Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 1041) (1925 09 11)
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No. 1041 gitar net Meee Price 8 Cents ARLE LO SUYVHA OOT ATUVAN “cease Sea eae : ES Coo SOES “Behold the treasure of the secret caves!” said Titania, as the thver, natives, in obedience to her command, removed basket after basket full of golden coin from the stone shelf and displayed them before the astonished eyes of the boy.
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY tsened weekly—Subseri tion price, $4.00 er es Canada, $4.50: Foreign, $5.00. Harry E. Wolff, ie eae me., 160 West 23d % @ . ._ Entered as Second-Class Matter, October 4,- You, Street, New York, N. ¥ the Post-Office at New York, N. - No. 1041. A — GOLD KING “By A \ SELF- MADE MAN CHAPTER I.--Bound for the Antipodes. “All hands aloft! Make sail!” roared the chief mate of the Golden Fleece from the deck. “Shake _ out those reefs! Be lively, my bullies! Set »stu’ds’ls!’ Sheet home!” . The jauNty-looking American clipper, bound ' from San Francisco to Melbourne, Australia, was - well over the bar. The tug had cast off and was : coming around on her return trip, leaving a ¢reamy-white semicircle of foam in her wake. - Captain Rockwell, his daughter Nellie, a bright- eyed miss of sixteen, and Richard Savage, a ~-sprucely-dressed but sickly-looking youth of = “eighteen, the only son of one of the owners of the vessel, were standing at the taffrail waving ‘their adieus to Mr. and Mrs. Savage and the men on the tug. Astern lay the “Heads,” the en- trance to the Golden Gate, whence they had come. while to the leeward stretched the coast of Cali- fornia, a long, shelving beach of white sand. Seaward the ocean lay like a sheet of sparkling gold in the light of the setting sun. A solitary ishing smack, an Italian craft, bound ‘inward; was crossing the yellow pathway, and her sail, flaunting in the sun’s face, looked like a blood- red banner. The peculiar cry of the seagulls, - wheeling lazily around the vessel, seemed like a “kind of bon-voyage to those bound for the far south Pacific. : - “Well, Miss Nellie, we’re: off at last,” said Richard Savage, as the tug lengthened her dis- tance from the sailing craft. “It will be some ‘months before either of us set. our eyes again upon fhe gélden shores of California. Do you feel homesick at leaving San Francisco, the place where you were born and lived all your life?” x “A Jittle bit, Mr. Savage. Call me Richard, said the boy, impatiently. “All the girls call me that, while the boys call me Dick.” “But I hardly know you well enough yet to im 1 you by your first name. Besides, you are the son of one of the owners, and _ Never mind who I'm as son of. As to not dant Ba ’ eT a >a bit of it. i is sa joll iy ‘town, Ei tm ene a E fellow f 5 a NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER il, to. got back to : stream, with” under ‘the Act of March 3, 1925 paige 8 Cents, Pee eee se ee » ‘ 4 e and girls behind, but the family sawbones said I was living at too rapid a pace, burning the mid- night oil, after a fashion, and my health was so run down that if my people didn’t want to plant ~~ me in Lone Mountain they’d better send me on a F long sea voyage, so here I am, bound for the 4 antipodes.” “You don’t look very well, papa says. you'll soon pick un,’ “Sure, I will, especially in foi charming com- pany as yourself,” and Richard Savage cast an’ admiring glance at the captain’s pretty daughter, * — * Nellie Rockwell blushed a little under his ar- 3 dent gaze and turned hér face toward the fast receding tug. Richard Savage smiled com- placently. Although socially a considerable dis- tance above Miss Rockwell, he admired the girl - on account of her good looks and winning ways.* ~~ ‘His garments were of the best quality and of a. fashionable cut: He sported a gold ‘watch and chain, with a diamond-studded pendant, and wore | a diamond ornament in his necktie. In the cap- tain’s safe was a draft made out in his name . for a fat amount on a Melbourne banker, which ~ he was at liberty to spend in having a good time yi while the vessel. was discharging, her eargo an “3 taking. aboard another at the colonial capital. + Finally, he was good-looking, and thought a whole lot of himself. Such was Richard Savage, the only and rather self-willed son of the wealthy | senior partner of the shipping firm that owned. the Golden Fleece. Being accustomed to lord it” over the servants of the family mansion, over his parents, especially his mother. and over all his friends and acquaintances who would stand for it, and most of them did, he expected to boss things aboard the Golden Fleece as far as he £2, chose to exercise that privilege. “2 ‘His father practically owned the vessel, so he expected all hands from the captain down would take their hats off to him, so to speak: If they failed to treat him with the respect and consider ation he looked for, he made up his mind that — there ~vould be something doing when the ship — San Francisco. Such were hi thoughts when he boarded the vessel oie: the is father and mother, befo. nee DS was troduced < that’s true, but |
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— ~He was immensely taken with her,’and decided that he would monopolize her society during the -voyage.. of being on intimate terms with a young gentle- man of his advantages, and that she would de- “vote herself wholly to his entertainment. - At the same time he found himself making a strong bid for her favor, as he was anxious to stand well with her, and was prepared to make -eertain concessions, if necessary. in order to do it. The sky was now aglow with the last rays ‘of the sun fast vanishing below the far-off sea line. The Golden Fleece, with every sail spread _ to the light breeze, was eating her way, as it were, through the golden shaft of fire that shot across the waves. The shiv’s bell forward slowly -. struck four times. The seaman, whose trick at “the wheel had now expired, glanced expectantly _. forward. In a moment or two a stalwart, fine- ~~ looking lad, in the usual rig of a foremast hand at sea, sprang up the ladder leading to the poop, --and walked briskly aft to relieve the old weather- beaten seadog at the wheel. Captain Rockwell had already gone below. The steward, a mulatto, popped his head up the ¢ompanion- -way fronting the brass-hooded binnacle and announced to the young people atithe taffrail that supper was on “the table. This was a signal for Nellie and Hich- -ard to turn around and leave the rail: _ “Why, Jack!” cried the girl, in a tone of “pleas- ~~ ant surprise. as her eyes rested on the bo¥ who = had just taken charge of. the wheel. “I didn’t ~~. notice you befere. How long have you been at © the wheel ?” -, “Not more than a minute, Nellie,” he atiswered, ya a’ smile. a ~ Well, I’m awfully elad to “see you. Isn't it funny that I should be aboard the ship with papa.?” = ‘Tt’s rather “anusua! to have a lady passenger, Yi admit, but I’m bound to Sav that you’re as welcome as the flowers in May.” | you said that. very. nicely, “You are certainly. im- “Upon, my word, Jack,” answered the girl. 7 ing. Am Be laughed the boy. “I’m glad to hear it.” ® - “You are, indeed. We'll, see a zood deal of “each other now, won't we? -.“T have-no doubt we will.” “Aren't you glad?” she asked, coauettishly. “You need hardly, ask that question; but you must yemember that I’m not my own master now, as | was ashore. We can only meet occasionally ‘as my duties permit. I cannot come on the poop except when it is‘my trick at the wheel, and if “you caré to see ge when I’m off duty you will have to come as far. as the waist, at anv rate.” ~ #71) come: At any rate, I'll see you ac the wheel. Remember,” she added, laying her shapely a ‘on his arm, “you have promised to teach me ete ot the ship, and ‘TY shall fold you to r rd.” ean ‘be rated todo that,” he answered; “but 'm afraid’ you'll not find much fun in’ ib, nor will you find it an easy job.” -#E promise to be a patient glia dig aa! v tied, smilingly. os Ftey He expected hér to avnreciate the fact he : ‘ ‘A YOUNG. GOLD RING ‘had been standing with a ‘frown of annoyance. ‘sneered Savage. -ean’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.’ yemark,” she replied, saucily, taking her sea on his face, one of his hands resting on the bras rail of the companion stairs. He could not under- stand how she could waste so much time on a common sailor, and he was jealous because - she: did’ so: j “JT will ‘come in a moment. Mr. Savage. Don’t id wait for me.” a “L thought. you weré going to call me Rich- i # ard?” ‘he: said, in a piqued tone, not taking ad-.- vantage of her permission to retire. “Will you be on duty here some time, Jack? a she asked the young sailor, not noticing Sayage’s. last remark. : “I'll be here: two hours. This is the iis } of the second dog-watch. At four bells, or eight .. o’clock, J’ll be relieved.” ie “Well, I must go to tea now. vi ‘see you when i I’m through. < “All right, Nellie. ll be one to enjoy as much of your company as you may care to honor | me with now that I’m under sea orders.” : “Oh, youll see enough of me before we reach Tre Melbourne. It’s quite a long trin in a sailing ; vessel,” ; “Ves. I’m thinking you'll find it tiresome lone F before you get near our pasok leo ek Soom “Do you think: so?” she ‘said, as *, moved Bots away. “Now, [I don’t agree with vou: ood- byt : “Good-by, Nellie.” “J don’t see what you. find about a contin sailor to talk so long to him,” Said Richard Savage, petulantly, as he llowed her down, the brass-bound stairs. “Don’t you?” she replied, with=a toss of. h head. “Jack Archer ‘and I are old: friends. And he isn’t_a common sailor, either.” with some ‘spirit in her voice. : ; “All sailors are, common,” persisted. the, young aristocrat, disdainfully. “That’s whefe you’re mistaken. This is Jack's last trip before the mast. He wiil. go out.as sec- ond mate on the next voyage. Papa says he’s — competent to do that now, but there was no ope ing for him’ this trip.” “Mates are not so much better thari sailozs.” “Aren't Shey ?” laughed the girl. is “No. They graduate from the foreeastle. ¥en “Indeed,”: criéd Nellie, with a scornful look ; her companion. “Perhaps I might be allowed ‘say that all’s not gold that glitters, either.” i “What do you mean by that?” demanded Ric peeve ard, almost angrily, haying an idea that the ; was giving him a shot. — “Nothing more than what you meat: by your ‘the table. Richard looked disgruntled, and eran ‘to in silence. : pie aes, .
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A YOUNG *Bislden Fleeve, and when Jack was thrown on his ~- own resources by the death of his surviving pa- -rent the skipper had offered to take him to sea -and teach him the business. Jack accepted the invitation gratefully, and though the captain y played no favorites at sea, he gave the young _ sailor every opportunify to get ahead in his pro- fession...As darkness came over the face of the ocean, and the shadows’ fell upon the tophamper ~ of the vessel, Jack struck a match and lighted the lamp in the binnacle so he could see the face of the compass. This was his guide now, the sailor whom he had relieved having given him the course. Steering the ship under the present conditions was child’s-play to him, and did not absorb his whole attention. At length Nellie came Sau! up the companion stairs, followed by Richard Savage. The long edge of gray haze which lay around the eastern horizon, on which the dark rim of the sea was defined, as with the ‘sweep of a soft brush dipped in indigo, had been gradually lightening during the last few min- \ utes—at first with a faint radiance, then a thread of silver ran along the line of vapor, growing brighter and brighter at one point, until the arch of the moon rose slowly, like the fabled Venus er from the couch in the sea. Nellie struck the deck vat that moment. “Oh, isn’t that lovely!” she cried, “yapturously. -“Tsn’t it, Jack?” “Yes,” replied the young sailor, without any arose enthusiasm, for he» had seen the sight so that it was an old story with him, “It’s aren lovely as somebody) I know.” The girl easily understood the compliment his words implied; and she flashed a swift glance at him through the darkness, while the color mount- ed in her face and her heart beat a shade quicker. Richard Savage ‘also heard his remark, under- stood its import, and muttered something sav- -agely between his teeth. : “Come, Miss Nellie,” he said, catching her by the arm, “let’s go over by the rail. This sailor ~shas his work to attend to.” _. “No,” she replied, “I’m going tb talk te Jack. “Will you permit me to introduce you, and then we can all three chat together?” “You'll have to excuse me,” he said, stiffly, walking away in a huff. “He’s mad,” laughed the girl to Jack. “But I don’t care. He’ s too tony for me, anyway. I’m rry he came with us, for I don’t think I shall like him a bit.”. ~~ 47 guess he doesn’t want to oe an everyday sailor like me. Well, just wait till a bit of rough weather hits us. It will take all the starch out of that dude,” chuckled Jack. ve afraid that’s one of the> penalties of com- to sea, Nellie. But you won't be under hatehcs long, that’s one consolation.” At that moment Captain Rockwell came on ‘deck and glanced at the compass card. Nellie hen walked over aie the spot where Richard Sav- : awing lis finger nails in sullen anger. “Oh, I sh’n’t like rough weather a bit, at least,» not at first. I know I shall be dreadfully seasick. ae GOLD KING friends? 3 “Didn’t I tell you that Jack and I are old I think as much of him as though he were my brother. You ought to let me introduce you to him. You’d find him one of the nicest boys you ever met.” “T dare say,” replied Richard, sarcastically; “but I’m not accustomed to talking to common boys.” “Oh, fudge!” replied Nellie. “You'll get over that feeling before vou reach Melbourne. What’s the use of being so exclusive on board ship?” added the independent little miss. - “It’s all very well-when you’re at home, where you can choose your own associates. But here it is different. Can’t you.see that? Papa savs the sea is the , ‘ greatest leveler in the world. That it will bring even a king to his knees. It vou only expect to talk to papa. and me I’m afraid vou’ll soon — yourself rather lonesome.” Young Savage wasn’t used to beine talked toi { that. fashion, even by his mother, and it went against his grain...While he was provoked with her independent spirit, somehow or- another he could not help liking her all the moxe beéause she didn’t kowtow to him. “Well,” he said, a- bit Ganauienaly. introduce me to your friend Jack.” “Now you're acting sensibly, Mr. Richard, ” she replied, with a pleased laugh. Nellie led the way to where Jack stood with his weather-brown hands on the spokes of the wheel. “Jack, this is Richard Savage. son of one the owners of the ship. Mr. Richard, let me introduce you to Jack Archer.” Richard bowed rather stiffly, and gingerly ac-— cepted the hand that Archer extended to him. “Glad to know you, Mr. Savage,” said Jack, breezily. Richard murmured something that Jack could not understand, and then the three began to talk together, but the young aristocrat devoted the greater part of his conversation. to Nellie. At length four bells were struck again, which was the signal of Jack’s relief, and the beginning: of the first watch, from eight o’clock till mid- night. A sailor came forward to take the wheel. Jack. gave him the course, and after remaining about -five minutes to finish his conversation with Nellie and her companion, he bade Ahem both goodnight, and greatly to Richard’s aa See went forward to turn in. “you can ¢ CHAPTER UI—Bill Blaine. ee The, wind held light for nearly a aide and neither Nellie nor Richard Savage experienced) Ne, Richard, are you very ‘much pror” - 2% )she: asked | him: ee a merry - even the suspicion of seasickness. Jack Archer and his chum, Butch Whitbeck, a jolly, but not over-handsome, boy of about his own age, were — sitting together one day with their Bas against the mainmast, conversing. They were both mem- ers of the first mate’s watch, which went on duty this morning at four o'clock. It was now — after six, and there wasn’t the slightest sizn of the sun. “Looks as” iv we're going to. Hece a gale, Tack,” said Whitbeck, Recher up hi cts Wh I right,” replied his ¢
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ek A YOUNG ~~ minutes ago again. Jt is falling, and has been falling, the mate told me, since midnight.” ; “That. dude we've got aboard, who has been putting” on airs because he has not been sick, will get all that’s coming to him now,” chuekled Whitbeck. “That’s what he will,” grinned Jack.’ “I can’t say that [ have any sympathy to waste on him. Every time he’s talked to me he seemed to con- sider it a kind’ of condescension on his part.” At that moment there sus a cui Trom ine mate for the wateh to shorten sail. Jack and Butch sprang to their feet-and both were soon seram- buug up the 1atlinés like a pair of monieys. in _ a few minutes they were hanging our on the _ foretopsail yard, helping to furl the sail. Some of the canvas was taken in entirely, and reefs ' were made in the other sails. _hen.'the boys returned to the deck. me gale was soon blowing and the pitch of th- - increased to a considerable extent. The’ cathe ~ eontinued about the same all” day, and toward - night the barometer began to rise again. Next - morning there was still a pretty good: sea. run- ming, but thecsky was clear and the sun tose in all its customary glory. On this morning), Jack and Butch went on duty in the forenooy watch, which began at eight and lasted till noon, _ was sent forward to take a spell/as lookout. About nine o’clock he saw something dark. bobbing up and down on the waves right ahead. It was’ im- Half ‘a essel ~ possible for him to tell what it was, owing to the. distance that intervened. ‘He kept his eye/on it,, ae aes ever, and in the course of ten minutes made it =) to be a large hencoop, with something ahietiched across the top of it. He reparted the fact to the first mate, who brought ‘his Bluss to bear on the object. The officer soon made ‘out that a man was either clinging to the coop, or ’ was lashed to it.. He sent word to Captain Rock- ~ well, who was in the cabin looking after his sick . ‘daughter. The skipper eanie on deck, took a look at the coop and then ordered a “boat lowered to pick up the man, who was\evidently alive, for he ~ was seen to turn his head and*ook at the ap-. : -proaching vessel, The ship was hove to, the boat _ was sent away, and the unfortunate stranger, who “proved to a sailor, was soon on board. who had gone with the boat, produced a flask of - brandy and poured a good dose down the man’s throat. It put life into the fellow at once, and he - sat up without help. - The mate led him aft to give an deaount of him- is self to the captain.. He was a pretty hard-jooking object, av he stood bare-headed in his soaked gar- “ments: before the skipper. There was a sinister “glint in his eyes that did not favorab] Captain Rockwell, rather sharply. . . “What's your namie?”. was, the first mda the skipper put tohim. — ~My name,” replied the man, ae ly, i in a baad a seemed. to come from his hoots, “3. Bill impress Jack : ‘ As. * goon as he was taken from the coop, the mate, and he adressed the fellow © ’ by the nasty look in his eyes. GOLD KING “Ina corkin’ gale res nights ago. “a % “Who was the master. where did she hail tro gest td 2 pound (’’ “The skipper’s name was Janke: weew bound fiom sidney tu San x ‘rancisco “SAth a: load of coal.” The captain asked him’ several other questi Es and then told the mate to fit him out wit ae gt j suit of togs from the slop chest, and to take him - forward to the galley, where the negro cook would give him something to eat. : “T don’t like the chap’s: looks,” said the’ matey ) subsequently, to his superior, “Nor I,” replied the captain. “He looks for ain oy: the world like one of those South Sea Island ~ beach-eombers, and you know what class of men” they are. Formerly graduates from Botany Baye =: and other British. penal settlements in Australia, they are now not a whit better than’ their pre- Ea decessors.” that: oe Bill Blaine, the newcomer, ate cook set before him ard then retired to the fore. castle, where a spare bunk was assigned to tim, He tossed his dry clothes on the foot of th bunk, got rid of his wet ones. and’ crawling under the blankets, was soon snoring away as thougn he had been in the shin since she left port, He woke up late in the afternoon, sat up with his bare legs dangling out of the bunk and looked. around the gloomy sailor’s parlor, _ “Hello, my bully!” he said, breaking off and denly and looking across at Jack Archer, who — had been“ lying with his clothes on. upon his” pane and who had. started, up when the fellow. egan his vocal offering. “Hand me a chaw of *bacey, will you?” “Sorry that. I can’t oblige you, but I don’t chew, ” replied Jack. “You don’t—chew!” replied Blaine, slowly. “You don't chew!” he repeated. “Say, what kin: of a hybrid animal are ye anyway?” ae; “TIL get you some tobacco,” replied Jack, springing out of his bunk. “THat’s right, my hearty,” cried the fellow “ “Now yer talkin’.” Jack secured part of a plug for the derelict ‘and ie brought it to him. He took a big: bite of the compressed weed, eyeing: Jack all the time from head to foot; as if sizing the lad up, and: ‘then put the rest of the plus under his pillow.” “What's yer name, younker?” he asked 7522 _ “Jacek Archer, and yours is Bill Blaine, I bes: lieve.” “You believe right, then,” chuckled the fellow. “Say, what’s the name of this old hooker?” ~~ “The Golden Fleece, George Rockwell, master seven days from ’Friseo, and bound for ’ Mel: bourne,” said Jack. “Bound for where?” exclaimed Bill Blaine, su denly. stopping his jaws. “Melbourne, Australia.” The derelict ripped out an RAE IES and glared savagely at Jack. The boy was st led : “So this hooker is bound for ‘Melbourne, 2” he muttered,’ in. 2 y
