TIP TOP WEEKLY

“An ideal publication fee fonenican foul hy

 

 

 

Issued Weekly— By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office by STREET & SMITH,

(at, NEW YORK, AUGUST 6, 1808.

LS First Ruy

NCE OF HIS:

 

 

Price 5 Cents.

‘*STOP HER, MERRIWELL!’? SHOUTED THE FIREMAN, ‘‘QUICK, OR WE ARE LOST!??

 
 

 
 

Ew
4

1
‘

 

Free Fe ee Oe
5 yt aa

  

 

“AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH.”

Tire Tor WEEKLY. -

Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year, Entered as Second Class Aiatter at the N,
St.,

Post Office. Srrnuexr & Smivru, 81 Fulton

N. Y. Entered Aceording to Act of Congress, in the Year 1898, in the Office of the tinearion of Congress, Washington, D. C.

 

NEW. ORK, August 6, A898

Price Five Cents.

 

Contents of This Number. |

Page.
FRANK MERRIWELL’S FIRST RUN; or, The Chance of His Life - - = - = = I.
SPECIAL NOTICE - - . - - = - - 29.
CORRESPONDENCE 29.
BIG GAME - 30,
STILL THERE - $1.

Frank Merriwell’s First

UN,

OR,

THE CHANCE

©F HIS LIFE.

By the Author of ‘‘FRANK MERRIWELL.

e

CHAPTER I.

BEHIND TIME.

Coal,”

‘‘She won’t stand another shovelful,
Mr. Pickett.’’

‘Steain’s running down.’?

“tt sce 3f-38, St 2*

‘‘We’re behind time.’’

‘*T know it.”’ |

‘‘And still losing.”?

“Tt isn’t my fault, sir, that this lot of
slate won’t burn. It would make good
roadbed,*>but it was never intended for
fuel.”’ eee

‘““We've got to make a junction with
the Night Express on the B. A. & O. at
Rockford, Merriwell.’’

‘Tf we fail——”’

 

“Thunder and lightning! we mustn’t
fail!’

‘But, if we do——”’

‘“You. know what has happened to
others who dropped their bundles.”’

‘“The most of them have been jacked
up for a week or ten days. One or two
have been discharged.”’

The engineer nodded.

‘“That’s it exactly,’’ he said.

‘‘Well, I suppose I'll have to take my

dose if we don’t get through all right,’
said Frank Merriwell, who was firing on

the Evening Express, which ran over the
Black River Branch of the Blue Moun-
tain Railroad. ‘‘It will be the first time
we have not been able to make time, and’

the coal has been vile for a week.’
“That’s right,’? agreed Nort Pickett, —

<i */ TRUE BLUE” IS PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK.

 

_

   

~o

   
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
      
  
     
  
   
  
   
 
 
   
    
 
   
 
    
     
   
   
 
  
  
    
    
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
 
      
        

‘‘and it’s an outrage to expect men to
make steam with such stuff.’’

**It is expected, just the same.”’
‘‘VYes, and excuses don’t go with the
s old man.’’

**Not a little bit.”

‘Tt doesn’t make any difference what a
gman says, he will not accept an excuse.
He’d expect anybody to come in on time
if every wheel was off *the engine. I
think he is*the most aggravating man I

been up before him several times.’

Frank opened the firebox door and
stirred the fire, but
dolefully as he saw the dull-looking mass

within.

**Tt’s half slate, or I’m a fool!’’ he ex-
claimed. ‘‘No man living can keep her
hot with that stuff!”

‘Well, do the best you can, and Ill
favor her at every chance. I’ve been do-
ing that all along.”’

**T know you have, and still we've lost.
Well, I’1l take ny medicine if we fail to
make it up. Won’t the Night Mxpress
wait for us???

‘*Not over five minutes, and we’re now

fifteen minutes behind. The B. A. & O.
will be glad of a chance to put this road
in a bad light, and we must gain at least
ten’ minutes, if we expect to catch the
Night Express. ’’

- Frank Merriwell’s heart sank, for he
felt that it would not be possible for them

to gain ten minutes ovér-hard grades with
the supply of coal in the tender, and he
knew the failure to make a junction with

_ the express on the other line would create

~ a howl.

Thus far Frank’s progress had been a
_ steady triumph since beginning work on

eS the railroad. He had advanced far more

' rapidly than he had dreamed possible at

~ first; but now he saw before him a fail-

HAVE YOU MET

ever had anything to do with, and I have ,

he shook his head.

2 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

ure that looked like a bad set-back, and
his pride was hurt.

In case a train fails to make time for
want of steam, the fireman is always
blamed, and he is the one to suffer. It
was not surprising that Frank was wor,
ried,

He did his best with the fire, and Nort i
Pickett had not a suggestion to make, for
he was satisfied that Merry was getting
everything out of the coal that there was
in it.

Still old 13 lagged. It was the first
piece of real hard luck since Merry began
firing on the engine.

Pickett had met plenty of eo luck
before that, but he was beginning to feel A
that things had turned in his favor. ‘The
‘“Ghost of Black Gorge,’? which had
made so much bother for the road and
nearly ruined the engineer’s nerve, had |
been ‘‘laid’? by Frank, and things were
running smoothly till poor coal
struck,

was

For several days they had been using
that coal, but Pickett had managed to
creep through on time up to the present
occasion. He was well aware that his suc-
cess was due in a great measure to Merri-
well’s skillful firing.

 

Other firemen had failed on less impor-
tant trains, and had been suspended. ‘To
fail on the express might mean discharge.

Merry thought of little Jack and Nei-
lie, the blind girl, who depended so much oo
upon him, and his heart was heayy as ee
lead.

 

“T must get her through on time some-
how!’ he mentally cried. as.
But, for all of everything he could do, 3
when Horse Shoe Trestle was reached, i
Pickett said: . t
‘We have lost two minutes more,” h
“Then we are seventeen minutes bes 72. Se
nde, : : nS
‘*Ves.”? | . ;

CLIF FARADAY?
  

 

v —

 

‘Ts it possible to make it up?”

“It might be with good coal—it would
be.’

‘Well, we won’t give up.”’

*“No, for there is, a possibility that
something might happen to delay the
Night Express.”’

They were running through a wild sec-
tion of the mountains.
behind them. The headlight showed the

Black Gorge lay

shining rails that stretched away in ad-
vance till lost in the darkness.

Into a town fished the express.
Scarcely a second did it stop at the sta-
tion. A single passenger stepped down
before the train had fairly come to a
stand, and the conductor’s lantern
waved ‘‘go ahead.’

“It’s fortunate there was nothing to
delay us there,’’ said Pickett. ‘‘The next

stop is Powder Knob,”’

He used as little steam as possible in
getting her under way again, but it
pulled down the gauge.

“‘Well,’’ said Frank, ‘‘this is likely to

_ mean -the G. B. for me.”’

‘“L.don’t think-so.”’

“Why not, It’s a pretty serious matter
to be behind with the express, and cer-
tainly you are not to blame.’’

‘*Nor are you.”’

‘‘But I shall be blamed, and I'l] have
no chance to say a word in my own de-
fence.”’

**}1] find a chance to say something.”’

SYou?r’’

(Ves? \

‘You mustn’t do that, for it might
get you into trouble.’’

‘Yl take my chances. J am not going
to see you fired for nothing. You stood
by.ime when I must have been discharged
had you told everything you knew. I

don’t forget that.’’

“But you must think of your sick wife .

and children.’’

t

TIP TOP WEEKLY. 3

,28 well known as you. Oh, you will come

READ “SHOW YOUR COLORS,” AND SEND FOR A BADGE OR BUTTON,

    
  
   
 
 
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
    
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
    
  
   

‘TI do think of them, but my wife has
always regarded me as a hero, and she
would be.ashained of me if she knew I
I know I
ain not a hero in any way, but I Jike to

ever did anything cowardly.

do things Mary would approve. I. have
told her all about you, Frank, and she
says I must never fail to stand by you as
you stood by me. My report will tell just
why we were late, and you’ll not be sus-»
pended or discharged if I can prevent it.”’

“Thank you, Mr. Pickett. You are
very kind.’

*‘Not at all. I’m simply just: I doubt
if you would be discharged anyway. You
have done too many remarkable things
for the old man to fire you without hear-
ing your side of the case. There’s not
another fireman on the whole road who is

out of this thing all right.”

This talk was encouraging, and Frank
But they
Instead of hay they
dropped three minutes.more, and were
twenty minutes behind when they ran
into Rockford, the end of the branch.

And there they were informed that the
Night Express over the B. A. & O. had
left exactly fourteen minutes before.

continued to do his level best.
could not gain.

CHAPTER II.
TROUBLED SLUMBER.

It was with a heavy heart that Frank |
fired old 13 back to the roundhouse. Hé ~~
felt that he had made his first ‘‘bad
break’’ since beginning work on the rail-
road, and, even though he knew he was
not to blame, it was almost certain that
he would be called to account for it.

He went home to-get some sleep, for it
had been a hard trip, and he was played —
out. Still he was so worried that he could ©
not sleep soundly. All through the hours
he tossed and turned, working in his

  
          
   
   
  
   

dreams in a desperate attempt to make
steam with bad fuel.

Beside'‘the bed on which Frank lay sat
little Nell, the blind girl, listening to his
muttered words, her thin hands clasping
and unclasping, her heart throbbing with
sympathy for him. - Several times she
called her brother to her.

**Jack,’’ she would whisper, ‘‘I know
Frank is going to be ill. Hear him moan!
Hear him talk in his sleep! Listen!”

‘Are we gaining ?’’ came faintly from
the sleeper. What? Still losing—still
losing? More coal? She won’t stand it,
It’s no use—no use. I can’t keep her hot
with this stuff. T'wenty minutes behind
time! Then I’ll lose my job! What will
become of little Nell—poor little Nell!’

_ The hands of the girl fluttered up to
her heart.

‘“‘Hear him, Jack!’’ she breathed.
‘‘Hfe dreains of me—of me! Oh, how
good he is—how generous and noble! He
does Bot seem to think about himself at
all.’? |

**'Ves, Nellie,’’ said the lame boy, ina
low tone; ‘‘I believe Frank Merriwell is
the noblest and most unselfish fellow in
the whole world. I would do anything for
him-—I would die for him!”’

‘And I—I would suffer anyhing to
save him one minute of pain!‘’’ panted
the girl. ‘“Think how good he has been
/ to us—think how much we owe him!”
= **More than we can ever repay.”’

. “Tf he is ill, I will care for him. “I can
do it, even though I am blind. If he is
very ill, 1 will help him get well.’’

Then she stopped suddenly, and a
painful shadow came over her face, while
she caught her brother by the hand.

“What if he should die?’’ she sobbed.
“Oh, wouldn’t that be terrible! If he

lives, some day he will be a great man.
But what if he should die?’’ |
“You mustn’t think of that, Nellie,”

  

  

4 TIP TOP WEEKLY,

said the lame boy, earnestly. ‘‘He is too
good and noble to die. God will not let
him die.”’

‘‘But the good and the noble die some-
times, Jack.
mother. She was too good to die.”’

‘‘Ves,’’ breathed the lame boy; ‘‘she
was the dearest mother in the whole
world.’’

‘“The dearest to us, Jack; but Frank
has told me all about his mother, and she
was just as.dear to him. It was her in-
fluence that made him what he is, for he
said so. Listen! He is talking again.’’

Frank tossed and threw out his arms,
drawing them toward him, as if they en-
folded something.

“Sweetheart !’’ he murmured. ‘‘Elsie!’’

Again the blind girl’s hands went to
her heart with a fluttering motion, and

she caught her breath, as if struck by a

sharp pang of pain.

““Hisie?’’? said the boy. ‘‘Who is
Elsie ?”’
‘His sweetheart,’’ whispered little

Nell. ‘‘He has told me all about her.
He showed me her picture once, which
he wears over his heart. Oh, what a
happy gitl she must be to know she has
won the love of one so brave and noble!”’

“*His sweetheart! I didn’t know he had
a sweetheart. Why, where is she?’

‘*He does not know.’’

‘*That is strange. Doesn’t she write to
him ?”? a

‘No. ”»

“Why not??? | |

‘‘She made him promise not to try to
see her or write to her for a whole year.”?

“Stranger still. I am afraid I don’t
understand it.’’

‘Oh, it’s quite a long story, but I can
tell you in a few words so you will wnder-
stand, There are two of them.”’

‘Two what??? - j

“Two girls, Elsie was not the first one

READ “TRUE BLUE” ONCE, AND YOU WILL READ IT FOREVER,
3 epee A, ; ps = ; a i

 

Think of our dear, dear.

    
  
   
    
    
    
  
  
   
  
    
     
    
   
   
   
  
    
   
    

sp ali an I apne

pn pa ms i TL pa

 

 

 
 

 

|
|
;

 

 

   
  

astonishment.

a

 

TIP TOP WEEKLY, 5

Frank cared for. There was another,
named Inza, and he cared for her very,
very much till he met Elsie.”

** And she cared for him ?”’

‘‘More than for any other fellow in the
world.’’

‘And he—he threw her over for
Elsie?’’ exclaimed tlhe lame boy, in
‘“Why, I couldn’t believe
such a thing of Frank Merriwell!’’

“Wait, wait! Do not judge him too
quickly. Elsie and Inza became friends—

_very dear friends,’’

“‘But Elsie won him from Inza.

Strange friendship !”’

“Vou do not understand yet. When
Elsie found that Inza cared so much for
Frank, she went away, resolved never,
never to see him again, even though it
broke her heart.’’

‘That was right.”’ ‘

“But fate did not let them remain
separated. By accident they were thrown
together again and again. They found

that it was not to be that they should re- .

main separated. Then they revealed to
Inza that they cared very much for each
other. Still Inza’s and Elsie’s friendship
was not broken. They met, and Inza said
that Frank should choose between them.
No matter which one he chose, the other
would still be friendly. Without knowing
it, Frank was put to the test, for Inza
overturned a boat containing herself and
Elsie. Frank plunged in and rescued
Elsie first. Then Inza said that he had

_ made his choice, and she kept her word

to remain a friend to them both.’?

**Noble girl!’’

‘‘Yes, but Elsie showed herself equally
noble later on. Frank did not know at the
time what had happened, but he found it
out later. Then Elsie, thinking that it
was not right that she should take him

' from Inza, tried to make him hate her.
She flirted with another fellow, and she —

CUBA LIBRE—GET A CUBAN BUTTON,

cut Frank ‘dead, even though it nearly
broke her heart. She pretended to be ut-
teily heartless and cruel, so that he would
go back to Inza.”’

Little Jack gasped for breath.

‘“Why,’’s he said, ‘‘that was such a
brave thing to do! Not many girls could
have done that, if they really cared for
the fellow.’’

‘*Elsie really cared for him, but she
was not able to drive him from her, for
he was bound to know why she treated
him so, and he found out. . Then he told
her that she was the only girl in the
world for him. She made him agree not
to see her for a year, or write to her. At
the end of a year, if he still cared for her
more than he did for Inza, then he could
see her. That is why Frank never re-
ceives a letter from his sweetheart.’

