’ All readers of the renowned Tip Top stories should beware of base imitations,
placed upon the market under catch names very similar to Frank Merriwell,
= and intended to deceive.

AN
IDEAL PUBLICATION
FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH

 

 

Issued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-8 Seventh Ave., NV. rs

NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 17, 190. Price, Five Cents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again the baffled captain of the Wellsburg team lost his head. Seizing Bemis about the neck,
Cooley struck him in the face with his fist.

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Issued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year.

No. 514.

 

Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-& Seventh Avenue,
N.Y. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1906, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.

NEW YORK, February 17, 1906.

Price Five Cents.

RANK MERRIWELL’S PUPILS:

OR,

THE WIZARDS AT WATER POLO.

 

By BURT L. STANDISH.

 

CHAPTER I.
A SOURED SOUL.

_ After sitting nearly a full hour staring at the flames

in the open fireplace, Deacon Elnathan Hewett rose, ,

crossed the room, breathed upon the frosted window-
pane until he had melted away the frost in a small
round circle, then placed his hands at either side of his

face and peered out upon the moonlit wintry land-

scape.
Mrs. Hewett’s knitting-needles stopped clicking for
a few moments, and she turned her head so that she
could scan the back of her silent husband.

“What’s the matter, deacon?” she asked. “You're

not feelin’ first-rate to-night, be you?”

The only reply to her question was a grouchy grunt.
Mrs. Hewett shrugged her shoulders, and her need-

| les began to click once more. She was a large km

 

f : .
with a strong determination and almost masculine cast
of countenance.

The deacon was a tall, thin man, with a pinched
nose and a pair of cunning eyes, which were set much
too near together.

Outside was heard the sound of youthful laughter.
Passing footsteps creaked on the dry snow, and the
laughter died out in the distance.

Deacon Hewett turned from the window.

“Laugh! laugh!” he muttered bitterly. “Everybody
seems to laugh when they come by here. I s’pose
they’re laughin at me, drat ’em!”

“Why, deacon!” exclaimed Mrs. Hewett remon-

stratingly. , >

He did not give her even a glance as he returned _

to his chair close at one side of the open fireplace.
“I’m no fool,” he continued mutteringly. “I know
the whole village has been laughin’ at me ‘cause I~

    
human; I’m no angel.

         
   

 

   

2 | MRE cede > WW Bight <5

didn’t have no fire-insurance and we got burned out
of house and home. J allus said insurance rates was
too high, and I say so now.”

on think you’re mistaken "bout our neighbors, dea-
con,” said Mrs. Hewett, pausing a moment and thrust-
ing her spectacles up on her forehead. “I don’t be-
lieve nobody round here is heartless enough to laugh
at our misfortunes.”

“Qh, you don’t, hey?” snapped Elnathan, still star-
ing into the fire. “Well, I, believe it! 1 know it!
Some people has had the cheek to tell me I was a fool
‘cause I didn’t carry no fire-insurance. Old Eb Small
told me so to my face. | It’s a great thing to have a
man like him talk to me that way. He ain’t got a
thousand dollars’ wuth of property he can call his
‘own.”

“You must acknowledge, deacon, that it would have
been much better for us had we taken out fire-insur-
ance on the old home.
spilt milk. We've got enough left, so I guess we can
build a new house in the spring. Folks has been real
kind and sympathetic to me.”

, “Well, they ain’t been so to me!” snarled Elnathan.
“They’ ve éven told me I brung it all on myself by
takin’ Courtney into the house that night.”

“So you did, deacon—so you did,” grimly asserted
his wife. “Had I been home when that man come,
you’d never sneaked him in and put him to»bed in
our spare chamber. I made you turn him out once,
and I thought he was gone from Bloomfield for good.
You made a mistake in ever havin’ anything at all to
do with him. You. donetit simply because you was sii
with Frank Merriwell.’ 2

‘the deacon uttered a savage exclamation, smiting
the arm of his chair was his skinny clenched hand. *
“Dod gast Frank Merriwell! Don’t speak his name
to me! I don’t want to hear it! He’s the catise of all
my misfortune! He’s my enemy, and I hate him!”
“The Good Book says, ‘Love thine enemies.’ ”
“Now, don’t go to quotin’ scripter, Mirandy! I’m
There is things which are too
much for flesh and blood to bear. I’ve got the best of
reasons for hatin’ Merriwell, and you know it. If
_ that mam had never come back here, a, have the old
Farnham property now. If he’d never come back here,
our house wouldn’t have been burned over our heads.
He’s the cause of it all! I can’t ever forgit it. I re-
member it, and I keep thinkin’ of it all the time.”
- “Deacon, I think you’d better withdraw from the
church, The older you grow, the more crabid, and

: wr
7 il xe
Poly AN

Still, it’s too late to cry over:

-siree, Deacon Hewett!

 

You don’t seem never to
forgive nuthin’.” coe

sour, and revengeful you git.

croaked Hewett.
” {
Who does ever forgive?

“Forgive! forgive! forgive!”
“I’m tired of that word!
It’s all right to forgive soyebody who’s done ye a little
injury. Mebbe one kin do that.. But when it comes
to a case like this, there ain’t no such thing as for-
givin’.”

“Tt might be a good thing for you, Elnathan, if
you'd foller the example of the young man you call
your enemy. Look at what he’s done.”

_ “Well, what has he done?”

“He was on hand when our house burned.
worked like a Trojan helpin’ lug out our furniter an’
things. But that ain’t all he done. When Courtney

was seen in the chamber winder and when he fell —

down, overcome by smoke, didn’t Frank Merriwell
climb a ladder to that winder and go right inter the
burnin’ room so that he could bring Courtney out?
Then didn’t he take Courtney to his house and call a
doctor and hire nusses and see that the man had the
very best of keer till he rekivered? You know he done
these things. Courtney hated Merriwell.. He'd tried
to injure him. Merriwell might ’a’ had Courtney
locked up and sent to prison. Did he do so? No,
He done nuthin’ of the kind!
’*Stead of that, he was the Good Samaritan.
up his enemy’s wounds. He restored his enemy to
health. Then he bade his enemy go. That’s what I
call Christian forgiveness and the true Christian spirit,
Elnathan Hewett.
withered old heart, you'd better take yourself out of the
church and cease to claim that you’re.a religious man.
There, I’ve had my say, and I feel better.” ,

“T don’t doubt it!” sneered the deacon. “You allus
feel better after you've dug me and clawed me to your
heart’s content. Nuthin’ seems to give you so much
satisfaction as to rip me up the back. Oh, you're a
kind and consolin’ wife, you be! Instead of standin’
by your pushape, you turn ae and stand up for
his enemies.’

“When I know you are in the wrong, Elnathan, I
feel it my duty to tell you so.’ |

“Well, I’ve heerd it enough lately, and I don’t want
to hear no more of it. Hark! Listen to that!”

Once more there came the sound of creaking foot-
steps passing the house, accompanied by murmuring

voices and merry laughter. .

“Hear ’em laugh, woman! ?? rasped the deacon.
“That’s the way of it all the time now.
laughin’ at me—at me! _

He

He bound >

Until you kin git some of it in your —

I tell ye they're
Where be ail them young >

SIPS . :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
    

 

 

 

 

 
  

folks goin’ to-night, anyhow?
them trapsin’ by here for?”
“I s’pose they’re goin’ to the party.’’
M “What party ?”
° “Why, the party at Mrs. Gladleigh’s. She’s givin’
a party to-night for her daughter, Phyllis. You know
Phyllis came home from Wellsburg for a few days,
_ _ along with our Sadie.”

What are so many of

| Footsteps were heard descending the stairs. The
J door flew open, and into the room danced a young girl
| in fancy costume, gotten up to represent a fairy. Tiny
{ tinsel wings glittered on her shoulders, and golden

curls made an aureole about her face, which was _hid-
den by a filmy mask. She posed gracefully in the fire-
light by the open hearth.
“How do you like my costume, mother?” she cried
laughingly ;
Deacon Hewett rose to his feet, seeming to quiver
in every limb, while his eyes glared with anger.
“Disgraceful!” he shouted. “What’s this I see?
Is it our Sadie, togged out in the finery of Satan?
Look at that dress! It barely reaches below her knees.
No wonder she hides her face for shame!
ing a wig! She’s fixed up like one of them indecent
stage females I seen at a show in Wellsburg.”
“Dear me!’ exclaimed Mrs. Hewett. “You didn’t
____ tell me *bout no show you see in Wellsburg. How’d
it happen T never heerd anything ’bout this?”
The deacon ‘realized that, in his excitement, he had
made a bad break. Therefore, he hastened to say:
_ “T jest went in a minute, Mirandy, to see what sort
of a show it was. When them shameless females come
out in their short dresses I got right up and left the
place. I didn’t tell ye ’bout it, Mirandy—no, I didn’t
tell ye, for I couldn’t speak of it without blushin’ for
shame. Now here’s our girl—our adopted daughter
| —a-fixed up jest like one of them wimmen. What
does it mean?” |
“Why, I’m going to Phyllis Gladleigh’s masquerade
party,” said the girl. “Every one who _ will be in
_ fancy- costume.” t ) !
| “You'll not go!” roared the deal “ry never
__- permit you to set foot outside of this house in such a
-* tig as that!”

PIT ey a . at

 

e
nt

CHAPTER II.

MRS. HEWETT HAS HER WAY.
mantelpiece,

pee Mou're getting very excited, Elnathan,”
} served mildly. |

  

    

LP: TOP

She’s wear- -

Mrs. Hewett rose and placed her knitting on the -

she ob-

       
     
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
     
  
   
  
   
    
  
  
  
         
           
     
     
       
         
       
     
    
    

WEEI <LY. 3

“Excited, woman—who wouldn’t git excited? I’m
surprised at you! I’m amazed that you countenance
such shamelessness !’’

The girl removed her mask, revealing a rather
pretty face, from which gleamed a pair of dark eyes,
now filled with astonishment and indignation.

“Why, you told me I might wear this costume,
mother,” she said.

“Is it possible? is it possible?” shouted Hewett.
“Mirandy, have you grown daffy in your old age?
It can’t be you realize what a spectacle the child would
make of herself.”

“T’m no child, father,” said the girl. “I’m almost
a young lady. I’ve been away at boarding-school.”

“Ves, you have—you have, against my counsel and
my will! I objected to it, but my objections were over-
ruled. Boarding-school, hey? See what silly notions
it has put into your head. Your mother should be
proud of you!”

“Now, that will do, deacon,” came sternly from Mrs.
Hewett’s lips. “It’s true you was dead set against
permitting Sadie to attend school at Wellsburg.” —'

“There are plenty of schools right here to home?’

“Such as they are. But they are not advanced
enough for a girl like Sadie.”

“A girl like her!’ sneered the man. “Why, who is
she? Didn’t wq4 take her out of an orphan asylum?
Didn’t we,’dopt her and give her-a good home? Now —
she is gittin’ her head full of folderol and silliness and =
wants to be a fine lady. She pestered us "bout goin?
away to boardin’-school, though she knew I was agin’
it. Arter awhile she won you over, and you let her go.
I told you no good would come of it. I told you she’d
git proud and ‘high-strung and be ashamed of the folks”
who had brung her up and keered for her same as if
she was our own child.”

“Oh, but that isn’t true!” exclaimed the girl. “You

know it’s not true! I’m not ashamed of you!”
“Course ye’d say so. That’s policy. I’ve noticed
that female wimmen are allus full of policy. They kin _
soft soap folks as long as they want to, but when
they can’t gain anything more by it then they turn
round t’other way. So Phyllis Gladleigh is goin’ om
give a masquerade party? I s’pose her folks encourage _
her in such doin’s. It’s jest like ‘em. They’ ve been
agin’ me all through my trouble with this Merriwell.” _
“Merriwell?” exclaimed Sadie questioningly. —
“Why, Phyllis says he’s a splendid young man, and his
school is going to be a great thing for Bloomfield.
Lots of boys from that school will be at the pays to-
po sede axe been epyeed " |

 
   
 
 

    
   
   
   
  
  
 
 

“That settles it!” thundered Elnathan. “I won’t
have no gal from my roof associatin’ with them boys!
Go right to your room and take off them togs as quick
as you kin!”

The girl turned appealingly to Mrs. Hewett.

“Wait, Sadie,” said the deacon’s wife, “I’ll reason
with him a little.”

“You can’t reason with me!
won’t listen!’’ cried the excited man.

“Qh, yes, you'll listen, Mr. Hewett. You're over-
strung. You're all wrought up. You'd better set
down and be calm.”

The deacon began pacing the room, his hands
clasped behiiid his back and his thumbs nervously cir-
cling round each other. ‘ ees.

“T’ve said my say, and I mean it,” he declared.

“Now IJ’ll say my say,” came from his wife. “I’ve
told Sadie she might attend the party. Mrs. Gladleigh
will be there to look after the young folks and see that
everything is all right. It will be perfectly respectable,
and there’s no reason why Sadie should not go. You
ndve some old-fashioned notions in your head, dea-
con.« You think ‘cause young folks in your time had to
be stiff and prim that young folks to-day ought to be
jest the same. Young people has to have some en-
joyment. As long as their pleasures are innocent and
do no harm, it’s best for them. I feel sure that this
party will be all right. I wouldn’t think of keepin’
Sadie to home now, arter I’ve said she might go. I’ve
never interfered with you when you've told her she
might do a thing, Now it’s your place not to interfere

with me. It’s a bad thing for us to disagree over this
matter before her.”

“You've heerd what I have to say!’ growled the
deacon. . \

“And you’ve heerd what I have to say! Sadie is

goin’ if she wants to, even ifI have to go with pela
“Oh, there’s a splendid fellow coming to escort me,’
said the girl.

“One of them fellers from Merriwell’s sitioal I
s’pose!” sneered Elnathan. .

“No, indeed. It’s Jack Cooly, from Wellsburg.
He’s just the nicest fellow, and all the girls like him.
He's captemt of the re Sbure Fon Baseball
Team.”

“Baseball!” sdleares the deacon. ‘Fiddlesticks!
fudge! rot! -That’s what this Merriwell is goin’ to

I refuse to reason! I

‘teach his boys—baseball, football and all them foolish .

games.”
“Every fellow who amounts to ‘will nowadays
goes in for athletics,” declared’ Sadie.

 

A. 3

TIP FOP: WEEKLY,

come no hypocrite.

  

“Mirandy, if this girl is ruined, you’re to blame
for it!” rasped Elnathan. “She’s got her head plumb
full of foolish idees! All she thinks of is fellers!
She’s too young! It ain’t right for a gal of her. age
to be runnin’ round with fellers. We don’t know
nuthin’ *bout this Cooly chap.”

“He isn’t my fellow,” said Sadie. “He didn’t come
over here to see me. He came to see Phyllis. He’s
going to take me to the party because Phyllis asked
him to.”

“Elnathan,” spoke Mrs. Hewett seriously, “I believe
our Sadie is a good girl, with some sense in her head:
More girls have been sp’iled by their folks refusin’ ever
to let them have any company than has been sp’iled by
havin’ decent, respectable fellers escort them to parties.
When you tell a girl she shan’t have nuthin’ to do with
fellers and she sees other girls who, with the permission
of their parents, associate with respectable boys, then
there’s a rebellion rises up in her heart, and she jest
says she’s being abused. When a girl gits the idee in.
her head that she’s being abused by her folks she’s
treadin’ on dangerous ground, for she’s almost sartin
to do something sly and underhand, and in this way
she learns to disobey and deceive and becomes a hypo-
crite. Deacon Hewett, I don’t want our Sadie to be-
She’s allus been brought up to
confide in me. She’s allus told me all her troubles and
trials, and, now that she’s goin’ to school and the young
fellers are takin’ notice of her, I want her to tell me
everything jest the same as she_has before. — I believe
that’s the proper way for a mother to treat a girl. I
believe that’s the safe way to bring up a girl. If you
had your way, you’d refuse to let Sadie have anything
to do with boys, and the result would be that she’d fool
you, and she wouldn’t be to blame, either.’

“Hold on! hold on!” shouted the deacon.: “You're
filling her head with false notions! Why, you’ re prac-
tically tellin’ her she’d be doin’ jest right if she did try —
to fool me! You ain’t never had no children of your
own, and I don’t know but it was the Lord’s blessin’,
if you hold to such idees as them.”

“It wasn’t the Lord’s blessin’,”
Hewett sadly. “It was our misfortune.
the young man call for you, Sadie?”

“Why, I expect him pes minute, mother.”

murmured Mrs.
When will

“Get on your wraps.”

“Yah!” snarled the deacon. “So I’m defied, be I?
I ain’t got a bit of authority in my own house!”

“It ain’t your house, deacon,” reminded his wife.
“It ain’t even my house. It’s a rented house. Our
home is in ashes, through your folly. Now you set

  

 

 

 
 
 
  

eee

Sb - sinha tii Might ene,

 

 

ON iT

 

ae tie flitted from the room.

a

-by\a boy of his character.

down, deacon, and be quiet. We'll talk this matter over
arter Sadie’s gone.”

“T won't set down!
child!’

Mrs. Hewett walked over to her husband, placed.her
hands on his shoulders, backed him toward his chair
and deliberately forced him down upon it.

“Now you set there,” she said, holding up a fingers
before his face; “you set there till I tell you you can
git up!” .

Elnathan spluttered, and grumbled, and gurgled—
but he remained seated.

Footsteps were heard briskly approaching the door.
A moment later there was a sharp knock.

“That’s Jack—that’s Mr. Cooly!” exclaimed Sadie.

“Tell him to come right in,” said Mrs. Hewett—‘‘tell
him to come right in and git warm.”

Sadie hurried to the door and returned, escorting
a young fellow, whose cheeks were glowing from the
cold. ‘ ;

“Jack,” she said, “this is my-mother and father.
This is Mr. Cooly, from Wellsburg.”

“I’m glad to meet you, Mr. Cooly,” said Mrs.
Hewett, taking the boy’s hand and looking him straight
in the eyes. “You're going to escort our Sadie to the

I refuse to set down! I’m no

i

party. I hope you'll look out for her.”

The deacon gave a grunt and ‘turned his. chair
squarely to face the fire, thus bringing his back toward

Cooly. ;

_ “TI certainly will look out for Sadie,” smiled the
Wellsburg boy, “You may depend on me to ) bring

her back safely, Mrs. Hewett.”

“T'll be down in a moment, Jack,” said the girl, as
oe
The deacon sat in grim silence, glaring at the fire,

while his wife chatted in a friendly fashion with Jack ©
2... Cooly:

The woman made Jack feel that she trusted
him and was pleased to have Sadie escorted to the party
At the same time, she did)

not flatter him, and, with womanly tact, she refrained

 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  

a coat, Jack,”
out crushing them.” ;

from saying too much on this point. She asked him

2 about school and showed interest in what he had to
tell her.

Sadie came dow4, bringing her wraps.

“You'll have to help me fold these wings under my
she laughed. “I can’t put it on alone with-

 

    
  

_look-like a real fairy.” |

_Jack’s eyes twinkled as he atti cient her.
“Your costume is splendid, Sadie,” he said. “You

 

TIP TOP WEEKLY. hae

“Huah!” grunted the deacon, and spat sizzingly into
the fire.

When Sadie was ready Mrs. Hewett accompanied
the two to the door and saw them off. Returning, she
stood regarding her husband a few moments.

“T did hope you wouldn’t act like a boor before a
stranger, Elnathan,” she finally said, picking up her
knitting-work and resuming her seat.

He flung himself round in his chair.

“You’ve had your way, woman!” he sourly ex-
claimed. “I hope you're satisfied! Don’t blame me if
the gal is ruined by frivolous idees. I'll hold myself
blameless, no matter what she comes to. The spirit
of Satan is abroad in this town. ‘There never used to
be no masked parties and sech,gqin’s on in Bloomfield
before this Merriwell came here and started his school.
Seems as if the people of Bloomfield, beginning with the
boys and gals and goin’ right up through their elders
clean to old Eb Small, is gittin’ worldly, and sinful,
and wicked. If it keeps on, there’s no tellin’ where it
will stop.”

“The trouble was, Elnathan, that this town was dead
—the older folks was dried up and stiff and outer date
in everything they done. The young folks was gittin’
the same way. Asa result, all our boys and gals took
to leavin’ home and goin’ away to livelier places jest
as soon as they could. There wasn’t nuthin’ to keep
them here. It ain’t natteral for boys and gals to be
sober, and stiff, and prim; and never enjoy themselves
none at all. For the last ten years Bloomfield has been
like one continuous funeral. It’s jest beginnin’ to wake
up. Mebbe Frank Merriwell is responsible’ for the
wakin’ up. Mebbe he has brought in some up-to-date
idees. It'll be. a good thing for the town if he has.
It'll give it some life and spirit.”