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= Ray - ; ie Ef 5 iwces A YOUNG GOLD KING Vy i >? B ~ > mt However, he didn’t let the fellow suspect his sén- pe deel. Finally. timents, but told him he’d get the liquor. Rep- rail and looked do _ resenting that Bill Blaine was not feeling well, and fell with the ¥ ~ he got a glass of stiff spirits f¥®m the chief mate ir conversation | a _ and brought it to the derelict. The fellow threw was near them. _ it off at a gulp, winked one eve, smacked, his Suddenly as t jips, and started to get into the garments the” mate had given him: come with we . ee ere the tafi 4 ne S = : - ie uttered a were m that attra. > CHAPTER IV.—Saved From the Sea. tion not only @et thesecond mate, who stood the break.of the:4 watchin& something oie _. Next morning while Jack was at tS ‘wheel on forward, but ot ee deck.) Nellie came ups*the companion stairs, Jooking ~~ “My gracious! pa lated “ek me Rather seedy. wheel, and springi _~ “Good-morning, Nellig Glad to see 0 On gre Jashed to the “your pins again. How are you feeling ?” : and-holé it sted “Don’t mention it, Jack,” She’ replied, ith a = The. girl did Jittle- grimace. “Tve been drendfally i. 1 > 2 Sa ata. eee tae de" i ee er ee ~ “Die! Nobody dies of seasickness, Fat sinless Young: Savage: ks there’s Speen ae omg the matter with’ them. over the stern, roared “Man overboardl™ 2 rushed to the wheel.” Bese eee : ee Captain Rockwell dashegaas the ister ‘and'ask= “Ho! He was the boy that didn’t think he ed what was the matter, The second mate pointed was going to get sick this side of Melbourne. I Stern to where Jack was swimming, while ope it’s. taken some of the conceit out of him.” tearfully explained that “Say, Jack, papa told me that we picked up a board and Jack had jumped after hi man adrift on a hencoop. He said the man tain issued te orders to brine the : ‘claimed to be the only ‘survivor of a brig that and threw eth When of the life-preserver; “went down in the recent, gale.” the séa. In the meantime Jack. was strikin : ‘That's right. But he’s a. pretty hard char-, {im an-effort £6 yeae the shin owner’s son, whom "ost He's in my watch, and ‘the worst of it is he -could not oe make out anywhere on ‘the Syke s taken a fancy to meiand Butch, or pretends Waves. .When he camé up “he had. I don’t like him for sour potatoes. distance away, and the a Neither does Whitbeck. He’s got a bad eve. and Self up for lost. i - goodness, how he can swear! He seems to have. He _2oald swim. pretty a grouch against Australia for some reason. He cumstarices, but. under v | tole Butch that he didn’t intend going there, but I so rattled that he couldn’t- de “don’t: see how he can help himself, unless he self except waste the li , jumps overboard.” - beating the water aimle + “Papa isn’t overpleased to have him on board, wn again until [ should judge. What is his name? ; rsook hi Jack was’ “Bill Blaine. He’s short, thick-set, and has a ' - wicked eye. You'll see him when he stands his _ trick-at the wheel.” “P’mimot anxious to see him.” There was a shuffling sound on the companion — he Fae eet tairs, Pind a moment later a chalkyslooking to rise a saw the boy’s head rise a countenance rose slowly above the deck. > short dista from him. This was the second “Hello, Savage,” said Jack, “got your-sea legs time that Richard came to the surface. Jack at on at last, have vou?” once made a desperate eee fe b ‘The young aristoerat looked shaky and some- -he sank Si Se e was r He had not vet recovered wholly the alifiast. urfeon sink for what wa toward them. Jack was rward he His body cleaved. , and his hands ¢ dt
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Nellie, on camp chairs, near the helmsmaft. porting Savage with’ one arm. When the boat came up Richard was lifted aboard and then Jack, somewhat exhausted by his plucky exertions. was assisted over the side. The boat then put back for the ship. Nellie, leaning anxiously over the taffrail, waved her handkerchief joyously ; sa she saw that both of the boys were in the oat. “Richard is safe, papa,” she. cried, eager to re-. assure her father, who had beenin a“fever of anxious suspense from the moment he heard that the owner’s only son and heir’had gone over into the sea. “Jack saved his life.” “Thank Heaven!”«said Captain Rockwell. “Had the boy been lost, I don’t know how: I ever could have faced Mr. Savage again. He sent Richard to sea in my care, and I feel that IT am responsi- ble for his safe return home.” While he was speakine the boat glided up alongside and the hoisting tackle was made fast fore and aft. Most of the boat’s crew climbed aboard and then she was raised to the davits, after which Richard was lifted out, carried to his stateroom, and efforts.made to bring him to his senses. zt i CHAPTER V.—Nellie Takes a Lesson In ‘ Steering and Proves An Apt Pupil. Vigorous methods brought Richard Savage around all right, but he was a pretty’ weak boy after his strenuous experience “with the» waves. He learned that his life had been saved by Jack Archer, and he seemed to be grateful to the « young sailor. At least he so expressed himself to Captain Rockw “Savage had a pretty narrow squeak for his life,” said Jack. to Butch Whitbeck in the fore- ‘eastle, while he was gettine into dry clothes after the return of the boat. “He was going down for ~ the last time when I dived and grabbed him. I consider him a mighty lucky boy.” “He was that. He ought to be grateful to you as long as he lives,” replied Whitbeck When Jack went on deck again he encountered Bill Blaine. - “Hello, my- hearty!” said the hard-looking sailor, “So _yer’ve been takin’ a swim, have ye? Who’s the chap yer pulled out?” * -“He’s ‘a passenger, A boy of my own age.” “Son of the owner of this here hooker, ain't Hee a? “Yes. » . oney, eh?” and Blaine’s eyes “Got lots of winked in a wicked kind Of Wave iy Rep ied ~ 2 "I suppose #15 FATHER 1s W kk ON TUE THE C ONVERSATION. Fack, ot ansous TO Cc OW Hat's om Bak to Asked for?” persisted *Plaine. “His health.” 3 Blaine said no more, but walked to the =e s side and ejected a stream of tobacco juice over the bulwark to the leeward.- Richard Savage - wasn’t seen on deck again until next day noon, when Jack and Whitbeck saw him sitting Sh ac “met him when he went to putin his trick ‘at the “wheel. “Ii mach obliged to you for saving my life,” he said, without ony ish display of enthusiasm, to Archer. ; A YOUNG GOLD KING oe. “You’ re welcome,” replied Jack, heartily. - ; “My father will Pay you well when the ship gets back to ” yeaa “No, he wo replied the young sailor, quickly. “I don’t accept pay for such things as that.” “You don’t!” ejaculated Richard, in surprise. “Why not?” “T don’t believe in it.” : “My father can easily give you a thousand dol- ars.” “T’ve no doubt he can, but I don’t Spit tea “You don’t want a thousand dollars?” * “Not for saving your life.” Richard then walked away. , = A while later Nellie approached Jack,-and said: .“Jack, when are you going to show me how to steer?” “Now is as good as any time for you to take your first lesson. Our course is west-sou’-west. Look at the card. You'll see I’ve got that point on a line with that black mark on the compass rim. You want to keep it there, Take hold, of — the spokes and try.” eee Nellie did so, with some diffidence. Jack kept his eye on the weather leach of the topsail yard and saw, as he expected, the sail begin to flap. — Re ey re off your course, Nellie. Bring her up 4 i “Why, the wheel hasn’t moved any!” replied the girl in surprise. “You only think it hasn’t. Look yat the gard: * You’re half a point out of the way,” “Why, so it is. “No, it hasn't. The card has moved avounds’:. The card always remains sta- tionary, pointing toward the north. It’s, thes i ship that has moved around.” Jack moved the wheel a trifle and the card ap- peared to move around to its former position. After several trials oes found that, do her best, she couldn’t keep W. S. W. ona line with the mark. te “Suppose you look aloft, Nellie: See that sail?” “Yes, ” sie “Tt looks as smooth as a board “Yes.” “The vessel is now dead on her course. Now, hold the wheel again and keep your eve on the sail.” i ra Nellie did so. f # oe “It’sebeginning to ripple. Now it’s flapping.” — It’s spilling some of the wind he- “Exactly, cause you're off your sailing point. Move the Now * EE , doesn’t % 2” BA 7H wheel a little to starboard. That’s right. the sail is taut again and vou’re all right,’ x “How funny! Now it’ s, shaking again.” “Do as you did before.” : After repeated instructions the girl got the knack of holding the sail steady. % -“You’re doing fine now. Nellie.” Just then Richard came up and looked on with some curiosit} “Are you steering, Miss Nellie?” heckalesadc “Yes,” she said, with a flushed face and spark ling eye. “I’m doing it all right, too, ain’t I, Jack?” a “Sure, you are.” “Tf you can steer, I guess I me confidently. “Let him try, Jack.” “All ore You show him how” ee z ay: Mitardy
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So Nellie seers to reveat Jack’s instruc- » +9 Savage, and he grabbed the spokes be- - “fae she was half through, -. -“You’re off your course.” pine her hands. “How am I ? ” evied the girl, clap- : She’s going along all right.” ’ “No, she isn’t. The sail is flapping.” -. “What.if it is? That little bit doesn’t hurt, a aed Richard, doggedly. The sail flanped more and more, and soon the Geind began to spill from the larger sails as the -eship veered little bv little off her course. Jack hastened to rectify the matter. for he knew the first mate would soon take notice of the falling »ff of the ship’s head. Richard. however, insisted 4 ‘on steering as long as he felt like it. He said “his father owned the vessel and he had the right Fe snarled at Jack a ‘yan CHAPTER VI.—Bill Blaine and iciataé Savage. Nellie Gs ek lessons in steering when the wind and weather permitted. and finally was able again while Jack was around. but one day when ~~ Bill Blaine was at the wheel he came up and, ng the ‘sailor a dollar bill,.asked him to show him: iow to steer. Blaine grinned, took the the hard-looking sailor was the last person’ on beard that one would suppose such a boy as Richard Savage would notice. vet before. Blaine oe become quite chummy with him, much to Jlie’s disgust. She took the first oceasion to a Richard down about. it. , “T should think vou’d. prefer to cultivate the ‘aequaintance of a nice boy of your own age, like Jack, than to make friends with such a man as “Blaine,” she said. “Oh, he’s all right.” replied Richard, carelessly. “He's ‘only a common sailor, of course, but he ‘knows his place. He doesn’t trv to put on style “Tike Jack Archer. TI hate these poor folks who -y to make themselves out more than they are.” -“Yowre mistaken about Jack.” replied Nellie, standing up loyally for her friend. “He doesn’t put on airs.” ; : _ “Yes, he does. He puts on a whole lot of frills for a fellow of his low origin.” “What do you mean by lov origin?” flashed. the cours e.” et “How do you'know they were?” ale eiachated On I judge $0,” drawled ‘the boy. “I s’pose uu haven’t any objection to me smoking a cig- i ave you? ae re real scsi Cost A YOUNG GOLD KING 3 le reply. “That's the way with them sort of chaps.” did, but he was too proud to take it.” “steer. by card. Richard-was too proud to try ~ money and proceeded to instruct him. Although | was relieved from the wheel the voung aristocrat the young aristocrat with his wicked eves, within a few hundred miles of it on her course to ~about navigation. But 1 don’t.” Richard puffed his cigarette and made no ie “Jack is just as smart as anv boy in the. world, too,”. she eontinued, with some energy. - “He may not rise to become governor of Cali- : fornia, but hell. make his mark some other way.” 1 am a gentleman, while he’s only a common * sailor,” said Richard, puffing away nonchalantly with one leg crossed over the other, as if he was the whole thing. 7— : “Tf you were 2 gentleman vou wouldn’t talk ~ the way you do,” cried the girl. rising from her seat beside him and leaving the deck. : Richard walked over to the wheel. . Blaine sa- luted him respeetfully and they were soon talking » 5 together like old friends. er “So ye don’t like that Jack Archer, eh?” said.’ Blaine, in the course of their ‘talk. : “No, I don’t. He puts on too many airs for me. “That's right,” eoincided Blaine, He and his chum, Butch Whitbeck. him myself.” zee “He thinks because he jumped overboard after : me that he’s as good as I ani.” } pee ~ “OF course he does,” agreed the hard sailor. Sy “so he does. | T don't like “I offered him a thousand dollars for what he Sg SES “You offered him a thousand dollars, dist ye?” said the sailor, his eyes twinkling. ; “T said. my father would pay him that when ; we got back to ’Frisco.”. “Oh, I -see. Thought mebbe ye had the money with yer.” “Of course not. The captain has a bank Perr for pounds in his safe which I’m going to blow in when I get to Melbourne,” said Re: consequentially, “Yer folks must be made of ‘noney.” : “They're well fixed,” replied Richard, proudly. é ‘It’s all coming to me one of these days.” i “Ye’ll have some time to wait, though. Now, how would ye like to have a barrel of real sold 2 spend before ye come into what yer folks as? “T’d like it first’ class, but there’s of it coming my way.” “Can ye keep a secret?” asked Blaine, fixing no danger ay “Of course, I can,” replied Richard,- -eagerly, : and much mystified by the ‘sailor’s words. : “Very good. Then I know a place—an island i ie the south seas—where there are bushel-baskets: i of shining gold coin.” © # - “Bushel-baskets of shining gold coin!” eine 3 lated Richard, in amazement. - ~ The sailor nodded mysteriously. “Where is this island?” asked Richard, early. “In the South Pacific. This hooker will ‘pass Melbourne. I’ve got the latitude and longitud the place, and could find it if I knowed ane “Whereabouts on the isla’ and is the money “It's hid away in secret caves, underground. _ “And you know where those caves are?” “Not penta but I’ “You said you
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= eer A YOUNG GOLD KING Se “How 2?” : = “The main thing is to reach the island. ‘Your father owns this hooker. conseauently ye ought to have some influence with the skipper.” “Well?” “P*haps ye could git him to visit a certain is- land I could mention—one of the Fiji group. If. he’ll oblige ye by doin’ it. I/'could find a sthooner there, d’ve see. to take us to the island where the gold is.” “But even if Captain Rockwell was willing to touch at this island you mentidn, which ain't certain, he wouldn’t let me sai! away with you in your schooner.” “He needn’t know nothin’ about it. my hearty,” said Blaine, with a shifty glint in his eves. “The moment he drops anchor off this Fiji island ye must get permission to go ashore to see the place.” } ? ew esi? “Then ye must see to it that me, Jack Archer and Butch Whitbeck goes along with yer in the boat.” : ; “Why Jack Archer and, Whitbeck?” obiected Richard. “You aren’t going to let them in on the gold, too, are you?” “Not by a long shot! But that’s part of my plan. We've got. to have somebody that under- stands navigation. Jack Archer is as good as ony mate. . Then Whitbeck kin help: ys workthe schooner down to the island where the* secret caves is. Then we'll promise ’em ekal»share of the money to help us land it aboard the vessel. Arter that Archer’ll navigate the schgoner back to the Fiji island. Then # Ae “Well,” said Richard, as/ Bill Blaine paused. “We'll fix the rest when we git that far)” said the rascal, evasively. “One thing ye kin depend on, them chaps won’t git none of the gold. We'll divide that ekal between me and you." — The picture drawn by the artful sailor was «very alluring to the boyish faney- of Richard ‘Savage. It was full of adventure, with a golden bait that was exceedingly attractive. } “Are ye with me in this?” said Blaine, after ~ @ pause. ~ ‘ “Yes, I’m with you, if the thing can be done,” “replied Richard, ' se , y. «Well, my hearty, it’s up. to ye to work tiie skipper to put in to the Fiji island. That’s the -main thing, as I said before: We must put. jin aty that there island.” i t “What's the name of that island?” ) “Papua.” Me _ -*P’ll see what I can do about it,” said Richard, evidently more than half committed to the schenie, “and Vl let you know next time you come to the wheel.” ies ¥ “That's right, my hearty,” said the raseal, en- ~- couragingly. “You do your part and I'll do mine - artefward. Jest remember that there’s gold to ‘burn on the island where the secret caves is.” “How did all that money get on that island?” _ . asked Richard, curiously.~ 7 | |“That’s a story by itself which I'll tell ye some Bix time.” i ; iS 4 < ‘ Hight bells sound conterence brok wy ‘Blaine that his efforts ‘persuade Captain Rockwell to ed at that ‘moment, and the _—— Rie 7 pres gestion, and keep the e - i CHAPTER ViI.—How Jack and His Friend Butch Learn Something’ Aba eee Treasure of the Secret Caves. “Captain Rockwell, do about the Fiji Islands?” et ees at lea. “Why, yes,” replied the skipper of the Gol + Fleece. “I know something about the Piso ‘ There are more than 200 of the islands in all, and ey x ots of ios are inhabited. They are _ surrounded by shoals and reef. 25 pe i rather dangerous.” geen e last sentence wa t i ‘ asil POs Baa en $s not particularly pleasing pce them is called Papua, isn’t it?” he said. es. “a “I’ve read a good deal about this island,” ' ve rea s is t on Richard, “and I should lik isit it if tha cee ee ike to visit it if that “T’m afraid you will not have the o uni ] 3 Wil pportunity as the ship does not touch at. an ints on ee and Melbourne.” hens . —— 4 “How far off yo i 1G of Gignen tee your course is Papua?’ asked “About 100 miles,” oe . Couldn’t you put in at Papua for half a day to you know anything asked Richard Savage j oblige me?” ea ; 2 There is nothing on the island to interest you, a Richard, and it wouldn’t pay me ‘sto ere unless I needed water, which is ia wis It seems to me that if vou go as close to Papua as 100 miles you could afford to stop at — the island. My father wants me to see all that isa” to be seer during this trip, and Papua is a Place I’m very anxious to visit.” f | en to happen.” ‘Richard saw there was no use in pressing the matter further, so he had nothing more re sa about Papua that-night. Later on he tolff Bill to. persuade Captain — Rockwell had been a failure. ; » ‘aes He said if a storm blew the ship within sigh o of the island, or if he ran short of water,.he ~ might put in there, otherwise he wouldn’t,” said Richard. rates - The hard-looking sailor scratched his head. “We've got to-git there somehow if, we’ré goin’ me after that gold coin,” he ‘said. “Storme, ain't te “a be depended on to come up jest when we want — ’em, or blow the way we want ’em to, but things x” might be managed so that this hooker would run short of water.” eae Richard wondered, what Blaine meant, but did — not dare press the, matter. The sailor did not — appear to be as disappointed as’ he had expected, which was because the rascal more than. half ex- pected that the young chap would not be able this, and Pll look after the rest. get a sight of Papua yet.” Richard agreed to follow out Bill Blair railor accurately jt 3
