Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 1017) (1925 03 27)

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BOYS, READ THE RADIO A TICLES IN THIS NUMBER No. 1017729 ~~ MARCH 4 rin Price 8 Conta © or, THE BOY JY GELE~-HLE MANY weogies the axe aside, Dick seized “the barrel and tried to dislodge it from its hiding-place. “Gee whiz!” exclaimed Casperfield. ‘It’s chock full of money.” Such was the: fact, and Bonnie Barton uttered a little shriek of delight.

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Read Page 24 for Radio News and Hints. : FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Issued weekly—Subseription price, $4.00 per year! Canada, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. Harry EH. Wolff, Publisher, :nc., 164 ~ West 28d Street, New York, N. Y the Post-Office at New York, No. 1017 N. Entered a Second-Class Matter, October 4, NEW YORK, MARCH. 27, 1911, WAR 29 19 Price 8 Cents. under the Act of March 3, 1879. 1925 A FREAK OF FORTUNE | OR, THE BOY WHO STRUCK LUCK CHAPTER I—The Black Sloop. “Ts supper ready, mother? I’m as hungry as 4 hunter,” cried Dick Leslie, bustling into a modest- looking cottage on the suburbs of a good-sized and _-wide-awake village in the Golden West, hanging ' his cap on a convenient hook and grabbing the little, sad-faced woman, who welcomed him with a sweet smile, around the waist, gave her a hearty hug and kiss. ; “Yes, Dick, ready and waiting. Did you see your father anywhere in the village?” asked his mother, with an anxious expression. — “No, niother,” replied the boy, with a frown. _ “J hayen’t seen Mr. Brand since this morning.” ick never called his mother’s second husband father. And for good reason. Mr. Brand was . not a man who appealed to his love and respect in any way. He was an idle, good-for-nothing - individual against the world in general, and his step-son in particular. He disliked Dick Leslie -beceuse the sturdy, good-looking and intelligent boy wasn’t his own flesh and blood, and continual- ly remainded him of a. better man than himself. Dick practically supported his mother and step- father with the small wages he received as clerk in the principal general store of the village. He wouldn’t have been able to do this but for the fact that his mother owned the little cottage and the acre of land surrounding it. Probably the ~ real cause for Mr. Brand being down on his step- gon was the fact that Dick had long since re- fused to turn his wages over to him as master of the house. _ » Had the boy done so most of it would have gone F tito the till of Smith, the tavern-keeper, and the little family would have fared poorly, indeed— ‘not that they lived any too sumptuously as it was, Mrs. Brand having a continual struggle te make ends meet. Once on a time George Brand had been a fairly industrious mechanic—that wa when he paid court ee finally married, the — pretty young widow of Jack Leslie, an enterpris- eae pastenter and builder, ae had come to an untimely death through a fall from a house he was building in ‘the village. Brand. being natur- ally shiftless, was easily led from the path of in- dustry by the specious arguments of a demagogue By A SELF-MADE MAN s 2 who drifted into the village, took up his tem-_ porary residence at Smith’s tavern, and put in a large part of his time expounding his theories based on the inequalities of life, and the unfair, as he termed it, distribution of wealth and labor. His oratory made such an impression on Mr. Brand that he gradually shirked his daily toil and soon became a regular visitor at the tavern, often. remaining there until the place was closed at eleven at night. Of course, as soon as Mr. Brand ceased to work, money ceased to flow in his direction, and the re-_ sult was that Dick Leslie had to finish his ‘school- ing in a hurry and take advantage of a situation offered him by Mr. Simpson, who ran the general store. Dick had now, been working a year at the store, and hig employer often declared that the lad was so smart and honest that he wouldn’t lose him for a farm. “He hasn’t been- home all day,” said Mrs. Brand, in answer to her son’s reply. f “That isn’t anything unusual, is it?” answered es as he took his seat at the table and began to | eat. “No,” she replied, mournfully. os “Yl bet I could find him at the tavern if I went there,” went on Dick. ‘He drinks up all he earns, when he feels disposed to work, and every cent you can make you give up.” “He gets very little from me,” replied his moth- er. “TI can’t spare any money. I am trying to rk op bit now to meet the tax bill, which is over- ue. Sie “Never mind, mother, there are better times in store for you. I will soon bé a man, and able to. sts a man’s wages, and then you will fare bet- ex. Dick, having the table. ’ “T am going over to the Casperfield farm to see Joe, mother,” said Dick, reaching for his cap. ~~ “Very well, my son. You won’t be away late, will you?” Stic : “Of course not, for I’ve got to get up early in. order to be at the store on time.” * finished his supper, got up from — Thus speaking, Dick passed out of the house a ¢ ache \™

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ee close, but it was still quite light, and Dick ex- pected to reach the Casperfield farm before dusk had given way to night. This was Thursday, the day on which Dick left the store early, that is, five o’clock—on other days he worked till eight. The head of the creek was a lonesome, marshy ~ spot, plentifully wooded, and was seldom visited --- by any one. As Dick approached the upper sec- ~ tion of the creek on this occasion he was surprised to see, through an opening in the trees, the mast ‘and halliards of a small sailing craft. Bi Dick thought it was a strange place for a boat >to be, and, his curiosity being excited, he left the beaten path and walked over to the trees to take + “a look at her. Making his way through. the bushes, he at length came out into an open spot _elose to where the vessel was secured to the stump - /of a dead tree, near the stream. The craft in * guestion was sloop rigged, and was painted a dead _ black, that time and the weather had somewhat ‘rusted. - = o- Her mainsail, which hung loose about the boom, , just as it had been lowered, and her jib, lying in “a heap on the short bowsprit, were old and dirty. “There was a small main hatch, which was cov- ered, and a scuttle forward, between which it and - the bowsprit projected a stovepipe that indicated the presence of a sort of galley under the deck. _ She was steered by an ordinary tiller, the wood _ of which was’ polished from constant handling. Dick, as he viewed her critically, fore and aft, could not but wonder why she had been brought _up to such a dreary and unfrequented spot. Diek had half a mind to step aboard and look nto her cabin, but considering that he had no right to do this he was turning away to resume “his ‘walk when a hand was roughly laid. on his shoulder from behind and a voice that was familiar to him grated on his ear: cf ere in thunder are you spying around here ~ Zor Z He wheeled around and faced the Rowling face of—his stepfather. : CHAPTER TI—The Red-Headed Man. “You here, Mr. Brand?” Dick ejaculated. “Yes, I’m here,” growled his stepfather. “What srings you here? -“T’'m always off Thursdays sat five.” : ““Then why ain’t you home?’ _ “I was home for supper. to the: Casperfield farm.” “«T yeckon there’s a larie leading from the road, rter of a mile further on, that goes to the rm. Why hae you take it if you’re going here? Q7- “Because this WAY is: shorter.” “Thinking of crossing the marsh, id Mr. Brand, with an ugly grin Tn now on my way IT suppose?” foot.” - st eae it isn’t.” hen why did you ask me such a res A FREAK OF FORTUNE Why ain’t you at the store?” “Of course not. The mater isn’t passable on : os arm. “You’re lying when you,say you came to t ereek because it’s a short road to the Casperfield farm. You couldn’t follow this ereek no further we a dozen feet, and you know it as well as I do “JT didn’t expect to follow the creek. There’s a path on the other side of these trees. I was” walking along that.” : “Why didn’t you stick to it, then? What brought you here, butting into what doesn’t con- cern you?” “T happened to see the mast and rigging of this — sloop through the trees, and thinking it a quee: place for a vessel to be I came over to take look at her.” ae “Well, you haven’t any business to come overt and look at her,” snarled Mr. Brand. “Why not?” asked Dick, in a surprised tone “What difference does it make?’ “It makes a lot of difference.” “Do you know anything about this bie) Haden “None of your business whether I do or no replied Mr. Brand, angrily.’ At this moment a shock of red hair, a omouthe ly shaven, tough-looking countenance, and a vair. of ox-like shoulders, rose out of the companion: way opening to the cabin of. the sloop, and a coarse voice demanded to know who were there. “Tt’s me and that young monkey of a stepson. ee mine,” replied Mr. Brand, in reply by the: ail. “What’s he doin’ here, Brand?” said the: 4 headed individual in no pleasant way. “TI thou you knew better than to bring him along. “T-didn’t bring him. I found him here.” The red-headed man extricated the rest of | husky body from the stairwav and sprang ashor' with a scowl on his face. Three strides carri him’to where Dick was talking to his stepfather. | “Look here, young feller, what: brought. yer — nosin’ around these diggin’s?” he asked, sharply. “To see what kind of a vessel was moored - s far up the creek. I never saw one at this wa before. - “Oh, yer didn’t? What business is 7 of yours whether a vessel is anchored un this way. | not? ; x “Tt isn’t any of my business.” ; “Did anybody: tell yer this.sloop was “ancho here?” a “No. ” “Then -what’s yer reason for comin” “ov the creek ?”. Dick repeated to him the same ‘explanation’ : his presence in that locality that he had given: his stepfather. The red-headed man listened to his statement with evident, disbelief. “Yer think ver kin hoodwink me, do yer? Wel I’m too old a bird to be caught with chaff. I’ cut my eye teeth long ago, afore you were b “All right,” replied Dick, indifferently. a: it- your own way.” a Having no further interest in remainin: the spot, he started to walk away. : “Hold hard, young* feller, ver ain’t goin’ x in such an all-fired hurry as that!” “id the headed man, Se out. and grabbin, 2

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A FREAK “Don’t yer worry about me. goin’ in such a rush?” “T was going about my business. - hand ‘off my arm.” : “Jest hear the young bantam crow!” sneered the tough-looking man. “Do yer allow him to talk back to yer in that way at the house, - Brand?” he added, looking at Dick's stepfather, mockingly. ‘ 3 Mr. Brand scowled, but made no reply. “Are you going to let me go?” asked Dick, angrily. “You haven’t any right to treat me in this way.” : ‘No, I’m not goiti’ to let yer go till I’m *zood and ready, see? And I reckon I'll treat yer jest as it suits me.” . , “Maybe you'll regret handling me in_ this _ fashion,” retorted Dick. “I haven’t interfered ' with you in any way, but you’re treating me in an outrageous manner. I guess there must be something wrong about you and your old sloop or you wouldn’t be so inquisitive as to my rea- sons for. being in this neighborhood.” : That was an unlucky speech of Dick’s, The man, with a wrathful imprecation, suddenly rais- ed his fist and struck him a heavy blow on the side of the head. Dick reeled, grasped wild at the air and fell flat on the ground. Then his _ senses fled. : Where was yer Take your ra i ; CHAPTER IlI.—In. the Hold of the Black Sloop. It was a brutal and cowardly blow, and if Mr. - Brand had had a spark of decent feeling in him he would at least have protested against his com- -panion’s savage and uncalled-for assault on his ‘stepson. Mr. Brand, however; did not make the faintest kind of a protest when he saw Dick lying completely knocked out on the earth: Ow- ing Dick as he did a long-standing grudge, which hej was unable to wine out himself, he was glad to see somebody else do him up. _ “You hit him a pretty hard wallop, Sykes,” chuckled Mr. Brand. “I guess he'll remember that, fist of yours for some time to come.” “T yeckon he will, Brand. There don’t seem to be no love lost between you and him,” grinned he red-headed man. “I should say not. J hate. the measly cub. J haven’t been able to get him to cough up a cent of his wages since he went to work,” re- marked Mr. Brand in an injured tone. “My good. money helped raise him from a kid, and that’s the, way he turns on me.”. : “Then why. don’t ver take the boy’s wages away from him if he won’t part with the, stuff » -willin’ly ?” : Y “The old woman would put up a big, howl if /A did that, as she thinks the sun, moon and stars rise and set in that kid.” ; “What need you care? If I was in your shoes, and the wife set up her toot I’d give her a tap or two on the jaw, and I'll wager she'd close up,as tight as a clam-after that. I-wouldn’t stand no foolin’ from any woman. The trouble with you, Brand, yer don’t put yer foot down hard enough. Well, what are we goin’ to do ‘with this precious stepson of yours? If we let go he’s sure to tell about this sloop bein’. oored up here. Then to-morrow mornin’, when -night’s work at the bank is discovered, sus- Pie 0 OF FORTUNE oe picion will at once point in owr direction, and we may not be able to get away as easily as we've counted on.” “I don’t care what you do with him,” answered Brand. / : . “Then we’d better tie his hands behind his back and keep him a prisoner in the hold till we get ready to shake the sloop for good. Then you kin come back to the village if yer want to with yer share of the plunder, and live like a swell . gu¥. The boy, when he gets back, won’t give you away on account of yer connection with the family. If yer was arrested and clapped in jail - it would disgrace him andthe old woman. So he’s safe to keep his jaw closed.” “All right,” replied Brand. “We’ll tie him and keep him itt the hold. He won’t learn for sure that we’ve had anything to do with robbing the Haywoods Bank. If you look after him yourself, that is, take him his grub and such, he needn’t know that I’m aboard the sloop at all.” : Sykes favored his companion with an unpleas- ant look, as if he thought that Mr. Brand was taking a selfish interest in his own welfare. “T reckon we ain’t got no time to lose, for the kid will soon get his senses back. Go down into the cabin and yer’ll find some pieces of rope’ in the starboard locker. Fetch it here and I'l — truss him up in short order.” : : Brand hastened aboard the sloop to get the rope. He had no trouble in finding. it, and. the senseless boy was soon bound hand and_ foot. Then, between them, they lifted Dick and carried ; him over on the vessel’s deck. Sykes took the - — cover off the hatchway, jumped into the hold and disappeared. In a few minutes he came back to the hatch. “Hand me the kid,” he said, holding up his - arms to catch the boy. : Mr. Brand raised Dick and lowered him over . the combings of the hatch. The red-headed man = _ received Dick in his muscular grasp, carried him | over to where a pile of sacks were bunched in a : corner of thg hold near the cabin bulkhead, and dropped him on them, as he might have done with | a sack of potatoes. Then he left the hold and replaced the hatch cover, leaving Dick to recover his wits at his leisure and in the dark. - It might have been ten minutes later that the boy came to his senses. “Where.am I at now?” he asked himself, as he” tried to put out his hands and rise. only to dis+ cover that they were bound behind his back. “My — gracious!” he ejaculated. “I’m a prisoner! My ankles are tied together also. This is a pleas- ant predicament, I must say. Myr. Brand seems. to be a party to this outrage. He and that red- - ~ headed stranger are clearly friends. That chap — looks like a jail-bird, to my wav of thinking. A» pretty associate for my mother’s husband.”, As Dick didn’t enjoy the sensation of having his arms secured in such an awkward way, he —— naturally tried to see if he couldn’t work them loose. At first his efforts in this divection met | with little success, but he was a persevering boy, — and after tugging at the rope, and working his wrists around, he finally succeeded in drawing one of his hands out of limbo. The other hand — easily followed and his arms were at liberty. /Then he put his hand in his pocket, got ont his jackknife and severed the cord that held his ‘

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= A PRP*K OF FORTUNE : feet together. He had a small box of matches = in his vest-pecket, and striking one of them, the glare gave him a line on ‘his. surroundings. “Why, Um in the hold of the sloop. I might have guessed. that,” he cried. - The place was littered with odds and ends of _ rope, sail-cloth, blocks, old boxes, and other ar- - ticles thrown around. haphazard upon a lot of mig-iron ballast. The cabin bulkhead was right : behind him, while another bulkhead forward ™ separated the hold from the galley .in the fore- - peak. He was about to make a move for freedom : when he heard voices in the cabin behind him. fests “That must be my. respected stepfather and the : yed-headed man talking together.. I wonder if --» Ym the subject of the conversation? I'd like * te hear what they’re saying,” breathed Dick, with no little curiosity. He examined the bulkhead until he found a e convenient knothole. Then he placed his ear to the hole and listened attentively. He had no diffi- - -eulty in making out all the. men said. «We'll drop down the creek about one o'clock,” Sikes was saying. “That will bring us to the wharf I have picked out in about half an hour or so, and we'll be able to reach the rear of the bank by two, when every one in the village --is-sound asleep. We ought to have a clear field before us. A jimmy will soon let us into the “* ‘Yank buildin’, and I’ll bet we'll eatch the watch- man unawares. It will be a small matter to pind and gag him so that he’ll be helpless. I’ve the tools that’ll open the safe in short order, ~ and then all we'll have to do is to clean - the place out as slick as a whistle. I look on this job as a regular snap for a chap of my * experience, and there isn’t one chance in ‘a hunh- dred that anvbody will be able to trace the mat- ter to us. No one will suspect you, at any rate, unless it might be that stepson of yours, and he won’t say a word fox the sake of his old woman.” “Do you think he’ll be safe in the hold’ with ‘the sloop alongside the wharf while we’re away on this job?” asked Brand: “Sure “he’ll be safe. He’s bound fast enough, - and with the hatch cover on there isn’t any “ ¢hance at all of his givin’ us the slip, or. findin’ ‘out what we’re up to.” - “Suppose somebody should go aboard the ves- ~ gel arid look around while we're at the bank?” + “What! at two in the mornin’? Don’t vou “worry. There won’t be a soul near that. wharf before daylight, and we'll be off down the lake by that time.” - 5 : The two men continued to talk about their nocturnal enterprise for a while longer, and then - Sykes got up and said he guessed he would start tn and cook supper. He told Brand to take the @ockery, knives and forks, and so-forth, out of one of the locks and set the table, and then he left the cabin and went forward to the forepeak. Cr PTER IV.—How a Saucepan Got Joe Cas- Sra “perfield In Trouble. Di k was both astonished. and disturbed at at he had heard. So his stepfather and the € ght. He felt that the disgrace st kill his mother, and he-de- _ yielded to his touch and Yose upward. ere going to try and rob the. at termined that he must try and prevent his step- — father from mixing himself up in the matter. But how was he to do this? a Sass “I must get away at once and see Mr. Tewks- — bury, the head constable. He’s a good friend — of mother’s, and no doubt he’ll be able to figure out some plan to save my stenfather before he — has committed himself too far.” : as Dick struck another match and cautiously look- — ed for the hatch. As soon as he located it he — brought a couple of boxes underneath it so that — he could reach it easily. . pees? If it was fastened down by a heavy weight ~ he could do nothing. i - Z i He pressed against the — hatch cover, and to his great satisfaction it — his » He did — not dare lift it more than a couple of inches — until he could see whether the deck was deserted, ” There were several circumstances against him. It was a warm, calm night, and though the moon was not up, the sky was so clear and re- splendent with stars that objects of any size were visible for some distance around the spot. Clear- a ly, he couldn’t hope to escape observation if eithe Mr. Brand or the red-headed man happened to raise his head above the ‘deck the moment he was making his break for freedom, and such a contingency was as likely to happen as not. “I guess’ I’d better wait a while,” thought Dick. — “No use of spoiling everything by rushing mat- ters. When they start to eat their supper it the. cabin will be a good time to make. th venture.” 5 ; The odor of steak and fried onions now per- meated the hold, and Dick figured that the meal ~ would soon be transferred to the cabin. He wait- — ed impatiently for. that moment to come.. The — clatter in the forepeak continued for a while — see longer, and then Sykes made several trips_be- tween that spot.and the cabin. Once more Dick — placed his eve to the knothole in the cabin bulk- head and saw that the two men were at supper. — “Now is my time to get away,” he thought. — “Tf I’m cautious they'll never get.on to me.” He moved carefully over to the boxes, mounted — them and proceeded to raise the hatch cover, — Then something happened that he had not cal- culated on. Sykes had left a small saucepan on the hatch, and as soon as Dick tilted the cover it slid off and rolled along the deck with a livel} clatter. : Re Dick expected nothing else than the immediate! — lifting of the hatch and the appearance of th : hard-looking ruffian in the hold. Nothing like — that happened, but something else did. When — ‘Svkes reached the deck he looked around, with an eye sharpened by experience. ‘The first thing Pe) that caught his glance was the saucepan, bot- — tom up, on the deck. He remembered then that ~ he had left it on the hatch. : Rae. e° The next thing he saw was the indistinct fi ure of a boy in the near distance. With an ex clamation of anger, he jumped to the conclusio: that their prisoner had in some unaccountabl manner managed to free himself, had slippec out of the hatch, disturbing the saucepan, : was making off as fast as he could. | scien He shouted down the companionway to M Brand, and clearing the space between the sloo and the shore started in. pursuit. The boy ‘stopped on hearing the Rey oe as if ‘sur