“Spirit of Satan! spirit of Satan!” aa Elnathan.

“Tt’s in the town! It’s in my family! It’s everywhere

here’bouts, and that feller is responsible!”

CHAPTER III.
THE CAVALIER AND THE SAILORS,

That night a few of the staid old citizens of Bloom--

‘field, who happened to be passing that way, paused in

surprise in front of Robert Gladleigh’s home. The
house was lighted from top to bottom, and from within
came the merry sound of youthful voices, mingling —
with music and laughter. Boys and girls came by
couples and by fours and were admitted, with shouts
of welcome. The staid old villagers shook their heads
and moved: on wonderingly. ee vei

  
  

Jack Cooly was wearing the costume of a darky min-
strel man beneath his long overcoat, and he adjusted a
negro mask to his face ere reaching the Gladleigh
house. Jack and Sadie were welcomed heartily by a
group of maskers the moment they entered. A shep-
herdess, with a crook in her hand, grasped Sadie at
once and whisked her away.

“Sadie, I’m so glad you’ve come!” whispered the
shepherdess. ‘I’ve been watching for you.”

“You mean you're glad Jack has come,” laughed
Sadie. “But you never said a word to him.”

“Of course I didn’t. I want him to find me out.
I’m not going to tell him how I’m dressed. I have two
of the boys who’ll look after him and tell him where to
put his overcoat and things. Come right up to my
room, Sadie.”

As they ascended the stairs they caught a glimpse of
a laughing party gathered round a tall, grotesque fig-
ure in the library. The tall fellow was made up like a
clown and seemed to be providing amusement for those
in his vicinity.

“Who is that?’ questioned Sadie.

“TY really don’t know,” confessed Phyllis, “but I
think it’s one of the boys from Frank Merriwell’s

school. He’s awfully funny. Talks just like a farmer
and cracks a lot of stale jokes. Everybody’s heard his
jokes. before, but they laugh at him because he gets
them off in such a ridiculous manner. Oh, Sadie, it’s
just the jolliest crowd! But I do believe they’ll turn
the house bottons up.”

“What does your mother say about it?”

- “Oh, mother’s all right. I believe she’s enjoying

it as much asI am. Not five minutes ago I found her
on the sofa, with a sailor on each side of her and an-
_. other sailor doing the hornpipe in front of her. She
_ was laughing like a girl.” 6

- justed her wings, they hurried down-stairs again.
_ At the foot of the stairs stood a lad, made up to rep-
resent a Spanish cavalier. He carried a guitar, on
which he strummed occasionally.
caught sight of Sadie he cried:
“Behold a fairy from the upper regions! She comes!
_ she comes!”
“Who's that?” asked Sadie.
“You've got me,” again confessed Phyllis.
“he's another of Frank Merriwell’s boys.”
The cavalier caught Sadie’s hand and detained her
on the lower stair. :
“Queen of Fairyland,” he said,
captured my heart. —

“T think

“already. you have

As soon as Sadie had removed her wraps and ad-

The moment he

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

7

' course,” ‘he observed.

 
   
  
  
   
 
  
   
   
   
  
  
    
  
   
  
  
   
   
    
    
   
    
 
  
  
   
  
    
 

Then he struck the strings of his guitar and began
singing : .

“A Spanish cavalier stood in his retreat,
And on his guitar played a tune, dear;

The music so sweet he oft would repeat,
The blessings of my country and you, dear.

Say, darling, say, when I am far away
Sometimes you may think of me, dear;
Bright sunny days will soon fade away,
Remember what I say and be true, dear.”

Bitte,

A group of maskers gathered about the foot of the
stairs and listened. As the singer finished and again
caught Sadie’s hand, which he carried to his lips with a
gallant air, there was a burst of applause.

Beneath her mask Sadie Hewett was blushing with
mingled confusion and displeasure. The forward
youth had given her hand a squeeze that somehow
seemed to arouse her resentment. Although she knew
not why, she had taken an immediate dislike to him.

“Please don’t attract so much attention to me,” she
whispered. “I wish you wouldn’t.”  —

“Ah! but she’s a modest fairy!” cried the cavalier,
heedless of her entreaty. ‘In these days, it’s a remark-
able thing to find a modest fairy.”

“Let me go!” urged Sadie, as she tried to step down
and pass him. | .

“Not yet, fairest of the fairies. Not igek, queen of
my heart,” he laughed.

Then Sadie began to lose her temper.

“Will sonie one please bring some salt to use on this
fresh young gentleman?” she half laughed. |

“Ahoy, there! Who says salt?” roared a hoarse
voice, as a little chap in sailor costume, followed by
two others similarly attired, came pushing through the
throng. “Here are three salts from the briny deep! If
you say so, we'll sprinkle ourselves on the fresh young .
man.”

“Aye, aye, captain!” chorused his two companions.
“We'll sprinkle ourselves all over him.”

The cavalier shrugged his shoulders and put out a_
hand against the breast of the little sailor.

“You'd better trim your sails and change your

“You're not wanted.” i of :

“Well, dash my toplights!” cried the leader of the 4 :
sailors. “You seem to think you re the skipper of this
craft. You’ve made a mistake, my hearty! I’m the
skipper. I’m Captain Bowline, and my orders must be
obeyed! Eh, boys?”

“Aye, aye, captain!” chorused his companions.

“My jolly lads,” said Bowline, “this foreign party
has an idea that he’s a warbler. He fancies he can

anit
2

Pl eng it a a

i

sa _ nhranaliieitiaies all

I Set

 

       
  

    
    

TAP TOP

an —s—éCaatpture thee heats of the ladies by his nightingale notes.
But we can sing a little. Eh, boys?”

“Aye, aye, captain!”

“We'll give them Sally Brown, my hearties,” said
-  Bowline. “All ready now. Bear down heavy on the
chorus.”

Immediately the little fellow struck inté a sea chan-
tie, while his two companions, as the chorus, roared
away on every other line, which is printed in italics.

Eg Bae

>

“Sally Brown, I love your daughter!

.
j
SF |
| . Cuorus: Aye, aye, roll and go.
in ° And for her I’ll sail across the water,
a | I'll spend my. money on Sally Brown.
| For Sally is a sailor’s lassie,
pe Aye, aye, roll and go. :
: . With sparkling eyes so bright and sassy,
d i And I'll spend my money on Sally Brown,”
Re oa ; 4
oe This chantie brought a shout of laughter and a round
of applause from the maskers. In the laughter and
. applause, however, the cavalier did not join.
baa a rown will have a fine time if they spend a
“Sally B Il h fine t f they spend all
a _ their money on her!” he sneered. “It’s srobable they’ll
Ae be able to buy her a whole lemonade.”
a “Hush! hush!’ cried several.
' 7 Others shouted :
cag “Give us more of Sally Brown! Go on! go on!”
=a The three sailors responded with another verse.

“For seven long years I courted Sally,

43 Aye, aye, roll and go.

giecke But she called me long and dilly-dally,

eae oe While I spent my money on Sally Brown.
a Sally Brown she got married to a baker,

Aye, aye, roll and go.

And to New Orleans did the lubber take her,
When I'd spent all my money on Sally Brown.”

Beneath his mask the cavalier was green with envy.
He was a fellow who loved to pose as the central figure
in the lime-light, and the interference of the sailors an-
noyed and vexed him.

“T always did love a sailor,” murmured the fairy.
“When all your money is spent on Sally Brown, I'll
touch you with my magic wand, and your pockets shall
be replenished.” ; |

“Avast, there, my hearties!” shouted Bowline. “Do
you hear the musical murmur of our fairy queen?
We'll stick by the fairy as long as there’s a plank be-
neath us!” |

“Aye, aye, captain!” cried his companions.

The little fellow slipped past the cavalier, bowed gal-
 lantly before Sadie and offered her his arm. She ac-
cepted it, and there was a ripple of laughter at the
cavalier’s expense-as Bowline escorted her away, his
- faithful sailor companions, following after.

 

   

-

WEEKLY.

  
   
  
  
  
   
   
      
 
    
    
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
 

Up bobbed the tall clown, crying:

“Conundrum: What makes the Spanish feller feel
so bad? Answer: Becatise he can’t feel no worse.”

The cavalier pushed the clown aside, at the same
time hissing in his ear:

“Get out of the way with your foolishness, Bemis!

You make me sick!”

“Call a veterinary surgeon,” chuckled the clown.
“He’s ill. Great Jamaica ginger! he ought to have »
some of his nerve amputated!”

If Sadie Hewett fancied she would be able to get
away from the cavalier thus easily, she soon realized
her error, for, wherever she went, he persistently fol-
lowed her. The moment the sailors abandoned her the
Spaniard was on hand again.

“You're wearing the handsomest costume.of any girl
at this party,” he declared, “and I know you must
be the prettiest girl here. Why did you turn me
down?”

“The perceptions of a fairy are never at fault,” she
answered. “There’s something about you that I don’t ~~
like.”

“Oh, now that’s nonsense! How do you Khow you
don’t like me? How can you tell?”

“Oh, I know. Why don’t you find some other girl
and bother her?” fae \

“Never! D’m going to stick by you. I’m going to
prove.that I’m right and that you're the prettiest. girl
in this house.”

“How are you going to prove it?” a

“Oh, we'll unmask by and by. When we have re- Pe
freshments I want you for my companion. I suppose
they'll all unmask then. Will you promise to take re-
freshments with me?”

“It’s too early to promise any one that.”

“But I want you to promise before some other fellow
gets you.” 3

“T’ll consider it.” 7 aN

“That won't do. If I let you go now, you’ll.quit me.”

“I’m going to quit you, anyway. You're altogether

 
    

too persistent to suit me. Good-by.” | “4
Sadie flitted away, and the cavalier promptly fol- |

      
 

lowed her. ae

   

“Avast, my hearties!” murmured Captain Bowline, 4
calling the attention of his two companions. “Our, |
fairy is in trouble. That Spanish lubber is laying |
alongside at every opportunity. She doesn’t. fancy — |
him. We are the natural protectors of all fairies. Let “4
us keep our weather eyes on him.”

      
       
   
   
    

x

   

“Aye, aye, captain!” they muttered in return.

   

Sadie fled to the parlor, where some one was playing

 
 
  
  

   
   

   
  

ad, the little sailor.

   
     
       
      
     
   

8 Tah SE Qe

the piano, and the tall clown was doing a grotesque
dance.

A moment later the cavalier was at te elbow. Seek-
ing an opportunity when she fancied she was not ob-
served, Sadie slipped into the hall.

The cavalier caught her there and detained her.

“It’s no use,” he laughed. “You see I’m going
to stick by you.”

By this time she was highly indignant.

“T see you are, but I won’t have it!”

“Promise me that you'll take refreshments with me,
and’J’ll let you alone.”

“I positively decline.”

“Then you won’t unmask with me?”

“No,”

He hesitated a moment, following which he made a

sudden move and attempted to lift her mask in order —

to peer beneath it.

Captain Bowline tise against him and nearly
upset him.

“Steady, there!” cried the little sailor.
to have struck a heavy swell.
the old ship is rolling.”

feast sake

CHAPTER IV.
CAPTAIN BOWLINE’S PLOT.

“We seem
There’s a sea on, and

“You little rat!” snarled the Spaniard, catching the
sailor by the shoulder and giving him a savage shake.
“Now you keep away from me after this! I know you,
Bob Bubbs, and I won’t stand for this business! I’ve
warned you before now that you can’t monkey with

amet”

“Hello, Hollyberry !’ snickered the little chap. ‘“‘So
it’s you, is it? You're the grand cavalier who is an-
noying our fairy. I say, Hollis, it strikes me you're
rather impudent. The girl doesn’t like you. Why
don’t you keep away from her? You can’t make her
_ fancy you by chasing her around in such a manner.’
“J don’t want any of your lip!” snapped the chap
called Hollis. “If you bother me again, I’ll punch your
head!”

“He says he'll vidi my head, my hearties,” teibhed
“Tf he does, we'll hang him to the
* yard-arm,” .

. “Aye, aye, bassin !’ they cried, in unison.

“Beware, Hollyberry!” warned the boy who had
been called Bubbs. “Lift not your aristocratic fist to
4 me. I have a couple of Backers? and it’s dangerous to

vos my head, i ia.

WEEKLY.

In the meantime, Sadie Hewett had fled from the
hall and found her friend, Phyllis Gladleigh.

“Oh, Phyllis,” she breathed, “that fellow annoys me
dreadfully! I don’t know what I’m going to do! I
can’t seem to shake him, and for some reason I just de-
spise him!’

“Oh, you’ have to treat him decently, Sadie.”

“Tf I do that, I'll never get rid of him. Where’s
Jack?”

“T don’t know. I’m waiting for him to find me out.
I’ve seen him four or five times, but he hasn’t even
noticed me. I believe he’s struck on Jennie Walker, for
I saw him laughing and talking with her. Well, I don’t
care if he is. If he unmasks with her, he’ll get a shock.
She looks rather nice in her costume, but any one knows
she’s the plainest girl in Bloomfield.”

“Oh, look!” breathed Sadie. “There comes that fel-
low again! He’s looking for me! I’d give anything
if I could fool him.”

“T’ve an idea,” whispered Phyllis swiftly. “It’s a
shame for you to change your costume. You look like
a real fairy. Still, if you are bound to fool him, I
know how you can do it. I had an idea that I would
rig up to-night in an old woman’s dress, just to see
if Jack would discover me, but I changed my re and
didn’t use the costume. TI have it in my room.”

“Just the thing! just the thing!’ laughed Sadie
softly. “Let’s steal up to ee room, and I'll ornne
into the old woman’s costume.”

“What a joke it would be if some one else could put
on your clothes!” murmured Phyllis.

Once more the three sailors appeared. They seemed
to be following the Spaniard and immediately on ob- |

serving Sadie they pushed past him, and the captain
addressed her.

“My lass,” he said, “it is not for us to bother you
too much, but we see the great hidalgo approaching.

Shall we jump on his neck and put him out of busi-

ness ?”
“T want to thank you for what you did in the hall,”
said Sadie. “Why, the rude fellow would have pulled

my mask off if you hadn’t bumped into him. Do i

know who he is?”
The little chap chuckled.

“I should say we do! He’s a very aristocratic young es
gentleman, who thinks himself all the candy. Tt sur-
prises him greatly that any girl should not hook onto _

him at the first proposal.”

“Do you know what I’m going to do?” said Sadie. Lie
I’m going to do it
to get away from him, You’ ve been friendly, and i

“T’m going to change my costume.

aes

       

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gent look like thirty cents!

. but the girls finally succeeded in doing so.

eral attention to him.

don’t mind if you know what costume I[’ll change to.
I shall dress like an old woman.” :

“Well, that’s an idea,’ laughed the little fellow.
“But I’ve got another idea. What are you going to
do with this costume you're wearing?’

“Nothing.”

“I’m just about your height, and I believe I might
put it on. Oh, say, wouldn’t that be great! If you'll
let me have that rig, I’ll agree to make the Spanish

9

For a moment the girls were surprised and doubt-
ful. Then the full possibility of the joke dawned upon
them, and Sadie gleefully whispered:

“Oh, Phyllis, wouldn’t that be jolly! Why can’t
we do it? I’ll change to the old woman’s dress, and
then he can slip up-stairs to a room where we'll leave
these clothes. If he can put them on and make up to
look like me, that other impudent fellow will be
fooled.”

“We can try it,”
the deception.

It was no easy matter to give Fred Hollis the slip,
By his ac-
tions Hollis betrayed that he was disappointed when
he could not find the fairy.

“Hello, Spanish!” called the clown, as he stopped
Fred in the midst of a crowded room and drew gen-
“You're restless as a flee, ain’t
yer You do everything but walk backward. Lobsters
do that.”

“Why don’t you walk backward?’ sneered the

 %
said Phyllis, catching the spirit of

7 sty .
a cavalier.

“Hey? Oh, you’re a funny feller, too, ain’t ye?
Say, folks, this Spanish gent is an old friend of mine.
Speakin’ "bout lobsters makes me think of a ’sperience

he had t’other day. Went into a restaurant and said,
_ ‘Do you serve lobsters here? Says eu waiter, “Yes;
what'll you have?”

_ Hollis gave the chuckling clown a push ina passed

ey on. A few moments later he caught sight of the shep-
_ herdess and made a rush for her.

Jamay, ne palpitated,
“My friend?” she nes CHES HO PLOREY

“where’s your friend?”
“What

- friend?”

“Why, the fairy.”

-. €T don’t know.”

_“Tt’s funny I can’t find her snywhere.”

“Perhaps she’s vanished as fairies do.”

a “Oh, I hope not. I wanted to fix it up with her.

~ You see, I suppose I got her a little sore by following

 

 

TIP TOP WEEKLY, 9

her up so closely; but I couldn’t help it—by George! |
I couldn’t help it.”

“It must be a bad case,” laughed the shepherdess,
behind her mask.

“Oh, I’m stuck on her—I admit it.
around somewhere.”

“Possibly she is. You know fairies have the fac-
ulty of transforming themselves in appearance. Now
she may have changed herself into something else.
Perhaps she’s that old woman yonder.”

Phyllis indicated a grotesque little figure, made up
to represent an aged woman, wearing a cap and lean-
ing on a crooked cane.

“Oh, get out!” exclaimed Hollis.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course Iam. I’d know my fairy the moment I
put my eyes on her.”

Phyllis Gladleigh tried to smother a laugh, but did
not wholly succeed.

“What are you laughing at?’ demanded oi
“What's the joke?”

“The joke’s on you,” asserted Phyllis. “You'd =
ter investigate and find out if the old woman isn't
really your fairy.”

For a moment Hollis’ suspicions were aroused.

“By George, I will!’ he exclaimed, starting toward
the old woman. |

But he stopped suddenly, uttering another ‘exclama-
tion that was full of satisfaction, as his eyes discovered
a familiar figure in the doorway.

“Ah!” he murmured, turning for ‘a moment toward
the shepherdess. “There she is! I’m going to keep
track of her after this. Say, I wish you'd help me
out.
a bad fellow, if she’ll only give me a fair show. Won't —
you?” :

She mitt be

“That isn’t she!”

which came from behind the mask of the shepherdess. —
He could not tell whether she was laughing or seh
king. aS
“T’ll do my best to fix it for you,” Phyllis finally
gasped. “I hope you catch your fairy, oe I really ad-
mire your determination and persistency.” » tien

“Now that’s fine of you,” said Hollis. “Speak to /
her now, won't you? Please do! Ff? +P Rg

“All right.” 2

Watching, he saw the hag le 5 join the wide aan 1"
talk with her earnestly for a few minutes. During this —
conversation the fairy frequently glanced in Hollis’

direction. At first she shook her head in a determined _

manner, but the shepherdess seemed pleading with her,

Can’t you fix it for me? Tell her I’m not such :

He was temporarily puzzled by the scutes oad ah on

      
      
  
 
 
  
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
   
   
   
   
     
       
       
     
         
       
   
     
   
       
     
     
     
       
   
   
     
       
      
 
 
 

y
f

‘strolled away together.

® he breathed. ~ “I want to apologize.

. tures the ordinary girl,” he-said. |

to TIP: TOP

and after a time she appeared to listen and betray less
obstinacy.

“T don’t know who you are. my little shepherdess,”
muttered Hollis ; "but, if you do fix it up for me, I
won t forget you.”

Finally the clown pranced up to the two girls outside
the doorway and made a comical bow.

“Stop wasting all this goo-goo on each other!’ he
cried. “Is it possible you ain't seen me?”’

Now it happened that Phyllis Gladleigh was vexed
and exasperated with Jack Cooly because he had failed
to penetrate her disguise and pick her out amid the
maskers. At this moment Cooly was cooing into the
ear of a girl in a scarlet dress. They were sitting close
together on a téte-d-tte. Phyllis flashed them a
glance and then turned to the clown.

“Why, dear me!” she laughed, “I haven’t noticed
you before. How did you get here?”

“Oh, they couldn’t keep me to hum,” chuckled the
clown. “My folks locked me up in the house and fas-
tened all the winders, but I jest climbed up the chimney
and flue. Ho! ho! ho!” :

“Oh, what a bad pun!” exclaimed Phyllis. “Well,
anyhow, I’m glad you came. Are you going to take
me for a partner when refreshments are served?”

