Trp lop WEEKLY “An ideal publication for the American Youth Issued weekly By Subscription, $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Crass Matier at the N. Y. Post Office by StREET & SMITH ae Price, Five Cents. FRANK MERI OR SAVED BYAN ALIBI ~~, —_5Y BURELSTANDISH ** L00K!’? CRIED HERBERT, HOLDING UP THE BLOOD-STAINED BAT, ‘‘HERE ARE FRANK MERRIWELL’S INITIALS.’? ceed ez STAGED Diet ot oe SE tae a Ps TID TOP Issued Wee sky —By Subscription $2.50 per*year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SurTH, 939 “geen St., N. ¥. Entered Accor = to Act of Congress, in the year 1899 No. 173. NEW. YORK, Senieiebee 9, Bon: a AN IDEAL EUBLICATION FOR THe ore YOUTH CEKLY in the one ot the Librarian of Congr: ess, W ashington, De C. Price Five Cents. FRANK MERRIWELL'S BAT; or, Saved by au THE SERENADE * ‘ ‘ % a < 3 * s 80 ELAM VISITS THE MUSEE : pos : . : : : ; z : ; 82 A HAZY TIME : : : ‘ J é E : : ; j ‘ ; Z 85 APPLAUSE - . ; : 4 ‘ : ‘ : 3 : ; s : 87 ee. “CORRESPONDENCE + eee ; : ‘ Sass 39 _ Frank Merriwell’s Bat eS SAVED BY AN ALIBI GO = aoe oe = S44 ; By BURT L. CHAPTER THE TRAGEDY IN THE WOODS. “Help!” The matin the water looked up ap- pealingly at Herbert ~ Haninierswell, who was on the bank above. Below them the whirlpool of the river was roaring hunegrily, like a ravenous beast that scented its prey. The man in the river‘had attem pted to swim across to escape from pursuers, but the current had caught him and swept him toward the terrible whirlpool, forc- s Contents.of This Number. Page. Alibi. c= ete we eS ee lL. STANDISH ; ene et oe ing him to turn — ss the shore he had grasped a broken sapling: that hung down from the steep bank. Then he looked up and saw Herbert glaring down at him, whereupon he uttered the appeal — for help. 3 Herbert was panting. He had been run-_ ning with all speed through the woods, ‘ having becoine separated from Ned Hast- ~ ings a short time before.. In the distance, — he could hear the shouts of pursuers. He looked around. No one seeined near Save the man in the water. **Hello, old pal,’’ s: nic the man cling- ing to the sapling. ‘I’ve changed my mind about going across. Givea fellow a lift, will you?”’ 661) 0. 999 Aus Se 4 1 T at Ill give youa li rated Herbert, Bist ae ee er CO] as he began to feel in his pocket. Oh, y 97 2 * Leth ERI yes, I'll give you a lif He thought liow this man held him in his power. How, if Joe Scott died, this an mig vt send hinr to the gallows. acct: one of the village boys who played on Frank Merriwell’s Maplewood ball team, had been tampered with by Herbert, who had induced him to at- tempt to bring about Maplewood’s defeat whenever he could do so by bad playin at critical points in games. But’ Frank Merriwell was far. too shrewd not to see through the game right away,’ and Scott had been put on thie bench. Ses 4 Directly Herbert's tool had quarreled with his master, and he had threatened to tell everything. For Herbert’s expos- ure meant everlasting disgrace in Maple- “wood. To begin with, Hammerswell had seemed no more than a vapid, selfish, wayward youth; but his hatred for Frank -Merriwell had Jed him from one piece of -crookedness to another, till he had devel- oped into a thorough rascal. Often it is thus with lads who let their passions aud hatreds lead them. astray. Gradually, little by little, they sink deep- er-and deeper into the quaginire of wrong- doing till they become thoroughly em- bogged. In the early days of wrong-doing the are few lads who do not shrink from any serious crime, but, bit by bit, little acts of crookedness wear the fine edge from conscience, ayd then they sink deeper and deeper. . _Any youth who values his manhood, iid means to become a worthy and up- tight citizen, honored and respected, TIP TOP WEEKLY. tend to kill his finer feelings and deaden his couscience. In every way possible he his conscience ever should strive to keep on sentry duty, to warn him of danger. Don’t be et of your conscience! Because another can doa certain wrong thino and never seem to be troubled be- y > cause of it, do not follow his example and ry to smother the rebukes of conscience. Herbert had been led on and on, grad- ing deeper and deeper. If at the start he could have seen what his hatred would have led him into, he would have Maplewood ard Fran k Merriwell. One wrong act had dragged him on to another, till, at last, he had become,so en- tangled thia t th Th 1 Jere seemed no way for him to hide the black things he had done ex- cept by doing other and blacker things. This man in the water, clinging to the sapliitg, appealing to him for help, held Herbert’s fate in his hands. Herbert be- lieved it, for, only the day before, the man had accused the ex-Senator’s son of beating Joe Scott unconscious upon the highway, and had demanded the sum of five hundred dollars as hush money. For fivé hundred dollars the man had prom- ised to go away and remain silent. Five hundred dollars was a_ large amount of money, and Herbert did not have it; but, that very night, he crept intothe.xcoom where his father ing soundly, and stole the atnount re- quired. ‘This he gave tothe man, bid« ding him get away at once. But Flipper Flynn, who had lately es- caped from Sing Sing, and who knew : \ officers were on his track, had struck something too soft to akandon it at once, Instead of hastening away, he went no further than . Rockford, where he pur. chased sporty clothes, rigging himself out gaily, and_ then teturned to Maplewood ou the next day, at the time whien the great gainer between’ Torrenttown and Maplewood was to take place. flied in shuddering horror from lay sleep- © But the officers were closer upon Flynn’s heels than he had thought. One clusion of the game and attempted to ar- rest him. 44 ee Tad ed i 1 Flynn was a thorough desperac Jo, and he had stabbed the officer and fled. Then crowd of the See sik i eee Beale a ey ageinn began the man hunt. The great o_o o han La 1tors haa horrified pursued and forced attempt to swiin the river spect woods, hiin to wretch into the in order to €s- gt pta ing E trowned in the. river. And now tliey were face to face, all alone in the dark woods, Flynn hanging to the half-br with ke 1 Se ask- t W hitlpool ing assistance, while the ( ‘roared a short distance belov J in y Panting blood rush ie ling the ert thrust a trembling 1x to his head, Her and hand into a pocket and drew forth his clasp-knife. With his teeth he opened the blade | The man had attempted to drag him- but, snarl, ? self from the water, with a ‘Herbert shook “Get back!” lie g _““Whiat’s the asked Flynn, in you going to give a friend.a lift?” “You” Herbert, broken sapling wi the sapling furiously. rated, mw vAtta +14 ina +71 9? matter with you, pal: (OA a $4 tvt CH t some alarm. re no ftiend of miné!’’ snarled as he began cutting at the half- h his a was do- himself from the water before the young rascal Flynn realized what \Hexrber ing, and again he tried to a could succeed in his da stardly Purpose. ~ Too late! , Snap—crack! The sapling’ broke completely off, and the fierce current whirled the unfortunate wretcli away toward the triumphant whirlpool. “Help! | The cry was faint and choked by the water. It struck like a tlirust at the heart TIP TOP WEEKLY. - mer swell, _ bert’s fF 4 ne dn pl ee 4 +1 - ‘ of the shaking youth onthe shore, It 94 hin thn Aa~] » feeling fre a his Vay Liiii~ dal C-11KE€ iCCiTS LOU en > = = { leg Rose a nead to his reet effort to clutch somethii1 on shore, anc Bs ack anes RS gat irioad. ae ry ae ; then, for a little distance; Herbert, ran alone the nis I t +4 I Dp no? deter~ AIOUS L - A WJ Add day pas Lilisy 2% mined, murderous. Vines trailed to the water’s they did not check the speed of the mar 1 ?) “Oli, yes—yes, of course—of course it 9 But Herbert felt that Hastings knew it was not, and another held his terrible secret. The pursuers of the fugitive caine up, Frank Merriwell being among the fore- most. They found Herbert and Ned, and it was Hastings who told how Flynn had been drowned in the river while trying to And to Herbert it seemed all the while that his companion swim across to escape. was trying to shield him from suspicion. CHAPTER III. AGITATION OF A GUILTY CONSCIENCE. Hastings told his tale with consum- inate skill, miration in~ Herbert’s breast... For the first time, Ned was a very slick liar, and, in a vague awakening a feeling of ad- Hammerswell. realized that way, he wondered if the fellow had al- ways told him the truth. Ned had told some remarkable tales about himself and his connection witlr English: aristocracy and nobility, A1- though he had been a attived at Maple Heights Hotel, sneer bhatt had ena abled him to = up at the TIP TOP WEEKLY. ‘ j ° . 4\ quite penniless when and his nerve had . made hii J <4 a oe 1 SS gg ah uainted with persons who. regarded a acq a4 eke “a4400% with nantamnt na ane Ly Noor Nan With CONtemMpt and scorn. irre - A han a TAT EC 66 Aw loa oy? Pe ah Fae had a way of ~- working trends who possessed money, and 1t was not long be- } ; fore his pockets were jingling. C434 ih Oise ae Ba rp em OT a ed 4-5 Still Hastings heid himseit on his 13 vt9 19 Anes RA OnnAsa eg ges Pe dignity, and he accepted a i0an as + conferring a favor on the one who let him have the money. He was clever at draw poker and other games of: chance and clea ti ~eaf ha eens ie % LAS Af ry ‘a skill, and he lived like a lofd at Maple- wood. z rt - ot - ie * st éamrt — “ 156044 L244 he village girls raved over him, but ,* - 7 no attention. ‘The as 1e gave them little or young ladies who were sumimering there adored him, and with them he cut a great dash. All the young men were envious of Hastings had found Hammerswéll.and his friend Fitznoodle fruitful objects to ‘work,’’ and he clung ‘to them very close. Still he made it appear as if ae were the ones who were clinging to him, Never had Herbert been able to aa well that might make him amenable to the law. In his heart Ned respected and Merry might read his character, and le held admired Frank, bit lie. feared himself aloof from-~ the presence of the young baseball manager. The appearance of Flipper Flynn, an escaped convict, in Maplewood had filled Hastings with untold alarm. In the past~ the two had been associated in more than one shady piece of business, and. Ned feared his old side partner night g him away. Flynn explained that officers were on his track, and he must have five hundred dollars to enable him to escape safely into Canada and take care of himself tem po- ratily after getting there. Hastings’ was not in position to fork over five but ae felt confident that Ned could Tastings into any action toward Merri- give | e hundred dollars, and he said so; s 4 ‘who had gone down to deat “ing evidence against Hiin than any of mouth. rivet) and Hastings told the story. about it; give him a lift in some way, and he held fast to lis old-time pal. 7 OE ee Sr - : Hastings became despearte. He felt ool 1 Pet aad al dad that he must get rid o fellow some- —— FANN ae? ea 1 . 994 P> TET Seth ert la how. Then he told him of Herbert Ham- apis oe tT Aver seh i wot = x Bot Sid aan mersweii, ending witli the story of Hain- 11) 1 a to Go At a LAr merswell’s assault on joe pcott, wio had 7 7 11 h Kerns. AAs: 2% a + Sanat en1iniie been struck down aud beaten UNCONSCIOUS, “ry ] ¢ 1, 7+ f >» so that he might die. PE eee eat 4. ke aed ‘ . Ey J hat Wwas*the matefriai Kiyn desire ! co and Peek § Tain eens an Se 1] pos and he made the most of it. He soughta LI ; meeting wi rlaiimersweli, accused him ere ten eA Ae ih a NE dT ati ania adellanded five hundred doilars. Herbert stole the money from his fa- : ther’s pocket that night and passed it.over to Flynn. - ‘ j P 144 64 7 q C wWiCririe= 5 was ! en} St * is Le S] Haimunérswell observed this. and ee alinersweili Observed this, and, More than swer fhe canoht ton allav enen IC1IOn jan @€ver, 11€ SOUCHt tO ailay SUSpiIcion, AT 2) da Caeeeart £i4w wsime cr ha aesie ie Not till he found the eyes of Frank Mer- ng Ce a 5 Ds ote Co oe eee. L Te grigeweae . riwell looking him through and through did he lapse into sudden silence. eee **Stop it!’ hissed Hastings in his ear. ‘What are you trying to do—give the 4 ~ Qo ~S ; i S ecek ee aS whole t}ii1 ig away! : r Then the fear came back to. Herbert. In his heart a voice seeined I an?) k 2A ] a cenret if rom tru f = 1 Pe can’t keep the secret 1f you try, for mur- 9 That’s wh: ing, he looked at his hands, to see if they tose e looked ckly, to see if he had a ob- _ "14 der will out. Murder ! were stained with blood. round qui served, Frank that Frank Merriwell knew why Merriwell’, had- seen him. It seemed ‘ 1 - 4 he had looked at his hands. yt} with a fierce flanie. curses on Merry’s head. And so: the man-hunters returned to town, talking of the exciting events of the day. ' In town stabbed by Flynn was not fatally injured. This man expressed great regret when he e fate of the man he had pur- He couid not learned*of th sued so long and so far. take Flynn:back and claim the reward for fs his return. ‘The pursuit was over. Rockford had that day. wona game from Seaslope, not a little tothe disap- fe pointment of Frank’s friends, as it seemed — - “al 4 The ees in Herbert’s heart flared: Mentally, he heaped they learned that fhe officer nts ro almost impossible to defeat the Ruffians, who were holding t wood and getting teas. their own with “Maple- the best of the other By Maplewood’s defeat of Torrenttown, it became evident that the Tigers must quickly fall from first to third place, leav- ingthe fight for the Hocks ford and Maplewood. — At last Rockford had awakened to the fact that. its Frank Merriwell’s club, regarded with scorn at the outset. lead between most dangeorus rival was the team it had The report of the assault on Maple- wood’s shortstop had been telephoned to the other towns in the league, and it seetned that Maplewood would be forced to play Torrenttown witha crippled team. At the last moment, Frank introduced a new shortstop, aman with but one arm! Needless to say, this created comment But Brick Zinck, as the new inan was nained, proved a wonder in and criticism. an all-round capacity, aiding materially Tigers by playing e field and making three in winning from the ~ faultlessly in th oe “tits. Tins victory set Maplewood wild, but the stabbing affray came close on the end of it, setting everybody to thinking and talking of soinething else for the time. - On tet Frank _+asked for a report of the condition of Joe eo Spott;-] sician, and learned that the urning to. Maplewood,/ lappening to meet the village phy- former short- come round so that he seemed much like him- ete ss a: Merry asked if he could visit Scott, and Bi , stop was doing very well, having the physician said not before the follow- ing day. he physician also said that Scott did not seem to know what had happened, ee though he was in si right mind, LIP TOP WEEKL) dered. how much Scott would. be able te tell. In another way he was relieved, for, after beating the fellow down, Herbert had suffered tortures from his conscience. In the heat and fury of the act, he had desire to kill Scott, but that feeling passed away when it seemed that felt a fierce he had really killed the youth. Still, this was but a partial relief, for, even if Scott recovered, his hands. were stained with human blood. To escape from the shadow of the gallows, as he he had sent another down last glimpse of fancied, man to destruction, and his Flynn’s white face was photographed on his soul. That was the thought able terror. Hastings knew! which filled him with unspeak Herbert began to ships are fickle realize that friend- things, few being worthy to be called such. fall on him, Herbert was | lieve lie could not count on the friendship of Ned Hastings. But the bitterest thought of all was that Frank Merriwell, he had sought so persistently to injure, was unharmed, triumphant, popular and adniired. If suspicion were to inclined to be- whom a ee CHAPTER IV. MYSTERIOUS HAPPENINGS. Frank Merriwell took his bath and rub-. down. He was resting comfortably on a Hodge entered without stopping to knock. couch in his room when ry ¢ : oe Bart had just dressed from a bath. He sat down on achair, his brow stern and dark. | “What's the matter, old Merry, who saw Hodge was troubled over 2 soiethi ing. ‘ Why didn’t you tell a Suge ” ‘“What??? ‘About your new shortstop PP. Mere daughegs 5 Poe ee man ??? asked % nae CS ea ne aennpeaiaese 0am a PE eae TIP TOP WEEKLY. 