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‘no difficulty in coming up with him. As the woods cast a gloom over the spot where he stood, i Sykes did not at once see that this was a different boy altogether. He concluded that the supposed Dick, perceiving that he would be overtaken, had stopped to put up a-fight. Sykes believed that the first blow. counted best, and rushing at the ' boy hit him a jab in the jaw that sent the as- tonished young stranger to the ground. He seized. the dazed lad by the collar of the jacket and hauled him across-to the schooner’s deck, where Mr. Brand was awaiting the outcome. of a situation that he did not quite comprehend. “Yer precious stepson was givin’ us the slip on the quiet, but he didn’t get far, all the same,” growled Sykes. Mr. Brand looked down at the prisoner, and - then exclaimed: ~~ “Why, this isn’t Dick Leslie—it’s his friend, Joe Casperfield.” hay What!” . roared: Sykes, “Tb. isn’t——” Then he saw that his companion was right. By that time the maltreated lad had recovered _ his wits and sat up. - “What are you abusing me in this way for?” he demanded, angrily. “Who do you take me for, anyway?” The two men stared at him without replying. *T took yer for somebody. else,” growled _ Sykes, at length. ~ _ “Why, is that vou, Mr. Brand? Do you know if. Dick is at the house? He promised to come ver and see me to-night. I got tired-of wait- ng for him and was just going over to your cottage to see why he hasn’t shown up.” “No, I don’t know nothing about him,” an- ered Mr. Brand, in sulky tone. _ “Then you don’t know where he went after sup- per?” persisted Joe. “No, I don’t.” Joe ‘started to go when it suddenly struck him that this sloop was moored in a-strange place. He stopped and looked her over in a way Sykes didn’t like. __ “What -yer lookin’ at?” he demanded, aggres- looking closer. j “T’m looking at this sloop. What is she doing ‘far up the creek?” “None of yer blamed business what she’s do- n’ here,” retorted Sykes. “Git!” Joe judged from his threatening manner that at was the best thing for him to do,'and he s about to step ashore when Dick, who. had en attracted underneath the hatch by the con- -ersation he had heard going on, ‘yelled out: “Hel-lo, Joe! I’m a+ prisoner in the hold.” “The air being’ so still every word came dis- actly to the ears. of those on deck. ‘Why, that’s Dick voice now!” eried Joe, in eatsurprise. “He says he’s a prisoner in the His voice came right’ up through the h. What’s the meaning of this, Mr. Brand?” -eoneluded, suspiciously. : ashore, will yer?” roared Sykes, grab- Joe by the arm and trying to force him a gre 20 ashore till I understand what this d pluckily. snarled Sykes, raising, his + won't g0, eh? fist A FREAK OF FORTUNE _ eg oe -the hatch, cover on and then looking around for . getting out his knife and slashing away at the: de -hatch. “Why is Dick shut up in the hold of this sloop, ve Mr. Brand?” asked Joe, turning to his chum’se- a: stepfather. “You just told me that you didn’t : know anything about him. You better let Dick out or I’ll see to it that he does get out.” -“Yer will, you little monkey!” gritted Sykes. - “I’ve stood all the sass I’m goin’ to from yer. yer’d known when yer was well off yer’d have. dusted when I told yer to first. Now yer’ve got > to take the consequences.” : Rpceta 2 “What do you mean?” asked Joe, stepping. ~~ back. : “T’ll show yer what I mean, you measly cub!” answered Sykes, springing on him. and_bearing « him to the deck. “Yer’ll go and keep yer friend company in the hold, and see how yer'll like to be shut up there yourself.” Sykes turned Joe over, and placing his knee in the small of his back, snatched up a piece of rope and bound his arms tightly behind him. : “Pull off that hatch, Brand,” he said, sharply, ——- “Why don’t yer do as I tell yer?” he roared, as Dick’s stepfather hesitated» : poe Mr. Brand obeyed the order, seemingly as if he did not approve of the proceedings, and Sykes lifted. Joe up bodily and lowered him down into. the hold. oy : “Now go and find yer side-partner, yer young kangaroo,” said the red-headed man, slamming something to put on top of it as an extra precau- ~ tion. ; He thought of the water-keg in the forepeak, and getting it placed~it where he thought it Ee would do the most good, then he and Brand re- — turned to the cabin to finish their interrupted” supper which: was rather cold by this time. 4 CHAPTER V.—On the Eve of a Crime. “Hello, Joe!” said Dick, coming up and seiz- ing his chum by the arm, as the hatch cover was. replaced by the red-headed man. “I guess I’ve — got you into trouble by yelling out to you. But never mind; we e’ll get out of this scrape all right before long.” 4 “Why, Dick, how is it that you’re a prisoner down here?” asked Joe, facing his friend in the darkness of the hold. : “Tl tell you after I cut you loose,” replied Dick, rope that held Joe’s arms together. _» In a moment or two Joe was free of his bonds, Then Dick hurriedly told him how he had Rot into his unpleasant fix. “Now wait here till I take a Jook into cabin through a knothole. If both Mr. Brand an his companion are in there we’ll make an effor to get out, just as I was about to do before yo turned*up, only I was balked by a saucepan ‘that the red-headed ruffian must have left “on the It rolled off with a racket that brough the raseal on deck. Then it seems he caught yo thinking it was me making’ my escape. Til be- back in a moment.” Dick found that his stepfather eae Sykes. were busily making up for last time at the table, SC he lost no time putting the two boxes in tion again, limbing up’and shoving at the

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cover. This time he was greatly disappointed to find that it resisted his efforts. So he dismounted - and laid the boxes aside again. ' “We can’t get out for the present,-Joe,” he said. “There’s something on the hatch cover, nee it down. We'll have to wait and trust ,to uck, ike Then he asked his chum to tell him how he happened to run foul of the red-headed man. “Why, it was,this way,” explained Joe: “I got tired of waiting for you to show up at the house, as you promised to do, and I was on the way to your home to find out why, you hadn’t “come. As Iwas passing the corner of the wood J heard a racket in the direction of the head of the creek. It must have been that saucepan you say you knocked off the hatch. Then I heard a man’s voice shouting out something. As I had no idea that there was anybody, much less a vessel, at this end of the creek, I stopped to’ listen. “Then that big’ ruffian came rushing toward me. He never said a word but knocked me down with a blow from his heavy fist before I had any suspicion of what was going to happen. Then after saying something about me trying to get away, he dragged me aboard this sloop. I guess you must have heard what followed. He had attack*me by mistake, thinking I was you, but I didn’t get on to his blunder, for I was_ hopping mad. If you hadn’t yelled out, I guess I should have got off all right, but then I wouldn’t have known you were a prisoner in this hold.” “They have planned to rob the Haywoods Bank to-night.” - : _ “What!” gasped Joe. “Your stepfather has planned to rob the village bank?” | “Dick told him what. little he®had overhead about the men’s plans. Z “How do you expect to choke them off? : “I don’t know just how I’ll be able to do it now. If I had got away when I started to leave the hold, I intended to hunt up Mr. Tewks- bury and put the matter up to him.. He would have found some way of heading off the robbery without arresting Mr. Brand, which he wouldn’t like to do for the disgrace’it would bring. on mother and me. Now I guess we must try and find some wav between us.” : “P]] do.all I can to help you, Dick. You know Ym your friend.” ‘ At that moment the two men, having finished - their supper, went on deck, and the boys heard. them walking around, overhead. - “Come and sit! of the bags and we'll talk it ~ over,” said Dick, leading the way. “If that red- headed rascal doesn’t take it into his head to come down here and take a look at us we may sueceed. As he left me bound hand and foot he no doubt supposes I am still in that shape. And as he dropped you in here, with your arms bound, he won’t for a moment imagine that we ean free each other. Believing us to be perfectly helpless, he may not bother with us any more to-night. If he doesn’t, we'll stand a good show | of geting out of ovr hobble.” ’ ~ Tt was decided between them that nothing could be done until the sloop dropped down the creek, ‘sailed over to the wharf selected, and the two 5 departed e vg egos os At the boys heard Sykes an and pac- Z When their foot- men had : ais deck, over their heads. 5 5 we (aes ing the A FREAK OF FORTUNE ~ in some comfortable corner out of the wet. steps ceased, they knew the men must be seated _ somewhere, talking. Thus the evening wore slow- ly away. As the hours passed it seemed to grow more hot and oppressive in the-hold. ee The boys found 1t more and more of an effort to keep awake. They yawned and their eyelids grew painfully heavy. They ceased to converse, ceased to punch each other to throw off the drowsy languor that persisted in lulling their senses to repose, and ere long their heads dropped forward on their breasts, and they were soon in sound ~ .slumber. On deck, Sykes and Mr. Brand kept — wide awake enought There was a small wall clock hanging in the cabin, and Sykes occasionally con- sulted it. : “Time is up,” he said at last, coming on deck after a trip below. “Cast off the ‘moorin’ rope — from that stump, Brand, while I raise the jib.” Mr. Brand hastened to carry out this direction, _ and as the sloop moved away from the bank he — “helped Sykes hoist the mainsail. Before the sloop _ reached the water-front of the village the heavens were completely overcast, the wind was gradually _ rising and a drizzling rain was adding discomfort — to the scene. Sykes had a sharp eye, and soon ~ singled out the wharf he had selected to moor at’ while they wefe away at the bank.’ They ran alongside of it and made fast to a spile head.— Not’ a soul was in sight anywhere, and there seemed little fear that any one would be around that locality until sunrise at least. 2 “We'll have everythin’ our own way, Brand,’ chuekled the red-headed man. “T’ll bet every per- son in the village is sound asleep at this hour. The two constables are no doubt snugly stowed aweae any rate, I’m not afraid of meetin’ them, eithe goin’ or comin’. Go down and bring up my-kit of | tools and the two bags to carry the swag in. AS soon’ as we reach the back door of the bank Il lend you my gun to intimidate the night watch- man with after we break in. Don’t forget to pu a couple of pieces of rope in your pocket to tie the fellow with, and a bit of rag to gag him.” Mr. Brand brought the required articles on deck, and everything being in readiness, the two men stepped onto the wharf and took their way up the street, hugging the shadows. CHAPTER VI.—Dick Escapes from the Hold, and What Happened Afterward. Two hours passed away, during which the two boys in the hold slept as peacefully as though they ~ were in their beds at heme. “I'wenty minutes © passed, and then a heavier jolt than usual of the © sloop against. the wharf toppled the sleeping Die : over on his side and awoke him. He instantly sa up and rubbed his eyes. ; iss “Hang it, if I haven’t been asleep!” he ex claimed, in a tone of disgust. ‘The question is, how long have I slept?” =eisr a At first he thought from the motion of the craf se he was mistaken in his surmise. With any attention to the slumbering Joe, h [eee ee aes

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‘way over to the knothole in the cabin bulkhead and peered through. All was silence and darkness in the cabin. . : ~ “My gracious!” he exclaimed. ‘They are sure- - Ty ashore, and Joe and I have lost the golden op- ' portunity we were looking forward to. It isn’t - too late, however, for us to get away, I guess. I - must make sure just how things stand first, and then I’ll arouse Joe.” With some difficulty, owing to the bobbing and rolling of the vessel, he piled the two boxes one on top of the other and mounted to the hatch. To - his surprise the cover few up without any diffi- culty and he nearly fell off his perch. Although Dick didn’t know it, the action of the sloop had dislodged the water-cask from the top of the hatch. Grasping -the combing of the hatch with one hand, to steady himself, Dick looked around the ~deck and then th: immediate neighborhood. Being - familiar with tke entire village water front he _ knew right away where the sloop was. - Dick shoved the hatch cover aside and sprang ~ out on deck. Then he made straight for the cabin stairs, descended them, struck a match and looked ground till he spied the clock. Glancing at its big, round face, he saw, to his consternation, that, it wanted just five minutes of four. : “That. settles it, ’m afraid. Mr. Brand and his burglar associate are liable to be back at any moment, probably with a load of loot. I must arouse Joe at once.” sees He sprang back up the brass-bourid stairs. Hardly had he reached the deck before he heard _ voices at the head of the wharf. ea ; “There they come now. We'll never be able to get away. How unfortunate it was that we fell asleep! It has queered all our plans, Too ‘bad I didn’t arouse Joe before I came up here, * for there isn’t time for me to do it now with any safety. What shall I do? It would be - foolish for me to return to the hold again. [ ‘know. I'll hide in the forepeak until I can get a chance to let Joe out of the hold. But first or all I'd better put the cover on the hatch or ey’ll know at, once that something is wrong.” -. Dick had just time to do this, and seek the shelter of the forepeak when two indistinct forms, carrying loaded bags over their shoulders, ap- peared through the gloom that shrouded the wharf. Holding the scuttle cover up an inch or two, Dick watched Sykes and Mr. Brand step aboard and dump their bundles on the deck near the cabin stairs. Almost immediately the red- headed. rascal’s sharp eyes noticed the absence of the water cask from the top of the hatch, and that fact aroused a suspicion in his mind with respect to their-prisoners. Z Took here, Brand, when we went ashore that water-barrel was on top of the hatch. I put it there on purpose to hold the cover down. so that nm case those young monkeys managed to free “themselves they couldn’t shove the hatch up and make their escape.” “Well,” replied Mr. Brand, “what about it?” - “Phere’s this much about it: That cask should be there still and not where it is, against the - starboard rail.” ; ~ “It must have rolled off, then,” replied Brand, not taking much interest in the matter. - se , that may be; but Pm 4 = es re i ~ A FREAK OF FORTUNE wale ogee _.@ great shock, and the way: the two men- goin’ to take a — look at the prisoners to be on the safe side,”. he said. “Go and fetch the lantern.” As’ Mr. Brand started for the cabin to get the article in question, Sykes yanked off the hatch cover and leaped into the hold. A terrible ~ crash and a volley of imprecations, mingled with a groan or two, brought Brand back in a hurry. The red-headed rascal had encountered an unex- pected obstacle in. his descent in the shape of the — two boxes that Dick had placed there for a step-- ladder. They had given away under him, and carried him to the bottom of the hold in a heap, where he struck his head on a piece of pig-iron ballast and. lay half-stunned. “What in creation is the matter with you, Sykes?” asked Brand, astonished at the racket, as he peered down into the hatchway. ae _A groan, followed by a rather strong expres- sion that’ won’t bear repetition, was all the an- swer-he got. Mr. Brand-began to grow alarmed. If his companion, who was the brains of the com- bination, was seriously hurt, the situation was an awkward one for them both. Greatly to his relief, however, he heard Sykes scramble on his feet and begin to swear like a trooper. To his ~ mind that was a good sign that his companion was not very badly injured. % “What’s the trouble?” again inquired Mr. Brand. : , “Trouble!” roared Sykes, in a great rage. “What in thunder were those boxes doing under — the hatch ?’ Stayt: “How should I know? You were in the hatch — last yourself,” answered Brand. : Ane ._ “By thunder! There’s something wrong. Fetch ~ a light so I-can see below.” ° Bs Of course, Dick, from his place of concealment in the forepeak, heard the whole of the conversa- tion about the displaced water breaker, as well as Sykes’s subsequent movements and. tumble, — and he knew that there would be something do- _ ing as soon as his stepfather returned with the lighted lantern.. Mr. Brand lost no time in get- ting the lantern from the cabin. He passed it down to Sykes, who had been ~ impatiently waiting in the hold. The rascal then proceeded to make an investigation. He flashed the light into the corner and saw only one boy. .~ Then he raised the lantern. above his head and ~~ looked about the hold. His keen glance soon | assured him that Dick was not there. Joe was awake now, and wondering what was coming. Without paying further attention to Casperfield, to that youth’s intense .satisfaction, he rushed. — back to the hatchway. : i Tae “That stepson of yours has escaped!” he roar- ‘ed up to Mr. Brand. Ae “Hscaped!” exclaimed Brand, incredulously. “Yes, skipped out. That accounts for the — water-barrel being off the hatch cover. The other chap is here, however, which shows that your kid expected to bring back a constable, or some other man, in short order, to lay us by the heels. Here, take this glim,” passing up the lantern, “and give me a hand to get out of this. 3 haven’t any time to lose. We must cast off from the wharf and get under way at once or there’ll be trouble to burn for us.” ~ ee His words gave his less hardened. companion c busy during the next few minutes showed tha sg

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a 8 e ; they were fully alive to the danger that ‘they believed menaced them. CHAPTER VII.—Dick Master of the Situation. —t As soon as Sykes had clapped the cover of the hatch again, and replaced the keg of water on it, he hastened to assist Mr. Brand to unmoor the sloop from the wharf. As the boat drifted out into’ the lake, they hoisted the mainsail first and the jib afterward, after which Sykes hasten- ed to take charge of the helm and put the vessel ou her course down the broad sheet of water on the northern shore of which Haywoods Vil- lage lay. The sloop now slipped along over the choppy water at a good speed, and was rapidly leaving the village behind her. Dick watched the two men from under the scuttle cover, and chuckled at the idea that they believed he was ashore, and that they had ‘successfully eluded his pre- sumed plan to capture them at the wharf. Day was now breaking, and the sun would be up in less than an hour. A few miles ahead was a bunch.of green island, and toward the largest of these, named Geat Island, Sykes was steering the sloop. As the sun rose over the low line of hills to the east, the sloop was close to Goat Island, and soon afterward Dick found that his surmise was correct about the craft making a landing, for . she presently put in at a sequestered cove. The Z sails were lowered and left unfastenéd in the same way as at the head of the creek, and then - the men, after carrying a line ashore and fasten- ing it to a convenient tree, retired to the cabin. Dick took advantage of their absence from the deck.to slip ashore and hide in the thick under- growth of bushes, where he could safely watch their further movements and figure on what-he should do next. Every moment he expected to see Sykes appear and go forward to the fore- peak to prepare the morning meal, but the - _ minutes went by and he did not show up. After - waiting a good half hour, Dick began to grow ‘impatient. “J wonder what they’re doing in the cabin?” ~ he said to himself. .“Maybe counting up their _ plunder from the bank, and stowing it away. I . dare say that’s an occupation that they find great pleasure in.” As a matter of fact that was _ exactly what Sykes and his associate were doing. Jt took them the greater part of an hour to size up their swag and divide it, according to the which was three-quarters for himself and one- ‘quarter for Mr. Brand. Dick’s stepfather held out for a large share of the spoils of their night’s work, but Sykes carried the argument in his own favor, on the ground that he was the man who planned and really carried out the enterprise; that he had furnished the experience and tools and sloop, and that Mr. Brand was merely a kind f general assistant, and ought to be satisfied with whatever share he “Sykes” chose to give im. Whether Brand was satisfied: or not with the way his companion put the matter he could not very well help himself, as Sykes was big, strong and aggressive, and used to doing things as he A FREAK OF FORTUNE yed-headed man’s ideas of an equitable division,. with’ great attention. “whenever he had the advantage on his. side. As soon as the subject was disposed — of, Sykes called on his companion to wash up the dirty dishes from their evéning’s repast, while he started in and cooked breakfast. Dick saw him proceed to the galley, and soon smoke was issuing from the small stovepipe in the. © forepeak. The light breeze blowing on shore — wafted the smell of the cookery to the boy’s nose and made him feel hungry. re: “Tf they turn in for a sleep after the meal I ean sneak aboard and perhaps find a bite of something left in the galley. Then I'll release ~ Joe and perhaps we can capture the sloop while they’re dreaming in the cabin. I know just how Yl do it if I get but half a chance.” ; Dick saw Sykes go into the forepeak again, and after a little while, during which there was more smell of cooking, he came out with a plate full of stuff and a cup of something that Dick — judged to be coffee. These he laid down on the deck, removed the watercask from the hatch ~ cover and prepared to enter the hold. = “He’s taking Joe some breakfast,” breathed Dick, licking his hungry chops and really enyy- ing his comrade in misfortune his bit of good luck. Sykes lowered himself into the hold, and — Mr. Brand passed him the loaded dishes. The rascal was out of sight some little time. Then, _ after passing up the empty dishes, he sprang _ on deck, put the cover on the hatch again and ~ replaced the water breaker. He stood talking to Mr. Brand for a few moments, and then the worthy pair went down into the cabin again. — Dick put in another hour of impatient waiting | and finding that the men did not reappear on — deck again he began to consider the advisability) of venturing on board the sloop and investigat- ing the condition of things. aN “T think I can safely count on their being «— asleep by this time,” he said to himself. “Vl have to be mighty careful, though, for I’ve no ~ doubt that red-headed rascal has trained‘ him- self to- sleep ,with one eye open.” ratee He emerged from the bushes, took off his shoes, and crept on board. The first thing he — did was to drop down into the forepeak on the hunt for something to eat. The fire was out and ~ there was nothing but a dirty frying-pan and — the coffee-pot on the stove. There was half a loaf of bread and a plate with some butter on — it lying on a box close by. - ; i “That’s better than nothing, by-a long shot,” — said the hungry lad, cutting off several slices — and buttering them. . , eee With his mouth full he looked into the coffee- pot. It was: not quite empty, and he managed to get three-quarters of a cup of cold coffee. After consuming most of the bread, all of the — butter and emptying the pot, Dick felt better — and ready for action in other quarters. Poking his head cautiously above the open scuttle he saw that the deck was as deserted as ever. i He © got out of the forepeak and softly crossed the | deck. Standing close to the cabin stairs he poked his head down the opening and stened _ The sounds of heavy — breathing came up to him. pac “Good. They are asleep,” he said, Fives He was about to turn away, when a daring idea occurred to him. He would descend the stairs and, take a look men in ofder - me? Tye ae ar ae ae

