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NOV. 23,1912

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An Ideal Publication For The American Youth

   

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No. 17. NEW YORK, November 23, 1912. Price Five Cents.

 

ee

Frank Merriwell, Junior’s, Blind Chase;

Or,

>

WHAT’S BRED IN THE BONE.

By BURT L. STANDISH.

CHAPTER I.
A SLAVE OF THE NEEDLE.

“Buck up, Shoup! What ails you, anyhow ?”

“T’m all in, Len. I d-don’t believe I can take another
step. You see, I—I a

The words faded into a groan, and the tottering youth
slumped to his knees, then pitched forward and sprawled
out limply in the sandy trail.

There were two of them, and they had been tramping
wearily through a defile known as Bitter-root Cafion. The
stage trail leading from Ophir, Arizona, to Gold Hill,
followed the cafion, and the two lads had been taking
this trail. .

The trail was white with dust, churned up by the
wheels and hoofs that had passed over it. It wound
interminably along the cafion’s bed, twisting back and
forth through patches of greasewood and mesquite, now
hugging one wall and now the other, and again skirting
the edge of some brackish pool.

A stream flowed through the canon, although no one
not familiar with such mysterious streams would have
guessed it. Like a good many Arizona rivers, the water
flowed under the surface, appearing only here and there
where bedrock forced it upward.

The lad who had yielded to exhaustion and had fallen
must have been nineteen or twenty years of age. He
was well dressed, although his clothes were dusty and in
disorder. His hair was of a tow color, his eyes a
washed-out blue, and his face was hueless—startlingly
white and waxlike.

The other boy was a year or two younger than his

 

. companion, with a dark, sinister face and shifty eyes.

le _ They had walked southward from Gold Hill for many

 

 

miles, and while the younger lad was an athlete and or-
dinarily in good physical condition, yet a few days of
reckless living had sapped his endurance. He was almost
as exhausted as his companion.

“Here’s a go!” muttered the younger lad, looking —

down grimly at’ the unconscious, deathlike face of his
friend in the trail. “Shoup hasn’t the backbone of a
jellyfish. I’ve got to do something for him, but what?”

The boy looked around him and discovered that Shoup
had fallen only a few yards from the edge of a pool. The
sight of water suggested the means for reviving the faint-
ing lad, and, with considerable difficulty, the other
dragged him o the pool’s edge. Wetting a handkerchief
in the pool, he bathed the pallid face. In a few moments
Shoup drew a deep breath and opened his eyes.

“You’re pretty near a wreck, Shoup,” said the boy
called Len crossly. “How do you think we’re ever going
to get to the gulch if you can’t walk four or five miles
without crumpling up in the trail?’

“I was trying to save the dope,” was Shoup’s answer,
in a weak voice. “I haven't got much of it, and no money
to buy any more.”

“Cut, that out,” the other growled angrily. “The
more of that stuff you use, the more you have to use.
It’s making you ‘dippy’ as blazes; not only that, but it
eats up your muscle and ruins your nerves. Why don't
you quit ?”

“Can’t quit. My old man used it, and my grand-
father used it. The hankering for the stuff was born
in me. What’s bred in the bone, Lenning, is bound to
come out in the flesh. No use fighting against the cray-
ing. Here, help me to sit up.”

Lenning put his handg under Shoup’s shoulders and

      
 
  
     
  
  
  

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lifted him to a sitting posture, twisting him about so he
could lean his back against a bowlder. With fingers
that trembled from weakness, Shoup pushed up his left
sleeve.

The skin of his arm was white as marble, and dotted
with little, black, specklike marks. Reaching into an
inside pocket of his coat, Shoup drew out a small, worn
morocco case.

“Bound to squirt a little more of that poison into your

f veins, eh?” asked Lenning disgustedly.

As he put the question, he produced a box of cigarettes,
lighted one, tossed away the burned match and dropped
the box into his pocket. A sneering smile crossed
t Shoup’s face.

“What’s, the difference, Len,’ he queried, “whether

you inhale the poison or take it my way? It brings us

both to the same place, in the end.”

. “Splash! Cigarettes aren’t as bad as all that. Anyhow,

=) when i'm in training I cut ’em out. You're never in

training and you never cut out that dope. If you can’t
get it just when you want it, your strength is snuffed

Out, like a fool candle. How long do you think you'll

\ dast, going on as you are now, eh?”

*  Y*That’s the least of my worries,” was the placid retort.

p98 © With his shaking right hand, Shoup pressed the needle-

W) like point of a small “hypoderm” into the flesh of his

left arm. An instant his quivering finger toyed with the

stiny piston, then drove it “home.” With a long sigh
of relief, he sank back.

% TM feel like a king pretty soon,” said he, speaking

© with his eyes half closed. ‘You haven’t a notion how it

gingers a fellow up. Say,’ and the eyes opened wide,
©" why don’t you try it yourself?”

* "Not on your life!” returned the other, in a sort of

vhotror. “The sight of you, with one foot in the grave

Om account of that stuff, is enough for me,”

» ~~ “Goon,” urged Shoup, his faded eyes brightening won-
Gerfully. “Try for yourself and see how it puts fire into
your veins, and peace and happiness into your heart.
jeve! Already I’m beginning to feel as though I could

: fim a hundred miles, and be as fresh at the end of the

f run as when I started.”

Lenfiing stared at Shoup curiously,

“That's the way you feel, but your system is all shot
to pieces and you'd drop before you’d gone half a mile,”
commented Lenning.

“Don’t you want to forget your troubles, old man?”
coaxed Shoup. “This is a sure cure for the blues.”

“No!” almost shouted Lenning, springing to- his feet.
“Try to push that thing into my face again and I’ll grab
it and throw it into the water. You say you inherited

- an appetite for the stuff; well, I inherited a few things,

myself, and I reckon they’re enough to stagger under
without taking on any of your failings.”

“Maybe you'll come to it, some time,” laughed Shoup.

He: was, by now, an entirely different person from
the Shoup of a few minutes before. His eyes gleamed,

   
  
 

wer iy

 

MORI The VAC

waxen white, strength ran surging through him, and his
nerves steadied. It was the influence! of the drug, of
course, and when that failed his condition would be more
pitiful than ever. Lenning, shivering at the spectacle
presented by his companion, turned moodily and looked
down into the pool...

Shoup. put away his morocco case. » Getting up, he
stepped to Lenning’s side and laid a hand on his shoulder.

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY,

. . . i
and while his face remained colorless and of a deady

“I’m a horrible example, eh?’ he breathed... “All right.
You’re a good deal of an example, too. You’re a cast-off ;
a week ago your uncle gave you a thousand dollars and
kicked you out of the house. Where’s the thousand
now, Lenning? ‘Rooly’ and faro have swallowed it up.”
He laughed jeeringly.

Lenning. whirled on him, red with anger.

“And who helped me lose the thousand?” he. cried.
“It was you! You might have the grace, seems to me,
to shut up about the loss of that money. We've neither
of us got a soo; but, if we can get ta the gulch beyond
Dolliver’s, maybe I can borrow enough to get us out of
this country for good.”

“Who's at the gulch?”

“A few friends of mine—at least, they used to be
friends. They’re members of the Gold Hill Athletic
Club, and they’re camping there.”

“T don’t think you’re going to get money—not alto-'

gether,” said Shoup. ‘“There’s something else on your
mind, too. What is it, Len?”

“Tell you later,” muttered Lenning.

“Look here: The bunch of fellows at the camp in the
gulch are having Merriwell over for a boating competi-
tion—canoe race, or something like that. You've got
a grudge against Merriwell and you'd like to saw it off
with him. Am I right?”

An astounded look crossed Lenning’s face.
his bewildered eyes on his friend.

“How the detice did you guess that?’ he inquired
breathlessly.

“The dope.clears the brain wonderfully, Len,” grinned
Shoup. “It altcame to me, just now. Sort of second
sight, I reckon. Am,I right?”

“Well, what if you are?”

“Nothing, but this: I’m with you. What reason have
I to love Merriwell? No more than you, If we square
the score, suppose we do it together.”

Lenning stared gloomily at Shoup, then turned on his
heel and started off down the cafion. ‘‘Come on,” he
called, “we'd better keep a-plugging.”’

Shoup made after him, his step buoyant, his spirits as
light as his step. He was paying for every hour of that
stimulated, fictitious strength with a year of his life. But
his thoughts did not—dared not—take account of the
future. It was the immediate present that concerned
him.

“You can’t get away from these family traits, Len,”
said Shoup, as they made their way southward.

‘““There’s ‘a ‘mighty tough prospect ahead of me;
growled Lenning, “if that’s the case.’”

“Well, it is the case.”

“I’m not taking your word for it. Nobody would
take your word for anything, Billy. You’re a wreck
of a man—just a burned-out hulk of what you ought to
be. That’s the way with you slaves of the needle.”

“What are you, Jode?” gibed the other, “While
you're throwing it into me, you’d better think about your-
self.” aos

“I’m no dope fiend,” snarled Jode Lenning. “I’ve got
a will left, and when I get good and ready I can turn
a leaf and be different.”

He turned

3?

*

“T’ve got a picture of you ‘turning a leaf,’” laughed

Shoup sarcastically. | “You'll have to show me. Yow're
not turning a leaf by going after Merriwell, are your”
Lenning did not answer. Something, ahead of them

    

  
    
    
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
    
  
 
 
    
  
    
 
   
  
   
  
  
   
 

 

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in the trail, caught his attention, just then, and brought
hanrto a dead stop.

“Thundetl?” he exclaimed, “there’s a ‘stage. Some-
thing’s gone wrong with it. Where’s the team and the
driver? Wonder if they’ve had a break-down?”

CHAPTER II.
MAKING A “RAISE.”

The stage that carried passengers and luggage between

the two towns of Ophir and Gold Hill was a mountain

wagon with a canopy top. This wagon, minus the horses

and driver, was at a rest in the trail.

A woman, dressed in black and with a gray shawl
over her shoulders, was sitting on the seat immediately
behind the one reserved for the driver. Back of her,
in the rear of the wagon box, was a shabby little hide-
covered trunk.

This woman, apparently, was the only passenger. The
two lads stared in the woman’s direction and continued
to wonder regarding what had happened to the stage.

“Some accident, sure,” said Shoup. “The driver must
have taken the team and gone after help.”

“I reckon that’s the how of it,” returned Lenning,

“Now,” his companion went on, “if we had money,
Len, we could ride in that rig as far as Ophir; and then,
if we had some more/ money, we could hire horses in

“Ophir and get to the gulch in that way.”

“If we had money,” came grimly from Lenning, “we
wouldn’t go to the gulch at all.”

“Wouldn’t we?’ queried Shoup. “You say we're
going there to make a ‘touch,’ and won’t admit that your
wish to play even with Merriwell has anything to do
with it. But I know making a raise is only about half
of our work at the gulch.”

“Well, let it go at that,” said the other, with a shade
of annoyance. ‘‘No use standing here chinning ‘when
we ought to be moving on.”

They started forward again. As they drew nearer
the stage they soon discovered what had happened.

One of the rear wheels was broken beyond repair.
The wheel had struck a bowlder and had been dished. Rim
and tire were lying on the ground, covered with half
oo. The rest of the spokes were sticking in the

ub.

The woman on the front séat watched the lads as they
approached. They could see that she was little and old
and wore spectacles. A lock of snow-white hair dropped
below the brim of a hat, which was evidently homemade.
Her dress was clearly her best black alpaca, and had
probably been her best for’ many years. The old face
slowly lighted up as the young men drew near.

Both boys lifted their hats when they had come clése.
“You've had an accident, ma’am?” asked Lenning,

“Well, goodness me, I should say so!”’ was the answer.
“T’ve been sitting here for an hour, seems like, while the
driver’s gone with the horses to get a new wheel, or
something else to patch up the wagon, so we can get on
to Ophir. Do you boys live hereabouts ?”

“Gold Hill,” said Lenning briefly.

“It’s been pretty lonesome, sitting here all alone, and
I don’t feel real spry, either. You see, I haven’t been
long out of a hospital, and this is quite a trip for a woman,
oldasIam. But I like this country—always did. I'll
feel a heap better, I know, after I’ve been here,a spell.

Going far?”

“NEW: TIP TOP WEEKTY.

“Ophir.”

. Dear me! Why don’t you ride when the weather’s
so warm? come from up North,” she continued,
without waiting for a reply, ‘‘and it’s real brisk November
weather, up there. Here in southern Arizona, though,
winter isn’t winter at all, is it? Years ago, when I lived
in these parts, I’ve seen’ the thermometer at eighty, in
the shade, on Christmas day. That wasn’t much like
Christmas. Terrible dusty, don’t you think?”

She had an old-fashioned hand reticule on her lap, and
just here she opened it to take out a handkerchief. As
she drew out the little square of linen, a roll of bills, with
a yellowback on the outside, came with it. She grabbed
the money before it could fall, and pushed it back where
it belonged. Then she dabbed at her face with the hand-
kerchief.

Shoup drew a quick breath as he caught sight of the
money. There was an evil, greedy gleam in his eyes as
they continued to fix themselves on the hand reticuleé.

Lenning’s eyes also filled with longing at sight of the
roll of bills. He compressed his lips tightly, however,
and turned his head away.

“Sorry we can’t stay with you, ma’am,” said he, “and
keep you company until the drivér gets back, but we’re in
a hurry. Good-by. Come on, Billy.”

Shoup ‘smiled at the old lady and again lifted his hat
as he followed Lenning along the trail. The old lady
shook out her handkerchief at them and called a good-by
in a thin, high voice. :

“Confound the luck!” grumbled Lenning, after a bend
in the trail had hidden the stage from sight, “I’m tired
enough to drop. If we could only make a raise this side
of the gulch, we could get to where we’re going a heap
easier than hoofing it.”

“You're right, we could!” agreed Shoup.

I’ve
vy =

’ «“é

“You'd go

on to the camp in the gulch, would you,” he added mocks ”
ingly, “if. we had money?” 8:

“Yes, I would,” was the almost savage response.
“You're fishing around to find out what I’m really up to,
and now you're getting it flat; I want to even up with
Frank Merriwell. He’s raised Cain with me, and you
know it. What business has he got, sticking his nose

into my affairs?) He’s due to get what a buttinsky ought ~

to get—and I’m the one that is going to hand it to him.
Watch my smoke!” ;

“Hooray !”’ chuckled Shoup softly. va

“You can help, if you want to,” went on Lenning, fairly
ablaze with his fancied wrongs now that Shoup had
nagged him into starting on them, “but, by thunder,
you've got to keep your head clear and not make a
monkey out of yourself—or me.”

“I don’t think T’ll do that, Jode,” purred Shoup; “I
guess you'll be tickled to death to have some one helping
you before you’re done with Merriwell. He’s a good way
from being an easy proposition. Do you/think you can
bank on your friends in the gulch?”

“Why should they turn against me?”

“Pretty nearly all your friends have given you the
cold shoulder, I notice, since your unclé pulled the pin
on you.”

“T can’t believe that all of them will kick me when
I’m down,” said Lenning gloomily.. “I’ve done a heap
for that. Gold Hill crowd. I used to have plenty of
money, and whenever they. wanted any all they ‘had to
do was to ask me for it. A whole lot of them owe me

ae

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PS IPOD NTE RR OIE IY I

      
     
     
         
     
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
    
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
    
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
   
   
  
   
 

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NEW. TIP TOP: WEEKLY.

It’s only right they should

what they’ve borrowed, too.
pay that back, anyhow.”

“My experience is,’ said Shoup, “that a fellow will
always have plenty of friends when he’s got the spon-
dulix and can pass it out freely; but when the mazuma
gives out, and the barrel can’t be tapped any more, then
he can’t find a friend with a microscope.”

“Friends like that are no friends at all,”

“They’re all like that.”

“Merriwell’s friends are not, and I don’t see why
I-can’t have a few friends just as loyal as his,”

“Well, Len,” grinned Shoup, “you’re not Merriwell.”’

“I’m as good as he is!’’ flared Lenning.

“Not at some things.”

“T didn’t have a dad who was the world’s champion
all-round athlete, and that’s one place. where he gets
the best of me. It’s Merriwell’s father’s reputation that
makes young Merriwell what he is. Take that from
him and there’s nothing left.”

“Easy, easy! You’re shy, a few chips, Jode.
Merriwell stands on his own feet, and the biggest handi-
cap he has is the way people expect big things of him

because his father did big things. Although I hate Mer-
tiwell as muth as you do, yet I’ve got a whole lot of
respect for him. Now is

Shoup came ‘to a halt, one hand on the outside of his
breast pocket. A blank look crossed. his pallid face.

“What’s the matter?” asked Lenning, halting.

“My dope case is gone!’ was the answer.
have dropped it along “the trail somewhere.”
*“Let it go, Billy! Now’s as good a time as ever to cut
away from the dope. Buck up and use your will power.
“Pry and be.a

*“You don’t know wh e you're talking about!” cut in
ti its other angrily, ‘“I’d die if I had to get along without
Stat. Will you go back with me and help me find it?”
P°*t will—nit. I’m pretty nearly fagged. If you’re

nd to have that stuff, go back and hunt it up yourself.
wait for you here.”

~A look as of satisfaction crossed Shoup’s face.

“Ill be as quick as I-can,” he said, and turned back
and Was soon out of sight behind the chaparral.

digy/Moodily Jode Lenning found a place where he could
Ne fairly comfortable, and sat down. Every muscle in
lis body was aching. A few weeks before he would

‘Biss, have minded a jaunt like the one he and Shoup was
: | ea, but now it told on him fearfully.

\ He knew the reason. His wits were keen enough to
assute him that reckless living for only a few days had
“sapped the strength and endurance which he had been
garnering for months.

He ‘had been foolish, worse than foolish. But that
couldn’t be helped, and there was no use crying over
spilt milk.

The one object he had in life, just then, was squaring
accounts with Frank Merriwell. Merriwell was always
in the pink of condition—he made it a point to keep him-
self so.

“Tm all shot to pieces,” growled Lenning, “and I’ve
got to go up against this paragon who never side-steps
his training and settle a big score with him. Will he be
too much for me? He will, sure, unless I can get at
him in some underhand way. ‘That’s the idea!” he
finished,

Then, for an hour, he tried.to think of some ‘‘under-
hand way” in which he could make young Merriwell

*‘T must

Young,

feel the full force of his vengeance. Lenning was un-
scrupulous, to a certain extent, and his association ‘with
Shoup was well calculated to make him more so; never-
theless, Lenning had some shreds of character and self-
respect left, although they formed a very imperfect
foundation on which to build for better things.

While Lenning was still busy with his thoughts, Billy
Shoup came briskly back along the trail. Lenning started
up as he drew close, and stared at the triumphant look
on his waxlike face.

“T reckon you found
said he.

“Vou can bet a blue stack I did,” was the answer.
wasn’t the dope case, either, Len.”

“Not that?” queried the startled Len.
then?”

Shoup proudly drew from his pocket something which
he held toward Lenning in the palm of his hand. It
was a roll of bills with a “yellowback” on the outside.

“Made a raise,” he chuckled. ‘Transferred this from
the old lady’s hand bag to my pocket. Auin’t I the cute
boy, all right?”

what you were looking: for,”
‘oe

“What was it,

ce

CHAPTER _III.
A DRUGGED CONSCIENCE.

With revulsion plainly marked in his face, Jode Len-
ning leaped back from the outstretched hand and the
roll of, bills as he would from a coiled rattlesnake.

‘“Squeamish, eh?” jeered Shoup, his eyes two points
of light and boring into Lenning’s brain. “‘You’ve got
a lot "of cause, ater the way you've acted, to get on your
high horse with me,”

“You're a plain thief!”

“Very plain, ” sneered the other ;
ning, only it’s not so plain.”

Lenning jumped at Shoup with clenched fists.

“What do you mean by that sort of talk?”
manded chokingly.

“Don’t think you ean scare me, Jode. You can’t. If
you want a tussle, don’t think fot a minitte that you’d
have the easy end of it. | know you better than any-
body else does—better even than your fool of an uncle,
who let you pull the wool over his eyes for so long.
You're a coward. When you saw the money in that
old woman’s hand bag, you wanted it just as much as I)
did, only you didn’t have the nerve to take it. Well, I
had the nerve; and I was so clever about it that she'll
never} know it’s gone until she wants to pay a bill. Now
get a grip on yourself. and don’t act like a blooming
idiot,”

Lenning shivered slightly, The gleaming eyes of his
companion were still boring into his brain, and somehow
they robbed him of all desire to resent. with his fists the
hard words Shoup had spoken,

“It seems’ to me as though, if you’re bound to steal,
you could pick out some one else for a victim,” Lenning
grumbled, ‘That poor old woman—I can see her face
now, with that lock of gray hair falling down from
under that rusty old hat and—and—oh, it makes me sick
just to think of it!”

He turned away in gloomy protest. Shoup laughed.

“Fine!’’ said he. “TI didn’t know, Jode, that there was
so much maudlin sentiment wrapped up in you. How do
you know the old lady is so poor, eh? You can’t always
judge from appearances. . The biggest miser I ever

gasped Lenning.
sé ’
you're worse, Len-

he de-

 

 

 

 
 

 

NEW TIP TOP WEERLY. 3

knew—an old curmudgeon that looked like a tramp,
had more than a hundred thousand in the bank. There’s
two hundred in this roll, and it will stake us until luck
begins coming our way.”

The first. shock of disgust had passed and Lenning
began to take a little interest in his friend’s recent
achievement.

“You didn’t lose that morocco case at all, eh?” he
asked.

“Not at all; that was merely an excuse for me to go
back to the stage and pull off my little play.”

“Suppose I had gone with you to help hunt for the
case?”

“T was pretty sure you wouldn’t.”

“Well, how did you manage it?”

“Easy. The old lady was still on the front seat, and
when she saw me coming she brightened up a lot. She
wanted to know why I was coming back, and I told her
that I had lost something in the trail and had come back
to look for it. The hand bag lay on the seat beside her.
I leaned over the side of the wagon, and began to talk.
I called her attention to the wall of the cafion, pointing
out a queer formation of the rocks, with my left hand,
and, with my right, opening the bag and taking out the
money, She never suspected a thing. It was about the
easiest job I ever pulled off.”

The shameless steps which he had followed in com-
mitting the robbery were recited by Shoup without a
shadow of feeling or regret; on the contrary, there was
a boasting note in his voice, as though he had accom-
plished something of which he was proud.

“You’re—you’re a coyote!” muttered Lenning.

“Tm a fox, Jode,” laughed Shoup, “and a slick one,
believe me. You couldn’t have turned a ‘trick like that
without bungling.”

“I’d as soon think of stealing pennies out of a blind
man’s cup. That dope has killed your conscience. I
don’t believe you have a heart in you—when you’re under
the influence of that fiendish stuff.”

“Oh, cut that out!” grunted Shoup, ‘“We’ve made a
raise and we’re going to use the money. We need it—you
know we need it. Comé on. We'll see how quick we
can get into Ophir and out again. We'll hire horses
afid ride to the gulch. It won’t do for us to stay long
in the town.”

They started again, Lenning dragging along, moodily
thoughtful. His thoughts, whatever they were, must
have been far from pleasant. Shoup, abnormally keen
while under the spell of the slow poison, seemed to know
what his companion was thinking about.

“You’re asking yourself, Jode,” said he, jestingly,
“how you ever happened to fall so low.as to be a friend
of mine. You were pretty well down yourself before
we got into each other’s company this last time. While
you’re thinking what a conscienceless wretch I am, let
your mind circle about yourself. What have you got
to be proud of ?”

“Nothing,” snarled Jode.

“That is correct. If we can pick-our bone with Merri-
well, we'll both feel a whole lot better; when that’s fin-
ished, we'll clear out of this country and make a long
jump to Frisco. That’s the town! We can do big things
there.”

“What sort of things?” queried Lenning suspiciously.
-. “Oh, something safe and profitable. ‘I’m well ac-
quainted, and the friends I have. are the kind who'll help

‘

‘Merriwell at any sort of sport.

a fellow when he’s down. They'll take you in on my

say-so, and, if you prove loyal to them, you'll find that
they will prove loyal to you, in fair weather or foul.
We- .

Lenning cut into Shoup’s remarks with a sharp excla-
“Duck!” he exclaimed; “get into the brush—

mation.
quick !”

At this same moment, Lenning suited his action to the
word and dove pell-mell into the chaparral beside the
trail. Without understanding the reason for this sudden
move, Shoup did likewise. The next moment, he heard
a tramp of horses’ hoofs,in the trail. Riders were com-
ing, and Lenning had been crafty enough to understand
that it was not well, after the robbery, for them to be
seen in that part of the cafion.

Shoup chuckled. This meant, as he looked at it, that
Lenning had accepted the situation and was eager to help
his companion avoid the consequences.

Three horses came along at a gallop. Two of the
horses had a wagon harness upon them. One of these
animals was ridden by a flannel-shirted man, who was
probably the stage driver. The third animal was a sad-
dle horse, and was ridden by a young fellow with snapping
black eyes and in cowboy rig. One horse in the stage
team carried a wagon wheel lashed to its back.

The horses and their riders flashed by the thicket
where Lenning and Shoup lay concealed, and ‘were
quickly out of sight and hearing. Lenning crawled
slowly back into the trail.

“If we hadn’t been quick,”

What’s the cowboy along for?”
The cowboy was Barzy Blunt, of the
Ever heard of him?”

to worry over.
“Give it up.
Bar Z Ranch.

