—— ———————————————————— — ———————————————————————————————————————— NOVEMBER 8, 1913 NEW TIP TOP ee " a i Reg ee —— os a re a : a Se ad An Ideal Publication For The American Youth es Issued Weekly. Entered as Second-class Matter at the New York Post Office according to an act of Congress, March 38,1819. 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, regis- tered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk ifsent by currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. NN ciccac db dass Seach sous GSC. OME YOAT .oeee vsstee soceee cooeee $2.50 Receipts—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper 4 MNONEHS, .0 060+ creceesveseveee 85ce. 2 COPieS ONE VEAL «-s+eee vevseess 4,00 change of number on your label. If not correct you have not been 6 MONKS, «10-00 seoese cecccnces! $1.25 1 COPY TWO YEATES. .-oe00-ceencees 4.00 properly credited, and should let us know at once, No. 67. NEW YORK, November 8, 1913. Price Five Cents. Frank Merriwell, Junior’s, Classmates; Or, STANDING BY HIS COLORS. By BURT L. STANDISH. CHAPTER I. IN THE RIDING HALL. The balcony in the riding hall of the famous Fardale Military Academy was crowded that afternoon. Colonel Gunn, in command of the institution, was there, and also Mrs. Colonel, in command of the colonel. Colonel Gunn had wanted to motor into the country, and Mrs. Gunn had wanted to see.the plebes ride the horses. So they com- promised and saw the plebes. Among the sight-seers, the colonel was the sole repre- sentative of the faculty. The crowd in the balcony was made up, for the most part, of upper classmen, who had come in the joyous anticipation of seeing some of the plebes take a tumble. Here and there, however, glowed a handsome, girlish face. Visiting “femmes” had not been barred, and half a dozen were present from the village, each escorted by a trim cadet in uniform. One cadet es- corted two, although he had eyes for but one. This little group of three had seats by the balcony tail. Both girls were beauties, and the cadet himself was darkly handsome. They were the objects of admiring glances by others in the gallery. : “Look at Teneyck over there,” said Joe Gordon to Cadet Captain Presbery. “He’s a lucky dog, believe me—regular thorn between two roses. I know the blonde; she’s Maizie Merlin, and her dad is Merlin, the banker. Ten has her out to all the hops. But who’s the dark one, Pres? Do you know?” “I heard Miss Merlin introduce the dark one to Ten as Loretta June,” retiirned Presbery calmly. “From out of town, I think, and visiting at the Merlins’?’ ( “My compliments to Ten, and please tell him he’s a hog,” growled Gordon. “Why doesn’t he introduce Miss June i \ : j to some of the class? I’d a lot rather be over there talk- ing with her than sitting here gassing with you.” Presbery’s eyes kindled. “Did you ever know Teneyck to do the pleasant and agreeable thing, Gordon?” he asked, with just a touch of sarcasm in his vice. “He detests the riding hall as much as he does the gymnasium, and it’s just one thing. that brings him here this afternoon.” “What's that ?” “He hates Chip Merriwell, and he’d give a gdod deal to see the plebe get an ugly spill.” Gordon frowned. “I guess you're right about that,” he answered. “Ten has no use for .Merriwell. Personally, I’m quite an ad- miréer of that dashing, go-ahead plebe, but—well, Merry has made such a success here that he’s getting himself. into troubled waters. Strange but true, Pres.” Presbery grunted. Although he was an upper classman, he believed in Merriwell fully and resented the troubles — his success was bringing him. “If Gunn would leave Chip alone,” he muttered, “things might be different. But Merriwell will prove to be bigger than his troubles, mark what I say.” ; The plebes, in detachments of a dozen each, were to have preliminary instruction in horsemanship. The first detachment was almost ready to show what it knew, or didn’t know, and Lieutenant Finley was waiting, with a sharp eye, to measure the work and the equestrian pos- sibilities of each member of the squad. Finley, mounted on a superb black horse, rode out to the center of the tanbark arena and faced the wide doors at the rear of the hall, The doors opened and a dozen plebes marched in, each leading his steed. Merriwell was at the head of the procession. eee ‘NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. Halting near Lieutenant Finley, Merriwell lifted his hand to hig cap in salute. “The detachment is present, sirt*: . “Who is that, Wally?” whispered Maizie Merlin, leaning toward Teneyck. “That?” drawled Teneyck, “why that is the school pet, Maizie. Haven’t I told you about him? He’s the only plebe on the regular eleven, and True has picked him for the basket-ball team, and I hear he has been drafted for the hockey squad.” “Oh!” murmured the girl, “I recognize him now. He played end in the game with Franklin—Mr. Merriwell.” The dark girl on Teneyck’s left, listening quietly to the conversation between her two companions, suddenly leaned forward on the rail with intense interest, The color came arid went in her rounded cheeks, and her large, languishing eyes’ seemed to regard no one but Merriwell. © “He’s a conceited upstart,” said Teneyck, with a twinge of malice, “and because his father and his uncle made records for themselves here at the academy, Chip Merri- well thinks he’s about the whole thing.” There was so much pent-up feeling displayed in Ten- eyck’s low. words that Maizie Merlin: drew back and stared at him in surprise. “Well,” said she, “I’m free to say that he doesn’t look like a conceited upstart.” Teneyck scowled. “Keep your eye on him, then,” he answered, “and you'll get a surprise. Merriwell has got Old Baldy, the worst horse in the stables. Old Baldy will come a cropper and Stand® Merriwell onchis head, if I’m any prophet.” Teneyck mentioned this possible disaster to Merriwell in a way that signified the accident would not be at all un- pleasant so far as he was concerned. A perplexed look crossed the fair face of Maizie Merlin. It might be that she was gétting a glimpse of a side of Wally Teneyck’s character which surprised and displeased: her. “T, at least, hope not,” said she, with emphasis. “See that chap with the swarthy face, the fourth one down the line from Merriwell?” went on Teneyck. i Oy Bey “Well, that’s Jeff Pettigrew. He comes from the West, and he knows more about horses in a minute than Merri- well does in-a year. He'll ride circles all around the son of his dad, Maizie,” ‘The other girl was still watching Frank. But if her eyes were for Frank, her ears were for Teneyck; and, like Maizie, she resented the spirit Teneyck was show- ing. - Besides Merriwell and Pettigrew, Merriwell’ s two chums, Owen Claney and Villum Kess, were numbered among the plebe riders, Lieutenant Finley had ordered the lads to stand * horse, to prepare to mount, and then to|/mount. All swung to their saddles with more or less skill save one. That - was the Dutch boy. At the order, “Prepare to mount!” Villum had thrust his left foot into the stirrup. At the command, “Mount!” he | started to rise, and at the same moment his horse d-stepped sidewise away from him. he result was comical. Villum’s right foot went up in the air, but instead of coming down over the saddle it came down over his left foot, turning him to an about The foot in the stirrup slid out, and just as ‘it did so the horse jumped. This jump gave Villum a boost, — and he went up like a frog and came down as though ‘ he was trying to dive through the tanbark. Everybody laughed—except Villum. The gallery was in a roar, the plebes on their horses grinned; and Finley — As managed to do his laughing inside and keep a straight — face. oe “Sooch a horse vat I don’d know!” fumed Villum, get- — ting up and shaking off the tanbark. “Oof he don’d vait ondjl I get me der sattle in, how he rides mit me, hah?” “Silence, there!” called Finley, in a stern voice, . ‘Mr. Kess, I said mount.” “I try dot, sir. Blease, 1 do him some more.” _ Villum went back to his horse and this time succeeded in getting into the saddle. He was a chubby,.awkward chap, and kept himself humped together as though afraid 5 to straighten out. But he wore a broad. smile, now that — he was safely on the horse, and waved a triumphant hand _ to the crowded balcony... “You will give your attention to your horse, Mr. Kess,” Fi said Finley, in a. lowered tone, “and not to the spectators. Mr. Merriwell !” ' iia ae “Yes, .sir,” said Frank. vt 2g “Lead the detachment: around the hall.” Ue Merriwell’s face flushed, and his eyes brightened. For t skill, and daring,. and sheer ‘athletic ability there was none at the school: to outmatch him. He was perfectly at home in the saddle—a fact which Teneyck did. not — know,. The feel of saddle leather between his knees had — set his blood to bounding in his ‘veins.. Then that order'to — lead the detachment had caused all his enthusiasm to rus to the surface. Away he started on the mettlesome Old Baldy, swaying in perfect consonance with the horse’s movements. ' “He—he rides like a centaur, Wally!” exclaimed Miiete Merlin. "ota “His horsemanship is perfect!” breathed ‘Loretta June. Teneyck, startled by the ease with which the plebe main- tained his seat and controlled his horse, stared stonily as the dozen riders flickered around the big arena. Wasn’t there anything under heaven which Chip Merriwell could not do? was the question the chagrined Teneyck was ask- ing himself, In contrast with Merriwell, Peailerew, who came S a the West and knew. so much about horses, was almost 0 ; a par with the awkward vee and cut a very.poor figure indeed. . Pettigrew geernedt hescdhe i the pace which werwale was increasing every minute. Around and around the riders dashed, the sodden thump of hoofs echoing through the big building with a faster and faster heat, In her excitement, Mazie Merlin dropped one of = e gloves she was holding in her small hands, Her hands at the moment, were over the balcony rail and the glove was wafted far out upon the tanbark, Merriwell, who was leading the riders toward that en of the hall, saw the glove descend,. He swerved Ol Baldy a little and leaned over’ the side of the horse, hold: ing himself to the saddle by a crook of his knee. .F a second his hand trailed in the tanbark; and then, easily and gracefully, his fingers closed on the glave and he lifted his lithe body again to the saddle. : “Bravo! bravo!” cried Colonel Gunn, clapping his hands “Oh, wasn‘t that fine!” murmured Maizie, her cree stars and her face flushing nasil: ot be be Fk y 2 ew) a an pe ee eae. nines NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. ; 3 Loretta’s darkly beautiful face reflected the pleasure in her friend’s, and she had joined enthusiastically in the applause. “A rough cowboy trick!” sneered Wally Teneyck. “Tt was splendidly done, anyhow,” said Maizie Merlin. CHAPTER Il. RIVALRY. “By George!” Joe Gordon was saying to, Presbery. “Where did Merriwell learn to ride? He goes about it as though he was born to the saddle.” Presbery smiled contentedly. “He was, in a way,” he answered. “I come from near Bloomfield, where Chip’s people live. Chip’s father has a ranch out West, and I fancy that it was on the ranch that Chip learned those tricks of horsemanship.” The upper classman chuckled. “The fellows who came here to see Merriwell get the worst of this riding stunt are not having the fun they thought they were going to. Look at Ten. From the expression on his face you’d think he had swallowed a peck of sour grapes.” “That glove business hit him hard,” said Gordon, smothering a laugh. “It was his best girl’s glove! Well, if I was in Ten’s shoes I’d be uneasy, too. Both those girls are watching Merriwell as though he ‘was the only chap in the hall. Whew! Say, I wish Miss June would switch those beautiful lamps at me for a spell. If I went around there, and made a bluff at talking to Ten, wonder if he’d introduce me?” “Gammon! Stay where you are and don’t be so splashy. You—great Scott! Look at that, will you?” Merriwell, charging around the hall once more, had rolled the glove into a ball, and, with unerring hand, flung it upward. The glove went over the rail, and Maizie Mer- lin caught it with both hands laughingly. She nodded and smiled downward as Merry galloped past. Teneyck twisted uncomfortably in his seat. He was always harping about “taking Merriwell down a peg.” He wished he might do something of the sort now, right down there in the hall, where Mazie Merlin and all the rest could see. But, crafty as he was, he couldn’t think of anything to do. Merriwell seemed to dominate the situa- tion completely. “He’s showing off,” said Teneyck grumpily. “I wish some more of them would ‘show off,’ as you call it,’ Loretta turned her head to remark. “Mr. Pettigrew seems to have all he can do to stay on his horse.” “That’s only his Western way of riding,” explained Teneyck. “T never saw any Westerners ride like that,” was the spirited rejoinder. Teneyck looked at Miss June distrustfully. “Have you seen many of those wild-and-woolly chaps cut their capers?” he queried. “A great many times, Mr. Teneyck, only I never found them wild and woolly. All the Westerners I have ever seen are splendid. examples of generosity and ability— quite different from many I have met in the East.” Teneyck* relapsed suddenly into silence. The dancing blue eyes of the girl on his right met the dark eyes of the one on his left for a second. Both girls smiled: sig- nificantly, and Teneyck cHafed inwardly and his spirit rankled. Some one touched his shoulder. He looked around, with a positive feeling of relief, and saw Gordon. “Howdy, old man!” said Gordon, with an effusive friend- liness he was far from feeling. “Enjoying the perform- ance ?” Teneyck said something under his breath. “Miss June, Mr. Gordon,” said he. “You have already met Miss Merlin, I think, Joe.” So Gordon, who was a great fellow for hops and had gained much fame as an entertainer of “femmes,” won his coveted introduction to Loretta June. A yearling who sat next to Miss June obligingly and enviously vacated his seat. “Mr. Merriwell,” Loretta remarked, “seems to be the star attraction.” “He’s a star at nearly everything, Miss June,” replied Gordon, “but, for all that, he’s not the sort of chap who likes to, star himself. Greatness seems to be thrust upon him, as it were. Merriwell has the talent for doing things, and he has to take the consequences.” Gordon was displaying a character so different from Teneyck’s that Loretta favored him with a grateful smile. “Mr. Teneyck says that he is the school pet.” “Then Teneyck must have inside. information that has got past the rest of us. Presbery, captain of the eleven, picked Merriwell up, put him on the team, and Merriwell walked away with the Franklin game. Naturally Pres admires him, but that doesn’t mean that he’s making him a ‘pet.’” “Certainly not,” the other agreed vivaciously. “Of course,” Gordon went on, “Merriwell is a plebe, and there are a lot of fellows in the academy who think students should be seen and not heard during their first year. But everybody. seems to be hearing from Merriwell —it’s forced on him, and he can’t help it—and some are calling him ‘cheeky.’ Teneyck, I think, is one of that lot.” “What do you think, personally?” “Merriwell helped Teneyck and me out of a bad scrape, and it goes without saying that I can be grateful, even to a plebe.” “Why can’t Mr. Teneyck be grateful, too?” “Oh, I guess he’s grateful enough,” returned Gordon uncomfortably, “only he has a poor way of showing it.” “T should think so!” said Miss June. Finley was allowing the plebes to do about as they pleased. Drawn off to one side he was watching sharply, but he had.no comments to make, no orders to give. Shortly after Merriwell had picked up the glove, Petti- grew took off his cap, and, as he swept around, dropped it almost on the very spot where the glove had fallen. Others, divining his intention, likewise dropped their caps. Villum Kess, more ambitious than he was capable, was among those who had cast their headgear on the tan- bark. Villum, however, did not attempt to pick up his cap from the saddle. He fell off his horse, gathered his feet under him with a quick movement, picked up the cap, and put it on his head, and then waited for the horse to come around to him. The animal had kept in line with the other horses. The real fun came when Villum jumped and tried to re- mount with the horse going at a gallop. With a firm hold on the saddle he tore over the tanbark. He was a good runner, and that was in his favor, and he was agilé, too, in spite of his awkward build. When he went up in the air looking for the saddle, he 4 : NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. was all in a sprawl. Somehow ‘or other, however, he managed to come down on the horse’s back. He bowed low to the laughter and the cheers. The plebes themselves had been watching Villum, and for two or three rounds of the arena, had made no at- tempt to pick up their hats. Now, those of the detach- ment who had elected to try Merriwell’s feat, made ready for the ordeal. Merry, in the lead, slowed the pace. He was not at- tempting anything more in the spectacular line and slack- ened to make the work easier for the plebes who were. Clancy, directly behind, got his cap and wriggled back into his seat on his horse. He had barely succeeded, and he had not been at all graceful, but there he was with his cap on his head. Pettigrew felt that he had a reputation as a Westerner to sustain. He leaned to the side of his horse and hung by the knee. Poor judgment caused him to go over too soon, and his horse fretted as the plebe trailed and bumped. The animal shied. Cries of alarm burst from the specta- tors in the balcony, Pettigrew lost his grip on the saddle and plunged into the tanbark on his head and shoulders, The horse, fright- ened by the cries, halted and reared on its hind feet, di- rectly over the fallen plebe, “Roll out of the way!’ shouted the watchful Finley, flinging toward the scene on his black charger. But Pettigrew did not seem to hear; or, if he heard, was stunned and unable to ohey:. The pawing forward hoofs of his mount were directly over him. They must come down with frightful force, and it appeared \as though they »would surdly trample the luckless Pettigrew. Horror held spectators and plebes alike chained and motionless. Yet not all the plebes. Merriwell, always quick to think and act in an emergency, was alert and ready to help his unfortunate classmate. Lieutenant Finley, al- though dashing toward the spot, was too far away to be of much service. Under the ‘staring, frenzied eyes of those in the bal- cony, Merriwell whirled Old Baldy to the left, dug the brute’s side with his heels and shot in between Pettigrew and his rearing mount. A tug at the reins brought Old Baldy to an astonishingly quick halt. The danger had merély been shifted from Pettigrew to Merriwell, it seemed. Frank was now under the up- raised hoofs, but it was not in his scheme to let them descend upon him. He leaned forward along Old Baldy’s arched neck. Down came the other horse, its thrashing legs behind Frank’s saddle. At'the same moment, Lieutenant Finley slipped to the side of his black, grabbed Pettigrew by the col- lar, and snaked him out of the way. The legs of Petti- grew’s horse slid clear of Frank’s mount, and Frank twisted sharply around and caught the animal by the bridle. It was all oyer in less than a minute—so quickly, in fact, that the spectators could hardly realize that the . danger was past. Then Colonel Gunn jumped to his feet in the balcony and forgot his pomp and dignity long enough to shout a loud “Bravo!” The cry was taken up by all the rest of the crowd, Ten- eyck alone, excepted, Merriwell was cheered to the echo. The spell lifted, the balcony fairly buzzed with talk. “Wasn’t that splendid!” exclaimed Maizie Merlin, her blue eyes a-sparkle with excitement and admiration. “Mr. Merriwell was so quick!” returned Loretta June. “He knew just what ought to be done, and he was able to do it!” “That plebe,” murmured Gordon, drawing a long breath, “has more chances at fame than any chap I ever saw. And he never lets a chance get away from him, He is Johnny-on-the-spot. Ouch, but that gave my nerves a twist !” \ Jeff Pettigrew was not hurt in the least. He picked up his hat, brushed his clothes, and returned calmly to. his horse, It was noticed, however, that he said nothing to Merriwell. Little by little the excitement died out. A peculiar silence settled over the upper classmen. What their thoughts were it might have been hard to guess. Teneyck’s reflec- tions were easier to place, “Luck’s on the side of the son of his dad,” he mut- tered. “If I had the same luck, I'd be the most popu- lar chap at Fardale. But,” he added craftily, “maybe luck is overdoing it—for him. There is such a thing as starring oneself too much and plastering the heroic work on too thick.” “What did you say, Mr. Teneyck?” inquired Maizie Merlin. Teneyck started as he met the cool, appraising blue eyes of his companion. “Qh, nothing,” he drawled. “I’m getting tired of this, Maizie. Don’t you think we’d better be going?” CHAPTER III. AN ORDEAL, “Vat’s der madder mit Peddigrew? He don’d say some- ding yen Chip keep him from coming down mit his front feets and smashing der horse; mein, nod so mooch as t’ank you. I vonder vy iss dot?” Villum Kess put the question to Clancy. The three chums were on their way from the riding hall to bar- racks, hurrying a little in order to have ample time to get ready for supper formation. Merriwell was a few steps in the lead, with Clancy and Kess walking side by side just behind him. The crowd of visitors and upper classmen were coming slowly out of the riding hall and straggling off across the parade ground. Those of the cadets who were “drag- ging’—that is, escorting “femmes”’—were moving in the direction of the road and a line of carriages. Among these were Teneyck and Gordon, the former with the fair Maizie and the latter marching proudly beside the, darkly beautiful Loretta. At a little distance in advance of Merriwell the two upper classmen and the two girls had halted. Maizie and Loretta were casting covert glances in Frank’s direction, much to the displeasure of Teneyck. “I don’t know what's the matter with Pettigrew, Villum,” said Clancy, “and I don’t care a hoot. He’s not worth the price. If he isn’t civil enough to thank Chip