“*Well,’’ said little Jack, it is plain
that both those girls are worthy of a
noble man. It seems to me that Frank
has a way of making everybody with
whom he associates better. It is his in-
fluence—his exaniple.”? _

‘*Yes,’? murmured Nellie, ‘‘he has
made the world seem better to me. It
had begun to seem that everybody was
hard and cruel and selfish, but now I
know better. He has so much confidence
in people. Why, he says the very worst
persons have some good qualities. He is
never looking for the bad in people, and
that is why he sees so much that is
good.’’

**His nobility is stamped on his face,’’
declared the lame boy. ‘‘I think he has
the best face I ever saw. The more I see
it the finer it appears to me.”’

‘Oh, if I could see him!’’ sobbed the

blind girl.

‘Vou shall, Nellie—you shall some- _
time. I ath confident of that. ~When we .
get the money to have your a Z
treated——”? =

      
   
   
     
       
   

 
 

   

Again Frank began to mutter.
She is blind,
If I lose my job, I shall
Fot Heaven’s
sake, Pickett, make up the time we have
lost !?? fe:

After that he said. some things that
could not be understood. 2

‘‘Tinust get in on tune.
poor little Nell!
not. be able’to help her.

Nell lay. her head down on the. pillow
beside that of the sleeping youth, while
the laine boy moved softly away.

‘‘Dear Frank!’ whispered.the girl; ‘‘I

love you, but you must‘never know how

much! You will be happy with Hlsie

some day.’’

As she- lay there, tears flowed from her
eyes and dampened the pillow, but she
made no sob or sound,

At last Frank tossed -an arm across her
neck, and“ awoke with a start, half ex-
claiming:

‘“Kilsie!”?

Then he saw who it was; and _ his face
grew crimson.

‘““T was dreaming, Va Lhe said.

“Ves. said the girl? sitting up quick-—

ly, “you have been tossing and moaning.
I feared you were ill.”’

CHAPTER III.
A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

‘“Well,’? thought Frank who was on
‘his way to the roundhouse, ‘‘I’ll soon
know the worst. I wonder if it will be
suspension or discharge.”’

When he got to the roundhouse he saw
the foreman, Mike Ganzell, coming to-
watd him, Ganzell looked very serious,
as if he did not relish his errand. It was
mainly through him that Frank had ad-

vanced so quickly at the start, and the.

foreman had been rather proud of the
-smooth- -faced lad with the air of a gentle-
man, who had proved ‘that he was a man
from his hair to his toes.

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

ARON You Read Clif Faraday’s Adventures In Mosto Castle?

‘*Good
Gauzell.

afternoon,

Merriwell,’’ ‘said

‘‘Good afternoon, Mr.Ganzell.”’

‘‘Had a little hard luck yesterday,
didn’t you ?”?

Wes, sit.”?

‘Foo bad. You were doing well.’
‘‘As well as I could, sir.’

as old
e office.’

“Tam sure of that. man
wants to see you in th
‘fAll right, sir.’

The foreman was not much of a talker,
but Frank fancied that he had said this
much in order to prepare him for what
was to come. |

Merry went straight to th
was admitted immediately.

Orrin Newman, the master mechanic,
was, as usual, c chewing the butt of a
half-smoked cigar. He looked up and

e office, and

growled ;

“What is it,. sir???

‘*T was ordered to report to you, Mr.
Newman,’’ said Frank, quietly.

“Oh, yes, it’s: Merriwell,’’ said the
master mechanic, as if he had not recog-
nized Frank at first. ‘‘I’1] attend to you
in a minute.”’

Thus he left Frank standing, cap in
hand; while he scratched away with a
pen that scraped and spluttered in an
unpleasant manner that seemed to agree
perfectly with the air of the person using
1t.

Frank wondered what he, was doing, |

but Newman went on writing for five

“minutes, at least, seeming to have for-

gotten his visitor. At last he threw down

the pen with a jerk, looked up again

with a ferk, and jerked-out:
‘‘What was the matter, Merriwell?””
‘(A bout what, sir?’’

“The Black River Express Sata to

connect with the Night Express at Rock-
ford last night, didn’t it?”
‘*Ves, sir.’

a
t = % <

a

wake

pa, ie

 

 

 

 
Sete

wai

 

 

wees

Ne ee

a _

 

pagina

 

  

  

?

believe _ in

GIVE YOUR GIRL AN AMERICAN FLAG HAT PIN—SEE PAGE 32.

‘*What was the matter ?”’
‘‘T could not keep her hot, sir.’’

‘‘Ho! So you were to blaine? Waita
minute—don’t speak! What ailed
Pickett ?”’

**Nothing at all, sir.”’

6

Then he would have got her through

on time if you had given him steam ?’’

“*Yes, sir.”’ *
"Why didn’t you—why didn’t you, I
say?’

‘‘It was impossible, sit, with the sup-
ply of coal taken on.”’
“What? Didn’t

coal ?”?

you take enough

‘fAll she could carry, but I do not.

have nade a
It was half

think any man living could
good fire with the stuff.
slate.’

Newman champed away at the cigar.

‘Vou should have kept her hot some-
how,’’ he snapped. ‘This road can’t lose
time with its express trains. It hurts,
young man—it hurts.’’

Frank was silent, although there was
within hima swelling sense of resent-
ment against the injustice of being
blamed under such cifcumstances. There
was a touch of resentment in his bearing,
but not the least show of insolence.

He could feel his cheeks burning.
Newinan surveyed Frank from his head
to his feet, and there seemed to be some-
thing like hesitation and doubt in his
manner. All at once he snapped out:

“Do you think you can run an en-
gine???

Frank caught his breath.
that question mean ?

hives, sitr,’’ he answered, as calmly as
possible, ‘I can run an engine.”’

He spoke with confidence, for he be-
lieved that he could, and he knew many
men lose opportunities of advancement
because they hesitate and do not seem to
themiselves. In order to get

What did

TIP TOP WEEKLY,

    

7

ahead in this world it is necessary that a
person have the utmost confidence 1 in his
abilities but, at the same time, he
must not be a boaster and a
Self-conceit and self-esteem are much the
same, except that the man who is con-
ceited is foréver boasting of what he can
do, and ustally wins the reputation of
‘“‘biow.’’? The one with plenty
of self-esteem shows his confidence in
himself by his «actions, and, when ques-

own
braggart.

being a

tioned, does not “hesitate to say he can do
a thing that he believes
capable of accomplis! ling, It isa mistake
foryany young @tan to think it immodest
for him to sade himself forward inthe
world, for the one who holds back and
waits for fortune to favor him is pretty
sure to be passed by others who arevless
worthy, but have more nerve.» Ability
counts most in this world, but confidence
and push are required to carry ability to
the front.

‘Hum!’ grunted Newman. ‘‘The
road is a trifle short-handed just now,
and business is picking up. I had a talk
with Pickett to-day, and he told me all
about the coal you have been using
lately, so we’ll drop that matter.”’

Frank drew a deep breath of relief, for,
up to that moment, he had been unable
to tell what the master mechanic was
driving at; but now it became evident
that Newman did not contemplate sus-
pending or discharging him, as Pickett
had made things right. The engineer had
said that he would do this, and he had
kept his word. Nort Pickett had not for-
gotten that he really owed the retention
of his position on the road to Frank
Merriwell.

really himself

“Tf you weren’t so young it would be
5 £
better,’’ scowled Newman. ‘‘Can’t you
) y
raise a mustache ?”’ °
‘‘Not yet, sir,’’? answered ae with
a slight smile.

 

  
   
   
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
    
 
   
 
   
   
 
    
   
   
   
  
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  

“Well, it won’t make any difference.
If you Ty examinations, you'll get an
engine. 4

Now it was certain, and Frank felt his
heart pounding in his throat, ‘for, instead
of suspension or discharge, he was to be
promoted, It seemed like a dream.

Merriwell,’’ said Mr. Newman. “We'll
see what you really know. about an en-
gine.”

"Phen he asked a score eof questions
about the construction of | a locomotive,
and, thanks to the faet»that Frank had
studied hard on the Shibject, all were
answered in a satisfactory manner.

Next he questioned Merry as to what
he would do in the case of a breakdown
on the road—how he would repair his
engine: tempotarily so that he could get
ee the train home with the least possible
~~ delay. He suggested a dozen kinds of
mishaps, but the youth kept his wits
about him, and the master mechanic was
surprised by the readiness of the answers.
Newman then gave Merry soine advice
concerning his deportment toward em-
ployees in other departments of the
service, and ended by saying:

‘‘Perhaps these instructions are not
absolutely necessary, or you seem to
know just how to catry yourself, although
I don’t know where or how you picked
upsomuclr Iain going to give youa
freight engine, and you may be sure
that, as long as you ‘are right, I shal]
stand by you.’’

Now no one had ever heard of Orrin
Newman standing by his men, and,
naturally, Frank was surprised by hig
words.

“Another man will be sent out with
Pickett to-night,’’ said the master
mechanic; ‘‘and you will not be wanted
till to-morrow morning. ‘That will give
you plenty of time to rest and get into

‘*T want to ask you some questions, ,

5 . = ae TIP TOP WEEKLY.

condition. But, first, you must pass an
examination by the train master. If you
do as well there as you have here, eS
will be all right.”’

He hastily wrote a note,
passed to Frank.

‘Take that to the train master,’’ he
said, ‘‘and then come back here and re-
port. I will give you final instructions. ”’

With the note in his hand and his
heart throbbing exultantly, Frank left
the master mechanic’s office.

which he

CHAPTER IV.
BEFORE THE TRAIN MASTER.

Mr. Cobb, the train master, was a little
man with a piercing eye. He whistled
softly to himself when he read the master
mechanic’s note, and then he seemed
to look Frank through and through. ,

‘“Too young,’’? he said—‘‘altogether
too young.’

Merry flushed. He was becoming’ weary
of being regarded as ‘‘too young for any-
thing.’’ However, he said nothing, but
waited.

The train master asked how long
Frank had been in the employ of the
railroad, and seemed more than ever
astonished when told the length of time.

‘‘Where did you work before coming
here?’’ he inquired. ‘‘On what road?”?

‘‘T was attending college, sir.”’

‘Kh? College? What college?”’

“Vale.”

‘Indeed! But what railroad have you
ever worked on ae coming here ?”’

‘*None, sir. +

‘‘What? And you began as wiper ?’’

“Tad.?”

‘‘And you have advanced so that New-
man wauts to make you an enigneer?
Why, it isn’t possible! Newman must
be crazy. I suppose he i$ shoving you
forward because you captured that wild

2 SEE OUR NEW COUPON OFFER—LAST PAGE.

 

 

es

ae

 

Pe

 
  

su
UI

Pee em, Lemme OD

<=

 

+ a 7 sh a ‘ 4

 

 

engine. That was a smart trick for a
greenie, but it doesn’t prove that you are
capable of handling atrain. All this is
very remarkable—very remarkable!’

Frank could see that the train master
was prejudiced against him, but he did
not attempt to talk too much, Instead of
that, knowing he had been sent for
examination, he simply answered ques-
tions and waited till Mr. Cobb saw fit to
proceed in the regular manner.

‘Well,’ said the train master, ‘‘I am
not to blame for this. I presume New-
man thinks he knows his business. ’’

Then he proceeded to fire a string of
conundrums at Frank that tangled Merry
up once or twice, but, for the most part,
the questions were answered in a manner
that showed surprising good judgment.

‘Now look here, young man,’’ said
Cobb, ‘‘suppose you were running a first
class train on asingle track branch, and
you had orders to meet and pass another
first class train at a junction of the
double track main line, and, when you
arrived there, you found the other train
had not arrived, what would you do?’’

“T would wait till she arrived?’’ an-
swered Frank, immediately.

‘What if she were an hour late?”’

‘That would make’no difference.’’

“What? You would not waste an hour
that way?’

‘It would be obeying orders.’’.

‘‘But you would be holdmg passengers
when there was a doubie track ahead of
you,’’

“‘T understand that.?’

‘And you would be all right, young
man,’’ declared the train  smuaster.
“Orders are orders, and they must be
obeyed on this road. I won’t have con-
ductors and engineers running trains. I
will run thei from here.’’ i

Frank saw that he had not madea
break in this case, and it gave him confi-

’

~

‘TTP TOP WEEKLY,

BE: PATRIOTIC—WEAR A BUTTON.

dence to answer firmly in every instance,
not permitting Cobb to rattle him.

The examination proceeded in a most
successful manner. Now and then, if he
did not say outright that Merry was
right, the train master would nod his
head approvingly.

At last, after keeping up a running fire
of questions for an hour, Cobb looked at
his watch, and said:

‘That will do, Merriwell. You may
report to Mr. Newman that I am satis-
fied.’

So Merry went back to the office of the
master mechanic, who squared away at
him with a single word:

“Well ?”?

‘(Mr, Cobb says he is satisfied.’

“Glad of that. You’ll have the rest of
the day to yourself. To-morrow forenoon
at nine-thirty you will take Engine 70.”’

At last Frank felt that it was all set-
tled; and he had reached the goal for
which he had aimed at the start. He had
become a locomotive engineer.

He listened attentively to the rest of
Mr. Newman’s instructions. As he was
leaving the roundhouse, walking like one
in a trance, he nearly ran into Larry
Logan. |

‘Ig it discharged ye are, me b’y?”’
asked the young Irishman, with the
greatest anxiety.

‘““No, Larry,’’? said Frank, ‘‘I am not
discharged. I have been given an
engine.’’

Larry stared and then threw up his
hat.

‘“Hurru!’’ he cried... ‘‘Thot b’ates th’
band! An’ Oi thought ye wur done fer
intoirely, so Oi did!”

‘“T feared so myself,’’ confessed Frank. —

‘‘How did it happen, Oi dunno?”’ “A

‘‘Well, I don’t just know myself, ex-
cept that Mr. Pickett, saw the master,

  

 

   
   
  
    
  
 
  
    
   
    
 
  
 
  
 
 
    
     
 
 

   

10 TIP TOP WREKLY.

mechanic and convinced him that I was
not to blaine for the loss of time.’’

*“He did thot fer yez?”?

(Vag “4 edd
: “Well , may Oi be blowed! Oi nivver
thought thot av the feller! It’’s a dis-
loike.to. him Oi took th’ firrust toime Oi
saw him.’
seems to dislike
him, but Pickett is actually a fine man,

‘Almost everybody

He knows he is not liked, and he is sen-
sitive about it. Hedid a good job for
me.’”’

‘“Whoy shouldn’t he! Av it hadn’t
been..fer yez, he’d not be: runnin’ 13
now.”’

“Oh, I don’t know.”’

**Oi do. Did’t yez capture th’ ghost?”’

‘Ves, but——”? .

‘““Thot wur enough. It’s nearly dead
Pickett wur from froight ivery toime he
run through Black Gorge. He’d been off
the engine in. a wake av ye had’t
shtopped thot ghost business.”’