9 = Oh, on the boys.”’ I took a fancy to spring asurprise **T see you did, and it canie near being too much for us.’’ *“*How??? ee Whiy, broken didn’t you notice how we were that diamond, up whien one-atined chap came out onto the wearing a Maplewood uniform? Didn’t you notice dazed? It woke 7 took aifer anything like the whole team seemed for us to get spring some time that. It’s not fair to that on us without warning!’’ art 2”? It was a whole inning beh n’t you tell us?”’ up **Are you joking >) ““Not a bit of it. before I could get into ind. the bat. - Say, ‘fl took a gear wliy did fancy not to say anything I was not absolutely certai fill the never having seen him play. about it. Zinck. could position acceptably, him a trial?” , and he was coin eat he could play ee ac- ‘How did you dare give 7) knew him as a man of his word ceptably. He showed me newspaper clip- pings that told of his wonderful ball play- ing. I had to have somebody, and I took hitm, “‘That’s all.’ “(Seems to me you might have told me muttered Hodge, not being sonrething about it,”’ who showed he was hurt by made a confidant. ‘‘Tt turned out all right, didn’t it?’ **Sure thing!’ “Vou will admit my find can play ?”’ “‘He’s all right,’ ‘Better than Scott?’ “I think so.”’ “Sodol. There is no other. man on the team who can do the tricks that fel- low can perform.’ “No other man could have jumped clean over the head of a mau trying to touch him out with a ballon the base line. That was the most ainazing thing I ever witnessed on the ball ground.”? “Tt was rather stirprising,’’ laughed Merry. ‘It will be a great advertisement You interest in for us, and we need something new. know how I have worked up the nae To-day [ the ae 1 a ae ‘ and broug it people out. card in =) “5 the A one niake her moreattractive. aplewood is best-drawing -armed shortstop will Instead of hav- have must we We ing to draw on fhe made money and are abhie: : q ated ee keep it up and come out alread of the ‘“That’s right— we must come out Sie id season.’’ financially and in every other way. ‘We stand in a fair position to. do it. Everything that has seemed to be to our disadvantage has turned out to our ad- vantage. The loss of Scott gave us an- other and better man, and one who will be a vreat drawing card.’ ‘Speaking of Scott, ll about his to know all l “And I’d double whatever you’d give! 3ut I hope we’ll be able to learn ‘the truth right away. You know I always did like to solve mysteries.’ “OW hy 1 ed down ly killed?” tas he knock and near- **T have a theory. PARAS Tees ‘*Well, of course, you know he was playing bum baseball when I put hin on the bench yesterday and took his place — myself.”? *“Nobody knew it better.”’ ‘‘And you also know he has played | ‘ well till within one or two games of that * time.’ (Vag: >? ‘‘Well, he was hired to throw the games. Herbert Hanmerswell did that. a heard them talking together. behind the- grand stand after the game. Scott threat- ened to expose Hatnieree , but a bert snapped his fingers and ian atract . They -came near having a the threat. fight right there.”’ ““But Scott came home on the car with 5 us, while Herbert Hammerswell remain behind and came along on the next | 10 So it could not have been Hammerswell himself who knocked tlie stuffing out o Scott.” “How do you know Hammerswell mh came-on the next car? ‘He may have been brought by a fast team, so that he arrived in time to be on the road to Scott’s home ahead of Scott 1 1° } . 1 “147 : at = ks 6 ae who lingered in the village a short time C4 een eo | " 9 aiter getting here. **Tingoes! that is S¢ ee vy **He rides a whieel.’ **Sure.’”? ‘(He may have come by bicycle.’ —. ~* But would he have the’ nerve to as- sault a chap like Scott ?? “He has grown pretty desperate, and there is no telling what such a fellow may “ymot be led into doing.”’ Well, if he did the trick, how can it be proven ?? ‘“That’s not easy to answer, but I have ? a theory that if he did doit he’s not the only one who knows about it—or did 4 know about it.” . | . Hodge leaped to his feet, his face flushed. “That whelp Hastings knows!’ he cried. ‘‘He’s as bad as Hammerswell! You kept me from settling matters with him after heinsulted Stella Stanley ——”? “Because what you proposed would have created a fierce scandal, and it was your duty to look out for Stella’s reputa- tion’ here in the hotel.’’ “Well, don’t you believe Hastings ~ knows??? - §He may know.”’ . “Don’t you believe he had a hand in eotht” ; Possibly.” “Tf we could prove that!’’ panted Hodge. ‘‘Why, Merry, it would jail them _both!? . f “There was something very mysterious TIP TOP WEEKLY. about the death of that fellow Flynn in 9 CC Te iy, sel ¢ ] iA SA MONA Ares . < the Wwiiripool, said Merry, it Was most remarkable that Herbert Hammert- swell should have entered into the pur- suit with enough determination to’ be on hand when the fellow, was drawn into the whirlpool.’ I “It was strange, especially as you were in the very van of the pursuers. I thought you would overtake the -desperado, if any- 7 hance Sora rag beady did. CCT wine + i 1, <>eeen T*I, ; se i was too far up the fiver. Phe eur- rent cartied hin below me aftter he tried to swiin across ‘Do you suppose’ he was drowned, Frank ?”’ I believe so, and I also believe there t all. Hast- 2 , 8 1A j Pt 1 a 1 V = ae 7 ings told a good yarn, Dut Hammerswell to talk. He Was soinething queer abqut muddled it when he began aroused my suspicions.”’ “Just what do you suspect ?”’ Tt’s not clear yet, but somehow it “ + : Brae So) oe ORE ls a Hoe seems possible that he fellow may have been assisted to drown !”? Bart caught his breath. ‘‘By—by Hammerswell and Hastings??? he whispered. ‘Who knows?” “But why should they do such a thing ?”’ ““Who knows??? “By Jove! you are making those fel. lows out pretty rank desperadoes, Merry! If they did that——”’ “T’m not saying they did it, but I’m saying that Hammerswell had the air of a fellow guilty of a crime. For some reason he may have wanted this Flynn out of the way.’ ‘“‘Old Hammerswell was robbed of money last night.’’ Ves.” “Perhaps this Flynn -did the job¥or Herbert. By mighty! Frank, that fellow was flourishing a roll of bills on the ball ground to-day! He was ready:to bet all kinds of money that Maplewood, would é e::. 2 $? z ee : Ses s = ; ‘ “ 2 oa TIP 1 : TY ; . Nee See ee witi! He was an escaped convict, fleeing eee ae Sorte 171 a Ss a 4. ae for his liberty. Where did he get that money r’’ COV A, ] ’ YOu C ll! : **Merriwell, when this thing is sifted to the bottom tliere will be some surprising Defy a B adeveiopments. cCTL , AeA Sat aaded Sead ks OE dies Bh eo ; it 1s siited fo bottom, a MOONTI +HT ON THE LAKE ¢¢ y + 4 1 When my oat is on the ba ou, eed 53 : ogi Driftin’ down de silver tide; Dere’s a chocolate-colored lady AJTCIS ew @ UlUVUUCUIALOCWKCUIUTICU AU} a as ‘coal See TG, ee ee wlluggillg close up DY .mMy side; With lier head upon imy sh uider, While : “ a | Liss ae ls dele I hear my baby whisy Then j j sper To her man: : Chorus: “Dinah, de moon am shinin’ For you dis coon ain pinin’, My arm will soon around your waist be , 8 00 0 ceed scone LwWwWilii Kiss me, Honey, do! ,» Moonlight ful sheet of water that lay sik i night, with the softest of breezes, scarcely of\ the CNET a oe 1 i ; Silver Lake, the beauti- > on sight of within the Maple lotel, A glorious stirring a ripple on the bosom placid lake.*® An idly drifting rowboat, filled witha patty of merry young people, whose sweet voices blended in the beautiful melody of the song. Frank and Inza Burrage were sitting close.together in the stern of the boat. Hodge was there, with Mabel Gray, a young lady from the hotel; and ing was making himself attentive to Stella Stanley. The night,: the minded Frank and Inza of the old days, thinking’ thoughts their there, srown- scene, the songs re- ‘and each were ee did not utter.: - Browning was unusually lively,. and ‘Hodge was in a good humor, or pretend- ed £0 oer at least... ‘OP WI TEKLY. il q r) Ct, S 1 3 eS i 1 2 Stella declared herself the chaneron of serious- party, reat ness, It Si cou iaug! an DE jolly ? o d a x goes se others nN¢ nair of heg d V Li Lic JLUICI OS, —111Q a ; : dh leads dr close together for a moment, she aly seemed deeply erested looking in another directio1 NV ] ‘m0 0 CURIA CON 1 c ; ~. ViabD Gr: j waS a lil1véel 21Ti and EIAA 7 4 on - nolodo 5 Lot. Wes 1ttentl e to Che - ; , Cc £ 4 1 : i j a (Cs "ed ,) ye hight you!’ said, Bart, 417 a 1 T, ] . quick rank Merriwell nearly faintéd, for 1 > he heard Bart make a pun. merrily ch scktea ‘Ring off!’ cried Stella, “This is getting pretty hot,”’ Frank. oa to be we don’t watch out. 671s] hat is the worst! al VYOoOiInNnS going 7) ‘ST cried Inza. should have expected something pases than that from you, Frank.’ ‘* Hereafter Ill silence speaks for itself. “Oh, us ‘something, Mr. Merri- well,’’ urged Mabel Gray. ee ‘*What shall I sing???’ ‘Anything. song.’? Will you all join me in the chorus? **Can’t €Xcl Bruce, 9 “Fy oO sing Some popular me??? you ise ““He’s having another sige of dies can t let your nity,’?’ declared Inza. ‘‘But we you off, Mr. Browning. We d miss cee neer bass \ voice you icy, Fas Kee be silent, for you know ~ trouble, if pr murmured — **Base voice is good,’’ muttered Bart. **T think he has the basest voice I ever beard.’’ Frank struck up: ¢ farm lands near a Mississippi Whiere a radiant tropic sun so brightly gieains, led my little sw: and pretty, In a picture oft I see her in my dreams. In the background of the. scene a cottage standing, Recalls the one to whom by, “When she cat landing, Near iny Mississipyq by. Dwel Kitty, pert eetheat ‘t I said good- nesto wave a farewell at the 7 i home in days gone Chorus: “Oft I long for the old days in life’s springtime, When we gathered sweet magnolias, Kate and I; Yd be happy if fate could only bring ; times Like those Mississippi days that have lace gone by. Silence followed the song. Inza was wondering if Frank could be thinking of She knew he had not ~ forgotten Elsie Bellwood. The boat slowly drifted nearer the - shadows along the shore. Away across the lake to the distant shore the moon made a silver pathway. A little fish came ~ up and made a tiny splash near the boat. “Oh, Inza!’? exclaimed Stella, the song you were singing for me last night when the party interrupted us at the hotel.” ‘What song?” ‘Vou know.”’ “Tye forgotten,’’ declared Inza, evas- ‘ively. “Oh, no! I know oe have not. sing it so beautifully.’ But Inza did not wish to sing that song just then, and she tried to get out of it. Stella was determined to have that song, another far away. “sing You struck straight at Frank Merriwell’s head. 13 TIP TOP WEEKLY. “*T can’t sing to-night,’? declared the haired girl. “But you have dark- been singing.”’ “*I can’t sing any more.”’ They her out”? on the chorus, and she found she could not avoid it, so, with splendid expression and promised to ‘‘help effect, she sang: “Oh, answer me a question, love, I pray, My heart is pining day by day; Oh, answer me, my dearest, answer true; Hold ine close as you were wont to do. Whisper once again the story old, The Facceske sweetest story ever told; Whisper once again the story old, The deatest, sweetest story €ver told. Chorus: ‘“Tel] me, do you love ine? » Tell me softly, sweetly, as of old! Tell me that you love me, For that’s the sweetest story ever told!’ Silence again. The boat was drifting into the shadows. sound From a little distance came the of oars, and in the shadow a black . mass was moving swiftly toward tliem. Another boat was on the lake that night. ‘“They are rowing like the Bidcenas e ‘*T wonder what it is for.’’ “And they’re coming straight at us,’ “They ust have said Hodge. grunted Browning. seen us.’’ “Took out, there!’ warned Frank. ‘‘Are you trying to run us down ?”’ No answer. Still the boat came on. Already they could see there were three persons in it, two pulling at the oars, while the third was steering. ‘‘Tove!’? exclaimed Hodge. ‘*They’re trying to run intous! That’s what they’re doing!’ He seized an oar and thrust it into the water, giving the boat a swing that took it partly out of the course of the stran- gers. : Then, as the other boat was sweeping past, one of the oarsmen lifted an oar and — * sistance. ‘that might have been nc a mae mat mpnenoeaeiesent te cecal tans Frank dodged and caught hold of the oar as it came down, giving it a yank. ee Bas The feHow who had struck the blow was pulled out of the boat into the water in a twinkling. Onward shot the boat, with the other two in it. The fellow who had been drawn into the water sunk from view, but came up in a moment. Immediately he began making a great splashing, crying for help. Frank recognized the voice. Herbert Hammerswell was in_ the water. 3ut Hammerswell’s companions did come back to his as- pulled s not turn about and ) i ae ; n T) Instead, they traight on, leaving him to get out as best he could **Serves him right!’ “*Let the But Herbert went under. exclaimed Hodge. nasty sneak swiin out!’ Frank was watching the fellow, and he quickly decided that Herbert Hammier- He to the surface again, splashed, cried out cliok- swell could not swim. cae ingly and disappeared. off his low the Immediately Frank flung shoes and his coat and stood up in boat, waiting for his enemy to appear again. CHAPTER VI. THE STRUGGLE IN THE WATER. Frank feared that Herbert Hammer- swell would not rise to the surface again, for he knew there was no greater fallacy gt than the popular and general belief that a drowning person always rises three times to the surface. Many a life has been lost saved had it “not been for this belief, as would-be rescuers have waited for drowning ones to rise to the the third waited, in vain. _ There is no natural law to determine how Emay times a a drowning person: rises surface time, and have TIP TOF WEEKLY. amazed and alarmed the girls. aoe ea Ge ae Spal e eee 18 to the surface. . He. may not rise -at all, and, this being the case, not a momeunt’s time should be lost in springing to his rescue. Had it been daylight, Frank could not have hesitated. In the night and in the shadow of the-slore, he could not tell just where Herbert had gone down, and he lingered a moment, hoping the strug- ling fellow would rise again. Hamuier~ aud ectly backward not hope 1n vail. 3 . . Cc £¢ ae appeared, splashing tfeebly, \ rose and plunged di1 1 boat, oreat 2 night over the stern of the taking vare not to upset the boat, as he 1 1 1 lone had he recklessly have y leaped over the side. With strong Frank q strokes, straight to t! spot where Herbert had 7 + 17 4 j appeared. The unlucky fellow had van- but. Mer: 1 aiso. ‘y disappeared under hed again, the surface the boat screamed citement. eitls in ‘*He’s gone!’’ cried Inza. “‘He has been dragged down!”’ “He'll edrown, too!” sobbed Mabel Gray. *“Cai’t we help lin ?” gaa Stella. 5 ‘We must help him some way Hodge was using the oars, amie the boat slowly and cautiously toward the spot where Frauk had vanishied, Browning was leaning over the prow, oar in hand, watching and waiting. The : deliberation of Hodge aid Brtice vot understand. how Frank’s two friends could be so’ cool and careful circumstances. ‘“Are we near enough ??’ asked Bart. “‘Yes; back water,’? came from Bruce. ‘‘We mustn’t get over the spot where he nay come up.’’ ‘‘He may come up!” burst from Tatas: ‘‘Then there is a chance he will not come. up? ? Is that true we Hs eS - swain with ?. while | and — They conuld- 1 ; va under suclr oe eed A oo oi i X TIP : “(Of course itis! lost ! He’s **Buty lie will not drown drowned, too can swim!’ said Inza. UMueSs Ne Nas Deen Grag dow by the ie ue ss ia ey as ; I’m afraid that’s iust what is hap- + Pes j pened, whispered Stella f + na T* T 44 ya There was a terrible pain in Inza’s 1 CNT 7 { 1 d 1. J heart. She thought now happy they Nad been-a short time before. She thought of sung, and of the mein- 1 - | | ~»c 1 ye ftfheyv har the sonestiey lad 2 ories tlhlose songs had awakened within a her, “‘He can’t be drowned now!’’ she told “eR tC Ee t, Tekh | + nett herself. Hate will not pe so cruel! [hen She screamed to the ‘others “Why don’t you spring in n? X71 le oe eA a a oa j Vihy don t you do something: ou let him drown like this?’ It was useless to tell “she ing her to keep cool. saw that neither Hodge nor Brown- to paid heed to her cry, and immediate- . xclaiming: —- ‘He shall not- drown without a soul » trying to save hiim|!?’ The water herself, up, clutc n she would “have leaped into the but Bart reached hed her, drew her down by main strength, and held her still, for all of her struggles. ‘*Have a little reason,’’ said’ Hodge, swiftly. ‘‘You know Merry can swim went down after the other like a fish. He ‘fellow, and he will come up in a moment. Wait. We will do what we can to save ~him.’’ “What you can!’’ she panted. ‘‘You he hundred “gay that as if it were nothing if -drowned! His common fellows—yes, y “Ten thousaud !’’ oe | have’ ee ie he is! es a little life is worth a a thousand!’ from came earnestly **No one knows better than I; but faith that he will—— aionce from the Boat, TOP WEEKLY, _ Frank ~ “hen he placed, his left. } bert’s ‘shoulder and. brought | his: right - battle to save the Beneath the water Herbert had clutched Merry, and it islikely they miuglit not ha risen at all had Frank not under- stood how.to handle a frantic man in the Wale In the darkness beneath the surface, ] «4 eon leatahan Pema i> Adele As 4 Herbert had clutched Frank ta ry about the neck with a crushing, choking hug The intensity of the drowning fellow’s YTasp W SOME ] 1M? te ri f1¢ Frank realized that: his position was petiious 1 Ti) extreme and that some- ; nist: be done instant He. -w: tH1 - Ui USk& VE Gone nstant J ric was where he could not draw a deep breath, | 1A ; ] o } suarfan 1 as he would seas doue at the surface, but 7 , j Y 1 i aserl Ss . he grasped Herbert about t mall of 1 : As Tad * ort T, the back with his left arm, and then : | ] cn ae dae a ae 1 1 t grasped the fellow’s nose with the thumb Bo) pe ee oa) and fore finger OL his tight hand, placing 1 i pice } } ] ian ae Tn 4 the palm of the hand against Hammer- L in and back ward P1iVIne © Qo swell’s ch a severe thrust. Almost Herbert’s was broken and Frank was released. immediately : If this method is pursued in any case where the rescuer is grasped about the neck by the one: he is trying to save, it will be found successful. Then Frank managed to drag Herbert to the surface. It was a able to get a full breath of pure fresh air, and Frank quickly felt that he was ready for the effort that he knew must follow. Skillful as he had been in, his efforts, not avoid Herbert’s\ and, this time, Hammerswell had was able to arms, hint fairly about the arms and body. Merry’s position’ He twisted bert squarely, Then, as before, ’s nostrils” with his right hand, took a deep breath, and leaned well over the drowning youth, | Perilous as had been before, till he was facing Her he seized Hanimersell it was doubly so now. hold. great.-relief for Merry to be hand on Hee. . rm f 4 9 / ‘ eae. 7, Z f wn the lower part of the Instantly, with knee up against struggling fellew’s chest. a strong, and knee whole wei stantly he was released ag If Merr these ee of the one 1 he pressed arm 9g the sudden push, straight out, throwing glit of his body backwar a ain. y had not known how to break he was tryiug to Save it is alinost certain that he must have been drowned. In some cases violence, such as a blow, is used as a resort; but it is — occa- sionally that this works well, for a man in the water cannot strike with the force required to break the hold of the one who is drowning. It was not the first time Merry had found it to fight to save an- other in and just what to do in every case. study of it, liant youth should, necessary he knew the water, as every ambitious, self-re- The Every lad should learn to swim. principles of swimming may be learned’ on the land, but they can be practiced nowhere save in the water, and practice makes perfect. It is astonishing how few persons learn the art of swimming, for it is one of the The chief cause for neglect is because parents leave it entirely to care that their children learn to swiui. necessary accomplishinents. chance, instead of taking that must be Having ac- Confidence is something acquired first by the novice. quited confidence, plain “easily learned. swimming is ~The one who is learning should never, enter water that is more than waist deep, and never plunge i in headlong at the start. Such plunges are dangerous, as the shock of suddenly finding oneself in the water with no solid support, is liable to rob the pupil of confidence and courage. B Some: instructors advise plunging in boldly, but it is my firm belief that this eee entirely wrong, and, in TIP TOP WEEKLY. the nose. If the head happens to go down do not make frantic efforts to get high | He had madea most cases, 15. does harm. Let the novice walk in slowly ed depth Always remember that to the requirec swimming isa perfectly. simple and natural operation: i 2 Lt ’ “rn } + 1 * * + 4 +) + « \lways remember that it is not natural. +4 fora human being with inflated lungs to beginners is to let their nough in the water. At But the great trouble with that Lz C 7 Ty 5 P ~ bodies sink deep e eT. cies : dia ta ans they are not willin r a dl 1% : a m1 sink as deer iv ald first, p back the head, so- more than the 1 upper. Keep the mouth closed and breathe entirely through that no nose and half of the head is out of water, out of the water, for you will come up again in a moment. Simply hold the breath and wait, keeping Qu oC a5 > Q beet down and he:z Walk into the water to the waist, and then slowly try to pick up some object from the bottom. This you will find a~ difficult task, and you will discover there The be~ aware of this” buoyancy. Too often he is liable to think that he must keep up entirely by his own efforts. become-convinced is gteat buoyancy to the water. ginner should become fully The person who thinks will soon is lighter. than the water iene unless) he — does soinething to cause himself to sink, he should float 1 that his body and When this has been impressed on the advance yet a little deeper into the mind, water, and prepare to try to swim. TURN ABOUT AND FACE THE ; SH Ge ss 3 3 Above all other things, this should be impressed upon the mind of the beginner. If he faces the other way, he may, as often has been the case, find himself abl = to swim a little at once, and may get be- yond his depth. Besides that, the sight of the “io ahead tends to seis confidence, ape pu- 16 pil realizes he is not running into danger by advancing. Many persons learn to swim ‘“‘dog paw’ at the start. Thatis, they stroke overhand with their hands, while they kick up and down with their feet. With- out doubt, but it is of very little real value in ming. Progress made in slow Having this'is easy to learn, actual swim- this manner is and tiresoine. the faced the shore, let pupil eradually and slowly lean forward in the water, with hands extended and held about fotr inches beneath the surface. vy 1 The buoyancy of the water will lift his feet from the bottom, and then, without haste or fluster, he should attempt to swiin. Always remember that the stroke must be inade with hands and feet simultane- ously. | _and bring them back, under the water, of the body. Then carry the sides with a sweeping movement. At the same time the stroke must be made ; with the legs. ‘They drawn up, so that an outward and_ back- ward thrust may be given just when the ‘sweep of. the arms is made. And - movements must be repeated in unison, Keep the hands gi gts concaved close together, back to 1 Caan d far aliead thein round to must have been these - for without this simultaneous action of the arms and legs it is not possible to be- come a good swimmer, ‘The feet must have a wide sweep and come together at the end of the stroke, so they may be saw up in that manner. . The leg stroke is the most difficult to acquire in perfection. Itis necessary when drawing up the egs to straighten out the feet as far as possible, so that the insteps may offer as ittle resistence as possible to the water. When. the legs are drawn up, the feet should be brought into the position for walking g, so that they may provide all the Tesistence possible when the backward | ‘ick is made. Do not be sloyenly about TIP TOP WEEKLY. your swimming, ‘Learn to use the ankle joint. You can never become a fast swim- mer till you do. Already Herbert-had clutching Frank thrown off but still him in the 1 peen after twice, Merry did not seem to fear least. Instead of that, he swam forward directly in front of Hamunerswell, seek- ing to give him confidence, saying: ‘“Be quiet now, and I will save you. le. Let ine get hold of you.”’ had-fled from the fellow’s head, and he made another clutch at Merry. This tine F enough for H = rank was not near eatch him about erbert to the body or neck, but Hainimerswell man- aged to grasp both of Merry’s wrists, Iminediately Frank turned both hands outward witli asweep, bringing the against Herbert’s thumbs, At the same he managed to turn the fel ing force the hold was broken. time, low on liis back, The boat was ne watching the struggle with the ar, the girls greatest excitement and terror. ‘“Let “us Hodge. Instantly Frank cried: Jf this fellow gets hold of the water help you, old man,” said *“Keep off! the boat, he’ll have you all in in a moment.’? ‘"He’ll drown you, Frank!’? panted Inza. ‘No, he will not,’’ declared Merry, positively. ‘‘There is not the least danger of that.”’ “But look how he struggks!’’ “But I have him.’? Frank had turned Herbert tipon ‘his back and grasped him by the slioulders,: Merry was also on his back, but with the drowning youth above him, In this manner, using- the back stroke with his feet, Frank started swimming toward the shore, which was not far away. twist=" and —@ Frank would have found no difficulty in saving Herbert had not Hammerswell — TIP TOP WEEKLY. a7 eutirely lost his head; but, even after Merry was pulling him along in this manner, the ex-Senator’s son made a sud- den twist and turned over, again clutch- ing his rescuer. Once more they disappeared beneath the surface. CHAPTER VII. THE WORK OF RESTORATION. The reader may imagine with what breathless interest Inza Burrage watched the struggle in the water. For all of her fears, often expressed, she had in Frank. But when Herbert turned and clutched Merry, both vanishing again beneath the surface, she screamed. confidence ‘*Frank is a fool to take such chances with that dog!’’ grated Bart Hodge. He knew it was like Merriwell, who would risk his own life to save that of his enemy. Bart felt that it might be a good thing if Hammerswell were to drown. Browning pulled off lis shoes. “T rather think I’ll have to get my - clothes all wet,’’ he slowly and régret- fully said. ‘‘Why not pullup near with the boat ?”’ i palpitated Stella. ‘‘We can help them.’’ “That would be all right if it were not _ for the fool Frank is trying to save. He’d get hold of the boat, just as Merry said.’? Browning was all ready. to plunge in when Frank rose to the surface again, bringing up Herbert the second time. **Can I help you??? asked Bruce. ‘I’m all readyy. old man.”? ‘‘Stay where you are,’? Frank flung back. But for the next two minutes there was a struggle, and then it ceased. Frank was _able to swim ashore with Herbert, whom he dragged from the water, being assisted Ke by encige and Browning, who had landed **J]] do it all right now.”’ Hammerswell came out limp and ap- parently lifeless. ‘*He’s dead’? cried the girls. ‘“‘Not yet,”’ Frank; ‘‘but he’s pretty full of water, I fancy, and we'll have to work in a hurry.’’ He moved Herbert along to a spot where the moonlight shone down, and then, aided by Bart and Bruce, tore off lad’s coat and vest and opened up his shirt at the throat. Frank rolled the wet coat and vest up in a bunch, and on them Herbert was placed, face downward, so that they pressed upon the pit of his stomach. Then Merry knelt astride the back, froin his lungs. This done, Frank turned him over, — saying: ‘Take your handkerchief, Hodge, and Work lively! Just hold his tongue out of his mouth, so his throat will be clear for breathing.’’ said the unconscious fellow and applied force to his in this way expelling the water tie an end of it round his tongue. 3art knew how to do this, and, for all of his hatred for Haimunerswell, he fol- lowed Frank’s directions. With clasped and fluttering hearts, the girls watched Merry at work. | They saw he knew exactly what to do, and he was not losing a moment in false action. hands Hammerswell had ceased to breathe. If left thus, he might never breathe again. The chances were that he would not. There are three well-known methods of restoring respiration artificially. Frank | chose the one that was the simplest, al- : though, perhaps, not the most effectual, — He kuelt .astride Hammerswell’ s legs between the knees aud hips. _ Browning held the unconscious youth’s arms above | his head and flat on the ground. Hodge held Haiinerswell’s tongue to give bin a free chance to breathe. i Then Merry grasped either side of Hammierswell’s chest near the pit. of t re 18 TIP TOP WEEKLY, stomach, resting his fingers along the spaces near the shcert ribs. He rested his elbows near his hips, and, steadily grasp- ing and pressing upward, threw consid- erable weight upon the chest of the mo- tionless lad, gradually increasing the pressure for a space of three seconds, and then suddenly letting go with a final push, springing backward to tlre first po- sition. This Frank repeated again and again, till, at last, with a gasping, groaning sound, Herbert breathed of his own ac- cord. ‘Well, fellows, we’ve done it!’’ ex- claimed Mery, with satisfaction. ‘You did it,’’ declared’ Hodge. **Neither Bruce nor myself cares for the doubtful honor!”