for keep- ing him from suffering damage from the hoofs of that rearing horse—well, be hanged to him. He’s a pup, any- way; that’s my opinion.” “I got some obinions oof der same kindt,” growled Villum. “Say, vonce,” he added, his attention suddenly attracted to another quarter, “vat a lofely girl iss der vone mit Deneyck, und der odder mit Gordon iss more so, eh? Chip has a luckiness mit himselluf, I bed you. See how dey look around for him! None oof der girls look NEW TIP aroundt for me!” Villum finished with a sigh like the exhaust of a locomotive. Clancy grinned. “If you or I had snatched that glove off the tanbark, Villum,” said he, “or saved Petty from getting smashed, maybe the girls would shoot a few glances our way, and Jove!” he broke off abruptly, “do you hear that? - Gordon’s calling Chip.” Frank heard Gordon and looked around in surprise. For the first time he saw the girls and the two upper class- men, and his face flushed. Swerving from his course he approached the little group. Owen and Villum jogged on slowly, but managed to keep a covert watch on proceed- ings behind them. Teneyck, as Merriwell drew near, whirled on his heel wrathfully and left Gordon and the two girls. Gordon shot a surptised glance after him and shrugged his shoul- _ ders. Maizie and Loretta paid no attention to Teneyck’s —churlish move. “What is it, Gordon?” Merry asked, as he came close. “Miss June, Mr. Merriwell,” said Gordon; “Miss Mer- lin, Mr. Merriwell. The ladies,” Gordon added drolly, _ “wished to meet the hero of the tanbark. For a plebe, -. Merriwell, you are greatly honored.” _ That last remark of Gordon’s was a hint and a warning for Frank. Plebes were not supposed to attend hops or “dragging.” Out of the kindness of his heart, and merely to save Frank from being carried too far, Joe Gordon had offered a veiled suggestion. “Of course I’m honored,” returned Frank, bowing. He was also a bit uncomfortable. The frankly admiring glances of the two girls were responsible for that. “JT just wanted to thank you for returning the gloye, ‘Mr. Merriwell,” said Maizie, “and to ask you if you will call at my home to-morrow evening?” A rich red suf- fused her cheeks, possibly from a fear that he would misinterpret her meaning.. “A business matter entirely,” she quitkly added, “between Loretta and my father and and yourself.” _ Frank was surprised. He had never met Mr. Merlin, and had only just been introduced to Miss June. What “business matter” could call him to the banker's home? Loretta saw his hesitation. . “Please, Mr. Merriwell!” she begged, “It hing very important.” Gordon was as puzzled as Merriwell, and his face went blank for a moment. _ “All right,” said Frank; “I'll come.” “You haven’t much time before supper formation, Mer- riwell,”* said’ Gordon, “so we won’t hang onto you,” Merriwell lifted his cap, the girls smiled and nodded, is some- ex and, greatly mystified, he went on and joined Clancy and ~ Kess. A large number of cadets had witnessed the little ‘cene on the parade ground. They were too far away o overhear what was said, and had to guess as to what ook place. “Wow!” joked Clancy, as the three again proceeded to- ward barracks, “you seem to haye made a big hit with “the fair sex, Chip!” - “Nefer do I make sooch hits,” murmured Villum sadly. _ “Bosh!” returned jae annoyed, “No hit about it. “Goon!” 9 “Fact! Mr: Merlin wants to see me about ‘something, TOR WHEREY. OO 7 ee The three chums just then passed Pettigrew, Bingham, and two or three more plebes who had taken part in the riding-hall exercises. Merriwell called out a cheery re- mark to them, but they did not seem to hear it, and looked stonily in his direction. Merriwell stopped and stared. “What's biting you fellows?” he demanded. Still there was no reply. The other plebes turned their backs and talking themselves. A grim expression came to Merry’s face. “Cut, by thunder!” he exclaimed. Kess, with a savage growl, started on a run after the disdain ful What he intended to do Merry and Clancy did not know, ‘and: probably Kess \did not know himself. The Dutch youth was enraged at the slight put upon his chum, and could not restrain himself.. Merry caught him by the arm and held him back. “Steady, Villum!” he murmured. “Vat a punch oof soreheadts!”’ fumed. Villum. “I gif dem a shlap mit der face! Peddigrew don’d shpeak some- ding, und you safed him ven he vas aboudt to chump on der horse mit his hoofs. I don’d like sooch pitzness, so 1” hellup me! moved away, among plebes. “Neither do I,” grunted Clancy. “What the mischief ails that crowd, Chip? Petty doesn’t amount to much, and I never did have any use for Bingham. They might act decent, though.” “I don’t know what’s the matter with them, Red,” re- turned Frank, nonplused. “They seem to have picked up a grouch of some kind since riding formation. Well,” he finished, “I guess I can stand it.” Deeply puzzled, all three of the lads went up to their quarters in barracks. When Frank and Owen got into their room, the red-headed chap began to express himself in no uncertain terms. “Bingham’s a two-faced dough head! Pettigrew’s worse than that. If it hadn’t been for you, Chip, he’d have been bounced from the academy in mighty short: order. His ‘hands weren’t clean in that rascally work of his uncle, Felix Pettigrew. I'll bet Jeff Petty is afraid you'll open up on him, and is trying to get you in wrong with the rest of the class. He thinks; if he does that, that. what- ever you say against him won’t cut much ice. He ought to have his head knocked off, and I guess it’s up to me to do it” “I guess not,” said Frank calmly. “T can knock of all the heads that’s necessary, Clan.” “This business ought to be nipped in the bud before spreads. Nice how-do-you-do, by thunder, if a fellow like Jeff Petty can turn your classmates against you-——” ‘ “T don’t know, Clan,” cut in Merriwell thoughtfully use jumping at conclusions. Let’s wait until we know more about the matter before we take any \action.” “I'm going to know more, Chip, before we're many he older,” averred Clancy. “The whole thing has got badly twisted.” ai Supper formation, a little later, brought a fresh at loyal friends. In the good-natured joshing that ah accompanied the falling into ranks for a march to mess hall, very few of the big plebe class gave F: any notice in any manner whatever, They cut him | liberately, and wer took, pains to bring the fact. to him. ‘The sci to the mess hall, the evening: meal, ae NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. the march back to barracks again proved one of the hardest ordeals Frank ever endured. To be ignored by his own classmates, and to be conscious at the same time that he had done nothing to merit such treatment, not only aroused his indignation but his temper as well. To keep both in check was difficult. And yet, by show- ing how he felt, the matter would only have been made worse. With a great effort he calmed himself, and, after ranks were broken on the return from supper, he started, erect and grim, to make his way into barracks. Call to quarters would not sound for perhaps half an hour, and meantime the students could wander where they pleased about the academy grounds. In spite of the fact that the air was crisp and chill,.most of the students preferred to wander about in groups and not return to their rooms until the call sounded. Before Frank got through the big door, however, Clancy had him by the arm. “You're not going to crawl away and hide, old man?” Owen asked. His face was set and hard, and his eyes were flash- ing. Frank gave a short, mirthless laugh. “I’m not running away, Red,” he answered, “but it’s not very pleasant hanging around outside with the plebes, in their present mood.” “Come over by the riding hall. Kess just went that way to pick a fight with Overton. Overton made some slighting remark about you, and Kess took it up. I’d have done the same if he hadn’t, but this is no time for a ruction, and Kess is liable to get himself into trouble.” Merriwell muttered under his breath. “TI wish Villum would keep out of this,” said he, whirling around and descending the steps. “I can fight my own battles, and I don’t want him or you to get into hot water on my account. What was it Overton said? Did you hear?” “Something about your getting so friendly with old Gunn that you were taking your meals with him. It wasn’t what he said, so much as the way he said it. Villum went for him, hot blocks.” “Confound it! Why didn’t he let it go?” Frank, with Owen at his side, hurried away through the gloom in the direction of the riding hall. Teneyck saw him go, and grinned malevolently. “I guess the son of his dad is up against something now that he won’t get over in a hurry,” he muttered. CHAPTER IV. STOPPING A FIGHT. Overton’s remark about Merriwell “getting so friendly with old Gunn that he had ‘begun taking his meals with him,” let in a little light on the unpleasant situation. It showed, at least, what was uppermost in the mind of at least one of the hostile plebes. Bingham’s roommate, Ellis Drood, was having a peck of trouble of his own. Colonel Gunn, the principal of the academy, had asked Merriwell to watch Drood and to be of what service he could to him. The colonel, in order that Merry might be free to go and come in his work for Drood, had given him a written order which allowed him to absent himsélf from classes, drills, and barracks at any time he might find it necessary. Coming from the head of the school, this was a yery, flattering mark of confi- dence. * Drood had received by express a black tin box which contained papers of great importance. The arrival of that box had placed a very great responsibility upon Drood. He was of a suspicious and excitable nature, and the re- sponsibility had proved almost more than he could bear. The papers had been sent to the plebe by an older brother, in the West, and they consisted of affidavits and other documents bearing upon the title of a very rich ' mine. Carrolton Drood and his father had discovered the mine, and a clique of determined and unscrupulous men were trying to get it away from them. A New York law- yer had been hired by the Droods to fight their case in court, and Carrolton, who wanted to get the important papers into the lawyer’s hands, had been obliged to pro- ceed\in a roundabout way,'as a necessary precaution. The papers were sent to Ellis Drood, at Fardale, and the. lawyer from New York was to call at the academy and secure them. |In this way it was hoped to defeat the machinations of the enemies of the Droods. A Westerner named Felix Pettigrew, and an uncle of Jeff Pettigrew’s, had come to the academy ostensibly on a visit to his nephew; but the man from the West, as it transpired, was after Drood’s box. _ By sharp practice he managed to get hold of it, and Frank, pursuing him to the village, succeeded, in recovering the stolen property after an exciting time with the townspeople. On his way back to “the academy with the box Frank had met Colonel Gunn, unexpectedly returning from the country in his automobile. To the colonel Frank had ex- plained everything, and the principal had commended him highly for the way he had carried out his “special duty.” The supper hour was past when the colonel and Frank reached the school, and the colonel had invited Frank to take supper with-him. Frank had accepted the invita- tion, and this was what Overton referred to when Villum had resented his remarks as a fling at his chum. Frank, as he hurried toward the riding hall, was*asking himself why Overton should take up such a small thing as his having a meal with the principal and make capital out of it. Evidently the plebes thought he was being favored beyond his deserts, and no student is so disliked in a school as one who has become the faculty “pet.” “Have you discovered anything, Clan?” Merry asked, as they hurried on. : “Not a thing, Chip,” was the answer, “except that you seem to be getting so popular that it’s making you unpop- ular. Queer, eh? Somebody’s stirring up the plebes, but maybe ‘Pettigrew isn’t the only one. Let’s not forget Ten- eyck. Ten is solid with Bing, and can work him around to do anything.” As the chums drew near the huge, shadowy structure toward which they were bound, they caught a glimpse of several dark figures by one of the walls. “There they are,” whispered Owen. “They haven’t got at it yet, and we’re in time to cause a postponement.” “There'll be no. postponement,” answered Frank. “The clash is to be called off for good. I'll do the fighting, if any has to be done.” In coming close to the group by the wall of the build- ing, Frank could see that two of the figures were stripped to the waist. These two were just stepping toward each other, right.” : _ “Keep a weather eye out for squalls, Chip,” said Drovd starting for the door. eC “I don’t see any real storm signals yet,” Frank answevedis 3 Ai lightly. uh “That’s the deuce of it. When the trouble comes it will be without warning—except for this tip I’m giving you. Good night, and good luck!” Drood slipped away and returned to his room. As soon as the door closed after him, Merry went back to his chair, Merriwell took the infor- “Let the lightning - 3 and his books. “That little runt is trying to act decently, Liable re- marked Clancy. “He’d be pretty white if he could get away from Bingham. What do you suppose is in the wind, Chip ?” . Tie: “Haven’t an idea.” “You take it pretty cool, strikes me. al then, talking about storm signals, the way the on are gre “did you leave NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY, ing fools of themselves. Some upper classman must be doing their thinking for them.” “T’ve got to work, Clan, or fess out in math to-morrow,” hinted Frank. , “Oh, hang the math!” growled Owen. “This plebe busi- ness is more important, just now. Just as I was getting calmed down, Drood has to blow in and get me all worked up again. The trouble pot is boiling, and I wish I knew what was coming out of it.” “We'll know—when it comes.” “Maybe it will be too late, then, to do anything. Did - you get anything from Presbery along the line of what Drood was saying?” “Nothing definite.” “You're going to call on Mr. Merlin to-morrow?” “Ves.” “What’s his busitiess with you?” “Search me.’ Did Presbery tell you anything about Jeff Pettigrew?” “No, “Tl be hanged,” fretted Clancy, “if you can’t be the most unsatisfactory proposition for an information bureau I ever saw. Presbery kept you for. a good while, and all __ he said was, ‘Stand by your colors!’ If it’s such a whale - of a secret, then hang on to it.” And, with that, Clancy dropped his red head over his own _~ books and grumpily tried to concentrate his thoughts on his English. He had a settled conviction that disaster of some ac sort was hanging over his chum’s head. The vague premo- _ nition made him uncomfortable, and wild fancies formed in ° his brain. Those at the academy who wished Merriwell ill were - plotting, just as they always had been. But, somehow, it _ seemed to Clancy as though those plots were coming nearer a successful issue than they ever had done before. CHAPTER VII. SURPRISING NEWS. _ On'the following day the plebes continued their peculiar tactics. A few more had gone over to the number of those who were steadily,and consistently ignoring Frank. _ His smiling, serene attitude must have taken the “in- -surgents” somewhat aback. Certainly he was not showing Although Frank did not show it, yet the day was never- theless a trying one for him. The friends in his class—and there were several besides Villum and Owen—went out of their way to show their loyalty. For these attentions Frank was grateful, but he was glad when evening came and he could start for the village on the errand that called him to the house of the banker. - Before supper formation he had gone directly to Colonel nn and asked permission to make the call in town. “You have—ah—that paper I gave you the other day, a per OHS". the principal asked. } sD hbed or not, sir.” The colonel looked surprised and pleased. crisply to the point of their interview, “Very well, Merriwell. You may—ah—leave barracks and , go to the village this evening.” Frank groomed himself very carefully for his call. He was to go to the house of the village magnate and face the battery of two pairs of beautiful eyes, and it was. no more than natural that he should want to look his best. After supper he started. He could have hired a rig, had he desired, but he felt that the walk would do him good. The evening air was crisp, and he strode along through the gloomy shadows of the woods with a light heart, and with pleasant anticipations mingling with his curiosity as to what the banker’s business could be. There was no difficulty in finding the big residence. It was the most pretentious dwelling in town, and the win- dows were brilliantly lighted as Merriwell ascended to the front door and touched the electric bell. From a front toom came the notes of a piano and the singing of girlish voices. A servant received Frank, took his hat, and ushered him jnto the drawing-room. Presently Maizie and Loretta came to him and smilingly bade him welcome. Frank, if it were possible, thought the girls more beau-. tiful than he had when he had seen them in the riding hall and on the parade ground. One was dark and the other fair, but each was so matchless and charming in her own way that Frank would have been at a! loss to express a preference. In very short order they made him feel quite at home, and presently hé was at the piano, singing with Maizie, while Loretta played their accompani- ment. Later, Maizie played a waltz, and he and Loretta fell gayly to dancing around and around the big room. Frank was having a fine time, and had almost forgotten that he was there on a business errand. After a time, however, this fact was brought home to him by the en- trance of a portly, gray-haired man into the room. R Maizie introduced her father, and the latter led Freak away to the library, where he gave his visitor some sur-— prising news. : “Miss June, Mr. Merriwell,” said the banker, coming “is a cousin of a classmate of yours—Ellis Drood. Loretta and Maizie came to know each per when Maizie was visiting relatives in a little up-State‘town. Loretta, desiring to be near Ellis Drood at this time, has come for a brief visit with my _ daughter. It seems,” Mr. Merlin thoughtfully proceeded, “that Carrolton Drood wrote Loretta of the troubles he and his father were having, and of the responsibility which he had placed on the shoulders of his brother. Carrolton worried about it, and Loretta made up her mind to come to Fardale and quietly watch the progess of affairs. Ellis ' Drood does not know that she is here, and she does ay want him to know—just yet.” a All this was very amazing to Merriwell. But what fat’ it to do with him? The shrewd business man must have divined this unspoken question, for he went on: ¥ “Now, as to my particular reason for asking you to call at the house this evening, I want to say that I have taken the liberty because, through Colonel Gunn, I have heard of your.interest in Drood and his affairs. I know how you pursued the Westerner, Felix Pettigrew, and Fe- covered the black box that contained the important docu ments about thesmine. Maizie and Loretta know of those events, too, and they were very anxious to go out to th academy, yesterday afternoon, and watch the plebe ho men,” 3 NEW The banker’s eyes twinkled. “But I think,” he added, “there was ‘only one of the horsemen in whom they were particularly interested.” Merriwell flushed. “Drood has been pretty badly cut up over that black box, Mr. Merlin,” said he, changing the subject so pre- cipitately that the banker chuckled. “So I understand, Carrolton Drood proceeded in rather a strange way to place the mining documents in the hands of his New York lawyer, but it was probabaly necessary, Men like Felix Pettigrew are resourceful, and sometimes, desperate. Loretta, naturally, is solicitous about her cousin. She knows he, has been taking the responsibility hard, and that he would have lost the box and’ the papers but for your gallant work in his behalf. She is very anxious for you to be told something which has recently come to my knowledge, and which may serve as a warning to avert evil consequences. That, Merriwell, ig the point which I am now getting at,” Merlin leaned back in his chair and lighted a cigar, For a few moments he smoked reflectively, and then removed the cigar from his lips to continue his talk with Frank. “Day before yesterday,” said he, “a man came into my bank to have 4 check cashed. The check was for a con- siderable amount, and, as the man was a stranger and could bring no one-to endorse his paper, we could not accommodate him with the money. That check, Merriwell, was made payable to Felix Pettigrew, and the fellow who presented it, I have since been assured, was really none other than the Westerner.” ? “What is he hanging around Fardale for?’ queried Frank. “Colonel Gunn gave him a few hours .to get out of ‘town, after he tried to get Drood’s box, and I under- stood that he had decamped.” “If he left, he must have come back again, for he was surely here day before yesterday. If he is hanging around Fardale it can be for only one purpose, and that is to make another attempt on the box which Drood is foolishly try- ing to safeguard at the academy. I don’t know what the boy’s reasons are, but he ought to realize the folly of trying to keep important and valuable,documents about his person, or in his room. I have a vault in which he is welcome to store them. Merriwell, I hope you will ex- plain to Drood about the reappearance of Felix Petti- grew, and urge him to bring the black box to me for safe- keeping.” “I'd be glad-to do that, Mr. Merlin,” said Frank; “but, after this evening, Drood will’ be over his worries. He told me yesterday that the New York lawyer was coming to get the box of papers to-night.” The banker made a gesture of relief ‘and satisfaction. “Good!” he exclaimed. “That puts a different light on the affair and settles everything most agreeably. It will take a load off Loretta’s shoulders, too. The girl has felt keenly for her cousin, since Colonel Gunn .told us how he was breaking under the responsibility which his brother placed upon him. Everything will be all right, once the New York lawyer gets those papers in his own hands, and all the worrisome twists will be ironed out of the situation. You