CAUTION! fssued Weekly. By s No. 504_ All readers of the renowned Tip Top stories should beware of base imitations, placed upon the market under catch names very similar to Frank Merriwell, and intended to deceive. TOP IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH IP ubscription $2 Vs Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Ave., NV. Price, Five Cents Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. Y. NEW YORK, DECEMBER 9, 1905. » per year. ~N ST ame Samrat Behe oh ene Ly ~~ — oY BURTESTANDI SH Like a whirling dervish, Durand again spun round on his left foot and tried to work the coup de pied tournant, but Dick dodged and blocked the dangerous face kick. Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year. N.Y, Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-8 Seventh Avenue, Entered according to Act of Congress tn the year 1005, sm the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. Be” No. 504. NEW YORK, December 9, 1905. Price Five Cents. CHAPTER: T, THE AWAKENING OF A WIZARD, , “Bloody Week” began with the discovery of a wiz- “ ard. He seemed to be a modest, retiring sort of chap, 7 aaa wizard, and his name was Durand Dupont. The days of football and fall sports were over and, c og weather having turned bitter cold, the boys’ found themselves housed a great deal. It made them uneasy. - They were full of life and ginger and therefore they -uberance which was putting a strain on their nerves. ee. oor! desire to do something to kick up excitement of consfantly sought some method of relieving the ex- - DICK MERRIWELL’S FOUR FISTS; OR, The Champion of the Chausson. By BURT L. STANDISH. tering Fardale, he had ways and mannerisms peculiar to himself. He knew little of schoolboy sports in this country, and therefore did not seek to take part in them. . He was contented to watch his schoolfellows without comment and this seeming retirement on his __ part led him to escape particular notice. All the things Dupont saw did not please him. Naturally he regarded the schools and ways of his — 5 own country as superior to those of all other countries. The first time he said so he invited observation and aroused comment. Still he might have continued in the background had it not been for Snack Tait, who one day ventured to ask the French youth what he thought of Rob Rioden’s | abilities as a fighter. Dupont smiled deprecatingly. “He may be vary good fighter ze way you fight in zis fo TIP TOP bo es country,” he said. ‘In France he would not last one minute wiz ze boy of hees own age.” “Glitterin’ guns!” exclaimed Tait incredulously. Wi. yon say zat’ Why you say ze°glitterin’ guns?” “T think you’re trying to get me on a string.”’ “Get you on ze string?’ said Dupont puzzled. “How you mean?” “You're jollying mé.” “Jolly? It’s to laugh. Oh, I see; you theenk I laugh at you. I geeve you ze assurance not. I-have ze too much politeness.” “In other words,’ growled Tait, “you mean you would laugh at me if you were not so thunderin’ po- lite. ‘Come off!’ “Hey? Eh? Come off from what? I am not on anything zat belong to you.” "You're thick! Take a tumble, take a tumble!” “Now, sare, I no like zat. You want me to tumble - on ze floor, on ze ground? I git my cloze all dirty.” “Say, you make me tired!” exclaimed Tait. “Tire? Why don’t you rest? Why don’t you lie down? It ees good for ze tiredness.” | “Look here, Frenchy,” said Tait, “do you mean to tell me that boys in your country are such great scrap- pers that they can wallop American lads?” “Scrappaire? Scrap? I shall have to look-een ze dictionary. Ze word ees—what you call it?—unfa- ~miliare.” | “JT mean do you insinuate that a Frenchman can | wallop an American?” still more puzzled. _~ “Well, I have a fancy that some one will show you what it is,” retorted Tait. “You’re due to receive great consideration and attention.” “Thank you, sare,” bowed the French boy. “Zat will be ze great politeness which from me must re- ceive appreciation.” “Oh, yes,” chuckled Tait, “we’ll’be very polite with you. We'll wipe up the earth with you.” “Wipe ze earth? Wipe? You wipe something zat ees dirty? Ees ze earth dirty?” - Tait laughed until he nearly lost his breath. “You seem to be a case of innocence abroad,” he finally said. “I suppose you're a fighter yourself?” __ “Me? Oh, no. Sometimes I box., Sometimes I do ze chausson.” | | “What's that’ ” asked Snack. j “et ees ze French method to box. We do eet wiz ze hands and ze foot. Zat ees how we have of you See sto _“What ees eet to wallop?” asked Desand, Licuiginks WEEKLY. Americans ze advantage. We have ze four fist; you have only ze two fist.” a ie Tait snickered behind his hand. ope “T see where you would last about twenty seconds ae if you tried that game, my friend,” he observed. al a Without delay Tait made haste to report this con- Se versation to his particular friends, Orrin Hoke and ci Vance Silkley. | P “Now, what do you think of that for conceit?” “T didn’t suppose the fellow was conceited,” an- ‘Cito supnted Silkley. “He seemed very quiet and unoffi- = | cious.’ . y “Thinks a Frenchman can whip an American, does aN he?” growled Hoke. “Well, perhaps he’ll find out a his mistake before long.” : The trio soon spread the report of Dupont’s views and it was not long before members of the third class heard all about it. BEA Mg ” | Now, these fellows were simply yearning for some — excuse to haze a plebe. Since the suppression of Rio- i den the plebes had seemed very quiet and docile, much» to the disappointment of the third-class lads. Within» an hour after members of the third class learned of | Dupont’s views the French boy was met by several chaps who fell to questioning him in a chaffing man- ner. He was shrewd enough to realize that they were > making sport of him and this aroused his resentment. “You think you know too much!” he cried hotly. “You have ze—ze—what you call it?—ze swell of ze head! Ah, out, oui, zat ees it!” “What?” they shouted. “Do you mean us?” “As you say een zis country,” returned Dupont, “ Tf ze foot fit ze shoe put eet on and see how you like eet.’” | us Now, this was quite enough. - Dupont was. marked for slaughter. They agreed that he must be given a 7 lesson immediately. They began to lay plans. As a result of these plans sometime in the silent watches of the night seven boys, wearing masks, in- vaded the French lad’s room. He was awakened by a violent jab in the ribs, which caused him to utter an exclamation of astonishment and fear, at the same _ time popping upright on the bed. 3 It was a moonlight night and this light, reflécted — from the snow-covered ground, came in at the window, | enabling Dupont to discern the seven ghostly gues standing in a half-circle around the bed. eal Soke ae “What it is?” he gasped. ta SCE “Arise, thou mighty champion of the chabiesanil commanded one of those figures in a hollow. ‘voice, “Arise oe take your medicine.” te TIP TOP “Eh? Hey? Medicine? I am not sick!” “You will be pretty soon,” hoarsely chuckled one of those figures. - Dupont began to recover his composure. He re- alized that it was a joke of some sort and he prepared to meet it. _ “Are you ze doctors? I don’t need so many to _ kilime. One doctor can kill anybody. It is not need- - ful for seven to do zat.” “You're a very flip young person, it seems,” croaked the leader of the seven; “but we’ll endeavor to take a little of that flipness out of you.” “Flipness? Flipness?’”’ questioned Dupont. “Zat js ees ze queer word—zat ees ze funny word. You have - _ so many of ze funny word in ze English language,” ‘| “That’s plain United States. You're not in Eng- Pe land now. Come out of your straw!’’ : Ma Bh _ The speaker seized Dupont by the nape of the neck | and dragged him out of bed. | |} “Oh, eet ees ze great impoliteness!” cried the French boy. “To me eet ees ze much disagreement. I beg you to have ze greater carefulness.” _ At this the entire seven laughed in a suppressed _ manner behind their handkerchiefs, “That's our way in this country,” said the leader. “We do things with energy. You'll now proceed to oe get on your little panties, as we're about to take you _ out for a stroll in the moonlight.”’ “Oh, zis ees such a kindness!” cried Durand. oh S give you assurance of my vast appreciation, but I beg f ‘to make ze excuse. I have no anxiousness to take ze ee. in ze moonlight.” ae, That makes no | Piletenice: you'll go aah the same.’ 3 “Do you theenk so?” “Do we? We know it!” a “Zen, for all of your so extreme politeness, I shall have to make ze level refusal.” Reaevelt”.. 3 _ “Yes, ze level refusal—ze flat refusal. Ah, zat ees le eet!” \ fi _ “Well, we'll see abit that. If you Sct put onr Li your trousers we'll have to put them on for you. Catch hold, fellows!” When they attempted to ”? “catch hold” something of the seven suddenly sat down on the floor. This aroused the anger of the others and in a body they attempted to seize the French youth. As well might they have tried to capture a whirlwind. | His rms flew right and left like the arms of a windmill | at the same time he got into action with his feet. WEEKLY. 3 happened. Out flew one of Dupont’s fists and one _ this Rereons had oe on the hazers. He hit them with his fists and he kicked them with his feet. They were knocked about like tenpins: One fellow received a kick in the stomach, doubling him up. Another was sent sprawling across the bed. A third went down and slid headlong under the table, and in almost less time than it takes to relate it Dupont was the only one on his feet. To say that they were astonished would not express the emotions they experienced. The leader had ac- tually been knocked into a corner, where he reclined on the back of his neck with the lower extremity of his back-bone against the wall, where he peered out at the French youth from between his own legs. “Zat ees too bad,” said Dupont. ‘‘Eet cause me.ze great displeasure to decline ze polite invitation so forceable.”’ There was a scrambling, crawling sound as the | leader of the seven managed to sit upright and take another look at the boy in pajamas who stood in the center of the room with his hands on his hips. For a few moments the hazers were bewildered. Then as one man, uttering exclamations of rage, they ee rose and again made for Dupont. The encounter that followed was even fiercer and briefer than the first. This time Dupont let himself out in earnest and, as a result, one of the boys yanked open the door and fled into the corridor, while two | others staggered after him. Dupont promptly seized — two more, dragged them to the door and kicked them outside. He found another fellow scrambling to his feet and ran him out of the room. The seventh lad of the party was feebly crawling toward the open door and Dupont politely waited for him to pass, bowing low as he did so. k “Good-evening,” he’'said with a half-disguised taote “T hope you enjoy eet, ze stroll een ze moonlight.” : Then he closed the door and made sure that the — inside‘catch was fastened. — / / \ CHAPTER II. THE SNOWBALL BATTLE. i This was the first encounter of Bloody Week. _ The | others followed jin quick succession. ae The change in Durand Dupont’s manner was sudden » — and surprising. On the day following this baffled at- tempt to haze him he seemed suddenly to step ‘promi- ie nently into view of the whole school. ‘3 } Of course the story spread and naturally it. was : exaggerated. Some of the boys declared Dupont had | i been caught sleeping with a club in his bed and with AA Oe the pride and resentment of the entire third class. It was immediately agreed: that Dupont must be tamed. To add to their resentment the French boy had sud- denly developed a swaggering air and wore a satis- fied smile. “The swab actually thinks one frog-eater can whip a dozen Americans!”’ resentfully exclaimed a cadet. Shortly after mid-day mess the following day a num- ber of the boys found Dick Merriwell working at the chest-weights in the gymnasium. “I say, Dick,” cried Barron Black, “what do you think of this fighting Frenchman, anyhow?” “T presume you'mean Dupont?” — “Of course.” “Well, I haven’t taken time to think much of any- thing about him. I understand there was some sort of a racket last night, but I haven’t heard the par- m tieulars.”. | Ina moment half the boys present joined in an at- tempt to describe what had happened in Dupont’s room. “What do you think of a fellow who fights with his feet?” demanded one as they finished. _ “That’s legitimate in France,” said Dick. “My brother learned the art while he was in that country. The Frenchmen are mighty skilful at it. It is called ‘the coup de pied or the chausson.” a “T don’t care what they call it!” exclaimed one of the boys. “It’s a rotten way to fight!” _ That’s according to the standpoint one takes,” said Dick. “If it were fair to use the foot in fighting in | this country we would not regard it with such aversion. _ It’s\an art. It really is a wonderful thing to see a skilful Frenchman box with four fists. My brother has had fun with me more than once in that manner.” “Well, say,” burst forth one of the boys, “you're the chap to take some of the conceit out of this Dupont. Some one must do it. You should see him swagger _ around to-day. He has an idea that he owns all Far- dale.” “Why, I’ve always sega him as a raided chap.” “So he’s seemed, but he’s lost all his modesty since “ast night. More than that, the plebes are beginning _tocrow. Those confounded freshmen must be kept _ in their places.” oof -, “Well, it’s up to you boys of the third class,” Dick. ‘The rest of us have no quarrel with them,” “Perhaps you haven’t now,’ ’ admitted Black, “but Ponca: ¢ tells me you ne have linless Dupont is Ap / said WEEKLY. The fact that the quiet plebe had thus successfully repulsed the assault upon him was enough to arouse do they think they’re doing?” ~ could throw a snowball with speed and accuracy and that, but there was a certain enthusiasm and gir promptly smothered. You know how the plebes at- tempted to run things with Rob Rioden as a leader. If you hadn’t quieted Rioden they would be walking over the rest of us by this time.” vee “Rioden forced the quarrel on me, I didn’t pick up | trouble with him.” “That may be true, and I'll bet sdiaeides that Dupont tfies the same trick.” Dick laughed and shook his head. “I can’t fancy him that sort of chap,” he said. “It — looks to me as-if you were afraid of him; but it’s no — more than natural for him to be proud of it after getting away with seven of you.” | ge Their appeal to Merriwell was vain. He had no | desire to mix up with Dupont and it is possible that i he rather enjoyed contemplating’ the prospective en- counters between the plebes and the third-class men. The day had been warm, bringing about a slight thaw. Fcllowing the afternoon session some of the . cadets playfully fell to snowballing. ; a eae Durand Dupont was sauntering along the path fred 1a the academy to barracks when some one soaked him 4 vs on the ear with a hard snowball. He was staggered J and his cap fell off. When he picked his cap up he discovered a bunch of third-class boys who were laughs ing heartily at his discomfiture. | ve Instantly Dupont’s"face flushed with anger. “Oh, eet ees ze great fun, eh?” he cried. mee “Sure thing, Frenchy!” yelled one of the boys. | &/ And an instant later Durand found himself dancing he about like a jumping-jack in an endeavor to escape the volley of snowballs which flew about him. . “Hey!” he cried. “Stop! stop! It is not ze polite way to do.” cee “Tsn’t he the real polite thing!” shouted one of the boys. “Soak him, fellows! Nail him!’ ine One of them uttered the cry of the third class. It was like a challenge to battle and almost. instantly if: ie was answered by the plebe yell. A moment later a number of plebes came running to the spot and joined Dupont. “Get at those lobsters!” shouted Cal Colson. j “What f . This was the beginning of a terrific snowball battle. In less than ten minutes nearly all the members of the third and fourth classes were engaged i ie ik) Finding himself thus supported Dupont pias into the affray in earnest. He soon demonstrated that he he was utterly reckless in facing the enemy. Not only chap, Dupont. ‘bunch will skidoo in a hurry.” AIP eP about him that encouraged the plebes and soon caused them to look on him as something of a leader. Following the directions of Dupont the plebes loaded up with ammunition by making a number of snowballs and holding them in reserve until the French lad called on them to charge. Then they went at the enemy with such fierceness that the third-class cadets were rottted and compelled to take shelter behind the _ academy. “Bum-bum! Boomer-bum! Rah! rah! Hoop-a-la! Here we are! Here we are! Umpty-eight! umpty- eight!” The plebe yell was vociferous and filled with the _ notes of victory. But the third class was not defeated. By this time they were aroused in earnest and Barron Black appealed to them-to retaliate on the enemy. “We've got to drive those plebes!” he cried. we don’t we won’t be able to live at Fardale.” “That's right!” grated Dave Flint, joining his class- mates for the first time. “We’ve got to charge them and drive them into their holes.” “Load up, fellows—load up!” “Tf commanded Black. _ “Get some hard ones ready. When we charge we've got to keep going.’ One of the boys peered round the corner ail dodged | back /as a snowball whizzed past his ear. “Jingos, they’re getting ready for us! They’re load- ing up, too!” “Tell you what,” said Black, “we want to soak that If we can drive him the rest of that In a few minutes they were ready and again Black urged them to turn most of their shots upon Dupont. They gathered up the snowballs in a hollow made by their left arms. “Ready with the yell!” cried Black. As they uttered their class cry they came dashing round from behind the building at full speed. They were compelled to bow their heads before the volley of snowballs that rained upon them, but, this volley. did not stop them. On they rushed, holding their fire until Black gave the word. - Dupont was ee about in front of his com- anions. “Give it to zem! 1! tie yelled. _ah—soak zem!) Zat ees eet! “We'll soak you!” panted Black. an instant later the French boy was unmercifully “What you call eet ?— Pex How ees eet you say?—ah—get ze move on! WEEKLY. 8 he tried to dodge one he dodged into two. One hit him in the mouth, cutting short a yell of defiance. Another struck him on the cheek. Then a hard one buttoned up his eye and knocked him down. The fall of Dupont seemed to take the courage out of his companions, for they wavered, broke, scattered and ran. The charging boys uttered yells of satisfaction. Right over Dupont they rushed in pursuit of the routed plebes. Many of the latter fled toward barracks and went scrambling up the steps. glass as a flying snowball broke a window. Up to this point Rob Rioden had taken no part in the encounter. It happened that he was descending the stairs as his classmates came panting and stumbling into the hall. “Wat's all dis row?” he cried. ‘“‘Youse fellers ain’t lettin’ dem muts drive you, are yer? Well, dat makes me sick!” “Where have you been?” snarled Snack Tait...“"Why haven’t you been helping us?” “That’s right! that’s right!” cried others. every man of our class.” “Den come on!” roared Rob. me!” He forced his way through them and sprang down the steps. In a moment he was the target around and upon which fifty snowballs rained. For all of this he seized a handful of snow and began to make ready for business, at the same time calling his com- panions to join him. , “Dem chaps is outer ammunition!” he yelled. “Now’s yer time! Dey’ve t’rowed all dere snowballs away.” At this the plebes took heart and rushed out again. Soon the battle was raging more fiercely than before, with neither side seeming to have much advantage. In the meantime, however, Durand Dupont had re- “We need There was a jangle of “Jest youse foller | covered and gathered a number of the scattered plebes ph who had not rushed toward thé barracks building. “We take zem by surprise!’ he panted as he set the example by hurriedly making a number of snowballs. | “We come on zem from ze rear. Zat ees ze way. Zat * ees eect! Are you ready?” “All ready, all ready!” they declared. “Zen come on!’ sg At the very moment when it seemed ; as if the shisdas class would once more drive the enemy, charging into the battle from the rear. for all of — Rioden’s example, Dupont and his followers. came ; a hae aa 6 / class boys were taken by surprise. at short range and began to scatter. Rioden gave a yell and led the assault in front. In a moment the two bodies had forced the enemy to scatter and the third class was ignominiously put to flight. Rioden and Dupont met. “Say, young feller,” said the big plebe, regarding the French lad with satisfaction, “you jumped inter der scrap jest in time. Wit’ you and me togedder I t’ink we'll come pretty near puttin’ dat bunch to der woods.” EPP AO They were pelted CHAPTER. [il. THE TERRIBLE SWEDE. The dull winter twilight gathered as the battle raged. It was at its height as twilight turned to dark- ness. : In the darkness it became difficult to distinguish friends from foes and laughable and awkward mis- takes were frequently made. “T theenk we had bettaire declare ze armistice,” Dupont. “W'at’s dat?” inquired Rob Rioden, to whom the word was unfamiliar. “Why don’t youse talk United States ?” “Oh, zat means ze stoppage ze interruption, ze ces- sation of ze encountaire.” “Oh, is dat it?” grunted Rioden. “Well, I dunno but it would be a good scheme to stop; but we don’t _ wanter be der ones ter propose it to dem blokes. Dey’ll say we squealed.” : _ At this juncture, however, Black shouted to the plebes and suggested a conference. “It’s getting too dark,” he cried. ‘“Let’s come together for a pow- wow.” - | : “What ees eet, ze powwow?” inquired Dupont. “Oh, it’s something good to eat,’ answered Rioden with a half-disguised sneer. So when the -plebes and the third-class boys grad- ually drew. together, watching each other suspiciously - for fear of treachery, Dupont innocently inquired : “Where ees eet you have to eat? We cannot eat out here.” gest sis ?” asked Black with a slight intonation of surprise. ; “Ze powwow. Mistaire Rioden he say ze powwow | ees sometheeng good to eat.” : - This produced a roar of laughter and seemed to dispel suspicion. ‘The two aan mingled, Black Be said seems to have kicked up a ee) school. WEEKLY: . Flint entering into conversation with Dupont and Rioden. “We can’t settle this business with snowballs to- night,” said Black; “but we have a little more time before mess and I favor wrestling. What do you say to that?” Dupont shrugged his shoulders. | at *“‘Eet is not to wrestle zat I have ze skill,” he an- swered. “Oh, well, you can let some of the others wrestle. We'll put the best men of our class against your best wrestlers.”’ “Dat suits me all right, all right,” said Rioden. “I t’ink we'll give you muts all der fun you want. See!” a | “Eh?” exclaimed Durand, starting. “See what? | See where? See how?” oe “You'll see later,” laughed Black. “You chaps are clever at snowballi ing, but we can trim you when it ; . comes to wrestling.” i “What ees zat? Trim?” asked Dubie growirlg more and more puzzled. “You say you trim ze hair; you say you trim ze lamp; you say you trim ze trees q when you cut out ze limbs. Trim, eet ees to make ze smoothness. Oh, zis English language ees ze talk of ce, ze barbarian. Who can understand it?” | ane “Yes,” nodded Black, “to trim is to make smooth. ‘ We'll make you fellows so smooth that you'll be nice and peaceable anes quiet.” } Fe j - a may be so,” muttered the French boy. “Wewill : . see.” ae A circle was nap formed by the boys, the plebes taking one side and their opponents the other. Of course the snowball battle had been watched with interest by members of the other classes, who had ne | appeared in the windows of the buildings and fre- 3 Five: 4 quently encouraged the combatants and. cheered them on. Those boys who were interested now came flock- — ing to the scene of the wrestling-match. : Brad Buckhart sauntered up and found Merriwell there ahead of him. “Hello, pard!’’ he laughed. “This French beloil nA What’s doing now ?” “They’re going to wrestle,” answered Dick. “Wrestle? Oh, great horn spoon! And we're not 7 in it, pard! Say, it’s more fun to be a plebe or a third-class man than it is to get higher in this old To watch them snowballing actually made me tohy AF wanted to get into it for all I was worth, but I knew I had no license. Now they’re going to. wrestle, and we've got to stay in Eime ¢ bacherount Mi dip we Ree bas “Pile him up, Chub!” they cried. TIP “TOP 39 “It’s up to us to back the third-class fellows,” said Dick. “The first class will back the plebes.”’ “Well, ’'m with you, pard. We can yell, if we can’t do anything else. It’s our friends, Black and Flint, against Dupont and Rioden and the rest of that onery bunch.” “Here they go now,” going to get at it.” Amid cries of encouragement from both lower classes, two boys, who had stripped off their coats, collars and neckties and flung aside their caps, ad- vanced toward the center of the ring. “Merriwell! where’s Merriwell?”” was the cry. “We want a referee! Here, this thing must be fair!” “Merriwell! Merriwell!” shouted boys of the classes participating. ~ Brad pushed Dick forward. said Dick. “Two of them are “Here’s where you get a chance to figure some,” he’ said. : ® “Is it agreeeable, fellows, that I shall referee?’ Dick. | E _ There was not a dissenting voice. Among the plebes a few felt like objecting, but they refrained from doing so. Rioden promptly expressed his entire satisfaction and Dick advanced into the ring. “What is this to be?” he inquired. to wrestle?” * asked “How are they “Catch as-catch-can,” was the answer. ‘“ANl right,” said Dick. A moment later the contestants advanced toward each other, crouching low and watching for an oppor- “Get ready, gentlemen.” ~, tunity to obtain an advantageous hold. Round and round they circled like gamecocks ready for the spring. Suddenly one of them snapped up his hand and caught _ the other round the back of his neck. A cry rose from the third class. “He has him! Smoky!’ . “Look out, Chub! Look out!” warned the plebes. Chub was on guard, for he managed to squirm away and yank the other boy’s hand from his neck. At the same instant he sprang forward and slipped his left arm under his opponent’s right. Now the plebes shouted with satisfaction. “He’s your Smoky has him! Down him, B53 pt r.. Indeed it seemed that Chub would quickly down his Gapeuent) but even as he tripped the fellow and they ‘were falling Smoky twisted and they came down to- W. VERBK Ys é , 7 when they fell. He crouched low, watching every movement. Smoky hopped round on his knees quick as a flash, secured a half-Nelson on Chub and an instant later followed by getting a full-Nelson. The watching plebes groaned with dismay. “It’s a strang gle- hold!” one of them cried. “It isn’t | fair!” , But before the boys could be forced to break some- thing surprising happened. Chub managed to pin Smoky’s arms with his elbows and then with a mighty surge he rose to his knees, sat up and fell over back- ward, throwing his opponent over his head. Smoky’s heels described a half-circle in the air and he came down on his shoulder-blades. with Chub on top. “Down!” cried Dick. “Chub wins!” Then the plebes literally howled with joy. ‘Ket ees ze great beezness, zis wrestling,’ observed Dupont; “but eet ees not such science as ze chausson.” “Bring out your next man!” shouted the plebes as they pushed Cal Colson’ into the ring. “Here’s our man!” A Swede by the name of Anderson was thrust for- ward by the third class. “Ay been har in dees kontry from yah last somar en Ay tank me av been puty goot man,” said Anderson. “Ay tank Ay ken throw an y Yankee faller een dees. school.” At this the plebes whooped with derision. : “Take that mush out of your mouth!” they cried. | | “Pile him up, Colson!” a4 “You'll have a good time throwing me!’ son warmly. +? > said Col- — “Ay tank Ay ken do it af any faller ken!” retorted "3 Anderson. ; . “Ready!” cried Dick. The boys crouched and edged forward. Then they began to circle. , “Took out for the terrible Swede, Cal!”. cried the plebes. Together Colson and Anderson made a grab. Each caught the other by the back of the neck. - Realizing that neither had an advantage, they twisted free and Colson plunged for the leg-hold,- catching the Swede about the knees. Quick as he was, Anderson seemed prepared, fot his clapped his hand on the back of Colson’s head and ~ threw his weight on it,\forcing the plebe to the floor. — At the same time he fell with Colson and tried for the © half-Nelson, which had resulted so disastrously in Smoky’s case. In spite of Colson’s efforts Anderson 8 TIP TOP obtained the grip he sought and followed by closing onto the full-Nelson. Then Colson drew his oie up beneath him and sought to fling his opponent over his head as Chub had done with Smoky. As Colson rose Anderson gave a twist and freed his right arm. Turning like a flash to one side he caught the plebe under the'chin and hurled him back- _ ward. Colson “bridged.” Anderson came down heavily across the plebe’s chest to force him to the ground. Dick was on his knees with his head low, in order to see if Colson touched. It was no small task to hold the excited spectators back. They could see the struggling figures in the center of the ring, but it was difficult to tell when a man was fairly down. _ For all of Colson’s efforts to keep his shoulders off _ the ground, Anderson broke the bridge and forced him down. | Dick slapped Anderson sharply on the shoulder, _ which was the signal that the throw had been made. Now the third class gave an exultant yell, while the _ plebes muttered in disappointment. Eyes “Ay tol’ yer!’ cried Anderson as he rose chuckling to his feet. . “Tt ben too azy! It ben no yob at all!” _. Colson got up, muttering that it was an accident. e But he was fairly defeated and there was no appeal from the decision. _ Anderson stood with his hands on his hips. _ “Ay ben vaitin’ fer som’ other faller,’” he said. _ “Send out your man, plebes,” urged Dick. “‘Ander- son has the privilege of peut, in the ring until he | is thrown, if he wishes to do so.’ _ There was faltering and hesitation among the plebes. | By them Colson had been regarded as one of the best _ wrestlers in their class and they were at a loss to choose - another man to meet the Swede. “What can we do, Dupont ?” they asked. _ “Eet ees not for me to say een zis,” he answered. pe “Perhaps Mistaire Rioden he can tell eet.” Well, say,” growled Rob, “if dere can’t nobody el or | ‘Bem dat duffer I'll do it meself!” | _ “Hold on! hold on!” urged another boy. “one else try him first. Wear him down. ‘want to take chances.” Well, who’s der chap w’at’s goin’ ter give him a whirl?” ee the e big t plebe Pee round, We don’t goin’ ter do der trick, too! “Let some » WEEKLY. Horace Logan, silent, stocky and powerful, was pushed forward. “It’s up to you, Logan,” they said. Without a word Logan began to strip off and make preparations. Chuckling, Anderson stood with his “ arms folded. “Ay lak him,” laughed the Swede. azy. Batter try some other yentleman.” “Logan, me boy,” said Rioden, “do yer level best ter take some of der hot air outer dat mut.” Not a word came from Logan. Ina few moments he was ready and he stepped forward, eying his oppo- nent, At the word the two lads crouched and circled. Sud- denly they came together, Anderson crouching and catching Logan in the crotch with one hand, while he flung his other up against the plebe’s chin and hurled him backward. Against this. movement Logan’s strength was un-— availing and he went down, and the Swede pounced upon him. The plebes were panting with excitement as they watched and waited while their opponents crowed with confidence. he aa On the ground the two boys rolled and turned fail “He bae too twisted. Three times Anderson seemed to-have Logan ; < | foul, but the strength of the plebe came into play now : and he broke: the Swede’s holds. Nevertheless, ‘An- ; derson’s skill finally proved too much for his antag- — onist and with a groan of regret Logan felt himself forced flat upon his back. | Be “It’s up to me!” muttered Rioden fiercely while An- — derson’s classmates were cheering delightedly. “I’m CHAPTER IV. TRIUMPHANT PLEBES. Instantly the plebes made a demonstration. had confidence in Rioden. Oy 2 “Howlin’ Halifax!” exclaimed Snack Tait. “If any- nek | one can down that big duffer you’re the one, Rob 33) ae “No tanks fer yer bokays!” retorted Rob, who had ce : no particular liking for Tait. cde He peeled off in a hurry, while Anderson le waited, grinning over the oe of his ieee ey mates. ‘ “I s’pose you t ‘ink you're a rati nifty guy! 2 ain Rioden as he walked out into the ring with his shoul-. ders hunched and his chin thrust forward. “I s’pose’ you t’ink you're all der goods?” meer You bet yer sweet life!” a ee es +3 4 “Ay don’ stop to tank nuttin’ about ’at,” retorted - Anderson.. “Ay laet these yobs spik fer mae.” “Well, I’m goin’ at youse fer fair!’ warned Rob. “Tm goin’ ter stand youse on yer head in jest about t ree seconts !’ of ? “He vary dangerous faller,” ae “Ready!” cried Dick. ‘ In truth, Rioden went at his opponent like a whirl- wind. ‘There was no preliminary circling or wasting of time. He closed in instantly and the mix-up that é followed set the spectators gasping. The two boys | __ grappled and went twisting and reeling and swaying about the ring. Rioden secured a waist-lock, but An- derson placed his right hand against the plebe s fore- head and gave it a backward snap which broke the hold. Then the Swede attempted a cross-huttock, but } ~~ Rioden promptly broke his hold and jerked him for- ward across his hip. _ The plebes yelled as they saw See go down, “Horay for Rioden!” ““He’s the boy!’ “You've got him, Rob!” * “Pin him to the earth!” “Flatten him out!” Rioden had dropped on Anderson, but the Swede was on his hands and knees, and the big plebe strug- gled and heaved in a vain attempt to turn him. Finally, however, Rob made a feint for a half- _ Nelson, but instead of that reached across beneath his “de opponent’s body, seized Anderson’s opposite arm near the shoulder and suddenly rolled him over. “There he goes!” was the cry.’ _ Although Rioden did his best to flatten his antagonist _ out the Swede spun over on his face and was again in position to continue the battle. : “Good boy, Anderson!” shouted Black. do the trick!” “Ay tank Ay make it pooty hard yob!” panted the _ Swede with a sound like chuckling laughter. “Qh, yer slick! Dat’s w’at yer are!” snarled Rob. _ “ANl der same, you'll have ter come down before I’m trough wit’ yer!” | laughed the Swede. “He can’t _ The movements of the two lads on the ground com- tailed ‘the watching boys to move more than once in order to get out of the way. Indeed, the battle continued over a broad strip of snow-covered ground. Many times Rioden seemed to have the advantage, but m every occasion the Swede baffled him and refused e stretched on his back. Twice Anderson secured dangerous holds and once he kane wim an ace of nding the contest. | WEEKLY. 9 At last the Swede secured a hold which caused him to utter a slight exclamation of satisfaction. -With Rioden stretched at full length on his face, Anderson seized his left foot, bent it backward and upward at the knee, giving it a quick twist. In spite of himself, Rioden was forced to turn and, like a flash, the Swede dropped on Rob’s other leg and forced him flat. Dick gave Anderson a touch on the shoulder and the third-class boys roared. Rioden scrambled up hastily, litterally panting as he demanded ariother trial. Indeed, Dick was forced to step between him and Anderson to prevent him from grappling with the victor. “Tt’s all over, Rioden,” he said. “In affairs of this kind theré’s only one fall needed. That settles it.” “Dat lobster couldn’t do it again in a tousand years!” panted Rob. This assertion was met with cries of derision from the third-class, lads. “Go lay down!” they advised. ber!” The plebes were desperate. Their case seemed hope- less. And now they appealed to Dupont. “Can’t you do something? Can't you throw that fellow ?” they cried. “Not een ze wrestle,” answered HS French boy. ze chausson he would be vary easy.” “Go for him! pushing Dupont forward. “You're a back num- Anderson scornfully regarded the slender French e034 youth. “Ay ken peek you up en throw you over mae head,” he declared. ' “You had not better try eet!” retorted Dupont. Anderson made a spring at him, but an instant later he lay stretched on the snow, for Dupont’s left foot” had suddenly shot out, landing against the Swede’s breast-bone and sending him prostrate. With a roar of rage Anderson scrambled up and came at Dupont again. “Keep at ze deestance!”’ warned the French boy. “Ket ees to hurt you I do not want.” Instead of obeying the’ warning the Swede tried to strike Dupont with his fist. The blow was parried and the French lad went at the Swede in a most bewildering manner. He banged Anderson right and left, kicking him half-a-dozen times in as many seconds, and nna ; left him stunned on the ground. The plebes danced and! yelled with joy. Do him up anyway!’ they shan Tin _ ones began to sneak away and take to their heels. end followed quickly, for the leaders of the class found - make you wiser when yer do, _ “Youse ain’t der only plum in der pudden!” 10 TIP ABP cried the “Rotten! rotten!” “No fair! no fair !”’ “This is not a fight!” exclaimed Barron Black as he rushed into the ring and made a grab at Dupont. An instant later Black was sitting on the ground with his hands clasped to the pit of his stomach while he tried to get a breath. That was enough to infuriate Barron’s companions and half-a-dozen tried to get at Dupont. He seemed the match for them all until they crowded in too close for him to leap and swing and strike and kick. Then the plebes pitched in to assist him and a free fight followed. It was a truly savage encounter in which more than one boy received marks which he carried for several days. In this fight Rioden was a perfect terror. Already aroused to unspeakable anger, he slashed about him right and left, banging away with his heavy fists and receiving few blows in return. | - Before long it began to seem evident that the plebes were more than a match for their antagonists. Ander- son was out of it. Black did not recover his breath in time to cut much figure and several others of the class had been roughly used. Finally the weak-hearted The boys of the third class their support weakened and were compelled to retreat. “Well, dat certainly done me good!” cried Rob Rioden as his classmates gathered around. “I’ve had a nervous feeling growin’ on me for two weeks now and I jest had to let off steam.” : - Not without a twinge of jealousy did he observe that most of the boys were seeking to shake hands with Dupont and were showering him with congratulations. “Aw, w’at’s der matter?” muttered Rob. “Any- body’d t’ink dat guy’d done der whole ting! I judge I cut some ice in dis old scrap.” | Dupont came pushing toward him. “Ah, Mistaire Rioden,” he said, “you rendered ze ~ great assistance. Oui, oui.”’ “W’at’s dat we-we?” growled Rob. “Don’t t’row none of dat kinder talk inter me! Rendered great assistance, hey? Well, wouldn’t dat give yer a cramp? I s’pose you t’ink you’re der whole shootin’-match ?” Shootin’ ?” questioned Dupont. “I did not see ze shootin’.” ; | , “Dere’s lots of t’ings you’ve never seen dat will 99 ’ retorted the big plebe. vt: fear I do not have ze understanment,” said the VEEKLY. French “What ees thees about ?” boy. pudden you speak “Oh, you give me a pain! You've got a swelled nut!” “Nut? I have not ze nut., I theenk you makes ze mistake, sare.” “Oh, no. I don’t make no mistake about a dub like you. Anybody can fight wit’ his feet. Der kickin’ game is der cheapest ever. See? Mebbe dat will hold youse fer a while!” “Hold me?” me?” murmured the French boy. “Hold “Youse make me sick!” said Rob as he turned ‘and walked away. CHAPTER V. RIODEN GETS HIS, After this affair Dupont swaggered more than ever. He found himself suddenly admired and complimented by his classmates, many of whom whispered in his ear that he was certain to become the real leader of the class. Vance Silkley, Snack Tait and Orrin Hoke were delighted over the outcome of the snowball battle and the affair that followed. In Dupont they believed they saw a new leader for the class. They knew Rio- den’s pride had been touched and, this gave them satis- faction. “Why didn’t we ever find out before this what Frenchy could do?’ cried Tait. He’s a holy terror! He can whip any five fellows in the school, and I'll let anybody pick them out.” “Het he!” laughed Hoke. “I certainly hope he gets up against Rioden. He'll kick that big fellow’s head off.’ . “We will endeavor to find a method of bringing them together,” smiled Silkley. ‘First, however, we must take care to hold those third-class chaps down. We've got them on the run and we must keep them > going. After we demonstrate our supremacy there'll , be plenty of time to set Rioden and Dupont against each other.” This matter was not destined to come about as Silk. ley wished. Rioden’was fuming and found difficulty ‘in holding his anger in check. At one time he had © regarded himself as the undisputed leader of the class ane it touched him to the quick to see another fellow stepping into the place he believed should be his. Pe “Glitterin’ guns!» i ia FH ihe ‘hare Cal Colson was in his room the following fore- noon when Rob thrust the door open and peered in. “Hello!” cried the big plebe. “I t’ought mebbe you wasn’t here. Are youse alone?” “I am just now,’ said Colson. ‘Come in.” Rioden accepted the invitation, closing the door behind him. His face wore a heavy frown and he looked solemn and ugly. “Are you sick?” inquired Colson. you could eat nails.” “That’s the way I feel,” confessed Rob. eat a whole keg of nails.” “Why, what’s it all over?” his heart he knew the cause. i “T’ve been t’inking about dat business last night,” | answered Rioden. “Well, what about it? “Vou look as if “I could asked Cal, although in Didn’t we do those chaps up. brown?” |= “Yes, we did,” nodded the visitor. “But did you | _ > notice dat a certain mut tried to take all der credit fer -) der job ?’ 9? “Why, you don’t mean- “Dat frog-eatin’ Fr enchman! IT mean him. Why, he had der gall ter tell me dat'I rendered assistance. I tink I done more dan any chap in our class.” “You certainly did your part, old man,” agreed Col- son. “You always do.” “Den w’at’s dat Frenchy gettin’ so chésty over? _ Anyone would t’ink he was a czar or somet’ing like dab,” “He does seem to be swelling a little, doesn’t he?” said Cal, a slight twinkle in his eye. | “Acts like he owned der eart’, Have you heard dat he was t’inking of settin’ himself up as der leader of der class?” 1 “Well, to tell you the truth, I have heard something _ Tike that. m .“Dat’s w’at I wanted ter know. ter lam him good and proper.” “Are you going to fight him?” 3 “Dat’s w'at 1am! I’m goin’ ter fight him an’ I’m goin’ ter give him der ‘worst wallopin’ he ever had.” “You want to look out. You know how he fights.” _ “He fights wit’ his feet, I know dat. When he tries ter kick me in der head I'll jest ketch one of dem oe and stand him on his ear.” Den it’s up ter me “Do you think you can do it?” “Do I? Well, say, if he ever gits away wit’ me I'll make a. lunch off'n rat poison! T’ll be too ashamed ter look anybody in der face. He’s flyin’ purty high a ayy but he’ It ee a i sia quieter ter-morrer.’ TOP WEEKLY. 11 “Then you mean to fight him right away? “Do I? Ask me! I ain’t goin’ no time more’n I can help. him to fight me ter-night. W’at d’you say?” “TIL go you,” on me.” “Good! Now, come on wit’ me-and we'll ketch him somewhere before der fellers an’ I’ll put it up ter him.” ter let him have I’m goin’ ter challenge I want youse fer me second. ’ promised Colson. ‘“You may depend Ten minutes later, in the presence of twenty boys, Rioden openly insulted Dupont and challenged him to fight. The French boy turned pale and seemed on the point of fighting then and there. He was re- strained by the others, who warned him against it. “Where shall eet be, sare?” Rob. “Well, I t’ink der same old place is good enough fer me. Dey do most of der scrappin’ over in Chadwick’s pasture. Dere’ll be a moon about eight ter-night.” he asked, bowing to “T’ll be zere wiz ze moon,” promised Dupont. Dick Merriwell did not leave his room that evening, but about nine o’clock Brad Buckhart came in, his cheeks glowing from the cold. . “Back as soon as this?” said Dick, looking up from his book. “How was the mill?” “‘Pard, it was all to one side,” answered the Texan. “Never was so surprised in my life. That thug Rio- den can fight, and I expected he’d make Frenchy go some. Instead of that, Dupont put it all over him © from the start. I don’t think Rioden did the frog- eater the slightest harm. In the end Dupont stretched him out with a kick and it was fifteen minutes before they brought Rioden around.” “Evidently we have a new element to reckon with in this school,” said Dick. “That’s where you’re right, pard,” nodded the Texan. “This Dupont was swelling a-plenty before this and now he’ll go the limit. [Il guarantee it won’t. be three days before he bucks up against you. You've gottobeready forhim.” Dick shrugged his shoulders. “It’s been some time since I practised the chausson,”’ he said. “Well, you’d better get into gear for it,” advised Brad. “What do you know about it, anyhow ?” He is very “Only what my brother has poet me. skilful at it.” “Then let’s begin to-morrow,’ E urged Brad. 3 “We'll head, _\ grab, but instead of catching Merriwell’s foot he caught the empty air and went down with a thud as Dick Brad rose. . effectively by kicking at short range. (12 , TLR Sra ¢ get down the gloves, find some soft shoes for feet and try the chausson.” TAS may be a good plan,’ our ’ admitted Dick. CHAPTER VI. DUPONT’S CHALLENGE. On the following day this plan was put into oper- ation. Buckhart was confident he could upset a man who was too free in kicking. “Why, ” he observed as they stood ready to begin practise, “it ought to be a snap to catch a fel- low’s foot and stand him on his head. Besides that, a man who kicks is balanced on one foot and a slight push will upset him.” “Do you think so?’ smiled Dick. “Well, you'll have a chance to see what you can do at it.” They went at it a moment later, Dick dancing lightly around the Texan and watching for an opening. Suddenly his foot flew up and swept across Buckhart’s face, brushing the tip of Brad’s nose. “Waugh!” exclaimed Buckhart, dodging backward. “T wasn’t expecting that one, partner.” “Do you want me to tell you when I’m going to kick?” laughingly asked Dick. | “No; I'll be looking out next time. And you want to fall as easily as you can, for I’ll stand you on your ear as sure as shootin’.” Barely had he uttered the word when one of Dick’s feet flew up and described a circle about Buckhart’s Brad. feeling the wind from it. He made a pard, planted a toe against his chest and gave him a sudden backward push. “Great horn spoon!” spluttered the Texan. , “I missed it that time.” “Look out for your shins,” advised Merriwell as “That’s one of the points of attack.” The Texan closed in, fancying Dick could not work ) To his surprise he got a rap on his shins which stopped him, and a moment later Merriwell wheeled with a backward sweep and once more brushed his opponent’s nose with a passing toe. “Tarantulas and rattlesnakes!” grated Brad. “You're a-plenty lively at it for a greenhorn. Say, do you mean to tell me you might have hit me then?” “Of course I might,” answered Dick. “Well, just try that same trick again.’ > WEEKLY. When Dick tried it Brad promptly parried, flinging Merriwell’s foot aside. Once more Dick spun all the way round on his toe and the sole of his soft shoe gave Brad a slap on the cheek that stung keenly. The Texan was surprised. “I sure opine you’re some clever at this,” he ad- mitted ; “but I’m going to upset you yet. I’ll catch you when you're balancing on one hoof and the next thing you know you'll be on your scalp-lock,” Fancying he had an opportunity a moment later, Buckhart leaped forward and gave Dick a fierce push. Although Merriwell was balancing on one foot at the moment he nimbly leaped backward and danced to one side without falling. “You see it’s not so easy to upset a fellow if he’s practised the chausson,”’ he said. “I certain thought I’d floor you that time,” admitted Brad. “Well, I’ll tell you what I’m going to do now. If I can’t get you by the hoof or push you down I’m going to swat you a good one on the jaw.” . “That's part of the game,” said Dick. with your good one. My jaw is waiting.” Buckhart closedjin, feinted with his right and swung hard with his left. Dick ducked and gave a sweeping movement with his foot which knocked Buckhart’s pins from under him and sent him sprawling. The Texan was both disgusted and pleased. He was disgusted with himself, but pleased because Dick showed so much skill. “Why didn’t you ever explain this yere business to me before, pard?”’ he demanded. “It may not be legiti- mate boxing, but it’s a right handy thing to know in a general ‘scrimmage. jiu-jitsu.”’ “Tt goes well with jiu-jitsu,” nodded Dick. “The chausson is adapted to free, open fighting, while jiu- jitsu comes in handy when a man is caught at close quarters and can’t use his feet; 4 “That’s whatever | W hy, a galoot who had the two arts down pat, along with a good knowledge of the Yankee science of boxing, could just about wallop his weight in grizzlies. about this business myself.” f “Don’t be afraid of hurting me,” said Dick. “I'll take care of myself. please and kick as recklessly as you dare.” ‘Thus urged, Buckhart went into it furiously ; but. his third kick proved disastrous, for it was blocked — skating around the room “Come on . ( I allow it’s almost as clever as — I’m going to learn something Use your feet as much as YOULL ee Bl Ia: . you. generally? Don’t be afraid of hurting me! LIP 'TOR and the foot on which he was standing was knocked from beneath him. “That’s something you will have to look out for,” said Merriwell. “When you kick you'll have to be ready to get away if the other fellow tries to trip “Somehow I can’t seem to catch hold of your hoof!” growled Brad. “I thought it was easy enough to grab a man’s foot if he let it fly in such a fashion. I see now that it’s not so easy.” “T don’t know about that,” retorted Dick. “I think I could give you a fall that way.” “No, you couldn’t!” cried the Texan. “TI see how it is you fooled me and I can fool you the same way.” A moment later he changed his mind, for when he attempted to plant a pushing toe against ’Dick’s breast his heel was caught and he came down with a shock that knocked the wind out of ‘him. “Mighty funny that I can’t catch you that way!” he grumbled as-he sat up and shrugged his shoulders. “Buckin’ broncos! That sure jarred me some!” “T hope it didn’t hurt you,” said Merriwell. “Hurt me? Haven’t I been playing football all the season? Haven’t I been slammed down on frozen ground and jumped on and run over and flattened out p? Nevertheless, when the boys finally stopped, both reeking with perspiration, Buckhart realized that he __. had received several solid bumps. His enthusiasm had not been disturbed, however, and he regarded Dick with a look of extreme satisfaction. 