? ‘““He tried to. break your head,’’ drawled Browning, ‘‘and yet you saved him from drowning !’? ‘- ‘Do unto others as ye would they ”” said Frank, rather y should do unto you, seriously. ‘‘You didn’t!’ grunted Bruce. “Why not?’ “Tf J ever try to crack another fellow’s head in such a dirtv way, I hope he'll let nie drown if I get overboard! It'll serve mie right!’ Merry seemed amused by this, and he set about starting up Herbert’s. circula- tion by rubbing. ‘You are all wet and cold,’’ said Inza. **T ain sure you need some attention your- self, Frank.’’ “Oh, I’m all right! J rather like a lit- tle ducking like that. It’s good for a fel- low once in a while.”’ “But it spoils his clothes,’’ muttered Browning. “And disturbs his dignity,’’ laughed Stella. , Herbert recovered with astonishing _ swiftness. It was not long before he could _ sit up, and then he accused Frank of try- ing to drown him! **Well, it would have been a good thing if he’d let you drown!’’ grated Bart, in anger. ‘‘He choked me and struck me,’’ said Herbert, faintly. ‘“‘When you grabbed him, you chump! It was the only way he could break clear so that he could swim out with you.’’ ‘*] know he tried to drown ime!”’ per- sisted the fellow. ‘‘I felt him pull me tin- der: *’ ‘*Don’t waste breath contradicting him, Hodge,”’ said Frank, with a short laugh. ‘*He’s not worth it.’’ ‘“That’s all right!’? gasped Herbert. Vou think yourself something great, but you'll find out you’re not much !”’ Inza Burrage had stood this as long as possible. She felt like flying at Herbert. ‘‘You mean thing!’’ she cried. ‘*Frank saved you from drowning, and now you say this about him! Oh, you’re the inean- est fellow I ever saw in all my life!’ “T know whlio you are!’’ palpitated Hammerswell. ‘‘You’re stuck on Iim, and so you——”’ “That will do!’’ cried Merry, getting Herbert by the shoulder. ‘‘I do not mind what you say about ine, but you cannot insult a lady in my presence!”’ Herbert was silenced. They helped get him on his feet, and offered to assist him to the hotel, but he would not have their aid. ‘TI can get along myself,’’ he declared. **T don’t want your help! Let mealone!’’ So they let him alone, and he walked staggeringly away. . ‘You can see how many thanks you get from such a contemptible cur!’? said Hodge to Merry. ' “TI did not expect or ask thanks from him,’’ said Frank. CHAPTER VIII. THE DEAD ALIVE. 3 Strange to relate, Herbert Hammer- swell was not grateful to Frank Merriwell for saving him from drowning. In his | | ] : : 7 = ls sts alain ne nel ea SS a - ps tat thing to injure Merry. heart he was also furious toward his two companions, Ned Hastings and Archer Fitznoodle, for rowing on and deserting him after he was pulled froin the .:oat. He had sought to hit Frank on the head with an oar, but had met with dis- comfiture, and had nearly been drowned in the Jake. He realized that by pulling him out of the water, Frank had made himself appear a hero in the eyes of his companions, and that galled Herbert in- tensely. It seemed that everything Hammer- swell did to harm the youth he hated simply served to give that individual no- toriety and make him admired by others. Herbert and his friends had followed Frank and the others to the lake, Ham- merswell being in hopes of doing some- The fact that none of the girls in the party would have a thing todo with him made Herbert all the more desperate and reckless. He had urged his companions to pull straight for the other boat in the shadow of the shore, saying he would give Merry a ‘‘poke.”’ He had not dreamed they would row on and leave him when he felt himself yanked into the water by the young athlete. “It was a sneaking thing to do!” thought Herbert, ‘‘and Ill tell thein what I think about it!’’ He found himself very weak, but he braced up and staggered on, his heart full of bitterness. “Frank Merriwell was to blame for it,’ thought the miserable youth. ‘He pulled me into the water, and it would have been murder if I had drowned!’ Murder! That word gave him a chill, To his mind came a picture of Flipper Flynn being sucked down by the terrible whirlpool. He remembered how the poor devil had clung to the broken sapling, asking to be helped from the water. He remembered how he had cut the sapling and cast Flynn off to destruction. TIP TOP WEEKLY. He had done that to hide another crime, for he had thought that Joe Scott might die. But now the report came that Scott would recover in a short time. Fortunately for Herbert, so he thought, at least, Scott had been struck down from behind and rendered unconscious with the first blow. He could not tell saulted lim. who had as- Flynn had held the secret of that as- sault. How much Ned Hastings knew Herbert could simply guess. Had Hastings seen lim cast the doomed wretch off and send him down to destruc- tion ? This question troubled Herbert more than all others. He had been unable to learn the truth from Ned’s lips. Thinking of the tragedy, Hammerswell began to shudder and grow sick with hor- ror. The shadows of the woods filled him with terror, and he hastened his trem- bling steps. “Tm a fool!’ he hoarsely muttered. “That fellow Flynn is gone, and he’ll never trouble me again, unless his ghost comes back.’’ ‘“Think so, old pal?”’ The words were quietly spoken, and out before Herbert, into the moonlight of a little glade, stepped a ian. Was it a man? , One glimpse of that pale face gave Hammerswell such a. shock as ne had not received in many a day. A ghost! It seemed. that the Great Whirlpool had given up its dead, for before him stood Flipper Flynn! Or his ghost! Herbert reeled back, nearly falling to the ground. He put up his hands, as | to ward the apparition off. For some moments he was dumb and nerveless. A harsh laugh came from the lips of — 20 the man who stood there in the moun- light. That person took a step forward, **Don’t!’’ screamed Herbert, choking- ly, his quivering hands extended, his eyes bulging from his head. ‘‘Don’t come 1) near ine Again that harsh laugh. ‘*So you’re afraid of ine! Well, I don’t wonder much, old pal.”’ ‘*Keep off!’’ gasped Herbert, choking- ly. ‘‘Gods! you are dead! You were Bt drowned in the whirlpool! : down !?? I saw you go “‘Ves, I reckon you did, old pal. I went down all right.”’ Somehow the voice sounded . like that of the dead, and it added to the unspeak- able horror of the already unnerved youth. The man advanced again, and Herbert turned to flee, but fell heavily to the ground, his legs melting beneath him. “Keep away!’’ he, faintly .shrieked. ‘(Don’t touch me! I didn’t mean to do it! Honestly I didn’t mean to kill you!?? ‘‘Don’t lie about it, old pal,’’ advised _ that relentless voice. ‘‘You did the trick deliberately.’’ ‘‘No, no—I swear!’ ‘“*What’s the use? You cut the sapling. It is my turn now!’’ Herbert longed to spring up and rush away, but his strength was gone, and he felt himself helpless before this man he had seen perish in Roaring River. The senses of tne tortured youth swam and he felt that ne was losing conscious- ness. He was suffering such frightful tor- ture as seldom comes to a human being. And this was retribution! This was the just punishment for his wrong-doing! _ Sin always brings its own reward, and its reward is terrible. 3 “I'm sorry !’? moaned Herbert. ‘T'ruly | did it! I'd saved you then if I could!” - **Bah,’? cried the other, with scorn and TIP TOP WEEKLY. I’m sorry! I was sorry a moment after I | ontempt. “did think you were a cove” | Bie with some nerve, but I see you’re just a weak-kneed thing! You make me sick!’ There was a stone in the middle of the glade, near: where Herbert had fallen, and on that stone the man sat down. Herbert looked up and saw hiin sitting there. “Yes, you’re a weak-kueed thing,’? said the man. ‘You hit a poor chap from behind and tried to crack his head, and then you sent me into the whirlpool to drown, just to hide what you’d done. But I refused to drown, an’ now I’m _ goin’ to make you pay well for that little piece of business. ’’ ‘‘But—but,’’? gasped Herbert, ‘‘aren’t you dead ?’’ ‘‘Well, I guess not!’’ was the retort. ‘‘You'll find that Flipper Flynn is very much alive before you get through with nié;;’ CHAPTER IX. THE PRICE OF CRIME. Herbert stared at the man in amaze- ment. At first he had really believed Flynn a ghost, but now he saw that the mau was a creature of flesh and blood— he was not dead at all! In some astounding manner the des- perado had escaped from the river and the whirlpool. . Herbert could not understand how this marvel had been accomplished, but he realized now that Flipper Flynn, not Flipper Flynn’s ghost, had confronted him there in the glade. The fellow’s clothing showed that he had been thoroughly soaked, and his gen- eral appearance was rather dilapidated ; still, he wore that jaunty, dévil-may-care air that is the admiration of lesser crim- inals. Hammerswell lay there, slowly recov- ering from the shock and fright swhile he stared at Flynn in wonderment. 3 “How did you do it?”’ he muttered. ‘Well, I wasn’t born to be drowned ae my cove. I came mighty near it that time, but I managed to get out with the breath of life in me, and mighty thankful I was, too. I suppose the gang thought Iwas gone for good, for they had left me, and so I had a wisi to crawl into the woods and recover iy strength and dry my That’s all there is about it. bloke Ana I’ve been looking for.”’ clothes some. I’m here, and you’re the ‘What do you waut of me?”’ ‘Well d pal. You coughed five hundred plunks for me last , I want to.use you, ol night, and I propose to set you coughing again.’? “T can’t do it!’? panted Herbert. ‘‘I can’t raise another dollar for you, and I won't!’ ‘*Soft and easy, my hearty! ‘Won’t,’ is a flat word, but you should be careful how you use it. Now I havea little no- tion that you will, my fine fellow.’’ “Not on your life!’’ cried Herbert, struggling weakly to a sitting position and to confront Flynn boldly. “You have squeezed ine all you can!”’ ‘*You seein to believe what you say, but you’re fooling yourself, old boy. I’ve met with misfortune, for I can’t appear and collect the bets I won to-day, and pretty near every ‘dollar youlet me have I staked on the game. You see I stood to double my pile, but where am I at? I’m - worse off than I was before.”’ They believe you dead.’’ “Sure thing.’’ ‘‘So you are not in such danger.” ‘**At present.” trying - *fAs long as they think you dead, you will be safe. Now is your chance to get _ away from here, go to another country, take a new name, and begin life over.’’ Flynn nodded. ‘Just what I was thinking, old pal; but I must have money to do the trick. 4 Dm broke, and so I’ll have to hit you up for a little loan.”? | iaescag won't a itt: TIP TOP WEEKLY, 21 *“Say, I’ve and Ill go you iy last red even that I do How’s your sporting blood ?”’ eot atenner or two left, get it. The coolness of the fellow ainazed Her- bert. Never before in all his life had he encountered a man like Flynn. “Tl not give you any more money,”’ he said, ‘ I raked the last eee for you last night.”’ re , I’m sure you’d rather rake a little more ie to have the truth come out about your little affair with Scott and your attempt to drown me.’’ tibadaian I can’t do it. wel ‘You can’t biow on me!’’ Why??? ‘‘Because you are supposed to be dead, and you can’t appear to tell anything. If you did, you’d be arrested for your work to-day. vict, and I could make a reward by turn- ing you over to the law.”’ Anyway, you’re an escaped con- Again Flynn nodded coolly. ‘Sure thing, Mike,’’ he admitted; “but you couldn’t be induced to do it. The little talkin’ I'd do about you would . ae send you to the stone jug for twenty a years.” | , an Twenty years! The thought of spend- a ing twenty years of his life in prison ap- palled Herbert. **T don’t see but it’s an even thing be- tween us,’’ he said, earnestly. ‘‘You keep my secret, and I'l] keep yours. We’ll call it quits,” “Thats all right. I’m willing, Ym one of the most forgiving creatures you — ever saw, but I always make it pay to be forgiving. I havea price on my head anyway, so exposure means less to me than it does to you, I’m willing to forget — that you tried to wipe me out if you will — come down with another five hundred, so that I can get out of these parts on a run. ? ; 3 “You betas to get’out before, and all would have been well if you had kept — your word!’ snarled Herbert. | “Admitted, old pal—admitted. But who never makes mistakes? I was look- iug for more of a good thing. Felt sure I’d double my little pile on the game, you know, and so I lingered. Came near getting pinched by it.’’ ‘*And stabbed a man,”’ ‘‘Yes, I was forced to cut the gent a trifle. Hope it is not serious.’’ ‘“They say he may die.’’ ‘*Too bad! Poor fellow! Heshould not have monkeyed with the buzz-saw. That should teach you that I’m a bad man to fool with, old pal. Don’t try it! I’ve got to have another five hundred right away. Can’t you produce it ?”’ No}? eee: meet “You imust!’’ ‘It’s impossible!’’ cried Herbert. ‘‘I told you that. There is no more mouey that I can get hold of!’? ‘“Then I'll have to linger in the vicin- ity till you find some.”’ ‘*What?? Herbert was aghast. ““That’s what I’ll do,’’ asserted Flynn. ‘‘And you'll be in constant danger of detection and arrest.’’ ‘Never mind; I’m used to danger. It If I’m arrested, I'll take you along as company, for I’ll have to tell how you thumped Scotty on the nut.’’ Herbert felt the meshes tightening about him. AJl his efforts to hide his des- petate and passionate act were proving fruitless.. He had placed himself in the power of a man who was utterly relentless and unscrupulous. ‘‘Let’s talk a little sense,’’ said Flynn. ‘‘You wat me to get away as soon as is the spice of life. possible, and I rather want to get away. IJack the rhino. You have an old man you can touch for the stuff. The old gent must be touched.”’ 8 cy In an unguarded moment Herbert ex- claimed : 22 TIP TOP Wik HKLY. ‘‘He has detectives working on the otler case. He doesn’t know what be- caine of the money.’’ Flynn whistled softly. **So that was the way you touched him before. Well, if you’ve done it once, you can again. He’ll not be expecting light- ning to strike twice in the same plagce:’’ Herbert was being forced to the wall, and he realized.it. He still squirmed, but it was useless. The escaped convict put on tile screws little by little, and it was useless for Hamimerswell to wiggle. “IT shall stay right around till you bring methe money,’’ declared Flynn. “If I do not receive it within twenty-four hours, 1’ll find a way to let all Maple- wood know just who soaked Joe Scott. Think it over, old pal.’’ **Curse you!’’ panted Herbert. *“T don’t mind that. Curses and bless- ings are all the same tome. Whien shall I see you again ?”’ ; ‘What if I can’t raise the money ?’’ ‘You'll have to, if you have to forge your governor’s signature to a_ check. You can reach his check-book, and that ouglit to be au easy thing to do.’ This was a suggestion for Herbert. He had not thought of it before. He realized that he could reach Agtemas’ check-book without difficulty, and he had no doubt but he could raise the money on a check, ‘“That goes,’’ laughed Flynn, who had been watching Herbert closely. ‘‘I’ll see you to-morrow, old pal. You can take the checks over to Rockford or Torrent- It’s a slick scheine, and you must work it out ina hurry.’