‘Tip lop WEEKLY “An ideal publication for the American Youth issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office by StREET & SMITH, NEW YORK, , OC TOBER 8 8, 1898. Price 5 Cents. ‘‘HELLUP!’? HOWLED HANS, KICKING AND SQUAWKING AS HE SAILED TOWARD THE FLIES. “did “fierce “AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH.” Tie Top WEEKLY. Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. &t., N. Entered as Second Class Ajiatter at the N. Post Office: SrrExT & Surru, 81 Fulton Y. Entered Aceording to Act of Congress, in the Year 1898, in the Office of the Tee ‘arian of Congress, Washington, D.C, No. 130 NEW YORK, October 8, 1898. Price Five Ca cg reece ec ee a Contents of This Nuntber. Page, FRANK MERRIWELL ON THE ROAD; ae The sai Siar Comeination: oe eS ei ° ae SALUTATIONS IN JAPAN ‘ Z * 29. CORRESPONDENCE 29, AMATEUR JOURNALISM -- 30. * APPLAUSE : 31. Frank Merriwell. O11 - By the Author of ‘‘FRANK MERRIWELL. CHAPTER I. A LUDICROUS MEETING. ‘Stop dot tonkey!”’ Booim-te-boom-te-boom-booin ! The bass drummer of the band at the ~ head of ‘‘Haley’s All-Star Combination and Mammioth Uncle Tom's Cabin Co.”’ not miss a beat when the three and terrible untamed Siberian . bloodhounds”’ darted between his legs in ' pursuit of the escaping donkey. But‘when the fat Dutch lad who had been leading the donkey attempted to follow the dogs there was a catastrophe. The excited Dutch lad the drumier squarely, and the drummer ut- tered a yell of astonishment ‘and_ terror. Into the air he flew, down he came, and struck No. 21 of Truc Blue is entitled “Clif Faralay’s Pincky Friend: or, The Heroine Nurse of the Navy.” 3 —boom! bang!—slam he went through the head of the drum. ‘¢Shimminy Gristmas!’’ The Dutch boy was_ startled by the: havoc, but he quickly recovered and started once more in hot pursuit ¢ dogs: and donkey. ““Hee-haw! hee-haw!’’ brayed the don- key, joyously whisking its heels re the air. ‘*Hear dot tonkey icGeh ee —— fe Dutch boy. The dogs set up a wild bavi there was no end of commotion off. the street along which the parade had been making its way toward the Thalia Phe- ~~ jest many of the Women = ——— atre. Among tlie spectators, some of {| men laughed, while and ¥ TIP TOP WEEKLY. 1 and made a-scrainble to get out y of theterrible ‘‘bloodhounds.”’ dot tonkey!”? : pursuing lad waved his short arms the air, his face flushed with -excjtei brient, his eyes bulging from his noes 4 FCA) fruit and rushing > dije donkey made for a small store, bent on t through the large window where temptingly displayed. cigal, seeming stumi tie goods were A voting man standing near the store vaced himself squarely in the path of the iitle. animal, skilfully the dangling halter by which the creature had Been led. al hé « lonkey halted abruptly, while the aime up and leaped around it, still Bs : catching sPatfihy like a pony engine, the Dutch boy das! sal up and grasped the donkey’s tail swigh both hands, shouting: (dt der adder vos mit you, ain’d fd?) Iecan’t run avay you from uf you Now, don’d try. any uf my. Peat eyaut the to! ; tricks 1 yourseluf, for uf you do, e— Wow!” Up flew the donkey’s heels once more, aud the little beast lifted the fat lad and sent hii whirling over in the air. The ereature had seemed to kick with 44] ie forde of ‘a pile- driver, and he fairly ing tie Dutch boy into, the air. Down came the lad, plunging head first at atgatbage barrel that had been on the curb, awaiting the arrival fathe garbage gatherers. For- - the barrel was not quite half Down he went sa he stuck fast, Tutogthe barrel plunged the boy. , awkward youth who had, been 4 BLUE SHOWS A DUMB MONSTE ie succeeded in getting with the parade, one of th band, rushed up, brass horn in hand. “Darn my pertaturs!’’ he shouted, dropping the instrument. ‘That air dom- key will be the death of that feller yit ?? forming Then he made a grab at the legs of the lad in the barrel and received a kick be hind the ear that knocked hin twinkling. He struck in tion on the ground, and mained, rubbing his head over ill a sitting posi there he and looki dazed. The youth who had stopped the donkey the unlucky fellow in the barrel, and dragged him out, after upsetting the bar- tel, By this time everybody on the street was yoating with laughter, and the don- key joined in with a ridiculous “ haw.’? hee- said the rescuer, he had extracted “There, my friend,”? as he released the: lad from the barrel, ‘‘you are all right now.”? The Dutch boy sat up beside his friend who had started to pull him out, and a most wretched spectacle he presented. me!’ he exclaimed, clawing ‘“I'don’d like dot ““Oxcuse dirt out of his eyes. kindt uf peesness!”? “Wal, what in thutteration waut to kick the head offen I tried to pull yeou aout?’ snapped the® other lad, glaring at him. ‘‘Yeou made me see more’n four bushels of stars, an?” there’s many’s four hundrud an’ seven- Sane Hey a . ding- dongin’ in my did yeou me for when teen head naow. “Whoid vos’ kicked my headt off you?” spluttered the Dutch boy. ‘Vou a nefer touched me. Vot der madder vos, anyhow ?”? The youth who ‘had extracted Dutch lad from the barrel laughingly said: tR TO BE A TERRISLE, FOR). hold of the legs,of | thes, TIP TOP WEEKLY. 3 “T see you fellows are up to your old tricks. You are quarreling as usual.”? **Hey ?’ cried the-tall Jad. “Vot?’’ squawked the Dutch boy. ““How aré you, Ephraim?’ Jaughed the rescuer. *“Jeewhillikins!’’ yelled the tall youth, jumping to his feet, his face fairly leam- ‘*Jee-roo-sa-lum! Yeou kin beat my a feather duster ef it ain’t Merriwell!”’ ing. brains out with Frank “Shimminy Gristinas!’?? howled the Dutch boy, psd hope I inay nefer see your eyes oudt uf again uf dot ain’d Frank Merriwell!’’ “Raght,’? nodded the rescuer. ‘I am Frank Merriwell, just as sure as you are Ephraim Gallup aud Hans Dunnerwuts.”’ ‘Whoop!’ roared Ephraim. ‘‘Wa-ow!’’ bellowed Hans. Then they made arush at Frank, flung their arms about him, and literally danced as they hugged him. wildly scrambling The spectators looked on in astonish- ment. “Oh, great jumpin’ grasshoppers!”’ shouted the Yankee lad. ‘‘Ain’t this the gal dingdest s’prise party I ever struck!” “‘T peen so asdonished I vos afraidt you vill die heardt vailure uf britty queek al- retty!’’ gurgled the delighted Dutch lad. “Break away!’? laughed Frank. **Vou’ll have me off my pins if you keep this up.’? **Gol darned ef I ever saw anybody whut could git yeou offei your pins yit,’’ declared. Ephraim Gallup. “‘Vaw, dot vos righdt,’? put in Hans. “*Nopody ee aple got your pins off you a hurry in, “Oh, Jimminy!’’ squealed the Ver- monter. ‘This is too good to be true!” ‘‘Vaw! agreed the Dutch boy; ‘‘dot vos shust righdt! Id peen too trueto peen goot!’’ TRUE BLUE MAKES US PROUD OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, ‘*Haow in here ?’’ asked “Dot vos vot you’d like to know,’?’ de- ““How id vos hap- pened to foundt us here??? “Well, I'd like to know how you two happen - be szid Merriwell. ‘“Have you turned showmen ?”’ SV awe 4 **Yeouw bet.’ ‘We peen dwo uf der sdars der Star Gombination’ in.’ ‘We're hot stuff, b’gosh!’? ‘‘Hfy blays der paratone horns.” ‘‘An’ Hans plays the donkey when the donkey gets sick and can’t come on.’ “Td vos a greadt shnap. We ged our poard vor otir glothes.’’ “An” we're a high old tinte travelin’ around over the kentry.” ‘‘Well,’? smiled Frank, as they clung to his hands, ‘‘I never dreamed of seeing you chaps traveling with a show.”? “We nefer knew vot you = nee uf since der college left you.’ 5 “fAn’ we was: \talkin’ ahaeas yeou last A night.” ‘. “Yaw: We said how you would enjoy yourseluf if dese show vos dravelin’ aroundt mit you.”’ ‘“There’s a heap of fun in it, Frank. Whillikins! yeou’d oughter be with us.%° ‘*You come to der theatre und let, der show seen you to-night,’’ invited Hans. “That’s it!” cried Ephraim. ‘Wout you do it?” E “Oh, I think -so,’’ smiled Merry. thunder is it we find yeou the overjoyed Yankee. clared Hans. you here,’? ‘All- havin’ “But I want to see you chaps before that. ‘‘Have you taken dinner?’ eee “No.?? i Togs “Then take dinner with me, and We es will have a jolly time talking over old — times. Will you do it?” : ‘*VYou pet my life!’? shouted the Dutch ot boy. ‘“By gum, we will!’? vociferated | 4 TIP TOP WEEKLY. Ephraim. ‘‘Jest yeou come up to the the- atre, an’ we’ll be reddy to go with yeou inside of twenty minutes. Connie on.”’ “All right. Go ahead.”’ One of the otheranembers of the coim- pany had.secured the donkey and Lhe little donkey was turned over to Bos again, with a warning not to let the Rapature get away. Ephraim recovered iis horn and took his place in the. band. the band struck dogs. yh tie procession forured, te Vigorously, minus the bass druin, and “the “All-Star Combination’’ inoved along | the street as if nothing had happened. In fact, this little affair of the escaping ~ donkey and dogs was regarded as an in- 3 _ cident that would serve to help advertise ‘tlie show, and that was exactly what sat- isfied and pleased Barnaby Haley, owner : and manager of the organization. CHAPTER Ii. FRANK AND HIS FRIENDS. |) The band played two pieces in front of he Thalia Theatre. Nandling the ‘‘fierce and untamed blood- hounds”? skilfully succeeded in getting all three of them into a fight, appearing early frightened to death over it. ‘I'he The man who was orin his teeth and pulling him away, and Barnaby Haley was well satisfied ithi the advertising he would receive on rank, looking on, understood that the things happened in nearly every ive by the stage entrance, but Hans ma a chance to say to Frank: *Shust vait,here till dot theatre comes : I vill peen righdt pack a iraim induced one of the musicians to take charge of his horn, and remained with Frank. Haus soon reappeared. ‘‘Now shust you took dot tinner to ine,’’ invited the Dutch lad. ‘“‘I peliefia square meal can eadt me a minute in.”’ ‘Hat !? cried the Vermont lad. ‘Why, that Dutch sausage can eat any gol darn time an’ all the gol darn time! Never see northing like him in all my born #7 days.” “Oh, shust shut yourseluf ub!’ cried Hans, quickly. ‘‘Your mouth dalks toogy much mit you. You don’d peen no ganary ie pird to eadt... You vos aple to ged det oudtside uf a whole lot.”? ‘Wal, b’gosh! these air howtels we stop at some of um have pritty blainéd poor grub,’’ confessed the, Yankee youth. | “‘Their beefsteak is made of luther, an’ their bread might be bought up by ther ™ loaf an’ used fer pavin’-stuns on thes streets.’ “Well, I think I’ll be able to give you something to eat that you can digest, but | you mustivt expect too much.’’ ‘‘We kin eat any old thing with you, Frank,’’, declared Ephraim. ‘Why, when we was campin’ aoutat Fardale last summer we hed appetites like hosses, an? it didn’t make no difffunce whut there + was to eat, we jest et it.”’ **Yaw,’’ nodded Hans; ‘‘und some nf, ¥ der things vot vasn’t to eadt we shust | 7 eated all der same.’ ‘‘But naow we want yeou haow it happens yeow are here, Frank,’! urged Ephraim, as they walked along toz- gether. ' Frank briefly explained everything, © The boys knew he had left college, but. they had not heard he was working ona railroad. » Both were astonislied. path my ek tn cried pe hale © + Qihe-wiper in the roundhouse, TIP TOP WEEKLY. & ““Whut yeou been doin’ on the rail- = ‘yoad ?”? e Running ain. - engine,*? Merry. -**Runnin’ it? Haow?”’ Eynoineer.’? “Vot?’’ gasped Hans. **Come off!’’ palpitated Ephraim. 3 | have come off,’? smiled Frank. ‘‘I am out of a job now.”’ y ‘“Haow is that??? -**Railroad made a reduction of wages, “there was a strike, big fight over it, rival _ road scooped all the business, my road “went to pieces.”’ “Ay? naow—whut?”? “The rival road has scooped the road I worked on—absorbed it. A lot of old engineers have taken the places of the “men who used to run on the Blue Moun- tain road. I’ve been trying for a show, but I’m so young they don’t want to give tne anything. Looks like I’d have to get “gut of here and strike for something -somewhiere else.’ ‘Wal, that’s too darn bad!’ drawled ; Ephraim, sympathetically. ‘‘But haow’d ~ you ever git to be ingineer, anylhaow?”’ ' ‘Worked my way up. Began as en- got to be fireman, then engineer. Right there came ‘the trouble, and now I’m on the rocks.’ - The eyes of the Vermonter glistened. - “If the hanged old railroad hadn’t went up the spaout, you’d bin runnin’ that in a year!’’ he cried. 2 “Vaw,’’ nodded Hans. “* “Veou’re a hummer!” declared Eph- faim. “‘Veou’ve got lotsof git there in ayer an’ that’s whut does the trick. But I swan to man, it must have seemed tough ‘sto yeou to have to git right aout an’ Swork like a-Trojan.”’ explained Yaw,’ put in the Dutch boy. ‘‘Vork nefér had nottinks to done mit you pefore dot.” “*T don’t see haow yeou brought yerself fo it? Frank looked grave pleased. and not exactly “T have always expected to work when the time came,’’ he asserted. ‘‘T hope you didn’t suppose fora moment that I was going to spend my life in idleness?’ “Oh, no, no!’ the Vermonter hastily cried; ‘‘but yeou wan’t reddy. Yeou was in college an’ havin’ a slappin’ good time. It was mighty rough to have ter break right off from that all to once an’ git out an’ dig fer a livin’.”’ ““Well,’’ said Merry, slowly, ‘‘I will admit that it was-not pleasant at first; but I made up my mind that it was to be done, and I went at it‘heartily. After a time, I came to enjoy itasI never en- joyed auything before.’’ ‘““Whut? Yeou don’t mean to say yeou liked it better than playin’ baseball?” - (Vas Pp? ‘“Jee-roo-sa-lum !’ “Bette® than anything. Work is the greatest spott in the world, for it is a gaine at which one plays to win the prize of his life. The winning of all other gaines are tame in comparison with ‘this. It draws out the best qualities in aman, it tests him as nothing else can. Oh, yes, work is the champion sport, and su¢- cess is the prize for which all earnest» workers strive. The man who shirks and ? fears honest work can never succeed in the world. Determined men will pusht him aside, and he will be with the losers” at the end of the great game.’’ : ‘Ephraim Gallup clapped Frank on the shoulder familiarly. i pee eyes ‘‘Yeou are yerself, b’gosh!’’ he cried. - ‘‘T Kin see thay yeou are soberer an’ stid= HOF se dyer, but yeou are Frank Merriwell jest? the same. Yeou was alwus sayin things - like that that no other feller ever thonght to say. There ain’t no danger but yeou’ ll: WHAT A TWO CENT STAMP: WILL DO—SEE LAST PAGE. 6 TIP TOP WEEKLY. be with the winners in this game yeou’re aout.’’ talkin’ ab “Uf der vinners don’d they vill asserted Haus. ‘Coie in here, introduce you to a particular friend,’? He led them into the small fruit and cigar store in front of which he had standing when the donkey ran away from mit him side on,”’ peen peen der wrong he said, ‘“‘and I will been ri Hans. GHA PEER: THI. TUCKY -LITTLA:, NELL. ‘*Hello,. Jack !”’ Frank saluted the keeper of the store, who proved to be a bright-faced lame boy. “Jack,’? said Merry, ‘did you ever ~hear ine speak of Ephtaim Gallup?’’ ‘‘Of course I have!’’ eclaimed the boy. “And Hans Dunnerwust?’’ Ves, yi **Well, here they are:”’ “What?” ‘ @ Jack Norton stared at Frank’s two companions. ‘ ‘These are the friends of whom I have 7 + told you; and this, fellows, is Jack Nor- 'ton, a hustling young business man of rs i this city. Some day he’ll be one of the _)) greatest retail merchants in the place.” Jack blushed. ‘ **1’m gol darn glad to see ye!’’ declared the Vermonter, striding up and grasping safe lame lad’s ‘hand. ‘‘Anybody Frank Merriwell trains with is all right, an’ ’'m ‘ready to hitch hosses with ’um.’? Me wrung the young shopkeepet’s nd heartily. f } ‘‘Yaw,”’’ nodded Hans, waddling up. “Vou vos plamed clad to seen us, Shack. ‘Shust catch me holdt your handt uf. How you vos alretty yet??? “Rrank has told ie about you,’’ said wjack, ‘‘but I never expected to see you.”’ CLIF FARADAY IS THE ‘‘Wal, we’re travelin’ araound with they: greatest show on earth.”? Bartitin’s 2) Lee ‘‘Not by along shot! Barnuin’g aan! f init. Haley’s ‘All Star con a an? Mammouth Uncle 'om’s Cabin Com: ee pany’ knocks ’em all aout.”? madder vos,”’ ‘Dot's vot der ee Hans. ‘‘Dot gompany has dwo T Topisy aoe dwo Marks, dwo Gumption Cutes—ae ‘‘An’ two jackasses,’’ grinned the ef Yankee youth. »‘‘One of them leadgthe other every day in the stréet parade 7a ‘*Hey.??? exclaimed the Dutch youth, “Vou don’d mgan—— Say, you vill tek me a minute in uf I say dot again!’ He squared off in a fighting attitudey” seeming teady to go at Epliraim, a3 “There, there!’”? laughed Frank. “Up @ to your old tricks, Isee. Why, I ae you two fouglit a duel once at Farda@le?” = “We did, b’jee!’ nodded Ep! hraitan iy ““Mit eggs,’’ spoke Hans. ‘Ripe naa at that.’ “‘Dose eggs couldt smell veek.”’ “Tt was awful.’’ oe ; id oe a put ub shob us onto. me vor a whut put it up.”’ “Yaw. I peliefed I vos all ofer mit.’? ‘So didsts" ‘‘But Inefer knewed pefore dot ) vos so pad to smell uf anypody like & ‘‘We never got even with him fer sell, Hans.”’ ‘'Nefer.”? “Well, we'll eat enough to-d: x square the account. ee think he's up ag’inst a cyclone.’ aS ““Vaw, we vill doue dot, Efy. You a a greadt headt on me, ain’d id! | ‘Well, if I can settle the score tl way, I won’t kick,’’ said Merry.’ Nellie at home, Jack ?”’ E HERO OF THE ‘TRUE BLUE” STORIEGS TIP TOP WREKLY. 7 ‘Ves, she went home to You know one of us has to stay here and keep tl We ting dinner. She will ha when but. she have enough, for get dinner. 1e shop open. take turns get- ve it all ready you get tlrere, may not she won’t know any one is coming with you.’ Yl] fix that all right,’’ said Frank. “There is a restaurant on the corner, and ITcan get all kinds of stuff there to take ‘out.’?, “Can’t yeou shut up to-day an’ come with us, Mister Norton ?’’ asked Ephraun. P Yaw,” -put.in Haus, “‘shust haf. der $hop shut you up und confe along us mit.’’ “Jd like to do it,”’ Hut it might hurt my business, and I believe in after one’s business before anything else. Frank has taught ‘ame that.’’ “He’s alwus teachin’ somebody some- -thin’,’’ muttered the Vermonter. — Slam !—open flew the door. Bounce!— in popped a lively boy in a neat suit of clothes. “Hello, Frank!’ he cried. ‘‘Goin’ by w’en I seen yer t’rough der window, an’ TPt’ought I’d stop an’ speak.” It was Bob, the. newsboy whom Frank had aided to a position on the Mountain Express. ‘Hello; Bob!’ exclaimed Merry. ‘‘On the jump, as usual. -How do you like your new position in the broker’s office ?”’ _ “Great! was the instant answer. “Der boss treats me fine, an’ he says wen I’ve been ter night school - ernough ter have der proper eddycashun, said the lame lad, looking long S he’ll put me onter der turns of der busi- ness. Oh, I’ll be a broker meself soime "day, see if I don’t.” - Frank introduced Bob to Ephraim and = Hans. ‘Say, dis is great!’’’ cried the former -newsboy. ‘‘I’ve heard Frank tell heaps of. t’ings about youse chaps.”’ He seemed genuinely delighted over the meeting. ‘*T invited them to dinner,” said Merry. ‘‘We wanted Jack to come along, but he caif’t close up.”’ ‘“How long will it take ?’’ “Oh, he might be quarters of an hour.’? “If he kin do it in dat time, I'll stay right here an’ run dis joint. I kin git back on time den. Go ahead, Jack.” ‘‘Oh, but you-are out for your own dinner,”’ protested the ae too much to expect you to do all that for tie? ‘‘Not by a blame sight!. “Youse folks didn’t do a t’ing fer me w’en I was down on me luck did yer? No, not a t’ing*but take me in an? keep me till I could git somewhere: Now, don’t make any talk about dis t’ing, but jest you skip right along with der odders: Only be sure ter git back in time fer me ter git ter der office.’? back in thfee- lame boy. Bob settled it that way, and Jack was carried off with Frank and his two friends. On the way home, Merry stepped into a restauraut and ordered plenty of food, which was given him in a large pail, the pail being wrapped to disguise its real nature. Little Nell was waiting for Frank i appear when she recognized his familiar step on the stairs. She rose hastily to her feet, but paused to listen. ‘There were other steps, and she real- ized that several persons were coming.” Wondering what it meant, she waited till: the door opened and the four filed into the room. Then there were introductions. “Tam pleased to meet any of Frank 5 ~ **T ant very friends,” declared the girl. pleased to see you.”’ ‘““That’s right,’’ nodded the lame egPOY: A LEADING FEATURE» OUR FREE COUPON OFFER—See e Paba We * = a ony ‘She is pleased to.see you. ‘Two weeks "ago she could not have seefi you had she stood face to face with you as she does MO We. **t don’d toldt Hans. ‘OWhut was the matter?’’ asked Eph- raim. ““She was blind.’’ Pind? fe Blind??? ***Wes stone blind.” ‘‘Jeewhillikins! She kin see all right ; naow. a you so!’ exclaimed By a miracle. We were saving money to have her treated by a great oculist in New York and we’ had almost enough. Oneynight she got up inadream and walked out to those stairs. She fell all the way to the bottom striking on her head. I dragged her up the stairs and got “her into bed. The next morning she could see. I believe it was the -work of God!”? “It was marvelous!’’ put in Merriwell. *“You see she was not born blind but re- "ceived a blow on the head that injured the optic nerve in some manner so she became blind. Most marvelously by fall- ing and striking on her head the shock =testored her sight.” “And the money we had saved we put into our little business,’’ said Jack. Say you nefer heardt such a peculiar _ thing as that uf pefore!’ cried Hans. ~ *‘I doubt if any one ever did. Nellie I have brought my friends to dine with me and here is plenty of food that I bought “at the restaurant. All you have to’ do is eet it onto the table.’ Vl do that,’’ laughed the happy girl. @T scems so good to be able to do such psa Wer: | We will have a delightful dinner! “There, b?gosh !”? ahilalwed een eos “thats whut umkes a feller feel right to 2 TIP TOP WEEKLY. HAVE YOU MET CLIF FARADAY? hum! Naow I know I’ve got amongst the kaind of folks I take to.’? ‘“Yaw,’’ nodded the Dutch boy; ‘tid makes -beoble feel -like. you vos right t right pe home. Oxcuse us uf we make ourseluf é Sue, e “Go ahead,’’ invited Frank. ‘‘I want you to feel free here.” a ean Seige: CHAPTER IV. ta a NEWS OF ELSIE. It was truly a jolly party that sat down to the table when it was spread and © everything prepared. Ephraim, Frank and Hans talked over old times, spoke oF the jolly days at Fardale, recalled the; = struggles, sports, jokes, night raids and hazings. All too soon the time came when Jaclk was forced to leave in order to get back # to his shop in time to let Bob return to his duties. “‘T just hate to go!’’ he exclaimed. It seems good to hear you talk about those” times. I never had any chance to go to school like that. It must have been such heaps of sport!’ q ‘*Say,’’ cried Ephraim, ‘‘looker here, can’t yeou take yer sister an’ go -to the show this evenin’ ?”’ “Both of us cannot go for the shop * must be kept open in the evening tlie same as any other time. Nellie can go.’ (97 ‘‘Gosh all hemlock! can’t the thing be 7 fixed somehow so ye kin go together? © yy I'll see to it that yeou git the best seats a BEL: in the haouse, Yes, by gum! .J’ll git one x ay Zs of the boxes fer ye if yeou’ll go.’ ee **Oh, Jack !’’ broke from Nelle “You! he know I’ve never been to see a real theatre” show, but now I think my eyes are™ strong enough to stand the light. Caa’t © we go?”? ¢ ee “T don’t see how,’’ answered Jacks . regretfully. ‘‘You can fix it with Bob)? said Frank. Se me VIP ‘TOP WEEKLY. 9 “He doesn’t have to work evenings, | -and you can get him to keep shop.” ~ ‘“That’s so!’’ exclaimed the girl, clap- ping her hands. ‘‘T'ry it, Jack—do!”’ The face of the laine lad brightened. “All right,’’ he said, ‘‘I?ll ask him.”’ **And you will go with us, won’t vou, ~ *Frank?’’ asked Nellie. ¥ ae OH 1 think so.”’ > *‘lf Inza were here now we'd havea s > “splendid party.’’ -"Tnzal’? gasped Ephraim. ‘‘Inza Bur- ~ *°All the winter. She was visiting a ws friend. Left a little more than a week + Ago.’? ‘*‘Dot vos too pad!’ murmured Hans. “She vould haf peen deekled to seen mie.’ *‘1’m sorry we didn’t git her afore she went,’’ said the Vermonter; ‘‘but we had the fun of seein’ Elsie Bellwood abaout a “motith ago, though it wasn’t much fun, 2 come to. think of it, she was feelin’ so ¥ darn bad.” . Frank sprang to his feet, his faceswork- ing with extitement. ‘(Saw Elsie>?’’ he cried, amazed. ‘“Vaw,’’ nodded Hans. ** Where??? “Tn Bittsburgh.”’ ‘Pittsburgh?’ “Vaw. ” *‘Tinpossible!”’ “‘Tt’s true,’’ declared Ephraim. ‘+ “But—but I don’t understand it.’? / | ‘Whut’s the matter?” * “Why—why, I heard~she had sailed with her father for a long voyage.”’ “She did.’? - But now she is in Pittsburgh? Why, BS #how can that be? It was not many months ago they sailed—some time last fall, wasn’t it?’ Raves, 2” ‘fAnd they were to be gone a year?’ ae WBS ‘“Then something happened ?”’ ‘*Sure thing.” “ What??? **Vou ain’t heered abaout it???’ ‘*Not a word.”’ ‘*Tustin Bellwood died the second day out from New York.”’ Frank gasped for breath, caught hold of the back of his chair, and stood staring . at the Vermonter: ‘ Oxcept. m6.) “said sHans: wcll ‘“‘Mein salarys peen so schmall dob) id nefer ae me ven I don’d got hee 4 I'll go ae the theatrical busitiess: ibut 4 we'll come and see the play to-nig lit, if ai you get that box for us, Ephraim.’ 7 “Oh, I'll git it, yeou bet!’ assured the - Vermonter. ‘I'll git right arter it tust thing this afternoon afore rehearsal.” ‘Haw,’ assured Hans. ‘‘Uf he doa, q donedot, I vill got after him.”’ GHAPT ER Vy. MURDEROUS REALISM. Jack, the lame boy, succeeded in gef- e ting Bob to keep shop for him that efen-- and so he was able to attend the © theatre with his sister and Frank. Ephraim Gallup kept his word’ and: secured a proscenitim box fot them. Little Nell was in raptures when théy ing, were seated in the box and ‘‘Hdlep’s Manumnoth Gold Band” played the Be ture in the place of an orchestra. 4: The band. was made up of an odd «ol- lection of human beings, but they had~ es deg on a few pieces till they cbule ‘tear them off’? in a style that was prekiiy sure to please the uneducated ear and catch the fancy of the crowd. Fag ae R * Among theatrical people the ‘‘ghost walls? when salaries are paid. BUY JUST ONE COPY OF ‘‘TRUE BLUE.” 7 TIP TOP WEEKLY. 11 Ephraim Gallup sat up proudly and puffed out his cheeks as he blew away at *iiis horn. He was aware that “Frank Metriwell must dimterest, and he was determined to do his best. Pash ’t it Nell, as sh her brother’s. Despite the age of the play, the house was filled with It was. “popular price’’ theatre, and its patrons The gallery Was packed with youngsters who were there to syiupathize with ‘Uncle T Sapplaud ‘‘George Harris,’’ Topsy’? aud Guinption Cute,”’ Semiuol Legree.”’ When the band had finished playing the gallery broke into a roar, ebald be distinguished cat calls, screams and shrill whistles. ~The footlig AS ares cians played a tolled swiftly up. be regarding him with little e sat with one hand clasped in lovely!’ murmured spectators. were the common people. ‘oi, laugh with and_ hiss anid whicli aud the musi- ‘riser’? as the curtain The play was on, and little Nell was enchained, enraptured, For - the first tine in her lie she sawa genuine theatre show,” three “utes, everything happening on tlie stage fas true as life for her. It was a great satisfaction for Frank to watch. the face of the girl. euchanted. and, ‘within nin- He saw how Keenly she was enjoying everything, and . ee ent gave him the greatest saw that this ‘‘All-Star ie soon was ‘made up of ‘*ham- mbination” introduced singing and daneing into The Duteh © Prank viatilied for Hans. “lad appeared at last, blackened with burnt representing one of the negro laborers. -He did uot have any lines, which was fortunate, as his dialect would not have corresponded with his color. ~ Hans was one of the slaves on sale at_ the Simon Legree ob- tained possession of ‘‘Uncle Tom.” Before the play was half finished little Nell -was greatly wrought up over it. The escape of Eliza over the floating ice, with auction at which the bloodhounds in pursuit, was well done, and it caused the gallery to go wild. When the little curtain went down after that climax, Nell fell back in her chair, crying: “Oh, Frank, isn’t it. wonderful!’ I never knew aur ie cou ld be so real : and still a play.’ From. where he sat Merry could see 4 through one of the open stage entragigegy” at the opposite side. Several times*he =< saw some of the actors pause there atid =~ watch place on the = stage. It happened that he was looking = through that entrance when one of then” stopped there, glanced quickly around , and produced a bottle from one of lis- pockets. ‘The man quickly uncorked the bottle a long drink from it. He was the one who played the part of “Leorpe. what was taking and took When the man next appeared on the stage, Merry saw he was drunk. Frank ‘watched him closely. “That fellow acts to me as if he is out for trouble,’ he thought. ‘‘I believe lie is well cast in the piece, for he seems to be a ruffian by nature.” ' Frank sat so near the stage that he was able to see bits of by-play that the auui- ence did not catch, Thus it happened that he saw ‘‘Legree’’ give ‘Uncle Tom’? a look of genuine hatred and make a inenacing gesture toward him. Merry. instantly ‘‘tuinbled.’’ ‘Trouble between them,’’ he decided. WE WANT EVERY READER TO HAVE A PRIZE—See Page 32. 12 TIP TOP WEEKLY. - A little later, when both these char- acters were off the Frank saw “Legree’’ again prepare to take a drink in the wings. Just as he tipped the bottle to his lips, a hand reached out and caught it from his grasp. stage, Crash !—it was smashed on the floor. “Uncle Tom’ was there, and ~he started in to remonstrate with the iu- toxicated actor. ‘‘Tegree’” was furious, and he tried to etasp the other by the throat. He was held. off some seconds, a sharp struggle taking place. ‘Then he succeeded in get- ting one hand fastened on the>throat of the inan who was impersonating the lead- Jing character of the play. “UWnele Tom’s’’ fist was lifted, and he struck his assailant fairly between the CVSS. _. Down went ‘‘Legree!”’ Frank Merriwell felt like applauding this little drama behind the scefies. * Uncle Tom?’ departed, and, after a -titie, some of the players came and assisted ‘‘Legree’’ to: his feet. _ Frank Merriwell-now knew there were two men in the company who were bitter | enemies: ‘ Both Jack and Nellie had been so ab- sorbed im what was taking place on the stage that they had not observed the en- * counter behind the scenes. Frank watched for the two men when they should next appear on the stage. “TWnele Tom’? was calm as ever when fe came on. ~He was a fairly good actor. .‘‘Legree’’ came on. Watching them closely, Merry heard some low-spoken words pass -between them while the action of the piece was being ¢arried on by other characters. “Oh, Dll fix you for that!’’ hissed ‘‘Legree. ” “You're drunk!?’ declared the other, conteinptuously. ™ ~ READ “TRUE BLUE”’ ONCE, AND YOU WILL READ IT FOREVE “Am 1? Well, it’s none of your busi © | ness! I’ll soak you before the night? ise over!’ et ‘ Cobrvertae. ‘“hwill! Vl kill ye!” Af Then they went on playing their parts ), : zy as if nothing unusual had happened. oe Ee ie sige «A * .““'There-is bad blood between them,” ah decided Frank,’ ‘‘and the fellow with the ~~ a rum in him is dangerous.”’ § He did not realize how dangerous fill : lee the scene was being played where ‘Les | : F: gree’’ lashes ‘‘Uncle Tom’? to death with é a heavy whip. pee ““Simon’? came on with the whip, and © . there was a strange glitter in his dark eyes. With his first blow at the old slave he caused ‘‘Uncle Tom’? to cll uttering a yell of pain. 2 fat For the whip had whistled through é the air, wielded by a powerful arm, andy = the hissing lash had curled about thie® if Z body of ‘‘Uncle Tom.” chia The audiencé looked on spellbouniiiae rather astonished by the realism of thik whipping scene. Grinding his teeth together, “Legale bent over and pitilessly cut the witha pi man with the whip. . es Cries of pain broke from the failes th 4 man. ‘‘Curse you!’ Merry heard ‘‘Legree hiss. ‘‘Here is where I fix you!” ‘Help!’ cried ‘Uncle Tom.”’ It was a genuine appeal for aid. was not acting. § Frank Merriwell strated to his feet. ‘ “Oh!? gasped little Nell—‘‘oh, Frakes he is really murdering ‘Uncle Tom!’ ”” ‘‘Hanged if it doesn’t look that vou Merry admitted to himself. ‘ The whip dropped from ‘‘Legree’ 3 hand. It struck the floor heavily, bug the man caught it up in a twinkle reversing it. Sas hfs | Be os * » Faas TIP TOP WEEKLY. Then, with the loaded butt, he struck “Uncle Tom’ a savage blow on the head. The stricken straightened out, quivering in every limb. With the expression of a fiend on his face, » difted the heavy whip again to bring the butt down upon the man’s head. It seemed to be his purpose to smash the skull of the actor he hated. As one man, the audience rose and man “‘Legree seers. stood, uttering a cry of horror, for every. Ae one seemed to realize that this was not oe gicting. Soe ee ~~ It was murder! ee... **Stop!” ee Pp The word shot like a bullet from the ~ lipsof a handsome youth who went fly- a " ing over the rail of the right hand- we e proscenium box and alighted on the ape stage. a “*Drop it!”? oe Frank Merriwell dashed at the murder- ey a ous actor, caught the whip, tore it from 74 his hand, flung it aside. . ge ‘ Then they grappled! % £ Sai Pee ey CHAPTER VI. % FRANK’S POPULARITY. The audience shouted its astonishment. _ “Off? snarled the actor, trying to break from Frank. _ “Steady!” commanded Merry. -‘‘You ‘have gone over the limit. What are you trying to do?”’ “T said I'd fix him!’ if ‘*He’s in luck if you haven’t done it already. us & He’s Frank Merriwell, an’ he’s tke right i sort,’ “Prank Merriwell! Many persons in the ‘alfdience had recognized Merry when he ) Weaped on the stage, but the mention of 1 hisiiame sent a surge of emotion over Now they knew him! The name of rank Merriwell was familar to every- body in that city, for the prominent part che had taken in the railroad strike lad 4 advertised him thoroughly. eo - Aind Frank’s greatest admirers were -arogsed, Upin the gallery a red-headed boyepoised himself on the rail and’ shrilly welled; ” i 4Well, wot’s der matter wid Frank aed Merri well???’ ' And the gallery broke into an auswer- e ig oar : er IT IS NOT ALL LUCK TIP TOP WEEKLY. _ champion. WITH CLIF FARADAY. ““He’s—all—right!”? ‘‘Dat’s wot!’’ screamed the red-headed ss . boy. ‘‘Let him erlone an’ see wot he’ll ae ES se : 4 do ter ‘Simon Legree ‘He won’t do a thing to him!’ signifi- 7 cantly bellowed half the gallery. “Tf dem cops puts a fin on hiin, we’ll | comme down an’-wipe up der the-a-tur |} with ’em!’’>thredtened the red-headéd “Dat’s what we will!’ shouted the others. "FR Frank looked up, smiled and bowed.) | 9p 4: That smile was enough to set his admirers wild. They howled, roared, clapped and stamped till the gallery shook and: threatened to come down. fT ‘Great gosh!” cried Ephraim Gallup, in Merry’s ear; ‘‘I ruther think yeou’ve got a few friends in this air taown!”’ ~! 1 One of the policemen was examining “_ the wound on the head of the uncon- ; ne % scious actor. He spoke toa companion: Lie eee ‘Call an ambulanee,’’ he said. “Tt § 4 looks to me as if this chap’s skull may 4 7 be cracked. He may never. recover con- | sciousness, ”’ - : 2 & “Is it .possible?’”? gasped Barnabyj* Haley, who had heard the words. ‘‘And Storins did it? I declare!”’ He turned and glared at the drunken ~ actor. ‘“‘What’s the matter with you?’’ he asked. » ‘‘Are you mad ?”’ . Storms did not reply, but now he be- gan to show symptoms of fear. “If Havener is dead, 1’ll. see that you @ hang for it!’ declared the inanager, i; “Shall we arrest Mr. Merriwell???= asked one of the policemen, a touch of sarcasin in his voice. ‘No, no!’ cried Haley—‘‘my gracious, no! It seems that I was mistaken con- cerning his purpose. He sprang onto the stage to stop Storms—to keep him from spirit of the TIP TOP WEEKLY. 15 finishing his work. Do not molest Mr. Merriwell.”? The gallery heard this aud shouted its delight. and screamed : earree cheers; fer “Frank Open yer t’roats ev’rybody!”’ Then the entire audience, catching the occasion, broke into a miglity cheer, bringing the hot blood to Merty’s face. “There, Gallup, with satisfaction. got whut ye ‘“VYaw,’’ agreed Hans, ‘‘ got vot I deserfe.”’ “‘Merriwell! speech !?? ‘The, red-héaded boy stood up Merriwell! Ephraim ‘“Naow yeou’ve b’gosh!?? sighed deserve.’’ new you haf Merriwell! Speech ! The audience was calling for a speech, but Frank simply ous after that fight on the stage.” I burned it,’? asserted Merriwell) “4 ‘It was dreadful!’? shuddered thé girl. have learned the value of money, and it, “I was so frightened! I saw that wretch will be precious little that- I shall throw away foolishly in the future. Must be 2 TRUE BLUE SMACKS OF POWDER AND SHOT. : vs we » 1¢ TIR POP: WEEKLY, “going home now. Good-night, fellowss be vaftaid of it. ‘Took particular pains to see you to-morrow.”’ get good stuff.’ “Yeou'd better engage with Haley,” ‘*T do not care for any,’’ said Frank, "| cried Ephraim, as Frank moved away “Eh? Don’t? What's the matter?” a with Jack and Nellie. **¥ never, drink whisky.’ . _ “Yaw,” shouted Haus. ‘Uf you don’d “Singular! Young man, good color, % “you vill peen sorry all mein life: Goot- full of life. Can’t be you prefer rum ?”? e hight.” ‘‘No, sir.” 4 ee ‘*Brandy ?”? : CHAPTER VIII. “No. Ido not drink.” FRANK ACCEPTS. “Don’t drink? Why, you take some- — thing ocvasionally ?”’ “*Never.”? os “Is that so? What made you sweat off? Going it pretty hard??? ‘‘Didn’t swear off.’? “Didn't?” om ‘No; I never took a drink of liquor im ** my life,’? ‘ Haley stared hard at Frank. “If I were running a dime museumy I'd engage you as a freak,”’ he said, in a. manner that brought the color to Merry’s face. ‘Youll excuse me if I take x ~ The following day Frank went down tothe Thalia Theatre at the time ap- pointed, and he found Manager Haley Waiting for him in the box office, as he had said he would be. Merry was invited in, avd he accepted “the invitation. He was given an intro- , duction to the ticket seller, and then ' Haley asked him into a little room ad- ‘joining the office. ~ “Pye struck a man this morning to fill Storms’ place,’’? he said, ‘Cand now, if ~ we can make arrangements, the company e . . ‘4 an at 25 TS ” in ¢: will be all right again.” snifter. It’s my time for one. . Capen ae Se <‘‘Did the officers arrest Storms?’ asked Go aligad, sir,’’ bowed the youth. : Bian k ; So Haley poured out a brimming glass ~ oN, He got away, but he’s broke, - the “ and ¢ dashed it off Without a and they’ll get. him all right, unless he — °l48et.’ @oiiits the ties.” “Ah!? We said, smacking his lips “Counts the ties?” ‘“That’s all right: Better than we’ll get ‘Wes; walks out of town on the rail- when we get further west.” toad, I’m glad to berid of him. He He put away bottles and glasses. Then, ~ _ made a good ‘Legree,’ but he was a quar- turning to Frank once more, produced a : ~xelsome fellow, always kicking up a fuss. cigar case, opened it and held it out,” += ‘He made more “troyble in the company “Have a weed,’’ he invited. than all the others put together.’ “Excuse mie,?? protested Frank. _ The manager opened a little closet door “What? Oh, go ahead! Those are no” atid took out a bottle and glasses, He two-fers; they’re straight tens, Needn’t placed a glass before Frank on the table be afraid of them.” that served as a desk, and then shoved “I’m not afraid of them..? tle bottle toward Merry. ‘“Not? What's the matter, then?’ “Help yourself,’ he urged. ‘I'll get ‘I do not smoke.’ some water for chiasers.’’ The manager stared harder than before. “What is it?’ “Don’t drink, don’t smoke, don eres “Whisky—good whisky,-too. Needn’t Do you swear?’ IN DANGER OF UNCLE SAM’S SHELL S. SEE TRUE, BLUE. ee’ No, sir’? “*°Then I’m afraid you won’t make a ' fifst-class property man. No man _liandle properties unless he swears.’? Brank Jaughied. “I didn’t suppose it was absolutely “necessary to swear in order to doany kind of work successfully,’’ he said. “Never knew a property man who If you take the place, yon’ll learn to swear within a week.’ *’Then it must be a position that pro- vokes a man’s ill nature?’ Call ‘didii’t swear. . | “It is—riles him all up. Going to tell > you just what it is before we talk busi- Then you’ll ‘know what you are '. going up against.” AIeSS. a 1 Then the manager sat down and ‘told Merry all about the requirements and “duties of a first-class property man. _ “You see it won’t be no fat job,’’ said i Haley. ‘I'd rather you’d understand at ‘the start, for you might get disgusted with it after a short time if you went with us thinking you had a soft snap.” _ ‘Lam not looking for snaps,’’ declared “Merry. ‘‘I expect’ to work.” ‘That'll be all right. Some young chaps think traveling witlra show and acting is all play. Didn’t want you to start out with such a notion. Gallup, who plays in the band,*says you’re a wonder at anything you attempt to do, -aud I’ve been making some inquiries ‘about you in town this morning. You did chop frost for a short time after get- “ting a job on the railroad, and that’s a fact. They say your rise was phenomenal. But the strike knocked you out.’’ , . “Yes; and now I must do something ‘fer a living. Doesn’t seem to be any _ show for me to get a job railroading right away, so, if we agree, I am willing to . engage witli you.”’ They talked itover a long time, and finally came to terms. Frank was not to ‘All the Boys Say Ensign Clarke Fitch Knows What He Is Writing About. TIP TOP WEEKLY. 19° receive much inoney at first, but Haley said he would do better after he learned all about his business. Ephraim and Hans knew of Frank’s appointinent with the manager, and they were waiting for him outside the theatre when le appeared. Both made a dive for had him. “Did yeou do it?’ asked Gallup, breathlessly. ““Yaw!’? cried Hans, ‘‘did it do you?” “Tam going with the company, if thet ; is what you want to know,’’ said Frank. Ph Lig “Glory! shouted the Vermontef; catching his hand and wringing it. “*Py Chorch! dot vos pully!” gureled Hans, getting hold of his other hand and trying to pull his arm out of the sockét. ‘Say, we'll jest have havdoogins! of fun!’ declared the Yankee youth. ‘“VYou pet my life!’ fluttered the Dateh youth. -% # Frank went home and found little Nell there anxiously awaiting his return. ‘“What is it??? she asked, immediately on his appearance. “Tam engaged,’’ ayswered Merry. ® z A deep cloud came over her face, and =) she slowly turned away. He hastened to her side. “‘You know I must do something for a living, Nellie,’ he quickly said. ‘I can- not remain idle.’’ ‘“‘T know,’? she nodded, chokingly. “*T have been idle too long. Last night I did not sleep. I was thinking of Elsie. I must earn money; I must find Hier. I feel that she needs my aid.” - ‘‘But, Frank, you will not be. able to find her if you are traveling over the country with a show.”’ \ “*T shall be earning something. When spring comes, I shall go in search of her? “Oh, but it will be so lonely when you are gone”? Se hua i BENT aS aT Si at _ his own voice husky. ~ Please don’t—for my sake!’ inal * *Bor your 4 ‘% “manager of properties,’’ 20 Her face dropped in her hands, and she gave a choking sob... He had his arm about her in a moment. “Tt is not fated that we shall be to- gether always, Nellie,’’ he said. ‘‘I have been with you some time, and fortune that I first saw has turned in your favor during You were blind when you; now you can see. little business, which will grow, and you will prosper and be happy.’’ *Ader face was hidden by her hands, and She made no reply. “Don’t do that way, Nellie!’ he im- plored, gently. ‘‘We shiall meet again— ‘someti me, ?? “Soinetime!’’ she sobbed. “T can’t tell that.” “She turned quickly, reached up-«and .put her arms about his neck, burying her face on his breast, where she wept, while he vainly tried to comfort her. “Wellie, Nellie, don’t!’’ he pleaded, **T can’t bear this! time. You have a snug “(When ?? sake!’ she murmured. ‘For your sake, Frank, I’ll try-not to “ery: You have beeff so good to us. Oh, TI shall miss you so much! Heaven bless and keep you, Frank! Heaven guide you to Elsie! May you prosper—inay you al- “ways be happy! I shall pray for you every night !?? ‘‘And I shall. pray for you, dear little friend,’’ he said, in his sincere, manly way. ‘‘I will write to you often.”’ Then they sat down together, hand in hand, aud talked of the future. omens einen pls CHAPTER IX. FRANK’S UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY. A‘week later Frank had become pretty familiar with his duties. Besides being he was the pronmpter, and he found plenty of*work. He took hold of the new work readily, CLIF FARADAY IS TRUE BLUE. TIP TOP WEEKLY, and Barnaby Haley soon became satisfied that he had made no inistake in engag- ing him. The company. was ‘‘on tue road”’ play- ing one night stands, having abandoned the larger cities. It was a case of hustle day after day.® The moment the show was over at night everything had to be picked up and packed for the morning train, Frank soon became familiar with all the stuff, so that he knew just whiere everything belonged, and this enabled him to do the packing swiftly. A certain amount of special “scenery was carried for the piece, and, that was the most difficult to handle. As soon as Merry had taken care of the properties, he was expected to lend his aid in getting the scenery ready for ship- ment, and this it came about that he seldom got to bed before one or two o’clock in the morning. Then it was necessary for him to be up early to see that everything got off right, and, immediately on arriving at a desti= nation, he had to attend to the getting of” the baggage to the theatre. Arriving at the theatre, he was re- quired to have the trunks placed in the ~ proper dressing-rooms, the people who played the leading parts always being allotted by the stage manager to the most convenient, comiuodious and handy rooms, Sometimes the assignment of dressing-_ rooms cauged 110 sinall amount of ili feel- ing, but Frank tried to keep things as pleasant as possible. < He soon showed he was not afraid: of work, for which reason a large amount of work it was not his duty to perform - was thrust upon him. But he started in at this business, as he had at railroading, to learn everything possible about it in the shortest possible 4s TIP TOP WEEKLY. 22 time. Thus it came about that, having assisted in the work of making the stage ready in one week’s time there was nota scehe of the play that he could not set properly. It was not long before the stage man- ager discovered this, and he began to take a still greater interest in Frank. **Say,’’? be broke .out one niglit, as Frank was assisting in the setting of the stage, ‘‘what are you trying to do?”’ “*Helping,’’ was the laconic answer. _ ‘Yes, but you are helping differently from any novice I ever saw before. You * take hold as if you were trying to do all + there is to be done.”’ “JT want to do my part.’’ ‘You want to do more than that, and I fancy you know it, for you are no fool. What’s the object ?’’ “Tf I’m going to follow this business _ any length of time, lam going to know all I can about it.’? “So that’s it! Well, that’s all right as far as it goes, but you wull get tired of /it. Fellow who is willing to do his work and everybody else’s work is pretty sure to get crowded. Better let up on it.”’ “Thank you. I don’t believe anybody will crowd me.”’ ‘““Alj right; do as you like. I’m will- ing you should as long as you don’t attempt to get in front of me.’’ ' This was said with a laugh, but Merri- well caught the significance of the words. “Don’t be afraid, Mr. Havener,” he Feaid. “JT am not seeking anfbody’s » chance in this company.” } Frank had become acquainted with the different members of the company, and Arthur Sargent, the new man who filled the place of Errol Storms, playing _ ‘Simon Legree,’’ was a man quite unlike ' Storms. He was a jolly, good-natured eOff the stage she was a thin, telling Sats But he did make a fierce ‘“Legree,’’ and he was detested and hissed by the small boy in the gallery quite as much as Storms had been. Cassie Lee, the ‘leading Topsy,’ for there were two ‘‘Topsys’’ in the play, interested Frank more than anybody else. frail, sad- faced little girl, with a hollow, hacking cough. On the stage she was a supple, bright-eyed, lively, vivacious creattire, dancing and singing, as if she had nota care in the world. Cassie’s father, old Dan Lee, played small parts, making many chatges,- da~ fact, his skill was something marvelous, and it was astonishing how many different parts he could fill. # It was said that old Dan knew aor line in the piece ana could play any male’ part. Some even .insisted that the ‘ela man in his palniy days had played ‘ite | Eva,’’ but Dan himself denied the 4cct- sation. Old Dan’s one failing was his strozrg liking for liquor. But for Cassie’s wateh ful eyes, he would have been “loaded? x, the greater part of the time and Jost his © engagenient a dozen times a month. Cassie could handle him unless he was” crazed by liquor, and_he was humble and pliant in her hands. But there were stories that on occasions old Dan took too much and became like amaniac. Then even Cassie could do nothing with him, and it was-said that he had once beaten her so severely while < — madly intoxicated that she~ had ¢ been taken to the hospital, where she re- niained six weeks. It was said that through her father’s il] treatinent and neglect Cassie’s liealth had been broken down. : Frank wondered at the change that came over her every night just before she CALL YOUR FRIENDS ATTENTION TO:OUR PREMIUMS—SEE PAGE 32, * at making quick changesgage SSAA SS wiiaats E e nan SEE NS EI A MRS TALL i A Sand: 22 TIP TOP WEEKLY. went onto the stage. She suddenly seemed to become quite a different creature. The lack-lustre departed from her eyes, her step became elastic and buoyant, and even her voice seemed to change. All this was a mystery to Merry at first, but, one night, when she sent him to her dressing-room for some” article she had forgotten, he a discovery that en- lightened and horzified him. made A small needle syringe lay on the shelf beside the square mirror. *‘Morphine!”” Frank. the secret of the change!”’ Little Cassie was a morphine fiend! ©The knowledge preyed on Frank’s He pitied the girl and longed to “do something for her, but he knew that when the dreaded habit had once fairly fastened itself on a victim that person was almost surely doomed. conpy gasped lat is » Frank was very considerate with Cassie. He showed her many favors, and he never ininded her freaks and whims when she waS ina bad humor. Asa result, aftér a’ time, the girl began to take a ' great interest in Frank. **Tjook liere, Merriwell,’’ she said, one night as sle was ‘“‘laying on”’ the burut cork, ‘{I cotton to you. You are the righit stuff, but you never ought to be in this business. ’? ‘What business?” “Show.’? “Why? asked Frank, surprised. “Cause you -ain’t ‘the saine grade as the rest of us. That’s plain enough.”’- - “7 don’t think I quite understand you. Am I-not good enough to become an actor, if I wish ?’’ Cassie laughed unmusically. ‘*That’s the matter with yer,’’ she de- clared. ‘‘You're too good. This kind of a life will ruin you.’? “Tt guess not.’’ “T guess ves, and I know what I’m alking about. I hate to see a nice young man like you spoilt.’’ ‘(Ton’t let that worry you.”’ “Vou think I’m jollying, but TI ain’t. I mean what I say. _ Cominon actors are poor associates for such a fellow as you are. Youdon’t drink, smoke or swear now, but, if you stick to the road, I'll bet a month’s salary you are doing all tliree within a year.”’ ‘Tt will not take your > for it would be robbing you, Miss Lee.’ ‘“Don’t you believe ae I’d win. I know, for I’ve what > seen it all leads LOG ‘‘T don’t suppose you mean to say the life depraves everybody who follows it?’ “No, not that; butit’s a hard strain ona fellow. ‘This knocking around just kills a You’re the kind that'll be a soft thing for every bum who wants to lit you up for a fiver. You will think they all mean to pay when they can, but by the time you have. been beat right and left you’ll begiy ta get outo the game and think you may just as well play it in order to get even. That’s Jorrow a five aud fail to pay aud you’ve wrong road. - The keen edge is taken off your conscience, and, before long, it gets pretty dull. Oh, I know what I’m givin’ yer 1 petson’s conscience. what hurts. it once, got your start on the “Well, well!’ exclaimed Frank, sur- prised. “‘Never = I'd hear you preaching, Miss Lee.’ “(Don call me Miss Lee! Don’t like it. I’m just plain Cassie, or Cass to all the boys.”’ ‘All right, 111 call you Cassie, then.” “Do. Don’t tell the other fellers I lectured yer. Theéy’d say I’s getting soft. I don’t want Havener to know 1 take ‘enough interest in you to say anything like I did to yer.’’ “Don’t want Havener to know it???’ “TRUE BLUE” COSTS ONLY FIVE CENTS. know it. ticed.’’ ‘ELPATOP No ” Why not?’ “‘Well—because—you see him and me are—are—pretty friendly.”’ y She blurted out the last two words, as , if they cost her a great effort. “*Why,’’ said Frank, ‘‘I never no- “Course you didn’t. We’re keeping it quiet, for Havener’s got a wife.’ Then, seeing the look that cameé over Frank’s face, Cassie hastened to explain: “They ain’t lived together or heard from each other for four yéars, and ever Havener’s going to get a divorce as soon as he can for desertion. We couldn’t help gittin’ struck on each other; but I don’t want pop to know it till Havener is free to me. keeping shady. Storms. ?? “Yep. Feller you kept from knocking the head offen Havener.”’ Oh! He——”’ **Was jealous. ”’ “Ah! Phen that——” **That was his rea] reason for cracking Ross that way, though the others didn’t He waited me to marry hiin.”’ *“Storms did ?”’ “Sure thing.”’ “And you refused ?’’ **T should guess yes! suits me. tight, marry That’s why we’re But Storms was onto it.”’ Roscoe Havener Him and I'll get along all and I’m _ glad Errol Storms is out of the comp’ny. I was afraid of Baas?! “Then [——” “Done me a good turn—yes. It was a good thing when you jumped on that night and nipped Storms. I was down in my dressin’-room when I‘heard Havener holleg, and I knew samething was wrong, for that cry was too real. Iran up stairs and got into the wings just in time to see you and Storms have it. Then I came WEEKLY. 23 nigh giving the ,whole thing away by getting sloppy over Ross, but I pulled myself up just in time, and nobody got the why that business happened. I don’t know why I told you, "less it was ’cause I have onto real reason been ‘dying to tell somebody about it, and I reckon you'll keep your mouth shut.’’ “You may be sure I'll not give you away, Miss—Cassie.”’ *SAll right; tell you, too.’’ ‘*Something more ?”’ Pe ese ” ““About——”? Sows ‘“‘About me?” “Sure thing.”’ “What is ite? ‘You want to look out not to let fRoss get an idea yee take any particular. in- terest in me.’ “Why py ‘*He’s jealous of you now.’’ ‘‘Jealous of me?’ (¢Ves. ” ‘‘Why—why should he be ??’ ‘‘Well, there ain’t no real reason, but, he don’t know. You’ve always beea try ing to do me favors, and his, eyés are” sharp. He liked you at first, = now. bes is beginning to growl to me. Says you? ate trying to know too much. Says you’re fresh. Quizzes me about what I think of you, and all that. I can read him, and I know he’s jeaous, so look out.”’ ‘“‘T am sure I thank you for the warn- ing,’’ said Frank, embarrassed. ‘*Oh, that’s all right. He’ll get over iti? but I’ve got something to ° ‘“‘Aren’t you aftaid of a jealous man ?”’ ‘‘No; I like him all the better for it. If you was some chaps, I’d pretend to like you pretty well, just to see how much he’d stand; but I don’t know what he’d do, and I don’t want to get you into trouble. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING NICE FOR A TWO-CENT STAMP SEE PAGE 32. a4 TIP TOP WEEKLY. He has a pull with Haley, and he might get you fired. I shouldn’t like that.”’ Cassie had a frank way of speaking out that was decidedly eimbarrssing, but he did not seem to imagine that she had said something about which other girls would have hesitated to speak. This revelation opened. Frank’s eyes to a great extent. He understood thor- oughly the real cause of the trotible be- tween Storins and Havener, and also why the latter’s manner toward him had changed within a day or two. “T must, be careful,’’ Merry decided. After this talk with Cassie, Frank liked her and pitied her more than ever. He wondered if Havener knew anything of the terrible habit that had fastened itself on the girl, and if, he would marry her just.the same should he discovered it. . S$ Wavener’s first venture in marriage had * not proved a success, and his second one might ‘result disastrously unless Cassie could be cured of her liking for the fatal drug. _ Although Merry felt certain the girl _ used morphine, sometimes he would long ‘to-find that it was all a mistake. Qne night, however, it was all settled in hfs mind. Some of the theatres on the road con- tained but a few small, dirty dressing- rooms, so that it was necessary for a nuin- ber of persons to dress together in thie + Saine room. Cassié was putyin with two other girls “at. one place. She did not “‘kick,’’ for she was used to everything on the road. But she was not given much chance to be by herself. Just as the curtain was going up on the first act, Frank was sent down to thie ‘ dressing-room to get something for one of the girls. Thé door was just a bit ajar, and Merry bolted in quickly. There was an exclamation nation, echoed by Frank. Cassie was there. The sleeve of her left arm was thrust back, showing white above the line of hlack at her wrist. She was in the very act of using the little sytinge. The tiny instrument dropped from her _ fingers, and the staggered back a step. of conster- ‘*Merriwell!’’ she gasped. Frank started to turn away, then has- ily explained why he had come to the room. His manner told her he had seen and understood. ‘Took here!’ she hoarsetly said, springing forward and clutching him by the arm; ‘‘l want you to promise me something.”’ ‘“What??? “Phat youll keep mum.”’ SSE Wille s ‘«Sure thing ?”’ ‘*VYou can trust me.’’ “Vou won’t tell Havener???’ NO.” “Don’t you doit on your life! I’m going to stop it—sometime. I want to see you after the play to-night. I want to talk to you. I'll tell youall about it. Go on, now.”’ He secured the article he was after, and she pushed him out of the room, closing and fastening the door behind him. Then the little syringe was recharged and used. CHAPTER X. THE JEALOUS STAGE MANAGER, There was now no doubt in Frank’s . mind; he knew Cassie used the drug, and his heart was full of pity for her. That night, after the play was Qver, Cassie lingered in the dressing-room, slowly picking up her things. The other girls were ready to leave, and they called for her to hurry up. : *‘Oh, go on,’’ she said. ‘N’ll be along pretty soon. Don’t wait for me.’’ So they started for their hotel, leaving her there. ; Frank was at work getting the proper- ties together and packing them in one of the dressing-rooms, while Havener Was above on the stage, looking after the special scenery. _Cassie found Frank and came in on him. ‘Took here,’’? she said, ina dull, de- jected way, ‘‘I’ve got a few things I want to say to you.” Frank was uneasy, but working, saying respectfully : he stopped “TRUE BLUE” IS PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK. a TIP TOP WEEKLY, ‘ 26 “All right, Cassie; 171] listen.”’ **If you blow on me, I’m done for.”’ ““Now don’t be afraid that I will blow. What put such a notion into your head ?”’ “Well, I don’t know but you’d be - doing the right thing if you did.’’ “Why 2 “Oh, because it might not be right for any man to hitch up with a girl like me. y Havener knew——”’ * “Do you think he’d go back on you???’ “Can't tell. His other wife drank like fafish, and he quit her. ‘That ain’t so /bad as what I do.’’ “But you, Cassie—how in the world - did you ever contract such a habit ?”’ * “Got it in the hospital.” “Oh, that is how ?’’ ‘(Ves,’’ she faltered, as if she found it difficult to choose her words. ‘‘You >) know—I—was hurt. I went to the hospi- » tal. They had to inject morphine to keep down the pain. When I came out I kept on. using it once in a while. Aftera time I used it oftener, aud now——’’ ‘*eNow——"” “*T can’t seem to shake it. but it’s no use.”’ She said this sadly, dejectedly, and Frank’s heart was stirred by a great sym- pathy. ‘‘Are you sure?’’ “Well, I’1n going to break it off some itime—I. will if I die!’’? she declared, etety ‘J have sworn it! It’s the only thing left for me, and I must do it.’? ‘“Now you are talking right?” (Oh, I ain’t a foo], Frank Merriwell! I know well enough what I’ve got to do. -The thing is todo it. One night I tried » to play Topsy without using it, but I was -so dull and dead that Haley gave mea ' great call down. It puts fe into me, it Ive tried, braces me up Jong enough to play the part. If I don’t do it, I'll "lose: my engage- ‘meut.”’ ‘ “Better lose your engagement than our health—your life.’’ fox But I can’t afford to lay off now,’’ "said Cassie, desperately. ‘‘I must go through till the end of the season. Then Mm going to a sanitarium somewhere and get tid of this business—get cured. P I do it!= All I want is for you to keep ‘*You can trust me,’ assured Merry. “You may be sure I’]] keep still.”? **Don’t tell Havener.”? “tNo. ” A man came quickly into the room. It was Havener himself, and his scowling face showed he had overheard something. Cassie gave a gasp of terror. The stage manager glared both. ‘‘What’s this secret between you that you are going to keep from me?”’ he de- manded. Neither answered. ‘*Speak!’? cried Havener, furiously. “‘Tt’s no use trying to Keep the thing hid- den, for I am dead on. Cassie looked at Frank appealinglym™ ‘‘Now don’t take a lot of time to thix up something to say,’’ snarled the aig man. ‘It won’t go down with me! ve’ seen how things were going for: ore time.’”’ ? Then he whirled madly on the au - **So you’re stuck on him because, Fe's% young and smart! Well, you may mak€..! a fool of yourself! He'll throw yon over ; after a roa You have made a fool of pie already! I’d like to——”’ é His cached fist was drawn back, a id he seemed on the point of striking her, 28 “Stop! y) ‘ Frank leaped forward and caught ‘the 4 man’t wrist. With a howl, struck at Merry. : Quick as -he was, Frank dodged the blow. ~ Then he grappled with the stage manager, strong as that person was, tan him up against the partition, and held hin there, helpless. “Tisten a moment, Mr. Havener,’’ he said, with remarkable calmness; ‘‘you are making a blithering idiot of yourself,”’ “Don’t lie——”’ “Yam not lying. There is no affair be- tween Miss Lee and inyself.’’ “The secret-——”? ‘‘] shall keep. All the same, you have no reason in the world to be jealous. I. swear it. If you will permit, I'll gladly be your friend and Miss Lee’s.”’ “Tet me gol” **Not so soon.’ at them - Havener turned and AN ELEGANT PREMIUM FREE—SEE PAGE 32 < ~~ “sher and trust her. * “lier tow, it wili be a good thing for her 26 ‘*Please don’t hurt lim, Merriwell!’ entreated Cassie, anxiously. Those words made Havener squirm. He felt the’ disgrace of being handled thus easily by a beardless youth. At the same time, lhe was filled with admiration and astonishinent because of Frank’s strength. Pl] - not injure him,’’ promised Frank; ‘‘but he must come to his senses before I let him go. He must promise not to act like a fool.”’ “Tet go,’’ said Havener. ‘‘I was a fool to get stuck on the girl! Said I’d never let another one fool me after my first mistake, but a man don’t know much when it comes to women.”? f¥ou will make a fool of yourself if u break with Miss Lee because you - hk there is anything between us, that’s sures” ‘What was the secret ?”’ “Perhaps slie will tell you some day. Tiyou care for her, you must believe in If you cannot trust to-break with you right here.” Somehow those words seemed to take the excitement out of the stage manager. TIP TOP WEEKLY, « ‘fand I heard her ask you not to tell me about something. That was enough to make any man suspicious.”’ ‘‘Perhaps so; but you lad better forget it.’ Frank went about his work, leaving Cassie talking earnestly with, Havener. It was evident to Merry that she finally satisfied him that his ,jealousy was groundless, for he stooped and kissed her suddenly. 2 In Frank’s heart, however, was a deep and heavy pain, caused by the knowledge of the unfortunate girl’s terrible secret. CHAPTER: XI. TE WeOs > AN Gab Le. The ‘‘All-Star Combination’’ struck bad business and a run of all-round hard luck. The ‘‘ghost’? did not ‘walk,’ and distrust, dissension and rebellion | arose. Barnaby Haley had all: he could do to hold the company together. -Hedid so, hoping that the ‘‘streak’’ would pass and good business would cone. The part of the country througl which they were playing had been surfeited ‘with ‘‘Uncle Tom,’’ and the people were tired of the old piece, so they refused to be aroused and inveigled into giving up +. He looked at Frank and then his eyes ' wandered to thie face of the girl. ae > j/*Yot must believe him, Ross,’ she = said “‘‘He is right. If you can’t trust their: hard earned money, for all of the glaring paper, the donkey, the “fierce bloodhounds,”’? and the ‘‘gold band.’ me now, you never will, and we shall be miserable, instead of happy.’’ “He knows——’’ “‘Rverything. I have told him.’ “Why did you do it?” ‘Because I lad to tell somebody! You are aman, and you can keep still, but a woian just has to talk.’? **T ouess that’s right.’ **He is ready to help us, instead of try- ing to make trouble between us.’’ “That's right,’? nodded Frank. ‘Let me go,’’ urged Havener.. ‘‘Let me tlrink it over.. Perhaps I. have been foolish. I don’t know. I'll have to have time to think about it.’’ Frank released him, saying: “All right, but don’t get daffy about it. Believe me—believe Miss Lee. All will be well in the end, I hope.’’ ‘Vou were talking together in a con- fidential way,’’ said the stage manager, Don’t You Want To Know A Fine Fellow? One night there was a ‘‘council of war’? among: the members of the com- pany, and demands were made on Haley. He could not meet the demands, and the entire company threatened to ‘‘quit.”’ The following morning several mem- bers of the company were missing, and the show was forced to go on without them, or suspend. That night old Dan Lee filled more parts than he had ever before attempted on one occasion. In order to get through with the piece, it was necessary for almost every actor to “fake,’? and Frank was obliged to fill in @ by assuming a sinall part. He-did it very well, saving the piece from complete dis- aster, although the thin audience went away far from satisfied. When the next town was reached, it was found that their reputation had reached there in advance of tlrem. Clif Faraday Is One. TIP TOP WEEKLY. 27 “Well be lucky if we take ten dollars to-night,’’? declared Havener, after dis- covering the true state of affairs. Then one of the actresses ‘‘struck,’’ adding to the complications. It seemed douhtful if they could play that night at all, but, as a last dying gasp, they re- solved to make a bluff at it. The actress had been required each night to ascend into the flies as the spirit or ‘Little Eva’ after. the:.death ‘scene, and it was necessary for sonie other per- sou to take her place. That night it was arranged that Hans should dress in the flowing white robes, and be hoisted into the flies when the proper time caine. Thé stage would be in semi-darkness, and it was hoped that the audience would not catch on. This struck Frank as very ludicrous. Merry believed: the dissolution of thie coulpany must come on the following day, and so he was ready to play any sort of a practical joke. He resolved to have some sport at tle Dutcl lad’s expense. To the astonishment of everybody, the theatre filled surprisingly with spectators. Barnaby Haley rubbed inis hands together with satisfaction and congratulated him- selt. But the audience was there for sport, and they began alinost as soon as thie curtain went up to guy the players. As the play progressed, this ‘‘jollying’’ be- came more and more offensive and hard to bear. Frank decided that, before the play - was over, the audience would break out _ all together. * When the death scene came, Hans ~, Dunnerwust, arrayed in white robes, with wings attached to his shoulders, was ~crouching behind the couch on which ‘Little Eva’’ was supposed to be gasping her last. Frank had arranged the tackle that was to hoist Hans, and he was waiting eager- ly for the climax that was to come. It came. ; The footlights refused to grow diin, although a desperate attempt was made to lower them, and there was a hitch in the play. At last, thoroughly depweraie: Havener gave the signal for the men at the wind- lass to hoist away. Something white rose swiftly into the air over the couch). The “‘spirit of Little Eva’’ was ascend- ing! ‘But such a spirit! ‘The hook of the tackle was attacked to the seat of the Dutch lad’s trousers, so that he was held-limply ‘‘amidships,’ while his flowing robes had fallen away in such a manner that his clothing was exposed beneath. ‘*Probably never before in the history of ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ on the’ stage had such a ‘‘spirit”? ascended before the eyes of a staring, astounded andiengay |” “‘Aellup!’’ howled Haus, kickippy squawking, as he sailed toward the: “Come und safe me pefore you HF deat man !”? : Then there was a hitch, for the win lass refused to work, and there the strugt gling Dutch lad hung in full view Of the now laughing spectators. +i is Missiles began to whizz through. $ air. : Spat!—a stale egg struck Hans Behind the ear. tutes Whizz—plunk! ' A small cabhage set him round and round like a top. ‘Nail him!’ “Soak him !?? **Give it to him!”? ‘*Hooray!”” The audience was in an uproar, and a seemed as if eveny person there had brought something to throw. : ‘*Hel-lup!’’, bellowed the unfortunate lad. ‘‘I vos/peing kilt alretty yet!’ With the band; Ephraim Gallup roared with laughter. He knew a practical joke had been perpetrated, and somehow it had the flavor of Frank Merriwell’s old tiine larks, so he was immensely amused. As Hans stopped revolving for a imo- ment, he shook his fist at Ephraim, gurgling: “Vait, vait! Uf I aind’t kilt pefore I die, I vill got efen mit you! You vos Peter to, Swat !—a rotten apple struck him fair- ly in the mouth, stopping his flow of speech. spinnin BY ALL MEANS READ OUR PREMIUM OFFER—SEE LAST PAGE wed _? Snarled a familiar voice. ae > ‘and Frank felt tie powder singe 28 TIP TOP ‘This is the funniest show I ever seen!?? shouted a man in the audieuce. **Ain’t I glad I come!’ Some boys began to sing ‘‘I want to be ~an angel.”’ Then’ the windlass began to. work again, and the pelted youth was drawn up out of sight, just as Havener succeeded in arousing’ the curtain boy to let the curtain down. It was not necessary to finish the play. The audience did not expect it, and the theatre was emptied. Hans Dunnerwust was so angry that lie couldn’t talk. Havener did not have much to say, for he decided that it would bea waste of words, for the coulpany was pretty sure _.to disband on thie following day. “That night the stage manager accom- partied Cassie Lee when she left the theatre. It was dark on the side street, and 4 man sprang on them almost as soon as they came out. by the stage entrance. “Now I’ve caught ye together!’’ “Tl finish you both this time!’’ “ pupils. “Tt means a mule,”’ Johnnie. ; ~ “Oh, no,’’ replied the master; ‘‘it doesn’t mean a mule.”’ *‘Tndeed it does,’? said Johnny. ‘‘I have a book was the reply Of little **Well,’’ said the master, now thoroughly inter- ested, ‘‘you may bring the book to school, and Piwe?ll see about it.” " The next day Johnny brought the book, and in othe triumph opened toa page where there was a icture of a soldier standing beside a mule. Below the picture were the words: “Going home on his furlough.’’ READ THE GREAT PREMIUM OFFER ON LAST PAGE. - Correspondence, . F., Wilmington, Del.—Put a handful of salt on the sponge, and rinse the salt well through ¢he sponge. Let the sponge dry in a thorough draught of air. The latter precaution alone will keep sponges free from sliminess, unless they become saturated with soap. R. C. D., Sandusky, Ohio.