have stood nobly by Drood, Merriwell, Loretta appreciates it, and Maizie admires you for it, You are quite a figure out at the academy!” Merriwell thought grimly of the figure he was cutting at that moment at the academy. If Mr. Merlin could iP FOP. WEEKLY. have known what Merriwell knew, he probably would not have expressed himself in the way he had, “If there is any message you would like to send to Drood,” said Frank, “or any word Miss June would like to send, I’d be glad to take it to him.” “So far as I am concerned, I have nothing to convey to Drood. I am not acquainted with him personally, and it is through Loretta that I have become interested in his affairs. You might ask Loretta, however, if she has any message for her cousin.” Mr. Merlin arose to signify that the interview was at an end. “I can’t keep you any longer away from the girls, Merriwell,” he laughed, “and they are probably scolding me for keeping you as long as I have. I hope this will not be your last’ call at my house. It would give me great pleasure to see you here often.” “Thank you, sir.” Frank went back to the young ladies. He could not re- main much longer in town, however. He was beginning to feel as though he wanted to get back to the academy and see the New York lawyer when he called for the documents in the mining case. The girls, of course, did not want him to go. “I’m sorry,” said Frank, “but I think I ought to. You see, Ellis Drood may need me.” Maizie and Loretta exchanged quick glances. “If that is the case, Mr. Merriwell,” returned Maizie, “of course we can’t expect to keep you.” “The lawyer is calling for the box to-night,” went on Frank. “That is fine!” Loretta exclaimed. “Mr. Merlin, I sup- pose, told you that I am Ellis Drood’s cousin?” “Yes,” “You know, then, why I am so deeply interested in Ellis and the papers that mean so much to his family. He has lived with my parents ever since his father and brother went to Colorado. El is almost like a brother to me.” “Of course you are anxious to seé him come out of this matter all right,” said Frank. “I guess he’s going to, for he’s near the end of it now. Is there anything you would like to have me tell him?” “Not now, Mr. Merriwell. I am going to have him here to see me just as soon as, that’ wretched box is off his hands. When he comes,” and she looked at Merry archly, “T should like to have you come, too.” “And so should I!” spoke up Maizie laughingly. “TI don’t see how you can resist a double invitation like that, Mr. Merriwell.” “T can’t,” Frank smiled, “and you can count on my being here with Ellis.” With that, he said good night to the girls, and left the house. He had enjoyed himself at the home of the banker, and, in addition, had received some surprising news. He felt that the evening had been spent most profit- ably. CHAPTER VIII. A SAVAGE ATTACK, The night was dark and black clouds sailed across the sky. The wind had a cutting edge to it, and Merriwell but- toned his overcoat snugly about his throat. He judged that it.was about nine o’clock. If the man from New: York had called promptly, when expected, and had not re- mained long, then Merriwell would be too late to see him. Se nT att pees sab ae lies - Chadwick’s pasture, - see something of the man who was halting him, guised voice, gram. a colors. NEW In connection with that New York lawyer Frank was beginning to think of several things. Merlin’s informa- tion about Felix Pettigrew was responsible for the trend of Frank’s reflections. Carrolton Drood had no doubt provided a letter for the lawyer, so that he would easily be able to prove his iden- tity to Ellis. It would have been a sly trick for the Westerner to have some accomplice impersonate the lawyer, and so receive the tin box from its guardian with- out any trouble. It was just such a trick, in short, as Felix Pettigrew might attempt, and Frank was anxious to get back to the academy before the lawyer left and make him prove his right to the black box. With this purpose in mind, he walked rapidly along the dark road. He kept watch for a rig, or an automobile, coming from the academy and proceeding toward town. If the lawyer had finished his business with Drood, then Frank might intercept him on his way back to Fardale. Possibly Merriwell covered half the distance that sepa- rated him from the school, He was just emerging from a grove that bordered each side of the road, not far from when a dusky form crashed through the bushes and jumped in front of him. — “Stop!” The command, in a husky, disguised voice, issted from the lips of the figure. In the fellow’s hand something _ glimmered in the faint light. That “something,” Frank ) divined instinctively, was a revolver. “Who are you?” Frank answered sharply; _ want?” ‘He strained his eyes through the gloom in an effort to The fellow wore a broad-brimmed hat, pulled low down over his forehead, had something tied over his face, and was of arge frame. This was all Merry could make out. “None of your business who I am,” answered the dis- “T’ve already told you what I want. Stand ? “what do you iyenere you are! It flashed over F rank, all in a moment, that this pro- ating was being staged according to a prearranged pro- Presbery had told him that “something was going to drop” that evening. For the time Presbery’s words . had been driven from Merriwell’s mind by other events, _ but now they came to him with full force. _ The football captain had urged Frank to stand by his Frank interpreted that to mean that he was to i follow his own bent and look out for himself. He did not - intend to let this night prowler halt him and go through “his pockets, if he could help it. _ The lad drew back, apparently frightened and cowed. ee he was anything but that. He was merely watching for a chance to make a move that would place him out aes under the muzzle of that threatening weapon. “Neyer you mind ‘what it is? was the hoarse response. ush your hands in the air!” “Up with ’em!” cut in the masked man fiercely. Frank lifted his hands, In doing so, he executed a light- glike,leap toward the threatening figure, It was done swiftly that the man had no chance to use the re- ver, Frank struck the arm n dangled, and the firearm rattled into the road. n oath fell from the man’s lips. He tried,to grab the outh, but again quickness and strength sayed the from whose hand the TIP. TOP WEEKLY. | - a day. Frank slipped through the reaching hands and started to run, His overcoat impeded him somewhat, but if he had not been interfered with he would surely have made his escape. i The man, however, was not alone. There were others at hand to help him. He shouted. Two more forms emerged from the bushes, directly ahead of Frank, and leaped to block his way. Merriwell was now between two fires. Behind him was the man groping about in the road for the lost revolver, and ahead of him were the man’s two confederates. These confederates were also masked with handkerchiefs. Frank attempted a ruse. “Look out,” he cried, “or I’ll fire!” The fellows in the road showed symptoms of panic. “Stand up to him!” crfed the husky voice from the rear. “He hasn’t anything to shoot with! He’s only tryin’ to bluff you!” Frank plunged forward, hoping to get past the two who confronted him. One of the fellows grabbed at him, and he swung his fist. The dark figure staggered back with a wheezy groan, Frank turned to the other, twisted out of the gripping hands, and would have been away had not,the man from behind come leaping up and laid hold of him, Another moment, and all three of the ruffians were giv- ing their attention to Merriwell. He fought with all his strength, but he was outnumbered. His attackers were savage and determined, and he was suddenly flung back down in the road with a force that half stunned him. — “Quick with that rope!” hoarsely ordered the man, The captive was turned over on his face, his hands were wrenched around to his back, and he felt his wrists drawn together and made fast with a hempen coil. “Now his feet!” continued the hoarse voice command=_ ingly. A bight of the rope was passed around Frank’s ankles, Frank began to squirm and to shout for help. Instantly a rough hand was clapped over his lips. : y “Where's that gag?” demanded the man. ¥ Frank was turned over once more, his ‘head lifted to ‘he man’s knee, and a twisted cloth was tied between his jaws. At last he was helpless. There was absolutely nothing h« could do to defend himself. lowed, as well as he could, the movements of his cap- tors in the darkness. “ ‘ The man clutched the collar of his overcoat and dragged hitn roughly into the bushes at the roadside. The leafless branches snapped under his weight as he was dragged through them and over them. As soon as he was clear of the road he was dropped unceremoniously. “Look for my gun,” ordered the man, “The whelp knocked it out o’ my hand, and it's somewhere in the road,” Frank, through the bare brush branches, was able to sé the two confederates moving about in a search for the missing weapon. Presently one of them lifted his body erect. ; “Here it is,’ ’ said he. With staring eyes, he fol- — RE 7 Ce NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. If he knew them, who could they be? Plebes? Merriwell revolted at the idea. The plebes might cut him, they might even plot against him to a certain extent, but they were his classmates—they could not adopt the tactics of hoodlums! If they were not plebes, who else could they be? Pos- sibly they were scoundrels from town. But what object could they have in mind?> Frank, reaching back in his memory, tried to recall just what it was Presbery had told him. Little by little the football captain’s identical words came back to him: “To-morrow evening, when you’re coming from Merlin’s, something is going to happen. But let it happen. Take it as it comes, and don’t worry.” Yes, that was what Presbery had said. At that moment Frank recalled the words with a good deal of. satisfaction. Presbery, out of his surprising knowledge, had seemed to forecast that night attack. If Presbery knew so much, then certainly he had warrant for telling Frank not to worry. But there was a chance, of course, that Presbery was mistaken—that this particular attack was not the one he had foreseen. But Merriwell clung to the hope that Presbery was accur- ately informed, and that events were drifting in this way for a purpose. Resigning himself to fate, he watched and waited for further developments. 1't} stay here with the prisoner,” said the man to his two companions, “and you go up the road, and watch. When you see him coming, hustle back and tip me off. Sharp’s the word, now. I’m helping you, and you’ve got to help me.” Without a wéid: the othets left, and cautiously pro- ceeded along the road in the direction of the academy. The man tramped a short beat back and forth in front of the covert where Frank was lying. He held the revolver in his hand, and at every sound he stopped and listened. _ It was plain that he was ready for some desperate move. Who was it he was expecting to come along the road? Could it be Presbery? Did those thugs know that Presbery was coming, and were they laying their plans to get the better of him? _ Frank’s ignorance of what was going forward that night, of the plot and the counterplot, led him into a maze of wild guesses. All his speculations were unsettling. It was just possible that Presbery’s plans were known, and that these scoundrels were taking measures to backcap them. _ Frank, in the panic that trailed along in the wake of this surmise, began struggling with the ropes at his wrists. It seemed utterly impossible to make any impression upon that hard coil of rope, but, nevertheless, he clenched his hands and twisted his arms in an attempt to work the loop . wide enough so he could free his arms. | “Let up on that!” snapped the hoarse voice of the man b as he halted at the edge of the bushes and stared through the dark at Merriwell. if You can’t get loose, and there’s ‘no earthly sense in your trying. You’re making too much noise. D’you hear? Be quiet, or I'll give you something that'll settle you!” ee Frank, for the time, stopped working at the cords. A mo- ment later, running feet sounded in the road, an lis two ho had been sent out to reconnoiter returned ince Here he comes!” one of them announced. e ‘Sure!” démanded the man cautiously. Pesitive. It’s a white horse—single rig.” ‘All right. Now, you get out o’ sight on tother side of the road. I'll stay on this side. Take your cue from_ me, and do just as I told you. Mind you, don’t get buck fever, and go to pieces! Look alive, now!” The man stepped back into. the bushes and crouched at i Krank’s side, gripping. his arm with a heavy, restraining hand. His confederates vanished from sight on the op- posite side of the road. The blood was pounding in Frank’s ears, yet he was able to hear distinctly a sound of approaching hoofs and a grind of wheels. CHAPTER IX. CRIMINAL WORK. That was a trying situation for young Merriwell. Bound and gagged, as he was, he was helpless to call out a warning to the person who was unwittingly riding into that trap. And it might be Presbery! Nearer and nearer came the thump-of hoofs, and the _ grind of wheels. Through the bare twigs Frank caught a glimpse of the white horse. Then’the dark shadow of the buggy at the horse’s heels came into view. The top of the buggy was raised, and Frank could not see the man under it. Silently, grimly the masked man continued to crouch in the bushes. His nerves must have been of steel, for he could calculate to an instant the time for his appearance \ in the road and await the moment with perfect coolness and self-control. The white horse was almost abreast of the bushes witex the man flung himself out with a clean, powerful jump. hg He landed directly in the middle of the road and in front of the white horse. The horse, frightened, snorted and reared back. The buggy was cramped at a right angle afid almost over- turned. There was a wild movement inside the carriage as the occupant drew in the slack lines and strove to pre- vent disaster. The man in the road reached forward and seized the — bits of the horse.and held the animal with a masterful hand. With the other hand the revolver -was leveled at the dim form in the shadow of the carriage top. ft “Steady, Mr. Plympton!” called the husky voice threat- — eningly. “You're covered—I’ve got a bead on you. I reckon you know what that means, eh? One reckless move ,on your part and it’s ‘all day ‘with you. I mean business, ' right from the drop of the hat!” There was no fear in the voice that answered, but ‘there was surprise,, | if “Who are you?” “Tt ain’t necessary for you to know.” ni “You're a prowling hoodlum,” said the other smith “and you want my money. then you can let me drive on.” “T don’t-want your money, Plympton.” There was cun- ning in the disguised voice. “It’s the black box I’m after, and you can keep your money. If you think I’m a com-— mon thief, you can make another guess. Hand the box 5 to one of those fellows beside the buggy !” (inhi Then Frank knew what was going on. Plympton was the New York lawyer., He had just secured the tin box > from Drood and was returning to Fardale with ft. Felix Pettigrew had learned of Plympton’s plans, and he was there for a final attempt to secure the papers in the cane of Pettigrew et al versus ‘Drood. F eke mere os and excitement knew no ‘bona I’ll throw it into the road and Again he made a wild attack on the ropes that held him, n k and. his voice rumbled incoherently behind the twisted % cloth. But he was helpless!) He could do no more than it lie there in the. bushes and watch while Pettigrew worked g 4 his will with the fortunes of the Droods. Why had not Plympton taken some one with him to, the = 5 academy? He knew the importance of those papers, and le -_- how others were straining every effort to get hold of them. d |. _He should have taken precautions. a ‘ But Plympton, although caught at a disadvantage, was 4 x not losing his nerve. His voice continued steady. ce “So that’s your scheme, is it?” he inquired) “You must + t be Felix, Pettigrew, of Wanahatchie, Colorado.” d ' r “You can guess, but you'll never know. Hand out the a Se bon” oO ? “T presume you understand what this means to you?” Plympton returned, “You are taking property from me at the .poimt of a revolver, That is highway robbery. ot oa a ¥ Suppose your work to-night enables you to win your case \f % sel against Drood? Your success will not do you much good, p Mee if.you haye to spend several years in the penitentiary.” ne ae “Stow the chatter!” snarled the man at the horse’s head. ta “Hand over that box! I don’t intend to tell you again.” n . “Very well. There's nothing else I can do. But he en ae tee ¢ateful, Pettigrew, that you don’t make this affair worse e\ 4 ‘ than, it really is.” S A shadowy arm reached out from the side of the buggy and one of Pettigrew’s confederates took an object from n the extended hand. >. _“That’s the box, is it?” demanded Pettigrew. f “Yes,” answered the one who had taken it. “Look it over carefully, I was fooled once with that e thing, and I don’t intend to be fooled again.” a “It’s the right: box.” e . « “Tf you're satisfied, Pettigrew,” spoke up Plympton, set- . tling back in his seat, “let go the bit and I’ll jog along.” Pettigrew laughed jeeringly. é . “Don’t think for a minute I’m so easy as all that,” he il ' flung: back. “You’d go dn to Fardale and have a gang it chasing me before 1 could get out of the country, I know | a trick that beats two of that. Tumble out!” ves “What do you mean?”- Now, for the first time, there tf was fear in the lawyer’s voice.. “You're not planning any a personal violence? You've got what you want, and this ;, high- handed proceeding had better stop right here.” “I know, a heap better than you, when it had better e ‘stop. Get out, I tell you! Last call!” _ Evidently much against his will the lawyer scrambled out of the buggy. ce “Come around here and hold this horse,’ ordered Pet- y, Naren. d- The companion of the Feller! who had taken the box ’ had been standing in the road, on the opposite side of \- ' the buggy. He seemed nervous and apprehensive, as -cdylighh his heart was not in that criminal work. Pettigrew had to speak to Irim twice before he advanced to the horse’s head and took hold of the bridle. As he *% ‘stood. there he hung on the bit, supporting himself rather than holding’ the horse. a: Meantime Plympton had descended to the road, and x Pettigrew had approached him with the revolver leveled et the other rope!” commanded Pettigrew. “Here, I'll the box.” NEW. TIP TOP WEEKLY. os handed him the box and took om his {5 continued the “Put your hands at your back, Plympton,” Westerner. “This is pure melodrama,” protested the lawyer, “and there is no sense in it.” “Tf it’s melodrama, then you're playin’’a star part,” was the mocking response. “The Droods are pretty clever, eh? They send the papers to a kid in school, and then you comé on and get ’em. Very slick! But here’s where [ put one over on you. Hands behind you! I’m the one to jufige whether there’s any sense in that, or not.” “T’ll make it a point, my buckaroo, to see that you pay dearly for this!” fumed Plympton. “And I’ll make two points of it to see that I get clear before you have any chance, Tie him—and make it hard and . fast.” Plympton’s hands were bound behind him, and then he was ordered back into the buggy. Pettigrew was still close at hand with the threatening weapon. He backed to the horse’s head, keeping a vigilant,eye on Plympton, and re- lieved the man who had hold of the bridle. “Help get the other’ fellow into the buggy,’ “Be quick about it! > said he. We’ve been here too long already.” The Westerner’s helpers crashed into the bushes and lifted Merriwell, neck and heels. Bearing him out into the road, they heaved him into the buggy beside the lawyer. “Who’s this?” Plympton asked, moving over to give Mer- riwell room. “He’s a friend in distress,” answered Pettigrew, with a hoarse laugh, “He’s going to take a short ride with you in the buggy, and then a longer ride—in something else. Make him comfortable.” : Obedient to the Westerner’s orders, both confederates advanced to the horse’s head and took hold of a bit ring on either side. i “You boys know where to go,” said Pettigrew. “Go . carefully, that’s all. Pll walk along beside the buggy, and keep an eye on the passengers.” ae The rig was turned so that the horse was headed in the direction of the academy; then, with the two confederates | leading the animal, and Pettigrew, alert and vigilant, walk-— ing abreast of the buggy at the roadside, the start was made. “Who are you?” whispered Plympton to Frank. Merriwell gurgled behind the cloth. Z “Ah, I see,” continued the lawyer. “You are gagged Bound hand and foot, too. I’m a little better off than you are for I have the use of my voice and my feet They'll not do me much good, though, with. that ruffian watching, and ready to use the gun. Think you can free your hands?” =i Frank shoved his shoulder against Plympton. “Does that mean ‘yes’?” ote Again Frank pushed sideways with his shoulder. His work at the rope had loosened the coil so that he be- lieved a final hard tug would give him the use of his arms. _ At that moment the rig turned from the road and humped over the rough ground that led down to the edge of the Cove. Plympton was silent for a few moments, moving his head and peering anxiously into the darkness. “I’ve been expecting help,” he continued, in a whis “but it doesn’t seem to come. At the first chance, you. f ee your hands and feet. Create. 