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ed Abe aaa _jatitude and longitude. : ‘faith in the fellow’s yarn, but Whitbeck was rr oe A YOUNG GOLD KING ; - to the ship’s position day by day after she had" “passed the equator. During .one. of the night watches soon after this conversation Blaine told Jack Archer and Butch Whitbeck the same story ‘about the baskets of rold coin in the secret caves of the island of which he claimed to know the Jack didn’t put much greatly excited over it. “You say there are baskets full of gold coin stowed away in secret caves on a certain island of which vou have the bearings?” asked Jack, incredulously. - : : - The derelict from the sea nodded solemnly. _ “How did you happen to find that out?” con- tinued the boy. “You didn’t see them, did you?’ “No, I didn’t see ’em, but I got the story from a chap who did.” ; “How do you know he did? It seems to me a» pretty tall story. If he saw the gold why didn’t he bring it away with him?” “Because he couldn’t.” “Why couldn’t he?” : : “He had all he could do to bring himself away without thinkin’ of the gold,” replied the sailor, _yather annoyed at Jack’s cross-examination. “Then the island is inhabited, and the inhabi- ~ tants object to parting with the money, is that ; Ee vessels that sailed the sea “replied Blaine. Bf ci \ : “Bhe secret caves is inhabited ly a number of copper-colored natives bossed over by a_ white _ girl whom they call their queen,” replied Blaine. “The chap who saw the money told you that?” The hard-looking sailor nodded. “Then you believe the* story?” said Jack. “Qf course I do, my hearty. I believe it So much that I’m goin’ to that there island to-get hold of the ‘ccin.” “You are, eh?” grinned Jack. ; “Sartin, and I want ye two to go with me to help me git hold of the stuff. Ye shall have an ekal share of the coin, and ye won’t need to work no more afore the mast nor abaft it, either, arter “we git our fiukes on to it.” - w “Whereabouts is this island where the secret caves are? asked Jack, curiously. se “Ye shall know that in good time, my hearty, replied the sailor. “Ye must first agree to ‘stand in with me. I’m puttin’ ye on_to this "cause ye are a navigator, I’ve heard. We must go in our own hooker to that there island—we three, and pr’aps another chap whom I’ve spoken’ to about it. Four is aplenty to divide the «old between. Now d’ye understand ?” : atts abi “Well, it’s my opinion this thing is a wild goose chase at the best, and I’m not looking for such things.” : : a “Sq you think it’s a wild goose chase, do ye? “It lodks like it. Whete did all this gold coin cach aes about come from? What kind of coin js it? And why is it stowed away in secret eaves on that. island?” penta,” e _ “Ye are an eddicated lad, and p’r’aps ye’v heard: about the pirates of the South Pacific— the chaps that used to loot the Spanish and in them’ s when sailin’ vessels carried gold’ and silver ts, as well as chests of money, as part of cargoes.” yS f 3, G8 out of business nearly a hundred years ago,” re-~ ~ plied Jack. . Z Bill Blaine nodded. a “The island with the secret caves was the headquarters of Vesquez, the rover of the south’ seas. ' He hid his stealin’s in them caves, and — it’s there now, waitin’ for us to git it and put it — into cireulation. That’s the answer ve wanted, ain’t. it?” + ' ; : It was a plausible one, certainly. The south sea rovers were credited with having accumyp- lated a large amount of plunder in the course of many years of pillage. While they had found it easy after their fashion to acquire the booty, the spending of it was a horse of another color. Most ° of them were marked men, or at least a strong suspicion was likely to attach itself to any in- dividual bearing a nautical and desperate look who took it into his head to appear in a seacoast town with a considerable amount of loose coin in his. possession for which he could not satisfactor- ily account, and ‘consequently the spending of the plunder became a dangerous occupation. Af- ter a number of examples hed been made by the South American authorities of such chaps the rest became cautious of courting a similar fate, therefore the booty, for the major part, remained hidden for better times, which never came. Jack, heing familiar with these facts, was willing to ad- mit that a good part of the pirates’ treasure might still~be stored on some out-of-the-way island in the south seas, but for all that Bill Blame’s story. and. proposition did not appeal very favorably to his common sense. © Besides, he did not see how, even if he was disposed'to fall in with” the sailor’s views, it was possible for him to engage in such a’ quest. He supposed that Blaine’s object was to secure a small vessel at Melbourne and sail off hundreds of miles into the treacherous latitudes of the south seas on a precarious hunt for an island that might easily elude their search in spite of his assumed knowl- edge of its position. Im order to dofthis he and Butch would have to sacrifice their berths on the Golden Fleece, thereby incurring Captain Rock- well’s displeasure,-and if the enterprise proved bootless, when they returned to Australia they would find themselves stranded in a foreign port, while his own prospects of becoming second mate | under his generous patron would no doubt be sacrificed. All these points passing before his mind, he stated them to Blaine as a sufficient ex- cuse to offset his refusal to go into the scheme. Blaine listened to him with a malevolent grin. “In the first place, it ain’t my intention to go to Melbourne.” said the sailor. “Oh, it isn’t?” chuckled Jack. “Going to jump ~ overboard and swim somewhere else?” ~ = The sailor glared at him. about those raseals. They were put} ee x ¥ $ F3 O39 2
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bias with me if we get 46 Papua, or some other island near it? As the chances of the Gélden Fleece coming to - anchor off Papua, or any other isiand in the South Pacific, was exceedingly remote. Jack jok- ingly agreed that in that case they would’ eo with Blaine in search of the treasure of the secret caves. ¥ “Enough Shad: i pantisn Blaine, his wicked eves gleaming with satisfaction; “then the matter is settled.” “Tt’s settled, all right,” said Jack, with a chuckle; but he meant ina different sense than Bill Blaine did. : Just the same Tank and Butch were ticketed - for the island of the secret caves, though they didn’t dream of such a thing. That it was even * yemotely possible for Bill Blaine to exercise any -. jnfluenee at all over the course of ‘the Golden Fleece struck the boys as something vidiculously funny; and yet the ‘wicked-looking -sailor was _ bring the iia to pass. we | CHAPTER VIIl.—How Things Begin To Come Bill Blaine’s Way, Dike weather was the rule, and the Pacific ; Ocean maintained its reputation as a~¢empara- tively ‘tranquil body. of ‘water, as* the <Golden . Fleece sailed west and south toward the antipodes. Jn due time she crossed the equator without be- ing becalmed, and entered the South Pacific. ‘ hot weather they encountered rather took the starch -out of both Nellie and Richard Savage, “who had all their lives been~-accustonied to the: ~~ even climate of the middle Pacific ‘slope. ‘The girl 3 endured the sultry latitudes philosophieally, but * Richard was continually putting up a kiek, which, however, didn’t do him any good. _ getting below*the line Richard began to show an 4nterest in the whereabouts of the ship. Every day at noon the captain took his bearings by the sun, and then marked the position of the Golden Fleece on the chart. present when he did it, and the .boy showed an - increasing interest as the vessel drew néai nearer to the vicinity of the Fiji Istantis. reported the ship’s. progress and her he ae day by day to Bill Blaine, either when he was at the He ‘- _ ichief mate, who spoke to the captain about it. Nellie had long ‘since noticed it and mentioned its singularity to her father. ’ 4 “He won’t have anything to do with Jack, who ‘saved his life, and is. a_boy of his own age,” he said. made. friends with that Blaine, — from the sea when we were A ~ ym San Francisco. I eannot unde : terests him in that wicked-looking sailor. B “ A YOUNG GOLD KING figuring on just such a thing, and expected to: The? ‘Soon after- Richard managed to be ay and: “wheel, or on Some part of the deck. © His inti-. - macy with that individual was remarked by. the’ + “Yet with all his. high-toned . ideas “he hom very iihabeating stories, and he liked to Jisten. ters them. The Fiji group lay in longitude 180; lati- tude about 18 S. This fact Richard had com= municated to Blaine. One morning when the ship: was ‘bowling along. within.300: miles of Papua. Island the discovery was made that all the w. casks were nearly empt¥. The captain received the intelligence in some astonishment. An in- vestigation was ordered. The chief mate and the carpenter conducted it. They found that all the big casksy which were securelv lashed on deck had been punctured at the bottom by holes mad by a large gimlet, and that the water had leaked out of the barrels. into the scuppers unnoticed Clearly some one aboard had done this, but wh the cuilty party was,’or what his. obiect. could be, it was impossible to determine, although Bil Blaine was suspected. His bunk was. quietly “ searched. on the chance of finding the gimlet, but nothing came of it. The captain was duly formed of the state of affairs. while the carpen proceeded to plug up the holes in order to sa the water that still remained in the casks. Hive member of the crew, including Blaine. was inter-— viewed separately, and asked if he had seen any one hanging around the barrels during the night | watches. Butch Whitbeck and Jack had both seen — Blaine lying apparently asleep between’ the bar- rels on different nights, and told the captain. SO. Other members, of the chief mate’s watch, t which Blaine bélonged. had also noticed the dere- ~ lict hugging the barrels at night. As a result of this testimony Blaine was believed to be the guilty man. The chief. mate tried -to. frighten confession from him, but*failed. The raseak ad- mitted that he had stowed himself around th casks frequently during the time he was on” watch, but denied: that he had tampered with th barrels. As no proof could be brought. agai him nothing could be done to punish him. Afte Captain Rockwell took his sights that day noon, and had worked’ out the vessel’s positio and marked it on the chart, he ordered her course changed for the Island of Papua. He might ha selected one of the other islands for the purpose of taking water aboard, but as Richard Savage sit had expressed a wish to visit. Papua he’ re 1 hie would oblige him. At dinner that day he told Richard that, owing to the unaccountable lea’ age of their casks; he would anchor close in the Island of Papua to take @ eae aboard. : wicked eve ie a. pee manner. afternoon of the following day the island s itself on the horizon and the ship approac’ shores rapidly. At sundown the Golde was. within a mile of the island, and. ¢ last of the breeze left her. Her sails hung mo tionless from the yards, while the vast oceat around her gradually subsided into a surf: the ' ae iy Raves her si thi evidently annoyed. | 3? it.”
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ing twilight. in that latitude, but the unclouded sky was so brilliant with stars, that one could see a considerable distance. The island stood well _ defined before the vaze of all on board, and no ~ one seemed to take such interest in it as Richard _ Savage. Orders were given to unship the water _ easks in readiness for their transportation to the - shore at sunrise, and this work was soon accom- plished. Short as the job was, the men perSpired - freely at it. The boats were also cleared away, ~ ‘andnow hung from theirdavits in readiness to be lowered at a moment’s notice. While the captain. - chief mate and his passengers were at supper, -. Jack and Buteh hung lazily over the bulwark, gazing at the island. _ “So that’s Papua,” said Whitbeck. “One of the * cannibal islands?” ; an _ “Yes, but the missionaries have about done '- away with those human banauets that used to be a rerular feature of the- Fiji group.” a “That's right, I guess; but many a missionary, _ Tye heard, has been served up as a choice morsel for the chiefs before the practice was practically abolished.” ; . ~ *That’s no lie. Butch. Twenty years and more ‘ ago shipwrecked sailors had everv chance of go- ing to pot here, as the saving is.” . “Don’t let’s talk about it. You make my fiesh creep,” Said Butch. ~~ : “Well, my hearties,” said a voice behind them at that moment, Sore” ; . They did not need to turn around to recognize the speaker. It was: Bill Blaine. “In this light it looks like any other island of a similar size,” replied Jack. “Aye ye thinkin’ of the cruise ye promised to make with me to the island of the secret caves?” __ chuckled Blaine. ; .~ “No, we are not thinking about anything so x absurd,” replied Jack, impatiently. : “Oh, ye ain't? -Ye’ve not forgotten yer prom- ise, have ye, that ye’d go if we got to Papua, or Somé’ other island near it? Ye remember makin’ ~ it, don’t ye, that night I told ye the story of them bushel-baskets of gold coin stowed away in the caves?” ; Like a flash the promise came to them at that moment—a promise they never expected to be in a position to fulfill. And now, after all, here ey were at Papua, and the rascal was making t plain that he intended to hold them down to their word, The boys were .confounded, - and ~ gazed at each other in the dusk in a kind of dis- - may, for though there might be a million in gold at the island of the secret caves they. were not infatuated with the idea of going after it. — ' “Well, supposing we did promise, and admit- hee ; ar £5 ee | A YOUNG GOLD KING Darkness fell suddenly, with very little interven- - “how does the island strike: ee 11 The picture the artful rascal drew of the ad- vantages of wealth quickened the boys’ blood. Where is there a ‘man or boy who can resist the — call of the yellow metal, or the silyer metal, either? Money, even though it be legalized pa- per, has a magnetism sécond to nothing else. Jack and Butch now began to think with seme ~ seriousness about the alleged baskets of coin on the island of the secret caves. Bill Blaine, per- eeiving that he had aroused their interest at last, moved away to consider his plans for the morrow. . ‘ j CHAPTER. IX.—Trapped. Jack and Butch talked the situation over abter. Blaine left, “T believe there’s something in this thing. after all,” said Whitbeck. cock-sure that there’s gold there. And why shouldn't there’ be loads of it there if it oncé was the haunt of the south sea pirates? chaps didn’t have much chance to spend their plunder. Well, if they didn’t spend it, and it was not recovered bv somebody lone ago, it’s there vet, The nore I think about the matter the more I’m in. favor of taking a shy at it. I’m working for a measly $20 a month.and my keep. So are you. yellow gold, why, if I was sure of getting a tin pail full of yellow boys I’d be satisfied'to make the trip. worth considering.” “Yes, that’s all right. much difference to you if you did quit the ship right here. You’ve merely ‘got your wages at stake, which you’d probably lose for breaking your contract with the vessel. It’s different with me.- Captain Rockwell is my friend and. backer. He’s taken ‘an interest in me from the start. He would consider it base ingratitude on my part: to skip away with vou and Blaine, and perhaps an- Here: Talk about basketfuls” of Those. TI tell you, Jack, this matter is well: It .wouldn’t make so’ other hand, for Blaine hinted that a fourth per-— son was likely to go on this trin, and leave him short-handed in mid-Pacific. 1 tell you, Butch, money has as much attraction for meas for any one else; but there’s something more valuable: ant, terms © as . _ Richard. expected to pay the crew A “That chan wouldn’t he so. - bent on going to the island if he wasn’t almost’ — p<
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delighted to go ashore with him. but Seeehine or another Richard objected to her company. “It will be too hot for you in the sun, Miss Nellie,” he said. “Besides Bill Blaine is going with me, and you don’t like his company, you know.” _' “TI don’t believe papa will let you go with Blaine,” pouted the girl. “Yes, he will, for I’m going’ to have Jack and his chum Whitbeck to help row the boat.” “Well, if Jack is going with you I want.to go too,” she persisted. “I shall ask papa to let _. me. I can stand the sun as well as you. I haven’t - made half the fuss over the tropical weather that you have ever since we got near the equator. If ~ you don’t want my company, Jack will take me off your hands when we land, won’t you, Jack? be “Sure, I will,” replied Jack. In the face of the girl’s persistency he’ ‘didn’t c know what to do, and decided that he would have *. to see Blaine about it the first thing in the morning. was his custom and sought Bill Blaine, who had just finished doing his share of washing down the deck... He told the sailor that the captain’s _ , daughter insisted on going ashore with them to sea the island. “She does, eh?” growled Blaine. can’t have her, d’ye understand?” “I don’t see how.I can shake her off if, her father gives her permission to go with. wus,” re- plied Richard. “Ye've arranged with the skipper to have me, “Well, we vie right after breakfast is over in the cabin.” “Tf the gal says she’s comin’ with us we'll take . . her over to where the men are filling the casks. ; ee get her aShore. there and then give her the ‘ slip > wait with the mate in charge till we get back. Then we won't come back,” grinned Blaine. “We'll 7 _ “keep on rowin’ till we reach the cove where the : native village is, and where I expect to find the schooner we're goin’ to take to sail to the island where the gold is.” The crew had their breakfast and then, with the exception of Blaine, Jack and Whitbeck, set off in two boats’ for the shore, towing an empty cask each. The working gang was in charge of the - geeond mate, and they were soon ashore and occupied with the business in hand. After break- fast was over in the cabin, Richard came on deck prepared to accompany Blaine and the two sailor lads ‘to the shore. Nellie, having gotten permis- sion from her father ‘to go, too, also appeared with a wide straw hat on her shapely head. Jack helped her into the boat as it hune at the davits, - Ricard also got in and sat down near her. Then the boat was lowered to the water. Jack and ‘Butch slid down the falls, and Blaine came last. ' Phey shoved off and headed shoreward. The is- ~ langl was a good-sized one, and the Golden Fleece lay off the uninhabited part of it. As they neared the shore a most remarkable spectacle of island scenery was presented to their eyes. The ground ~ yose abruptly from a wide, sandy beach im con- eae frowning down like olden battlements. - f water warek was: divi e A YOUNG GOLD KING Accordingly, he got up earlier than: Archer and Whitbeck in the boat, haven’t ye?”: “That’s all right, and we’re to leave the ship Tl hatch up some yarn to induce her to” -jcal hills, with abrupt precipices, and crags. of) ‘the: nei Down a deep ravine-like - pride ane ae a bri 8 of streams by shattered rocks here and theber : One of these branches emptied near the beach, ; and there the crew of the ship was filling one of the barrels. Bill Blaine directed the boat to this point and beached her nose. At a nod from the sailor Richard stepped ashore and assisted the girl out. They walked up to where the men — were holding the cask under the stream. The toecks cast a delightful shade, and Nellie was helped to a seat by the mate. After the lapse of five minutes Blaine called out to Richard, ane he went down to the hoat: “Get aboard and we'll 20° along the shore. ae: bit,” said the sailor. E “Call Nellie,” said Jack. cous “Oh, never mind her,” said Richabe. “Weill be back in a little while.” % Blaine pushed off and directed the course: of. a3 the boat along close to the shore. After pro- — ceeding about a quarter of a mile the aspect of the island began to change. The barren rocks and fantastic heights melted away gradually into picturesque cocoanut groves, clumps of dark — chestnuts, stately palms and bread-fruit trees; and patches of graceful bananas, all forming, with the wild reef scenery of the shore, and the far-stretching ocean beyond, pictures of sur- — prising beauty. They had already lost sight of — the watering party, and soon a deep indentation 2 in the shore carried thenf out of view of the ship as well. Blaine, who was pulling the forwar oars and guiding the boat to suit himself, aimed — for a wide cleft in the rocks, As they approac the place it was seen. to form a passage de T enough to float a schoener. but barely w enough fof them to push the boat throu Once in it there was no space to turn around, and they had to keep straight on. iv a serpentine way through a_ high point of_ ground, which entirely cut off their view. Jack and Butch were wondering when the long passage was going to end, and why Blaine had entered it, when the boat suddenly shot out into a small | harbor at the end of the island opposite. to that — where the ship was anchored. The shore and immediate vicinity was covered with rude huts occupied by natives, while in the center of a large open space stood the house of the miiaeiane ary, who appeared to be the boss of the village. A number of native craft were biog to the beach or anchored close by.. In their midst was a small, shapely schooner, with a ecut-water as sharp us a knife, while her two short masts had a decided rake. She looked as if she had been built for speed. Blaine héaded the rowboat directly for this craft, and as they drew near to her a- whose face, if anything, Was» more villai looking than Blaine’s, came up out of her small trunk cabin and looked over the side at the boat: “Hello, shipmate,” he sung out to Blain “where in thunder have you been all this time I thought you’d given me the shake for goo : ‘and gone after that treasure on your own hook.. But it wouldn’t have done you no good, fo) never could have found the secret caves my help.” ~~ = “Me shake you, Williams!” replied =e “What d’ye think I:am? I was earri berbeey of: the Sandwich Islands
