iene ARPT,

 
PLAY BALL AND WIN A UNIFORM OUTFIT FOR YOUR NINE.
See Rules for Eleventh Annual Baseball Tournament on Page 32.

\
\

 

IP Wee

 

= Mie] IL

An Ideal Publication For The American Youth

 

 

fssued Weekly. Entered as second-class matter at the New York Post Office according to an act of Congress, March 3, 1819, Published by STREET & SMiTHuH,
79-89 Seventh Ave., New York. Copyright, 1912, by STREET & SMITH.

O. G. Suutth and G. C, Smith, Proprietors.

 

TERMS TO NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY MAIL SUBSCRIBERS.
( Postage Free.)
Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each,
BS PPACIETE, bite t ak a bocGs deer acdsaisons GSC... ONC VEAL: cos 0s ss Ue aieves rasgeeicccads 2.60
SP WOWIS ioc ck ev kecee sec ee reese scene BOC. DB COPIES ONE VEAL. seeses sacl 4.00
GB MONS. 2 ose cece le cece lee ce saan $1.25. LCOPy tWO Years. «01.06 veciee Soneves 4.00

 

 

 

How to Send Money—By post-office or express money order, registered
letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk ifsent by currency,
coib, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. 2

Receipts—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper change
ofnumber on your label, If not correct you have not been properly credited,
and,should let us know at once.

 

 

No. 7.

NEW YORK, September 14, 1912.

Price Five Cents.

 

Frank Merriwell, Junior, on Waiting Orders;

Or, A DASH FOR THE GOOD WILL OF OPHIR.

By BURT L. STANDISH.

CHAPTER I.

UNDER SUSPICION.

“Gee, but this is fierce!”

Owen Clancy, at that moment, was filled with con-
flicting emotions. He got up from the steps leading to
the veranda of the Ophir House with an air that ex-
pressed indignation, wonder, and disgust. His freckled
face likewise expressed his state of mind, and expressed
It so tremendously that Ballard laughed.

_. Billy Ballard, as usual whenever he had a good chance,

was taking his ease. He had preémpted the only rocking-
chair on the porch and had sprawled out in it and hung
his feet’over the porch rail. His own face was a great
contrast to that of his homely friend, and Clancy was
annoyed as much by the picture of complacency and com-
fort Ballard presented as by the laugh.

“Pink,” Clancy glowered, ‘“‘you’ve dropped a laugh in
the! wrong place. It’s either an insult to my intelligence
ora proof of your own weakening mental powers. What
the mischief is the matter with you?”
“Foolish!” replied Ballard, with a grin. ‘First place,
Clan, nobody could insult your intelligence; and, in the
, next place, my mental powers are strong in philosophy.
That old saw about what can’t be cured must be endured
hits this Ophir nail right on the head. I laughed at your
useless emotions—and I’m going to do it again. Listen.”
Clancy scowled. ‘

“You're too thundering lazy to let the town get on your
nerves,” he muttered. “Did you see what happened?’

BEN

“I did,’ Ballard answered. “Woo Sing, the slant-eyed
roustabout in this hotel, just came up the steps, carry-
ing half a dozen letters from the post office. You asked
him, as he passed you, if he had any mail for Merriwell,
Clancy, or Ballard. The chink looked at you and sniffed
—that’s all—and went loftily on his way into the hotel.
deing a respectable boxer or hatchetboy, he considered
a red-headed, freckle-faced stranger as beneath his no-
tice. Then you began to swell up and to be torn with
foolish emotions.”

“Hang it all!” growled Clancy, “we're guests at this
hotel and are entitled to some consideration. We've been
here two days and the landlord hasn’t spoken half a
dozen words to us. When we’re served in thé dining
room the waiter drops our stuff and jumps away as
though he’s afraid we'll bite; when we come into the
office, everybody gets out; when we sit on the porch, all
the other loungers vamoose; when we walk along the
street, people keep clear of us. And now this China-
man with the letters Clancy rumbled for a moment
and finally exploded: “What the deuce does it all mean?”

“Maybe they think we've got smallpox, or something
else that’s catching,” hazarded Ballard languidly. .

“Then we ought to be quarantined,” snorted Clancy,
“or taken to the pest house. They just let us stick around
and give us the cold shoulder. The whole blooming
town is down on us, and I'll be darned if I can under-
stand it.”

“Whisper,” said Ballard, leaning forward and talkin
back of his hand: “Maybe we're under suspicion.” shi a

 
’

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

“What are we suspected of ?”

“Ask me something easy, Red. You have all the ear-
marks of a suspicious character, you know, and as Merry
and I are trailing around with you, it’s just possible that
all three of us are under suspicion on general prin——’”

“You go to blazes!” grunted Clancy. “Take my ad-
vice, Pink, and ginger up enough to take this thing seri

ously. If you don't, you're likely to be sorry.”

“What’s the use of borrowing trouble?” protested Bal-
lard, sinking back in his chair.

Clancy dropped down on the top step once more. He
still had his conflicting emotions, but they were under
better control. ’

Ophir was a mining “camp” in Arizona. It was called
‘a camp although it was in reality a town of several
hundred inhabitants. A syndicate of Eastern men had
bought and were operating a big bonanza gold mine with-
in half a mile of the place.’ A hundred-stamp gold mill
sent the low. hum of its poundings up from the south
continually, so there was always a background of mut-
tering thunder for the various activities of the town. |

It was the mine that gave Ophir an excuse for being
on the map. Had the mine been taken away, Ophir
would have struck its tents and changed its location.

The Eastern syndicate had sent in Eastern men, for
the most part, to handle its affairs. A good many of

_ the Easterners were young, and there was a fair sprink-
ling of college men among them. This was another cir-
cumstances which made it hard for Merriwell, Ballard,
and Clancy to understand why they had been received so
coldly and were being kept at a distance. Apart from the
representative. of the syndicate, there were rough-and-
‘ready Westerners in plenty, but the syndicate had set
its mark on Ophir and that mark was pretty high.
_. An athletic club was one of the features fostered by the
men from the East. When young Merriwell had learned
about the athletic club he had looked forward to a
sojourn in Ophir with considerable pleasure. But the
- members of the club had joined with the rest of the
_ town in forcing the three wandering athletes to flock by
themselves. The situation was a mystery and decidedly
_ unpleasant.
Not many people were passing along the main street,
_ but the few who did pass gave the two lads on the porch
of the Ophir House a quick, distrustful look, averted
their faces, and hurried on. Clancy grunted angrily.
_.“Where’s Merry?” he asked, throwing the words at
‘Ballard over his shoulder. __ Si
- “He’s out somewhere, trying to break the ice, I guess,”
answered Ballard. f . far
_“Here he comes now,” went on Clancy, at that mo-
ment catching sight of the lithe, gracéful figure of Fran
ferriwell, junior, crossing the street on his way to the

yotel. ‘Instead of breaking any ice, he seems to have.

rage a frost himself!” a a

. There was a. troubled look in Metriwell’s dark eyes,
ind his usually sunny face was overcast.
he steps, he forced a laugh as he jerked off Clancy’s
t and gripped him,by his red hair.’ |
Ouch!” yelled Clancy, kicking and struggling. “Let
Chip! I'ma rattler and I want to strike.” - i
He’s been buzzing his rattles for the last fifteen min-
tes,” remarked Ballard. ‘He's been trying to give his
rd to everybody in town and they won't take it.”
“Chirk up, Clan!” exhorted Merry, giving the red head

k as he let go. “The town is a farce comedy and

T
mia e

Bounding up ©

|

not a funeral. Don’t let it get on your nerves.
your tears and enjoy the perforniance.”

“Sit down, Merry, and tell me something,”
Clancy.

“Well, what, for instance?” returned Merry, hunch.
ing himself up alongside his chum. oe

“For Pete’s sake,” wailed Clancy, “what are we here
for ?”’

“Come again, Roper. You know I can’t answer that.
We're here on waiting orders—orders from’ dad.” |

“IT wonder if dad knows what sort of a piace this is?”

‘A puzzled look crossed Frank’s face, then faded into
a humorous grin.

“T don’t think so, Clan. I don’t believe dad has any
idea there are so many marble hearts in the world as
we've found right here in Ophir. And right there is
where the joke comes in.” : .

“Joke?” gasped Clancy. “Say, Chip, you’re getting
nutty. . Joke! Show me where it comesin, will you?” —

Frank looked around to make sure that they were by zi
themselves. It was a useless precaution, for every one.
in town made it a point to avoid them. Bs:

“Come. closer, Pink,” Frank went on, taking a leiter —
from his pocket... “Here’s what dad wrote to me at Sum-
mit Springs—the letter that was forwarded to Sandstone _
and reached me just after that explosion in the New-_
house mine.” ‘aed

“The letter,” spoke up Ballard over Merry’s shoulder,
“that brought us from California to Arizona on a hurry-
up call. Up to this minute, Frank, every time Clan and ‘
I have mentioned that “paper talk’ you’ve closed up like ra
a fretful clam.” a

“There was a reason, although I don’t know what that’
reason is any more than you do.” Frank unfolded the
letter. “After telling me to leave at once for this town
of Ophir,” he went on, “and to keep the destination See
well as the source of instructions to myself, dad goes
on like this,” and here he read: ; a

““Wait in Ophir for further instructions You’ may
hear from me further in a few days and perhaps not
for a few weeks. ‘he matter is quite important or you
may be sure I should not interfere with your plans by
asking you to fall in with mine. a ee

““From what I hear of Ophir I believe
to enjoy your stay there-——’”

“Ouch!” interjected Clancy.

“‘So it. will be. perfectly agreeable to
are kept on waiting orders for some time
is different from most of those Southw ;
the fact that there are many Easterne
connected with the mining company that makes its
quarters there. 7 is

-“*You and your friends will have no trouble in gettin bs
the Ophir people to like you. I particularly desire that
you “make a hit” with them. Secure the good will of
all, Easterners antl natives.’ ” . penne abs

‘Frank finished his reading at that point, folded’ t |
letter, and returned it to his pocket. Then he looked p
‘at Ballard. and Clancy with a ‘quizzical gleam™ in’ his
eyes, be Rl SERS
_ _ Now, do you fellows see where the joke cot
he asked. | “Dad particularly desires that we m: Pf
with the Ophirites, win their good will, and. make
like us. We've been here two days and haven't <0 #
as made a beginning.” AT eA, a eee

Dry

begged

&

you are going

you if you
The place
estern towns from

‘

head-

 

rs and collegemen
NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. 3

“The people won’t even give us a chance to say ‘howdy’

to them,’’ murmured Ballard.

“T never saw such a town,” grumbled Clancy. “Of
course I didn’t expect the people here would meet us at
the stage station with a band, but it’s discouraging to
have every blessed inhabitant get over on the other side
of the street when he sees one of us coming down the
walk! How do you account for it, Chip?”

“T can’t account for it.”

“Well,” said Ballard, heaving a long breath of resigna-
tion, “when a fellow doesn’t like me, I always make it
a rule to give him plenty of rope. What’s the use of
throwing a fit about it?”

“As a rule, Pink,” returned Frank thoughtfully, “if I
can’t hit it off with a chap, I’m willing to take my own
way and let him go his; but this case is different. Dad
wants tis to make a favorable impression on this town
of Ophir. They’re orders, you know, and we’ve got to
carry them out.”

“How ll you do it?” demanded Clancy. “The people
won't give us the chance to show them what lovely com-
panions we can be—when we have to.” He doubled his
arm and sawed the air with his fist. “I could make an
impression on one or two of them,” he added, “but I’m
afraid it wouldn’t be favorable.”

“Even the chirfks won’t talk with Reddy,”
Ballard.

“Chinks!” exclaimed Clancy scornfully. “Say, Pink,
will any one: else talk with any of us? I'll bet that
neither of you has passed half a dozen words with a

chuckled

soul that lives in the place.”

“I passed several dozen words with a young fellow
not more than half an hour ago,” asserted Frank.

“Hypnotize him?”

SING.

“Then you caught him off his guard somehow.”
 “You’re right about that. It happened just out of
town, over north, toward the place where the Ophir
Athletic Club have their eS He had on his
_running pants and a: shirt with a blue ‘O,. A. C’ on the
front of it. He said his name was Hannibal and that
he was trying to cross the Alps.”

“Josh,” commented Clancy gloomily. “He onkece be
‘sincéte with you, but tried to be funny.”

“That’s what I thought at first,” went on Frank, “but
when I told him that my middle name was Josh, he
laughed and explained. Said he was trying to do things
in the pole vault. He had done eight feet six but was
Sales? to do nine. He.called the bar at nine feet the

S.

Be Ballard and Clancy faughed.

“Eighteen seconds was his “best time on the high
hurdles,” went on Frank,

“A fast bunch they’ve got‘ here!” said Clancy de--

‘risively.
former?”

“While we were talking,” Merry continued, ‘two more
fellows in running togs came up and halted about thirty
yards away. They yelled to Hannibal, and he ran back
to them.”
Hannibal turned in my direction and threw up his | hands
in hortor. He was sorry he had visited with me.’
“Same old story,” scowled Clancy. “Hannibal didn’t
realize what he was doing, and his friends ae him
down for it.”

aoe Bice Pophagan, Hi eng of the hotel, appeared

“I wonder if. this Hannibal is a star per-

_ sheet to Clancy.

‘They chewed the rag for a minute, and then |

in the door of the office and flipped a letter toward Merry.
“That's for you—just come,” said he curtly, and van-
ished. All three of the friends were used to this scant
show of civility and paid it little attention. Merry opened
the letter, read it, gave a long whistle, and handed the
Clancy read the contents aloud:

“By now Merriwell, Ballard, and Clancy must have
discovered that Ophir is not a pleasant place for an
extended sojourn. It will give the people of the town
great pleasure to bid them good-by not later than to-
morrow. Otherwise Ophir will become even less pleasant
for them than it is at present. COMMITTEE.”

CHAPTER II.
SOMETHING UNEXPECTED.

A pall of silence fell over the three lads on the porch
steps. For two days, it seemed, their presence in Ophir
had merely been tolerated by the citizens; but the mystery
of the town’s dislike had grown until now it had cul-
minated in a notice to clear out.

“Now. what do you think of that!’ ground out the red-
headed one, all his wrath seething in the words. “This
is a free country and I guess we can go where we like
and stay as long as we darn please! We don’t owe this

_ town a red, and we haven't done the first thing to make

these people down on us. By thunder, Frank, I’m for
sticking it out and seeing’ w hat they'll do next.”

“Tt’s a fine way they have of telling us to make tracks,”
jeered Ballard. “They put our congé in an envelope
and send it-by mail—a sort of drop-letter diplomacy. And
it’s signed ‘Committee.’ Committee of what : re

“Public safety, I'll bet,” railed Clancy. “If they don't
get rid of us, maybe we'll sack the town. Well, I’m
about ready for a riot—I’m pretty near ripe for pillage.
I wish, oh, I wish, that committee had served notice on.
us in person! But they didn’t have the sand for that.
Not at all. Chip, if you don’t stick you’re no friend of
mine. Let’s defy ’em!”

Frank leaned against the wall for a moment, his brows
knotted into a puzzled frown.

“It’s a big mystery,” said he at last, “and my head’s
splitting with it. Let’s get out in the open for a while
and maybe the, fog will clear. What do you say to a —
cross-country hike? It’s six miles to Gold Hill. By the
time we gét there and back, maybe we'll know what’s
best to do. It’s no time to go off at half cock—we’ve -
got to use judgment.”

The ease-loving Ballard was slow to see the advantage’
of a crossrcountry hike in improving their judgment, but
he yielded the point when Clancy seconded Merry’s sug-
gestion.

Half an hour later, three figures in sleeveless shirts

and brief running pants, with blazers over their arms,

emerged from the Ophir Hotel and laid a course north-—
ward. It would have been strange, indeed, if three
such lads, in the pink of condition, with such fine physique
and showing their athletic training in every move, had
not captured the instant~attention of every one in that
ragged little main street. ‘
_ Ophir lay among bare, brown hills and was perched:
almost on the brink of a dizzy cafion. A stream threaded
the depths of the cafion, or was supposed to thread it.
As a matter of fact, it was a tricky stream, like all
Arizona watercourses, and flowed mostly under the

 
_ Chip’s going against orders from home.

[einige tead a eon Ree ens Poel, saa

 

NEW. Tir “TOP WEERCY.

sand, appearing at intervals in pools where bedrock forced
it to the surface.

The trail,to Gold Hill wound between the bare rises,
past the clubhouse and athletic field of the O. A. C., and
then, ‘finding a steep slope, descended to the cafion bed
and followed the cafion like a chalky ribbon.

In the bottom of the gulch the shade of the walls
tempered the warm air, and the runners slackened pace
and slipped into their blazers.

“Dad says that we’re to stay in Ophir on waiting
orders,’ remarked Chip, “and that’s why I don’t want
to clear out of the place.”

“Let’s be game,’ answered Clancy, ‘‘What’s the use

_of clearing out until the Ophirites chase us out?”

“That puts us up against the other end of the dilemma,
Clan,” said Chip. “How are we to win the good will
of the town if we fight that notice to quit? Dad lays
stress on that point—making ourselves solid with the
townspeople. He wouldn’t have given so much space to
that in his letter if it weren't important.”

“We're between the deep blue ocean and the fellow
with horns and a cloven hoof,” remarked Ballard. “Tf
we stay we're in wrong with the town; if we get out,

What’s the
answer ?”’

Jt was a hard nut to crack; and right at that moment
fate began taking the matter in hand.

“Jove!” exclaimed Chip, coming to a sudden halt.

“ AWhat’s this?”

He reached forward with his rubber-soled shoe and

kicked’ an object that lay in the road in front of him.

‘‘That’s an easy one,” said Clancy. “It’s a suit case.”
‘But what's it doing here?’ inquired Ballard,

“It’s very tame and peaceable,” answered Clancy,, “and
- | doesn’t seem to be doing a blooming thing.”
“Must has dropped off the stage,’ said Chip, “the after-
noon stage from Gold Hill.”

This seemed like a logical explanation, and the suit case

was picked up and examined for marks of ownership.
It was a battered piece of luggage, and while there were
evidences that it had been marked at one end, the marks
. were worn and illegible.

' “The only thing to do is to open it up,” said Ballard.
“Possibly there’s something inside that will give us a clew
to the owner.” '

_ “Maybe it’s locked,” demurred Frank; “if it is, Bal, we
haven't any business breaking it open. We can carry
_ it back to Ophir, and if it was lost from the stage, some-
body will lay claim to it.” ei

_ “Suppose the owner was going to Gold Hill, on his
way to the railroad and out of the country? And sup-
pose some one in Ophir said it was his and it didn’t belong
to him at all?
open, see what’s inside, and make the owner prove his
property. The thing may be valuable.” .
“It may, but it doesn’t look it,” | :

On the whole, Ballard’s advice seemed reasonable.
Young Merriwell backed to a bowlder beside the trail,
sat down, and took the suit case on his knees. It was
not locked, and the two halves fell open under his hands.

“We don’t have to look thréugh this and see what's in»

order to make the owner prove property,” said Mer-
“The grip could be examined at the time it’s called
On a chance that the owner, when the suit case was
i traveling out of the country, though, we'd better
we can find his name and address on something.”

‘

”

Only thing to do, Chip, is to.smash it.

_ Under a strap that was buckled over some soiled linen
was wedged a small, plush-covered box. The plush had
once been blue, but was now stained and faded. Frank
removed the little box and opened it.

“There’s the owner's badge, anyhow,” chuckled Clancy.
as his eyes fell on the contents of the box. :

“It's a medal,” announced Frank, lifting the box for.
a closer. view of the article pinned to a stained white
silk ; “a medal,” he went on, “given to one Jason Peers
by the Olympic Athletic, Club of San Francisco for
nee the hundred-yard dash at the Pacific States.
athletic meet two years ago. This grip,” he added. “be-
longs to a sprinter sued Pots ane " ae ai
_ Listen!” interjected Clancy, cocking his head om one
side. “I hear somebody coming.”

A slow grind of wheels and a distant murmur of
voices reached the ears of all three; of them. The trail
in that part of the cafion, wound a tortuous course
through a chaparral of mesquite and greasewood, so that
it was impossible to see for any great distance along the
road. The approaching wheels and voices were plain |
enough, however, even though the rig and the speakers ine
were not in sight. De ne i

Young Merriwell handed the open suit case to Ballard
and climbed to the top of the bowlder. ;
ments he peered steadily southward

“There’s a buckboard, coming this way, fellows,” he —
reported, ‘‘and the horses are at a walk. A man’s walk-
ing ahead—lI can just sees the top of his hat over the
bushes. He's looking for something, and that something, .
by Jove, is the suit case!’ jokes a rae

“We didn’t pass any buckboard between Ophir and
here,” said. Ballard. “Where do you suppose the rig”
got into the cafion? I can’t remember any a as

Just then Merriwell moved with a quickness ahd deci-_
sion that were puzzling. “Sh-h-h!” he whispered warn-
ingly, jumped down from the bowlder, closed the plush |
box, pushed it under the strap, shut the suit case. and
laid it in the road where it had been found. “Gat into.
the bushes, quick!’ he ordered. “Not a word—just lie. |
low and wait.and watch.” oe oe

For a few mo-

Clancy and Ballard were both excited. Frank’s pecul-
e \ 7 am Fi) WE ey
iar proceedings were more than enough to stir their inter-

est and curiosity. Without delay they crawled into the
bushes, screening themselves securely from the view of

' trayelers in the trail while able to look out at them, —

A man came along, peering carefully into the edge of
the undergrowth to left and right. Suddenly he “gave
an exultant yell as his eyes encountered the suit case, _

“Here it is, Wolf, right in the middle of the trail!”

Wolf! Astonishment gripped Ballard Re
the sound of that name:
dence, or—— |
. But no. The buckboard, at that moment, drove
sight. There were two men on the front seat. One was
a thick-set, red-faced, heavy-jowled person, but the other,
it was clear enough, was really young Merriwell’s
terest enemy, Hayward Wolf! Sey Wee

Was the name merely a coinci-

{

CHAPTER III.
sae A REMARKABLE FEAT. | pe
Clancy, crouched in the bushes and staring breat li
out into the trail, had dropped.a convulsive hand ©
riwell’s arm. All three of the men 2

 

and Claney ‘ate
out for your baggage!

NEW

chap pick up the suit case and get into a back seat of
_ the buckboard.
-. “You’re in luck, Peers,” said Wolf, as the stout man

_ backed the rig around and headed the other way.

“You've delayed us an hour,’ grumbled the stout man
angrily. “Blamed queer you don’t know enough to look
If it drops out of the wagon
_ again you can bet your life we'll leave it behind. Gidap!”
The whip cracked over the sweating horses and the rig
and its passengers vanished around a turn in the trail.

“Jingo!” gulped Claney, fixing his astounded eyes on
Merriwell. :

_ “Well, well!’ muttered Ballard. “Wolf, by George!
I thought we had seen the last of him in Sandstone.
What about this, Chip?”

“He has me going, Pink,” Frank answered. “Why is
he in this part of the country? There’s more than a
coincidence back of his presence here. It isn’t chance
entirely.”

“T don’t know about that,” put in Clancy. “Chance
seems to throw you fellows together pretty often,”

“T believe,” declared Merriwell, “that Wolf discovered
where we were going and followed us. He’s as vengeful
as a rattlesnake, that fellow. -You know how hard he
tried to get me blacklisted for professionalism when |
fell in with Griggs and pitched for the Acmes. He failed.

and that’s another count in his indictment against me.

Sooner or later Wolf and I will have to thresh the busi-
ness out so that one or the other will be permanently
retired.”

“It won’t be you that goes on the retired list. Chip !”’
declared Billy Ballard, with supreme conviction.

“Not so you can notice it!” seconded Clancy loyally.

__ A faint smile flitted about Frank’s lips. “Of course,

fellows,” said he, “I'll do my best to be on top at the

_ finish. You never can tell, though, what sort of a tricky
_ move a chap like Wolf will make.” ]
_ “That’s the trouble,” observed Ballard grimly. “When

a fellow that’s straight and decent goes up against a

. crook, he never knows what sort of an underhand play

- will be sprung on him. That’s a tough-looking chap
Wolf is traveling with.” .

__. “He seems to fall in with that: sort—they appeal to
him.” t
“He'll have to lose another finger or two before he gets

his eyes open,” said Clancy.’ “Red Face has all thé ear-

marks of a confidence man, and I'll bet that Peers, the
sprinter, is a crooked athlete. I’d like to know why

_ they’re going to Ophir.”

_ “There’s something up their sleeves, you may be sure,”
asserted Ballard. ss os
- We've been puzzling our brains to account for the
fact that Ophir has no use for us,” said Frank. “If we
- simmer the mystery down, I believe we'll find that Hay-
ward Wolf is at the bottom of it.” hee
This was a startling remark, and yet it seemed so
reasonable that Ballard and Clancy clamored instant
agreement with Frank. Rati ye ys
‘Wolf is sly and underhand,” pondered Ballard, “and
for us in Ophir. But how could he work such a hoodoo ?
tand him up alongside of you, Chip, and Wolf’s word

ould be taken about once where yours would be taken

illion times, I believe with you that Hayward Wolf
ut the bottom of the town’s hostility to us, but what's

he’d like nothing better than to make matters unpleasant |

TIP TOP WEEKLY. | oR

the secret of his influence? How could he sway a lot
of intelligent people like that?”

“And he hasn’t been in Ophir, either,” put in Claney.
“We'd have heard of it, I think, if he had been, The

_town was against us from the time we reached it—and

this pot of trouble must have beengeooking for us while
we were on the way from Sandstone. Puzzle: how was
Wolf able to give us the double cross in Ophir before
either he or the rest of us got there?”

This was a poser. Frank and his friends fully be-
lheved that they could lay the unfriendliness of Ophir at
Wolf's door, but just how he had managed it was a
most perplexing riddle. If any one of the townspeople
had condescended to explain the cause of the antipathy,
Merriwell could easily have set public opinion on the
right track. But the citizens had evidently made up
their minds to haye as little as possible to do with the
newcomers—maybe in the hope of “freezing them out.”
One thing is certain: if Merriwell’s character and in-
tegrity could he compared with Hayward Wolf’s for
Ophir’s benefit, there would be but one result. Such
a comparison, however, seemed impossible in the present
temper of the town, ;

“There’s something else I can’t understand,” said
Clancy. “Wolf ’and those two with him were driving
from Gold Hill to Ophir, and the suit case couldn’t have
been dropped more than a quarter, or, at most,’a half
hour before we found it. Why didn’t we meet that rig
in the trail to the south? Do you suppose Wolf saw
us and purposely avoided us?”