4 diversion, will wan: me a chance to get away. ” NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY, der. The next moment the buggy came to a halt near a small boat landing. A dark blot rocked in the water at the edge of the little pier. ’ “Unload ’em,” ordered Pettigrew, launch,” Frank was the first to be unloaded, and the two confed- erates carried him to the landing and laid him on the planks. One pulled the boat alongside. It was a gasoline launch, and Frank was rolled into it—and almost into the water during the operation. ' While the two assistants went back to the buggy for Plympton, Frank had his chance to free himself. With a wrench that tore the skin on his wrists, he succeeded in getting his hands out of the loop. He was but an instant longer stripping the rope from his ankles and tearing away the gag. Softly he climbed back to the pier. The confederates were busy with the raWyer and Pettigrew was holding the horse. Frank dashed at Pettigrew, bumped into him wildly and threw him off his feet.. The revolver went one way and the tin box the other. Frank caught up the box and began to run toward the road. With a loud shout, Plympton sprang away from the other two fellows and also began to run., It was a moment ‘of excitement and confusion, broken into by a sound of rushing feet and an answering cry from the road: “AI right, Plympton ! “and put them in the We're here!” CHAPTER X., / CAUGHT! In all his eventful career Frank had never gone through a more exciting series of experiences. weird happenings the consciousness was growing upon him that a counterplot was surely at “work. Presbery was hovering in the background, ready to show his hand at the right moment. The cry from the road had startled Frank, Then the i astonishment faded, for he had recognized Presbery’s voice. Not only was Presbery at hand, but there were’ several! _ more with him. The relief had come in force, and half a dozen dark forms were racing on foot toward thé boat landing. - Merriwell, feeling that the danger was past, slowed his pace. ‘Before he fairly realized what ,had happened, some one had caught him heavily from behind. A savage voice ground out an oath in his ears, and he was flung to the ground furiously. The black box was jerked from under his arm, and he heard some one scrambling away over the uneven ground. It was Felix Pettigrew! The Westerner had recovered himself quickly and gone in pursuit of Merry. When Mer- ‘riwell slackened his speed, Pettigrew had overtaken him. Dazed by the Westerner’s BiG move, Frank regained | “Don’t get excited,” counseled Plympton coolly.’ “Take : easy, my boy. We’ve got safely out of that dilemma. fevér mind about the rest of it.” “But I tell you Pettigrew has got away with the papers!” isted Frank, and began to chase after the Westerner. : lawyer called to him. Frank paid no attention. The vy i And‘ back of those’ white horse was moving aimlessly around inthe vicinity of the boat landing, no doubt wondering what all the ex- . citement was about. Pettigrew had vanished mysteriously. His two confed- erates seemed bewildered, and at a loss to’ know. what to do. One of them ran toward the buggy, and the other rushed to the edge of the pier. A motor was popping and spluttering. In a moment it gettled into a steady hum, and there was a splash of water. hip “Wait!” cried the fellow. on the edge of the landing; “wait for me! Take me along with you!” : There was no lessening of the humming and splashing. Pettigrew paid no heed to the frantic calls of his assistant in crime. A dark blot appeared far out on the shadowy stretch of water, making for the mouth of the Cove. It was the Westerner, hastening to get out of the way. “Stop!” roared Presbery, running to the: pier. A husky, mocking laugh came out of the dim distance. “Stop me if you can!” answered the voicé of Pettigrew. ; My cee “It was nip and tuck, but I’ve got what I wanted. compliments to Plympton!” Another jeering laugh floated back, then died into silence, The night had closed down’ over Pettigrew, and he was safely out of the toils. |. j “How are you, Chip?” queried eres turning to the 4 dispirited plebe. “I’m all right,” was the glum response, “but this ca ‘de a bad night’s work for Ellis Drood.” Y aN so bad, not so bad,” spoke up Plympton. He was near by, and someone was working. at his bound ‘hands. had never seen before. “Not so bad?” echoed Merry. “Hanged if‘I gee ‘st it could be worse. I did any best to save the box, but Petti- grew got away with it.” Plympton brought his freed, hands around in front of him and worked his arms back and forth to get the cramps. out of them. “He’s got the box, but he didn’t get the documents,” said he calmly. “The papers are here in my pocket. I began — to have fears when Pettigrew insisted that I get out of the buggy. You see, I was afraid he’d examine the box | -and find the papers weren’t inside. That would have led him to search me. You fellows,” \and here the lawyer turned to Presbery, “were so long in coming that: I was afraid something had gone wrong with your plans.” . “Well,” answered the upper classman, chuckling, “Colo- nel Gunn’s car went wrong, and we had to follow you for quite a distance on foot. That’s why we were late. We were in plenty of time, though, for everything but wetting | our hands on Pettigrew.” — EE Frank was gasping with amazement. made by the lawyer had taken his breath. “Then you knew you were going to be held up, and the black box taken away from you?” he asked of Plympton. “That is what Presbery told me, at the academy. He — advised me to put the contents of the box in my*pocket. After that, you know, it would make mighty ,little differ- The revehitiate y “ence what happened to the box itself.” “And Pettigrew rushed away in the launch,” ial Merriwell, “thinking up to oF last moment that ‘he had what he wanted!” “That’s the size of it,” sent his compliments to me. said the lawyer, laughing. “H : He'll feel differently When It was a man who, Frank was confident, he _.. White Academy, NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY he comes to examine the box. The scoundrel has. been beaten at his own game.” i “This is Frank Merriwell, Mr. Plympton,” bery;. dropping a hand on Merry’s shoulder. lad I told you about. How has he conducted himself?” “Splendidly !” declared the lawyer, taking Frank’s hand. “Even if you had not arrived, Presbery, I believe that Merriwell’s help would have enabled me to save those Drood documents. I was going for the clear like a limited exptess when you fellows showed up at the road.” “I knew he’d keep his nerve and stand by his colors,” declared Presbery. . “T’m all twisted about this, Presbery,” put in Frank. “This was what you meant last night when you said some- thing. was going to happen on my way back from Mer- lin’s ?” said Pres- “This is the event. It came off according to schedule,” “How did you know it was coming off?” “One of the plebes, who had inside information, gave me the tip. He had it all figured out, and was to help, but his nerve failed him and he came to me with the whole story. I’m not going to tell you who that fellow was. I’d be breaking a-confidence, if I did. But he'll not ‘cut’ you any more after this, Chip. “This plebe told me of the attempt Felix Pettigrew was ‘to make to get those mining depositions. Pettigrew knew Plympton was coming after them, and he knew the exact time. . Drood told everybody in his class about it, but Pettigrew got word from New York and. knew the lawyer was coming long before Drood did.\ “The -Westerner wanted a little help. The fellows who joined in with him were enemies of yours, Chip, and were back of your class troubles. ‘Anything to down Merri- well!’ That was their slogan, They were to help Petti- grew, and Pettigrew, in turn, was to help them. You were booked for a ride in the launch, along with Plymp- ton, and you probably would not have seen Fardale again for several days—certainly not until after the game with I didn’t hear where the Westerner “was planning to take you and the lawyer, but he had his plans figured down pretty fine. “As soon as the plebe told me his story, I began to lay plans of my own. First I enlisted the colonel. . Then, together, we secured the aid of the deputy sheriff, from Fardale. The deputy brought three men with him, and they were all hidden in the colonel’s garage while Plymp- ton was transacting his business with Drood. - “J met Plymptom when he came and told him what “He’s the — was in the wind. He removed the papers from the box . and put them in his pocket—which, as it turns out, was a very lucky thing. Then, when Plympton drove away into the trap that had been set for him, the colonel and I, with our cohorts, rolled’ out of the garage in the motor ‘car and took to the road. We followed well in the rear, so the sound of the motor couldn’t be heard and give our game away. Something went wrong with the machinery, and we had to leave the car and come on afoot, That’s ‘ about all.” _-» Plympton -had left. the boat landing and joined the others, a little farther back from the shore. Frank was a trifle bewildered by all these explanations. ' “Who was it that helped Pettigrew?” he asked. “You'll know in a minute,” replied Presbery. “They the: ones who have been. setting the plebes against It was crafty, dirty work, Merriwell, but what has / 17 happened to-night will turn the tide. Those fellows will be shown up for what they are—and it is high time.” There was an angry, relentless note in Presbery’s voice as he finished: “Merriwell,” said a voice, as a heavy step sounded on the planks behind Frank, “are you—ah—safe and hearty? Have you come through the—ah—deplorable events of this night uninjured ?” It was Colonel Gunn, of course. He was very impor- tant. That was a habit of his whenever anything of mo- ment transpired and he had a hand in it. But he was a kindly old colonel for all of that. “Yes, sir,” Frank replied. “T regret exceedingly that the—ah—ringleader of the plot escaped us. But we may—ah—rest assured that he will yet come to an evil end. His ultimate fate need not disturb us. I am sorry, sorrier than I can—ah—tell, that two of our students were involved in the dishonorable events of the evening. The hand of the law could reach them, and yet I shall not—ah—invoke it. I shall deal sum- marily with the two young men, and their—ah—consciences must do the rest.” The colonel went back to a spot near the carriage where the deputy sheriff and his men were standing, keeping watch of the two fellows who had been caught. “I don’t know as I ought to let ’em go, just on your say-so, Colonel Gunn,” the deputy protested. “And why not, sir, why not?” returned Gunn; “They’ve helped commit a crime—highway robvery, sir My duty seems plain.” “The? have committed no crime! Their—ah—intentions were criminal, but the intentions did not lead to results. Nothing of—ah—value was taken. Mr. Plympton, here, will bear me out.” “That is. correct, colonel,” said the lawyer. “That settles it, then, I calculate,” added the deatste “I will—ah—look after the young men,” nel Gunn. “We will now proceed to the car, attend to — the—ah—motor, and make our way baek to the academy.” He turned to the prisoners. “Teneyck,” he added sternly, “you and-young Pettigrew will come with us.” “That leaves me,” said Plympton, “to get into the buggy and drive back to town. ‘We have had an exciting even- ing, gentlemen, and I shall long remember it. Good night to you,” He climbed into the buggy ee started the white horse toward the road, again en route to Fardale. Merriwell walked with Presbery, directly behind Teneyck and Jeff Pettigrew, on the way to the motor car CHAPTER XI. BAFFLED PLOTTERS Jeff Pettigrew’s air was defiant and he walked with a swagger. Teneyck, in his last year at Fardale, aay the — disgrace more keenly. “A nice mess you've stirred up, Presbery,” he sneered, — “for one of your own class! You’re back of all this, an it’s you who have got me bounced!” “You’re a nice kind of a yellow dog to appeal in- that way to one of your class,” snapped Presbery. “What were you trying to de to Merriwell? With the help of Bing- ham and Pettigrew you schemed to get the plebes down on Merriwell. What sort of class spirit have you been h Ip ing ee You're getting a dose of your own medic e, declared Colo- NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. and [ don’t wonder that it’s bitter, But you’ve got to swallow it.” “And Merriwell’s still the little pet!” “Whatever he is, he’s not the pup you’ve made your- self. I’ve watched your schemes, Teneyck, from the time Merriwell first came to the school. You have used your crafty wits in a dozen ways to down Chip and drive him out. He met you at every point, until you started this last ruction. By working on his. popularity, you were trying to make him unpopular; by playing on the success he won, you did your best to make it seem as though he was trying to star himself and put the rest of his class in the shade. A few of the shallower plebes took some stock in you, and you managed to set them against Merriwell. But they won't stay ‘set’—not after they. hear what you've done to-night. They'll begin. to guess that you were a poor adviser,” - Presbery shifted the talk to Merriwell. “Have a pleasant evening at the banker’s, Chip?” he inquired. “Yes,” Merry answered. “The. gitl who's visitimg there is a cousin of Ellis Drood. She heard of his troubles and came on to watch how things were going. Mr.. Merlin heard her story and got interested. What he. wanted was to tell. me that-Felix Pettigrew had not left town, and he feared he was hanging around with some other plot in his mind,” am see.. ‘Did Miss- Merlin say earned about Ten- eyck?” By then, Frank caught Presbery’s drift. bing it in” for Teneyck’s account. “No,” said Frank. “Nobody can set Maizie Merlin against me!” declared Teneyck. “If she stands up for you, ies she hears. what hap- pened to-night,’ said Presbery, “them. she’s not the girl I think she is. Gordon told me how you were knocking _Merriwell all the time the plebes were in the riding hall. ae. didn’t seem to appeal to her, did /it?” “Teneyck muttered angtily as he walked along. Tm blamed sorry for Uncle Felix,” spoke up Jeff. - “Don’t waste any sentiment on-him,” suggested Presbery. “Better save it for yourself, “Pettigrew.” “What do you think I care, eh?” was’ the scornful response. “This school isn’t the only one in the country, My folks have the dinero, and they can send me some her place. Before I leave, though, I’d like to } cal that o-faced Bingham.’ _ “You're bloodthirsty, Pettigrew.” _ “Born that way. Nobody ever crosses my trail with rouble but I saw off even. Merriwell ain’t done with He was “rub- “Take my advice,” said Presbery, “and show a little fferent, spirit, Maybe it won’t go so hard with you.” ‘I'll do as I pesky please. Bing cooked Uncle Felix’s cose for him. I won't forget that, you can bet your “There's something else you don’t, want. to, forget.” “What’s the number? Tell me and I’ll play it,” eave, did he? He just sailed off and left you on the h. What are you going to do to him?” his “rather took the wind out. of the Western, boy’s nele Felix didn’t wait for you when he got ready. “or he’d have put back after me. The Pettigrews always hang together.” “They'll probably hang separately, one of these. days.” “Is that sor Well, guess again.’ There was no doubt but that, under his swaggering, de- fiant air, Jeff Pettigrew felt the sting of the disgrace, He was trying to make the best of a bad situation in his own way. The colonel had tramped on ahead with the deputy sheriff. When the rest of the party arrived, the motor had been put in shape. The remainder of that journey back to the school was distinctly unpleasant. Teneyck, anxious to get everybody into trouble, told everything he knew about the various escapades of the students with which he was familiar. Furthermore, he mentioned names, hoping that . Colonel Gunn would make the most of the information. i The car was halted near barracks. “Captain Presbery,” said the colonel, “you will—ah—see that Teneyck and Pettigrew go to their quarters and re- port to me immediately aiter breakfast, in the morning.” “Very well, sir.’ Merriwell followed Teneyck and Pettigrew and Presbery out of the car. “How: did you young men—ah—get out of barracks tis evening?” queried the colonel, before he drove away.’ “Knotted rope from window of the empty room in year- ling quarters,” replied. Teneyck, with a reckless laugh. “Ask Merriwell about it. He’s used that same rope more than once.” x “You--ah—are a'vety foolish young man, Teneyck, the colonel: : pened to-night, to. believe anything you say.” "said With that, the colonel drove the ear pin to the There the deputy sheriff and his men were to take ts garage. their own conveyance and return to town. Presbery got the arriving party safely past the guard in the lower hall of barracks, and saw Teneyck and Pet- _ tigrew to their rooms. Then he turned to Merriwell and put out his hand. ae “You'll have clear sailing from now on, Chip,” said’ he. “Teneyck is down and out. He wig he fellow that made you all the trouble.” 1 Ae he “And he never had any reason to dislike me,” answered — Frank. - ed “He's pretty small. ‘The talk he’s been throwing around ® since we caught him at the Cove shows his stripe. ‘He 5 couldn’t stand it to see you forge ahead. He was envious and jealous and quarrelsome. Ever since I've known him ‘he’s had a grudge against somebody. He has to be schem-> ing and plotting all the time in order to be happy. On casionally you'll find a chap like that. But Wally Teneyck has had his day. It’s a wonder he’s lasted as long as. he has at Fardale,” Presbery turned to go to his own war ters. “Good night,” he finished. Merriwell entered his own room softly. Claney> w asleep and Merry undressed with as little noise as pos- sible. . After getting into his pajamas. he got a ‘small bottle of arnica from his satchel and began re it int ( his. raw wrists. “T find it impossible, alter—ah—what hap 4 NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY , 19 red-headed chap. Chip ?” “Pretty near, but not at the party. pened on the way back.” “Drood gave! you a straight tip, then? rr Les. “Well, if the information bureau is doing bfsiness, come across with an account of the festivities.” “Not to-night,” answered’ Merry. “I’m behind schedule in getting to sleep, and right here-is where I hit the hay. To-morrow, old man, I’ll tell you all about it.” “Then I’ll sit up and wait for to-morrow,” was the dis- appointed response. “I’m all worked up over this, and here you’re closing down like a clam. Is that any way to treat a chum?” Merriwell laughed and rolled into his blankets. “Was there a grand free-for-all mix-up, The mix-up hap- CHAPTER XII. A CHANGE IN SENTIMENT, Clancy got the whole story of his chum’s night adven- tures between the “get-up” gun and assembly for break- fast. The red-headed fellow, after the yarn was all in, expressed himself as being sorry for a number of things. _ He was sorry Felix Pettigrew had got away, sorry Ten- eyck and Jeff Petty had not been turned over to the deputy sheriff, sorry Plympton hadn’t carried a gun, and _ he was more than sorry that he hadn’t had a part in the experiences. ~ “T seem to be cut out of all the excitement,” he growled. “While I go quietly to bed, you scamper around on a ticket of leave and corral everything that happens. Listen to me, Chip. Is that fair?” _ Frank didn’t seem to ) hear. He was whisking the dust “off his blouse. “Ts it square?” whooped Clancy. “There goes the call for breakfast formation, old chay” _ said Merry. “You'll miss one ‘square’ if you don’t hurry.” Clancy hurried, and was right at Merry’s heels all the way downstairs. In the hall they met Bingham. wore a worried look. : ' “Hello, Merriwell!” he called. “How do you stack up?” 1 “Fit as a fiddle,” Merry, answered cheerfully. e “Crack, goes the ice!” commented Clancy. “Bing’s the first fellow to break through. What did you speak to him for, Chip?” _ “Oh, what's the use of letting him think it hurt? a notion Bing did me a pretty good turn last night. Some one told Presbery the plans of Teneyck and Pettigrew. .Presbery wouldn’t say who it was, but I’m guessing it “Sure it was Bing. If any one squealed, you can tack it onto him and be perfectly safe. But I love his room a lot more than I do his company. Keep him away rom me.’ There was Licadans in the ‘gathering ranks in front of barracks. The news of the night’s happénings had raveled through the school like wildfire. The blaze was fanned by a discovery that had been made no more than hour before. eneyck and Pettigrew had taken French ‘dave! Some ime during the night, the two had gathered up their be- longings and fled. Doaps it was just as well, They would have been pelled, anyhow. They had not the nerve to stay and ting out to sea in a gasoline launch ! Bing ° I’ve. face the music, and parade their disgrace in front of their classmates. They had preferred to steal away by means of the knotted rope and the empty room in year- ling quarters. There was a most pronounced change in the sentiment of the schéol. While before Teneyck had been fawned upon and courted as a powerful, if crafty, upper class- man, his going was now referred to as “good riddance.” And there were a dozen or more fellows, who, now that the truth had come out, had always thought Jeff Petty had a yellow streak. After a storm breaks one can usually find plenty of people who knew it was coming. But this was not the only change in the sentiment of the academy. There was another and a very noticeable change among Frank’s classmates. The “insurgents” were tumbling over themselves to pay attention to the fellew whom they had “cut” and whispered about only the day before. All were climbing into the band wagon. Even Overton. Overton, however, had been obliged to make his peace with Kess before he could travel very far with the rest of the returning plebes. The Dutch boy was out of his quarters early, and he had been bewildered by the stories that were floating around. ‘ Teneyck gone! Pettigrefy gone! Merriwell waylaid on his way home from town, and single-handed getting © the best of a dozen thugs! Uncle Felix fooled, and put- And everybody everywhere buzzing about Merriwell, Merriwell, Merri- well, ; “Vat a shange in der gomplexion from vat dey vas to vat dey ain’d,” murmured Villum. “Iss it a tream I haf mit meinselluf?” \ Then Villum saw Overton moving in his direction, and © promptly began to double up his fists. “Kess,” said Overton humbly, “I want to apologize!” “For vy?” “For saying what I did about Chip Merriwell. wrongly informed. words,” He put out his hand. V ithim took it dazedly. “T tought maype you vouldn’t findt oudt you vas wrong ondil I knockéd off your plock alretty,” said Villum. “You don’d gif me der shance?” “We have nothing to fight about now, Kess. Merriwell’s side.” “Und so iss eferypody! Chip iss holting some recep- tions. Maype I bedder go ofer und ged in mit it. Vat a tifference it all is aboudt nodding ad all! Chip iss der same yesderday as he iss do-morrow, aber it iss wae ; geds it in der neck vat counts.” So Villum elbowed his way to his chum and shook his hand. I was He’s all right and I take back my I’m on. “Vat iss der reason t’ings habbened tifferently from vat dey vas ven dey habbened der same} Chip?” he inquited earnestly. “Standing by your colors, Villum,” laughed Chip. | “Sure!” agreed Villum. “I knowed dot all der time oof I could only t’ink oof it!” THE END. ue Ellis Drood mysteriously disappears. Chip and Owe are commissioned by Colonel Gunn to find him. Thei efforts are told’-in a mighty interesting wae, enti “Frank Merriwell, Junior’s, Repentant Enemy; or, A Puz- zing Trail.” You will find it in the next Sia of this weekly, No. 68, out November 15th. THE FOREST RIDDLE By BENNET THOMPSON / SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS. John Hollister, a young Boston lawyer, broken down by overwork, goes to the mountains near Millford to recuper- ate. While hunting one day, after he has fully recovered, he comes suddenly upon a huge, red-bearded man, in the act of hanging a smaller man, who he addresses as Pete Jennings, and from whom he ts trying to extract a promise nat to tell something to some “girl.” Hollister shoots, cutting the rope, and saving Pete, who, much to his surprise, begs him to let the big man go. He does so reluctantly, and ‘the fellow, as he leaves, tells him he is not yet through with him—Hollister—and calls him by name. Pete then thanks him grudgingly for saving his life, and advises him to leave the avighbo mend at once, saying that it is known why he is there, “and that his life is in danger; then he, too, slips away in the forest. A little later Hollister hears a cry for help in a woman’s voice, and finds a girl mired.in a bog. At considerable risk, he saves her, and discovers she is Elinor, or “Nell” Edwards, a girl to whom he had been almost engaged, but who he had lost track of some time before. At first she gladly accepts his offer to see her home, and asks him to call the next day, but on hearing of his ad- venture with the two men, her-attitude suddenly changes; she refuses to let him accompany her, or tell where she lives, and begs him to return to Boston. Then, while he is protesting, she slips away in the twilight. CHAPTER VII. A SHOT FROM AMBUSH. said Pete Jennings gruffly, “an’ I said I wouldn’t do it again. But I can’t see a man marchin’ straight for death without tryin’ to steer him off. Now, you clear out!’ I’ll see Nell Edwards gets home all right.” “T'll do nothing of the sort. [——” “Ts that you, Pete?” called Nell from somewhere to the right; and Hollister thought he detected a note of appre- hension in her voice. “Y és.” “Hurry up; I’m waiting for you.” “All right.” Jennings turned. “And you,” he muttered to Hollister over his shoulder, “you mosey along; and do it quick! Didn’t I tell you to have nothin’ to do with nobody?” “[’ve warned you once,” Hollister remained where Jennings had left him until © the voices of the girl and man were no longer audible. Then, shaking his head, he took the path that led toward the Hammel place. His meditations were not of a pleasant nature. What had been the cause of Nell’s sudden change in demeanor? One moment cordial, frank, the same delight- ful girl woman he had known and loved; the next, cool, reserved, nervous, starting at the breaking of a twig or the hooting of an owl, yet determined to return home alone, through an almost unsettled wilderness! She had been frightened, and had shown it plainly; yet apparently not on her own account. Could it have been on his? Possibly, yet it was not probable. On ac- NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. count of Pete Jennings, then? Hollister wondered if his story of his afternoon’s adventure had been responszble. Did she know the other participant in the strange scene? This much was certain—she knew Jennings; knew him well enough to call him by his first name, knew his voice sufficiently well to recognize it at a distance. What did it all mean? And what was she, a college girl, gently bred, doing here, associating with such men? Hollister felt himself completely enmeshed in a maze of surmise and conjecture. That Neil had been glad to see him, entirely aside from the fact that his arrival had been most opportune for her, had been evident. She had invited him to come to see her the next day, and had accepted his proposal to walk home with her that night as a matter of course. And then, without a word of warning, she had sud- denly dismissed him, recalled her invitation for the fol- lowing day, and had put him off with a vague and unsat- isfactory. promise to “write and explain” She had preferred a lonely and perhaps dangerous walk through the dark woods, to his company, yet she had solicited that of Pete Jennings; who, if not a scoundrel himself, certainly frequented the society of questionable characters, and acted in, a peculiar manner, to say the least. What was she to Pete Jennings, or he to her? Was it possible that she had heard of the episode of the trap, and resented another’s knowledge of it? Hardly; there had been no time for any one else to tell her. And she could not have suspected from his—Hollister’s —description of the incident that Jennings had been con- cerned; for the young man distinctly recalled that he had not described Jennings, except superficially. Indeed, he believed he could not have done so, even had he wished; for'his mind had been too full of the lurid personality of Jake, the red-bearded giant, to take particular note of the other man. Jake was the person he had described, and—yes, he re- membered now that the girl had exclaimed when he men- tioned that gentleman’s hirsute adornment. Did she know Jake? And, if so, what had that to do with it? Oh, i was all an inexplicable tangle. soon. Upon one thing, however, Hollister was firmly resglved He would disobey Nell’s mandate, and go to the Edwards’ place the next day. Some one at ,Hammel’s could undoubt- edly tell him how to get there. Then he would see Nell, and demand an explanation. If she did not care for his society, she had only to say so. He was not the man to force himself upon any woman. sut if there were something behind all this, as he con- fidently believed, he would insist upon /her telling him. There must be some connection between her and Pete’ Jennings, possibly between her and the man Jake; 4nd Hollister proposed to know what it was, and if he were in any way involved in it. Still in a brown ‘study, he emerged from the . woods, and crossed the clearing at Hammel’s. One of the dogs sprang up from the foot of the steps, growling fiercely; but instantly changing the manner of his reception as he recognized the young man. Hollister stooped to pat him. “Good old chap!” said he; and strode up the steps. There was a flash behind him, a sharp report, and a bullet embedded itself in the framework of the door not an inch above his head! < ae ab: be Ey rol thi col tw th or mi he co th su ste th bu te in Hi bu se se su th re NEW CHAPTER VIII, NELL’S FATHER. Almost instantly the door was flung open, and Mrs. Hammel appeared on the threshold, a lamp held high above her head. She was a woman of, ample cerpciitien nature having been in a prodigal mood at the time of her creation. Everything about Mrs. Hammel was large, from her round, full-moon face, to her flat-heeled carpet slippers. She possessed, too, a heart in direct proportion to the size of her body—and she had lost it entirely to John Hollister. “So you're back, are you?” she said, “What was you shootin’ at—a rabbit?” smiling broadly. “T wasn’t shooting,” returned Hollister, hastily stepping out. of the radius of the lamplight, where he knew he _ must make an excellent target for his unseen enemy. “Some one else was doing that, and the game was larger than rabbits. It was I!” “Land sakes!” ejaculated Mrs. Hammel. She reached out a long arm, seized Hollister by the coat, and yanked him through the door. As she did so, two more shots sounded in quick succession from behind the house. Either there were two persons with firearms, _or the first one had shifted his position very rapidly. _ “Are you just dyin’ to get hit?” demanded, Mrs. Ham- mel sarcastically, banging the door shut and throwing the heavy bolt into place. “What have you been doin’?” she _ continued, leading the way into the kitchen and setting the lamp down in the center of a table that was laid for supper. ~ “Tm sure I don’t know,” Hollister said wearily, as he -$tood his gun in the corner and dropped into a chair by the fire. “Every one knows more about it than I do. Ask any one you meet hereabouts, and they'll tell you; _ but don’t expect me to.” Mrs. Hammel paused in the act of removing the con- tents of a heavy iron skillet, and regarded the speaker in a disapproving manner. “Tf you're trying to be funny, ’tis a poor joke, John Hollister!” she said sharply. “Comin” in like that with a te bullet after you, and frightenin’ me!” ‘Hollister laughed. The idea of anything or any one being able to strike terror to Mr. Hammel’s stout heart was ludicrous. He knew that she was not afraid of man ‘or beast; and she permitted just the ghost of a smile to appear at the corners of her wide mouth, before she launched into an exposition of her grievances against the ‘man who would go prowling ‘round after dark, allowing i) his supper to burn to a erisp, while he got himself into all sorts of scrapes. Having aired her opinions fr ecly, she ees him to Dbphidtoed observer, appeared to have suffered not at all from his delay. | \ — “Dve had quite a day,” Hollister remarked, belcasl him- _ liberally to _ chops, and speaking as if to him- tt es too. TIP TOP WEEKLY, “T do,” was the brief response. “Then perhaps you can tell me the names of the gentle- men who seem so anxious to have me elsewhere,” said he. Whereupon he proceeded to tell the story of the two men and the trap, just as it had happened, but omitting all mention of his strange meeting with -Nell Edwards. When he had finished, Mrs. Hammel drew her heavy brows together in a frown of perplexity and anger. “The old devil!” she muttered. “What is he up to now? You say you never saw that red-bearded man before, John?” she added, in a louder tone. Hollister shook his head. “Never!” he affirmed, leaning back and stirring his coffee vigorously, “Who is he?” He raised the steaming cup to his lips. “Who is he? Who should he be but Jake Edwards, the worst scamp that ever wore a boot!” was the startling reply. CHAPTER IX. A LETTER FROM THE OFFICE. Hollister’s coffee cup clattered into its saucer, and he sat staring at Mrs. Hammel as though unable to credit his ears. veg “Jake Edwards!” he said slowly. “Great heavens!” “How in the world he ever come to have such a child as that daughter of his beats me,” continued ‘Mrs. Hammel acidly, without noticing his agitation. “Did you ever see her?—the prettiest, sweetest little thing I ever laid eyes on, and a lady, every inch of her! You don’t know her, do you?” Bs. . “Yes, I know her,” Hollister said, feeling like one in a dream. The mists in his mind were beginning to clear away; at least, he understood why Nell had forbidden him to take her home or to go to see her the next day! She had feared that he would meet and recognize her father! That great, hulking ruffian her father! Hollister could not bring himself to believe it. Her father a gar- — roter, a would-be murderer! “Have you thought it might be Nell that Pete was not to tell anythin’ to?” inquired Mrs. Hammond shrewdly. “T wouldn’t be surprised. Jake Edwards’ hands are none too clean; tnaybe Pete has found out some of his devitery and was goin’ to tell the girl.” “No; I hadn’t thought of it that way,” dully. “I -haven’t had time to grasp it all yet. If you don’t mind, Mrs. Hammel, I'll go up to my room. I’m tired; and I want to see if I can’t, get this all straightened out in my mind. he dctrcted “Tf you ask me,” she said, rising and beginning to. clear away the supper things, “I’d say take Pete’s advice and go home, If Jake Edwards has got it in for you, this here is no place for you. Mark my words!” _ “But why should he have it in for me? ,T’ve done nothing to him!” Hollister burst out. “Could T stand by tamely and see him throttle somebody half his size, wi - out interfering? 4 “But he knew me! How? I’ve never met him befor to-day~never seen him before in my life. He looked at me as if he were a wild beast! It wasn’t only becausé I had prevented him from killing Petes there was. than that. “And who is this ‘Pete Jennings, anyhow? He koew Do ames s 0 RTT ap. 3 NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. “Pete is some kind of helper to Jake; I don’t rightly know just what he does; but he ain’t in love with Jake, anyhow,” “But I can’t make eee “Don’t try, John,” advised Mrs. Hammel, laying a’ kindly hand on his shoulder, “but go home. I'll hate to lose you, but I know Jake Edwards, and if he wants you to go, you'll have to go; and the less fuss you make about it,\, the better for you.” “T won’t!” Hollister declared furiously. “I won’t go a step! Who is he, I should like to know, to order me about? I’ve got as much right here as he has, and I pro- pose to stay here and see this out!” He flung out of the room and up the ladder to his own chamber. “I forgot to tell you, John,” the woman called after him, “there was a letter came for you to-day. Dave brought it up from town. It’s on the table by the lamp. Be sure to draw the blinds!” “All right!” Hollister called back. A letter! How had any one known where to write to him? The doctor’s orders had been strict: He must be cut off entirely from communication with the city, and, to that end, he had left no address. Then he remembered that he had written a note to his partner; Bob Farrel, about a week before, to say that he was quite well again, and that he would ‘return very shortly. Hollister sat down beside the:table, broke the seal of the envelope, and pulled out two closely written sheets and a bulky, folded paper. As he had surmised the letter was from Farrell, and read as follows: “Dear Hotty: Got your note, and\was jolly ‘glad to _ hear how fit you are. Keep up the good work. Things are about the same here, nothing new or startling. ‘ “In going over the papers you left me to overhaul, I find the deed of a considerable tract of land up there where you are—Millford, I believe is the name of the place. I incldse the survey, which seems to embrace several square miles. “There were also several letters and other documents in connection with the land, the former being from one J. #i. Edwards, and relating chiefly to a process for utilizing second-growth timber for making paper pulp. From what I can make out of it, this Edwards invented the process, and was going to try it out on this Millford land owned by your father, after he and one Alling returned from the North Jersey woods. _ “The letters and papers are too. voluminous for me to send you, but I inclose the last one, with some notes on it in your father’s handwriting. “Tam aware that this letter is contraband material, but you wrote so encouragingly that I felt it would not hurt you to look up the property, since you are so near, and it might prove interesting. . “if you want any further particulars, let me know. Your Bos.” The letter fluttered from Hollister’s hand to the floor. et H. Edwards! Jake Edwards! One and the same!” “And he is Nell’s father—and a murderer! | Thea he started to his feet with a charg exclamation. or through the open window his eye caught a bright ; ts Tea rage i ; flash, and the lamp at his elbow was shattered suddenly into‘a thousand tinkling pieces. In the thick darkness, Hollister heard the spat of the bullet that struck the wall behind him. CHAPTER X. A RESOLUTION. Hollister regretted his carelessness and stupidity in not heeding Mrs. Hammel’s. warning about drawing the blinds; but in the excitement .of finding the letter, it had entirely escaped his mind, and he had sat full in the lamplight, a Reeves mark for the man hunter out- side! . It was evident, therefore, that the man was either a very bad marksman, or else was simply trying to throw his human target into panic. But if the latter were his. object, he failed; for Hollister was no coward, and, while it is certainly not a pleasant experience for any one to realize that he is being shot at from the dark, the young man was more angry than frightened. Like a cyclone, he bounded down the stairs, sdiged his gun, and would have dashed out in search of his unseen an- tagonist, had not Mrs. Hammel anticipated just such an action on his part, and taken prompt steps to prevent it. She set her broad back against the door, and calmly an- nounced that any fool who went out that night would do so over her dead body. Having extracted the “fool’s” promise that he would make no attempt to leave the house, she went upstairs, closed the blinds carefully, lighted another lamp, and cleaned up. the débris that littered the — floor. Then she retired to her own room, after informing Hol- _ lister that Dave, the hired man, would be back in the _ morning, and would drive him to Millford, where he could take the noon train for the city. Hollister did not contradict her; he simply set his teeth, thrust out his square jaw, and told himself that if Daye — drove him to Millford in the morning he would have to tie him first. Z Then he read Bob. Farrell’s letter again, studied the _ survey, and finally turned his attention to the other in- closure. It proved to be a letter written to his father some ten years before, by J. H. Edwards; and, after re- — lating the fact that he and Alling were doing very well with the second-growth timber, declared the writer’s in- tention of returning to the city the following spring to complete arrangements for Henry Hollister’s entire own- ership of the formula for making paper pulp. On the back of the letter, which was yellowed by time, although the handwriting ‘was still perfectly legible, was inscribed in the chirography of Hollister’s father: “No further word from Edwards. Has disappeared, — All efforts to locate him have failed. The secret of the formula with him. ) H. H” Hollister carefully folded all the documents and stowe them away in his wallet. Then he lighted a cigarette, and began carefully to marshal in his mind all - facts in the case of which he was cognizant. There could. be no question now that Mrs. Haioalk “Jake Edwards,” the red-bearded scoundrel, “Jake,” the father of Nell Edwards, and the “J. H. Edwards” of Henr Hollister’s letter were identical. NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. on many occasions mention “old J. H.,” and his second- - growth process, and regret that he had been unable to _ discover the whereabouts of his friend. That Henry Hol- lister had entertained a high personal regard for Ed- wards, his son well knew. He always spoke of him as “a white man, by Jove!” a “rough diamond, Jack, but the purest sort of a gem notwithstanding.” ; Hollister reflected bitterly that it was just as well that his father had not succeeded in tracing Edwards; he had _ escaped the pain that the knowledge of the latter’s degen- eration would have caused him; had never discovered the flaw in the jewel of friendship. Granting, therefore, that Jake Edwards had known Ks Henry Hollister, had been his friend, and associated with hit in business, what was the cause of his enmity toward John Hollister? Had he committed any wrong against the other man, and, fearing that the son had learned of it, determined to drive him out of the neighborhood? Pete Jennings had said that “it was known what Hol- lister was up here for.” Did Edwards believe that Hol- lister knew, or had come to ferret out something which would bring any shady transactions to light? And had Jennings, perchance, discovered the secret, whatever it was, and threatened to tell “the girl’? The _ girl must be Nell! ; ie | Nell! Pretty, charming Nell! She was here, here in these wild forests, with such a father! Hollister clenched his fists, and vowed that if he went, the girl he loved should go with him. She should not be left here at the mercy of that beast!