1 his head. -_ perfect practise.” | day! “Partner, I'll put you up against that frog-eater any !’ he cried. “You can do him—you can do him good!” ! “Tm not so sure of that,” confessed Dick, shaking “Dupont is clever and he seems to be in “T opine the practise he’s received has come lately. _ He couldn’t practise alone, could he?” “Sure. ” } “How! »? “Why, a man can go through the movements and kicks and guards without an opponent facing him. The Frenchmen who perfect themselves in this art spend — a certain time each day practising alone. Frank says it’ s a peculiar spectacle to enter one of their schools in - Paris and see half-a-dozen men whirling and dodging and dancing and kicking at nothing in particular. It looks ridiculous, but it’s setious Pon piee I would like a shower just about now.’ “90 would I. as I'm bubbling ecu every pore. WEEKLY. 13 It sure is a great thing to warm a fellow up and loosen his joints.” Prof. Broad, the athletic instructor, was away in New York on business. The opportunity for high jinks in the gymnasium brought thither an unusual number of boys that afternoon. That they were en- joying themselves became evident through their jokes and laughter and horse-play. On the flying-rings and ladders some of them resorted to feats and tricks which were not. usually permitted by Broad, who did not believe in dangerous experiment or circus acts. However, Merriwell was the only one who ventured to mount to the two flying-trapezes which were sus- pended from heavy cross-timbers. Many a time had the boys joked about these trapezes, declaring they were suspended there for ornament rather than for use. Broad was fixed in his resolution not to permit the boys to use them, declaring it was altogether too dangerous without a net underneath, as a fall to the floor would be certain to seriously injure anyone and might prove fatal. Dupont and several companions came in and found the boys watching Merriwell, who was swinging in the air and performing a few tricks which brought forth rounds of applause. From one trapeze to the other Dick flung himself, catching the bars with the assurance and skill of a practiced performer. Vance Silkley touched Dupont’s arm and murmured in his ear: Bee “You can see why it is that the fellow has such pres- tige here. I don’t believe there’s another chap in the school who'd dare try those tricks.” The French lad shrugged his shoulders. “Why don’t he join ze circus?” he sneered. sek eet up sometime he fall and break hees neck. out.’ “Tf he should,” retorted Vance, “T know a few fel- lows who’d shed no tears. Hear them applaud him! He’s never been fairly defeated at anything. If you give him time he'll learn the chausson and do you up at that. It’s up to you to catch him off his guard and defeat him without delay.” /. “Perhaps he will not give me zat pleasure he will decline to meet me.’ “Tf he Out, Perhaps “Don’t worry about that. The fellow is conceited enough to try anything. If he refuses to meet you we'll give him the laugh. Why, he'll have to meet you if you challenge him pointblank.” “Zen he shall get ze challenge on ze blank Soink” déclared the French youth. He waited quietly until Dick finished his evolutions | 14 and descended by means of a free line. As the boys gathered about Merriwell to express their congratula- tions and admiration, Dupont pushed forward through the crowd. “TI beg ze pardon, give me ze privilege to pass? to say to Mistaire Merriwell.”’ He paused before Dick, surveying him with a cynical smile. “Bet ees ze very fine circus beezness you do, sare,” he observed. “To my friends I suggest you should join ze menagerie—no, no; ze circus,”’ “You are too flattering!” retorted Dick, instantly on his guard. “T should like to see some one else try eet,” said Durand. “Are you ze only boy in ze school zat do all zem monkey jumps on ze trapeze?” “Monkey jumps!” exclaimed one of Dick’s friends. “That is fine from a fellow who fights monkey-fash- ion!” “Perhaps you will give us a display of your skill ?” bowed Dick. “Oh, I beg to have ze excuse!”) exclaimed Durand. “Eet ees not for ze circus zat I have made ze training.” “Well, what are you driving at?” “You have ze great skill at so many theengs. My admiration ees ze~—ze limit. Ovi, oui. Zat ees how you say eet. All ze same, I have ze fancy zat one thecne you do not know. Eet ees ze art of ze chaus- son.’ ” he said politely. “Would you I have ze word I weesh “He means that monkey-style of fighting,” said one | of the boys. ‘We don’t fight that way in this country.” ~~ “T must admit,” confessed Dick, “that I know but little about it.” Dupont smiled pityingly. “Zat ees too bad,” he purred. “Zen of course you would not meet’ me for ze trial of skill? Zen you ac- knowledge I am ze champion of ze chausson?” | “Why, I fancy you are,’ ’ admitted Dick slowly. Instantly a number of plebes began to laugh in a smothered, sneering fashion. _ “Nevertheless,” continued Merriwell, “I don’t mind . giving you an opportunity to show off your knowl- edge.” ; “What ees zat?” cried Dupont. “You mean you % _ will give me ze engagement—you will meet me?” Dick nodded. ~ T’ll do so if you'll agree to be careful and not hurt f me too much,” he said. Be Ob, 'T take ze great care. When we do eet?” - “Why, as as soon as you arpa TIP. TOP? WEEKLY: “Zen we make eet right on queeck. We do eet now. I have ze articles. I send to my room for zem. I have ze shoes.” Seeming to fear Dick might change his mind the French boy hastily sent one of his companions for his set of soft shoes. There was a look of anxiety on Buckhart’s face as he touched Dick’s shoulder and muttered in his ear: “Do him up if you can, pard! you out.” “I’m onto his game,” returned Dick quietly. CHAPTER VII. FIGHTING WITH FOUR FISTS. Ten minutes later Merriwell and Dupont faced each other on the open floor of the gym prepared for battle. They wore soft shoes on their feet and their hands were encased in boxing-gloves. At the word Dupont began to dance about lightly first on one foot and then on the other. Suddenly Dick closed in. The Frenchman kicked and struck Merri- well fairly, knocking his head backward. “Oh, I beg ze pardon!” cried Dupont. be on ze guard.” Snack Tait actually hugged himself, grinning like a wildcat. “Glitterin’ guns! but this is going to be sport!” he “You must whispered, giving Orrin Hoke a jab with his elbow. “Dupont will put it all over Merriwell.” fe Brad Buckhart. was disappointed. “Why didn’t Dick parry or dodge?” he thought. “Is : it possible this frog-eater is going to do him?” Dick seemed bewildered and somewhat awkward in his movements. Again he came at Dupont, apparently endeavoring to get in a blow with his fist. The French youth dodged and tripped, sending his antagonist to, his _ knees, but Merriwell came up with a bound and Was ago) 4 it again. “Go it, Dupont!” cried Hoke, taking courage., “We're betting on you! You're our man!” “Get- into him, Merriwell!’ urged his friends. _ “Give him a soaker that will stop his kicking!” ; Apparently Dick did try to land a “soaker,” but he — failed to reach the French boy, who retreated grace- _ fully.and delivered a stomach kick. Had this kick landed fairly it must have knocked the wind out of — Dick, but he managed to leap backward and escape the . ' full force of it. Dupont was angning in the most confident manner. He means to knock asserted Dupont playfully. ‘many times his foot flew close to Dick’s face. once or twice, when Merriwell closed in, did Dupont “use his gloves. : The French boy fell with a crash. 1iP Awe “Eet was ze great luck for you,” he declared. “Next time look in—no, I mean look out.” A moment later he tried the face kick. Dick guarded and knocked the fellow’s foot aside. Like: a flash Dupont whirled, coming round with a backward swing that barely missed Merriwell. Had Dick been struck fairly it would have put him down and out in a jiffy. “Look out for that, pard—look out!” breathed the anxious Texan. ‘He meant to finish you then.” “Oh, zat was just to show heem what I could do, “When I. have ze readi- ness I will make ze coup de pied tournant and zat will be ze feenish.”’ “Dern his picter!” piped Obediah Tubbs. just like a cat on his feet.’’ Evidently Dupont was anxious to show his skill, for he went through a dozen fancy evolutions and Only 3? ““He’s On these occasions he demonstrated the fact that he had no mean skill at straight boxing. “Jumpin’ jingos!” laughed Tait. “Isn’t he showing Merriwell up, what? At last we’ve found the fellow to put up against the mighty leader of the school!” “I see better times coming,” declared Silkley. “If Dupont,wins I’ll guarantee that Merriwell will find his prestige on the wane.” “If Dupont wins!” muttered Orrin Hoke. “How can he help it? Why, he can win any time he wants to. Hecan end this scrap in ten seconds when he gets, ready.” Indeed, to most oe the spectators it seemed that the French boy had all the advantage and was simply play- ing with his antagonist. Few dreamed that Dick was holding himself in restraint, declining to show his knowledge of the chausson. There was method in this, for Merriwell realized it would make the encounter all the more difficult for him should Dupont be placed on his guard. _ Finally the French boy seemed to tire of the affair and decided to end it. _ at Dick’s jaw and showed vexation when Merriwell succeeded in getting away. At last another kick by Several times he kicked viciously Durand was parried and like a whirling dervish he again spun round on his left foot and tried to work the coup de pied tournent, but Dick dodged and blasked the dangerous face kick. An instant later Merriwell’s left foot struck Dupont on the chin and actually seemed to lift him off his feet. WEEKLY. Is A shout went-up from the spectators. “Tt knew it! 1. felt it About one more like that will finish him.” “Whoop!” cried Buckhart. coming! Dupont was dazed and astounded. He regarded his antagonist in a bewildered way for some moments be- fore rising to his feet. “Oh, eet was ze vary great accident,” he declared, although his head was swimming as he spoke the words. “Get into him, pard!” urged Buckhart. “Don’t give him time to recover!” Neveftheless, Dick waited until his opponent made the first offensive move. Following this the encounter quickly changed in character, for Merriwell flew at his antagonist with a vigor and fierceness that seemed to astonish most of the spectators. He kept Dupont busy for several seconds, finally landing a swinging left-hand blow that once more dropped the French youth. “Oh, ginger!’ palpitated Snack Tait in the greatest dismay. “What do you think of that? Is it possible he’s going to win now?” “I don’t believe it,” said Silkley, although he was quivering with apprehension. “But he knows something about this kind of fight- ing,” said Hoke. : “What doesn’t he know something about?’ snapped Tait. “You can’t seem to catch that fellow foul at anything.” | Dupont rose, although the floor seemed somewhat unsteady beneath his feet. His face was pale now and his eyes glaring. He regarded Dick with a look of un- speakable anger. “Zat was ze fist!” he cried. “A right! Never mind! Now you get eet! I have taken ze great ‘easi- ness wiz you. No more shall I do eet!” They were at it again and Dupont showed intense viciousness in his style of attack. He was watching for an opportunity to get in an effective kick that would end the battle. He was not prepared, however, when Merriwell resorted to his own trick. Dupont parried a face kick, sending Dick round to the left. Merriwell swung like a flash of lightning, and his heel struck the French youth on the jaw. It was fully ten minutes before they brought Dupont round. He opened his eyes to find several of his class- mates gathered around and bending over him, while’ some one was sopping water on his face. “What eet ees?’ he asked blankly, so high arter dis! 16 | TIP TOP WEEKLY. “You're done for, you fool!’ grated Snack Tait. “Merriwell whipped you at your own game!” CHAPTER VIII. DUPONT HAS A THOUGHT. Merriwell’s defeat of Dupont at his own game was one of the great sensations of Bloody Week. ‘The sat- isfaction of Dick’s friends was boundless, while the dejection of his enemies seemed quite unspeakable. Not a few among Dick’s friends had feared Dupont’s trap. They had already learned a great deal concern- ing the French boy’s ability to fight in his own particu- lar manner, and they could not fancy it possible that any one fellow in the school stood a fair show to de- feat him in a contest of that sort. When the encounter was ended everyone save the unconscious French lad realized that Merriwell was skilful at the chausson. As for Dupont he began to understand later that he had been deceived. This added to his disappointment and anger. “Ze Merriwell he fool me,” moaned Durand, as he sat in the dressing-room of the gym with his head in his hands. “He make me theenk he ees easy. Some- where he learn ze chausson. Had I ze knowledge of zat I could whip heem.” “Aw, goon!” sneered Rob Rioden, who had strolled into the room and was surveying Dupont with great ‘satisfaction. “You couldn’t whip dat chap in a t’ou- sand years! der beach, didn’t yer?” “Pebble? Beach?” muttered Dupont. ’ “WW hat ees ze pebble? Where ees ze beach? Go ’way from here! IT do not like eet to have you talk to me. I gif you all ze chausson you want.” _ '*Pat’s all right!’ retorted Rioden. ‘“Dere’s anud- der time comin’! I don’t reckon you'll hold yer head T’ought you was goin’ ter be der leader of der class, did yer? Ho! ho! ho! Well, I rudder guess youse won’t lead much of any ing. Mer- riwell has put a check to your wild career.’ i “Go ’way!” repeated the downcast French boy. A ees not ze polite act to make ze sport of ze unfortunate.” _ “¥es, let him alone,” said Cal Colson, rh bad enough about it. Don’t rub it in.’ - Dupont retired ta his room, where he began to brood over his defeat. It seemed that all his hopes of promi-— | But what’ made his heart hot with anger was that Merriwell had, | nence in the school had been dashed to earth. as he called it, deceived him. He knew now that Dick You t’ought you was ais only pebble on, “*Fet | “He feels had led him on by apparent awkwardness or lack of skill, watching for the opportunity to get the best of him. “T hate zat Merriwell!” he cried, as he excitedly paced the floor. “I could keel heem!” Some time later Dupont came bursting into Snack Tait’s room. He found Silkley and Hoke with Tait, and the trio looked relieved when they recognized the visitor. “Jumpin jingos!” on the chair from which he had started. it might be somebody else.” Dupont began to madly pace the floor, shaking his fists in the air and tearing at his dark hair. “Oh, I hate heem!”’ he cried. “I could keel heem! I will keel heem!” muttered Tait, as he sank back Silkley turned to his companions and nodded, a In return Hoke winked knowing smile on his face. at him with one squint eye. “Sit down, Dupont, my boy, “What's all this agony over?” “Ah! who would not have ze agony to meet ze defeat in zat manner? I tell you I hate heem!” | “Who is this you’re frothing about?” _“Zat Merriwell.” Ri “Oh, well, you’re not the only one,” declared Vance. “There are others who like him no more than you do.” “T know zat. Eet ees why I come here. I come to get ze consolation. eet ?—ze glad hand.” “Fire and brimstone!” cried Tait. 39 said Vance pleasantly. “He must fight me again!” cried Dupont. do eet!” “My boy,” said Silkley patronizingly, “you need a You’ re too hot-headed. Take time to. cool down and ingest yourself before getting after - Merriwell again.” Dna “Qh, how can anyone have ze cae Acigh ee moaned ‘Dupont. | 3 little advice. { “IT want to tell you something,” “You'll never get even with Merriwell in the open.’ “Een ze open?” questioned the French boy wonder- ingly. “What ees eet you mean?” “T mean you'll have to trick him just as he tr icked you. , If you hate him as much as you claim you oy finda chance.” “How ees eet to be d sne?” asked Durand eagerly. “Tf you have ingenuity enough yo should find | : method.” ! “What ees zat ze inshoonnewartie? ps J I , / “I thought — asked Hoke. — I come to get ze—what you call “T don’t blame — -you, for Merriwell certainly gave you the glad foot.” “He shall, : eee Sie. | I pa RRS OE an et ig ~" WR, gn pt es Pe TOF coe . “Skill brains and determination to back them. eens ate oe ai Why, Dupont, with that fellow out of the way you would be the leader in this school.” “FEet ees not zat for which I have ze most care now,” pe protested the French boy. ‘Ket ees to even down with heem.”’ ane “Even up you mean.” PRIMER SY “Ees eet zat way? You speak ze language back- ae ward. I do not weesh to keep heem up; I weesh to put . Li heem down.” Le “That’s 4 hard thing for anyone to do,” put in fm Hoke. “He’s established himself on solid footing a a here. Think of all the things he excels in. When you came into the gym you saw him doing stunts on the trapeze. 