The clown seemed to lose his breath momentarily.

“Be I?” he finally cried. ‘Well, you won’t have to
ask me again! Speaking “bout refreshments makes
me think how I fed a hungry dog to-day. I gave him
a piece of meat to eat off my hand. He didn’t eat off
my whole hand, but he came near biting off four of
my fingers.”

The shepherdess took the clown’s arm, and they,
A moment later the cavalier
was bowing before the fairy, who seemed somewhat
startled. 4

“Don’t run away again, little Queen of Fairyland,”
Pm sorry if I’ve
annoyed you, but it’s your own fault. You shouldn't
be so fascinating.”’

Still she seemed hesitating, as if on the pom of
turning ower: -

“Won't “you accept my apology?” he entreated.
“You know I didn’t really mean any harm.”

ff

see don’t suppose you did,” murmured the fairy, in
a half whisper; “but you were altogether too forward
and persistent. Fairies are easily frightened, you
PU ke

Fred's heart leaped with encouragement.

“It’s the forward and persistent ‘fellow. who cap-

WEEKLY.
e

“But I’m not an ordinary girl, thank you!’

“That’s right, you are not. I should have realized
that in the first place. If you'll give me a fair show,
I think I can set myself right with you. Won't you
accept my arm?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I ought not to do so. Still,
perhaps fairies are like ordinary girls after all—per-
haps they like the persistent fellows.” |

Fred felt that his triumph was complete when the
hand of the fairy rested lightly on his arm. |

“Let’s sit on the sofa yonder, beside that old

woman,” he invited. “We'll have a hice cozy little
chat.”

As he escorted her toward the sofa he was inwardly
saying : .

“She’s like all the rest. “They run away at first,
but they surrender if you keep after them long enough.

???

I’ve got her now!
é

CHAPTER V.
THE QUARREL.

Barely were the cavalier and the fairy seated on the ~
sofa when the minstrel abandoned the girl in scarlet
and hastened over to them.

“Excuse me,” he said, nodding to Hollis.
word with your friend.”

Instantly Hollis became alarmed and placed him-
self on the defensive.

“Just a

“Chase yourself!” he exclaimed. “Don’t butt in!”

Cooly gave an excellent imitation of a negro-min-
strel laugh. 3

“Yah! yah! yah!” he cried. “Dis gemman is afeard |
Ah’ll steal his lady. Ah allus was a takin’ nigger.”

The fairy cuddled closer to Hollis.

“Protect me from him,” she murmttred.

“Oh, Tl protect you from him all right,”
Fred, siibikag an arm about her waist.

“Don’t be frightened,” said Cooly, in a low tone: ‘.
“T don’t want to steal her; I want to ask her a ques-
tion.”

“Go ahead and ask it,” said Hollis.

Cooly dropp@d on his knee and seized the fairy’s

declared

hand, lifting it to the lips of his mask.

“Here! here!’ growled Hollis. “You don’t have to
go through that performance! You're attracting gen-_

eral attention.” ee ie

Without heeding him, Cooly said: |
“Sadie, I can’t get track of Phyllis anywhere. I
thought I had her a moment ago, but I found out my

mistake. Where is she? How is she dressed eS

t

ee een

6

hov

Jus
dis
4

of
fo!

a: ft sa

th

ee en ee eee
: : wal

ve

i
-
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zed

ue

~ hummed the clown.

  
 

  
  

 

  

IP FOr

The fairy laughed.

“You wish me to reveai her to you. If Phyllis knew

' how you had failed, she wouldn’t be flattered.”

“TJ know that. For goodness’ sake, don’t tell her!
Just give me the tip, and I'll put up a bluff that I’ve
discovered her of my own accord.”

“What would ordinary mortals do without the aid

; of fairies? If you would find the fair Phyllis, search

for her amid her flocks.”

, “Amid her flocks?” muttered the Wellsburg boy.

_. “Amid her flocks? Now what do you mean by that?

By Jove! I have it! What a fool I’ve been! She’s

the shepherdess!”’

Instantly he sprang up and rushed away.
In another room he found the clown and shepherdess

_ very much absorbed in each other.

_ . “At last!” he exclaimed; “at last I’ve found you!”

L “Go away!” cried the clown. ‘My goodness, it’s

getting dark around here!”

Phyllis regarded Cooly with indifferent eyes.
“What do you want?” she asked. ‘“Can’t you see

I’m very busy?”

“Yes, we’re both all-fired busy,” chuckled the clown.

“Go stand on your head in the corner.”

But Cooly was not to be rebuffed.-

“Oh, shake that fellow, Phyllis!’ he exclaimed.
“T’ve found you!”

_ -“You’ve been long enough about it!” she retonted:

__ with a touch of spite. “Where’s your friend of the

a scarlet dress?” i

he “Oh, I don’t know.”

“You should know. You’ve been attentive enough.”

“But I thought—TI thought it was you, Phyllis.”

~ “Why didn’t you keep on thinking so?”

“JT got a peep beneath her mask.” —

Well, I like that!” cuttingly laughed ‘the girl. “Oh,

you can’t fool me! You took~a fancy to her until you

- got a peep beneath her mask. It didn’t, take you long
to find me after you did that.” :
“And I guess that will hold you for awhile!”

et a blame PE a Stage

Suee

 

Cooly began to get warm. —

  

 

 

“You might have given me a hint!” he exclaimed.
“T fancied you would.” ;

“Oh, you did? Well, you made a mistake.
other friends who are not so dull.”

“Behold one of them,” said the clown. “Pm one of
her flock. I’ma tender little lamb, and she must care
a me. Skidoo!”

  
 

I ive

  
 

 

 

# \
\ 4 } 4

WEEKLY.

removed his own mask.

, ‘Beas I see how it is!” burst from diy: as he

 

 

It

straightened up. ‘You have some one you prefer to
me. Well, I admire your taste!’

“So do I,” chuckled the clown.
minutes late, my friend. Conundrum:
Shepherdess like fly-paper? Answer:
stuck on her.”

“You're a brilliant chap!” sneered Cooly. “You
must have been studying Joe Miller’s Joke Book. All
your cracks are about a thousand years old.” ,

“Oh, I don’t know!” was the retort. “I can give

“You're twenty
Why is the
Because I’m

you: a crack that won’t be more than a second old.”

As he said this the clown took a meditative look at
his clenched fist.

Cooly grew warm.

“Come, Phyllis,” he “urged, “shake this chump.
You’re going to unmask with me.”

“Smoke up and dream again!” advised the clown.
“Have another pill!’

An instant later Cooly snapped the mask from the
clown’s face.

“T want to see what sort of a fascinating chap this
is!’ he sneered.

Hiram Bemis rose to his full height, and only the
prompt action of Phyllis Gladleigh prevented him
from striking Cooly. Phyllis sprang between them,
entreating them both to desist.

“Oh, don’t, don’t, boys!” she begged.
you’re in my home.”
“All right,” drawled Bemis, “I'll remember it ; but

I’ll see that feller some other time.”

“Any time and anywhere ue rere . ufes ao
Jack.

“You've yanked off my mask,” said Hi. © You’ ve”
seen who I am., Now, why don’t you have nerve
enough to let me take a look at you?”

“Go aheadi” grated the Wellsburg boy, as he quickly
“Took all you choose!”

The two lads stood glaring at each other, an expres-
sion of hatred on their faces.

“T can’t say that I admire your taste, Phyllis !" Re 3
sneered Cooly. ; yy }
“T can’t say that I adraire your taste in see the
girl in the scarlet dress!’ exclaimed Phyllis. “Jack, _
I’m ashamed of you! I didn’t think you would behave
like this.” Le

“Tt’s not my fault,”

““Remember

he muttered. “I suppose this

is one of those great athletes from Frank Merriwell’s .

school. Ha! ha! ha! A fine bunch of athletes Merri-
well has!’ Why, the Wellsburg Grammar-school boys _
could defeat them at anything!”

“You're having another pipe-dream,

”

said Hiram, :

   
    

 

 

    
     
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
 
    
 
   
   
  
    
    
  
   
    
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
   
    
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
  
  

ae
is

       

   

or not!

IZ

“When we fellers git into gear we'll show you Wells-
burg chaps a thing or two! We'll take some of the
conceit out of you, by ginger!’

“Oh, we wouldn’t recognize such a lot of hood-
lums!” retorted Cooly. ‘We wouldn’t have anything
to do with you!”

“You wouldn’t dare! That’s what’s the matter, you
wouldn’t dare! When we git ready we're goin’ to
challenge you chaps.”

“Challenge away!”

“We'll print our challenge in the Wellsburg Herald. -

If you don’t give us a show at ye, we'll make you
look mighty cheap.”

“If we ever do give you a show, you'll look mighty
cheap!”

“Stop this, both of you!’ commanded Phyllis. “If
you want to discuss things of this sort, do it some-
where else and at another time.”

Cooly shrugged his shoulders.

“T'll not waste my breath discussing anything with
a common clown,” he said. “This fellow didn’t have
to put on a mask to play the clown. He’s more of
a clown without'a mask than he is with one.’

Phyllis Gladleigh was exasperated.

“T didn’t think it of you, Jack!”
fully.

she cried resent-
“T always thought you a gentleman.”
“There are times,” he retorted, “when a gentleman
Mas to stoop to deal with those beneath him.”
“Now I’m pretty good-natured,” said Bemis, ‘but
I’ve certainly stood just about all of this I can. If
youré going to keep it up, we’d better go outside

“somewhere.”

“You shall not!” declared Phyllis. “If you were to
do anything like that, the whole of Bloomfield would
hear of it. This/town will talk enough about the party
to-night. If you boys indulge in fighting, it will give
‘them some real cause to talk. I want you both to
pecinee me that you'll do nothing of the sort to-
aoe

‘ She placed her hand on Hiram’s arm.

Lk oxin iy I'll promise,’ he bowed.  ‘T’ll promise
anything you ask.” ,
- Cooly threw back his head and laughed.
“He’s eager to make such a promise!” sneered the
_ Wellsburg boy. “That lets him out. Of course, he
isn’t afraid, or anything of that sort!”
“Mebbe you'll find out some time whether I’m afraid
!” growled Hiram. ' [ge
“You haven’t given me ne promise, Jack,” re-
“minded Phyllis.

x

TIP TOP WEEKLY.

“Shake this fellow, and I’ll promise you not to
pick a quarrel with him to-night.”

“If you’re not gentleman enough to give me the
promise anyhow, I wouldn’t think of shaking him!’
she exclaimed defiantly, “I must say that I admire
his conduct far more than I do yours.”

‘(Then stick to him!” snarled Cooly, turning away;
“stick to him, and you'll be sorry!”

CHAPTER VI.
THE UNMASKING.

In the meantime, Fred Hollis had been progressing
with his fairy to an extent that astonished him. He
was encouraged by the manner in which she cuddled up
to him, and he failed to note that the old lady on the
couch was inclined to have spasms of giggling, which
frequently changed into coughing fits.

“So your name is Sadie?’ murmured Fred. “I
think that’s a lovely name.”

“Oh, do you?” she murmured, in return. ‘Won't
you tell mé your name?” ,

“My name is Fred.” | \'

“Fred? Oh, I always liked that name! You're not
Spanish, of course?”

“Oh, no, I’m not Spanish, I’m not French, I’m not
German. Now, what would you take me for?”

“T wouldn’t take you for a gift.”

The old lady had another spasm.

“Eh?” exclaimed Hollis. ‘“What did you say 70H
wouldn’t take me for a gift?”

The fairy giggled coyly.

“No, I’d much rather you’d take me.
would you take me fort. '
“For better or worse,’

“Oh, you are so bold!” 7 .

“But you know you rather a my boldness shies
all.” -

“You did frighten me awfully at first.”

“And the more you ran away the more determined -
I was to pursue.
perseverance conquers all things.”

“T suppose that’s right. I did think you were an
awful forward ee but, after all, I like you so well
that it surprises me.’ !

“Won’t you let me have a peep beneath your mask,
Sadie?” © |

“Oh, no, no, not now!
and by.”

“Will you unmask with me?’ ; a.
“If you wish me to very, very much.”

Now, what

’ answered Fred.

You know we'll unmask by

One of Merriwell’s precepts is that

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T.do.
your face
this party.”

“I’m not a girl; I’m a fairy. You know fairies are
awfully deceptive. They are so changeable. They
can change into almost anything they like. Now, if I
took a fancy, I could changé into a boy this minute.”

“Don’t!” exclaimed Hollis, with pretended horror.

“You wouldn’t like me if I were a boy?”

“T should despise you!”

The old woman had a severe coughing spell.

“Tell me about your school. You know I’ve been
away from Bloomfield. Of course, I’ve heard many
things about it, but people did not seem to agree.
Some thought it was a fine school, while others were
inclined to ridicule it.”

I shall be devoured with eagerness to see
I'll wager that you’re the prettiest girl at

“Oh, it’s not a school, you know, although Merri-
well calls it that. I never saw such a collection of
freaks in my life. I can’t bear most of the fellows.
There’s something the matter with them all. If Mr.
Merriwell really builds that bunch up and makes them
strong and healthy, he’ll produce a marvel.”

“Don’t you have any friends or chums?”

“Oh, no real chums. I couldn’t chum with those
fellows. -There’s a lot of them here to-night. I’m
dead sore on some of them,”

“Any one in particular?”

“Well, there’s that little rat, ‘Bob Bubbs,” I cer-

tainly despise him!”

“Bob Bubbs? What sort of a fellow is he?”

“Oh, he thinks he’s He’s always playing
practical jokes.

smart,

him!”

“Dear me! I should hate to get you down on me,
Fred. You must be very dangerous when you get

‘down on a chap,” '

“I am, But there’s no danger that Bubbs will ever
try any of his tricks on me, I’ve warned him. I’ve
told him I’d shake him out of his skin if he did. I

don’t believe he could fool me, pnyHow, .

“JT don’t believe he’d dare try it,’ murmured the
fairy. “You say he is a little fellow?”

Yes,”

“Ts he here to-night P”

“Oh, yes,” /

“How’s he dressed ?”

“Why, he was one of those three sailors. He tried
to get fresh with me, but J] haven’t seen him lately,
He found out I was onto him and took a sneak.”

At this juncture two of the sailors came rolling up

and paused in front of the sofa.

WEEKLY.

 

If he ever plays one on me, Ill fix

   

13

“Avast, there, my Spanish tar!” roared one of them.
“Have you clapped your bDinnacle lights on Captain
Bowline lately?”

Said the other:

“We've cruised this coast from Hatteras to East-

‘port, and we can’t find a trace of the captain,”

“Go on about your business!’ advised Hollis, “TI
don’t know where he is, and I don’t want to!”

“That’s right,” murmured the fairy, them
away. I don’t like them. If I were a boy, I wouldn’t
have anything to do with such rude fellows.”

Not a little to the surprise of Hollis, she slipped
her arm about his neck and clung to him as if in real
alarm.

“Oh, don’t worry about them,” he paid.
stick by me, and no one will bother you.”

“I'll stick by you,” she declared, permitting her fin-
gers to wander through his hair. “What a splendid
head you have! I should say you have a brain that is
almost human.”

At this thé sailors uttered a roar of laughter and
slapped their knees, while Hollis felt his face burning

“send

“Just you

. beneath his mask.

The old lady nearly fell off the end of the sofa.

“Don’t!” whispered Fred. “You're attracting every
one’s attention. They’re all watching us.”

“What do you care?” giggled the fairy. “You
shouldn’t mind, as long as you have me. Let them
watch. I can stand it if you can.”

“You've got her, my hearty!”
sailors; “you’ve got her tight and fast!
ake her for your first mate.”

“Go on about your business, I tell you!” grated Hol-
lis. “Don't | hold me so tight, Sadie.”

Th 1¢/ fairy seemed offended. _

“That's always the way,” she said. “A. fellow
chases’a girl until he gets her, and then he wants to
shake her.”

“But I don’t want to shake you, te I hate to
have every one looking and laughing. Let’s get out of
this room.” .

But “Sadie” objected..

“I’m going to stay right here,”
it’s real mean of them to laugh.
people laugh at me, do you?”

If there’s anything that- makes

cried one of* the
You'd better

she said, “T think
I don’t like to have

“T should say not!

me mad, it is to be laughed at.” '

Hollis grew more and more uneasy, for he perceived
that they had attracted the attention of all the maskers,
and he realized the boys and girls were making com-
ments about them.

  
   
 
  
   
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
    
   
 
   
   
   
  
 
   
 
   
    
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
   
 
  
  
    
 

’ 7

The clown and the shepherdess returned to the room
in company. They paused in front of the couch, and
the clown regarded Hollis intently.

“Conundrum,” he cried: “What’s the best thing
to tell a girl? Answer: Nothing, for then she can’t
tell it to no one else.”

“That fellow certainly makes me sick!” growled
Hollis. “I suppose he thinks he’s funny.”

“T’m not half as funny as some one else,”
the clown.

At this point Mrs. Gladleigh appeared and an-
nounced that refreshments were ready. She invited
the young people to select partners and proceed to the

’ dining-room.

Hollis started to get up.

“Oh, you can’t shake me now!”
panion, as she clung to him.

The two sailors seemed rather slow about finding
partners, with the result that, when all were paired off,
they discovered the only girl remaining was the one
disguised in the old lady’s costume. Immediately the
jolly tars rolled up to her, hitched their trousers and
bowed profoundly as each offered her an arm.

“Will you ship with us for this voyage?” they asked.
ig Laughingly she rose, and they bore her away be-
| tween them. | By siadis
: “Oh, do let’s get close to the cavalier and the fairy !”

she whispered. “There’s going to be a surprise pretty
soon. It'll be lots of fun.”
“Put over your helm, Marlinspike,” said one of the
sailors. ‘We'll lay alongside the cavalier and the
Aairy.” | |
“Aye, aye, Jibboom!” answered Marlinspike. “Over
she goes, and we'll drop anchor beside the savalier and
a fairy.” vi; \
_The immense dining-room was pee Ye as the
Paikers gathered about the long table, on which the
refreshments were spread.
. Mrs. Gladleigh stood at the head of the table and
made a little speech, in which she said that she hoped

every one had enjoyed the occasion, ending by saying
that, as it would be impossible for them to partake of
ni the refreshments while in Spee the time nad come
| for them to unmask.

There was a great deal of iddaliine as ihe a and
_ girls removed their masks.
and dropped it on the floor. Of course, there were
many exclamations of surprise as the faces of the
_ maskers were exposed. Hollis turned to his compan-
ion and found her still fumbling at her mask.

“Boast, Rolie you aananit sie? ae Chuckle

chuckled

exclaimed his com-

”

 

ception.

Fred Hollis took his off—

14 TIP TOP WEEKLY.

son, who proved to be one of the two sailors.
don’t you assist the lady ?”’
“Can [help your” asked Fred. “Let me remove it.”
He removed the mask easily and then started back,
with an exclamation of amazement, for the grinning
face of Bob Bubbs was exposed to view.

¥-
Tal

“Why

CHAPTER VII.
CROSS-PURPOSES AND TROUBLED HEARTS.

The entire party seemed to be watching for this dé-
nouement, and there was a great shout of laughter.

“Hello, Freddy, my boy!” chuckled Bubbs, good-
naturedly. “Say, haven’t we been having a jolly time!
Say, hasn’t it been great sport!” \

Hollis was crimson and unable to speak. In his
heart there was a feeling of shame and rage, which
seemed to benumb him from his head to his heels.

“Ahoy, there, my Spanish tar!” cried Tommy
Chuckleson. “The joke is on you. How do you like
your fairy now?”

“T told you it was possible the fairy queen had
turned into that old woman,” said Phyllis Gladleigh.
“There she is. Your sailor friends have her between
them.”

Sadie Hewett’s beautiftl teeth were gleaming as she
laughed.

Hollis looked at bey and was instantly struck by the 4

conviction that he had made no mistake in thinking

the fairy must be the prettiest girl at the party. But
he had been tricked—basely deceived.

They had
plotted against him. They had put up a joke on him
and made him ridiculous.

He saw how the trick had been worked, but he
hated himself because he had failed to penetrate the de-

after she surrendered to his attentions. But Bubbs was
a clever actor—he had proved himself clever on pre-
vious occasions. The costume of the fairy had fitted

him very well, and he had played his part deftly’ enough

to deceive Hollis up to the time of the unmasking.
Remembering how the “fairy” had cuddled up to

him on the sofa, attracting general attention, while the

“old woman” sat on the other side of him and giggled

in a most perplexing manner, Fred grew more and

more infuriated. It seemed that his heart would burst

in his bosom. The faces before him began to swimin

a hazy mist. The voice of Bubbs aroused pee

caused him to stiffen up.
eee laugh, ere old chap,” chuckled Bob. ?