“You may be tight about that,
Larry.’’

‘“Ye know Oi am, Frankie, me b’y.
It’s .a mane divvil Pickett would have
been av he hadn’t come up loike a man
an’ stood by yez, an’ it’s roight glad O1
am that he did. An engine ye are to
have? Well, well, well!. An’. Oi wur
worrukin’ here firrust, though Oi’ve jist
got a job to foire.”’
~ ‘Then you are going to fire?”

‘‘Vis. Oi go out to-morry.

‘“*T congratulate you, Larry.
be running an engine in time.”

‘¢Well, Oi hope Oi may be able to run
one on toime. Oi’ve worruked here long
enough so they know Oi can foire all
roight.”’

Hurru!’’
You will

‘If they give you the coal to do it
with. I have found that it’s pretty hard
_ work to make'steam with slate.”

Av I get ahead half as fast as you

CLIF FARADAY

have, mre b’y, Oi’ll be satisfoied. Ye'’ve
thrick beautifully.”

‘‘What sort of an engine are you going

done th’

onto, Larry—one of the switch engines?”

(No, )

‘‘Something better?’

“Vis. A freight.’

“Well, th
a switch engine.’?

‘*But it’s not long ye stayed there.” It
wur yer firrust dav on that ye shtopped
thot gave ye a boost

at is doing well. I started on

the wild engine, an’
forrud,”’

‘That was-a lucky piece of business.’?

‘““Divvil a bit av luck. It wur a case
av nerve, an’ ye won. Another grane
matn moight have jumped off an’ let
both engines go to shmash.”’

Frank similed.

‘©All right,’ he said. ‘Call it luck or
anything you like. I know it helped me
along, sane as other things that have
A fellow must have
opportunities, as well as push, in order
to get any where.”?

happened helped.

**An’ ye always seein to have th’ way
av foinding th’ opportunities, me b’y.
There is a lot in thot.”’

‘What engine are you going on,
Larry ?”?

‘Siventy. ”

** Seventy ?”’

{OV is. ”)

‘‘Great Scott!’

‘*Pwhat’s th’ matther?’?

“That is the engine Iam to take!”

The two youths stared at each othera
motient, both seeming bewildered. Then
Latry began to grin, and he gave a shout
of delight.

‘‘Begorra! it’s great luck, Frankie!
Whoy, it’s a hundred‘ toimes Oi’ve wished
we pa go togither loike thot. We
have talked.it over, too.’’

They clasped hands, both iekkeie:

‘Well, Larry,’’ said Frank, aes ee

IS TRUE BLUE.

 

   

yattlees's

OWE ache pe hh Se

sibebtone,

 

‘stemeentions

oa
¥

 

 

    

 
   

tv

   

 

aid

 

 

 

   

 

to show them what we can do, and I
don’t believe they will be sorry they put
us together.”’

CHAPTER V.
THE STRANGE GIRL IN THE PARK.

Frank went home and found little Nell
there alone. Jack had gone out to see if
he could not pick up some money sing-
ing and playing on the streets.

**Well, Nellie,’’ he said, ‘*I am back.”’

She held out her hands to him, a look
of sadness on her sweet face.

“Oh, Frank!’’? she cried, her voice
trembling; ‘‘I aim so sorry! You were
really discharged ?’’

‘“Naq Nellie. ”’

‘*No!’? she exclaimed. ‘‘Then you
must have been suspended ?”’

‘*Not even suspended.”’

‘But you are back.”’

‘“Ves, to rest till to-morrow. Instead
of being suspended or discharged, I have
been—guess what.”’ |

“Tt can’t! Oh, is it something good ?”’

‘Is it? Rather! I have been promoted,
little girl!”’

She gave a glad cry and threw hee
slender arms around him, while he kissed
her tenderly, as if he were her own
brother.

“Frank, Frank,’’ she almost panted,
‘is it really true! ‘Tell ime all about it!

‘You have been promoted to what?”

‘“To be an engineer; I lave been given
an enging to run.’’

Such a happy look came to her face!
She laughed her joy, and he felt how
good it was to have some one who took
such an interest in his good fortune.

“Oh, my, my!’ she cried, in a girlish
way. ‘‘Isn’t that perfectly lovely! -Oh,
Frank, do tell me all about it!”’

So he sat down before her, holding her
Eaasn and told all about his interview

FREE WAR BADGES. wee LAST PAGE.

 

TIP TOP WEEKLY. : 11

with the master mechanic, and the train
master. Her changing face expressed all
her emotions as plainly as words, and,
when he had finished, she wept for joy.

‘‘Oh,.I knew nothing really bad could
happen to you!”’ she cried. ‘‘If you were
discharged, I knew you would come out
all right in the end. You can’t fail,
Frank.’?

‘“‘Tt’s a good thing to know that some
one has such confidence in me, but the
best of us make mistakes sometimes. ’’

They sat and talked it over for some
time, and then he said:

‘‘T have some business to attend to on
Clinton street, and I think I had better
look after it at once.”’

“Oh, Frank! take me with you as far
as the park,’’ urged the blind girl. ‘“‘I
aim strong enough to walk that far now,
and I can sit there on one of the benches
till you come back.”’

‘But it is chilly outside, Nellie, and
you might catch cold.”

**T know I shall not. I need the air. It
is terrible to be shut up here in the house
so long. Please take me, Frank.”?

‘*Well, we must see that you are bun-
dled up so that you will be warin.”’

“Ves, yes.”

““There is still a little sunshine left
this afternoon, and it’ may do you some
good, I will hurry back, so you’ll not be
long alone.’’

She laughed her happiness, and Frank
aided her in getting xeady to go out. He
had bought her a warm jacket for win-
ter, and she put that on. Her hat had
been selected by Merry with good taste,
and she looked exceedingly pretty when
she was ready for the street. _A person
who did not observe her eyes closely
would‘not have imagined that she was
blind.

‘*By Jove, Nellie!’ he cried, standing es

 
 

12 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

off and looking at her; “you never
looked so pretty before !”’

“Oh, hush!’ she laughed, with a
touch of color coming to her cheeks.
“You shouldn’t tell-me that.”

‘Why not? It’s true. Se grow pret-
tier as you get stronger.’

‘But it isn’t right to tell anybody such
things when one can’t look in the glass

and see.’

‘““Now that I am an engineer, it will
not be long before you can look in the
glass, if science can give you back your
sight. Ishail make more money than I
did before.’’

‘‘But we have no right to take a cent
of your money. Already you have been
too good and spend too much for us.”’

“It has been my greatest pleasure, lit-
tle girl. You wouldn’t deny me my great-
est pleasure, would you ?”’

‘‘No, but it doesn’t seen right, for you
are poor, and: you need your money.”’

“Don’t worry over that, little gifl.
Wait till I change my clothes again. It
will not take me many moments.’’

He ran into the other room and made
a swift change. As he always cared for
his person, not even permitting grime to
work into his hands and make a strain
upon them, he did not look much like a
- day laborer on a railroad when he reap-
_ peared, dressed in a handsome brown suit
that he had worn at college.

‘‘Now we are ready,’’ he cried, lightly.
— We'll lock the doors, so burglars can’t
come in and steal the piano and all our

diamonds, and then we’ll proceed on our

way. "9
In a short time they were walking
along the street, Nellie clinging to his
arm. She was stilla little girl, scarcely
more than a child, but they made a most
attractive appeaarnce as they walked
along together. |
“Oh, it is so good to be out again!”’

she cried, as she breathed in the crisp,
invigorating air.

‘Tt must be a treat to you, Nellie; but

you mustn’t overtax yourself by walking
too far.”’

“Tt will not be too far out.to the park.
Can you hurry back after you finish your
business ?”’

‘“(T will,’’ he promised. ;

At length they left the poor quarter of
the city and came to a better section, and
finally they reached the park. He found
her a seat where the sun shown down
upon her, and left her there, again prom-
ising to hasten back.

She sat there, her mittened hands
clasped, a look of perfect contentment
on her face, for she was thinking ef him.

A young girl who had been passing
through the park had seen them appear,
and had watched Frank as he escorted
Nellie to a seat and took leave of her.
The stranger displayed astonishment and
agitation.

When Frank had disappeared, the
strange girl, who was very pretty and
had golden hair, approached the bench
on which little Nell sat, hesitating some-
what as she drew nearer.

At last, seeming to summon courage,

the stranger advanced and spoke to the

blind girl.

““T beg your pardon,’’ she said, in a
low, eis voice: ~ “I wish to speak
with you.’’

‘“‘With me?’ asked Nell, in surprise,

‘Ves, Would you mind telling me the
name of that gentleman who just left
you?’

“‘No, indeed! That was Mr. ’Merri-
well.’

“Mr. Merriwell! Excuse me for ask-
ing. I thought I had seen him before.
He is a fine-looking young man, isn’t
he?”’

TELL YOUR CHUMS ABOUT ‘TRUE BLUE.”

 

 

 

 

 

a A

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

  

to me!
all the world!”’ | =

 

“‘T think he must be,’’ said Nellie;
‘“but I’ve never seen him.’’

“Never seen him? Gracious! Why,
you don’t mean to say that you are——”’

‘*T am blind.”’

Ina moment the strange girl was be-
side Nellie on the bench.

**Oh, that is a shaine!’’ she said, sym-
pathetically. ‘‘I am so sorry! Oue would
not know it to look at your eyes.’’

There was something in the way the
stranger spoke that drew little Nell to-
ward her.

**No,’’ said Nellie, ‘‘they say my eyes
look all right, but still I cannot see.
Sometime I hope to see again, for I am
going to have my eyes treated. We are
saving money for that now.’’

**We? Who?”?

“Jack and J.”

- “Who is Jack?’

‘My brother.’

“T thought you meant Mr. Merriwell
at first.’?

*‘Oh, no; he is not named Jack—his
name is Frank, and he is so good to us.
Jack is lame, you know. He plays the
guitar, and we sing together on the
streets. Sometimes we do very well at it.
I’ve been ill lately, and he has been
obliged to go out alone; but Frank has
been very good to us.”’ “

‘“Where do you live?”’

Nellie hesitated, and then gave the
street and number.

“*Tt’s a rather cheap quarter,’’ she con-
fessed ; ‘‘but we can’t afford to pay much

for rooms.’’

“And does Frank—ah!—Mr. Merri-
well; know it?”’
“Of course. He has the next room to
ours. Sometimes we have such pleasant
meals together, and he is always so good
I think he is the best fellow in

‘‘T wish yor would tell me more about

BY ALL MEANS GET A FREE BUTTON OR PIN—SEE LAST PAGE,

   

TIP TOP WEEKLY. 12

Mr. Merriwell,’’ urged the strange girl.
‘‘There was something about his face
that I like.’’

‘*Jack says that. Jack says he has the
finest face he ever saw. I know it must
be true, for he is so good.”’

Nellie was really glad to find some one
to talk with, and she chattered on in her
girlish, innocent way:

‘*He has been awfully good to me, and
I love him. You would love him if you
knew him as well as I do.”

A strange look came to the face of the
girl at Nellie’s side, and her hands trem-
bled. Suddenly she stooped and looked
straight into the face of the blind girl as
if trying to discover something there.

‘*You are very pretty,’’ she said. ‘‘He
must love you too.”’

‘Oh, I think he loves me as much as
if I were his own sister. He has done
everything kind for me.’?

‘*Has he—has he ever told you that he
—he loved you ?”’

‘‘Oh, yes, many times. But he doesn’t
know how much I love him for I dare
not: tell him.’’

“Why not???

“It would not be right.”?

‘Wouldn’t be right? Iam afraid Ido
not understand what you mean.’’ }

Nellie hesitated. Now she was con-
fused, and she began to wish she had not
said so much.

The strange gir]™reached out and took
one of Nellie’s hands.

“You can teil me,’’ she said, and there
Was something very persuasive in her
voice. ‘‘Why wouldn’t it be right to let
him know how much you care for him ?’’

‘‘Because— because he loves somebody
else.”? |

Having said this, Nellie blushed crim-
son. :

The girl at her side gave a start, and ©

»

    
   
   
    
     
 
    
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
 
 
   
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
    
    
   
    
  
   
  
 

 
  

the look of eagerness on her face becaine
more intense.

mele} love with some one ?”’

1en he is in
‘Oh, there is a romance!
and I delight in romances. Won’t you
tell me all about it? Please do!”’

Nellie could not resist.

“There are two girls that he cares
for,’’ she said. .

she breathed.

““T wo!’ exclaimed the stranger.

“Yes. One of them is dark, while the
other is fair.’’

The girl released Nell’s hand, for she
was beginning to tremble.

‘It is remarkable that he should care
for two girls,’’ she said. ‘‘He must be
deceiving them.’’

“‘No, no, no! Frank Merriwell would
not deceive anybody! I am sure of that—

I know it! The girls knew he cared for
them both.’?

‘“That is remarkable.’’

‘‘But he cared for one far more than
for the other.”

The stranger started.

‘He told you so?”’

“Ves, ”»

‘‘Which one did he care for more ?””

“It was Inza that he met first,’ said
the blind girl; ‘‘and she was everything
to lif till Elsie came. Then Elsie went

-’ away, so that she would not separate
them; but she loved Frank, and he loved
her. They did not mean to see each other
again, but it was not to be that they
_ should part that way. They met again
- and again, and every time they cared
more and more for each other.”
“Then Elsie is the one he loves now?”’

The voice of the sttange girl was
hoarse and strained. ©
_ **Ves,’’? said little Nell, ‘‘he loves
Elsie Bellwood more than any other per-
son in the world. But she has tried to
turn him from her. She did everything
to make him believe she-was false and

 

14 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

BUY JUST ONE COPY OF ‘TRUE BLUE,”

it was her
duty, as she had come between him and

heartless, for she thought
Inza. She meant to made him despise
her, in order that he would go back to
Inza.??

‘*How do you know this?’

‘“He told me, for he was bound to
know tiie truth, and he forced it from
Hlsie’s lips. ‘They have separated now.”’

The strange girl half rose to her feet.

‘*Separated !’’ she gasped.

Nellie was surprised.

‘“‘What is the matter?’ she
**You seem agitated. ’’

asked.

“Oh, it’s nothing—nothing,’’ was the
quick reply, asthe girl sat down again.
‘*But it was so strange that they should
separate. ‘Tell me why that happened.
Was there a quarrel?”

‘Oh, no, no! But Elsie made him
promise not to see her or write to her for
a year.’’

‘“Why—why did she do anything like
that?”

**She wanted to make sure that Frank
cared more for her than forInza. She
tried to make him promise that he would
see Inza often during the year.’’

The stranger was silent. She sat star-
ing at the ground like one dazed by a
blow. After some moments, her chin
began to quiver, and her eyes filled with
tears.

Nellie reached out and found the hand
ofthe girl she could not see.

*‘T don’t know why I have told you
all this,’ she said. ‘‘Something seemed
to make me tell it. My brother has been
the only one that I could talk with about
Frank, and I long to talk about him.”’