6 et ae z ee x) 4 He was using those two high trapezes in a perfectly fearless manner although a fall to the floor might have broken his neck. No other boy would do + that.” “Res he ze only one who ever tried eet?” asked Du- pont with a sudden queer look. _ “He’s the only one who’s ventured on them for some time,” nodded Silkley. “He wouldn’t be permitted to “do that if Prof. Broad were here.” ¥ : Suddenly the French boy placed the tip of his index : finger to his forehead and stood silent and meditative. “What's that pose for?” asked Snack Tait. “Hush!” hissed Dupont. When they urged him to reveal his thought a pecu- “T have ze thought!” ° , liar expression came over his face and he Poesy shook BN his head. Tae omemn ze fool talk. Maybe already I have made ze ‘too much talk.” Howlin’ Halifax! er cried ‘Tat. “Tf you can’t trust | ‘us, who can you tr ust ?” | “A “Oh, I have ze great confidence in you,” asserted ey Dupont. _ the thought out een ze aubiletsce ees to you I will tell eet.” h In vain they urged him. He shook his head with ‘ knowing smile, his manner seeming quite changed. On entering the room he had appeared. nearly beside himself with rage, but now he laughed and took a few ight dancing-steps, kicking w with one foot and then nt he other. “All ze same I take plenty of time to theenk Zen perhaps eet and attempting to open the window. WEEKLY. , 17 from a raid on John Snodd’s cellar, where they had ‘in time to see a dark figure disappear through that _ “Oh, ze Merriwell he trick me at ze chausson, eh?” he cried. “Oh, he have ze great fun wiz me! Ha! ha! Ze time come when I take ze turn at heem. “Pour.y danser le cancan Ou le Robert Macaire— ‘Toujours—toujours—toujours La nuit comme le jour— Et youp! youp! youp! Tra la-la-la-la! 1? Tra la-la-la! This snatch of a song brought a round of applause from Dupont’s encouraging companions. “That’s the stuff!’ cried Tait. “If you keep at it, old man, you'll deliver the goods and Mr. Merriwell will receive the assignment.” e CHAPTER IX. A NIGHT ENCOUNTER. Late that night a number of boys were returning tapped a cider barrel. They were inclined to be some- what hilarious, but the cooler-headed ones quieted them) down as they approached the academy. One or two of them were decidedly tipsy. Slipping round to the rear of the building with the idea of reentering by a certain window, they were just window which was softly lowered. “What does that mean ?” thickly muttered one of the boys. “Oh, somebody else has been out to-night, that: S all, a" said another. “Well, anyhow, te didn’t get at old Snodd's cider. Hoop-a-la! Whoopee!” . “Shut up, you fool!” hissed several of his com- panions. ce “Oh, I want to sing! I want to dance! I want to jump! I could jump twenty feet into the air if I wasn’t » so weak!” : “We've got to get him into bed as soon as we can!” growled one. “He'll be off,his pins in a short time.’} They found a short piece of board which was placed against the building, one of them mounting upon it He pushed and © tugged a few moments muttering: ““What’s the matter with that confounded thing? | It’s stuck.” “Can't you open it ?” asked an anxious is chap below. i “No; hang it! I can’t move it at all.” 18 TIP; TOP said another. ‘‘It’s fas- hat window never sticks,” tened sure as fate!” “Fastened ?” “That’s right,” gasped several in dismay. admitted the fellow who was seeking to open it. “The blamed old thing is fastened! Boys, we're shut out! We’re in a scrape! The fellow who entered just now fastened the window behind him.” The speaker slid down to the ground and stood re- garding his companions in a manner that seemed to betoken absolute distress. “What are we going to do?’ was the question that passed from lip to lip. “Were in a bad scrape, muttered one. “I don't know any other way to get inside.” They huddled close to the building and began to talk it over. | Suddenly one of the tipsy boys began to softly sing: 99 boys, “We won't go home till morning! We won’t go 33 home till—-——’ Several grabbed him and a hand was clapped over his mouth, while he was savagely shaken. “Are you crazy?” grated one. “IT may be crazy, but I ain’t no fool,” hummed the _ tipsy chap the moment that hand was removed from his mouth. “You're drunk, confound “That’s what’s the matter with, you. and keep it closed!’ “It’s a hard task, but Ill try it,” one. Again they were discussing the situation and seeking to discover some method of entering the building when, of a sudden, one of the boys gave a warning hiss. “Look, fellows, here comes some one!’ he palpitated. “Ye'll have to skedaddle!” : “Who is it?’ questioned another as a dusky figure was seen advancing from the direction of the gym. “Tt may be the watchman! Boys, if it’s the watch- man we've got to capture him and take the keys away from him. We've got to get inside. 7? handkerchiefs, quick! snarled one. Close your trap you!” said the hilarious The speaker began to tie a handkerchief over the lower part of his face, while the others followed his example. Those who were prepared did not wait for the unknown to come up but suddenly rushed upon him, seized him and flung him to the ground. “Wat der blazes you muts tryin’ ter do?” snarled an angry voice. _ “Jingos!” panted one of the participants. den!’ WEEKLY. Out with your — “Tt’s Rio-- “Well, who did you t’ink it was?” Of “What the dickens are you doing out here at this was the question. See? I guess I’ve What time of night, Rioden ?” “Dat din’t none of yer business! got a right ter come out, fer all of youse chaps. Mebbe you'll tell me dat?” was the answer. “We've been up to are you doing? “Why, sure,” Snodd’s.”’ TW ee lerr “Oh, we've been tapping his cider barrels. We know you won't give us away.. Now tell us what you've been doing.” , | “Dere ain’t no need of dat,” said Rioden, having risen to his feet. ‘“Mebbe I’ve been takin’ a walk.” “This is a fine night for a walk!” sneered one. “Tf it suits me you dubs ain’t got no call to kick.” “Well, you're liable to have a chance to walk some more,” “How’s dat?” “How are you going to get in?” “T guess I can find a way. How do youse fellers ex- pect ter git in?” “We did expect to get in by a window, but we’ve changed our minds. out for a walk. We came round the corner just in time to see him slipping in at the window, and the blamed fool fastened it behind him.” “Oh, yer did see some one, did you?” tioned Rioden. “Did yer know who it was?” “No, we didn’t recognize him.” “Dat’s too bad!” “Why all this disappointment ?” “Oh, never mind; dat’s all right. So youse blokes are out in der frosty world, are yer? Say, dat’s a fine joke on youse!” Rioden began to chuckle. “Oh, yes, it’s a fine joke!’ “We're in a bad scrape.” “And our funeral’s to-morrow!” individual. J Rioden laughed over the matter with suppressed glee: “Never mind,” he finally said; “we'll break down der door. We'll bust in a winder. What do you say, fellers ?” “That'll be fine!’’ sarcastically exclaimed one of them. “Tf you haven't ay better scheme than that you'll tail” to assist us any.” After tantalizing them for a while Rob finally said: “Aw, I rudder t’ink I ken show youse a way ter git in. I didn’t come out here wit’ der idee of being shet ?? out, you bet yer sweet lives! It seems that some one else was \ : “ eagerly ques- snapped one of the boys. sang i musical | eS f i, 4 heed ; ‘ f i ie i re : t > aaa TE ATP Or —why don’t you fade away, take ze sneak?” “You can sling a little slang yourself occasionally, can’t you? and rest.”’ Silkley proceeded to take a chair. Dupont looked exasperated. ’ protested I shall be pleased if you “Why you come here and make me all zis trouble?” he excitedly demanded. “Now, hold on, old man. I’m your friend; I want to impress that upon you. It is best for you to trust me. In fact, you’ve got to trust me now, for I’m dead onto you.” ; “Dead—dead ?” questioned Durand, horror.. “Are zey both dead?” | | “Oh, you mean Merriwell and Buckhart? No, they’re not both dead.” “Ah!” breathed the French boy. “In fact, neither of them are dead, worse luck!’ Shaking like a leaf, Durand sprang forward and shoulder. ry ieee “it won’t work with Go > You come to ze | “For you I have no © Why don’t you—what you Oh, ’min no hurry. IJ think Ill sit down’ in quivering a on Be LE hit ga ou wa Fr He TIP he demanded. “Say eet “What ees eet you say?” once more zat I may have ze understanding.” “Oh, now keep hold of yourself.’’ “How ees zat I can do? What for should I keep hold of myself? But I have ze hold of you. Now you tell me what eet ees you say. Are zay dead ?”’ _ “T told you they were not. In fact, Merriwell seemed ~~ scarcely hurt, which is his usual rotten good luck.” “Mon Dieu!’ palpitated the French boy. “Zis ees | es ze great information! Zis ees ze splendid news! I saw | him fall. I saw zem both lay still on ze floor.” “Then, instead of joining the others when they _ gathered around and trying to act natural, you dusted _. out of the place like a chump. Didn’t you know that _ was the quickest way in the world to arouse suspicion ?” | “T care not for ze suspicion,” declared the young _ Frenchman. “Oh, eet’s ze delightful theeng you say! He ees not dead! Fr “Well, if you’re so blamed pleased over it why did — you put up that job?” ‘ ¥ “Put up? Job! No, no, never did I so do!” + @6©6 sr “Back up, back up!” smiled Vance. “Don’t give me any of that. I’m over seven and I have my eye-teeth ars ee < “ _ teeth of you zat we talk about, How eet was they _ should not both be keeled?” — “T told you that was Merriwell’s luck; but Buckhart _. didn’t get out of it so easy. Next to Merriwell him- self, I’m glad to see Buckhart get a good bump. | loud-mouthed cow-puncher makes me very weary.” |. “Ze vary great bravery he have. He ees not like -| some of ze great coward I know.” ae “Oh, he has nerve,’ admitted Silkley, with re- _ luctance; “‘but I think that’s because he’s such a blamed fool he don’t know enough to be frightened. A fellow of imagination, a fellow of refinement, is afraid occa- sionally. Then if he overcomes his fear he shows real | courage. I’ve never yet seen that blatant cowboy when | I thought he knew enough to be afraid, and therefore | his courage is of no credit to him.” “et ees not zat wheech shall make ze discussion,” |} cut in Dupont. “You tell me ze truth when you say -Deek Merriwell ees not hurt at all?’ “Well, why do you think I'd lieto you? No, he isn’t hurt, but they’ve taken Buckhart to the hospital and he’s tucked away beneath the sheets. They say he may be injured internally. Perhaps he will die. If so, - betw een you and me, it will be no great loss to this - school.’ Swiftly the look of relief faded from Durand Du- pont’s face. Once more his features became haggard and drawn. “So eet ees ze other one zat weel die!” he muttered. _“Zat ees just as bad!” “There’s nothing bad about it,” said Vance heart- TOP ee cut.” i's *T don’t see what ze teeth of ze eye have to do wiz eet,” said the French boy angrily. “Eet ees not ze -° That WEEKLY, 23 snarled Dupont, with a sudden ‘‘How you dare come here and “You speak ze lie!” furious burst of anger. say I do eet?” “Now drop that. You know you did it. me into the gym to see w hat would happen. fool me, my boy.” This seemed to add fuel to the French boy’s fury. “Go out of zis room!’ he frothed. weel have not anysing to ee zat hurt ze cow-puncher boy. lie!” He flung open the door. “Go quick ! he grated, pointing a shaking finger to- ward the open door. Eef you do not you know what eet ees to you zat will happen!” Silkley realized that the overwrought boy meant it. Suddenly he fancied himself attacked by Dupont, beaten, kicked and thrown out of that room. With al- most ridiculous haste he rose and sidled toward the door. “All right!’ he snapped. “But you’re making a big mistake. I can expose you and you know what will happen then. I can tell them who did that little piece of work.” ‘ He dodged out of the room. “Eef you say eet was me you weel tell ze lie, ze lie, ze lie!” Dupont flung after him. You led You can’t fire of “Wiz you I You say I do some trick Eet ees ze lie, ze lie, ze CHAPTER XII. THE PANGS OF CONSCIENCE. Up and down the room paced Dupont. He ‘was quivering in every nerve. Finally, unable to keep still longer, he hurried out and descended the stairs. On the steps he found a number of grim-faced cadets, who were talking.in low tones. He paused and listened. Finally, unable to restrain himself longer, he touched Earl Gardner on the arm and asked: “QOu’est ce que? What do zay talk about?” Gardner gave him a quick look. “Haven't you heard?” he asked. Dupont shook his head. “T hear zat zay have ze accident.” “‘Accident!”’ said Earl, in a low, terrible voice. “There was no accident about it. ‘It was one of the most dastardly tricks ever perpetrated in this school. The fellow who did it ought to hang, and I believe the boys will lynch him if they catch him.” “What ees eet zat was done?” asked Durand, with a slight break in his voice. “You know about Merriwell’s fall, don’t you? He was on the flying trapeze, and the bar broke. That bar had been tampered with. It was cut until it would not support his weight. -Buckhart caught Merriwell and was badly hurt. He may die.” !” muttered Dupont. “Fet ees terrible! “Who could do eet ?” 24 TIP TOP WEEKLY. “Whoever he was he’s the dirtiest dub that ever drew a breath,” answered Earl, The French boy crept back to his room. He closed the door behind him but did not fasten it. For some moments he stood with bowed head and drooping shoul- ders, “Zat Gardner he spik ze truth,” he finally whispered. “T am ze worst boy zat ever was! Oh, I have ze awful tempare! I do ze terrible theeng before I theenk what eet mean! Zay say I ought to hang!” As he uttered the final words he glanced at a stout hook high in the wall. This hook had been placed there to allow him to use an elastic exerciser. With a shudder he turned away and approached the table Putting out a quivering hand he started to pick up the photograph of his fhother; but, when he had lifted it a little, he let it fall with a smothered cry of pain. “No!” he cried in French. ‘I cannot let those eyes ‘see me again!” Opening a little drawer he took out the exerciser. A part of it was made of stout, thick cords. With a knife he severed one of these cords and once more , ‘turned the hook in the wall. Beneath the hook he placed a chair upon which he stepped. Then he made a noose in the cord and attached it to the hook. “What are you doing dere?” asked a voice that made him jump and look round. | Rob Rioden was standing i in the open doorway. “Zis ees my room,” reminded the French boy. “Dat’s all right,” said Rob, as he coolly entered and ‘closed the door. “Wat kind of a rig are youse fixin’ up?” “To you eet ees nothing at all!” hotly flung back Dupont. ‘Why you come here? Why you bozzer me?” \ . _ “Now den’t get excited. Don’t fly off der handle, Predchy, «I jest tought I’d come in and have a little _ chin wit’ youse.’ “Chin? chin ?” repeated Dupont, touching his own chin with one finger. “How you mean eet?’ “Aw, cotne squat on a chair and ‘we'll gab,” said the ; visitor. “Ain't yer goin’ ter tell me w’at dat t’ing is you're riggin’ up?” - ; “Eet ees no business to you.” i “AY right; don’t tell if yer don’t wanter.. I seen youse in der gym a little while ago.’ | The French boy repressed a shiver and said nothing. “Dat was quite a bad t’ing dat happened dere, wasn’t it?” Rioden went on. ‘Did 3 youse hear about how some | feller cut der trapeze bar?” ia “Qui,” answered Dupont faintly. me wonder who dene dat trick?” | “Ah! how ees eet I can tell?’ cried the French lad -resentfully. ‘Why you ask me zat?” “Well, I kinder t’ink der most of us’ll git Ludaninnelt a few. Dey’re goin’ ter investigate dis business purty | close. Whoever done dat t’ing done it ter knock Dick, _ Merriwell out. Der feller who cut der bar waned § ter kill Merriwell. Don’t you t’ink so?” ‘ “Eet may be so,” acini et Daan. . of der fellers do,” sort dat hesitates at much of anyt’ing. he give me a kick dat knocked me into der drink. drown. “Of course it is. -You know it is. All der fellers'| know it is. Now, say, Frenchy, w’at do you tink of ° a chap who would do a-t’ing like dat? Ain’t he der limit? and ain’t he about der worst mut dat ever breathed ?” “He ees ze coward!” panted Dupont. “Well, w’at do yer t’ink oughter happen to a feller like dat?” Involuntarily Dupont glanced toward the hook and the loop of cord. “He should have ze hanging by ze neck unteel he ees dead,” he declared. “Well, you seem to t’ink jest about der way der rest nodded Rob. “TI reckon dat’s right, too, when you come ter figure it all over. You know when Dick Merriwell come back to dis old school I was — here, and I rudder took meself fer all der goods. hadn’t been nobody fightin’ nobody wit’ dere feet and hands der way you do, and I c any feller in der school could do me up. When I seen Merriwell come back and der bunch gushin’ over him it made me sick. I made up me mind dat I would take some of der toploftiness out of dat feller or kill him. — “When I makes up me mind ter anyt’ing like dat I’m purty sure to go der whole limit. I ain’t one of der © All der same, — every time I tried to do him a dirty turn I got der worst of it. Dat made memadder and madder. Arter a time I made up me mind dat I’d light on him alii: spraddled out. Den we had a fight. Say, he’s der slickest ever wit’ his mitts. Barrin’ feet, dere ain’t anudder feller at Fardale dat ken wallop Rob Rioden. Frenchy, if you couldn’t kick I’d lick der packin’ outer you in jest about a minute and a half. Merriwell didn’t do no kickin’ when we went up against each other. He fit on der level, like a gent, and he done me good and handsome. “Did I quiet down? Not on your tintype! Dat ott made me hate him all der worse. I s’pose you remem- ber how I took him out in dat old bo’t; but I don’t tink you know everyt’ing dat happened den. I tried to’ make him believe I was goin’ to t’row him overboard. His hands was tied, and. wen I went to.pick him up — Say, dat was a tough scrape fer me, fer I couldn’t git back inter dat bo't alone. | somehow he jest busted dem ropes dat held him and — den he helped me inter der bo’t. Most any udder feller — would have rapped me on der knuckles and let me — Dat would have served me right, too. vy “Arter he pulled me in we found der oars Was gone. z Dere we was wit’ der wind howlin’ an’ the tide goin’ out an’ dark comin’ on, an’ we was goin’ out ter sea. I was wet and stiff wit? der cold. Did Merriwell tell me w’at a white-livered cur I was? No; instead pf dat, he talked to me friendly and kind, an’ right dere [ begun to feel meaner dan any cuss dat ever was bornd. He told me some t’ ings ‘bout God, too. Since dat time when I get low an’ rotten I jest t’ink of w’at he said. Ha jest t’ink to meself, nee uae dere’ sa ets at's Dere | lidn’t have no idee dat i 3 What did Merriwell do? Why, | ar jo a ——. - Silage ak ais we: _ watchin’ youse. He knows der kind of a low-down, “mangy cur you be, if nobody else does.’ And dat’s ex- _ actly der fix we're all in. No matter what sort of a trick we do, even if we cover it up from everybody else, we can't hide it from God.” _ Dupont was rigid and his face looked like weather- worn marble _“Eet ees all truth zat you say,” he admitted. i Strange though it must have seemed under different | circumstances, he did not wonder at such words from v4 Rioden. 7 “Dere was queer t’ings happenin’ ‘round dis joint last night,” Rob went on. “Dere was somebody got up in der night and went outside. I seen ’em do it, for I happened to be up meself. Dat feller, whoever he was, went out by a winder and he seemed to have ‘some sort of business ’round der gym.” ‘ Rioden paused and looked hard at Dupont, whose MO OLE he ee WSL RF oe Set ek. SO. 6. © oi f Re ge % hy qn: “Mebbe dat feller got into der gym and cut der He trapeze bar,” the big plebe went on. “W’at do you ee tink of him if he done dat ?” | “He ees ze miserable coward!” answered the French boy hoarsely. | “Ts dat jest w’at you tink?” am Zat ees ect.” et _ “Well, I guess everybody else t’inks so, too. eat Merriwell. "He didn’t do it, but now dey say aden Buckhart is done fer. So der sneak will be a murderer When yer say he’s a coward dat may be der Dere’s only one ting dat will prove he’s not. ae - Dere’ s only one t’ing dat will prove dere’s de spark of aman in him.” “What eet ees?” questioned Durand br eathlessly. - “He'll have to make a clean breast of it.” - “Clean breast? How ees zat?” “Why, he’ll have ter come out on der level and con- fess. It’s der only t’ing he can do ter prove dat he has a bit of decency in him. If I was in dat mut’s place T’d go to Dick Merriwell and I’d sing humble. I’d own p to der whole business an’ I’d take me medicine.” “Medicine? How? Deek Merriwell ees not ze doc- re. ” “You dosn't baribte Frenchy. I mean dat I’d stand er anyt’ing dat was comin’ ter me. If der feller dat ne ter trick’ll own up he'll feel a heap sight better, o matter w’at happens. Dat’s my idee.” Slowly Dupont sank on a chair, resting his elbows mn his knees and placing his head between his hands. _ Not another word came from his lips, although Rioden continued to talk to him for some minutés. Finally b went out and left him ‘sitting thus in the dull vaning light of the stormy afternoon. Durand Dupont was a creature of intense emotions \ Finally he sprang to his feet. “Oh, ” he cried, ““T cannot do eet! I am the worst ‘and the greatest cowarfl een all the world!” fe flung himself across the bed and burst into reliev- VEEKLY. 2 CHAPTER XIII. REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS. The night came on bleak and dreary. Shortly after darkness wrapped the world a boy stole away from Fardale Academy and hurried into the stormy gloom. It was Durand Dupont, whose courage had failed him. even in his mad plan at self-destruction. There was a tumult in the French boy’s brain. He could not seem to think, save in a vague, disjointed manner. In- deed his mental suffering had almost turned his brain. Although he fancied he was escaping from the academy without being observed, such was not the case. He had been seen- hurrying out in that manner with a wild expression in his eyes, and he was fol- lowed. “Tf they catch me they weel hang me!” he thought. “That would keel my poor mother!” Behind him a voice called. It sent a great throb of fear through him. He halted a moment and looked around. .Through the darkness and storm he fancied he could see a vague figure approaching. “They are after me!” he palpitated. ‘Then he took to his heels and ran for his very life. On and on he went, heedless of the direction. Some- times he fell and rolled over. He plunged across snowy fields where there were drifts to his knees. He bumped into fences and scrambled over them. Finally, altuost completely done up, he paused and listened, peering behind him. To his horror he heard the eee of crunching feet on the snow and again beheld that awesome pursuer. Once more summoning his strength he sped away. Indeed fear enabled him to cover ground in a most anlazing inanner. . At last he came to an icebound, snow-covered stream. It was a little river that ran down into Lily Lake. A moment he hesitated and then started to cross the ice. He had reached the middle of the stream when, without the slightest warning, the ice gave way be- neath him and he plunged into the water. He man- aged to get a hold with his arms, and there he hung with the currerit dragging at his legs. His strength was nearly gone. In vain he sought to draw himself out. Hus efforts came near causing him to lose his hold, and he knew that to lose it would prove fatal, for the water would sweep him away be- neath the ice. Once more he fancied he heard that voice calling. Weak and faint, he answered. . He was slipping; his hold was crumbling, he be- lieved the end at hand. “At least it is better than to hang,” was the dull thought that passed through his mind. Just as he was going, with the last bit of strength departed from him, he seemed to realize that a dark figure loomed above him. Then he felt strong hands clutch his wrists and he knew no more until he awoke in a warm me “yy 26 TIP TOP “What ees eet zat has happened?’ he muttered faintly. “Oh, I have had ze terrible dream!” “T don’t think it: was-a dream, my lad,” said a voice, and Dupont saw the doctor. seated near the bed. “You've had a narrow escape.” “Ees eet true zat I break through ze ice?” “Yes, you broke through the ice and came very near being drowned. You owe your life to Dick Mer- riwell.” “What?” almost shouted the French boy, as he tried to sit up in bed. “How ees zat? What you mean when you say I owe eet to Deek Merriwell?” “Why, Merriwell saw you go out and he thought you acted strangely. He followed you and tried to ovettake you, but you ran away, and he nearly lost you in the storm. ' It was good luck more than any- thing else that led him to you when you broke through the ice. He pulled you out and brought you here in his arms.” Dupont fell back on the pillow and lay still staring at the ceiling. Fully ten minutes passed, and the doctor was. mov- ing as if to leave, when the boy in the bed put out his hand and faintly said:, “Doctaire, I weesh you would do somesing for me.”’ “What is it, my lad?” “Tt weesh you would send Deek Merriwell here to keep me company. I do not like to have you leave me here all alone.” | “You're not alone,” said the doctor. companion in the next bed.” “That’s whatever! I’m here too, Frenchy!” Once more Dupont nearly leaped out of bed. “Oh, you here, Mistaire Buckhart?” he cried. “Sure thing.” cer Then you are not dead ?” “You have a “A long distance from it, I opine. The doctors says. I can get up to my room to-morrow. He thinks I'll be all right ina day or two. Why, I wanted to get out of this old bed to-night, but he wouldn’t let me.” Dupont lay back on the pillow and was very, very still until Dick Merriwell came and stood by the bed. “Well, you had a narrow squeak, Dupont,” said ‘Dick, as he bent over and touched the French boy’s hand. - Quick as a flash Durand pulled his hand away. “Don’t touch me!” he cried. “You don’t know how bad Iam! I want to tell eet to you. When I tell eet you will hate me. Eet was I, ze one who cut ze tra- peze bar. Eet was I who tried to do you ze great hurt. Now go tell everybody, zen zay will come and take me away to ze prison!” “Great horn spoon!” exclaimed Buckhart. Once more Dick Merriwell bent over the bed, this time grasping Dupont’s hand firmly. “You didn’t have to tell me,” he said. “I knew it already.. Snack Tait thought Rob Rioden did the trick, and he was glad enough to charge Rob with it. He came to me and told me Rioden. was the one. WEEKLY. When I faced Rioden and pinned him down he had to tell he saw you go to the gym last night.” “When deed thees happen?” asked Dupont. was after. you pulled me from the reefer?” “No, it was before that. I knew what ailed you when I saw you rush out into the storm, and that is _ why I followed you.” ‘And you saved. me after you knew what I deed to you?” Yes,” “Oh, Deek Merriwell, how could you do zat? No matter what zay may do to me, now I know zat you're ze most splendid boy zat ever was!” “Whoop!” exclaimed Buckhart. “Now you're talk- ing, Frenchy! I opine you bumped me about as hard as anyone, but you seem a whole lot repentant, and as long as I’m coming out of this thing all right I’m willing to forgive you.” “Forgive me?” whispered Dupont, as if he could not believe it. riwell cannot do zat.” “Oh, yes, I can, Dupont, old man!” exclaimed Dick, again seizing the French boy’s hand and giving it a warm grip. “I think you realize what a mistake you have made, and I believe you have been punished enough. I forgive you freely.” Thus ended “Bloody Week.” *‘Eet THE END. The Next Number (505) Will Contain | Dick Merriwell’s Dashing (ame; THE FAST FIVE FROM FAIRPORT. Chester Declines to Withdraw—Castle Likewise Declines. Professor Biddecomb has Visitors—In the Professor’s Study—The Professor Surrenders—Castle is Forced tothe Wall—Before the Athletic Committee—Dash- ing Ned’s Rebellion—The League of Three—Smooth and GSilent’s Mission — The Emissary’s Failure. What Happened in the Woods—The Missing Player. _ How the Game Ended. their friends appear only inthe pages of Ti Top. BURT L. STANDISH writes exclu “You forgiveme? Ah! but Deek Mer- / TIP TOP WEEKLY. 27 ti 4 the se hican 8th. | say! An ideaP tlc NEW YORK, December 9, 1905. TERMS TO TIP TOP WEEKLY MAIL SUBSCRIBERS. (Postage Free.) Single Cupies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each. ONG FRA io 5s enc oudesids vende ouepaioe 2 copies One year.............- 4.00 1 copy two years.............- 4.00 eT LC Sis oee cdi’, es 65e. SEMI GUA oo as igukact ss chiodexe 85e. TLD cou kein Code dows nee u'na’e $1.25 ! How to Send Money — By post-office or express money order, registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent uf by currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. Receipts—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper ‘change of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly credited, and should let us know at once. ts STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY, 79.89 Seventh Avenue, New York City. TIP TOP ROLL OF HONOR. Following the suggestion of Mr. Burt L. Standish, that appeared in his letter to Tip Top readers in No. 480, the following loyal Tip ‘Toppers have won for themselves a place on our Honor Roll for their efforts to increase the circulation of the King of Weeklies. Get in line boys and girls and strive to have your name at the head of the list. William Alkire, 295 Laurel St., Bridgeton, N. J. Z.T. Layfield, Jr.. Montgomery, Ala. J. G. Byrum, Chattanoga, Tenn. Wm. Schwartz, New York City. Edw. W. Pritner, Curelsville, Pa. H. D. Morgan, Indianapolis, Ind. Wh. A. Cottrell, Honolulu, H. I. J. (Pop) H., Birmingham, Ala. Roy R. Ball, 902 Olive Street, Texarkana. Fred F. Blake, 1512 E. 10 St., Kansas City, Mo. The names of other enthusiastic Tip Toppers will be added fom time to time. Send in the result of your efforts to push the circula- tion of your favorite weekly and win a place on the Roll of Honor. Os } - APPLAUSE. Ree Owing to the number of lotions received, the editors of Tip Top cannot undertake to secure their publication under six weeks. Those ‘who contribute to this department must not expect to see them before am a oir! reader, and having read Tip Tor for almost three years, | I think it is eee and the finest weekly published. Frank and Dick are O K. They are the “finest ever,” and I would dearly love to know them. “Brown Eyes,” of Dallas, Tex., wants to claim Brad, but I n certainly a rival, for I want him myself. But I’m afraid fadia has “cut us out.” Fardale, and am just crazy for him to get his football team ogether, for it will seem like old times once again. I am also seball fan. Some of the readers “sine the Arkansas people are all like rkansas Bill,” but we are not. e “dear noble Dick” will win sweet, Eiveieyaa Queen a bride. She is my favorite, with little Felicia a close What has become: eee arene Dave : Flint is a I am so glad Dick and Brad are back _ fine boy; also, Earl, big Bob, Hal, Tubbsie, and last, but not least, dear little “Teddie.” He is a perfect little darling. I like Frank’s friends in this order: Frank,. Bart, Jack D., Harry R., Dade Morgan, Dick Starbridge, Hans, Joe, Gallup, and Mrs. Frank Merriwell, Elsie, Winnie, Julia and Teresa Gallup. I love the old flock best, for they are so dear to old readers. Can’t we have a reunion when Frank and Inza come back from their honeymoon? Burt L. is the finest writer I know of, and if he will do this favor, I’ll send him a nice box of bonbons. Well, I am taking fp too much space, so I will “ring off.’ I hope Mr. Standish will tell Dick, Brad, Doris and Dave hello for “Brownie.” Hoping to hear from the readers of the “prince of weeklies,” I am, ever a true Dorisite and Tip Topper. From a girl reader in old Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Ark. ° “BrowNik.” We always like to receive such charming letters from girl readers. They show that the weekly is, as ever, popular with young ladies as with the young men. Barrow, Chip, Billy, I have read your “prince of weeklies” for over two years, but this is the first time I have written-to you, and I can truly say that the Tie Top is the best magazine I have read. I have just finished No. 403, and I think it is just fine. Frank is a model American youth, and I wish there were more like him. Next to Frank, I like Dick, Bart and Brad. I am very much pleased with Frank’s choice of Inza, but am disappointed that there was not a double wedding. I think that June is the girl for Dick, and Nadia the girl for Brad. I think that “Sir Joseph Crowfoot” is fine. Hoping that this short letter may not reach the wastebasket, I close. A sincere admirer, ALFreD Nunccks and Quincy Nimock. Fayetteville, N. C. Have no fear of an appreciative letter like yours to our Ap- plause column finding the wastebasket. Hurrah for Dick Merriwell, Our hero brave atid true, Fighting for the noble cause, He’ll win the victory, too. In football he’s a dandy, Never resorts to foul play; On the gridiron he is handy, And for Fardale wins the day. Every baseball game he’s in it With his fine new rising curve; He says, “Come, boys, we got to win it, For this Haine we do deserve.” rere’s to wood old Fardale And her colors of “Red and Black. " May they always win in athletic sports, For there’s nothing that they lack. But we mustn’t forget the good old flock, They cannot be left out; And Burt L., too, must come in here, As you all know, no doubt. Yours, L. S-Gerst. New York City. The foregoing lines speak weil for your sincerity and loyalty to the Tip Top WEEKLY. This is my first attempt and it tools it. I wonder if Fase old Frank is to be forgotten? I liked the stories better when we had the dear old bunch at Yale, and Frank’s friends were far ahead of Dick’s, except Brad; he is the goods. I don’t see so many letters wishing for Frank as I would like. Hoping for the return of Frank and Bart and the old bunch, I remain, an ardent admirer of Frank and his friends at Yale, Watertown, N. Y. . H. Putnam. Have no fear that Burt L, Standish will forget to bring your n favorites on the scene again. He mon take care of = the boys — in some future issue. 