Thinking of it now, he recalled the fact that ce |
there had seemed to be a remarkable change in the fairy

   

 

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i.

  

TEP: OP

  

{

y | .“That’s the best way to take it. Show them you can
stand a little joke. Make them think you really en-

s joyed it, after all.”

ib hae “See here,” grated Fred, turning fiercely on the

5 joker, “I’m going to tell you something I know!”

nets 3

“Go ahead,” invited Bob. “It won’t take you long.”
. “Great Jamaica ginger!’ cried Hiram Bemis.
_ “Hollis looks jest the same as I did the time I had the
earache in my stomach.”

“The earache in your stomach?” laughed Tommy
Chuckleson. ‘How could you have the earache in
your stomach, Hi?”

il sea

“Why, that was easy. You see I et fourteen ears
tie of green corn, and it gave me the earache in my
stomach.”

Bubbs shook his fist at the tall chap.

“You stop it, Hi—you stop it!” he cried. “I’m the
_ | only one who’s supposed to say things like that. My
goodness, children, isn’t Hi thin! He reminds me of
a mule my dad owned once ona time. That mule was
. ‘so thin we had to tie a knot in ‘his tail to keep him
4 f from slipping through his collar.”

 

from Hollis, greatly to his satisfaction and relief.
On

Jack Cooly’s partner was the girl in scarlet.
| a generous spattering of freckles and a saucy pug-nose.
Still, there was-something attractive about her, and

_, Jack was giving her a great deal of attention, seem-

ingly having forgotten’ Phyllis Gladleigh.

i Phyllis and a few of her friends now took pains to
see that every one secured refreshments. It was an
infotmal affair, and all were supposed to help them-
selves, the boys looking out for their partners. There
was a great chattering and much laughing over the
fe the unmasking had created.

 

a a _» Fred Hollis managed to brace up in an endeavor to

appear unconcerned, although the flush had left his
; - face and he was very pale, while his hands trembled
a little in spite of himself. When he tried to partake

   
  
 

_ bitter in his mouth. At first, he suspected that this was
“a urther continuation of the joke, but after a few mo-
Sh aabties he realized that the cream was all right and its
- unusual taste came from his own condition. He
forced himself to swallow a little of it, inwardly re-
_ solving to escape from the party and the house at the
first opportunity when he could do so unobserved. _

 
  
 
  
 
  
  

He would not leave, however, until he had expressed

  
 

For the time being attention seemed to be diverted .

removing her mask, she proved to be very plais, with

of the ice-cream he was surprised to find that if tasted’

himself to Bubbs. Seizing an occasion when the °

WEEKLY.

15

others were unobservant, he grasped Bob’s. sheulder
and whispered in his ear:

“You remember what I told you, you little snipe!
I said I’d break your neck if you ever made me ridic-
ulous, and I'll keep my word!’

“Wait until I take out a life-insurance,” grinned the
little fellow, who seemed not a whit disturbed. “Any-
how, let me get this rig off. I should hate to be
found with a broken neck in this outfit.”

“Oh, you think I’m bluffing,” pairs Holiis, “but
you'll find I’m not! |

Bubbs slipped away a few moments later: and ha-
stened tup-stairs to change his clothes. As soon as pos-
sible, he reappeared in the costume of Captain Bow-
line, and was heartily greeted by his two companions,
Chuckleson and Jones. ;

“Welcome back from fairy-land, old tar!’ cried.
Jones, wagging his heavy head. “You've cut “up
enough didoes for one night.”

“Children, behold the fairy again transformed,” said
Tommy Chuckleson, slapping Bob on ‘the shoulder.
“Now, if the original fairy will cast off her years and
cease to be an old woman, we'll all be satisfied.”

“All /but Hollis,” grinned Hiram Bemis. , “Say,
Fred, you'll have to buy femonade for the whole
school.” é

“All right,” said Hollis, trying hard to smile, “Ty

99

1?

- do it, fellows.”

“Now, that’s the talk!’ exclaimed several. “Weve
had our racket; let’s not have any hard feelings.”
Phyllis Gladleigh was watching Jack Cooly and Jen-
nie Walker. 'In spite of herself, she could not help
glancing in their direction occasionally, and she was
dismayed to observe that apparently Cooly had quite
forgotten her existencé. For all of Jack’s hot temper
she liked him very much indeed, and the thought that
possibly he was becoming genuinely interested in the
girl with the freckles was qnite enough to make her’
regret the manner in which she had treated hirn.
£ After refreshments the party gathered in anothem
room, where they played games for awhile and became
very well acquainted with one another. Finally some
of them were compelled to depart. Phyllis was bid-
ding two or three of the girls good night when Jennie.
Walker found her at the door and announced that she
was likewise going home. as fe
“T’ve had a perfectly lovely time, Phyllis,” cabins a
nie. “I think your party was a grand success.”
“I’m glad you’ve had a good time,” deolared Phyllis,
bravely endeavoring to repress the slightest show Of 3
resentment. “This is the first masked party we’ ve had

  

 

   
    

   
    
  
  
 
   
  
 
    
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
    
  
 
 
   
     
   
   
       
       
     
        
    
       
       
   
           
   
      
 

16

 

The: TOP

in Bloomfield, and now that we've had one I hope there
will be others.”

“Oh, so do I!” cried Jennie. “I’m going to give one
myself if mama will let me. I promised Japa.
Cooly—that I would. He urged me to, you know.”

“Did he? I hope you like him.”

“I think he’s a very nice fellow, Phyllis. There are
not many fellows like him in Bloomfield. He’s so
obliging, too. You know my brother brought me over
here to-night. He couldn’t stay to the party, and so
Jack is going to take me home.”

Phyllis gave a little gasp.

“Mr. Cooly is very gallant,” she said, still endeavor-
ing to restrain her feelings. “But wasn’t your brother
coming for you?’

“Oh, I suppose he’d come if I waited for him,” an-
swered Jennie; “but he’ll be glad enough to get out of
it. You know how brothers are. They always groan
and make a lot of fuss when they have to look after
their sisters.”

“You'll find your wraps in my room, dear,” said

_ Phyllis sweetly. “‘I’ll have to remain here in case any
one else thinks of leaving so early.”

Phyllis Gladleigh had Jack Cooly cornered.

“T want to know what you mean!” she exclaimed
hoarsely.

“By Jove!”
Phyllis?”

“You know what the matter is!”

“You'll have to enlighten me. What are you talk-
about, Phyllis?”

. You’ re going home en Jennie Walker! She told

BS. INE, 80,

“Qh, yes! she’s a very interesting girl.” |

For a moment words of spite trembled on Phyllis

_ Gladleigh’s tongue, but again she mastered herself and
held them i in check.

“Yes,” she admitted, “Jennie i is interesting. I don’t

deny that. But you came over here from Wellsburg
to see me. I invited you to attend my party.”
_ “That’s right,” confessed Cooly, “but after I got,
here I found you so interested in that Bemis chap that».
I was quite out in the cold. You gave me the throw
down, Phyllis.” .

“Oh, you know -why I did that. I was angry. I
don’t care a snap for Hiram Bemis. He’s just a tall,
comical, good-natured boy, and I stuck by him because
_ I was angry to think you didn’t find me out sooner.
- Besides that, you acted decidedly boor ish toward
— Bemis. You weren't a bit polite and gentlemanly.”
“Perhaps that’s: right,”. admitted Cooly; “but he
tried to get gay with me, and I’m going to shake him
_upa little the first time I meet him alone.”

“You're as bad as Fred Hollis. You can’t seem to
pA take : a hse a fe Yate

Mg

laughed Jack. “What’s the matter,

Jennie ran lightly up the stairs, and ten seconds later .

 

 

 

WEEKLY.

“There are jokes and jokes,” nodded the Wellsburg S
lad. “A fellow can stand for some of them, and others Ic
he won’t stand for.” . . h

“But you brought Sadie Hewett here to-night at my SN
request. You must see her home.” tc

“T’ll be back in time for that.” i

Phyllis stamped her foot. Sz

“T don’t want you to take Jennie Walker home!” she
panted. “Please, Jack, don’t do it!” Ww

He shook his head. y'

“Tt’s too late now, Phyllis,” he said soberly. “I’ve TE
asked her. I couldn’t go back on her now. You Ce
wouldn’t have me do that. Here she comes.” y'

Jennie was descending the stairs. ¢ oO

“All ready, Miss Walker,’ ” said Cooly, as he hastily hi
slipped into his overcoat and found his hat.

“You'd better button that coat, Jack,” advised Jen- ety
nie. “It’s dreadfully cold to-night. Good night, Bae i)
Phyllis. Perfectly splendid time. Tl see you again ken tC
before you go back to school.” } :

“Yes, do, dear,” urged Phyllis, with the utmost )
politeness, as she smiled on Jennie. “Now don’t for- |
get—don’t fail.” i

It is needless to say that Cooly was filled with min- oe
gled bewilderment and admiration for Phyllis’ nerve, =“
for she kissed Jennie Walker good night in the friend- i. 18
liest fashion. i) Q)

But, when the door had closed behind Jack and Da =. Ic
nie, Phyllis fled up the stairs to her room. th

‘ cc
CHAPTER VIII. :
NEW PARTNERS, | e

“T won’t cry—I won't!” exclaimed Phyllis, as she _
rushed into her room. oh

“Why, what’s the matter ?” asked Sadie Hewett, Si
looking out from behind a screen, where she was | u
changing from the old woman’s garments to the fairy h
costume ; “what’s the matter, Phyllis?” Te

“Ts that you, Sadie? Everything is the matter! if a
Oh, I hate Jack Cooly—TI ‘hate him!” cl

‘No,-you don’t. You may think you do just now, ce

‘but you don’t hate him, Phyllis.”

“T do! I do! Do you know what he’s done? I
think she’s the meanest fellow in the world! He’s _ }
taken Jennie Walker home.” ye et
“Good gracious!” cried Sadie, in surprise, Se ee

    
    

  

about me?’ Re e
“Oh, he is coming back to see you Home 2 ae y
“Well, I don’t know about that. There aré other . ‘we

boys here.” Met ne
“That’s right!” Phyllis palpitated. “That's: ‘ao Be

splendid idea. You must show him. He seems to | Y

think he can do anything he likes. [’ll never speak to

him again after this evening!” An or
Sadie could not repress a smile. COS
“Oh, yes, you will,”’ she nodded rougishly. CV ot lhe ¥ st

make it all up.’ ‘4 83

“Never! never! never! I hate Jennie Walker, tool f

ae
Tie FOP

She called him Jack and told me what a splendid fel-
low he was. She knew she was making me sore. Any-
how, she tried to make me feel badly, but I don’t be-
7 | lieve I gave her much satisfaction. I felt. just like
calling her freckled and pug-nosed, but I didn’t.”

“Jack promised mother that he’d bring me home,”
said Sadie.
> i “And, if he doesn’t, he’ll break his promise. Sadie,
we've got to fix it somehow. I don’t want to hurry
| you, but I do wish you’d go home before he gets’ back.
; Then I'll have a chance to say something to him. [Il
call his attention to the fact that I asked him to bring
you here and take you home, and he ran off with an-
| other girl and failed to do it. That, ought to make
r him feel mean enouga.”

i} -“T don’t believe he cares for Jennie Walker, Phyllis.
: Jennie doesn’t seem to be his style at all.”’

} _ “That doesn’t make any difference. He pretended
_ to care, and he took her home.”
sl “Weren't you at all to blame for it?’

: ‘i “Td like to know how!’

_ “You seemed to be having a lovely time with Hiram
Bemis.”

| “Hiram Bemis!” breathed Phyllis, with great scorn.
,. | “Now any one in the world ought to know that he
- | isn’t’ the sort of fellow I like! I wouldn’t get stuck
| on a tall, thin, awkward chap like that. I gave him
- | lots of attention just because I was aie? to think

| that Jack didn’t find me sooner.’

“And that caused all the trouble,” declared Sadie.
“There’s lots of trouble to-night. I was thinking about
asking Jack to take me home right away, for, don't
you know, Fred Hollis is still annoying me? " i ag

“What, after all this?”

“Yes, ‘He found a chance to speak to me alone, and
he insisted that I should let him take me home. He
said it would.be the only way in which I could make
‘up for the joke on him. If I let him take me home,
he'd be triumphant after’ all, and that would turn the
- laugh on Bob Bubbs. | “Tf the fellows tried to guy him
about how he was fooled, he could boast that he suc-
| ceeded, anyhow. I believe he’s watching for me to
| come down-stairs.”

“Well, why don’t you let him take you homie?” sug-

ws ¥™«“

 

-_
Seger

ny

 

 

 
 
 

Br gested Phyllis.

ay “Well, I like that!” cried Sadie, in a tone of voice
ek ae ‘that plainly indicated she did not like it. “I tell you I
iE can’t bear him! Pi go hoine alone before I'll let him

escort me!” |
* ‘The girls were ‘still talking de dais matter when
P Sadie completed dressing and they left the room.
“Don’t be foolish, Sadie,” urged Phyllis, “You
can't. go home alone, If you won’t accept Fred Hollis,
you'll have to wait fon Jack. ff
_ “Oh, hot a bit of it!” cried a merry voice. “Captain
Bowlinej is here and he offers his services. Excuse me,
girls, but I left my watch i in the room where I changed
y clothes, and I had to come up for it, What's this
about Miss Hewett going home alone? I’m a faith-
ful Wwatelt dog, aad s the boys — me Towser. cs see

 

  

  

  

WEEKLY,

near knocking me down.

and followed Bob and Sadie, Phyllis bidding them

things do come out funny sometimes, don’t they? I

mine.

  
       
  
   
   
  
    
 
  
    
  
  
   
  
  
   
    
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
   
  
 
 
  
 
  
    
    
           
        
    
    
   

     

17

her to her domicile, and I’ll bite any one who tries to
steal her from me. Bow-wow!’

“There’s your chance, Sadie,”
“Vou’re so kind, Mr. Bubbs.”

“Don’t do it!” exclaimed Bob. “That Mister came
I’m Bob, or: Towser, or —
Bubbs, or any old thing but Mister. Am I to have the es
pleasure of escorting Miss Hewett to the safety of her
fireside?”

“Thank you,” smiled Sadie, “you are very, kind.”

“Not kind, but lucky,” laughed the little chap. “You
know the old saying, ‘A fool for luck.’ ”’

At the foot of the stairs they found a fat girl, Mat-
tie Given, who was laboriously endeavoring to get her
feet into a pair of overshoes. hee

“Not going, are you, Mattie?” !

“Oh, my gracious, yes! I’m going if I ever get
these overshoes on,” answered Mattie. “Sakes alive!
I’m so thin I know I’ll blow away. I’ve been taking
anti- fat, you know, and it’s reduced me to this delicate
eondition. No wonder I can’t catch, a. fellow; -
never see me in a crowd.”

Hiram Bemis bobbed up at this moment and ex-
pressed his pleasure on again finding Phyllis.

“You're just the fellow!” exclaimed Phyllis. “Get
busy, Mr. Bemis, and help Mattie put those overshoes
on. She’s talking about going home alone, but you'll
see her home.”

“Will 1?” gasped Hiram. .

“Of course you will,” said Mattie Sait “We'll
make a splendid couple. You're the first fellow I’ve —
had to-night. Somebody dragged me into the dining-
room, but he shook me as ‘soon as we got there.”

Hiram’s breath was taken away, and, beforehe knew
it, he was on his’ knees, adjusting the overshoes to the eae
fat girl’s feet. as

“We'll go along together, the four of us, Hi,” said
Bob Bubbs. “Get a move on you before Fred Hollis
heaves in sight.’ He’s threatened to break my neck, and
I’m afraid he’ll make good if he catches me now.’ vs

Hiram was an obliging fellow, and he helped the EN
girl on with her wraps, plunged into his own overcoat,

breathed Phyllis.

 

good might at the door. . ae

“T: wish you were taller,” said Mattie, as she reached —
‘up to get: hold of Hiram’s arm. “You're so short I
have to stoop.” Pea

“Mebbe I’ll grow if I keep. on,” chuckled Bemis. ;
“Say, I thought I had a mash on Phyllis Gladleigh.
Gee whiz! she kinder turned me over to you before I
knew what she was doing.”

“Wait a minute,” said Mattie, “GE you’ re going ee
cry, I’ll lend you my handkerchief.” ;

“I’m not going to cry,” declared’ the tall boy; “but, 7

say, Bubbs, do we go your way?”
“Ask the girls,” said Bob. “I don’t know.” a
“Ves,” said Sadie, “Mattie lives three houses,beyond _
Oh, what a queer evening it has been! I ERP
tainly did have a Bond time, especially while I was sit-

    
18 TIP: TOP WEEKLY.

;
. ting on that sofa and taking in the fun. I didn’t think
you could fool Fred Hollis that way, Mr. Bubbs.”

Bob staggered and clutched at his heart.

“There it is again!” he gasped. “One more Mister
will finish me! ‘Call me Bob before I perish.”’

“Bob,” she laughed. .

“Say,” whispered Hiram, ‘
they? You can call me Hi for short.
you?” |

“Mattie is my given name,” laughed the fat girl.
“That’s it, Mattie Given. If I call you Hi for short,
you may call me Mattie for as long as you please.”

“Gee whillikins!” exploded Hiram. ‘You can talk
pretty fast, can’t you? I didn’t know how to take you
Ww hen you mittened onto me so sudden.”

“T saw you did not know how to take me, and I was
determined you should take me, anyhow.”

“Great Jamaica ginger! I’ve been trying to crack
jokes all the evening, and you can crack ’em every
time you speak. I found all mine in the almanac
Where did you find yours?” '

“You're the biggest joke I’ve found this evening.’

In the meantime, Fred \Hollis was vainly looking

around for Sadie Hewett. After aw hile, failing i in his
search, he questioned Phyllis Gladleigh.

“Oh, Sadie’s gone long ago,” said Phyllis.

“Gone?” cried Fred, in dismay. é

“Certainly.”

“But I didn’t see her go.”

“Then it’s evident that you are left again,” laughed
Phyllis, a trifle maliciously.

“Tsuppose she had company ?” muttered Fred.

“Of course. Bob Bubbs took her home.”

Hollis turned away, without a word, and went for
his overcoat.

‘they’re gittin’ thick, ain’t
What do I call

“Are you going now?” questioned Phyllis, as he

again approached the door.

“Yes, I’m going,’ ’ he said sourly. |

“y hope you've had a pleasant time.” \

“Very pleasant,”
the sarcasm in‘his voice. “Good night.”

Outside the door he nearly collided with Jack Cooly.
The moonlight Avas bright, and he recognized, Cooly
at once.

“Wait a minute,” said Hollis. “You're the Wells-
burg fellow. Didn't you bring Sadie Hewett here to~
. night?”

Pee C8 riddled Cooly.

“Are you coming back for her?”

“Sure thing.” .

“You're too late.”

“Why ar

“She’s gone. Say, old’man, I may not be as slow as
I look, even if they did have a’ lot of fun at my ex-
pense to-night. You’ve been given the cold shoulder,
too. That lanky, Bemis, cut you out. Bemis is a
_fatmer. What he needs is a proper trimming, and I
hope you give it to him.” ’

“Oh, ll give it to him the first chance I get,”

vowed
Cooly. “But what are you driving, at?

he bowed ; but he could not disguise.

“T’ve got a little grudge of my own,” said Fred.
“Bemis and that runt, Bob Bubbs, went out together
with Sadie Hewett and another girl. Of course, you
know where Sadie Hewett lives. What do you say
if you and I skip along that way and look after those
two chaps? We might find them and warm them up a
bit.”

“Tm with you!” cried Cooly. “Come on!’

CHAPTER IX.

AN INTERRUPTED FIGHT.

After bidding Sadie Hewett good night at her door,
Bob Bubbs waited for Bemis. In a short time Hiram
came sprinting down the road, and together the two
boys walked back to pass through the village on their
way toward Farnham Hall.

“Great Jamaica ginger!” chuckled Bemis, ‘but that
fat girl is funny! Bob, she’s the jolliest bunch of a
girl I ever struck. She just talked me to a stand-
still. Can’t get ahead of her any. Come to think of |
it, I like her a blamed sight better than any other girl
i ve seen to-night.”