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A YOUNG GOLD KING “I was, shipmate. Then the brig foundered and “J would have gone to Davy Jones’ locker if it had- “n’t been that I floated out’r danger on‘a hencoop, the only survivor of the brig. I was picked up by an American hooker bound for Melbourne.” “And where did you leave her?” “On the other side of the island, where they * are takin’ aboard fresh water.” : “You don’t say! Step aboard, for I want to ~ talk to you.” ‘ cam -moin’ to:” . Blaine boarded the schooner and entered the ‘eabin with the man, who appeared to belong to the vessel. They were below a good twenty min- utes, during which interval the three boys amused themselves looking at the native village. When - Blaine finally reappeared with the other chap he - told the bovs to get on board the schooner. “Richard obeyed at once, but Jack and Butch ob- oe Jécted.: “Ye needn’t remain but a minute, my hearties,” said Blaine, with a treacherous gleam in his eye. As Richard was on the schooner the other ‘two were finally persuaded to leave the rowboat. “How d’ye like this craft, anyway?” Blaine ‘asked Jack. ; “She looks to be a fast sailer,” replied the ’ Hoy, who had figured that fact up in his mind when he’ first saw her. : “Ye kin pet she is. This here is the hooker I - told ye that I had ready to carry us to the island of the secret caves.” - Ys that-so?” asked: Jack. out, will vou?” ¢ s E ee: “-*“Cut ye out!” replied Blaine, with a wicked - jaugh. “I should say not. We've got: to have a navigator, and ye are the boy for our money.” \ -«T tell you I’m not going.” replied Jack, re- solutely. fa » "Ye are not goin’, eh? I sav ve are goin’,” _ said Blaine, in a threatening tone. end -“Gome on, Butch,” said Jack. coolly. “Let’s get ut of this. Come along, Richard. We're going ot the ship.” ~~ : rs ‘Blaine grinned’ in an ugly way. While he had “Well, just cut me ‘ cally-looking chap, had moved over to the side of the vessel, unshipped the rope which held the rowboateand cast it off, thus letting the small craft go adrift. Consequently, when Jack and Buteh reached the spot they saw the boat out of ‘their reach. : _ “What does this mean?” demanded Jack, an- ' ¢rily “Do you expect to detain us against i eur will?” : : -. “If ye two won’t go willin’ly, yell go unwill- jn’ly. But go ye will, as sure as my name 15S Bill Blaine.” : < i a ~ “We'll see about that,” replied. Jack, with a: _ determined air. “I’ll let no man. or rascal like - you, walk ‘ongmy neck if:1 can help myself. Fol- --e low me, ch. We'll have to swim for that boat.” “7? x - He made a dash to’ spring overboard. when Williams; who had been watching him ‘like a hawk, flung a heavy wooden belaying-pin at his head. ‘The blow took effect, and Jack went down on the deck -stunnéd.. At the same time Bill Blaine sprang at Whitbeck and knocked- him ‘down. Before the dazed young sailor gould re- er his faculties Blaine and Williams Were ty- PO “ ™ ‘the stops of the mainsail. 13 ing his hands behind his back. They treated the insensible Jack the same way. Then they lifted each in turn and carried them down into the — small forecastle forward, which was a dingy hole not much larger than a good-sized drygoods ease. Slamming the seuttle down over their heads, the rascals secured it by means of a hasp and staple. Having thus obtained the upper hand of their victims, they proceeded to cast loose They hoisted this sail to the light breeze, and set the single jib. Then they raised the anchor by means of a small horizontal drum windlass. As soon as the an- chor left the bottom the schooner began to drift with the tide toward the entrance of the little — harbor. ‘The last thing the rascals did was to set - the spanker, or aftermost sale, by hauling up the gaff as far as it would go. Bill Blaine took charge of the wheel and steered the schooner cut on the bosom of the broad Pacific, pointing her nose to the southeast. The rascal was now ~ in great good humor, for all his plans had suc- — ceeded to the letter, and he began to tell Williams about his adventures since the two parted com- pany several weeks before. CHAPTER X—-Sailine for the Island of the Secret Caves. No attention was paid to Richard Savage, who, left to himself, walked aimlessly about the deck and finally seated himself on the rise of the cabin roof. with his back against the skylight. Although he had been a witness to the treat- ‘ment Jack and Butch Whitbeck had received from the two rascals, he had not put up the Slightest remonstrance. It wouldn’t have made any difference if he had done so... However, he had no interest in either of the young sailors, and in addition he entertained a personal grouch against Jack, so it didn’t worry him in the Jeast ‘how the two rascals treated the boys. He understood that Blaine was using them only for his own pur- ; ..pose, and that they were not to get any of the © ~. been speaking to Jack. Williams, the other TAS~hp, gold that he implicitly believed was hidden away in the secret caves ofthe island’they were now ~~ bound for. He congratulated himself over the fact that he would get a third of the treasure at any rate, and he began to build air castles about < the money. If he had only known that he was — practically in the same boat with Jack and Butch, and that Blaine and Williams had not the slight- est: Intention of dividing ‘any of the gold with ~- him, it would have greatly changed his views of ~ — the situation. They simply meant to use him to strengthen their own side against Jack ‘and — Butch, and that Blaine and Williams: had not the slightest “intention of dividing any of the. gold with him, it would have greatly changed his — views of the situation. They simply meant to use him to strenghen their own side against Jack . and Butch, and when the job had been put — through they intended to abandon him t@ his own resources, the same as they proposed to treat the —_ other two. In other words, once they had the gold — aboard the schooner they were going to maroon — the three boys on the island of the secret caves to shift. for themselves, and then sail back for one. of the Fiji islands, take aboard a supply of pro-_ visions. ~~ sail for New Zealand.” eS A SHS oe Sat ete ret
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ae yr In the meanwhile Whitbeck came around soon after he and his companion had been put under ‘hatches. one, and his head ached from the effects of it. ‘“The blamed rascals have got us dead to rights,” he muttered, angrily. “I can héar them gettine the schooner under way. Once they get offshore that will settle our chances of getting back in a hurry. I don’t see but Jack and me had better make the best of things, help these chaps run the schooner to that treasure islarid, and if there’s any gold there take our share, ac- cording to agreement.” The sunshine, stealing into the contracted fore- eastle, if such a-hole could be called by that _ name, showed him the unconscious form of his - friend. ; “Tt’s hot as blazes down here,” he muttered, as he set about the task of reviving Jack. “If they keep us very long down here we'll be baked as if we were in an oven.” In a little while Jack recovered his senses and sat up. “Well, old man,” at last.” “Woke up!” repeated Jack, in a dazed kind of way. “Have I been asleep?” “Kind of. You were laid out by belaying-pin.” $ It was some moments before Jack comprehend- ed the situation, then everything came back to him. “Where the deuce are we. Butch?” “Why, aboard the schooner. of course. They put us down in this hole for’ard. to give us to understand that our name is Mud, and that we’ve got to knuckle down to them. They’ ve got the vessel under way. Don’t you~feel the motion?” It didn’t take Jack but a moment to understand ' that he and Butch were at the mercy of. Bill _ Blaine and his rascally companion, and the as- * surance was not a pleasant one. “What did they do to Savage?” _* “Blessed if I know.. He didn’t. put ‘up any fight, so maybe they didn’t do anything to him.” “Tf they’re carrying him off as well as us he said Buteh, “you’ve woke up a wooden must have a fit,” said Jack, ignorant of the fact: that Richard had been standing in with Blaine . . right along. , At+this point the scuttle: was unfastened and thrown open. The boys looked up and saw the wicked countenance of Bill Blaine looking down at them in ‘triumph. E “Well, my hearties, how are ye feelin’ now?” me. 0's he ‘asked, with a grin. “Are you going to let us out or roast us for dinner?” growled Butch. “That depends on whether ye are ready to listen to reason or not,” replied the sailor. “What do you want?” demanded Jack, in a --yery bad humor. T_want ye to navigate this schooner to “the islartt where the gold is. Ye° might. as well agree, ‘cause ye can’t get back to yer ship now 3 tall the job is over. Besides, ve are goin’ to git + a fair share of the coin that’s on the island.’ a “Tf there’s any there.” ~ “It’s there, my hearty, or we, wouldn’t be goin’ : after it. Now,.then, are ye goin’ to jine with ¥ us and take yer share, or are ye @ s to ride The blow Blaine gave him was a heavy. -. “Ye know what I want without me tellin’ ye” ap’in. go right where ye want her to A YOUNG GOLD KING rusty and force us to keep yer under hatches till | ye diskiver there ain’t no use buttin’ ag’in a < stone wall? If yer sensible I know what vet answerll bé.” 5 “IT don’t see that we can help ourselves,” replied Jack. “You’re some distance offshore by this. . time, I suppose, and we can’t leaye the schooner.” —_- “We're about two mile from the island, ee % sou’east.” ~ ; “All right,” said Jack... “We'll give in.” - “Yo’ll navigate the craft, will ye? We've got a chart and a quadrant in the cabin. Yer'll do — yer best, will-ye?” “Yes,” replied Jack. ; “Now yer talkin’, my hearty,” replied Blaine, in a tone of satisfaction. “Ye are one of us ane share ekally with the others.” ; “What others? Your pal?” “Him and Richard Savage.” “So Savage will come in, too, eh?” said able in surprise. “He'll have to work for it. He ain’t a sailor, but he kin .help carry the -stuff aboard the ‘i schooner arter we find it. I reckon yer ship will wait at the island now till he gits back. That’s a pint I guess ye didn’t figger on. As he’s the owner’s son the cap’n ain’t likely to abandon him. So ye see there’s no danger of ye losin’ ’ yer ship arter all.” That was certainly a comforting reflection for Jack and Butch, and went a lone way toward reconciling them to the situation. Blaine cut their arms loose and they came on deck. The first thing they did was to look for the island and the ship. Both were in sight, the Golden Fleece being ~ - all of two and a half rziles distant. “Come into the cabin and let’s git down to business,” said Blaine. . Jack, to whom the words were addressed, fol- lowed him™below. Blaine pulled a chart out of a locker and 1% opened it out on the table. z “This here is a chart of this part of the ocean,” he said. “That there island is Papua. That® black mark represents about where the is- — land is we’re goin’ to. It’s only a small island, and if me and Williams tried to find it offhand | like, we’d be more’n likely to miss it. Now here’s the latitude and longitude of it. Ye, with yer knowledge of navigation, ought to be able to take the schooner right to it.” “How far to the sou’east of Papua is it in a general way?” asked Jack. “About a‘hundred miles or So. Y &: “With this light breeze we’re not likely to cover that distance before this time tomorrow, so we” won’t pass it in the night, All we can do now is to keep right on as we’re heading, as long as the island lies, in a genera] wav, to the sou’east. To- morrow noon I’ll take a sight and determine our — position, and after that we’ll works he schooner _ to the exact latitude and longitude you’ve marked down here.” % “That’s the ticket,” said Blaine, nodding? his head. “I know’d that ye could Alo. it. It’s a fine thing to be able to navigate a eat and make her The chart was put away, and shortly afterward the rascal Williams came below and laid out : table: Bf dinner. The repast was a very. si on ne, i) asi ai of ae vich yams bread-f
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A YOUNG GOLD KING bananas, and a refreshing, but intoxicating, na- tive beverage called yugena. Jack and Butch drank sparingly of the latter stuff, but Richard and the two men got away with a good bit of it. Blaine and Williams were not much affected by their potations, because they were used to it. but Richard did not fare so well. It took’ so much ‘effect on him that in half an’ hour he was stupidly drunk, and he did not fully recover his normal senses until the next morning. Jack, Butch, Blaine and his associate took two-hour spells at the wheel in turn, while the schooner sailed toward her destination at the rate of ~ something less.than ten miles an hour on. the average. Next day at noon Jack calculated the position of the schooner after using the quadrant, . and marked it on the chart. He found that the ‘little craft was about thirty nautical miles from the point where the island was supposed to be. “He altered the schooner’s course to conform. to -. the new conditions, and told Blaine that. they ought to sight the island about four o’clock at *their present rate of sailing. The raseal was \ well satisfied with this information. He slapped ~ Jaek on the back, told him that he was all right. and then went to the wheel to communicate the good néws to Williams. ; CHAPTER XI—A Vision of Loveliness. Richard: continued on friendly terms with Jack _ and Butch, and the three boys kept to themselves, ~ having little to say to the two rascals. Jack, ' when he put the chart away after making his ‘caléulations at noon, discovered a loaded revolver in the locker. : : Although-he judged that it belonged to Wil ~ Jiams, he took possession of it on general prin- ciples, for he had very little confidence in the professions of friendship made by the men since he had vielded to their demands. ; “It’s always well to be on the safe side, if pos- fore this adventure is over,” he said to himself. As the afternoon passed away Blaine and Wil- * liams took turns in sweeping the distant sea-line with a ship’s glass for a sign of the island. At -Yength, about three o’clock, Blaine, who was using the telescope, saw a small, cloud-like ob- “ject lying upon the horizon. Thereafter he and Williams did not lose sight of it for more than half a minute at a time. It wasn’t long before ‘they made it out to be an island, and they had «little doubt but that it was the one they were in quest of. The boys were naturally much inter- ested in the distant isle, but their interest was chiefly centered in the treasure they expected to find there. Richard grinned to himself as he k and Butch figure up what was - sible, and this gun may come in quite handy be-. .man.° Butch has been shaking in his shoes ever — : they discovered us.” — s - beck. . wish I had a good gun, though. ‘I’d feel a littl maine eure. PO spies (tk ete a ere 15 nated. The sun was setting by the time they ~ were close aboard of the troni¢al isle, and it was almost dark when they made their way through an opening in the reef surrounding it and cast anchor in a little cove with a wide, sandy beach. “We can’t de nothin’ tonight,” said Blaine. “so we'll pipe to supper. We'll have to set a regular watch, becatike this here island is inhabited, and as there ain’t no missionary here to boss the na- : tives there ain’t no savin’ what kind of a recep- a tion we might get if they took it into their ugly : heads to pay us a visit.” rae This piece of information was not very palata-— ble to the boys. They had not figured on having a clash with the inhabitants of the island, having been impressed. with the idea that the natives were friendly toward whites. : “T wonder how Blaine and Williams expect to bring that gold off, provided they find their way into the secret caves, without the“natives getting -wind of the operation?” remarked Jack: “Give it up,” replied Whitbeck, rather solemnly. “I'm thinking this job isn’t goin® tobe So easy as Blaine cracked it un to be. He ought to have brought a small arsenal along so that we could defend ourselves if attacked. To tell you the truth, ’'m beginning to wish that. I was out of this scheme. If a fellow has got to risk his life for the mere chance of getting rich, I hardly think it’s a paying risk.” ; ; Richard didn’t say anything, but he was de- cidedly uneasy at the prospect ahead. He kept casting anxious glan¢es shoreward through ‘the™ gloom, and his excited fancy populated the under- brush. with a crowd of copper-skinned rascals cannibalistically inclined, watching the schooner ~ and making plans to capture all on board. ; Butch Whitbeck remained on deck while the ~~ rest went to supper. All meals were alike on ~ board the, schooner, the only difference being in — the name applied to them, for there was no ~ change in the food. = The breeze, which had almost died out with the _ sun, ¢ame)on again from another quarter about | an hour after dark, and made the sultry air fairly bearable. <4 z x j The sky was bright withostars, as usual, and — their radiance made, the island stand out™in relief. Not a sound could be heard other than the low — beat of the surf upon the reets, wiieh aimost sur rounded the isle. = eas “Well, Richard, haw: do you suppose you'll feel if the inhabitants of this place capture us on our gold-hunting expedition. to-morrow?” said Jack, — ‘noticing how nervous the young aristocrat ap- —— peared to be. “Would you sooner be toasted, — boiled or fricasseed?” he added, with a chuckle. “{ don’t see anytaing tunny adout the matter,” — grumbled Richard. ““F-wish J was back on board the Golden. Fleece.” : apr “You aren’t the only one who wishes that. old a since Blaine said that he wasn’t sufe what kind of a reception we might get from the natives if “Oh, you go bag your head,” growled Whit- ¢ “T ain’t shaking any more than you are. Tm ready to take my chances with there ry
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16 “TY think a Gatling rapid-firer wouldn’t be out “of place,” said Jack. “It would make a crowd of warlike cannibals look like thirty cents inside of a couple of minutes.” | . “Do you think these islanders are cannibals?” asked Richard, in shaky tones. “I thought the natives of these islands were all converted.” “You’d better ask Blaine. He can tell you more about this part of the world than I can. If he really thought the inhabitants of this island were very dangerous I don’t think he’d have taken the chances of coming here for a gold mine. I know I wouldn’t. Money is all very well, but a fellow’s life is more yaluable,” said Jack. “Those are my sentiments, too,” interjected Butch, with a nod of his head. The boys talked till they grew sleepy, and then they turned in after Jack was told that he would have to stand watch from midnight till three, and Butch was informed that he would have to hold the deck from three until relieved. Soon after sunrise Blaine and Williams turned out of theix Bunks. After breakfast both ap- - peared on deck with rifles in their hands. A third rifle was ‘handed to Richard. “We're goin’ to leave ye in charge of the schooner,” said Blaine. “If any of the natives try to board the vessel you must wave ’em off. If they won’t obey ye, jest shoot ’em, d’ye under- stand?” Richard said he understood, but he didn’t look very formidable even with the gun in his hands, and Jack thought the resistance he would put up if attacked would not amount to a whole lot. The rowboat that the schooner carried on her deck was lowered into the water and the party of four rowed away, leaving Savage lord of all he sur- ‘veyed. When the boat touched the beach all jumped out, and she was secured to a stake driven _ into the sand. st : Blaine and Williams took thé lead with their guns ready for business at a moment’s notice. - Jack and Butch trailed on/close behind. In that order they walked up the shore, and penetrating the underbrush, started..inland. The rascals seemed to have a well-defined idea of where they were heading for. They talked together in low tones, but neither Jack nor Butch could catcn what they said. In fact, their attention was taken up by a constant lookout for the appearance of any stray inhabitants of the island. Not a sign of life, other than birds of variegated plumage, was to be seen, however. ; They proceeded in this manner through a com- paratively level district covered with a luxuriant growth of tropical vegetation for a distance of perhaps half a mile. Then they drew near to a circle of hills, rising in a singularly abrupt fash- jon, not unlike the walls of some huge fortress. To climb those elevations looked to. be simply impossible. Blaine and his companion evidentl had no inténtion of attempting such thing, but instead, they began to advance along their base with some caution, peering into every bunch of ainderbrush they came to, and around every pro- jection they encountered in their path. ; _” “Pb pet they’re looking for the opening to the . geeret caves,” said Jack, after taking note of the™ actions ofthe two rascals. such reguiar intervals as seemingly to indicate A YOUNG GOLD: KING “Of course that's what they’re doing,” replied _ Whitbeck. ee — ta “If this island is inhabited it seems funny that — we haven’t met with a single specimen of the natives,” said Jack. ? a j ee village may be on the other side of the island. “It certainly does not appear to be on this side,” admitted Jack, “else we must have seen some in- dications of the fact.” : ‘ “These hilly elevations run clear across the '— island and bar approach to the other end, except by the way of the beach.” “That’s what they do. I should hate to have to. climb them. In fact, I doubt very much if we } could do such a thing without a regular moun- tain-climber’s outfit.” ; At that moment Blaine and Williams came to a sudden stop before a clump of tropical bushes. They parted the foliage with evident caution and looked through. ‘Then, motioning to the boys to keep close behind, they pushed their way through. Jack and Butch followed. Suddenly they ap- peared to be walking straight into the hill. In another moment they found themselves in a tunnel which was as dark as the ace of spades. They followed fhe windings of this for some little dis- tance and then they saw light ahead. That indi- cated the end of the tunnel. When they came to. the point of exit. they found themselves gazing into a small amphitheater-like space open to the sky. Plantain trees were growing around it at Ta shy that they had been set there by human hands. The ground was thickly carpeted with verdure, but instead of growing wild as in the other part of the island they had traversed, it was cut elose like a well-kept lawn around a gentleman’s house. _ A stream of water of small volume leaped from — crag to crag at one side of the enclosure until it reached a kind of basin, partly natural and partly formed by man. .Sitting on a rock beside this crystal pool and arranging her long, golden locks ae was a young, slender girl of uncommon beauty. She was dressed in soft, flowing, white carments, caught at the waist’ by a girdle of pure gold, ~ which glittered with a myriad of diamonds. A pair of white sandals protected her exquisitely- — formed feet. Around her neck and hanging down neatly to her waist was a pendant chain formed of a combination of large diamonds, rubies, emer- — alds, and -sther precious stones. A sort of tiara, in the centey of which shone an immense ruby, was affixed in the top of her hair, while rings of eer great value glittered on her taper fingers: She was entirely alone to all appearances, and the intruders regarded her with surprise and not a little wonder. Blaine and Williams were not im- pressed by her artless loveliness, but by the im- mense value of her’ ornaments, which clearly — looked to be worth several large fortunes. = The boys, on the contrary, while sensible of the - glittering character of her gems, were spell-bound — at the presence of such a beautiful white girl in that rugged, garden-like spot. Jack was espe- cially taken with her. As she sat there in grace-_ ful unconsciousness that her privacy was invaded by strangers, two of whom where as big a pair of _ cals as the sun ever shone upon, she presente Moictire. that completely captivated the yo if we 255 : 4