Frank shook his head.

“T don’t. think so, Clan,” said he. “If I remember
right, there’s another road leading to the rim of the ~
canon.
of sight at the point where we should have passed it
if it had kept to the bottom of the cafion. The loss of
the suit case was discovered, and the rig drove down
into the gulch again and followed on behind us,” .

“Well, I guess we’re all up in the air about Wolf.
and .his schemes,” spoke up Ballard, “I almost wish

you had faced him here instead of ducking out of sight.

Why did you do that, Chip?” 7
. “On-the impulse of the moment,” replied Merriwell.
“The instant I discovered that one of the men in the
buckboard was Wolf, it flashed over me that he had
been doing some secret work against us in Ophir. So I
thought it would be better not to let him see us. I may —
haye been in the wrong. Possibly the best thing for us

will be to go back to Ophir at once and force matters

to an issue with Wolf.”
“Best thing we can do!” approved Clancy. “The
people there will have to take notice of us and we can
show Wolf up and convince the town that he’s not to
be trusted.” , Se pot ae
Merriwell hesitated. Gold Hill was a larger place
than Ophir and also had an athletic club. Merry had
heard that there was an intense, even a bitter, rivalry
between the two towns in baseball, football, and all the
other sports. For this reason he was anxious to see

what Gold Hill had to offer in an athletic way. He con-

cluded, however, that Wolf and his schemes were of
more importance, just then, than his curiosity regarding
Gold Hill... . we feu
“We'll have a look at Gold Hill some other time, fel.
lows,” said he. “We've been ordered out of Ophir, and

Va like to see if a little work with Wolf won't enabl

 

The.rig probably got up on the rim and was out a
 

6 7 NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY,

us to set the order aside. We haven’t much time. To-
morrow is the day the Ophir folks expect to bid us
good-by.”

He got up from the bowlder on which he was sitting
and started off at a trot, but he had not taken half a
dozen steps beforeghe halted. A sound of a galloping
horse reached his ears from the north.

“More travelers,” said he. “Some one is coming on
a horse.”

Mere passing curiosity caused the three lads to draw
together and face in the direction from which the rider
was approaching. Only a short stretch of rdad—per-
haps fifty feet—was visible to the north. A sharp turn
closed the view in that direction, the massed mesquite
bushes forming an impenetrable curtain, behind which
the horseman was galloping.

In a moment the rider showed himself. He was a man
in a blue flannel shirt, wide-brimmed hat, booted and
spurred. ‘The horse was a big, spirited animal and was
galloping along at an easy stride. The man seemed to
be in a reflective mood. The reins lay carelessly across
the saddle horn and his head was bowed.

There was -scarcely more than a second for Merry

and his friends to make their observations. The horse,
sighting the group ahead suddenly, took fright. Per-
haps his acquaintance with men in running togs and
striped blazers was limited. Be that as it may, the ani-
mal gave a wild snort and came to a dead stop.
_ The halt was so abrupt that the rider, absorbed in his
‘reflections, had no time to guard against the terrible
mishap that followed. He was fling roughly forward
over the saddle horn and barely missed. catapulting over
the head of his mount.

“Whoa!’’ he shouted instinctively.

Before the ‘man could make his seat secure in the
saddle, the frightened horse started to whirl. The mo-
tion sideways unseated the rider. He made a desperate
but futile attempt to stay in the saddle, and an instant
later dropped heavily into the road.

“Great Scott!” gasped the dismayed Clancy. “The
man’s thrown!”

“Catch the horse!” shouted Ballard wildly.

“Jump for the bushes!” called Merriwell instantly.
“The brute’s afraid of us,”

All three of the lads pressed back into the brush.
Then it was that they noticed the horrible predicament
in which the accident had placed the rider.

He had dropped into the trail on the right side of
his mount and his right foot had become entangled in
__ the stirrup. There he lay for an instant, his foot ele-

- vated while he kicked to release it. |
“Whoa, Blixen!” he called, struggling to rise on an
elbow in order to make his work of getting free from the
stirrup more effective. ;

His voice, even in that critical moment, showed no
trace of undue excitement. He spoke sharply, authori-
tatively, and in such a way as to win obedience had
_ the animal not been too thoroughly frightened: As it
- was, the man could not free the foot from the stirrup.
‘Doubtless he might have done so had the swift progress
of events left him another fraction of a second. His
coolness in the emergency certainly entitled him to better
fortune.

_ The horse, wildly excited before, was still further
frightened by the form in the road and the fierce jerk-
ing at the stirrup. He-was kicking and plunging, the

heels.

Then the horse began to run. Fate directed the

animal’s course, not to the north but to the south, and =} t

toward the lads.
Frank and his friends had cleared the way, and the

frenzied animal had probably forgotten all about them > ¥%

ees fresh source of fright furnished by the fallen
rider.

As the horse raced on at mad speed, the man was
dragged, his body plunging gruesomely against the brush ~
at the trailside. :
and Ballard.

dS Thad a rope,” cried Clancy, “if I only had a
rope

“Chip,” shouted Ballard, in a panic
going to do?
killed !”

There was no time for young Merriwell to answer
He had begun preparations for some swift decisive
action by way of rescue. His well-knit body hunched
itself. together in readiness for a supreme effort. What’

d “what are you
You can’t stop that horse—you’ll be

form that effort was to take neither Ballard nor Clancy

could guess. At first they thought Merriwell was plan-
ning to throw himself in front of the horse and make

a grab at the bits; then, at the edge of the bushes, he

crouched and dashed along the road at a terrific clip
He was running in the same direction. the horse was
going. At the start, and while he was hitting his stride
he was a little in advance of the runaway animal ; but the
brute quickly overtook him, too frightened to shy off. 4
into the bushes and bent only on Setting farther away
along the road. : us
Ballard and Clancy, in a spasm
leaped into the trail after the horse had sped past them;
there, standing as though rooted to the ground they —
watched the thrilling scene with distended eyes oe
The body of the man was slipping over the round —
with the speed of an express train, contorted iat fear-—
some shapes as it rushed on. There came a mortent
when Merriwell and the horse were side by side, and e
that moment offered Merriwell his chance.

of apprehension,

He was at the left of the runaway animal while the
fallen rider was dragging on the right, Ballard’s and
Clancy’s view was unobstructed, although rapidly reced-
ing toward the next twist ih the trail. ae

They saw Merriwell put out his right hand to the —
saddle. Then followed a flash of blazer and running —

togs flung high in the air.

“He's done for,” gasped Ballard. “He——” g
“No!” shouted. Clancy.. “See there, Pink! He’s in
the saddle! He made a flying leap for the horse’s back.
and he won out! Bully! No one but Chip could have
done such a stunt!’ apes
Withholding further exultation until they could make
sure that all had ended well for their comrade, Ballard —

and Clancy started at a run down the road. The actors

in the exciting scene had vanished from their eyes around
the turn. OS Naa.
When they had reached a point from which they coul :
make further observations, their delight found vent in
a joyful hurrah. Merriwell had brought the horse
a stop and was holding a tight rein with one hand while,
with the other, he was patting the animal soothingly
The horse’s owner, his clothing torn and disarrang:

 

fallen man being placed in deadly danger from the flying : me

 

A yell of horror went up from Clancy Bes

 
 

 

i

es couple of rods to the brink of a water hole.
_ plication of cold water caused the man’s eye to flicker

Patemtautntomencg rere oucpuner—saooTmenesninngiciana es rn
Lorerparace’ EDP PT RD

Boy

‘NEW TIP
was lying in a crumpled heap in the road. His foot
was still lifted and entangled in the stirrup.
“Hurry up, fellows!” Merriwell called. “Get the man
clear of that stirrup and see how badly he’s hurt.”

“It’s a wonder he wasn’t killed,” said Ballard, com-
ing around on the right side of the horse and quickly
freeing the imprisoned foot.

Young Merriwell dismounted, made the horse fast to
‘a small paloverde at the edge of the trail, and returned
to his friends and the rescued stranger.

CHAPTER IV.

THE CABIN ON THE “FLAT.”

“How is he, Clan?’ ’ Merriwell asked.
Clancy had the stranger’s head on his knee and was
using a handkerchief to stanch a trickle of blood on his
cheek. The man’s hat was gone, his face and hair were
plastered with dust and grime from the trail, and he
_ presented altogether a most demoralized and gruesome
“appearance. His eyes were closed and his head dropped
_limply back over Clancy’s knee.
“He's stunned, that’s all,” said Clancy. “He was only
' dragged for a few yards, thanks to your quick work.

_ It was one of the finest things I ever saw, Chip!”
| “It was a lucky thing,”

Merriwell answered, “and
that’s about all there is to it. Let’s catry him to the
_hearest pool and see if a little water won’t revive him.”
The unconscious form was picked up and borne for a
An ap-

and open. He stared vacantly for a moment into the
faces bending over him, and then a ghost of a smile
- tugged at his lips.
 “Here’s a pretty kettle of fish!” he exclaimed. “Did
I kick myself clear of the stirrup or did you fellows stop
Blixen ?”
“We stopped the horse,”
are you feeling?’
_, “Feel as though I had been shooting the’ chistes on the
“small of my: back.” Slowly he lifted himself to a sit-
ting posture, flexed his arms, and then doubled his knees.
“No bones broken, I reckon,” he went on, “but P’m
bruised and sore all over.” He pursed his lips eye a
ruéful whistle as he looked himself over. “Gosh,”
added dismally, “but 1 must be a sight!”

Merriwell answered. “How

: f all she the looks, ” said Clancy cheerfully, “if you feel

right.”

“Where’s Blixen ?”

“Hitched beside the trail a little way down the cafion.’
. “T don’t understand what got into ‘the brute to make
fi AGL Os ty os

“We scared him,” said Ballard. |
iz The stranger passed curious ey es over the three lads.

the scrutiny proceesied, his eyes twinkled.

Well,” said he, “you could hardly blame a Western
horse. for going into a tantrum.’
suddenly, around a turn in the trail.
A m the attention I should have done, so I don’t know
as he was wholly to blame. You belong to one of the

clubs i in this section, don’t you—Ophir or Gold

He re Eastert ners.”

Blixen came on you
I wasn’t giving

Messin elli introduced him-

TOP WEEKLY. commons an

up to take each of the young fellows by the hand.
me just how Blixen was stopped.”

I'rank would have dismissed that part of it. im two
words, but Clancy and Ballard insisted on telling Fosdick
all the details. Fosdick’s eyes grew wide as he listened.
He fixed his gaze on Merriwell when the. recital was
finished.

“Young man,” said he, “that was a most remarkable
feat. Blixen can go like a streak whenever he lets him-
self out, and you “sprinted along beside him and made
a flying leap for the saddle? Talk about athletic stunts!
Why, that one was amazing. Then, too, I should prob-
ably have been killed if it had not been successful.
You’re Frank Merriwell, junior; I’ve heard of your
father.

“Tll not forget what I owe you,” went on losdick,
with genuine feeling. ‘‘You’re from Ophir. Can you
tell me whether a fellow calling himself Jerry Pierson,
and claiming to be an amateur sprinter : is In the town?”

“We haven't seen him,” said Merry, “or heard of him.”

“No? Well, have you heard or seen anything of a
man calling himself Bill Brackett? Or of another fellow
named Wolf, Hayward Wolf?”

The last words startled Merriwell and his chums,

“We have seen Wolf,” said Merry, and he proceeded
to describe the manner in which Wolf had been, en-
countered on the trail.

Tell

A look of complacency and satisfaction filtered across —

the face of Fosdick.

“They're bound for Ophir to pull off that running
contest,” said he, “and I was on the way to town to see
if they had reached there. Now it won’t be necessary
for me to go on, for a day or two, and I can return
to Leavitt’ s cabin and pate -h myself up.’ ;

“Running contest?” echoed Merriwell. . si

“Haven't you heard about it?” inquired Fosdick,
plainly surprised. “Why, it must be the talk of ‘the
town.”

“We haven’t heard a thing about it.”

“How long have you been in Ophir?”

“Two days.”

“Right in the town and mingling with. the people?”
went on Fosdick, his surprise intensifying. cs

“Right in the town,” grinned Clancy, “but not mingling
with the people to any great extent. They, tefuse to —
mingle, although we're willing, enough. Every man,
woman, and child in the place. treats us as though we
were a lot of ex- ee i

“That’s queer,’ said | ‘osdick,
mand an explanation °”

“The people won’t have anything to say to us.’

Although Fosdick, as could easily be seen, was vastly
interested in the Ophir mystery, yet he was Pees in
a condition to discuss the subject. \

“Tf you'll, get my horse,” said he, “and pick up my
hat and anything else I happen to have dropped - in the
trail, I'll be under further obligations to you. oe

“Merriw ell brought the horse, while Clancy and Ballard
searched the trail and recovered the hat and. a few odd
and ends of personal property that had a from Fos-
dick’s pockets.

The horse was tractable enough now ‘and rubbed his.
nose against Fosdick’s shoulder as he stood ‘Up. un-

“Why didn’t ses de-

eS

“Old sport,” said Fosdick affectionately, : as he strok
the animal’ s sleek neck, ‘ “you came within one pe t

 
   

 
   
  
  
  
 
    
  
  
    
  
   
 
    
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

 

 

 

 

 

|

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

     
     
       
       
       
    
     
      

  

  

en a sci ne ARN a ae

: / NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

[ can’t understand yet how I man-
But all’s

ing an end of me.
aged to keep clear of those heels of yours.
well that end’s well.”

Merry and Ballard helped Fosdick into the saddle.

“V’m making my headquarters at Leavitt’s for the pres-
ent,” Fosdick went on; “it’s only a little way down the
cafion, and I should be glad to have you come along if
you haven't anything more important on hand.”

The important thing in Merriwell’s mind, just then,
was a heart-to-heart talk with Hayward Wolf. But that
could wait. Fosdick had, so far, said very little about
himself. He had mentioned Wolf, however, and ina
way that had given Merry considerable food for thought.
Fosdick appeared like a Westerner, but one of the edu-
cated sort. There are not many Westerners left of the
“thar” and “hyar” variety, anyhow. Merry decided that
they would go with Fosdick to Leavitt’s cabin, and the
start was made.

Half a mile to the north a-small gulch opened off
the larger defile. This lateral slash in the earth’s crust
opened out into sloping banks with wooded “flats” occa-
sionally in evidence.

On one of these “flats” they found Leavitt's adobe
cabin. It was a lonely sort of a place, and the owner
was not at home.

“Leavitt is working a placer thirty miles away from
here,” Fosdick explained, “and he won’t be home for
a week or more. He’s.a friend of mine and told me I
could have the run of the place.”

Fosdick was helped down from the horse and into
the cabin. Clancy took Blixen to a small corral, farther
along the “flat,” and turned him loose with a ration
of baled hay. When he got back to the house, Fosdick
was lying on a cot and Merry and Ballard were sitting
beside him. Clancy drew up a chair.

“If you need a doctor,’ Merriwell was saying, “we'll
send one out from Ophir.”

“I don’t need a doctor, Merriwell,’ Fosdick answered.
“T’m bruised and sore, but I’ll be able to get along after
I have had a little rest.”

“It’s a question,” said Clancy, “whether a doctor would
pay any more attention to us than the rest of the towns-
people.” ‘

“Is it as bad as that?” queried Fosdick, lifting his

brows.

“You couldn’t guess how the Ophirites have got it
in for us, unless you were right on the ground to see
it for yourself. .We’re avoided like the plague, and
the people seem to think it’s a State’s.prison offense to
talk with us.” '

“Have you any idea why the people feel that way?”

“No, it’s a conundrum.”

A black bag was in one corner of the room. Fosdick
requested Merriwell to open the bag and-get him a

pencil, a pad of writing paper, and an envelope.

“T suppose,” remarked Fosdick, “that you’re independ-
ent enough not to let such unjust treatment bother you.”

“We could stand the treatment all right,’ answered
Frank, “but we have a particular reason for wanting to
stand well with the people. We'd like to be on friendly
terms with them—if they'd let us.”

“A imatter of business, eh?”
“You might call it that.”

“Tm not telling you much about myself,” said Fos-

dick, “so I’m not disposed to pry into your affairs.
-Yoyp’ve done me a great service, however, and it’s just

 

   
    

Bein kad « P< awe “20-11% ’ 5
possible: that I can reciprocate by helping you to win

the good will of the town.”
“Do you live there?” asked Ballard.
“No, nor anywhere near there.
these parts. Leavitt knows me, and I’m acquainted with
just one man in Ophir. His name is sradlaugh and
he is connected with the mining company.

I’m a stranger in

delivery. Will you see that it gets into his hands to-
night, without fail?”

“If he’s in town,” declared Frank, “he shall have the
letter.”

“Good! Another thing: Please do not mention my
name to any one in Ophir, nor talk about the scrape
Blixen got me into. I have my reasons for making
this request, and they are honest reasons. 3efore long
[ shall go into town, but until that time J don’t want
any one to know that I am in this vicinity. Have I your
word about this?”

“Yes; you may depend upon it.”

“I’m obligéd to you.” | :

Propped up on the cot with pillows, Fosdick scribbled

a few lines, sealed them in the envelope, wrote the

address, and handed the letter to Frank.

“T am sure I can help you,” Fosdick declared, “but it
will have to be through’ sradlatigh—so the quicker that
letter is delivered, the better. TI don’t: want to hurry
you off, but if you deliver the letter before supper you'll
have to be on your way.” ;

He held out his hand to Merriwell, and then shook
hands with Ballard and Clancy.

“You're sure you'll be all right?” Frank asked.

“Positive!” laughed Fosdick. “I’m hard as nails, and
pretty near as well as ever this minute. Good-by.

You'll see more of me before long.”

As the three lads trailed down the gulch and into
the cafion, they were busily disqussing Fosdick:

“He’s another queer one,” averred Clancy. “He’s up

to something, and is keeping it dark. Hang it all, but —

I hate mysteries ! The longer we're in Ophir, the more
mysteries we encounter.’ :

Sr Bradlaugh helps us with the town,” said Mer-
TIWELL.

“Well, if he won’t returned Ballard, “just be phil--

osophical about it. If Bradlaugh helps us‘at all, it will
have to be before to-morrow night. As a matter of

fact, the Ophirites expect to say good-by to us when the

stage leaves at nine a. m. Maybe we can hang on till
evening, though. Why didn’t you tell Fosdick about that
notice to quit?” .

“He had enough to bother him,” Frank answered,
“without piling on anything more.”

“Why did he inquire about Wolf?” Clancy put the >
question as the idea happened to occur to him, |

“He surprised me when he mentioned Wolf. Fos-
dick’s business here may have something to do with the
fellow. I suppose everything will be explained to our

satisfaction one of these days, but, just now I must —

admit that the situation looks dark and puzzling.”

“If many more puzzling things come our way, Chip, a
I'll be a candidate for the foolish house,” said Clancy.

“My intellect is badly scrambled.”

In less than half an hour the lads mounted tothe
cafion’s rim by the main fork leading to Ophir. Mets
they were brought up short by three mounted men.’ “The —
men were guarding a pile of luggage and evidently. wait-"

: I am going —
to write Bradlaugh a letter and intrust. it to you for.

 

  

~-

~—_ AS ARR pee
NEW: TTP

ing for them. The luggage, on closer inspection, proved
to belong to Merry and his chums.

“T reckon,” said one of the horsemen, “that you fel-
lows are about as close to Ophir, ‘this time, as we're
going to let you come. There are your traps. Take ’em
and put back to Gold Hill. Somebody may want you
there; nobody wants you in Ophir.”

“Took here,” returned Frank, indignant over the high-
handed proceeding, “do you mean to say that we're to
be kept out of Ophir by force?’

“That’s what we mean to say,
response.

was the truculent

CHAPTER V.
A FRIEND IN NEED.

The man who was acting as spokesman for the three
guardians of the trail appeared to be about thirty years
old. He wore a white sombrero with a fancy band,
shirt of pongee silk, dark corduroy trousers, and hee
boots of polished leather. The sombrero was tilted
rakishly over one eye.. He seemed, to Merriwell, like a
misguided Easterner who was aping the ways of the
worst of the Westerners.

His two companions were young fellows, both under
twenty, but fully as determined as the older man. They
were drawn up, stirrup to stirrup, across the road, with
the heap of luggage just in front of them.

“This is the limit, by George!” exclaimed Clancy,
fairly boiling. “In trying to boss all outdoors, you men
will find that you’ve taken a pretty big job on your
hands. Just how much of Ophir and the outlying
country do you own?”

“Don’t get fresh,” warned the man in the white som-

brero. “We’re the committee from the O. A. C. ap-
pointed for the special purpose of looking after you
three. We've been right on the job, too, ever since you
hit the town.”
_ “Charmed, I’m sure,’ murmured Billy Ballard, bow-
ing elaborately. “You've been corresponding with us
lately—very lately. In fact, you must have mailed your
letter this morning, didn’t you?”

Ballard was excessively polite, but his. fine manners
and suave voice left a sharper sting than Clancy’s angry
words. The man in the white hat scowled, while the
young fellows with him twisted uncomfortably in their

2 saddles.

“Never mind about that letter,” growled the spokes-

‘man. “When you trotted over to Gold Hill to make
your report, this committee got together and decided
- we wouldn't wait till to-morrow to bid you good-by.’
_ “We haven’t been to Gold Hill,” said Frank, catching
at that vague bit of information. “What sort of ‘a .re-
- port do you think we were taking over there?
' “Tf you don’t know,” was the sarcastic response, “you'll
a never hear from us! The point is, there’s your bag-
my, far -I reckon you're strong enough to tote it to Gold
ro ll. We've saved you the “trouble of carrying it this
ar.”

“There was a smoldering gleam in Frank’s dark eyes.
He and his chums had had an eventful afternoon, fairly
crammed. with events of more or Jess importance; and
here; as the afternoon was drawing to a close, what
might perhaps be considered the most important event
of all had been suddenly staged.

5 ‘Fosdick and Bradlaugh were the two men on whom

TOP

WEEKLY. 9

Frank was counting for help in winning the good will
of Ophir; but if Frank was not permitted to go into
the town, how was he to deliver Fosdick’s letter ?

“You gave us until to-morrow for getting out of
Ophir,” said Frank, “and we have been counting upon
having that much time. This whole affair is wrong
from beginning to end—you have taken somebody’s word
against us without giving us a chance to speak in our
own defense. Is there anything right about that?”

“Right or wrong,’ cried the man in the white som-
brero, “you’re to make tracks for Gold Hill and give
Ophir a wide berth from now on.’

“What do you think about it, fellows?”
Frank, whirling on the other two -riders.

These two seemed like pretty good men at heart, but
it was plain that they were dominated by their older
companion. Their discomfort visibly increased under
Merriwell’s direct appeal to them.

“Tt does look like a pretty mean piece of work,” one>
of them made bold to remark. “You were given until
to-morrow, and then, while you’re away, we raid your
rooms and carry off your luggage. Say, Rynder,” «he
directed his words at, the man in the rakish sombrero,
“don’t you think we might let them go on in and

“No!” snapped Rynder, “we've taken all the chances
with this cance that we’re going to. This is the dead
line, and if they try to cross it they'd better look out.”

“We'll have to go back to town to pay our hotel bill,”
said Frank.

“You can send that to Pophagan from Gold Hill,” re
turned Rynder. ‘It’s twelve dollars.” |

“Rynder,”’ went on Merriwell, his voice ringing with
determination, ‘“‘we are not going to submit to this in-
justice. The people of Ophir are suspecting us of some-
thing—I don't know what—but they're making a big
mistake.”’ ; |

“What's your business Ophir ?”’

Frank hesitated. He was im Ophir at the request of
Merriwell, senior, and had no idea what business had
brought him there. He was on waiting orders and would
not know what his work was to be until further advices
were receiyed from Bloomfield. Rynder, noting his hesi-

demanded

tation, laughed disagreeably.

“You won't tell—you’re afraid to tell!”
“Well, we know, and we'll not stand for. it.
your traps and go back down into the canon.
wasted all the time on you that we're going to.’

Frank,’ with a significant look at Ballard and Cl ancy,
stepped forward and picked up the two Suit cases that
belonged to him. Hts two chums likewise gathered in
their own grips. Frank, however, did not turn to go
down into the cafon. On the contrary, he moved reso-
lutely townward between two of the horses. Ballard
and Clancy pushed on after him.

“We're going to Ophir,” declared Frank,
not stop us.”

“Won't, hey?”
that !”

He whirled his horse around until the animal was
crosswise of the road, directly barring Merriwell’s path.
At the same moment Rynder jerked a quirt from his
saddle horn and lifted it threateningly.

“No, no, Rynder,” cried one of the other
“that won't do!”

“You fellows may be getting cold feet

a
}

he jeered.
Pick up
We've

“and you'll

stormed Rynder. swell see about

horsemen, —

. flared Rynder,

 
een eae oe . ae
, ET ag NE RRA ES

NEW TIP TOP WFERLY.

“but I’m not. T'll fight this thing out alone if I have
to! Keep back, you! That's the last word.”

Merriwell started to go around the horse. Rynder
leaned forward with the quirt lifted and trailing its
thongs in the air. In another moment the thongs would
have fallen had not Clancy hurled one of his grips full
at Rynder. The brown bag struck Rynder in the side
and almost hurled him from the saddle. He had not
thrust his hand through the wristloop of the quirt, and
the unexpected blow caused him to release the handle
so that the quirt dropped to the ground. Ballard dropped
his luggage and grabbed at it.

Rvnder was furious. With a shout of anger, he set-

tled himself in the saddle and dug the spurs into his”

horse. Claney was now the object of his rage and he
was attempting to ride him down.

Merriwell released his suit cases and caught the bits
of the horse, heading the animal away from Clancy by
main strength. At the same moment Ballard dealt the
horse a stinging blow. with the quirt. With a frenzied
snort, the animal started into the cafion, out of control,
although Rynder was tugging furiously at the reins.
see Jue at that moment, while events were more or less
jumbled and unsatisfactory, the croon of a motor car,
close: at hand, drew the attention of Frank and his
friends and the two remaining horsemen. A big touring
car, with a lone passenger ‘n the driver’s seat, was almost
-upon them. The car was coming from the direction of
Ophir,

Making a wide detour from the trail, the driver turned
the machine around and halted it within a yard of Mer-
riwell.

“Dump in your luggage,” said he, “and pile in your-
selves. This is a rotten move of Rynder’s, and | won't
stand for it.”