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see how soundly they appeared to be sleeping. So the nervy boy stepped-softly down the half dozen brass-bound stairs until he stood inside the entrance to the cabin. Then he glanced around the place into which the sunlight streamed through the small skylight in the roof of the trunk. There was a bunk on a locker on either side of the cabin. Mr. Brand was stretched out on one, Sykes on the other. Their pigs indicated sound repose. Dick, having seen all he wanted to was about to retreat when his sharp eye noticed the butt of a revolver sticking from under the red-headed man’s pillow. “T must try and get it,” Dick breathed. “With that in my hands, and with Joe at my back, I am almost sure that we would be wasters of the situation. -_ With the utmost caution he approached . Syke’s berth, laid his fingers on the weapon and. inch by inch, drew itfrom its resting place. At last, with a thrill of satisfaction, he had it in his hand; and the two men slept on, obvious of what he was doing. There was nothing further to detain him in the cabin, and so he returned on deck. ae - “Now, if I could’ manage to secure the. sliding ‘door over the entrance to the cabin stairs Td have them prisoners below, and then the game “would be in my hands,” he said. There was a keyhole in the slide, which showed ‘that it could be locked, but.as the key was not in it, Dick could not. expect to lock it. f ; "here was also a stout, brass ring which served in place of a handle for drawing the door to. This gave Dick an idea. He looked around, picked up a piece of line and making a thick not in one end he passed the other end through the rme, shut the door over and then secured ‘the end of the line around a cleat in the low bulwark of the sloop. That made the door fast. ~**T guess I’ve got them all right now,” he said, ie riumphantly. “The next thing is. to release Joe from the hold.” m) or eth st Are Up Against It. Dick lost no time in removing the hatch, and _ jumping down into the hold. “Hist. Joe! Where are you?” he called, in a low sone. he meeee you on board, Dick!” cried Joe, coming forward in joyful surprise. “I thought vou had “escaped ashore at the village. That red-headed ~ yaseal came down) here with a lantern some hours ago and seemed surprised when he didn’t see you. T heard him tell your stepfather that you had _” fe: cove, when: slipped ashore because I was afraid of being discovered.” , “Whereabouts is the sloop anchored? “At Goat Island.” : s that so? Well, how about our getting - 8 ng to orevent us.” What about vour stepfather and CHAPTER VIII—In Which Sykes and Brand™ dl. ~.. the edge off my h A FREAK OF FORTUNE ae “You have? How?” s ; “Come on deck and I'll show you.” Ss Joe lifted Dick up so he could scramble out, and then Dick assisted him out from above. They put the cover on the hatch and walked aft, where Joe saw how his chum had secured the. cabin slide. . “When they wake up and find themselves prisoners that big rascal will smash the slide to pieces. It doesn’t look over strong.” “Tf he tries that he’ll run against this,” re- plied Dick, showing the revolver. : “Where did you get that?” asked Joe, in sur- prise. } , Dick told him how he got possession of it. “Well, you’ve got more nerve. than I have,” answered Joe, admiringly. “We'll have to watch » both the slide and the skylight. I wish I had some kind of a weapon to back you up with,” he added, looking around. ; “There’s a hatchet in the forepeak. Take’ it ashore and cut yourself a good club. That will answer as well as anything.” Joe thought Dick’s suggestion a followed it. : { “Do you know whether your stepfather and the other chap got into the bank this morning, as — you told me they proposed doing?” asked Joe good one and when he returned with a serviceable club. AEX “T guess there’s no doubt. about it, for they brought a couple of loaded bags on board just before the red-headed man fell into the hold ‘when he started to see if we were both safe down there,” replied Dick. Ps “Did he fall into the hold?” mens “Did he? I should say he did,” chuckled Dick. “He fell over those boxes you remember I piled up.” “Then that was the racket that woke me up.” “It must-have been, for he made noise enough ito wake the dead.” “Well, -vhat are you going to do about getting back to the village? / “I think we’d better get all ready for starting. Go forward and hoist the jib. Then raise the mainsail a foot or two so it will be clear of the boom. All we'll have to do will be to cut the mooring line and we'll drift out of the cove.’ Joe carried out Dick’s orders and then the two boys awaited developments in the cabin. The "no disposition to wake up in a hurry. The morn- ing wore slowly away, and Dick began to feel decidedly hungry again. to Joe, and telling him to keep his eyes peele for trouble, he went into the galley and rum- ~ “maged around for food. He discovered a couple of pounds of sliced bacon, two loaves of bread, two dozen of eggs, nearly a pound of coffee and — other things of a like nature. He cooked a fresh — pot of coffee, cut up.a loaf of bread, fried a mesa — of bacon and eggs for himself and Joe, and when everything was ready fetched it over to where his companion sat on guard. “That looks good,” said Joe, hungrily. night.” : “IT ate up half-a loaf and part of a cup of | coffee I found in the galley when I returned 0 board after Sykes had cooked a second mess! meat for you,” replied Dick. “That only . unger. Now I’m going 5 ry § t two men were evidently tired, for they’ showed Handing the revolver, — “I sup” Pose you hayen’t had anything to eat since ig: ©

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10 away with a square meal. Pitch in and let’s get - -* it out of the way. Those chaps may wake up any moment and make things interesting for us.” Nothing happened while they were eating, nor *for more than an hour afterward, then they heard a noise in the cabin. “Grab your stick, Joe. There'll be something doing in a moment,” said Dick. There was the sound of steps on the bross- é ‘bound stairs and then a fumbling of a hand at ~~ the closed slide. Failing to get the slide open, the person who was workine at it began to swear in tones that unmistakably belonged to Sykes. ; - “What’s the matter?” the boys heard Mr. - Brand «ask. _. $ykes’s reply was more forcible than polite, “and ended up with a demand to know if Mr. Brand had closed the slide. Dick’s stepfather replied that he-hadn’t touched it. _ i) “Tt?s blamed funny, then.” answered Sykes. “Tt was open when we turned in. I don’t like the look of this. The slide is fast, and I can’t i -pudge it. Hand me that revolver of mine under - the pillow and I'll batter it open.” : In a moment or two Mr. Brand reported that he couldn’t find the revolver. ~With an impre- -eation, Svkes walked back down the stairs and Yooked for himself. He didn’t find=it because Dick had it at that moment. The boys could hear him raising Cain in the cabin. By this time his suspicions that things were out of joint were Gn full blast. He found a heavy piece of iron pipe in his locker, and with that he returned to the door and began to batter at it with an energy that promised to knock a panel out in no time at ‘all. + i “Stand guard over the skylight, Joe, and Tl attend to Mr. Sykes,” said Dick, cocking the revolver. : : ‘ Crash! Two panels of the slide were splin- tered. ‘The wood fell out on the deck and Sykes’s ferocious countenance was framed_ in the open- ing. Matters had reached a climax at last. is + a CHAPTER {X.—In Which the Tables Are Turned 4+ on Sykes and Brand. » see 5 » When. Sykes’s eyes rested on Dick Leslie stand- jing, revolver in hand, facing the broken cabin, he uttered an exclamation of rage and astonish- ment. : a Se y ~ You here, you pestiferous young . monkey, + ‘he roared. : : ~ "Yes, I’m here,” replied Dick, coolly. ~~ “Who are you talking to, Sykes?” asked Mr. Brand, from the foot of the stairs. ; “Who? Why your measly stepson. T’'ll bet he’s at the bottom of this trick.” : ’ Mr. Brand ascended the stairs and peeped out. He recognized Dick with no little wonder, for he ~ Seouldn’t account for the lad being on board when both he and Sykes supposed that he had escaped at the village wharf. ; : a “Ts that my gun ver’ve got in ver hand?” de- ‘manded Sykes wrathfully of Dick. fee “J guess it was, but it’s mine now,” replied alohi iron aye : ee ee s me for a foo A FREAK OF FORTUNE | turned Dick. “This revolver is the boss of the — situation. If you make any further ‘attempt to — break out of that door I’ll shoot. If you think I don’t mean business, just try me, that’s all.” - There was a resolute ring in Diek’s voice that — warned Sykes that the boy was dangerous to — monkey with. He had been up against revolvers — in determined hands before, and he was accus- — tomed to take chances. Probably he expected that when he died it would be with his boots on. — Sykes glared at Dick in a way that would have carried terror to some boy’s souls. “He raised- the piece of iron pipe suddenly and hurled it against the remaining panels with a viciousness that splintered the entire door. . Then he thrust his body through the opening and came at Dick — with blood in his eye. Dick saw his danger, and — realizing that he must either make good his threat or throw up the sponge, raised his re-: volver and with his finger on the trigger aimed point blank at the ruffian. In another moment — Dick would have fired and probably have killed — or desperately woundéd the crook, but that Joe, — on hearing the second crash, and seeing Sykes issue through the fractured door, sprang for- ward and brought his club down on the fellow’s ~ = with a force and sent him stunned to the deck. j : eS “Good for you, Joe!” said Dick, much relieve by the turn affairs had taken. “Now get a piece’ of rope and we'll tie him.” - : ‘ Joe got a short length of line forward, and 2 between them they bound Sykes good and tight while Mr: Brand looked on, afraid to interfere. — They dragged the crook to the hatchway and left 2 him there. z “Now, Mr. Brand, come on deck. I want talk to you,” said Dick, returning to the ca entrance. His stepfather refused to avail him- self of this invitation, and retreated back into th cabin. Dick, kicking the broken slide aside, and _ jeaving Joe to keep an eve on deck, followed him Mr. Brand sullenly took his seat on the bunk — lately vacated by his associate, and regarded th boy with an unfriendly aspect. : rem t * ate ~ gether, Mr. Brand,” began Dick; “and now that you have added to your other undersirable qual- ities the commission of a:crime, I don’t think © we're ever ready to hitch.” tee Mr. Brand looked hard things at his stepson but did not say a word. . ; “How did’ vou become acquainted with that ruffian outside, and whatever was it that in: “duced you to join hands with him in the robb ; of the Haywoods Bank?” e Sey ! ‘What's that?” snarled Mr. Brand! “How d you say that I robbed any bank, you little lia “That bluff won’t work with*me, Mr. Branc replied Dick, coldly. me down in the hold when the sloop was at th head of the creek, I°found a knothole in t bulkhead and, looking through, I saw both you seated at this table. I heard every wor that passed between you about the job this morn: ing at the bank. Then when I escaped from t hold at the village wharf I saw you both ec

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: A FREAK OF FORTUNE tA ge | _Mr. Brand nearly collapsed at the extent of me with it. Sykes will get out of the way just. his stepson’s knowledge of his iniquity. as soon as he can, for you can tell him that as a : “T suppose you mean to have me arrested,” he personal favor to me you have decided to give Said, sullenly. “You’re a nice stepson, you are. him two or three hours start of the constables, To bring disgrace on me and your mother.” and that’ if they catch him it will be his own ~ “You deserve all the punishment the law would fault. You can also tell him that it won’t he . impose on you, Mr. Brand. You went into the healthy for him to show up in these parts again job with your eyes open. You knew you were That will make it’ pretty certain that he’ll stay faking part in a criminal affair, but you let away for good. The bank people will think yourself be persugded by that ruffian outside, that the thieves have got clear off with their ~ _ who, you know as well as I, is a crook.” .. Swag, and then after. a few weeks you, me and _ Mr. Brand made no reply, but regarded his Joe can sail “own to this island some day and stepson with an unfavorable eye. ‘divide the money. Now, isn’t that /a_ better __ “Because you- happen to be my mother’s hus- scheme than getting yourself and me, too, into band, I am going to try and save you from the a Whole lot of trouble over the return of this consequences of your folly. I had hoped to pre- .méney, which will “do us more good than the _ vent you from getting into the bank in the first rich folks who own the bank, and who wouldn’t : 1 help us to a loaf of bread if we were starving?” _ Sykes in my power, and it would give me lots of ’ Mr. Brand grew almost eloquent in his eager- Satisfaction to turn him over to the village au- ness to impress Dick with the all-around benefit _ thorities, who wotild know how to deal with him; that would accrue to the three of them by but if I did that, and let you go as I intend to, adonting his villainous ‘suggestion. ; - he would probably turn around and give you “So you have the nerve to propose such i away. That is about as much honor as there is scheme to me, have you, Mr. Brand?” Joe said, among thieves. So I’m going to take him over ajigrily. E rea to the eastern shore and turn him loose along “Isn’t it a good one?” asked his stepfather. the railroad. .That will give him the chance to eagerly. “So safe and easy that it’s like finding make good his escape. The stolen property I money. If you carried out your own foolish intend to return to the bank. As for yourself, plan you'd only cast suspicion on. me: and if I von can return home. No one’ will ever learn was arrested; think of the disgrace both to your from me or Joe that you had any hand in the mother and yourself. You can’t do- better than burglary of the bank. Thus you'll get out of a to fall in line with my views.” ‘y serious scrape.” ; i “Where is this money that you wot away with) 5 Mr. Brandt’s countenance cleared a bit, but fom the bank?” said Dick, thinking it the part hether he really was grateful to Dick for his of wisdom to get his hands on the booty before — magnaminous conduct is a matter that the boy telling his stepfather what he thought of him.* uld not decide from any indication of the face “Here it is,” replied Mr. Brand, making a dive on his stepfather’s part. i into Sykes’s locker and bringing out that in-’ “Now,” went. on Dick, “I guess you know dividual’s three-quarters share of the swag, here the money is that vou and Sykes brought which he placed on the table, close to Dick. ; way from the bank. So just produce it, and “Ts that all of it?” asked Dick. a then we’ll set sail for the village.” “That’s all—every dollar.” Steer) Mr. Brand didn’t show any great eagerness to “T think I’ll take “a look into that locker my- bring the money to light. On the contrary, an gelf, just to make sure you~ didn’t make any ‘idea had struck him which he proceeded to un- mistake.” 4 Id to Dick. 4 a‘ _“All right. Do it,” answered the man, movy- “You say that you're going to turn Jim Sykes ing aside to give him the chance to investivate. _ loose along the railroad, eh? Dick suspected» from his extreme readiness to “That’s my plan,” replied/the. boy. - . have him search that there was no more of the — “If you do that he'll probably make himself plunder in that locker,-so he suddenly changed ‘searee around this heighborhood.” his mind and went over to the other locker. “T_ sincerely hope he will.” _ \ “What are you goine to do there?” asked Mr. “Then what’s the use of doing anything fur-~ Brand, anxiouslv. “There's” nothing in thang? her in the matter?” said Mr. Brand, with-a sug- locker. Sykes pi. it all in this one.” estive wink. nol , “I’m going to examine it, just the same,” and “What do you mean?” asked Dick, in some sur- he did. ey rise. i The first thing he laid his hand on was the . “What's the use of reporting to the bank that bag containing his stepfather’s share, and he you've got possession of the money taken from’ pulled it out. ey ee _théir vault? You'll only get yourself into a lot “What do you call this, Mr. Brand?” ~ oe of trouble. The officials will want to know all He dumped several bundles of bills out on the e particulars of how you came to learn about foor. Mr. Brand’s face was the picture of. anges e robbery, how you followed the burglars up, and disapnointment. ars d how you, a boy, got it away from them. ; , o CHAPTER X.—Dick Restores the Stolen Money and Gets a Reward. (> Raaeee Dick damped the ffair, and ; mouths there’ll b

