Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 1057) (1926 01 01)

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“Se ANUARY Yi, 1926 y yy Yj

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Issued weekly—Subscription price, $4.00 per year! Canada, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. Harry BH. Wolff, Es biiehers sne., 166 ae . oi West 23d Street, New York, N. Y. No. 1057 Entered as Second-Class Matter, October 4, 1911 the Post-Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. NEW YORK, JANUARY 1, 1926 ? Price 8 Cents. A LUCKY CONTRACT OR, THE BOY WHO MADE A RAFT OF MONEY ' By A SELF-MADE MAN CHAPTER I.—Tom Trowbridge and Dick _ Bristol. “Well, if this isn’t a blamed shame!” exclaimed Tom Trowbridge to his chum, Dick Bristol, as the pair, with fishing-poles and lines in their hands, ‘eame to a stop at a point of a wide tidewater ereek where a wooden bridge, erected and used - by the Englewood & Preston Trolley Company, spanned the bridge. “It’s an outrage!” coincided Dick. 3 “Talk about greedy corporations,” said Tom, with a look of disgust, “I think this trolley com- pany is the limit.” “It goes ’way beyond the limit. The idea of removing six or eight feet of the ties from ‘this énd, placing a triangle of boards plentifully smeared with grease over the stringer, and a slanting board, treated in a like manner, against the rail, so a person can’t cross the creek except by paying a nickel for that privilege.” + at the obstructions. “You bet it.is. I'll wager Deacon Fitch is re- _ sponsible for this move. He’s a mean old hunk, though he’s the richest man around here, and lives in the finest house,\ Major Nutte’s excepted, _ this side of Preston.” : ie ' “T wouldn’t be ‘surprised that you’re right, Dick. It’s too bad the trolley company has such a man for its president.” 4 E “That can’t be helped, for the deacon owns @ - . eontrolling interest in the stock.” “J guess the reason the company has put this — 2 “job up on the public is to prevent the summer ___-wisitors from walking between Englewood Beach and North Beach. Lots of them did it last year, mot because they wanted to save a nickel car- ‘fare, but because the walk along shore, in thé forenoon and around sundown, in an invigorat- ing exercise. The places are only a mile apart. _ Heretofore any one could cross this bridge by the footboard, but this trick of the trolley com- pany cuts walkers off completely from the other ae side of the creek. Whenever an Englewood visitor : _ wants to take a short cut to North Beach after “Tt’s a low down trick,” growled Tom, looking . _ to cross the creek!” cried Tom, in astonishment, — Z PM bint? > a i Lge ey - Ten Pe people who want to walk over to Englewood or the beach.” “That’s right,” nodded Dick. “If this corporation’s right-of-way is such a sacred franchise the county ought to build a small footbridge across the creek at this point and restore to the citizen the right to walk if he wants to,” said Tom. “The deacon’s political pull is strong enough, I guess, to prevent the authorities from carrying out any such public improvement.” “The deacon is a hog, then. He seems to want everything in sight.” : “Deacon Fitch isn’t the only one .who wants the earth, or a large section of it.” “That’s no lie. His son Herbert is very much like him.” . “That dude gives me a pain. One would think he owned Englewood, by the way he struts about, - just like a turkey gobbler.” . “When a boy’s father is cock-of-the-walk, like Deacon’ Fitch, he’s apt to make ‘capital for him- self out of the fact.” ‘ “Jimmy Dunn, of Preston, isn’t built that way, and his father could buy and sell Deacon Fiteh — twice over,” said Dick. “Jimmy is a first-class chap,” admitted Tom. “Bet your life he is. Well, how are we going to get across the creek now without taking that car that’s coming on! behind us?” “Give it up. I’m not going to pay a nickel for the privilege of getting over sixty feet of water.” — “Me, either. It would be just the same if the distance were only a dozen feet.” “If somebody would come along with a boat,” said Tom, “that would solve the difficulty.” “Or a balloon,” chuckled Dick. Here the trolley car came gliding up. The motorman slowed down,- thinking perhaps the « boys wanted to get aboard so as to reach the - other side of the creek.’ There was a broad, — malicious kind of grin on his face that made Tom and Dick hot under the collar. “This is a fine trick of your company to play or the public!” snorted Tom. . “Want to ride across?” chuckled the man. “Sure, we want to ride, as we can’t walk,” said Dick, jumping on the front platform. : “Here, you’re not going to put up a nickel just

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2 . A LUCKY CONTRACT “Jump on, Tom,” was all the answer his chum - got back. » As the car started to move on again, Tom, much against his will, jumped aboard. “This will cost you ten cents,” he growled to his companion. “I won’t pay a cent for a sixty- foot ride.” “Don’t you worry. The motorman invited us to ride across, so it won’t cost us a cent,” grinned Dick. “T invited you!” replied the man, think I want to lose my job!” 5 “You asked us if we wanted to ride across, didn’t you? Well, we wanted to ride across and accepted your invitation. The company wouldn’t think of charging us ten cents to take us sixty feet.”. “Pares,” said the conductor, coming to the door. “You'll have to: step inside. Nobody is permitted te ride on the front platform.” “What are you charging to carry us across this old bridge?” asked Dick, in well-assumed sur- prise, for the car had reached the other side by this time. “What a nerve you’ve got! Jump off, Tom. We’re not going any further.” The two boys leaped off and gave the con- ductor the laugh. “That’s where we got back at the deacon,” chuckled Dick, as the car continued on its way. “Now we'll go on to our fishing grounds.” They shouldered their poles and proceeded on their way in high glee at having tricked their way across the bridge. “The summer visitors will be as mad as thun- der over this hold-up at the creek,’ said Tom, as _ they walked along. i : : “You bet they will; but the. deacon won’t care how mad they get as long as he harvests their nickels.” “There won’t be near as much walking done as there has been.” - “The sunimer people can do their walking on their own side of the creek. They don’t have to cross over.” “J wish I knew of some way to balk the trol- ley company,” said Tom. “There isn’t anyway except by building a foot- - bridge, and if the county won’t do that nobody ~ else is likély to.” : $ “T]] tell you what we might do,” said Tom, suddenly struck with an idea. ‘ “What ?” = “Get a small flat-boat and hire a kid to pole the people back and forth for a penny each.” : “That isn’t a bad scheme, if the boy was honest enough to turn in all the cash he took in.” - “Widow Dooley’s son, Mike, would be glad to take the job, and he’s as honest_as the day is long. Fte’s doing nothing now. We could give * ‘him half of what he takes in. The main idea is ‘to queer the trolley company.” "Where could we get a flat-boat?” ~ “I know where we could get the . for nothing.” “That’s cheap enough. “You must loan of one T’ve a good mind to eur scheme. We'll put Mickey on to it and get the boat for him. We can have the boat painted se red, white and blue so it will look attractive.” that, ean’t you?” ’ tion was to have a business of his own—not a . that. More than once he had mentioned his hopes — ‘and expectations to his aunt, whom he thought — stand in with you. We needn’t let on that it’s ” And put a small flagpole in front on which we'll hoist a white banner with the words ‘Down with monopoly’ painted on it. At the end of the — summer season we'll present Mike’s mother with our share of the profits in a lump sum. She’s’ poor, and it will come in handy to help tide her over the ‘winter,” : “Well, I’m with you. I hope it won’t cost much ie: start the ferry, for I’m not a bloated capital- ist.” “Oh, five dollars ought to float.the ferry com- — pany. That’s two-and-a-half each. You can stand _ “T guess so.” ; “All right. I'll start the ball rolling when we get back. Well, here we are at our fishing ground, I’) bet you a nickel I catch the first shiner.” : “J take you,” said Dick, beginning to bait his hooks in a hurry so as to get the first cast. _Tom and Dick lived in adjoining cottages in the _ village of Englewood, which was~about half a mile from Englewood Beach, a popular summer resort on the shore of a big bay which made in . from Lake Michigan. Tom was an orphan who made his home with his aunt, a widow in very ~ modest cireumstances. For the past year he had been employed as time-keeper and general office hand at the Englewood Wagon Works. Owing to— business stagnation, due to general money strin- — gency, the establishment had shut down for the — summer on the previous Saturday, and so Tom we was now out of a job. Dick had been working for the same company in one of the workrooms, and was out of a position for the same cause. — His mother was also a widow, and he had an | older sister who was employed in the one mil- linery and faney goods store of Englewood. The fact that the two boys were out of work was bound to make a difference in the internal econ- omy of both households. Tom, however, wasn’t werrying over the matter as yet. He was a smart, enterprising lad, and had every confidence in his — ability to make his way ahead in the world, He was not a boy who meant to work for other _ people any longer than he could help. His ambi- vas ‘boa. small, one-horse business, such as many people ~ are contented to plod along in, but something in which he could see large profits. Eyery time almost that he passed the residence of Deacon — Fitch he mentally told himself that some day he would own a mansion as fine, or even finer than the world of, fo) she had raised him from a small — boy and been as good as a mother to him; and she, worthy little woman, sympathized with and_ encouraged his ambitious ideas. She thought that there wasn’t a smarter, nor better, boy in the: world than Tom, and prophesied great things for him in the future. Ifsthere was one recreation the boys liked*more tha: fishing together. While w.

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“selves building all kinds of castles in the air which seemed pretty real to them at the time. II—Tom Intimates How He Could CHAPTER : Make:a Raft of Money. __ “Hurrah!” shouted Dick, in great glee, as he _ yanked a silvery object out of the water and landed it on shore. “I’ve caught the first fish. _ Come up with your nickel, Tom.” : “You’re lucky. Here’s the coin,” _, handed over a five-cent piece. @ “T knew I’d.do you,” chuckled Dick, as he re- baited his hook and cast his line in again. “You didn’t know anything about it.” You only _ took the same chance I did. Here, I’ve got a - fish now myself. You didn’t get so far ahead of me after all.” ee “T got far enough ahead to win the nickel.” “You'll need it when you come to cross the trolley bridge again. *We’re not likely to work that trick on the same afternoon.” _.- “Why not? It’s easy.” . _. The motoman and the conductor will prob- ably put the other men up to the dodge, and we'll get left if we try it.” \ . “The trolley company has no right to maroon 1 us on, this side of the creek.” : “What does the trolley company care for us?” “We have rights, haven’t we?” _ “Not on that bridge. The trolley people here- _ tofore permitted the public -to use the footboard as a privilege at their own risk. From the pres- ent look of things they have cut the privilege out. _Now, the public have the choice of three things— they’ can pay a nickel, or swim, pr walk to the head of the creek and come around that way. That’s the whole thing in a nutshell.” - “The people of Englewood ought to get an in- function against the trolley company.” ~~ “On what grounds?” : ‘4 - €The county presented the franchise to the _ company. As it was a gift, the people ought to a some rights that the company should re- and Tom c spect.” “Did“you ever hear of a corporation that had any gratitude? They take all they can get, and return as little as they can. The people who own the stock want their dividends regularly. If - the company makes too much money on its orig- - jnal investment, the stockholders get together and rater the stock so that their profits may not ap; pear to be too large.” “What do you mean by watering the stock?” “Oh, they increase the issue. If there are 50,- shares out on which the profits warrant a relve per cent. dividend, if they increase the - dssue to 100,000, then the dividend will be re- _ duced to six per cent. But as each stockholder receives an extra share for every share he al- eady owns he gets the twelve per cent. anyway.” _ “What difference can it make if he does get- twelve or fifty per cent., as long as the company? arns it?” asked Dick, rather puzzled to under- tand just why stock should be watered in order to apparently reduce its income. _ “Well, if a gas company is known to be mak- ing. an extra profit on its invested capital, the ustomers have good grounds for demanding. a Aower rate per thousand feet, aa if a street car he asked. — % _ “No jolly’at all, I bd es A LUCKY CONTRACT fe, 8 company is making huge returnS on a five-cent ~ fare the public have a right to expect that the . company should reduce the fare: to three cents. So, one of the operations of high finance is to ~ keep the outsiders from knowing too much about what is going on inside.” But Dick had another bite, and for the time being he lost interest in the subject or high finance. While he was unhooking the fish Tom got a bite, too, and gave his attention to landing his catch. When the boys threw their lines in again Tom did not have anything further to say on the late topic, and his chum did not ask him to re- sume it. When Tom did speak again it was on an entirely different subject. “Tf I had a thousand dollars, Dick, I believe I could make a raft. of money,” he said, with a thoughtful look. “If you had a thousand dollars you could make a raft of money?” repeated his chum, in a tone of surprise. ; “That’s what I said.” “How could you do it?” “Do you know the Locke Farm, up the river?” - “T guess I do. Everybody around here knows that lemon. It’s been on the market for years at about a third of the price per acre that any other farmer values his land in’that neighbor- hood, but though a hundred strangers have during that time looked at what appeared to be a bar- gain-counter sale, not one would touch it with a ten-foot pole after a good squint at it. What about it?” ; “Locke’ will sell it for $20 an acre, cash?” “I wouldn’t give him twenty cents an acre for it if I had to go out there and try to make a living off it.” ~ “There are fifty acres altogether, and $1,000 will buy it.”” } “That’s what his advertisement says, but no- body but a blind man will ever buy it at that price, and to my mind nobody but a fool at any Price.” “Why not?” asked Tom,'a bit sharply. “Because it’s no good.” : “Why isi’t it any good?” . “Oh, come off! You know as well as I do why it isn’t any good. Because it’s about as stony a piece of ground as you could find anywhere on earth. It’s long and narrow, and forms practically the whole of the outer face of the bluff. Since Locke had to part with the only really salable part of his original farm he hasn’t been able to raise enough fodder on those fifty acres to feed his horse and cow, let alone himself and his family. If he offered it for $5 an acre I doubt if he’d be able to find a purchaser.” “That so?” replied Tom, in a tone that Dick construed to be tantalizing. “Yes, that’s so.” “You’re wrong.” © ae “All right. Have it your own way. You seem | to know everything.” ae » “Tf I had $1,000 I’d take it off his hands.” it “Yes, you would. I think I see you doing it,” replied Dick, jeeringly. . : : : “T tell you I would,” said Tom, positively. Dick stared at his chum in a mained way. _ “Say, what kind of a jolly are you giving me?” mean what I say.” ~ \ > ‘ ad 2 eae Sine S y aE ae ¥ + eee By oe penne Loe noe hogs aa oe i =

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4 A LUCKY “Hxcuse me if I doubt your word. Nobody but a chump would give half a thousand dollars for that farm as it stands, and I’ve never taken you for a chump yet.” “T should hope that I wasn’t a chump. And it’s for that reason I’d give Locke his price in double-quick time if I had the coin.” “Do you faney there’s a gold mine under those rocks?” 3 “I know there’s a gold mine in those ‘rocks,’ as you cal] it.” : K “You'll have to explain, for your meaning is all Greek to me.” ~ 3 : “Wait a moment till | pull this fish in,” and Tom landed his third beauty. : : “Well,” said Dick, “go on. I’m interested in your reason for believing that the Locke farm is worth $1,000.” “It’s worth a good deal more than that, or, rather, it- will be before long. In fact, whether you believe I’m a prophet or not, Locke will get his price for those fifty acres before he’s three ‘months older.” : : “Who will give it to him?” “That is a question I can’t answer.” “What makes you think that farm is, or will. be, worth more than $1,000?” - “Because I found out something the other day that will have a very important bearing on the Ste. Marie River and the neighborbood near the - Lecke Farm.” : “Ohyeyou did 27. 9. 4 Tom nodded mysteriously. “What was it you found out?” : ; “That is one of my business secrets, Dick.” - “Which means that you don’t intend to tell me,” replied Dick, in an aggrieved tone. “Not this afternoon. Later, perhaps. Look out, ~{ think you’ve got a bite!” : me Dick found he had, and landed a fish just as Tom pulled in his fourth. : oe “Tt’s a mean thing to excite a fellow’s curiosity and then leave him on the ragged edge,” growled Dick. - “Well, 11] tell you this much: The outcroppings - on the Locke Farm show that the rock is prac- ~~ tically all limestone.” “What of it?” : “A limestone quarry is a good thing to own if you don’t have to carry the stuff too far to market.” this after- you what I - summer!” said ‘walked into the house with his own fish Te CONTRACT “Just as you say. I’m through.” Sant The boys fished in silence awhile, each catching — a couple more fish. ; Se “What are we going to do all summer, Tom?” — asked Dick at length. “We can’t afford to loaf around. At least, I can’t.” 3 “I know where you can get a job good until — the first of September,” a , “Where?” tye “At the Bay View Hotel. The proprietor is — leoking for an assistant to help. old Captain — Blakely take care of the bath houses. I spoke ~ to him this morning about you, and he told me ~— to send you around about five o’clock. He’ll pay a $30_a month and feed you. You can sleep home.” “Yl take that if I can get it.” pho “You can get it, all right.” he “How about yourself?” rane “’m going to be night clerk at the same > house.” Ca “That so? Then we'll both be“fixed for the — Dick, joyfully. : “Yas.” f - 4 “Why didn’t you tell me this when we first started out?” ; = grok a! thought it would be more of a pleasant sur- pijse if I held it back,” chuckled Tom. ercagtg ‘It’s a big surprise to me. I never thought of striking the hotel. men for a job at this late day. I supposed everything was taken up a month ago for the hotels open up for business next eek.” “Everything was taken up, but the two pos tions in question suddenly became vacant. I got the tip this morning about the night clerk job and I hustled around to the hotel and captured it. Then I spoke for you. All you’ve got to do now is to-call on Mr. Sandford and tell him you'll take the place.” ; ‘ igs eats “Tl do it, bet your life. Let’s get back now, Were caught fish enough for supper and break ast. SB The boys wound in their lines, strung their fish and started for the bridge across the creek. A car bound for Englewood came along just as t reached it. Sac “Give us a lift.across, will you?” Tom aske the motorman, who looked kind of friendly. _ “Sure. Jump on,” was the man’s reply. The boys got on the car, and half a minute late: got off on the other side, after “thanking the motorman for the favor. Then they started for their homes. ie Wea ie ee ea ¥ CHAPTER IlI.—The Chance of his Life. The boys parted at the junction of the beac road and Jefferson Street, Dick taking the former, which led to the Bay View Hotel, while Tom fol lowed the-latter, which would take him into tl heart of Englewood Village. He took Dick’s string of fish, as well as his pole and line, to leave at his chum’s house, which, as we h said, was next door to his own. When Tom as his aunt in the kitchen fixing the fire in ~ stove. ; ar Mei zie