“No, but there are several cowboys I never heard of, —

Jode. How has this fellow Blunt ever distinguished
himself ?”

“Well, when Merriwell first came to Ophir, Blunt got
a grouch at him. Blunt is a cowboy athlete, but never
had any special training. He thought Mergéwell was
a conceited Easterner, and made up his mind he’d take
a few falls out of him. He tried it.”

“And made’a failure, eh?” (

“How did you know Blunt failed?”

“Guessed it. It takes a pretty good athlete to beat
But go on.” .

“As you say, Blunt failed. Time after time he tried
to best Merriwell, but was always beaten out. At last
they became friends. There’s’an old professor with
Merriwell and his» pals. They found him holed away
in the Picketpost Mountains, holding down a gold ‘pros-
pect.’ Merriwell helped the professor save the ‘prospect,’
and by and by it turned out that the man who had taken
Blunt to raise had a grubstake interest in the professor’s
claim. The man was dead, but his widow came in for
the good thing. The syndicate that has the big gold mine
in Ophir, I understand, have paid, or are going to pay,
fifty thousand for the mine. That will put Barzy Blunt
on Easy Street, for everybody says half the purchase
price will come to him when ‘the widow is done with it.”

“Some fellows certainly ‘have a habit of dropping into
a good thing,” murmured’ Shoup.

“It wasn’t a habit with Blunt. He had about as hare’
a time getting along as any fellow you ever saw.”

said he, as Shoup joined
him, “‘they’d have seen us.” ae
“But they didn’t,” answered Shoup, “so it’s nothing™

3
ps

 
  

“So he and Merriwell were enemies, and now they’re
frtends ?’
“Ves.” 3
“Look out, Jode!” joked Shoup. “Maybe Merriwell
will win you over before you have a chance to settle
accounts with him.”

“No danger,” grunted Lenning. ‘“Merriwell hasn’t
any more use for me than I have for him. Merriwell
wouldn’t wipe his feet on me, I reckon, and you can
bet your last soo I wouldn’t give him a chance to try.

F He knows the sort of father I had, and that I’m headed
i wrong as a birthright, and will go wrong in spite of fate.”

E “What a fellow inherits he can’t get away from,” de-
; clared Shoup. ‘“Merriwell, it seems, understands that.
E When you know a thing’s true, what’s the use of trying

We're all born with a handicap of

to buck against it?
we've got to win by doing

fmeemssoine sort an the race of life ;
the thing that comes easiest.’

/ This was the logic of a drugged conscience, of a fellow
hho was not himself at the very moment he brought
up the argument. For a lad like Jode Lenning, already
© Started on the downhill road, such a fellow was a dan-
i) So @erous companion.
| “LE don’t know whether you’ve gof the right of that,
™ Or not,” said Lenning, “but I hope you haven’t. There
i) are times when | want to turn over a leaf and be different

and never a time more than right now, since my uncle
is kicked me out: but He hesitated.
= But you want to hand/Merriwell a testimonial of your
gaund regards before the leaf is turned, eh?” grinned
= @nOup.
» “111 show him,” snapped L ening, “that he had no busi-
hess btitfing into my affairs.”
®. © We'll both show him, Len. I can be of more help
is » to you than you think. We'll get horses'in Ophir and
oa “ride for the gulch. After we’re through with our work
there) we'll clear out of this part of the country and pull
off Some big things.”
' “1 wish to thunder,” said Lenning, “that I could look
inte the future and see just what is going to happen.”

    
 
 
 
 
    
  
   

 
 
  

 

as

Had e been able to do that, Jode Lenning would prob-
ably, ha received the surprise of his life.
‘7 CHAPTER IV.

BLUNT TAKES THE WARPATH.

Frank and his chums, Owen Clancy and Billy Bal-
Tard, sat on the front veranda of the Ophir House and
Saw a horseman come pounding along the road. The
, rider was a cowboy—that much could be seen at a glance.
Cowboys were no novelty in the streets of Ophir, and
this one secured attention mainly because he was point-
ing for the hotel.

Gracefully he dashed at the veranda steps, just as
though he intended to gallop into the hotel; then, deftly
whirling his horse, he came to a halt broadside on to the
three lads who were watching him over the veranda rail.
So.suddenly did the cowboy stop, that his horse sat down
and slid to a standstill in a flurry of dust.

“Whoop !” cried the admiring Clancy to the master
horseman, “say, old man, you’re all to the mustard.”

“Shucks!” grinned the cowboy, ' ‘stoppin’ in a horse’s
4 length from full gallop ain’t ‘nothing to what old Het
! Shot can do. This here little cayuse can ride up the
a side of a house, with me on his back, and then turn

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

 

a summerset off’n the ridge pole. Fact. Which is the
hombray that totes the label of Merriwell ?’

“I’m the hombre,” laughed Merry.

The cowboy drew back in his saddle and peered at
him through half-closed eyes.

“Ts that all there is of ye?” he inquired. “From what
I’ve heard, I reckoned ye was about ten feet high an’
went chuggin’ around like a steam englne. My notions
was kinder hazy, more’n like. Since I was a kid, my
favor-ite hero has allers been that dad o’ yourn, I allow
that pullin’ off athletic stunts comes mighty easy for you,
arter the way you was brung up. Here’s a paper talk
I was asked to kerry in an’ pass over to ye.”

The cowboy jerked a letter from the breast of: his
shirt, flipped it toward Merriwell, then rattled his spurs
and bore on with a husky ‘ ‘Adios!” Frank had caught
the missive deftly, and he now sat staring glumly after
the disappearing rider.

“Come out of it, Chip,” said Ballard.
that paper talk and let’s hear what it says.”

“That cowboy thinks athletics come easy for me be-
cause dad made such a record,” muttered Frank. “I
wish to thunder people would understand that such
things can’t be handed down in a fellow’s family, like
silver spoons, and the grandfather’s clock, ,and the old
homestead.”

“Don’t fret about anything that cowboy said,” re-
turned Clancy. “He also had a notion that you were
ten feet high, and went: snorting around like a locomo-
tive. His ideas don’t seem to be reliable, anyhow.
What’s in the letter, Chip?”

Frank tore open the envelope and drew. out the in-
closed sheet. His face brightened as he read the letter.

“Here’s news, fellows,’ said he; “listen.”
read aloud:

“Just open

““T’ll bet something handsome you'll be surprised when
you get this and find out some of us Gold Hill fellows
are back at the old camp in the gulch. We’re here for
a week, and we want you and Reddy, and Pink to come
out and see us to-morrow. MHotch and I challenge you
for a catjoe race, or a swimming match, or any. other old
thing that’s in the line of sport and excitement. We
hear that you’re soon to leave Arizona, and we can’t
let you go without having a visit with you. Of course,
we don’t expect to beat you at anything—you were born
with the athletic virus in your veins and all sports are
second nature to you—but give us a chance to do our
best against you, anyway. Come on, and stay as long
as you can,’

“And that,” Frank added, with the shadow of a frown
crossing his face, “is signed by Bleeker, the Gold Hill
chap we’re pretty well acquainted with.”

“Tt’s a bully letter!” Clancy declared. “What’s more,
it hits me about where [ live. Staying holed up in this
hotel for the rest of the time we’re in Arizona doesn’t
appeal to me a little bit. We'll go, of course?”

“No studies for a couple of days, Chip!’’ put in Bal-
lard, repressing his. exultation. ‘‘Mrs. Boorland will
reach Ophir to-day, and then she and the professor will
be busy selling out their mine to the syndicate. The
prof told us, you remember, that he regretted the break
in our studies, but that he expected to make it up as
soon as the mine is out of the way. Let’s pile in and
enjoy ourselves. What?”

“Did you absorb what Bleek says about all sports being

And he»

    
   
           
   
 

      
     
    

        
     
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
 
  
   
 
   
  
   
   
 
  
 
 
   
    
   
    
 
   
   
  
   
  
   

   

 
    

 
   
     
 

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second nature to me?” fretted Merry, staring gloomily at
that particular passage in the letter. “Say, wonder if

anybody gives me credit for doing anything in my own =
right? I’ve put in some pretty hard licks trying to~
make a sprinter, a pitcher, and a few other things out

‘of myself, and yet there’s an impression around that dad’s
responsible for it all. It’s a thundering big handicap,
and I’m getting tired of it. I don’t care a picayune what
a fellow inherits, he has to stand on his own feet, and
it’s what he does himself that makes or breaks him.”

Merriwell was getting rather warm on the subject—
too warm, he suddenly realized, and put the clamps
on himself.

“Of course,” he went on, “I’m mighty lucky in having
a father in the champion class. He has been mighty
good to me, and his. advice has been the biggest kind
of a help, but he has only pointed the way, and it was
ieft to me whether I made good or not. It’s the most
foolish thing in the world, strikes me, to think a fellow
is worthy or worthless simply because his father was one
or the other. Now 4

Merriwell paused. The stage from Gold Hill, several
hours late, was lumbering up the main street of) Ophir.
He had been watching it moodily while he talked; and
then, abruptly, his moodiness vanished and he jumped
to his feet.
_ “By Jove!” he exclaimed, in pleased surprise. “‘As

_ gure as shooting, fellows, there’s Barzy Blunt!”

There was no doubt about it. Barzy Blunt, on horse-
back, was riding along at the side of the stage; and, en
a seat of the stage, was a little old lady with spectacles,
and a shawl over her shoulders.

“Hello, Barzy!” Frank called, leaning out over the

_ veranda railing and waving his hand. ‘“‘Wasn’t expect-

ing to see you. How are you, old man?”

“How’s the ranch, Barze?” shouted Clancy.

“Good old Barzy !” chirped Ballard. “You’re a won-
der, all right. Whoever had a notion you’d be turning
up in Ophir this afternoon?”

The stage had halted in front of the hotel, and Blunt

had swung down from his saddle and rushed to the side

of the vehicle. He waved a joyous greeting to the lads

on the veranda, and then very carefully helped the old

lady to alight, Pophagan, proprietor of the hotel, came
“briskly out, followed by, the Chinaman who acted as
_ porter, '

“Glad to see ye, Blunt,” said Dobbapan: “An’ this

"here is Mrs, Hilt Boorland, ain't it? It’s been a heap o’
years since I’ve seen Mrs. Boorland: Howdy, mum?
i eelin’ well, I hope? I been savin’ a good room for you.

Tl. take the grip, and the chink, I reckon, can manage
the trunk. Come right in whenever you're ready. Have

a_break-down, Andy?” he called to.the stage driver.
“You're a long time behind schedule.”

The roustabout shouldered the little, hide-bound trunk

and trotted into the hotel with it. Pophagan, ene up
the steps, was swinging a scarred and battered satchel.

Blunt, still very carefully, was helping the old lady mount

‘to the veranda. Merry ran down and lent his assist-

ance, Andy, settling back in his seat and picking up

‘the reins, was sputtering about the broken wheel and

the delay. He drove on, still sputtering, bound for the

post, office, where he was to leave the mail bags.|

“Merriwell, ” said Blunt, after his charge had safely
eached the veranda, “this is Mrs. Boorland. Mam,”
he turned to the old lady, “this is Frank Merriwell,

and Owen Clancy, and Billy Ballard. I reckon,” and
he laughed softly, “that you’re not exactly strangers to
each other.”

“Deary, me!” exclaimed ‘the little old lady, very
much flustered. “Why, the letters. Barzy wrote to me
at the hospital were just full of things about you boys.”
She got up and put her trembling arms about Merriwell.
“You don’t mind an old woman showing her affection
for you, do you? Seems like you were one of my boys,
same as Barzy. You did a lot for Barzy, you and your
friends, Frank Merriwell. I just wish I had the last
letter he wrote me! If you could see the fine things he ~
said about you, you’d know you’d never lack for a friend
so long as Barzy’s alive,”

She turned from Frank to Owen.

“And here’s Mr, Clancy,” she went on, “and Mr. Bal-
lard! Goodness sakes, I am just as pleased as I can be.
We'd have got here a lot sooner if the wheel, hadn’t
broken, ’way off in the cafion. I had to wait in the stage
while the driver came on to get another wheel.. Well, it”
was lonesome, but I didn’t mind. Two young fellows

caine along on foot, and they, kind of cheered me up, only —
they didn’t stay long. Now, Barzy,” and Mrs’ Boorland
turned supplicatingly to the cowboy, “don’t you go and
think hard about those two young fellows. I don’t
believe they had a thing to do with it, not a thing: I
just pulled out my handkerchief, and the roll came, with
it—and that’s how it was lost.”

“Never mind, mam,” said Bish allowing: a smile to

chase away the hard tenis that had come over his. eS
“you’re not as strong as you might be, and I’m going

‘take you into the house and make you comfortable.”

“T hope I’ll see a lot of you boys while I’m here,’ Mrs
Boorland said, clinging with both hands to Blunt's ar
“T’ll be here ‘for quite a little while, I reckon.; Frien
of Barzy’s s are always friends of mine, and mie Rite
friends, too,”

She and the cowboy vanished inside the hotel. '

“So that’s Mrs. Boorland!’”” murmured Ballard. “She
a nice old lady and I’m glad she’s got a wad of. sara
coming to her.”

“Same here,” spoke up Clancy. “It was atch thing
for Blunt that, when he was a homeless kid, a woma:
like Mrs. Boorland took him in and made a home for
him.” | os .
“And Blunt, ever since Mr. Boorland died,” said
Merry, “has been paying back the debt: ..While Mrs.
Boorland was in the hospital, he sent about all his wages
to her, and-even sold his favorite riding horse to me $0
he could send mere when he found his wages weren’t
enough. © Well, I don’t blame him at all. I'd do, 0

same for an old MEE like that.”

A few moments later Blunt came back to the veran
There was an angry frown on his face as he aoe
into a chair near Merriwell.

“What's biting you, Barzy! ??” Frank inquired.

“A whole lét, pard,”’ Blunt answered. “I’ve Anke
the medicine and am going. on the warpath. Do you
know a fellow with a white face, washed-out eyes and a
tow hair?’ - 3

“Welk, slightly,” Merriwell answered, with a - gri ;
smile. “He was brought on from some place unknown
by Jode’ Lenning to coach the’Gold Hill football squad.
But he and Jode have both got: their walking pap
and where they are now is more than I know.” ;

“They were in the cafion this afternoon,” scowled ©

 
  

NEW

   

Blunt. ‘“Myxrs. Boorland saw them there. They were on
foot and walking this way, but they stopped to talk for
a spell. After they left and went down ‘the cafion, this
white-faced skunk came back. He talked some more,
and when he went away for good, Mrs. Boorland found
that two hundred in bills was missing from her hand
{ ubagy”’
i /“Great Scott!” muttered Clancy.
‘to his old tricks.”
“He must have had his nerve with him to steal from
am old woman!” exclaimed Ballard contemptuously.
“T'll bet a row of ’dobies that Lenning was in on the
deal as much as Shoup,” said Blunt darkly, “only ‘the was
too much of a coward to pull off the robbery. . I’m going
on the warpath and get that money back—and with in-
terest. You hear me!”

“Billy Shoup is up

* CHAPTER V.
A SURPRISE AT THE GULCH.

“Don't be in a rush with your suspicions, Barzy,” Mer-
sriwell-advised. ‘“Accusing a man of robbing an old lady
dike Mis. Boorland is pretty serious business. From
. what I heard her say to you, she thinks she may have lost
‘the money.”
> Not Gn your life, she doesn’t think that!” returned
deat: that’s her way—always trying to screen every-
body.” "She didn’t lose the money. It was stolen from
he and bag, and Shoup ‘and Lenning are the ones that
. did at. ‘Fm going ghee them, and I’ll get the money
4 and wring their necks into the bargain. - I can’t re-
® member when anything has happened that has worked
« me up like this.”

wbiunt was a cowboy, and, as Frank knew very well,
fimed to be rough and reckless whenever he thought
mwas dealing with guilt or injustice. If he found
up and Lenning and recovered the money, there
no doubt but that he would attempt to give them
Sson they’d long remember.
When are you going to start on this warpath of
Ss, Blunt?” Merriwell asked.

is Might now, just as quick as I can do it. - I’ve told
mam that I had to go back to the ranch, but that was
’ only to ease her mind. Instead of loping for the Bar Z
Pmt going to hunt the trail of Shoup and Lenning, and
* fun it out. If I don’t they'll be apt to have all that
money spent. 1 know their caliber, all right. For the
ist week they've been gambling in Gold Hill, ’ve heard,
etting rid of the thousand Colonel Hawtrey gave Len-
ing phen he kicked the fellow out of his house.”
~1 guess,” said Frank, “that I'll go with you, Barzy.”
The ied black eyes of the cowboy softened a little,
nem flamed.
f» No, you won't, Chip!” he declared. “This. is my
Duisiness and you'll keep out of it. I know what’s on
your mind. You think there are two of them, and
that they'll be one too many for me.” He flung back his
head and laughed derisively. ‘Why,’ he finished,
“they're both cowards from the ground up. They’ll be
scared to death just at the sight of me. I can handle

79 3?
y Cyl.

bd

“I’d like to go along, anyhow,” insisted Frank. “A
little excitement wouldn’t come ‘amiss, just now.
going to leave Arizona, pretty soon, and we’d like to keep
keyed up with something or other until we go.”

“That's you!” grinned Blunt, “but you can’t drive such

 

   

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palaver down my throat. You're afraid I'll get into
trouble, and you're making excuses to go along, but this
is a single-handed expedition, and I’m going to see it
through all by my lonesome. Mam is feeling pretty
chipper, and she won’t need’me for a while. It isn’t that
I wouldn't be glad of your company, Chip, but I just
want to nail these fellows anyself, and do it good and
proper. You’re a crack hand at everything—get it from
your dad, of course—but Barzy Blunt is pretty good at
a thing like this. Buenos!”

Merry had not another word to say. He watched
Blunt run down the steps, pull the reins over his saddle-
horn, and spring to the back of his horse. A moment
later he had vanished in the direction of the cafion trail.

“That’s three times in one afternoon,” grumbled Merry.
“And the last time it comes from Blunt, who ought to
know better.”

“Chip’s hearing funny noises, Pink,” remarked Clancy
to Ballard. “What do you suppose has got into him?
He’s breaking out in.an unexpected place.”

“Three times!” mused Ballard. “What has happened
three times, Chip? Maybe I’m thick, but I can’t follow
you.’

“Blunt said that I’m a crack hand at everything, which
is coming it rather strong, and that I get it from my dad,
of course. Everybody has suddenly begun throwing that
handicap at me.’

“Not much of a handicap,” said the red-headed chap.
“If my governor was the best all-round athlete in the
eountry, I’d be tickled to death over it.”

“You're not getting me right, Clan,” returned Merry
earnestly. ‘ “I’m proud of dad, but the things he has done
he did himself, and against a whole lot of discouraging
circumstances at the outset. I want to make the same

99

sort of a record, see? But how can I when everybody

insists that what dad has done makes my imitation easy?
If a fellow goes wrong because his father went wrong,
he’s a pretty poor stick; and if he goes right just because
his father went right, what credit is it to him? Anyhow,
there’s nothing in that theory. If a fellow wins or loses,
it’s his own doing—his own, mind you.”

Frank was nettled.: It was unusual for him to show
his feelings so plainly, but he was human, and there were
a few things that struck pretty hard at his self-restraint.

“T’m glad you didn’t run off with Blunt,” said Bal-
lard, after a moment, “for that would have knocked our
trip to the gulch in the head. _ We’re going?”

“Yes,” Frank nodded. “Early in the morning we'll
ride for the gulch.”

“Hooray!” jubilated Clancy. “What you need, Chip,

is a little outdoor exercise—a little of the summer ozone '

which we're getting, in this part of the country, in the
middle of November. Let’s make the most of it. When
we ‘leave southern Arizona, we'll probably land some-
where in the ice and snow.’

The boys saw little of Mrs. Boorland until evening.
At supper, she came down from her room and Frank
introduced her to Professor Borrodaile, who was tutor-
ing the three lads, getting his health back in the splendid
climate, and incidentally waiting to claim the half of
fifty thousand dollars, which he and Mrs. Boorland were
to receive for the mining claim.

The more the lads saw of the little old lady the more
they liked her. It was plain that she was all wrapped
up in Barzy Blunt; and that, when she got through

with her half of the fifty thousand, it would be passed '

 

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onto Barzy. Nor would this be long, Merriwell thought,
as he saw, how frail and worn she was through years of
misfortune.

Frank and his chums were in bed early, that night,
and next morning they were up and on the road to the
gulch before either Mrs. Boorland or the professor was
stirring.

It was a crisp, bright morning. The air, pure and

clean from the wide deserts, acted like a tonic. Ballard,
in spite of himself, burst into song, and Clancy had a
time of it smothering the ragtime airs that Ballard in-
sisted on trying to sing.

The trail was wide and fine for the fifteen miles that
lay between Ophir and Dolliver’s. Dolliver, the ranch-
man, was well known to the boys.

“What d’you reckon,” he asked of the boys, as they
halted to water their mounts, ‘““Lenning and that white-
faced feller trailin’ along with him is doin’ in these
parts?”

The boys were startled.

“Do you mean to say they’ve been around here, Dol-
liver?” Frank asked.

“That’s what,” was the reply. “They was here late

_ yesterday arternoon, ridin’ a couple o’ hosses. The
white-faced feller had a roll of bills enough to choke a
dog. They’re up to somethin’ crooked, T'll bet you.’

_ “Which way did they go when they left here?”

Quien sabe i” answered Dolliver. — “ ‘They jest went,
an’ I didn’t see em when they shacked away.” |

“You know Barzy Blunt?”
look at his chums that kept them silent.

“Well, I reckon. I’ve knowed Barzy ever since he
was gopher-high.” NX

“Did you see him yesterday afternoon ?”

“Nary I didn’t. He ain’t around in these parts. If
he was, ye can gamble he wouldn’t pass without sayin’
how-de-do to Dolliver.”

At Dolliver’s,
and started into Mohave Cafion. - Here the road nar-

rowed, and angled back and forth until the mouth. of
_the gulch was reached, and the riders turned to follow
the dammed-up waters that sparkled in the late fore-
noon’s sun.

“I've a hunch,” Frank, remarked, “that Blunt will get
into trouble with Lenning and Shoup. ut

“Changes are, Chip,” cried Clancy, “Blunt will never
find them. They’ re a foxy pair, and if they really stole

that money, then they’ll be mighty careful to keep out at

sight.”

_ “Maybe Shoup didn’t take the money, after all,” sug-
gested Ballard.

“He’s a thief, Pink,” said Frank, “and I wouldn’t put
it past him. The fellow’ s not in his right mind for very

, ~ mitch of the time.”

“Tirat’s so. Do you think Lenning would stand for
thieving of that sort on Shoup’s part?”

_ “Sure he would,” asserted Clancy. “That cub would
stand for anything that didn’t call for any particular
nerve on his part. He’s as crooked as Shoup; or, if
he isn’t, he’ll be as crooked as Shoup before he’s been
with him very long.”

_. “They say Lenning’s father was wild, and was killed
in a brawl somewhere in Alaska,” remarked Ballard. “I
‘ uppose we couldn’t expect much better things of Len-

ew,

went on Frank, casting a_

the boys turned from the wide trail

. direction?” asked Ballard, in a puzzled tone.

‘TIP TOP WEEKLY.

“There you go, Pink!” exclaimed Merry. “What Len-
ning’s father did isn’t any excuse for Lenning.’

“Right !” laughed Ballard. ‘“Lenning’s handicap is
a bit different from yours, Chip, but I spoke before I
thought.”

The walls of the gulch,widened out, and as the boys -
rode along the border of the pent-up waters, they came
presently into view of three white tents, pitched on a
strip of clean, sandy beach.

Dinner was being made ready. A fire had been started,
and the campers could be seen moving about, each doing
his allotted part of the work. :

Half a dozen canoes were drawn up on the sand, a
little way from the tent, and off shore a float was
anchored for the use of swimmers.’ It was a pleasant
scene for the three lads, just a little tired from their long
morning’s ride.

A moment after the travelers sighted the camp, the ~
campers sighted them. Instantly all Wot none the
tents came to a standstill. ee ba

“Here’s the Merriwell crowd!”
Gold Hill fellows.

“Good old Merry!”

“Just in time for grub pile!”

A rush was madé for the newcomers, a
dragged from their horses, pounded on the
punched in the ribs with all the delight and g
imaginable. F

Hotchkiss, another lad whom Frank a
knew pretty well, took charge of the thre
led them away to,be picketed with the r
stock. Bleeker, who seemed to be in charg
ing party, led the visitors into the camp and
their quarters. ,

“We're all mighty glad you’ve come,’
heartily. ‘“We’re going to have great times
here. Didn’t see anything of Lenning and_
road, did you?”

“Lenning and Shoup?” returned Merriyell,
“No, we didn’t see them, but we hear they were
ver’s late yesterday. Have they been here?”

“They were here last night, and I ordered them out of.
camp. Nearly had a fight getting them to go, but we got
rid of them. Last night, though, one of our canoes ‘was
stolen. Of course,” he finished, “it’s not much of a guess
‘who took it. Shoup’ s a thief, and Lenning isn’t much
better. We'll get that canoe back, though, you can bet
on that.”

whoop “

CHAPTER VI.
THE REVOLVER SHOT.

~“Why the deuce did Lenning and Shoup come in this
“If they’d
done anything crapked on the trail from Ophir to Gold
Hill, they would be getting away from ae | instead
of hunting for it.”