- To-morrow he would see her, and beg her to marry him at once, and\ go to the city, where he could protect her, and make her happy. If her father had committed ‘any crime, if he had been guilty of defrauding Henry Hollister, and was hiding from the law in consequence, then that crime, whatever it was, must go unpunished. : If. he had obtained money from his friend under pre- se of turning over the formula to him, let him keep “both money and formula. There was enough money, Hol- ster’ reasoned, for all of them; and Jake Edwards’ re- lationship to Nell must protect him from any prosecution. But would Nell go? Would she marry him, after what She as proud) high-spirited; she might refuse to leave her ther, in spite of what he had done. And it ‘was quite ossible that Jake sigs told her some ipsa ed ut this di of ite question Hollister refused to con- if Nell loved him—and he had sometimes be- CHAPTER XI. A CLOSE CALL. *» ra maple sirup on his buckwheat cakes.. “At least, 10 lf Jake *m not going,” Hollister said for the twentieth time, as Hammel, from ‘her seat on the ‘other side of the breakfast — table. “Then I’m right in thinking that he’s simply trying to scare me, and I won’t be scared. I’m in no danger, I tell you. The man’s not a fool. He must be aware that if I’m found shot full of holes there won’t be much ques- tion as to who’s responsible. I’m not being nie reckless, Mrs. Hammel, as you seem to think. “I’m simply standing up for my rights. I’m not going to be killed, and I’m certainly not going to be driven out of the country, or otherwise intimidated by this spectacu- lar target practice.” Mrs. Hammel rose and stood behind his chair. “John, I know you’ve got a brave heart,” she said gravely, “but you’re too headstrong. I’m too fond of you to let you stay and brave this danger. For it is danger. If he can’t shoot you, there’s plenty of other ways. 7 “*Accidents’ happen easy up here, and no one would ever dream he’d done you up—if they ever found enough of you to know it was you.” In spite of himself, Hollister shuddered. Was she right, after all? Ought he to go?) . Was the danger that un- doubtedly threatened him as serious as all that? Was he running a great risk in remaining to find out why this - strange man pursued him so implacably? ; And then the face.of Nell Edwards rose up before him, lovely, alluring; with a dawning love in her sweet eyes.. He pushed back his chair. “T’ve got some one beside myself to consider, Mrs. ewe mel,” he said. “I love Jake Edwards’ daughter—and I’m _ not going home without her, if things were a thousand — times worse than they are!” & Martha Hammel understood. Hammel himself, long : since dead, had possessed just such unalterable determina- — F And he had. tion, just such quiet, unshakable courage. loved her, rough woodsman though he was, with just such a protecting love. She wiped a tear away with the corner of her apron}. a tear that might have been for her lost girlhood, for Tom Hammel, or for the brave young chap before her, “God bless ye, lad!” she whispered huskily. “And may. He take care of you and that sweet girl!” ay Whistling blithely, Hollister strode along the path that led to the creek at the back of the clearing, where his: canoe was,moored. She was a trim little craft, stanch , and strong in every seam and joint; and, although the stream was boisterous and the current swift, the water _ was wide and deep in most places, and navigation re~ © quired no more than a strong arm and a quick eye. Hollister was an expert with his paddle, and had often — brought the cano@ up from the lake, nearly seven miles below, carrying it around-the rapids, which were too ~ swift and treacherous to permit of paddling up, although it was possible to shoot them when going downstream. To get to the Edwards’ place, so Mrs. Hammel had said, _ he must paddle downstream until he reached the first ce branch of the creek beyond the third ridge, then turn up — that for about a mile, and from the water he would be able to see the end of the rough barns. The good woman spoke slightingly of the Edward: homestead, as heing decidedly inferior to her own in comfort and convenience; and Hollister wondered how eecoaceeamenenmens es 24 Well, she would not have much more of it, at any rate ! He stepped into the canoe, cast off his moorings, and, with one sweeping stroke of the paddle sent the little craft well out into the stream. Once in the middle, the current bore him swiftly along, requiring only a dip of the paddle now and then to keep in the channel. The air, crisp with frost, still held the night chill, the sun having but lately risen. Every leaf, every blade of grass, was decked in a garment of silvery white—the gift of Jack Frost. store of nuts, chattering to each other, and making a great to-do in the trees. Hollister drew long breaths of the invigorating air; he felt his blood tingle and leap through his veins. A little below him he could hear the faint roar of the rapids, growing louder and Jouder as the canoe swept on, and he braced himself for the exhilarating tussle. There was a spice of danger in shooting the dashing, foaming water, in guiding the canoe in and out among the jagged rocks, that appealed to the sporting blood in him. In spite of the ever-present menace of Jake Edwards, in spite of the mystery that shrouded his strange words and actions, Hollister felt singularly unafraid. Whatever treachery lurked in the woods under €over of darkness, there could be no reason for apprehension on this glori- ous, sunshiny morning. It was cold, though—a queer, cutting cold that seemed not so much in the air as near the water level. It was, in fact, more about his knees—he looked down. Then, with a deft sweep of the paddle, he drove the canoe for the right bank. The current seized the bow and swung it downstream again, but he forced it back, gaining inch by inch the mastery over the water that dashed like a mill race toward the rapids, now perilously near. A dozen times the paddle was almost torn from his — grasp, but after five minutes of unremitting, almost breath- less effort, he succeeded in grasping an overhanging branch and pulling the craft close to the shore. A moment later he was standing on a narrow strip of earth, overhung by a frowning, rocky cliff, and gravely contemplating his dripping knees, and the bottom of his canoe, in which was two inches of water. CHAPTER XII. ANOTHER “ACCIDENT.” If the water had soaked through the knees of his cor- duroy trousers half a minute later, Hollister realized that he would have been in the midst of the rapids, with a leaking canoe, which would have sunk under the buffet- ing of the waves before half the distance to smooth water had been traversed. And then what chance would he have had, encumbered as he was with his heavy shooting clothes and boots? The canoe had been all right the day before; what had caused the leak? She did not seem to be taking in any water now, nor could he see any seams that appeared to be sprung. He pulled the bow well out of the water; all taut there. Then he turned his attention to the stern, and nodded un- derstandingly. Just above the water line were two round holes, and the strips of bark were torn and splintered. No wonder she took in water! The squirrels were gathering their winter | NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY The holes had been hidden by a pillow on the inside, and on the outside had been covered by a cleverly ad- justed piece of bark, which was the reason he had not noticed the damage before. ; As long as the canoe was empty, the openings would be above water line; but the weight of a man would sink them below, and the water, running in behind the pillow, would gradually fill and sink the craft. How came the holes there? The explanation was not difftult. They were unquestionably bullet holes, and had been made by the two shots he had heard after entering the house the rfight before! : Some one had deliberately conceived this plan, doubtless expecting that the craft and its occupant would be engulfed in the rapids, as both certainly would have been, had it not been for Hollister’s timely discovery and quick action. Another half minute and the current would have been too strong for him to reach the bank. p As he stood looking down at his mutilated craft, Hollis- ter, for perhaps the first’ time, fully realized the danger in which he stood. \The man who could conceive such a fiendish scheme was to be feared and avoided, not scorned and braved. Yet to follow the former course was to abandon Nell, to leave her without so much as a message. For could he hope that any subsequent letters would be delivered? And he felt that he must see her. No, he would have to temporize; fight fire with fire, pit cunning against cunning. If the man had been any other than the father of the girl he loved, a bullet would have ended the whole affair. But he could not shoot the ruffian, and the latter doubtless knew and counted upon this fact. Drawing the damaged canoe well up on the narrow bank, Hollister thrust it into a cleft in the rock, and coy- ered it with leaves and twigs. Above his head, some twenty feet in air, a wide ledge ran parallel with the stream, -sloping back from it. It seemed to him that a little distance along, and guarded on each side by a huge bowlder, was a narrow, dark open- ing that looked like the entrance to a cave. He could not be sure, for he had no time for explora- tion; but he took careful note of the spof. It would not be possible for him to go on downstream, and make the turning to the Edwards’ place without a boat; for beyond the rapids the rocky walls rose straight and precipitous. He mist first return home, therefore, and ask Mrs. Ham- mel to direct him through the woods. By the time that Jake Edwards discovered that the man he had ‘treacherously sought to drown had escaped, the latter would have had an interview with Nell, and made good his retreat. Blowing the water from the muzzle of his gun, and drying it as best he could with his handkerchief, Hollister ejected the shells, and put in fresh ones. Then he shoul- dered the weapon and turned back the way he had come. He didnot whistle nOW; the situation was too grave. He had not believed it was Jake’s intention to do more than frighten him away; but in the face of those hidden bullet holes in the canoe, that belief was no’ longer tenable. He did not dare shoot the young man down in cold blood, for that would have been too dangerous to him-’ self; but as Mrs. Hammel had said, “accidents” could happen to almost any one; and Hollister was not ready to have any happen to him. The thousand voices of the woods called to him, but he a a ed Ce & A & — la: ne co sic tal th: ab ret he: the ne; lul lat: pat abc pra Tea bel Jac gra mu but fan kin it,” nd ter: ul- ne. ve. ore len le. old im-~ ald ady ‘ NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. 25 gave no heed. From the bank a water rat plunged into the stream with a light splash, and darted underneath a big stone. Ripples played in the sunlight, and tiny rain- bows formed above the sparkling drops. A pebble rattled down the face of the rock and bounded off at right angles, followed by another, and another. Instinctively Hollister, warned in some subconscious way of impending danger, sprang forward. In a breath, a giant bowlder, loosened from its bed at the top of the cliff, crashed to the narrow path, carrying with it a shower of débris and small stones, swayed and rocked for a mo- ment, and then toppled into the water, deluging the hor- rified man with the shower of muddy spray! RUNNING AMUCK. By CAPTAIN W. H. MACY. When I was ip in the arctic, in the Plowboy—whaler-— in the disastrous season of 1851, we took on board as supernumeraries- several men from the bark Carnatic, which had been wrecked in the ice fields. When a ship was lost, the crew were divided round on board other ships, and did duty, working their passage, as it might be, to the Sandwich Islands, and so many whalers were cast away during that season that almost every ship had more or less of these castaways. Among those’ which fell to our share were two Chinese, who had joined the Carnatic at Hongkong, and, strange to say, a full-blooded Malay also. For it is not often that these Malays get on board American vessels. This man—‘“Othello,” as he was called—was the first of his race with whom I. had ever been associated as a shipmate, and I devoutly hope he may be the last I shall ever meet. He was nota bad seaman in the main; he was, like the lascars, good at some kinds of ship duty, and good for nothing at others. He held the two Chinamen in mortal contempt, and omitted no opportunity of showing his aver- sion. He might well have parodied the word of his great Moorish namesake, “Rude am I in my speech,” for he talked very few words of English, though it was evident that he understood it much better than he pretended to be able to. More than once, when some of us were making remarks about him which we thought entirely incompre- hensible, his sudden start and vindictive look indicated that he was not half as thick-skulled as we had supposed. The /season was up, and the Plowboy, with her hold nearly filled with oil, was making good way toward Hono- lulu, having already reached the mild climate of lower latitudes, and entered the limit of the northeast trades. I Was counted in the same watch with Othello; and on the particular night in question, Jack Slade and I were talking about the curious phenomenon of “running amuck,” as practiced in some Eastern countries—for Jack had been reading about some case of the sort in his first watch below. “T can’t see how a man can hold his life so cheap,” said Jack; “for he must, finally be overpowered. It is not to gratify any thirst for revenge, for, as I understand it, the muck runner does not single out any particular victims, but attacks any one that comes, in his way. Religious fanaticism, some travelers say it is, but that is a strange kind of religion,” “TI don’t believe half the yarns that are written about it,” said I. “A man may be insane, and his insanity may take that violent form. Such cases are liable to occur in civilized lands as well as elsewhere.” “You don’t believe it, eh?” put in old Tom Conway. “Well, I tell you you have never sailed on East India voy- ages as I have, or you wouldn’t be so ready to disbelieve all that is strange. Why, here’s this blackguard of a Malay,” continued Tom, lowering his voice a little. | “I’ve been uneasy ever since that fellow came aboard, and I shan’t get -a sound night’s sleep till we are well rid of him.” Jack and I both laughed loudly at Tom’s strong expres- sions. He was much in the habit of exaggerating, but in this case he appeared to be really in earnest, and his manh- ner became more impressive than before. “Tt doesn’t become you to laugh at this,’ he ‘went on. “Why, if I’d been the ‘old man,’ with my knowledge and experience, I wouldn’t have taken that chap aboard here on any account; or at least, if I did, I’d ha’ put him in double irons, under guard, until I got him into port. To be sure, there isn’t so much danger from ’em when they can’t get opium, but if this black thief could get a smell at the ship’s medicine chest, he would soon nose out that drug. And if he got just the right dose, there’s a fearful chance of his running amuck right here among us: Any- how, a Malay isn’t to be trusted, opium or no opium; and I would. about as soon have a powder magazine about decks as this fellow.” Othello’s tawny face at this moment appeared round the corner of the tryworks,, where he must have heard the whole colloquy; but whether he had understod it or not was a question no one could solve. I have always thought he had, or at least the purport of it, if not all the words. He stared at us all, but said nothing. He kept mostly apart from the rest during his watthes on deck, often. soliloquizing in his native jargon, for which nobody was any the wiser. When I went aft at four bells to relieve the helm, I saw the Malay sneaking along the leeside of the quarter- deck in the darkness, as if he had come from the cabin. The Portuguese whom I relieved, and to whom I men- tioned the circumstance, had seen nothing of him, nor had Mr. Evans, the third mate, who was walking on the weather side at the time. The thought of the medicine chest, in connection with the croaking words of old Tom, flashed for a moment across my mind; but I dismissed it at once, laughing at what I considered his foolish fears. When the watch was relieved I went below, and being very sleepy, and the hanging lamp giving hardly light enotigh to make darkness visible, I turned in at once. I took no notice about the Malay, or any one else, and in five minutes was snoring lustily. A general stir in thé forecastle, and exclamations of alarm roused me to consciousness, and, with the instinct of a sailor, I jumped to my feet, hat and jacket in hand. Several others were up, struggling into their clothes, and some one was trying to light the lamp. “IT told you so!” said Tom Conway, in great excite- ment. “That infernal savage is running amuck. He has killed To-Pang, the Chinee, and will kill all hands if he isn’t soon knocked over himself.” Tom seized the mincing knife, which was kept in cleats over his bunk, and, removing its sheath so as to expose its thin, keen blade, took it\by one of the handles, and arted up the ladder. I was close behind Tom, and all the rest followed. No one wanted to be caught in a eR ea a eee 26 NEW RIP LOOP WEEKLY. cul-de-sac, if it eame to a death struggle; it was better to be aboveboard, with plenty of room, The tableau that met my view as my head rose above the level of the spar deck was fearful enough to aecount for all this excitement. The central figure in it was Othello. himself, standing on the top of the caboose cover on the tryworks, brandishing that most fearful of all the keen-cutting implements peculiar to the whaling business— a “boarding knife.” His brawny form was naked to the waist; his black hair streaming loose to his shoulders; and his person, from head to foot, as his duck trousers, splashed all over with blood. The moon had risen since we left below, and her bright beams fell directly upon this horrible figure, bringing it out in the boldest relief. The body of poor To-Pang lay near the end of the wind- lass, in-a pool of blood, with the head cut nearly off from the trunk, and the ghastly face upturned to the moon. The men of the watch on deck, after giving the alarm to us below, had scattered in various directions, to escape the first rush of the mad Malay, and to get weapons of defense. The captain had just reached the deck, and was hastily loading the only available musket, for the ship was quite guiltless of other firearms, save a single pistol belonging to, the chief mate, and two old “king’s arms,” with flint- locks, which might have done good service at Bunker Hill, or the Cow-pens, but of which the butt was now by far the most effective end. The officers were all on the quarter-deck, arming them- selves with lances\or cutting spades. Some of the men had climbed into the boats for weapons, and two or three were mounted up in the rigging, looking down upon the frightful panorama, and quaking with fear. I had caught up a handspike as soon as I reached the deck, this being the only fighting implement at hand, But we had little time for preparation. The Malay, who had ‘been rolling his eyes as if in a delirious ecstasy, gave a yell that froze the blood in our veins, as he sprang from his elevated platform, right down toward us. Old Tom, taken by surprise, fell back so suddenly that he lost hold ef the mincing knife, which went ringing away to lee- ward; the awkward blow of my ‘handspike just grazed Othello’s back as he dashed by me; several of my watch- mates tumbled headlong back down the fore scuttle to save ‘their lives; but the gleaming boarding knife found its victim in Manuel, the poor little Portuguese, who fell with his arm laid open clear to the bone. With a back-handed slash of his terrible weapon, Othello gave the death stroke to.our pet dog, Sailor, who was barking at his heels; and, wheeling short round, sprang back to his former perch on the caboose cover. A shot from the captain’s gun passed clear of his head; and several blows from handspikes and ether wooden missiles thrown at him only seemed to in- furiate him, for he cared nothing for the bruises inflicted, Nothing short of killing him could be a safe poliey for us; and it was awkward darting weapons in the night, as we might be as likely to hit our friends as the com- mon enemy. With his advantage of position, and his surprising agility, he thus far held us all at bay. Another yell rent the heavens, even more piercing than the former’ one; the bright, two-edged knife, reeking with blood, flashed aloft in the moonheams, and the Malay, with a single bound from the tryworks to the main hatches, rushed aft to the quarter-deck. The second shot. from the musket pierced his left arm instead of his head, as intended, and we'could no longer look to firearms for our safety. The captain and mate jumped, or rather fell down the companionway, as that terrible knife gleamed above their heads. Our party rushed aft, however, headed by Tom Conway, to attack Othello in the rear. But, quick as a tiger, he turned and stood at bay, ereet and de- fant as ever, though smarting from the pain of the musket ball. Tom hurled the mincing knife edgewise full at his face, but he dodged just low enough to escape a fatal wound, the knife just slicing off the top of his scalp. A lunge from my cutting spade was cleverly evaded by a quick, catlike movement on his part; and again that un- earthly yell rose, seeming to split the drums of our ears. With it came the cry from the strong lungs of the second mate in the starboard quarter boat. “Clear the way there! Fall back, and give me a fair chance!” He had cleared away a long lance, and was poising it ready for a dart. We tumbled backward upon each other, to get out of range; the Malay, for a single moment off his guard, was passing the mizzen mast, when. the fatal javelin sped on its mission, passing like a flash through his body, and pinning him literally to the mast! His lifeblood gushed even into our faces, as his weight and the convul- sive movement of the bedy bore him to the deck, wrench- ing the lancehead out of the soft wood! A quiver or two, and all was over. “Look to Manuel!” was the first order from the cap- tain; and the Portuguese was brought aft.and his wound taken care of at once, as well as cireumstances would permit. His life was saved, but the arm was worthless ever afterward, and he was discharged as a cripple at the next arrival in port. The bodies of Othello and the unfortunate Celestial were committed to the waters of the Pacific, and the Plowboy sped on. her way to Honolulu. , It was. found, upon in- vestigation, that Othello had really robbed the medicine chest, and had intoxicated himself with opiates, the doses of which he well knew how to regulate so as to pro- duce the ecstatic delirium. But | venture to say no one of my shipmates can repress a shudder when he thinks of the scenes enacted on that moonlight night in the North Pacific Ocean. QUEER MODES OF BURIAL. The Mohammedans always, whether in their own coun- try or in one of adoption, bury without coffin or casket of any kind. During: the time of the old Roman empire the dead bodies of all except suicides were burned, The Greeks sometimes buried their dead in the ground, but more generally eremated them, in imitation of the Ro- mans. In India, up till within the last few years, the wife, either according to her wishes or otherwise, was ° eremated on the same funeral pyre that converted her dead' husband’s remains into ashés. When a child dies in Greenland the natives bury a live dog with it, the dog to be used by the child as a guide to the other world. When questioned in regard to this peculiar superstition, they will only answer: “A dog can find his way anywhere.” The natives of Australia tie the hands of their dead together and pull out their nails. This is for fear that the corpse may scratch out of the grave and become a vampire. The primitive Russians place a certificate of character in the dead person’s hands, which is to be given to St. Peter at the spies of heaven. sil aadia = — hr — oe Ss aes aan ee n the M: his Wi en yur wh ve ick de- ket his ital A ya uin- Ars. ond fair x it her, oft atal his ood vul- ich- or cap- und auld less the vere boy in- cine oses pro- one s of orth oun- isket ipire The but Ro- the was ' her es in ge to Vhen will The ether orpse The 1 the er at ain Sh i the room of Lemuel Lowe. NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. Me Wo TTEMO OF INTEREST: Stops “Road Hogs” With Gun. John Armstrong Chaloner has declared war against the “road hog,” his name for automobile drivers, and ad- vises all North Carolinians to