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A LUCKY CONTRACT _ three of them for supper. I guess you won’t be able to eat more than, two yourself. You’d bet- ter take half of them around to Mrs. Dooley. _ Her son isn’t doing anything at present, and I : ene believe fhey’ve any too much to eat in the house. _. *T intended to do that, Aunt Mary,” said ~ Tom. “I’ll clean three of the fish for you and then - run around with six of the balance to Mrs. Dooley. T’ye no doubt but she'll be glad to get them.” Mrs. Dooley, mother of Mike Dooley, whom Tom had mentioned to Dick asa likely lad to con- _ duct the ferry enterprise at the trolley bridge in - the creek, was a poor widow who earned a scanty - living assisting her more fortunate neighbors in their house cleaning and washing. Whenever Tora - and Dick went fishing, if they were fortunate, _ they never failed to save a few of their catch for _ the worthy widow.. They also assisted her in other ways when the opportunity offered, and, eonsequently. Mrs..Dooley had a warm spot in her _ heart for both boys. On his way to the widow’s cottage with the fish, Tom’s mind was occupied Marie River, about eight miles from Englewood. In fact, he had been thinking of little else for more than a week, ever since he had accidentally “learned about certain projected improvements _ that were to be made at that neighborhood. The _ projectors of the enterprise were keeping their - plans a profound secret as yet, not even a hint of what was in contemplation having reached the ears of the editor of the Englewood “News.” _ About a week previous Tom was sunning him- self one morning at the end of the raised board- walk in front of the line of bathhouses attached to the Bay View Hotel, when.two gentlemen, one of whom was Major Willard Nutte, wealthy resi- dent of the neighborhood, ard vice-president of the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, walked down the walk and came to a halt right above the spot where Tom was sitting. He heard the whole of their conversation, and its ‘import greatly surprised and interested him. The facts he gleaned amounted to the following: A dam was to be built near the site of the old - waterpower. on the Ste. Marie River, ten milés - pbove its outlet into the bay, and several manu- factories, as well as a big sawing and planing- ~ mill, were to be erected. The most important of - these plants was to build freight and ‘passenger _. ears for the M., St. P. & S. Ste. M. R. R. Co. Other industries in view were a fish-canning es- ‘tablishment; a flour and grist mill; a furniture factory, and a néwly invented breakfast-food product. A syndicate of capitalists, headed by Maier Nutte, was already formed to carry out the scheme. It was expected that the plans an specifications would be ready by the first o August, when bids would be invited for the erec- tion of the dam. - - Later on bids would be asked for the construc- ion of the factories, as well as for several hun- red small cottages for the people who would be er loyed at the various industries. The saw and: oa ne a mill segue be put ap & poate to gap ly lumber on the spot for the buildings. The railroad company would build a branch line to the place and it was expected that a thriving vil- or ‘small town, with thoughts about the Locke Farm on the Ste.. that would put Englewood would give me the start 5 i* far in the shade, would spring right up out of the wilderness, as it were. : The site of this projected village, including the ground on which the factories were to be built, had been purchased a year previous by Major _Nutte, but possession, by special agreement with the former owner, a farmer who cultivated the land, was deferred until after the present year’s harvest. Its boundaries began at the foot of the northern end of the short bluff owned by Andrew Locke, a shiftless individual, who had parted with all the tillable acres he had originally owned, and with his wife was now confined to what was con- sidered the comparatively valueless bluff, the area of which was fifty acres. Locke and his wife os living on the $6,000 he had gotten for his anda. - Their residence was a small farmhouse on the top of the bluff.overlooking the river and the sur- rounding country. The outbuildings, no longer of much use to their owner, were in poor shape,,and going to ruin. The bluff was largely composed of limestone, and this fact had been noted by Tom Trowbridge a few months before, when he was up that way on his wheel. After Major Nutte and his companion had walked away from the end of the boardwalk, never suspecting that they had © had a listener to their important conversation, Tom continued to sit there and think about the revelation he had got on to. He easily saw that it was going to be a big thing for that part of the State. : Probably a million or more dollars would have to be spent before the syndicate could begin to look for results; but, in the long run, he had little doubt that Major Nutte and his associates would realize largely on their investment. The major’s connection and influence with the big railroad company was an asset which would go a long way toward rendering the project a success, for the car works was bound to pay from the very start. , What particularly interested Tom was the con- . templated dam. This would require a large amount of cheap stone for its construction. And that stone was right on the ground in the shape of Andrew Locke’s fifty acres of unprofitable Jand. But for that fact the stone would have to be brought from a considerable distance, and that would cost money: Whoever got the con- tract for building the dam would find the Locke ~ Farm a valuable asset, and it was now in the market for a paltry $1,000. 3 : “If I could buy that bluff I’d stand to make a raft of money out of it,” the boy told himself, with a thrill at the possibilities of the scheme. “But, as J haven’t a cent of capital, and no pos- sibility of getting any, I stand as much show of getting it as I do of buying the Englewood & Preston Trolley Line. Here is the chance of a »fellow’s life going to waste for the lack of a few hundred dollars, It’s tough, that’s what it isl’? Tom knew that the first contractor who came to. Sata estimate on the building of the dam would as a preliminary measure snap up the bluff at the low. price at which it was offered, for its possession would enable him to easily outbid all. rival com- petitors. If I owned that farm I could make good terms with the successful contractor for~ the stone,” thought Tom. “The m a § 2 oney I’d make out of. it Too! +. in the world I’

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6 4 LUCKY CONTRACT aa for. If I were only a civil engineer I could even put in a bid myself for building the dam. How fine it would sound to have the following notice appear in the ‘News’: ‘Tom Trowbridge, one of the rising young men of the village, has secured the contract for building the new dam across the Ste. Marie River. We congratulate him on his success, which is largely due -to his foresight in _ securing the Locke Farm, the hitherto unpro- ductive acres of which will now prove of great value in furnishing the material for the construc- tion of the dam. We predict for this young man . a brilliant future.” After all, it was only another of Tom’s castles -‘in the air, for where was he to get $1,000 to buy the Locke Farm? Nevertheless, the possibilities of the thing appealed so strongly to his ambitious nature that he returned home. that day feeling like a different boy altogether. : CHAPTER IV.—A Race for a Life. 0 After supper that evening Dick Bristol ran in to his friend’s home to tell him that he had got- ten the job as assistant to Captain Blakeley, who would have charge of the string of bath- houses connected with the Bay View Hotel. “That will carry me over till the factory -re- opens in September,” said Dick, who was in a happy humor. “Mother and sis are tickled to death over my good luck. They were afraid I’d be idle all summer, for jobs are mighty scarce around Englewood. I told the folks that you goj - me the opening, and they want you to come in so they can thank you.” : - *T don’t want to be thanked for doing you.a favor, old chap. You’d do the same for me if you had the chance.” “ j “Sure, I would,” replied Dick, in a tone that showed he meant it. “When are you going to work? Next week?” “T start in the morning. The houses have got to be painted, and I’ve got to help the captaih do the work. That will take the balance of the week. You don’t come on till the house opens: next Wednesday, do you?” “No,” replied Tom. Fy ; : “Then, you'll have another week’s vacation. i wouldn’t mind io re that,” too, How are you oing to put in the time? ie “Tt eouldn’t tell you. Ill attend to that ferry scheme for one thing, so it will be in working order when it’s needed. I’ve got to borrow the flat-boat, paint it up in gaudy colors, and rig a mast for the white flag that’s to have tite legend of ‘Down With Monopoly’ on it. That will occupy “half a day,,at any rate.” é * «Pq like to see Deacon Fitch’s face after that = the fact is re- into commission and eM Bo me “Maybe he’ll put ported to him,” chuckled Dick. +a, stop to it.” 3 an “How can he? Mike or any one else has the yight to row passengers across the creek if they want to go by boat in preference to the trolley. That’s one of the advantages of a free country. «Aye you sure that Mike doesn’t require a fran- chise?” grinned Dick. ; + a Legislature to grant him one.” — =i Meee ws ates % = uy "ST guess it won't be necessary to ask the State ’ “Tl bet Herbert Fitch will make it his business to try and bulldoze Mike gut of the scheme.” “Mike doesn’t care a rap for Herbert Fitch, and he can’t be bluffed. I’ll tell Mike not to pay any attention to him.” ud “Herbert willbe hopping mad if Mike doesn’t take his hat off to him.” Se “Who cares if he does get mad? He isn’t so — much, except in his opinion.” “id “That don’t count a whole lot in my opinion.” i “Nor in mine, either.” The boys then got talking about something else, and after awhile Dick went home. Tom had told Mrs. Dooley to send Mike over to the cottage . in the morning, and the lad was on hand before Tom got through breakfast. Tom explained the — ferry scheme to him, and Mike was enchanted — with the opportunity it offered him to make a little money. He declared that he would stick it out all season if the summer visitors were dis- - posed to patronize him. Tom took Mike with him when he went to borrow the flat-boat. On the way Tom bought some red, white and blue paint and a couple of brushes to apply it. They hauled the boat out of the water, cleaned ~ it thoroughly, and then painted three stripes — around it from stem to stern. It was left to dry in the sunshine under Mike’s care. Tom then — went over to see how Dick was getting on — at the bathhouses. He found him arrayed ina —_ pair of overalls with a pot of white paint-anda brush, working away for all he was worth. 3 “Hello, Dick, how are things coming on?” he — — asked. ; “All right.” : “Where’s the captain?” ; aa “Mr. Sandford sent after him a few minutes — ago.” S ? “Well, Mike and I painted the outside of the » flat-boat red, white and blue, and it is drying now? 5 As soon as it is ready to turn over I’m going to have Mike give the inside a couple of coats of white. Tomorrow I’ll fit the pole in it, and then the boat will be ready for business as soon as the flag has been prepared for nailing to the top cf the pole.” “You didn’t lose any time over the matter,” said Dick. eee “No. I don’t believe in putting off till tomorrow vehat-can be done today.” sees Tom remained an hour talking to his chum, and then went back to the place where Mike was watching the flat-boat. The paint was dry enough — to permit the boat to be turned over, and then Tom and the widow’s son gave the inside the first coat of white color. OO rear “Ym going home now, Mike. You'd ,better do the same. Come back some time this afternoon and give the inside a second coat of the white. I won’t be around again till tomorrow morning, when T’ll put the pole in.” . : ; Tom went home and found his dinner waiti for him. After he had eaten it he got out his wheel and started for a spin up the road in the direction of Locke F'arm. That locality had now a peculiar attraction for him, though he did_ see the remotest chance of benefiting by the | vance information that he had accidentally | possession of. Still, he wanted to go out the and inspect the probable site of the dam, and s

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where the factories and new village would prob- - ably be built. ; ae He had nothing else on bis hands, anyway, and -. dt was aS good a way to kill time and amuse himself as he could think of, anyway. It was a gorgeous afternoon for a run up the road, and though he missed the companionship of Dick, he _ thoroughly enjoyed the invigorating exercise. The farm was about eight miles by the road from Englewood, and he rapidly reduced that distance as the moments sped by. As he passed Major - Nutte’s residence, that gentleman’s daughter, _ Hazel, came dashing out on her coal-black mare, Queen Bess, a thoroughbred of exquisite propor-* tions. She was a lovely girl, a pure blonde, with ‘* golden hair, blue eyes, and a form like a fairy. She was a daring, graceful and experienced - equestrienne. Tom favored her with a look of admiration as she flew by him, bound in the same - direction as himself. A curve in the highway soon hid her from his sight.; When he got around the —eurve she was not in sight. That was not ex- traordinary, as another bend a third of a mile further on cut off an extended view of the road. ~~. Tom put on a spurt and was soon flying around the other turn himself. Then a strange and un- expected scene met him sight. ‘Two tough-looking ‘men had. stonved the horse and the fair girl, and while one was holding the steed by the bridle - the other was trying to unseat Miss Nutte. As Tom came in yiew she was striking at the fel- low with the heavy end of her whip, but as it - was but a light, fancy affair, he minded the blows ~-yery little. Tom saw that it was up to him to rescue the girl from further indignity, so he put ‘on fresh speed and bore down upon the scene of rouble at a rapid rate. The tramps were so intent on the job in hand that they did not notice Tom’s approach until he was right upon them. As he fushed up he dealt ‘the rascal who had hold of Miss Nutte a swing- ~ ing blow in the face which bowled him‘over as - elean as a nine-pin. He struck the road heavily and lay quite unconscious. Tom could not stop until he had gone nearly a hundred feet ahead, hen he turned and started back for the ruffian who held the bridle. ~The girl had been partially unseated by the fel- dow that Tom had knocked out, and as she jumped Se blow in the face with her whip handle, The man ttered an imprecation of mingled pain and rage, a and releasing the bridle, seized Miss Nutte by the ~ arm and jerked her partly from her saddle. At that moment Tom came up and struck him in the ~~ mouth with his fist. Just as he did it, the mare, - who was a spirited animal, and had been exceed- eS Taaly restive under the unusual conditions, sprang ~~ forward. ~ The girl uttered a shrill scream as she felt herself falling. The sleeve of her dress gave way, leaving a piece of the cloth in the raseal’s hand, Kev saved her, for with admirable presence of mind she seized the mare’s mane and clung to it frantically as the animal dashed away down the road. Under the circumstances she was unable to regain her seat on the saddle, but hung over side- ways and backward, her foot. caught by the stir- p, in great peril of her life, clinging to the a , clearly in a state of terror. Tom took in back on the saddle she struck the other man a’ while the mare plunged ahead on her © BWA Et Eg A LUCKY CONTRACT 7 / the situation at a glance, and spinning around, started in pursuit. The mare was a fleet animal,. but she was greatly handicapped by the way her rider hung on to her. Tom, fearful that the gifl might tumble off at any moment, got down to work and spun along at high racing speéd. The- spokes of his wheels flashed in the sunshine like circlets of fire. Fortunately, the road was im fine condition, hard and smooth, with no stony ob- structions, and the boy began to gradually pull up on the fleeing horse. But his work was cut out for him, just the same. The first mile-was pulled off at a clip that would have won Tom a prize at-a bicycle race. The second mile was covered in hardly less time, with the boy nearer the mare. ‘The third mile brought them in sight of the Ste. Marie River, glistening in the distance. Farmhands working in a field close by stopped to gape in astonishment at the strange race, ex- pectine to see the endargered girl fall under the mare’s legs any moment as she and the animal swept by. They yelled encouragement to Tom, as, bent. forward over the handles of his machine, he swept by, pedaling with all his might, for they easily. divined that his object was to rescue the zs imperiled girl. Foot by foot Tom erept up on the . frightened mare, but the race was now growing ~ more serious every moment, for the animal was- making straight for the river, and whether she would keep to the voad as it swung around a sharp curve and ran down the stream was a question in her excited condition. As she ap- proached the turn Tom, by a special spurt, came up with her flanks. A few moments more and he was abreast of her. - eit Then the plucky boy, now thoroughly winded and exhausted by his terrible ride, made a iast eeperate effort to win out, for he felt that he could no longer sustain the speed he had been going at. It carried him up to the mare’s neck, and, reaching out, he seized’the bridle just as the z mare left the road and plunged on toward the — river bank. He threw his left lee over the —~— handles and allowed the machine to take care of : itself, at the same time he wound his right arm around the mare’s neck to support himself, and :— threw his left arm across the animal’s eyes, bend- ing her head down. his had more effect than anything else in stopping the flight of Queen Bess. Unable to see, she made frantic efforts to éree her head, and not being able to so, for Tom clung on like grim — death, she began to hold back, and finally came to g full stop at the very brink of the river bank, where she stood trembling in every limb and — white with sweat. Tom slipped to the ground, and running around, grabbed the half conscious ~ girl in his arms and shoved her up on the saddle, — where she swayed back and forth; like a reed shaken in a soft wind. ; = Then he slipped around to the other side and - grabbed her again, releasing her foot, which was — entangled in the stirrup. Pulling her toward him, she fell limply into his arms, but still maintained her death-like grip on the mare’s mane. tee “Save me!” she breathed, letting her head drop on his shoulder. 5 “You are safe, Miss Nutte,” he replied. “Let £0 your hold on the mane.” ; Be ee She did so, and then with a sigh fainted dead — " ot Sit ade Faas Aes Fs

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B A LUCKY CONTRACT CHAPTER V.—“You Shall Have the Thousand Dollars,” Tom’s legs seemed to give way under him all at once.’ His brain began to swim and a mist came before his eyes. He had overdone himself, and the reaction had set in. He staggered a few feet away, sank to the soft sod and fell back - unconscious, with Hazel Nutte clasped in his arms. When Tom recovered his senses he saw Miss Nutte bending over him.: His head was in her lap and she was rubbing his temples and fore- head in an effort to bring him to. — For a moment or two he looked into her face in a confused way, as if wondering why he was in that situation, then he remembered the cause of it ~ all and raised himself up, feeling a bit. sheepish to “think that he had succumbed under the ordeal to which he had been subjected. : “Are you much hurt?” asked the girl, sym- _ pathetically. “T puess not, replied Tom. “I don’t know how I came to faint away. I suppose I overdid myself on the bicycle chasing you and the horse. I feel - as weak as a cat, but I guess I'll come around in a few minutes. I hope you are all right, Miss Nutte. You and the mare had a narrow escape “a going into the river. I barely caught you in . time. “T know it,” she replied. “You saved my life and Queen Bess’s too. I am very, ver grateful to you. You are a brave and plucky boy. You - rescued me from those two tramps, also. How ‘shall I ever be able to thank you enough?” “Don’t worry about that, Miss Nutte. I am very glad to have been able to render you a serv- ice. When I saw the fix you were in I could not do otherwise than try my best to save you. Any- _body else would have done the same for you under the circumstances.” | “IT am sure nobody could have done any better than you did. You had better lie down on the grass. You look very. white.” : “T guess I will. I feel all knocked out,” he said, lying back. “J will walk Bess up and down while you are resting, for I’m afraid she might catch cold, not- withstanding that it’s a warm day. She’s as wet as though she’d been in the rover.” : She went to the thorse, which was walking quietly about, and rubbed her down as well as she could with her handkerchief, and then she led her up and down the bank of the riv until she was cooled off. By that time Tom felt pretty good again, and was on his feet. “T shall never forget what you’ve done for me as Jong as J live,” said the girl to him, when she rejoined him. “Neither will my father. What is ¥our name?” “fom Trowbridge.” “You live in the village, I suppose?” “Yes.” . “y ‘don’t remember having seen you before, theugh I’ve been living in the neighborhood of Englewood for two years.” ase 3 “T suppose not, miss, as I’ve been working all day in the Englewood Wagon Works for nearly two years. The place is shut down for the sum- mer now, and I’m idle at present. But that will only be for a week, as I have been engaged by +. Mr. Sandford, owner of the Bay View Hot night clerk, up to September first.” eee Well, P’m glad to know you, Mr. Trowbridge. My name is Hazel Nutte. My father is Major Willard Nutte, as you probably know. He is vice-president of the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad. You must go back with me to my home, so that my father and mother can thank you for what you did for me.” I don’t think it will be necessary for them . to. thank me, as you have already done so,” re- plied Tom. “Oh, they wouldn’t be satisfied unless they did. ¥ou will go, won’t you?” Tom couldn’t refuse. In fact, the prospect of being awhile in this charming girl’s company, and being so favorably regarded by her, was particularly delightful to the boy. There wasn’t a girl in the village who could compare with her in grace and loveliness, and Tom felt proud of the honor of her society for even a limited time. He looked around for his wheel, and found it some distance away, lying on its side close te ~ the river bank. He was glad to find that it had not been injured in the least. Shall we ride down the river a bit before we go back?” Hazel Nutte said. “It is early in the afternoon yet.” z “Anything you say goes with me, Miss Nutte,” answered Tom. 4 _He assisted her into the saddle, and mounting is wheel they turned down the river road at a slow gait. : “I should love to go up on that bluff where that farmhouse is, for one could get a fine view of ithe country from that elevation,” said the girl. ‘Well, I guess there will be no objection te our going up.. A man by the name of Locke lives there with his wife. ‘The place is for sale, as you can see by that sign, but nobody wants it.” “Why not?” replied the major’s daughter, in Some surprise. “I should think it was a fine, airy — spot to live.” fale : “That part of it is all right. People, however, ‘don’t buy land around here just to get a fine view of the country. They expect to make a living and something better off the ground. There’s no way - of doing that on the bluff. It’s too stony.” “Then why did Mr. Locke buy just the bluff when he came here?” “He didn’t. When he purchased the place — there was a hundred and fifty acres to it, one hun-- -dred of which was good planting ground. He has the reputation of being a shiftless kind of man, for he never worked his farm to much advantage, and gradually got into debt. Finally he had the chance to sell the hundred good acres to his neighbor on the east. The man would have taken the whole farm, but Locke wanted too much for it, and, as the bluff was of no use to the other farmer he made the owner an offer of $60 acre for the available land, or about $10 more — than the land around here was fetching and Locke - Sold it to him, and is now living in idleness on the bluff off the money. Within the last year he’s had the bluff in the market for $30, and then $25, an acre, and lately as low as $20, which shows that he wants to get away altogether. If I had $1,000 I’d buy it, for I’d like to get the place badly. But I haven’t got a cent, so there’s no chance of my getting it.” ‘ ate