“Tt looks as though Blunt was barking up the wrong
tree,” put in Clancy. “He had a revolver in his belt,
under his coat, when he came out of the hotel, and started
on the warpath, Chip. Didn’t see that, did you?’ q

“Is that straight, Clan?’ Merry demanded, eps: at
his chum with grave concern,

“Straight as a die.”

ng didn’t see it,” said Ballard,

 
NEW

“Well, I did. His coat flew back as he climbed into
the. saddle, and for just a second I saw the gun.”

“Why didn’t you say something about it before?”
asked Frank sharply.

“It would only have got you all stirred up, Chip, with-
out doing any good. You ought to know Barzy Blunt by
this time, I should think.”

They were inside the tent. where the three visitors
were to have their sleeping quarters. Merry, Clancy,
and Ballard had flung themselves down on a pile of
blankets. Bleeker had started to leave, but the conver-
sation of Frank and his chums filled him with sudden in-
terest, and’ he turned back.

“What are you chinning about?” he asked. “If Blunt
had a gun, it isn’t the first time he has gone ‘heeled,’ by
a long chalk. A cowboy, as a rule, knows how to shoot.

- I’ve heard that Blunt is particularly good on the trigger.
What are you stewing/about, Chip?”

“First,” said Merriwell, “I wish you’d tell me what
excuse L enning and Shoup gave for coming here—that
is, if they gave any.’

“Lenning was after money.”

“Money? How did he expect to get money here?”
“Why, he claimed that some of the fellows in camp
“owed him money they had borrowéd. [I reckon he was
tight: about it, but none of us brought any coin to speak
out here. So those who owed Lennihg couldn’t pay
E hin back if they wanted to. You know what a hold
Lenning had on Colonel Hawtrey before the colonel
east him adrift. Lenning was always well supplied with
furids. . He was generally a tightwad, too, but he’d loosen
‘up now and then, just to get some of the boys in debt
him, so he sole boss them around. It must seem

queer to ee to be ‘strapped’ and have to -

”

Gund collecting on the I O U’s.
“Queer, he was so hard pressed,” mused Frank, “when,
if our suspicions are correct, he and’ Shoup should have
been flush.”
_ “What are your suspicions?”
Prank told about Mrs. Boorland’s loss on the trail from
Gold Hill, and how Barzy Blunt had “gone on the war-
“path to recover the money. Bleeker gave a long whistle.”
_ “Blunt is sure g crazy cowboy when he gets his mad
up, said he; “but he’s not so crazy as to use a gun on
anybody. He might make a grand-stand play with it,
but that’s as far as he’d go. He’s tight, I think.
took the bank roll, and Lenning must have known about
t. Jode Lenning is going to the dogs as fast as he can.’
“Tf those fellows got the money,” queried Merriwell,

why in thunder were they here, trying to iat some

ore?”
“Probably two hundred wasn’t enough.
_ “Don’t forget, Chip,” spoke up Batted | what Dollivér
said. He told\us, you know, that Shoup flashed a roll
‘big enough to choke a dog.’ ”
‘That’s right,” ‘said Frank.

ephey: certainly had
money, and yet they came here and made a play for

/

more. I'll be hanged if I can understand it.”

“The Gold Hill crowd was camped right in this place,
a couple of weeks ago,” went on Bleeker, “and Jode got
-mad at Hotch and me and made tis leave the camp. I’m
on top myself, just now, and am back-in the athletic club,
and have been elected to Jode’s place as captain of the
football team. It did me good to turn on the skunk and
order him off, just as he had done to me.

if about t going, too, ‘gat ig he and pope meee

Shoup:

He was back- .

FN ere ae a pp 9 SE ™
jet Pe ane tt ea we Tape : TE

TIP: TOP. WEEKLY:

have to have something to'eat. We gave them some pro-
visions, and then drove them away. They made their
threats that they’d get even with us, and, as I said, last
night, one of our canoes was stolen. That’s how they
got even, I reckon. This is the only stretch of water
in this section, where a canoe can be used, so if we hunt
long enough we’re bound to get back our ost property.”

“T enning is getting pretty mild in the way he settles
his scores, ® remarked Ballard. “When he’s worked up,
he can be rather desperate.”

“I’m betting,” said Bleeker, “that with Shoup to nag
him on, he’ll go farther (than he ever went before. That
Shoup is a hard case.’

“Only thing in the way of that theory,” chimed in
Clancy, “is that Lenning lacks nerve. He’s got a white
feather in every pocket, and he shows it every time any
one gives him a chance,”

“I wouldn't come down too hard on Jode Lenning,”
suggested Merriwell. “Dad has told me, a good many
times, that he never saw a fellow so tougti there wasn’t

‘some good in him.”

“Lenning’s the exception,” declared Bleeker. ‘“He’s
a schemer, through and through, and he’d be out-and-out
bad if he had the courage.’ |

Frank shook his head. “Lenning has had a hard
lesson,” said he, “and maybe he'll show you Gold Hill:
fellows, some day, that he has profited by it.”

Bleeker laughed incredulously.

“Chip,” he declared, “your heart’s running away with
your head. Lenning’s lawlessness was botn in him.”

“Oh, splash!” grunted Merry. “That sort of talk
makes me tired. A man’s born with the same chance
every one else has to make something out of himself. If
he goes wrong, he can’t sneak behind his pedigree /and
whine about it; and’ if he does anything worth while, why,
he’s entitled to the credit.”

“Gee,” grinned Bleeker, “I reckon I’ve started some-
thing.  Let’s change the subject, What are Blunt's
chances for overhauling Lenning and Bleeker?”

“Not very good—if we can get at those fellows first,”
said Frank.

“Going on the warpath yourself, Chip?” inquired Bal-
lard.

“Right after dinner. If Lenning and Shoup have Mrs.
Boorland’s money, and if they’re anywhere in the vicinity —
of this gulch, we ought to be able to find them and get _
back that two hundred. Blunt is probably on the wrong
trail, and we may be the means of saving him a little —
trouble. While we're looking for the money, Bleek,” she: |
added, “you can come along and hunt for the canoe.”

“Tl go you, Chip,” answered Bleeker heartily. “But —

“we're not going to waste all the afternoon on Lenning
- and Shoup.

We're going to have a canoe race aroun
the Point, before sundown. I’m anxious to take a fail a
out of you on the water. From here to the broken pine
around the Point is half a mile. I'll pick a fellow to
paddle with me, and you can take either Pink or Red.
I’ve got a notion, old chap, that we Gold Hillers can show
you a trick or two with the paddles.” a
“I hope you can, Bleek,” laughed Merriwell. “We:
haven’t touched a paddle since we were up in the Wyo-

ming country.”

“And that seems like a year ago,” sighed Clancy. oe Sa
I’m just honing for a paddle! Are you going to ta :
Pink or Little Reddy, Chip?” _ ;

hy ‘We'll oe bi Tater,’ ms ore . prepa

 
NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

“Go. on!” cried Ballard, with mock indignation. “I
ean paddle circles all around Clancy.”
\“That’s a joke,” said Clancy, “‘You’re too lazy to
paddle circles around anybody.” f
“I’m not too lazy to knock a chip off your shoulder, you
red-headed chump !”

“Yah!” taunted Clancy, hunting around for a chip.

“Chips are scarce,” he added finally, picking a pebble
out of the sand. “How’'ll this do?”

The pebble went flying from Clancy’s shoulder, and
the two chums laughed and came together. While they

were kicking and-rolling among the blankets, a voice
from outside announced “grub pile.”

“Tf you fellows would rather fight than eat,” said ‘Mer-
riwell, ‘‘stay right here and keep it up. Come on, Bleek.
I’m hungry enough to eat a pair of boots.”

It was a fish dinner the campers had that day, and a
good one. Half an hour before the fish was served, they
had been swimming up and down the gulch. From the
water to the frying pan was a quick shift—and the
quicker the shift the better, when it comes to fish.

There were ten Gold Hillers in camp, and the coming
of Frank and his chums brought the total number up to
a baker’s dozen. The ten from Gold Hill all belonged
to the athletic club, and were a splendid lot of fellows.

They were hungry, too, for the morning had been full
of exercise.

“Pass the spuds, there, Hotch!” “Trying to hog all
the canned oleo, Ming?” “A little more of the planked
shad, if you please!” “Where’s my fork?” ‘“Confound
it, Bleek, the first thing you know the company will find
out we didn’t have forks enough to go around, and that
we're using one between us. If you can’t be real polite,
then for Heaven’s sake be as polite as you can.” “I’ve
got a bone in my throat!” wailed Hotchkiss. “Hit him
on the back,” said Bleeker ; “everybody hit Hotch on the
back.”

Everybody took a slam at Hotchkiss, and when they
got through with him he had been pounded to a frazzle—
but he had got rid of the bone.

_ “That'll do!” he cried. “I’m no punching bag—let
up.”

“Where’s the bone?” asked Bleeker severely.

. ("“Gone! It’s not bothering me half so much, now, as
_ you fellows are.” :
“Prove it’s gone.”

“How re

“Sing. Go on, Hotch.”

“Tye eaten too much—I can’t sing.”

“Try it!” clamored the others.

__ “Shucks,” deprecated Hotch, “I’ve got a voice like a
foghorn. But here goes.” :

He threw back his head and went at it.

2?

“T once knew a girl in the year of eighty-nine—
A handsome young thing by the name of Emmaline—
I never could persuade her for to leave me be,
And she went and she took and she married me-e-e!”

_ A-chorus of groans greeted Hotchkiss’ attempt.

“That’s a ranch song, Hotch,” said Bleeker sternly,

“and it is not in good taste. Try again. We——”
__ But Hotchkiss did not get a chance to try again.
__ Bleeker’s words were cut short by the clear, yet distant,
_note of a firearm.

The fun stopped as though by magic.

: All the boys
cast startled glances at each other, 99

been stolen on thg trail from Gold Hill to Ophir.

Hotch, jumping to his fee

a chance to nail *em!” ' . Weceene
He started up the gulch bank at a run, Bleeker and

Merriwell tight at his heels. i

CHAPTER VII.
A BLIND CHASE.

The lads were somewhat confused as to the dir
ftom which the report had come. They were all
on one point, however, and that was that the sho
been fired on their side of the gulch. From
their ideas of the right direction varied widely. a
tered together on the crest of the long slope of the gulch ~
bank, they held a hurried consultation, to decide what
their next move should be. 5 4

“Tm sure,” said Bleeker, “that the sound came from 7
the northwest,”

“Northeast, Bleek,” asserted Hotchkiss.

“Directly north,” a chap named Lenaway declared, with
equal conviction. ‘

“What do you think, Merriwell?” asked Bleeker,

“Tt’s hard to tell,’ Frank answered. “If we’ } be
listening for the shot, and trying to locate it, we n
have got the direction tolerably close} but the sound
when we weren’t expecting anything of the kind, so 1
the way we ought to go is more or less of a guess
inclined to think you’re right, though, Bleek.” — ;

“Pick out a couple to go with you, Hotch,
sleeker, “and go northeast. You do the same, L
go north. Merry and I will go over towards the ¢
Frank turned and gave Clancy and ‘Ballard a signi
look. ee Re
“You go with Hotch, Clan,” said he, “and Pink, y:
go with Lenaway.” “a

Clancy and Ballard understood Merriwell’s reago
this move. If the party led by Hotchkiss, or the
by Lenaway, succeeded in finding Lenning an
then there would be some one along to make a
to secure Mrs. Boorland’s lost money. So farg iat=the"
Gold Hillers, only Bleeker knew of the money that had

“This matter is settled, then,” said Bleeker. “The rest
of you boys go back to camp. We don’t want to leave
the camp to take care of itself and lose any more canoes. -
Come on, Chip,” ine

The party divided, the three detachments of searchers
starting off hurriedly in as many different directions, ’
while several Of the lads went back down the slope to
the camp. ci

Merriwell and Bleeker took a northwest course among .
low, rocky hills. They traveled rapidly, keeping their
ears open for another report, which might serve further
as a guide. =

‘That was a revolver shot,” asserted Bleeker, as they —
hurried on, “but it may have been farther away thah we
think. In this clear, still air a report will carry a long
distance,” |

“Did Lenning or Shoup have any weapons, Bleeker?”
asked Frank, in a worried tone. ih

“I don’t think so; at least I didn’t see any when I sent |
them away from the camp, last night. If they had had
any guns, they might have tried to use them then and
make a bluff.” : \ a

“Probably,” said Frank, with a feeling of relief.

t

“It’s

 
12 ae NEW

possible, too, that some one besides Blunt was doing that
shooting. There may. be others in this vicinity, don’t
you think?” .

“Sure thing, but it’s hardly likely. I don’t believe
there’s a soul nearer our camp than Dolliver’s.”

' “Some cowboy might be riding down Mohave Cajfion
from the Fiddleback Ranch.”

“Yes; but I don’t know what he’d find to shoot at.
Cowboys don’t carry revolvers all the time, like they used
to; and, if a Fiddleback man was going to town, he cer-
tainly wouldn’t pack a six-shooter. But that couldn’t
have been Blunt doing the shooting. He wasn’t on the
track of Lenning and Shoup, at last accounts.”

“Blunt has had plenty of time to pick up the trail. He’s
a determined chap when he sets out to do anything.”

“Hotch jumped at the conclusion that’ Lenning and
Shoup were doing the shooting. But if they didn’t have
anything to shoot with, Hotch, of course, is wrong. Who-
“ever pulled the trigger was easily satisfied. Only one
shot was fired.”

Just at that moment, Merriwell glimpsed something
a few yards to the right of him. It was an object that
lay on the ground and gleamed brightly in the sun.
Swerving to one side, he picked the object up.

“What have you found, pard?” called Bleeker.

“An empty sardine tin,” Frank reported.

“That’s right,” said Bleeker, coming mp and peering
at the flat can with its ragged flap. “It’s bright and new,
and hasn’t lain where you found it for very long. We

_gave Lenning and Shoup a‘ couple of tins of sardines,
and I reckon they must have camped somewhere near
this place last night.”

The lads examined the ground in the vicinity with

some care. They found a thicket of mesquite, which had
been trampled by horses—and Bleeker’s theory that Len-
ning and Shoup had spent the night in that place was all

. but proved.

“I reckon they stayed here,” said Bleeker. “Their horses

» could browse on the mesquite beans, and it wouldn’t have

beew much of a hardship for Lenning and Shoup to sleep

Pan the oper. But, why did they do it, when they could
just as well have returned to Dolliver’s?”

“Perhaps they were afraid to go tog Dolliver’s; that
is, if they really took Mrs. Boorland’s money.”

“They're hanging out in the hills for some purpose,
that’s plain,” mused Bleeker. “We might as well keep on,
Chip, and see what we can find.”

The gulch and the cafion formed a right angle, and the
course the two lads were taking was carrying them nearer
and nearer the deeper and narrower defile. The hills
among which they traveled were low, but there were
many of them, and they kept to the valleys between. Now
and then, either Merriwell or Bleeker would climb one
of the uplifts and take a look at the country around them,
They could see nothing of the fellows they were trying
to find.

“We ought to have brought our horses,” grumbled
' Bleeker. “If we hadn’t started in such a rush we’d have
thought of that. Lenring and Shoup have mounts, and
if they see us first they’ll get away and we can’t stop
them.”

_ “It’s too late to think of our horses now,” returned

Frank. ‘‘Why do you suppose they stole your canoe, last
night?” he queried. “If they have horses, what use
would they find for a canoe?” ’

TIP. "TOP WEEKLY.

“Well, they might have taken that seventy-five dollar
boat just to get even with us for not letting them stay
in the camp.” Bleeker came to a halt. “We've come
twice as far as that revolver shot would carry,” he went
on, “and it’s a cinch we’ve had our trouble for our pains.
Suppose we give up, and go back?”

“T don’t think we’re going to have any luck,” was
Merry’s answer, “so there’s nothing for us to do but to
return to camp. But that shot is bothering me a lot,”
he added, sitting down on a convenient bowlder.

“I’m puzzled a heap, myself,” said Bleeker, hunting
a seat and dropping down on it disgustedly. “I. reckon,
after all, we’d better make up our minds that some pros-
pector took a chance shot at a coyote, That’s as good
a-guess as any, Chip. It’s fair to suppose that Barzy
Blunt is all at sea, and hasn’t a notion where to look
for Shoup and Lenning. So he couldn’t have done the
shooting. Shoup and Lennitig are out of it, because
they hadn’t a‘gun. We’ve taken this little trip through
the hills all for nothing.”

“I’ve got a hunch you’re wrong, Bleek, yet I can’t
say where you’re wrong, or why.”

“My nerves must be in a fearful state when I get so
worked up over the report of a revolver. I wouldn’t
have thought anything about it if Shoup and Lenning
hadn’t been in our vicinity, and if they hadn’t taken our
canoe, and if you hadn’t told me what you did about Mrs,
30orland’s money, and about Blunt going on the war-
path.”

“Well, let’s give it up as a bad job and mosey back to
the camp. I’d like to keep Blunt from finding those two
fellows, for he might do something a whole lot worse than
just losing the two hundred dollars. I guess, though,
that Shoup and Lenning are foxy enough to keep away
from Blunt.”

“Our best bet is to look for the canoe: That must be
along the river, somewhere. If we can find that, we
may be able to lie low and get track of the thieves who
made off with it. I had already planned that ‘move
for this afternoon. ‘Why not begin at the mouth of the
gulch, Chip, and work our way back to the camp? It
wouldn’t take more than an hour or two to beat up every
thicket where the canoe could be hidden.”

“Come on, Bleek, and we'll try it.”

They had hardly. started before Merriwell came to
a quick halt, and dropped his hand on Bleeker’s arm.

“Listen!” he said.

They bent their heads, and what Merriwell had heard
came to, the ears of each of them distinctly. It was the
sound of galloping hoofs.

“That’s a horse, all right,” murmured Bleeker excitedly.
“From the sound, the animal is heading this way.”

“One horse,” said Frank. ‘Wait till I climb this’ hill
and’ see if I can locate the animal.”

He hurried to the top of the low hill on his left, and
stared in the direction from which the hoofbeats were
coming. To the south, perhaps a hundred feet away, was
a long ridge. Well to the east of the point where he was
making his observations, he could see the head of a horse-
man bobbing up and down as the animal he rode lifted
and dropped in a slow gallop. The rider was heading
west, following the other side of the ridge.

A quick survey of the ground showed Frank that the
valley which he and Bleeker were following pierced the
ridge, and, if they made good time, they could get to

 

 
 

— Chip.

NEW

that part of the ridge ahead of the rider. Thus, if the
rider did not change his course, they might be able to
intetcept him. Frank bounded down the hillside “and
started southward at a run.

“Hustle, Bleek,” he called. “There’s a fellow coming
on a horse, and if we hurry we can head him off.”

‘That’s the stuff!’ answered Bleeker, getting into mo-
tion. ‘What sort of a looking fellow is he?”

“TI couldn’t see anything but the top of his hat. There’s
a ridge in the way, and he’s galloping along on the other
side.”

The valley crooked in a half circle around the base of
another hill, and Merry and Bleeker raced through it
and came to the point where the ridge was broken. The
thump of hoofs was growing louder and louder.

“He’s pretty near,” whispered Bleeker.

“He’s right on us,’’ Merriwell flung back, and jumped
out from among the rocks.

He came within one of being trampled by the galloping
hoofs, for he leaped almost under the horse’s nose. The
animal snorted and reared back, while an exclamation of
surprise came from its rider.

As soon as Frank could get his bearings, he gave a yell
of surprise himself. The rider, as it proved, was none
other than Barzy Blunt!

CHAPTER VIII,
BLUNTS WARNING.

“What are you trying to do, pard?” called the cow-
boy. ‘Trying to scare a fellow to death?”

“Suffering side Winders!” exclaimed Bleeker.
if it isn’t Blunt.”

“What appears to be the trouble?” asked Blunt.

“We're trailing down a. revolver shot, Barzy,” said
Merriwell. “We thought Lenning and Shoup might be
mixed up with it, somehow.”

“They were,” was the grim response. “I caught sight
of them, but they were too quick for me. When I called
on them to halt, they didn’t pay any atention; so I turned
loose with a shot just to show ’em I meant business.”

“Did you hit either of them?” Frank inquiréd, with
a good deal of concern. 3

“What do you take me for, Chip?” said Blunt. “I’m
careless a whole lot, and there are times when I’m a
pretty rough proposition, but ’m not plumb locoed. I
wasn't trying to hit either of those junipers—but I came
mighty close to Shoup. You can bet your scalp lock
that he heard the sing of the bullet.”

“They got away?”

“They did, with grotind to spare.”

Blunt crooked a knee around his saddle horn and took
up a comfortable position on his horse.

“How did you get on the track of those fellows,
Blunt?” Frank went on.

“By a happenchance. When I rode away from the
hotel, yesterday afternoon, I traveled the cafion trail
toward Gold Hill. Met Schuster, one of our boys. He
-had been'to the Hill for a couple of days, and was on
his way back to the ranch. It was Schuster put me wise,
He had heard a few things about Lenning and
Shoup in town. You want to look out for yourself.”

“YT do?’ asked Frank. “‘Why?”

“Schuster heard that Lenning and Shoup are after
your scalp. They want to balance accounts, with you.

‘“Blamed

,

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

I reckon you know what that means toa conphgger fel-
lows. like they are.” =

“Lenning-and Shoup have all théycan do to ®Ok out
for themselves,” Chip laughingly said, “and I don’t think
they'll have any time to bother with me. | Schuster prob-
ably didn’t get the thing straight, anyhow. When you
overhear talk like that, Barzy, it is pretty apt to be
gammon.”

“This is how straight Schuster got it,” returned Blunt.
“Listen: Along at the same time Schuster heard that,
he also heard that Lenning and Shoup know you and
your chums were to be invited to spend a few days with
the Gold Hillers in the gulch. Lenning opined that the
gulch would be a good place to make his play. Did he
and Shoup come out to your camp?” Blunt asked, turn-
ing to Bleeker.

“That’s what they did,” said Bleeker.

“Then Schuster wasn’t very wide of his trail on that
part of it, was he? It was the information I got from
him that brought me to Mohave Cafion early this mdrn-
ing. I didn’t stop at Dolliver’s, but drilled past hig shack
like a streak. Been knocking around the hil A a.
and it was less than an hour ago when I gota %glim@
of the skunks I’m after. Of course, I knewgthest
Hillers wouldn’t let them stay in the camp; aad j

just as sure they’d hang around there, because ft ey rem

looking for a chance at you, Merriwell, and they won't
pull their freight till they get it.”

“I’m not going to lose any sleep or miss any fum wait-
ing for the blow to fall,” Merriwell laughed,
over to the camp, Blunt.

afternoon and I’d like to have you help me out with a i

paddle.” . 3
“Tm going to7 |
find Shoup and Lenning, get back that stolen money, and™
then run them out of this part of the range befor they”

“Business first, pard,’ answered Blunt.

have a chance to lay hands on you.”

“Have you had anything to eat to-day?”

“This morning. At noon, I pulled up my belt a notch.
To-night, if I’ve dorie what I’ve laid out to do, I'll drop
in at your camp for a little chuck. If I’m still shy ©
my plans, then I'll shack over to Dolliver’s for gram

ile.” ;
F “T’l1 get my horse and help you hunt for those fellows.”

“T feel the same as I did at the hotel’ yesterday,” de-
murred Blunt. “This is my job, and I want every one
else to keep hands off.”

“Where are you going now?”

“T’m going it blind, but I know that if I comb the hills
close enough Shoup and Lenning can’t dodge me.”

Blunt straightened in his saddle.

“If those fellows are really after me, Barzy,” said
Frank, “you'll do better to go with us to the camp, and
put in your time waiting and keeping your eyes.skinned.”

“T’ve got a different notion. You're the one that’s got
to keep his eyes skinned. See you later.”

With that, Blunt rattled his spurs and galloped on along
the side of the ridge.

“T can see with half an eye what he’s up to,” declared
Bleeker,

“What?” |

“Why, he thinks he’s saving you a little trouble by keep-
ing Shoup and Lenning on the run. If they know he’s
after them and it’s a cinch they do after that shooting—
they won’t have any chance to make things lively for you,

¢

>

“Come on. |
Thefe’s a canoe race on for this”)

eu?
ae
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4

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=

Chip, asd hey’ll have their hands full taking care of them-
selves.”

Bleeker laughed. He broke into merriment suddenly,

convulsed with some idea that had come to him on the.

spur of the moment.

“What’s the joke, Bleek?’ asked the wondering Mer-
riwell.

“Why, it’s the complete change of front Barzy has
made in the last few weeks. He was as hot at you, for
a spell, as Lenning is now; but, right at this minute, he’d
fight for you till he dropped. It’s plumb humorous—to
any one that knows Barzy Blunt. You must be a wizard
to change an enemy into a friend, like that.”

“Everybody said that Blunt was rantankerous, and that
his disposition was born in him and couldn’t be changed,”
said Frank, “but I knew better. That cowboy is one of
the finest fellows that ever breathed.. All you have to
do to make sure of that is to see the way he takes care
of Mrs, Boorland. Come on, Bleek, if we’re going to
hunt for that canoe.”

Bleeker cocked his eyes at the sun.

ph gce: we'll let the canoe go, for now,” he answered.

