. 'T i 2 ®, ’ il A “Augustly pardon, beneficent sir,’ murmured Brochan, smilingly, as he again fell on his back and, ie) in that mysterious manner. sent Dick flying over his head to land flat on the ground. s Sweets. PHYSICAL CULTURE DEPARTMENT. Edited Lae PROF. FOURMEN. ae to the large number of letters now awaiting answers, which aré being constantly added to each day, it will be necessary to condense some of them, retaining only the more important questions, Correspon- dents are requested to make their letters as brief as possible, in order that all‘may be a::swe:ed in due time. Pror. FourmMeN: Will you please answer me a few questions? I am 18 years 6 months old; weight, 128 pounds; neck, 14 inches; wrist, 7 inches; shoulders, 20 inches; biceps, 10% inches; ex- panded, 1214 inches; chest, 33% inches; expanded, 35% inches; waist, 29% inches; thigh, 20 inches; calf, 14 inches. 1. What are my weak points, and what is good to make them stronger? 2. I belong to a gym. and I play handball every Sunday. Is that good for my wind? Thanking you in advance, I am, San Francisco, Cal. GrorGE WELCH. 1. You do not state your height, but your weight does not cor- respond with your other measurements. -You should weigh at least ten pounds.more. Your chest is your other weak point; your expansion should be thirty-seven inches. 2. Yes, handball is an excellent exercise. Pror. FourmMEN: I have been a reader of Tip Top Weekly for some time, and. I take the liberty to ask you a few questions. I - any 16 years of age‘and weigh‘135 pounds. I know this is ‘not too heavy, but am not proportioned as I, should be. What ex- ercise would you advise me to take to reduce my weight? . Yours . respectfully, we Tt: You.do not give your height, so:I cannot’ say-if you are too heavy or not. To reduce weight avoid all rich foods, pastry and Hot baths, a long walk daily and plenty of exercise will assist the reduction. As I read most of the Tip Top numbers, also thé, letters. in‘ the backs of them,-~I determined to ask.you a few questions. I am 14 years 8 months old; weight, 75 pounds; height, 4 feet 6 inches; chest, normal, 24 inches; expanded, 27 inches; forearms, 8 inches; wrists, 6 inches; neck, 11 inches. . 1. What should my weight and height be? What can:I do: to increase my weight and height? 3. How are my measurements, according to my height? 4. Is roller skating a good exercise? 5. What are my weakest points? Thanking you beforehand for ~ an answer, [.remain, A Tie Top ADMIRER OF MISSISSIPPI. Canton, Miss. 1. You are rather undersized for your age. You should be at ‘least four inches taller and weigh twenty pounds more. 2. They will increase as you grow older. Indulge in all out- door sports. Join a gymnasium and take some. regular gym- nastic exercises. Don’t smoke cigarettes. 3. The few measurements you give»are just right for your height and weight. 4. No; not a very’ good exercise. 5. Your height and weight. Pror. FouRMEN: Pror, FourMEN: Please answer these few questions, Age, 17 years 8 months; weight, 135 pounds; height, 6 feet 5 inches; wrists, both, 7 inches; left forearm, 934 inches; right, 104 inches; biceps, 13 inches; neck, 13 inches; chest, normal, 33% _ inches; expanded, 36% inches; waist, 26 inches: shoulders, -across, 19% inches; hips, 33 inches; thighs, 19 inches; calves, 13% inches. I am a fireman for a university near my home, I have not much time for exercise, although after work I take a cold bath every evening. Please tell me how it is that although I am taller than some of my boy friends, I do not weigh as much, for I am as hard almost as hard rubber. During winter most days I shovel three hundred bushels of coal, besides my other work. I have been a reader of Tip Top, the king of weeklies, for almost six years. I read the questions and answers in the back on ath- letics, but never take much interest in then. I see that a John I have lately become interested in athletics, but as. K. Smith, Jrs:in 431, asks. you. about blackheads on the face. About four months ago my face was full of them, but I started deep breathing, and I give my face a rinse in cold water every time I wash, and the result is I have a complexion almost equal any girl’s. I have lifted six hundred and thirty-five pounds on a penny machine once, but I.do not know if it was correct. Where can I purchase a book: on how to be a boxer? I remain, yours, SuNNY JIM. Greater Pittsburg, Pa. The reason that you are not heavier is probably because you are growing; but if you are now six feet five inches tall it’s pretty near time to stop growing, isn’t it? Don’t worry; you will fill out in time, and if you don’t abuse your health, will be a fine specimen of manhood. You are very much underweight at present, Hot water taken on arising in the morning is ex- cellent. Eat plenty of cereals and vegetables. You seem to be a hard worker, but it’s the best medicine in the world, particularly if you have outside work. Street & Smith publish a handbook on boxing, by Prof. Dono- van, which will be forwarded on receipt of ten cents. Send along the picture. Pror. FourMen: I hereby’ submit .a few measurements and hope you will be able soon to answer the questions placed be- low. Height, 5 feet; weight, 95.pounds; age, 15% years; chest, normal, 32 inches; expanded, 34 inches; waist,.28 inches; reach of arms, 25 inches. How are my measurements?. 2. Are two- pound dumb-bells 6 heavy? 3. How can_I. gain weight? 4. What can cure cold feet? Thanking you in advance, I remain, Jersey City, N. J. FARLEY, 1. Fair. 2. No. 3. Drink plenty of water, both het and cold. Sleep..at -least eight, hours They are the proper weight dumb-bells for regular use. Eat good, whole- some food, cereals, ete. ach night. Don’t smoke cigarettes. A brisk rubbing each morning with. a rough bath towel. Wear woolen stockings. ; Pror. Fourmen: Will you kindly answer .the following ques- tions: What is oa for getting out of breath quick? When I run a little way I'am all out of breath. What is good to help the expansion of my chest?. I am.quite young yet, but have lots of hair on my face. Can you do anything for this? Thanking you in advance, and hoping you will put this in.your next issue, if possible, | am, a “Great Tip Top ADMIRER.” Pittsburg, Pa. You probably do not breathe properly. Keep the mouth closed and breathe through the nostrils. To develop your chest use two-pound dumb-bells and a pune Also, practice some form of calisthenics. are anxious to promote the growth of ing bag. The majority. of, boys their incipient. whiskers ‘nstead of removing those facial adorn- ments. Personally, I cannot do anything for you in this matter, but would recommend a razor or a visit-to some tonsorial parlor in Pittsburg, where the artist can cure your complaint while you wait. Pror. FourMEN: Here are my measurements: Age, 13 years; weight, 85 pounds; height, 5 feet; waist, 27 inches; chest, normal, 28 inches; expanded, 32 inches; neck, 12™%4 inches; calf, 114 inches ; thigh, 15 inches; biceps, expanded, 9 inches; lower arm, — 8% inches; wrist; 6 inches. 1. How are they? 2. Where are my weak points, and what is the remedy for ‘them? Thanking you in-advance,-I remain, your admirer of T. T., Moste, Heidenheimer, Tex. 1. Very good, with the exception of your weight. weigh fifteen pounds more. 2. You are very well proportioned for your age, and with the exception of your weight, have no weak points. You should For continuation of other questions and answers see Page 30 Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-59 Seventh Avenue, N.Y. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1005, 2n the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D, GC N o. 482. NEW YORK, July 8, 1905. Price Five Cents, - “DICK MERRIWELL IN JAPAN; OR, Judo Art Against Jiu-Jitsu. By BURT L. STANDISH. CHAPTER I. IN YOK COHAMA. The wistaria was in bloom when Dick Merriwell, in _ company with his chum, Brad Buckhart, and Prof. _ Zenas Gunn, arrived in Japan. ‘They first stopped at : the Grand Hotel, Yokohama. ‘ 7a That first evening on the balcony of the hotel was one never to be forgotten. Fanned by a cool breeze off the water, they sat there and talked in low tones, ‘ enchanted by the view of the moon-silvered harbor, where lay many sailing vessels and great steamers, their slender masts standing like delicate minarets against the sky, their ruby and emerald lights flashing on the water, and the sound of their ship’s bells music- ally striking the watches of the night. _ Brad and Dick had much to talk of, for many and bas vied “had bre hag adv entures Binge the GR the great mysterious Eastern World that lay beyond. They had traveled far by sea and land, many coun- tries had they visited and many perils passed through. And now, at last, between them and the western coast of the United States lay the mighty Pacific aes a sea voyage of many days. But they had no thought of, leaving Japan for Sons time to come. It was their plan to linger in the land of the Mikado until rejoined by the Budthornes; W. had been left behind at Manila. } “We certain have hit it up some round this globe, partner,” chuckled Buckhart; “and we certain have good reason to thank our lucky stars we’ve co through without losing our scalps. Talk about yo hot times—well, say, we've had ’em! Things siz: a whole lot lively from the time we encountered _ Bunol, in London, until he lost a hoof in Egypt. ‘Since than we've : kind of, sailed along park up LoS, the present date, and I'll frankly admit I’m almost hungry for a rumpus of some sort. My blood is get- ting some stagnant.” Dick laughed. “You never seem completely happy, Brad,” he said, “unless you are in trouble of some sort. Perhaps we’ll be able to kick up a rackef here.” “Now, you young rascals,” exclaimed the professor, “I warn you both to behave! It was through the mercy of Providence that we didn’t all lose our heads in Damascus, What we passed through there gave me a serious case of heart trouble, from which I fear I'll never entirely recover.. If I get you both back to Far- dale alive it will be a feat [’ll feel proud of as long as I live.” “Fardale!” sighed’ Dick. ‘How that word catises my blood to tingle!” “Tt certain gives me a yank at the heart ropes,” said Brad. “My, pard, they’re playing baseball there these days!” “Baseball !’’ I’m cried Dick. “Don’t mention it! ' dying to get into a game!” ~ passed ’em over for nine delicious innings! “Tm another! Oh, say, wouldn’t I like to pull on a mask and a mitt and get behind the pan while you Wow! ~ Whoop!” retorted Brad. “That will do, Bradley—that will do!” said the professor, severely. ‘‘Don’t yell like that, or the na- tives will think the city is attacked by Cossacks.” “T reckon the Japs are not any afraid of Cossacks,” “They've certain got the whole Rus- sian nation on the run. Things are sailing along here as serenely as if there wasn’t any war, only the peo- ple are a heap interested in news from the front, and the newspapers are doing a right thriving business. Whatever are we going to do for sport in Japan, pard ?? “Learn jiu-jitsu, “A right good idea. ” suggested Dick. I judge it will come some handy when we get back to. school.” “Tt is the Japanese art of self-defense,’ “T cannot countenance it,” declared the professor. “As I understand it, jiu- jitsu is a cruel, bone-breaking business.” ’ said young Merriwell. “A man who understands it is able to de- ‘fend himself sole violence at the hands of a much nb Bit breaking bones is béegthy* _ “There is no need of breaking bones in an ordinary _ 4 4/, ia WEEKLY. encounter. knife or other dangerous weapon, he has a right to do anything to preserve his life.” | “But I think the American method with the fists is quite sufficient for anyone to know.” “Wait,” urged Dick—“wait until you have séen an exhibition of the Japanese method. My brother has shown me a few of the tricks, but it takes a great deal of practice for anyone to become proficient in working them.” “I think you will do much better if while here you spend your time seeing the country, studying the man- ners and history of the people and in improving your minds.” “We can do all. that, too. You know we’ve both studied hard since we got rid of Bunol and the an- noyance he gave us.’ “You’ve done very well, very well,” aciinitted the old pedagogue. absent from school will prove harmful to either of 93 you. “Then don’t discountenance jiu-jitsu until you learn just what it is,” entreated Dick. “You know that if Brad and I learn the art we'll never use it for any bad purpose. The greater an intelligent person’s abil lity to oe others the more careful and considerate he becomes.’ “There’s something in that,” confessed Zenas. found it’s only brutes and ruffians of a common type who seek to injure others through their strength or — skill.”’ “Then to-morrow let’s try to find out something about jiu-jitsu. What do you say, professor?” “Oh, well, it can do no great harm to find out just what it’s like.” “Good! Of course e not! Why, we'll have you tak-_ nie ing lessons yourself.” “No, no; it would be beneath my dieiity: Besides, I’m too old for that.” “Too old! Why, once on a time when you met Prof. Gooch privately in Chadwick’s pasture and wrestled with him you might have defeated him with ease had you known something about jiu-jitsu.” “Don’t speak of that!” entreated the old. man, in dismay. But he vexed me—he vexed me! it. Hum! ha! Ha! hum! about jiu-jitsu, but I rather think I gave him, the Seay that ays all right. . Of course if a person is attacked with a | “T don’t think the time you have been — “T’ve\. “T’m ashamed of that disgraceful affair! — He bantered me into’ I didn’t know anything © i wo Z om {¥ TEE mi | foc “He’s due to get some more hinkey-dink,” muttered | _ Buckhart. CHAPTER iT A YOUNG ADVENTURER. The following forenoon the boys and the professor viewed Yokohama from jinrikishas, as the little two- wheeled, man-power carriages of Japan are called. A _ jinrikisha looks like a big-wheeled baby carriage, and » it is drawn by a man between the shafts, instead of a | horse. Often on mountain roads one man pulls at the shafts, while another pushes behind, and in this man- ner surprising speed is obtained. bey They visited the Japanese quarter of the city and were greatly interested in it. But neither Dick nor Brad had forgotten their de- oe . sire to learn something about jiu-jitsu. When they re- turned to the hotel at midday they made inquiries and ) finally learned that there was to be a wrestling contest in the very heart of-the Japanese quarter. Having lunched, the boys induced the professor to accompany ther and were off again in jinrikishas, bound for the match. They found the place without difficulty. bled the inclosure for a country circus. Dismissing their jinrikisha men, they entered. An immense crowd had gathered to witness the contests. Making their way through the throng, they beheld “an elevated platform that was covered with sand, but was not roped in. Over this platform was spread a canopy, supported by bamboo poles. This canopy was highly decorated after the devices of the country. All around the place ran a gallery made of bamboo rods and divided into little boxes. Dick had secured admission to the gallery, but the professor was in- ‘clined to balk when he surveyed the seemingly frail structure and learned that they must mount to it by means of a ladder. “You boys will be the death of me!” he declared. : “You are planning my destruction! I can nee r get up there. If I do, the thing will fall with me.’ bs “Oh, come on, professor!’’ urged Dick. “Don’t let It resem- Ne, fear is. They'll laugh at you.” BEnE\ old pOURERE HS sighed, | in wrestling. Oh, 0 WEEKLY. 3 ing, unsteady gallery. Here the boys found him cling- ing fast, with a look of great distress on his face. “It’s beneath my dignity,” he declared. “If I break my neck I’ll never forgive you.” “Under thosé circumstances you won’t have a chance to,” laughed Dick. “Why, this is all right, professor. This is fine. We can see all the doings from here.” “But I'll never come to another jiu-jitsu affair,” Zenas. In the next area to them was a young chap who» laughed outright. Not until he spoke to them did they observe that he was not a Japanese. “This is part of the fun,” he said; “but if you've come here to see a jiu-jitsu exhibition I fear you'll be said disappointed. This is just an ordinary wrestling match.” “Hello!” cried Dick. “T like the sound of that lan- guage. Where are you from?” “Yankee Doodle country,” was the answer. in Connecticut.” “Whoop!” shouted Brad, in delight. a whole lot te to meet up with you. same range.” “T thought you must be,” “My name is Arthur Foster.” “Mine is Bradley Buckhart, and I’m from Texas. — This here is Prof. Gunn, of Fardale Academy. And _ this other is my partner, Dick Merriwell.” . “Merriwell? Merriwell?” repeated Foster, reflect- g ively. “Seems to me I’ve heard that name. Why, of — course! Frank Merriwell was the great Yale athlete.” % “Dick is his brother,” explained Brad. “And he’s — some in the athletic way himself. For a real all- roe é corker, he cuts a whole lot of mustard.” “Born “Then we’re We're off the nodded the stranger. “Glad to know you all,” declared Foster, his face. beaming. “In fact, I’m deuced glad to know you, Been longing for some one to chin with while this _ match was going on. Lots of these natives can speak — English, but they do the ‘honorable you’ and ‘miser- _ able me’ act so much that I get tired and —- to con- verse with some one in a natural manner.’ of Dick was surveying the stranger with deep interest, There was something healthy and boyish about Fos- ter, and young Merriwell felt a decided liking for the fellow. 4 “What did you ‘say about acpi? >” he asked, “Isn’t this going to be that sort of a match?” a “Hardly. This is just a plain Japanese open match. They don’t practice the regular jiu-jitsu tricks i ig lls tal ples Ok, Ee Y holds, word! | tend horse races and such degrading affairs. ter. “became Be cree Always wanted to see i088... ad Rik CEA Sie but no more than our own wrestlers at home use.” “Now, you see, boys—you see!’’ spluttered Zenas, “We'd A com- who was holding onto his perch for dear life. better get right down from here and leave. mon wrestling match is not what we wish to see.’’ But neither Dick nor Brad had a desire to miss the spectacle of a Japanese wrestling match, and both protested against leaving. “Oh, come, professor!” and we may as well stay.” : “Sure thing,” agreed Buckhart. “Let’s see what these little men can do. I don’t opine they know a whole lot about wrestling, but they may furnish some amusement for us.” | laughed Dick; “we're here, ‘Never saw such boys!” complained Gunn. “TI be- lieve you'd both enjoy a prize fight!’ “Not necessarily,” retorted Merriwell. “A wres- tling match is not a prize fight. | Stay a while, at least. If it isn’t interesting we may leave in the midst ee ity “Tl’m ashamed to be seen in such a place,” muttered the dissatisfied old man. “Not for the world would I attend such an affair at home.” “But you're not home. Be a sport, professor.” : “What?” squawked Zenas: detest it! Sports are gamblers. +? They at- I decline to be a sport.” Arthur Foster laughed a “little, “I don’t think it will be so very disgraceful,” he said. “Some of the high officials of the country at- tend such matches, and foreigners of all grades and rank may be seen at them.” “You can’t descend that ladder without assistance, professor,” said Dick; “so you may as well make your- self comfortable.” Gunn groaned. “Comfortable! The idea of anyone being comfort- cable 3 in such a position as this. I’m hanging on with * both hands and bath feet, and I would hang on with my teeth if I could.’ _ But they finally persuaded him to remain a while, “I suppose you are traveling to see the world” said Dick, addressing Arthur. “That was my idea when I ran away,” laughed Fos- “Ran away ?” "y Their new acquaintance flushed. Yes,” he confessed, “I ran away from home Gad WEEKLY. “Sport! Don’t use that. platform, and the attention of everyone was turned first idea was to be a cowboy, and I got out West on the plains and tried it. It didn’t pan out just as I had expected. It was all hard work and no romance. So I quit cattle punching and drifted into ’Frisco. There I decided to try the sea. Sailed before the mast for this country. Say, cow punching is play compared with sailoring! We had a dunce for a captain and a brute for first mate. I got my medicine all right on that voyage. When we stopped here I folded my tar- * paulin and silently stole away. If they’d caught me — I’d had my troubles, but I managed to lay low until the vessel departed, and here I am.” “Stranded?” asked Dick. “Oh, no; fascinated.” “How ?” “With the country, the people, everything. If you stay here long, you'll get a touch of the same disease.” “How long have you been here?” “Eight months. Thought of trying to get into the | army at first, but—but I decided not to, for—for cer- | tain reasons.” eee He hesitated in an odd manner over this final state- si ment and seemed strangely confused. “Well, you’ve had a few adventures,” smiled Dick, his interest in the youth increasing steadily. “Sure. I hope——” ; 3 Whatever it was that Arthur hopéd he did not ex- — plain at that time, the wrestlers began to appear on the Patios upon them. CHAPTER III. THE WRESTLERS. Both Dick and Brad_ uttered exclamations of aston- ie ishment. “Pard, am I dreaming?” gurgled the Texan. “That can’t be a Jap!” oo | “Just what I was thinking,” confessed Dick. “Japs are small. He’s a perfect monster.” ; Indeed the first wrestler to walk out upon the plat- 8 form was truly a human monster, being a mountain of flesh and muscle; but he was a Japanese beyond dis- pute. He was naked to the waist. About his waist was tied a. gorgeous lambrequin, the design on the front of this garment being a hideous, open- mouthed | dragon. The astonishment of - tha boys increased as, one after another, thirteen similar giants followed the first. Never had they fancied that the Japs attained to such — massive proportions, T hey were awe- inspiring in ‘their To TUS : mountainous massiveness Every man wore ‘a lam- ( brequin, fantastically dnctigied a “Well, it sure would be something of a job for an e ordinary man to down one of those giants, even if the - giant did not possess any skill at wrestling,” observed 1 Buckhart. When the fourteen gladiators were lined up an official introduced each one by name. All were well known and had admirers in the crowd, who hailed them with shouts of admiration. After the introduction of the wrestlers there was a pause. Then, of a sudden, a slender, supple young Jap, also wearing a lambrequin, sprang upon the plat- form and walked to the center. There was a hush as the spectators gazed at this youth curiously. fe The official who had introduced the wrestlers then made a brief speech that caused a decided sensation among the people. Prof. Gunn understood a part of it, but Arthur Foster caught the whole of it and ex- -. . plained to Dick and Brad. én ani “We may see something better than jiu-jitsu here,” ae he said. “That young fellow is the only son of the “t greatest master of judo ever known in this country. His name is Sono Bochan, and he offers to meet the ae champion wrestler in the party, modestly promising’ to > defeat him.” “The deuce he does!” lously. exclaimed Dick, incredu- “T opine he’s got another guess coming,” grinned Brad. “He sure isn’t built right to throw the cham- pion of that bunch of Goliaths.” | “What is judo?’ asked Dick. - “Tt’s a sort of refined and advanced jiu-jitsu, as I understand it,’ answered Arthur. “It’s a secret art passed down from father to son in this country. I have been told that a fairly crepert judo man may easily defeat a master of jiu-jitsu.” “Well, we certain have learnetl something new by coming here, partner,” said Buckhart. “I’m a plenty anxious to see this judo business worked.” “So am I,” nodded Dick. persons in America ever heard of judo.” — “Not many knew anything about jiu-jitsu until re- cently,” said Foster.) “Correct. And now everybody is trying to find out something about it. The odd part of it all is that the holds and throws and tricks used in jiu-jitsu are all so Ri simple that it seems as if they should have been knowh to any advanced race a hundred years ago, at least.” “I don’t believe many 3 Ww FEKL > ae Two of the gigantic wrestlers now tossed their -lam- brequins aside and prepared for the contest. The referee stepped out. For a citizen of the Flowery Kingdom he was strangely grave and sedate. In his hand he held a tiny fan, like a wand. At a word from him the wrestlers faced each other. Then they squatted on the sand, upon which they rubbed their hands in order that. they might better maintain a hold on each other. They looked like gi- gantic bullfrogs as they paused there in that squatting posture. The referee waved his fan. Then the wrestlers stirred and made a few feints at securing a hold. . Suddenly one of them made a peculiar move and secured a grip upon the other. Instantly the referee spoke sharpl y and made a sig- . nal with his fan. The hold was relaxed, and_the contestants again faced each other as before. The start had not been properly made, and it was necessary to begin over. The spectators grew impatient over the delay and urged the wrestlers on. “The whole bunch would be shouting fake at home,” said Brad. “That’s about what some 6f them are doing now,’ laughed Foster. . A moment later, however, each contestant obtained a hold on the other and the battle began. It was in z truth a tussle of giants. They twisted, and turned, _ and strained fiercely. Holds were broken and secured again. They shifted about with surprising swiftness. They resorted to various tricks and devices, but seem- ingly to no pie / “No use,” declared Prof. Gunn. matched, and neither one will throw.” * “They're fairly ; “They have to keep at it until one or the other gives out,” explained Foster. “They'll get no chance to , rest. Reminds one of the struggle between Hercules — and Cacus.” | Dick looked at ‘the OCR adventurer siesta bi said nothing. After a time one of the wrestlers obtained a coal hold on the other. The other tried to secure an ad- vantage that would offset this, but he was baffled and — finally thrown with such violence that the bamboo bal- -cony shook and Prof. Gunn uttered an exclamation ¢ of . alarm. Me Pe see Ne hus the first contest was settled. S GPA ie o er eee Oe _ Others followed swiftly, and the excitement of th spectators rose to a high pitch at times. They en- couraged their favorites and ee begged “‘the honorable referee’s pardon” while “humbly informing him that they were modestly certain he had augustly made an unintentional error in his wise judgment.”’ They enjoyed the contests greatly. That they gam- bled on the various contests was apparent. In fact, some of the matches were intensely interest- ing, and once when a smaller man handsomely de- feated his opponent Prof. Gunn quite forgot himself and shouted, “Bravo!” Buckhart jabbed Dick in the ribs, nodded toward the professor, and laughed heartily but silently. TVG Brad. The time passed swiftly for them all, and they were surprised when an official announced that the regular wrestling matches were finished. They had temporarily forgotten Sono Bochan, but they sat up with keen interest as the slender, supple ll certain make him a sport in time,” whispered the purpose of contesting with any of the wrestlers who might care to meet him. CHAPTER IV. THE MARVELOUS POWER OF JUDO. Sono Bochan was a smiling young chap, his coun- tenance, as well as his graceful body, being pleasant - to look upon. : — “T like him,” declared Dick. _ “Hanged if I don’t take to him some, partner !” Buckhart. “I reckon he’s a jolly good fellow.” “But those giants will crush him if they ever get itiain hands on him,” declared the professor, appre- hensively. “He j is foolish to meet such husky rufhans. What can he do against them?” - “Tf he is really skilled in — ” said Arias Foster, ‘he'll do a great deal, I fancy.” “Judo or no judo, he can’t handle ‘idse: monsters,” vas the positive opinion of Zenas. said “Looks like he might be a good sprinter,” nented the Texan. “He's built for it.” | ot judo consisted in tunning away, I think he’d n from those monsters,” eaeetyed the Sep mae com- a as ee Y oh Zenas. ‘The boy will be killed young judo practicer reappeared on the platform for _as if longing to annihilate him. ‘not fall into the same trap.” _ first, but all his caution was unavailing, for at the ‘proper moment Bochan clutched ‘him, snapped him off his feet and ‘sent him Spletnig. over Ae over, cart: gE WEEKLY. + But, quite fearless and still smiling, Sono Bochan flung aside his lambrequin and stood ready. de The referee made a statement of the rules which th would govern the contest, and, a moment later, the wrestler and judo man squatted. The wrestler made § ™ the first offensive move, but the boy quickly changed his position, as light as a cat upon his hands and feet. A The wrestler followed and moved again. Then something happened. Bochan was seen to grasp the giant like a flash of Hi light. An instant later the huge man went flying | over the head of the youth and fairly off the platform, 7 striking with a thud upon the ground. The spectators applauded after their manner, while | e Prof. Gunn gasped and rubbed his eyes. “! “Great Pluto!’ muttered the old pedagogue. aa Arthur Foster laughed aloud. Be “That’s the way judo works,” he said. e “But how—how did he do it?” gasped Gunn. “I don’t see how it could be done.” E “That's the secret of the judo experts,’ nodded : Foster. “They move like lightning, and it’s almost : impossible to detect their methods.” eS “Well, say,” cried Buckhart, ‘that certain is a great — a i t science !’’ 5S roe : _ “It is,” agreed Dick. “I wouldn’t mind knowing | something about that myself.” eat E “You'll find no one to teach it to you,” asserted © | . ° Foster. “The judo chaps hand the science down from | ‘ father to son, and they do not teach it to foreigriers. — = f For years they guarded the re tricks, but (a: now” ; Si “Tiu-jitsa has leaked out, and the same thing mays a happen with judo. I have a new coeen in Japan. I ; - | mean to learn something of this science.’ oe Another wrestler mounted to the platform, vied i Bochan serenely waited. This second gladiator was a fierce-looking brute, and he glared at the slender ce - Again the professor grew apprehensive. = “This fellow will be on his guard,” he said. “He He: ay saw how the boy handled the one before hee and he'll : “Tudo experts have more than one manner r of attain ) ing results,” said Foster. "Don't worry” about that — youngster.” | * The second wrestler was more cautious than the Sas Or Like the first man to fall before the youthful won- 1 ite der, the second went clear off the sanded platform to ii the ground. wa “Bravo! bravo!” cried Zenas Gunn, in great ad- ie -miration and delight. “You're all right, young man!” ae Bochan looked up at the gallery and smiled at the {oS Americans, | “T believe he understands English some,” said Brad. i on “T think so, too,” nodded Dick, who had waved his ee ; ; _. hand at the slender athlete. g ae “He certain can deliver the goods,” chuckled the 1 ay Texan. oe Another wrestler ventured to face the judo expert, eis i and he fared not a whit better than those who had . a come before, although he was thrown in a different a manner, coming down like a leaping frog and being | turned in a twinkling by Bochan, who was upon him again almost before he touched the platform. Ti ab » The spectators began to hail Bochan as a wonder. } But they were surprised, almost without exception, when the youth announced that he was ready to meet any two of the wrestlers at once. There was a slight delay, and then two giants came ~ forward eagerly, apparently believing they could de- feat the boy by their combined strength and skill. The natives, as well as the foreigners, were sur- prised by what followed. Young Bochan did not crouch like a wrestler to meet his two antagonists. In- stead, he remained upright, stooping the least bit, darting here and there as the wrestlers followed him about and attempted to close in on him. At length it seemed that they had him trapped. They came at him from different directions. As he retreated from one, the other ‘sprang upon him. The huge body of the wrestler suddenly rose in the air and went whirling. Bochan had used the impetus of the giant to assist in his defeat, but how. he had thrown the man in such _a manner few could surmise. Pee oe ae: Even as the youthful judo master flung his first op- - ponent the second tried to seize him. ' What was most amazing was the fact that giant - number two was sent flying into the air even before the other struck the sanded platform. ‘Tt made little difference how they struck, Bochan had accomplished all he proposed to do, and he was hailed as the victor by the delighted multitude. His father before him had been a complete master m re skillful. WEEKLY. 7 of the art, but now the gee promised to become even Dick Merriwell’s enthusiasm did not permit him to applaud in a cool manner. Instead of that, regardless of the danger of falling, clinging to a bamboo pole with one hand, he sprang up and waved his cap, his : face flushed and his eyes gleaming, as he cried: a “Bochan, you’re a dandy! Ill back you against 4 anything that stands!” a Sono Bochan looked up and smiled again, nodding = his head. a Then he spoke in English. “Humble thanks kindly accept, honorable young r,” he said. The referee stepped out and made a speech in Japanese. The drift of his remarks, Foster explained, was to the effect that Sono Bochan was ready and willing to meet any jiu-jitsu wrestler in the country, anywhere and at any time. The exhibition was over. = axes, , A Re eS ae CHAPTER V. e THE JIU-JITSU MAN. ag But wait! There was a sudden commotion in the crowd. A man forced his way through. He was young—not more than twenty-two or twenty-three; rather fierce- looking and very compactly built. Up onto the platform he leaped, flashing Sono Bochan a savage glance of contempt. Then he turned to the crowd, lifting his hand to draw attention and command silence. At sight of him Arthur Foster had uttered a little exclamation of astonishment and consternation. “Who is he?’ questioned Dick. Foster did not reply, but gazed at the stranger in © a manner that betokened both displeasure and dismay. The newcomer began to speak rapidly the moment he received the complete attention of the multitude. As he spoke, he made a few sharp, half-contemptuous _ gestures toward Sono Bochan. When he had fin- ished, with arms folded on his breast, he turned and surv eyed the young judo master, his whole wre being one of unspeakable scorn. “I don’t understand the lingo,” breathed Buckhart: “but I’ll bet a whole bunch of Texas longhorns that he stated that he could chaw Bochan up in the wink of | a gopher’ Beye?’ : ie “It was something like that,” nodded Prof. ‘Coen! “He practically declared Bochan an impostor.” “Well, I'll back Sono/against him.” ee _ Foster seemed to stir as if soming ont of a tr umn “IP *TOP te says Bochan i ake,’”’ explained the your “He says Bochan is a fake, pl 1 the young adventurer. “He challenges Boch an,” “Who is he?” “His name is Ojigo Kitsune, and he’s one of the most famous and skillful of the younger jiu-jitsu wrestlers of the country. Bochan’s challenge to any jiu-jitsu wrestler in the country has greatly incensed him.” “Well, well!” chuckled Brad. more sport to-day.” “Not to-day. He offers to meet Bochan here one week from to-day.” Now Bochan spoke. He continued to smile, and his manner was calm and dignified, with no trace of ex- citement. Foster told his acquaintances that the youth- ful judo master accepted Kitsune’s proposition, coolly stating that the result of the contest would prove who was the best man. The crowd shouted over this and seemed greatly de- lighted. Ojigo Kitsune had his supporters and ad- mirers, and they were many; but Bochan had caught the fancy of the crowd by his astonishing feats with the wrestlers. é ae “We'll sure be on hand one week from to-day, * laughed Brad Buckhart. “I wouldn’t miss that go for ~ a ranch on the Pecos.” “Tf I ever get down from this perch without broken limbs, you wori’t lure me up here again,” said the _ professor. _. Bochan accepted his lambrequin from an attendant - and left the platform, Kitsune ane a few mo- ments later. _ The ladder was put up for those in the ener to descend, but Arthur Foster seemed in something like a trance until Dick spoke and asked hun if he did not mean to come. “Oh, gurew exclaimed the young adventurer. w ith you.” » Prof. Gunn descended the ladder without accident and reached the ground with-an expression of intense relief and thankfulness. 3 ue “Tye seen some astonishing things,” he confessed ; but no more perching on a bamboo stick for me boys. It’s my first and last experiment in roosting.” ‘Dick asked Foster if he would not come along: with ‘them to the hotel, and he seemed willing. “We may see some »”> . “T’m , The pid from: A ideadat seemed etranigely ab-| Fe ane disturbed. , sweetest little creature in all Japan.” me with a comfortable livelihood. a “runaway chap! -Cacus and their battle. it was with humiliation. aN you W ant to” » blame?” i WEEKLY. to know Ojigo Kitsune, and I’m surprised to see him) back here in Yokohama. “T don’t wish to appear inquisitive, I don’t understand it.” j 9? said Merriwell. Vell, you see it would be agreeable to me if he » were to remain away longer. It’s very strange. | , | 4 supposed he was with the army. His people have in- | c fluence, but I did not fancy they could have enough — Be ee. to get him out of service until after the war ended.” . ea “From your manner I should judge you reckoned " him as something of an enemy,” said Brad. 4] “He is. I fancy Ill have trouble with him.. I’m — ks not afraid of him personally; but I am iia of what | ‘i he may accomplish.” ee. These words were enigmatical, but Foster did not : I explain himself at that time. va Later in the day, while the duotete was taking ee t a little nap before dining, Foster sat on the balcony | — J of the hotel with Dick See Brad and told them his story. “After finding myself adrift in Japan,” he said, “I had to do something to make a living.’ Chance opened a way for me. I was thrown in with a native family where there were two daughters who were very desir- ous of learning English. I became the tutor of the two girls, one of whom, O Jo Kato, is the prettiest and He betrayed himself by his manner as he said this, and the blood mounted to his face. Noting a significant look and a smile between Dick we a and Brad, he hastily went on: wa “T’ll stand by that—O Jo Kato is a little Japanese angel! You shall see her—you must. She induced some of her girl acquaintances to join the class, and — now I am teaching seven of them, which provides yee “And you a cowboy and oad ” laughed Dick: “Oh, I detected that you were not just an Cree 1? “How did you detect it?” ee “From your language. It is only a chap of some education whois likely to know about Hercules and © You spoke of them.” oe “Did 1? I don’t remember. Well, the real truth | is that I started to obtain a college education, but y i didn’t last long. In my freshman year I got into a : little trouble and— and—I was expelled.” ei s Foster’s face’ was very crimson now. —_ tine “That was hard Tuck !” nodded Buckhart | oT sone? iP POP “That’s the bad part of it,” eek Arthur, frankly ; if “TI was to blame.”’ : They liked him better because of this frankness. ‘ “Yes, I was to blame, and I got no more than was ee my due when I was fired,” he confessed. “But my father is a man with a temper. He was exasperated . beyond measure because of what had happened. He f ; said I had disgraced him. He declined to give me a | chance in another college, and I was set to work as a 5 | menial in my father’s business. I was treated worse _ |. than any common laborer. It was to punish me. But ee I have some spirit of my own, and I determined that I ___would not stand for it. I made up my mind that I /_ would. get out into the world and hustle for myself. i. i I vowed that [’'d show father I could hoe my own . row. Then I ran away to become a cowboy. I’ve 5 5 told you how I got along up to the time I reached hee Japan.” Ss iy pple! sos os pe Lae CHAPTER VI. 1% ot ARTHUR FOSTER’S STORY. | y There was no air of secretion and reserve about : Foster. Indeed, he seemed relieved to find some one , to whom he could tell his tale. The interest of his listeners quickened and grew. “Not until after I had been instructing O Jo Kato : some time did I learn that she was betrothed,” Arthur went on. “During the weeks before I discovered this res I became greatly interested in her. If ever a sweet, gentle little lady drew breath it is O Jo! And she is as ie bright and intelligent as the most refined and intelli- gent girl of our own country. She learned too fast & to suit me. She began to speak English with a de- lightful accent in a short time. Then I set out to in- struct her in other things. I taught her to write it. _She’s quite proficient now. Then I had to give her ‘manners of the Western World. It has kept me busy devising things for her to learn because she learns so fast. ; I must confess that it was not an agreeable | It was.a delicate subject, but I finally suc- ceeded in getting her to speak about it. She told me she had been betrothed since she was a baby. Her - parents arranged it with the parents of the one she | * laughed. She inquired, ‘Oh, most honorable respected a 2A! I little lectures on English literature and the ways and “When I learned that she was betrothed I was aa does jt make you sad?’ f was to marry. I asked her if she loved him and she _ instructor, what is it to love?’ ‘Immediately I told her» 'd be only too glad to teach her to love, but that I WEEKLY. would not teach any of the others in the class, and I must teach her privately. “The little rogue laughed at me at first. I knew she was trying to have sport with me, but I was in deadly earnest. It was some time before I could in- duce her to permit me to teach her what love meant. We were alone. «I managed to get her hand and hold it as I pretended to a point out with her finger something on a map. We — — were sitting on the floor. You know the Japanese do not use chairs. Well, I] made a little progress that day, although Miss Innocence was making sport of me ail the time. It was two weeks later when I kissed her. She clapped her hand to her mouth, looked at me in the greatest amazement, and finally asked, ‘Honorable Instructor, what it is to mean that you do?’ I told her that I was teaching her to love. ‘It is so strangely funny,’ she said. And then, after a few moments more, she asked, ‘August Instructor, would you gener- ously instruct insignificant me to love some more?’ “Oh, she won my heart completely. And I did my level best to win hers. I knew her parents would ob- ject, and so I was careful they should not know, for _ I had come to believe I could not get along without O Jo Kato. But another cloud suqdenly appeared on the horizon. pL “The one to whom O Jo was betrothed appeared, ; “He was Ojigo Kitsune.” . Both Dick and Brad uttered exclamations of sur-_ prise. | One day I found an opportunity. “He had been away in England, where he was sent to study for two years. O Jo had never seen him before, but he was received with great courtesy and regard by. her parents. He remained with them two days and then went away. 3 “Q Jo was very grave and sorrowful after that. Always before she had been lively, and merry, and light-hearted. It was strange to see a shadow on her _flower-like face. I asked her what made her sad, but — at first she would not tell me. Finally she confessed, ‘Oh, most honorable instructor whom I regard with the most high reverence,’ she said, ait is that miserabl Meat and wretched I am to id his wife.’ that should not make you sad,’ I persisted. accomplished. : “That was enough !” exclaimed Arthur: “I” 10 TIP TOP I had won her heart. I just grabbed her in my arms and tried to induce her to run away with me, for I knew her parents would never break the betrothal. If they learned the truth they would hide her from me and I would be banished. “Perhaps you may think my course was not exactly honorable. I had’ learned some things about Japanese rigidness in the matter of these betrothals. I had learned that the bride-to-be had nothing whatever to say about it. question. She was supposed to submit without Japanese girls do not think of rebelling _ against the wishes of their parents. While learning _ this much I had fallen in love with O Jo Kato almost without realizing it. “It was useless for me to urge O Jo to run away. She w ould not “hear to such ingratitude toward her parents. She said it would break their hearts, and, rather than give them pain, she would break her own. I told her she would break mine, too. I proposed going to them and pleading with them. She urged me in terror not to do such a thing, as they would at once separate us and permit us never to see each other again. She had kept her secret from everyone, even her sister, who is not nearly as progressive and advanced as she. Then I knew she had loved me all , along, even when pretending to make sport of me as I taught her what it was to love. Had she not, she could not have kept from her sister the truth concern- ing my feelings toward her. “Well, the situation was a hard one for both of us. _ But I continued to hope, even as I hope now. Ina _ few days Ojigo Kitsune returned. He told O Jo that he was going away with the army into Manchuria. -O Jo dissembled. Deceit is not in her honest little heart, but this time she pretended to be very sorry, although I am sure her heart was beating with joy. It was then that Ojigo Kitsune saw me. He did not _ like me, and he told O Jo’s parents. He even urged _ that I should be discharged and another teacher em- ployed; but when O Jo showed what great advance- deny. that I was a competent teacher. She had matle -some advancement of which he knew nothing what- ever. “Well, Ojigo Kitsune augustly took his honorable departure and the cloud departed from O Jo Kato’s facé at the same time. When she told me whither he had gone I was rejoiced, for I felt it quite possible that he might never return. We talked this over. If Ojigo Kitsune did not return, if he should be killed in bat- e, O Jo would be free. Then I could speak with her _ment she had made under my instruction he could not ~ against any arrangement made WEEKLY. parents and they might consent to her becoming Mrs. if Foster. gama t “Say, I’m not inclined to be bloodthirsty, but I must confess that I longed to hear that Ojigo had fallen in a battle. I sought intelligence about him and his move- | ments, but everything concerning him was wrapped in great mystery. One day O Jo whispered to me a great_ secret which she had somehow discovered. Ojigo : 3 was not a regular soldier in the Japanese Army. I had . thought it strange if he was, for his actions did not iE seem those’of,a soldier, nor had I ever seen him wear- | uF sf ing a uniform. He was in the employ of the Japanese military secret service. In short, he was a spy. “Although after that there seemed little prospect that he-would be killed in battle, there was every pros- i ' pect that he would be captured by the Russians and Bh shot or hanged. I fear I prayed that he might meet pe ( some such fate—at least, that he might never again Bee set foot in Japan. “But now he is back. I saw him for the first time Be: to-day at the wrestling match: His father was a great :, jiu-jitsu man. He has taken lessons in the art ever since he was a very small boy. I have been told that he is one of the greatest experts at it in all the country. I don’t know why he has returned at this inopportune time, but I do know I would be delighted if by some accident Sono Bochan should. break his neck. You see I'ma villain. Well, my love for O Jo Kato is my only excuse for my villainy. “T do love her, and I must have her for my wife!” CHAPTER VII. THE RESCUE OF SONO BOCHAN. - That. was Arthur Foster’s story, told without re- serve to his new-found friends. “Say,” cried Brad, when Arthur had finished, “I sure reckon you'll get the girl if she’s as hard hit as you are. She’ll have you, Ojigo Kitsune or no Ojigo Kitsune.” | —“Tt’s plain you don’t know the ways of Japanese girls. They are perfectly obedient to their parents. i Not one of them woild ever think of disobeying her — father, even though to obey him cost her everything she held dear in the world. The parents arrange the marriages in this country, ond never a girl rebels * * “Can’t you instill a little enihee girl independence into O Jo?” asked Dick. “That is impossible.” | ae 7 Well, I don’t think eae a ite of that part oe exclaimed of the Japanese method of doing things!’ _ the Texan. a “Japanese girls make the most dutiful and devoted wives.” | “Almost too dutiful, I opine.” ' “TI feel that I’m going to have trouble with Kitsune. I believe he suspects me. I shall fight for O Jo Kato!” “That's the stuff!’ cried Dick. worth fighting for isn’t worth having.” “And a man who won’t fight for the girl he loves doesn’t deserve to have her,” supplemented Brad. Foster was urged to remain to dine with them, and he finally consented. At the meal he invited them to go out with him in the evening to see the sights of the city. . The professor was inclined to object, but the boys coaxed him until he finally said: “Well, I can’t go. I don’t know about it. I’m tired. I don’t fancy having these boys out running round nights without me.” They laughed heartily. “Don’t you think we’re able to take care of our- selves after all we've passed through, professor?” asked Dick. “Hum! ha! Ha! hum! You ought to be. Yes, I presume you are. But it isn’t exactly right for me to permit you to wander around without accompanying you—especially in a foreign city like this.” “A girl who isn't a LEP EME Te (ORS ALES: as Gis Sere” ‘ Be re 5 eee _“T promise you I'll take good care of them, pro- fessor,” said Arthur. “I know every foot of Yoko- _hama.” “Keep a away from dangerous places, eh?” ‘oes, Sir,’ ~ _“They’re reckless. Only last night they were com- _ plaining because they had not been in a'scrape of any sort for some time.” _ “Oh, we won't get into a sc of any sort,” fred Dick. \ Finally Zenas consented. _ An hour later they set out. Arthur took them to a number of ‘tea houses, and Rete evening passed pleasantly, without anything of an exciting nature/until they finally came to that quarter ‘of the city frequented by sailors. Arthur promised to show them some sights there. - “TIL take you to a public house where the sailors are entertained,” he said; “but we must be careful ag to on. into trouble, We will have a chance to see prom- fte Or WEEKLY. II The streets in this quarter were rather dark and the houses low. Foreigners from various parts of the world were encountered on these dark streets. - of them were intoxicated and noisy. “Well, if we are looking for trouble,”’ seems that we might find it here.” Barely had he made this remark when they came upon a spectacle that stirred their blood. Several sailors had attacked a single man, who was defending himself as best he could against them. He was doing very well, too. Indeed, his ability to defend himself astonished the sailors not a little, for when one of them would leap at him the assailant would feel himself clutched in a peculiar manner and sent spinning through the air. The man thus attacked seemed to bea Jap. The sailors spoke English, and they were shouting and cursing as they sought to crush the lone man. He kept flinging them into the air as they came at him. Some of them came down on their heads and shoulders and seemed stunned. Even as Dick, Brad and Arthur sasmiel in wonder- ment another person rushed forward and urged the sailors on, pleading with them to kill the solitary man. Dick started as he heard the voice of this last person to appear. : “T know him!” “Know him!’ grated Foster. “I rather think I ‘know him, too! It’s Ojigo Kitsune!’ \ “That's whatever!” agreed Buckhart. way the other chap is flinging these tars about I’ll bet 1? something he is Sono Bochan! Some said Brad, “it he exclaimed. Dick had already arrived at the same conclusion. “Come on, fellows!” he panted. | to stand here and see them do the fellow up, no matter ; who he is!” + “Not much!” hissed the Texan. : “Sure not!’ said Foster. Led by Merriwell, they dashed forward to tale = 5 in the encounter. Not a moment too soon. Seeing the sailors, in spite of their number, were not a match for the one they had attacked, the person — ; who had sought to urge them on quickly plunged into the affray. He saw his opportunity and caught the lone defendant from behind with a jiu-jitsu hold, fing ing him to the ground. Then he flashed forth a keen knife, which he lifted. It was Dick Merriwell who reached the spot at this moment and seized the wrist of the would-be r : derer, He oar the fellow’ s wrist a wrench - “And by the “We're not going - caused him to drop the knife and dragged him from the other man at the same time. remained on their feet. “Whoop!” roared Brad. branded Maverick of the Rio Pecos! Take that, you onery varmint!” He hit a man under the ear with him sprawling. pe Foster rushed with courage and vigor, ing out effectively, and the sailors were checked. Merriwell fiung the man backward who had sought to use the knife. At the same time, although it was quite dark, he sought to obtain a look at him. “Ves, it’s Ojigo Kitsune!” he cried. “Honorable sir, it is even so!” said the assailed, as he started to scramble up. Kitsune broke Dick’s hold. Then he grasped young Merriwell in a singular manner and threw him flat upon the ground. In another second the jiu-jitsu man was up and running as if-his life depended on his fleetness, Dick rose hastily, but did not attempt to follow the fugitive. Instead, he turned his attention to the sailors. But it was the stranger who had been attacked who finally put the seamen to flight. He walked in among them and flung them about as if they were children, filling them with unspeakable consternation. They _ finally slunk away and disappeared. Then the man Dick had saved from the knife turned and grasped his hand in the manner of one overcome with. gratitude, “Noble sir,” he said, “it is you that saved my most _ miserable and worthless life I know. Ask me ayything _in my power to give and I will gladly give it to your most noble self.” “Then,” said Dick, quickly, * ‘give me instructions in judo, Sono Bochan.” “Here comes the Un- Yi, yi, yip! his fist and sent also strik- s CHAPTER. VIII. WHAT JUDO IS. A short time later the three young Americans and Sono Bochan were sitting in a respectable tea house sipping tea. Sono Bochan regarded Dick with a smile af affection. “Tt was quick that you caus me in a secure trap, ~ most honorable young sir,” he laughed _ “How is that?” asked Merriwell, you anything in my pitiful power in return for your TIP: TOP WEEKLY, Buckhart and Foster pitched into the sailors who. “In the way that I so hastily promised to give noble | most noble generous act in saving my extremely worthless life.” / “You are a master of judo?” “IT make no great pretensions, but acts that I do for me speak. It is not a thing that I teach. From my venerable departed father it I learned.” “Oh, well,’ pointment, “if you do not teach it-——” Smilingly Bochan lifted a slender hand. said Dick, his face falling in disap- “My most useless life you did nobly and bravely preserve from the hand of Ojigo Kitsune, my enemy,” he said. “Of me it would be the most base ingratitude Judo it is not known by any American, but it will to humble and debased me a great honor be if | am permitted by ex- alted and noble you to give instructions in the art.” “Oh, well, if you look at it that way——” The Jap bowed. “To-morrow, if you will have the graciousness to should I meanly refuse you anything. kindly permit me, I shall humbly begin my instruc-_ trons.” “That suits me,” laughed bigic: begin the more delighted I shall be.”’ “Ojigo Kitsune must have it in for you a plenty, observed Buckhart. 3ochan smiled as if the affair had been the pleasant- est in the world. “Of hatred for debased 4me he has an isiole amount,” he said. “It is a long matter to tell, having begun between our honorable parents in many years now departed. My ‘august father was of judo the most magnificent master, and judo is\vastly far in the advance of jiu-jitsu. Of. my august parent the de- parted father of Ojigo Kitsune was most extremely jealous. They one time met in the contest, and the “The sooner we 93 father of Ojigo Kitsune was with complete ease de- feated by my highly respected father.” “Did that start it?” questioned Brad. “Tt had vastly much to do with it.” “What do you know ‘of the recent movements of © 399 Ojigo Kitsune?” asked Foster. Bochan glanced at him searchingly. | “It is not much I have the humble honor of know- ing,” he answered. “Our country is now engaged in conflict with Russia, and I have been given cause to suppose that Ojigo Kitsune was in the service of the government. the humble privilege of being acquainted.” Foster fancied it would be useless to ask further questions, and so he refrained. i “What is judo?’ asked Dick. It is not more than that of which I have —_ ern . a i cor TP TOP “Tt is the ability to defend oneself from attack.” “Then it is similar to jiu-jitsu?” “But vastly much superior. The one who knows jiu-jitsu only may be able to defeat one who knows i: not it at all; but one who knows judo and has be- come proficient may defeat one who knows jiu-jitsu to completeness. He who is perfect in judo knows just what his enemy will do before his enemy moves to do anything, and so he is all the time ready in advance to do the thing that shall the enemy bring to defeat. Jiu-jitsu is to wrestle with the body alone; judo is to wrestle with the mind and body together. The judo / master looks into the mind of his antagonist and be- holds the very thing he is about to attempt. He knows. all the tricks of jiu-jitsu and a great much | more, which enables him to be with ease the victor. _} You have kindly asked insignificant me to instruct re- spected you in the art of judo. For this to be done so | that honorable you should come to the complete prac- | tice of it would require many vast years. Yet I have x eagerly unto you promised to give the instruction, and | I shall delightedly do so if you have the stipreme pa- }~ tience to practice and learn.” » “Ym beginning to understand,” said Dick; “you ~ fancy I’ll be liable to quit very soon after I begin to understand how much there is to learn. ‘Well, we'll see about that.” ~ Bochan smilingly nodded. “Tt is to be seen,” he admitted. ~ America. I humbly express myself that of your Donte many few have the patience to practice day after day and to cultivate the mind to that great ~ much that they might become the practitioners of judo. s - Your honorable people seem not to have the required "| tithe. ~They are much in the hurry, and they cannot a, _ give to it the patience.” | “I suppose that is i right,” admitted Dick. | “Well, at least it will give me some satisfaction to _ know what judo is, even if I am unable to give it all the time that would be required for me to master the art. | : ‘i “What knowledge I can give it will be a pleasure to give,” asserted Bochan. “To-morrow you shall the first lesson receive from worthless me.” aI soll a. i Sy ee ee 2 CHAPTER IX, THE FIRST LESSON. oe Bochan kept his promise and was on hand at th « Grand Hotel at nine the following forenoon. WEEKLY. 