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\ sailor. | ~ in their rage. . sluggin’ + It might almost be called a ease of love at first sight on his part. Blaine and his com- panion viewed her, as we have said, with merely mercenary emotions. The wealth she carried on her person drove from their thoughts for the time paing the money whose hiding place they were trying to locate. They saw within their. grasp the value in a very portable form of many thou- - sands of golden coins, and with one accord they~ decided to seize the girl, choke her into helpless- ness, and strip her of every ornament. ¥ ; This purpose was decided between them in whispers, and. standing their rifles against’ the wall of the tunnel they crept out of the opening and cautiously approached the beautiful creature. Jack was so absorpea im the contemplation 0: the girl’s ravishing beauty, both of face and form, that he did not pay any attention to the actions of the two sailors until they came into his line of vision behind the girl. : : Then instinctively he understood their object. Forgetful of the circumstances surrounding: him -__eonscious only of the peril that faced this lovely girl—all the natural chivalry of his manly na- ture at once asserted istelf. He sprang forward +o her assistance as though she were his dearest friend and not an absolute stranger. At that moment Blaine seized her roughly with a strangle bold around the neck while Williams started to tear the ornament from her hair. His fingers had _parely touched it when Jack struck him a swing- that sent him reeling to the grass. Then he tore Blaine’s clutch from around the girl’s throat, and smashed him, too, a stunning “plow in the face. Throwing one arm protecting] atound the dazed and astonished girl, Jack drew his revolver and put himself in a posture to de- -fend her from further aggression. { f 4 ‘ing blow in the jaw CHAPTER XIi.—Titania, Williams sprang to his feet with a fierce im- ween, ‘ahich was echoed’by Bill Blaine as that rascal also recovered from the smash he had re- ceived from the plucky boy. The sight of the revolver in Jack’s hand alone deterred: them from throwing themselves upon him and doing him up “Ye blamed young monkey, what do ye mean by us?” roared Blaine, in a furious passion, his wicked eyes sparkling with fur “Blame you!” snarled Williams. for that!” - “Stand back!” move a step nearer I'll fire, ‘we'll Kill you cried Jack, resolutely. “If you and your blood will be “on your own heads.” “How dave ye interfere with us?” demanded nee fiercely. “Ye are one of us. What do ye ‘by balkin’ our plans?” ; isnt : as wis plans have nothing to do with this girl. - [did not agree to back you in any such outrage againSt a defenseless woman as you have just attempted. You came to this island to search for hidden gold, not to assault and rob one of the ‘inhabitants.’ (“We're not takin’ any instructions from ye,” hissed Williams... , ; M “Give: that girl up to us or ‘we'll carve ye into strips!” — ie BS A YOUNG GOLD KING ee The rascal drew his sheath-knife, and Blaine — immediately followed his example. " ; “You'll reach this girl only over my dead body, you scoundrels,” replied Jack, determinedly. “And before I go down one or both of you will get a ball into you that may settle your fate.” The discomfited rascals recognized the fact that lead travels quicker than steel, and they did not dare force’the matter to an issue. At this point Whitbeck, recovering from his surprise over what had happened, grabbed up one of the rifles left by — the scoundrels at the mouth of the tunnel, and came forward to the aid of his chum. “Drop those knives, both of you,” he said, coy- ‘ering Blaine ‘and Williams with his ,weapon. “Drop them, quick, or there’ll be something doing you won’t like.” The rascals, perceiving themselves menaced from another and unexpected quarter, gave utter- ance to a string of fierce invectives, and swore to — be terribly revenged on both of the young sailors. Their oaths and threats had no effect whatever on either Jack or Butch. The villains, however, sullenly refused to give up their knives, return- ing them to ‘their sheaths in a dogged manner. During all this time the girl had stood a passive participant in the thrilling scene. Recognizing Jack as one who had saved her from the ruffianly assault, and whose presence and weapon protect- ed) her from further harm at the hands of the ‘scoundrels, she did not seek to withdraw herself from his encircling arm, even after she had fully recovered her self-possession., When Jack saw that Blaine and ‘Williams’ were effectually sub- z dued for the time being, at anv rate, he took his arm. from around the girl’s waist and turned to her. s : “You are quite safe now, miss,” he said..with- out considering whether she understood his. words or not. — “T thank you for-saving me from those men,” she replied, in perfect. English, flashing a look of gratitude and interest in, his face that thrilled him, for her eyes were bedutiful and expressive ones. and their glances went straight to his heart. a : ‘e “You are welcome, miss. .I am very glad to have been of service to you.” “What is your name, and whence lo vou: vs come'?” she askedy in her silvery tones. ’ “My name is Jack Archer. from San Francisco.” *T, too, am an American,” “but this is my home. My name is. Titania. J am queen of the Titanians, land.” “Titania!” exclaimed Jack. other name?” “That I may not tell you. ‘ “And what is your hither. Was it to get water for your ship?” “No,” replied Jack. “We did not come on 4 ship, but.in a small-schooner from the Island who inhabit this is — What brought you ‘to this island? It is not often that any one comes Lee es x ry i Iam an American, ~ she replied, sweetly; * vA "bed 4 of .Papua, about 100 miles to the northwest.” — “What brought you to this island? There is _ nothing here to repay your visit. My people do not encourage the presence of strangers. How came you to find, the passage that leads to our dwelling place? penetrate to nly ones before did a stranger _ this spot, and he did not weil repay —
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4a _ the hospitality which i, contrary to my people’s wishes, extended to him.” “We came here for Then Jack stopped, for it flashed across his mind that it might be unwise to admit the real ‘object which had brought the party to the island. The girl seemed to read his thoughts and smiled. : “Perhaps I can guess,” she said. “Thestranger - xvhe abused our hospitality has told that there . is a treasure’ on this island, concealed in our seeret caves, and you and these men came here to try°and take it away... Am I not right?” = “T- will not deny it,” ‘replied Jack, ffushing _ pviltily. “We did come here to obtain the treas- -. re, which we understand consists of many thous- ed pieces of gold coin. That rascal there, whom “We, that is, the officers and crew of the ship “olden Fleeee, bound from ’Frisco to’ Melbourne, and new at tHe Island of Papua, réscued from i ‘e sea more than a thousand miles northeast : ,m here, told my chum here and I the story of ha nis gold-. He induced us, by force, backed by his promise to give us an equal share of what- eyer, treasure was secured, to accompany him on a schooner from Papua to this island. . We -enehored off the eastern. end of the island last evening; and this morning the four of us came ~~ ashore to search for the hidden caves.” % “Your search would have been in vain. - «ould not have passed these natural barriers of - ‘our dwelling place without discovery, and dis- _ covery might perhaps have meant a quick and ~ -sadden death. I alone, who could have saved “ou, would probably never have heard of your tate.” “Then I suppose there is nothing for us to do - but to return to the schoéner by the way we ' came,” ‘replied Jack, with a wistful and admiring -leok into her lovely face, which brought a height- ened color to’her cheeks. al afraid that will ae be well for my companion and myself, par- “4eularly for me: I have foiled these two rascals ‘n their attempt to rob you of your gems and ornaments. They will also hold me responsible rg vor the failure of the enterprise 'as a whole. They are “resperate raseals, as you may judge by their ~ppearance and their actions. It is not improb- ‘ble that my life, as well.as that of my chum, may be sacrificed to their furyas soon as they eet us in their power aboard the schooner. Un- «der tebe circumstances I would ask your protec- mn; have given you mime when you stood oa “of it. J-ask,that we may be permitted .6 remain with. your people until some passing egsel -can be signalled to ‘take us- off.” ‘Your request is granted,” she said. softly. tak- his hand im hers. “My gratitude would not vit me to expose you to danger, and when I ave told my people what I owe you they also = ‘welcome you... You shall both remain‘ as as, you! ia ia or as long as circumstances ar panies you.” % » akc in’ answer to the aie Ewe chum and I will gratefully. accept: your hospilal- i ee occurs. for -A YOUNG GOLD KING You y My : _ and caused him to seize her hand and ca very similar to the undress of an ‘Ameena naval officer, appeared from the inner passage.-— They arranged themselves in line near Titania and bowed their heads respectfully to her. She ‘addressed them in the native language, pointing — to Blaine and Williams, and finally to Butch Whitbeck. They bowed their heads again when - she had finished. Blaine and his companion, not liking the outlook, started for the mouth of the tunnel. . - “Stop!” eried Titania, authoritatively, to them: They paid no attention. ; “Hold them up with your rifle, Buteh, ” said : Jack. : Whitbeck called on the rascals to stop, covering » them with his weapon. They did so, with very i bad grace. “Better get that other riffe in your possession, — Butch,” said Jack. “It’s too dangerous a weapon for those raseals to have.” a Whitbeck took the -hint, moved over to the : tunnel and secured it. He brought it back and va tossed it to Jack. The queen of the Titanians then turned to Butch and told him to go with the party that would escort Blaine and Williams back to the. beach near where the schooner lay at an- chor, and after seeing that the rascals returned. » their vessel he was to come back with the na- ives. ‘ “All right,” replied Whitbeck, glancing at ¥: ack. - “Why not come with me, old man? : Titania shook her head and ordered the escortene te proceed at once. One of the natives, who ap- neared to have command of the others, spoke to his companions. They marched toward the tunnel. Two entered and disappeared. The native looked at Blaine and Williams and motioned them to enter the passage. Blaine turned a ferocious look on. Jack. man he. “Ye’ve got the best of us, my heart? hissed, “but we’re not done with ye vet, by a lon chalk! We'll git ve vet, and. when we do yell wish ye’d mever been born!” With this parting salute the two sailors walked off, accompanied by ‘Butch Whitbeck ang the’ per-colored escort. “4 CHAPTER XIlL—The Dawn of Love. - Left together, Titania turned to Jack, took hi hand once moye in hers and carried it- to. he hi : * “You are my guest, Jack Archer,” with a look that quickened the blood in: his own lips. She smiled almost coyly and anid: “Come . way to the inner passage. Her movements’ ’ graceful and: BbEpie as she» preceded him- closed: by et eis 9 hs "Si were: sitting around the cave. a eae on ‘out of the cave wil ‘th “This: is nee home of the.
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A YOUNG GOLD KING A part of the valley was under special cultiva- tion, a species of maize being grown there, as Jack. subsequently ascertained. There were bread-fruit, plantain, banana and cocoanut trees on all sides. Birds of brilliant pllumage flew hither and thither, and seemed to be extremely tame. The hillsides were resplen- dent with tropical vegetation of every description. Jack was delighted with the scene thus unfolded before his eyes. It seemed to be a fitting setting for the lovely girl who reigned queen of that Jittle community, cut off as it were from the-rest of the world. gs ve “My gracious!” exclaimed the young sailor. “I pelieve I could live here-forever and be perfectly satisfied.” She tutned a look of sweetness on the boy and smiled. A soft light shone from her eyes as they rested with an eager longing on his. hand- some face, and strong, well-proportioned figure. The color came and went in her cheeks and her . bosom rose and fell like the undulations of the great ocean without. Jack’s eyes were at that moment taking in ‘all the beauties of the valley, _ and he was not conscious of thé emotions reflect- ed in this innocent maiden’s person, as she gazed at him with an admiring and newly-born in- terest. “Come,” she said at length, “I will take you to my house. There Ivhope you will find yourself at home until——” - , : She hesitated and her voice trembled a_ bit. “Until you tire of us here,” she added, “and long to return to thoge you love and who love rou P, .: é x “There is no one that I love,” he said, turning “to her, “and no one ‘who.loves me. I am an orphan.” A bright light sprang into her eves as he: uttered those words. , _ *Then were you to remain with us‘ no one * would miss you?” she asked, eagerly. a “Yes, there are, friends who would miss me in a way: Captain Rockwell, who has been almost a father to me, and his daughter Nellie, who.has ~ been almost a sister to me.” =) “Ah!” exclaimed Titania, her face going pale. “They would miss you, you say, and you-—you eare for her, no doubt? It would grieve you to see her no more, perhaps?” * = “Sure, I care for her. She is the best, the tru- est-hearted little girl in all the world,” he said, ~ enthusiastically. “I should not like to lose her altogether. She is the best friend I have. But ‘she is not like—you.” . Titania stood with averted # face and sinking heart as Jack spoke with such fervor of Nellie ~ “Rockwell. Her disappointment was keen until he said, “But she is not like—you.” At those words ‘she raised her head and shot an indescribable glance at him. ; : re aie said, once more, “follow mie.” She led him, an objec of wondering curiosity _ to the men, women and children of the Titdnians, along a wide lane through the village to a large thatched structure of a single story, which stood in the center of an ‘extensive green space, well shaded by spreading palms. There was no lack of ventilation the building, a necessary re- quirement “ofthat: hot latitude. ¢° ; ore eouee id h onsisted.of one layge central room, “I should be very happy if you would re na d three others that igd off froia it: like the sag here forever,” she answered. 19 of the ace of spades. The furniture consisted of) rustie-looking chairs, tables, lounges, and other civilized adjuncts, probably secured from wrecked ships. The floor was constructed of the deck tim- bers of a large vessel; which had been as closely knit tigether as when they were in their original position, Phe doorways were hidden by portieres of ‘some soft, clinging Silk—a fabric similar to that worn by the girl herself. Coming out of the blazing sun, Jack was astonished at the compara- tive coolness of the big room to which Titania had introduced him. Pointing t0 a couch made of in- terwoven cane, she called two of a half-dozen young female attendants and bade them bring re- freshments. % Then she seated herself beside Jack and asked him' to tell her something about himself, and of his voyage from San Franéisco to the Island of . Papua. He complied at once, and while Re was talking the two girls waited on them, one with golden and silver plates and dishes filled with tropical fruits, the other with an antique looking flagon filled with a~ rich amber-colored liquid which she served in a couple of silver goblets of exquisite workmanship to Titania and her visitor. Jack was astonished at the display of plate until an explanation of their presence on this out- of-the-way island oecurred to him. doubt they were a part of the pirate booty of a hundred years since, which the girlish queen had turned to practical use. Jack gave Titania an Without — outline of his life history, and she listened to him ~ with rapt attention. When he spoke about Nellie Rockwell, and the warm friendship .that existed between theng, the girl watched his face narrowly, and weighed every word at it fell from his lips, as if to determine in her own mind just what place Nellie occupied in the boy’s heart. Sometimes her hand was pressed upon-her bosom as though to stifle her emotion, and again her eyes sparkled: with a dawning hope. While they were, thus en- gaged the escort of natives that had accompanied Blaine and Williams to the beach marched up to. the house with Butch Whitbheck in their midst. “Hello, Butch,” exclaimed Jack, as soon as he saw his chum, home. “Draw up a chair, old man,” continued Jack, as if he was the boss of the house, “and’tell us how — - you got rid of those rascals.” i ‘ “Oh, we got rid of them all right, don’t you “come in and make yourself at =~ ’ ‘ J worry.” laughed Butch, with an admiring glance — at Titania. “We marched them back to the beneh as if we were taking them to execution. They didn’t say a thing about you—oh, no, of course. I'd hate to have you meet either of those not! e“aps of a dark night on a lonesome road. What they wouldn’t do to you isn’t worth mentioning. They called you every name in the calendar, and swore they'd kill you at the first chance they get. _. And I guess they wouldn’t be bashful ing me in the same way. ; *Say, eld man,” continued Butch, finest place I’ve ever seen. here indefinitely.” ‘ “Wouldn’t you? TI feel kind of that way my- self, only I’m afraid Miss Titania wouldn’t stand for it.” Melee ee about treat- I wouldn’t mind living “this is the. :
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20 * » The look that accompanied her words thrilled: Jack. Butch saw it, too, and chuckled to himself. “She looks as if she was sweet on Jack,” he thought. “I'll bet if he says the word that he _ could have himself elected king of this island. Then I would have no difficulty in getting myself _-" appointed chief cabinet minister, and I could boss it over these copper inhabitants to beat the band, They’d kowtow to Jack and the queen and ‘salaam to me. Gee! That would be great, bet your life!” ; ; Then Jack turned-to Titania. “» -“*T can’t answer for my chum. He must speak fov himself. As far as I’m eonverned, I would be ‘glad to stay here forever, under certain condi- “Under certain conditions?” murmured the girl, her ¢..u.' coming any gong. < “Yes,” replied Jack. “Under certain condi- ~ tions, I can’t very well tell you what those con- _ ditions are just now, but I may tell you later.” _ “T wondey if I hadn’t better sneak?” thought Butch, feeling as if he was in the way. He got on his feet, remarking that it was un- _ cgmmenty warm, «nd starved for the doorway, but Jack called him back. ; 3 ‘ “Don’t go, old man,” he said. “It’s much cooler inthis room than out under those trees. Besides, Miss Titania is going to tell us how she came to be queen of the Titanians, as well as other mat- “ters connected with the isiand.” ~ : Se Butch sat down again and Titania began her __ story. ; 4 CHAPTER XIV.—The Story that Titania Told; oe Titania story was quite a long one as she relat- ‘éd it, but a few words will place the substance of » - were Americans, and she herself was born in Cali- "fornia. While yét.a very little girl her father met with business reverses that reduced the little » family to unpleasant straits. A good, ppsition having been offered her father in Sidney, Aus- tralia, he set. sail for the antipodes on an Ameri- - ¢an ship, with his wife and child. AH went well Fiji Islands,, when she was caught im’ one of. the periodical hurricanes that sweep those. seas. “Driven southward in the -yessel went. ashore on ihe reefs surrounding the island of Titania. Strange to relate, all op board perished except Titania and~ her . father and mother, who were washed up on the beach more ‘dead than alive. There they were discovered by the natives of the island, who carried them into their secluded village and treated them with great icndness, for the islanders were a simple and in- soon after the extinction of the pirate Vasquez fore. The island of Titania being out. of the “heaten track of vessels sailing’: between America and Australia, the girl’s father waited long and anxiously for some craft to draw near enough to ake them off. As wecks passed es Seagee g bep OS within signaling distance, and none id any attention understood | th she 5 A YOUNG GOLD KING -jt-before our readers. -Her father and mother: until the vessel reached the neighborhood of the grasp of the tempest, the * offensive race of aboriginals. who had settled there . “and his villainous associates a hundred years be- (ee Ee. Gradually as time passed Titania’s father and mother grew attached to the natives and con- — tented with the simple and happy life led by those on the island, and imperceptibly they Jost all desire to mingle again with the busy and sin- - ful world of which they had once been a part. Her tather-ceased to watch for vessels in the” offing and both he and his wife devoted their lives from that time to teaching the inhabitants the Christian faith, and instructing them in such civ- ilized pursuits as their limited facilities enabled te put into practice. out ky They picked up the language of the Titanians, - and taught the head people something* of the English tongue. Finally at the annual festival — held by the natives Titania’s father was made king of the island, her mother queen, and™she herself declared the heir apparent. A few years after this a brig was blown into the neighborhood by a gale and came to anchor within the reef. The captain and crew of this craft were a ras- cally set. It developed that they had been looking for this island, which they knew had once been the headquarters of the pirate Vasquez. They believed that some ef the booty of that famous rover m ght still be concealed on the island, and their purpose was to discover it and carry it away. In searching the place they acidentally discovered the secret entrance to’ the valley and forced their way into the village. Rage In doing» this they killed several of the island- — ers who had approached them with peace : -tentions. Titania’s fathéy, 4 oi 2 » while remonstratin with, the invaders, was shot down in cold blood by ‘the captain of the brig. ~This wanton act na- turally enraged the natives, a pitehed battle en sued and: the intruders were wiped out to a ma ~The brig was taken possession of by the island- ers, broken up and: removed with her furnishin: and such cargo as she had to the village, wher the various articles wer t to such use as th inhabitants could manage to employ them. Titania's mother only survived her husban short time, and the little girl, thus left an phan, was. duly proclaimed queen of the is! under the name of Titania. An old custom of natives forbade her, on accession to the dignit queen, from ever mentioning the name of her father and mother, and this custom she felt bound ‘to ‘respect, and consequently she co oe lt ee Ee renen Se her guests, to — whem, she said, she must ever be known simpli as Titania. ; } bi ie “AN right, Titania,” said Jack, when: she concluded ‘her story, “we'll let it go at~ Now, if you will favor us so much, will yo us if there really is a large amount of vo concealed in secret caves on this island? “There is,” she replied. pn eee “That, as well as all these gems you wear, gether with the gold and silver dishes, flagons and other valuable articles we hav was once the plunder of that renowned ro