carry unconcealed weapons to force division of the road. Chaloner started his re- form by holding up a party of speeders with pistols and making the chauffeur lead Chaloner’s terrified pony to safety beyond the machine. The holdup was in Albermarle County. Put Milk in Red Bottles, Holland, who, along with Denmark, takes the lead in agricultural fashions, is about to start her retail milk de- livery in red bottles. Although the subject was not dis- cussed at the International Medical Congress, medicdt reasons are responsible for the innovation. Red, the experts say, is a color that acts as a preserva- tive on milk. Bottles wrapped in red paper or made of red glass will consequently prevent the milk from turning sour, and will in addition discourage somnolent bacilli from bursting into life. Wireless Operator Dies at Key, a Hero. How a wireless operator died at his post, a hero, was told when survivors of the wrecked steamship, City of California, arrived at Seattle, Wash. When the steam- ship hit an uncharted reef in Gambier Bay, Alaska, the chief operator, Donald Perkins, was off duty and asleep. Awakened by the shock, he rushed into the wireless room and ordered the operator to seek safety. Then he sat down: at thé key and was crushed to death by a falling mast. Thirty-two persons were drowned when the steam- ship’ sank. Monster Catfish Upsets Boat. While F. E. McMains and August Dietrick were fishing from a boat in the Mississippi River, McMains hooked a 118-pound catfish. The big fish put up such a struggle that the boat was overturned, but they finally landed the catch. Brothets Patted by Wat. Lemuel Lowe, a wealthy rice planter, of Bay City, Tex., and August Lowe, of Chicago, brothers, recently met at the Hotel Utah, Salt Lake City, for the first time since the outbreak of the Civil War. The meeting was brought about by Lee Haney, general agent in Salt, Lake for a detective service, who sought August Lowe in his room at the hotel for the purpose of giving him instructions regard- ing a case in Goldfield, Nev. Mr. Lowe is the oldest de- tective in the service. Mr. Haney inquired of Don Stewart, the clerk, whether a Mr. Lowe was in the house, and had been directed to After some conversation with Mr. Lowe he was informed of his mistake and made in- quiry at the desk for the right Mr. Lowe. Following his visit with August Lowe, he told him of the meeting with Lemuel Lowe, thereby ‘informing him of the pres- ence of his brother, - ' caught by the waves and swept away. When the two were brought together they said it was the first meeting since the beginning of the Civil War, when they enlisted in the opposing armies. Each supposed the.other had failed to survive the war. Lemuel Lowe attended the recent reunion of veterans at Gettysburg. New Ideas in Baseball, Ball players with original ideas have a difficult time to catry them out in regular games. It is still told how Ty Cobb had to fight half the Detroit team before they would let him go through with some of his hair-raising, sensa- tional stunts. Yet to-day he is famous because he can stage such performances. Crowds flock out to the park just to see Cobb, hoping he will put over a new idea. Frequently they are re- warded. Ofttimes Tyrus will attempt something novel and startling, only to be nipped, but the thought was/ there and the fault of failure wasn’t his. Cobb once stated as a positive fact that he frequently doped out a play for the following day while he was try- ing to go to sleep. A noted baseball scout recently discussed how hard it is for youngsters in the minors to spring plays out of the ordinary mechanical routine. “If they attempt any such thing the veterans who haven’t a new idea in the world will squelch them,” said the scout. “It’s a pity baseball is so handicapped, especially back where the new blood is being developed.” Typhoon Kills 1,000 Japanese. Details of the typhoon’ which has raged over Japan for several days show that it was more disastrous than first reported, and that the fatalities perhaps will aggregate T,000. There was a tidal wave at Miyako, northern Hondo, in which 30 persons were killed. One hundred others there are missing. Hundreds of houses were swept out to sea. One hundred persons were drowned in the floods or killed in landslides in other portions of northern Hondo, and 2,000 are reported to be unaccounted for. Great damage was done at Hokkaido. Scores of fisher- men were drowned, houses destroyed, and railroad bridges inundated. A* train was hurled into the river at a wash- out in the tracks. Seven persons wére killed and 4o in- jured. The inhabitants along the coast have fled to the hills and thousands are homeless and suffering. At many points ‘persons on shore admiring the high seas were The monetary loss as a result of the storm will be heavy. George W. Guthrie, the new American ambassador to Japan, while motoring from Miyanoshita, was stopped by waist-high water outside of Yokohama. He was forced ’ to walk to the railroad station whence he proceeded by train to Tokyo. African Army Costly to Spain. The new duties undertaken by Spain in Africa neces- sitates the organization of a colonial army. From the mo-— ment that the issue of the Franco-Spanish negotiations be- a a oe . NENG NON UNLEN N ee ERE AD ues poem aa = : - aaa eee 28 SND TEP ltr WEE RIY came apparent the government recognized the importance of having a permanent force of some 50,000 men for service in the Spanish zone, and the creation of General Berenguer’s native regiments and squadrons, mostly re- cruited from ex-soldiers of the Roghi of Seluan, was the first step toward obtaining it, The renewal of hostilities by the Moors has made the want of adequate colonial forces severely felt. It has now been recognized that the dispatch of unseasoned troops from the Penisula is not of much help to the gen- eral in the field and only tends to make the struggle more dificult and costly on account of the large percentage of sick and the heavy casualty lists, due to inexperi- enced soldiers, if not to their leaders. Cases have been quoted by trustworthy special correspondents, such as Senor Rivera, of the “Imparcial,” of cavalrymen who do not know how to charge and artillerymen who are learning to handle their guns under fire. Spain has undoubtedly a long and arduous enterprise before her, but there can be no turning back. She must proceed steadily and cautiously to the fulfillment of the historic mission bequeathed to her by the greatest of her queens over 400 years ago, a mission which she has never renounced even in her darkest hours, Patient methods of conciliation, backed whenever necessary by adequate and well-equipped forces, must triumph-in the end. Facts You May Not Know. There are hermits, in Italy who live solitary lives in mountain caves, and they number no fewer than 990. Among these recluses there are sixteen who are over 95 years of age and three centenarians, while all the others have passed the age of 50. The lard used in the United States in a year would fill a pail 295 feet in diameter and 334 fect deep. Famed for its unfailing springs of pure, sparkling water, the island of Toboga lies about ten miles from the ‘eity of Panama, in the Pacific. Here the mail steamers plying between Balboa and San Francisco lie by for their supply of fresh water, as do also the steamers that sail southward from Panama. The doll is probably the most antique of toys. Dolls have been found inside the graves-of the children of an- cient Rome. At the railway stations in Russia books are kept wherein passengers. may enter any complaints they wish to make. A dummy aéroplane secured to a pivot, but swayed by the wind, has been designed to get students acquainted with the sensation of flying. School children and teachers of Pointe Coupee Parish, in the flood district of Louisiana, planted 15,000 fruit trees last year. Superintendent Trudeau has also a plan whereby road work in the parish will be done by school- boys. é More than 300 Missouri editors make less than $12 a week from their labors. Ada County, Idaho, has a school district containing 324 square miles, ‘Easton, Pa., has a school superintendent in W. W. Cot- tingham who has taught sixty years in the same position. A motor-driven machine, operated by one man, has been invented to harvest sugar cane and deliver it ready for the mill. Dictating extemporaneously at the rate of 211 5-9 words a minute for nine consecutive minutes, Judge Frank H. Rudkin, of Spokane, Wash’, is credited by court reporters with a world record in delivering charges to a jury. The telephone wires of the United States are long enough to make fifty lines to the moon. The Swedish. government operates public employment bureaus. Their services are free of charge. The success of three department stores in China has led to the establishmént of a fourth in the southern part of the republic, The greater part of the trade is with the Chinese. He Likes to Weat the Badge. Charles Kyle has filed his primary petitions for re- election as marshal of Girard, Ohio, despite the fact that the office pays a salary of only $1 a yéar. He’s planning a hot campaign, too, though he will have no opposition. “I like to wear the badge,” says Kyle. “That’s the long and short of it.” Clam Bests Eel in Battle. Michael Morrisey, of Dedham, Mass., witnessed one of the queerest water battles that Boston has ever heard of when he saw a clam defeat an eel in a fight in the tall grass along the bank of the Charles River. The eel was trying to snap the tender part of the inside of the clam, and the clam kept its mouth open. Finally the eel made its strike and the clam caught it, holding its head firmly be- tween its jaws. Then Morrisey got a stick and dragged the combatants ashore, where he killed the eel by a blow over the head, and ate the clam. Yosemite Park Auto Rules. Under regulations published recently by the interior de- partment, automobiles may enter Yosemite National Park by way of the Coulterville and Big Oak Flats Roads only. Checking stations have been inaugurated by the depart- ment as means of regulating the speed of cars, and a $5. license must be paid for the round trip. Motor cycles will not be allowed in the park. Record Anglet’s Feat. Establishing what is said to be a world’s record. with rod and reel, W. C. Boschen, of New York, recently brought to gaff off Catalina Island a-355-pound swordfish, after a struggle lasting 92 minutes. The fish was twelve feet in length, with a sword four feet long and seven inches wide at the base. Man Tries to Jump Like Cat, Lem Houck, 20 years old, of Lebanon, Pa.,) wanted to see if he could jump like a cat. He climbed one of two twin sumac trees. and jumped from one to the other, He reached the other tree all right, but the limb snapped beneath his weight and he fell twenty feet, breaking both bones in his left arm, breaking one of his feet, and sys- taining internal injuries. At the hospital it is said he may recover, Little Boys Save Friend, John Brockell, 7 years old, son of William Brockell, of - 652 Broadway, Long Island City, N. Y., was saved from being buried alive recently by the thoughtfulness of play- mates of his own age. They were playing in an excavation at Eighth Avenue and Broadway. One of the sides of the Sa ji me I t he fu Pa de. tio OcK per GR it 1S rt de- ‘ark nly. art- ! will with ntly fish, four d td two He pped both sus- may Hi, of « from play- ratio of the NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. 29 excavation caved in. John Brockell was caught by the falling sand and earth and buried. Some of the boys ran to call help, but two of the small- est began digging in the sand for their companion. Within two or three minutes they got to the boy’s head, and they succeeded in keeping a small opening to allow air to reach him until help came. The boy was released. He was unconscious and crushed badly. He was taken to St. John’s Hospital by Doctor Lavelle, who used a pulmotor while the ambulance was on the way to the hospital. It was said at the hospital that the boy would probably recover. Cat Saved by Whisky Tries Drowning Daily. Mrs. Matilda -Hafner’s seven-toed kitten fell into a | bridge excavation in East Nofwalk, Conn., recently, and was nearly drowned, But James Shea jumped in and made a gallant rescue of the cherished feline. To assist nature in its restoration process a few drops of whisky were placed in the milk administered to the cat. Now the Kitten falls into the trench six or seven times each day, and the rescuers are getting tired. Leaps Off Brooklyn Bridge and is Unhurt. Peter Kelly, a stteet-car motorman, jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge at its highest point and escaped with a few slight bruises. On his way down Kelly turned over half a dozen times and struck the East River almost flat on his back. He floated a short distance until he was rescued. Kelly re- fused to tell why he made the jump. The ambulance surgeon, who in ten minutes pronounced him practically as sound as ever, said Kelly had been drinking. Mine Manager is Beaten by Women. Many tnion men have returned to work in the copper mines, following the failure of the Western Federation of Miners to pay strike benefits. Dynamite has been found under the home of Captain Richard Williams, at No. 5 shaft. Thirty women at- tacked Manager Potter, of the Superior Mine, and gave him a bad beating. Jim Thotpe to Marty Indian Girl, James Thorpe, the great athlete, now of the Giants, left Carlisle, Pa., recently, after a twenty-four-hour stay, dur- ing which he astounded his friends by announcing his intention to marry Miss Margaret J. Miller, a beautiful Cherokee Indian maiden, now in California, but a resi- dent of Otoe, Okla. The pair will be married on a date in October to be determined by the conclusion of the world’s baseball series. Jim wiil take his bride on a honeymoon tour around the world. He will be a member of the New York Giants’ world-touring baseball club. Barbers Act as {Coronets. In Egypt a large proportion of the barbers are state functionaries. According to an edict issued by Ibrahim Pasha in 1848, every village barber was ordered, when death occurred in his district, to make a careful examina- tion of the corpse and report to the authorities any death occurring through epidemic, disease, or foul play. Severe penalties were imposed for any neglect of this duty, and a fee of five cents was paid for each death registered. Five years ago the system of payment by fees was abolished, and each village barber now draws from the government a fixed salary for his services. Atlantic Ports Trade Deciines, The increasing share of the Gulf and northern border ports in the receipt and distribution of our foreign com- merce is illustrated by a comparison of the figures of imports and exports by customs districts in 1913, com- pared with those of 1900, just completed by the bureau on foreign and domestic commerce, department of com- merce. It shows a distinct decline in the share which the Atlantic ports handle, both of imports and exports, and that their loss is chiefly diverted to the Gulf and northern border ports. The Pacific and Mexican border ports show little change in their percentage of the total trade. The share of the Atlantic ports in the exports of 1900 was 69 per cent, and in 1013 but 55 per cent; that of the Gulf ports in 1900, 16 per cent; in 1913, 22 per cent; that of the northern border ports! in rg00, 714 per cent; in 1913, 16 ‘1-3 per cent, while the share of the Pacific ports was in 1900, 5 per cent,-and in 1913, 6 per cent. Atlantic ports show an increase of 40 per cent in the period from 1900 to 1913; Gulf ports, 132 per cent; northern border ports, 285 per cent; Pacific ports, 109 per cent. The actual gains were: Atlantic ports, $385,000,000; Gulf ports, $309,000,000; northern border ports, $297,000,000; Pacific ports, $76,000,000, and Mexican border ports $2,500,000. War, and Bird Seed.) It may never have occurred to the average reader that the Balkan War could have anything to do with the price of bird seed. But it did have a whole lot to do with it, for the simple reason that the greatest source of the world’s supply of canary seed is in Turkey, in the province of Rhodosto, which was ravaged by the warring armies, with the result that planting was prevented, crops were de- stroyed, and shipments of stocks on hand delayed. With various intervening fluctuations Turkish canary seed went up in American market from 3% to 5% cents a pound, and the supply is still small. Next to Turkey, the greatest source of canary seed is the Argentine Republic. Canary seed is also imported in smaller quantities from France and from Morocco. Of other bird foods, rape seed and hemp seed come from Germany and millet from Turkey and from Persia. Per- sian millet is mostly distributed from London. There is imported of. canary seed about three times as ° much as of any other kinds of foods for birds. New Defender of the “America’s” Cup. G. M. Pynchon and two other well-known yachtsmen are to build our America’s cup defender, and Herreshoff is now at work on the plans. The defense of the America’s cup is a lively topic with the yachtsmen, and Nat Herre- shoff, the well-known designer, sailed with the New York Yacht Club fleet on its recént cruise on board his yacht Helianthus. Herreshoff is at work on the plans for two yachts. At one time he declined to build more than one defender, but he has been prevailed on to undertake two boats. These two no doubt will be vastly. different in model, size, and sail plan, and the other, a larger yacht with much more driving power, With G. M. Pynchon in charge of one defender, the yacht will be well managed and well handled. He will be associated with two well-known racing men, who, for the present, wish to be unknown, but they are prominent in the sport. Mr. Pynchon began his racing with the sixty-foot sloop Neola, which was built by a well-known shipping com- pany several years ago. The other boat in this class was the Weetamoe, owned by United States Senator H. F. Lippitt. Mr. Pynchon raced the Neola consistently, but he found that sailing on salt water was very different from racing on fresh water. He had learned on the lakes. When the New York thirty-foot class was organized, Mr. Pynchon had the Neola IJ. built, and with that boat he became an expert boat handler and won many prizes. In 1907, when the sixty-five-footers were built, Mr. Pyn- chon took one, which he named /stalena, and with that yacht he has been very successful. He won the Astor cup for sloops in 1912.and the King’s cup with the same yacht in 1909. , ” Mr. Pynchon’s skipper is Captain Howell. Captain Howell is regarded by many as the ‘best of the racing skippers. His skill in sailing a yacht to windward is equaled by none. He knows thoroughly how to keep his yacht in fine racing condition, and attends to the small details that go to make a perfect whole. He sailed the sloop Effort in the first race for the King’s cup, and the Effort won by eight seconds. The Queen was the second yacht. Captain Howell has a fine staff of assistants and a good crew, which he will get together again for the defender. The second Herreshoff boat is for a syndicate of mem- bers of the New York Yacht Club. Who will manage this boat has not yet been determined, but the officers of the club now are arranging things, and soon will have some news to announce officially. . Cost of Living in England. A London board of trade’s report dealing with the work- ing classes, issued recently, shows a general rise in the cost of living without a corresponding increase in wages. The report covers the seven years ended with 1912. Champion Bible Student. William F. Putman, a letter carrier, of Niles, Mich., has returned home from the Winona Lake Assembly bear- ing fresh laurels of victory as a great memorizer of Scripture. For the third consecutive year he won the Bible con- test memory test and downed fourteen of the best Bible students in the Middle West. The test comprised 104 questions covering points in all the books from Genesis to Revelations. Putman, after seating all his competitors, gave the correct'answer to every one of the, 104 questions. Putman isjsaid to know the Bible from cover to cover. Sees Decay of lish Industry. “At every meeting for months past we have had to lament the extinction of some little industry in Ireland,” said the chairman at the monthly meeting of the joint committee of the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum, Dub- lin, Ireland. . Last month, he continued, they had to report the clos- NEW TIP TOP WEEKLY. ing down in Wexford ‘of the only straw hat factories in the country. Now ‘it is announced that the sole tanner of Irish box calf leather had given up the undertaking in Cork from lack of support. Shop windows in Dublin were choked with foreign products. He could enumerate many minor industries which would expand into hives of labor if a concentrated effort were made to sustain them. The industrial organizations in Dublin and their agents through the country had done much to diffuse a knowledge of Irish products, but’ their efforts required to be supplemented by more alert public sympathy of the practical kind. The Irish article could stand the test of quality and price, but there seemed to be a rooted prejudice in the minds of some people that this was not so. It could be demonstrated in the most’ convincing manner that the gen- eral adoption of the home manufactures in that institution had been highly beneficial to the ratepayers. Some drastic steps should be taken to arrest this decay, and every in- ducement held out to capitalists to compete with importers. Sneezes Betray Burglars, Two little sneezes landed two big burglars in jail at Kansas City, Mo. Four policemen, detailed to watch for a gang of holdup men in the edge of the business dis- trict, heard the sneezes come from the darkhess of a laundry. Cautiously entering the building, the policemen found two men busily engaged at boring into the laundry firm’s safe. The men, their tools, and a packet of explo- sives were taken to the police station. f Horses Lose Nose Bags. A taste of feminine militancy was given to the people of San Francisco recently when four women started a crusade against nose bags for horses. Invading the business district, they hunted out horses that were feeding from the customary canvas bags and without ceremony and despite protests from