“The lads needed no second bidding. Here was 4

friend in need, offering an easy way out of an uncom- *

7

fortable situation. Bags and suit cases were flung hur-
—riedly into the tonneau, and while Clancy and Ballard
jumped into the rear of the machine after the baggage,
_ Merriwell climbed to a place beside the driver. Ballard
threw out the quirt, and just as the car got under way
again, Rynder could be seen topping the rise of the
-cafion’s rim. Ps .
wre tae: he catches us,’’ said the driver of the car grimly,
- “that nag of his will have to do fifty miles an hour.
- Watch me hit ‘er up " .

Gi. waster and faster they flew until they seemed hardly
to touch the ground, so great was. their speed. The
power of sixty horses was under the machine’s long
bonnet, and the driver spurred the racing cylinders with
the throttle. aaa t Pee A

‘“Rynder has given up,” called Clancy from behind.

“He has pulled up his horse and is shaking his fist

after us.” - !
“Then we'll slow down,” said the driver, and the speed
mmediately. began to fall off,

"You're the fellow | met a few hours ago, aren’t

you?” Merriwell asked. | i
~ “Surest thing you know,” was the chuckling response.
“Hannibal,” went on Frank, “this is mighty good of

w

\

“Hardly. But we're not all hoodlums in Ophir, Met
riwelt. ge of us like tosee the game played on th
a. poe erent leave town to-morrow, and —
did. The nerve ae Hine e ees - the vor ia
Ye fe ed Gane going to your room and getting
yours ps, then carrying them out there and making that
play! Pop is as hot about it as I am.” c

“Pop?, You mean Pophagan ?”
“No, | mean my. father, ]

?

ify : aries
Pophagan is under Rynder 8

thumb and wouldn’t make the least objection to the raid

on TO oe a I brought pop out to the clubhouse tO_
oach me a little on the hurdles. He’s all right as a”
coach, that pop of mine. ‘ Oo.

an¥ eee e . :
sprint before | can do anything in the hurdles—and

already I > bes fe
ilready Vm the best hundred-yard man in the club— —

but that’s not. sayi
als Saying da = ‘ ;
Sisal Pa ying a whole lot. I’m picked for

He broke off suddenly.
“For the what?” inquired Merriwell :

“TF can’t talk that « i
t tal over with you— +118 —
we'll let it slide. : re eee

oo in on nee) and get speed into my three sttides
yetween the hurdles. Wow, t ae ae pea
an instructor! As ow, but he’s a hard man for”
ee tae for the pole vault—well, he has
promised me a vundred-dollar watch when I eons ‘eross |

the Alps.’ ”

ather evidently knows the game Hannibal 2 a

“Your f
Merriwell remarked. “H
ese) Agus ‘ as he done i cS.
himself? | much in athletics
3 i ip ago he was a crackajack; now it’s. pretty.
nearly all gymnasium work with him. chest -weights,.

handball, and so on, merely to keep himself from taking —

on too much avoirdupois. Pop’s all right at that. When

he heard what Rynder was up to, he told me to drive

on to the cafion and see what happened. I didn’t see it
all, but 1 saw enough to make me disgusted with Rynder ”
“You may get yourself into trouble by le Fae
hand,” Frank suggested. BPOcY tad
Not tor a minute. Some of the miners may boa
little sore—they’re so worked up and excited “they’re
unreasonable—but most of the Ophi : baat 5 rie
8 phir folks w
with pop. . a will agree
“Everybody in town seems to be down on us, not only
the miners but everybody else. I call that unreasonable
Hannibal, and unjust, as well. "We don’t know wh 0
pm ‘ ‘ N ;
they're down on us for—we haven't been given a chance
to explain anything.” a
Hannibal grew reticent. It was clear that Frank
trenching upon forbidden ground. ate
“Let that pass,” said Hannibal. “The main thin

nding us. as

that Rynder gave you ‘until to-morrow to leave to’

the town is against that.”

“Why do they want to put us out at all?”

“Don’t ask me, Merriwell. I’m not at ‘liberty t
you. Of course, if a fellow’s accused he ought to
a chance to face his accuser. Maybe you'll get
chance; I don’t know. The people of Ophir, 1
are in a pretty warm state of mind over this,
of athletics. When men are worked up, they’re
be unreasonable and ‘suspicious. . This business oO
goes pretty deep. If it turns out that there’s
to it, | shall be tickled to death. You and you .

and is trying to put you. out to-day. More than half

M

Hs or sort of chaps a fellow .could like
j ry. a i , RAE DEAR TNS Ste fra ray And bye y

He says I’ve got to learn 10

sO»
Pop says it isn ee:
says it isn't enough to péz pi ae
ee i a tS , © pace my.
distance properly and clear the barriers Bat Re I must —

ee
isn’t

a fell

of th
He

head
Fy

of tk

on, |
up 1
hims
he <
Pers
thin

ap

~

a sl
Dra
toot
nim
whi
ting

fri¢

the

 
 tooted his horn.

 

i : your ‘fault—I didn’t explain.
and I’m the only Hannibal in the family. Hannibal |

 

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

- “TI don’t want to urge you to do anything you think
isn’t right,” went on the perplexed Merriwell, “but is
a fellow by the name of Hayward Wolf at the bottom

of this hostility against us?”

Hannibal, humped over. the steering wheel, turned his
head for a quick glance at Frank.

“7 don’t think you're a thousand miles from the hub
of the difficulty,” he answered. “This Rynder,” he went
on, deftly shifting the subject, “is pretty well wrapped
up in Ophir athletics. He doesn’t do much active work
himself, and makes a pretty poor show in what little
he doe% but he poses as something of an authority.
Personally, betweén you and me and the gatepost, [
think he’s a good deal of a cad. Anyhow, don’t size him
up as one of our sample citizens.” : |

The car had left the main road to Ophir and taken
a short fork that led to the clubhouse of the O. A. C.
Drawing up before the vine-covered veranda, Hannibal
| A middle-aged man, spare-framed and
“nimble in his movements, came out. He was clad in
white duck, was smoking a cigar, and had rather a dis-
tinguished air.

“Pop,” called Hannibal, “here are Merriwell and his

friends.”

_ The man on the veranda surveyed the occupants of
the car with a dubious smile.
' -“Glad’ to know you, Mr. Hannibal
“We—”

Hannibal, in the driver’s seat, began to laugh.

“Gee!” he exclaimed, “that’s a good one. But it’s not
Pop’s name is Bradlaugh,

3
,

said Frank.

4 Bradlaugh—some name, eh?”

CHAPTER. VI.

ADs Pe Opa eC,

Mr. Bradlaugh nodded civilly frorn the top of the
SLEDS. °
__ “What happened at the cafion, Hanny?” he asked.
- Hannibal described the scene as it had flashed before
his eyes during the approach of the car.
- “Rynder was acting like a ruffian, pop,” he finished.
*T couldn’t do anything less than take Merriwell and
his friends into the machine and rush them away.”
“Certainly you could not,” approved Mr. Bradlaugh.
He frowned as he added: “Rynder is too officious—he's
carrying the matter too far. Until to-morrow, Mr. Mer-
riwell, you and your two companions have, the right to
remain in Ophir. We're pfactically alone at. the club
this afternoon, and if you want a shower and a rub-
down I'll take it upon myS%elf to extend the hospitalities.
Bathtubs are rather searce at the Ophir Hottse. When
guest asks for a bath, Pophagan usually gives him a

“We know all about that, Mr. Bradlaugh,” laughed
Frank, “afid we're going to accept your kind offer with
thanks.” He jumped out of the machine, ascended the
eps and handed over Fosdick’s letter. “Here’s some-"
hing for you,” he went on, “and I was afraid we were
going to have trouble delivering it. We were in luck
o have Hannibal pick us up and bring us directly to

Where did you get this?” Bradlaugh asked, staring
t the superscription. . . ee

Vv

hurdling this afternoon, Han.

“It was entrusted to us by a friend of yours,” Merry
answered. :

Bradlaugh withdrew into the clubhouse and Hannibal
got out of the machine.

“Bring the grips with the clothes you want to put on,”
said he, ‘and we'll make for the gymnasium and baths.”

A few minutes later they were under the refreshing
showers. This was followed by vigorous rubdowns by
husky Mexican attendants, and when the three lads
emerged from the dressing rooms in their ordinary
clothes, they were glowing with health and happiness.

“That's the best treat we have had since we left Sum-
mit Springs,” declared Ballard. ; 4

When they got back to the clubhouse they found Mr.
,Bradlaugh on the veranda. He was sitting in a rocking-
chair and smoking reflectively.

“Sit down for a few. minutes,’ said he, looking at
Frank and his friends and waving a hand toward some
chairs. .

The invitation was accepted, and when they were all
at their ease, Bradlaugh fixed his studious eyes on
Merry. The handsome face, the lithe, graceful figure
speaking of power and prowess in every line, and the
genial yet resolute air of the young fellow made a deep
impression upon. the elder man. His critical eyes ap-
praised Merry and evidently could find no fault in him.

“The letter you brought me, Merriwell,’” said Brad-
laugh, “is from an old and valued friend. It is an im-
portant letter in more ways than one. You and your
friends have been in Ophir two days, now, and you
have found yourselves ostracized and treated in any-
thing but a friendly manner. If an honest purpose
brings you to the place, you have probably wondered
what such coolness could mean; if your purpose isn’t
honest, then you have no doubts and understand per-
fectly why you have not been given a hearty welcome.
Personally, I choose to think you deserve better treat-
ment than has been accorded you; but that is only my
private opinion, and may be biased in your favor.”

“You and Hannibal, Mr. Bradlaugh,” said Merriwell,
“are the only persons in Ophir. who have shown us any:
courtesies whafever. We came here, anxious to secure
the confidence and good will of the Ophir people, and,
mysteriously enough, we found everybody down on us.
What does it mean? What have we done to make the
town dislike us? No one has given us a chance to talk
or to: explain.” ’

“T’m not going to give you a chance, either; at least,
not. just yet. Directly after supper I’m going out to.
Leavitt’s cabin to see Fosdick. After that, Merriwell,

‘perhaps we can get together on something that will help

you with the town.”

“Tf this town has the idea that we're crooked,” said
Merriwell, “it is due for the biggest surprise of its
life !” : ae
“Don’t misjudge me,” returned Bradlaugh, “for I have
already given you my private opinion about yourself —
and your friends.
mistakes ‘are always liable to-happen and can be set
right.” He smiled. “The more I talk with you,” he
went on, “the more Iam satisfied that Fosdick is a man.
of good judgment.” He turned to his son. “No

well and his friends to town, and if you start now you'll
get them to the"Ophir House in time for supper. Ryn-
der is riding this way, and while you're gone, I'll havea _

 

And don’t misjudge the town, because

You’re to take Merri-
NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

talk with him. After you come back you can take me
to Leavitt's.” : | ;

Something had been gained, but not much. Merri-
well, Clancy, and Ballard were still to stay in Ophir, but
on probation. This was not only galling to their pride,
but to their sense of justice as well. if

Chip looked from the veranda to see Rynder loping
toward the clubhouse on his horse. As he came closer, it
could be seen that he was still in a fretful mood.

_ “We'd better leave pop to deal with him, fellows,”
said Hannibal, “and get right out. Bring on your grips,”

He hurried down the steps and began cranking the
car. His passengers had barely stowed themselves away
in the machine before Rynder drew up his horse at
the foot of the veranda steps.

“Look here, Hannibal,” he called, “what do you mean
running off with those chaps? Why did you bring them
here? And where are you taking them now? This is
_ mighty serious business, and if your father knew what
you "ig
“I know, Rynder,” called Bradlaugh from. the veranda.
“Flan is acting under my orders. Hitch your horse

and come up here; I want to talk with you.”

Bradlaugh was a man of power and influence in Ophir,
and his authority was not to be brushed aside lightly.
Rynder’s fretfulness was visibly subsiding. As the car
rolled away from the clubhouse, Merriwell looked back
and saw Rynder hitching his horse to a post.

_/ “He'll feel differently after pop takes a: fall out of
him,” chuckled Hannibal. “Say, Merriwell, things are
beginning to look better for you fellows.”

- “f don’t see it,” called Clancy from the back seat.
“Your father’s forcing the town to hang on to us. The
citizens weren’t any too cheerful over having us in their

midst before, and | don't think our coming back now

will increase the cheerfulness to any great extent.”
“Stick it out,” urged Hannibal. “Pop’s got something
at the back of his head, and it’s all for your benefit.”
It was a short run from the clubhouse into town, and
when the Bradlaugh car dashed into the main street it
secured a good deal of attention. Peoplg on the. side-
- walks stared at Merriwell and his friends, and not a
few of them laughed. ° ae
_ “Why the hilarity?” asked Ballard, , *
- “That's an easy one,” Hannibal answered, with a grin.
“Everybody knew what Rynder’s plans were and the
eee ie you got the best of him.
- deal of a brag, and the citizens enjoy having him get
his come-up-with. He paraded out of Ophir with your
uggage, vowing that he'd see to it you didn’t get back
nto town again. And here you are, luggage and all.
Vell, it is pretty good! You'd appreciate it yourselves
if you knew Rynder better.” pias 1 ED |

‘The car halted in front of. the Ophir House. Pop-.

ee icin out on the porch, staring at his late guests
r a little when Merriwell, Clancy, and Ballard had
“Back again, eh?” said he.
think we had left for good, did your?
mebody else thought so,” chuckled the landlord. —
couldn’t leave until we had paid our big.
done occasionally, though,” said Pophagan, with
sadness. “
te Bares

‘beside the dining-room door, and w

chairs, one at Wolf’s side and two others just b

Rynder is a good

h bulging eyes and falling jaw. He had recovered
“come as near training-table fare as possible:

Why, yes,” answered Merry sweetly? “You didn’t . order and then chirped a chorus of “the same

d Pophagar ith _ chap followed, the former giving a final scow
“How comes it you arrive as he went. With the departure of these t
was a distinct improvement in the atmosphere sutr

‘Same old ©
I reckon you don’t have’ —

at happened to bring us,” explained Clancy
Uh-huh, i see, murmured the landlord.
rooms are like you left ‘em.
to be shown the way up.”

“How about supper?” asked Frank

They're at it now, in the dinin’ room.
smashed up any ?”’

“What makes you think that?” .
Dunno ; just a notion. He handed out a powerful :
line of talk when he left here with your baggage”; and —
Pophagan chuckled again. . 2

He acts almost human,” Ballard remarked, as they
climbed the stairs to the second floor :

“Getting real sociable,” said Claney. “Ill take back
what I said. The town certainly seems | .
over us than it was before.”

“It's all on account of Rynder,”’ observed Frank. “The.
sentiments of the place haven't changed.” Ce et ee
As soon as they had put their grips in their rooms the -
lads came down to the office, hung their hats on the rack’
ent in t aye

As they paused to survey the tables bor yah 2
their eyes encountered the faces of the three men. whio i“
had come over the Gold Hill trail in the buckboard Hf
One of these, of course, was Hayward Wolf. Three.
were vacant. aya
the chair, next to Wolf.

Clancy and Ballard appro-
priated the other two. ' a ies

CHAPTER VII.
DRIVEN OUT.

The stout, red-faced man sat at the end of the table. i,

Q

On his right was a fellow of uncertain age, washed-out —
blue eyes, and sandy complexion—the one whorhad tose i
the suit case; and on his left was Hayward Wolf...
The faces of these three; as Frank and his friends
made their way to the vacant chairs expressed a variety o
of emotions. The chap with the sandy complexion
looked aghast, the red-faced man scowled blackly “and
Wolf was surprised and visibly taken aback. See
“Hello, Wolf!” said Frank. “This is a fine little sure
prise party! Rather odd that we should both. leave
Sandstone and come together again in this little out-of-
the-way corner of the country. Eh?” : a aa
“It’s more than odd,” returned Wolf with a flash of
temper; “it looks like a frame-up.” i
“You're right,” Frank went on, somewhat bewilde
by the stand Wolf was taking. “Chance doesn't seem

to have had much to do with It. How’s Melvin Griggs ap

and the Acmes?’
He did not hear Wolf's response,

| The Chinese ware
came just then, and Frank pone ee

had to grab the sense from

a torrent of pigeon English and give his. order.

always did this with care, selecting dishes that woulc
a. ieken St __ Ballard
and Clancy. usually waited until Frank had given his

By the time Frank was ready to resume his ta

Wolf, that worthy had risen with some haste nd

the room. The stout man and the sandy-comp

tt

Rynder

more cheerful —

Frank stepped calmly forward and took —

ox
at

 
Bronte eater late peta vege APA rire Naas MG Ft

peer eparOinl metre pet Phd PR PR NMEA AA PDE Dt

ei ener coms

NEW. TIP TOP WEEKLY.

"ing that end of the tale; a vibrant, decidedly hostile
quality had gone out of it.

» “Did you hear that remark of Wolf’s,
Frank.

“The one about the frame-up?”

ees,

“What in thunder did he mean? That we had fol-
lowed him here, or had come here because he was com-
ing?’

“That’s the way I took it.”

~ You never can tell what Wolf means by what he
says,” put in Ballard.

There were several others at the ‘table, and they
seemed, in a formal and disinterested way, to be follow
ing the conversation. Noticing this, Frank gave Clancy
and Ballard a significant glance, and the talk ceased.

_ The same frigid aloofness: with respect to Frank and
his friends, continued to be manifested by Pophagan’s
boarders. The Rynder incident had not. dispelled the

“frost” to any appreciable extent. |

“Our popularity in this burg is still languishing, Chip,”

_ remarked Clancy, as they left the dining room. 3rad-
laugh and Fosdick ate a couple of bum promoters,

“Give ‘em time, Clan,” said Frank. ‘Fosdick will
stand by us from the drop of the hat. There’s a whole
lot to that fellow that we don’t know anything about,
and when the right time ¢omes you can depend on it
that he’ll have Bradlaugh throw his influence on our
side.”
iy ty alee
heaves troubles

Clan?” asked

it easy,” counseled Ballard. “When Fate
at you, shed.’em as-a duck sheds water.
_ Crawl into your philosophical shell and wait till the
‘storm’s past. Take your cue from me. My pulse hasn't
skipped a beat, my res spiration is normal, and my heart
' hasn’t so much as fluttered.”
“Bosh, Pink! Something has got a strangle hold on
you! It’s too much of an effort for you to get excited!”
This from: Clancy’ as they reached the hotel office and
- took their hats from the rack. A walk up and down
the abbreviated main street of the camp, in the cool of
the evening, brought a few fresh dev elopments in the
odd situation.
In front of a resort much frequented by miners, Wolf
and his red-faced companion were flashing thick rolls
roe greenbacks and loudly offering two to one on Pierson
against any sprinter Ophir could put in the held.
* “Where's your loyalty to your home town?” demanded
the red-faced individual. ‘“Here’s Pierson, of Gold Hill,
_ ready to run away from any Ophir man with the nerve
to stand by him on the starting line, and you haven’t the
“nerve to back a, local favorite. Where’s the sports of
a this camp? Have they all took to the woods?’
A silent, sullen crowd surrounded Wolf and the red-
faced man while they shook their greenbacks in vain.
vothing the stout man could say was suihcrertt to spur
the miners into betting with him..
Frank Hs his chums moy nyse on past the resort and
What they had seen

rk ee Ballard.
3a! Brackett,
out! him, if you’ ‘fl remember.
“And. the tow-headed chap is Jerry Pishdaty” put in
“Fosdick wanted to know about him, too.”
ss ve?” exclaimed Merriwell suddenly. “Say, fel-
| low! ‘Brackett — this penne he’s ee ‘Jerry Pier-

At

EF oe asked

_ the outcome of an athletic event.

more prolific in causing

“That

son,’ and says he’s an amateur from Gold Hill. Re-
member that medal we found in the suit case? It had
the name of Jason Peers engraved on it. I'l bet that
Jerry Pierson and Jason Peers are one and the same!”

“Jingo!” exploded Clancy. “You've made a hit, Chip. E
Brackett has run in a professional and is trying to make
a cleanup ofthe camp. Why, it’s the dirtiest kind of
work! He uses Gold Hill just to spur the miners on
to bet their money. I’ve a notion that Pierson, or Peers,
never lived in Gold Hill at all.”

To see good, wholesome sport dragged in the mud, as
Brackett, Pierson and Wolf were dragging it, made the
blood of the three lads fairly boil. Wolf had entangled
himself with a lot of grafters. At this Frank and his
friends were not surprised; but that he should lend him-
self to such a tricky game without giving due thought
to possible consequences caused the lads to wonder.
Although unscrupulous, Wolf had a clever way of look-
ing out for himself. .

“We ought to put the people next to this,” said Clancy.

“How can we do that when the people won’t have a
,thing to say to us?” asked Ballard. ‘“‘Even if we suc-
‘ceeded in telling them a thing or two, they wouldn’t
believe us. We're honest, and we're under suspicion,
while that bunch of grafters sails in here and get all the
confidence and good will of the place.”

The lads, stirred by their discoveries, made their way
back down the street. Brackett and Wolf had suddenly
become very: busy. The miners were crowding in on
them, waving their money and eager to lay wagers on
the race.

Why were they so anxious now when they had held
back a little while before?
the Gold Hill part of his game stirred them to action?

Merry had the deepest aversion for anything in the
nature of a bet—particularly so when the bet was upon
‘There was nothing, in
his opinion, that so degraded true sportsmanship or was_
“crooked” athletics.

[f those miners chose to fall into the net Brackett
had spread for them, they would have only themselves
to blame if they came otit “‘at the little end of the horn.”
Their experiences would cost them dear, but it would
be in the nature of a lesson and might be worth all
it cost. ‘

Although Merry came to this conclusion, he was yet.
conscious of an uncomfortable feeling that something
more ought:to be done. Yet what cou id he do? In view
of the attitude of the townspeople toward him and. his
chum, he was practically powerless to interfere in the
matter in any way.

Next morning, as he and Clancy and Ballard came
out of the dining room they saw Rynder in close con-
versation with Hayward Wolf and Bill

office. Clancy and Ballard lingered in the office to wit- —
ness any developments that might come from that con-
ference of their foes, while Merry went out on the —
porch. He found Hannibal there, evidently waiting;
Hannibal smiled and nodded, gave a cautious ‘Took

around, and slipped a note into Merry’ s hand.

“Keep it quiet,’ he whispered, “and d®n’t fail to fol.
low instructions. It probably means a lot to you. Ex-—
cuse brevity, but I’ll have to be off. You're a suspicious |
character, you know, and I’ve got to: keep my stehgk ws :
spotless.”

He grinned and winked, gave Merry’s

hand a quick

 

Had Brackett’s nagging on Sake

sracket in the ~
NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

cordial pressure, then turned and ran down the steps that, better anything, than knuckling under to Hayward
to the walk, and vanished down the street. Wolf! So they grumbled and protested, wondering
Frank read the note, seemed pleased with its contents, what had come over Merry that he should flatten out in
and thrust it into his pocket.’ Presently Rynder emerged such a disgraceful manner.
from the hotel, followed by Wolf and Brackett. Clancy Frank Was grimly engaged picking up his belongings.
and Ballard, restive and apprehensive, trailed out of He let his friends talk as they would, but made no re-
the office behind them. Rynder, after looking around, sponse. Finally, when they were ready to go down
made directly for Merriwell. with their baggage he remarked: y
“Your time’s up in this berg,” said he insolently. “This is all right. You fellows will know it, after
“Is it?” inquired Frank. ; a while. It looks as though we were being driven out.
“You can’t play lame duck with me, not for a minute. W ell, what’s the odds? There’s another reason for our
You had written notice served on you. Stage leaves at going, and I'll explain it to you later. Let Rynder and
nine o’clock. You and the rest of your crowd go on Wolf and Brackett think that they are having their way.
the stage.” I guess we can put up with it.” ~ " :
The fellow’s impudent manner brought young Mer- ~ “I guess we can, Chip,” rumbled Clancy, “but I hate
riwell to his feet, eyes flashing and fists doubling. to, like Sam Hill.’ a
Quietly but resolutely ‘Clancy and Ballard pushed their In the office Pophagan met them blandly,
way to either side of him. Fs “Goin’, eh?” said he. “I didn’t know, when you came
“This is the way you want it, eh, Wolf?’ demanded — back yesterday, but it was to make a stays:
Merry, turning to face the fellow from Bloomfield. “How much is our bill 2” inguired Frank calmly.
“Tt seems to be the way the town wants it,” said Wolf, Pophagan told them, and the bill was paid, —
in his sneering voice. ‘‘The people here prefer your “They're very comfortable rooms,” Frank went on,
room to your company, it appears. | don’t know as | “and well want them again before long.”
hae blaine ther.” a8 They'll be ready, if you come’; and Pophagan gave
“Sneaks and spies,” fumed Rynder, “are not the disagreeable emphasis to the “if.” ’
Kip”? When the stage rolled'up, Frank and his friends piled
Clancy made a quick-movement with his fist. But, aboard. From the walks the townspeople laughed and
quick as he was, Merriwell was quicker. Catching jeered. am Fed j
Clancy’s forearm, Merry held back the blow. “Never mind,’ said Merry, tucking a note into Bal-
“Steady, Clan!” said he. lard’s hand. “Read that.”
If ever Merry needed self-restraint, he felt that then The note read:
was the time. It was yastly to his credit that he was
able to control himself in the face of such provocation, ; bith: acne, ti ae ae
and to put up the bars for Clancy. : E ae i ty, we Jmorning. ‘Don't fail; and don’t
“I'm not going: to put up with this!” cried Clancy. get es ite {ove ae that may happen before you
“Sneaks and spies! Why, that’s the sort of gang he's are the Se oe ee ee who laughs last. Tm-
training with! They're here to gold brick the town, and ecb oe are Noe eee any I have a good deal —
Rynder ‘is helping them.” 2 e ‘edit Se ate a wIBBABE, anid’ Bet ott the Stage
Rynder, muttering furiously, lurched forward. Brack- at te mouth of the guich nearest to Leavitt's cabin. I'll
ett caught him from behind and drew him back.

be waiting for you. Fospick.”
“Stow it,” sai > oruffly. “We ‘’t want a row.” ire ‘ 3 pa
Sieh iB ay Ee Sra. : 2 pine 7 a een (hen we weren't bluffed out after all!” muttered
7 ” a aya <9 _ ¢ shak ar > . ; y
_ Aynder, held in leash, raised a shaking ger <¢ Clancy, in great relief.
pointed it at Merriwell.
; “You and your crowd will leave on the stage this ; :
- morning,” he cried. “If you don’t, a crowd of miners CHAPTER ViiI.
_ will come here and pack you out of town, neck and heels, fe a en Ge
bag and baggage. That will be all.”
C CRA a, i r side “Where did you get that note, Chip 2”
He whirled and went off down the steps, side by side € 3 g é e, Chip:
_.-with Brackett and Wolf. Merriwell watched them van- Merry eee ss
ish, and then allowed his exasperation to pass from him Shucks'" gruhted Ballard. “Tj you'd showed us
with a whistle and a low laugh. that while we were up in our rooms, packing, you'd .
“It beats all how things turn out sometimes,” he mut- have sayed Clancy and me a good deal of distress. “Why
§ ’

“DEAR MERRIWELL: Come down. the: cafion on. the

LIGHT.