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K, iad bo _ this bae of morev somewhere on Goat Island until the excitement attending the -robbery of the bank had cooled down. Then your’ plan would be for the three. of us to come over here ‘some day, dig it up and divide.” “That’s the best thine we could do. ‘There’s $20,000 in good bills~ in that. bunch—nearly - $7,000 apiece—you and Joe wouldn’t have to ~ work any more,” said Mr. Brand, enticingly, _ thinking tht hhis stepson was about to yield to the temptation. - “Mr. Brand, if I was to tell you in plain words what I think of you I don’t fancy you’d be flat- tered. You ought to be ashamed of yourself to ' suggest such a rascally proposition to me, of all others. You married my mother, and_ instead of trying to lead me astray you ought to con= sider it your duty to see that I kept straight. ¥ it wasn’t for mv mother I’d land both you and vkes in the village lockup this afternoon. It seems to me you only need the chance to turn out as bad as he is. I am thoroughly disgusted - with you. I had no idea that you were half as bad as you are now showing yourself to be. I - shall certainly tell mother of your doing, and if she has anything more to do with you I will be greatly surprised. ‘ “You miserable little ratte, if you dare tell her a word I'll ” yoared Brand. “You'll do mae replied Dick, looking him resolutely in the ey == “Youll, find out whine: Tl do,” Sraweoed his stepfather, doggedly. “P’m not afraid of what you'll do, Mr. Brand,” replied Dick, scornfully: “Instead of threatening up on you, and holding Joe from telling the “truth also. Don’t make any mistake but that this, robbery you’ve participated in will hang ~~ eover your head, and if vou turn on me some- - thine might happen that you | wouldn’t like. - That’s all I’ve got to say to you.” Dick’ took the bag containing the stolen money and went on deck, where he found Joe sitting -. beside the still unconscious Sykes “T’ve got the plunder, Joe,” said Dick, holding ~ up the bag. = “Good enough. How much is‘ there » bag?” ‘According to Mr. Brand there is $20,000.” “That’s a big bunch of money.” ““What do you suppose my stepfather had the f “gall to propose to me.’ 352 What. was it?” - -Dick outlined Mr. Brand’s raseally siaine “What answer did you give him? “I told him a few things that he won't forget in a hurry. If I had told him how thoroughly I despise his conduct we might have had a mix- jin the « ““T don’t see how you can: stand to have him ‘around vouy house after this.” _ *“T don’t mean to have him here. I intend that mother shall have a legal separation from him. ‘don’t mean a divorce, but a complete severance of relations. He will have to agree'to it or there “will be something doing he won’t like. He was ' pad enough as a lazy, good-for-nothing man, but ~ with the stain of a crime on his hands, I’m rough with’ as soon as I have told her all.” } en When axe we sed to start fo for the vil age 2 A FREAK OF FORTUNE alee eke- me vou ought to be grateful to me for letting . seemed disposed not to allow him to return to . ~the sloop. Dick held the sloop for a few min- — him for good, and mother will be, - ; “Right away.” replied Dick. “You can cast the line off and let the sloop drift out of the cove. Then come and help me hoist the mainsail.” . In five minutes the vessel was heading through the nest of islands for the eastern shore of the lake, where Dick pronosed leaving Sykes to shift for himself. Mr. Brand came on deck and — looked around. He did not approach either of — the boys, who would have avoided him if he had done so. Dick, who was at the tiller, kept his eye on his stepfather, as a matter of general pre- caution, for he did not trust Mr. Brand for a cent. — In about twenty minutes the sloop was brought as close to the shore as she would go without grounding. “Now, Mr. Brand, take off your shoes and socks and help Joe carry Sykes ashore,” said Dick. after throwing the sloop into the best Dosi- tion he could for the purpose in view. “You've — got a pocket- knife, I suppose, so you can cut him aa loose afterward.” a Mr. Brand didn’t seem disposed to obey this Ves guest, and started to walk forward. “Look here, Mr. Brand, if you want me to fended both you’ and Sykes in jail at the village, why a just keep on acting as you’re doing. I'll give — vou two minutes to make up vour mind. If I _ have to carry your associate to Havwoods and — turn him over to, the authorities you’ll share his ~ fate; so unless you want to ZO to prison youll — do as I tell you.” * ae As Dick showed that he was thoroughly in earnest in his attitude, Mr. Brand reluctantly concludéd to do as he was told. He and Joe carried Sykes, who had now recovered his senses, ~ well up on the shore, then Casperfield left Mr. Brand to release his companion in. crime, and — hastened back to the sloop. As soon as Brand — cut Sykes loose the latter grabbed him and utes and. then said to Joe: By “Stuff Mr. Brand’s socks into his shoes and toss them on the beach. I’m not going to wait here any longer for him. It won’t hurt him any to walk back to the village along the railroad ties. In fact, I’d prefer if he turned the other — wav and accompanied Sykes out of the county. — He might better do it for he won’t be weleome ~ at the cottage. any more, and ashe has no money the tavern-keeper is not likely -to take him in I did intend to be easy with him, hoping that might be sorry for going into the burglary, but” when he made that proposition to me to join : and hold the money back from the bank. that settled him with me.’ oa Joe fixed the shoes and socks on the beach and then Dick steered the sloop out into the Jake. 2 wo hours later they made fast to the same wharf that the boat had been anchored at in the, 5 small hours of the morning. ee “Now, I’m going, to the bank with the stale funds,” said Dick. “ I wish you’d stay aboard till I return, if you don’t mind, Joe.” - ; Joe said he would do so, and Dick taking ‘the bag on his back, started for the Haywoods Bank, — That institution oe situated on the most pale fe nent corner of Main Street, and as the boy ap- proached he saw quite a crowd around the He easily guessed that they were. discnsoy robbery, which, oe ‘course, was ul long hefore that Boley.

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A FREAK OF FORTUNE _ stables was standing in front of the main door, which was closed, and on which was a written notice was tacked, which informed the public that business had been temporarily suspended. More than half the persons in the crowd knew Dick, either personally or by sight, and many nodded or spoke to him as he came up. “What have you got in the bag?” asked one man. “Have you brought back the money that the bank lost last night?” : ~ Of course. he intended the remark as a joke, never dreaming how near he had struck the truth, and those within hearing laughed at the very idea of such a thing. <s “Sure I’ve brought back the money,” laughed ~Dick. “What else should bring me to the bank?” _ “Let’s have a look, then,” -said the man, jocusely. “The officials won’t’ admit what the extent of their loss is. They must have been pretty well cleaned out of ready cash or they wouldn’t have stopped business.” - “The bank has really stopped business, has it?” asked Dick. _ “That’s what the notice on the door says.” “Don’t worry, then. They’ll start. up again in the morning. As soon as I hand this bag - over to them the cashier will take that. notice down and put up another.” ground Dick took his words as a joke, and tnere “was more laughter. : - *§ want to get inte the bank, Mr. Jones,” said Dick to the constable. “Sorry, Leslie. but no one is allowed in the ‘bank to-day.” ~ “Oh, I’m an exception. Just. knock on the door and tell everybody who comes that the “stolen money is outside, awaiting admission.” “The constable and the crowd stared at Dick on hearing his words, which were spoken in a seri- ous. tone. a5 : “The board is holding a meeting inside. If you ‘really are in earnest I'll rap on the door. your words.” said the constable, looking hard at Cle ; : «Go ahead. Ill make good all right.” ; As the constable rapped loudly, the crowd, whose curiosity and interest had been .strongly aroused, and who now began to think that the eontents of the bag might represent the stolen money after all, pushed close up, and those a ithin reach to finger the bag curiously. “The stolen money is here,” said Dick, before he constable could speak. “Let me_ inside, please.” . ; a : The boy was immediately allowed to enter, and en the door was slammed in the faces of the ‘cited people outside. While Dick was being Jed into the board room at*the rear of the bank, the news began to circulate outside that the y on about the rfield’s - to tally exactly with the loss sustained. - The bulk of the crowd which had gathered ~ But © remember, if I do it’s up to you to make good ~ 13 to recover the bank’s funds, not to prosecute his. stepfather. Accordingly, he made a clean breast of the matter. His story was listened to with © great attention and not a little astonishment. — The money and several packages of bonds that ~ had been taken also were counted and a e vice-president then introduced a resolution — thanking Dick for the part he had played in the affair, and votine him the sum of $1,000. as a reward for his services, also $100 to Joe Cas-~ perfield. ~ : : The motion prevailed, unanimously, and the cashier immediately handed Dick one of the packages of bills that had been taken. The «— question of overlooking Mr. Brand’s ageney in © the matter was so serious: as to call forth a good deal of argument before the matter was finally settled in the boy’s favor.. It was only =< because the, directors recognized the hardship that must fall to the idt. of the brave bov and his mother, if Mr. Brand was publicly branded as — one of the thieves, that they consented to hush: _ the truth up. Dick was escorted out of the bank ~ by the rear door, and soon afterward a fresh ~~ notice was put up on the front.door, saying that the bank would resume business as usual. next morning. eat CHAPTER XL—The Chinse Idol. - “I've got something for you, Joe.” said Dick, — stepping on board the sloop. Naas “What is it?” asked Casperfield, curiously. .* “One hundred dollars.” - i “One hundred dollars!” repeated Joe, staring at him. iiss cas. “Yes. The board of directors of the bank, in consideration of the part we-plaved in restoring ‘the stolen funds, voted me $1,000 and you $100." — “You don’t say!” almost gasped the surprised boy. rite ; “Here’s your share,” went on Dick, presenting + him with a $100 bill. 2 Joe took it and his eves bulged as he looked at the big 100 on each of the upper corners of - the bill. It represented a small, fortune to the farm boy, who had never owned as much as 4° $10. bill before in his life. 4 ; ces *“Gee! Vm rich!” he exclaimed, exultantly. _ “So am I, in a way,” said Dick, exhibiting ten — $100: notes, : 2 ie epics “TJ should say you are. What are you going to! — do with so much money ?” ae Be She needs — ads _ “I'm going to give it to my mother. it more than I do.” Bs ance “How did you manage with your explanations? © Get through alk right?” cee" Te x told’ the whole truth, as the easiest way. out.’ SE git eet “You didn’t give your stepfather away, did- ea a cs : : vn “T- concealed nothing, and threw Mr. Brand on the merey on the board. In consideration of my having brought back the money, and be-_ cause of the disgrace that must attach to my mother and myself, if the facts were divulge: it was voted to-cover up Mr. Brand’s guilt, to make no further attempt to catch the c inals. So now, Joe, you must hold your tc y

Page 17

4 ‘about Mr. Brand. When you tell your story to your parents, and others, just say that the bur- _. glars made their escape. It may be a white lie, but as it’s ina good cause, your conscience won't reprove yous” “T’ll be as mute as a mopsti¢k, old man. what about this sloop?” “T was told to keep it, so I’ll present you with a half interest in it.” “What shall we do with it? Sell it?” “We'll decide that question later. At present we'll go home in her.” ; “Jake her up the creek?” “Yes, We'll moor her where Sykes had her.” Tt took them an hour to reach the sloop’s for- *mer mooring ground, and then they separated, each returning to his home. “Why, Dick, my son, where have you been? ee -asked his mother, when he rushed into the cottage. : “T’ve been up against a pretty stirring time since I left home last night, mother,” replied ‘the boy, gently forcing her down on a sofa in the sitting-room. “T’ve been dreadfully worried about you,” said Mrs. Brand, tearfully. “And your father hasn’t been home ‘since he left yesterday morning.” “Don’t call him my father, mother. He is nothing to me and J hope from this out he will be nothing to you.” “Why, Dick,” cried the little» woman, looking surprised and pained by his words, for she had _ never heard’ him speak this way about his stev- father before, “what do you mean?” “Then I will explain. I regret that I must dis- tress you, but the story may as well be told now _as to keep you in suspense. hether Mr. Brand _ will venture here again I cannot tell. It is quite possible he may, but if I’m here I shall show him this door. He has proved himself unworthy of your regard.” Then Dick told all that happened from tle moment he left the cottage the night before to _ visit Joe Casperfield, till the present time. Mrs. ' Brand was quite overcome by his recital. She _ realized that her husband had taken the road to the bad in downright earnest. That he had shown himself to be a man utterly without principle. to be led into a crime—that she could have for- _ givert if he had shown some repentance for his _.folly when he found himself rounded up by his stepson; but to try and tempt her own dear boy to follow his vicious example almost broke her “heart. It was the last straw with her, as it had been with Dick. The boy had tried to, save him from the trouble he *had brought upon “his own head, and his ungrateful return therefor showed --what sort of man he was at heart. Dick com- forted his mother as well as he could. He -. handed her the money he had received from the i leet pennies and it represented a little fortune to hi Now Dick “did nae leave the cottage that night? lest Mr. Brand would show up during his absence and endeavor to bulldoze his mother. Nor did _ Brand make his appearance next day while Dick ck continued to work in his steady way at ‘a general store, and it is probable he would ve continued in Mr. Simpson’s employ for an A FREAK OF FORTUNE It was bad enough to permit himself. as at the store, nor for many weeks thereafter. The stone house was never occupied aft ra / ;} , indefinite period but for one of Fortune’s strange freaks which altered his prospects entirely for the better. Dick was first favorite among all the girls of his acquaintance, and he came to know a great many of them through his connection with the store. Many of the girls who set their cap at him, so to speak, were daughters of well- to-do people in the village, one even being a petted niece of the cashier of the bank. Dick pre have picked out a sweetheart at will among — score of girls, but not one of them seemed to 4 fitkattat him to that extent. The only girl who — seemed to attract him at all was Bonnie Barton, — ; an orphan, who lived with her grandmother in a very humble cottage not far from his own home. For some time Dick had been in the habit of taking her twice a week to the singing-class in — the public school assembly hall, and for this rea son the other girls took a strong dislike to her. They considered that she monopolized altogether — too much of Dick’ S society, and they endeavored to retaliate by giving her the cold shoulder. It was the worst course they could have taken to — win Dick away from her. As. soon as he got on to the way Bonnie was being snubbed, he re- sented it by paying her twice as much attention - as before, and the result of it was that the sweet- _ ness of the girl’s disposition, and her gentle ways, | began to have their effect on him, and he soon — came to regard Bonnie in a new and very fav- ~ orable light. About a month after the bank rob- bery, Bonnie’s grandmother took sick and died. — This misfortune threw the girl on her own | sources, and many of the village maidens were — ungenerous enough to hope that she would leave Haywoods for good. It is possible she mig! have done so but for Dick. He induced mother to offer Bonnie a home, and she accepte A room next to Dick’s was fitted up for hi and thereafter she proved of great assistance to — Mrs. Brand about the house, and in tending the — truck patch, which began to flourish in great shape under her care. It was about this.time — that Dick, in passing: the village second-hand — store one evening, was attracted by a chest of — ancient mahogany drawers, with curious, brass — handles, and brass corner-pieces of odd desi On top of it stood a little porcelain Chinese with squatting’ legs and squinting eyes. 4 was quite taken with both articles, and he entered — the store ‘and asked the price of them, The price of the chest of drawers was’ $5, the idol which had no connection with it, was $1. : “T’]] take them,” said Dick, who thought chest of drawers would make a pretty bale. for Bonnie, while the idol would make an odd sort of ornament for his room. “Where did: y' get them?” he asked the god as he was pay. ing the money. ae He -was told that they came from an old house down the road that had lately been pulled do after the property was sold, to make way for modern dwelling now in the’course of eree The old house in question had been built an occupied. for a great many years by a man rather sinister aspect, whe, with his wife, been the sole occupants. > stone building, half a mile further down the it. and gradually. pe to

Page 18

the ground story was still left to mark its site, ~~ -and stood within a few feet of an immense, but _ now dead, walnut tree. The man of sinister as- += pect and his wife lived the life of recluses, visit- ing nobody and being visited by none. The man paid regular weekly visits to the village to make ~ purchases of supplies and was never known to ~ hold friendly converse with anybody. Finally he died, and his widow lived alone in the house ~ for many years. It was after her death that thé property was sold by the town. : - The second-hand dealer had bought the few ‘articles’ of furniture the house contained, and among these were the chest of drawers and the idol: Dick took the idol home with him, and next day the chest of drawers was delivered at the cottage and installed in Bonnie’s room. That -evenine Joe called and Dick showed him the idol. Both boys were agreed that its equal was not to be found in Haywoods, and Dick was satisfied that he had got it dirt cheap. “Tt’s got the most sarcastic grin on its face I ever saw in my life,” remarked Dick, as they stood and looked at it. “I’ve only owned it “twenty-four hours, yet I never look at it but I feel like punching it in the eye. That grin make me mad.” “ “It certainly has a tantalizing smirk,” ad- “mitted Joe. “But that’s the way with those Chinese ornaments. # suppose the Chink who made that, thirty or forty years ago, intended that for a seraphic smile. Are you going to leave it on your bureau?” - 4No. I just put that little wall bracket up ‘there to hold it.” - Dick removed ‘the idol to the bracket. “How does it look there?” he added. - “«Pine,” said Joe. “If vou ever get tired of it 1 buy it for $2.” : : : : .“[ don’t think I’ll ever sell it in spite of its diabolical grin,” replied Dick. An hour later, Dick was getting ready for bed when his eyes were attracted to the idol. A flood moonlight coming through the window op- site cast a halo of white light around the ornament. As Dick looked at it in a fascinated kind of way, the grin seemed to grow more sar- 4 ump as to pay a whole dollar for you. now, can’t you do something besides squat there snd grin like a fiend? Let me see you do some- ing else.” ~ ; = : : - Hardly were the words out of his mouth be- re the bracket gave way and down went the ‘Hiol on the floor, with a crash that seattered its remains over a yard of the carpet. ee - “My gracious!” gasped Dick, in dismay. “It’s ‘done for now.” Bk : 4! r c 7. ne fas A FREAK OF FORTUNE ‘regard it as a freak of fortune. * buried in the hollow trunk of that old walnut! ‘Maybe this is a joke. -ago; but from I’ve heard’ of him he didn’t se Lert didn’t fasten that bracket secure enough. The old Chink was pretty heavy for its size. “Well,. — his name is mud now, and I’m a dollar out.” : | _He stooped down and began to gather up the pieces. Every bit of it almost had gone to small _ fragments—all but the head. That; singular to — say, with its sardonic grin, was still intact. : : “Well, upon my word, it must have been that grin. that saved your phiz,” said Dick, as he ~ looked at the head of the idol. “You couldn’t lose it even under the most strenuous of -circum- stances, could you? Well, I'll keep you, if only for the sake of your. beastly smirk.” ; ate. Thus speaking, Dick placed the head on his ~ bureau and went to bed. Next morning: was — Sunday, and Dick, glad that he didn’t have to go to the. store to open up at seven, took an extra nap and finally turned out about eight o’clock. _ “Well, old chap,” said Dick, as he was adjust- © ing his collar and tie, addressing the grinning — head of the Chinese idol, “you met with hard luck last night, didn’t you? But judging from the cheerful expression on- your phiz it- doesn’t — seem to worry you worth.a cent. I wonder if I — couldn’t glue you to a piece of fancy wood?” ~ -He took the head up and looked at it. Then he saw that there was an opening in the neck, ~ indicating that the head was hollow. He cas- ~ ually turned it over and glanced into the hole. There was a piece of paper inside. Inserting _ his finger he drew it out, and was about to — throw it away when it occurred to him to open | it out and look at it. He found there was writ- ing on it—something seribbled in .a scrawling © hand. He had no trouble in deciphering the few — words. This is how they read: ie a “He who is lucky enough to find this paper may | Let him go to the old walnut tree which stands within a dozen — feet of the ruins of the stone house once used as * a dwelling by*me and my wife. The tree ap- — parently sound and solid at its roots is really — hollow. An axe will readily reveal what has for twenty years been concealed within. For reasons known only to myself, and must forever remain unexplained, I put it there, and bequeath it as a legacy to whoever finds it, either by accident or through this paper. ¥ : es ; John Hawkesley.” — “(Signed),. Dick stood for several minutes with his eyes riveted on the writing. . “What the dickens can this mean? Something tree down the road? What can it be that hidden there? ‘He who is lucky enough to 1 d this paper may regard it as a freak of fortune,” he breathed, re-reading the first line. “That in- dicates something of value to be there. Why should a person conceal anything of value in the hollow of a tree for some stranger to find and profit by? It doesn’t seem natural for any man to do this unless he was not‘in his right mind. And yet this idol ce tainly came from John Hawkesley’s house. I. never saw him, for he died a good many years~ to be a man who took an interest in jokes. Th say he looked like a pretty hard ee ae e sa wit, RE

