Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 1045) (1925 10 09)

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OCTOBER 9, 1925 No. 1045 As the locomotive issued from the tunnel Bob tugged frantically at the ropes holding him to the rails. Crack! A rifle shot rang out. The line attached to the left rail parted and the boy swung around off the track.

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MAR Be) a? is FAME AND FORTUNE.<WEEKLY —Subscripti rice, $4.00 per year! Canada, $4.50; Forei $5.00. we piel h st 93d Street. % As N.Y. Entered as Second- Class Matter, Sih 4, 1911 23d Street, New York z the Post-Office at, New York, N. No. 1045 NEW YORK, OCTOBER. 9, 1925 : Wolff, Ee iiaber: «ne., 160 Y., under the Act of March Price 8 Cents, St ee PLUCKY BOB OR, THE BOY WHO WON SUCCESS : By A SELF-MADE MAN CHAPTER I.—Bob Barker and His Friend Dave Wilton. “Hello, Bob,” cried Dave Wilton, “bound for Rockport ?” ~*That’s what I am,”. returned Bob Barker, pausing in the act of hoisting the mainsail of a stout sailboat that lay moored in a bight of the land within a hundred yards of the white shaft known as Gull Point Light, on the shore of Lake Superior. “Want to go along?” “That depends,” replied Dave, who was not especially fond of the water, particularly when ‘the lake was covered with foaming whiteeaps as _ it was at that moment. ~ “On what?” “How long you’re going to igs in Rockport, - Looks to me as if there was a storm coming on.” “What’s taking you down there?” Bob pointed at a dimijohn, conspicuously label- ed “Molasses,” which stood near the entrance to _ the little cabin. Dave laughed. He knew that the —_ “mo- lasses” really spelled “whisky.” “Well, yi go with you. I’ve got something to - tell you.” “All right, ” said Bob. aboard.” “He let go of the hoisting sheets, returned , to * the standing-room, or cockpit, of the craft, grab- _ bed a thin rope attached to a skiff floating astern, pulled the little boat alone side so he could “step into it, and taking up an oar sculled her __ to the point of land on which Dave Wilton’ stood watching him. “T’ll come an fetch - you boys. Of the two Dave had the most clothes on. Bob's dress consisted of a calico shirt, a pair of trousers and a straw hat. He was chief cook -and general assistant to “Captain” Coffin, a griz- _zled old sea dog who had charge of the Gull ork Light, and a very efficient helper he proved to be, as good as any man, for he was strong tain called him—easy to manage, and as plucky as any boy in the State of Michigan. He was an ‘orphan. The captain picked him up in Marquette one day about-six years since. The death of his - mother had just thrown him, ca friendless little “thap, . on the cold charity of the world, and the There was not much style about either of the. and hearty—“as tough as an old knot,” the cap- - lighthouse keeper found him the day after the funeral shivering on the doorstep’ of the house where he and his mother had lived in two scantily- furnished rooms whose general aspect attested their poverty. The charitable old mariner. stop- ped and questioned him, with the result that he offered the boy a home at the Gull Point Light- house which he had then nt recently taken charge of. Bob accepted the offer with alacrity and went to live with the captain and his assistant in the one-story house near the granite shaft whose lantern pointed the way at night to the craft that sailed the waters of the great American lake. At first he had very little to do, but that little he did so well and so cheerfully that the-captain’s assistant, with a, view of easing his own labors, 21 adually initiated the boy into all the duties von- nected with the lighthouse. The Government had no official knowledge of Bob’s existence until a few months before the opening of this stery, when the captain’s regular assistant was taken ill and had to be removed to a hospital in Mar- - quette, where he still was. the consent of the Government officials, helped the captain run the: light. Old Nat Coffin had’ one weakness, which would have cost him his job if the fact had leaked out, and that was a efondness for Old Crow Whisky. He kept a demi- john of it constantly on hand, and one of Bob’s duties was to take the wicker-covered bottle to Rockport and have it refilled whenever it ran dry. This was the only job that the boy did not take kindly to. On the day our story opens‘ the captain found that the whisky had given out sooner than he had caleulated on, and as the weather was coming on “dirty,” he did not want te be without his customary stimulant. Accordingly Bob was in- structed to go to Rockport for a fresh supply, and he was preparing to do it when his friend Dave Wilton turned up and hailed him. “Ts that all you’re g ake to Rockford for, to get that demijohn refilled asked Dave, as he step- ped into the boat. poabate all,” Bigeos Bob, aSbingent off. from the shore. “Couldn’t the edit wait till to-morrow or _hext day when the weather will be fairer?” Since then Bob, with .

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2 = PLUCKY BOB _ “No. This is medicine for his rheumatism, and he’s got to have it or he may be taid up,” answered Bob, holding the skiff ready while Dave stepped aboard. ‘Bob then threw the moorings overboard, where they floated by a billet of wood attached to them, and put the boat’s head up in the wind. In a few minutes they were clear of the land, heading west by south for Rockport. “You said you had something to tell me,” said Bob, turning to Dave. “What is it?” “Tt isn’t anything that you'll like to hear, but you and the captain ought to know it.” “Well!” said Bob, eyeing his companion keenly. Murray Loper and Jerry Coombs have been re- ag from prison and are back in the neighbor- ood.” “How do you know?” asked Bob, a bit startled. “J..saw them last night in the village. [Tm afraid their return means no good to Captain Coffin. You remember it was his évidence sent them up, and at the time of their conviction they swore to get square with him.” “They were caught red-handed landing a load of French cognac on the shore, and as Captain Coffin represents the Government in this neigh- borhood it was his place to see that they got what was coming to them for breaking the cus- toms laws.” “He did his duty, and that’s why they’re duwn on him.” “Where are they hanging out?” “At Pierre Placide’s tavern. Pierre is an old crony of theirs.” “You think they mean to harm the captain in some way.” said Bob, anxiously. “T’m.sure they do,” replied Dave. “Jim John- son, our hired man, was at the tavern last night and he says that he overheard them telling Placide that they meant to fix Captain Coffin, end the Government, too, for bringing about their conviction.” “JT guess they won’t hurt the Government much, whatever they may try. to do to the cap- tain. I’m sorry you didn’t tell me this before we put off.” “Why? What difference does it make?” “Well, the captain is alone in the house. They might take it into their heads to pay him a visit while I’m away. I’d have asked you to stay with him until I got back.” “Oh, I don’t think they’ll make any more so soon. ” Thevil have to figure out some scheme first.” “You can’t tell what they’ll do. When I saw them at the time of their capture they looked desperate enough to do anything.” _ - “They’re pretty tough-looking roosters, rl admit. I wouldn’t like to have them after me.’ Plt was late in_the afternoon when Bob and Dave started for Rockport, and the weather crew steadily worse during their trip to the town. . “I guess you may look for a snorter to-night,” “said Wilton, as the waves ke angrily against the windward side of the boat. ;“It seems to be growing - worse every minute. Hf I thought it was going to be as bad as this I wouldn’t havo _ ‘come. I don’t like to think of the return trip.” Bob laughed. : “Don’t you worry. I'll land you at the point Ase safe and sound, even if it blows twice as hard. i4 “Well, we’re nearly at the wharf, that’s some satisfaction,” said Dave, noticing that they were close aboard of Rockport. In a few minutes more the sailboat was tied up to a stringer, and Bob, with the demijohn in his hand, accompanied by Dave, were walking to- ward the store where the young boatman was ac- customed to go for his wet goods. CHAPTER. Il. Bob Makes a Wholesale escue. Bob left the demiiohn with the clerk of the store to fill, telling him that he would return shortly, and. then he and Dave kept on to the post-office. He got a newspaper, addressed to Captain Coffin, which came from Chicago twice a week, and was a great source of entertainment for both himself and the captain. As they were passing out of the building the postmaster and general storekeeper of the village near which Dave lived drove up-to get the mail-bae for that place. Wilton greeted his arrival with sat- isfaction, for he saw a more pleasant way of getting back home than by the boat. 1 “I say, Bob, you don’t mind if I go back with Atkins, do you?” “Sure not, if you’d rather go that wav.” y “I hate to shake you, old man,” said Dave, . with some embarrassment; “but the fact is the — water is altogether too rough for me this after- _ noon,” : “Don’t apologize,” laughed Bob. you.” j Bob then returned to the store, got the demi- john and carried it down to the boat. which ‘was’ riding uneasily at her moorings. Although the sky was overcast and dull-looking, there was still — more than an hour’s light ahead, and Beb vast off expecting to make the Point in about twenty — minutes in that wind. The boat, as soon as she -was clear of the little harbor. and caught the _ full. ford® of the wind. began to jump in a way that would have carried some dismay to Dave — Wiltcen’s heart if he had been aboard. Bob was | rather glad that he wasn’t. Rockport was an ~ exclusive summer resort for a colony of Chiearo * «brokers and their families. The shore of the © harbor: to the westward of the town was fringed with their cottages, and these were occupied dur- ing July and:August. There was one fair-sized hotel which was thrown: open to the public in the — last week in June. As our story opens in the first week of that month there were few signs of ‘life — in that quarter of the harbor. One cottage only — was open. This. belonged to a Detroit banker, — who had been ordered to the lakeshore for his health. His name was Maxwell Marr, and — his family consisted of his wife, a son named is Harry, and a daughter called Mabel. Mr. Marr — “py exeuse owned a small steam yacht, and the only diver- sion the family had at present was to take daily When_ Bob got ee es) cruises about the lake in her. half-way across to the Point’ he saw this yacht to stern. She was hugging the western rim of the half-moon-like curvature of the shore. Bo preaching a dangerous shoal which was marked” pers 3

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by a big bell-buoy. Now that Bob’s attention was called to the buoy he was surprised at not hearing. the monotonous sound so familiar to him -., in rough weather. . He looked fixedly at the spot where he knew the shoal to be, and was startled to find no sign of the big’ red-and-black striped buoy. What s had become of it? Had it broken from its anchor in some way and floated out to sea? Aware of the strength of the steel chains that - held it this idea. did not seem reasonable. But. _ it certainly was not in its accustomed spot, and _ the yacht was rushing right upon the shoal. Bob, in a fever of apprehension, hauled to windward, and headed the sailboat straight for the rocks. When he arrived within a third of a mile of the shoal the steam yacht struck on a foam-covered rock with a crash and turned over on her side. ‘fhe female figure Bob .had seen standing near the helmsman went overboard at ‘the same time, and +. was borne away by the waves toward the ap- ® proaching sailboat. Although Bob- was almost expecting something of the kind. the marine, tragedy oecurred so quickly that it fairly took his breath away. Bob feared that the girl was as good as lost, for though he scanned ‘the waves closely, even his experienced eye could make out _ nothing but the masses of driving foam that flecked the water everywhere like shifting snow drifts. He altered ‘the boat’s. course a bit as he was ‘swept forward, and then suddenly his heart gave ‘a great bound. He caught a fleeting view of. the girl’s head right under the sailboat’s bows. He threw his craft into the wind and leaned far over _ the side. The drowning girl was cast agamst the side of the boat and glided swiftly aft. Bob’s only chance ‘to save her was to grab her as she assed. He saw that his only feasible hope was _ to seize her hair, which floated free on the sur- ' face. He made a dive at this as she swept by and caught it. Then he released his hold on the ler, leaned over, got a firmer grasp on the rs hair, lifted her head well above the ‘water nd secured a grip on one of her arms. © / “That was all he needed to complete the good ork, for exerting all his strength he hauled her ripping and unconscious aboard the sailboat. Laying her face down in the cockpit, he. put the poat on her course again, which would bring her se up to the wrecked yacht. Bob could see ive persons aboard of her—four men and a boy —clingine desperately to the brass railing that rose high above the water-line as the little steam-. “er lay listed to the windward. To approach the Stranded yacht close enough to be of any use to le unfortunates aboard of her was a d&ngerous : for Bob to attempt, for the shoal bristled eee sharp pointed rocks hidden by the rolling er. He could not get close enough at the for the people to jump aboard of the sail- for to try_and do that wa8 to place his little craft in a positi Be a be dashed to pieces eainst the side of the he ran forward, seized a coil of light line, nd of which was fastened around the bottom the mast where it penetrated the cabin, and ed again with it to the cockpit. ae plenty of slack, and then when che the tiller so as a hold the boat on the- He re-_ Sayer distance: of the wreck, — - ,- PLUCKY BOS. 3. ‘flung it with all his might over the heads of the survivors. Then he threw his craft up into the wind and took his chances of the rocks that he knew surrounded him. Two of the men aboard seized the line and fastened it to the rail. Across this thin lifeline the boy of the party first made his way with considerable agility. As soon as. he got within reach Bob seized him by the arm and helped him on board. “We must save my father and the crew,” he gasped, with white face. “My poor sister is lost,” he faltered, with streaming eyes. “No, she isn’t,” replied Bob. “I saved her five minutes ago.” : “You did? How did you?) Where is she?” “She’s lying in the cockpit.” Can’t you see her? I could do nothing to bring her to her senses, for I had to devote myself to trying to save those on the wreck. is “Poor sis,” murmured the boy. “Ah! Here - comes my father. Will the line hold, do you think? ‘Fortunately he is-not a big man.” “Tt will hold, all right.. Your father’s life de-~ pends on his ability to maintain his grip on it. Stand ready, now, to seize him just. as soor as he gets within reach.” It seemed like an age that Banker Marr, the> owner of the lost yacht, was suspended over the boiling sea, making his way toward the sailboat by slow degrees. At length, however, he ac- ‘complished the perilous feat, was grabbed by Bob and his son, and dragged to safety. One by one the sailing master, the engineer and the deck- ~ hand, who acted as fireman, followed, and were helped.on board. When the*last had been res- cued, Bob severed the line with his knife and sprang for the tiller. The sailboat shot across ‘the shoals without touching any of the rocks, and Bob laid his course back for Rockport. CHAPTER III.—A Startling Discovery. “The banker had carried his insensible daughter into the cabin, where he was joined by his son, and between them they succeeded in bringing her back to life. Bob resigned the helm to the sail- ing-master of the steam yacht and looked into the little cabin to see how things were getting on. “Young man,” said Banker Marr, seizing him by the hand and dragging him inside, “how can I ever sufficiently thank you for your heroic efforts in behalf of myself and my children, not’ to speak of the others. You have placed me under life-long obligations to you, and you shall. have no cause to regret the priceless service you - have this day rendered me and mine, What ig your name? F “Bob Barker, sir.” ; = “You live in town, I presume?” “No, sir. I belong to the Gull Point Light.” “Ah, indeed. Well, you shall be liberally re-- warded for the services and: the dangers you courted in our behalf.” r “T don’t want any reward, sir,” replied Bob. -“T ‘simply ‘did my duty.” “Whether you want to be rewarded or not you shall not be forgotten. Marr. is my son, Harry, and my dau name is Mabel. We live in Detroit, but are spend- ing the summer at a cottage IT own near Rock- news Poor health broucht me down here” a My name is Maxwell - E hter’s

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4 bee BLUCKY BOB , - month before the season opens. My wife for- tunately did not accompany us on the yacht to- day, as she was not feeling well. She thus es- caped the terrible peril that we encountered. Are you heading back for Rockport?” “Yes, sir.” “Who’s at the tiller? My sailing-master?” “Yes, sir.” j = “Very well. He will bring us alongside my pri- vate wharf.” ERIE to his ison te he asked her how she * felt -“Much better, father,” she said, slaaastier to his neck. “Are you able to thank this brave boy for sav- ing your life?” The girl looked gratefully at Bob, and mur- mured her thanks. She was a lovely creature, even bedraggled as she was. Her customary rosy cheeks were missing, however, and her sniny golden hair hung in tangled damp masses duwn her back, while her soft summer gown clung close to her exquisite figure. Bob Marr also took the opportunity to grab the poorly-dressed young hero by the hand and add his thanks. Bob felt rather embarrassed by the warmth of their feelings. He also felt out of place in the pres- ence of persons of their high social station. * Bob’s boat was a swift sailerin a strong wind, and it wasn’t long before she was brought . up valongside of Banker Marr’s private dock in front '- of his cottage. . The banker tried to induce the “boy to go up to the house, but Bob said he was in a hurry to get back to the Point, for Captain Coffin was alone, it Was coming on dark, and the ~ wind was already blowing a gale, with every in- dication that it would be much. worse shortly. “Very well, my lad, I won’t detain you, then. '. But you must call and see us in a day 6r two. - You will find us at home, for. now that the, yacht is lost, we cannot go on the water as we have been accustomed to.” -Bob promised to call at the first chance he got, and after shaking hands all around he put out from. the wharf and headed for the lighthouse. If it had been rough when he left Rockport be- fore it was twice as rough now. All around him the snow-capped waves rushed ‘at him as if eager to down the little craft he was guiding, but it was a vain attempt, for the sail- boat rose jauntily as they reached her, and she yxode securely on the summit.of the surges. At length he sighted the light that shone from the living room of the single-story house squatted cunder the lee of the lighthouse. irling away landward from the chimney told ® that the eaptain had a good fire going in the stove, and that he was no doubt preparing sup- - per, a duty that by rights fell to the boy. 3 “Well; I’ve got a good excuse’ for being late,” said Bob to himself, “It was lucky for those ~~ people in the yacht that the captain sent me for his whisky this afternoon. But for that not only _ Miss Marr, but everybody on board would be tood ‘for the fishes by this time. I wish I knew what _ happened to the bell-buoy. It must have sunk at its moorings ‘somehow, for I’m sure it never - could have broken away. It is a very singular circumstance, anyway. Such an accident seldom happens, for those buoys are inspected once a month, and it's only about ten davs since the glided up to the low window close at hand in. The smoke. ‘ which had scigaces his temple, ina few: min es : : ieee Government tug was around this way. Well, all we can do is to report it, though that will doubt- less be done by Mr. Marr, or his sailing-master. We have to do it anyway, in order ‘to make the notice official. It’s part of our duty.” The Sailboat was now rapidly nearing the Point, and Bob’s trip would presently be over. He was — j not sorry, by any means. Although relieved of anxiety about the captain, he was prodigiously hungry, and he was cold and wet, as well. His scanty attire was not conductive to com- fort on such a chilly, tempestuous night. Lhe spray that constantly broke over the side of the ~ boat had wetted him to the skin. It would have — made little difference to him if he had gone over- board just as he -was—he would haye been a bit damper, that was about: all. It was with some difficulty that he ran up to“his moorings, for though the little cove was well sheltered trom the wind, the waves dashed into it about as rudely as they did on the shore outside. and had he been inexperienced at his task he would — easily have been beached, to the detriment of the boat as well as himself.* The skiff was toss-/~ ing about at the end of the mooring billet, and was half full of water. He dropped the sail as ie he shot into the cove, and the boat glided up to. the floating log. Securing the mooring rope he attached it to the ringbolt in the bows and pulled ~ the skiff alongside. He furled the sail snugly, then got the demijohn from the cabin, the door ~ of which he locked and put the’ key in his pocket. — As an additional: precaution for the safety of the sailboat he dropped her anchor overboard, thus — ‘giving her a double hold on the bottom. Then, getting into the skiff with the demijohn, he NSS sculled ashore. He beached the boat high and dry out of harm’s way and then started for the - house. es As he was about to lay his hand on the handle” of the door he stopped as if suddenly turned into stone. He heard the rough tones of several men inside, and their voices were angry and ‘threat-— ae ening. © “Great Scott!” he palpitated. rascals come, after all?” ; With a feeling of dismay at his heart Bob “Have ‘those eet order to satisfy himself as to what .was going on inside. Pressing his face against_ the “pane, hi saw Captain Coffin backed up against the dresser, where the dishes were kept, and confronting him~ were three stalwart men, while a fourth; not so big, stood in the background. e faces of the four were cliszuised by, pieces of canvas. but Bob- had no doubt but* two of them were Murray Poper and Jerrye Combs. As Bob looked he saw the captain’s hand glide into the top drawer of the dresser and in another moment he flashed out his revolver. At the sight of the weapon the — three masked men made a combined rush at him. | There was a flash, a stunning report, and the. glass pane was shattered in the boy’s face. Bo staggered back, stunned and “bleeding. Ca: wildly at the empty air, he fell upon the grounc and folled over on his face. ~ CHAPTER IV.—a Diabolieal Scheme. oe os Bob recovéred from the shock of the bu ie ety