“Hiram, you’ re fickle!’ cried Bob.
to, Phyllis.’

“Oh, come off! You don't ¢ s’pose I thought Phyllis
wanted me, do ye? I was jest helpin’ her out. Tm
not such a chump as I look. I knew she was sore on
her Wellsburg feller, and so I jest done my level best
to help her along.”

“You're very obligin’, Hi, but you certainly got
Cooly down on you. ‘He was madder than a wet hen.”

“Well, you ain’t got nuthin’ to say. You.riled Fred
Hollis up till he wanted to murder you on the spot.
Cooly don’t belong in this town, so it ain’t likely he’ll
trouble me. But Hollis is right in our school, and he'll
lay for you, you bet your boots!”

“Tf he lays for me, I'll try to make it intérestin’ for
him,” said Bob. “I’m not much of a scrapper, but it
will take more than Fred Hollis to frighten me.”

They were passing the Methodist church in the vil-
lage when two other boys suddenly sprang out of the
shadows and rushed toward them.

“There they are!” cried one of the two. “I’d know
that bean-pole anywhere! Bubbs is with him, and ©
Bubbs is my meat.” Ki

“Gee whillikins!’”’ gasped Hiram.
right, Towser.
eve. © :

Hollis and Cooly had been watching and waiting for
Hiram and Bob to return, and they now planted them-
selves in the road, both expressing their satisfaction.”

“T told you what I’d do to you, you little runt!”
snarled’ Hollis.

“And I think I told you something was coming to
you, Lengthy,” observed, Cooly.
up the highway with you.’

“Gee whiz!” drawled Hi, who did not seem to be —
greatly alarmed. “You're a regular Pantes, ain't ye?

“You're untrue

“T guess you was
We’re in for a little oe ee ¥

 

 

 

 

 

“I’m going to wipe |
 

_Gladleigh if you knock the starch out of me.
you'll succeed in disgusting her so she'll throw you

 

 

 

 

   
 

   
  
   
  

 

Pit LOE

: $’pose you think you'll make yourself solid with Miss
Prob’ly

down for good.”

“Oh, you think you can get out of it through that
kind of talk!’-said Cooly. “Tl take my chances with
Phyllis Gladleigh after I’ve given you the trimming
you need.”

“But mebbe you won’t do all the trimming that’s
done. I’m quite a dinged good trimmer myself. If
I’ve got to fight with you, I’m going to fight like blazes,
and you won’t find me no sick kitten, neither.”

— “You're a big farmer! You’re a hayseed!”’ panted
Cooly. “Take off your coat!”

“Guess I don’t have to. Think I can hold my own

_ with you without taking it off.”

Cooly flung his own overcoat on the snow and
ripped off his undercoat. He Me literally shaking with
excitement. Renn)

In the meantime, Hollis pitched into Bubbs, but the

little fellow dodged the first blow, ducked under Fred’s

arm and grappled with him. They went down to-
gether, rolling over and over on the road.

A moment later Bemis and Cooly were at it. Jack

had succeeded in giving Hiram a punch in the stom-
ach, but, to his astonishment, his feet were kicked from
beneath him, and the tall boy came down upon him
_ with all his weight.

After this the battle became savage, indeed. Severa!

em times Bob Bubbs broke away from his eae and

ay

Once

all four became mixed up so that it was difficult for
them to distinguish one another.
_ found that the tall boy and his little companion were
really plucky fighters and not at all inclined to show
the white feather and cry “enough.”
but Jack and Fred received fully as much punishment
as their antagonists.

Cooly and Hollis

At a moment when the battle was. raging at its
fiercest a sleigh came down the street, the bells tinkling
musically. There were two persons in the sleigh, and
both observed the battling lads with no little astonish-
ment. The horse was stopped, and out of the sleigh
leaped a young man, who rushed forward and promptly
took a hand in the conflict. Seizing two of the boys, he

-yanke d them apart and held them until he could take _

  

»

a look at their faces by the moonlight.  * :
 “Follis,” he exclaimed, “Tm Siete Bubbs, ’m
astonished!” |

 

    
 
 

_ With a snap of his ahi hand, he flung Hollis biel
long into a snow-bank beside the road. With a snap

K of his left, he sent Bob Bubbs whirling into another

ssnow-bank on the opposite side of the road.

 

   
    
 
   
    

“Perhaps that will cool you off,” he muttered, as
he sprang upon the other lads, who were so excited and
absorbed in their struggle that they knew nothing of
his appearance.
the snow at one side of the road, and his ‘antagonist
as flung into a drift at the opposite side.

 

 

WEEKLY.

Not only that, |

Once more:a boy was pitched into”

; The four a crawled out of ae snow and sat up boyhood. I ‘wonldn’ t ate much for a Cee whe hasn’t

     

19

or rose to their hands and knees and stared at the per-
son who had thus promptly put an end to the fight.

“Great Jamaica ginger!” grunted Bemis. “It’s Mr.
Merriwell!”’

“Merriwell?” spluttered Hollis, spitting snow from
his mouth and blowing it out of his nostrils. ‘“He’s
caught us!’

“Merriwell?” murmured Bob Bubbs. “I think I'll
crawl back into this drift and get out of sight!”

“Merriwell?” growled Jack Cooly. “I reckon he’s
really an athlete, for he handled me with one hand as
if I didn’t weigh more than ten pounds.”

“Here, you chaps!” called Frank, motioning to them.
“Get uup—come here! Now I want to know what this
means.’

“Tf I must confess, I must,’’ muttered Bubbs, as he
waded out into the road. “Mr. Merriwell, I was doing
my level best to put Hollis out of commission.’

“Tf you’d let us alone about four minutes longer,”
said Bemis, “I’d had this Cooly feller lookin’ as if a
cyclone had hit him.”

Neither Hollis nor Cooly said a word. In fact, Cooly
was inclined to run away, but refrained from doing
so because he could not uratetiotsty find his coats and
his hat.

“You'll stop right where you are,” said Frank
grimly; “no more of this. Resta You are
not under my authority,” he added, turning to Cooly,
“but these other boys are. They’ll explain to me to-
morrow morning. Go about your business now, the
whole of you. Bemis, Bubbs, and Hollis, you’ll make
for Farnham Hall as fast as your feet can carry you.
If there’s any further trouble between you to-night,
I’ll put you on short rations for the next week.”

That was all Frank had to say just then. He re-
traced his steps to the sleigh and took the reins from

, the hands of his wife.

“What was the matter: ?” questioned Inza, as they

drove on. - e

Frank laughed a, bit.
“Evidently they were settling some sort of a dif-
ference,” he said. - ’
“They were fighting. You didn’t scold them. You

didn’t reprimand them the way they deserved.”
“They were in no condition to, listen to a reprimand

: just then.”

“But you’ve left them. They may fight again.”

“Not to-night. Three of those boys know me, and
they'll have no further trouble on this occasion, I |
should say that there has been some sort of a misunder-
standing at the masquerade party. Those lads were
three of my boys who received invitations to that party.
They asked leave to attend, and I gave it. To-morrow

morning they'll answer my questions, and I'll decideon

the best course to p@rsue with them.” hac
» “You don’t seem to Oe very. angry, because a

Frank.” a
“Tnza, I’m not. so old that T’ve forsee my own

\

  
20

TIP TOP

spirit enough to fight for his rights under certain cir-
cumstances, At the same time, I discountenance fight-
ing and brawling. If I find any boy at the school who
is a natural fighter, inclined to be quarrelsome and
something of a ‘bully, I shall do my best to subdtie and
modify his vicious Seale If I find a boy who
hasn't the spirit to stand up for his own rights and
fight like a man when imposed on, I shall endeavor
through my teachings to inculcate a little spirit into
that chap, In short, I have no sympathy with a bully
and scarcely more sympathy with a coward. I admire
the boy who avoids trouble when he can do so without
injury to his own pride, but who stands up for his
rights 1f compellled to defend them,”

“Frank,” said Inza, “I believe you understand boys
and boy nature better than any one else in all the
world, and that’s one reason why I’m confident you'll
make a great success with your school,”

And the next day Frank forgave Bubbs and Bemis
and reprimanded Hollis, when the truth came out;
which ended the trouble for the time being

CHAPTER X..

IN THE SWIMMING TANK.

There was great excitement in the swimming tank
at the gymnasium of Farnham Hall.

A game of water polo between the poqieee team and
a scrub team was taking place. J

The regular team was made up as follows:

Bubbs anit Chuckléson, forwards; Brooks and Lan-
der, backs; Bemis, half-back; Netterby, goal.

Bemis. was captain of the team.

Arthur Irving was captain of the scrub.

(Less than five weeks’ work at Mer riwell’s school
had brought about some remarkable developments and
improvements among the swimmers. At the start big
Jake Latider had seemed too ae too indifferent
to. learn to swim at all. :

During the week that Merriwell’s additional duties
made it necessary for him to teach’swimming as well
as marty other things, Frank had compelled Lander to
spend the full period in the tank each day.” Not only
that, but he had aroused the sleepy chap, filled him
with surprising ambition, and finally taught him to
swim a little.

After that Lander became an enthusiast over swim-
ming. No matter if he seemed half asleep on-his way
to the tank, the moment he plunged into the water he
woke up and began to work with real enthusiasm. As
a result, he won a place on the regular. water-polo
team which Frank had organized.

Berlin Brooks, known as “Hefty,” was another slow,

dull sort of fellow, but he also cathe the spirit of en-
‘thusiasm and soon proved himself such asgood man

_ that he was chosen to support Lander as a back.

water-rat,

Tommy Chuckleson was timid. Frank banished his
timidity, and Chuckleson soon grew to be a perfect

  

WEEKLY. i

Bubbs was a natural swimmer and very lively i in the
water,

Netterby was likewise a good swimmer,
not inclined to overexert himself unless compelled to
do so. For this reason he was appointed to the difficult
position of goal, where he could loaf a great deal, wa-

king up only when the enemy threatened to score. In
the water Bemis was not ,exactly a marvel, but he
demonstrated the fact that he had a good head, was

cool in times of excitement, and could head the ball
with a great deal of skill. Not only that, but he was
the first boy to post himself thoroughly on all the rules
of the game. His position as half- back was the most
difficult on the team.

It must not be supposed that the entire school was
satisfied over Frank’s selection of players for the first
team. There was more or less criticism and muttering
among the boys, but Mefriwell did much to silence this
by plainly stating that the make-up was not final and
that any outsider who demonstrated his superior abil-
ity would certainly stand a show to get onto the
team, /

It happened that swimming was the one sport about
which Arthur Irving seemed to know considerable.

As every lad at school was required to take hdld of

something earnestly, Irving chose swimming and made
up his. mind‘he»would demonstrate to his schoolmates
his superiority over Bemis or any of the regular play-
ers on the water-polo team, He made up the scrub,
and day after day the two teams played in the tank.
Usually they worked under the watchful eye of Thomas
Farthing, the swimming instructor, but at frequent in-
tervals Merriwell appeared and_ criticized, instructed,
or advised them.

‘Frank was well pleased over the progress made by
his pupils, and he told them so while encouraging and
urging them on for still further improvement, =!

It was great sport in the tank, and it was far from
uninteresting for the boys who were prs to watch
these daily contests. |

On this particular day the struggle:between the reg-
ulars and the scrubs was furious and exciting. During

the first half each side had succeeded in making four

goals. After a brief rest the players went at it again,

and the scrubs awoke the enthusiasm of their admirers '
“by securing a goal in short order.

“You've got them’ to- day, Irving!’ shouted Fred
Poe You’ re showing them up, “all right!"
“Wake up, fellers!” spluttered Bemis, “Get into
this game! We're all asleep to-day! Come on now,
Netterby! You might haye stopped that goal!”
‘Farthing was acting as referee. He tossed the ball
into the tank once more, and the struggle was resumed.
Bemis reached the ball and sent it flying, with a
scooping stroke. The pass was a skilful one, for Bob

Bubbs was able to shake off his opponent and*¢secure
the ball,

Bob dribbled it a bit and then passed to
Chuckleson in time to prevent a tackle.

although —

 
 

Back and —
forth between the two forwards of the regular team _

    

 

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thi

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his

 

mc

a) ne
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suk

 

     
     
  
 
 
  
  

  

  
TIP TOP

went the bali until it was pushed over the line and
Bubbs made a spurt and smashed it against the goal.

The score was tied, much to Irving’ s displeasure.
In fact, Arthur lost his temper and gave “his goal-tender
a sharp call down.

Once more the players swam to their positions, and
Farthing tossed the ball into the tank.

Irving made a dash for it and fancied he would se-
cure it. Just as he reached for it, out shot one of
Bemis’ long arms, and again Hiram sent the ball to-
wafd the forwards.

Irving lifted himself with a powerful stroke of his
arms and legs, and fluyg his body across Bemis, thrust-
ing*him under.

Frank Merriwell had sauntered in and was standing
at the side of the tank. Instantly he spoke to Farthing,
who blew a sharp blast on his whistle.

“That will be all for to-day,” said Merry quietly.
“T want to say a few words to you boys. We'll drop
this game right here.”’

When they were ready to listen Frank spoke again.

“T’ve cautioned you more than once, boys, against
losing your temper in any sort ofa game. It won’t do.
The fellow who loses his temper hur ts the chances of
his own side. In water polo he’s likely to make a foul,
and in case he’s been properly warned the other side
will benefit by his foolishness to the extent of a goal.
Don’ t get angry, boys.

_ “While I’m speaking of this matter I want to speak

of something else that fay have a bearing upon it.

One great cause of nervousness and bad ternper is the

use of cigarettes. I have here a newspaper clipping

which states that the Cigar Makers’ Union, of Worces-
ter, Mass., has voted to impose a fine of five dollars on
- every member of the union caught smoking a cigarette.
The article continues as follows

 

pao bg cng

a

ym

ia a th

. “¢This action was taken at a meeting of the union
1 at which it was argued that cigarette smokers were sick
more often than other members of the union, thus
necessitating the payment of more sick benefits. A
committee from the union has been investigating the
subject and reported that those members who smoked
| cigarettes were lazy and listless and not as good work-
_ menas those who were not slaves to the habit.’

peel

 

 

ee yr

“Think it over; boys. I’m not reprimanding any one
in particular, but I want to tell you that those boys
who think they’re fooling me by smoking cigarettes on
the sly are deceiving themselves. The habit leaves its
marks, not only on the fingers and faces of the smo-
kers, but on their dispositions, their health, and their
temper. Let’s cut cigarettes out, boys, and become
_manly boys, healthy boys, real athletes.

“That’s all on this point. I came in to speak of
something else. At three-thirty this afternoon there
will be a meeting in the main hall for the purpose of
choosing a regular athletic committee for this school.
The time has come when such a committee should be
chosen, and it’s up to you boys to select the committee.

 

   
   
  
  
  
 

Thus far we have been working among ourselves.

     

WEEKLY. 21

Now we're going to organize various teams and meet
outside teams. I have reason to believe that we can
secure a water-polo game with the Wellsburg Acad-
emy team. When the athletic committee is chosen it
will be authorized to negotiate with the Wellsburg
Athletic Committee and to make arrangements for the
game. All interested should be in the main hall at
three-thirty.”

Needless to say, there was a great jabbering of voices
as Frank turned and left the swimming-room. At last
it began to seem as if the school was entering into ath-
letics in earnest. The boys were eager for the elec-
tion of the committee.

“You got a fine call down, didn’t you, Irving?” mut-
tered Fred Hollis, as he assisted Arthur to rub down.
“Merriwell fired at you, even if he didn’t call any
names.’

“Don’t I know it!’ growled Irving. “Pm not a
chump! This rot about cigarette smoking is sickening!
He hasn’t any proof that I smoke. He simply sus-
pects it. I’ll continue to smoke just the same.”

“How about this athletic committee business?’ ques-
tioned Fred. “I'd like to get ee that committee my-
self, but I want to be the chair If I can make it,
U'll hold Bemis down, all right. ” He's getting alto-
gether too forward to suit hae nt he and Bob
Bubbs.”’

“T was thinking of that,’ nodded Irving. “Now,
I’m not popular enough to get elected to that committee
—I know it. You can get onto it all right if we hustle.
I’ll do all I can for you, and I know some other fellows
who will.” ;

“That’s the talk,” kd Fred. - “I want to make it,
Irving. If I get there, you won’t suffer, There’s a
possibility that you’ll oust Lengthy Bemis and become
the real captain of the water-polo team. I'll push it
through for you, if you do your best for me in this
committee business, old man.”

“T’m with you!” hissed Irving. “We'll get to work
just as soon as we can. It seems to me that we ought
to carry the day.”’

CHAPTER XI.
CHOOSING THE ATHLETIC COMMITTEE.

Merriwell called the meeting to order.

“It’s best that you should conduct this business your-
selves, boys,” he said. “TI believe in that. I’m here to
act simply as temporary chairman. Will some one
please nominate a permanent chairman?”

Instantly Arthur Irving leaped to his feet and cried:

“T nominate Victor Maynard!

“Second the nomination,” came Stonaptly from Fred
Hollis.

“Maynard! Maynard!
of the boys.

“Wa-al, by George!” drawled Jake Lander.

Maynard!” cried a number

of us oth-er fel-lers.”’

  

“Them —
fel-lers cer-tain-ly done that sud-den. They got a-head cogs
   

22 HAP
“But Maynard isn’t chosen yet!’ hissed Tommy
Chuckleson. “Let’s oppose it. We don’t want that
fellow as chairman of this meeting.”

“The motion is made and seconded that Victor May-
mard shall act as chairman,” said Frank. ‘Allin favor
will raise their hands.”

A lot of hands went up.

“T declare Maynard chosen,” said Merry.

“T doubt the vote!’ piped Chuckleson.
the test, Mr. Merriwell.”

Frank smiled.

“Very well,” he said. “All in favor of Maynard as
chairman of this meeting will please hold up their
hands.”

Again the hands went up.

“Hands down,” directed Merry. ‘“ Now those
against him will make a show of hands.”

It was evident at a glance that the majority of the
beys had voted for Maynard, and Merry promptly in-

“Give us

-vited him to take the chair.

With a queer smile of satisfaction on his face, Vic-
tor Maynard walked to the platform and took his posi-
tion beside the desk, on which he rapped for order.

““Schoolmates,” he sajd, his eyes flickering unsteadily

_and looking no one straight in the face, “I thank you

for the honor. I’ll try to do my best as chairman.”
“That’s our first victory, Hollis,” whispered Irving.

“Now we ought to carry things our own way.”
“How shall the committee be elected?” asked May-

nard. “Shall we vote for each member with slips or

’ by a show of hands?”

Irving sprang up to propose that the vote be taken
by a display of hands, thinking Maynard would favor
Hollis in such a case. This time, however, Arthur was
a trifle slow, for Bob Bubbs caught the chairman’s eye
and was recognized by Maynard.

“T propose,” said Bubbs, “that we vote by slips.
Let each man write the name of his candidate on a slip

of paper and deposit it in a hat on the platform. Then

there can be no question coricerning the fairness of the
vote.” 3
“That’s right! that’s right!’ cried a number of
voices.

“Evidently it is the desire of this meeting that the
voting should be done in the manner just proposed,”
said Maynard. ‘Therefore we shall vote by slips. I

_ appoint Walter Shackleton and Simeon Scrogg to as-

sist me in counting the votes. Come up here, Shackle-

ton and Scrogg. One of you bring a hat.”

The two bays named ascended the platform, and a

hat was placed where the lads could file past and drop
_, their votes into it.

And now of a sudden there was a great hubbub and

babel of voices. 4

~ to elect the chairman of the athletic committee first.
_ this manner the entire school will have the privilege of
_ voting for the chairman, whereas they would not have

Maynard rapped for order.

“Schoolmates,” he said, “it seems to me a good plan
In

{

WEEKLY.

  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
    
    
  
  
   
    
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
  

 

that privilege if the committee should be chosen first
with the liberty of appointing its own chairman.
Therefore, you will understand that the first member
elected to this committee will act as the chairman of “yp
the committee.” it’s

“Oh, we've got ’em!” chuckled Irving. “Maynard ar
is carrying the thing through just as we want him to.” 2

Then he sprang to his feet, crying loudly: Hi

“Hollis! Hollis for chairman! Vote for Fred Hol- Bsa

lis !”” ;
“Hollis! Hollis!” shouted several other voices.
Then another name was heard.
To the universal amazement of the boys, Jake Lan-
der once more woke up. | |
“What’s the matter with Hiram Bemis?” he bel-
lowed. '

Instantly a chorus answered :

“He’s all right!” ,

“Hollis! Hollis!’ shouted Fred’s supporters. ~

ta clit nm el cit inna Sian.
a>
pub
ae

 

 

     

“Bemis! Bemis!” cried those in favor of the tall ast
boy. .