™9s

tered. “Come on, fellows. Let’s go up and get our did’ you hold it back from us? ,
luggage. We're leaving on the stage.” You were a philosopher, Frank answered cheer-
— “You don't mean it!” gasped Clancy. fully, “and I knew it wouldn't jar you very much. As |

 

“It’s bluff, Chip, pure bluff!” declared the enraged. for Clan, why, it's nothing for him to get his Irish’ up.
Ballard. Then, too, | wanted to see what kind of aespirit you'd) —
_Pink’s philosophy had taken wings—which is generally show in following my lead.” ee
the way with philosophy if it gets jolted hard enough. [he boys were the only passengers in the stage that
_ “We're going,” persisted Merry coolly. “Come on up. morning. The vehicle was a mountain wagon with three
fo our rooms.’”*% © af chgt seats. ‘The driver was alone in front; Ballard had the-
_ He walked into the hotel and*Clancy and Ballard, . seat just behind, and Merry and Clancy had the third
' muttering their objections, followed after him. Who seat. \vhat talking they did was in fow voices, and —
_were they that they.should be ordered around by Wolf ‘presumably did not reach the driver, .
and Rynder? Why not face it out and-bring the whole “We're right in that guess about Wolf being at the
affair to a quick and lively issue with Wolf? Better bottom of our Ophir troubles,” said Clancy. “He has

as

 

 
 

NEW

worked some kind of a razzle- dazzle on Rynder, and
Rynder has set the whole town against. us. What's
- Wolf’s object?”

“That’s too many for me, Clan,” said Merry, after
Ballard had given it up. “May be Fosdick can tell us.’

The ride to the mouth of the gulch did not take
long, and the driver of the stage was mightily surprised
when Merry asked him to stop and let them out.

“Why, say,” he stuttered, “ye paid yer fare to Gold
Hill.” .

“We don’t have to ride there, do we,
did?” queried Clancy.

“Cert’nly not, but it looks like blame’ foolishness to
pay for a ride and then not take it. Look here,” and
the driver suddenly became very solemn and portentous.

“Well?” said Frank.

“Ti ye’re plannin’ to walk back to Ophir, jest take a
fool’s advice and don’t. Rynder will dig up a gang to
trim ye.”

“We're not going back to Ophir yet a while,’ F
answered, and hopped out of the wagon.

The driver kept his horses at a standstill and watched
the boys while they walked into the mouth of the gulch.

“Pll be gosh-dinged if that don’t beat me!” he mut-
tered to himself as he faced around on his seat. ‘“Noth-
in’ to carry this tr ip but the mail. Wonder what all that
bunch of fellers is up to? G’lang, there!”

The driver had been given something to think over
during the rest of his ride to Gold Hill. He was prob-
ably as puzzled to account for the loss of his passengers
‘when he got through thinking as he was when he began.

Just within the mouth of the gulch Fosdick started
into view from a growth of mesqaite

“Waiting for you, boys!” he called pleasantly. “Felt
“sure you’d come if young Bradlaugh delivered the note.

even if we

rank

‘ ta Ophir folks glad to see you go?”

“Glad?” echoed Clancy, with a grimace. “You sant
‘ought to have seen how they speeded us on our way!
‘Rynder ordered us to take the stage. He didn’t know
anything about your note, and that we were going to

take it anyway. As it stands, the thing looks as though
we'd let him kick us out.”

~'  *Don’t you care,” laughed Fosdick. “Rynder, and
a whole lot more of the Ophir contingent, are due for
an eye opener this afternoon. A very slick scheme is
being pulled off in the town. I'll gq into details as soon
as we reach the cabin. The main point is that, out of

all this turmoil of doubt and misunderstanding and_in-

justice,» you fellows are going to make good with the
~ townspeople.”
 . This was good news, and Keck and his friends were
"greatly cheered as they followed Fosdick toward the
4 wooded‘ ‘flat’’ and the cabin. Fosdick wore a piece of
— court: pee on his forehead and limped slightly as he
walked; otherwise than that he appeared little the worse
-for-his mishap of the preceding afternoon,
“Bradlaugh was out to see me last evening,” pro-

ceeded Fosdick finally. “Just as I expected, he gave
mea line on what was taking place in Ophir; and, just
as Thexpected, too, it was about what . knew T was
going to hear. Let me begin by asking a question or
EO. -tlow long have you know n Hayward Wolf, Mer-
riw ell? as
“Bor some time,”
- satherschool, back East.”

| “Friend of yours?”

“We attended the

FE rank answered.

fy

of Ophir took

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

“Hardly. He has shown himself to be an enemy of
mine more than once.”

“Where did you seé him last?
nia?”

Pee

“That was the time you pitched for the Acmes and
came near being listed as a professional?”

“Where did you get hold of all that?” blurted out
Merriwell.

“T happened to be in Sandstone at the time of the
game, and of the explosion in the- Newhouse Mine.
Wolf met Bill Brackett im Sandstone, and, together
with Jerry Pierson,'they put up a little game they are
working in Ophir. Brackett had already been in Ophir,
looking over the ground. Why did you come to Ophir,
Merriwell? Were you following Wolf, Brackett, and
Pierson ?”’

“Certainly not., I came to the town on orders from
home. My father has some business. for me to do there,
and he wrote me to go to the place and wait for fur-
ther instructions. While waiting | was to cultivate the
townspeople and get on the good side of them. This
is between ourselyes s, Mr. Pasdiek If I didn’t think that
you were a friend of ours I shouldn't have told you,’

“You can trust me—the information will go no
farther. Jupiter, but it’s odd! Your father, Merri-
well, sent you to the very place Brackett had selected
for this crooked work of his. Chance plays some curi-
ous pranks, and here’s an instance of it. Wolf hadn't

Sandstone, Califor-

an idea he was coming to Ophir until he fell in with

Brackett ahd his vicious schemes, and you hadn’t an —
idea you were coming until you received that letter from

your father. Well, well. Fate shuffled the cards, but
ill luck tipped your hand to Wolf and Brackett. They —
learned in Sandstone that you were going to Ophir, and _
Wolf and Brackett put their heads together and sent a
telegram to Rynder. Brackett signed the message, be-
cause he was known to Rynder, and. Wolf wasn’t.”

The three lads listened to all this with profound
interest. ae

“That telegram of Brackett’s is what set the town —
against us, wasn’t it?” asked Merrivwell.

“Yes. The telegram merely said that» three fellows "

calling themselves Merriwell, Clancy, and Ballard were
on their w ay to Ophir; that they were spies, acting in
the interest of Gold Hill, and that they were going to
nose out what information they could for the benefit
of the rival athletic club. There was a joker in that mes-.
sage of Brackett’s,’ laughed Fosdick, ‘for Brackett
claimed that,. although he was backing a Gold Hill
sprinter and was friendly to Gold Hill, he believed in —
square sportsmanship and wouldn't stand for any under-
hand game. Rynder was directed to put all the people
next to you and to see that you were sent out’ of Ophir
before the day of the contest.”

“Contest ? .

“This race between Jerry Pierson and Hannibal. Brad- ;
laugh. It’s on the cards for four, this afternoon.”
“You don’t mean to say,” cried Merry, “that the people
srackett’s word against us?” ,

“Why not? Brackett had made a friend of Rynder,
and had made the acquaintance of several more citizens.
They'd naturally take his word—and that joker in the
message was a clever stunt. Brackett’s long suit is t
of playing the part of an honest lover of athletics
has got away with it a dozen times, and he'll ha

 
is one that I will explain presently.

NEW: <TD TOP WEEKLY:

getting away with it until the law lands on him and puts
him where he belongs.”

Fosdick’s keen eyes glimmered mysteriously as , he
spoke.

“To realize just what a leverage brackett had for
playing on the feelings of Ophir,” he continued, “you'll
have to understand something of the bitter rivalry be-
tween the athletic clubs of Ophir and Gold Hill. The
citizens in each town are fanatics on the subject, and
each town stands loyally back of its club to a man.
Now, when Brackett wires Ophir to look out for three
spies in the hire of Gold Hill, the Ophirites credit the
message and take pains to see that you don’t discover
anything that will benefit their rivals. All this may seem
very foolish to you, Merriwell, but if you knew how
rabid a feeling there is between the two towns you would
change your views.”

“Why did Brackett want to throw such a suspicion
upon us fellows?” demanded: Frank. “It doesn’t seem
possible that Wolf would do that merely to -make mat-
ters unpleasant for us. There must have been some-
‘hing else back of it.”
~ “Naturally. There was a whole lot back of it. What
Wolf, and Brackett, and Pierson were afraid of was
that, if Ophir learned about your athletic record, you
would be chosen to contest the race against Pierson.
_Brackett’s graft is betting on his man and winning. He
_ has been known to make as much as thirty thousand

dollars on his fake races.”

- “Where does the fake come in?”

‘Well, he’s running a professional sprinter as an
amateur. The worst crook in the whole deal, however,
Just now we're
on the subject of why Wolf and Brackett want to get
you out of Ophir. If you were in the town, and in
the good graces of the people, they might put you for-
ward as their champion in the place of Hannibal Brad-
laugh. Hannibal is the best hundred-yard man in Ophir
_—but that isn’t saying a whole lot. The O. A. ©. is
weak in ‘track athletics.”

_“T suppose Wolf put a flea in Brackett’s ear about
that,” said Merry. “But he might have saved himself
the bother. I nearly got caught playing with the Acmes
—and it will be scme time before I get into another
event with professionals. Hannibal ought to be warned.
He has no business tangling up with such a gang. His
father will see that he doesn’t run, I suppose ?”’

“On the contrary. Bradlaugh has taken my advice
and will let Hannibal run. Of course, he’ll be beaten.
Probably Pierson could run backward and do the trick.”

“But that’s wrong, dead wrong, Mr. Fosdick! Brack-
ett is fooling the whole town! The miners are betting
money on Hannibal—they don’t know that he is up
against a professional sprinter! It’s worse than a gold-
brick game, and ought to be stopped.”

Fosdick relighted his cigar and smoked in silence for

a few moments. In a littte while he resumed:

-“T’m glad to hear you talk in that way, Merriwell.
They call you ‘Chip, eh? That means ‘chip of the old
lock,’ I take it. Well, so you are—square as a die.

tt I’m standing sponsor for Hannibal. He'll come out
of this without a spot on his athletic scutcheon. Brad-
augh knows me and I told him I’d see to that.”

‘What can you do?” asked Merriwell, in wonder.

‘That point isn’t up for discussion,” chuckled Fos-
c Bradlaugh knows me, and he knows I'll do what

aN

any betting. They

| sav : Gi sete ; 2
say. |’m no magician, but I'm something better than

that; ;

It’s wrong, declared Merriwell, “to let those miners
throw away their money.”

“They'll not throw it away.”

“We saw them last night, on the
and Wolf had plenty of money
ing two to one on Pierson, of Gold Hill.’ \WWhen we
hrst saw the crowd, the miners weren’t’ betting When

1a of . > e > q 4 2 :
we saw them later, the miners were tumbling over them-
~alyreac a 17° y =
selves to put up their money. “You may be able to save
the good name of Hannibal, but you can’t save the
money for the: miners.” :

eso Cag.

_ Fosdick spoke with conviction and compelled belief
in his words.

_ Tf you're not a magician,” said Merriwell, “then I'd
like to know what you are.” 3

“You'll find that out, probably, before this race_busi-
ness done with. :
brings os ee point—the crookedest part of Bracl
etts work. The miners weren't. betti 4

; s betting when y saw

them: frst. Why-e 4 WEIL bacinee Shey Gare cnc eee

st. y* Well, because they were afraid Pier-

son was too fast a man for Hannibal. “You see. thev

don't know anything about Pierson but they: do now

all about young Bradlaugh. What caused the change
*» e oS

street. ~ Brackett

is

<-

in the spirit of the miners and got them to-betting? It
of miners, told them

was this: Pierson went to a couple
Jen olea ’ , 2A - +3 ’ ‘
nee hadn't been treating him right and that-he was
sick of being bullyragged by him, and-that. for five hun-
dred dollars, he'd agree to throw the: race
not, as a general thing, overserupulous
to Pierson’s terms, spread the good news
brought out the miners’ money.
a sure thing, Merriwell.”
“That's a fine business!” said Merriwell scornfult¥
“p Dain als es Ps = St Mey ade s a a
But Brackett will get his just deserts, if two wrones
ever made a right—which they never did.” ae

Miners are

and that

“He'll get his just deserts, Merriwell, but not in the |

way you imagine. It isn’t on the cards for Pierson to
throw the race. He makes the agreement just to bring
out the miners’ monéy; then he runs, and 4wins The
miners, if they say anything, or try to recenies Hees
money, find they have been fooled again. The stake-
holder is a man Brackett can trust. The dicecione ‘of
the judges that Pierson has won is Brackett’s pee
collect and get out.
See his plan?

T ,
Understand, don’t you, what it would

mean if you ran in the'race and happened to beat Pier-—

son?”

Ra Fs Fe sod are ko nN / ° °
It’s rank,” declared Merriwell, hot with indignation ;

“it’s the rankest thing I ever heard of !”

CHAPTER Ix.
A SUDDEN TURN OF EVENTS.

“There are only a few
this fake: agreement. of Pierson’s
ing about it and would be the first to turn down ‘the

whole despicable proceeding if a hint of it came to their
ears. Nor are the better ; :

that is what they are going to have in this race. The
miners who believe they are ‘on the inside,’ are, of

lh

and Brackett was otfer=,

What you. say. about the betting |

They agreed —

A gambler dearly loves’

He generally does this in a hurry. —

of the miners who know of —

is Take" i to ‘throw’ the race,”
said Fosdick.. “The better class of citizens know noth-_

class of townspeople doing —
are lovers of clean sport and believe —

 
    

NEW  <fiP

       

course, keeping quiet, betting their money and laughing
in their sleeves at Brackett.”

“How do you happen to know about Pierson's offer
to ‘throw’ the race, Mr. Fosdick?” inquired Ballard.
“You haven’t been in town, have you?”

“No. Brackett has played the game a dozen times
‘and hé always plays. it in the same way. That's how
* I know what Pierson is up to. When Chip told me there
4) was no betting when he first saw Brackett and \\olt
~ flourishing their money last evening, and then a little
y later that the betting was fast and furious, | reasoned
4

<a

a

that Pierson had turned his own trick and so caused
the change in the miners’ sentiments. You fellows know
; the town gave you such a cool reception.
i race, when Brackett is shown up for the crook
7 he is, the people will think less of that telegram he sent
' than they do now. As Brackett’s star goes down, Mer-
riwell,” laughed Fosdick, “yours is bound to rise.”

“I'd like to see that race,”

“So would I,” said Ballard.
‘ “Isn’t there any way we could do it?” asked Clancy.
a “lm afraid not, as the matter stands. It’s possible
-_ Bradlaugh could smuggle you into the clubhouse, some-
how, but it would take time to make the arrangements,
and I don’t know as I shall see Bradlaugh again until |
get to the scene of the contest this afternoon.”
-~ --*You’re going in?”

“T’m to be ane of the judges,” said Fosdick, with a
queer smile. ;

The boys could not understand Fosdick at. all.
was ‘frank enough about some things, but extremely

3 now -why
After the

 

Ag

*

    
   

a reticent about others. How was it possible for him
to spare Hannibal the odium of taking part in such a
crooked piece of sport as that race was to be? And
“g how was he going to keep the miners from losing their
- ' money? As one mystery cleared away, another took its
| place.

.: At just that moment a rumbling sound was heard down

the gulch, in the direction of the cafion.. It grew louder
and louder, until the boys, peering in the direction of
it, saw a motor car push into sight from behind a fringe
_ of bushes.
“Bradlaugh !”? exclaimed Fosdick, staring into the dis-
tancé. A troubled look crossed his face. “I wonder
‘what has happened now?” he muttered, half to himself.
_ Bradlaugh was alone in the car and he drove up
swiftly along the easy slope from the gulch bottom to

  
  
 
 
  
  
 

| the level of the “flat,” bringing up beside the little group
under the cottonwood. sft
“Well!” said Fosdick, getting up. “I wasn’t expecting

 

another visit from you, Dave.”
_ Bradlaugh stepped out of the machine and drew closer
to his friend. He wore a worried expression, which
did not escape Fosdick’s eyes.

“What's wrong?” Fosdick asked. -

4 , Hannibal has crossed the ‘Alps,’ -was his answer,
- with a faint smile. “He cleared the bar at nine feet and
- won.a hundred-dollar watch.. This happened about two
_ hours ago:” . “sf
“That's not much of a pole vault.”

_ “Te is—for Han. He’s been - working, at it
-months.”’

“Then give him the watch, Dave. I’m obliged to you
for coming all the way here to tell me about it.”
There: was a quizzical light in Fosdick’s eyes as he

  
 
  
 
 
  

 

 

 

 

 

for

    

 

        
   
  
  

 
 

,

said Frank. ’

He.

TOP WEEKLY.

af

 

“I didn’t come here to tell you that,” said Bradlaugh,
“but to tell you that Han sprained his ankle as he touched

ground.

That puts him out of the race this afternoon.”
By George, but that’s too bad! Can't you dig up
some one else to do the running? It wan't make much -
difference, you know, if the runner gets beaten.”

“Not much difference to you, Abner, but it’s quite a
different matter’ with us Ophir people. The Ophir
champion has got to win, if possible.”

“You didn’t really expect Hannibal to win, did you,
after my talk last night?”

“T had hopes, Abner.
hurdles.”

“Hurdles ?-
dash.”

“That was

Han is pretty good at the
[ thought it was to be a hundred-yard

changed this morning. Brackett suggested
the change, himself. We were only too glad to accept.
Now we're up in the air. There’s not another man we
can put forward. What's to be done? Can you sug-
gest something?”

“Certainly I: can, Dave,” said Fosdick, with a broad
smile. “I can give you a sure winner for this event—
a man who will be delighted-to-run for Ophir.”

“Where is he?”’

Fosdick partly turned and waved his hand toward the
astounded Merfiwell.

“There he is—Frank Merriwell, junior.”

This announcement almost took Bradlaugh off his
feet. Merriwell was equally taken aback. Clancy be-
gan to slap his hands jubilantly, and Ballard shouted:
*That’s the talk! Let Chip turn the trick! He can do
it hands down. Good old Chip!’

“Oh, but I say!” cried Frank, finding his voice. “It
won't do for me to take a hand in that. Brackett would
object.”

“So far as Brackett is concerned,” put in Bradlaugh,
a little dubious about the plan, although, able to cover
this particular point, “he could have nothing to say. His
challenge was for any amateur Ophir could match against
Pierson. Hannibal out. If Ophir doesn’t find a
champion, the race will go by default,”

“There’s that-other matter of questionable athletics,”
Frank® went on, liking the situation less and less the
more he turned it over in his mind.

“You're not in it for money, Merriwell,” argued Fos-
dick, “and there’s not so much as ‘a leather medal for
the winner. You're in it like a true sportsman, for the
love of the game, for the interests of right and justice,
and for the glory of Ophir. Win, my lad, and you'll
have the whole town lifting you to its shoulders. You'll
make the biggest kind of a hit with the Ophir people
if you take that race away from Pierson.” Be

Frank hesitated. There was a smoldering glow in
his dark eyes:

“Go to it, Chip!” urged Clancy. “If you don’t, by
Jingo, I'll grab the chance myself. I'd lose, of course,
for you know my custom of knocking down half the
bars in.a flight. Don’t fgrce me in!’

“It’s you, Merry!” criéd Ballard. “This chance looks
as though it had been made to order.” .

“But this Pierson is a professional!’ objected Frank.
‘Suppose he proved the better man?” ‘

Fosdick ran an admiring eye over the superb physical —
development of the lad. JSS

“Pierson used to be a professional, but he’s not so
good as he was a few years ago,” said Fosdick. “‘He’s_

is

= egies | ve oe : ; be ‘
aA AB lo Se: Fe TI IS, ere ee eo RT a a tina Danes ed oan NR tT
oo a OM ARDS, Nr ey. UE aA IR

     
 
   
  
  
 
  
   
  
   
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
   
   
  
  
  
 
  
   
     
         
     
      
   
      
      
   
      
     
       
    
      
       
         
        
      
    
 

not careful with himself—thinks he doesn’t have to be

in order to beat the ordinary amateur. Probably he’s

right in that, but you are not in the ordinary class. By

George, Merriwell, I’d'back you to the limit myself—

and I never saw you run!”

“He’s a streak!” declared Clancy. “Nobody ever seés
him run. Between the start and the finish tape he just
flits, and defies the eye.”

“Oh, dry up, Clan!” begged Merry.
ous.”

“You bet it’s serious,’
‘a matter for you to turn your back on.
Chip!”

“T give you my word of honor,” asserted Fosdick,
“that you'll come out of the contest, not only without a
smirch.on the good athletic name of Merriwell, but with
the highest honor. You don’t know much about me,
but: Bradlaugh here éan tell you what my word is worth.”

“Tt’s as good as your bond, Abner,” declared Brad-
_. laugh, ‘“‘as good as. gold.”

“Remember the service you rendered me yesterday,
Merriwell,” went. on Fosdick.
anything to injure you after that.”

“I’m. satisfied on that, score,” said Frank, “but you
know how I stand in Ophir, and you yourself sand
that only following the race and the showing up of
Brackett would the opinion of the town change in my
favor. The Ophir people wouldn’t let me run as their
champion.”

“That’s the hardest nut we haye to ctack,” spoke up
Bradlaugh seriously, “but I have a notion we can get
at the meat of it. We'll smuggle you into the gymna-
sium, which is close to the hurdles.. A volunteer. will
be announced in Hannibal's place; then we'll get you out
and start you before the people have a chance to inter-
fere, in case they feel like it. When they sée you
taking the hurdles, all resentment will be lost in the ex-
citement of the race; and when you snap the worsted
at the end, leading Pierson, two battles will have been
fought and won—your battle for Ophir and with Ophir.”
1 All yight,” said Merry. “PH. run, Mr. Fosdick, and
Pll ran to win!” e
Fosdick slapped him delightedly on the back. “You'll
- never’ regret it, my boy,” said he. “I know more than
you do about this, and after the dust settles and you
can see things clearly, you'll thank your lucky stars for
the chance that was thrown your way.”

“I have a feeling,” added Bradlaugh, taking Merry’s
hand, “that we're all going to be proud of you.” |
. “Tt’s'a race that we've got to see,” said
om to be holed up, out here in this cabin,

“This is seri-

said Ballard; “it’s too serious
Say you'll run,

 
   
     
   

 
 

We're not going
‘hile all the excitement is going on.”
_ “We want reserved seats,” supplemented Ballard; ‘‘re-
served and not too conspicuous. We're supposed to be
in Gold Hilt, you know, and can’t afford to make our-
selves too plain” = => 3 ene j
“T think I can manage that,’"gdeclared Bradlaugh, “by
smuggling you into the clubhouse and getting re a place
the balcony, Even if you are discovered there, you'll
find yours¢lves among gentlemen and you will come to
no harm. Come quietly - to the “gymnasium at tliree
clock. I'll have some one there to take care of you.”

 

   
   

 

  

 
     

      

humming and Bradlaugh was in

it %

    

“1 couldn’t possibly do

Clancy.

With a look of relief, Bradlaugh ‘made his way back
to his car, Fosdick followed him. As’ soon as the mo-.
his seat, a re-

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

\

called off.. Signs appeared on: closed doors “div:
‘This placed closed between three and five on:
Ae , ee, ahs ae My eh

of race at O, A: C.”, Perhaps six hundred peopl

areas stranger, unacquainted: with the inter
tween Ophir and Gold Hill in the matter

     

.of getting Merriwell into the gymnasium and ha

_them in the clubhouse balcony.

 

mark or two was exchanged which caused Merry ‘an \
unpleasant sensation. s I
es If you should be wrong about. this, Abner,” said. 1
sradlaugh, “if you have made a mistake anywhere in. C
your calculations, a good many disagreeable things are- ‘
likely to: happen.” | 4 €
P ! i : : - h
oh haven’t made any. mistake,’ answered Fosdick. | Bae
oa and have the deputy sheriff close to Littleton, /¥ . |
that’s all. As soon as the decision is announced, tell ‘the a
deputy to act. I’ll answer for the rest of- it,” Cee
“verything will go as you say.” t
Bradlaugh threw in the cltitch, turned in a circle, and 4
mane off down the gulch. . The boys could hardly ayoid | 1
overhearing the brief parting conversation between the (
two men. It caused them to prick up their ears and to’ ~ ad
exchange wondering glances: Phy aime
) Did [ hear you Say something about a deputy sheriff,
Mr. Fosdick?” said Frank. : f 1
‘You did, Merriwell,” was the reply, “but that has |
nothing to do with you. Don’t worry about the things. | 1]
you can’t understand.” | {en aa
Z 5

a this oe really from Gold Hill?” a

“tie worked in the diggings near there. ; ime Et ew;

believe. He’s a Gold Hil a arte © and pert ea
lieve. ye 10ld Etiller to all intents and purposes,”

“What makes you think he isn’t in form 2”

‘He was drunk in Sandstone. An athlete can’t carry
on like that, can he, and keep in condition ?” ne

“T should.say not!’

“That’s what I meant when I said he d
of himself. He is confident he can best any amateur
Pen rliatt arre ¢ - hi - eo
Brackett arranges for him to meet, and so he has grown
careless. The life he leads, anyhow, doesn’t point him
aloug the proper athletic course. He is a melancholy _ _
spectacle of a good man gone wrong; and’ this Hayward a

\ lf sowing the wind by associating with such men — :
as Pierson and Brackett. a

‘“ T a 3 “2 1 . f
_“Wolf began sowing the wind, as
time ago, , said Ballard.