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secret. I alone possess the right to enter the caves at will, and the six guards may accompany me or not, as I choose.” ; _ “Then,.as long as vou live no other eyes but yours, the guards excepted, can get a look at that treasure?” said Jack. “One other may?” ~ “One other?” exclaimed Jack. that?” - “The man I choose for my husband and king.” _. “Gee! He'll be a lucky chap,” said Whitbeck. ~ “{ wish I could step into ‘his shoes.” he added, “with a grin. : ; _ “And your husband,” said Jack, a bif anxt-, ously, “must he he one of the natives, according , to your code of laws?” . es “Jt is expected that he will be, since outsiders rarelv visit the island: and none, save vourselves and the man who ill renaid our hospita’ity 9 vear ago, has been nermitted to enter the valley. “There is no resulation, however, restricting mv ‘ehoice. Probably this is because I am the first maiden queen who ever reigned on the island Jack made no reply. He sat silently eazing out through the doorway at the native children plaving at a distance among the huts, thinking of the girl’s strange and eventful story, and per- haps more of the girl herself—the most fasci- nating creature he had ever seen in his life. and whose personality had made a’ great impression “And who is “saved her from beine despoiled of her orna- ments by Blaine and Williams, and how his chum, 3utch Whitbeck. had backed him up. ‘She explained that the four had come to the land to search for the treasure of the secret es. Then she introduced her guests to the old men, indicating Jack as especially entitled to all honor and respect on the part of the inhabitants. e old men departed and by the time Titania and her guests sat down to dinner the whole vil- age knew what their queen ~wed to Jack. and ‘incidentally his friend. It is not too much to say that when, in the cool of the evening, the bovs de a tour of the valley in company with Ti- ia. Jack found himself a personage of no little gre of popular consideration. : One of the three rooms abutting upon the main apartment of the queen’s house was allotted to fack and Butch, and as it.was the custom to 20 rest ifter dark, the boys furned in im- rest soon after dark eee ana mportance, while Butch also came in for a goodly iately after Titania bade them d to her own quarters. Bt 2 > a A YOUNG GOLD KING about the world is wha t - told me, and 21 the-hill vonder and take a squint at the ocean,” said Butch. , : “I’m with you,” replied Jack, and they started for the nearest paint of the verdure-clad. hills surrotinding the village. he slope was éasy to climh and it did ant take them long to reach the ridge. From there they could see the Pacific rippling in the eay) sunshine spread out all around them clear to the encircling horizon. ae “Not a sail in sight. I suppose the schooner * we came here on is half way back to Papua by this time. I wonder-what kind of a time Savage is having with those rascals? They’re in a pretty ugly humor, ‘T’ll warrant, because they had a7l- their trouble for nothing. Savage will no doubt renort to Cap’n Rockwell that’ we were captured and detained by. the inhabitants of this island, and then we may expect the Golden Fleece down this way. Bill Blaine will hardly go back to the ship after. what has happened. Probably he -_ wouldn’t return anyway, as I guess he and Williams hang around the Fiji zroup most of their time,” said Butch.” . ¢ é “I wouldn’t. care to be in Richard’s shoes 4: the present moment,” replied Jaek. “Those scoundrels are probably making life hideous for him for want of "something better fo vent their disappointment on.” is “Well, Jack, when our -ship<turns up, as I suppose she will, are you going back to sailoring again?” : } : ; “Why do you ask that?” = “I didn’t know but you might prefer to re-, main here, marry Titania, and become king of the, island. It would be a dead easy life, and you’d come into possession of the treasure of the — seeret caves.” ree oe “How do you know she would marry me, nr that the natives would accept me as their king?” “Oh, . IL have you fast enough,” replied — utech, n ing his head as if the matterowas a foregone conclusion. “We're the first younz — white chaps she’s ever seen, and as you’re the _ smartest and best-looking, you’ve got the call. Tf I were in your shoes I wouldn’t hesitate a moment in taking up with a good thing.” a Jack made no reply, and soon. afterward they returned to the house to find Titania watching — for them. She smiled sweetly on Jack, as she wished him good-morning, and gave him every evidence of her favor. < ee Lo I was = en: ” F
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> 22, to be the accumulation of money, to which they ' made everything else subservient. “The majority struggle hard for a bare living,” went on Jack. the sea for forty years, and yet today he is only moderately well off. All the money he has ever made would probably not be sufficient to purchase a. jewel similar to the one you are wearing above your forehead. Yet I am bound to say that he is about as contented with his lot as the average successful man. Some people, though thev be worth the price of every gem you have on your person,“and I should say ‘their value represents _a king’s ransom, would not be satisfied—not if to them you added the ‘treasure of the secret caves. Oh, this is a great world, Titania, and the more I see of its boasted civilization the less _I like a large part of it. Here on this island, where money plays no part at all in your affairs, I find the simplicity positively refreshing. The natives seem to be content to get along without intercourse with outsiders. To all appearances they are happy, and what more can one wish for in life but happiness? As I said yesterday. I believe I could live here forever and be satisfied.” “And I’said that I would be very happy if you would remain here forever,” she replied, looking at him with eves that spoke the eager desire of her soul. “Why?” 3 “Can you not guess?” she asked, at length, yaising her lovely eyes shyly to his face. , “J think I can,” he said, stealing his arm around her waist. “You love me. Is it not so?” “Yes,” she answered, softly... s Their lips: met in a long, sweet kiss, the first she had ever given to any one save her dead ~~ »arents. and it sealed a love that to her, at least. was everything in the little world of which she was the chief part. They passed .an hour in : their newly-born. happiness, and then, Titania ‘2 said’, ; -- *Gome, my husband and my king. You have acquired the right to,enter and view the secret caves of my dominion.” ' She led the way behind the rocks around the pool and presently they stood before a low, tun- nel-like entrance. Entering, they soon came to an inner cave, lighted by several torches and neopled hy six natives, who bowed profoundly hefore Titania. She said something to them in fhe native tongue. Three: immediately . seized _~ terches from the walls and walked into a tunnel- like gallery. - Titania and Jack followed, while the other three natives came on behind) They passed on from one cave to another until they reached one where the torch-bearers drew un_in - ‘nye, standing motionless as bronze statues. The flickering light from the flambeaux only partly dispelled the darkness, but Jack could make out —_ io iy he} this shelf he saw many bushel-baskets lined up '* at regular, intervals.. . 4 “Beh the treasure of the seeret caves!” said Titania, ‘as the three natives, in obedience to-her command, removed basket after basket, full. of welden coin, from the shelf and displayed them _ before the astonished eyes of the boy. the wonderful wealth of thé secret caves. , young gold king?” said his chum, j “Captain Rockwell has followed : Sau stone shelf along two sides of the cave, and on, “was eastly persuaded to remain there until her . Half an hour later Jack was telling Butch of “So you're going to marry Titania and become 2 ae A YOUNG GOLD KING *“T am. It is decided, and~Titania is now in- forming the three wise men of the village of her — selection of a husband.” “Well, old man, I congratulate you, but will you tell me where do I come in on all this?” “You! If you will agree to remain here with me, for a time at any rate, I'll make you my prime minister and secretary of state.” “How much salary do I get? If I should leave later on I want to be well fixed. Money makes the mare go in the outside world.” “Never mind the salary. You can’t spend any of it here. When you leave, if you ever do, Vl see that you carry a fortune away with you.” “It’s a go, Jack, and there’s my.hand on it.” Three days later Jack Archer and Titania were married according to the simple céremonies of the Titanians, and a feast Was held at which there was great rejoicing. Butch constituted himself a kind of master-of-the-ceremonies, and though he couldn’t make himself very well. understood, he managed to acquire considerable popularity, ~ and made quite an impression on several copper- _~ faced beauties. The young gold king and his” prime minister continued to watch for the com- ing of the Golden: Fleece, but they were disap- pointed, and as time went by they gave her up entirely, and settled down to a peaceful and easy existence on the island. Jt was not until a year | later that the boys learned why the ship did not hunt for them. A vessel en route for San Fran-~ cisco put in at Titania Island for water. Jack. Archer invited captain and crew to a special ~ feast... Then it was arranged that Butch Whit- beck should go to the United States, with a box full of gold, and purchase a whole lot of things for the island colony, including a library of choice books, fine female apparel, a big American flag, and other articles too numerous to mention. Almost the first person Butch met in San Fran- cisco was Captain Rockwell. ~The commander of the Golden Fleece was astonished to see him,-for he thought he and Jack were dead. Butch then learned that Richard Savage and the two sailors had not returned to Papua, as he and Jack had . supposed they did, although Nellie was. brought oe back. a eT In-fact, they never were heard of again, from - which it was concluded that the schooner was lost __ somewhere at sea. Butch had intended to charter — a brig to carry his cargo to Titania Island, but, instead, he arranged to have the goods forwarded by the Golden Fleece on her next trip to Aus- ~~ tralia. His story of Jack’s marriage to the lovely —— queen of the island naturally surprised both — Nellie and her father, and the gir]. determined to go out with the ship and pay Jack and his wife a visit. The Golden Fleece anyrived at Titania Island at a time of great rejoicing. A baby prince had been born to the young gold king and_ Queen Titania. Captain Rockwell and Nellie re- ceived a hearty welcome at the island, and Nellie father touched at the place on his way hom .four months. afterward. Under the management of Jack and Butch great improvements took place — on the island. until in the course of. years it be- — came a most remarkable colony, ot ae tain “BOUN ALL STREET Ruy ort es
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_ BUCKSKIN BILL, THE COWBOY age ~ PRINCE Or, : . ‘The Rough Riders of the Ranch By GASTON GARNE (A Serial Storv.) eG CHAPTER XV. / "The Ranchman’s Daughter. Then came the discovery of their scheme. “Some fellers is hookin’ our mustangs!” ‘Every man’s nerves tingled at this announce- “ment, frowns gathered on the cowboys’ brows, fierce expressions of anger escaped their lips and - weapons.were drawn. be ; é * “Jim Flood and his gang of raneh-raiders!” Bill answered. * . See . “We are with yer!” ~ “Bust ahead, boy!” op over the prairie, fol- ent Dandy off at a g i é of whom were his own owed by ten ‘men, mo gh-riders. : ‘jood’s gang had a good start. _. They went fast, too, for they knew yery. well ey were riding for their lives, as horse-stealing fas punished by. hanging. Sars FAS : ‘Forming a solid mass the villains gallope way: © t : s ck, t hay: a D, Ja es es FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY “Who are they?” demanded old Sam, excited- -the door, and Sawkins > - And waiting to hear no more, the cowboy prince_ Bill now recognized Pond the lead, and real-~ rest of the he. same — a good - Mile after. mile was covered, Bill’s cowboys’ gradually closing up the gap between themselves — and the gang of ouvlaws. | Soke The villains had gone over the Double K rang? ~ and soon crossed the line toward the Rosebud, © for it was a short-cut to the mills from there, and - they thought they would be safe once they got off the plain. ; y But the cowboys were now gaining .on them ’so: fast that some of Flood’s men became desperato, , and one gasped: : “We'll have to make.a stand and fight’ them, Jim. Some of these ponies can’t stand the strain. of this long race much longer and are bound’ to’ ‘give ‘out. pretty soon.” 3 : “It’s sure death ter stop here.” up! face are five of us who can’t go much fur- er:”” . “All right. Then get into Colonel Briggs’s ranch-house an’ we will go ahead an’ try ter lure — *em away from yer.” ese eo It was a desperate chance for them, but the only thing they could do, and Sawkins suddenly, exclaimed; f : “T’ll have to go with them, Jim. My mustang : is giving out.” , rae "Glad of it. They’ll have a leader then.” ~~ Sawkins did not look as if he were®very much — pleased, but he said. nothing, and headed for the house withgthe five who were then dropping be- hind the r8st. sy ens ~_As these six men galloped toward the house. ~ Flood and the rest, whose horses were fresher, — sped-toward the hills. , . ? = The villains dismounted. from their ponies: at pushed it open and strod into the hall. Andrew Jackson; Scott, the old colored *man, saw the villains coming in, and-with a wild yeil. of dismay he rushed back into the gloom and dov2 down:into the cellar, where he hid himself. as _ Hearing the noise, Jessie came out of the sit ting-room: to find out what the trouble was, and turned pale when she saw: and recognized th2 outlaws, and would_have beat ‘a hasty retreat had not Sawkins leaped toward her, yoaring;: “Here's the colonel’s daughter. Ill attend: ta: her, boys.. You close and bar the doors and win- dows &s quickly as-you can.” © ° i ie While speaking he had seized the girl’s ‘wri ~“Yon let me go, Hank Sawkins!” she pants ““Shet up! . You are my prisoner!” roare villain. “Don’t struggle, or, by thunder, I" violence!” * a : pe eG bes SL To save herself from rough treatment the gir! let him bind her wrists behind her back, while th windows.. seen the hy x ie eR
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ized that he would 24 for he recognized his sweetheart’s voice at once. a reckon thar’s trouble in ther house,’ said Jack. “y “Yes; it was Jess. Great heavens, can those ' ruffians be doing her any harm?” gasped’ the boy, uneasily, “They are closin’ ther lower part o’ ther house.” “Oh, they mean to bar us out. I expected they ‘would. Well, we can’t break in very easily, but I’m going to-try it, Jack.” i: ““Look out thar, Bill. Them varmints is now -at ther upper winders ready ter plug us ther moment we gits in range.” “Halt, boys!” cried Bill, reining in. : ho troop of cowboys paused, and one of them asked : - “What's ther word, boss?” “Jessie Briggs is at the mercy of those men in that house.” “Can’t we save the poor girl?” “Will you aid me to make an attack?” “Pard, we'll die fightin’ fer yer.” ‘Thank you. All agile fall in!” In a moment the rough- riders were ready and each man had his rifle and pistol ready for busi- ness. ; But just then the house door opened. Hank Sawkins came out, leading Jessie by the arm. “Hey, Buckskin Bill!” he yelled. “Ho, Buck- skin, Bill!” “Well?” retorted the angry boy, “what do you want?” “T just want to tell you and your men to clear out of here as you value this girl’s life. If you ain’t gone by the time I could ten, I’ll make way _ with her.” A cold chill shot through the-boy. He knew how desperate Sawkins was, and real-> eep his threat if he was not obeyed. = CHAPTER XVI. On The Trail. > It was very evident that Bill and his rough- riders. were helpless to do anything for Hank - Sawkins was master of the situation. = A deathly silence followed the villain’s threat to shoot Jessie Briggs unless the cowboys rode away from the ranch. And as the boy cared for the girl, her danger made him very nervous, san He granged at Denver Jack blankly and said in husky tones: : “The scoundrel has got the best of a “Blast him!” growled the big cowboy, in a rage. “He’s bad enough ter shoot ther good gal, too, if we don’t vamoose.” . Bill hated to admit defeat. _ He faced the outlaw at the door and shouted in a threatening manner: oy “Sawkins, if you harm so much as a hair of 2 that girl’s head heaven help you! Nothing on - A mocking laugh i m : “You fail to get out of this,” he retorted, “and d earth will prevent me from wreaking a terrible vengeance upon you!” i Y escaped the villain. Pil shoot you whether I'll shoot her or no FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY _ Just then Jessie shouted: “Never mind about me, Bill. Go for these ruf- fians. Don’t let them scare ain’t afraid of them!” _ “You hold your jaw!” snarled Sawkins, scow]- ing savagely at the plucky girl. “You have no say in this, do you hear?” : oS “Go on, you coward!” retorted the spirited girl. “Y’ll say what I please. his hands on you, I pity you, that’s all. Better save your neck by giving in. If this things goes much further your doom is sealed.” ; “Tf ve got to go under,” hissed Sawkins, ‘1’l1 die with my boots on. You’ll not escape so easy, my lady.” } 3 oe right! That settles your case, Hank Saw- ins “Well,” roared the villain, threateningly, “are you and your men going to clear out or not?” The cowboy prince came to a quiék decision. He had his rifle in his hand, and as quick as a em he flung it up and let a shot go at the out- aw. ; Crack! sounded the whip-like report. =. y _ A yell of agony escaped Sawkins, as the bone in his arm was shattered by the ball, and he let his pistol fall and reeled against the door, turn- ing as pale’as death. Kaeo Jessie!” shouted the boy. “Run for your ife!’ Ve you with threats. I The girl sped toward him, and Bill shouted : to his men: “Pepper the upper windows! It will prevent the gang from firing down at the girl. Fire quick, boys!” They raced ahead and sent shot after shot at the house. : A few straggling reports came back, and one of the cowboys fell wounded from the saddle, while the rest swept ahead. . , The fierce fusillade drove the outlaws out of sight, and Bill plunged on phead of his men, who were now yelling and blaging away like a band of wild Indians. When Buckskin Bill gets — The boy reached Jessie and reined in Dandy. — Down from the saddle he leaped, and in another moment he had her bonds severed and, holding her in his arms, he asked: “Were you hurt, Jess?” “Not a bit.” “Then run to the rear.” “Going to £ght them?” “We ’]] capture every man in the bunch.” Up dashed the rough-riders just then, yelling: “Whoopee! Whoopee! Down with ’em!” Sa ' As they parted to let the girl pass, Bill valuted _ ‘into the saddle and sped away at their head. Thundering up to the house, they dismounted and rushed inside after the boy. Shots came down the stairs + them, but they g.