Again Maynard thumped the desk. aa ¢

“Bring in your votes, schoolmates,’ he directed. | ©
“The polls are open.” Pan

There was a rush toward the platform.

“Watch close, boys,” said Maynard. “Don’t letany = yg.
of these fellers get in more than one vote.” _

The voting was over in a few minutes, and the boys «ey
retired to their seats to await the announcement of the :
result. 7 e ae

Maynard poured the votes from the hat onto the —
desk, and, with his assistants, began to assort them. — 1

“What do you think, Irving?” asked Fred Hollis -
anxiously. “Do you believe we’ve won out? Do you >
believe I’ve been elected ?” mY

“T think there’s no question about it,’”’ answered Irv- ?
ing. “It may be pretty close, but I know you have qu
the most votes.” , cit id

“If I can get ahead of Bemis, it'll delight me,” mut- | di
tered Fred. yan

After a few moments the chairman rapped fororder,

“You will listen to the standing of the vote,” he | sa
said. “Whole number of votes cast, forty-eight. Nec: | t™
essary for choice, twenty-five. Fred Hollishastwenty- | I
one, Hiram. Bemis has sixteen, Victor Maynard has = = m
five, Beflin Brooks has four, and Arthur Irving has |
two. We'll have to call another vote, as there is no ——_ gy
choice.” } , ot OL

“T told you you had the most votes,” said Irving. +. at

“But I didn’t have enough to get elected,’ muttered = = = m
Hollis disappointedly. | of

“Never mind, we'll fix that now. I’m going to bt
throw my two votes for you if I can, and I think May- _ a

    
 

nard will do the same. That will give you seven more,
which will be enough.”
Having made this statement, Irving rose and cried —
in a loud voice: ba enk aa gaa Pie
“If the two friends who voted for me wish to d
me a. particular favor, they will now cast ‘their votes.
for Fred Hollis.” ane : ts

    
     
         
         
   
    
dar sr

 

“Hollis! Hollis! Hollis!” shouted many voices.

Up rose Berlin Brooks.

“Look here, fellows,” he called, in his heavy voice,

| “I’m no fit chap to be chairman of that committee, and

| it’s evident from the size of my vote that I couldn’t be

if I wanted to. Four fellows voted for me. If they

| watit to stand by me, they'll throw their votes for

Hiram Bemis.”

| .“Bemis! Bemis!

| “One moment,”

| for silence.

j “Now it’s coming, Hollis!” said Irving.
will swing his five votes over to you.”

There was a hush as ee waited to hear what the
chairman had to say.

“Like Brooks,” said Ase
can't be chosen as chairman of t the committee if I
wanted to. Five fellows voted for me. I thank them.
| J will thank them still more if, on the next vote, they
4 will cast their ballots for Hiram Bemis.”

a¢ “Bemis! Bemis! Bemis!” thundered Hiram’s de-
lighted backers.
| Fred Hollis seized Arthur Irving by the collar, his
| face suddenly grown white.

| “What the devil does that mean?’ he hissed.
Maynard daffy? He’s gone back on me!”

“That’s right!” admitted Irving, in astonishmént.
| “He’s given us the double cross, but let’s not give up.
_. Perhaps all those fellows won't vote the way they've
| been directed. Let’s wait for the result.”
ne: Once more the boys marched up and deposited their
slips in the hat. When all had voted, the contents of
the hat was turned out upon the desk, and the slips
were sorted.

_ The task seemed an easy one, for the committee
| quickly divided the votes into two piles. While Hollis
was endeavoring to suppress his emotions of anger and
disappointment, Maynard called for silence and again
announced the vote. — f
“Once more forty-eight votes have been thrown,” he
said. Only two names appear. Fred Hollis has
_ twenty-three, while Hiram Bemis has twenty-five, and
I declare Bemis elected chairman of the athletic com-
mittee.”’

The remaining four mernbers of the committee were
swiftly chosen, after which there was some general dis-
cussion over the policy of the school in the matter of

athletics. As chairman of the committee, Hiram Bh
mis pledged himself to work constantly for the welfare
of the whole school. His speech was awkward enough,
but there was a ring of sincerity in it, and he was given
a hearty round of applause at the finish.

As Victor Maynard was leaving the room Fred Hol-
lis pounced upon him in the hallway.

“You sneak!’ hissed Hollis. “What do you mean
by going bagk on me that way ?”’

*Don’t put your hands on me, Hollis!” said Vic.
“You remember what happened over at The Elms not
so long ago. You left me to watch Charles Courtney,

 

 

Bemis!”
said the chairman, lifting his voice

“Maynard

“it is evident that I

1s

 

 

 

   
 
    
 
   
 
 
   
 

=

   
   
 
   
  
   
  
  
   

  

 

     

WEEKLY. ee

and Courtney escaped. When you were question
about it by Merriwell, instead of fibbing a little, you
owned up that I sent you for cigarettes. Not only that,
but I’ve heard that you’ve hinted more than once about
something crooked in the way Courtney escaped. You
have given lots of fellows the impression that I stood
in with him and that I lied in saying there was a man
in the closet who helped him get away. I’ve been wait-
ing for a chance to get back at you, and I found my op-
portunity to-day. Now don’t bother me. Take your
hands off me, and keep away from me in the future!”
Brushing Fred’s hand aside, Victor passed on. = /

CHAPTER XII.
DEACON HEWETT’S THREAT,

The new athletic committee had no trouble whatever
in making arrangements for a water-polo game with
the “Sprites” of Wellsburg Academy. Jack Cooly was
captain of the Sprites, and he felt that this would be a
good opportunity for him to show up Merriwell!s boys
and settle the point as to whether the latter were in
the same class as Wellsburg. Further than that, Jack
had learned that Hiram Bemis was captain of the
Bloomfield team, and he longed to have a reckoning
with Hiram. . .

It was not long before the people of Bloomfield
learned that such a game was to take place in the gym: _
nasium at Farnham Hall on a certain date. There was
more or less interest over it and cortsiderable talk, the
most of which seemed to be made by Deacon Hewett.

“Near as I ken find out,” declared the deacon, “this
here water-polo game is brutal and dangerous. It ain’t
fit for boys to taka part in. Mebbe sotnebody will be
drowned. The authorities of this town hadn’t ought
to permit such things. If they do their duty, they’ll
jest go down there and stop it.” ©

After all this talk he finally decided that no one in
the village besides himself was inclined to interfere
with the game. At last he held a consultation with

‘Lawyer Dobbs, after which he publicly announced that
- it was his intention to stop the game with the aid of

the law.
Of course, Frank heard of this threat, and he -
laughed heartily over it.
“I wonder what point of law the deacon is going
to bring to bear on us,” he said. “How does he pro-
pose to stop it? It'll interest me to learn how he’s
going about it.”
On the day of the game a steno number of boys came _
over from Wellsburg with the Sprites. a
Prominent people of Bloomfield and others he
were not so prominent, but who, according to Merri-
well’s fancy, might be interested in the game, were in-
vited to attend. |
The attendance was even larger than Frank had an-
ticipated. He was pleased to observe that a fair per-
centage of the Bloomfield people invited had accepted sh
the invitation,

 
  
   
    
  
   
 
   
    
   
 
 
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
    
     
  
   
      
     
     
     
   
         
       
     
       
       
   
   
       
    

eens

   
 

‘stable.

_ Dobbs.

_ judgment, it is brutal and dangerous, the constable has

EB begin.
¢ the ‘players swam to their Lata at a blast of the
: whistle. :

24 LP TOP
«Deacon Hewett did not put in an appearance ‘antit
pitt the two teams had entered the tank and the game
was about to begin. When the deacon did appear he
was accompanied by Hobson Dobbs, the lawyer, and
by a raw-boned, red-whiskered man, who was chewing
tobacco and wore in plain view on his coat a badge, on
which was stamped the word “Constable.”

“Flowdy do, deacon,” said Frank Merriwell, in-
stantly observing
‘meet him. “I’m glad you’ve come.
joy the game.”

I hope you'll en-

“Glad I’ve come, be ye?” snapped Hewett. ‘‘Well,
by jux! mebbe you won’t§be so glad arter awhile.
Yes, I’ve come, and I’ve brung a representative of the
law with me—two representatives of the law. I’ve got
Squire Dobbs right here, and I’ve also brung the con-
We're goin’ to stop this business—we’re goin’
to nip it right in the bud, sir! Yes, siree! You'll find
out what we're here for.”

“Flow can you stop it in a legal manner, deacon?”
inquired Merry. “I’m not entirely ignorant of the
law, and I fail to recollect anything in the statutes
that will give you authority to interfere with a game
of this sort.”

“You’re mighty knowin’, you be!” sneered the dea-

con; “but I kinder guess, by jing! that there’s a few

things you don’t know! Any citizen ken make com-
plaint and bring about legal interference with a brutal
exhibition. They stop prize-fights, and they ain’t no
wuss than this business. If prize-fighting is brutal and
dangerous, why ain’t a game like this, where some-
body is liable to be drowned? Oh, I guess we know
what we're talking about! Eh, constable?”

“You bet we do!” said the red-whiskered officer,
rolling his quid of tobacco over his tongue.

“The deacon is quite right, Merriwell,” declared
“We've come to watch this game. If, in our

authority to stop it.”

“If Deacon Hewett interferes to-day, I shall
promptly bring suit against him and push it as far as
possible. The business of this school is athletics. An

_ interference now will damage me, but I think Elnathan

Hewett will pay the damage.”
Saying this, Frank turned away and gave them no
further attention for the time being. |

All arrangements had been made for the game to
The referee and umpires had been chosen, and

his crabbed enemy and hastening to °

WEEKLY.

Below are given the positions of beth teams :

WIZARDS. POSITIONS. SPRITES.
TSUDNE Pesach ewe Bret: tor wear a cs) baie deh ek Perkins
GHICRIESOM ty. Sec cas Séeohditorward 4 isavead siesneit Flick
Benn isata aie hs cane edee Phal-Dack sce kha eden Se Cooly
EATER NS eee es rath ob PieSts backs. Mudeed. Dewees Tindall
BODY aia Fee eta s SRCONGMDACK P35 tat ced ewneoh ct Boyd
Nettethy. Picts aco aan os ASE is SRA S Redes Sab ea teers Soul

The referee tossed the ball into the tank, and the
two half-backs dashed for it.

At the outset Cooly was a bit quicker and cleverer,
with the result that tie scooped the ball and passed it to
one of his forwards.

For a few moments there was a great .deal of swift
work in the water, as Perkins and Flick tried to carry
the ball over the Wizards’ line,and attack: the goal.

Finally Brooks bobbed up and snapped the ball away
from Flick, casting it backward over his head toward
Bemis, who secured it and passed it on to Chuckleson.

In this manner the Sprites were temporarily checked,
but the setback proved no more than temporary, for
Tindall made a clever tackle and Boyd recovered the
sphere.

Boyd passed to Cooly, and out shot one of Bemis’
long arms and scooped the ball from Jack’s clutches.

Cooly was astounded and angered. In his anger he
forgot himself and struck Hiram an open-hand blow
on the jaw.

For a moment Bemis sank from view, but he came
up promptly and seemed not a whit damaged.

It happened that the referee had not seen the foul.
Therefore, Cooly escaped reprimand, and his side was
not in danger of punishment should the action be re-
peated.

On the edge of die tank stood Deacon Hewett, wile
Dobbs at his right and the constable at his left.

The constable pulled the deacon’s sleeve as he ex-
claimed :

“There it is! There you have it, deacon!
our chance to stop*the game right snap short!”

“That’s right,” agreed Dobbs, “‘we can stop it now.
Hadn’t we,better do so, Mr. Hewett ?” WS

Wow s

“Hold on! hold on! y remonstrated Elnathan, ts.
eyes were beginning to gleam and who seemed strangely

absorbed.
There’s plenty of time.
than that bimeby. We'll have chances enough to in-
terfere.” peasy

‘Therefore the game went on.

“Let’s not be in such a tarnal hurry!

/

was secured.

“Drat it! drat it!” fditieted Denson Hewat ak i
Them Wellsburg chaps ain’t got no

don’t like that!
business to come here and beat fellers belongin’ in our
town!” |

“They don’t belong here,” remirided Dobbs.

“Well, they do jest now. Why don’t they wake up: m9?

Then the deacon lifted his voice and cried :
“Hi! hi! there, you fellows. What's the matter
with ye? Be ye goin’ to let Wells ne do 8 is

Moga gee ar ee

They'll do something wuss

In a few moments —
the Sprites were successful in carrying the ball over
the Wizards’ line. Netterby was outwitted, and a goal

 

a a

ee an eT =

 

Tn RR ea ts

tel) eee ck. tae Ree ae

   

me UmrKA.CUrPT KH

   
      
———

 

 
  
  

   
  
 
  
 
 

ee ee
IP ESSER AL

SO

than’s sleeve.

 

_» “S’pose that’s right,”
the fust time I ever see a game like this.

ar ek,

“Shut up!” rasped fades Dobbs, shaki ing Elna-
“Are you losing ae “head?

“By thutter!’ muttered the deacon. “I did kinder
forgit myself.”

But the ball had been given to the referee, and the
players were again in their places. Once more the
sphere was tossed into the tank, and this time Bemis
secured it.”

“It’s purty rough, it’s purty brutal, deacon,” said
the constable. “I tell ye it’s something that hadn't
oughter be “lowed.”

“but this is

Fact is, I
ain’t never seen much of any of these here games they
play so much. Never did take no interest in ’em.

agreed Hewett ;

-Allus reckoned ’em foolish and sinful and kept away

from ’em. Oh, great jing! looker that! looker that!
Them Wellsburg fellers has the ball ag’in. I’m ’fraid
they’re goin’ to make another score.”

The deacon was justified in his apprehension, for

the Wellsburg forwards deftly worked the ball over

 

 
 

short time it became fast and furious.

same time.

punted by one of the players.
‘ dribbled toward the Sprites’ goal.

the line and again deceived Netterby, securing a goal.

Hewett looked very dejected and downcast.

“It’s a tarnal shame!’”’ he muttered. “Arter all the
talk this Merriwell has made about athletics, he’s goin’
to let them Wellsbure ies come here and beat his
team.”

The playing was quickly resumed, and within a
Bemis urged his
players on, encouraging and instructing them at the
During a savage scrimmage, in which the
water flew and many of the, spectators were bespat-

_ tered, Elnathan Hewett nearly lost his balance and fell
into the tank. He was saved by Dobbs and the con-

stable, who grasped him.

“Land of Goshen!’ gasped Hewett. “Ain’t they

stirrin’ her up some now! Never see no such business
as that in the water!

Never s’posed boys could swim
and hyper round in the water like that!”

Out from the midst of the scrimmage shot the ball,
Bubbs secured it, and

Soul was waiting on defense.

Suddenly Bemis rose to the surface in a position to
help Bubbs. Bob passed the ball to Hiram.

Soul turned toward the captain of the \izards.

Hiram shot the ball back to Bubbs, and a moment
later Bubbs. smashed it against the goal.

He uttered a yell that was heard above the
cheer which burst from the admirers of the home team.
For a few moments he acted like a crazy man.

- wy

%

£4 CHAPTER XIIL.

 

 

  
  
 
 
 

   

THE DEACON IS CONVERTED—AND BAPTIZED.

The first half ended with the Sprites one goal in the

ead. The Wizards had re three and the Sprites
four. pet

WEEKLY;

Once more Deacon Hewett came near falling into
- the tark.

    

   

25

During the intermission Dobbs again urged the
deacon to take the action he had threatened, but Hewett
declared the time was not opportune.

“We'll let them git at it ag’in,” he said. “Then
I'll give ye the signal, and you ken put a stop to it.”

The opening of the second half was even more ex-
citing, if possible, than any previous stage of the garne.
There were several sharp scrimmages, in which neither
team seemed to obtain an advantage.

Finally the ball was flung out from the midst of the
splashing players and Cooly went for it.

Bemis did the same, and it was he who secured the
ball, giving it d snap toward the Sprites’ goal.

Again the baffled captain of the Wellsburg team lost
his head. Seizing Bemis about the neck, Cooly struck
him in the face with his fist.

“Now’s our chance, deacon!” cried Dobbs. “We'll
never have a better one! The time has come to stop

itt

“Hold on, squire—hold on!” rasped Elnathan, ‘his
hand falling on the lawyer’s shoulder. “Don’t you in-
terfere with this game on peril of your life! Il bet

fifty cents that our boys win—yes, squire, I'll bet a

whole dollar!”
The referee had blown his whistle, and he was warn-
ing Cooly against repeating the foul.
Hiram Bemis had not lost his temper.
he was grinning good-naturedly.
Somehow the behavior of Cooly seemed to rattle his
players for the time being.
Nevertheless, the clever work of Soul in defending
the Wellsburg goal prevented the Wizards from secur-

Far from it,

ing an advantage at that point in the struggle.

A few moments later the Sprites made another goal
through a fluke.

Elnathan Hewett groaned dismally.

“I’m ’fraid our boys is beat!” he muttered.
shame! It’s too bad!”

It was not long, however, before he woke up again.
The “visitors’ goal was threatened, and, through a
clever bit of deception, Bubbs led Soul to leave his posi-
tion. Then the ball was snapped to as who
scored, |

“Ha! ha! ha!” laughed Hiram Bemis. “Who was -
defending that goal just then? Nota Soul!”

“Yee! yow-wow! yoop!” cried the deacon. “That’s
the stuff, boys! Git one more, and you'll tie ’em! You
can do it!”

Hobson Dobbs gave the excited man a jab”in the
ribs.

Tes 3s

‘Deacon Hewett,” he said, “you make me sick! I'm fis

I came here to attend to business, and you've
gone foolish! Good day!” Paty

“Good day,” said the deacon. “Don’t wait on my
’count. Hurry right off and ‘fend to all the business
you want to.”

The second half was sarees toward its close ck
the Wizards proved their skill by once more rushing *
. Soul and A Ree the goal that tied the score,

going!

  
 

 

26

Deacon Hewett did a war-dance on the edge of the
tank.

“How do you Wellsburg fellers like that?’ he
howled. “You can’t come down here and beat us!
We're good for ye! We ken do ye up!”

“Push it, boys—push it!” urged Bemis, as the play-
ers resumed their positions and the referee again stood
ready to toss the ball into the tank.

The visitors seemed demoralized by the success of
the home team. In advance they had believed it would
be the easiest thing imaginable to defeat the Wizards.
Now, however, they realized their mistake, and it made
them anxious and nervous. \

On the other hand, the Wizards had grown confi-
dent and determined to win out, if such a thing was
possible.

Among all the rooters for the home team there was
none more earnest than Deacon Hewett, who seemed
to have entirely forgotten himself and his prejudices.

The final scrimmage was brief and exciting. Lack

 

 

 

About the ®
Early ; : W kl
Numbers of Ip Op ee y

We receive hundreds of letters every week from readers
asking if we can supply the early numbers of Tip Top contain-°
ing Frank’s adventures. In every case we are obliged to reply
that numbers 1 to 300 are entirely out of print.

We would like to call the attention of our readers to the fact
that the Frank Merriwell Stories now being published in book
form in the Medal Library are inclusive of these early numbers.
The first book to appear was No. 160 entitled “Frank Merriwell’s
Scheeldays.”

We give herewith a complete list of all the stories that have
been published in book form up to the time of writing. We will
be glad to send a” fine colored cover catalogue of the Medal
Library which is just filled with good things for boys, upon
receipt of a one-ceft stamp to cover postage.

The Price of The Merriwell Books is Ten Cents per Copy. At all Newsdealers

sss, a
ae nar pe ae ee he

PS

A

ES SES
Eh Sate iat, th, SS

 

 

 

Frank Merriwell at Yale.
Frank Merriwell Dewn South.
ya Frank Merriwell in) Camp.
Frank Merriwell in Hingland.
Frank Merriwell in Europe.
Frank Merriwell in Maine.
Frank Merriwell on the Road.
Frank Merriwell’s Athictes.
Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour. ;

Medal
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Frank Merriwell’s Book of Physical Development.