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. - PLUCKY BOB ~ but he felt dizzy and sick. The blood was run- ning down his cheek, while his face was cut by pieces of the window glass: Wiping the blood away with his handkerchief, he staggered on his feet and leaned against the wall of the house. The keen wind and the drops of rain that were swept into his face revived him somewhat. He heard loud voices proceeding from the interior, and his intense anxiety over the captain’t fate overcame all other considerations. Pulling him- self together he groped his way to the broken - pane and looked in again. The captain had been overcome by the ruffians, who were now binding him to his armchair, and mocking his protesta- _ tions and strenuous objections to such treatment. » The small man in the background was taking no active part in the affair, although the mask on his face proclaimed him to be an accomplice of “he others. ’ “What's your aNiae a in attacking me _ this way?” demanded the captain, without a shade of fear on his old weather-beaten countenance. “Don’t you_know that you’ll be punished for this » assault? ‘This is United States ground and the marshal ot the district will be after you as soon - “Shut up, you old barnacle!” cried Guothier of the rascals, fetching the light-keeper a whack on the mouth with the back of his hand. “If you hadn’t butted in where you had no business to, this wouldn’t have happened to you.” “And what do you intend to do in the light- ‘house? You have no right there.” - “We'll take the right. Might is right fice. now. We're goin’ to put you out of business. as a a keeper, d’ye understand?” _ “What do you mean?” “This here Gull Light is a revolver—flashes ‘red and white every other half minute. When “the skipper of a craft out yonder sees it he knows the Camelsback Reef is so many p’ints on his “port or starboard bow as the case may be, Arg that he must give the shore a wide berth if oesn’t want to run foul of the rocks. Fifteen athe west of here is the Minot Light. It’s a D “gations, white glim, and p’ints the way to Mar- uette. The coast is clear of such things as : -“eamelsbacks there, and vessels kin run in close “with safety. Well, d’ye_ begin to see the drift of - what I’m gettin’ at? We’re goin’ to turn this revolver into a stationary light, by breakin’ the machinery connections. When the pilot of the _. Canadian liner, St. Lawrence, which is due in this : tS neighborhood inside of half an hour, sees a sta- “tionary white light he’ll think he’s off Marquette, where the steamer is bound, and will alter his course so as to run in by the near shore channel as usual. He may wonder how he came to miss the Gull Light, which he will suppose is fifteen - miles east, but as it’s a bit misty on the lake, he may guess that the fog lay in thick around the Gull when the steamer passed.and that he failed to see the light. What’ll be the result? ‘The Canadian boat will run smack on the Camels- ‘ _ back and be a total loss. Who'll be to blame? You will. We’re goin’ to dope you with liquor, so that you'll be reported drunk at your post. La Reed be cast adrift in pre ame That’s the iron, door. 5 terrible thing as that!” cried the captain, aghast 3 at the diabolical scheme. “Ha! We've got you on your knees, have we?” laughed the rascal. “You might beg from now till doomsday, but it wouldn’t alter our purpose in the least. No, no; the Gull Light will see the wreck of the St. Lawrence to-night, never fear. Pierre, you and Tom guard this mackerei- faced sinner while Jerry. and me does the trick. It won’t take us over a minute or two to smash the connections and then the job will be done. The Gull will be transformed into the Minot, and there will be trouble to burn an hour from now.” Bob, listening at the window, heard every word and was paralyzed at: the wickedness of the scheme these men were about to work. A cold perspiration broke out over his brow, and he trembled like a leaf. If the raseals carried out their project, as they seemed determined to do, a terrible disaster was liable to oceur.’ How could it. be prevented? Captain Coffin was help- less and could do nothing. “Tt’s up to me,” muttered the wounded boy. “1 must outwit those villains somehow, no mavter at what risk to myself. It is my duty to the Government. If that steamer goes on the Camels- back hundreds of lives will be sacrificed. She shall not go on the rocks if I can help it. But how can I prevent them getting into the light- house? I haven’t any weapon at hand. Per- haps I could stun them with rocks. They wouldn’t be able to catch me in the dark and rain. J’m afraid that would only stand them off tempocar- ily. One of them has the captain’s revolver. He might manage to shoot me and then it would all be up with the steamer. A better way will be to follow them into the lighthouse, and after they have carried out their purpose I can perhaps repair the damage and start the light revolving again: Yes, that’s what I’ll do.” Bob didn’t have long to wait. cipal ruffians, whom the,boy judged to be Loper and Coombs, left the captain in charge of their companions and walked toward the tower. Bob. followed cautiously behind them’ The man who had the key inserted it in the lock, and after a guarded look about, he opened the door and -when they had entered he closed it behind them. | He heard the men’s steps above resounding on the iron stairs as they ascended, and he followed them with great caution. By this time a terrific gale was blowing in from the lake. Bob’s bare feet made no noise on the steps, and consequently the two rascals had not the least suspicion that~ ~ ‘they were being followed to the top of the light- house. "Up, up they went by the winding stair- way, and behind them came the shadowy figure of the boy, who easily kept track of their position ' by the sound of their rough boots. There was a small room under the lantern where a temporary supply of ofl was kept all the time. The narrow stairway ended at the door of this room, whence access to the lantern was had by a stationary iron adder under a trap-door, always kept open. Al- 3 ough there was supposed to be no occasion to secure the door at the head of the stairs, never- theless it was supplied with a heavy bolt which could be pushed into a solid socket. bolt “was shot no ordinary force could burst. in Bob thought. pte be and: his The two prin- © Once this ¢

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6 . “ -- PLUCKY. BOB plans were quickly made. As soon. as the ras- eals had done their work and had retired satis- fied with the outlook, he intended to bolt him- self in, ascend to the lantern and see if he ‘eouldn’t repair the damage they had done. When he reached the room where the temnpor- ary oil supply was kept the two rascals were already up in the lantern. He heard their voices distinctly through the open trap, and presently he heard blows, as of metal upon metal.. Finally there was a crash and the sound made by the. ‘revolving carriage suddenly ceased. The lamps had come to a standstill. Knowing that they might be down any moment now, Bob crouched behind the patent safety oil tank and waited. In -a few minutes the heels of one of them appeared on the ladder, coming down backward. The other followed and both were soon standing in the oil room where Bob was. The place was not absolutely athe. owing to the glare of the lamp above which sifted down through the trap, and Bob held his breath for fear the least sound on his part might lead to his discovery. Somewhat to the boy’s trepidation the two men did not immediately leave the room. They stood in the center of the fioor talking while one filled his pipe. Had the rascal dreamed that the mere lighting of his pipe was to lead to von- sequences unfortunate for himself and his as- sociate he assuredly would have deferred his smoke. But he didn’t suspect that there was an unseen watcher present, so he carelessly struck a match and applied the flame to the tobaceo in the bowl. The rascals had removed their masks in the lantern, the better to do their nefarious work. and so when the tiny flame flashed up Bob saw their faces and he knew them at once as Murray Loper and Jerry Coombs, and could swear to their identity. At that ticklish moment, just as the match expired, the boy’s foot slipped and made a slight noise on the stone flooring. “Hist!” exclaimed Loper. “I heard a notse.” “So did I,” said Cornbs. Both men} listened intently, while Bob shivered with apprehension. CHAPTER V.—The Hero of Gull Point Light. After an- interval of perhaps fifteen or twenty seconds, but which “seemed endless to Bob, Coombs “said: - “It was nothing. There’s nobody up here but ourselves.” “I should hope not,” replied Loper. “Tt would- n’t be godd for anybody if we did find ’em here. I wonder where that young cub is that helps the old man?” “He may.be at the house now. Tom and Pierre will know what to do with him if he has turned vives. they’ll keen him quiet. Well, come on. We're wastin’ time. Ugh! How’ it does blow. I'd hate to be out on the lake such a night as ’ this. The thunder is growin’ louder every mo- ment and the lightnin’ brighter. . The Camel8- back must be a mass of foam by this time. - liner will have a poor show when she strikes the ~ reef, as she’s bound to-do if she takes the inside * track thinkin’ the Gull. is the Minot.” ~ ; Tha sneaker lanphed sea and then both e adjusted carriage. "waves. The. white rage. ’ men passed out at the door, and Bob heard their boots ringing on the iron stairs as they went down. He listened eagerly until all sounds but those made by the raging storm outside ceased, then he sprang up ready for business. .His tirst act was to slam the iron door to and shoot the bolt. Then with his heart filled with exultation that. he had overreached the rascals he sprang for the iron ladder, ran up the rungs like a mon- key, and stepped out into the lantern.. Masses of flying spume torn from the waves were flung against the thick glass of, the lantern. In the center of the lantern was the lens, cone-like in shape, and about ten feet high. It had a wrinkled - appearance, being made of rings of glass suc- ceeding one. another, having the property of catching up the rays flying out in all directions ~ and reflecting them through the glass of the lantern. Bob passed inside this great column of prisms to whete the lamp stood, its three concentric cir- cles of wicking burning brightly. Underneath it — the machinery for pumping. the oil was at work. It had to be wound up several times during a night, and then the pumping went on automatic- ally. Bob saw with dismay that the men had not simply disconnected the driving-rods which caus- ed the lamp carriage to revolve, but had broken them in such a way that they could not be re- paired at, short notice. The scoundrels had done their work more effectually than the boy had | dreamed they meant to. What was to be done now? -The lamp was throwing a stationary white — light across the waters of the lake, and it seemed = likely to continue to do so after all, since it was useless to re-connect-the broken rods. Bob, however, was equal to the emergency. The : urgency of the situation sharpened his wits. He — ; knew that the Canadian liner was almost due at that point, and what would happen if the light continued to burn a clear white he dared not ~~ dwell upon. He laid his hands on the nicely ‘It moved easily under his touch. The solution of the difficulty was before him. In fine, he himself could perform the wee : of the revolving apparatus. “One—two—three—four-—five—six,” he. count= ed, with the regularity of a clock, until he reac ed thirty, and then the red light. flashed out over — the dark waters of the lake. “One—two—three—four—five—six,” and so on, and the whité light flashed across the turbulent — And so he kept the work steadily up while the eae storm raged furiously about the lantern. Every thirty seconds the red and then the white light al- ternated as it had always done, and great was — the surprise and rage of Murray Loper and Jerry Coombs when they looked up at the lantern and saw what was happening. “There’s something wrong up there,” gritted Loper, at length. } vestigate. Come. . now, and unless that lamp is stopped right away we may as well give up the job.” So up the winding stairway they went again. But a surprise awaited them at the head of the stairs. The door of the little room under the lamp was shut, and shut tight. a “It’s ‘bolted on the inside,” roared Loper, in ina “Some one is in ett Or, rathei

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| PLUCKY BOB he’s in the lantern turning that infernal lamp. Who ean it be?” v “Who?” snarled Jerry Coombs. Platte bs ! ied Loper. “The boy!” cried : “Yes. yomiig Bob Baker. He’s got back. He has clearly got on to our scheme somehow. He must have followed us into the lighthouse and ie hid himself there until we left. You remember we heard a noise in this room. It was made by him, without a doubt. Had we investigated it we should have discovered the little villain tucked away in some snug corner. Now he’s outwitted us. This door is securely bolted. It is impossi- ble to reach him. The light will continue to re- _volve and the steamer will not go on the rocks. We are beaten to a standstill by that measly a 4 oe i hiaks him for a marplot!” roared Loper. “Can E othin’ to stop him?” we Ca "The cantankerous cub is no doubt ughin’ at us in his sleeve.” ; ray ee Loper uttered a string of imprecations and smote the iron door with his fists. He called on the boy to open the door or they would kill ~ him on sight. Bob did not hear him, nor if he had would he have paid the least attention to his threats. At length the ruffians gave up their ‘useless endeavors to force entrance into the little “yoom under the lamp, and retraced their steps in a very bad humor indeed. As they stood once “more at the door of the house they shook. their - fists with impotent rage at the revolving Irght “and ‘cursed the boy whose: patient heroism: had brought their plans to nought. Opening the door they’ called-their two companions outside and aa ‘plained the situation to them. The howling gale - lashing the shore a hundred feet from them was not fiercer than the passions of the four men. Gould they have laid their hands on Bob at that ~ moment they would have murdered him. The an- ger they felt against Captain Coffin paled into “Tt must be we > tained against the brave boy. And while they : aa there cursing their luck the Canadian liner ; St. Lawrence, passed through the gale like a shining specter in the derkness, her engines driv- - qnp her onward through the raging gale-toward - safety and Minot Light, fifteen miles away. CHAPTER VI—The Next Morning. At length the four ruffians left the house, without taking the trouble to release the -oid xptain, and vanished into the darkness in the difection of the village. The storm fiend must have laughed at the thoughts and imprecations of ‘the villains as they breasted their way through that gale till they reached the tavern owned by ierre Placide, where they spent a good part of 1e night drinking vile liquor and plotting re- venge on the boy whose benumbed arms kept up their heroic task throughout the night. The cap- in, he sat in a dejected attitude in his ain, as_ : chair, wondered where Bob was. = eveTig. steamer ix always on time,” he mut: tered to himself, “At half-past eight she should be off the Gull. When the pilot sees a fixed os ae . insignificance beside the. feeling they now enter-. shining at that hour where a revolving one 7 ought to be, will he not suspect that something is wrong and keep straight on his course? He - knows well enough the perils of the Camels-~ back. He will know, too, that he has not sighted _ the Gull, and he will keep on, but to-morrow the Lighthouse Board will be informed that the light at Gull Point was stationary white at eizht-thirty by the clock, and so remained. Others passing this place to-night will also make the same re- port. I will be called on for an explanation. How will I be able to clear myself? There was no witness to the outrage, and I did not even recog- nize the rascals. The rules are so strict that. I may be superseded, and thrown out on the world —an old man, without a chance to earn a living at’ anything else. It’s maddening to think of, while on top of it all that brave boy may be lying eold and clammy at the bottom of the lake at this minute.” The storm roared and shrieked around the dwelling as the hours passed. The fire went out. in the stove and ‘he temperature of the room grew chilly to the old captain, who missed his asual allowance of whisky. He did not know that the demijohn stood underneath the window pane, broken by his bullet, the wicker covering soaked by ‘the rain dripping from the eaves. | Even if he had been aware of that fact it would have done him ~no good He took ad- vantage of these intervals to wind up the oil pump, that the flow might continue steady. At half-past four the sun peeped through the rayged fragments of the clouds on the eastern horrizon, and Bob’s all-night labors were done. ° With a weary sigh he extinguished the lights and then walked out on the balcony that. sur- rounded the lantern. The cool wind; stillebiow- ing a gale, felt grateful on his fevered brow and — revived him. Half an hour’s*rest made him feel all right, with the exception of his arms. They~ felt nerveless after having been so heavily over- tasked. : ® “I wonder how the captain is?” he said to himself as he descended the ladder to the room underneath the lamp. \“I hope those rascals did not take their disappointment out of him. If they have injured him in any way theyshall pay dearly for it. I can swear that Murray Loper. and Jerry Coombs are the ringleaders of fast night’s enterprise. They shall suffer for this outrage. If they have hurt the captain their punishment will be so much heavier.” Sa He shot the bolt back and opened the door. Then he descended the stairs to, the ground floor.. He found the door ajar and the key in. the tock. ‘Stepping out into the air he locked the door- and approached the house with not a little mis- giving. On opening .the door he saw Captain Coffin tied to the chair, his gray head bent for- ward in profound slumber. him and laid his hand on his shoulder. The ca tain awoke with a start and gazed at the boy in Bob rushed up to Set -

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8. PLUCKY BOB dazed way. Bob pulled out his jackknife and cut the old man loose. “Ts that really you, Bob?” cried the captain, joyfully. “Where have you been all night? ’ feared you might have been upset in the fake ‘between here and Rockport.” “Not much danger of that, Cap,” laughed the young boatman. “The Polly and I always man- age to keep right-side-up no matter how hard it ‘blows. I’ve been in the lighthouse.” “The lighthouse! Were you caught and locked in by those men?” “No, Cap. The boot was on the other leg. I “got the best of the rascals myself,” “You did! Then you saved the light from be- ing tampered with?” cried the light-keéper, with a thrill of satisfaction. “Not quite. They got into the lamp first and broke the revolving connections. J followed them up to the little room under the lamp, and hid “behind the oil-cabinet. When they left I bolted the iron door at the head of the stairs, went into the lamp chamber and kept the carriage on the move all night with my hands. I’m about fagged out.” 3 : “Lord bless me! You mean to say that you revolved the lamp yourself all night?” “T did, Cap. I outwitted the villains who _ thoyght to lure the liner St. Lawrence on the _§ Comelsback by making the Gull Light resemble _— the Minot.” » © “You’re a wonderful boy, Bob! You deserve a ' gold medal from the Government. But what’s the matter with your face? You’re wounded. Did the rascals shoot at you?” : “No, .Cap. You did that.” “Me, Bob?” eried the jight-keeper. “Yes. I was looking in at that window yonder when you took your revolver from the top drawer - of the dresser. The men rushed at you and _ you fired. The bullet went wild, smashed that - pane of glass right in my face, and the ball cut the skin oyer my temple. It nearly put me out of business for good and all. Still, a miss is as good.as a mile. I’m none the worse for a skin wound and a few pieces, of broken glass.” “You had a providential escape from death,” said the captain, solemnly. “Then you came back in time to see those scoundrels enter the house?” ® “No, I didn’t see them enter, but I heard their voices inside. I had been warned by Dave Wil- ton that. two of the rascals intended to pay you a visit some time, and I was on the lookout for them. That’s why I didn’t get caught.” “Did Wilton tell you who the men were’ I did not recognize them owing to the canvas masks they wore.” “He did. I sawAhe faces of the two who went up into the lighthouse,’ and they were the men he mentioned.” ae “Who were they ?” “Murray Lopern and Jerry Coombs—the men who were caught smuggling brandy from the Canadian shore into this State three years ago, and who were convicted principally by your. evi- dence.” ; : x “Are they out of the penitentiary?” asked the captain, in some surprise. ® _* “Yes. Their time expired and. they were let _} go. They came down here on purpose to get f4 - ‘ 7 back at. you, and dase .... made! the attempt — which I queered, I am glad to say.” 2 “You saw their, faces, you say, Bob, and can swear to their identity?” . “IT ean swear to the fact that they were Loper and Coombs, ,all right,” nodded the boy. : “Then they won’t remain long out of prison. You must go to Rockport and communicate with the United States marshal at Marquette. The sooner they’re arrested the better. Who were the other two men?” “One, Pm almost certain, was Perre Placide, the tavern keeper. I couldn’t say who the other was. : “Well, I must light the fire, and get breakfast under way. ‘Neither of us has had a moutnful since yesterday noon.” : “You can light the fire, but I'll get breakfast, Cap.” 5 “How about the demijohn, Bob?” asked the captain, wistfully. “My stomach feels all gone like. If I had a nip now it would set me on my pins.” “I left it outside. It is probably there still, unless those rascals discovered and carried it off.” ‘I hope they didn’t,” replied Captain Coffin, apprehensively. Go out and see if it’s there.” — _, Bob found the demijohn standing where he ‘left it, none the worse for its all-night exposure to the storm, and he fetched it into the house. The captain’s eyes glistened when he saw it, and he ‘lost no time pouring out a stiff dram and swallowing it with evident relish. Breakfast was. sSoon prepared and put on the table. While. they were eating it Bob told the captain about the missing buoy that had marked Whitefish Shoal; — how Banker Marr’s steam yacht had gone on the ~ rocks a total wreck, and how he had saved the — lives of all hands, including the banker’s’ daugh- ter .after she had been swept from the yacht at the time she struck. : 5 “That’s why I was so long in getting back, Cap. I had to return to Rockport ‘with the people.” . : “You're a re@ular hero, Bob,” said the captain, enthusiastically. “You'll be in all the papers. The banker will probably reward you liberally, — and the society of Marquette will no doubt send — : you a gold medal for saying so many lives. Then when I report to the Lighthouse Board how you _ kept the light revolving with your hands all night after the machinery was broken you will be brought prominently to the notice of the depart-_ ment at Washington, and I guess you'll get some ~ kind of substantial recognition.” aay “T think I could stand a good suit of .clothes,” said Bob, with the recollection in his mind of his — unsatisfactory appearance before the banker and his children. Soe “You shall have that, anyway, Bob. I will buy you the best suit to be found in Rockport, — so you won’t have to lay out any of your present wages. You never seemed to care much for clothes—I mean in warm weather. You havea pretty good suit in your room that you wore — all winter. But of *ourse you'll need something” light for July ‘and August?” Bh eee “No, Cap, I’m going to buy my own clothes with my own money,” replied Bob. “Ive Dee invited to call on Mr. Marr and his family | ee I want to. igok decent. If it wasn’t for th =