‘“‘T am glad you told me, my lear little
friend,’’ said the girl, as she passed: an
arm about Nellie’s shoulders. ‘It is a
strangely interesting story. And you love |
Frank Merriwell, too?”

‘The blind girl bowed. ™

 

ee st tai at

 

 
 

 

 

 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIP TOP

**] do,’? she murmured; ‘‘but he does
not know how much, and he never shall.
Iam young, and he thinks me only a
child. Iam blind, too. ‘There is no rea-
son why he should love me save as he
does—as if I were his sister. Be-
sides——”’

She hesitated, seeming to find it diffi-
cult to go on.

**Besides what?’ a
gently.

‘Besides, I have no right to care for
him that‘way. I would not rob Elsie of
his love for worlds.’’

‘*Does he—does he speak of Inza—
often ?”?

‘*Not as often as he speaks of Elsie.
He carries Elsie’s picture over his heart.
Once, when we were all alone and the
wind was moaning outside, he held my
hands and told me all about Inza.”?

**What did he say—what did he say?”?

““Oh, he said she was one of: the best
girls in the whole world. -He told me
how she remained Elsie’s friend when
she believed he had chosen Elsie. He
said it was a noble thing to do, and
showed her far above ordinary girls.”

_ ‘*He said all that?”

(Ves.

*‘T am happy!’

“‘Happy? You are happy ? What do
you mean ?’’

**T can’t tell! Oh, never mind! Iam
happy because he thinks so well of Inza.
If she cares very, very much for him,
and he were to desert her in a cruel way,
she might become desperate and do some-
thing for which she would be sorry after-
ward; but, if she knows that he honors
and respects her, that knowledge will
hold her fast from making any mis-
takes.’

‘“She must know it, for he has told
her.’’

“*Yes, yes, he has told her; but young

sked the stranger,

 

‘turns.

CALL YOUR FRIENDS ATTENTION TO OUR PREMIUMS—SEE PAGE 32

 

WEEKLY, 15

men say many things to girls which they
do not really mean.”

Nellie drew off a bit.

**T do not believe Frank Merriwell ever
did such a thing in all the world!’’ she
cried. ‘‘He is too brave—too noble!”’

‘*Yes, I believe he is different from
other young men. Iam glad I met you,
my dear little friend. Iam glad you have
told me these things about Frank Merri-
well. I must leave you now, but I want
you to give Mr. Merriwell something.”’

The blind girl was surprised.

““You want me to give him some-
thing ?’’ she asked, slowly.

**¥es.. Wait.””

The stranger took a card from her card
case, and wrote upon the back of. it with
a tiny gold pencil. In a few moments,
she placed it in Nellie’s hand.

‘“There,’’ she said, ‘‘please give that
to Frank—to Mr. Merriwell when he re-
It will be a favor to me,’’

‘To you?

‘“That will explain everything. And
now, dear little friend, I must bid you
good-by. I hope some day you will re-
ceive your sight again, so you may see
Frank Merriwell, the noblest fellow in
all the world! _Good-by! good-by !”?

The strange girl kissed Nellie and then
hurried away.

But who——’?

CHAPTER VI.
A FRUITLESS SEARCH.

Nellie was sitting on the bench, with
the card in her hand when Frank re-
turned. She heard his step as he ap-
proached, and her:face brightened.

‘Iam so glad you are back!’ she ex-
claimed,

‘‘You are shivering,’’ he said, quickly. —
‘The sun does not strike here now; for it
is down behind the buildings, I am
afraid I have left you too long. You may
have caught cold.”’ :

 

    
 

16 TIP TOP WEEKLY,

‘‘No, no; it is not that.’’

He noticed something unnatural in her
manner.

‘‘What is the matter ?’’ he asked. ‘‘Has
anything happened since I left you?”

Sy RCS le

**What?”?

‘‘A stranger carne along and -sat here
beside me and talked to me.’’

‘‘A stranger!’’ cried Frank. ‘‘Did he
insult you? The scoundrel! Is it possible
that even a little blind girl is not safe
from insults in this city ?’’

‘“No, no; I was not insulted.”’

“ Ah!’ exclained Frank, with relief.
“But why should a man speak to you ?”’

**Tt was not a man.”’

‘No? A woman ?”’

‘A girl or young lady. And I have
been thinking since she left that there
was something very remarkable about it,
She saw you with me.’’

‘‘Nothing remarkable about that.’’

‘No; but that was why she spoke to
me:??

‘“‘T'do not think I understand. Why

_ should she speak to you because she saw

me with you ?”’

‘It is strange, but that was her reason.
She asked many questions about you, and
she wasso good that I told her—too much
eee You know girls always talk

too much.’

There was a troubled look on Nellie’ s

hapa: and Frank hastened to reassure her.

“Don’t be worried, little girl,’’ he said.
‘‘T hardly think I would be ashamed of

anything you could tell about me.’’

‘‘No, it is not 7 but I revealed some

-.. of your secrets.’’

 

**Vou did? That was strange.”
‘Tt was strange, but somehow she drew

everything from me before I knew what
_ I was saying.’’

What did you tell her?”’
CLIF FARADAY IS

oes about yourself and Elsie and
Inza.’
‘“Tust like a girl!’ Frank mentally ex-

claimed.

‘‘Rorgive me, Frank !’’ pleaded Nellie.
‘*T didn’t realize how much I had. told
till after she was gone.”’

“Don’t let it worry you, little girl,’’
said Frank, cheerfully. ‘‘But I do not un-
derstand how that could have interested
her. ??

‘Tt did interest her, though. She lis-
tened so eagerly, and she asked me so
niany questions!’

Frank was fiiled with
denly he asked:

wonder. Sud-

‘(What is that you havein your hand ?’’

‘A card she left for you.’’ |

‘*Ror me?’

“Ves, She wrote something on it.
Here

Frank took the card and read what was
written on it. His face turned very pale,
and, when he had finished, he exclaimed;
‘‘Heavens! is it possible ?”’

‘‘What is it?’ asked Nellie, clinging
to his arm.

For some secbies Frank was unable to
answer. He was greatly agitated, for his
arm trembled beneath the blind gitl’s
hands.

‘Tell me. Frank—please tell me what
it is?’’ she pleaded.

‘*Tt’s like-a dream—like astory !’’ came
huskily from his lips. ‘‘And itis her
writing—her card! Therecan be no doubt
but she has been here.”?

“Who?” ,

“‘Tnza Burrage!’’

It was Nellie’s turn to be astonished
and agitated.

‘‘Inzal’’ she cried.
Inza??’

‘Vou were.

‘Was I talking to

“And I did not know it! I told her
A GOOD FELLOW.

ey

es)
,

adil

 

ey
ee ak ae

ae

 

 

Se a he ae ee

Tie eee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
iia

Fn, Gar ee

pa

Ry

 

Sage ee

  

aa

7

ee
rey

 

 

everything! Oh, Frank, forgive me—for-
give me!’

He put
gently:

‘““There is nothing to forgive, Nellie.
Perhaps it is better that it happened this
way, for now she understands why I am
silent. Now she does not
me. But that she should be here—that
she should talk with you! It is almost be-
yond belief.”’

‘“‘Why, it doesn’t seem possible now!
Read it—read what she wrote.’’

Frank read as follows:

his arm about her, saying

mistnderstand

“Dear Frank:—The little blind girl
has told me everything, and now I know
beyond a doubt that all is over between

us; but I do not blame you or Elsie. I

love you both, and I wish you the great-
est happiness. Farewell forever, Frank!
God bless you, my hero! Inza,”’

His eyes were inisty when he had _fin-
ished, and his voice shook. Nellie began
to sob, and the tears ran down her face.

“Oh, Frank!” she cried; ‘‘isn’t it just
simply terrible! And you are not to
blame!’

‘*Not to blame, yet I feel guilty. It is

strange that fate should place a man in

such a position.’’

‘You should not feel guilty, for she,
does not blame you. That is plain.’’

‘Ves, that is plain enough; but, oh, I
am so sorry that we were ever such close
friends! If we had not been——’’

‘That is something you cannot change.
She is still your friend. You were right,
Frank; she is a noble girl.”’

‘*But I must see her!’’ Merry cried. ‘‘I
must talk with —

‘‘She is gone." ,
a will find her!”

: “How oh A

_ “She is somewhere in this city.”
“Vou do not know where.’’
“No; still it seems that I must find

/

OUR PATRIOTIC PREMIUMS ARE ELEGANT—SEE PAGE 32.

   

TIP TOP WEEKLY. 17

her! Now she knows just how matters
stand, and I shall not be forced to make
so many explanations. Yes, Nellie, I will
find her!’ |

“Oh, if I had known—if I had asked
her where she was stopping !’?

‘She might not have told you. Come,
we will go home, and then I shall go out
and search for her.”’

She clung to his arm as they walked
homeward from the park. They con-
tinued to talk over the remarkable occur-
rence. Frank was impatient to begin the
search for Inza, and he hastened forward
as swiftly as Nellie could walk.

Little Jack was there when they
reached the house. He was surprised to
see Merry, for he thought Frank was at
wotk. He was preparing supper, and he
asked a dozen questions without giving
an opportunity for anybody to answer one
of them.

**Nellie will tell you everything,’’ said
Merry, and then he hastened away to be-
gin his search, _

Together that night the brother and
sister waited till nearly midnight for
Frank to return. Nellie coud not sleep,
although Jack urged her todoso, «

‘*No,’’ she saad say, ‘‘I must wait till
Frank comes. e

At last his step was heard on the staire!
It was slow and weary. Nellie elasped
her hands.

“*

‘‘He has been disappointed !’’ she whis-
pered. ‘‘I am so sorry for him!”

The door opened and Frank came in.
His face was pale, and the fire had gone
from his usually bright eyes. He walked
slowly across the room and sat down
heavily on a chair.

Little Nell hastened to him-

“Oh, Frank!’ she cried;

“did you

- find her?”? ~~ ;

‘No, ’’ was his sad answer, as he put
an arm about the blind itt searched — <

  

    
 
       
     
   
   

18 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

everywhere that I could. I examined
every hotel register in town.
find a trace of her.”’

“Tt is too bad!’ cried ‘the girl, ‘I
hoped you would.”’

ese a
of saying
would.’

cor

I did not

leclared the lame boy, by way

something, “‘‘we hoped you
['o-morrow I inust go out for my first
“Sand I
will not have to search any
Well, perhaps it is for the best.”’

‘Let ine get you soinething to eat,’
urged Jack. ‘‘You must be hungry as
well as tired.’’

Frank shook his head.

‘*It’s not something to eat I want,’’ he
said. Iam heart-hungry. I must try to
get some rest, for I shall need my nerve
to-morrow. Good-night, my dear little
friends.’

He arose and went into his room.

tun as engineer,’’ said Frank,
a chance

more.

CHAPTER VII.
UNPLEASANT DELAY.

Frank was at the roundhouse shortly
after nine o’clock the following morning,
althoughghe was not required to take his
engine till half-past nine.
Larry Logan was there, hard at work
» getting No. 70 ready to go out.
*“(Sood-maruin’, Misther Merriwell,’’
greeted tlre young Irishman, touching his
cap.
**Call me Frank,’’ said Merry, ‘‘
- have been doing of late.
‘Larry.”’
All roight, me b’ », It’s Frank ye are
by name, an’ frank by nature. Oi’ll have
her ready, sur, on th’ dot.’’

as you
I shall call you

‘I think I will look her over myself,’” |

said Frank. ‘‘It’s well enough to know”
what condition your machine is in.’’*
- §o he examined the engine as thor-

oughly as possible,

everything was tight

making sure that
and trim. No. 70
was an old engine, but it had been placed
in pretty good repair, so it seemed all
tight to the eye.

While Frank was making the exam-
the roundhouse boss, Mike Gan-
zell, came along.

‘“Well,’’? he said, stopping, ‘‘so you
have got there, Merriwell. I rather
thought you would.”’

ination,

‘‘Yes,’’ said Frank, ‘‘I have been given
an engine, and. I know I am indebted to
you, Mr. Ganzell, to no small extent for
my good fortune.”

‘*Not at all, young man—not at all.
You won your way by merit alone. I
didn’t expect you would hold your joba
day when Ihired you, but I took a fancy
to give you a trial? fot I thought there
must be sonieeiing ina lad who could:
thrash Old Slugs, the bully. You were a
surprise to me, and you advanced because
you studied and worked hard and were

polite and ready for anything. You were

a surprise to me, young man, and I don’t
believe you have stopped advancing yet.
You'll have a passenger train, in time, and
that may not end it. It’s such men as

_you who make first-class railroad officials.

This is the first time I have said any-
thing like this to you, and Isay it now
because I see you have not been attacked
with the disease.’

‘*What disease ?”’

‘‘Swelled head. Most any young fellow
in your place would have had a case of it.
You haven’t shown a symptom. yet, and
that is the most remarkable thing of all,”

‘*T have not tried to get it, sir,’’ smiled
Frank.
has spoiled hundreds of good men.’’’

“That’s right.
“You'll be all right. Don’t get a notion
that you run the road just because you

have become an engineer in such a short me
CLIP FARADAY IS A FOE TO THE SPANIARDS.

  

‘‘T am aware that swelled head

Watch out for it.

 

 

  
 

 

   

 
  
 

 

  

    
  
 

 

  
      
     
    
     
     
   

  
ee a” eee

 

 

 

 

 

   
 
    
   

 
 

~ had been made up for her.

be that the superintendent: is on it, and.

nen,

time. You'll have your troubles running
a freight engine, but I wish you luck.”’
‘Thank you, sir.’’
Ganzell walked on.

‘MYWell, did ye ivver!’’ cried Larry,
aghat. ‘‘Oi nivver hearrud th’ bate av
= peti \ : ‘ Xe
thot! Think av Moike Ganzell sayin’

anything loike thot toanybody! Whoy,
th’ man nivver says a worrud!”’

Frank knew Larry was ‘right, and he
had been astonished by the foreman’s
frank praise no less than the Irish youth.
It was plain that Ganzell had decided
that, as Merry was no longer under him,
it was a good plan to give the youth ey-
couragement,

Promptly, ‘Ou time No. 70 ran out upon
the table -and wasturned to her track.
With Frank at the throttle, she ran down
to the yard and coupled to the train that
Sone final in-
from the train

structions were received

master, and then Merry started on his
first run as engineer.
The section of road over which the

_ freight was to be taken was the -roughest

and most difficult of the whole Blue
Mountain Line. It was known as the
Ragged Ridge Branch, and it passed over
the mountains, having some severe
grades.

A freight train is not permitted - ‘to ex-
ceed the regular schedule, and still it is
expected to make-time for all of the lun-
dred delays that it encounters. Nobody
has any regard for a freight but tlre pass-
enger trains must always have the right
of way and aclear road. Woe to the luck-
less engineer who, from any cause, is
forced to flag or delay a passenger train.
There are certain rules for running on
slow signals, and, ng matter how much
behind time a freight may be, those rules
must never be disobeyed. Nor can a
freight go by a passenger train at a sta-
tion, even though it may have a clear
chance to do so on thie ‘‘off side,”’

If a passenger train is delayed, it may

that means noend of trouble, possibly
discharge, for the engineer of the offend-
ing freight. Station agents, truck gangs,
switchmen, telegraph operators, watch-

when the passenger trains are due and

all employees of the road know

-¥OU SHOULD GET A WAR BADGE AT ONCE.

