De} eS ix sxabipitsowassrtsnnteennutee tncsaieceenimoadrrapva thinnest otscsnetaenthent teins canta hiet eteiliatlctereiree nae NTiaNoraomte ett etnath tn hina snanaatipaanceaiamiantelmiae arena: NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH FNKTARWEL WS GRELING TET a yee ae met “PACTOLUS Wonn Romer Fi TEVER COULD PLA BALL They wERe AF RAD aot tHE GoLOEN EAGLE oe ANTS : a (: THEY DONT KNaw me Fret ets 2. SMITH “Nf PUBLISHERS o~ NEW YORK “YOUR TEAM IS AFRAID OF MY TEAM” SAID HOSKINS, SHAKING HIS. FIST IN DICK’S FACE. LP Wee An Ideal] Pubfication For The American Youth Issued Weekly. Entered as Second-class Matter at the New York Post Office according to an act of Congress, March 3,1879.. Published by STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Ave., New York. Copyright, 1913, by STREET & SMITH. O. G. Smith and G. C. Smith, Proprietors. TERMS TO NEW TiP TOP WEEKLY MAIL SUBSCRIBERS. (Postage Free.) Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each. How to Send Money—By post-office or express money order, registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent by currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. Be OMU nce dena eesisees Uhaswaawed OBE AIS FORE ote ges dn Meee ke $2.50 Receipts—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper change 4 MONTDS, 00005 e evans vacds cavesenes SHC. 2B COPIES ONE VERS. oc. cece cedcen cveces 4.00 of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly credited, SOCAL baad ead Saw ahs a 00-0 6 ove Shc Se, | COPY. TWO FORTE: a ch'\ ss wissen swan vase 4.00 and should let us know at once. . ’ No. 34. NEW YORK, March 22, 1913. Price Five Cents. ee CHAPTER I. MUTTERINGS OF TROUBLE. “What’s the matter, I wonder?” muttered Chip Mer- riwell; ‘“‘where the mischief is Salvadore?” Young Frank stood by the corner of the assayer’s office at the Pactolus Mine. His keen eyes were fixed on a line of wheelbarrow men who were pushing loads of “tailings” across the tops of the cyanide tanks. _ Plank gangways crossed the tanks. The men trundled their loads up an incline and onto the particular vat which was being filled. There the load was dumped, and the workers rolled their empty barrows down an- _ other incline and back to the tailings piles, where they _ were loaded again. It had been a week since Dick Merriwell had taken charge of the Pactolus workings, pending the arrival of ‘a new superintendent. Dick’s Texas chum, Brad Buck- hart, and Dick’s nephew, young Frank, and Frank’s two ~ bosom friends, Owen Clancy and Billy Ballard, were all \ helping the Yale man “shakedown” the Pactolus Mine and bring its operations to a more businesslike basis. -was law anywhere on the mining property. Young Frank was foreman on the cyatride work, assisting Alf Ralston, the assayer, who had charge of the cyaniding. Billy Ballard was timekeeper, and Owen Clancy checked the loads of ore as they were taken from the mine and carried to the mill platform. A new “pard” of Frank’s was the lad called “Rodeo,” or, more familiarly; “Rody.” Rody’s especial department was the freighting—drawing supplies from the city of Phoenix to the mine. « 2 ei ‘The two Merriwells and their friends were enjoying “hugely the novelty of their new work. There was a » Or, DICK MERRIWELL’S STRATEGY. Buckhart was a sort of general overseer, whose word Frank Merriwell, Junior’s, Grueling Test; / By BURT L. STANDISH. good deal of responsibility connected with their labors, however, and they took this seriously in spite of the pleasure afforded them by active operations at the Pac. tolus. Six Mexicans were crossing the tanks and dumping their loads. Frank knew them all, and he knew there should have been seven instead of six. The missing man was one Salvadore. Moving slowly around the tanks to the tailings piles, Frank met the wheelbarrow men as they came to begin the reloading. At a little distance he saw a wheelbarrow turned upside down and apparently abandoned. “Where is Salvadore, Tadeo?” Frank asked of one of the men. “No sabe,” was the answer. From the manner in which Tadeo spoke, Frank was pretty sure that he did sabe and that he was keeping his information to himself for some reason. “Has he quit the job?” Frank persisted. There was no response to this. All six of the men were shoveling tailings into their wheelbarrows. They kept their heads down and pretended not to hear the young foreman’s words. © . For two or three days.the Mexicans had seemed surly and discontented. Thete was absolutely no reason for such behavior on their part, so far as Frank could see. They were being paid good wages and were receiving more consideration under Dick Merriwell than they had been receiving under Barton Holbrook, the former su- perintendent. Without pausing to question the wheelbarrow men fur- ther, Frank whirled on his heel and ‘started off to look — up Salvadore. He found him suddenly, and ina place where he least expected to conte upon him. ater age ~ NEW TIP The missing laborer was sprawled comfortably in the shade between two rows of brown tanks, smoking a corn- husk cigarro! A little wreath of smoke from the cigarro, rising lazily aboye the tanks, was what had given l’rank his clew to the man’s whereabouts. “Hey, Salvadore!’ As F rank called, Salvadore hunched up his knees un- der his’chin and looked over them at the speaker. He was the biggest Mexican in the camp. By virtue of his size he was a bully ; and because he was a bully, rather ‘than because of any qualities of mind, he was regarded among his kind as a leader. While looking into the swarthy, rebellious face of the loafing workman, a cause for his dissatisfaction, and for the sullen attitude of the rest of the gang, darted through Frank’s mind, A Mexican named Pedro Salinas had been foreman of the laborers on the cyanide work. Without cause, Hol- brook had discharged Salinas and had replaced him with big Salvadore. Salvadore, it seemed, had been one of Holbrook’s favorites. Now Frank had been put in as foreman, and Salvadore had been dropped back to the ranks. It was possible that here lay the cause of the general discontent. “What are you doing here, Salvadore?” -. ‘sharply. oe A grunt was the only response. The Mexican puffed his cigarro and looked calmly upward into the white vapor that eddied over his head. “Have you quit the work?” demanded Frank. Salvadore shook his head. “Well,” went on Frank decisively, “you will quit in about a minute if you don’t get back on the job.” “You mean dat you fire me?” inquired Salvadore, show- ing a little interest. “T mean’ that you can’t loaf until after the whistle blows without doing it on your own time. Are a going back to your wheelbarrow?” \ “Me, I go back to de work when I get Fantly, ‘the insolent rejoinder. Frank took a notebook and pemetl from ‘his pocket. asked Frank book and offered it to Sdlvadore. “Take that to Billy Ballard?’ said the young foreman crisply, “and get your titne check.” Frank, , eae move he flung himself to one side; _vadore’s rush carried him on/into the rounded side of one of the big brown ‘vats. Still further enraged by his failure to Ay hands on Frank, he whirled, with a his shirt. When the hand reappeared it held a knife, Alt howe unarmed, the oung foreman stood his ‘ground, If he gave way an inch before the angry Mexi- ‘can, he realized that it would be known in a short time all over the camp and would have a demoralizing effect on the rest of the workmen. would have heen considered a weakness. 5 Pek down that Anife, Salvadore,” in called FP. os ‘, TOP WEEKLY. tering fiendishly, was’ ' Somebody : “Salvadore is mad because Uncle Dick dropped stim oo After scribbling a moment, he tore out a leaf of the _ that. The Mexican’ s apathetic manner vanished in a flash. Spitting like an angry cat, he gained his feet at a bound, _ dashed his cigarette in the sand, and rushed funiouely at ~. Frank was “astounded at the unexpected sedate but that did not prevent him from acting quickly. With a Sal- ” “Visitor in camp,” . A man witha sandy mustache, sponte, ‘forne Bs “fi f it ame ih ing along the trail screech of rage, and-plunged a hand into the breast of Hee crite Beton me valley. galloping Baie tt come ‘close, the visitor drew rein. _ swered,' ~The eae laborers had to be dealt with firmly, and to have yielc led to one of ther Ff rail “and Lis away from HAE Sa) Oe eum ey ahs. But Salvadore was too full of wrath to obey: any orders. Again:he rushed at Merry, his small'eyes glit- Again rank ducked to one side. ‘This time, however, he thrust out a foot and dexterously tripped’ the Mexi- can, pitching him head first into the sand. While Salvadore was spouting wild language ‘and scrambling to his feet, Buckhart appeared suddenly from between two of the tanks. In a flash he had seized Salvadore by the throat and beg yan shaking him roughly, “You garlic- “eating cimiroon,” he erowled, “what's bit- ing your I opine,” Buck hart went on, pinning him against one of the tanks and holding him there, “that you're in need of a good whaling. What’s he done, Chip?” : Frank explained. Buckhart, leaping backward, gave Salvadore a fling that sent him to his knees, “Tl ’low he’ll take that paper now, Chip,” said the Texan, “and go hunt up the timekeeper. Try him once,” Frank presented the paper, and Salvadore snatched it out of his fingers. - “Now, clear out!” ordered Buckhart. “If I see you on the work again, after you get your time, I'll boot you a dozen miles along the trail to Mexico. up a whole heap about this, Salvadore, and you can ‘gamble your earrings I'll do just what I say. Now, — hike!” The Mexican lingered to get back his knife. He had dropped it at the time Frank tripped him, Buckhart had picked up the knife, had sipiict the blade under an iron hoop of the nearest tank, and, as Salvadore lingered, he pulled at the handle and broke the blade short. off. Salvadore, muttering threats, turned and plunged away, Buckhart and Merry. moved out of sight. Thoughtfully, - of tanks to the-side.- of out from between the two rows the assayer’s quarters. . “Chip,” remarked Brad finally, on at this blessed mine, just now, that I can’t savvy a little bit. You might call it an undercurrent of mutiny. must be stirring the hands up, I reckon.” Brad,” from the berth of foreman, Frank suggested. . “Like enough that has something to do with the way | behaving, but the cause goes. deeper than ‘The soreheads are not all on the cyanide work— .they’re in the: mine, and the mill, just the same as here. ' We are sure going fo have a handful, picking up Hol- -brook’s loose methods and smoothing the kinks down. We're up against a hard propo- » Salvadore’s to a commercial ‘basis, ‘sition, Of course we’re'going to win out, but there be a few jolts before we make good with the: Pactolys, Hello!” exclaimed Buckhart, pene off his. temarks The trail passed ‘within a dozen feet of the assayer’s offic e, and when he’ had _ “Where will I find Dick Merriwell?”. he ddead* “At the headquarters adobe, friend,” Buckhart a “He was there a few minutes ago., Ther headquarters—~straight - ahead—that : little, two-by-t shack of the right.” ‘The man nodded: and galloped on, : “If I’m not widé of my trail,” remarked B Late Posh, the ae Spe ie old [’m.sure worked © “there’s a lot going M he tr of Gor tail but cor of gre wit ter 2 thre - wal rth Eag min Mae? Buc i ant ay kins hats ‘ ; ony thin; con NEW Mine. He appears to be troubled about something. But he’s bringing his worries to the wrong shop. Dick has troubles enough of his own, just about now.” idly to the headquarters adobe, dismounted, looped his reins about the hitching pole, and vanished through the open door of the little building. CHAPTER II. i LAFE HOSKINS AND HIS ERRAND. If the Yale man and former varsity pitcher had troubles of his own, as Buckhart averred, he was taking them coolly enough. .Getting a grasp on the complicated de- a tails of operations at the Pactolus Mine was not easy, | but Dick Merriwell, aided by those in whom he had every | confidence, was sticceeding slowly and steadily. The lack of codperation among most of the workmen was his greatest stumblingblock. This had become apparent only within the last two-or three days, and was rather puzzling. While Dick was sitting in the office, thinking the mat- ter over, the man with the sandy niustache stepped ) through the door. Dick got up from his chair and | waited for him to state his name and his business. | ““VYou are Dick Merriwell?’ inquired the caller. ERS. “Well, from the Golden Eagle. The Eagle is ten miles away, but it’s the nearest ‘ mine of any size to the Pactolus.” q “T’ve heard of you, Hoskins,” said: Dick Kpactiiys “and Buckhart and I have even had a glimpse of you at a distance. I wasn’t quite sure of your identity, though, until you gave your name. What can I do for you?” _» They shook hands and were soon seated vis-a-vis. Hos- ‘kins pulled out a handful of cigars and presented them for Dick to make a selection. “Thanks,” said Dick, with a smile, thing I have no use for.” “No? Then you ought to have a medal if you've got _ along so far in life without falling for the nicotine. No somectons to my firing up? “Certainly not. If you get any comfort out of the _ brown weed, burn it up.’ _ But Hoskins did not look comfortable, even with his cigar going. brown, weather-worn face was troubled. “As I understand it, Merriwell,” said he, after a’ little, “you were sent out here by a number of Yale men who own the Pactolus Mine? You and your friend, Buck- hart, are Yale men yourselves, and you and your brother, Ms Frank Merriwell, are Repucany interested Rote Dick nodded. “Matters at the Pactolus had not been eae to suit the owners,” went on Hoskins. ‘Holbrook, the old su- } , perintendent, was robbing the owners blind, and covering his tracks so well that nobody could get a line on the thieving. Personally, I never had any use for Holbrook. He could recite poetry by the yard, and was a perfect —not my style of a hassayamper, at all. I wasn’t sed when you came on here and showed him up. lidn’t take you long, I must say, to discover where the lost bullion was going. That nephew of yours— Chip, I believe you call him—did a grand piece of work. And he’s just a boy—it hardly seems possible.” A smile of pride crossed Dick’s face. | C ng F rank is a Bis off the old block, Hoskins,” I’m Hoskins, Lafe Hoskins, “Dut that is some- ee eS Pee y EP: CGE. A ty 3 Brad and Frank watched while the visitor rode rap- - His brow was furrowed with care, and his VS played out. Golden Eagle was cones in Holbrook’s work, ar said he. “He generally knows what to do in a pinch, and has the pluck to do it.” “As I was saying,” proceeded Hoskins, “I wasn’t sur- prised at the way Holbrook turned out, but I was con- foundedly surprised at your letting him and his two com- panions get away from you. Why didn’t you turn the lot of ’em over to the sheriff? The skunks should have been sent over the road. It’s. a bad thing, particularly in a country like this, to let a bunch of tinhorns make a play like that and then go scot free.” Dick’s eyes narrowed a little. “T had my reasons, Hoskins, for being lenient with. Holbrook. You would probably not understand those reasons, so I’ll not go into them. . But I think they were good and sufficient.” “Well,” grumbled the other, “because you spared Hol- brook was no reason you ought to have let Sim Andrus and Robinson dig out. And Andrus was the one who left your nephew and his friends in the desert during the sandstorm. The two-faced juniper ought to have been brought to book for that.” ‘Holbrook was the most guilty of the three,” answered Dick, “and all his crooked work would have come out if Andrus and Robinson had been dealt with according to law. That was the thing I wanted to avoid.” Hoskins shrugged his shoulders. “Well,” said he, “all three of them are at large. What’s more, I think one of them is making trouble in this min- ing district:” : «How ?” “By stirring up the Mexicans.” Dick was frankly skeptical. “What would any one of those three men have to gain,” he queried, “‘by stirring up the Mexicans?” Hoskins’ cigar had gone out. He lighted it-again, and, for a moment, puffed furiously and surrounded himself with a fog of smoke. “T don't believe you’ve got next to all Holbrook was trying to do here, Merriwell,” said he presently. “He ie robbed the mine of bullion, and that, of course, was for his own direct benefit. Indirectly, though, he wanted to make it look to the Yale fellows who own the property as though the mine was a losing proposition: He tried his best to make those Eastern owners think the Pactolus If he could do that, you see, he thought the mine could be bought for a song—and Holbrook was - getting ready to do the singing part.” “T had thought of that,” Dick returned, with a laugh. “Holbrook stole bullion in wholesale quantities to make the mine appear like a losing proposition; then, if the owners had been foolish enough to sell for a fraction of its worth, Holbrook could have bought the mine and could have half paid for it with his stealings.” “Smooth game, eh? Well, I’m glad you’re wise to Holbrook’s intentions. It will help you to understand the line of action he put up when he was in charge. here. Stealing bullion to make the mine look like a has-been was only one of his methods for freezing out the owners. He did everything he could, Merriwell, to create dissatisfaction among the hands.” | me “You seem to have been pretty well informéd of the situation here, Hoskins,”’ commented Dick. i “Tr’€ all clear to me now,” answered the other, “al- though it wasn’t so blamed clear before you arrived and, at one swipe, stripped the mask from Holbrook. The 4 ” 4 NEW . TIP and that, of course, hit me pretty close to where | live. If you know anything about greasers at all, you must know they’re gamblers and sports. Their temperament is what you call mercurial. These sons of Mexico are always teetering on the border line of a fight or a frolic, It doesn’t take mtich to make them fall either way. They can go for a time pretty comfortably, but they’re swelling up ail the while, and when they're so full of cussec dness they can’t hold any more, they explode. Now, a wise statesman like Porfirio Diaz would hand his subjects a bullfight, ag frequent intervals, and between times he'd let them have all the cockfights they wanted. In that manner, you see, the bottled-up contankerousness would pass away harmlessly. It takes skill to handle a Mexi- can,’ Merriwell, and get along with him peaceably.’ Dick was vastly amused by this talk of Hoskins. He realized, too, that the super putting a finger on the right button so far as national characteristics were concerned. Dick himself was pretty well informed as to the “mercurial” nature of the Spanish peoples. “Go on, Hoskins,” said he. “Two-thirds of the employees here and at our mine,’ Hoskins proceedéd, ‘come from below the Rio Grande. Holbrook was well informed of the traits of the workers. He played upon those traits, Merriwell, in order to make your Yale friends sick of the Pactolus proposition and induce them to sell. One of his moves was to cut ouf the cockfighting here. That hit the greasers hard. There used to be a baseball nine made up of the younger workers We- among the Mexicans. Holbrook disbanded the team. still have a nine at the Golden Eagle, but we haven't any one to contest supremacy with us on the diamond. ae Pactolus Wonders were our only: rivals, and now hat they have been blotted out, we have to play pick-up fits from our Own workings, and it is tame, “aiohty tame. The Golden Eagle Giants have lost interest in the game.” “That is the first I have heard about this baseball business ne the cockfights,” said Dick, greatly inter- ested. “I don’t believe in cockfights or bullfights, but | do believe in our great national sport.” “Same here,” with pent-up enthusiasm. ‘We used to have some great games between the Giants and the Wonders. A greaser - loves a uniform, even if it’s only a baseball uniform. - The amount of partizanship those matches used to draw ‘out was something remarkable.’ But,’ and here a shadow flitted across Hoskins’ face and he tossed his hands de-- jectedly, “Holbrook knocked all that in the head. He - made all the industrious and contented workmen lazy > and unreliable. But he has done more: He has made of them a lot of powder mines, ready to blow up at the ‘touch of a lighted match. Merriwell, I believe one of the three scoundrels whom you spared so injudiciously is trying to drop a spark into thi: Mexican magazine, | _ If this happens, then the Pactolus will suffer; and so, in — a lesser degree, will the Golden Eagle.” Dick was thoughtful for a space. “How do you think the zane Mine will suffer ne ry asked, at last. * “Why, your. -greasers will explode, with a report that There will will be heard all over this mining Gant be a Tiot, a ae a ed general destruction.” returned ig cere i ‘3 from the Golden Eagle was_ -lutely. and Hoskins’ straw-colored eyes glowed TOP: WEEKLY. “that our Mexican laborers will destroy the plant and throw themselves out of employment.” “No Mexican ever thinks of bread and butter when he is carried away by passion. He is an unteasoning animal. Evil things will happen.” “Have you any remedy to propose ?”’ “No, except to watch for the first outcropping of law- lessness and deal with it firmly. I have merely come here to warn you. Be on your guard. If the ugly head of riot and disorder lifts itself, put it out of commis- sion with an iron hand. If you don’t, my word for it, the Pactolus will be laid in ruins. must not lose sight of.” Well 2" “Holbrook and those with him will be anxious to make you trouble. How can they do that more completely than by working e the evil side of your Mexicans? The greasers are ripe for revolt. Holbrook can play even — with you by bringing that revolt to pass. Be watchful, Report to me whatever comes up here, and I will keep. you informed of what goes on at the Golden Eagle. By working together in that way we can be mutually help- ful. We must stand together, Merriwell!” ; Hoskins, deeply troubled, got to his feet, shook hinds with Dick, and left the office. Dick, standing in the door, visiting super had inspired a line of thought which was disagreeable, to say the least. Quietly Dick returned to Here’s something else you his chair and began canvassing the situation: from all its ig angles. i ‘ : ; CHAPTER III. TIE REPORT OF PEDRO SALINAS, There were some thirty Mexicans employed at the Pac-— tolus Mine. - To be arrayed against these, in case trouble — should come, were a dozen Americans, including Diek and his friends. Breen Every one of the Americans could be depended on abso-_ Their resourcefulness and determination- could probably turn any tide of disorder. And yet there were tragic possibilities connected with an open revolt, which: catised the perplexed lines to Se in the Yale man’ ie, face. The Pactolus and the Gol ie Eagle were the tio dargest mines in that district. In fact, they were about the only producing properties that were worth consider- ing. The mining ei aries was at such a distance from Phoenix as to make official help from the city ‘s what, ‘problematical. If need arose, and the law asked to step in, the Pactolus workings could be waste before legal re presentatives reached the scene. Dick did not want to ask aid of the sheriff. That we u merely complicate a situation which ee, was. dt perately mixed.: : Holbrook had made a mess of things at the mine. a had done this, too, for his own selfish purposes. But it was Dick’s part to smooth out the tangles, and to do it: thoroughly and—peaceably. . és The temporary superintendent at the Pactolus: with his own eyes how badly matters were goin “kins, very likely, had overstated thé case and ma the, evil prospeete but for all that there was mu h and wisdom in his analysis of the causes. “There must be a way to pull this mine out threatened troubles,” said Dick to oe aself, ‘ silently watched him mount and ride away. The * | len ing w- me acd 1S- the ‘ou ike ely sf ws ren. ae ul, ae ep. # By Ip- ids the he’ yas pits to. & its “accepting the mission, getting enough. pay ? on one side, and spread out his hands. - Zey make eet becos—becos—zey make eet. _ not like you, sefior. brook back. mia! Zey all got bad heart, but zey not know why. » Zey will make planty. trouble, and Mexicanos will come from Golden E: vagle to help. The gringos chingados are NEW: TIP it without a fi with the Mexicans, If 1 can hit the right idea Fle ceased his reflections suddenly. -A form had glided in at the open door, Dick straightened in his chair. on ght “Ah,. Pedro!” he exclaimed. ‘Il have been wondering about you. Anything to report? Pedro Salinas was the Mexican whoni Holbrook had Dick had used found that he Salvadore. and had discharged to make way for him in a confidential capacity, was reliable in every way. During the last two days the superintendent pro tem. had intrusted Salinas with a delicate bit of work. The Mexican had been asked to mingle with his country- men, and, if possible, discover what the sullen demeanor of the workers could mean. Now, for the first time since Salinas had come to the head- quarters adobe. ce “Me, sefior,’ answered Salinas, “I haf ze report to make.” “Is it good or bad?” “Eet ees muy malo, ver’ bad, senor.” “Yes? Did any one see you come into this. office, Pedro?” “No; senor. Dat ees. wat I watch out fot’) “A cun- crossed the Mexican’s face. ‘I been ning expression Mayhe I was killed if ze Mexicanos careful as ze coyote. know w’at I do.” “That’s right,” approved Dick, ‘ ful. I don’t want you to chances. Close the door, Pedro, and sit down here. hear the report at once.’ After complying with orders and hitching a chair close to Dick’s, Salinas began retailing his, discoveries. “All Mexicanos at ze mine got bad heart, sefior. Zey planty mad. Bajo Sol, in ze engine room of ze mill; Nito Fernandez, on ze day shift in ze mine; Guillalme Salvadore, at ze tanks; and Antonio Sanches, in ze black- smith shop, zey all leaders in ze bad work. One, Ortiz, from ze Golden Eagle, he come and have palaver with Mexicanos here. Zey have set ze time to strike, and strike hard, sefior.” . What grievance have the men, Pedro? ‘you can’t be too care- take too many desperate Vi “Tey get “planty pay. Zey not find fault with ze 2 aaa ; cre wee the hours too long?” “ “No, senor.” Q “Aren't they treated well?” “Si, zey are treated well.’ “Then why do they want to go on the rdmpage and pen make trouble?” Salinas hitched up his shoulders, pied his head “Ze trouble ees in ze blood. Some say zey Some say zey want Sefior ‘Hol- Madre “Quién | sabe?” he asked. _ Some say one zing, some anodder. ‘© be driven out.” Salinas shook his head forebodingly. ‘Me, I find zis out,” he finished, “and I tell w’at I find,” Texicans on?” € eyes of. Pedro Salinas began to glitter. salvadore, he Is ene of nee Loar be answered x bue Aren’t they She: any one—a white man, for inet eer relay the TOP ~ tolus Mine, mine as there was for causing destruction at the Pactolus. eyes to the swarthy, excited face before him, “suppose ae I sent to Phoenix for the sheriff and a posse ‘of. officers to protect the mime next Saturday?” es o. out He ita 2 simple and an eee: nee WEEKLY. “he ees Holbrook’s friend.’ He speak miuicho to make Mexicanos mad. All other leaders do ze same.” “You say they have set an hour to’strike?” Si, senor.” : “And when is that?” “Saturday, sefior.” “Were you able to learn what form the revolt is going to take?” “Zey haveegot all guns in ze camp. Ortiz comes from Golden Eagle with more Mexicanos and more guns. Zey make prisoners of Americanos in zis adobe, zen zey burn ze mill, ze shaft houses, ze bunk house, and zey explode dynamite in ze workings.” As Dick listened to this program of deviltry, all to be carried out unreasoningly and without any apparent cause, his eyes flashed and his face séttled into stern lines. “And after this precious scheme is executed, Pedro,” he asked, “what then?” “Zen ze Mexicanos go to ze Golden Eagle,” replicd _— Salinas, “and make ze same trouble zere.” 9 | “Why is the Golden Eagle to be included in their ~~ plans?” Again that expressive hands. “ shrug and outspreading of the There was as little reason for sacking the other The bottled-up spirits of the Mexicans had to explode. . This was to be the only excuse for the riot and ruin. Hoskins was right. Holbrook, or one of his confed- erates, was playing upon the Mexicans’ powers for evil. The workers were being urged on to commit this out- rage, in retaliation for what “Dick and young Frank had done to save the Pactolus Mine from the schemes of the former superintendent. It was infamous, dastardly work. That an American could think of so warping the passions of a lot of-ignorant Mexicans seemed incredible. And yet here was the | proof. Dick leaned back in his chair. He had every confi- dence in Salinas. The man certainly was risking his life to obtain his information, and he certainly would not magnify the dangers. This one thing was sure: The Pactolus Mine was iin ; the greatest peril. “Suppose, Pedro,” - went on Dick, suddenly lowering his. “Zat would not do,” &inswered Salinas. “In Phoenix ; zere are Mexicanos who watch. Zey would send reports — like ze wind to ze Mexicanos here zat ze rurales—ze law — officers—ees on ze way. Before zey come, ze Mexicanos s begin to burn and not wait for Saturday night.” it “Saturday night is the hour, eh?” =~ “St, sefior, Night, w’en only ze night shifts are at work and ze rest of ze oe ees asleep.” . : “Well,” continued Dick, “what if I made prisoners O Salvadore, Bajo Sol, F ernandez, and Sanchez?” ts “Zen oders do ze work. Zat no stop: ze ae Dick uttered a dry laugh. A ‘phe “It looks as though we Americanos, here at the Pa were between the Old Boy: and the dee waters, eh?” he remar ked. “If we try to execute move for our protection, we merely bring the bt and the destroying to.a head. Well, there mu pe 8 NEW TIP. TOP WEEKLY. of what goes on, Pedro, but don’t come here to report unless you have something very important to tell me. Be careful, and don’t ‘take any useless risks. When the clouds are dispelfed, and the Pactolus runs into a spell of fair weather, I intend to see that you’re well taken care of. Sabe?” “Ze sefior ees kind to Pedro Salinas,’ murmured the Mexican gratefully. “Me, I die for Sefor Dick.” Dick got up and laughed and clapped Salinas on the shoulder in a friendly pags “T don’t want you to do that, Pedro,” said he. “There’s a good job waiting for you when this trouble is over with. Go back to the Mexican quarter, now. Perhaps you had’ better get through the window and crawl off toward the blacksmith shop through the greasewood. That will prevefit any Mexican eyes from seeing you.” “Bueno! Salinas slipped across the room to an open window, and, without further words, crawled through and dropped into the friendly cover of the bushes. Dick drew a long breath as he once more pulled the _™® office door ajar so that the breeze might sweep through the place and temper the heat. In one corner of the room hung an olla, or water jar. He took a long drink from the jar’s contents and then paced up and down, in a brown study. His Yale friends had asked him to safeguard their interests in the Pactolus Mine. He had come there to learn just what kad suddenly turned the property from a small bonanza into a money-losing proposition. With the aid of young Frank, remarkable success had so. far attended his efforts. From the very start, the venture had appealed power- fully to Dick Merriwell. He was tackling something in _ which the odds were all against him., The first stage— Bk, solving the mystery of the missing bullion and recovering / . it-—had been. passed; ahd now the second stage, which presented infinitely more difficulties than the first, was upon him. His daring, resourceful nature leaped to meet the difficulties. And suddenly an idea took form in his mind. “ “Jove!” he exclaimed, aloud, halting abruptly as he moved across the office, “I’ve ‘bagged the happy idea, at last! Sport, the right kind of sport, is what we need >. here. ~ It will turn the energy of these Mexicans into other—— eo le broke off his words suddenly. AE big, square- shouldered, scowling-faced Mexican was standing in the os cont The man held out a slip of pa “Geeve me my dinero!” he @ercauitted huskily. faimbat I been fired from de work.” It was big Salvadore with his time check. ¥ =~ SC fv CHAPTER IV. J PRE STRATAGEM, Bi ailote’s voice was not pleasant. There was a bad fight 3 in his eyes and his manner was truculent. He had lost a perfectly good knife; he had® been tripped to a twisted by the neck by Sefior “Bradbuck,” the Texan. He was’ yearning to manhandle some one and so play even, “Been given your time, have you?” bea Dick coisty, membering that here was one of the leaders in the senseless trouble-making at the Pactolus. hard fall by a mere slip of a gringo, and he had been Dinero! a aaa peer and Roe the bit of on the work?” | ot aie ato crumpled paper on the floor at the feet of the super pro tem. Salvadore had a great contempt for the quiet, dark- eyed boss who had taken Holbrook’s place. The Mexi- can felt that he must vent his spleen on some one, and he made the mistake of selecting the super for a victim. “Pick it up,” said Dick softly. “Sangre de diablo! Pick heem yourself up. Geeve de dinero, queek! I been discharge’, I been rm Before the Mexican fairly realized what was happen- ing, he had been seized and thrown to the floor. Sway- ing on his knees, he stared in amaze at the lithe figure towering above him. “You are forgetting your manners, Salvadore,” came the calm, unruffled voice of the superintendent pro tem. “Pick up the time check and hand it to me pleasantly.” ‘A venomous hiss came from between Salvadore’s white teeth. He made no move to obey. Dick turned quickly to the wall. A quirt swung there, dangling from a nail by a rawhide loop. In a twinkling he had the quirt in hand and had whirled again on the raging Salvadore. Hetry,” said he. you, Salvadore.” What was tltere in the depths of the Yale man’s eyes that cowed the fierce spirit of the Mexican? Sal- vadore himself did not know, but under the stutper’s ‘look his fury was flung back upon itself, muzzled and for the moment harmless. He picked up the time check and rose slowly to his feet. “That’s better,” said Dick, taking the time check Sal- vadore had got from Ballard and glancing at the figures it held./ Unlocking a draw er, he took out the cash necessary to “T can’t waste very much time on- cancel the mine’s present indebtedness to Salvadore. ‘“‘Here’s what we owe you now,” said Dick, counting the money into the. brown palm. “If you run up any more debts against us, Salvadore, you may deperd on getting all that’s coming.’ Perhaps the significance of those last words were lost on Salvadore, and perhaps not. Jt was difficult to read anything but sullen anger in his face. The big brown paw closed over the money, and the discharged Mexican turned away. ‘ “You've forgotten something, es. Dick. The fellow turned, with mocking devils in his eyes. H e made an awkward bow. . “Mil gracias, sefior!” His thanks were tinctured with venom,’ of deadly things yet to come. Straightening himself, he shambled through the door. As his form vanished going, it gave place to another coming. Brad Buckhart tramped in with a laugh. “That sure was a treat, pard!” he exclaimed, dropping | ‘i into a chair. around this afternoon.” “Why was he discharged, Brad?” asked Dick. Hak “Loafing on the job. Chip did the firing. Salvadore tried to rush him with a knife, but Chip ducked aside and put out a foot. The big fellow went down. When he jumped up; I happened to ne near enough to take at a by the throat.” \ , “Have you any idea, Brad, why Salvadore was 5 Toaling ee sae | and hinted “Big - ‘Salvadore has been getting it all he NEW ‘TIP “Chip thinks he’s sore because he lost his job as fore- man.” “That happened several days ago. dustrious enough since then.” “Sure. These symptoms of revolt have struck in sud- den all over the place. Every greaser on the job seems be going around with a chip on- each’ shoulder. It is so general and so spontaneous that it listens like a frame-up, pard. I opine Salvadore has a pretty. bright idea, by now, that we’re not hungry to keep him if he’s set on going. What do you make of these rumblings of discontent, Dick? “T have been guessing a good deal about them, Hoskins was here, a little while ago.” “T saw him coming.” ; “Te had something to say;” and Dick gave his chum the substance of the other super’s remarks. “There’s a whole heap of sense in what he says,” de- = clared Brad. “A greaser has got to work off his extra + steam in a harmless way, or else blow up and do damage. a Like enough, Holbrook, or Sim Andrus, or Robinson is doing a little underhand work and hagging the oilers on, But. Hoskins is taking the matter too seriously, Dick.” aj “That’s what [ thought,”’ ig brought in a report.” 3uckhart. straightened in his chair with. sudden in- terest, SAE had. a notion that he might not live to bring in’ a vi report,” said he. “What was “the gist of it?’ mS Dick told him. Brad laughed, not because he was par- ticularly happy, but rather to ease his pefit-up feelings, “Things d these diggings, pard,”’ he observed. “They're planning to - burn and destroy next Saturday night, eh? Well, that’s a week from to-day. Forewarned is forearmed. ‘ Made any plans?” “J had thought of calling on the sheriff’ for. protec- tion, but Pedro says that Mexicans in Phoenix will be eWagine for that move and will get word out here be- - fore the posse could arrive. And the moment the word - comes, the Mexicans will ae not wait for next - Satu rday night,” “T don’t exactly cotton to ‘that sheriff fase el,” if 4 > said Brad, “not to any great extent. I sort of feel "pride in running this mine without .any outside help. - After what we went through in Panama and. several other places, don’t you think we’re plumb equal to the job?” _ Dick smiled. | “Of course I do, you old Texas steer |” he returned. “But. we'll have to use strategy.” “Now you're shouting. I'm a right good strategist ~ after some one shows me the trail ‘and gets me started: What have you—well, here’s Chip.” rc Frank stepped in at that moment. His face wore an expression of deepest concern. ; » “What's on your mind, son?” inquired Brad. “More trouble,” Frank; answered, calls himself Bajo Sol is fireman in the engitie room at mill. Abe Nugent, the engineer was giving Ballard ime of the mill nien and was docking Sol an hour ing late with the noon firing. to ea van over: with: a ane of wood. Fink He has been. in- ¥, eat Jae i Brad. Dick answered, TOP WEI “until Salinas o seem to be getting a bit precarious around ~ asked. ‘hot. game from the Giants, and everybody will be so_ were planning to turn loose.” “A Mexican who. Sol objected and here in time for the game. | 1 shine he’ ll OK. it, all. ec fats Zanini ie 7KLY. oo. the redhot boiler with the side of his face. Sol wasn't very badly burned, but he skipped right out.’ “There goes-another of the leaders! muttered Brad. “Things seem to be coming to a head pretty fast, Dick.” “It looks to me,” remarked Dick, “as though some of the leaders of this gang of trouble makers are trying:to’ get a vacation so they can have everything ready for next Saturday. Glad you came, Chip,” he went 6n to rank. “Some important matters have just come up, and we've got to begin getting a few anchors'to windward.” Briefly "Dick w ent over his talk with Hoskins and Pedro Salinas for Frank’s benefit.. The youngster listened with wide eyes. “What the mischief do the Mexicans expect to do for a living if they put the mine out of business?” he de- manded, :; ne “They can’t think that far ahead,” said Buckhart wit your average greaser has a good meal, he never bothers himself very “much about where the next is coming from.” “We don’t want to blame the run of our Mexicans too much,” went on Dick, “Holbrook has got them into this state of mind, and it may be that he, or some one of his confederates, is taking advantage of it. Remem- ber what Hoskins said about the ball team? The younger Mexicans, here at the Pactolus, had a nine, and regular match games were played with a team over at the Golden ¥ agle, Holbrook disbanded the nine.’ “That’s no reason the greasers aah to burn the mine pinldings or blow up the workings.” “Of course not: Those ball. games, though, ale a pretty good medium for the Mexicans in blowing off their extra steam. I think a little good, healthful sport is what the Pactolus sceavle) I believe that will smooth out the troublés, and doit pleasantly and - peacefully... My idea'is to put up.a ball. game against this plot to burn and destroy. That is the stratagem I had reference to, Brad.” ‘Buckhart. stared at his chum, “You think you. can clip the spurs of these trouble ee makers by ringing in the national game on them?*he “If we can stir up enthusiasm enough, and pull off ae good game against the Golden Eagle Giants, I believé all this lawlessness will die out, We can have our game _ next Saturday afternoon,. We'll give all the hands a half holiday. If we do this, 1. don’t think there will be — any. trouble next Saturday night ae Brad, Vim willing to chance it.’ es “Pard,” said’ Brad, “I, opine you've ‘come close to. making a bull’s-eye. Let’s get the camp filled with en-_ thusiasm for. the Pactolus Wonders; let’s make a fan out of every greaser on the job; and then let’s take a. ‘plum. overjoyed they'll forget all about: the trouble. they | “There’s.a lot of work to be’ done; nal Dicky | Yaad we have only a week to get the nine together and" prac- tice. To-morrow is Sunday, Brad, and 1 want yeu to ride to Phoenix and order an outfit of Geltetien’. Yot can telegraph the order to Los Angeles or San Frane Make it a rush order, and the uniforms he te © To-morrow, too, T’ll go to the Golden Fagle and. put the scheme- up to I: c+ 8 . NEW «TIP. TOP “WEEKLY. “Where do I come in, Uncle Dick?” asked Frank hun- grily. “You'll get the nine together, Chip,” smiling. “Ballard and Clancy can help.” “I suppose our battery will be you and Brad?’ “Brad and I will have our hands too full of other busi- ness. You'll be in the pitcher’s box for the Wonders, Chip, and you’ll have to hunt around for a good back- stop.” Frank’s eyes were glistening happily. “T’ll get the nine together, all right,” said he; “and, while I don’t know a thing about the Giants, I can tell you right now that,they’ll have to go some if they wi alk off with that game next Saturday !” Dick answered, , i t CHAPTER: \V. STRIKING A SNAG, Frank had all the faith in the world in his Uncle Dick. Dick’s stratagem of meeting turbulence and -lawlessness with sport that was at once exciting and orderly had captured the youngster’s fancy at once. There were as many thrills in a snappy, closely con- tested game of ball as there could possibly be in a riot that would result in the destruction of the mining com _ pany’s property. Once let the enthusiasm of the Mexi- cans become aroused over a contest with the Golden Eagle Giants, and all their fiery zeal would trickle out harmlessly over the baseball diamond. Of course there were risks to be taken. If the Mexi- cans discovered that baseball was being used merely as a weapon to protect the mine, the stratagem would fail. And unless enthusiasm could be aroused for the nine, then the nine could not be a success. Dick was not identifying himself, with the team, as he feared that, by doing so, he might give ground for the suspicion that the nine was merely.a makeshift for fight- ing the discontent among the workers. For the same rea- son, Buckhart was not to. be actively concerned. Both Dick and Brad could be called on for advice, but the real work of choosing the players and whipping them into shape could be left to Frank without the least- danger _of breeding suspicion among the Mexicans. Frank lost no time in putting the matter up to Bal- were carried away with the idea. Both Pink and Clan - were around the work so much that they had not failed to hear the mutterings of trouble, and they knew how general was the discontent. But this baseball program, they felt sure, would smooth out all the trials and tribu- - lations that were afflicting tle Pactolus Mine. / After they had had supper, that Saturday night, the » three lads went down to the assayer’s quarters to see - Ralston. Alf Ralston was another Yale man. ‘He had come. to mines. Ralston’s father was wealthy, but Alf had his own ideas about what life expected of him, and he chose to work rather than to loaf and sponge a living off the “governor.” the Pactolus that had brought Dick to the mine. on had been filling the berth of assayer for two of three nonths previous to the arrival of Dick and his friends, ‘ba — ee Holbrook ee EP STCE: ~The Mexican youngsters were crazy about the game, and . Holbrobk was a wet blanket for fair. latd and Clancy. As might have been expected, they the Southwest to get a little experience among the Arizona — UK: iWas, primarily, Rascnt s reports of choca work | scanned the list. . Rals- id Frank felt positive he must know soruthing about, The boys found Ralston seated at a table in his little laboratory, tabulating a series of reports which Dick was going: to send East. The assayer dropped back in his chair and welcomed the boys with a cordial smile, “T’ll bet a picayune I know what you're after, Chip,” said he. “Have you been talking with Uncle Dick?” asked. : “He arid Brad dropped in here and put the whole scheme up to me just before supper.” “What do you think of it?” @ “You Merriwells are great fellows for taking a diffi- ay culty by the scruff of the neck and kicking it into the a discard,’ returned Ralston, with a laugh, “and I’m ex- a pecting big things from this line of strategy. But,” and here his face sobered, “‘it’s no picnic you fellows are ; tumbling into. The situation is mighty serious, and a you'll have to be careful in handling it. You don’t want 4 to let the Mexicans suspect that this baseball business is a club which Dick is using to make them be good. . This is one thing that would kill off the scheme quicker than you could say ‘scat.’” 3 “T’m to get the nine together,” said Frank, “and Pink 7. and Clan are going to help me. Uncle Dick and Brad, => you know, are supposed to be innocent bystanders.” Ralston nodded to show that he fully understood that phase of the matter. “You have come to me, I take it,” he observed, find out something about the old nine that Holbrook disbanded.” “That’s the idea, Alf. I want to find out who: the players were sé,we can go after them and get them out for practice. We have ‘only a week, you know, but I have seen a whole lot of good work done in a week.” “So have I,” returned Ralston cheerily. “When I reached the Pactolus, Chip, the Wonders were just at the last gasp. Holbrook had shut down on the Satur- day half holidays, and he had shifted most of the players from the day to the night shift. This mixed up the team so that the day men never had any time for practice when the night men had a little leisure. It was a hard blow. Frank Finally, the players got mad, one night, and burned their uniforms. I guess | you'll understand how they felt when I tell you that those uniforms were the pride of their lives. They'd’ have burned their-bats, mitts, and everything else if I hadn’t shut down on it. All the paraphernalia except the uniforms was stored in a closet off this room, and I locked the door and held on to what was left.” ede “Bully!” exclaimed Clancy. ‘‘That ee: us a little fe something to work with, anyhow.” . “Can you give me the line-up of the old nine, Alf: ” a went on Frank, looking around for a pencil and a Piece . of paper. Bs “Here it is, all drawn up for you,” said Ralston, hand- bi ing over a neatly written list. “You'll find it four names shy. Those are fellows who have left the. mine. You'll have to get new material to fill their places.” bee Frank, with Pink and Clan eae over his ee, se ‘ Ho Benito Alfarez, r. f. gar Rectang: 3d i F ernando Sanches, 2d b. - Beltran Gonzales, Ste. 48) Vike Pepe Garcia, |. f. Rin “Oh, the deuce!” exclaimed Ballard, didaseunied “That's sa Bey stall handiut to pase with, eee — en ee Oe ee ee NEW «TIP TOP. WEERLY, 9 “Tt’s a nucleus, Ballard,’ said Ralston. ‘“You three lads will have to take an active part. Chip, of course, will pitch. That seems to be a Merriwell knack, and I understand that Chip has the knack in great shape.” “Clancy might hold down the first bag,” mused Frank, “and Pink can play short. Where’ll we get a backstop ? Say,” he added, a bright idea expanding suddenly in his mind, “how about Felipe Salvadore?. He is a husky chap, and built along the same lines as his father.’ “He’s doing night work in the mine,” said Ballard, who, as timekeeper, was familiar with nearly all the workers. “T could get Uncle Dick to put him-on the day shift.” Ralston, Te aning back in his chair with half-closed eyes, was studying Frank carefully “Why Felipe Salvadore, Chip?" the assayer asked slowly. ‘“He’s the son of big Salvadore, who was fired this afternoon; and big Salvadore, as you know,” he fmished, his voice dropping, “is one of the leaders in this trouble we're to Might.” “That is the reason I want him, Alf,’ said Frank quietly. “Fernando Sanchez is the son of the blacksmith, and the father of Guido Fernandez is Nito Fernandez, one of the workers in the mine. The blacksmith and Nito are also leaders in the trouble. It’s a good policy, I think, to get the sons of the leaders mixed up in the team.’ “You're a dandy, ‘nd no mistake!’ said Ralston admir- ingly. ‘‘That’s-the play for your life., I happen to know, Chip, that Felipe Salvadore was a ‘sub’ for the Wonders, but he never got much of a chance to play. He was always hungry to do the catching, but the old catcher never had an accident, and you couldn’t have pried him from behind the bat with a crowbar. I guess you don’t need any advice from me, my lad. Tact and diplomacy seem to be your long suit.’ On this slender list of five names Frank had to build up his nine. After he and his chums went to bed they talked long into the night, scheming, devising and ne out a plan of procedure. Always, at twelve o’clock Saturday night, the fill was | shut down and all work ceased at the Pactolis until mid- night Sunday night. Sunday, therefore, was a good day for Frank to do his talking with the old members of the team and with new players whom he wanted to get in line. He and his chums started for the Mexican aay. ter directly after breakfast. . Hard and stony looks met the boys from all the men and women in the Mexican camp. This was not sur- prising. The “grouch” of the workers had struck deep into their families and dependents. The discharge of Salvadore and the trouble with Bajo Sol had intensified oe feeling of/hostility throughout the quarter. Frank saw all five of the young Mexicans who had aed, on the old nine. Eyery one of them was churlish and disinclined to talk. They did not enthuse a particle when informed that the team was to have a fresh lease © _ of life, and they all refused, point-blank, to have any- thing to do with the prospective nine. _ Soa snag was struck at the very beginning. But there was a gleam of hope breaking through the clouds of dis- couragement. Although the five Mexican lads refused gruffly to go on the team, a sudden, smoldering light arose in their dark eyes as they recalled the pave glories of the Wonders. Hep re ae to handle the horsehide,” ) whispered * Clancy, “but they’re afraid of the cars. It’s a fierce situ- ation, eh, Chip?” Frank smothered his disappointment as well as he could and made his way to the jacal of Guillaime Sal- vadore. The ‘head of the house was away—plotting trouble, no doubt—and Frank managed to exchange a half dozen words with Felipe. He was a lad of about nineteen, stocky and well set up, but he wasn’t tumbling over himself to make the nine, or to show any friendli- ness to Frank and his chums. Frank labored with him for ten minutes, but all to no purpose. felipe was sour and laconic, and he would have nothing to do with the Americanos or their nine. When the three boys returned to their sleeping quarters, where they usually passed their leisure time, they found Dick waiting for a report. The faces of the lads were very long as Frank told of their initial failures. Dick laughed. “We've got to get them started, Chip, that’s all,” said he. “After supper, to-morrow evening, you, and Pink, and Clan get out with'a bat and ball. I think a little of that sort.of work will have a good effect.” “But we have only a week to get a winning team together !”’ “The time is short, I know, but I’m just starting over to the Golden Eagle to see Hoskins. I believe that, be- tween us, Hoskins and I can do something to hurry mat- ters along here. Meanwhile, Chip, don’t let the old Mer- riwell backbone get any crimps in it.” “Tm not going to,’ Frank answered determinedly. “Somehow, Uncle Dick, we’re going to get this nine to- gether, and we're going to put up a good game next Saturday.” “That’s the talk!” approved Dick heartily. When -he left for his canter to the Golden Eagle, the boys were feeling better, although they had not an sea as to how they were going to win over the Mexicans, ® CHAPTER VI. WORKING UP THE ENTHUSIASM. Early Sunday morning Buckhart had started for Phoe- nix. By pushing his horse he would reach town with plenty of time to do business on Monday. Dick took Sunday dinner with Hoskins at the Golden Fagle,*returning to the Pactolus Mine about the middle of the afternoon. He had had a long and apparently satisfactory interview with the other superintendent. “We have a little performance’all framed up, Chip,” he said, his eyes twinkling. «I'll not tell you what it is, but if you and your chums will happen around the head- quarters adobe about three, to-morrow afternoon, you'll see it all for yourselves, I think it will do the business. _ Hoskins is a bit skeptical about what we are planning to do over here, but he thinks the scheme is worth try- ing. Very naturally, he’s willing to do all he can to help. You, and Pink, and Clan are planning to do a little practising after supper, to-morrow, aren’t you?” : “Yes,”. said Frank. - “What Hoskins and I are going to do will lead up to that very nicely, I think there will be plenty of Mexi- cans trying to make the nine, all right.” Dick would not go into details, and Frank and hig : chums racked their brains with speculations as to what . ue and Hoskins were ee to do. With vores and fh +e ‘cline from the mill. valley and toward the mine buildings. _ ments of the game}. - Wonders to a contest on the Wonders’ own grounds | next Saturday afternoon, at three p. m. 10 | . NEW the stamp mill again roaring its song of industry through the camp, a period of tensé expectancy was ushered in. The atmosphere of: the little settlement’ at the Pactolus Mine -was ‘charged* with portents of dramatic, perhaps tragic, events to come, All the Mexicans were silent and taciturn. They went about their labors listlessly arid mechanically. They ap- peared to be waiting for'the first tremors of an earth- quake to shake the ground under their feet. “This is getting on my nerves, Chip,” remarked Bal- lard, happening around in the vicinity of the cyanide tanks as the hour of three in the afternoon drew near, “I’m a hog when it comes to sure things, but it’s the uncertainty that gets my goat.” Claney, at that moment, came walking down the in- His feelings tallied most remark- ably with those. of Ballard. “Something’s got to happen pretty soon,” said Clancy, “or [ll begin to yell. Can’t you feel it, fellows?” “Feel what, Red?” queried Ballard. CAV hy, something in the air that spells trouble with A Pt, Sie nie gttess everybory' feeling it,’ said Frank. He looked off along the trail that led down into the. little ‘*Somebody’s com- ing,’ he announced, as he espied a man on horseback. “Jupiter!” he added, “I do believe it’s Hoskins,” And Hoskins it proved to be. The Golden Eagle super did not ride on to the headquarters adobe but drew rein ‘at the blacksmith shop. Flinging the reins over the head of his saddle horse, so that they. trailed on the _ ground, Hoskins dismounted and began pane something on the wall of the shop. : Antonio Sanchez, who pointed the drill S cam did other blatksmithing for the mine, steppéd out of the shop, with a sledge in one hand and a white-hot drill in the other. ‘In his smudged yellow apron he stood at gaze while Hoskins worked. In the distance, Dick could be seen running down from the office. “By Jove,’ breathed Ballard, “I guess that little play Dick ‘told us’ about is beginning. Let’ 8 hotfoot it to the blacksmith shop and see. what’s going on.” ~The three lads, about equally swayed by the emotions of wonder and excitement, were soon at the shop: Hos- _ kins had tacked a large piece of paper on the walf. The paper bore two notices, printed in lead pencil, one in oe nglish and the other in Spanish. One, no doubt, was a translation of the other ;- and the E nglish notice ran Mines Lp ae eo | +i earn es thas,” “CHALLENGE! “The Pactolus Wonders never could play. ball! Giants ! es -you Pactolus freaks, and accept 4 snéak away like a bunch of coyotes and OWN C UP THAT % YOU'RE AFRAID OF THE GIANTS!” fay / ‘Gee, “thay? sa. hot one! I” breathed ae ‘ ol TEP FOP “WEEKLY, Your greasers are about as sporty as a lot of chipmunks.” nerve! | They - disband ed. because they were afraid of the Golden Eagle The Saetelits crowd don’t know the first rudi- The Giants hereby challenge the — Get together, c 1 i ty aie oe igen ih aside and jumped to lay hands on Hoskins, but Hoski _ “We'll be over here next Saturday. TE you can gi we smith, was. ane a war ae flourishing the sle that drill he’s holding. Looks as though he was going to hit Hoskins with the sledge.” The grimy face of the smith was working convulsively. His eyes were glaring. A streatn of wild language in his - native tongue was issuing from his lips, and he was dane- ing around, first on one foot and then *on the other. “Read it!” roared Hoskins, leveling a finger at the notice. ‘‘You’re a lot of has-beens over here! You never could play ball, and you know it.” “What’s going on here?’ demanded Dick, reaching the scene at that moment. “Caramba!”’ hissed Sanchez. “Dé super from de 7 Golder Eagle make de insult to de Mexicanos at de Pactolus. He say we not know de game of bisball! My 7 son Fernando, he once play de secon’ bis! ball—he not one has-been.” “You're the super here,” flared Hoskins, whirling on Dick. ‘‘What sort of an outfit you got at these diggingS? He play fine} : Dick read the notice and whirled savagely on Hoskins. ‘‘My boys here are as good as your men, Hoskins,” he = cried, “any day you can find in the almanac!” . a “Show us!” bawled Hoskins. ‘You haven’t got .the Why, man, the Wonders are so scared of the Giants you couldn't round ‘em up for a match game with ’. a brace of guns,’ ne “My boy Petrmitto.” howled Sanchez, “he much fino © bisball player! Sz! Fernando, he better as any Giant! | Me, I-say’ 1t!” cy hgt “Yah!” jeered Hoskins. “Talk's talk, but it takes players and playing to win ball games. The Giants are the champions of this district. | haven't a notion you —~ greasers over here have got the sand to accept that chal- lenge; but, if you can’ corral the nerve, make it known, and we'll come to the: Pactolus next Saturday and play you on your own grounds. Now, either make good or hunt your holes’ ‘ Hoskins swung up into his saddle with an insolent swagger. Dick jumped forward. , ; “You can't ring in a bluff like that on me, Floste” eg ni ‘ shouted Dick. “TH call you right here. Bring over your ain team next Saturday. There'll be a nine here to play.’em Pk if I haye to curry the country between here and Phoenix: rae to find the men!” a a‘ “No, you don’t,” growled Hodane, his yellow eyes i € fairly blazing as they rested on a ; that challenge — € is for a étub of Pactolus players! You can’t. ring in in i any professionals, If you don’t accept that challenge ae Pll publish the news. all over the district. Get me? II ig make it known, by thunder, that the Wonders have Hee n: ‘ erated into a lot of has-beens.” “Bring your men,” rasped Dick, And I haven't heard ot aay: one pinning br on Giants!” _ 7 “and you're patie of me! Tt wasoa beautiful bit of denny: Dick knocked: tHe used his spurs and was out of reach at a bound. ‘‘Has-beens !” elled the other super, from a a team together, trot ’em out! t 4 “With that ‘Hoskins galloped away. - Sanchez, m® 6 stamped their feet and shook their fists. or more an excited throng surged about the shop wall. the drill and shouting shrill maledictions. He finally ended by throwing the sledge and the drill as far after Hoskins as he could. “Chip,” said Dick, turning on Frank and apparently making a heroic effort to stem the tide of his emotions, “try again to get the Mexicans to come out and play. We'll show the Giants that they can’t make us hunt our holes. - Here!’ Dick stepped to the notice and wrote hastily, in pencil, under the roughly printed words: “Every Mexicano who wants to play ball against the Giants next Saturday will report at: the headquarters adobe, to night. ‘“Cuip MERRIWELL, Captain. Pactolus Wonders.” Now, we'll see,” Dick growled, turning away from the wall of the. shop and shoving his pencil in his pocket. “Wait till six-thirty, Chip, and then we'll know whether our Pactolus boys” wi ill put up with that sort of stuff from the Golden Eagle.’ Dick strode off in the direction of the headquarters adobe. Frank and his two chums, looking very serious, returned to the friendly shelter of ‘the assayer’s building. When they were out ae sight they dropped down on a bench and laughed till they almost suffocated. “That was the slickest thing I ever heard of!” gulped Ballard. “It takes the bun!” gasped Clancy, wiping his eyes. “I thought for a minute,’ whispered Frank faintly, “that Uncle Dick and Hoskins would fight it out!” “Here, here,’ joked Ralston, emerging from his labora- tory, “what’s going on? Tell me, so I can enjoy it, too.” They told him, and the assayer certainly enjoyed the bit of play between Dick and Hoskins, . “The strategy is beginning to work, Chip,” Ralston re- marked, stepping to the corner of his office and looking toward the blacksmith shop. “Come here and look!” The news of that challenge had spread through the camp like wildfire. Mexicans who were hauling ore left their wagons to read the printed notice; everyone who could get away from work came to study out the in- sulting words and to listen while Sanchez described the fiery meeting between Sefor Dick and Hoskins. Women even came from the Mexican quarter, and practically every night-shift man was crowding close to the wall of the blacksmith shop and the insulting words on the poster. Wild talk Some of the Mexicans For an hour was cralieee | in. t . After that, matters quieted down somewhat. But all the rest of the afternoon and until the mill whistle sounded the hour for knocking off work, the Mexicans floated by twos and threes to the blacksmith sl lop, struck the notice with their fists, and said biting, sarcastic things ~ about the Golden Eagle Giants. At six-thirty, when Frank, Ballard, and Clancy stepped otit into the open space in front of the headquarters adobe with a bat and a couple of balls, there were a dozen young Mexicans lined up as ; candidates for ‘the nine. : aos Chip,” said Dick, emerging through vb crowd a d approaching Frank’s side, “I guess you've got enough material to choose from. I see young Salvadore is in _ their ball playing with more vim and vigor on the next NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. II the crowd of candidates. Better make your selections before you begin warming up.” Dick’s face was sober, but his words ebbed away in a faint chuckle. The first bit of strategy had won! CHAPTER: W441, HOPES AND FEARS. Benito Alfarez, Fernando Sanchez, Guido Fernandez, Beltran Gonzales, and Pepe Garcia, the five players who had belonged to the original Pactolus nine, were among those who reported for practice. In ages they ranged from sixteen to twenty, and Frank liked the looks of all of them. He passed them to one side, saying that for the present they would play in their old positions. Felipe Salvadore had likewise fallen under the spell of that challenge from the Golden Eagle. He was_one of the crowd of candidates, and his face was a little less sour and his manner a little less uncompromising than when Frank had seen him on the preceding day. “T’m going to try you out as-catcher for the new nine, Felipe,” said Frank, and a sudden blaze of pleasure showed in the lad’s eyes. “Did you ever do anything be- hind the bat?” “In Phoenix, one time, I catch.” “Good! Step over with the rest of the crowd.” Inasmuch as Frank and his two chums were to form part of the team, the nine was practically selected. Six candidates were left. These were to form part of the second nine, for practice. It might later be deemed ad- visable to replace some of the regular team with players from the scrub squad, but this would only develop as the. practice went on. When Frank had finished drafting his material, Dick stepped forw ard. “Boys,” said Dick, addressing the players, “I am going to do everything possible to help Chip make a winning team, out of you, so that you can show the Golden Eagle Giants next Saturday that the Pactolus Mine is still on the map. You're going to work hard, and you’re going to win. Esta bueno?” “Si, si!” yelled the players. “That’s the spirit!” went on Dick approvingly. ‘Now, those of you who work on night shifts will be trans- ferred to day shifts, beginning to-morrow morning. Night men will not report for duty to-night, but will go to work when the whistle sounds in the morning. Every afternoon, at two-thirty, for the rest of this week, you baseball players will quit work and report at three for practice on the old ball grounds. Your pay will go on just the same as though you were putting in full time working for the mining company.” tere there was a subdued effort at cheering. It was half-hearted, however, and there were blank, incredulous | looks on the faces of the Mexicans. They wondered, per- haps, if they had understood the sefior super aright. By his own proposal they were really getting paid day wages while the Sefior Chip was teaching them how to beat the Golden Eagle Giants! The whistle sounded for the night-shift men. of the headquarters adobe. As they walked away toward the shaft house and mill they looked back at those who had been spared the night work so they might practice afternoon. ie A num- ber of these had been idly watching proceedings in front - | There was not the least doubt in the minds of any of the Americanos but that Dick’s shrewd work for saving the mine had begun most auspiciously. A tremendously good ‘impression had been created in the minds of all the Mexicans. It was not necessary, now, for Dick to hide his hand in the matter of the Pactolus Mine. Had not the super from the Golden Eagle Mine dared the Senor Dick to produce a team that could“beat the Giants? Of course the Sefior Dick was interested! ; For all of an hour Dick and Frank used a couple of bats and knocked little pop-ups, long flies, and stinging grounders to the little crowd of Mexicans. Each aspirant for baseball honors found that he had something to do. “Benito !”” Frank would cry; then crack! away would go the ball in the direction of Benito Alfarez—and Benito would go after that ball as though it were a case of life and death. ~ “Or, “Now, Felipe!” Dick would call, and drive a hot one straight at young Salvadore. Nor could they come too hot for Felipe. Now and then they would smack into his gloved hand like the re- port of a revolver; and when they hit that glove they would stay as though glued. Dick concentrated a good many of his efforts on Felipe. young Mexican would hurl himself left or right or bound high into the air, and let no chance get past him. “That Salvadore is all to the mustard, Chip,” Dick declared to Frank, in a low ‘voice. “I wish Brad were _ here to see him gather them in.” Aldiouch it was eight o’clock when the balls were called in and the preliminary work ceased, yet the light still held good. The spheres could have been knoc ked -» around for another half hour, but both Dick and Frank felt that enough had been done for a starter. “Good night, fellows,” called Frank, when he and his chums were ready to move toward their sleeping quat- ters. “Don’t forget, to-morrow at three, at the old ball grounds, Buenas noches, compadres!” But the players were not yet ready to leave. They clustered together in a hesitating group, and presently moved in a body upon Frank and Dick. When fed had come close, Salyadore was pushed forward to. sek as spokesman. “Sefior Chip, - play in, huh? 4 ” said Felipe, “mebbyso we get tiniforen to We no like to play without uniform. Mucho fino uniform, please.. Planty red in uniform, planty fine letters on shirt, eh? We get de uniform?” Dick turned away his head to hide an amused simile. Frank, Pink, and Clan had all they could do to keep their faces straight. The love of finery w as rene to the sur- face of the Mexican character, “You'll: all have uniforms, fellows,” Frank answered. _“ They’ may not be here for several days, but we'll have them in time for the game. They'll he Brod uniforms, too, you can bank on that.” A great relief swept through the crowd bg young Mexi- -canos. A loud shout of “Gracias!” went up, and the -swarthy players turned and martes joyful ly for the Mexi- can quarter. Pe “That. little taste of baseball hie cial the business, ” averred Clancy, “and then that promise of uni- ‘corms: ear the finishing fae ia: preasers, are with tif? oi 12 NEW TIP TOP Although he gave him a number of hard chances, the him, when the big game is on, is going to work wonders. te more than that?’ * With another smile of pride and approval, he turned awa and walked slowly frem the field and in the Siren the mine buildings. | eh a his Brother Frank’ Ss bey ae met ae tained _ close WEEKLY. “That strategy of yours,” said Ballard exultantly to Dick, “‘is all to the good!. There’s a different bunch of Mexicans at this mine from what there was yesterday.” “This is great, Uncle Dick,’ murmured Frank de- a. lightedly, “Hist simply great!’ i ‘The baseball program is certainly starting off in fine shape,”’, Dick answered, “but we haven’t won our fight against the trouble makers yet, boys. We can’t tell much about the success of this move,of ours until Saturday afternoon. But the star of hope is beginning to look pretty bright, | must say. It’s corking, the way the young Mexicans have taken hold of this baseball propo- sition. To-morrow morning I'll have the old grounds put in shape. 1 was looking gver the field yester day, and it has gone pretty much to seed, but it won’t take long to remedy that, hope Brad will get something real fatioy : in the way of uniforms,” he finished, with a chuckle. ~*~ = . J: Next afternoon, promptly at three, all hands assembled y for practice. Rody, Frank’s stuttering friend, had ar- rived from Phoenix! with a w agon load of supplies Tues- day morning, and the situation was explained to him fully by Frank. Rody and Ralston were drawn upon to help make up a second nine, and Dick himself went into the box to pitch against his nephew. Best It was a great game. With Dick and Ralston as the / : - a * 3 battery for the scrubs, and with Frank and young Sal- pa, 1 c vadore pitching and catching for the regulars, the Mexi- cans had a pattern set for tl them which they were not slow to emulate. Of course there were many errors and:a woeful lack of teamwork, but on the wiole the Mexicans displayed surprising ability,.considering the many weeks it had been since they had had any work on a diamond. “No need of making any changes in your line-up, Frank,” said Dick: “The second: -string men are all pretty good, but it is evident that the old W onders were selected with care and discrimination. You will have plenty of — substitutes in case you lose a man or two from the Pacto-° lus nine—but I’m not looking for that. All Felipe needs — is pan of work ‘with you. Get your signals down pat, — Felipe knows the Giants, and just where “the strength or Saale of each rival play er lies. A timely tip from And ‘say, Chip }?"> ,, Pohl Frank tusned and gave Dick his full attention. ah “My lad,” went on Dick admiringly, “you've got your father’s wonderful form in the box. Could I say. any , For an instant the minds of both sailed away to fare off Bloomfield and dwelt:a space with the most wonder- ful amateur athl ete the country had ever known, Frank’s — eyes were moist and his voice a bit husky as he reached out and clasped Dick’ s hand. ‘ “My biggest lope in life,” said he, “‘is ip het a" real chip off the old Block. Good old dad! With him an you for patterns, Undle Dick, a _ fellow couldn't Be. fa wrong.” | : An affectionate smile crossed Dick Martinelli tude He rested a hand on young Frank’s shoulder for a ute, and started to speak. But the words failed hi For a few moments the heart of the Vales man ‘a oO NEW the golden silence. Dick’s feelings had flashed danger- ously close to the surface. On his way back to the headquarters adobe the Yale man wondered if it was right to subject his brother’s son to the risks and perils that threatened all at the Pacto- lus at the week’s end? Dick’s strategy would probably win. But there was a chance that it might fail and that danger, even death, might rub'elbows with every Ameri- can at the mine. Was it wise to plunge Chip into those troubled cross currents? This was the question paramount in the mind » of the superintendent pro tem.,.as he slowly made his way | to the little office building. If one touch of misery makes the whole world kin, | then it is equally true that one touch of genuine feeling ) almost makes cowards of us in protecting those whom _ we care for the most. Chip was a Merriwell through and through. He was a worthy follower 8f the man who had made the name so honorable in the field of clean sport. “Brother Frank never hesitated to take a risk when he knew, right was on his side,” ran Dick’s thoughts. “Be the risk great or small, he faced it courageously, con- fidently, and he always won. I feel positive that if |. Brother Frank were here before me now he would laugh |} at my fears and tell Chip to stay with the mine and Bi stand by his Uncle Dick. And he will stay,” Dick finished, “and he and I will see this through together.” And in that moment, whatever feats Dick Merriwell had had in that queer situation at the Pactolus forthwith took wings and left him serene and confident. a =e Ps a 5 ae CHAPTER VIII. THE DAY THE’ GAME. OF On Wednesday -afternoon Brad Buckhart returned from Phoenix. The trail, after dipping down into the valley, skirted the northern edge of the ball grounds. " _ From the slope ofthe hill Brad “had a good view of the diamond, What he saw, there caused him to straighten in his saddle and give vent to a low whistle. : All that end of "the valley seemed to have been swept C -and dusted. A small but comfortable grand stand had . been erected, and the diamond had been put in apple- fo pie order. A practice game was being played, and the crack of the bat as it met the horsehide came like music to the ears of the former var sity BateretOP. _ “This sure takes me right into camp!” pager Brad fondly.- “There’s nothing like the good old game to make the heart strings quiver, to bring a fellow right up n his toes, and to peach down to the bottom of his soul and bring out the best there is in him. Whoop! Those doings over there have just naturally got me stampeded !” . With that, he dug in with his spurs and rushed full Hilt at the ball field. His arrival was greeted with cheers. “On with the game, pards!” cried Brad, pulling up his horse in a spot from which he had a good view of pro- ceedings ; “let joy be unconfined! Never mind me; it’s ght pleasant to sit here and look on.’ a was pitching and Frank was toeing the plate with , Brad nearly laughed himself out of the saddle the youngster lined out a single and streaked it to nded. on ac ane: for a hit!” cried Bewd. TIP TOP WEEKLY. ks “ous 4 4 ag hha think of “bat for ree RP Lone as the. a work on their home diamond. new bats and balls, mitts, masks, and protectors. ‘ Salinas had not been seen. 13 The game was drawing near a close, and, as Brad con- tinued to watch, more and more his attention focused on the work of Felipe Salvadore. Brad could tell a good catcher when he saw him, and he realized that Salvadore filled the bill with ground to spare. When the game was over, Dick, and Frank, ahd his chums rushed to surround Buckhart. Brad leaned down from his saddle to slap Frank on the shoulder. “A whole lot has been going on in this camp since I left,’ said Buckhart. “‘W ray T° size it up, somebody has been doing himself proud. Chip, is it you?” “Not so you can notice it, Brad,” answered Frank, with alaugh. “It’s Uncle Dick.” “Chip passes the bouquets along’to me, Brad,’ said Dick, smiling, “but he ought to hang on to them him- self.” “Cut loose and tell me all about it,” begged Buckhart. “Not here. To get the whole of this we'll have to have a heart-to-heart talk.” They had the talk that night, after supper. Brad learned how the young Mexicans had refused to have anything, to do. with the new nine until Hoskins had galloped into camp, had posted his insulting challenge, and had almost come to “blows” with Dick. Brad enjoyed that immensely. In fact, nothing had happened during his absence in which he did not take a lively interest. “How about the uniforms?” asked Dick. “Ordered ’em by wire from Frisco, pard,” said Brad. “They're coming by express, and I “low they’re in Phoe- nix to-day. I made ar rangements with a man to tote ‘em out the minute they arrived. They'll be in camp Fri- day morning, sure.” “If we don’t get those uniforms in time,” declared Dick, “the jig is up.” “Well, they’ll be here, so don’t let that worry you.” The uniforms reached camp according to schedule, and the players had them on for their Friday afternoon work. The actions of the young Mexicans were laughable, for they strutted around like a lot of peacocks. Red was the favorite color, and the stockings and shirts were of that hue. The short trousers were a khaki tan. On the breast of each shirt were the letters: ‘““P. W.” With the uniforms there also arrived a supply of brand- Noth; ing, it seemed, had been neglected. ? On Friday, Dick caused a notice to be posted all over the camp. ‘This apprised all the workers that the activities of mining and milling would be shut down at noon, Satur- day, so that everybody could see the game without any docking for lost time. Was it possible that the Pactolus Mexicans stil car ried in their hearts any dark plans against the mine? It did not seem as though this could be. Saturday’ after- noon would tell the story. known whether Dick’s leaders of the Mexicans. Rene Since submitting his first distutbing hee Pedro — Dick had vague fears for — his safety, although continuing to ‘wait and to hope Ws the best. Ye Word drifted into camp that the Golden Eagle G were not so cocksure of success. against the Wonder as they had been, and that they Were seine a lot foe hard Pot This was the last stroke needed oe to complete the general rejoicing. Not until then would it be 's strategy had outwitted the lawless” A and midday was usually too hot for comfort. as one o’clock in the afternoon the Golden Eagle began : 14 Friday night Dick, Brad, Alf Ralston, and Frank, and his chums had a conference in the headquarters adobe. Optimism was the keynote of that talk, although the ugly head of doubt reared itself a few times during the exchange of opinions. “The Wonders,” declared Ralston, “are putting up a better game now than they ever did in the old times. Dick and Chip and his chums have inoculated the Mexi- cans with a spirit of do or die that they never had before. There’s not a doubt in my mind but that the Wonders are going to sit down on the Giants good and hard.” “T’m_ perfectly satisfied with the team,’ said Frank. “Win or lose, we’re going to put up a dandy 1 fight. It will be a game worth seeing.” “Tt will that, Chip, believe me!” declared Buckhart. “When it’s all over, and the dust settles, you'll find’ the Giants aren’t knee high to a puddle duck.” “Overconfidence loses a lot of games,’ suggested Dick quietly. “T don’t opine any of us are overconfident, pard,” said Brad, with a broad smile. “We just know we're going to pound the Giants to a standstill, that’s all.” “Suppose we do, Brad, we haven't any means of know- ing, beforehand, whether the main object of this game is going to succeed or fail. We're playing for a bigger stake than a paltry success on a ball field.” “There’s a different feéling among the. greasers,” averred Buckhart, ‘‘and it sticks out all over the camp. They are thinking of just one thing, and that is this: ball game. It’s the biggest little proposition on the Mexican sky line, just-about now.’ “But where is big Salvadore? He hasn’t been seen around the camp since he was given his time. And where is Bajo Sol? That fellow hasn’t even shown up to draw his back pay. They’re away somewhere, I think, and they're scheming.” f “Let ’em scheme. They are only banging their fool heads against your wall of strategy, Dick.” “T wish to thunder I could hear from Salinas!” 9? So Friday night ‘closed down with a few fears and. many bright hopes. Saturday, the day of the game, ‘ushered in a period of thrills and expectancy. nervous tension was felt all over the camp. . * The Mexicans were afraid the Wonders might lose to the hated Giants. If this awful ‘thing should happen, what effect would it have on the ‘ ‘metcurial” tempera- -ment of the Pactolus Mexicans? In other circumstances, the seriousness with ack the laborers looked upon the forthcoming game would have been full of humor. Théy were fairly shaking with de- sire for victory, and with apprehensions that had to do with possible defeat. Every Mexicano and Mexicana was a viogent partizan. Their frenzied joy in case of victory could be dealt with, but what of that other’ frenzy if “there should. be a defeat ? The middle of March had passed, but in that part of -Atizona the skies were blue and serene, the air was balmy, As early _ emptying itself upon the Pactolus. Riders began to stream down into the valley that shel- _ tered the property of the Yale men. all loaded to the guatds., After 4 time Hoskins arrived in a buckboard behind a team of pe Btays, NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. The -his mask, and Frank was moving slowly toward the Wagons followed, — “We're going to win hands down,” he rentals to Dick, as he tied up at a hitching pole. “I don’t like these walk aways, and had a blamed good notion not to come.’ ‘Possibly we can make the afternoon interesting to ” you,” said Dick, with affected coldness, “Possibly,” jeered Hoskins, “only it doesn’t seem rea- sonable.” The two superintendents were still playing the rdles they had decided upon. All the fans from the Golden Eagle seemed supremely confident. They swaggered and boasted until the Pactolus Mexicans could hardly restrain themselves. A canvas awning had been stretched over stand. Here the sefioras and the nifos, bib and tucker, gradually gathered and chattered ex-’ citedly. The roar of the stamp mill had ceased at noon, and the camp was quiet save for the talk, the shouting, and the laughter. ‘ Chip had his red-stockinged, red-shirted team early on the field. Sefiora Sanchez clapped her hands at sight of Fernando, and all the other fond madres cackled with pride and joy as they pointed out their sons among the ranks of red and brown. Some.of the Golden Eagle rooters shouted taunts at the Pactolus players, and biting retorts came from the ladies in the grand stand—and sometimes from the fathers of the players around the edge of the diamond. Presently the rival players arrived and tumbled out of the wagon that had brought them. They were a fine- looking crowd of swarthy 5 youngsters, and wore a uniform of white and yellow. A bedlam of cheering greeted the Giants as they 9 trotted out upon the field and began warming up. They | | were snappy and quick in their plays, and “Chip’s eyes a wandered from the diamond to the spot where Ramon Ortiz, the rival pitcher, was limbering up his wing with | Enrique Silva, the Giant’s catcher. Ortiz, Frank quickly’ discovered, was a foeman in every way worthy of his mettle. He was built to deliver a speedy ball, and he had the calm, sure eye that spélled control. Presently the Giants were called in and the Wonders ‘trotted out. So far as an unprejudiced beholder could judge, there was not much difference between the two teams. Isaac Oliver Umstad, an American who had charge a ms a donkey engine in the Pactolus shaft house, had always | umpired the games. Isaac Oliver, being initialed 1.0. U, @ was commonly called “Due Bill.” He was known to be — quick of eye, full of knowledge, and good judgment and _ absolutely impartial, and hence was always as acceptable | to the Giants as he was to the Wonders. He called a conference of the captains, Ramon Ortiz — for the Giants, and Frank for the Wonders. Then the | Giants went to the benches, all save Juanito Rosalio, their — first baseman and heavy hitter, who carefully selected a — bat and made ready to toe the plate. ; Salvadore was buckling on his protector and devine: the grand in their best pitcher’s box. In the front ranks of the spectators were Dick, Brad, and Ralston. Across from them, also in the: forefront, were Hoskins and a choice band of yO from the cG olden Eagle. si “Play ball,” said Due Bill calmly, tossing the whire sphere to Chip, 9 x to rea- ‘Oles Iden and rain rand best ex-" ting, arly sight with the Saat the hers it of fine- orm they They eyes mon with ickly” > is d. he ders ould two re of Ways. Bs o be and > table drtiz the | their — eda ning ia Pi the were 1 the oters vhive- “was not to be coaxed. ball into the hollow of Felipe’s mitt. -‘staftled and the crowd laughed. ‘pie, | “Just stand there, son!” NEW TIP’ TOP: WEEKLY. Ors HAPTER IX, THE GIANTS: LEAD OFF. The batting order of the two teams,.as. given to the scorer, was as follows: WONDERS. GIANTS. ‘Salvadore, c. ; Rosalio, rst b. Clancy, Ist b, Silva,:c. Merriw ell, p. Gales, c. f, Ballard, ss. Delfos, 3d b. Sanchez, 2d b. Esperanza; 2d b. Gonzales,.c. f. Brett; lif. Fernandez, 3d b. Diag)t, Garcia | t, Frio, ss. Alfarez, r. £. Ortiz, p. Frank, as he rolled the ball in his hands, had never felt in better trim for the work before him. The throb- bing joy which always ran pulsing through his veins, whenever he found himself in the pitcher’s: box; claimed him then as always—and it was an asset rather than a liability so far as his pitching prowess was concerned. _Rosalio, who was first to bat, was a wiry, undersized lad, with a mop of black hair that he shook clear of his eyes. His batting average was probably high; if. so, Rosalio was a better man than he looked. “Here’s your meat, Chip!” shouted Brad. three, son! You know how.” “Eat ’em up, Rosy!” cried Hoskins. will do to start!” Frank tried an outcurve. Rosalio relaxed and made a face .at it as it went by. He seemed something ofa humorist, but plainly his eye was good. “Ball!” shouted Due Bill. “That’s how!” roared Hoskins, while all the Eaglers extilted. x Frank, watching the signal from [elipe, sent over ahioitie: teaser. The result was ball two, for Rosalio Then came a sharp drop, and Rosalio gritted his teeth and let drive. “One, two, “A. three-bagger Rosalio looked “Strike one!” announced Due Bill. “Never mind, Rosy,” said Hoskins,sin soothing tones. “Next time yougll reach: it, all right.” »- ‘Next Frank tried! a: rise, but it was altogether too high. Rosalio’s eye was on duty een! and he grinned f “and hadn’t even a-notion. i “B all three!’ announced Due Bill. called one of the Gelden Faple Americans. “The Merriwell kid is afraid to let you hit! He’ ll walk you,’ It looked like a, bit of a hole, but Frank felt that his control was good, a he tried.another drop. Again Rosalio bit, swinging hard and hitting: the atmosphere. AP Rat's: the way, Chip!” cried Dick, “Now, yoy re get- ting at ins?" “With the idea that Rosalio would not be expecting another drop, Frank presented him with one. Then osalio did a little presenting. Crack! A hot one rossetl over I’rank’s head, too high to reach except with epladder. It was almost too high for Sanchez, on cond, but he wriggled into the air, grabbed the ball, an then—oh, alas |—dropped it. he Eeaglers roared. Mrs, Sanchez; in the grand — stand, wept into her mantilla, and Mr. Sanchez, at the edge of the diamond, groaned and beat his breast.” m ‘Don’t yee care, Sanchez,” shouted Frank cheerfully, Spank! went the J his voice rising through the “hittod of rejoicing from the Hoskins contingen t: But Sanchez did ‘care; he cared ‘very much. His brown cheeks burned, but he gritted his teeth and called up his nerve. The coacher went down the liné to take care of Rosalio, who was roosting on first. Silva, the catcher, was next to bat. He bunted the second one over, and was an easy out at first, but Rosalio had been advanced. Gales was the next man to face Frank. He fanned twice and then banged a high fly toward center. “Wait, Rosy, wait!” yelled the coacher. © Gonzales took the fly in‘neatly. Had he whipped the ball over as neatly to Fernandez on third, he would have distinguished himself still more; but he threw the bail to’ Frank, and Rosalio was. ‘another lap nearer home. Delfos, the third baseman, stepped in for a little stick- work. Frank now was bending all his energies to pre- vent Rosalio from scoring. He pitched with care and discrimination and longed to put over his father’s famed double shoot, but dared not try it with Salvadore. Frank tried a speed ball. Delfos wriggled a bit, but finally let. it pass. A ball was called. Salvadore sig- naled for a curve across the out corner, but Frank in- dicated a drop. It looked like a strike to Frank, but Due Bill called another ball.. Frank then duplicated the “ball” exactly, and was rewarded by having it called a strike. The next one Delfos tapped over toward third. He could have been thrown out at first very easily had not Fer- nandez at third forgotten himself. With a runner lead- ing off from third, F ernandez started for the ball. Bal- lard was also after it. Fernandez collided with Pink, and by the time the tangle was untangled, Rosalio was home and Delfos on the arst bag. Howls of delight arose from the Hoskins outfit. Some of the Giant players even jumped on their bench and crow ed. ot told you this would be a walk-away!” roared Hos- kins. “Keep ’em coming, caballeros!” 3ut the joy was short-lived. Frank caught Delfos nap- ping at first and slammed a quick one over to Clancy. “Side out!” yelled Due Bill. - That. wasn’t the sort of beginning Frank would have liked. With players of another sort, a score in the first half by a rival team would have put all ‘hands on their | toes for a tie, but with these “mercurial” Mexicans Frank — feared they would be discouraged. However, there was no help for it, and Frank cheered the swarthy fellows — with words of encouragement and carefree smiles. Salvadore was first on the batting list for the Wonders. He stepped to the plate confidently while Ortiz “wound ' up,” first caressing the pit of his stomach with the ball. A swift one came through, cutting the plate c eanly in half. Salvadore regarded it calmly. - “He’s afraid of the good ones, ere M laughed Hoskins, as Due Bill called a strike. The next was a subway Slant, a real hada It looked like a bad one, and Salvadore stood are : arto and never made a move theta “Strike two!” sang out : Due Bill, “A few of the Mexicans in the. grand: stand bricked: with wrath and shook their fists at the umpire. They believed, ir their simple minds, that he was trying: to give the game to the Giants.» : yen ~ “Be careful, of the next one, Fi elipa’ " called Fra: k. : Be was chee the next would be a ane wns i came 16 NEW wobbling up wide of the plate. Then Salvadore did a remarkable thing. He reached across the plate’and got that measly horsehide for two bags! “Well, what do you think of that!” cried Buckhart. “He let all the good ones go by, and hammered a two- bagger out of the fiercest throw I ever saw. Whoop!” Frank went down the line to coach the runner. Clancy was next to face Ortiz, and he sacrificed beautifully—so beautifully that he came within a hair of being called safe at first. But he was out, and Frank was next to bat. He lifted a high one, and it dropped into a place where there was no one to bid it welcome. Salvadore, although he had plenty of time, dashed home like the cannonball limited, twenty minutes late, and trying to get back on schedule time. “Of course Chip could be counted on to do that!” cried Dick. “He’s the boy, believe me,” “All to the merry—and then some,” delighted Ralston. Frank had duplicated Salvadore’s performance for a couple of sacks. Ballard,, coming next, should have brought Frank home, but somehow the stars were wrong for Pink that time. He touched the ball out back of the foul line and then swung at the air a couple of times and retired in much confusion. “He works a spell on the blooming ball,” grumbled Ballard. “See Kay he fumbles it around on the pit of his stomach before he heaves it over? I guess he had me hypnotized.” Fernando Sanchez, following Pink at bat, got.to Ortiz for a safe single, and, while the mantillas fluttered in the grand stand, ‘Frank romped in from third. That was te signal for the Pactolus rooters to break loose. The score was two to one. What mattered it if Beltran Gon- zales fanned out and let Sanchez die on second? There was glory enough for the first round. Hoskins was very complacent. He showed his ability to adapt himself to circumstances. -. - “T reckon we'll get a game out of this, after all,” said he. “The Wonders always used to make a showing at _the start off and then let the balloon go up in the seventh or eighth. We'll just wait.for the ascension: _ Esperanza was the first man up in the second inning, then came Marcos Brett, and then Esteban Diaz. Frank fanned them all, and he did it so easily that some ap- plause came from the rival side of the diamond. Ortiz, however, returned the compliment’ in the last half of the second. Guido Fernandez threw a pall over his relatives by leading the fanning, but Pepe Garcia an. enthused Brad. . chimed in the _ Benito Alfarez distinguished themselves in a similar man-. ner, and Fernandez took a little comfort in his misery. _ Beginning the third round, a cross- eyed shortstop con- fronted Frank. The first offering from Frank was a fair ball, but Timoteo Frio, the “shortstop, must have seen it with his game eye. Be that as it may, he man- aged to i in front of it, and let goa Se as at banged a his Eee oa !” ordered Due Bill, ‘i Dick and Brad both started to their feet FisHottealy ; lanning to protest. The ruse was so palpable that they te indignant. Frank, however, had turned on Due Bi | “He jumped in ‘front of it, ‘Umstad, ” said Prank, oe. a sg Bos days Umstad. | Le ‘ mind, toa clash on account of the youngsters.” TEP ¢LOP, WERERILY: ‘A flurry of anger shook the grand stand and ran:down the side of the diamond preémpted by the Pactolus ‘parti- : zans. But it passed harmlessly,.as all eyes centered on Oriiz, the rival pitcher, who was now face to face With Sefior Chip. Senor Chip struck Ortiz out handily, just as he should have done to a player at the tail of the batting list. Juanito Rosalio stepped into the spotlight and was caught out by Ballard on a little pop-up. “Somehow, during the interval, Timoteo Frio had managed to reach third. Silva, the catcher, hammered a long one into deep right and Alfarez tumbled heels over head trying to get under it The ball must have got up and run away, for not only did Frio come home, but Silva made a ieee round of the bags and scored before the ball found itself and got back into Frank’s hands. Frank made a heroic effort and got the best of. his temper. But that extra score seemed so useless! Julio Gales never got a start for first, and the first half of the third closed with a score of three to two, favoring. the Giants. CitAr Pi Xx: AG EAR AOE SR aL CEOs The Mexicans on the Pactolus team were depressed. They could not bear to see the Giants leading by even a single score. Frank, Pink, and Clan did all they could — to cheer them ee Salvadore showed how hard his nerves had been wrung by standing stock-still and allowing three strikes to be called on him. He scowled blackly as he flung down his bat and started for the bench. Dick had given the game only part of his attention, ae he had noticed big Salvadore looming large among the Pactolus Mexicans. Guillaime Salvadore must have ap- peared among the spectators while the Giants were at bat in the third inning. At the big fellow’s elbow stood 3ajo Sol, the side of his face decorated with a piece of court plaster the size of a silver dollar. Where had these two come from? What had they been doing during their week of absence from the mine? These were questions which instantly toolg form in Dick’s They were followed by another mental question, equally pertinent: Why had the two come to that ball - game? Both Salvadore and Bajo Sol wore savage scowls. The eyes of Salvadore were fixed on his son. When he struck © out, his lip curled in a sneering smile. “Tle not was any good!” shouted a Mexican from the Golden Eagle side of the diamond. . Salvadore whirled like a flash and transfixed the speaker with a vicious glance. \ “Ee ees good as your boy, Ortiz!” he flared. It was Ortiz, the father of the Golden Eagle pitcher, who had jeered young Salvadore. And Salvadore, senior, | had taken up the cudgels fon Felipe. Ortiz, padre, fell We silent. “Savvy that Dick ?” _ whispered Buckhart to bis din, “Ortiz leads the trouble makers from the other mine, just. as Salvadore is a ringleader over here. They come sles vs Meanwhile the last half of the third inning was forward. Clancy, possibly taking pattern after Balked’ poor showing, failed to hit any of the tricks which youn ~~ Ortiz ee up ca his benefit, and retired ene : plate in disgust. Frank took a crack at the third one over, and saw Diaz gather it in safely on the right field. The side had been quickly retired, and despair con- tinned to.grow in the hearts of the Pactolus Mexicans. Frank took Salvadore aside and, for a couple of min- ne utes, talked to him earnestly. Frank felt that he was going to have poor support and that it was up to him and Salvadore to do most of the work; therefore it was necessary to have the backstop in a more hopeful state of mind, Felipe seemed to pluck up a little courage, and rank began opening his own box of tricks. Buckhart and Ralston watched the lad in the box with deepest interest. Dick’s thoughts and eyes were busy in other quarters. “Chip is as steady as a clock, Brad,” said Ralston. “Te’s pitching a wonderful game, Alf,” said. Brad, un- der his hyeath, “take it from me.” Delfos Esperanza, and Brett yielded the palm to Frank's prowess. The young pitcher had shouldered his bur- den, and was carrying it gallantly. - Ballard was the first man up when the W onders came to bat. It looked, for a time, as though he was going to retrieve himself, for he made a safe hit. Sanchez fanned, and Gonzales fanned; then, to cap the catas- trophes, Ballard was caught between second and third. The fifth round opened with Frank still trying to play for the whole team. Diaz was caught out on an easy fly; Frio, of, the mismated eyes, struck at every- thing that came toward him, and had holes’ in his bat; and Ramon Ortiz likéwise fanned for three consecutive times. “Yah!” jeered Salvadore, senior, good!” ‘ The big fellow had to have his fling at the pitcher’s father, so as to feel easy in his mind because of the slur cast on his own Felipe. Blood is thicker than water, and more binding than any lawless plot that was ever hatched. “You not insult Ramon’ howled Ortiz, bristling like an enraged cat. © Salvadore subsided,and carried the Token no fur- y hee In opening for the Wonders in the latter part of the fifth, Guido Fernandez surprised everybody by liniag one out. He might have taken two bases, but, in t) - uproar, he lost the voice of the coacher and hung to pf the first bag. _ Affairs were looking promising, and right where Frank had not expected anything of the kind. “Vou Ortiz ees no _ first ball pitched at Garcia. Garcia failed to do anything worth while, other than to give Fernandez a chance to reach third. — Clancy was coaching pie the other side of the dia- mond. The roar from the crowd caused Fernandez to mistake what Clancy said, and the result was a wind-up of the side in short order—Ortiz catching Alfarez out and then getting the ball over to third before F ernandez, who had ‘started for home, could get back. Ortiz, senior, capered and waved his bell-crowned hat. ’ alvadore, senior, eyed him sourly, but held. his peace. he sixth inning, the seventh, and then the eighth passed © In. the seventh, Frank had come close without a score. to bringing i in a run that would spoil the string of goose ggs, but no one had helped him. In the latter half of ninth, however, ‘he and Salvadore and Clancy would ve’ another and a final chance. The thing tg oe now Be He was doing. the coaching himself, and Fernandez stole second on the NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. “17 was to hold the Giants down and keep them from getting any more runs, “This looks some like a ball game, 3rad. There was no response, and Buckhart looked around to see that Ralston was missing from his side. “Hold ’em for the next spasm, Chip,” Brad called. “You can do it, son, and then you can turn around and bring in enough runs to show these Giants what a Mer- riwell can do when he puts his heart into it!” “We've got this game sewed up, Buckhart!” shouted’ Hoskins, across the diamond. “Watch us rip the stitches, then!” At that moment Ralston came hurriedly to Dick Mer- riwell’s side. Dick, sitting on an empty box, was con- tinuing to watch big Salvadore and Bajo Sol. Something was telling him that the two were present for no good purpose. _ “Dick,” whispered Ralston, quarters adobe.” The Yale man looked up quickly and caught a signifi- cant glance in the eyes of the assayer. “T think I’d better stay here, Alf, “Sdlinas.” Dick sprang to his feet as though electrified. He noticed, then, that: Salvadore and Bajo Sol were watch- ing him. Carelessly he looked at his watch, nodded to Ralston, and slowly made his way through the crowd. ‘So Pedro Salinas has turned up at last, eh?’ Brad asked of Ralston, in a whisper. “Yes,” was the equally guarded answer. “I had to go back to the tanks.to turn the solution off from the sec- ond row. Pedro halted mé as I was hurrying back to watch the game. He said he must see Dick at once, and that it was important.” ; fe might have left Dick alone until after the game,” Alf,” remarked “you're wanted at the head- Who wants me?” grumbled Brad. “Dick hasn’t seemed to take much interest in the game since big Salvadore and Bajo Sol showed up. There’s something queer going on, Brad. Pedro was so excited he ‘could hardly talk.” ; ‘Rosalio opened festivities for the Giants in the first half of the ninth. He flung his mop of black hair back on his head and made ‘faces at the sphere as it passed him. His eye was particularly good. Ball after ball - went by, and he had the distinction of being the first man to “walk” so far in the course of the game... “Chip did that a-purpose,” muttered Brad. “Why the dickens did he do it?” complaine d Ralston. “Fs he losing control ?” / “Not much, Alf! He’s using his head. He would rather give ‘the big hitter of the Giants one base than trust to his Mexican support to stop him once he got started. Now Silva, the backstop i is up.. Let’s see what | happens to him.” 3efore anything ‘happened to Silva, something had gone crossways with Rosalio, The Giant first baseman had started for second like a yellow streak. Felipe Sal- _ vadore, with a wonderful throw, got the ball across the | diamond to second, and Sanchez froze to it like grim death. Rosalio slid, and when the dust had settled and a tragic and breathless silence hung over the field, Due © Bill called monotonously : | 2 Se Sane “Runner out!” a: It looked, for a moment, as though every member ee ‘the visiting team would fall on Due’ Bill and crush gas 18 But Umstad: had all the.courage which is sometimes re- -quired’of.an umpire. / He ordered the playing to proceed. When the Giants continued to.show their. teeth, he threatened punishment. A word from Hoskins brought the Golden Eagle players to time. “Rosy was out, fair enough,’said the superintendent “T saw it myself. The ball was too fast for him.” This left the Giants without a leg to stand on, they went back to the bench. ‘Bully. fors‘you, Salvadore!” work, Sarichez !” The team was getting into dependable shape once more. Frank was more than glad to see it. “Make this a dotighnut; son!” cried Buckhart. begining in great she pe!” Silva’ coutld do nothing to the ball, and Julia Gales Bobbed up. Not’ much was hoped for from Julio by the Giants, c as so often Happens there was an atcident, ‘and Jiflio managed to get to: first. Delfos canie up, all-in a twitter to help Julio out. He kno¢tked the plate with'the end of his bat, and when two balls:and two strikes had been called on him, he lifted ‘the’ sphere ‘over short’s head: and into the field. The fielder made'a ‘muff,’ for the ball bounced out of his hands, flew over his head, and struck ground behind him: Buckhart ‘smothered a groan, and Julio Gales perched on third and Delfos gainec {| second, Esperanza was next. Salvadore, just to show that he could make poor plays as well as‘good ones, let a bal! pass him, and Gales stormed home: “Delfos was threwn-out at third, but too late to stop Gales from scoring, ~The score was now. four to two in favor of the Giants. The outlook was dismal for the Wonders, and the Golden ‘Eagle rootets’ were howling and singing, while a vast anid awful silence had fallen over the senoras and niiios ‘in the grand stand. “Buck up, son!” called Buckhart to Frank. Frank turned, and Brad saw that he was smiling. “They can’t feaze me, Brad,” the youngster atiswered. “Watch our smoke and see what happens.” ~ * called Frank. . “‘Good “You're \ « CHAPTER oe ) IF THE GIANTS. WIN—— “Dick reached the headquarters adobe and found Pedro Salinas, pacing the little office like a caged wild cat. * “Senor Dick,” demanded Salinas, eaping toward the ‘ perimendent: pro tem., “wiat eez ze score?’ eee to two when I left,” was the wondering answer. lags “lad has ze. titee? ‘ Who?” 89 he Giants.” , An expression of Aaeuish crossed the swarthy face of “Pedro Salinas. I{e leaned toward Dick, his breath com- ing in. labored gasps. ay ilow-show many Searing ees to play’ ms * he whispered oarsely. | MORE more. mei Madre. mia! sailed ‘Biting! staggering back and \ beating his forehead with his clenched fists. “Ay de mi!” rabied thoughtfully aroused, leaped at the ] Mexican and | bei They were beginning the ninth when I pe dt ‘the, aatbitat: is the Bae ith: spuds eM ” renee ada giving: he wer a ua, shake, " at Golden Eagle. and NEW. TIP... TOP. WEEKLY. “If ze game ees los’: by ze: Wonders, zen all ees/los’.” Salinas collapsed into a chair and drew a:sleeve over’ his wet forehead. That he was. terribly shaken. could: be easily seen, . demas ae: “What do you mean by that ?’»demanded Dick crisply. | “Beeg Salvadore and zat Bajo Sol zey been all week Zey learn how you try to stop ze burn- ing and ze riot by ze ball game. If ze W onders win; ‘zen ze Pactolus Mexicanos been so -happy zey not do somet’ing; if ze Wonders lose, zen’ Salvadore and Bajo Sol. zey lead ze Mexicanos-.against ze Americanos here. Pactolus Mexicanos planty mad if zey lose to Golden Eagle Mexicanos,” Dick was not slow grasping the idea. Already a hint of trouble had Shas to him in case the ball game went against the Wonder The Mexicans at Ket mine had been wrought up ‘to: i. furious a The feeling had extended even to the women and children. In case of defeat, they. would break out in rte lessness, and it would need ‘only Sal- vadore and Bajo Sol to tell them that the ball game was only a makeshift to prevent destruction of mining. prop- erty to fire them into going on with the original plan. It was a situation that was well nigh incredil - Viewed from calm American standards; the show of feeling was a butlesque of passion—but it was a burlesque that con- tained the germs of tragedy. Dick was calmness itself. The desperate nature of the ‘situation found him fearless and “ready to do what-. ever might be demanded of him im case worse came to” f io worst. f * On the diamond, young Frank was battling for vic- tory and for the safety of the mine. The lad had no _ ‘means of knowing just how much depended on his efforts, but he would fight for victory just as valiantly as Aah all the facts were known to him. Dick felt sure of young Frank. If he did not win’ his game, it would be because the initial success of the ’ Giants had taken the heart out of his Mexican players, If the Giants should win Dick’ s! reflections brought him up. short. He began pacing up and down the room and thinking deeply. | If the Giants should win, then, by an odd twist BE circumstances, not only the Pactolus Mine but the Golden [eagle as well would be in danger, Hoskins, playing his part well and eager to. see his team the victors, might only be helping to lift the flood gates for a tidal wave wie law- ‘ lessness—a wave that would overwhelm his own /prop-- ¥ erty 1 What a prank of fortune events were unfolding! “And: it was all because the Mexicans had Bait made discon- tented by some ‘of their own leaders! But who was it that had started the leaders? Big Cahelobe had been a favorite of the disgraced and. discredited Holbrook, and _ this same big Salvadore was wielding the most powerful influence against the peace and quiet of the Paste 1S camp. “Who started this ruction, Salinas?” demanded Dic + Ware ou able tordiscaver Sates. Shur ty “Andrus,” answered the other, ahs Bip “Sim Andrus! He was Holbrook’s dellt hums in the stealing that was going on here. Where is And now? Could we get hands on him quickly. oe HNO: Senor Dick. Sim. Andrus ees in ae. hills, He ' ; in aoe te wait aes see Ww ‘at eae : A 1 NEW Dick had made up his mind what he must do. Stepping to the office desk, he pulled out a drawer and removed a revolver. Not all the firearms in camp had been gath- ered up by the Mexicans! “Breaking” the weapon, he examined the cylinder. every chamber, held a fresh cartridge. Pedro’s eyes grew wide and fearful as he watched Sefior Dick. The latter dropped the revolver into his pocket and started coolly for the door. “You are sure that big Salvadore and Bajo Sol are to lead in the riot in case the game goes against the Wonders?” he asked. “Si, sefior! Me, I kees ze book! from ze Golden Eagle, ees to help.” “I see,’ said Dick grimly. “If the Giants win, then there is another way to nip this precious plot. in the bud. There will be two leaders of the mob who will not take part in the destruction of the mining property.’ Salinas started up and leaned toward Dick pleadingly, his hands outstretched. “Me, I die for you, sefior,” he whimpered. “But you try to capture beeg Salvadore and Bajo Sol, and you die yourself.” “Nonsense! I shall not try to capture Salvadore and Bajo Sol. If the worst comes, Pedro, it will call for sterner measures. You keep out of it. You have done well, and I shall not forget you.” : With that Dick passed from the headquarters adobe and made his way rapidly back toward the ball field. He could hear the shouts and yells of the Golden Eagle partizans, and he knew that fresh disasters had come upon the Wonders. When he reached the side of his Texas chum, the Giants were just trotting out on the field for the last half of the ninth inning. “What's the score, Brad?’”’. Dick inquired casually. “Four to*two, pard,” was the answer. _ “What are the prospects ?” “Chip says there will be something doing. There’s blood in the boy’s eyes. If he had any kind ‘of support _ the seore would have showed up a heap different.” Buck- ‘hart dropped his voice to a confidential pitch. ‘“What’s _ Salinas got on his mind?” “Tf the Wonders lose, Ortiz, big Salvadore, atid Bajo Es verdad! Ortiz, %9 Sol will work on the rage and disappointment of the Pac- tolus Mexicans and carry out the original plot “It doesn’t hardly seem possible!” “That's the way I get it from Salinas. ‘Tt the Won- ders win, the Pac tolus men will be too happy to think of any thing but celebrating their victory. You get around to the other side of the diamond, Brad, and if we lose this game make a prisoner of Ortiz. I’m going to look after big Salvadore and Bajo Sol.” . “T’ll wring that oiler’s neck if he tries to incite a riot!” growled Brad, and at otice started to put himself in a position where he could get hands on, Ortiz if the occa- sion demanded. : Dick slowly worked his way toward the place where Salvadore and Bajo Sol were standing, Just as he came close, a wild hubbub of cheers broke from the opposite side of the field, _ “What’s that?” Dick asked of Sanchez, who stood near. The blacksmith groaned. “Dat Salvadore he was first man up,” ‘Por Dios, he not hit ‘de ball one time. he answered. He struck out!” ; TIP TOP WEEKLY. , © 19 So the first hope of the despondent Pactolus Mexi- cans had gone glimmering. The rage of defeat was al- ready beginning to show itself. CHAPTER XII. THE CRISIS... Following Felipe Salvadore to bat, came the red-headed Clancy. Clancy was not ruffled in the least. He grinned as he rubbed a little dust on his hands, and he faced Ortiz as calm as a day in June. “Now, old horse,” he cried, “put a good one over— just one! You haven't got the nerve.” Ortiz had the nerve, but he proceeded to put his usual hocus-pocus on the ball by rubbing it over his stomach. “That’s his Jinx move, Clan!”’ yelled Ballard, from the bench. ‘Don’t swing at the first one.” 3ut Clancy did swing, and the bat cracked like a gun on the sailing horsehide. The ball struck ground some- where back of the third baseman, just clear of the foul line. Clancy legged it for first, and his red head, his red shirt, and his red stockings were merged into one solid mass of fiery color, sizzling, cometlike, down the path. There was a good pick up by a fieldeg, and the ball smacked into the hands of the first baseman. “Just a second behind schedule,” panted Clan, his foot on the sack. 4 Silence was everywhere. Could it. be oo that Chip Merriwell and his two chums were to save the day for the Wonders? The Golden Eagle contingent did not think so, but EN ee they stared, and_ breathlessly waited. Frank was next to take a stick. He was smiling con- fidently, and Ortiz yearned, oh, how he yearned, to strike him out. But he was not so quick to hand Frank a good one. Two balls were called before Ortiz put one over. Bang! Away went the ball into a spot which Frank had picked out, in the gap between second and the center fielder. Clancy got to second with a slide—he had had no chance to steal while, Frank was waiting for a good one, and he wasn’t taking many risks—and_ Frank jumped on first with both feet. Now it was up to Ballard: Billy Ballard who had not | starred_ himself a whole lot, so far. Ballard did not smile. The situation was too momentous. Of coutse he did not know that riot, burning, and: destruction hung upon the success or failure of his efforts, but he did know that the game might depend on him. He took his time; and, while he was taking it, Clancy got to third and F rank dove for second. “Go'on, Pink!” called Clancy, from the third station ; “we've cleared the way. The ball left the hand of Ortiz for the fourth time, and Ballard smashed it. Up the ball went, high and far. The left fielder began running back, but he could not ; possibly get under it. Clancy tore home. to bring in the score that tied the game. And then Bal- lard, his legs working like the piston rods of a locomo- — tive, started on a tour of the diamond. ‘1 The Pactolus Mexicans were mad with excitement. They waved their hats, their arms, their hands—they : jumped. up and down and. screamed wildly. ° Pe touched first. Frank tonched third in a wild rush a * this weekly, No. 35, out March 2oth. recovers some important letters, intended for his Uncle _ Diek, which had been obtained by fraud by Andrus from the Phoenix pést office. _ buster, sprinter, and revolver shot that turns the trick. 20 “Go on, you Pink!” piercing the hullaballoo. Ballard touched second. “Keep it up, Billy!’ That was Dick Merriwell. Ballard went to third just a-smoking. « s “Where's that ball?’ howled Hoskins. “By the great blooming blazes,»what’re you, doing with that ball? “Home, home, home !”’ whooped Ralston, Dick, and Brad, in chorus. And Ballard went home, and when he tottered, breath- less, across the plate, Felipe Salvadore took him in his arms and hugged him. Everybody went wild—tHe Pactolus Mexicans for joy, and the Golden Eagle Mexicans from rage and chagrin. Ortiz was so wild that he hunted up Salvadore, senior, and fell upon him and tried to throttle him—but only suc- ceeded in getting throttled himself. So these two leaders of the lawless forces came afoul of each other, and after that there could be no working together to burn and destroy. Bajo Sol sneaked away: in disgust when he saw Chip Merriwell, Owen Clancy, and Billy Ballard hoisted to the shoulders of the crazy Pactolus Mexicans .and carried around and around the ball grounds. “Dick,” said Brad Buckhart, with a laugh, “I’m sorry a heap I didn’ f have a chance to lay hands on Ortiz, but I opine big Salvadore has saved me the trouble.” “Chip i his chums,’ Dick answered, “have saved the It was Buckhart’s stentorian voice \ “And they did it handsomely. The fangs of this in- surrection have been neatly pulled by a couple of singlesr and a home run, What’s that you have in your hand, “-pard ?” > Dick looked down and saw that his right fist was glued to the office gun, “T came heeled, you old Texas steer,”’ he laughed, “ commit a few depredations on my own hook. But I _ guess it won’t be necessary now,” and he dropped the can back into. his pocket. THE END i , “Frank Merriwell, Junior’s, Special Mission; or, Dick -Merriwell’s Mail,” will be found in the next issue of In this story Chip It’s Chip’s excelling as.a broncho You will not only read this story with aparbing interest, _ but, we venture to say, will take a lot of pleasure in re-_ es reading it. F pe Oe Mart ABOUT TREES. ) Why does a tree die when we cut the bark? Because the inner bark contains the life of the plant. If it be cut at one side of the tree, that side of the tree above the cut will wither and die of starvation. All-its food is cut off. All its larders are closed. all round, the whole tree dies. pete e otiter bark is called the rind. In some trees, as nc the beech, this rind is thin. Jn pie road—so the reports got out.” ‘now paying its employees top-notch wages. where the council could better themselves.” If we cut the pare ‘the franchise then ?’ NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. place where the new buds are born and nourished. ‘The bark does nat grow so fast as the wood, and so it gets often torn and furrowed by the wood, bursting it out of its way. In some trees the outer parts of the bark are constantly being thrown off by exposure to the w eather. These are replaced by layérs of the inner bark. The wood also consists of two parts: the outer, or soft wood, and the interior, or heart wood. ‘The latter is usually firmer in texture and darker in color. Any day you may count the layers of wood. They are dis- tinctly seen. A new one is formed every year, close in to the inner bark, and that is how we can tell just how old a tree is. ; a Ah THE TROLLEY MAN. By ROLAND ASHFORD PHILLIPS, CHAPTER XXXII. BLAKE DOES SOME THINKING. The news of this unexpected victory had an almost miraculous effect upon the system. There were no more whisperings, no more discontented faces.. Even the men who had half-heartedly sided with Griggs that night be- — fore the petition was presented were now loud in their praise. The old motorman, Murphy, who, for the time had defended the withdrawn statement, was among the first to get Blake aside and shake his hand. “T made a fool of myself the other night, Blake,” admitted frankly. “I didn’t look at the matter in the right light. I guess, for the time, Fowler had us all going. ‘I see now where we were wrong. It was mainly through you that we gained what we. have, and every man on the job ought to be shaking your hand, too,’ “Nonsense,” answered Blake, “I felt it my duty to make you boys fight shy of Fowler, that’s all hasn’t one chance in a thousand of getting a franchise!” A week later this matter was suddenly brought. to ee again by a remark from Holland, who was at Blake's house for supper. “T saw Fowler to-day, Blake. Got on my car big city hall with Kennedy, one of the council !” Blake reflected a moment, a frown between eis brows. “Kennedy was the man at the head of this new | Tail: “Then Fowler really does stand in with him, Maybe there’s more in this affair than we count on.’ “Possibly,” Blake ventured. “But I’m at sea as to what they can do! Our company has revolutionized the street-car service of the town, built better cars, equipped them in the most modern style, extended its lines, and is i cannot se ; veh? Ny “When does the ‘old franchise expire! ? “On the first of the year.” ! “It’s. in ‘the | council’s PORES to renew or to. rejec “Absolutely !” - Holland ate for the ‘time in silence, ‘then foked 1] sharply into Blake’s face. ; “T was just thinking,” he mused, pene. for eer this affair will make.” “what a hes 1 Andens oie for the new company, which he claims to represent, bes -_ when, one night, a violent thunderstorm came up. iy it’ is of course attracted here,” \ NEW “1 was thinking of the same thing!” “Then you think Kennedy, with Fowler’s help, might try and throw the council?’ began Holland. “One can never tell what might happen,” Blake re- turned. ‘“‘Only—lI’m glad you mentioned seeing Fowler to-day. I’m going to keep my eyes open for a time now!” CHAPTER’ XXXIII. - AT THE POWER PLANT! During the discharge of his many duties, Blake be- came acquainted with Courtland, the chief electrician of the railroad, and later the two grew to be warm friends. Courtland admired Blake’s pluck in fitting himself for the electrical profession, and extended every courtesy pos- sible. As: Courtl and’s the river, there. Aided by the electrician, he made -of the whole system; ledrned the workings of the huge dynamos, the mysteries of the complicated switchboard, and a thousand other details that go to make up the manufacture of “current.” Blake was an apt student, and, profiting by his class work in the technical school, office was at the big power plant along e a careful study seldom had to have a thing explained more than once. . The thing that impressed Blake a great deal was the - method in which every bit of machinery was protected. “These dynamos are the largest in the Western coun- try,’ Courtland explained one night when Blake hap- pened to remark about it. “And to say that they are delicate and expensive is to put it mildly. They were shipped from New York and put together by experts. We can’t be too careful of them!” This fact was brought forcibly to Blake’s attention, After the first few vivid flashes of lightning, the dynamos were Ree: “Lightning being nothing ee than wild electricity, - Courtland announced. _ “That is why, even atthe cost of hukeaeg down all power - and stopping every wheel on our system, we tnust pro- tect those big dynamos. A single bolt of lightning, strik- _ ing here, would cause a half-million-dollar disaster !” “But I’ve heard that in the East this is, not done,” Blake argued. ‘‘What is the reason?” i The altitude,” Courtland, smiled. “The electrical ‘storms in this part of the country—being a mile higher han New York, are particularly dangerous!” oP And df these dynamos should burn out, or ‘be ruined, what then ?’ . “Tt would probably be a week before a wheel would urn! It is rather annoying to be on a stalled car dur- ‘ing a storm, but if the public only realized the necessity of the thing, there would be less complaining!” Blake remarked about the buckets of sand that were placed here and there at convenient intervals. _ “That is used in case of fire! Water is an unknown uantity around a power plant—especially in the dynamo A ee oe of it—being such an excellent con- remember ¢ Sets ‘the electrician resumed, “in a smal Blake frequently spent many of his evenings , TIP TOP WEEKLY. 21 plant back East, a tender, walking across the bridge, acci- dentally spilled a bucket of coffee upon the dynamo. In half a minute the machine was a piece of scrap iron!” “But in case this power house was put out-of business, the company has an emergency plant on the other side of the city, haven’t they ?” ‘They have.. But at the present time they are installing several new dynamos in it. If.anything should happen here, I’m afraid the company would be up against it!” So the lessons continued, night after night, Blake ab- sorbing material literally through every pore—much like a dry sponge would suck up a-glass of water. He came to know most of the workers’by sight, and they always spoke pleasantly to him on every occasion, One night, passing through the immaculate dynamo room, he stopped to speak with the engineer in. charge, a small, wiry Irishman, Macdonald. “Sure, and it’s shameful the way they’ve been treating me, Mr. Blake,” he complained. ““They’re foriver chang- ing me assistants. All of me old bunch have gone, and a lot of greenies are taking the jobs. Sure, and I won- der the machines don’t go. wrong. It’s a perfect baby one of thim machines are, now, needin’ ivery care and atten- tion: [’m waiting for trouble, that’s what I am!” Blake laughed at the Irishman’s troubles. “Mr. Courtland tells me you’ve never had trouble in this plant yet, Mr. Macdoriald, and that you’re the finest engineer he’s ever had under him. I’d like to see the man who could make trouble for you!” It was after ten o’clock that night when Blake left the brightly lighted plant, stepped through the door, and made his way brisk kly ais the dark street to the nearest trolley line. Passing the edge of the building, a form ran along and ducked into the shadows. Blake hesitated, alert on the instant. Strangers were never allowed in or around the plant, and no man who had a right to be in the vicinity would act in this manner. > Grimly c clenching his fists, and regretting he did not . have a weapon of some kind, Blake turned from the walk and strode boldly around the corner of the building into | the shadows. It was not so dark but that he could dis- tinguish a pile of bricks to one side—left there, ap- parently, by the contractors. He advanced cautiously now. ; “Come out of there, you!” Blake exclaimed, thinking he saw a crouched form behind the bricks. “Hurry! I’m armed! If. you don’t move, I’ll shoot!” He waited a moment. No one answered him. went over and kicked the dark form. cement !” pak It was'a bag of CHAPTER XXXIV. BLAKE DISCOVERS SOMETHING. \ es the days that followed, several things happened that puzzled not only the men concerned in them, but Blake — and Mr, Rice as well. First, a car on a suburban line, roe alone while the crew were in at a lunch counter, suddenly broke loose, and shattered itself ponte a tele ; graph pole at the bottom of the hill, . On being ee by Blake, the motorr Van swo e he had set. the brakes and. taken the -coutravler bs with him. The very next afternoon, on a ‘ine has . pees pt of ‘the’ city, a car was dera piles, -feom: ne ao - NEW. TIP TOP WEEKLY. apparent cause, and overturned into a ditch. The crew could offer no plausible explanation. On examining the track at this point, some time later, Blake found a spike firmly imbedded in one of the ties, and bent ovér against the rail. This had evidently struck the flange of the wheel on the first truck, and had been sufficient to throw the car to one side. For the time Blake decided to keep this unexpected discovery to himself. Hardly had these happenings co8led, than one night, after all the cars were in the barn, one of the pitmen detected a burning bundle of waste right near the oil cans. It was tramped out in the nick of time. Shortly afterward Blake dropped into the private office of the division superintendent. “JT presume you have ‘core to the same conclusion I have, Blake, eh?” Mr. Rice began abruptly. “You mean in regard to these—disturbances ?” “Exactly !”’ “T only need one guess,” Blake ventured. Fowler himself or his hirelings.” “Those are my opinions, too.” “With your permission I'll take the front end of one of these suburban lines and try to get at the bottom of the mystery. Maybe by taking a different run a night, | can unravel some of these threads.” “Go as far as you like,’ Rice exclajmed. For a week Blake relieved the regular runs. Nothing of interest happened. Just as he was about to attempt some other method, the unexpectéd turned up. é It was a dismal, wet night. @lake had run the White Plains car since seven o’clock, and had hardly carried fifty passengers from that time until midnight. On the last trip the dispatcher had sent them to the barn after reporting; and Blake, anxious to get in out of the weather, had fet the car speed tp to the last notch on the straight track, when, so abrupt as to give him _ time hardly for a second breath, he felt the wheels strike, grind, and finally buckle under the body of the car. A splintering crash followed. The lights went out like a puffed candle. Blake was liftéd from his feet and fairly hurled through the glass vestibule. He seemed an hour in the air. He felt the cold rain against his face. Oblivion came to him as he crumpled to the ee ground. “Tt is either / CMNAPTER XXXV. THE WARNING. | He floated back to earth again with a throbbing head and an aching body. He felt as if he had been set _ upon and beaten with clubs. He lifted himself erect, and saw that the car was a few feet distant, half over the embankment, roof caved in. Blake looked around in the dim light. It was still raining. He called. What had. happened to his con- ductor? Steeling himself against the pain, he stumbled. in and about the car, but he found no sign of the man. To all appearances, he had been either carried off, or had run away. © _ The increasing agony in his arm, which had been badly ‘ eed caused him to groan. His clothes were bedrag- -gled, mud-covered, clinging to his limbs like glue. The blood was running down his arm into his hand, and he aren to wipe it eT ma met much success. _oyerheard them talking—about the power plant, other man was As his had been the last car over the line that night, the only thing left for him to do was stumble in the gloom to the nearest house, find a telephone, and notify the dis- — patcher of the accident. He staggered ahead. It seemed he walked for an hour before a house loomed up, and a faint light burn- ing in one of the windows cheered him not a little. He quickened his pace, reached the fence, lurched through the open gate, and up the walk to the stoop. Here he was oe to rest for a moment, holding his arm. He would have to get it attended to as soon as possible—the loss of blood was making him faint and giddy. He crawled along the porch, and pounded weakly against the door. After an interval it was opened and he saw the dim forms of a man and girl. The man uttered a sharp _exclamation, bent over, and dragged him inside; but the jerk upon his wounded arm was too great, and he col- lapsed like a limp cloth. When again his eyes fluttered open, he realized he was upon a low,couch, and that a girl was hurrying quietly about the room. His arm felt so much better that he heaved a quick sigh of relief, which caused the girl to turn, and, in the yellow light from the lamp on the table, their eyes met. “Why—why”—he gasped—‘you? The girl came hastily to him. “Mr. Blake,’ she exclaimed. “Are you better I’ve been so worried, I sent father after a physician. came and dressed your arm. They have just gone.” He smiled and pressed her warm hand. “Thanks. You are very good. What a ae thing I should find you—here!” He sat up, a trifle dizzily, but otherwise fast all. right. “I thought you were—in Golden?” “Don’t you remember, I told you I was to leave there on the first of the month?” she said. “Oh, yes; I’d forgotten. ver since then?” “Since September !” She suddenly became serious. “T just learned where you were yesterday,” she hurried: “Did you receive my letter?” “Letter?” he asked blankly. “T wrote you this morning—directed it to the railroad company.” “It is probably at the barn now. since; four o’clock.” “It was of the utmost importance. I felt as if you should know. It—it concerns the power plant. of the company—your company.” He stared-at her in amazement, The power plant? Miss Mills?” now? He And you’ve been in Den- + hat do you mean? ness house. Heisa member of the council. You know - that ?” “Yes, yes;” he gripped her arm. A quick suspicion’ crossed his mind. “Go on! What about the plant?” “Last night, while I was in the office, a man came in. i to see Mr. Kennedy, I was behind a screen, filing away some papers. They did not seem to. think of me. ee ”? Was his name—Fowler ?” “Quick ! I had forgotten. Kennedy called “Yes, that was lt. I haven’t been in . How ty “I have been working for Mr. Kennedy, in his busi- Tags a a a a a er a im rp he 1- NEW. TIP him that. Fowler said—everything was ready. That ‘he’d be at the power house at midnight, They were to spring the surprise at the change of shift—two o’clock in the morning!” Blake forgot the pain in his arm. His face was flushed. “You think—they meant to harm he gasped, “Listen. I didn’t get all of it—but I heard something about—‘killing the dynamos!’” 4 “Good heavens!” Blake leaped to his feet. “I wrote you immediately.. 1 thought you know. I felt——” “Yes, yes; I know. You did right. Kennedy is the councilman who is interested im the new railroad com- pany, Miss Mills,” he exclaimed swiftly. “And this should Fowler is his tool: They are going to damage the big dynamos to-night. The cowards!” He looked about the room. ‘ “Where is the clock? What time is it?” She ran to a watch on the table. “A quarter to one,” she announced. “But what can you do—how ee “Oh, I don’t know exactly! Only we've got to pre- went this thing! Quick! What else did they say?” “Not very much more. Only, just as they went out, Fowler said something about stopping all the cars and revoking the franchise!” Blake stood silent a moment, his brain racing. he whirled. “T understand!