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16 spoke to, any of the people who lived near them. They were’regular hermits. Well, I think it will do no harm to investigate the matter, at any rate. Tf there’s nothing in it I won’t be any worse off ~ fer looking into it. I shan’t tell anybody but Joe ‘about this, so there is no danger of any one having the laugh on me, if the whole thing is a fake.” Dick placed the paper in his vest-pocket and went downstairs, where he found breakfast wait- ine. At nine o’clock he went to- Sunday. school with Bonnie, where he met Joe and most of the j girls. and boys he knew. After church Joe ' walked back with them. “What do you think, Joe,” said Dick, after they had got started along the road, “that idol : of mine met with a serious accident.” é “Tt did? What happened to it.” “That bracket broke down and tumble.” “You don’t say. Did it break?” : “It’s body went into about a dozen pieces, but the head was not injured at all.” : “That’s too bad. »~I suppose the head is no good without a body.” ¢ : : “The head was the best part of it. I’m going to glue it to a piece of wood so it will look as if the rest of it was buried underneath. That’s the best I can do with his grinning idolship.”. es “What made the bracket break? Did you -. secure. it well enough?” : ~ “7 thought I did, but it seems that I didn’t.” “Well, you’re out a dollar.” : “Probably, but I may be in something else.” “What else?” ; “That is a mystery as yet.” , : “A mystery!” laughed Joe. “I like mysteries, put still I don’t take much stock in them.” “Come around after dinner, will you, and we'll investigate it together.” Se “All right.” A few minutes/afterward they parted at the gate of Dick’s home, he and Bonnie entering the house, while Joe went on. It was about three it took a + o'clock when. Joe made his appearance again. - a “Are you ready, to £0 on a little expedition? asked Dick. “Sure Iam. Where to?” — , “Down the road, about two miles.” aoe “Ym with you.” ify “Wait till I get an axe.” : ; . as “What are you going to do with an axe? ae “Open up the mystery!” : ; > “E suppose you expect to solve it by axe-I- - dent,” chuckled Joe. . Dick went to the outhouse and brought the axe. . “Before we start I’ll let you in on all I know about it. Here is a paper I discovered tucked away in the head of that Chinese idol. Read it and let me know what you think about it.” 3 He handed his chum the paper and Joe read it. “You found this in the idol’s head, did you?” Yes, and the idoh came from the Hawkesley house that was torn down a couple of months - ” Joe read the paper a second time, more care- _ fully than before. ; : a Basar pas there’s a lot of money hidden in that tree,” he said, eagerly. “J wish there was, but. it doesn’t seem reason-. able for a person to hide money in a tree and x Ph =i oe ae: ale A FREAK OF FORTUNE ne find it by.” = “That’s so. If it isn’t money it,must be some- — thing valuable.” . “I’m afraid the whole thing is a fake. Ive passed close to that old dead tree a scare of times, and I guess you have too. Now, I never - noticed anything about it to show that the trunk then leave a clew like this for any stranger to @vasnit perfectly solid, like any other tree.” “That’s right,” nodded Joe. 4 “Now, supposing it actually is hollow, how — was anything concealed within it without leaving any signs of an opening having been made?” “The opening may have been made in the. back.” , “Or the trunk being hollow all the way up to the erotch whatever is inside may have been © dropped in at the top.” “Exactly,” coincided Joe. “Well, we'll go down to the tree and see what oe can make out of it. Bonnie is coming along, 00. ‘ Dick called the girl and she came outside with — her hat on, followed by her only .possession,. Dewey, a medium-sized hound she had raised — from a pup. Dick had already taken Bonnie into — his confidence, and consequently she understood why Dick carried the axe. - ; “Let’s each give a-guess as to what we'll find in the tree,” said Joe. — “What’s your guess?” asked Dick. “A tin box full of bank-notes and plied Joe. “What do you say?” “I am almost inclined to think that we shall — find, if we find anything, the evidences of some — crime committed by John Hewkesley. From all — I’ve heard about him he seems to have been a pretty hard eharacter. I heard Mr. Brand tell” 2 we aA ete ante ees eer: + pret ade a eS eR, We heh Re ee | nS a es papers,” re- Eh Seek ur mother once that in his opinion John Hewkesley had once upon a time been.an outlaw or road agent,” : “{ wouldn’t be surprised if he was. Father — has remarked more than once that Hawkesley looked like a man who had something on his — conscience.” a “Well, whatever he was, or whether he had anything on his conscience or not, he’s dead and ~ gone now for good.” De. “So you guess we’ll find evidences of a crime, © eh?” said Joe. “What do you think is hidden in _ the old tree, Bonnie?” “I guess there’s a. barrel heaping full of. money,” she replied, with dancing eyes, F} “Well, if there is, Bonnie, you’ll come in for | lem. At length they came in sight of the ancien walnut with the crumbling stone house beside it. . Both were. fenced off from the road, and there were no houses in sight. They entered the en- closure through a break in the fence and walked — over to the tree, which they first surveyed on — all sides. It looked as solid as any tree they ‘ ever seen in their lives, and there was nothin to show that a hole had ever been made in it. “Tf there’s anything concealed inside that trun it must have got there through an opening in the top,” said Dick. eet Neither boy cared to climb the wide © to investigate, as his Sunday clothes would, ‘suffered thereby. a i

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~ old thing,” said Joe. e ; A FREAK OF FORTUNE “Tt will be sharia a job ee cut into that owever, you say so _Tll start the ball rolling.” ee ’ j “You can have the honor if you want to,” re- plied Dick, handing him the axe. jacket and began operations. He was a strong- armed lad and the chips fled fast. Inside of ten minutes the axe had opened up quite a hole in the wood, and then the next stroke met with so little resistance that the weapon buried itself right up to the handle. : “It is hollow!” cried Joe, in some excitement, as, with considerable difficulty, he. released the blade. j : Then all looked at the hole and saw a dark yoid beyond the thin dent made by the-axe. — “This begins to look interesting,” said Dick, eagerly, while Bonnie held her breath in expec- tation of what was to follow. Joe worked away now like a good fellow and . soon enlarged the hole considerably. Both boys jin turn tried to look inside, but met with little success. Dick felt for his match-safe, but re- collected that it was in his other trousers. ; Joe’ didn’t have any matches about him, either, so he resumed work more eagerly than ever. His arms, however, grew tired before any discovery had been made, and Dick grabbed the axe and got busy, while Joe put on his jacket so as not to get cold, for he was perspiring like a good fellow. Dick hack@d away, clearing a space all the way to the roots along the surface of the trunk, and then striking inward. In this way he gradually enlarged the opening Joe had begun, and as the light penetrated into the tree it soon became apparent that there was something inside. This something gradually developed into a stout keg. “You’ra a wonderful guesser, Bonnie, said Bick. “It is a Re barrel. at does it contain? ek weave, money, of course,” laughed the girl. “If the first part of my guess has come true, why ther part? : mete aud hick, Ym afraid,” replied Dick. <: t’s too good to turn out true. 7 struck his arm through and felt of the barrel. ; ; : ; “It?s heavy, at any rate,” he said, withdrawing his arm and resuming work. He devoted his efforts now to widening the hole so that he could haul the keg out of its prison. Finally he thought « that the opening was broad enough to accomplish this. Throwing the axe aside, Dick seized _the barrel and tried to dislodge it from its hiding- cae whiz!” exclaimed Casperfield, in aston- ishment. “It’s chock full of money.” Such was the fact, and Bonnie Barton uttered a little shriek of delight. ot . x . CHAPTER XIII—The Gold That Vanished. As Dick had to tilt the keg to drag it out a score or more of brown-looking twenty-dollar - pieces fell out and rolled over toward the dog, who seemed to be as much interested in the pro- ceedings as the rest. ‘At length Dick got the kez of money out in the light and all gathered “about it in great excitement. It was a find for fair and if all the coins in itiwere $20 pieces 4 Joe took off his. The question is - ie the sum total would be all.of fifty or seventy-five thousand dollars. ? “Talk about luck,” ejaculated Joe, at length, “you seem to have struck it good and hard. Why, there’s a mint of money in that keg—enough to make you independent for life. That Chinese idol was.the biggést kind of an investment. Just. as good as though you had bought a ticket in a lottery for a dollar and then won the capital prize.” ‘ Dick said nothing. He was simply overcome — by the remarkable good fortune that had come — to him through the grinning idol. ’ “How are you going to carry that kee home 2” asked Joe. _ “The only way I see is for you to go to the farm, harness up one of your light wagons and drive down here. We haven’t anything in the ; shape of a rig at our house,” replied Dick. “Tl see that you get a share of this money for your — help in the matter. “Do you mean that, Dick?” cried Joe, eagerly. “Certainly I do.” _ ; Hy, “Then I’m off like a shot. If anybody comes” down the road while I’m gone, don’t let them on to what you’ve found, or else the news will be ~ all over the village before morning and then somebody might think he had a claim to the gold, for we don’t know who owns this field.” Joe statted off while Dick, after rolling the keg into the shrubbery, sat down with Bonnie _ to await his return. They talked together in a confidential way and supposed they were alone, for not a soul had come in sight along the road — sinca they entered the little field where the — tree and ruin were. But there had been ob- ~ servers of all that had passed from the moment the boys and Bonnie came upon the scene. Two men, hidden in the ruin of the old stone house, had observed the arrival of the trio and won- dered what had brought: them there. These men _ were none other than Mr. Brand and his as- — sociate, Jim Sykes. After withdrawing to a neighboring town on the river below the lake on the day they had been left by the boys on By a the eastern shore, near the railroad tracks, they had at. length ventured back, bent on revenge for the throw-down received at the hands of — Dick Leslie. If Dick had known of the presence in thé neighborhood he certainly would not have felt easy. If he had also had a glimmering of — their intentions toward him he would undoub- tedly have taken every precaution to avoid them. — But he was entirely ignorant of both those — facts, and consequently off his guard. The two rascals had from their concealment watched the attack on the old, dead walnut tree with some- astonishment and not a little curiosity. They ~— had no intention just then of making their pres- ence known, on account of Joe “and Bonnie, and so they lay low and awaited developments. The discovery of the cask of,gold coin, howeyer, en- tirely altered their plans. From the conversa- tion of Joe, Dick and Bonnie they soon perceived that the young people had uncevered a veritable treasure-trove,.and they immediately resolved to secure possession of it for themselves, ,at ai cost, for this was a golden opportunity to pro~ vide themselves with unlimited funds never likely to come their way again. » While they were — considering how they should make their atta =

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on the trio the departure of Joe for the wagon greatly simplified matters for them.. It was com- ‘paratively child’s play, they thought, to knack ‘out Dick and the girl, and then carry off the money to the marsh near the head of the creek where. the sloop still lay moored, though they “were not yet-aware of that fact. To make things all the easier for them, Dick and Bonnie, with the dog at her feet, sat against the fence, near the tree, so that it looked simple for them to erawl up on the other side and grab them before _ they woke up to the realization of their peril. That is exactly the programme that the ras- als adopted.: And there is no doubt but that ‘it would have been successful but for the dog. As Mr. Brand’ and Sykes were sneaking upon he unsuspecting pair, the hound’s acute sense of smell detected their approach and he sprang o his feet and began to bark. Dick and Bonnie: ooked about, but did not see their enemies, who ere behind, on the other side of the fence. Pre- sently, however, the animal sprang at the fence, then Dick jumped up and—confronted Sykes. * The boy was taken by surprise. Before he ould recover himself the ruffian struck him a avy blow with his first between the eyes, and ick went down like a shot. Bonnie uttered a eam of alarm. The hound leaped through the ce at Sykes, who downed him with a vicious k. The dog quickly recovered and went for the scoundrel in red-hot earnest. In. the mean- ime Brand valuted the fence, grabbed Bonnie ind stifled her cries with his hand. She tried to ficht him off, but he seized her by the throat and ‘she soon sank insensible on the grass. “Come here, Brand,” roared Sykes; “get a tone and brain this beast!” : Mr, Brand picked up a stick, fortunately not hinking' of the axe, and attacked the hound with cd als then climbed the fence and pulled the keg of old out of the bushes, where they had seen Dick place it. A glance. at its contents made their yes bulge with satisfaction and their mofths ~s- water. . 3 a “There must be $50,000 in that keg,” said Brand, feverishly. . “There’s all of that, bet yer life!” grinned aie kes. # $y “How a “Take 0 ) . “We’ll.make two loads of it. biggest one.” ; + The coats were spread on the grass and Sykes oured the contents of the keg into them, putting ec re we going to carry. it off?” | : ff yer coat,” said Sykes, peeling /his “Pll carry the he larger share in his own. Gathering the ends of the coats together, like a puddling bag, they : them up with some pieces of rope they had, and then lifting their bundles on their shoulders the started for the marsh. - Bonnie recovered her senses in time to note the direction taken Sy he rascals, and then she threw herself down de Dick and tried to revive him. She had ‘little difficulty, as he was coming to, anyway. e felt decidedly groggv at first, but came nd soon. The first thing he noticed was the which had contained the gold lying on its pty: © - ¢ ; d Lord! he? eri The rascals haye taken the Imost in despair. went, Bonnie?”> — vit 54 A FREAK OF FORTUNE © ‘the sloop is. there. t, finally compelling him to haul off. The ras- _ “Did you The girl pointed out the direction in which she had seen the two men vanish. as “They’ve gone toward the marsh and the head ea of the creek,” said Dick. “They must know that It will be easy for them to escape in her, and the money will be lost to me. I must follow them at once. How long have. they been gone?” 5 ; “Only a few minutes,” replied Bonnie. : “Then V’ll be able to head them off, for they have more than two miles. to go, and loaded BY down with that gold they. won’t be able to travel fast. Now, Bonnie, I want you to hurry up the road and meet Joe. Tell him-what has happened. That Sykes and my rascally stepfather have come back to their neighborhood, and that they’ve got ; possession of the money we found in the tree. ~~ Tell him to let you drive his rig down to our house and to follow me himself to the head of the creek where the sloop is. Do you understand, Bonnie?” ; “Yes, Dick,” she said, and, calling her dog, started up the road, while Dick sprang over the fence and followed on the track of Sykes and Mr; Brand. t CHAPTER XIV.—On the Trail of the Treasure. — Sykes and his companion found the ‘gold a heavy load for them to carry, and they were com- pelled to make frequent stops for rest. In fact, their progress was so slow that Dick reached the sloop.a long time in advance of them. His — first idea was to send the craft adrift so that - the rascals could not make use of her, but as_ ‘there was scarcely any wind, and no flow of tide to speak of, he found this to be almost im- practicable. Then he decided to hide in the fore- peak and try to take the men by surprise In some way. _ He found there the club Joe had provided him-- self with that morning on Boat. Island, and it was a very effective weapon in determined hands. Crouching down under the scuttle cover he im-- — patiently waited for what was to come, hoping — that Joe might turn up in time to help him out. — It was a good twenty minutes before anything — developed, and then Dick saw Sykes and his companion approaching slowly, staggering un- ~ der their golden burdens. Their astonishment was great, while their satisfaction was unbounded — when they ‘saw the sloop moored to the same old — stump. . , Sats ae “We're right in it, Brand!” cried Sykes, glee- fully. “This will let us out of all the trouble we looked for. We'll sail out into the lake and down to the river while we’re bein’ hunted for ashore. — Carry your bundle aboard and we'll lose no time — gettin’ off while the chance is ours.” : : Brand was glad to get his load on the sloop’ deck. He was about done up by the weight of it, added to the terror of possible capture, by t way, for he didn’t begin to possess the nerve of his associate-in guilt. Sykes followed him on board, and as soon as they laid their bundl down they cast the stops off the mainsail hoisted it, then set the job and finally relea: ‘the shore line-from around the stump. Finding that the sloop still-clung oe an fi 7 ‘ing spot they stepped ashore and. tal -after-line over their should starts

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A FREAK OF FORTUNE her, stern foremost, down the creek. This was mighty slow work? "but it was the only way they -could start the sloop on her way to the lake. When they-got the vessel to a part of the creek wide enough for her to turn around, they tied her stern on the shore and manipulated the sails to catch the faint breeze. In this way they got her bow pointed in the right direction, then they east off the stern line and the sloop gradually drifted into the middle of the stream. Dick observed all their move- ments from under the scuttle cover, and it af- forded him a great deal of satisfaction to note that the sloop made such poor headway. The ras- cals were most eager to escape from the creek, i for their chanées would be much better out on the lake. Dick was sorry that he had missed Joe.. His ri chum’s services would have been of great value in the present emergency. Since he was deprived of Joe’s help» he had to rely entire on himself. “The sloop crawled down the creek at a snail’s d pace, with Sykes at the tiller, while Brand busied e himself carrying the two bundles of gold into ; the cabin, and stowing them away in the lockers. When Brand returned on deck he and Sykes light- ed their pipes\and conversed together. In the course of three-quarters of an hour the sloop drifted out into the lake and her head was turned to the southward. It was now nearly - six o’clock, and there was scarcely breeze ‘enough - to fill the eails, so that the vessel made very + slow progress. Dick noticed that the men were b continually on the alert, as though they feared a possible pursuit. At sundown the breeze freshened, much to the satisfaction of the two rascals, and soon the sloop . was making good progress toward the entrance to the river, two miles distant. Darkness gradu- ally fell on the landscape, the stars came out and the night promised to be clear and beautiful. This promise, however, was not fulfilled, for be- fore long the low rumbling of distant thunder jn the northwest announced the approach of a _ thunderstorm. It came on with great rapidity, preceded by a gale of wind that sprang up so suddenly that the two men had to hustle to take a couple of reefs in the mainsail. The sloop was now pitching about on the foam- eapped surface of the lake and rushing toward - the river like a wild seabird. The clouds soon ~eovered the sky like a dense pall, and the rain ‘eame down in sheets, sounding above Dick’s head like the roll of many drums. Myr. Brand had re- treated to the cabin, as he found he was of no use on deck and did not relish the ducking that Svkes was getting. That rascal stood at the - heim in his shirt-sleeves and guided the boat in good shape. Had he not been an experienced - boatman the fate of the sloop would soon have been decided by her going aground on the south- eastern shore of the lake. Sykes, however, in spite of the gloom, seemed to know oe to the river, and while the storm was at its height - the boat passed from the lake into that stream and flew along southward toward Cloverdale. . Dick passed an anxious time during the worst ‘of the storm, for he felt that unless Sykes knew his suroundings pretty correctly there was great anger of the boat going ashore, in which event . three of th stood no small chance of it li ‘kes did not intend to make Fs a landing until driven to it by hunger, for he could ‘not tell but the telegraph had been at work, and_ that officers might be on the lookout — for him along the water fronts of the towns. _ He had decided to push on to@Silicia and haul — in a mile above that town, when he intended © to send Brand forward to buy enough provisions © to last them for the trip to the city they were — aiming for on the connecting river. It was about this time that Sykes; after taking a sharp look-- out ahead, fixed the tiller so that it would hold — in one position for q,while, and then went below into the cabin. At long as Sykes remained at — the helm Dick knew he could not come on deck. without his presence on board being at once dis- covered. ake Now that the deck was temporarily deserted, — he contrived the daring plan of moving aft, tak- — ing up his position behind the companionway opening, with the club poised, ready for business, and when Sykes came up again to lay him out — with an unexpected blow. It involved: consider- able risk, for if the darkness rendered his aim ineffective, the rascal might, through his strength adn agility, turn the tables on him. Still on the - — principle that nothing ventured nothing is won, ~ he determined to put the plan into operation. © He did not wait to allow his resolution to grow — cold, but crawled out of the little galley, ch in hand,-and glided aft, like a shadow in the- gloom. He had hardly taken up his position - near -the opening when he heard footsteps on the brass-bound stairs. Believing it to be Syke he nerved himself for the encounter. Re A moment later a head and shoulders rose ow of the companionway. He did not stop to loo closely, as the figure presented a tempting mark, but swung his club down with full force. A ery rang out on the night air, and the man pitched forward in a senseless heap on the deck. “What’s wrong up there?” roared out the voice of Sykes from below. : Dick’s heart almost stopped beating. It was not the burly villain, after all, that he had knocked out, but his stepfather, Mr. Brand. — * o + CHAPTER XV.—Conclusion. As’ Mr. Brand was in no shape to reply to his companion’s hail, Sykes, wondering what had happened on deck, came rushing up to find out As Sykes sprang out on deck he stumbled over — Brand’s legs, which lay in his path, and which he didn’t notice in his hu and on acco of the darkness. The result was that Sy pitched forward over Brand’s body, his hit the low rail and he disappeared over thi sloop’s side. There was a splash, a hoarse cry, partly drowned by the wind, and the submer;s d rascal was soon left far in the wake of 1 vessel. The lurching of the craft had also thr Dick across the cabin opening, the club fi out of his hand and winging its way overhe When he recovered his feet he realized t he and his unconscious stepfather were the ones on board the sloop. The whole thing © happened @o quickly that it quite staggered and for several moments he could | around and wonder. =) =a