? town and realize on them, ‘I believe you will bring me to the jug yet!” “Oh, no! you’re far too clever for that. Besides, the old man would not push you if he found out you had been monkeying with his signature, you to-morrow, and I’ll expect the simo- I’ll see leons. T'a, ta, old pal. Good-night and pleasant dreaims.”’ Then the cool rascal roseand wandered away into the woods, vanishing from view. CHAPTER X. THE BLOOD-STAINED BAT. Herbert did not sleep well that night. He saw nothing of Hastings or Fitz- noodle, and he knew they were tryimg to avoid him. Tt was along toward morning that he rose and wandered alone from tlie hotel far out into the country. When. Herbert came back, he took care that enter the lrotel. Dawn was breaking when le found him- self in his room, but he still courted sleep no one saw hiimn in vain. It seemed that Artemas Hammierswell also found sleeping difficult, and lhe was astir at an early hour. On knocking at Herbert’s door, he was surprised to be adinitted soon and to find partly dressed. “Hello! hello!’ exclaiined the ex-Sen- ator. ‘‘Whiat’s the meaning of this, Her- bert ?”? ‘‘Just dressing to go out fora spin on my wheel,’’ declared the youth. ‘‘Couldn’t sleep, you know.”’ ‘‘Nor I. I’ve been thinking about that money all night. Strange how the thief got into my room and out again while I slept.”’ - “Tt was remarkable; but are you sure you lost it that way?’ “Of course Jam! I knowI had the money when I retired.’’ ‘“Then that settles that point.’’ ‘It does. Some rascal entered that room in the night.”’ ‘‘Well, I don’t wonder much. Think of the creatures stopping here in this ho- tel! Think of Frank Merriwell’s gang!” “ve thought about them.”’ ‘“Threre’s Merriwell——’’ very his son TIP TOP WEEKLY, ‘‘Wish I might think he did it, but sou:ehow I can’t make myself believe he would.”’ “Oh, you don’t know Him, governor. No one can tell what he’ll do.”’ “That’s right, my boy—that’s right! He hates us both——”’ ‘And he might think it all right to swipe a roll off yor.’’ “*If he didn’t do it himself, it’s more than likely some of his cheap crowd did. I'd like to nab the rascal! I’d make him suffer for it!”’ **T doubt if you nab him, dad.”’ ‘Well, I am beginning to have my doubts. I don’t like to lose so much mouey. Things have gone against me this summer. I put a good suim into tlre land that baseball ground is on, just to drive Merriwell’s crowd off, and he held it with that lease. That galled me enough. J anr not in the habit of being defied and beaten, my boy, and this Mer- riwell las come out ahead in everything so far.”’ *“Tt’s his beastly luck !”’ ‘*It’s more than Iuck. It’s his fighting quality. He isa fighter, and he won’t be beaten. Somehow I somewhat admire him at times. ”’ ‘*You do?’ snarled Herbert. ‘‘Well, governor, you’re a bigger fool tlan I thought you could be!”’ Old Hammerswell puckered up his mouth. “That’s rather plain talk !’’ he snorted. ‘But it’s just what I mean! There’s nothing about him to admire! I hate hint! I'd give anything to get a hold on him so that I could crush hinr!”’ . ‘Well, so would I, for that matter. No matter how smart a chap may be, I don’t like to have him get the best of Artemas Hammerswell. It’s an outrage!”’ Herbert was ready to leave by this time, and they descended and took out their bicycles for the ride. It was a glorious morning, with a fresh- 24 TIP TOP WEEKLY. ness in the air that gave them new life aud vigor. Herbert chose the course. His face was rather pale, and he seemed in need of ex- ercise. He had told his father nothing of the adventure on the lake the previous night, not wishing to acknowledge that he had been drawn from the water through the efforts of the youth he hated so intensely. The road that Herbert chose was not the best for bicycling, and Artemas won- dered that he should prefer it. Less than two miles out of the village an old deserted farim-lhouse stood some- what back from the road. In front of this had halted and two men were seen to get out hastily. Directly in the road before them lay g, at which the horse had shied. As Herbert and his father came nearer, they saw the something in the road was the body of aman. ‘‘What’s happened ?”’ gurgled Artemas, pugging. ‘(Man must have fallen ina fit,’’ said Herbert, as he pushed onward swiftly. They whirled up to the spot and sprang from their bicycles to the ground. The man lay face downward, fairly in the middle of the road. His clothing about his shoulders was _ blood-stained, and there was blood on his head. ‘“There’s been foul play here!’’ cried Herbert. ‘‘T guess that’s right, b’gosh!’’ said house a farin wagon somethin one of the two farmers, both of whom ap- ae peared bewildered. Herbert caught up something sie the ground near the body of the unkuown. It was a baseball bat, and there were _ bloodstains upon it! ‘Here is the weapon with which the job was done!” he said, holding it out for inspection. — j Somebody jest knocked the feller silly with that,’’? observed one of the - farniers. a RRO ti ts ai Pgh “Tf we knew who owned the bat——’’ began Arteimas. ‘‘Look!’’ cried Herbert, holding out the blood-stained bat; initials upon it!?? All stared at the bat, on which the letters, ‘‘F. M.”’ ‘*And they are Frank Merriwell’s ini- tials!’ triumphantly shouted Herbert. ‘*This is his bat! I’ve seen him using it lots of times! What does this look like, governor???’ ‘It looks as if murder had been done with Mr. Merriwell’s bat, and le’ll have to explain how the bat caine to be here.’’ **Governor!”? ‘*What?”? ‘‘We’ve got him!’ *‘}Iow?”? ‘““This is the very thing we wanted !”’ ‘“That’s so!’’? gurgled the ex-Senator. ‘This will be likely to put him in a tight corner. He has slipped out of lots of tight places. Let him slip out of this!”’ ‘Whoever done this ere job,’’ said the talkative farmer, ‘‘I ruther guess they fixed the feller up fer good.”’ 3 ‘‘Tt’s almost certain they fractured his skull with this bat,’’ said Artemas, Herbert was struggling hard to repress a trembling feeling. glad that not one of the other three paid much atten- tion to him. ‘tWho is the man he fixed ?’’ said Arte- mas. ‘‘Let’s have a look at him.’’ They took wretch and turned lim over. The face of Flipper Flynn was shown, ghastly and covered with biood! ‘‘here are some were He was —— CHAPTER XI. FACING HIS FOES. Even then the escaped convict was not i. dead. He seemed to have more lives than _ a cat, and he recovered after being taken to a house and attended by a. phy sicilan, But his mind was affected, and hee hold of the unfortunate ca the villagers. . concerning this affair, but three persons ‘out of four declared that the fellow had not gone down in the whirlpool, seemed to have forgotten everything that liad happened to him. The doctor said he might come round in a few days, as Joe Scott liad, o1 rest of his life. That he ed, much inthe same manuer as Scott Without doubt his assailant had left him for dead. he might remain thus the had been murderously assault- had been attacked, was evident. Who had done the dastardly. work ? “The finding of the blood-stained base- 17 : ‘ jr eds " lis qa ot ball bat right near him is evidence enough,’’ declared Artemas Hammer- swell. The bat was shown to Frank Merriwell in the presence of witnesses, aud he laid Claim to it. ‘Then you are sure it belongsto you?”’ oleefully. y > asked Hammerswell, “Of course I am sure,’’ said Frank, prowiptly. ‘‘There are my initials on it. I’ve made more hits with that bat than with any other this season.”’ ‘Well, with it, I reckon, The motive for Merriwell’s you’ve made one heavy hit ” said Arteinuas. assault on Flynn seeined lacking, but the ex-Sena- tor declared fat would be brought. out later, beyond the shadow of a doubt. It was not long before Frank’ learned the whole story, and he realized that he was in an awkward position. However, he latighed at it, declaring they could prove nothing against lim. ‘(We'll see,’’? said Artemas Hammer- swell. arrested before night on the charge of attenipted murder.”’ | Of course the escape of Flynn from drowning in the river was a marvel to There were many opinions But both Herbert Hammerswell and Ned Hastings asserted that they had seen Flynn sucked down. TIP TOP WEEKLY. “YT rather think we’ll have him 25 ‘here were those who doubted their Still, it seemed most remarkable that they should tell anything of the sort un- less it were true. Flynn was placed under arrest by the wounded detective, who was triumphant at last, much to his satisfaction. But Artemas Hammerswell objected to the reinoval of Flynn from Maplewood till he could testify against his assailant. ‘““Murder has been aes in this jlace, gentlemen,’’ declared the Se eas, oe y tor. ‘‘We must ahs this affair to the very bottom. JI propose to see that the guilty party is punished. Hodge canie to Frank Merriwell. ‘(Took here, old man,’ said Bart, ‘‘do you know what’s up?”’ | sae "Well, ’’ said Merry, quietly, ‘‘I have is mischief brewing.”? They’re putting upa a fancy that there ““That’s right. job on you.’ ‘‘Who?” ot he Hammerswells.’’ ‘In connection with the knoeking out of Flynn ?’’ ‘Sure thing. I’ve heard enough to They mean to have you ar- rested, ere ‘Well, I rather smelled it in the air. 3ut they can’t make anything out of it,” ‘‘TDon’t you believe yourself! Theyre ready to pay good money to get you ina trap, ond they’ll have strong testimony agains: you. I have been given a straight tip Zrom Stella Stanley, and she got it from Hastings, who has been let into the know that. _ game by Herbert.”’ “Do you know the exact size of the job??? ‘tt seems that none of them saw you. outside your room after nine o’clock last — night.’? “Well?” “Vou can account for your actions up to that time, can’t you?” ‘Yes, for every minute.”’ tr 45 ‘Gur ing for the lead. ‘*Well, they won’t tty to trip that you did : by claiming anything before 1 lies ¢ T rt 2 a Ai ae a4 7 a then; but I understand that a witness i Pe ig Se TRE mance Wilii DE DIOUgIIE torwarad who wiil swear hae Ty xan erhias: dee ee lay hwtabahaAwdt tac that he saw you ie€ave tne notel about ten- thirty in the evening. Another will claim to | j 7 7 that you did not return till two in the morning, when lu were seen to sneak bz +] 1 { t AY j } erat? ACK, Plally t Io tO avola Oovoseli Valk } . -17 7 . 17 1 a2, 4. ray be ] he A Viliiagver Willi ve broue lit torward to swéar that you were seen of with a strange man about eleven o’clock last niglit. You were going in the direc- tion of the old house near which Flynn was found this morning. All thig, taken in connection with the finding of your blood-stained bat near the fellow, will be enough so you’ll be held for trial. \And that will ruin the baseball season here, which is Weetes Pie PD swells. **Bart,?’ said Frank, earnestly, ‘‘you have done me a great turn.” “Thank Stella.”’ “Well, then, she has done mea great turn, and soinething good has come of her acquaintance with Hastings.”’ 1 » “Well, it’s the only thing!’? muttere Bart. **T"ll have to forestall these ki ~ nd friends ‘of mine.” A‘How can you do it?’? “I think that will be easy,’? laughed Merry, not at all disturbed. **Don’t be too confident.’ **T am But they cause you jots of trouble.’’ ‘“That must not happen, Frank. : ar OF not!’? exclaimed Bart. ‘his is the critical time in the league. Both Maplewood and Rockford are fight- If Rockford wood not.’’ 11 have: you arrested and %?9 declared course gets the worst of it, Maple stands to come out ahead, providing nothing happens to ye oe s Rag,’ _ for our enemies to get you out of the way That being tlre case, it is important TIP TOP WEEKLY. just now. If they can hand you upa short time, they’ll do — job.” Hodge saw through the whole plot 1 that a success of their work, atane! ? “The case ; him is clear, kled the fatliert of ‘abet “Tam not doing anything hastily, who was pres- ent. Mr. and t] Brockwell. I am sure of my ground, ere is not a doubt in the world but this fellow Merriwell attempted to kill -Flynn.”? “T think it will be raise a few doubts, easy ” said a Merriwell stepped into the d by Hodge, Mulloy and an | by and Frank room, followe eccentric old gentleman the name of Cogsmith, who stopped at the hotel and was well known in Maplewood. Rufus Cogsmith had visited the place every summer for the past seven years, having taken an interest in the develop- ment of Maplewood. } chuc-— enough to quiet voice, « He owned consider- © able land in the vicinity, and was said to > ae - eg ie ‘ \Teft the hotel last 1 showed it, but he quickly should say! 7 afraid of the result But | T hardly think y you'll escape it.’ be very wealthy. in many Ways he was queer, but he was known to be a man of the hig ghest int LoTity a +s 4 1& AAAS J ALY) : : ovou d Mr Coc 1, }))? " ‘‘How do you do, Mr. Cogsmith !’” ex- q 7 ee ‘ ; ‘ 17 ac | 4 ‘ . claimed esi aly. with oreat polite- ness. (Taw !)? ofunted M C, gl Haw! erunted Mr. Cogsmith, |= justing his spectacies and looking. Arte- mas over. 11 ¢ Mrank, fac- ae uare ’ Lee are making prep- sted on a serious ds 1 overheard just now as I was entering thius-office, it is evi- dent that there is no mistakeabout that. Hammierswell looked satisfied and tri- umphant: a6 r c haw 9g lanr ANS ‘T rather think we have a clear case x; inne Stem Se ‘wax Aw : against you, sir,’’ he said. [I have the necessary witnesses, and you will havea ‘ont 4 ha Biba eed Y : ’ chance to face the charges in court.”’ ae nan 17] ; ae Cnnrist ae hat tle me ‘I can tell you exactly what. those that I LATA light at ten-thirty, that It will be claimed charges will be. Iwas seen witha strange man on the Brewer road an hour later, and that I re- turned to the hotel about two o’clock in the morning. © This, taken with the’ dis- covery of my bat. near the man this morn- ing, will complete the case against me.’’ Haimuierswell was astounded, and he recovered, say- . ing: ‘Well, this -is 1) evidence enough, I “But I can easily: prove an alibi. It happens that I can account for every mo- ‘ment of my time from the moment I left the ball ground last night till I stepped in at the door of this office “Voull have achance to do that in court, sir.’’ “But I do not wish toappear in court.’ “7 haven’t a doubt of it. I know! You’ are — hal “Mr. Hanmnerswell, I ain here 2 to: pro- TIP TOP WEI EK LY. 37 £3 aaa 17 1u swotn evidence that will how 1¢ was utterly 1mposs : i¢ e to jiave in- jure Fiynn or to have se¢ him last i 3 99 nl?! t Titec sc: ese a nto Thi wood o : i C¢ 1’ ft ca y T } r e 7 J ALC a ic} a Ut yOu CVvi= 19) qaen 7° , - . 4 + 1 4 } 5 Lea - 344 l Vo not pe too 1 ‘ Ly se 1 ra ; Hasty tAa lie SUCII eV iC¢ Lt will : 1 47 In Tati rei) 4 i Ss! ti11S CX t { 4. +1 C Ae VV i | Lo C Cc Ou I Lillis Cs=- caped C Vict ‘The interes Muiman l we to see 7uSs e a ——_ , t | 14 ; t MTanK laugehvec 1 trihne sc I cry : ‘ . i if SO1 ‘ W ‘ ubt if ou 4 an L 7 ; s K the meant! ‘ OFS I - 4 | > . hefniy . a wu & i € ut e pefore you +1 , ; ’ carry this thing furthe 6 9) I refuse! ‘Very well; if Iam falsely imprisoned, I shall sue you for damages to the amount of ten thousand dollars.” “Bah! what will that amount to? “Vou will find out. I shall make it slain that re have put up a job to have This I I shall also prove that ‘your ] me arrested in order to inj jure me, can prove, witnesses have been hired by you to tell certain stories to make out ‘your case, This I can prove! I shall send those wit- nesses to jail for perjury, for I can do it.’” “wo of the persons present moved rest- lessly in their seats, showing soine alarm. ‘How do you suppose it happens that « I am onto your whole game? Does not rove to you that I can back up any 3 make here ?”