13 ,was bracing, although indescribable. >?) oD “T have been to _ The boys had told Prof. Gunn of their adventure, and the professor was keenly interested, although. he shook his head seriously and predicted that they would yet get into serious trouble in Japan. “T’m going to see this judo business myself,” he de- clared. “I’m going to watch you take your first les- son, Richard.” “Bochan may not agree to that.” “Then I'll feel it my duty to put an end to the whole affair. I fear there is a touch of the black art in this judo business. Flys it is not a oe for any lad to know.” | But Bochan made no obj jection when he learned that the professor was determined to be a witness of the lesson he would give Dick. . There was no place at the hotel where such a lesson could be given, but the Jap informed them that he knew where it might be done, and urged them to fol- low him, Dick and Brad were in summer flannels, while the professor had donned his lightest garments. The day was warm, yet the air contained a tang that The faint sweet odor of blossoms came to their nostrils even in the streets of the city. Bochan walked with Dick, talking to him pleasantly. Brad and the professor followed. They came to the Japanese section of the city and their escort led them boldly into a small house, through which they passed to a garden in the rear, without see- ing a soul. | “It is one of my humble homes,” explained Bochan. “Have yon Make than one 2” asked Dick, in surprise. “Many.” “How is that?” “The home of every honorable friend is also mine. It is here I make my kites.” : “Your kites?” | “In making them I have the great pleasure ieee i for it there is time sufficient. Some day I will show them to you, respected friend. I have many kites. It is a vast pleasure to make them and to fly them. Some — are so strong when the wind blows greatly that they would lift twice your weight.” “Wow!” muttered Buckhart. story.” | — “Tt is the humble truth,” shall see. “That’s a pretty big” asserted the Jap. “You — I shall show you some day.” f He invited them to be seated in the little garden, — which was a beautiful specimen of Japanese landscape work. ‘Then he vanished into the house. “Pm afraid our ae Sono is aes to draw the : TP TOP » long bow, pard,” said Buckhart. “When he tells about 2 a kite that would lift twice your weight he’s getting me on the doubting bench.” “T’ve heard of such kites,” said Dick. “Well, I sure will have to see one before I believe they exist.” The professor agreed that such kites had been man- ufactured. He even told of experiments in which human beings had permitted themselves to be lifted ° into the air by several kites strung together. Sono Bochan returned with a “kimono” ae about him. He asked if Dick was ready. Young Merriwell tossed aside his hat and coat and removed his collar and tie. “T am ready now,” he announced. In a moment Bochan dropped off his “kimono” and stood entirely naked with the exception of wrestling trunks. Brad and the professor seated themselves on the ground where they could watch the affair. Bochan explained that in order to learn judo Dick must first learn the principles of jiu-jitsu. Then he proceeded to demonstrate some of the simplest grips. First, quick as a flash, he seized Dick’s left hand with his right, grasping Merriwell’s thumb in a certain manner and giving it a sharp tip backward, at the same time pressing his fingers into the flesh at the base of the thumb. 7 Dick was instantly brought to his knees. He felt _ that he must drop to keep his thumb from ‘being broken. Next Bochan suddenly grasped Dick’s’ right hand with his left, turned the back of Merriwell’s hand wrapped of his hand below the thumb and tipped his hand back- ward and downward quickly. Dick would have ,gone over flat on his back, but the Jap let go and caught him swiftly, preventing the fall. : HOF jiu-jitsu the simplest things are those, hon- -ored sir,’ he said. his enemy get either of those grips.” f ie “Well, I don’t fancy I’d permit it after seeing how the thing works,” laughed Dick. Bochan continued. He demonstrated the mannet to obtain leverage on the arm of an enemy and render him helpless. ry exerting more force it was possible to break a man’s arm with many of these holds. Then he found nerve after. nerve in Dick’s body eal ee aches OS He struck WEEKLY. sharply across in front of him. toward him, pressed his fingers into the fleshy part: “The master of sade would not let © hich, when pressed” upon, served to give great pain - { these nerves accurately, never faltering and never mak- 4 ing a mistake. He demonstrated how it was possible to meet the | hir attack of a man who’ sought to strike with his fists and | to grasp the man in many different ways that would render him quite helpless. 1 ere Then he explained the paralyzing and dangerous blows which might be delivered with the edge of the open hand. First he seized Dick’s right wrist with his left hand, jerking the young American toward him. At the same moment he lightly struck Merriwell on the right side of the neck. rate Although it was a mere tap, Dick felt the blows ) dit keenly. me Facing in the same rpeieiGn as’ the boy, Bochan . clutched his left wrist with his left hand and pulled it ) fes As he did this he) qu struck with his right hand, held open, a sharp rebound-_ ing blow on the side of the lad a little lower than the | hi heart. ev This blow gave Dick a shock all over his body, and he knew instantly that had it been heavy it might have bu knocked him out. da Bochan seized Dick’s right hand with his left, turned it forward and over until the back of the hand was ) qt downward and tapped him lightly on the elbow. my ita A heavy blow in that manner would have broken | th Dick’s arm like a pipestem. | A dozen other demonstrations he gave, ind the dark- | th eyed Yankee boys took everything in. : te “These, beneficent sir,” said the Jap, “are the things | A done by jiu-jitsu. In judo it is possible to prevent the | st respected and honorable enemy from doing any of | them. The judo man looks into his enemy’s mind 7 and sees what he is about to‘do. Then he does the | ~w thing that will baffle his respected enemy, there being 4 ei for every/ way of attack a way of defense.” aA “But I saw you send those wrestlers flying’ edeue . baie the air as if iy were babies,” said Dick. “That’s the 1 | trick to learn.” me cl “Tf I sen be so ee it Sich hurt ye: re- | tl ‘spected sir.’ org > Ti “Go ahead,” urged Merriwell. “I'll chance it. I a wish to see how it is done.” | eo “Then you must try to prevent it,” said the Jap. fio They squared away as if to wrestle after the Ameri- _ can fashion. Bochan REN to catch Dick’s wrist } ti and work the “flying mare,” but the boy eevee this RS move, laughing as he said: a: “T’ve seen too much of that in wrestling to—— ne did not finish fe sentence. ps Pie ePor = “Bochan had grappled him collar-and-elbow. The q Jap went down on his back, but instead of falling on the j him, Dick was sent whirling through the air. and { He fell some distance away. uld Bochan was up almost before Dick struck the ground. ‘ous Merriwell leaped up quickly. the | He sprang at the Jap. his © Snap! Whizz! um. | Again he went spinning through the air. on “Great tarantulas!” exclaimed Buckhart. “I opine ‘it’s a, good thing for my pard that he’s in perfect con- low ‘dition. Otherwise he’d find himself a heap lame to- ) morrow.” han “Tt is dangerous—very dangerous!” said the pro- dit | fessor, apprehensively. “I think Richard had better he | quit.” nd-_ “Quit?” said Brad. “Is it possible you don’t know the | him yet, professor? He’ll quit when he gets onto | every one of these tricks and can work ’em.” and» Bochan expressed a fear that he might injure Dick, ave but the boy smilingly assured him that there was no _ danger. ned If the Jap had fancied Merriwell would give up was } quickly he soon began to realize he had made a mis- ia _ take. Dick kept coming back after more, asking for ken the “throwing tricks.”’ , ae But what interested the young judo master more tk- | than anything else was the fact that when he at- : _ tempted to obtajn some of the simpler holds on the ngs | American boy he was baffled and forced to change his - the |. strategy. of Dick was learning rasitiy: id} He declined to rush, for he found that his rushes the q “were used against him. His instructor used the en- ergy of those rushes to aid in the overthrow of the | American boy. - Dick sought to secure a wrestler’s hold on the Jap. “Augustly pardon, beneficent: sir,” murmured Bo- chan, smilingly, as he/again fell on his back and sent _ the boy flying over his head in that mysterious man- her to land fully ten feet away. ing 4 said Dick, as soon as he “T’ll be “With great pleasure,” could catch his breath and begin to get up. on i guard next time.” - He'was. When Bochan tried ‘he same nick a third time Dick spread his feet wide apart as he went down. This prevented Bochan from using his own feet to aid in flinging the boy over his head, and he was baffled. | =e laughed over it, seeming gr sages WEEKLY. 15 “You are the most excellent scholar,” he declared. “Soon you have jiu-jitsu learned some, and then I can begin to teach you the judo way to read the mind of your enemy so you may know in advance what he will try to do. If of you I should make a real judo man it would be a wonderful thing in the accomplishment.” “Don’t you think you’ve done enough for to-day?” asked the professor. bruised up, Richard.” = was the re- “Besides, I do not get bruised easily.” “A few bruises never harmed anyone,’ tort. Then he turned again to Bochan. “Of course I know you can prevent it by breaking bones,” he said; “but if you will spare my bones I'll try to put you on your back after the fashion of American wrestling.” “It might even be done,’ admitted the Jap- not to lay one of us flat on his shoulders that gives the victory. That is not thought much by us, and so it is that we do not practice to guard against it. This is the why that some jiu-jitsu men are said to be defeated by American wrestlers. They think it is nothing to fall on the back flat. I do it, you see, to throw some one over my miserable head. Ii? jiu-jitsu there are things like the breaking 6f bones that cannot be at all used in a meeting of friendship; but in a fight against a most feared enemy it is right that any- thing should be done. Jiu-jitsu is not the simple wrestling. It is the great self-defense.” Dick nodded. “I am beginning to understand that,” he said. “T’ve seen in our newspapers statements in which it was said that some wrestler defeated a jiu-jitsu expert; but now I have no doubt that had the fight been for life the jiu-jitsu man would have broken the bones of the wrestler or knocked him out with an open-hand — blow. The Japanese method is savage. It is wres- tling and fighting combined, and by it an enemy may be killed without much difficulty. Should a man be killed in a match the jiu-jitsu man would find himself in trouble.” “You have now the correct estimation of it, benign friend,” said Bochan. something even of judo.” Then they went at it again, and there was no ques: — tion but Dick made decided progress. \ “It is “Seems to me you'll be all 2: > “Of one with so high intelli-_ - gence there is the great chance that he may learn oz TPL CHAPTER X. A WHISPERED “SECRET. After the boys had returned to the hotel they dis- cussed the lesson. Brad had an opinion, as usual, and he expressed it. “T opine judo is no more than expert jiu-jitsu,’ he said. “T suppose it might be called advanced jiu-jitsu,” said Dick. “It seems to be“recognized in this country as something superior.” “It is remarkable to me, Richard,” Gunn, “that you are not now in the hospital. pected your bones would be broken.” “Bochan was careful not to break any bones.” “Hum! ha! Was he? Ha! hum! I did not think he was very careful. In fact, to me he seemed quite put in Prof. I ex- -_ eareless. - I think you will be lame and sore to-mor- B row. It struck me that he was seeking to make you sick of judo at the very start.” “Tf he was, he failed. JI am more interested than ever.” “You take the lessons from Bochan,” said Brad, “then teach what you learn to me. We'll practice the tricks together. Is that agreeable?” “That is the way to become expert at it.” “But it’s dangerous business, it’s dangerous busi- ness,” protested the professor. “I can see that no ordinary boy should possess a knowledge of such tricks. Why, if the knowledge became common, young ruffians and bullies would. ee the arms, pos- . sibly the necks, of their companions.” _ The professor spoke the simple’ truth. Many of the tricks of jiu-jitsu are exceedingly dangerous, and in ‘practicing them for the purpose of becoming expert the greatest caution is necessary in order not to seri- ously injure an opponent. Knowledge of these things should not be imparted is tO cruel and brutal boys, for which reason some of the _most dangerous things will not be described in these pages. Of course the great body of Trp Top readers are not cruel, but occasionally the paper must fall into the hands of some one who would make an improper use of knowledge that should be used only in self- e defense against a dangerous enemy. Knowledge is power, but it is a bad thing to place : ‘es much power in the hands of the vicious. ‘Even when attacked by the sailors, Sono Bochan had felt such confidence in himself and his own abil- y that he had not tried to injure any of his assail- ants | ce, ‘In oe course of the encounter he WEEKLY. ‘there are who may learn it, even if they desire; bu of it. or a leg, but he refrained. Perhaps he would not have done so had he known at the outset that the sail- | not ors had been paid by Ojigo Kitsune to set upon him | ing and beat him up; but this was a thing he did not of | dream until Kitsune himself appeared and attempted | to use his knife. Faiy 3: Sono Bochan, although expert at jiu-jitsu and a | ‘ master of judo, was refined and gentle in his manners, F apparently without the least desire to harm anyone. Se His father before him, although the greatest judo | bef man of all Japan, had been highly respected by alle fet t classes and actually loved by the lowly, among whom — 1 he did a great deal of good, giving to the poor’ and | Poi needy to such an extent that at his death he was him- ery self poor, for all that h® had earned a great deal of juc money during his life. Bes If Prof. Gunn fancied young Merriwell would find | ) himself so lame on the following day that he would. | up decide not to take further lessons, he was mistaken. loo Dick: did feel the effects of the violent exercise; but | the he was even more enthusiastic as the time’approached | - for him to take lesson number two. wh Bochan was waiting for him when he appeared ac- i Jay companied by his inseparable, comrade, Buckhart. — eid “I salute your august honor!” smiled the Jap. | ~ “Great earnestness you have in learning the art which | N¢ it gives miserable me to impart to beneficent you.” a to “Oh, I’m in earnest,” nodded Dick. “I shall stick | to it until I learn something or break my neck.” q.).fo On the second day, having given the American boy — hit ‘a general idea of jiu-jitsu in the first lesson, the in- Hy : structor chose a few of the most simple holds and | | tricks and taught Dick to execute them swiftly and — surely. Again and again he sought to impress on Merriwell the fact that everything depended on the ~ execution of these tricks. The one who tried to per- form them must have an accurate knowledge of the proper method and he must act quickly, confidently _ and surely. Hesitation or faltering was fatal. or _At the close of the lesson Bochan drew Dick aside, - “T see it is to be my unbounded pleasure to give you. some knowledge of real judo,” he said. “I shall not fail to keep my promise unto you; but first, before im-— parting the greater secrets, I must humbly entreat t from august you a solemn promise.” Se Dick waited for him to continue. “Judo is a great secret,” murmured Bochan. “Few something tells me that you are one who may. You will be the first of your people to obtain a knowledge There must be no others. Jiu-jitsu you ma; it? EOr not | teach unto others if it is your desire; but judo I can- 1il- | not teach respected you unless Seat you are will- im ing to give humble me a promise never to reveal any rot of its secrets, even to your most bosom friend.” ted ; “Oh!” cried Dick, in dismay, ‘not even to Brad?” | “Not even to anyone.” a | “That’s a shame! Brad will wish to know.” cS, [ “I must have your honorable promise.” ne. | “Let me tell Brad. I want him to understand this do | before I go any further.” all. | Bochan nodded, and Dick called his chum. om _ When Brad was told he could not hide his disap- nd>- _pointment, but he said: m- | “That’s all right, pard, just you go ahead and learn of | judo; I’ll be satisfied with jiu-jitsu.” Then he retired and sat down again. nd _) Dick gave the promise required by Bochan, where- id. | upon the Jap placed both hands on his shoulders, looked deep into his eyes and whispered something— ut | the first secret of judo. ed | Following this Brad saw Bochan make some moves, | while Dick swiftly made other, moves and caught the C= | Jap’s wrist. | Bochan laughed quietly. p. | “It is right, honorable friend,” he said. “Try again. ch _ Now look, watch, think—try to know what I mean rie a to do before I begin to do it.” , ck | Dick followed instructions, but this time he failed, 4 for the Jap caught him foul and could have thrown | him as he pleased. _ Again and again they tried, Bochan explaining in tony tone that he was always thinking before he be- id‘: ‘gan of' the thing he would ‘do. Sometimes Dick was mn successful, but oftener he failed. Still the Jap declared 1e > & he was progressing. _ “To-morrow,” he said, “the second secret I will have the great pleasure to tell you. You shall know hem all. You must practice some each day that you ed _ forget nothing and that you advance. If, you cease ) to practice for a time after you have become expert you will find that the mind loses its skill as well as the hands, and you may not be able to perform the things that you wish. In your country you play the honor- - able game billiards.” A SS Tf ete a time you cease to play the honorable game billiards. and practice upon it not at all, you find ; at oon skill ei become dulled and you play not constantly. ‘ foot lines, while Sono ran. swiftly to join Dick ange WEEKLY. 17 For this day we have done quite enough. If it should be your august pleasure, I will new show you and your respected friend my kites.” Dick declared they would be delighted. CHAPTER XI. THE WONDERFUL KITES. The Japanese are the most expert kite builders in the world. They play with kites as mere tots. They have kite battles in the air. With a gummy substance they cover their kite strings with finely powdered glass, and then they seek to cut other flying kites clear by crossing their strings and sawing on them. Sono Bochan had many, many kites of strange” shapes. The most of them did not look like kites. Some looked like mere paper boxes stretched on strong bamboo frames. He brought them out, calling to a young Japanese boy in the house, who laughingly. joined him. A light wind was blowing, but Bochan experienced no trouble in sending up his kites. He sent up a num- ber of them on different lines and they soared grace- fully into the air. Finally he drew them all in and hitched together ; 4 One that was very a number of the boxlike kites. strong he attached to the others by three lines that were at least thirty feet in length. The Japanese boy watched him with a show of | eagerness and excitement that Dick and Brad did not quite understand. Finally, when everything was ready and Bochan was _ satisfied that his leading lines were strong enough, he — called Dick and Brad, telling them that the box kites. would pull so strongly that he would need their ra in holding them. The Jap boy aided Bochan in sending up the first kites, which rose readily. Then the little fellow ran to the stout kite that had been attached by the thirty- ¢ Brad, seizing the lines. Wie _A moment later a cry of horror oa consternation. came from the American lads. The last knife had been dragged into the air by. means of the lines attached to it. And perched upon it, clinging fast like a Jy, was ie? little Japanese boy, ay bright “kimono” fluttering i in the breeze! 2% Up, up he went. “Great horn spoon!” gurgled the astounded Toe eae ite there, pose The tae the = Pi is 18 Sono Bochan smiled. “T told you I would show you,” he said. “I now have the honorable pleasure. You did not believe un- » © fortunate me when I informed respected you that in a strong wind the kites would lift twice your weight.” “Hopping horn toads!’ muttered the Texan. “I thought the kid had been carried up by accident.” “So did I,” confessed Dick. “Tt is not the first time he has done it,” said Sono. “Bring him down!” urged Merriwell. ‘‘What if he should fall!” “He will not. “Yes, yes!” “ “Then there is no need to send him higher.” * Instructed by Bochan, they drew in on the lines and brought the kites down slowly, although they mounted higher at first. It was no simple matter, for those Japanese flying machines seemed to jug and pull for freedom, vainly trying to break loose. “T sure admire that kid’s nerve!” said Buckhart. “Tf he should get dizzy and fall it would be all up with him,” “All up with him?” questioned Bochan, with an odd smile. ‘Does not honorable you mean it would be all a down with him?” as “Perhaps that would be nearer correct,’ admitted the Texan. After a time the kites were brought down and the boy dropped lightly as a feather to the ground, laugh- ing gleefully. : “Nervy little reprobate!’ growled Brad. A few minutes later, as Dick and Brad were leav- ing, on the street they came face to face with Arthur wees: “roster. if “Hello!” cried Arthur. “Looking for you! professor told me where I might find you.” “Wondered if you Are you satisfied ?””’ The “Glad to see you,” said Dick. would show up to-day.” @ “I thought I’d invite you to visit my class. you like to go?” ‘Why, yes. We'll get a chance to see O Jo Kato.” . ... “That’s what I-want. If we start right away, we'll *< get there in advance of the others in the class. O Jo and her sister will be waiting. Perhaps O Jo will _ be alone, for she will expect me to come early.” ee “We don’t want to butt in, you know,” Ee Buckhart. “Tt’s no case of butting in if you’re invited. I’ve “told her about my pee from America, and she’s \ anxious to meet you.” € Ges “That settles it, ” said Dick, “Lead us to O Jo.” TIP TOP WEEKLY. Would — chuckled ee her hands sharply. CHAPTER XII. A JAPANESE BEAUTY. oe O Jo Kato was sitting on the floor, slowly reading an American book. Her hair was beautifully arranged after the fashion of the country, making a charming — setting for her exquisite oval face. She had a dainty and the whitest of white teeth, ay Pa mouth which were small and regular. Her eyes were brown and limpid, containing a gentle light. Her hands were slender, white and perfectly manicured by herself. On this day she had donned her finest kimono, which was so charmingly decorated that at a little distance she seemed covered in wreaths and bouquets. of flowers. She had spent some time in arranging her toilet, for she expected visitors. She was not disappointed. There was a knocking at the door, and a servant conducted into the room three persons who had re-_ moved their shoes and walked in their stocking feet that they might not injure the dainty straw matting on the floor. They were the three young Americans, Foster, Mer- riwell and Buckhart. | O Jo Kato bowed low before them, the palms of her =)” hands on the floor and her face almost touching the backs of those hands. Foster introduced Dick and Brad and O Jo cater sweetly upon them, saying: “Tt is much great pleasure for insignificant me to meet august and honorable friends of my most wise | gracious instructor.” ee “Surely the pleasure is all ours,” returned Dick. “You bet it is!” exclaimed Brad, his eyes shining — with genuine admiration. ; Then they sat down on the floor, Japanese fashion. O Jo looked shyly at them, smiling in a manner that — was positively bewitching. E La “These are the friends A told you about, O Jo,” said Foster. “They look like much good friends,” said O Jo. “Mr. Foster has been telling us about his wonder-> — fully progressive little pupil,” explained Dick. “He says no American girl could learn as fast as you have.” “August instructor sométimes he is much too soon to give the flattery,” laughed O Jo, showing her beau- tiful teeth for a moment and then hiding them behind a fan, over which her eyes continued to laugh. Buckhart bent toward Foster. “She’s onto you, old man,” he whispered. When they had chatted for some moments, the girl | rhe Ite AOL “Hai-i-i-i, tadima,’’ came an answer from some dis- tant part of the house. Soon a part of the paper wall seemed to slide away and there was a servant, bowing low to the floor. _ “The honorable guests would partake of tea,” O Jo Kato. ' A moment later the wall slid into place and a soft patter of feet died out in the distance. It was not long before the servant returned with all the necessary articles for serving tea. She placed tiny 3 stoollike stands before the guests, and then O Jo . poured the tea. As they sipped tea they conversed of _ Japan, America and many things in which all were mutually. interested. But in the very midst of this pleasant occasion, with- | out the jeast warning, another part of the paper wall slid back and an intruder entered. lightly and stood there, pleasant manner. It was Ojigo Kitsune. The girl uttered a little cry and then prostrated her- self before the newcomer. “Is this the manner in which. the Learned One gives | the wise instruction?” demanded Kitsune, sarcastic- | ally. “Oh, honorable affianced,” said O Jo, quickly, “it is “some of his teers friends he» has brought to speak } with miserable me.’ | “It is not to visit here with his friends that he has | received the honorable Se retorted Kitsune. % _ Foster flushed. | “I was not aware, sir, that you employed me,’ said. _O Jo Kato fopked frightened. , = Helter had lived in foreign lands long enough to _drop some of his countrymen’s formal manner of speech on such an occasion as this. “You will find, Learned One, that I have something a: of influence concerning your employment here,” he de- clared. “If Tso choose, A should throw you out on _- your head.” ha ms “You might try it,” uae Arthur. se “That would be all I would need to do.” : ry ell, you had betes not try it!” said : increta is i i . actress pe pes Fo es ie He stepped in surveying the scene in no le ell a BT wbichniie * he er vas not what it should be,” he said. ‘This is the lusion of your employment as the wise instructor . Jo Kato. ore to return.” WEEKLY. A Krom the house mee may a but. 19 O Jo turned very pale and was compelled to clap a hand to her a cry. a It happened that Kitsune turned and surveyed her. He noted her agitation and his face grew dark. “I have regret that you should feel much the dis- tress,” he said. mouth to hold back Seeking to hide the truth, she hastened to say: “It is that I am to lose the good instruction which is greatly beneficial to ignorant me.” “Ts it?” asked Kitsune. “Tt is.” “Then another Learned One shall for you be made provision, so you will continue to secure wisdom.” “The onery galoot!’ muttered Buckhart. ‘He’s taking it onto his shoulders, Arthur, to discharge you!” The Jap seemed to catch the Texan’s words, and e they added fuel to the flame of jealous anger in his i. heart. | “The respected visitors should rise in haste and lose no time in taking their honorable departure,” he said. “In other words,” said Dick, “we're politely told to get.” Kitsune bowed. “Well, I like that!’ exclaimed young Merriwell. “Anyone would think you the mikado!” “If you go not of yourself,” said Kitsune, fiercely, ; “it is I who will hasten you.” fs Dick rose to his feet. a “Better not try it,” he said. “If you want us thrown x out, you had better resort to your usual method of — og employing sailors to do the job.” Kitsune started. It is possible that for the first time he realized that the young Americans were the \ ‘ ones who had interfered with his game to dispose of | his enemy, Sono Bochan. a “Insolence!” he hissed. “On guard, pard!” breathed Buckhart. For Kitsune had started toward Dick. It seemed that the boy would stand little show in an encounter with the jiu-jitsu man. Certain it was that a the Jap regarded Dick with SeRnee and disdain. “Go!” he commanded. said Dick. Kitsune leaped at him. +o, oa Sie Then an astonishing thing happened. Dick aes been watching the Jap and he seemed to know the ae , low would leap even. before the move was made, Therefore it ee he ee ee oe “When we choose,” 20 performing a singular twist which sent Kitsune spin- ning headlong to plunge hike a diver through the near- est paper wall and disappear from view. CHAPTER XIII. HEARTS TORN ASUNDER. “Whoop!” cried Buckhart, in delighted astonish- ment. “Talk about your judo! Wow! That’s the real thing !’’ In truth young Merriwell had given Ojigo Kitsune a taste of judo, and that taste seemed quite enough for the time being, as the Jap had struck on his head and lay stunned on the floor beyond the perforated partition, O Jo Kato was in the greatest distress, wringing her dainty hands and moaning. Foster quickly tried to comfort her, placing his arm about her, as he said: “Don’t be frightened, little sweetheart.” ' She seized him with both her round arms, clinging to him. 3 “Oh, Arthur!” she sobbed; “it will bring the great unhappiness for me! No more will my poor eyes have the great pleasure to look upon you some more!” “You'll see me again thousands of times if you love me, little sweetheart,’ he declared. “Nothing shall separate us! I swear I’ll have you for my own!” His words seemed to both frighten and delight her. “Ojigo—he is between us!” she said, “Ojigo, what is he! Will you let anything come between us, heart of my heart?” “My honorable parents “They have no right to give you to.a man you do -not love—a man you must hate!” , “Oh, they have the right to do anything in Japan! It is not for a most unworthy daughter like miserable ‘me to choose.” _. He was in despair, for, though convinced that she loved him deeply and truly, he saw that her method of reasoning was not like that of the girls whom he _ knew in his own country. Still he pleaded with her. Dick and Brad had turned away. _ In a moment there came an interruption. Another portion of the wall opened and another girl appeared, younger than O Jo Kato and not as pretty, although bearing a strong resemblance to her, She stared in & _ Foster. ‘ ’ “Elder sister, elias sister!” she exclaimed ; “what means this strange behavior with the Learned One?”: TIP ‘TOP. WEEKLY. consternation as she saw O Jo in the arms of Arthur _in hand. He retorted that his elder daughter had been |. pledged to another since her birth, and that nothing Ave ¢ O Jo struggled a bit, but Arthur clung to her, seek- hande ing to persuade her by soft words and appeals to her | 4 ‘nd n Again the young girl cried out: ee “Elder sister, what means all this that has happened | . . ° ‘ ) 1 ¢ in our quiet home?” o . ’ : : ett Brad stepped quickly toward the bewildered girl. . ranqt “Your sister has been a whole lot frightened and she | a : . ; ‘ : ‘ ut _is faint,’ he explained. “The Learned One is sooth- . . ‘Vas ing her.” Ass ie ; ypenin Perhaps the younger girl fancied Brad meant to liared rlare try to soothe her after the same fashion, for she turned ?~ ~ and fled. : 5 rms “Something doing, pard,’ observed the Texan. | ~ e ; le str “The whole place will be in a rumpus directly.” : an a In the meantime, Arthur Foster had not abated his pleading with O Jo Kato. “(We may be separated now, little sweetheart, if you do not fly with me,” he said. “We may be kept apart. I know your heart rebels against the thought of be- coming the wife of Kitsune.” “The thought is even like bitter death for wretched | me!” she confessed, hoarsely. f “Then why should you sacrifice yourself? Your parents will forgive you when they find you are mine | and we are happy.” “They would never look upon debased me again!” The sound of voices approached. An aged © Japanese man appeared, his face marked by dismay | and reproof. In his own language he said something, — which Foster answered quickly. “Tt’s O Jo’s father!” decided Dick. ‘The old man. has discovered the truth for the first time. Now there © will be trouble.” aig Instead of making a great rumpus, the old man ,. looked commandingly at his daughter, held out his 5 hand and ordered her to leave the young American and > come to him. 4 Even if Arthur would have restrained her, she had ‘That’ no thought of disobeying. Gently she released his lefeat hold upon her. With her deep brown eyes she gave | him one last heartbroken look of affection, and then, fIder bowing her head, she walked to her father and knelt | Fhe at his feet. e Foster knew the time had come to declare himself. Commanding the best Japanese he could speak, he told O Jo's father that he loved her, ‘that she loved him, | Ste and that he wished to make her his wife. fa oe The old man was shocked, but he held himself well | _The — Kits eel- her | ned she oth- | \was a stir. ned can. his you art. be- hed | our nine — in !”? ged © nay ing, nan ere nan his and had his rave | hen, nelt | y self. told um, | z 4 baying assassins to destroy Bochan,” TIP TOP pve death could dissolve that pledge. He then com- handed Arthur to leave his house, never enter it again ind never attempt to communicate with O Jo in any hanner. = » During all this the girl’s mother had remained in he background, permitting her lord and master to ettle the affair that had disturbed the “honorable ranquillity” of their household. But now in the room #eyond the rent partition there Directly ahead and face appeared at the and Ojigo Kitsune, somewhat recovered, slared in upon the Americans. fis look was murderous. With’ a stroke of his rms he tore away the ruined partition of paper. Then te strode into the room, his aspect being that of a zan about to attack his most hated foes. : _ the elder Jap checked him with a sharp command. Kitsune hastily explained what had happened and egged permission to throw the foreign dogs out of he house, assuring the old man that he would cast 1em all with broken bones into the street. But the old man objected. He said it was a disgrace at such scenes should take place beneath his roof. fe commanded Ojigo Kitsune to restrain his hand. then he again ordered the three Americans to leave. | It was useless to rebel against this-command. Ar- hur knew it, although it was like tearing out his heart 0 leave O Jo Kato in such a way. Dick grasped his arm. “Hadn't we better go?” he asked. jothing more now. Another time—— | “Another time we shall meet!” hissed Kitsune. )Then not a whole bone shall be left in your bodies!” pening, a ~ “We can do 3? | “Oh, I reckon you haven’t a heap to brag about!” aid Buckhart. ‘You ran up against a taste of judo, ind you'll get a bigger taste when you meet Sono 3ochan.” ; “Unless he succeeds in escaping that meeting by put in Dick. } that’s the device of a miserable coward who fears lefeat !” _Kitsune fairly frothed at the mouth, but again the Ider Jap spoke to him ana held him in check. | The three Americans retreated toward the door that lad been opened for them. i. ‘Arthur Foster kept his eyes on the kneeling figure 1 O Jo Kato. She did not stir. At last he cried, desperately : “Good-by, little sweetheart—good-by !” ’ That was too much for her. For all of the presence ‘mingling of jiu-jitsu and judo. WEEKLY. 21 of her father and the fierce man to whom ‘she was pledged, she turned her tear-wet face, sweet as a dewy flower, toward Arthur and answered: “Oh, good-by, heart of my poor heart—good-by !” When they had vanished she fell at full length on the mat-covered floor and lay like one head. CHAPTER XIV. AFTER THE ENCOUNTER. Arthur Foster was consumed with fury when he reached the open air. “Why didn’t you carry her off, anyhow?’ asked Brad. “Because I knew such an attempt would be worse than madness. It could not succeed, and it would give them an excuse to have me imprisoned or driven from the country. Oh, don’t fancy for a moment that | am not desperate enough for any undertaking that gives the least promise of success!” “Keep a level head,” advised Dick. “It’s best. A game is never lost until it is won, and I don’t think Ojigo Kitsune has won this game yet.” “He has the best of it.” “Without doubt.” “T think now that O Jo will be hastily forced into a marriage with him—unless I find a way to pre- vent it.” “How can you find a way?” “That’s more than I si ae losing her is distracting me.’ “T don’t believe it’s right for anyone to lose any- thing he wants as much as that,” said Buckhart. pie I’m not going to quit—I’m not going to Bie * erated Arthur. we ou'll have trouble with Kitsune, sure as fate,” said Dick. “T expect that.” Brad laughed heartily. ; “Mr. Kitsune ran up against the real thing a short time ago. Oh, I say, pard, the way you snapped him through the partition was a fine piece of work! But how did you do it?” “T did it by taking him wholly by surprise. He was not expecting anything of the sort. I gave him a I divined his intention — in advance, and my knowledge of jiu-jitsu, imperfect though it is, enabled me to throw him. Of course, if but the thought of \ ‘ . he had anticipated that I knew any such trick he : would have been prepared and I could not have done it.” a eee OP said the Texan. “Well, it was great, great!” “Came near breaking his worthless neck, I opine: Would have been a fine thing, though it might have placed us _in a mighty bad scrape.” Foster accompanied them to the hotel, where they discussed the matter for some time. A dozen plans were discussed, but in the end they were forced to con: fess to each other that not one of those plans could be carried out. “Something may turn up,” “Something must turn up!” “About the only way to make anything turn up,” said Dick, ‘is to turn it up. You may depend on us to help you any way in our power.” “Sure thing,” said Brad. Foster shook hands with them and thanked them. “Rather an exciting ending to our quiet little tea party, wasn’t it?” said Dick. When Foster was gone Dick and Brad continued to discuss the affair. They agreed that O Jo Kato was pretty enough and sweet enough to win the admiration of any man, and they conceded that it was something more than admiration with Arthur Foster. That he loved the girl sincerely and intensely there could be no doubt. “Well, pard, we have mixed up in something of a rumpus since coming here,” chuckled the Texan. “Our blood should begin to move. Mine is stirring some.” “And mine,” confessed Dick. “There is yet one chance for Arthur Foster.” ‘ ) “And that is—what?” ““T£ Sono Bochan, remembering Ojiga. Kitsune’s _ dastardly attempt on his life, will break the fellow’s neck when they meet for that contest, there is a fine prospect that Foster will get O Jo Kato.” “That’s right,’ nodded the Texan. “If that hap- pens I’ll not shed a barrel of tears, you bet your boots.” “But I’m inclined to believe. Sono Bochan is too said Foster, desperately. - ~ much. of a gentleman to injure an see. in a square contest of that sort.” “Tm afraid he is,’ rebated Buckhart. - CHAPTER: XV. =. ‘THE TOWER OF PRAYER. ; The day came for the meeting between Sono Bo- “chan and Ojigo Kitsune. : - Bochan was on hand, but Kitsune failed to appear. ‘This was a great disappointment to the crowd that 3 assembled, although there were a dozen rn ests to amuse et WEEKLY. Ment: _ to find him, but in this they were disappointed. Dick, Brad and the professor were there, but they had did not climb into the bamboo gallery. seer Finding Kitsune had failed to appear, they were | « about to leave in disappointment when Arthur Foster | 4 found them. cou “T’ve been looking for you everywhere,” he said. 7 fort “Looked in the gallery, but you were not there. It’s fT aid no easy thing to find anyone in such a crowd as this.” | He left the inclosure with“them. Dick noted that ceed he was greatly depressed. kA “Anything further gone wrong?” he asked. patie “Yes. I hoped Kitsune would appear to-day.” 7) eoly “So did we,” said Brad. ‘And we further hoped | agai that Sono Bochan would render you permanent as- 4 usyz sistance by putting Kitsune in the hospital.” ein “He has fled. At any rate, he’s gone, and O Jo | 7 Kato is gone with him.” ae “What ?” : ae “There’s no doubt of it,” said Arthur, sadly. “I | y can find no trace of her. One of the pupils in my 7 class who is friendly toward me has told me that O — Jo is not in the home of her parents. I fear I am beaten!” | “Don’t give up yet.” . “Oh, I’ll not give up as long as there is a shadow of hope. I shall search everywhere for O Jo.” ” promised Dick. — As they were walking along they were joined by. mn? Sono Bochan himself, who came up swiftly behind — i them. — } Uae “We'll do what we can to help you, “The most honorable Ojigo failed to make hig ap- pearance,” ‘said the judo master, with a smile. “Evidently his acceptance of your challenge ia all ty a bluff,” said Dick. . Already Bochan had been told of Foster’s ‘les Arthur now informed him of the disappearance _ o both Kitsune and O Jo Kato. Bochan listened gravely and shook his head. “Honorable sir, it is the great uselessness for you — to expect further to secure her yourself unto,” he. de clared. . This caused Arthur still greater depression. Bo- chan was not inclined to give him the least encourage 3 ing O 16. ! hie days passed and nothing was seen vof him. the afternoon of the second day Dick and Brad sta ear FOP aad disappeared as completely as O Jo, and no one -4 seemed to know whither he had gone. “Perhaps he has been murdered, pard,” said +Brad. 4 Then they decided that it was their duty as a fellow | countryman to make a thorough search. They in- _} formed the Japanese chief of police, who promised to | aid them. | All the next day they searched in jinrikishas, pro- ... into the country outside the city limits. | At twilight, as they were returning to the city, their "attention was attracted by a round, slender white +: column that stood towering like a slender minaret against the sky. Indeed, with the exception of the usual balconies, this little column was very much like a ‘minaret. _ The ib ca men told them the column had been a alone siete the secret Soci of entering it. It _ 4 Was his custom to enter by the secret door at the base 4} Once each month, mount on iron ladders to a little Something led Dick to leave his jinrikisha for the urpose of approaching the column and eee it. ad waited for him. / a believe there is a door, and T don’t Bee: i scver came here to pray. It’s likely he was in the habit of going off once a month on a’ little toot, and in order 0 deceive people he pretended to come here and enter 1e place by a secret door. There was no danger that yone would discover his deception if they could find » door by which to enter the column.” _ He stepped back and stood looking upward at the ns ot the column, which seemed almost to pierce the “Wonder where it came ntwisted the paper. Ras WEEKLY. 