- | mores. The freshy thought he was being initiated into a secret society called the Grand Order “ ee “and I don’t +4 v ae TIP TOP :. tonous Pie Eaterss.. When he learned that there was that he had been made a fool I’ve heard it hinted that Merriwell was the leader of that bunch of hazers, Now,. hazing is under the ban here, and any chap who’s caught at it stands a pretty good show of sus- pension. If it could be proved that Dick Merriwell was the ringleader in that jambouree, I fancy he’d be given: an opportunity to rusticate a while.” i “But how are you going to prove it?’ said Duncan. : “I don’t know,’ confessed Whiting. “They say Lamb, the.,freshman, has: sworn to run down the hazers who had sport with him. He’s a country Jake, \ but’ you. never can tell about these countrymen. Per- haps ‘he’s the very fellow to trip Dick Merriwell up.” “TY doubt it,” said Poland. - Whiting glanced at his watch. “T’ve got to go along,” he said. ing’, Jim?” “Dune says it isn’t any use.” “Oh, Dunc may be mistaken. I’d like to get into that*Cornell game. That'll be good and hot.” “Yes, good and hot,’’ nodded Ditson. “We haven’t such a watm team,“even with Merriwell on it, and Vd Pe willing to bet something that Cornell ties us, ‘or wins.’ “She may,” agreed w hiting. bunch is going to eat ’em up this year. She has only two or three new men in her whole squad. Why don’t you take a chance by backing Cornell, Ditson?” Duncan thrust his hands into his trousers’ pockets and turned them wrong side out—empty. __“There’s my answer,” he said dolefully. “I haven't the dough. But then, if I felt confident that it was a dead sure thing, I’d raise some boodle if I had to hock-everything | owned, down to the suit of clothes Iwas wearing. Go ahead, Poland—go out with Whi- _ ting, if you want to.. I don’t care, I'll stay here and plug a little. Il stay here and meditate. Perhaps -T’'ll hit on some new scheme that will bump Mr. Rich- ard Merriwell,”’ . no such society,’ and of; he got roaring mad. “Aren't you com- “They say that Ithaca 4 . _, CHAPTER. V. HOW DICK WAS HURT, ‘As the time for the Cornell game drew near, ap- prehension over the possible result increased, antong the Yale coaches, of whom three were at work with the team and candidates, including: the yeteran, Old WEEKLY, Cornell had a great team and she w Her Yale man, who had studied the new game, and was reported to be full of originality and tricks; which he was teaching the Ithaca lads. as sweeping everything before her. head coach was a former There was much shifting about of the Yale players. The back field was said to be stronger than the line, even though it contained its weak points, one being Tom Washburn, who had tried for the eleven and failed the previous year, Merriwell’s friends and those who had seen him play declared his. place was behind the line, but Old Joe was anxious to stiffen the line, and, through his advice, Cutts kept Dick at left tackle. This was a new position for Dick. He made no murmur, and tried to do his best, even though~he knew he was not free from faults, and he, like others, was certain he could acquit himself better elsewhere. Harriman was a sharp-tongued man, who spared no one, yet rarely was he called on to get after Mer- riwell,. Some of the. players who suffered beneath his scathing sarcasm began to murmur and complain that Dick was a favorite. This was not true, | Merriwell had his heart and soul in the game when he practised, as well as when he played, and Harriman, a discerning man, saw that the, boy was doing his level best every minute. This made the carelessness, indifference or slovenly work of others seem all the more worthy of reprimand, There. seemed to-be some uncertainty concerning the value of Buckhart, for, after being given a try- out on the regular team, the Texan was relegated to the scrub and kept there. But Brad, like Dick, felt that he was getting a square deal at last, and he no longer complained, no matter what they did with him. Among the freshmen who came out for practise regularly, although they received very little attention — from any of the coaches, was Eben Lamb. One day, at an early hour, when enough possible candidates for the regular team had arrived to make two eleveris, and Harriman was anxious to test a spe- cial play, Old Joe picked out Lamb at random, and called for him to get in with the scrub. The secret lay in the fact that No one realized that the New Hampshire lad enter- tained a smothered desire to get even with Dick Mer- riwell, whom he. believed had been the leader of the eG we hazers on the night they amused eaeennelyes by giving i a Eben the blanket-toss. (his desire had been worked upon and fostered by eat tina ee ~ upon him. _ had TIP. TOP certain of Dick’s enemies, who hoped Lamb would seek to even up, and would find a way to do Merri- well some sort of injury. At every opportunity they whispered in Lamb’s ear that Merriwell had chosen to disgrace him before a member of the faculty, knowing all the time that he would meet Professor Jope on the campvs at that hour, Some had told Eben that it was Dick’s desire to get him into trouble with the professor, in hopes that he would be expelled from college, Dick was pic- ‘tured as a malicious, unfeeling chap, who would have rejoiced had expulsion been meted out to the inno- cent freshman. Of course, Dick was quite unaware of the smolder- ing hate in the heart of the New Hampshire lad. “Ding him!” thought Eben, eying the unconscious Dick. “I’d jest like to git a chance to give him a Mebbe I will. If the country boy’s bump. [ do, he’s goin’ to git it.” Strangely enough, came in the very first scrimmage. He improved it. The right half-back was given the ball and sent to carry it forward, with the left tackle and left guard opening a hole in the opposing line. Dick came breaking through. Lamb leaped at_him like a tiger, and grappled with him in the midst of a general mixup. | “Howdy dew, Worshipful Grand Pie Devourer!” he hissed excitedly. “Hed fun with me, eh?. Waal, how do ye like this?” Then he slugged Dick with all his strength, and Eben could strike a fearful blow. Down Merriwell went, stunned, and a moment later he was buried beneath several fellows, who trampled The struggle rolled over him and passed on, leaving him stretched upon ‘the ground. Strange as it may seem, scarcely a soul had seen Eben Lamb'do the slugging. Not one of the coaches detected it. When Dick did not rise at once, Harriman gave a shrill blast on his whistle, and a moment later the players were gathering round the injured lad. Although stunned and dazed, Dick heard them say- ing some one was’hurt, but not until water was dashed in his face did he realize that they meant him. “Oh, I—l’m all—all right,” he spluttered, attempt- ing to lift himself on his left elbow. A gasping cry of pain came from his lips, and he sank back to the ground, sick and faint. | 7 “Here!” cried Roger Cutts; “it’s his left arm or his opportunity f : not playing. WEEKLY. 11 Stand back, shoulder. boys! Give him air. How the dickens did he get hurt, anyliow ?”’ It seemed a most remarkable thing. Had Dick been tackled while carrying the ball, it would have appeared natural that he might have sustained an in- jury, but how this had come about but one besides the injured lad knew, and that one was standing back and saying nothing. Already Eben Lamb was overwhelmed by remorse. “Hope he ain’t hurt bad,” thought the country boy. “Ding it all! I jest give him one punch. He must be a soft thing to git knocked out so quick,” It was not the blow that had put 2 Mertiwell to' the bad, although being taken by surprise and slugged in such a manner had brought it about. Somebody had kicked Dick fairly on the point of the shoulder while’ he was down, and it now seemed as if the shoulder bone was broken or dislocated. | Joe Harriman made an examination of Merriwell’s injury. The old man seemed to twist Dick’s arm brutally, and something snapped in the boy’s shoulder with a sound that was plainly heard by several of the players. Dick’s teeth were set. No cry came from his lips, but he fell back in the arms-of Roger Cutts, white and unconscious. . “It’s a cdse for the doctor,” said Harriman. “Get him to one right away, some of you fellows who are We'll fill his place and go on with the work,” ‘. Brad Buckhart stuck by Dick until the doctor had examined the boy’s shoulder and announced that no bone was broken, although Merriwell had sustained an injury that might keep him off the football- field for two weeks. , ‘How did it happen, pard?” questioned the Texan. “T sure opine somebody singled you out for sealping. Do you know just’/how it happened ?”’ For the moment Dick was tempted to speak of Eben Lamb’s slugging, but, with the words on his lips, he restrained himself, inwardly saying that, even though Lamb’s blow had sent him to the turf, the lad from New Hampshire had sought to even up a score with- out the slightest intention of doing any permanent or lasting injury to the fellow he struc If Buckhart knew it would mean a fight with Lamb, , and Dick decided to have it out with the fellow him- self. “i can square my sown debts,” ee thought, Jat Lamb’s name was not mentioned. he ‘The country, boy seemed strangely, downcast when 12 TIP TOP he returned from the field and changed his football- clothes for his own suit, after shower and a rub-down in the gym. taking a As Lamb was leaving the gymnasium, he found a rather tall, one of the players who had made up the scrub, though slender fellow at his side and recognized he did not know the man by name. The slender youth, who had a proud, haughty, sensuous face, regarded Eben with a queerly knowing smile that irritated the boy from the Granite State. “Waal,” said Lamb suddenly, “anybody’d think you saw somethin’ greener than grass by the way you look. Mebbe I dew look ruther fresh, but I’ve got my eye- teeth cut, an’ don’t you fergit it.” “That's all right, fresh,” laughed the other. “You may be a bit green, but you can settle up with any one who makes you a public laughing-stock on the cam- pus.” “Eh?” gasped Eben. “L saw you slug Merriwell,’’ alow tone. “You certainly hit him a bump declared the fellow, in that made him woozy.” “T—I dunno whut you're talkin’ abaout,” declared Eben. : “Oh, yes, you do. I’m all right. TI don’t like Mer- riwell any more than you do. J was in that scrimmage. It’s odd, but I fancy I must have been the only fellow who saw you deliberately and. intentionally slug Mer- riwell.”’ ‘You're a ’tarnal smart critter, ain’t ye!” growled Lamb. “Mebbe you thought ye saw more’n ye did.” “Oh, no; oh, no; I know what I saw. you, for Merriwell certainly played a shabby trick on you when he sent you across the campus with a cane and silk hat,’’ “T ain’t never tole you I thought he done that, have I, mister ?” “No; but * tp oa _ “T ain’t never tole nobody so, though several fellers have sorter tole it to me.” “Of course he did it.” “Haow do you know ?” The slim fellow laughed. I don’t blame 9 ' “He has boasted about it among his friends. It’s just like him. I know him very well” “What's your name?” _ “Philip Whiting.” \ _. “What you got agin’ Dick Merriwell ?” _ “T have enough, my friend,” said Whiting. “You thought you wete ae smart in getting a dig at him WEEKLY. to-day, but you took chances of being seen. I took no chances,” “You didn’t?” NO.” “What did you do?’ , 1 don’t mind letting you in It was “As I know your secret on mine, for I’m sure you won't blow on me. I who put him out of the game for fair after you knocked him down.” Lamb gasped incredulously. “You don’t say!” he muttered. “TI do say.” “Haow’d ye do it?” “T kicked him.” “Kuk-kicked him?” “Yes. IT aimed for his head as I went over him, but I caught him on the shoulder. ‘That happened to be for they say he won't play football for You started the good enough, many days—perhaps not this season. business, but it took me to finish it.” Lamb had stopped .in his tracks and was facing Whiting, who smiled in a self-satisfied manner as he nade the confession. “Mister Whiting,” ter say One or two things to you. alfired mistake if you hev tole this to me thinkin’ I’d s’press my admiration for ye. said Eben slowly, “I jest want You've made a gosh- be tickled to death an’ ’Stead of that, you sorter make me sick an’ disgusted.” “What’s that, you fool?” hissed Whiting, “What are you saying, you country, Jake?” in sur- prise. « “Tm a-givin’ ye a bit of plain talk right straight from the shoulder, by Jinks!) Mebbe I have gut a nasty disposition, an’ mebbe I do hold a grudge, but when I hit an enemy he’s standin’ on his feet. Only a gol-ding sneak an’ coward kicks a man when he’s daown.” Whiting, astounded and enraged, made a movement as if he would sail into the boy from the country. Instantly Eben Lamb put up his hands defensively. “Come right on,” he invited eagerly. would, by Heck! Id jest like to thump you once or twict with my mauls. I bin ashamed of myself ever sence I poked that feller Merriwell the way I done ‘thout givin’ him no warning so he could defend his- self, an’ I guess it would relieve me a hull lot to have a reg’lar-scrap with you. sat my hat!’ It was not fear that held Whiting in check—mot fear of getting a whipping, at least. however, warned him that it would not do to get His better judgment, “I wisht: ye . If I can’t wallop you I’ll > Ps RE et ea as aes tig = ne eae ———— POR LORI a one Be PS SS ees 3 Sic Se habs opens pC EE eae = simple country lout. you, Whiting? m Great Scott! that way.” _ friends. into an open fight with the freshman, as explanations would be demanded and expected. He shrugged his shoulders and thrust his hands into his pockets. “T won't soil my hands on you,” he said. “You're a Don’t forget that 1 saw you slug Merriwell. If you tell any one I informed you that 1 was responsible for the injury to his shoulder, I shall refute your statement and brand you as a har. When you meet me next time don’t speak.” “Not a bit of danger!” cried Eben. “I’d be ashamed to be seen speakin® to a sneakin’ coward like you~ An’ if you ever speak to me, I'll slam you between the eyes, so help me Bob Whittaker! I guess you understand that.” CHAPTER VI: OUT OF —THE GAME, Phil Whiting was almost livid with anger as he came upon Duncan Ditson near the campus fence. “Hil hi!” called Dunc. “What's the matter with Are you ill?” “No, I’m not ill,’ growled Phil, stopping. “Well, you look it. What’s happened?” Whiting drew Ditson away so that their words might not be heard by a group of whittling, smoking, joking fellows who had gathered there to gossip. “You know Merriwell was hurt to-day, don’t you?” he asked. “Is that what ails you?” “Ts. that. why you are looking sick enough to take your bed? I didn’t suppose it would affect you gasped Dune. “Oh, come off! You know I’m not shedding any tears over what has happened to Merriwell.” *“T thought not, but " “Pve just made an ass of myself.” “Indeed! How?” “You weren’t out to watch practise?” PUL INO, | “Well, they were short of men to make up the scrub, and they ¢c salled: 3 in that fool freshman, Lamb,” — “Go on.’ _“Ryidently he’s been grouching over the idea that. he was hazed and made a fool of by Merriwell and his Lamb wanted to get square, and he thought he saw his chance. In the very first. scrimmage he slugged Merriwell,”’ \ oe Ei TRAP wii _ Ditson gave vent to a shout of laughter =. WEEKLY. he chuckled. “Ts that the way Merrivwell was hurt?” “T wondered how it happened.” “No, that wasn’t the way Merriwell was hurt.” “Then the freshy didn’t damage him any with that bump.” “Not a great deal, although he knocked him down. ‘Then I saw my chance to get in a bit of “You-—you did!” cried Duncan. “Shut up!” “Don’t attract atten- tion,” “But you took my wind away, old fellow. Are you laying claim to the honor of knocking the great Rich- ard Merriwell out?” “It was my boot aimed for his head that struck whispered Phil. WOT es hissed Whiting. him on the point of the shoulder,” “That’s what’s the matter with him.” “Well, well, well!” chuckled Duncan, seizing Whit- ing’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “I didn’t think you'd have the nerve to try it in practise. If any one had seen you You weren't seen. by any one, were you? That isn’t what ails you, iS 46h “No, that isn’t what ails me. Oddly exciee no- one save myself saw the freshman do the slugging. I don’t think any one saw me try to: kick Merriwell in the head when he was down.” “But I don’t understand why you should look so dejected and worried if that’s the case. I don’t fancy you're troubled by remorse over it.” “IT should say not!” growled Whiting. “Remorse is the last thing that would attack me. But I’ve made a fool of myseli—a howling, blithering, slop-brained fool of myself! Do you know what I did?’ “How can I know, old man?. Don’t keep me in sus- pense. Spit it out.’ , “T met that jay freshman and conpratiilated him on — his nerve in trying to even up with Merriwell.” “Ts -that all?” . . “No, that isn’t all. Naturally, I fancied he’d be — delighted to discover some one else had it in for the — Great Richard, and so I informed him that it was | who had put the fellow out of commission, I told ‘him just how I did it.” : \ “What did the freshman say ?’ : Be say ty snarled Phil. “You should have heard him: ‘ Why, he had the insolence to call me all sorts of names. He said I was a sneak to kick an enemy that was down, F: Now, what do you think of that? Now, do you wonder I was sizzling?” * “Did you punch him?” “No.” 7 ae not co asked Dunc. \: r4 TIP TOP “Well, I had a desire to soak+him, but my good judgment held me in check. I couldn’t do it after giving myself away like that. Don’t you see the sort of a scrape I was in? I couldn’t afford to quarrel with that simple-minded fellow.” “He must be simple-minded,” nodded Ditson. “He is! he is!” snapped Whiting. “He doesn’t know anything. Oh, Id like to get at him myself. It would do me good to give him a fancy milling. Do you know what I think he’s liable to do, Ditson?’”’ “Can’t guess.” “Well, T’ll wager he’s liable to get qualmy and con- science-stricken and go to Merriwell and blubber the whole business, Now you understand another reason why I’m looking sick and disgusted. Supposing he tells that I’ve boasted about putting Merriwell out of business ?” “By ‘Jove! that would be nasty.” “Of course it would,” “But you can swear the fellow lies.” “Certainly I can do that, but I'll be under the ban of suspicion. It’s well known that Merriwell and I had a fuss last year, and lots of fellows will recall the fact that I held a grudge against him. Even though the farmer from New Hampshire can’t prove that I did the trick, there'll be plenty to believe it of me.” Duncan scratched his head meditatively. After a ' moment he muttered: | “If you could only find some way to stir up the jay freshman still further against Merriwell, there'd be little chance that. he’d squeal on you. But I don’t see how you're going to do it.” oe “Here comes Merriwell now,” whisperel Whiting, “and his arm is in a sling.” Dick was observed by the fellows lounging near the / / fence. They called to him, and in a moment he was! surrounded by twenty anxious chaps. “Not a broken arm, is it?’ questioned one, Dick shook his head. “Dislocated shoulder ?” “No,” was the answer, “but I received a Stevi on the point of the shoulder that has put my left arm /to the bad.” ; . “Rotten! rotten!” cried a number of fellows. “Great Cesar’s ghost!” spluttered an excited junior, “what are we going to do without you in the Cornell game? Won't your arm be all right for you to play in that gare?” P | “The doctor says no.’ : iol ietag a a shrieked Wee Willie Wide sha- WEEKLY : king his fist in the air. ‘‘Nine times out of ten they S ¢ put a man on the crippled list when there’s no need of it.” ( “But you may be sure I’ll not remain a cripple any longer than I have to,” smiled Dick. “TI don’t think I really needed: to have this arm slung up, but the doc insisted on it. He said it would rest my shoul- der.” Captain Cutts, together with Buckhart and Greg - McGregor, the three talking earnestly, approached. Cutts was pounced upon by his friends and pulled into the gathering around Merriwell. “What are you going to do without him, cap?” de- manded one anxious chap. “You certainly need every good man you can get against that Ithaca bunch.” “It was hard luck,” admitted Cutts. “T tried to find out just how it happened, but Merriwell don’t know or else he won’t tell.” “What good would it do if I did know?” said Dick. “That. won’t make my arm well, will it?” Buckhart stood glowering and silent, his hands ~ on his hips “Cornell will sure have to go some,” he said. “The fellows are going to play as if their lives depended on it. Mebbe my pard will get into that game. Who can tell?” ‘ie be hope so,” said Cutts, shaking his head, “but the doctor wouldn’t give me one word of encouragement.” Ditson and Whiting had headed toward the group and were listening on the outskirts. At these words from Cutts Duncan gave his companion a joyous — nudge in the ribs. “That settles it,’’ he whispered. life Merriwell won’t be able to play.” i LJ \ CHAPTER VIL ~ WHITING RAISES MONEY, The next afternoon Dick was out at practise, but he did\ not wear a suit,/and he was forced to content himself by watching the plays and listening to the Me structions of the coachers. : That is, he contented himself for a time in this manner, but seeing that the coaches had more work ‘than they could handle, he applied to Harriman for permission. to assist with advice, and instructions for such fellows as needed it, “Go ahead,” said Old Joe, nodding. them how, to get off a en punt,” f ' SORE ‘ “You can bet your — “Take those | two greenhorns over yonder and see if you can! tell Q is et ey ed ny ak he op! ed le- od W ds he on an he 1p (ls us (es ut nt N- pg a LALLA LAIN that make you sick! TIP: JOR Phil Whiting, perspiring and soiled, paused to stare at Dick gusted way as he heard Merriwell coaching the green and muttered something to himself in a dis- _ players. A few’ moments later Whiting found an oppor- tunity to speak to Jim Poland. “Just look at Merriwell?’ he muttered. , “Wouldn't And one would think he knew all Here he is coaching like an old yet,” “vou can’t prevent him about football, “Oh, yes,” from showing off his knowledge unless you lay him sneered Poland, ‘away on a mattress.” “They'll have to give me a show on the regular team to-day,” said Whiting. “I’m waiting for that.” But he was doomed to disappointment, for it was Brad Buckhart who was, called to play with the reg- ulars in the short practise game. This filled Whiting with inexpressible rage, and he pretended a he had twisted his ankle and’ went limping off the field, ‘As he was leaving he espied Eben Lamb standing on the side lines. Lamb was not wearing a football-suit. “Oh, why didn’t you come out for practise to-day, Jake?” sneeringly inquired Phil, speaking in a low tone. 3 Lamb returned his look with one of unutterable dis- dain. “As long as you want to know I don’t mind tellin’ ye. I didn’t come out because I kinder cal’lated you'd - Phil, his mouth down-curved with contempt. is, De, by hokey ! ts _ day.” / be here, and I knowed I'd have to punch you jest as sure as I gut a good chance to do it on the field.” “Tf you ever tried that trick, I’d break your gander neck!” hissed Phil. J “Mebbe you would and mebbe you wouldn’t. If you did, I’ll bet you’d do it when I was down and couldn’t help myself. That’s the kind of a critter you That’s the trick you worked yister- “You must be in love with Merriwell,” retorted “Per- haps you think he doesn’t know you slugged him. Perhaps you think he won’t get even with you. Wait ¥, and see, Mr. Green-as-grass, ’ “You'd better git along about your basineas rasped Eben. “If you talk to me much longer, I’m goin’ to sail inter you all spraddled out.” “Vou'd better not try it, Jake. You might hit quite g a a blow if a man wasn’t’ expecting it, but if you ever get up against me, I’m going to give you the hand- -somest thrashing of your life,” | “By chowder, you can have the chance any time you WEEKLY. | | ots want it!’ it On.” Seeing that the excited countryman was attracting attention, Whiting laughed contemptuously and: dis- dainfully and ‘sauntered on, forgetting to limp. Although he practised no more that day, he ‘lin- gered around until after the work was over and heard Cutts and the coach discussing the probable make-up of the team in the game with Cornell. This interested him not a little, but his name was not mentioned. “Ditson is right,” he thought bitterly. “T’ll get no show to play, and I’m Wasting my time again this year. I wasted it last year.” Still listening, he heard one of the assistant copehes telling Harriman that the chances were more than even for Cornell to win. Old Joe checked the man and hurriedly cautioned him against making that kind of talk just then. “We'll put it up to the boys just before the game,” said the wise old veteran. “We'll tell them they’ye got to“play like devils to down that Ithaca buneh. But don’t get discouraged by talking it over too far in advance.”’ Whiting had heard enough. “There’s not a question in my mind,” he decided. “Cornell will take the game. If I had five hundred dollars and I could find bets, ('d put it up against Yale. Dve got to raise some money somehow and look out for bets, I'll get busy this. very day.” Returning to his *room, he gathered his valuables and spare clothing and made an inventory of the lot. “Wonder if I’d better try Dagett or old Einstein,” he muttered. “Dagett makes me sick with his grasp- ing greed. He’s worse than the Jew. T’ll ‘hock the stuff with Einstein, and I’m going to press him hard for seventy-five dollars on the whole lot.” pre spluttered Lamb. “I jest wish you'd try Shortly after dark he stole out of the dormitory, loaded down with bundles. ious not to meet any one he knew. strange students who saw him looked at the bundles” knowingly and smiled. _ As he was leaving the campus he encountered Dit- son. . : | “Just the man Am after!” panted Duncan, going’ to your room, Whiting. What's up? are you doing with all that load of truck?” “I’m going to the hock-shop,” was the answer. “Can’t hang, around here, old man. want: of me?” ap ‘was, Noe “T’ve fixed it? 2 aera “Fixed what?” ee tid arpa , - ¥. Of course, he was anx- One or two ™ What do you : ‘ fairly decent. time I gif too much money T lose. het: I know apout doze snaps, yes. “poy. © aes ie 16 “The scheme we were talking about. The plan to get after your jay freshman friend. I’ve got a bunch of fellows all ready to give him a shaking up. Of course you want to be on deck. You're the one who’s going to fool him. How long before you'll get through with this business?” “Tt won’t take me a great while.” “Well, hustle. T’ll wait for you on the.steps of Durfee.” As far as possible Whiting kept to the back streets on hi$ way \to the pawn-shop. Watching his’ oppor- tunity from the opposite side of the way, he scooted across. the’street when he fancied no one was looking and dodged into. Einstein’s place. After wrangling with the old Hebrew for some time Phil succeeded in getting sixty dollars on the goods he had brought. “You're getting meaner and meaner in your old age, Einstein!’ he growled, as he thrust the mone $ g ; y into his trousers’ pocket and took the pawn-tickets. “The last time I did business with you you seemed You know I don’t have to hock my stuff, but I need this money right away. I can’t wait to get money from home. You might let me have a hundred dollars and be perfectly safe.” “Maype dot vos der trut’, admitted the my poy,” pawnbroker, “but I haf heard dot kind off talk pefore. Efry Ven I do dot dey nefer come pack for der collateral—nefer.” I vos a poor man pecause I vos so generous. “Vou could depend on me to come back and pay you if you “T’m a man of my word,” protested Phil. didn’t hold a pledge against the money you've let me have. I’ll double it in a day or two. I’ve got a snap, Einstein.” | “Oh, yah, I haf heard about doze snaps, yes. You vos going to pet dot money on a football-game I pe- In der paper I vos reading apout dot game. vot Yale vill play vid Cornells. Maype der snap vill pe der udder vay. Maype Cornells vill vin dot game.” “That’s precisely what P'm betting on, Ikie.” “Eh? (You vos petting against your own team, my Lar TOP Vet Kissy, and away went the cab, You don’t suppose I’m fool enough to back Yale when I know “I’m betting on practically a sure thing. a ? a as well as any one that she’s going to lose. Oh, no, , Ikie—oh, no. Loyalty and enthusiasm and all that: stuff ig all right in a way, but a man can’t afford to let his loyalty and his enthusiasm run away with his brains. | When it comes down to a matter of money, | . he has to put loyalty and enthusiasm to one side.” 9° “Dot vos right, my poy,” nodded the pawnbroker. “In pizness dere vos notting like dot loyalty and én- MOD 5502 85. thusiasm vot makes a man lose so much money except = it may be sympathy and sentiment.. Ven I do pizness T leave all doze t’ings pehind. (Vale, I vish you coot luck.” . Whiting dodged quickly out onto the streee and hurried to meet Ditson at the place apperie \ Duncan was waiting “Follow my pea Dit,” said Phil, “I wad some stuff to hock, and I’ve left it with Uncle Tkie. | I’m ‘ | going to bet on Cornell. It’s a sure thing. CHAPTER VIIL i . am THE FIGHTING FRESHMAN, ~ £ xs 4 Ebenezar Lamb was talking with Harry Thorn- dike on the sidewalk in front of the house where Lamb { ¢ roomed, ia A closed cab came bowling up and stopped! The door was flung open, and two. fellows, with als handkerchiefs tied over their faces, leaped out and seized. Lamb. { Before the astonished freshman could make a strug- mf gle he was picked up bodily and pitched into the cab.’ : ei His captors leaped in after him. ae fi The door slammed, the driver cracked his whip. A Thorndike stood gasping and dazed. “Jerusalem!” he gasped, “they’ve got him. They’re — 3 sophs,”’ In another moment he raised a shout that soon brought half a dozen freshmen to the windows above. “What’s the matter?” cried one, who had. flung “ide open the window. . | ty He | \ tj 5! S | | ean om tag l 1 { a q 4 # i re ae ‘$ Pa 4 Be ! 4 him ‘that’s what ye did. ~ about half-kill you,” LEP) «POP “The sophs! They’ve pinched Lamb and carried off everybody. We've yelled Thorndike. ‘Come on, We've got to find in a cab!” e got to follow. them. somehow.” In the meantime, Lamb had made a vigorous pro- He kicked and squirmed and fought like a tiger, but his test against the treatment he was receiving. captors were too many for him and too strong." “Let up,.freshy!’’ snarled one. “We don’t want to murder you, but we'll do it if you keep this up.” '. “Ding your pates!’’ panted Eben. “I’ve stood just about enough of this.” “Have you?” “You bet I have. You fellers had a rippin’ lot of fun with me the fust time you gut arter me. You made a fool of me, didn’t ye?” “Oh, no,” was the half-laughing retort, “we couldn’t make you what you were already.’ “A fool, be 1?” rasped’ the lad from New Hamp- shire. “Waal, mebbe I’m bright enough to fool some of you fellers before [’m done with ye.” It’s and we're going, to “You may as well submit gracefully, freshy. no use to kick. We've got you, give you a nice little cab ride this evening.” “No thanks at all. cab ride. I didn’t ax ye to give me no [ s’pose you’re some of the Grand Pie Eaters. That was.a mighty fine yarn you told me, Made me believe there was a secret so- Run through the initiation ceremonies, didn’t ye?, Induced wasn’t it? ciety called the Pie Eaters, didn’t ye? me me to wear-a silk hat and c carry a cane on the\campus, hey? Come nigh gittin’ me‘expelled from the college, If I’d been expelled, I s’pose you'd been tickled over it.” 7 “Any one but a hayseed right off the farm would have known it was against all rules and precedent for a freshman to wear a silk hat and carry a cane upon Now We'll the campus. Lamb, you’re a good soft thing. keep still—keep still. have to shut off your wind if you do.” Don’t get obstreperous. Another of Eben’s captors spoke. “You'll show your good sense by submitting quietly, freshy,” he said. “We won't kill you. We'll only just WEEKLY. Dick Merriwell’s friends, be ye? of business. t7, “That’s a jolly prospect, ain’t it!” palpitated Lamb. I guess you've: gut me. I s’pose I might as well take my medicine. Somebody I can’t breathe real “Well, I guess you’re right. ware + is pokirig his knee into my ribs, comfortable. 1 kinder wish he’d let up a little.’ “He’s coming to his senses,” said one of ‘his cap- tors. . “But we hadn’t better take any chances with him,” eame from another. “‘Where’s that rope? Let’s tie his hands behind his back.” Heedless of the captive’s protests, they proceeded, to knot the rope about his wrists. “There, that will keep him quiet. Couldn’t see to do a first-class job, but I reckon [’ve tied him up fast enough.” “I guess, by gosh, you have,” agreed Lamb, with a groan. “You purty near took my wrists off. That rope is cutting into ‘em now. Oh, you're havin’ fun, You're havin’ a fine time. But there’s a day Eben Lamb ain’t the kind No, siree!”’ you be. of retribution, you bet. of a feller to forgit a thing like this. “Now don’t make threats,” was the laughing warn- ing. ‘The more an kick and threaten, the harder it will go with you.” & “All right, Mr..Pie Eater, I won’t make no more threats ‘now, but I’ * jest wait until my turn comes.’ “Tt is our solemn duty to teach you a lesson, Ebe- nezar from the farm. We have to teach you that it doesn’t pay to slug in football practise.” | “Ts that so! Well, it’s jest what I thought. You're | I don’t s’pose he I don’t | s’pose his arm would let him take part in this ere piece Jest the same, I reckon he put up the — whole job. Ain’t that right?’ | “You may think anything you please,. freshy. it ‘ makes no difference to us.” poe ae “All right! all right!” snapped Lamb fiercely, un- able to control his indignation. “I know who’s re- I gut one poke at him and mebbe I'll git ¥ was in condition to help ye out to-night. sponsible. another. Why, ding it! I was fool enough to feck i sorry for what I done.” “Regrets are vain things,” ciseled one of the cn tors, / Tip? sOP By this time Lamb had learned that there were three persons in the cab with him. ‘This filled the narrow i space, and the, New Hampshire lad was decidedly un- comfortable in his cramped position. (The captors grew hilarious and fell to joking and singing. “Wonder how fur. they’re going to take me?” thought Eben. “We must have come a good long dis- | tance a’reddy,” He “This is a fine night to kill a Chinaman,” said ong i : of the hilarious trio. A. “And’ when you can’t find a Chinaman a Reuben hayseed will do just as well,’ laughed another, “Shall we torture him or had we better put him out of his misery at once?’’ questioned the third. “Oh, I’m in favor of-getting all the amusement out “It'll be delightful to see him squirm and hear him squeal.” ” said Eben, ‘‘but that turn about is fair of him we can,.. said the first. “Go ahead with your fun, fellers, don’t forgit the old sayin’ ' play.” _ “He still seems somewhat cocky and defiant.” _. “But that will all ooze out of him in due time. We've all heard about leading a lamb to the slaughter, but this is the first time I ever knew about one being taken to the slaughter in a cab,” | They laughed loudly over. this. _“Goshfry mighty, but you fellers be witty!” sneered «Eben, . ** . I ever had anything to do with.” “Thanks,” _ there must be some bright and scintillating wits at You're jest about the all-firedest bright chaps was the laughing answer. “I presume is - Hayseed Corners where you came from.” ‘ , _~ Lamb shifted his position. He was quietly twisting and tugging at the cords in an effort to work them off his wrists. | a One of the boys lifted a windew-shade and peered out, observing that they were already beyond the city limits, . “Ts a dark and dreary night,” doleful voice. eee just the night for terrible deeds.” ° said this chap, in a “Gol changed if you won't have me killed afore we git to the stoppin’ “place f’ groaned Eben. “I’m pretty near broke in two now, I’ve got to shift my position, J st give me a Jittte bit of pons, won't yen”. vice given by the fellow w ho had pulled him out of the water, . WEEKLY. As he was pretending to get into a more comfort- able position he twisted his hands free. With a sud- den movement he seized the catch of the door, which he flung wide open. Then he jabbed his elbow into the stomach of one fellow and poked another in the jaw, tore himself free from the third and leaped’ out of the cab just as it rolled onto a little bridge that spanned a stream. The bridge had a low railing, but unfortunately the railing was not strong enough to sustain the weight of the freshman as he lost his footing and lunged against it. It snapped, broke, and with a yell Ebenezar : plunged headlong into the water. CHAPTER 1X. THE FELLOW IN THE CLOAK. The cab had been followed closely by an open car- riage containing three lads, | They saw Eben Lamb leap from the cab, strike the railing of the bridge, and go plunging into the stream. In a twinkling two of the boys sprang from, the vehicle and ran to the bank of the stream below the |§ bridge. ! | In the darkness some one was flound ering and a splashing feebly in the water, having been carried be- neath the bridge by the slow current. ’ One of the boys stepped knee-deep into the stream, seized the floundering freshman and dragged him to = the shore. 3 From the bridge on which the cab had stopped the others were shouting to their friends, i A. was the answer, , } f i ; 34 ; “We've got him here, “and he wae seems pretty well done up.” In truth Lamb was nearly done up, for the breath had been knocked out of him by the force of his im- pact against the bridge railing. Soaking wet and so limp and nerveless that he could make no further ree | sistance, Lamb was literally carried back to the bridge © and once more thrust into the cab. “Now keep hold of him, you chaps,” was the ad- ie Cision it Si eggs. . . TIP FOP _ The freshman made no further attempt at resist- ance, nor retorted when his captors scoffed at him for his folly. The season at Morris Cove was over and nearly all the cottages were closed. There they finally stopped. Eben was yanked out of the cab and hustled round to the rear of a cottage, his captors keeping a firm grip upon him. “T’ve got the key,” said one fellow, as he gave his attention to the task of opening the rear door of the cottage. They entered, dragging the victim along. Some one struck a match, found a lamp, and lighted it. “Make sure the shades are drawn and the shysers closed,” said a chap who was wearing a long black cloak. They were all masked and otherwise disgttised. Lamb had collapsed limply in the middle of the floor. 3 “Get a The freshman made fo effort to rise, although that him a kick was repeated several times. 4 “Jingos!”” muttered one apprehensively, be pretty near lifeless. I hope he isn’t badly hurt.” “Oh, don’t worry about him,” laughed the cloak- wearer. “He’s playing possum now. ~ Look around and see if you can’t find something to stir him up.” Thus advised, they began searching through the cottage. Within a minute one of them came chuckling from the pantry, bringing a small basket containing “Hen fruit!” he cried. been laying here. An egg is the very thing to give a “T wonder how long they’ve freshman sustenance and vigor. Of course this jay, coming directly from the farm as he does, knows how to suck anegg. We'll test him.” One of the eggs was broken at both ends, and Lamb’s tormentors held him while he was forced to take the cohtents from the shell. : “Whew!” breathed one, turning his head away. “Tt has a perfectly delightful odor. I’m and fresh,” sure it’s nice Commantled one of his captors, giving® “he must . \ WEEKLY. tured freshman sick. 19 The egg was decidedly stale, and it made the tor- He struggled weakly, succeeded in getting a leg free, and gave one chap a ‘kick that sent him flat upon his back, said the fellow in What he We cut some nice birch “T told you he was all right,” the cloak. “He can kick and slug both. needs is a good tanning. withes on the way. Where are they?” “Right here,’”’ said a companion, producing them. “Strip him,” was the order. “Strip him to the waist. We'll teach him to slug a sophomore.” os ot & “Now you'd better wait!” panted the unfortunate Jad. a way, but I won't stand to be whipped.” “T’m willing to be hazed in any decent kind of “Won't your” laughed the chap in the cloak de- risively. “How are you going to help it?” 2 | “T’ll fight just as long as I can wiggle a finger.” And at’this juncture Eben revived to an amazing extent, twisting his hands free from those who were holding him and proceeding without delay to give them the tussle of their lives. Although there were six in all, he finally succeeded in flinging them off, kicking and striking right and left with the fierce fury of a man who felt that he was fighting for his life. The cloak-wearer took little part in the struggle. Standing to one side, he sleouted- instructions to his Wises e Lamb singled this fellow out, broke from the others, companions. made a plunge at him, and seized him by the throat. “Drat ye!’ panted Eben, hurling the chap against the wall and pinning him there. “I guess I know you. I guess I know why you ain’t-helpin’ the rest of the bunch.” MS / i } “Pull him off!” was the cry. ] ~ ‘ They did pull him off, but he clung fast to the cloak and tore it from the fellow’ s shoulders. “Jest as I thought!” he shouted, flinging the cloak “You're Dick Merriwell! your arm in a a and you’ re wearin’ this cloak to aside. Xqu re wearing hide that arm.’ The fellow who was, without doubt, the leader of ; the party, was wearing his left arm in a sling. ge Consternation seemed to seize upon-them all, a Ppt. gE arn CP Rn Nee 20 “Go ahead!” snarled the freshman. “Git through with your fun, you fellers. But don’t you think for a minute that ’m not going to square up with Mr. Merriwell! turn comes!” By gum, Ill make him squeal when my He had backed off into a corner and stood there, breathing heavily and glaring with unspeakable hatred at the boy who was carrying his arm in a sling. ‘“Hold on, fellows,” said this chap. ‘We can’t get any fun out of a fool like this. He don’t know enough to provide amusement for us. Let’s drop,him, too, and let him walk back into town.” “Oh, don’t drop it! don’t drop it!” eried Eben, “Don’t Jose your nerve, Mr. Merriwell.” “Tm not Dick Merriwell.” “You lie, consarn ye—you lie!, I wisht I’d pulled that mask off your face.” The freshman seemed on the point of charging at the leader. ‘The latter caught up a light chair with his right hand and swung it aloft. “You keep back, freshy, or I'll brain you!” he snarled. “Oh, that don’t skeer me,” declared Eben. “I'll bet _ that you’re a whole lot more sick than I be, for you know that I’ve gut ye on the hip.” “Bah! What can you,do?” * “Well, I might report this whole business to the - faculty. IT might tell ’em that 1 knew one of this gang, and his name was Merriwell,’”” - “You couldn’t prove it. My word would be as good as yours.” and see.” \ _ The leader motioned for one of his companions, and they whispered together. : | “We didn’t mean to really’ do you any harm,” he “finally declared, in a conciliatory tone. “All that talk ; about whipping you was a bluff, We were just test- ing your nerve, that’s all.” _ “Well, I hope you're satisfied!” flung back the fresh- man. “But you ain’t had much the best of this busi- ness so fur. If I hadn’t\tumbled into that stream, I’d _be havin’ the laugh on ye now.” « A ts A Sie 8 2 WREKLY. Let's drop it. | “Mebbe I couldn’t and mebbe I could. You wait you quitting, that chap is going to hear from me, SD inn fight like bulldogs,” old Joe Harriman was saying. — “Don’t any one of you get an idea that you’re going me to win just because you're Yale and the other team is Cornell. Keep your wits about you and play the game for e¥erything there is in it. Get into it as if you: are ready to die for Old Eli. If I catch any one of — ‘ There was further whispering among the captors. I They seemed to decide on something, and two of | tl them, one being the leader, slipped out of the room. if “Oh, fix it up—fix it up to suit yourselves!” scoffed t] Eben. “I’m waitin’ till you git ready to try the next t bi ‘trick, I’m gittin’ my wind and we’re goin’ to have hh another red-hot old scrap, you bet.”” a Outside there was a sound of carriage-wheels, which quickly grew fainter and died out in the dis- } 0: tance. = “We're going to call it off,” said one of the dis- Benes guised boys. | lo Lamb actually shouted with laughter. bi “Waal, you certainly oughter feel proud of your- s' selyes!’’ he, mocked. uy “Shut up!” commanded the biggest one of the quar- | * tette. “Go on out of here. We're going back to the ' 0! city.” fi bi They left the cottage as they had entered it, the * , lamp being extinguished- and the door locked behind P them, ‘I a 3 Bh ev The cab was waiting, and they piled into it hur- ; . riedly, at the same time crying directions to the driver. | a The door of the cab was slammed in Lamb’s face. a f The driver gave the horse a cut with the, whip and 5 : away went the cab, leaving the drenched but exultant es dg fighting freshman to walk five miles into town afi sh aia caash ie | ) LCE fe CHAPTER X. gap :O READY #OR THE STRUGGLE. ape ** It was the day of the game. Within a short time de oo Yale and Cornell would be battling on the gridiron. a In the dressing-room the Yale players were listen- x he ing to the final instructions from coaches. “You've got to fight for this game—you’ve got to bo a to try to fill Merriwell’s ices ee expect it.”’ ets. ] as I was getting into my football-togs.”’ the same meee ves,” | Ns hte | has hocked everything he possibly, could, Lee If you lose this game, you ought to commit suicide, vhole bunch of ye. But you can lose it all right the whole bunch of 3 But 3 ! it all right if you don’t play every minute. Do you know what those fellows have been saying? Well, they've been boasting that they were going to take the bulldog’s hide. How do you like that?” There was a sullen, muttering, resentful howl. “Oh, you don’t like it! Well, then show what kind of stuff you’re made of. .Show that you’re real men and not a lot of wooden dubs. K Cutts. You want to look. alive, you raw-boned Scotchman. When the Lockford, You fellow from Texas wake eep ’em going every minute, Rush ’em! rush ’em! ball’s snapped get awake. And you, don’t get the signals mixed. up and stir yourself, Don’t get an dea that it’s your business to stand still when a play starts. Make sure of the passes, Washburn. Don’t fumble. You've got butter fingers, but you can play some if you'll try, You’re going in at left tackle, Corliss. You're going That’s a job for you. Now for the love of goodness brace up—brace up, everybody.” Dick He was not carrying his arm in a sling, and he was going . . . Merriwell was there in playing-clothes, Out with the substitutes. Whiting was also there. His face wore a troubled _ look as he edged near Jim Poland, to whom he spoke in a whisper. “I’m glad they’re not going to put me in,” he con- fessed, 33 “T’m sorry they’re not going to put me in,’ mut- tered Poland disappointedly, ‘But then I didn’t halt- : “What's Merriwell doing here? Everybody knows he can’t play.” “Oh, you couldn't. keep him off the field. He’s bound to show himse}f.” “Do you know, Poland, I’ve lost some pawn-tick- Don’t know when I lost them, but I missed them “What have you been doing, hocking some stuff as Dunc?” “Dune TOP WEEKLY. _ spectators, and he’s put all the money on Cornell. Did you make any bets?” Sh!’ hissed | Whiting. Some one might hear you.” “Don’t talk about betting. The sound of music and singing came faintly to their ears, telling them that the band was playing out there in the arena, and the Yale lads were singing as gaily and cheerfully as if it were not true that the great majority of them.feared* Cornell and dreaded the possible result of the game. Cutts moved around, speaking a word or two to one player after another. / “Old Joe is right,” like devils if we win.” he said, “We've got to play Outside the music and singing ceased. There was a lull, broken suddenly by the sharp Cornell cheer, which told that the Ithaca team had made its appear- ance on the field. | “Ready, fellows!” called Cutts. “Yes, ready—ready for business!’ snapped Harri- “No quitting now. No yellow. Make it ‘Yale’s day man, This ought to be Yale’s day. Go on, Cutts.” Forth from the dressing-room they poured and out onto the field they trotted, husky, sturdy, mail-clad youthful gladiators. The blue flags rose and fluttered like a billowing tidal-wave. Across the field swept that blood-tingling - cheer: ; “*Rah! vral! rah! Rah! ’rah! ’rah! "Rah! rah! Yale! Yale! Yale!” Without loss of time the players produced several _ ’rah! balls and began practising. Following that mighty cheer of greeting came a lull, during which the main cheer-captain performed a gymnastic and acrobatic stunt that astonished many He leaped into the air, cracked his heels together, nearly turned a back handspring, seized his Z huge megaphone, and aimed it at the tiers.of human beings seated beneath the Blue. ee f “Merriwell!” he called. “There he is! He’s with — the team! ‘Come on, everybody ! Wake it up for Merriwell {" | They had. settled back to their seats, but i now, as ite spurred by. eae they leaped hp once more, really done something in football. 122 Again the blue bannets waved furiously, and then in perfect unison a cheer even louder and more vigorous than the one which had greeted the team burst forth: “°*Rah! ’rah! "Rah! *rah! Merriwell! Merriwell! *rah! ‘rah! ’rah! ’Rah! ’rah! Merriwell!”’ Duncan Ditson, sitting with Pumper Welch at his side, took no part in that cheer. Instead he swore under cover of the roar of human voices. “What the devil does it ntean, Welch?” he snarled. *‘There’s Merriwell! “Of course he can’t,’ said Welch. He can’t play!” “He's simply shown himself with the team, that’s all.”’ “Hear the fools howl for him. You'd think he’d That’s an insult to Cutts. How is it that the idiots have a notion Mer- riwell is the whole shooting-match ?” “Don’t ask me!” growled Welch. “I never could understand it. Well, let them cheer for him. He can’tisave the game,’ “And I’m glad of that,” muttered Ditson, “for I’ve ” got every dollar I could raise on Cornell CHAPTER XI. BEER CEP LAV ENG: Apparently every Yale player had old man Harri- man’s final admonitions ringing in his ears when he went into that game. The Elis started with a rush that aroused great en- thusiasm, for,they actually swept Cornell off her feet in the first few plays. The stand barked madly, wildly waving the blue banners as the ball was carried down the field into the enemy’s territory by a series of brilliant dashes that make it look as if the home team would have an easy task winning. “Guess you made a mistake, Dunc,” grinned Pum- _ per Welch, giving Ditson a jab with, his elbow. _ “Why, those Cornell chaps play like a sieve. We can go through ’em anywhere.” Ditson could not conceal his dismay. | “Great Scott!” he breathed, aghast. “They can’t hold together at all. That’s three times Cameron has ~ bored right through their line for a fine, gain. Has re: TIP TOP WEEKLY. it been all wind about their great team and remarkable playing >” | “You'll find I’m sorry, “Y’m afraid it has,” nodded Welch. yourself busted after the game is over. old fel.” “Oh, they may brace up.. They’ve got to brace up. They’re playing like kids!” Nevertheless, Duncan’s heart continued to sink as | the Elis pushed nearer and nearer Cornell’s goal- line. “It’s going to be a touch-down,” asserted Welch. “They can’t stop us.” Then came a fumble at a critical point and a Cornell player dove headlong through and smothered the ball. The Ithaca rooters rose with a whoop of joy and. gave the man who had secured the ball a lusty cheer. Duncan Ditson drew a deep breath of inexpressible relief. : “Now get the pigskin away from there,’ he. mut- Yered. “Kick, -kick.” It was Cornell’s full-back jwho booted the leather far up the field, - The Yale man who took the ball was downed almost in-his tracks by one of the fast end men of the visi- tors. Again the Cornell cheer rang out. “They saved themselves for a time,” said Welch; “but we’re too fast for them. They can’t hold us.” \ “Wait and see, wait and see,’ advised Ditson, whose courage had risen with a bound, “We started too hot. We can’t keep up the pace, and T’ll bet on it.” | “You haven’t a dollar in your jeans, so you can't ’ do any more betting,” reminded Welch. 3earing the manner of her success in mind, Yale resumed her efforts to carry the ball down the field’ as at the beginning. But now it was seen that Corrfll had taken a sudden remarkable brace. Twice Cameron was baffled, and. then Washburn made a mess of an effort to accom- plish what Carl had found impossible. To the dis- may of the spectators and the unspeakable ragé of _ Joe Harriman, the ball was lost on downs in a most “amateurish manner, | | Cornell did not give the Elis time to recover and — Pm “C (1 eA So) LE Oe catch their breath. The Ithaca boys formed in a twinkling. They did not wait for a signal, having Like a flash apparently trying to bore had the play decided on in advance. _ they were at the blue line, through the left wing. But it was a trick. The man with the ball, which he had received on a double pass, went round Yale’s i right end. ~~ Tt seemed that Buckhart alone was the only Yale man who understood the enemy’s purpose from the of the scrimmage and charged at an angle to cut the runner Off. \ Fortunately the Cornell man was forced to avoid very start. The Texan tore himself clear Washburn, which forced him toward Brad. ‘Those who had fancied the lad from the Lone Star State was slow and awkward were astounded by his '. display of quickness and the pantherish manner in - which he leaped upon the runner and literally tore his | legs from beneath him. t Brad got a rousing cheer. i : “Rotten!’”