“It's a pity,” said Fosdick. “However, we have other
matters to think about besides the right or wrong course
taken by Wolf and Pierson. First, there’s dinner; and ~
while we're at dinner we’ve got to discuss the manner ;
, . nding
Clancy and Ballard over to the fellow who. is to ae
It’s not much of a be.
Dis 3 ; ‘ vd, - 1. pro 9.
lem, but we've got to work it out in the right ae
r erat 4 & ‘ fs a oP . e . “ eee
You're going to star yourself this afternoon, Merri-

’ 4 wi ay ;

idn’t take care’ : ee

you call it; some

We wit
“Tl do my best to make good,” said Frank.

 

CHAPTER X,

RACE

  
 
   
  
   
  
   

Lie Pt Te BEGIN’S,

Pretty nearly every one in Ophir turned out to’ wi
ness the race between the representative runners for
Ophir and Gold Hill. The big stamp mill shut down
and the afternoon shift in mine and cyanide works: was’

     
   

  

   
  

  
     
  

ALE
trek

 

 
      
   
   

out to the grand stand ard ‘bleachers at the:
freld—not a very great crowd for the East, but fo

Arizona, it broke the record ina merely local

 
~ would have been amazed at the depth of feeling de

21 | veloped by this race. The miners, mill men and ore
aay haulers were turbulent and loudly defiant. They boomed
1 | forth their likes and dislikes in husky voices and in
v |. dulged in horseplay which, while harmless, was sufh-
Boe cient evidence of their state of mind. This, the rougher
ae element of the camp, was on the ragged edge of riot.

, |. have meant to precipitate a clash. A sprinkling of law-
bs and-order men throughout the crowd acted as a slight

{ curb, but if provocation happened to be strong enough,

| the curb would be swept away in a breath.
ae The Eastern contingent of the town’s inhabitants car
‘| ried itself with more decorum; but in the face of every
ite club member and college man showed grimly the flash

, | ‘of partisanship. They were eager to have the O. A. ce:
eat take that running event from Pierson, the Gold Hiller:
|. A number of the miners, of course, had their own
| “little secret concerning Pierson and his offer to “‘throw”’
the race. Their self-satisfaction was immense. They
believed they were on the winning side and that there
|. was no possible chance for Ophir to lose. They had
| yet to become acquainted with the great truth that “a
Just
now, however, they believed they had consummated an
exceptionally shrewd move, and they clamored loud and

‘man who will steal for you will steal from you.”

Fiabe

| jubilantly.

Sea The better class, those who loved sport for sport’s
sake, knew that betting was going on; they knew, also,
| that Brackett, the backer of Pierson, was up to his eyes
a in the gambling. This, while it.caused them to look a
- } little askance at Brackett, failed to dampen their ardor

? va. ~for the race.

at Before noon the rumor spread like wildfire that

Hannibal Bradlaugh had sprained his ankle and would
~, | not be able to®*start in the race. The intelligence was
alarming. If Hannibal did not run for Ophir, who
~ -would—or could? Hannibal was the club’s best sprinter,
and for a long time he had made a specialty of the high
t) | hurdles.

: A rumble of sadness and discontent surged through
_ the town and out to the big, dingy stamp mill. Those
miners who were “on.the inside” and felt that they had
a “sure thing’ no matter who ran for Ophir, put for-

 

gee Sey

 

 

  
    
   
  
       

 

_ ward one of their own number as local champion. This
- man ae never taken a stride on a cinder track, and
~~ wouldn’t have known a hurdle from a sawbuck. David

   

4

_ Bradlaugh turned down the- proposition.

 *There’ll be a champion in the field. for Ophir,” he
assured the miners. “Although an amateur, he’s a good
one. VPierson will have to go some if he leaves him
behind.” Be
“Who. is he, Dave?’

“We're calling him the Unknown.
do his prettiest for Ophir.”

‘Then, like. wildfire, this news spread through the
samp. Hannibal was down and out, but his place had
been taken by an unknown. Who was this unknown?
Brackett; Wolf, and Pierson, considerably exercised,
W ited up Bradlaugh and wanted to know something
‘the mysterious sprinter.

   
  
   
   
  
    
 

He’s anxious to

  

      
 
   
 

- the last minute,” scowled Brackett, “the event is off.

  
 

 
  

. , ¢ To cross their primitive ideas of right and justice would:
S i

   

NEWadif: TOP WEEKLY: 19

“See here, Brackett,’ said Bradlaugh shortly, “you
come into town with your sprinter, and we take your
word for it that he’s all you say he is. Now, you'll take
my. word for this, or call the race off as soon as you
please. This unknown of ours is an amateur, and he
makes the race merely for love of the game—and to help
Ophir out of a hole.”

“What's his name?
line on him.”

“He doesn’t wish his name to be known—just yet.
You'll know it before the start.”

Brackett, Wolf, and Pierson had perforce to be satis-

Seems like you might give us a

fied. But they remained slightly uncomfortable in their
minds. That is usually the way with a man who is

crooked. Judging everybody by himself, he is constantly
suspicious of treachery and deceit.

Ballard and Clancy had come early to the gymnasium
and had been smuggled into the clubhouse gallery. From
that point they had a very good view of the hurdles.

When the crowd began to gather they kept well back

in the balcony in order that they might not be seen
and recognized. 3
“Jupiter, but this is exciting!” said Clancy.
minute we may be discovered.”
“If we're discovered, Clan,” grinned Ballard, “we'll
be found out.”

“Any

‘Something worse than that would happen to us. I’ye
got a path of escape all marked out.”
“Chart the course for little Willie, Red. I haven't

done any figuring for myself.”

“Well, we could drop off the side of the balcony, duck
around the end of the clubhouse past the windmill, then
sprint for the hills under the outside wall of the gym-
nasium. In that way. we'd avoid the crowd.”

“Thanks,” drawled Ballard. “I'll bear it in mind,
although I hope it won't be necessary to make a get
away of that sort. The people are occupied with the +-
race, and they haven’t any time for us.”

“The sight of Chip will remind them of us when the
race starts. Right then is where I'll begin looking for
trouble.”

Some one came slowly out on the balcony. Clancy
and Ballard looked around and saw Hannibal. His right
foot was shoeless and swathed in bandages; he walked
with a crutch, and was surrounded with an odor of
arnica,

“Hello, Han!” called the boys on the balcony. “Tough
luck, old man.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” answered Hannibal,
letting himself down into a rocking-chair and propping
up his injured leg with the crutch. ‘I’m ahead a hun-
dred-dollar ticker, and a better man that I could ever
hope to be has been matched against Pierson, Mighty
fine of Chip, after the way. he’s been treated here.”

“It took your father, Fosdick, Clancy, and me to bring
Chip around,” said Ballard. “He draws it down pretty
fine in fighting shy of professionalism. And, then, he
has. pretty high ideas on the ethics of sport.”

“TTe’s gone gunning for popularity in Ophir,” averred
Clancy. > “The only prize he’s after is the good will of the
town.” :

“He'll get it,” Hannibal’ asserted.

“If he wins,” qualified -Ballard;

“if he doesn’t win,
then we're up.the same old tree.” .

 

 

 

 

  
— A
Tere _— ,
Someta: pir epanen gone e

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

“What’s biting you, Pink?” ‘scowled Clancy... “Of
coutse Chip'll win.”

“Of course he will,” agreed Ballard, “providing that
tricky bunch don’t put something over on him. I’m
afraid of this Brackett. He’s a snake.”

“He won’t have a chance to do much,” said Hannibal,
who had evidently been given inside information by his
father. “Pop’s back of Chip, and so is Fosdick. Keep
your eyes on those two boys.”

The “two boys’? mentioned by Hannibal’ were very.

much in evidence. They were walking about the field,
Bradlaugh introducing Fosdick tosome of the prominent
members of the club. Brackett and Wolff, off to one
side, were.conversing together. It was clear that they
were disturbed, and their eyes were covertly measuring
Fosdick as though he might himself be a highly disturb-
ing factor.

_A big, brawny man, with an‘ Alkali Ike mustache, was
quite prominent on the grounds. He carried an alligator
grip and was accompanied like a shadow by another
man equally brawny.

“That fellow with the satchel,” Hannibal explained to
Clancy and Ballard, “is Sim Littleton, the stakeholder.”

“Littleton, eh?” chuckled Clancy. “Fine name for a
giant.” ‘

“The man with him,” went on Hannibal, “is a deputy
sheriff. They say Littleton has fifty thousand jin cold
cash in that satchel. The deputy is along for protec
tion.”

The grand stand was a small affair, but it was filled
to overflowing. The bleachers also were crowded, and
there was a mob pressing against the ropes that guarded
the cinder track.. Demonstrations were frequent. Brad-
laugh was cheered many times, and so were various other
local celebrities whenever they chanced to show them-

“selves. Presently four o'clock drew near; officials be-
gan clearing the field and putting every one outside the
ropes. Bradlaugh stood up on a box and raised his
hand in token of silence.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he called, through a mega-
phone, “just a few words of explanation before this, race.
William Brackett puts forward the amateur sprinter,
Jerry Pierson, to contest ten hurdles over a course of
one hundred and twenty yards. Pierson is to be matched
against any amateur Ophir can furnish. Hannibal Brad

_ laugh, who was selected as Ophir’s champion, has been

_ withdrawn on account of a sprained ankle. It, was

therefore up to the O, A. C. to furnish a substitute. As
president of the club I-have secured the services of an
amateur who, at the present moment, prefers to with

_ hold his name. I hold myself personally responsible
_ when I declare that the unknown is an amateur, who is

t

to place Ophir on the winning side.” .

_ A tipple of applause interrupted the speaker. |

_ “Associated with me as judge of the contest,” went on
Bradlaugh, “I have the great pleasure to introduce Abner
Fosdick, an old friend of mine, and at one time presi
dent of the Denver Athletic Club—a man whose name is
‘synonomous with clean sport the country over.” ,

A foaring tribute went up for Fosdick, who mounted

the box at Bradlaugh’'s side and bowed again and again.
“Darn!” murmured Clancy. “He never told us! he
ppacepelonper to: the “AG OSs AEC ae

I

"He was seen to grow excited, to whirl and

running solely for love of the game and out of a desire.

“I have a notion, Cian,” returned Ballard, “that there
are a lot more things Fosdick never told us.”

Bradlaugh continued through the megaphone:

“This is a one-heat race. A_ single flight over the
hurdles will decide the contest. Herman Rynder, of —
the O. A. C., will officiate at the starting line.” :

A little applause came from the spectators as a figure
app@ared at the beginning of the row of ‘hurdles. The
figure was cloaked in a red bathrobe. .

“Jerry Pierson,” shouted Bradlaugh, “of the Gold Hill
Athletic Club!”

Pierson cast aside his robe and stamped the track
with his spiked shoes. He looked well, long and lean,
and capable. A little more applause, mostly from those
miners who were ‘on the inside”
men of the O. A, C.
were too bitterly partizan to indulge in much hand-
clapping for a rival.

From the gymnasium another figure, clad from head-

to heels in a long .bathrobe,
toward the hurdles.
springy stride, and six hundred pairs of eyes were
fixed upon it. The face of the figure was hidden to the
eyes behind the robe’s turn-up collar. i
In spite of his boasted philosophy, Billy Ballard’s’
heart skipped a beat, and his respiration was much
faster than normal. Clancy leaned forward, careless of
whether he was Seen or no, his freckled face mantling se
with excitement—and some apprehension. ee ied
Would Merry be identified and barred from the race?
Would the Ophirites turn on him before the racers could a
get away? en Ta
If young Merriwell was at all nervous he did not show
it. Straight and supple, he stood there in his bathrobe
no, more than a yard or two from Pierson. Pierson :
was staring hard at him and edging closer for a more
thorough view. \ beer sae
“The Unknown,” shouted Bradlaugh through his :
megaphone, “the unknown amateur who is to contest —
with Pierson for the glory of Ophir!” to eee
A salvo of yells and handclapping greeted the un
known. The latter bowed, but did not step out of his
sheltering robe. OMe yay
Pierson, by then, was quite close to his

could be seen marching ,

antagonist,
: shout some
thing and toss his arms. His words were drowned
the uproar from beyond the ropes. . wae 5
“On your mark!’ suddenly shouted Rynder, stepping
in between the two runners, [Saag

~Rynder dearly loved the limelight. In. fact, he Wa

thinking more of Is own official performance and tht

gtace and ease with which he carried it out, than o
anything else. | eee
‘Pierson, having failed to make himself heard.
denly recovered himself. Perhaps he felt that he
no energy to waste. Ry at. at,
The Unknown peeled off his robe and, abreast.
son and Rynder, faced the starting line. Perf
metry, athletic proportions that were well-nigh
greeted the eyes of the spectators, Then, with
ing suddenness, something else greeted the.
eyes and changed the cheers to furious yells.
“Set!” shouted Rynder, lifting the pistol
DE cas Ethie aces Ry ar ee
The two white-clad forms crouched,

muscle clamoring for the start. 9

ib 5 hia MOL a “fig ne

 

“A and from the college :
The rank and file of the Ophirites |

The figure moved with a buoyant,

 
NEW: TIP TOP WEEKLY. its

There was a bedlam of noise around the track; cries

in which a keen ear might have distinguished the words
“Spy! Trickery! Merriwell!” It was the first time
the honored name of Merriwell had ever been connected
with such terms,
Half a dozen furious miners tried to get through the
ropes. People, in violent protest, were standing in their
seats, waving arms and shaking clenched fists. #¢
Rynder knew something was wrong, but was so pre-

2 occupied with his official duties that he did not discover .

_ what it was.

Bang! went the pistol.
The two white-clad figures, straightened from their
crouching position and tore down the fifteen yards that
separated them from the first hurdle. [he race was on!

: CHAPTER XI.
“POR THE GOOD WILL OF OPHIR.”

oi ‘It was Clancy’s idea that trouble would come for him
and Ballard the moment Merriwell stood revealed at
the starting line. In this Clancy was mistaken, The
- crowd had clearly forgotten the existence of two fel-
lows named Owen Clancy and Billy Ballard. The hostile
‘attention of the spectators was directed at young Mer-
~triwell, While he was plunging down the fifteen yards
that led to the hurdles, if words could have stabbed, he
would have dropped in his tracks. Young Merriwell
“was hoping for but one thing, and that was that he
would put up such a race as to draw every ounce of
rancor out of the hostile townspeople.
Bill Brackett was wild, Even Wolf lost much of his
sneering self-confidence. What Pierson thought he could
‘not show—he was too busy with the task laid out for
him. |
_ Wolf was wondering how this mischance had come to
pass. At his suggestion, and with the active aid of
Brackett, young Merriwell had been given a frosty re-
‘ception in Ophir. With Rynder as a confederate, Mer-
riwell had been driven out of town.
~ How did Merriwell happen to be there, running as
the unknown champion of the O, A. ©., when the Ophir
people were so down on him? As a problem it stunned
nd bewildered Hayward Wolf.

hundred and twenty yards from the starting line,

stop,watches in hand, Bradlaugh and Fosdick had

watched the preliminary events with much uneasiness.

hey knew that, at the last moment, Merriwell might

interfered with. If the miners were not quick enough,

-Rynder might hold the runners and give the miners

ance to swarm over the track and show their

ut Bradlaugh knew Rynder. He had counted on his

. for “starring” himself. He knew that the official

rarter was thinking more of Rynder, at that moment,

he was of any one or anything else.

takes, however, are always apt to creep into one’s

isal of another. So Bradlaugh was anxious, and

a ot until two white-clad figures rose at the ‘first
arrier’ that he breathed freely. sas wt

l right, Fosdick,” said he. “The start was

t once, and they did not have to be called back.

at Merriwell go!”

mounting of the first hurdle the, angry
Amazement

ctowd had died into silence.

%

recovered what little ground he had lost.

took the place of animosity. If young Merriwell was a
spy in the athletic interests of Gold. Hill, why was he
running against Pierson? Why was he making such a
splendid race? Could there have been a mistake regard-
ing him and the object of his sojourn in Ophir? |
These questions flashed like lightning through the —
minds of the onlookers. The amazement gave way to
keen interest. At the third hurdle Merriwell was faintly

cheered.

If there was growing excitement in the grand stand,
on the bleachers, and around the guard ropes, there was
pandemonium in the clubhouse baleony. Clancy and
Ballard were standing on the balcony rail, clinging to
trailing vines with one hand and waving their hats with
the other, And they yelled, making an uproar that would
have done credit to a squad of rooters from Farnham
Hall.

The boys were heard, of course, but they did not
attract any attention, The crowd had no attention to
spare from the cinder track. Every beholder was hang-
ing breathless upon the outcome of the race.

Those miners who were ‘‘on the inside” were wonder-
ing what Pierson meant. If he intended to “throw”
the race, why didn’t he ‘stumble, or something? So far.
as Pierson was concerned, it looked as though he was
out for blood. From his movements there could not be
gathered the Slightest suggestion that he was intend-
ing to prove treacherous to Brackett.

As for Merry, he was forgetting everything but the,
race. The well-rolled cinder path crunched under his
flying spikes, and the very grit of it sent a joyous thrill
through his veins.

There had been no false starts, no playing for an
advantage against him by Pierson. Pierson’s surprise
in discovering the identity of the unknown had prob-
ably scattered any ‘thoughts of trickery which he may
have had in mind. | Z

It had been a good, clean get-away.. Like one, both —
racers had leaped for the first hurdle, matching their
strides. aL rea

Pierson went needlessly high in taking the first bar-_
rier—and what a man loses in the air over the hurdles
puts him a fraction of a second behind in the three
strides between. | .

Young Merriwell, knowing this well, just skimmed
the bar. The sole of one shoe seemed to miss it by
no more than a hair. He had sprung from the right

foot, turned his body. slightly, and mounted in a grace-

ful rise as though propelled by springs. Three long
steps and he was again in the air, Pierson at the take-off,

only a heart’s beat behind him, bn a
Pierson came down, and, with a terriffic burst of speed,
At the third |
hurdle they were again side by side.. Ween
Frank knew that his antagonist was a man of no mean
ability. He had not taken care of himself, perhaps, ‘
but for all that his: professional training had left him

with a tremendous amount of speed and endurance. .

But, unless Frank was greatly deceived, Pierson. was
running at full tension. He was not saving any power —
for a final spurt. All his ginger was being used up
at the start. Frank’s method was different, and followed

a reasoning as logical as Buclids 3! by ity Sapa
At. the fifth hurdle Pierson: was slightly in the : :

 
NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

At the seventh, Frank was in his stride behind as Pierson
came down from the middle of the bar.

The tense nerves of the crowd, twisted by sudden
apprehension, stifled the shouts. Only two voices were
heard—those of Brackett and’ Wolf. ,

“Go it, Jerry! You've got him!”

“Good boy, Jerry!”

The miners with “inside information” began to feel
in ugly mood. A law-and-order man snatched a revolver
out of the hands of one of them and calmly confiscated
it. Instead of throwing the race, Pierson was plainly
out to win. The miners felt sure of this now, and they
were the ones who first broke the silence with encourage-
ment for Merry. ee

“Go it, yeh long-legged jacksnipe! :

“Put it over the thief ahead an’ I’m yer friend fer
life!” ss
“Kill the sandy-complected feller! He’s a robber!

These were not nice remarks, but they adequately ex-
pressed the frame of mind in which the foolish miners
found themselves. | oa

At the last hurdle Pierson was still in the lead. But
he had shot his bolt. Loose living had sapped his stay-
ing powers. His pace began to fall off. He had still
fifteen yards to go, and behind him was a’runner with
plenty of steam, just getting ready fora spurt. =

Pierson’s tricky nature suggested a foul, He tried it,
but was neatly avoided. Frank, gathering himself to-
gether for the final plunge, hurled onward like a limited
express. In five strides he was past Pierson, and, in
five strides more, he had snapped the worsted thread—
winner by a full yard!

A roar went up from grand stand and bleachers, a
seething, swirling pandemonium of cheers and jubilant
_ yells. Ophir had beaten Gold Hill! Young Merriwell,
who had been looked upon with suspicion by the whole
town, had brushed aside his resentment, had run the race
for Ophir, and had won!

Ropes were torn down and people swarmed upon the
track. Clancy and Ballard, followed by a regretful wail
from Hannibal because of his inability to follow suit,
hung and dropped from the balcony and raced toward
the victor. 53

The miners had: closed in upon Frank and Pierson.
One of them, by way of retaliation, had aimed a heavy
blow at the defeated sprinter as he staggered breath-
lessly across the track. Frank, with a quick move, par-
ried the blow. So fone ss

“Don’t do that, friends,” he panted. ‘He did his best.”
_ “T reckon he did, but you don’t know the hull ot it,
was the grim response. “He ort to be lynched.

Then, the next moment, Frank was swung upon half
a dozen brawny shoulders and carried around the track
in triumph. Ladies waved their handkerchiefs and
clapped their hands, men whooped joyously. Everybody
_ tried to get close enough to catch the victor by the
_ hand. | .

_ _ Merriwell struggled to get away, and finally succeeded.
_ Fosdick met him and clapped him gaily on the shoulder.
_ “Wait a moment,” said he; “I’m going to talk to the
_ crowd and I want you to stay and listen.” | ;

__ Clancy pranced up with the bathrobe and fiting it over
his friend’s shoulders. ;

_ “Great!” he jubilated. “Chip, you’re all to the good.
Not a soul has tried to lay hands on Ballard and me!

One man hugged Ballard. He said Pink was your

friends, and any friend of Merriwell’s was blood brother
to the whole of Ophir. We——”

Clancy was interrupted. The sharp, staccato note of
a revolver was heard, breaking high above the tumult
and stilling it suddenly. At a little distance there was.
a scrambling among the crowd as though a struggle of —
some kind had started. Aoi

“What’s that?” dsked Frank.

“Only a deputy sheriff taking a satchel of money from
Littleton,” answered Fosdick.

“What business has the deputy sheriff with the
money ?”

“Littleton was the stakeholder. This is a brace game
on the part of Brackett. All bets are off. The miners
will get back their money,. but there’s a little town in
New Mexico with claims on what money Brackett has
in the satchel.”

Off to one side another commotion was started. There
was a sound of blows, of oaths, of fierce protests.
Merry whirled to look and found Bill Brackett in the
grasp of two determined-looking men. Near by was the
spent and haggard Pierson, neatly manacled to another
man’s wrist. Hayward Wolf was not in evidence,

“What does that mean, Fosdick ?” demanded Merry.

“It means, son, that the law has landed on at least two —
of the worst swindlers inthis Southwestern country.
The hand of Uncle Sam is in this. I stand for honest

athletics, Merriwell, and I have been trailing Brackett

and Pierson for some time. I am not an employee of the
government—just a Denver man, who was bent on bring-—
ing the offenders to justice. At my instigation the gov-
ernment took hold of the case. We——” .

Bradlaugh shouldered his way through the crowd at
that moment. hak

“Wolf has cleared out, Abner,” said he... ‘Several
men are looking for him, but the chances are he has
made good his escape. When last: seen he was pound-
ing toward the cafion on a borrowed horse.”

“Well, let him go,” said Fosdick. “As far as. 1 catia
discover, this was his first piece of crooked work ‘with —
Brackett and Pierson,” i aa

Frank and his friends were dumfounded.
was what Fosdick thad been up to!

“We all knew that Fosdick had something up his —
sleeve,” remarked Clancy, “but I for one never dreamed —
that’ it was anything like this!” ee

“Fosdick is on the box with a megaphone,” spoke
up Ballard. ‘“‘He’s going’to spring the whole affair on
the people. Listen! Let’s hear what he has to Say. a

So this” |

CHAPTER XII. ;
OPHIR EXPERIENCES A CHANGE OF HRART,. :
Fosdick, reared high above the crowd, was trying
to secure a measure of quiet so that he might speak.
Finally the excited talk died down, and he began t
talk. onan
“Ladies and gentlemen,” said he, “Ophir came ver
near being victimized by a trio of sharpers. e
and Pierson are old offenders, and they have worke
their little gamé in a good many places throughout th
West. Brackett came here, professing to be a lover of
athletics. ‘He had an amateur runner, as he said, whom
he would back against any amateur Ophir could furnish.
“In the first place, Jerry Pierson is not an amateu
; , ‘ Ss R ; ‘ , aelet
. ee Ae

os

 
_ fessional

FeSO.

~ all had ample proof of that.

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

name is Jason Peers, and he used to be a pro-

sprinter. That was only one part of the
crooked deal. Brackett came here with Peers and began

_ making bets. The money came slow, for the miners ane
_ Others. with the wagering instincts were afraid of Peer

. His real

Peers went quietly to some of the townspeople, said te

had a grievance against Brackett and would ‘throw’ the
race if he was given five hundred dollars for doing
. That was a ‘bait. Perhaps some of the men w ho
hear me speak bit at the lure. Perhaps they made a deal

with Peers, and bet on what they believed to be a sure

- thing.

Len ats f that is what happened, then the result of this race
ought to be a lesson to those deceived men. Peers neyer
had any intention of throwing the race, and you have
He was beaten, but it was
because a better man was matched against him. Brackett’s
sae plans failed.”

“You bet he failed!” roared a voice from the crowd.
“Some of his good money comes to a few of us rawhides
on account of it.”

“You are wrong, my friend,” replied Fosdick. “There
are some people in Bolivar, New Mexico, who haye
prior claims on all the money Braekett put in Littleton’s
Satchel. That money is attached. The judges declare
all bets off. Those of you who wagered on a crooked
race will get back what belongs to you, and no more.

‘his is right and just. Betting is, and always has been,
a curse to athletics. Whenever an athlete, or an athlete’s
backer, goes into sport for anything but a love of the
game, then sooner or later you will see dishonesty and
crooked athletics.

-Tist a word more. For two or three days Merriwell
and his two friends, Clancy and Ballard, have been
treated like outcasts by the citizens of Ophir. Why?

cause Brackett sent a telegram to Rynder, saying that

e three upright, honest lads were spies, visiting Ophir
in the interest of Gold Hill’
or it—all of you. Now, what do you think of Brackett?”

Te ought. to be lynched!’ shouted a voice.
oe make things right with Merriwell and kis

‘

Of course you'll -‘make ‘iinierd right with Merriwell and.

nds,” went on Fosdick. “Why shouldn’t you? He
to run in this race—he wanted to show that he

ia ‘no resentment, When Hannibal Bradkiieh
ithdrawn, Merriwell was put forward by Mr.
B . augh. And what did Bradlaugh have to do? Why,
scessary for him to smuggle’ Merriwell to the

as an unknown! There are some of you \w ho
have: OED Merriwell, ever ae the starter’s

“again!” wailed a aby voice. Well eat
‘of crow because we're entitled to it; but if
-Clancy, and Ballard want anything in this
ow on, all they’ve got to do is to ask for it.”
@ zpeet | t ee Fosdick, cheabne down

ehh that, but ae

ie ae iidne a ‘shower and a rubdown
h i

ist 2 as he ‘emerged from 1 the oe

You took Brackett’s word ~

“You've done us proud,”
forth his hand. “Put it
rooms are waiting for you,”

“Much obliged, Pophagan,” laughed Frank.