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3x As he spoke they were slowly ascending the _ path that led to the top of the bluff, Tom on foot trundling his wheel. i _. “What would you do with the place if you _ owned it?” Hazel asked him. 4 “T’'d make a pile of money off it—many times __. the $1,000 that Locke wants for it.” _ . “Indeed!” she exclaimed, much interested. = “Then why not explain you plans to my father? -_ He will be glad to help you in’ acknowledgment . of the great service you have rendered me.” “There are reasons why J wouldn’t like to ex- plain my plans to your father,” replied Tom. “I will explain everything to you if you will promise me not to say a word about the matter,” “Of course, I promise,” she said. 7 - Tom assisted her down. “To begin with, may I ask you if you know about any plans that your father, in connection -_- with other moneyed men, has with respect to this -_meighborhood ?” , She looked at him in great surprise before an- swering. e. “How did. you learn that he had any plans - about this place?” : , “TJ will tell you, though I am not sure that you ‘will approve of the way I came to hear about the ~ matter. However, I haven’t said a word on the - subject to any ‘one, and don’t mean to, yourself excepted.” : _\,Tom then explained how he had overheard her father talking to a gentleman at the end of the boardwalk in front of the bathhouses belonging _ to the Bay View Hotel about a week since, and he told her everything he had learned on that oc- _casion. : -, Bi “T dare: say, I should not have listened to a - eonversation not intended gor my ears, Miss - Nutte, but I was so interested in the matter under discussion that I overlooked the ¢act that I was not exactly doing the proper thing. I hope you will excuse me for doing so, for I should feel very bad if I suffered in your esteem.” - J owe you too much to think of chiding you for playing the part of a listener,” she said, - gently. “I am sure no_harm will come from il, as I know you will be silent about what you - heard. Mother and J are acquainted with father’s plans, but it is a great secret. It might embarrass the enterprise if the news received premature cir- culation.” , “You may depend that no one will ever hear a whispe® from me.” : . 5 “J believe you,” she said, laying a hand on his ~ arm. “Now tell me in what way does my father’s plans affect you with relation to this bluff.” ~ «Tt will take a considerable quantity of suitable stone to build the dam that is to be constructed - 4across the river. That kind of stone is right here . the bluff. If I owned the bluff I could sell it at a big profit to the contractor whose bid is ac- septed. It would be to his interest to get posses- ion of it, for otherwise he would have to buy the stone at a distance and pay heavy transporta- arges on it. The nearest station at pres- 1e railroad is more than fifteen miles .. “Let us stop at this spot while I tell you ‘how, if I owned this bluff, I could make a lot of oe “money.” ; ; _ “Very well,” she replied. “Will you help me dismount ?” the r A LUCKY CONTRACT i | Peas from here, and I doubt if the contemplated branch os ling will be started before the dam is well under = way. Look what, it would cost to haul the stone to this spot. Under these circumstances think what - the posséSsion of $1,000 means to me. It would give me a start in life, and-that’s what I’m look- Ing for.” : - : “Tom Trowbridge, you shall have the thousand os dollars,” said Hazel, regarding him with an ap- >f ase proving smile. 5 ; CHAPTER VI—Tom Secures the Locke Farm, If a bomb had exploded under’ Tom he couldn’t have felt more astonished.” He looked at the girl ~ as if he wasn’t sure he had heard aright. Sita “What did you say?” he asked. en “I said you shall have the thousand dollars.” | = “Will you explain just how I am te get it?” ¥ _ “I have considerably over a thousand dollars z in my own name in the savings department of the Englewood Bank. I will lend you $1,000 of it 6). for as long a time as you need it, without se- © curity. I would.give it to you, but I feel that you. would not accept it_that way. You can pay the __ thousand back out of your profits. My father ; need not know anything about the matter, and it will not be necessary ‘for you to explain to him that you know anything about his plans. It is better that way, for, though he would not cen- — sure, you for the way in which the knowledge of © his enterprise came into your possession, still he might not like it, and I want to stand well with him. J can see that you are smart and ambitious ¥ and are bound to get ahead, so I want to do what little I can to make an opening for you. My Fa gratitude alone would induce me to do that, but I may say quite frankly that I like you independent ae of the service you have done for me. So you will take the money, will you not?” i Ramee “As muchas I want that money, and as much as it-would do for me, I do not know if I ought | to take advantage of your generosity, Miss Nutte © i almost looks like a kind. of pay for saving, your a ife. 9 Seep “You are quite wrong. I am only lending you the money. It is merely a small favor on my part, and I should feel hurt if you refused to accept it.” “Then I will take it, and I thank you for the ~ favor with all my heart. You are perhaps doing more for me than you think. To get immediate possession of this bluff I look upon as. the chance of my life. You are, putting that chance in my hands. It is not impossible but: you may be re- sponsible for whatever success in life comes to me. If so, I shall in the future have cause to remember you with the deepest gratitude,” “The gratitude will alawys be on my side, Tom Trowbridge. Think what must have been my fate if Bess had carried me into the river, with my foot entangled in her stirrup. I should have been drowned before she could have found a spot — to get on the bank again. Can either of us doubt — for a moment that you saved my life?” ; “Well, ’'m glad I did. I’d risk my life any day to save you from peril. That’s all I can say, ex- cept that I like you and hope we shall always be good friends.” — : ; = “Tm sure we shall,” she said earnestly. “At — least it won’t be my fault if we are not.” “Nor mine,” replied Tom... ae oa

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10 A LUCKY “We will go back now,” said Hazel. “You won’t go to the top of the bluff, then?” “No, I will wait until: the property is yours.” - Thev walked back to the road, then, after help- ing Hazel into the saddle, Tom got on his wheel and they started off in the direction of Englewood Sy at a rapid clip. : They saw no sign of the two tramps on the way back, and in due time reached the Nutte mansion. Major Nutte and his wife were sitting or. the veranda when Hazel and Tom entered the grounds. The cirl introduced Tom to her parents, ard then described her adventure with the tramps, which led to the mare becoming frightened and -_ running away with her. She told how Tom had come to the rescue. and how he had given chase on his wheel when Queen Bess ran away, and had -. saved her and the mare from a plunge in the » river which would probably have been fatal to both: The major and his wife were astonished and concerned at the narrow escape she had had, ‘and they could not sufficiently express their gratitude to the brave boy. They prevailed on ae Tom to remain to tea, and after the meal Major ; Nutte took him into his library and asked him how he could be of service to him. Tom thanked ‘him for the offer, and said that at present the Sree major could do nothing for him. os “Well, my boy, I shall not be satisfied until I have siven you some substantial evidence of my appreciation. of your gallant services to my daughter,” said the rich man. “Remember that 1 gan push you ahead in the world. A friend at ~ . court is a good thing tp have, and I shall always * be that to you if you will permit me to help you.” “tT am much obliged to you, Major Nutte; but jt is my ambition to get on without any one’s help, except when ciréumstances make it neces- sary for me to ask a favor.” é 2 “Whenever you want a favor of me you have only to ask it, and it will be granted at once,” replied the major, who rather admired the boy’s 4yndependent spirit. - Hazel accompanied Tom to the gate, and it was arranged between them that she was to meet him tage, when she would go to the bank and draw $100, which was all he said that he would require ‘at present to pay down on the contract for the purchase of the Locke property. - The deal would have to be put through in his aunt’s name since the law did not permit a minor to hold real property in his own name. When he got home Tom told his aunt about his stirring experiences that afternoon and- how he had made the acquitance of Hazel Nutte and her parents. ' Then he told her that the young lady was going - to lend him $1,000 with Locke Farm. : - “Why, what do you want with that place, Tom?” asked his aunt, in astonishment. “Oh, I’ve a scheme in view that will probably put every cent of $10,000 in my pocket‘ in a _ short time.” - . - “Why, I’ve heard people say that the Locke Farm is hardly worth paying taxes on.” “The people who say that don’t know what they’re. talking about.” ‘I wish fon waite “epee me how you ex- next morning about ten o’clock at his aunt’s cot- ; which to purchase tne’ oney eee such an ap- » CONTRACT 3 2 8 “T ean’t explain it now, aunt. I am bound in’ honor not to say a word about the matter to any one. What I want you to do is to go out to the Locke place with me and arrange for the pur- ~~ chase of the bluff. I'll get $100 tomorrow morm- ing for you to pay down to bind the bargain. The balance will be forthcoming when the deeds : are ready. Then you will hold the property in — your name for me. You'll do this to oblige me, won’t you auntie?” : 2 “T’]] do anything in the world to oblige you, Tom.” % 4 > E “T knew you would, aunty, dear,” he said, kiss- ing her. : Next morning Tom went down to take a look at. the flat-boat, and found that Mike Dooley had ap- plied:the second coat of white paint in good shape, and that the boat made quite a presentable ap- pearance. He deferred putting in the pole until he had attended to his proper business. At ten o’clock he was back at the cottage waiting for Hazel to put in her appearance. She arrived soon — after, and Tom introduced her to his aunt, who was quite taken with her good looks and lady- _ like ways. After a short visit she and Tom went — to the bank together, and he got the $100. As Secon as dinner was over, Tom borrowed a horse’ oud buggy and drove his aunt out to the Locke "arm. : When Tom stated the object of their call, An- — drew Locke was ready to do business. A new — and unexpected difficulty, however, presented it- self. Locke wanted an additional $500 for the farmhouse. Tom made a strenuous objection to this, and told him he could move the house off — it he wanted to. Locke said he wasn’t going to — move anything but his personal property, and — refused to make any deal that did not include | the house at $500 extra. Of course the boy wasn’t going to let the $500 stand in his way of getting the property, for he would manage to reise it some way when the time came to close — the deal, so Locke accepted the $100 deposit and — agreed to come to the village next morning an sign the contract. $a This he did; and Tom hired one of the two vil- lage lawyers to have the fifty acres surveyed, . Locke’s title to the ground passed upon, and a deed transferring the rocky farm in a legal way to his aunt. “A few days later he called on Hazel — Nutte, told her he had bought the property, and then explained how he would require another $500 — to pav for the farmhouse. She agreed to loan him the additional sum, and the boy returned home perfectly satisfied that his start in life was_ now assured. mee . ee" CHAPTER VIL—Tom’s New Scheme. On the following Wednesday the Bay Vie Hotel opened with three guests, and Tom went t work that night. Both houses were crowded an everything in full swing by the Fourth of July A few days before that Mike Dooley put t flatboat in commission, and the summer visitors who preferred to walk over to North Beach to taking the trolley patronized this unique mode of eo 5 ee we

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“Ss A LUCKY CONTRACT 11 ‘Although he had a sign on the boat stating that his remuneration was a penny each way, he got more nickels than coppers, and sometimes he got ten cents, and occasionally a quarter from those liberally disposed. Deacon Fitch, as soon as the facts were reported to -him, sent a couple of his ‘men to put Mike out of business. The men hap- pened to appear at a time when a number. of the summer visitors were waiting to be taken across the creek, and Mike appealed to them for pro- tection. Several strapping college lads seized the enemy and ducked them in the stream, and that put a temporary end to the raid. Tom, being notified of the action of the trolley company, at- tended a meeting of the Town Council of Engle- _ wood and secured Mike a permit to continue the Business, explaining that Mike was a poor boy who needed the money. Finding the trolley com- pany was getting disliked for its meanness, the ae ordered the bridge restored to its former nape. bout the middle of July the deed conveying the Locke Farm to Mrs. Mary Dean, Tom’s aunt, was signed, and the fact that the rocky bluff had passed into her possession was duly chronicled in the Englewood “News,” and created consider- able speculation among the villagers, who had the idea that the Locke property was a quince. People wondered what Mrs. Dean proposed to do with her purchase. Tom was quizzed on the subject, but had nothing to say. The Lockes carted their household goods away and then Tom induced Mrs. Dooley to go out there and take charge of the house. Of course Mike had to accompany her, and that. put the creek ferry eut of business, much to Deacon Fitch’s satis- faction. After deducting the expenses of the en- terprise out of the share of the receipts that -Mike had faithfully turned over each day to Tom, the latter had a balance of $6, which he pre- -gented to the Widow Dooley. Tom had. bought ‘Locke’s cow and his small stock of poultry, and the widow and her son had; the benefit of these in addition to free rent? About the first of August the plans of the syndicate which was going to improve that section were ‘completed, and the news was permitted to get out. The Englewood “News” printed a column about Major Nutte’s en- terprise, and the facts created not a little excite- ment in the village and neighborhood. The farm- ers whose property adjoined, or was not far from the site of the projected factories and the new ‘village which the starting of the industries would eause to spring into existence, began to hug them- selves with satisfaction. No one, however, as yet 4 “suspected that the new owner of the bluff would benefit to any great extent by the new condition _’ of, things, unless possibly it was covered with homes for the workingmen who would in time come to work in the factories. But it would cost money to build houses, and houses had to be - * built before they could be rented. Tom, in get- tinge possession of the bluff, had thought of noth- ng but the profit to come out of the stone that “would be needed to build the dam. It was about this time that another advantage occurred to him. - He and Hazel, with whom he was now pretty thick, went out to the bluff one afternoon for a _ ride in the girl’s pony phaeton. As they were B hed mounting the path to the farmhouse, Tom BBld: { , “Say, Haze » he called her by her first name now, and she ealled him Tom, “I see another chance to get additional profit out of, this prop- erty, with your father’s backing, and he promised to do me_a favor any time I asked it.” What is it, Tom?” asked the girl, in an in- terested tone. i “Why, when this rock has all been cut away and used up it will leave me with a flat piece of ground on my hands. What’s the matter with having a couple of streets laid out through it and making it an addition to’ the village? With the profits I expect to realize out of the roek I can build a number of cottages and rent them at a rate which will induce people to take them. That will largely raise the value of the whole fifty eres. It will enable me to mortgage it for enough money to build additional houses. Then I ean mortgage those for enough to build a few more. By that means I ought to be able to become qutite an extensive landlord. What‘do you think of the idea?” “It’s just splendid! Papa will lend you all the money you'll need, for he'll have security for it. Then, if you should for any reason ever get into temporary financial difficulties he will carry you cver. He’s very anxious to help you in some way. I heard him tell mother so the other day. He feels under such great obligations to you for . Saving my life that he wants to give you som substantial evidence of his gratitude” Rn ae “Well, the only substantial evidence of his gratitude I will accept will be the advantage of his influence in connection with this new plan of mine. I should be glad to borrow of him the money necessary to push it on a big scale. Every speculator has to borrow. money to carry out an extensive enterprise. If your father has con- fidence enough in me to put up the ‘coin it must be on the same business basis as I would have sto make with a stranger, for I mean to work out my own fortune. He shal] have the same interest from me he would exact from anybody else pro- posing a similar scheme. I intend to do business on business principles. It is the only way to feel thoroughly independent. There’s a big fortune in this property for me if I’m smart enough to dig it out, and I don’t mean to let any grass grow under my feet in the effort to make a grand suc- cess of the enterprise.” “I am satisfied you will succeed, Tom,” replied Hazel, confidently. “Papa says you have "the Fight stuff in. you, and I knew you had from the day we first met.” “You are very kind to encourage me, Hazel,” said Tom, with a look of appreciation. “Why, I’m only telling you the truth. Some er yee be cae _ “LT hope so. Not because I’m in love with mone itself, but because of the advantages it brings 4 person. want to be rich.” “What is it?” “That’s a secret I don’t dare tell even to you.” Fe bina looked at him moment, and then said: is is some new busine: r0j r thinking about?” - = ensa Ce “Yes. It is a dream, and yet I am sure the whole happiness of my life will depend on whether it can ever be realized or not.” ' “And you can’t tell me what it is?” ma There is another reason, too, why I — “Some day I hope I may be able to do so, but.

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A LUCKY he added, with a strange, “vou would think me pre- “if I told. you now,” wistful expression, “sumptuous,” . “Presumptuous!” she said: “In what way?” ““That’s my secret. We are good friends now. { don’t want anything to come between us that would make us less so.” “You would have to do something very, very bad to make me think less of you, Tom,” Hazel replied, earnestly. “And I am certain you never will be guilty of the act which you would regret.” “J should hope not. The secret I am speaking about isn’t anything I am ashamed to tell you, but it’s something I’m afraid to tell you.” » “Afraid to tell me?” she replied, in surprise. “That’s the size of it.” They had reached the top of the bluff by this time, and Tom had driven the pony under a tree that shaded the front door of the house. ee AINO, ne answered. “T’ll tell you some day, per- haps, but not now.” He jumped out of the phaeton and tied the pony to the tree. Then he held out his hand to her, and she sprang lightly to the ground. “T don’t see any sign of Mrs. Dooley around,” i “She may have gone to deliver. some He tried: the knob of the back door. It was not locked. “Mrs. Dooley is somewhere around the house, feo all,” he said. We'll walk in and surprise ~~ her. ~ Hazel sat down and Tom opened the doer lead- ing into a passage which connected the front - with the back of the house. Instantly two rough- jooking men sprang out and seized the boy. They __ were the two tramps who had held up Hazel that ~-afternoon six weeks before. ~ > CHAPTER VIII.—What Happened in the House on the’ Bluff. - Tom, taken by surprise, was an easy victim. He put up 4 struggle, of course, but it amounted to very little against the two ruffians. Hazel sprang up with a low scream. She was a plucky girl, and had no idea either of fainting or running away and leaving her escort in a bad pickle. Her eyes lighted on a broom. She seized it and attacked the nearest rascal with such vigor that he had to Jet go of Tom to defend himself. He grabbed the “breom-handle and wrenched it away from nee “then he caught her by the wrist with on han - forced her. into a chair and put his other x ‘over her mouth. While he was doing this the other tramp threw Tom on the floor and sat on him. ~ "Youre the chap who butted in that day on the road,” gritted the ruffian. “You slugged me in the jaw and nearly broke my face. J} reckon I'll “fix ye now for. that.” s “Tf you do anything to us vou’ll land in the county jail pretty quick,” replied Tom, stoutly. “We'll take the chances of that,” replied the man; with an ugly laugh. “Tie and gag that girl, Bill.” he added to his companion, “so she cean’t do ‘nothin’, and then lend me a hand with “this young, rooster.” > Pe ill 1 Hae a ‘towel from. the table, azel’s mouth an the n he secured her tied it at to the. CONTRACT. chair with some cord he took from his pocket. The girl now helpless, the rascal helped himself to the chatelaine watch she wore on the bosom — ot her gown, took the diamond drops out of her z ears, and the expensive ring from one of her fingers. He slipped his plunder in his pocket and then went over to help his companion tie up Tom Trowbridge. The boy’s hands were tied behind his back and his ankles were also secured together. Although comparatively helpless, he did not dispair on that account. He looked around the room and put his ‘ready wits to work. On the table in the center of the room were a plate, a cup and saucer and a knife’ and fork, just as Mrs. Dooley had eft them after eating her+dinner. She had evidently gone away in a hurry. Tom saw the handle of the knife projecting over the edge of the table, and the sight of it put an idea into his head. He dragged himself over to the table, then got on his knees, and then on-his feet. Turning his back to the table, he felt alone the edge with his bound hands till he was able to grab the handle ot the knife in his fingers. ; Then he proceeded to hop toward Hazel: in the ‘same way that participants in a sack-race try to — cover ground. It took some little skill to main- 2 tain his balance, but he sueceeded. When -he , reached the girl he looked at the way she was ‘s bound to the chair. If the rascals did not re- “4 appear too soon he believed he could free Hazel, —~ and then it would be an éasy matter for her to — 4 release him from the cord. Grabbing the blade- of the knife firmly between his fingers with the edge out, he applied it to one of the cords It tcok him but a few moments to cut the cord through. Hazel, who easily understood what he — was about, pulled her right hand free and tore — the towel from her mouth. z “Give me the knife, Tom, and I will qcut you eg loose.” 3 - Tom worked around so she could take the knife “and use it on his cords. Im less than a minute his_ hands were free. “You're a brick, Hazel,” he said, after getting — rid of the gag. “Pi do the rest.” It was but the work of a moment to cut ‘the : eord about his ankles, then he released the girl — from the chair. Going to the open passage door, 4 he listened. i The two men were rummaging about upstairs with poor luck, as Mrs. Dooley’s possessions were not very valuable. Tom then shot back the bolt on | the outer door and unlocked it. “Do you think they can catch us before we can- get away in the phaeton?” she | asked him, “We can’t ‘drive fast down the bluff. “Are you willing to take a aeinise with me?” he asked her. ; “What do you mean?” : “Youre a plucky little girl. I’d like to cap: = ture those tramps and turn them over to t authorities. ‘Remember. the chap who bound yo has all your valuables.” “Oh, dear; that would be +00 dangerous for us to attempt ” she remonstrated, - “fm not sure of thats If they are not ca ‘tured they may lay for us the next time we a out here, and we come frequently, you know, of — pr berg for they seem “rev