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‘ - shouldn’t care mach to. fix up. I feel more at home in these®togs than I would in a swell out- fit. When I want to take a swim all I have to do is to yank off my shirt and trousers and jump in. And when I’ve had enough of the water it only takes me about half a minute to dress my- self again.” After breakfast Bob lay down for a short sleep before. starting for Rockport to send word to the United States marshal of the district, and while he was stretched out. on his bed Captain Coffin went up to the lantern to repair the damage done by the two rascals to the revolving machinery ~~ of the lamp. = CHAPTER VII.—Visiting the Wreck. . Captain Coffin let Bob sleep until noon, when the called him down to dinner... When the boy ap- peared at the table his outward appearance was considerably improved. He had a good pair of trousers on, shoes and stockings, a clean snirt, a collar and a necktie, and a sack coat. The eap- tain nodded approvingly, for he liked to see the boy fixed up. Bob sat up to the table and helned himself liberally to the food before him. Break- i fast had only taken the edge off his. long fast, and he now proceeded to even matters up. While he and the captait were busy with their knives and forks Dave Wilton appeared. e “T see you got back all right, Bob,” said Dave, taking a seat near the table. F “Sure, I did. What was there to prevent me?” - “Have something to eat, Dave?” asked the ptain. ra - “No, thanks, captain. I had my grub before I came over. I s’pose you ain’t heard nothing yet eam Loper and Coombs,” said Dave, looking at i Ob. Le . . “Then you suppose wrong,” replied the light- ouse boy. a : “What! They haven’t been over this way, have they?” 3 : : “They were over last night, with two of their . ; ei % say! Were they ugly?” oye they? They couldn’t have been much : < ” ‘ f wee hey don’t seem td have done anything to 1e captain, after all.” PPRA ASN "Soh. they just had a little fun with him. ‘lied him to his chair, and then they went into the ‘hthouse.” . “What did they want there?” : ey expected to put Captain Coffin in a hole nkeying with the light.” “Did they do anything to machinery that turns e lamp.” i PLUCKY, BOB’ . 9 “They secured a good chance for going bae'x to the penitentiary.” 4 “T shouldn’t think they’d care for that.” “Probably not; but that’s their funeral. If they chose to take desperate chances in order to do cae Coffin an injury, why, that’s their look- out. ‘ “Then you intend to have them arrested for ‘what they did last. night?” “That’s about the size of it. I’m going: to Rock- - port as soon as I get through dinner to notify the United States marshal at Marquette to took after them.” “T'll go with you, if you like. I ain’t got any- thing particular to do this afternoon,” said Dave. “You can come. The gale has blown itself out. If you’d come back with me yesterday afternoon you’d have had a chance to distinguish yourself.” “How’s that?” “The steam vacht belonging to an early sum- mer visitor at Rockport went on Whitefish Snoal when I was half way from town to the Point.” ‘Is that so? How did it happen? There’s a big: bellbuoy there to warn navigators off.” “Tt was there, but it isn’t there now.” “How is that? I saw it when we were sailing over, and heard the bell plainly enough.” : “Something happened to it after we passed that way, for it was gone when I looked for it on my return trip.” “What could have happened to it? Broke loose and floated away?” 4 “T don’t think so. It’s disappearance is a mys- tery to me.” - ‘ “You say the yacht went on the rocks? Did she get off again?” : “Not by a jugful. She’s a wreck.” “Who was aboard of her at the time?” “The owner, his son and daughter, a sailing master, engineer and one hand.” : “Quite a bunch. Did you take them off?” “T did, and I had a strenuous time doing it. The worst of it was the young lady went over- board when the craft struck, and it was only’ by the greatest good luck that I managed to pick her “How did you do it all by yourself in the boat?” : ; “T'll tell you the whole yard on your way over to Rockport,” said Bob, rising from the table. “Want anything in town, Cap?” he added turn- ing to the light keeper. : é “You might bring me a pound of smoking to- bacco,” replied the captain. “All right. Dll do. that,” said Bob. , “Here’s the money for it,” said the old man,_ handling him some silver. P ; Bob and Dave walked down to the cove and embarked on the sailboat. As soon as they . were fairly off the shore, Bob let off his sheets, and taking the wind on the beam, he stood over toward Whitefish Shoal, where the wreck of the steam yacht was plainly to be seen. Rs The lake was still covered with whitecaps, ant the sailboat heeled over under the fresh gusts of the northwest’ wind in a manner that was somewhat trying to’ the nerves of Dave Wilton, but he kent a stiff upper lip and pretended that he liked it. He envied Bob’s careless indiffer- ence as the young boatman sat on the weather _ side of the tiller, and would have given a good

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10 deal to have had his nerve. The Polly made a ovick run over to the shoal, and while she was doing it Bob told his companion all about the wreck of the yacht, and how he saved the girl and afterward the people aboard of her. “You're a wonder, Bob, ’pon my life you are,” said Dave, admiringly.. “How you could have done all that by yourself and managed the boat at the same time, in a gale. beats me. The Mar- quette Humane Societv will surely give you a gold medal. Timothy Baxter got one, you know, for saving three people off the Camelsback last fall, and he didn’t have half the trouble, nor run half the danger you did vesterday.” “T sha’n’t refuse it if it’s offered me.” replied Reb, who felt that it would be a great honor for him to have such a medal, “but I’m not going to ask for it.” : “Of course. The society will find out that you deserve it, for the story will be in today’s Rock- port ‘News,’ and it’s bound to be copied by the Marquette papers. The medal, however, will be a side issue. Mr. Marr, who must be a very rich man to afford a steam pleasure yacht, is bound to reward you well for saving his life and the lives of his son and daughter.” “He can’t pay me anything for doing that,” said Bob, in a tone that showed he meant what he said. “Why can’t he?” asked Dave, in surprise. “Beeause I wouldn’t take anything from him.” “You wouldn’t?” ejaculated Wilton clearly as- tonished. “No, I wouldn’t.” —- ye “Why not?” 4 “Because I don’t believe in taking pay for such a thing as that.” : - “T don’t see why you shouldn’t. If I did what you did I’d take all that was offered me,-and think I was entitled to it.” ' “T have my own ideas on the subject. I con- sider human life above any price, and it doesn’t strike me as just right to accept money, even from a rich man, for doing him such a favor.” “Well, I don’t agree with you. When you save a person’s life he’s naturally grateful to you, and if he can show his gratitude best by hand- ing you out a wad of money you ought to take t, otherwise he’s bound to feel hurt.” “A person can express his gratitude just as well by thanks, and I’d rather have it that way.” “How did Mr. Marr act towards you? Did he offer to pay you?” “No, not in so many words, but he spoke about rewarding me and I told him plainly that I didn’t want any reward but his gratitude.” -“Whate did he say to that?” “He didn’t say any more, except that I should not have cause to regret what I had done for him and his.” ee “Oh, he'll find some way of making it mht with you.” ~ Bob had no further time for conversation, as the boat was close upon the shoal. He had some ‘4dea of going aboard the stranded yacht and see- ing what he could bring away before she broke up. She was evidently a stout craft. to have - gtéod the pounding of the sea all through the “previous night’s gale and still hang together in fair shaps, Sob even began to consider the pos- PLUCKY BOB So Se - line and made his preparations for the trick, _from an ornamental hook, and Bob took pos sibility of her being hauled off the rocks. floated over to Rockport and repaired. Themroblem tnat — confronted him now was to get alongside of the little steamer and board her. The roughness of © the water on the shoal operated against his pur- pose. So also did the sharp rocks that surround ed her. On the whole, it was‘a pretty venture- some task he had set for himself, and the closer in he got to the wreck the less sanguine he he- came of succeeding. 3 “Do you really think of boarding the steam- er?” asked Dave, who thought it looked impos- > sible of accomplishment. . : Had he known the dangers that bristled about the vessel he would have begged his companion not to attempt it. ae “T mean to if I can,” answered Bob. yA “What are you going to do aboard her?” pao “See what I can save.” > Dave had the utmost confidence in Bob’s sea- manship and he said no more. The: young boat- man ran the Polly under the yvacht’s lee, where the water was smoother, and then saw that it — would be possible to connect with the steamer in safety if he could get a line around her short — bowsprit that would hold. The trend of the tide — would then ‘swing the sailboat away, from the wreck. He explained the maneuver to Dave and) — asked him if he thought he cowld accomplish it. - “Or, if you'll hold the tiller just so I'll try it — myself,” he added. i “a Dave thought he’d rather hold the tiller. Bob threw the Polly up in the wind while he got the — then he headed the boat for the yacht’s bow, told = Dave just what to do in case the line caught and — held and went forward to the bow. As the sail- boat glided up to the yacht Bob cast the liue. which twirled nearly about the steamer’s bow. spirit and held taut when the Polly swung around, stern on the tide. Bob then. pulled the boat close — up and made fast. It was now a simple matter _ for him to clamber onto the bowsprit and secure the other end of the line so it could not possibly — get loose. The yacht was listed to port at an angle of forty-five degrees, and about half her. entire length was submurged, Bob made his way astern alone the starboard rail. The cabin en- trance faced the wheel. Looking in, he saw, as he expected that the water covered about every- thing on the port side. The door of one of the staterooms on the starboard side was open. Re- moving his shoes and stockings and rolling hi trousers up about his knees, Bob managed to scramble into it. It was elegantly furnished, and appeared to be intended for a lady’s use. Every. thing that was not fastened had been swept in a confused jumble on the floor against the wal A handsome lady’s gold watch hung suspended —_ session of it. e He also found a silver trimmed wallet, con taining about $25 in bills, stuffed into a w fi r eket. He tried to get into the adioming ‘state-_ room, but it was locked. After looking the ie over without further results, Bob returned — the sailboat the way he had come, cast off th rope from the yacht’s bowsprit, and stood off fo: Rockport, fully believing that if proper measu: were taken the steamer could be saved. k

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: . PLUCKY -BOB CHAPTER VIII.—Bob Visits the Marr -Cottage On their arrival at Rockport, Bob went to the ‘telegraph office and sent a message to the United States Marshal at Marquette. He also mailed an official letter to the lighthouse inspector of the district. This contained Captain Coffin’s report of the disappearance of the bell-buoy from White- fish Shoal, the consequent wreck of the steam yacht, and the outrage perpetrated at the light- house during the night by Murray Loper, Jerry Coombs and two companions. The captain did not fail to represent Bob Barker’s heroie conduct in its brightest light. Then, making an ar- rangement with Dave to meet him at a certain time on the wharf where the sailboat was moor- ed, Bob started for the Marr cottate. ras ee = cec3 . ee sa 2 "afl ie Dea A y thank you for making me the offer.” It was a fine, sunshiny afternoon, and the “banker, his wife and daughter were seated on the veranda overlooking the lake. Bob received ‘a_royal welcome, and was introduced to Mrs. Marr, who thanked him in a feeling way for saving the life of her daughter from. certain death, as well as rescuing her husband and son ‘from the wrecked yacht. -The banker asked’ Bob about himself, how he came to be cennected with the lighthouse, and whether he thought he would like to make a change for the better. Bob told him how he came to live with Captain Coffin, and how the captain had been like a father to him ever since he found him a sad little « orphan on the doorstep in Marquette. As to making a change for the better, he wasn’t sure that he was quite ready to cut loose from the old lightkeeper yet. He was sure that Captain Coffin wouldn’t want to part with him yet a while, and in any case he couldn’t leave the _ dighthouse for some little time. “Well, Bob, whenever you are ‘ready to make pe a new start in the world I want you to come to me. I am president of the Detroit National Bank,* and I can at any time put you into a good posi- - tion with a future before you. I can easily see “that you're naturally smart and bright, and“us I owe you an obligation I never can adequately’ f, repay, it is my wish to start you in the right way on the road to success. Promise me that you will not fail to avail yourself of my offer when the time comes.” “Yes, sir, I promise you that, all right, and I “No thanks are necessary on your part, Bob. Fes obligation is all on my side. I could not, of course, think of offering you pay for what ~ you have done for me and mine—such services are beyond price. The only way by which I ean demonstrate’my gratitude is to take charge of your future, as it were, and do for you «s I would for my own son. This, I assure you, I will make my business whenever ibe are TenAy to “accept my good offices.” _ Mabel Marr was very gracious ta Bob, and iow that she was dressed in one of her prettiest SS with her golden hair rippling down her ack in sheeny waves, he was more than ever impressed with her loveliness. _ “J know that I looked simply awful yesterday Longe after you pulled me out of the water,” she said, archly. “You can’t imagine how em- ened t I was when you came into the cabin of ake , that. it your boat after father and Harry brought me to my Senses. no place to run to. me a sight.” “I thought you the prettiest girl I had _ever seen,” said Bob, frankly. “How could you think such a ridiculous thing?” she said with a smile end a blush. “T did, just the same. But you couldn’t kave felt worse than I did. Why, I wasn’t more than half dressed myself, and my ~worst : clothes at Just as I left off cleaning the lantern in the’ lighthouse to g6 to Rockport on an errand for Captain Coffin. I was in no shape’to meet a oe lady, especially such a nice one as yuur- se : “Dear me, how complimentary you are,” she replied, with a silveny laugh. “Really, I don’t deserve to be flattered i in that way.’ “T make;it a point always to tell the erie Miss Marr.” You must have thought She flashed a bewitching glance in his face and shook her finger at him-in a playful way. “You know that I’m deeply grateful to you, Bob Barker, for saving my life,” she said, earn- eStly. “I shall never forget what I owe vou as long as I live. I shall always be your friend under any circumstances. And so-will papa, mamma and brother Harry. You mustn’t call me Miss Marr—that is altogether too formal under the circumstances. Call me Miss Mabel, or or Mabel, if you wish, and I will call you Bob, we are zoing to be the best of friends after t is, aren’t we? “You forget, Miss Mabel, that I am bak a poor boy—a lighthouse-keeper’s assistant, while you are the daughter of a wealthy banker.” “How can you think for a moment that the fact of you being a poor boy will make any difference with me?” said the girl, quickly. “Be- sides, you will not be poor long, for papa intends to help you get up in the world. ,He will either make an opening for you in his bank, or he will send you to school with Harry, as you may pre- er.” “Your father made a very generous offer to me, but I cannot tell as yet when I will be able to accept it.” “But of course you will accept it, won’t “you?” “JT think there is little doubt about it, for it is too good to be refused,” replied Bob. “I must first lay the matter before Captain Coffin, who has been as good as a father to me for many I owe. years, and see what he says about it. him a duty for all his kindness to me. and I could not be so ungrateful as to think of leaving him in the lurch.” “Of course not. Papa would not expect you to. But I’m sure Captain Coffin will not stand in your light.” “IT do not fear that he will. much of me for that. “But it will be hard for him to lose me. He is an old man, and depends more and more on me all the time. He thinks too Bob and Miss Mabel talked for quite a ittle while, and then her brother Harry appeared and greeted the young lighthouse lad in a particular x. friendly way. “T hope we'll see a good deal of each other ine I just felt as if I wanted to run. away somewhere -and hide myself, but there was’ I want to do the right thing by him as well as by myself.” - a)

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Bede you come. : I was aboard of her. summer, Bob,” he said, in a frank manner that attracted the visitor to him. “I’m bound to say that I like you, without taking into consideration . the fact of what we all owe vou, and when I like a fellow I can’t’ do too much for him. You must We shall want you to go out on little excursions with us about the neighborhood. I dare say vou know of a g¥eat many interesting places along ' the shore. For instance, sis and I would like to go-to Bald Cliff if you'll go along and show us*the way by land. It would be a nice tong afternoon’s walk. We’ve noticed the cliff several times from our yacht. It must be more than<a hundred feet high, and there seems to be a kind of circular cove at the foot) of it. master told us that it was once uséd as a lantd- ing place for Canadian liquor smugglers.” “Pll go with you and your sister to Bald Cliff any afternoon you say,” replied: Bob. “It is the ope headland between Marquette and Wiuite- Ss lake from the top. The cove is a good swimming - spot. I go there often with a friend of mine named Dave Wilton. It was a smugglers’ land- ing place years ago. In fact, Captain Coffin captured two chaps there three years ago run- ning a load of French cognac ashore from a sloop. As to walking out there, it would be quite out of the question, that is, if yow mean from here. I'll come over after you in my boat to-morrow or next day, or the day after, when- ever you like, and take you both to the Point, show you over the lighthouse, and then we can walk from there to Bald Cliff.” “That would be delightful,” exclaimed Mabel Marr, with sparkling eyes. ; “We can go any afternoon that suits. you, can’t we. Harry?” “Yes. Our time is our own. Make the date - yourself, Bob.” ; “How will to-morrow suit you? The Jake will probably be fairly calm.” "Tt will suit us all right. then?” “Pll be on hand at one o’clock, if that isn’t too early for you,” replied Bob. “We'll have an early lunch and be ready when Bring your boat up to our wharf.” - “A)) yight,” said Bob. “By the way, I almost forgot one of the reasons that brought me over to your cottage. I boarded the wreck of vour yacht on my way across and looked her over. It’s my opinion that she can be gotten off the rocks and repaired as good as ever again.” “Do you think so?” exclaimed Mabel, almost joyously. “I do. “She stood that fierce gale of last night all right. She seems to be an unusually strong boat. Nine crafts out of ten in her posi- ‘tion would have gone to pieces under the buffet- ing she must have received. The fact of the matter is she looks as if she ran into a small We will expect you, channel between the rocksyand has not sustained as much injury as appeared at first: She’s nearly full of water, though, that is, at high tide, when I found a gold’ watch and -a_wallet in one of the cabins, the only one I was able to enter. Here they are,” and Bob. held up ey’re mine,” said Mabel, cagisige sahecahe up for lost.” mae ; : HT gaye “. come over and see us whenever you can get off. ° Our sailing-~ ~ Bay, and you can get a fine view of the” PLUCKY BOB Bob handed them to her. “Tm ever So much obliged to you for bringing them to me,” she continued. “I prize the watch very much, as papa gave it to me on my last birthday.” “Then I’m glad I boarded the eraft, though I dare say your father will be able to save the vessel if he loses no time over it.’ “Yl speak to my father about it just as soon as I see him,” said Harry Marr.. to save her if he can, for'she cost.a good deal “Hell be glad of money, and we couldn’t duplicate her in time ~ to be of any use this summer.” After some more talk on the subject of the yacht, Bob took his leave and walked over to the wharf in town where the ‘Polly was tied up, .He und Dave impatiently waiting for him, so with- out any more delay they got aboard, hoisted the mainsail and set their course for the Point. CHAPTER IX.—Mabel Marr and Her, Brother Visit. Gull’s Ponta: - When Bob and Dave disembarked at. the cove the latter went home, after promisine to be at the lighthouse next day at about two o'clock to participate in the jaunt to Bald Cliff, Bob found the captain seated at the door of. the house in the afternoon sunshine smoking his briar-root pipe. “T’ve left the lamp for you to attend to, Bob,” ~ said Captain Coffin. “I’ve repaired the damage ~ to the machinery so that the ¢arriage will re- — eg volve as well as ever.” “All right, Cap,” replied Bob, “There’s’ your tobacco.” He handed the pound package to the light keeper and then went into the tower. In a few minutes, with his jacket off and his shirt sleeves rolled up, he was hard at work polishing up the lamp. This was a duty he always performed in the early part of the forenoon, but had omitted, — that morning because he needed rest after his. strenuous services during the night. After he eels finished with the lamp he went over the giant — column ‘of prisms, and after that he cleaned the glass of the lantern, inside and outside. There were a whole lot of other things to do also, so that it was suypertime when he was through. Be- fore going down Bob made a final inspection of — the lantern, to be sure everything was shipshape. The last. thine he did was to walk around the_ parapet, which.was girdled by a solid-looking — handrail, and leok the glass panes over to see that he had not missed any part of them. The sun, still half an hour high, hung like a “red ball above the western horizon. It_ gave promise of a warm and fair day on the morrow. There — was scarcely a cloud upon the deep blue sky, and the wind was blowing a. light breeze from es northwest. , To look at the now comparatively placid sur. face of the lake, with its myriads of glistenin; ~ wavelets, one could hardly believe that a few sie waves that thundered upon the shore. 1 parapet the one-story house below looked ex- ceeding squat, as though it were - -only- three four feet hivh. Sei Coffin Bat probably