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» “My. e@racious!” he exclaimed. “Sykes has gone overboard and is somewhere back yonder in - the river, for I’d never be able to find and nick him up, even if I dared attempt it.” ~ , Not caring to see Mr. Brand go the same road, as he stood some chance of doing it an- other flaw struck the vessel, he seized his step- father by the legs and dragged him down into “the cabin, leaving him on the floor to recover ~ his senses in due course. Dick then ran on, deck, 5 master of all he surveyed, and took-charge of the ‘tiller. Bringing the sloop up into the wind, and - allowing the boom to swing: over to port, the boy -- started to beat his way back the way they had -ecme. The wind being against him,-he found that he would have to work back by short tacks,’ ac- _ cording as the stream diverged from a straight course. It was close to daylight when he en- tered the lake and headed for Haywoods. Several hours had elapsed since the startling -event which had placed him in-full possession of ap the vessel had occurred, and he had heard noth-_ ing from Mr. Brand. _ “I must have given him a terrible crack. I “took him = Sykes, and laid on with all my strength. I hope I didn’t fracture his skull. I would not, like to be responsible for his death, _ bad as he’ is.’ - ® When the sun rose in a cloudless sky the sloop - was but a short distance to the eartward of Goat Island. Dick decided to put in at one .of the ~ coves for a short time while he attended to Mr. - Brand, if he needed- any particular attention. _ Fifteen-minutes later he hauled down the main- Eakéd at him with some anxiety. “Well, the “only thing I can do is to lift him into one of the bunks,” mused Dick. “If he oesn’t regain his sense by the time I reach ae village Pll have to send for doctor to attend him.” eo Dick raised him and placed him on the starboard bunk, with his head on a pillow. ~ “1 wonder what they did with the money?” he asked himself, looking around the cabin and . seeing) no sign of the bundles. “Perhaps they are stowed in the lockers.” a On examination, Dick found a bundle in each “locker and pulled them out. - “Well, thank goodness, I’ve recovered’ it. ’ That’s a great ggtisfaction to me, at any rate. at. 1 had” lost that treasure, which came to me ja such a curious and unexpected way, I should have been all broken up. 1 wonder if I couldn’t Te portable bundles of it? When it wo Won't mother be. as- ae it is ail mine. - fter this. I'll go to school and finish my educa- ‘tion, and then I'll be able to embark in some ‘business in which there is a future.” 2 Dick cut up a dozen ay Re of cet at di the money into that many pues ue ag ‘up the mouth of each with a stout cord. Then. he ed them. anes, 2 in Plas Seaman pnpeaverad A FREAK OF FORTUNE = “No one would ever suspect that under that: cloth is fifty to seventy-five thousand dollars in- good American gold coin,” he said to himself, in a tone of great satisfaction, shuttiffe the locker. He was about to return on deck and put the sloop on her course once more, when Mr. Brand opened his eyes, and after staring at Dick for a moment struggled to a sitting posture. He seem- ed to be a good bit dazed, which was not to be wondered at considering the whack his brain- pan ‘had sustained. “How do you feel, Mr. Brand?” asked Dick, reassured by his stepfather’s recovery. _Brand glared at him in no friendly way. “What happened to me, and where is Sykes?” he asked, in a sulky tone. Dick told him what had happened to his com- panion, and explain that he had sailed the sloop back as far as Goat Island, and was about to continue the trip to the creek. T ed his stepfather for his conduct, and. told him i he need never expect to return to the cot- age. “However, (ll do more than the fair thine by you,” -continued the boy. “Here is a $20 gold piece. take a room at the Bates House. T’ll call there n he upbraid- ~ Take the first train for Cloverdale, and -— in a few days with a sum of money to start” ‘ you out in the world on your own hook. It will ‘be all you'll get from us, so I advise you to make good use of it. If you should reform vour habits, and become a respectable man, you may — write and let us know how you are getting on, otherwise we~don’t want ever to hear of y again. Now, if you feel-able, I want you to come on deck and assist me in getting the Sloop under way again.” Mr. Brand listened to his stepson in a stolid ~ way, and, without uttering a word, followed the — The sails were hoisted and ‘an © hour later the sloop put in at one of the vil- — lage wharves, where Dick told his step-father boy on deck. to go ashore, which he did. Dick then carried the vessel up the creek, moored her at her old ss anchorage, and went home, where he was joy- fully received. Bonnie had already told Mrs. Brand about the money that Dick had found in the old walnut _ tree, how it was stolen bv Mr. Brand and Sykes, | who had come upon them so unexpectedly, and ~ how Dick had started to recover it, so that all that Dick had to tell was his adventures from the moment he parted from the girl. After 2 breakfast he and Bonnie made several trips to the sloop and brought the bags:of gold to the cottage. Haywoods Bank to Dick’s credit. Ae It was subsequently deposited in the — Dick carried — out his purpose of giving up work and finishing — his education, and in due time went to collenes: Fe from which he graduated with honors, He and Joe then went into business in Silisia, to which town his mother and Bonnie, now a bright and handsome young lady of nineteen, removed as a matter of course. Soon after their arrival, Bonnie became Mrs. the mistress of a\fine home on one of the prin- cipal residential street of the town. — Dick Leslie, and:

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. # BRIEF BUT POINTED DOUBLE TREE On J. R. Walkeup’s farm at Fairfax, Mo., is a tree that bears both berries and nuts. _ About thirty inches from the ground the tree divides and the branches on one side produce walnuts andthe others have mudberries on them. HAS BIBLE SCHOOL ‘RECORD A most remarkable record is held by Miss Vir- ginia. Farley, who recently completed her eigh- teenth year of attendance at the First Baptist “Sunday school, Mayfield, Ky, without missing a - Sunday. She hold the record of having attended 986 straight Sundays without a miss, and the ‘records show she has never been late. : The closest record approaching her mark is held by W. S. Lochridge, who has attended the same school fourteen years without a break, a total of. 728 Sundays. He has missed Sunday . school twice in the last eighteen years, illness keeping , him away on these two occasions. ee: “STONE CANNON-BALLS of three and a half centuries ago, have just been presented to the museum of Hobert College, at Geneva, N. Y., says the Popular Science: Monthly. Ten inches in diameter, they weigh 20 pounds each. Such balls-as these were used as recently as 1807 in defending Constantinople from attack and by Great Britain. ‘Tt was in 1571 that these stone balls were used. Turkey was at war with the Kingdom of Cyprus, ‘one of the many Christian States that grew out of the Crusades. Against the city of Famagusta, an important stronghold of the enemy, the Turks _ tyained their cannon, some of the first used in oe Buropean warfare. in two pieces and screwed together. Y ht a Unc the stone shot was rammed, had a 25-inch ~ pore. The rear piece, or powder chamber, was 10 inches in diameter. The gun weighed 19 tons and was called “bombard” because used almost entirely in siege operations. \ ; ‘fhe cannon threw stone balls—which varied in weight from 6 pounds to 6 or 7 hundredweight. “Phe average weight was 300 pounds. Some of these, weighing 20 pounds, though mere grapeshot ‘dn that day, are still several imes as heavy as the shell of the standard American field gun, the 17 pounder. ; : - Gyude as these stone balls seem now, the Turks “made thmselves feared in the fifteenth and six- - teenth centuries by the destructiveness of their artillery, which had then a reputationlike that of ; “German siege mortars or the French 75- mil- imeter guns. : - Turkish ean tion of artille parlentine le ry wo Two stone cannon-balls, relics of a Turkish war. ~ These guns were mostly of wrought iron, made ~ The barrel, - which can be applied to any object you plea TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE DARK A few years ago the world was amazed at the aR extraordinary feat of exploding bombs at a dis- tance of several miles, performed at Florence, Italy, by Professor Ulivi. But, unfortunately, Ulivi was proved to be faking, the exposure being made .by Father Alfani, the famous astronomer of the Pisa Observatory. -Now, however, Ulivihas emerged from the retirement into which that dis- |) astrous experiment forced him to retire and has — again astounded men of science. She His most recent feats are based, as the former’ were said to be, on the discovery of some rays of invisiblelight below the red of the spectrum, by _ means of which distant objects were made made visible in the dark and were even photographed. Prof. Rohert W. Wood of Johns Hopkins Univer- sity has a similar inyention, called the “chemical eye,” but this is based upon the action of ultra- violet rays. Ulivi, in discussing his invention ~~ with the Rome correspondent of the New York © World, said that his was superior to that of Pro- — fessor Wood. because the latter could not act at such great distances, were easily absorbed by the atmosphere, were reflected badly and gave dim and shadowless images. see Professor Ulivi says, too, that his infra-red rays pass through fog and mist, as well as through water. His apparatus consists of a Special search- light covered with a plate prepared by himself, from which nothing passes except his infra-red rays. These. rays are projected on the enemy’s fortifications, ships and positions. The receiving apparatus consists of a photographic machine with a new object-glass and a special screen, on which the image of things struck by the rays forms itself visibly. Both object-glass and re ceiving screen are the professor’s own invention and made entirely by himself, He calls this di covery of his the “scotoscope.” Sher Another invention. is the ‘stercocine-mato- graph,” or cinema in relief. ¢ Ulivi’s third novelty has to do with lumin scence, and is now applied to the safety Hight and decoration of several Italian theatres. + “My experiments with the “scotoscopia” caused me to make long and careful study of luminot bodies,” he explained., “This led to the discovery of a new method, which enables me to produce bodies with great luminous power and a large variety of colors, which ave true accumulators | light. When exposed for a few seconds to day: light or artificial light they become ‘excited,’ an for many hours afterwards emit a strong light of © their own, in green, blue, violet, orange and oth colors. ge . “TI have made these bodies in the form of p: he continued. “I have made them in the for harmless powder which can be applied to the’ arms, etc. Signor Leo Pavoni is now arra ‘to apply this discovery to~ advertisements an street signs; to painted décorations and safety ists of theatres. All fire extinguish “being painted. with

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GUS AND THE GUIDE : — Or, — ES Three Weeks Lost in the Rockies “By GASTON GARNE 18g (A Serial Story.) way CHAPTER X.—(Continued). } The floors were-all made of logs, closely fitted, and the roof had been the same, with the excep- tion that it had slabs nailed over the joints be- tween the logs. i Gus and Silas removed these slabs and placed them over the points of the floor below. A good deal of water came through, however, _.and as it dripped down even to the lower floor it - made the place damp and uncomfortable. - That night Silas watched until one o’clock, for fear that the man in the bearskin coat might still be alive and pay them a visit. Gus took his turn then, and before Silas started ‘to turn in they both opened the door and looked out. “A light!” cried Gus, pointing to the hut, so “near, yet so hard to reach. “A light.at last!” “Gee whiz! You’re right!” cried Silas. “And look at the water, will yer? Why, it is almost up to the hut. We shall be surrounded ourselves in no time if this rise keeps up.” ‘We can get over there now easily enough,” _ remarked Gus. 7 “You’re right, we can, if you don’t mind the - Reckon I won’t go to bed at all. There may be music before morning. It’s clear enough now _ that they hain’t all dead like yousthought.” _ ‘They stood together watching the light which remained fixed. “That’s only a lantern,” said Silas at last. “It’s a signal for some one, surest thing.” -, “ “Come, let’s tackle it,” replied Gus. “What + odds if we do get wet?” - “The odds is pneumonia, and:I don’t care for none of it on my plate. We hain’t got no clothes to change to—so thar you be.” -. This had been the trouble all day. More than once Gus would have braved the fury of the storm, ‘but it did not seem worth while. : k ‘So they waited and continued to watch the light _ from time to time. ‘ : It never moved, but the water kept steadily - rising. - By half-past two it was almost up to the hut. The rain had now let up considerably, and Gus determined to wait no longer. - “One of them may be dying of wounds in there,” he declared. “The signal may be for us. Come, _ ile, unless you are willing to go with me I’m oa going alone.” a : “ - Silas got his rifle, and Gus, putting his revolver forth. ' The ground was still covered with a slop of eee ht their big boots protected their feet all roe wetting, and that snoozer kin git over to us. “* into the outside pocket of his overcoat, they sal- _ FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY In a moment they were alongside t r= ing through the aot. = sit ais The room was rudely furnished, but they could see no one inside, { sae eee cane Se an a stable lantern ich stood on a e near a large -trap- door in the floor. ge Fa “Thar hain’t nobody thar!” said Silas. “Shall we go in?” - ¥ “I’m going,” replied Gus. “Come on.” “Wait!” said Silas Warningly. “I don’t like the look of that teepaaeor and the lantern thar to show it to us. It looks like a case of ‘will you walk into my parlor, says the spider to the fly.’ sh Baie ketch us, capt thing.” : us make no answer but, turning the kn threw back the door of the hut. - > As he did so he heard what seemed to be a deep groan coming through the. trap. Gus seized the lantern, and held it down through the trap. “Hello!” he shouted. there?” There was no answer, but again the sound came. This time it was not so much like a groan as a snore. “That’s a b’ar!” whispered Silas, who had come up behind. “No humbug this time. Sure as ever © you live it’s a b’ar!”’ - “What's the matter down CHAPTER XI. Trouble In The Bear’s Den. “For some moments Gus and the guide’ stood listening to “the strange sounds which came up through the open trap-door. . “Tf it’s a bear then at all events it is a bear asleep,” said Gus at last. : “Right,” replied Silas, “but it’s a trap all the same.” “Y’m. going down,” said Gus. Me “If you do you’re a fool. Let’s wait here and put it up to the other fellow to make the move.” “T’ve done waiting enough. I want to make a move. Besides, if we wait much longer the water will be all around us, and we can’t get back to the | tower.” « } _“That’s*right, too. We ought to look around a~ bit. Let’s go over to the water and see how fast it is rising.” Gus offered no objection, and they pushed to the next hut. es It was deserted and going to ruin, and so was’ the next one beyond. This was as far as they could go, for it brought them to the edge of the water. Se The creek had now risen far above its natural bed, and went rushing down the valley a roaring _ torrent, fully half a mile in width. } rm They stood there for some time watching it, and Gus soon saw how the case stood. . The water was rising every moment. they had to change their position. The three huts so far examined stood in a hol- low, and it was plain that as soon as the treek overflowed the little ridge upon which they were _ now standing it would flow down into the hollow ~ and surround the three huts. - ba ee 3 . _ Gus called the attention of the guide to. a ee abies Twice

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and asked him how long he thought it would be _ before the water overflowed the ridge. “Tt will do it in half an hour, surest thing,” replied Silas. = “Then I’m going for the bear. If there really is one down there we want it; if it is a fake we -. . want to know that, too. I’d rather run any risk than to stand around doing nothing, the way we have been for the last ten days.” Gus listened at the trap-door, but could: hear mo sound now. “Give me the lantern,”- he exclaimed. Seizing it, he. drew his revolver and started. down the ladder. i ¢ Before he had descended three rounds he ‘dis- eovered that he was coming into a cave. At first he could see nothing when he reached ~ the bottom. : It was a low, narrow opening in the bed-rock, f pore. : > ward the east. ‘Before they had gone a dozen yards Gus sud- denly paused and touched Silas’s arm. “There!” he breathed. ‘‘Look there!” -- Tn a sort of niche in the rocks lay two black bears, curled up into one big furry ball, but sound asleep. . ice “Gee whiz!” whispered Silas. ‘more over beyond.” ~ Gus flashed the lantern about. - “Theyre are more over there on the other side,” he whispered. “A regular bear’s nest!” said Silas. have all turned in for the winter, too.” “Let’s shoot one,” said Gus, “I don’t believe _ the others would bother us.” “You are taking big chances,” replied Silas. “Let’s push on a bit further. Slow and easy, now! This beats the band. Never seen sq many ‘bears together before.” “Don’t forget the water.” “Time enough! Time: EE Hello, what’s is? Waal, I vow! This beats all I ever did see.’ ‘They come upon a pig black bear ‘lying right in their path, wirile. beside him lay an empty whisky bottle, over which he had placed a paw. - A b’ar with a jag, by time!” gasped Silas. “Bear nothing! Gus, pulling up the bear’s head. “Thar’s two the lantern about he caught sight of the big boots - Below the bearskin. | Set the fellow who pushed the” girl!” Gus e » “Shall we wake him? ” replied Silas. “S’pose ight as well. his guns.and his knives first, though.” pee over, but he showed no signs. of life. . rifle was es concealed in the bearskin, nd they also t away a revolver: and a long ae arce was. this accomplished when Silas gave eae ery. ; 2 eres heard. - Hoe add de FAME ~ AND FORTUNE WEEKLY put it extended off into the darkness in both direc ~ Silas joined him n now, and they pushed on to- “They . This is-a man!” exclaimed. A man’s face was revealed, and as Gus moved ~ It would be better to get away o us pulled away, the bearskin, and rolled the “That. fellow -will be drowned!” cried Gus, “What shall we do?” : ‘ “Find out the wust fust: Thar’s other things: to be considered. Let that water come rushing in hyar and every one of them b’ars is going to. w rake up, and thar may be more than: what we see.’ They hurried back to’ the ladder, but before they could reach it the water got down to busix: ness. Evidently it had risen all around the hut, fo it now came pouring through the trap in a stead; and constantly increasing stream. + : “We are penned in. No use to try to go u thar!” cried the guide. “We can’t get back to th tower now!” “We must wake that fellow up!” said Gui “Hi knows the ropes. ‘Of course, there is some esse way out of this place.” E The water was already beginning to rise aroun : their feet as they hurried back to the drunken sleeper. : Gus gave,him a kick, and Silas seized him by the collar. At first it seemed as if it was goin to be impossible to arouse him, and then all once he spraing to.his feet’ swearing and snarl r and made a rush for Gus z ‘Hold on, pard!* Hold. on!” drawled Silas, e ering him with his rifle. “Go slow!” : “Who are. you?” demanded the man. “we brings you here?’ “Say,” drawled Silas, “I know. you now, Gibbins! Pull yourself together, man, unl you want to be drowned like a rat ina trap! it -“Sile Stumpp! «So it is!” cried the man. . “Waal, I guess yes. Now I see whar you git all the biars your ship, from Black Rock! Raise ’ hey? Huh! A bear ranch! ‘Waal, I vow! B look at the water, man. The creek has busted © over the ridge and in a minute the hut will afloat, and we shall have every gosh-blamed b’ in this hyar den a-snarling at our heels!” -“You’re right,” mumbled the” ee st about. “Whar’s my rifle?” ‘T’ve got it,” replied Gus, “and I mean to keep it, too. Pull yourself together and tell us what’ i to be done, if you can.” . : “Give me the lantern!” cried Gibbons, snatch it away from Gus before he could stop him. — He flashed it back“and saw the ee coming down through the trap-door. i The bears were beginning to move OW, 4 “You see,” said Silas. " “I see,” "replied Gibbons. that way.” “And the bears? aay danger?” - “Not a bit. They are all as tame as kitte raised * em from cubs myself. Come on, Sile, _ is another way out of this place. Follow m % He staggered forward, pulling’ the skin ar tho ei The bears came shuffling éftex: them; one fellow started ahead on the , run, and a, them. g “Jim Gibbons, your drunk sees to be a in. legs,” said Silas. “Xpparently you have & enough. Tell_us, whar’s Tolkins now?” _ “Are you looking for. him? ( suddenly is