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 25 GOOD READING MUD TRAPS WOMAN A woman tenant on the farm of Ben Lawrence near Rocky Mount, N. C., narrowly escaped death from drowning in mud recently, when she at- tempted to cross a field after a heavy rain. She sank to her armpits and hours of work by several “men ‘was ‘necessary before she could be extri- cated. The woman’s predicament was discovered by Lawrence while lie was making an inspection of + his farm. Rescue efforts were started shortly after 10 A. M. and it was not until after 1 P. M. the following day that she was released. SAILS WITH SNAKE VENOM Raymond L. Ditmars, curator of the Bronx Zoo, with: his wife and family, sailed recently on the Munson liner Southern Cross for South America. Mr. Ditmars is going away for six weeks to help perfect an anti-snake serum which not only will cure bites by poisonous snakes, but will act as a preventive. He said: “I am taking with me, evaporated in a jar, more than a gallon of ‘rattlesnake juice,” collected from all over the United States during the last year. ‘tle, starting with a dose of two small drops and _ imcreasing it over eight months.” It is the largest amount of snake venom ever collected, sufficient to kill the entire popuiation of New York City. BEES CAGED WITH PLUM TREES TO INSURE RICH CROPS In the great »lum-growing districts of North- ’ ern California bees are being caged with the trees _ to insure pollenization of the blossoms with pol- len only from other trees of equal quality, says Popular Mechanics. Much loss has been occas- ioned to growers in the past due to cross-fertili- zation of their pure-bred plums with pollen from wild species and inferior varieties of the do- mestic fruit, resulting in crops of poorer grade and smaller size. A framework covered with strong mosquito net is built around each tree and -a hive of bees is installed in the inclosure when the blossoms begin to appear. Freshly cut flow- ers from plum trees of equally good grade with the one caged are supplied to the insects each day and from these blossoms the little workers carry the pollen to their home tree. Cages have also been equipped with wheels so that an entire orchard can be covered with only a few of the inclogures in a short time, A DECALOGUE ADOPTED FOR TAXICAB . DRIVERS _" The Empire State Taxicab Chamber of Com- merce has adopted as its slogan “The Public be - Saved,” and it has sent out 50,000 copies of a new “Ten Commandments” for drivers. They follow: _ Be considerate of pedestrians and other motor wehicle operators. ; Never drive recklessly, give signal when stop- ing or turning. It will be injected into horses little by lit- - - Don’t turn corners fast—or without warning: | 166 West 23d_ Street Sie Sees > 2 Approach street intersections cautiously, with car under full control. +» Keep brakes in. proper conditions—better sure than sorry. Use tire chains when streets are wet and cov- ered with ice and snow. Adjust. or repair any mechanical trouble be- fore accepting fares. Obey the traffic rules and signals and com- mands of traffic officers. | 5 Always be careful, realizing your responsibili- ty toward others. z Be courteous and polite always; it pays in the short and long run. STAYS AWAKE FIVE DAYS AND NIGHTS In an effort to determine the effects of pro- tracted wakefulness on the human body, Dr. N FI. Fisher and Dr. Nathanial Kleitman of the University of Chicago remained awake continu- ously for five days and nights, says Popular Science Monthly. They took turns. at the experi- ment, one acting as observer while the other stayed awake. Two assistants were necessary. to keep the experimenter from falling asleep dur- ing’ the latter stages of the test. : “The first day was, of course, easy,” says Dr.- Fisher. “Any one can stay awake for a single night, and most persons probably have done so. The fourth night found me terribly depressed. I did not want to work at all. All I wanted to © do was sleep.. To make the task of staying awake ,@ little easier foreme, my attendants took me to a cabaret in hope that the excitement and change. of scene might stir me up. Riding there, con- stant prodas by my escorts was required to aoe the motion of our cab from putting me to sleep. , “TJ was extremely sluggish onthe fifth and last’ ; day. I had lost all interest in everything—ex- cept sleep. I had to force myself to perform even the slightest movement, and I had to keep moy-. ing all the time or fall asleep on my feet. The experiment was becoming a nightmare. =e “At 10 P. M. I was permitted to sit on my bed, = unattended, and immediately I dropped-over to = the mattress, sound asleep, So I remained, al- most as lifeless as a stone, for 10 hours. Then I ; awoke, arose, dressed myself and went about my - work as usual. I was not so active as I should. have been, still I was able to work and to accom- ——_~ plish something. Within two days I was quite — normal again, seemingly none the worse for my experience.” : . : “Moving Picture Stories” 4 A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Players & PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY Eath number contains Three Stories of the Best Itims : on the Screen—-Klegant Half-tone Scenes from the Plays” — —Interesting Articles About Prominent People in the ae Films—Doings of Actors and Actresses in the Studio 3 aod Lessons in Scenario Writing. HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. "New Yark City
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-¥AME AND ; Bose Sepires ta ok, Sete tee __. NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 11, 1925 _ FERMS TO SUBSCRIBEKS & Cents FORTUNE WEinw, Bilple Copies... ore vie et ce ssanars Postage Free Une copy three Months ee rs ee ” “ 2.00 ” ” Une Copy six Moutha., -,Une Copy One Yeur,...... sees F Canadu, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. HOW 'TO SEND MONEY — At dur risk send P. 0. ‘ Money Order, Check or Registered Letter;) remittances ~ 4m any. oeeer way are at your risk. We accept Postuge Stamps the same as cash. When sending Silver Wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envelope. rite your mame and address plainly Address letters to - tarry E. Wolff, Pres. HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., -. Charles. B. Nylander, Sec. i, EF. Wilain, Treas. 166 W. 23d St., N. Y, ITEMS OF INTEREST eae ~ NECKLACES OF EGGS Necklaces of wild birds® eggs are now being made. The eggs are paired for size, and after - plowing are treated by a chemical process and the insides ‘filled with a light composition to*give _~ them solidity. - As the shells have different matk- ‘ings, novel effécts are produced. tate . HARD WINTER FORESEEN , «Next winter will be long and,hard, according “ to investigations by the astronomer-priest, Fath- er Gabriel, which Professor Guillaume Bigourdan directoxy of the Paris Observatory, has described . to the Academy of Science. - Father Gabrie) has discovered that the Lunar _ solar cycle of 744 years is devided into two periods . of 872 years and four periods of 186 years. .He _says the weather fellows these periods, and that _ this winter will be as severe as were the winters of the years /1553 and 1740. His observations Fee z RSs :. are based on researches into the works of histo- _. ¥ians, poets and writers which were likely to give _ Weather indications... t. FORD-£0 SHIP: BY AIR TO ‘ALL PARTS OF : _». UNITED STATES ~ “The purchase of the Ford. Moter Company of ‘the Stout Metal Airplane Company means’ that “we will manufacture a “fieet of commericalair- planes to carry our own freight to practica'ly all “parts of the United States,” Henry Ford said ~~ .ecently. pit rea ° . » “Details of our plans for the expansion of the plant and increased production of, planes are for’ ‘the present a little vague. The future wil] de- ermine all of that,” Mr. Ford continued. “The Ford Motor Company plans to connect ‘the various large cities in the United States by «air mails aud maintain a regular schedule of de- ~ liveries. These cities will include New York, ‘Buffalo, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Lonis, Gleve- “Jand, Indianapolis: and. others.” e 4 a we init SPIES Many a tourist has wondered al ds of até thats ake their home in the ruins eee he. AE PS anti SRE FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY try the water wagon?” ERCE CATS INFEST TRAJAN FORUM Bae tase SOREN BS A ee ybout the. fierce © of the Trajan Forum and around the cuter walls of the Pantheon and in other classic remains of antiquity. All these animals are unusually big — and all of them are ferocious fighters. An old Roman, speaking of this curious phenomenon, ex- plained that in Rome the superfiuous kittens are never drowned. He thought the Americans were _ barbarous in ridding themselves of their surplus — cats in that way. In-the Eternal City the kittens — who are considered “de trop” by the master of - the household are taken to one of the great ruins _ of the monuments, either by the children or the. servants, and food is brought to'them for a few days thereafter. -Then they are forgotten and must shift for themselves. As a result the law - _of the survival-of the fittest works with infallible severity. The cats that are able to overcome the hardships of their environments are about, the toughest specimens of their kind outside of what natural: history recognizes as “wild cats.”* The | _ Roman cats around the Trajan Forum, ete., will ~) positively not be petted. © aa “Who -was the best man at the wedding?” Apia 28 bride’s father.” “How ¢ould that be?” “He signed all the checks for it.’? ! HC Ta ate arene ook Bix—Does. your wife ever go to the club for you when you are out late? Dix—No, but she goes for me when I get home. eet Sea “Why is he so bitter at the girl he was only recently engaged to?” “Because when she sent the ring batk she labeled the box ‘Glass—with care! f Sat ell “There’s’ nothing so hard to ride as ects broncho,” said the Westerner. “Oh, I don’t dalegaae replied the man from back East. “Did you ever pA Eee “I think the baby has your hair, ma’am,” s the nurse girl, Jooking pleasantly at her mistress. “Gracious!” exclaimed the lady, glancing up from her novel. “Run into the nursery and take it away from him. What will that child do next?” “When I was a hoy I walked three miles to school every day, rain or shine.” “Yes, dad, know all about that. Grandfather was telling m the other day how he usually had to drive -you every step of the way with a:club.” =. “How do you like your new home?” a_ friend | asked a man who had recently moved into th aes village. “Pretty well.” “Have you calléd on’ your neighbors yet?” “No,” the newcomer ad= mitted, “I haven’t. But I’m going to if any more of my wood is missing.” tate - 2) 4 x you?” : nese
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. : . _ ‘FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 27 ~ POINTS OF INTEREST ee GOLD IN BROOKLYN “Gold-diggers” are at work on Coney’s beach, Brooklyn’s own summer resort. A shovel and a sieve and a little sifting often net a valuable ring or other trinket. The beach-combers répcrt -. @ profitable season. " TARGET RANGE MINED FOR LEAD ’ A unique and profitable lead “mine” is being worked in an abandoned cornfield long used as. a target range by a Western trapshooting club, ac- cording to Popular Mechanics. Over the traps - “from which clay pigeons are flung, an almost ) steady hail of shot has been poured for years by ~. sportsmen in practice and contests. The “pros- __pectors” are reclaiming tons of this lead with a _sluicing machine of the type that has panned many millions of dollars? worth of gold from the _ streams of the Pacific Coast. Since most of the metal pellets lie within six inehes of the surface of the ground, “pay dirt” was struck immediately with the first shovelful of soil lifted. It is esti- - mated that approximately thirty tons of lead shot are scattered within the limits of the range, and . a value of $5,000 accordingly has been placed on the mining rights. 3 < vo 3 _ TAXICAB DRIVER RETURNS $10,000 3 Money and jewelry amounting to $10,000, left © “By Martina Davids, twenty-eight, of ‘No. 48 West ‘2d street New York City, in a taxicab at Broad-. way and 42d street, were turned over to the: po- : lice by Solon C. Sondaltzi, thirty-one, of No. 228 ‘Bast 40th street, driver of the cab, one hour after - Miss Davids lost them. , J Sondaltzi explained the delay by the fact that the treasure was not found until he returned his eab to athe warage gf the 20th Century Company, - his employers. re, he told the police of the uA est 30th street station, he found an overnight bag, containing $60 in cash, a beaded handbag, a diamond necklace, two diamond bracelets, six dia- mond and emerald rings, one diamond locket, tWo diamond bar pins and a diamond studded lorg- » nette. ’ : % The jewelry and money were return to Miss Davids, who learned of their recovery at Free- port, L. I, whither she was bound when she suf- » fered the loss. as » Miss Davids told the police she left the cab ~, to do some Shopping before taking a train for Long Island and did not miss the money and jewels until twenty minutes later. . WOW THICK IS THE ATMOSPHERE? Practically all of the atmosphere is peatee “as xtending: outward from the earth no Seg 200 ining; according to the best avail- ‘able evidence. Even at a distance of fifty miles oye the earth the quantity of air is believed to . almost inappreciable. The density of the at- idly as altitude increases. resent sea level apoh I. pening ceased. 7 9Q0 copies. one-half miles of the surface of the earth, three- ~ fourths is below the seven-mile level and seven- | eighths is below the ten-mile level. Thus the ‘ solid earth has but a thin coating of air, only about one-fortieth as thick as the diameter of the earth at its greatest; or, if we consider the atmosphere only in its appreciable extent (about forty miles above the earth), only about one two- hundredths as thick as the diameter of the earth, a mere coating not thicker, relatively speaking, than the skin of an apple of ordinary size. FIRST NEW YORK NEWSPAPER | New York’s first newspaper was ‘published just 200 years ago. It was a modest little sheet less than one-fourth the size of a page of The Times and appeared weekly. A bronze tablet onthe south — side of the Cotton Exchange marks the site of the, office from which it was issued. A few fugitive ( “news letters” had appeared from time to time, but no regular publication was attempted before 1725. e first paper was known at The New York Gazette. In Boston a regular weekly paper was published at an earlier date. es There’ was not much news for the New York public two centuries ago. The Gazette consisted of a single sheet, printed on both sides, its page two columns in width and the whole: contents measuring less than one modern newspaper col- u s mn. ; In fact, The .Gazette printed almost. no local news. Foreign affairs were of superior interest.. The first number devoted its first page to the text of a treaty between the Emperor of Germany and the King of Spain. The seeond news feature was a “Remonstrance of the Clergy of France” pre- sented to the King against a new tax of 2 per cent. The only glimpse ‘of local life in early New York offered by The Gazette is to be found in the advertisements. Each issue contained but from one to five advertisements. New York then gave promise of becoming a shipping centre. “Scarce- ly a week passes,” it appeared, “without the dr- rival or departure of some seagoing vessel.” Yet there were no ship news reporters on The Ga- zette staff. The Atlantic crossing then required two months or more. pact y , The real estate announcements offered farms for sale down. to the present crowded dead! line: The suburbanite, however, was already flourish- ing, for there are a-surprising number of “plan- tations” on sale in New Jersey and Long Island. In almost every number of The Gazette there ~~ were advertisements of slaves for sale. From time to ifme the name of .a traveler passing through New York was mentioned. Otherwise all attempts at acquainting the public with local hap- The Gazette managed to ‘exist, though adver. tisements averaged only an inch or so weekly. A line across the last page announced that the — paper is “to be sold by Richard. Nickel, Post Mas- / ter, where advertisements are taken in.” It was — not unti! 1744, when the paper had run for about nineteen years, that it achieved a circulation of 7 Os a oe ee ee
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28 Aa FROM ALL POINTS TWO RADIO O FANS KILLED Harold Newland, of 400 Glenbrook Road, Stam- ford, Conn., and- Cyril Barrett, of London, who was ‘staying in the same house, were killed when Newland flung a copper wire over a 4,500-volt high-tension wire. The pair were rigging radio aerials on the house, and to get their wire across the street Newland tied a stone to one end and threw it over the. wires. Bee caught the aerial wire as it dangled and his body immediately became contorted by the current which flashed through it. Newland seized his friend to release him, and also was killed. A policeman sought in vain to sever the fatal wire with a bullet. The power had. to be ‘turned off to permit the removal of the bodies. . Newland was the son of the late John Newland, ‘e of New York, and was employed by the Brightson E @iasloratories, Barrett represented the Phoenix Assurance Company, Limited, of London. PLEDGES FIFTH OF INCOME TO GOD, : THEN STRIKES OIL A romance of the triple tincture of oil, educa- tion and religion was disclosed at the University *- of Chicago. A. G. Koenig, once a poor teaclier, who struck oil im Texas, has resumed his study of chemistry at the university. ; He started his course in 1917, but lask of funds - caused him to abandon it. In i921, when he hud saved enough to produce a “small income, he madé two pledges. his earnings to the Lord and humanity; and the other, that he would continue in the teaching pro- fession as the best field of human service. = e began teaching at Mexia, where he made a a a investment in land that had a gas well -which, under his analysis, showed a gasoline con- - tent. A well was sunk, ail was found and his yearly income increased in six months to $100,000. ' The same year he gave $20,000 to education and os ceherity: > : pe ae = , = PAWNEES AND Sioux AGREE ‘After a lapse of fifty-two years all is peace - between two of the Middle West’s most powerful - Indian tribes—the Pawnees and. the Sioux. ‘aia Meeting at Massacre Canyon, three miles from - Trenton, Neb:, the two tribes, survivors of the famous Pawnee-Sioux massacre of 1878, in which the warlike Sioux killed 156 of-the Pawnees, met ‘each other, cast bitter distrust aside, smoked the “pipe of peace,” and took part in a genera] three ‘days’ powwow. : The Pawnees came tron their ‘reservation at cd _ Pine Ridge reservation, South Dakota. The Sioux have commemorated the event every two years _ for many years, put this is the first time the Paw- “nees have been “willing to meet and smoke. Ten _ Pawnees and seven Sioux took part in the “big smoke. vs ds: ‘said to be 107 everal on “pale faces” hite man a ae friendly to. both tribes... or 108 ‘years old. mong the ‘Pawnees was Chief Ruling Hissun,, One, that he would give one-fifth of Pawnee, Okla., while the Sioux came from the’ also smoked, to show that | » postage free, AND FORTUNE WEEKLY SECRET SERVICE Grand and Thrilling Detective Stories By OLD KING BRADY Price 10 Cents - We can still supply the following numbers * of the above Weekly 5 : 1888 Th Bradys and the Subway Mystery; or, Tracking a Gang of Counterfeiters. 1339 * and the White Band; or, The Sign of the Sil- wer Crons. 1340 “ and Lock Box No. 11; or, Solving a Post-Office iW che Weliaw Crank he Ch 1841 “ anc e Yellow Crooks; or, T ase fo Chines, Diamonds, : een rr 1342 “ Strangest Case: or, The Skeleton in the Well. | 1343 “ and the School Boy; or, Hot Work on the — Brandon Case. jee 1344 “ and the Forged Check; or, Convicted by. ‘an Ink Mark. 1345 ‘“ Best Trick; or, The Clue in the Glass Jar: emia 1346 “ and ee Cracksmen; or, A pe oa Gime for ons. 1347“ in, epee Mine; or, The Mystery. of | Shatt — 1348 “ and the Voodoo. Queen; or, A Dark Erie San Juan, Atll. 1849 “ me ate Boy Spy; or, Solving a Secret of Seven _ 1350“ ahd: ‘the Missing Money; or, Shadow! - pected Man . <: @ ng 3 -eae ‘ 1351 “ euinatown Case; or, The Hidden Den of Pell -s r ee 1352 “ and the Houbie Daggers; or, The Secret ‘Sign #3 1353 a “Ola Break] k’ aD, : “ and “ reaklock”: or, Trappin f onoak: : pp - ret = The price of the following numbers. is 7 & z 1354 “ On a Raid: or, Rounding Up the. Ci 1355 “ and the Snake Charmer; or, The "Se : the Hindoo Idol. ‘ Nabbi House Garg. at a, x the Can ee ee 8 Dumb Boy; or, The Fate of Messenger and the Blind saa gar or, The Whiter Slay After the Bronx Burglars; or, 9 e 1358 “ of Mott Stree 1359 ** Fae "Skeleton Arm; or, The “Clew in e 1360 “ ‘and the Factory Roy: @ The Mystery iin Bond , eb aciede= 1361 ** ae Ps Poisoned Pen; or, Foiling a Desper a J 1362 “ Chasing the Black Crook: or, Solvine a it h % Avenue Mystery. yi63 ‘* and fhe Banker’s Boy; or, The Kidnappers Mulberry Bend. 1364 “ After the Gold Brick Man; or, Chasing a Gang of. Swindlers. 1265 “and the Diamond Heart; or, The Mystery of a Mummy : 1366 “Red Glove Clew; or, The Secret Band of Seven. 4367 ‘* and the Man Next Door: or the Mystery House on High Street. 1368 “ be ot Chinatown; or, Tracking the Hip. Sing ‘ 1369 “ 40 ane Mad Barber; or, Solving A Singular | eret 1370 “Six ipa 4.8 Chase;"or, Running Down a Clever : 197d: aud the Black Dwarf; or, Working Upa Poison, OW, 1372 = bas pte Foe: or, The Man With! the Missing Finger. 1373. “* and the Sneak Thieves; or, Running Down Red Took Gang 1874 “* Working a “Blind”; or; The scenet of . Seiled Room, : ‘Any of the above. numbers i be mailed to. yon : upon receipt of the Deke? ine mgs ‘e postage. stamps. HARRY ‘E. wore, PUBLISHER, Ie, 2 166 West ard ‘Street, 3