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PLUCKY BOB paring supper himself, as the smoke was belching from the chimney at a great rate. To the east- ward Bob saw Bald Cliff plainly outlined against the blue background. It projected. out like a pro- montory from the shore line. It was a huge, * jagged, perpendicular rock, sparsely covered with vegetation and an occasional stunted tree whose lack of leaves gave it a wintry aspect even in the summer. A narrow strip of beach ran around its base at. low water and into the sheltered - cove partly enclosed by its giant arms. It was a splendid place to bathe in, but visitors thad to be careful to time their stay, for if caught by the incoming tide, which rose six or seven feet at@that point, they stood a good chance of being d ned, for it would take an uncommonly strong . Swimmer to extricate himself from the force of } the tide that ran into the Gove, even when the _ water was smooth, and foothold upon the rocks “was very precarious. : _ Bob found supper ready and waiting, and he “brought his usual appetite to the table with him. - After the meal was. finished he washed the dishes vend tidied up the room, while the eaptain in- _ duiged in. a smoke until sunset, when he went up. to the lantern, lit the lamp and started the earviage on its all-night tour. Bob stood the first five-hour waich which ended at midnight, when the captain reiieved him for the balance, of ““the night. After dinner next day Bob: started for Rockport in the Polly. It took him about half dn hour to fetch the private wharf fronting the Marr cottage, and he found Mable and her broth- ‘er waiting for him there. * . “It’s a splendid day for a sail, isn’t it?” said the girl, as Bob handed her to a seat in the cock- pit. : a q “Virst-class. There’s a spanking breeze that’ll take us across to the Point in less than_ thirty “minutes,” replied Bob. : Harry Marr sprang lightly aboard after his sister, and took his seat on the roof of the ‘cabin, with his* legs. dangling in front of the door. Bob then shoved off, the Polly’s nose swung ‘around to E. by N., and she started oif like a voung colt. 4 NEN “Do you want to go by the yacht?” asked the young boatman. “We'll lose six or seven min- ‘ubes, but that doesn’t cut much. of a figure in he afternoon’s outing. Bre pecend her brother both thought they'd like oe to see how the little steamer looked on the rocks, “go Bob altered the boat’s course to *due north. ‘The water was fairly smooth on the shoal that afternoon, and’ many of the sharp-pointed black ‘yocks could be seen peeping above the surface. * Bob remarked no change in the appearance of _ the yacht since the-day, before, and told his pas- ~~ sengers so. ‘ off,” he asked Harry. ~ : “He and the sailing-master were out looking at her this morning at low tide. The skipper said he thought it would be quite practicable to get ~ her off, just as you said. So the governor is going to Marquette by the two o’clock train to ee about having the, job attended to right away. -“That’s right,” answered Bob. “You'll have = many a sail on her before the-season is over; , ut you never would have dreamed of such a_ ing at the time you abandoned her.” « “What did your father say about getting her - 132-3 “T should say not. We all thought there would-— n’t be a plank of her left in the morning as we listened to that howling gale.” é j Bob ran the sailboat as close to the little stranded steamer as he dared, and then let out his sheets and headed over for Gull Point, where -the white shaft of the lighthouse glistened in the sunlight. It was about a ten minute run on that wind to the cove, and there Dave Wilton was found waiting for ‘them. Bob introduced his friend to Mabel and her ‘brother, and the whole party walked to the house, where the visitors were made acquainted with Captain Coffin: The cap-_ tain greeted them in his customary breezy way, and congratulated them on their escape from the wreck of the yacht. While they were talking, a_ buggy drove up from the direction of the village, and out stepped the United States marshal, who had come over to Rockport by train a short time before, where he hired a rig to carry him out to the lighthouse. The captain told his story of the visit paid him by the ex-convicts; Murray Loper and Jerry Coombs, and their two companions, . and what the rascals did to him. Bob then nar- ~ rated his experiences in connection therewith, and explained how he had kept the lamp revolv- ing all through the night. Mabel and her broth- er listened to his story with great attention, and not a little astonishment. . It was news to them, for Bob had said nothing about the matter to them or their parents when he visited the coi‘age the. previous afternoon. The marshal coipli- mented Bob on his plucky condict, and asked him if he could swear that Loper and Coombs were the ringleaders of the enterprise. : “I ean,” replied Bob, “for I saw their faces un- masked up in the little room under the tamp when Loper lighted his pipe.” : wigat “Do you think you could identify the other two chaps, also?” said the marshal. “No. I. believe. the small man was P‘erre Placide, keeper of the village tavern, for, if 1 re- ~~ member rightly. Loper called him by the name of Pierre. In physique he certainly looked like Placide, but,as I did not see his face, for he wore a canvas mask like the others, I couldn’t’ swear that it was he. The other man was a stranger to me in every way. Loper called him Tom,” Captain Coffin couldn’t identify any of the. men. The best he could say was that, physically speaking, three of them looked like Loper, Coombs and Placide. Bob was clearly the only witness on — whom the Government could realy to prosecute * ~ the ex-convicts if they were arrested, and the 1 marshal realized that he would have to scare*up — stronger evidence against the tavern-keeper in order to convict him also. He made inquiries ~ about the location of the tavern where the ras- cals were supposed to be still. stopping, and hav-» ~~ ing secured all the information he could get at. _ the lighthouse he started back for the village, where he intended to press the two constables of the place into his service. Z CHAPTER X\—Caught in the Mouse-Trap, “Why, Bob,” said Mabel, when the four young “people started for the lighthouse, “you never — said a word to us about what you went through | on your return here after landing uS om our

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14 | 5 wharf. I think you acted like a hero. I don’t ‘see how you ever could have turned that great light all night by yourself. You must show me how you did it when we get up in the lantern.” “Vl show you, and explain how the machinery connection was broken. It was-a pretty touga - job, notwithstanding that the carriage worked easily. It was all right the first hour, but_after that my arms got so tired and numb that I hardly remember how I ever managed to keep the work up. I stuck to it because I knew how important it was to keep the red and white flashes alter- nating at regular intervals. It simply had to be done, and I did the very best I could to meet the emergency.” It was clear that Mabel’s admiration for the plucky young lighthouse assistant was increased ' several hundred per cent. In her eyes he was a real hero, and deserved a niche in the tempie of fame. - After showing the visitors the cil room, Bob led the way up the winding iron stairway. “I followed those rascals up> here in the dark in my bare feet and they never suspected that that I was at their heels,” said Bob to Mabel, who was behind him. “How brave you were,” she murmured, won- agi how he ever had had the courage to do it. : “Here is the room under the lamp. This is the door I bolted against. them after they went down, thinking that their wicked plan had succeeded. There is the oil-cabinet I hid behind while they were up in the lantern carrying out their pro- ject. It was not entirely dark here because some light shines through the trap when the lamp is going, o you think you can climb that short jron ladder without’ help, Miss Mabel?” said Bob. The girl looked at the ladder rather dubiously, but said she guessed she could accomplish the _ the feat. ~ “You.go up first, Dave,” said Bob. “I’ 31 follow, and then you can help your sister up if neees- sary, Harry.” In this order they ascended to the lantern. Bob explained the workings of the lamp, reflectors and prisms to Mabel and Harry, and they were very much interested in all he told them. He then showed them how the oil was puniped into the lamp by aur the crank a turn, whereupon ‘up flowed the oil. “Tsn’t that wonderful!” exclaimed Mabel. “You see we wind up the machinery a number of times of a night,” said Bob, “and the pump- ings’ takes care of itself.” “That's great,” was Harry’s comment. “And these. three wicks give the light the people see at night?” said Mabel. _ “Yes, with the lens’ help,” answered Bob. “Did you think it was a tar-barrel burning’ ' chere?” Jaughed her brother. “A tar-barrel!” she exclaimed. “How rilicu- lous! Of course I didn’t. Harry wants to make out that-I don’t know anything,” pouted Mabel. . “Now T’ll show you how the Jamp revolves,” said Bob. He pointed out the piece of steel that had been broken by the two rascals, and explained just. how he had moved whe i seine soe all ca long. ac PLUCKY BOB a ee _ plied to the cove, owing, as we have before re- “Tt is ssimply~ wonderful how you could, keep. that up,” said Mabel. = ““A person can do a whole lot sometimes, when they are driven to it,” said Bob. ; “You are certainly a real hero, Bob Barker,” ° she said earnestly. “You may have saved that mail steamer from going on the Camelsback reefs. That alone would be a service entitling. a you to the greatest honor, for they say she E: carries a large passenger list at this season of ~ — the year. If she had been wrecked it would have been,a dreadful catastrophe.” Leaving the lamp room they stepped, out ‘on the parapet. “My, how breezy it is here!” said Mabel, ing the rail. “Tf you could have stood up here the night ne fore last in that gale, it would have blown « every tocth down your throat, almo-t,” remarked Bob, with a grin. “T am very glad that I wasn’t standing eve then,” laughed Mabel. “What’s that thing?” she added, pointing at an object screwed against the — wall, with its big mouth directed toward sea, : “Fog-bell,” replied Bob. “When the mist lies thiek over the lake we toll it.” “Tt must. make cheerful musie for people on the water.” “Better hear that than nothing,” he answered. Mabel felt as if she were away up in a cloud looking down upon the rippling waters. The view was far reaching, and she enjoyed it for ‘several minutes. =f .“Yonder is Bald Cliff,” said. Bob, pointing at the rocky promontory which lay about three miles away. “If you’ve seen all you want up here we'll make a start for that place.” it Accordingly the party left the top of thé i lighthouse and returned to térra firma. It took them about three-quarters of an hour to reach, — by a gradually ascending path, a point at the back of Bald Cliff about half sway to the sum- mit. The balance of the ascent was over rough and uneven rocks and proved somewhat» toilsume — climbing. The view from the, summit, however, ro yrepaid ‘the trouble they had taken to reach it, and Mabel expressed herself as, quite enchanted. About a quarter of a mile to the east, lining the | shore of a little cove, was a fishing hamlet. As they gazed down at the boats swinging at their — moorings, and the men mending their nets, they little thought that three of them at least would owe their lives to the fishermen before sunset. Seeing the little, almost land-locked cove at the foot of the cliff, Harry Marr proposed that they go down there and take a look in. Bob, perceiv- ing that the tide was low, agreed to pilot them there by a path Yan dtigata the beach outside. _ On reaching the beach all they had ‘to do was to walk around into the western, projection of the promontory into what the fishermen called — the mouse-trap, which was the name they ap ssp marked, to the treacherous nature of the e eroaching tide. Bob, of course, was fully aw ‘of the dangers of the place, as was also Dave but the tide being low then, both knew they h ample time before them“in which to get out by the way they came. That very fact, howe er; operated against ‘them, as i had operated ; nst

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PLUCKY BOB others equally well informed. The tide had an insidious way of coming in that lulled suspicion, and one was trapped before he had an idea that the flow of water was half up. Bob menticned the fact to Harry Marr and his sister, and both declared they would just look in and come out again. Had they carried out this resolve all had been well. But they didn’t. There were many things in the cove that evcited the curiosity of the visitors, and Bob in explaining things to them forgot about the tide. There was a pe- culiar black rock in the place to which Bob casually remarked that a strange story was connected with. “Yo tell us the story,” cried Mabel, with sueh é sweet insistence that the boy could not resist her. The substance of the story; which took him a full half hour to relate, was that one dark, squal- * ly night ten years before, a black, rakish vessel had anchored off that very cove. The strange craft excited the curiosity of a couple of fisher- men who were in the neighborhood and they watched her. Soon they saw a boat put off trom vher, which was rowed shoreward and disappearel - “into the cove. The boat remained some time in the cove, which the fishermen thought to be a _ singvlar fact, considering that the ¢ove led to ~ no place. As the tide was up they could not pursue their investigations into the place, and by and by the boat returned to the vessel, which hoisted her sails and vanished into the darkness: and mist of the lake. 4 “Shortly afterward a party of boys swimming in the cove began to amuse themselves playing leap-frog. over this black rock,” continued Bob. . *Suddenly one of the boys astonished his. com- - panions by remarking that the stone had evident- ly been moved, as showed by sand marks arouad its edges. The curiosity of the boys heing aroused, they got a number of stout poles, and at last sueceeded in overturning the rock. Now ‘what do you think they found?” ~*~ “f eouldn’t imagine,” said Mabel, who was - deeply interested in the story. “What did they ~~ find?” ~ © “I Anow what they found,” cried Harry, tn a ‘tene of excitement. “Well, what did they find?” chuckled Bob. ~“A- pot of gold, which the crew of the rakish vessel had buried under the stone that nizht.” '. “No,” replied Bob, shaking his head solemnly, _ “you're wrong. They didn’t find a pot of goid, but they found something that showed them that “a pot or kettle or bags of money had been buried there.” ey “What was it?” asked Harry. — _-*A& hole, with a $20 gold piece lying at the bottom of it. The men who, came to the cove - that night had not gone there ‘to bury money, but - “Pil bet the fishermen of the neighbornood “kicked themselves pretty hard because they nad never thought of looking under that black stone iy 1emselves,” laughed Harry. -. *f never heard whether they did’or not, but I shouldn’t be surprised if they did. I should feel . pretty sore myself if I played around a stone a hundred or more times and then learned that jome ‘more lucky fellow than myself had pushed ae ¥S pth a 3: . for fair,” replied Bob. 15 it over one day and found a pile of banknotes under it.” fe “Yes, I guess you would. So would I,” Harry. When the story was ended Mabel saw a soli- tary wild flower growing out of a rocky crevice a short distance ‘up the cliff. “Oh, my, what a beautiful flower! had it,” she said. 3 The wish was no sooner uttered than Bob was after it. He was only too eager to do any favor for such a lovely girl as Mabel Marr. She had treated him so nicely, tov, since he had made her acquaintance that he felt nothing was too good said I wisn { for her’ The rest of the party, with their baeks to the entrance of the cove, watched him make the ascent to the spot where the single flower grew. Finally he secured it, brought -it aown xy, and presented it to her. e “Aren’t you ever sc good, Bob,” she said, fa- au voring him with a glance that made his heart ea: beat quicker than usual.’ _ Thus in one way or andther the party spent considerably mgre than an hour in the “Mouse- trap,” quite unconscious that the tide was si+ lently creeping in on them. It gradually en- croached upon the arrow strip of beach and fin- ally covered it entirely. It rose softly about the ~*~ © rocks, enlarging the pool in the cove. At last it ais reached its fatal point where it assumed’ the character of a*kind of millrace just at’the mouth of the cove. Then it was that Bob sudaenly noticed the large amount of water in the place. He rushed to the mouth of the cove and stopped aghast. “Great Scott!” he exclaimed. “What’s the matter?” -asked Harry. “The matter is,” replied Bob, with a troubled look, for he was thinking not of himself, but of Mabel, “the tide has stolen in on us, and we are — now hemmed in by the water without any means of escape.” 4 iS ie 7 CHAPTER XI—Bob’s Wonderful Climb. His words carried the greatest consternation 3 to the party. Hemmed in with@ut any means of © escape had an ominous meaning. Lats “Do you mean to say that we can’t get out of this cove?” asked Harry, in dismay. : “T mean that we’re caught in the mouse-trap -As Bob had already told Mabel and her brother that many persons had been at odd times caught ; and drowned n that same mouse-trap, the pros- big ee not reassuring. “What are we going to do, then?” asked Harry, while Mabel’s eyes filled with terror and she look- ed entreatingly at Bob, as if she believed he was her only hope. “Pll have to try and swim the race, go to the fishing hamlet and get them to take you peo: ple off in a boat,” said Bob, resolutely. , _ Bob took off his shoes and stockings, hat and jacket and placed them on top of the black rock. “If I can weather the point I’ll be back in half

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16 - “How high does the water rise in the cove?” asked Harry. “About seven feet altogether.” “My gracious! And there does not seem to be - any projection on which we can stand except the black rock, and that will barely hold my sister.” : Bob. walked to the entrance of the cove. where the water was pouring in now like a small flood, ' while a portion of it was sucked back by the un- dertow, and plunged in. The others watched his vigorous effects to stem the passage. At first he succeeded in advancing little by little through the narrow entrance. When half way in, a bigger “wave than usual swept him back into the cove, and effectually defeated his first attempt to get outside. He tried a second and third time, with like result, and then had to give up quite ex- hausted. “I'm afraid it’s no go,” he said, weakly. “I can’t get through there. We are trapped good and hard.” “Oh, what shall be do?” exclaimed Mabel, who was trembling with fright. Dave climbed up with some difficulty as far as the place where Bob had filucked the flower, but he soon saw that he could not maintain a hold there very long, so he had to slip down again. Even the top of-the black rock would eventually be covered with five feet of water, and it offered a very precarious fgothold for only one person. The silence, of despair rested on the faces of all but Bob. He was trying to think of some other way out of their dilemma. As if fate wished to mock at any human being caught in the trap, there was “a nice, aide and comfortablé-looking shelf of rock cut out of the face of the cliff twelve feet ’ above; but it, was utterly impossible for a person to reach it without a ladder or a pole, as-the ap- proach to it was a straight wall as smooth as glass. Suddenly Bob sprang to his feet, his eyes fired with a new resolution. i “There is only one chance for our lives,” he said. 4 = “What is that?” asked Harry Marr, eagerly. j “J must try and-climb to the top of the cliff. If I fail it will be all up with fs.” “Do you think you can do it?” asked Dave, anxiously. _ “I don’t know. Looks rather doubtful and de- cidedly dangerous, but it’s a chance and as such I must work it for what it is worth.” : It was certainly a terrible undertaking, and required nerves of steel and a stout heart to attempt, for a single false step, a crumbling stone, would fling the daring climber headiong upon the rocks below. Bob, however, was nerved by the same spirit that actuated him when he stood all night long in the lantern of the light- house revolving the lamp with his hands that the light might flash out correctly upon the storm-tossed waters of the lake. If it was possi- ble to climb Bald Cliff.from the lake side, a feat that had never yet been attempted, much less accomplished, he was going to do it. « Three ttves at least depended on his success, and after bid- ding his companions to take courage, and do everything they could to keep their heads above the water level as the cove filled up, he started on his perilous journey. He used his big jack~ knife to dig out interstices between the rocks as he slowly advanced upward, and he grabbed ; : | 2 ~ -bustle and excitement to burn. and put off with Bob in it. ~ With PLUCKY BOB pe Pet ee at every stout shrub or short tree that he. en- countered: ‘to sustain.a portion of. ‘his -weight, — never trusting entirely to one thing if he could — by any chance avoid it. Higher and higher he - climbed, never casting a glance beneath him to ascertain how far he had gone, sometimes cling- ing with cat-like tenacity to slippery places, and again cutting holes for his hands and feet. 2 Those left below watched his progress with breathless interest and intense anxiety. Some- — times his progress was.so slow that he looked — like a huge fly sunning himself against the bare face of the rock, Whether he got on slow or fast his upward journey was steady. P = “He'll succeed,” exclaimed. Harry, excitedly. — “A fellow. who will attempt such a fearful climb — is bound to come out ahead, unless——” j The words died away in his throat, for at that — moment Bob lost his foothold, owing to the slip- — ping of a small rock on which he had placed his weight. Fortunately at the moment he had ~ hold of the roots of a stout shrub, for, after dropping a foot, he hung suspended in air by one arm alone. Mable uttered a cry and covered — her face with her hands, for she expected that — the brave boy would come tumbling down to — his death. Bob dug the blade of his knife into ~ a crevice and held on till he secured another toot- hold with his toes. He had had a narrow escape, — and the cold perspiration oozed out on his fore- head. He soon recovered himself and went on. — Finally he suddenly disappeared from the sight of his friends below. He had entered an indenta- tion in the cliff at a height of ‘eighty feet from — the beach and was now safe, for. the rest of his — c’'mb was over rocks that offered a good foot- hold, and he no longer was in danger of a fatal — tumble. In a short time Bob emerged on top of the promontory, whence he could see the fishing — colony a short distance away. - He started for it — in his stocking feet as fast as he could go. ag _ Time was precious with those left below in the _ mouse-trap. Mabel was standing* on the black — rock, supported on either side by her brother and _ Dave Wilton, the water already up to their knees — and steadily rising higher. It took Bob nearly — twenty minutes to reach the cove where the fish- _ ermen’s dwellings were. In his damp and be- — draggled appearance he was received in great — surprise. But when he hastily explained that a — girl and two boys were caught in the mouse-trap by the tidv, and that he himself escaped only by — climbing the bald face of the cliff; there was — ) c Nearly al) his | listeners received the statement his perilous. climb with some incredulity, for the fez = deemed well nigh impossible. But as he was a living exhibit of the bold act, they had to be- igh cy li¢ve him. ; pa A boat was hastily manned by the fisherme strong lusty strokes they soon covered the short di tance between the big’ cove and the mouse-tra The tide was boiling in at the entrance, and the water almost up to the necks of the two boys — inside while it lapped Mabel’s waist when the boat shot in at the mouth of the little cove, “Hurrah!” shouted Dave and Harry togethe fairly overcome with joy, for they had al given up hope during the weary minutes t tervened from the time they lost sight %