 

TIP TOP WEEKLY. 19

look for them, but they treat the freights
with the utinost disregard.

At the start there was a fairly yood
piece of road, so Merriwell was given an
opportunty to get acquainted with his en-
gine to a certain extent, although there
was no way of telling until slie was tested
what old 70 would do under unfavorable
circumstances.

Fortunately the supply of coal was
fairly good, and Larry had no trouble in
keeping her hot.

‘Well, — is aisy,’’ declared the sat-
isfied Irish lad, as he rang the bell for a
crossing.

“This is just the start,’? said Merry.
‘“*We don’t know what will happen be-
fore the end of the run is reached. There
isa passenger train behind us, and we
niust keep clear of her.”’

**Where does she pass us, me b’y?”

‘*At Blasted Pine, if we can make it
ahead of her.’’

Frank had studied up on the different
branches of the road, so tliat he was fa-
miliar with them all. °

At the very first,stop there was a delay
on account of a broken switch, and Frank
was forced to pull out thirteen minutes
behind time. 3

‘“That’s Nort Pickett’s unlucky num-
ber,’’ hesaid. ‘*He declared that thirteen
had hoodooed him all his life.””

‘‘Oi hope it won’t hoodoo us, Frank,”
said Larry, nervously. ‘‘Can’t ye make
up a bit av this toime before we shtop
again ?”’

aca try.” ;

But it was not such can easy thing to
recover time over that road, for they had
reached a region of bad curves and sharp
grades. However, Merry worked her

with all the skill he could, and he picked”

up four minutes before the next station

was reached.

Again there was a delay over some
petty thing, and again they pulled out
exactly thirteen minutes late.

‘‘Well, I don’t think much of that, ay
“If wecan’t make up
some of that, I shall not dare to.try to

declared Frank.

run to Blasted Pine ahead of the passen-
ger.”’

‘‘Shove her, me b’y,’? urged Larry.

    

  
20

‘(Let'” make
firrust run.’’

They had a lot of rattle-trap old cars
on the train, and Frank knew he was tak-
ing chances in yanking them round the
curves, but he was growing anxious, and
he made the hair of some of the trainmen
stand when he opened old 70 up in ear-
nest.

But luck seemed dead against him.
Coming round acurve he was surprised

a record somehow on th’

“p aud disgusted to see a red flag fluttering
' before him.

He whistled for brakes with-
out a moment’s delay, and they were ‘in
plain sight of acrew of workmen when
they stopped.

‘Well, what’s the matter?’’
Frank, exasperated.

“Section foreman’s got a rail up,”
lazily replied the flagman.

‘‘Well, let him get it down in a hurry,
for we’ve got to let the passenger by us
at Blasted Pine, and there’s barely time
to make it now without delaying her.’

So. word was catried to the foreman,
who continued about the work in the
most deliberate manner, simply observ-
ing :

“That’s not my lookout, I'll take care
to have a clear track in time for the pass-
enget.’’

Frank ran down close to the gap in the
road and get off to have a talk with the
foreman. He was very polite for all of
the man’s surly manner, and it was not
long before he had induced the foreman
to hurry somewhat.

However, a number of minutes had

been added to the time they had lost, and
Frank was raher desperate by the time
the rail was laid down and they could go

on. He resolved to keep clear of thie pass-

-enger to Blasted Pine if it lay in old 7o,

Six miles further on, as they tore
round a bend, Larry shouted :

‘*Stop her, Merriwell!
are lost !”’

asked

———————

CHAPTER VIII.
CLEARIEG THE TRACE

Toward them a man was running,
wildly waving a red flag.
_ And, at no great distance, fairly in the
,. centre of the track was a huge bowlder.

IF YOU LIKE “TIP TOP,” THEN

Quick, or we

TIP TOP WEEKLY,

The freight would be wrecked in a
moment if it struck the rock.

Frank blew for brakes and shut off at
the same instant. Then he applied his
own brake before Larry could make a
move.

But the train had been running’at high
speed, and they had dashed so close upon
the obstruction before being flagged that
it did not seem possible to stop in time to
avoid a wreck.

Yelling like a maniac, the flagman
jumped off the track. to get out of the
way as they rushed onward.

{We're done fer, Frankie!’ groaned
fan, ‘This is phwat nxes us on th’
very firrust thrip!”’

Not a word came from Frank’s lips,
but he reversed the engine in order to do
as much as possible to help stop her in
time.

Again he caused the whistle to shriek
wildly for brakes.

With a grinding, grating sound, the
engine slid over the rails, seeming pushed
ahead by the momentum of the train.

They were right upon the bowlder
now. .

“Jump, Larry !’’ said Frank, as “endl as
ice.

‘You jump, Frankie!’’ shot back the

Irish lad. ‘‘Oi’l] not till you do!”

There was no time to say anything
moré, but Larry saw that Frank had no
thought of jumping, and so both of them
stuck to their posts, while the engine’
seemed hurrying to ruin.

But the brakes began to take hold in
earnest, and the train came to a halt with
astonishing quickness.

Not a moment too soon, for the nose of
the pilot fairly bumped against the gteat
bowlder.

The train was stopped, however, and a
wreck avoided.

But the regular passenger train was

coming behind, and here was another
cause for delay.

‘“‘Begorra! thot wur a snug call!”
gasped “Larry.

‘(All of that,’’ nodded Frank.

‘‘Pwhere did thot shtone come from ?’’

“Tt must have fallen from the face of

the precipice above us.’
‘Sure an’ it did.”?

YOU WILL LIKE “TRUE BLUE.”

‘

 
  

“Tt doesn’t make so much difference
about wheré it came from. What I want
. to know is where is it going to next.
| ‘The passenger is behind us, and we must
7} not stop her.’’

FE: ‘(Well have to, me b’y.”’

‘“That will be a bad thing for us,
Larry.’’

‘(Oi don’t see whoy. We didn’t put
that shtone on th’ track.’

**Tt doesn’t make any difference. ‘We
will have to flag the passenger train, and
it will be so reported.’’

The train hands came hurrying for-
ward, and Frank and Larry got down
from the engine. When the conductor
saw how they had stopped with the pilot
} rammed against the huge bowlder, he
_ turned pale and gasped:

“‘Good heavens! That was too close
for comfort!”’

‘‘Entirely,’’ admitted Frank.

‘Why didn’t you whistle sooner ?’’

“‘T whistled the moment I was flagged.
I couldn’t look round this curve to see
that bowlder.’’

“Vou were running too fast anyway.’
= ‘We are behind, and I was doing my

best to get to Blasted Pine without delay-
' ing the ] passenger train.’
“Well, we’ll delay her now all right.’
— “*It looks that way.’
-_ ‘(Well have to send back for the sec-
tion crew to get this bowlder off the
track.”

~ and that will be another loss of
time.’’

‘‘Can’t help that.’

‘‘Any tools on the train?’

‘‘Of course. I always keep a set on my
train, but it 1] take dynamite to move
that stone.’

‘Oh, Paoatt know,’’ said Merriwell,
who had_ been carefully looking to see
how the bowlder lay. ‘‘If it had canted
four inches further it would have gone off
the track itself.”’

“But the track is ruined here. The
ties must be laid and the rails adjusted.
No one but the section foreman can at-

tend to that job as it should be.”’
The flagman came panting to the spot.
_ He was a track-waiker, and he had dis-
covered the fallen bowlder just as he

 

 

 

  
  
 
 
  
 

        

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

heard the freight coming in the distance.

PATRIOTIC EMBLEMS GIVEN AWAY—SEE PAGE 32.

   

As soon as possible he had give Frank
the signal to stop.

\**But I thought you was goin’ to try
to run over the stone,’’ he declared.

There was a hasty consultation be-
tween Frank and the conductor, which
resulted in the track-walker being sent
after the section crew and to flag the
passenger when it came along, while
tools were brought out, and everybody
went to work to remove the bowlder, if
possible.

The conductor declared that it could
not be done. He started in to take charge
of the work, but he did no go about it in
the right way, aud Frank induced him to
work in a different manner.

The men followed Merry’s directions,
and soon they were able to move the
bowlder an inch.

Frank was ready to retain every ad-
vantage gained, for he had two “men
waiting to ‘‘trig’’ the stone as it moved,
so it could not settle back.

‘‘You’ll never get it off in the world,”’
declared the condttetor.

‘*Ves, I will,’’ asserted Frank, in a de-
termined manner.

When Frank Merriwell said he would
doa thing, he was bound to accomplish
it if it was in the power of a human be-
ing. Now his jaw squared and there was
a resolute glare in his handsome eyes.

Again he made every preparation to
move the stone, getting the-men with
bars into just such positions and having
the one with ‘‘trigs’? prepared to hold
every advantage.

At the proper moment, Merry gave the

word, and all who could do so applied

their ‘strength to the moving of the stone.

At first she did not seem to stir, but soon.

she started a bit, and Merry cried:

‘‘Heave her! heave her! AN together!
Now she goes!”’

There was no need of trigs, for they
kept the stone rolling, and soon, of her

own accord,.she toppled over and plunged
off the track into the ditch.

A cheer went up from the men, and
the conductor said:

-““T declare I didn’t think it could be
done.
Merriwell. But now we’ll have to wait
for the section hands to come up and put

21

°

You went at it just right, Mr. . os
   
   
  
        
    
   
   
   
  
  
   
    
 
  
   
    
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
    
 
 
 
  
   
  
    
   
 

&,

up here.
Mr. Kimball.’

  

22

the track in condition for us to run
ig.)

‘Perhaps not,’? said Frank. ‘‘Any-
way, if wedo, we have rendered them
no little assistance in disposing of the
bowlder. But I think we can fix these
rails so we can take the |freight over
slowly.’’

“‘T wouldn’t dare try it till I was sure
the track was all right.”’

‘Well, we can do whatever is possible
toward. putting it into shape,’’ said
Frank. ‘‘ That will be so much assistance
to them.’

‘It will not be any assistance at all if
it is not done right.’

‘*We’ll do it right.’

_ Have you ever worked on a section ?”’

_ No, or
Then what do you iknow about it?”

a have a way of keeping my eyes open
and finding out about things, sir. You
realize now that l knew how to move
that stone. If you will permit, I will get
these rails in shape for us to take this
train over them, thowgsh the passenger
wiust be flagged here.”’

‘*And the Old Boy will beto pay if
you get a car off.the track here.” =

That will not be worse than the ob-
In fact,

over

struction we found on tlre track.

itis probable that it-will be full easier to
jack upacarand getit back onto the,
vail than it was to move that bowlder. If

we delay the passenger here, we are re-
ported. If we give them a clear track
after this, m all probability the report
will be favorable. "a

“But you can't give them a clear
track,’ declared the conductor, looking
at his watch. ‘“They are bound to over-

_take us before we can reach Blasted Pine
and take the siding.”

‘Perhaps not. They will have to slack
It is worth making a_ try for,

“*Go ahead—go ahead! But I’! not be
responsible for anything. You are taking

this entirely on your own shoulders.’’

‘‘T amt willing to do that,’ said Frank,

as he set the men to work again, giving
_ them directions in everything and rush-

ing them.

TIP TOP WEEKLY,

SPLENDID ADVENTURES IN aE BLUE.” |

CHAPTER IX
DRIVING OLD 70.

‘“There, Mr. Kimball,’ said Frank, a
short time alter, ‘‘I believe we can get
over all right now.”’

The ties and one rail had been raised
and set in position, and the men who
watched the work became satisfied that it
was done as thoroughly as possible, con-
sidering the short time taken. Even the
conductor was forced to adinit that Merri-
well went about it as if he knew whiat’he
was doing.

‘All right,’’ he said. ‘‘But you want
to xemem ber that Iam not respousible if
anything happens.’’

‘Iam willing to assume the responsi-
bility,’’? declared Frank. ‘

Larry was on the engine, having. been
sent by Frank to keep up a good head of
steam.

‘Two men were posted, one at each side
of the track, to watch the wheels of the
engine and cars as they passed over the
rails where the bowlder had fallen. \ If
anything had happened, they were to
give a signal, and Frank would stop im-
mediately.

The others went om board the train,
the conductor waving to ‘‘go ahead.??:

Frank opened her up and the freight
crept over the dangerous point, moving.
along slowly till the last car had passed.
Then the two watchers swung onto the
rear end, and Larry Logan shouted :

“Hurru! It's a roighit foine job ye did
there, me b’y, and we’re off again! Let
her go!”

Frank did so, for he knew that the
passenger train was not many minutes
behind him. :

‘‘Don’t be afraid of burning too much
coal between here and Blasted Pine,
Larry,’’ he said. ‘‘I ain going to shake
things up a trifle, if it is in this old en-
gine.”’ |

“Oi ll give yez all th’ shtame ye nade,
Oi think,’’ laughed the Irish lad, who
had learned within a short time to have
more confidence than ever before Jin
Frank, ‘Avy there are any bad places in -
th’ thrack, we’ll jump thim.”?

Away they went, old 70 beginning to
rock and reel rond sie: curves, while the

‘
Se

 

 

 

 

 
 
     
     
     
      
 

wae

 

Son) Meee 6a Bk ae i ee, Bee

whe

 
   
ec VY = ctr

‘y

 

 

 

    
  
  
   
  
 
 
 
  
   
  
  

long train-of box cars careened in her
wake. Frank’s great hope was to keep

clear of the pursuing passenger train, for
all of anything else. If he could reach
Blasted Pine in time to let the other train
pass without stopping, it would be a
triumph for him. If he did not, he might
receive a call-down for exceeding the
speed limit!”

The old engine began to roar and hum.
At times black columns of smoke belched
from her stack. The roadbed. was not in
good condition, and Larry Logan had to
keep braced all the time to prevent him-
self from being flung about in thie cab.
Still he ‘‘poked’’ the coal to her and
trusted everything to Frank.

It was exciting work for the young
engineer and fireman, and Larry thrilled
to the ends of his fingers and toes. He
looked %t Frank now and then, but
Metry’s eyes were fixed on the track
ahead, and his hand was6n the throttle.

Frank seemed as calm and cool as if
sitting ina parlor, and -his manner did
much to steady the nerves of :his com-

panion.
Now and then Frank looked at his
watch, and the expression on his face

showed that he was satisfied.

It was not long before one of the brake-
men came-crawling over the tops of the
reeling cars and looked down intg the
cab of the engine, as if he feared the
machine was running away.
his arms and shouted something, after
which he went back, presumably to re-

* port to Kimball.
Frank did not slacken his speed. in the’

least. If he drove her a_ bit
harder.

“It’s harrud worruk Oi have to tell av
she’s on th’ thrack or off,’? eried Larry,
with a short laugh.