Pwe’ve seen and talked with Blunt, I’ve made up
mi . the canoe, wherever it is, is safe enough
t the present. Shoup and Lenning have probably hid-
__ den # away in the bushes, and Blunt will keep them so
_ busy that they won’t be able to go near it

*_ “We had two days for fun and frivolity when we left
' Ophir. That means, Bleek, that we’ve got to start back
_ to-thorrow afternoon.”
_ “TI thought your stay might be limited, and if we have
_ any good times at all we’ve got to start them. So we'll
_ let the old canoe go, get back to camp and start the races.
_ Its a shame you can’t be with us longer. What’s the
‘particular rush?”
_... “The prof is busy selling his mining claim, and he
figures that it will take two days. When the two days
_ are over, we’ve got to grind at our studies and make up
for the time we’ve lost.’”. |
 “T see. Knowledge comes at an awful price, eh?
Well, let’s get back and put the canoes into the water.”
It was three o’clock before they regained the camp.
_ The other search parties had already arrived. They had
seen nothing of Shoup or Lenning. .
Merriwell and Bleeker reported their own discoveries,
but held back the warning Blunt had delivered. Merry
had asked Bleeker to say nothing about that. He con-
ahi sidered the idea as altogether foolish, and not worth re-
counting. ,Bleeker, on his part, although he may have
credited Lenning and Shotip with sinister designs against
Frank, undoubtedly thought that the two fugitives would
one too much to think about to have any spare time for
_ plots.
_. The idea of the races had been received by the whole
- camp with enthusiasm. Shoup and Lenning and the lost
canoe were temporarily forgotten in the prospect of the
afternoon’s sport.
It was. settled that there were to be three competing
_ canoes. Bleeker and Hotchkiss were to man one,, Merry

and Clancy another, and Lenaway and a' chap named Orr-

were booked for the third.
Arizona being a dry country, there was not the chance
_for.water sports that was enjoyed by States more favored
by Mr. Jupiter Pluvius. Had miners, in the olden times,
_ not thrown a dam across the mouth of the gulch, the

¢ {

How long are.
you and Clancy and Ballard going to stay with us?”

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

gulch would have been like the cafion, with only a knee-
deep pool here and there throughout its entire length.
The dam, however, had created a reservoir some three
miles long, fed by clear mountain springs.
only place in that part of the State where the twin sports
of bathing and boating could be indulged in.

“The course, fellows,” announced Bleeker, “is one that
was marked out by the late-lamented Lenning, when he
was king bee in the Gold Hill crowd. Look up the
gulch, will you? See Apache Point, over there?”

Frank and Clancy followed Bleeker’s pointing finger
with their eyes. A little more than a quarter of a mile

away, the left-hand bank of the gulch rose into a sheer ae zs

wall, some fifty feet high, with the water laving its base.
The stream narrowed at the foot of Apache Point, so
that there was room for no more than three canoes to
pass it abreast of each other.

“Around the Point,” Bleeker went on, “the gulch banks
widen out again, and this stretch of slack-water naviga-
tion widens with it.
side of the Point, on the left-hand bank, is a white flag.
The course is around the bend, to the white flag and back
again to the camp. We Gold Hillers know all about it,
Merriwell, and if you and Clancy want to paddle over it
before the race, we'll wait for you.”

“Any snags in the course?” asked Frank.
cles we'll have to look out for?”

“Any obsta-

It was the a

7 a
a

3

A quarter of a mile up the other

“The whole: course is as clean as a whistle. The only, —

.thing to remember is to hug the foot of the cliff when —
The lead boat gets the pole,,

you*go round the Point.
of course,” he laughed.

“T don’t think we'll have to go over it, Bleek, before ~

we race, We're ready, now.” .
“Then pick out your canoe and get ready.

There was really no choice in the canoes, and Merry —

and Clancy selected one at random and got their paddles.
Bleeker, Hotchkiss, Lenaway and Orr ducked into a tent
and got out of their clothes and into bathing trunks.

Frank and his red-headed chum had only to step out of —

their ordinary garments, for as underclothes they wore

gymnasium togs. -
Launching their canoe, they got,into it and waited for

the others to make ready and for the word to start.

CHAPTER IX. : a
ACCIDENT OR TREACHERY? 1 eae

“What's on to follow this race, Chip?” asked Clancy,
while they were waiting. « 1 eh
“A-half mile for single paddles,” Merry answered. _
“That will give Pink a chance, if there are canoes
enough to go round.” :
“Don’t fret about Pink,” called that worthy from the
bank, happening to overhear the talk between his chums.
“I’m going to run along the bank and root for the heroes"
of Farnham Hall. I invented canoes, and naturally [’m_
a better paddler than Red, but I can put more heart into”
you from the shore than I could with a paddle.” — it
Clancy slapped the water with his. paddle and threw
small shower over Ballard. . cp
“You invented the long bow, too, you gld chum;
laughed Clancy, “and you’re a champion hand at pulling
it. Come on in, the water’s fine.” . &
Ballard had leaped out of the way of the shower, anc
‘was sputtering about his wet clothes. ak
“You'll get all you want of the water if I’m any

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prophet, you red-heatlee false alarm!” he shouted. “For
half a cent I'd wade @@b there and swamp you.”

“Somebody got a niekel?” sang out Clancy. “Throw
it to Pink and let him keep the change.”

At just this point, the other canoes glided out into the
water, taking up their positions on each side of Merry
and Clancy.

“All ready?” cried a fellow named Dart, who was act-
ing as\starter, as the canoes lined up.

“All ready!” came’the chorus from the racers.

“Then, go!”

Splash went the paddles, and the light, graceful water
eraft jumped ahead like restless thoroughbreds. Before
they had gone twenty feet, Merry realized that in Bleeker
and Hotchkiss he and Clancy had foemen worthy of their
mettle. The lads in the other craft were working hard,
but were left behind almost from the start.. By an un-
lucky move they overturned their canoe before the Point
was reached, and the last Frank saw of them on the first
lap they were swimming for the bank, towing their water-
logged craft.

Clancy was in the stern, and he was doing the steering
in masterly fashion. Frank, wielding his paddie with
grace and power, knelt. at the bow.

“Steady, Clan!” he called. “Don’t use up all your
ginger at the beginning!’’

“Steady it is,” answered Clancy.

Bleeker and Hotchkiss were working like Trojans. Foot
by foot they drew ahead of the other canoe.

“Dig; you Farnham Hall fellows!” bellowed Ballard
from the bank. “What do you think this is—a picnic
excursion? Dig, I tell you! If you’re last at the finish,
don’t you ever speak to me again.”

“Come on, you Bleek!” shouted the Gold Hillers.

“Come on, Hotch!” S

“Keep it up, Gold Hill! You’ve got.’em beaten.”

“Oh, you Bleeker! We’re slow at football, but I reckon
we're there with the goods on the water.”

“It isn’t Jode Lenning you’re up against now, Merri-
well !” '

All this rooting on the part of. the Gold Hill fellows
did not in the least disturb Merriwell or Clancy. They
were paddling like clockwork, but were saving their
energies for the last lap. After the white fag was met
and turned, they’d begin to show what they were made of.

. . C
The main thing was to keep a clear head and steady

nerves while the competing canoe was moving away from
them. And in this certainly Merriwell and Clancy were
put to a severe test.

Before the Point was reached, the stern of the other
canoe was even with Merry’s position in the bow of his
own craft. Bleeker had the inside, and. he went) so

close to the perpendicular wall of the cliff that his paddle ,

touched the base of the rocks. He looked over at Merry.

“Come on, old man!” he called.

“Not yet, Bleek,” Merry answered, with a laugh. “We
want you to get farther ahead first.”

“Much obliged! Now watch us.’

Merry and Clancy had to go farther in getting around
the Point than Bleeker and Hotch, for they were forced
farther away from the cliff. Inasmuch as the gulch
eurved at the Point, the rival canoe was offered an ad-
vantage, similar to that which comes to a pole horse
on the oval of a race track. When once more on a

straightaway, Bleeker and Hotch were leading by a full

canoe length. .

  

AS

The boys on thé bank had not. beetiablerto get around
the Point, so some of them, incliding Ballard, crossed
to the opposite shore in the other canoes: : ,

“What's the trouble with you chumps?” shouted Bal-
lard. ‘‘Don’t you know the other boat’s ahead? Buckle
in—paddle like you used to. Do. better than that, Red,
or I'll swim out there and take your place.”

“You got ’em, Bleek! cried the Gold Hillers fran-
tically. “Keep a-coming !”

“Here’s where the chip off the old block gets a set-
back! I reckon Merry’s dad was better with a baseball
than he was with a paddle!’

In the excitement of the moment some ill-corisidered i
words were roared across the water. This remark, by 7
a Gold Hill partisan, was probably excusable, in the
circumstances, but it struck a spark from Merry’s temper.

It opened up the old, tantalizing question of heredity—
the very thing which Merriwell had called a “handicap.”
His father could pitch better than he could paddle, could
he? If that was the case, then by winning that contest
he might prove that what he had learned about Ganges
had come to him in his own right. er es

“Good old Merry!” cried one of the Gold: Hal
by way of tempering the unwise rooting of his caimp
mate. “You're the stuff! Never say die is your $logam==
and that’s all that came down to you from the @hamipion
in Bloomfield.” Cee

A thrill raced along Frank’s nerves. At the Fisk
giving the competitors a still longer lead,. he Tooke
shoreward to locate the chap who had called those éleett

fying words. = ay
umbled |

  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
   

Bo lit

“Pink is a peach of a rooter—I don’t think,” gr
Clancy. fe

“Never mind, Pink,” laughed Frank, his momientar
flash of temper passing, “he’s trying to spur us 9@Res
the finish line instead of giving us a pull. Ah
the flag, Clan !’’ Se

A bit of white fluttered on the left-hand bank. Bleeme
and Hotchkiss had already made the turn and were COfm~ >
ing down. a ee

“We'll be at the finish to welcome you fellows?” jubi-) |
lated Hotch. AF Rie

“Maybe you'll do better in the singles,” shouted Bleeker. Vd
“It’s hardly fair, anyway. You haven’t gripped a paddle
for a long time, while we’ve been at it every day for a
week.”

“Don’t fret about that, Bleek,” grinned Clancy.

He could grin, but nevertheless he was worried. He
and Merry had a lot of strength to.draw on, but could
they be sure that Bleeker and Hotchkiss had not a lot
of power in reserve? The next few minutes would tell
the tale.

The canoe came around, and headed away on the final
stretch. Bleeker and Hotchkiss, the silver spray sparkling
under the strong dip of their paddles, were all of five
canoe lengths in the lead.

“Now, Clancy!” cried Merriwell. “We must get the
inside track around the Pdint! Let yourself out, old
man !”

Then and there the Farnum Hall lads began doing
their prettiest. They bent to their work in a way that
was beautiful to see, and the strength they had béen nurs-
ing for just that moment expended itself in.a wonderful
burst of speed:

“Now you’re coming!” screeched Ballard. “Keep that

:
;

   
   
  
  
  
  
   
    
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
 
 
   
   
  
    
  
 

 
  
    
  

up, Chip, and you’ll pass the other canoe and leave it out
of Sight !"

“Don’t lose your nerve, Bleek !’’ shouted the Gold Hill-
ers. “Crack your backs! Pull, I tell you!: For the honor
of Gold Hill, you junipers! For the love of Mike, don’t
let this chance get away from you!”

“Gold Hill winners, hump, you sinners!”

-It was evident to Frank, however, that Bleeker and
Hotchkiss had put the best of th€ir energy into the first
half of the race. The wise precaution of husbanding
their muscle for the wind-up had not appealed to them.
They had wanted a good fea at the start-off—and were
probably hoping that the lead could not be overcome.

Yard by yard Merry and Clancy overhauled: the canoe
ahead. Every thrust of the paddles, sturdy and strong
and swift, carried the rear craft forward for a gain.
Halfway ‘to the point the canoes were side by side.

Bleeker and Hotchkiss had no breath nor inclination
for joshing. Their faces were white and set, and their
arms knotted at the biceps with the strain they put upon
their dipping blaces. Every nerve was stretched to the
Besaking point.

It-was a good race, a splendid race. No matter which
canoe won, the joy of those pg moments as they came
down the homestretch would be happily remembered by
victor and vanquished.

Bleeker and Hotchkiss must have realized how their op-
" ponents had been playing the game. They had played
it squarely, too, and had calmly’ watched their rivals lead
in the first half of the race. Now, at last, Bleeker and
“his canoe mate understood that they were facing a
crisis, and that only heartbreaking work could save the

  
   
   

: hey labored so well,.for a considerable distance, the
ye$ continued to remain side by side.
‘Want us to wait for you, Bleek?” called Clancy.
bey Bleeker had other uses for his breath, however, than
_ wasting it.on replies to the red-headed fellow in the other
mca. |
“Once more, Clan!’
~ we've got to!”
- Half a dozen sweeps of the paddles and Merry and
_ Clancy were leading. A few more sweeps, and Clancy

sent their craft across the bows of their rivals.

cried Merriwell. “Hug the cliff—

boys, and paddling like fiends.

they were under the shadow of the Point.

And then—something happened.

- was it design? Intent on their work, none of those in the

two canoes could tell; nor could the frantic lads on
shore.

Clancy heard a crash and roar above him. A glance
aloft showed a bowlder dropping downward from the top
of the Point. To Clancy, it looked as big as a house,
and in a flash he knew it must strike the canoe.

The red-headed chap’s heart jumped into his throat.
For a heartbeat he sat powerless, stunned by what he
saw. Then he roused up suddenly, with a yell:

“Jump, Merry! Jump for your life!”

On the instant, Clancy dropped his paddle and went
overboard. His frantic plunge overturned the canoe, and
Merry was in the water almost as soon as his chum.

_ The falling bowlder just grazed the overturned canoe,
splashed into the waves and sent up a wesreGe of foam-

ing spray. ad ae

   

“NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

_badly disabled,” Clancy answered.

They were on the inside now, those Farnham Hall.

$ > 1 T r ed
A fs rabinerice sibre and . Point, w alked up out of the water.

Was it accident, or

Merriwell.

    
  

é “CHAPTER X.

DESPERATE W

  

 
       
     
   
   
    
   
  
   
   
    
   
   
   
  

Merry, as well as Clancy, had heard the rush and roar
of the bowlder. But Merry was not in a position tosee it, | &
and his first intimation of the real cause of the trouble’
came with Clancy’s jump, the sweeping of the canoe,
and the splash of the bowlder in the water.

Bleeker and Hotchkiss, no less than’ the lads on the
shore, were thunder-struck. The second canoe was far’
enough away to be out of danger, although it bobbed per- =
ilously in the swash of the waves a

The huge rock had dropped so unexpectedly, and had
missed Merriwell and Clatlcy so narrowly, that all who
watched it were paralyzed for a space. Then, when the
first shock had worn away, a wild turmoil of voices went

“up from the bank and from the other canoe.

“A rock was loosened and dropped from the cliff!”
called some one huskily BR

“A bowlder was never known to drop from the Point!” | :

 

protested another. Be
‘An accident, that’s all!” asserted a third. “How could

it have been anything else?” ares
- Ballard, pale as death, was launching a canoe to the ff
other bank. Dart and another lad crowded in with him,
The seething waters had quieted about the foot of the
cliff, and Bleeker and Hotch were paddling close to Mer-
riwell and Clancy, who were corneig to get around
the Point. | a
“Are you all right, fellow s?” Bleeker asked in ashaking 7%
voice. HW
- are
“Physically,

 

“How about you, Clan?”
but mentally I’m
“A fine course you

answered Merry.
I’m all to the good,

 

  
     

laid out for us, Bleek,” he added.
“It’s Jode Lenning’s course,” said Bleeker. “I’ve been
here a good many times, during the last six years, and I~

      
       
 

never knew a rock to fall from the cliff before. I can’t  {)
understand it.” we”
“Tt was an accident, Bleek,” said Frank, “and the

     

bowlder missed us. A miss, you know, is as good asa —

mile. Better have somebody look after the canoe.”
“The fellows in one of the other canoes are towing it”
* said Hatch.

_ Merry and Clancy, reaching the sloping bank below the

Both were still a

           
    

little dazed by the recent mishap. if
Ballard, all a-tremble from the shock, landed and hur- :
ried to the side of his chums.
“You got out of that by the skin of your teeth, ae
he. “Thunder! I thought you were gone, for sure. That —
bowlder wasn’t more than a second coming down, but it
seemed to me like a year before it hit the water.” *
“Tt must have been an accident,’ commented Dart.
“No,” said Bleeker, and threw a significant look at

 
       
     
 

”

        
      
       
       
    

Bleeker had had a little time in which to collect his
thoughts, and he was doing some reasoning, with Blunt’s i
warning fora background. ve

“I agree with Dart,” spoke up Merriwell. “TI don’t
see how it could have been anything but an accident.” —

“T do,” muttered Bleeker darkly. “Some of you fel~
lows get up on top of the Point. Hustle! See if you
can find any one there. If you lose too much ~
there isn’t a chance.”

Ballard led the rush up the steep slope, taking the

 
   
     
   
   
   
  

        
ar

ble

  

  
  

 

 
    

      

roundabout way necéss@iy ifr gainingethe crest of the
diff. Several of the wendéring lads followed Ballard.
They were hardly startéd on their climb wtn a canoe
from the opposite shore came nosing to the bank. It
held two of the campers. As they arose, they got a bit
of a glimpse of the water on the other side of the Point.

“Look!” one of them cried. ‘“There’s our other canoe
—and Lenning and Shoup!”

Owing to the bend in the river, nothing could be seen
from the bank where Merry and the rest were standing.
Merry, the instant he heard the shouted warning, started
for the water’s edge and flung himself into the craft
which Bleeker and Hotchkiss had used for the race.

“Come on, Clan!” Frank called. “Here’s something
we've got to look into—and we must be quick about it.”

Clancy jumped’ for the canoe as though touched by a
live wire. Through his befogged brain an inkling of his
chum’s purpose had drifted.

In almost less time than it takes to tell it, the canoe
was racing across the water, Merry in the bow and Clancy
in the stern. Other canoes followed, for a feeling that
something more of a porténtous nature “was about to
happen ran through every lad’s nerves.

When well into the river, Frank cotld look ahead, as
the vista opened out above the Point, and see the stolen
canoe, with the two thieves aboard. Shoup was in the
stern and Lenning at the-bow. Both were using their
paddles like mad, evidently trying: to get across to the
other bank.

“Get busy, Clan?’ called Merriwell quietly, but com-
pellingly. “I think we can overhaul those fellows before
they land.”

“We'll have to go some, if we do,” was the answer.

“TI guess we’ve shown that we can do that, all right.”

Shoup, taking a survey over his shoulder, saw that he
and Lenning were pursued. He spoke to Lenning, and
both bent fiercely to their paddling.

They were awkward at the work, and the canoe zig-
zagged back and forth. But, in spite of the poor pad-
dling, it looked as though the two might reach the bank
before Merriwell and Clancy could get to them.

“Great guns!” cried Clancy, as an idea suddenly burst
on his mind.

“What’s to pay, Clan?” asked Merry, keeping his keen,
calculating eyes straight ahead.

“ve just thought of something, Chip. Those two
hounds are trying to get away—they were on top of the
Point—they dropped that rock down on us! By thunder,
what do you think of that!”

“I wouldn’t say that until I had-'some proof,’’, coun-
selled Merriwell. “Shut up, Clan, and dig in!. We've
got to if we get close enough to lay hands on them.”

Clancy smothered his desire for further talk and put
all his vim into his paddle. He and Merry were gaining
on the other craft, but nevertheless it seemed a foregone
conclusion that.Shoup and Lenning would reach shore
before they could be stopped.

And then, just when the chase appeared most hope-
less, Lenning’s paddle snapped. A shout of anger came
from Shoup. He followed it by an act as surprising to
those, who looked on as it was Recticine in its nature.

Rising to his feet, his own paddle in his hands, Shoup
stepped forward and brought the paddle down viciously
on the head of his companion. Lenning, who was still
in a kneeling posture, pitched forward over the side of
the frail craft and disapeared beneath the surface of the

Shee TIP TOP WEEKLY, i -

yhead to get the water out of his eyes.

— at: Be as

water, The catiee went gunwale unde is he fell, and
at.the same moment, Shoup jumped and began swimming

for the bank. ; i

wr

One astounding event after another was happening -

that afternoon, and this last tragic incident held the on-
lookers spellbound for a moment.

The first thought that drifted through each spectator’s
mind must have been this: Why had Shoup dealt Lenning.
that blow? Was it anger because the paddle had broken?
Or was there some other motive back of it?

Merriwell was first to recover his wits.

‘Some of you fellows get ashore and try and head off
Shoup!” he called. »“‘I’ll see what I can do for Lenning.
Quick with your paddle, Clan,” he added to his chum.

Lenning, stunned by the blow, had not reappeared at
the surface of the water. And he might never reappear,
alive unless something was done for him at once. '

These thoughts darted through Merriwell’s mind as he
and Clancy drove the canoe onward to the place where
the unfortunate youth had gone down. In less than
a minute the craft was over the spot, and Merry had?
taken a long, clean dive into the river.

Ballard. and Dart, and a few more were watching thé?)

progress of events from the top of the cliff. » Blecker
and Hotch had more interest in Merriwell’s work than
in trying to halt Shoup, and stood by in #H@HPicanod to
be of what assistance they could. Clancy, H@ping to be
of some aid to his chum in effecting a rescué, had likes
wise taken to the water.

At such a time as that, bygones were bygones,
well forgot all his old differences with Lenning—forgot
also that Lenning might have been the one who had=

rolled the bowlder off the cliff—and plunged to the fee) i
low’s relief just as he would have hastened to the aid

of any one else in distress,

“That’s Chip Merriwell for you,”
kneeling and peering into the watery depths from the
side of the canoe. ee

“Excitement is crowding us pretty hard this after —
noon,” said Hotchkiss, “I’m fair dazed with it all. Why
in Sam Hill did Shoup pound Lenning on the head with
that paddle? I thought they were pards.”

“They were ; but Shoup’s a dope fiend, and a fellow like
that isn’t responsible for what he does. I suppose he was
mad because Lenning’s paddle broke in his hands. Len-
ning couldn’t help that, and Shoup——”

Merry and Clancy had been under water for what
seemed an inordinately long period. At that instant,
however, they came to the surface—and between them
was the white, dripping face of Jode Lenning.

“Bully for you, Merriwell!” shouted Bleeker enthusias-
tically. “Can we help with the canoe?” ‘

“We'll get him ashore,” sputtered Merry, shaking his
“He’s uncon-
scious and won’t make any trouble. How are you mak-
ing it, Clan?” he asked of his chum.

“Well enough,” answered Clancy, blowing like a por-
poise. “Let’s get solid, ground under us as soon as we
can, though. This is no easy job.”

Steadily, but surely, the two chums made their way
shoreward. Fortunately, the bank was but a little dis-
tance away, and it was not long before they had dragged
the limp form of Lenning high and dry on the sant

While Merriwell and Clancy sprawled out in the sun
to get their breath, Bleeker and Hotchkiss,:and a few
more of the ‘campers, worked ‘over Lenning. The lad

Merri- 3

muttered Bleeker, @

 
     
     

it
‘ 7
ot

      
   
 
   
  
   
  
   
 
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
    
   
    
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
 
    
   
   
   
   
  
   
   

ee

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was not in very bad Shape, and hae! efforts at resuscita-_

tion speedily met with success.

“It was your quickness, Merriwell,” declared Bleeker,
“that saved the fellow. If he had been under water a
minute or two longer, it would have been all day with
him.” ;

“He’s all right,’ said Frank diffidently, “and
the main thing. Has he opened his eyes yet ?”

“He’s opening them now.”

Frank got up and walked to Lenning’s side. “How
do you feel, Jode?” he inquired, staring down into his
bewildered eyes.

Lenning shivered, and closed his eyes again.

that’s

CHAPTER XI.

THE SAVING GRACE.

_. For several minutes Jode Lenning continued to lie on
the warm sand. He could not have been very comfort-
,able, for his hat was gone and his clothes were soaking
wet. ~ Bleeker had removed his coat in order to work
over, him ‘to better advantage, and Hotch now took the
garment and wrung it out. But if Lenning was not
comfortable, he was at least getting his strength back
ling ‘to feel more like himself.
n He’ next opened his eyes, he sat up suddenly
atid lookéd out over the shimmering expanse of water.

‘His lips twitched with some passing emotion, and he —

finally withdrew his gaze and fixed it upon Bleeker.
Did Shoup hit me over the head with his paddle?
he asked, in a low, colorless voice.
Yes,” was the answer.
““Merriwell and Clancy pulled me out of the water ?’
“That was the way of it
_“Where’s Shoup now ?”
, “Suffering horn toads!” gasped Bleeker.
cle ean forgotten about that fellow.
him? Anybody know ?”
“T can tell you,” one of the lads spoke up. “Two or
three of us hustled ashore to try and head him off, but
was too quick)for us. There were a couple of horses,
tched i in the chaparral, and Shoup took one of them and
away.”
A baleful glitter shone in Lenning’s shifty eyes.
“He tried to do me up,” Lenning muttered.
_ “Why?” asked Bleeker. “I thought you and he were
pards. «
_ “You never can tell what a pard like Shoup is, going
‘0 do. ‘But I gave him cause to have it in forme. Help
‘me up, Bleeker. I’m not going to ask much of you, nor
bother you very long.. Five minutes will do the trick.”
_ Bleeker reached down and took Lenning’s hand. The
lad was weak, as yet, for it would be some time before
~ he recovered entirely from his recent ordeal.
| “Let's go to the place where Shoup got the horse,”
ent on Lenning.» “I want the rest, of you to come, 00,
specially Merriwell.”