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climbing Bob. Mabel was lifted into the boat and promptly fainted in Bob’s arms. Dave sand ' Harry were then pulled aboard. The boat was ~ turned around and pulled out into the lake. _ ‘ “You chaps had the escape of your lives,” said - one. of the fishermen, as the boat was stopped - opposite the entrance to the mouse-trap and the fishermen gazed up at the bare face of the rock ‘surmounted by Bob. “I don’t see how you ever got up to the top of that rock,” he added, turn- ing to the courageous young lighthouse boy. “It has never been done before to my knowledge, and I’ve lived ’round here for twenty years. never believed that it could be done by a human being. You are a hero, young man. You saved - not only your own life, but the lives of your com- panions' as well. Fifteen minutes more and the water would have been over the heads of you “two boys, and it is doubtful if the girl could have remained on that rock until the tide sub- sided hours from now even on this calm day.” The men resumed their oars and soon had the _ rescued ones ashore at the coye, where. several of the.women immediately took charge of Mabel. The boys were taken into one of the houses where they were told to strip, and each given a ‘hot whisky to warm their blood, though Bob. ~~ stood in little need of such a precaution. About dark their clothes were fit to put on, and the four “were treated to a good warm supper, after which they were carried to Gull Point in a fishing sloop. Here Dave varted-from them, leaving to Bob the cheerful duty of returning his. new friehds _ to their home in Rockport. ‘On the way ove¥ both Mabel and her brother had nothing but praise for Bob. al “This is twice you’ve saved our lives, bob,” said Mabel. “You’re the finest boy in all the world, and 1 shall love you next to Harry as long as I live.” : “You don’t suppose I could desert you, do you, after inviting you over, and then practically lead- ing you ihto the danger from which you so nar- rowly escaped? It is my fault that you were ‘ caught in the mouse-trap, and_it was up to me to save you.” . “How was it your fault?” asked the girl, in surprise. © : “Because I am familiar with the peril of the place, and should not have allowed you to stay “there so long. It was that story of the black rock that’ took my attention off. It took some time to tell it, and all the while the tide was - rising fast about us. So you see that Iam large- “ly to blame for what you went through, and I hope you will forgive me for it.” “There is nothing to forgive, Bob,” Mabel an- _ swered. “I persuaded you to tell the story, and vou are not to blame in the least for our trouble. ‘Even if you were; that marvelous climb up the _ yedk would have made it all right, twice over, J think’ you are the bravest boy who ever lived, and I consider it an honor to know ‘you.” When the boat reached the private wharf brother and’ sister made Bob go to the cottage with them: He couldn’t get out of it. When Mr. ‘and Mrs. Marr heard the storv of their adventure ‘that afternoon they were greatly disturbed at the thought of the narrow escape their children - had: Mabel and Harry both said most positively they owed their lives to Bob’s wonderful ? PLUCKY BOB an 6 nerve, and so the banker and his wife were pro-\ aed in their grateful appreciation of his con- et. “This is the, second obligation you’ve put us under to you, Bob, and it will not be possible for you'to escape the substantial recognition I mean to bestow on, you for your gallant and dis- interested services to my family as well as to myself.” : After a short stay, Mabel and Harry accom- panied Bob back to the wharf and took ar al- most affectionate leave of him, and he sailed back to Gull Point feeling happier than ever before in his life. / CHAPTER XII.—A Diabolical Plan ot Revenge. Next morning a Government boat was at Whitefish Shoal investigating the absence ot the big buoy. It was found that the buoy had sunk at its moorings. It was raised and a hole found in its hollow side. In some way one of the steel cables had worked loose, the buoy had swung around and struck the razor edge of a pointed rock. The rock pierced the heavy shell, the- buoy filled and sank. It was repaired and re- placed in its old position. The inspector oi the district came over on the repair tug, and while the men were engaged at their work he was rowed to the lighthouse, where he looked into the matter of the tampering of the light re- ported by Captain Coffin. He heard the keeper’s story, also Bob’s, and he highly complimented the boy for his splendid conduct in outwitting the rascals and keeping the light revolving through the stormy night. He assured Bob that his serv- ices would be properly represented to thé Light- house Board, and he had no doubt that in due time he would receive some recognition from the department at Washington. “What Has been done toward capturing” the rascals?” he asked. ; Captain Coffin said he had sent for the marshal of the district, and that that official had ‘taken the. rv in hand. \“You havyen’t heard whether the men have been arrested or not?” said the inspector. “No. I’m afraid they have not. At any rate, I haven’t heard from the marshal since he was here yesterday afternoon, and then departed for the village, where the scamps are supposed to be hanging out at the tavern kept by Pierre Pla- Bers That afternoon Bob went over to the Wilton farm to call on Dave. “He’s somewhere out in the woods practicing with that rifle of his,” Dave’s father told Bob. “He’s got a-target set up and he told me he © can hit the bull’s-eye at fifty yards four times out of six.” “That’s doing pretty well,” replied Bob: “I dare say I'll find him, all right.” t me The lighthouse boy started for the woods, an he soon heard the sharp crack of Davye’s rifle in the distance., He was close to the, spot where the shooting was going on when suddenly two men, whose faces were .concealed by canvas masks,\rose right out of the underbrush near at — hand and confronted him. ‘One ofythem had Cap- “y

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~ ed Bob. 18 tain Coffin’s revolver in his hand. Bob recog- nized them at once as Murray Loper and Jerry Coombs, notwithstanding that he couldn’t see their faces. “We've caught you at last, have we, you young monkey?” said Loper, covering Bob with the ‘weapon. “Don’t you dare utter a squeal or I'll drill half a dozen holes through your body.” “What’s the matter with vou chaps?” demand- “Why have you got those masks on, and what do you want with me?” “You'll soon find out what we want with you, ‘-and it’s none of your business why we're wearing the masks... It may be because the sun hurts our eyes,” he added, with an ugly laugh.. “T don’t want anything to do with you,” replied Bob, moving backward. - “Stop where you are, you little imp!” roared “Loper. “If you don’t. you'll get hurt, mind what I say! Catch hold of him, Jerry. If he tries to get away I’ll plug him in short order.” “You wouldn’t dare shoot. me. You'd bring Dave Wilton down on you with his rifle, and then where would you be?” “Shut up, you young whippersnapper!” roared Loper. “What do we care for Dave Wilton. I’d plug him, too, if he put in his oar.” “Keep off!” cried Bob, as Jerry essayed to reach ‘him. Both rascals flung themselves upon ‘him and pore him to the ground. “Help, Dave, help!”. shouted Bob. Jerry Coombs fetched the boy a blow in the head with his huge fist that dazed him, and he was able to make no further resistance while the rascals bound his hands behind his back and gagoed him with his own pocket handkerchief, Then they raised him between them and hur- ried away into the woods as fast as they could @o, burdened as they were. Dave, while putting a fresh cartridge into his rifle, eae Bob’s ery for help. “That’s Bob’s voice,” he Se alata pausing: to listen. “ Iwonder what’s the trouble ?” “T’}] bet it was those rascals, Loper and Coombs, who’ attacked Bob. They have reason to, be down on him because he queered their stheme at the lighthouse the other night... They’ve been hiding in these woods, for a dojlar bill. That’s easy to understand because the United States marshal has failed to find them in the village, and it was supposed that they had decamped for parts unknown. They’ ve carried Bob off to their * Hiding place, meaning to get square with him at 7 their leisure. Well, I guess it’s up to. me to follow and rescue him. He’d do the same for me. Anyway, he saved my life vesterday atter- ~ noon, along with Harry Marr and his sister, by: climbing Bald Cliff at the risk of his own life. can’t do less for him than to save him now from the vindictive intentions of those two rascals. I’m glad I’ve got my rifle. I think I can make it pretty interesting for those chaps if I come up with them. It would be a feather in my cap if I could capture them besides releasing Bob from their clutehes. I’m going to try, at any rate.” Thus speaking, Dave shouldered his weapon — and began to follow the footsteps. In the mean- time Bob was carried through the woods at 4 Fino pac. began tu Dmaricss ¥ PLUCKY BOB ~ tunnel, say about thi ‘on top of ae crushing the life out of "hi He soon came to his Senses and Finding net bie eee was becoming troublesome they came to a ston and Loper drew his revolver. Reversing it, he shook the heavy butt in Bob’s face. eee “Tf you don’t keep guiet V’ll make a dent in your skull, you young imp, d’ye understand?” The ruffian’s tones and manner showed that he meant business, and the boy subsided, believing ‘ that prudence was the better part of valor under —- the circumstances. Seeing that Bob appeared to take the hint they picked him up again and re- 5 sumed their way. Finally they reached a small hut that stood in the wood within a short distance of the tracks of the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad, which passed through Rockport and Marquette. — Here they deposited Bob in a corner as*they — might have done with a sack of potatoes, and proceeded to hold a consultation regarding his fate. Bob could use his eyes if he.couldn’t his — mouth, and he saw indications of occupancy of the hut on the part of the rascals. Naturally he — listened to the conversation of his captors. The plans’ they discussed, of which he was to be the victim of the most feasible began to alarm the _ boy greatly. It looked as if their purpose was to — seeure his death, though what good that would do them he could not see. Clearly they hud a strong grudge aga. inst him which they were figur- ing on wiping out in the most effective way. on tell you what we’ll do with him,” said - Loper, suddenly, as if an idea had occurred to” es “Blame me if it isn’t an original scheme.” “Let’s hear what it is,” said Coombs, refilling "hea lighting his pipe. 1 “We'll take him down to the railroad track and harness him to the rails.” “You mean tie him’ down to the track?” said Coombs. “No, I don’t mean no such thing. Thats This idea of mine is somethin’ new. You stale. know how a horse is hitched to the shatig of. as wagon, don’t you?” . “Sure, I do.” trek _, “Well, we'll hitch this here kiddie to the rails in the same way.” NaS “T don’t quite * see how: e's “Oho, you’re dense as mud. leather collar hangin’ on the ropes attached to it?” “Yes. I see it.” - “We'll put that around his neck, stand ane in the center of the track and “tie one of the lines to each rail, allowing him plenty of slack to tug at. We'll do the job close to the mouth of the y yards,-so when the en- hole the engineer’ won't Do you. see that wall with the bop gine comes out of the The fun of the It will be as good as a show, blame me if i won't,” and the scoundrel haw-hawed loudly ov the -picture his: mind’s eye conjured up. : Coombs saw the point and laughed, too. Th plan, to Bob’s horror, was adopted by acclan tion. The leather collar was taken from the we examined critically and finally - ‘secured arot his neck. “Well, young fellow, you put a spoke in wheel the other a but pee put a bigge

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in yours pretty soon. , You heard what we said about harnessin’ you to the railroad track. We’re goin’ to do it in about ten minutes, for there’s a freight train due this way inside of twenty minutes, and we’ll see whether you’ll be abie to pull up the rails and get away when it comes out of that tunnel. Haw, haw, haw!” Coombs grinned malevolently, too, as if the whole matter was a delightful joke. “T’m thinkin’ there won’t be enough left of you ' to make a respectable funeral after the cow- catcher hits yer,” said Loper, with a chuckle. “This is what you’re up against for buttin’ into -. our business, and sp’ilin’ our revenge ag’in Gap’n Coffin.” ; } “We swore to sit square with you, and we’re going to do it now,” interjected Coombs. “If we hadn’t caught you to-day we’d have got you later on. And we'll fix the cap’n, too, before we Jeave these parts for good.”. . “Young fools are, wuss than old ones,” said ‘Loper. “They don’t always git what’s comin to ’em, but. you will, as a sort of exception to the rule.” ; “Time that we made a start, ain’t it?” said “Coombs. “We don’t want to miss that freight. There ain’t no danger of any one seein’ us, as jt’s lonesome in this here neighborhood.” _ “Well, grab him by the head ag’in and I’ll take his legs. It won’t take more’n three or four minutes to get him there, and less’n that to tie - him to the rails.” vi The men got on their feet, grabbed Bob be- . tween them with as little ceremony as before and _ started with him for the mouth of the nearby railroad tunnel. “a ra CHAPTER XIII.—Saved in the Nick of Time. It took them about five minutes to reach the tracks of the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad near the mouth of the tunnel which penetrated a hill at that point. When Bob saw that the rascals meant business he became des- perate, but he was helpless in their hands. While Jerry Coombs, by Loper’s directions, held him ‘struggling in the middle of the track, Loper se- ured the end of one of the lines to the right ‘rail, and then made the other one fast to the left rail, ‘allowing just slack ehough to prevent the poy from stepping across either rail. : «Now, you young monkey, we’ve got you where e want you. The train will be here in about ve minutes, so‘ vou'd better “begin to say your rayers if you know how,” said Loper, with a grin of satisfaction. ee: Bob turned around and gazed fearsomely at he dark mouth of the tunnel whence the train as expected. He couldn’t see many yards into jt for two reasons—because the tunnel was as ark as night inside and because the track made curve at that point. The rascals stood near im and gloated over their victim. They had not the slizhtest comptnction for the terrible crime they were committing. It was murder pure and imple, but that fact*didn’t seem to worry them ny. Presently the whistle of the freight came ) their ears as it passed a crossing at the other end of the tunnel. ; s “Now, you young imp, you’ve got less than two PLUCKY BOB span of the young lighthouse lad’s life. 13 minutes to live,” said Loper. “There isn’t the particle of chance of you escapin’ now, so we'll let you yell out if that will do you any good.” With those words Loper tore the gag from his mouth, and the two raseals retired behind a boulder at the lower side of the track where they could see the locomotive do its horrid work, and whence they could immediately escape to the woods while the train was being stopped. Bob took advantage of his power of Speech to ery © frantically for help. P This was no discredit to his natural piuck. All the bravery in the world wouldn’t help him out of his present desperate strait. If he were to escape at all it must be through the intervention of somebody else. There was small chance of that, both because the place was very lonesome, and because the train would be on him in less than two minutes. The two ruffians jeered at.him ; as he shouted at the top of his voice. ’“Yell for.all you’re worth, you young monkey, it won’t do you no good,” laughed Loper. “Your doom is sealed, and you'll jine the angels in about a minute and a half.” Bob’s shouts, however, were not uttered in vain. Dave Wilton, who was hunting for some trace of him, heard them and hastened in the direction whence they proceeded he thought that the two ruffians were torturing their prisoner in some way, and, as he hurried along, he vowed to _ make things hot for them. He wasn’t exactly pre- pared for the sight that ‘actually met his eyes when he cautiously peered out on the raitroad track from the security of a line of bushes fac: ing the boulder behind which Coombs and Loper were partially hidden.. He stood spellbound with horror as he realized the fate prepared for ' Bob by the conscienceless villains. “The dern skunks!” he gritted. “So they méan to have Bob run over by the afternoon freight, do they? I reckon I’ll have something to say about that. T’ll just lay that chap with the re- volver out to begin with, and then I'll settle the other chap’s hash if he waits long enough for me to put another cartridge in my gun.” He was about to draw a bead on ‘the first ras- cal when he heard the rumble of the freight in the tunnel. Bob heard the ominous sound, too, and he sprang forward in a desperate, but futile, effort to break’ the bonds that held him in the center of the track. The ruffians laughed with — fiendish exultation. Dave’s heart almost stopped beating, for he realized that the fate of. his friend would be’ settled ina few minutes. As the rumble of the long freight grew louder, as it swung along at about a ten-mile clip, a thought flashed-through Dave’s mind. It was one chance almost in a million: of saving Bob’s life, but it was a chance. If he was able to plug’a bull’s-eye at fifty yards four times out of six, perhaps he could hit and sever that thin, but strong, line at ten yards. 5 ‘Bob’s struggles to escape held both line as taut as iron bars and offered a fair mark for Dave’s trained eye. Instantly he raised the rifle to his shoulder and took careful aim. The roar and rumble of the train grew louder every mo- ment. A few seconds, as matters stood, was Rs 4 ruffians gazed at their victim with» glaring eyes.

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20 No power on earth could save him now, they fig- ured, but they were wrong. As the locomotive issued from the tunnel Bob tugged frantically at the ropes holding him to the rails. 4 Crack! A rifle shot rang out. The line attach- ed to. the left rail parted and the boy swang around off the track. In another moment the locomotive, pulling its long line of freight cars, shot by, cutting off the other line at the rail. -Dave Wilton’s eagle eye had saved Bob in the nick of time with hardly a second to spare. Bob rolled over on the ground as the cars rumbled by. The ruffians on the other side had a fleeting view of the boy’s escape and they were furtous. If Murray Loper could have: reached him he would ‘have finished the job with a bullet from his revolver. But neither he nor his companion could cross the track until the long train had gone by, and while the cars were passing, Dave Wilton rushed over to where Bob lay struggling on the ground, cut his arms loos@, and hurried his dazed friend away from the scene as fast’ as they could» go.- So, when the. last car had passed, and the rascals rushed on the track, all _ that remained. for them to see was the fragments of one of the lines -vhich® had held their late prisoner to the track,: and the pieces of rope by which the boy’s arms: had been bound. The boy himself was gone—escaped scot free!. Perhaps they -were not furious! The language they used was hot enough to burn up the bushes, in their immediate vicinity. They could not understand “how Bob had escaped the dreadful fate they had arranged for him. They had~heard the rifle shot, it is true, but could not associate that with the parting of the line. “The knot you made on the rail must have slipped at the last nioment” growled Coombs. “You, were not careful enough to see that it was esecure. His struggles. caused it to give just when he ‘should have been struck by the cow- catcher, and so,he had got the best of us again. We'll have to skip as fast as we can, for he'll have the neighborhood scoured for us inside of an hour or so. We'll have to get our traps from the hut and chance discovery in the daylight.” “He'll never be able to identify us,” snarled Loper, tearing the mask from his face and cast- ing it away. “He did not see our faces.” “fe will be able to swear to our general make-- up,” returned Coombs, getting rid of his mask, -" “and circumstances will be against us.” “They argued the matter all the way back to the hut, and finally it was agreed to hide some- where in the woods till night fell and then try to “escape out of the county. And this plan they proceeded to carry out. “7 CHAPTER XIV.Bob Finds Himself in a Tight Box. Dave hurried Bob along out of sight of the railroad. t “You had the narrowest escape for your life any one ever had or ever will have,” he said to his dazed companion. “It’s a good thing for you that I’m a deadshot. It was the finest shot “Lever made, and I ought to get a gold medal for it. It saved. your life, old man, and I never was ‘so tickled over anything as I am over it. Wake PLUCKY BOB if I was in your shoes.” ° ‘One good turn deserves another, you know. ’ tonished. up, and svy something. We're at a safe distance © now. I’m going to stop and put another cart ridge in my gun. I’d like to put the ball through the heads of both those villains, and send them to a warmer climate than northern Michigan.” _“Am I really alive?” gasped Bob, looking at his friend. ‘ ar ; SE should. say you are, and very much attye; 00. . eee “Lord, what an escape I had! 1 shudder when — ae think of it. How ever did you save me?” = - “Haven’t I just been telling you that I cut one — of the lines that held you with a rifle ball?” “Did you actually do that?” asked Bob, in eredulously. Bier “T actually did. How else coifld you have b: 1 saved with the lécomotive on top of you?” ~ — “Gracious! I don’t see how you ever did “T did it, all right. I’m a shooter from Sho erville, and don’t you forget it,” grinned D “I should say you are. I don’t think you ¢ do it twice in succession, though.” “I wouldn’t like to bank a man’s life on I’ve been practicing pretty steadily for some tim The height of my ambition jast now is to mak a clean score‘of bull’s-eyes at fifty yards—that is, six out of six shots. The best I’ve been able to do so far is four, but I’ll get there yet, b your-life.” sin _ “Well, Dave, I’m under everlasting obligatio1 to you. I sha’n’t forget what I owe you as long as I live.” “J don’t believe you will, old man. OL “Shake hands, Dave.” ies “There you are. Now we’re square.” “Square? What do you mean?” “You saved my life yesterday afternoon, saved yours this afternoon. _So, we’re. evi “IT suppose so,” admitted Bob, “but I’m awf grateful to you, just the same.” Reese“ The boys started for the village without de- 3 lay.. They found the head constable at “his house talking to the United States marshal, wh had just returned with the under constable € an unsuccessful hunt after the two rascals. told his story just as he had repeated it to | and the marshal and constable were greatl oa marshal. “You and your assistant will go a of course.” : ee vt “And we'll go with you,.too,” said Dave. after what he’s*gone through at their h wishes to be in at the death. Got a spare sh for my friend?” to the constable. Dee “I guess I can scare one up,” replied th stable. : chaps. out of the woods if marked the marshal. “T hope so,” replied the head constabl = Arrangements were soon made and the pa started out determined to make a thorough job their man-hunt. It was nearly five o’clock w they entered the woods some distance Whoever first caught a sight of the au: to announce the fact by dischargin, and then the others would close 2. a eee Se De