?’ wnigpered Herbert, who began to fear that Krank would face the old man down, © ‘“He’s a great bluffer.”’ Artemas threw out his chest. “(Don’t fear, my son,’” He said, take care of the you Frank seemed to between Seth and © ‘ py 1g reprobate.”’ understand ‘what 33 he sim iled * passed Srimly sw SS iige cok Pegpeas to show ‘tight ak that I on’t let him bluff you, gevernor!’? ~ eetlgeereeeeqesneneaenenaes utter en ratncimarernh tn repentant thes eam TN a esis pI eee 28 TIP TOP WEEKLY} could not have had. anything to do with the assault on F] Mr. Hamiierswell, if you wish to you will be then, push the charge’ against me, at liberty to go ahead. I will be able to show it a case of malicious persecution, and you ought to be able to pay a litt] ‘*Vou’re an snug e sum fo1 f pains.’’ yout adventurer!’ “cried Arte- mas. ‘‘But you can’t make any inoney off me, and you cannot bluff me.’’ that Flyun niust have been “Will you: admit the assault on made some time last night after nine in the evening ?”’ **T will adinit nothing.’ ‘Very well; it makes can account for every minute of no differezice. my time up to nine o’clock, and——”? ‘How about the time after you left the hotel at ten-thirty ?”’ “*] did not leave the hotel after enter- ’clock last night.”’ Attemas. ‘‘We ing it at nine o *fAh-ha!’? cried prove differently. **You cannot, sir!’ said Mr. Cogsmith, bluntly. ‘CRhh 2? “How do you know??? can exclaimed the ex-Senator. “*] happen to know because Mr. Merri- well was with last shortly after nine till dayli astonishing declaration. from ght,’ was the me night, sir, ee ee CHAPTER XII. DEFEAT OF THE PLOTTERS. Arteyias Hamimerswell looked astound- -ed,-and Herbert muttered an exclamation of dismay aud disgust. - **Hey ??’ cried the former Senator, star- ing at Cogsmith. “Exactly that, sir!’ snapped the queer little man. ‘‘I was taken ill last night, + sir, and I spoke to Mr. Merriwell as he (. was passing the door of my room—I called : him in. I did not wish to call a phiysi- ~“Do you mean——”? an old crab like me. Fig 3 gene haat charge trumped up against hand. But I have been afraid for a that I might d one of year ie all alone when seized by those spells, and I have a horror of dying alone. Iasked Mr. Merriwell to re- inain in the rooim with me last night, and he did so, sleeping on a couch.” 5 Artetitias Hammerswell fell back in his wind going out of his in- He had taken g evidence chair, ail the Jated body. teat pains ; T 4 to build up. damagiirg against Merry, ture cr and now he saw the whole, struc- in a moment. } 1) 1 ible! : he umbling and falling ‘This is most remark: mut- tered. Herbert was not willing to give up. ‘How do you know, Mr. Cogsmith,’’ said, ‘th in your room from that time till daylight? He left the were asleep. ‘*No, sir—no! “Why not?” he quickly at Merriwell reinained inay have room while you > Nothing of the sort!’ ‘‘Because I did not close my eyes to sleep all last night. I did not dare do so. Many aman has died while he slept. I of the time from the moment when I called Mr. Mer- > remained awake every minute riwell in till I saw daylight creeping in at this At eleven understand, it is ny window morning. o’clock, claimed he was outside the hotel, we were when, as [I 1 talking together. I remeber loaking at the little clock on the mantle. At twelve o’clock I asked him to bring mea_ glass At twelve-thirty I smoked, and the match from the safe on. At one I was reading, and he couch. At At two le was of water. he furnished the mantle. was sound asleep on the thirty he had not stirred. sleeping as calmly as a baby, yet I under- stand that it is claimed he wasseen sneak- is ing into the hotel at that hour!» Bah, sir _ —bah! I-can tell just where he was every hour of the night! Heis a very fine young man! Not many young would have been so kind and attentive to — I will not see any one- x men like him — TIP TOP WEEKLY, him | jured! I will not see him maliciously. in- I will stand by him in this affair He may depend on me. If he is unjustly accused and arrested, I will aid him in prosec There, sir, I I think be well uting his persecutors! you under- for you to have had my say, stand me. It drop this matter at once. that a full investigation and will It is possible may not be to your liking. piece of dirty It is imay becoine The real motive behind this be exposed. that other parties business. may barely possible involved. soine one in this very office may be asked to give an account of his movements last niglit. Now Herbert Hammerswell felt a shiv- What if another line of investigation should be taken up and fol- Go slow, sir—go slow!”’ -er run over him. lowed closely ! Artemas was utterly upset. He saw all his plans brought to naughtin a moment, inst Frank Still he sought to justify himself in the course he had thought to pursue. “But Merriwell’s bat was found the injured man,”’ he said, used to beat the fellow unconscious. does he account for that?’? **He accounts for it by stating that the dressitig-room beneath the grand stand at the ball ground were brokem into last : night and robbed of balls, bats, cages mitts and other things. Without doubt, this bat was taken out atthe time. It may have been dropped on the road, and thus fallen into the hands of the assailant of Flynn. Thatis the explanation, sir. It’s enough—quite enough.’ ~~ “It’s pretty thin!’’ declared Hammer- “y swell, feebly. and he realized that his case aga Merriwell would not hold water. near “Tt had been How That's what you think. come to think what you like. Mr. Ham- -merswell, your attitude toward Frank ; Merriwell is known, sir, and I advise you It is possible that ~ You’re wel- world why Mr. Merriwell sh £ injure this unfortunate a price on his head. Thereis not the least particle of proof. to show that he did. There is plenty of idence that such an act was utterly impossible on_ his part. 19) Drop it, sir—drop it! looked weakly toward Hainmertswell the lawyer, who nodded, saying: “Mr. Hammerswell, you do not to do anything that may look attempt to ae character, I ain sure. Mr. wish like a de- Merriwell’s Cogsin has told Merri- well last night, it is plain that the young liberate ith is 12% he ready to make oath to wl us concerning the whereabouts of nothing to do man could have had with this assault. The alibi is perfect.” Herbert ee chewed his tongue. on Frank at last, it made him furious to see Merry get out 5 Believing he had a hold of the snare so easily. Hammerswells wished him from the ball Frank had taken and baffled the Knowing the and intended to keep afternoon, the ground that the move. ‘SAll right,’ rising to his feet, crest- fallen. ‘‘If I was mistaken, I’m ready to drop the whole I congratulate: Mr. Merriwell in getting off so easily.’” ‘Hal’ snapped Cogsmith. ‘‘You are. — the one to be congratulated, sir, It might — have cost you dearly if you had carried this thing too far. You are getting off © bull by horns said Hammerswell, looking flushed and matter. cheaply.’ great interest in “(You seein to take a Merriwell,”’ with ‘Well, sir, why not, sir? man. a sneer. A He’s a fine, young It’s a pity there are not more like him. Not many young men would == been so kind to an old wreck like me, re “Thats culghe % muttered “Herbert: “But it’s dead lucky for him he happens % to do that little thing.” os eather: saw suothing b but Tuck in, it. said Artemas, / right along. . round if th Skill; : gnashing ot store teeth $ pat! of the TIP TOP WEEKLY. did not see that the goodness of Frank’s heart had brought its own reward in the discoifiture of his enemies. ‘Come, Herbert,’’ said Art be going.’ He turn men wlio had bee all this, and they hii. “He has no muttered Bart Hodge, glare of contempt. The baffled plott office. emas, ‘‘we’ll gave a look at the two i sitting still through to follow ed ae ak rose further use from the ng ay birrud | Mulloy/ Sohal. ‘fAv they dc all ind in Shtates Prison, Oi me gtuess.”’ As Herbert p assed - Merry a glance of hatred q xs Thy? COT his i 1s not the ena sec 1111SS iNet A ae Frank, lie hissing : ave Qo THE END. The next numbe t (179) of the Tip Top Library will eoiain “Frank Merriwell’s or, Fighting for the Lead,”’ +++ <> ______-——_— THE SERENADE. JOHNNY GIVES THE i BY BURT L. STANDISH AR ik BE CULARS, The Widder is left out in the cold, for Nancy Boggs has captured the deacon. There has been weeping and wailing and round a certain town, while there was peace and, bliss acd 14-catat happiness-in an- ther certain patt. Me and Bob Jones have been on deck We have a way of being ere’s any excitement going on. Bob. is always round, and he’s gaining at the rate of a pound a week. Still, if you knew him, you’d say he was square asa brick. _ The Widder had a fit when she heard f the marriage. She jest couldn’t believe it til she saw Squire Stebkins, who tied the knot. 7 Then she fainted on the spot. The squire had’a glass of water on his sk, and he grabbed for it to throw it in the Widder’s face. n his Austerment he got tthe ink, which then she 1 then she went in and ; -so hard it broke so he can hit the nozzle without lookin’ up from his writin’ when he wants to dip his pen Yes, he got it! We yW ! Oh, you’d oie Ricr seen that female woman! Me and lookin’ in the winder jest when the whole contents of bottle right in- oer e ; 2 got th c—then the Widder 1 Bob was the squire sloshed the ink | sae — she turned pale asa 1 in’ her there was color enoug} - Stelikins t } lire 1s nig rh “sighted and. a little b] didn’t tumble a whi 1, a r¢ owed bie. 7h sudden-, the bone in then she uttered ORT CE ae ni 4 see ee inh W 1dde1 set up W ith sucn 1 4 ard ss that me and Bub neck crack, and scream that made the walls of the sqi office bulge out as much as eight i The squire adjusted his glasses 7 1 look at ler and gurgled: ; 139 her + loly sinoke yapsed all in j ae his heac door and (Ls ‘ 's in the smoke, iat color !’? the roots laine €ver “here wasn’t any hole or it'd never tanned her tl I laughed so hard it strained of my tue nails, and I’ve been since. 1e Widder was so mad she smashed her umbrella over the squire’s head, and’ ran out and made for home right through the centre of the village, mot evel tryin’ to wipe that ink off. Me aud Bob follered. All the in town ‘run out and ° barked at us, and lots of people fell in behind, laughin’ and wantin’ to know what was tlie matter. . a Bob told ’emn the wis gone into © mourning on account of a great bereave- - ment. [I explained she had tried anew kind | of. face .whitewash, and the stuff had Ee that color when she tried to wash og t off. t pie ‘When she reached her house the Wid- z der turned: and shook her fist at us, and. slammed the door. e one of tlre hinges. ~ We hung round for a spell, but finally dogs dispersed i in an | orderly manner we ry ce TIP TOP WEEKLY. 31 no further demonstration, as the papers say *bout mobs. news- Well. the bovs all d miAie yell, tHe DOYS ali GEciacet ‘ Cc t i al J ¢ ] must renade, ana round to it. CaS. CY » + ; . oettin 2 4971 Atnoer ann Ulli COTPSEe ald feli icity whacked the drum I was Someli J 7most id VV Aid 1 : 3 the leade his bride got deacon and nade, and whlien we ; evening the whole town We had some torches, and we a lke as we immarched 1 Dead Cat ies ou nlade a point, Bob gave the signal. Gee whiz} You’d oughter heard the disturbance! The drun struck up, but they wasn’t in it witlrthe rest of us. We jest done our best to knock the bottoms out of them ‘pans, and ’bout ten fellers with fish horns joined in the cho- rus. t was so still canon explode! Kverybody laughed and we swung up into the deacon in great style. 30b pounded the big drum so hard and sweat so he stood ina puddle of water eight inches deep! "The puddle was there before he though. I hate to spoil a good story by » makin’ the confession, but you might think I’d had a falling out with the “truth. It didn’t take us long to bring the ‘deacon and his wife to the door. He bowed and tried to speak, but we jest tooted and pounded the harder. In fhat way we kept him bowin’ and grinnin’ corpse sr : 7 1° 4 you mig re heard a cheered, and ’s front yard came, y > hety ing bmg : as twenty imin- penedicti qeacon s Mi L 2h she ie head brand, ‘*If so “*T’d like to ingt i servance squawked, as slie eet oh es 39 Was X aH5.00.s4y———= We never heard she wanted to say. Just then the lapsed and Mrs. ¢ Q She went almost out « Everybody laughed, and “The band will now pl: te the Soup.’ ”?’ This made everybody good-na cept the Widder, and nobody attention to her. The deacon asked body went that house. It was packed. ea ta suspectit deacon, standing on a chair his arms ina frantic. manner prepared for ye.”’ \ oe ‘“We know it,’’ gurgl ed--Bob, who was — getting awfully squeezed in ‘the crowd. . ‘You'd had the doors locked and the winders nailed down. That’s why we took ve by surprise.’ . se ‘“Instead of that,’ said the deacon, ured ex- paid, any | been this,’ said the “Pd been soe rate and waving ~ TIP TOP WEEKLY. marriage git riled, 9? who seemed ‘so that he absolutely **1’d had a decent treat. As it is—— “Bring out ‘your cider, deacon!’? yelled ‘bout a dozen fellers. The deacon is grand high mogul of the Good Templars, and he protested he did not lave a drop of cider in the house, ex- cept ‘‘a very little,’? which he was mak- ing into vinegar. Then evetybody hollered for bring out the vinegar. He done it, and it was mighty good old cider. Evidently tl 1¢ deacon had dropped -a stick into it to keep it from. spoilin’. As for there i ‘fa very little,’’ the cider kept coming up out of the cellar as lony as anybody happy over his wouldn’t him to wanted any. Well, you can bet things moved along lively pretty soon. ‘The deacon declared he’d lave sonte kind. of a decent treat, aud lie set a lot of the wimmen cookin’ buckwheat fritters in the kitchen, while some others rigged up a long table in the “eatin? room. But when it came time for eatin’ frit- ters, a good part of the gathering had ab- sorbed so much cider they didu’t care whether school kept or not. They didn’t seem to have any ambition to come around and take their fritters straight. There was some trouble ’bout getting a full table, but me and Bob was there So was the Widder. ~~ 'The-bride set at the head of the table, and the Widder happened to get pretty - nigh her, 1 knowed somethin’d oe sure to hap- pen. We had big dippers and tumblers, and all kinds of glasses of cider to wash down ~ the-fritters. ' Everybody grabbed for a steamin’ hot - fritter, and when he got it in his plate he -slopped it all over with molasses. -. Then he downed it the best way he ~ gould, and called for more. — ‘The deacon was getting a little “high,” for he ’tempted to sing, ‘‘Down Went McGinty,’’ and every time he tried to say McGinty his tongue got tangled with his back teeth and he nearly strangled, _ Pretty soon Bob he proposed a toast. It was to ‘‘the beautiful bride!”’ - Somebody hissed. It was the Widder! lick as a. cat aoe wink, Nancy e ketched up a dipper of cider and sloshed it right into the Widder’s face. Mrs. Scraggs gave a yowl that caused her false teeth to fly out, but. she never minded ’em. She caught up the fritter in her plate all drippin’ with molasses, and slapped the bride full on the countenance with it! That fritter struck with a sweet and soulful smack, and the molasses spattered in seventeen different directions. Then the two wimmen tose right up and reached for each other’s gore. And then, just as there was a prospect of having some real, genuine fun, the people there had to drag ’em apart and stop the scrap. Me and Bob both said it was worse than high-way robbery to deprive us of a little innocent enjoyment like that. And it broke up the serenade. Them as couldn’t get home laid out under the ferrces and flirted with the moon. The Widder has asserted that some of the people at the serenade were shamie- fully under the influence of ‘‘ardent,’” but as only the deacon’s vinegar was molested, and nearly everybody in town had a dip at that, the whole place is. united in declaring Mrs. Scraggs de- ranged. i Having lost we deacon, tor whom she fished so long, the Widder is naturally cut up overit. She has threatened to write a letter to the Jimp Corners Bugle, givin’ the full particulars of the serenade. | Oh, jee! Won’t there be an earthquake — in this town if slie does write such a let- ter and the Bugle prints it! Well, I should cough! <> +4@> + — ELAM VISITS THE MUSEE. BY BURT L. STANDISH, There was hayseed in his hair, and his — mouth was open as wide asa barn door, — He stood. in front of the City Hall and stared at the new World building, at thee: street cars, and the rushing throng ‘of peo- - ple, and at everything within range of | his vision. ts “By golding! this beats all nater!?”— was his observation. ‘‘This ’ere taown of New Yoke is an all- fired sight bigger than ee Holler an’ ' Mugby’ 's Corner ak ary CR i al a a ta ace . ees: Pane ee stand! » spat on his hands. ORE I don’t ek ther TIP TOP WEEKLY. 33 put together. I wonder what marm’d sa if she c’u’d see ine now ?”’ ‘Hey, dere! git onter der Rube!” yelled a newsboy, witha bundle of papers under his arm. Iinnimediately there was a street gamins in the vicinity gathering of of the coun- try lad; and he was beset by a perfect fire. of sarcasin. _-“Oh, where did you yelled one. ‘Looker dem pants!’ screamed an- other. ‘‘He pulled ’em ’fore dey was growed = “Git out, ye chump!’ cried a third. ‘‘Der jay stood in der wat- ter w’en his measure was took—xat!s w’at’s der matter wid dem pants.’ The country lad was incensed, showed his resentment. “Tooker here, you young varmints!’? he exclaimed, shaking his fist at the grin- ning boys, ‘‘ef I ketch holt of you 11] be apt ter shaik you purty tarnal nigh out of your skins!” ‘Rats!’ yelled the boys, in chorus. The country lad quickly looked around. “T don’t see no rats,’’ he declared, whereat tlie gamins yelled with Jaughter. git dat hat?’ contemptuously and he ‘‘Ryvery hayseed that we pass It has whiskers made of grass!’ sang one. of the boys. ““By chowder! this is more than I kin 1? asserted the greenhorn, as he hull gaul-derned craowd my name hain’t _ Elam Goshfry !’’ But at this moment the street urchins took to their heels crying: ‘*Dere comes der cop!”’ “Hanged ef I didn’t skeer ’em_ pretty nigh out of their wits!’ laughed Hlam. Then a policeman came up and told him to move on. The country boy wandered up Broad- “way, staring open- -snouthed at everything © ~ of interest he saw. dressed man paused to look. after the And many a well- _ strange youth, smiling as he did so, - Byerything was new and wonderful to » Elam, and he fairly chuckled as he innocently ~ front of the Eden Musee on Twenty-third street. Seeing the people going in, he wan- dered through one of the outer arclies. There he saw a girl and a near-sighted man reading. a sign which read, ‘‘ Beware of Pick pockets.’ To Hlam’s amazement was pulling a handkerch near- -sighted man’s pocket. A pickpocket was at work. right there by the sign! Seeing a policeman standing a short distance away, the boy rushed up to him, crying guardedly: ‘‘Say, mister, looker there! There’sa feller robbing ’uother feller’s pocket Why don’t ye ’rest him ?”’ But the policeman did not pay the least attention to the country lad. “Tooker here!’? exclaimed catching hold of the officer. blind? Mebbe you’re so stuck up you don’t waut ter notice conimon folks, but by gosh! I know whiat’s your duty. Ef you don’t ‘rest that robber you'd oughter be licked with an ox-goad!? _ Then a man came along and told him the policeman was nothing but a Wa figure. Elam could scarcely believe it possible at first, but he was finally con- _ vinced. Then he felt kicking himself from Twenty-third street to the Battery. However, he had not forgotten the neat-siglite d man the pickpocket was rob- bing, and he called the door- RS eres: sate = tention to the bold-faced proceeding. ‘He nearly fainted when he was told all the figures were wax. ‘(Teens Rice to goodness!’’ he gasped. “That does beat al ii creation !”? When his wonder had ceased in a mease ute, he inquired how much it cost to go il and: see the sliow, aud he parted with hard-earned half dollar in otder to pass Life <2. ge ae Oncé inside, the country lad. amazed by the groups of people hes standing around. There were other peo ‘ple walking around the room and lookir at the groups, and he heard a won calling the naines of the people she w. looking at. Among others were Qu e ’ another ief man from the Elam, ‘*Be you | Victoria, the Kin peror of Germany, Prin Bismarck, the King of ‘Spain, Sultar: | Tae and so forth.” . Sa like going out and — : ‘young wan 34 TIP TOP WEEKLY. Elam. these show “Hully *Whata people bighugs togetlier. goshfry!’? muttered gaul-derned expense Din to 9) ter o1t So imenny Inust hev g ' ‘ man tnat venturing to /T*} } ery ¢ Tree wA “ [Then he-sat down beside a eading a ob- > Was fr serve: ‘’ was rangement peculiar srighton. saddle of Pood fastened to a pole that could be carried on the shoulders of sev- eral students. Short brads were so ranged in the saddle th at they made the responce 711 T! AZ L541 5 an ar~ to WEEKLY. It wasa_ at-/ 36 ive ly nnens aecee untered Tile was ecnel - he had a 1ess and aroused the he be } 4 en DUS11 thought co wuld. ve i was —‘stuck more utterly. 1 ‘idict fresliman. us and onensl iil a Lanky oan? > ANS had endured tle chaffing of the f resent- fancied he came to eiithaiat WilliOt ment, fo we es vel nee ask Ewer 1 iad trinimed him A hat KiNG of aA nioon, how ] ouds, anc have c niust seemed been to hear ay low for the signal,’’ said dd and Burkett aril see en ison hand 1 well fed Shaw, Dunton Snell and the ith us; and, without doubt, g around anc rushed past us., We ~ , aud we won- it he teetered is Jong arms never looking ¢ we decided he before dered if = ha atd. B straight al after his awkware (eee to the right or left, and liad not ‘etm ed. 26 “Oh, won't it be fun to see those pipe= stem legs ate in the air!’’? I chuckled. — “Run! and a snile s spre: ad over Bill- ings’ fat face. ‘‘It will give a fellowa new lease of life. Fun! ‘Well, just be on~ hand and see!” oe a; was on hand, aud I saw It was cer~ ily fun, but I have taughed over it: oteat deal more than I did at the t h wneling The lights had been out for nearly an hour when I heard a rat squeaking some~ where, ané I recognized the ‘signal. JT — arose quietly’ and made my way to. the door of my room, not having removed iny_ clothing when I Jay down. On iy fee! I wore rubber-bottomed ~ 36 TIP TOP WEEKLY. ““sneaks,’? as they were universally called. They made no noise. Cautiously opening the out into the corridor. found myself surrounded and the well-known voice of asked: ok. Dut? “You bet!’’ was my whispered reply. **Here are all the lads,’’ assured my corpulent classmate. ‘‘We’ll give ‘that greenhorn from New Hampshire the greatest jolly le ever encountered.” _Ina short time our plans were perfect- ed, and we stole along tle corridor to Lauky’s room. Shaw, who was a sort of amateur Jocksmith, had filed out a key that would fit the freslinan’s lock, and the door was opened without difficulty. Into the room we filed, Billings. first, Shaw next,-and I third, while the others strung along after us. door, I slipped Ina moment I by dark figures, Billings ip ‘1 It was a moonlight night, and the bed Jay so that the light from the window fell across it. We could plainly see the figure of our victim huddled under the clothes, even though it was a conifortably wari night. Straight up to the bed walked Billings, a extending a hand to grasp the slumber- ing figure. . Just then something happened. Billings was struck in the neck bya hard substance e, which he afterward de- -_ clared was a boot, and he tumbled over on the floor with a crash that seemed to shake the whole building. Then Shaw gave a howl and doubled up like a jack-knife, clasping his hands over his stomach. Before I could ask a question I got “it. Something struck me a terrible swipe on the jaw, and I saw more stars and comets and sky-rockets than a few. Be - About this time the other boys became ~ aware that there was a dark figure in the -toom that had seemed to rise out of the very floor beside the bed. And that dark figure was altogether too lively for com- ort. The way it danced about and kicked is in see zibs and punched us on the nos: 1 butted us in the stomachs was fe ay awe-inspiring. ; “Gi-gi-give it to him, bovs!” ourgled Shaw, ‘while Billings, attempting to strug-* Me and sent forward with his head under the bed, where he stuck fast. It seemed as if we had enceuntered a fiend and there were ten or a dozen of hin. The way he moved about in that room and slugged us was a caution, His-fists seemed like battering rams, and his toes must have been made of iron. And that infernal room seemed filled with furniture. We fell over chairs and scraped the skin off our shins, and we were knocked over by chairs which flew around through the air in an amazingly careless m3zner, We hegan to get frightened, for we “vere padly used up, and I don’t believe ore 0. t ~ hit the individual who was hay- ing stc a frolic with us. He not only xnocked us down, but he jumped on us aiter we were down. He utterly demoral- ized us. : I don’t know who took to flight first, but I remember hearing Billings begging somebody to get-him by the heels and pull him out from beneath the bed. I grabbed one foot and Snell got hold of the other. We didn’t stop pulling until we had dragged Billings half way down the corrider. It was a sorry crowd that gathered to determine the extent of our dainages. Every one of us bore soine mark of “the racket, and we felt that we had received a great deal more than we bargained for. ‘‘Rellows,’’ said Dunton, in a sad and puzzled tone, ‘‘did you notice the indi- vidual who was snoozing : seemed to sleep right through the racket??? Oh, yes, we had noticed it! “That was a dummy,’ observed Todd. “‘Lanky rigged it up to fool us, while he waited to get in his work. He? s a holy terror.’ ‘*VYou’re dead wrong,”’ Gea Bur- kett. ‘‘I’ve always noticed Lanky was hard of hearing when we guyed him. J think hie slept right through the whole affair. ? + Rien who thumped us in this fash- ion ?”? “He must have a baboon that sisitha guard over him nights,’ sighed Burkett. — ‘There is no other explanation for it.’ Lanky escaped being hazed at Brighton. — And he never seemed to know an attempt — had been made to give. Aim. a Hes on the ‘\ le to his: ‘feet, was struck Heavily. astern ; “trained buckaroo,”” in that bed — p JOPWEEKLY. 4a “AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THF AMERICAN YOUTH”? J YORK, SEPTEMBER 9, 1899. be Be a NEV ; a Terms to Tip Top Weekly Mail Subscribers. ht. (PosTA@k FREE.) ee Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each. er 3months - - - - - += - 65c.}/Oneyear - - + + = + + $2.50 4 - 4 months - - - - + = + §85¢,]/2 copiesone year - + - + 4.00 a » @mouths - - + = - - + $1.2}1 copy twoyears - - - - 4.00 How To SEND Monry,.—By post-office or express money order, es registered letter, bank check or dra/t, at your risk, At yourown e risk if sent by postal note, currency, coin, or postage Stamps in ~ordinary letter. Recexvi prs.— Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper change of number on yourlabel. Ifnotcorrect you have not been properly credited, and should let 1s know at once. To Chur Raiseits.—Upon request we will send sample copies to ald you in obtaining subscribers. , All letters should be addressed to STREET & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY, 238 William St., New York City. PRPPPPRP PPP PAP led el LD dd dl el lel a el eed ad SOMETHING ABOUT LEAGUES, From time immemorial men have delighted to form themselves into societies or leagues for mutual ad- vantage and protection. Many, if not all, of these ee have been productive of incalculable good and preg pe nant with unselfish acts and brotherly love. Almost invariably their aim has been charity, friendship and benevolence. And what higher aim could there be? It is, therefore, with much pride that we feel we are the originators of the Tip Top League, and hope and believe that its members will follow in the foot- «steps of those older societies. _ We already have a handsome badge and a worthy motto, ‘‘True as Steel.””. May each one be true to the other, as unyielding as steel in fidelity. 3 - Many readers have suggested that there should also be a signal, something like the signal in use among secret societies. How would this do? When one member* meets. another, let him place the index _ finger of ‘the right hand upon the open palm of the -left. The one thus appealed to responds by a reversal of the sign, placing the finger of the left hand upon Now let all, both boys and girls, for girls are equally eligible to membership, strive to make the Tip Top League one of which we may all be proud. ‘Like Frank Merriwell, be true, brave and honest in every dealing. j True friends are constant both in word and deed; True friends are present and help in each need; ‘True friends talk truly, and plot for no gain, When treasure consumeth, true friends will remain, « APPLAUSE. The Tip Top Weekly is the best, None other can compare, The cream of literature compressed, The hero makes you stare. ¥ i } _+At baseball Merry is a trump, » At football he’s a brick. i make his rivals hump . Here’s luck to the Tip Top Weekly, , When he starts to He always does the trick. y.it’s readers daily swell, : erie Sa veos never get sickly, 4c ut stand by erriwell. : With apologies, WwW, R. TRAIL, Hay ee Laramie, Wyo. We. spolouies are necessary. Here’s luck to you, TIP TOP WEEKLY. . SAM LIPSITY, _ the palm of the right. ‘ 37 - I have been reading Tip Top over two years and think it the greatest reading that was ever published. I think Mr. Standish the greatest writer of to-day, not excepting Kipling, Twain and ali the other big guns of whom we hear so much. The whole family rms: , , ‘ : 7 ad read Tip Top, and we can hardly wait until Satur- day morning to get it. I am merely writing this in order to inform you that Mr. Standish is appreciated in Philadelphia. He is also, I think, the most versatile writer I have ever read. At times, when Frank is talking to Bart, I imagine I can hear them, and I feel just as Bart does. Then again I think in No. 63, where the Indian is trying to ride the wheel, this is the most laughable inci- dent I have ever read. Wishing Tip Top Weekly and all concerned in it a long and prosperous Hfe, Frank’s ardent admirer, BE. G. Gi Philadelphia, Pa. We hope you and all your family will read the Tip Top for years to come. Yes, Mr. Standish is cer- as versatile, and makes his é¢haracters true to life. : I will write you a few lines to let you know that I think the Tip Top and Mr. Standish are all right. Where are little Nell and Dick, who Frank stayed with while working on the railroad? Let's cheer for Frank, his ball team, Mr. Burt Standish, and let’s not forget Messrs, Street & Smith. True az steel. . Cc. ARTHUR TORNSTROM, San Pedro, Cal. Wait a while, and you will probably hear from all of Frank’s old friends. TI was a constant reader of your Tip Top Weekly before I joined the army. I have them sent, from home. In my opinion it is the best weekly ever pud- lished or ever will be. It is an ideal publication for the American youth. I will be a subscriber for it shortly. It finds a hearty welcome way down here in our camp. The boys hail it with delight when it comes. Inclosed@ you will find 15 cents in stamps and the coupons for a badge and a copy of the Tip Top Weekly that my letter is printed in. I wish the Tip Tép and Mr. Standish, also its publishers, a long and prosperous life. ED GILLES, Troop L, Second U. S. Cavalry, Placetas, Cuba. May our brave boys in blue always read the Tip Top. We wish every one of them had a badge. Having read the Tip Top ever since it has been published, we take the liberty to give our opinion of the greatest weekly ever issued. Will Frank's comical friends go to Yale? We have organized a club here called the Tip Top Reading Club. We have thirty-six members, and eight more have sent in ap- plications to join. We have a large “‘gym.”’ A long life to Tip Top and its authors. True as steel, JESSE ROSENFELD, Treasurer. Dallas, Tex. President. ™ We do not know yet whether Frank’s comical friends, as you call them, will go to Yale or not. You must, continue to read the Tip Top to find out. I have read all the numbers of the Tip Top Weekly from No. 1 and have enjoyed them very much. hope Frank’s club will wi Trolley League, and down Herbert Hammerswell and his father. I will continue to read Tip Top as long as it is printed. Frank, Bart, Hans andthe rest, , i HENRY F. CROSSBY, - Boston, Mass. It looks now as if Frank’s team was going to win. Still, accidents may happen. Having seen a letter Cal., saying Inza would not - Frank because both had black hair, be a good match for has not got black hair, nor is he at all dark com-~ plexioned. If I have read correctly his hair 1s brown, as are also his eyes, so I should plexion was as near like Elsie’s as Inza’s. I think he should make as much of Inza es Elsie. It reminds me of = big oe ot ioe 2S be True to the First s0ove,”” which is es. re ae TIP.TOP FIEND, Swampscott, Mass,’ - No one can tell yet whom Frank prefers. That be seen in the future. ; gee win the championship of the: Wishing -good luck to Elsie, . from X. 0. O: from Garvonza, I should say | be was off the track, because in the first place Frank ~ judge his com-~-. as he does of — wilt 38 TIP TOP WEEKLY. It gives me ments to your are un 1aled for cultivating the people t l L esper ially acter of ‘rank J i and : > my >} Oo rene my and tale; great paper Its asure to stories minds of the 1dmire the ry to, tk tion and than fortt weeklies. eT pe W K for boys or girls to hy rT; them up ip Top cess. We shall always, endeavor to the al I received your the girls ask me to all will send for Frank Merriwell your badge. badge and it ‘is so. nice, and all let them see the badge, and they them, for they are readers of the stories: Thanking you kindly for ANNA -WACHHOLTZ, 3t. Peter,..Minn. not been one possessor of the badge yet delighted ith it. There has who was not seen a letter would let here. We team at As we have not state we thought we Tip Top is welcome successful in the ball main as true as steal, ARCHIE HANCOC CLAUDE KIDD; Atchison, Kan. will be suc you know that hope Frank will Maplewood. We re- from this part of the t} I r¢ l ie ) We all hope Frank cessful, Thank you. Allow me to ef Tip Top. Weekly. you success. Frank congratulate you on the fine editions My. friends and myself wish Merriwell is all BERT JOSLIN, Toronto, Canada, Yes, Frank is certainly all right. literary club in our city com- whose ages’ run from 15 t a Weekly is hailed with de- Aight whenever it somes at the club. The mem- bers actually r] the “book of all. books. Frank Merriwell and s ull team have caught the mem- bers by storm, tea every fellow wishes me to re quest you to put the league standing in the next weekly. We all feel sorry for Inza in letting Elsie cut her out, and we would like to read of Elsie’s and Inza’s meeting in the near future... We have chosen an appropriate name for our club, that is The Tip Top Readers’ ; Association, j B®. BE. KRAIG, president. E. J. HUTZ, fin. sec. WwW. Cc. Cee LAs PEO: ED. = MERTEZ,, treas, Washing We have organized a posed of 35*members years of age. The Tip AON, Ae Cs the opinion of all our readers, so May Your as voices ar as Frank and his ball team are concerned. _ you all read the Tip Top for years toxcome. ~ have not anything about the Tip we have a sed to write. We are i and so have decided to and call it the Tip Top and are after as many fferent teams are getting for the amateur cham- think we will. enter in it DWIN, rey, \OD. TSON, ake City, Utah. success; and club every ad, I f your admirable eklies, think it time to add my mite to your use. Tour ee could be no better, as the truly is ‘‘An ideal publica’ for the American Tr an tories are indeed splendid, and are most f é mong my ition of them book j < lious iends. will y to show my this attempt at poetry: PLY apprec books I’ve seen and read sy authors great and small B at to tell the truth, For the Yankee youth The Tip Top beats them all. Many books should not. be read By reade1 great and small, But the egre< Tip Tops That never stops, { Should be réad by one and ‘all, O TANT ADMIRER, Minneapolis, Minn. We welcome you among our poets. We, the m¢ mbers of the Jolly Dogs Club, fully ap- aT Et Weekly. We think it is superior cent We are trying to follow Er: nik Merriwell Hoping Mr, Ss meet with succe Pres. V H} iK ER, P AT W ALS! : ay & Treas. Savannah, Ga. slows as Frank, We trust you may all be as fine fe I think it ‘time/ I am getting in line, to use a slang expre .’ -k have seen so many letters of recommendation-in the applause that I have to come to the conclusion that it is time for mg to tell what I.think of the Tip Top Weekly. I think the Tip Top is a Tip Top story paper in every sense of the word, and I am in a fair way to express this opinion, too, for I have been reading it, and’every other book of its kind for seven years. I did not begin reading toed Tip Top Weeklies when they first came out, for par nts did not want me but I persuaded my father to read sever: them‘and he soon let me read them, so it all the’ back numbers and redd them, and have been keeping up with- them ever since, and I think there is none as good. think Frank Merriwell is a model in every respect, and if all the boys that read the stories about him would try to_be like him there would be more good boys in’ the land of the free and the home of the brave. I hope Frank’s shoulder gets well soon, so he can go in™the box for the Maplewood team again, -for I think that the team will not ‘make any show- ing as long as Merry is out of the box, and I think . if the Western. Wonder had the grit that Prarik has © he could get along better, but he can’t hold out as long as Frank. JT think Frank and Bart, witha good et of fielders.to support them, can hold down any eam that stéps out. I hope Herbert Hammers- and his. father get their just deserts, and if IE could get my hands on Herbert for about ten min- utes I would see that he got his. SEBASTIAN CROP PE R, Lake Chi arles 8S, La. probably read how well the Western Wonder is coming out. Herbert Hammerswell is pretty sharp, but we hope he will get his de 2séerts at last. .Lots of fathers are as interested in the ee ip as are their sons. 5 ees pe * been constant readers of the Tip Top think it the finest weekly printed RODERICK ROYAL, Reading, By i You have We have yes and You JAC K ROYAL, Thank‘ you. \ , Of all the novels I have read . a [I like the Tip = And every boy Of it he never Frank Me rriwell is 4 Bart Hodge and ] E And like old Hansi Bs There are but d Success to the Tip Top Wee May it neve1 never die. And may the moito, ‘‘True as sreel,’’ Be every reader’s cry! I have written a few verses here to show you my apprecia readers Iowa Cit n¢ I read Tip Top n of Tip. Top Weel back to Yale. Always y Mn To BY W. BROWN o Lov y la 5 The new Yale series will be splendid. We are sure all our readers wil Ly so. PEt } THI A Al : plished every host of admirers do this publication The name of this libr: ry, which is read by great and small, Is the old} reliable Tip Top, and you b it leads them i: all a The hero of the tru i est boy * Who has s LATE ov as well is a 1is comrade ¥ He has traveled the world over, and with little Elsie, 4 small, They make a handsome couple, and beat -them all! you bet they Now a word about the author of this well known book so grand, For his stories have been read by all the people of this land, Other authors have ways al But not with B CLARENCE MAYBE! widely flourished, but have al- a ‘t L. Standish, because he leads them all. 7 $ tRY, / Norwalk, Ohio. Mr. Standish is much pleased at your warm praise of his work. After reading every one of the Frank Merriwells library, I am‘ forced to write my thanks for the ex- cellent stories. For cleanliness moral and instruc- tiveness they ; , d Mr. Standish is the king of aut iks with Hughe Optic and Doyle. um jus ng the: days b fore he goes back to Yale and resumes his place ries have done me a in atiiletics. I know the sto -world of good since reading them. BERLIN R. HILDEBRAND, : j Springfield, Mass. We hope and know the stories will always continue to please and instruct you. Once again I feel compelled to say a word in praise Of the Tip Top Weekly that we love so well, It assuredly is the best, Far ahead ‘of all the rest, “As each reader of it, young or old, will jtell. And I always feel indebted to the publishers For presenting to us such delightful t: iles, And whene’er we read of Frank Mr. Standish we eee della . For he as an entertainer never fails. ie MORT R.*MORLAND, ; - North East Harbor, Me. Your verses are always good. Continue to send them * Let me write a word or two in praise of the best and most interesting book published in the United States, the Tip Top—it’is just “‘out of sight.”’.. Mr. ‘Standish certainly could not_have chosen a_ better ero for a story than Frank Merriwell. I will sure- ‘ly get a badge, and be proud tO os Poa aoe a se “T am a member oO 1e p.. To ea aoe AY JAMES Y. THOM Pa p : New York City. a. You surely will be proud of the badge. TIP TOP WEEKLY. Correspondence, In quisiti United be un jer examinat as soon notify eA nf IMnil eg a oN Y ; yy ment I 1 to 35 4 age, OD liigent na bP sound and itution Defective would cause rejected. Bw. Mec.; = ‘° Pa.—No premium on the half- dollar of 18 he nt of 1802 is worthy sisty cents. We Pe int C I yreparation that will make the hair perman« n y H. O. F., Montreal, inada Che gs no on the lver thre ent piece of 1862. JT sought after are 5, and all after and 1863. A. E. C., Lynn, Mass.—For pen and ink drawing use Gillott’s pens, No, 507, and Higgins’ German ae ternyeee drawing ink. Yes, artists first uSe a pen- il and then go over the drawi1 with ink. . ~ J. ¥F. V., Cleveland, do not know t: What society the badge hoc signo vinces means In this sign you mH. T. Y.—No premium on the three cent pie 53. There.is no ‘half-dollar of 1/33. The coinage began in 1794. Francisco, Cal.—The coupons alone » you a badge. E. L.. Chicago, Ijl.—The book is out of print. We do not know where you would be able to obtain a copy si M. R. L., Glenville, Ct.—Will this do? To good gall ink add a strong solution of fine soluble PruSsian blue in distilled water f Ww. H. W., Jr., Sanbornville, N. H.—The Tip Top binders are thirty-five cents apiece; You can obtain them by writing to this office BB. R. G., Joliet, Ill.—Sunday is the first day of the week. ‘ M, E. G.,. Pittsburg, Pa.— the quarter-dollar of 1838. is no premium on e H S., Pittsburg, Pa.—No premium on the 1877 trada dollar. Joplin Boy, Joplin, Mo.—No premium on‘ the five- cent piece of 1883 W. D., New Orleans, La.—Write to the Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C. ~ D. S. K., Brooklyn, N. Y¥.—You are a little below the ave rage ins he ight and a little aboye in weight. Jap, Culbert, Ga.—Cancelled U. S. stamps have no value. i238 ko olden, Col.—Diamond Dick was Bertie’s or Diamond Dick, Jr.’s, Falier. There are Only two of them. H. G., Louisville, Ky.—No premium on either coin, The Tip Top League “ember’s Badge HALF PRICE TO OUR READERS ONLY. In response to the urgent request of a host of Tip Top readers, the publishers after carefully con- sidering a number of designs for a badge of membership in the TIP TOP LEAGUE, finally adopted one which is an arftistic gem of excellence. The picture shows the design, but it does not give you an adequate idea of the exquisite beauty of this elegant ornament. It is solidly and substantially made, finished in gilt and beautifully embossed. The widespread desire for this badge gave us s9 much faith in the enterprise that our first order was enormous, but we have been obliged to. give a second order. We still offer it at the very low figure of TEN CENTS in cash or stamps when accom- panied by two coupons. =SICONDITIONSE— Each coupon is worth five cents when accompanied by five cents in stamps or coin. TWO COU. PONS AND TEN CENTS SECURE YOU THE BADGE. You can get as many badges as you desire at the same rate by use of the extra coupons. Badges without coupons will cost fifty cents each, The coupons are rea o Tip Top readers, and we adopt this method to prevent others from getting the badge at the ssi rate given to our patrons. IF YOU ARE A READER OF THE TIP TOP YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE, AND ENTITLED TO WEAR THE EMBLEM OF THE ORDER—and our word for it, you will be more than pleased after you receive it. AN EXACT PICTURE FOR MEMBERS ONLY TIP. TOR aa LEAGUE OF THE LEAGUE BADGE TIP TOP LEAGUE TIP TOP LEAGUE TIP TOP LEAGUE : MEWMBER’S COUPON MEMBER’S COUPON MENMBER’S COUPON Ths Conpon and FIVE CENTS This Coupon and FIV E CENTS This Coupon and FIVE CENTS will be accepted for ten cents will be accepted for ten cents will be accepted for ten cents tewards the purchase of the towards the purchase of the towards the purchases of the League Badge. League Badge. League Badge. STREET & SMITH. STREET & SMITH. , STREET & SMITH. TIP TOP LEAGUE TIP TOP LEAGUE | | TIP TOP LEAGUE MEMBER’S COUPON MENMBER’S COUPON MEMBER'S. _COUPON This Coupon and. FIVE CENTS This Conpon and FIVE CENTS This Conpon anid “FIVE CENTS will_be accepted for ten cents will he accepted for ten cents will be accepted. for ten cents towards the purchase of the towards the purchase of the towards the pureness oft the League Badge. League Badge. League Badge. STREET & SMITH. STREET & SMITH. STREET & SMITH. To secure the promptest attectices address all letters on this subject to ---. THE TIP TOP LEAGUE.... (Care STREET é& SMITH | 238 William Street, New. York. |