? growled Ditson. “Of course, it had to ae be that fellow, as long as it couldn’t be Merriwell !” ae “Lucky for us Buckhart seemed to be onto that Gi * trick,” muttered Welch. ‘Peabody had practically a _ 4 clear field. Cutts could never have stopped him. He might have made a touch-down.” “Unluckily for me the cowboy got on,” said Dunc. y y's ») “T saw visions of money coming my way.” Cornell proved dashing, resourceful, and deter- She made several gains through strategic to Yale’s mined. after getting e plays, but was finally held _thirty-yard line. Then she tried the forward pass and lost the ball. “That was no She “Rotten!” came from Dune again. time to try that play. Why didn’t she keep on. ei had things going her way.’ - Yale opened with a quarter-back run, and nimble i Pete Pate made six yards. There was great cheering. Cameron bucked Cornell's s Fight wing and got barely | a yard, corer ties, whe could sprint, was called back from the WEEKLY. _ three minutes after a was pares two of Yale's: the play and Corliss #@ut the visitors were wise to made a miserable fizzle. Yale was forced to kick. “All right!” a difference, Pumper. laughed Ditson. “Now you can see Now they’re beginning’ to set- tle down.” 1 The Ithaca team was lighter than the Elis, and for this reason, perhaps, it nad failed to withstand the fierce hammering at the outset.. Without question Yale would ‘have carried the ball straight over the for that unfor- enemy's goal for a touch-down only J 5S J tunate fumble. With the first half beginning to wane, it was seen that Cornell seemed to be growing stronger while Yale betrayed signs of weakening. Ditson found it difficult to repress his hilarity, but his good sense told him it would not be safe to bee too much satisfaction in the midst of his college mates. | At times he hugged himselg and set his teeth to a ee from yelling joyously ovef Cornell’s success. Then came a sudden shifting of the wind. It was little Pate who snatched the -ball from Cornell in a mixup, wormed his way through the field and made a run that tdok him within fifteen yards of the Ithaca goal, where he was pulled down by a desperate flying tackle. The Yale stands were roaring like mad. Duncan Ditson was pale and fear-stricken. ? “Thank goodness!” whispered Dunc huskily, as the Yale quarter-back was finally stopped. ee _“Pate! Pate! Then they began crying for a touch-down. Pate!’’ bellowed the spectators, Yale braced and went into the enemy with the same spirit and vim that had made them look like winners at the beginning. They could, not. be checked, and the ball was crowded over the line at one corner of the field. | “What do you think now, Ditson?” inquired Welch, “Luck—nothing but luck,” growled Dunc. 7 The try for goal failed, the ball striking one ¢ of the uprights and bounding back. Yale’s success seemed to de) the visitors into ras ? ging terrors, instead of disheartening them. Within . he cried. utes longer they’d never got on their feet again, 24. TIP .. FOP linemen were seriously hurt, Lockford being carried off the field. To his own amazement, Phil Whiting was called on to fill Lockford’s place. Cornell seemed to choose Whiting as a weak spot in the line, for he was battered and buffeted unmerci- For grueling, but it was too fierce and persistent and even- fully at every opportunity. a while he stood the tually he showed signs of quailing. Suddenly Cornell sprang a new trick-play and sent a man through with the ball. Now it happened that Whiting had fallen back, ex- pecting further punishment, and he was the very man to stop the runner, his own lack of heart having car- ‘ried him into position to perform the work. Phil was seen to lunge at the man with the ball, but apparently he misjudged the fellow’s speed, for he missed. the tackle, barely ‘touching his fingers to the runner’s legs. On went the Cornell ma speeding like a deer, with the team strung out behind him; The speediest \pur- suers were unable to overtake him, and he planted ‘the ball beyond the line midway between Yale’s posts. When the pigskin was punted out and jcaught a fine kick drove it fairly over the center of the cross-bar, giving the visitors the lead. ~~ CHAPTER ‘XII. THE LAST HALF—LAMB DOES HIS DUTY. In the dressing-room old Joe Harriman raged like a lion. His language could not be described as ele- gant, but beyond question it was forcible. He ripped the team wide open as a whole, and then he took the players one ata time, calling them by name, and told ‘them just what sort of wooden, thick-witted, thin- blooded, faint-hearted, useless creatures they were. “You had that bunch going at the very start and then you quit—quit like a lot of nerveless dummies,” “If you had kept that game going five min- You can beat them if you try, but you can’t beat them un- less you play like live men instead, of sticks. Wake te pa with Pt interference. aan re slow, y disgustingly WEEKLY. slow. Keep on your toes every minute. Sometimes you acted as if you were rooted to the ground. Make Get Don’t grab him and start a wrest- your. tackles sure. a man by the hips and then slip down on his legs. ling-match. Don’t let him walk away with you. Field, you’re afraid of hurting yourself. Do you think you're made of Dresden china? Get into it, get into it. Don’t go off into those trances, McGregor. Whit- ing, you're just about the limit. You had a chance to stop that man Snowden. cold. How you missed him I can’t say, but Eben Lamb had forced his way into the dressing- room, Cutts. “Kick him out!’ he growled. declaring loudly that he would see Captain Harriman glared at the intruder. But Lamb had Cutts by the arm and was speakirig In a moment or two Old Joe listened captain had to say. to him excitedly in low tones. Roger turned and called Harriman. to what the Yale fierce look of anger on his face as he turned and sin- gled out Phil Whiting, at whom he pointed a thick, stubby finger. “Whiting,” “Yes, sir,” “Have you bet any money on Cornell? The truth!” Whiting turned pale. he called sharply. answered Phil, starting. Have you bet against Yale? _ “Why, you see, Ie-—-I——” “The truth!” roared old Joe. “Tf my judgment led me to bet some money on Cor- nell, it wouldn’t make any difference in my playing for Yale. I’d do my level best just the same.” “Take off your togs!” shouted Harriman. “Take them off quick and get out of here! influence, you'll never wear a Yale suit again.”’ The other members of the team drew aside from Whiting as the fellow, sullen, ashamed, and furious, started to obey old Joe’s command. When the Yale team reappeared Duncan Ditson \ looked in vain for Whiting. for “Phil isn’t with them,” he said. him because he missed that tackle. Well, he gave Cornell her chance, and,I w oulda't wonder if it was: enough to decide the game.” —~ You should have got him ‘There was a If 1 have any “They've dropped E ' bE ai: a ] 1 1 : I ee Me ge t : Pei 'G a Dat Si ee: Ary. Ce - * VM It) ig VO. Ou IT ng ike ny a ey tute being called on. eae seemed to lose his head in every scrimmage. flushed, _ the group of subs. Evidently both teams were keyed to the keenest pitch, for they went into the game in the second half in: deadly earnest, and for some five minutes they seemed to be evenly ‘matched. Then some of the wise ones began to say that Yale was weakening once more. It soon looked that way, for, with th€ ball in her possession, Cornell hammered her way steadily toward Old Eli’s goal. Yale began to suffer from injuries. Matthews was knocked stiff twice and carried off the field, a substi- jurn broke his collar-bone Washl in the very next scrimmage. Then Cutts sprained his ankle and went hobbling about, although he stuck in the game. That was not the end. Peter Pate got his, and a substitute quarter-back was called to take his place: j . « . er All this while Cornell was driving her way toward © Yale’s goal. “Good heavens!” groaned a distressed Yale spec- tator. “If.this keeps up, on the cripple list.” Eighteen yards separated Cornell from Yale’s goal, -and the Ithaca lads were like bloodthirsty tigers. | \ who was now playing right tackle, The 7 Gallagher, enemy had found this out, and they turned their at- tention to Gallagher. ® Three yards more. Then two. Then Gallagher was hobbling off the field. There was a 4 hush of expectancy. Who would take Gallagher’s place? A sudden roar of surprise broke over the stand as a eager-eyed lad was Been hurrying out from / Phil Welch seized Ditson’s shoulder and shouted i in | his ear: . f “Merriwell—it’s Merriwell !’ fs ot fa ! ‘rah! "Rah! ’rah! ‘rah! ’Rah! ’rah! TIP TOP WEEKLY. they'll have our whole team thing to do with it, / spluttered Dunc. “But he can’t play—he can’t!” “Perhaps he can’t,” came from Welch, “but it’s quite evident that he’s going to try.” Dick had begged for the chance. During the in- terval of rest he had appealed to Cutts and Harri- man. He had asserted that his shoulder was practi- cally all right. Cutts had reminded him that the doc- tor had said it was possible a repetition of the injury arm. Dick’s blood was seething in his veins, and he continued to plead. to that shoulder might ruin Dick’s And now, as a last resort, hoping to put heart into the team, Cutts had called for Merriwell. Dick went into the line at right tackle. On the next rush Cornell carried the ball five full yards, Ditson laughter. “Lots of good Merriwell did!” fought to check his desire to shout with © “Oh, the It’s all Cornell's way now. he scoffed. game is as good as settled. No one man—and especially a man with a bum arm —can stop it.” } The visitors were confident. Not fora’ moment. did they doubt their ability to carry the ball over the line. “ The next attempt gave them a yard. Then, to the surprise of many and the joy of the Yale crowd, they were swept back four yards. Still they believed they could put the ball over. Yale held like a granite wall.’ * ¢ Within striking-distance of the goal, Cornell lost ‘ the ball on downs. “What, do you think about it now, Ditson?” asked Welch. “It was rotten luck, but Merriwell didn’t have any- ” was the answer. Cameron booted the ball over into Cornell’s terri-— tory, where it was caught cleanly by a player wha dodged Gordan Field and carried it fourteen yards, being tackled and downed by no less a person than Dick Merriwell. “Didn’t seem to be anything the! said\Welch. “He tackled handsomely.” - _ Ditson simply growled. Dy ge | After a time it began ip seem that: ae had arm then,” matter with his — so scnapectstnerier pdlancenerernnern nee ee eae no. oP ee ee a RE EE eM 26 TIP missed a golden opportunity, for Yale was doing bet- ter, and most of the fighting took place near the mid- dle of the field. “But the same,” “They'll hold the lead they have.” Barely had he spoken these words when Merriwell Cornell wins . just said Dunc. eléctrified every spectator by taking the ball on a queer forward pass at an unexpected moment and shot through the enemy’s line, dodged the backs and went facing away with a clear field ahead of him. It was impossible to overtaké him, and Duncan Dit- son nearly collapsed from heart-failure as Dick made the touch-down. Amid the cheering a goal was kicked, which ended the scoring, for in the last four minutes of play Cor- nell was held without securing the slightest advantage. » * * * x x * Shortly after sunrise the following morning two Yale students met at the edge of a little grove out- side the city limits for the purpose of fighting with their bare fists. Phil Whiting had dared there at that hour, and the New Hampshire lad had Bis Lamb to meet him eagerly taken the dare. _ With Whiting were several friends, one being Dun- can Ditson, who was in bitter spirits over the loss of the money he had wagered on Cornell. Merriwell' and Buckhart accompanied Eben Lamb, the freshman having begged them to come along. “Let’s not lose any time,” said Whiting, glaring furiously at the freshman whom he now hated with all his soul. “I’m anxious to get at that sneak and give him what he deserves.” | “We won't waste time,” drawled Lamb, pulling off _his coat and pausing to take some yellow tickets from his vest pocket. “But before we begin I want to give | ye back these here pawn-tickets. Too bad you hocked your stuff to bet on Cornell, wasn’t it? But then, it served ye right, an’ I’m ‘tarnal glad of it.” : “Where did you get these?” cried W ae snatch- s - ing the tickets. | eed Picked them up off the floor of that air cottage ~ out to Morris Cove, where you an’ some of your fine iy friends took ‘me one evenin’, They fell. outer ae TOP ‘Dick Merriwell’s Drop-kick; WEEKLY. pocket durin’ the fracas. I see ‘em, and I grabbed ‘em, thinkin’ they might tell me who ye was. ‘They done it. You was rigged up slick with your arm in a sling to make me believe you was Dick Merriwell, and I was fooled then; but arterwards—arter takin’ the tickets to the pawnbroker and findin’ out whose stuff they called for—I kinder figgered out the truth of the business. I tole Roger Cutts you had been bettin’ on Cornell. I’ve done my best to show ye up. I done a rotten mean thing when I slugged Dick Merriwell in practise, but you done a rottener thing when you kicked him arter he was daown. I’ve apoler- gized to him. Now I’m goin’ to fight you, and f kinder cal'late I’m goin’ to give you a rippin’ good larrupin’. Be ye ready?” “T sure hope you can do it, Lamb,” said Buckhart hotly, “for that snake certain deserves a larruping. You hear me murmur!” | Whiting was eager enough to get at it, and in an- other minute they were fighting. The batfle lasted . \e i ( Fy full twenty minutes, and it was a gory one, both men | being punished severely. But the freshman had staying seem to realize that he had been hurt in the least. wore Whiting down, thumped him into submission, and made him say he had enough. “There,” bredthed the satisfied- freshman, as he T ain’t no fighter, turned away, “naow I feel better. but thumpfn’ a sneak like that is a sort of duty some- aes times. My folks alwus learned me to do my duty.” THE END. The Next Number (604) Will Cuntain OR, ¥ WINNING ON A LAST RESORT. Careless Shooting—Angry Boys—Four Rascals—Face to Face—Cowed and Conquered—Thompson Makes a Settlement—-Forced to Fight—Bent On Revenge— Trapped—-Hogan’s Revenge—Retributive, Justice— Yale in Poor Form—By a Narrow Margin. power and did not | He 4 ae a / ye ne 1 , R? Pe ae Ye 5 Re = an eed ne) ease — Fee aS ea ae ot or ee t =e ss { Pop AY he 1, ie | time to time. _ tion of your favorite weekly and win a place on the Roll of Honor, _. APPLAUSE. Sr NEW YORK, November 2, 1907. TERMS TO TIP TOP WEEKLY MAIL SUBSCRIBERS. (Postage Free.) Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each. S MONEDS . 2... ewes eweweeccsee= 65¢, Orie year Fil, a-hz.cesntebokat $2.50 @ montns.,-:.<.---+ Sus adde eet 85¢. 2 copies one year........... neh PURE TAIILIS cc doe ck ye ddeqeendedbecee $1.25 1 Copy TWO Years. voxccdecsinc 4.00 How to Send Money—By post-office or express money order, registered letter, hank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent by currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. Receipts—Receipt> of your remittance is acknowledged by proper change of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly credited, and should let us know at once. STREET & SMITH, Publishers, Ormonp G. Smitu, | 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City. Gerorce C. Situ, { Proprietors. TIP TOP ROLL OF HONOR. Following the suggestion of Mr. Burt L. Standish, that appeared 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 in line boys and girls and strive to have your name at the head of the list, P. J. Schnetzer, Brooklyn, N. Y. C. C. Beyers, Ohio. Raymond A. Stevens, New York State. John Reynolds, lowa.. Wm, McIntosh, New York City. Leland E. Clark, New York. O. E. Underhill, Mass. , Harvey Dunn, Connecticut. Philip kKlingensmith, Pittsburg, Pa. | Edward S. Holmes, editor Advance, lowa. F. M. Allen, New York Ciiy. The names of other enthusiastic Tip Toppers will be added from Send in the result of your efforts to push the circula- ~ a — + Owing to the number of letters received, the editor of Tip Top Cannot undertake to secure their publication under six weeks. Those se | who contribute to this department must not expect to see them before ‘¢ “ “ hi : a nd a 8a Advertisements—A limited number of acceptable ad- that time. 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 ordet to the _ publishers. bis (A letter from New York.) As I have never written to the Applause column before, I think I ought to do my share in singing the praise of the most célebrated’ weekly publication. in the world, “Tip Top,” I have Only read “Tip Top” a little over a year and a half, and am truly sorry that I never began before, which 1 could have done ‘. - ‘ ‘ WEEKLY. 27 easily enough as I had plenty of chances, but, of ‘course, I thought as all the rest of you may have done, that it was only a cheap thing and not worth reading, but I soon found out my mistake, for one day I had got completely out of reading and asked a friend of mine if she had anything interesting, and she said nothing except her nephew had some old “Tip Tops” if I cared for them, so I either had to take them or go without. I took them and I read them, and the result is I get one every week and all the back numbers I can, and I can hardly wait for Friday to come so my mother can go and get my “Tip Top.” I am an invalid and haven’t walked a step or even stood on my feet for over two years, and I suffer a good deal of pain, and I tell you the truth when I say dear old “Tip Top” has - helped me pass away many weary and lonesome hours. As I have to sit all day long and do nothing but read I require a good deal of reading, and there are times that it seems that I can never catch up, as my friends and different people who come in to see me lend me lots of books and magazines and all kinds of subscribtion papers; but, above them all, I like “Tip Top” the best of all, and would take it’ in preference to any other book or paper.. 1 am sorry to say that I have not anything as yet to get my name on the Honor Roll, as what few boy friends { have are not very great readers, or do not caré to read much, but I am going to try my best, as I think ‘every American boy should read “Tip Top” if he wishes to become an honest, up- right, manly, and moral’ man. I have been reading up the Applause columns of my “Tip Tops,’ and I see some of the boys ask for a catalogue of Medal and back-numbers of “Tip Top.” If you have them and if you send them to boys for the asking I would like one of each, as I ani trying hard to get the back numbers of “Tip Top” and Medal Library. I have fread some of the latest Medals, but I would like to get all the back numbers. I would be ever so much obliged if I could get the catalogues. I think I am taking more than my ,share of space, that is, if*this escapes the waste-paper basket, as the other boys say. I hope Mr. Burt L. Standish lives many years, so he may continue to write such good stories for boys and girls, arid, with three cheers for Street & Smith, for if it wasn’t for, them we wouldn’t get any “Tip ‘Top’ and any. new covers, and) three cheers for Frank and Dick Merriwell, ‘ will close, fakes to see this in print. Eart_E. Boyp. We take pleasure’ in printing the letter of this enthusiastic friend, and catalogues have gone forward as requested. Se IT have been reading your famous “Tip Top Weekly” steadily for nearly six years, and only repeat what others have said“be- fore, that words cannot do justice to it, try as one may to enumerate the virtues of the celebrated little magazine, for magazine it is, now that the finishing touch has been added in the form of the handsome cover recently evolved. The heroes of the story, Frank and Dick, are all that one could. wish for in the way of manly, up-to-date, and model lads, or, rather, young men as they now are. , I would like to see Dick and his friends take a tour of the country on bicycles, as Frank did, or with a touring-car, which ‘journey I think all “Tip Top” readers would enjoy reading about, I notice Cap’n Wiley’s untimely death has’ caused a great dea of sorrow among readers, and I cannot say as I blame them, feel- ing the same way about it myself, and hope to see him make his reappearance in some way or other in the near future. Wishing Burt L. and the publishers long and prosperous lives, I will retire. \ H.C. Racine, Wis. ; ; Glad to have you join our circle. The idea mentioned in having Dick take a tour may appeal favorably to Mr. Standish, but he has his plans laid out for the present? ° Rah! "Rah! ’Rah! Sis! Boom! Bah. Richard! Richard! Ha! ha! hal Is he in it? Well, I guess! Richard Merriwell! Yes! Yes! Yes! Merriwell! Merriwell! Having never written to the Applause column, I now take that liberty, being a loyal and true “Tip Topper.” Ne Dick is my favorite, and of his “push” I like Brad Buckhart, and—as Le Blon says—“Holy” Jones. Dear old Frank comes next to Dick. ova hs MAE tee ay. te I want to say that of any of the weeklies I have read I think x Merriwell! Lee E Sead “Tip Top” 28 fortunate that it is cheap in price, a chance to learn how to be sturdy, honest, kind, and generous, and to learn the advantages of exer- cising as well.as the rich boys. Please send a catalogue of Medal Library to address given below. Thinking I have said enough, I close, whoop of “Buckhart’s for ‘the “Tip Top,” Street & Smith, and remain, A Loya. “Tip New York City. Catalogue has been sent to the address given. Why not write again and tell us what you know of “Tip Top’s” influence for good among your boy friends; and also what you are doing to increase its circulation. this one is the best. It is s0 as to give the poor boy with that wild war- Burt L. Standish, and Topper” AND A New York Girt. (A letter from Delaware.) T am a constant reader of the king of weeklies, the beloved “Tip Top,” and have been for seven months. In that time I have succeeded in getting five young friends to read them. I think the new covers are very much of an improvement. Is there any- where or way you can get Nos. 1 to 150? ‘Three cheers for Yale, Burt L., and Street & Smith, { remain, L. M. WICKERSHAM. Only through purchasing the Medal Library as advertised on our last cover-page. T have just got through reading one of your “Tip Tops,” and T want to say it’s the most interesting of any stories I have ever read. All the “Tip Tops” and Medal books are good. For the last seven years I have been reading your “Tip Top.” I’ve started many boys reading them. Good health to Burt L. Stand- ish and Street & Smith. I remain, a steady “Tip Toppér,” Chicago, Ill. MANNY PRANGLEY. Most dasutnity we hope you will continue the good work you are doing among your friends, and we trust you may enjoy at least another seven years of excellent reading. “Tip Top” seéms to hold its friends even after they have married, and some hav¢ boys beginning to master the stories of sport and good prin- ciples. —_—_——_—- I have been reading the Merriweil stories for quite a while. I have now started reading the stories of Frank in the Medal Library. These stories have helped me to keep from sthoking a great deal. I go with a bunch of fellows who smoke, but have never started, because of the Merries’ advice. I wish Dick and Frank could manage to come to Canada in the winter and meet some of our hockey-teams ; the best in Canada is the best in the world. Peterboro is the town with the lift-lock, and I have never noticefl a letter from here. Enclosed: find twb-cent stamp for catalogue of Medal Library and “Tip Top.” Yours truly, A CANADIAN Boy, Petersborough, eanass, ha We imagine you. ‘are quite right in what you say about the hockey- teams of Canada being the best in the world. With, la- crosse it is a game peculiariy suited to your climate. Catalogues could not be sent as you gave no name. Try again. ee T take great pleasure in writing about “Tip Top.” I have about four years, and the characters I like are _ Frank, Bart, Bruce, Jack Diamond, and Dick. My aunt, who is 59 years old, reads “Tip Top,” She has one every week, and we all read them, father, sister, and I. Hoping to see this in print,»as I have seen none from our town, I remain, yours - truly. Gs _ Trenton, N. e ey ; Thank you. eet eters { "iC ge iter from Tilinois.) —T Ihave been reading your excellent weekly for over six years and have always found it first-class. I ‘used to read other Tend weeklies but quit them all but two of the best, namely, “ “Tip Top” and Young Rough Rider.’ 1 must ‘say the new coyers are. fine, but the stg ies of Dick at_Yale are, not quite as/ ‘fine Frank, in my beara I a, ea oer oe of ‘the boys’ TIP TOP WEEFKLY. which T have a good thing when I hope that the back numbers, of some readers miss a lished about Frank in good lot, and must say they don’t get either them or the Medal Library. Street & Smith live long and prosper, also Burt L, and Frank, Dick, and Frank, Jr. Please publish this letter, as I wish to con- vince my father of the Applause column’s reality. Yours truly, JoHN SULLIVAN. request. “This Frank and rule to comply with your should be Both All cannot think alike. We cannot break our letter Dick with name sufficient. have stanch adherents. your Whoopee. Here they come, almost invisible in a cloud of dust. It is Injun Heart and Strong Heart, followed by the unbranded maverick of the Pecos. Excuse my rather rash opening, but give us some more of Young Joe Crowfoot. Will you please tell me if there is any knack in climbing a rope hand over hand? Dick is my favorite, and of all Dick’s enemies [ never hated any as much as Phil Whiting. Dick’s got sand, and any galoot that says he ain’t should be strung up and rid- dled. By the great horn spoon, I remain, R. -Br. Reading Pa. Yes, there is a knack about climbing a rope hand over hand; can accomplish it easily. All old-time sailors were athletes, since their business aloft necessitated their being as quick as cats, and able to “hang on by their eyelids,” as it has been expressed. Nowadays there are comparatively few such old salts, steam having superseded sails. and only a gymnast (A letter from New York.) Being an ardent reader of “Tip Top,” the king of weeklies, T thought I mfst write a letter to the Applause, this being my third. I think a whole lot of Dick, for Brad B. on smoking made me quit cigarettes. I think June is the girl for Dick: Where are Hal and Doris, Frank and Inza, and Frank, Jr., Bart and Elsie? I would like to hear them. I have quite a collection of back numbers that I wish to dispose of at 5 cents per copy up to No. 500 after that 3 cents per copy. IL will close now, hoping that this will escape the