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they could. Boh and Dave arranged to keep in “sight of ‘each other as much as possible. They imed-for the hut, the location of which was fa- iiliar to. Wilton. When they reached it they - eame together and made a search of it. “e “The rascals, however, were not there. ‘The ‘oods was thoroughly searched by the boys and the officers, but nothing came of it, and when darkness fell upon the landscape they gave up the task as a fruitless one. Bob went back to lighthouse and found supper waiting for him. e surprised Captain Coffin with the story of his afternoon’s adventure., The captain was not nly surprised, but quite upset by the malignant y the two villains had treated the boy. It ‘showed that they were utterly hardened, and ould stop at nothing to accomplish their pur- ” After washing the dishes and putting all s to rights in the house, Bob, as usual, got’ e key from the captain and started for the ghthouse. As he unlocked the door it occurred him that his jack-knife was aboard the sail- and that it needed honing after the strenu- use to which he had subjected it while climb- ‘Bald Cliff.. He had a good chance to’ fix it p-during his night watch in, the lantern. won’t take me but a minute or two to get he said to himself. - : : a , leaving the key in the lock, he went duwn he little cove, stepped into the skiff and ‘pushed off. It took Bob more than a minute or two'to find his knife. He had left it on top of e of the lockers, and the motion of the boat d caused it to slip into a crevice between the ocker and the side of the boat. It took him a ‘ood fifteen rninutes, with the aid of matchlight, fish it out of its hiding place. However, he it, + last and was about to leave the cabin, rhen the boat suddenly tilted to one side, send-' » him staggering against one of the lockers. What the dickens caused that?” he asked self, as he regained his balance. The answer e to him from the cockpit. A man was mbling into the boat, and a second man : owed. Both were naked and dripping. Clearly they had waded off from the shore, carrying their clothes above their heads, for no sooner had they got aboard than they hastened to dress nselves. - ai ob, in no little surprise, peered out 0 e *aoor at the interlopers. Although there “moon, the stars made the night sufficient- ht for Bob to recognize the intruders. “were Murray Loper and Jerry Coombs. vhat had happened that afternoon Bob na- had no wish for another encounter with o rascals, He was afraid, however, that’ Jd have no say in the matter. Even if d no suspicion that he was aboard, the “they entered the little cabin they were 0 diseover him, and he hated to think ht happen if they got him in their again. He kept very quiet and watched put on their clothes. He judged that their “was to steal a boat and escape down the inher. He knew that Coombs was familiar ats, having been a. fisherman for many before he took to evil courses. As soon as yuffians had gotten into their clothes they ded to hoist the mainsail. Then they let. * float ashore, unshipped the painter that s =e * wor PLUCKY BOB 21 held the sailboat to her moorings, and ran her out into the lake. Instead of pointing her head east or west along the shore, they laid their course in teward Rockport. There seemed to be no immediate danger that either of the rascals would enter the cabin, and that gave Bob a’ chance to consider how he should meet them if they did. Listening’ to their conversation he soon » discovered that the men had an enterprise in -hand that they expected to put through before ‘leaving that neighborhood for good. It was no- thing more nor less than. the burglary of ‘the Marr cottage, which was the only house occu- pied in the summer residential district, and be- ing a full mile from Rockvort proper, offered atempting opportunity for them to make a good haul. They decided that two o’clock in the morn- ing would be the proper time for them to visit the cottage, and as it was only a little after eight now, they proposed to put in at a small and lonesome creek alongshore, and lie low here till about half-past one. : - Although Bob was in a rather critical position, nevertheless he was rather glad that circum- stances had placed him in a situation to learn the plans of the rascals. While he was making his plans to meet any emergency, the boat was worked into the little creek, the sail was lowered and the villains stretched themselves out on the seats that. partly encircled the cockpit to pass the next few hours in as comfortable a way aS — possible. Bae ) ; j CHAPTER XV.—The Boy Who. Won- Success. Time passed pretty slowly to Bob in the seclu- sion of the cabin. He could see the men plainly enough where they lounged on the seats, and they couldn’t make a move without his detecting it. He heard about all they said to each other. Their plan was to make for Sault Ste. Marie in the. sailboat, after robbing the Marr cottage, cross the strait and take the Canadian Railroad eastward. Bob decided that it was-up to him to put a spoke in their arrangements, both with respect to the contemplated robber? and their escape from Michigan. At length he heard Lo- per say that he was going.into the cabin to lie | down. e FY : “You keep watch for a couple of hours, Jerry, then call me and I'll give you a chance to turn in,” he said. . “T guess I’m up against it now,” breathed Bob. “Tf he should strike a match to look around in here T’ll be seen, sure, for there is no place to hide, except behind the mast, and that wouldn’t conceal half of me. If he doesn’t light up L may escape detection by keeping’ as quiet as a mouse.” : He drew back from the door and squeezed ‘himself into as small a compass as possible be- hind the mast. Loper presently entered the ca- bin, felt his way to one of the lockers, and threw himself on it without taking the trouble to strike a light, much to Bob’s relief. In a short time his deep breathing showed that he was asleep. Bob listened to him for a while and then a daring idea occurred to him. Loper was the man who * os- sessed Captain Coffin’s' revolver. No doubt it was in one of his hip pockets. He figured that it would be uncomfortable for the r ie ascal to lie

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92 on the same side with the weapon. If he lay on the other side it might not be difficult for Bob to get it out of his pocket, provided he was not a light sleeper. Bob glanced out into the cockpit and saw that Jerry Coombs was lolling against the tiller smoking. Cautiously he glided toward the locker on which Loper was: snoring. The man was lying on his side, with his face turned toward the side of the boat. Bob felt cautiously for his exposed hip pocket. His heart gave a thump as he felt the butt of the weapon protrud- . ing from the pocket. He grasped it slowly and then began to draw it out. It came easily enough but the boy took his time, fearful of awakening the villain. At length he had it in his hand. Now he felt equal to both men and he sat down on the opposite locker and began to consider what he should do next. He might rush out and try to drive Coombs into the cabin at the point of the revolver.. The difficulty. of this was that Loper would be awakened and he would have both men to reckon with, and it seeméd almost certain that he would be compelled to shoot one or both of them for his own protection. The idea of shedding human blood* was repugnant to Bob, though he would not have hesitated to do it if matters came to a pinch. His object was to avoid the pinch if he could. He turned the case over and over in his mind, but couldn’t find a solution to the problem. In this way an hour passed, and finally when he looked out at Coombs he saw that he seemed to be dozing. He waited another fifteen minutes, then a snore from the man outside convinced Bob that he was sound , asleep at his post. #8 f “Now is the chance for me to creep out of ‘the cabin,” thought the boy. “But where could I conceal myself out there?” a He thrust his head and saw that the sail had been lowered in such a way that it hung a couple of feet from the boom, which was swung at an angle of about thirty degrees to starboard. a “I might get on the cabin and crawl behind it, There I. could perhaps remain ‘unnoticed. When Coombs went into the cabin to awaken Loper I could shut the door upon him, snap the key in the lock, and then I’d have them both caged. After that I would hoist the sail and head in for Rockport: Once there I could arouse some one along the waterfront with a shot from the revolver, send him for the police, and the birds 4 would be safely jailed. - it only would work out as I have figured it. Well, faint heart never accomplished anything ‘yet. Here’s a chance for me to distinguish my- self again, and I’m’ going to take the chances. If it misses fire, why, I’ll have to cower the ras- eals with my gun, or if they won’t be cowed, -., shoot them; in the leg, say. That will put them t out of business.” : _ Having decided to get busy, Bob left the cabin ' eautiously, crawled on to the roof of the cabin and” hid himself at full length behind the sail. He pulled the canvas over his body as well as he could and then awaited further developments, Jt was an hour before Jerry Coombs stirred, : but it seemed like three to Bob. The rascal got up, moved around the cockpit stretching his limbs -* and then sat down again and took a smoke. Af- ter, the; Japse of twenty minutes he walked to ' the cabin door and entered. Bob ‘sprang up, ~ PLUCKY BOB ae ‘the situation, he sent. one of them for the police It’s a splendid plan, ifs leaned down, shut the door and turned the key. By the time he jumped down into the cockpit — arid started to hoist the sail there was a rumpus in the cabin. Jerry, having awakened to the fact that something was decidedly wrong, was — trying to open the door. He might have saved 3: himself the trouble, for it wasn’t possible for him to do it. Loper, awakened by the racket, joined his pal, and when he understood the si- tuation there was swearing to beat the band. © Hard words break no bones, and so Bob paid no attention to them and kept on getting the sail up. The rascals heard the creaking of the pulleys _ and they readily surmised what was going on ~ outside. They attacked the door with their tists — afid boots, but it was a stout door and therefore they made little impression on it. By this time Bob had the sailboat headed out of the creek; and in a few moments her bows were pointed at the lights of Rockport. All kinds of stunts were’ indulged in by the rascals in the cabin during the vapid trip to town, but they availed them noth- ing. When Bob ran the Polly up alongside the principal wharf, he saw two loungers on a Strin- ~~ ger and he called them over. Hastily explaining Three officers responded, the cabin door was un locked and. after a struggle the two scoundrels: were subdued, hand-cuffed and conveyed to jail. In due time two indictments were brought against them, and they were tried on the chief one—their attempt to deliberately murder’ Bo: on the railroad. With the help of Dave’s evi dence they were easily convicted and they got twenty years in State prison. The other indict- ment—the lighthouse affair—was. allowed. to hang over their heads, and ‘on this they eventually be tried and convicted if they survive their present term. Bob was the hero of the hour. His rescue of the Marr family from the wrecked yacht, and Mabel from a watery grave; his he- roic work at thé lighthouse on the night of the gale; his-daring climb of Bald Cliff; his narrow escape from death on the railroad track, and last his. capture of Murray Loper and Jerry Coombs unassisted, were all printed in the Rockport papers and copied not only by most of the Michi- __ gan papers, but by the chief dailies of the coun- — try and Canada. He received two gold medals from the Marquette Humane Society, and a suit- able recognition from the Treasury Departm at Washington. The town of Rockport also vote him $1,000 in gold. He received a magnificen watch and other presents from the membets of the Marr family, and in the fall accepted a ation in the Detroit bank of which Maxwell Ma: was president. He became a regular visitor at the Marr home in Detroit, and it was soon ae tent that he*had the inside track of all Mab ; male acquaintances. Bob is now receiving teller at the bank, with every prospect of eventually becoming cashier of the institution. He has become engaged to Mabel, with the consent and approval of her parents, and it is general]; derstood that they will be married next May Captain Coffin is still alive and is living witl Bob in Detroit. Dick Wilton is also in Detroit, working as a clerk in big insurance agen Begs

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BUCKSKIN BILL, THE COWBOY Taare PRINCE ; : Far : _— The Rough Riders of the Ranch By GASTON GARNE 2 ’ 5) (A Serial Story.)’ 4 CHAPTER XX.—(Continued)” _ : 3 “The marks are in the leather, all right, and no doubt he emptied his poison glands into that boot. Had it gone into your foot by this time it would have been swollen.” ; “As there is no swelling I can consider myself jn no danger, sir. I was not sure of it until just now, though.” : _ And Bill put on his stocking and boot again. “Well,” said the colonel, “now that we know where the gang of outlaws is, hadn’t we better -get to work at putting them out of business? You know how slippery they are. If we dillydally oo long they may get away from us, you know.” “Call the men all- down in the valley, and we can then lay out our plan of attack,” answered - Bill. It was when the colonel did this and the rough- riders flocked to the valley that Flood was*escap- ng and saw them. It was decided that an attack be made upon he main entrance to the cave, but when they eached it they discovered that their birds had Town. - “Not a soul here!” exclaimed Colonel Briggs, in ~ disgust. : ; “They must have flew from Bald Bluff while "we were in the valley, then,” remarked Bill. “Let’s see if we can find their trail.” This proved to be an easy task. he trail led them down to the glen, where the bandits had kept their mustangs, and Bill yw shouted : 3 “They've got their nags and have gone down ' toward the range.” “Can you trail them?” * 4 demanded the ccionel Easily. Follow me, everybody.” “And the whole gang dashed away. «When they came in sight of the ranch-house and saw it-all a mass of roaring fiames, Bill’s eart seemed to almost stop beating from alarm. ~ “My mother!” he gasped, turning pale. “Have no alarm,” replied the colonel, kindly. Here she comes now with Hop High, the China- er nd sure enough, there was Mrs. Howland and cook hurrying toward them ona run. “That fire is some of Jim Yord’s work,’ ex- med Bill, in furious tones. “The outlaws’ trail venge.” ; ‘ ks that way, Bil.” +s s!” shouted the young rancher, “help me » the house. If we can’t do that we can FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY .~ this way proves it. Colonel, this is a case - 23 certainly save the other buildings. Form a buck- et brigade at the spring. A shout of assent was the response. Just then Mrs. Howland reached them, and Bill cried anxiously: “Are you injured, mother?” : “Not a bit, my son. I’ve saved our valuables, 00. “Good enough. Who set fire to the house?” “Flood and his men.” ~~ “We are going to try to save it.” They dashed on, leaving her behind, and reach- ed the burning building, where they reined in and} alighted. Most of the cowboys knew where the buckets were stored, and in a few minutes they were’ ~ attacking the flames. : It was a stubborn fight and lasted an hour, but the last spark was finally put out and the amount’ of the damage ascertained. One end of the building was all burned away, and Bill at’ once gave orders to some of his men to repair it. Colonel Briggs offered to shelter the widow at his ranch and rode away with her, while the other cattlemen dispersed. By questioning his mother closely the boy found out that Flood’s gang had gone off in the direc- ~ tion of Crows’ Nest. Bill now called some of his men. “The rest have gone off in despair of corrading Flood,” said the boy, ‘but I have no intention of) giving up. Now I want just twenty of you to ride! over to Crows’ Nest with me to see if we can’t bring them to book.” Every man volunteered to go, but Bill selected those of the rough-riders whom he wanted, and on they went. : Upon drawing near the railroad station they _ ‘saw that a train was fast approaching. . One of Flood’s men stood out at the track way- ing a red lantern, and the rest were hidden inside the station. Near by their horses’ were hitched to a rail fence, and as soon as Bill saw this he cried: “They are going to hold up the train.” “By Jove, you are right, boy,” éried Briggs. “We have arrived just in time to check that plan.” “Wait!” said Bill. “Let’s-catch them in the act.’ Along came the train, her locomotive whistle blowing, and it began to rapidly slacken speed. In a few moments it paused at the station, when in an instant out rushed Flood’s gang, yelling _ like mad. Planting themselves on each side of the cab, two of the gang flung up their rifles and covered the engineer and fireman. : ‘Put a hand on those levers and you are dead men,” bawled Flood. “Hold ’em, pards. Now — then, the rest cut out that baggage an’ locomotive. Step lively there!” ; Passengers, with scared faces, stuck their — -heads out of the car windows, but seeing that sgang of armed and desperate-looking rascals swarming around, they withdrew at once. There was a panic in the passenger cars. : While this was going on the baggage-car was _ uncoupled from the rest of the train, and Flood yelled to his men: ee TEMP Bs oe “All aboard! We'll make this yere engine pall. Zan 4 oi - XE ;*+ : #- Se ee ich pS et Se ae,

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24 us up the road a bit and then we'll go fer ther money.” But just then Bill and his rough-riders charged on the gang, mounted on their bronchos. CHAPTER XXI. Getting The Money. “Jim Flood! Hey, Jim Flood!” shouted Bill. “Throw up your. hands and surrender or we'll let go and drop you!” . The bandit scowled and, leaping into the loco- motive cab, he cast a swift glance backward and saw that. all his men were on the cars. Then he roared at the engineer: “Start her off quick!” He made a threatening gesture with his pistol, and the engineer grasped the throttle, and the wheels began to turn. Bang, bang The a Pane! had begun to fire at Bill and his rough-riders. Bang, bang, bang! came the answering shots, and bullets hissed around both parties. No one was hit at the first fire. Meanwhile the locomotive was rapidly gather- ing speed and began to run ae from the bron- chos. There were more shots. But even these ceased’as the cars swept out of range, and Flood smiled grimly and remarked: “Thet’s ther end o’ them fer a while, boys.” The locomotive ran along for about five miles, Several of the bandits were in the baggage-car threatenong the baggage-master, but not a word ‘was spoken, When Flood was watiafled that they were safe from pursuit he said to the engineer: ‘Stop her!” His order was obeyed. Then all the rascals entered the baggage-car. It contained some trunks, valises and parcels but there was no sign of a safe, and Flood looked annoyed. He confronted the baggage-master and de- manded: “Ain't this ther Deadwood express?” WEE: is.” 3 “Whar’s ther valuabes?” ‘Ain’t got none.’ “No bank’s cash or gild ore?” “Nothing | t all, boss.” ‘Well, we’ if see about thet. them trunks.” Several of the gang obeyed him, but to his dis- gust Flood saw that they contained passengers’ clothing. , He fixed an ugly look upon the baggage-mas- er. bis reckon you’ve hid ther valuables,” said he, “No, no,” protested the man. “We carry none.” ‘Oh, thet’s all right, pard. As long as we got nuthin’ fer our trouble I reckon we'll truss yer up in here an’ blow, up ae hull car with a few ~ sticks of dynamine. ‘Sorry ter send yer ter glory, my friend, but we’ve got ter git square with some- body fer disappointin’ us this way, yer know. Hey, cs Nick, ‘tie him up.” Beys, bust open - sheriff!” : r i z bagut ye xete: 3 My cen eee r Vale "FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY The baggage-master turned very pale,’ oid pee gan to tremble, for he knew how cold- blooded these wretches were. tea One of the gang secured him. tS He was roughly thrown over on the floor. ae “Dan,” bawled Flood, “jist put some o’ yer dyn- amite under this yere car. I’m a-goin’ ter blow it ter pieces.’ One of the men leaped to the ground. Scarcely had he done so when he gave a warn- ing yell, and there sounded the r-=ble of wheels. ‘The engineer is running away with the loco- motive!” And such was the case. Left untuarded, the engineer had’ sent ‘the aa stoker to quietly uncouple the locomotive from” the baggage-car. It was done without alarming any one. Then they put on steam and drove the engine away. A roar of fury escaped Flood, and he rushed to the side door, leaned out and saw the loco- motive speeding away. “Blast ’em!” he howled, “they’ll bring back ther “We have no horses, either,” great one oF the men, dismally. They. were mad enough to swear. * “Got the dynamite ready, Nick?” demanded Flood. > “All ready,” came the reply from under the car. The unfortunate baggage-master groaned and burst into a cold sweat over his peril. “See here!” he gasped, “don’t murder me!” “Yer a-goin’ up in two minutes,” growled Flood, savagely. - “Well, my life is worth money.” “How much?” “Will you let me life if I tell you where I ack fen hidden the valuables we are carrying?” “Yes. I knowed I’d fetch yer ter time.” TS “All right. Release me and Ill tell you.” Flood cut his bonds, and the gang gathered around him. The poor fellow rose to his feet, feeling de- jected, and lifted a small trap-door in the floor of the car. Pointing into the dark opening, he said in- husky tones: “In that hale lies a’ box of money.” Flood could hardly suppress a cry of delight as’ he dropped on his knees beside the. opening and’ thrust in both hands. He pulled out a big japanned tin box.. aS “Hyer it ist” Flood cried. “Gimme ther key: “J haven’t got it,” replied the bazgazemaste “Oh, well, we kin bust it open.” “Can I go now?” “Yes, Git!” With a feeling of relief the man left the car ‘and ran down the track at the top of his spee Flood and his men broke open the box, and a yell of delight escaped them when they saw that it contained many bundles of banknotes, amou ing to several thousand dollars. _ fo aes (To be continued.) f paw =