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A LUCKY CONTRACT “What are you thinking of doing?” “There’s a club yonder that I’ll use. You can take that rolling-pin, which is weighty enough to - erack a man’s skull. We'll lay for them when they come back to this room, and take them by surprise. [’ll guarantee to knock one of them out at the first blow, and you ought to make the other chap sick till I can jump in and settle him. Then -- we'll tie them up the way they served me. Mrs. Dooley ought to be back soon, and she'll take care of them till I send the constables out to take charge of them.” , ~- It was a daring thing to do, and Hazel was rather nervous about attempting it, but finally, like the brave little girl she was, she agreed to help Tom. < - “You také the second one,” whispered Tom, as they took up their positions on either side of the passage door. : The men shuffled along toward the kitchen. Dan entered the room first, and no sooner had he crossed the threshold of the door than Tom ~ felled him to the floor. He went down like an ox, and lay there motionless. The man Bill halted in stupefied surprise, only to face a heavy rolling- pin that hurled through the air and hit him a whack in the upper part of the chest that stag- gered him. Before he could recover his wits Tom settled his hash with a tap that made him see so many stars that he concluded to go to sleep. “Hurrah!” shouted Tom. “We’ve got them dead to rights. Now I’ll secure them.” ss ; There was cord aplenty to do that with, and when the rascals recovered their senses they found themselves helpless. By that time Hazel - had her watch, and ring, and earrings on again, just as if they had never left her. As the ras- -eals had not been gagged they began to say things that caused the girl to open the kitchen door and step outside. They swore at Tom and threatened all kinds of trouble for him. “You might as well save your breath, both of you. You’re slated for the county jail, and I'll bet Major Nutte will make it hot for you for the . indignities you offered his daughter.” ; At that moment Tom heard Hazel talking to - gomeone outside, and soon after the girl re-en- “tered the house with Msr. Dooley. ~ Mrs. Dooley was an Irish lady who never looked for a serap, but could hold her end up if a row was forced upon her. “So thim are the blackguards who assaulted you and the young lady,” she said to. Tom, as she looked on the bound ruffians. “Sure, it’s sorry I am I was away whin they came here, or I'd have ‘made thim look two ways for Sunday, faith, I would. Ye have got thim nicely-trussed up, like ‘a pair of pigs in a poke, so ye have. And what do ‘ve intind to be afther doin’ with thim?” ~ “J want you to see that they don’t get away “from here till I can send the constables after em in a wagon.” - Get away, is it? I’d like to see thim,” replied the Irishwoman. “Sure, I could knape watch on thim with one eye, sol could” — “You won’t mind the trouble, will you, Mrs. Dooley?” said Tom. | See. : oa rouble, faith! Sure, it’s no trouble at all. Til see thot they’re here whin the polacemin come.” Thank you, Mrs. Dooley. Then Miss Nutte and love if he could. Tom took Hazel by the arm and led her to the phaeton. Assisting her in, he untied the pony, and getting in himself proceeded to drive down the road. They were soon spinning up the road toward her home. He left her at her gate and went on in the vehicle to the office of the head con- — stable in Englewood. The guardian of.the peace was on hand and heard Tom’s story. ; t Then he lost no time in getting his rig in readi- ness for the trip to the bluff, while Tom drove back to Major Nutte’s. The major was as mad as a hornet over the treatment Hazel had been subjected to by the tramps, and he said he would ~ see they got all that was coming to them. Tom remained to supper, as: he often did these days, and then mounting his wheel drove to the hotel, where his duties began at eight o’clock. ot CHAPTER IX.—Frank Fleetwood, Civil Engineer, The head constable and one of his deputies went out to the bluff and brought the two tramps — ae back to Englewood with them. They spent the night in the village lock-up, and next morning arraigned for examination before the justice. Tom and Hazel were present to press the charge against them, and Major Nutte was on hand to see that they were remanded for trial. The jus- — tice’s office was overflowed with spectators drawn there out of curiosity. The ruffians pleaded “not guilty,” Tom went tai: to the witness chair and told his story. His testi- mony was corroborated by Hazel. One of the ras- cals endeavored to make light of their offense, but no one: believed his excuses. The justice held them for trial, and that afternoon they were put ~ in jail to await the next term of the Circuit Court. It was about this time that an advertise- ment appeared in several of the more important — Chicago newspapers asking bids for the construc- _ tion of a dam across the Ste. Marie River. - Specifications were to be seen at the company’s office in Sault Ste. Marie, and bids, accompanied by a certified check for $20,000, had to be sub- mitted on or before September 1. 3 _A week later Tom and Hazel made ancther visit to the bluff. This time the girl rode Queen Bess and Tom went on his wheel. They found several men making measurements, and doing a lot of figuring, in the immediate vicinity of the rew dam site. They had a printed copy of the specifications and several blueprints with them. Tom and the girl went to the top of the bluff as usual] dnd sat down under the shade of a trea near the edge facing the river. They talked to- Me gether in a chummy way and watched the move- ments of the men near the dam site. Hazel had — forgotten all about that secret she was so eager to learn at the time Tom spoke about it, and the . boy was glad that she did not take it-up again. — Tom was always very happy when in Hazel’s so- — ciety, and she seemed time they came together, and there was no doubt that Hazel greatly admired the stalwart, good- looking and many boy who had saved her life. As for Tom, he had reached the conclusion that — the girl was absolutely necessary to bs Se I his mind to- happiness, and he made u #2 : equally contented to be — with him. Their friendship grew stronger every —

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4 A LUCKY were enjoying their tete-a-tete under the tree the men finished their work and piled their surveying instruments and other apparatus ‘into a light wagon-and prepared to leave the spot. One of them, who seemed to be in charge of the party, walked ahead as far as the bluff and began to examine its face with a look of interest. He climbed up here and there and looked at the rock, breaking off pieces, and, after studying their com- position, put them back in his pocket. Tom - wutched the man with a satisfied smile. He was _ satisfied that he would hunt up the owner of the bluff and try to seé if he could buy it. Other contractors would probably do the same, so that his aunt might expect more than one flattering offer for the property. There wasn’t the least * doubt that the man controlling the bluff could easily underbid his competitors and» secure the * epntract for building the dam. At length the young man walked up on top of the bluff and mocked at the door of the house. Mrs. Dooley answered the summons. “T bee your pardon, madam, but may I ask who is the owner of this property?” he inquired, politely. ; “Mrs. Mary Dean.” “Does she live here?” “No, sir. Sure, she lives in Englewood, on Madison Strate. Her niphew, Tom Trowbridge, _ is sated under thot tree yonder with a young "lady. Faith, he can till ye all about the place, _ sor.” So the young man went over to interview Tom. “Are you Tom Trowbridge?” he asked. “That’s my name,” replied the boy, getting up. “Your aunt, Mrs. Dean, owns this property, I derstand ?.” Z “She does,” replied Tom. - “Has she ever had any idea of selling it?” “No, sir.” 4 “How many acres does she own?” . “Only the bluff, about fifty acres.” “Do you think your aunt would consider an offer for the property?” “No, for the bluff really belongs to me.” “Indeed. Then perhaps it cannot be disposed of until you come of age. Is that the way the mat- ter stands?” asked the young man, looking dis- appointed. : : “Not exactly. But I can positively say that the bluff is not for sale. Are you a contractor?” “No, I am a civil engineer. My name is Frank _ Fieetwood. I intend to put a bid in for the new dam same as any contractor. If I am successful in securing the job I will then be a full-fledged contractor as a matter of course.” - The young man, who was good-looking and __ gentlemanly, spoke frankly, and Tom took a lik- for him on the spot. ~ 3 ; < 5 , Seas 3» a aes low hy do you. want to buy the property?” he asked. Fleetwood hesitated, - mit what he was after. “Isn’t it beeause the bluff would furnish you with the stone you would seed to build the dam?” -- went on Tom. : _ “Yes. That’s my reason for wishing to buy ; ah place. But if I can’t purchase it L take it granted that no other contractor wili be able ner.” - = ; ie correct, I contro] this bluff. My pur- i as if he didn’t want to ad- uae CONTRACT pose is to sell the stone to the successful bidder at a price lower than he can bring similar rock to this place.. If you want to make an offer on those lines I will consider it.” “You would have to employ a gang of men to blast the rock out ina proper way. Why not let me make you an offer for the property as it stands?” ; : “Because I have use for it after the bluff shall be cut away.” “Then I will make you an offer for the rock per_ton. Where shall I send you a letter?” “You can send it care of the Bay View Hotel. I am night clerk at that house.” : “Indeed! I am going to stop there for a day oy two, and will therefore have an opportunity of seeing you again, Mr. Trowbridge.’ “Very well, ” replied Tam. “I ghall be pleased ~ to meet you again.” ; _Fleetwood bowed and turned away to retrace his steps to the road below, where his wagon was waiting, while Tom rejoined Hazel under the tree. % CHAPTER X.—Tom Makes a Proposition. While Tom was on his way from the cot ee to the hotel that evening, his mind filled with vic icns of the anticipated profit he expected to get cut of the stone that composed the bluff, a new idea suddenly occurred to him. A brilliant idea it was, too, and the very nerve of it almost took his breath away. The scheme he thought of was this: instead of selling the stone even at a big profit, why not try to get a half interest in the ecntract to build the dam? [ ay Tom was so taken with the plan that he de- termined to speak with Frank Fleetwood that eve- ning on the subject if the opportunity offered. If the young engineer considered the proposal in a favorable light he would make an appointment with him on the following afternoon to go into the details. He saw Fleetwood on the broad veranda — talking an another guest when he entered the hotel, but the young engineer did not enter the rotunda where the office was until half-past ten, when he stepped to the desk to get the key o: Me Glad T © see you again, Trowbridge,” he said, with a cheerfully smile. “I will trouble you for the key of No. 61.” nae oa “Certainly,” replied Tom, reaching for the pigeon-hole where it reposed. “By the way, have you a moment or two to spare, Mr. Fleetwood?” | “Why not? I was just going’to bed, and it makes no difference to me when I go.” Se “Well, I’ve a proposition to make you with ref- _ erence to the dam that you are intending to sub- mit a bid for,” began Tom. Se “Well, what is your, proposition?” smiled the young engineer. 4 Bene “Leaving the matter of the stone at the bluff out of your calculations altogether, what chance do you think you will stand of getting the dam x contract?” ‘ : arteries. “That would be hard to say. The lowest re- sponsible bid will, of course, scoop the job. I have superintended a number of big contracts in the ir terests of other people, chiefly for Sherlock « Mosby, with whom I’ve been employed | , oral, years. Recently I had a break eak with ore F Hox 7

Page 17

A LUCKY CONTRACT -and-am trying to branch out as a contractor for - myself. While I consider myself perfectly com- petent to make out a bid and carry the contract through to a successful conclusion if I should get it, still there are many things I am up against. Sherlock & Mosby, I understand, are going to put in a bid on the dam, and I expect to see Sherlock and an engineer up here tomorrow to look the ground over. The firm has been in the contract- ing business for over twenty years, and owing to their facilities will probably be able to figure closer than I can.if I cannot get your stone ‘at a ’ price that will enable me to make an exceptionaily low bid. I might as well admit to you right now, -- for I have figured the matter out since I talked with you on the bluff, and have come to the con- clusion that unless you are willing to help me out a little I will be out of it.” “Suppose all you had to do was to consider the eost of quarrying the stone out of the bluff, how would that affect your bid?” asked Tom. _ ' “Why, I could easily underbid Sherlock-& Mos- by, or any other contractor,” replied Fleetwood, connao I’d have the material on the spot. That would make a mighty big difference. To bring the stone required for the work from the nearest quarry, as I have been figuring on, will cost a whole lot of money. The man who can get his stone from your bluff will control the situation.” - “That’s the way I look at it. As the case stands now, every contractor who comes down here to estimate on the dam will consider the bluff as an jmportant factor in the case, and I shall get offers from them all for the ground. Under no ~ consideration will I part with the property, though 1 am prepared to dispose of the rock above a certain level, which would be all any contractor ' would care for. Now, my proposition is this: That p we go into partnership as contractors—you to - furnish the expert experience and I to furnish the stone in the bluff as it stands. The partner- ship can be limited to this one job, or it can be ’ extended to take in the other improvements on which bids will subsequently be asked.” “What are the other improvements?” Tom ‘told him about the’ factories and the homes - for the workingmen that were to be put up. Fleetwood looked at Tom in surprise, “That would be a mighty big contract to tackle. Jt looks like a million-dollar job.” “J have no doubt it would cost close on to that sum.” * “And you are actually taking that into consid- eration in proposing this partnership?” - J am. I am out for everything in sight.” “The firm bidding on that work would prob- ably be required to furnish a bond or the cash for - ten per cent. of the estimated cost.” . *You tould leave that part of the matter to me, Mr. Fleetwood,” replied Tom, coolly. “However, I don’t wish to discuss other issues just now, The only questoin before us at present is—will you take me into partnership “on the dam? If you agree, I will guarantee that we get the job at a good profit. I may as well tell you that I have - gonsiderable influence in a very important ‘quarter. Major Nuttey the president’ and generat ‘qmanager of the Ste. Marie River Corporation, is a friend of mine, and is just aching to do me favor. If it was the question between. our bid that of another firm equally low, his vote mid es 15 would be cast with the side in which I was in- terested. So, you see, it will not be necessary to put in an exceptionally low bid to get the contract, but one which the possession of the bluff will enable you to draw up with the certainty of being lewer than that of any contractor who will have to figure on getting the stone from a distance. Now you have my plan in a nutshell. Sleep on it and let me have your answer tomorrow. Call on mé at my aunt’s cottage any time after one o’clock. It’s on Madison Street in the village, anid anybody will direct you to Mrs. Dean’s.” Y “Upon my word, Trowbridge, your proposition _ has astonsihed me,” replied the young engineer. “] have never met such a business-like young fel- low of your years. There are features about your offer that entitle it to my earnest consideration and that it will have. I am bound to say that I have taken a great fancy to you personally. There is something about you that dttracts me. I may as well say right now that I look upon your-pro- posal with favor. I will meet you tomorrow and we will talk the matter over. Then I should like to take the boss stone-mason I brought with me out to the bluff and examine the ground as — thoroughly as possible.” CHAPTER XI.—Tom Receives a Flattering Offer — for the Bluff. Frank Fleetwood called on Tom next day at one o’clock, and they had a long and earnest con- versation on the matter of the partnership and the construction of the dam. At three o’clock they rode out to the bluff on the wagon with the boss mason, and the party spent some time going ever the ground and examining the limestone out- ~ croppings. Another contractor, with two assist- ants, was making notes at the dam site, and Fleetwood recognized the gentleman, who was expensively dressed, as Job Sherlock, head of the contracting firm of Sherlock & Mosby, of Chicago. — While Tom and his companions were inspecting the bluff Mr. Sherlock took note of their presence — on the scene and walked down to see what they — were doing. He had incidentally noticed the — rocky eminence when he first came out there, and intended to have a look at it. ~ “Hello, Fleetwood,” he said,- rather gruffly, when he came up, “what are you doing out here?” — eek “Looking this bluff over, Mr. Sherlock,” re- plied the young engineer, politely. f “Who does the property belong to?” “Tt belongs to a Mrs. Dean.” “She lives in that house up there, I suppose?” “No, sir. She resides in Englewood.” “Ah, just so.” as Mr. Sherlock said no more for awhile, but — busied himself examining the indications of the — presence of limestone all along the bluff. Finally — he rejoined Tom and his party. “Look here, Fleetwood, are you working in the interests of some contractor contemplating put- ting in a bid for that dam?” “Just at present I’m looking after the interests ‘of the new firm of Fleetwood & Trowbridge.” = “Yndeed!’ replied Mr. Sherlock, with a tinge of sarcasm in his tones. “Civil engineers, I pre sume?” ; eae 7” added Fleetwood, with a_ “And contractors smile. |

Page 18

16 “Hamph! You are down here to estimate on the dam, I take it?” “That is my mission.” Mr. Sherlock grinned. “You are figuring on using this rock, maybe, if you are so forunate as to land the contract?” continued Mr Sherlock, in an unpleasant voice, for he saw the possibilities that lay in the bluff, * and mentally determined to try and get his own eoese in by outbidding Fleetwood for the prop- erty. “T was merely looking the bluff over to see . whether material for building the dam could be got out of it,” replied Fleetwood. Fels so,” replied Mr. Sherlock, rubbing his i shin. The young engineer knew what that. action ineant, for he had seen Sherlock do it time and gain when he was annoyed and meditated some sharp move. Fleetwood, however, was not wor- es ried, for he knew he had a cinch on the bluff. ; While Tom, Fleetwood and the mason sat down under one of the trees at the summit of the bluff, Mr. Sherlock returned to his companions. Shortly afterward he and his assistants got into his automobile and started for Englewood. © -. “Sherlock is going to hunt your aunt up and make her an offer for the bluff,” said Fleetwood, as the three watched the Sherlock party disap- pear up the road. “Pm afraid he’s only wasting his time,” grinned 2 Tom. “Fleetwood & Trowbridge are going to use wae this ro¢k when the firm gets the contract to build Ce the dam.” / : ee The party remained half an hour longer on. tne : bluff and then ‘returned to the village. After put- ting the wagon up at the stable, Fleetwood and the mason went gn to the hotel, while Tom re- -» turned home... ; 3 “There was a gentleman here about an hour ~ ago who is very anxious to buy the bluff,” said his is aunt. “He offered me $3,000 for it.” . - “Said his name was Sherlock, didn’t he?” said Tom, quietly. ' “Why, yes; that’s the name he gave me. You have seen him, then?” i ; “T met him out at the bluff, but was not intro- ee duced to him.” " ®F told him that you were the one who had all the say about the bluff. That while the property was in my name it was really yours. Then he x said he would be here early this evening to talk with you abgut it” - rs “Tf he doesn’t call before half-past seven he - won’t see me. If he calls later you can tell him - that the bluff is not for sale at any price.” _ -Mr. Sherlock called, however, at a few minutes after seven. He was surprised, and perhaps a ~ little disconcerted, to recognize Tom as the boy he had that afternoon seen in company with Fleetwood at the bluff. ry x «“Nfy name is Sherlock,” he said, brusquely. “I ‘ have called to see if I can make a deal with you for the purchase of the bluff by the river.” “The bluff is not for sale,” replied Tom, politely. “Am I to understand that Fleetwood made you a better offer? If he did, I advise you to go slow before you commit yourself. In dealing with me you are doing business with one of the most ee r. Shelock, with a consequential expanding of % . ‘a more reasonable move or® Fleetwood’s part than ereuibs contracting firms of Chicago,” said , his broad chest, on which glowed a big diamond A LUCKY CONTRACT pin, easily worth $1,000. “Fleetwood has no re« sponsibility as far as I am aware of. Until lately he was in the employ. of our firm as a civil-en- gineer, but we found it convenient to let him go.’ Shall I draw up a memorandum for you to sign res bose pee for the thousand on ac- ?” eontinue e t; i i hand in his coat pocket. BA esti te Ss ‘No, sir, for I cannot accept your offer.” You cannot accept $3,000 for the stone in the bluff? almost gasped Mr. Sherlock. “Why the ‘ ite 4 sate eee a hundred per cent. after uff is cut awa i ; money reg tae y, and you will have the ‘I am aware of that fact, sir; but if there is any cutting away to be done I think it will be ~ dcne under my supervision.” ‘Under your supervision 2” “Yes, sir.” : ; er tas refuse to accept my offer?” “Tl make it $4,000. How does that stri 1? “No better than your other offer.” ween Mr. Sherlock regarded Tom as if he were some new freak which had come under his observation. : Upon my word, young man, I don’t under- stand you at all,” said the contractor, testily. “I have made you a most extraordinary libe of- ie ig yet you turn it down. I cannot for the ee ome see how you can do any better, or even Tom smiled and made no reply “Will you take $5,000?” said Mr. Sh a some Speen, —— 15 “No, sir. I told you at the beginning of this ine og Ha that the a ey not for sale.” * 0 you meart by that that h closed a deal with Fleetwood he pe Rei “Well, I have made a_ business arrangement with Mr. Fleetwood which prevents me from dis- posing of the rock of which the bluff is com- posed.” pees “Why didn’t you say so at once, then?” de- a manded the contractor, angrily. I told you the bluff was not for sale,” said Tom. “But you didn’t tell me that had sold the stone, . ’ or the property, to Fleetwood,” said Mr. Sherlock, oe aggressively, for he was hot under the collar to qk that his late employee had got nent of 48 im. Ee “I haven’t sold either the stone, or the property, 3 -to Mr. Fleetwood.” 4 “Then what kind of a deal did you make with him?” a “T cannot answer that question, sir.” The contractor was puzzled to understand just. how the land lay. The bluff itself could be of no possible use to the young engineer except so far as it would furnish the material necessary to ; build the dam in case his bid was accepted by the Ste. Marie, River Corporation. The the idea oc- curred to Mr. Sherlock that Fleetwood had se- cured an option on the bluff with the intention himself of selling the rock to the contractor who would make the highest bid. That struck him as. figuring on putting in a bid for building the dam. He determined to interview his late employee, — whom he knew was stopping at the Bay View Hotel, on the subject at once, for he was deter-