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FEATS OF STRENGTH. ss fa- mous. athlete of ancient Greece, born 520 B. C., was victor at both “the Olympic and Pythian games for six times in succession. On one occasion he ran four with an ox on his . shoulders, killing _ the animal with a blow of his fist, and then ate the entire carcass in one day. An ordi- nary meal for — this gluttonous Titan was twenty ~~ pounds’ of bread, _ twice that mucn _ meat, and fifteen pints of wine. Perydamus of Thessalia, > gngther old-time _ Samson, was a!- - most the equal of Milo, both in prodigious feats of strength and enormous appe- tite. One day— ‘so it is recorded— ‘he seized a bull hy its hind feet. The enraged ani- mal finally man- aged to ‘escape, but is said to have left both hoofs in the ath- lIete’s hands. +. Maxaminus, the : giant Roman em- peror, could twist Milo, Maoh y, coins into cork- screws, powder hard rocks - be- tween his fingers, ‘and. do other impos- When angered he often broke the _ jaw of a horse or the atts of an ox ai Eated: him for a 2 and every he ae sixty | miles | LITTLE ADS Write to Riker & King, Advertising Offices, 580 Broadway, New York City, or 29 East Madison Street, Chicago, for particulars about advertising in this magazine SEE AGENTS WANTED AGENTS—WRITE FOR FREE SAMPLES, Sell Madison ‘“Better-Made” shirts for large Manufacturer, direct to wearer. No eapital,“r experience required. Many earn $100 .weekly and bonus. Madison Mfgrs., 503 Broadway, New York. AGENTS TO TRAVEL BY AUTOMOBILE TO introduee our fast selling, popular priced household necessities. The greatest line on earth. Make $10 a day. Complete outfit and automobile furnished free to workers. Write | today for exclusive territory. American | Products Co., 4130 American Bldg., Cincin- nati, Ohio. NEW CAMERA takes and finishes photos in one minute. Make money selling cam- eras, or taking photos. Exclusive territory. Crown Co., Dept. 967, Norwalk, Conn. | ABSOLUTELY no competition selling Val- Style millinery. Every woman buys. You make $25 to $150 a week. Write for Special Offer and Exclusive Territory. Val-Style Hat | Co., A81, Val-Style Building, Cincinnati. O HELP WANTED DETECTIVES NEEDED EVERYWHERE. Work home or travel, experience unneces- sary. Write rge , agner, Govt. Detective, 1968 Broadway, N. ¥. SILVERING Mirrors. French plate. Easily learnet; immense profits. Plans free. W. Mirror Works, Excelsior Springs, Mo. former PERSONAL ¥ ARE YOU LONESOME? Write Betty Lee, Inc., Box 820 City Hall Station, New York City. Stamp appreciated. If sincere HUNDREDS seeking marriage. Ww. 2928 enclose stamp. Mrs. Broadway, Chicago, Illinois. illard, LONELY HEARTS—I have a sweetheart for you. Exchange letters: make new friends Efficient, confidential and dignified service. Moore, Box. 908, Members everywhere. Eva Florida. LONELY—Little widow, tired living ae very wealthy, I dare you write! Uw. Club, Box. 305- 23, San Franciseo, Calit. : Jacksonville, Terie NOTICE — Attractive young lady, worth $25,000,. will marry. Club, Box 1022, Wichita, Kansas. MARRY IF LONELY “Home Maker”; hun- dreds rich; reliable, years experience: de- scriptions free. The Successful Club, Box 556, Oakland, California. MARRIAGE PAPER—20th year. Big issue with descriptions, photos, names and a‘t- dresses. 2h cents. No other fee. Sent sealed. Box 2265, R, Boston, Massa, MARRY—=Free photographs, directory and descriptions of wealthy members. Pay when married. New Plan Co. Dept. 36, Kansas City, Mo. ‘ MARRY—MARRIAGE DIRECTORY with photos and descriptions free. Pay when uae The Exchange, Dept. 545, Kansas ‘ty, Mo. - MARRY.—Write for big new directory with photos and descriptions. Free. WNattonal Agency, Dept. A, 4606, Sta. E.. Kansas City, Mo. A GFT A SWEHRETHEART. Exchanee fetters. Write me enclosing stamp. Vistas Ray, Dennison, Ohio. i MARRY—Lonely Hearts, join onr ctuh. we “have a companion for you. many worth from $5,000 to $50,000. Descriptions, photos, introductions free. Send no money. Stand- ard Cor. Club, Grayslake, Til. SWEETHEARTS for everybody. Stamped envelones for proposal. The Lily Club, Station H, Cleveland, Ohto. NOTICE—Attractive young lady worth $25,- - 000.00 will marry. Club, B-1022, Wichita, Kansas. SONGWRITERS SEND TOPAY for, free copy Writer's Di- gest; tells how to write and sell short stories, piotonisry poems, songs. Writer's Digest, G-22, E. 12th st., Cincinnati, ‘UNDERGROUND TREASURES: low and Where to Find Modol Publishing Co.. 88 Como Buliding. Chissze Trey. YOUR VOICE Under the table, intoa | Trunk, down Cellar or anywhere, Our lessons VENTRILOUUISM leecher: you, Wi hb our ee (Stein the = ret @ aie be seen) taught almost any one at home. Small cost. Send TODAY 2-cent stamp for cnlagch ate: GEORGE W. SMITH ft Room §-2, 125 N. Jeff Ave., Peoria, ru. protector. te are . _sivel: rey OST. tho
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~ HAT would you do? What would your wife and children do? Suppose your employer notified you to- morrow that he didn’t need yeu any longer? Have you any idea’where you could get an- ‘other position? “You wouldn’t have to worry if you were a trained man, You wouldn’t have to spend _ your mornings reading the “Want Ads” and ~ then trudging from place to place, meeting rebuffs and discouragements, piling up bills, finally willing ‘“‘to do anything” if only you could get on somebody’s payroll. “Don’t have this spectre of unemployment hanging over your head forever. Train your- self to do some one thing so well that your services will be in demand. Employers don’t , discharge such men. bows promote them! Decide to-day that you are going to get the spe- cialized training you must have if you are ever going to get a real job and a real salary. ‘Itis easy if you really try. = - Right at home, in the odds and ends of spare time that now, go to waste, you can prepare for the” position we want in the work you like best. For ~ ay. aot tional Correspondence veneered, train “What would Ido if I lost my job?” “you just as they are training thousands of other men—no matter where you live—no matter what your circumstances. At I¢ast find out how, by marking and mailing ~ the coupon ‘printed below. ‘There’s no cost or obligation, and it takes only a moment of your time, but it may be the means of changing your whole life. Mail the Coupon To-dayl “INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS Box 4489-D, Seranton, Penna. Without cost or obligation, please tell me how I ean qualify for the position or in the subject before which I have marked an Xi: - BUSINES® TRAINING COURSES Business Management Salesmanship Industrial Management Advertising Personnel Organization Better Letters — eee ter Snare a ras pe ae usiness Law Stenography and Banking and Banking Law 4 ote Accountancy (including C.P, A.) Nicholson Cost Accounting Railway Mail Clerk Bookkeeping Common Schoo] Subjects Private Secreta: High School Subjecte Spanish French Dlustrating OF Cartooning TECHNICAL AND INDUSTRIAL COURSES Architect Architects’ Blue Prints Contractor and Builder Architectural Draftsman Concrete Builder Structural Engineer ; Chemistry Pharmacy \ Mechanical Draftsman Machine Shop Practice Automobile Work ~ Surveying and Mapping eae meeuee Metallurgy Navigatio: Steam Engineering “Amriculture and Poultry Mathematics Namé.ii....00. anenndnadesedeccesonnegesesdiseseessssnveeesereecenouseoes ea cesaiods sseeees arerepee Street - ae ie: 6-2 Address. 4 AON As Ses AtAeneERAOeAEAOECEEEOEOEOREREGEN AE EALEEEEOA MOONOEEAOHOCRESEAeHaeEnEFESETESECHeH®
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LUCREZIA BORGIA Lucrezia Borgia , was the daughter | of Pope Alexan-; der VI and a sis-j ter of Caesar, Borgia, famous, Ttalian ecclesias-, tic and soldier.’ The Borgias were an Italian family of Spanish origin prominent in the fifteenth and six) teenth centuries, whose most pow-. erful members @s-| tablished a repu- tation for wicked- ness and treach- ery. Lucrezia Borgia was born in 1480. She was} a woman of great beauty and charm, but in her early years, it is claimed by some, she was~as wick- ed as she was} beautiful. Her first marriage was annulled and her second hus- band was mur- dered by Caesar. Within the course of a, year after his assassination she married. Al-} phonse ad’ Este. a liberal patron- ess of the poets, who endeavored to repay her ben- efactions by laud-! ing ‘her as the' pattern, of every virtue. The’ char-! .4 acter of Lucrezia| Borgia has been! the subject of much controversy but recent histor- ical researches have placed her in a very much} fairer light, and) it has been shown beyond dispute that after her) Marriage to Al-' Phonso d’Este her life was a model of virtue and beneficence. i McNabb, 848 Spring work near so hardas Care Ge.. She then became| TOBACCO oe Electricity P11 Show You How to Do it = ZEARN AT HOME $26 or $35 a week slave, ase into Eceiehy i trical experte on ctrical e: a) e week $3600 to 10,000 a year,and they don’t a eee one ors right ia gent makes ri one 00 in 24 days own macs just ike Peat thomen a pictures you see bere, Get the = S| write me now, extra charge. Free explains Write Me at Once Answar the call of Electricity — th: id's greatest eee an Thohesnds ot Sater men are + portunities are be yas ap ig Phe naaeeatee Books io Oy, Wiite me ow if you gar eoeake tae tmccres: cuicacd ENGINECRING WORKS, Dopt. 206 2150 Lawrence Av., Chicago | Jacquot, 2005 W, Colorado Ave., sess anakes55 a Week BY JUST WEARING JHESE SHOES 44. A new kind of shoe— ultra-stylish—has: Invisible steel arch support that re- Heves foot strain and gives wonderful comfort, Just wear these. shoes of finest quality FREE and show them to friends, Every woman wants them at a- ty: rt mazing low prices, There ts $3,95, $4.95, 4 no easier, pleasanter wayt0 , And a fow higher make $5 to $15 o day! Hundreds doing it, full time and spare time. Mrs. White made $14 first day, Miss Jensen made $63 in ons week, Style-Arch will appoint one womap in each com- munity, Just send name and address for complete details —ful{ eample line FREE, and how to'xet your own shoes FREE. Pay postman not one cent, Mall postcard today. $tyle-Arch Shoe Company, Dept. 1249 Cincinnati, Ohio ra Or Snuff Habit | ‘Any Form, cigars, cgaretion Biro theres thine (i> Calls, Used by over 400,000 Meo and Women. Superba Co. 7-35 Baltimore, Md. | Ee BEAUTY DOLL FREE— Gs Lovely Doli, 12-inches tall, long hee RHAL CURLY HAIR, rosy LER, bisque face, EYES OPEN and CLOSE, arms, legs and head move. Handsome stylish dress; | bonnet, shoes and stockings that take off. ALL GIVEN} @® for selling only 36 pack- 3 ages Chewing Gunt at oe} a pkg Write today—j; BLUINE MFG. CO., 277 Mill St. Concord Jct., Mass. | 6-Shot Finest 3 | Perfected Revolver = : | Cured Or No Pay § or snuff. Full treatment sent HIGH COURSE IN ™wo YEARS You Want to Earn Big Money! And you will not bo satisfied unless you earn steady promotion. But are you prepared for the job ahead of you? Do you measure up to the standard that insures success? For a more re- sponsible position a fairly good educa- tion is necessary. To write a sensible business letter, to prepare estimates, to figure cost and to compute interest, you must havea certain amonuut of prepafa- tion. All this you must be able to do before you will earn promotion. Many business houses hire no. men whose general knowledge is not equal to a high sehool course. . Why? Be- cause big business refuses to burden it- self with men who are barred from pro- ion by the Juck of elementary ed tion. Can You Qualify for a Better Position We have a plan whereby you can. We can give you a complete but simplified % high school course in two years, giving you all the essentials that form. the foundation of practical business. It will prepare you to hold your own where competition is keen and exacting: Do not doubt your ability, but make up your mind to it and you qvill seon have the requirements :that will briwg you Bueneee and big money. YOU CAN DO Let us show you how to get-on the road to success. It will not cost you a single working hour. Write today. 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i men on all fy 166 West 23d Street OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS. Useful, Instruetive, and Amusing. They contain Valuable Information on. Almost Every Subject. No. b NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND DREAM ROOK.—Containing. the great oracle of human destiny; also the true meaning of almost any kind of dreams, together with charms, ceremonies and curious games of enrds, No. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.—The great book of inngie and eard tricks, containing full instructions on oil leading eard tricks ef the day, also the most popular magical illusions as performed by our leading magi- cians; every boy should obtain a copy of this book. No. 3. HOW TO FLIRT.— The arts and wiles_of flirtation are fully explained by this little book. Be~ sides the various methods of handkerchief, fan, glove. parasol, window and hat flirtation, * contains a full list of the janguage and sentiment of flowers. No. 4. HOW TO DANCE is the title of this little book. Yt- contains full instructions In the art of dancing, ett- enette in. the ballroom and at narties, how to dress, and eal) directions for calling off in all popular square Aanees. No. 5. HOW TO MAKE! LOVE—A complete guide to Jove, courtship. and marriage, giving sensible advice, yules and etiquette to be observed, with many enrious and interesting thines, net generally known. No. 6. HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE.—Giving full instructions for the use of dumbelis, Indian club, parallel bars, horizontal bars and various other Lanse rf developing a good, healthy muscle; containing ove eI tions . pase Bow TO KEP BIRDS.—Handsomelv {)lns- trated and containing full instructions for the mane ce- ment and training of the canary, mockingbird, bobolink, tiackbird, naradanet, narrot, ete. No. 9. HOW TO RECOME A VENTRILOOUIST= “py Harry Kennedy. very intelligent boy reading this ‘yaok of instructions can master the art, and create anv smount of fun for. himself and friends. Tt is the great- Oe book ever published, . No, 10. HOW TO ROX.—The art of self-defense made easy, Containing over thirty ilinstrations of gvards, Sows and the different posttions of a good boxer. Evory toy should obtain one of these useful and instructive } hooks. as it will teach you to box withont an in- frnetor. j : Rik ‘ Xo. 1. HOW TO WRITE LOVE-LETTERS.—A most ao © book, containing full directions for writ- pial cach ay and sar to use them, giving specimen Tatte roung and old, Oy a ow a0, WRITE LETTERS TO LADIES. Giving. complete instructions for writing ‘etters to indies on all subjects; also letters of introduction, notes ‘ ste. 3 de oe TOW TO DO IT; Or, BOOK OF ETIQUETTE. --It is a great Tife secret. and one that every voRne man desires. fe knew abont. There's happiness in it. No. 14. HOW TO MAKE CANDY.—A complete hand- hook for making all kinds of eandy, ice-cream, SyTups, See HOW TO BECOME REAUTIFUL.—One_ of 4 ebrightest and most valuable little books ever given ‘a the world. Everybody wishes fa, know how to he- ame beautiful, both mele and female. The secret is ctype ond plmoast costlerss, No. 20. HOW TO ‘ENTERTAIN AN EVENING rARTY.—A mest complete compendium of games, sports, card. diversions, comic recitations, ete., anitable for par- Yor or drawing-room nh tieee HY ie contains more a h muy boo ublished. “ Ao OW TO EXPLAIN DRPAMS.—This. little Took gives the explanation to all kinds of dreams, to- “pether with Jucky afid unlucky days. No. 24. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO GENTLE- dear e Bik full directions for writing to gontle- nhijects. ; ? No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.—Contain- ‘4ng full directions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and ptheltie exerciges. Embracing thirty-five, illustrations,“ Py Professor W. Macdonald. \ - Bor sale by all newsdealers, or wil! be sent to any 2 address on receipt of price, 10c. per copy, - _ | in money or stamps, by New York. City HARRY.E, WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. > 1012 1020 166 Wost 234 Street Fame and Fortune Weekly _ ’ —— LATEST IssvuKs — 985 Rising In the World; or, From Factory Boy to. Manager. ‘ a! 986 From Dark to Dawn; or, A Poor Boy’s Chance. © 987 Out for Himself; or, Paving His Way to Fortune. 988 Diamond Cut Diamond; or, The Boy Brokers of” Wall Street. a ‘ 989 A Start in Life; or, A Bright Boy’s Ambition. 990 vee pat a Million; or, The Young Midas of Wall reet. : 991 Every Inch_a Boy; or, Doing His Level Best. 992 Money on Rurn; or, The Shrewdest Boy in’ Wall Stree & 993 a ade to Business; or, The Boy Who Was Not sleep. 994 Tipped by the Ticker; or, An Ambitious Boy in all Street, 7 # 495 On to Success: or, The Boy Who Got Ahead. ‘ of aa alg a Fortune; or, A Country» Boy in Wall Stree f 997 Bound to Rise: or, Fightme His Way to Suecess 998 One or the Dollars; or, A\ Smart Boy in Wa'l eet, 999 For Fame and Forte ae The Boy Who Won Both. 1000 A Wall Street Winner; 6r. Making a Mint ‘of Money, 1001, The Road to Wealth: or, The Boy Who Found It Out. ; 1002 se hae Wing; or. The Young Mereury of. Wall reet. 1004 Tugeling with the Market; or, The Boy Who Made t Pay. 1005 Cast Adrift; or, The Luck of a Homeless Roy. 1006 Playing the Market; or, A Keen Boy in Wall Street. ‘ 1007 A Pot of Money: or, The Legacy of a Lucky Boy. 1008 From Rags to Riches; or, A Lucky Wall Street - Messenger. ; ; 1009 On His Merits; or. The Smartest. Boy Alive. » 1010 Trapping the Brokers: or, A Game Wall Street Boy. 1011 A Million in Gold: or, The Treasure of Santa Craz, Bound We Make. Money: or, From the West to Wall Street. The Boy Magnate: or. Making Baseball Pay. ne Making Money: or, A Wall Street Messenger’s Luek, — A Harvest of Gold: or, The Buried Treasure of _ Coral Island. : ; 2 On the Curb; or, Beating the Wall Street Brokers. A iam of Fortune; or, The Boy Who Struck | il. St, The Prince of Wall Street; or, A Big Deal for Big: Money. 1018. 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 Caught On, A Corner In Wall Street: or, The Wall Street Boy Who Won., First in the Field; or, Doing Business for Himself. A Broker at Eighteen; or, Roy Gilbert's Wall Street Career, Only a Dollar; or. From Brrand Boy to Owner. — Price & Co.. Boy Brokers; or, The Young Traders of Wall Street. Un A Winning Risk; or, The Woy Who Made Good. From a Dime to a Million; or, A Wide-Awake Street Toy. The Path to Good Luck; or, eath Valley. ahaxt prepa s Money; or, A Corner in Wall Street Stocks. ‘ * i Famous at Fourteen; or, The Boy Who Made a Great Name. ; Tips To Fortune, or, A Tucky Wall Street Deal. Striking His Gait; or, The Perils of a Boy Fn- gineer. From Messenger to Millionaire; or, A In Wall Street. The After A Boy Gold Hunters; Treasure, , Tricking the Traders; or, A Wall Street Boy’s Game of Chance. ; _ Jack Merry’s Grit; or, Making a Man Of Himself. A Golden Shower; or, Fhe Boy Banker of Wal Street, 37 Making a Record; or, The Luck 1088 A Signe For Money; or, From Sehool to Wall Street. 3 1089 Stranded soatman, : 4 1040 Ben papatgelat Dueck; or, Working on Wall Street Pips. F a See 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 3027 1028 1029 1020, 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 The Boy Miner ‘of Boy's Lueck or, Pirate’s For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent /address on receipt of price, 8c. per co] - in money or stamps, by HARRY K. WOLFF, Pablt her, Inc : Fi Wee’ Starting His Own Business; or, The Boy Who’ . Walt HP ee of,a Working Roy, 3 - | cee“ : \ Out West; or, ‘The Boy Who Found a” | F