Not a whistie signal did Frank mise,
although he had never run
over that road. Never in his life had he
seemed more calm and on the alert.

Mile after mile was passed, and, final-

anything,

ly, Merry called:

‘‘We’re getting near Blasted Pine.”
‘How about th? passenger ?”?

‘*She must be hard onto us.’

“Ts it toime we'll have to take th’

Fe: soiding ae | ¥

_ WAR BUTTONS eee BADGES FREE—SEE PAGE 32.

He waved»

an enigne:

   

TIP TOP WEEKLY. 23

“If they are not asleep at Blasted Pine
we will.”’

A few minutes later the little village
was seen through a gap ahead.

Then Frank began to whistle for the
switchman. Theold engine fairly howled
the signal and kept it up as the train
flew onward.

In,a moment, the switchamn was seen
running out to open the siding. He did
not seem in any great hurry, much to
Frank’s disgust.

‘He is afther havin’
fate,’ said Larry.

Frank made the whistle shriek an im-
perative signal, and the switchman moved
faster when he saw the train was coming
‘on at such speed.

Still, when he reached the switch, he
fumbled there in an. awkward manner.
Frank had: shut off, but he did not touch
his brake till he saw how slow the
switchman was. ‘Then he set it up some
and aided the others in holding the train
up somewhat.

At last, the switchman threw her over,
and the freight shot in upon the siding,
every inan twisting a brake.

And before the train came to a full
stop the whistle of the following pasaens
ger sounded!

A few moments later, the passenger”
train, unflagged, went flying past the
little station.

. John Kimball, the conductor, came for-
ward, looking grave but relieved.

“Well, young man,’’ he said, speak-
ing to Frank, yen did the trick all
right, but I don’ t want to ride like that.
again on this sort ef a train,. I didn’t
know what minute some of those empties -
would jump the rail and go to smash.’

A. brakeman came.up and stared at
Frank.

‘*Say,’?’ he cried, ‘‘I’d like to know
how you induced old 70 to hit up such a
hot pace. Why, Grimstone, the Jast man
to run her never could get anything satis-
factory out of her.’’

““She seemed to take hold all right
with me,’’ smiled Frank; ‘‘but it may
have. loosened up some of her joints. i
We’ll look ker over, Larry, while waiting —
for orders. i

So*both fireman and engineer got down

bunions on his

x

       
     
 

 

    

24

and inspected the engine, while Kimball
went away to the station after instruc-
tions. It was found that one or two bolts
had worked loose, but the nuts were
easily set up, and the old engine seemed
in as good condition as she was when
taken out of the roundhouse.

“Frank, me b’y,’’ “said Larry, ‘‘it’s
not flatthery Oi want to spake, but ye’re
a wonder. Oi dunno pwhere ye ivver
learruned so much.”’

“‘T learned it by studdying and by ob-
servation,’’ said Frank, quietly; ‘‘and
I ain quite aware that I have not learned
very much yet.’’

**Come aff! It’s nivver anything ye
have taken howld av since beginning
worruk on th’ railroad thot ye didn’t
same to know all about it. Whoy, th’
brakeman said ye could run this engine
betther than. th’ marn pwhat wur used to
runnin’ her before—an’ this is yer firrust
thrip!”

‘*Nort Pickett helped me more than I
can tell while I was firing for him. He
used to give me a regular course of
lectures on handling an engine, and he
told me how to search for and discover
the best method of getting everything
possible out of a locomotive. I was lucky
to hit this one just right at the start.”’

“It’s not luck, me b’y, whin ye hit
iverything roight thct yedo. Ye know

.

wance Oi said Oi’d loike to foire fer yez

av ye ivver got an enyine.’’

66 Ves, ”

‘‘An’ it’s great luck Oi had g getthin’ on
wid yez. Oi’ll shtick by yez, Frank,
through thick an’ thin, so Oi will.”’

‘“Thank you, Larry. I’ve always felt
- that you were my friend ever since the
first day in the roundhouse when you
came tome and gave mea warning. I
am glad to have you with me, for you
have shown that you can fire an engine
as well as anybody, and we’ll get along
_ together.”’

Their hands met in a friendly grasp
—_ was a | foes ae

CHAPTER Ke
AGAIN ON THE SEARCH.
It was near night when old 70 came
back the roundhouse with Merriwell
and Lary om her, inc es

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

JOLIE FARADAY es aoa HERO-OF THE “TRUE BLUE” STORIES.

The train master happened to see her
as she ran in, and he was approaching
when she stopped.

‘‘VYou have done well for a start, Mer-
riwell,’’ said the little man, quietly. ‘‘I
have kept track of you, and I know all
about it. If you hold out as well as you
have begun, you’ll be all tight. p

**T did as well as I could, sir,’’ declared

Frank.

“All right. Turn in your report.”?

Cobb passed on.

‘*Did yez ivver!’’? exclaimed Larry.
‘“They say it’s not loike him to-say a
worrud at all, at all.”’

Frank got down and examined his
engine. He went allover her carefully
from one end to the other, and found she
had come into the house in pretty good
trim. Nothing was broken, and the set-
ting of a few nuts made everything
secure,

Then he made out and turned in his
report.

When he had left the roundhouse he
began to realize that there had been a
strain upon his nerves that day, for he
felt strangely exhausted and in need of
rest. He hurried straight home.

As usual, little Nell heard his step
when he came up the stairs, and she was
ready to greet him.

‘‘You walk so slow?’ she fluttered.

_‘*Has anything bad happened ?”’

“Not a thing, Nellie,’’ he assured

clasping her hands and kissing her.

‘“’Yake it all round, it has been a most
fortunate day, but I find it has told on
my nerves. Didn’t notice anything of
the sort till it was all over, but I fecl it
nov.’

*“You are tired ?’’

‘As I can be, little girl. It is work
running a freight engine, and it keepsa
green engineer keyed up to the highest
pitch all the time, for he has to dodge
track repairers and express tains, while
nobody on the lie cares a continental
for him. It will take me several days to
get thoroughly used to it.”

‘It is too bad that you have to work So <ige
hard—you, who once had so much money, |

and did not have to work at all!’
““Too bad!

good for me.. Work—a fair, wheltsome

Nonsense, Nellie! It’ Pah

Meee Oe et
: P a Peet me Hy

 

  
   
     
     
      
  

     

 

Th Aas

, “27 ae CY

     
       
  

all
‘OU

lis
he
od
t-
is
ie

ie
yf

m he, Oe Se ee ea Sy

  
   
    
     
  

 

 

something about yourself.

amount of it—never hurt any man, I
am not afraid of work, and I have no
sympathy for the fellow who is.”’

‘But it is so different from what you
have been used to, Frank. A short time
ago you did not have to lift your hand to
do anything, unless you wished.”’

‘““That was not the best thing for me.
It is not the best thing for any young
man. Many a good fellow has been
spoiled by it. IfI had not lost my for-
tune and been compelled to work, I
might have been a drone—a wortliless
chap. a2

“Oh, Ido not believe that! You would
have become a good and great man any-
way.’

He faughed, put his hands against her
cheeks, and kissed her again.

**T tell you, Nellie, I am one of the
luckiest fellows in the world. Your con-
fidence in me isan inspiration. It serves
to spur and stimulate me to better efforts.
It is exactly what I need. Now see here,
if I had not lost my fortune I should not
have met you, little girl. See where the
luck comes in. Oh, I hate a chap who is
forever putting up a ‘holler’ about his
hard luck! Generally hard luck with
such a fellow means a weak spine.’?

‘*You are brave, Frank—you never fear
to face the world« That is why I am sure
you will fan your way to the top.”’

‘Oh, I shall fight ior. an opening up

there. I am going to get there if possible ;

but all the while I am going to take care
not to catch a disease the roundhouse
foreman to-day complimented me on not
having.’”’ :

‘*What is that???

‘‘Swelled head. It’s dangerous. When
achap gets to thinking he is of such
great value that it will be difficult to get
along without him, he is in a fair way to
meet a most unpleasant surprise, for-some
dayihe is sure to find things go on just

the same whether he is in the push or

not.”?
“You know so much, Frank!
your good sense that has helped make
you so successful,’
a hope so, Nellie.
great value to any man.

Good sense is of
But tell me
What have

YOU SHOULD HAVE

It is.

 

&
TIP TOP WEEKLY. 26

you been doing all the long day? Did
you get out with Jack, as you expected ?”’

“Oh, yes! and we had such luck—
such wonderful luck! Didn’t we,
brother ?”’

‘*Y should say we did!’’ nodded the
lame boy, who was hopping about, get-
ting supper on the table

‘*What sort of luck ?*’ asked Frank.

“*Guess.”’

‘You must have made a good sum of
money.’’

‘“That’s right.
time.’

‘*How much did you make?”’

‘*Gueéss again.”’

‘‘Oh, three dollars, perhaps.’’

“(More.’?

‘*Four dollars.”’

**More than that.’

“Good gracious! You were lucky.
Did you make more than five dollars?”’

‘Yes, and more than ten—more than

You hit it the first

.fifteen—more than twenty !”’

“(What?’’

Frank was astonished. Zh

‘‘We brought home twenty-five dollars
and eighty-seven cents,’’ declared the
blind girl.

‘‘Why, how in the world——’’

‘“Twenty-five dollars were given us all
at once by one person.”’

‘“Why, that is wonderful!
understand it.
money ??? .

‘Tt was a young lady,”
boy.

‘Jack saw her,’’ explained Wittle Nell.
‘She dropped two ten dollar bills anda
five into his hat, and then she hurried
away. 9

‘And what oF you think she said?”
excitedly asked the lame boy.

“Give it up,’? came weakly from
Frank.

‘‘As she dropped the bills, she said.
‘This is to help restore your sister’s sight,
so she may see the best ‘and noblest fellow
in the world.’ Now, what do you think
of that?”?

“Think ??’ cried Frank, with a sud-
den burst of understanding.
who did it! There can be no doubt!”’

‘*You believe it was——”’

‘Inza Burrage! She is still in the city

I do not
Who gave you all that

said the lame

A “DEWEY” MEDAL.

  

wd know a

 
       
     
    
  

  

ay

26

   

somewhere! Oh, but I must find her! I
will change my clothes and take my bath
tight away. Jam going out to look for
her again this evening. I tell you 1 must
find that girl!”

‘“*But you are so tired, Frank,”’ said
little Nell.

‘‘Not now—not now! I was tired, but
Tam feeling all right now. Have oe
ready by the time I am ready for it,
Jack. I want to get out as soon as I
ean."

*“All right,’? said the lame boy. ‘“‘If
you are bound to go, I’ll have it ready
the moment you are ready.’

Frank hurried into his room and tore
off his working clothes, Then he took a
hasty bath and a shave, for, although he
could not raise much beard, he shaved
often to keep lis face looking smooth
and clean. Hecared for his hands and
his finger nails. In all ways he was par-
ticular about his person, not allowing his
work to lead him to become neglectful in
the least.

Frank had a~ number of handsome
tailor-inade suits that had been made for
him while he was in college, and he put
on one of them.
and groomed he did not look likean en-
gineer on a-freight train.

_Frank’s observation had taught him
that a man’s personal appearance has
inuch to do with’ his success in life, and
he was resolved to -be always dressed as
well as possible under the circumstances.
He had found that the man who is neat
and careful about his dress makes a far
better impression than the one who is
careless and untidy, even though the
latter may be the smarter.

If'a youth who is working to win his
way in the world feels that he cannot
afford good clothes, it is well for him to

carefully look over his daily expenses and
see if there isn’t something he can cut
out, so that he may save up a little each
day to put into clothes. It will be better
for him to deprive himself of some things
in order to dress as well as his situation’
will allow, and thus make a favorable
_ impression,
_ But the young man should display
- good judgment and good taste. He should
not over-dress; he should not be extrava-

‘TRUE BLU

 

LP: See

Surely when thus attired#

pat COSTS ONLY FIVE CENTS:

WEEKLY.

gant. <A dazzling display of jewelry does
not make a good impression.
opposite. ‘‘Loud’’ clothes are vulgar and
offensive just as much as loud speech and
mariners.

Always Frank had dressed with the
best of good taste, and seldom had he
looked better thai when he sat-down'to
eat supper with Jack and Nellie that
night. The exciting thought that he
might be able to find Inza had brought a
flush to his cheeks and a glow to his eyes.
He ate hurriedly, and then hastened out
upon his search.

‘‘Oh, I hope he may find
night!’ said little Nell.

‘*He will not,’’ declared Jack.

her to-

ee

CHAPTER XI.
A WONDERFUL RESCUE.

The lame boy was right. Again Frank

. returned unsuccessful and disheartened.

No trace of Inza had he found.

Tired though he was, Frank did not
sleep well that night, for he dreamed
that he was ‘searching, searching, search-
ing,

In the morning he forced himself to
get up with ‘no small difficulty, and his
two friends realized that he was de-
pressed, despite his efforts fo appear
natural. nein

He was not able to eat much breakfast,
and again little Nell feared that he would
be ill, but he told her over and over that
he was all right.

When Frank appeated at the round-
house he found Larry at work on old 7o.
The Irish youth stopped and looked hard
at the engineer.

‘“Pwhat th’

ould b’y is. th’ matther

wid ye, Frankie?’’ asked Larry, im sur-—

prise. ‘‘Ye’re pale this marnin’, an ye
look léike ye had lost yer last friend,’?

‘*T did not rest well, Larry.”’

“Ts thot it? Th’ worruk yisterday
wur afther taking howld av yez, Oi
think.’?

“Ves, I believe it did, and I did not
get to bad early last night.’

‘An’ wus it out wid th’ b’ys ye went,
Oi dunno?”

**No. My day of going out with the

  

Quite the.

 

2 hi

 

      

bo}
wa

th
thi:

as
rys

at

 

   
   
   
   
 

 
     

    
  

ES

he.

nd
1d

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

boys is past. I did that enough when I
was at Yale.”’

““Well, ye’ll be afther gettin’ used to
th’ worruk afther a whoile, Frankie, an’
thin yell be all roight.”’

In many respects Frank’s second day
as an engineer was much“ like his. first.
There were numerous aggravating delays
and some new experiences, but nothing
like the adventure with the bowlder that
had fallen on the track.

Frank did not get back to the city till
Jate in the afternoon. He left his train
at the outer yard, and started down for
the roundhouse with the engine.

Then it was that the great adventute
of the day took place.

A runaway horse, dragging a rocking
carriage that contained two young ladies,
came tearing down toward the tr ck.

At first it looked as if the horse was
sure to dash directly in front of No. 70
before the engine could be brought toa
stop, but the animal sheered and ran
along beside the track, where there was a
road Jeading to the distant freight house.

At thesame instant Frank tore open
his window and went out on the
board of the engine with a leap, yelling
at Larry:

“Drive her!’

The Iris! youth understood, and» he
oer to the engiteer’s position, send-
ing old 70 ahead with a jerk.

It-was wonderful how quickly Frank
reached the pilot of the engine. When
he did so, he found himself directly op-
posite the carriage drawn by the ruhaway
horse.