23 The afterglow of sunset was in the sky. This gave sufficient light for him to examine the paper, and what he saw made him start with surprise. ° There was writing upon it! Not Japanese writing, but such writing as Dick was familiar with and could read with ease. ° Holding it close to his eyes, he read as follows: “T am confined in a room at the top of this tower. Kitsune’s paid ruffians captured me and shut me up here. I am to remain here until I starve. Can’t get out. For Heaven’s sake, find some way to release me! 7 : ARTHUR FOSTER.” / CHAPTER XVI. WITH THE HELP OF THE WIND. Dick Merriwell was staggered. With difficulty he repressed a loud cry of astonishment. At first he al- most fancied he must be dreaming. Foster was confined in the Tower of Prayer. His first impulse was to rush away to the police of Yokohama. Once more he turned his face toward the top of the lofty monument and stood staring up at it. The golden glow began to fade from the sky and purple shadows gathered in the valleys. Buckhart called to him: “Come on, partner! I’m a heap hungry. Let’s be getting back to the hotel.” Dick hesitated a few moments, “Ojigo Kitsune or some of his agents may be watching me at this very moment,” he decided. Then, without looking toward the tower again, he returned and entered his jinrikisha. From a little window far up at the top of the myste- rious tower a pale-faced captive gazed forth helplessly and watched the jinrikishas jogging away until they disappeared in the shadows of the city’s outskirts, Not a word of the astonishing thing that had hap- pened did Dick speak until they were alone in their room at the hotel. Then he called sia and silently © handed him’ the paper. Buckhart read it and gave vent to a characteristic exclamation of astonishment. ‘Whatever is this, pard?” he demanded. you come by it?” Dick told him. Instantly the Texan was vibrant with excitement. “Well, wouldn’t that beat the old Harey! ; he cried. “What are we going to do?” * “What are we?” asked Dick. “We can go to the police.” “How did / \ i / 24 “‘And be laughed at. The police will not believe the story.”’ “Why not?” “Because, in the first place, it is supposed that no one save he who caused the tower to be erected ever knew the secret method of entering it. The police will say it’s impossible for anyone to be confined in the tower, as it is impossible to enter it.” “Well, pard, it’s up to us to go out there and open the old thing up.” “We can't find the door.” “Can't ?”’ “No,” “Why not?” “T looked for it, and I found not a trace of any door.” “We can look again.” “When ?” “To-night.” | “Tf I could not find the door when I was there, it’s even less likely we can find it in the night. If we did find it—what then?” “Open it.” “How ?” -“Somehow—anyhow! Blow her open with dyna- mite!” “If we were to go out there at night and try that the chances are we’d land in a Yokohama prison.” Brad looked at Dick in astonishment. ‘What's the matter with you, partner?” he cried. “Are you going to let Foster rot up there in that howl- ing old tower ?” i PaMOs 2 4 ‘Well, I don’t whitérstenies “T’ve been trying to think of some way to save him. I believe we should seek advice.” “Advice?” “Yes.” vi » “Who: from? Certain not from the professor ? rf a No.” ene | : : , “We hhaye one JapeeSer tend ite may be able to” sh ets us.’ { t “a! Yy ott mean Bochan ?” “Now you've hit it!” A ee you're right—you’ re level- ica ga. sia as you always are. ‘ih be able to tell us a way to Be Foster out of that Sono Bochan is sure the man. He TIP’ TOP. WEEKLY. : man and friend 2” They did not stop to eat anything. Making an ex- cuse to the professor, they hastened to find Bochan. ~ a They found him working by lamplight over a great =) ms kite. He received them politely, yet with a touch of | TI surprise in his manner, for a visit at such an hour 7 ing t from the American boys was wholly unexpected. _ 4 of th “To what good fortune do I owe the splendid the < honor?” he asked. | It was difficult for the boys to repress their excite- |] _ Be ment, and it is certain that Bochan detected something / Ee th unusual. in their manner. | ) terion “Can we speak with you without danger of being a overheard?” asked Dick, kncwing that in the paper- eh partioned Japanese houses little secrecy-may be main- — “passe tained. | ea, The judo master motioned for them to sit on the | a y floor close to him. When they did so, he drew their | hart heads close together, saying: an “If we now speak in the very low tone it is not dan- pes gerous that unwelcome ears may hear our words.” jand i Dick told the story. He made it clear and concise ig | rienc in a very few words. At the conclusion he found Boss ; chan gazing at him in great doubt, as if almost st ee alee to credit what he had heard. iad acount Merriwell produced the paper with the writing upon s it and showed it to Bochan. eg “It is vastly singular,” said the Jap, shakin his head. “Of course it must be true, but I have inspected the Tower of Prayer, and no door could I discover. Many others have done the same. How ples could learn the secret is more than I can imagine.” “Well, it is certain that he has, and Foster is up i there in the tower. We have been unable to think of any method of sefting him free. Therefore we came to you for advice.” Bochan leaned his head on his hand and seemed | to meditate. : “There is a window vastly high up in the tower,” a he finally muttered. “Yes, a tiny window.” (a “Tt looks tiny from so far distant. It is my humb thought that oe respected window is greatly lar; than it seems.’ i “But there’s no way at getting up to that vii M7; said say “There’s not a ladder long enough in z creation.” | tf ¥ “How much danger yore you venture in i‘ asked Bochan, he “Try me,’ ’ urged Dick. ‘ Again the eee iso, master meditated, _ Finally he said: v “Let us go into the open air. They followed him out into the garden. The even ing breeze was rustling the trees and sending the petals of the wistaria blossoms showering from the vines in ey the soft darkness. Bochah looked toward the sky and seemed listening @ ‘ : to the sound of the wind. His manner was very mys- _} terious. Finally he said: ng 9 — Lhe wind will rise yet more, or I am wretchedly li “mistaken in my judgment. When two hours have n- | passed it will blow much very strong.” oom “What has the wind to do with it?” muttered Buck- i 4 : impatiently. a> Sane honorable wind has all to do with it,”’ asserted mai ) the Jap. “Later we will start for the Tower of Prayer, < 4 } and if the courage is complete in your beneficent og | friend, we may find a method by which a great accom- eos F plishment to make in the rescue of your respected » } countryman.” CHAPTER XVIL. A MARVELOUS RESCUE. jure one a then for on wns depends the life of your honorable friend in the tower.” eros directions. Sometimes it would shoot ‘upward, , ers rTP Finall con 93 Now, y he announced that he was ready. he said, placing a hand on Dick’s shoulder, “it is the time of the test for your honorable courage.” “What am I to do?” asked Dick. “You have seen my kites bear a boy into the air.”’ Nes. “To-night, with this wind, they would lift a heavy man. Have you the much extreme courage to go up on them to the window of the tower, where you may speak with your unfortunate friend and tell him what he is to do?” Buckhart gasped with dismay. “Suicidal!” he exclaimed. But Dick quietly said: “T am ready to go.” 7 “It is the vast courage you have,” said Bochan, ad- miringly. “It is 1 that would go, but I, with your honorable friend, must remain on the ground to handle the kites, You are to speak with your friend and tell him to get I will bring you to the vast high window. upon the kite when it shall be again brought to the He will see you. It will give him the con- fidence. He will do it. then send the kites back te the window for him.” window. We will bring you down and “Craziness! But Dick did not hesitate. the single kite, as instructed by Bochan, and held fast. — Then Bochan and Buckhart seized the lines of the kites ie ran clear of the trees to windward. The first kites shot into the air. Buckhart’s heart tugged as he felt the kites pulling at the strings. Up, _ Looking over his shoulder, the Texan Insanity! Lunacy!” grated Buckhart. He placed himself on up they went. saw them rise, and then he beheld the single kite ves a them, with a dark obj ject clinging to it. Brad Buckhart prayed, but he obeyed the instruc- tions of Bochan to the letter. /— As for Dick, his heart was beating i but his nerves were steady, when he felt himself carried into the air with a jerk. That experience was one never to be forgotten. ' The kites plunged here and there above * _ him, and the one that bore him darted erratically in 26 Tr LOL ground. More than once he fancied it had broken clear from the others and he was plunging to death. Over him the great kites fluttered like a flock of black birds of prey. The wind whistled about his ears. Once a giddiness threatened to overcome him, but he fought it off. It seemed that he was swaying and darting thus for hours when suddenly, close at hand, he beheld a dark object against the sky. It was the tower! Up, higher and yet higher! The top of the tower was close at hand. Then the kite brushed against it. Dick saw a dark, square opening before him. With one hand he clutched at it as the kite threatened to fling him against the tower. He secured a hold, while the black birds above tugged and pulled with terrible force. But Bochan must have known he had reached the window, for he manipulated the kites in such a manner _ that the force was somewhat lessened. “Arthur—Arthur Foster!” | Dick’s voice sounded strange and choked in his own ears. : The cry was answered. Some one appeared at the window. “Who is it? Who calls?” “Foster, it is I, Merriwell! kites. you creep out through this window?” I am here, on these I know it seems incomprehensible to yo. Can » “Yes,-yes!” “Then do so. Get hold of this kite—get upon it! At the same time I will get off on the window ledge. You may go down first. Then Bochan will send the kites back for me.”’ — No matter if Arthur Foster thought it a strange nightmare he did not falter. Out through the window ‘he crept. Following Dick’s instructions, he secured a | _ hold on the tugging kite and prepared to swing off. Then something not down on the program hap- _ pened. ' Foster slipped from the window, but he held fast to ‘the kite! ; WEEKLY. 4 Dick was given®no time to leave the kite for the window. Their combined weight dragged the kites down- ward, and it seemed that they were falling to certain : destruction. But Sono Bochan must have suspected what had | happened, for he told Buckhart to run against the wind ae and run for his life. the kite lines. Although the two lads continued to fall, they came— 4 down gently and finally alighted softly and without harm upon the ground, Thus the most marvelous rescue on record had been accomplished. * * * * * * Three days later, as Arthur Foste1 was recovering his strength and nerve in the Grand Hotel, he rece - ‘ the followi ing letter : “HONORABLE Str: I am married to Ojigo Kitsune, Together they ran, clinging to, 4 . change | credite: | 3 mont 4 mont 6 mont oe " 4 -registe: _ by curr is R and being honorable, respectful, can no more see you ever again, so it is not necessary that you ‘should % bother to look much at all for me. , “Respectfully. KirsuNE O Jo.” THE END. The Next Number (483) Will Contain OR, e Playing Baseball in the Flowery Kingdom. Prof. Gunn Takes a Bath—The Professor’s Rage—Tw Baseball Players—Professionals ot Not?—The Oth he Side of the Story—Dick Promises to Play—W! Lies?—Two Rascals Take a Bath— —Beginning Weaken—A Scoundrel’s Gratitude — Dick Mak Terms—The Skill of Kitsune—Bases Full; No One Out—Dick Gets His Bumps—The Wind Chang Cutting Down the Lead—How the Runs Were Mi; Pe a tae oe He aS le. 4 es , x pies) Bs i mM 3 td An.ideal*fublication fe Jone NEW YORK, July 8, 1905. id TERMS TO TIP TOP WEEKLY MAIL SUBSCRIBERS. ; (Postage Free.) to, eek a. Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each. PV MAONINS 32. 5, co as-ccchece ae. GSC. | ONG FHA. Gi ccksese lets Se doee $2.50 ; WMO Soe do 85c. | 2 copies one year............-. 4.00 ne PE MPOITHB 952.56 n un ene seni = S BL25. | copy. two years). ..5..0i68 4.00 oe “ How fo Send Money—By post-office or express money order, it | registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent oe by currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. |) Receipts—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper a. change of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly en _ credited, and should let us know at once. ‘ge STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY, 4 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City. | TIP TOP ROLL OF HONOR. aril ng we oe ed |, 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 ne, | to increase the circulation of the King of Weeklies. ou t in line boys and girls and strive to have your name uld | at the head of the list. P «Rex V.,’? Richmond, Va. John R. Rains, Ripley, Miss. David B. Elliott. Cc. C. H., Masontown, Pa. Harold B. Davenport, Monroe City, Mo. W. Montague Morse, 717 7th Ave., N. Y. City. The names of other enthusiastic Tip Toppers will be dded from time to time. Send in the result of your is to push the circulation of your favorite weekly win a place on the Roll of Honor. ) APPLAUSE. ene st _ Owing to the number of letters received, the editors of Tip Top ot undertake to secure their publication under six weeks. Those ioscontribute to this department must not expect to see them before tim 2 7 . ‘ ‘ As I have read the Tip Top Weekly from No. 1 to date, I vill venture to show you my appreciation of it. I think Frank Jick are good models for any young man to pattern after. author of Tip Top is, certainly, “onto his job,” for it is the i ntertaining weekly in existence, I believe. Bart Hodge inly a fine character. I have a friend, a “black-headed ho puts me in mind of him, he is so true and trusty. uckhart is another fine character, and I hope he will stay th Dick as long as the stories are published. I thought, for while, that Arlington would reform, but think he is past that Brad /is traveling with Dick, and hope he will m to Yale, if Dick goes. In Tip Top No. 464 I see m some “coyote” in West Virginia-who seems to have exalted opinion of himself. He tells about his “ e is the “son of a rich man,” ete. Ve TIP. TOP WEEKLY. now, as he/is nothing but a thoroughbred scoundrel. d boy could not accomplis I place. This is the k place. 27 say unto you, he seems to think he is “the whole cheese.” But such “cattle” as him are not worth writing about, so I will quit commenting on his letter. I think June is the girl for Dick, when he turns his attention to matrimony; but he is too’ young to think of that for quite a while. I think Percival D. Scott wrote a fine letter some time ago, and wish he would write another one. I hope they will fire old Gooch and Arlington, so Dick can come back to Fardale in time for the football season. Well, I will have to close this letter, for I don’t want it to go in the wastebasket. Three cheers for the author and publishers of the Tip Top Weekly. I will sign myself, a Virginian in Florida, H. R. Frencu. Plant City, Fla. You are fortunate in possessing a friend who resembles Bart Hodge so much. He is, no doubt, a friend worth having. Gooch and Arlington will certainly have cause to fear if Dick ever returns to Fardale. Say, I can’t keep still any longer, and I haven’t read more than fifteen or twenty Tip Tops either. Now, I will rise to remark! I don’t know a paper in the country published for boys that beats Tip Top; if there is, “you will have to show me,” as Stretcher says. I am a worse mistake than the one all the folks are kicking about in the Applause column—which part of Tip Top is about as interesting as the story—’cause why? I was born too late to be old enough to have read the first numbers of the Tip Top. In fact, the first I knew of such a paper— except an old copy I’d found that I did not like—was last sum- mer when I went to a news stand to get a paper, didn’t care what, so long as it had a baseball story in it. Well, it was “Dick Merriwell’s Dilemma.” It was a dandy! Next time I went I bought another; but I didn’t care enough then to buy it regular, and besides, I live away in the country, where I couldn’t get it regularly, unless I subscribed for it, and I didn’t do that. Now a friend of mine and myself are taking it and are kicking our- selves to think that we didn’t commence to take it before.. I hope you won’t get tired reading this letter; also, that it will escape the wastebasket, where so many letters go. A fellow told me the other day that all those letters that are published each’ | week are made up by you, but I told him that he was surely mistaken, and now I’m going to try and prove it to him. %& I suppose B. L. S. and S. & S. must be about deafened, for most of the letters end with three cheers for Burt L. and S. & S. and all the rest, so there is no use my putting this in, for you all know I mean it. Yours sincerely, GEORGE TAYLOR. Granby, Mass. A very interesting letter. You can show your friend this where it is published and prove to him that the letters that ap- pear each week in the Applause column are most certainly not “made up.” So many are received each day from all over the country that we cannot publish them under six or eight weeks _ : after their receipt. We trust that you will always remain as enthusiastic a Tip Top admirer as you are at present. I have been a reader of Tip Top for nine years, and this is the first oe I have ever written anything in praise of the king of weeklies, ; I cannot find words to express my admiration. Of course, Frank, dear old Frank, is my favorite; then Bart and Dick come | next. Inza and June are my favorites among the girls. to ask a few questions. 