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* “TRAINLOADS OF BRICK FOR CONTEST OF FOUR FASTEST BRICKLAYERS : A bricklayinge derby is in the making—if mzen- _. ufacturers can supvly the bricks—on a road from - Guthrie to Edmond, Oklahoma. Three men have _ declared themselves. contestants and efforts are being made to obtain a fourth, whose claim to the crown recently brought challenges from the m. GT10, The problem of obtaining sufficient bricks is no small one. A freight car contains 25,000 pricks, and each of the trio claims a record of more than 50,000 daily. The three announced contestants are B. H. Johnson of Oklahoma Crty and “Slim” Peterson of Arkansas City, Kan., each claiming he can put down more than 50,000 pricks in eight hours, and Tony Glassoo of Cov- ington, Okla., who claims a record of 69,0U0. An attempt is being made to have James Brown f Kansas City, whose claim to 36,000 started the argument, enter the contest. — : Each contestant must furnish his own crew of helpers. A purse pf $200 is offered, the winner to take $100 and the remainder to be divided ~ among those “placing” and “showing.” ; COMPLETE ADDRESS FOR MAIL ' The Post Office Department has for some time past been conducting an intensive and nation- wide campaign with the view to having mail ~ plainly, completely and correctly addressed. The cooperation of merchants and other business or- - panizations is earnestly solicited. Merchants and others in business can aid materially by including “their letter and bill heads, and other statfon- ahd also in. all advertisements, in magazines and . newspapers, their\complete street address. _ In effecting delivery of mail in large! cities, it ust be first distributed to station districts and then to the carrier routes. It is obvious that “mail is more expeditiously distributed by street : tions; where, if the, street number is. used correct distribution may be mage quickly without egard to the name of the firm or office building. ‘fo expedite the handling and distribution of il, there are employed large forces of clerks night and in the early morning hours, and a siderable quantity of mail is distributed to ns by railway mail clerks, in order that it be ready for delivery immediately upon ing the post office of address, and the co- ration of patrons in using building numbers istead of, or in addition to, building’ names will e this great force of men to make more fective ig ee ; as ae » practice o. ressing mail to an av cect eee tends to confuse the distributor promotes delays in delivery. ‘Many of the % SA Ae e, FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY ~ GOOD READING , particularly order blanks, envelopes, etc., 25 intersecting corners of streets and avenues are located within the territory of two or more postal station. delivery districts. Without definite street number the mail may be missent @nd subsequent- ly further delayed by being assorted to the wrung carrier route, several different carrier routes serving the mail for the various corners. ‘The proper way is to address mail to house number and street. - The inclusion of the number of the room, as well as the building number and name or street, enables the carrier promptly to route such mail for proper delivery, and that this is especially true when an Snexperienced substitute carrier is working in place of the regular carrier, or when a new carrier is assigned to the route, which might result in the mail being sent to the direc- tory section for proper address, necessitating further delay in delivery. Railway mail clerks make distribution enreute on trains on railroad lines terminating in States distant from here. Many of these. mail clerks have probably never visited this city. The scheme of distribution they study is based on street or avenue address, house numbers being a necessary and imvortant factor. Merchants, firms or other patrons, who receive mail through post office boxes, should print the number of their post office box and postal station. district on their stationery as their mail address, otherwise delays will result. As previously in- dicated, mail is distributed according to street address, and if the lock box number is omitted, the mail is sorted to the carrier and-he read- dresses or relays the mail to the lock box win- dow, thus making an additional handling involv- ing delay which could be avoided. : : The foregoing suggestions, relative to ad- dresses on mail intended for delivery at business places, applies in equal force to matter directed to apartment houses. It is a distinct advantuge to include im the address the street and number of, the apartment, building, also the apartment or suite number. ~ ‘ : Cooperation by merchants and business con- cerns generally,, alone the lines indicated, will result in expeditious handling and delivery of mail frequently avoiding many hours delay. Many | firms and corporations have titles that appear similar, and the street location and number will often prevent wrong delivery. The Postmaster will be glad to furnish further information if desired. The help and cooperation of the public will be greatly appreciated. —John J. Kiely, Postmaster. “Moving Picture Stories” A Weekly, Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Players PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY Each number contains Three Stories of the Best Vilms on the Sereen—Hlegant Half-tone Scenes from the Plays —Interesting Articles About Prominent People in, the Films—Doings of Actors and Actresses in the Studio and Lessons in Scenario Writing. HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. 166 West 23d Street «= New York City bbe ae eo Cat

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26 NEW YORK, OCTOBER 9, 1925 LERMS TO SUBSCKiprEKS —_—_ Biighe “COPiess «ioc soa ve wsaddocsd Postage Bree 5 Cents One copy LhreegMonths oe 00 Uue Copy pix Montits.........+ 2.00 Une Copy One Year. .csseseecee ba is 4.00 * Canadu, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. HOW TO SEND MONEY — At our risk send P. O. Money Order, Check or Kegistered Letter; remittances in any other way aré®at your risk. We accept Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending Silver Wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envelope. rite your name and address plainly. Address letters to _ ; Marry EK, Wolff, Pres, HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc., Charles, H. Nylander, Sec. 166 W. 23d St. N.Y LL, F, Wilsin, Treas. ITEMS OF INTEREST PLENTY BANANAS Nearly 50,000,000 stems of bananas are ship- ped from the West Indies to the United Staves each year. It requires eighteen months to plant and mature the fruit. WATERPROOFING BY ELECTROPLATING Fabrics are now ‘waterproofed by plating with a thin coat of rubber, the process much resem- bling the ordinary electroplating of metals. The process is said to simplify the waterproofing of garments to a great degree.. CELLULOID, HIPPOPOTAMUS A celluloid hippopotamus is the latest thing in teres ‘art, according to Popular Science Monthly. Heretofore the hippo has defied. the ~ skill of taxidermists because it could not be reproduced with convincing realism. But now L, L. Walters, of the Field Museum of Natural History of Chicago, Ill., has discovered a meth- od of using celluloid to produce translucent: co- lor effects that are said to have almost the sem- blance of living flesh and blood’ Using this meth- od he is constructing a remarkably lifelike re- production of a hippo, in which the real hairs are embedded in the celluloid. THE ORIGIN OF THE MOON The earth is the parent of the moon in more than a poetic sense, in the opinion of Dr. R. H. Rastall, leeturer in enonomic geology at the Uni- versity of Cambridge, who recently announced a theory that our satellite is made. of material that was once part of the earth’s crust. Doctor Rastail’s theory; however, differs from ‘that of Sir George Darwin and others who have previously made similar suggestions, for he thinks that a layer of the earth’s crust, about forty-one miles thick and covering about two-thirds’ of its - total area, was peeled off by the attraction of the sun. This tidal action of the sun was effective while the crust was still in a plastic state, and the moon’s own gravitational attraction caused it _ to roll up into a ba!l of the form that we now see gn the sky. The crus‘al area a on the earth accel ‘the. continents. ee : FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY ‘Mother promptly rendered first aid, but qT fell down higher “up!” “This theory also accounts for the fact ‘hank while, according to generally accepted ijanate a masses of lighter density such as make up the — earthly continents should cover the entire sur- face of the globe, they actually cover only about — a third, the missing two-thirds consisting of the — moon. Measurements of the moon’s density by its effect on the earth show that it is about three — and a half times as heavy as. an equal volume of water. This is more dense than the average for the continental land masses, but Doctor Rastall assumes that at the time of the disruption some of the heavier underlying material was also” SOR away. The new theory also fits in with the ideay te : cently set forth by a German geologist, Prof. Alfred Wegener, who believes the American Con- tinent was originally united with Europe and Africa, and that it floated away to its presen place. This would not have been possible so long as the entire earth was covered with such a crush, but after the moon had been torn away it was possible for the continents to separate from their long embrace. -LAUGHS “When you said~you’d give a penny for thoughts, did you think there were million ideas in them?” “No; it was just a cent-I-meant.’ Kathryn—Kate says you would not be looking if it wasn’t-for’your nose. Kitty— about hers? I’d rather have my nose than. of hers. et “Have a good time on your vacation?” “Sp did. You‘don’t know what a relief it was to m to see my husband spend a dollar or two wit! u grumbling.” : Wife—Everything is getting bialien Huak n —Oh, I don’t know. There’s your opinion of and my opinion of yeu, and the neighbors’ 0 in- ion of both of us. “Are you a good baseball player?” “Ny, a prohibitionist.”. “What’s that got to do ] it?” “Well, I don’t like a high be and I nev touch a drop.” ry Why is a postage stamp a ee unfortw thine? ‘Though it stick to its duties to the» letter, it gets its head punched, its face di and a good licking. Sandy was walking along the road - thought,-and it was his minister who him to earth again with: “Halloa, Sandy! ing of the future, eh?” “No,” replied o moodily. “To- -morrow’s the wife’s birthe I’m thinking o’ the he ee Peon Little Cissie had fallen down and cut h was rather dark and she could not see properly, she consequently placed th rather too low. “Oh, mummie,” com child. “This bandage is not in an che + TRS

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See PEARL FROM HERRINGS __, Using the scales of herring as material, manu- _ dacturers are now turning out artificial pearls that sell for as high as $200 each, Only experts _ can tell them from the genuine. - HEAVY AUTOMOBILE CASUALTY LIST __ Twenty-six thousand lives, nearly five times _ the number killed on both sides in the Battle of _ Gettysburg, were lost in traffic accidents during _ the last year. In addition, more than 700;000 _ persons were injured permanently from the - Same. cause. -.._More than a third of the auto victims were _ children. ‘Smashed automobiles and other prup- _ erty destroyed in traffic accidents amounted to _ the appalling sum of $1,000,000,000. te WEIGHT LIFTING HITS OMAHA The weight lifting craze originating in Omaha has affected Red Oak, Iowa, ice men, remarks _ “The Omaha Bee.” Joe Vaughn, twenty, weigh- g 147 pounds, recently carried two cakes of cé totaling 600 pounds for a distance of 15 feet. ‘Joe also toted 500 pounds of ice for 54 feet id claims the championship among all ice men his age and weight. ED PEPPER SAVES FROM SUFFOCATION Red pepper that makes you sneeze has found 1 respectable and worthy use in ‘the world, says _ Popular Science monthly. It can save human life. Capt. Frank B. Gorin, Secretary. of the) Chemical Warfare Association, recently disclosed this dis- LV. ; ! . : volatile oil is derived from the red pepper. This can be mixed with the illuminating gas that ws. through your gas mains. Then if the flame uld blow out and gas escape into a room any breathing it is seized with such violent burn- g of the eyes and coughing that he has to run re ie the.gas laden atmosphere. Thus accidental xiation is prevented. x WORLD’S FOOD ANIMALS here are at present about 65,000,000 heads of -eattle in the United States, or about half an animal per capta. Only one other country has a geer herd, and that is India, which has 140,- nd Brazil, next, with almost as many. Austria as but 15,000,000 head of cattle and France and ermany even fewer. America has today nearly ),000,000 sheep, but Australia has double the #, and Argentine almost as many as the ae | FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY CURRENT NEWS | 00, Argéntine ranks third ‘with 40,000,000, - United States. The number of swine grown in the United States totals 60,000,000. No other country has even one fourth as many. In spite -of New York’s vote for corned beef and cabbage more pork is eaten in the United States than any other meat. ; 3 OLD WALL STREET BUILDING STILL USED AS DWELLING In Wall Street, one of the best known streets in the world, whose very name wherever spoken implies wealth and power, there is a building that more than a hundred ago was a pretentious private dwelling, and even today one floor is occupied ‘as an apartment. It is No. 121 and it stands at the corner of Wall and South streets, a little three-story brick structure built in 1811. The ground floor at the corner is occupied by a modest lunch counter, patronized principally by laborers about the docks. The two floors above contain small offices, and the top floor is occupied by one of Wall Street’s business men and his family. He is the sole head of a business house that in the course of a year, like many other ~ Wall Street houses, handles millions. His mil- lions are not dollars, however, but peanuts, cigur- ettes and lollypops, if business iS good, as it usually is at his little stand near the corner. The brick walls of No. 121 are not exactiy plumb and in several places have sagged. When the house was built there was a beautiful little grassy plaza in front, where residents of tne neighborhood gathered to gossip on pleasant eve- nings, for Wall Street in those days contained about as many private residences as business places. Looking backward over the years that have passed since this little brick residence was built, gre notes the many changes that have been made the architecture of the street. The old Mer- chant’s Exchange stood on the ground now occu- pied by the National .City Bank. This building was destroyed by the disastrous fire of 1835 and another building was erected. The new building was occupied by the New York Stock Exchange until 1854. The site was afterward o¢cupied by the Custom House until 1891, when the National City Bank purchased the property. In 1811 the old City Hall, afterward known as Federal Hall, was standing at the corner of Wall and William ‘streets.. Here Washington was ° inaugurated @s the first President of the. United States on April 30, 1789. The building was tom down in 1812. To record the ‘changes in’ the architectural appearance since the little briek house was built in-1811 would fill a volume. and a record. of its various occupants would probably fill another good-sized volume. The financiers of the beginning of the last century would be looked upon as “pikers” now. - : The little brick residence at No. 121 will in the near future become a victim of the resistless march of progress. A few years ago it was bought, along with adjoining property, by a large industrial corporation, which intends to erect on the site a modern skyscraper. <F55 fo

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28 FROM ALL POINTS ' POLITICIAN IN BULLFIGHT Politics seems tame now to Hamilton G. bed- rick, new Republican State Committeeman for Salem County, N. J. who has just returned from Europe, where he dodged a bull in a Spanish’ arena. Mr. Pedrick is an ‘enthusiastic amateur photographer. While watching a bull fight from an amphitheatre he saw a chance for some good pictures. According to the story told by his trav- eling companions, Mr. Pedrick got out into a lane between the bull ring and the grand stand. While he was focusing upon the ring a bull that had got loose charged him. ; Mr. Pedrick vaulted the high fence to escape and landed in the dust of the arena. ‘The bull came around the fence while the gallery looked on. Mr. Pedrick did not pause to play toreador, his friends said, for the -bull grazed him by a few inches. He dashed to the protecting fence, sealed it safely and an attendant slammed the . gate and kept the bull inside. _ ° SEEKING FREAK TREES Eight cash prizes will be awarded ‘for proto- graphs of unusual or freak trees by the New York ‘State College of Forestry at Syracuse Uni- versity. The prizes will be divided as follows: First, $5; second, $4; third, $3; fourth, $2, and four prizes of $1 each. e photographs must show trees growing within the boundaries of New York State, although any citizen of the United States’may submit a picture. The contest is open now and will close Dee. 1. Each contestant should attach to the pNotograph submitted a description of the tree, its species and location, stated as accurately and completely as possible. Photographs not accompanied with this information will be disqualified. All pictures should be addressed to the Contest Editor, New York State College of Forestry, Syracuse, N. Y, SAND-CASTLE BUILDING FAD At the innumerable seaside resorts which dot ‘the coasts of the North and Baltic seas one of the favorite pastimes for young and old this season is the construction of so-called sand-castles, or mounds of sand piled up in odd and fantastic shapes and often adorned with figures and in- scriptions in the form of mosaics made out of colored stones, pebbles and shells found in the beach. z This pastime is now so much of aefad that keen competition among guests at various seaside re- sorts has led managers of resort hotels to offer prizes for the most artistic designs. Art com- missions are. chosen from the hotel’s guests, and they carefully inspect the hundreds of sand-cas- ee at the resort and award prizes to the three Sst. : : ra : , - On more than one occasion unusual talent has been discovered where least expected, and in some eases these discoveries are likely to dead to ca- reers as architects, designers, painters or sculp- tors, designers, painters or sculptors for the win- - ners.:.-F , "Building sand-castles, besides being good sport, “sun baths. . is said to afford healthfu FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY ‘SECRET SERVICE Grand and Thrilling Detective Stories By OLD KING BRADY : Price 10 Cents 3 2 We can still supply the following numbers _ of the above Weekly sy: 1388 Lhe Bradys und the Subway Mystery; or, Tracking a Gang of Counterfeiters. c 5 ARS. 1339 “ and the White Band; or, The Sign of the Sil-— vér Cross, : 1310“ and Lock Box No. 11; or, Solving @ Post-Ottice . y V5 r 5 1341 “ and tle Yellow Crooks; or, The Ch or tl Chinese Pinmonds. coe for 1342 “ Strangest Case; or, The Skeleton in the .Wel 1343 “ and the School Boy; or, Het Work on th beet Case. mF ie ga 3 1344 “ and the Forged Check; or, -Convict by Ink _Mark. = eS 1345 “ Best Trick: or, The Clue in the Glass Jar. 1343“ and the Cracksmen; or, A Desperate Game fo Millions. Ls 1347 in ste Coat Mine; or, The Mystery of Shaft 0. ree Cas 1348 “ and the Voodoo. Queen; or, A Dark Case San Juan Hill of 1349 “ ang the Boy Spy; or, Solving a Seeret of Seve ears. DS 1350. “ and the Missing Money; or, Shadowing a Su : pected Man. ~ : = 1351 “ Chinatown Case; or, The Hidden Den of 2 rr ene De ble D : 13852. “ and e Doubte Daggers; or, The Secret . of Vengeance. t sche ae 1353 © and “Old Breaklock”; or, Trapping a Despera Crook. ; pies The price of the following numbers 13 7 Cents 1854 “ Ona Raid; or, Rounding Up the Cireus ak fae 1855 ‘ and the Snake Charmer; or, The Soe eae ge Sta of Mott Street. a ae 1350 “ Tracking a Skeleton Arm; or, The Cle as ms oes : : : “and the Factory Roy; or, The Myst ' the Mill Pond. «i a“ . » 1361 nPlot. Poisoned Pen; or, Foiling a Despera 1362°* hasing the Black Crook; or, Solving 1363 a‘! ahs pene ss Th ics é *-and the Banker’s Boy; or, Kidnap, Mulberry Bend. z . ae 1364 “ After the Gold Brick Man; or, Chasing of Swindlers. : 1365 * and_the Diamond Heart; or, The My: a Mummy Pepys 1366 “ ‘Red Glove Clew; or, The Secret Band of Sey 1367 ‘ and the Man Next Door; t < ay. on High Street. i ad vet 1368 - “ Case in Chinatown; or, T 4 a 1360 “And the Mad Barbs acke Oo * “An e Ma arber; or, 1 ‘ g hey or, Solving vi Sing 1370 “ Six* Days’ Chase; or, Running Down ‘hi rook. : - pba 1972 ya) cae Black Dwarf; or, Working Up a ev, - 13725“ Mpaked Foe: or, The Man With the : finger. ; 1373 * and the Sneak Thieves; or, Runni : Red Hook Gang } pig pee 1374 “ Working a “Blind’’; or, The Seecre Sealed Room. a Any of the above numbers will be, mailed postage free, upon receipt of the price in mon postage stamps. F , Sone ; HARRY E. WOLFF, PUBLISHER, 1 “Tob West 0rd Street, they hs New Yo xX, i , <i