teamsters, hurled into the gutter all the feed bags they could find. The crusaders were members of the Animal’s Friend So- ciety, which is opposed to nose bags. After they had scattered nose bags and oats in several streets, the women sought out Postmaster Arthur Fisk and protested against the long hours and hard work to which the horses in the postal service are subjected. Postmaster, Fisk suggested that the society use its good offices toward procuring ten more horses for the San Francisco post office. India Absorbs Gold. When the coinage of silver rupees in India was stopped and arrangements for a gold standard completed, no one supposed that in the precious metals absorbed by that country gold would displace silver to so great an extent as has proved to be the case, says the Engineering and Mining Journal. Statistics recently published in London show that in the ten fiscal years, 1885-1895, the net im- ports of gold into India were $54,220,500; in the next ten- year period, 1895-1905, the amount had increased to $180,- 504,500; while in the five-year term the net imports were $195,722,500, or more than in the ten years previous. That the demand for gold is still increasing, is shown by the fact that the net imports for 1911-1912 were $79,- 919,000. Thus India took over one-sixth of the world’s nA ss —_-_-— ~ sle 3S nd rs, 1d. ral nd ich its an ved ne hat ent und lon im- en- ere wn 19,~ total production of gold, and, as with gold as with silver, the. metal thus taken is not. returned, but absorbed. The practical disappearance of 15 or 20 per cent of the world’s gold production is rather a serious question. Jack Johnson to Stay Away. Jack Johnson, the negro pugilist, has gone from France to London, England, to fill theater engagements, On his arrival, Johnson was not backward in voicing his indignation toward Americans for their treatment of him. He said they cheated him out of $100,000 by continued persecution. Asked if he intended to return to America, Johnson said : “No; I have bought property in France, and I am going to settle there. I have many friends in America, but when I meet them I hope it will be in heaven, not in Ametica.” Sees a Two-headed Rabbit. John Killgore, a farmer, living near Big Laurel, Va. claims to have seen a rabbit with two well-developed heads, The heads, he says, were on one set of shoulders, and he proves his story by two witnesses, -He fired two shots at-the freak, but both-missed. Morrisville Goes Dry. Morrisville, Pa., suddenly went dry recently, though not as the résult of any political uprising, but because the engineer at the pumping station: was asleep at liis post. For a while the water famine was enshrouded in the deepest mystery, and official Morrisville was perturbed. Phone wires to the offices and homes of the water officials and councilmen were kept busy. The officials hurriedly made an investigation. Entering the station, they found the engineer peacefully sleeping, while the pumps had ceased their work and the boiler fires had gone out. The engineer. was awakened and summarily dismissed, the evidence being so much against him that a hearing was not even considered. Steet Climbs Stairs, Chasing Red Dress, A red dress worn by a young woman so enraged a two- year-old steer that he broke away from Frank Case, who was leading it through the street, at North Escanaba, Mich., and dashed at the offending color. Frightened, the young woman started for a. near-by exterior stairway, with the infuriated steer in hot pur- suit. When it reached the foot of the stairs the animal ‘did not hesitate, but followed the terror-stricken woman up to the third story of the building, where’ she escaped by darting into the building and slamming the door and locking it in the animal’s face. Where Pins Go To. For many years the world, has ‘been baffled by the prob- lem of where pins go that are turned out in millions of millions by the pin factories, ‘ But the problem seems to have been solved at last. A Paris scientist, Doctor Xavier, has been experimenting on pins, hairpins, and needles by the simple process of watch- ing a few. He states that they practically disappear into thin. air by changing into ferrous oxide, a brown rust that is soon blown away in dust. An ordinary hairpin took only 154 days to blow away. NEW, TIP TOP WEEKLY. 31 A steel nib lasted just fifteen months. A common pin took eighteen months to vanish. A polished needle defied the ravages of the atmosphere longest, taking two and a half years to disappear. So the reason why the world is not a foot deep in the pins it buys is, it seems, exactly the same which makes an iron surface scale off when exposed for a long, time to the atmosphere without the protection of paint. Feeling Chilly. Joseph Knowles, the Boston, Mass., artist who recently went naked into the wilds of Maine, to live there for two months like a primitive man, has had to contend with unusually low temperature. .It has been around forty, and Knowles has only his camp fire and rude shelter to keep him even fairly comfortable. He kindles his fire by friction, and he built his hut of boughs, covered with fungus similar to a mushroom growth. Knowles writes his messages on birch trirk with char- coal, and leaves them at an appointed place at the edge of the woods. He is now partly clothed in grass and twigs. Butter is Good After Yeats. A crock of butter was taken from a well on the farm of John. McQuigg, a wealthy land owner, twelve miles northeast of Grant City, Mo., recently. The butter was lost in the well years ago by McQuige’s wife, who died seven years ago. The cloth still. was around the bitter, which was firm, of bright color, and of good eating quality. Colorado’s Coal, Colorado is the most important coal-producing State west of the Mississipp:. River, and ranks seventh among all the States. The coal mined in 1912 was 10,977,824 short tons, an increase of 820,441 tons over rgt1. The value increased from $14,747,764 to $16,345.336. This increas- ing production may he attributed to the bountiful crops and general. prosperity throughout the State, which nat- urally created an improved condition in the coal trade, particularly in the last four months of the year. There was much complaint of deficiencies in labor and car sup- plies. The coal-mining industry of Colorado was singularly free from labor troublés in 1912, an output of pfactically 11,000,000 tons being won without a strike or suspension, so far'as reported. The United States bureau. of mines reports a. total of ninety-five deaths from accidents in the coal mines of Colorado in 1912, an increase of four over ‘19IT In quality the coals of Colorado range from sub- bituminous (“black lignite”), in the Denver region, through various grades of bituminous, including the high- grade coking coal of the Trinidad and Glenwood Springs fields, to true anthracite, in the Crested Butte and Yampa fields. Some of the coal beds of Colorado attain enor- mous’ thickness. This is especially true’ in the Glenwood Springs field, and some of the beds in the North Park field are also said to be of great thickness. The total area underlain by coal in Colorado is estimated at 17,130 square miles, and about 60 per cent of that entire area is be- lieved to contain coal that is workable under present con- ditions. The State contains areas embracing over 4,000 square miles about which little is known, but which may ‘NEW TIP: TOP WEEKLY. - no oe contain workable coal, and nearly 3,000 square miles in which the coal lies under heavy cover and therefore not workable at present. In point of production, the most important area is the Trinidad field, underlying considerable portions of Huer- fano and Las Animas Counties, which, in its southern.ex- tension into New Mexico as the Raton field, is also the most important producer of that State. The coal of this field is a high-grade coking coal, probably the best coal of that grade in the Rocky Mountain States. King Alfonso’s Mercy. King Alfonso, of Spain, in conferring with Premier Romanones, recently, insisted that the government, which has now under consideration the case of the anarchist, Rafael Sanchez Allegro, should propose that the king pardon him. Allegro attempted*to assassinate King Alfonso last April 13. He fired three shots at-the king, but failed to injure him, owing to his majesty’s quickness in making his horse rear violently when Allegro aimed his revolver at him. al Mack’s $100,000 Infield. Connie Mack, manager of the champion Philadelphia Athletics, was right when he said his infield players were 3 - worth $100,000 to his team; that he would not accept a cent less for them. This quartet is largely responsible _ for the splendid showing the Athletics are making. Baker at third-base, Collins at second, Barry at short, and Mc- Innes at first back up the heady work of. Mack’s pitchers in the most effective fashion. They are an “iron-bound infield” beyond a doubt. Folks with a fondness for figures estimate that Mack’s price for his stellar quartet is low. Ps They say that these infielders have put the Mackmen in. line for another world’s championship series, with its at- tendant rich rewards for all concerned, and that through _ their ability the Athletics draw large sums every time the team plays that otherwise the box office would not get. Drought Suspends Law. _ Nature has forced a suspension of human laws govern- ing the operations of railroads in Missouri.. The public service commission has authorized an emergency rate for hauling water without the thirty days’ notice required by law, the order practically covering any two points in case the thirst of man or beast requires. It is not clear whether the public’service commission has _ a right to do this under the law, but nobody cares whether it-has or not, provided they facilitate the shipments of ' water to the needy. It has sometimes happened, however, that a railroad company taking some liberty with the very best of mo- tives has been punished. This is notably true of certain acts of the Santa Fe Road in past years. ‘ No She-negro Cannibals. Dan Crawford, the Scotchman, who lost himself in the heart of Africa for twenty-three years, and who recently produced a book called “Thinking Black,” arrived at New - York on the steamship Olympic recently. Mr. Crawford expects to lecture on his experiences among negroes. His tour will include the larger cities of the United States. _ The missionary author is a short man, with sandy hair, beard, and mustache. He has sharp, flashing eyes, and a manner of speaking rapidly and with great emphasis. os “For twenty-three years,” said Mr. Crawford, “I never wore a collar, never saw a train of cars, and hardly ever spoke to a- white man. I really feel more negro than © white man. A quarter,of a century ago I was a young man, and I was dying of consumption. I heard that the climate of Africa would be good for my trouble, and I went there as a missionary. I struck into the heart of the country alone and lived by my rifle. juncture of the folds will show you just about where I eventually landed. haan “T found the black men in Africa a magnificent race,” | Mr. Crawford continued. “I settled among the Luban | tribes. There are about a million of these people. They — speak a wonderful language which it took me years to — learn. There are twenty-three tenses of the verb, and the noun has nineteen genders. I translated the Bible into the Luban language and also wrote a grammar, which, in- complete though it is, gives a pretty good idea of the — tongue,” eye “Did you find any of these people cannibals?” “Very few,” he replied; “and it may interest you to know that there is no such thing as a female cannibal. Although the men may eat human flesh, the women of the same tribe never do. The women are farther ad- vanced than the men, and they band together to protect themselves from ‘Man, the Monster.’ Yes, the movement for equal suffrage is probably stronger in central Africa than anywhere in the world.” ‘ “And were you able to convert these people to Chris- tianity >” es “The tribesmen with whom I made my residence wer ready to profess Christianity, but I dissuaded them from it. They would have been but nominal Christians, and ‘f feared that a change of faith would result in their de- struction. . Unless you have seen them as they are you can have but a faint conception of these black men i their natural state. The civilized blacks have picked all your vices and few of your virtues. But the negr under natural conditions possesses a culture of his ow He has a definite and delightful code of etiquette.” Mr. Crawford said that after his lecture tour was~o he would return to Africa to live again among ‘the peopl whom he has chosen to spend the greater part of his life \ ‘ Swimmet Will Post $1.000 Forfeit. Al Brown, well-known professional swimmer, who r cently tried to. swim from New York to Sandy Hoo feeling in fine shape these days. He now offers to pos , $1,000 for a, thirty-mile race, all comers welcome. __ Brown is constantly in training at College Point, N. He is a wonderfully hardy swimmer. Some days he goes in the water at six o’clock in the morning and does no come ashore for eight or ten hours. Brown uses the trudgeon, or double, overarm stroke his distance races. He keebs it up for hours wi tiring. He has invented a new game called water ba ball, which is becoming popular if the United States. OBA 0 ABIT an ones easily in 8 days, im- prove your health, prolong your life. No more stomach trouble,no foul breath, no heart weakness. Regain manly vigor,calm nerves,clear eyes & superior mental Whether es chew; or smoke pipe, cigarettes, cigars,get my in- ‘obacco Book. Worth its weight in free. terestin Mailed Bei &, J. WOODS, 634 Sixth Av.230C, NewYork,N.Y, = : If you take a 7 map of Africa and fold it lengthwise and’ crosswise the * SOME OF THE NEW TIP T BACK NUMBERS OF. WEEKLY 683—Frank Merriwell’s Fighters. 684—Dick Merriwell at the ‘‘Meet.” 685—Dick Merriwell’s Protest. 686—Dick Merriwell in the Marathon. 687—Dick Merriwell’s Colors. 688—Dick Merriwell, Driver. 689—Dick Merriwell on the Deep. 690—Dick Merriwell in the North Woods. 691—Dick Merriwell’s Dandies. i92—Dick Merriwell’s Skyscooter. 393—Dick Merriwell in the Elk tains. 394—Dick Merriwell in Utah. 5—Dick Merriwell’s Bluff. j—Dick Merriwell in the Saddle. —Dick Merriwell’s Ranch Friends. —Dick Merriwell at Phantom Lake. i99—Frank Merriwell’s Hold-back. 400—F rank Merriwell’s Lively Lads. 701—Frank Merriwell as Instructor. 702—Dick Merriwell’s Cayuse. 703—Dick Merriwell’s Quirt. 704—Dick Merriwell’s Freshman Friend. 705—Dick Merriwell’s Best Form. 706—Dick Merriwell’s Prank. 707—Dick Merriwell’s Gambol. 7O8—Dick Merriwell’s Gun. 709—Dick Merriwell at His Best. 710—Dick Merriwell’s Master Mind. 7 11—Dick Merriwell’s Dander. 2—Dick Merriwell’s Hope. 3—Dick’s Merriwell’s Standard. —Dick Merriwell’s Sympathy. 5—Dick Merriwell in Lumber Land. —Frank Merriwell’s Fairness. —Frank Merriwell’s Pledge. —Frank Merriwell, the Man of Grit. 9—F rank Merriwell’s Return Blow, —Frank Merriwell’s Quest. —Frank Merriwell’s Ingots. 2—Frank Merriwell’s Assistance. 3—F rank Merriwell at the Throttle. 4—F rank Merriwell, the Always Ready. 25—F rank Merriwell in Diamond Land. 6—Frank Merriwell’s Desperate Chance. 7—Frank Merriwell’s Black Terror. 28—F rank Merriwell Again on the Slab. 9—F'rank Merriwell’s Hard Game. 30—Frank Merriwell’s Six-in-hand. 31—F rank Merriwell’s Duplicate. 32—Fra. nk ; Merriwell on tattlesnake fanch. 383—Frank Merriwell’s Sure Hand. 34—F rank Merriwell’s Treasure Map. 35—Frank Merriwell, Prince of the Rope. 36—Dick Merriwell, Captain of the Var- sity. 7—Dick Merriwell’s Control. 8—Dick Merriwell’s Back Stop. 9—Dick Merriwell’s Masked . oor 0—Dick Merriwell’s Motor C; 1—Dick Merriwell’s Hot P srtibeak 2—Dick Merriwell at Forest Lake. 3—Dick Merriwell in Court. 4—Dick Merriwell’s Silence. 5—Dick Merriwell’s Dog. o—I dick Merriwell’s Subter fuge. ( Bone Moun- q tide Cobo ~ Ql Lhe So tore ONES eee geneous i 7 7 7 é we ‘ - ‘ 7 Cd ‘ T ue ‘. pre ‘ %% mre ‘ 7 mre ‘ re i pre (a rr ‘ 7 7 AAA 2 » 9 ” —Dick Merriwell’s Enigma. $—Dick Merriwell Defeated. 9—Dick Merriwell’s ‘‘Wing.” 50—Dick Merriwell’s Sky Chase. 1—Dick Merriwell’s Pick-ups. 2—Dick Merriwell on the Rocking R. 53—Dick Merriwell’s Penetration. 54—Dick Merriwell’s Intuition. » 8 4 t 4 4: 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5¢ 55—Dick Merriwell’ s Vantage. 56—Dick Merriwell’s Advice. 57—Dick Merriwell’s Rescue. 58—Dick Merriwell, American. 759—Dick Merriwell’s Understanding. 760—Dick Merriwell, Tutor. 761—Dick Merriwell’s Quandary. 762—Dick Merriwell on the®Boards. 763—Dick Merriwell, Peacemaker. 764—Frank Merriwell’s Sway. 765—Frank Merriwell’s Comprehension. 766—Irank Merriwell’s Young Acrobat. et tet eR II IN Iat2 PRICE, FIVE CENTS PER COPY. news dealer, they can be obtained direct from thir office. 767—Frank Merriwell’s Tact. 768—Frank Merriwell’s Unknown. 769 —lFrank Merriwell’s Acuteness, - A aate Merriwell’s Young Canadian. —Frank Merriwell’s Coward. 2—F rank Merriwell’s Perplexity. 3—Frank Merriwell’s Intervention. —Frank Merriwell’s Daring Deed. —Frank Merriwell’s Succor. —Frank Merriwell’s Wit. —Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty. 8—Frank Merriwell’s Bold Play. < 79—Frank Merriwell’s Insight. 780—Frank Merriwell’s Guile. 781—F rank Merriwell’s Campaign. 782—Frank Merriwell in the Forest. 783—Frank Merriwell’s Tenacity. 784—Dick Merriwell’s Self-sacrifice. 785—Dick Merriwell’s Close Shave. 786—Dick Merriwell’s Perception. 787—Dick Merriwell’s Mysterious pearance. 788—Dick Merriwell’s Detective Work. 789—Dick Merriwell’s Proof. 790—Dick Merriwell’s Brain Work. 791—Dick Merriwell’s east Case. 792—Dick Merriwell, Navigator. 7983—Dick Merriwell’s Good Fe llowship. 794—Dick Merriwell’s Fun. 795—Dick Merriwell’s Commencement. 796—Dick Merriwell at Montauk Point. 797—Dick Merriwell, Mediator. 798—Dick Merriwell’s Decision, 799—Dick Merriwell on the Great Lakes. 800—Dick Merriwell Caught Napping. 801—Dick Merriwell in the Copper Coun- try. 802—Dick Merriwell Strapped. 803—Dick Merriwell’s Coolness. 804—Dick Merriwell’s Reliance. 805—Dick Merriwell’s College Mate. 806—Dick Merriwell’s Young Pitcher. 807—Dick Merriwell’s Prodding. S8O8—Frank Merriwell’s Boy. 809—F rank Merriwell’s Interference. 810—F rank Merriwell’s Young Warriors. 811—F rank Merriwell’s Appraisal. 812—F rank Merriwell’s Forgiveness. 813—F rank Merriwell’s Lads. 814—F rank Merriwell’s Young Aviators, 815—F rank Merriwell’s Hot-head. 816—Dick Merriwell, Diplomat. 817—Dick Merriwell in Panama. 818—Dick Merriwell’s Perseverance. 819—Dick Merriwell Triumphant. 820—Dick Merriwell’s Betrayal. 821—Dick Merriwell, Revolutionist. 822—Dick Merriwell’s Fortitude. 823—Dick Merriwell’s Undoing. 824—Dick Merriwell, Universal Coach, 825—Dick Merriwell’s Snare. 826—Dick Merriwell’s Star Pupil. 827—Dick Merriwell’s Astuteness. 828—Die Merriwell’s Responsibility. 8§29—Dick Merriwell’s Plan. 30—Dick Merriwell’s Warning. 31—Dick Merriwell’s Counsel. 32—Dick Merriwell’s Champions. 38—Dick Merriwell’s Marksmen. 34—Dick Merriwell’s Enthusiasm. S36 Dick Merriwell’s Solution. 1U-=—= te ee National Disap- ( Dick Merriwell’s Foreign Foe. 387—Dick Merriwell the Warriors. 888—Dick Merriwell’s Battle for the Blue. 859—Dick Merriwell’s Evidence. 840—Dick Merriwell’s Device. 841—Dick Merriwell’s Princeton nents, 842—Dick Merriwell’s Sixth Sense. 8453—Dick Merriwell’s Strange Clew. 844—Dick Merriwell Comes Back. 845—Dick Merriwell’s Heroic Crew. 846—Dick Merriwell Looks Ahead. 847—Dick Merriwell at the Olympics. 848—Dick Merriwell in Stockholm. LELLLLLS and Carlisle Oppo- 849—Dick Stadium. Merriwell in the Swedish 850—Dick Merriwell’s Marathon. NEW SERIES. New Tip Top Weekly 1-—Frank Merriwell, )_ Frank Merriwell, 3—Frank Merriwell, 4—F rank Merriwell, 5—Frank Merriwell, 6—Frank Merriwell, 7—Frank Merriwell, ders. 8—Frank Merriwell, Merriwell, 9—Frank thon. 10—Frank Ranch. ‘rank ‘rank ‘rank ‘rank ‘rank ‘rank ‘rank rank a. ‘ank rank Foes. ir 1 "1 it I'r 1 Ir Fy} Frank 1 Ir I") I") Ty ry 1 —H"1 , 28—F rank Merriwell, Merriwell, 30—F rank Merriwell, 3$1—F rank Merriwell, 32 Frank Merriwell, 3—Frank Merriwell, 4—F rank Merriwell, 3h Merriwell, Jr.’s, Merriwell, ~Frank Merriwell, J1 Merriwell, J1 29—F rank Frank 56—Frank rt 38—Frank Race. ‘rank Merriwell, ‘rank Merriwell, rank Merriwell, ank Merriwell, uk Merriwell, ‘rank Merriwell, ‘rank Merriwell, ‘ank Merriwell, ‘ank Merriwell, . i rank Merriwell, 49—F rank Merriwell, . . 50—Frank Merriwell, 5 r.’8, ture. ous Frank Merriwell, —~Frank Me rriwell, orem ble. 538—Frank Merriwell, Doctor, 54—Frank Merriwell, 55—Frank Merriwell, J1 56—Frank Merriwell, 57—Frank Merriwell, J Merriwell, 59—Frank Merriwell, 58—Frank mate. 60—F rank Merriwell, 61—F rank Merriwell, Dated October 62—F rank Merriwell, October 11th. Dated 63—Frank Merriwell, Jr. October 64—Frank Merriwell, Dated Merriwell, Merriwell, ‘rank Merriwell, Merriwell, Jr. Merriwell, J ‘rank Merriwell, ‘rank Merriwell, Merriwell, Jr. ‘rank Merriwell, Merriwell, J Merriwell, Merriwell, Merriwell, 3 Merriwell, J = “rank Merriwell, J 5 ‘rank Merriwell, Merriwell, Merriwell, Jr.’s, i , in the Box. ae s, Struggle. Jr.’s, Skill. Jr., in Idaho. Jr.’s, Close Shave, Jr., on Waiting Or- Jr.’s, Danger. Jr.'s, Relay Jr., at the Jr.’s, Golden Trail, Jr.’s, Competitor. ’s, Guidance. r.’s, Scrimmage, Jr., Misjudged. Jr.’s, Star Play. ’s, Blind Chase, Jr.’s, Discretion. r.’s, Substitute, Jr., Justified. Jr., Incog. Jr., Meets the Issue. r.’s, Xmas Eve. r.’s, Fearless Risk. Jr., on Skis. Jr.’s, Ice-boat Chase. Ambushed Mara- Bar Z Jr., and the Totem. Jr.’s, Hockey Game. Jr.’s, Clew. Jr.’s, Adversary. Jr.’s, Timely Aid. Jr., in the Desert. ar. 8 Grueling Test. s Bibs cial Mission Jr.’s, Red Bowman. ai Task. s, Cross-Country Jr.’s, Four Miles. Ir’ s, Umpire. bee Sidetracked. *s, Teamwork, re s, Step-Over. . in Monterey. 7.3 s, Athletes. Jr.’s, Outfielder. Jr.’s, “Hundred.” tice Hobo Twirler. s, Canceled Game. s, Weird Adven- Jr.’s, Double Header. Peck of Trou- Jr., and the Jr.’s, Sportsmanship, *s, Ten-Innings, Jr.’s, Ordeal. r., on the Wing. Jr.’s, Cross-Fire.” Jr.’s, Lost Teams Spook Jr.’s, Daring Flight. Jr., at Fardale, 4th. Jr., Plebe, *s, Quarter-Back. 18th. Jr.’s, Touchdown. If you want any back numbers of our weeklies and cannot procure them from your Postage stamps taken the same as money. Street & Smith, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Ave., New York City