1. Will Frank meet any of his old friends of his railroad. days? Theresa? Hoping to see this in print, and my questions an- swered, I remain, your sincere admirer, Si a Fairmount, W. Va. A West VircintA “SNAKE.” Frank will, no doubt, in his variegated career, run across_his railroad friends. Theresa will probably appear again. I have started letters to the Applause column many times, but — would always fail to put the finale to them, hence I have been a silent admirer of this excellent weekly for two or three years. _I wish to congratulate Mr. Standish on the way he composes — Dick; there is nothing in them that any the stories of Frank and_ . ring i ; : ish were he in either Dick’s or Frank’ of a story the American bo the kind I can’t tell who comes next in my affection, although — I would like @ 2. What has become of our old — friend, Cap’n Wiley? 3. What has become of Eph Gallup’s wife, 28 to read, always something that is possible, not impossible, as is shown in many other weeklies. There is no doubt about it but that Street & Smith have: the best set of five-cent libraries published. Here is the order in which I like their publications best.: Nick Carter, Tip Top, Dia- mond Dick, Buffalo Bill, Young Rover Library, Rough Rider and Brave and. Bold. I do not express an opinion on any characters in Tip Top, as I know it is necessary to have all kinds of them to make an intefesting story. I am a broker’s operator, and would like to hear from any operators that wish to write. Yours, CLIFFORD ARMSTRONG. Tupelo, Miss. Yes, Frank and Dick do not accomplish the usual impossible things. Their life and deeds are those of an average American boy, and all readers would do well to take the Merriwells for their model. I have just finished reading No. 462, the Tip Top. I have decided to express my thoughts. I have been reading them for a long time, and think it fine. Papa and mamma have been eee them ever since they were published and like them very much. I would like to hear from Fardale and see how Chester Arlington and the rest are getting along since Dick and Brad are traveling with Prof. Gunn. My opinion is that they are not getting along very well. I think Dick, Frank, Brad, Bart, Flint and last, but not least, old Joe, are all right. The girls are June, Felicia, Doris, Inza and Elsie. I don’t think Zona is a very nice girl, do you? I am not going to say ‘anything about who they ought to marry, as most of them do, for I am not old enough to get married yet. I think old Joe is/just lovely, for he always comes ‘around just in time to help them out. I hope that Chester will be a true Good luck to B. L. S, and S. & S. Hoping to see this in print, Pittsfield, Vt. Zona seems to be a trifle too strong-minded and impulsive to please all readers of Tip Top. Your hope that Chester may become a true friend of Dick’s is a commendable one, and we hope so too. friend of Dick’s some time. C. Leone Morritt. ‘ Have written once or twice for this column, and wish to thank the publisher and Mr. Standish for giving us old-time readers more of Frank lately. One time I feared he was to be dis- carded, but we old readers never wotld stand for that, Dick is O. K., though. So are his friends. Buckhart isn’t scrappy enough for me. Never mind what Dick says or does, Brad. Go ‘out when you want to and pound some of the sneaks and back- biters, like Arlington, to a pulp.. If you had hammered Chet every time you met him I would have liked you better. Please let Brad have his way, once, Mr. Standish, and let him pound - Chet’s snobbish phiz until his “batty” mamma would not_know him. He ought to have got after him up in Maplewood. I have every issue of the Tip Top Library from No. 1 to this week’s in a pile—or rather, a few piles, for four hundred and sixty-five would make quite a pile—except Nos. 49 and 52. Can you sup- ply me with these two numbers, or, if not, ¢an any kind reader supply me with these two? I will pay five cents each for copies in good, new condition. Hope some reader can help me to com- plete my entire set of Tip Tops by supplying me with Nos. 49 and 52. r ArtTHUR E. Carr. 93 Marianna Street, Lynn, Mass. The numbers you desire are out of print, but possibly some of ‘our readers may be able to furnish you with them, so that you can, complete your collection, ~ . eae think if the readers of Tip Top would give an account of ‘some interesting adventure it would be more interesting, or, if that’s too dry, spring some jokes. ar -'It makes me tired to read the letters in Applause, for if you - read onésyou read them all; or, in short, they’re based upon the ‘same principle. Though to read such letters, as those written by Miss Effie Maye, of Houston, Tex., in No. 461, and that of W. R. Wilson, of Franklin, Pa., in No : . t makes me cot under the hollar—I mean hot under the collar No. 454, are delightful. si the a TIP TOP WEEKLY. —to hear Mr. Standish say, in No. 456, that you can’t walk a block without a hold-up man jumps out on you. There’s certainly — many hold ups, I know. % Mr. Standish goes on to say the police are hiding when there’s — a hold up going on. Were they hiding when they caught the — boy bandits, and who was it that got the clew to the whereabouts — of Hock, the bigamist? Who was it? It was the Chicago police. = He says Chicago has pride. Why shouldn’t it? Hasn't it ~ grown faster than any other city in the world? Is not that something to be proud of? Isn’t it now supplying most of the — world with pork? Why, New York wouldn’t be one-third the — city it is to-day if it weren't for the foreigners coming over. They land in New York, and there they stay. “Why?” Be cause they are too poor to go any further.. The people of Chicago are prosperous, and that’s why it is what it is to-day. ; I enjoy. reading the trip around the world made by Dick, Brad and the professor, so many interesting adventures take place. I like to read of Frank best, because he knows how to down his enemies, and another reason is, first love is best. Hoping Mr. Standish will not take it as an insult, and the readers will not jump on me, for I was only defending my dear old Chicago town, I remain, yours respectfully, THe DEFENDER, Chicago, Ill. Nat. W. Wits, tHe HAppy TRAMP. — You certainly wax eloquent in your defense of your native city. The country needs just such boys as you, who are imbued with civic pride. As I have read Tip Top from No. 1 to present time, I think I am entitled to make myself known. I enjoy Tip Top more when Frank is on “deck” than when Dick is “it.” Bart Hodge — is my favorite. Some of these readers who are so sore on I. M. — Disgusted ought to practice what they preach. They call poor I. M. D. all the hard names they can think of, and then turn around and say he ought to be ignored. Fine way of ignorin a person, I must say. Another set of readegs are choosing girls for some of the characters. Wait until the “kids” grow older, — then will be time enough. ee Misses Effie May and Bessie Moore make capital writer, What has become of Cap’n Wiley? Just wait till the cap’n an Stretcher collide. Won’t there be an explosion? Oh, no! 3 Well, hoping this letter is not too long and that it will find place in the Applause column, I remain, as ever, a Tip T admirer, ). “Zee Trenton, N. J. es Yes, indeed, Stretcher and Wiley would be a hard team beat, wouldn’t they? Bart has many warm admirers, beside yourself. yi : —— For a number of years I have been an enthusiastic reader 0 the Tip Top Weekly, and it would be as easy for me to do with: out my daily bread as to live without Tip Top. + el Although I am—at least I think I am—almost a man now, ye I follow the fortunes of Dick and Frank with as much zeal ever. F Of Dick’s chums, I like Brad much the best. He is a hear whole-souled sort of a fellow, and one that it would be a joy t meet. fs I like June the best of all the girls. She is brave, noble ar ep and, in fact, just the kind of a girl that to know is ove. ty oe I am now a freshman'in the dental school here, but whereve I may be I shall always be a friend to the old Tip Top Weekl: With best wishes to all, I remain, ARTHUR KLAFFENBAC 10 North Vari Buren Street, Iowa City, Ia. . Lae Tip Top holds the affections, doesn’t it? It is refreshing think, that as we grow older, the pure and helpful pages of . . se Top retain interest to the end. t \ —_—_—- If any of the Tip Top readers have the following copi . Tip Top, and care to dispose of them, I wish they would municate. with me. I want Nos. 66, 310, and also 265 to 3 inclusive. In all, thirty-nine numbers. I will pay two dol for same. R. E. Fircm, Freeport, Ill. You will. probably heat from some of our readers who ove numbers and may be willing to dispose of same. pe ey 7 die a td NLP % 1 ae y ; er de ; ee Tie a OE a You must wake and call me early; call me early, mother dear. 4 | For to-morrow is a day, a day that brings good cheer. A day that brings good cheer, mother, and you bet that I will % shout— For to-morrow Tip Top comes out, mother—Tip Top it comes out. _ There’s many another weekly, but none other does tell Of the downfalls and triumphs of the great Frank Merriwell And of his noble brother, Dick. Oh, how I long to shout— For to-morrow Tie Top comes out, mother—Tie Top it comes yout. - I’m so impatient, mother; I wish to-morrow were here. _ And I’d read to you of Frank and Dick—you’d be so happy, dear. _ And you'd see how manly those two boys are, I am sure you'd : want to shout; _, And you'd look forward to the day, mother, that Tre Top does come out. Toronto, Canada. Kit. DAwson. _ Very good, indeed, and a clever parody on “The May Queen.” _ Toronto is not behind when it comes to, poetry. / a have been reading Tre Top for three years. I think I would be lost without it. I can hardly wait until Saturday comes to et it. I do not think Dick likes June as well as he dogs Doris. I am almost crazy to read about Dick and Brad returned to _ Fardale. I wouid like very much to see Chet Arlington kicked out when Dick goes back. I remain, a friend of Tie Top, Winchester, Va. F, W. F. I have read a large number of Trp Tops in the last few years, and I must say that it is the finest weekly I have ever read. I like all the characters in it, and I think that the people who ‘write letters saying that such people as Chet Arlington, etc., ould not be in the book, are trying to spoil it. I would like see Chet Arlington become a friend of Dick’s, especially on account of June.’ I think she is a fine girl, and just the match for Dick. I think that Frank is getting a little too old for young Americans like myself; but B. L. S. knows best. Brad With the goods. The people who think that he is loud-mouthed should remember, that when it is necessary, he is as gentlemanly as anybody, and also, that he is a Texan. I have read a large umber of G. A. Henty’s stories, but they cannot come up with Tie Tor. How can I obtain a list of all the Tre Tors published _ tp to date? Please let me know. Yours truly, _ 110 Main Street, Newton, Kan. Froyp McNett. You have the right idea about Tre Top and its characters. ‘Street & Smith can furnish Tie Tors, from No. 313 to date, at five cents a copy. ; have been a constant reader of the Tip Top for two years, and find it the best five or ten-cent paper I have ever read. There has been a good deal of discussion on this, but I think Frank and Inza should get married; also, Bart and Elsie, Dick and June, and last, but not least, Brad and Nadia. I think I have written enough to give my opinion of Tre Top, and wishing success to Burt L. Standish and S. & S., I remain, N.H Quincy, Mass. , ‘You are hurrying them all into matrimony, and have selected t favorites. They are all too young, as yet, to think of have been a faithful reader of the Tip Top, and, I must say, one of the most greatest and reliable books the American th, or old people, can read. I have read them from No. 1 to 465, and I am never lonely when there is one in the house. Vhen I went to France, I gathered 4p all the ten-cent and five- mt books that I had and hadn’t:read, and took them along. When first started to read them, my father said I must be crazy, and e would burn them all., But I persuaded him to read one Tie and now he reads them all, and says they are the finest books is a splendid fellow, and when it comes to fighting, he is there , WEEKLY. 29 I close, with three hearty I am, a good admirer of Exits L. CAPEHART. any person can read, old and young. cheers for B. L. S. and S. & S. Buckhart, an untamed coyote, 124 Normal Avenue, Buffalo, N. Y. Yes, that is quite true, people condemn Tir Top before they have read it; but when they once glance through its pages, they discover that there is nothing whatever objectionable, and be- come as enthusiastic admirers as the rest. I have been a constant reader of the Tip Top, king of weeklies, for a long time, and have just got through reading No. 464. I think it is the best weekly printed, but what would it be without Dick, Frank, Brad, Bart, Dave, Ted, Obed and all the rest? Dick gave Chester Arlington a fair chance and he didn’t take it. Some coyote, as Brad would. say, said June was to blame, but don’t you ever think it. It would be a hard matter to say which would be the girl for Dick—June or Doris. Old Joe Crawfoot comes in handy. Why don’t we hear from Wiley? Well, I will close, hoping Dick gets back to play ball, 141 North Perry Street, Titusville, Pa. RAYMOND SHANK. Your hope has probably been realized by this time, and Dick and the nine are batting themselves into greater popularity than ever. As I have not seen many letters from Vancouver, I thought I would give you my opinion as to the characters in Tie Top. I think Dick is right there with the goods, and as to the swabs that are rufning down Dick and Brad—well, 1 think that they are a lot of mean cusses who would not fetch more than two bits—twenty-five cents—at a nigger auction. I saw a letter purporting to come from “Two Canucks,” and I think that the Tip Toppers in Vancouver are heartily ashamed of having two such sneaks for countrymen. Doris is my favorite of the girls, A CANADIAN, Vancouver,.B. C., Canada. A brief, snappy letter, full of the true spirit of a loyal son of the Dominion. We have read Tre Top for six years, and think it is the best magazine out. The characters are all fine but Frank, Dick and Inza. They are softies. Brad, Chet, Wiley and Ted are the real stuff. We are glad that Dick did get kicked out of Far- dale, as he is always in the road of some other fellow. Chet is far better than Dick. Dick is a cur and without any backers; but if he had backers he would be brave. Chet always does a thing when he tries it. Dick is Gunn’s pet; on that account, he succeeds in Fardale. Put Dick out of Tre Top, and it would be far better. Frank is bearable. Chet is getting better, but Dick is growing worse. Cuet ARLINGTON’s BACKERS. Tecumseh, Neb. Quite a radical departure from most of the letters. We won- der if many will agree with you, or /if you really mean what you say? You will probably stir up some of the Merriwell cham- pions by the frank expression of your views. I have been a constant reader of the Tie Top Weerxty for several years, and I think it is the best book published. I like all the characters in it, except Arlington and his crowd. I would be pleased to exchange souvenir postals with any of the Tre Top readers. I remain, yours respectfully, 8 Batchelder Street, Dorchester, Mass. Wiisur Howe. We are glad that Tip Top pleases you so much. As quite a number of our readers are collecting post cards, you will no doubt hedr from them. x “GOLDEN HOURS.” Boys, have you any old numbers of Golden Hours ? If so, see what numbers are among them and write me; stating price. 1 will pay liberally to complete my files. Address Wittiams, Station “‘O,” Box 24, New York City. : * Owing to the large number of letters now awaiting answers, which are being constantly added to each day, it will be necessary to condense some of them, retaining only the more important ques- tions. Correspondents are requested to make their letters as brief as possible, in order that all may be answered in due time. Pror. FourMEN: My measurements are: Neck, 13 inches; chest, normal, 3114 inches; expanded, 3334 inches; waist, 284 inches; forearms, 934 inches; biceps, 11 inches; calves, 12% inches; thighs, 1914 inches; ankles, 9% inches; age, 15 years 11 months; height, 5 feet 514 inches; weight, 119 pounds. 1. How are these measurements? 2. What exercise will strengthen my shoulders? 3. When and how long should I exercise each day? 4. What will improve my wind? 5. Is two cups of coffee a day harmful? 6. Is a pint of warm water each morning good? I remain, Matthews, Ind. GeEoRGE BERTEAUX. 1. Very good. 2, Pulley weights and setting-up exercises. 3. You should exercise a half hour each day, morning and evening. Before breakfast and at least an hour after your even- ing meal. 4. Deep-breathing exercise, keeping the mouth shut and breath- ing through your nose. 5. Coffee is not beneficial nor necessary. One cup is harmful. You should not drink any. 6. Yes, excellent. Pror. FourMEN: Being a reader of Tip Top, I take the liberty of asking you a few questions regarding my physical condition. Age, 18 years; height, 5 feet 414 inches; neck, 14 inches; chest, normal, 33 inches; expanded, 36 inches; reach, 66 inches; biceps, natural, 11 inches; flexed, 13 inches; forearm, 11 inches; waist, 3014 inches; wrist, 61% inches; thigh, 1914 inches; calf, 13 inches; ankle, 8 inches; weight, 135 pounds. 1. Have I any weak points? If so, what are they, and how might I overcome them? 2. What are my strong ones, if any? 3. Am I very well built? Thanking you, I remain, yours, GeorceE O’ Rourke. 83 Althea Street, Providence, R. I. 1. You do not appear to have any weak points. symmetrically built. 2. All of your measurements are excellent, particularly your weight, chest and reach, 3. Yes, very well built. You are very Pror. Fourmen: My measurements are: Age, 16 years; weight, 120 pounds; height, 5 feet 5 inches; neck, 1314 inches; chest, uninflated, 31 inches; inflated, 3434 inches; biceps, normal, 9 inches; flexed, 11 inches; upper arms, 11% inches; forearms, 10 inches; wrists, 614 inches; waist, 28 inches; thighs, 20 inches; calves, 13 inches; ankles, 8 inches. 1, Am I well built generally? 2. What are my weak points; and what should I do for them? 3. What are my strong points, if I have any? 4. Is electricity beneficial? +. Is there any book on juggling published? If so, where can I get it, and how much will it cost? Yours truly, Tacoma, Wash. “Aw AMATEUR JUGGLER,” ¥ 1. Yes, you are about the average build of a sixteen-year-old boy. 2. Your biceps are your only noticeable weak point. lifting will develop them. 3. Your height, weight, chest and thighs. 4. Electricity is beneficial if indulged in moderately. Weight 5. Dick & Fitzgerald, Ann Street, New York City, publish a book on “How to Become a Juggler.” The price is twenty-five cents. Pror. FourMEN: Being a constant reader of the Tip Top, I will tke pleasure in asking you for a little advice. My measure- ments are as follows: I am 16 years old, 5 feet 4% inches tall and weigh 120 pounds. Neck, 13 inches; shoulders, 16 inches; chest, normal, 34 inches; expanded, 36 inches; waist, 29 inches;. hips, 32 inches; thighs, 19 inches; calves, 1244 inches; ankles, 9 inches; biceps, 934 inches; expanded, 11 inches; forearms, 10 inches; wrists, 614 inches. 1. How are my measurements? 2, What are my weak points? 3. How can I improve them? Hop- ing to see this in print, and thanking you for your advice, I re- main, as ever, Minneapolis, Minn. 1. Very good. 2. Your biceps are your only noticeable weak point. 3. Weight lifting, dumb-bells and punching bag. Pror. FourMEN: Being an ardent admirer of Tip Top Weekly, I take the liberty to ask you these questions. I am 13 years IT months old and weigh 108 pounds. My measurements are as follows: Wrists, 6% inches; neck, 13 inches; waist, 29 inches; chest, normal, 31 inches; expanded, 33 inches; calves, 13% inches; hips, 34 inches; am 5 feet 2 inches tall; my right biceps are II inches natural and 13 inches flexed. 1. How are my meas- urements? 2. What are my weak points, and what should I do to strengthen them? 3. What are my strong points, if any? 4. I have a habit of breathing through my mouth, and, although I try not to do it, when I go to sleep at night, I breathe through my mouth and cannot help it. What can I do so that I may stop it? Thanking you in advance, I remain, yours truly, Raymond, N. H. 1. Exceptionally good for your age. 2, You do not appear to have any weak points. For a boy of © your age you are very well built. 