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‘GROW WHISK- _KERS TO MAS- TER WOMEN 3 Young men ~ who are_ seeking - favor with girls are advised to grow bushy ~ whiskers like the eave men used to wear by» Arthur Ponsonby, mem- ber of Parlia- ~ ment. London, England, who » writes, amusingly ‘in the Empire Review, contend- ing that the mod+ ern male is in- clined to become ~ effeminate. “The whisker- ‘less young men of _ ‘today are domi- - nated by the girls, and will- ingly. submit,” writes Mr. Pon- He s gests that suitors would -be much _ better off if they all grew beards, but ‘adds that if - oubtful- whether thevy-would be able to do so. “Tt is very no- see the girl stride a with the air of ded from her and behind rots the es- She ordérs / meal, and if she ‘will do tt. one of the ered gentlo- oe | cost. 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 AGENTS WANTED VLE PROVE to you tliat you can make $96 a week taking orders for Jennings» Guar- anteed Hosiery. I furnish complete equip- ment and offer you an Essex Coach without ‘Write now. The Frank B. Jennings Co.; Dept. L222, Dayton, Ohio. SELLER — Cost 10¢, Experi- NEW WONDERFUL profit $1.40 monograming autos. ence unnecessary. Free samples. Monograms, B 134, Worcester, Mass. AGENTS—WRITE FOR FREE SAMPLES. Sell Madison “Better-Made” shirts for large Manufacturer, direct to wearer. No capital, or experience required. Many earn $100 weekly and bonus. Madison Mfgrs., 503 Broadway, New York. NEW CAMERA takes and finishes photos in one minute. Make money selling cam- eras, or taking photos. Hxclusive 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., A8l, Val-Style Building, Cincinnati, 0. HELP WANTED DETECTIVES needed everywhere. Big pay experience unnecessary, easily learned 4 to 45, write Harl Wilcox, 1407 Lafayette ve, SE, Grand Rapids, Mich. DETECTIVES NEEDED ey erence: Work home or travel, mods ence unneces- sary. Write George R. agner, former Govt. Detective, 1968 Broadway, N, Y. SILVERING Mirrors. French plate. Hasily learned; immense profits. Plans free. Wear Mirror Works, Excelsior Springs, Mo. PERSONAL ARE YOU LONESOME? Write Betty Lee, Ine., Box 820 City Hall Station, New York City. Stamp appreciated. HUNDREDS seeking marriage. If sincere enclose stamp. Mrs. F. Willard, 2928 Broadway, Chicago, Illinois. LONELY HEARTS—I have a sweetheart for wees Exchange letters: cient, confidential an Members everywhere. Jacksonville, inake new friends, dignified service. ave Moore, Box 908, Florida. Worcester COME TO FLORIDA—Marry lonely maiden. Wealthy. League, Box 89, Oxford, Fla. MARRY IF LONELY “Home Maker’; bun- dreds rich; reliable, years experienea: de- scriptions free. The Successful Club, Box $56, Oakland. California. MARRIAGE PAPER—20th year. Biz issue with descriptions, photos, names and ad- dresses. 25 cents, No other fee. Sent sealed. Box 2265, R, Boston, Mass. MARRY—Free photographs. directory descriptions of wealthy members. when married. New Plan Co., Dept. Kansas City, Mo. eS i es i ee COME TO FLORIDA—Marry lonely maiden, wealthy. League, Box 39, Oxford, Fla. and Pay 36, MARRY—MARRIAGE DIRECTORY with photos and descriptions free. Pay when married. The Hxchange, _— 545, Kansas City, Mo. MARRY-—Write for big new directory with photos and =F Ya) Too, a National ‘enc Dept. Sta. BH. Kansas hy. Kio. ATTRACTIVE YOUNG LADY worth $25.000, lonely, will marry. (R.C.) B-1022, Wich- ita, Kansas. GET A SWEETHEART. Exchange letters, ‘Write me enclosing stamp. Violet Ray, Dennison, Ohio. Spc BE ne cp eee ee Sa ea, MARRY—Lonely Hearts, join our club. 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, Tl. a. SWEETHEARTS for everybody. Stamped envelopes for proposal. The Lily Club, Station H. Cleveland, Ohio. 7 COME TO FLORIDA—Marry jones maiden, wealthy. League, Box 39, Oxford, Fla. MISCELLANEOUS ~ WOULD YOU like to know what day of the. week you were born? Send age, birthday and a dime (coin) and I will tell you. Hayes, Box 137, Newberry, 8. C. SONGWRITERS SEND TODAY for free copy Writer’s Di- gest; tells how to write and sell short stories, eo ee poems, songs. Writer’s Digest, &-22 h St. Cincinnati. t standing. Use like toilet water. Elegant for men after oh E. S. GIVENS yz IMPLE Blackheads—Acne Eruptions Now Are Easily Removed at Home at a — Cost! Banish those unsightly blemishes easilyand quickly by using “CLEAR-TONE”—a simple home treat- ‘ment that has cured chronic cases of long years Leavés the skin} » clear, smooth and without a blemish. Has made many friends with men, women and children. lf you have a else. Soom a patidiee Pimples, Blackheads = Eruptions onthe facé or body, Barbers itch, Eczema, Enlarged Hares, Ot pay" or Shiny Gici-nevet mind how ONE” has cured the worst cases I ever Wrorase tol coven, wn ith* Sn salle hes eae Saw. Tndorsed i dru: ts, barbers and over 100, WoMen's fa succeeded wi te s arrasame: iH SAYS 1 CAN KANSAS CITY, mo.

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tons. or swi! mneake your own sises, 500 and $1 postpaid. Serp npenig pe a Roll your own and snve money. Makes thom biter and quicker bealdes caving more than half. Use your favorite brand of tobacco. Nont, uséful and handy. Pooket se, rejebs, 44 om. Mado. entirely of metal, uickol-plated. Price 25c postpald. MIDGET BIBLE cbniosiry urallons Bitte inthe World, Size of s poste n i ord Tnok te | the owner, c genuine work of art. Must 0 geen to be ap solling thom to $1.38, 100, (oF $7.80. insti, Bindine, with gold, edges,’ Price 30 i. «! or oe! Ss for uso with Midget Bible, 180. Withabunch of these bills, itis easy for each person of limited means to appear poaneene y lashing a roll of these bills at the = proper time and peeling off a genuine Pail or two from the outside of the roll, the effect created will be found to be all that can be desired. Prices, postpaid: 40 Bills 20c,125 for 50c, or $3.50 thousand postpaid. Wonderful X- «Ray Tube a ohare instrument > pone opt cal illusions both surprising an i startling. With you oan 906 what fo, fo. 9 spe peated ite ay irlor 0} io similar “isin boon able to Bitor2So, t dos . Pp lated. wince on money rionds, ohurob Reguaintences, for 4 12 for ‘Algo obtafaable fa i a {netorily 780. Johnson Smith & Cor and Novel Design i AVERY aipikie; and uncommon ring. Silver fini ‘ish, alcull ance orossbone Sesign, with, two brill lashing geme oparkli Good out of the oyen, by many to bring Goo pel to the wearer, honoe its name, Good Luck Ringe Very unique ring ee Ce will take a pride in weorlng. .ONLY Address orders for all good: JOHNSON SMITH Dept. 428 oe Ete., latest discove: a the ecient: Dopt. 428, Exploding Cigarettes | JUST LIKE ORDINARY CIGARETTES. BUT SUCH REAL STARTLERS! The box eons ten gonuine cigarettes of excollent ality. They appear ao real, but when each P igarotto Janbout one-third amoked, tho victim ps a rer Ct baa? surprise a6 it goes off with a oud Bi A grent mirth provoker yot sarely pearaleies £.Price 25c per.box, Popular Watch Charms ONLY _ B for 40c; $1.35 doz, Vary, pretty little ourfositio: and do novel. Fitted with Magnifying desided enlarge the pictures ton Nery sur; Siok derroo; in fact, it noo Y ible the $0 clear picture could is ia ery a adi com~= pass, and how sharp and distinct they show up when you look ARERR Come in nassortad views—Aotre: views of Panama Canal, Lord's Prayer in type, oto. Mystic Skeleton A jointed figure of @ skeleton 14 3Oe in, in height, will dance to music and perform va- rious gyrations and movements while the «oper- atormay besome distance from it. - NEW BOOK ON ROPE SPLICING Useful Knots, Hitches, Splices, etc. A most Leonaey handbook Siving complete and simple rootions for making all the moat Cy knota,. itches, ¢ rigging, splices, eto. ; Over Bij 100 illustrations. wit Vabout WY yrire ro} attachments, lash ing, blocks, tackles, Si Heralds, Knots’ illus: tral es eat value to mechanics, ri ers, carapereé boatmen, Price 20c ppd. MAGIC FLUTE gga Sweet Toned and Musical The Magio Flute, or Humans | © atone, js a unique and novel ae seatecneetss that play: en a nose and mouth somite knack seeeye just, o im in, it which, when ones ao is no fingering; and once i6 you can play all aoe of and Wh to 4 pinno the effect is this page to & CO. RACINE, WIS. AD Edit ft 1925 CATALOG mailed on receipt of 25c. Renecne Sion binding. Only book of Its kind. 420 pages of ali the Jat- est tri ig boo ks In magic, the newest novelties, puzzles, games, sporting goods, . curiosities in seeds and plants, etc., unprocurable BLANK CARTRIDGE PISTOL Protection against Burglars, cena & Doge a Price " s)Biger d Woll mado and effective; oe led on Intest type Revolver; appearance me is onough to sears & burgie, WwW en f <= mw § be as effective rovolvor mith at Ghcaet to life. It standard .22 Cal. Biante Cartridges obtuinable arene ieee Mg dy ah “9 egetas ate. none ° by express, 50c per . Holster (Cow! 0) Blank Carteidve Pistol, SGorpostpaid. 3 Johnson Smith & Co., Dept, 428, BoYs! BOYS! THROW YOUR VOICE Into a trunk, under My Hg the bed or any- Ey where, Lots of fun Up fooling. the teach- ‘ier, policeman or 0 friends. f THE VENTRILO a Httle Instrument, fits in the mouth. out of! é sight, used with abovel¥ » for Bird Calls, ete. Any-d Never Fails, A 32 i book C) Be page book on vone tlloguism, the Ventrilo, ALL FOR 10 CENTS — wae Everything about the Ku Klux Klan,told in a clear, fearless manner. Book tells all— How it started and was oppressed in 1871 s —The New Ku Klux Klan—How Organ- - ized—How Members are Enrolled-—Oath, of the Klan—Questions for Candidates— Creed—Objects.of the Order—Obedience— 9 Fldelity—Fledge of Loyalty—Ku Klux Klan and the Masons—T he. Jews ene ak Musons—Real K, of C. Oath—The. Negro Ku Klan, ete.,tetc, Late: books on the lax poDesiee. i 35g st and most, complet Price 35c, Pos! mps or Coin Wondorfut as etrumont. Greate hing ‘separate articles ja one. — dy d lighted ; elighte with it, Odd, : curfous and interesting. Lote $100 : of pleasure aa wellas very use ; ul, fs tna double Microscope for examining the wonders of nature. It is also an Opera Glass,a ff Stereoscope, a Burning Lens, a Reading Glasa, a Telescop Conipass, a Pocket Mirror, and 4 Laryngascope—for phe ing eye, ear, nose and throat. [tia worth all the cost to locate ‘grenone painful cinder inthe eve. Folds flatand fits the pock« * Something great—youneed one. Don't miss it. ‘atl postpaid Only 35cor3 for $1.00 BABY TANK Gooa backward or fore wardby Anew ol Nothingtowl, jee as nks, Porformedo: ‘ll ms Y of most amagin vatunta. | uH Ruhe ton times longer thi pices, : ohana i toys, onm an fisged in ashunt All 250 postpa Male Sex indleator aoe! sve macic INDI. over & man's ax =i yp ioe and | Continue 5 circle. The samo action can bo obtained over a fetter written by a man or woman, ets. It is fasoinati effling. We! have never been able to figure. out how it's done—but we've = thr vir noon i Many novol and ‘onter ing feats may be porformed wit! areer? ih Hontor. For Cada lay results ounboclpetnnd wrishe ciate onte, dogs, rabbits, over birds hilt kent, eansrios, otc. Also used to predetermine tho pox of chiokens and abi in fact it is sold ann patantad o¢« tester in Europe. Price 26¢,0rd tor Bee, ond JORNSON SMITH & CO., Dept, 428 , RACINE, w Sent by #

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SALT ISLANDS | ——— Avery’s cele- brated salt island; in “Louisiana has a rival. Carmen Island lies in the Gulf of California some five miles long by six broad, but it is one of the most valuable small islands’ in the world, as it contains immense deposits .of pure, white, natural salt. It is owned) by James Viosca, a Spanish-Ameri- ean, who went to Lower California ‘thirty years ago. He resides at La Paz, -but spends) much of his time; on the island su- perintending the salt. mines. The salt deposits cov- er a surface of 1,000 acres. About a third of this acreage is a mass of pure, clean, white salt; the remainder is} covered simply with a layer of foil, brought there by rains from the adjacent Makes55 a Week. ie $6 a Day BY JUST WEARING THESE OES A new kind of shoe— ultra-stylish—hag invisible steel arch support that re- eves foot strain and gives wonderful comfort, Just wear these shoes of finest quality FREE and show them to friends, Every Style Plus Comfort woman wants them at a- mazing low prices, There $3.95, $4.95, ( no easier, pleasanter waytO . Anda few higher make $5 to $15 a day! Wait Hundreds doing it, full time and spate time. Mrs. a made $14 first day. Miss Jensen made $63 in one week, Style-Arch will appoint one womap in each com- id address for complet sintalls SE, and how to get your own een ine cut Mail posteard today, Q Gincinnatl, oh munity, Justesend name ani FREE. se stat t one cent cK. Pay postman no vent. “Myle-Arch Shoo Company, Dept. 1241 taking orders for Zanol Pure Food Products, Toilet Prepa- rations, Soaps, Laundry and Cleaning Specialties and House- hold Supplies. Nationally adver- tised from coast?to coast. Not sold in stores. Fast repeaters. 4 Big income every day. Exclu sive sale. No capital needed Big money for spare time. 4 Ford auto absolutely Free to workers. Write for particulars. American Products Co. 4834 American Bldg., Cincinnati, Ohio. ASTHWIA seareet? areas | i€not, {ee PREM, pint bible eh | POAC aC 4 | | I'll Show You How to Do It - LEARN AT HOME ing Don't bea or $35 5 ik slave, Get in’ mountains, and fi Electrelty, tectrcal experts enrn 870 fo 8200 2 week— 000 8. E Y also in places McNabb, 848 Spring work near so hardas you Neowtat ne teal Atlanta, Ga:, kes you for one of these with a thin coat- ing’ of coral, all of which, when removed, show the pure, white salt beneath. The salt deposits in this basin have, proved, by actual investigation, in thickness, but it;is hard to work at any depth be- fow the surface, ag the briny wa- ter, sweeping through, creates a new layer of salt of from five to eight inches in thickness in fif- teen days. Schreck,Phoenix, oenix to Be be fourteen feet § ony ighs right in your own home — just like I trained the men whose pictures you see here, Get the complete dope— sy write me now. Quick and Easy to Learn Experience or education unnecessary! train | you under a money back guarantee, Pay mo ay 8 few cents a «Complete outfit of tools &nd ap) tus and Employment Service given without extra chargo. Free book explains all, Write Me at Once Answer $700 in 24 days . earns $208 day ‘ L. L, Cook, Chief Ei Ws CHICAGO NGINECRING WORKS, Dept. 208 af 2150 Lawrence Av., Chicago Jacquot Colora 2006 W. do Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado, starte - rock at $50 2 w. TOBACC Or Snuff Habit Cured Or No Pay pay icp: rea oh re oy pein em 400,000 Men and Women. Superba Co. [96 Baltiaiore, Md, HIGH SCHO OL COURSE iN TWO YEARS You Want to Earn Big Money! And you will not be satisfied unless yeu 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 have a certain amount of prepara- 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 school course. Why? e- cause big business refuses to burden it- self with men who are barred from pro‘ motion by the lack of elementary. ed- ucation. Can You Qualify for a Better Position We have a plan whereby you can. 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OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS Useful, Instructive, and Amusing. They contain Valuable Information on Almost Every Subiect. No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT. —Fully illustrated. Full instructions are given in this little book, together with instructions on swimming and riding, companion sports to boating. No. 28. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.—Every one is desirous of knowing what his future life will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or poverty. You can tell by a glance at this Nttle book. uy one and be convinced. No. 29 HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR.—Fver boy should know how inventions originated. This boo! explains them all, giving examples in electricity, hy- draulics, magnetism, oe pee mechanics. No. 30. HOW TO COOK. me of the most instructive books on cooking ever published. It contains recipes for cooking meats, fish, game and oysters; also ples, puddings, cakes and all kinds of pastry, and a grand collection of recipes. No. 33 HOW TO BEHAVE.—Containing the rules and etiquette of good society and the easiest and most approved methods of appearing to good advantage at arties, balls, the theatre, church, and in the draw- ng-reom. No. 35. PO'™’ TO PLAY GAMES.—A complete and useful litt’ eontaining the rules and regulations ‘olle, back-gammon, croquet, domine . billiard. ete. No. 36. HOwW_TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS.—Contain- ing all the leading conundrums of the day, amusing rid- dies, curious catches and witty savings. No 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS.—In- cluding hints on how to catch moles, weasels, ofter, rats, squirrels and birds. Also how to cure skins. Coplously {llustrated. o 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN’S JOK FEBOOK.—Containing « great variety of the Intest jokes used by the most famous end men, No amateur minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book. No. 42 THE ¥S OF NEW YORK STUMP- SPEAKER.—Containing a varied assortment of stump apeeches, Negro, Dutch and Irish. Also end men’s jokes. Jnat the thing for home amusement and amateur shows. No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINSTREL GUIDE AND JOKE BOK.—Something new and ver instructive.. Every boy should obtain this book, as it containa full instructions for organizing an amateur minstrel troupe. No. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELECTRICITY, —A description of the wonderful uses of electricity and electro magnetism; together with full instructions for making Wlectric Toys, Batteries, etc. By George Trebel. A. M., M? D. Containing over fifty illustrations. No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAEL CANOKS.—A handy book for boys, containing full directions for cop- structing canoes and the most popular manner of sall- ine them. Fully illustrated. No. 49. OW TO DEBATE.—Gliving rules for con- dueting debates, outlines for debates, questions for dis- cussion and the best sources for procuring information on the question given. No. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND ANIMALS. —A yaluable book, giving instructions in collecting, pre- paring, mounting and preserving birds, animals and in- ets. #0. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Con- taining explanations of the general principles of sleight- of-hand applicable to card tricks; or ecard tricks with ordinary cards, and not requiring sleight-of-hand; of trieks Involving sleight-of-hand, or the use of specially prepared cards. Illustrated. No. 82. HOW TO PLAY CARDS.—A complete and handy little book, giving the rules and ful) directions for playing . Buchre, Cribbage. Casino, Forty-Five, Rounce, Pedro Sancho, Draw Poker, Auction Pitch, All Fours, and many other popular games of cards. No. 54. HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS.— Giving complete information as to the manner and meth- od of raising, keeping, taming, breeding snd managing al) kinds of pets: also giving full instructions for mak~- ing cages, etc. Fully explained by twenty-eight illus- trations. For sale by all newsdealers, or wil be sent to any address on pt of price, 10c. per copy, tn ey or stamps, by E 166 West 28d Street New York City BARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. Fame and Fortune Weekly —— LATEST Issurs — Every Inch a Boy; or, Doin Money to Burn; or, The His Level Best. hrewdest Boy in Wall reet. - An Eye to Business; or, The Boy Who Was Not Asleep. | rs Tipped by the Ticker; or, An Ambitious Boy tn all Street. : On to Success: or, The Boy Who Got Ahead. & ia Se 2 Fortune; or, A Country Boy in Wall reet. Bound to Rise; or, Fighting His Way to Success na sd the Dollars; or, A Smart Boy in Wal reet. 09 For Fame and Fortune; or, The Boy Who Won Both. 9 1000 A Wall Street Winner; or. Making a Mint of Money, - 1001 The A See to Wealth: or, The Boy Who Found ~~ Tt Out. 1002 ar Wing; or, The Young Mercury of Wall : reet. : ‘ fees 1004 Tse with the Market; or, The Boy ‘Who Made ay. 1005 Cast Adrift; or, The Luck of a Homeless Boy, ‘ 1006 Playing the Market; or, A Keen Boy in Wall Street. 100% A Pot of Money: or, The Legacy of a Lucky Boy. 1008 From Rags to Riches; or, & Lucky Wall Street Messenger. 1009 On His Merits: or, The Smartest Boy Alive. ; 1010 Trapping the Broker@; or, A Game Wall Street Boy. 1011 A Million in Gold: or, The Treasure of Santa Cruz. 1012 pr ree i Make Money; or, From the West to Wall reet. = 1013 Tne Boy Magnate; or. Making Baseball Pay. ; 1014 Making Money: or, A Wall Street Messenger’s Luck. 4015 A Harvest of Gold; or, The Buried Treasure of — Coral Tsland. I y er 1016 On the Curh; or, Beating the Wall Street Brokers. 1017 A whee | of Fortune; or, The Boy Who Struck il. 1018 a Prince of Wall Street; or, A Big Deal for Big oney. j re 1019 Starting His Own Business; or, The Boy Who aught On. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 8c. per copy, =e in money or stamps, by \ HARRY K. WOLFE, Publisher, Inc, _ 166 Wost 23d Street