Diamond Hand-Bosk
Medal
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Frank Merriwell’s

, Bravery.
Frank

Merriwell’s Champions. ©
Frank Merriwell’s Chase.
Frank Merriwell’s Chums.
rank Merriwell’s College Chums.
rank Merriwell’s Courage. |
Frank Merriwell’s Cruise.
Frank Merriwell’s Danger.
i Frank Merriwell’s Daring, —
. Frank Merrtwell’s Fame.
Frank Merriwell’s First Job.
Frank Merriwell’s Foes.
Frank Merriwell’s Fortune.
Frank Merriwell’s @reat Scheme.
Frank Merriwell’s Mard Luck.
Frank Merriwell’s Hunting Tour.
Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty.
Frank Merriwell’s New Cemedian.
Frank Merriwell’s Oppertunity.
Frank Merriwell’s Own Company.
Frank Merriwell’s Preblem.
Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity.
Frank Merriwell’s Protege.
Frank Merriwell’s Races.
_Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale.
rank Merriwell’s Sehool-Days,
eras erriwell’s Secret,
rank Merriwell’s Skill.
Frank Merriwell’s Sports Afield.
geen arrives A Hit.
ran rriwell’s 6.
rent Me wells eect,
Frank Moerriwell’s Vacation.

 

TIP.-FOP WEEKLY;

  

of confidence on the part of the Sprites proved their un-
doing at the finish. The determined enemy outwitted
them and again pushed the ball over the line and se-
cured a goal. Just as Bubbs smashed the ball against
the goal the referee blew a double blast on his whistle,
announcing the finish of the half and the end of the
game.

Then Frank Merriwell’s pupils went wild with tri-
umphant delight.

There was another person who likewise went wild.
Once more Deacon Hewett did a wild war-dance, yell-
ing at the top of his voice. In the midst of it his feet
flew from beneath him, and into the tank he plunged.

It happened that Frank Merriwell was standing near
the deacon when this accident occurred. Instantly
Merry made a dive into the water, and when he came
up he had the deacon.

Both were pulled out in short order.

The deacon sat on the edge of the tank, with his feet
in the water, gasping’ and strangling in an endeavor
to articulate. i

Merry bent over him and asked:

“Are you all right, Deacon Hewett? I hope you’re
not hurt. How do you feel?”

“How do I feel? Tickled to death, by jing!
done ’em up! Yoop! yow-yow!
Wizards!”

‘! We
"Ray! ’ray! for the

THE’ END. 4

The Next Number (515) Will Contain

DICK MERRIWELL’S SATISFACTION

OR,

Hot Work at indoor Baseball.

é

 

{

The Morning After—The Penalty—Still Scheming—Out-
lining the Snare—Chet Succeeds—A Distinguished
Guest — The Great Musician Plays—Chet Makes a
Mess of It—By Unseen Hands—The Mystery Ex-
plained—After thé’ Party—Ring Owns Up—Arling-

, ton’s Three Bagger —Fairport’s Fine Start—The

Fatal Magnet in the Dressing Room—The Little
Demon Does His Work.

 

 

Beware of cheap imitations of the Tip. a
Top Weekly. Frank and Dick Merriwell and —

their friends appear only in the pages of Tip
Top. BURT L. STANDISH writes exclus-
ively for Tip Top and has been the author

j of the ONLY and ORIGINAL Merriwell
: stories for over ae

nine years.

Hod

  

  

 

 

 

   
       
     
  
    
   
    
   
   

 

   
 

 

 

    
 

 

   
   

 

     

   

   

   

  
 
BOYS! BoYs! 6boYS!

TIP TOP

FREE POST CARDS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

tT the present time over

 

one hundred thousand
copies of “TIP TOP”
are sold throughout the

 

 

 

 

United States every week! There
are many good reasons why boys like
“TIP TOP” better than any other
five cent weekly publication. Why
do YOU like it?

We have prepared a set of six
handsome post cards, which we will
send to every boy who will write and

~ give us his opinion of “TIP TOP.”

These cards are illustrations of

Frank Merriwell, Brad Buckhart,
Obediah Tubbs, Joe Crowfoot, Dick

Merriwell, and Cap’n Wiley.
They are printed in many colors

 

and will be a fine addition to any
-boy’s collection of post cards. Write
now. They are free.

| | STREET @ SMITH |
;PUBLISHERS = ~~ NEW YORK |

 

 

 
   
  
  
  
  
    
   
  
   
     
       
  
    
   
   
 
   
  
   
   
 
  
   
  
  
 
       
         
 
      
     
         
     
      
   
        
        
 
       
       
      
    

AOE AOE,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ae we Da

” NEW YR, February 17, 1906.

 

RE =

TERMS TO TIP TOP WEEKLY MATL SUBSCRIBERS. Be:
(Postage Free.)
Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c, Bach.

SMOG iad ch emdeccuosahescn ss BORA ONG VOM sores sse esac eesveeesu os: 50
Be MOL a aucicbta se sedeue seeders 85ce. 2 copies one yeare............. 4.00
G PRONE ancatanscknene Veavac. @l.25 1 copy two years............-. 4.00

How to Send Money—By post-office or express money order,
registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. Atyour own risk if sent
by currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter.

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

STREBT & SMITH’S TIP TOP WEEKLY,
79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City.

 

TIP TOP ROLL OF HONOR.

Following the suggestion of Mr. Burt L. Standish, that appeared
in his letter to Tip Top aor Wo. 480, the following loyal Tip
Toppers have won for themselves a place on our Honor Roli for their
efforts to increase the circulation of the King of Weeklies. Get inline
boys and girls and strive to have your name at the head of the list.

 

_ Thomas Schounour, Womesdorf, Pa.

C. E. Coberly, Holden, W. Va.
Geo. B. Welsh, 948 North Ave., Allegheny, Pa.
C. F. S., Mexia, Texas.
W. E. H., Worcester, Mass.
Emile Olsen, 2419 Dodge St., Omaha, Neb.
Alfred S. Bryan, Warrensburg, Mo. ;
W. H. Alkire, 295 Lamal St., Bridgeton, N. J.
Loyal Canadian Tip Topper, Renfrew, Ont,
Eugene St. Laurent, Saginaw, Mich.

‘The names of other enthusiastic Tip Toppers will be added from

time to time. Send iw the result ef your efferts to push the circula-
tion of your faverite weekly and win a place on the Roll of Honor.

APPLAUSE..

‘ pete’ the number of letters received, the editors of Tip Top
cannot undertake to secure their publication under six weeks. Those
who contrifute to this department must not expect to see them before
that time.

 

=

 

As it has been some time since I have written a letter of
‘Applause, and as I have just finished reading Tre Tor No. 497,
I can’t resist the temptation to write you a few lines.

It is needless to say what I think of your “ideal publication,”
as you certainly understand what every true Tip Topper thinks
of it. It keeps getting better and better every week, and I have

been reading it from No. 1 to the present.

If the readers would only stop and think for a moment they
would not say so much about their dislikes. Don’t you know,
. dear reader, when you go to the theater there has to be a villain,
the sameas in Tip Top?

change souvenir postals. I am willing to exchange with any
one; would also like to ee with “A Kansas Lassie”

 

4

WEEKLY.

‘Dick back at Fardale!

I note that many of the readers state their likes and dislikes.

I note in the Applause column several readers wish to ex-—

who, in 497, said she would like to correspond with some of the
readers.

Would like to exchange cards with J. R. Pedigo; will send
eard for card. I also have a number. of old Tie Tops, and any
of the readers are welcome to si if they will pay postage for
the same.

With best regards to Street & Smith and Burt L. Standish, I
must close, remaining a true Tip Topper,

Lock Box 1235, Pittsburg, Pa. Frank J. WALLACE, JR.

“Kansas Lassie’ seems to be very popular with our readers.
She will probably receive quite a number of letters from all
over the country.

 

As I have been reading Tie Tor for over a eat, and have
never written a letter to the Applause column, I thought ft was
time to write.
Browning, Mulloy, Gallup best. Of Dick’s, I like Brad, Earl,
Ted, Bob, Obediah, and Chip. Of course I like Frank and Dick
best. I wish Dick had a friend from Virginia. I would like
to hear from some Tir Top readers. I will also exchange post-
cards with any of the readers who wish to. With best wishes to
Burt L. Standish and Street & Smith I will close. With best
wishes to Tre Top, I remain, Sam Berry.

735 College Street, Bedford City, Va.

Here is another admirer of Tap Tor who lives in Bedford
City, Va., There are a great many readers there, and they are
beginning to make themselves known.

 

I have for some time been a constant reader of Tre Top, and,

think it an ideal publication for the young people to read. It
does more to uplift their thoughts than any other book. As
for the Elsie-Inza question, I think her to be the girl for
Frank. She is more loving and kind than Inza.

I have long desired a league badge, and enclosed will be
found two coupons and ten cents. I’ll now ring off, with best
wishes to Merry and his flock, Burt L. Standish, and Street &
Smith, Wirsert HAHEN,

Benezette, Pa.

What you say about the influence of the Trp Top WEEKLY on
its readers expresses the opinion of thousands who have been
benefited by reading of Frank and Dick’s numerous exploits.

 

Not seeing any letter in your Applause from this town, I “take

the liberty to join in the praise of the Tip Top, which, to my |

notion, is the best weekly of its kind published, because the
characters are so lifelike. Having chosen the stage as my pro-
fession, I have a fine chance to study the characters of so many
different people. I think Zona is more like the American girl
of to-day, as she is always changing her mind. Wishing suc-
cess to Burt L. Standish and Street & Smith, I will close. I
would like to hear from the young lady who signs A Kansas
Lassie, and others who care to write, Line
58 Elm Street, Kokomo, Ind.

_The reason why you admire the characters of Tip Top is that
they are drawn from life and have all the traits of living, breath-
ing people. It is the human interest to be found in the stories
that make them so popular with all readers, young and old, girls
and boys, men and women.

rs

 

Being an old “vet,” I hope you will not consider this, my
second letter to ie Applause column, an imposition; but I’ve
just got to write and let off some of this superfluous steam

which has been accumulating since my last letter, a year and a

half ago.

My, but aren’t the latest Tre Tors “birds.” Well, I guess yes.
Wow! look out for the doings. now.
Well, here’s success to him and his “crowd,” and may their
shadows never grow less. Drink her’ down, all loyal Tip Top-
pers! Was glad to see Chet get his walking-papers. He was
an “onery cur,” and should have gotten them long ago; but still
there is one quality in him which won my admiration, and that
was his “grit.” I see in a late number where some one claims

that Dick was foolish to listen ,t ‘a June and give Chet another

chance. Well, I don’t know what he would have done, but I
feel pretty sure that the average American boy would have

done as ok did; anyhow, I’m sure this end of the pen would —

Of Frank’s flock, I like Diamond, Hodge, Ready, »

 

' Stree

 

 

    
       
       
     
   
  

   

have.
equivz
think
the m
don’t
a@ace
jate-
up!

color:
readi1
more
corre:
and |
Junei
I car
to Ju
fair |
sponc

Well,
Di:
A
cere
frien
* Covi
 

AaP FOP

have. The critic must live where June Arlingtons and her
equivalents, the American girl, do not blossom, or I don’t quite
think he would have spoken the way he did. Well, well, what’s
the matter with the Juneites? Wake up! Wake up! You all
don’t seem to realize that the Dotisites are giving us too close
raise to be comfortable. Are we going to stand by idle and let
i Ju e—our June—go undefended? This ‘will never do. Wake
}up! Flood Applause with your letters. Come now, show your
colors! Well, readers, I am quite sure you have grown tired
reading this “bosh,” so will bid you au revoir. But a few words
} more to the correspondents. Here’s a Southern “kid” soliciting
correspondence. Write to me, “all” of you, the girls included,
and I'll~insure you all a square deal, i. e, a prompt answer.
Juneites, let me hear from you, also Dorisites, and let me see if
I cannot convince you of your error and bring a new recruit
to June’s standard. Remember, the “invite” is open to all, the
fair sex especially. Wish some ‘officer of International Corre-
spondence Club would write to me, if said club still exists.
Well, with three cheers for “Old Reliable,” Burt L. Standish,
- Street & Smith, and last, but not least, the “flock,” I remain,
Dixon Academy, Covington, La. RENE P. BERNARD.

A very enthusiastic reader whose words show that he is sin-
cere in what he says about the famous Tie Top. Our Southern
friends have been very loyal to the weekly, and this writer from
* Covington, La., is no exception.

 

 

I am going to take the pleasure of writing a few words of
| praise in honor of that grand book, namely, Tie Top Werk ty.
(’ I have written to the Tip Tor Applause column before, but_it
was never published. I have had the pleasure of reading the Tip
Tor since it has been published, and I will say it seems to be
getting better with every number. All my boy and girl friends
read the Tie Top, and I assure you that we can hardly wait till
the next number is issued. Mr.. Standish will never have any
_ more sincere admirers than we are. I have just had two dozen
pictures taken of myself. If any of the young lady reade-s care
_ to exchange photos, why, the pleasure would be all mine., I
think it would be a good idea for the readers to get acquainted
with each other. I also have a large amount of back numbers,
and if any of the teaders care to write to me, maybe I will have
the numbers they require. I would very much like to corre-
spond with Miss Pearl Kean. Sincerely yours,

 

 

 

 

 

 

-§23 Garfield Boulevard, Chicago, IIL. Harry HayEs,
} Thank you for your praise, Harry. Tip Top is, as you say,
| getting better with every number.

+ ne

ee ‘Havitig read Trp Tor for a long time, and having never written
| | to the Applause, I thought I would let the readers know that
| there was a reader of the king of weeklies in old Bedford. I

have done all I could to increase the circulation of Tre Top. I
| have succeeded in getting several readers in this town. “I would
|, like to see Brad knock some of that swelling out of Chet’s head.
) 7 think Frank and Dick are fine. I would like to exchange
| souvenir post-cards with all of the Tip Tor readers. Well, I will
me (Close, wishing sticcess to Burt L. Standish and Street & Smith,
_ Bedford City, Va, Craupe E. Martin.

We are glad to hear from you, and thank you for your ap-
preciative little note.

  

 

 

  

1 have -been reading Tie Top nearly four years, and will con-

+ of course like Dick best, as I am not very well acquainted with
| Frank and his chums. I think all the characters are neces-
' sary: I am in favor of a correspondence club, and would like
especially to correspond with any one having the first. three hun-
: dred numbers that they would sell or exchange. With regards

~afid best wishes to Mr. Burt L. Standish and Messrs. Street &
Smith, sincerely yours, J. O. Bracxmon.
‘West Point, Ga. ar

- The early stories of Tie Top, which portray the life of Frank
 Merriwell, can be obtained in the Medal Library. We suggest
ay this so that in case you cannot effect an exchange with other
readers you will know how the stories can be obtained in a neat,

compact form at a moderate price. ; |

 
    
   
 

 

 

I have just finished reading Tip Top No. 497, and, in_m
opinion, it is the best you have published for a long time. Ta

id rs. tinue to read it as long as it is published. Of the characters, I

WEEKLY. 29
about being delighted. I will bet that I was the happiest boy in
Oysterville when I. read about Rob«Rioden getting his knocks
from our old friend, Dick Merriwell. I have been reading Tip
Tor for two years, but I have missed a lot of numbers in that
time; but I now mean to start and keep them up. I agree with
Mr. Ralph Martin Tripcony that it would be a good idea to
reprint Tip Top back to 265. I think Chet Arlington has about
reached his limit, and le should be tarred and feathered .and
ridden out of Fardale on a rail the next time he puts\in an
appearance there. All of the characters suit me except Arlington
and Rioden. I am collecting souvenir postal cards, and some
of, the readers will hear from me shortly. As this letter is
getting very long, I will close, with good wishes to Burt L.
Standish, Street & Smith, and Dick and his friends.
Baltimore, Md. A Lap FRoM -OYSTERVILLE.

The Medal Library, which sells for ten cents a copy, contdins
the stories which appeared in the Tre Top WEEKLY previous to
No. 265. This is the only form in which they are issued.

 

Having been a reader of your famous and widely known pub-
lication from No. 1 till date, I take the liberty to express my
opinion. I have read fiction by almost every author in English
type, and can truly say that I like Tie Top the best.

One of my friends, who is a critic, had a heated argument
with calling me a fool for reading such trash. I told him
all theood Tie Top has done for thousands*of youths in your
lectures on smoking, drinking, gambling, etc. I could ‘not con-
vince him of his wrong ideas. We parted in anger, but two
months later he came to me and apologized. Now he is reading
Tie Top, and says that every number is worth one dollar. I
have never found fault with any number.

When Dick enters college I hope he will have just as good a
flock as Frank had. Every character of Tie Top is portrayed
Ge.

Wisting success. to Mr. Standish and Street & Smith, I re-
main, a loyal Tip Topper, Harry EPHRAIM.

New York City.

The influence that the Trp Top Werxty has exerted over the
lives of thousands of young men is marvelous. The exemplary
lives.of our heroes, Frank Merriwell and his brother Dick, have
helped to mold the character of the young men of America.

 

As I am a constant reader of Tie Top, I thought I would write
and tell you what I think of it. I can’t express words enough
to really let everybody know what the boys around here think,
but we can say this, that Trp Tor, Burt L. Standish, and Street
'& Smith are the ones that “can’t be beat.”

I will be very glad to have Brooklyn members of the C. M. A.
write to me. The C. M. A. is the largest, strongest secret society
for boys in the world, and has eighty thousand members and-
three thousand lodges in Africa, England, Scotland, and all over
the world.

I have sent postal cards to certam boys who have said they
would be glad to exchange, but have not received any in ex-
change. aa

Dick is O. K., but I like Frank best. Elsie always was my
favorite and I was sorry that Frank did not marry her.

Wishing three cheers, good health, and good luck to all, I am,

Bath Beach, N. Y. ArnoLtp A. Mowsray,

Your society is very secret, for no one seems to know any-
thing about it. What do those mysterious letters, “C. M. A.,”
stand for? We hope that it has nothing to do with the “black
hand.” If the three thousand lodges ever broke loose, what
would we all do? We ask you to use your influence and keep
them chained up. ™ .

I have been a reader of the Tie Top two or three years, and like
it best of all papers. Frank, Dick, and Brad I like best. I hope
Burt L..Standish and Street & Smith a long life, and wish they
will keep the Tre Top in print the rest of their lives. Hoping
to see this in print, yours truly, LAMY

Lake Mills, Ia. a

We thank you for your good wishes, and hope that you will
remain a Trp Tor reader to the end of your days.

 
    
  
    
 
  
     

   

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 

 

Pror. FourMEN: Being a reader of the Tip Tor Weexty for
over four years, I take the liberty gf asking you a few questions.
My age is 15 years; height, 5 feet 2 inches; wrist, 614 inches;
neck, 14 inches; shoulder to shoulder, 18 inches; biceps, normal,
9% inches; flexed, 101% inches; forearm, 914 inches; waist, 29
inches; calf, 13 inches; ankle, 9% inches; thigh, 19 @fiches;_
weight, 109 pounds; chest, normal, 29 inches; expanded, 33

inches. 1. How are my measurements? 2. What are my weak

points? 3. How should [ strengthen my weak points?
Steubenville, Ohio. A Tip: Top READER.
Your measurements are very good. Take a general course in

a gymnasium to keep yourself from growing “stale.” .

 

Pror. Fourmen: Being a readet of Tie Top for some months,
I would like to ask a few questions concerning physical develop-
‘ment. I am 12 years 11 months old; weigh about 84 pounds;
height, 4 feet 11 inches; chest, 2914 inches; expanded, 31 inches;
forearm, 934 inches; calf, 1134 inches. I can hold out sixteen
and one-half pounds with right arm, can lift one hundred and
thirty-five pounds with back, and throw a seven-and-one-half-
pound shot thirty-seven feet, 1. Are my measurements good?
2. What are my strong and weak points? Is my chest, arm, and
back development good? Please answer this in the next issue,
and oblige, yours truly, | SAMMY DICKHOUSE.

Cincinnati, OM. 44

You will probably develop into quite a young athlete if you
keep on at this rate. A few more years’ growth will make you

a very stocky young man.

 

_ Pror. FourmMen: I would like to ask in regard to my measure-
ments, etc. I am 17% years old; weight, 144 pounds; height,
5 feet 10 inches; around shoulders, 4234 inches; chest, normal,
36 inches; expanded, 40 inches; waist, 30 inches; calves, 15
inches; thigh, 21 inches; forearm, 10% inches; biceps, normal,
12% inches; wrist, 814 inches; neck, 15)inches. I can jump nine
feet, standing. 1. HoW are my weight and measurements for
my age? 2. Would I ‘succeed in athletics? 3. What are my
weak points? 4. What are my good points? Thanking you in
advance, I remain, yours truly, ; ; O. LeN.