“You made a dash for the good will of Ophir, and
you won! Well, we've treated you and your friends
kind of scandalous, but we'll make up for it. That’s
right!” and Pophagan laughed in a friendly way and
took his departure.

‘Hannibal wants to see you in the clubhouse, Chip,”
announced Clancy. “He says he’d be down here in
person if it wasn’t for that game ankle of his.”

“Tl see him, of course, but | wish they’d cut out this
congratulation business,” grumbled Frank.

“You'll have to put up with it,” grinned Ballard. “You
wanted the good will of the town, and the people have
wadded it up and are throwing it at you all in a
bunch.” ; .

“We're still on alanis orders,” remarked Frank, as
he walked through the gymnasium on his way to the
clubhouse, .

“So we are,’ chirped Clancy, ‘but
pleasanter waiting than it has. been.”

Ophir’s change of heart, with respect to Merriwell,
Clancy, and Ballard, was as complete as its evidences
were overwhelming. The lads had leaped into sudden
and profuse popularity. In fact, the popularity had
taken such a form as to be rather embarrassing.

Young Merriwell did not care for the spotlight. All
he wished, now, was for the town to take him and his
friends on a friendly footing and stop throwing the
boquets. °

In the clubhouse he not only met Hannibal, but also
Rynder. Rynder was the sort of man who always runs
with the crowd. Independence of thought and action
did not form part of his character. He had been taken
in by Brackett—but the rest of the townspeople had been
taken in as well. _ In this charige-of-heart business Ryn-
der was still w ith the crowd. . ;

“Mr. Merriwell,” said he, “perhaps I should apolo-
gize. for—for certain circumstances over which I had
no control—before I tender congratulations MY ,

“Don’t apologize, Rynder,” laughed Merry, “and I will
be greatly obliged if you cut out the congratulations.
Peers wasn't a hard man to beat, and I don’t deserve
much credit for it. Have they found. Wolf?’

“No; nor the horse he took away with him.
‘pose he has made good his escape.’

“How about Brackett and Pierson ?”
. “They are on.the way to Gold Hill.
will take care of them.” | hoes

“And that,” said Clancy, “puts an end to the little —
game of freeze-out in Ophir. Brackett was clever, ©
though. Come on, Chip, you and Ballard. Mr, Brad-
laugh is outside with the car. He’s got our grips from

the gym and wants to give us a lift to the ee ;
Tiouse.” ei

said the landlord, reaching
there, Merriwell. Same old

it’s going to be

T sup-

The government _

oe END.

“Frank 2 Merttwell Junior’s,. Danger; or, The: ieee
country Race”—a story which still nds Chip Merriwell |
and his two chums in Ophir—will be found in the next
issue of this weekly. In this story Chip becomes the
object of the hatred. of Rynder because of Chip’s athletic.
prowess, Rynder is caught eavesdropping and leaves
_ the SE in Rea ae jie ee with» Wolf t to a Mer

 
bad ing an engagement with you’ to-day.

NEW TIP TOP’ WEEKLY.

tiwell a great injury. You must not be told any more
of the story as it would not be fair. Read it, and you
will find it one of the most interesting that has ever
come from the pen of Burt L. Standish. It is No. 8,
and will be out September 21st.

—-<- 9+

THE YELLOW DOG.

By GEORGE BARTON.

CHARTER Ih
A MINING DEAL OFF.

It was late in the afternoon when Ralph Sparks called
at the Fifth Avenue residence of Carl Spencer, million-
aire mining promoter and capitalist. The servant ush-
ered him into the library, and disappeared.

It was some moments before his eyes became accus-
tomed to the dim light of the great room. As soon as
they did, he knew that he was not alone. A bulky-look-
ing person lay back in the depths of an easy-chair, puffing
at a cigar. There was a lifting of a pair of lazy eyelids,
and a deep voice grunted: —

“Howdy do?”
- “Quite well,” replied Sparks briskly.

The big one did not offer to converse, and Sparks began
to refresh his mind with the details of the mining deal
concerning which he had called to see Carl Spencer.
__A step in the hallway aroused him, and he arose and
moved forward to meet the millionaire. The curtains
parted, and Sparks found himself face to face with a
pretty young woman. They halted simultaneously.
 “T thought * she stammered. .

His embarfassment was contagious. She recovered
quickly, however. Her glance went in the direction of a
card she held in her hand.

«“T believe you are Mr. Sparks?”

“Yes,” he answered eagerly this time, “but I do not
believe you are Mr. Carl Spencer.” :

She laughed brightly. 3

“A mistake of the servant. JI am Grace Garland.

“Ah,” he said, “I had supposed you weré Mr. Spencer’s
daughter.”

“His adopted daughter,”

‘was the explanatory reply.
_ “Father has been downtown all day.

He spoke of hav-

service? 1.

“Tm afraid not, :thank you.
pie: ONCE. . :
A grunting sound from the other side of the room

I'll go down ‘to his office

attracted their attention. The girl’s face broke with a_

_ dimpled smile. She turned to the young man.
“Have you met Mr. Morris?” .
Z “No.” ;
_ The bulky person arose and approached.
“Mr, Morris, Mr. Sparks.”
cEhey. clasped hands" Sib ae
“Mr. Morris,” continued the girl, “is one of father’s
oldest? friends?’ _ “ee :

eee VOS," supplemented the big fellow, “Carl’s been beg- :
ging me to be his guest for so many years that I’ve

decided to take him at his word. So here I am, pre-
pared for a stay—that is,” he added, with an awkward
gesture, “if it’s entirely agreeable to the ladies.

“Oh,” said the girl, “how can you say such a thing?

i

Can I be of any.

If you weren’t entirely welcome, father would never have vale
invited you.”

“I wonder what Carl looks like?
much?” asked the miner.

“Mr. Morris,” said Grace; turning to Sparks, “is aw-
fully anxious to meet father. He’s been waiting here
since noon. It’s my fault, I suppose. He said he would
go down. to the office, but I wouldn’t let him leave the
house, thinking that father might return.soon.” a:

“Oh, it’s all right,” said Morris; “one place is as good

Has he changed

_as another to me.”

Sparks was preparing to leave. —_
“Won't you please tell father that his old friend is” Si,
waiting at the house?” ‘Grace said to him. %

Ralph promised, and as he hurried downtown, he car- |
ried with him the vision of a pair of lustrous brown eyes
and two dimpled cheeks. Gore

Some time around six o’clock he reached the entrance
to the somewhat old-fashioned office building where the a
financier conducted his affairs. The elevator man as- |
sured him that Mr. Spencer was still in his office. Sparks —
had been invited to join Spencer in one of his big min-
ing enterprises. He went up and found the room easily, |
but the door was locked. He tapped, but there was no
response. He knocked,again, this time vigorously. Still —
there was no answer. He pounded on the door, but the ©
only reply was the echo of his blows. A age

While he stood there,

. a man in blue uniform, puffing
like a porpoise,

came along, . ;
“Is Carl Spencer’s office on this floor >” asked the new- —
comer. f

“Yes,” answered Sparks. “What do vou want!”

“T’m from the telephone office.”

“Well?” ine f a:

“We can’t get him to. answer the calls from the cen-
tral office. I’ve been sent’over to see what’s the matter.”

“Well, I’ve been knocking, and no one answers, I
guess Mr. Spencer’s gone home.” . "

“But there’s a light in the room.”

“Maybe he forgot to turn it off.”

“It's very strange,” insisted the man. aie
Some undefinable feeling of dread began to creep into
Ralph Sparks’ heart. | Uae

He walked over to the elevator and pushed the but-—
ton. In response to his request, the elevator man called’
the janitor, who came up, growling like a bull terrier.

“Do you know whether Mr. Spencer has gone home?”
asked Sparks. es ie

“No, he hasn’t,” was the short answer.

“How do you know ?” | ee 5d

“He came in about two hours ago, and he hasn't left
the building.” | | eo

“But the door’s locked.” es

The three men stood looking at one another in silenc
Sparks gave a characteristic shrug of the shoulders, anc
said abruptly : ee ae

“We've got to force the door!” x

“Is it necessary ?” asked the janitor timidly. ae
,_ “Put your shoulder against the woodwork,”
Sparks’ resolute response. oa PoP ag Eee

They leaned against the door, and threw thei
against the panels. The wood and glass gave
the trio went sprawling into the office.

What they beheld caused them to gasp for reath,

_ Lying on the floor, unconscious, was a |

‘ ;

 
, .

NEW TIP T

in a gray suit. He lay face downward, his arms out-
stretched, in an attitude’of dumb appeal.

The telephone receiver was off the hook, and dangled
in mid-air, suspended by the familiar green cord.

A small desk clock was on the floor, the glass on its
face broken, as though it had been thrown there during
a violent struggle. But its voice, like that of its owner,
was hushed.

CHAPTER II.
THE IMPOSSIBLE PROMISED.

. Ralph Sparks, stooping down, moved the inert body
so as to get a good look at the countenance of the pros-
trate man. His worst suspicions were confirmed. There

ee could be no possible doubt of the identity of the stricken

man—it was the face and form of Carl Spencer.
The features were twisted into a look of unspeakable

ae horror—a look that frightened Ralph and remained fixed

in his memory for months. j :
_ The man evidently had been interrupted while at the
‘telephone, and the quarrel, if there had been a quarrel,
must have occurred immediately afterward. The dan-
_ gling receiver seemed to mock the speechless one.

| The number of the telephone, Hudson 9876, shone
brightly beneath the polished transmitter of the in-
strument, As the three horrified men stood gazing at
the figure on the floor, the ceaseless throbbing sound
‘of human life on Broadway was wafted up into the open
windows in awful contrast to the deadly quiet of the

little room.

The ringing of a telephone bell broke the silence.
_ The startled glances of the men flew to the receiver
hanging at the end of the green string.
“It’s the other telephone,” said the janitor
- Sure enough, another instrument stood against , the
farther wall.
Ralph took up the receiver.
=. 41s that you, father?’
_ It was Grace Garland!
_ Little beads of perspiration stood on the young man’s
‘brow. He answered in strained tones:
~ “No, Miss Garland; it’s Mr. Sparks.” |
“Oh, Mr. Sparks!” she cried, laughing. “We seem
fated to cross one another. Will you ask father to the
telephone?”
_ The lawyer’s face was white with agony.
“He—he can’t come just now.” .
“Oh, dear,” she said, “it’s always business. Will you
lease take a message for him?’
Yes,” faintly.
lease remind him that his old friend, Jasper Morris,
f Dawson City, called to see him early to-day, and has
en waiting for him ever since. Mr. Morris is going
Jine with us, and I want father to be sure and come
1e to dinner.” ; s , !
ery well.” ee BS
“Now, you won’t forget, will you?’ called the impera-
voice.

“

| ank you very much,” she said, “‘and good-by.”
mee d-by 2, ;

1ung the receiver on the hook, with a groan. Next. .

the janitor uttered a shrill exclamation:

pairs of eyes followed the direction of his fin-

ae |

.

All three hesitated to answer the call; then
A woman’s voice responded: ©

OP WEEKLY.

ger. On the floor near the head of the stricken man
was a tiny crimson pool. The same thought leaped into
all three minds: Perhaps the victim was merely
wounded.

Sparks leaned over and felt the pulse. Then he placed
his ear over the heart of, the old man. He arose, with a
hopeless look. The remembrance of a pair of bright,
brown eyes caused a flash of pain to cross his face, and
brought a lump in his throat. He spoke with difficulty,
more to himself than to the others:

“He is dead!”

TO BE CONTINUED.
nh
LAWS ODD AND FREAKISH.

Maryland, the State that leads in Southern chivalry
and courtesy toward woman, is discussing a legislative
bill making it a misdemeanor for a woman to appear in
a public place in a hat exceeding ten inches in diameter.
It is complained that the hats in Maryland have lately
attained such enormous dimensions that the wearers are
technically guilty of disturbing the public peace.

This Maryland proposal is on a par with the freakish
legislation in some of the Western States, which includes:

In Nebraska: To compel all hotels to have bed sheets
nine feet long, clean towels, and to disinfect all linen
once a year.

Colorado: To make it a misdemeanor to give or take a
tip, except only in the case of a sleeping-car porter.

Oregon: To prohibit the wearing of hatpins more than
nine inches in length; anything else to be declared a
deadly weapon.

Delaware: To tax bachelors and gypsies, both of whom.
are classed as undesirable citizens. _ :

Utah: To make it a misdemeanor not to bathe at least
once a week. ; ‘ .

Texas: To make it a criminal offense to swear over the
telephone.

Some, of the measures cited are now fully operative,

_and there is other legislation equally strange in character.

The representative who desires to punish the wearers of
big hats also desires to make it a misdemeanor for a
woman to wear a hat of any sort in any theater, music
hall, lecture room, or place of amusement.

————<- + 0+ > ______—-

THE SIGN OF THE INN.

German probably holds the record for out-of-the-way
inn names. Berlin alone can boast the “Angry Louse,”

‘the “Comfortable Lamb,” the “Cold Frog,” the “Dirty ~

9

Parlor,” the “Bloody Bones,” the “Boxer’s Den,” the
‘“Four-hundred-weight Man,” and the “Musical Cats,”
while a suburban landlord, whose house stands near a
cemetery, and is aypopular “pull-up” for mourners, has
dubbed it, very appropriately, the “Last Tear.”

re 0
WHEN THE BELL RINGS.
_A substitute for an electric bell has been devised by a

deaf couple. Not being able to hear the bell them- ©
selves, and having no servant, they have fixed up an ar-

rangement by means of which, when the button at the

front door is pressed, the electric lights all over the ©

place light up, and remain so until the button is released.

By a reversal of the arrangement, all the lights are _
switched off when the button is operated after dark, as

 
An appeal was taken, and lost.

: Scarcity of Harvesters in Great Northwest.

The American Northwest faces a serious
scarcity of laborers.. Thousands of men
are needed to harvest bumper crops, work
on railroads, and help also in the develop-
ment of Canada, but labor cannot be ob-
tained at top wages and the unusual allure-
ment of free fare. This is a composite
statement of all the better known employ-
ment bureaus here and at other points
north of Chicago. ; :

To get the full meaning of the immensity
of the crop in the Red River Valley and
in Western Canada alone, it need only be
said ‘that 50,000 men are needed in those

sections. [ree fare is being offered for

men in Michigan, Wisconsin,  [llinois,
Minnesota, and North Dakota. Canada
‘also is holding out free fare, but men are
hard to. get.

All railroads northwest are short of men.
For the last year men have been gomg to
Canada and many remain there. It is
feared that twice as many men will be re-
quired in the Northwest this season as
last year.

;

Latge Fine Paid to the United States.
Probably the largest fine ever paid into
the treasury of the United States court, at

Savannah, Ga., was that of $20,000 turned

into the office of the clerk recently by the
Merchants and Miners Transportation
‘Company. © ea

The company was convicted of violating
_ the interstate commerce act on grain ship-

‘ments between Philadelphia and Savannah, |

and fined $20,000 by Judge Emory ee.

he
_eash came in the shape of a check, made
payable to Cook Clayton, the clerk of the
court, |

Record Subway Digging.
_ A record achievement in subway digging
was recently reported at the office of the
Public Service Commission, in New York,
_ by the Bradley Contracting Company. The
-men employed on ‘the Lexington Avenue
subway struck a rock bottom level at a
depth of eighty feet—the greatest depth
yet attained in any subway work.

The present operating subway is but}
twenty feet beneath the surface of the

2 street. Four times that depth is required
- for the double-deck system in Lexington

_ Avenue. That it should be reached at such’

’ an early period in the work of excavating
- and drilling was totally unexpected by the
public service commissioners. Calculating

enone: Nagr OF PECSERE, BEOBTEAR ie ent | and other dignitaries who escorted to the

gineers of the Public Service Commission
estimate that the contracting company
‘which is doing three-fourths of the Lex-
ngton Avenue subway work, will have fin-

ished their contract one year ahead of

Schedule time, in 1915. —

he magnitude of the process of disem-
elling Lexington Avenue at a depth

equal to the pene En pak por baile] ;
; may be judged by the fact that it re-] we : ; ENB Si.
be Pate The Pennsylvania Railroad. will shortly |th
Jannounce a new schedule for its through
Ls {| train service to Chicago if the New York}
.There | Central will join them ‘in the reduction of | fe

et of forty-five barges and tugs
t the excavated material from
alone ices Island

 

NEW TIP TOP

WEEKLY.

NEWS ITEMS OF INTEREST.

 

the contractors are under contract with
the city to fill in and reclaim the vast wil-
derness of swamp land which would have
been valueless without the filling and level-
ing.

Chis is a part of subway work that the
public is mot generally familiar with.
While a great transit system is being built
it is made also the medium for a simul-
taneous improvement of city land on Long
Island for a quarter of a mile on either
side of Queensboro Bridge. Not only will
the city be enabled to open new streets
from the business part of Long Island City
to the river front, but abutting property
owners will also greatly benefit. The old
B. T. Babbitt homestead was located on
the land that is now being made: over.
Values in the vicinity have risen largely
as a result of the operation. ;

Another improvement that is being made
in connection with subways on the Man-
hattan side of the river is the construction
of trunk sewers of great size and capacity
on the plan of the Paris system, the pres-
ent sewers being almost inadequate since
the advent of the skyscraper apartment
house and office building. To residents in
the immediate neighborhood of subway
construction work the fact that forty pow-
erful McKiernan drills are boring their
way through solid rock 80 feet below the
surface is almost unknown. These resi-
dents ate hardly aware of the tunneling
except for the presence of the rigging at
the shafts which open into the air at vari-
ous points along the route of the great
work. j

Neither street traffic nor the ingress or

egress of tenants of the houses bordering
Lexington Avenue is interfered with. That.

New York is built upon a rock and that
there need be no misgivings about the rock-

‘ribbed solidity of the island is shown as

the drilling in Lexington Avenue proceeds.

There are no quicksands or other treacher-|

ous spots. It is all rock, and gives way
ny before the power of dynamite.
h

e sections of the Fourth Avenue sub-'

way in Brooklyn which are being built by
the Bradley Company are about 98 per

cent complete.

A Relic of Mohammed.

Amid scenes of great pomp aid rejoic-
ing, a Mohammedan relic, a hair from the
prophet’s beard, has just been transferred
to its new home in Plevlia. The route was
ined with troops in parade uniform, and

‘the people crowded in thousands to watch

the solemn procession of Muktia, Muderiz,

town the richly jeweled and ornamented
casket containing the haw. On the arrival
of the casket the soldiers presented arms,

the guns fired a salute, while the priests |
‘intoned a prayer. At the great “Djamia”

temple, where the casket was deposited,
another thanksgiving ceremonial was held,

‘To Reduce Speed of Trains

|games to find out what
{ rett
1 eu is that he is'a v

the speed of their 18-hour trains to the

West. «a

Following the investigation of the wreck —
of the Twentieth Century Limited at Hyde —
Park on March 13 last, both companies —
have been considering a new schedule, and
while the officials stated they were not pre- —
pared to make any announcement on, the —
subject, the transportation department ad-
mitted that the schedules for a 20-hour |
service has been prepared, and that Vice |
President Dixon, who has the matter in

York Central management before he
the new service out to the public. om
At the offices of the company it was said _
they will welcome the change not only be-
cause it will imsure greater safety for the
traveling public, but the refund payment
plan which has been in force has caused
constant complications, and they will be~
glad to do away with the scheme that pays ~
back such portion of the fare as the com-
pany is liable for under its agreement.
Then, too, the company says the stra
upon its engineers because of this financia
liability of the company has been so intens
that the men have been unable at times to

gives”

do themselves justice.

Australia’s Undeveloped Resoutces.

N. R. W,. Nielsen, formerly minister fo’
lands, who represented the New South
Wales government at the Chicago Irrig
tion Congress, and afterward conducted
investigation into the irrigation method
the United States, has issued a repor
which he says that the eastern coast of
Australia can be made quite as productiv
as any similar area in any part of the
United States or Canada.’ He recommends
the government to undertake extensive irt
gation works, declaring that the cost
these would be amply repaid.

Mr. Neilsen also recommends the
ganization of a general scheme of immi- ©
gration from the United States and’ Caen
ada; the New South Wales ,governt
undertaking to pay a proportion of.
fares of those persons possessing a cer
amount of capital. Ri ce
_ Another scheme proposed by Mr; N
is the establishment of a permanent
mercial’ commissioner's office on th
coast of America for) the, promot
trade with Australia, for: which, ©
there is almost unlimited scope

’

A New Star With Yanks,

Nothing the Yankees have done this
son has been so impressive as the wo
Charlie Sterrett, the ex-Princeton
Every young player breaking i
see at is, most of ar —
they are going to tear up the I
they fall Gat Te akes: more
‘a play
has had a good tr

ankees. He d
blowing up. He

 

 

charge, will await the action of the New
-. popular with the fans.

He caught, played first base, covered sec-
ond, and center field. When the boy was
playing for his college he worked at first
base and behind the bat.

With the Yankees, he played good ball at
first in the absence of Chase and did well
back of the bat. It’s a question whether.he
can play in the outfield. Sterrett is a good
hitter and for that reason is a good man
to keep in the game. He has the right kind
of an arm for an outfielder, but his speed

| is questioned.

In the short time Sterrett has been with
the New York club he has grown very
Such managers as

- Hughey Jennings and Clark Griffith say he
will make good. But you cannot find any
ball players who will throw cold water on
another player. At present Sterrett is do-
ing good every day. It was his base hit
after Zinn had tied the score with a home

ak run, which probably prevented the Yankees

_ from getting kicked on the ankle twice in
‘one afternoon. He is a hard worker, and
_ willing to listen and plays hard to win.
_ That’s the kind of spirit a player in a big-
- league club needs. As said before, it takes
- about 25° games to get a real line on a ball

player, but we will take a chance on Ster-

_ rett landing a permanent berth.

Waging War With Cotton Worms.

NEW ‘TIP TOP: WEEKLY.

in the course of the Parliamentary recess
and would come up before the House of
Commons early next session. He refused
to give any inkling as to their nature.

Several newspapers assert that the board
of trade is entirely in the hands of the
shipping interests, and cannot be expected
to act impartially.

Valuable Experiments With Lime.

An investigation made by President Fin-
ley, of the Southern Railway System, has
shown that experts in the chemistry of soils
are unanimously of the opinion that lime in
some form will benefit many of the soils
of the Southeastern States by correcting
their acidity and improving their mechani-
cal condition.

President Finley has secured the opinions
of experts throughout the Southeastern
States, and also in the Eastern and Middle
States, in some of which experiments with
the use of lime have been carried on for
a long series of years. These opinions
have been published in an illustrated folder
which is being widely distributed among the
farmers in the territory traversed by the
lines of the Southern Railway System.

Farmers and others interested in this
subject may obtain copies of this folder by
addressing W. W. Finley, president, South-
ern Railway Company, Washington, D. C.

in another Short machine, S 43, flew from
Eastchurch to Newhaven where he de-
scended on account of engine trouble. He
effected repairs while the machine floated
on a choppy sea and then flew on to Ports-
mouth. Lieutenant L’Estrange Malone rose
in S 38 from the deck of the battleship
London, steaming at fifteen knots, and flew
nineteen miles to the shore.

All three machines will be used at the
naval review, and in the subsequent maneu-
vers.

Deposed Queen in Paris,

Ex-Queen Ranavolo, of Madagascar, is
making her annual visit to Paris from her
place of exile in Algeria, and is staying, as
usual, in a little hotel in the neighborhood
of the grand bouleyards. It is now 12
years since she made her first visit to Paris
as a conquered royalty and lodged in a
cheap pension in the Rue Pauquet. Then
she excited great curiosity and was sur-
rounded by police wherever she went.

Since then she has paid an almost yearly
visit to Paris, accompanied by a maid and
a single companion, the latter being re-
sponsible to the French government for
her safety and good conduct. She is now —
about 34 years of age and speaks fluently
French, German, and English. She dresses
simply, but in excellent taste, and although
her features are more or less of the Malay

_ Greenville has been made the headquar-

ters of the representatives of the United
_ States department of agriculture detailed
- to conduct the war on the army worm in

type, her complexion is a light olive. Her
voice is soft and musical, and her expres-
sion is one of pathetic resignation. :

Ethics of the Press.
Representative newspaper and magazine

this section of South Carolina, and two as-
sistants to Doctor W. F. Webster, the en-
tomologist of the department of agricul-
ture, will be stationed there. _ They. will
- probably be there for some time, watch-
ing the situation closely in Greenville, An-
derson, Laurens, Spartanburg, and sur-
rounding counties.
___ In conyersation with a reporter, Doctor
Webster stated that he had written the
general agent of the Baltimore concern
which manufactures arsenate of lead to
come to Greenville and make arrangements
with the board of trade for letting this
mmunity have a supply of the material.
his agent arrived in Greenville, but so
r as could be learned has not yet con-
rred with the board of-trade officials
ith reference to the arsenate of lead.
_ Doctor Webster talked very interestingly
of his experiments with the fall army
worm over in Anderson County. He stated
hat he had had many of the farmers to
fence in patches of cotton and place the
worms therein to see if they would de-
vour the cotton. The worms ate very
le of it, preferring the corn and grass.
"he government experts will keep a
close watch over the operations of the
past in this section of the country.

New Rules for Vessels.

Sydney Buxton, president.of the board
rade, announced in the House of Com-
at the board had framed new rules

ms

ng life-saving precautions, on mer-

vessels, based on the recommenda-
of the court which had considered the
isaster. The new rules must, said
<ton, be approved by the House of
ons before their adoption. |
uxton said that there would be no
) discuss the rules or Lord Mersey’s
the Titanic disaster this session,
many members of the House were
xr a debate on the subject. ‘Bhe
ontinued, would be announced

¥ 1

++

 

writers and owners gathered at the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin gymnasium for the
opening session of the first national news-
paper conference, called to discuss. ethics
of the press. The principal speaker was
George E.- Vincent, president of the Uni-
versity of Minnesota, who spoke on “the
press and the people.”