One glance had shown him that he
knew one of the occupants of that car-
riage.

It was Inza Burrage!

\_ Without a word, Frank poised himself
foraspring. Through the air he flew,

‘and he Janded fairly in the carriage, be-

itg thrown into the laps of the young
ladies.

Recovering instantly, Frank caught
the reins and attempted to guide the run-
away so the animal would not dash

straight into the freight house.

His marvelous feat in leaping from the

ereine to the carriage had been witnessed

running |

 

TIP TOP WEEKLY, 27

by a score of spectators, but he did not
hear the cheer they sent up.

Frank used all his strength and skill
in guiding the horse past the freiglit
house. There-was a road that ran along
beside the brilding and turned out upon
a street further.on.

Merry set about the task of getting
control of the frightened runaway. He
was a skillful driver, and-he worked hard,
keeping his head all the while. He talked
to the horse as if he himself were not in
the least agitated.

If he could’ not turn out of the yard
upon the street, there was sure to bea
smash upon the tracks, where the cars
were standing.

But Frank found a way'of turning the
horse from the yard, and, although it
spun round on two wheels, the carriage
did not go over.

Fairly on the street, Frank felt better.
Then he settled down to the job of stop-
ping the runaway, and he sticceeded be-
fore going many blocks.

some men ran out and caught the
horse by the head, and then Frank
turned to the two young ladies.

One was an entire stranger, and she
had fainted. The other was holding her
in her arins. That was Inza, and her eyes
were fastened on Frank with a look of
unspeakable admiration.

**fnzal’’ he cried.

‘Frank !”? she answered. ‘‘I knew you
would stop that horse some way the mo-
ment you ran out upon the enigne. You
always find a.way to dosnch things. I
did not doubt but you could do it again.”

‘‘Inza, I have been searching all over
the city for you. Now I have found you!’

(Ves)? 3

‘‘I wanted to see you again so much.
Your friend has fainted. Let me take
her from the carriage to a drug store.”’

He sprang out, and then lifted Inza’s

companion from the carriage. A man
assisted Inza to alight, and she followed
Frank toward a corner drug store,

In the store the girl who had swooned

was soon restored to consciousness.. For a
time she sobbed in Inza’s arms, and. then

she suddenly asked:

“Who was it—who was es young man i

ve YOU WANT A FLAG BUTTON OR PIN? -

        
     
     
     
     
     
   
 

    

28

who jumped into the carriage aud caught
the reins?’’
‘That,’ said Inza, ‘‘was Frank Merri-
well, of whom I have told you so much.’’
“You said he was brave, but that was
a wonderful thing to do. Whiere is he?’’

eee...

Frank came forward, aud Inza intro-
duced him to her companion, Miss
Harper.

‘*Mr. Merriwell,’’ said Miss Harper, as
she weakly extended her hand, ‘‘I am
glad it was you, for Inza has told me so
may remarkable tales about you that I
begau to think they were all fairy stories.
Now I will believe anything.’’

Frank bowed low over her hand,
blushing like a boy.

“T am afraid Inza is inclined to give
me too much credit for anything I do,”’
he murmured.

“‘No one could give you too much
credit for what you did to-day. And you
really stopped the horse? Oh, it was a
wonderful thing! I can understand now
why Inza thinks you a hero.”’

This was decidedly embarrassing for
Merry, but he passed through it as best
he could.

By this time it required two policemen
to keep the crowd back from the door.

The druggist prepared a drink for Miss
Harper, and, in the meantime, Frank
found an opportunity to say a few words
tu Inza.

‘““Ror two nights, ” Ihe declared, ‘‘I.

have searched everywhere in this city for
you.’

vay should you wish to see me?’’
she asked, turning her head away.

“Why should I? a how can you
ask that!’

ARE YOU PATRIOTIC?

TIP TOP

* you to-night.

 

WEEKLY,

OM,
stand.’’

‘*Yes, you know everything now, and
I am glad of tliat.”’

“It was plain to me that you did not
want to see me. You made that very evi-
dent, and I was not the girl to force my-
self on you.’

‘‘How did I make it evident?”

‘‘Kisie made you promise to see me
often—to correspond with me. How have
you kept that promise ?”’

‘*But, Inza, you know of my misfor-
tune—you know I am_ poor uow, and I
have been forced to leave college.”’

““Do you think that would make any
difference -with me?’’ she exclaimed.
‘Do you think I ever cafed for you be-
cause you had money? If you do, you
are wrong. I cared for you because you
were the most manly fellow I ever met.
It would make no difference to me if the

we both know how matters

only clothes you had in the world were

the ones you now wear. I measure you
by a different standard than that of
money.’’

‘‘Inza! You are all that I thought you.
Give me your address... Let me call on
Then we can talk it all
over. May I call?”’

She hesitated, but, after a moment, she
said :

“You may call.’’

[THE END. ]

The next uumber(122) of the Tip Top
Weekly will contain ‘‘Frank Merriwell,
Engineer; or, The Turn of Fortune,’ by
the author of ‘‘ Frank Merriwell.’’

READ “TRUE BLU Rie a

 

ee

 

  

34

4n
6D

reg
risk

- ore

chu
pre
e

aic

ay ean ee oO Oe ee

an

 

  
    
      
          
  

itters
and

| not
evi-
my-

me
ave

for-

ny
ed.

be-
ou
ou
et:
he

OU

   

 

 

at

a

il al xd

Ss

    
 
   
   

»

 

he tripped and fell.

TIP TOP WEEKLY, . 29

 

 

“ AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH ”

Tip TOPWEEKLY.

 

NEW YORK, AUGUST 6, 1898,

 

Terms to Tip Top Weekly Mail Subscribers,
(POSTAGE FREE.)

8 months - - - - + - - 65c. | One year - - - = -+ = $2.50
4 months - - - + - - -° 85c. | 2 copiesone year - - - - 4.00
6 months - - - - + = - $1.25} 1 copy two years - - - - 4,00

How To SEND Monry.—By post-office or express money order
registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own
risk if sent by postal note, currehcy, coin, or postage sfamps in
ordinary letter.

RECKEIPTS.— Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper
change of number on your label. If notcorrect you have not been
properly Credited, and should let us know at once.

To CLUB Raismrs.—Upon request we will send sample copies to
aid you in obtaining subscribers.

All letters should be addressed to

STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY,
$1 Fulton St., New York City.
PPP OP LPP AP AP AL AP AL AL el el A ld lL eel Ol ena et

SPECIAL NOTICE !

 

Owing to the fact that some of our publications
are printed considerably in advance of issue,
it was impossible to begin our badge and
button premium offer in all on a simultaneous
date. Our readers are notified that all copies
of the Tip Top Weekly, Starry Flag, True
Blue, Diamond Dick, Jr., Nick Carter Weekly and
Klondike Kit, dated June 25, 1898, or later, are
available under this offer (see page 32), and should
you have copy of any of these dated June 25 or
later, and WHICH CONTAINS NO COUPON ON
PAGE 32, cut-otit the heading and date from the
front cover, and it will be accepted by us im lieu of
a coupon under the conditions of the offer. Head-
ings will not be accepted as coupons where the cou-
pon is published on page 32 of the same number.

—————— + +> +

A boy who made his home with his aunt was
often disturbed by evidence of the old lady’s in-
difference to everything but the welfare of her own
material possessions.

One day, on going down stairs for some butter,
The aunt rushed to the door,
and peering down into the darkness, said sharply:

**D’ye break the dish ?’’

‘*No!’’ thundered the boy, dashing it violently
against the wall, “but I will!” es

—_——_—_—-» +4049 —_____

An enterprising schoolboy from a small country
town, on returning home to his parents after his
visit to the seaside, took with him a small bottle
containing half an inch of sand and two itches of
salt water, just to give his parents, who had never

seen the ocean, some idea of how it was con-

structed. The parents were much impressed.
rete ciedeibaa ~~ 4 O> 4

You cannot cultivate a boy’s acquaintance by
continually harrowing his feelings,

READ THE LIBERAL

OFFER ON PAGE 32.

Correspondence.

P. M. G., Minneapolis, Minn.—Read the Half-

Holiday. You-will find there all the information
you desire.
R. C. D., Yonkers, N. Y.—Your letter has been

forwarded to Mr. Standish. You will undoubtedly
hear from him.

C. Mcl., Austin, Texas.—1. Lemon
diluted in water is the best thing to
freckles. 2. No premiums.

G. B., Boston, Mass.—We cannot answer ques-
tions by mail. Of course the ‘‘Frank Merriwell’’
stories are to a certain degree fiction, but they are
founded upon fact. We think you have won your
wager.

M. J. K., Madison, Wis. —Immerse each miusic
sheet separately ina solution made in the propor-
tions of half a pound of chloride of lime to a pint
of water. Let it stand, with frequent stirring, for
24 hours, and then strain through muslin, and
finally add one quart of water. Mildew and other
stains will be found to disappear very quickly, and
the sheets must then be passed separately through
clear water, or the chloride of lime, if left in the
paper, will cause it to rot. Old prints, engravings,
and every description of printed matter, may be
successfully treated’ in the same mnner.

R. B. D., Montgomery, Ala.—The Tarpeian
Rock was the name originally given to the whole
of the Capitoline Hill, in Rome, but. latterly con-
fined to a portion of the southern part of the hill.
Here was a steep precipice, over which traitors
were hurled, one of the most famous victims
being Manlius, the saviour of the capital during an
invasion of the Gauls. It takes its name from
Tarpeia, daughter of the Roman governor, who
opened the gates of the fortress to the Sabines,
and in return met death and burial onthe hill
that bears her name. The topography of Romie
has been greatly changed since ancient times, and
it is impossible to determine the height of this
famous rock,

juice
remove

C. P. R., Ravenswood, Ill.—There are several
explanations of the origin of petroleum. The com-
monly-accepted idea is that it has been formed by
the distillation of organic remains by the internal
heat of the earth. Other geologists consider that it
has been produced directly from its elenjents by
chemical reactions, and that its existence is in no
way dependent upon the organic remains of former’
geological eras. The latest theory has been ad-
vanced by a Russian chemist, who believes that in
the interior of the earth large quantities of iron
are present in combination with carbon, in the
form of a carbide. Now, when water from the sur-
face reaches this heated carbide of iron, the oxy-
gen combines with the iron, replacing the carbon,
which unites with the hydrogen, forming the

hydrocarbons of which petroleum and natural gas .
If this be true, the |

are both principally composed.
formation of these substances is, in all probability,
continually going on, thus ensuting a constant
supply for ages to come. r

  

   

il

 
 
      
   
     
        
      
         
     
       
       
        
        
  
  

 

o\

   
   
  
    
  
  
 

     
     
     
      
       
   
         
       

  
 

30 é
BIG GAME.

In his book on Abyssinia, Sir Samuel Baker
gives the following account of the capture of a
hippopotamus: After along chase the animal had
left the river, and, much to the disappointment of
his pursuers, had disappeared. But one of the
knowing attendants expressed his firm conviction
that the ‘‘hippo’’ would soon be seen again. This
prediction } was fulfilled much sooner than the most
sanguine had expected. Atadistance of nearly
half a mile, says the writer, we saw the animal
emerge from the jungle and descend at full trot to
the bend of the river, making directly for the first
rocky pool in which we had pre eviously seen a herd
of hippopotami.

Accompanied by an old howarti (hippo-hunter),
we walked quickly toward the spot; he explained
to me that I must shoot the harpooned hippo, as
we should not be able to secure him in the usual
method by ropes—nearly all our men being absent
from camp upon other duties.

Upon reaching a certain pool which was about
130 yards in diameter, we were immediately
greeted by the hippo, who snorted and roared as
we approached, then he dived, and the buoyant
float upon which the man with the harpoon was sta-
tioned, ran along the surface, marking his course
in the samie manner, as the cork of a trimmer with
a pike upon his hook.

Several times he appeared, but as he invariably
faced us, I could not obtain a favorable shot. I
therefore sent the old huuter round the pool, and
he, swimming the river, advanced to the opposite
side, and attracted the attention of the hip PO; who
1mimediately turned toward him.

This afforded me a good chance, and I fired a
steady shot behind the ear, at about seventy yards,
with a single-barreled rifle.

As usual with hippopotami, whether dead or
alive, he disappeared beneath the water at the shot.
The crack of the ball and the absence of any splash
from the bullet told me that he was hit; the float
remained perfectly stationary upon the surface. I
watched it for some minutes—it never moved; sev-
eral heads of hippopotami appeared and ee
in different directions, but the float was. still;
marked the spot where the grand old bull lad dead
beneath.

When the men reappeared they swam out, re-
gardless of crocodiles, to the spot where the animal
had gorie down, and securing the rope attached to
the harpoon, dragged the body of the hippo to the
shore. ; ®

a a, oe os
A young fellow was passing an examination in
physics. He was asked:

“What planets were known to the ancients ?’’

“Well, sir,’’? he responded, ‘‘there were Venus
and Jupiter, and’’—after a pause—‘‘I think the

a, earth, but I am not quite certain.’’

1
“First Boy—How do you like your new place?
Second Boy-—Don’t like it If Idon’tdothings

right they’ll get another boy, and if I do do things
right they'll keep me doin’ ’em.

TIP TOP WREKLY.

— GLORY BADGES AS PREMIUMS—S EE PAGE 32.

RIDICULE SUCCEEDED.

In the management of the indolent schoolboy
who never wakes up to the value of his opportun-
ity, various happy thoughts must occur to the skil-
ful master. One such that lately came to light is
brilliant from its novelty

In a certain popular and ably mz janaged institu-
tion of learning a master of elocution labored long
and patiently, and erstwhile in vain, with the son
of avery wealthy man. The boy felt that his

sane had so much money that it would do all of
lifé’s work for himi,
more than he lea. even for his own. benefit.
He obstinately ignored the exercise of declamation,
and came to the class week after week with no
preparation for his work.

“*I will make that boy speak something,’’ finally
resolved the teacher.

When his name was next called and he answered,
as usual, ‘‘Unprepared,’’ the instructor was ready.

“Step forward, Master B——, to the platform,’’

He did so.

“Make your bow to the school. | fe

It was done.

‘*We will now listen,’” continued the teacher
with dignity, ‘‘to the recitation of the multiplica-
tion table said backward with appropriate .ges-
tures. ’’

There was no dodging the command, and the
poor victim stood before his audience gesticulating
and appealing by emphasis and modulation to the
sympathies of his roaring school fellows all. the
way from twelve times twelve to two times one,

Ever since he has hada recitation ready.
+40 +
SAILORS PULL, TEETH.

Sailors often suffer from the toothache, and joa
to bear the pain.as best they can until tliey reach
the shore. One day a captain seeing a sailor’s
mouth in a bad condition asked the cause. The
poor fellow had suffered so long with a bad tooth
that his patience gave out. Then he took a chisel
and hammer, and found a comrade who was will-
ing to cut off the top of the tooth for him.

The same voyage, the captain was caught by an
aching tooth, the pain from which soon became
unhearable.
so much worse than the disease that the captain
was unwilling to try the chisel.