- Rippey, Ia. !

1

You can become an athlete if you train properly, though at
present you are not as well proportioned as you might be. Take
a thorough course in a large gymnasium for a few months and
you will see a marked improvement. Pay particular attention
to your chest. : Fig

i

 

Pror. FourmEn: Being a Tip Top reader, I thought I would

ask you a few questions. My measurements: Height, 5 feet.
3 inches; weight, 11
normal, 31 inches; expanded, 35 inches; neck, 13% inches; biceps,
13 inghes; left forearm, 10 inches; right, tr inches; waist, 30
inches; hips, 33 inches; thigh,.21 inches; left calf, 1314 inches;
right, 14 inches. 1. How are my measurements? 2. What are

my weak points? 3. How can I strengthen my weak points?
4. What chances do I stand as an athlete? «5. When I run a
_ little distance, or wrestle just for about five minutes, I have
pain around my heart, and some nights I have a pain there.

   

What are my weak points? How can I remedy them? Is my
weight all right for my height? Yours truly, ae

pounds ; chest, contracted, 30 inches; —

 

 

 

 

ime \
‘Ipoin'
1M
36 i
arin
inch
‘“Acalv
jHe
, 4 wor
dshar
ride
pass
and
whi
3¢
Y
Cor
4 har
is t
sho
I cannot play baseball or football for that reason. Can you tell — er
me what causes this, or can you tell me something good for it?
I am 12 years 9 months old. Can off-arm twenty-eight pounds. — oe
Is this good? Hoping to see this in print some time soon, I . lac!
remain, a Trp Top reader, 3 R. W.
Salisbury, Md. 1 1
You are an exceptionally well-developed boy. I do not notice | I :
any weak spots. Your biceps are quite large for one of your Th
Cee ; : ari
age. Take only light exercises for awhile to see if your heart ae
- is still affected. Should it bother you, then consult your family — 28
physician, for you probably have some organic trouble. mz
Pror. Fourmen: I have read many Tip Tops, and think them 7
fine, and am going to take the liberty to ask a few questions, — to
I am 12 years old and am 5 feet 1 inch in height. Weight, 8642
pounds; chest, normal, 27 inches; contracted, 24 inches; ex- |—
panded, 30 inches; right bicep, 8 inches; left, 714 inches; hips,
30% inches; calves, 12 inches; forearms, 151% inches; neck, 13% i th
inches; ankles, 10 inches; shoulders, 35 inches; knee, 13 inches; 3 of
waist, 28 inches. How are my measurements? Where are my | Pe
weak points? I can put the shot sixteen feet; sling the hammer | I!
thirty-five feet. Please send me the catalogue and the number |! te
my answer comes in. With many good wishes to the Tre Top,I sift
‘am, yours truly, , GmLBerT PaRKE, th
Box 655, Beardstown, Ill. . Sena 6
Train to gain weight, as you are lacking in this respect by | .
several pounds. Exercises, for chest expansion, like pulley yy
weights, are what you need principally in addition to this. Fe, it
, te

 

 

Pror. FourmMen: Having read the Tre Tor Werxty for over
a year, I take the liberty to ask you a few questions. IT am 15 _
years 9 months old, am 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weigh 145 pounds. —
My measurements are: Neck, 13 inches; shoulders, across, 19 —
inches; chest, normal, 34 inches; expanded, 37 inches; right —
bicep, 13 inches; left, 13 inches; right forearm, 13 inches; left,
12 inches; right wrist, 7 inches; left, 7 inches; waist, 27 inches; _
right calf, 13 inches; left, 13 inches. How are my measurements?

  
   
  
  
  
  
 
   
 

Payne, Ohio. / A Bucxeye,
The weight is about right. You have a fair pair of biceps,
but the calves are not up to standard. Chest expansion is good,
though the size of your chest should be several inches larger.
Running, deep-breathing exercises, and general ‘gymnasium work |
will show a marked change in you in six months’ time. =)

 
 
  
  

Satie oie ts, Leds foe cieeet

 
 
   

 

 
  

Pror. Fourmen: I herein send to you the measurements of my-
self and a friend, my own being: Neck, 15 inches; chest, normal,
32 inches; expanded, 35 inches; shoulders, 17 inches; length of
arm, 28 inches; bicep, normal, 9 inches; expanded, 10%4 inches;
wrists, 6 inches; waist, 29 inches; thighs, 18 inches; calves, 13%
inches; height, 5 feet 814 inches; weight, 130 pounds. I am 16 ~
years old, and ride a wheel, punch the bag, pull the chest weights,
use dumb-bells and/Indian clubs; run, play baseball, and try
improve my physical condition as much as possible. Please tell

Moir’)

 

is fete we

   
 

 

   
  
  

   
 

       

 
TIP FOP

_ jme what you think of my measurements, and» point out my weak
—4apoints,

My friend’s measurements are: Neck, 16 inches; chest, normal,
436 inches; expanded, 38 inches; shoulders, 19 inches; length of
-jarms, 2814 inches; bicep, normal, 1014 inches; expanded, 12%
finches; wrists, 7 inches; waist, 30 inches; thighs, 2054 inches;
‘calves, 1314 inches; height, 5 feet 6 inches; weight, 138 pounds.
+ ¥He is 17 years old, and wishes to know how to become tall. He
.  Jworks at night in a bakery, and his shoulders trouble him with
sharp pains. He would liké to know how to cure these. He
rides, boxes, plays football and baseball, and would like you to
}pass your opinion on his measurements; also to give your advice
Fand point out his weak spots. Hoping to see this in, Tie Top,
-jwhich I read every week, [ remain, yours respectfully,
WRIGHTSON KELLEY,
393 South Eleventh Street, Newark, N. J.

You need fifteen pounds to bring you up to standard weight.
Continue your present course of training, but do not work too
hard or you will wear off flesh as you put it on. Your friend
is better proportioned than you are, but this is due to his being
shorter and heavier. The pains hé complains of may be due to
over-exercise. To one who is working hard all day at manual
« or, semi-manual labor, exercise that taxes his powers is as bad as
. | lack of exercise. He should be moderate.

 

mY ev

Pror. Fourmen: May I ask your opinion of my measurements?
1 I am 16 years 4 months old and weigh 145 pounds, stripped!
Nn These are my measurements: Height, 5 feet 934 inches; fore-

Ry

  
 
 

 

 

 

It ; :

da arm, 10 inches; biceps, 11 inches; thigh, 19% inches; calf, 14

ce inches; chest, normal, 3134 inches; expanded, 3434 inches; waist,

Ky F 28 inches ; neck, 1344 inches. Thanking you in advance, I re-
+ main, a steady reader of the Trp Top, 14s 1S,

New Hampton, Ia.

nn The lack of weight is what you have to contend with. Train

; | to take on about twenty pounds.

2 ite ‘

Pror. FourMen: Being a constant reader of Tip Top, I take
_ the liberty to ask you a few questions. I think that the subject
of these questions is out of the ordinary of those you receive
per day. I am 15 years of age, 5 feet 3 inches high, and weigh
_ 118 pounds. For nearly five years I have been subject to a cer-
tain kind of frost. On a cold or windy day the blood leaves my
fingers and they become as white as those of a corpse, and
_ they have no feeling in them until I can get them back into
circulation. While getting back to their original color ‘the tips
of my fingers first turn blue. It is not that way with my toes.
I have refrained from seeing a doctor before reading your ad-
vice (1) as to the cause of it and (2) what will cure it. Hop-
. ing that this will not take up much of your space, and to see
this in print, I remain, yours truly, B. FartrstTeEINn.
Philadelphia, Pa.

When you get up in the morning, hold your arms out straight

 

  
  
 

Sr Tene Ree, OF Pte

 
 
  
 
  
 

oe

   
 

Pas:

 
  
   

you get tired. Rest a littleand begin again. This will get up
‘proper circulation, and the trouble will disappear.

 
 

 

 

-Pror. Fourmen: As I have read Tre Top for quite awhile and
become interested in it, I thought I wouldesend you some of my
measurements. Age, 15 years 2 months; height, 5 feet 5 inches;
weight, 126 pounds; neck, 14 inches; from shoulder to shoulder,
17 inches; chest, normal, 32 inches; expanded, 3514 inches;
upper arm muscle, expanded, 121% inches; normal, 9% inches;
wrist, 614 inches; lower arm muscle, 10 inches; waist, 29 inches;
thigh, 1914 inches; calf, 13 inches; ankle, 8 inches. How are my
‘measurements? How can I increase my strength? I play full-
back on our football team and catch for our baseball team.
Sometimes in throwing to second-base, my shoulder pains me
so I cannot stay in the whole game.
-postals with boys and girls all over the ‘world. Hoping toy see
“this in Tre Top in a few weeks, I remain, as ever, a loyal: Tip
Topper, yours truly, - Gro. Hatt.

325 Detroit Street, Flint, Mich.

Your weight is just right, while your chest development is
excellent. The trouble with your arm is that you~probably put
too much strain

    
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
   
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
  

a

   

}

from the shoulders, and open and close the hands rapidly until

{ would like to exchange» —

upon it. T he moment it pains you must stop,

    

WEEKLY.

3t

or it will be@®me worse. Rub it with arnica when it troubles
you. This winter you ought to have a thorough rest for the
spring. Probably it will be in good shape then if you do not
endanger it by practising any pitching this winter.

 

Fourmen: I am Wery much interested in athletics.
Please tell me what you thtnk of my measurements? I am a
boy 14 years old; height, 4 feet 7 inches; chest, normal, 29
inches; expanded, 31 inches; neck, 12 inches; wrists, 5 inches;
biceps, 11 inches; weight, 80 pounds. ‘I can jump 6 feet.6 inches,
standing broad jump; 12 feet, running; 3 feet 6% inches, high
jump. Hoping to see this in your Tip Top, yours truly,
Ottawa. A Tie Top ADMIRER.

Pror.

The development of your chest should be gratifying. It is
larger than most boys of your .age and height who have about
the same weight. Your records are very good for one who, I
take it, is just beginning to follow athletic exercises.

 

* Pror. FourMen: Being a constant reader of Tip Top since it
was first published, I take the liberty.to ask you a few questions,
I am fifteen years old; height, 4 feet 111-3 inches; weight, 84%
pounds; neck, 1134 inches; shoulders, 14 inches; biceps, 9 inches 3°
forearm, 874 inches; wrist, 534 inches; thigh, 16 inches; calf,
1134 inches; ankle, 714 inches; waist, 25 inches; chest, normal,

, 2834 inches; expanded, 31 3-5 inches. 1, How are my measure-
ments? 2. What exercises do I need? Thanking you in ad-
vance, I remain, CHARLES THOMPSON,

Brooklyn, N. Y. “

You need pulley weights for the arms. The chest develop-
ment is very good. :

 

Pror. Fourmen: \Having read Tre Top for a good while, I
take the liberty of asking you a few questions. I am 13-years
3 months old, 5 feet 1 inch tall, and weigh 97 pounds. Neck, 13
inches; calf, 12 inches; waist, 2434 inches; ankle, 9 inches;
chest, normal, 30 inches; expanded, 33 inches; thigh, 18 inches;
from shoulder to shoulder, 16 inches. “Records: Standing, bread
jump, 8 feet 4 inches; running, 13 feet 10 inches; running high
jump, 52 inches; standing, 38 inches. 1. How are my measure-
ments? 2. What are my strong points? 3. What are my weak
points, and how can I develop them? 4. How.are my records?
Hoping this does not reach the waste-basket, I remain, yours
truly, O. H. EBERHART.

Evansville, Ind.

1. Fair.

2. Chest.

3. Calves, waist, thighs.
running.

4. Very good for a boy of your age.

Bicycling, bending exercises, and

 

Pror. FourmMEen: Being a constant reader of Tip Top, I take
the liberty of asking you a few questions regarding my measure- —
ments. I am 17 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, and weigh 152
pounds. Chest, normal, 35 inches; expanded, 38 inches; neck,
14 inches; shoulders, 18 inches; forearm, 10% inches; biceps,
1114 inches; waist, 30%4 inches; thighs, 20 inches; calves, 14
inches; wrist, 6!4 inches. How are my measurements? Which
are my weak points, and which are my strong ones? How can
I strengthen my weak points? Hoping to see this in print
soon, I am, yours truly, Raa eS

West Bend, Wis. ,

Twenty more. pounds would make you much better propor-
tioned. With such a deficiency your measurements are all lack-
ing ina few inches, but a few months’ faithful work in a gym-
nasium will remedy, that.

 

 

“GOLDEN HOURS.”

Boys, have “aes any old numbers of Golden Hours?
If so, see what numbers are among them and write me,
stating price. 1 will pay liberally to complete my files.
A&dress WiLtiaMs, Station ‘‘O,” Box 24, New York City,

v

  
Pe eC

THE TIP TOP WEEKLY

a
A

ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY.

 

admitted to be without a rival. Beware of imitations. There is only one Frank
Merriwell and only one Burt L. Standish to write about him. Tip Top contains a

  

physical development, the best exercises, and all questions on’ athletic subjects
are cheerfully answered by Mr. Standish.

PRICE FIVE CENTS PER COPY

For sale by all newsdealers or sent to any address upon receipt of Five Cents in money or postage stamps

 

 

HERE ARE THE LATEST TITLES:

alien Merriwell’s Return; or; The Reappearance at | 504—Dick Makiinell’s Four Fists;

MOST ATTRACTIVE COLORED COVERS

The tales of adventure and school life published in Tip Top are generally

department devoted to all kinds of sports in which questions regarding § |

or, The Champion

  
  
   
 
   
   
 

Fardale.

495—Dick Merriwell’s Restoration; or, Whipping the
Team into Shape.

| 496—Dick Merriwell’s Value; or, The Success of Square
goport.. |.

isi a 497—-Diclk Merriwell’s “Dukes” ; or, His Fight with

Himself.

ton’s Team of Tigers.
499—Dick Merriwell’s Defeat; or, How Arlington Won
the Second Game.
500—Dick Merriwell’s. Chance; or, r, Taming the Tigers of
‘ Fairport.
, $01—Dick Merriwell’s Stride;
_.Cross Country Run.
- §02—Dick Merriwell’s Wing-Shift; or,
. . Thanksgiving Day Game.
) 503 —Dick Merriwell’s Skates; or, a: Ice Hiss
| . for Every Point.

or, The Finish of ‘he
The Great

506—Frank Merriwell’s Tigers;

498—Dick Merriwell’s Drop-Kick; or, Chester Arling-

 

of the Chanson.

505—Dick Merriwell’s Dashing Game; or, The Fast Five

from Fairport:
or, Wiping Out the
Railroad Wolves.

507—Frank Merriwell’s Treasure Guard; or, The De-

fenders of the Pay Train.

508—Frank Merriwell’s Flying Fear; or, The Ghost of
the Yaqui.

509—Dick Merriwell in Maine; or, Sport and Peril in
the Winter Woods.

510—Dick Merriwell’s Polo Team; or, The Rattlers of “a

the Roller Rink.

511—Dick Merriwell in the Ring; or, The Champion of a

His Class.

512—Frank Merriwell’s New Idea; or, The Armericatt

School of Athletic Development,

513—Frank Merriwell’s Troubles; or, Enemies, in the

Fold.

 

   
   

* . ,

aS of « our libraries and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this ‘office direct.

 

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Cut out and fill in the follow- | ‘3
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jing order blank and send it to us with the ee of the books you want and we will send them to you by return mail,
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PO RSEE & SMITH, Publishers, 79 Seventh Avenue, New yok RR it hee iS AS ae sks eee ETE UR Aol One 94 NN a one ene »..190 iy
; Gentlemen :—Enclosed find........cents for which please send me : An 3s
A aes abort Top Nos... eee rem enreees a8 wee erwese Ord OFS bUw elk Fe Whe b bbe le 6's 0 6 6' 0 6b @ hire Cocos eheoweede ese nidiesie 0 66 06» ol" Som
Siaces « «Nick Carter OM iS Oise ais ik SPR dh Chain, Mis tad delb sy ee ve geet Kae We) Ree S apa buh s dp rh eal tg ae
ey py eS om DICK: NOR Se ibs ee Gs os WE ies ak de Web PAN AEN eV ake ss ecw pee d4 Soll | Anas oeheey ond thee ad See
Cw ied e ataéie ¥ ae Buffalo Bill BOE is hiditee wis Vi stead 6 atte ete ete eee eee nena es wala sie ss Whi ed isle Yea OMe es
deceees, & “Brave and Bold Nos............. Hate ohnsi dhs dh eisnilbeheWesesdegepaarenn ent: | tee ame deiseidei'g hs enn beauieens
tee © Rough Rider | Nos... econ lene. TT LE Sa Re Ce et Yih Ty An No
PLM Metiee a ecin's<'vesiwbs vad eee ta sesereeeeececse Street and No. ives, LUBA MALT came ki oiek v2 Os Mawes Cir sess ia Sian ine State. 2 ).% sisson
Vall aa ' y 7 ; , ANd Rees ee : f ei
Faia Epil Reigns as RR A6, Aiaes | :
a ¥% ft. ie a oy, ‘ TT wei
id aA, 7 A ig y % Fi by a
A i ' $i
Br WOR ELA Ar Bien Eo hiuito as Waris 2 nai Site ei

 
 
 

THE FAVORITE LIST

OF FIVE-CENT LIBRARIES

 

 

Tae Top TEE

1LP TOP WEEKRLE

 

 

| sevdsihmhind
| ae
}

|
boy of to-day.
to have exciting sport

Frank and Dick Merriwell are
college and on the athletic field
They prove that a boy does not have to be a rowdy

two brothers whose adventures in
are of intense interest to the American

 

Buffalo Bill Stories

erg

Bill of a

exciting

is the hero

ee BILL Buffalo
2 | thousand adventures

~menseree || among the Redskins. These are

|; given to our
| Buffalo Bill

| bound to interest and please you.

boys only in the

Stories. They are

 

Fit

 

Vere bey tl piy mY

Nick Carter Weekly

We
no need

| Nicholas

boys, that there is
introducing to you
the greatest
sleuth that lived. Every
| number containing the adven-
| tures of Nick Carter has a peculiar,
_ but delightful, fascina-
tion.

know,
of
Carter,

ever

ie Ky ae ia

y . |
KLY. |
tin bats! |

a Wier CTE ATWLE ten

power of

 

_ All-Sports Library

a SE

LOH 4 Hy

| ested

| in the All-Sports Library.

All sports that boys are inter-

ja inom Nae in, are carefully dealt with
The
stories deal with the adventures
of plucky lads while indulging in

healthy pastimes.

a Paul Jones Weekly

 

 

Do not think for a second,

 

 

 

a lot
Sugar-

boys, that these stories are
musty history, just
coated. They are all new tales of
exciting adventure on land
sea, in all of which boys of your
own age took part.

of

and

 

 

“Brave and Bold

Every boy who prefers variety
matter, ought to
be a reader of Brave and Bold.

All these were written by authors

} in his reading

| who are past masters in th> art

| of telling boys’ stories. Every

| tale is complete in itself.

THE BEST WILD WEST STORIES PURLISHE |

(ie STRONG ANG the i WIDE |
ahh |

Rough Rider Weekly

WAU : T ]

10) |/p) a)

Ted Strong was appointed dep-
uty marshal by accident, but he
resolves use his authority and
|| rid his ranch of some very tough
| bullies. He does it in such a slick
'way that everyone calls him
“King of the Wild West’ and he
| certainly deserves his title.

to

 

us demand for stirring stories

* Western adventure is admir-

| iis filled by this library. Every
up-to-date boy ought to read just
how law and order estab-
lished and maintained

P| Western plains by Diamond Dick,

a Ei Bertie, and Handsome Harry.

are

on

our

 

|
ip
Ls

Fe

“Bowery Boy Library

+! The adventures of a poor waif
| whose only name ‘Bowery
| Billy.” Billy is the true product
m Pas | | of the streets of New York. No
| boy can read the tales of his trials
| without imbibing some of that re-
and courage that makes

if rier ern nV] :
Y pot | al is

‘ef’ )
“or Pe

wR

te

he

wa AT
>.
a ie
1

a lag
eel | the character of this homeless boy
stand out so prominently.

source

~