3. Your height and weight, chest expansion and biceps. 4. You should learn to bgeathe through’ your nose. Make up your mind to do so, and in time you will succeed. A piece of tape tied under the chin and above the head will remedy the evil — effects of mouth breathing when you are asleep. Pri Top, Topp gmy n § heigh arm, expat 4 inche 1 How 3. W) § drink }aroun shoul rbreat} Shour this b Stake ; }round i from q San tT. \ > 4. f hot w 5 al ment” the di Fed not bi where * a years Inches thighs ments. and bi i al oe @o cess Ru oO . €rcises ee i — Prox like fo y can at - Weight | normal } 37 inct: ) biceps, 3 inches: 4 In fou a.ers. V Los ) Your _ Proport measyr Dumb- Ing anc if Pror fam s 29 incl 1214. ir . + Inches; ai’ TIP TOP Pror. Fourmen: Having seen in your valuable paper, the Tip Top, that you have consented to answer questions of us Tip Toppers, I take the liberty of asking the following: Here are my measurements: Age, 15 years 9 months; weight, 117 pounds; height; 5 feet 34% ifiches; neck, 13 inches; biceps, 12 inches; fore- arm, 9% inches; shoulders, 15 inches; chest, normal, 30 inches; } expanded, 32 inches; knee, 14 inches; thigh, 17 inches; calf, 12% inches; ankle, 9 inches; waist, 27 inches; wrist, 6% inches. 1. tLOW are my measurements? 2. How much should I weigh? 3. Which are my weak points? 4. How much water should I rink daily? 5. How will I go to work to train to be an all- around athlete? 6. Wha. exercises should I use, and how long should I use them? 7. 1 work in a wall paper mill and am breathing bronze and dust from 7 A. M. until 6 P. M., with an shour for lunch, so you see I haven’t much time for exercise. Is this bad? 8. I punch the bag every morning and evening, then take a walk before retiring. Is that all right? 9. I am a trifle }round-shouldered. How can I remedy this? Hoping to hear from you soon, yours truly, Dy _ Sandy Hill, N. Y. 1. Very good. _ 2. Your present weight is in exact proportion to your height. 3. Your chest and thighs are your weak points. 4. All that you naturally crave. Drink a couple of glasses of hot water on rising and some more before retiring. 5 and 6. Get “Frank Merriwell’s Book of Physical Develop- nt” or “Prof, Fourmen’s Physical Health Culture,” and follow e directions contained therein. _ 7. Learn to breathe through the nose, so that your lungs will not be affected by inhaling the dust and bronze in the factory here you are employed. 8. Yes, excellent. ; Learn to walk properly. Keep the shoulders well thrown ck. Use dumb-bells and practice the setting-up exercises. Pror. FourmEN: Being a constant reader of the Tip Top eekly, I take the liberty to ask you a few questions. IJ am 16 fears 5 months of age; weight, 100 pounds; height, 5 feet 44 thes; neck, 11 inches; wrists, 534 inches; ‘forearms, 8 inches; ighs, 16 inches; calves, 11% inches. 1. How are my measure- ts? 2. How can I improve them? 3. Does a punching bag and bicycle do much good? 4. What other exercises are good? What broadens the shoulders? Hoping to see the answer to I remain, yours truly, A St. Louis Boy. . Your measurements are not very good for a boy of your age. A thorough, systematic course of training should make a ided improvement in a short while. { 3. Yes, they are both good. 4. Dumb-bells, Indian clubs, weight lifting and all outdoor ex- ises and sports. Pulley weights are excellent; also, rowing and calisthenics. _ Pror, Fourmen: I will send you my measurements, and would ke for you to tell me where they can be improved, or if they an at my age. I am twenty-three. Height, 5 feet 814 inches; Weight, 140 pounds; neck, 14 inches; shoulders, 40 inches; chest, Normal, 32 inches; expanded, 36 inches; waist, 29 inches; hips, ches; thighs, 20 inches; calves, 14 inches; ankles, 814 inches; iceps, nofmal, 10 inches; flexed, 12 inches; forearm, 1014 hes; wrist, 614 inches. I have gained fifteen pounds in weight r months through watching your directions to other read- Wishing you success, and a long life to Tip Top, I am, s Angeles, Cal. = PEorrA, Your measurements are very good, and you seem to be built orti There is room for improvement in your chest yrement, however; it should be at least four inches broader. mb-bells are good to develop you in this line; also, bag punch- ae ig and rowing. Fourmen: I am 15 years old and weigh 127!4 pounds. feet 3% inches high, and my measurements are: Waist, | hes; forearms, 9% inches; upper arms, 10 inches; calves, s; ankles, 814 inches; thighs, 20 iaches; neck, 1314 hest, normal, 314% inches; expanded, 34 inches; wrist, WEEKLY. 31 7 inches, 1. Am I heavy enough? 2. What are my weak points? 3. Are my measurements good for boxing? 4. Is bicycle riding good exercise, and what does it strengthen? Re. Petoskey, Mich. . 1. You are about ten pounds too heavy for your height. 2. Your biceps and chest are your weak points. The former should measure twelve and one-half inches and the latter, thirty- five inches. 3. If you are light on your feet and quick, by constant prac- tice and proper living you should make a good boxer. Do not allow that to be the only line you wish to excel in, however; develop yourself along .all lines of healthy exercise and sport. 4. Yes, bicycling is an excellent exercise. Good sense and judgment must rule in this form of exercise, just the same as in other things. Long runs, where the rider exerts himself to the utmost, are harmful, and should be avoided. Pror. FourMEN: 1. How should a young man train to become a professional ball player? 2. Is witch hazel good for lame shoulder from throwing? 3. Is it necessary for a player to take gym. exercise when playing six games a week? Thanking you for your information, I remain, A READER. 1. Constant practice “will insure perfection, if coupled with a due regard for the laws of health and clean living. Avoid in- toxicants and tobacco. Endeavor to perfect yourself for some particular position on a nine, pitching, shortstop, baseman, etc. 2. Yes; but the mere application of witch hazel is not sufficient. You should massage the sprained shoulder also. . 3. Most assuredly. Otherwise you would simply develop cer- tain parts of your body at the expense of others. Pror. Fourmen: I am 17 years 10 months of age; height, 5 feet 3 inches; weight, 120 pounds, with my clothes on. The fol- lowing are my measurements with tights on: Chest, normal, 30 inches; expanded, 33 inches; biceps, 10 inches; forearm, 9 inches; wrist, 614 inches; neck, 1314 inches; width across shoulders, 16% inches; waist, 28 inches; hips, 33 inches; thigh, 20 inches; calf, 14 inches; ankle, 914 inches. Kindly answer the following ques- tions: 1. How are my measurements? 2. How much am I be- low the average height? 3. If there is a way to increase my height, what is it? 4. What exercises would you advise me to take? 5. What weight Indian clubs should I use? Thanking you in advance for your kind instructions and advice, I am, yours truly, “Aw ADMIRER.” Sandusky, Ohio. 1. Your measurements are very good for your height and weight, particularly your thighs and calves, but you are rather below the average height of boys of your age. eo:A 2. The average height of a boy of seventeen is five feet six inches. : 3. About the best means of growing is to adopt habits of life which will incline to build the highest degree of health and strength; do not use tobacco or intoxicants, and take those ex- ercises which will make you stand erect. . 4. Indulge in all the outdoor sports and exercises possible— baseball, rowing, running, switming—and: also devote at Jeast a half hour each morning and evening to light gymnastic work. 5. Three-pound Indian clubs are heavy enough for ordinary exercise, unless you are a beginner, when they should be lighter. Pror. FourMEN: Will you please answer the following ques- tions through the Tip Top Weekly? I am 18% years old, weigh. -135 pounds and am 5 feet 8 inches tall. Chest, 35 inches; ex- panded, 40 inches; waist, 28 inches; across shoulders, 18 inches; neck, 141%4 inches; thigh, 18 inches; calf, 14 inches; biceps, 10% inches; flexed, 12%4 inches; wrists, 7 inches. 1. How are my measurements? 2. What will broaden the shoulders? 3. What. would you advise me to exercise with? 4. How long should I exercise before breakfast? Thanking you in advance. | re- main, . An _Ex-ATHLETE. 1. Very good, particularly your*hest expansion, hae Bat 32 TIP TOP 2. Rowing is an excellent exercise to broaden the shoulders; also, Indian clubs and dumb-bells. 3. For home work nothing is better than pulley weights, dumb- bells and the setting-up exercise as practiced by the U. S. regu- lars. 4. A half-hour’s vigorous exercise before breakfast is sufficient, followed by a cold bath and, if possible, a brisk walk of a mile or two. Pror. FourMEN: My measurements are as follows: I am 16% years old, 5 feet 6 inches high and weigh 126 pounds in street clothes. Neck, 1234 inches; shoulders, 1534 inches; chest, nor- mal, 31% inches; expanded, 33% inches; waist, 3114 inches; hips, 3334 inches; thighs, 20 inches; calf, 1334 inches; ankles, 8% inches; biceps, 914 inches; forearms, 954 inches; wrist, 634 inches. 1. How are my measurements? 2, What are my weak points? 3. How can I improve «them? 4. How can I gain weight? 5. How can I get broad shoulders? Yours truly, Wy: 1. Your measurements are not as good as they should be. 2. Your neck, chest and biceps. 3. The setting-up exercises contained in Prof. Donovan’s book on the “U. S. Army Physical Exercises” are excellent. Also, bar-bell lifting for your biceps, deep breathing and dumb-bells for your chest. 4. Proper food, plenty of sleep and two glasses of hot water on arising and before retiring will increase your weight. 5. Rowing and Indian clubs will develop your shoulders. ; Pror.-FourmeN: How are my measurements in comparison with others of my age? Age, 20 years; height, 5 feet 9 inches; weight, 163 pounds, stripped; neck, 15 inches; chest, uninflated, 34 inches; inflated, 42 inches; waist, 3014 inches; forearms, 12 inches; biceps, normal, 13 inches; flexed, 14% inches; thighs, 23 inches; calves, 15 inches. Am I developed in correct propor- tion? Yours truly, Davin STUART. St. Paul, Minn. You are unusually well developed and far above the average of young men of your age. You are very symmetrically built, and each measurement is in exact proportion. Pror. FourmMEeN: Being a reader of Tip Top, I take pleasure in sending my measurements for your inspection. I trust you will answer through Tip Top at your earliest convenience. Age, 14 years; height, 5 feet; weight, 121 pounds ; chest, normal, 30 inches ; expanded, 33 inches; neck, 14 inches; biceps, 10 inches; left‘ calf, 12%4 inches; right, 13 inches; wrist, 614 inches; left forearm, 914 inches; right, 10 oes waist, 30 inches ; left thigh, 19 inches; right, 1834 inches, 1. Are my measurements good? 2. What exercises will aa my weight? 3. I have thrown a baseball so hard that it hurt my arm, and every time I throw IT can feel a sharp twitch of pain at ‘the elbow and_ shoulder. Will tincture of arnica, when rubbed over the sore parts every night and morning, do it any good? If not, what will? 4. Where can IJ obtain a book entitled “General Training for Young Athletes” ? Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, Brap BucKHART. Tue Unsranpep Maverick oF THE Rio Pecos, Tex. Gladstone, Mich. ‘y, Excellent, for your age. 2. You are about fifteen pounds overweight. You should avoid all starchy foods, sweets and coffee. Take a run of a couple of miles daily and an occasional hot bath. ‘3. Wiich hazel is better, rubbed briskly on the affected part ~~ and massaged twice a day. 4. Street & Smith publish several—Prof. Fourmen’s “Physical Health Culture” and “Frank Merriwell’s Book of Physical De- velopment.” They will be sent on receipt of ten cents each. _—- _Pror, Fourmen: I wish to send you my meastiremenits, which answer and publish in your famous weekly. Age, 1% bic - inches 5 neck, | 14 Poet ‘reach, | 3 ; ” Trenton, where you can secure all the information you reqitttes through the nose. AS eM Nk ccllerce seamen WEEKLY. expanded, 38 i chest, normal, 3614 inches; contracted, 35 inches; inches; weight, 150 pounds, stripped; height, 5 feet 1o inches. | What are my weak points? Please answer my questions, and | oblige, 4..T. W. New York City. . rir Your height and weight are very good for your age, also chest expansion. Your biceps are your only weak porte To develop them, practice daily with the bar-bell weight, and in a very short time you will note a marked improvement. your Pror. FourMEN: How much should a sixteen- -year- old boxe weigh, and how high should he be? How can I gain wee I am 5 j)feet 5 inches tall, and the last time I was weighed I weighed 125 pounds. I have a round knot on my wrist, about a the size of a marble; it never hurts me. Would you advise me to have a doctor cut it or not? It never bothers me in any way, and I am just as strong in that arm as the other. My 3} waist measurement is 31 inches; neck, 12 inches; wrist, 54 — inches; chest, 32 inches; expanded, 35 inches. How do the — measurements gompare, and where are my weak points? Thank- | ing you in advance, I remain, an ardent reader, ie Philadelphia, Pa. Cownoy Jor. ‘ One hundred and twenty-five pounds is just the proper weight 23 a boy of your height. The growth on your wrist is probably 7 a birthmark, and inasmuch as it does not bother you, it would — - wiser not to have it removed. Your measurements are very — good for your age, with the exception of your neck, which should | measure at least thirteen and one-half inches, - Pror. FourMEN: I would be much obliged to you if you wage ‘ answer the following questions in your great weekly, Tip Top: | I am 16 years of age; weight, 125 pounds; height, 5 feet inches; neck, 13 inches; wrist, 7 inches; ankle, 10 inches; cal 1234 inches; thigh, 20 inches; waist, 2644 inches; chest, 32 inches. The length of my arm from shoulder to the tips of my — fingers is 2734 inches. 1. Do you think my measurements are good? 2. Do you think two hundred and twenty-five pounds is” mitch for a-boy of my age to lift? 3. What is the record of the amateur weight-lifting champion? 4. Is “Frank Merriwell’s - Book of Physical Development” still in print? 5. Can you tell me how to gain admission in the navy? Wishing you a lon; life and a prosperous career, and the downfall of cheap im tators, I remain, “A CoRNER st ; Camden, N. J. ay 1. Very good, for your age. 2. A very good record. dred and ees four ihe - 4. Yes, it is still’ in print, and will be sent on receipt of cents. ‘ 5. Being under eighteen years of age, you can enlist i navy as apprentice. The consent of your parents or guardian necessary, however. There is probably a recruiting office | Pror, Fourmen: As I am a constant reader of Tip Tot take the liberty of asking you a few questions. Here are my measurements: Age, 14 years; height, 4 feet 914 inches; weig! 87 pounds; chest, noymal, 29 inches; expanded, 31 inches ; 12 inches ; iW rist, 6 inches; waist, 25 inches; shoulders, 16 i thigh, 16% inches; calf, 114 inches: I. How are my meas ments? 2, How can I expand my chest more? 3. Does runn benefit the chest? Hoping to see this in print, I remain, yo truly, opie eae 1, Pretty good for your age. 2. Practice deep breathing, and use -dumb-bells each for a half-hour. ay ‘ 3. Yes, if you petaite erent, Pror. Fourmen: I am 16 years old and weigh 113 pounds. Would you kindly tell me how I can gain some weight? Also, every morning when I rise, I feel weak and my bones begin to crack. Can you give me some information as to how I can strengthen body, muscles and shoulders? Also, would you please tell where I cen buy the “Art of Wrestling,” end what they cost? Hoping to see this in your Tip Top, 1 remain, and always will remain, the Tip Top’s admirer, G. A. M. New York City. To gain weight you should drink hot water morning and evening; get plenty of sleep, at least eight hours; eat good, wholesome food, cereals, etc. Exercise daily with dumb-bells. and Indian clubs; also follow the instructions contained in Prof. Donovan’s “U. S. Army Physical Exercises.” A. G. Spalding & Bro. publish a handbook on wrestling. Price, ten cents. Pror. Fourmen: As a reader of Tip Top, I take the privilege of asking you a few questions. I am 19 years old; height, 5 feet 7 inches; weight, stripped, 140 pounds; neck, 15 inches; chest, normal, 39 inches; contracted, 3714 inches; expanded, 41 inches; waist, 31 inches; biceps, each, 12% inches; forearms, left, 10% inches; right, 1014 inches; thighs, left, 20% inches; right, 2034 inches; calves, left, 1334 inches; right, 14 inches; reach, from finger tip to finger tip, 6 feet 11% inches. 1. Are my meas- urements up to the average? 2. Are they in proportion? 3. What are my weak points? 4. What are my strong ones? I am a vegetarian and physical culturist, and I have developed myself from a delicate and scrawny lad to a strong, athletic youth. I began smoking and chewing at nine, but stopped at fifteen, and never had any desire for tobacco since. I never used intoxicants, nor have I dabbled in patent medicines. I stopped using tea and coffee two years ago, and I never cared for pastry. I’ve lived on fruits and vegetables since last July—seven months—and I heartily recommend the diet to anyone. I have an amazing ap- petite, and training puts weight on me instead of reducing it. pr _ “ — a —_— ance —_— TIP TOP BASEBALL TOURNAMENT IS NOW OPEN. My build is said to be remarkable, although not noticeably so until I strip. My reach is much commented upon. Boston, Mass. Joun A. Bruce. 1. Your measurements are far above the average. 2. Yes. 3 . You do not appear to have any weak points. 4. You seem to be excellently proportioned and a good exam- ple of a properly developed youth. Your chest, thighs and calves are very well proportioned. ; Your letter is one that should be read by every boy who fol- lows these columns, as it demonstrates what can and has been done by one who makes up his mind to succeed. Your decision to give up tobacco was a wise one, as is also your abstinence from intoxicants and patent medicines. If we will only live prcperly and do not abuse our bodies, Nature will look out for the rest. I ttust to hear from you again, with a note of your continued progress. Pror. FourmMeN: As I am an ardent admirer of physical culture, I take the liberty of asking a few questions. I am 13 years old, 4 feet 8% inches high and weigh 72 pounds. My upper arm, right, measures 8% inches; left, 8 inches. I can. chin the bar thirteen times. Do you think this is too much exercise for a boy of my size? I saw wood for about fifteen or twenty minutes every morning before breakfast, then go to school, and at recess play baseball for thirty minutes; then some evenings I play ball all the evening, then at night take ten minutes’ exercise before going to bed with five-pound dumb- bells. Yours very truly, j.. Ac- STEet, Ja: Fayetteville, N. C. You are certainly an enthusiastic physical culturist. don’t think you are taking too much exercise. work. sl No,,.- i Keep up the good se two-pound dumb-bells; five-pound are too heavy. declared the winners. No notice taken of anv score not entered on this coupon. The two teams which, at the end of the season, have the highest average—the members of which play the greatest number of games, score the most runs and have lost the least number of games, will be Of the two winning teams, the one having the higher average will be declared the TIP TOP CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF THE ALL-AMERICAN BASEBALL TOURNAMENT FOR 1905, and will receive a large pennant bearing the above device. Each winning team will receive a full equipment for nine members consisting of trousers. shirt. stockings, shoes and cap. DON’T FAIL TO SEND IN YOUR COUPON AT ONCE Coupons must be properly made out. Is this not worth working for, boys? One coupon for each game. Name of Team. ——(CtsS To wen NAMES OF TEAM Tip Top Baseball Tournament Coupon State POSITION Pitcher Catcher Ist Base 2d Base 3d Base Short Stop! _ R. Field C. Field L. Field rial, Score. = -Opponent’s Name NAMES OF TEAM aia DIT ns ne es WA AW’ Do, Q Afi Zg\y “4 ge Wis WON cal: Vs i) Blu | ISN qj , f > PRANK MERRI Succ