“Say, I had
What became of

hemselves in the Ebi) ‘Bleeker and Hotch followed,
with /Lenning between them.
ss than twenty yards up the slope’ of the bank the
‘strange patty came to the edge of the chaparral.
“Pick up that stone tie Bi = Hone pointing.

 

did so, bg. gave vent to “iotwhistle , and exclamations
of astofithinent came from others clustered around hin.

A roll of bills had been brought into view by the re-
moval of the st¢ a large roll with a yellowback on
the outside.

“You take the money, Merriwell,” said Lenning, “and —
give it to Blunt. It’s the roll Shoup stole from Mrs.
Boorland. I didn’t know the old lady was Mrs. Boor-
land until I found Blunt was after us. Shoup did the
stealing, and he did it without my knowledge or consent.
Maybe you fellows won’t believe that, but it’s a fact. I
reckon I’ve come pretty low, but I couldn’t stand for what
Shoup did. All the money’s there but twenty dollars.
Shoup used that to buy a supply of dope in Ophir and to
hire a couple of horses.”

Lenning paused. He was getting stronger,
drew away from Bieeker and Hotchkiss.

“I. took that money from Shoup last night, while he
was asleep,” Lenning went on. “We brought our horses
ovet here before daylight, and hid them in the chaparral.

and he

» When we did that, | sneaked around and got the roll

under that stone, and Shoup didn’t see me. I intended
to let Blunt know, in some way, where the money was. —
That’s something else you can believe or not, just as you
please, but it’s the truth.
“There was merry blazes to pay when Shoup found
the money was gone out of his pocket. He accused me.
of taking it, and I admitted it. He threatened me, and
even threw me down and went through my clothes to
see if he couldn’t find it. Blunt made things so interest- —
ing for us that Shoup didn’t have any time to keep nag- —
ging at me. When we tried to get across the river to —
the horses, directly after that bowlder dropped from the
cliff, Shoup found his chance to hand me a rap over the
head. You saw him do it; and now I’ve explained why —
he had it in for me. i
“Of course,” and Lenning’s glance wandered to Mer- —
riwell; “you fellows can take me to Ophir and put me in|
‘the lockup on a charge of highway robbery. The ques-
tion is, are you going to do it? I’ve tried to do the right
. thing, and now it’s up to you either to let me go or hand Ny
me over to tlie law, Which is it to be?” i
“Get his horse for him,” said Merriwell, “and let him —
go. He’s had a hard enough time of it, and the way
Shoup treated him proves that his story is straight.”
Lenning, most unexpectedly, had done a good deed,
and it was the saving grace of that act w hich led many —
of the boys to agree with Merriwell. The horse was led
out of the bushes, and Lenning, with some Stn ys
climbed into the saddle. ake
“Where are you going?” Merriwell asked. .
“T don’t know,” was the answer, “and I’m not caring .
a whole lot.” i
“Why don’t you buck up, Lenning, and try to be difs
ferent?” ata
Lenning studied Merriwell for a moment with moody Le
eyes. Q ae
“What's the tise?” he askéd, at last. I’m down and out.

I’ve beerra fool, but that doesn’t count any in my favor, ¥

When a fellow makes hi bed, he’s got to lie in it.”
“Tf it doesn’t suit himfhe can get up and make it over,”
“You've always been at the top of the heap, Merriwell, »

so it’s easy for you to give advice. Try to be the under

dog. once, and maybe you'll change your mind about ‘

what a fellow ¢an or can’t do.”

it eee another Words eee: turned the horse git

 

 

 
  

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head up the slope. - Hatleg§as“he was, and with his wet
clothing clinging to his linmJ$, he was a melancholy figure
as he rode to the top of the ‘bank and then vanished from
the gaze of the lads below.

“Well, I'll be hanged!” exclaimed Bleeker. “I’m
struck all of a heap, no two ways about that. To think
that Jode Lenning should make a play of that kind! He
hash’t a soo in his jeens, and yet he took that roll from
Shoup and was doing what he could to get it back into
the hands of Blunt. Well, well!’

“Tt only goes to prove,” chuckled Merriwell, “that law-
lessness wasn’t born in Lenning, and that he can make
a pretty decent sort of a fellow out of himself if he tries.”

“T reckon,” said Bleeker thoughtfully, “that all of us
are handicapped in one way or another.”

“We are,” agreed Frank, “but it’s our own doing.”

“That so, Chip?” put in Clancy.

Merriwell stared at him for an instant, then caught
his drift and nodded emphatically.

“Yes, that’s so, Clan, and I’m not backing away from
that statement because I’ve got a little handicap of my
own. Who won that race, ang pow Bleeker?” he fin-
ished, with a grin.

“You and Clancy did,” was the prompt reply.

“We can try it over again to-morrow forenoon, if you
say so.”

“Not much! Single paddles are trumps, to-morrow
forenoon, and I'll see if we Gold Hillers can’t have a
little luck. Now let’s get back to camp.”

A return was quickly made to the other shore; and,
while Merry and Cl ae were in their tent, giving all the
news to Ballard, and, at the same time, getting into their
clothes, Barzy Blunt stuck his head in at the flap.

“Somebody beat me to it,” he remarked. ‘Call that
a fair shake, Chip?”

There was a laugh in Blunt’s voice, so the lads knew
his words were not to be taken seriously.

“Where were you while all the trouble was going
on | ?” demanded Frank.

“I was a heap nearer the scene of trouble than you
imagine. I’ve found out something, too, that will prob-
ably change your opinion of Jode Lenning.”

“Come in, then,” said Merry, “and bat it up to us,
We're getting sort of hardened to surprises, so I guess
we can stand this one.’

CHAPTER XII.
BLUNT’S “SURPRISE.”

The cowboy pushed his way into the tent and sat down
beside Ballard on a pile of blankets.

“First off,” said he, “let me ask you if you're satisfied
Schuster gave me a straight tip when I met him on the
way back rom Gold Hill?”

“Why, yes,” Frank answered, “Schuster had a pretty
good | line on the situation, all except that ‘getting even’
part.”

Blunt screwed up his black eyes and gave Merriwell
a keen sizing.

“What do you think about that bowlder that dropped
from the cliff?” he asked.

“Accident,” said Frank briefly.

“Well, holy smoke!” grunted the cowboy, in disgust.
“Is that what you really. think, Chip?”
“Tt is, Barzy.”

NEW. TIP TOP WEEKLY.

on account of that mine deal, so maybe she wouldn’t have <4

*

 
  

4

Blunt. removed: his: hat and. ran his fingers. +hPOtigh ——
his long, jet-black hair.
“You’re-a little shy in your headpiece,’ he remarked, :
“Either that or else you’ve got a fool notion about not
wanting to go on record with what you really think,
Some of the lads outside kind of told me the way you
were leaning, and how you’d been cracking Jode Lenning
up as something of a man, in spite of his shortcomings.
What Schuster said Lenning and Shoup had up their
sleves for you, Chip, worried me aheap. I got to think-
ing more of keeping the three of you apart than I had |
thought about recovering the money. Pretty soon after —
I left you and Bleeker in the hills, I tied up my horse and
started to skirmishing in some diffcult places on foot.
“First thing I knew I was in the brush on top of the
Point. The canoe race was going on below, and I could
hear the yells pretty near as plain as though I had been
down in-the bottom of the gulch. Shoup and Lenning
were skulking back of the cliff’s edge. They had a rock
poised on the brink. Lenning was waiting to push it over, 7
while Shoup was looking down, ready to giy tf signal 7
at the right time. 2 <a +
“It was a few minutes before I got on to What tmey
might be up to. Just as it rushed over me, and T sinbted :
to get busy with the coyotes, Shoup gave the signal and
Lenning pushed the rock over. Then both of them took
to their heels. I was right after ’em, but they pulleda
canoe out of the bushes when they got near the water, q
and slid beyond my reach. Re
“T started back toward the place where I had Test ay
horsé, but stopped again when I got a glimpse of the river.
and saw you and Clancy chasing the other canoe, 14%
saw the rest of what happened, too, including the bat 9
Shoup gave Lenning on the head, and the way you and #
Clancy went to the rescue. I reckon that was fine, Gon- Jy
sidering all that those skunks had tried to do to you, but, |
pard, it was a whole lot more than I’d have done dm Oe #
place.”
“No, it wasn’t,’ said Merriwell decidedly,
“No? Seems like you're putting me in your own Ghat
Chip, and you know as well as I do that I don’t $e
there. Well, we'll let that pass. I went for my
ay my thoughts and feelings sort of scrambled, $6 that. a
I didn’t know how I really felt. I sort of forgot about ©
the stolen money, and about everything else, but the way
those two sneaks pushed the bowlder down on you, and
the way you went into the drink to save the fellow that
did the most of it. Finally I got into my saddle and rode
for this camp, where I was told how you believed that
bowlder business was an accident, and that Lenning had
done the square thing with the money. Then I was
at sixes and sevens again. I didn’t want to jolt you with
the truth about Lenning, and yet I couldn’t see how you
were so dense as not to ftgure it out for yourself, ‘ Now,
Chip, I come to you as an eyewitness, and you're getting
the facts. Schuster had it pretty straight, didn’t he?”
“Surest thing you know, Barzy,’ Frank answered.
“Here’s the money,” he added, passing over the roll. “It’s
all there but twenty dollars. Shoup spent that in Ophir.”
“I’m glad enough to get hands on it, even if it is a
twenty short. Mam is coming in for quite a wad of coin,

  
    
 
    
 
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
    
   
    
  
   
    
  
  
   
   
  
    
   
   
   
  
     
  
   

     

   

 
   
     
           
     
       
 

missed this so much as she might. It was the way Shoup
took it, more than anything else, that got me all worked |
up. Now, Chip, tell me this: What’s your opinion about 4
Lennirig ?” 3

     
 

  

     
NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

“Tt was the best thing that ever happened to him when
Colonel Hawtrey kicked. him’ out,” said. Merriwell.
“There’s good stuff in Lenning and he’s going to prove it

a good many times—just as he proved it this afternoon.”

“Bosh!” said Bleeker, thrusting his head into the tent,
“you're dippy on that point, Chip.”

“Wait and see, Bleek.”

_ “Supper’s ready—that’s what I looked in to tell you.
Place for you, Blunt. Going back to Ophir to-night ?”
“I hear there’s a race on to-morrow forenoon,” re-
turned Blunt, “and I’d sort of made up my mind to hang
around and take a hand in it.”
“Good for you!” cried Merriwell.
“But,” the cowboy went on, with an odd gleam in his
black eyes, “I don’t want any more bowlders tumbling
from Apache Point if I’m to be in one of the canoes.”
“Now oS Shoup and Lenning have cleared out,” cried
Clancy, “ I'll guarantee there won’t be any more rocks roll-
ing down the cliff. Come on and let’s eat,”

é THE END.
Bis rank Merriwell ell, Junior’s, Discretion; or, Taking a
‘cH ice on Lenning,” is the title of the story that will
appear in the next issue of this weekly. On Chip Merri-
well’s saying that he will become personally re8ponsible

My Jode Lenning’s actions, Mr. Bradlaugh gives Jode

lace as night watchman at his gold mine. All of

at’ s friends think he is taking a long chance, in stand-
img back of Jode in this way, and for a time they continue
to think so, for there is a big robbery of gold from the
mine while Jode is on guard. This is an absorbingly
interesting story’ and will grip your interest. It is No.
18, we will be out November 3oth.

omer Strong, Wireless Operator.

By WALTER S. STORY.

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS,

3 mer Strong ships on the Washington as its wireless opera-
On. ‘the way to the steamer, which is'a freighter and
nger boat combined, sailing from Boston to. Liverpool, he

ets a pleasant- mannered man named Bannon, who has booked
assage on the Washington.

As the ship is about to leave the wharf a gang of rough-

locking fellows come. aboard, and they seem to know Bannon,
the first night out Bannon tries to get Homer to “find” a

acht called the Victoria, explaining that his friend, Mr. Hyde;

aboard, and that he wants to have some fun by sending, him

signal of distress—C. Q. D. Homer refuses to do it; Ban-

hon tfies to bribe him, and the young man calls him a crook

and orders him out of the wireless office.

Bannon goes, but returns soon with the captain of the ship,
who prpves to be the tool of Bannon. The captain orders Strong
to findjthe Victoria and send the signal of distress.

at he would rather be put in irons. Then the skipper explains
that | Bannon is a detective attached to the English secret service,

vand that there is aboard the Victoria a fugitive from justice

wh m he wants to capture. Satisfied with this presentation of
he case, young Strong finds the Victoria and sends out the sig-
of distress.

In time the Victoria appears, and red fire is burned on the
Vashington to make it appear that she is aflame. A boat puts

ya
tor

ruffians, and they board the Victoria. Homer Strong, from the
deck of the Washington, sees a struggle as the ae
ir

rs on the yacht’s deck, followed by the flash of a

ear
Strong, in the moment of excitement, at overboard as he ?

s to see more of what is going on. “manages to keep
at, is carried toward the Victoria; and c taken aboard the
Bannon treats ee ‘well. ty 3 ify

party |

He replies

3

‘ |
/

Mnon and his crew are straight,
m of the yacht. He finds that
ie witeless apparatus, so that
are confirmed when an English
yacht who have

Homer begins to doubt that _
that they are lawfully in posses
some one has tampered with #
he cannot use it. His suspicions
steward—a member of the original crew on the
been replaced by Bannon’s gang-tells him that Mr. Hyde,
owner of the Victoria, is a prisoner below. Homer decides to
take action. The steward shows him to the door of the cabin
in which Mr. Hyde is confined, and Homer enters with a key
the steward gives him.

Hyde proves to be a wealthy wheat speculator, He tells
Homer that if he is kept away ‘from a port, after the ,twenty-
ninth of the month, it will méan a loss of twenty million dollars
to him, and that Bannon, in the interest of others, has captured
and held him for this reason.

Homer agrees to get in touch with the crew of the yacht,

, and see what can be done in the way of a rescue.

j

he

far as he could tell;

CHAPTER IX.

GATHERING THE FORCES.

“Hello!”

The voice was one of surprise.

The wireless operator halted abruptly in his tracks.
before the big figure of Mr. Bannon.

“Good evening,” he said, in his calm, slow drawl. “Fine
night.” He looked up at the clear summer sky, bright
with yellow stars.

“Very fine,’ agreed Mr. Bannon,
Strong?”

“Yes, sir.’

“May I a) what interested you there?
to seem unduly inqpisitive.”

“Looking for books.”

“Books, eh?” said Bannon.
mind. It’s a good thing, but a great man once said that
a little learning is a dangerous thing. He was right. At’s
also true that too much knowledge has its hazards. I'm
not a great man, but I say that.” Bannon smiled. “Don’t
pry any more, Strong,” he said,
changed, and rang like steel. “Ts unwholesome.
forward !”

Bannon stepped aside, and mockingly inclined his head
as the operator went forward.

Four bells rang out, clear and silvery. Then silent,
save for the wash of waters and the rhythm of the
smooth engines, the pretty craft steamed on in the Gulf
Stream toward England.

Homer went to the little wireless room with a dis- —
tinct sense of uneasiness. He knew he was under sus-
picion, and had no doubt he was now under surveillance ©
as well. It behooved him to be careful, or all would be —
lost. Feeling that he was watched, he was reluctant to ©
act. He thought of Hyde awaiting the signal that would ~
tell him that a move for his freedom had been made,

“I’ve got to take the chance, anyway,’ he muttered
desperately. He believed Bannon would not hesitate to
do away with him, if he deemed it necessary to gain his
end, }

Homer opened his door and stepped out on deck. ;

Five bells sounded, and all was quiet... It was, unfor-
tunately for his purpose, a bright night. “The Vi ictoria,
like a cradle, gently rolled on at half speed, and no one

“Been below, Mr.

I don’t wish

Pass

was in sight save for a figure far aft.
rom the Washington containing Bannon and his gang of | g 8

“The operator grimly stole forward, croliching i in the §
“shadows as much as he could, and alert for any unusual
‘sound. He reached the forecastle hatch unobserved, sO
but, of course, found it secured,

_A crowbar seemed necessary, and he stood in the shadow

ek, Se, on deck tOR Something to use in ite stead.

 

 

“You're of an inquiring

and his suave tone *
  
  

 
  

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Qo

 

    

he

“Ssh!” <A faint whisper soundéd from near by.

Homer started.”

“Ssh!” The warning sibilation sounded again.

Strong looked about, then drew up, all his senses alert.
A hand touched him on the elbow.

“What yet lookin’ fer, Highgrass?”

Homer peered into the gloom, and made out the coarse
features of McDougall.

“What yer lookin’ fer, partner?” repeated McDougall.
“Ton’t be s’ proud! Yer'll spile.” The fellow breathed
with a disagreeable wheeze, and, as Homer stared, his
eyes getting used to the gloom, he could see that Mc-
Dougall’s ugly visage was bloodstained.

} * — “Tm lookin’ for a cfowbar,” said the operator, realizing

! that: McDougall was as anxious to be quiet as he.

“Goin’ t’ turn dese gicks below loose?”

f eyes.”

“Huh!” he snorted. “Suits me—I just had a mix-up
wid de gang.” He trailed off in \vitriolic abuse of his

companions, “I’m in wid you, young feller. But, soi,

de goats down below ain’t got no chanst wid de push up

i here. Why,” he went on, with a string of curses, “‘one

of ’em did me, an’ I kin go some.”

“We'll try it,’ said Homer.

“Sure—all right. Here’s de key. You open up, an’
go down, and do de spiel act. An’, soi, speak gentle to
7em.”’

Homer felt the fellow’s great horny hand in the dark-
ness, and grasped the key. Unlocking the door, he care-

y» ~— fully opened it; then got another start.

“T’ll go below with you, Mr. Strong, if you don’t obé
ject,” said a familiar voice. ‘‘They’ll know me, and I'll
hand them something straight and good!”

if 4 ee wheezed in alarmed surprise. “/’m in on
i} is?”

. Mr. Hyde, who had slipped from his cabin upon Ho-
i mer’s heels, laughed. “You are,” he said. “I overheard
you. You're in with me, all right. Go ahead, Mr.
Strong.”

I _ Fortunately there was no light visible from the door-

  

 

 

way, and if no one had heard the opening of the hatch
| _ —which, on the yacht, was almost like a stateroom door,
} and upright—all was well. Homer felt his way down,
3 Mr. Hyde following, with McDougall at his heels. The
|  flat-nosed man thought it highly advisable to make him-
self known to the original Victoria crew before the trouble
if began.
There were eleven men in white suits grouped around
} a dim lamp in the cramped quarters below, including the
}’ sailing master, in his natty uniform. They were all
smoking, the skipper seated by himself; and, in a way,
_ appeared sufficiently content with their lot. Sailors learn
to be at ease in very queer circumstances, and under con-
ditions that would try the souls of men following less
hazardous or tineventful vocations.
i As the three men came among them, they arose with
iw various ejaculations, Mr. Hyde silenced them with a
gesture.
; “Glad to see you, Mr. Peterbough,” said the wheat
man, shaking hands with the sailing master, who greeted
~ him effusively and shamefacedly.
76. ~SsC “ Thank you, sir,” said the sailor humbly. “The rascals
Wi Haven't left?’ As he put the query, his eyes fell upon
the villainous visage and the twisted, but powerful, form
of McDougall.
“Not yet,” returned Mr. Hyde. He introduced Homer

 

 

 
 
  
   

  

    

a ae

NEW?TIP TOP WEEKLY. | aT

 
 
 

and» McDougall, and then in terse and sharp phrase he
made the situation clear. “If we gain possession ef the
yacht, Pll. give each man two hundred potinds.” He
raised his hand as they were about to cheer. “If, we
make New York by the morning of the twenty-ninth of
this month, I’ll triple it! No/’’ He had hard work to
keep them from enthusiastic outcry.

“Dat’s “bout t’ree t’ousan’ jocks, ain’t it?’ whispered
McDougall to Homer.

Homer nodded.

“We're ready, I guess,” said Mr. Hyde, after perfect-
ing a plan of capture with Captain Peterbough.

“Soi! McDougall’s hoarse ejaculation gained atten-
tion.

“Let’s have it—quick!” said Mr. Hyde impatiently.

“De guys on de deck are armed,” announced the flat-
nosed man, with a grin. ‘Youse fellers want to be ready
fer some real trouble. Dis ain’t no parlor boxin’ match
—you bet!”

There was no doubt that this announcement dampened
enthusiasm. A battle with fists and, bludgeons is one
thing, and a battle with firearms is another. Certainly,
unarmed men have little stomach to rush men provided
with deadly weapons. The sailors looked at one another
dubiously.

“Well, we'll do the best we can,” ‘said M
“Come!” he exclaimed, noting the slight hesi
the exchange of glances among the seamen, “
both offers.” ery

“Provide yourselves with clubs or anything, men,” Said
Peterbough sharply. He smarted under his disgrace if
being tricked and boarded, and he was anxious not Only)
to go, but to lead. “All ready?” 4

“Aye, aye, sir!’ was the response. The men, top
were galled by their position, and willing now to risk the
odds of the game.

,

   
   
  
   

“Come on, boys,” called Mr. Hyde. He +imself was?

a fine-looking man, of middle age, broad-shouldered, and
stalwart, erect, full of vim and real courage—a typical
gentleman. He started up the companionway, and Mc-
Dougall forced his way next to him and Peterbough,
eager for the fracas, and careless of consequences to
others or to himself, if success came.

Mr. Hyde, in the van, pushed open the hatch, and
passed out upon deck. McDougall, young Strong, and
Peterbough were at his heels, and the crew closely fol-
lowed,

Once upon deck, they spread out, fanlike, from the
hatch, to carry out their plans.

Then surprise came.

CHAPTER xX.
THE FORTUNE OF WAR.

“Hold up, there!” roared a stentorian voice, “Hold
up!” ‘
Figures were discernible in the distance, aft, and the
bulky figure of Captain Sanders came out clear-cut in
starlight to port.

McDougall gave a great shout, and charged. Hyde,
Homer, and the others made a rush. cr

Bang!

Sanders blazed point-blank at McDougall, the flame of
his weapon jabbing the night with a bolt of red fire.

The first report was followed with the staccato of many
revolvers, as Bannon’s gang fired at the attacking party:

OO0«
   

 

 

oS: fought f

22 NEW TIP TOP. WEEKLY.

The surprise was almost complete, but Bannon had
gained* word of the movement in time to get his men
on deck; Sanders himself having seen the forward hatch
open and disgorge the yacht crew.

Sanders, with an oath, blazed away at McDougail, who
tan directly at him. The flat-nosed man leaped like a
dog as he ran, but, two paces from the master, he wilted;
and, squirming and kicking, rolled into the scuppers.

In the face of the scattering fire, the Victoria men
rushed on. It was likely that Bannon had no intention
of shooting to kill unless necessary. Hyde, armed with
a belaying pin of iron, came upon a fierce-faced ruffan,
and, regardless of his weapon and his profane threat,
closed with him, and drove him into oblivion with heavy
blows.

There was a lively scene aboard the yacht for a few
minutes. The crew from New York were somewhat
outnumbered, but lack of numbers they made up in skill
and ferocity. The pistol fire died away in a moment,
and men met hand to. hand, striking with clubs or tear-
ing with hands, and biting. Clawing and fighting like

‘ravenous wolves over a bit of bone, they rolled across the
white deck, growling and cursing.

The voice of Bannon came clear and sharp above the
din of the fracas, directing his rascals, and counseling
gentle treatment toward the yacht’s sailors.

Mr. de, no mean opponent for any ordinary man,
cely, and, by his very valor, invited injury.

Homer, close at his elbow, using his fists and the
strength of his lithe, tough body, finally saw Hyde go
sprawling down under a blow from Sanders. He himself
soon found his time and strength fully occupied in the
clutch of a tarry rascal, who hugged like a bear and
swore in three different languages. Backward and for-
ward, Strong twisted with his adversary, driving in half-
arm blows with all his might, and vainly trying to get a
grasp on the blackguard’s throat.

“Fer Gawd’s sake, Bill!” breathed the sailor. “Soak
th’ shrimp on the nut! I’m gittin’ mad ernuff t’ bite ’im.
Give ’im er swipe!”

Bill, whoever he was, cheerfully—without doubt—com-
plied with his comrade’s request. Homer saw a million
stars, the sea rose up into the sky, the stars danced and
shot in all directions, and then he floated into absolute
darkness.

“Gee 7

The young operator sat up, with a terrible pain in, his
head. Putting a hand to his head, he gingerly felt a
great lump over the ear and just abaft the temple. ‘“For-
ward a bit,” he muttered painfully, ‘an’ I guess it would
have killed me.”

At length he observed where he was. Around him in
the dim light of the lantern were the Victoria sailors—
a sorry lot, tattered and torn, bruised and bleeding. The
air was thick with tobacco $moke and profanity.

One fellow was binding up a great gash on another’s
jowl, and he%whistled his national hymn in a curious,
muffled way as he worked, now and then pausing in the
binding and queer whistling to expectorate. He grinned
as he noted the operator’s look, and Homer observed
that his lips were bruised and his teeth broken off, as
if he had received'a bludgeon blow across the mouth.

“We got licked?” said Homer.

The man with the gash on the cheek and jaw groaned
and swore.

The cheerful man with the broken teeth nodded.

“I tyke it we did, son,” he said. “Th’ bloomin’ pirates
got us fore an’aft. Pore Johnny Sloan’s gone down to
tyke a berth with Davy Jones. I seen one o’ the pirates
beat his head in with a belayin’ pin er a pistol—I ain’t
sure which.”