An address by Governor F. E. McGovern
was read in his absence by his secretary.
It held that the people can be trusted to
decide wisely whenever they have the facts
upon which a fair judgment may be based
and that this work has been principally
by the press.

James F. Trotman, president of the
board of university regents, spoke on “the
university and the newspaper as coordinate
tools of intelligence.” -

A Record Flight.
A record waterplain flight was accom-
plished by Commander Samson in S 4J,
one of the new Short machines, built for

the English admiralty. The machine car-

ried a wireless installation and a wireless

operator, and flew without a stop from
Eastchurch by sea to Portsmouth.

The wind at the start was blowing at
thirty-four miles an hour, as registered by
the anemometer, and was for part of the
journey against the waterplane. Comman-
der Samson nevertheless covered the 184
miles round the coast in three hours and a
quarter, or at a speed of sixty miles an
hour. During the journey he ascended to
a height of 2,000 feet and was fifteen miles
from land. ;

On descending at Portsmouth the com-
mander sent back news of his arrival to
Eastchurch by wireless. He still had
enough fuel and oil for another 200 miles,
without replenishing. The naval authori-
ties consider that this flight is of extreme
importance as showing the enormous ca-
pabilities.of the new machines.

Lieutenant Spencer Grey and a mechanic

 

After staying a few weeks in Paris, visit-
ing the shops and museums, she usually
goes to the seaside, where she spends a
couple of months, or until a suggestion
comes from the colonial office that it is
time for her to return to Algeria. For the
last two years her companion has _ been
Madame Howey, the wflow of an actor at
the Gymnase, and how this lady became
the ex-queen’s lady-in-waiting she relates
as follows: fy
“It was two years ago, when my hus-
band died, that some of my friends sug-
gested my going to the seaside to spend a
month with Queen Ranavolo, who was then
at La Baule, near St. Nazaire, and who
wanted a companion. At the end of the
four weeks, when I was about to leave,
the queen said to me that she would regret
my departure very much, as she had be-
come very fond of my conversation. I told
her in turn that I had. been charmed by
the way in which she had treated me, and
then I asked nothing better than to stay.
She had, in fact, been so kind to me and
found such words of sympathy for me in
my bereavement that I became very much
attached to her. §

“I have since become her confidant, and I
assure you that the queen is of a very
happy and pleasant disposition. She tells
me that, in spite of all, she bears the
French no grudge. hey were stronger
than her troops, and had her troops been
the stronger they would haye done what. |
the French did. But this does not prevent —

her from speaking constantly with regret

of her treasures, her wealth, her orna- |
ments, her jewels, and her scepter, which |
are at Tananarvio. People have been |
astonisHed to observe how fashionably she _

dresses,, but already before the dethrone- —

ment she had many of ‘her gowns made in —

Paris. ie
“One of the queens of Madagascar whd —

preceded her received a beautiful dress as —
a prgsent from the Empress Eugenie. The |

 
queen loves to go to the theater, and when
Rejane was in Algiers we never missed
a night. She is very fond, also, of music,
but likes it sad, such as, she says, recalls
to her mind the songs of her native coun-
try. She thinks the annual pension of $10,-
coo allowed her by the government very
small, and she would like to see it in-
creased. She has three horses, but cannot
afford a motor car.

“After a month or six weeks in
the ex-queen will go to Dieppe.”

Paris

Lived One Year With a Corpse.

Another tragic tale of two aged sisters
in reduced circumstances, one of them re-
fusing to be parted from the other even
in death, comes from Gateshead, England.
Living for a year alone in the house with
the corpse of her sister. This gruesome
fact was discovered by the visit of a rela-
tive. Unable to obtain any answer to her
repeated knocking, she summoned the po-
lice and and had the door broken open.
In one of the rooms they found the shriv-
eled body of the elder of two sisters, named
Neill, dressed in her night clothes. The
younger sister was exceedingly weak, and
was unable to give any information as to
the death of hér companion, or the reason
why it had beep concealed from every one
for over a year.

The two sisters had once been dress-
thakers with a large staff of assistants,
employed by the best-known people in the
district. These sisters, who were both over
70, gradually lost their connection and a
few years ago they retired from business
and lived such a secluded life that the
elder woman had not been missed by the
neighbors.

A doctor stated that the body was prac-
tically a skeleton, there being only a thin
covering of skin on the bones. Death, he
said, must have taken place over a year ago.
The surviving sister has been removed to
Gateshead workhouse hospital.

Besieged in a Race Riot.

Sheriff White, of Gordon County, Ga.,

was mortally wounded and two deputies of
his posse and six negroes were shot near
Plainville, Gordon County, as the result
of a race riot, which culminated when the
posse stormed a section house where the
negroes had barricaded themselves. The
six negroes, including five men and a
woman, were brought to Rome in auto-
mobiles and placed in jail.
_ Sheriff White was shot early in the even-
ing when he and his posse was ambushed.
Doctor Miller and Deputy Haines were
also shot.

The negroes fled and barricaded them-
selves in a section house. Sheriff Donehoo,
of Floyd County, and a posse, surrounded
the house, and when reénforcements ar-
rived from Calhoun and_ Adairsville,
stormed the house.

They found five negro men and a woman,
all wounded, within and quickly captured
them after clubbing’ them with their guns.
The negroes were wounded as the result
of the volleys of the posse while the
house was surrounded.

It is believed all of the wounded will re-
cover with the exception of Sheriff White.

The sheriff and his posse were ambushed
about 200 yards from this place by a band
of negroes, after all negroes had been
driven from Plainsville. The negroes, sup-
posed to be about 12 in number, now are

 

NEW TIP TOP WEERLY.

fortified in a building, They are reported
to be well armed and are holding the whites
at bay.

An appeal was sent to Sheriff Owen for
assistance. He started in pursuit of the
negroes with a posse and encountered the
fortified ambuscade.

Sheriff Owens fell at the first volley,
mortally wounded. Ernest Johnson and
Bob Miller also were wounded. It is be-
lieved some of the negroes in the house
were struck by bullets.

The trouble started when Minnie Heard,
a negress, attacked Ivey Miller, a little
white boy, with a rock, while beth were
working in a peach orchard. Next day the
girl’s father came to town and was. sav-
agely beaten by the hot-headed white
youths, who warmed him not to come back
He heeded the warning, but his brother
then came to town.

He was attacked by whites and three ne-
groes came to his assistance. The four

.were stood in a row against the depot and

lashed with buggy whips. Finally one
broke away and fired a shot as he fan.
This brought on an exchange of shots
among the excited people. This occurred
just as the southbound passenger train from
Chattanooga passed through.

Amid wild excitement, the blacks, who
outnumbered the whites, fled from the town,
abandoning their homes. Their hasty ex-
odus prevented bloodshed and further trou-
ble.

Rubber Atrocities Ended.

Sir Edward Grey, the foreign secretary,
speaking in the House of Commons of the
atrocities in connection with the rubber in-
dustry in the Putumayo district of Peru,
said that the British government did not
desire to rest content with making the
facts public, but had done all that was pos-
sible through diplomatic means to impress
Peru with the undesirability of permitting
such a state of affairs to continue, —

The British government, he said, was
keeping in the closest touch with the United
States in this matter, and public opinion im
the United States would undoubtedly prove
a potent factor in preventing a recwrrence
of the atrocities. It had been arranged that
the British and American consuls would
start together on August 5 for Putumayo,
and the consuls’ presence in that district
would be a guarantee that the horrors
would not be repeated without the world
knowing it. :

This, continued the foreign secretary,
marked the beginning of a systematic visita-
tion of ‘the district, when eventually, in no
great “length of time, would insure that
such horrors would not occur again. It
had been suggested to him that the atroci-
ties might have been prevented by stopping
the export of rubber. He had brought this
point to the attention of the United States
as something worth considering, but it could
not be done except by Brazil.

“T think that if any step of that kind is
to be taken,” said the secretary, “it should
be taken when the United States govern-
ment is convinced that some coercive meas-
ure is necessary and is prepared to give
full support to any action that Brazil may
take in. that direction.”

Six Dreadnaughts for Spain.
It has taken Spain nearly fourteen years
to recover from the blow of the war with
Uncle Sam, but now at last she intends to

 

make a serious effort to replace the vessels
lost at Santiago de Cuba and Cavite.

The first Spanish dreadnaught, the &s-
pana, will be commissioned in November,
and will be quickly followed by two. others.
These vessels will each carry eight 30.5 cen-
timeter guns, mounted in pairs in barbettes.

Great sums have been spent in putting
the government arsenal at El Ferol in a
fit state to turn out vessels of this type,
and thus establish afresh a national indus-
try which had been allowed to decay.

Thus fresh constructions become mevit-
able, and the government has decided upon
the enlargement of the naval program by
the addition of three more dreadnaughts
of 20,000 tons, against the 15,700 tons of
the Espana and her sisters.

Meanwhile, no provision has been made
for the manning of the ships of the ig1o
program; much less has provision been
taken for the three bigger ships to be
shortly laid down.

Facing Unwelcome Facts.

So great is the epidemic of theft of
works of art from Italy that the govern-
ment, unless it can stop the depredations,
must face the grave alternative of seeing
the nation denuded of its treasures, :

By illegal purchase and sales, by di-
rect robbery, by the greed of impoverished
families, by the extravagant rise in the
market values of works of. art, and last,
but not least, the avidity of American col-
lectors, this looting of Italy is carried on.

Deputy Maramoni, addressing the Italian
parliament recently, said:

“Tf the government does not interfere
sharply and immediately, the private art
galleries of Italy, once the pride of their
owners and of the nation, will in a few
years have ceased to exist.”

To Reach Ripe Old Age.

In order to reach a ripe old age in Lon-
don, you must be born “young.” A refer-
ence to “Who’s Who” will show that
the Youngs beat all other families in the
matter of longevity. A few weeks ago
Englishmen were congratulating Samuel
Young, patriarch of the House of Com-
mons, on the completion of his ninetieth,
year, and a few days ago Sir Frederick
Young, the grand old man of the Royal
Colonial Institute, entered on his ninety-
sixth year, Now, from the Ballarat gold
field in Australia, cames news of the death
of William Young at the age of 108, When
a boy of 14 he left England for Australia,
and he was one of the pioneer gold diggers
at Ballarat.

Royal Honors to a Soldier of Fortune.

Slatin Pasha, one of the most remark-
able soldiers of fortune of the nineteenth
century, was recently the guest of King
George at Windsor. . The last occasion on
which the former prisoner of the Khalifa
was an honored guest of the royal family
was when King Edward had him down to
Balmoral to meet Sir Harry Aubrey Mac-
lean, some time commander in chief of the
multitude of semidisciplined cutthroats that
made up the army of the sultan of Mo-
rocco. The late Sir Alexander Conde Ste-

phen says that one night Slatin and Mac*
lean entered, at King Edward’s instigation, »
into a conspiracy of yarning. ‘It was 4:30.
in the morning when this modernized form —
of Arabian Nights’ entertainment was ad-
journed and, added Conde Stephen, every:

i I tingle

oo a

a

 

 

eee ee

CT oe

ia

 

 
; blood-curdling story that the pair were re-
- sponsible for were hard, brutal facts, well
on known as such at Fez and Khartoum.

A New Radium Palace.

_ The Radium Palace, which is being built
‘In, Paris, in the New Rue Pierre Curie,
will be one of the greatest architectural
as well as scientific curiosities in the Paris
of to-morrow. It will be built of special
materials which the action of radium can-
not attack. The palace is destined to con-
_ tain a considerable quantity of radium, and
its walls will be doubled with thick panels
of an impermeable metal, The exterior
architecture is of a sober elegance, which
will harmonize with the palace. of ocean-
_ ography and the other uniyersity buildings
of the Rue Pierre Curie. For the final exe-
cution of the building a credit of $20,000
has been assured.

_ Saved by Umbrella,

A raised umbrella was the means of sav-
ing the life of Edward Dickinson, a sales-
man, of No. 410 East Second Street, Brook-
lyn. A shoe on the rear car of a Fifth
Avenue elevated train, in breaking loose,
ell to the street just as Dickinson stepped
from a surface care at Fifth and Flatbush
Avenues. It struck his umbrella.

Dickinson was knocked unconscious. He

s taken to the Brooklyn Hospital suffer-
ng from a fractured skull. . The umbrella
broke the force of the falling shoe.

Important News of National Crops,
Crop news, more than presidential pros-
pects, is commanding the attention of busi-
ness men, says the National City Bank cir-
cular for August, and this oracle of Wall
t proceeds to point out for the en-
ightenment of the bank’s clients the rela-
tion of the crop situation to the high cost
f living, It is the high cost of liying
which has been unsettling wage agreements,
the circular says, and it goes on to explain
lat the reasons for this increase are en-
due to the failure of our agricultural
o keep pace with the increase in
ion:
‘hile the. population of this country
eased 21 per cent between the last
nsuses, the aggregate acreage of all
real crops has increased only 3.5 per
and the actual -yield in 1909 was but
vent greater than in 1889.”
amplifying these indications of
e of food products to grow in pro-
to population, the circular says:
e are facts of very great signifi-
ndeed, it may be questioned whether
er set of facts in the world to-day
social and industrial importance.
ation has spread over the United
es, the free and cheap lands are: gone,
there is no other equal area on the face
lobe comparable in productiveness
nal wealth to the United States

ave caused an astonishing ad-.

land values. The census shows
en 1900 and 1910 the average
acre of all the farms in the

exclusive of buildings, in-

.

o8 per cent, or more than 10 per
for that period. Much was.
ago about the dangers of

the West. As a result of
d of the attitude of bankers

loans, the fever of

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

speculation has subsided; but all reports
are to the effect that there has been no re-
cession in selling prices, but a continual
advance.

“The situation has its grave features, for
while the change which has come over the
position of the farmer, and particularly of
the farm owner, is a very agreeable one
to him, and perhaps for the present genera-
tion gives only just recompense for hard-
ships in the past, we cannot look upon the
relatively diminishing supplies with other
than apprehension. In all of the arts of
manufacture and in facilities for transpor-
tation we make constant progress, and the
benefits of that progress are quickly shared
by all. But it is unmistakably true that
in recent years a considerable share of the
natural gains of industrial progress have
been offset by higher costs of food, cloth-
ing, and raw materials. -A part of the
higher prices goes to the fortunate pos-
sessor of land, timber, and other natural
resources, but a part is expended in the
greater effort necessary to produce the
commodities in the greater amounts re-
quired.

“There is only one possible source of re-
lief from this threatening situation, and
that is by raising the productiveness of our
lands through more intelligent and- scien-
tific culture. There is no known limit to
the possiljlities of nature, and our aver-
age production is far below the results of
the best practice. The average yield. of
corn per acre in this country has never
reached thirty bushels but onee, and that
was in 1872. The important question is,
if we have gained nothing in the cultiva-
tion of corn in the last forty years; how fast
will it be possible to revolutionize farming
methods in the future.”

The interest which bankers all over the
country are taking in this problem of in-
creasing the productiveness of the farm is
pointed out by the National City Bank cir-
cular, which advocates a widening of the
movenient that in some States has made
the education of the farmers in better
methods the chief work of the bankers’
associations.

The Eternal Lottery,

At Smolensk, in Russia, the annual mar-
riage lottéry recently took place, and was
remarkably successful financially,

The young girl who was to be the prize
was chosen by the municipal council ten
days before the lots were drawn, and the
ticket holders at once visited her house to
make her acquaintance,

Fivé thousand one-rouble tickets were
sold, and the money, which would have
been equally divided between the prize and
its winner if she had refused him, as she
had the right to do, was, as is customary,
presented to the young couple as a wedding

gift. ou
No Beds of Roses.

The sorrows of the mighty are resting
heavily on Mr. Asquith, whose life is one
fendless chain of anxiety, and who, next to
the czar of Russia, is probably the most
worried man in Europe to-day. In addi-
tion to the political worries of his office

existing by the grace of a coalition of not
always harmonious forces, his life is made

fsafety of his son,

 

| The most carefully guarded person in

and position as the head of a government

a continuous torture by his anxiety for the.

 

the country at the moment is Master An-
thony Asquith, the picturesque child with
the long, thin face and remarkable shock
of light yellow hair, who is so often to be
seen on shopping expeditions with his
mother, The suffragists have sworn to
kidnap him, and, he never goes out without
two detectives walking near.

It is no exaggeration to say the premier
and his family go in terror of their liyes
from the suffragists.

Not long ago the Scotland Yard authori-
ties approached the master of Elibank, the
chief government whip, and asked him to
warn Mr. Asquith that he was in graye
danger from the wild women, and that an
attempt on his life might be. made at the
National Liberal Club reception on July 5.
This was the real reason for the cancella-
tion of the reception, for which 5,000 in-
vitations had been issued. Scotland Yard

declared that if the idea of holding it were

persisted in, they could not undertakd the
responsibility of guarding the premier.

Films Are Forbidden.

On the theory that the young people of
modern France are deficient in moral qual-
ities, sociologists of Paris are eagerly dis-
cussing what is to be done to improve com-
ing generations in this report.

It is acknowledged that much moral per-
versity is due to the influence of cinema-
tograph theaters, which, like the American
“dime novel’ and the English “penny
dreadful,” haye a tendency to glorify evil-
doers and heap ridicule on the officers of
the law.

In many towns and cities, therefore, the
mayors have forbidden the exhibition of
bandit films, which they claim encourage
and propagate crime. Many pedagogues,
however, contend that the root of the evil
lies much deeper, and that to bring up a
morally healthy generation the public, ele-
mentary schools must be reformed, as it

is within these that the character of the

young receives its first and perhaps its final —

impression.

Sociologists assert that it is unjust to
blame the teachers for the decline of re-'
publican virtues, which is ‘really due to the

growing materialism, the ambition that per- —
meates all classes and to that new spirit —
of extravagance which is undermining the —

old prudence and thrift of the nation.

No Interference With Japan.

A statement issued on behalf of the rep-
resentatives of the boards of foreign mis-
sions who visited Washington to discuss
the Korean situation with government of-
ficials and the Japanese ambassador reit-
erates that no intervention on the part of
the United States had been sought. -

“We did not gd to Washington to ask ~

for the intervention of our government,”
says the statement. “The trial of the ac-

cused Koreans is still in progress, and no —
proof has been furnished that the treaty -
rights of our missionaries as \American
citizens have been denied, although the mis- —
sion work has been seriously embarrassed.

t

Officially, therefore, the question at its —
present stage concerns the dealings of the —
Japanese government with its own subjects, ©
government would not —

and, of course, our
feel that this called for interference through

the diplomatic channels. '

“All the interyiews were Lighly satis-

factory. They indicated that the respon-
sible officials of our government had given

}
‘

dey

 
a good deal of attention to the subject, that
they had carefully read the documents that
we had sent them in advance, and that they
had received voluminous information from
other sources which they had studied with
care. We have every reason to be grati-
fied by the sympathetic understanding which
they manifested, and by the unqualified
commendation which they gave to the policy
which has been pursued by the mission
boards.”

Electricity for Defectives.

The board of education, when the new
school term begins, will be asked to per-
mit a trial of the experiment of electrifying
one of the school rooms in which a class
of defective pupils is being taught. This
experiment has been carried on 1n Stock-
holm, Sweden, with success. It is estimated
that it will cost some $10,000 to make such
a test here. The electrification of a class-
room, it is maintained, improves the mental
and physical condition of the children. _

Nikola Tesla, the inventor, it is said,
favors the plan, and he may have charge
of the experiment if the board of educa-
tion should decide to try it. Defective
children will be chosen, as they most need
mental stimulation. It is asserted that the
experiment can have only a beneficial ef-
_ fect, and that there is not the slightest
danger to the teacher or pupils from it.

The experiment in Stockholm has been
carried on under the supervision of Svante
Arrhenius, a well-known physicist. The
electrification consists of a series Of wires
in the walls of the classroom. These wires
will be charged with high frequency cur-
rents. The plan will be to have two class-
rooms, as nearly alike as possible, one elec-
trified and the other not, each to have
the same number of pupils. At the end
of a certain period comparisons will be.
made between the pupils in the electrified
room and those in the room not electrified.

While the Stockholm experiment has in-
terested many scientists in this country, and
possibly greatly impressed some of them,
there-are others who believe that much
fuller experimenting will have to take place
before the tests meet with their approval.

Signs of Prosperity.

Chicago’s business interests have weath-
ered the storm of politics and the uncer-
tainties attending a presidential campaign
with more than reasonable prosperity.

This is shown ‘in the fact that for the
first time in the history of the city’s banks
combined deposits have crossed the $1,000,-
000,000 mark, and the clearing house rec-
_ords show that the checking exchanges be-
tween banking institutions in seven months
of r912 have reached the record-breaking
total around $8,800,000,000.

In the first seven months last year bank
clearings totaled $2,052,181,700. In these
figures the enormous loaning power and
resources of the banking facilities at this
center are apparent, and the ability of Chi-
cago banks to finance the Western crop

movement is seen. One year ago the de-

posits held by the city’s banks were just
above 000,000, while in the fall of 1909
the total barely reached $800,000,000. |

_A Vety Serious Mistake.
_Mistaking a part of the initiation as

meaning to do him bodily harm, Farman
Bagwell, aged 21, a candidate being initi-

‘several sections of cotton and corn.

pull.

 

ated into the mysteries of the Woodmen of

_the World, rushed from the lodgeroom and!

4 ,

enue ee
PEERS MO ser

NEW TIP. TOP WEEKLY.

snatched. his pistol from his coat hanging in
the anteroom and fired three shots in quick
sutcession at Malton Taylor, aged 26, who
was leading the degree team in the in-
itiation.

The first shot hit Taylor in the abdomerm
The bullet hid itself in the spinal column.

The second bullet hit Taylor on the right
hip and buried itself in the hip bone. The
last shot struck Taylor on the back of the
neck and glanced off. This occurred in the
Friendship lodgeroom, three miles north-
east of Honea Patch, S. C.

Taylor was brought to the hospital, and
Doctor Sanders, the attending physician,
said that his condition was extremely criti-
cal, and that he feared peritonitis will set
in. Taylor said that he and Bagwell were
warm friends; that Bagwell became ex-
cited. Taylor’s father said that prosecu-
tion of Bagwell depended on whether or
not his son survived the wound.

Power of Vegetable Growth.

A tar macadam pavement stretching from
the school of gunnery at Shoeburyness to
the sea is at present in a state of violent
if silent eruption. About a fortnight ago
the surface became covered with what may
be called “blisters,” raised a little above the
common level, which attracted much won-
dering attention.

From each of these, in a few days, a
series of cracks appeared, extending them-
selves in rays from a center. Finally came
up a broad, soft shoot, looking extremely
well pleased with itself and its work, which
proved to be so old and well known a friend
as the thistle. At this moment there are
hundreds of those bold intruders showing
defiantly through the pavement, affording
a most interesting illustration of the power
of vegetable growth.

Cannibal Worms Wreck a Train.

The farmers of Cherokee Springs, Mayo,
and surrounding country in South Caro-
lina are organizing to fight the dread army
worm. Several men who own tarms at
Mayo and Cherokee Springs attended a
sort of preliminary meeting. there.

They organized with a membership of at
least fifty. The meeting being held at noon
at Cherokee Springs. Any one interested
in the eradication of the army worm 1s in-
vited to join. :

Postmaster W. M. Floyd, who owns
farms in the fegion, was out at Chero-
kee Springs all day to look into the matter.
He found it very serious indeed. The
worms are like hungry wolves by nature
and like the grains of sand in number.
Already they have done serious harm a
t
is absolutely imperative that they must be
stopped, else they will ruin the crops. They
are spreading all the time. 04.3

An example of their ferocity is their
habit of eating one another. Mr. Floyd
put a large number of medium-sized ones
in a bottle and brought them to the city
with him. When he dumped them out on
the table only a dozen or so big, fat, juicy
ones were to be seen. It was the mute
token of sad, terrible tragedy.

An example of their numbers is the fact
that a train was actually stopped in Ala-
bama because the crushed worms made the
tracks so slippery that the engine couldn’t
It is said that the worms were even
then crossing the track to another field. |

A bill is expected to pass Congress in

 

Sprig laa Clg ype olan ea aS gia MRA eRe Seo tse a

a few days to appropriate $25,000 to help —
the South fight the army worm. Many

men from the city will attend the meéet-
ing. They all express confidence that they

will be able to totally crush out the army

worm,

Children to Clean Streets.
Commissioner of Street Cleaning Ed-—
wards, of New York, was greatly pleased
over the work of the children who are help-
ing clean up the city.

The White Wings of the city were re- a

enforced by hundreds of children. te
Word had gone out from Chief Loril-—
lard Spencer, junior, at the national head-
quarters of the Boy Scouts of America that —
the scout masters in the different sections —
of the city were to give the high sign of
camp cleaning to the kids under their com-
mand, os Vase ad
The Boys’ Brigade, the lads and lassies —
of the Settlement Houses alt down the East —
Side, the tens of thousands of members |
of the Juvenile League of Street Cleaning —
connected with the schools and “Big Bill’s ~
department, the Playground \Association, ©
the boys’ department of the Y. M. C. A.
and the children of the vacation schools
were expected to join in, and they did, each
band of them getting out early and scrub- —
bing up the pavement in its own locality.
“The children will themselves succeed in _
saving the, city hundreds of thousands of |
dollars if they will keep up this campaign
of cleaning the streets,” said Commissioner —
Edwards. \

Telephone Versus Telegraph. ;
The statement has been made that the
telephone will soon supersede the telegraph
as a means of dispatching the trains on the
Black River division of the New York Cen-
tral lines. The former system has been
given a thorough test during the past year
and it is said to excel the telegraph in
every way. It is planned to install the tele-
phones over the Black River line from.
Philadelphia to Utica in the near future.
All trains on the St. Lawrence division
running from Watertown to Massena and
Ogdensburg, are now dispatched by i
phone, while other railroad business is done
by telegraph. Railroad officials say tha
the system contemplated for the Bl

River road is more flexible than the former

method. The element of uncertainty that
is connected with the transmission of tel
graph messages is entirely removed by the
use of the telephone making the latter sy
tem much safer. oe Ait

Progress of the Corn Club,
Phil Campbell, who. has charge of the
boys’ corn club work in Georgia, re
spent Sunday in Atlanta on his way
north Georgia, where he had been in :

terest of the work. He is enthu

about the fine crops he saw in the n

ern section of the State and particula

the work of the boys there, 3
“T went through three acres of co

a little north Georgia county: that °

well 100, bushels to the acre, and it 1

land that never produced exceeding twe!

to twenty-five bushels before. cH
“Few people realize what this cor

work has done and is doing for the

The statement was made in a. :

St. Louis a short time ago that im:

of corn in Georgia fell off 7:

last year. Do you know what

4
4 }

 
~In five years the State’s corn production
has risen from about 42,000,000 bushels to
76,000,000, | am ‘convinced that the boys’
_¢tlubs have a great deal to do. with this
_ condition. They have demonstrated what
Intelligence will accomplish when applied
_ to agriculture. And these young fellows
have stimulated the old ones to their best

efforts, with the result that, the yield per,

acre is going up steadily. :
“There are 12,500 boys and girls in the
orn and canning clubs of the State now;
10,000 boys and 2,500 girls, and they are
doing a wonderful work in stimulating the
naterial welfare of Georgia. And all this
work, too, is not only educating’*the boys
and girls to get more out of the land, but
_ it is sérving as powerful agencies for keep-
ing them there, because they see what can
be done with the ‘soil, and that the freest,
_ happiest} and best life is to be had on the
arm under right conditions.”