—1. An apparatus bearing the name of ‘‘log’’ is used for ascertaining the rate of speed of a vessel through thé water. There are several patterns in use, the latest being an electric log. 2. Civil engineering is far harder to master than telegraphing—in fact, there is no comparison between the two. Jack, Raleigh, N. C.—There is nothing that will keep the hair from growing on your face. If nature has intended you to have a full growth of hair, you should rejoice, and not look about for some means to.remove it. Asarule, young niet like to have afull growth of hair on their face, and your question is rather surprising. Bi M. J. S., Peru, Ind.—Bromide of copper give : a perfectly invisible writing, which appears Wery promptly by a slight heating, and disappears, pe ; fectly by cooling. To prepare it, take on@ patie” bromide of potassium, one part blue vitriol, eight) © parts water. It is better also to discolor the »blne. vitriol with oue part alcohol. : % T. A. H., Frankfort, Ky.—Goods are tefmed | “‘flotsam,’? when the ship is sunk, or otherwise perishes, and the goods float on the sea, ‘‘Jets i re when the ship is in danger of being sunk, and On eer lighten the ship the goods are cast into the Sea; y= and afterward, notwithstanding, the ship perishe . ‘‘Ligan,’’ when such goods cast into the se ar so heavy that they sink to the bottom, and hé mariners in order to have them again, tie a buoy or cork to them. ; a electricity may be divided into two ¢lasses; called “fopen circuit” and ‘‘closed circuit’’ batteries. The first mentioned are those which are used where the electricity is not required constantly without intermission, as in telephones, electric bells, bur lar alarms, annunciators and the like. Closed cit- cuit batteries are those which are used where the effect producéd must be continuous every minute, as, for instance, in electric lights and motors. d S. F..M., Chicago, Tl].—Roumania is a king- dom consisting of the Moldo-Wallachian provinces formerly belonging to Turkey, but by the Treaty of Berlin of July 13, 1878 was recognized as an independent State and the territory of Dobruja added to them. -On March 26, r881, it was raised toa kingdom. Its entire area is 46,314 square miles, with a population of about 5,376,000. The soil is aniong the richest in Europe, and, but for the fearful summer droughts, would also be the most productive. Cattle, sheep, and horses consti- tute the main riches of this kingdom, . immense numbers being reared on its far-stretching pastures -. pee > ~~ dated. TIP TOP WEEKLY, AMATEUR JOURNALISM. EDITED BY ARTHUR SEWALL., NOTICE. I most earnestly request all amateur journalists to send me copies of their publications for review. I shall always express my sincere opinion in re- gard to their merits or demerits. Any news as to what is transpiriug in the ‘‘dom’’ will also be, most acceptable. This is a comparatively new depart- ment for the Tip Top, butvas heretofore I shall do everything in my power to advance the interests of amateur journalism, in which I personally take the deepest interest. Arthur Sewall, Douglas Rodeback, Lago, Bannock Co., Idaho, desires to receive sample copies of auiateur publi- 4: gations with a view to subscribing. ‘The Little Star and Bits and Chips have consoli- Ed. B. Howe, Minnesota Lake, Minn., is “the editor, and he promises that the new publica- tion ‘‘ will excel every amateur in the West.’’ It Will be illustrated with half-tone cuts. scription is only ten cents a year. The sub- The Amateur Press is really admirable. Its typography and its contents are both exceptionally good, and there is a breeziness without vulgarity © about it that is very attractive. It"is published by J. Wm. Townsend & Co., box 38, Tunkhannock, Pa. -Bdw. M. Kramier, 1003 Elm street, Cincinnati, Ohio, is the advertising manager and Homer C. Tubb, Bessemer, Ala., is the editor. It is a monthly magazine and the subscription pHCe is 15 cents a year. GENUINENESS. By J. Mervin Hull in the Editor. This is a principle which we who write ought to have strongly developed. We need it, first ot all, with reference to our creative consciousness. Every writer knows what that is. We are conscious of exerting a creative power, which was before unknown to us, and which we believe marks a separation between us and the rest of humanity. This consciousness exalts us. It is also a magnetic force, drawing into a peculiar fellowship those who possess it. This exaltation and this fellowship have peculiar privi- leges and pleasures, but they have also peculiar dangers, being connected with imperfect human- ity. The temptation to self-conceit is one danger. Another danger is that writers shall think that their powers are more sacred than others, so they shall say, “‘We are the people. We are of higher order than the common herd.’’ So that it might be ' departments of my life. necessary to’say, as Dickens did of the world of fashion, ‘‘There are many good and true people in it; but the evil of itis, that it is wrapped up ink too much jeweler’s cotton and fine wool, and cafi- not hear the rushing of the larger worlds. Itisa deadened world, and its growth is somewhat un- healthy for want of air.’’ It seems to methat I can ~ detect some signs of this tendency in several quar- ters of the literary world of to day. We need the stamp of genuineness with refer- ence to the output of our work. ou we stand is not holy ground, < see we nay sometimes feel that it is, when the fires of inspira- tion have burned brightly. I think that some editors need to be brought to book, aud they are likely to be, but I think also that we are apt to= have our nerves a little too near the surface in re- gard to rejection blanks, fgndish delight of editors. in crushing a new writer, and all that. Discipline, training, pruning, go with every profession, and surely the perfect writer cannot be produced with- * out then. Then there is that matter of recognition and appreciation. Very perplexing indeed. I am a preacher as well as a writer (no need of saying so, probably), and this. problem confronts me in two. If the people all turn away from the service withovt a word of apprecia- tion, then I know what exquisite suffering ig, And sometimes I get praise which Ifear is born on the lips, which is worse. But sometimes discover that it have helped a life into the light, and that compeusates for all. So in regard to appreciation of what we write. We yearn for it, but we can better afford to go without it than io have the imitation of it. The press agent and the floral offering may do in the theatrical world, but it is depressing to see a writer develop an appetite for such.unsubstantial food. — I believe that if there is a genuine power in us ‘it will meet with response somewhere. But if not, % that is not so sad as the case of those writers who ~~ have been sent up in a balloon before the admim ing eyes of multitudes, and have come down=no one knows where. A MUSICAL MOUSETRAP. Acting upon the idea that mice are very sensitive ~~ to music, a Belgian manufacturer has substituted a musical mousetrap for the common trap. Instead of baiting the apparatus with abit of cheese or lard, the inventor has hidden in a double bottom’a | : small musicbox, which plays automatically various popular airs of the country. The mice, he asserts, are drawn irresistibly toward the music box, and, ~ in order to hear better, they step into the trap and = find themselves prisoners. CLEAR GRIT COUNTS WHENE {VER CLIF TAKES A HAND. The place where- 37> APPLAUSE. wonderful have read nearly all of them, pleasure to say I have never read a fier weekly. Ishould like to see Frank marry’ ‘Tara o "Hoping that you will continue it for a long | Hime yet. J. J. K., Vicksburg, Miss. P.S.—Would like to join the navy. as an ap- prentice, or . any other way, so I could join the havy. Is there any chance for me to? Also, what Fi would be the icet plan to pursue, and also how Reould [be apprenticed? Also, what are the rules Yo join? ee me to congratulate you on your ipa Tip fop. I 8 eo ave t! *& pad tt it i) It is well for the possible candidate for appren- iticeship.to 1 nderstand that under no circumstances ean he be made a commissioned officer in the ‘United States navy. The highest position to which Call aspire is that of gunuer, with arelative rank Ht little above that of the chief petty officers or mlistedaién. -Any boy, between the ages of four- een and seventeen, able to read and write, of good oral cha@tacter, and strong physically, can enlist m@ the United States Navy as an apprentice. Can- @idates can apply at the government navy yards Mi@cdtedin New York, Boston, Portsmouth, Phila- i@elphia, Norfolk, Mare Island, California, or on ‘Board the Minnesota, receiving ship for boys in Ww York. Candidates must have the written con- et of their parents or guardians before Uncle aim pexmits them to swear allegiance to the Stars @ Stripes, and they must also apply with the un- tanding that they are to remain in the naval Wice until they are twenty-one years of age. Whe physical examination is very strict, and a ate proportion of applicants are rejected because ‘ef fone disability or from poor phy sique. The re- J Size and weight of applicants is as follows: A = l4y’rs. Wiy’rs. 16 y’rs. 17 y’rs. 4 ft. in. o ie i less than 49 4h 51 5 2 ? lbs. ally femot less than 70 80 90 100 # ‘ inches, not Jessthan 16 27 28 29 she pay of naval apprentices varies according to inrank.. On enlisting they are placed in the itd clags and receive $9 per month. Deserving $ ‘willbe rated second class apprentices, and E éive $ro per month after having served’ six Moths in a cruising ship. j one year this is increased to $rr per Properly qualified apprentices will be seaman apprentices, second class, and will e $19 per month after having served one year ia cruisimg vessel of war. As a further promo- On, thos@apprentices of good reputation and apt their difties, will be rated seaman apprentices of fie firsielass, at a monthly salary of $24, after yO yearsim said cruisers. I have been a most regular reader of your publi- “dations, grich as Tip Top, Diamond Dick, Jr., and fimte Blue. I think Frank Merriwell of Tip Top to sy tite greatest hero and the most modest fellow of 'tiumes. Frank’s misfortune was a great blow to wig; as I would like to see him finish his college ealeer at Yale. By reading them I find that Frank in’ h CLIF’S FEARFUL TIP TOP WEEKLY. 32 is climbing up the ladder at a great rate. He will surely land at the top and then he can Jook down on those who have been his enemies, but now wish to be his friends. I sincerely hope that Frank will by becoming a millionaire. We would like to see Frank again saving Elsie Bellwood’s life and the story would end by their union. Giving Frank my best wishes. Timothy Sullivan, Pittsburg, Pa. Frank will certainly ga'back to Yale and will probably meet Elsie again. Whether he will marry or not, tine alone can tell. At present, Frank is not thinking of marriage. end his career I have been reading the Tip Top for a good while and think it the best boys’ paper. Hoping no misfortune will befall Frank. Bert Kendall, Houston, Tex. Misfortunes are bound to overtake Frank, they do all people in this world, but we can be pretty sure that he will conre out all right in end, the Having read your Tip Top Weekly from the first number up to date, I consider it niy duty to thank 4 you for the many hours of pleasure I have oh- tained from: that instructive little paper. I hope % some day to see Frank marry Inza Burrage, as 1% think she is just as nice a girl and would mak@a better wife for Frank than Elsie Bellwood, and I think this is the opinion of Western Tip Top readers generally. I wish you and Frank suceess Frank A, Hanson, Fargo, N. D. Who Frank will eventually tell at present. the stories. marry no oné “can Very glad that you have enjoy al: I have been reading the Frank Merriwell stories” since they started, and like them better than any other boys’ paper I ever read, and think Mr, Standish the best writer of boys’ stories, would like to ask Mr. Standish if there ever was a/ Prank: Merriwell. If so, please let me know. J. M. Foster, Mobile, Ala. Frank Merriwell is, of course, a hero of ‘fiction, although a large number of the incidents in which he figures are founded upon fact. We have been keeping on reading your books and find every one interesting. We have read all other books, but none can compare with Frank Merriwell’s. We will keep on reading them as long as they are printed, because they are getting more and more interesting every week. Hoping you will have this in your book and let the boys see it, and wishing Frank Merriwell good luck, Otto Anderson and Harry Anderson, Chicago, Ill. It is a great gratification to us to know that we are pleasing the boys. We kave read nearly all of the Tip Top Library since published and think them an ideal publica- tion for the American youth. We remain your constant readers, F. W.,,H. B., R. E., Rochester, N. Y. It is our aim, and ever will be, to make the Tip Top ideal. STORM AT SEA. , TIP TOP WEEKLY. ip Top Quarterly.. A Great Series! 