“I bet ’e borrers a chaw o* terbaccer th’ first thing,”
grunted some one in surly fashion.

“Tut! tut!” remonstrated the cheerful man. “Johnny
wus a good sailorman.” Most of the others chimed in
with a good word for the missing sailor; even the surly
man admitted that Johnny had good points, The man
with the broken teéth bandaged his comrade, and then
slipped over to Homer, having noted that the young
fellow was no forecastle man, and that he was in pain.
He ran his hand over Homer’s head with surprising
lightness of touch, then laughed encouragingly.

‘Ah, that’s nothin’, sir; nothin’ but a bump. Yer’ll be
all right in an hour. But they’s a bit o’ water here—
that'll make it feel better.” He took Homer’s handker-
chief, wet it, and bound it on the operator’s head.

“Thank you,” said Homer gratefully. “Anything I
can do for you?”

The cheerful fellow said he wanted no assistance; and,
turning from Homer, occupied himself in alternately aid-
ing and jibing his mates.

Homer tried to secure from the sailors accurate, infor-
mation as to the result of the attack, but they could tell
him no more than he knew and could see. And they
were not in pleasant mood just then, and didn’t relish
query, even from a man in their own fix. Failure had
been complete. The number below, moreover, was seven,
and that, without question, meant that two or three had
lost their lives.

What had become of Mr. Hyde no one knew. More

‘than one, however, named a place they desired to be

his permanent residence, and cursed the voyage. All
Homer could learn was that the yacht belonged to one of
Hyde’s English friends, who had designed to give the
wheat man a pleasant trip back to New York. The
owner of the yacht was the friend Mr. Hyde had men-
tioned, Mr. Moore.

One thing was obvious, Bannon and his principals. were
playing for a high stake, and as they had taken life, noth-
ing further mattered, and they would go as far as
necessary. The taking of one life put them in as great
danger of the law’s retribution as the taking of a hun-
dred, and now, without doubt, they would be as willing
to kill twenty, as ‘one.

‘ CHAPTER XI.
BANNON MAKES A REQUEST.

Long hours passed after this, and many. Day after day
went, slowly by. Life in the forecastle, closed in, and
stifling with polluted air and acrid tobacco smoke, was
not a pleasant thing. fon young Strong, although he passed
it philosophically. The men under restraint grew rest-
less and irritable, but.on the whole behaved exceedingly
well. Homer succeeded in establishing and maintaining

bearable—and even pleasant—relations with the fellow

prisoners, especially Joyce. But he longed, of course, for
the sea air, and breeze, and the freedom of the deck.

No word of Hyde or of Peterbough came below. All
the meals were thrown down, or set upon the top of
the companionway. The men who brought the victuals
would answer no questions.

 

   
   

    
     
      

 
  
   
   
 
   
   
    
 
  
   
     
  
   
    
   
    
 
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
 
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
   
  
 
 

.

NEW TIP TOP. WEEKLY.

There were times when the hatch was open for air,

and, although a rush was discussed, it seemed folly to

_ panionway.

48 all was settled, and that the yacht was free.

try to pass the armed rascals on guard there.
One morning when the hatch was opened to admit air,
a voice called down:
“Mr. Strong!”
“Aye, aye, sir!

ad

returned Homer, going to the com-
He hoped Hyde had succeeded in buying
Bannon, and that it was the American come to say that
But the

voice was not Hyde’s; it was Sanders’ hoarse command.

“On deck!” called the master.
“Aye, aye, sir!” returned Homer, and he walked up,

passed the guards, and found himself on deck in the sun-
ie shine. °
staring blinkingly out upon the sea * shimmering in the

He stood for a moment breathing deeply, and

“morning sun, enjoying a glorious sense of relief,

“Come aft with me,’ ordered Sanders, who stood

near by. ‘

‘smoking a cigar.

“Aye, aye, sir!” »

The captain strode away, and Homer, curiously glanc-
ing about, followed at his heels.
- Bannon sat aft in an easy-chair, under the awning, his
feet outstretched upon the Persian deck rug, serenely

tthe awning w rith Sanders, and favored him with a genial

- smile.

He was the same. No conscience was at his
vitals. He was smooth-shaven, and his handsome, ruddy
face glowed with health and animal contentment.

“A beautiful day, Mr. Strong.” ‘
' “Fine,” agreed Homer laconically.

_“A trifle stuffy below, I should imagine,” said the big

man smoothly.

- “Yes,” responded Strong; “but I guess the men there
ate middlin’ honest—an’ that’s something to be consid-

ered. ‘

Bx)

| ‘that all the parts "are found.

Bannon. laughed.

] like you, young man,” he said, “and I’ve half a
mind to give you a stateroom, But 1 think I will not.
You'd better stay w ith the honest men. You're a trouble
breeder—when you’re loose. When I seek diversion, I
seek such as will profit me.”

Homer made no comment; but, with a glint in his eyes,
returned the other’s glance.

“Have you any objection to teaching ‘me how to operate
the wireless apparatus?’ Bannon asked smoothly, read-
ing readily enough the operator's contempt of him.

~Homer’s lips curved. “The apparatus was incomplete
when I last saw it,” he said.

“Yes, but perhaps we can fix it well enough for a few

lessons, and practice. ; You have no objection to teaching
me your useful | science ? ee
‘Very well.

To- -morrow we'll begin. I'll try to see

They must be somewhere

omer, turning, looked over the deserted waste of sea.
Sanders |" ’ “Bannon called.

Be good enough to see Mr. Strong to his quarters.
gin my wireless lessons to-morrow.”

pier: followed the sailor again, and was soon below
‘the forecastle. He was besieged with questions, and
ee he for cha he ae been Rear

He looked up as Homer came under

rough brows wrinkling in thought.

hen he turned to Homer.

23,

“Now, wot d’ye s’pose ’e wants with wireless?” asked
all, and each had a different answer.

“°E’s a murderin’, bloody villain; that’s wot ’e is,”
was the verdict concerning Bannon.

Late that night, Homer awoke under a slight shake,
and, as he came to consciousness, he discerned the rough
features of the sailor with the broken teeth.

“Wyke up, son,” said Joyce, in a low tone.
somethin’ t’ say t’ yer.”

Homer got up and sat on the edge of the bunk with
the other.

“See ere, Sir,’ said the sailor, “I know wot his nobs
wants with wireless. I didn’t sye nothin’ t’ the lads; but
I know. ’E’s in deep now; the cussed devil, an’ ’é’s
goin’ t’ do erway with all of us, scuttle th’ craft, and git
out. Why, son, it’s ’is only chance. ’E’d think no more
of it than tykin’ a plum from a puddin’! "Ell go off
in the small boat, an’ claim t? be wrecked. _We’re right
in the track, now, of all the north trade. It’s your
play, lad, to put a tangle in that bloomin’ ae ;

won't work.”
“Tt wouldn’t do any good |

“I got

“No,” said Homer.
anything, because he’d do the same thing, if I
without the wireless. My game is to make d
to call some ship. But I think Sanders can
tape now, and Bannon’ll be able to do it afte
or two. We'll have to chance another rush
there is to it, I’m afraid. r?

“Well, perhaps yre right, said the B

“Tt so,”

as he arose, “we'll do th’ best we can. I think

second thought, ’re kerrect. I’m rather glad,!s

added the last with an oath against their captors.

th’ difference? No need to worry. Wot's rigl

to git, we'll git. Good night t’ yer, sir.’

He crossed overt to his bunk, and, before slippi
his own, Homer could hear the fellow péacefully

gir,”

CHAPTER XII.
A NEW PERIL.

The next day, Homer, was called above to instruct —
Bannon as desired, and, during the succeeding days, he ~
was allowed to go to the wireless office for the same’
purpose, and continued to do so until Bannon could op-
erate pretty well. a

The rascal was pleasant enough, and Homer could not —
believe that he had sucha dastardly purpose in view asthe —

one stiggested by Joyce. It was impossible to think that —
he would try to do away with all hands. It wasn’t neces-
sary, anyway, for he could make his escape easily in some
foreign port. i"
On one Occasion when Homer went to the office in com-
pany with Sanders he found Bannon and Mr. Hyde
standing together by the rail, smoking cigars and con- ;
versing as if they were the best of friends. me
“Good morning, Mr. Strong,” said Mr. Hyde, step-
ping forward and shaking hands with Homer. “My —
friend, Bannon, has allowed me to come out fora little i
air this morning,” he explained, with a. smile, noting
Homer's puzzled look at séeing him at liberty. .
“Mr. Strong is teaching me to operate by wireless, —
Hyde,” remarked Bannon casually. “It’s mighty a
esting.” x
Mr. Hyde laughed, looking at bi captor quizzically.
cee t I understand ae to

 
bod

deeded ieemeratien dementia tela inate tai titaeaeataincniiatentindaaaiaaiae
DOTA, EI EOD PNA eg Ip NE ge RT Te Fen aby PN

say that the wireless apparatus was out of order?” Turn- ;

ing back to Bannon, he explained: “He told me you'd
puta kink in his apparatus.”
Bannon, in his turn, laughed.
“Couldn’t be caught with my own hook,” he said.
Mr. Hyde looked at Homer with a curious light in his

eye. “I suppose,” he observed, ‘Bannon has fixed it now

so it will work satisfactorily ?”

”?

“It’s all right now,” returned Homer, noting Mr.
Hyde’s peculiar glance at him, but not understanding it
in the least.

Mr. Hyde nodded to the young man, and,,turning care-
lessly to Bannon, began to talk about the stock market in
New York; and Bannon, interested in his conversation,
told Homer that he was excused, and directed Sanders
to see that he went below at once.

Homer was deprived of his brief space of liberty,
therefore, and went below, mystified exceedingly over the
peculiar look Mr. Hyde had bestowed upon him when
he learned the wireless apparatus was again in working
grder.

or a long time now the weather had remained fair,
the yacht had steamed on at half speed over a com-
ra ly smooth sea.

- On the afternoon of the twentieth of the month, how-
ever—a ‘day after Homer had seen Mr. Hyde on deck—
this changed. The sky became overcast, the wind came
up steadily, and the sea grew nasty. The Victoria was
not bothered much, however, and steamed on through
‘wind and the cross seas. Now and then she buried her
Mose in the foam.

; - “They’s something wrong with this ’ere craft,” said

gt - one of the sailors on the afternoon the Victoria lost her

elike motion, and began to toss and plunge in the
‘sea. “I kin feel, or ’ear, somethin’,” he asserted.
is shipmates gibed him cheerfully, until suddenly one

“rise

a of the gibers ceased joking and asserted chat he himself
felt or heard something.

Homer knew seafaring people well enough to realize
it if this were not speedily laughed off, every man
would hear and feel something before long. Yet he him-

self began to feel uneasy, without knowing why; and

_ whistling to himself would not dispel his queer sensa-
tion.
The crew began to get uncomfortable, the premonition

of evil and trouble communicating itself steadily from

man to man without words.

“I was on a ship wot sunk, ‘once,” remarked Joyce
cheerfully, “an’ all on us felt like this a week afore she
‘went down. Funny ’bout them things.”

“Shut yer mouth, Joyce!’’ roared the sailor who had

_ first sensed evil, “an? listen—th’. whole lot o’ yer!”

And the crew did listen, each man silenced by the terror

of unknown and imminent peril.

There was something to hear, too; something above the
steady, long-drawn, ceaseless swish and pound of wa-
ter, and the creaking timbers.

Crackle! Crackle! .

It was a sound—almost imagined—like the faintly
heard rustle of several newspaper pages turned at the

_ Same moment.

A man mopped his ‘brow and looked about.
There was no sound above. The Victoria was making

easy work of the sea, and her engines were beating in

eet rhythm. Nothing was amiss.
_ Another Panter be about the forecastle ; he mopped

} - } ; (ob ck :
; ea gies’ bps aad

 

= ee et ee ee
- ae sr A aS OT

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

his brow. More than that, he sniffed two or three times,
like a dog, then placed his palm flat on the planking.

“Wot ails yer!” roared one of the men, smoking in
his bunk. “Wot is it?”

“Tt’s fire, by jingo; that’s wot it. is!” cried the other
man, and he strode for the companionway. .

Every man in the forecastle jumped to his feet, the 9
They listened and sniffed

beginning of panic in the soul.
like animals.

The sailor who had cried out fire, scrambled up the aaa

short, steep companionway, and beat thunderously upon
the hatch. :

Homer took himself in hand, and mastered the impulse
to cry out. He had fear, surely enough—a cold, sick-
ening fear—but he knew it was necessary to keep: his |
head. °

Joyce nodded to him. He was used to the sea, and,
expecting very likely to die upon it, in one way or ar-
other, was not afraid. “That’s wot it is, son,” he said,
coming over to the young man. “Fire—sure! t"

“They’veMeft us!” cried the man at the top of the —
ladder. “They’ve left us t’ roast!’ He cursed, in a
frenzy. eee

His mates crowded about the foot of the companion-"
way, their hard faces blanched and ferocious with des-
peration in the dim light.

CHAPTER XIII.
THE REAL THING.

“Break out the hatch!” they howled. ‘Break it out!”
One of them, the little cockney sailor, crawled up be-
side the man at the top, and added his blows to those of ©
the other sailor.
Suddenly the hatch opened, and the yellow eye of a
lantern blinked in the darkness. Half disclosed by this.
light, two figures in oilskins appeared in vague silhouette.

“What the blazes ails you swabs?” roared a hoarse
voice from the deck. “Stand back, there!” «aie

“The yacht’s on fire!” returned the Victoria’s men as -
they swarmed up the ladder, a number falling down in
the crush.

“You're crazy!” cried one of the figures in the oil-
skins. “It’s one of yer infernal tricks! Stand back, —
there!” he bellowed. “Get down, there!”

The men at the oe however, “goaded by fear of fire, —
and pushed forward by their companions, stepped up.

Bang bang! A are spat viciously. The little
cockney sailor, who was the second to ascend the ladder, ©
gave a shrill cry, and dropped like a log.
“Sanders!” a voice roared from amidships. “Sanders!”
One of the figures in the oilskins turned at the call, ‘
“Come aft here!” shouted the voice. ‘
Sanders, who was one of the men at the forecasts
hatch, left on the run, leaving his ae to hold th
imprisoned crew in check

“You're crazy!” taunted the figure on deck, as the Vic-
toria’s men still cried out that the yacht was afire. He ee
changed his mind very soon. te

From the cabin abaft of the hatch, a finger of fire
suddenly burst up into the dark sky, fluttered a moment
uncertainly, flooding the deck with ruddy light, died
down, and then shot up again, — grew quickly in
volume arid height.

The crew of the Victoria burst upon the deck, and ran
aft fora boat. The fire was aieacey growing, and mov-

 
tii

 

 

 

 

~

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. . 25

ing solemnly in the wind. The sea was nasty; nothing
for the yacht, but perilous for small boats.

Homer, gaining the deck, followed the men of the Vic-
toria. He came upon Bannon, who was superintending
the launching of a boat. The adventurer at the moment
paid little attention to him, merely waving him to stand
out of the way.

Passing out of the knot of ruffians, Homer came upon
another set of men—the Victoria crew, who now, upon
open deck, acted with admirable coolness. Two figures
stood apart, calmly watching the provisipning of the boat,
and the preparations for getting the craft overboard. All
the vessel aft was as light as in sunshine, now, and Homer
made out the two figures as Mr. Hyde and a man he
had not seen before. The operator rightly supposed the
stranger to be Mr. Moore, owner of the Victoria,

“Hello, Mr. Strong!’ called the wheat plunger.
here! This is Mr. Moore, Mr. Strong. We’re out at
last for good,” said Mr. Hyde coolly, “and I guess our
friends will go. We've got to go, also, to be sure; but
that’s all right. We’re on the regular route of travel.
Bannon assured me of that this morning, and I knew he
had reason for staying on it. We’ve had the run of the
vessel, Mr. Strong, you know, since the fight—thanks to
the key of my cabin you left with me.”

“We’re in a bad fix, Hyde, jist the same,” put in Mr.
Moore calmly.’ “This isn’t a good sea for small boats
—although mine are good ones.” He turned to the’ Vic-«
toria men, busy putting provisions and water aboard, and
making the falls ready. “Easy there, boys!”

“Where’s Mr. ea inquired Homer, of the
owner.

“Gone!” petiiried! Mr. Moore. “He was killed.”

“Our friends are putting off,” exclaimed Mr. Hyde.
He ran down the deck, and looked over as Bannon’s cut-
throats held their boat skillfully under the quarter.

Bannon was at the rail with one of his men. Mr.
Hyde, seeing him, went farther forward, and confronted
the English agent.

“Well, Bannon,” he said, “that fake fire of yours
worked well. How do you like the real thing? I thought
I could get rid of you. If we have good luck, I’ll get
back in time!”

Bannon turned upon him, his expression ferocious.
Then, for a moment, he looked at the flames. Was he to
be deceived by a false fire?’ No! The fire was real—
altogether too real. There was no mistake about that;
and it was clearly beyond control.

He broke his silence with an imprecation.

“You won’t get back on time!” he roared. “I'll fix
you!” Whipping out a revolver, he leveled it quickly,
and fired—once, twice.

A. plunge of the Victoria caused the first shot to go

into the air, and the sailor striking his elbow rendered the
second shot. harmless.

Hyde would have rushed upon his assailant, but Ban-
non, urged by the sailor, who shouted something in his
ear and pointed downward, hastily slipped his weapon
into his pocket, got over the rail, and made his way down
into the waiting boat. The remaining rascal, with éx-
treme celerity, followed him.

Mr. Hyde stepped to the rail and shook an angry fist

“Come

at Bannon as the boat pulled off in the swirl of a broken

billow. He returned at once to young Strong and Moore,
and, after an angry comment upon Bannon, stood quietly

  
   
    
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
    
   
   
   
  
   
  

and watched the second boat put overboard, where it rode
easily under the Victoria’s lee.

“Now, Mr. Strong,” said Hyde calmly, “the rest of
our venture is in your hands. Now we need the wireless
—which you assured me was in perfect order. We figure
out that the Lucania is within a few miles of us. Isn’t
that right, Sam?”

“That’s what we made the cast on,”
Moore.

“Have you the nerve, Strong,” queried Mr. Hyde, “to
remain aboard and work the apparatus? Our lives de-
pend upon you.’

“Nerve?” repeated Homer. “Sure—that’s my job,”
he answ ered simply. ‘You hold off for me as near as
you can, an’ I’ll work it for all it’s worth,”

“This j is your chance,” said Hyde.

Homer did not wait to see the wheat operator and the
yacht owner lower themselves into the lifeboat, but. stat
for the wireless on the run. id

As the little boat, after pushing off from the Va
slipped down out of sight from a billow’s crest inte
green valley beyond, he dashed into the wireles§ roomy
and, clasping on his receiving cap, set to work to oa the
sea ‘for a near-by vessel.

The fire below must have gained great headway, fo
it swept the stern of the vessel in ten minutes after”
began to call; but, as the wind came from the east, th
fire would probably be confined to that quarter antl the L
unguided yacht veered and fell off, wallowing, ite th
trough of the sea—when, of course, the fire would swee
with comparative freedom from stern to stem.

The wires crackled like toasting popcorn, and €
points struck out blue beads of electric fire against’ ‘the
dark background.

Homer’s kand was steady, although he knew that his —
own life and the lives of those in the small boats now
depended solely upon his success in locating a vessel im
the regular route of travel in that part of the Atlantig,

No response rewarded his patient calls,

/ The Victoria began to roll over into the sea, her wheel.
being unlashed, and her motions became erratic. The fire
roared aft, and forward a sea pounded upon the decks?
and washed¢foaming along the courses and flooded the ~
scuppers.

Homer looked, out, shuddered a little at the situation,
but retained his seat at the instrument.

Hyde was doing his best to hold on near the Victoria;
but hisyboat was visible to Homer only momentarily.
As the young man searched for it, his last refuge, the
Victoria came about fairly into the trough of the sea,
and, uprising on the succeeding billow, half-turned her
nose from the wind.

A cloud of smoke, low-driven, shot forward past the
square porthole of Homer’s room. A tongue of fire fol-
lowed it for a moment.

Young Strong knew what had occurred. In a shirt
time the craft would be a mass of flames, untenable for
a living thing. He could feel the heat of the fire; he
could hear the draw and roar of the flames.

returned Mr.

CHAPTER XIV.
OUT OF THE MIST.

Crackle! Crackle! went the wires.
Homer leaned forward in tense expectancy, his heart
crying out ggeat hope.
 

as a,

——- ELS SIT RSAC HRY TS EER TT

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

» There was a response to his call!
“Who are you, and what do you want?’ came the

query.

“Yacht Victoria,’ answered Homer, with care; “we’re

afire, and all hands have put over in the boats. We want
.. help quick.” :
' “Where are you?” the unknown demanded.

Homer, gave the yacht’s location as well as he could
‘judge it.

“We can see your reflection on the horizon,” tele-
graphed the operator. “We're the Lucania, bound for
New York. Making twenty knots. We can pick you
up in three hours

A roar and a crash came from forward, and the con-
nection came to an end. Steel masts, yards, wires, and
guys, all were down.

Homer made for the door, and sprang to the rail.
With a quick eye, he searched the water, finally saw
Hyde's boat three hundred yards away, and wild ly waved
_to-it, A watcher returned his gesture, and the small
~ boat dipped down out of sight.

The Victoria was now pretty well aflame; the heat was

aoe The operator, with a last look, made ready

_ to $0 overboard. He crawled to the rail; then, as the

He: Vietoria rose on an upward swing, he leaped out. For-
a tunately, the sea was running from the starboard quar-

rl and it bore him away like a cork from the burning
u

Swimming easily, he looked about for Hyde, and, catch-
ing a glimpse of him, struck out for his boat. Those in
_ the boat saw him, and heard his shout. They pulled for
him as best they could. At length the operator reached
up and clasped the stern of the boat, Joyce leaning over,
ane helping inboard.
He lay inert for a few minutes, breathing heavily.
“Did you locate anything, Strong?” asked Mr. Hyde,
at length, nodding at him in a way that expressed more
‘ Eigiee than words,
\ ape Lucania,”
ear?”
“Three hours away.”
“Good!” } i
- A murmur of extreme gratification ran through the
mi Deeticed and the sailors bent their backs with hope, and
| Caio cheer Pally ink,
_ Through a long time the Victoria's boat—Bannon’s

crew was not visible—struggled in the sea, dipping, div- |

ing, and plunging; the faces of all on board marked clear
in the fire’s reflection. Homer, and Hyde, and Moore
_, were busy bailing, while the seamen grimly and skillfully
towed, and held the little craft head on.
They rolled far from the Victoria, whose flames at
length died down. The faint morning light took the place
-of the fire. There was a thin fog. No sign of a suc-
coring vesse] appeared, and the expression of hope on
every face had changed to one of anxiety, when sud-
Lied) Mr. Hyde uttered a cry, and half stood up in his
oo
- “There she is!” he shouted exultantly.
_ Every man’s eye followed his pointing finger.

blurs’in the fog. ‘A huge, dark figure, cutting the morn-
ing mist, moved across the crested seas.

rts the Lucaniathank signer Y"" cried the, Wall

returned Homer briefly, between gasps.

a Not very”
Ree away appeared a. steady row of misty lights—yellow

. subset

CHAPTER XV,
CONCLUSION. _

There was nothing to do but keep afloat and wait as
calmly as possible for the moment when the big liner
would sight them and bear down to pick them up. The
time came finally when she discovered them in the fog,
and rested about them,

A great shout welled up and broke from grateful
throats.
were aboard the palatial steamship.

The officers, at Mr. Hyde’s request, made sedulous _
search for the other boat, but without avail; and Bannon f
and his crew were not heard of again,

“Bannon was a splendid rascal,” said the Wall Street's
operator reflectively, “But for that he might have been:
a great man.’

Mr. Hyde was not slow to tell about Homer’s share
in the experience of the last few days, and the young
man was congratulated on his loyalty and pluck. :

When the Lucania was docked and the passengers he-
gan to filter through the law’s net into the city, Mr.
Hyde and his friend, Moore, waited for Homer, and
caught him by the elbow.

“This is the twenty-eight, Strong,” said Mr. Hyde, “and
I win,’

He put out his hand,
gratulation.

“Will you come and see me to-morrow evening,’ * said’
the wheat operator, “at the Waldorf?”

“Gladly, sir.

“T’ll lookésfor you at eight.”
call.

“Jump in, Strong,” he said.
bit.”

Strong insisted on getting out at Herald Square. He
secured quarters in a moderate-priced hotel, and put

   

‘ Homer shook it in hearty con

A taxicab came at his

“Tl take you uptown %

the evening ‘sight-seeing.

On the following afternoon the papers were wild ove

the great deal in wheat put through by the wonderfu

Mr. Hyde. Homer was as elated over the deal as fae
he were a partner in its profits.

Punctually at eight, he walked into the Waldorf, “
into the presence of the victorious speculator.
greeted him with enthusiasm. He complimented fig on.

: his courage and loyalty, then ae stated that when |

in the profits.

“T never take tips, Mr. Hyde, big or small, for doit
my work,” said Homer, unoffended by the offer of ORE
and undazzled by the amount named. RM

Mr, Hyde laughed. He knew the young man’s fin:
cial condition, and thought him foolish. “Suit yoursel
he said, however. r

In the course of the evening, Hasse ited to Y
the cause of the opportune fire on the Victoria.

etn, on that point.