Boy Scouts Fight Fire.

Valtied assistants of the fire wardens
_ fighting a blaze in’ the woods on the sum-
mit of Round Top Mountain, near Catskill,
_-N. Y,, were a score of boy scouts, members
Troop No. 20, of Brooklyn, were on a
ping trip of two weeks on the farm of

eph C. Dexter.
Armed with hatchets; the boys cut away
underbrush and saplings, and’ when back-
ring was resorted to, assisted in felling

The Globe Room Refused.

ase a Lenygon, the art dealer, hastens to
refute the charges that Lord Curzon and
Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox brought
inst him in reference to the sale of the
obe Room of the Reindeer Inn at Ban-

He writes a letter in which he takes
Strong objection to the accusation of van-
dalism on his part. He declares that as
at back as 1909 he begged the authorities

South Kensington Museum to pur-
e the room, but they did ‘not do so,
rently owing to lack of funds.
Lenygon, who. was not then con
n negotiations for the purchase
the root, tried to induce several Eng-
shmen to buy it and to present it to the
outh Kensington Museum. Afterward, in
0, he Wrote to. the late Sir Pur-
Clarke suggesting that the latter should
uire it for erection in the Metropolitan
um.or some public park in New York.
. Lenygon -incloses . corfespondence
- Purdon, showing that he—Leny-
-at St. Purdon’s request, obtained an
ion on the room for six weeks.
Purdon inspected the room, but had
line to buy. it, as the Metropolitan
4m possessed another room of the
i Sir Purdon was then seéking
example of ‘a Tudor wainscoted
‘the museum, whereas the Globe
PAMOODORE, ier. we

Batt _ Honeymoon Ends in Pig Pen,
A -hotiéymoon trip of four hours’ dura-
on in a balloon that rose to the height of

aveled 22 milés and came down

én was described by Mrs. Milo
who landed when the: pilot: bal-
as City III, came down, She was

lan itt the party and became

Doctor Hartman in Kansas

‘ore the balloon cut loose.

 

“NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

least. Pilot Jacobs lét as drop nearly into
the Missouri River, because | said | would
like to be cool and wished | was in the
water. As we were passing over the river
the cool air condensed the gas in the bag
and it dropped.

“Pilot Jacobs, to see if I was frightened,
let it fall until we were about a hundred
feet from the water and then threw out
some ballast and we started upward until
we reached an altitude of 8,700 feet. It
was a mighty pleasant experience, even if
we did land in a pig pen. I have a corn-
cob for a souvenir.”

Scaling a Mighty Peak.

Howard Palmer, secretary of the Ameri-
can Alpine Club, has succeeded in climbing
Mount Sir Sandford, the highest point in
the Selkirks, it was learned through a letter
received from Mr. Palmer by Wolfgang
L. G. Joerg, assistant editor of the Bulletin
of the American Geographical Society, Mr,
Palmer made the ascent of the mountain,
which is 11,634 feet high, and is practically
one continuous wall of ice, on June 2g, in
company with E. W. D. Holway.

No less than eight separate attempts to
scale the ity fastnésses of Sir Sandford
have been made during the last half dozen
years, not counting the successful expedi-
tion, No other peak in the Canadian Rock-
ies has such a record. Only five of the
expeditions even reached the base of the
mountain, and aside from the present ex-
pedition, only one, that of Mr. Culver, of
Winnipeg, in 1911, actuafly set foot on the
peak itself,

Although it is among the highest of the
world’s mountains, it is the glacier cover-
ing its surface which makes climbing diffi-
cult, and in the present instance the dan-
ger was increased tenfold by the high tem-
perature which melted the snow and pro-
duced slush. As a matter of comparison,
it may be stated that Mount. Washington
in the White Mountains-is 6,293 feet, and
Pike’s Peak, 14.147 feet. Of course, there
are points in the Himalayas and the Andés
which: nearly double these figures.

With his friend, Mr. Holway, two’ men
as packers and canoers, and Edouard Feuz,
junior, and Rudolph Aemmer, Swiss guides,
Mr, Palmer left Golden, B. C., on June ,17,
proceeding down the Columbia River by
canoe, as on his previous trip last’ season,
when he made extensive explorations in the
district and published a monograph on the
subject. ‘They reached the base of the Sir
Sandford glacier on June 23, after three
hard days on Gold River and Palmer Creek.
The temperature was unusually high for
the region—84 degrees Fahrenheit in the
shade and 144 in the sun.

The weather otherwise was fine. Sir
Sandford was unusually bare of snow, dis-
closing the ice evetywhere below 10,000
feet. This made the previously tried routes
inaccessible and forced the expedition into
a path beneath hanging glaciers on. the
westerly side of the peak, which so far has
been ‘the only side offering the slightest
chance of an ascent.

- Mr. Palmer writes that the ascent was
much like that of the Grand Courbain in
the Alps. The climb consisted entirely of
snow and ice work. The party, leaving be-
hind the two packers, left camp 5,700 feet
high and two miles from the base of the

: _|mountain at 1 a. m., and reached the 'sum-
the trip greatly,” Mrs. Hart-|
and was not frightened in the:

‘mit at 1r a.m. As the snow was now in a
dangerously watery condition, owing to the
ee. PRR ee “7; a of ;

watt! 5%

 

3r

bright sunlight, the descent had to be made
at once. A long traverse of a cornice
which hung on the summit ridge, fully
exposed to the bright rays of the sun, had
to be made. Besides the danger of crey
asses, the chief difficulty was presented by
the cornices overhanging the cliff ridge on
all sides, and the slushy state of the snow.

The camp was regained at 4:30 o'clock
the same afternoon, Only a limited amount
of scientific work could be accomplished,
unfortunately. The Sir Sandford glacier’s
surface motion was again determined, in
the hope of showing a different rate under
hot weather conditions, but after the marks
were set it turned cold, even more so than
at the time of the first determination, and
the rate was slower. The forefoot had re
treated about 40 feet since I91l. Many
photographs were taken, however.

Two days later the expedition climbed
Mount Adamant, 11,000 feet high, north-
west of Sir Sandford. The ascent of this
mountain consisted entirely of rock work,
but there were ten hours’ of continuous
climbing before the summit was reached,
on account of extremély bad weather. After
15 minutes at the top the party returned
and reached camp 18% hours after the
time they had started. Mr. Palmer is
writing a long account of these two expedi
tions for an early Bulletin of the American
Geographical Society.

The territory surrounding these. two
mountains had rémained almost unexplored
by scientists until recently, although it is
entirely surrounded by well-defined routes
of travel, with the Canadian Pacific “Rail-
way on the south and the Columbia River
sweeping through its Big Bend on’ the
northwest and west. Mr. Palmer has been
one of the pioneers in scientific research.

In area the Big Bend region covers 2,400
square miles, which is entirely covered. by ~
an exceedingly complicated labyrinth of
mountainous ‘spurs and ridges that may
be considered as forming the northerly
termination of the’ Selkirk range. The
greater number of these rise to between
7,500 and 9,000 feet in altitude, but there
aré many summits ranging between the
latter limit and 11,634 feet, the highest
measured .point. With a snow. line. that
may be placed in thé neighborhood of 7,500
and 8,000 feet and a heavy precipitate, con-
ditions are most. favorable: for glaciers,
and. these exist in the greatest profusion
in all parts of the range. Examples of
every recognized class are to be found, with
the exception of the continental, and even
this is represented in miniature by single
bodies of ice aggregating ten’sqtare miles.
:

The Virtues of Cottonseed Oil.
Doctor Andrew M. Soule, president of
the State Collegeof Agriculture, at Athens,
Ga.,' has Wwritter af’ interesting article “in
which he appeals to the housewives of the
country for their. codperation toward the
advancement of a great Southern industry. —
The article is a treatise on “Cottonseed
Oil.” . é' m
Doctor Soule, who has taken great inter-
est throughout the State in scientific agri-
culture, cattle raising, et cetera, gives a
complete history of the cottonseed oil in-
dustry from the crushing of the cottonseed

in the oil mill to the finished product, such

as salad dressing, et cetera. He shows by
analysis that this absolutely pure vegetable
oil from the chemists’ standpoint is ‘in-_
finitely preferred to animal fats. «9°

a *

 
Do ee

/PLAY | PLAY

PLAY

’ ’
_BALLT L BALL?

Tip Top Championship Contest of 1912

Open to amateur baseball nines anywhere in the United
States. New uniforms for each of the two winning
teams. BEGIN NOW. Contest Closes October 15th.

Fleventh Annual
Baseball Tournament

 

 

 

 

FIRST PRIZE:—The team which, at the end of the season, has the highest
average—that is, plays the greatest number of games and scores. the largest number
of runs, will be declared the TIP TOP CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF 1912, and will
receive a handsome silk pennant bearing words to that effect. In addition to this,
the champion team will receive an equipment of nine high-grade uniforms—cap,
shirt, belt, trousers and stockings for each member.

SECOND PRIZE:—The team showing the next highest average, will be declared
the winner of the second place, and the members will receive each a uniform equip-
ment exactly like that given to each member of the champion team.

In the event of a tie between two teams, the batting and fielding average of the teams will be considered. The captains of com-
peting teams are therefore advised to preserve the detailed score of each game, but not to send it to this office until requested to do so.

TEN COUPONS REQUIRED FOR THE RECORD OF EACH GAME

In order that TIP TOP may have a complete and proper record of each oe played by each
team entering this contest, ten coupons must be sent in for each game. hese consist of one
coupon from each of the nine players, and one manager’s coupon. The last coupon must be mailed
on or before October 15th, when the contest closes.

es Se eee
- MANAGER’S COUPON PLAYER’S COUPON

 

For each game played during the season, the manager desiring to
enter the Tip Top Contest, is required to fill outa Manager’s Coupon,
like'that below, fill it in, sign it,.and obtain the endorsement of his
postmaster or a reputable news dealer, as provided in the coupon,
and mail it to this office.

 

TIP TOP BASEBALL TOURNAMENT OF 1912

 

TREE iO VR) Bsa ia ee a Eee tea nen'ddappwdaee

Nane:Ge Ophosttng Tears. - 0c dikew cncudasesde Cc auweiewcdweodeuhclesceos
PR RR a Nn a a ee caednbawann ciate coai
Sirah SOV ee: al ee en Oa de badeta tres hades he sa nantee ate
Date Of Caines. 6200 Oe A a Eapebeatensbunddesliads saccerenr
Wiiene  PIawee 385. 6 A oe i es oaks ban dipsadadshapaadctlcaseu sane
Manacde 6 Siinutiidse o.oo. cackvsdussdcomep aanadankedtae daendcncqsdnans

Addr esSe ooo ono oS cecnccccccedepccndecccnccdacwe consccnqeonsenasecncesccesennne

 

 

 

J Endorsement of Postmaster
or News Dealer ___- 2222. on nk nnn en nn nwo n en ore en nnn ens ane nen nnee

 

In fairness to all the clubs that enter this contest, and that there
may be no doubt as to whom the prizes should go, Tip Top requires a
coupon from each member of the nine as well as.the manager's
coupon. Below is the coupon which each player should cut out,
fill in, sign and give to the manager of the nine that he may-send it
along with the manager’s coupon.

 

 

This is to certify that I played in the game between the
SAU dak Wats im eh ip ladhamkubae klwd ae ond the oi... 2 2c ie ee
Wy T earn Wine sic Sot eee nsec eca a ies aoe ee
My: Postion Wes 8 oo le eee

TIP TOP BASEBALL TOURNAMENT OF 1912 |

Wenner conidia 2 Minis Kim ab eisbe ec widgiie ce cbse bt adi a aan eae
Fitiat S€Or@ ign cue bcn dusk csee Bok as edesniba ves Geta de
Date of Gamesex oreo oa ek ee
Where: Played oii ose ee So |

Players Siimatinre ooh ip oe es cS ND eS ee

POOPON en ee eee Og. Hg ses 52 candela }
SSS ESE OSS ——eEeeEeESSSSSS]|_ =L—SESESESESSSSS_ OE SSS ESSE) h—L—L—>Eaaa EL———SEaDaDa9B9pES=S!_—_OELESSSS

 
 
——— ALL, OF THE BACK NUMBERS OF

TiP. TOP

THAT CAN NOW BE SUPPLIED

WEEKLY

SS

 

6: j1——F rank Merriwell’s Red Guide,
65 2—Dick Merriwe lls Riv al,
653—Dick Merriwell’s Strength.
654—Dick Merriwell’s Secret Work.
655—Dick Merriwell’s Way.
656—F rank Merriwell’s Red Visitor.
657—Frank Merriwell’s Rope.
658—F rank Merriwell’s Lesson.
659—F rank Merriwell’s Protection.
660—Dick Merriwell’s Reputation.
661—Dick Merriwell’s Motto.
662—Dick Merriwell’s Restraint.
580—Dick Merriwell’s Hurdling. 663—Dick Merriwell’s Ginger.
oe 2—Dick Merriwell’s Respite. 664—Dick Merriwell’s Driving.
83—Dick Merriwell’s Disadvan-665—Dick Merriwell’s Good Cheer.
tage. 666—Frank Merriwell’s Theory.
584—Dick Merriwell Beset. 667—Frank Merriwell’s Diplomacy.
586—Dick Merriwell’s Distrust. 668—Frank Merriwell’s Encourage-
587—Dick Merriwell, Lion Tamer.

ment.
588—Dick Merriwell’s Camp-site. 669—Frank Merriwell’s Great Work.
589—Dick Merriwell’s Debt.

568—Dick Merriwell’s Regret.
569—Dick Merriwell’s Silent
5 7 70—Dick Merriwell’s Arm.
57 1—Dick Merriwell’s Skill.

5 72—Dick Merriwell’s Magnetism.
573—Dick Merriwell’s System.
574—Dick Merriwell’s Salvation.
575—Dick Merriwell’s Twirling.
576—Dice k Merriwell’s Party.
577—Dick Merriwell’s Backers.
578—Dick Merriwell’s Coach.
579—Dick Merriwell’s Bingle.

Work.

Ss
Ss
Ss

670—Dick Merriwell’s Mind.
590—Dick Merriwell’s Camp Mates. Oth ere Merriwell’s “Dip.”
591—Dick Merriwell’s Draw. 2—Dick Merriwell’s Rally.
59: 2—Dick Merriwell’s Disapproval. ey: 3—Dick Merriwell’s Flier.
593—Dick Merriwell’s Mastery. 674—F rank Merriwell’s Bullets.
594—Dick Merriwell’s Warm Work. 675—Frank Merriwell’s Cut Off.
595—Dick Merriwell’s “Double 676—Frank Merriwell’s Ranch Boss.
Squeeze.” 677—Dick Merriwell’s Equal.
596—Dick Merriwell’ s Vanishing. 678—Dick Merriwell’s Development.
597—Dick Merriwell Adrift. 679—Dick Merriwell’s Eye.
598—Dick Merriwell’s Influence. 680—F rank Merriwell’s Zest.
599—F rank Merriwell’s Worst Boy. 681—F rank Merriwell’s Patience.
600—Frank Merriwell’s Annoyance. 682—Frank Merriwell’s Pupil.
601—Frank Merriwell’s Restraint. « 6883—Frank Merriwell’s Fighters.
602—Dick Merriwell Held Back. 684—Dick Merriwell at the ‘Meet.”
603—Dick Merriwell in the Line. 685—Dick Merriwell’s Protest.
604—Dick Merriwell’s Drop Kick. 686—Dick Merriwell in the
605—F rank Merriwell’s Air Voyage. thon.
606—Frank Merriwell’s Auto Chase. 687—Dick Merriwell’s Colors.
607—Frank Merriwell’s Captive. 688—Dick Merriwell, Driver.
608—Dick Merriwell’s Value. 689—Dick Merriwell on the Deep.
609—Dick Merriwell Doped. 690—Dick Merriwell. in the North
610—Dick Merriwell’s Belief. Woods.
611—Frank Merriwell in the Mar- Saree k Merriwell’s Dandies.
ket. 692—Dick Merriwell’s Skyscooter.
612—Frank Merriwell’s Fight for693—Dick Merriwell in the
613—Frank Merriwell on Top.

Fortune. Mountains.
694—Dick Merriwell in Utah.
614—Dick Merriwell’s Trip West. 695—Dick Merriwell’s Bluff.
615—Dick Merriwell’s Predicament. 696—Dick Merriwall in the Saddle.
616—Dick me ‘rriwell in Mystery 697—Dick, oo ell’s Ranch
Valley riends
617—Frank areridey e]l’s Proposition. 698—Frank Merriwell at Phantom
618—Frank Merriwell Perplexed. Lake.
619—F rank Merriwell’s Suspicion. 699—Frank Merriwell’s Hold-back.
620—Dick Merriwell’s Gallantry. 700—Frank Merriwe ll’s Lively Lads
621—Dick Merriwell’s Condition. 701—Frank Merriwell as Instructor.
§22—-Dick Merriwell’s Stanchness, 702—Dick Merriwell’s Cavuse.
623—Dick Merriwell’s Match. 703—Dick Merriwell’s Quirt.
624—Frank Merriwell’s Hard Case. 704—Dick Merriwell’s
625—Frank Merriwell’s Helper. Friend.
626—Frank Merriwell's Doubts. 705—Dick Merriwell’s Best Form.
627—Frank Merriwell’s “Phenom.” 706—Dick Merriwell’s Prank.
628—Dick Merriwell’s Stand. 707—Dick Merriwell’s Gambol.
629—Dick Merriwell’s Circle. 70O8—Dick Merriwell’s Gun.
630—Dick Merriwell’s Reach. 709—Dick Merriwell at His Best.
3 31—Dic k Merriw ell’s Money. 710—Dick Merriwell’s Master Mind,
32—_Dick Merriwell Watched. 1—Dick Merriwell’s Dander.
63 33—Dick Merriwell Doubted. —Dick Merriwell’s Hope.
634—Dick Merriwell’s Distrust. —Dick Merriwell’s Standard.
635—Dick Merriwell’s Risk. —Dick Merriwell’s Sympathy.
636—F rank Merriwell’s Favorite. Dick Merriwell in Lumber
6387—Frank Merriwell’s Young Land.
Clippers. 716—F rank Merriwell’s Fairness.
639—F rank Merriwell’s Record oe rank Merriwell’s Pledge.
Breakers. 18—Frank Merriwell,
640—Dick Merriwell’s Shoulder. Gri
641—Dick Merriwell’s Desperate 719—Fr a

Mara-

Elk 7

1
12
1.
1
1i

te
Merriwell’s Return
Work. low.
642—Dick Merriwell’s Example. 720—Frank Merriwell’s Quest.
643—Dick Merriwell at Gale’s Ferry. 721—Frank } Merriwell’s Ingots.
644—Dick Merriwell’s Inspiration. 722—Frank Merriwell’s Assistance.
645—Dick Merriwell’s Shooting. 928—Frank Merriwell
646—Dick Merriwell in the Wilds. Throttle.
647—Dick Merriwell’s Red Comrade. ee Merriwell, the Always
648—Frank Merriwell’s Ranch. eady
649—Frank Merriwell in the Saddle. 725—Frank Merriwell in Diamond
650—F rank Merriwell’s Brand. Land.

at

Freshman 4

the Man of 7g5—Dick Merriwell’s Close Shave.

the 789—Dick Merriwell’s Proof,

726—Frank Merriwell’s Desperate 794—Dick Merriwell’s Fun.
s Chance. — 795—Dick Merriwell’s Commence-
727—Frank Merriwell’s Black ment.
ror. ; 796—Dick
728—Frank Merriwell Again on the P
Slab. 97—D > .
729—Frank Merriwell’s Hard Game een sce Mering Ti s Dostign
730—Frank Merriwell’s Six-in-hand 799 _pick Merriwell on the 3
731—Fr ank Merriwell’s Duplicate. Lakes. *

32—Frank Merriwell on Rattle- goo —Dick, Merriwell Caught Nap-
pin

Ter-

Merriwell at Montauk
int.

Great

io
a sné ae Ranch. is ::
8—Frank Merriwell’s Sure Hanc
34-—Fy rank Merriwell’s Treasure 801—Dick Merriwell in the Copper
M: Country.
of 802—Dick Merriwell Strapped. .
803—Dick Merriwell’s Coolness.
of 804—Dic k Merriwell’s Reliance,
805—Dick Merriwell’s College Mate,
806—Dick Merriwell’s Young
Pitcher.

En- 807—Dick Merriwell’s Prodding.

y 808—F rank Merriwell’s Boy.
—Dick Merriwell’s Motor Car. s09—Frank Merriwell’s
Eee eee ell’s Hot P ae ence.

ck Merriwell at Forest Lake —_ Frank
—Dick Merriwell in Court. sty
4—Dick Merriwell’s Silence.
45—Dick Merriwell’s Dog.
46—Dick Merriwell’s Subterfuge.
7—Dick Merriwell’s Enigma.
8—Dick Merriwell Defeated.
49—Dick Merriwell’s “Wing.”
ese Merriwell’s Sky Chase.
—Dick Merriwell’s Pick-ups.
2—Dick Merriwell on the
ing R.
8—Dick Merriwell’s Penctration.
—Dick Merriwell’s Intuition.
5—Dick Merriwell’s Vantage,
3—Dick Merriwell’s Advice.
—Dick Merriwell’s Rescue.
8—Dick Merriwell, American.
9—Dick Merriwell’s Understand-
ing.
s30—Dick Merriwell, Tutor.
31—Dick Merriwell’s Quandary.
32—Dick Merriwell on the Boards.
383—Dick Merriwell, Peacemaker. bility
34— Frank Merriwell’s Sw ay. - 829—Dick Merriwell’s Plan.
65—Frank Merriwell’s Compre- Si 30—Dick Merriwell’s Warning.
hension. 831—Dick Merriwell’s Counsel.
766—Frank  Merriwell’s Young 8 832—Dick Merriwell’s Champions.
Acrobat. —Dick Merriwell’s Marksmen.
767-_Frank Merriwell’s Tact. R4 Die k Merriwell’s Enthusiasm.

768—_F 1 “ank Metriwell’s Unknown. 35—Dick Merriwell’s Solution.

769—Frank Merriwell’s Acuteness. 836—Dic k Merriwell’s Foreign Foe.

770—Frank Merriwell’s Young ' 837—Dick Merriwell and the Car-
Canadian. lisle Ww arriors.

771—Frank Merriwell’s Coward. ee eeaeley Battle for the

(ae Merriwell’s Perplexity. ue

773—Frank Merriwell’s Interven- 839—Dick Merriwell’s Evidence.

tion. 840—Dick Merriwell’s Device.
774—-Frank Merriwell’s Daring Deed 841—Dick Merriwell’s Princeton Op-
775—Frank Merriwell’s Succor. ponents.

776—Frank Merriwell’s Wit. 842—Dick Merriwell’s Sixth Sense.

777—F rank Merriwell’s Loyalty. 843—Dick Merriwell’s Strange

778—Frank Merriwell’s Bold Play. Clew.

779—Frank Merriwell’s Insight. 844—Dick Merriwell Comes Back.

780—Frank Merriwell’s Guile. : 845—Dick Merriwell’s Heroic Crew.

781—F rank Merriwell’s Campaign. 846—Dick Merriwell Looks Ahead.

782—Frank Merriwell in the Na- 847—Dick Merriwell at the Olym-

tional Forest. pics.

7883—Frank Merriwell’s Tenacity. 848—Dick Merriwell in Stockholm.

784—Dick Merriwell’s Self-sacrifice. 849—Dick Merriwell in the Swed-

ish Stadium.

850—Dick Merriwell’s Marathon.

Map.
5—Frank Merriwell, Prince
the Rope.
736—Dick Merriwell, Captain
: the Varsity.
—Dick Merriwell’s Control.
8—Dick Merriwell’s Back Stop.
I—Dick Merriwell’s Masked
emy
= Interfer-
oo Merriwell’s
a Warriors.
811—F rank Merriwell’s Appraisal.
812—Frank Merriwell’s Forgiveness
813—Frank Merriwell’s Lads.
814—Frank Merriwell’s
Aviators.
815—Frank Merriwell’s Hot-head.
816—Dick Merriwell, Diplomat.
817—Dick Merriwell in Panama.
818—Dick Merriwell’s Perseverance,
819—Dick Merriwell Triumphant.
ee Merriwell’s Betrayal.
821—Dick Merriwell, Revolutionist.
82: 29—Dick Merriwell’s Fortitude.
823—Dick Merriwell’s Undoing.
824—Dick Merriwell, Universal
Coach.
825—Dick Merriwell’s Snare.
826—Dick Merriwell’s Star Pupil.
827—Dick Merriwell’s Astuteness.
828—Dick . Merriwell’s Responsi-

Young

Young

Rock-

786—Dick Merriwell’s Perception.
Tae Merriwell’s Mysterious
sappearance.
788—Dick Merriwell’s NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY
Work. 1—Frank Merriwell, Jr.
2—Frank Merriwell, Jr.
8—F rank Merriwell, Jr.’s, Struggle.

Detective

790—Dick Merriwell’s Brain ao
791—Dick Merriwell’s Queer Case. 4—Frank Merriwell, Jr.’s, Skill.
792—Dick Merriwell, Navigator. 5—F rank Merriwell, OTs in Idaho.
793—Dick Merriwell’s Good Fellow- 6—Frank Merriwell, Ba —
ship. Shave.

 

PRICE, FIVE CENTS PER COPY

If you want any back numbers of our weeklies and cannot procure them from your news-dealer, they can be obtained direet
from this office. Postage-stamps taken the same as money.

STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, 79-89 SEVENTH AVE., NEW YORK