9 The earlier issues of Tip Top Weekly are now on sale in the orm of Quarterlies, each including 13 consecutive issues of this FRANK MERRIWELL’S BICYCLE TOUR ACROSS favorite weekly, together with the 13 original iNuminated illustra- tions, and an elegant cover in colors. The price is 50 Cents per A volume, for which sum they will be sent by wail post-paid to aud THE CONTINENT address in the United States, - = NOW READY. ~ ~ Comprising Thirteen Issues of the No. Nos. 27 to 89 of Tip Top Weekly, ~4 - No. «* Nos. 40 to 52 of Tip Top Weekly. ‘Tip ‘Top Weekip No. N 53 to 65 of Tip Top Weekly. ms an A No. Nos, 66 to 78 of ‘Tip ‘Top Weekly. 7 sy No. 7. Nos. 79 to 91 of Tip Top Weekly. Complete in No. 5 of the , Ip OP QU R Nos. 1 and 2 out of print, TERLY, with all the original illuminated If your Newsdealer has not got the Quarterlies, remit direct to j]Justrations. Admirers of Frank Merriwell the pubiishers, : . s should have this book by all meaus. STREET & SMITH, 81 Fulton St., N, ¥. Price, SO Cents. Sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price SCT IN WRES I LING. cE STREET & SMITH, Publishers, History tells us that wrestling was the first form of athletic 2 = , pastime. Without doubt, it gives strength and firmness, combined 81 Fulton St., New York with quickness and plisbility, to the linibs, vigor to the body, ae coolness and discrimination to the head and elasticity to the te oO U T D Oo Oo R S Pp O R hi S per, the whole forming an energetic combination of the gr es = ‘é ie Bes ek Bone found in man. ‘The book is entitled Prowse ULDOON’s WRESTLING, ‘It is fully illustrated, and will be sent > ; ; + Me ; ranait es a SET ae Complete instructions for playing many of the moct popular out” postpaid on receipt of ten cents. Address r obaook games is found inthis took. ‘The games nae illustrated 4 = ~ STBEET & SMITH, 25 Rose street, New York, and very easily mastered. Priceten cents. Address ~ (Manual Library Department). STREET & SMJTH, 2 Rose street, New York, E : Manual Library Department). ak) -- OUR NEW PREMIUM... — _ War-Graph of the Battle of Manila, i ~~ - =~ Messrs, Street & Smith have made arrangements to present a Wat-Graph to every reader of their popwlar+ = publications for boys. The conditions are easy. Read them, ; - “We publish four 32-page, illuminated cover weeklies for boys, retailing for five cents each, as follows: “y ~ The True Blue, The Nick Carter Weekly, +. . The Tip Top Weekly, The Diamond Dick, Jr. ~ «We wish the readers of one series to become acquainted with the entire line. On and after the present date the - : cotipon at the foot of this column will be printed in each one of the above-mentioned publications, Three coupon’s each clipped from a different publication, mailed to our office, accompanied by a two-cent stamp, will entitle you to. this premium, sent to your address, post-paid, free of all expense. . DESCRIPTION OF THE WAR-GRAPH: A new article, just introduced, giving in a series of thirty colored pictures a graphic portrayal of the Battle of ° Manila. These pictures show in succession the cause of the war, the entry of Admiral Dewey’s fleet into floating of Old Glory, followed by a portrait of our hero, Admiral Dewey, Uncle Sam spanking the boy king of — Spain, and finally ejecting Spain from Cuban soil.’ These pictures are small but very interesting, and are fastened together so that by a rapid motion they can be operated similar to a Mutoscope: A very interesting collection of pictures. Certain to please everv one of our readers. We will send one postpaid to anybody who complies with the conditions as stated in the coupon below. Yon can secure a8 mnany war graphs as you desire, provided yeu seud sufficient coupons aid stamps, provided each of the set of three is fro different publication. Send ity your coupons. Remember this is a purely gratuitous gift on our part, intended to call your attention to others of our publica= tions besides the ones you are now purchasing, If you cannot procure what you desire from your newsdeal id us twelve cents aud one coupon, and we will send you by return mail a copy of two other publications and the war-graph. Addr your coupons to STREET & SMITH’S PREMIUM DEPT. 81 Fulton Street, New York, Coupons published previous to the following numbers are not good under this offer: 127 Tip Top, 101 Diamond Dick, 19 True Blue, 90 Niek Carter. : : “Patriotic Badge Coupons” published in previons issues of these publications will not be received for badges after Oct. 1st, 1898, TIP TOP WEEKLY COUPON. This coupon, accompanied by two others, each from a different one of the following pubK- cations: Nick Carter Weekly, Diamond Dick, Jr., or True Blue, entitle the sender to the premium we offer, ifa two cent stamp is also enclosed to_pay for postage and packing. STREET & SMITH, Life in Uncle Saim’s Navy is the Key Note of True Blue. Price. Tip Top Weekly & PRICE '* > FIVE CENTS@ COMPLETE LIST OF STORIES BY THE AUTHOR OF “FRANK MERRIWELL.” Frank Merriwell’s Mysterious Foe; or, Wild Life on the Pampas. Frank Mertiwell a Monarch; or, The King of Phantom Island, Frank Merriwell in Gorilla Land; . The Seareh for the Missing Link. Frank Merriwell’s Magic; or, The Pearl of Tangier. Frank Merriwell in France; or, The Mystery of the Masked Unknown, Frank Merviwell’s Feat; or, The Queen of the Bull Vighters. Frank Merriwell in London; or, The Grip of Doom, Frank Merriwell’s Venture; or, Driven from Armenia. Frank Merriwell in India; or, Hunting Human Leop- ards, Frank Merriwell'’s Vow; or, After Big Game in Ceylon. Frank Merriwell in Japan; or, The Sign of the Aven- ger. Frank Merriwell's Dead Shot; or, Australia, Frank Merriwell in the South Sea; or. The GAS for Life. Frank Merriwell at Home Again; or, The Mystery of Ethel Driscoll. Frank Merriwell at Yale; or, I’reshiman Against Freshinian. * Frank Merriwell’s Mateh; or, The King of the Sopho- mores. ig Frank Merriwell’s Victory; or, The Winning Oar. Frank Merriwell’s Finish; or, Blue Against Crimson. Frank Merriwell's Game; or. Suaring the Sharper. Frank Merriwell’s Great Run; or, Trouncing the Tigers. Frank Merriwell’s Even Up; or, Squaring the Score. Frank Merriwell’s Queen; or, Blow for Blow. Frank Merriwell’s Find; or, The Waif of the Train. Frank Verriwell’s Racer; or, Birds of a Feather. Frank Merriwell’s Nerve; or, Game to the Ind. Prank Merriwell’s Shadow; or, ®he Mysterious Stran- wer. Frink Merriwell's Dash; or, Yale Against the, Pield. Frank Merriwells Bicyele Boys; or, ‘The Start Across the Continent. Frank Merriwell's Ride for Life; or, Foiling the Train Destroyers. , Frank Meérriwell’s Great Capture; or, Bicycle Against Horse. Frank Merriwell to the Rescue; or, Through Fire and Water. Frank Merriwell's Close Call; or, The Tramps Token. Frank Merriwell’s Unknown Friend: or, Old Friends in New Places. Frank Merriwel Among the Ruastlers; or, Phe Cattle King’s Daughter, Frank Merviwell’s Desperate Drop; or, tures in the Rockies. Frank Merriwell in the Mines; or, Silver Bluff. Frank Merriweil Among the Mormoms; or, The Lost Tribe of Israel Frank Merriwell on the Desert; .or, The. Mystery of the Skeieton. Frank Merriwell’s Underground Seareh; or, Saving the Buried Heiress. Frank Merriwell in California; or, The End of the Great Tour. Prize Plot Story; Frank Merriwell as the Star, Frank Merriwell’s Yacht: or, The Chase Down the Coast. Frank Merriwell's Combination; or, The All Aroiuid Athletes, Frank Merriwell's Red Rival. Frank Merriwvell’s Texas Tournament; or, Sport Among the Cowboys. Frank Merriwvell’s Nine; or, Surprising the Southern League. Frank Merriwell’s Shot; or, Out With the Guthrie Gun Clab, Frank Merriwell’s Flyer; or, The Winning Wheel. Frank Merriwell’s Thoroughbred; or, Honesty Agaiust Crookeduess. Frank Merriwell’s Enemy; or, The Rivals of the Blue Ridge. Frank Merriwell’s Crew; or, The Champions of the Potonia Frank Merriwell’s Hunt; or, In at the Death. Frank Merriwell’s Blow; or, Unmasking a Rascal. Frank Merriwe!l's Return to Yale; or, The Mystery of the Examination Papers. Frank Me well as “Ancuor;” or, The Winning Pull in the Tug of War. | Roughing it in Wild Adven- The Blind Singer Frank Merriwell’s L[nitiation; or , ThelSéx ret Order of Pi Ganuni. e Frank Merriwell’s Sign; or, The Se¢tet of the Silent Student. 3 E Frank } ‘riwell as Full Back; or. Truc to HigGolors Frank arvriwell’s Duel; or, A PointOf Honor, ; Frank Merriwell’s Mark; or, Subduinga Bully, Frank Merriwell’s Seer or, A-Brimid in Need, Frank Merriwell’s Reven or aa at Lasts Frank Merriwell’s Capture; or, Thé Bliek Schooner Frank Merriwell’s Chun; or, The Hand of a. Friend, Frank Merriwell’s Double Shoot; or, Winning in the Box. Frank Merriwell’s Danger; or, The Shadow of Dis- ~ grace. Frank Merriwell’s Wager; or, Bound to Win. Frank Merriwellin Training; or, The, Mystery of Midnight Prowler. F : Frank Merriwell’s Courage; or, Loyal to the Taast, Frank Merriwell at Fardale Again; or, Yale Lads the Mili Academy. Frauk Merriwell in-C iuup; or, Frolies with athe FE. dale Bos Frank Me rriwell's F: urdiule Friends; or, Foes. Frank Merriwell's Yale Chums; or, The of Fardale. = Frank Merriwell’s Choice; or, The Fair Fardale. Frank Merriwell's Fardale Racket; or, Yale Frolic. e Frank Merriwell's Courage; Bluff. Frank Merriwell's Faith; or, Tle Shadow of Frank Merriwell’s Celebration; i Fardale. "i Frank Merriwell Afloat; or, The Cruis Wings. 2 Frank Merriwell Under Megitinticook; Knox County League. Frank Merriwell’s Mystery; or, The Monster of De Island. Frank Merriwell’s Disappearanee; or, Lhe ok ret. Ee the Island. Frank Merriwell Aroused;. or, he Bi yde "Boy Belfast. : Tk) Frank Merriwell’s Pursuit; or, The Chase 0 Stolen Yacht. ¥ Frank Merriwell’s Cateh; or, Tlie Gane Boys of — Sebasticook. Te Frank Merriweil’s Guide; or, Sport Ardy io Head Lake. ne Frank Merriwell's Peril; or, thd Sauire hersot the Border. , Frank Merriwell’s Drift; or, With the Peo ot Riye Drivers. + Frank Merviwell’s Daring; or, I:lsie 3h rood? & ane Vvifice. Frank Merriwell's Fist; or, Bound to Khow the That Frank Mprriwell’s Masquerade; or, Lie Belle of sik ricane Island. Frank Merriwell’s Misfortune: or, The Start of a New! Career. : Frank Merriwell, Engine WIDO1 ay, At the Fx vot the Ladder. Frank Merrviwell, Fireman; or, rhe Firgt, Step Up? ward. i Frank Merriwwell's Opportnwityy ore The Ghost of Black Gorge. 4 - Frank Merriwell’s First Run; or, The Chance of Mis Life, . yt ae Franie Méerrivell Engineer or, The Turn of Fortune Frank Merriwell’s Hard oie eae A Slip, ol ae Ladder. Frank Merriwell’s Advance me ng; or, Engineer of i Mountain Express. a J | : Frank Merriwell Held Up;)ory Tlie Robbery of the” Mountain Express. Frank Merriwell’s Proteg “ory Pending a Ielpix Hand. ‘i Frank Merviwell on Strike; sor, Saving the Enem rriwell as a Ferret; or, Tracking the rain | 4 xr, True Nerve 4 Frank Merriwell Accused; or, Reaping the Spr veaty Frank Merriwell on the Road; or, The All- Spur omb nation. Frank Merriwell’s First Part; or, The Start. as an ‘Ae stor abet aii it m we For Sale by all Newsdealete: or : ual ig sent, Pcs:paid, by STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, 81 FULTON ST., NEw YORK: on. cedcipts /OT