“There are things,” he said gravely, ‘ ‘that 9 you i
ter not know ; that it’s needless to know. Bannon t
he had us cinched. Well, he did not, after all.

only one card to play, and we played it. Ignorance,
‘man, is a good thing, after all—at times.”

“He smiled grimly, Aah with arn, chang

_ THE END,

In an hour all the members of Mr. Hyde’s party pe

 

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NEWS ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Alarming Report on Juvenile Crime in France.

In a report that the administration of
criminal justice has just addressed to the
president of the republic, the alarming
statement is made that crime flourishes
among minors three times more than it does
among adults in France.

“In fact,” concludes the report, “the
maximum of criminality, both for “males
and females, was found among the pris-
oners from 18 to 21 years of age, though
the figures of feminine crime are propor-
tionately much smaller. Among men of
from 19 to 21 there are 301 prisoners for
every 10,000 inhabitants of the same age
and sex. This ratio is three times greater
than that established among those who have
reached their majority.”

England’s Crime on the Decline.

The report of the commissioners of
prisons for ror1-12 has just been published
in England, and shows a decline in the
number of prisoners, particularly among
juvenile offenders. The lowest point has
been reached within statistical record.

The commissioners also declare that suf-
fragettes imprisoned for various offenses
“show absolutely no gratitude for the meas-
ures taken for their amelioration, and con-
tinue to obstruct the aims of justice, and
eyen of mercy in every possible way”; on
the other hand, the commissioners are
pleased to note the reduction in juvenile
offenders, as above noted, as, for example,
in 20 years convicted male offenders be-
tween the ages of 16 and 21 have fallen
from 18,000 to 8,000, or more than 50 per
cent, while female offenders have decreased
from 4,000 to less than 1,000, or 75 per
cent. :

This Railroad to Kill Mosquitoes,

Extermination of mosquitoes along its
lines will be attempted ‘by the Illinois Cen-
tral Railroad through the employment of
goldfish minnows, a natural enemy of the
insects. According to Popular Mechanics,
the road is responsible for the experiment,
which will be the first of the kind at-
tempted, so far as known. All stagnant
pools, breeding places of the mosquito, will
be stocked with the minnows, and as all
minnows eat the larve of mosquitoes, it is
believed the destruction of the pest will be
rapid and complete. In this work it is
necessary to use the goldfish minnows, as
they are the only species able to survive
in stagnant water. In cleaning up the
breeding places it is hoped to stamp, out
malaria and typhoid fever, diseases for
which the mosquito is held chiefly respon-
sible. The; experiment will be carried out
in all States traversed by the Illinois Cen-
tral, though the greatest benefit is expected
to result in the States south of the Ohio
River, where there is much swamp land.

Discovery Proves that Romans Had Elevators.

Commendatore Boni, the director of the
Palatine excavation, a man who rarely an-
nounces his discoveries except through of-
ficial sources, has, however, imparted to a
few scientific friends the information: that
his excavations have at last reached ‘the.

 

NEW TIP. TOPWEEKLY.

 

foundations of the prehistoric city upon
the site of which Rome of the Kings was
built.

He has also proved that Juvenal and
Martial have been correctly construed by
philologists when they declared that the
word “pegma” or “pegmata” did not al-
ways mean the mechanical device at a the-
ater used to lift actors on a platform, but
often meant an elevator operated by weights
and used to lift the ancient Roman from
his garden to his house, which might stand
on the above. At both the Palatine and in
the Forum the commendatore has found
relics of these “pegmae” used in private
houses.

One of the most important finds is the
base of the imperial throne in what Com-
mendatore Boni calls “Domitian,” “corona-
tion room”; the throne was approached by
three steps of Egyptian granite, of which
fragments are lying about on the spot.
From the throne to the altar is a natural
transition ; from the throne of Domitian we
pass to the vast altar of Heliogabulus, that
strange hierophant in the long list of Ro-
man emperors,

Among the most striking finds of the
last few days is a series of beautiful fres-
coes of the, Iliad, which Commendatore
Boni assigns to the period of Virgil’s youth.
We may thus imagine the future author of
the second book of the Aeneid studying
from these pictorial representations “the
tale of Troy divine” on the famous hill to
which he dedicated so much of his eighth
canto.

Other frescoes, with a rare shade of
blue, have been found in a republican house
of the time of Cesar. From a large col-
lection of these colored fragments Com-
mendatore Boni is endeavoring to recon-
struct the palette of an artist of the re-
publican period, so that we may know pre-
cisely what colors were then in use. An-
other frescoe, found at a _ considerable
depth, represents a figure gazing at a large
Greek temple, which strongly resembles the
Thesian at Athens.

Some ten feet below the vivarium, which
was excavated earlier in the summer, a
fine mosaic pavement of the old republican
period has come to light, or rather can
be seen with the aid of a lamp.

Thanks to the deep borings which he
has carried out it is now possible as he
says to expose to view the history of the
Palatine from the earliest to the latest times
of classical antiquity—from the primitive
settlements of the Prisco-Latins down to
the splendors and extravagances of the im-
perial age, from Evander to Heliogabalus.

Here as elsewhere in Rome each suc-
cessive! age superimposed its civilization
upon that of its predecessor. The later re-
publicans built their houses upon the dwell-
ings, and often with the materials of the
earlier republican houses} the imperial pal-
ace rose upon the mansions of eminent re-
publicans of the latest age; in one place
it is now easy tg see how three successive
imperial palaces were erected above a re-
publican house, each cutting the other, and
we have a striking instance among the re-
cent discoveries of a Greek bas-relief de-
faced on purpose, and the other side of it

‘the proper course of action in each case,

  
 
    
 
    
    
  
    
  
  
   
   
  
 
 
   
  
   
    
      
  

used for an Egyptian design, two sphinxes
and a serpent, a time when Egypt was all
the fashion on the Tiber.

Thus the Palatine is a palimpsest, upon
which every century has written its mes-
sage to mankind. These messages, layer i
upon. layer, Commendatore Boni proposes j
to read to the forthcoming archeological |
congress, thus establishing the chronological
order of the several imperial palaces on the
Palatine.

To Classify Defective Children.

A clearing house for mentally defective
children will be opened soon by the depart-
ment of public charitied in New York, as
a subdivision of the Bureau of Dependent
Adults, according to an announcement from
Angus P. Thorne, superintendent of the
bureau. Doctor Max G. Schlapp, profes-
sor of neuropathology at the New York
Postgraduate» Hospital and Cornell Uni-
versity, and psychiatrist for the Society
for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, wi
have charge of the clearing house 5
be assisted by several physicians of dom
experience in the examination of the men
tally abnormal and deficient. sq

It is the plan of the department of pab
lic charities to have children sent to th
clearing house by the board of edtteation/
department of health, dispensaries, social’
workers, State institutions, department 6
public charities, Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children, institutions for
children, children’s courts, and the depart”
ment of immigration. “a

A careful examination of each child will”
be made to determine the particular nature
of its feeble-mindedness. Each will be sub- ©
jected to the Binet test, finger prints wall
be taken,,and nurses will make an investi- 7”
gation into the heredity of each case. The
examination also will determine whether
the applicant is likely to be dangerous t6
the community by reason of any ectinginal
tendencies. The clearing house will game”

        
     
 
  
   
   
  
    
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
   
 
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
     
 
    
    
  
 
   
   
    
   
    
   
  
 

bd

ose
Se

and send a report on each child to the de-
partment or society which may refer the
case. Speaking of the new clearing house,
Mr. Thorne said: ;

“It will benefit the community by co-
ordinating in one bureau a co:nplete rec-
ord of all defective persons in the city of
New York, and it will be able to demon-
strate the need of more facilities for the
segregation of these cases, for only by- seg-
regation can we hope to prevent the in-
crease in this class.

“The plan now before the board of eda-
cation leaves out of consideration all other
departments and agencies interested in the
care of defectives. What can the depart-
ment of education hope to accomplish with-
out institutions to which these children may
be admitted? And what does it intend to
do with those over the school age? What
would the department of education do with
a child who was mentally deficient with
tendencies to immorality? Would it be ad-
visable to have his child mingle with other
children even for a few hours in each day?

“The department of public charities is

  
       

 

the medium through which all cases are
admitted to State and municipal institu-

     
    
   
   
 

 
  
  
  
 
   
 

‘tions, aygl if this bureau can get all cases
referred to it it will be able to arrange for
early admissions to proper institutions.

It was pointed out by an official of the
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Chil-
dren that mentally deficient children if
properly classified and segregated could not
develop into cranks of the type of Schrank,
who tried to kill Colonel Roosevelt.

As the first step toward the establishment
of the new clearing house, the examination
of mentahy deficient children will be con-
ducted by Doctor Schlapp at the Post-
graduate Hospital. Later the department
of public charities will go before the board
of estimate with plans for a site and build-
ings.

Miss Gould Gives $10,000 to Tuberculosis
Camps.

A donation of $10,000 by Miss Helen
Gould to the Day and Night Camp for
the cure of tuberculosis was announced
. recently by Mrs. Charles Cummings Col-
lins, who has headed the movement for the
establishment of the camp. Miss Gould’s
donation came through President B. F.
Bush, of the Missouri Pacific Railroad,
through whom Mrs, Collins made her plea
to the woman philanthropist.

Mrs. Collins declared Miss Gould’s gift
was the first substantial encouragement she
/ has had since she began the work of rais-
ing the funds for founding the camp, and
that she was confident from now on the
work would go forward with renewed
energy.

The camp, Mrs. Collins said, was in con-
dition to be occupied by Thanksgiving Day.
Ground has already been broken, and the
work is progressing rapidly.

To Buy a Farm With Unexpected Fortune,

After he learned on what he calls ex-
cellent authority that he was soon to get
$10,500,000 as his part of the estate of Lord
Richard: Churchill, of London, England,
Joseph Sceviour, of Brockton, Mass., head
of a family, of three—himself, wife, and
one daughter—began to wonder what he
would do with it when he got it.

“I can realize my fondest dreams if I
get all that money, I guess,” he confidenti-
ally told a reporter. “I can go out into the
country, quit swinging the pick, and have a
ten-acre farm and two horses. All that
I care for in the world is my wife and
little daughter.”

About fifty years ago the son of Lord
Richard rah away with a fisher maiden,
and she was later taken into the family
fold by the lord. The son and wife died
and left one daughter, Elizabeth, who never
married. She died three months ago, and
by the will of Lord Richard his estate goes
to the heirs of her mother, who was a
Bolan. Elizabeth’s mother, the fisher maid,
was an aunt to Sceviour’s mother.

The Bank of England is said to now
hold | $140,000,000 of the estate of Lord
Richard Churchill and the estate in 5t.
John’s, N. F., is valued at $90,000,000.
There are twenty-two heirs, it is claimed,
and Sceviour figures his share at $10,-
500,000.

Sceviour has hopes of getting the money,
because the archbishop of Canterbury has
become personally interested in the case, -

Sceviour lives in a small flat with his
wife, who is a South Boston girl, and
daughter, Margaret Josephine. When a
small boy Sceviour left home and has been

tence.

 

 

NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY.

around the world several times. He has
lived in Brockton four years, and works
as a laborer for a local contractor. He will
continue to work every day, although he
will give some time to an investigation of
his London affairs.

Judge Rules that Niece is the Same as Sister
in Will Case.

Surrogate Fowler, of New York, handed
down a lengthy decision recently in the
matter of the accounting of Charles F.
Bauerdorf, executor of the will of Kilian
Heintz, who died in New York on May 7,
1892. The estate amounts to only $20,000,
but the decision of the surrogate is signifi-
cant because of his ruling on the meaning
of the word “issue” in wills.

The survivors of Mr. Heintz were a
wife, brothers, and sisters, and their chil-
dren. The difficulty experienced in the set-
tlement of the will was in deciding whether
the estate should be divided evenly among
the brothers and sisters, or whether the
word “issue” should be interpreted as mean-
ing not only Mr. Heintz’s brothers and sis-
ters, but their children also.

The surrogate decided that each de-
scendant should be considered equally in
the division of the property.

Object to Mushrooms in Cellar.

The raising of mushrooms in the cellar
of B. H, Leddbridge’s house in Fifth
Street, Ridgefield Park, Hackensack, N. J.,
has caused a complaint to be lodged by
the trustees of the Swedish Church . They
argue that the practice ix insanitary, to say
nothing of .the odor arising therefrom.
The parsonage of the church is located
next door to the house complained of. The
matter will be taken up by the board of
health at its next meeting.

Went Naked Thirty-five Years as Penance.

Inepégut, a Ute Indian, who for almost
thirty-five years has done penance for’ the
murder of his mother by going naked and
refusing to mingle with other members of
his tribe, was found dead in his lonely
tepee, in Utah, recently, Inepegut refused
to wear any sort of clothing even in the
coldest weather, and had left his tepee only
once since he began his self-imposed sen-
He was supplied with food by his
tribesmen, who considered him sacred.

A Hard Game for Pitcher Marquard.

A total of 207 balls were pitched at the
Polo Grounds by the three pitchers who took
part in the sixth game of the world’s series
between the Giants and the Red Sox. Of
this number Marquard pitched 114, an aver-
age of 16 balls per inning. The Red Sox
pitchers served up the remaining 93, of
which number Buck O’Brien pitched 29 in
the first inning, Ray Collins pitched 64 in
seven innings, an average of 9 1-7.

O'Brien had the busiest inning of the
entire series, In the number of batsmen
who came to the plate, in the number of
hits made, and also in runs scored, it sur-
passed any other, Collins had the easiest
time when he’ retired the Giants on ‘5
pitched balls in the second ‘inning, the first
and third batsmen flying out on the first
ball, while the other went out on successive
strikes. Marquard had to do his hardest
work in the second inning, 26 balls being
necessary to retire the Sox. Three times
later in the game Marquard finished up an
inning’s work on 7 pitched balls. In fact,

Rube did much more work in the first
three chapters, with 64 balls, than in the
remaining six, with. only 50.

Going after the first ball was more popu-
lar than in any of the preceding games,
and it proved successfal to both teams.
The Giants made 21 attempts, and the Red
Sox made 12. In the first inning the
Giants got four hits on the first ball pitched,
and these decided the game. In the sec-
ond inning Engle, of the Red Sox, drove
in the only run Boston scored by doubling
to left on the first ball pitched.

Devore, of the Giants, and Stahl, of the
Red Sox, were the only players to fan on
three pitched balls, Josh getting his fan in
the second inning and Jake in the sixth.

Following is the record of balls pitched
each inning:

Marquard—2i, 26, 17, 7, 7,'12, 7, 9, 8—
II4.

O’ Brien—20.

Collins—s, 11, 9, 10, 13, 8, 8—93.

Woodpecker May Peck Whenever He
Wants To.

After three weeks of painstaking search
by the city attorney, the major, the police,
and the legal department of the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, at
Yonkers, N. Y., it has been definitely de-
cided that there is no legal means whereby
a woodpecker can be restraindd from ap-
plying his energetic trade at four o'clock

in the morning, or any hour when he feels.

inclined.

All these official agencies were appealed
to a short time ago by William B. Law-
rence, a broker, to stop the noise of a busy
woodpecker which had been disturbing his
slumbers by beginning before daybreak its
noisy work on a dead tree near his resi-
dence,

The city attorney’s opinion on the matter
“reached after exhausting the law libraries

in a search for precedents,” rules that “as

pecking is a woodpecker’s chief employ-
ment, it would be an undue restraint of
trade to order the killing of the bird.”

Watch the Tradesmen’s Scales.

In addressing thé Washington chapter of
the American Institute of Banking, at
Washington, not long ago, Professor C. A.
W. Veditz, one of the experts of the United
States tariff board, and a member of the
faculty of George Washington University,
directed attention to the means used by
some dealers in food supplies to decéive or
defraud their customers.

“To remain in business under the keener
competition which results from a too rapid
multiplication of middlemen,” he © said,
“some of the grocers resort to schemes that
only appear to reduce prices or to keep
them from rising.

“Some grocers, for instance, sell brown
coconut shells, duly' ground, as pepper; mix
sand with sugar or call no particular atten-
tion to the difference between storage eggs,
and those of the ‘strictly fresh’ variety,

“Many butchers while weighing meat

purposely let their hands linger lovingly on~

the cut, so that for every pound of meat
they sell a customer frequently pays for
a quarter of a pound or more of hand, —
“As soon as the resourceful ones intro-
duce these methods the rest are hound
sooner or later to follow suit, for competi-
tion in retail trade, or for the matter: of
that competition in any branch of business

 

in which a horde of enterprises make simul-

 

 

     

 

 

 
         
         
       
 

 
      
   
  
 

 
 

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taneous appeal to the public, is apt to drag
down to the level of the lowest in sheer
economic self-defense. i

“The result of this is that for contempt-
ible business ethics, for despicable devices
to deceive and defraud the purchasing pub-
lic, the average little grocer, baker, or
butcher is very much worse than are the
big so-called, trusts.

“Compared with the practices of the
small retail dealer, the small producer, and
the middlemen generally, the methods of
many of the trusts are pure and white as
snow. By shortweighting, by the adultera-
tion of goods, by palming off stale commod-
ities, by discriminating among customers,
by sanctioning a credit system that forces
the honest customer to pay the bills of the
dishonest by requiring his employees to
work long hours and to develop commer-
cial servility, by permitting surroundings of
doubtful cleanliness, by a score‘of pusil-
lanimous tricks that would shame a heathen
Chinee, and by the tremendous increase
of prices or deterioration of goods forced
upon him through unscrupulous rivals the
small dealer and the so-called little busi-
ness man is rapidly becoming a living
monument to the shameful waste and the
wanton stupidity of uncontrolled compe-
tition.”

Sue Apartment House Owner for Janitor’s
Misdeed.

The extent to which the owner of an
apartment’ house is responsible for’ the
shortcomings of his janitor was discussed
recently in New York before Supreme
Court Justice Pendleton and a jury in a
suit brought by Edward F. Klaron, a con-
tractor, of 165 Broadway, New York,
against Richard C. Kip, proprietor of an
apartment house at 421 Manhattan Avenue.

Early in 1910, according to the testi-
mony, Klaron and his family moved into
an apartment in the Manhattan Avenue
house, and they became convinced, accord-
ing to their testimony, that the janitor
was bent tpon annoying them, The negli-
gence which they alleged he practiced cul-
minated, they declared, one summer even-
ing in August, 1910. The Klarons were
sitting on the front stoap waiting for some
ice’ cream which they had ordered, With-
out any provocation, they testified, the. jani-
tor ordered them into their rooms. No
notice, however, was taken of his words,
and in a few minutes he reappeared armed
with a pail of water. With no word of
warning he threw the water over the fam-
ily. And for this indignity which was not
denied by the defense, Mr. and Mrs. Klaron
sought $5,000 ‘damages.

The defense of Mr. Kip was limitation
of responsibility as to the action of his

employee.

Private Banks Decreasing in Number.

The day of the private bank is passing,
Once there was'a time when the bank
which was not conducted under State or
national restrictions could operate in many
States, but things in that regard are chang-
ing, and not many States are left in which
they can operate. Illinois and Arkansas
are two of the States in which the private
banks still flourish, but they are not getting
the share of the ‘business they once re-
ceived. As an evidence of this.is a com-
pilation of figures by the United States
government, which shows that the private

‘NEW TIP FOP WEEKLY.

of the deposits of the country. At that
there are about 4,000 of these institutions
in business, against about twice that many
national ‘banks, which have more! than
thirty times their deposits.

The deposits of all banks in 1910 aggre-
gated $15,283,300,000, an increase of $8,044,-
400,000 since 1900, The proportion of these
deposits held by the vyarious classes of
banks shows that the national banks hold
34.6 per cent of the total number of de-
posits, the savings banks 26.6. per. cent,
the loan and trust banks 20.1 per cent, and
the State banks 17,9 per cent, and the pri-
vate banks the:remainder, which is some-
thing less than 1 per cent.

Interesting Statistics About the Bible.

The Bible is indeed a most interesting
compilation any way we may look at it. —

Here are some Bible recent statistics
that are said to he the result of three years’
labor by the indefatigable Doctor Horne,
and given by him in his introduction to
the study of the Scriptures. The basis of
these interesting statistics is an old English
Bible of the King James version.

Old Testament—Number of books, 30;
chapters, 939; verses, 23,214; words, 593,-
493; letters, 2,728,100. :

New Testament—Number of books, 27;
chapters, 260; verses, 7,959; words, 181,-
253; letters, 838,380.

The Bible—Total number of books, 66;
chapters, 1,189; verses, 31,173; words, 773,-
746; letters, 3,566,480.

Apocrypha—Number of books, 14; chap-
ters, 184; verses, 6,031; words, 125,135.

The middle book of the Bible is Micha;
the middle and smallest chapter is the
117th Psalm; the middle verse is the eighth
verse of the 118th Psalm; Psalms is also
the largest book of the Bible, and the
largest. chapter is the 119th Psalm; the
twenty-first verse of the seventh chapter of
Ezra contains all of the letters ofthe alpha-
bet; the smallest verse of the Bible is the
thirty-fifth verse of the eleventh chapter of
St. John.

Swindler Returned to Go to Prison.

Antonio Buccola, who was a flour mer-
chant, of No. 137 Mott Street, New York,
disappeared March 28, 1910. That same
day a number.of merchants called upon
Assistant District Attorney Wasservogel
and told him that the flour merchant .had
swindled them. James L. Taylor, of the
Produce Exchange, said he had been
mulcted out of a carload of flour valued
at $o12.

On April 7, 1910) Buccola was indicted

for grand larceny. Detective Frank J.
Allen traced him to Italy.’ On November
17 Buccola came back to this country. The
next day he ran into the detectives, who
took him to the Tombs.
Recently Buccola was tried before Judge
Malone, in general sessions, and was found
guilty of grand larceny in the first de-
gree.

Spends $75 for Peanuts for Elephants.
John Haer, junior, of Brooklyn, 20 years
old, is charged with haying taken his
father’s savings of IO years amounting to
$600, had $16 left when he figured up in
jail the expense of 26 days revelry with a
chum in New York.

The largest item in his account was $75
which he said he had spent on peanuts

 

-bank to-day is getting less than 1 per. cent

   
   
    

 

zoo. He said he went tip there every
ing, and on some of the visits the élepl
became sick from sO much feasfingap The, 3
ladhad harrowine recollections of the high ~
cost of living on Broadway and complained
that at. one place he had to pay $1.50 for a
meal of a dozen boiled eggs and $2.75 for a
pint of champagne.

      
   
 
     
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
   
  
   
 
  
 
  
 
   

Wants Convict Labor on Roads,

Governor Simeon E. Baklwin, of Con-
necticut, speaking before the Connecticut
State conference of charities and correc-
tion, advocated the employment of cotivicts
by having them grind the lafge quantities
of lime rock in certain séentneaa
State, for fertilizing purposes. #16 aise
urged that prisoners be employed Sy build-.
ing or repairing the State highways:

The. governor said that the State's ¢x-
pense of keeping prisoners is in @xaess fF
their earning power, and “if @ man one
mitted a crime serious enough t@ authorize |
the State to deprive him of his hberty, it
there ought to be a resulting promt ina7ms
stead of a loss to the community” re

“It would be much less costly,” he coe
tinued, “to employ convicts im building: Gi ik
repairing highways, but this would expose”
them to a certain humiliation. | The greater
number of prisoners, however, have Httle
sensibility to shame; they hay beeome the
slaves of evil.” , ee

The governor suggested that’ the prigs)
oners who felt that they might be humili- *
ated, wear masks when working in the |
open, ae

       
  
  
    
   
     
   
  
    
  
     
   
      
  
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
    
   
  
   
    
    
  
   
  
  

 

Paterson Bats Dancing in Schools.

There will be no dancing in the Patet”

son school buildings. The board of edt
cation has notified the members @h the 7
College Club of its refusal to grant ihe ©
use of the high school and Public School |
No. 10 for the purpose of opening. the =
buildings as social centers.
“What we want to do is to put education
in their heads and not in their feet,” de
clared President Scott, referring to thé)
young men and young women the (ols
lege Club believed would be attracted from
dance halls to the school social centers.

To Make Bread With Alfalfa,

A St. Louis, Mo., chemist has written}
to one of the big seed firms in Rocky
Ford, Cal., asking for a few ;-bags of alfalfa
meal to experiment in makifg a new flour)
for the manufacture of bread. j

Samples of the bread made from this
mixture have been submitted to experts in
breadstuffs, according to the St. Louis man,
and the product is pronounced far superior
to; that from the lower grades of flour.
The nutritious qualities are far greater
than in many kinds of meal.

To Hold a “Clothes Fast,”

A suffrage “clothes fast’ was started
by the members of the Woman’s Political
Union, in New York, recently. This means
that not one of its members will buy new
clothes until the women’s question has been
put to the people of New York State in
1915. The union members long ago gave
up entertainments and amusements to de-
vote the money gained to the cause and
the clothes money will go for the same
purpose.

A few necessary exceptions will be made
in the “clothes fast.” It is thought ‘hosiery

i

    

   
   
   
  
  
    
   
  
  
  
  
  

 

to feed the elephants in the Bronx Park
/

 

with holes, the old-time mark of a bad

     
  

house mother, will prejudice the work, and
stockings, gloves, and a few pieces of plain
Bat every
woman must be sure that her hosiery is

underwear will be allowed. °

darned past use before she buys more.

This Woman a Typhoid Cartier.