 

HOW

His contrivance for extracting the tooth was in-

genious though intricate. He fastened a fine long
wire to a bullet, which he placed in his pistol
with the.wire hanging out. Securing the wire to
the aching tooth, he opened his mouth iA wide as
possible and fired.

His ingenuity was rewarded, for the tooth fol-—

lowed the bullet into the air.
His experience, however, made him buy a set of
dentist’s instruments. But, strange to relate, he
never had any use for them, though he followed
the sea for many years. y Si
—————>-4O>-+-<
“Mother,” asked little Johnny, peering in he-—
tween two uncut leaves of the magazine, ‘‘how did —
they ever get the printing in there?” ;

“

and he need not exert himself.

The remedy of the sailor had proved .

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

ot)
al
4
a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
   
  
   
   
  
   
 
    
  
   
   
  
    
   
   
   
 
  
   
   
   
 
   
     
  
   
 
 
   
  
   
   
   
     
 
   
  

 

 

 
  

P= Gas “Sm, 4a

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

STILL THERE.

as mS

Old miners and trappers tell some remarkable
_ stories. All their efforts seem to be directed toward
 astartling climax, without 4 thought to the opin-
Fi ion listeners may form regarding the relator’s
cE veracity.
' It was in a Western train, and two passengers
had taken their seats together—tone an evident vet-
eran of the mines, and the other an individual
' whose appearance seemed to indicate a more inti-
_ mate acquaintance with civilization.
They sat for afew moments in silence, but the

 

lack of acquaintance, and turning to his neighbor,
he inquired:

“‘Live out this way ?’’

**No. ”

““Whar??’?

‘*New York.”

“Thought so.
ye p??

**Oh, yes, several years, off and on.’’

“*Ever seen much life here ?’’

**Well, yes, a good deal.’’

**Ever been train wrecked ?’’

**No. ”»

**Blowed up???’

**No. ”

Been out here some time, ain’t

@ **Shot at?’’

**No. ”
**Chased by Injuns?’’

> ‘*No.’?

“*Buried in a mine?’’
**No ”

| Wall, then you ain’tseen much life. I ain’t ben

wrecked or blowed up, or shot at, or. scalped, but
I have ben buried in a mine, and I don’t reckon ye
will helieve me, but it’s.trtte.

**About twemty years ago I war diggin’ in the
mines, and one day while me and another fellow,
whose name I never knowed, war workin’ in a
shaft, on a sudden the alarm war give, but before
we could move the whole thing come down, and
_ thar we warin a narrer little place, nigh on a
thousand feet under. I tell ye, friend, it war
awful!’’ and the hero buried his face in his hands
and shuddered.

“‘But,’’ inquired the astonished listener, ‘‘how
did you ever get out?’’
“*Stranger,’’ said the old historian, as he raised

his head, with a faraway look which seemed to

recall the terrible experience, ‘‘we never did get
out,’’

 

ews

TIP TOP WEEKLY,

former’s desire to be sociable finally overcame the.

JUGGLERY EXTRAORDINARY.

The wonderful feats of Kast Indian jugglers have
formed the theme of many a letter from travelers
in the Orient, but few are more surprising than the
following, for the truth of which an eyewitness
has vouched

One day, a couple of natives, a juggler and his
assistant, came aboard a steamer at Madras. After
they had performed a number of minor feats, and
gathered quite a crowd round them, they called
for a sack and a piece of sailcloth.

These having been provided, the chief juggler
made a small tent-like structure with@the canvas
and some tools, He then placed his assistant in the
sack and allowed a sailor to tie the knot, which
bound him a fast prisoner. ~

This done, the chief carried the sack into an
Open space, warning the people to stand back some
distance, and then carried on an animated conver-
sation with his assistant, whose replies could be
distinctly heard coming from the sack.

Suddenly the chief rushed forward, picked up
the sack and threw it overboard, where, to the
horror of the passengers and crew, it quickly sank
out of sight.

Immediately the captain rushed forward and
seized the man, under the full belief that he had
murdered his companion, but the juggler only
smiled, and, pointing to the ecanvas,"asked that it
should be raised. .

This was done, and the supposed drowned -man
was discovered squatting on deck. So realistic bad
been the throwing overboard, however, that it was
some time before the surprised passengers could
realize that a murde1 had not been committed.

—_——__ +++ _____

NEEDS A LITTLE PRACTICE.

—_—-----——

When the left hand is placed near the right
hand, there is a curious tendency on the part of
the former to follow the movements of the latter.
To demonstrate this, take a pencil in the left hand
and a piece of wood in the right.

Write or draw with the right hand, and allow
the left hand to follow the movements of the right.
' The pencil will then describe exactly the same
tracing you have made with the piece of wood.

Of course, the writing will appear reversed, but
if thin paper is used the words so drawn will be
visible on the other side. The writing will also
become legible by holding the paper before a
mirror.

   

Clif Faraday Is One.

  

 
 
  

 
  
 
 

    
     
    
     
         

32 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

Tip Top Quarterly.

The earlier issues of Tip Top Weekly are now on sale in the
orm of Quarterlies, each including 13 consecutive issues of this
favorite weekly, together with the 13 original illuminated illustra-
tions, and an elegant cover in colors. The price is 50 Cents per
volume, for which sum they will be sent by mail post-paid to any
address in the United States. :

- = NOW READY. = ~

No. 3, <u Nos. 27 to 39 of Tin Top Weekly.
No. 4, vb Nos. 40 to 52 of Tip ‘Lop Weekly,
No. 5, 2 Nos. 53 to 65 of Tip Top Weekly.
No. 6, & % Nos. 66 to 78 of Tip Top Weekly.
No, 7. we Nos. 79 to 91 ot Tip Top Weekly.

Nos. 1 and 2 out of print.

If your Newsdealer has not got the Quarterlies, remit direct to
the pubiisbers,

STREET & SMITH, $1 Fulton St., N, ¥.

OUT-DOOR SPORTS.

Complete instructions for playing many of the most popular out
of-door games is found inthis book, The gamesare illustrated
and very easily mastered. Price ten cents. Address

SYREET & SMJTH, 25 Rose street, New Vork,
Manual Library Department).

A Great Series!

FRANK MERRIWELL’S BICYCLE TOUR ACROSS ©

THE CONTINENT

a ——————

Comprising Thirteen Issues of the
Tip Top Weekly.

Complete in No. 5 of the TIP TOP QUAR-
TERLY, with all the original illuminated
illustrations. Admirers of Frank Merriwell
should have this book by all means.

Price, SO Cents.

Sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price
by
STREET & SMITH, Publishers,
81 Fulton St., New York.

 

 

 

 

 

 

easy. Read them.

aie

Show Your Colors!

_ Every American boy should wear a patriotic emblem to show where his sympathies
lie in these stirring times of war.

Messrs. Street & Smith have made arrangements to present a palsiatic badge or
button to every reader of their popular publications for boys.

he conditions are

We publish six 32-page, illuminated cover weeklies for boys, retailing for five cents

each, as follows:

The True Blue,
The Starry Flag,

The Tip Top Weekly,

‘We wish the readers of one series to become acquainted with the entire line.
coupon at the foot of this column will be printed in each one of the above-mentioned publications.
each clipped from a different publication, mailed to our office

address, post-paid, free of all expense.

1, American Flag, embossed on gold ground, button or
pin as preferred,

2. Aluminum’ Medal with Admiral Dewey’s portrait on

front, and picture of the Maine on reverse, pendant,

from Aluminum emblem.

3. The American Flag, in metal, embossed in red, white,
blue and gold. _ Three styles—button, scarf pin and
ladies’ hat pin. State your choice.

4. American Flag on white enamelled button with lever-
hinge. (Two of these will make a neat pair of
cuff buttons.)

 

The Klondike Kit Weekly,
The Nick Carter Weekly,
The Diamond Dick, Jr.

On and after the present date the
Three coupons,

5. Silk Bow, with American and Cuban flags combined,

6, Celluloid American Flag on pin.

7. Button 1 1-4 inches in diameter in the following designs:
A—American Flag. B—Cuban Flag. C—Amer-
ican and Cuban Flags together. D—American and
English Flags together. E—Admiral Dewey. F—

Admiral Sampson. G—Battleship Maine. H—
‘Now, will you be good.’”?, I—The lowa. J—The
Oregon. K—The Massachusetts. L—The Indiana,
M—The Brooklyn. _N—The Columbia. O—The

Texas. P—General Lee (order by letter and num-
ber, as 7-B., 7-D., etc.)

You'can sucure as many pins and badges as you desire, provided you send sufficient coupons. ‘Three coupous secure any of the above-
oaarided each of the set of three is from a different publication, ORDER BY NUMBER. ‘ ‘

Send in your coupon,

Remember this is a purely gratuitous gift on our part, intended to cail your attention to others of our publica-

_ tions besides the ones you are now purchasing. If you cannot procure what you desire from your newsdealer, send us ten cents and one
coupon, and we will send you by return mail a copy of two other publications and the badge which you may select.
to ; ;

STREET & SMITH’S PREMIUM DEPT., 81 Fulton Street, New York.

TIP TOP WEEKLY COUPON.

\ One coupon from the Tip Top Weekly, accompanied by two others, each from a different |
Starry Flag Weekly, Klondike Kit, I'rue Blue, Nick Carter
Weekly, or Diamond Dick, Jr. entitle the sender to a free badge or button as described above. —

one of the following publications:

;

 
  

STREET & SMITH.  f[

’ y Ti SE

ee If You Once Begin Reading “TRUE BLUE,’’ You Will Nevef End. 7 ;

, will entitle you to one of the following, sent to your,

Address your coupons.

  

e

a + it ce

 

dieh a.

pre

a

 

 

  
 
 
TIP TOP WEEKLY

Illuminated Covr-—Price, Five Cents—hirty-two Pages,

MICOS I™
Complete List of Stories By the author of “Frank Merriwell.”

Tales of School,

Fun, College, Travel anc Adventure.

MII

All back numbers are constantly on hand, and will be mailed to any address on receipt ot

price, Five Cents each.

61—F rank Merriwell in the Mines; or, The Blind Singer
of Silver Bluff.

62—Frank Merriwell Among the , Mormons; or, The Lost
Tribe of Israel.

63 - Frank Merriwell on the Desert; or, The Mystery of
the Skeleton.

Frank Merriwell’s Underground Search; or, Saving
the Buried Heiress.
-Frank Merriwell in California; er, The End of the
Great Tour. .
Prize Plot Story; Frank Merriw 2ll as the Star.
Frank Merriwell’s Yacht; or, The Chase Down the
Coast
2 Frank Merriwell’s Combination; or, The All Round
: Athletes.
99 —Frank Merriwell’s Red Rival.
-Frank Merriwell’s Texas Tournament; or,
Among the Cowboys. .
Frank Merriwell’s Nine; or, Suxpeising the Southern
Lé@ague.
, ~Frank Merriwell’s Shot; or,
Gun Club.

Frank Merriwell’s Flyer; or, The Winning Whee.
Frank Merriwell’s Thoroughbred 5 or, Hangsty

Against Crookedness.
of the Blue

5 ee —. or, nih

‘Frank Merriwell’s
Potomac.
77—Frank Merriwell’s Hunt; or, In at the Death.
78—Frank Merriwell’s Blow; or, Unmasking a Rascal.
79—Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale; or, The Mystery
of the Examination Papers.
80 —F rank Merriwell as ‘‘Anchor; or, The Winning Pull
in the ‘Tug of War.
$1—Frank Merriwell’s Initiation; or,
of Pi Gamma.
_ 82—Frank Merriwell’s Sign; or, The Secret of the Silent
Student.

83 Frank Merriwell as Full Back; or, True to His Colors.

84—Frank Merriwell’s Duel; or, A Point of Honor.

85 —Frank Merriwell’s Mark; or, Subduing a Bully.

86 —Frank Merriwell’s Secret; or, A Friend in Need.

87 -Frank Merriwell’s Revenge; or, Aroused at Last.

88—Frank Merriwell’s Capture; or Jhe Black Schooner.

89—F rank Merriwell’s Chum; or, The Hand of a Friend.

90—Frank Merriwell’s Double Shoot; or, Winning in
the Box. F

91—Frank Merriwell’s
Disgrace.

92-—Frank Merriwell’s Wager; or, Bound to Win.

93—Frank Merriwell In Training; or, The Mystery of
the Midnight Prowler.

94—-Frank Merriwell’s Courage; or, Loyal to the Last.

Sport

ew; Or, The Champions. et the

The Secre Order

Danger; or, The Shadow of

Out with the Gaypre

 

J5—Frank Merriwell at Fardale Again; or, Yale Lads at
the Military Academy.

96 —Frank Merriwell in Camp; or, Frolics with the Far-
dale Boys.

97—Frank Merriwell’s Fardale Friends, or, Facing Old
Foes.

98—Frank Merriwell’s Yale Chums;
ot Fardale.

99—Frank Merriwell’s Choice; or,
Fardale.

100—Frank Merriwell’s Fardale Rackets; or, Yale Lads
On a Frolic.

101— F'rank Merriwell’s Courage; or, True Nerve Against
Bluff.

102—Frank Merriwell’s Faith; or,
Crime.

103—Frank Merriwell’s Celebration;
Fardale.

104—-Frank Merriwell Afloat; or,
White Wings.

or, The Jolly Dogs

The Fair Rivals of

The Shadow of a
or, Last Days at

The Cruise of the

105—Frank Merriwell Under Megunticook, or, With the

Knox County League.

106—Frank Merriwell’s Mystery;
Devil Island.

107—Frank Merriwell’s Disappearance; or, The Secret
of the Island.

108~ Frank Merriwell Aroused; or, The Bicycle Boys
of Belfast,

109—Frank Merriwell’s Pursuit; or, The Chase of the
Stolen Yacht. if

110—Frank Merriwell’s”’Catch; or, The Canoe Boys of
Lake Sebasticook.

111—Frank Merriwell’s Guide; or, Sport Around Moose-
head Lake.

112—Frank Merriwell’s Peril; or, The Smugglers of the
Border.,

113—Frank Merriwell’s Drift; or,
River rivers.

114—Frank Merriwell’s Daring;
Sacrifice.

115—Frank Merriwell’s Fist; or,
Truth.

116—Frank Merriwell’s Masquerade; o
Hurricane Island.

117—Frank Merriwell's Misfortune;
New Career.

118—Frank Merriwell, Engine Wiper;
of the Ladder.

119—Frank Merriwell Fireman; or, The First Step Up-
ward.

120—Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity; or, The Ghost of
Black Gorge.

or, The Monster of

With the Penobscot
or, Elsie Bellwood’s
Bound to Know the
r, The Belle of
or, The Start On a

or, At the Foot

-121—Frank Merriwell’s First Run; or, The Chance of

His Life.
122—-Frank Merriwell, Engineer; or, The Turn of For-
tune.

 

STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK.

PAPAIN I™

For Sale by all Newsdealers.

Every Saturday.