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A LUCKY CONTRACT mined to get hold of that stone if it were pos- sible to io so, otherwise he could not see how his firm would be able to submit a successful bid. “All right, young man,” he said, rising from his chair, “I won’t take up an more of your time. There is my business card. Should any change happen in your present. arrangements you can communicate with me at that address. That closed the interview, and‘Mr. Sherlock teok his leave. { CHAPTER XII.—Tom Secures the Promise of ue Financial Assistance. . Sherlock lost no time in hunting up Frank Bea The interview produced no sere tery results as far as he was concerned, ee morning he and his companions left Englewoo thicago. » Se iiionae morning Fleetwood departed for Chicago to make out his bid and get the ae tified check for $20,000 which his rich uncle ha promised to loan eos That esteenges Tom to the Nu mansion. eater. ded boy cried Hazel, when he presented himself before her; “where have you been for the Jast five days? ee now, you must give an ac- rself. \ : oo ate I’m ready to do that. Did you miss me any, or were you glad to be rid of me for awhile?” he asked, regarding her intently. “{ don’t know whether I ought to flatter hips - _py saying that I missed you,” she said, Aik f , sidelong aeugi in his face that was particularly inating to him. age ennge oe of hers were dangerous weapons, and it required some control. on his part tee - frain from seizing her in his arms then and there 3 eas a ' Pilon you didn’t miss me?” he said. re “Yes, I did, so there! Are you satisfied?” ap Thereupon he told her about the partnership he had entered into with Frank Fleetwood, the young Zz i ineer. ‘ : Pict art of the work are you going to ; rr?” $ : Bree cc aciiinw of the stone. We are going to a hire a competent foreman and a gang of men to i do the actual work. The necessary tools and im- plements will be sent on from Chicago as soon as ; the contract has been awarded to us. The oly i real difficulty that I can see before us, and t a is no small one, will be to raise the cash to carry on the work. Mr. Fleetwood has a rich uncle, ue all he can expect from him is the loan of the $20,- 000 forfeit that goes with the bid, and must re- - main with your father’s corporation until the dam is completed and accepted. We'll have. to raise quite a sum for working capital. Mr. Fleetwood hasn’t much more than enough to buy the drills and other machinery necessary to get the stone out of the bluff; while [—well, you know how much I’m worth. Nothing to speak of, and a 1,500 due you. : ee ee doesn’t count, Tom,” said Hazel. “Tt doesn’t? Well, I rather think it does. Though it doesn’t worry mé a great deal, for I ~ know I will be able to repay you with interest be- , -many moons. fo vel ‘om, you will have to lay the whole mat- ter before father. I i RE *y BL through if he is satisfied you and your partner ean put the work through in a satisfactory man- ner in case the contract is awarded to you. Was that Mr. Fleetwood who introduced himself to you the last time we were at the bluff?” “He’s quite a good-looking and very gentle- manly.” : Tom then went on to tell her all about the plans of Fleetwood & Trowbridge. “Well, Tom, I cannot say just what father will do, but I know he is very anxious to serve yo and he will do jt in every reasonble way. Don’ be afraid to explain everything to him, and give - ~him every chance to look into the matter, as ha will want to do it in your interest as well as his own.” “8 . “Oh, I'll give it to him straight. Tell him I’ll be around tomorrow afternoon to see him on im- portant business, that is, if he hasn’t any en- gagement.” “I couldn’t tell you whether he has or not, but I'll tell him you want to see him. If he can’t see you tomorrow when you come we'll go out and take a ride.” Next afternoon Tom rode out to the Nutte home again and found the major waiting for him. Hazel escorted him into the library, where her father was, and left them together. Tom lost no time in getting down to business.. He astonished the — major by telling him that he had gone into part~ nership with a smart young Chicago civil engineer who had come up to that neighborhood for the purpose of inspecting the site of the new dam and peg in a bid for the contract of building it. — He told the major how the bluff, which he had purchased at a bargain from Locke, was almost _ a solid mass of limestone—just the material with — eS which to build the dam. : _ “The possession of that stone will give us the inside track of every other contractor in making out our bid, so that we calculate on securing the contract through the lowest bid,” said Tom, as he warmed up to the subject. ; “How did Fleetwood come to take you into part- nership ?” “Because, being the owner of the bluff, I could furnish the stone right on the ground for the dam. A $20,000 check that is to accompany our bid is Wy already promised to Mr. Fleetwood by his uncle. — We will also have funds enough to get the ma- chinery necessary to quarry the bluff. But that’s our limit. My object in coming to you today was to ask you to back the firm, through me, with cap- ital sufficient to put the contract through if we se- cure it. You told me that if I ever wanted a fa- vor of you to ask it. Well, I’m asking you now. — If you will stand by me in this matter TI shall make a raft of money. The fact that my part- ner will also benefit, through any favor extended to me I hope will not count against my request for financial “aid. If we can’t raise the money to carry the work on, why, we'll lose the chance of a lifetime—at any rate, I will.” Major Nutte had gotten over his surprise and — « was now somewhat interested in Tom’s business aspirations. He asked the boy how the firm of Fleetwood _ & Trowbridge proposed to carry on the work in s tha case the contract came their way. Tom gave him all the facts and fi am sure he will see you. he had gotten from his partner on the matter, 3 x - t et es 3c

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A LUCKY ae 18 and told the major about how much working capital the firm stood in need of. Major Nutte ~questioned him closely about every point that ~ occurred to him, and the boy, in the main, gave him. satisfactory answers. : . The major assured Tom that if the firm com- plied with all the requireménts of the bid, and them, he would loan the boy enough money to see them through the job. » Tom having carried his point, on which so much hinged, left the library after thanking the ~ major for his assurance to stand by him. ~ CHAPTER XIII.—Tom Astonishes Dick. Although Tom dropped around to the bath- house nearly every afternoon to see his friend Dick Bristol, he had never even told his chum _. that he had gotten possession of the Locke Farm, as the bluff was still designated by the villagers. _ His object was to surprise Dick when he got ready for business. - On the morning following his satisfactory in- terview with Major Nutte, Tom received a small _ package and a letter by mail with the Chicago + postmark. He knew they ‘came from Mr. Fleet- ~-wood. The letter stated that the young engineer . had made out his bid for the building of the dam, and was now waiting for his uncle to return to the city so that he could get the check to enclose with it, then he would send the packet by regis- _tered ‘mail to the Ste. Marie River Corporation at Sault Ste. Marie. He told Tom what the amount of the bid was, -and what profit he expected they would make, * supposing that his calculations with reference to the cost of quarrying the stone turned out ap- - proximately correct. 3 -The package contained 100 buisness cards _ printed as follows: FLEETWOOD & TROWBRIDGE, CONTRACTORS, « ~ Room 504, Eclipse Building, LaSalle St., Chicago. Pete Branch Office: Englewood, Mich. Tom immediately wrote a short letter to his partner, acknowledging the receipt of the letter and cards, and telling him not to worry about -yaising the funds to oy on the work if they “got the contract, as he had already made ar- rangements to secure all the money necessary for that purpose. Putting half a dozen of his “business cards in his pocket, he walked down to the bathhouse to see Dick. He found Dick in the ‘room where the money was taken in and the bathing-suits given out. The captain was out- side repairing the lock on ‘one of the houses. ‘Hello, Tom. Hot day, isn’t it?” said Dick, wiping his face with his handkerchief. “What do you expect in the middle of Aug- ust?” laughed Tom. ° - “] meant that to-day is extra warm. All the “houses are in use and there are a number of 2 sople on the waiting list,” and Disk nodded at “around the*door watching the bathers and - or a chance to get a bathhouse. es od the contract to build the dam was awarded to - ialf a dozen of the hotel guests who were loung- | CONTRACT “Which means that you are extra busy.” “Well, I haven’t any time to go to sleep,” grinned Dick. “Wait here, will you, while I go on the roof and see if the batch of bathing togs up there are dry enough to take’ in.” “Tt oughtn’t to take them long to dry in this sun,” said Tom. & Dick. went out by the back door, mounted to the roof, and in a few minutes returned with an armful of suits, which he proceeded to sort out, fold up and store away on a shelf behind the counter. “Two weeks more and you will be out of a job again,” said Tom. “So will you. But we don’t need to worry. The wagon works open up again on the 15th of September.” “T’m not worrying. I don’t care if the works never open up again.” “Got another and better job in sight?” asked Dick, curiously. “Yes. I’m in business for myself.” “In business for yourself! What do you mean by that?” “Can you read?” grinned Tom, taking one of his cards from his vest pocket. “Cast your optics on that bit of pasteboard,” and he tossed the card on the counter, Dick picked it wp and glanced at it. “<‘Pleetwood & Trowbridge, Contractors,’ he read. “What does this mean?” he went on, look- ing at Tom in a puzzled way. “It means what it says.” ‘That Trowbridge isn’t you, just the same,” said Dick. : é ‘Isn’t it? I was under the impression that it : way. . Don’t you see that our branch office is in Englewood? Do you know of any other Trow- bridge in Englewood?” Zee That took the wind out of Dick’s sails, so to speak, and he didn’t know what to say. : “Who is this Fleetwood?” ‘he finally asked, “An expert civil engineer, who lives. in Chi- 0.”’ “What do you know about the contracting busi- ness?” at . “Not’much, but I hope to learn all about it in : ime.” mi ad “What did you put into the business as capi- tal? You haven’t any money.” = “T put in the stone that forms the underpin- ning of the Locke Farm.” aS “Now you're rnp me.” “Not a bit of it. bought the Locke Farm about two months ago. Didn’t you see the notice about it in the News?” : “No, I didn’t. If I had I should have asked aes explain how you could pay $1,000 for that ‘we See Senay phe “J borrowed the money. It cost me $1,500 al- wogetb for Locke wanted $500 extra for the ouse.” “What kind of a me?” ghost story are you giving ‘T’m telling you the truth. The Locke Farm is my property. Don’t you remember the last time we went. fishing together I told you that if I had $1,000 I’d buy that place and make a raft ~of money out of it?” ; _ “Yes; and I thought you, were talking rag-— time 2 ee es piss: Sete aan neta "Well, you see I wasn’t, The Locke Farm is

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os now in my aunt’s name, but I am the real owner Beet. OL. ¥ : ¥ “And you’ve owned it two months?” ; = “Yes. ; “And never told me a word about it before!” “No. I wanted to give you a big surprise at the proper time.” : “You’ve, done that, all right. Where did you get the $1,500 from?” “That’s one of my business secrets,’ laughed Tom. “You seem to have a lot of business secrets,” growled Dick. © : ! “T’ve got a few.” Y “How are you poing to make a raft of money out of that rocky lemon?” _ “You'll see, one of these days. By the way, I% going to give you a job with our firm.” “Oh, you are?” : Stier “Yes, if you’ll take it. How will time-keeper and general assistant suit you?” a. “Anything will suit me if there’s wages in it.” _“There’s six dollars a week in it to begin with, with good prospects of a raise.” “Then I’m your huckleberry. When do I go to work?” : ; “As soon as work begins.” “When will that be?” “T can’t tell you till after the first of Sep- tember. Fleetwood & Trowbridge expect to get the contract for building the new dam across the Ste. Marie River. The stone will come from the bluff, and that’s why I bought the Locke Farm.” f - “You and your partner expect to build the dam across the Ste. Marie River! I think that’s pret- | good,” said. Dick, with a sarcastic laugh. : “We'll have a bid in for it in a few days.” “You will—like fun!” “All right. Wait till after the first of Sep- _. tember. If the contract comes to us we'll know _ the fact by that time.” eS ‘Dick had to attend to his duties just then, and Tom said he guessed he’d ‘go, as he had an en- -- gagement. - CHAPTER XIV.—Fleetwood & Trowbridge Win The Contract. - Before the first of September came around -* Tom had had several more talks with Dick Bris- ..tol, and his chum had gradually come to believe that Tom had gotten next to mighty big pros- ~) pects. te ¥ . On the 31st of August Tom got a letter from Fleetwood. in which the latter told him that he was going to Sault Ste. Marie that day to be present at the opening of the bids on the fol- - Jowing afternoon. Although Tom felt reasonably sure their bid would prove the lowest presented for the consideration of Major Nutte’s syndicate, ‘still he began to feel a bit nervous over the re- sult. It was possible that his partner, in making his estimate, might have figured some items too : jigh, and that the sum total would equalize or overstep the advantage the new firm possessed in having the stone on the spot. __ Or, again, some of their experienced competi- tors, owing to their superior facilities for under- taking such a big job, might be able to figure wer than Fleetwood calculated on. 101 idn’t close till the 5th of the month, everal more nights to put in as clerk A LUCKY CONTRACT ’ ga “All right. "I ae 165 . * 3 in the office. Most of the season’s guests had a gone back to, their homes, and Dick’s job was now a sinecure. Tom had called on Hazel the afternoon previous and told her how all his ee hung on a thread, as it were, and that if herlock & Mosby got the contract he would probably be in the soup. That night Hazel had «— an interview with her father and told him all that Tom had said. ~ She begged him, for her sake, to see that Tom and his partner had a square deal when the bids were opened, and that none of the more experi- enced contractors be favored unless their bid was actually lower than Fleetwood & Trowbridge’s. The major promised his daughter that the young firm should get the contract if their bid entitle them to it. . : When Tom reached the hotel at eight o’clock re: to resume his duties, a telegram, which had come over the wire to the house two hours before, was re handed to him by the day clerk. - = Tom’s heart beat like a trip-hammer as he tore the envelope open and looked at what he felt = was one of the most momentous messages he would ever receive. : i, = “Sault Ste. Marie, Sept.1. “To Thomas Trowbridge, A = “Bay View Hotel, Englewood Beach, Mich. woh “We win by a ee of only. $100 over Sher=- lock & Mosby. Sherlock entered protest, but it was overruled by Major Nutte. utside of the major, the syndicate favored Sherlock & Mosby, on account of their sapien and our lack o one. Major Nutte made a speech in which he complimented me as an expert, and insisted that my firm was entitled to the contract. It was — finally put to a vote, and we won by a single tally. our friend carried us through and you can’t thank him too much.. Look for me to- — morrow. FLEETWOOD.” “Gee! But we had a narrow escape,” breathed = Tom. “One hundred dollars only stood between —_ us and defeat, and even that wouldn’t have ~ availed had not Hazel’s, father made it his busi- ness to see that we got justice. That was a mighty close call. Sherlock & Mosby were evi- — pie dently out for blood. A load has been lifted off — = my spirits, and I’m as light as a feather. I wish I could send the news te Hazel, She’d be tickled to death to learn that Fleetwood & Trowbridge Me have won the contract for the dam.” or Just then Dick strolled into the rotunda and up to the desk. Pye “Hello, Tom; what makes you look so happy?” “Read that telegram and you’ll understand why my spirits are trying to get up through the top of my head.” | . [> ne Dick read it. : “Let me be the first to congratulate chap,” he said, holding out his hand. - S Tom seized it and they shook like good fellows. “By the way, have you got your wheel out- side?” asked Tom. 4. ‘Yes, why?” oe “Have you any objections to going out to you, old or Nutte’s house at this hour? a ll go if you wish me to.” -° | hee a moment.” = ms da few lines to. Hazel an his partner’s tel ith the n

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A LUCKY - one of the hotel envelopes, which he ‘addressed “Miss Hazel Nutte.” ‘Fhere you are, Dick. Deliver that at the -‘major’s house and I'll be under a big obligation to you.” We Dick took it, placed it in his pocket, and a fae ee later was on the road to the major’s ees ome. : 5 “CHAPTER Be Roa. oe A Dastardly ot. With the last week in September blasting op- erations were begun at the upper end of the bluff. Only a small gang under a foreman was ‘ employed at first, and the men were boarded at the farmhouse on the top of the bluff and * lodged ina building built for the purpose out of the lumber taken from the outbuildings and -_. erected on low ground at the opposite end of - Tom’s property. Tom and his aunt took up their residence at the farmhouse, with Mrs. Dooley as housekeeper and Mike as general hefper, so as to be on the ground all the time. Dick also boarded with them, and so did Fleetwood, when the op- erations on the dam were begun. Things went alone in fine shape up to the latter part of cae October, when the blasting gang was largely in- » creased. The men were brought from Sault Ste: _. Marie by Fleetwood, and Tom didn’t fancy the looks of several of them, especially a_ stalwart, mahogany-featured rey named Bill Hoogley. He stood six feet in his stockings, and a very wicked expression seemed to hover around his _ jet-black eyes. ; “Say, Tom,” said Dick, one morning, “Hoog- ~ Jey is mighty chummy with the greater part of our gang. It’s my opinion he’s trying to make it so hot for Foreman Brown that he’ll leave. I -heard him tell one of the shape the other day that he’d be the foreman here before the month “was up.” “You heard him say that, did you?”, replied _ Tom. : “I did. Between you, me and the post, I don’t Vike Hoogley for’a cent. I think he’s a bad man from Badville. I’d be willing to bet you'll have trouble through him before long. He’s up to something. Whether he’s merely conniving to get the foremanship, or he has some other object in view, I can’t say for certain. I advise you to keep your eye on him. I will as far as I can in your interest. Better have a talk with your partner on the subject when he gets back _ from Sault Ste. Marie.” : Dick’s words rather worried Tom. He had -- not been blind himself to Hoogley’s movements ‘since the man had come to work at the quarry. “He distrusted him from the first, and now he -" pegan to consider if it wouldn’t be for the best to get rid of the big fellow. He determined to put it up to Fleetwood as soon as the engineer yeturned. Right after supper that evening Dick took his wheel and started for the village to ‘ave an order for certain supplies with a store- eeper with whom Fleetwood & Trowbridge had a contract, and incidentally to stop at his home and see the folks. Later on Tom left the house ‘on the top of the bluff for a stroll. He directed is steps up the river to the point where the operations had bes Sides As it was a ‘to get Brown, the foreman of the quarry gang, — » party he has here to fill the bill. Then I’ll have . - inal bid.” you out in the matter.” worked lon, CONTRACT thing when he got there. However, he hadn’t gone up that way to see anything, as he had - time during-the daylight to inspect the dam site as much as he chose. A kind of caissowW had been: built close to the bank to lay the shore founda- tion of the dam, and work had already com- 4 menced in it. While Tom was standing in the _ shadow of a pile of rock he heard the voices of ~ two men approaching. As the young contractor glanced around the corner of the stone to see if he could make out who they were, the moon sud- denly shone through a rift in the clouds, and to his surprise he recognized Bill Hoogley-and a man who, though muffled up in’ a heavy fur- lined overcoat, with an automobile cap, looked the picture of Mr. Sherlock. fi “What can this mean?” Tom asked himself, with a thrill of anxiety. “Surely that is Jeb Sherlock, the big contractor. What is he doing up in this part of the country, at night-time, too, and in company with Bill Hoogley? Hoog- ley is not to be trusted, and I’m afraid Sherlock ee iS trying to tinker up some scheme to do Frank | and me up. I’d give a whole lot if I could hear their conversation.” As if in answer to the boy’s wish, the two men walked right down to the pile of rocks, as the moon hid her face again behind the opaque i of clouds, and came to a stop close to om. ; : “You have played your cards well, Hoogley,” said Sherlock, in a tone of satisfaction. ‘I gets I could depend on you.” “Yes, I pulled the wool over Fleetwood’s eyes, and got him to hire me and three chaps who are hand-in-glove with me,” replied Hoogley, with a short laugh. “In a few days we’ll manage out of the way, and then I’ll show the letters | I’ve got as to my ability as a foreman and strike Trowbridge for the job. I'll get it, never fear, for when Brown skips that boy will need some- body to direct the men, and I’m the most likely. possession of the keys to the dynamite chest.” “Good,” replied Sherlock, “There’ll be many — dark nights like this. You and one of your pals can slip up this way some night when all are in bed and plant a couple of sticks of the stuff in the caisson with a slow match attached. Then ~ you can light the fuses and get back to your bunks. In the course of an hour an explosion — will wipe the caison out, and do a whole lot of damage to the dam site. Fleetwood & Trow- bridge haven’t oe enough to stand much of — that kind of work, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the first setback they get will cripple them so badly that they’ll have to throw up the contract x and forfeit their bond. Then we'll step in and — aa take up the contract at an advance on our orig- “That's about what'll happen, Mr. Sherlock,” said’ Hoogley. “No one will suspect that I’ve © had a hand im the matter, and you'll give me the $1,000 we agreed on for me to come here and help “You'll get the money, don’t you wotry about ” that. My word is as good as my bond, as you ought to know.” se 4 1 right, Mr. Sherlock, [I’ve - “Your word is al enough for you to know