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY - _ Interesting Radio News and Hints CORRECT VOLTAGE The “B” battery voltage depends upon the type of tubes used. Some tubes work more satisfac- _ tery as amplifiers with forty-five volts than with ‘sixty-seven volts: The fact that your set works best with a lower plate voltage does not indicate anything is wrong with the set. 2 : » A HOME MADE ANTENNA Solder a wire to a pie plate or a piece of metal of about that size. Fasten the other end to the antenna binding post of your set. Place ._ the telephone on the pie plate. Very often this makes an excellent antenna. It’s easy to try, anyway. eae DEFECTIVE PARTS When you purchase a part and find that it is defective do not try to repair it unless you are positive that you can do it. You may make - matters worse and, worse still, make it impossible for the dealers to give you a new part in re- turn. DISTRIBUTES CAPACITY Distributed capacity is kept at a minimum by using bank winding. Distributed capacity is the SS eondenser action between windings on a coil. © Distributed capacity causes a loss of energy be- cause the capacity offers a path to high fre- quency radio currents, allowing them to jump from layer to layer instead of through the wind- ings of the coil. Distributed capacity is kept at a minimum in duolateral and honeycomb coils. KEEP THE “A” BATTERY CHARGED While short leads are of advantage in radio, the “A” battery leads may be long enough to “permit the “A” battery being placed in the cellar. This gets the “A” battery out of the way. A _ double throw switch may be used _to disconnect the set and connect the charger. If charging is made convenient, the battery is apt to get more attention and have longer life, in consequence. TIDE AFFECTS WAVE LENGTH The American Radio Relay League set up a ‘radio transmitter in the offices of the Booth Bay Wiscasset Steamboat Company at Wiscasset, _ Me., to exchange messages with the MacMillan expedition as, it approached the Maine coast. Communication was done on the 165-meter wave length. The power, input of the set was 750 watts, approximately three times the amount of power employed by MacMillan’s radio. ' The transmitter is the one used by amateurs to establish first two-way communication with ‘France; last year. Four new-type 203-A fifty- watt tubes pushed the signals. When the sending set was tuned to the 165- meter wave length a variation of 8 meters in a | ew hours was noticed. When it was tuned to the short wave of 80 meters there would be a varia- at if: % e of time. n of about 3 meters in approximately the same i This phenomenon continued de-— spite all efforts to keep the oscillator sharply. tuned, and amateurs with whom the station was in communication persistently asked why the sending wave was being changed, : The adjustments of the station were gone over very carefully several times, and a wave meter was employed frequently to check the os- . * cillations. Finally it occurred to one of the op- erators that, since the antenna and counterpoise were suspended from the dock over the water, the tide might have something to do with it. .Whereupon it was decided to take readings with the wave meter at the ebb and flow of the tide and compare them: It was discovered that In every case the wave length decreased with the fall. In order to keep the transmitter at a constant wave, regular adjustments were made to correspond as far as possible with the tide’s movements. The tide changed the capacity of the station’s counterpoise. ; RADIO DEAD SPOTS Radio auditors receiving from local stations ~ have observed that two equally powerful stations equally distant from the receiving antenna, but in different directions, do not necessarily give © equal signal strength in the receiver, and again a friend in a different section of the city may get quite diffefent results. These variations in many cases are chargeable to the use of different, receiving equipment, but after these factors have been cancelled it is found that variations in re-~ ception over short distances are caused by in- equalities of distribution which depends on the physical character of the landscape. Ralph Brown, a research engineer of station WEAF, pointed out that energy radiated from a radio aerial spreads out in all directions, dimin- ishing rapidly at first and then more gradually, until finally at considerable distance it becomes too unstable to be discernible. Characteristics of the earth’s Surface which affect radio transmis- sion have been classified as follows: (1) Areas of different electrical constants, such as fresh water, salt water, dry land, wet land, rock and snow. (2) Differences in elevation, such as hills, valleys and mountains. (8) Absorbing structures, including buildings, towers and other : structures, many of which have reasonance char- acteristics producing selective absorption. While we have come to accept “dead spots” on : land, there is another form of “dead spot” to be found tight in mid-ocean, hundreds of miles from land, for which no adequate explanation has yet been given, according to A. Dinsdale, member of the Radio Society of Great Britain. Some sci- entists maintain that they are caused by large mineral deposits on the ocean floor, but this ex- planation hardly seems satisfactory, though it is true that such dead spots can also be overcome by increasing the wavelength used fer communi- cation. There are several such spots in the dif- ferent oceans, and they cause quite an amount of % inconvenience to ships at times, although the study of them is interesting. ep ae * 5x (ig EN ce te

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TARNISHING OF GOLD If a solid gold xing discolors the skin one need not cast it aside thinking one has been swindled, for gold will tarnish and will leave marks, given the proper conditions. ; _ The first condition is due to impurities in the gold, the alloy used to make it of the desired carats. These are silver, copper, zinc and some- times nickel. All gold under 18 carats has some * of these alloys, and the acid in the perspiration that exudes from the skin will cause tarnishing and discoloration. * The second condition is due to the gold coming in contact with certain substances that are cap- able of tarnishing it. Julius Wodiska, the well- known authority on precious metals, cites rubber, sulphur, ointments containing mercury or arse- nic, iodine, complexion lotions, some hair dyes and numerous solutions for cleaning leather and other fabrics. _In the case of a black mark made bv a gold pin upon a white cravat, the discoloration is due rot to tarnishing, but to friction. Gold jewelry sometimes tarnishes in the shop through being wrapped in cheap paper, placed in _ boxes with inferior linings or tied up with rub- ber bands. It will sometimes tarnish in sympa- thy with unlacquered silver exposed in the same showcase. ‘ every day. Some employ water for the purpose and some’ the soil; others, again, use both water and soil. The water bathers are particular as to the kind of water they use. Any one whp has ever watched a pet canary will remember how it would refuse to plunge in unless the water and the bath- tub were perfectly clean, and also how, when no- dy appeared to be watching it, the bird would rst take its bath, arrange its feathers and then eat the fresh seeds that had been given it for _ breakfast. Swallows and martins do not bathe every day, because they will use only fresh rain water. Tame ducks, too, seem very fond of rain ater. With the fall of a shower they ruffle up feathers and let the ages soak in. After- FAME AND FORTUNE .WEEKLY GOOD READING ’ own carefully, us- 166 West 23d Street — ~ . 25 ing an oil which their bodies contain, in order to get the perfectly smooth and even effect they de- sire. Wild ducks by the sea will fly long distances over land to obtain fresh water for their bath. ~ Likewise the birds that use soil for their baths are most particular about its quality. Larks and ~« sparrows choose fine, dry, gritty dust. They splash and flutter in it as other birds do in water, and after they have finished they carefully dress their rumpled plumage with their beaks. Part- ridges clean themselves in loam, They scratch out the dirt and shuffle backward in it- until their feathers are full of it. They they shake them- selves, and when fully dressed are as clean and fresh as any lady stepping from a white tiled bathroom. The barnyard hen bathes herself in much the same way, by wallowing and shaking herself in the dust. > Animals of the felme family spend more time (| — than any others at their toilet. In the jungle — lions and tigers use their fore feet, which they wet, for bath sponges and their tongues for combs, just as small kittens do. Rabbits and opossoms also wash their faces with their feet. Dogs, too, a ' dislike dirt. An experienced hunter has said that ~ whenever his dogs fail to clean themselves on bushes or grass after a day’s hunt he knows that. they are very tired. Dogs are especially particu- lar in keeping their feet clean. Horses and cows in a field may be seen taking — turns in licking one another. The general belief is that the two species are great friends and that — that is their way of exhibiting their love for one another. This assumption is not altogether true. — They may be friends, but they are in such a case merely aiding one another to dress. One may in this relation cite the case of a horse and a cow that lived in the same lot for years. The horse was a spoiled and petted creature. In some way he persuaded the cow to clean his glossy coat for , him, but he was never seen to do any such favor ~~ for the cow. e (eae The daintier animals of the forest, the giraffe, the deer, the antelope, always assist one another. Cornish, the naturalist, tells of one giraffe in’ a “700” which, when put into the institution, at. once washed itself and made its coat glossy and bright everywhere except on its neck. As the ; weeks went by the neck became several shades) darker than the body, because the creature could = not reach it with its tongue. _ “Moving Picture Stories” 23 A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Players. : PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY nF Each number contains Three Stories of the Best Films — on the Screen—Elegant Half-tone Scenes from the Plays —Interesting Articles About Prominent People in the Films—Doings of Actors and Actresses in the Studio — and Lessons in Scenario Writing. oe HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, ea F * a ely

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> = Figg = ai 26 —.. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY YORK, MARCH 27, 1925 NEW ..- Postage Free 8 Cents : ri “ 00 ist ps Cd 2.00 a ( 4.00 Canada, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. : HOW 10 sEND MONEY — At our risk send P. O. -- Money..Order, Check or Kegistered Letter; remittances dn any other way are at your risk. We accept Postage stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap c the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting '. the envelope. Write your name and address plainly. 4) Miriy cE, Wolf, Pres. HARRY E. WOLFF, Charles K. Nylander, Sec- Publisher, Inc. L, ¥, Wilzin, ‘Treas, 166 W.<28d St., N. Y. FROM ALL POINTS aes ROOSTER CAN COUNT _ A class in experimental psychology at the Uni- versity of Chicago has found that a rooster can count. Kernels of corn were arranged in rows on _ the floor, every third kernel was tacked down. The rooster dis¢overed this and passed up the sta- tionary kernels. Then the third kernels were loosened and the rooster was set at his task. He _ skipped them until his foot struck one when, with a chuckle, he returned and ate all the kernels. BANKER FEEDS PIGEONS tee Wise Denver pigeons have learned that during the long, cold winter months it is not necessary worms. - At 8:30 o’clock each morning they.-begin to arrive on the window sill.of the Maryland Cas- ualty Company. At 9 o’clock John M. Richard- son, their host, manager of the company, opens -* the window and serves his guests, After cleaning up everything that is given them, the pigeons go ‘away until noon, when they return for another » feast. + ~ MADISON SQUARE GARDEN PIGEONS TO Sheen BE CARED FOR | The American Society for the Prevention of “Cruelty to Animals announced recently that it would erect a shelter to care for the pigeons who will be dispossessed by the demolition of Madison “Square Garden. The organization will also put up a drinking fountain for the birds in the center - of the square and provide them with food when mecessary. ss _ New Yorkers who have been anxious-for the _ fate of the pigeons, which are so tame that they will accept food from the hand, asked the society provide for the pigeons. The organization _ found that the oviginal flock. had been somewhat broken up ~ a large portion of them moving into » the tower of the Metropolitan Building. A spar- w hawk has also done much to rin the colony. - FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY "pet cat was ( to find a Bob White in the loud speaker. for them to get up early and go out. to catch’ cut down the~ INDIAN CRIES ON RADIO PANICS CATS Cats of every known variety ranging from the well-known great American alley cat, to the more exclusive Tabby, jumped sky high wide, not so many evenings ago, and all because of a recent Indian programme broadcast from KOA in which two natives of the Pueblo tribe mimicked wild — birds and animals galore. et The mimies—Chief Evergreen Tree and Rising _ Sun—have since been overwhelmed with corre- — spondence from dial twisters all over the country, much to their surprise at the vastsness of their audience, and yet saddened by complaints from some few listeners that the mimics had annoyed beyond words. oe Ps Their imitation of the coyote was so realistic that a flock of cats, from as many simple homes took the air upon hearing these unearthly yells coming from the loud speaker, and, according to numerous letters written to the station, the cats have not been seen since. One fan wrote in to state the Chief Evergreen Tree imitation of the Bob White bird was so natural that the writer’s aroused from sleep and made Pha is station, by the way, offered to produce the letter to those fede and scoffers who may term this another radio story. ae ' LAUGHS Begrar—King gentleman, I beg your pardon— Gent (promptly)—Granted. I thought you were begging for money. ’. “My man, where did you become such an ex- pert swimmer?” “Why, lady,” responded~ our hero, modestly, “I used to be a traffic cop in* Venice.” f Mother—Your papa, dear, is a tea sampler. He samples the diffeernt kinds of tea. Bobbie— When I grow up, mamma, I’m goin’ to be a — candy sampler. ‘ - “Is the soil rich out in your country?” asked the city man. “Is it rich?” came from the farmer; “why, say, the soil is so rich out there — that when the kids make mud pies they can eat ~ em.” ‘ wk t a ? - “How far.” asked thé one automobilist of an- + other as they met at a turn in the road, “is ig from here to the next town where there’s a repair shop?” “Kleven hills, three bad bridges, one long stretch of deep sand and’ two arrests.” Mrs. 5 aan an invitation from Mr, Boreleigh"to one of her tiresome dinners. I hi them. Exe—Why not plead a previous engage- ment? Mrs. Exe—That would be a Jie. Edith, dear, write Mrs. Boreleigh that we accept with pleasure. , R 5 ee ~ “A burglar got into my house about 3 ‘o'clock © this morning when was on my way home from the club,” said Jones. “Did he get any thing?” asked Bluffer. “I should say he did ; something!” replied Jones. “The poor be spita y wife thought it M

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY HERE AND THERE ® OUR FLAG FOR PACIFIC ISLE Swains Island in the Pacific, about 200 miles northeast of American Samoa, would be placed under American sovereignty under a resolution passed by the House, which concurs in a measure already approved by the Senate. - . The island, which is one and one-half miles ~ long and one mile wide, is the’ property of Alex- ander Jennings, an American citizen. The population on last accounts comprised thirty adults and about forty children, and Ameri- _ ¢an sovereignty would permit establishment of a court system. : ; DOGS’ TEETH AS COINS - Dogs’ teeth are the Papuans’ gold, the most valuable of “coins” in their estimation. They pur- chase weapons, cattle, grain and the crude house- hold utensils with dogs’ teeth. Only the front ca- nine teeth, however, are of any value, aJ] the others being worthless. \ These quaint coins are threaded on fibers, and when a wealthy Papuan goes trading he brings with him strings of these teeth. The women prize them greatly, and make them into necklaces, their -. wealth and stwnding in the community being in- dicated by the number of teeth which compose _ these ornaments. : The wives and daughters of the infiuential __} chiefs wear rows upon rows of them around their necks on every festive occasion. They polish them until they shine like ivory, and they certainly _ make-an effective decoration on a glossy, black body. : The men, on the other hand, adorn themselves with rare and beautiful feathers. One necklet ' shown to the writer was composed of no fewer than 320 teeth, which means that eighty dogs - were sacrificed to obtain them. ft HOW SHEDS TRAVEL Some seeds make journeys with ‘wings, and + others travel from place to place by attaching ~ themselves to the clothes of men or the hair of -- animals; still others are transported by birds, says a writer in St. Nicholas. ; ; + he seeds of the maple tree are particularly ~ interesting. They are provided with wings, and. when they become detached from the parent tree 4a gentle breeze will carry them a considerable ‘distance fromthe branch to which they were attached. There are many forms and modifica- tions of the winged seed, as the linden, the horn- beam, the elm and the pine. These are all com- mon trees. Ree ~ Some seeds are also provided with parachutes, or umbrellas, not for protection from rain and torm, but for purposes of locomotion. The seeds of the thistle, the milkweed and the dandelion— n fact, the seeds of all plants which have a ‘cottony growth—are provided for these aerial meys. , eathe these, some weeds are provided .with ed ap mselves to the ‘ imals, and so are carried : = sabes Pe clothing of men or the hair ie pendages by which they can attach | a FAITHFUL SHEEP DOGS ; The shepards of the Pyrenees employ their pe~ — culiar breed of dogs to guard the sheep. They are long-haired, with ferocious temper, but very — faithful and trustworthy. Attended by three of — these dogs the shepard will take his flock at early morning to the mountains, and having ~ counted the sheep, go to other work and leave , the dogs in charge. NS It has been known on the approach of wolves for the three dogs to walk around and around — the flock gradualty confining them into so small — a ring that one dog might easiily look after them; then the remaining two would set off and engage the enemy, over whom, it is said, they always triumph. aes A shepaTd once.set his dog “Shep” to watch a — gap in his hurdles to prevent the sheep getting througl: while he went to see some friends.. He — forgot poor “Shep,” and when he went next morn- | * ing there was the dog still watchitig the gap, but ~ nearly. dead with cold. Through the long night — the dog had never moved nor slept and not a- single, sheep had been allowed to wanders ; Well may the sheperd feel an interest in his dog, for it is indeed he who earns the family bread, of which he is content to take the smallest morsel, — always ready, always grateful, and ever anxious to exert his utmost abilities in his master’s serv- — ice. Neither hunger nor fatigue, nor the worst of treatment will drive him from his master’s — side. ; RENE 'r Sse ee Te *.; THE FRIENDLY STORK: "= 7a The stork, as everybody has read, is one of the — oldest bird friends of man. It has always been a’ favorite of the former because of the merciless war it makes upon his enemies in the field. It has for centures been protected by law, and there is” no more picturesque figure in Holland and along — the Rhine than <he stork, perched upon his nest, in some lofty place, or surveying, ‘as he balanced on one leg, his Surroundings from a chimney or other ‘point of vantage, in the heart of a city. — In Holland he is a sacred bird, because he pro- tects the dikes by destroyine the worms and in- sests which undermine and weaken their wooden braces. In Germany the stork is regarded as bringing good luck to any house which it selects — for its home_and breeding place, and there is no legend more popular than that of the stork and ~ the babies. Perhaps no: bird occupies so con- es spicuous a place in children’s picture books. __ The popular stork of Europe is the white sto whose plumage is pure White, with deep blac trimmings and bright red legs and bill. It aver- ages more than three feet in height when full — grown, and in flight, high in the air, with its long _ legs stretched out straight behind, it makes a most picturesque object. \ eS In the “courting season” the male stork is — extending an from place to emitting a clatte

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY : POINTS OF INTEREST ne CATTLE THAT EAT FISH The use of fish’as food for cattle is an idea _ more novel than agreeable. According to Nature, + however, it is a common practice in various parts of the world. In Shetland and Iceland the farm- _ ers feed dry salt fish to cattle, sheep, and even to horses. Cecil Wood, describing experiments _ of this nature, mentiones that certain special cat- * tle, kept for display at the village festivals in Nandyal, in India, are fed with mutton, and adds that it is a fairly common practise to make use - of bandicoots by pounding them ina mortar and ~ feeding them to cattle. In Mr. Wood’s experi- _ ments, two lots of heifers were fed on dried fish diet and normal diet, respectively. The animals took a little time to get used to the fish, but they ate it readily enough. At the end of six months the fish-fed heifers showed an average increase in weight of fifty-four pounds, as against seventy pounds for the normal fed animals. 2, INSISTING ON COMFORT FOR.. HIS ene FAITHFUL DOG A home befitting a companion and friend has _ been found by eighty-two-year-old Jacob Siler of - §$t. Louis Mo., for his dog, Joe. It’s a farm hav- ing all the requirements outlined by his master. | Joe is a fox terrier, but he is more than just a dog to Siler; he’s a companion and friend. The -_ two have lived in a tiny house since the dog’s birth - ten years ago. eee Recently Siler offered a legacy of $5,000 to any person furnishing Joe a suitable home for life. A big farm, close to the city, a pond for Joe to ‘swim in; a telephone, a dog and children for Joe to play with, a nearby settlement, and a nice big house, were the requisites. : . About 1,200 offers were received and the place selected is the home of William I. Mertz, near Altheim, in St. Louis County. the future residence of Joe, but also that of his aged master, for Mertz has offefed to provide a home for both. > U. S. SEIZED SO MUCH RUM IT CAN pa HARDLY BE STORED - The problem of storing confiscated liquors has - yveached the stage that warrants it being placed next in importance to enforcement of the dry law. The government warehouses are full and several ' ‘seore others are under lease, yet, it was declared, - there is not. room for the constant inpouring of seized stocks. ' -.“We are almost at wits’ end,” said Assistant ‘Secretary Moss, “and there seems to be no prom- ise of a '‘let-up.” Department of Justice officials have taken steps * ¢0 relieve the congestion through speeding up dis- of liquor held awaiting trial of alleged All United States attorneys have been It not only will be - - postage stamps. _ 166 West 23d Street PLANS FLIGHT TOWARD THE SUN. Henry Helft, a negro, when arraigned before Acting City Judge William S. Coffee at Mount Vernon, declared that he was “Chief Regent of New Argentine Imperial.” He said his aim was to form an air expedition and travel 1,136 miles “into the solar system.” ‘ With him he had a copyrighted edition of “The Solar Path,” a prospectus written by himself. He also had a quantity of bonds which he was ac- cused of selling. They sell for $20 in 1960, and the author of the book promises to redeem them. At present they are given away with each pur- chase of a volume of his works. a “The people refused to recognize Christopher -. Columbus for more than twenty years,’ he told Judge Coffee. “What do you expect to do?” asked the Court. “Organize an expedition of airships and sail into the solar system. At a height of about 800 miles there is a solid land, a new earth. There we will find riches and precious stones in abundance and we intend to claim that new domain.” Judge Coffee suspended sentence on a vagrancy ~ charge. ; THE LIBERTY BOYS OF 76 _ r 1236 The Liberty Boys’ Battle Cry; or, With Was} at the Brandywine, stele fo 1237 ‘“ Wild Ride; or, A Dash to Save a Fort, 1238 y, in a Fix; or, Threatened by Reds and Whites. _ 1239 “ Big Contract; or, Holding Arnold in Check. a 1249 “ Shadowed; or, After Dick Slater for Revenge. igs 4241 “ Signal; or, At the Clang of the Bell. Be 4242 “ Wake Surrender; or, The Ruse That Succeeded. 1243 “ Plot; or, The Plan That Won.. 4 4244 “ Dary Work; or, Risking Life for Liberty's Cause. Shes 4245 “ Duped; or, Thé Friend Who Was An Enemy. oe 3246“ Flush Times; or, Reveling in British Gold. (hk 4047 “ Prize and How They Won It. zt ae 1248 “ Great Haul! or, Taking Everything in Sight. 1249 “ in a Snare; or, Almost Trapped, ; 3250 ‘' Brave Rescue; or, In the Nick of Time, 1251 “ Big Day; or, Doing Business by Wholesa‘- 1252 “ Net; or, Catching the Redcoats and Tories, 1253 “* Worried; or, The Disappearance of Diek S por 1254 “ Iron Grip; or, Squeezing the Redecoats. 1255 ‘“ Success; or, Doing What They. Set Out to toa. 1256 “ Sethack; or, Defeated But Not Disgraced 1257 “ in Toryville; or, Dick Silater’s Fearful Rik 258 “ Aroused; or, Striking Strong Blows for Libe.iy- 1259..'"" fait meat or, Beating the Redcoats at T! w 1260,‘ Séare’ ek Miss as Good as a Mile. 1261 “ Danger; or, Foes On_All Sides. 1262 “ Flight; or, A Very Narrow DPscane. ~ 1263 “ Strategy; or, Outgeneraling the Enemy. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 8c. per copy, in money oF — - HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. —