waste-basket and giving three cheers for Burt L. Standish. NATH. WHERRY. The only way to dispose of them would be to advertise. Tf any one should write you about them, care of “Tip Top,” we will forward the letters. But again you might do some mis- sionary work with them among your boy friends, and thus in a measure return some of the great good you copfess you owe to the teachings of “Tip Top.” Try it, . ~_————— I am proud to say that T am a reader of which I think is the best paper ever published for the American youth. Frank is my favorite of them all, but) after him’ come Dick, Brad, Bart, Ted, Hal, Bruce, Harry, Jack D., and Chet Arlington. TI am glad Chet has reformed. Frank did well when he married {nza, and I hope Dick marries June. [ have succeeded in getting some of my friends to read “ Tip Top.” L hi ive quite a collection of them now. cheers for Burt L., and Street & Smith. in print soon, Yours truly, Philadelphia, Pa. Charles, we believe you are has a faithful adherent in you. I will close, with ihede,. Hoping to see this, ; CuHarLes DUNCOMBE. — “true blue,” Please accept our own magazine. In a way. those who work for “Tip Top” labor in their own interests, for the greater our, circulation the better we can afford to improve the weekly in various . ways. guarantee to astonish our friends by our liberality, } shiudedul (A letter from Texas.) Having read the king of weeklies for over four veltacaiian 387-—1 take the liberty of sending in some of my views concern~ ing the characters. ae one of his talks on — about — “Tip Top Weekly,” } i and that “Tip a thanks for J] all the efforts you have put forth to increase the circulation Double our present circulation and we would. os Sobek oe I think Dick is all right, but naturally I like Brad better than any of the others. Why don’t you give us some of the old characters? There are nine boys here who have formed a club called the “Invincible Tip Toppers.” We have played forty-one games of baseball this year and only lest eleven, and I think that is doing pretty well, don’t you? There are three other teams with which we play, i. e., Seabrook Sluggers, Wyandotts, and the LaPorte Sluggers. We just started as a club this year. We get four copies of “Tip Top” regularly and two of the Medal Library books and’ draw straws to see which reatls them first. We do all we can to increase the circulation of “Tip Top” and the Medal books. We have to go up to Houston to get the books, as there is no one here who teat them. I remain true to “Tip Top” and the boys. Yours for the good of “Tip Top.” J. C, Converse. “Tip Top,” and trust the reading of these splendid stogjes all these years has been of benefit to you even beyond the mere pleasure gained each week, We count you and your chums as good friends to (A letter from New York.) Not noticing any Applause from wish to express my opinion. I have three years and think it unexceled. Frank is my model and think Dick is nearly his equal. T am sorry to hear that Captain Wiley has ended his career. As for Chester 1 hardly think him a true friend of Dick as yet. Please send me a catalogue of your books, and oblige a New ' Yorker. LAWRENCE BASSALOUX. Medal catalogue has been sent, and you will find it, full of the titles gathered for boys’ reading. There is not a book in the list that can be objected to by the most scrupulous parent, quaint little “Tip Top” town, I for nearly. our read most fascinating ever a ene (A fetter from California.) “Tip Top” last year. nae | read two more in which Frank and | did not read any more until three weeks ago, I read “Frank Merriwell’s Fame,” in which Frank finds Elsie in St, Louis. He was then pretty sure he was going to marry Elsie. He is then out of Yale. Then I got a later issue and find him back in Yale. And now I see he: has married Inza. Oh, my! don’t things get mixed up. Well, good-by all, long life to-Burt L. ‘T read my first well’s New Auto.” Dick were together. RAY Hines. If you had been a consistent reader all this time you would understand how naturally these things all came about. : We hope you will take enough interest now to read “Tip Top” weekly, Having Kean a constant reader of the ideal publication for the American youth for several years, I take leave to pen a few lines. I have found that “Tip Tops” are the best sellers, espe- cially in our part of the city. In my several years of reading I can lay claim to about ten converts, all of Philadelphia. I re- member the first I ever read was “Frank Merriwell’s Brother.” Since reading that one I have never missed a number. Wishing “Tip Top” and its author a long life—this is selfish but trae—I remain in suspense, for I am waiting for the Medal Library to produce Dick’s adventures, __ 1 expect to visit New York shortly and would like to know if I can secure a catalogue of “Tip Top” there if I visit Street & Smith. Your friend, Philadelphia, Pa. _ Certainly you can secure a catalogue by calling at our office. - Dick’s adventures are now started in the Medal, since 431 was dated September 3oth. Bask (A letter from Illinois.) 7 oy Hae been reading “Tip Top Weekly” for almost two years and like them very well, and take the greatest of pleasure in writing these few lines. The first story I ever read was where Dale Sparkfair came to Frank Merriwell’s school, and I just Tt was “Frank Merri- ° and Medal Library , ’ friend, WEEKLY. think that he is “the only.” I like Chester Arlington very well, for he is a friend of Dale’s. 1 also like Frank and all of his boys. I think that Madge Morgan is the one for Dale. Three cheers for Dale and Madge. I am a girl of sixteen. I have brown eyes and brown hair, and the only boy that I like is Dale Sparkfair, Miss Jesste HUuTCHESON. always “Tip Top” is glad to hear interest in the Merriwells and. their you in saying Dale is a great fellow. from girls who take an friends. 'We agree with T have been reading “Tip Top” for the last six years. This publication is the monarch of all weeklies, Dick is very much like his brother Frank. I started twenty boys reading “Tip Top,” and not one of them can wait until the magazines come in. Good luck to our great writer and his publishers. Chicago, Ill. MANNY PRANGLEY, You are evidently doing good work in your neighborhood, and we extend our heartiest thanks, ® . (A letter from Massachusetts.) Hoping that I do not bore you too much, I wish to tell a short story, My father, was a minister of the Gospel, but, having died when [ was at the age of two, my mother following two months after, he left a family of six, three boys and three girls. The oldest, a girl, was fourteen, and she became a mother to me, and a good one, too. It seems that there is a black sheep in every home, and it seemed as if I were doomed to be that one. I fell in with bad company and began drinking, smoking, and taking up with other vices, which I kept from my sister, But one day I was brought home drunk. Never can I forget how my sister felt, and haw ashamed I was, but I decided that I would never touch liquor again. But, in spite of all my vows I broke out again and started swiftly to — ruin, One night when playing poker, and half-drunk, I went — broke, and I got tired watching the game and chanced to pick , up a “Tip Top Weekly.” I believe it was number five. At? least, it filled me with shame. It told how Leslie Gage, Hodge, _ and Merriwell himself, played poker in some fellow’s room, and how Frank had that feeling come over him and how his mother’ Sr face loomed up before him. Well, dear readers, that was just what appeared to me, my dear sister’s face, as I remembered, — how she felt before. And after that night I did not drink again, although I was tempted. I worked in a collar-factory alongside a young, pretty, French girl It was quite a while before I - knew it, but I found I was in love. out, and I learned she: had been drinking. Reader, you cannot imagine how I felt., I cursed drink, and went to her home and found her in bed, sick. No, not home, for-the poor girl never had any, as her drunken father made her pay his board, and her mother was ‘dead, and she had to room out. : phen I saw that poor girl that way, I shuddered as I thought ‘ or it I pitied the girl as well as loving her, and resolved to ‘marry. her. I did so, and took her to my home, and, taking great ~ chances of having’a drunken wife. peda But, thank God, it opened my eyes and made a man out of me, while from that day forth my wife never touched a drop of liquor, and, dear friend, to-day she belongs to a church and — sings in a choir, and is in every way a perfect wife. And, dear ftiends, I haven’t to-day one of the bad habits | acquired eight years ago, and after Providence I give “Tip Top” a very large, share of effecting such a reform. Frank and Bart are fine and so are the rest, even Chester: makes a fine character. gj os My short story is pretty long, I should aes sO, giving Burt ix Standish three cheers, I \remain, A Fairnrut ApMirer er “Tip Tor.” Comment on this astonishing letter would be useless, and yet. we doubt not that there are thousands of manly young men to-. day who realize that the teachings of the Merriwells have sa red them from just such a fate as loomed up before this val ued We shall keep his letter as another testimonial as the wonderful work being done by Burt L. Standish unde r motto of a eee mind in a ee bear, One day the girl stayed \ ) ESTION ANB ANSWERS. EDITED BY Sepeewen: (A letter from South Carolina.) Pror. Fourmen, New York City: Being a regular readér of “Tip Top,” I ask you to kindly answer a few questions for me. I’m 13 years 10 months old. I’m weak. 1. What exercise should I take? 2.,Can I become any stronger? 3. Will a punching- bag do me any good? Please name the things necessary for me to exercise with, and oblige, ZANZOOGER. Exercise, with the most nourishing food, and much outdoor life will do wonders to build a naturally weak lad into a robust man. Take the case of Theodore Roosevelt and be encour- aged. To begin with, he had the necessary vim and will-power, and he pursued his object so everlastingly that he developed into a hardy man. Dumb-bells are good, a punching-bag excel- lent, indeed, almost any exercise will do you good if not pur- sued beyond reason, Get to work and be a second “Teddy.” —_——————. } ° ° . j . cc . e Pror. FourMEN: This is the first time I have written to “Tip | Top,” but I have read it for a long time. I am 16 years 6 months old; height, 5 feet 10 inches;yweight, 150 pounds; neck, 13% inches; waist, 29 inches; chest, normal, 34 inches; expanded, 36 inches; biceps, 11 inches; forearm, 10% inches; thigh, 20 inches; # calves, 15 inches; across shoulders, 18 inches. 1 should like to know ‘what I should develop, and How to do it. My cheeks are very red, and I blush very easily. I would like to know if there is any way to get rid of the former and stop the latter. A Californian and a friend of “Merry,” No. 1 and No. 2 | Berkeley, Cal. Devélop your chest. It ‘should measure about 39 inches normal Your weight is nearly correct. Never mind the blushing. The trouble is most men never do blush at any time. Doubtless you will by degrees outgrow. this habit, as you get knocked about the world a. bit. ~ Pror. FouRMEN: Being a constant reader of the “Tip Top,” I take the liberty of stating my measurements and asking a few questions: I am 17 years old;, weight, 138 pounds; neck, 15 inches; chest, normal, 31 inches; expanded, 35 inches; height, 5 feet 9 inches; waist, 28 inches; thigh, 21 inches; biceps, normal, 10 inches; expanded, 13 inches; wrist, 8 inches; calves, 14 inches. I play guard on the H. S. Basket-ball team, quarter-back on the football-team; third base on the baseball-team. How are my measurements? / What needs building up, and how shall I go at it? How much should a persons feet 9 inches weigh? / Yours. truly, A TEXAN. Galena, Kans. J A young man of your height should weigh about 147 pounds to strike the average. You need to pay immediate attention to your chest, which should measure 38 inches. There are rfumerous methods of gradually increasing the capacity of the lungs, and At will certainly pay you to purchase a 10-cent manual . of training and get to work. ra _ Pror. Fourmen: laving been a steddy reader of “Tip Top” three years, I take the liberty of asking a few questions, ' PROF. FOURMEN \, | Here are my measurements; Height, 5 feet 4 inches; weight, 123% pounds; neck, 13% inches; thigh, 17 inches; chest, normal, 33 inches; expanded, 37 inches; waist, 30 inches; calf, 13 inches; biceps, normal, 934 inches; expanded, 11 inches; forearm, 10 inches; age, 17 years 11 months. Here are some of my records: Standing jump, 8 feet 5 inches; running long jump, 14 feet; for I mile, 5 minutes 25 seconds; 2 miles, 11 minutes 29.2 seconds. How are my measurements and records? Do you think I will make an athlete? Do 1 make fast time in’ running? loronto, Can. A. WovuLp-BE RUNNER. ! ° Your measurements are very good indeed, though you would have to train down considerably to make a fast runner, Since you weigh thirteen pounds in excess of the average, considering your height. Being a weekly reader of “Tip Top,” I take — the liberty to ask you a few questions. My age is 15 years; height, 5 feet 1 inch; weight, 110 pounds; chest, normal, 33 inches; expanded, 36 inches; neck, 1314 inches; biceps, 12 inches; forearm, 10 inches; calves, 14 inches; thigh, 19 inches. It is my ambition to become tall and strong, and would you kindly suggest what exercises I will have to take to gain this desire. Brooklyn, N. Y. Po Foxe You are to be congratulated upon the fine showing you make —your chest particularly is away above the average. I would suggest that you take up the regular daily drill exercises that you will find fully explained in our 10-cent manual, “U. S. Army Physical Exercises,” or our “Frank Merriwell’s Book of Athletics.” Pror.’ FouRMEN : Pror. FourmEeN: As I am an old reader of the famous “Tip Top. Weekly,” I wish to ask a question of you. During the past winter I had an attack of rheumatic fever, and after re- covering I found that I could not throw a ball with my right armm—the attack was in the arm—without great pain. Now, as I am a great lover of baseball, could you recommend any course of exercise or anything that would enable me to have the free use of my arm? Thanking you in advance, I am, Kennebunkport, Me. You evidently started-in too vigorously. I should think that — massage treatment would be of great benefit to you. No doubt — by next season your arm will be all right. Be warned, and keep using it fairly all winter, é PINETREE. ‘ \ . : Pror. FourmEN: I am 15 yeats of age; weight, 115 pounds; height, 5 feet 6 inches; triceps, 10 inches; biceps, normal, 9 inches ; contracted, 1014 inches; chest, normal, 30 inches; expanded, 33 inches; waist, 291%4 inches; neck, 13% inches; calves, 13% inches, I play football, basket-ball, baseball, and tennis. What are my weak points? How may I strengthen them? I attend gym. classes regularly in winter-time. In the summer I live inj the | country most all the time, camping out in the fine mountain air. Do you think I can become an athlete, and what am I best suited for? Is too much sleep harmful to growing boys? I never drink coffee at home, but I drink plenty when’ out camp-_ \ BEA ore Oe, Fee ee: Be tens ee - (ee x - will hardly grow fleshy on. - in it, In winter you should eat oatmeal for breakfast if you TIP, ing. Is this harmful? It seems torkeep me from taking cold; after being drenched with rain nothing tastes, and makes me feel so good, How are my height and weight-in proportion? Knoxville, Tenn. A “Tip Tor” Booster. You are a bit under weight, but the weakest spot is in your narrow chést, which is 5 inches short of what the average calls for. Start in to build it up, my lad. I would not go in too strongly for coffee even when camping, though I know from long experience how good it tastes under the circumstances. Far better use it to ward off a cold than any form of liquor. You may become an athlete if you try hard. (A letter from Minnesota.) Pror. FourMen: As I have long been a reader of “Tip Top,” I take the liberty to ask you a few questions. My measure- ments are as follows: Age, 14 years; neck, 13 inches; chest, normal, 30 inches; expanded, 32 inches; biceps, 914 inches; ex- panded, 10'4 inches; forearm, 8% inches; calves, 13 inches; thighs, 19 inches; weight, 98 pounds; height, 5 feet; waist, 28 inches. How can I increase my weight? How can my shoul- ders be made broader? I sleep about 9 hours every night. Do I sleep too long? How can my chest be enlarged? I drink coffee, but I do not use tobacco.. Should I drink coffee? I use dumb-bells every morning. Will I ever be a pitcher? Is my height large enough? LEsTER GLEASON, Your measurements stand out well. You can only increase yout weight by eating food that nourishes, and in keeping your body in the finest possible physical condition. Your shoul- ders. will grow as you do; still, some men are meant by nature to have broad shoulders, while others have narrow. Your chest is good for your height. Nine hours sleep is none too much for a healthy boy. The less you have to do with coffee the better. There is no reason IT can see why you should not become a good pitcher, if you show the ability. ProF. FourMeN:' How is my diet? Morning: Egg, pan- cakes, and milk. Noon: Two sandwiches and fruit. Evening: A regular dinner. Where can I buy swinging-rings, excluding Spaldings? J weigh 98 pounds and am 14 years 8 months old. How can I gain weight? : A. Bi C. _ Brooklyn, N. Y. A rather slim diet for a boy, IT should think, and one you Still, if it agrees with you, persist do not feel any ill effects, and soft boiled eggs’ would be more nourishing than flapjacks. You can purchase any such gym- ‘nasium apparatus at some of the large department stores, per- haps Macy’s. Pror. FourMEN: Although I, have been a reader of the “Tip Top Weekly” only a short time, I already pronounce it the -king of weeklies, and take the liberty of sending in my measure- “ments. Age, 15 years; height, 5 feet 5 inches; weight, 130 PORES; s neck, 1334 inches chest, normal, 33 inches; expanded, 37 inches; waist, 3132 inches; wrist, 7, inthe’ thigh, right, 19 f rand: left, 20 inches § calf, right, 14% inches; left, 14 inches. Are my measurements good for + my ape? I will now close, with three cheers for Burt L. and Street & Smith. SANDOWw, -Bondsville, Mass. Your measurements are good, but you are 15 pounds heavier than necessary in order to do good work in athletics. If you desire to accomplish things try and reduce your avoirdupois. { oa (A letter from Maine.) ne Pror. Fourmen: Waving been an ardent admirer i your king, of energy. of weeklies, I beg to ask you your opinion. Although I am greatly out of proportion, I think I can, with your| help, over- come these faults. Perhaps you may smile at my dimensions, but I ‘still beg a moment of your valuable time. My heighteis S feet 7% inches; weight, 225 pounds; chest, normal, 35 inches ; expanded, 38 inches; waist, 41 inches; thigh, 26 inches; calf, 10 Been biceps, 12 inches ; ‘expanded 134 inches; forearm, 124 inches; waist, 1o"nches; neck, 16 inches. Of all the characters nat your delightful | magazine ihat which appeals..to my sympa- LOR. : PRor. FourMEN : Top” how to get rid of a bad taste in his mouth every mornin IT have tried rinsing it out, but he or WEEISLY. thies most is Tubbs. I am just his build. My baie desire is to become an athlete. If he is such a corking baseball- player, don’t you think there is some hope for me? I| havea tremendous appetite. Although I am so fat, I can run the hundred -m. 12 flat. My age is on 17. I work for the Hancock Granite Com-+ pany, driving a team of oxen, I get a good deal of outdoor exercise in this way. I have tried my best to enlarge the tre- mendous circulation of your weekly now,- and cov secured seven new subscriptions, and those boys are all working for you. Hoping to see this letter in print soon, and thanking you in advance, [ remain, yours. sincerely, Jom Burnope. Well, Joe, you are a case indeed. If all Dick’s labors have no effect on Tubbs, whom he sees daily, how can yott expect help from “absent treatment.” The only way for you to do is to cut down your food supply and change your vocation to some- thing more active that will cause you to “sweat it out.” Driving oxen may seem like hard exercise, but the movements required are evidently not enough to reduce your flesh. Play ball, run a mile or two daily, and in this way cut off «some sixty of seventy pounds if you really desire to be an athlete. Still, @ wager you can back Tubbs up in his knowledge of good pie. (A letter from New Jersey.) Pror. FourMEN; Having read “Tip Top Weekly” for a num- ber of years, I now ask you a few questions. Tell me how I can improve my condition. Age, 17 years ; weight, 102 pounds; height, 5 feet 5% inches; neck, 13 inches; chest, 30 inches; waist, 30 inches; right thigh, 18 inches; left ‘thigh, 1 7V/y, inches; calves, 12 inches; wrist, 6 inches. [I like to play Ball’ but I get out of breath and feel very weak when I run as far as first base. I get awful dizzy at times. Hoping you will answer this, i am, a loyal “Tip Topper,” Ep. CuFFE, It might be well for you to start in and build yourself up, You are under weight and lacking quite a few inches in chest measure. Your dizziness may come from indigestion or bilious- ness. If it gives you concern consult your family physician, -have him test your lungs, and when your mind is at ease, devote yourself this winter to accumulating flesh, and gaining greater lung capacity. Now is the time to begin. a nh SRE OS (A letter from California.) Pror. FourMEN: Would you kindly give me some advice? — The following are my measurements: Age, 15 years; weight, — 105 pounds; height, 5 feet 1 inch; reach, 5 feet 6 inches; chest, normal, 33 inches; expanded, 38 inches; waist, 24 inches; thigh, 20 inches; calf, 13 inches; biceps, 13% inches; forearm, 12 inches;. wrists, 8 inches; neck, 16/4 inches; hand span, 834 inches: foot span, 9 inches; ankles, 10 inches; hips, 28 inches; shoulder width, 22 inches: How are my measurements? ° How are they compared to @ther boys? I can hold my breath 1 minute 30 seconds, and do a few stunts in weight-lifting, I box, wrestle, swim, and skate; are these good sports to indulge in?. I use the bar, trapeze, rings, horse, parallel bars, and turn somersaults and other gymnastic tricks. I can chin myself 15 times. How is that? I have done an hour’s exercise every | morning for almost 2 years. .Should I do exercises or not?? Is — an hour of good, hard exercising too much, or not enough? I indulge in mountain climbing a great deal. Is that good ex- — ercise?_ I have no energy to do anything. How can I become | energetic? Thanking you now, I remain, rae. Merte R. McReynotps, Mezinrienenite above the average. Yes, the sports you mention are all good. You are certainly a pretty fair athlete. You ~ must be your own judge as to when to stop exercising. | energy, I think you are joking, for the varioys things you meti« tion as being your favorite “stunts” require a ‘tremendous amount —_——--—. ‘Will you kindly advise a reader of “Tip after getting up? help it any. One NY, As ta: > i THE TIP TOP WEEK Y ISSUED EVERY. FRIDAY HANDSOME COLORED COVERS ing in this weekly. Never has ‘Bun L. Standish written such interesting tales of the — adventures of the Merriwell brothers, Frank and Dick, as) are now appeat- 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, 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 Tip -_ HERE ARE THE _ §73—Dick Merriwell’s System; or, The Way to Win. 574—Dick Merriwell’s Salvation; or, The Traitor on the Team. 575—Dick Merriwell’s Twirling; or, Tracing the Traitor, 576—Dick Merriwell’s Party; or, Springtime’s Youthful Fancy. ’ 577—Dick Merriwell’s Backers; or, The Man Behind the . at. 578—Dick Merriwell’s Coach; or, Pride and Prejudice, 579—Dick Merriwell’s Bingle; or, A Hitin Time. — 580—Dick Merriwell’s Hurdling; or, The Star and the . Satellites. F s81—Dick - Merriwell’s Best Work; or, Up Against a > Hard Proposition. 582— Dick Merriwell’s Respite; or, The Campers of Lake Calm face. “ 583—Dick Merriwell’s Disadvantage ; or, The First Game with: Harvard. -584—Dick Merriwell Beset; or, The Eee of Cuivie Harvester. 585—Dick Merriwell’s Great Rival: or, Dale Sparkfair on the Slab. 4 - 586—Dick Merriwell’s Distrust ; or, Betrayed by a Blotter. 587--Dick Merriwell, id Tamer; or, Ate, Queen of the Air. 588—Dick Merriwell’s Camp-site; or, The Peril at Pine Point. / te §89—Dick Merriwell’s Debt; or, See the Score With Smoketown. / LATEST TITLES: 590—Dick Merriwell’s Camp-mates; or, Ola Chums On the Field. 591—Dick Merriwell’s Draw; Smoketown. 592—Dick Merriwell’s Disapproval ; or, Chester Arling- ton’s New Chum. 593—Dick Merriwell’s Mastery; or, | Wolfwoods. s94—Dick Merriwell’s Warm Work; or, A Hot Day for - Smoketown. 595—Dick Merriwell’s “Double: Squeeze’; or, Brian Blackpool in Command. 596—Dick Merriwell’s Vanishing foot On the Trail. 397—Dick Merriwell Adrift; or, In the Grip of the Sea. or, The Struggle With The Wolves of. ; or, Young Joe Crow- 598—Dick Merriwell’s Influence; or, Reaping © the Harvest. 599—Frank Merriwell’s Worst Boy; or, Ralph Sand, the — Reckless. 600—Frank Merriwell’s Annoyance; or, Reckless Ralph, the Runaway. 601—Fran Merriwell’s Restraint; or, The Revenge of a Redskin. 602—Dick Merriwell Held Back ; or, Secret Enemies At Work. 603—Dick Merriwell In The Line; or, Given a Show At Last. i 604—Dick Merriwell’s Drop Kick; or, Winning on a Last Resort. 605—Frank Merriwell’s Air Voyage; or, The Wreck of \ the “California Arrow.” ‘If you want any back slated ge this publication and cannot procure them from your news: dealer, they can be obtained from this office Sah Postage stamps taken the same as money. 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—F rank 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—Frank 217—F rank 225—Frank 229—F rank 233—F rank 237—F rank 240—F rank 244—F rank 247—F rank 251—Frank 254—F rank 258—Frank 262—Frank 267—F rank 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—F rank 312—F rank 316—Frank 320—F rank 324—F rank 328—F rank 332—F rank 336—Frank 340—F rank 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—F rank 352—F rank 356—Frank 359—F rank 362—Frank 365—Frank 368—F rank 371—F rank 374—F rank 377—F rank 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. NEW MEDAL LIBRARY AT 15c. 380—Frank 383—F rank 386—Frank 389—F rank 392—F rank 395—F rank 398—F rank 401—F rank 404—F rank 407—F rank 410—Frank 413—Frank 416—Frank 419—F rank 422—F rank 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 2ist 434—Frank Merriwell’s Marvel. Published About November 1ith 437—Frank Merriwell’s Support. Published About December 2nd 440—Dick Merriwell at Fardale. Published About December 237d 443—Dick Merriwell’s glory. STREET & SMITH, Publishers, New York City