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healthy for you to go back on your promise after . _. the job had been done. A suspicion might get out some way that you had a hand in doing up your ‘business rivals,” said Hoogley, significantly. _ “And that would be. apt to create a bad impres- ‘sion, and prevent you from getting your hooks in on the job.” : Rory “Look here, Hoogley, I don’t want any insinua- tions!” replied the contractor, angrily. “I'll take care of you as I promised to do. All you hawe to do is to attend to the work I sent you here to . perform and keep your trap shut.” =e > “All right, sir,” answered Hoogley. “I'll see to it that things turn out your way.” “That’s all I want. Do your part and I’ll do mine. Now, I’ll have to be going. I’ve a long spin before me in my auto, and I am not sure but it may rain before I reach Preston. If you have anything else to say before I go, speak quick. Now then I understand things are run- ning the way I want them to; I shall not be up_ - this way again until the -contract lands in our hands.” : - Hoogley said he had nothing more to say, and so the two men walked away, leaving Tom half paralyzed by the knowledge he had so fortunate- ly obtained of the contemplated treachery of his business enemies. : . “There’s only one teins for me to do, and that is get rid of Hoogley and his cronies at once. I wish Frank were here to consult with, but since he is not I must act on my own judgment. It is fierce to know that Sherlock & Mosby, with their reputation and wealth, are capable to originating such a dastardly scheme against a firm new in the business and trying to get a start. I wish Dick was with me to furnish corroborative evi- dence of this interview. I could make it hot for -. Mr. Sherlock. As the matter stands, I can do ~ nothing to show the man up. His denial, backed up by Hoogley’s, would offset any statement I might make against them, even under oath. All I can-do is to protect the interests of the firm against this conspiracy. I’ll discharge Hoogley and his three pals to-morrow, and have Brown remove our supply of dynamite to a more secure ~ place.” z ¥ Tom then walked back to the bluff, and entered the house in a very thoughtful mood, for the re- sponsibility of his position preyed on his mind. CHAPTER XVI.—Conclusion. When _Dick returned from Englewood Tom was waiting up to see him. “Come here, Dick, I’ve got’ something import- ant to tell you,” the young contractor said, when is.chum appeared. es - Dick walked over and took a chair facing him. “What is it?” he asked. “Tt?s something pretty serious, old chap,” re- ed Tom. “Serious, eh?” Oy ES. ‘ ets we . Your suspicions about Bill Hoogley are 6 < told Dick “about the Sitervien: be- ‘Agen Hoogley and Job Sherlock that he liad eard that evening ‘ A LUCKY CONTRACT -and went with him up to the site of the dam. _ Mr. Sherlock in a way you won’t like.” “That’s what it is.” “What are you going to do about it?” x ee “Fire Hoogley at once, and his three asseci-~ ates, too.”’ : “Your partner ought to be here to back you —. up. Hoogley will try to bulldoze you because — you’re a boy.” ‘ . “He won’t bulldoze me at all,” replied Tom, resolutely. “I’m not afraid of him if he is six feet in his stockings.” : 4 Pe oto “Well, I'll help you out all I can, old man,” said Dick. “We can’t get rid of that rascal and his pals any too soon, I guess.” They talked the matter over for half an hour more and then went to bed. : Next morning when Bill Hoogley and his three _ cronies started to work in the quarry as usual —_ Dick handed each of them a blue envelope con- _ taining their week’s wages and told them they were: laid off indefinitely. Ree “Laid off!” roared Hoogley. ‘Who says so?” “Trowbridge says so. I am carrying out his orders,” replied Diek. uti “What does this mean?” growled Hoogley, striding up to Tom, while his associates remained in the background. ‘Your time-keeper handed us these envelopes and says we’re discharged.” “Tt means that I.don’t require your services — any more. The wagon will be ready to take you — to Preston shortly, where you can catch a train back to Sault Ste. Marie, where you came from,” “What’s your reason for discharging us?” eld ayes is that you’re here for no good urpose. I have found out that Mr. Job Sher- ock sent you here to work trouble for us.” ey “It’s a lie!” cried Hoogley, who was neverthe- . less staggered by the accusation. a “It’s no lie. You met Mr. Sherlock last night There you had a conversation with him, which T overheard. You arranged to blow up the cais- son some dark night as soon as you could get hold of the dynamite to do it with. You are a snake in the dark, and I won’t have any reptiles, around here while this contract is going on,- That’s all I’ve got to say. You and your crowd — had better leave quietly or I’ll expose you and — As Tom concluded Hoogley uttered a howl. of anger and struck the boy to the ground. As the young contractor lay dazed the ruffian seized him in his arms and dropped him feet first - into a shallow hole close by. = Then seizing his shovel, he began to throw the earth in around him as fast as he~could work, and ina few moments had the boy buried up to his chest. eee ae “V’ll fix you, you young whippersnapper!” roared the rascal. “You'll not tell any lies on me. and Sherlock, you kin bet your bottom dollar I'll pickle you, dern you, if I hang for it!” The big fellow was clearly in a murderous

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22 ee Dick got rope from the shed and they, to- _ gether with the unconscious Hoogley, were tied ._/ wup*hand and foot. ot Tom was quickly dug out of the hole, and he ie ordered that the four rascals be conveyed to the Tg farmhouse and held there under guard until he ag could get the constables from Englewood to-come ‘ out and take charge of them. When the three associates of Hoogley saw*how et determined Tom was to have them punished, they Be weakened and agreed to confess the particulars = of the plot in which they were all engaged if he Bee would let them off. pers Tom consented. y ea Their statements were taken down in writing by the young contractor in the presence of Brown -. and they signed their names to it, the foreman . witnessing the paper. pees The four rascals were then sent to Preston in the light wagon and put aboard a train for Sault Ste. Marie. - When the constables arrived from the village Tom told them that the trouble had been patched up, and the men implicated had been sent back whence they came. : ‘ He paid the officers for their trouble of com- ing out on a bootless errand and the incident was closed. . : ‘When Fleetwood returned he was greatly as- tonished to learn the particulars of what had Se ae - happened during his absence. ie He was surprised and indignant at the part Sex Mr. Sherlock had taken in the outrage, afd wrote that gentleman a significant letter, in which he : stated he had evidence in black and white, signed by Bill Hoogley and his associates, which, if ‘published, would compromise the firm of Sher- fock and Mosby to a very considerable extent. The facts, however, would be suppressed if Mr Sherlock minded hig own business in the future, and left Fleetwood & Trowbridge alone. : Gan Sherlock had a fit on receipt of the communica- tion and tried to find Hoogley. : _. That thug thought fit to keep away from Chicago, and the contractor’s effort to get in communication with him failed. Fleetwood & Trowbridge had no further trou- ble in connection with the building of the dam which was duly completed to the satisfaction of the corporation. The greater part of Tom’s rock was used in its construction, and the balance was employed in the foundations of the factories, the contracts for which Fleetwood & Trowbridge secured also. - ‘They also put in a bid for the houses to be put up for the accommodation of the workmen, and secured if without any competition, as the firm was now in high favor with the corporation, ow- “ine to the excellent manner in which they had fulfilled their former contracts. A period of two years elapsed from, the be- ginning of work on the dam until the big rail- ‘road car shops and other buildings were com- “pleted and the dwelling houses were under way, _ and by that time the bank account of the con- tracting firm of Fleetwood & Trowbridge showed a considerable balance, well up in the thousands, in their favor. Me an of adding the fifty acres of rock-cleared = und to the prospective town, for it was defi- a = , interest each é ration and the lapse of time. Tom had already interested Major Nutte in his . A LUCKY CONTRACT -nitely settled that the place was to become more than a mere village. Its name was to be Ste. Marie, and the major was to be its guiding genius. ; By this time the railroad company advertised for bids to build the twenty-one miles of track from the town of Preston, on the main line, direct to Englewood, through Ste. Marie, and Fleet- wood, through Ste. Marie, and Fleetwood & ~ Trowbridge got the contract for that, too. This contract also called for three stations and ’ various necessary additions. By the time the construction of the branch line was well under way work was begun by the Ste. Marie Corporation. (the word “River” being etonyed from their corporate title) on the car shops. ; Enough houses were erected by this time to ae- commodate the initial force, and as fast as others were finished more hands were added to the shop. One by one the factries were leased to ‘the parties for whom they were put up and the -village, as it was called for the present, of Ste. Marie, presented every appearance of 2 thriving hive of industry, Tom Trowbridge was twenty- one years old when the first train ran over the new Preston & Englewood branch line. It was a gala day at Englewood Village, for railroad connection with the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie line was what the inhabitants had been looking forward to for years. Deacon Fitch, through his political connec- tions, had heretofore managed to prevent the es- tablishment of such a branch, as it was bound to hurt the business of his trolley line, but. when Major Nutte decided to establish the car works at Ste. Marie, which was but eight miles from Englewood, the continuation of the railroad from that point was a foregone conclusion which the ‘deacon could not prevent. ‘sy During the progress of the three years’ work between the time the dam was begun and the branch line completed and opened, Tom and Hazel only saw each other in the summer and at the Christmas holidays, for during the rest of the time the fair girl was being educated at a well- known woman’s college in the East. ; They py ree regularly, however, and the eld in the other grew with sepa- During the previous Christmas holidays, be- fore Hazel went back for the last time previous to her graduation, Tom mustered up the courage ~ to tell her his “secret.” ; He wound up by asking her the momentuous question, and her answer was “Yes.” ‘ re) He then interviewed her father on the subject, __ not without some misgivings as to what that gentleman would think about it. : The major and his wife had long foreseen what the friendship between their daughter and __ the rising yo contractor was leading to, and had decided that Tom possessed all the requisites _ of an eligible son-in-law, Saye cee when the ~~ young man asked Major Nutte for Hazel he was 7 told to could have her. ; Suit They were married soon after her graduation in June, and had a swell wedding at the Nutte +e 4 home. Next week’s issue will contain “A BIG RISK; _ or, THE GAME THAT WON.” Z

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HARRY THE HALF-BACK OR A FOOTBALLIST FOR FAIR By GASTON GARNE (A Serial Story.) CHAPTER XI.—(Continued) They were wild with rage, and were eager to go ahead and try to run the ruffians to earth. It was very dark now, however, and a storm " was coming up, and it was decided that it would be best to return to the college. ‘ This was done, and within the hour all the students were back at the college. : When all had heard the story of Harry’s ad- - venture with the thugs many threats were uttered by the students. They declared that it would not be good for the ruffians if they were captured. While they were in the library, talking, Mike Murphy, the janitor and man-of-all-work, came in and told Winslow that the professor wished to see him at once in his library. “He sint me afther yez two hours ago,” ex- plained Mike, “but yez wur not here.” “1 go at once,” said Winslow. “But I don’t know the way.” “Oj’ll show yez the way, sur.” “Thank you.” — . ' he janitor conducted Winslow Blong a long hallway, which connected the college buildings _* proper with an ell, in which the professor lived. _~ Qpening a door in this ell, Mike called out: “ere is Misther Winslow, sur.” Then he stepped back and Harry entered. . | He found: himself in a good-sized room, the walls of which were lined with books. In a grate a cheerful fire was burning, and in an easy-chair sat the professor. Harry took this all in at a glance; and he saw something else that made his heart leap with delight. ane '. In another easy-chair sat Winnie Marshfield, the professor’s daughter. Professor Marshfield rose and advanced with outstretched hand. : _ “Good-evening, Mr. Winslow,” he said. glad to see you looking so well.” : “Good-evening, sir, and thank you,” replied the young man, courteously. “ ‘Mr. Winslow, have you met my daughter?” ‘with a glance at the girl. “There are so many students that I can never remember whom she has met.” : _ “JT have not met your daughter, sir, though I saw her: at the football game this afternoon,” “with a glance at the girl, who risen and was smiling at him. * -. “Permit me, then, to make you acquainted with Ninnie. She is an enthusiast about athletics sports, Mr. Winslow, and she has done nothing save talk of you and your wonderful work at -right halfback.” "The giri advanced Urirak a nie PEON ee: “Tt am merry “truth, Mr. Winslow,” eons tee FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY .she said, her voice thrilling him through and - helped to win the game.” qed offered her hand to ~~ augh, — ; i room. a through. “I get that we were destined to lose the game, and then, when you came in and turned the tide and actually won the game, I was naturally wild. with delight, and, as tapa — says, I have not talked of much else.” its “J am glad that I was enabled to-do something to make you happy, Miss Marshfield; that is,,”” ne: coloring, “I should say that I am glad that IT. The girl laughed merrily again. “You started out to flatter, and then lost cour- : age and retreated, Mr. Winslow,” she said. “No,” he said, quickly but earnestly; “I told the truth, and then hedged because I was afraid that I might have offended by my boldness.” — Tie The girl blushed now like a peony, and to hide her confusion asked him rather stammeringly to be seated. ‘ The professor, engaged in placing some books back on the shelves, had not.noticed this little — incident. s : He now turned and seated himself Winnie. dropping into the easy-chair from which she had arisen, and after eyeing the youth a few mo- ments, said: : “Now, Mr. Winslow, if you will be so kind, | I wish you would explain the case of your ab- sence from the college from late yesterday eve- ning till three o’clock this afternoon.” The young man explained in as few words as possible, and his hearers listened wonderingly, — the girl occasionally uttering little exclamations, — “Well, this is indeed remarkable, Mr. Wins- =~ Se the professor exclaimed, when he had heard = “It was terrible!” murmured the girl. “How you. must have suffered, Mr. Winslow!” “T was not very comfortable,” he said; “but the truth is, that I was worried mainly. because I feared that I was not going to be able to take part in the football game.” 2 “Oh, Iam so glad that you escaped!” the girl exclaimed. = The professor asked the young man if he had any idea why he had been attacked and held a prisoner in this manner, and he shook his head — and said that he could not think why it had been done, unless it was to secure his money. = Si “But why would they have taken you prisoner an8 kept you there in the old cabin?” queried the — girl. - This was a puzzler, in deed, and Harry admit- ted that he could not answer the question. ale “Tt would almost look’ as though some one wanted to keep you from playing on the eleven in the football game,’ remarked Winnie, and Harry started and looked at hex in a thoughtful manner.- ae This same thought had occurred to him, but h smiled and said nothing to any one, and now he smiled and said he guessed that this was not th ease. ee He remained there talking to the professor and his daughter an hour or more, and then badé them good-night and bowed himself. out. i _ “What a sweet, beautiful girl she is,” was thought, as he made his way to his room in dormitory. . ee Ea a “What ia handsome, manly fellow he is, she hi r ‘Winnie’s thought,

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CHAPTER XIL Silkwell Is Suspected. Next day a number of the members of the foot- ‘ball team put in several hours after practice, in searching for the two thugs who had made a prisoner of Winslow. : They made a complete circuit of the lake and looked everywhere, but did not find any traces of the two, Nevertheless Grump and Slouchy were not far away. * os They were in a little cave in the face of the - bluff overlooking the lake, at a point about. mid- way between the two colleges, on the west side of the lake. : The entrance to the cave was hidden by bushes and the existence of the cave was not known to any of the students, so the thugs escaped dis- covery. ; When the students were in the library of the college, they discussed the affair at some length. “T am at a loss to understand why they made you a prisoner,” said Westley, ‘unless——” He paused and looked frowningly at the floor. “Unless what?” asked Parker. “YVll wager that I know what you are thinking, Westley,” said Curly Carwell. “What?” “That possibly some one wished Harry kept away till after the football game was over, eh?” “That’s what I was thinking,” Westly agreed. * “You remembér the letter that was sent to Jen- ' mings and Barton, Parker?” “Accusing Winslow of being a professional— es?’ : “Well, whoever wrote that did it in the hope ' that Harry would be barred from playing; that 3 sg re and Charley Dayton said, incouragingly: ‘ is a self-evident fact, isn’t it?” Slt 19.77 “Well, then, why may not the same person have hired the thugs to hold Winslow a prisoner _ till after the game was over?” “It is possible,” said Parker. “And if that is really the secret of the mat- ter,” went on Westley, “who is the guilty party?” He looked around at the faces of the students, and they in turn looked inquiringly at one an- other. : \ “Say, fellows,” said Curly Carwell, lowering his voice, “as there are not any of his cronies present, I am going to tell you whom [I suspect.” He paused and glanced around at the sfaces of his companions. They were looking at him o ahead, old chap.” } “All vight.. My opinion is that Percy Silkwell is the guilty party.” 5 : “That’s right,” said Winslow himself. “Just let the matter drop for the present, and we will wait and watch. The chances are that if he is uilty of the deed he will make an attempt to fs me from playing in the next game, and we may trip him up, ' 2 At the same time that the youths were dis- ” cussing the matter, as given above, Percy Silk- well and Julian Wilkins were having an inter- _ view with the two thugs, Grump and Slouchy, __in the cave by the edge of the lake. .” two students had gone to the cabin imme- Sore yo “Blately after dark and had waited there an hour,, FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY _ in the houe that the two thugs would put in an appearance. mit the end of that time their hopes were ful- ed, “So you are here, eh?” growled Silkwell. “Yep, we’re here,” said Grump, sullenly. He did not like the tone of the youth’s voice. “You made a pretty,mess of that affair, didn’t’ you?” grated Si atts : “Ye mean erbout ther young feller whut—~~” “Winslow—yes. How came you to let him get away from you?” “JT reckon he tole how et happened, didn’t he?” “He said that you two got dead drunk and ‘went to sleep, and that he got his hands loose and - walked off, yes.” “Waal, I guess thet’s straight, hey Slouchy?” . “T guess et is,” was the reply. : Re you played the mischief with all my plans.” “Is thet so?” “Yes; I wanted to have Winslow kept from pone football, in which event our team would ave been beaten, and I would have been two hundred dollars to the good, and would have had revenge on Winslow as well. But as it was, : he got there in time to play part of the game, and he won it and lost me the two hundred dol- lars—all because you two fools did not attend to business and do your part as you had agreed to “Oh, say, cut et out!” growled Grump. “We hain’t no fools, ye bet, an’ we don’ ’low nobuddy ter tork ter us thet way: Ye’d better go slow, younker!” Silkwell, remembering that he wanted to use the two, changed his tone and air, and talked pleasantly. ays ; Fearing, however, that they might be found ~ in the cabin by possible searchers for the two. thugs, they adjourned to the cave, where, so Grump said, they would take up their quarters | for a while. e “Whenever ye want us, come here,” he said. “Ef we ain’t here, wait erwhile an’ we’ll be sure ter drop in.” “All right.” Then Silkwell and Wilkins had a long talk with the two thugs, and the result was that Grump and Slouchy agreed to help Silkwell again, and do their best to keep Winslow from playing on the eleven in the next football game. “We're ther men fur yer money,” said Grump; “an’ nex’ time we'll do ther trick right up ter ther han’le,” “I hope that. you will,” said Silkwell. “If you~ do, then you will get good money, but if you fail I won’t pay you a cent.” “We agree ter thet. Ef we don’t do ther work right, we won’t ax ye fur enny pay.” They talked a while longer and then the two students took their departure. Bie As they reached the road and struck out in the direction of Wrightmore village, Silkwell said, with considerable satisfaction ‘expressed in the > tone: “T think that I see my way clear to keeping Winslow from match game, Wilkins. eat are that you will succeed, Percy.” “TI will, nevex you fear!” (To be continued) LF A laying on the eleven in the next _