28 TIP TOP WEEKLY. T have been reading your famous weekly a good while, so I thought that it was time I said something. I write this letter to make a suggestion. That is, to put an ad somewhere in the Tie Tor for everybody to write to the firm what numbers they wanted from No. 1 up.. If a sufficient number of requests come in to make it pay to reproduce them, then let them reissue the libraries about every month. I think this is a good plan, and I hope to see it put into operation soon, as I will want all of the old numbers from No. 1 to No. 300. I think all of the readers of this paper will Well, if anyone wants to write me, just address, Burnet, Tex. While we appreciate your suggestion, it would hardly be feasible to supply back numbers that appeared before No. 302. If anyone desires libraries published since then they will be sup- plied for five cents apiece. Consult our catalogue of five-cent libraries, agree with me. Box 83. As this is my second letter in a few weeks, I will make it short. My other letter brought me a number of postals, among which was a view of the public library at Milwaukee, Wis., with no address en If sender will please forward his address, I ‘wit be glad to return his favor. I write this so that he may not think that I am unfair in my postal dealings, as he may not have discovered his failure to give his address. Fenton HoiMgEs. 1911 North Seventh Street, Terre Haute, Ind. We like to see such fairness exhibited toward anyone who has responded in good faith to a request for postal cards. No - doubt the person who sent the card from Milwaukee without receiving one from you in exchange will appreciate the good will you show in the matter. I have been a reader of Tip Top for a number of years, and needless to say, am an ardent admirer of the Merriwells. It may seem as if I am just copying the fellows who write to the Tip Top, and am trying to praise it because the others are praising. Of all the books I have read I enjoy Tie Top the best. I have read lots of books, including novels, but think that Tre Top is better than all. Now about Dick and his chums. I think they are all right. No one ever had a better chum than Brad is to Dick. I will close now, yours truly, Biue-Eyep Jessie. Altoona, Pa. Everyone who reads Tip Top has only praise for its chief char- acters. This is the reason why what you have to say is like the letters of others who write us. T have been a constant and admiring reader of your valuable Paper for a number of years. think Frank Merriwell the ideal of Young America, and one that every young man would do well to imitate. I like all of the characters in this story, except the son of Mr. D. Roscoe Arlington. Hoping that I am not taking too much space for the first at- tempt, and with three lung-splitting yells for Messrs. Street & Smith and Mr. Burt L. Standish, I beg to remain, » Atlanta, Ga. ‘A Tie TOPPER FROM GEORGIA, Frank Merriwell is the ideal of Young America. oe ne \ I first became acquainted with the Tre Top Werexty almost six years ago, when IJ read No. 203. I have read every one since that and most all of the previous ones. In order that I might get a continuous story, I started to read the Merriwell shotige in the Medal Library, and a second reading makes them tm interesting. My favorites among the old characters are k and Inza, Bart and Elsie, Barney Mulloy, Bruce Browning, ack Ready and Buck Badger. Now a word about Dick. He is in/all respects a model American boy, but he can never occupy the place that Frank does in the hearts of those who have fol- lowed him through all his troubles and triumphs.. I don’t wish you to infer that I don’t care for Dick, but that I care for Frank more. assume the title of Mrs. Richard Merriwell, aihongt I think that Dick “has a pene for siege Ft I think it is altogether too early to conjecture who will Among Dick’s friends, I prefer Brad, Hal, Flint and Ted Smart. They certainly were glad to see him on-his return to Fardale. Well, here’s to Burt L. and Street & Smith, and may their shadows never grow less. Yours sincerely, | Philadelphia, Pa. Pratr M. Nose, This is a well-penned appreciation of the stories running in the great weekly which has appealed.to so many thousands for nine successful years. Having read your -Tie Top WEEKLY from No. 1 to No. 404, I think T am entitled to a place in your Applause column. I like Frank, Dick, Brad and big Bob Singleton best, and I like all of Dick’s crowd, too. I think June has a sweet. disposition, but am sorry to see that she has met with this misfortune. Chester got what was coming to him, all right. Hoping this letter will not reach the wastebasket, and with three cheers and a tiger for Burt L. Standish, I sign, yours truly, “DutcH” Mot, Memphis, Tenn. You certainly are entitled to space in the’ Applause pret, I now take pleasure in writing to the king of weeklies, namely, Tre Top. I have all copies from No. 200 to 405, aR have kicked myself because I did not start reading from No, I have started four or five of my friends reading Tre Top, and — now they secure it as soon as old ‘Perkins,’ our news dealer, gets his supply. I have a brother who is a good amateur base- ball player, and says he learned a great deal by copying after that great American model, Dick Merriwell. Hoping this is not too long, I remain, a devoted and everlast- ing reader of the king of weeklies, HAROLD VINCENT. Syracuse, N. Y. Your brother can profit from Frank’s example in other ways 4 than the one'you mention. If he takes the great American hero as his model in daily life, he will become a man whose admira- ble traits everyone will recognize as the qualities which made Frank such a favorite with the reading public. The Tre Top Weex ty, I think, is the greatest book published. I read it almost constantly. I think Frank Merriwell is indeed a wonderful youth, and hope every boy will follow in his foot- steps, for if I were but a boy he would be my model. I think Elsie is the girl for Frank. I do not blame Elsie for falling in | love with him. I have almost fallen in love with him myself. I wish Frank had married Elsie. Next to Frank, I like Bart the best. Well, I will close, with three cheers for Frank and Elsie. I remain, a girl admirer, Miss E. R. B. Frank is a young man that all girls who admire fine, manly qualities would fall in love with at first sight. | As we have read about two hundred Tip Tops, we will venture our opinion of the weekly. We think it the “greatest ever,’ * $b, use a girl’s expression. Tip Tor is being closely pursued in the race for popularity among boys by the All-Sports. Still it is hold- ing more than its own in the race. We like all of the characters but Bart Hodge and Chet Arlington. In No. 141 of your weekly, the best a- going, we saw an advertisement of a book entitled. “Prof. Muldoon’s Wrestling.” Is this book still in print? is the earliest number of Tir Tor in print? What quarterlies are — still in print? author and Street & Smith, we remain, yours one Cleveland, Ohio. i OorP ages } We do not publish the work on wrestling you mention. The earliest Tip Tor in print is No. 302. The quarterlies are no longer printed. over two years. 4 Not having seen more than one letter from this part of Main I thought I would add to the list and express my Srnites rey of the Tip Top, king of weeklies. I think it is an excellent weekly for both boys and xis has true manly characters, ee: it is my sincere w phe that eve me What Closing with best wishes to Tre Top, its famous ‘HP fOr _ boy who reads Tre Top will take Frank and Dick Merriwell as ~ models, _ Frank and Dick are all right and are my favorites. Next to _ them are Bart and Brad, dear old Brad. What could Dick do ~~ without him? I think Inza, Elsie, June and Doris are fine girls, and am glad that Frank has married Inza. I hope that Bart will marry _ Elsie soon. _ June is the girl for Dick, and Nadia B. for Brad. I like ~Cap’n Wiley and his yarns, and hope he will appear again soon. I think Earl Gardner is real nice, too—because he came from ae Maine. I like Obed very much, and think we are pretty near + equal matches for eating pie. As for Chester A. and his gang, the Chickering set and a few others, I simply won’t speak of them; they are all beneath my notice. But I will say one thing—Chester will some day be one of Dick’s dearest friends. I liked the Tip Tops very much when Dick and Frank were out West with old Joe Crowfoot. I hope we will hear from old _ Joe “heap soon.” I also enjoy the baseball and football stories ~ + very much. I would like to exchange souvenir postals, beeause I am getting ~ a collection. Hoping this will not reach the wastebasket, I will close, with _ three cheers for Burt L. Standish and Street & Smith. I remain, he an earnest reader of the Tip Top WEEKLY, Nita Futon. , Blaine, Me. We haven’t any doubt that there will be many enthusiastic ‘Tip Top readers who will exchange postal cards with you so that your collection will be greatly enlarged. af I am an old reader of four years’ standing, and this is the first time I have taken the liberty to express my opinion of the Tie Top WEEKLY. I have had my troubles getting Tie Top every week, but so _far have missed only one, and at present get them by mail from a dealer in a larger town. As a last word, let me say that Mr. Standish certainly knows how to write a story that will hold the interest of the reader from the first to the last pages. Yours, with thanks for the many hours of pleasant and in- structive reading you have made possible for me, Lawton, Mich. ‘Guy RavInN. _ One is amply repaid for any inconvenience he may be put to in obtaining this great boys’ paper. oes Many is the time I have read the “ideal publication for the American youth” from cover to cover. I cannot but think what a man of such literary ability as Burt L. Standish has done for the coming men of America, and also the many men and women whose hair is turning gray. For over a space of nine years he has filled the hearts of the American people with his wonderful stories. — We close our eyes and let our thoughts run back to Frank’s school days at Fardale, those exciting times when the enmity and friendship of Bart Hodge was so evident. Then came the time he entered Yale, and his great class strug- giles for supremacy, when he gained the friends who were so true to him in the period of misfortune. His great athletic - feats on the diamond, gridiron and track were enough to make the blood thrill in the veins of any athletic reader. Then came the time when his inheritance was squandered by an unfortunate speculation by his guardian, who was influ- enced by a bitter enemy of Frank, and he—Frank—was forced - to leave college and earn a living by the toil of his own hands, y beginning at the bottom of the ladder as engine wiper on a. railroad, where he was promoted to fireman, and last to en- gineer, and so reached the top of the ladde Leaving the railroad, he began a very ingesting and exciting career on the stage, until at last he was again able to enter ~ Yale. and to finish his incompleted course, and at last wort his diploma with high honors. After which he had so much trouble with his mines, as sev- ral ers and scheming speculators were trying to obtain pos* sion of them. But the crowning event of his career was his marriage to_Inza Burrage; but I do not quite agree with his oice, 4 Elsie has been my choice ever since she entered his WEEKLY. 29 Now we come to Dick, Frank’s half brother, and his days at Fardale, and his trip around the world, with the many exciting adventures he had in London, Scotland, Constantinople, Damas- cus and other places. But with all of the praise which Dick and Brad are receiving, there will never be another character that will take the place of Frank and Bart. I appreciated a letter, in the Applause column in No. 465, from one Thomas A. Grady, of Erooklyn, N. Y., as he expressed my sentiments exactly. 1 would be very glad to hear from him if he would write to me. I would like to obtain as many of the numbers as possible, and if there are any readers who would like to trade me, write to the following address. I will now close, with Joe Jefferson’s toast, in “Rip Van Winkle,” for Frank Merriwell, the model American youth: “Here’s to your good health, and your family’s; may you all live long and prosper.” Belington, W. Va. Kepuart N. WALKER. Evidently you have enjoyed watthing Frank’s wondefful career with the most profound interest. It has been a liberal education to read of his adventures in foreign countries. The informa- tion to be gained in such matters will broaden your ideas of life and give you a fund of reminiscences, which is the next best thing to having actually traveled yourself. And, at the same time, you have been reading the most fascinating stories of an ideal American young man. I have read Tie Top for the last three years, and think it sim- ply great. I like Brad the best of the new flock, and Jack Ready best of the old, with the exception of Frank, of course. Dick’s adventures at dear old Fardale are, in my estimation, better than Frank’s at Yale. Ted Smart is certainly the “goods” with those funny sayings. Also, Billy Bradley with his(?). Tubbs will some time come to an untimely end on account of his undying affection for pies. I will never forget reading that book about the time Dick led Tubbs to the professor with the burning pies under his vest. I laughed myself sick that time. I like Hal Darrell immensely, even if he was once Dick’s enemy. I do not like that sneak, Arlington, but one cannot help admiring his persistency. Dick’s adventures in Turkey, Athens and, in fact, all over the Orient, are fine. As to the girls, I like Doris and Elsie best, and then Zona. Hope Dick gets Doris. I was sorry Frank stayed only a short time in our city, Buffalo, N. Y., as it is a beautiful place. I see, in the last copy, where Dick is back at Fardale, and I enjoyed it very much. The joke was certainly on Gooch. At present I am working in a book store and cigar stand, and sell lots of your publications every day. They go fine. Hoping that this will escape the wastebasket, and wishing a long life to Burt L. Standish, the best boys’ writer, and Street & Smith, I will close, very truly yours, M. DE LA VELLIERES. Buffalo, N. Y. Perhaps Dick will get Doris. Who can tell before the time comes? We won’t make any predictions, but shall wait patiently till Mr. Standish tells us how it actually happens. _ As I have read your weekly from No. 319, I thought I would ‘try and express my opinion of it, and at the same time ask you a few simple questions. I am not such an old reader as many of the rest, but I think I can say a few things about our famous Tip Top WeeEkty. It is the leading weekly down South, and I think it is all over the world, if I am not mistaken. There is no better author that ever lived than Burt L. Standish, and everyone will say the same. Frank is a real hero, and so is Dick, of course. Brad is my favorite, because he is a Texan. I will be glad when Frank takes the stage again. No Texan can see what he does down in Mexico just because Frank married. Some boys think Frank can’t have as good a time as he used to, but I think he can. He will show those Westerners how to shoot. Dick has returned to Fardale and is making things hot for old Chet Arlington. Will you be so kind and answer a few questions for me? Do you publish Tre Top, Nick Carter, Diamond Dick, Buffalo Bill, Young Rough Riders and Brave and Bold? The newsdealer gets these. Hoping this don’t reach the wastebasket, Yours truly, ReEAMoND C. WHITE. Houston, Tex. This firm publishes the various libraries you mention. You will find them all very interesting. a. Bcnmidt, * Pror. Fourmen: Kindly answer my questions. My age is 1714 years; weight, 128 pounds; chest, normal, 34 inches; ex- panded, 36 inches; waist, 31 inches; neck, 1334 inches; arm biceps, 12 inches. 1. How are my measurements? 2. Can hold twenty-five pounds at arm’s length. How is that? 3. Can hold breath one minute fifteen seconds. Is this the average time for my age? Thanking you beforehand, I remain, “Honus.” Pittsburg, Pa. 1. Your height not being given, I cannot judge satisfactorily of your proportions. 2. Good. — 3. Holding one’s breath is no test of lung power. On the other hand, it is injurious. East Indian pearl divers, who stay under water, holding their breath from three to five minutes, do not live long. Pror. FourmMen: Being’a reader of Tip Top and a would-be athlete, I take the liberty to write and ask your advice on hysical culture. My measurements are as follows: Neck, 14 inches; biceps, 11 inches; waist, 27 inches; chest, normal, 33 inches; expanded, 36% inches; calves, 13% inches; height, 5 feet 614 inches; age, 16 years 344 months. 1. What do you think of my measurements? Are they good? 2. Do you think if I keep on I can become a good athlete? 