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| HERE IS A GREAT CHANCE’ FOR YOU READ HOW YOU CAN GET THIS wovine Picture macaine EF RGE Shows the Kind of Pictures You Like Best Right in ‘‘Your Own Home’’ We send this ence erfect working, high grade Motion Picture Machine, with a box of film, already for immediate use. You can start and show pictures the mo- J ment you get this machine. We also give a 4-space Metal Slide and 60 different Film Subjects which enables you to show magnified still pictures, giving a longer, better and more interest- ing show, This is new equipment never before given. THIS MACHINE IS NOT A MERE TOY — IT’S A JOY! Can. you think of anything greater fora fellow to own than a real, honest-to-goodness MOVING PICTURE MACHINE of his own, that shows the very same films that are shown in all the big “MOVIE HOUSHS”? Can you think of a better way of affording your friends an évening’s entertainment than by having them come to your. house and admire the splendid pictures you can . show on this genuine moving picture machine? This is a remarkable offer and we want you to take advantage of it immediately. And, if you -do act quickly, you can also recelve AN HXTRA FILM OF CHARLIP CHAPLIN OR BILL HART FRED. Do not delay. These machines-are going like hot-cakes, and by our easy plan you should x get one of these FREE AT ONCE with very little trouble on your part, The whole question is a matter of time and you should not delay. You should send the coupon below, properly filled out, today. Here is your chance to own a regular fellow’s machine and give a regular fellow’s show right in your own home. Only, do not delay! : : * How You Can Get ie Ges Moving Picture Machine— | FREE COUPON Read My Offer to You! Good for Send Four Debt ce address—that is all. ° Write name and address Moving Picture Machine Offer very plalnly—mail today—and please use the Free Coupon. As soon ALE? as I receive your name and address I will mail to you 20 handsomp ey re Secretary, colored pictures manufactured for us by one of the biggest color ept. 400, Printing Houses in the United States. I want you to distribute the 615 W. 43d St, New York,N. Y. ’ 20 premium pictures on a 30c, offer among people you know, When waite i you have distributed the pictures on my liberal offer you will have here send me be rig weer collected $6.00. Send the $6.00 to me and I will immediately send you Fae Pictave Machine sey Outht. Free, this wonderful National Moying Picture Machine, with complete ¥ outfit, Just as described. * ; 50,000 of these Machines have made 50,000 boys happy. |-----2--------- Bane capes Answer at once. Be the first in your town.te get one. A.B. Fleming, Secy., 615 W. 43d St., Dept. 400, New York, N. Y. Yours truly,

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Yes! You can easily have, free, any of these beautiful and valuable gifts. All you need to do is to distribute among your friends just a few packages of our fragrant easy selling Sachet, at ten cents each. You will be surprised.to see how easily you.can earn one of these attractive gifts. Fill in the coupon for your share of our Fragrant Sachet, so you can start distributing it at once. You need send no money. We trust yeu. But get started right away before someone else gets into your territory. Send the coupon h : TODAY! Sporting Model STEVENS JUNIOR “22” We give you this famous Stevens 22 cal. blued finish, walnut atock riffle for alittle of your spare time, selling our fragrant sachet packages at 10¢ each. 21-inch barre! tapered to 1-30000 inch accurately, and sighted for fine shooting. Boys, you will be delighted with this fine rifle. Send the coupon for 30 packages todayl Big Leather Football An excellent quality regulation size foot- ball. Leather spe- cially tanned and tempered to take out stretch. Reinforced seams and double strength seamless bladder. Each ballis hand finished and carefully examined ¥ for perfection in weight, size and shape. fully gquar- anteed. Sell only 30 packages of our easy selling Fragrant ‘ Sachet end get this 4 REAL Football. A Real Movie | Machine and Film Your Choice of Electric or Oil This machine is a yell-built and practical moving pic- ture ontfit, so designed that it can be used for both moying pictures and still life views. Equipped for electric or oil light. In addition we give you, abso- / lutely free, a ely slide carrier for showing still ictures, a reel of film, tickets, show hills, etc., also 0 pictures free—enough for a one hour show. You will be surprised to find how easily you can win one i > of these wonderful machines. Send the coupon for aa 80 packages of Fragrant Sachet. 3 5oy te, 10 Year ee Guaranteed Watch | — and Fine Chain You can have this genuine American stem-wind and set, fancy engraved watch, also fine chain, for selling only 30 packages of onr Fragrant Sachet. Remember, it has our 10- ear guarantee, You will be delighted. « Send coupon now. 0, 7 2 % MERECEAEONDAECHRSRORORAGSEEDEOATA DC TONGEERERUESANONERNaLSenesevaneeenereseeqeoneseoen’ Chicago Sachet Works, 4312 port. 3 0:28 ave,, Chicago 2 | SendNo Money BEE Just The Coupon! Make your choice of handsome gifta. Send in aly of the Frag- | rant Sachet so you can start distributing them at once. Sendnomoney, We trust you. Just fillin coupon and mark the article you want. Chicago Sachet Works, Dept. 10-98 4313 Ravenswood Ave,, Chicago, Ill. EXTR At For quick work, you also ‘- ; * get one of these beau- tiful stone sot rings. Sond in the coupon TODAY, end we will tellyou «il about it. the coupon and get your su | Gentlemen: Pleasesend me 30 packages of your Fragrant easy-sel- — ling Sachet. I agree to sell them at ten cents each, and return to you the money and select my premium according to offer in your big premium list which is sent with the goods. If I cannot sell them, I will return them to you. 1 have checked the premium I desire: 0 Movie Machine O Fine Leather Football © O 22 Calibre Stevens Rifle OTenYearGuaranteeWatch | NGO Wn ccccensunsscctechuccosvesmnctusbercnces =a een ane ne nme RES SI a a see Steoahananwccuasl nanmennaneneedanennnasaai0nncan tencanancwaanennannnomeng

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Si hides, Me i N ee Pe a ie + servers, a far more majestic bird than the familiar ~ Ameri- »on the wing and * multitudes. BIRD RIVALRY The American eagle, despite its famed © signifi- cance, is no long- er to be correctly considered the king of birds and | the monarch of the sky. Austra- lian ornitholo- gists, in describ- ing the habits of Oceania’s birds recently, declared that the golden eagle of the Anti- podes is the larg- est and most pow- erful of the eagle Species. This bird, which works such havoc in the lambing season) and in times of | drought when stock are in such a weak, feeble} condition as to be defenseless, is, ac- cording to the ob- can eagle of the outspread wings. “ While the gold- en eagle is, de- ite’ its size, tre- mendously active of marvelous lift- | ing power, those who made the re- cent study of| Australia’s wing- | ed creatures de- claved that it does Yess than one- quarter the dam-| age wrought by crows. : "This same. vi-| cious nature is’ manifested in the | large crows of| America’s West- ern plains when whole armies of them swoop! down on a single victim. The West- | ern plainsman knows that fal-} tering by the| Wayside means a horrible fate met- ed out to him by the black, cawing | TOBACCO Habit Cured or No Pay | tired of being made fun of, tired of being unable, y nptced, Hprmloes Complet “Pipe, chewing or enuff heed plete treatment sent on trial. Coots if it cures. Nothing if it fails. SUPERBA CO. M- 21, ‘Baltimore, Md: Md. ‘ men, LHE LP 117- Government Positions wisi ‘eal me ‘| EEDED to accept 250, _itationary. ator nese Ozment, 1 49, home, or Savalas, St. Louis, Mo, imm “REDUCO GOITRE BANDAGE If you have Goitre or Big-Neckc thensend in your name and address and we will mail you a’ Reduco” Goitre Bandage Free of Charge, also a very interesting and valuable booklet on ,how to Treat Your Goitre at Home. No Charge For This Now or Ever. Give Size Around Neck, Only one to each Betscn, Send now while this offer lasts, Address DR. ROCK LABORATORY, Box 737. Derr. 637 Miwaunee, Wis. THROW “YOUR VOICE Under the table, into a Trunk, down Cellar or anywhere, Our lessons in VENTRILOQUISM teaches you. With our VENTRILO (fitsin the mouth and cannot be seen) you t imitate Birds, sate \ oe mals, etc. Without 4 moving ur lips, 3 Ca This outfit and book of = JOKES by ‘ail for 10, Universal Dist., Box 532, Stamford, Ct. 5] 4 |t9)25} Solve This Puzzle—Win 5,000 Votes What words do these numbers make? ds in my co closing June 16, 1925. Prises du plicated in cane of tie. ticulara sent a4 soon aa your solution ls recelved. Anawer auic! jord, 537 S. Dearborn St., Dept. 41 G. A. W.—I sincerely promise with all my heart what you ask, Roslyn 381... Your -sister, toslyn Heights, N. Y. Ellen .Shepherd, i ‘ie Why Don’t You Reduce? Aren’t you tired of being called fat? Aren't yeu | todo the things that slender people do? Then here is What you are Jooking for—a sim naples pleasant, method of reducing — Marmola scription Tablets, Just take one of these tablets after each meal and at bedtime and almost immedi-. ately your fat will begin to disappear. In a short time you will be as slender as you want to be. Don't endanger your health by staying fat. Go | to your druggist and ask for a box of Marmola Pre- ‘scription Tablets, or, if you prefer, send one dollar to the Marmola Co., 1879 General Motors Blidg., f troit, Mich., and a box will { be sent Pe tpaid. Then | try them. See how quickly they, make you slender—with- out tiresome ex- ercises or starva- tion diets. Hat anything you want, Marmola Tablets will make you slen- der! et your ag Me aie start Get Rid ofYor & AT Free Trial Treatment bent on request. Ask for my © pay-when-reduced” offer. I haye Successfully reduced thousands of persons, often at the rate of | ,,& pound a day, without diet or Let me send you proof at my ex- Licensed Physician pense. DR. KR, NEWMAN, State of New York, 266 Fifth Avenue My phone number is | New York, New York, Desk: W-18 PIMPLES Your Skin Gan Be Quickly Sieared of Pimples, Blackheads. Acne Eruptions on the face or body, Barbers Itch, Eczema, Pores and Pn, a or Shiny Skin, © FREE °sCcnittrosn Bre teh bow £ cured myself after being afficted E.S.GIVENS,186 Chomics! Bidg., Kansas City, Mo. i Yorrects fA thres Wonderful, new device, guides your han Ries writing in few days. Big improvemen' ours, No failures. Complete opuine Write c. J. Ozment, Deep St. Lo iS tal aeons, Me en te ! Guemicat Magic, and | for nebling 24 packages Por a each, ; Jones Mfg. Co., Dons 280 Attleboro, Mass,

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY — LATEST ISSUES — ee e the Market; ‘or, The Greatest Boy in Wall treet. i! The Chance of His Life; or, Fhe Young Pilot of Crytal Lake. Striving for Fortune; or, From Bell-Boy to Million- aire. : Out for Business; or, The Smartest ue in Town. ‘A BA ib of Fortuhe; or, Striking It Rich in Wall Street. TVhrough Thick and Thin; or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy. Doing His Level Best; or, Working His Way Up. aire on Deck; or, The Boy Who Made His Mark. Mint of Money; The Young Wall Street Broker. : The Ladder of Fame; or, From Office Boy to Senator. On the Square; or, The Success of an Honest Boy. After a Fortune; or, The Pluckiest Boy in the West. Winning e dollars; or ,The Young Wonder of Wall Stréet. Making His Mark; The President. Heir to a Million; or, The Boy Who Was Born Lucky. Lost in the Andes; or, The Treasures of the Buried City. On His Mettle; or, A Plucky Boy In Wall Stréet. A Lucky Chance; or, Taking Fortune on the Wing. The Road _to Suceess; or, The Career of a For- tunate Boy. Chasing Pointers; or, The Lucklest Boy in Street. 985 Rising in the World; or, From Factory Boy to Manager. 986 From Dark to Dawn; or, A Poor Roy’s Chance. Out for Himself; or, Paving His Way to Fortune. Diamond Cut Diamond; or, The Boy Brokers of Wall Street. A Start in Life; or, A Bright Boy’s Ambition. 5 Out for a Million; or, The Young Midas of Wall | Street. : t tvery Inch a Boy; or, Doing His Level Best. ones to Burn > OF; The Whrewdest Boy in Wall Street. An Bye to Business; or, The Boy Who Was Not Asleep. Ti a be the Ticker; or, An Ambitious Boy in all Street. On to Success; or, The Boy Who Got Ahead. A Bid for a Fortune; or, A Country Boy.in Wall Street. Bound to Rise; or, Fighting His Way to Success. y ; ae Out for the Dollars; or, A Smart Boy in Wall aah ” Street. 5 999 For Fame and Fortune; or, The Boy Who Won Both. 1000 A Wall Street Winner; or,-Making 2 Mint of Money. 1001 The a to Wealth: or, The Boy Who Found It Ou 965 jes OCB O67 © 968 969 970 971 972 973 A 974 975 976 TT or, 978 or, Boy Who Became #& 079 980 981 982 ‘983 984 Wall 995 996 1002 On the ‘Wing; or. The Young Mercury of Wall Street. A Chase for a Fortune: or, The Boy who Hustled. 1004 Juggling with the Market; or, The Boy Who Made It’ Pay ay. 5 Cast Adrift; or, The Luck of a Homeless Boy. 1008 Pisying the Market; or, A Keen Boy in Wall $ treet. Ee A Pot of Money: or, The Legacy of a Lucky Boy. . Joos From Rags to Riches; or, A Lucky Wall Street r. tei his The Smartest Boy Alive. is Merits; or, iio ane eee the Brokers; or, A Game Wall Street Boy. illion in Gold: or, The Treasure of Santa Cruz. 1012 Bound 3 Make Money; or, From the West to Wall { Street. reset Mrgnate; or. Making Baseball Pay. tone Bgte tener: or, A Wall Street Messenger’s Luck, joi5 A’ Harvest of Gold: or, The Buried Treasure of Coral Island. 1016'On the Curb; or, , Beating the Wall Street Brokers, ° o =e For sale by ‘all newsdealers, or will be sent to any # ~ gddress on receipt of price, 8c. per copy, S oeatees in money or stamps, by “HARRY K. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., ; West 23a Street New York City 166 West 23d Street . OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS Useful, Instructive, and Amusing, They contain Valuable Information on Alniost Every Subject. No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT, —Fully illustrated. Full instructions are given in this little book, togefher with instructions on swimming and riding, companion sports to boating. No. 28. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.—BEvery one is desirous of knowing what his future life. will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or poverty. You can tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be convinced No. 29 HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR.—[very boy should know how inventions originated. This book explains them all, giving examples in electricity, hy- draulics, magnetism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics. No. 30. HOW TO COOK.—One of the most instructive books on cooking ever published, It contains recipes for cooking meats, fish, game and oysters; also pies, puddings, cakes and all kinds of pastry, and a grand collection of recipes. No. 33. HOW TO BEHAVE.—Containing the rules and etiquette of good society and the easiest and most approved methods of appearing to good advantage at parties, balls, the theatre, church, and in the draw- ing-room. Now 85. HOW TO PLAY GAMEFS.—A complete and useful little book. containing the rules and regulations = billiards, bagatelle. back-gammon, croquet. domin: ete, No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS.—Contain- ing all the leading conundrums of the day, amusing rid- # dies, curious catches and witty savings, No 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS.—In- cluding hints on how to catch moles, weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds. Also how to cure skins. Copiously ree te Sete ay : oO. ‘. E BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN'S JOK EBOOK.—Containing a great variety of the latest. jokes used by rhe most famous end men. No amateur _ minstrels is complete without this wonderful litfle book. a No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP- SPEAKER.—Containing a. varied assortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch and Irish. Also end men’s jokes. Just the thing for home amusement and amateur shows. No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINSTREL GUIDE AND JOKE BOK.—Something new and very x instructive... Every boy should obtain this book, as it contains full instructions for organizing an amateur minstrel troupe. f ; No. 464. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELECTRICITY. —A description of the wonderful uses of electricity and : electro magnetism; together with full instructions for making Electric Toys, Batteries, ete. By George Trebel. _ A. M. M. D. Containing over fifty illustrations. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANOES.—A No. 48. handy book for boys, containing full directions for con- structing canoes and the most popular manner of Sait ing them. Fully {llustrated. No. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rules for con- ducting debates, outlines for debates, questions for dis- eussion and the best sources for procuring information on the question given. t + Rie” No. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND ANIMALS. ~~ —A valuable book, giving instructions in collecting, pre- Paring, mounting and preserving birds, animals and in- sects, : No. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Con- __ taining explanations of the general principles of sleight- = of-hand applicable to card tricks; or card tricks with — ordinary cards, and not requiring sleight-of-hand; of tricks involving sleight-of-hand, or the use of specially prepared cards. Illustrated. No. 52. HOW TO PLAY CARDS.—A complete and handy little book, giving the rules and full directions, for playing Euchre, ribbage, Casino, Forty-Five, Rounee, Pedro Sancho, Draw Poker, Auction Pitch, Au Fours, and_ many other popular games of ecards. © © o, 54. Ow TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS.— | Giving complete information as to the manner and meth- od of raising, keeping, taming, breeding and managing all kinds of pets: also giving full instructions for mak- __ sr (CRE OR: ete. Fully explained by twenty-eight fltus- trations. ; ee For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any he address on receipt of price, 10c. per copy, _ cea in money or stamps, by . aes eK as HARRY E. WOLFF. Publisher. Inc. New York }