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= FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY > | : INTERESTING ARTICLES : 24 . A TREES IN ILLINOIS A The largest tree measured in Illinois is a burr oak in the Brownfield woods, Urbana. It is almost 16 feet in girth and 104 feet in height. The tallest tree in the State is a evpress in Massac County. Its height is 187 feet. The oldest tree measured : by the foresters was a tupelo gum, a ring count 4 of which showed its age to be 330 years. The - fastest-growing tree in the State is considered ; the cottonwood, which grows abundantly in the Mississippi bottoms of Southern Illinois. It will produce sawlogs in seventeen years. - 488 PROTESTANTS, 7 JEWS, 87 CATHOLICS mt IN CONGRESS ' The Sixty-ninth Congress contains 483 Prot- estants, thirty-seven Roman Catholics, seven Jews and three Mormons, according to a list printed ‘here by “The Fellowship Forum,” giving the reli- ~ gious and fraternal affiliations of the House and Senate membership. f E : The “religious summary of. the Sixty-ninth s” follows: =e ar ata States Senate—Protestants, 90; Roman Catholics, 4; Mormons, 2. House ’ of Representatives—Protestants, 393; _ Roman Catholics, 38; Jews, 7; Mormons, 1; no eis ae largest jndividually owned Long Island into erty nor ee e 4 ghe property as a permanent military base, devoted to vibe 5,000 acres included in the sale just an- nounced by Joseph P. Day were owned by Young & Metzger, for whom he acted in the transaction in which it was sold to Edmund G. Burke, Inc. én 4 MOST FAMOUS DRUG STORE IN CHINA ; sae tee ie and meni ts That is probably the oldest and cer y the ae ome drug store in China, is the Tung Jen ang, which dates from A. D. 1500. It is situated ‘side the Tartar wall that separates the north south section of the city of Peking, and flourishing business. The proprietor to- =e ~ m the YO} ona is still a sti - of stone posts and had then spent some time sav — day is a direct descendant of the man who esta! re lished the business. : Six Most Chinese drug stores, become famous ui. account of some special preparation or compous! that can be had only from them, and the Tung Jen T’ang is no exception. : : : oy The proprietor prepares special pills: They ae about the size of a walnut and some are codi+ii | with white wax. One large pill is usually diviue © by the patient into 50 or 100 small pills, anc : taken as directed. ; DEVIL’S POSTHOLE PUZZLE TO ALI. ae GEOLOGISTS ee The Devil’s Posthole, in the Sierra. Neve«i Mountains in California, is one of the most nei —- able examples of columnar basalt in this counti: and belongs in the same class with the mor famous Giants’ Causeway on the north coast o: Ireland and Fingal’s Cave on the Island of Statia off the west coast of Scotland. : Geologists are not quite clear as to what causer ahis peculiar columnar structure in basaltic rock It is a form of jointing, but why the divisions iz the rock mass should be. so uniform and witi such a marked honeycomb-like effect in cross-See © data, 1. tion is something of a conundrum. Basalt is oni; # : Sixty-seven members of the Senate and 304 one of many forms of lava, belonging to the acid Be members of the House are Masons. In the New 8fOUuUp, 1. €., possessing a considerable degree o 42 York House of Representatives delegation “The iron or other minerals in its composition. . Se Forum” lists twenty-eight Protestants, thirteen ae anceer rock, after bang ales on. from the Re ; . . voleano or issuing from a _voleanic fissure, & - Roman Catholics and two Jéws the gre ie cpeis Hey and gradually as’ ayae : ED FOR ONE DOLLAR... sumes, S vertica prismatic structure. If} th: ; Pe wie re ae ef the wartime site of mass is not disturbed by outside pressure befor the rock is thoroughly hardened, the columns re main vertical; but if such pressure occurs duryi: the precess of cooling, the columns will be ben out of their erect position. ~ ise The appearance of the Devil’s Posthole is fue 4 as if some prehistoric giant had set here a pt: ing up a lot of them into small-blocks. - SALE == King of Revol Has all improvements of *” lsvest guns, $35 value, left an safety hand ejector, ‘anteed never out of orde 5 | Shon 32-20 or 38 cal. Sen WS); Pay on delivery $8. Money. Postage. Satisfaction or money backs Federas Mail Order 414 Broadway, New York Dy: E 113 29 plus “Moving Picture Stories” A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Ple:s- — PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY Bach number contains Three Stories of the Best Fux. — on the Screen—Biegant Half-tane Scenes from the Viag —Interesting Articles About Prominent People f ik Films—Doings of Actors and Actresses in the Studte ag¢ Lessons in Scenario Writing. : t HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc, 166 West 23d Street _ New ¥

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- The white stick, so effective in day time, is in- 26 _ 66 > d Fame and Fortune Weekly” NEW YORK, JANUARY 1, 1926 TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS $ cents 1.00 Canada, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. 0. oney Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances any other way are at your risk. We aecept Postage amps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap - the Goin in a, separate piece of paper to avoid cutting Ww. the envelope. rite your name and address plainly. Address letters to HARRY E. WOLFF, _. Publisher, Inc., 166. W. 23d St., N. ¥. Harry E. Wolff, Pres, Charles E. Nylander, Sec. L. F. Wilzin, Treas, ITEMS OF INTEREST MINER “FIXED” FOR WINTER George Stubbs, a miner, of Upper Lehigh, Pa., with-a wife and seven children, is not worried about the strike. He has slaughtered three big . porkers and has fifty chickens, thirty-five bushels of potatoes, one barrel of sauer kraut, seven tons of coal and a barrel of homemade wine. LUMINOUS NIGHT STICKS FOR PARIS TRAFFIC COP. ? Luminous night-sticks for Paris traffic police- men are going to give the taxi drivers a gay time after dark. Paris taxi drivers are so notori- ously short-sighted that it is charged they some- times cannot see as far as their own metres, and ‘now they have complained that even on the brightly-lighted boulevards they are unable to see the gestures of the traffic controllers. visible at night. The new luminous baton will be as simple to use as a pocket flashlight and is con- structed on the same principle. LEOPARDS FOE OF GORILLAS ; Benjamin Burbridge, an American, with his party of hunters and a cinematographer, has ‘yeached Dar-es-Salaam from the Congo, says a despatch from Nairobi, Africa, to the Times. They have with them two gorillas, which are in- ' tended for the Antwerp and New York zoos. Four had been captured, but two died from dysentery. Discussing the belief that the extinction of orillas is being accomplished by- wanton killing, ry, Burbridge expressed the view that the ac- tivities of white and native hunters have little ef- fect. He believes that the most dangerous enemy : of the gorilla is the leopard, which often hangs on the skirts of a troop, killing the young. He --yelated authentic instances of the strangling of - BURGLARS INVITED TO RETURN GOODS _ leopards by gorillas. “Tf NOT SATISFACTORY” A Philadelphia store that was robbed invited <7 the burglars ‘to bring back the goods they took if not found satisfactory, the Associated Préss re- eines FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Realizing the power of advertising, the store in- serted a display advertisement in local papers headed “Notice! To the Burglars Who Robbed Our Store.” The notice said: “You boys are not using your power of ob- servation. (An unpardonable trait in any burg- lar). If you had read our advertisements and noticed our very low prices you could have saved yourself the trouble of ‘breaking in’ to get the things you wanted. We are glad to know, how- ever, that you prefer OUR merchandise. Every. article in our store is absolutely guaranteed by us—whether you buy it or steal it makes no dif- ference. If what you fellows took does not give you good service, bring it back and we will make it good—with the assistance of General Butler.” “P. S.—Special reception for burglars calling oo our store is closed. Bring your friends along.” } LAUGHS “Liza, jwhat fo’ yo’ buy dat udder box of shoe blackin 2” “Go on, nigga’, dat ain’t shoe blackin’; dat’s my massage cream!” “How’s your son getting on in college?” “Great, They put him in as a pinch hitter the other day, and he cleared the bases with a three-bagger.” “Pop!” “Yes, my son.” When a man talks a as deal what is he called?” “An orator, m OY: what is she called?” “A nuisance.” - He—Dearest, you are the first woman I ever kissed. She (cynically)—You don’t do it like an amateur. do you know the difference? “What a wonderful age of invention it is!” said Mrs, Petersén. “I see they are now making wire cloth, and I’ll have some this very week to put in Johnny’s everyday trousers.” 3 Teacher—which is the more delicate of the senses? Pupil—The touch. Teacher-—Prove it. Pupil—When you sit on a tack you can’t hear it, you can’t see it, you can’t smell it, but it’s there. Johnny (to new visitor)—So you are my grand- ma, are you? Grandmother—Yes, Johnny! I’m your grandmu on your father’s side. Johnny— ‘Well, you’re on the wrong side; you’ll find that out! 2 Mollie—This paper says it has been found that the French language is more suitable for use when telephoning than the English since London and Paris were linked by telephone. Dollie—Why, that’s ridiculous! I had a Frenchman telephone ane Oe day, and I couldn’t understand a word he said, “I suppose it is hardJy necessary for me to tell’ ai sir, that I am in love with your daughter,” sai man,” replied her father. “And, furthermore, I’ve seen enough idotic symptoms in the past month to convince me that your passion is reciprocated.” “And when a woman talks a good deal, the trembling suitor. “Not at all, young He (wrathfully)—Deceitful one! How | y

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“fully carved with FAME AND: FORTUNE WEEKLY CURRENT NEWS _ COUNTERFEIT $5 NOTE OUT A counterfeit $5 Federal reserve note is de- seribed in a new circular of the Treasury De- partment. The note is of the New York re- serve bank. The general appearance of the note is ‘oft color, with a greenish tint which seems re- flected from the back. The portrait of Lincoln is dull and the seal is poorly executed in purple tone. The figures of the serial number are not careful copies of the genuine. The serial number js preceded by the.letter “D,” whereas in the genuine the letter “B” appears, this being the letter of the New York bank. * ENDS LIFE AT RADIO SET Virtually destitute, except for a radio set which she refused to sell, Frau Augusta Knauss, of Berlin, eighty-year-old widow, committed suicide by inhaling illuminating gas while listening to the broadcasting of the opera “Aida.” She was found dead in a chair before “the receiving set, the ear phones clamped over her head. In a farewell note, she said that she had sold most of the furnishings of what used to be a well-appointed home in order to buy food. She said she could not bear the thought of selling her yadio and had decided to turn on the gas jets while listening to her favorite opera, , ’ THE BELL OF REMEMBRANCE In the ancient castle of Roverto near Trent, which is being used as an Italian war museum, a huge bell has been hung in memory of the war dead. The bell is one of the largest in Europe, coming next after those ‘in Moscow, Cologne and Vienna, weighs five and a half tons and is beauti- a. procession of warriors and other figures marching round its circle. It is to be rung every evening for one minute after the Angelus, and on great anniversaries of the war for five minutes. The Government has set aside special dates Which commemorate the dead of Italy, France, England, America, Belgium and Gzecho-Slovakia. As a final touch of modernity yadio apparatus is to transmit the tones to all the world that cares to listen. FLAME IN WATER Submerged in water, an oil flame invented by a Belgian scientist, Oscar Brunler, will burn for weeks without going out, it is claimed, and_so avoid most of the heat loss of an ordinary boiler. A device similar to a ecarbureter, says Popuiar . patna Monthly, blows a spray of crude oil mixed with air into the burner under pressure. Water is ’ kept out of the burner until the flame is well started, then allowed to rise around the flame and cover it, “In all boilers loss of heat is avoided by bring- $ ing the flame of the fuel into the closest possible aa contact with the water. The Belgian inventor is water, - gaid to have obtained almost perfect efficiency by putting the flame directly in the . " ‘ - 4 ‘ < a. es te a, . aE eT ast ie yee Oe BRITISH WOMEN: FLY TO PARIS TO SHOP With the approach of the holidays and their at- tendant shopping season and with society active in both Paris and London, there has increase in the number of London women who fly to Paris one day and return by the same route the next, . In England, and also on the Continent, an | American woman, Mrs. Hart O. Berg, who made a short flight with Wilbur Wright in 1908 and achieved fame as the first woman to ride in an airplane, is still regarded the pioneer aerial trav- eler, although women who use the airways are numerous, making up more than 50 per cent. of the passengers on the main European air routes. Many actresses and singers use the air route between Paris and London to’ fill engagments, among them Miss Gladys Cooper, Miss Margaret Bannerman, Mme. Frieda Hempel and Miss Phy!- lis Monkman. Among the women who have been using the airplane service to do Christmas shop- ping in Paris are Princess Bibesco, Lady Lever- hulme, Lady Bonham-Carter, Lady Sholto Doug- las and Lady Muriel Paget. : SNAKE SWIMS WELL Many sailors have been bitten by sea while they were swimming in’ tropical seas, but no mention seems to have been made as to the position of the snake, whether under water or not, in any published account. The sea snakes are highly poisonous and feed upon fishes which they kill with the aid of their poison fangs. : Inasmuch as these snakes capture fishes under water it would be theoretically possible for one 27 been a large. ‘snakes. b of them to strike a human. being while being sub- - merged. A single species of this family, Disteria semperi, lives in the landlocked fresh water Lake Taal on the island of Luzon in the Phillippines, but all the other species of these sea snakes are confined to tropical seas.and their range extends from the Persian Gulf to Central America. In North America the cotton-mouth water-moc-_ 3 casin retreats to water when disturbed. Fishes comprise a considerable portion of its food. The snake is’ thus accustomed to use its fangs’ while submerged and might strike a person if stepped on. There are venomous snakes that are highly aquatic in habit. Numerous. non-venomous snakes, such as our common water snake, spend much of their time in water and capture fish for food, and hence .— are capable of biting under water. No bad con- sequences would follow except from blood poison- jnge which, as is well known, may ensue from wounds of any sort. Various land snakes are good swimmers, but seem to be insufficiently adapted to aquatic life to bite when under water. 6-Shot Finest z Long Range kevolver This gun ‘‘free’’ if you can beat our poe any- n, barr where—4 or 6 el, blue or nickel—32, 38-or 22 — caitber. OW! Bisooutate, hard = ; tting. oney Bae gee y Pay on delivery $5.55. Federal Mail! Orders 414 Broadway, New York, Dept. X1i3 ’

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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY se | | GOOD READING AIR-DRIVEN ICE BUS , Finland has added one mor: means of transpor- ‘tation to the many already existing, This combina- tion airplane-autobus-sled is used to carry pas- - gengers between Helsingfors, eapital*of Finland, es to Sveaborg. It is driven by an airplane propeller . and the use of skis enables it to travel with speed over the snow and ice. : * WIND POWER MACHINE Major Bilay, a German officer, has invented an gerodynamo, a wind power machine built in ac- cordance with the latest aerodynamic advances. es In the drop shaped wind head there is a current ‘ generator which can supply current for any re- quired use. The span of the four blade propeller is 9 metres and there is a reaction to even the _ slightest wind. The whole plant is portable and _. ean be erected in six hours, this fact making it of ‘great use for agriculture. _ LOWER CALIFORNIA No part of the State of California is governed ca by Mexico. The long peninsula of Lower Cali- fornia, also known as “Old California,” is a ter- ritory of the Republic of Mexico. It is separated from the rest of the land by the Gulf of California and the Colorado River. It is 750 miles long by _.80 to 150 miles broad. Its area is a little more _ than a third that of the State of: California. Its - capital, La Paz, on the extreme south of the gulf side, has a population of about 5,000. The coasts of Lower California were explored by orders of Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico, in 1539. The . first permanent settlements, dating from 1697, were ‘made by the Jesuits, who were active in mission work among the Indians. ea ' WORLD’S LARGEST ARTIFICIAL LAKE What will be the largest artificial lake in the world is being built in a remote section of Ala- - bama fo assure a constant flow of water for driv- ng three large electric generators, says’ Popular Science Monthly. These: will feed. power into the electrical transmission system of the State. _ the three 45,000 horse power water-wheel-driven generators will be the largest in the United States. The artificial lake will have a shore line 700 miles Jong and will cover 40,000 acres of farm and forest land. Agricultural experts believe that the construction of the huge. lake will make a vast -ggetion of the country to the south of the lake . fgost-proof and advantageous for fruit growing. Pt: tobe A NEW AMERICAN SHRINE ' . Much interest is just now being manifested in the proposition to erect a replica of the house in which George Washington was born on its original _ ite at the old Wakefield estate, about half a mile ft A Ane: sonetion of Popes Creek with the Pot- omac, in ee County, V: oe Work ha With the exception of those at Niagara Falls, _ George Washin Na pon 6 Vit eer eae mea s already been started on this, Ameri- ca’s newest shrine. The $12,600 appropriated by Congress is being used to improve the highway and wharf at the landing there by United States engineers. The idea of erecting a duplicate of the old house, however, originated with the Wakefield: Association, of which-Charles Moore, of the Fine Arts Commission, is president, and will be car- ried out independently of the work being done by the Government, : The house was destroyed before the Revolution, but upon its site George Washington Parke Custis placed a slab of freestone in June, 1815, with the simple inscription: “Here the 11th of February, 1732, George Washington was born.” This stone in course of time crumbled from the effects of the elements, and in 1896, through money appro- priated by Congress, a monument was erected in its place. : Doubt is expressed, however, whether. the mon- ument actually marks the site. Mr. Moore ex- pressed the belief that the monument really stands on the site Of an outbuilding some distance from the Washington home; so, in order to estab- lish that site beyond all question, permission has been asked of Maj. James O’Connor, the United States engineer in charge of the Wakefield re- servation and the National monument on it, to make surveys and the necessary excavations to locate the foundations of the original homestead, if possible. i : Such procedure probably will require the sanc- tion of the Secretary of War before it can be un- dertaken, and it is said at the War Department that the proposed memorial building can not be erected on the reservation without specific au- thority from Congress. i Study has revealed that John Washington, — great-grandfather of George Washington, built two homes there. One is believed to have stood on. @ little knoll overlooking the Potomac. : Here John Washington, who was a Colonel and member of the House of Burgesses, lived for some years until his first wife died. Shortly afterward he married Ann, daughter of Thgmas Pope, who aya gave name to Popes Creek. The second house was this one at Popes Creek, where John’s children grew up. In the years that foll®wed the place came into the Hands of his son Augustine. Augustine first married Jane Butler, by whom he had three sons and a daughter.” His second wife was Mary: Ball, to whom he was married in~ 1780. By her he had six children, of whom the first-born was George. : : es According to the old-style calendars, as given on the Custis marker shown above, George Wash- ington was born Feb. 11, 1782; but with. the cor- rection of the calendar on the 2d of September, 1752, 11 days were added so that his birthday. automatically was advanced to Feb. 22. : Wakefield was, during the Revolution, known as “The Athens of America” because of the great number of distinguished men that it gave to the country. Congress in 1881 appropriated money to erect 2 ponuatant to ge birthplace Washington. .The monument was com pleted in 1896 and it still stands,