3. What exercise do-you ad- visé me to take to get good and strong and hard in about three months? \4. Do you think it would benefit my health and wind if I took a two-mile run three times a week this winter? Hop- ing to see this in an early edition, I remain, a would-be Hacken- 7 an Gro. ANDERSON. New York City. — . - tand 2. Not knowing what your weight is, I have no accu- | _ rate means of judging your general make-up. 3. Dumb-bell exercise and bag punching. J 4. Yes; but begin with short distances and increase ‘them gradually. | Pror. Fourmen: Being a constant reader of Tip Top, I take the liberty of asking you a few questions. My measurements are as follows: Age, 14 years 11 months; height, 5 feet 1 inch; ~ neck, 13 inches; reach, 6114 inches; forearms, 9 inches; wrists, 614 inches; chest, normal, 33 inches; expanded, 35 inches; waist, 28 inches; thigh, 19 inches; calves, 1214 inches; weight, 110 pounds; biceps, 12 inches; ankles, 8 inches. Please tell me if my measurements are good or not; also, my weak points, and how'I can strengthen them, I remain, yours truly, a true ad- mirer from the Buckeye State, Wii FARRELL, Zanesville, Ohio. Jose You are very well developed for a boy of your age. - Pror. Fourmen: As a reader of the famous Tie Top WEEKLY, I take the liberty to ask you a few questions. My measure- ments are as follows: Age, 16 years; height, 5 feet 44 inches; ‘weight, 15034 pounds; neck, 15 inches; across shoulders, 18% inches; around shoulders, 46 inches; chest, normal, 35%4 inches ; contracted, 34 inches; expanded, 4014 inches; waist, 30 inches; hips, 3634 inches; biceps, normal, 11/4 inches; expanded, 13% calf, 1434 inches; thighs, 2114 inches; reach, 63)2 inc 4 \ ‘stomach troubles is that, until lately, I have taken a large and what exercises I should take. don’t eat candy, pastry or anything else that only pleases the ' Stewed prunes or figs for breakfast are good to regulate the ‘the stomach with a mixture of several kinds of dishes at on inches; forearm, 11¥ inches; wrist, 7 inches; yinbaene are es. My smoking. BoeITE S&S PROF. FOURMEN : ae record for running broad jump is twelve feet three and one-half inches, I can chin the bar with my right arm six times, with my left five times and with both arms fourteen times. I can run a hundred yards in twelve seconds flat. 1. How do you think my measurements compare with my age, height and weight? 2. How do my measurements compare with other boys my age? 3. What are my weak points, and how can I develop them? 4. What are my strong points? 5. What do you think of my rec- ords? 6.1 can throw a sixteen-pound shot thirty-two feet two — inches. Is this good for a boy my age? Thanking you in ad- — vance for your trouble, I remain, a loyal friend to Tie Top, yours — truly, ' De ies GrorceE WoLF. © Philadelphia, Pa. Your measurements are good and compare well with other boys of the same age. The records of your prowess show that — you are a very athletic young man. Keep up your training and try to improve as much as possible. re oe Pror. FourMEN: Being a reader of the Tre Top Week ty, I — take the liberty of telling you about my physical condition and of asking your advice. I am 15 years 9 months old; my height «is 5 feet 514 inches and my weight only 105 pounds. I am thin and weak and have stomach trouble. For the past few years I have been troubled with indigestion. I am never feeling very — well, especially after meals. I think the main cause of my amount of candy, soda water, etc. I have also smoked some. I am round-shouldered and I have no/strength. I think that you can picture me now. I have written this letter to ask your ad vice as to how I may become healthy and strong and gain flesh. I would like to know what to eat and what to avoid, I work from. six-thirty until five-thirty, but it is outdoor work, taking messages. For the last few days my heart has been beating harder than usual, and fluttering. Please tell me the cause of this? I think I have told you all now. Kindly tell me what to do. Begging your pardon for such a long letter, I am, yours sincerely, Je Re A Altoona, Pa. Rio First, give up all bad habits. By this, I mean don’t smok palate, and don’t sit up late. Go to bed at ten o’clock, not o casionally, but every: night. A growing boy should get at least eight hours’ sleep. Eat plenty of cereals, vegetables and fruit. system. Avoid tea and coffee, as they are frequently the cause of indigestion. Let your meat eating be.done sparingly. Have regular hours for meals, and don’t, under any circumstance, t a “snack” between times. Gorging one’s self when at table often cause stomach trouble. Make a practice of rising from your meals with just a slight feeling of hunger. Overloz sitting clogs the system and prevents it from performi: proper functions. Drink a cup of hot water half an hour befo breakfast and one after you are ready to go to bed. This prac- tice you will find an efficient aid in curing stomach troubles, if the foregoing rules are steadily adhered to. The fluttering of the heart you complain of is probably due to excessive cig ; * m TIPTOP WREKLY Jj. A. P.—Have you any idea what it is that makes you so stout? I will tell you. exactly what the trouble is. You are a strong, healthy boy, but you don’t take enough exercise. You will understand this when I.tell you that part of the food we # eat is stored up in the body as fat and’ by and by when it is fo: needed is converted into muscular energy by a wonderful ye chemical change. Now you can see that if you eat as heartily ase : as ever, but make no muscular demand upog the fat you are continually storing up, the result will be that more and more fat will be deposited in. your*body. For this reason I want you to start right in and take regular exercise. Follow my directions for indoor training. Run a quarter mile daily, slowly at first, and gradually increase the distance. Don’t eat fatty “foods, by - which I mean fat meats, butter, potatoes, pies and other articles of food which you know to Be composed largely of fats. If you follow this’ out conscientiously you will see a great improvement in a short time. Write and let me know how you are suceed- ing. I shall expect to hear from you. oe ei Pror. Fourmen: I am jumping, pole vaulting and lifting weights. Do you think this is a good way to train? Ww. E. Chicago, Ill. This will afford you good exercise, but I would advise that you take a general course of training at the same time. The athlete must always aim to bring pis entire body to a state ap- proaching perfection, and then whatever special work he, does will come much easier. f oc Ribcies: 1eWhat is the best way to become broad- shouldered and broad-chested; also, the quickest way to gain weight? 2. Kindly let me know whether a few miles running once a week will harm me while I am trying to gain weight. - Tuscon, Ariz. 1. If you use the chest weights you will find that your chest and shoulders will be much benefited. I should advise you to ‘go into the course of general training. This will not only broaden your chest and shoulders, but will develop all your muscles, and you will take on weight as your muscles develop. 2. You had better run a short distance every day. Do not run 00 og or too fast at first. CE oe Fourmen: In. your article in the Tir Top you mentioned the fact that one should be in the fresh air at least three hours daily.. This is impossible for me to do, as I have been going to high school for two years and have very much work to do. In- smuch as I cannot get a hot dinner at twelve o’clock, kindly tell me if I should eat a hearty breakfast and a good supper. Then I usually eat a plate of ice cream after eating my sand- wich at noon. Kindly inform me if this is beneficial. F. F. V. _ Richmond, Va. Tf there is any young man in the present day whose occupa- on makes it impossible for him to spend three hours daily in the open air, if he so wishes, then there is something radically He is either being to change your course. ing is not quite as high. Get your ‘blood flowing with a ar , If you cannot make other sph tcitea as to sar your Ice cream is a very p sn will do so long as you are fesuiag: Get out into the air even if your eae 31 Pror. Fourmen: I wish you would tell me what to drink and eat to build my system up, and also tell me how to get some flesh on my bones. James Brown. Chicago, Ill. First. of all, be sure that you eat well. I mean by that, do not eat too fast, do not eat things that you have found to dis- agree with you, eat regularly and never over-eat. Oatmeal or some like cereal, with a little meat or an egg for breakfast, a good hearty meat dinner at noon, and a light supper at night will prove a very beneficial diet. Drink plenty of milk. Don’t force yourself to eat if you have no appetite, but be sure to do everything in your power to build up an appetite, and in this way hearty eating will become a matter of course and a pleasure. Pror. Fourmen: Do you think that each meal thirty minutes after exercising is good? Is coffee, when taken after rising, in- jurious or not? A Trp Topper. Always wait at least that long. Any artificial stimulant is injurious to an athlete in training. Coffee is an artificial stim- ulant, and you will therefore do much better without it. ALFRED Burpanx.—To improve your “wind,” you must try to improve your lung capacity. A good way to do this is to start in training, and as you exercise inflate your lungs repeatedly. Stand at attention, shoulders back, arms at side. Draw in a j dese breath and retain it in the Jungs while you slowly count Ve. Then make a complete expiration. Repeat this five times at first, gradually increasing the number. It 1s also a good plan eee this deep breathing while running short distances slowly. J. Cutco.—An excellent way to strengthen the legs is as fol- lows: Stand at attention, toes on the line. Bend the knees so that the body is lowered until you can touch the floor with your finger tips. Rise on your toes as you lower the body, keep- ing your weight on the ball of the foot, and not letting the heels touch the floor until you come back to the position of attention. Repeat this movement ‘ten times the first day, increasing the number by two each day until you can do it a hundred times A short run daily will prove very beneficial. without fatigue. Pror. FourmMEN: 1. I eat my meals at 7:30 A. M., 12 noon and 6 P. M., and I attend school from 9 A. M. until 4 P. M. Now, AS aL cannot change above times of eating, and school hours in ter- fere, it is almost impossible to do gymnastic work, or exercise, either before or after meals without doing so before meals are digested. Will you please suggest a time that I can train or ex- ercise? 2. Is ice cream soda harmful to the body when one wishes to build up his muscles? If so, to what extent? 3. If | a person has the so-called “side ache” immediately upon starting to exercise, should he stop for a’few days until he is no longer troubled, or continue? Faninc B. Hoboken, N. J. 1. Get as much exercise in the ppen air as you can and you can then make up for lost time. A good time to exercise is just before going to wed and just after rising in the morning. All athletes follow this plan. 2. There is no harm in ice cream soda itself, provided you do not take too much of it, or drink it when you are over- heated. 3. Find the endveinetits which give you a side dal and omit them until you find they no longer cause you pain. Go slow with — your training and you will come out all right. “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 EA Station Oe. Box Ate new York city. E very similar to Frank Mierriwell, and intended to deceive. LY All readers of the Renowned Tip Top stories should beware of AUTI AN! base imitations, placed upon the market under catch names 463—Frank Merriwell Blizzard Bound; or, After Big Game in the Rockies. 464—Frank Merriwell Captured; or, Trouble in the Black Timbers. 465—Dick Merriwell in Damascus; or, The Sword of the Sheik. Dick Merriwell on the Desert; or, Cap- tives of the Bedouins. 467—Dick Merriwell in Egypt; or, The En- counter on the Nile. 468—Frank Merriwell’s Fingers; or, The Man Who Came Back. 469—Frank Merriwell’s Retaliation; or, The Clash in California. 470—Frank Merriwell in ’Frisco; or, The “Go” at the Golden Gate. . 471—Frank Merriwell’s “Dope Ball”; or, The Wizard Twirler of Leland Stanford. 472—Frank Merriwell’s Handicap; or, Hastings, The Hurdler from Humboldt. 473—Frank Merriwell’s Red Challengers; or, The Hot Game with the Nebraska In- dians. 474—Frank Merriwell’s Fonanck or, For Sport or For Blood. | 475—Frank Merriwell’s Backer; or, Playing Baseball for a Fortune. 476—Frank Merriwell’s Endurance; or, The Cross-Country Champions of America. 477—Frank Merriwell in Form; or, Wolfers, the Wonder from Wisconsin. 478—Frank Merriwell’s Method; or, The Secret of Becoming a Champion. —479—Frank Merri well’s Level Best; or, Cutting the Corners with a New Curve. 480—Frank Merriwell’s Lacrosse Team; or, The t, Great Hustle with Johns Hopkins. 481—Frank Merriwell’s Great Day; or, The Crowning Triumph of His Career. 482—Dick Merriwell in Japan; or, Judo Art Against Jiu-Jitsu. 483—Dick Merriwell on the Rubber; or, Playing Baseball in the Flowery Kingdom. i -484—Dick Merriwell’s Cleverness; or, Showing the Japs the American Game. 485—Dick Merriwell in Manila; or, Papinta, the Pride of the Philippines. 486—Dick Merriwell Marooned; or, The Queen of Fire Island. 487—Dick Merriwell’s Comrade; or, The Treas- ure of the Island. 488—Dick Merriwell, Gap-Stopper; or, A Sur- prise for the Surprisers. 489—Dick Merriwell’s Sacrifice Hit; or, Win- ning by a Hair’s Breadth. 490—Dick Merriwell’s Support; or, Backed Up When Getting His Bumps.- ‘ 491—Dick Merriwell’s Stroke; or, Swimming for His Life. 492—Dick Merriwell Shadowed; or, The Search for the Lost Professor. 493—Dick Merriwell’s Drive; or, Evening Up with His Enemy. 494—Dick Merriwell’s Return; or, The Reap- pearance at Fardale. 495—Dick Merriwell’s Restoration; or, Whip- ping the Team into Shape. 496—Dick Merriwell’s Value; or, The Success of Square Sport, 497—Dick Merriwell’s “Dukes”; or, His Fight with Himself. 498—Dick Merriwell’s Drop-Kick; or, Chester Arlington’s Team of Tigers. 499—Dick Merriwell’s Defeat; or, How Arling- ton Won the Second Caine: 500—Dick Merriwell’s Chance; or, Taming the — Tigers of Fairport. 501—Dick Merriwell’s Stride; or, The Finish of _ the Cross Country Run. 502—Dick Merriwell’s Wing-Shift; or, The Great Thanksgiving Day Game. 503—Dick Merriwell’s Skates; or, Playing Ice . Hockey for Every Point. 504—Dick Merriwell’s Four Fists; or, The Chet pion of the Chanson. 505—Dick Merriwell’s Dashing Game; or, The Fast Five from Fairport. STREET @ SMITH Back numbers may be had from all newsdealers or will be sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt of price —=5 CENT S=———— PUBLISHERS rg THE FAVORITE LIST OF FIVE-CENT LIBRARIES PLIST ATER CAUTION! = x pon ey LIP TOP WEERL?® Frank and Dick Merriwell are two brothers whose adventures in college and on the athletic field are boy of to-day. to have exciting sport. of intense interest to the American They prove that a boy does not have to be a rowdy pao Bill Stories p Buffalo Bill is the hero of a thousand exciting adventures among the Redskins. These are given to our boys only in the Buffalo Bill bound to interest and please you. Stories. They are Nick Sater Weekly MCU WR ATM Peter, Mies Cvs Bie, hae 1 Puan =] < » ie | we i j 6 , ; a cn : \ f ashy m=) sleuth | number . containing the We know, boys, that there is no need of introducing to you Nicholas Carter, the greatest that ever lived. Every adven- tures of Nick Carter has a peculiar, but delightful, power of fascina- tion. Tay cs irom 5 SNe i oa All sports that boys are inter- ested in, are. carefully dealt with in the All-Sports Library. The stories deal with the adventures of plucky lads while indulging in healthy pastimes. pa Jones Weekly PoAme LY —RED RAVER LimmAny” Gee aS mm meat Hn é Iyetey nna? mea eomerrions)\ Do not think for a_ second, boys, that these stories are a lot of musty history, just sugar- coated. They are all new tales of exciting adventure on land and sea, in all of which boys of your own age took part. _ Brave and Bold Every boy who prefers variety in his reading matter, ought to Brave and Bold. All these were written by authors be a reader of who are past masters in the art Every of telling boys’ stories. tale is complete in itself. Be Rider Weekly Ted Strong was appointed dep- uty marshal by accident, but he resolves to use his authority and rid his ranch of some very tough bullies. He does it in such a slick way that everyone calls him “King of the Wild West” and he | cert uinly deserves his title. Diamond Dick Weekly eek pia ee (Aeagtt Tt! Tlie eure m2] mT Le OOF SRE | Bertie, The demand for stirring stories of Western adventure is admir- ably filled by this library. Every up-to-date boy ought to read just how law and order are estab- lished and maintained on our Western plains by Diamond Dick, and Handsome Harry. ~ Bowery Boy Library The adventures of a poor waif whose only name is ‘‘Bowery Billy.” Billy is the true product of the streets of New York. No boy can read the tales of his trials without imbibing some of that-re- Mel | source and courage that makes the character of this homeless boy stand out so prominently.