Mrs. Ben Donhr, who carried typhoid
getms in her system for years, giving the
disease to more than fifty persons, some of
whom died,swas operated upon at a hos-
pital at Newton, Kan., to get rid of the
typhoid bacillus.
_ The operation is believed to have been
a success,’ It remained for Doctor O, J.
Furst,*now living in California, to reach
the correct conclusion of so many cases
of typhoid in the Peabody neighborhood.
He found that Mrs. Donhr was another
“Typhoid Mary,” a living hive of typhoid
germs.

New Yotk Architect Wins Big Prize.

The Lincoln Memorial Commission by a
close vote has decided to recommend to
Congress the design for a memorial to
Abraham Lincoln submitted by Henry Ba-
con, a New York architect.

Mr. Bacon’s design calls for a rectangu-
lar marble structure surrounded by doric
columns, each forty feet high, not unlike
the treasury building, at Washington, ex-
cept that there is to be only one story.
The statue of Lincoln will stand on a pe-
destal at one end. Congress has authorized
an appropriation of $2,000,000,

This Farmer Ropes and Leads Robber to
5 Police.

Leading ‘a man with a rope tied around
his neck, a Galacian farmer arrived in
North Winnipeg police station to deliver
his prisoner to the authorities. The man
was helpless, as his hands were tied behind
his, back.

he -farmer had led him like an animal
fourteen miles through mud and slush to
the city. The farmer stated that he had
surprised his captive at midnight robbing
his house.

Uhlan Trots Mile in 1:58.

A mile in 1:58, the fastest ever trotted,
was the remarkable performance of the
trotting gelding Uhlan in a dash against
time at the opening of the two weeks’
grand circuit meeting at Lexington, Ky.
This is even faster than any pacer has ever
stepped without a pacemaker in front.

Had a Money-making Machine.

When Edward Willman, of No. 172 Ferry
Street, Newark, N. J., made an engage-
ment. with John Surecicki, twenty-eight
years, of No. 229 East Twenty-fifth Street,
Manhattan, to inspect a wonderful coun-
terfeiting machine in a room in the Palace
Hotel, Market and Ferry Streets, he neg-
lected to tell Surecicki that he purposed
bringing along a few detectives to view the
exhibition. In consequence of that piece
of absent-mindedness on Willman’s part,
Surecicki is now a prisoner in Newark
police headquarters.

Surecicki visited Willman and described
a machine into which the operator fed
clean, white paper cut -the size of one-dol-
lar bills. ‘All the operator had to do was
to turn a crank and real money rolled out
of the machine almost too fast to be
counted.

NEW: TIP. TOP, WEEKLY.

fered to sell Willman for $800 cash a good-
sized block of stock.in the company con-
trolling the machine, why it was necessary
to sell stock for a device that printed per-
fectly good money in an unlimited quan-
tity.

That neglect aroused Willman’s
picion and he told the police, who arranged
to give Surecicki a little surprise. They
did. They say he admitted he had fed real
money to the machine when showing its
wonders to Willman.

“If it could: make money, as I said it
could, I wouldn’t be around looking for
fools,’ he added.

Shipbuilding Increasing in the United States.

American shipbuilding has made a sub-
stantial increase for the three months which
ended Septémber 30 last, compared with
the same period of last year, according to
figures made public by the bureau of navi-
gation, department of commerce and labor.
During the three months’ period there were
built in the United States 485 sailing, steam
and unrigged vessels, of 80,281 gross tons.
For the like period in 1911 462 vessels of
the same classes were built, with gross
tonnage of 76,048.
Steam vessels of ate construction

With 337 vessels of 13,275 gross tons. Un-
rigged vessels come second, 81 having been
constructed, with a gross tonnage of 12,931.
Sailing vessels to the number of 30, having
a gross tonnage of 7,555, were built.
For "the three months’ period ending Sep-
tember 30 last there were 32 steam vessels
of steel construction built, having a gross
tonhage of 44,312. During the same period
there were built 5 steam vessels of steel
construction, with 2,208 gross tons.

A New Revolver Record. ,

The Colorado revolver team, shooting
under the rules of the United States Re-
volver Association, made a new world’s
team record in rapid firing by the score of
773 out of a possible 1,000.

A.M. Pointdexter equaled the target re-
volver record with a score of 467.

Save Landlocked Fish.

Members of the Marathon County Fish
and Game Protective Association, of Wis-
consin, put in as much time as_ physical
endurance would permit in rescuing fish
that were landlocked as a result of a recent
flood,

How many fish were rescued will never
be even approximately known, for the
work was necessarily’ hurried. It is esti-
mated that at times as many as two thou-
sand small fry were taken at one haul,
principally crappies and bass. The crap;
pies ranged in length from one-half inch
to two inches,

The bass were mostly planted last spring,
and these had grown in length from one to
three and three and one-half inches,

Exhibit of Candy by the Ton.
Tons of costly candy were a small part
of the International Baking Confectionery
and Ice Cream Exhibit, held in Madison
Square Garden, New York, recently. To
demonstrate the process of manufacturing,
machinery equipment, and raw materials
were transferred from the factories of
manufacturers of bread, cakes, crackers,

sus~|in the last six years.

 

Garden, and there operated to satisfy the
public that the product now offered by re-
putable dealers is inevitably pure and clean.

The nation’s candy bill in 1911 was about
$35,000. The consumption of ice crean in
the United States has more than doubled
Dufing 1011 over
120,000,000 gallons were ‘eaten by Ameri-
cans, an average of five quarts per capita,
In the candy show ice cream was manu-
factured by electricity, demonstrating a
marvelous economy over the less advanced
method still generally in use in which every
one hundred gallons of cream requires a
ton_and a half of ice and 800 pounds of
salt, with a great waste of ice and a total
disappearance of salt. Electricity conserves
these materials by producing artificial re-
frigeration, besides moving the special ma-
chinery that creates ice cream by the lat-
est method.

A Victim of Cigarettes,

John Bermel, son of Joseph Bermel;
former borough president of Queens, was
discharged by Magistrate Dodd, in the
Gates Avénue court, Brooklyn, affer a
charge of attempted grand larceny was
withdrawn, It was discovered that at the
best the charge was one of petty larceny,

lead the list during the past three months, /and, as no damage had -been sustained by

Mr. Krause, the accuser, he asked to have
the case dismissed.

Upon the advice of the family physician,
his father sent the young man to a sani-
tarium in New Brunswick, N. J., for a
complete mental and physical rest, as his
recent experiences gave evidence of a men-
tal breakdown caused by excessive ciga-
rette smoking. :

Says Vacation Girls Did Not Play Fair,

The 5,500 working girls, who, under the
direction of the vacation savings fund com-
mittee, saved $24,000 toward their vaca-
tions last summer, and spent $17,000 for
their outings, met in Térrace Garden, New
York, recently. Mrs. Gertrude Robinson-
Smith presided, and Mrs. August Belmont
outlined to the girls plans for their amuse-
ment this winter.

Mrs. Robinson-Smith said the girls didn’t
play fair and lacked responsibility.

This was because the girls, when the va-
cations were planned, agreed to go to com-
fortable places that members of the com-
mittee looked up for them. The girls
changed their minds and wouldn’t go to
the places the committee picked out. One
boarding-house keeper had a vacant house
all summer because she saved rooms for
thirty girls and sent away other guests.

This Butterfly Worth $5,000,

From London comes word of the arrival
there of a jet-black butterfly, valued at
$5,000, with wings measuring eleven and a
half, inches from tip to tip, which was
found in New Guinea by A. L. Mock, an
explorer.

Several new. varieties of butterflies, by
far the largest in the world, were discov-
ered in New Guinea by Mock. “I had to
take up from the coast,” he says, “cases of
pearl shells, tomahawks, and beads of all
kinds before I could get the assistance of
the natives in capturing the butterflies. The
natives shoot them with four-pronged ar-
rows, which they use for killing birds.
“The female giant butterflies are black

 

chocolates, confectionery, ice crean, soda

 

Surecicki, failed to explain, when he of-

water, and other nonalcoholic drinks to the

  

or brown or white, but the mates are splen- .
didly marked in green or gold. I brought

 

 

    
   
        
 
 
             
     

   
    
  
  
 
   
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
    
 
  
 
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
    
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
 

Ds AND? 8 yest OO

nm

=>

an FA PR eS
   
   
    
    
  
   
  
  
  
 
  
     
   
   
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
     
   
  
    
    
    
  
   
  
  
   
    
 
   
   
    
   
    
       
     
    
     
    
    
   
   
    
  
   
   
    
  
        
  
   
     
   
  
    
   
  
   
     
     
     
    

are yee wee,

 

 

me a butterfly which has
acccunt of the intense
Mountains
native boy
New Guinea can-

back also with
a hairy body on
coldness of the Snow

“A couple of my
were killed and eaten by
nibals, who bindty sent me back the bones.”

The hairy .butterfly described by Mock
is almost furry, so thick is its covering, and
it has a wonderful appearance. The ex-
plorer, who kas been twenty-three year$ in
New Guinea, brings back with him also
specimens of the famous birds of paradise,

A Thousand Girls “Escape” at Fire Drill.

The marvelous “escape” of 1,000 girls
during a theoretical factory fire amazed
Mayor Gaynor, Fire Commissioner. John-

son, and 500 other city officials and busi-
ness men in New York recently,
The first fire prevention day was ob-

served in New York with fire drills in a
factory building and several public schools.
Through the courtesy of the management
of the National Cloak and Suit Company,
the “escape” was made possible from the
company’s building, at No. 207 West Twen-
ty-fourth Street, Manhattan,

Chief Kenlon was on the ground, and
under his direction an alarm. was sounded
from a box within the building, Simul-
taneously the private alarm system went
into effect automatically, and the girls be-
gan to file from the building, They came
from the ninth, tenth, and eleventh floors,
only stich departments as could be best
spared from the day’s work being used.
In all 1,000 girls trooped down the stair-
ways and fire escapes, and all were out in
the street in two minutes and forty-eight
seconds.

Balkan War Stops Polo Games.

British oe experts seheduled to play in
the southern California winter tournament
will not be able to come because of trouble
in the Balkans. According to a cablegram
received by Walter Dupee, of the Coro-
nado polo team, all the players are officers
in the British army. They announced that
they had received orders to report to their
regiments, The message was from Lord
Tweedmouth, and spoke also for Lord
Reginald Herbert, Lord Alstair Innes-Ker,
and Viscount Leveson-Gower.

Aviation Likely to Cut Figures in Balkan

Hostilities.
Airmen belonging to opposing armies
are likely soon to come into conflict fdr

the first time in actual war, for
salkan States, as well as. Turkey,
number of expert airmen, most of whom
have learned to fly in France. Turkey re-
cently acquired eight monoplanes in France,

all the
have a

two in England, and two in Germany, and
has. ordered others in both England and

Germany. Bulgaria owns one, monoplane
and three biplanes, and has just ordered
additional machines from Germany. The

Greek war department has six French bi- |

planes and one hydroplane.. The Servian
army doesnot own any machines, but sey-
eral of its officers are. flying,men.

The Original Mikado. Actor Now Living in

Want.

Richard Temple, the man who first played
the Mikado in the Gilbert and Sullivan
opera, and who. is now /living in poverty,
describes “himself as having “sung more
than-any actor and acted more than any
singer.” He talks of the operatic stars of

hunter S

NEW. TIP DOPPWEEKLY.

| thirty years ago,jand as*he talks«the thrill

fof splendid’ memories bring a flush to his
| pale. cheeks.”'"“"Dhey won't: let me work
just at present,” he said, with a quiét smile,

“and when I go out I take a bath chair.”
Although the old Savoyard has fallen
on eyil days there is nothing of the “fallen
star” in his SP ROA RENGS. Weak and ill he
undoubtedly is, but he has a grace of man-
ner and a ie charm that have survived
the lean years. A patient, persevering man
with a musical voice, a man in love with his
art, a man who philosophically makes the
most of present opportunities without re-
gretting past triumphs. Sir Herbert Tree,
Forbes Robertson, and Rutland Barrington,
the original Pooh Bah, are arranging’ a
presentation to relieve the wants of Temy le.

Druggists and Barbers Competitots in Paris,

The barbers and hairdressers of France
are incensed against the proprietors of drug
stores for encroaching upon their trade.
At their annual congress, in Paris, they
passed a stern resolution against the drug-
gists, who protested that the barbers them-
selves had crossed far into pharmaceutical
territory.

French barbers have for, a
made a practice of selling toilet goods in
addition to performing toilet ‘operations.
At first they confined themselves to stocks
of such articles as are directly connected
with matters recognized as barbers’ busi-
ness, such as shaving soap, shaving brushes,
strops, shaving. paper, hair ointments, and
so. on. But little by. little they have ex-
tended their line until it now covers not
only the head and face, but the hands, feet,

long time

and body as well.
Harvard Gains 77 More Students.
Official registration figures of Harvard

University show an attendance of 4,195 stu-

dents, an increase of 77 over last year. The
largest contribution to this increase. was
made by the academic department. Har-

vard College, which increased its numbers
from 2,253 to 2,300. The graduate school
of business shows a very vigorous growth,
having increased 42 per cent over its regis-
tration of last year. There are 105 stu-
dents registered in this department this
year; as against 74 last year. The dental
school has also enlarged its attendance from
156 to 190;. the’ medical school’s increase
was from 269 to 287... The law school, while
holding a steady number of entering men,

to 717. This year 280 men entered, which
is an increase from 278. The third-year
class, which had 210 in jt last year, has

fallen off to 166, and the second-year class
has decreased from a registration of. 209
to 178. These figures indicate an increasing
severity in standards in the law school,

Think Great Britain in Need of a Pure Food
wW.

An efficient pure food law is sadly needed

in Great Britain, according to the indita-
tions’ of the government chemist in his

annual report on the work of the labora-
tory.

Cider is a favorite beverage in England
for those, who prefer soft drinks, and it
is stated that the great majorit® of. so-
called “nonalcholi¢ ciders” are entirely free
from fermented apple juice and are simply
solutions of sugar which have been aerated,
flavored, and colored. ‘Beverages of. this
class are frequently prepared from liquids

 

‘also furnish’a recipe fo

has decreased its total attendance from 778

 

of essentes.supplied by manufactu

]

r. making

one bri and examin

 

them, .In

Wise}
pica vy a ( ontinentas hrm as

5 “concentfaree

apple juice,’ was found to .be a strong
solution of sugar flayored with fruit es-
sences, colored with aniline dye, and quite

guice. One of the samples
“Canadian produce” con-
the legal limit

ad
free from apple
of butter mat oo
tained 27.5 per cent of water,
being 16 per cent.

Samples of oysters sent from ‘1
of England on suspicion that they
caused copper poisoning showed that
the oysters contained both copper and
The report says that the presenge @
in oysters does not appear to Rave “heen
noticed previously, and in those exanimed
there was considerably more zinc thah cope
per. The heaviest oysters contained the
most copper and zinc, leading the Ghemist
to conclude that the foreign substance
had no deleterious effect on the growth ot
the oysters. o

The report also uncovers the fagiethar
dealers improve the weight of tea by places
ing sand in it and.it shows that many “ott Te

  

 

  

food products are hardly what therm eons, |

sumers expect them to be, i amare

Naval Vessels of France Changing Stations:
French; fleet 5

The redistribution of the i
through the sending of the N@rthe a if
squadron to the Mediterranean hagmett the:

defense of the channel coast ani
Biscay to the destroye

Cherbourg
for a fleet of twenty-four /of these swift
craft and a large number of subwaer seine
These destroyers, which O be known: ag$
the floti‘la squadron of the channel, willbe
charged to defend the coast. between Cher-
bourg and Havre and protect such ports O£'
commerce as Calais and Boulogne, Giah-
ville, St. Malo, but especially Havre and:
the mouth of the Seine. i

With the exception of two subside
to go to Toulon, all French ubmarineg
will remain at Chert yourg ‘to join with the,
destroyers in a defensive or offensive age
tion in case of war.

ers and submarings,

German Scientist Explains Seashore Sunbatns)

Everybody knows that the sunburn con+
tracted at the seashore is deeper in color
and more lasting than sunburn sustained in
the mountains. We usually attribute this«
fact to the “glare at .the ishoreé,.. OF
loosely say that “the sun is hotter at the
seashore than in the mountains.” It Te=ve
mained for Doctor H. Leo, of Bonn, Ger

many, to offer a. scientific explanation of
the fact.

We.know that any one who is de
of sunlight for. any. length of time. ioses
color in.a very short time.’ Witness the
color of arctic explorers andthe “prison
pallor,” too well known to require com-
ment. But at the seashore, it is not the
sun alone which dyes the skin a deep nut
brown. The salt water on the briny. deep
plays, an ‘aporrans part in thus pigment,
ing the ski When the sun shines upon
the water, een action takes place in-the
water, decomposing a small quantity. of
the water at the surface, and changing its
oxygen into,ozone. There is. nothing more
healthful for lungs) and blood and nervous
system than breathing ozone,

Ozone.is a peculiar modification of oxy-
gen, possessing certain attributes of oxygen
in a,greater degree than oxygen itself. ‘Its

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action upen the humari skin, together with
the usual massage of the skin compassed
by sunlight which rearranges the pigmen®
contained in every skin, produces a sort oi
oxidation, which is very much more dur-
able, being an actual chemical change, than
the light sunburn of the mountains, which
is due merely to the piggnent of the skin
being brought to the surface by the sun.
The wind at the seashore also aids in the
process of oxidation, by draining the skin
of its hydrogen, thus making it more sus-
ceptible for the action of the ozone.

The reason why ozone is so health-giving
iS because it is one of the most destructive
agents that science knows when applied to
Bacteria. It is the ozone which rises con-
tinually from the surface of the ocean that
makes a sea trip so healthful an excursion,
for once the ship gets out beyond a hun-
_ dred yards from shore, the air is entirely
. jtree from bacteria, excepting such, of
course, that live and thrive on board the

vessel,

Says American Supremacy is Due to Foreign

Blood,

W. Beach Thomas, an Oxford graduate
and former athlete, in reviewing the Olym-

“pic games, says: “One can understand
American supremacy. The winners are
mostly Englishmen, Scotchmen, or, above
all, Irishmen, at one remove from the old
country. One conspicuous victory was won
by an ex-Swede.

“A vast population, recruited by the best
red blood, as the Americans boast, from
virile Europe, a population specialistically
devoted to the narrowest form of athletics
and possessed almost of a mania for com-
petition, is likely to produce a fine team.
Tt did produce an incomparable team. The
inclusion of Indians, Hawaiians, and one
Anglo-Russian further added to the total
of marks.

“The, Swedes are a better standard of
comparison. Their athletes are a delight
to the eyes. They were none of them spe-
Ccialists, but were all gymnasts in a wide
sense, as well as athletes in a wide sense.
The nation has used the Olympic games as
a test of the physical training in which the
whole nation has been brought up. By a
quiet, methodical, and really national move-
ment they have vastly increased the na-
tion’s virility. The people at large can
drill, row, swim, run, throw, and play.

“The question for England is whether |&

we cannot direct our national talent for
athletics so that our teams may at least

€ some esprit du corps, in which the
defeated Olympic team was grievously
deficient, and so that athletic skill with
a chance of representing the nation may
become a really healthy ambition among
the rich and poor in town and _ village.
Such an ideal is realized already in Sweden,
Denmark, and Finland, and is being dis-
cussed in France and Germany.”

Killed as He Salutes the Flag.

Héw an American soldier of fortune
named Thompson met death in a spectacu-
lar manner while dehting with the federals
against rebels in the streets of Leon, Nica-
ragua, is told by officers of the naval col-
lier Justin, which has arrived at San Diego,
Cal., from Corinto.

Thompson was operating a rapid-fire gun
agminst a house in which were some rebel
riflemen. Behind him was the house of
an American planter. ’

_ The latter, as a measure of precaution,

 

NEW. TIP: TOP. WEEKLY.

hoisted an American flag, whereupon the
rebels who had been firing,at the planter’s
house suddenly stopped their fusillade.

Thompson, noticing the cessation, turned
around to ascertain the cause. Seeing the
American flag, he straightened up, turned
his back on the rebel riflemen, and saluted,
As he brought his hand to his forehead an
insurgent shot him dead.

Find a Use for Street Sweepings.

The United States department of agri-
culture has been conducting elaborate ex-
periments to ascertain the value of street
sweepings as a fertilizer. J. J. Skinner and
J. H. Beattie, of the bureau.of soils, tried
samples collected in various ways upon
wheat, corn, and radishes, and found that
hand sweepings were best, but not nearly
sQ good ‘as well-rotted stable manure; that
machine sweepings were about one-third as
good as hand, and that decomposed sweep-
ings were almost useless.

The reason for this was that the sweep-
ings contained much lubricating oil. The
experimenters made tests of sweepings
from which the oil had been extracted and
found that both hand and machine sweep-
ings produced as good results as_ stable
manure, ‘while the decomposed sweepings
were not far behind.

The department issues a bulletin warn-
ing farmers and gardeners that sweepings
from which the oil has not been extracted
will eventually impair the productiveness of
soil, unless through drainage the oily ma-
terial is drained off or changed.

Police Throw Guns in Lake,

A novel feast was provided for the fish
of Lake Michigan when Police Custodian
DeWitt C. Cregier, of Chicago, voyaged
four miles out into the lake in a launch
and dumped overboard a heavy cargo of
various sorts of weapons confiscated by the
police. during the year. The cargo con-
sisted of eight hundred revolvers, four
shotguns, twenty-three rifles, two hundred
knives and razors, one shrapnel shot, forty
pounds of dynamite, and over a bushel of
“blackjacks,” and other crude weapons
taken away from thugs.

Says Thirty Babies Die Every Minute.

Measures to diminish infant mortality
were discussed at the fifteenth annual con-
ress on health which was held at Wash-
ington, recently, and an effort will be made
to have America do its share in the world-
wide effort to lessen the number\of deaths
of babies. Conditions in the cities were
blamed for a great proportion of these
deaths, experts reporting that children are
being brought up in surroundings which
never give them a chance to get the right
start in life, even if they are able to sur-
vive the diseases and dangers that menace
them from the minute they are born. Mod-
ern mothers are careless with their chil-
dren, it was declared, and fail to feed
them properly. ;

Demonstrating by data that approxi-
mately 55,000,000 babies are born each year,
and that about 15,000,000 die before the first
year of life, Edward Bunnell Phelps, of
New York City, asserted the world’s in-
fant mortality probably reached the enor-
mous figure of 40,000 babies’ deaths each
day, year in and year out, which practically
means that in infant death occurs every
other second.

“There are the best reasons for believ-

/

 

 

 

ing that at least 50 per cent of the world’s
present infant mortality is’ preventable,”
said Mr. Phelps, “and the civilized coun-
tries are beginning to awake to that fact
and are taking proper action.”

Carries Sick Man 53 Miles on His Back.

For fifty-three miles afoot through the
northern woods, W. S. Cowing, a teacher,
carried on his back a companion, Charfes
Claxton, junior, who was helpless from an
attack of pneumonia. The men had been
on a canoe trip, intending to explore the
headwaters of the St. Johns River, in Can-
ada. The stream, they found, was too shal-
low for their canoe, and they started across
the country on foot. Then Claxton was
stricken with pneumonia. Near starvation,
they at last reached the little French vil-
lage of St. Pomphile, in Quebec, and
traveled thence by rail to Bangor, Maine,
where Claxton was put in a hospital.

General Grant’s Face is on New $10,000

Bills.

The first time you happen to get hold
of one of the new Series of $10,000 bills
issued by the United States you will no-
tice that it bears a portrait of General U.
S. Grant. The face of George Washington
appears on the new $1 bills, that of Thomas
Jefferson is on the $2 bills, and that of
Lincoln is on the $5 bills,

Cowboy Unhurt After Forty Foot Plunge.

In a race with another cowboy, Martin
F. Nichols attempted to ride over a rail-
road bridge at Los Angeles, Cal., with the
result that he was gitched off and fell forty
feet. The horse tumbled after him. Nich-
ols was not injured, but the animal was
hurt so seriously that it had to be shot,
Nichols was arrested.

Coon Steals Fire Chief’s Trousers.

There was a big commotion at engine
house No. 45, in Pittsburgh, Pa., recently,
and it was nearly an hour before Fire
Chief William Graham found his trousers,
which he missed when he attempted to
dress for the day. It developed that Jim,
the chief’s pet raccoon, had broken his
chain during the night and carried the
trousers to the pole down which the fire-
men slide when answering fire alarms,
dropping the garment through the trap-
door to the ground floor, where they at
length were found.

Makes the Calf Run Washing Machine.

Mrs. J. F. Kenoyer, of Albion, Wash.,
does not believe in letting anything go to
waste. Seeing the family calf gamboling
in a pasture near the house she decided
that the power thus going to waste should
be turned fo some practical use. Mrs,
Kenoyer’s washing machine, which now
whirls merrily in» the kitchen while she
reads by the front window, is the result of
her thought. The machine was formerly
operated by hand. Now the frisky calf
runs in a treadmill and grinds out the
weekly wash.

Found Live Frog in a Rock,

Workmen clearing and blasting rock’ on
thegl,. D. Loomis property, in Santa Mon-
ica Cafion, Cal., found a live frog imbedded
in solid limestone, fully three hundred feet
below the surface. It had been encased
in the rock probably several hundred years,
but as soon as it was put in the sun it
blinked, and leaped away.

 

 

 

 

 

ode Sages 55 Mid Sa hay 3 »
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———_————

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Pq f sores

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ALL, OF THE BACK NUMBERS OF

TIP TOP WEEKLY

THAT CAN NOW BE SUPPLIED

 

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82 8.
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