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AMERICA BURIES MILLIONS IN GEMS WITH ITS DEAD The practice of burying. jewelry with the body of a relative or friend is an expression of senti- ment that morticians do not seek to discourage, explained Fred W. Patterson, President of the National Selected Morticians. While most of the jewelry buried with bodies is inexpensive, aver- aging about $10 a trinket in each case, Mr. Pat- ~ terson estimated that the 2,000,000 Americans - . who die annually carrv approximately $20,000,- i 000 worth of jewelry to the grave with them. STARTS 7-MILE: TUNNEL . Ralph Budd, President of the Great Northern Railway, announced the starting of work on a tunnel through the Cascade Mountains in Wash- ington from Berne in Chelan County to Scandia in King County. : sk a The. tunnel, which will be seven and three- quarters miles long and cost $8,000,000, will re- '. place seventeen miles of difficult track. Officials of the road estimate that when it is completéd ~- in 1928 an annual saving in operating costs of $600,000: will be effected. LIFE ON 4,000,000-ACRE RANCH é - _ Mrs. Richard Walsh, who returned to New York recently after living on a 4,000,000-acre cattle ranch in Rhodesia, told of her experience the other day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam J. Tingue. : She said that during a year t lions, thirty-three leopards, forty-three wild dogs and thirty-one crodicles were killed on the ranch. There was no servant, problem in Rhodesia, so . ‘she didn’t mind the snakes, tarantulas, ants and --$corpions, 7 5 '- The Kaffir boy servants, she said, are paid from $1 to $15 a month and have only one fault-- a fondness for freshly killed raw meat. A NEW HOLLYWOOD FOR ENGLAND PLANNED From the Guardian (Manchester) one learns that: 2 ‘Pictures, Limtied,” has been formed to establish __ Jarge studios near London and to produce pictures with an entirely British personnel. An important feature of the scheme is that the company has secured as its managing director Mr. J. D. Wil- Jiams, who has been one of the leading men in ‘the. American film industry—he is, by the way, - an Englishman by birth—and there are expecta- » tions that he will be able to obtain a world cir- culation: for British films—namely to get them exhibited in the United States. _ “Tt is proposed (as was explained at a luncheon d in the Hotel Metropole) to build on a site some forty near London a big. central FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY BRIEF BUT POINTED seventy-three. aie eee o eeby oe ieee Tt will contain eight - offices for casting and literary work, and bunga- lows for the use of the stars. 3 ar “The chief subject of discussion was the means that are to be taken to obtain an entry into the - enormous American market which is said to rep- resent about 60 per cent. of the market of the world. On this point Mr. Williams said that there are in America about, 14,000 exhibitors who are — free to take British films. In his opinion, Ameri- can film-goers are anxious to see British films if they can be produced of sufficiently good quality to compete with the Amercan variety. Américan — people, he says, want to see English films because they are foreign and different.” mi “DRY ICE.” Pas Science has perfected a new way to keep ico cream frozen in its original state for hours ata time without the use of ice, according to Popular Science Monthly. It is now possible to send a pint of ice cream from New York City to Chicago « — by air mail, and when the package is opened the ice cream will be found frozen hard, just as it came from the freezer many hours before! ieee The wonderful matérial that makes this re- cannot melt. It is pe dry to the touch, and ‘ \ go down to 110 degrees below zero. . pete eee You have noticed the small bubbles that form _ and rise to the surface in a soda-pop bottle when __ you pry off the-cap. This new ice is made out of the same gas that forms these bubbles. In other words, it is carbon dioxide gas cooled down and : compressed until it finally forms a solid, frozen mass. weet 2 Solidified carbon dioxide has been produced 6n a laboratory scale several times, but this is the first application of this queer. freezing agent to the preservation of ice cream. Its use is the re- sult of a long search by a New York ice-cream manufacturer for a method of packiny his product — in small packages so that customers van take it home and keep it in perfect condition for hours afterward. Ss Although the temperature of dry ice is colder > than the North Pole in wintertime, it may be handled with the bare hands, provided the ski of the fingers is not allowed to touch the solid lumps for more than a second or two at a time. In the ice-cream plant, lumps of dry ice are ser to the packing room, where a workman places cylindrical piece in a large carton, which also holds a smaller container filled with ice cream, _ The outside container, as well as the one th holds the ice cream, is made of paraffined car board and is itself a fair heat insulator, so that the warmth from the outside air penetrates slowly Instead of heating and melting the ice cream, the _ air warms the surface of the Block of frozen car-- bon dioxide and gradually converts the latter back

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- body buys. a ARE YOU LONESOME? Write 2 ‘LITTLE AD Write to Riker & King, Advertising Offices, 580 Broadway, New York City, or 29 East Madison Street, Chicago, for parti culars about advertising in this magazine. AGENTS WANTED IF YOU WANT $96 A WEEK, 2 business, an honest company, and an Hssex coach, without a cent of expense, write now. Y need 100 men and women quick to take orders for Jennings hosiery. Don’t delay. Send postcard now for details. The ‘Frank B. Jennings Co., Dept. L-224, Dayton, Ohio.’ paler aie as Ne ISTE AGENTS, 14 HOSIERY STYLES. _Guar- anteed. Best commission, 28 colors. We de- 8. Q. 8., Lexington, liver. Samples furnished. Kentucky. $150 TO $4100.00 ermanent WEEKLY selling Start ‘Rite “Switch for Fords. To start car just retard spark lever; Saves bendix and starter trou- ble: secure demonstartor; write today ‘for lan and ept. 115, AGENTS: NO COMPETITION selling spec- tacles, guaranteed. to satisfy, only 98. Pay daily. We deliver collect. Nearly every* $10.00 - $25.00 daily, easy. True Fit Optical Co., CW117, 1528 W. Adams St., Chicago, Ill AGENTS: ational Sales Co., Inc., Coin, Iowa. WRITE FOR FREE SAMPLES. Sell Madison “Better-Made shirts for large Manufacturer, direct to wearer. No capital, or experience required. Many earn $100 week- x and bonus. Madison Mfgrs., 503 Broadway, ew York. . ie ld ee nn See PRI NEW CAMERA takes and finishes photos in one minute, Make money selling cameras, taking: photos. Exclusive territory. Crown ., Dept. 967, Norwalk, Conn. HELP WANTED DETECTIVES needed everywhere. Big pay, sz perignce unnecessary, easily learned, 17 .to write Harl Wilcox, 1407 Lafayette Ave., SH, Grand Rapids, Mich. ia se a a OR SOM ARTE SIC "ee ant SP DETECTIVES NEEDED... EVERYWHERE. Work home or travel, experience unneces- sary. Write George R. Wagner, former Govt. Detective, 1968 Broadway, N. ¥, PERSONAL OHARMING LADY worth $50,000 will marry. Elnore, B-1022, Wichit: lonely, a, Kan. Betty Lee, Inc., Box 820 City Hall Station, New York City. Stamp appreciated. LONELY HEARTS—I have a sweetheart for letters; make new friends. nified_service. oore, ou. Hxchange cient, confidential and di Members everywhere. Hva Jacksonville, Florida, Box 908, Handsome, clear toned, large sized Violin * tail piece, full set struction ook, us your name and address and VD AWAY FRED 28 Fine Art Pictures with 28 peat, Bluine which. you sell at 10 centsapkg. Write for them. : 0., B-10, Mill St., Concord ener e eae of $1,810.00 monthly profit. , PRETTY GIRLIE, wealthy but_oh_so lone- some. League, Box; 39, Oxford, Fla. MARRIAGE PAPER—20th year. Big issue with descriptions, photos, names and ad- dresses, 25 cents. No other fee. Sent sealed. Box -2265, R. Boston, Mass, MARRY—Free photographs, directory and descriptions of -wealthy members. Pay when. married. New Plan Co. Dept 36, Kansas City, Mo. i PRETTY GIRLIE, wealthy, but oh_so lone- some, League, Box 389, Oxford, Fla. Fo SE IIE OU it OE MARR Y— MARRIAGE DIRECTORY with photos and descriptions free. Pay when married. The Hxchange, Dept, 545, Kansas City, Mo. SEU sti SA Ge Bee Me AST a LEE, 9 BE Se SS MARRY—Write for big new directory with photos and descriptions. Free. National Agency. Dept. A. 4606. Station E., Kansas City, Mo. GET A SWEETHEART—Hxchange letters. Write me enclosing stamp. Violet Ray. Dennison, io. : 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. Standar Cor. Club, Gravslake, Ill. SE Sia SN AE oe” PE mean Sen ae PRETTY GIRLIE, wealthy, but oh so lone- some. League, Box 39, Oxford, Fla. Stamped SWEETHEARTS for everybody. Lily Club, envelopes for proposal. The Station H. Cleveland, Ohio. CHARMING YOUNG WIDOW _ worth $38,- 000.00, lonely, will marry. (Hva) B-1022, Wichita, Kansas. SONGWRITERS SEND TODAY for free copy Writer’s Digest; tells how to write and sell short stories, pnocomays poems, songs. Writer’s Digest, -22, H. 12th Street, Cincinnati. MISCELLANEOUS FOR A DIME (coin) I will tell the day of the week for any date for the last 400. years, G. BE. Hayes, Box 157, Newberry, 8. C aN re ge a TOBACCO OR SNUFF HABIT CURED OR no pay. $150 if cured. Remedy sent on trial. Superba Co., N4, Baltimore, Maryland. Your ntdry W onde Ce Throw your voice, into a trunk, intoa bag, cellar or anywhere. , Barrels of fun fooling the teacher, policeman \ \ or friends. Our Nj “MYSTI oO” alittle instrument “ : which fits into the mouth, out of sight and unseen enables you to do the above. NEVER FAILS any gue can use mal for ides (Coin) EASTERN ent prepaid Dy mal tor cts, \C SALES CO, Desk 68 WOLLASTON, MASS. DEER HALTS AT CRY OF “STOP” Every one who owns a dog or a horse or is a lover of these animals believes they un- derstand a good many words. The new theoryis that deer, under- stand the word “stop.” But when it comes to a deer, which has spent his life in the wild, it seems fairly improbable. Nevertheless, this theory has been advanced by Chip- pewa Indians, and if any one should speak with au- thority on the subject, it is the men of their race. Some nature lovers, a short time ago, visited after sunset a wild Adirondack lake to watch for deer coming down for water. With the exception of one member of the party, a woman, they took up positions in a cove where the guides had told them deer were always seen. The remaining mem- ber stayed on a point on the other side of a_ hill from her friends. Toward dusk, through the thick woods across the lake from the. a buck) point, came down to drink. Im- mediately the woman whistled and, after re- garding her for some time, ;the buck replied. Finally he grew - friendly and for about twenty minutes the whistles were ex- changed, until the return 0: ‘the deer away. hoe others frightened

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RO ie dr yl A at a Automobile Experts 'i in Demand Study with the same school that helped to train -many leading men in the automobile industry HE best proof of the value of the home- study courses of the International Corre- spondence Schools is the success of I. C. S. students. ‘This success is especially apparent in the automobile industry. Jesse G. Vincent, Vice-President of the Packard Motor Car = is a former I. C. S. student. So is Walter P. Chrysler, President of the Chrysler Motor ‘Corporation; | es (“Eddie”) Rickenbacker, Vice-President of the Rickenbacker Motor Car Co.; J. V. Whit- beck, President of the Cleveland Automobile Co.; Hiram Walker, Chief Engineer of the Chandler Motor Car Co., and John Moore, “deSigner of the famous Ansted Motor. ‘Here is what Jesse G. Vincent, Vice-Presi- dent of the Packard Motor Car Co., says about the [. C.S.— ’ “J take great pleasure in recommending your correspondence courses to any young man who has not had the advantage of a college education, but who is ambitious and anxious to get the necessary education to enable him to make the most of ‘his opportunities. “T took up your course at a time when I was work- ing at the bench as a tool-maker, and am glad to ~ state that this course enabled me to obtain the edu- cation that was absolutely necessary in-order that I might be in position to take advantage of oppor- tunities of advancement as they presented them- selves. My natural mechanical instincts, coupled with hard work and your course, have brought _ results of which I am very proud.” Truly, there is no better way for any man to get ahead than to study in spare time with k marked an X: the International Correspondence Schools. In just an hour a day you can prepare yourself to get a better position and a larger salary. At least find out how by marking and mail- ing the coupon printed below. It doesn’t cost you a penny or obligate you in any way to ask for full particulars, but that one simple little act may make a great difference in your life. Write for Free Booklet kT! INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS Box 4492-D, Scranton, Penna. “Oldest and largest correspondence schools in the world Without cost or obligation on my part, tell me how J can qualify for the position or in the subject before which I have ( Complete Automobile Gourso (] Gas Engine Operating (J Automobile Electric Equip- CJ Comptete Gas Engine ment = Course DElectr! teal Engineering (CjArchitect Slectrie Lighting Architects’ Blueprints Mechanical Engineer Contractor and Builder C)Mechanical Draftsman Architectural Draftsman {JMachine Shop Practice Concrete Butider Lj Ratlroad Positions Structural Er, ineer Civil Engineer (jChemistry [) ?harmacy CSurveying and ADP ae (jAirplane Engines C)Metallurny 0 Mining (jAgriculture and Poultry C)Steam Eny ineeting OO) Radio [jMathematics BUSINESS TRAINING COURSES (Business Management eB Salesmanship (Industrial Management Advertising C)versonnel Orkanization (JBetter Letters ‘Traffic Management (Show Card Lettering 5 ti 78 Business Law Stenography and Typing Banking and Banking Law Business English Accountaney (including C.P.A.) E\Givil Service LINicholson Cost Accounting (JRailway Mall Clerk (JBookkeeping Common School Subjects Private Secretary JHigh School Subjects Spanish 2 Brench JTliustrating oo At you reside in Canada, send this coupon to the International Correspondence Schools Canadian, Limited, Montreal The International Correspondence Schools ‘are the oldest and a gai Scere tetipe schools i in the sould ok

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It contains reeipes %. cooking meats, fish, game and oysters; also pies, 9ufdings, eakes and all kinds of pastry, and a grand +s sction of recipes. } » No. 33—HOW TO BEHAVE.— Containing the rules ar? etiquette of good society and the easiest and most aporoved methods of appearing to good advantage at wm sties, balls, the theatre, church, and in the drawing- mom. No. 85. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.—A complete and “useful little book containing the rules and regulations yf dilliards, bagatélle, back-gammon, croquet, dominoes, ‘sere No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS.—Contain- ing all the leading conundrums of the day, amusing rid- dies, curious catches and witty sayings. No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS.—Includ- ing hints on how to eatch moles, weasels, otter, rats, aguirrels and birds. Also how to cure skins. Copiously dustrated. No, 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN’S JOKE BOOK,—Containing a great variety of the latest jokes used by the most famous end men. No amateur minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book: 4 THE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP- SPEAKER. Containing a varied assortment of stump apeeches. Negro, Dutch and Trish. Also end men’s jokes. fust the thing for home amusement and amateur shows. ~ Wo. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINSTREL «IDE AND JOKE BOOK.—Something new and very - instructive. Every boy should obtain this book, as it eentains 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 alectro magnetism; together with full instructions for making Electric Toys, Batteries, etc. By George Trebel, 4 M., M.D. Containing over fifty illustrations. No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANOES.—A pandy bgok for boys, containing full directions for con- et -ucting canoes and the most popular manner of sailing item, Fully illustrated. Sie “xo. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.—Giving rules for con- _ geting debates, outlines for debates, questions for dis- “ussion and the best sources for procuring information a5 tion given. . ia rear mie ow TO STULMF BIRDS AND ANIMALS,— 4 valuable book, giving instructions in collecting, pre- pacing, mounting and preserving birds, animals and in- sects & No. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Con- _ «atping explanations of the general principles of sleight- of hand applicable to card tricks; or card tricks with ’ ordinary cards, and not requiring sleight-of-hand; of - tricks involving sleight-of-hand, or the use of specially prepared cards. Tilustrated. ; : No. 52. HOW TO PLAY CARDS.—A complete and nandy little book, giving rules and full directions for alaying Muchre, Cribbage, Casino, Forty-Vive, Rounce, Sedro Sancho, Draw Poker, Auction Piteh, All Fours, » Amany other popular games of cards. ayk54, HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS.— ¢..vioe complete information as to the manner and peethod of raising, keeping, taming, breeding and man-~- ye oe all kinds of pets; also giving full instructions for ‘ making cages, ete. watustrations. ‘ for sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on’ receipt of price, 10c. per eopy;s ‘ in money or stamps, bye 7 "> HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher, Inc. ~ 166 West 23d Street ~ New York City» - Fully explained by twenty-eight © Fame and Fortune Weekly — — LATEST Issvurs — 1005 Cast Adrift; or, The Luck of a Homeless Boy, 1006 by eh the Market; or, A Keen Boy in Wall reet. 1007 A Pot of Money; or, The Legacy of a Lucky Boy. 1008 From Rags to Riches; or, A Lucky Wall Street Messenger. : 1009 On His Merits; or, The Smartest Boy Alive. 1010 Trapping the Brokers; or, A Game Wall Street Boy. 1011 A Million in Gold: or, The Treasure of Santa Cruz. 1012 gt ool aa Make Money; or. From the West to Wall Street. 1018 The Boy Maghate;: or. Making Baseball Pay. 1014 Making Money: or, A Wall Street Messenger’s Luck, 1015 A Harvest of Gold; or, The Buried Treasure of Coral Tsland. f 1016 On the Curb; or, Beating the Wall Street Brokers, 1017 A re of Fortune; or, The Boy Who Struck 1018 ee Prince of Wall Street; or, A Big Deal for Big oney. 1019 Starting His Own Business; or, The Boy Who. Caught On. be 1020 A Corner In Wall Street: or, The Wall Street Boy Who Won. 1021 First in the Field; or, Doing. Business for Himself. 1022 Se thes at Bighteen; or, Roy Gilbert’s Wall Street areer, 4 1023 Only a Dollar: or. From Errand Boy to Owner. “1024 Price & Co.. Boy Brokers; or, The Young Traders of Wall Street. E 1025 A Winning Risk; or, The Boy Who Made Good, 1026 Eas lta to a Million; or, A Wide-Awake Wall Street Boy. 1027 The Path to Good Luck; or, The Boy Miner of Death Vallev i , 1028 Het Moons Money; or, A Corner in Wall Street ocks. 1029 Famous at Fourteen; or, The Boy Who Made a Great Name. 1030 Tips To Fortune; or, A Lucky Wall Street Deal. 1031 Striking His Gait; or, The Perils of a Boy Hn- gineer. fn : 1032 From Messenger to Millionaire; or, A Boy’s Luck In Wall Street. 2 1033 The Boy Gold Hunters; or, After A Pirate’s Treasure. 1034 Tricking, the Traders; or; A Wall Street Boy’s Game of Chance. es 1035 Jack Merry’s Grit; or, Making a Man Of Himself. 10364 sre Shower; or, The Boy Banker of Wall Street. ; 1037 Making a Record; or, The Luck of a Working Boy, = . 10388 A Wight Wor Money; or, From School to Wall Street. - 1039. Stranded Out West; or, The Boy Who Found a Boatman. : 1040 Ben Bassford’s Luck; or, Working on Wall Street — 4 ps. : 1041 A Young Gold King; or, The Treasure of the Secret Cave. 1042 Bound To Get Rich; or, How A Wall Street Boy Made Money. - 1043 Friendless Frank; jean ee or, The Boy who Became 1044 A $30,000 ‘Tip; or, The Young Weazel of Wall ‘reet. 1045 Plucky Bob; or, The Boy Who Won S g 1046 From. Newsboy to Banker; or, Rob Uake'a ego in Wall Street. 1047 A Golden Stake; or, The Treasure of the Indies. 1048 A op oA the Market; or, A Hot Time In Wall © street. ay, 1049 Watching His Chance; or, From Ferry Boy to Cap- by ain, 5 1050 A Game for Gold; or; The Young King of Wall — = Street. 1051 A Wizard for Luck; or Getting Ahead in the Worl 1052 A Fortune at Stake; or, A Wall Street Mesdenecee 5 Deal. \. 1053, His Last Nickel; or, What It Did for Jack Rand. 1054 Nat Noble, the Little Broker; or, The Boy Whe A Started a Wall Street Panic. 1055 A Struggle for Fame; or, The Gamest Boy in the — orld. 1056 The Young Money Boy who Broke the Market. t t For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any -. address on receipt of price, 8c. per copy, : in money or stamps, by - HARRY K. WOLF®, Publisher, Inc., 166 West 23d Street - ; a Magnate; or, The Wall Street Fy 7° a * 4 Poy 3

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